A Little Faith At Night

I want you to consider a principle: faith makes you a canvas upon which the Redeemer can paint the beauty of his grace.

What do you think this principle means? And how does it apply to the situtations, locations, and relationships of your everyday life?

Take a moment to meditate on these questions, and when you're ready, grab a Bible and read John 3:1-21.

THE BACKGROUND

In most of the gospel narratives, the Pharisees are identified as a group of people, but in John 3, we're introduced to a specific Pharisee by name - Nicodemus.

Nicodemus was a member of the ruling legal council, the Sanhedrin, which was essentially the Supreme Court of the Jewish people. The Sanhedrin was virulently opposed to Jesus and his messianic claims, and they repeatedly tried to trap him with questions and publicly expose him as a fraud.

In the ultimate miscarriage of justice, the Sanhedrin arrested Jesus, put him on mock trial, convicted him of blasphemy, and then turned him over to the Roman authorities to be crucified.

With that being the case, it makes sense that Nicodemus, being a member of that Sanhedrin, would approach Jesus under the cover of nightfall. This meeting was incredibly risky - who knows what would have happened to Nicodemus had his colleagues learned that one of their own was so convinced that Jesus was from God that he sought him out to have questions his answered.

It makes sense that Nicodemus was afraid, but he had little seeds of faith planted in his heart. As they began to sprout, these seeds of faith caused Nicodemus to take that life-changing walk at night to meet the Messiah. The conversation that followed would result in the most memorable words ever spoken.

A LITTLE FAITH

Isn't it comforting to know that Christ doesn't require us to possess a big and bold faith? Rather, in forgiving and understanding grace, he accepts us as we are, with miniscule, weak, doubt-filled faith.

He never mocks our wobbly knees and shaky hands. He never turns his back on us when fear mixes with faith in our hearts. The story of Nicodemus proves that Jesus doesn't ask us to march towards him in the broad daylight. No, he joyfully receives us when we sneak towards him under the cover of darkness!

Our Lord is just that tender, just that patient, just that kind. He knows that the mysteries of redemption confound and confuse us. He recognizes that the truths he reveals about himself are counter-intuitive to us. He understands that the things he calls us to do are intimidating for us.

With compassion and empathy, he graciously invites us to come as we are, and he promises that when we do, he won't turn us away.

THE FAMOUS CONVERSATION

As you read John 3, it's striking to note that Jesus does not question Nicodemus' timing, motive, or manner. He doesn't rebuke him for coming under the cover of night. He receives him without judgment and is immediately willing to answer his questions.

It's also important to note that while Nicodemus' opening question is about the true identity of Jesus, Jesus responds by confronting Nicodemus with the eternally crucial issue of the moment. In grace, Jesus cared more about the spiritual state of this man than he did about defending his personal messianic claims.

In the moments that follow, Christ unpacks for this fearful and wobbly faith-filled member of the Sanhedrin the mysteries of new birth and the essentiality of his impending sacrifice. There's laser focus to this conversation, because the Redeemer is talking to a man in desperate need of redemption.

You can tell from Nicodemus' responses that Jesus has taken his mind to places that it has never gone before! Jesus is revealing to the heart of this man what only God can make known to us.

This is an important concept to grasp: it takes divine grace for us to understand the mysteries of, and our need for, divine grace. You and I don't run to, or rest in, divine grace because we have faith. No, we have faith because we've been met by divine grace.

Nicodemus has been drawn to Jesus by divine grace. He's hearing the words of Jesus because of divine grace. He'll embrace what he has heard because of divine grace.

The whole narrative of John 3 is not driven by the resolve of Nicodemus, but by the power and glory of rescuing, revealing, forgiving, accepting, and transforming divine grace!

A CHOSEN CANVAS

I want to return to the principle we considered at the start of this story: faith makes you a canvas upon which the Redeemer can paint the beauty of his grace.

Nicodemus had no idea of what was happening through him in this moment of history. He had been chosen to be with Jesus on that life-changing night, not just because he needed to personally receive the truth-revealing, heart-changing grace of God, but also because he had been chosen to be an instrument of that grace in the lives of an untold company of believers down through the ages.

Nicodemus was completely unaware, but he had been chosen to be the canvas on which Jesus would paint one of the best-known portraits in all of Scripture of his redeeming grace!

Under the cover of darkness on that world-changing night, Nicodemus was more than just a seeker of truth and a recipient grace. Because he was those things, he became a canvas as well. And on the canvas of Nicodemus' heart, propelled by little sprouting and fearful seeds of faith, Jesus would paint the glorious colors of his work of redemption.

With the skill of a divine artist, Christ took his brush and painted, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16, ESV).

What a stunning portrait of the entire narrative of redemption!

THE COLORS OF REDEMPTION

I'm a painter by avocation, and painters tend to have a color palette that they regularly work with. So, let's consider the color palette of John 3:16 that Jesus used to paint the story of his redemptive work for all believers to see.

What are the primary "colors" of the grace of redemption? Four stand out:

1. The Color of Love

"For God so loved the world..."

These may be the most amazing words ever written. God looks on his fallen and broken world, populated by people rebelling against his authority, not with revulsion, but with love.

Without this love, there would be no redemption story. Without this love, humanity would have no hope. Without this love, there would be no incarnation, no crucifixion, no resurrection, and no daily intercession on our behalf.

You and I have life because God's response to us is colored with love.

2. The Color of Generosity

"...that he gave..."

Hope and change never begin with us, but with what these three powerful words capture. Hope and change start with the boundless generosity of God toward people who actually deserve his wrath.

It was his generosity that sent Jesus to the manger, to walk the roads of Palestine, to preach the good news with wisdom and power, to willingly endure the cross, to walk away from the tomb, and to ascend to his right hand.

Every day you and I live in the blessings of lives that are colored by the generosity of the Lord.

3. The Color of Sacrifice

"...his only Son..."

Consider what these words mean. God didn't send his Son to set up a regal earthly kingdom. No, he sent him for one purpose: to be the Lamb of Sacrifice. Without his perfect life and without his perfect sacrifice, there would be no forgiveness of sin and no acceptance with God.

The cross was always in Jesus' future. God not only sacrificed his Son by sending him to earth, but also by sending him to earth to be the sacrifice that would forever satisfy his anger with sin.

We're the children of God because the canvas of redemption is colored with the blood of sacrifice.

4. The Color of Life

"that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life..."

What's the result of the boundless love, the incalculable generosity, and the willing sacrifice of the Lord? Life - eternal life!

Sin leaves us dead in our tracks and tragically separated from the One for whom we were created. It's the tragedy of tragedies from which we're not able to extricate ourselves. We all stand in desperate need of divine intervention because there's nothing that we can do to earn or deserve life.

But, because of God's love and generosity, because of the sacrifice of the Son, death has been defeated and eternal life has been given to all who believe. The final color painted on the canvas of redemption is the beautiful color of eternal life.

What an amazing painting, painted on the canvas of Nicodemus!

WHO'S THE HERO?

It's tempting for us to praise Nicomedus as the hero of this story, and in some ways, he should serve as a model for us. He risked his reputation (and potentially much more), coming fearfully to the Messiah in possession of only little sprouting seeds of faith. In doing so, he became the canvas for one of the best-known portraits of New Testament redemption.

But, as is the point with every story of faith from Scripture, God is the true hero. He is so generous and glorious in his grace that he does with those who seek him things that are way greater than anything they could ever ask or imagine.

Nicodemus came under the cover of darkness, yet his name - and more importantly, the words that he heard - shine as a bright light down through the generations by all who believe.

Isn't it amazing what God can do with a little faith at night?

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Life-Changing Sermons

What I'm about to write will probably get me into trouble: I'm deeply persuaded that there's entirely too much mediocrity in the church of Jesus Christ when it comes to pastors preparing and delivering their sermons.

I'm tired of hearing boring, inadequately prepared theological lectures, delivered by uninspired pastors reading manuscripts, regurgitating their favorite exegetical commentaries, recasting the sermons of their favorite preachers, or reshaping notes from one of their seminary classes.

There, I said it. Now I need to unpack it.

Today, I want to look at five areas of preaching – the importance, the preparation, the delivery, the uniqueness, and the awe – and then give you an opportunity to interact with me. Just like with my Manhood Article, I'm opening the door to your questions.

If you have a question about preaching, send me an e-mail: questions@paultripp.com. I'll be answering them on video sometime in June.

1. THE IMPORTANCE OF PREACHING

Every worship service is an all-out war for the hearts of the people gathered. The bottom line is this: will the hearts of these people leave captured by the one true glory of God or distracted by the temptations, fears, and difficulties of the fallen world?

The people listening to me are:

• Teenage boys who can't wait to get home and play another level of their favorite game on Xbox
• Teenage girls tempted to use their bodies as leverage for the attention of those teenage boys
• Discouraged, frustrated, or furious parents who have had it with their children's rebellion
• Young men who have their minds set on financial success and will do anything to achieve it
• Single women who think those young men will deliver the happiness that they've been craving
• Couples who have realized that marriage is not the Hollywood dream they once thought and are now stuck in a seemingly loveless relationship
• Materialistic Christians who are more excited about their upcoming vacation than they are about ministry in the local church
• Suffering Christians who have recently experienced devastating grief, pain, or loss
• Depressed Christians who are distracted by loneliness, despair, and hopelessness

As the preacher for that service, I want to do everything I can to be used of God to capture their hearts with the rescuing glory of God's grace, the insight-giving glory of God's wisdom, the hope-giving glory of his love, the empowering glory of his presence, the rest-giving glory of his sovereignty, and the saving glory of his Son.

Wow - what a calling.

As pastors, we have to fight for the sanctity of preaching; no one else will. We have to demand that our job descriptions allow for the time necessary to prepare well. We can't set low standards for ourselves and those we shepherd. We can't be self-excusing and self-accommodating. We can't, because we're unprepared, let his splendor appear boring and his amazing grace appear ordinary.

In other words, we can never settle for anything less than our best. There's no room for mediocrity in the pulpit. Preaching is that important.

2. THE PREPARATION OF PREACHING

Preaching is all about accurately exegeting and understanding the truths of the gospel as they unfold in a particular passage of Scripture and practically applying those truths to my life and to the lives of those whom I will speak into.

This aspect of preparation should never be rushed. It's necessary for me to live with a passage, to carry it around with me, and to marinate my soul with its nourishing and thirst-quenching waters. I simply can’t do this in a couple of hours.

I have to write this: if you're developing original content late on a Saturday evening, you have no business preaching it on Sunday.

Personally, I can’t have a fresh encounter with a passage of Scripture and preach the following Sunday; it doesn't give me enough time. I need three or four weeks to allow the truths to marinate in my own heart and become more deeply and practically understood. On the week of the sermon, I preach it aloud to myself many times. In doing so, both my understanding of the passage and the creative ways I communicate are deepened and developed.

I’m not suggesting that this calendar of preparation is the only way. What I am suggesting is that each week, many Bible-believing pastors haven't carved out enough time to study the Bible and the truths it has for the people they're called to shepherd.

3. THE DELIVERY OF PREACHING

Preaching is not just about preparation. You need to deliver it in a way that's nutritious and digestible.

Think of your weekly sermon as a Thanksgiving dinner. Preparation is all about gathering a diverse list of ingredients; if you don't take time to hunt for and collect the best ingredients, your meal won't taste as good as it can. But, when you put the Thanksgiving dinner on the table for your family, you don't put ingredients in front of them.

A hunk of butter, a mouthful of flour, and a spoon of cornmeal is not very appetizing or digestible. But cornbread is a wonderful thing. So it is with preaching. You must exegetically unpack the truths of the Bible (ingredients), but do so in a manner that is practical, helpful, and speaks to the struggles of your people.

Have you taken the time to pray for and study the people who will be listening to you? If you meditate on their struggle and how the Scriptures speak directly to their life, your preaching will become a meal instead of an assortment of ingredients.

4. THE UNIQUENESS OF PREACHING

I said at the beginning how many sermons I've listened to were nothing more than regurgitated exegetical commentaries, recasted sermons of popular preachers, or reshaped notes from seminary classes.

You are not John Piper. You are not Tim Keller. You are not Matt Chandler. That doesn't mean you shouldn't listen to their sermons if they've preached on the same passage before; on the contrary, I would encourage you to build that into your preparation. But God has given you a unique message to share with your unique congregation that speaks to their unique struggles.

Don't doubt God's calling; he's placed you as the pastor of your church. Don't doubt God's gifting; he's given you all you need to do what you've been called to do. And don't doubt God's timing; the message you will preach on Sunday has unique applications to your congregation. But you need to take the time to prepare and deliver.

5. THE AWE OF PREACHING

Here's the bottom line: our mediocre preaching reveals the true condition of our hearts.

As pastors, can't point the finger at the unexpected things that show up on the schedule of every pastor. We can't blame the demands of family. No, we have to humbly confess that our preaching is mediocre because we have lost our awe of God.

We've been called to shine the light of the glory of God into hearts that have been made dark by looking for life in all the wrong places. We've been called to offer the filling glories of grace to those who are empty and malnourished. We've been called to represent a glorious king who alone is able to rescue, heal, redeem, transform, forgive, deliver, and satisfy.

But sadly, we've lost our awe and have become all too comfortable representing God’s excellence in a way that's anything but excellent. If this describes you, then run in humble confession to your Savior and embrace the grace that has the power to rescue you from you, and in so doing, give you back your awe.

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How to Change Yourself Full Message

Introduction:

Have you ever had difficulty trying to change a habit? Human beings are creatures of habit. We tend to continue acting as we have acted in the past. Like a river flowing through a canyon, the longer a habit continues, the more deeply it becomes ingrained, and the harder it is to change. This is true of all habits, good or bad.

Ephesians 4:22-24 shows that major changes must occur when we are converted to serve God. Old practices and attitudes must be replaced by new ones. Christians must learn good habits like Bible study, prayer, love, faith, patience, attending church meetings, giving, teaching others, etc. We must also eliminate bad habits like foul language, uncontrolled temper, gambling, drugs, smoking, drinking, gossip, lying, pornography, sexual promiscuity, etc.

Knowing what changes to make is not enough. We also need to know how to make them. Change does not come easily. Since the Scriptures provide us to all good works (2 Timothy 3:16,17), they give all the guidance we need. God's word is the best source of guidance for self-help and motivation for self-improvement.

Let us study 12 specific, practical steps the Bible gives to show us how to change and improve our selves to become what God wants.

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Step1: Change Your Purpose in Life.

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Before people are willing to act, they must be motivated. A sound sleeper is more likely to get up in the middle of the night if the house is on fire than if he remembers he did not brush his teeth! Christians have some of the strongest possible motives for changing. Consider some:

Love and Dedication to God

Romans 12:1,2 - Christians are transformed (changed) by renewing their minds (cf. Eph. 4:23). To live differently, we must think differently. We must not seek to be like the world but to use our bodies in God's service.

The Macedonians practiced generous giving because they first gave themselves to the Lord (2 Corinthians 8:5). Changing our conduct becomes much easier when we are totally dedicated to God's service. (See also Ecc. 12:13; Matt. 6:33; 16:24.)

1 John 5:3; 4:19,9 - What motivates us to obey God? Our love for Him. What motivates us to love Him? The fact that He loved us. How do we know He loved us? Because He gave His Son to die to save us.

Love is one of the strongest forces in existence. It can move a woman to rescue her children from a burning building or a man to lift an automobile that has crushed a loved one. If you are having difficulty changing yourself, you need to learn to appreciate God's blessings and mercy. (See also 1 John 2:15-17; Matt. 10:34-37; 22:37-40; John 14:15; 2 Cor. 5:14-17.)

Imitation of Christ

The desire to be like someone we admire is another powerful motivation. Sports heroes inspire young people in athletics. Washington and Lincoln are models for patriotic citizens. So godly people like Abraham, Noah, Ruth, and Mary motivate us to serve God. But the greatest example of all is that of Jesus.

Matthew 10:24,25 - A disciple seeks to be like his master. Christians are disciples of Jesus (Acts 11:26). We should follow His steps because He left us a sinless example (1 Peter 2:21,22).

As we face each decision in life, we should ask, "What would Jesus do?" This will give us strong motivation to change our lives. (See also Gal. 2:20; Matt. 16:24; Col. 3:10).

Desire for Eternal Life, Not Eternal Punishment

1 Corinthians 9:25 - Athletes control their habits so they can win a temporary, earthly honor. Christians have an even stronger motive. We seek the crown of eternal life (James 1:12; Rev. 2:10). We should set our minds on our eternal reward, not on earthly things (Col. 3:1-6; 2 Peter 1:10,11; 2 Thess. 1:8,9).

Lack of motivation is a major reason people do not change to please God. They do not have sufficient desire to change. Instead they want to please themselves or their friends and family. Often they are too concerned with the things of this life. Until our motives are right, little else in this study will help us. But when we are determined that serving God is our most important purpose in life, then we will find the means to make the necessary changes.

When we lack the motivation to change, let us think about why we should love God, think about the importance of being like Christ, and think about our eternal destiny.

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Step2: Believe You Can Change with God's Help.

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Proverbs 4:23 - Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. The way you act is determined by your attitudes and intentions. People and circumstances may influence you, but you do not have to give in. You do what you decide to do (cf. Matt. 15:18,19; 12:34-37).

1 Corinthians 10:13 - God will not allow temptations that are beyond your ability to bear. He will always make a way of escape. "God is faithful." He will always keep this promise. It follows that you can break any bad habit and develop any good habit according to God's will.

Philippians 4:13 - We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. This includes changing to please Him. If we trust our own strength, we will fail. Satan can defeat us. If we use Christ's strength we will succeed, because Satan can never defeat Him. Perhaps we have failed in the past because we have trusted our own power instead of using Christ's.

People sometimes convince themselves, "I just can't change. It's too late. Besides, I'm only human." They are not just belittling themselves; they are denying God's word. They will fail simply because they will give up instead of persisting to use God's power.

Psalm 37:5 - If you commit yourself to the Lord and trust Him, He will accomplish His will for you. No matter how strong a temptation you face, no matter how long you have practiced a sin, if God says to change, you can change. (See also Eph. 6:10-18; 3:20,21; 2 Cor. 9:8; Josh. 1:5-9.)

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Step 3: Study the Bible about Your Habit.

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Joshua 1:8 - To succeed in God's work, meditate on God's word. List the pertinent Bible passages about each habit you need to change. List reasons why you should change. Meditate on these verses daily, filling your mind with them. (Cf. Psalm 1:2; 119:11.)

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 - Frequently remind yourself of these verses. Write them and place them where they will remind you: on your bathroom mirror, on the refrigerator door, on your table at mealtime, on the TV knob.

Matthew 4:1-11 - Jesus overcame temptation by quoting Scripture. But this worked only because He knew the Scripture. Memorize verses about your habit so that, when you are tempted, they will come to mind and strengthen you. Quote them to yourself and to those who tempt you. (See also Prov. 3:5,6; 2 Tim. 3:16,17; Eph. 6:17; Rom. 1:16; Heb. 4:12.)

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Step4: Repent of Sin.

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Acts 8:22 - Sin requires repentance. Repentance is a change of mind - a determined commitment to cease sin and obey God (see Matt. 21:28,29; Acts 17:30; 11:23). Before one can change his conduct, he must change his mind.

Proverbs 28:13 - Do not cover up your sin, deny it, excuse it, or blame someone else. Admit the error and be truly sorry (2 Cor. 7:10). But sorrow is not enough. We have truly repented only when we are so sorry that we determine to change our conduct.

Most other achievements in life require about 10% ability and 90% just plain determination and hard work. In spiritual matters, every accountable person has the ability to please God; so changing to please God is 100% determined by our choice. God has provided everything we need. The decision is ours.

We will never change until we make up our minds to pursue the means God provides until we succeed. The decision to do this is repentance, and no one will change to please God without it.

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Step 5: Develop a Plan of Action.

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Proverbs 14:22 - We must devise to do good, not evil. God's example demonstrates the importance of planning. He purposed man's redemption (Rom. 8:28), the church (Eph. 3:10,11), the temple (Heb. 8:5), etc. (cf. Gen. 12:1-7). Likewise, God's servants need to have a plan to succeed in His service (Luke 14:26-33; Dan. 1:8; Psalm 17:3; Acts 11:23; 2 Cor. 9:7).

In what other important endeavors will we succeed without a plan? Consider the forethought needed to build a house, run a business or a household, program a computer, etc. Worthwhile activities, to be successful, need planning.

Likewise, to change your life, you need a specific, practical checklist of steps you will take to change. Analyze the circumstances or causes that lead you to fail to do right, then plan how to avoid those causes. It may help to write your plan down and modify it as needed. This plan will include some specific points we are studying plus other points that fit your specific problem.

Many people fail to change to please God because they never planned to succeed. They did not plan to fail, but they failed to plan!

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Step 6: Pray Regularly.

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Prayer is essential in two ways.

A child of God should pray for forgiveness.

If you are not yet a child of God, you need to believe in Jesus, repent of sins, confess Christ, and be baptized to be forgiven of sins (Mark 16:16; Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 2:38; 22:16). When you have done those things, you become a child of God (Gal. 3:26,27; Rom. 6:3,4; 1 Peter 1:22,23). If you sin afterward, you need to pray for forgiveness (Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:8-10; Prov. 28:13; Matt. 6:12).

Then pray for God's help.

Matthew 6:13 - Ask God to "deliver us from evil" (cf. Matt. 26:41). Tell God exactly what your problem is. Pray often and regularly (1 Thess. 5:17; Col. 4:2). Pray especially at the moment when you face temptation (Matt. 26:36-46).

God has promised that, if you ask His help, He will hear and answer (1 Peter 5:7; Phil. 4:6,7; Eph. 6:11,13,18).

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Step 7: Seek Help from Other Christians.

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James 5:16 - Christians should confess their faults to one another so they can pray for one another. We should bear one another's burdens (Gal. 6:2). If our sins have harmed specific individuals, we should apologize to them (Matt. 5:23,24).

When we are fighting an especially difficult habit, it may help to choose one or two special counselors to talk with regularly. They can give us Bible passages and good advice about how to change. They can encourage us. It may motivate us just to know that others are aware of our problem. And they can surely pray for us.

Public church meetings are especially designed to give encouragement (Heb. 10:24,25; 3:12,13; Eph. 4:15,16). We need to attend regularly for many reasons, but especially we need encouragement as we try to become what God wants us to be.

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Step 8: Diligently Practice What is Right.

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1 Corinthians 15:58 - Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord's work. Abundant, steadfast work is needed.

We have discussed several steps to prepare us to change, but none of them can substitute for hard work and dedicated effort. All the good attitudes in the world will not get the job done until we follow through with action. God does not promise change will be easy, but He promises it is possible if we work diligently according to His word.

James 1:22-25 - Be doers of the word, not just hearers. Habits are formed by repeated action. We learn to ride a bicycle by forcing ourselves to practice, even when it feels unnatural and uncomfortable. But repetition produces a habit that then feels natural and enjoyable.

So we change to serve God only when we compel ourselves to do what we know is right and repeat it until it becomes "second nature." (See also Rom. 6:1-23; Matt. 7:21; Luke 6:46.)

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Step 9: Substitue Good Habits for Bad Ones.

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Ephesians 4:22-32 - Do not just put off the old man. Put on the new man. Note the examples: Speak truth instead of falsehood (v25), work and give to others instead of stealing (v28), speak good instead of evil (v29), show kindness and forgiveness instead of anger and bitterness (v31,32).

Matthew 12:43-45 - A demon left a man but later found the man's life still empty. He moved back in bringing seven other demons with him! Jesus applied this to Israel, but it is a general principle.

"Nature hates a vacuum." Remove the air from a bottle, and it will try to get back in. Fill the bottle with something substantial, and the air stays out. So your life cannot stay a spiritual void. It will fill with good or evil. Replace bad habits with good and the bad is less likely to return.

For example, suppose you determine to watch less TV, so you turn it off, but sit in front of it with nothing else to do. Soon you will turn it on again. But if you become actively involved in family activities, Bible study, etc., soon you will replace it with other habits.

For every bad habit you "put off," find some useful activity to "put on" in its place.

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Step 10: Avoid Temptation.

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Matthew 6:13 - We should pray, "lead us not into temptation." If we pray this, surely we obligate ourselves to avoid people, places, and situations that tempt us (cf. Rom. 13:14).

1 Corinthians 15:33 - Evil company corrupts good habits. Note: "Do not be deceived." Many people think they can return to bad company without returning to bad habits. They are deceived!

Many habits - such as drinking, smoking, drug abuse, gambling, and sexual promiscuity - are begun and continued because of "peer pressure." Breaking such habits by themselves is hard enough, but it is far more difficult when "friends" urge us to continue them (1 Peter 4:3,4; Prov. 13:20; Ex. 23:2).

Psalm 26:5 - We should hate the congregation of evildoers. Too often people say, "I won't drink (or dance or gamble, etc.). I'll just go to the tavern (or dance hall or casino) to be with my friends." When people have gathered together for the purpose of practicing sin, Christians belong somewhere else! (Cf. 2 Cor. 6:14-18; Eph. 5:11.)

You cannot change a bad habit while continuing to run with the "crowd" that caused the habit. Changing the habit will require changing your friends because the "friends" are part of the habit!

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Step 11: Face One Day at a Time.

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Matthew 6:33,34 - Do not worry about tomorrow. Today's temptations will be enough to handle today. Handle tomorrow's temptations tomorrow - if tomorrow comes.

Often people quit trying to serve God because they are overwhelmed by the sacrifices required to live the rest of their lives for God. But ask yourself this: "Can I practice what is right today - just today?" Of course you can. So when you get up each morning, promise yourself and God, "I will live today for God." Don't worry about handling tomorrow. If it comes, you can handle it the same way you will handle today.

Two men were climbing a steep path up a tall mountain. One looked to the top and asked, "How will we ever make it?" The other replied, "One step at a time." And that is the only way for you to change yourself.

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Step 12: Be Patient.

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Romans 2:7 - We receive eternal life if we continue patiently in well doing. We must be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord's work (1 Cor. 15:58).

Galatians 6:9 - Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Your habits did not develop overnight and will not likely disappear overnight. It will take time. If you fall, repent, and ask God's forgiveness. But get up and go on. Do not give up. (1 John 1:8-2:2)

2 Peter 3:18 - Becoming a mature Christian is a process of growth. You are born again as a baby and gradually grow up in Christ. You may look at mature Christians and think, "Why can't I be like them?" But they probably took years to mature. Do not be impatient with yourself.

As a child grows, you may notice small changes from day to day. But look at pictures from years ago and you will see amazing differences. So you may not see much change in your service to God today compared to yesterday. But if you diligently apply the steps taught in God's word, after a period of 5, 10, or 20 years you will see significant changes compared to where you began.

Conclusion

By using the means God provides, you can change to be what He wants. He gives motivation, guidance, and encouragement. All that is left is for you to determine to follow His will and then diligently act on that decision. He provides the tools. You must use them. What choice will you make?

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7 Prayers That Will Change Your Life Forever

During the first couple of years I walked with the Lord, my prayers went something like this:

"God, help me to get that job."
"Jesus, please heal my throat."
"Lord, send enough money to pay these bills."
"Father, take away my fear."

It took me a while to realize that those spur-of-the-moment prayers were not accomplishing much. I guess I thought the idea was to do the best I could on my own, and then if I needed a lifeline from God, I grabbed for it. The only problem was I needed a lifeline every other minute.

I loved the Scripture that says, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you" (Matt. 7:7). I took God at his Word and was asking, seeking, and knocking on a pray-as-you-go basis. I also took to heart the Scripture that says, "You do not have because you do not ask" (James 4:2). Great! I can easily remedy that, I thought, and I proceeded to ask for everything. But I was still not happy, and I didn't see the kind of answered prayer I desired.

One day as I was again reading that same verse, my eyes were opened to the next verse, "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures" (James 4:3). Could it be that the "God give me this, do that, wave your magic wand here, get me out of this mess" kind of praying was not what God desired for my prayer life? In utter frustration I said, "Lord, teach me how I'm supposed to pray."

He did exactly that!

I came to understand that prayer is not just asking for things—although that certainly is part of it. Far more importantly, prayer is talking with God. It's getting close to and spending time with the one you love. It's seeking him first, touching him, getting to know him better, being with him, and waiting in his presence. It's acknowledging him as the source of power upon whom you can depend. It's taking the time to say, Speak to my heart, Lord, and tell me what I need to hear. It is partnering with him. It is aligning our spirit with his to see that his perfect will is done. It is establishing ourselves and our lives as being connected to God.

We can't receive God's best for our lives, and we can't push back the things that were never God's will for us, except through prayer. We can't leave our life to chance. We have to pray about everything all the time, not just when things go wrong. We have to pray over anything that concerns us, no matter how big—"With God nothing will be impossible" (Luke 1:37)—or how small—"The very hairs of your head are all numbered" (Matt. 10:30).

Without reducing prayer to a formula in the book 7 Prayers That Will Change Your Life Forever, I have outlined seven basic types of prayers that can bring lasting peace and positive change to your life: confession, salvation, release, submission, praise, promise, and blessing. But please don't be inhibited by these categories. They are just that: categories and suggestions.

And don't be concerned about prayer talk or church talk. The Bible tells us the basic qualification for prayer: "He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Heb. 11:6).

The more you pray, the more you will find to pray about, and the more you'll be led to pray for others. Don't allow discouragement over unanswered prayer to cause you to doubt that God has heard you. If you have received Jesus and are praying in his name, God hears you, and something is happening whether you see it manifested in your life now or not. In fact, every time you pray, you're advancing God's purposes for you. Without prayer, the full purpose God has for you can't happen.

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