There is one for each day of the season. And these are things to give up not just for Lent, but for the rest of your life.
- Fear of Failure– You don’t succeed without experiencing failure. Just make sure you fail forward.
Jesus faces the ‘failure’ of the cross! He resolutely walks to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51
When the days drew near for him to be received up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem)
- Your Comfort Zone– It’s outside our comfort zones where new discoveries are made. (Luke 13:32 And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.)
- Feelings of Unworthiness– You are fearfully and wonderfully made by your creator.
Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
I am so important in the sight of God as to be redeemed by suffering and death of his Son.
1 Corinthians 6:20 (also 7.23) you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
- Impatience– God’s timing is the perfect timing. Be receptive… live in the Now… Jesus’ patience with his apostles even when they will run away, deny, disown.
Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Proverbs 15:18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.
- Retirement– As long as you are still breathing, you are here for a reason. You have a purpose to influence others for Christ. Our work is not always tied to a paycheck.
Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
- People Pleasing– I can’t please everyone anyways. There is only one I need to strive to please. Jesus only desire is to please his Father.
Luke 22:42 “Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”
Gal 1.10 Am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.
- Comparison– I have my own unique contribution to make and there is no one else like me.
- Blame– I am not going to pass the buck. I will take responsibility for my actions. Jesus does not blame anybody but asks Father to forgive those who persecute him.
Luke 23:34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
Lk 6.37 Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned.
- Guilt– I am loved by Jesus and he has forgiven my sins. Today is a new day and the past is behind.
Romans 5:10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! (also Colossians 1:22)
- Overcommitment– Do less better and accomplish more.
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Ecclesiastes 6:11 The more words, the more vanity, and what is man the better?
- Lack of Counsel– Wise decisions are rarely made in a vacuum.
Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel.
Proverbs 19:20-21 Listen to counsel and accept discipline that you may be wise the rest of your days. Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the counsel of the LORD will stand.
- Impurity– Live lives pure and without blemish.
Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
1 Corinthians 6: 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
- Entitlement– The world does not owe me anything. God does not owe me anything. I live in humility and grace. I am at the receiving end. Be grateful.
Romans 5:8 But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.
- Apathy– Life is too short not to care. Live fully, live joyfully! Rejoice
Phil 4.4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
- Hatred– Replace hatred and revenge feelings with blessings
Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
I Thessalonians 5:15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
- Negativity– I will put the best construction on everything when it comes to other people. I will also minimize my contact with people who are negative and toxic.
Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Psalm 71:8 My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.
1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” (also Psalm 1:1).
- The Spirit of Scarcity – Believe that with God there is always more than enough and never a lack. Believe in the Providence and abundance of God’s grace
Matthew 6:32 For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
- Going Through the Motions– The more you invest yourself, the more you will get back.
Luke 6:38 give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.
- Complaint– Instead of contributing to the problem, be the solution.
Philippians 2:14 Do all things without grumbling or questioning.
- The Pursuit of Happiness– God wants something greater and more lasting than happiness. It is called joy.
- Bitterness– The only person I am hurting by holding on to this is myself.
Ephesians 4: 31-32 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, with all malice, 32 and be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
- Distraction– Life is filled with distractions that will take our eyes off the prize.
Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
- Giving up– God never gives up on us. Don’t write off anyone. Don’t get discouraged by your own failures either.
Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Luke 1:37 For nothing will be impossible with God.
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
- Mediocrity– If you are going to do something, then give it all you got.
Philippians 3:13-14 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
- Destructive Speech– Encourage one another and all the more as you see the day approaching
James 4:11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it.
Hebrews 10:25 … but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
- Busyness– It is a badge of honor to be busy. But that does not always translate to abundance. Give up busyness as a defense against facing unpleasant relaities.
- Loneliness– With Jesus I am never alone. He is with me wherever I go.
Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.
Matthew 28:20 and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.
- Disunity– Be united in the Lord
Matthew 18:19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
- The Quick Fix– Rarely does true transformation happen overnight.
Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Hebrews 6:11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized.
- Worry– God is in control and worrying will not help.
Matthew 6:25-34 Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life… (also Philippians 4:6-8)
Joshua 1: 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
- Idolizing– Don’t assign anyone a standard they cannot live up to.
- Resistance to Change– Change is certain. It is not if we will change, but how we will change.
Romans 12:2 be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
- Pride– Blessed are the humble.
1 Corinthians 4:7 For who sees anything different in you? What have you that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift?
- Small View of God– Don’t tell God how big your problem is, tell your problem how big your God is.
Luke 1:37 For with God nothing will be impossible.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Mark 10:27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
- Envy– I am blessed. My value is not found in my possessions, but in my relationship with my Heavenly Father.
1 Peter 2:1Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.
- Ungratefulness– You have been blessed in a way greater than you realize.
1 Chronicles 16:34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
- Selfish Ambition– God has a mission for me that is bigger than me.
Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
- Self-Sufficiency– Jesus is my strength. I can do all things through him
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things in him who strengthens me.
2 Maccabees 8:18 “For they trust to arms and acts of daring,” he said, “but we trust in the Almighty God, who is able with a single nod to strike down those who are coming against us and even the whole world.”
- Sorrow– Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning
Psalm 30:5 Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
John 16. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.
- My Life– Whoever loves his life loses it.
John 12:25 He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
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