As we continue into these days of new beginnings, so many are experiencing this God- given warning sign…POTHOLES. See, if you decided to make huge changes this year you needed to change roads, not patch the road you were traveling. All of the sudden the same destructive and annoying holes in your life are starting to show again. Unless you made a true direction change, you will wear out the patches and continue to get beaten and wear out just like before. Don’t avoid potholes or patch them…CHANGE direction COMPLETELY!

Let me share with you 10 potholes in peoples lives that I encounter as a pastor:

#1 Spiritual Discipline Pothole
The word itself sounds scary. Reading, Praying, Sharing, and Serving, changes the direction of your life. Trying and patching will lead you down a bumpy road of discouragement and doubt.

#2 Physical Discipline Pothole
Often times, your outward appearance is describing the way you feel on the inside. Life change is discipline, and can only continue when Christ is your leader.

#3 Sensual Temptation Pothole
When you are lacking the first two, this typically becomes the third.

#4 Financial Pothole
Struggling financially is a choice. Yes you will encounter financial difficulties and stress, but you must be aggressive. Get a second job, sell something, drive one vehicle, down-size your house, and God will honor it. Debt is another story and you should take the same steps to alleviate it’s pressures as well.

#5 Marriage Madness Pothole
If we don’t work on ourselves, we cannot succeed as two. Don’t let the potholes continue to be patched in your marriage… change it!

#6 Stress Pothole
Stress is controlling and must be controlled. Take a day off, sleep in, cancel something, work out, eat right, take some serotonin supplements. You will either get over your circumstances or they will get all over you. Change…NOW!

#7 Attendance Pothole
Here is the conversation…”I am really struggling right now”…”are you going to church regularly and consistently”…”NO”. Regular attendance and fellowship with Christ followers will change your direction. The majority will distract you from spiritual success, but the church will assist you with your new highway directions.

#8 Friends Pothole
1 Corinthians 15:33 “Bad company, corrupts good character.” You will become like those around you. I promise you will not change them…they will change you. So choose your friends wisely. Who are your top three friends? Do they look like Jesus?

#9 Addiction Pothole
I want to stop smoking, dipping, drinking, eating to much, spending, gossiping, working too much. Here is how…ACCOUNTABILITY. Find someone who will get in your grill and rattle your cage. Stopping now is your CHOICE.

#10 Justification Pothole
You just read this and justified why your situation is different: they don’t understand, Shannon is not living in the real world. Here is what Jesus said in Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge God and He will direct your PATH.”

GET OFF THE POTHOLE- PATCHED ROAD AND FOLLOW THE ROAD TO SUCCESS!!