How many of you have made New Year's resolutions in the past? How many of you have made them for this year? I have made them in the past and by the end of January I've broken every one of them. Oh, I start out with good intentions, but it doesn't take much to get me derailed. Perhaps I'm not alone there.
If
we don't form some definite resolutions – make some determinations
- from time to time, our lives will be devoid of sovereign purpose
and therefore fruitless.
Let me share with you, if I may, some determinations I have made in my own life for this year. I prefer to "determinations" to "resolutions". Some would say there isn't much difference, but for me there is. Please indulge me as I share my determinations.
First off, I determine to set Jesus ever before me. David wrote
I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right
hand, I shall not be moved ( Psalm 16:8). We
should determine in every place, every condition, every circumstance,
every joy, every victory we will say, “Lord,
abide here before me.” Make
it personal. I will practice
the presence of Jesus . If
we make that kind of determination in our lives, it will so
revolutionize things that each of us will be able to say as David said, “I
shall not be moved!”
Secondly, I determine to show myself
approved unto God. This, of course, is done through the study of
God's Word. Paul in writing to young Timothy said, Study to
show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be
ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15). The
godly man and woman is a man and women of meditation - that is meditaion on God's Word (Ps 1:2-3). This is the key to real prosperity in your
Christian walk. Joshua said,
This book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou
shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do
according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make
they way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success (Joshua
1:8).
Picture, if you will, a ship was
wrecked and began to sink. The life boats had been placed in the
water and were boarded. They realized they didn't know which way to
go. Two sailors rushed back to the sinking ship because they forgot
the compass. As we set sail on the unknown sea of a new year,
we must be sure we have the Compass. That compass is the Word
of God. The psalmist wrote, Thy Word have I hid in my heart,
that I might not sin against Thee (Psalm 119:11).
Thirdly, I determine to take my place
as a prayer warrior. Scripture tells us, Praying always with
all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto
with all perseverance and supplication for all saints (Ephesians
6:18). I believe the primary need of God's work today is men
and women of prayer! This is even more important than sermons This
is more important than any single thing we do when we gather as
believers. I'm not talking about this half-hearted prayer that so
many professing Christians practice today – if they practice at
all. I'm talking about grabbing hold of the horns of the altar and praying until
you touch heaven type of prayer. Satan laughs at our activities when
Christians approach prayer half-heartedly
Joshua
is a good example of one who made a determination to serve God. The
Bible tells us, in part, in Joshua 24:15
...choose you this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and my
house, we will serve the Lord! Joshua
made a determination. As believers embarking on the dawn of a new
year, we too, should make some determinations.
Who will join me in making some determinations to serve God is a greater way in 2013? Let's be all we can be for God. Let's allow God to be God in our lives this year - day by day.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Until next time...enjoy the journey!
Ray
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