You're a pretty good person, right? But we all make bad choices sometimes. In this message, Pastor Jamie Nunnally kicks off a new series “Good Person, Bad Choices” with a message called "Slip, Trip & Fall." 

Most of us aren’t actively trying to do the wrong thing. We slip, trip and fall.

The Bible calls this sin. Sin is any behavior done on purpose or accidentally, that is outside of God’s behavior boundaries because it hurts you or it hurts others. 

1 John 2:16 “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see , and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father but are from this world.” 

How can we avoid bad choices?

1. Realize that thoughts precede actions. 

Prov. 23:7 “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.

Prov. 4:23 “Guard your heart above all else for it determines the course of your life.”  

2. Recognize that not everything you think is from you. 

James 3:15 “This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.”

Wisdom can come from God, the world, your flesh or demons. 

3. Accept the responsibility of governing your own thought life. 

Philippians 4:8 “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

Sometimes our thoughts are broken, so you have to fix your thoughts. You are your own mind’s maintenance man.

Determine - Delay - Distract - Declare

4. Renew your mind.

Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

Biblical renewal is to make new – its a renovation, a complete change for the better.

2 Cor. 10:3-5: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ”

You can’t win a supernatural battle with natural weapons. 

You're either taking your thoughts captive, or you're being taken captive by your thoughts.

Three steps to mind renewal:

1. Identification – Identify what is dysfunctional and needs to be replaced. 

2. Demolition – Remove the old stuff that will be upgraded.

3. Installation – Complete the remodel by installing what is new.

Occultic meditation is emptying your mind of your thoughts. Christian meditation is filling your mind with God’s thoughts. 

Are you renewing your mind so you don’t slip, trip and fall?