Monday, November 23, 2015

BEING SPIRITUALLY PREPARED FOR THE HOLIDAYS

BEING SPIRITUALLY PREPARED FOR THE HOLIDAYS
The holidays are upon us and though we would love for everything to be cheery and bright, in reality many of us will face some awkward situations.

Here’s five keys to help us:
Key No. 1: GIVE IT TO JESUS. Sounds so simple but even Peter couldn’t quite get himself there. He did the best he could and that’s all we can do too. In Luke 5 Jesus told Peter to “launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.” But Peter said, “Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing.” He just couldn’t see getting all the nets dirty and tangled again and besides he knew from experience that if he tried fishing in the day he’d get nothing. “Nevertheless at thy word I will let down the [one] net” (Lk 5: 4-5).
It’s like Peter had already been to holiday after holiday with the same results. He was pretty sure it would be the same as before. But when he did his best to give it to Jesus, everything changed. Even Peter’s small amount of true trust got results in a wonderful way. “And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes (vs. 6) and he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken” (vs. 9).
Key No. 1: GIVE IT TO JESUS. Jesus knows how to do celebrations. When he was at the wedding in Cana, they ran out of wine. The party was turning sour and Jesus turned the water into wine and made it sweet again. Who’s to say He wouldn’t do that for us??
Key No. 2: RETREAT TO ALMIGHTY GOD. Sometimes when we get into tense situations and conversations the best thing to do is excuse ourselves for a few minutes and go to the restroom or take a short walk: Retreat.
The King James Version of Psalm 91: 9 tells us to make the Most High our habitation. The Hebrew word translated “habitation” means “retreat.” It goes on to say that because we retreat to Him “He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone” (vss. 11-12). Stones represent the natural world.
During the holidays we have so many opportunities to get trapped in conversations about many worldly things, tripped up on those stones thrown into our paths. But we can be willing and ready to physically take a quick retreat to the restroom or somewhere else to talk to God Almighty and He will send His angels to keep us in the Lord’s way so we don’t crash into the stones, getting offended or offensive.
Key No. 2: RETREAT TO ALMIGHTY GOD.
Key No. 3: BLESS THOSE AROUND YOU AND ANYONE ELSE WHOSE NAME COMES UP IN CONVERSATION. God created every person with something marvelous in mind for them. So no matter what little they seem to be doing toward that goal, we give them a better chance by praying, “God I bless them to be able to do Your perfect will for their lives, in Jesus name. Amen.”
Key No. 3: BLESS THOSE AROUND YOU TO DO GOD’S WILL.
Key No. 4: BLESS YOUR BODY. Going into situations where we’re uncomfortable because of incidents or feelings from the past, tend to make us vulnerable and weak and susceptible to old soul wounds. These can make us feel badly, think badly and act badly, which can quickly take a toll on our physical bodies as well.
Pray this: “I bless my body to do and be as You God intended it to be.” Ephesians 4:16 says, “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth [is supplying], according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh [is making] increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” That’s a good one to pray too.
Key No. 4: BLESS YOUR BODY.
Key No. 5: BLESS YOUR MOUTH. One of the biggest tricks Satan pulls with family and friends is to get us to say something we later regret. Proverbs 18: 21 tells us, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Once said, it’s out there and nearly irretrievable unless we almost immediately ask forgiveness and even then it’s awkward. The best way to avoid this is to bless your mouth. Pray, “Lord, I bless my mouth to only say what You intend.”
Key No. 5: BLESS YOUR MOUTH.
5 KEYS.  The number 5 in the Bible represents God’s grace. God’s grace abide with you and on you this holiday season.
Love, Carolyn


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