Series: “I Am Going To Be Better This Year…Even If It Kills Me! Okay, How Do I Do Better?

Okay, How Do I Do Better? Psalm 51 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me 15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

David’s “resolutions” Okay, How Do I Do Better? David’s “resolutions” I will be more godly this year - 10 I will have the right Spirit within me this year – 10 I will praise Him more this year – 15 I will repent when I am wrong and have sinned - 17 I will do my best for Him this year - 19

Okay, How Do I Do Better? Remember why people fail in their resolutions? 1. Not Written Down. 2. Broad Goals. 3. No Rewards. 4. Unrealistic Goals. 5. Quitting Too Soon.

“How Do I Begin to Do Better?” Okay, How Do I Do Better? “How Do I Begin to Do Better?”

Talk to God about your desire and need to do better (He understands) Okay, How Do I Do Better? Talk to God about your desire and need to do better (He understands) Psalms 139:1-12(KJV) 1 O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. 5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

Okay, How Do I Do Better? 7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. Psalms 139:23-24(KJV) 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Talk to God about your desire and need to do better Okay, How Do I Do Better? Talk to God about your desire and need to do better David... Recognized his need for God in his every day life – 23-24

Talk to God about your desire and need to do better Okay, How Do I Do Better? Talk to God about your desire and need to do better David... Recognized his need for God in his every day life – 23-24 Realized God wanted to be part of his every day life – 1

Talk to God about your desire and need to do better Okay, How Do I Do Better? Talk to God about your desire and need to do better David... Recognized his need for God in his every day life – 23-24 Realized God wanted to be part of his every day life – 1 Respected God’s desire for David to be part of His life – 5-12

Talk to God about your desire and need to do better Okay, How Do I Do Better? Talk to God about your desire and need to do better David... Recognized his need for God in his every day life – 23-24 Realized God wanted to be part of his every day life – 1 Respected God’s desire for David to be part of His life – 5-12 Resolved to be part of God’s life – 23-24

Okay, How Do I Do Better? Get out your pencil sharpener, sharpen the pencil and WRITE IT DOWN!

Okay, How Do I Do Better? Get out your pencil sharpener, sharpen the pencil and WRITE IT DOWN! Regard God’s desire for you

Okay, How Do I Do Better? Get out your pencil sharpener, sharpen the pencil and WRITE IT DOWN! Regard God’s desire for you Reach out daily to God in an effort to follow Him

Okay, How Do I Do Better? Get out your pencil sharpener, sharpen the pencil and WRITE IT DOWN! Regard God’s desire for you Reach out daily to God in an effort to follow Him Record the goals God wants done in your life

Okay, How Do I Do Better? Get out your pencil sharpener, sharpen the pencil and WRITE IT DOWN! Regard God’s desire for you Reach out daily to God in an effort to follow Him Record the goals God wants done in your life Read, and reread these goals often in your quest for a better you

Follow God’s way along the way in our lives Okay, How Do I Do Better? Follow God’s way along the way in our lives Ecclesiastes 11:9-10(NKJV) 9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; Walk in the ways of your heart, And in the sight of your eyes; But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment. 10 Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, And put away evil from your flesh, For childhood and youth are vanity.

Okay, How Do I Do Better? Follow God’s way along the way in our lives

Follow God’s way along the way in our lives Okay, How Do I Do Better? Follow God’s way along the way in our lives Rejoice in and enjoy life

Follow God’s way along the way in our lives Okay, How Do I Do Better? Follow God’s way along the way in our lives Rejoice in and enjoy life Resist the folly of disastrous youthful indiscretions

Follow God’s way along the way in our lives Okay, How Do I Do Better? Follow God’s way along the way in our lives Rejoice in and enjoy life Resist the folly of disastrous youthful indiscretions Remind ourselves of His pathway for our joy all our lives daily

Follow God’s way along the way in our lives Okay, How Do I Do Better? Follow God’s way along the way in our lives Rejoice in and enjoy life Resist the folly of disastrous youthful indiscretions Remind ourselves of His pathway for our joy all our lives daily Renew our joy in life, and have greater joy in Him (there is none better!)

Okay, How Do I Do Better? It ain’t always easy James 1:1-8; 12(NKJV) 1James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. 2My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Okay, How Do I Do Better? 5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 12Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Okay, How Do I Do Better? It ain’t always easy Response of a servant - 1

Okay, How Do I Do Better? It ain’t always easy Response of a servant - 1 Ready spiritually for victory – 2-4

Okay, How Do I Do Better? It ain’t always easy Response of a servant - 1 Ready spiritually for victory – 2-4 Request help and search carefully for guidance (from the Lord) - 5

Okay, How Do I Do Better? It ain’t always easy Response of a servant - 1 Ready spiritually for victory – 2-4 Request help and search carefully for guidance (from the Lord) - 5 Regard His help with the utmost confidence

Okay, How Do I Do Better? There is no time like the present to start getting things right with God and self Ecclesiastes 3:1-15(NKJV) 1 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: 2 A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; 3 A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;

Okay, How Do I Do Better? 6 A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; 7 A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; 8 A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace. 9What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? 10I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. 11He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. 12I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives,

Okay, How Do I Do Better? 13and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God. 14 I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him. 15 That which is has already been, And what is to be has already been; And God requires an account of what is past.

Okay, How Do I Do Better? There is no time like the present to start getting things right with God and self Recognize the importance of time – 1-8

Okay, How Do I Do Better? There is no time like the present to start getting things right with God and self Recognize the importance of time – 1-8 Reap the time well that you have left (as His servant) 9-10

Okay, How Do I Do Better? There is no time like the present to start getting things right with God and self Recognize the importance of time – 1-8 Reap the time well that you have left (as His servant) 9-10 Rejoice in His blessings by reaping even more – 11-13

Okay, How Do I Do Better? There is no time like the present to start getting things right with God and self Recognize the importance of time – 1-8 Reap the time well that you have left (as His servant) 9-10 Rejoice in His blessings by reaping even more – 11-13 Requirements of God are not to be taken lightly – 14-15

WHY BOTHER DOING BETTER? Okay, How Do I Do Better? WHY BOTHER DOING BETTER? GOD HAS A BETTER WAY AND A BETTER PLACE. HE WANTS US TO KNOW IT AND HAVE IT 2 Corinthians 5:17(KJV) 17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

How Do I Begin To Do Better? Okay, How Do I Do Better? How Do I Begin To Do Better? Talk to God about your life Follow His plan for improvement and WRITE IT DOWN Don’t forget it is not easy Start today and rejoice tomorrow and forever!