High Hopes and Low Habits
Watch or listen to
the full sermon here.
Preached by Pastor Mike Woodard
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At The Valley Church, we’re celebrating another year of God’s faithfulness—and we’re continuing our series What Got You Here Won’t Get You There. This series is all about discovering what it looks like to take fresh steps of faith, knowing that the routines, disciplines, and experiences that helped us grow yesterday may not be enough for the challenges of today. God is always doing something new, and He is always calling us deeper.
The truth is simple: if you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep getting what you’ve always got. Many of us want God to move in our lives, our families, our workplaces, and our communities. We have high hopes—but too often, we live with low habits. Our prayers don’t match our desires, our Bible reading doesn’t match our hunger for God, and our lifestyle doesn’t reflect the calling we say we want.
So how do we move forward? In 2 Peter 1:1–9, the Apostle Peter gives us three practical ways to avoid low habits and step into a thriving, fruitful faith.
1. Don’t Neglect Your Faith
Peter reminds us that growth requires effort: “Make every effort to supplement your faith…” (2 Peter 1:5). Faith doesn’t grow by accident—it must be nourished daily. Just like we can’t survive on one meal a week, we can’t expect Sunday alone to sustain our relationship with God. A neglected faith leads to stagnation, while a nourished faith produces spiritual strength, passion, and joy.
2. Don’t Settle Where You Are
Peter urges us to “possess these qualities in increasing measure” (2 Peter 1:8). In other words, don’t get comfortable where you’re at—keep pressing forward. A stagnant faith becomes like still water, covered in algae. Growth comes through movement, activity, and obedience. When we pursue God consistently, we avoid becoming “useless and unfruitful” and instead live with purpose.
3. Don’t Forget What Jesus Has Done
Finally, Peter warns against being “blind and shortsighted” by forgetting the cleansing of our past sins (2 Peter 1:9). Remembering the Gospel fuels not just our salvation but also our ongoing transformation. Like a sculptor chipping away marble to reveal the masterpiece inside, Jesus chips away at everything in us that isn’t like Him. When we remember His sacrifice daily, it motivates us to live with gratitude, holiness, and vision.
Moving Forward with High Habits
What got you here won’t get you there. If your faith feels stagnant, it may be time to evaluate where you’ve neglected, settled, or forgotten. God has given us everything we need for life and godliness. Let’s move beyond low habits, feed our faith, and remember what Christ has done—so that our high hopes are matched with high habits.