22R4 - Believe (self-image)

Title: The fist step to meet all your goals.

(establish what you believe about yourself.)

BIG IDEA: Start with WHO over DO

Upfit

walls look great, hallways look great.

Mismatched for a while.

Pray over Word

I thank you, Father, that your word has the power to change my life. I'm a hearer of the word and a doer of the word and I'll never be the same after today. In Jesus name Amen.

SERIES SETUP

RESET series because no matter where you are in your life you know that there is always more. Deeper relationship with God, family, friends. there another level to the life you should be experiencing?

g2G - You may be here and you killed it in 2021. Life was good but you want to move to great.

Some are just trying to get to good. Some feel like you're stuck in a rut. not happy with the way things are going?

Some times we get to that point where we just need to hit reset.

1: How to let God do a HARD Reset.

2: Fasting creates self-control from the inside out.

3: Don’t just attend church, be the church.

What if you could hit the RESET button and re-prioritize, reorganize, and revitalize your life? In this series, we talk about what it takes to hit RESET on your life to end 2022 better than you began it.

PROBLEM

we all want a better year this year

You can't just hope your better to a new year.

if you only hope you will be disappointed

you have to change your habits to have a better year.

"our habits either make us or brake us. We become what we repeatedly do."

`Sean Covey

we are the sum total of our habits.

new year is the best time to question and re-establish our habits.

[stats]

half people make resolutions

up to 80% give up by mid feb

8% keep their resolutions till the next year

We have a 92% chance this year will not be better than last.

this is why we have to do something different.

Jesus had habits

Luke 5:16

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

prayer habits

Luke 4:16

...and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom.

"custom" (def: habitual practice)

churhc habits

Paul had church habits too.

Acts 17:2

As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue...

We all not only wnat the good habits but Also getting rid of bad habits

James 1:21

Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

get rid of bad habits and wicked conduct.

We all have bad habits and know we need to get rid of them.

[question]

why is it that most of us don't change our habits even though we know we need to and really want to?

Reason 1: We underestimate the power of small changes.

change usually happens a little bit at a time.

We overestimate big moments and underestimate small daily improvements.

[examples]

marriage - we expect one vacation, one counseling session, one marriage conference to change our lives vs… Consistent daily small things.

Compliment your spouse

Buy them their favorite drink on the way home

Talk about the little things

Apologize when you’re wrong

Join a team together

Offer to help with the daily chores

Eat dinner together

finances - win the lottery. buy the right crypto or investment that will explode. (make $$$ in a month ads) vs…

Putting a little aside each month for 40-50 years

career - one great quarter hoping for that improvement. jumping from job to job vs...

showing up early and leaving late

always double checking your work

taking the little things your boss hates to do off her plate

we underestimate the daily incremental changes that make us better over time.

Luke 16:10

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much...

small changes are how big change happens.

Reason 2: we give up too quickly because we don't see change fast enough.

we are impatient.

change happens like a hockey stick on a graph.

at the beginning you see no change. most people quit early because they see no change.

all the bible characters that kept going though the valley of disappointment. David, Abraham, Joseph, moses, Daniel, Peter.

its easy to read those stories and miss the time that went by before they saw the change they were looking for.

Gal 6:9

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

don't get weary. if you don't give up you will reap a harvest.

[example]

going to church: if that’s one of your new habits don't get discouraged if you don't notice the change after a month. we confess every week "i'll never be the same"

[objection]

isn't that a little presumptuous that we will never be the same. NO. the word changes us even if we don't see it yet.

1YB - keep going and i guarantee you that you will see change for the better in your life because...

Heb 4:12

For the word of God is alive and active.

the word of god is powerful and effective to change you.

Reason 3: We start with DO instead of WHO

circle of why

3 circles nested in each other. DO, HOW, WHO in center.

Your identity is what drives your behaviors.

What you believe about yourself will determine your actions.

[BIG IDEA]

Start with WHO over DO.

Goal setting and habits are important but you have to work from the inside out. (fasting Big Idea)

[example]

trying to quit smoking - offered cig.

person 1: i'm trying to quit (i am a smoker who is trying to quit.)

person 2: no thank you, i don't smoke. (i have changed my identity)

True change starts with who over do.

Rom 12:2

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

don't confirm to the pattern of this world

[definition]

CONFORM TO THE PATTERN

shape one's behavior by a pattern

one greek word (syschematizo)

... but be transformed by the renewing of your minds.

[definition]

MIND

beliefs/values that lead you to act in certain ways.

Rom 12:2 is saying start with who

Our actions are derived from the image you have of yourself.

Start with WHO over DO.

CHALLENGE

Your first step in 2022 is writing who goals before do goals.

to write who goals:

What do you want people to say about you at your funeral?

What do you hope people say about you behind your back?

My List

Caring Husband

Supportive Father

Loyal Friend

Loving Pastor

Strong Leader

Willing to invest into people

A man of Character & Integrity

Courageous and Daring while still being Responsible

(josiah & i) habit tracker app for the do?

your identity will drive your behavior.

[objection]

I dont' have time to do this.

Do you understand whats at stake if you are not who you want to be?

[apply to people]

Men: Fathers, husbands (future husband/father_

Women: Mothers, same

Students and singles: so important for you as you craft your future