This is the last in the “uphill habits” series. We have discussed and studied four areas where it is easy to have uphill hopes, but downhill habits. Without the right habits in place, we will never attain our hopes. Have you identified some hopes—and the corresponding habits you need to put into place in order to achieve them? Week one’s message was to focus on what you do first. Week two addressed the need to control thoughts. Week three was focused on having your life align with your purpose. This week Pastor Adam addressed the importance of relationships. Relationships are pivotal because they affect everything else - our hopes, our habits and our success in putting our “uphill habits” into place.
You are where you are today in large part because of the relationships around you. Pastor Adam shared the quote from another pastor friend: “show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.” We all care about who our children hang around and who they are influenced by. Why would we think that would change when we are adults? Are you sometimes guilty of giving advice to others (your children perhaps) that you don’t practice in your own life? Do you need to consider in the presence of God the status and benefit (or harm) of some of your relationships?
Any or all of the uphill habits from this series can help in your personal life in general, and in your life with God on this Christian journey. Sometimes they are called “new year’s resolutions” or “spiritual practices” or “spiritual disciplines” or perhaps you like the term used as the title of this series: uphill habits. WHATEVER you choose to call them, you are invited to go to God this week and let Him lead and guide you into what adjustments or changes might need to happen in your life, schedule, and relationships in order to be more intentional about your life with God. Are you willing to consider change - even when it feels like you’re going “uphill?”
INVITATION: Do you need to ask God about the status and nature of relationships in your life? This week’s study digs into the good and the bad of relationships, including our relationship with God and our church. Pastor Adam’s practical steps regarding relationships are: 1) Nurture important relationships; 2) Restore broken relationships; 3) Sever or redefine harmful relationships and 4) Initiate meaningful relationships. As for mastering the relationship habit, he mentioned the following: 1) Develop your relationship with YOUR church (have a faith family of your own); 2) Develop relationships with Godly friends; 3) Develop relationships with people who need Jesus; 4) Develop relationship with God.
MONDAY: I Peter 4:7-8: Love covers a multitude of sins. Sometimes it's good to come down to the bottom line of things. This verse says love can cover sin. Other verses say love can cast out fear. Other verses say everything except love is a clanging cymbal. Jesus says the “greatest commandment” is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind.” Perhaps a poignant question at the end of each day is to ask yourself and ask God this question: “How well did I do at loving today?” Could learning to love well be an uphill habit you might put into place?
TUESDAY: Romans 12:17-19: As far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Are you a peace loving person? Are you at peace within yourself and with others and with God? Are you at peace when others around you are bickering and fighting? Is there an “uphill habit” that we’ve talked about the last 4 weeks that might help you in the area of peace? If this is an area you feel you need help, ask the Holy Spirit for help. Sometimes it's helpful to look back in life at times/situations that seem to particularly bring you peace. Is there a way to capture those types of things internally during your day? Additionally, it might be helpful to look at things that draw you away from peace. Are there measures you can put into place to remove yourself from such times and situations or to handle them differently? How might you take the area of peace in your life into prayer this week?
WEDNESDAY: Colossians 3:13: Forgiveness. This verse speaks of it and the Lord’s Prayer commands us to forgive others as God has forgiven us. Do you need to forgive someone today? Are there broken relationships in your life where you might be holding on to resentment and unforgiveness? It’s been said that unforgiveness is like drinking poison yourself yet waiting around for the other person to die. Yes it's hard. Yes it's uphill. But YES, it's obedience and YES it's freeing! Are you willing to let go of any unforgiveness you may be holding onto?
THURSDAY: Proverbs 13:20 & I Cor. 15:33 & Ecclesiastes 4:9-10: Do you seek out “wise” people in your life? Are there unwise or “bad people" you might need to sever relationship with because they are a negative influence in your life? What about people in your life who would be available for help when/if you need it (and we ALL need that sometimes)? Are there people within your circle you can call when needed?
FRIDAY: Hebrews 10:25 & Acts 2:44-46: Do you nurture a relationship with and within a Church and with Godly friends? No, they are not perfect and they all have flaws (churches and friends - even Godly friends). Do you have a “faith family” to call your own? Are you committed to it? What about individuals in your life that might urge you along in your life with God? Do you have a place where you are truly known and loved?
SATURDAY: Matthew 5:14-16 & James 4:8: Do you seek to be a “light” to people who don’t know Jesus? Have you ever thought to pray for God to bring nonbelievers into your life for the purpose of establishing a relationship with them and pointing them toward Jesus? None of the uphill habits are possible unless you are feeding your own soul. Do you have a habits in place to “draw near to Jesus” on a daily basis? When we exude and reflect Jesus in the world, others are naturally drawn to us - believers and non believers alike. Are you seeking to grow with God in 2020? Which “uphill habits” might help you as you seek to find and follow Jesus throughout 2020?