Developing Better Habits

0:00:00.200 --> 0:00:02.880 No one likes to talk about money. Am I saving enough? 0:00:02.960 --> 0:00:05.040 Can I buy a house? Am I paying too much 0:00:05.040 --> 0:00:07.760 in taxes? Will I be able to retire? What if 0:00:07.760 --> 0:00:10.360 you could unlock insights about your finances in less than 0:00:10.400 --> 0:00:12.840 five minutes, with a clear picture of where you stand 0:00:12.880 --> 0:00:15.720 today and where your money can work harder. Now you 0:00:15.760 --> 0:00:18.759 can visit facet dot com to take the free quiz 0:00:18.800 --> 0:00:23.400 and get your financial wellness score today. That's Facet dot com. 0:00:23.400 --> 0:00:25.360 This ad is sponsored by Facet. Fast Wealth in Corporated 0:00:25.440 --> 0:00:27.280 is an sec registered investment advisor. This is not an 0:00:27.320 --> 0:00:29.080 offer to buy your self securities or is it investment, 0:00:29.160 --> 0:00:30.080 legal or tax advice. 0:00:30.760 --> 0:00:33.960 You're ready for a comeback, and with Purdue Global you 0:00:34.000 --> 0:00:37.200 can do more than take classes. You can take charge 0:00:37.520 --> 0:00:41.520 of your story, of your career, of your life, Earn 0:00:41.560 --> 0:00:43.559 a degree you can be proud of, and get an 0:00:43.680 --> 0:00:48.559 education employer's respect. It's time, your time, not just to 0:00:48.560 --> 0:00:50.960 go back to school, but to come back and move 0:00:51.040 --> 0:00:55.840 forward with Purdue Global, Purdue's online university for working adults. 0:00:56.440 --> 0:00:59.920 Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 0:01:00.720 --> 0:01:03.480 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:01:03.520 --> 0:01:06.679 our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 0:01:06.760 --> 0:01:09.360 enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 0:01:09.400 --> 0:01:12.040 share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray 0:01:12.120 --> 0:01:26.240 for God's very best in your life. Will God bless you. 0:01:26.480 --> 0:01:28.840 It's always a joy to come into your homes, and 0:01:29.360 --> 0:01:32.119 we know God has great things in store for you. 0:01:32.440 --> 0:01:34.800 If you're ever in our area, I hope you'll stop by. 0:01:35.160 --> 0:01:37.119 We'd love to have you at one of our services. 0:01:37.280 --> 0:01:39.440 I promise you it will make you feel right at home. 0:01:39.440 --> 0:01:42.280 But thanks so much for tuning in today. I'd like 0:01:42.319 --> 0:01:44.720 to get started with something funny, and I heard about 0:01:44.720 --> 0:01:48.680 these two guys. They argued for years over whether Jesus 0:01:48.840 --> 0:01:52.360 was white or whether he was black. Archie was sure 0:01:52.440 --> 0:01:54.280 he was white, and Jack was just as sure he 0:01:54.360 --> 0:01:57.120 was black. As fate would have it, they both died 0:01:57.200 --> 0:02:00.360 on the same day. They rushed to the pearly gates, said, 0:02:00.400 --> 0:02:03.800 Saint Peter, please tell us is Jesus white or black? 0:02:03.840 --> 0:02:06.760 We've been arguing our whole life over this. About that time, 0:02:06.880 --> 0:02:13.239 Jesus walked up and said, buenos dis all right, hold 0:02:13.320 --> 0:02:16.040 up your Bible. Say it like you mean it. This 0:02:16.120 --> 0:02:18.959 is my Bible. I am what it says. I am 0:02:19.600 --> 0:02:22.320 I have what it says I have, I can do 0:02:22.400 --> 0:02:25.120 what it says I can do. Today I will be 0:02:25.200 --> 0:02:29.680 taught the word of God. I boldly confess my mind 0:02:29.760 --> 0:02:33.520 is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 0:02:33.639 --> 0:02:38.160 the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 0:02:38.200 --> 0:02:41.280 to talk to you today about the importance of developing 0:02:41.320 --> 0:02:45.320 good habits. A habit is something we do without even 0:02:45.360 --> 0:02:48.480 thinking about it. We've done it so long it becomes 0:02:48.560 --> 0:02:53.760 almost involuntary, and studies tell us that ninety percent of 0:02:53.800 --> 0:02:57.920 our normal behavior is based on our habits. That means 0:02:58.240 --> 0:03:02.239 how we treat people, we spend our money, what we watch, 0:03:02.520 --> 0:03:06.200 what we listen to. Ninety percent of the time, we're 0:03:06.200 --> 0:03:09.560 on autopilot. We do it like we've always done it before. 0:03:10.040 --> 0:03:12.760 And if we have good habits, this can be fine. 0:03:12.880 --> 0:03:16.800 But sometimes we don't realize we have habits that are 0:03:16.919 --> 0:03:20.480 keeping us from God's best. And when I say habits, 0:03:20.520 --> 0:03:24.360 I don't necessarily mean some big addiction, but even smaller things. 0:03:24.800 --> 0:03:27.560 Do you know? Always being late is a bad habit. 0:03:28.400 --> 0:03:34.160 Allowing strife in your home, overspending, being touchy, having a 0:03:34.200 --> 0:03:38.320 barely get by mindset, These are all negative habits that'll 0:03:38.400 --> 0:03:41.160 keep us in mediocrity. And so if you want to 0:03:41.280 --> 0:03:44.440 change your life, the first place to start is by 0:03:44.520 --> 0:03:50.440 changing your habits. Your habits determine your destiny just like gravity, 0:03:50.640 --> 0:03:54.200 they pull you toward them. If you've developed a habit 0:03:54.240 --> 0:03:58.560 of being impatient, or unorganized or lazy, that's going to 0:03:58.600 --> 0:04:01.760 be a constant strung. Now. I want to encourage you, 0:04:02.280 --> 0:04:05.680 don't go the next twenty years allowing those same things 0:04:05.720 --> 0:04:08.560 to keep you back. Make a decision to do something 0:04:08.600 --> 0:04:12.080 about it. I know people that are always running late. 0:04:12.720 --> 0:04:16.440 They live in a hurry, stressed out, frustrated, and they 0:04:16.520 --> 0:04:20.160 wonder why they don't really enjoy their life. It's because 0:04:20.440 --> 0:04:23.440 they developed a wrong habit. All they have to do 0:04:23.920 --> 0:04:27.599 is discipline themselves to leave a few minutes earlier, and 0:04:27.680 --> 0:04:31.039 all that frustration, all that stress would go away. It's 0:04:31.120 --> 0:04:34.120 all in how we've trained ourselves, and the way we 0:04:34.200 --> 0:04:36.960 develop good habits is the same way we develop bad 0:04:37.000 --> 0:04:40.640 habits by doing the right thing over and over again. 0:04:41.520 --> 0:04:44.960 Most experts tell us in as little as twenty one days, 0:04:45.320 --> 0:04:48.200 we can break a bad habit and form a new habit. 0:04:48.720 --> 0:04:52.359 And we have to understand our habits will become a 0:04:52.440 --> 0:04:55.479 part of our character. If you allow yourself to be 0:04:55.560 --> 0:04:59.279 unorganized and you're always running late, that becomes a part 0:04:59.400 --> 0:05:02.440 of who you are. If you've trained yourself to get 0:05:02.520 --> 0:05:06.920 upset and have a fit whenever you don't get your way, Unfortunately, 0:05:07.400 --> 0:05:11.080 those bad habits become a part of you. The first 0:05:11.120 --> 0:05:15.120 step to changing is you have to identify what's holding 0:05:15.160 --> 0:05:19.800 you back, Identify any bad habits, and then make a 0:05:19.839 --> 0:05:23.120 decision to do something about it. How do we change 0:05:23.600 --> 0:05:27.280 Quit feeding the bad habit. What you feed is going 0:05:27.360 --> 0:05:30.640 to grow. You have to starve your bad habits and 0:05:30.680 --> 0:05:33.960 start feeding your good habits. I heard about this old 0:05:34.040 --> 0:05:37.520 Cherokee Indian one day. He was teaching his grandson the 0:05:37.640 --> 0:05:41.080 same principle, and he said, son, on the inside of 0:05:41.120 --> 0:05:44.680 every person is a battle taking place. It's a battle 0:05:44.760 --> 0:05:53.120 between two wolves. One wolf is evil, it's anger, jealousy, unforgiveness, pride, laziness. 0:05:53.600 --> 0:05:59.520 The other wolf is good. It's peace, joy, love, kindness, humility, 0:05:59.720 --> 0:06:03.800 self control. And these two wolves are constantly fighting. The 0:06:03.839 --> 0:06:06.920 little boy thought about it. In a few minutes. He said, Granddaddy, 0:06:07.080 --> 0:06:11.080 which wolf is going to win? The grandfather smiled and said, 0:06:11.600 --> 0:06:16.600 whichever one you feed, I'm asking you today, don't feed 0:06:16.760 --> 0:06:21.160 the wrong one. Don't go around feeding jealousy, feeding unforgiveness, 0:06:21.200 --> 0:06:25.200 feeding impatience, feeding low self esteem. The more you feed 0:06:25.240 --> 0:06:28.520 that junk, the stronger is going to become. Make a 0:06:28.560 --> 0:06:32.680 decision with me. You're going to start feeding peace, feeding patience, 0:06:32.880 --> 0:06:38.119 feeding kindness, feeding, humility, feeding self control. For instance, maybe 0:06:38.120 --> 0:06:41.120 you have a habit of complaining. You're always talking about 0:06:41.120 --> 0:06:43.880 your boss and how that company doesn't treat you right, 0:06:43.920 --> 0:06:46.080 and you can't stand the drive to work in the morning. 0:06:46.680 --> 0:06:50.359 And it's interesting when we complain, we feel a sense 0:06:50.440 --> 0:06:53.760 of release. Don't get me wrong. It feels good to 0:06:53.800 --> 0:06:56.760 feed the flesh. It feels good to feed the wrong thing. 0:06:57.320 --> 0:07:00.760 But the problem is what we feed is always going 0:07:00.800 --> 0:07:04.000 to want more. The next time you're attempted to complain, 0:07:04.600 --> 0:07:07.680 why don't you dig a little bit deeper and ask yourself, 0:07:08.000 --> 0:07:10.800 do I really want to keep feeding this old negative habit? 0:07:11.280 --> 0:07:13.800 Do I really want to stay where I am? Or 0:07:14.400 --> 0:07:17.360 do I want to start starving this complaining spirit and 0:07:17.400 --> 0:07:21.240 come up higher? If you'll make the better choice and 0:07:21.280 --> 0:07:23.920 instead of complaining, just learn to say, father, I want 0:07:23.920 --> 0:07:25.720 to thank you that at least I have a job. 0:07:26.280 --> 0:07:28.640 These people may not be treating me right, but I'm 0:07:28.640 --> 0:07:31.600 not working under man. I'm working under you. When you 0:07:31.680 --> 0:07:35.360 do that, you're feeding the right thing. The new habit 0:07:35.520 --> 0:07:38.200 is starting to develop. The next time. It'll be a 0:07:38.240 --> 0:07:42.680 little easier next time, even easier. What's happening. You're starving 0:07:42.720 --> 0:07:46.320 your bad habit and your strengthening your good habit. I 0:07:46.360 --> 0:07:50.560 heard somebody say bad habits are easy to develop, but 0:07:50.720 --> 0:07:54.840 difficult to live with. In other words, it's easy to 0:07:54.960 --> 0:07:57.880 pop off and be rused and say whatever you feel 0:07:58.040 --> 0:08:03.000 and make cutting sarcastic rooms. That's easy, but it's difficult 0:08:03.240 --> 0:08:05.840 to live in a home filled with strife and tension. 0:08:06.800 --> 0:08:09.560 It's easy to spend money that we don't have and 0:08:09.840 --> 0:08:13.000 charge everything on our credit cards, but it's hard to 0:08:13.040 --> 0:08:15.000 live with the pressure of not being able to pay 0:08:15.000 --> 0:08:18.960 our bills. It's easy to give into temptation and do 0:08:19.080 --> 0:08:23.280 whatever we feel, but it's difficult to live in bondage, 0:08:23.440 --> 0:08:27.040 to go around guilty and condemned. You take a person 0:08:27.080 --> 0:08:30.080 with a chemical addiction. It was easy to get started. 0:08:30.720 --> 0:08:33.800 It was fun and exciting. It gave them a high, 0:08:34.320 --> 0:08:38.680 but unfortunately, in the long run, it ends up controlling them. 0:08:38.880 --> 0:08:41.800 They become a slave to it. See bad habits are 0:08:41.880 --> 0:08:45.480 easy to develop but hard to live with. On the 0:08:45.520 --> 0:08:50.440 other hand, good habits are difficult to develop. It takes 0:08:50.559 --> 0:08:54.720 sometimes a little sacrifice, a little pain, a little suffering, 0:08:55.160 --> 0:08:58.920 but good habits are easy to live with. For instance, 0:08:59.160 --> 0:09:02.200 at first, it's hard to bite your tongue when you 0:09:02.240 --> 0:09:05.240 want to argue. It's hard to just overlook an offense. 0:09:05.440 --> 0:09:08.520 It's hard at first to forgive, but it sure is 0:09:08.600 --> 0:09:11.960 easy to live in a home filled with peace and harmony. 0:09:12.440 --> 0:09:14.680 And what I'm saying today is if you will just 0:09:14.720 --> 0:09:19.240 be willing to press past the initial pain of change, 0:09:19.559 --> 0:09:21.920 if you will be willing to be uncomfortable for a 0:09:21.960 --> 0:09:25.959 little while, in the long run, your life will be 0:09:26.080 --> 0:09:30.200 much much better because the pain doesn't last forever. Once 0:09:30.240 --> 0:09:34.160 you develop the new habit, then it's easy. Victoria will 0:09:34.200 --> 0:09:37.680 tell you, I won't argue. We don't allow strife and 0:09:37.880 --> 0:09:41.120 conflict in our home. And I'll be honest. It's not 0:09:41.240 --> 0:09:44.160 hard for me now to overlook things. It's not hard 0:09:44.320 --> 0:09:48.040 for me to forgive because I've simply trained myself to 0:09:48.080 --> 0:09:51.920 do it. I've trained myself to be a peacemaker. I've 0:09:51.960 --> 0:09:55.600 trained myself to apologize even when it's not my fault, 0:09:55.920 --> 0:10:00.959 which of course is every single time. But at first 0:10:01.720 --> 0:10:04.760 this was difficult. At first I didn't want to do it. 0:10:05.120 --> 0:10:06.880 Now i'd put up a good argument and I'd tell 0:10:06.880 --> 0:10:08.439 her what I thought and the way it should be. 0:10:09.160 --> 0:10:12.120 But one day I begin to realize that's not the 0:10:12.120 --> 0:10:14.640 way God wants me to live. That's not his best. 0:10:15.200 --> 0:10:17.600 And I could hear the still small voice right down 0:10:17.679 --> 0:10:21.640 in here saying, Joel, let it go. You're better than this. 0:10:22.080 --> 0:10:25.160 Don't live on this low level. See, we have to 0:10:25.200 --> 0:10:27.720 decide do we want to be right or do we 0:10:27.720 --> 0:10:30.880 want to have peace? And little by little I begin 0:10:31.000 --> 0:10:35.160 to change, and it got easier and easier. Today it's 0:10:35.200 --> 0:10:38.720 not difficult at all. It's become a part of my character. 0:10:38.840 --> 0:10:42.080 It's natural to me. The truth is, I could still 0:10:42.160 --> 0:10:44.600 be where I was twenty years ago when we first 0:10:44.679 --> 0:10:48.600 got married, arguing, pouting when I didn't get my way, 0:10:48.960 --> 0:10:50.559 always having to have the last word. 0:10:51.320 --> 0:10:51.400 No. 0:10:51.559 --> 0:10:55.440 Thank God, I developed some better habits. I press past 0:10:55.520 --> 0:10:59.200 the pain of change, and today it's easy. And sure 0:10:59.280 --> 0:11:01.440 I have other areas that I need to improve in 0:11:01.920 --> 0:11:05.680 maybe one or two. But you too, if you will 0:11:05.720 --> 0:11:09.400 press past the initial pain, whether it's a week, a month, 0:11:09.520 --> 0:11:13.480 or a year, eventually the pain will go away, and 0:11:13.520 --> 0:11:15.960 you'll not only enjoy your life a lot more, but 0:11:16.040 --> 0:11:18.480 you'll be living at a much higher level. It will 0:11:18.520 --> 0:11:20.599 become a part of you. It's kind of like a 0:11:20.720 --> 0:11:24.480 rocket ship being launched into space. The first few minutes 0:11:24.600 --> 0:11:27.839 takes the majority of the energy. It needs all that 0:11:28.000 --> 0:11:30.920 thrust to lift it off the ground. Those boosters are 0:11:30.920 --> 0:11:33.679 shooting it up into the air. But in a little while, 0:11:33.920 --> 0:11:37.319 once it gets into outer space, it doesn't need all 0:11:37.360 --> 0:11:41.520 that extra energy. It simply had to press past the 0:11:41.520 --> 0:11:46.320 Earth's atmosphere. Same way with us informing new habits. At first, 0:11:46.400 --> 0:11:49.960 it's difficult, but if you will stick with it, you'll 0:11:49.960 --> 0:11:52.400 come to a point where it doesn't take much effort 0:11:52.400 --> 0:11:55.080 at all. It will be natural to you. It's like 0:11:55.120 --> 0:11:58.160 that person with that chemical addiction. He's been hooked on 0:11:58.160 --> 0:12:00.760 that drug so long. When he goes off of it, 0:12:01.120 --> 0:12:05.280 what happens. He goes through withdraws. It's painful, he suffers, 0:12:05.480 --> 0:12:08.360 his body wants it back, and this is where so 0:12:08.440 --> 0:12:11.120 many people give in and they feed the bad habit. 0:12:11.200 --> 0:12:14.720 Once again, I'm asking you today to dig your heels 0:12:14.760 --> 0:12:18.840 in and stay consistent. It's better to suffer a little 0:12:18.880 --> 0:12:21.880 while than to suffer your whole lifetime. And if you 0:12:22.040 --> 0:12:25.280 too will press past that pain of change, just like 0:12:25.320 --> 0:12:28.280 that rocket, you'll come to a place where it's not painful. 0:12:28.520 --> 0:12:31.319 You'll begin to soar. You'll be free from those bondages. 0:12:31.840 --> 0:12:34.520 And I know we all have areas that we've struggled 0:12:34.559 --> 0:12:37.040 with for years and years, and I'd love to tell you, 0:12:37.040 --> 0:12:39.040 you know, you quote one scripture, pray one prayer, and 0:12:39.080 --> 0:12:43.040 it'll go away. But unfortunately, most of the time that's 0:12:43.040 --> 0:12:46.720 not the way it works. God changes us little by little. 0:12:47.320 --> 0:12:51.080 Be determined, stick with it and keep making right decisions. 0:12:51.760 --> 0:12:55.760 We've all heard that saying practice makes perfect, and that's true, 0:12:55.960 --> 0:13:00.319 but I found sometimes we're practicing the wrong things. I've 0:13:00.320 --> 0:13:03.640 had people tell me, Joel, I'm just a real negative person. 0:13:03.960 --> 0:13:06.760 My parents were negative, my grandparents were negative. This is 0:13:06.840 --> 0:13:10.520 just who I am. But with all due respect, that's 0:13:10.600 --> 0:13:13.480 not who you really are. That's not the way God 0:13:13.520 --> 0:13:17.319 made you. God made you to be free. He didn't 0:13:17.320 --> 0:13:20.800 make us to be bound by addictions and unorganized and 0:13:20.880 --> 0:13:25.000 hot temper, going around frustrated and negative. No. God made 0:13:25.080 --> 0:13:28.360 each one of you as a person of excellence. He 0:13:28.520 --> 0:13:32.160 made you to be healthy, healthy and whole. But too 0:13:32.200 --> 0:13:36.360 often we've developed wrong mindsets. We go around telling ourselves, Man, 0:13:36.400 --> 0:13:38.840 I can't change, I can't break this habit. This is 0:13:38.920 --> 0:13:42.599 just who I am now. The problem is we're practicing 0:13:42.720 --> 0:13:46.240 the wrong things, and it's interesting. The Apostle Paul said 0:13:46.240 --> 0:13:49.440 in Romans chapter seven, the things I want to do 0:13:49.520 --> 0:13:51.680 I don't and the things I don't want to do 0:13:51.760 --> 0:13:54.920 I end up doing. He was having this same struggle 0:13:55.000 --> 0:13:57.960 of doing the right thing, and in verse nineteen, a 0:13:57.960 --> 0:14:01.360 couple verses down, he gives us insight into why he's 0:14:01.400 --> 0:14:06.040 having this struggle. He said, for I fail to practice 0:14:06.640 --> 0:14:10.200 the things I desire to do. He was basically saying, 0:14:10.520 --> 0:14:14.080 I haven't developed good habits in these areas. I'm not 0:14:14.360 --> 0:14:17.880 practicing what I know I should be doing. The truth 0:14:18.000 --> 0:14:21.880 is we are all practicing something. The way we develop 0:14:21.960 --> 0:14:25.840 good habits is by practicing the right things. Some of 0:14:25.880 --> 0:14:28.480 you are real good at losing your temper because you 0:14:28.560 --> 0:14:31.920 practice it a couple times a week. Some people are 0:14:31.920 --> 0:14:35.200 good at being impatient because they practice it every morning 0:14:35.240 --> 0:14:37.640 on the drive to work. I know people that are 0:14:37.640 --> 0:14:43.120 good at being negative because they constantly practice negative thinking. Remember, 0:14:43.800 --> 0:14:47.320 repetition is what forms a habit. That's what puts us 0:14:47.400 --> 0:14:51.040 on autopilot. So we have to make sure we are 0:14:51.120 --> 0:14:54.960 practicing the right things. And every one of us should 0:14:55.000 --> 0:14:58.920 be practicing forgiveness. Next time somebody offends you, next time 0:14:58.920 --> 0:15:00.960 they hurt you, don't even think about it. Don't give 0:15:00.960 --> 0:15:04.600 it five seconds. Immediately, forgive them immediate, let it go. 0:15:05.000 --> 0:15:09.200 Start practicing forgiveness. Maybe you struggle with keeping your weight 0:15:09.280 --> 0:15:13.360 under control. Next time you're attempted to snack, practice saying no, 0:15:14.240 --> 0:15:18.680 practice walking away, practice self control. The only way you're 0:15:18.680 --> 0:15:21.960 gonna get good at it is by practicing. Each one 0:15:22.000 --> 0:15:26.480 of us should practice being kind. Let's practice being patient, 0:15:26.840 --> 0:15:31.880 Let's practice being disciplined in our spending, making good financial choices. 0:15:32.400 --> 0:15:35.080 I know too many people. They're way out of balance 0:15:35.160 --> 0:15:38.600 in their finances because they've developed bad habits, and they 0:15:38.680 --> 0:15:42.280 just keep practicing the wrong things, spending money that they 0:15:42.280 --> 0:15:46.200 don't have, charging everything on their credit cards. It doesn't 0:15:46.200 --> 0:15:49.520 take a lot of wisdom to realize paying twenty to 0:15:49.600 --> 0:15:52.040 twenty five percent interest on a credit card is not 0:15:52.120 --> 0:15:55.680 a good thing. Don't keep practicing that. It's like this 0:15:55.720 --> 0:15:58.360 guy I heard about the credit card company called him 0:15:58.360 --> 0:16:01.040 one night and said, sir, I'm sorry, sorry, but someone 0:16:01.120 --> 0:16:04.600 has stolen your wife's credit card. He checked his bill 0:16:04.640 --> 0:16:06.920 and called him back a little later and said, tell 0:16:06.960 --> 0:16:10.640 the thief to keep it. He spends less than my wife. 0:16:11.560 --> 0:16:13.360 I've heard people say, Joel, I just can't make it 0:16:13.400 --> 0:16:16.280 without my credit cards, can't live without him. But the 0:16:16.360 --> 0:16:19.320 truth is you can make it. You just may be 0:16:19.400 --> 0:16:22.600 a little uncomfortable, You may have to suffer through that 0:16:22.720 --> 0:16:26.120 period of change. I remember my father used to say, 0:16:26.400 --> 0:16:30.280 you can't buy everything your little obed eyes. See. He 0:16:30.320 --> 0:16:33.480 would say, learn to sit on an apple box until 0:16:33.520 --> 0:16:36.440 you can afford a chair. What he is really saying was, 0:16:36.960 --> 0:16:40.240 if you'll use what you have wisely, then God will 0:16:40.240 --> 0:16:43.240 give you more. A lot of times today we're praying 0:16:43.280 --> 0:16:46.800 for a miracle. We're praying for a financial breakthrough. And 0:16:46.880 --> 0:16:50.680 I say this respectfully, but we don't really need a miracle. 0:16:50.960 --> 0:16:54.000 We just need to develop better habits. So I know 0:16:54.120 --> 0:16:57.760 people if God blessed them with a million dollars tomorrow, 0:16:58.160 --> 0:17:00.600 a year from now, they'd be in the same financial 0:17:00.600 --> 0:17:03.880 difficulty that have the same problems. Why they have not 0:17:04.080 --> 0:17:07.600 developed good spending habits. We need to think long and 0:17:07.720 --> 0:17:11.240 hard before we buy something that puts us deep into debt. 0:17:11.800 --> 0:17:14.760 I'm talking about outside your home. Do you really need 0:17:14.800 --> 0:17:17.880 that fancy car? Do you really need that extra toy. 0:17:18.720 --> 0:17:21.960 I heard somebody say if we paid cash for everything 0:17:22.240 --> 0:17:26.160 actually paid with green bills in a year, we would 0:17:26.160 --> 0:17:29.920 save an average of nine hundred dollars each. It's because 0:17:29.960 --> 0:17:32.480 when you dole that money out, one bill at a time, 0:17:33.240 --> 0:17:35.480 it makes you think, do I really want to give 0:17:35.520 --> 0:17:37.760 all this up just to have this? That's a lot 0:17:37.800 --> 0:17:41.000 more thought provoking than just popping out a credit card. 0:17:41.320 --> 0:17:45.960 And do you realize financial pressure is always listed as 0:17:46.040 --> 0:17:49.639 one of the top three reasons why our homes fall apart, 0:17:50.200 --> 0:17:54.359 top three reasons why couples get a divorce, develop good 0:17:54.440 --> 0:17:58.480 spending habits, and listen, it's never too late to start. 0:17:59.000 --> 0:18:01.960 If you'll do your God will do his part. He'll 0:18:02.000 --> 0:18:04.680 give you promotion, he'll give you increase. But you've got 0:18:04.720 --> 0:18:07.280 to be a good steward with what you have. I 0:18:07.320 --> 0:18:10.520 loved the story a young couple told here at Lakewood 0:18:10.560 --> 0:18:14.040 a few months ago. They had about forty thousand dollars 0:18:14.080 --> 0:18:16.880 in credit card debt, and they were not only kind 0:18:16.880 --> 0:18:20.200 of embarrassed by it, they were very distraught over it. 0:18:20.680 --> 0:18:23.320 They didn't see any way out in the natural. It 0:18:23.359 --> 0:18:26.480 looked totally impossible. For one day, they took a step 0:18:26.480 --> 0:18:29.600 of faith and they swallowed their pride and came up 0:18:29.720 --> 0:18:32.639 and met with one of our financial planners. That's a 0:18:32.640 --> 0:18:35.760 free ministry we have here at Lakewood. And that planner 0:18:35.800 --> 0:18:39.320 studied their finances and gave them instruction in how they 0:18:39.320 --> 0:18:42.320 could overcome. And this young couple told, and I was 0:18:42.359 --> 0:18:45.720 so impressed, how for three years they didn't go out 0:18:45.720 --> 0:18:49.520 to eat, they didn't take vacations, they didn't buy extra clothes. 0:18:49.800 --> 0:18:54.040 They were on a bare bones budget. It was uncomfortable. 0:18:54.560 --> 0:18:58.119 It was a sacrifice. But how do we overturn years 0:18:58.119 --> 0:19:02.200 of wrong choices by forming better habits and making years 0:19:02.240 --> 0:19:05.959 of right choices. They changed what they were practicing. They 0:19:06.040 --> 0:19:09.560 quit using their credit cards, They learned the difference between 0:19:09.640 --> 0:19:14.040 their wants and their needs. They started practicing discipline, practicing 0:19:14.080 --> 0:19:17.960 self control. That was three years ago. Today that young 0:19:18.000 --> 0:19:22.000 couple is totally debt free. God is blessing them. They're 0:19:22.040 --> 0:19:26.040 seeing increase in promotion. But it all started way back 0:19:26.480 --> 0:19:30.080 when they decided to form better habits. They drew the 0:19:30.160 --> 0:19:32.160 line in the sand, said, you know what, that's it. 0:19:32.560 --> 0:19:36.160 We're not living like this anymore. The first step to overcoming, 0:19:36.680 --> 0:19:39.600 first step to victory is you got to identify what's 0:19:39.640 --> 0:19:42.679 holding you back and then don't stop there, make a 0:19:42.720 --> 0:19:46.120 decision to do something about it. Take action. You may 0:19:46.160 --> 0:19:48.600 need to get some help like this young couple. Don't 0:19:48.600 --> 0:19:52.000 be embarrassed by it. Whatever area it's in. Today, people 0:19:52.000 --> 0:19:55.960 struggle with chemical addictions, sexual addictions. It may be an 0:19:55.960 --> 0:20:00.840 anger addiction. You just can't control your temper. Listen can change. 0:20:01.359 --> 0:20:05.159 Freedom is available. Don't believe that lie telling you that 0:20:05.200 --> 0:20:08.680 you're stuck you'll never get any better. No, God already 0:20:08.760 --> 0:20:11.919 has a pathway of victory laid out for you. But 0:20:11.960 --> 0:20:14.080 you've got to do your part and be willing to 0:20:14.119 --> 0:20:18.080 walk it out the next time that temptation comes. First 0:20:18.080 --> 0:20:21.879 thing you need to do is pray. Get God involved 0:20:21.960 --> 0:20:25.320 in your life. We cannot defeat bad habits in our 0:20:25.359 --> 0:20:28.840 own strength. Ask God to help you when you're tempted 0:20:28.880 --> 0:20:31.920 to be rude, you feel your emotions getting out of hand. 0:20:32.400 --> 0:20:35.439 Normally you just tell somebody off. Know right then and 0:20:35.480 --> 0:20:38.639 there under your breath, God, I'm asking you to help me. 0:20:39.200 --> 0:20:41.600 God give me the grace to keep my mouth closed. 0:20:41.840 --> 0:20:45.040 God give me the strength to walk away. See the 0:20:45.040 --> 0:20:49.679 Scripture tells us pray that you don't come into temptation. 0:20:50.600 --> 0:20:53.359 It doesn't say pray that you'll never be tempted. No, 0:20:53.480 --> 0:20:57.120 we're all going to face temptation, God says. When that comes, 0:20:57.560 --> 0:21:00.960 ask me for my help in any area that you're 0:21:01.000 --> 0:21:04.199 trying to change, even small things. God, I'm about to 0:21:04.240 --> 0:21:06.840 walk through this kitchen and I can smell the chocolate 0:21:06.920 --> 0:21:10.640 chip cookies. I'm asking you to help me resist it. God. 0:21:10.680 --> 0:21:13.199 All my friends are going out partying tonight, and I 0:21:13.280 --> 0:21:15.720 know down in here it's not right. God. I'm asking 0:21:15.760 --> 0:21:18.240 you to help me make the best choice, help me 0:21:18.320 --> 0:21:22.560 stay on your best plan. Well, Joel, that's difficult. It's 0:21:22.600 --> 0:21:24.960 hard not to go out with my friends, hard not 0:21:25.000 --> 0:21:28.560 to use my credit cards, hard not to speak my mind. Yes, 0:21:28.640 --> 0:21:31.920 that's difficult. But you know what's even more difficult living 0:21:31.960 --> 0:21:35.600 in bondage. You know what's even harder going around feeling 0:21:35.640 --> 0:21:39.720 bad about yourself because you know you're living below your potential. 0:21:40.240 --> 0:21:43.480 There's nothing worse than going through the day with little 0:21:43.480 --> 0:21:46.200 things holding you back that you know good and well 0:21:46.280 --> 0:21:50.200 you can beat some of you today. You're struggling with addictions, 0:21:50.520 --> 0:21:54.000 or you struggle with your temper, or being impatient, dragging 0:21:54.000 --> 0:21:58.160 around in mediocrity, allowing something so small to control you. 0:21:58.800 --> 0:22:01.200 Let me tell you what you are ready, No, you're 0:22:01.200 --> 0:22:04.880 better than that. You're a child of the most High God. 0:22:05.040 --> 0:22:09.440 You have his royal blood flowing through your veins. Don't 0:22:09.480 --> 0:22:12.200 you dare? Just sit back and settle where you are. 0:22:12.720 --> 0:22:15.679 There is not an obstacle in your life that you 0:22:15.800 --> 0:22:19.720 cannot overcome. Large or small. It doesn't matter if it's 0:22:19.720 --> 0:22:23.280 a critical spirit or if you're addicted to cocaine. The 0:22:23.400 --> 0:22:26.400 power that's in you is greater than the power that's 0:22:26.440 --> 0:22:29.400 trying to hold you back. Dig your heels in and 0:22:29.440 --> 0:22:32.800 fight the good fight of faith. Don't let that thing 0:22:32.920 --> 0:22:36.359 master you. Our attitude should be that's it. I'm not 0:22:36.480 --> 0:22:39.000 staying where I am. I'm coming up higher. I know 0:22:39.280 --> 0:22:42.120 I'm better than this. That's what the scripture tells us. 0:22:42.440 --> 0:22:46.000 That we're supposed to reign as kings in this life. 0:22:46.400 --> 0:22:49.200 That means we're not supposed to go around being conquered 0:22:49.200 --> 0:22:52.800 by addictions. Not Able to control our temper. We can't 0:22:52.840 --> 0:22:55.679 get to work on time. We're always argain in fighting. No, 0:22:56.160 --> 0:22:59.280 tap into the power that's on the inside. Quit saying 0:22:59.320 --> 0:23:02.320 I can't break this thing and start to clearing every day. 0:23:02.520 --> 0:23:05.600 I am free. I can do all things through Christ. 0:23:06.160 --> 0:23:08.560 No weapon formed against me is ever going to prosper. 0:23:08.840 --> 0:23:13.320 Remember what Jesus said, whom the sun sets free is free. Indeed, 0:23:13.640 --> 0:23:17.200 start declaring that over your own life. Says in Philippians 0:23:17.240 --> 0:23:20.919 chapter two, we have to work out our salvation. That 0:23:21.080 --> 0:23:24.280 means we have all these good things on the inside. 0:23:24.440 --> 0:23:28.120 You have the seed of Almighty God. He's already put 0:23:28.160 --> 0:23:34.560 in you self control, discipline, kindness, forgiveness, patience. It's on 0:23:34.680 --> 0:23:37.200 the inside, but it's up to each one of us 0:23:37.440 --> 0:23:40.880 to work it out. Doesn't come out automatically. It only 0:23:40.920 --> 0:23:43.719 comes out when we make good choices, not once, but 0:23:43.840 --> 0:23:46.440 over and over again. In other words, when we form 0:23:46.560 --> 0:23:50.359 these good habits. Now I know my personality type is 0:23:50.520 --> 0:23:54.919 very goal oriented. I'm structured. I'm organized. If I tell 0:23:54.920 --> 0:23:56.800 you i'm gonna be somewhere at noon, I'm not going 0:23:56.840 --> 0:23:58.960 to be ten minutes late. I'm gonna be ten minutes early. 0:23:59.320 --> 0:24:02.919 I'm very disciplined when it comes to being organized and 0:24:02.960 --> 0:24:06.840 getting things done. But with the good in our personalities, 0:24:07.000 --> 0:24:09.880 there are always other areas that we have to work on. 0:24:10.560 --> 0:24:14.960 Where I'm naturally disciplined and focused. I'm not naturally very patient. 0:24:15.359 --> 0:24:18.199 I don't like to wait. I like to get somewhere, 0:24:18.280 --> 0:24:20.880 get it done, and move on. It's very easy for 0:24:20.920 --> 0:24:24.399 me to be impatient. I realize that's an area I 0:24:24.440 --> 0:24:27.440 have to develop. I can't just sit back and say, well, 0:24:27.680 --> 0:24:29.640 I'm not a patient person. That's not the way God 0:24:29.680 --> 0:24:30.040 made me. 0:24:30.680 --> 0:24:30.720 No. 0:24:31.040 --> 0:24:34.439 I know patience is on the inside of me, but 0:24:34.480 --> 0:24:36.360 I have to do my part to work it out. 0:24:37.000 --> 0:24:40.280 And it's funny how God will use people and circumstances 0:24:40.359 --> 0:24:42.560 to try to help us come up higher. I have 0:24:42.640 --> 0:24:45.400 to tell you, the freeway system out here in Houston 0:24:45.560 --> 0:24:49.080 has taught me a whole lot about patience. I used 0:24:49.119 --> 0:24:52.200 to practice getting stressed out, practice getting up tight every 0:24:52.240 --> 0:24:55.400 time traffic backed up. But now I've learned to just relax, 0:24:55.760 --> 0:24:58.480 go with the flow, stay in peace. See. I've worked 0:24:58.600 --> 0:25:02.160 some of that patience from the inside to the outside, 0:25:02.520 --> 0:25:05.719 to my thoughts, to my behavior, to my attitude. And 0:25:05.800 --> 0:25:09.159 God has used my beautiful wife Victoria to help me 0:25:09.240 --> 0:25:13.520 work out my salvation. When we first got married and 0:25:13.560 --> 0:25:15.439 we were about to leave the house and go somewhere, 0:25:15.440 --> 0:25:17.680 I say, Victoria, are you ready? She says, yeah, I'm ready, 0:25:17.720 --> 0:25:20.800 I'll be right there. Well, with my personality type, I 0:25:20.840 --> 0:25:23.800 would go get in the car and wait. I mean 0:25:23.840 --> 0:25:27.199 to me, i'm ready means we're leaving right now. But 0:25:27.400 --> 0:25:31.679 Victoria's personality is very laid back, easygo, and nothing's a 0:25:31.680 --> 0:25:34.480 big deal. She's the most patient person in the world. 0:25:34.800 --> 0:25:38.280 So when she says I'm ready, she means in general, 0:25:39.920 --> 0:25:42.399 in the next ten or fifteen minutes, I'll begin to 0:25:42.440 --> 0:25:45.240 mose in my way towards the back door. Well, I 0:25:45.320 --> 0:25:48.680 used to sit in that car and get frustrated and aggravated, 0:25:48.720 --> 0:25:50.600 and I thought she said she is ready, when is 0:25:50.640 --> 0:25:53.359 she coming. Well, now I've learned when she says I'm ready, 0:25:53.520 --> 0:25:57.480 it's kind of like the two minute warning in football. 0:25:57.640 --> 0:26:00.000 The clock says two minutes, but if you know anything 0:26:00.000 --> 0:26:01.879 about football, it's gonna be at least another ten or 0:26:01.880 --> 0:26:04.920 fifteen minutes. I've learned now just to go, sit down, 0:26:05.000 --> 0:26:08.000 go over my notes, watch a little television, stay in peace, 0:26:08.119 --> 0:26:11.320 not uptight. I'm telling you, God has used that girl 0:26:11.400 --> 0:26:16.640 to bring patience out of me, And I gotta be honest. 0:26:17.480 --> 0:26:19.800 I know God has used me to bring a few 0:26:19.800 --> 0:26:22.040 things out of her, but I don't want to know 0:26:22.080 --> 0:26:25.400 what they are, and don't you ask, but how did 0:26:25.400 --> 0:26:29.040 I develop patience? By practicing it? Over time, I develop 0:26:29.119 --> 0:26:31.760 better habits. You may be the most patient person in 0:26:31.800 --> 0:26:35.520 the world, but you spend half your life discouraged, depressed. Well, 0:26:35.520 --> 0:26:38.000 you got to work the joy from the inside to 0:26:38.040 --> 0:26:40.480 the outside. You got to get up in the morning 0:26:40.520 --> 0:26:43.240 and say, with David, this is the day the Lord's man, 0:26:43.280 --> 0:26:45.720 I'm gonna be happy today. You've got to focus on 0:26:45.760 --> 0:26:49.480 what's right, not on what's wrong. Work out your salvation. 0:26:50.000 --> 0:26:52.800 Don't believe those lies. Well, I just can't control my temper. 0:26:52.840 --> 0:26:56.240 I'm just hot headed. No self control is in you. 0:26:56.480 --> 0:26:58.879 Problem is you just hadn't worked it out yet. The 0:26:58.920 --> 0:27:01.560 way you work it out is by exercising your muscles 0:27:01.560 --> 0:27:04.080 in that area. If you want to work out kindness, 0:27:04.080 --> 0:27:08.359 start being kinder, start encouraging people, start giving compliments. What 0:27:08.359 --> 0:27:10.240 I'm saying is we can't just sit back and wait 0:27:10.280 --> 0:27:13.080 for God to change us into a kind, loving person. 0:27:13.240 --> 0:27:14.960 The only way it's going to happen is to work 0:27:15.000 --> 0:27:18.399 it out, be kinder, develop better habits, and we should 0:27:18.440 --> 0:27:21.560 always keep new goals in front of us. Our attitude 0:27:21.600 --> 0:27:25.680 should be this year, I'm gonna practice treating my family better. 0:27:26.119 --> 0:27:28.280 I'm going to come up higher and how I honor 0:27:28.400 --> 0:27:31.080 and respect my spouse, I'm going to be more loving 0:27:31.200 --> 0:27:34.120 and generous to my children. See, don't get stuck. I'm 0:27:34.160 --> 0:27:37.399 not talking about just overcoming bad habits. I'm talking about 0:27:37.640 --> 0:27:40.240 strengthening and improving good habits. 0:27:40.400 --> 0:27:40.520 Now. 0:27:40.520 --> 0:27:42.400 I don't know about you, but I want to work 0:27:42.440 --> 0:27:45.199 out everything God's put in me. I don't want a 0:27:45.240 --> 0:27:47.840 little joy, a little peace, a little victory. I want 0:27:47.840 --> 0:27:50.840 to live his abundant life. And I know that's going 0:27:50.920 --> 0:27:53.320 to happen when I do my part and work it out. 0:27:53.800 --> 0:27:56.120 And some of you today you have areas in your 0:27:56.160 --> 0:28:00.480 life that you know you need to get under control, saying, 0:28:01.000 --> 0:28:03.920 don't put it off any longer. Today is the day 0:28:03.960 --> 0:28:06.960 to start. Today can be a new beginning. If you'll 0:28:07.000 --> 0:28:10.040 take this to heart and be willing to press past 0:28:10.119 --> 0:28:12.760 the pain of change and just stick with it, then 0:28:12.800 --> 0:28:14.919 a year from now you won't be the same person. 0:28:15.200 --> 0:28:18.240 You'll be free from addictions, free from bad attitudes, free 0:28:18.280 --> 0:28:21.160 from every bondage it's trying to hold you back. So 0:28:21.200 --> 0:28:23.680 my challenge to you again is to make sure you're 0:28:23.720 --> 0:28:27.360 practicing the right things. Don't feed those old negative habits anymore. 0:28:27.800 --> 0:28:30.920 Starve your bad habits and feed you good habits. Work 0:28:30.960 --> 0:28:34.320 out your salvation. If you do this, I know you're 0:28:34.359 --> 0:28:36.800 going to rise higher and higher. God will pour out 0:28:36.800 --> 0:28:39.000 his blessings in favor and you're going to live the 0:28:39.040 --> 0:28:41.880 life of victory he has in store. Amen, do you 0:28:41.920 --> 0:28:46.560 receive it today? We never like to close our broadcast 0:28:46.760 --> 0:28:49.640 without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the lord 0:28:49.640 --> 0:28:54.040 of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, 0:28:55.000 --> 0:29:00.200 I'll repent of my sins, Come into my heart. Thank you, 0:29:00.280 --> 0:29:04.360 my Lord and Savior. Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, 0:29:04.520 --> 0:29:07.120 we believe you got born again. Get in a good 0:29:07.160 --> 0:29:10.280 Bible based church. Keep God first place. He's going to 0:29:10.360 --> 0:29:12.880 take your places that you've never dreamed of. Thank you 0:29:12.960 --> 0:29:16.720 for listening to the joel Ustine podcast. Help us continue 0:29:16.760 --> 0:29:19.320 to share the message of hope with those all over 0:29:19.360 --> 0:29:21.640 the world. Visit joelostin dot. 0:29:21.480 --> 0:29:24.520 Com slash give Hope to give a gift today. 0:29:25.800 --> 0:29:28.720 Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 0:29:28.720 --> 0:29:32.120 you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 0:29:32.200 --> 0:29:35.400 keep you inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. 0:29:35.560 --> 0:29:38.040 I know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you 0:29:38.080 --> 0:29:38.600 next time. 0:29:50.200 --> 0:29:52.920 With millions of books on Amazon, there's a reading feeling 0:29:53.000 --> 0:29:57.520 for everyone. For example, Quands as he drifts away to 0:29:57.600 --> 0:30:01.320 Nirvana after only the first chapter is different to Maya's 0:30:02.440 --> 0:30:05.600 when she discovered the narrator was in fact the Evil Twin, 0:30:06.160 --> 0:30:09.760 which is also different to Noah's aw anytime the cute 0:30:09.800 --> 0:30:13.160 cyberpunk is mentioned, even though in reality he'd be totally 0:30:13.200 --> 0:30:18.600 out of his league. From two two Amazon books, that 0:30:18.720 --> 0:30:19.880 reading feeling awaits. 0:30:21.280 --> 0:30:25.080 All inclusive vacations make life easy with endless aids, bottomless drinks, 0:30:25.080 --> 0:30:27.600 and never ending fun, so booking an all inclusive vacation 0:30:27.640 --> 0:30:30.880 should be easy too, write. That's where Apple Vacations comes in. 0:30:31.040 --> 0:30:33.600 Book your all inclusive getaway with Apple Vacations and receive 0:30:33.680 --> 0:30:36.560 exclusive perks as select resorts. You'll find the best deals 0:30:36.560 --> 0:30:39.160 to secrets resorts in spas, in Mexico and the Caribbean, 0:30:39.200 --> 0:30:42.480 and enjoy a selection of exclusive NonStop vacation flights. Turn 0:30:42.520 --> 0:30:45.160 on Easymode at Apple vacations dot com or call your 0:30:45.160 --> 0:30:46.840 local travel advisor to get started.