Have you ever looked at a house with a sturdy, beautiful wall around it? In ancient times, a city’s walls weren’t built to trap people inside. They were built to protect the precious life and peace happening within. Solomon used that exact imagery when he wrote:
Self-discipline isn’t a cage that restricts our freedom; it’s a protective wall! When we build daily habits of self-control in the small things, it creates room for true freedom, peace, and spiritual growth to flourish. Yet, for so many of us, self-discipline feels like an uphill battle. If we weren’t taught simple daily routines and habits as children, trying to build them from scratch as adults can feel overwhelming. Recently, a dear young friend of mine, Abi, came to me with a vulnerable request. As a young adult navigating life, she realized that she hadn’t consistently established those core morning routines and daily self-discipline habits growing up. She was finding it really challenging, and she asked if I would hold her accountable. Can I just say how much respect I have for her? In our culture, asking for help is often viewed as a weakness. But in God’s Kingdom, seeking accountability can be a mark of strength, humility, and a genuine desire for spiritual growth. It often reflects a heart that truly wants to honor the Lord and is seeking to please Him! From Nagging to Next Steps
At first, I started texting Abi every morning and evening. “Did you do your routine?” “It’s 10:00 PM, time to put your phone away!” Even though she asked me to do it, after a short while, I started feeling like a nag. I love her dearly, and as an adult, I didn’t want her to come to resent that interference, nor did I want our friendship to become centered around me constantly checking up on her. So we started talking: What if there was a gentle, automated way to handle the daily reminders, while keeping our friendship centered on encouragement? That was the kernel that started a new project. With a bit of modern technology and a lot of prayer, I built a brand-new app specifically for her: Little Habit Lab. Old Dogs, New Tricks (and Apple Cider Vinegar!)While I built this initially for Abi, I quickly realized how much I needed a tool like this myself! By God’s grace and the gift of a remarkable mother, I have had foundational daily routines and spiritual habits built into my life for half a century. I don’t need a phone reminder to read my Bible every morning or make my bed. But I’m getting older, and as I’ve been focusing on improving my health lately, I wanted to build a new daily habit: taking apple cider vinegar in water every day. I’ve done it off and on over the years, but never consistently. Plus, as the years creep up on me, I sometimes forget to take my evening vitamins or drink enough water throughout the day (I tend to favor coffee and tea!). Building character isn’t just for 20-somethings ~ it’s a lifelong pursuit! Paul wrote to Timothy:
Just like physical exercise, building godly character and healthy routines requires repetition. Small, consistent daily steps compound over time into a lifetime of fruitfulness. Welcome to the “Little Habit Lab”
Once Abi saw the new app and declared that she loved it, I thought: Why not open this up to bless others? Whether you are trying to establish your very first morning routine, break an old habit, or simply remember your evening vitamins and water intake, I would love to invite you to test out the Little Habit Lab with us! Here is a peek at how it works and what makes it special:
How to Set It Up on Your Phone (Step-by-Step)Because this is a web app, you won’t search for it in the App Store or Google Play Store. Instead, you can save it directly onto your phone’s home screen so it acts just like a real app icon!
Will You Be a Tester with Me?Because this is brand new, I would be so grateful if my Simply Angie family would hop on, try it out, and give me your honest feedback! Even if you feel like your daily routine is pretty solid, maybe there’s one small habit (like drinking more water, memorizing scripture, or turning off screens early) that you’ve been wanting to cultivate. Building self-control in the small, practical areas of life can help train us to say “no” to ourselves when it matters. But true spiritual temperance is ultimately the fruit of yielding ourselves to the Holy Spirit. As we surrender even our ordinary routines to the Lord, He can use those small disciplines as tools to shape our character. Let’s be people who guard our walls, cultivate good fruit, and encourage one another along the way! Blessings, P.S. Once you have installed the app and enabled notifications, reply to this email or leave a comment on the post to let me know how it goes! What is the first habit you are going to add to your check-in list this week? You’re currently a free full subscriber to Simply Angie. If you’d like to offer heartfelt ministry support, you can upgrade to paid (Your voluntary contribution directly helps keep this newsletter free and accessible for everyone).
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