My Resolve for Life Over the past year there have been two very predominant words that the Lord has placed upon my heart, life altering words of power and change: holiness and repentance. Upon hearing them, one cannot help but to ponder, for simply by their nature they challenge us to either accept or deny their power and call to action. The two truly do go hand in hand, for without one we cannot have the other: the first being "repent." As I look at the word repentance, or to repent, as it is intended to be understood, it comes from the Greek word "Metanoeo" (met-an-o-eh'-o); Strong’s Number 3340; from meta "after" and noeo "to think." Repentance is a decision that results in a change of mind, which, in turn, leads to a change of purpose and action. After Jesus had been baptized in the Jordan, He was "led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil" (Matthew 4:1). Upon His return to mankind, Matthew records the beginning of Jesus' ministry in Matthew 4:17 as such: “From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" Therefore, we now know (by this and many other scriptures) that Jesus came to call all men to “repentance.” Jesus came to, first of all, call all men to a life of change and transformation: a life that is not lived the same as it was prior to this day, but rather a new life, a life with new purpose! Again, as I look over the past year and begin to make plans for 2013, I am not looking for the next great move of God. I am not seeking the greatest teacher nor am I hoping for the one message or song that will transform my life. I am not seeking to find the perfect church, the latest revelation from God, nor am I arguing theology or eschatology. No, I am asking these questions of myself and of many others: “Has my encounter with God changed and transformed who I am? Am I more in love with Jesus than ever, and does my lifestyle and the decisions I have made and continue to make reflect the life of one who has truly repented?” My challenge to all of you, my friends, is this: “Do not make a New Year's resolution, but rather resolve yourself to live a life as one who has been transformed.” Live a life that shows, by your actions, that you have had an encounter with the Holy God: the God who created the universe and all that is within it and far beyond what we might see! Yes, you will be forced to face your failings; yes, you will be forced to swallow your pride; yes, you will find yourself making amends; and, yes, you will find yourself admitting you were wrong. However, here is the reward: you will find yourself walking in the freedom of true repentance and deliverance, you will find yourself in fellowship with God, and you won’t need to seek out leaders to give you advice on repeating sins and trials because they will simply no longer be such for you! Some of you now may say, “It is not that simple” or “you just don’t understand.” My answer to you is simply this, “Yes I do, and yes it is because of Jesus!" Allow Jesus to invade and captivate every area of your life, and you, too, will see it truly is that easy! Gene Burroughs, Servant of God