Ephesians 4:24 And that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true Righteousness and Holiness.
It’s hard to believe, but here we are standing at the threshold of another new year. My grandmother used to say, “The older we get, the faster the years go by.” She was correct. While many people make new year resolutions that they can’t keep, I pray you will resolve to be closer to the Lord this year than ever before. This is a resolution we can keep because it is not a set of rules but rather a state of mind that will totally alter your lifestyle for the better.
It is God’s Will that we all live our lives close to Him and keep Him first in our lives. We read this throughout the entire Word of God and yet the enemy continually draws us away from Him and into the cruel, evil world. We must become awake and aware of the enemy’s tricks and schemes. His goal is to steal our faith, destroy our hope and kill us.
The Apostle Paul wrote on this subject in every Epistle (letter) to the various churches. Every Word he wrote was inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16) and is pertinent to us today. When we take a step back and look at the whole picture, it’s really pretty easy. I’m not saying it’s easy to do, but it is easy to see.
The fact is, prior to our Salvation, we are all spiritually lost, dying, and headed for Hell. We live our lives devoted to the evils of this world and Satan has his way with us. Day after day we dive deeper into sin until we wake up one day in the proverbial pig pen, filthy and eating slop.
It is the enemy’s goal to keep us in this terrible place but that is not God’s Plan for us. We are all created in His Image (Genesis 1:27) but Satan desires that we live our lives in his evil image. To this, we have a choice. How do we choose to live? God’s Way or Satan’s way? God lets us choose.
If we choose to live God’s Way, He will be there with us every step of the way. This is His Promise to us but we must first make that all-important choice. This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him as the Truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true Righteousness and Holiness. (Ephesians 4:17-24)
Today is the day to put off the old man and take on the new. Do not be ignorant of the enemy’s devices. Wake up to what he is doing in this world and in your life. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and He will direct your path in life. Let 2023 be your year of total change as you seek God first and foremost in your life.
Today is the first day of the rest of your life. We do not know how many days we have left to live. Make every day count for the Kingdom of God. Hold tight to God’s unchanging Hand and allow Him to guide you into all Righteousness! He will if you will.
Hold tight! God is about to……….turn the tide……….in this world.
Holding on! Doreen
www.bettsministries.org
