VOLUNTARILY SUBMIT TO EVERY CHANGE GOD WANTS TO MAKE IN MY LIFE AND HUMBLY ASK HIM TO REMOVE MY CHARACTER DEFECTS… 1. WHERE DO MY CHARACTER DEFECTS COME FROM? • My Chromosomes • My Circumstances • My Choices 2. WHY IS IT SO HARD TO CHANGE THE DEFECTS IN MY LIFE? • Because I’ve had them so long • They become our identity • My defect has a payoff • Satan discourages me 3. HOW DO I CHANGE? • Focus on changing one defect at a time PROVERBS 17:24, GNT, “An intelligent person aims at wise action, but a fool starts off in many directions.” • Focus on victory one day at a time MATTHEW 6:11, ESV, “Give us this day our daily bread.” • Focus on God’s power not my power PSALMS 28:7, NLT, “The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” • Focus on what I want not on what I don’t want PHILIPPIANS 4:8, NLT, “And now dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” • Focus on doing good not feeling good GALATIANS 5:16, NLT, “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” • Focus on people who help me, not hinder me 1 CORINTHIANS 15:33, NIV, “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.” • Focus on progress not perfection CHRISTIANITY IS A DECISION FOLLOWED BY A PROCESS. 1 JOHN 5:5, NIV, “Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”