" I can't stop sinning!"

Killing the flesh- is it a process, or a sudden death? Scripturally, when you are baptized, it is a type of burial. The old you goes down beneath the water and is supposed to stay there. The new you arises, prepared to walk in the newness of life. Old things have passed away, and behold all things are become new (2Cor5.17)...Or have they?

     I say this not to question the power or validity of the watery grave of baptism. I know people who have been baptized and came up completely delivered from their struggles with sin, and I mean completely. 

"God is taking too long"

  

    Who can stand to wait on God when everyone else is gaining success and outdoing us daily? We need to "arrive", and stat! There is simply no time to pray, read our bible, AND seek God in every little thing...Or is there? 

     Wisdom says that if you don't make that time, God will create that time. None experienced the painful process of patience quite like the Ex-Egyptian-Prince turned lonely shepherd, Moses. Pastor Moses spent forty years on the backside of that mountain shepherding sheep before God called him into his greater purpose of shepherding His people.

     Let's use our imaginations and envision what those forty years must have felt like. You can easily see a nearly depressed, guilt ridden Moses. How he replayed his sinful mistakes, over and over again.

"Everybody Hates Me"

"When so many people turn against you, you should examine yourself."

       This is a "truth" that is actually not very true at all. In the sense of a 'self-check', perhaps. But this quote can be very dangerous if taken at face-value, for true believers are targeted for persecution.

          In the Word of God, we can look at countless examples of good people enduring unfair acts of hatred. John the Baptist was beheaded at the request of a young girl. 

       King David, the "Man after God's own heart", lived a life of persecution. In fact, many chapters in that powerful book of Psalms, (which we love to quote and pray) were written from a place of duress.

      Jesus, the perfect man in whom there was no guile- was crucified by the very people whom he gave his life healing and touching. 

Will this really be your year???

Ptl Saints!
    As we begin a New Year, many of us are aiming to change for the better. And so many of us fail at this noble attempt, year after year. Did you know only 7% of people keep their New Year's Resolutions? 😱

    I choose to believe those 7% (or at least most of them) had the right idea about resolutions; that true dramatic change only comes about through the power of God. Only God can enable an addict to break the addiction, free someone of emotional scars that are deep in the heart, or heal the wounds of sordid pasts and broken relationships.

        Generally, our resolutions revolve around changing something that has been holding us hostage from another level- whether that is a bag of cookies, or a fear of inadequacy- we are aiming to break that thing in the New Year.

       However, we often fail because we do not acknowledge the spiritual aspect of our shortcomings. The bible says in Ephesians 6:12:

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

        You see, spirits often come disguised as feelings and emotions. You may continue sleeping with that man out of wedlock because you feel he's your "weakness" but in reality there is a spirit of lust, lasciviousness, and fornication that has been assigned to tempt you! And the reality is, that partner may be sent by the devil himself to keep you off course- because after all, the devil knows your weaknesses. 

         So as you begin to identify your shortcomings as we start the New Year, make sure you take a long hard look at them.

Are you a procrastinator- or is that a sprit of laziness? Are you trying to lose weight because a spirit of gluttony and anxiety or depression have you bound? Are you afraid to go after your dreams or is that a spirit of fear assigned to abort your purpose? 

        The next verse in Ephesians tells us the answer to winning the battle against those spirits: “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:13‬ ‭KJV‬

        As we prepare to tackle those resolutions, tackle the spirit behind the need! Prepare for success by securing your armor! Your success lies in being prepared with the armor of God. Cleanse yourself from all unrighteousness and begin the year with a fast. Use the fast time to build your faith, by reading and studying of the Word of God. On a CONSISTENT basis.

     As someone who actually had success in keeping my resolutions for the first time last year- I realize that it was also the first time many of my resolutions were Christ centered. As I kept my Christ-Centered resolutions, somehow everything else fell into place! God had given me power to break the yolk of the enemy- and he began to flee from my life. Suddenly those mountains didn't seem as intimidating anymore- Because I put my entire life into God's hands. (an ongoing submission process!!😁) 

      I'll end with this- Something about fasting will change your life. Beyond the Supernatural benefits- It teaches you discipline and sacrifice- the foundation in which all greatness lies upon.

        So as we embark on a New Year, may God be with you, and be at the Center of it all. 

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     Stay Noisy,

          Mallory