What's your New Year's Resolution?

How did you celebrate New Year's Eve? It's said that how you bring in the new year is how you'll spend the new year. I went with Kennetta to the special church service at her church. The following is my summation of the sermons, along with additional thoughts taken from Paula White.

What are your New Year's Eve resolutions? To lose weight? To stop smoking? How about to have more joy in your life? Do you constantly worry and stress yourself out, wondering how to get from under and stop living paycheck to paycheck? Do you constantly replay your life and beat yourself up over all the mistakes and poor choices you made? To increase your joy, keep the past in the past.

As far the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:12 KJV

Bretheren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.
Phillipians 3:13 KJV

These two scriptures can be translated thusly, if you've accepted our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, all past transgressions are forgiven. If you are open to God's gift of grace, you will be saved. Know that your future will be greater than your past and present. If you are holding on to past hurts, past mistakes, guilt, worry, and stress, you have no space to hold your blessings. Not to forget, but to linger in our past experiences, frustrates our further pursuance of Christ. So, how do you do it?

Rejoice evermore.
Pray without ceasing.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18

So, what does that mean? Basically, regardless of your present circumstance, keep the joy of salvation fresh and new in your heart. Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy your joy--don't let him succeed. Keep an active prayer life. An active prayer life is simply uninterrupted fellowship with God in our spirit. It requires perserverance. The more you converse with Him and allow yourself to be open to what He can reveal to you, the more joy you will have. You'll have joy because your faith is renewed, your spirit strengthened. Regardless of your present circumstances, give praise and thanks to God. Now, this is where most people have trouble. We give thanks in all situations because all things work together for our good that we may be transformed and conformed to the image of Christ. God wants us to live a rejoicing, praying and thankful life. Such a life is a glory to God and a shame to His enemy.

Know that there is nothing too great for our God. Nothing is impossible. Be encouraged, have have faith in God. Recall the story of David and Goliath. Goliath was the champion of the Philstines whose height was over nine feet. He was arrayed in a brass helmet and coat of mail. Like Goliath, our problems can loom like powerful giants. David was the youngest son of Jesse. Like David, we can seem small and insignificant in comparision to our problems. Of all the men, only David had faith that were he to fight Goliath, God would ensure His victory. Like David, we need to be steadfast in our faith, that when troubles arise we can let go and let God. King Saul armed David with a brass helmet, coat of mail, and sword. But David refused them and took up his staff, chose five smooth stones from the brook, and his slingshot. People will want to give you advice on how to handle your problems, but what worked for them may not be the way you need to do it. Think about the five smooth stones:
1) stones came from the brook: formed by years and years of water rushing over rocks and breaking pieces off to form the stones
2) because the stones came from the brook, they were smooth and therefore aerodynamic

You don't have to fret and worry about your life and how your needs will be met because just like God delivered David, He'll deliver you. For every problem in your life, there is a brook for you to retreive the smooth stones needed to vanquish it. Those stones were there thousands of years ago, waiting until it was time for you to use them. You just have to go and retreive them. Have faith that you will champion over anything the enemy throws your way.

Thank you for your comments. Have a blessed day! Please come again!