Healthy Habits Review Part 2 Series

Chico Alliance Church

Pastor David Welch

“Heahlthy Habits Review" Pt 2

Introduction

Today we will finish the series of messages on healthy spiritual habits for a deeper walk.

These are activities that condition the soul and deepen our connection to God.

All of the things we have studies this past year are prescribed by God on a regular basis.

They are the framework to address all the other spiritual issues raised in the Scriptures.

I. SILENCE AND SOLITUDE

No relationship flourishes without quality time with each other.

Unless we schedule it, it will not happen.

Life flies by and our spiritual life atrophies by lack of exercise.

Will you commit to giving time to him?

Daily, extended weekly, half a day monthly, fully day quarterly.

This is a day you have set aside for God.

We come to meet with God.

II. SUBMISSION

The original offense against God was failure to submit to His direction.

Rebellion, independence, indifference, self-reliance all stem from a failure submit to God’s authority.

Tell-tale signs of a failure to submit to Him include:

Ungratefulness, complaining, failure to pray, failure to spend time in Scripture, frustration, fear, anger, worry.

All of these indicate that I have snatched control of my life.

Usually this happens when God doesn’t do what I want Him too.

He is not fixing everything to my satisfaction.

I complain.

I struggle to make my life work on my terms rather than trust Him.

We should begin each day reporting for duty.

Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. 2 Timothy 2:3-4

Even though we would never say it out loud we often act as though God were our servant.

He exists to make our life work and please us.

Listen to your prayers.

Pay attention to your attitude when things don’t go your way.

We need to practice admitting our dependency.

God resists the proud but grants grace to the humble.

You are the Creator.

You are the King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

I acknowledge my dependence on You.

I humble myself under Your mighty hand and loving heart today.

III. CONFESSION / REPENTANCE

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. Psalms 139:23-24

IV. INTERACTION WITH SCRIPTURE

Scripture communicates God’s heart.

Scripture reveals God’s interaction with people.

Scripture shares God’s desires.

Scripture reveals God’s character and nature

V. FAITH / TRUST

Interaction with the Word of God inspires trust.

Trust is the core element of all relationships.

Will we entrust our lives to Him?

Part of this discipline has to do with affirming what we believe to be true about God.

Not only affirmation but a decision to act in light of what we believe to be true.

GOD IS GREAT!

Self-existent -- He alone has life in Himself and existed Holy Trinity before anything came into being. He is the ultimate cause.

Eternal -- He existed before time and will exist through all eternity.

"Who was and is and is to come the Almighty."

Self-sufficient -- He has no need. He has no necessary relationship with anything outside of Himself but has voluntarily entered into relationship with us.

Unchangeable -- Because God is perfect and self-sufficient, there is no need for growth or change. He is the same in character yesterday, today and forever.

All-present -- God's presence is everywhere at one time. There is no place I can go to be outside of His watchful care. He is always available.

All-knowing -- God knows everything there is to know about anything, both seen and unseen things, actual and things possible. He is aware of everything about me.

All-powerful -- By the mere exercise of His will He produces whatever He will. He is able to bring about what is right.

Incomprehensible -- Ultimately, we cannot fully understand God. The finite cannot comprehend the infinite. We can only get a small glimpse of who He is by those things that He has revealed of Himself in the Bible.

Sovereign -- God has everything in His control. He is not wringing his hands in despair or frustration. God will bring about all of His purposes in spite of man's unfaithfulness.

GOD IS GOOD!

Love -- The core of God's nature is to give of Himself voluntarily, unconditionally to the needs of those He loves. This unconditional giving is based on the strength and commitment of the one loving, not the worthiness of the one being loved.

Merciful -- God takes pity on the misery of the sinner and withholds what is due (death and punishment) in order to extend what is not deserved (grace).