Flashback: This year has truly been eye opening! A year of both triumphs, heartache, joys and pain. A few of the highs: We were blessed with our second grandchild, and reminded that we are creating a legacy and the daily things that we do are making an impact for the next generation. BLOG Magazine closed out its first year with an awesome team of beautiful women that have learned how to respect and love one another despite our differences, and I successfully completed another semester of college towards my degree. On the other side; we were also challenged in the area of our marriage, one of our children straying and going wayward, and endured deceitful attacks through extended family. The enemy knows the power we have as a family, and again sought through our challenges to 'divide and conquer'...one of the oldest tricks in the book.
Announcement: We were again not moved! When the enemy attacks us, we simply dig our heels in and discover New Ways to use the experience to minister to others. With every obstacle in life, you can either cave in, cry and whine "why me' or you can counterattack the enemy and use the experience as a lesson learned, grow with it, and make it into a testimony to share with others going through something similar!!
We took it as a personal challenge to cling CLOSER to God, and His Grace and Mercy in 2013.
That being said: For 2013, I have decided that it's time for a personal Revival. I want to remove all traces of who I used to be so that I can only reflect Christ in my life, attitude and every fiber of me. I need to die even more to SELF than ever before. Dying to self requires pain and sacrifice, putting my will and ways down in exchange for His will and ways. It means getting out of Gods way so that He can fully operate in my life. I admit there has been many times in this year that I have operated in my own strength, tried to force my own will...and again I discovered that it only leaves me frustrated, angry, and mentally drained. And endless cycle of regret, and repentance. I'm tired of the enemy's neverending roller coaster ride...I want off!
Resolve: Beginning with a strict lifestyle fast in January 2013, my Resolution this year (and anyone is welcome to join me) is to implement what I call the 5 'R's to Revival:
Get REAL: The first step before we start, is to do what Jesus said; Clean the inside of the cup, rather than just looking good on the outside. Get rid of the junk. Take a long look at yourself, your actions, your attitudes, get in the mirror and get REAL with yourself and God. He already knows you...just come out of denial. Identify your weaknesses, and rather than make excuses for them, realize that they are the direct path that the enemy takes to throw you off track. Ask yourself this question: If the enemy really wanted to take me OUT right now, what could he use to do it? Identify that as your weakness, and work diligently in the New Year to guard yourself against that temptation.
1) RETHINK: Changing our mindset to line up with God's ways. That includes scripture research, verse memorization, and posting positive quotes around my house about who God says I am, and the fact that I am ALREADY victorious through Christ. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves daily in order to get it down in our spirit and keep it there!
2) REDISCOVER: Revisiting our Purpose and Mission..going back to the last thing God told us to do and COMPLETING it! Writing out our vision and mission and making it plain, posting it so that we can remind ourselves of where God says that we are going.
3) RELEASE: Cutting off all distractions to that purpose...letting go of harmful things, people and situations that get in the way of our purpose...Forgiving those who have purposely hurt us and set out to do us harm..not for THEM, but so that we dont block our own blessings with anger and unresolved unforgiveness.
4) REMOVE/REPAIR: Stepping outside of my comfort level: Purging my circle of toxic friendships and relationships that have held me down in the past. Repairing and mending Godly connections and yoking with people with common purpose and values in order to increase my circle of 'life givers' rather than 'spirit drainers'.
5) REDEEEM: Go and claim the blessings that God has for me and my family, and not be HELD back by fear of failure or defeat! Then reach back and helping others to do the same. The things we go through are not ABOUT US. Its about using our story to help others get free as well.
If you are feeling that the enemy has been using you as a punching bag all year, rather than throwing in the towel and allowing a defeat, try a counterattack method: Revival! He hates when you get closer to God through your trials, rather than straying away from Him.
Imagine this: if every time the enemy attacks you, you praise God even MORE and minister MORE and grow MORE in your faith...after a while, he will be so disgusted that he will simply leave you alone!!
"Resist the devil and he will flee..."James 4:7
If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired, wearing a mask, stuck in bondage, and nauseated from riding on the enemy's neverending rollercoaster, its time in the New Year to make a New Start, and a New Beginning. Its time to cut the worldy puppet strings and be led by the One who has only good things planned for you....
The real question is not CAN YOU do it, but rather....do you really WANT to be set free?
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