Over the course of my life of serving Jesus many outstanding servants of Him have impacted me with good advice backed by extraordinary example. One whom I know only by his writing and the testimony of others is Dr. Howard Hendricks. One of his lines to students at Dallas seminary, repeated oft in the testimony of others touched me deeply many years ago:
"As you are now, you will be then. The discipline you cultivate now, you will carry with you into ministry. The poor habits you develop here will dog your steps throughout your career."
Adding to this while still young in the Lord I read Og Mandino's "The Greatest Salesman In The World" and fixed on one of the necessities of being one, "I will form good habits and become their slave." If becoming a slave troubles you remember you are a slave to good or bad habits. Choose the good. I admit that to this very day 50 years after my conversion to Christ I am still dogged by sloppy habits embraced during my first 20 years on earth. Old habits will attempt resurrection; do not permit them to regain control. Paul had this in mind when he wrote in 2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Paul knew that good habits are essential to successfully serve Christ.
