1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: No one likes to talk about money. Am I saving enough? 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:05,040 Speaker 1: Can I buy a house? Am I paying too much 3 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: in taxes? Will I be able to retire? What if 4 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: you could unlock insights about your finances in less than 5 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: five minutes, with a clear picture of where you stand 6 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 1: today and where your money can work harder. Now you 7 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:18,759 Speaker 1: can visit facet dot com to take the free quiz 8 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: and get your financial wellness score today. That's Facet dot com. 9 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 1: This ad is sponsored by Facet. Fast Wealth in Corporated 10 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: is an sec registered investment advisor. This is not an 11 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: offer to buy your self securities or is it investment, 12 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: legal or tax advice. 13 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 2: You're ready for a comeback, and with Purdue Global you 14 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:37,200 Speaker 2: can do more than take classes. You can take charge 15 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:41,520 Speaker 2: of your story, of your career, of your life, Earn 16 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:43,559 Speaker 2: a degree you can be proud of, and get an 17 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:48,559 Speaker 2: education employer's respect. It's time, your time, not just to 18 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 2: go back to school, but to come back and move 19 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 2: forward with Purdue Global, Purdue's online university for working adults. 20 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 2: Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 21 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 3: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 22 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:06,679 Speaker 3: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 23 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 3: enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 24 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:12,040 Speaker 3: share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray 25 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 3: for God's very best in your life. Will God bless you. 26 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 3: It's always a joy to come into your homes, and 27 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:32,119 Speaker 3: we know God has great things in store for you. 28 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 3: If you're ever in our area, I hope you'll stop by. 29 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:37,119 Speaker 3: We'd love to have you at one of our services. 30 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 3: I promise you it will make you feel right at home. 31 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 3: But thanks so much for tuning in today. I'd like 32 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 3: to get started with something funny, and I heard about 33 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 3: these two guys. They argued for years over whether Jesus 34 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 3: was white or whether he was black. Archie was sure 35 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 3: he was white, and Jack was just as sure he 36 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 3: was black. As fate would have it, they both died 37 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 3: on the same day. They rushed to the pearly gates, said, 38 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 3: Saint Peter, please tell us is Jesus white or black? 39 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:06,760 Speaker 3: We've been arguing our whole life over this. About that time, 40 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:13,239 Speaker 3: Jesus walked up and said, buenos dis all right, hold 41 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 3: up your Bible. Say it like you mean it. This 42 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:18,959 Speaker 3: is my Bible. I am what it says. I am 43 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 3: I have what it says I have, I can do 44 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 3: what it says I can do. Today I will be 45 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 3: taught the word of God. I boldly confess my mind 46 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 3: is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 47 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 3: the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 48 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 3: to talk to you today about the importance of developing 49 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 3: good habits. A habit is something we do without even 50 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 3: thinking about it. We've done it so long it becomes 51 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 3: almost involuntary, and studies tell us that ninety percent of 52 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:57,920 Speaker 3: our normal behavior is based on our habits. That means 53 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:02,239 Speaker 3: how we treat people, we spend our money, what we watch, 54 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 3: what we listen to. Ninety percent of the time, we're 55 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:09,560 Speaker 3: on autopilot. We do it like we've always done it before. 56 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:12,760 Speaker 3: And if we have good habits, this can be fine. 57 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:16,800 Speaker 3: But sometimes we don't realize we have habits that are 58 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 3: keeping us from God's best. And when I say habits, 59 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:24,360 Speaker 3: I don't necessarily mean some big addiction, but even smaller things. 60 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 3: Do you know? Always being late is a bad habit. 61 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 3: Allowing strife in your home, overspending, being touchy, having a 62 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 3: barely get by mindset, These are all negative habits that'll 63 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 3: keep us in mediocrity. And so if you want to 64 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 3: change your life, the first place to start is by 65 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 3: changing your habits. Your habits determine your destiny just like gravity, 66 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 3: they pull you toward them. If you've developed a habit 67 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:58,560 Speaker 3: of being impatient, or unorganized or lazy, that's going to 68 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 3: be a constant strung. Now. I want to encourage you, 69 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:05,680 Speaker 3: don't go the next twenty years allowing those same things 70 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 3: to keep you back. Make a decision to do something 71 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:12,080 Speaker 3: about it. I know people that are always running late. 72 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 3: They live in a hurry, stressed out, frustrated, and they 73 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:20,160 Speaker 3: wonder why they don't really enjoy their life. It's because 74 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:23,440 Speaker 3: they developed a wrong habit. All they have to do 75 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:27,599 Speaker 3: is discipline themselves to leave a few minutes earlier, and 76 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:31,039 Speaker 3: all that frustration, all that stress would go away. It's 77 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 3: all in how we've trained ourselves, and the way we 78 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 3: develop good habits is the same way we develop bad 79 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:40,640 Speaker 3: habits by doing the right thing over and over again. 80 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 3: Most experts tell us in as little as twenty one days, 81 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:48,200 Speaker 3: we can break a bad habit and form a new habit. 82 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:52,359 Speaker 3: And we have to understand our habits will become a 83 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:55,479 Speaker 3: part of our character. If you allow yourself to be 84 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:59,279 Speaker 3: unorganized and you're always running late, that becomes a part 85 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 3: of who you are. If you've trained yourself to get 86 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:06,920 Speaker 3: upset and have a fit whenever you don't get your way, Unfortunately, 87 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 3: those bad habits become a part of you. The first 88 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:15,120 Speaker 3: step to changing is you have to identify what's holding 89 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:19,800 Speaker 3: you back, Identify any bad habits, and then make a 90 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 3: decision to do something about it. How do we change 91 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:27,280 Speaker 3: Quit feeding the bad habit. What you feed is going 92 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 3: to grow. You have to starve your bad habits and 93 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 3: start feeding your good habits. I heard about this old 94 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 3: Cherokee Indian one day. He was teaching his grandson the 95 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 3: same principle, and he said, son, on the inside of 96 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:44,680 Speaker 3: every person is a battle taking place. It's a battle 97 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:53,120 Speaker 3: between two wolves. One wolf is evil, it's anger, jealousy, unforgiveness, pride, laziness. 98 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 3: The other wolf is good. It's peace, joy, love, kindness, humility, 99 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:03,800 Speaker 3: self control. And these two wolves are constantly fighting. The 100 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:06,920 Speaker 3: little boy thought about it. In a few minutes. He said, Granddaddy, 101 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 3: which wolf is going to win? The grandfather smiled and said, 102 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:16,600 Speaker 3: whichever one you feed, I'm asking you today, don't feed 103 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:21,160 Speaker 3: the wrong one. Don't go around feeding jealousy, feeding unforgiveness, 104 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:25,200 Speaker 3: feeding impatience, feeding low self esteem. The more you feed 105 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:28,520 Speaker 3: that junk, the stronger is going to become. Make a 106 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:32,680 Speaker 3: decision with me. You're going to start feeding peace, feeding patience, 107 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:38,119 Speaker 3: feeding kindness, feeding, humility, feeding self control. For instance, maybe 108 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:41,120 Speaker 3: you have a habit of complaining. You're always talking about 109 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 3: your boss and how that company doesn't treat you right, 110 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 3: and you can't stand the drive to work in the morning. 111 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:50,359 Speaker 3: And it's interesting when we complain, we feel a sense 112 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 3: of release. Don't get me wrong. It feels good to 113 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 3: feed the flesh. It feels good to feed the wrong thing. 114 00:06:57,320 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 3: But the problem is what we feed is always going 115 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 3: to want more. The next time you're attempted to complain, 116 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:07,680 Speaker 3: why don't you dig a little bit deeper and ask yourself, 117 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 3: do I really want to keep feeding this old negative habit? 118 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 3: Do I really want to stay where I am? Or 119 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 3: do I want to start starving this complaining spirit and 120 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:21,240 Speaker 3: come up higher? If you'll make the better choice and 121 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:23,920 Speaker 3: instead of complaining, just learn to say, father, I want 122 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 3: to thank you that at least I have a job. 123 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 3: These people may not be treating me right, but I'm 124 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:31,600 Speaker 3: not working under man. I'm working under you. When you 125 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 3: do that, you're feeding the right thing. The new habit 126 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:38,200 Speaker 3: is starting to develop. The next time. It'll be a 127 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:42,680 Speaker 3: little easier next time, even easier. What's happening. You're starving 128 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:46,320 Speaker 3: your bad habit and your strengthening your good habit. I 129 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 3: heard somebody say bad habits are easy to develop, but 130 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 3: difficult to live with. In other words, it's easy to 131 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 3: pop off and be rused and say whatever you feel 132 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 3: and make cutting sarcastic rooms. That's easy, but it's difficult 133 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:05,840 Speaker 3: to live in a home filled with strife and tension. 134 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:09,560 Speaker 3: It's easy to spend money that we don't have and 135 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 3: charge everything on our credit cards, but it's hard to 136 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:15,000 Speaker 3: live with the pressure of not being able to pay 137 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:18,960 Speaker 3: our bills. It's easy to give into temptation and do 138 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 3: whatever we feel, but it's difficult to live in bondage, 139 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 3: to go around guilty and condemned. You take a person 140 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 3: with a chemical addiction. It was easy to get started. 141 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:33,800 Speaker 3: It was fun and exciting. It gave them a high, 142 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:38,680 Speaker 3: but unfortunately, in the long run, it ends up controlling them. 143 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:41,800 Speaker 3: They become a slave to it. See bad habits are 144 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 3: easy to develop but hard to live with. On the 145 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:50,440 Speaker 3: other hand, good habits are difficult to develop. It takes 146 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:54,720 Speaker 3: sometimes a little sacrifice, a little pain, a little suffering, 147 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:58,920 Speaker 3: but good habits are easy to live with. For instance, 148 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:02,200 Speaker 3: at first, it's hard to bite your tongue when you 149 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:05,240 Speaker 3: want to argue. It's hard to just overlook an offense. 150 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 3: It's hard at first to forgive, but it sure is 151 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:11,960 Speaker 3: easy to live in a home filled with peace and harmony. 152 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:14,680 Speaker 3: And what I'm saying today is if you will just 153 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:19,240 Speaker 3: be willing to press past the initial pain of change, 154 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 3: if you will be willing to be uncomfortable for a 155 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:25,959 Speaker 3: little while, in the long run, your life will be 156 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:30,200 Speaker 3: much much better because the pain doesn't last forever. Once 157 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:34,160 Speaker 3: you develop the new habit, then it's easy. Victoria will 158 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:37,680 Speaker 3: tell you, I won't argue. We don't allow strife and 159 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:41,120 Speaker 3: conflict in our home. And I'll be honest. It's not 160 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:44,160 Speaker 3: hard for me now to overlook things. It's not hard 161 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 3: for me to forgive because I've simply trained myself to 162 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 3: do it. I've trained myself to be a peacemaker. I've 163 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 3: trained myself to apologize even when it's not my fault, 164 00:09:55,920 --> 00:10:00,959 Speaker 3: which of course is every single time. But at first 165 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 3: this was difficult. At first I didn't want to do it. 166 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 3: Now i'd put up a good argument and I'd tell 167 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:08,439 Speaker 3: her what I thought and the way it should be. 168 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 3: But one day I begin to realize that's not the 169 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:14,640 Speaker 3: way God wants me to live. That's not his best. 170 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:17,600 Speaker 3: And I could hear the still small voice right down 171 00:10:17,679 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 3: in here saying, Joel, let it go. You're better than this. 172 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:25,160 Speaker 3: Don't live on this low level. See, we have to 173 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:27,720 Speaker 3: decide do we want to be right or do we 174 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:30,880 Speaker 3: want to have peace? And little by little I begin 175 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:35,160 Speaker 3: to change, and it got easier and easier. Today it's 176 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:38,720 Speaker 3: not difficult at all. It's become a part of my character. 177 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:42,080 Speaker 3: It's natural to me. The truth is, I could still 178 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:44,600 Speaker 3: be where I was twenty years ago when we first 179 00:10:44,679 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 3: got married, arguing, pouting when I didn't get my way, 180 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:50,559 Speaker 3: always having to have the last word. 181 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 4: No. 182 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:55,440 Speaker 3: Thank God, I developed some better habits. I press past 183 00:10:55,520 --> 00:10:59,200 Speaker 3: the pain of change, and today it's easy. And sure 184 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:01,440 Speaker 3: I have other areas that I need to improve in 185 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:05,680 Speaker 3: maybe one or two. But you too, if you will 186 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:09,400 Speaker 3: press past the initial pain, whether it's a week, a month, 187 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 3: or a year, eventually the pain will go away, and 188 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:15,960 Speaker 3: you'll not only enjoy your life a lot more, but 189 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 3: you'll be living at a much higher level. It will 190 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:20,599 Speaker 3: become a part of you. It's kind of like a 191 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 3: rocket ship being launched into space. The first few minutes 192 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:27,839 Speaker 3: takes the majority of the energy. It needs all that 193 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:30,920 Speaker 3: thrust to lift it off the ground. Those boosters are 194 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:33,679 Speaker 3: shooting it up into the air. But in a little while, 195 00:11:33,920 --> 00:11:37,319 Speaker 3: once it gets into outer space, it doesn't need all 196 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:41,520 Speaker 3: that extra energy. It simply had to press past the 197 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:46,320 Speaker 3: Earth's atmosphere. Same way with us informing new habits. At first, 198 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:49,960 Speaker 3: it's difficult, but if you will stick with it, you'll 199 00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:52,400 Speaker 3: come to a point where it doesn't take much effort 200 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:55,080 Speaker 3: at all. It will be natural to you. It's like 201 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:58,160 Speaker 3: that person with that chemical addiction. He's been hooked on 202 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 3: that drug so long. When he goes off of it, 203 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:05,280 Speaker 3: what happens. He goes through withdraws. It's painful, he suffers, 204 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:08,360 Speaker 3: his body wants it back, and this is where so 205 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:11,120 Speaker 3: many people give in and they feed the bad habit. 206 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:14,720 Speaker 3: Once again, I'm asking you today to dig your heels 207 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:18,840 Speaker 3: in and stay consistent. It's better to suffer a little 208 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:21,880 Speaker 3: while than to suffer your whole lifetime. And if you 209 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 3: too will press past that pain of change, just like 210 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 3: that rocket, you'll come to a place where it's not painful. 211 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:31,319 Speaker 3: You'll begin to soar. You'll be free from those bondages. 212 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:34,520 Speaker 3: And I know we all have areas that we've struggled 213 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:37,040 Speaker 3: with for years and years, and I'd love to tell you, 214 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:39,040 Speaker 3: you know, you quote one scripture, pray one prayer, and 215 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:43,040 Speaker 3: it'll go away. But unfortunately, most of the time that's 216 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:46,720 Speaker 3: not the way it works. God changes us little by little. 217 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:51,080 Speaker 3: Be determined, stick with it and keep making right decisions. 218 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 3: We've all heard that saying practice makes perfect, and that's true, 219 00:12:55,960 --> 00:13:00,319 Speaker 3: but I found sometimes we're practicing the wrong things. I've 220 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:03,640 Speaker 3: had people tell me, Joel, I'm just a real negative person. 221 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:06,760 Speaker 3: My parents were negative, my grandparents were negative. This is 222 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:10,520 Speaker 3: just who I am. But with all due respect, that's 223 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:13,480 Speaker 3: not who you really are. That's not the way God 224 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:17,319 Speaker 3: made you. God made you to be free. He didn't 225 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:20,800 Speaker 3: make us to be bound by addictions and unorganized and 226 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:25,000 Speaker 3: hot temper, going around frustrated and negative. No. God made 227 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:28,360 Speaker 3: each one of you as a person of excellence. He 228 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:32,160 Speaker 3: made you to be healthy, healthy and whole. But too 229 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:36,360 Speaker 3: often we've developed wrong mindsets. We go around telling ourselves, Man, 230 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:38,840 Speaker 3: I can't change, I can't break this habit. This is 231 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:42,599 Speaker 3: just who I am now. The problem is we're practicing 232 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:46,240 Speaker 3: the wrong things, and it's interesting. The Apostle Paul said 233 00:13:46,240 --> 00:13:49,440 Speaker 3: in Romans chapter seven, the things I want to do 234 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:51,680 Speaker 3: I don't and the things I don't want to do 235 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:54,920 Speaker 3: I end up doing. He was having this same struggle 236 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:57,960 Speaker 3: of doing the right thing, and in verse nineteen, a 237 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:01,360 Speaker 3: couple verses down, he gives us insight into why he's 238 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 3: having this struggle. He said, for I fail to practice 239 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:10,200 Speaker 3: the things I desire to do. He was basically saying, 240 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:14,080 Speaker 3: I haven't developed good habits in these areas. I'm not 241 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:17,880 Speaker 3: practicing what I know I should be doing. The truth 242 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 3: is we are all practicing something. The way we develop 243 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:25,840 Speaker 3: good habits is by practicing the right things. Some of 244 00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:28,480 Speaker 3: you are real good at losing your temper because you 245 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:31,920 Speaker 3: practice it a couple times a week. Some people are 246 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 3: good at being impatient because they practice it every morning 247 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:37,640 Speaker 3: on the drive to work. I know people that are 248 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:43,120 Speaker 3: good at being negative because they constantly practice negative thinking. Remember, 249 00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:47,320 Speaker 3: repetition is what forms a habit. That's what puts us 250 00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:51,040 Speaker 3: on autopilot. So we have to make sure we are 251 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:54,960 Speaker 3: practicing the right things. And every one of us should 252 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:58,920 Speaker 3: be practicing forgiveness. Next time somebody offends you, next time 253 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 3: they hurt you, don't even think about it. Don't give 254 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 3: it five seconds. Immediately, forgive them immediate, let it go. 255 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:09,200 Speaker 3: Start practicing forgiveness. Maybe you struggle with keeping your weight 256 00:15:09,280 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 3: under control. Next time you're attempted to snack, practice saying no, 257 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:18,680 Speaker 3: practice walking away, practice self control. The only way you're 258 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:21,960 Speaker 3: gonna get good at it is by practicing. Each one 259 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:26,480 Speaker 3: of us should practice being kind. Let's practice being patient, 260 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:31,880 Speaker 3: Let's practice being disciplined in our spending, making good financial choices. 261 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:35,080 Speaker 3: I know too many people. They're way out of balance 262 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:38,600 Speaker 3: in their finances because they've developed bad habits, and they 263 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:42,280 Speaker 3: just keep practicing the wrong things, spending money that they 264 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:46,200 Speaker 3: don't have, charging everything on their credit cards. It doesn't 265 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:49,520 Speaker 3: take a lot of wisdom to realize paying twenty to 266 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 3: twenty five percent interest on a credit card is not 267 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 3: a good thing. Don't keep practicing that. It's like this 268 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:58,360 Speaker 3: guy I heard about the credit card company called him 269 00:15:58,360 --> 00:16:01,040 Speaker 3: one night and said, sir, I'm sorry, sorry, but someone 270 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 3: has stolen your wife's credit card. He checked his bill 271 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:06,920 Speaker 3: and called him back a little later and said, tell 272 00:16:06,960 --> 00:16:10,640 Speaker 3: the thief to keep it. He spends less than my wife. 273 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:13,360 Speaker 3: I've heard people say, Joel, I just can't make it 274 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:16,280 Speaker 3: without my credit cards, can't live without him. But the 275 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 3: truth is you can make it. You just may be 276 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:22,600 Speaker 3: a little uncomfortable, You may have to suffer through that 277 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:26,120 Speaker 3: period of change. I remember my father used to say, 278 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:30,280 Speaker 3: you can't buy everything your little obed eyes. See. He 279 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:33,480 Speaker 3: would say, learn to sit on an apple box until 280 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 3: you can afford a chair. What he is really saying was, 281 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:40,240 Speaker 3: if you'll use what you have wisely, then God will 282 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:43,240 Speaker 3: give you more. A lot of times today we're praying 283 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 3: for a miracle. We're praying for a financial breakthrough. And 284 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 3: I say this respectfully, but we don't really need a miracle. 285 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:54,000 Speaker 3: We just need to develop better habits. So I know 286 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:57,760 Speaker 3: people if God blessed them with a million dollars tomorrow, 287 00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 3: a year from now, they'd be in the same financial 288 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:03,880 Speaker 3: difficulty that have the same problems. Why they have not 289 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 3: developed good spending habits. We need to think long and 290 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 3: hard before we buy something that puts us deep into debt. 291 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:14,760 Speaker 3: I'm talking about outside your home. Do you really need 292 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:17,880 Speaker 3: that fancy car? Do you really need that extra toy. 293 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:21,960 Speaker 3: I heard somebody say if we paid cash for everything 294 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:26,160 Speaker 3: actually paid with green bills in a year, we would 295 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:29,920 Speaker 3: save an average of nine hundred dollars each. It's because 296 00:17:29,960 --> 00:17:32,480 Speaker 3: when you dole that money out, one bill at a time, 297 00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:35,480 Speaker 3: it makes you think, do I really want to give 298 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:37,760 Speaker 3: all this up just to have this? That's a lot 299 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 3: more thought provoking than just popping out a credit card. 300 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:45,960 Speaker 3: And do you realize financial pressure is always listed as 301 00:17:46,040 --> 00:17:49,639 Speaker 3: one of the top three reasons why our homes fall apart, 302 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:54,359 Speaker 3: top three reasons why couples get a divorce, develop good 303 00:17:54,440 --> 00:17:58,480 Speaker 3: spending habits, and listen, it's never too late to start. 304 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:01,960 Speaker 3: If you'll do your God will do his part. He'll 305 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:04,680 Speaker 3: give you promotion, he'll give you increase. But you've got 306 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:07,280 Speaker 3: to be a good steward with what you have. I 307 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:10,520 Speaker 3: loved the story a young couple told here at Lakewood 308 00:18:10,560 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 3: a few months ago. They had about forty thousand dollars 309 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:16,880 Speaker 3: in credit card debt, and they were not only kind 310 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:20,200 Speaker 3: of embarrassed by it, they were very distraught over it. 311 00:18:20,680 --> 00:18:23,320 Speaker 3: They didn't see any way out in the natural. It 312 00:18:23,359 --> 00:18:26,480 Speaker 3: looked totally impossible. For one day, they took a step 313 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:29,600 Speaker 3: of faith and they swallowed their pride and came up 314 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:32,639 Speaker 3: and met with one of our financial planners. That's a 315 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 3: free ministry we have here at Lakewood. And that planner 316 00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:39,320 Speaker 3: studied their finances and gave them instruction in how they 317 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:42,320 Speaker 3: could overcome. And this young couple told, and I was 318 00:18:42,359 --> 00:18:45,720 Speaker 3: so impressed, how for three years they didn't go out 319 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:49,520 Speaker 3: to eat, they didn't take vacations, they didn't buy extra clothes. 320 00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:54,040 Speaker 3: They were on a bare bones budget. It was uncomfortable. 321 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:58,119 Speaker 3: It was a sacrifice. But how do we overturn years 322 00:18:58,119 --> 00:19:02,200 Speaker 3: of wrong choices by forming better habits and making years 323 00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:05,959 Speaker 3: of right choices. They changed what they were practicing. They 324 00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:09,560 Speaker 3: quit using their credit cards, They learned the difference between 325 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:14,040 Speaker 3: their wants and their needs. They started practicing discipline, practicing 326 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:17,960 Speaker 3: self control. That was three years ago. Today that young 327 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:22,000 Speaker 3: couple is totally debt free. God is blessing them. They're 328 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 3: seeing increase in promotion. But it all started way back 329 00:19:26,480 --> 00:19:30,080 Speaker 3: when they decided to form better habits. They drew the 330 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:32,160 Speaker 3: line in the sand, said, you know what, that's it. 331 00:19:32,560 --> 00:19:36,160 Speaker 3: We're not living like this anymore. The first step to overcoming, 332 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:39,600 Speaker 3: first step to victory is you got to identify what's 333 00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:42,679 Speaker 3: holding you back and then don't stop there, make a 334 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:46,120 Speaker 3: decision to do something about it. Take action. You may 335 00:19:46,160 --> 00:19:48,600 Speaker 3: need to get some help like this young couple. Don't 336 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:52,000 Speaker 3: be embarrassed by it. Whatever area it's in. Today, people 337 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:55,960 Speaker 3: struggle with chemical addictions, sexual addictions. It may be an 338 00:19:55,960 --> 00:20:00,840 Speaker 3: anger addiction. You just can't control your temper. Listen can change. 339 00:20:01,359 --> 00:20:05,159 Speaker 3: Freedom is available. Don't believe that lie telling you that 340 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:08,680 Speaker 3: you're stuck you'll never get any better. No, God already 341 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:11,919 Speaker 3: has a pathway of victory laid out for you. But 342 00:20:11,960 --> 00:20:14,080 Speaker 3: you've got to do your part and be willing to 343 00:20:14,119 --> 00:20:18,080 Speaker 3: walk it out the next time that temptation comes. First 344 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:21,879 Speaker 3: thing you need to do is pray. Get God involved 345 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:25,320 Speaker 3: in your life. We cannot defeat bad habits in our 346 00:20:25,359 --> 00:20:28,840 Speaker 3: own strength. Ask God to help you when you're tempted 347 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:31,920 Speaker 3: to be rude, you feel your emotions getting out of hand. 348 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:35,439 Speaker 3: Normally you just tell somebody off. Know right then and 349 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:38,639 Speaker 3: there under your breath, God, I'm asking you to help me. 350 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:41,600 Speaker 3: God give me the grace to keep my mouth closed. 351 00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:45,040 Speaker 3: God give me the strength to walk away. See the 352 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:49,679 Speaker 3: Scripture tells us pray that you don't come into temptation. 353 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:53,359 Speaker 3: It doesn't say pray that you'll never be tempted. No, 354 00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:57,120 Speaker 3: we're all going to face temptation, God says. When that comes, 355 00:20:57,560 --> 00:21:00,960 Speaker 3: ask me for my help in any area that you're 356 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:04,199 Speaker 3: trying to change, even small things. God, I'm about to 357 00:21:04,240 --> 00:21:06,840 Speaker 3: walk through this kitchen and I can smell the chocolate 358 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:10,640 Speaker 3: chip cookies. I'm asking you to help me resist it. God. 359 00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:13,199 Speaker 3: All my friends are going out partying tonight, and I 360 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:15,720 Speaker 3: know down in here it's not right. God. I'm asking 361 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:18,240 Speaker 3: you to help me make the best choice, help me 362 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 3: stay on your best plan. Well, Joel, that's difficult. It's 363 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:24,960 Speaker 3: hard not to go out with my friends, hard not 364 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:28,560 Speaker 3: to use my credit cards, hard not to speak my mind. Yes, 365 00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:31,920 Speaker 3: that's difficult. But you know what's even more difficult living 366 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:35,600 Speaker 3: in bondage. You know what's even harder going around feeling 367 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:39,720 Speaker 3: bad about yourself because you know you're living below your potential. 368 00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:43,480 Speaker 3: There's nothing worse than going through the day with little 369 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:46,200 Speaker 3: things holding you back that you know good and well 370 00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:50,200 Speaker 3: you can beat some of you today. You're struggling with addictions, 371 00:21:50,520 --> 00:21:54,000 Speaker 3: or you struggle with your temper, or being impatient, dragging 372 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:58,160 Speaker 3: around in mediocrity, allowing something so small to control you. 373 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:01,200 Speaker 3: Let me tell you what you are ready, No, you're 374 00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:04,880 Speaker 3: better than that. You're a child of the most High God. 375 00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:09,440 Speaker 3: You have his royal blood flowing through your veins. Don't 376 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:12,200 Speaker 3: you dare? Just sit back and settle where you are. 377 00:22:12,720 --> 00:22:15,679 Speaker 3: There is not an obstacle in your life that you 378 00:22:15,800 --> 00:22:19,720 Speaker 3: cannot overcome. Large or small. It doesn't matter if it's 379 00:22:19,720 --> 00:22:23,280 Speaker 3: a critical spirit or if you're addicted to cocaine. The 380 00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:26,400 Speaker 3: power that's in you is greater than the power that's 381 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:29,400 Speaker 3: trying to hold you back. Dig your heels in and 382 00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:32,800 Speaker 3: fight the good fight of faith. Don't let that thing 383 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:36,359 Speaker 3: master you. Our attitude should be that's it. I'm not 384 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:39,000 Speaker 3: staying where I am. I'm coming up higher. I know 385 00:22:39,280 --> 00:22:42,120 Speaker 3: I'm better than this. That's what the scripture tells us. 386 00:22:42,440 --> 00:22:46,000 Speaker 3: That we're supposed to reign as kings in this life. 387 00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:49,200 Speaker 3: That means we're not supposed to go around being conquered 388 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:52,800 Speaker 3: by addictions. Not Able to control our temper. We can't 389 00:22:52,840 --> 00:22:55,679 Speaker 3: get to work on time. We're always argain in fighting. No, 390 00:22:56,160 --> 00:22:59,280 Speaker 3: tap into the power that's on the inside. Quit saying 391 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:02,320 Speaker 3: I can't break this thing and start to clearing every day. 392 00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:05,600 Speaker 3: I am free. I can do all things through Christ. 393 00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:08,560 Speaker 3: No weapon formed against me is ever going to prosper. 394 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:13,320 Speaker 3: Remember what Jesus said, whom the sun sets free is free. Indeed, 395 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:17,200 Speaker 3: start declaring that over your own life. Says in Philippians 396 00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:20,919 Speaker 3: chapter two, we have to work out our salvation. That 397 00:23:21,080 --> 00:23:24,280 Speaker 3: means we have all these good things on the inside. 398 00:23:24,440 --> 00:23:28,120 Speaker 3: You have the seed of Almighty God. He's already put 399 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:34,560 Speaker 3: in you self control, discipline, kindness, forgiveness, patience. It's on 400 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:37,200 Speaker 3: the inside, but it's up to each one of us 401 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:40,880 Speaker 3: to work it out. Doesn't come out automatically. It only 402 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:43,719 Speaker 3: comes out when we make good choices, not once, but 403 00:23:43,840 --> 00:23:46,440 Speaker 3: over and over again. In other words, when we form 404 00:23:46,560 --> 00:23:50,359 Speaker 3: these good habits. Now I know my personality type is 405 00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:54,919 Speaker 3: very goal oriented. I'm structured. I'm organized. If I tell 406 00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:56,800 Speaker 3: you i'm gonna be somewhere at noon, I'm not going 407 00:23:56,840 --> 00:23:58,960 Speaker 3: to be ten minutes late. I'm gonna be ten minutes early. 408 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:02,919 Speaker 3: I'm very disciplined when it comes to being organized and 409 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:06,840 Speaker 3: getting things done. But with the good in our personalities, 410 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:09,880 Speaker 3: there are always other areas that we have to work on. 411 00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:14,960 Speaker 3: Where I'm naturally disciplined and focused. I'm not naturally very patient. 412 00:24:15,359 --> 00:24:18,199 Speaker 3: I don't like to wait. I like to get somewhere, 413 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:20,880 Speaker 3: get it done, and move on. It's very easy for 414 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:24,399 Speaker 3: me to be impatient. I realize that's an area I 415 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:27,440 Speaker 3: have to develop. I can't just sit back and say, well, 416 00:24:27,680 --> 00:24:29,640 Speaker 3: I'm not a patient person. That's not the way God 417 00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:30,040 Speaker 3: made me. 418 00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:30,720 Speaker 4: No. 419 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:34,439 Speaker 3: I know patience is on the inside of me, but 420 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:36,360 Speaker 3: I have to do my part to work it out. 421 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:40,280 Speaker 3: And it's funny how God will use people and circumstances 422 00:24:40,359 --> 00:24:42,560 Speaker 3: to try to help us come up higher. I have 423 00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:45,400 Speaker 3: to tell you, the freeway system out here in Houston 424 00:24:45,560 --> 00:24:49,080 Speaker 3: has taught me a whole lot about patience. I used 425 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:52,200 Speaker 3: to practice getting stressed out, practice getting up tight every 426 00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:55,400 Speaker 3: time traffic backed up. But now I've learned to just relax, 427 00:24:55,760 --> 00:24:58,480 Speaker 3: go with the flow, stay in peace. See. I've worked 428 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:02,160 Speaker 3: some of that patience from the inside to the outside, 429 00:25:02,520 --> 00:25:05,719 Speaker 3: to my thoughts, to my behavior, to my attitude. And 430 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:09,159 Speaker 3: God has used my beautiful wife Victoria to help me 431 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:13,520 Speaker 3: work out my salvation. When we first got married and 432 00:25:13,560 --> 00:25:15,439 Speaker 3: we were about to leave the house and go somewhere, 433 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:17,680 Speaker 3: I say, Victoria, are you ready? She says, yeah, I'm ready, 434 00:25:17,720 --> 00:25:20,800 Speaker 3: I'll be right there. Well, with my personality type, I 435 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:23,800 Speaker 3: would go get in the car and wait. I mean 436 00:25:23,840 --> 00:25:27,199 Speaker 3: to me, i'm ready means we're leaving right now. But 437 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:31,679 Speaker 3: Victoria's personality is very laid back, easygo, and nothing's a 438 00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:34,480 Speaker 3: big deal. She's the most patient person in the world. 439 00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:38,280 Speaker 3: So when she says I'm ready, she means in general, 440 00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:42,399 Speaker 3: in the next ten or fifteen minutes, I'll begin to 441 00:25:42,440 --> 00:25:45,240 Speaker 3: mose in my way towards the back door. Well, I 442 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:48,680 Speaker 3: used to sit in that car and get frustrated and aggravated, 443 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:50,600 Speaker 3: and I thought she said she is ready, when is 444 00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:53,359 Speaker 3: she coming. Well, now I've learned when she says I'm ready, 445 00:25:53,520 --> 00:25:57,480 Speaker 3: it's kind of like the two minute warning in football. 446 00:25:57,640 --> 00:26:00,000 Speaker 3: The clock says two minutes, but if you know anything 447 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:01,879 Speaker 3: about football, it's gonna be at least another ten or 448 00:26:01,880 --> 00:26:04,920 Speaker 3: fifteen minutes. I've learned now just to go, sit down, 449 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:08,000 Speaker 3: go over my notes, watch a little television, stay in peace, 450 00:26:08,119 --> 00:26:11,320 Speaker 3: not uptight. I'm telling you, God has used that girl 451 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:16,640 Speaker 3: to bring patience out of me, And I gotta be honest. 452 00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:19,800 Speaker 3: I know God has used me to bring a few 453 00:26:19,800 --> 00:26:22,040 Speaker 3: things out of her, but I don't want to know 454 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:25,400 Speaker 3: what they are, and don't you ask, but how did 455 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:29,040 Speaker 3: I develop patience? By practicing it? Over time, I develop 456 00:26:29,119 --> 00:26:31,760 Speaker 3: better habits. You may be the most patient person in 457 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:35,520 Speaker 3: the world, but you spend half your life discouraged, depressed. Well, 458 00:26:35,520 --> 00:26:38,000 Speaker 3: you got to work the joy from the inside to 459 00:26:38,040 --> 00:26:40,480 Speaker 3: the outside. You got to get up in the morning 460 00:26:40,520 --> 00:26:43,240 Speaker 3: and say, with David, this is the day the Lord's man, 461 00:26:43,280 --> 00:26:45,720 Speaker 3: I'm gonna be happy today. You've got to focus on 462 00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:49,480 Speaker 3: what's right, not on what's wrong. Work out your salvation. 463 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:52,800 Speaker 3: Don't believe those lies. Well, I just can't control my temper. 464 00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:56,240 Speaker 3: I'm just hot headed. No self control is in you. 465 00:26:56,480 --> 00:26:58,879 Speaker 3: Problem is you just hadn't worked it out yet. The 466 00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:01,560 Speaker 3: way you work it out is by exercising your muscles 467 00:27:01,560 --> 00:27:04,080 Speaker 3: in that area. If you want to work out kindness, 468 00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:08,359 Speaker 3: start being kinder, start encouraging people, start giving compliments. What 469 00:27:08,359 --> 00:27:10,240 Speaker 3: I'm saying is we can't just sit back and wait 470 00:27:10,280 --> 00:27:13,080 Speaker 3: for God to change us into a kind, loving person. 471 00:27:13,240 --> 00:27:14,960 Speaker 3: The only way it's going to happen is to work 472 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:18,399 Speaker 3: it out, be kinder, develop better habits, and we should 473 00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:21,560 Speaker 3: always keep new goals in front of us. Our attitude 474 00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:25,680 Speaker 3: should be this year, I'm gonna practice treating my family better. 475 00:27:26,119 --> 00:27:28,280 Speaker 3: I'm going to come up higher and how I honor 476 00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:31,080 Speaker 3: and respect my spouse, I'm going to be more loving 477 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:34,120 Speaker 3: and generous to my children. See, don't get stuck. I'm 478 00:27:34,160 --> 00:27:37,399 Speaker 3: not talking about just overcoming bad habits. I'm talking about 479 00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:40,240 Speaker 3: strengthening and improving good habits. 480 00:27:40,400 --> 00:27:40,520 Speaker 4: Now. 481 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:42,400 Speaker 3: I don't know about you, but I want to work 482 00:27:42,440 --> 00:27:45,199 Speaker 3: out everything God's put in me. I don't want a 483 00:27:45,240 --> 00:27:47,840 Speaker 3: little joy, a little peace, a little victory. I want 484 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:50,840 Speaker 3: to live his abundant life. And I know that's going 485 00:27:50,920 --> 00:27:53,320 Speaker 3: to happen when I do my part and work it out. 486 00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:56,120 Speaker 3: And some of you today you have areas in your 487 00:27:56,160 --> 00:28:00,480 Speaker 3: life that you know you need to get under control, saying, 488 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:03,920 Speaker 3: don't put it off any longer. Today is the day 489 00:28:03,960 --> 00:28:06,960 Speaker 3: to start. Today can be a new beginning. If you'll 490 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:10,040 Speaker 3: take this to heart and be willing to press past 491 00:28:10,119 --> 00:28:12,760 Speaker 3: the pain of change and just stick with it, then 492 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:14,919 Speaker 3: a year from now you won't be the same person. 493 00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:18,240 Speaker 3: You'll be free from addictions, free from bad attitudes, free 494 00:28:18,280 --> 00:28:21,160 Speaker 3: from every bondage it's trying to hold you back. So 495 00:28:21,200 --> 00:28:23,680 Speaker 3: my challenge to you again is to make sure you're 496 00:28:23,720 --> 00:28:27,360 Speaker 3: practicing the right things. Don't feed those old negative habits anymore. 497 00:28:27,800 --> 00:28:30,920 Speaker 3: Starve your bad habits and feed you good habits. Work 498 00:28:30,960 --> 00:28:34,320 Speaker 3: out your salvation. If you do this, I know you're 499 00:28:34,359 --> 00:28:36,800 Speaker 3: going to rise higher and higher. God will pour out 500 00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:39,000 Speaker 3: his blessings in favor and you're going to live the 501 00:28:39,040 --> 00:28:41,880 Speaker 3: life of victory he has in store. Amen, do you 502 00:28:41,920 --> 00:28:46,560 Speaker 3: receive it today? We never like to close our broadcast 503 00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:49,640 Speaker 3: without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the lord 504 00:28:49,640 --> 00:28:54,040 Speaker 3: of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, 505 00:28:55,000 --> 00:29:00,200 Speaker 3: I'll repent of my sins, Come into my heart. Thank you, 506 00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:04,360 Speaker 3: my Lord and Savior. Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, 507 00:29:04,520 --> 00:29:07,120 Speaker 3: we believe you got born again. Get in a good 508 00:29:07,160 --> 00:29:10,280 Speaker 3: Bible based church. Keep God first place. He's going to 509 00:29:10,360 --> 00:29:12,880 Speaker 3: take your places that you've never dreamed of. Thank you 510 00:29:12,960 --> 00:29:16,720 Speaker 3: for listening to the joel Ustine podcast. Help us continue 511 00:29:16,760 --> 00:29:19,320 Speaker 3: to share the message of hope with those all over 512 00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:21,640 Speaker 3: the world. Visit joelostin dot. 513 00:29:21,480 --> 00:29:24,520 Speaker 5: Com slash give Hope to give a gift today. 514 00:29:25,800 --> 00:29:28,720 Speaker 3: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 515 00:29:28,720 --> 00:29:32,120 Speaker 3: you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 516 00:29:32,200 --> 00:29:35,400 Speaker 3: keep you inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. 517 00:29:35,560 --> 00:29:38,040 Speaker 3: I know God's best is still ahead. 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