A NEW YEARS CELEBRATION OF HOPE!
By Evangelist Linda J. Jackson
Dear Friend,
Perhaps you thought no one was listening or understood your hearts cry. GOD hears and sees. HE does not trivialize your struggles, your failures, or any life experiences (including LOSS in every form of health and finances to marriage and loved ones) that contribute to emotions and decisions which ultimately consume your ability to enjoy life. Conversely, Satan is your enemy. He preys on your vulnerabilities by using the following tools:
Satan uses YOUR PERCEPTION of negative experiences in your past against you.
Satan RECREATES those negative experiences over again and again by SHAPE SHIFTING his evil work through people in daily life situations. He studies your past conversations and involvement with others and knows who and what you value and will listen to!
Satan loves to taunt Gods people with UNFAIR COMPARISONS. Satan, through the power of suggestion, loves to present scenarios of individuals who you admire. He uses your view of their success against you to remind you of how insignificant and empty your life is. Satan bum-rushes your ears with whispers of defeat while he sits back and laughs at your misery!
Satan uses what I call the CHRISTIANS KRYPTONITE….
F E A R!!
His goal is to make you a slave to negative memories, and negative thoughts through shame, and guilt!
Satan is counting on your full participation in the belief that you will make a shrine out of all of your mistakes, failures, and your loss, regardless of your intentions or how these experiences unfolded.
Satan is counting on you wavering in your belief that through the power and blood of JESUS, you cannot be healed, forgiven, and restored. Doubt really settles in when immediate progress is not made.
Satan is counting on the weariness of your warfare in this seemingly unending cycle of defeat!
He wants to steal your EXPECTATION, your JOY, and ultimately destroy your reason for CELEBRATION, killing your PURPOSE to LIVE!
SECRETS THAT EXPOSE SATAN’S TRAPS!
Satan strikes when you have let down your guard in the following:
Prayer, our connection to God, whose love is unconditional. Through prayer we are able to vent our emotions and cry out about everyone and anything! God gives us comfort, peace, forgiveness, joy, and strength in exchange for our pain. We learn celebration and thanksgiving through his grace and mercy toward us.
Devotion, through consistent meditation on scripture, replacing Satan’s suggestions with Gods promises for our life. God’s word brings LIFE and HOPE!
Fellowship, with TRUE BELIEVERS in and outside of a church environment, reaffirming the positive presence of God in your life.
HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS!!!:
- You will begin to see yourself as GOD sees and loves you!
- You will see that even your trials have made you BETTER and STRONGER, because you endured!
SATAN WILL LOSE HIS POWER OVER YOU!!
YOU WILL SURVIVE!:
- The UNSOLICITED comments and BAD advice from others.
- Feelings of loneliness and emptiness.
- Negative memories regarding the past.
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO RESIST!:
- The burden of depression. The temptation of “SHUT DOWN” and ALIENATION.
- The spirit of FEAR! The DEMONIC whisper of suicide!
- The seduction of MR. or MS. WRONG!
- The decision to TURN AWAY from YOUR FAITH!
YOUR ESCAPE TO HOPE!:
PRAY with the intent of surrendering your innermost thoughts and emotions to God. Ask God to HEAL your hurting places. This gives Him the permission to fill your heart with Joy! “The Joy of The Lord is your Strength”!
REORGANIZE your sleep and wake up time to include Prayer and Devotion. Let GOD know He matters.
Only then will you feel his hand guiding and covering you.
FORGIVE those who have HURT YOU. Forgiving others gives you freedom and allows you to TRULY EXPERIENCE the forgiveness of God. It bonds you to HIS Love and gives you the Peace and Strength to Love, sort out your anger towards God and others, and to forgive and apologize if the situation allows.
MAKE JESUS THE CENTER of your life’s decisions. Align your decisions with the Word of God. Do not be ashamed to ask for counseling from your Pastor.
SAY AND THINK Godly thoughts of praise and hope over your life and future goals! The power of LIFE and DEATH is in your tongue!
DENOUNCE all forms of witchcraft including anything of a psychic nature that speaks over your life! Even if it sounds positive. The enemy knows the Authentic Word of God and will always present a COUNTERFEIT for a CURE.
DISMISS yourself from the voluntary fellowship of negative people and negative conversation.
PROTECT yourself from television and internet activities that arouse your flesh toward ungodly thoughts and actions.
YOUR SURVIVAL IS WORTH IT!
YOU ARE NOT A GARBAGE CAN!
DISPLAY bible verses and or words that remind you of GOD’S favor and promises on the walls in your room, refrigerator, screen savers, etc.
PLAY MUSIC with lyrics that reflect the Loving nature of God.
DEMONSTRATE SERVANTHOOD to be a blessing to others. Servanthood allows you to see YOUR VALUE and WORTH!
MARK YOUR PROGRESS in a journal. Reward yourself!
MAKE A NEW HOLIDAY CALLED…..
“NEW CREATURE DAY”!
This holiday is not controlled by any particular calendar date. You choose the day or days that you wish to celebrate. You may celebrate alone or have guests over, etc. On your special day, begin by thanking God for his Covering, Protection and Healing in your life. Thank him for the growth from the trials you endured and have overcome. Be creative! This is your new day and a brand new start!
FINALLY…….
SHARE YOUR TESTIMONY!
PULL SOMEONE ELSE OUT OF DARKNESS!
CELEBRATE A NEW YEAR OF HOPE!
Scriptures of Hope on:
- LOVE: I John 4:16,19
- FORGIVENESS: I John 1:9
- FAILURE: Revelation 21:5
- FEAR: II Timothy 1:7
Written by Evangelist Linda J. Jackson
