Christ-follower, Husband, Dad, Pastor

choice

March 20, 2013

7 Steps For Good Habits

I am not sure who originally authored the steps below. I cannot remember from whom I picked it up and I think I have altered them. I have used the ideas for several years, so by some “preacher standards” – they are mine now! The wisdom is too good not to share.

Here are seven practical steps to start, establish, and maintain good habits.

Step One: Desire

You must start with a strong desire. You must be internally motivated. External motivations don’t last. If you start only half-heartedly, you will never make it to the success point. “The desire of the righteous turns out well, but the hope of the wicked leads to wrath.” (Proverbs 11:23 HCSB)

Step Two: Decide

Begin right now! Don’t wait. Don’t procrastinate. You don’t slide into a new habit. “One of these days” never arrives. You must have a starting point. “And you must keep on while there is still a time that can be called ‘today’.” (Hebrews 3:13b CEV) It’s easier to break a bad habit today than it will be tomorrow!

Step Three: Declaration

Announce your intentions publicly. Make a covenant or resolution. The power of a vow is awesome.  “When you make a vow to the Lord your God, be prompt in fulfilling whatever you promised him.” (Deuteronomy 23:21a NLT) It is particularly powerful if you put your commitment in writing.

Step Four: Determination

It has been observed that Pancreatitis affects over 80000 Americans annually and African Americans aged between 35-64 years discount viagra continue reading to find out more have 10 times more chances of suffering from this problem. It also helps to enhance important site cheapest generic tadalafil the cognitive functioning of the brain. buy generic cialis These soft forms of the sildenafil tablet have the unique specifications. Along with intake of this herbal supplement, you should read the effectiveness of the herbs in addressing the root cause and improving the health. cialis on line Never allow an exception until the new habit is securely rooted in your life. Each lapse will be fatal. A single slip unwinds many turns at first. Continuity and success at the start is essential. Never be swayed by “just this once”. The act of yielding weakens the will and reinforces your lack of self-control. It takes 3 weeks to become comfortable with a new habit and it takes another 3 to 4 weeks (doing it daily) for it to become a part of your life.

Remember, the enemy does not want you to develop habits that help you grow spiritually and make you like Christ. “They [Folks opposing Nehemiah] were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination.” (Nehemiah 6:9 NLT) Satan will do all he can to tempt you, cause you to slip, or discourage you.

Step Five: Just Do It!

Whenever you feel the slightest urge or prompting to practice this new habit – DO IT THEN! Don’t wait. Seize every opportunity to reinforce your habit. Those feelings will not last, so whenever you feel inclined to perform your new habit, do so! Jesus said, “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.” (Luke 9:62 MSG)

Step Six: Double Up

Get a partner who will support you and encourage you. Choose wisely. “Don’t be fooled: Bad friends will ruin good habits.” (1 Corinthians 15:33 ERV) Find someone who is willing to hold you accountable and check up on you especially in the early days before the habit is firmly rooted in your life.

Step Seven: Depend on God

Rely on God’s power to help you establish the habit. “And now just as you trusted Christ to save you, trust Him, too, for each day’s problems; live in vital union with Him.” (Colossians 2:6 LIVING) Pray! Yield to the Holy Spirit. Draw from God’s gracious strength. Keep going. You are walking into a good habit.

 

February 27, 2013

You are saved by grace but you serve by choice.

I appreciate the staff at Valley Fellowship Church! Pastor Will Umbarger is an anointed minister and a great pastor for young adults at Valley Fellowship, but this afternoon, I caught Pastor Will installing a lock in a VFCA classroom. Why? He understands service!

Valley Fellowship Christian Academy Open House is Saturday afternoon, and Will is doing what was needed to have this classroom ready for guests. You are welcome to join us on Saturday, March 2, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Please, drop by! You can get more information at http://valleyfellowship.com/academy_home.php. The teachers and staff are BIG reasons why VFCA is the best school in Huntsville, Alabama (and beyond!). They understand that service is required of a servant of God.

Are you willing to do what’s necessary to serve in God’s kingdom?

If everyone in your local church was just like you, what kind of church would your church be?

All-out surrender is demanded of a servant. The “serve me” mentality of modern culture goes against what Jesus says in Mark 10:35-45. Jesus talks of being a servant. “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant (v. 43 NIV); For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (v. 45 NIV).”

For the Greek the highest ideal was self-determination expressed in freedom. Thus the Greek looked upon the slave as an inferior kind of person. It would have been contradictory to the Greek ideal to speak of becoming a servant to another, even to God. Christianity stood this ideal upon its head. (Harper’s Bible Dictionary, Harper & Row, 1985)

Hebrew slaves were to be freed after a period of time, but someone who had been a slave, then set free, could by choice commit to serve the master for life. I think that is the imagery that Paul (Rom 1:1), James (James 1:1), Simon Peter (2 Peter 1:1), and Jude (Jude 1)  highlighted.

You are saved by grace but you serve by choice. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV)

You must choose to submit to God’s control. Are you ready to serve God by serving others?

December 31, 2012

New Year – New You?

Family traditions are a GOOD thing. One Simon family tradition is the taking of communion before the meal of Thanksgiving or Christmas or just-about-any-holiday. We take time to remember the broken body and precious blood of our Savior. For New Year’s, we take it up a notch – sparkling grape juice and blessing one another as we anticipate God’s blessing.

Patti, Rozy, Kimberlyn and I will stay awake long enough to watch the Times Square ball drop as 2013 dawns in New York. My daughter Rozy is particularly fascinated by the celebration. Someday we might have to visit New York to witness the show, but tonight we will settle for television views. We’ll say “Happy New Year!” to one another, and – bet on it – I WILL kiss my beautiful wife. As a family, we’ll also pray, expecting God to do awesome things in 2013.

Tonight, millions of people will cheer “Happy New Year!” Will you be one of them? Are you expecting something good in the new year?  If so, what choices are you making?

“For us a new year symbolizes new opportunities, new hopes, and new dreams.
And yet, the stroke of the hour simply has marked the dawning of another day. Whether the year really will be new lies within each person. If, when the shouting is over, we fall back into the same old rut of sin and rebellion against God, then nothing has changed. No, years become new only if we make them so.” Howard Hendricks, My Favorite Illustrations

Choices impact our lives. Choices create circumstances and change circumstances. Make sure the choices you make land you with the consequences you want. Like it or not, we get what we sow (Galatians 6:9). It is better to look ahead and prepare for a harvest than to look back and regret the weeds.

Before her death, Grandma Geerhart (Patti’s mother’s mom)  gave Patti and I advice she thought would help us as spiritual leaders. In the midst of that wisdom was a list of choices that could keep a person looking ahead:
  1. Every day say something to God.
  2. Every day let God say something to you.
  3. Every day say something for God.
  4. Every day do something for God.
What choices will you make to really make this a new year?

 

© 2024 - PastorGreg.org