I am not really one of those that usually make resolutions at this time of year. I have seen many people write articles or blurbs on their blogs about this, so I guess I will chime in. However, this isn’t really a “new year’s” resolution, but rather a life long resolution. The best one I have read so far this year was shared by Michael King, a brother in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. I quote it here verbatim:
John 3:30 – He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.
This is our greatest possible activity – the zenith of a truly happy life in Christ together: Losing.
Consistently & permanently wane & surrender so He can consistently and permanently expand & seize all in all. “Our” ideas, feelings, plans, preferences, scruples, possessiveness, agendas – especially all the “good” things we trust to make us secure & fulfilled. Gone.
Retreat and give up that ground to Him…and do it again. And again.
And again. Painful and unintuitive to the flesh. Heresy to religion. Foolishness to the world who beckons us only to increase. The world implores us in every way to flee from the Cross. Do ANYTHING but go to the Cross. The world wants us to run with opens arms into the best possible, most moral and reasonable reality that “self” can build – with all it’s false comfort and decaying lies of worth.
“Surely, Lord, THIS doesn’t need execution! It’s such a “good” thing! It will…
… protect us from wrong beliefs and sin!”
… give us such great purpose!”
… help get us out of a relational rut!”
… help me be a better ________!”
“No. Only I can and will do those things. Just me. And you can’t hold that with white knuckles and trust me at the same time.” -Jesus
This is glory and peace to the spirit. Wisdom and power in The Kingdom. This is happiness: Loss.
You cannot love me and I cannot love you. So let’s decrease and Christ will love through/in us.
We cannot succeed. At anything. Ever. So let’s decrease and Christ will succeed through/in us.
We cannot protect ourselves. From anything. So let’s decrease and Christ will be true and lasting security through/in us.
We cannot parent. So let’s decrease and watch Christ rear Holy Ones through/in us.
We cannot. So let’s decrease. And Christ will.
The Blog of Milt Rodriguez 
Mary Belle Rickert said:
Dear Milt, I am still returning to your book, “The Temple Within.! I am “seeing and knowing” now what was “new” when I first read it, and I am being expanding in spirit as He teaches and reveals and uses The Temple Within in a mighty way. Thank you again for putting the revelation of what you have been shown in Book form. The Church is in dire need of what you have writen.
Blessings, Mary Belle Rickert
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catastrophictaraness said:
Indeed! So true! May we all remember where true life and love and peace comes from!
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kenneth dawson said:
that is exactly what I did–I made a new years resolution to think of myself in 2014 as dead to my own governorship,which really is satans governorship and to think of myself with Christ at gods throne and Christ with me in union with my spirit being and him being my governorship in all situations.
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Charles W. Wood said:
Very good. We in America could uphold Jesus if we felt the need.
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patrickmaina2 said:
This is a good reminder where our focus ought to always be, “…on Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith…”. He is the one at work in us, both to will and to do of His good pleasure..
Thank you brother.
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Ayuba, B said:
I can only thank you milt for this word. There is never a better time to heed this call to ‘dying to self” than now when the tempting sounds are so near and loud!
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Milt Rodriguez said:
Mary Belle, so glad to hear that The Temple Within has been an encouragement to you!
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