(Note from Linda: Mark has truly been blessing all of us in the FAM Fellowship as the Lord reveals one of his hidden gifts, so I thank him for permission to share yet another powerful message here; which I know everyone standing for marriage restoration will really appreciate as we embark on another New Year. So let’s take this vitally important message to heart, and there is no doubt that we will be blessed and encouraged this year and always!)

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Here we are at the beginning of another year; a time of reflection for many…a time to look back at the past year and for many of us, a traditional time of “New Year’s Resolutions.” So most of us look back at our failures and shortcomings and make a “resolution” to change something that we did not like about our lives or ourselves. And like most, I have lists of well meaning resolutions that never went anywhere. I had good intentions, but good intentions are not enough. And I have finally realized that the reason most of these resolutions never go anywhere is because we tend to focus on what we want and desire; we focus on our will and our ways and not God’s. And when we do make a decision or “resolution,” we often fall short because we decide to do it all on our own, instead of leaning on God and allowing Him to be our strength and guide.

I looked up the definition of Resolution and it says “The state or quality of being resolute, firm determination. A course of action determined or decided on. To make a firm decision about.” As I pondered these definitions and read my bible, I spent time reflecting about all the wonderful work God is doing in us and our spouses and what He would want our new year’s resolutions to be.
And it really is time for all of us to reaffirm our resolutions, and not just for the New Year, but for the rest of our lives. This is what the Lord says Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your soul. (Jeremiah 6:16) The greatest thing is that God has given us the Holy Spirit and When he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears and he will tell you what is yet to come. (John 16:13)

God has already given us the course of action that he wants us to take. All we have to do is seek His face and He will give us the wisdom and guidance we need. “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 33:3) So the question as we face a New Year is this…are we resolved to truly seek Him?

This season that we are in is not just about marriage restoration; it is about the restoration of our relationship with God. Not one of us can look back and say that we were truly honoring God in our marriage. Therefore, Instead of resolving to lose weight, or to stop smoking or any other desire we might have; in Matthew 6:32-34, Jesus told us…For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. And Deuteronomy 4:28-30 tells us…But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and obey him.

It is clear that God wants us to resolve to seek His kingdom first. And as Mark 12:29-31 says…“The most important commandment answered Jesus, “is this: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second us this; ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ “There is no commandment greater than these.”

So will we take a course of action to walk with God this year? Will we make a firm determination to Love our God with all of our heart, mind and strength? Are we going to be resolute in our decisions to Love our neighbors? Remember that we do have a choice in this decision. We can make more resolutions that are destined to fail, or we can let the Spirit guide us and have God’s grace and peace.

So I leave you with this great resolution from Colossians 3:12-14…As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” And let’s remember…We love because He first loved us! (1 John4:19)

Posted Saturday, January 3rd, 2009 at 5:38 am in Seeds Of Faith.