I Made My New Years Resolutions
The crystal ball rose and the fireworks exploded welcoming a brand new year. Excitement filled the air with the expectations of fulfilling every pledge I made to do things better than the year before.
This year it was going to be different! A new house, a promise of a promotion at my job and of course an exercise program to shed the extra pounds. Everything was in place. I was energized and full of anticipation of making it the best year ever.
Night fell and the work week began. A rumor began buzzing around the office that the boss was bringing in new management. Immediately I walked nervously to my desk wondering how this could happen to me!
At lunch I needed a hamburger and French fries. I knew I was breaking my promised diet, but I was afraid for my job and I needed comfort food.
The work day ended and I walked into my house with a feeling of fear wrapping around me and motioning me to run for the remote control and stare into the big screen television. The sound fell on deaf ears and my mind exploded into thoughts over the sudden turn of events.
I glanced at my table where the brochures lay highlighting the house of my dreams and I began to cry. God, why are you letting this happen to me? I reached for my dusty Bible and it fell open to Revelations.
Revelation 3: 14b-16, "This is the message from the Amen, the faithful and true witness, who is the origin of all that God has created. I know what you have done; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were either one or the other! But because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am going to spit you out of my mouth!"
The words I read were startling. I didn't understand why God would want me to see this particular passage. I believed in God. I was a Christian. I had memorized the Bible as a child and I attended church faithfully.
As I justified myself before God a voice whispered "Keep Reading". My eyes once again took in the next verse and then the next.
Revelation 3:17-19, "You say, 'I am rich and well off; I have all I need.' But you do not know how miserable and pitiful you are! You are poor, naked, and blind. I advise you, then, to buy gold from me, pure gold, in order to be rich. Buy also some ointment to put on your eyes, so that you may see. I rebuke and punish all whom I love. Be in earnest, then, and turn from your sins."
I haven't sinned! I deserve that promotion and I need a new house. God what are you saying to me? I practice my faith. Let's face it God, I can't buy gold from you, I have to work for it!
The whisper was calm and loving. It was if I was being given a choice of which path I would choose. A path to gain all the riches found in this world or a path that would take me on a spiritual journey of revelation.
I don't understand what your saying to me God. I have a plan! This year I am going to be successful and I am going to purchase the house I always wanted. I know that it may seem bleak at the moment, but I believe you are going to help me do this.
The quiet whisper softly prodded me forward to pick up my Bible and read some more. I obeyed. I wanted to understand what kind of gold God could give me. Is this gold better than my New Years plan?
Revelations 3: 20-22, "Listen! I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into his house and eat with him, and he will eat with me. To those who win the victory I will give the right to sit beside me on my throne, just as I have been victorious and now sit by my Father on his throne.
'If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!'"
A flood of thoughts lovingly filled my being. They persuaded me to look at my life completely different.
For weeks I had made my plans and designed my path so I could fulfill my desires for my life. Now God was telling me to think about these choices.
I had become so wrapped up in my plan that I had stopped growing in my spiritual life. I had put God aside and I only read my Bible and prayed when I was in trouble.
I wasn't playing my game of life to win the world for God and good. I was becoming self serving and I was trading my Christian identity for the things I could gain from this world.
I needed to get a grip and remember that my life's purpose isn't about things, but about Spiritual gold found in serving God. I grabbed a piece a paper and began a new list.
My newly revised New Years pledge. I would pray more and read my Bible daily. I would ask God to show me how I can serve Him better. I will pray for the people who have needs in my church. I will volunteer at the homeless shelter and give more in my tithe.
The fear that once engulfed me subsided! I began to breathe deeply once again renewed in my faith and determined that with God I would win this world for Him.
My boss held out his hand to welcome me into his office. To my surprise he stated that he wanted me to head the new management team. He said he noticed how hard I worked and he trusted that I would do a good job.
At the end of the day, I left the office Praising God. His whisper filled my thoughts. His love wrapped around me and let me know that I was His again and He was proud of me.
My own thoughts cherished God's words and made me even more determined to win my race in this world as God's Christian Soldier. I would do my work not for what I would gain, but for what I could give.
Related Tags: knowledge, love, jesus, bible, truth, whisper, christian, god, resolution, heaven, revelations, new years
My name is Linda C Dipman and I am the author of THE GAME OF LIFE IT'S ALMOST OVER. I prove through the Bible and my own life story that we are in a huge multifaceted world game. My web page is http://www.outskirtspress.com/gameoflife. Go to Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.com and Read THE GAME OF LIFE IT'S ALMOST OVER today and understand your destiny and how to win your game. thegameoflife
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- The Unused Power
Ever wondered what would have already been accomplished on this earth if only a handful of people ha - How Horoscope / Astrology Does Affect A Person's Happiness
When we speak about happiness, it reflects on two variations. One as an emotion like being happy or - Using The Internet For God
Do you have a Christian product, service or message that you would like to inexpensively advertise a - Get The Latest Catholic Church Mass Times Now On The Internet
Get to know the Catholic Church Mass Times through the Internet. It is generally obligatory to atten - Horoscope Compatibility For Libra, Capricorn, Sagittarius
According to psychic readings, people under this horoscope signs are somewhat different and somewhat - Know Your Life Through Psychic And Clairvoyance!
Having psychic and clairvoyant readings done from professionals is the best way to know the flaws th - Astrology/horoscopes: Why People Love Astrology
Astrology/horoscopes is the study of celestial body movement. Astrologers believe that the movement - Benny Hinn: India Healing Crusade
Benny Hinn recently conducted a healing crusade in India that drew one of the largest crowds ever. P - Sun, Moon, Ascendants Sign In Birth Chart Wheel
The Ascendant signs or the rising sign - is the zodiacal sign and degree that was ascending on the e - Zodiac Sign Gemini And Its Houses Description
Understanding Zodiac is not that difficult at all, determining your reading for the said subject doe
Most viewed articles in this category:
- No Sign in the Prayer Test
The recent release of the Richard Dawkins book, "The God Delusion", has brought renewed accusations - Bible Versus Quran Versus Sciences Array (2) the Bees
Before dealing with the topic of the Bees in Quran versus Bible versus sciences, it is mandatory to - Understanding the Heart
(If you wish to more benefit from this article, please read first our "The Alems" titled article. - Christian Dating vs Courtship
Over the past decade, or so, It's become popular in modern churches to use the concept of courtship - Bible Versus Quran Versus Sciences, Array (19) the Birds
The issues concerning the Birds in the Bible are:1) The Birds are Detestable and intolerable, 2) The - Starting the Wealth Process
Luke 6:38 KJV Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken togethe - Dissolving the Illusion of Fear
Webster defines fear as unpleasant emotions cause by expectation or awareness of danger. However, - Crossing Paths with a Whistleblower
Mordechai Vanunu grew up in an Orthodox Jewish home but abandoned the faith by his mid teens. He bec - Conspiracy Madness
In connection with the WTC disaster there are conspiracy theories that have been proposed. Such as t - How You Dream Your World Into Existence
Reality is not real. It is a dream. This is not a metaphorical statement. On the quantum level of