Three Reasons to Choose Your Resolutions Carefully

"I said to a man who stood at the gate of the year: 'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown'; and he replied, 'Go into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than a light and safer than a known way!'" (quoting from a poem by M. L. Harkins)

It's January 5th. Assumedly most of you have already created your New Year's resolution list. Your resolve is high and it feels good to practice new disciplines and meet new goals...but what happens to that resolve by the end of the year? Why are we so quick to create a list of good things, only to fail by December 31st?

The Great Significance of Praying "Thy Kingdom Come"

Defining the Kingdom

Thy kingdom come. What does that mean for you and I? These words hold so much depth and meaning that I've struggled even to begin writing this post. How do you explain the gravity of Jesus' words when he taught His disciples to pray, "thy kingdom come"? Not a kingdom that is built with bricks or by force (John 18:36) but by the supernatural reviving power of salvation in the lives of those who believe (John 3:3) and the daily sanctification of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26).

I did a Greek study on the word "kingdom" and discovered that there are a few very important reasons why Jesus listed this as the third aspect of prayer in the Lord's prayer found in Matthew 6. We could do a whole series on the kingdom of God but for time sake I'm only going to briefly talk about two main points that stood out to me. I would encourage each of you to do your own study.

The Kingdom of God Gives Life

The Lord's prayer has revealed a lack of understanding and how little I know of prayer. To start my prayers with God's identity, God's holiness and God's kingdom agenda is a far cry from how I typically pray. Normally I begin with my problems, my struggles and my agenda.

When the Impossible Becomes Possible

Before Jesus died He gathered His disciples together for one last talk. (you can read about it in John 13-16) The disciples were greatly troubled as Jesus soberly explained why He must go away and leave them.  I cannot imagine what it would've been like to have been one of the disciples that night; the foot washing, the sobering meal, and the troubling news of betrayal and death. That night the Lord gave them an impossible mission...

"So I give you a new commandment; Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other...If you love me, obey my commandments. Abide in me and I in you...I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love." (commands from John 13-16)