30 Apr Hopes & Habits (Because you can’t have uphill hopes and downhill habits) Part 29

Before we jump into new teaching let’s take time to review all that we have learned. Over the last number of months we have shared with you “8 Habit Helpers”:

1. Hope is not a strategy (Heb. 6:19).  
2. The things we do and the things we should do don’t always line up (Rom. 7:19).
3. The two greatest gaps in life are “wanting and having” and “knowing and doing”.  If you’ll close the second gap, the first gap will automatically close.
4. We are what we repeatedly do.  
5. We form our habits then our habits form us.
6. Always point your saying, sowing and serving in the same direction.
7. Always point your mouth, money and ministry in the same direction.  Again, this is the same principle as #6 but said in a little different way.
8. Habit will take you further than desire.

Then we shared with you “3 Different Dynamics”:

1. Renew your hope (Prov. 13:12).
2. Repent from your past (Rom. 2:4).
3. Redefine your habits (Heb. 5:13-14).

Then we finally shared with you “Four Biblical Habits” that will radically change your life:

1. Focus on firsts (Matt. 6:33).

Four “First” Facets:

1. What you do first reveals who you are.
2. Whatever you prize you will prioritize.
3. Whatever you put first you set up to meet your needs.
4. First things have power

Then we shared Three “First” Formulas:

1. Give God the first of your month…scheduling and budgeting
2. Give God the first of your week…worshipping and resting
3. Give God the first of your day…studying and praying

Then we discussed “Three Alignment Aspects”:

1. If God is simply on your list, your life will be misaligned.  If God is at the top of your list, your life will be aligned.
2. God models what He expects.  He put us first by going first.
3. Expect the rest to be blessed.

2. Foster new thoughts (Rom. 12:2).

“Two Change Challenges”:

1. God-given change is both possible and profitable.
2. God-given change creates better “normals”.

Then we shared “Seven Channels of Change”:

1. Change your “saying” (James 3:3-4).  
2. Change your “thinking”
3. Changing your thinking changes your expecting (Ps. 62:5)
4. Changing your expecting changes your attitude (Eph. 4:23)
5. Changing your attitude changes your behavior (II Pet. 3:11)
6. Changing your behavior changes your performance (II Cor. 2:14)
7. Changing your performance changes your life (John 10:10)

3. Find your purpose (Eph. 2:10)

To assist you with this please allow me to share “Seven Purpose Principles”:

1. You have a purpose (Eph. 2:10).  
2. You must have purpose beyond your pain.
3. There will be competition for your purpose (Mark 4:19)
4. You only have a short time to fulfill your purpose (James 4:14).
5. Determine to value your purpose (Phil. 3:7-8)
6. Purpose comes daily (Ps. 90:12)
7. Eliminate the non-essentials for your purpose (Heb. 12:1-2)

No let’s continue with…

4. Further your relationship (Prov. 12:26 NKJ)

Here the Bible tells us, “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.”  The relationships we choose in our lives are absolutely vital.  Please allow me to illustrate:

6 Relationship Reasonings:

1. Association gives you motivation for your destination
2. Show me your three closest friends and I will show you…you!
3. Show me your three closest friends and I will show you your future!
4. Right voices determine right choices.  Wrong voices determine wrong choices.
5. Right connections determine right directions.  Wrong connections determine wrong directions.
6. You can’t live the right life when you have the wrong friends.

As you can see, by the aforementioned statements we must treat our most important relationships like bank accounts…more deposits than withdrawals!  
Join us next month as we continue our series…