Life's Healing Choices - Week 7

The Growth Choice
Message by Pastor Terry Crawford
Covenant Church

Scripture Reference 1
2 Peter 3:18 GNT

But continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory, now and forever! Amen.

Growth Choice
I reserve a daily time with God for Bible reading, self-examination, and prayer in order to know God and his will for my life and to gain the power to follow his will. ~ Learn how to continue growing and make it to the finish line!

7 Good Tools for Growth 1
Set a daily time with God.

Note 1
When we do decide to have a dedicated time “satan” will throw all kinds of things at you. When we don’t have that daily time with God we don’t have the power and strength.

Scripture Reference 2
1 John 3:6 ESV

No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
7 Good Tools for Growth 2
Fill our mind with scripture.

Scripture Reference 3
James 1:25 NIV84

But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does.

7 Good Tools for Growth 3
Focus on my goal not my habit.

Scripture Reference 4
Philippians 3:12-14 NIV84

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Goals 1
Focused - specific. I want to serve.

Goals 2
Attainable - set goals that can really be done through God’s power, daily-time-where.

Goals 3
Individual - you are not making it for someone else. It’s for you.

Goals 4
Trackable - Starting tomorrow (date) will spend x time until x.

Goals 5
Heartfelt - gotta mean something to you.

The Skinny on Fasting
Whether your starving for food or your iPod, fasting is a key ingredient to renewing your dependence on God. Everyone seems to go about fasting in their own, unique way--as seen in this short comedy from the Skit Guys.
The Skinny on Fasting

7 Good Tools for Growth 4
Face and forsake my failures quickly.

Scripture Reference 5
Lamentations 3:40 NIV84

Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.

Scripture Reference 6
1 Corinthians 11:31 NIV84

But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment.
7 Good Tools for Growth 5
Flee temptation.

Scripture Reference 7
1 Corinthians 16:13 NIV84

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.
Scripture Reference 8
1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV84

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

7 Good Tools for Growth 6
Participate in ongoing small group.

7 Good Tools for Growth 7
Follow Christ to the finish line: don’t quit.

Scripture Reference 9
Philippians 1:6 NIV84

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Scripture Reference 10
Galatians 6:9 NIV84

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.