WOW: Exchanging Bad Habits for Good

I love the fresh start of a New Year, don’t you? I always make all sorts of resolutions. Although I’ve never succeeded in keeping all of my resolutions perfectly, I make enough forward progress in most of them that I’m encouraged to keep setting big goals, year after year after year.

Thanks to resolutions I made twelve months ago, I’ve lost over forty pounds this year, read over three dozen books, published five new books of my own, and penned and mailed over 300 handwritten letters.

True, all of these accomplishments were a little shy of my goals — I’d hoped to lose 60 pounds, read 52 books, publish six, and send out one handwritten letter or thank you note every day (for a total of 365). But I intentionally aim high, knowing that doing so usually leads to better results than if I lowball it.

It all boils down to getting rid of old, bad habits and establishing new, better ones. That’s what this week’s verse is all about:

“Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the Word implanted, which is able to save your souls.” – James 1:21

That verse holds the key to our success, as well. The key is the Word of God.

It is His Word that saves us, it is His Word that molds us, and it is His Word that enables us to be all that He created us to be.

So as you set goals for the New Year and think through the things in your life you’d like to change, I would encourage you to consult God’s Word.

Let 2016 be the year that you lay aside the sins that so easily entangle you and run with perseverance the course marked out for you. (Hebrews 12:1)

This week’s verse can be found in the seventh set of our Scripture Memory Flashcards:

And for extra practice, I’ve made more handwriting printables, as well:

Plus, in case you missed them, here are links to the first six sets of flashcards:

• Scripture Memory Cards – Set 1
• Scripture Memory Cards – Set 2
• Scripture Memory Cards – Set 3
• Scripture Memory Cards – Set 4
• Scripture Memory Cards – Set 5
• Scripture Memory Cards – Set 6

And here are the first six sets of handwriting copywork sheets, as well:

• Memory Verse Copywork – Set 1
• Memory Verse Copywork – Set 2
• Memory Verse Copywork – Set 3
• Memory Verse Copywork – Set 4
• Memory Verse Copywork – Set 5
• Memory Verse Copywork – Set 6

And I’ve also uploaded a progress chart to help you keep track of which verses your child has already memorized (some of the verses listed are from sets of flashcards that will be published in the future).

May God honor your efforts to hide His Word in your heart!