Consider God’s plan for your life this year | News, Sports, Jobs

Why do people make New Year’s resolutions?

Isn’t it an interesting tradition? The turn of the calendar year feels like a clean start and a chance to do things differently: eat better, exercise more consistently, break bad habits, learn something new, get better at time management, get back to working with God in the morning. start, quit an addiction, etc, etc, etc!

Whether it’s for better physical, mental or spiritual health, financial breakthrough, stronger relationships or more opportunities, it seems we all make decisions because we want something better in life.

So, we want something more than working hard and still feeling unfulfilled or being away from our friends and family; is anything but barely getting by financially and having a marriage that feels like living with a roommate. We want something better than a life spent checking tasks off the to-do list and jumping from one appointment to the next.

Our New Year’s resolutions are symptomatic of a deeper desire of the human soul. We want better, and that’s actually what God wants for us… John 10:10 “I came that they might have life, and have it more abundantly.” The apostle Paul prayed for us to receive a revelation of this greater life in Ephesians 1:18-19: “That your eyes of understanding may be enlightened, and that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what are the riches of God. “the greatness of his inheritance in the saints and the greatness of his power towards us who believe.”

The greater life that God has designed is the life in which we become the best people we can be. As we maximize the gifts and talents God has given us and use them for His glory, a greater and more abundant life is created. This life brings with it the inner satisfaction and peace that the whole world seeks. And because we miss experiencing this change, we make new year’s resolutions.

But while we hope these efforts will create a better life for ourselves and our families, we often undo them within a few weeks. From where? The main reason for this is that we focus on our own efforts and strength to achieve our desired goals, not on “just because”… that is Jesus!

Greater Life Begins with the Understanding of “Because”: John 14:12 says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do, and will he do greater works than these. Do it because I am going to my father.”

God has a destiny, a plan, and a purpose for our lives, and He desires our transformation more than we do. And when Jesus went to the Father, He made sure that we too could have a greater life.

Jesus Became Our Intercessor: After Jesus left the world and returned to the Father, he undertook a vital ministry for us; His ministry of intercession, as Hebrews 7:25 tells us: “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to make intercession for them.”

“To intercede” means “to stand in the gap,” which has two meanings: 1.) To set out and 2.) To bind our hands to the hand of God. Both are extremely important to living a greater life.

Our enemy, Satan, wants to kill, steal, and destroy any opportunity or attempt we might make to experience the greater life God has planned for us (John 10:10). So the enemy wants to test us, test us, make us give up our faith in God and the greater life He has planned for us.

Even Simon Peter floundered in the fire of trial, but he was able to experience the greater life that God offered him to become a pillar of the Church and a founding Apostle of Jesus Christ. How did he do this? It was Jesus’ prayer in Luke 22:32: “But I prayed for you, Simon, that your faith would not fail. And when you return, strengthen your brothers.”

Because of Peter’s weakness and dependence, Jesus stood by him and blocked the demonic attack sent against Peter. Jesus joined Peter’s hand with the hand of the all-powerful, all-saving Father. Satan’s plan was thwarted and God’s greater plan for Peter’s life was fulfilled.

Perhaps when you hear this story this thought may come to your mind: I wish Jesus would pray for me when the enemy came to pull me away from the greater life God has for me! …when the enemy tempts me to be satisfied with abject mediocrity…when the enemy tempts me with fairy-tale greatness…when I am tempted to give up on this dream that tells me this is what I am meant to do with my life, but I tell myself: it will never happen.

The good news is; He is praying for you! When Jesus went to his Father, he undertook the ministry of intercession for all his followers. This means He is interceding for you right now. He stands in the void and connects your hand with the Father’s hand, helping you go through trials and tests and experience the greater life God intended.

When, in the midst of miserable mediocrity, you keep feeling an inner desire to do what you’ve always dreamed of doing, that’s what keeps coming up in your heart and what people tell you you’re good at. Proof that Jesus’ prayers work! These are the prayers of Jesus that follow you and push you into real action so that you can ultimately live a greater life.

When unexpected opportunities suddenly come your way, that’s Jesus’ prayers working. And when you stumble, lag, or go astray and feel unfulfilled and empty, these are Jesus’ prayers calling you to turn back and pursue a greater life.

Our victory does not depend on having better New Year’s resolutions or a stronger will. This is based on the understanding that Jesus is now interceding on our behalf because He has gone to the Father and this is preparing us to receive greater life!

He Sent the Holy Spirit to Help Us: Remember His promise in John 16:5-7 “But now I go to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ He doesn’t ask. But because I told you these things, sadness filled your heart. Yet I’m telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go; for unless I go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I leave, I will send Him to you.’”

In this passage, Jesus was speaking to His disciples who were with Him personally during His earthly ministry, and they were saddened that He had to leave. But he tells them it’s in their best interest. In other words, it is better for Him to leave and send the Holy Spirit to be with them.

Not only with them, but within them as we see in John 14:16-17 “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor, the Spirit of truth, to be with you forever. The world cannot accept Him because it does not see Him and does not know Him. But you know Him, because He lives with you and will be in you.”

Why was this better for them? While Jesus was on earth, he was often with his disciples, but he was not always with them. There were also times when they were on their own in other places. And when they were left on their own, they got into trouble. That’s when Peter rejected Him. That’s when they fell asleep instead of praying. That’s when they argued over who was the greatest person in the kingdom.

Jesus was sensitive to the danger of leaving his followers alone in a world of darkness, temptation, and persecution. Clearly, He was worried about having to leave His loved ones in order to return to His Father and complete His mission. But as He explained to them, this is actually a good thing because I will send you another Counselor who will be with you and within you (always).

The word “other” here means “an exact copy” as used in the original language. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He is just like Jesus, and when Jesus went to the Father, He sent the Holy Spirit to be with us in His place, day in and day out, for all of our Christian lives.

This divine Comforter is our helper and counselor; It provides divine power to transform us into the likeness of Christ. Our determination to live a better life pales in comparison to the work He wants to accomplish in us. And when we are confused about what actions we need to take to cooperate with His process, we need only ask Him for wisdom.

This wisdom is revealed in John 16:13: “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth; For He will not speak on His own authority; but whatever he hears he will speak; and He will tell you the things to come.”

The word “guide” here literally means a tour guide or expert on where to go. The Holy Spirit is also our guide throughout our life journey and accompanies us through the tests and trials we go through along the way. If we ask, listen, and believe, He can tell you to go that way, not that way, even if the path seems impossible.

It can instill in you the courage to persist where your self-determination and willpower have failed you in the past. In other words, when you see your future self living a greater life, it strengthens you to resist the enemy who tries to dissuade you.

And these are just a few of the ways the Holy Spirit helps us live the greater life our Father intended us to live!

Because Jesus returns to the Father and intercedes for us daily and sends the Holy Spirit to live in us, guide us, and transform us into the likeness of Christ, we have the assurance of a more abundant, better life than an ordinary one. .

So relax and rejoice! Our greater life is about successful New Year’s resolutions, not about because!

May God’s blessings be upon you in this new year.

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Finding Faith was written by area pastors. This week’s column comes from Pastor Don Grant of Hillview Wesleyan Church in Flemington.