By P.J. Stratton
The old year is past, and we have entered a brand-new year to continue on towards fulfilling our destiny in Yeshua. Yeshua walked in His authority as the Son of God to share the gospel, heal the sick, forgive the sinner, walk in love, sound the trumpets, and shine His light as a beacon of safety for all lost sheep. ‘
Now is the time to set our New Year’s resolutions. Let’s focus on the eternally significant checklist.
Pray
Safety reminds me of its opposite: danger! Our prayers are needed by many of the 8.5 billion people living around the earth in its 144 countries. Have you ever awakened in the middle of night and could not go back to sleep? There have been many ministers who this happens to quite frequently and they shared with me that they felt the unction from Yeshua to begin to pray for others. Miracles do happen!
The Lord’s Prayer Matthew 6:9-13 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Matthew 6:13 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Love
Foremost, our Heavenly Father has called us to love people, just as Yeshua did, regardless of their skin color, ethnicity, personal preferences, political choices, life decisions, citizen and/or spiritual status.
1 Corinthians 13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profited me nothing.
Mark 12:28-31 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, the first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. …
Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the Lord.
Amos 5:14-15 Seek good and not evil, That you may live; So the Lord God of hosts will be with you, As you have spoken. Hate evil, love good; Establish justice in the gate. It may be that the Lord God of hosts Will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.
Past
Looking back…for just a brief moment to rejoice where Yeshua has brought you, then look forward always! I descend from eleven generations of farmers, entrepreneurs, and merchants. Back in the day, horses provided transportation and were used on the farm to plough fields to grow food, wheat and other staples before machinery was invented to make this job much easier. The farmer would put his shoulder to the plough planted deep into the dirt and guide the horse to plough the fields making ready the rows to plant crops. Looking back was not productive!
Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, no man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.
Romans 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
1 John 2:8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
Provision
Matthew 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.
Exodus 20:5-7 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Protection
Psalm 118:5-6 I called on the Lord in distress; The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. …
Ephesians 6:10-19 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
Holiness
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
1 Peter 1:15-16 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
Romans 13:14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Thankfulness
Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Psalm 136:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.
Salvation
2 Timothy 2:10 Therefore, I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
In His Service,
PJ Stratton
