The cleaning agent in my spray bottle is a high quality product. This degreaser would generally do the trick for customary cleanups. This was no customary clean up. What this needed was simply a soak in hot water. After only a few moments with a thin layer of hot water over the baked on sauce, it wiped up effortlessly. A little polishing and the crockpot unit was now clean and ready for reuse.
As New Year's Day often includes reflections on the past and resolutions for the new year, my crock pot comes to mind. Resolutions are much like the degreaser that I initially used to clean the crockpot. They can be powerful and in some cases cause positive change. But as we contemplate our failures and tendencies towards them, what we need is not good intentions or dogged determination. We cannot improve our spiritual condition through good works and self-willed resolve. The power we require to become the men and women of God we desire to be must come from above. What is really needed is a good soak in the Word of God.
In his analogy of marriage to the
relationship of Jesus and the church, the apostle Paul writes “Husbands,
love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, So
that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with
the Word, That He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor,
without spot or wrinkle or any such things [that she might be holy and
faultless].”
(Ephesians 5:25-27 AMP) We are made clean
and beautiful by the word of God. Every imperfection can be cleansed away by
its power.
New Year’s resolutions generally spring from a desire to do better in the
coming year. Meditating on Scripture will give us strength to overcome sin. “Your
word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11 AMP) The Holy Spirit will bring the work that we have
studied to our minds in moments of need and give us strength to make wise
choices.
Improving our health is often an object of the New Year’s resolutions.
Although we can make many wise choices concerning our health, we again cannot
rely on our own strength, but always turn to the Lord.
He will give us the sustaining wisdom
to make choices that will last. “And your
ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it, when you
turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left.” (Isaiah 30:21 AMP) When you seek His word and
His way we will persevere and find health. “Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil. It
shall be health to your nerves and
sinews, and marrow and
moistening to your bones.” (Proverbs
3:7-8 AMP)
Just as it took a little time for the hot water to loosen up the cooked
on sauce and allow it to be easily wiped away, lasting change will take time.
We do not always see immediate results. “Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him;” (Psalm 37:7a AMP) God’s work in us is happening even when we cannot see
it. As we wait we can follow these instructions, “For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of
reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and
lovable, whatever is kind and
winsome and gracious, if there
is any virtue and excellence,
if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and
take account of these things [fix your minds on them].” (Philippians 4:8 AMP)
Make one primary choice this year. Focus your attention on the word of
God and allowed him to bring about positive change in all areas of your life.
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