A “lifehack” describes any advice, shortcut, tip, or skill that helps you get things done more efficiently and effectively.

The NIV Lifehacks Bible uses “lifehacking” methods to offer practical and achievable tools for integrating spiritual habits into busy, technology-centric, 21st century living. Among its 365 articles are 4 Tips for Making Wise Decisions, 6 Steps for Interpreting the Bible, 7 Questions for Recognizing Intentional Sins, and 4 Tips for Finding Time to Pray.

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Bible Gateway interviewed Joe Carter (@joecarter), editor of the NIV Lifehacks Bible (Zondervan, 2016).

With the focus of this Bible on what people can do in developing godly habits, what, in your view, is the role the Holy Spirit takes in our spiritual growth?

Joe Carter: The underlying philosophy of this Bible is to do the work, but rely on the Holy Spirit. While spiritual formation is primarily a work of God in us (Php 2:13; 1 Th 5:23), Scripture makes it clear that we have a role to play in the process (Ro 8:13).

How do we hear God? By reading the Bible. How do we talk to God? Through prayer. How do we obey God? By loving God above all else, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. All of these things are habits that move us toward holiness.

We should be clear, though: the work we do in developing godly habits doesn’t sanctify us—the Holy Spirit does that. But if we aren’t reading our Bible, and praying, and loving our neighbors—if we’re not developing and practicing godly habits—then we’re not doing what God has called us to do.

As the 19th century theologian Archibald Alexander said about sanctification, “use the means as vigorously as if you were to be saved by your own efforts, and yet trust as entirely to the grace of God as if you made use of no means whatsoever.”

Developing habits like a daily cardio routine seem so different than developing habits that fight sin. In what way are they the same and in what way are they different?

Joe Carter: For believers in Christ, the primary way the two types of routines are the same—or at least should be the same—is that they serve the same end goal. Whether we’re fighting sin or developing a cardio routine, our routines should be done for the purpose of glorifying God. Too often, though, we draw unnecessary distinctions between spiritual and physical habits because we don’t take the words of Scripture seriously enough.

Consider, for instance, when Paul asks, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” (1 Cor 6:19) When we hear that verse we tend to think, “Yes, Jesus lives in my heart.” While that’s true, the verse means much more than that. As Paul goes on to say, “You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” If we truly believe our bodies belong to God, then we’ll be much more careful about how we treat them and what types of habits we develop. We should be concerned about habits that affect both our body and soul because everything we are belongs to God.

The key way they differ is that, because of common grace, a nonbeliever can develop positive habits that strengthen their bodies yet cannot truly develop habits that fight sin since they’re still in rebellion against God. So when we come to Christ we not only acquire new habits (e.g., routines that help us become like Jesus), we also transform the meaning of our old habits (e.g., recognizing our bodies belong to our Creator).

How should someone answer the charge that trying to develop godly habits is a form of legalism and that our spiritual growth should be more about building a relationship with God?

Joe Carter: On his deathbed, King David told his son Solomon to “be strong, act like a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses” (1 Kings 2:2-4). That’s sound advice for all of us. Yet if those words had come from a pastor rather than from Scripture, many believers would mistake this admonition to obey God’s law as being “legalism.”

I used to express the same concerns, thinking that developing godly habits was a form of legalism. But then I realized that my fear of legalism had become an impediment to following the command to be holy in all I do (1 Peter 1:15). I realized I didn’t want to stand before my Redeemer and tell him the reason I didn’t even try to imitate his holiness because I was afraid of being called a “legalist.”

Legalism is the false belief that adherence to rules can earn us God’s favor. We must always reject that type of thinking. We don’t earn salvation by obeying God’s law, nor do we retain his favor by being obedient. But we also can’t build a relationship with God when we refuse his call to obey him and become more like Jesus. We obey God’s commands because we love him (John 14:15). We develop godly habits because, as his beloved children, we desire to imitate Christ (Eph 5:1-2).

What spiritual habit have you personally found more difficult to cultivate? Why do you think some spiritual habits come easier to us than others?

Joe Carter: Some spiritual habits come easier because of our temperament and personality. By nature, I’m an introvert. While I like being around people I tend to be quiet and reserved, which has made it difficult for me to develop the habits of evangelism and hospitality. I have friends, though, who are extroverted and gregarious and have a hard time with such practices as silence and solitude.

That’s why in NIV Lifehacks Bible I include several entries that focus on the role temperament and personality plays in our spiritual formation. While we’ve been affected by sin and our personalities can become twisted and ugly, we should remember that God created us—including our dispositions. God isn’t surprised that we find some spiritual habits easier than others. But he also doesn’t let us off the hook about developing those areas where we’re lacking.

In this, as in all things, our model is Jesus. At times Jesus exhibited traits of being an introvert, while at other times he appears to be an extrovert. He shows that no mater what comes “natural” to us, God will give us the power and ability to serve him in whatever ways he’s leading us.

What’s your favorite non-spiritual lifehack you’d like to share?

Joe Carter: My favorite: Create and use checklists of repetitive and routine tasks.

When I was in the Marines we were required to use checklists all the time—and I loathed it. I thought it was a way for my superiors to micromanage me because they didn’t trust my competence. But now I realize that using checklists not only develops confidence, but frees me to be more creative.

Our short-term memory is extremely limited, so our brains spend a lot of time and energy just reminding us not to forget the next task or the next step in a process. But when we have it written down on a checklist our brains can relax. This is why checklists are extremely useful for routines that aren’t frequent enough to become ingrained habits.

I create a lot of checklists that can be copied and used again and again. Because I’m almost always near my laptop or smartphone, I always have my checklists ready to use. This has helped me to relax and feel less stressed. As long as I remember to check my checklists, my brain doesn’t have to keep telling me “Don’t forget this!”

Read more about forming godly habits with this 7-day reading plan.

Bio: Joe Carter is an editor for The Gospel Coalition, a senior editor at the Acton Institute, a communications specialist for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, and an adjunct professor of journalism at Patrick Henry College. He’s the co-author of How to Argue Like Jesus: Learning Persuasion from History’s Greatest Communicator (Crossway, 2009) and editor of the NIV Lifehacks Bible (Zondervan, 2016).