MORE RESOLUTIONS

Resolved ~ to "keep my gaze fixed directly ahead" while at the grocery store so as not to be enamored with gossip magazines. I am resolved to use Ps. 101:3 and Ps. 119:37 as my weapons in this battle.

I have a secret interest in People magazine. It's very troubling to me. Why do I care about those people? What's even more troubling is how this world makes what God calls evil look really attractive.

Resolved ~ to realize and really believe that what I see "out there" and on TV is not real life and is certainly not "the good life." The good life is right under my nose. (Titus 2)

The next one is related to the last one. Part of me believes the lie that what happens in my normal, everyday existence is not profound enough to satisfy me. I need more of what the world says is important. So this resolution is meant for me to renew my mind with the truth that what I might feel is mundane is really the most important thing.

Resolved ~ to be convinced of the worth of and satisfaction in intercessory prayer.

Even when I don't see results in some areas, it is important to be involved in this soul stretching discipline. I think Elisabeth Elliot once said that intercessory prayer is the ultimate in giving of yourself and your time to someone. It also gets my mind off myself and onto God. Our church has a prayer ministry and there are opportunities for people to take a five hour block of time midnight to 5 am and pray. Those times have been very precious to me. I highly recommend it.

Resolved ~ to fight with all the strength God supplies against self-pity and the tendency to sink into the mire of despondent prayer.

Self-pity is satanic, again, according to Elisabeth Elliot. I couldn't agree more. Self-pity is one of the biggest weapons in Satan's arsenal against me. When I give in I tend to pray desperate prayers that are emotion centered. It's only when I start to pray Scripture (especially like Psalms 91-100) that the cloud starts to lift and I find victory.

Resolved ~ when tempted to self-pity and despondency, I will remind myself of the attributes of God which Spurgeon says "should become fresh rays in the sunlight of our gladness" and to use praise to fight the attacks of the enemy.

I love that quote by Spurgeon. I just came across it in his Morning and Evening devotional. I've become more aware of the power of praise as well. Pastor Michael Youssef has written some books on these subjects that I would highly recommend. One is I Praise You O God and the other is Empowered by Praise.

Blessings.