Resource Blog: Habit Formation & Growth Mindset Guide—Making CHEW on This™ a Life-Giving Rhythm

2025-07-12/Ryan Bailey

The Daily CHEW™
Moving God’s Love from Head to Heart for Christian Professionals

Why this matters for you

You have probably had this experience: you hear a clear word from God, try a new spiritual practice, feel genuinely hopeful for a week or two, and then life happens. Early meetings, inbox overload, family needs, travel, and sheer exhaustion pile up. What started as a life‑giving rhythm quietly drifts to the margins. Another good intention goes on the “I should get back to that” list.

CHEW on This™ is designed to be simple and flexible, but even simple things do not do themselves—especially for busy Christian professionals with real responsibilities and personal battles. The question is not, “Do you care about growth?” You do. The question is, “How do you build a pattern that actually fits your real life, so you keep returning to God’s love when motivation dips?” This is where habits and mindset matter. Not because God only works when your systems are perfect, but because small, intentional structures help your heart keep showing up to receive what His love is already offering.​​

This guide will help you treat CHEW like a life‑giving rhythm instead of a short‑term challenge. Using basic habit tools and a growth mindset, you can make daily or weekly CHEW a normal part of your walk with God—simple enough to do in five minutes, deep enough to change how you relate to Him and to the people around you.

The Gospel meets you right here

God is not waiting for you to build perfect habits before He loves you. He is the One who began a good work in you and promises to bring it to completion (Philippians 1:6). His love is already active; habits simply help your attention and availability catch up. Scripture describes growth not as an accident, but as something cultivated over time. “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9, ESV).​

Habits and mindset sit in the overlap between God’s initiative and your participation. On one side, the Spirit uses practices like CHEW to renew your mind and move His love from head to heart. On the other side, your choices about time, reminders, community, and how you respond to setbacks either keep the door open or quietly close it. A “fixed” mindset says, “I’m either good at this or I’m not,” or, “If I miss a few days, it’s over.” A growth mindset says, “Each attempt matters. I can adjust, learn, and keep going, because God is patient and I’m in process.”​​

Here’s the surprising way God’s love changes this story: instead of treating CHEW as another performance metric, you begin to see it as a way to respond to His ongoing invitation. Habits become a form of worship—small, repeated “yeses” that say, “Lord, I want to meet You in my real life.” Over time, those yeses accumulate: His love reshapes your reflexes, your inner scripts, your reactions to stress, and your presence with others. The aim is not a perfect streak; it is a more trusting heart and a more loving life.

As this reality moves from head to heart:

  • You worship God as the One who is at work beneath your habits and beyond your willpower.
  • You trust that every honest CHEW—even distracted or short—is a place He can meet you.
  • You love others better because you are regularly processing your fears, lies, and drivers with Him instead of leaking them unexamined into relationships.

CHEW On This™: bringing habits and mindset into the light

Pause at each CHEW step below. Reflect, and answer in your own words—you’ll see a sample below each question. This is where the Gospel gets personal.​

Confess

Question:
What are you feeling, fearing, or hiding from God right now about your desire to build a CHEW habit—and how is that affecting the way you relate to others?

Sample answer:
“Father, I feel both hungry and discouraged. I love the idea of CHEW, and I’ve seen glimpses of what happens when I slow down with You. But I’m afraid I won’t stick with it. My life is packed, and I tend to go all‑in for a few days, then burn out and feel like a failure. That pattern makes me impatient with others who ‘can’t get it together’ and secretly embarrassed to admit my own inconsistency. I’m tired of starting strong and fading. I want You to be part of my daily life, not just my crises.”

Prompt:
Take a moment—where do you see yourself in this? Name your hope, your fear, and how your on‑again, off‑again patterns affect the people around you.

Hear

Question:
What does God’s Word say about His love and verdict in this area (or what Scriptural truth comes to mind as you think about habits, growth, and weariness)?

Sample answer:
“You say, ‘Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up’ (Galatians 6:9, ESV). That tells me You see my weariness and promise that simple, faithful practices are not wasted. You also promise that You began a good work in me and will bring it to completion (Philippians 1:6). That means my growth is not resting on my perfect consistency. Your love is steady even when my habits are not, and You invite me to keep going, not to impress You, but to receive what You are already giving.”

Prompt:
What verse or truth helps you hear God’s heart for you as a learner and a work‑in‑progress, not as a project manager of your own spirituality?

Exchange

Question:
If I really believed God’s love is patient and proactive—that He is the One growing me and that small, imperfect steps matter—how would that change my approach to building a CHEW habit, my expectations of myself, and my relationships right now?

Sample answer:
“If I believed that, I would stop waiting until I can do CHEW ‘perfectly’ before I start. I’d pick one small, realistic window in my day and treat it as holy ground, even if it’s five minutes. When I miss, I’d be curious instead of condemning, asking what got in the way and how to adjust. I’d be more honest with trusted friends about my fits and starts, and more encouraging when they feel the same. I’d see each CHEW not as a test but as another chance to receive Your love and let it overflow to the people around me.”

Prompt:
If you believed this deeply, what would change—in how you schedule, how you talk to yourself when you miss a day, and how you encourage others who are trying to grow?

Walk

Question:
What is one practical step (10 minutes or less) that embodies trust in God’s love and a growth mindset—and helps you love someone in front of you better?

Sample answer:
“Today I will pick one specific CHEW window (right after my morning coffee) and set a simple reminder on my phone. I’ll spend five minutes walking through CHEW for one real question, then share a brief insight or encouragement with my spouse or a close friend, not to impress them but to invite them into what You are doing.”

Prompt:
What’s your next move? Name the time, the trigger, and the person who might be blessed as CHEW becomes part of your rhythm.

Ways to experience God’s love by building a CHEW habit

Here’s how you can actively trust and experience God’s love—not just work harder.​​

1. Start small and specific, not idealistic

Why this helps:
Vague intentions (“I’ll CHEW more”) collapse under busy schedules. Concrete, small commitments fit real life and lower the pressure. This moves God’s love from head to heart by giving it a regular, realistic place to meet you.

How:

  • Choose one consistent time and place:
    • Morning coffee at your kitchen table.
    • A parked car before walking into work.
    • Lunch break in a quiet corner.
    • Bedtime in a favorite chair.
  • Set a realistic goal, such as:
    • “I’ll CHEW for five minutes each morning.”
    • “I’ll pause to CHEW once during my workday.”
  • Protect this window like a short meeting with Someone who loves you.

Scenario:
A project manager commits to a five‑minute CHEW in the car before walking into the office. It is brief but consistent, and over time becomes the anchor that shapes how he shows up to his team.

What outcomes you can expect:
You are more likely to follow through because your plan fits your world. Others encounter a calmer, more grounded you, even if nothing else in your day changes.

2. Use reminders and triggers so CHEW does not depend on memory

Why this helps:
Busy brains forget even the most important things. Attaching CHEW to existing habits and simple cues takes pressure off your memory and helps your body learn, “This is what we do now.”

How:

  • Set a phone alarm or calendar reminder at your chosen CHEW time.
  • Place visual cues (a sticky note, CHEW card, or verse) where you will see them—bathroom mirror, coffee maker, dashboard.
  • Pair CHEW with something you already do:
    • After making coffee.
    • After brushing your teeth.
    • Before checking your phone in the morning.

Scenario:
A nurse uses her morning coffee as the trigger: when the mug hits the table, she opens her CHEW prompt on her phone. On rushed days, the alarm alone reminds her that even two minutes with God’s love is worth it.

What outcomes you can expect:
CHEW gradually becomes part of your autopilot. Loved ones may notice that you are less reactive and more present at certain times of day.

3. Track your CHEW, and celebrate presence, not perfection

Why this helps:
Progress is easy to miss in the middle of fatigue and distraction. Tracking gives visible evidence that you are showing up, and celebrating presence reinforces that God values honesty more than flawless streaks.

How:

  • Use a simple Daily CHEW Tracker, journal, or calendar. Mark each day you remembered, regardless of length or “quality.”
  • At the end of the week, notice patterns: When is CHEW easiest? When does it get crowded out?
  • Celebrate every day you showed up, even imperfectly—thank God specifically for those moments.

Scenario:
A mom with a packed schedule realizes she CHEWed 4 out of 7 days this week. Instead of focusing on the 3 missed days, she thanks God for the 4 and adjusts her plan for the days that tend to derail her.

What outcomes you can expect:
You gain a more accurate, hope‑filled picture of your growth. Gratitude replaces some of the shame, and you become more encouraging to others trying to build new rhythms.

4. Build in accountability and shared reflection

Why this helps:
Habits grow stronger in community. Inviting even one person into your CHEW rhythm multiplies encouragement and normalizes being a learner. It also gives you a regular place to talk about what God is surfacing in your heart.

How:

  • Ask a friend, spouse, or small group: “Would you be willing to try CHEW once a day or a few times a week with me?”
  • Share one CHEW question or insight with each other regularly, even briefly by text.
  • Once a week, check in: “How did CHEW go for you? What’s one thing you noticed about God or yourself?”

Scenario:
Two colleagues in different cities both set a 7:30 a.m. CHEW window. They text a one‑sentence takeaway a few times a week, which keeps them both engaged and opens deeper conversations over time.

What outcomes you can expect:
You feel less alone in your growth. Relationships deepen as you talk about real heart issues instead of staying at surface‑level updates.

5. Adopt a growth mindset: progress, not perfection

Why this helps:
A fixed mindset turns every missed day into a verdict; a growth mindset sees it as data. God’s love gives you freedom to learn rather than to perform. This keeps you coming back, which is where real transformation happens.

How:

  • When you miss a day or get distracted, ask: “What got in the way? What might help next time?” instead of “What’s wrong with me?”
  • Adjust your time, place, or reminders as needed.
  • Remind yourself: “Each attempt is a step forward, even if it feels awkward or incomplete.”

Scenario:
After a week of travel derails his routine, a consultant returns home and, instead of quitting, tweaks his CHEW time to fit the new season. He treats the disruption as a chance to refine, not a reason to quit.

What outcomes you can expect:
You become more resilient and less self‑condemning. That same mindset often spills over into how you support others in their growth.

6. Stay curious and flexible as seasons change

Why this helps:
Life seasons shift—new jobs, children, caregiving, health changes—and rigid expectations can either crush you or make you quit. Curiosity allows you to keep asking, “What does CHEW look like in this season?” instead of clinging to what used to work.

How:

  • Every few months, review your CHEW rhythm and ask, “Is this still realistic? What needs to shift?”
  • Experiment with different times, locations, or formats (journaling vs. voice notes, alone vs. with someone).
  • See adjustments as faithfulness, not failure.

Scenario:
A new parent moves CHEW to the baby’s naptime and shifts from journaling to brief voice memos. The format changes, but the heart posture remains.

What outcomes you can expect:
CHEW remains doable as your life changes. Others may see you modeling a gracious, adaptive approach to spiritual practices instead of an all‑or‑nothing mentality.

7. Ask for help when you feel stuck or discouraged

Why this helps:
You were never meant to carry your spiritual life alone. God often uses mentors, friends, counselors, and simple resources to refresh your perspective and re‑ignite hope.​

How:

  • When CHEW feels dry or heavy, reach out to a trusted person and say, “I’m struggling to keep this going. Can we talk and pray?”
  • Use additional resources—CHEW FAQs, testimonies, or teaching—to remind your heart why this matters.
  • Be specific about what you need: encouragement, ideas, prayer, or simply someone to listen.

Scenario:
A ministry leader feels like CHEW has become a box to check. Over coffee with a mentor, they process why and make one small change—adding one minute of silence before CHEW. The practice regains a sense of relational connection.

What outcomes you can expect:
You experience God’s care through others and remember that dryness and discouragement are normal parts of growth, not signs that you should stop.

Encouragement for the journey

Take 30 seconds—thank God for what His love has done. Worship is responding to His finished work, even when your feelings lag behind.

Father, thank You that You are more interested in our hearts than our performance. Thank You that every time we show up to CHEW—distracted or focused, energized or exhausted—we are stepping into a space where Your love can meet us. Teach us to build simple, realistic habits that make room for Your voice in our everyday lives and to adopt a growth mindset that expects ups and downs. From that steady rhythm of returning to You, help us to love the people around us better—with more patience, presence, and mercy—so that any change, growth, and clarity we experience will point back to Your faithfulness.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9, NIV).​

Next steps to grow in God’s love

Lasting change is always relational—God moves, we respond. Share your story, invite someone into your CHEW habit, or explore more resources that support this rhythm.

With you on the journey,
Ryan

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Ryan Bailey

Ryan C. Bailey helps Christian professionals live from the reality of God’s love in the middle of real leadership, work, and family pressures. For over 30 years, he has walked with leaders, families, and teams through key decisions and seasons of change, bringing together Gospel‑centered counseling, coaching, and consulting with practical tools like CHEW through Ryan C Bailey & Associates.