Page 145 - The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?

expect a quick solution to a long-standing, deep-rooted difficulty. Since most of our problems-
and all of our bad habits-didn't develop overnight, it's unrealistic to expect them to go away
immediately. There is no pill, prayer, or principle that will instantly undo the damage of many
years. It requires the hard work of removal and replacement. The Bible calls it "taking off the old

self" and `putting on the new self. While you were given a brand new nature at the moment of
conversion, you still have old habits, patterns, and practices that need to be removed and
replaced.
We are afraid to humbly face the truth about ourselves. I have already pointed out that the
truth will set us free but it often makes us miserable first. The fear of what we might discover if
we honestly faced our character defects keeps us living in the prison of denial. Only as God is
allowed to shine the light of his truth on our faults, failures, and hang-ups can we begin to work
on them. This is why you cannot grow without a humble, teachable attitude.
Growth is often painful and scary. There is no growth without change; there is no change
without fear or loss; and there is no loss without pain. Every change involves a loss of some kind:
You must let go of old ways in order to experience the new. We fear these losses, even if our old
ways were self-defeating, because, like a worn out pair of shoes, they were at least comfortable
and familiar.
People often build their identity around their defects. We say, "It's just like me to be ..." and
"It's just the way I am." The unconscious worry is that it I let go of my habit, my hurt, or my
hang-up, who will I be? This fear can definitely slow down your growth.
Habits take time to develop. Remember that your character is the sum total of your habits.
You can't claim to be kind unless you are habitually kind-you show kindness without even
thinking about it. You can't claim to have integrity unless it is your habit to always be honest. A
husband who is faithful to his wife most of the time is not faithful at all! Your habits define your
character.
There is only one way to develop the habits of Christlike character: You must practice them-
and that takes time! There are no instant habits. Paul urged Timothy, "Practice these things.
Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress."
If you practice something over time, you get good at it. Repetition is the mother of character
and skill. These character-building habits are often called "spiritual disciplines," and there are
dozens of great books that can teach you how to do these. See appendix 2 for a recommended
reading list of books for spiritual growth.

DON'T GET IN A HURRY
As you grow to spiritual maturity, there are several ways to cooperate with God in the process.
Believe God is working in your life even when you don't feel it. Spiritual growth is
sometimes tedious work, one small step at a time. Expect gradual improvement. The Bible says,
8
"Everything on earth has its own time and its own season." There are seasons in your spiritual
life, too. Sometimes you will have a short, intense burst of growth (springtime) followed by a
period of stabilizing and testing (fall and winter).
What about those problems, habits, and hurts you would like miraculously removed? It's fine to