Turn on your cookies for the best browsing experience.

This site uses cookies to store information on your computer.

These cookies are essential to make our site work. We use cookies for a variety of reasons, including giving and content preferences.

Instructions to turn on your browser cookies:

https://www.whatismybrowser.com/guides/how-to-enable-cookies/auto

  • Sign In
  • Locations
one family, many locations Menu
Visit
Connect
Grow
Watch
Care
Give
  • VISIT
    Visit

    We are one church in many locations. Whether you're from Orange County, Hong Kong, or somewhere in between, we have a campus for you. Check out a campus today.

    • Locations
    • USA
    • Anaheim, CA
    • Corona, CA
    • En Español, CA
    • Irvine North, CA
    • Irvine South, CA
    • Laguna Woods, CA
    • Lake Forest, CA
    • Los Angeles, CA
    • Newport Mesa, CA
    • Rancho Capistrano, CA
    • San Clemente, CA
    • San Diego, CA
    • South Bay, CA
    • Yorba Linda, CA
    •  
    • International
    • Berlin, Germany
    • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Hong Kong, China
    • Santa Rosa, Philippines
    •  
    • Venues
    • Irvine South Chinese Venue
    •  
    • Online
    • Live Service
    • About
    • About Jesus
    • New Start with God
    • I'm New Here
    • Our Pastor
    • Our Church
    • Join Our Family
    • Stories
    • Career Opportunities
    • Internships
    • Contact
    • Button
    • Spacer
    Get Directions
  • CONNECT
    Connect

    Life isn't meant to be lived alone. Connect with others through small groups, ministries, events, and more.

    • Event Calendar
    • Browse Events
    • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    • Baptism
    • CLASS 101 - 401
    • Celebrate Recovery
    • Adult Studies, Trainings & Gatherings
    • Care & Support
    • Kids, Students & Parents
    • National & Global
    • Local Community
    • Sports & Physical Health
    • Special Events
    • Small Groups
    • Explore Groups
    • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    • Find a Group
    • Start a Group
    • My Small Group
    • Ministries
    • Browse Ministries
    • Explore Serving
    • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    • Men
    • Women
    • Singles
    • Marriages
    • Workplace
    • College
    • High School
    • Jr. High
    • Children
    • Mission
    • Explore
    • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    • Get Inspired
    • Get Involved
    • Get Equipped
    • Relief
    • Grocery Distribution
    • Button
    • Spacer

    Connect with Jesus

    Make a New Start

    Connect with others

    Find a Small Group
  • GROW
    Act

    Serving is a great way to grow, meet others, and discover your calling. Explore our signature ministries today.

    • Local Effort
    • Celebrate Recovery
    • HIV & AIDS Initiative
    • Mental Health Initiative
    • Orphan Care Initiative
    • The Daniel Plan
    • The PEACE Plan
    • Global Effort
    • Celebrate Recovery
    • HIV & AIDS Initiative
    • Mental Health Initiative
    • Orphan Care Initiative
    • The Daniel Plan
    • Mission
    • Highlights
    • On Campus
    • Food Pantry
    • Health Clinic
    • PEACE Center
    • Mission
    •  
    • Off Campus
    • Active Duty Families
    • Elder Protection
    • Good Neighbor
    • Motel Church
    • Button
    • Spacer
    Serve Your Community
  • WATCH
    Watch

    Browse our library of messages including weekend sermons, Civil Forums, seminars, summits, and more. Then watch and share!

    • Message
    • Live Service
    • Current Series
    • Sermon Library
    • iTunes Podcast
    • Church App
    • Media
    • Browse Media
    • Webcast Library
    • Women's Communities
    • Saddleback Kids
    • Resources
    • Apps
    • Daily Hope Radio
    • DriveTime Devotionals
    • Message Action Plan
    • Talk It Over
    • Button
    • Spacer
    Live Service
  • CARE
    Care

    Our church is a place where the hurting, helpless, and hopeless can find help. Find support through one of these ministries.

    • Care Ministries
    • Browse Ministries
    • Bulletin Board
    • Counseling
    • Hospital Visitation
    • Career Coaching
    • Mental Health
    • Personal Finances
    • Prayer
    • Programs
    • Celebrate Recovery
    • The Daniel Plan
    • PEACE Center
    • Retreat Ministry
    • Support Groups
    • Browse Support Groups
    • Medical
    • Relational
    • Button
    • Spacer
    Get Help
  • GIVE
    Give

    Make an eternal impact through generosity. Sign up for online giving, manage your account, or give to a special project.

    Tithe Online
  • Home
  • >
  • Connect
  • >
  • Articles
  • >
  • Message Action Plan
  • >
  • My Bad Habits

Message Action Plan

A Faith That Counters My Bad Habits

When you’re under stress, one of the things that can happen is you start looking for coping strategies to ease your anxiety. Unfortunately, many of those methods of coping end up making things worse. In this message, Pastor Rick Warren continues our study of the book of James by offering nine “counter moves” for overcoming the bad habits that tempt you.

April 5, 2020 | Rick Warren
More from this series

Three Essential Questions

After watching the message take some time reflect on the following three questions.

  • What did you hear?What point in this message was most impactful for you?
  • What do you think?How did this message challenge, change, or affirm your thinking?
  • What will you do?How will you put into practice what you've learned today?

ACTION PLAN:If you are not in a small group,visitsaddleback.com/onlinegroupsto get connected!

"Never blame God when you are tempted because God can't be tempted by evil, and he never tempts anyone to do the wrong thing. We are tempted by our own desires inside us. That's what drags us in the wrong direction and traps us. Our wrong desires lead us to wrong actions, and those sinful actions eventually ends in death. So, friends, don't be deceived by every desire you feel."   James 1:13-16

WE ARE NOT POWERLESS

"Everyone who is a child of God CAN overcome sin in this world. What wins the victory is our faith! No one can defeat the world's ways without having faith in Jesus as the Son of God." 1 John 5:4-5

9 COUNTER MOVES

1.  KNOW MY DEFAULT COPING STRATEGY

"We should remove from our lives anything that gets in the way (of our spiritual growth) especially those persistent sins that so easily distract us. . ." Hebrews 12:1

Food… Drinking… Sleep… Shopping… Binge TV… Gaming… Drugs…
Gambling… Porn… Over-controlling… Withdrawing… Angry Outbursts

2.  KNOW MY EMOTIONAL TRIGGERS (What Makes Me Vulnerable).

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do." Prov. 4:23

Physically Exhausted. . . Discouraged & Pessimistic. . . Bored or Discontented Spiritually Dry or Empty. . . Lonely or Disconnected. . . Insecure or Unsure. . .
 Wounded or hurt. . .  Resentful. . . Sad or Grieving a loss. . .

  • LEARN MY PATTERNS

"The wise man looks ahead. A fool tries to fool himself and won't face facts."Proverbs 14:8 (LB) 

  • WHEN am I most tempted?
  • WHERE am I most tempted?
  • WHO is with me when I'm most tempted?
  • WHAT temporary benefit do I get if I give in?
  • HOW do I feel right before I'm tempted?

ACTION PLAN:In your quiet time this week, take some time to think through points one through three. Write down or tell a friend how you cope, what triggers you and what patterns you see in yourself.

4.  PLAN TO AVOID THOSE SITUATIONS!      

"Plan carefully what you do. . . Avoid evil and walk straight ahead.
 Don't go one step off the right way." Proverbs 4:26-27 (TEV)

5.  ASK GOD FOR HELP

"Call to me when trouble comes and I will save you. . ."  Psalm 50:15 (TEV)

"(Jesus) understands our weaknesses, for he faced the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to. . . our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and grace to help us when we need it."  Hebrews 4:15-16
                                                                                                                   
ACTION PLAN:Pause right now and ask God to give you the strength and ability to move towards Him in times of temptation. This prayer doesn't have to be long and eloquent. We can cry out to God knowing that He is sympathetic to our pain and weaknesses!

6.  REFOCUS MY ATTENTION ON SOMETHING ELSE

"Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil with good." Romans 12:21 (GW)

"We capture every thought. . . and we make it obey Christ!"  2 Cor. 10:5 (NCV)
     
7.  JOIN A SMALL GROUP FOR SUPPORT

"Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage each other all the more." Hebrews 10:25 (TEV) 

8.  ENLIST ONE FRIEND TO SHARE MY STRUGGLE

"Two are better than one, because together. . . if one falls down, the other can help him up.  But if someone is alone and falls. . . there's no one to help him."  Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (TEV)

"By helping each other with your troubles, you truly obey the law of Christ."Galatians 6:2 (NCV)

9.  REMEMBER GOD IS ON MY SIDE!

"When temptations come into your life remember that they're no different from what others commonly experience. And God is faithful. He will never let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. Also when you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will be able to withstand it."  1 Cor. 10:13

"God blesses people who continue strong when they are tempted. They will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."   James 1:12

ACTION PLAN:Take the following steps this week.

  • We recommit our lives to Jesus Christ.Text NEWSTART (1 word) to 83000 or emailnewstart@saddleback.com
  • We express our gratitude to God through our giving.Saddleback.com/give
  • We meet online in small groups for support. Text SMALLGROUP (1 word) to 83000 or emailSaddleback.com/onlinegroups
  • For prayer: Text PRAYER to 83000 or emailprayer@saddleback.com

Do you need help? Do you want to give help?

To receive or give help please click below
https://saddleback.com/coronaresponse

Sign up to receive updates via text
Text CoronaResponse to 83000

A Faith That Works When Life Doesn’t
March 15 - November 8, 2020Watch Series
  • A Faith That Walks Through the Valley of Virus
    March 15, 2020
  • A Faith That Isn’t Troubled by Troubles
    March 22, 2020
  • A Faith That Makes Tough Choices Easier
    March 29, 2020
  • A Faith That Counters My Bad Habits
    April 5, 2020
  • A Faith That Anchors Me In Storms
    April 19, 2020
  • A Faith That Leads To Emotional Health: Part 1
    May 3, 2020
  • A Faith That Leads To Emotional Health: Part 2
    May 10, 2020
  • A Faith That Loves My Neighbor As Myself
    May 24, 2020
  • Real Faith Versus Fake Faith
    May 31, 2020
  • A Faith That Plants Seeds Of Peace
    June 7, 2020
  • A Faith That De-Escalates Conflict
    June 21, 2020
  • A Faith That Handles Delays Patiently
    June 27, 2020
  • A Faith That Helps Me Filter What I Say
    July 19, 2020
  • A Faith That Makes Me More Merciful & Less Judgmental
    July 26, 2020
  • A Faith That Keeps Me Hopeful
    August 2, 2020
  • A Faith That Keeps Me From Playing God In The Lives Of Others
    August 9, 2020
  • A Faith for Facing an Uncertain Future
    August 16, 2020
  • A Faith That Reduces Quarreling
    August 23, 2020
  • A Faith That Doesn't Hold On To Hurt
    August 30, 2020
  • A Faith That Passes The Tests Of Life
    September 6, 2020
  • A Faith That Knows The End Of The Story
    September 13, 2020
  • A Faith That Doesn’t Need To Hoard
    September 20, 2020
  • A Faith That Handles Wealth Wisely
    September 27, 2020
  • A Faith That Helps Me See The Truth
    October 4, 2020
  • A Faith Known For Integrity
    October 11, 2020
  • A Faith That Can Transform Weaknesses
    October 18, 2020
  • A Faith That Can Heal Illnesses
    October 25, 2020
  • Having The Mind Of Christ During An Election
    November 1, 2020
  • When Your Plan Doesn’t Match God’s Plan
    November 8, 2020
Back To Top
  • VISIT
  • Locations
  • New Start with God
  • I'm New Here
  • Our Pastor
  • Our Church
  • Stories
  • CONNECT
  • Small Groups
  • Ministries
  • Explore Serving
  • Event Calendar
  • GROW
  • CLASS
  • Foundations
  • Journey with Jesus
  • Doable Discipleship
  • WATCH
  • Live Service
  • Current Series
  • Browse Media
  • Apps
  • CARE
  • Care Ministries
  • Celebrate Recovery
  • The Daniel Plan
  • Support Groups
  • Bulletin Board
  • GIVE
  • Tithe
  • Beyond the Tithe
  • sign in
  • contact us
  • privacy policy
  • store
  • career opportunities
  • internships
  • tags
© 2021 Saddleback Valley Community Church