It’s Basic Training

It’s Basic Training

Me:

1. October 6, 2015 image

a. The previous 6 months was very stressful

i. I fell into a deep depression after that.

We:

2. The top 10 things that stress us out.

a. The death of a loved one

i. Divorce

ii. Loss of a job

iii. Increase in financial obligations

1. More month than money

iv. Getting married

v. Moving into a new home

vi. Chronic illness or injury

vii. Emotional problems (depression, anxiety, anger, grief, guilt, low self-esteem)

viii. Taking care of an elderly or sick family member

ix. Traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, theft, rape, or violence against you or a loved one

x. Maybe you have a number 11 ________________________

b. One thing in common with all of these

i. Unwanted change

1. Nobody wants to get divorced

2. Nobody wants to lay in bed for 6 weeks down in the back

3. What’s your pain? _______________________________

God:

3. Look for God in the change

a. Man’s heart vs God’s purpose

i. Proverbs 19:21 (NIV) — 21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

ii. Underline person’s heart and Lord’s purpose

iii. How do we deal with this?

iv. It’s easy to say just pray about it – life sucks

v. Let’s go deeper

b. Don’t ask why but what

i. What do I need to learn?

ii. It’s an opportunity for you to grow.

iii. Maybe there is a flaw in my character

iv. Deuteronomy 8:2 (NLT) — 2 Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands.

v. You’ll either grow better or you’ll grow bitter depending on your response.

vi. Try not to focus on your circumstances instead focus on your character.

vii. Quote: “Don’t focus on what’s going on around you; focus on what God wants to do in you.”

You:

4. Life on earth is boot camp.

a. Basic Training

i. Quote: Basic Training — often called boot camp — prepares recruits for all elements of service: physical, mental and emotional. It gives service members the basic tools necessary to perform the roles that will be assigned to them for the duration of their tour.

ii. Your circumstances are a training ground

1. You can resent it – sure you can, plenty do (bitter)

2. Or you can grow from it. Not many do

b. God never waste a hurt

i. The greatest lessons I’ve learned have been from pain.

We:

5. One weapon against stress

a. It is what it is

i. Contentment

ii. Philippians 4:12 (TNIV) — 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

iii. Then he says this

iv. Philippians 4:13 (CEV) — 13 Christ gives me the strength to face anything.

b. Underline “Learned”

i. Contentment and character is something you learn.

ii. What comes natural to us? – Selfishness

iii. I am not by nature content. You are not by nature content. By nature I naturally want to take care of my needs. I’m not thinking about you. I’m thinking about me. My needs, my hurts, my wants, am I comfortable, am I happy, am I getting the pleasure I want. It’s all about me. That’s natural for you, that’s natural for me. You have to learn to be content.

c. God wants to change us and we don’t want to change.

i. It’s much easier to ask WHY than to say WHAT.

ii. “What” requires change,

iii. It requires growth.

iv. It’s basic training

v. Ok God what?