Thought for Today March 9, 2018: Topic - Breaking Old Habits and Growing in God's Direction
Breaking Old Habits and Growing in God's Direction
Acts 11:19-21
Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
Thoughts for Today:
Too often God gives us a new perspective on an old tradition, only to find us doing things the same way -- the old way with nothing changed. (For Jews who were now followers of Jesus this was telling the news of Jesus only to other Jews.) When this happens for us we find ourselves, our church, or our small group, in a period of stagnant or negative growth. If you've had the thought, "I haven't seen any new faces in my small group for a while" or, "I used to get so much more out of my devotional time," it might be time to look at whether or not you are growing in God's direction.
We know what happens when we do things the Lord's way (the results speak for themselves), from verse 21, "The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord." So the question for most of us isn't whether of not we want to do the Lord's will, rather it is, "How do we break old habits that get in the way of the Lord's blessing in our lives?" Studies show that in order to form a new habit (or break an old one) we have to repeat the new behavior consistently for six weeks. For example, let's say your small group hasn't added a new member for years, and recently God has been challenging your purpose in attending these meetings (it might have become more of a social club than a Bible study). Try each week, for the next six weeks, to invite someone new. Don't invite someone you know well, invite someone you have just met. You will be amazed at how quickly and easily your group will grow as you form a new habit, a new way of doing things.
Questions to Ponder:
We look across town at another church and are shocked at the number of new baptisms they have every week, or look at another small group in our own church and see such great enthusiasm and growth that the initial group has multiplied into two more groups. Then we look at ourselves and wonder what's wrong. I believe the Lord has spoken to you (as He has all of us) about a habit you need to break. The problem is -- what new habit are you going to form? This is where most Christians go wrong. They know what they shouldn't do, but do they know what they should do? Challenge yourself over the next six weeks to think less about breaking an old habit and spend more time focusing on forming a new one -- Growing in God's Direction
Breaking Old Habits and Growing in God's Direction
Acts 11:19-21
Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
Thoughts for Today:
Too often God gives us a new perspective on an old tradition, only to find us doing things the same way -- the old way with nothing changed. (For Jews who were now followers of Jesus this was telling the news of Jesus only to other Jews.) When this happens for us we find ourselves, our church, or our small group, in a period of stagnant or negative growth. If you've had the thought, "I haven't seen any new faces in my small group for a while" or, "I used to get so much more out of my devotional time," it might be time to look at whether or not you are growing in God's direction.
We know what happens when we do things the Lord's way (the results speak for themselves), from verse 21, "The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord." So the question for most of us isn't whether of not we want to do the Lord's will, rather it is, "How do we break old habits that get in the way of the Lord's blessing in our lives?" Studies show that in order to form a new habit (or break an old one) we have to repeat the new behavior consistently for six weeks. For example, let's say your small group hasn't added a new member for years, and recently God has been challenging your purpose in attending these meetings (it might have become more of a social club than a Bible study). Try each week, for the next six weeks, to invite someone new. Don't invite someone you know well, invite someone you have just met. You will be amazed at how quickly and easily your group will grow as you form a new habit, a new way of doing things.
Questions to Ponder:
We look across town at another church and are shocked at the number of new baptisms they have every week, or look at another small group in our own church and see such great enthusiasm and growth that the initial group has multiplied into two more groups. Then we look at ourselves and wonder what's wrong. I believe the Lord has spoken to you (as He has all of us) about a habit you need to break. The problem is -- what new habit are you going to form? This is where most Christians go wrong. They know what they shouldn't do, but do they know what they should do? Challenge yourself over the next six weeks to think less about breaking an old habit and spend more time focusing on forming a new one -- Growing in God's Direction
Thought for Today March 9, 2018: Topic - Breaking Old Habits and Growing in God's Direction
Reviewed by Muyiwa Abodunrin (Muyilight)
on
March 09, 2018
Rating:
Reviewed by Muyiwa Abodunrin (Muyilight)
on
March 09, 2018
Rating:
No comments: