by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
So, you’re a new Christian. Perhaps you’ve been a believer for 5, 10, 15 years. You love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. You know without a doubt that God has changed you and you’re a completely different person than you used to be. Over the course of your life you have developed many bad habits. How do you get rid of them now?
By Developing New Ones
Here are four key steps to developing new habits and getting rid of old ones, inspired by Max Lucado.
- Prayer – When trials come endure them. Maintain a habit of prayer (See Romans 12:12). This doesn’t mean you have to close your eyes, bow your head, fold your hands and include “thous” and “thees” in your prayers. Simply talk to God. Tell him what’s on your heart. Talk to him about the habits. He knows about them already.
- Study – Get into God’s Word. Look up key words for the habit your trying to break. Read Scripture that speaks clearly to you. Find different translations. Write verses on note cards and carry them with you. Keep God’s Word close (See Jams 1:25).
- Giving – Lucado says, “You don’t give for God’s sake. You give for your sake.” Setting aside your tithe and putting into the offering every Sunday should become a habit engrained in your heart. Giving should bring a smile to your face. It brings a smile to God’s. He doesn’t need the money. He needs your heart and your habit (See Deut. 14:23).
- Fellowship – Support is important. Some are fine with weekly support. I prefer daily support, even if it’s through an email, as I am able to be encouraged, to encourage others, stay accountable, and surround myself with others who are Jesus with skin on to me. Fellowship is a need (See Heb. 10:25).
What new habits are you incorporating to break the old ones?
by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
I live in the Bible Belt – Branson, Missouri. Every show you attend has a tribute to the veterans and sings at least one gospel song. That’s great! There’s a church on every corner, and the majority of them have been voted “Number One Show On The Strip.” You can pretty much find any kind of food you are looking for, whether it’s fried chicken or sushi.
On Sundays, when the services get out and the “church folks” show up for lunch, the servers at those restaurants cringe. Why? “It’s those Christians again!” The ones who snap at the waitress because their steak was overcooked. The ones who hold hands and pray before the meal, moan when their water glass gets half empty, then walk out the door without leaving a tip.
I have seen it first hand and as a Christian, honestly, it ticks me off. We are to be Jesus with skin on to those around us, but instead we walk into a restaurant feeling entitled to the waitress’ services. They may be there to serve us, but may I remind you that we are there to serve them as well? Are you doing your part?
Jesus dined out at the feeding of the five thousand. He was the chef (Matthew 15:29-38; 14:13-21).
During Passover he washed the feet of the disciples. He became the servant (John 13:1-17).
During his meal with the Pharisees, a woman with a dark past anointed him with expensive perfume. He didn’t complain when she interrupted his meal (Luke 7:36-38).
The only time Jesus got rude during a meal was when the Pharisees showed their horrible treatment of others (Luke 7:39-50).
When was the last time you asked your servers name? When was the last time you asked how their day was going? When was the last time you asked how you could pray for them? Give it a shot. I can almost guarantee you they will walk around the rest of the day smiling because someone served them.
What would Jesus leave a waiter?
These are the words of Max Lucado:
Encouragement to help him endure the struggles of his job.
Forgiveness despite the mismatched orders and dirty spoon.
Eternity with a spoken word or an invitation to hear more.
Thanks communicated clearly through a satisfactory gratuity of 15 to 20 percent.
by | Faith Lived Out
As I sat in the midst of the Captivating Retreat in Nashville, I had the honor of attending with my fellow sisters of the Daily Audio Bible community. Romans 12:2 was written on my heart.
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Jill Hardin, lead speaker at the event gave a very profound statement: “We either conform or we transform.”
If not careful I can find myself quickly playing the game of the world. It’s so easy to be consumed in a single breath to the desires of my flesh. Before I know it I’m begging God for the oxygen mask. I am desperate for fresh air as I stand in the smog of the world. And just as He promises, God shows up with the oxygen and the fresh breath of His Word to pull me out of the pit. Sometimes it’s hard for me to figure out why He loves me so much.
But I also find that it’s those times of deep desperation that the transformation comes. Sometimes we just have to walk through the smog of the world before the inward changes happen. God happens to be patient enough to allow it.
Here are three questions to consider when deciding to conform or transform:
- What kind of person do you want to be?
- What is getting in the way?
- Are you a person running to other lovers? (food, alcohol, work, relationships, etc.)
What can you give up today that causes you to conform?
by | Faith Lived Out
This past weekend I had the honor and privilege of attending a Captivating retreat in Nashville, TN with my friend Carolyn. First, if you haven’t read the book Captivating, I highly recommend it. Be prepared to get your world rocked by Jesus. The retreat was hosted by Jill Hart of the Daily Audio Bible. Stay tuned for a blog post on the DAB.
I was surrounded by women from Canada, Mississippi, Texas, Ohio, Georgia, and several other places. Fifty women gathered in one intimate setting and we each had two things in common: loving Jesus and wounds from the past. Many women walked through the doors with deep wounds, but they walked out with the glow of healing shining through them.
There are three things a woman desires:
- To be romanced
- To have an irreplaceable role and purpose
- To have a beauty all her own to be veiled
I was reminded this weekend that we are playing out the greatest romance on a battlefield. Pretty powerful words. We seek to be romanced by Jesus, but the journey can be long and hard because in every love story there is a villain. As long as we remain on the battlefield, the villain will constantly attempt to “steal, kill, and destroy.” (John 10:10)
I have so much more to talk about, so look for more blog posts to come.
Are you being romanced by Jesus?
by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
Rejection hurts, especially when it comes from those you are close to. I am learning as a leader that rejection is unavoidable. You can’t make everyone happy.
When I signed up to follow Jesus I hadn’t a clue what was in store for me. But the straighter my walk with God became, the more I got a glimpse into His plans for me. Leadership is part of that plan, among other things.
At the beginning of 2011 God put one word on my heart – truth. I told God I would speak the truth about His Word. I would lead in truth. I would speak truth to the broken. It’s May and so far I have kept good on my word. But I haven’t done so without hitting walls.
If you haven’t figured it out yet, speaking God’s Word isn’t exactly popular amongst everyone. With truth comes rejection. With rejection comes pain. With pain comes dependence on God. With depending on God comes truth in His Word.
All rejection leads back to Him and the promise that if “God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31.
Remember, when you sign up to follow God, you’re signing up for some rough roads. Guess what? It’s all worth it!
How do you handle rejection?
by | Faith Lived Out
To obey means to follow commands or guidance. It’s a simple definition, yet why is it so hard to follow? When you think of the word obedience what comes to mind?
When I was a student at the Table Rock Freedom Center, a 12-month discipleship program located in Branson, Missouri, I heard the words simple obedience time and time again.
I’m guest blogging for Jennifer White today. Read more here…
So, you’re a new Christian. Perhaps you’ve been a believer for 5, 10, 15 years. You love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. You know without a doubt that God has changed you and you’re a completely different person than you used to be. Over the course of your life you have developed many bad habits. How do you get rid of them now?
