Christian Reflection and Prayer

How You Can Make a Fresh Start
Whitney Hopler

Do you feel stuck? Maybe you don't
like the way your life has been going
lately, but can't seem to change it.
No matter how stuck you may have
become, you can move forward with
God's help. Here's how you can make
a fresh start to change your life for the better:

#4. Deal with pride. What dreams have
you been hoping would come true, yet
have remained stuck in your mind and
haven't become reality? As you think
about them, consider your motivation for
pursuing them. Can you recognize pride
at work? Is it possible that some of your
dreams are based on your desire to get
people to notice and value you? If so,
you've been aiming for the wrong dreams
in those cases. God has better plans for
you, and if you're willing to trade your
dreams for God's dreams for your life, you
won't be stuck anymore. You can move
toward true greatness when you pursue
God's dreams, because in the process,
He will transform you into a person with
strong character, like Jesus. Pray for
the humility you need to surrender your
own agenda and cooperate with God's
plans for your life.

{Adapted from Fresh Start: God's Invitation to
a Great Life copyright 2009 by Doug Fields.
Published by Thomas Nelson Publishers,
Nashville, Tn., www.thomasnelson.com.)
Article publication date: August 20, 2009

(The next Reflections will be a series
of 14 brief messages on how you can make a
Fresh Start in your life. It is my prayer
that these suggestions will help provide
a real renewal in your total life.)


How You Can Make a Fresh Start
Whitney Hopler

Do you feel stuck?  Maybe you don't
like the way your life has been going
lately, but can't seem to change it.
No matter how stuck you may have
become, you can move forward with
God's help.  Here's how you can make
a fresh start to change your life for the better:

#3. Identify the pain that lies underneath
your sinful attitudes and behaviors. 
Whatever problem you're trying to
change - porn, gambling, overspending,
speaking profanity, or something else -
has some pain that's causing it.  Ask
God to reveal the core reason why you're
struggling with the sin that is making you
stuck in life right now.  Tell God that you
want to live in a way that pleases Him
and is healthy for you.  Trust Him to heal
your pain as you move closer to Him.

{Adapted from Fresh Start: God's Invitation to
a Great Life copyright 2009 by Doug Fields.
Published by Thomas Nelson Publishers,
Nashville, Tn., www.thomasnelson.com.)
Article publication date: August 20, 2009

(The next Reflections will be a series
of 14 brief messages on how you can make a
Fresh Start in your life. It is my prayer
that these suggestions will help provide
a real renewal in your total life.)


How You Can Make a Fresh Start
Whitney Hopler

Do you feel stuck?  Maybe you don't
like the way your life has been going
lately, but can't seem to change it.
No matter how stuck you may have
become, you can move forward with
God's help.  Here's how you can make
a fresh start to change your life for the better:


#2. Be honest about how something bad
makes you feel good.  Sin that you're hanging
onto has something about it that attracts you:
If you try to control other people, you may be
getting a feeling of power from your efforts. 
If you often express your anger through fits
of rage, you may be enjoying the adrenaline
rush that results.  If you struggle with lust,
you may find the sexual fantasies that come
with it exciting.  Admit what pleasure you're
deriving from your sinful habits, confess it to
God, and ask Him to help you really desire
to make a fresh start.

{Adapted from Fresh Start: God's Invitation to
a Great Life copyright 2009 by Doug Fields.
Published by Thomas Nelson Publishers,
Nashville, Tn., www.thomasnelson.com.)
Article publication date: August 20, 2009