Last year I uploaded an article on how to keep your New Year’s resolutions. It can be found here. While studying this morning I found some old notes that inspired me on a similar line. Below are the notes and then some facts I drew from scriptures that are at the end of the article.

What is will power?  It wasn’t made to battle against principalities and powers.  It wasn’t given to overcome the flesh.  It was made so that we can say yes to God, so that we can have free choice.  Of course, I can obey the Bible and do what God says, because God is my ability to win over sin and evil; I draw from Him all I need.  It is not improving my flesh but depending on His strength and walking in the Spirit that gives me the ability.  Because of this, all I need do is believe and receive, and what I have been is the past makes no difference.

Keys to scripturally gain control over your flesh:

• The power of the old man and the flesh was already broken so that I am no longer its slave.  I can do it!
• Do it by faith not works.  Focus on the Spirit and relationship more than outward things.  You are no longer under law (rules) but under grace (relationship & fellowship).
• I walk not in newness of spirit and not oldness of letter.  I am joined to Him in order to bear fruit for God.  The fruit of the Spirit comes only by abiding in constant fellowship with Him and yielding to Him.
• No matter how much I love God and desire to do His will, my flesh is still flesh and has no power to obey the word (which is spiritual) and do what I desire to do.
• Consider yourself dead to sin and alive to God.  Believe that your flesh no longer has the mastery and that you CAN be in control.
• It is not in me (in my own flesh or will power) to do what I want to do.  The willing is present, but the doing is not.  There is a law of sin and death that dwells in my flesh.  Because of this God had to provide an alternate way of victory.
• The only way to not carry out the desire of the flesh is to walk in and through the spirit (this is abiding in Him, joined to Him, walking in newness of spirit and not oldness of letter).
• Jesus did what I couldn’t do and overcame my flesh for me.  Now I can walk out my victory with Him, yielding to Him and trusting in Him in each instance.
• Now I can fulfill His requirements and live in control of my life when I walk according to the spirit and not the flesh.
• I am under no obligation to follow my flesh.
• He who has given life to my spirit will also give life to my body as I yield to Him.  Since I live by the Spirit I also walk by the Spirit.
• My victory over the world (including my flesh) is through Faith.  Faith is the victory that overcomes the world.  Faith is the victory to me being in control over my flesh.
• Through the law I died to the law that I might live to God.
• I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live but He who lives through me.
• The life I live in the flesh I live by faith in Him who loves me and did everything for my victory and is there to walk it out with me and through me.
• I began by the spirit and I walk out my salvation in the same manner.  Since I live by the Spirit I also walk by the Spirit.  He who gave life to my spirit will quicken also my mortal body so that I can live and do what I want to do rather than what my flesh demands.
• This all works by faith.  I see it in the Word, I believe it and speak it over myself.  Then I walk it out.
• A key to victory in walking by faith is to believe it and speak it even before I am living it perfectly.  Faith is the victory that overcomes the world.

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People make many decisions at the first of the year to be better people, resolutions to do lose weight, exercise more, or other such things. It is like we have a fresh start. But in observing myself and others, I have found that in most cases these resolutions don’t last.

Why is that?

I believe this is because most people don’t have the ability to change themselves from within themselves, in their own strength.  Will power alone is not enough to gain control over your life.

Romans 7:18 (Amplified Bible) – For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot perform it. [I have the intention and urge to do what is right, but no power to carry it out.]

So I give you a resolution that will lead in time to victory in all of the other areas you might want to change in your life.

It is the greatest secret life has to offer.  If you come to know and learn this secret and live by it, your life will change more than you ever thought possible, you will find the peace and abundant, overflowing life that has always been so elusive, the true fullness of life that all men long for, a control over your life, over habits, emotions and feelings.  We were not designed to be controlled but to reign in life.

What is this secret?  How can you learn it?

Philippians 4:11-13 (Amplified Bible) – Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I HAVE LEARNED how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.  I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance.  I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want.  I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency.

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