MASSIVE LOSSES IN THIRDS (PART 3)

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water—the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.

Revelation 8:10-11

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Today, we come to the third message in this series titled, Massive Losses in Thirds, and it aligns with an angel sounding the third trumpet in Revelation, chapter 8, unleashing the third judgment from God after Jesus broke the seventh seal on the scroll He took from His Father God.

In regard to losses of a third of things on earth, the first trumpet blast set a third of the world’s trees on fire. This was followed by the second trumpet being blown which led to a third of the oceans turning to blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea perishing, and a third of the ships underway at sea being destroyed.

What happened when the third trumpet was sounded?

We find out in verses 10 and 11:

The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water—the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.

While the oceans were targeted by the blowing of the second trumpet, here we find other waterways, “rivers and springs of water” being tainted by a “great star” which blazed “like a torch” as it was cast down. The scriptures tell us that the “name of the star” will be “Wormwood”.

This name is of interest because it aligns with verses in the Old Testament, chief of which is found in the 29th chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy. There we read this in verses 14 through 19:

“I make this covenant and this oath, not with you alone, but with him who stands here with us today before the Lord our God, as well as with him who is not here with us today (for you know that we dwelt in the land of Egypt and that we came through the nations which you passed by, and you saw their abominations and their idols which were among them—wood and stone and silver and gold); so that there may not be among you man or woman or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations, and that there may not be among you a root bearing bitterness or wormwood; and so it may not happen, when he hears the words of this curse, that he blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall have peace, even though I follow the dictates of my heart’—as though the drunkard could be included with the sober.”   

Here, we learn that wormwood was a bitter root used to describe a human action that God didn’t favor, the attitude of bitterness. Today, it is an herb found in two alcoholic drinks, vermouth and absinthe, and its oil has the potential to be poisonous.

Going back to our scripture passage, we find where the name given to the star directly correlates to the nature of the root and herb. For we read where a “third of the waters tuned bitter” and when people tried to drink from those tainted waters, they died as a result.

Think about how devastating it would be to the world if one third of their source for drinking water ended up undrinkable. Dehydration would strike a multitude and anyone who did drink from the Wormwood-contaminated water would perish for doing so. Thirsting without anything to quench that thirst would be terrifying to a person and given that our bodies are approximately 60 percent water, you can see how much of a global health crisis would emerge from widespread contamination of basic, nourishing H2O.

Did I mention that the Great Tribulation is going to bring massive losses by thirds on the earth?

And to think there are still four trumpets left. We’ll look at what will happen when the fourth is blown tomorrow.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

MASSIVE LOSSES IN THIRDS (PART 2)

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

** Become a Follower of The Christian Walk at http://the-christian-walk.blogspot.com

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

Revelation 8:8-9

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Beginning in chapter six of the Book of Revelation, we read about the events that transpired as Jesus, the only One worthy of opening the scroll held in the right hand of His Father God, started breaking the seven seals that held the scroll closed. In yesterday’s message, we reviewed these as we revisited Jesus opening the seventh and final seal, found in the eighth chapter.

In that review, we recalled seven angels coming before God, each receiving a trumpet to sound. At that time, we didn’t know what purpose the trumpets would serve but it didn’t take learn to learn what God had in store because beginning in verse 7, we find the first trumpet sound, unleashing havoc from Heaven onto earth in the way of “hail and fire mixed with blood” raining down along with all green grass and one third of all trees being incinerated and reduced to ash. The losses, especially one third of all the world’s trees, was nothing short of catastrophic...and there were still six more trumpets left to sound off with their own associated judgments.

In today’s passage, we read about what happened when the second trumpet was sounded by its angel:

The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. Vv.8-9

If you haven’t figured it out by now, God was sending punishment on the earth by impacting that which He had created in the first place.

One third of the trees He made along with the green grass were burned completely. This was followed by a “huge mountain” being set “ablaze” before being “thrown into the sea”. Think about this. When in the history of creation has an entire mountain been uprooted and thrown into a body of water much like a fisherman might throw out a line to try and catch something.

And speaking of the oceans, one third of all the earth’s seas will turn to blood, a third of all sea creatures will perish, and a third of all ships utterly destroyed. Not a good day to be anywhere near or in the water, for sure.

It will be a second incident of massive losses in thirds and we don’t know if the same third of the world will be impacted or if each third will feel one of the three things happen. No one will know how this will look until it happens but when it does, there’s no doubt that anyone on earth will be able to associate the events with anything except God for there’s no one could cause the incredible damage and loss outside of the only One who possessed the power and authority to do so.

There’s a good reason why this prophesied period of world history is called the Great Tribulation. Thankfully, if you’re reading this and have placed your faith in Jesus, you won’t have to worry about it because Jesus will rescue you at the Rapture. Conversely, if you’re reading this and haven’t placed your belief in Jesus as Savior, you will know exactly what’s happening when it does...that is unless you join me and the more than two billion Christians in the world today by placing your eternal hope in Christ as your Savior.

I pray you will do just that.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

MASSIVE LOSSES IN THIRDS (PART 1)

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

** Become a Follower of The Christian Walk at http://the-christian-walk.blogspot.com

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.

The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

Revelation 8:6-7

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

After a wonderful Advent and Christmas/New Year series of messages, we return to a study of the Book of Revelation today. Back at the end of November, we left off with the opening events after Jesus broke the last of seven seals on the scroll He had taken from the right hand of His Father God. You’ll remember that John, the one who shared the vision given to him by Christ, shared that Jesus was the only One worthy to open the scroll (Revelation 5).

Starting in Revelation, chapter 6, we read about events triggered after Jesus broke six of the seven scrolls, each unleashing an event. You’ll recall that the first four scrolls unleashed different colored horses with riders, each bringing a specific affliction to the people on earth. They included:

Seal 1: “...a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.” Revelation 6:2

Seal 2: “...another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.” Revelation 6:4

Seal 3: “...before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages, and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!” Revelation 6:5-6

Seal 4: “...before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.” Revelation 6:8

The fifth seal didn’t set forth any form of judgment per se but rather involved all the souls of those who had been martyred for the cause of Jesus after the Rapture to be assured that they would have a place in eternity. Given white robes, they were instructed to “to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been.” Revelation 6:9-11

Seal number six released the greatest calamity and chaos yet. The scriptures tell us that “there was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.” Revelation 6:12-14

The events struck fear into the hearts of even the most powerful people on earth as we read this in the closing verses of chapter 6:

Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?” Vv.15-17

Unfortunately, the worst was yet to come as we will see once the seventh seal is broken. To review, at first nothing happened. There was “silence in Heaven for about a half an hour” (Revelation 8:1). After this time had ended, seven angels came before God and each was given a trumpet while another angel brought a “golden censer” to the altar which was filled with “much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people”. We read where the “smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand before the “angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth” causing “peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake” (Revelation 8:2-50).

Now all this might have seemed like enough judgment but as we will see, the Lord was just getting started for the angels with the trumpets were about to take center stage, each bringing massive losses in thirds We’ll begin with the first one today and these words from Revelation, chapter 8, verses 6 and 7:

Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.

The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

It’s important to note that these seven judgments, initiated by the sounding of the seven trumpets, will take place during the Tribulation period, a period that comes after the Rapture. The scriptures tell us that the first trumpet launched “hail and fire mixed with blood” from Heaven onto earth. Additionally, one third of the world’s trees would be incinerated and all green grass burned. The ecological impact would be incredible and all animal life and birds that relied on trees for shelter or grass for nourishment would be affected.  

Losing a third of anything in the world would be an incredible loss in some way or another. Here, we it’s the trees but as we are going to see, there are more horrific changes coming that will impact more thirds of the earth. Tomorrow, we’ll see what the second trumpet will bring but ultimately, my prayer is that anyone who has not yet accepted Jesus as Savior will do so today because doing so would give you a pass from having to go through this unbelievable punishment from God. Like those who are in Christ, you will be rescued at the Rapture and ushered away from this world before the worst comes upon it.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS FROM THE WORD OF GOD (PART 2)

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

** Become a Follower of The Christian Walk at http://the-christian-walk.blogspot.com

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and advise one another with all wisdom, as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

Colossians 3:12-17

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Yesterday, we looked at the first five resolutions from the word of God, taken from a message I delivered at a church service just before New Year’s Day several years ago. Today, we look at the second part of that message and the top five resolutions. Feel free to share with others and may the Lord richly bless you and yours in all things in 2025!

5. Be thankful.

There’s a popular saying that says, "Count your blessings...and when you get done, count them again."

You see, too often we lose sight of all the great and awesome things the Lord has done in our lives. In fact, just me being here writing this, and you being where you are reading it, is a blessing in its own right and something we should be so very thankful for. Just intentionally realizing that we are living and breathing is a good reason to be thankful and we can keep it as simple as that.

Indeed, God has blessed us with the gift of life this very moment even though we deserve nothing good from Him. We are all sinners who stand before a God who despises sin and yet He is still mindful of us. He loves us and cares for us, so much so that He was not willing to let us perish, instead offering up His one and only Son Jesus as the atoning sin sacrifice for all mankind, once and for all. Through Him (Jesus), everyone has an opportunity for salvation and that in its own right should take us to a place of complete gratitude. For God doesn’t just offer us life in the here and now but forever through His Son.

So the next time life’s circumstances start to drag you down the road of begrudging the life you have, refocus yourself on the cross and remember how very blessed you are. If you do, I am convinced you’ll find your life attitude turn toward thanksgiving and praise unto the One who gives us every good and perfect thing from above (James 1:17), now and forever more.

4. Let the word of God dwell in you richly.

How good are you at time management?

Our days seem to get ever busier as we run from obligation to obligation, from event to event. There seldom seems to be enough time in the day. In fact, too often as we arrange and prioritize our time, we schedule so much that we squeeze the most important things out, like quiet time with the Lord in prayer and scripture reading.

Friends, God blesses us with time. We all get 24 hours a day and He expects us to invest it wisely. Yet, too often we skip giving some of that time back to Him every day and jump into living life void of the wisdom, guidance and strength we need to make it through situations we encounter. We often sit in dismay and depression, lost and in need of help, even when that help is just a few minutes of prayer or bible reading away.

We need to remember that all the knowledge, insight, and direction we need is fully found in the Bible, God’s Holy Word, His instruction manual on life given to us so we can make it day by day by day. When we read it, study it, and pray over it, then it comes alive and dwells in our hearts and minds, illuminating our path as we walk down the pathways of life.

I believe that God would say this to us as we start 2025:

“Make more time for My word so you know what to do with the life and time I provide you. Discover my will and purposes for you and then carry them out. Allow My Holy Spirit to provide you a greater understanding of My word and allow that understanding to dwell richly within your heart, mind, and soul.”

3. Teach and advise one another with all wisdom.

We can only do this if we have wisdom within us. And that wisdom is not our own wisdom or worldly wisdom but the wisdom that comes from the Father above.

This resolution only happens when we adhere to the preceding one and let God’s word dwell richly within us. Our study of Holy Scripture will lead to spiritual wisdom as it takes hold within our hearts. Then, God would say, "Don’t keep My word to yourself but rather take the learning you have received from Me and use it to teach one another." In fact, Jesus gave us that instruction in His Great Commission. He told us to "teach others to obey all that He had commanded" (Matthew 28:20).

In the end translation, we learn what the Lord commands and understand His expectations only by reading the Bible, meditating on our reading, and then putting it into action. The call for us in the new year is to be not only be active in learning from God’s word ourselves but also proactive in teaching others about Jesus using the wisdom God places within us.

2. Sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Do you have a favorite song? What is it about that song that makes it your favorite?

Most often, it is because the song makes you feel good. It has a way of elevating you above whatever might be happening in your day and brings joy to you for the moment you listen to it.

Personally, I have found that music has an effect on the soul unlike any other medium. Whether it's a praise and worship song, a contemporary Christian song, or a classic hymn, spiritual music is a gift from God that brings us into the attitude of worship and adoration unlike any secular song can.

In this new year, examine the music you’re listening to and ask yourself these questions:

Do these songs glorify God? Do they edify me spiritually?

My prayer would be that you truly sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your heart toward God this year. I share a Song of the Day every day through this ministry to offer up the gift of Christian music to my followers. So when you lift your voice up to sing along with that song or any other, do so in a way that the Lord will feel your fullest gratitude and make a joyful noise unto the Lord.

1. Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Is there a more suitable number one resolution that God would have for us in 2025 or any other year for that matter?

For in this final resolution, there is no gray area or exception, just the requirement for us all to do everything in the name of Jesus, all the while giving thanks to God for the indescribable gift of salvation and eternal life through His Son who He gave freely to pay the price for our sins.

Once again I ask:

Is there any greater resolution we could make for the new year?

And one follow on question...

Is there any more challenging resolution for us to carry out in such a sin-filled world?

The good news is that we can meet this challenge, just as we can meet any challenge, through the power and strength of Christ within us. Truly, as God’s word assures us we can "do all things through Christ who strengthens us" (Philippians 4:13) but only if we allow Him to come within and dwell in our heart, mind, and soul. For if Christ lives within us, then we will truly be able to do everything, whether in word or deed, in His name. And that kind of life, my friends, will always one that is pleasing in the sight of God the Father.

In closing, I pray we will live out the verses of this passage from Colossians in the new year. For if we do, we will find ourselves in the very spirit of God’s will for us in Christ Jesus!

I look forward to a great year ahead in the Lord and wish all of you a very Happy New Year!

Tomorrow, we’ll return to our study of the Book of Revelation.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS FROM THE WORD OF GOD (PART 1)

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

** Become a Follower of The Christian Walk at http://the-christian-walk.blogspot.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and advise one another with all wisdom, as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

Colossians 3:12-17

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Several years ago, I was asked to deliver a message at a church service just before New Year’s Day. The Lord placed the following words on my heart as I was thinking about what He would want our resolutions to be for the coming year, ten resolutions from Paul’s letter to the Colossians. I pray they will be a blessing to you as we enter 2025.

I will count down the resolutions across two devotions today and tomorrow. Feel free to share with others and may the Lord richly bless you and yours in all things. I will continue our journey through the Book of Revelation on January 23rd.

Here are resolutions 10 through 6 for you to consider as you approach the coming year:

10. Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

How many of you are very selective in the things you wear?

Most people are.

Dressing properly takes time and careful consideration over season, occasion, style, and color as we choose what we’ll put on. We usually want to look our best as we enter a world where others will see us.

Given this, are we just as selective and careful about the way we clothe ourselves with our attitudes and demeanors? Before we venture out, do we take as much time to properly prepare ourselves for others to see what we look like on the inside?

Look at the things that God’s word says should be part of our inner wardrobe:

- Compassion which consists of affection, tenderness, pity, and mercy.

- Kindness which can include courtesy, favor, good deeds, and goodwill.

- Humility which is defined as a spirit of mildness, humbleness, surrender, and modesty.

- Gentleness which involves sensitivity, friendliness and politeness

and

- Patience, or one’s ability to remain calm, composed, and cool under pressure.

For sure, God’s word wants us to assess how well dressed we are on the inside. In this new year, maybe a makeover might be in order.

9. Bear with each other.

What does it mean to bear with one another?

Perhaps it’s easier to ask:

Can you think of someone right now who just seems to get under your skin, someone who annoys you to no end?

Maybe we all have that one person, or maybe two.

Through the words of Paul, words given by the Holy Spirit, the scriptures are commanding us to be more tolerant in the new year.

To respect others.

To stop looking so closely at another person’s shortfalls while ignoring our own, for we’re all flawed and imperfect when we get down to the truth of the matter.

To seek to be more understanding of others and strive to resolve differences when they occur.

To strive to build or rebuild bridges instead of burning or tearing them down.

In the year ahead, pray for those who you differ with and seek reconciliation and work to bear with one another.

8. Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

We all know what forgiveness is. Putting it into action is often the real problem.

If left to our own devices, we could easily wiggle our way out of forgiving some people by deciding who we want to forgive and who we don’t, and in doing so, we would turn forgiveness into a selective process where we would serve as the judge.

That’s why God had to put down strict guidelines to govern our pardoning, saying:

“Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

WOW!

This command takes any compromise out of the matter of forgiveness. For we must forgive everyone without exception. If you doubt that, then I ask you to name anything you have done that the Lord is not willing to forgive you for. Trust me, you won’t come up with anything and thus the power that comes in God’s statement. It is a checkmate to any move of consideration we might make to not forgive someone. 

In the end translation, the Lord wants us to see that the first steps to inner healing when you are burdened with anger or hatred toward another is to say the words, “I forgive,” then resign to pray for that person who is in the same state you are, a sinner who is only saved through the amazing grace of God through Christ Jesus.

The word of God is clear when it comes to the matter of forgiving.

We are to forgive as the Lord has forgiven us...and this is non-negotiable.

7. Over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them together in perfect unity.

The package of prior resolutions all revolve around love which is central to the greatest commandments of Jesus He declared in Matthew’s Gospel. There He said this:

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength." Then He said, "Love your neighbor as yourself." (22:36-40)

If you truly love God with all that you are, you will easily embody compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, bearing with and forgiving one another, doing it all in the name of love through the One who showed and taught us what love is all about.

So when you receive the blessing of this new year, take off the ribbon and paper that is on the gift of Jesus and see what is inside. If you do, you will find priceless treasures in and through the Savior, the Christ who we should be seeking to be like in every way…and the first thing we’ll see when we look at Him is love.

Put Jesus in your heart this coming year and watch love rule supreme in all you do.

6. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.

In a world full of violence, confusion, problems and constant change, peace is sometimes very hard to come by, isn’t it?

I think that’s why we were given these words from God found in Philippians 4:6-7:

"Do not be anxious about anything but give your concerns to God in prayer and petition and with thanksgiving. So you might find the peace of God that transcends all understanding and your hearts and minds will be guarded in Christ Jesus."

In 2025, God would want us to remember that He is the only One who is fully able and ready to handle any problem we have. And when we truly lay our burdens at His feet and allow Him to work awesome miracles in our lives, then we can fully experience that peace that transcends all understanding, a peace that will ensure our hearts are guarded by Christ Jesus.

To achieve this, here’s an exercise you can do to put Philippians 4:6-7 to work in your life this year and avoid the pitfalls of stress, anxiety, worry, and fear. There are four easy steps:

Step 1: Get out a piece of paper and begin to write down everything that you are stressed over, worried and anxious about, or afraid of. Make sure you list everything and it doesn’t matter how long or short your list is.

Step 2: Take a moment to remember that God can do all things. He has assured us in the scriptures that there is nothing impossible for Him and that includes anything you are stressed about, worried or anxious over, or afraid of. You have to trust God can and will do what He said He could do or none of this works.

Step 3: Go to the first item on your list and say a simple prayer over it. It could sound like this:

Dear God, I trust you and know you can do all things. I need help right now as I try and deal with (whatever is on your list). The problem is too big for me but I know it isn’t too big for you and so I am giving it over to you out of faith. Thank You Lord for being there for me and giving me Your help. Amen.

When you’re done, cross out the item on your list and let it go. You’ve given it to God. There is no need for you to carry it anymore.

Step 4: Repeat Step 3 until you have covered every item on your list and if you have done this properly, leaving all your burdens at the feet of God, the only One who can so all things, you should feel a relief unlike any you have felt before, a peace that only comes from fully trusting God with whatever would seek to weigh you down.

I pray that peace, the peace of Christ, will rule in your hearts and the hearts of all creation in the new year.

That’s it for today and I pray that you will be blessed by putting resolutions 10 through 6 into practice. Tomorrow, we’ll finish our countdown with a look at the top 5.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.