09 Apr Hopes & Habits (Because you can’t have uphill hopes and downhill habits) Part 26

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This week we will do a quick review and learn more from our “Four Biblical Habits” that will radically change your life:

  1. Focus on firsts (Matt. 6:33).
  2. Foster new thoughts (Rom. 12:2).
  3. Find your purpose (Eph. 2:10)

We learned that not only do you need to:

  1. Focus on firsts
  2. Foster new thoughts

But you need to…Find your purpose!

To assist you we began our “Seven Purpose Principles”:

  1. You have a purpose (Eph. 2:10).  

Remember this:  Live your life by God’s design not human default.

     2. You must have purpose beyond your pain.

Remember this: You can’t be a selfish person and live a significant life!

     3. There will be competition for your purpose (Mark 4:19)

Remember this: An overwhelmed schedule will always produce an underwhelmed soul.

     4. You only have a short time to fulfill your purpose (James 4:14).

 Life is not a dress rehearsal…we only have one shot at this thing!  Let’s make it count for God!

     5. Determine to value your purpose (Phil. 3:7-8)

Then we shared with you some thoughts about what is truly valuable:

Three Vital Value Verifications:

1.) Learn to discern the difference between the urgent and the important.

Remember this:  Just because it gets your attention doesn’t mean it deserves your attention!

2.) Never worship at the altar of another man’s opinion

Remember this:  Never let compliments go to your head….never let criticism go to your heart!

3.) If you don’t calendar it, you don’t truly value it!

Remember this:  What you truly prize, you will prioritize.

This week let’s continue with…

6. Purpose comes daily (Ps. 90:12)

Here the Bible tells us, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”  You really could paraphrase this verse “Teach me to organize my time in order to prioritize wisdom.”

I have some really large trees in my back yard.  If I used an axe and simply gave one of my large trees five big “whacks” every day…eventually that tee would fall!   Many times we try and cut down a huge tree all at once. We then get tired and quit. Then we never go back to it overwhelmed by the size of the tree.  Remember this: You will never change your life unless you change what you are doing on a daily basis.

May I offer you five of my personal daily dynamics?

  1. Daily spend time in the Word
  2. Daily spend time in prayer
  3. Daily love those closest to me
  4. Daily encourage someone
  5. Daily eat right and exercise

I’ve been taking these five “whacks” at my figurative trees for 25 years.  You would be surprised just how many large “trees” have come tumbling down over the years!  I have a great relationship with my Lord! I have a great relationship with my family! I have a great relationship with my staff and church!  At 57, I have the same energy I did when I was in my 20’s…probably more! These did not come by trying to cut the tree down all in one day. They came by taking five good “whacks” every single day for years!Remember this:  Your daily decisions must match the size of your vision.  Diligence is doing little things, for a long time…until it makes a BIG difference!

Next week we will share more about these “whacks”….