Question: Are you missing out on your best life because of the pain of your past?

When Your Story Takes an Unexpected Turn
⇒ Identify the lie – what are you telling yourself?

The Truth: You have a choice.

Isaiah 41:10; Joshua 1:9

Stop Giving Your Power Away
⇒ We are called to be , not .

You’ve always had the power, my dear; you just had to learn it for yourself.”
Glinda, The Wizard of Oz

Ephesians 3:20; 2 Timothy 1:7

Step Into Your Best Future
⇒ Don’t out on God’s amazing for your life.

Jeremiah 29:11; Psalm 16:11; Ephesians 2:10

Change Your Mind
⇒ Choose a mindset of and .

Romans 12:2; Philippians 4:4-9

It’s a New Day
⇒ Put your in the .

Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”
Carl Bard

Isaiah 43:18-19; Philippians 3:13

Today’s Truth: God has an incredible plan for your life. You just need to step into it.

Question: Are you ready to write this next chapter of your life with more intent?

Call To Action

With the “My Better Story starts here…” journals (or you can use your own), start writing your story. Questions to help you:

• What was life like at the start of your story?
• What were the pivotal moments that affected your life that brought change and pain?
• Who came along and helped you? 
• What was God’s role, and how did he help or draw you closer to him?
• What ended up being your turning points that lead to transformation and overcoming challenges that makes you who you are today?

7-Day New You Challenge – Week 1

The Purpose:

This is a challenge of how to choose how you want to show up every day – as an optimistic and joyful person. Be present and aware of your thoughts and mood throughout the day. When you catch yourself overflowing with positivity and gratitude, note it. Similarly, when you catch yourself thinking or speaking negatively – such as complaining or judging, note this too. Then make the choice to change your mindset. The more you do this, the easier it will become. You will create a habit and it will become automatic.

Directions:

Every day, track your mindset from the day before, giving yourself a 1, 2, or 3

• 1 – You won the day. You had an optimistic, joyful mindset throughout the day. Moments of a negative mindset were brief, and you turned them quickly.
• 2 – Neutral. You are aware of both negative and positive mindsets.
• 3 – Get back to work. You fought a negative mindset most or all of the day.

Theme: Your Story Speaks

Reflect Together:

What impacted you the most from Sunday’s message?

Discuss Together:

• What impacted you the most from hearing Janelle’s story and what she challenged us with?
• Were you able to start writing your story? How’s it going so far?
• What is your response to the 7-Day New You Challenge? Anything to observe about yourself? 
• Why is it so difficult to put our past in the past? 
• How does our past shape us today? 
• Read Isaiah 43:18-19 & Philippians 3:13. How Does God want to help us let go of our past? 
• Read Ephesians 3:20. How does having the mindset of God’s goodness help us believe in his abundance? 
• If you were going to write the next chapter of your life, what would you hope and pray it would be?

Pray Together:

Take time to share how God is answering prayer, and pray over the needs in your group.