Wiregrass Church
We believe better is possible, but actually moving toward it can be challenging. Why is that? And is there a way to truly experience better?
Generally speaking, there are two groups of people. There are the goal-setters and the non-goal-setters.
BETTER
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How to have a better year than last year
How was last year?
We believe as a collection of churches in this simple truth:
Better is possible.
We believe your Heavenly Father wants this for you.
We believe that your Heavenly Father wants this year to be better than last year.
"I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."
John 10:10 ESV
"Following Jesus will make your life better and make you better at life."
-Andy Stanley
The following aren't all of the areas of our lives, but these are five huge, significant
areas in our life.
Financial
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Relational
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Physical
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Career
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Spiritual
Spiritual: When you draw near to God, God draws near to you.
The Consistency Effect
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Small things consistently over time lead to big things.
This is also true from a negative standpoint.
Commitment will get us to the starting line.
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Consistency will get you to the finish line.
The Latte Factor:
$3.50
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$106,000
When we identify an area of improvement, we often also identify an area of weakness.
There's nobody perfect here.
We all have weaknesses.
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We have a tendency to compensate for or hide our weaknesses.
Is there an area where you need greater consistency?
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Is it possibly a weakness?
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God wants to help.
We're gonna understand how that when your strength runs out, how to tap in and how to access the strength of God that will never run out, and when you access the strength of God, you'll be able to gain greater consistency day-in and day-out.
Did you know that there are people in the Bible that are more messed up than you and me?
And they're actually in the Bible.
For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:10 ESV
Examples of oxymorons:
Jumbo Shrimp.
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Pretty Ugly
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Utah Jazz
"For when I am weak" often explains my weeks.
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses
Boast
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Admit your weakness.
Paul shows us that our weaknesses are opportunities to get closer to God.
For many of us, we try to hide our weaknesses and when we do that we shut off the valve of being able to access the strength of God.
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV
"As a Christian, I know I shouldn't be struggling with this, but..."
We feel like that when we struggle, that somehow that's offensive to God.
He already knows.
We will never believe God's grace is sufficient until we believe that we are insufficient.
It takes a strong person to admit they're weak.
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:10 ESV
Strength
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Receive it daily.
When God's strength and His power consistently meets our weakness, we grow.
God isn't disappointed in you.
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God wants to help you.
BOAST >>>>> Admit your weakness.
GRACE >>>>> Ask for help.
STRENGTH >>>>> Receive it daily.
When you tap into the strength of God on a daily basis and move forward in that particular area in a very positive way, ... God's gonna write a beautiful story of a testimony of what the power and strength of the Creator of the universe did in your life this year.
Don't go it alone.
Surround yourself with some people that are going encourage you, because one of the ways God strengthens us is through other people.
It's possible to have a better year than last year.
BOAST >>>>> Admit your weakness.
GRACE >>>>> Ask for help.
STRENGTH >>>>> Receive it daily.
"Lord, I need You. Please give me Your strength for today."
Your goal is to fill up the remainder of the year with these prayers. But as you do, what you'll fill up this jar with is the power and the strength of a God who loves you so much. And as you do, through His power, He will show you what He can do in your life, and you'll experience how He can make this year better than last.
