As We Match Into Year 2012… Part 2

As the year closes so many of us have done a soul searching of the year in retrospect and scored ourselves low, thus, hoping and praying to do very well in 2012. This hope will only become a reality if we can truly stand up and begin to adjust in areas of our lives that we did not please God. You might wonder how you would know if you had pleased God. You will know if you are truly born again. Not just mouthing it but living the experience of being born again. We are told in 1 Corinthians 2:15-16 that we have the ability to evaluate everything because we have the mind of Christ. So as not to go through the same route of spiritual, physical and emotional defeat, we must endeavor to remain in the premises of God for the blessings to come. Know this: each blessing of God carries a premise or condition. Once the condition is not met then the blessing is a counterfeit and time will tell it. The Lord is not promising us a problem free year but He tells us not to forget that through the whole process, He will be with us. He promised in His word in John 14:18 that He would not leave us as orphans, He will send the Comforter – Himself. Therefore, let’s learn from the children of Israel in 1Corinthians 10:1-4. We saw the children of Israel having it all, they lacked nothing and had no reason not to follow the Lord completely. The Bible says in verse 4 that the Spiritual Rock which is Christ that they drank from followed them all the way. With this assurance, they were to serve God wholeheartedly but that was not the case. The Bible says in verse 5 that the Lord was not pleased with most of them and they were struck down in the desert. In verse 6 a warning was set forth which we cannot ignore: “Now these things became examples for us, so that we will not desire evil as they did.” Friend you cannot feign ignorance as you enter into the New Year. As a child of God you can’t live your life as you please neither can you serve Him as if He is the work of your own hands and expect lines to fall for you in pleasant places. Understand this, just as you have received the grace of God and His mandate to go forth into the year 2012 impregnated with His promises and blessings so the enemy equally has a contrary mandate to do everything within its power to stop you. But praise God, the Bible tells us in John 16:33 that we should be bold because He has conquered the world despite the tricks and tactics of the enemy; we are already victorious. In another place, He says we are more than conquerors! We are not entering 2012 to dance away in the face of battle; but we are to enter strong, battle ready not to relinquish an inch to the enemy in all fronts. Then we will live a victorious life each day to the end of 2012 and beyond if the Lord tarries. Ephesians 6:10 concludes the issue “Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and in His vast strength.” This simply means we must be strong in the Lord not only in our finances because His strength is vast and far reaching, but must, most importantly, be strong in the Lord in all facets of our lives: possessing a strong sense of character that is built in Him, a passionate heart for the things that concerns Him, a strong sense of responsibility and a heart tuned to respond promptly to His instructions. Do this and you would not have a falling and rising relationship with the Master in the year 2012. Welcome to the year 2012 in Jesus Christ Name! God BLESS you.