WEBVTT 00:00:43.500 --> 00:00:47.000 Habits. Small disciplines. 00:00:47.066 --> 00:00:48.432 Yes, I read that right. 00:00:48.432 --> 00:00:49.799 Small disciplines; big results. 00:00:49.799 --> 00:00:51.100 That's our theme for this month. 00:00:51.100 --> 00:00:52.832 We're talking about habits. 00:00:52.832 --> 00:00:59.200 We're taking a break from our study of the Book of John and talking about ten spiritual habits for life. 00:00:59.232 --> 00:01:11.599 What are the small things we can put in place that, like the dominos build up over time and lead to hopefully big results especially in our spiritual life. 00:01:11.665 --> 00:01:20.000 You know, when I think about habits, the really cool thing about habits is that if once they're in place, they're automatic. 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:23.000 You don't really think about them. 00:01:23.066 --> 00:01:39.233 You don't have to with a habit, you don't have to wake up in the morning and call someone and ask them to pray for you, that hopefully you'll get the emotional energy up or seek some kind of emotional support to be able to tie your shoes in the morning. 00:01:39.332 --> 00:01:41.200 You don't have to do that. 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:45.066 In fact, I bet you don't even remember tying your shoes. 00:01:45.066 --> 00:01:56.900 There was a day, though, that that was terrifying when when you first were presented with the reality first, that I had to wear shoes, but then second, that I’ve got to tie them. 00:01:56.900 --> 00:01:59.165 Man, you did everything you could to keep those off your feet. 00:01:59.165 --> 00:02:02.165 You bargained to get Velcro straps on your shoes. 00:02:02.165 --> 00:02:04.165 Some of us have gone back to that later in life. 00:02:04.165 --> 00:02:05.965 That's okay. That happens. 00:02:05.965 --> 00:02:08.000 But it was terrifying. 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:08.800 It was scary. 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:09.566 It was hard. 00:02:09.566 --> 00:02:11.532 You cried, you wept, you gave up. 00:02:11.532 --> 00:02:15.366 You didn't know which method to use, but you got through it. 00:02:15.366 --> 00:02:18.932 And now that's you don't even think about it. 00:02:18.932 --> 00:02:23.366 We want to build those kind of spiritual habits into our life. 00:02:23.366 --> 00:02:24.699 Where it's just automatic. 00:02:24.699 --> 00:02:28.866 It didn't take any extra emotional energy. It's just what we do. 00:02:28.932 --> 00:02:31.532 And so we're working through the word habit. 00:02:31.532 --> 00:02:34.233 We're looking at Ten Spiritual Habits for Life. 00:02:34.233 --> 00:02:41.066 Last week, we looked at the letter H --Hear God's Word, and Develop a Heart of Humility. 00:02:41.165 --> 00:02:44.432 And this week we're going to look at the letter A. 00:02:44.432 --> 00:02:46.400 Letter A, and we're going to look at that in two different parts. 00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:47.599 It's the word abide. 00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:52.133 We're going to look at how we abide and develop the habit of abiding in two different ways. 00:02:52.133 --> 00:02:54.966 And to do that, we're going to continue to look at Romans chapter 12. 00:02:54.966 --> 00:02:58.733 So if you have a Bible, open it up to Romans chapter 12. 00:02:58.900 --> 00:03:13.133 And we're looking at various versions in Romans Chapter 12, some in Chapter 13 as we go, because there's so much in here that are rooted in our spiritual habits, our spiritual life, the activity of our spiritual life. 00:03:13.133 --> 00:03:20.265 We've spent a lot of time looking at the theological side, the theological foundation, who is God. But then there- that's who he is. 00:03:20.265 --> 00:03:26.265 But then there are things we do to grow closer to him. And so Romans Chapter 12. 00:03:26.265 --> 00:03:34.633 We're going to start by reading verses four through eight and look at those that will lay the foundation for the first way, first habit of abiding. 00:03:34.699 --> 00:03:35.332 Romans 12. 00:03:35.332 --> 00:03:39.566 And if you have one of our church Bibles, that page number should be up on the screen. 00:03:39.566 --> 00:03:40.900 I think it was 891 or so. 00:03:40.900 --> 00:03:43.665 If you don't have a Bible, we have those out in the lobby. 00:03:43.665 --> 00:03:46.000 You can grab one of those any time. 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:46.900 Those are free for you. 00:03:46.900 --> 00:03:49.566 The page numbers on the screen are tied into those Bibles. 00:03:53.233 --> 00:03:58.866 For as in one body, we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function. 00:03:58.866 --> 00:04:09.665 So we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually members of one another, having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us. 00:04:09.665 --> 00:04:11.733 Let us use them. 00:04:11.733 --> 00:04:34.132 If prophecy in proportion to our faith, if service in our serving, the one who teaches in his teaching, the one who exhorts in his exhortation, the one who contributes in generosity, the one who leads with zeal, the one who does acts of mercy with cheerfulness. 00:04:34.233 --> 00:04:41.632 Now this passage is well known as a passage that is often taught when teaching on spiritual gifts in the church. 00:04:41.632 --> 00:04:43.932 There's a wide variety of spiritual gifts in the church. 00:04:43.932 --> 00:04:51.932 This is one of the lists that shows some of those spiritual gifts that will be employed in the church, in the service of the church, in the building up of the body of Christ. 00:04:51.932 --> 00:04:55.533 But today and this is by the way, that's a great way to teach this passage. 00:04:55.533 --> 00:05:03.665 Today, though, as we look at this passage, I want to focus on one word that we see revealed within this, and that's the word community. 00:05:03.733 --> 00:05:10.233 So when we abide, the first way we abide is we abide in community, we abide together. 00:05:10.233 --> 00:05:12.533 That's the key first way we abide. 00:05:12.533 --> 00:05:14.800 And let me show you where that shows up here. 00:05:14.800 --> 00:05:15.733 It's in verse four. 00:05:17.966 --> 00:05:27.500 for as in one body, we have many members, one body, one collective body. 00:05:27.500 --> 00:05:30.233 We use that word unity, one unified body. 00:05:30.233 --> 00:05:33.899 We're unified together around a body of faith. 00:05:33.899 --> 00:05:42.165 But yet also many members, many differences. Unity, but also diversity. 00:05:42.165 --> 00:05:44.800 And that's really critical to community. 00:05:44.800 --> 00:05:48.500 We have unity and diversity. 00:05:48.600 --> 00:05:51.665 That's what makes unity amazing is our differences. 00:05:51.665 --> 00:05:57.266 So it's not fascinating when two people get along who are exactly the same. 00:05:57.266 --> 00:05:59.966 No one goes, Wow, how did they do that? 00:06:00.065 --> 00:06:03.333 No, it's when someone that you probably anywhere else. 00:06:03.333 --> 00:06:06.266 Do you think I probably wouldn't like being around them. 00:06:06.266 --> 00:06:14.300 I mean, you look around the room and go, there's a whole bunch of people in here I probably wouldn't be hanging out with if we weren't here together. 00:06:14.365 --> 00:06:19.600 That's what makes unity amazing is overcoming those differences. 00:06:19.600 --> 00:06:22.600 In fact, delighting in those differences. 00:06:22.600 --> 00:06:26.266 It always amazes me how, in fact, I've become more and more aware of this. 00:06:26.266 --> 00:06:32.565 If I meet someone and my initial inclination is I don't really like that person, I always stop and go, You know what? 00:06:32.565 --> 00:06:36.899 There's a good chance they might become a close friend of yours. 00:06:36.899 --> 00:06:38.033 In fact, I grew up in church. 00:06:38.033 --> 00:06:47.632 One of the elders here, Troy Kolb. Troy and I, in high school, did not get along at all, high school, even into college. 00:06:47.632 --> 00:06:50.266 But the Lord began to work on us both. 00:06:50.266 --> 00:06:54.899 We both matured, I probably did a little more than him as we went along. 00:06:55.000 --> 00:06:55.899 Not really. 00:06:55.899 --> 00:06:58.365 But here's what happened. 00:06:58.365 --> 00:07:01.733 We went from not liking each other at all. 00:07:01.733 --> 00:07:04.065 We started meeting for accountability. 00:07:04.065 --> 00:07:05.932 We started memorizing Scripture together. 00:07:05.932 --> 00:07:13.932 We got to where we could quote the entire book of Philippians in one setting because of the time we spent working together. 00:07:13.932 --> 00:07:15.733 And so now that was 25 years ago. 00:07:15.733 --> 00:07:22.432 But I'm going to call Troy up to quote the book of Philippians right now, if you would? Me first? 00:07:22.533 --> 00:07:24.199 Okay, well, maybe we'll wait on that. 00:07:24.199 --> 00:07:26.466 How about that? 00:07:26.466 --> 00:07:30.800 It's maybe a little rusty, but how does that happen? 00:07:30.899 --> 00:07:35.733 Two guys who can't stand each other are memorizing scripture together. 00:07:35.800 --> 00:07:39.533 The body of Christ, unity in diversity. 00:07:39.632 --> 00:07:40.699 Look at verse five. 00:07:40.699 --> 00:07:44.365 This gives us just a little more insight into how that happens. 00:07:44.365 --> 00:07:45.865 How does community happen? 00:07:45.865 --> 00:07:48.233 Look at verse five, verse four one body. 00:07:48.233 --> 00:07:51.333 Many members members do not all have the same function, verse five. 00:07:51.333 --> 00:07:56.565 So we though many are one body in Christ. 00:07:56.632 --> 00:07:58.899 That's how that happened with Troy. 00:07:58.899 --> 00:08:02.266 We realized there's something greater at work here. 00:08:02.266 --> 00:08:07.833 We're here at church disagreeing with one another, but it's about Christ. 00:08:07.833 --> 00:08:09.533 We're one body in Christ. 00:08:09.533 --> 00:08:10.932 That's what draws us together. 00:08:10.932 --> 00:08:27.466 That's why the tatted up pro wrestler fan can sit right next to the dude in the suit who's the executive, and they can talk and they can laugh and they can all they can hold their hands up and cry and worship together side by side. 00:08:27.466 --> 00:08:31.266 One body in Christ. 00:08:31.333 --> 00:08:38.066 Not only are we one unified body, but look at what else it says in verse five. 00:08:38.066 --> 00:08:46.700 We were one body in Christ and individually members of one another. 00:08:46.799 --> 00:08:53.466 You know, the results of being in the body of Christ is that we belong to one another. 00:08:53.533 --> 00:08:59.399 There's a great verse in First Corinthians. 00:08:59.500 --> 00:09:02.732 Where is that? 00:09:02.799 --> 00:09:03.399 Six. 00:09:03.399 --> 00:09:04.633 You are not your own. 00:09:04.633 --> 00:09:05.865 You were bought with a price. 00:09:05.865 --> 00:09:08.299 So glorify God with your body. 00:09:08.299 --> 00:09:09.432 You're not your own. 00:09:09.432 --> 00:09:15.899 Now that verse, the specific context of that verse is sexual immorality, but even more so the importance of that verse. 00:09:15.899 --> 00:09:23.500 I don't just look to get out of others what I want and use them for my own purposes in any setting. 00:09:23.500 --> 00:09:25.365 I'm not my own. 00:09:25.365 --> 00:09:26.765 I was bought with a price. 00:09:26.765 --> 00:09:33.332 So I glorify God with my body and I glorify God in my relationships with others because we belong to one another. 00:09:33.332 --> 00:09:38.200 As I thought about this verse, I think there's two ways in particular We belong to one another. 00:09:38.200 --> 00:09:38.799 And let's look at these. 00:09:38.799 --> 00:09:40.000 Here's the first one. 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:43.666 The ways we are members of one another make ways we belong to one another. 00:09:43.666 --> 00:09:48.832 First is our faith is personal, but not private. 00:09:48.932 --> 00:09:54.200 Every person in here needs to have a very personal faith, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 00:09:54.200 --> 00:09:56.566 He meets with you one on one. 00:09:56.566 --> 00:09:58.932 But your personal faith is not a private faith. 00:09:58.932 --> 00:10:03.932 It's not something you just keep to yourself that only affects you. 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:09.000 It affects the way we view one another, the way we engage with one another. 00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:10.633 I'm not my own. 00:10:10.633 --> 00:10:11.500 I've been bought with a price. 00:10:11.500 --> 00:10:17.566 So glorify God with my body, glorify God in my relationships. 00:10:17.732 --> 00:10:19.066 Paul says in Philippians. 00:10:19.066 --> 00:10:25.133 Speaking of Philippians Troy, don't think of your own interests only. 00:10:25.133 --> 00:10:28.865 Do not just think of your own personal interests, but also of the interest of others. 00:10:28.865 --> 00:10:42.799 Have this attitude in yourself, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although he existed in the form of God, did not hold on to that, didn't consider it something to be grasped, but emptied himself and became a servant, taking on the form of man. 00:10:42.865 --> 00:10:45.533 You know, we're not here just to serve ourselves. 00:10:45.533 --> 00:10:48.966 We're here to pour into others. 00:10:49.033 --> 00:10:50.765 So that's the first way. 00:10:50.765 --> 00:10:55.066 Our faith is personal, but it's not private. 00:10:55.066 --> 00:10:55.932 Now, look at the second way. 00:10:55.932 --> 00:10:56.700 Here's the second way. 00:10:56.700 --> 00:11:01.100 We were also members of one another. 00:11:01.166 --> 00:11:05.832 Every member of the body is valued. 00:11:05.899 --> 00:11:09.932 We value each other, every one of us. 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:17.000 So we don't have seating assigned based on how much you gave last year or how much you bench press. 00:11:17.000 --> 00:11:19.865 Right, or how many social media followers you have, you're more influential. 00:11:19.865 --> 00:11:22.166 Let's bring you to the front and you can filter on in... 00:11:22.166 --> 00:11:25.765 No, we don't feed the elders first on Wednesday night, at the Wednesday night meals. 00:11:25.765 --> 00:11:28.966 And then the deacons, and then ministers,... 00:11:29.033 --> 00:11:30.566 No! Look, we're one body. 00:11:30.566 --> 00:11:32.100 First Corinthians 12 talks about this. 00:11:32.100 --> 00:11:33.466 Is the eye any better? 00:11:33.466 --> 00:11:35.932 Hand better than the foot? 00:11:36.033 --> 00:11:39.765 We're one body and we value each other. 00:11:39.832 --> 00:11:43.066 In fact, we value each other because we're different. 00:11:43.066 --> 00:11:46.966 Because I know you serve in ways that I don't, and vice versa. 00:11:46.966 --> 00:11:49.399 We value and honor that. 00:11:49.399 --> 00:11:52.566 And I remember reading Bill Walsh talk about this in his book. 00:11:52.566 --> 00:11:58.232 Bill Walsh was a coach of the Forty-Niners, won three Super Bowls through them. 00:11:58.299 --> 00:12:08.799 And Bill Walsh talked about how important it was for everyone in the organization to understand how critical every person in the organization was to the success of their team. 00:12:08.966 --> 00:12:11.533 In fact, kind of a radical example of this. 00:12:11.533 --> 00:12:21.166 He wanted to make sure that Joe Montana, his star quarterback, knew how important and knew the name of the person answering the phones in the lobby. 00:12:21.232 --> 00:12:24.732 Joe, she is critical to our success. 00:12:24.799 --> 00:12:30.466 How she answers the phone, that she does it with excellence is critical to our success. 00:12:30.533 --> 00:12:37.566 He understood every part of the team was important and we belong to one another. 00:12:37.566 --> 00:12:44.166 We, in theory, value one another in that way. 00:12:44.166 --> 00:12:47.765 And so as we seek to build community, 00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:51.566 unity and diversity. 00:12:51.566 --> 00:12:54.166 We're unified, but we're different. 00:12:54.166 --> 00:12:59.332 And that's the powerful part of church that's a powerful part of the body. 00:12:59.432 --> 00:13:17.832 Now, what I want to give you all throughout this series are some practical ways for building habits in your life and this first habit, this habit of building community, which I've not often thought of community in those terms, the habit of community, you know, there are others spiritual habits. 00:13:17.832 --> 00:13:23.232 We tend to think about prayer, giving, maybe fasting. 00:13:23.232 --> 00:13:29.232 Last week, reading God's Word, we'll talk about that habit, developing that discipline. 00:13:29.299 --> 00:13:32.732 But the discipline, the habit of community, how do we build that? 00:13:32.732 --> 00:13:35.399 I'm going to give you some more tips this week on how to build habits. 00:13:35.399 --> 00:13:37.832 I'm going to apply these mostly to community. 00:13:37.832 --> 00:13:40.265 You can apply these in all kinds of settings. 00:13:40.265 --> 00:13:41.899 These apply to every habit. 00:13:41.899 --> 00:13:52.500 Most of these come from a book called Atomic Habits, that same idea, something small, creating something big, small little habits in your life leading to big results. 00:13:52.500 --> 00:13:56.799 But here are five more tips for building habits in your life. 00:13:56.799 --> 00:13:59.265 Let's look at this first one. 00:13:59.265 --> 00:14:04.932 Number one focus on systems rather than goals. 00:14:04.932 --> 00:14:06.865 Focus on systems rather than goals. 00:14:06.865 --> 00:14:11.500 Now, this is a little counterintuitive because goals aren't useless. 00:14:11.500 --> 00:14:13.566 You have to have goals. 00:14:13.633 --> 00:14:15.865 But but goals have a limit. 00:14:15.865 --> 00:14:23.365 In fact, Bill Walsh, again, he's he said, look, every NFL team has the same goal at the beginning of the year. 00:14:23.365 --> 00:14:27.166 Everyone has the same goal, get to the Super Bowl. 00:14:27.166 --> 00:14:28.832 So the goal helps some. 00:14:28.832 --> 00:14:29.765 It sets direction. 00:14:29.765 --> 00:14:32.200 But you got to have more than that. 00:14:32.200 --> 00:14:36.566 You've got to have systems in place to achieve that goal. 00:14:36.566 --> 00:14:39.265 In fact, I think when Jeff Kemp was here, he might have shared the story. 00:14:39.265 --> 00:14:41.566 I can’t remember if he shared it at the event. 00:14:41.566 --> 00:14:42.566 We had a men's conference. 00:14:42.566 --> 00:14:47.133 Jeff Kemp, former NFL quarterback, came and shared, and he was on the Forty-Niners. 00:14:47.133 --> 00:14:50.865 He was there when Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Bill Walsh were all there. 00:14:50.865 --> 00:14:52.966 And one day he's watching them practice. 00:14:52.966 --> 00:15:05.100 And you know, Joe Montana and Jerry Rice are one of the best quarterback receiver combos in the history of the NFL and he's watching Joe throw a pass to Jerry in practice. 00:15:05.100 --> 00:15:09.100 Jerry turns catches it, gathers it in points to the endzone, takes off. 00:15:09.100 --> 00:15:18.033 He always-- Jeff said Jerry always ran into the end zone with every catch in practice signifying that's where I belong, right? 00:15:18.033 --> 00:15:21.432 Telling himself that's where I belong. 00:15:21.500 --> 00:15:22.600 So he throws the pass. 00:15:22.600 --> 00:15:30.700 Quarterback coach Bill Walsh is standing there, quarterback coach goes Hey great pass Joe and Bill throws down his clipboard and looks at him and says, No, it wasn't. 00:15:30.700 --> 00:15:31.600 What are you talking about? 00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:33.966 It was not a great pass. 00:15:33.966 --> 00:15:36.332 And Jeff’s like, oh boy, what's going on? 00:15:36.332 --> 00:15:38.533 You're going to tell Joe Montana that was not a great pass. 00:15:38.533 --> 00:15:42.066 He's like, look, when he threw it to him, did you notice Jerry had to turn back to get it? 00:15:42.066 --> 00:15:48.066 He had to slow up a step just a little, and then he had to turn to go back towards the endzone. 00:15:48.066 --> 00:15:53.765 He should have thrown it over him where the defender couldn't get to it, where he never had to miss a step and he could charge into the end zone. 00:15:53.765 --> 00:15:55.399 That would be a great pass. 00:15:55.399 --> 00:15:58.399 That was not a great pass. 00:15:58.432 --> 00:16:04.966 And Jeff said, okay, I need to go work on my passing if I'm going to get in the game. 00:16:05.200 --> 00:16:12.500 But Bill Walsh knew if we want to end up in the Super Bowl, every little detail matters. 00:16:12.500 --> 00:16:24.600 Every little system we put in place to make sure that we're hitting the right mark in practice over and over to the inch, over and over and over and over again. 00:16:24.600 --> 00:16:37.265 So, focus on systems more than goals. Have your goal, but if your goal is to build community-- that's so vague. That's helpful, but it's too vague. 00:16:37.265 --> 00:16:41.365 What's the system you're going to put in place to achieve that goal? 00:16:41.365 --> 00:16:44.633 Well, you might say, where can I find community? 00:16:44.633 --> 00:16:51.832 I mean, one of the ways here, in fact, one of the important things we encourage people in Valley View to do is to get involved in a life group. 00:16:51.832 --> 00:16:54.500 That’s the place where you're going to develop lifelong connections. 00:16:54.500 --> 00:17:02.299 Those are going to be the people who are there for you when times are hard, when times are good, people who celebrate with you, people who come alongside you. 00:17:02.299 --> 00:17:05.532 A life group is a great place to build community. 00:17:05.532 --> 00:17:13.000 But if you've never been to one, you might say, I'm going to set the system in place to attend 2 life groups a month. 00:17:13.032 --> 00:17:15.266 I'm going to be in two life groups a month. 00:17:15.266 --> 00:17:19.566 Or maybe you've been in life group a long time and you feel like, Gosh, we still aren't that well connected. 00:17:19.566 --> 00:17:25.066 Maybe we, the system is, I invite one couple out to lunch after church once a month. 00:17:25.133 --> 00:17:26.000 You know what I'm saying. 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:31.000 You've got to have some kind of actionable system in place to see that goal come about. 00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:33.700 So focus on systems rather than goals. 00:17:33.700 --> 00:17:34.766 Number two, look at this one. 00:17:34.766 --> 00:17:38.133 This one is similar, but it's slightly different language. 00:17:38.133 --> 00:17:43.299 Focus on LEAD measures instead of LAG measures. 00:17:43.299 --> 00:17:44.432 Again, both are important. 00:17:44.432 --> 00:17:49.000 Let me explain these LEAD measures versus LAG measures. 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:58.099 A lot of times we focus on the LAG measurement, meaning the thing that you measure after it's already happened and that you can't effect in the moment. 00:17:58.099 --> 00:18:00.000 Weight is a good example of this. 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:01.333 I get on the scale and measure it. 00:18:01.333 --> 00:18:03.165 That's already happened. 00:18:03.165 --> 00:18:09.532 That's the result of everything I did over the last few years or holidays. 00:18:09.532 --> 00:18:15.900 I can't change that right here in this moment. I could try, take off some clothing or whatever, but that's an artificial change. 00:18:15.900 --> 00:18:18.099 I'm just measuring the results of what happened. 00:18:18.099 --> 00:18:21.066 If you're in sales, how many sales did I have this month? 00:18:21.066 --> 00:18:22.165 That's a LAG measure. 00:18:22.165 --> 00:18:26.066 That's a LAG measurement of a bunch of activity I've already done. 00:18:26.066 --> 00:18:32.532 The LEAD measure is the thing that I can take action on right now that will result in changing the LAG measure over time. 00:18:32.532 --> 00:18:36.400 That's the thing you really want to track and focus on. The LEAD measure. 00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:44.232 So again, if you're in sales, you'll say I make five calls an hour, knowing that if I make five calls an hour, I'll talk to one person. 00:18:44.232 --> 00:18:50.432 And if I talk to ten people a day, I'll get two of them to give me appointments, which will lead to three sales a week. 00:18:50.432 --> 00:18:51.566 You do the numbers. 00:18:51.566 --> 00:18:55.365 You know this activity leads to this result. 00:18:55.432 --> 00:18:57.400 Same thing with weight. 00:18:57.400 --> 00:19:00.133 You've got to have some LEAD measure that will affect your weight. 00:19:00.133 --> 00:19:06.633 I got to be in the gym four times a week at noon with Steve at this gym. 00:19:06.700 --> 00:19:11.799 And over time, that LEAD measure, tracking that will lead to results. 00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:14.465 So community the same way. 00:19:14.465 --> 00:19:18.066 How many times do we find ourself isolated? 00:19:18.066 --> 00:19:23.732 But then we look back and see that I've done very little to connect with people. 00:19:23.732 --> 00:19:27.133 How am I tracking how I connect with people? 00:19:27.133 --> 00:19:30.400 Am I tracking how much time I have spent in God's word? 00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:33.032 That's why we have a Bible reading plan as a church. 00:19:33.032 --> 00:19:38.066 Makes it easy for you to go back and look at that. 00:19:38.165 --> 00:19:38.432 All right. 00:19:38.432 --> 00:19:43.633 Third tip for building habits is to-- and this is a made up word. I know it. 00:19:43.633 --> 00:19:44.500 It's not a typo. 00:19:44.500 --> 00:19:48.165 Number three, create encouragability. 00:19:48.232 --> 00:19:49.000 I didn't make it up. 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:51.133 I wish I did because I love the word I heard someone else use it. 00:19:51.133 --> 00:19:53.665 Can't remember who it was or I'd give them credit. 00:19:53.665 --> 00:19:55.400 Encouragability. 00:19:55.400 --> 00:20:01.333 I love this word because it sounds like accountability, but it sounds way better than accountability, which is what I'm trying to talk about. 00:20:01.333 --> 00:20:08.566 Because a lot of times we say, Yeah, I need I need to be held accountable, but we don't really want to be held accountable when we say it that way. 00:20:08.566 --> 00:20:10.465 And who does want to be held accountable? 00:20:10.465 --> 00:20:14.232 Because a lot of times what we mean is people scolding us for not doing what we said we’d do. 00:20:14.232 --> 00:20:23.032 But what we need -- sometimes we need that for sure-- But most of the time I need someone come alongside me and go, John, you can do this. 00:20:23.032 --> 00:20:24.700 John, you-- this is what you said you want to do. 00:20:24.700 --> 00:20:26.066 You can do it. 00:20:26.066 --> 00:20:27.032 Let me help you. 00:20:27.032 --> 00:20:28.299 Let's get there together. 00:20:28.299 --> 00:20:30.133 Let me encourage you. 00:20:30.133 --> 00:20:34.799 In the midst of going after what you feel like God's put on your heart. 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:40.833 And so if you thought I really need to get to a life group, I really need to be in community. 00:20:40.900 --> 00:20:49.865 One way to create encouragability, one way to trick yourself into going, is to call someone. 00:20:49.865 --> 00:20:51.599 Call someone who you know is in a life group. 00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:54.432 And if you don't know anyone, call, the church. We’ll connect you with someone. 00:20:54.432 --> 00:20:55.665 We won't tell them in advance. 00:20:55.665 --> 00:20:56.900 That'd be even better. 00:20:56.900 --> 00:21:00.465 Now we'll connect you with someone who wants to help. 00:21:00.532 --> 00:21:04.700 Call them and say, Look, will you pick me up Sunday for Life Group? 00:21:04.700 --> 00:21:07.032 Will you come to me? Yes, I can drive. 00:21:07.032 --> 00:21:11.365 No, I haven't gone crazy, but I want to get to Life group. 00:21:11.365 --> 00:21:12.700 And I just hadn’t made it happen. 00:21:12.700 --> 00:21:14.299 I don't know why. 00:21:14.299 --> 00:21:16.500 Will you pick me up? 00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:18.799 And now you know the weight of that. 00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:33.566 You know that if you know someone is coming to get you and you've asked them to and you're dependent on them and they're going out of their way inconveniencing them, which hopefully they're doing it with delight, knowing that they're bringing you to life group. 00:21:33.566 --> 00:21:41.965 But, you know, the pressure of that, the accountability of that, the encouragability of that, the difference that'll make. 00:21:41.965 --> 00:21:43.333 Look for ways to create that. 00:21:43.333 --> 00:21:46.665 Just simply call someone, come alongside, help me out in this moment. 00:21:46.665 --> 00:21:49.965 I don't know how to get there, but I need help. 00:21:50.032 --> 00:21:51.633 That's number three. 00:21:51.633 --> 00:21:54.365 Now, number four, this is one of my favorites. 00:21:54.365 --> 00:21:56.865 Number four, prepare the environment. 00:21:56.865 --> 00:22:01.099 If you want to build a new habit, focus on preparing the environment. 00:22:01.099 --> 00:22:06.200 Environment dictates so much of the habits we do. 00:22:06.266 --> 00:22:10.000 I mean, how many of us end up snacking on stuff we don't want to because it's in the house? 00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:13.599 How many times do we avoid snacking on not how do I say this right? 00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:18.665 How many times do we not snack because the stuff isn't there and you don't want to get out in the cold to buy it. 00:22:18.665 --> 00:22:21.965 That's part of affecting your environment. 00:22:21.965 --> 00:22:24.299 There was a study done by a hospital. 00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:27.833 They wanted to improve the health of people who were there. 00:22:27.833 --> 00:22:34.165 So one thing they simply wanted to do was to reduce how much soda people drank in the hospital cafeteria. 00:22:34.165 --> 00:22:34.900 That's it. 00:22:34.900 --> 00:22:37.232 That's the one thing they wanted to do. 00:22:37.299 --> 00:22:39.232 Now, there's different ways you could do this. 00:22:39.232 --> 00:22:45.099 You could put up signs that say, soda will give you diabetes, soda will make you fat, soda will kill you. 00:22:45.099 --> 00:22:47.066 You can put up signs like that. 00:22:47.066 --> 00:22:50.799 You could raise the price of soda, make it a lot more expensive. 00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:53.365 That's another approach. 00:22:53.365 --> 00:22:56.365 What they, they just simply did one thing. 00:22:56.365 --> 00:23:01.465 They took all the soda machines and they moved them as far back into the cafeteria as they could. 00:23:01.465 --> 00:23:04.665 And they put the water bottles right by the register. 00:23:04.665 --> 00:23:06.099 And guess what? 00:23:06.099 --> 00:23:16.865 Soda prices went way-- uh, soda sales went way down, water purchases went way up. Which just simply proves we’re too lazy to walk to the back of the cafeteria. 00:23:16.865 --> 00:23:20.900 That's the only thing that proves. 00:23:20.965 --> 00:23:26.200 No, how can you change your environment to produce new habits? 00:23:26.266 --> 00:23:27.365 For me, how this works. 00:23:27.365 --> 00:23:37.165 Going back to last week's habit of reading God's Word, the more I can do to prepare the environment, the night before, the more success I'll have in the morning. 00:23:37.165 --> 00:23:40.500 And so the first key to that is sleep. 00:23:40.599 --> 00:23:46.099 There's a whole another conversation about how I prepare the home to get to bed at a decent time and to fall asleep. 00:23:46.099 --> 00:23:46.732 That's the key. 00:23:46.732 --> 00:23:51.232 But second, I'm preparing the environment for the morning. 00:23:51.232 --> 00:23:54.032 I'm setting out my devotional book, my journal, my Bible. 00:23:54.032 --> 00:23:56.799 I'm setting them out on the spot where I love to sit and read the Bible in the morning. 00:23:56.799 --> 00:24:02.799 My Bible reading plan is laying next to, my favorite pen is there. Maybe some earplugs to block out noise too as well. 00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:07.232 And then I go over to the coffee pot and I get it all set up for the morning. 00:24:07.232 --> 00:24:09.766 I even program it to go off at a certain time so that I wake up. 00:24:09.766 --> 00:24:14.599 I'm already smelling the coffee and so I fall asleep excited about the morning. 00:24:14.599 --> 00:24:20.965 I can't wait to get up, have my coffee made for me, ready to get into God's Word with no other hindrance. 00:24:20.965 --> 00:24:22.165 The house is quiet. 00:24:22.165 --> 00:24:22.965 I'm ready. 00:24:22.965 --> 00:24:27.000 I fall asleep, excited to get up in the morning and get into God's word. 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:30.865 Prepared the environment. 00:24:30.965 --> 00:24:37.133 How can you prepare the environment for spiritual growth in your life this year? 00:24:37.133 --> 00:24:39.932 There's a lot of different ways that can be done. 00:24:39.932 --> 00:24:44.000 One, one interesting way we did this when we served in Fiji. 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:47.200 We served as missionaries in the South Pacific for a season. 00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:52.333 One of our goals was to connect with our neighbors, but also to get in better shape. 00:24:52.333 --> 00:24:55.032 My son and I both wanted to get better at doing pull ups. 00:24:55.032 --> 00:25:01.900 We had a goal for how many he wanted to get to was a lot more than my goal, but we both had a goal in terms of how many we wanted to get to. 00:25:01.900 --> 00:25:05.799 And so what we did was we bought a pull up bar, had a friend who was coming from the U.S. 00:25:05.799 --> 00:25:07.766 bring it with her, and we hung it up. 00:25:07.766 --> 00:25:08.965 In fact, here's the picture. 00:25:08.965 --> 00:25:10.000 You can just barely see it. 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:11.200 It's not the best picture in the world. 00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:12.633 I didn't have a picture from the front of the house. 00:25:12.633 --> 00:25:13.599 This is inside the house. 00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:18.333 That's my daughter playing with one of the stray dogs in the neighborhood, one of many. 00:25:18.333 --> 00:25:19.432 You can just barely see it. 00:25:19.432 --> 00:25:25.333 We hung it on the carport in front of the house and look, there was no privacy there. 00:25:25.333 --> 00:25:28.333 Everyone knew everything you were doing. 00:25:28.400 --> 00:25:38.599 And so every time we went out to do pull ups together, all the neighborhood boys came out and joined us and we started doing pull ups together. 00:25:38.599 --> 00:25:44.799 And sometimes some of the dads would come over and every time we walked into the house there’s a pull up bar, Guess what? 00:25:44.799 --> 00:25:45.400 I feel guilty. 00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:47.032 I need to do a pull up or two. 00:25:47.032 --> 00:25:48.165 It’s right there in front of me. 00:25:48.165 --> 00:25:49.833 Some guys would come over, couldn't do any. 00:25:49.833 --> 00:25:51.165 All right, well, just hang there for a minute. 00:25:51.165 --> 00:25:52.000 That'll build up your strength. 00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:53.900 Do something. 00:25:53.900 --> 00:25:56.099 We come in late at night after a ministry event. 00:25:56.099 --> 00:25:58.599 We're all wiped out, tired, gone all day. 00:25:58.599 --> 00:25:59.365 They see us pull up. 00:25:59.365 --> 00:26:01.099 Here come the boys. Hey. 00:26:01.099 --> 00:26:02.932 Ready to do some pull ups still? 00:26:02.932 --> 00:26:06.432 No, no. 00:26:06.500 --> 00:26:08.365 Okay. 00:26:08.365 --> 00:26:11.200 Accountability. Prepared the environment. 00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:21.700 Created an atmosphere where behavior, even when we didn't want to, we were forced to, in a way, to do the behavior we know we needed to do. 00:26:21.766 --> 00:26:22.932 So prepare the environment. 00:26:22.932 --> 00:26:24.599 Number five and then number four. 00:26:24.599 --> 00:26:25.932 And now number five. 00:26:25.932 --> 00:26:29.965 Get around people you want to be like. 00:26:29.965 --> 00:26:38.133 Do what it takes, especially when it comes to building community, to get around people you want to be like. 00:26:38.200 --> 00:26:44.299 There's a great, great quote I'm going to share with you two quotes around this that I've heard floating around a lot different places. I have attributed them. 00:26:44.299 --> 00:26:45.099 You can see their name. 00:26:45.099 --> 00:26:49.500 The first one, you are the average of the five people you spend the most time around. 00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:52.432 I've shared that one before, you've heard that. Is that exact number? 00:26:52.432 --> 00:26:55.032 Is that exactly right? I don't know. 00:26:55.032 --> 00:26:57.766 But the people you're around do shape you. 00:26:57.766 --> 00:26:59.200 They do influence you. 00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:00.200 Here's another one. 00:27:00.200 --> 00:27:03.066 This one by Charlie Tremendous Jones. 00:27:03.066 --> 00:27:06.633 He was this really fascinating, super energetic, motivational speaker. 00:27:06.633 --> 00:27:08.700 Guy spoke in a lot of Christian churches. 00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:16.599 You'll be the same person five years from now that you are today, except for the people you meet and the books you read. 00:27:16.665 --> 00:27:19.865 You know, are there more factors than that? Sure. 00:27:19.865 --> 00:27:24.700 But the people you spend time around have a huge influence on who you become. 00:27:24.766 --> 00:27:32.032 One of the best predictors of the person you’ll become are the people you hang out with, are the people you look up to. 00:27:32.032 --> 00:27:36.865 So do whatever it takes to get around the kind of people who are growing in community. 00:27:36.865 --> 00:27:46.700 When you see someone who has lots of friends, who has lots of people to lean on, who is flourishing in community, lots of opportunities to serve, just get around that person somehow. 00:27:46.700 --> 00:27:47.965 Hey, what life group do you go to? 00:27:47.965 --> 00:27:49.266 Can I come? 00:27:49.266 --> 00:27:50.599 What ministries are you a part of? 00:27:50.599 --> 00:27:52.532 Can I just come alongside you? 00:27:52.532 --> 00:27:56.266 Can we have you over for dinner and get to know you better. 00:27:56.333 --> 00:27:57.932 Get around those people. 00:27:57.932 --> 00:28:13.232 I don't have this quote on screen, but I heard a guy recently say, The only thing more contagious than a good attitude-- I bet some of you can finish this-- is a bad attitude, right? 00:28:13.299 --> 00:28:17.599 The only thing more contagious than a good attitude is a bad attitude. 00:28:17.700 --> 00:28:22.665 So get around the people with the right attitude. 00:28:22.665 --> 00:28:29.000 In fact, there's three attitudes I want to show you here in verse eight to wrap up our conversation of abiding in community. 00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:33.165 Look back at verse eight. 00:28:34.165 --> 00:28:41.732 the one who contributes contributes in generosity-- first attitude-- the one who leads with zeal. 00:28:41.732 --> 00:28:43.133 That's the kind of leader you want to be around. 00:28:43.133 --> 00:28:45.400 Give me some zeal, give me some excitement. 00:28:45.400 --> 00:28:48.566 Let me see some generosity from one who gives. 00:28:48.566 --> 00:28:56.599 And then, number three, the one does acts of mercy, or the one who serves, does it with cheerfulness. 00:28:56.599 --> 00:29:02.732 That's the person I want to see serve, not the begrudging serving person who is like, Why am I here? 00:29:02.732 --> 00:29:05.165 How did I get talked into this? 00:29:05.165 --> 00:29:06.566 Yeah, great. 00:29:06.566 --> 00:29:07.665 Great to have you here. 00:29:07.665 --> 00:29:09.099 Go home. 00:29:09.099 --> 00:29:11.200 I want to see cheerfulness. 00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:12.400 How do we develop those attitudes? 00:29:12.400 --> 00:29:14.833 Get around those kind of people. 00:29:14.833 --> 00:29:20.400 Zeal, cheer, gratitude, eagerness. 00:29:20.432 --> 00:29:26.900 Those are the kind of character qualities we want to develop as we pursue community together. 00:29:26.900 --> 00:29:31.900 All right, So that's the first way, first half of letter A- Abiding in Community. 00:29:31.900 --> 00:29:40.400 And now the other aspect we're going to talk about today, the other habit to develop is to abide in prayer. 00:29:40.465 --> 00:29:46.200 If we can develop any habits this year, Andrew said it last week, get in God's word, be devoted to prayer. 00:29:46.200 --> 00:29:52.299 We do those two things well, everything else is going to follow. 00:29:52.299 --> 00:29:58.833 We can have the best programs in the world, but if we've neglected God's Word and we've neglected prayer, those don't matter. 00:29:58.833 --> 00:30:02.200 They don't matter at all. 00:30:02.266 --> 00:30:05.032 How do we abide in prayer in the coming year? 00:30:05.032 --> 00:30:05.599 What are some ways? 00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:14.032 Look at Romans 12 verse 12 and look at this one short verse and one word in particular. 00:30:14.133 --> 00:30:25.099 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer, rejoice in hope. 00:30:25.165 --> 00:30:29.099 Be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 00:30:29.099 --> 00:30:30.965 I love that word. Be constant in prayer. 00:30:30.965 --> 00:30:32.500 There's a couple of different ways to translate that. 00:30:32.500 --> 00:30:34.532 One is to be faithful in prayer. 00:30:34.532 --> 00:30:44.700 I think the favorite way I saw it translated was to be persistent in prayer, meaning don't give up, stay active in prayer. 00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:48.465 Stay engaged in prayer. 00:30:48.532 --> 00:30:52.833 Now I want to talk about prayer in one specific way, because there's a lot of different ways we pray. 00:30:52.833 --> 00:30:54.532 We pray all throughout the day as we go. 00:30:54.532 --> 00:30:55.566 Lord, help me in this moment. 00:30:55.566 --> 00:30:56.599 Help me in this situation. 00:30:56.599 --> 00:30:59.599 We pray in the midst of chaos. 00:30:59.599 --> 00:31:09.133 But I think what is needed in our world today and in our own lives and in our hearts is the prayer of stillness. 00:31:09.200 --> 00:31:13.665 A prayer of quiet reflection. 00:31:13.732 --> 00:31:17.266 Because there's very little of that in most of our lives. 00:31:17.266 --> 00:31:24.500 I think most of us would admit, myself as well, that's a struggle to find moments of quiet and stillness to pray. 00:31:24.500 --> 00:31:26.532 I mean, our culture hates quiet. 00:31:26.532 --> 00:31:28.865 We love noise and busyness. 00:31:28.865 --> 00:31:31.865 It's a great American sin to sit still. 00:31:31.900 --> 00:31:38.000 Keep moving, keep going, accomplish, do, be constantly entertained. 00:31:38.066 --> 00:31:46.633 But I've got to say in my life, I've rarely heard from the Lord when I'm on the go, when I'm busy, when I'm hurried, when I'm constantly moving, when I'm not pausing. 00:31:46.633 --> 00:31:49.432 I've rarely heard from him. 00:31:49.432 --> 00:31:50.299 He can't speak. 00:31:50.299 --> 00:31:51.000 He does. 00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:53.099 In the midst of that, it happens. 00:31:53.099 --> 00:31:59.133 But more often he speaks in the quiet, in the still. 00:31:59.133 --> 00:32:04.465 When you're listening carefully for him. 00:32:04.566 --> 00:32:11.032 I think sometimes we get in seasons where-- I've even heard some say, I've said myself, I don't feel like I'm hearing from the Lord. 00:32:11.032 --> 00:32:14.900 I don't feel like he's speaking to me. 00:32:14.965 --> 00:32:19.066 I think sometimes that's because we're, we're going too fast to hear him. 00:32:19.066 --> 00:32:23.066 We're going too fast to listen. 00:32:23.165 --> 00:32:28.665 Anne Graham Lotz said famously, she said, God is a gentleman. 00:32:28.665 --> 00:32:33.432 He will not force himself upon us. 00:32:33.500 --> 00:32:38.032 Sometimes he might, but he waits patiently in general. 00:32:38.032 --> 00:32:44.000 I remember having a friend, we worked out together, we spent a lot of time together. 00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:49.266 I was no spiritual giant, but I was a little further ahead of him in my spiritual walk. 00:32:49.266 --> 00:32:56.766 And there was a moment early on in our time hanging out together that I just was like, Man, this is an area you need to work on. 00:32:56.766 --> 00:32:58.965 It became painfully obvious. 00:32:58.965 --> 00:33:06.833 I brought it up to him and he acknowledged it, but then explained it away real quickly, just explained it away. 00:33:06.900 --> 00:33:08.965 And I thought, okay, you know, whatever. 00:33:08.965 --> 00:33:11.633 Maybe that's the case. I get that. 00:33:11.633 --> 00:33:18.432 A little later on, another issue came up. Man, listen, that is not the right thing to say to your wife, okay? 00:33:18.432 --> 00:33:23.400 I'm telling you, that is an area of growth. 00:33:23.500 --> 00:33:25.465 Acknowledgment, explain it away. 00:33:25.465 --> 00:33:26.266 Explain it away. 00:33:26.266 --> 00:33:33.200 a couple more times of that and I just thought, what's the point? 00:33:33.200 --> 00:33:37.000 Why even, why try anymore? 00:33:37.066 --> 00:33:39.532 He obviously doesn't want to hear it. 00:33:39.532 --> 00:33:41.200 Now, of course, maybe I could have gone about it different. 00:33:41.200 --> 00:33:44.665 There's a whole host of other things that are. 00:33:44.766 --> 00:33:49.266 But I know, too, that he did not want to hear it. 00:33:49.266 --> 00:33:51.066 And looking back, there's things I'd have done different. 00:33:51.066 --> 00:33:53.200 In fact, getting to the point where I just gave up. 00:33:53.200 --> 00:33:56.532 I regret that in a lot of ways. 00:33:56.599 --> 00:33:59.500 I really regret that. 00:33:59.500 --> 00:34:07.200 I think how many times, as the Lord said, I've said this over and over again and he doesn't want to hear it. 00:34:07.200 --> 00:34:10.865 I'm just going to wait till he's ready. 00:34:10.865 --> 00:34:14.300 I'm going to wait. 00:34:14.400 --> 00:34:16.699 So here's my encouragement for you. 00:34:16.699 --> 00:34:28.565 Here's the activity to give you. Some time this week, find just a five minute window-- if you can do more, great-- But look, don't set the bar so high that you avoid it. 00:34:28.565 --> 00:34:31.900 Find just a five minute window sometime this week. 00:34:31.900 --> 00:34:37.233 And here's all I want you to do is just sit in quiet. Sit in stillness. 00:34:37.300 --> 00:34:49.300 No phone, no music, and dare I say this, this is hard to say, no books, not reading anything, no inputs into your life. No people. 00:34:49.300 --> 00:34:53.766 Find a quiet moment and just sit and just ask the Lord one simple question. Just ask him. 00:34:53.766 --> 00:34:59.032 Lord, what do you want me to hear from you today? 00:34:59.132 --> 00:35:05.199 And just sit in that moment you're tempted to go check social media. 00:35:05.199 --> 00:35:06.865 Just sit. 00:35:06.865 --> 00:35:08.599 30 seconds later. 00:35:08.599 --> 00:35:17.900 When you want to go get something to eat, just sit and listen for him to speak. 00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:22.166 Most of our culture is battling anxiety. 00:35:22.266 --> 00:35:32.199 If we pause and listen for the Lord to speak-- may not cure it all, but it would help to know that He is faithful in the midst of all this. 00:35:32.199 --> 00:35:33.465 He's faithful in the little things. 00:35:33.465 --> 00:35:38.800 That allows me to be, I hope, to be faithful in the little things. 00:35:38.800 --> 00:35:40.365 Share one last quote with you. 00:35:40.365 --> 00:35:45.032 This one I thought related to this idea of stillness so well and hearing from the Lord. 00:35:45.032 --> 00:35:46.666 This is from a guy named John Comber. 00:35:46.666 --> 00:35:48.233 He's got a great book. 00:35:48.233 --> 00:35:50.132 Go ahead and flash that up on the screen. 00:35:50.132 --> 00:35:53.532 Wisdom has its own pace. 00:35:53.599 --> 00:35:55.565 You know what I'm talking about, right? 00:35:55.565 --> 00:35:58.032 Wisdom comes slowly often. 00:35:58.099 --> 00:36:05.400 It makes you wait for it, wait for the inner voice to come to the surface of your tempestuous mind. 00:36:05.400 --> 00:36:08.800 Thought I'd introduce vocab to us here as we go. 00:36:08.800 --> 00:36:14.000 Meaning you're stirred up, you're, you're scattered in mind. 00:36:14.099 --> 00:36:19.099 But not until the waters of thoughts settle and calm does that wisdom come. 00:36:19.099 --> 00:36:21.099 It's so true. 00:36:21.099 --> 00:36:22.965 It's so true. 00:36:22.965 --> 00:36:24.465 We all need that. 00:36:24.465 --> 00:36:31.000 I know we can’t all sit around like a desert monk in quiet prayer, but we don't have to. 00:36:31.000 --> 00:36:35.833 Just find a window this week to meditate, to listen. 00:36:35.833 --> 00:36:44.432 Even if it's 5 minutes in quiet, asking him, Lord, what do you want me to hear from you today? 00:36:44.432 --> 00:36:47.599 What do you want me to hear from you? 00:36:47.699 --> 00:36:49.099 I know this. 00:36:49.099 --> 00:36:51.199 He will speak. 00:36:51.266 --> 00:36:52.666 He will speak. 00:36:52.666 --> 00:36:54.099 He will meet you where you are. 00:36:54.099 --> 00:36:55.266 Maybe not the way you thought. 00:36:55.266 --> 00:37:00.900 Maybe not in the timing you thought, maybe not right away. 00:37:01.000 --> 00:37:02.266 He will speak. 00:37:02.266 --> 00:37:03.699 He wants to speak. 00:37:03.699 --> 00:37:05.199 He wants you to hear from him. 00:37:05.199 --> 00:37:06.465 He wants to speak to you. 00:37:06.465 --> 00:37:10.065 He does. 00:37:10.132 --> 00:37:13.532 Abide in community, abide in prayer. 00:37:13.532 --> 00:37:23.132 Those are two things we're focused on in our abiding as a church, in our building habits, the habit of community, the habit of prayer. 00:37:23.132 --> 00:37:25.900 How can we grow in those this year? 00:37:25.900 --> 00:37:33.400 And the reason why we talk about it now at the beginning of the year, people are usually excited to build new habits to grow. 00:37:33.400 --> 00:37:41.500 But also we talk about it here when we're gathered together on Sunday because we need to be building these habits now so that they're there when we need them. 00:37:41.500 --> 00:37:45.032 You never know how you'll need them. 00:37:45.099 --> 00:37:52.333 Julie and I, remember newly married, married about a year or so. 00:37:52.333 --> 00:37:55.333 Julie's pregnant, so excited. 00:37:55.599 --> 00:37:59.000 Just thrilled. 00:37:59.099 --> 00:38:01.166 But then there's a miscarriage. 00:38:01.166 --> 00:38:04.032 We lose the baby. 00:38:04.032 --> 00:38:08.000 And that was one of the hardest things I've ever been through. 00:38:08.000 --> 00:38:14.032 Probably still is the hardest thing emotionally I've ever been through. 00:38:14.099 --> 00:38:19.599 Let me tell you, I didn't know I needed that community at that time. 00:38:19.599 --> 00:38:35.300 I didn't know what a community could do to love on you in that time and our Sunday school class at church, who we had invested in for months, getting to know people, loving on them, them loving on us, they showed up in a way I never could have imagined. 00:38:35.465 --> 00:38:36.400 They loved on us. 00:38:36.400 --> 00:38:40.599 They really carried us through that. 00:38:40.666 --> 00:38:49.400 Build the habit of community now. Build it, invest, connect. 00:38:49.500 --> 00:38:52.965 Because you never know when you'll need it. Let's pray.