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Light for the Path

A New Year’s resolution – Light for the Path

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“A New Year’s resolution is a tradition, most common in the Western Hemisphere … in which a person makes a promise to do an act of self-improvement… beginning from New Year’s Day…
The most common reason for participants

New Year’s resolution

their New Years’ Resolutions was setting themselves unrealistic goals (35%), while 33% didn’t keep track of their progress and a further 23% forgot about it. – “.wikipedia.

new-year-resolutions

“The New Year is a time when many people pause to take stock of how they live their lives and set goals for how to do better. Yet more often than not, New Year’s resolutions fall to the wayside as the holidays fade and the hustle and bustle of everyday life descend upon us once more. “(cnn)

Common New Year’s resolutions are commitments to quit smoking, to stop drinking, to manage money more wisely, and to spend more time with family. By far, the most common New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, in conjunction with exercising more and eating more healthily.
They fail because there is no power in a New Year’s resolution.

new-years-resolutions-you-can-keep

Know what has Christ already done for you:
Quotes from/-Lesson 5: “Keeping on His Path”, from Walking the New Path- by Warriors for Christ)

When you became a commitments all your sins were “crucified on the cross.” You no longer have to continue in the old sinful habits of the past. You are free from those things that in the past hurt you, because you are a new person.
Philippians 3:13-14
“Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

It is through Jesus Christ’s resurrection that you are “born again.” When Jesus Christ was resurrected by Father Creator, you were there in Christ and when He arose in a glorified body, you were given a new nature, an inheritance of righteousness. Know, accept, and claim His resurrection power; His life.
When you become a Christian– by faith, you put yourself on the cross with Jesus Christ. You were crucified with Him and you died with Him. Now you live in your new nature – your new righteousness, victorious life in Christ Jesus.

Accepting His truth —
It is important to know and remember that you have victory through Christ over sin

• Your sinful nature died with Christ, you were buried with Christ.
Romans 6:11
“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

• You rose as a new person with Christ in His resurrection.
2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

• God has already done His work for you through the cross.
Psalm 37:5-6 says, “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn

• Choose to live in God’s truth and accept His grace for your life.
Philippians 3:13-14
“Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ J

• Your job – accept His finished work on the cross and thank Him.
Philippians 4:13 tells us, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”
Your role is to accept His “finished work,” the new life He gave you and then thank Him for His love and sacrifice. By thanking Him, you are accepting the new life He has given you.
Romans 6:6-8
“ For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin — because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.”

2016-hudson-river

Then what sort of New Year’s resolution should a Christian make?
Suggestions
(1) Ask the Lord for wisdom as to how to fulfill the calling the He gave you.

(2) Rely on God’s strength to help you in your New Life in Christ. Claim His many promises for your life
(3) Get a Discipler who will help you and encourage you in His Word.
(4) Don’t become discouraged with occasional failures.
(5) Give God the glory

John 15:5 declares, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Let me end with two thoughts–
“Stop tempting to make self-improvement our new year’s resolution but what we need is SELF-SACRIFICE. Don’t give up a habit- give up your heart.”
Quote from Rend Collective – December 26/ Facebook

“This year has been the best year of my life so far, I’ve done so many things I never thought I would have. I’ve met a bunch of you guys that I’m now proud to call friends. But next year will be even better! Last night in church I felt like I was led to speak to some of you, but for all of you, I have this. God has a plan for you no matter who you are, and if you choose to take it, you’re bound for greatness, so do so without fear!!! I hope to grow closer to some of you next year. And others I just want to support, and spend more time with. Thank you guys, for being awesome! You changed my life!” Trent Shadburne -Facebook