Starting Over

Sermon Topic: Starting Over

Date: November 23, 2014

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-14, Philippians 4:8, John 5:7

Notes:

How do you begin again? When your life has been interrupted by failed relationships, trials and tragedy it is difficult to let go and start over. Starting over is a process. Some steps are crucial to starting over successfully.

Letting go – there are probably things that you hold onto that you’ve held on to for years.

There are times in life when you have to let go of people – places and things. The one thing that keeps you from your destiny is your past.

Philippians 3:7-14 – Sometimes we don’t understand life. That’s why we must wait on the Lord.

It’s easy to form an attachment to people or things and it’s hard to let go. Every person that comes into your life has a purpose or aren’t in your life to stay. Some folks don’t mean you well. Have no fellowship with them.

Letting go can be painful. The intolerance of your present will create your future. Every relationship is a current – it moves you towards your dream or away from your dreams.

Hanging on to resentment allows someone to live rent free in your head. Never let someone build your world for you. They will build it too small.

Forget about the past – don’t let others remind you of the past. When you don’t forgive you put yourself in a box.

If you want to start over you must first deal with the damage. Ask the right questions. Starting over will be rough, but we will make it. I’m not going to allow anything to stop me.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous. The difference between success and failure is how you handle pressure.

There are times when the enemy will put you in the pressure cooker. But God has the power. Just like the palm tree – we can bend, but we won’t break.

Three ways to help you let go

1. Enjoy yourself - don’t let anything get you down.  Those who control the pain of today can’t control the pleasure of tomorrow.
2. Release the grief – emotions of anger, fear and labels – there is something more precious in you than what people say.
3. Don’t rehearse your failures tomorrow is another day. Get over it – if you keep talking about it, you will be right back where you were. Don’t allow others to remind you. If you worry and pity yourself, you will become a pitiful person that no one wants to be around.

Life won’t always be happy. You’re not always going to wake up on the sunny side of the street – deal with it.

Happiness doesn’t depend on who you are – it depends on how you think.

Philippians 4:8 – Think on these things, think on the positive and not the negative. If you allow yourself to think about the negative you will find plenty of negative things to think about.

Wake up in the morning with a positive attitude. Wake up and be thankful for another day.

Don’t repress it – Don’t hold it in – Some people hold stuff in and then one day, they explode. Let it out – don’t hold it in. Don’t hold on to the pain, disappointment and old negative memories.

Release it! Life isn’t a dress rehearsal, stop practicing and just do it!

Stop making excuses – John 5:7 – Jesus was asking the man at the pool if he wanted to be healed. The man had wasted over 30 years sitting near the pool. When Jesus came to him, the man gave Jesus nothing but excuses for his condition.

Some of the people that you wait to help you won’t. They either can’t help you, don’t have time or don’t really want you to succeed.

What you say sets the stage for your life. Stop talking crazy stuff, it impacts your life.

By your words you are justified, by your words, you will be condemned. Your victory is as close as the roof of your mouth.

You must only speak positive things. Things turn out for the best – for those who make the best of things.

You are not a loser, you’re a winner. Dr. King once said, take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase to take the first step.

Accept what you can’t change – focus on what you can. Tell God exactly how you feel – Don’t tell other people. Others can’t help you. Resist bitterness and ask yourself, do I want to be bitter or happy.

When you harbor bitterness – you end up with sickness and illnesses. Cast your cares on him – for he cares. When you awake – spend time worshiping God – Don’t make requests.

Thank him – In all things, I give you praise.

When you thank God for a little, you end up with a lot.Gratitude destroys depression. No born again person should be depressed or stressed. The church is more than a building. It’s all about people helping people. Live life with eternity in view. Don’t wait until the conditions are perfect.

They’ll never be perfect. Let go and remind yourself that this moment is the only one that we can be sure of – in this next breath we could be gone.

Start over, Let it Go!