Better This Year! Perspective Perseverance Providence

It’s a Matter of Perspective If you really want to create lasting change in your life, you must take steps to optimize yourself and your circumstances

Three Questions: How many made New Year’s resolutions? How many have resolutions you haven’t broken? You who admitted get bonus points for honesty

How many made New Year’s resolutions?

How many have resolutions you haven’t broken?

You who admitted get bonus points for honesty

Every year people make New Year’s resolutions Easy to make; hard to keep 70% broken by January 7 The blues – 3 rd week of January Bleak weather Bills coming in Broken resolutions

Easy to make; hard to keep

70% broken by January 7

The blues – 3 rd week of January

Bleak weather

Bills coming in

Broken resolutions

We make resolutions on January 1, but don’t keep them

Wife: “On New Year’s Day, we did what we always do … I made a pot of coffee Buddy got the paper We sat down to have a cigarette together Buddy, “Hey! I forgot! This is January 1; we were supposed to quit smoking today.” I said, “We’ll have to try again next year.”

I made a pot of coffee

Buddy got the paper

We sat down to have a cigarette together

Buddy, “Hey! I forgot! This is January 1; we were supposed to quit smoking today.”

I said, “We’ll have to try again next year.”

Half-hearted recognition of things we need to improve No determination No commitment Relief when broken Stop worrying about them Put them off another year

No determination

No commitment

Relief when broken

Stop worrying about them

Put them off another year

The idea of New Year’s resolutions is a good one We should Be aware of areas needing improvement Make an effort to improve Not as simple as acknowledging need Real change requires determination & persistence

We should

Be aware of areas needing improvement

Make an effort to improve

Not as simple as acknowledging need

Real change requires determination & persistence

Today we begin a series called “Better This Year” For those who want long-term change Three essentials for self-improvement If applied, on December 31, you’ll look back and see that 2009 was your best year yet

For those who want long-term change

Three essentials for self-improvement

If applied, on December 31, you’ll look back and see that 2009 was your best year yet

What holds us back most is the way we think Our attitude Our perspective

Our attitude

Our perspective

Norman Vincent Peale said, “ Change your thoughts, and you change your world.” Not original – he got the idea from Paul

“ Change your thoughts, and you change your world.”

Not original – he got the idea from Paul

Romans 12:2 NIV 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.

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.

The first step to changing your life is changing your thinking The first step – not the only step Can’t “positive think” your way to success Positive thinking is not wishful thinking Positive thinking is opposite foolish denial I don’t even like the term “positive thinking” We should become optimizers – not just positive thinkers Think about things we can do to improve ourselves and our circumstances

The first step – not the only step

Can’t “positive think” your way to success

Positive thinking is not wishful thinking

Positive thinking is opposite foolish denial

I don’t even like the term “positive thinking”

We should become optimizers – not just positive thinkers

Think about things we can do to improve ourselves and our circumstances

8 oz. glass with 4 oz. of water Pessimist: Half-empty Optimist: Half-full Optimizer: “I need to get more water” You never think your way to a full glass You have to take the glass to the faucet Optimizers take steps to make things better

Pessimist: Half-empty

Optimist: Half-full

Optimizer: “I need to get more water”

You never think your way to a full glass

You have to take the glass to the faucet

Optimizers take steps to make things better

Paul: the great optimizer Man of faith & positive thinker Also a man of action – an optimizer Didn’t just talk about the way things ought to be, he took action Reason he experienced dramatic change Violent, intolerant, self-righteous Pharisee Became humble, holy, committed disciple Philippians 3 shows his mental process – three adjustments of focus

Man of faith & positive thinker

Also a man of action – an optimizer

Didn’t just talk about the way things ought to be, he took action

Reason he experienced dramatic change

Violent, intolerant, self-righteous Pharisee

Became humble, holy, committed disciple

Philippians 3 shows his mental process – three adjustments of focus

1. Focus on long-term goals, not just short-term resolutions If you really want to create lasting change, you have to see your life in terms of goals, not resolutions

Resolution: quit smoking to improve health Quits smoking Compensates for craving by overeating Becomes overweight non-smoker Exchanged one health risk for another “ I’d rather smoke than be overweight” Resumes habit

Quits smoking

Compensates for craving by overeating

Becomes overweight non-smoker

Exchanged one health risk for another

“ I’d rather smoke than be overweight”

Resumes habit

Optimizer’s real objective is to improve health Work out more often Healthy food choices Sees resolution to quit smoking in terms of the big picture What are you really trying to accomplish? Why do you want to make this change?

Work out more often

Healthy food choices

Sees resolution to quit smoking in terms of the big picture

What are you really trying to accomplish?

Why do you want to make this change?

Look at your New Year’s resolutions and ask yourself: What is the goal behind this resolution? Let that goal become your focus

What is the goal behind this resolution?

Let that goal become your focus

Many say they want to get rid of a certain sin in their life They need to ask themselves: Why? Because it’s embarrassing? Because it’s inconvenient? Because it’s expensive? Because my spouse nags me about it? I want to please God and be like Jesus? Our goals answer the question “Why?” Keep us focused on the reasons for improving

They need to ask themselves: Why?

Because it’s embarrassing?

Because it’s inconvenient?

Because it’s expensive?

Because my spouse nags me about it?

I want to please God and be like Jesus?

Our goals answer the question “Why?”

Keep us focused on the reasons for improving

Paul’s long term goal was simple: Philippians 3:10-11 NIV I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, (11) and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3:10-11 NIV I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, (11) and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

That was the focus of his efforts Philippians 3:14 NIV I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Paul struggled toward holiness in his life Not so he could impress others Not so he could feel good about himself He did it so that he could be like Jesus

Philippians 3:14 NIV I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Paul struggled toward holiness in his life

Not so he could impress others

Not so he could feel good about himself

He did it so that he could be like Jesus

Some are good and ethical, but not interested in spiritual things They’re missing the point of being good It’s not about being able to pat ourselves on the back It’s not about being able to look at ourselves in the mirror It’s about living a life that is pleasing to God. When you make a resolution, ask “Why is this important to me?” Focus on the goal behind the resolution

They’re missing the point of being good

It’s not about being able to pat ourselves on the back

It’s not about being able to look at ourselves in the mirror

It’s about living a life that is pleasing to God.

When you make a resolution, ask “Why is this important to me?”

Focus on the goal behind the resolution

2. Focus on progress, not just perfection If you really want to create lasting change, you have to learn to recognize improvement

Perfection is the objective in any New Year’s resolution You want to stop yelling at the kids 100% of the time, not just 50% of the time You want to start walking a-mile-a-day EVERY DAY, not just once or twice a month Perfection is the goal, but recognize progress Creating lasting change takes time You cannot expect perfection immediately Paul knew changes don’t take place overnight But that’s no reason to give up

You want to stop yelling at the kids

100% of the time, not just 50% of the time

You want to start walking a-mile-a-day

EVERY DAY, not just once or twice a month

Perfection is the goal, but recognize progress

Creating lasting change takes time

You cannot expect perfection immediately

Paul knew changes don’t take place overnight

But that’s no reason to give up

Philippians 3:12-13 NIV Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. (13) Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. (13) Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

A basketball player’s goal is to hit every shot that he puts up Never : “Maybe I should miss this shot” The goal is to score every time you shoot No basketball player has achieved that They measure success by their progress Are they scoring more points per game? Are they hitting a higher percentage of shots than before? Their focus is on progress, not perfection

Never : “Maybe I should miss this shot”

The goal is to score every time you shoot

No basketball player has achieved that

They measure success by their progress

Are they scoring more points per game?

Are they hitting a higher percentage of shots than before?

Their focus is on progress, not perfection

Optimizers think the same way They focus on progress, not perfection Perfectionism doesn’t lead to action It is more likely to prevent us from acting If it’s “perfection or nothing”, most think, “Why bother? Why set myself up to fail?”

They focus on progress, not perfection

Perfectionism doesn’t lead to action

It is more likely to prevent us from acting

If it’s “perfection or nothing”, most think, “Why bother? Why set myself up to fail?”

We have to learn to think differently about perfection We don’t have to lower our standards We do have to learn to chart our progress Success doesn’t happen instantaneously It requires day-in, day-out tenacity You’ve got to keep pressing on

We don’t have to lower our standards

We do have to learn to chart our progress

Success doesn’t happen instantaneously

It requires day-in, day-out tenacity

You’ve got to keep pressing on

3. Focus on “how” not just “what” If you really want to create lasting change, you have to have a plan

The “what” part is easy Know what we want, not how to get there Easy to say, “I want to be a great parent” Knowing how to pull it off isn’t always easy Easy to say, “I want a happy marriage” Knowing how to have one isn’t always easy The “how to” part requires some thought Setting a goal won’t change your life You have to have a map for getting there

Know what we want, not how to get there

Easy to say, “I want to be a great parent”

Knowing how to pull it off isn’t always easy

Easy to say, “I want a happy marriage”

Knowing how to have one isn’t always easy

The “how to” part requires some thought

Setting a goal won’t change your life

You have to have a map for getting there

Paul gives a strategy for reaching the goal of godliness Philippians 3:16-17 NIV Only let us live up to what we have already attained. (17) Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. In other words: “ If you want to be like Jesus: Live the truth you know and follow the example set by me and other spiritual leaders.”

Philippians 3:16-17 NIV Only let us live up to what we have already attained. (17) Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.

In other words:

“ If you want to be like Jesus: Live the truth you know and follow the example set by me and other spiritual leaders.”

Until you develop the “how,” the “what” will be unattainable Rick Warren As teen, took notes of sermons Wrote “YBH,” (“Yes, but how?”) It’s not enough to know what you need to do; you need to know how

Rick Warren

As teen, took notes of sermons

Wrote “YBH,” (“Yes, but how?”)

It’s not enough to know what you need to do; you need to know how

Optimizers focus on the how, not just the what This is why we depend on the Bible for guidance The Bible doesn’t leave us hanging Teaches how to do what God wants us to do To change your life, change your thinking Not about positive or negative thinking It’s about thinking in terms of action It’s not half-empty or half-full, but “I need more water. How do I get it?”

This is why we depend on the Bible for guidance

The Bible doesn’t leave us hanging

Teaches how to do what God wants us to do

To change your life, change your thinking

Not about positive or negative thinking

It’s about thinking in terms of action

It’s not half-empty or half-full, but “I need more water. How do I get it?”

God will guide you through the process He’ll help you establish goals that glorify him He’ll give you the wisdom to know what you need to do, and how you need to do it He’ll give you strength to make progress along the way

He’ll help you establish goals that glorify him

He’ll give you the wisdom to know what you need to do, and how you need to do it

He’ll give you strength to make progress along the way

Our God is a God of action We, too, need to become people of action It’s the only way to create lasting change in our lives If you want this year to be different for you, make the commitment today

We, too, need to become people of action

It’s the only way to create lasting change in our lives

If you want this year to be different for you, make the commitment today