For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh… Philippians 3:3
It is said that it takes twenty-one days to form a habit. Although this might be true in some situations, it’s inaccurate in Kingdom matters. I believe the level of difficulties vary depending on the moral content of the habit.
Habits are a practice of lifestyle and behavior of life. And unfortunately our default setting is our Admamic nature – our sinful nature. To overcome our default setting, we must continuously practice life on a different platform – God’s kingdom and His Word. Good habits require a lifetime to fashion, but bad habits come to us naturally.
It takes more than twenty-one days for change to transpire – truthfully, it requires a life span. To change into God’s image here on earth takes a lifetime, but to revert to our default setting (old selves) takes only about a day. Sad, I know.
That is why our focus must stay true. I like the way that the New Living Translation communicates Philippians 3:3 “…We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort…” Although our own efforts are necessary, they must be coupled with a total reliance on God’s grace.
Let’s not fall into the trap of thinking that our own human efforts will bring us to a place of effective change. Instead, let’s maintain the same fervor for change as we had on the first day of 2011.
Blog entry #21 – Still taking INITIATIVE
Well Pastor if we go by what man saids we will never go to the next level. we have to go by the word and follow everything that the Lord tells us to do. we need to keep taking Initiative on eveything we do in 2011.
We definitely can’t make all those good changes only by our own strength but have to ask God for wisdom and the passion to make those changes- daily!
I agree that the only way we change is by relying on God. For instance, the culture of Prayer is being established because we are seeking Him more. We must continue to ask God to make 2011 the year He has promised.
If we listen to man we will not go forward and keep moving back and we won’t go to the next level. This is why we have to stay focus and keep taking the initiative on everything we do in 2011.
so true Pastor about how it takes longer time to transform into what God wants us to be, and yet it takes only 1 day to fall back into our selves, as you put it…each day that goes by for me has been an eye opener, in a super different way than in the past couple of years, I think Im coming to a point where enough is enough, I want to be able to move to the next level, somehow.Is a slow process, but I must get there….
We most focus on Jesus at all times, that way we never lose track. Every time I check on the life of Jesus, it convict me. He is the example we most follow, and we most focus on Him, so that whenever we are in a point of decisions we will remember Jesus.
There is so much we can do to change by ourselves. Without God’s help we will end up disappointed and eventually and continually reverting back to who we used. When we understand God’s grace and make a continual effort to change through Christ, we then will see a difference. I need to understand His grace.