Believing the right things will help us behave the right way.

Believing I am genuinely accepted by my Heavenly Father

Believing my significance is found in my Heavenly Father

Habits: an automatic reaction to a specific situation

We may try to address negative reactions with good reactions. The problem is will power is like a fuel tank, it can run out.

Cue — this is whatever triggers us (usually an external circumstance that is beyond our control).

Response — ingrained, routine oriented

Reward — how we feel in light of our response to what we cannot control.

Cue: I’m feeling stressed.

Response: Let’s order Pizza and watch a movie

Reward: Less stress

Cue: I’m feeling stressed.

Response: Exercise

Reward: Less stress

Will power and replacement habits.

Even if you give people better habits, it doesn’t repair why they started drinking in the first place. Eventually, they’ll have a bad day, and no new routine is going to make everything seem okay.

Why?

Mark 4:35–41

He said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along . . . in the boat. There were also other boats with him.

A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him

Cue: Storm

Response: Help! (Don’t you care?)

Reward: Not a calm sea, but Jesus.

Better to go through a storm with Jesus than to go through one without him.

Proverbs 3:5–7

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

Make humility a habit.

What we do in the crisis always depends on whether we see the difficulties in the light of God, or God in the shadow of the difficulties.

Cue:

Response:

Reward: Jesus