05. SIX Questions to Help You Stop Drifting

John Ortberg challenges the quiet belief that our everyday choices don’t matter and explores how good intentions can give way when we feel pressured, insecure, or afraid. Drawing on Christian Miller’s The Character Gap and Langdon Gilkey’s Shantung Compound, John examines the difference between wanting to do good and developing a character that keeps choosing love under difficult circumstances. He shares the example of Eric Liddell, the Olympic runner depicted in Chariots of Fire, whose selfless service encouraged others during internment in China. John closes with six daily questions about surrender, gratitude, forgiveness, prayer, Scripture, and obedience. These offer a practical way to bring your day before God and receive help to become the person you long to be. Today’s practice: Take five minutes to answer the six questions, then choose one concrete act of love or obedience. Related Scripture: Psalm 90:12; Romans 7:18–25; Romans 12:1–2; Hebrews 12:1–3. Subscribe to Become New for regular teaching from John Ortberg and practical encouragement to grow with God in everyday life. #JohnOrtberg #BecomeNew #SpiritualGrowth 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at [email protected] GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson License# MB01XUUTGU633PL 00:00 The illusion that this moment doesn’t matter 00:25 What is shaping my heart? 00:50 Ants and getting back to the source 01:46 A framework for examining our lives 02:16 The Character Gap and human behavior 03:24 Wanting right, but prepared for wrong 04:16 Can we develop a different character? 04:56 Langdon Gilkey’s Shantung Compound 06:02 What pressure and scarcity reveal 07:09 Eric Liddell: A different kind of life 08:40 Six questions for each day 09:00 Surrendering the day to God 09:37 What can I thank God for? 09:48 Forgiveness, cleansing, and making amends 10:18 Who should I pray for? 10:33 Applying Scripture to my life 10:56 What should I do, and how? 11:21 The race I want to run