We can all pray that it will be a happy new year, if not for the world then at least for us. This post is a recap of what the Lord impressed on this servant about the coming year:
1. continue developing your talents/skills/abilities to serve the Kingdom
2. Rejoice always, pray about everything, give thanks in all circumstances
3. Focus
An addendum to number 2 there is the way we do it. Rejoicing always is not always easy especially when things do not appear to be going well. We have two tools to use in these situations: 1. Choice/decision, we get to decide how to respond (response-ability), and 2. Jesus colored glasses. This is one that cannot be faked but if we choose to look at every situation through Christ, in other words we see Him first-then our situation it helps. In order for that to work He must really be a source of joy/hope/lovc for us. This is no different than what He does. When the Father looks at us, He sees the Son first. So when we are seen He does not see the sin and all the other problems, instead He sees the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The enemy is at work doing their worst. Let us be at work doing our best. Another note about talent/skills/abilities-we might really want to get our diet and exercise routine on point this year to have our bodies ready for whatever the Lord asks for us to do we are physically ready to do it. We might also want to learn how to produce food. This servant has tried many times over the years to grow things and success was elusive. This year we try again and with the Lord's help we pray for success. Also something like learning a foreign language might be beneficial. For that one you need to consult the Lord 1. if you need to do it and 2. which language to choose.
At the time of this writing the big X over America is 1 year 3 months away. The Lord has allowed America to slide so far down the drain there might be no return at this point (thus the X). If that is the case we need to focus on the few things left that matter. We are here for a reason in this season, not by chance. Each one of us has some talent/skill/ability that is needed to serve the Kingdom in this day and age. The Lord told us what is going to happen in the Word and He has given us year after year specific guidance. The specific guidance can also be found in the best selling book in world history:
1 Thess 5
16Rejoice always, 17pray without ceasing, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Matt 25
14“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servantsc and entrusted to them his property. 15To one he gave five talents,d to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.e You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Phil 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
If the enemy is working hard in this world, our Lord is working harder. Everything must be done according to His plan and His timing. The enemy does not have the power or authority to override the Lord God's plans or timing. So, we can be thankful at the beginning of 2023 that the Restrainer continues to restrain. We need to recognize that we are part of that restraint. Because the Restrainer is still at work, the enemy's "superman" has not been allowed to make his appearance. We can be thankful for all of this because without their superman all of their current demonic world order plans will be flushed down the toilet.
It will be the Lord that sounds the starting gun on the final 7 years, not the enemy. In all that is happening we need to develop our personal walk with our Lord and be watching carefully every day for His appearance. We do not need an invitation once per year or once every seven years to be watching...
Luke 21
34And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
We are watching and praying always for the escape. Nothing gets the enemy and his servants more agitated than talk of the escape. If you want a topic that will get the veins in their neck popping and their faces red as a tomato, talk about the escape from all that is about to happen. They don't like it which means we should loooooooooooooove it :). The escape from all is 100% guaranteed to happen just exactly as it is written. God Almighty, all knowing and all powerful knows how to keep His promises. And, He will not allow anyone in eternity to be able to look back and say "hey Lord, you said such and such would happen and it never did!" Not going to happen.
So simply put, we all need to do what we were told to do. I will continue to remember you all in my prayers. I ask you to please remember me and my family in your prayers as well. We will all need mutually supporting prayer in the days ahead. This is not a time to be staring at the ground, we need to look up!
Luke 21
25“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
The Lord God is good. Glory to God. Grace and peace be with you and your family throughout 2023!
