1. Commit to pray and read scripture, at least 4 days a week.

(Psalms 130 NIV) "A song of ascents. Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; 2 O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. 3 If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared. 5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. 6 My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. 7 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. 8 He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins”

(Psalms 119:9-11 NIV) "How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. 10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.

(Psalms 5:1-3 NIV) "For the director of music. For flutes. A psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing. 2 Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. 3 In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."

(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV) "Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

2. Intentionally reach out, via text message, facebook message or phone call to someone in your life 4 days a week. Make it a different person every month.

(1 Thessalonians 5:10-11 NIV) "He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

(Acts 20:2-3 NIV) "He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, 3 where he stayed three months."

3. Fast at least one day a month, and commit that day to spiritual thinking and prayer.

(Matthew 6:16-18 NIV) ""When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

(Mark 2:18-20 NIV) "Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, "How is it that John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?" 19 Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. 20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast."

4. Give 3 hours a week to serve someone or something other than your family.

(Mark 10:42-45 NIV) "Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.""

(Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV) "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

5. Change your speech. Consider how often you complain, say something true (or not true) but not kind about someone else, or use the words “never, always, can’t” with respect to yourself or others.

(Jude 1:16-19NIV) "These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. 17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18 They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." 19 These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

(Proverbs 22:11 NIV) "He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend."

(Luke 4:22 NIV) "All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips.”Isn't this Joseph's son?" they asked."

(2 Corinthians 8:7 NIV) "But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us --see that you also excel in this grace of giving."

(Jude 1:24-25) To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy-- 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen."

Digging Deeper

1. Take a few minutes to evaluate your life with respect to the five habits we talked about this morning. Which of these are you already doing? Which might you consider? What would keep you from trying to implement at least one into your life this year?

2. Pick one of the five and ask God to help you make that an ongoing habit in your life. Memorize at least one of the verses that addresses that habit (or another verse that you know that relates to it.) Ask someone (a friend or family member) to ask you regularly how you are doing (weekly or so).

3. What will you do if you fail? How might Philippians 1:3-7 and Romans 8:28-30 encourage you to keep trying?