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Habits and Living The Life God Planned For You Aristotle once said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” Aristotle believed that the key to living a good life is to develop good habits.” Nathan Foster, (2014),The Making of an Ordinary Saint…“The truth is that everyone is bored, and devotes himself to cultivating habits.”  Albert Camus1 Webster Define “Habit” as…a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up. Welcome to Humanity! Humans, (WE),  are ALL creatures of habit. God did create us with the ability and FREE-WILL choice that we can train our minds, bodies, and souls to habitually, naturally do the right thing. The issue is, we as easily fall into unhealthy habits! We ALL develop habits and patterns we live by.  My first recommendation is that you make a list of your daily habits? Be transparent! Run your list by someone you trust, that you have given permission to hold you accountable that you may consider your accountability partner, that person or persons that you give permission to speak truth into your life that have your life in their best interest and won’t hold back. BE INTENTIONAL, BE STRATEGIC! What are your Attachments?  Practice LETTING GO, Be Intentional, PRAYER, ask God to search your inner being to reveal to you anything that you have not placed on His altar! Spend time telling God what you are attached to! Where do you require GRACE to GET CONNECTED by DETACHING from habits that DO NOT GLORIFY GOD?  Ask God to provide you with opportunities to detach from habits, secondary things, time, to develop new habits.  List what you believe to be your Good and Bad Habits, BE Transparent! We ALL have Good and Bad Habits! Start SMALL, which habits are you willing to give up first toward your transformation in Christ? Which Habits can you you celebrate!  Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Philippians 2:14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, Hebrews 10:25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. BE Intentional, Strategic and Accountable!  Discovering your purpose and passion in Gods’ plan may require to “UNLEARN” to “DETACH” and Intentionally through  accountability strategically CULTIVATE New Habits/Patterns.  Colossians 3:9-10  9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator John 14:23  Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. For those who belong, “A FOLLOWER”  of Jesus Christ, intentionally CULTIVATING new habits through the indwelling control of the Holy Spirit becomes a NEW and CONSISTENT way of life. These new habits are described by Jesus as loving Him. Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him" (John 14:23). Most importantly, we are told, "And whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." Simply Attending Church on a Sunday and thats IF you attend 52 Sundays, doesn’t mean you are SAVED, nor does it imply its enough to transform your life. Its a Good start! Church Hopping which is another topic for a future Podcast will only Delay your transformation!  God will lead you to the right Church IF you are searching, being intentional, that its NOT ABOUT YOU! It is ALL about seeking a Personal Relationship with Jesus Christ that Will transform your life! Intentional! Strategic! “The Maximum You give will Always determine the Minimum You get Back.” John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. Lay those habits metaphorically at the Cross! Invite God in to intentionally give you the strength and wisdom to break old bad habits and to cultivate new habits that glorify Him.    Isaiah 41:10 10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. “If I do something that makes me feel good, I am likely to do it again! If I keep doing it, and if it keeps making me feel good, I will probably make a habit of its.” (May,2005) How Can I pray for you? Email me:  rev.boblenz@gmail.com   References Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible : English standard version. Wheaton, IL: Author. May, G. G. (2005). Addiction and grace: Love and spirituality in the healing of addictions. San Francisco, CA: HarperOne. Foster, N. (2014). The Making of an Ordinary Saint: My Journey from Frustration to Joy with the Spiritual Disciplines. Ada, MI: Baker Books. Thibodeaux, Mark E.. Reimagining the Ignatian Examen: Fresh Ways to Pray from Your Day (p. 27). Loyola Press. Kindle Edition.  Email: realpurpose.pastorboblenz@gmail.com