Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: RESOLUTION (01/07/16)
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TITLE: Resolution Revolution | Previous Challenge Entry
By Danielle Rivas
01/14/16 -
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The time has come, we must stop making promises in the flesh, we cannot keep.
We must start seeking God on what pleases Him, and find out what His will for our lives is.
We can proclaim all day and night that we are going to lose more weight, stop addictions, stop gossiping less, or find a mate.
In truth, we can do none of those things in the flesh, which is why our New Year's resolutions tend to fail.
It's the same every year, WE make a plan for our new year, WE try to walk it out, and then WE fall short when temptation arises and go back to our old routine.
This can be the same routine in our walks with the Lord, we proclaim we are going to be good Christians and we go to church, pay our tithes and even do our works, but then when temptations arise, when our flesh is weak are we really steadfast in pursuing Jesus with all that we have?
Are we just doing it to save face or are we doing it with a pure and clean heart?
Are we seeking God for His hand or genuinely seeking Him for His face and His character?
The Lord isn't asking us to strive in the flesh towards a relationship with Him, He is inviting us to dine at a banquet of love, to lay down, to rest and to be free from striving.
To be free from our flesh sounds so inviting yet the struggle is real and it causes a violent war to ensue.
The bible says the flesh and spirit are constantly at war, what side is winning in your life?
There are resolutions HE wants to propose in our life that are good and pleasing towards Him, which lead us closer to His heart and a deeper intimacy.
This, however, requires a fully surrendered heart.
The definition of resolution is- “a firm decision to do something or not to do something.”
The definition of a revolution is- “a dramatic and wide-reaching change in the way something works or in people's ideas about it.”
So in order to hear what the Holy Spirit is speaking, we must put those together.
Beloved, we must make a firm spiritual decision, one that says we are willing to make a dramatic wide-reaching change in our ideas of what it is WE NEED to change, versus what God wants to change in us.
God may be less concerned about your 10-pound weight loss, and more concerned about your anger issues, or your inability to be truthful.
The change is going to come from the inside out, and that differs from what we usually aim at.
It also is never an overnight task, it's a long process that can be rather painful.
But the Lord only wants what is for the good in us and for us, to glorify Him, and to draw us closer into relationship and intimacy.
Losing weight, or finding a mate cannot draw us closer to God, they are wonderful things, however, God's ultimate goal is that we grow in Him and with Him.
Let us start out this new season in our lives with the Resolutions He has designed for us to fulfill and to achieve so that we can be victorious in them!
When God asks us to do something it’s because He will fulfil it and it will be successful because HE is leading the way.
The Lord is saying “Fret not be of good courage!” God is going to carry you through, you will be successful.
Let us change our ideas of what’s broken, by letting Him change and mend what truly needs fixing.
So in this new year, spend some time asking the Lord about what resolutions He has planned for you, and then go forth with assurance and confidence that if it is from God you will be more than a conqueror and you will be victorious.
Beloved in one breath God can move any mountain in your life, do not let the mountains intimidate you, just believe!
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Keep writing!
Well done...good job with the topic and great message.
God bless~
My main red ink is this is at least the 5th piece this week that says pretty much the same thing. One of the best pieces of advice was found in Jan's Writing Basics on the forums. She suggested when you see the topic, write down your first five ideas, then throw them away because they are likely the same things everyone else thought of. If you really feel led to write that message, try to make it stand out. For example, perhaps tell the story from the dog's POV (point of view). It sounds silly at first, but it would make it stand out. For example: Another promise, she can't keep. I just don't understand why she does the same thing every year. As her faithful companion, I know God might be more concerned with her anger issues than her ten pounds on her backside.
On the positive side, you definitely nailed the topic. Even though I've read others like this, you do give sound advice, and I can feel your passion in your words. I'd urge you to read and comment on other entries in this level and in level four, and don't get discouraged. Keep writing. Let your subtle sense of humor shine through. I love your last line. It made me chuckle and it gave me hope. Great job.