Page 11 - Faith-Based Workbook 8-27-18

TOPUCU Adult Faith-Based Workbook Lesson 1: Part 2

LESSON 1: PART 2
routine to taking walks in the park with ice cream every night. You can – and you
WHY DO I KEEP DOING THAT? your friend instead of at the mall. You will will – find the answer too! Just don’t quit
looking for the right replacement. If you give
still be satisfied at the end of the walk
and you’ll have modified a bad habit and up before you doing it – The Only Person U
replaced it with a good one. You have to Cheat is U. TOPUCU.
analyze the craving and see if you can
Let’s talk a little more about habits. In part hungry. The Devil said to him, 'if you are
one of this lesson we discussed that habits the Son of God, tell this stone to become "No temptation has overtaken you that is not
are formed through three components – bread.'” Luke 4:1-3 (NIV) common to man..." — 1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)
the trigger, which is what puts the habit
in motion; the routine, which is the act of We know from reading the rest of that change your relationship to it. Figure out Since we’re looking at finding, identifying,
doing the habit; and the reward, the feeling story Jesus was able to stand up against what it is and begin the process of removing and analyzing triggers, routine and reward,
of satisfaction your brain experiences after temptation and we look to His example for it from the equation. this is a good place to introduce you to
you do the habit. We’ve also learned that how we should turn away from the activities Third – the reward. Now, we need to look at one of the most valuable concepts in your
the key to changing a habit is changing the and behaviors that are detrimental to us. But the reward. Whenever you finish the routine TOPUCU Toolbox: The Building Block Habit.
routine, because while the trigger and the we also know it is a lot easier said than done, there is a sense of satisfaction – an extreme
reward components are constant, the routine especially considering that we, of course, are comfort. We want to emphasize the need What is a Building Block Habit? A “Building
component can be changed directly through not perfect like Jesus. And furthermore, our to feel rewarded. And that need will never Block Habit” is a routine behavior that
your own willpower. You cannot, however, temptations (i.e. the triggers) often relate change. But you must analyze the root of subconsciously leads to the formation of
ignore the trigger and the reward when to something that feels necessary. If we can the particular satisfaction you’re trying to other behaviors. In other words, mastering a
willing yourself to change your routine. In identify what is triggering - or enabling - our achieve. Were you hungry for something good building block habit will help you form
fact, you must examine those components cravings, we have a better chance of coming sweet? Or were you just hungry? What other good habits without you even knowing
closely if you want to succeed at creating up with a plan to change our bad habits. exactly is the satisfaction or the reward it. These kinds of habits will propel you from
new, better habits. Think about this – let’s say you have a bad you’re looking for and how can you find a behavior modification to life transformation.
habit of overspending money on clothes. You must remember, however, some habits
First – the trigger. The trigger is the thing different way to achieve it? That’s the key are good, some are bad. You must learn
that sets you off. In many cases the trigger For years, you’ve been meeting your friend to changing the routine! to correctly evaluate which category your
can be equated to temptation. We are all at the mall to walk around and get caught The satisfaction of enjoying the results habits belong in – and you must be decisive
subject to temptation. In the First Letter up on each other’s lives. Maybe you even (the reward) will be sufficient to help you in keeping what’s good and cutting off
to the Corinthians, Paul writes that “No pray together and encourage one another
temptation has overtaken you that is not to stay faithful. The bottom line is you really continue your new routine. This will, in what’s bad.
turn, help you change your habit. Whatever
common to man…” 1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV) enjoy the time with your friend and walking it is, you have to search for, and choose, Philippians 4:8 says, “…whatever is true,
We also read that even Jesus Christ himself around the mall is fun and fulfilling. However, a different routine to help bridge the whatever is noble, whatever is right,
was tempted on several occasions with the over time you’ve developed an attitude or gap between craving (the trigger) and whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
most intriguing instance occurring in the habit that says, “Well, as long as I’m at the satisfaction (the reward). whatever is admirable – if anything is
book of Luke in which Satan himself comes mall I might as well buy something." The praiseworthy – think about such things.”
to the Savior and presents Him with next thing you know the trigger of going Think about the ice cream example from (NIV) This scripture – which we will actually
a number of opportunities to turn away to the mall equals purchasing more clothes. part one of this lesson. We recognized revisit several times throughout this starter
from his Father. Your original reason for getting together that the craving (the trigger) wasn’t program – is a great example of a building
was to take a walk and get caught up and
“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned connect with your sister-in-Christ. It was necessarily for ice cream. It was, simply, a block habit. If you can master the idea
from the Jordan and was led by the spirit actually more about the social aspect; not craving for a snack. After testing several expressed in this verse, other good habits
in the desert, where for forty days he was the shopping. substitute routines we found a few healthier and behaviors will inevitably follow.
tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during alternatives that would give the desired Let’s look at another example. Have you ever
those days, and at the end of them he was Second - the routine. Once you’ve identified satisfaction we were craving. That way we had a day where you worked out or went
this as the trigger you can change your wouldn’t cave in to the temptation to eat

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