Make Jesus Your New Year’s (re-)SOLUTION

Have you made your New Year’s Resolution yet? You’ve still got time…..3 hours if you live in the Eastern USA. If you’re reading this and you live in Sydney, Australia, I guess it’s already 2008, so you’re a little late on making your resolution….haha, but, when it comes to your salvation, it is not too late to live your life for Jesus.

The common New Year’s Resolution always involves eating less, dieting, or exercising, doesn’t it? That’s good stuff, but a lot of people keep their diet going for about 2 days (if that) and they are back where they started. Do you want something to last? Whatever your resolution is, whether it is dieting, exercising, not cussing, ending an abusive relationship, being kinder….whatever it is, you need the support of your Father in Heaven. When a kid feels supported by their mom or dad, they naturally will achieve more than a child who feels alone in their efforts. It’s the same with you and God. If you are tackling your resolution all of your own strength, you could fail, you could fall short. You need the support and strength of Jesus, cheering you on, Jesus who can be your very Best Friend, who can speak by His Holy Spirit loving words of affirmation straight from His Word so that you can make it. You can do it! You can keep your resolution this year!

For the quantity of resolutions that don’t get kept, maybe that is why they are called “re”-solutions. We look for a solution to something. A solution to a weight problem, a drug problem, a drinking problem, a profanity problem, whatever the problem is, we want a solution. But, the days go by, we forget our resolution or we just plain don’t have the strength or willpower to keep it (especially if the resolution is to give up chocolate!) and then we RE-do our “solution” again the next year….only to…..fall short yet again.

This year, why not find the Solution to your every problem? To your every need, Jesus is the answer. He will comfort you, guide you, coach you, encourage you, love you. Are you alone this New Year’s Eve? Jesus can be with you, right now. Won’t you let Him into your heart?

Was 2007 a tough year for you?

Was 2007 a year in which you applied to college but didn’t get in or you were in college, but your professor wasn’t impressed by your eloquent poetry….was 2007 a year in which the love of your life left you or left this world and you feel right now like you just can’t get over it? Was 2007 a year of grief? A year of sadness? A year of failures and losses? Was 2007 a year in which you almost lost everything, couldn’t pay your rent? Was 2007 a year in which you were sick all the time taking medicine and throwing it all up again or suffering in an excruciating pain? Was 2007 a year in which you were depressed or angry or close to throwing in the towel?

Hear this, friend! This is your year of change. 2008 is your year to live how God created you to live – Free. Full of His Spirit. Full of Joy. Full of Victory. Full of Goodness. Full of Hope. Full of HIM. This is the year when “‘No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me,’ declares the Lord.” (Isaiah 54:17). This is your year of breakthrough. This year,everything can turn around for you, if you will let God have control of your life!

Proclaim a year of harvest in your life. Proclaim that your children will get saved. Proclaim that this year you will get a better job in which you are valued. Proclaim that this year your financial situation will turn around. Proclaim that this year you will have stronger faith. Proclaim that this year your husband will come back who left you. Proclaim it and believe it – God will bless you this year, dear friend. There is a beautiful song that proclaims God’s Word over the lives of those who believe: (The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is Upon Me)

He has sent you to the poor – This is the year

To bind up the brokenhearted – This is the day

To bring freedom to the captives – This is the year

And to release the ones in darkness.

This is the year of the favor of the Lord

This is the day of the vengeance of our God

This is the year of the favor of the Lord in your life. God has promised you, and the Word says that He who promised is faithful. Will you believe it tonight? Will you make a Resolution that you will make Jesus Lord of your Life this year?

If you have never accepted Him into your heart, now is the time. Pray in your own words, Father, I know I have fallen short, I have sinned and done wrong in Your sight, but today, tonight, I turn away from what is past, and I declare my life to be Yours, O God. I give myself to You, O God. I can’t run anymore. When I do things of my own strength, Lord, it just doesn’t work. I am going to trust You in this new year. Lord, today I give my heart to You. Mold me into the person You want me to be. I surrender to Your will in my life, Jesus, and I acknowledge that only You are the Lord of my life now, and that You are my only hope of salvation – You are my Savior. Forgive me, Lord God. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and guide my life. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you. I love you, Father. I pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

The form of highest praise in the Bible is the word Hallelujah. Be free this year to use this highest form of praise to exalt the Lord God. Hallelujah, if you have accepted Jesus Christ into your heart in all sincerity, you are saved. That’s worth a couple thousand hallelujahs. God bless you.

If you have just accepted the Lord Jesus into your life, leave us a message…the angels in heaven are rejoicing over you right this very minute. And if you haven’t accepted Him…maybe you’re “seriously considering” leave us a message too. We would truly love to pray with you and teach you about the wondrous plans God has for your life in 2008. We’re here in Cary, North Carolina, just outside of Raleigh. You are more than welcome to visit us!

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