Whether you have experienced the best Christmas and New Years ever or struggled through every single moment since Thanksgiving; I want to bring you some encouragement! New Years brings a lot of pressure to many of us. We are challenged to make life changing resolutions. Buck up, loose that weight, eat healthier and get those lab numbers down; give your work everything you’ve got…you know that promotion is coming available; fix that broken relationship, or maybe even work on having the mind and character of Christ.

We see the beginning of a year as a chance for a new beginning; a time when we have a fresh start. Then the pressures begin. Sometimes from others, but most often we exert the most pressure! Have you ever noticed that many times we can be our worst enemies? Have you ever suffered from unrealistic expectations that you have placed on yourself? Boy have I!

The problem with resolutions is life often gets in the way, and we often give up quickly because it seems almost impossible. The truth of the matter is what we are facing is called predictable resistance. If you are addicted to soda, whether regular or diet; have you ever tried to give it up? The predictable opposition is that if you’re like most, you will almost immediately begin to have cravings for what is missing. Same goes for sugar or other addictive or habitual activities. These are the things that are the enemies of our success. Maybe you are trying to find resolution in a relationship, but the other person isn’t ready to cooperate. No matter the situation, predictable resistance is always willing to meet you as you battle to accomplish your objectives.

I hear you, so how is that encouragement? That’s pretty discouraging. The first step in overcoming and being successful is knowing where the battle is and how to fight it. Now if you’re new to the blog, let me begin by explaining that I am a believer in God, Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. You may or may not agree, and that’s just fine. However, I would just like to encourage you that there is power to reach your goals, be successful in your resolutions, and for me, I am seeking a revolution in my thinking in 2017.

Too many times I have let the enemy and others steal my resolve. The truth of the thing is, we don’t battle people-it is a deception of the enemy of our souls that people are our problem.

Ephesians 6:12-13 tells us, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to
stand firm.”

     We have an arsenal of weapons and depending on who you ask; anywhere between 3000 and 8000 promises available to stand on in the Word of God! That’s pretty powerful! The thing is, are we aware they exist? Are we motivated to see if any pertain to our situation? Do we have the faith to believe they are available even to us? These are all questions I wrestled over in the past and let’s face it sometimes I still do! We all have times of weakness when we feel beaten down and just want it to be easy. We also have an enemy who does not want us to realize who we are in Christ. He doesn’t want us to understand God’s love for us or how much is available to us if only we believe!

So here is the thing: the enemy has tried to stall my writing, my study time and placed objects in the way of my thinking. Is it his fault? Not really, he can’t accomplish it without my cooperation! It is time this stops. If satan wants a revolution, it is time that I picked up that arsenal again and defended these things I know the Lord desires to see in my life knowing that God will be right there giving wisdom, inspiration, and hope along the way! Hopefully, I will be able to share with you the steps He shows me along the path and share some of the wonderful promises available to those who believe!

For those currently struggling, I would like to leave you with these thoughts from King David:

Psalm 27

The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom should I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom should I be afraid?
2 When evildoers came against me to devour my flesh,
my foes and my enemies stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army deploys against me,
my heart is not afraid;
though a war breaks out against me,
still I am confident.
4 I have asked one thing from the Lord;
it is what I desire:
to dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
gazing on the beauty of the Lord
and seeking Him in His temple.
5 For He will conceal me in His shelter
in the day of adversity;
He will hide me under the cover of His tent;
He will set me high on a rock.
6 Then my head will be high
above my enemies around me;
I will offer sacrifices in His tent with shouts of joy.
I will sing and make music to the Lord.
7 Lord, hear my voice when I call;
be gracious to me and answer me.
8 My heart says this about You,
“You are to seek My face.”
Lord, I will seek Your face.
9 Do not hide Your face from me;
do not turn Your servant away in anger.
You have been my helper;
do not leave me or abandon me,
God of my salvation.
10 Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the Lord cares for me.
11 Because of my adversaries,
show me Your way, Lord,
and lead me on a level path.
12 Do not give me over to the will of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
breathing violence.
13 I am certain that I will see the Lord’s goodness
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong and courageous.
Wait for the Lord.
HCSB