But within a few days or weeks to come, most if not all, will lapse back into old behaviors, old attitudes, old patterns. That goes for Christians, too.
No matter how passionately you feel about pleasing God right now, living a holy life in ‘08 will depend on a few key decisions.
1: Will I live my life in the power of God’s Spirit and not in my own strength or willpower.
2: Will my personal life be determined by God’s Word and will I apply it?
Between me and God-I will live according to what He has said is right. The bible describes this as a holiness-being "set apart; separate." The word actually means “to mark off a boundary.”
Separation is holiness in action. It’s drawing a line in the sand and saying, “I don’t go there; I don’t look at that; I won’t tolerate that in my life. I’ve made a choice and by God’s grace I’m not going back.”
Living a holy life begins with building convictions and living within those boundaries. Today is the best time to make that decision, before you’re in the heat of the moment, apart from the pressure of the choice.
Have you drawn protective, preventative lines around your life? If you haven’t established your own convictions based on God’s Word, you’re going to fail. You might do O.K. for a season, but if you don’t hear God’s call to come out and be separate, you’ll waffle right back into that old pattern of defeat.
If you’re ready to break the cycle, start here. I’m doing it God’s way. I belong to Him.”
Maybe you’ve tolerated your rationalized behavior a long time and the Spirit of God wants your attention about the compromises you’ve been excusing. Before you make a choice you can’t reverse and reap a whirlwind of consequences, heard the piercing word saying, “Come out from that and be separate.”
There’s joy and blessing waiting for you in 2008 when you live in the protective boundaries of God’s holy call on your life.
