11/13/15...November Post by Catherine Craig...get an early start in thinking
about your Resolutions for 2016
Jesus said in the gospels that what comes from our lips reflects
what is in our heart. The Apostle Paul says in Romans, "…who will rescue
me from this body of death?" and then "Thanks be to God…through Jesus
Christ, our Lord!"
Again, it can't be overstated. Bringing unwanted behaviors and attitudes to God for change, that's our best guarantee of success when it comes to making New Year's Resolutions. Without the empowering help of the Spirit of God, we often can't see the reasons we do things, let alone how to change them.
Also, any intentions to follow Biblical mandates for the born-again child of God are always backed by the Father, though he accomplishes this in a myriad of ways. Obedience to God's precepts also opens the door to intimacy with Him. (John 14:21)
Take, for instance, the desire to stop drinking. I have a wonderful friend; her name is Jean. She was once a committed alcoholic; for her, drinking was a way of life.
Jean resolved, as a new Christian, that she didn't want to be an alcoholic. For her, change came when, after praying, God took her desire for alcohol away supernaturally. She quit cold turkey.
Another woman I know of, April, also resolved to stop drinking. Her decision wavered, and she took longer to quit. God helped her also by quenching her appetite for such things, but it took longer, and it was a process.
These two ladies wanted to change. They wanted to cease living in the darkness of alcoholism to come into the light of God's Truths and presence. He helped them.
Besides power, God offers us understanding. According to the Bible, his compassion and kindness begin anew each morning. (Lamentations 3:23) That's one of his attributes; he infinitely understands.
Most importantly, God wants us to choose his ways, not follow our natural inclinations and reasoning that run counter to what he tells us to do. In doing so, he says we will understand him and prove to ourselves that his ways are best. (Romans 12:2) In the process, we will grow in understanding of others, the Lord and ourselves.
Chronically failed New Year's Resolutions attempts can evolve out of the frustration that comes along with a wounded conscience after not following what we know in our heart is true and right. However, like a hamster caught in a wheel, instead of taking those things to the Lord, as 1 John Chapter 1 instructs, we hide, trying to make ourselves "better" people. We forget that it was the Spirit of God who changed Saul into "another person" to become the king that he was called to be!
Basing our future goals on eternal truths will guarantee success! Proverbs 3:5,6 clearly tells us not to depend upon "our understanding" but to walk in Biblical truths – even as we plan our ways. Scripture also encourages planning by stating, "Man plans his ways, but God directs his steps."
Are you ready? Well then, it's time to take out that pad and paper to begin to write. But,
don't forget your most valuable asset in doing so – the Bible.
about your Resolutions for 2016
As January 1st approaches, and 2015 winds down, many of us are scurrying about,
trying to pull things together for the holidays. However, in spite of the
upcoming celebrations, it is never too early to begin planning for 2016 – and –
examining why other years' resolutions failed.
Like so many of us, you've probably made many futile New Year's resolutions. In spite of good intentions, they often, like an early morning mist, evaporate. So, resolutions often don't work. But, why is that?
From the humanistic stance, Michael Bader, a psychologist in San Francisco, and author of "Male Sexuality: Why Women Don't Understand It – and Men Don't Either", has this to say. "The reason that New Years resolutions don't work is that we have unconscious resolutions not to change. For every conscious resolution to lose weight, stop drinking, save money, call your Mom more often, control your temper, or finish that project, there are unconscious commitments to keep things exactly the way they are."
He holds to the premise that, unless we realize or get in touch with what drives us; lasting change won't happen just from simply resolving to do so. Attacking surface behaviors without paying attention to what causes them is fruitless. Like chopping alder down, but leaving the roots, we find troubling behaviors budding again and again.
Motives of the heart lead to actions we want to erase, so attention to both is imperative.
Like so many of us, you've probably made many futile New Year's resolutions. In spite of good intentions, they often, like an early morning mist, evaporate. So, resolutions often don't work. But, why is that?
From the humanistic stance, Michael Bader, a psychologist in San Francisco, and author of "Male Sexuality: Why Women Don't Understand It – and Men Don't Either", has this to say. "The reason that New Years resolutions don't work is that we have unconscious resolutions not to change. For every conscious resolution to lose weight, stop drinking, save money, call your Mom more often, control your temper, or finish that project, there are unconscious commitments to keep things exactly the way they are."
He holds to the premise that, unless we realize or get in touch with what drives us; lasting change won't happen just from simply resolving to do so. Attacking surface behaviors without paying attention to what causes them is fruitless. Like chopping alder down, but leaving the roots, we find troubling behaviors budding again and again.
Motives of the heart lead to actions we want to erase, so attention to both is imperative.
Again, it can't be overstated. Bringing unwanted behaviors and attitudes to God for change, that's our best guarantee of success when it comes to making New Year's Resolutions. Without the empowering help of the Spirit of God, we often can't see the reasons we do things, let alone how to change them.
Also, any intentions to follow Biblical mandates for the born-again child of God are always backed by the Father, though he accomplishes this in a myriad of ways. Obedience to God's precepts also opens the door to intimacy with Him. (John 14:21)
Take, for instance, the desire to stop drinking. I have a wonderful friend; her name is Jean. She was once a committed alcoholic; for her, drinking was a way of life.
Jean resolved, as a new Christian, that she didn't want to be an alcoholic. For her, change came when, after praying, God took her desire for alcohol away supernaturally. She quit cold turkey.
Another woman I know of, April, also resolved to stop drinking. Her decision wavered, and she took longer to quit. God helped her also by quenching her appetite for such things, but it took longer, and it was a process.
These two ladies wanted to change. They wanted to cease living in the darkness of alcoholism to come into the light of God's Truths and presence. He helped them.
Besides power, God offers us understanding. According to the Bible, his compassion and kindness begin anew each morning. (Lamentations 3:23) That's one of his attributes; he infinitely understands.
Most importantly, God wants us to choose his ways, not follow our natural inclinations and reasoning that run counter to what he tells us to do. In doing so, he says we will understand him and prove to ourselves that his ways are best. (Romans 12:2) In the process, we will grow in understanding of others, the Lord and ourselves.
Chronically failed New Year's Resolutions attempts can evolve out of the frustration that comes along with a wounded conscience after not following what we know in our heart is true and right. However, like a hamster caught in a wheel, instead of taking those things to the Lord, as 1 John Chapter 1 instructs, we hide, trying to make ourselves "better" people. We forget that it was the Spirit of God who changed Saul into "another person" to become the king that he was called to be!
Basing our future goals on eternal truths will guarantee success! Proverbs 3:5,6 clearly tells us not to depend upon "our understanding" but to walk in Biblical truths – even as we plan our ways. Scripture also encourages planning by stating, "Man plans his ways, but God directs his steps."
Are you ready? Well then, it's time to take out that pad and paper to begin to write. But,
Written byCatherine Craig
Here is some information about Catherine Craig...
Catherine J. Craig, Author and Writer @ “A Ready Pen”
Ready To Write – for YOU!
I found this writing very inspiring, It is a blueprint to follow when trying to create Resolutions that stick and how to base them on the help of God.
ReplyDeleteGod bless...