Dear Friend,

It is now January 2015. I can’t believe that 2014 is already gone.  I’ve been thinking a lot about how things have gone and what I want to change in this new year. I don’t make a lot of New Year’s resolutions because if I don’t succeed in them, the enemy comes quickly to condemn me. I’d rather just purpose in my heart to do better and let each day draw me closer to our Lord.

The biggest tactic I’ve seen the enemy using this past year has been on people’s minds. So many people are battle weary and are on the verge of giving up. They lose hope, and hope deferred causes the heart to be sick, just as Proverbs 13:12 says: Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

The devil knows that when we’re tired and weary, it’s easier to convince us to give up. But that is the time we need to push in and let the devil know that God is faithful and we will not quit or give up. Galatians 6:9 says: And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. If we don’t give up, I believe we’re going to see God move in a mighty way this year.

I want to encourage you to stay and make a stand in God’s Presence and His will. His love, faithfulness, and mercy haven’t changed. He wants us to succeed in Him.

The lack of peace I see in so many Christians right now really bothers me. We need to remember what the prophet Isaiah said: For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee (Isaiah 54:10).

I am in the process of shutting every door in my life that the enemy may try to come through this year. And those doors don’t always appear to be “bad” things. They could just be things that steal time I could be spending with the Lord. In my life, I want to decrease so the Lord can increase. Amen.

Let’s not forget what Jesus said in John 14:26,27:

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

The Holy Spirit will help us shut the doors that we need to shut because the devil is forever and will always be looking for an opening in our lives to attack. Jesus goes on to say in John 14:30: Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. Hallelujah! We can overcome this world just like Jesus did. The Scripture says so in First John 5:4: For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

It is my hope that each one of us sees victory in every situation of our lives, and we give all of the praise, all of the honor, and all of the glory to our Lord Jesus Christ. Happy New Year!

In His love,

Donner Roberson