The Power of Resolve – Milt Hodges

To kick off the New Year, I shared a simple yet important message with our youth group.  That message was “The Power of Resolve” out of Daniel 1:1-21.

As we seek God for what He has for us individually and corporately in the Body of Christ in 2011, we must “resolve” to live out Matthew 6:33.  This verse states that if we seek the Kingdom of Godabove all else, and live righteously, then He will give us everything  we need.  We need a Kingdom “resolve” to win our families, friends, coworkers, and communities to Christ.

Resolve is defined as a definite or earnest decision about; to determine (to do something).

In the first part of Daniel chapter 1, Daniel and his friends were kidnapped from their country and everything that was once normal was be changed forever. Their names, clothing, diet, and language was changed.

They were immersed in Babylonian culture so that they would learn a Babylonian lifestyle. However, though everything was changed externally, there was an internal commitment to the Lord that could not be shaken. Daniel 1:8 says “but Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.”

We must resolve in our heart to live out of a Kingdom culture and not a Babylonian culture. Our attitude must be like Daniel’s. Babylon can not change my resolve and passoin to worship, pray, fast, and fulfill the Great Commission.

Does your New Year Resolution start with a fresh resolve to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, all of your soul, and with all of your mind? (See Matthew 22:37)

Here are a few key areas we can resolve in our hearts to live out in 2011 and beyond.

A resolve to:

·      Read and soak in the Word.

·      Pray without ceasing

·      Fast

·      Share the love of Christ with others

·      Disciple at least one person

·      Love, honor, prayer for, and encourage one another.

·      Serve in a ministry.

There is an army of saints who have resolved in their heart to see His Kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven. When we resolve in our heart to be like Jesus, nothing can stop us!