As we enter a brand new year, we do so filled with hope and with optimism and with the joyful expectation that this year can be different, that we can be different. In fact, John C. Maxwell famously said that most of us have “uphill hopes but downhill habits” – that we want for the best, but we don’t really works towards it: we allow old patterns of behavior and belief to get in the way of the newness and refreshing that God wants to work in us. Examining five critical habits – “uphill habits” – our prayer, together, is that we will dare the difficult “uphill” climb and commit ourselves, our families, and our church to new ways of thinking, acting, feeling, and being…following Jesus to the newness He promises. “God-First Living” based on the scripture from Joshua 24:14-15.