| Resolve TO RESOLVE on 12/31 |
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| Daniel 1:8 But Daniel resolved |
| During the days of December 30-31 take the challenge to Resolve to RESOLVE for BETTER RESULTS in 2023. Some people struggle with making New Year’s resolutions and I get that. However, I am a big believer in EVALUATING where one is and MAKING PROPER ADJUSTMENTS! I have found that the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is a great week to evaluate the past year and write out dreams (goals) and resolutions for the coming year. Here are a few evaluating questions: What were the highlights of 2022? What were the challenging moments of 2022? What do you wish you could do over? (It could have answers of both good and bad.) As you look back what do you wish you would have done? As you look back what do you wish you would have done differently? As we think of making resolutions let us remember that if we keep doing what we have been doing we will keep having what we have been having. And let us remember that though we cannot go back and make a brand new start we can start today and make a brand new end. As a way to help you make some new resolutions, start with the challenge to RESOLVE TO RESOLVE. Daniel was DIFFERENT because he RESOLVED in his heart to do some things and not do some things! For 2023 please allow me to challenge you to RESOLVE. Resolve to be RESPONSIBLE with your RESPONSIBILITIES Proverbs 12:27 The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, But diligence (being responsible) is man’s precious possession. Resolve to EXERCISE doing spiritual disciplines. 1 Timothy 4:7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. Some of the spiritual exercises include having a daily Quiet Time; Bible reading; Prayer; Fellowship; Witnessing; at times Fasting; Cooperate worship; discipling, etc. BTW – the Greek word for exercise here gives us our English word gymnasium. Resolve to going to the spiritual gymnasium and exercising daily! Resolve to SERVE like Christ Galatians 5:13: For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Remember it is not about TITLES! It is about TOWELS. See John 13:1-15 especial 13:4 and 13:12 Resolve to OBEY the ONE ANOTHERS Over the years of study, I have found at least 56 things the NT teaches that I am to be doing for OTHERS. For example, we have several things to do for others in Ephesians 4:32. It says. “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted to one another, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.” I did write OBEY the ONE ANOTHERS because while it might be easy to memorize a verse like Ephesians 4:32 in AWANA, the application can be missing when we get home. Learn and put the ONE ANOTHERS INTO ACTION! Resolve to LOVE GOD and LOVE PEOPLE Mark 12:28 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?” 29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments [is]: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. 30 ‘And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31 “And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” As you evaluate the past year is it possible that you lost your first love? You may have gotten so busy doing the work of the Lord you forgot the Lord of the work. Is it possible that you see people as a problem rather than seeing people with problems? Every now and then you need to read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Resolve to be VALIANT in the Lord’s Battles. Hebrews 11:32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also [of] David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens” 2 Samuel 23:20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a valiant man of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds. He struck down two ariels of Moab. He also went down and struck down a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. 21 And he struck down an Egyptian, a handsome man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 22 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and won a name beside the three mighty men. Remember that we are to be SALT AND LIGHT in the dark world. Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives lighl to all who are in the house. 16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Be VALIANT in being salt and light for Jesus! Resolve to do the work of an EVANGELIST. 2 Timothy 4;5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. Proverbs 11:30 “The fruit of the righteous [is a] tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.” Go and TELL the good news to the lost in 2023! So I challenge you to resolve to RESOLVE for BETTER RESULTS IN 2023! Continue Strong and have a very blessed and fruitful NEW YEAR!! DATE THE WORD |