Staying On Track in the Holidays

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We are in the holidays and while we are trying to follow and focus on Jesus, it’s hard sometimes because the enemy of our souls hates us and hates Jesus.
These holidays are difficult because all sorts of stuff gets in the way of our walk with the Lord...
Saints
Christmas Activities
Addiction
Family aggrivation

How do we stay on the right Path this Christmas Season?

Matthew 7:13–14 NLT
13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.
We know that God is working in us
Philippians 2:12–13 NLT
12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
Here is what we need to know tonight from this…

God gives us the desire and the power to follow him

As you press into your relationship with Jesus, he will change your want too’s. Then on top of that he will give you the ability to do what he gives you the desire to do.
This applies to staying the course. This is a time of year that some will give up and give in to strongholds in their lives…
You have to pray that God will give you the desire and the power to do that which he desires in your life.

When it comes to staying on course, God will help but you have a part too.

Philippians 2:12–13 NLT
12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
Work outs make you stronger. We don’t work for our salvation, but we can work and strengthen our faith walk.
God is working in you, but you have to work out how that looks and work to strengthen it.
Here are some ways God keeps us straight in busy times...

How God Helps us stay on the right path

1. God gives us His Word.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 NLT
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
The Bible is the inspired WOG. It teaches us what is true… what’s wrong in our lives… corrects us… teaches us what’s right… prepares us for his work.
The WOG will change us like no other book… no other movie… etc.
Hebrews 4:12 NLT
12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
It cuts down into the parts no one else knows about and it brings life into our lives… it changes us… our thoughts, words and actions…
Read it
You need to be reading the OYB or the reading plan in the back of the devotionals...
Study it
Look at it a little deeper. get a study Bible. LA,
Memorize it
When you memorize it, it is stored there and the HS can use it when you need it.
Meditate on it
This is where you contemplate how to apply it.
Example...
Proverbs 15:1 The Living Bible
1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words cause quarrels.
Philippians 4:13 NLT
13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
You need to be worded up… Say I am going to get worded up...

2. God gives you the Holy Spirit to keep you on the right path.

WOG is awesome, but we need more.
God actually puts his spirit in us and that is where our power comes from.
Romans 8:11 NLT
11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
That’s pretty awesome… The same power that raised Jesus… spoke the world into existence... lives in us.
Romans 8:29 The Living Bible
29 For from the very beginning God decided that those who came to him—and all along he knew who would—should become like his Son, so that his Son would be the First, with many brothers.
God’s purpose for you and me is to become more like Jesus
The good news is that he gives us the power to do that.
We get this power when he gives us the HS and when he fills us with the HS.
Acts 1:8 NLT
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Ephesians 5:18 NLT
18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,
We are not to let anything control us but the HS of God. not relationships, alcohol, drugs, lusts, envy, anger, gossip, nothing. ONLY the HS.

3. God will use circumstances to keep us on the right path.

Some circumstances are a natural result of our bad decisions. Some circumstances occur ebcause we live in a fallen world.
But God can use all of them to keep us on the right path or to get us back on the right path.
Romans 8:28 NLT
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Romans 8:29 The Living Bible
29 For from the very beginning God decided that those who came to him—and all along he knew who would—should become like his Son, so that his Son would be the First, with many brothers.
Everything that happens has the potential to cause good in our lives.
Church Colsen
Aaron Broussard
Pastor Kathy… went to Rivarde with youth at 14 and now has over 100 volunteers sharing the love of Jesus to kids there every month… over 40 LE chaplains… 30 prison chaplains..
God will use circumstances to steer you where he wants you to go.
Now here is your part

Your part in staying on the right path

1. Choose your thoughts

Proverbs 4:23 TEV
23 Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.
What you think about … you will eventually do.
Ephesians 4:23–25 NLT
23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. 25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.
If you are heading the wrong way, change your thoughts!
The Bible word for that is
Repentance
It means to change the direction of your thoughts… about God… your sin…
Romans 12:2 TEV
2 Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.
Think - Feel - Act
If you want to stay on the right path, you have to change the way you think
You have to change the way you think
You change the way you think by filling your mind with the Word of God
Philippians 4:8 NLT
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Psalm 119:11 NLT
11 I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
If you are not having a DAILY QT with God, you are on the wrong path.
Joshua 1:8 NLT
8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

2. You choose to depend on the Holy Spirit

John 15:4–5 NLT
4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. 5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
We can’t even come close to being on the right path unless we are plugged into the Lord. We are dependent on His power.
God wants to produce in you fruit…
Fruit of the Spirit
Fruit of New Believers
Fruit of miracles in your life
To grow fruit, you have to depend on the HS

3. You choose HOW you respond to circumstances

James 1:2–4 The Living Bible
2 Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, 3 for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.
Remember
Life is 10% what happens to you & 90% how you respond
So to choose the right path, God will help us, but we have some choices to make.
God gives us the Bible, the HS, and Circumstances… We get to choose how we think, whether or not we will depend on God, and how we respond to circumstances.
You want to stay on the right path this Christmas season and after…
Choose to think the right thoughts… read, study, memorize and meditate on the WOG
Choose to depend on HS… in Jan we will do 21 days of prayer...
Choose the responses God is putting in your mind to the circumstances you encounter.
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