Core for More Bible Study November 11, 2026
C.H.A.N.G.E.
The world you woke up in this morning is already different from the one you woke up in yesterday. You can't stop it. You can't pause it.
But here is what I've learned: you get to decide whether change happens to you, or through you.
Six things that make the difference. And they happen to spell the word itself.
C. H. A. N. G. E.
C: COMMITMENT
The sincere fixity of purpose, bonding oneself, intellectually and emotionally, to a course of action.
Proverbs 16:3 (AMP) 3 Commit your works to the Lord [submit and trust them to Him], And your plans will succeed [if you respond to His will and guidance].
- Every January, millions of people make a promise to change. By February, most of them have quietly broken it.
- Why? Because they confuse excitement with commitment.
- I know a man who told his wife he was going to get in shape. He bought the shoes. He bought the gym membership. He posted about it online. Two weeks later, the shoes were in the closet.
- Excitement is a feeling. It shows up on day one and leaves on day fourteen.
Commitment is a decision. It's what's still standing after the feeling has walked out the door.
If you want to change anything, stop asking, "Do I feel like it?" and start asking, "Did I commit?"
H: HABIT
Here is a question. Do you debate whether to brush your teeth every morning? Do you stand at the sink and negotiate with yourself?
Of course not. You do it. It's automatic.
That's the power of habit. Nobody wakes up one day and suddenly becomes disciplined. We become what we repeatedly do.
Consider this. If you read just ten pages a day, that's about twelve books by the end of the year. Ten pages. Less than the time you spend scrolling before bed.
Twelve books will change how you think, how you speak, and what you know.
The secret is that small things done daily beat big things done occasionally.
Here's a trick. Mark an X on every day you do the thing. After a week, you'll have a chain. And soon your only job is simple: don't break the chain.
Power of Habit = 21 Days
Your schedule shall reflect what you want to become
Jeremiah 18:11 (AMP) Now then, say to the men of Judah and to the citizens of Jerusalem, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Behold, I am shaping a disaster and working out a plan against you. Turn back, each of you from his evil way; correct your habits and change your actions for the better.”’
Luke 22:39 (AMP) And He came out and went, as was His habit, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed Him.
Galatians 5:16 (AMP) But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts].
Colossians 3:2 (AMP) Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value].
A: ATTITUDE
Philippians 2:5 (AMP) 5 Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility],
Attitude vs. Altitude
Story of the shoe salesman: one shoe salesman said, “They don’t wear shoes here”. The other shoe salesman said Send me everything you got.
- In life, we must be determined to see things as opportunities and not obstacles.
- Same circumstances. Completely different outcome.
We can't always control what happens to us. But we can always control what happens in us.
N: NON-NEGOTIABLE
A short list of things you simply don't bargain over.
A coach once told me, "I never ask myself if I feel like training. Training is on the schedule. So it happens."
Think about that. No debate. No mood check. No negotiation.
Most of us live by preferences. "I'll do it if I have time." "I'll do it if I'm not tired." But preferences lose every time. Non-negotiables win.
So ask yourself: what are my non-negotiables? Maybe it's sleep. Maybe it's an hour with your family with no phones. Maybe it's prayer, or a walk, or the work you do before the world wakes up.
Decide in advance, so that in the moment, there's nothing to decide.
#1: SEEK GOD, NOT SIN.
For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: “Seek Me and live.” — Amos 5:4
#2: FEAR GOD, NOT MEN.
The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm. — Proverbs 19:23
#3: LOVE GOD, NOT THE WORLD.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. —1 John 2:15-17
#4: SERVE GOD, NOT SELF.
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” —Isaiah 6:8
G: GOALS
Hebrews 12:2 (AMP) [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].
E: EFFORT
Ephesians 4:3 (AMP) 3 Make every effort to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace [each individual working together to make the whole successful].
The effort you can't see today becomes the growth everyone sees tomorrow. Don't quit during the root years.
- You cannot change without a commitment to changing
- You cannot change until you change your habits
- You cannot change until you have the right attitude
- You cannot change until it is non-negotiable
- You cannot change until you have written goals
- You cannot change until you put in the effort