Forget Resolutions, Look How Easy This Is (And It Works!)

Inside: 3 Simple Steps
You Can Take to
Let God Make the Difference
in Your Life Right Now!

Don’t we all want to make a change or seven? Maybe it’s human nature. And when we call something a new year’s resolution, aren’t we insinuating that boom, it’s done! What’s been on your list for far too long? I have an idea. And I only suggest it because “quit smoking” was on my list for what, 12 years. It never happened until I let God make the difference.

And then, not only did I quit smoking, but I no longer even wanted to smoke.

Now, that’s a miracle!

And He can do that for you. Let me show you how . . .

First, I want to encourage you.

God has plans for you!

Big ones, did you know that? Seriously, in the Bible, God says:

“For I know the plans I have for you,
plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you a hope and a future”
(Jeremiah 29:11, NIV).

Wow, right?

And God can do things we can’t. I’d quit smoking before, but the whole time I wasn’t smoking I craved a cigarette, but that didn’t happen when I quit with God. 

And that was what? Thirty years ago! 😳

Changes aren’t easy,
but something happens
when we make those changes with God.

My guess is that you’re still reading because there’s something you want to change and you’d like some help. Amiright?

If that’s true, let’s do it!

Step One: Ask God for what you want.

A couple of years ago, I felt like God wanted me to write a book. But if we were going to do that, I desperately needed Him to help me.

During the day, I wrote. And at night, I studied the craft of writing. 

Often, I came up short wondering how the heck do I make my characters come alive on the page, or show instead of tell and . . . and . . . and.

The list was endless.

But I wrote everything down that I wished I could do and then I made it into a prayer by addressing it to God, like this:

Raw chicken? Yes, that’s a funny God story I’ll tell you in a minute.

But think about this for a second: 

What if God was going to give you everything you asked for
and all you had to do was make a list? 

The Bible says, “We have not because we ask not.” (James 4:2-3)

And it says, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14-15)

God wants you to help you with everything! 🙂

So, let’s pray:

Dear God,
I would like Your help with
(fill this in with everything you want to!)
so that’s what I ask You for
in Jesus’ name.

There, step one is done!

Now, here’s the funny God story about raw chicken.

It seemed like writing my book was taking forever. I just wanted to call it done. That’s when I heard the voice I’d come to recognize as God’s say,

“Are you willing to let it take the time it takes?” 

Read that again because that’s key!

He’d been accusing me of always being in a hurry. And He was right.

Since He’d given me the time and place to write, I felt like I’d better get ‘er done. That’s when He started talking to me about chicken curry. He knows I love it. He said, “Would you serve your guests raw chicken?”

I wrinkled my nose and said, “No-o-o!“

“When you’re cooking,” He said, “you need to let it take the time it takes. Food’s not done until it’s done and neither is your book!”

This may apply to what you’re doing, too.

Every time I got tempted to wrap up the book too soon, God would whisper, “chicken curry,” letting me know it wasn’t done yet!

And when He did that, He put a smile on my face.

I’m praying and trusting God
to put LOTS OF smiles on your face
as He answers your prayers, too! 🙂

Step 2: Keep talking to God.

Have you ever heard of the story in the Bible about the widow who kept nagging the judge to settle a case in her favor?

It’s called: The Parable of the Persistent Widow.

In the story, Jesus was teaching His friends that they should always pray and never give up. It’s a message for us, too.

Sometimes it’s tempting to think we’re bugging God when we keep talking to Him about something, but we’re not. He wants to hear from us!

In fact, the Bible says, “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17, ESV).

After Jesus told His friends the story, He said,

“Won’t God protect his chosen ones who pray to him day and night?
Won’t he be concerned for them? 
He will surely hurry and help them.” 
(Luke 18:7-8, CEV)

And guess what?
You are one of those people Jesus was talking about! 

So, talk to God. In fact, you can even add to your list when you think of something you wish you’d put on it!

That’s what I did.

I kept adding to my prayer list and talking to God about everything that came to mind. And by the time I finished my book, I had a nine-page prayer!

Step Three: Decree the Promises of God.

What does that mean?

It means to come into agreement with what God promises you and speak those out loud.

One way I’ve done this is to record the promises I wanted to bury inside so I’d never forget them.

The first time I listened to my recording and heard myself say,

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,”
(Philippians 4:11-13, New King James Version).

I rolled my eyes and thought ri-i-ight. 

But check this out . . .

I listened to that 5-minute tape as I fell asleep at night and again as I woke in the morning. And it wasn’t long before I was like, “I KNOW I can write this book through Christ who strengthens me!” ☺️

In a week or two, I became like a dog with a bone. No one could pry those promises away from me if he or she tried.  

And guess what?
When we change our thinking,
we change our actions.

Once I learned how to do this, there was no stopping me.

And that’s my hope for you!

Here is a three minute audio clip of 14 promises I made so that you, too, can bury some of God’s promises inside you:

It doesn’t add one second to your schedule. And you can play it while you’re driving, cooking, or taking a walk.

After you find out how fast this works, you may want to dig through the Bible and pick out some other promises to bury. That way you, too, can accomplish your goals! 🙂

And that’s how I wrote a book!

Because that’s the thing! If you have changes you want to make in your life or goals you want to accomplish, God wants to help you. He’s got a cool plan for you, right? That’s what the Bible says!

I never would have thought I could have written a book. And by myself, I’m not sure that I could have, but click the link below and have a look:

Mary Me: One Woman’s Incredible Adventure with God.
I let God make the difference.
And you can, too!

Related Post: Here’s Why You Might Want a Personal Relationship with God

Before you leave, How Can I Pray for You?