by Hope City Church on Jan 23, 2024
In the shared message, the concept of fear and its role in our lives is explored in depth. It is acknowledged that fear is a natural human emotion, and the Bible itself does not deny its existence. Instead, it repeatedly encourages individuals to be strong and courageous, recognizing that fear is a tool used by the enemy to prevent progress. The message emphasizes that fear should not be seen as a stop sign but rather as an inevitable part of stepping out of one's comfort zone, especially when pursuing a vision or calling from God.
The narrative includes a personal story about stepping out in faith to move to a new city, highlighting the importance of taking action despite fear. It is suggested that taking small, consistent steps forward, even when they seem insignificant, can eventually lead to reaching one's goals. The speaker shares their own journey of finding purpose, which involved a shift from a successful career in public relations to a calling to inspire others through writing and speaking. This transition was marked by moments of fear and uncertainty, but also by a deep sense of purpose and the perseverance to follow through.
The message also delves into the concept of happiness and its connection to living a fulfilling life. It is suggested that happiness can be cultivated through simple practices such as gratitude, anticipation, play, and smiling. These actions are described as "happiness triggers" that can boost positive emotions and contribute to a joyful life. The speaker encourages the audience to focus on joy, even in the face of challenges, as a means to persevere and make an impact on others.
Integrity is highlighted as a necessary component of personal growth and fulfillment. The speaker shares a story about a young boy who caused a fire by playing with matches and then hid the incident, drawing a parallel to how individuals often avoid confronting their own issues. It is suggested that acknowledging and addressing personal growth gaps is essential for God to help one grow and reach the places He intends for them.
The message also touches on the concept of faith, defining it as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. The speaker challenges the audience to hope for something greater and to join in a collective vision for making a greater impact. The speaker shares their own experience of hoping for motherhood and marriage despite feeling silly or afraid of disappointment, ultimately trusting in God's plan.
Lastly, the message discusses the importance of timing and trusting in God's timing, even when it does not align with personal expectations. The speaker recounts their own experience of waiting for their calling to materialize and the importance of trusting God rather than trying to control every outcome.
Key Takeaways:
- Fear is a natural part of pursuing a vision, but it should not be seen as a barrier to action. Instead, recognizing that fear is inevitable allows individuals to move forward with courage, understanding that God commands strength and courage because He knows the challenges faced. This perspective can transform fear from an obstacle to a catalyst for growth and action. [14:05]
- Happiness is not merely a byproduct of circumstances but can be actively cultivated through practices such as gratitude, anticipation, play, and smiling. These happiness triggers are simple yet powerful tools that can enhance one's emotional well-being and resilience, demonstrating that joy is a choice that can be made regardless of external factors. [28:50]
- Integrity is crucial for personal growth and fulfilling one's purpose. By confronting and admitting to one's growth gaps, individuals allow God to work within them to overcome challenges and progress towards their divine destiny. This process requires honesty with oneself and the willingness to address issues head-on. [22:31]
- Faith is defined by the hope for things not yet seen and is essential for envisioning and working towards a greater purpose. It involves the courage to dream big and trust in God's plan, even when the path is unclear or daunting. Faith is the foundation upon which visions are built and realized. [07:05]
- Trusting in God's timing is a key aspect of faith. While personal timelines may not always align with divine timing, trusting that God is orchestrating events for the greater good can bring peace and assurance. This trust allows individuals to let go of the need for control and embrace the journey God has laid out for them. [24:23]
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. **Hebrews 11:1** - "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
2. **Psalm 37:4** - "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."
3. **Joshua 1:9** - "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Hebrews 11:1, what is the relationship between faith and hope? How does this verse define faith?
2. In the sermon, what personal story did the speaker share to illustrate the power of vision and faith? ([06:32])
3. What are the four core fears mentioned in the sermon, and how do they impact our actions? ([10:12])
4. How does the speaker describe the role of integrity in personal growth and fulfilling one's purpose? ([22:19])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of faith as described in Hebrews 11:1 challenge individuals to hope for something greater? ([07:34])
2. What does Psalm 37:4 suggest about the relationship between delighting in the Lord and receiving the desires of one's heart? How did the speaker apply this verse to their own life? ([08:46])
3. How can the command in Joshua 1:9 to be strong and courageous help individuals face their fears and step out of their comfort zones? ([14:00])
4. What does the speaker mean by "happiness triggers," and how can these practices contribute to a joyful life despite challenges? ([28:42])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when fear held you back from pursuing a vision or calling. How can you reframe fear as a catalyst for growth and action? ([14:26])
2. Identify a small, consistent step you can take this week towards a goal or vision you have. How can you stay committed to these steps even when they seem insignificant? ([15:46])
3. Consider an area in your life where you need to confront a personal growth gap. What steps can you take to address this issue with integrity and honesty? ([22:19])
4. How can you cultivate happiness through gratitude, anticipation, play, and smiling in your daily life? Share a specific example of how you plan to implement one of these happiness triggers this week. ([28:42])
5. Think about a vision or hope you have that feels too bold or scary to admit. How can you begin to trust in God's plan and timing for this vision? ([07:12])
6. Reflect on a time when you struggled with God's timing. How can you practice trusting in His timing rather than trying to control every outcome? ([24:17])
7. How can you support and encourage others in your small group or community to pursue their visions and overcome their fears? What practical steps can you take to be a source of support and inspiration? ([11:14])
Day 1: Courage Amidst Fearful Steps
Fear is a natural emotion when pursuing a vision, but it is not a barrier. It is a signal that one is stepping out of their comfort zone, and with God's command to be strong and courageous, fear becomes a catalyst for growth and action. [14:05]
Joshua 1:9 - "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Reflection: What fear is currently preventing you from taking a step in faith? How can you turn that fear into a stepping stone today?
Day 2: Cultivating Joyful Resilience
Happiness is a choice that can be cultivated through intentional practices like gratitude and play, regardless of circumstances. These actions are not just feel-good measures; they are strategic tools for building resilience and a joyful life. [28:50]
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: What are three simple joys you can celebrate today, and how can you incorporate gratitude into your daily routine?
Day 3: Integrity as Growth's Foundation
Integrity is essential for personal growth and fulfilling one's purpose. Confronting personal growth gaps allows God to work within us, leading to progress and alignment with our divine destiny. [22:31]
Proverbs 10:9 - "Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out."
Reflection: Identify one area where you need to practice greater integrity. What steps can you take today to address this?
Day 4: Faith as Vision's Foundation
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the foundation upon which visions are built. It requires dreaming big and trusting in God's plan, even when the path is unclear or daunting. [07:05]
Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
Reflection: What vision do you have for your life that seems out of reach? How can you exercise faith today to move closer to that vision?
Day 5: Embracing God's Perfect Timing
Trusting in God's timing is a key aspect of faith. It requires letting go of the need for control and embracing the journey God has laid out, knowing that His timing is perfect for our lives. [24:23]
Ecclesiastes 3:11 - "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you struggling with impatience? How can you practice trusting in God's timing today?
Their vision of where you want to go is very important. In fact, just seeding the vision of more, if it is what God wants, is literally put into place by your words. What I know is that the people that are a part of this ministry are a part of whatever that will is.
So, I want to give you just an example of vision as we kind of start out. Last month, my husband and I celebrated our 10-year anniversary. Yes, thank you! I remember when Jeff and I were talking about getting married. We were driving around, looking at homes, places that we might buy as we were thinking about getting married.
My husband and I actually went to middle school and high school together in Denver, Colorado. We did not know each other in Colorado. Okay, Broncos fans? Alright. Jeff and I didn't hang out; we had mutual friends. We literally were next to each other in the yearbook because our last names were so close that we were right there next to 600-something people in the classroom, next to each other in the yearbook.
But we had a vision of what it is that we wanted. So, Jeff and I were driving around looking for homes, and as we were driving, we passed an area that was just like a grassy field. My husband got really excited and said, "Oh, that's an airstrip." I was like, "Okay, my husband's a pilot." I said, "That's nice." I said, "You know, one day I have a vision that I will live in a house that has an airstrip." I said, "Who has a house with an airstrip? Why do you need a house with an airstrip? Where would this happen?" He said, "No, there are neighborhoods, and people have them. That's just my dream."
Then he drove me past a house that had an airstrip, and I could see that a plane had recently taken off. I thought, "Oh, that's interesting." I didn't think very much about it. Pilots think like this; whatever. I don't know why we need an airstrip. Are we getting a plane? I don't want to be in a small plane. I'm not understanding the vision, but he shared his vision with me.
Fast forward to 2017. I think I was on Facebook, and I see a listing for a house. Y'all know what it had with it? An airstrip! I thought, "Oh, Jeff's dream exists. He didn't just make that up." He was on a trip, and I just sent him the listing—not because I wanted to move, but because I just wanted to let him know, "Babe, just a few miles from our house, there's a house with an airstrip. Look at that! Maybe one day."
Now listen, when somebody has a vision, don't play with them like that. Don't share the vision unless you are ready to walk into the vision. I talked to my husband that night, and he said, "Are you going by that house?" I didn't even know what he was talking about because I was just passing something along. You know, you text and you just pass it along. I had already forgotten about the house with the airstrip. I said, "No, why would I drive past the house with the airstrip? I like the house that we have. I don't need to look at the house with the airstrip."
Unbeknownst to me, Jeff kept driving past this house with the airstrip. We'd go visit friends, and he mentioned the house with the airstrip. We went to visit my dad in D.C., and I caught him talking to my dad about the house with the airstrip. I said, "Why do you keep bringing up the house with the airstrip? We're not moving to the house with the airstrip."
About seven weeks passed, and it was almost like, you ever hear Michelle Obama talk about letting Barack run for Congress that one last time because she felt bad for him because he kept talking about it? That's where I was. I said, "You know what, babe? Call your friend that's the realtor, and let's look at the house with the airstrip. We can get this out of your system." I didn't say the last part; I said, "That's going to let you see this, and then we can move on."
Y'all know where this story is going. He calls his friend. I'm like, "Good, get Sal." In fact, it's a fixer-upper, so I know we are not getting this house. You understand what I'm saying? We get there, we drive up, and the realtor says, "Now listen, the house needs some TLC, so I'm going to show you the property first." It was a very good wheelchair. You understand?
So we start walking the property, and we walk past an area that really just looks like some trees and bushes. But she said, "Now this was what the previous owner decided was a prayer garden." As I walked by, I remembered my own vision in my 20s when I lived in Dallas. I used to always think, "One day I'm going to live on a property with some land and some horses, still close to a big city." I had not thought of that in 20 years, and suddenly it came to me.
We kept walking, and then we saw some horses. My husband got excited about the horses and was playing with the horses, telling us what they think about what their ears are doing. I was like, "Oh no, I forgot my husband had a horse when he was a kid, and he used to work on his grandparents' dairy farm." He's at home right here. We had not even gotten to the airstrip, y'all.
We keep walking, and we walk across the creek. As we walk across the creek, she says, "There's the airstrip." Right at that moment, a plane landed on the airstrip, turned around, and took back off. Jeff said, "That's a Cessna 182. That's the first plane I ever trained on."
Wow! In that moment, I knew I was buying a house with an airstrip. I had not even seen the house yet, but I tell you that story because vision is powerful, and the words that you speak are powerful. Sometimes you don't even know the way to your vision, but if you will just speak out loud what you sense in your spirit that God is leading you to do, you will be shocked at the opportunities and the doors that God will open for you.
But the first thing it takes is a bit of faith. Some of you, I believe, have a vision, but you didn't raise your hand because you don't know how that vision will come to pass. You didn't raise your hand because your vision is too bold, and you don't want to admit what the vision is. Some of you wouldn't raise your hand because your vision scares you. It scares you because you don't want to be disappointed, and if you admit what you really want, you might be disappointed if you don't get it.
But what I know is that Hebrews 11:1 very clearly says what faith is: it is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. In fact, if you're not hoping for something, you don't even need faith. So I want to challenge those of you who aren't hoping that maybe tonight, right here at Hope City, you might consider hoping for something bigger than you've been hoping for.
And if you don't know what that hope is, then maybe you will join Pastor Chy in his vision of hoping for greater impact in Savannah—hoping for greater impact that influences the people who need God most. Hey, the substance of things hoped for—what are you hoping for?
I know what I was hoping for about 15 years ago when my life was completely uprooted by the force of God. At 36, y'all, I thought I was going to be like Claire Huxtable—a lawyer with five kids. I did not imagine myself at 36, divorced with no children. But I didn't lose hope. I said, "God, you know what? Your word tells me in Psalm 37:4 that if I delight myself in you, you will give me the desires of my heart."
You have placed the desire in me for motherhood and marriage, and I want you to take it if it's not what you want from me. But if it's what you want from me, I trust that you will deliver.
Come on now! Sometimes you can hope for something, and you begin to feel silly as you hope for it. Have you ever hoped for something, and it just feels like the time has passed, and you're scared to even hope for it? That's where I was. But I thought, "What other option do I have? Give up hope? Let go of the vision that I know God has placed in my heart? Or be willing to look silly, be willing to be disappointed, be willing to actually step out on faith and say, 'God, I don't know how you're going to do it, but I trust that if you placed the desire in my heart, if it's your desire, we can't fail at this thing.'"
God, yeah, that's right, because it is your vision, not simply my vision.
So I'm going to share just five things before we wrap up and then spell out an acronym for FAITH that might help you remember it a little. Y'all ready for this?
So the F in FAITH is simply that fear is inevitable, but it's not a stop sign. Fear is inevitable, but it's not a stop sign. Now, there are generally four core fears. I was asked years ago to write an article for Open Magazine, and they wanted me to kind of create this quiz around fear—like, are there fears that are common to everybody? Yes, there are. There are four common ones.
Now, y'all probably can guess the fear that is the most common. Fear of death? Rejection? You said death? No, not quite death, but we'll get there.
Okay, so fear of rejection, fear of failure. If you think failure is the worst thing that can happen, you'll keep your dreams really small so you don't fail. But they won't be the real dream. You downsize it, and downsizing it doesn't take any faith. Downsizing it says, "Okay, God, I'm going to do what I know how to do."
What I know is the vision for Hope City is not something Pastor Corey can do alone. In fact, Hope City can't do it with the people that are volunteering right now. That's right! The vision for Hope City requires everyone in this room and beyond to see what their part is in serving in this church to make the impact this need.
So fear of failure often keeps it small. But then there's the fear of the opposite: fear of success. Some of you fear success. Have you noticed when you're really good at something? Some of y'all have been really good at some things. You know what happens? Does anybody? People expect you to keep succeeding. They give you more responsibility; there's more pressure. In fact, you might start asking, "Can I keep this up?"
So fear of success is real, and oftentimes that pressure causes us to back away from opportunities, back away from the real vision because we wonder, "Can I keep it up?"
Then there's my core fear: fear of rejection, fear of disapproval. We got anybody in here with a fear of disapproval, fear of rejection? You think about what other people are going to think. Thank Pastor T for being honest about that.
Same thing: you don't want to have to ask people for help. "I'll just do it myself." You're thinking about what everybody's going to think, so you're not actually honest with people. You say yes to things you really want to say no to. God's asking you to say yes to this over here, but you're so busy trying to please all the other people and do the things they want that you're actually saying no to God. Have mercy! Fear of rejection will do that.
And then some of you don't have any of those fears. Your fear is fear of losing control. Do we have any control freaks at Hope City? Raise your hand if you're a control freak. Control freak! I do not believe there are only 10 control freaks at Hope City. Let me tell you something: the real control freaks have not raised their hand. They want to control what you know about them.
Alright, well, the control freaks want certainty. They don't want any uncertainty. They want to know what's going to happen, when it's going to happen, and who it's going to happen with. God may tell you exactly what to do, and you demand that God tell you what's going to happen, when it's going to happen, and who it's going to happen with.
So that fear of losing control is real. But here's what I know: the Word is so specific about fear. Y'all know the Word tells us that God hasn't given us a spirit of fear. But sometimes we confuse that. So when we have fear, we feel guilty about having fear at all. The Bible doesn't say we don't have fear. In fact, over and over again, the Word is very clear that we are to be strong and courageous.
You all know the scripture in Joshua 1:6-9, but it's repeated in Deuteronomy. It's repeated throughout the Bible: "Be strong and of good courage." That would not be God's command if He didn't know we felt fear. The only reason God is commanding that we be courageous is because He knows the enemy uses fear to keep us from moving. Have mercy!
So fear is inevitable, but it's not a stop sign. So when your vision is big enough and you're out of your comfort zone, you're going to feel fear. Pastor C, I'm guessing 10 years ago, 11 years ago, as you were thinking about this and planning this, there were some fears that came up.
At times, we see that fear as a stop sign. Thank God you did not see it as a stop sign. To me, understanding that God was with you because He had a vision and a plan for Savannah, that you would step out on faith and move to a new city to follow your God. But not you do—that's faith! That's out of your comfort zone.
How is God calling you out of your comfort? It might be in a relationship; it might be in your work, in your finances. For some of you, it's in your health. God's asking you to do some new stuff, and you're fighting with it. Fear is inevitable, but action is essential.
We feel fear, but we've got to take action. We've got to be willing to move forward. Sometimes the way we need to move forward is just little steps—just baby steps. Those baby steps seem small, but if you keep staying consistent, if I keep consistently taking steps, will I ever get to the end of this stage? Eventually!
What's God asking you to do? Maybe you've been thinking about volunteering in the church. God is saying, "Try it! You don't have to commit for five years; just five Sundays. Could you do that? Just test it out, see how it goes." Because if you keep taking those steps forward, eventually you get to your finish line.
When I felt God called me to my purpose, I had been praying for years. I started my career. I actually went to school in Florida, graduated from Florida State, and then went to Florida A&M for grad school in journalism. I went into PR—public relations. I had my own PR firm. I was good at what I did, but I was not passionate about what I was doing.
Can anybody relate to that? I began just praying, "God, what am I? I don't feel like this is it." One day in 1999—this year is 25 years—I was standing in a bookstore, and the Holy Spirit spoke to me so clearly: "Your purpose is inspiring others to live more fulfilling lives. You'll do it through writing and speaking."
Now, here's the significance of that: I knew I wanted to write since second grade. I didn't know it was books necessary. I had tried writing. I had twice before tried writing a book. At 22, I tried writing a book; I just ran out of words. I only had about 10,000 words worth of wisdom. I was 22, so I just thought, "Okay, maybe another 10 years I'll have enough to fill up the book."
The second time, I bought a book about how to find a literary agent. I got an agent; I got a book deal with a small publisher. But before everything could happen, the publisher fell through. But the third time was after God made clear my purpose. Your purpose explains how people's lives are better when they cross paths with you.
I don't care what you've been through; there is something that's different about you and how you do what you do. There is a way that you serve that people need. You can coach yourself very simply with this question: "How are people's lives better when they cross paths with me?"
When I got my purpose, I started writing. I wrote that book in two months. I had such a clear vision because I had purpose, and purpose fuels perseverance. I simply said, "You know what? I don't have time for a publisher to tell me this is good. God told me what to do. I'm going to figure out how to publish this book myself, and then maybe one of the big publishers will figure out we need to publish her."
And that's exactly what happened—one step at a time. Two months to write the book, a month to publish the book. I had my epiphany in July of '99. The day before Thanksgiving, I had a book in my hand. By the following June, Random House had made an offer to buy my first book.
When I first started writing, I would look at books and think, "That's a lot of words. I don't know how I'm going to write that many words." You know how you write 50,000 words? One word at a time! I would sit down at my computer and start typing, and it would feel overwhelming. I kept hitting the word count. Can y'all ever do that? When you think, "I have a long, long way to go," right?
So I stopped writing on the computer. I got legal notepads. I wrote my whole first book in longhand. Figure out what works and do it, but do it consistently. God is with you if you're on purpose, and you will get to your finish line in your own unique way if you keep taking action.
So fear is inevitable, but action is essential. The I is integrity is necessary. Integrity—honesty with yourself. I will never forget years ago my cousin Tommy telling me this story. He was about 9 years old. He was in the basement of his home, and he was playing with matches. Obviously, you shouldn't be playing with matches at 9 years old, but what do 9-year-old boys do? I guess they do that.
Now, only the girls are playing with matches, but that's what Tommy was doing. He was in the basement, playing with matches, and he dropped a match. Unfortunately, he dropped a match, and there were newspapers nearby, and the newspapers caught on fire.
Now, what would you do if you caught something on fire in your home? Anybody? Put it out? Stomp it out? Might be a good idea, yep. But if you're a 9-year-old boy, what would you do? You'd run! And that's what Tommy did. Tommy ran up the stairs, closed the door, and went and sat down in the living room with his brother and his mom to watch television as though nothing had happened.
A couple of minutes later, his mom was like, "SM, like, no, I don't smell anything. I don't smell anything. I'm just watching Bugs Bunny. I smell nothing." And his brother's like, "Let me go smell something too." They keep sitting there for a minute, and then finally she gets up, starts walking around, opens the basement door, and realizes what has happened.
Now, fortunately, they were able to get the fire out, and Tommy is still acting like he doesn't know what has happened. This story was working well until Tommy's dad got home later that day, and he's trying to put the pieces together. He just happens to look down at Tommy's shoes, and that's it! His shoelaces are singed.
Now, I tell you this story because some of you have got some issues—some things you need to deal with, challenges, things that are going to get in the way of you moving forward. I call them growth gaps. But rather than admitting your growth gaps so that God can help you grow in the ways you need to grow in order to go where you need to go, you have run up the basement stairs, closed the door, and pretended like nothing was wrong.
So when I say integrity is necessary, I'm saying I want you to just look at what God is trying to show you. He's not showing you things you need to work on because He wants to beat you up. He is not a God of condemnation. Instead, sometimes God is showing you things because He wants to take you places, but He can't take you there until you let go of some things, until you admit some things.
And sometimes the things you need to admit are the fire in your basement. Have mercy! Is it forgiveness? Is God trying to work on your commitment, on your communication skills? What is God trying to work on? Be honest. Integrity is necessary, and it's a part of our faith.
The T in faith is simply that timing is God's choice. I mean, we can question why God sometimes takes a long time. Have you ever had God show you a vision, and you think, "That vision, that thing's coming together in the next six months. It'll all come together in a year."
I remember when I got out of PR. I sold my business and decided I was going to pursue writing and speaking full-time, and I just knew I was going to be booked solid within six months. What I thought was going to take six months took about seven years. Many of those times, I wanted to go back and just say, "I'll just go back in here. I could just get a job. I could be a PR person somewhere."
Every single time, God would say, "But that's not what I asked you to do." Have mercy! Do you trust Him?
Oftentimes, my husband and I have said we lived in the neighborhoods right next door to each other. We were in middle school together, high school together. We've got mutual friends. They can't figure out how we didn't know each other in high school. But sometimes you don't question God's timing; you just recognize that timing is God's choice.
And if you are faithful, you will simply recognize that God has things He's doing, and He's moving things and orchestrating things. Just trust Him. Don't trust Him to do what you want Him to do when you want to do it. Just trust Him.
But the H, very simply, is happiness is your choice. I love that award you just gave. Was it Tacy? Who was it? The guy that chose joy? Daisy? Oh my gosh, joy!
So I went back to school years ago at the University of Pennsylvania to study a subject called positive psychology. I promise I did not make it up. Traditional psychology tends to focus on fixing what's wrong with us, and that's very important because some of us have issues. How many of you have issues? How many got issues? Twenty of you have issues; the rest of y'all really have issues. You understand what I'm saying?
Okay, alright. So positive psychology, instead of the study of what happens when things go wrong, is the study of what causes things to go right. What is it that happens when you are happy, when you tap into your strengths? What causes you to be resilient?
I'm sitting up there studying this subject with the foremost researchers around the world, and I'm sitting there as a believer, and they're sharing the research. What amazed me most is that they think the research, the science, is something new.
So when they say, "Now the science will show you that positive emotion will strengthen," it literally will expand your ability to deal with adversity and with stress. And I go, "Yes! Nehemiah said that the joy of the Lord is your strength."
When they say that positive emotion literally opens up your mind and helps you to be more creative, make better decisions, and persevere longer, I'm thinking, "Yeah! Laughter is good medicine." We understand that happiness literally causes success.
Yeah, yeah! Literally, it's not just correlated with it. When they follow people over time and measure them for their levels of positive emotion, those who are happiest are most likely to get promoted, get raises, and have happy, long-lasting marriages. They don't even get sick as much.
Why am I telling you this? Because as you move towards the vision that Hope City has, I want you to do it with joy. Yeah! Things won't go perfectly; you will get stuck. Smile! Have mercy! Praise God and ask yourself, "What am I grateful for this week?"
In fact, the research shows just asking, "What am I grateful for?" boosts your positive emotion. And if you go a step further and say, "Why am I grateful?" it expands it even more. Every single time you walk into this church, whatever is happening, I want you to notice that God is with you.
People are looking at you. They're looking at how you go through what you go through. That's right! And if you can go through it and still keep your joy, talk about impact! People will start asking, "What are those Hope City people doing? How is it that they're going through the things they're going through, and I still see them treating others with kindness? I still see them being grateful for what God has done. I still see them believing in faith and choosing to serve in ways that others are not."
So I'm going to leave you with just a few very simple ways that you can show up and boost your happiness and show people that level of joy. These are called happiness triggers.
So there's a lot of them, but I'm just going to share a couple. One happiness trigger, very simply, is gratitude. I just showed you how to do that, but the research says before you go to bed, just write down three blessings and why you're grateful. Very simple!
Anticipation—having something to look forward to. When you think about this vision, whatever your vision is, I want you to just meditate on what that is. In fact, every single day, have something to look forward to. The night before, ask yourself, "What am I looking forward to?"
Some of you are going to be looking forward to the fact that you know what? You could say, "I have to go to work," but actually, "I get to go to work." Stop saying what you have to do; say what you get to do. That combines gratitude and anticipation.
Some of you will start saying, "I get to pick my kids up from school." You know, there was a time when I wanted to have kids, and my kids are healthy enough to go to school. Find your way to be grateful and to anticipate.
And then play! Some of y'all are serious. Did you know that play will literally boost your joy? Absolutely! Men bond through play side by side. That's why men like to play basketball and golf and video games. Women tend to face-to-face connection. Both of those are happiness triggers, but be intentional every single day.
And then my favorite: I'm going to leave you with this one—smile! Smiling! You don't just smile because you're happy. God made our bodies in such a way that when you smile—y'all give me a big smile! A big smile!
It's called a Duchenne smile, after the physician that discovered it. When your cheeks puff up and your eyes crinkle, these muscles trigger the release of serotonin and endorphins to the brain. God made our bodies in such a way that we can produce positive emotions simply by smiling.
And the research shows if you don't feel like smiling, you can just put a pencil between your teeth, and you will still release serotonin. If you don't have a pencil, the research shows you can just make a hard "E" sound. Y'all do it with me: "E!"
Some of y'all are going to go home, and you're going to get in a little argument. Just look at yourself in the mirror and say, "You're volunteering in the children's ministry," and they're getting a little rowdy.
Alright, happiness is your choice, and I guarantee you if you will focus on joy as you're walking towards the vision, that joy is going to give you the perseverance to get there. I can't wait to see what it looks like 10 years from now.
Pastor Cory, thank you so much! Thank you! Thank you!
1) "Fear is inevitable but action is essential. God is with you if you're on purpose and you will get to your Finish Line in your own unique way if you keep taking action." [19:51] (Download)
2) "Happiness is your choice and I guarantee you if you will focus on joy as you're walking towards the dist that Joy is going to give you the perseverance to get there." [31:08] (Download)
3) "Integrity is necessary and it's a part of our growth. God is showing you things because he wants to take you places, but he can't take you there until you let go of some things until you admit some things." [23:09] (Download)
4) "The substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. If you're not hoping for something, you don't even need faith." [07:45] (Download)
5) "Trusting in God's timing is a key aspect of faith. While personal timelines may not always align with divine timing, trusting that God is orchestrating events for the greater good can bring peace and assurance." [24:23] (Download)
6) "The joy of the Lord is your strength. Positive emotion literally opens up your mind and helps you to be more creative, make better decisions, persevere longer." [26:51] (Download)
7) "Vision is powerful and the words that you speak are powerful. Sometimes you don't even know the way to your vision but if you will just speak out loud what you sense in your spirit, God will open doors for you." [06:26] (Download)
8) "God hasn't given us a spirit of fear but sometimes we confuse that. The Bible encourages us to be strong and courageous because He knows the enemy uses fear to keep us from moving." [14:05] (Download)
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