Solutions versus Resolutions Resolutions...decision or a fresh determination. -40 days to make a new habit -32 days for most to give up -86% give up by end of Feb. Top 5-2023 Resolutions: Exercise more – 52% Brace yourself for a busier gym — at least for the first few weeks of the year. ... Eat healthier – 50% ... Lose weight – 40% ... Save more money – 39% ... Spend more time with family/friends -37% My word for this year INTENTIONAL… Solutions… Forgive faster Taking offenses slower Be grace based not task oriented. (Mary/Martha) To speak the language of love. ( Your body has a language) Listen/Follow His voice. Jeremiah 2:13 AMPC [13] For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the Fountain of living waters, and they have hewn for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns which cannot hold water. TWO SINS- Forgot God Built other cisterns. (Seek out other means of water supply.) BROKEN CISTERNS hold no water- One may spend years building a cistern. When the time finally comes to depend on it, it doesn't hold water. The same may be said for the religions of man, or his philosophies, self gained pursuits, wrong relationships, etc… They can't give life. You may trust and believe in them but they won't sustain you. The use for a broken cistern - they became tombs. Men were buried in them. Cisterns- Dependent on left over rains. Wells- Dependent on what comes from within. Jesus is the Living water- coming from the well within us! What’s my Solution? Drink from the Water of Life John 4:9-10,13-15 AMPC [9] The Samaritan woman said to Him, How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan [and a] woman, for a drink?-For the Jews have nothing to do with the Samaritans- [10] Jesus answered her, If you had only known and had recognized God's gift and Who this is that is saying to you, Give Me a drink, you would have asked Him [instead] and He would have given you living water. [13] Jesus answered her, All who drink of this water will be thirsty again. [14] But whoever takes a drink of the water that I will give him shall never, no never, be thirsty any more. But the water that I will give him shall become a spring of water welling up (flowing, bubbling) [continually] within HIM unto (into, for) eternal life. [15] The woman said to Him, Sir, give me this water, so that I may never get thirsty nor have to come [continually all the way] here to draw. Forget the past, discern and reach for the future. Don’t stay stagnant in your relationship or your purpose! Isaiah 43:18-19 AMPC [18] Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the things of old. [19] Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? (Pay close attn. Be mindful) I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The springing forth is within us! To help others! TO EXPERIENCE CHANGE, something is required—CHANGE! The Holy Spirit is trying to take us to a place where God can use us and expand the territory around us but when we’re resistant to the change, resistant to the sacrifice, resistant to the pruning process—we want the comfort zone instead of the sacrifice zone—we continue in the stagnant place feeling somewhat comfortable in our flesh but frustrated in our spirits. We end up in the blame and excuse game. When the spirit and the flesh war against one another it’s uncomfortable. It’s a cistern. Stagnant waters. A place we’ve built for ourselves that produces nothing but self gratification. Jesus came to give up his life so we could have LIFE. We are all called to do the same. Change looks intimidating because change is not comfortable to our flesh. Our desires are exalted or preferred above His desires for us. The devil convinces us that we are inadequate, incapable and simply unable for this change so we give up and say it must not be Gods will. Surely God wouldn’t make me uncomfortable in my new season. Every time we are to let go of one season and step into another, it will bring discomfort and cause us to question ourselves because it’s new territory. It’s the unknown or unfamiliar. This is the perfect place to be-when we walk on a new level and in a new anointing-we have to let go of our own strengths and completely walk in Gods supernatural strength. What’s the solution? Take pleasure in your weaknesses… 2 Corinthians 12:10 AMPC [10] So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength). 2 Corinthians 12:10 TPT [10] So I'm not defeated by my weakness, but delighted! For when I feel my weakness and endure mistreatment-when I'm surrounded with troubles on every side and face persecution because of my love for Christ-I am made yet stronger. For my weakness becomes a portal to God's power. Self-evaluation in the presence of faith is productive but self-evaluation apart from faith is condemnation and that is demonic. Proverbs 4:23-27 TPT [23] So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life. [24] Avoid dishonest speech and pretentious words. Be free from using perverse words no matter what! [25] Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life's distractions. [26] Watch where you're going! Stick to the path of truth, and the road will be safe and smooth before you. [27] Don't allow yourself to be sidetracked for even a moment or take the detour that leads to darkness.