Be Diligent

Greetings to my Beloved family, and welcome to 2023!  

Breaking with tradition, I am not going to wish you a, “Happy New Year,” because I desire for you to have more.  How about a, “Joyous New Year,” in which you can face every situation that you may encounter with the fruit of the Spirit that is already in you; that you will not be moved by what you hear or see; that you will live in the promises that God has already answered, “yes and amen;” that you will live in a supernatural realm that has indeed become natural to you, a citizen of heaven.

Yes, I like it and I’m sticking with it—“Joyous New Year”!

2023!  What a great year to be alive!  While I am not a big fan of making new year’s resolutions, there is something about which we should be resolute.  It is found in Proverbs 4:23: Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. (KJV) The Passion Translation says it this way: So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.  

With that verse in mind, think, for a moment, about all that is going on around us in the world.  I do not want to focus on the negative, so I won’t list all the evil, demonic, false, deceptive, deadly events that are being thrown in our faces daily, trying to pull us down, control us, and dominate us—and if the world isn’t enough, our U.S. culture and lifestyle is so filled with clutter and stuff ‘n’ things that need constant attention and maintenance, we must be purposeful to not be dominated and overwhelmed.  The KJV tells us to “keep our hearts with all diligence.” Webster’s 1828 defines diligence in this way: Steady application in business of any kind; constant effort to accomplish what is undertaken.  In other words, it is of uttermost importance to guard our hearts with constant effort.  Why?  Because our hearts and the affections of our hearts, effect all that we are.

Think about our daily lives for a moment. For the most of us, from the moment that we wake up until we go to bed at night, we are bombarded with messages, news, idle chit-chat, advertisements, etc. We are in an age where information abounds and is available more rapidly than any other time in history. What voices are you listening to? Fake news? Water cooler chatter? Social Media? The entertainment industry? The best (and only) way to guard our hearts is to hear the Voice of God.  We are told in John 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” We have His Word, which is His voice. We have the Holy Spirit, which is His voice. We have our new, born from above nature—what more could we want?

In case you hadn’t noticed, we are living in some perilous times. Second Timothy 3:1 says: This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. Where we are in God’s timeline is not for us to know exactly, but we can surely observe the signs and say with certainty that this age is ending. In case you are wondering, that IS a good thing. Whatever is coming is a necessary step to get to where we are going, and that destination is going to be good! The disciples asked the same questions that we are asking today, and Jesus answered them in Matthew 24:3-14. I encourage you to take some time and familiarize yourself with the signs of the times.

In the meantime, we have many promises on which to draw as we traverse this exciting time of human history. For example:

• James 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 
• James 4:8  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
• Philippians 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 
• Philippians 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
• Colossions 3:15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.  (emphasis mine)
• Colossians 3:17  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (emphasis mine)
• Isaiah 26:3  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 
• John 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 
• John 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. 
• Romans 16:20  And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. 

Brothers and Sisters, we have been called to this day and age.  We have been given all that is necessary to accomplish that to which God has called us.  He has given us promises, provision, and protection.  His Grace is sufficient. I look forward to going into battle with you.

In His LOVE,
Pastor Craig Harvey