Finishing Well – Resilience: Why? How? 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Rev Elisha Satvinder | 20/21 Nov 2021 ===================================== ( Speaker's bio: https://www.nccsentul.com/rv-elisha-satvinder/ ) (1 Corinthians 9:24-27) Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. ## 1. Enemies of Finishing Well! ## # A. Procrastination (Ecclesiastes 11:4 ERV) But there are some things that you cannot be sure of. You must take a chance. If you wait for perfect weather, you will never plant your seeds. If you are afraid that every cloud will bring rain, you will never harvest your crops. - a. Procrastination is the action of unnecessarily and voluntarily delaying or postponing something despite knowing that there will be negative consequences for doing so. - b. Procrastination is a ________of __________. * Wastefulness and failure * Lose opportunities Procrastination has ___________! - a. Have very specific goals. - b. Establish daily/weekly/monthly routines/ habits/ disciplines. Have a schedule. - c. What would be the best possible, fruitful day look like for you? Now _____ it, _______ it and ______ at it. - d. Value each hour, each day of your life. - e. Have a routine. (Ephesians 5:15-17) Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. # B. Regret - a. Regret is sorrow, guilt or shame over something that has happened or that we have done. - b. A sense of disappointment over what has not happened, opportunities lost-regretting wasted years. How it happens? * foolish choices, poor/irresponsible choices, sinful/compromised choices, or willful/vengeful choices How to deal with regret? (Romans 8:28 CEV) ” We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him. These are the people God chose, because that was his plan” * Our regrets are not hidden from God and He wants to restore us when we return to Him. * The pain of regret can drive us to decisions we would not otherwise make. (2 Corinthians 7:10) “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” Deal with your regrets today - ____ _____ procrastinate! ## 2. To Finish Well, We Need __________! ## ‘To fight for change tomorrow, we need to build resilience today.’ # A. What Is Resilience? - a. The process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress. - b. It’s the way one would adjust their behaviour, emotions and mentality to cope with difficult circumstances. - c. Living an emotionally healthy and meaningful life, in spite of less-than-ideal, difficult, or tragic situations. # B. What makes you resilient? * Learning and adopting simple habits improve resilience. * Resilience does not remove stress or life’s difficulties but allows you to face and accept problems, live through adversity and move on with life. - a. How do we build resilience? - 1. Get a _____ /______ - 2. Life doesn’t end because of _________ - 3. Allow __________ - 4. ______ support and _______ support - 5. Take time off to _______ to regain your strength - 6. Go out with _______ or _______ for a meal - 7. Have faith and _________ on God’s Word - 8. Always pray * You either react or you ______ ___ . - 9. Regulate emotions * Take personal responsibility for your _______ and ________. - 10. Learn from failures * It’s how you _______ to _______ and _____ in a difficult situation. Donna Gibbs: “God can indeed replace your suffering with resilience! Resilience is more than just healing. Resilience comes when God takes a painful circumstance in our lives and not only heals us but also makes us even stronger than we were prior to the struggle.” (2 Cor. 12:9-11 ERV) But the Lord said, “My grace is all you need. Only when you are weak can everything be done completely by my power.” So I will gladly boast about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can stay in me. Yes, I am glad to have weaknesses if they are for Christ. I am glad to be insulted and have hard times. I am glad when I am persecuted and have problems, because it is when I am weak that I am really strong. * Recognize that your actions and response is your choice, regardless of what others do. * Resilience does not mean that you are unaffected or uncaring about the life change. Resilience is our heart’s ability to suffer and grow from it. (Proverbs 3:5,6) “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.” Many start strong but fail to finish well. (Visit https://dignityforchildren.org/ for more information on Dignity for Children Foundation.)