As we turn the page to a new season (September is the New January!), what if, this year you could develop some new Habits and Attitudes that would benefit both your life and that of those around you?

The aim of this series is to help instill in us practical Habits and Attitudes (Habitudes) that will increase our potential to live lives for Jesus in a way that influences those around us in positive ways.

The Iceberg: The Iceberg represents your influence (or the total of your lived out life). The 10% Above the water is your skills and abilities. The 90% Below the water is your character. It’s what’s below the surface that sinks the ship.

If we are to have deep, lasting, and consistent influence for Jesus in your life, developing your character is step one.

Titanic Scene

If we are to have

for Christ throughout our lives, for the long haul, we need to recognize that our character, who we are on the inside, is key. Our Character can either help us succeed or haunt us and cause us to stumble.

Jesus says It this way: Luke 6:43-45 (NLT)

“A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit.A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

Jesus here and elsewhere prioritizes taking care of the inside, because that will determine what takes place on the outside.

Matthew 15:1-20

Why is focusing on the “inside’ so difficult for us today?

Why do we put so much emphasis on the “outside” of our lives”?

Our ability has the potential to carry us far, possibly farther than your character can sustain you.

Little League Video showing Character displayed

If we want to have lasting, positive influence upon those around us, we need to focus on the 90% below the water. Our Character, but what makes up our character?

1) Self-Discipline- the ability to do what is right even if you don’t feel like it.

2) Core Values- Principals you live by that enable you to take a moral stand.

3) Sense of Identity- A realistic self-image based on who God made you to be.

4) Emotional Security- The capacity to be emotionally sable and consistent.

*If you are honest with yourself, which of these areas that make up character are your weakest in? *

Self-Discipline- Identify several things you really don’t like doing. They may be a function around the house, in school or at work. It could be a chore like sweeping the garage or some small tasks you’ve procrastinated doing. It may be listening to or interacting with someone who seems unlovable. It might be physical exercise or the discipline of waiting. It could be as simple as eating a vegetable you don’t like.

Choose one or two of those undesirables and make them disciplines. Deliberately do what you don’t like doing, but that you know is good and important.

Practice them daily for one week. Put them on the calendar and ask someone to hold you accountable to do them (two weeks for a habit). “See it do it” for me.

Core Values- Read the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 (or all of the NT)

Identity- do a search of scriptures that speak about our Identity in Christ. Pray them into your life, print them out and tape them to your mirror. Memorize them.

Emotional Security- The Three Second Rule