1 Thessalonians 5:21 Test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.
‘What the New Year will bring to you will depend a great deal on what you will bring to the New Year.’
Jesus prepared His disciples for His death. “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise” (Matthew 17:22). Yet when the time came to fulfill His purpose on this earth, the disciples dreaded the death of Jesus but missed the truth about His resurrection after three days. But they did not understand what He meant and were afraid to ask him about it (Mark 9:32). Hence, they covered and shuddered after the crucifixion without waiting for the resurrection. Jesus taught us how to look at our future and win the battle of our mind by surrendering to the will of the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane. Yet not My will, but Your will, be done (Luke 22:42b). As Jesus refused to yield to the tumult of His soul He was able to look through the ghastly crucifixion, into the victory that humanity would have through the cross.
This is why Jesus advised us, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41). Fasting and prayer will make His will and plan for 2023 clear for us. What we carry into 2023 is what the New Year will bring to us. Let us bury the disappointments, defeats, bitter animosity, frustrations and rejections in the grave of 2022 and look to a glorious brand new start at the dawn of 2023.
Win your battle in the battlefield of the mind:
1. Reprogram: Jesus reprogrammed His soul to submit to the spirit. Jesus poured out His soul in prayer. “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Luke 22:42). He reprogrammed His soul to be obedient to the will of the Father. Reprogram your mind.
2. Refocus: Jesus refocused His attention to the victory and not the virulent valley of death. We have to go through the valley to get to the mountain top. Our most dominant thought is what we focus on. Refocus on the end product not the present pain.
3. Rest: Jesus put His feelings, emotions and sentiments to rest at the Garden of Gethsemane. Nothing and no one could intimidate or irritate Him. He was serene and silent as He walked to the cross. Pour out your soul at the feet of Jesus and rest on Him.
Let us go into 2023 with a fresh, reprogrammed mindset. Carry the promises of God not your problems into 2023.
‘What the New Year will bring to you will depend a great deal on what you will bring to the New Year.’
Micah 7:15 “Yes,” says the LORD, “I will do mighty miracles for you, like those I did when I rescued you from slavery in Egypt.”
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I surrender my apprehensions and submit to reprogram my mind to refocus on Your awesome power and promises in 2023. Amen
Leave a Reply