TURNING THE PAGE OF YOUR LIFE
CHANGING THE NEXT CHAPTER OF YOUR LIFE
“You’ve learned the truth that is in Jesus… so in regard to your former way of life, PUT OFF your old self… and be made NEW in the attitudes of your mind. And PUT ON your NEW self, created to be like God, truly good and holy!” Ephesians 4:21-24 (NIV)
FOUR PREPARATION STEPS
1. START ASKING GOD TO DO SOMETHING NEW IN ME.
JESUS: “… I am making everything new!” Revelations 21:5 (NIV)
“God, make a fresh start in me! Shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life!” Psalm 51:10 (MSG)
“[The Lord says], ‘Forget the former things; [and] do not dwell on the past. Instead, look at the NEW things I am going to do. They are already starting to happen. Can you SEE what I’ve begun to do?’” Isaiah 43:18–19 (NCV; NIV)
“… You do not have what you want because you do not ask God for it.” James 4:2 (GNT; NIV)
2. PINPOINT SPECIFICALLY WHAT I WANT CHANGED IN ME.
WHERE DO I NEED A NEW PAGE?
“Look closely at yourselves. Test yourselves to see if you are [really] living in the faith.” 2 Corinthians 13:5 (NCV)
| ¨ My connection to God
¨ My health & body ¨ My priorities ¨ A relationship ¨ My energy level |
¨ My career or job
¨ My thought life ¨ My marriage ¨ My routine ¨ My habits |
¨ My parenting ¨ My time/schedule ¨ My confidence ¨ My finances ¨ My dream
|
“… Do not think you are better than you [really] are… Decide what you really are by the amount of faith God has given you.” Romans 12:3 (NCV)
3. FIND SOME PEOPLE TO SUPPORT MY NEW CHAPTER.
“A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. [And] three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NLT)
“If one person falls, [another] can reach out and help. But [people] who are alone when they fall are in real trouble.” Ecclesiastes 4:10 (NLT)
COMMUNITY IS GOD’S ANTIDOTE TO DISCOURAGEMENT, DEFEAT & FAILURE.
4. ELIMINATE ANYTHING UNHELPFUL OR UNHEALTHY.
“… We should remove [anything] from our lives that would get in the way and the sin that so easily holds us back.” Hebrews 12:1 (NCV)
“… We must GET RID of everything that slows down our progress, especially the sin that just won’t let go. We must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us. [And] we must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us.” Hebrews 12:1-2 (CEV)
Q: WHAT DO I NEED TO GET RID OF OR LET GO OF IN ORDER TO PREPARE FOR THE “NEW CHAPTER OF MY LIFE”?
“When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (TLB)
“You used to live according to selfish desires, when your life was dominated by them. But now you must GET RIDof all these things: anger, hot temper, and hating others. No insults or filthy talk must ever come from your lips. And stop lying to each other, for you have PUT OFF your old self with its HABITS and you’ve PUT ON your new self.” Colossians 3:7-10 (GNT; TEV)