One may find it strange that Jesus praised the unjust steward so highly. And yet, though the steward's wisdom was applied unrighteously, he was nevertheless, wise. He understood people. He came up with a plan.
And he did it.
And so we are instructed to learn from him. Dad shared with us this passage yesterday morning (found in
Luke 16) and then gave guidance for how we, too, can come up with a plan.
Prayerfully find a Scriptural resolution.
Figure out the practical actions.
Commit to them.
Do them.
For example, the following are Scriptural resolutions found in the Book of Psalms and practical actions that could be taken. Perhaps the Lord will lead each of us to select one of these twelve resolutions to be ours for this new year.
1. Resolve to praise God.
“I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvelous works.” Ps. 9:1
Actions:
1. Keep Journal of Marvelous Works
2. Choose methods of showing works.
3. Show them.
4. Keep record of faithfulness.
5. Regularly self-examine for failures.
2. Resolve to love God.
“I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.” Ps. 18:1
Actions:
1. List enemies from which delivered.
2. See hand of God in each incident.
3. Focus on what is shown about Him.
4. Make broader applications.
5. See all through lens of love.
3. Resolve to declare God's name.
“I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.” Ps. 22:22
Actions:
1. Learn the names of God.
2. See their relevance to trials of life.
3. Develop stirring testimonies.
4. Pray for opportunities to testify.
5. Go where worshipers congregate.
4. Resolve to fear no evil.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” Ps. 23:4
Actions:
1. List all current fears.
2. List all possible future fears.
3. Memorize Psalm 23.
4. Meditate regularly on Psalm 23.
5. Know God as Shepherd.
5. Resolve not to sit with wicked people.
“I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.” Ps. 26:5
Actions:
1. Know God's definition of “wicked.”
2. See to whom it applies around you.
3. Understand what “sitting” means.
4. Never, never “sit” with the wicked.
5. Pray for grace to hate evil.
6. Resolve to seek God's fellowship.
“One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.” Ps. 27:4
Actions:
1. List and rank all current desires.
2. Evaluate each in light of eternity.
3. Study lives of men who found God.
4. Implement necessary disciplines.
5. Cry out to God faithfully.
7. Resolve to thank God.
“To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.” Ps. 30:12
Actions:
1. Memorize 20 thanksgiving verses.
2. Meditate on them regularly.
3. Review past in gratitude.
4. Assess present in gratitude.
5. Anticipate future in gratitude.
8. Resolve not to trust self.
“For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.” Ps. 44:6
Actions:
1. Study theology on man's depravity.
2. Study theology on man's enemies.
3. Memorize Scripture on both.
4. Meditate regularly on the Scripture.
5. Confess what is revealed.
9. Resolve to sing.
"My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise." Ps. 57:7
Actions:
1. Memorize Ephesians 1:3-6.
2. List Bible examples of glory to God.
3. List own examples of glory to God.
4. Memorize hymns of glory to God.
5. Commit to discipline of singing.
10. Resolve to behave right at home.
“I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.” Ps. 101:2
Actions:
1. List all transgressions in this area.
2. Consider their consequences.
3. Confess and forsake these sins.
4. Be accountable for walking rightly.
5. Pray for God's presence.
11. Resolve to meditate.
“I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.” Ps. 119:15
Actions:
1. Memorize Scripture.
2. Emphasize key words.
3. Grasp essential messages.
4. Reinforce with other passages.
5. Personalize with applications.
12. Resolve to walk at liberty.
“I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.” Ps. 119:45
Actions:
1. Memorize Romans 6.
2. Meditate extensively on it.
3. Do list of steps to break bondage.
4. Cry out to God for help.
5. Remove barriers to victory.
Labels: POWER WEAPONS FOR VICTORY, SPECIAL DAYS, SUCCESS, WISDOM
