ESTHER’S WARRIORS MINISTRY
Blessings as we move into the first month of 2013. January marks the first fruits of the year. How we begin this year will affect the next eleven months. What is your plan? What is your vision? Where does God fit in your life this year?
Do You Need to Lose Weight?
The number one New Year resolution is weight loss. Usually by the end of the first month most have abandoned this lofty goal. Consider a different kind of weight loss: the weight of the world. What if you could lose the weight of every day trials? Would you do it? Jesus clearly tells us in Matthew 11:30, “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Choosing to walk closely with Him gives you a life free of heaviness. Your spirit loses worldly weight. How much weight you lose depends on how much you put into your relationship with Him. Just as in the natural, how much weight you lose depends on how much effort you are willing to put into the process.
If you choose to closely follow Jesus does that mean you will not have trials and difficulties? No it does not. Many preach a life free of all problems if you “come to Jesus” but that is not what He tells us. “…in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation…” (John 16:33b) He clearly tells us there is trial and suffering in the world so we should not be surprised when life happens. The key to relieving life angst is to live fully in Him.
Let There Be Peace
In John 14:27, Jesus promises those who believe, “Peace I leave you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Are we troubled and afraid? He promises us peace in Him but do we live in Him? Do we live in His promise? Do we live in peace?
Whether you have been a Christian for a lifetime, five minutes or are contemplating accepting Jesus into your heart know that to follow Him will not change some of the things that happen in life. What fully accepting Him will do is forever change you and how you walk through life events. You will no longer walk alone. He, the Son of God, the King of kings and the Lord of lords walks right along with you. He goes before you to prepare the way. He makes what seems crooked straight. He holds you in the palm of His hand. All this and more He freely gives you despite what is going on in your circumstances. He gives you His peace.
Who Holds Your Life Blueprint?
Are you in Him or in your own life design? We hear a lot preached about relationship with Him vs. religion. Are you stuck in a religious mindset that stifles a full relationship with Jesus? Religion gives us intellectual concepts for our mind. Relationship goes deep into our heart (and it is always a heart issue). What takes place at the heart level is the crux of any real relationship. You can ‘know’ Him in your head but if you have not given Him full reign in your heart you know Him not.
At the beginning of 2013, make a resolution to know Him in the fullest. Open your heart and let Him be sovereign in your life. I promise you that if you fully commit to Him He will change you and your life.
“Maintain your personal relationship with God at all costs. Never allow anything to come between your soul and God, and welcome anyone or anything that leads you to know Him better.” Oswald Chambers. Quote taken from The Quotable Oswald Chambers, Compiled and Edited by David McCasland
A Prayer Request
Thank you for your continued faithfulness to pray. Please keep all who serve our country, our servicemen and women and their families in prayer for salvation and safety. They are our frontline on the battlefield, let us be their frontline in the spirit. Also, let us cover all who have come home wounded that they and their families will receive the kindness, help and support they need to go forward in their lives. God bless all our diplomatic and military personnel and their families.
Please pray for all in authority over us, for the full truth to come forth concerning Benghazi and for safety in Israel. May God richly bless the United States of America and keep her safe. May we may arise united in this auspicious season in our country’s history.
My Prayer for You
May God richly bless you and yours. May you fully open your heart to Jesus this year. May He reign supreme in your heart and in your life. I pray that His peace will wash over you in each and every life circumstance and that you will know His presence and live His peace that surpasses all intellectual understanding. May His Kingdom supernaturally invade your heart and forever change you from glory to glory in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.