Friday, January 4, 2013

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

Good Morning, Mighty Woman of God! I pray that you have all had a joyous and safe holiday season.  As the New Year begins and you continue to be a part of "Spiritual Growth for Women Ministry", my prayer is that you grow spiritually, develop a closer relationship with Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior and gain whatever it is that you are seeking from the Lord.  I have had a wonderful year through blogging the Lord's messages to you because I have learned a lot from the Holy Spirit as well.
 
(Romans 5:3-5 and 8), Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. (8), But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for you.
 
Towards the end of the year, it is customary that people begin thinking about what their New Year's resolution should be.  There resolution is something that they would like to resolve before the New Year begins.  Either get rid of some things or gain some things.  Some people make decisions to stop smoking, eat healthier foods, spend more me time, but the most popular is loss some weight. 
 
I also know that some people make their New Year's Resolution to spend more time in prayer to develop a closer relationship with the Lord.  Today, we are going to loss so weight but not in the way that will require that you stop eating or drink diet shakes.  In order to keep any resolution that you have made you have to begin with discipline.  It takes discipline to quit smoking, eat healthier, take walks, and even to spend more time with the Lord.  The reason why discipline should be the first thing for you to try to move towards is because we have disciplined our minds and bodies to do the opposite of what we what to accomplish.
 
Review the scripture and you will realize that each of those things require discipline.  So one by one we are going to achieve each of those listed.  The first thing is suffering.  You will have to give up something in order to develop your closeness with the Lord and that thing is definitely your time.  As you spend more time with the Lord you will learn how to persevere through any adversity that may come against you as you are seeking the Lord.  That is going to happen because Satan has a job to do and he will attempt to bring about suffering in your life, but as you persevere through those adversities you will develop a character that the Lord can use.  As your character grows you will lose the things of the world that were important to you and gain the things that are important to the Lord.  Your relationship with the Lord will give you the hope and strength that you will need to carry out His purpose for your life.  Then finally the Spirit of the Lord (the Holy Spirit) can have His perfect way in your life, again therefore losing the weight that kept you from the close relationship with the Lord that you so eagerly desire.
 
The most important thing is scripture 8 because God wants to remind you that while we are still sinners He has poured out His love for you.  Once you pour something on someone you cannot get it off.  As you are losing the weight of the enemy you are gaining a relationship with the Lord.  It will not be easy because of the discipline issue but it is attainable.  God will love you through your sin as long as you keep your hunger for Him.  He will not take it back.  So while everyone else is giving up on their smoking, weight  loss or whatever because they messed up, you can keep going if you mess up because of God's love for you. Amen!
 
I would love to see you all at the upcoming Women's Conference in May, so sign up as soon as you can.  We are going to have a great time in fellowship, snacks and spiritual food.  It is FREE!  Invite your friends and come out for a blessing from the Lord.  If you are in need of prayer call me personally at 678-629-3179.  God Bless You!