𝐒𝐅𝐌

What are some healthy habits you want to incorporate into this new year? 

What truth are you going to intentionally keep in your heart for this new year?

Lord, destroy the lust in me that corrupts my body. Kill the thirst that takes me outside Your will. Let me seek You first before anything else and consume whatever is in me that's not of You.
          
          From my wants and desires to my passions and ambitions, let whatever is in my heart like an evil seed be consumed to die so that it may never grow to become a tree.
          
          In Jesus name. Amen 
          
          -etty
          
          

What is one truth about the enemy that you want others to know?
          

We Are Not Called To Hide
          
          Psalm 55:4-5
          ESV
          4 My heart is in anguish within me;
              the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
          5 Fear and trembling come upon me,
              and horror overwhelms me.
          6 And I say, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
              I would fly away and be at rest;
          7 yes, I would wander far away;
              I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah
          8 I would hurry to find a shelter
              from the raging wind and tempest."
          
          Here is a Psalm of David during a troubling time David had been betrayed by a trusted friend and felt the oppression of the wicked. David's pained heart, the terrors of death, fearfulness, trembling and horror all felt as they came upon David. Like an overwhelming heavy rain, it was pouring upon David and this great flood of trials caused David to want to be like a dove. 
          
          Birds often symbolise freedom. David longed to escape this flood of trials. In my early days of school, I learned how birds fly away whenever they sense danger is soon and if there will be bad weather. They fly to a place where there is better weather and stay there for a season or some time. 
          
          Similarly, David had this desire. He wanted to escape the trials. Escape this uncomfortable situation. Escape the troubles. Escape the torture. Escape the battles. Escape the lies. Escape it all and go to the wildness and like a bird, hide, find rest and be protected from it all. Like David, we can say how we would hurry away from a windy storm. 
          
          When trials become much, we want to escape. We want to find freedom and peace, but God hasn't called us to run away. Our promise in Christ isn't to be free from trials and these uncomfortable situations but we are told and promised we will have tribulations, prosecutions, and trials (John 16:33). 
          
          (MORE BELOW)

2 Reminders that build intimacy with God
          
          1) Live a life of purity
          
          Sin is like a block bottom. To block someone is that you prevent them from having access to you and vs versa. Sin can be a block between you and grow closer to God. First, make sure that you are walking with God it means walking in His word and will.
          
          2) Read His word and get to know Him
          
          Have a bible study schedule where you can spend time with Him in reading the word. You can also listen to sermons, podcasts, etc, though they aren't as important as reading the word for yourself. All these can help you grow closer to God and learn more about Him. You get to know someone also through other people, so hearing about other people's experiences and relationships with God can help you desire and seek those experiences.
          
          For Eg, if you hear someone talk about how God gave them a dream about something, you'll desire God to also speak to you through dreams or in a similar way.
          
          If you hear about how someone did a fast and the results, it can encourage you to fast too.
          
          -etty
          
          

Jesus came to redeem us. We were meant to be punished and experience the wrath of God, and Jesus came here to go in our place. He didn't sin. He was neither of those things, but He came to take the place of all of us and be the ultimate sacrifice.
          
          As He died the death we should have, He rose again giving the life we now don't deserve. In His blood, we are no longer called by our sin, but now we have received an identity as children of God. We are reconciled with God, and as we repent, turn from sin and seek righteousness, we now continue on the path of sanctification to become more and more like Jesus and wait for His soon return.

What are some goals you want to achieve for this new year?

What has helped you not care as much about what other people think?
          
          

"Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught."
          
                                                                   ~Proverbs 3:25 (ESV)
          
          COMMENT:
          
          I have recently been reading through the book of Proverbs these past few weeks and when I came across this verse in the third chapter, it really stuck out to me how applicable this verse is to the current situation in America. Wickedness and corruption is running ramped in the government and the presidential election. Anger, hatred, and malice have seized the people of our country as they riot, destroy and burn. To most of us, it probably seems like all hope has been lost. Everything seems so dark and unclear. How can there be hope for a world that has gone so far downhill?
          
          But let me offer you some encouragement. There still is hope! It is not all lost! The Bible tells us in so many places that we must not be afraid. There is nothing that could happen in this world that is not under God's control. He is our confidence! He will not let our feet stumble in hard places! 
          
          Don't let fear trap you under it's evil spell. With God as our confidence, who can cause us to stumble? Who can cause us to be afraid? 
          
          "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
          ~Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
          
          Lily (lilyflower1603)