Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. James 1:6-8

I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. 1 Corinthians 1:10

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

GOD, MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH

By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. Hebrews 11:3

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused ...They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. Romans 1; 18-25

Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us….. So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-27

The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. Proverbs 18:21

The tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. James 3:5-6

What you say flows from what is in your heart. Luke 6:45

ACTION STEP: DAILY I WILL EVALUATE THE FRUIT OF MY WORDS AND REALIGN MY HEART TO MY CREATED STATE

GOD, THE FATHER ALMIGHTY

When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased. Luke 3:21-22 NIV

•IDENTITY - YOU ARE MY SON

•AFFECTION - WHOM I LOVE

•AFFIRMATION - WITH YOU I AM WELL PLEASED

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. Romans 8:15-16

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:28-31

ACTION STEP: I DECLARE THAT I AM A CHILD OF GOD, I AM PRECIOUS, I HAVE A PURPOSE, AND I REST IN THOSE TRUTHS!

DECIDE THE TYPE OF PERSON YOU WANT TO BE.

PROVE IT TO YOURSELF WITH SMALL WINS

Samson led Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines. Judges 15:20 NIV

 So for 20 years, Samson is the leader of Israel, he's the hero of the people of Israel, and for the most part the people of Israel live in peace and for the most part during the twenty years, they're prospering. So he goes from the hero to being beaten by the Philistines, a prisoner of the Philistines, eyes gouged out, and he is who they bring out to Mock and ridicule at all their parties. He went from a hero to a laughing stock and it feels like almost instantly when you hear me paraphrase the story, but if you look deeper that's not what happened. 

One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her. The people of Gaza were told, “Samson is here!” So they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate. They made no move during the night, saying, “At dawn we’ll kill him.”Judges 16:1-2 NIV 

RARELY DO WE GET TO THE WRONG PLACE IN LIFE BY ONE BAD CHOICE. WE GET THERE ONE STEP AT A TIME, ONE DAY AT A TIME, AND ONE BAD HABIT AT A TIME.

WE DON’T BELIEVE OUR BAD HABITS OR DISOBEDIENCE WILL COST US.

But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron. Judges 16:3

 Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah. Judges 16:4 NIV

The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, “See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver.” So Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.” Judges 16:5-6 NIV

After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him. Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him. Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison. Judges 16:19-21

HOW DO YOU BREAK BAD HABITS?

YOU MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THEM

DEFINE THE TYPE OF PERSON YOU WANT TO BE AND WHAT HABITS ARE HINDERING THAT

But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. 1 Timothy 6:11

So get rid of every filthy habit and all wicked conduct. Submit to God and accept the word that he plants in your hearts, which is able to save you. James 1:21 GNB

WE HAVE TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU LOVE FREEDOM OVER THE CONVENIENCE OF YOUR TEMPTATION

THE DISCIPLINES WE HOLD IN OUR PRESENT LEADS TO A HARVEST IN OUR FUTURE

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 

Ephesians 5:11 NIV

That is why the Bible says FLEE FROM SIN…MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO COMPROMISE

Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life. Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers. Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving. Proverbs 4:13-15

4 MAJOR TRIGGERS:

PLACE     

TIME

MOOD    

Tremble and in your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the Lord. Psalms 4:4-5 NIV

PEOPLE

Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble. Proverbs 13:20

Do not be fooled. “Bad companions ruin good character.” 1 Corinthians 16:33 NIV

ACTION STEP: SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE GOING THE DIRECTION YOU WANT TO GO

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25

Definition

A habit is a routine or behavior that is performed regularly-and, in many cases, automatically. 

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:9

SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE DO CONSISTENTLY OTHER PEOPLE DO OCCASIONALLY. 

Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps... Daniel 6:3 NIV

...by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. Daniel 6:3 NIV

WE NATURALLY DRIFT TOWARDS COMPLACENCY, BUT WE STRATEGICALLY PLAN FOR GROWTH. 

At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.” Daniel 6:4-5 NIV

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Daniel 6:10 NIV

GOD CAN DO MONUMENTAL MIRACLES THROUGH ONE SMALL HABIT OF OBEDIENCE! 

Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” Matthew 17:20

YOUR HABITS ARE HOW YOU EMBODY YOUR IDENTITY AND YOUR IDENTITY IS LITERALLY YOUR REPEATED BEINGNESS.

Toward the end of Paul’s life, he is writing to Timothy who is a leader that Paul has been mentoring.  Paul understood that Timothy had a lot of challenges he was facing based on leading the church, facing false teachers, learning how to identify and develop elders in the church, how to have a dynamic prayer life, conduct church services, take care of widows and the elderly… The list goes on and on with the duties of Pastor.  Yet Paul in his wisdom ends his letter to Timothy with this...

But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness; Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. 1 Timothy 6:11;20

For lasting success and change we have to build identity-based habits.  This is what you have to get in your mind.  A keystone habit is formed by who you want to be. For me, it is what type of husband, father, Pastor, and the leader I want to be.  Focus on who you wish to become! 

TRUE BEHAVIOR CHANGE IS IDENTITY CHANGE!  

Research shows that once a person believes in a particular aspect of their identity, they are more likely to act in alignment with that belief.

ACTION STEPS

DECIDE THE TYPE OF PERSON YOU WANT TO BE.

You have to decide who you want to be. this is an individual decision this also works for your company for your family for your team. What are your principles what are your values what do you want to stand for who do you wish to become? 

WHO IS THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT COULD GET THE OUTCOME I WANT? 

Who is the type of disciple that has a vibrant faith? Who is the type of person you can lose 100 lb?  who is the type of person that earns that type of salary? Who is the type of spouse that has a healthy marriage like that? Who's the type of person that can start that business? Who is the type of parent that has a great relationship with their kids?

PROVE IT TO YOURSELF WITH SMALL WINS

Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin… Zechariah 4:10

Once you identify the person you want to be you can begin by taking small steps to reinforce that identity. I love the example James gives in his book when he talks about a friend who lost a hundred pounds and she did it by asking herself a series of questions. the questions all rooted in this what would a healthy person do? All-day long those questions would be her guide.  would a healthy person walk or take a cab? would a healthy person order a burrito or salad? she figured if she acted like a healthy person long enough, eventually, she would become that person. And she was right!

  YOUR HABITS SHAPE YOUR IDENTITY AND YOUR IDENTITY SHAPES YOUR HABITS. 

Once you identify who you want to be you start asking yourself in small ways what actions does a person carry and then you start walking and what Paul is instructing Timothy you are a man of God and a man of God runs from evil and focuses on godliness, faith, love, perseverance!

I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6