(February 15, 2009)

Many times we get spiritually and emotionally challenged to the point that we get paralyzed. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. For example, Ricky Bobby in Talladega Nights stabs his leg when he believes he paralyzed, but it's all in his head. Many time we sabotage ourselves because they feel that they deserve happiness and success. Everyone of us has done this at some point in our lives.

1. Most of us are born and live with a limiting internal belief system. Most of the time our thoughts are on autopilot. This can make us our own worst enemy. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Two teams can go through the same tragedies, but one becomes successful anyway and the other becomes a group of whiners. Why? The successful team had the belief system that determined their experience. The whining team had their belief system determined by circumstances. Which team are you? If you believe that you are unworthy, stupid, ugly, you are. The fact is that once your internal system is fixed, your external system will be fixed. Make every thought obedient to what God says about His calling for you. God's Word is that you are worthy, successful, beautiful.

2. Negative self-talk can kill our success. The most negative conversations we ever have are with ourselves. It's almost prayer-like. "I'll never be able to..." "I can't..." Limiting talk limits us. Think about the conversations you've had with yourself just since you woke up today. How many were negative?

3. Not taking personal responsibility will destroy. When you don't take personal responsibility and place blame to someone else, you are giving control to someone else. You have become a victim. The Blame Game will give that control away. We negate all of God's Promises to us once we give away responsibility and give away our control.

4. Toxic relationships takes away our attention from the goal. In your free time, we all have a choice with who we spend time with. Many of us choose to hang out with people who are negative, who are 'victims', who whine. When you do this, you will become them. You lose strength and fall to their level. You should always have someone to hang out with who is stronger than you, who makes more money than you, who's more intelligent than you, who is more organized than you, then watch what happens. We tend to gravitate toward people who treat us the way we believe we should be treated. Who are your friends? Are they good for you or bad for you?

5. Lack of purpose and direction set you off course and paralyze you. What were you born to do? Are you single-minded and focused to achieve that goal? Are you all over the map? Find out what you destiny is and spend your time to actively pursue it. Otherwise, you'll feel frustrated, angry and you'll feel like a victim.

6. Being a mental cellar dweller beings out the worst of you. You always expect the worst. There was a man who went through the Fireproof series and he cooks dinner for the entire family. He tells to put on their coats if they try the dinner and don't like it, then he'll take them out to dinner. By the time he returns with ther

7. Poor people skills can't help you help others. The best way to be secure is to help others to be secure. How much of a listener are you?

8. Playing it safe will not allow you to be or do better. We need to go to another level. You've already been there, done that. Some have it on cruise control until they get to heaven. How about stepping out and testing your talents in a different area? Stretch yourself to a better place. Take a risk and go higher!

9. Undisciplined people never grow. When we discipline ourselves we understand to fight through challenges for the better. God puts challenges in your way not to punish you, but to make you a disciplined, better person. Are you moody? Are you a time waster? Take an active role and control your thoughts and your time so that you aren't moody or a time waster any more!

10. Lack of perseverence will never see you toward success. You can't give up in life. Goal achievement comes to those who aren't willing to quit. Don't quit. Unless you go through the test and endure, you'll never be a mature Christian.

Pick one area that needs fixing in your life from the list above and make a commitment to work on that one this week.

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Jon Bruney
Pastor

Leona Sattison
Secretary

James Bruney
Worship Leader





Drew Kuespert
Webmaster