Word of encouragement

1. New Habits to Change Your Life.
Craig Groeschel said, “successful peopledoconsistentlywhat normal peopledo occasionally”.
WinnersandLosershave the same goals – but theyendup withdifferentresults.Goalsdonot
determine success.Itisthe processthat determineswhetherone will be successful ornot.To develop
GOOD HABITS,we were taughtthe principle of
P.A.T.H. – PRIORITY,ADMIT that we are limitedandinadequate,TURN TOGOD for help,and
HABITUALIZE andkeeponpracticing.
The firsthabitwe will focusonisPRAYER.
To DEVELOP THE HABIT OF PRAYER,we must understanditsimportance.ItshouldbecomeaPRIORITY,
and mustbe done consistently.Similartosuccessful athletes,we musthave DISCIPLINE.
To be goodat something,we pursue withgreatfervoranddedicationhabitsthatcandeliverourgoals.
JesusChristhada similarsystemanddiscipline –Hishabitof prayingwasconsistent(Mark1:35, Luke
6:12, Matthew14:23). The Apostle Paul alsomade prayerahabit (Colossians1:9,Ephesians1:16, 1
Thessalonians5:17).Infact, the disciplesof Jesusaskedone thing-- forJesustoteachthem
HOW TO PRAY (Luke 11:1)! Jesusmodeleditforthem, He wasa manof prayer.Asfollowersof Jesus,we
too mustbecome menandwomenof prayer.Martin LloydJonessaid,“Prayerisbeyondanyquestion
the highestactivityof the humansoul.Man isat his greatestandhighestwhen, uponhisknees,he
comesface to face withGod” – there isno shortcutto intimacywithGod!PERSISTENTPRAYER
Luke 11:5-13 givesusa picture of howpersistentprayerislike,andhow Godrespondstoour prayers.
The neighborinthe storywill helpthe one inneedjustbecause he isafriend;he isgoingto help
because the othermanis PERSISTENT(Gk.ANAIDEA – boldness,shamelessness,tenacious,insistent).
What isJesussaying?Jesusexplainedinv.9thispicture – we mustkeepasking,keepseeking,andkeep
knocking.
Prayeris abouta relationshipwithGod – a relationshipbestexemplifiedbythe relationshipof afather
and a son.Jesusexplainedthatif men,whoare naturallyevil,will notwithholdgoodthingsfortheirown
children,howmuchmore GOD (Matthew 7:11)? We have to come to the Lord as we come to our “Good
Father”.SeeingGodthiswaywill impactourprayerlife.We mustbegintorealize the heartof God as a
Father– wantingthe bestforus. Therefore,we canhave complete trustandfreedomtoapproachHim
anytime andanywhere.WarrenWiersbe wrote,“Persistence inprayerisnotan attempttochange
God’smind(“Thy will be done”) buttogetourselvestothe place where He can trustus withthe
answer”.
Many times,Goddoesnot answer ourprayersimmediatelybecauseHe wantsusto experience the
blessingof persistentprayer –youare focusedonGod,you are remindedthatHe isincontrol,and as
youwait,your faithgrows,yourcharacter ischanged,and yourmotive ispurifiedandsanctified.
Hebrews4:16 tellsustodraw near withconfidencetothe throne of grace! To developthishabit,we
mustrememberP.A.T.H.:
• PRIORITY– we musttreat itas a veryimportantelementof ourrelationshipwithHim.Itisa habitwe
mustlearnto prioritize because itisagreat privilege givenbyGodfor usto enterintoHis presence.• *

2. *ADMIT – we must admitthat we cannotdevelopthishabitonourown.Our willpowerisinadequate
similartothe experience of the Apostle Paul (Romans7:15,18-19). Desiringthingsorhavinga goal isnot
enough.Godunderstandsourlimitation.Whatisthe solution?
• TURN TO JESUS – AsPaul pointedoutinRomans7:24-15 – he didnot say “thanksbe to my self-
discipline”.He pointsusbackto the powerof Jesusto transformlives(2Corinthians5:17).It all begins
withJesusChrist!
• HABITUALIZE– Paul saidin1 Corinthians9:27 that he“discplined”hisbody – there’sasystem, a habit
to continue practicing/doingthesethings(Philippians4:9),until itbecomessecondnature toyou!
Galatians6:9 encouragesusnotto lose heartin doingthese habitsbecause itwilleventuallybearfruit!
We were taughtthe principle of the “CompoundingEffect” –the small choicesyoumake today,can lead
to the successesandfailuresyouexperience tomorrow.We mustbe able todevelopgoodhabits
startingwithour prayerlife.PRAYERisveryimportant.Itmustbecome a wayof life.Luke 11:13
promisesusourHelperandAdvocate,the HOLY SPIRIT,to empowerustocontinue buildingthisGod-
glorifyinghabit.SimilartoJohn1:12, we must embrace thisbenefitthatgoeswithbeingchildrenof a
lovingandfaithful God – throughChristJesusourLord!