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

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

SIMPLE STEPS TO A FRESH S.T.A.R.T.

STOP MAKING EXCUSES FOR NOT STARTING

Excuse 1: I DON'T HAVE WHAT IT TAKES

"Then Gideon started making excuses: He said 'But Lord, how can I save the nation of Israel? I belong to Manasseh, the smallest tribe, and my family is the weakest and poorest family in the tribe. And, I am the youngest and least important person in my family!' Then the Lord replied, 'But I will be with you.'" Judges 6:15-16a

Excuse 2: I'VE FAILED IN THE PAST

"The Lord says this: 'Do not cling to events of the past and do not dwell on what happened long ago. Watch for the new thing I am going to do! It is happening already. Just look and you can see it starting now!'" Isaiah 43:18-19a (TEV)

Excuse 3: THERE ARE THINGS I CAN'T CONTROL

"Don't give up and act helpless in times of trouble."  Prov. 24:10 (CEV)

Excuse 4: I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS
"If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done." Eccl. 11:4 (LB)

TAKE STOCK OF WHAT I HAVE

ASK: WHAT ARE MY ASSETS?

"You have everything when you have Christ, and you are filled with God through your union with Christ. He's the highest Ruler, with authority over every other power." Col. 2:10 (LB)

ASK: WHAT HAVE I LEARNED?

"You have experienced many things. Were all those experiences wasted?I hope not!"  Gal. 3:4 (ICB)

ACTION PLAN: This week, write down one lesson you learned in 2020. What is God trying to show you? Can that lesson build up others around you?

ASK: WHO COULD HELP ME?

"Get all the advice you can and you'll succeed; without it you'll fail." Prov. 15:22 (TEV)

ACT IN FAITH        

"According to your faith will it be done to you." Matt. 9:29b (NIV)

"We should make plans – counting on God to direct us." Prov. 16:9 (LB)

ACTION PLAN: Each day in your quiet time this week ask God to show His faith growth goal for you in 2021.  Write down the ideas and pay attention to any that disturb your comfort zone. 

REFOCUS MY MIND     

"Be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind, having a freshmentaland spiritual attitude."                         Eph. 4:23 (Amp)

 o LISTEN MORE TO GOD'S WORD THAN THE WORLD

"Happy are those who . . . are always meditating on God's Word. . . . They are like trees along a river . . . that do not dry up. They succeed in everything they do." Psalm 1:1-3 (TEV)

 o THINK ABOUT WHAT I THINK ABOUT

"Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts." Proverbs 4:23 (TEV)

tRUST THAT GOD KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING

"When the clay pot that the potter was forming on the wheel didn'tturn out the way he intended, he simply started over, usingthe same clay to make a new pot."              Jer. 18:4

ACTION PLAN: This week, take some time alone and in one sentence summarize what your focus will be for this year.  Share your plan with a close friend or your small group.  Ask them to pray for your success to achieve this goal and to check up on your progress from time to time.  Be open to offer the same support to others if you are asked.

Weekly Action Steps

We recommit our lives to Jesus Christ. Text NEWSTART (1 word) to 99000 or email newstart@saddleback.com

We express our gratitude to God for his goodness by giving back to him. Your generosity online is feeding tens of thousands of out-of-work families and serving many other needs. Give at Saddleback.com/give

We meet in small groups online to discuss what we've heard. To join a group, text SMALLGROUP to 99000 or email SMALLGROUP@saddleback.com.

Listen to our new Doable Discipleship podcast season, "Politics and the Church" at Saddleback.com/learn