Decisions Determine Your Destiny

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WEEK THREE

Decisions Determine Your Destiny July 19 & 20, 2014 Pastor Jeff Countryman We all live with some level of self-deception. We deceive ourselves into believing that maybe the rules don’t apply to us, or that we won’t reap what we sow, or that life is supposed to be safe and comfortable, or that our relationships should all be easy. We’ve deceived ourselves, and we not only find it easy to then accept these lies as truth, we can even defend them . . .

STUDY QUESTIONS 1. What would you say are your most interesting or unique or longstanding habits?

2. Name one habit, talent, or skill in your life that started out small and over time became big.

What was the process like? What were your influences or motivations?

3. Take a look at this weekend’s text in Zechariah 4:6-10. Why does God counsel us not to despise small beginnings?

Why did Zechariah need to hear these words?

4. Pastor Jeff said in his message: “You are what you repeatedly do.” What did he mean by that?

What were the three things he said we need to learn to control so that we can develop good habits?

Which one is hardest for you?

5. How do these verses address how to control what we think?

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Romans 12:2

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Philippians 4:8

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Isaiah 26:3.

What do we need to do? What do we need to change?

6. Consider this quote: “Be careful of your thoughts, for your thoughts become your words. Be careful of your words, for your words become your actions. Be careful of your actions, for your actions become your habits. Be careful of your habits, for your habits become your character. Be careful of your character, for your character becomes your destiny.” Have you found this to be true of someone you know or have heard of?

Do your current habits speak to your character?

7. Pastor Jeff said: Healthy disciplines are choosing between what you want now and what you want most. What did he mean by that?

Personal Meditation: Dallas Willard wrote that the disciplines of abstinence (not doing something) must be counter-balanced by disciplines of engagement (activity). That means replacing unhealthy habits with healthy ones and choosing to actively do things that nurture your soul. Worship, study, prayer, fellowship, confession, are examples of spiritual disciplines that can have small beginnings and big dividends as you mature in Christ. Choose one this week to actively and purposefully engage in. Memorize Proverbs 4:23 - “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”