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Making Changes
Voluntarily submit to every change God wants to make in my life and humbly ask Him to remove my CHARACTER DEFECTS.
So brothers and sisters, since God has shown us great mercy, I beg you to offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him. Your offering must be only for God and pleasing to him, which is the spiritual way for you to worship. Do not change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but be changed within by a new way of thinking. Romans 12:1-2a
I. WHERE DO MY CHARACTER DEFECTS COME FROM?
Chromosomes – Circumstances – Choices: but these are not Excuses
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Romans 2:1 NIV
God “will give to each person according to what he has done.” Romans 2:6 NIV
II. WHY IS IT SO HARD TO CHANGE THEM?
Habits, My Idenity, Benefits, Discouragement.
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do-this I keep on doing. Romans 7:18-19
III. HOW DO I COOPERATE WITH GOD’S CHANGE PROCESS?
1. Focus on ONE moment, ONE change at a time.
So don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have its own worries. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34 NCV
2. Focus on GOD’S POWER, not my willpower.
I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 NCV
3. Focus on good THINKING, not STINKIN’ THINKIN’.
Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious — the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Philippians 4:8 MSG
4. Focus on the SPIRIT’S work, not FEELING good.
For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, Romans 8:13 NIV
5. Focus on PEOPLE who help me, not hinder me.
As iron sharpens iron, so people can improve each other. Proverbs 27:17 NCV
6. Focus on PROGRESS, not PERFECTION.
…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 NIV
Adapted from Rick Warren of Saddleback Valley Community Church.
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