Time for a Mulligan

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I would suspect that all of us would like to START OVER at something. Today, on this first SUNDAY of 2025, is a great day for you to take a MULLIGAN…..in any number of ways.
I would suspect that all of us would like to START OVER at something. Today, on this first SUNDAY of 2025, is a great day for you to take a MULLIGAN…..in any number of ways.
18 “But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. 19 For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
God is instructing us that if we want to start over in any area, we need to not FOCUS on our past FAILURES.
God is instructing us that if we want to start over in any area, we need to not FOCUS on our past FAILURES.
10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
The Devil does NOT want you to be successful. He wants you to fail.
The Devil does NOT want you to be successful. He wants you to fail.
The good news today is that God wants you to have a FRESH START….a MULLIGAN. He wants you to have a new beginning.
The good news today is that God wants you to have a FRESH START….a MULLIGAN. He wants you to have a new beginning.
Forget about what’s happened before. Don’t think about the past. It’s over.
Forget about what’s happened before. Don’t think about the past. It’s over.
We need to understand that God is far more interested in our FUTURE than He is in our PAST. But the devil always wants to run us down by focusing on our PAST.
We need to understand that God is far more interested in our FUTURE than He is in our PAST. But the devil always wants to run us down by focusing on our PAST.
1. Stop making excuses.
1. Stop making excuses.
Other people can hurt you, other people can harm you, and other people can scar you….but the only person that can ruin your life is you.
Other people can hurt you, other people can harm you, and other people can scar you….but the only person that can ruin your life is you.
14 Blessed are those who fear to do wrong, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble.
7 The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.
22 Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.
Why won’t people listen to the advice of other people? Because they think they don’t need it. It’s called PRIDE.
Why won’t people listen to the advice of other people? Because they think they don’t need it. It’s called PRIDE.
18 Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.
When I think I know it all and I can figure it all out myself, I’m setting myself up for failure.
When I think I know it all and I can figure it all out myself, I’m setting myself up for failure.
If I don’t listen to the advice of others, I will probably make a big mistake.
If I don’t listen to the advice of others, I will probably make a big mistake.
The second step in starting over:
The second step in starting over:
2. Take An Inventory Of Your Life.
2. Take An Inventory Of Your Life.
We need to evaluate all of our experiences, and learn from them.
We need to evaluate all of our experiences, and learn from them.
4 Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it?
There are at least 5 kinds of experiences that God uses to shape our lives:
There are at least 5 kinds of experiences that God uses to shape our lives:
1. He uses personal experiences.
1. He uses personal experiences.
2. He uses vocational experiences to shape you.
2. He uses vocational experiences to shape you.
3. He uses educational experiencesto shape you.
3. He uses educational experiencesto shape you.
4. He uses spiritual experiences to shape you.
4. He uses spiritual experiences to shape you.
5. He uses painful experiences to shape you.
5. He uses painful experiences to shape you.
As you take inventory of your life in starting over, you need to ask yourself three questions.
As you take inventory of your life in starting over, you need to ask yourself three questions.
A. What have I learned from my past experiences?
A. What have I learned from my past experiences?
B. What are my assets?
B. What are my assets?
C. Who can help me?
C. Who can help me?
The third step in starting over:
The third step in starting over:
3. Act in Faith.
3. Act in Faith.
29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.”
You’ve got to stop feeling sorry for yourself. Stop saying or thinking things like: “Poor me! I’m such a victim. Life is unfair.”
You’ve got to stop feeling sorry for yourself. Stop saying or thinking things like: “Poor me! I’m such a victim. Life is unfair.”
It was certainly NOT FAIR that all of Jesus’ disciples, except John, was martyred for their faith.
It was certainly NOT FAIR that all of Jesus’ disciples, except John, was martyred for their faith.
The fourth step in starting over:
The fourth step in starting over:
4. Refocus Your Life.
4. Refocus Your Life.
2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. 2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.
Meditating on God’s word simply means rehearsing God’s TRUTH in our minds.
Meditating on God’s word simply means rehearsing God’s TRUTH in our minds.
The fifth step in starting over:
The fifth step in starting over:
5. Trust Totally in God.
5. Trust Totally in God.
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!