At the 2025 Global Leadership Summit, Craig Groeschel shared a thought that’s been echoing in my spirit ever since. He said instead of trying to build seven new habits at once, we should focus on one—what Charles Duhigg in The Power of Habit calls a keystone habit. It’s the habit that triggers other positive changes in our lives.

I spent weeks praying and meditating on that idea, asking: What is my keystone habit? What’s the one thing that, when I practice it faithfully, sets the rest of my life in motion?

Here’s what I discovered: my morning devotional time with God is my keystone habit.

When I start my day in God’s Word and prayer, everything else follows. I think clearer. I lead better. I love deeper. When I am consistent, I feel almost invincible - as if I’m walking out of the house wearing a bulletproof vest.

Not because the battles go away, but because I am already armored in God’s presence before the battles even begin.

Jesus put it this way: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). My keystone habit is seeking God first. From there, patience, resilience, clarity, and courage flow.

Maybe the question for you today is the same one I wrestled with: What’s your keystone habit? What’s the one thing that makes you tick, that sets the course for everything else?

For me, it’s devotion in the morning. For you, it may be prayer, exercise, journaling, or worship. Whatever it is, focus there. Build from there. Protect it.

Because when you have your keystone habit in place, you’re not just managing your day - you’re already dressed for victory.

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Until next time - grace, peace, and every blessing.

Pastor Martin D. Odom