"'Now the Lord sent you on a mission, and said, Go… Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord?'… And Saul said to Samuel, 'But I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and gone on the mission of which the Lord sent me...'" 1 Samuel 15:18-20
King Saul did not follow God's instructions and walked in disobedience. This evil marked the beginning of his fall and carried over into other areas of his life. When Saul disobeyed God, he brought sin and all misfortune upon himself. His disobedience resulted in God rejecting him from being king.
I encourage you today to take nothing into this new year that is not beneficial to you. Let nothing carry over that has held you back from God's best for your life and the lives of your family members – bad habits, bad attitudes, negative thinking and so on. Repent today and keep moving forward in God. Don't allow disobedience to hinder you from God's best. Remember, when you refuse to obey the Word of God, you stop good things from flourishing in your life. Don't even worry about others, or who's with you. Make the decision to change and refuse to carry negativity over into this year.
The enemy will try and tempt you to hold on to your old ways and bad attitudes, but trust and believe God. If you walk in obedience, God will reset the button in your favor. Devote more quality time to God; in the Word of God, and in prayer. Focus on the positive and refuse to be tricked by the enemy into reverting back to your old ways and bad habits. "Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers." (3 John 1:2) God wants you to prosper in every area.
It's time to mature in Christ. If you mature, you will be manifesting who God is. Many people try to handle things or get things through the flesh but are not mature and so when things come up, their soulish/carnal man rules them instead of their spirit man. But the blessings of God cannot be handled by the carnal. Our true being is our spirit man. This year of 2019 decide to work on your true being. There is much that God wants to show His people, but He can't until we get to a place of spiritual maturity.
We are all challenged from time to time, and mostly by people. In fact, satan will use people to put you in a carnal state of mind -- through your spouse, children, neighbors, co-workers, and so on. But if you would instead look at each situation as an opportunity to build your character, you can overcome every challenge. In 3 John 1:2 above, God is letting us know that if we prosper in our spirit, everything else will prosper. When my spirit is prospering, so is my health, my joy, my peace and so on. The key is seeking the Kingdom's way first (being spiritual, as opposed to carnal), and then all these things will be added (Matthew 6:33) – goodness, favor, mercy…
It's time to check our attitudes, personalities and behaviors, and make corrections at the start of this new year. It's time to be consciously aware of the tactics of the enemy and let him know you're not going there this year; it's time to give him the Word of God. Stop getting offended so easily, and work on you. Spiritual people pray instead of always confronting. Some things you don't have to address or confront; just pray, and conviction will follow.
During this year 2019, develop your spirit man so he will grow and reflect the attributes of Christ, which are the Fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22) Things will change in you, and for you, when the Fruit of the Spirit begins to develop on the inside; and everyone around you will know it.
Let this year be different from other years. Leave the past behind and allow nothing to rollover into this New Year. OUT WITH THE OLD; IN WITH THE NEW!
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