The one resolution you should make this year

 The one resolution you should make this year - By Greg Stier - https://www.christianpost.com/voices/the-1-resolution-you-should-make-this-year.html It’s at about this time every year that millions of people around the world start thinking about next year. They imagine the habits they will start…next year. They thinkabout the weight they will lose…next year. They dream about the money they will make and save…next year. But, more often than not, our New Year’s Resolutions give way to the delicious cake, the soft couch and the credit card. It’s usually not that much different when it comes to our spiritual resolutions. We commit to having our time with the Lord every morning, to do more praying, to give moregenerously, and to share Jesus more often. But then, well, life happens. We get busy. We forget. Far too many Christians leave a trail of broken resolutions behind them come February (or, sometimes, by January 2nd!) Actually, for years and years, I was the worst (or the best, depending on how you look at it) at making unrealistic annual resolutions. I would make lists of detailed resolutionsin late December and resolve not to break them. But, like a bull in a china closet, I’d soon leave shards of broken promises all across the floor of my once-again-disillusioned soul. My annual ritual of resolutions reminds me of Peter’s bold resolution to Jesus in Matthew 26:31-33, “Then Jesus told them, ‘This very night you will all fall away on accountof me, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.’ Peter replied, ‘Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.'” Peter shattered his bold resolution in less than 12 hours of making it. When Peter realized that he had broken his promise to Jesus “he went out and wept bitterly” (Matthew 26:75.) Flash forward a few months to the book of Acts and you see a totally different person. Peter is articulate and daring (Acts 4:13.) He is both a humble servant and a confidentleader (Acts 4:8-12.) He would never fall away, disown or deny Jesus again (Acts 5:29.) He is a promise keeper, not a promise breaker. What was the difference between the Apostle Peter in the Gospels and the Apostle Peter in the book of Acts? What was the difference between the one who sank in doubt inthe waves on the Sea of Galilee and the one who stood in victory against the Sanhedrin in the Temple of Jerusalem? What was the difference between the one who broke his resolution to Jesus in Matthew 26 and the one who refused to deny Jesus and was, accordingto church tradition, crucified upside down? The answer is rooted in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Jesus spoke these words between the Last Supper and his 3 hour-long pray-a-thon in the Garden of Gethsemane, mere hours before His crucifixion. I can imagine Jesus walkingdown the road to the Garden of Gethsemane and pointing His disciples to a vineyard along the way. I can picture Jesus pausing on that road to share with His young followers His most important lesson when it came to living the Christian life: Like a branchhas no power to produce fruit apart from the vine, we have no power to produce spiritual fruit apart from Jesus. Apart from Him, we can do nothing. Apart from Him, we are dead branches on the ground. But, in Him and through Him, we are a vibrant vehicle forspiritual transformation (our own and others.) It was Major Ian Thomas, founder of Torchbearers International (a gap year Bible teaching and evangelism program that has 25 centers around the world, one of which my sonattends), made this prayer famous, “I can’t. You can.“ The Major, as he was affectionately called during his life, was tired of all the broken promises and resolutions he had made to himself as a young evangelist. He was tiredof being tired of doing the work of the ministry. That’s when he stumbled on this key truth in John 15:5, Galatians 2:20 and so many other passages of Scripture. Here’s how The Major described his own spiritual transformation, “As a young evangelist, my love and enthusiasm for Christ as my Saviour kept me very, very busy until out of sheer frustration, I finally came to the point of quitting.That was the turning point which transformed my Christian life. In my despair I discovered that the Lord Jesus gave Himself FOR me, so that risen from the dead He might give Himself TO me, He who IS the Christian Life. Instead of pleading for help I beganto thank Him for all that He wanted to be, sharing His Life with me every moment of every day. I learned to say ‘Lord Jesus, I can’t, You never said I could; but You can, and always said You would. That is all I need to know’. From that moment life becamethe adventure that God always intended it to be.” – Major W. Ian Thomas A work glove on its own does not actually do any work. The glove needs the hand to fill it and do the work through it. In the same way we need Jesus, through His Spirit,to fill us and do the work through us (thanks for the illustration Zane Black!) Instead of making endless lists of resolutions may we make a moment-by-moment, day-to-day declaration of dependence on the Holy Spirit who dwells inside of us. When we dothat, the life of Christ Himself flows through us. He produces the fruit in us. He does the work through us. Our effort is relentless reliance on Him that leads to complete obedience to Him! Does this mean that we never make commitments, resolutions or promises to ourselves? Of course not! But, what it does mean, is that we “put no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians3:3.) It means the one resolution we must keep is a constant reminder to ourselves to “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18) and to allow the life of Christ to flow through us. As we learn to do that, the lists will take care of themselves because Jesuswill be living through us and He never breaks His promises! “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gavehimself for me.” Galatians 2:20 ---------------------------- New Year, Same God - By Holly Spate - https://www.raptureready.com/2021/12/29/new-year-same-god-by-holly-spate/ “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26). As we enter another new year, be encouraged. Keep this truth close to your heart and on your mind: We may not know what 2022 holds, but we do know WHO holds 2022. Are you smiling yet? The world may change, policies may change, people’s views may change, laws may change, but rest assured, Almighty God never changes! That is a guarantee! It is this truththat should bring peace to both your mind and heart as you enter into a new year. It is the truth in knowing that your heavenly Father sees all, knows all, owns all, and takes care of His children. It is the truth in knowing God will provide for all your needs and that He will make a way where there may not seem to be a way. He will open new doors of opportunity andwill take care of you. He will bring justice to injustices in His perfect time and in His perfect way. As sons and daughters of the King of Kings, we need to remember and cherish daily the reality that we have a blessed hope because of Christ. We need to keep focused on suchtruths as we enter the new year, and we need to hold onto and remember those truths as we journey each day in 2022. As we begin to see events take place and hear things on the news, we must stand on scripture, read our Bibles, pray, share our hope with others, and resist fear. 1 John4:18 reminds: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” Matthew 10:28 further reminds: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body inhell.” With each step we take, with each new day the Lord gives, we must walk in faith, not in fear. We must keep praising, keep believing, keep trusting, and keep walking closely… relying on our Savior for everything … everything! We must not be moved by what we see but by what scripture promises. We must trust and begin to armor up by putting on the full armor of God as is stated in Ephesians 6:10-11: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” We must not give in, give up, or grow weary, but rely on our heavenly Father for strength and all we need each day till He calls us home. Isaiah 40:31: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not befaint.” 2 Thessalonians 3:13 “And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.” We must remind our minds and hearts that this world is not our home and to store up treasures in heaven, not on earth (Matthew 6:19-21). John 14:2-3: “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a placefor you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 states: “However, as it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’ the things God has prepared forthose who love him.” We have so much to look forward to and so very much to be thankful for… all because of our wonderful Savior! As you take your first steps into a new year, remember: God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good! We may not always understand His ways, but we can fully trustthat He sees the full picture and all of His ways are perfect… for our good and His glory. Deuteronomy 7:9 states: “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love himand keep his commandments.” Psalm 100:5 “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Ephesians 3:16-19: “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your heartsthrough faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that youmay be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” We have every good thing because of Jesus! We have every reason to rejoice. As you venture into 2022, put your complete faith and trust in His capable hands and stay close to Him. Take His hand and walk with Him, never letting go. Don’t allow theenemy to steal your joy or to paralyze you in fear. When you’re tempted to look around, look up. When you feel weary, let Jesus give you rest. When you feel like you want to surrender, stand firm on God’s Word, holding tightto His promises. Be at peace, and be comforted in knowing your Savior is faithful and will never leave you or forsake you… ever! Just like 2021 and all the years prior, there will be changes, BUT our great God is always the one constant that will never change. So, take His hand, stand on His Word,and find your serenity and rest in Him. Let His light guide you, His love encompass you, His Word encourage you. May your heart be joyful and at peace as you journey with Jesus into another new year. Happy 2022! VISIT: PROPHECY WATCHER WEEKLY NEWS: HTTP://PROPHECY-WATCHER-WEEKLY-NEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM