Enduring Hard Times: Habits for Spiritual Resilience
Summary
In today's message, I delved into the third part of our series, "Shaping Your Future Self," focusing on how to hold on during hard times. In uncertain times, God doesn't want us to drift aimlessly but to set short-term goals in faith, trusting Him to guide us. Previously, I encouraged you to create a 100-day plan with personal and ministry goals, and many of you responded with your plans, which I am praying over. However, some of you expressed feeling overwhelmed by life's challenges, which led me to share the habits that have helped me persevere through tough times.
These habits are not theoretical; they are practical steps I've used in my own life. Life is a marathon, not a sprint, and it requires endurance, persistence, faith, and resilience. The first habit is to keep your life clean, which means maintaining a clear conscience. A clean conscience gives you power and resilience, while guilt and regret drain you. Confession and cleansing are crucial, as God uses clean vessels, not perfect ones. The second habit is to keep your eyes open, being alert to what God is doing in your life. Vision is not about predicting the future but seeing God's work in the present and responding to it. It's about learning from others and being teachable, as imitation often beats innovation.
These habits are essential for navigating life's rough patches. Keeping your life clean and your eyes open will help you hold on and even thrive during hard times. I encourage you to spend time with God this week, confessing and cleansing your life, and being open to learning and seeing what God is doing around you.
Key Takeaways:
1. Keep Your Life Clean: Maintaining a clear conscience is vital for spiritual power and resilience. Guilt and regret can drain you, but confession and cleansing bring freedom and strength. God uses clean vessels, not perfect ones, so regularly confess and cleanse your life to stay spiritually strong. [12:41]
2. Vision in the Present: True vision is not about predicting the future but recognizing God's work in your current situation. It's about setting your sail to God's wind and responding to His movements. Pray for the ability to see what God is doing and join Him in His work. [25:18]
3. Learn from Others: Imitation often surpasses innovation. Be open to learning from others, whether they are friends, mentors, or even adversaries. Wisdom comes from being teachable and willing to learn from various sources. [29:06]
4. Endurance in Faith: Life is a marathon that requires endurance, persistence, and faith. Develop habits that help you keep going, even when tempted to give up. Trust in God's word and His promises to sustain you through difficult times. [05:31]
5. Surrender to God's Control: Complete surrender to God's loving control is essential for spiritual growth and resilience. If Jesus is not the manager of your life, it's time to re-surrender and allow Him to guide you through hard times. [37:15]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction to Series
- [00:39] - Setting 100-Day Goals
- [01:22] - Faith in Tough Times
- [03:18] - Overcoming Overwhelm
- [04:51] - Habits for Hard Times
- [06:28] - Journey of Faith
- [07:21] - Habit 1: Keep Life Clean
- [10:03] - Confession and Cleansing
- [12:41] - Letting Go of Guilt
- [14:03] - Search Me, O God
- [17:11] - Spiritual Cleansing Exercise
- [22:07] - Strength in Clean Hands
- [23:18] - Habit 2: Keep Eyes Open
- [25:18] - Vision in Present Circumstances
- [29:06] - Learning from Others
- [33:31] - Imitation vs. Innovation
- [35:50] - Developing Resilience
- [37:15] - Surrender to God's Control
- [39:32] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Colossians 2:6 - "You have accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord. Now keep on following him."
2. 2 Timothy 2:21 - "If you keep yourself pure, you will be a utensil that God can use for his purpose."
3. Psalm 139:23-24 - "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you."
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Colossians 2:6, what is the ongoing action that believers are encouraged to take after accepting Christ? [06:40]
2. In 2 Timothy 2:21, what is the condition mentioned for being a vessel that God can use? How does this relate to the concept of a "purpose-driven life"? [09:35]
3. What does Psalm 139:23-24 suggest about the process of self-examination and confession? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on keeping a clear conscience? [14:03]
4. What are the two habits mentioned in the sermon that help individuals hold on during hard times? [07:21]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does maintaining a clear conscience, as discussed in the sermon, empower a believer to endure difficult times? [07:34]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between vision and recognizing God's work in the present? How does this differ from the common understanding of vision as predicting the future? [25:18]
3. The sermon mentions learning from others as a key habit. How does this align with the biblical principle of imitation found in Philippians 3:17? [31:14]
4. How does the concept of surrendering to God's control, as discussed in the sermon, contribute to spiritual growth and resilience? [37:15]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current life situation. Are there any areas where you feel burdened by guilt or regret? How can you apply the practice of confession and cleansing to lighten your load this week? [12:41]
2. In what ways can you become more aware of God's work in your life right now? What practical steps can you take to keep your eyes open to His presence and guidance? [23:18]
3. Think of a person or situation from which you can learn something valuable. How can you adopt a teachable attitude and apply this learning to your current challenges? [29:06]
4. Consider the areas of your life that you have not fully surrendered to God's control. What steps can you take to re-surrender these areas and allow Jesus to be the manager of your life? [37:15]
5. Identify a specific habit from the sermon that you want to develop further. What is one actionable step you can take this week to cultivate this habit in your daily life? [05:31]
6. How can you incorporate the practice of writing a confession list into your spiritual routine? What benefits do you anticipate from this practice in terms of personal power and resilience? [17:11]
7. Reflect on a recent situation where you felt overwhelmed. How can setting short-term goals in faith help you navigate similar situations in the future? [00:25]
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of a Clear Conscience
Maintaining a clear conscience is essential for spiritual strength and resilience. When guilt and regret weigh you down, they can drain your energy and hinder your spiritual growth. Confession and cleansing are vital practices that bring freedom and strength, allowing you to be a vessel for God's work. God does not require perfection but seeks those who are willing to be cleansed and renewed. Regularly confessing and cleansing your life helps you stay spiritually strong and ready to face life's challenges. [12:41]
"For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you." (2 Corinthians 1:12, ESV)
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where guilt or regret is holding you back? How can you begin the process of confession and cleansing today to restore your spiritual strength?
Day 2: Seeing God's Work in the Present
True vision is about recognizing God's work in your current situation, not predicting the future. It involves setting your sail to God's wind and responding to His movements. By praying for the ability to see what God is doing, you can join Him in His work and align your actions with His will. This requires being alert and open to learning from the experiences and insights of others. Vision in the present helps you navigate life's uncertainties with faith and purpose. [25:18]
"And Elisha prayed, 'Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.' Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha." (2 Kings 6:17, ESV)
Reflection: What is one way you can be more attentive to God's work in your life today? How can you actively participate in what He is doing around you?
Day 3: The Value of Learning from Others
Imitation often surpasses innovation, and being open to learning from others is a source of wisdom. Whether they are friends, mentors, or even adversaries, each person can offer valuable insights and lessons. A teachable spirit allows you to grow and adapt, drawing from the experiences and knowledge of those around you. By embracing the wisdom of others, you can enhance your own journey and make informed decisions that align with God's purpose for your life. [29:06]
"Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future." (Proverbs 19:20, ESV)
Reflection: Who is someone in your life you can learn from today? What specific lesson or insight can you seek from them to apply in your own life?
Day 4: Endurance Through Faith
Life is a marathon that requires endurance, persistence, and faith. Developing habits that help you persevere, even when tempted to give up, is crucial for spiritual growth. Trusting in God's word and His promises provides the strength needed to sustain you through difficult times. By cultivating endurance in faith, you can face challenges with confidence, knowing that God is with you every step of the way. [05:31]
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." (James 1:2-3, ESV)
Reflection: What is one habit you can develop to strengthen your endurance in faith? How can you rely on God's promises to sustain you through a current challenge?
Day 5: Surrendering to God's Control
Complete surrender to God's loving control is essential for spiritual growth and resilience. If Jesus is not the manager of your life, it's time to re-surrender and allow Him to guide you through hard times. Surrendering involves trusting in God's plan and relinquishing control over your own life. By doing so, you open yourself to His guidance and experience the peace and strength that come from being aligned with His will. [37:15]
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to surrender control to God? How can you take a step today to trust Him more fully in that area?
Quotes
"Life is not a 50-yard dash, okay, it is a marathon, okay, it's long and it's a marathon and it requires endurance and it requires persistence and it requires faith and it requires resilience, but there are some habits that you can learn that will make the rough patches in your life a lot more manageable and give you the ability to literally keep on keeping on when you feel like giving up." [00:05:31]
"Keep my life clean, a clear conscience. You know, I saw a sign at a gas station one time it said this: a clean engine has more power. And I thought, well, you know what, that's true of people too. A clean engine has more power when you're going through life with a clear conscience, then you've got a whole lot more power. Nothing drains you faster than guilt or regret or shame." [00:07:21]
"God uses holy, clean people, not perfect. There are no perfect people, so God wouldn't get anything done if he used perfectly because there are none of us except Jesus. But without exception, anytime in history or today you find God using anybody, you will find that they have kept their life clean." [00:09:01]
"Keep a clear conscience before God. Why? So that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. I love that. That's one of the benefits of having integrity. I've heard you've heard me say many times I want to live my life such a way that people have to make up stuff about me to accuse me, and they will, and they will about you too." [00:10:08]
"The Bible talks about confessing our sins to God. The word confession in the Greek is the word homologo. Homo means same, homogenized milk, homosexual, homo means same. Logayo means to speak. It means to speak to homologue means to speak the same. It means to agree with God. It's to say to confess says God, you're right, that was wrong." [00:12:03]
"Search me, O God, and know my heart, test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything you see in me that offends you, and the rest of the verse says and lead me in the way everlasting. It's a searchlight verse. You say God, turn it on me. I don't even know all the stuff that I'm unconsciously regretting." [00:14:03]
"God wants to bless your life. Are you hearing me? God wants to bless your life. God wants to use your life no matter what's happened in the past, no matter what you've done, how long you've done it, who you did it with, doesn't matter. God wants to bless and use your life, but you got to deal with this issue." [00:14:47]
"Vision is not predicting the future because nobody can do that. It's not seeing the future before it happens. Nobody can predict the future. Who predicted 911 would happen? Nobody. Who predicted terrorist attacks? Nobody. Who predicted every mass shooting? Nobody. Who predicted the COVID pandemic? Nobody. You don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, much less next year or in 10 years." [00:25:18]
"Vision is seeing God at work in your present situation and moving on it, taking advantage of what's happening right now. Vision is not predicting the future. Vision is going this is how God's working right now. This is what I'm going to do. Here's how I'm going to respond. Here's how I'm going to take advantage of the situation." [00:25:56]
"Imitation often beats innovation. Right now, innovation's like an idol in our society. Everybody wants to be an innovator. Everybody wants to be the person that thinks up something new, something different, something creatively that nobody... Innovation's a good thing, but if something's working, why reinvent the wheel? Often imitation is more important than innovation." [00:33:31]
"Have you ever come to a crisis point in your life where you have completely surrendered every area of your life, every area of your life to God's loving control? Have you ever come to a point complete surrender of every area of your life to God's loving control? Maybe you've done that and you start trying to take it back." [00:37:15]
"If Jesus Christ is not the manager of your life right now, it's no wonder it's a mess, and it's no wonder you're struggling to hold on in hard times. If you've never surrendered your life to Christ or you need to re-surrender your life to Christ, I want you to follow me in this prayer." [00:37:55]
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