NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS (original title, huh?)

It was truly our intention to keep this blog updated as frequently as possible. I just posted a separate Prayer Challenge, (see below). In my honest and wholehearted attempt to express what a life of trying to live prayerfully with God 24/7 is like for me, I also face that fear of rejection and fear of man. I struggle with it. But God desires obedience more than sacrifice so I have no choice but to put my experiences out there. I haven’t been doing a great job lately of focusing on God and focusing on my victory that I already have in Jesus. The Word says in Philippians 4:8. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” God just reminded me that I am not casting down every thought that does not line itself with the word. 2 Corinthians 10:5, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

I have had a horrible attitude lately and I have not been spending my time with God that I should be. Both the attitude and lack of focused time are products of each other. I used to have a daily focused time of intercession where I would just let the Holy Spirit lead me in prayer and bring things to my mind. I would think of scriptures then turn to them and then God would bring someone to mind and I would throw down in spiritual warfare prayer!!! It felt great! Since the birth of my son David and now having 2 little ones running around….I have had a very hard time getting back into the swing of things. I do have periodic times of intercessory prayer where I am sensitive to let God use me throughout the day while I am driving, walking, shopping, cleaning, etc… but when I feel best is when I have this focused one on one time with God only for intercession.

This time of intercession is separate from study time in Word and separate from my relationship with God where I try to talk and listen to Him 24/7 throughout my day. Those could also use a lot of work though too but I don’t want to blur the line of what I am referring to.

SO I was driving on Harpersville Rd. this morning and I drove by a house that had 2 snowmen in the front yard. All snow has melted from last weekend except for about ½ of each snowman. I had an encouraging thought from God, (I know this is from God because I have never really been an original thinker) just as the snowmen have survived, we are not to do it alone. Each snowflake sticks to the other and they form a large ball. I thought, “look at all that snow that is still packed together when all other snow has melted?" So He said through another thought, “Share your burdens, don't do it alone or you will melt away. It’s okay that you can’t get it together right now. Your life right now may not look the same, you are still doing your job, but it needs a little more work with the help of others.”

Then I thought of 1 Cor 9:24-27 which I have been mediating on for the past 2 days:

“24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

Okay God so I get it, I need to discipline myself. I need a trainer. I need others to help out, to encourage me, to kick me in the butt. All great athletes have others helping them. So that is my only New Year’s resolution: to get help to keep up with this blog thing. Everyone should get a blog; it definitely helps to keep me accountable.