Looking Ahead Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: Looking Ahead ------------------- Date: 12/31/2001 Keywords: "encouragement” “remember" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passage: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24* 23. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. Questions 1. How is God described in these two verses?   2. What is He in the process of accomplishing in your life?   Practical help As 2001 closes tonight, what have been your thoughts about the coming year? Do you have some area in your life where you would like to make a fresh start? How about the area of Web porn or some other sexual sin? We often see the New Year as an opportunity to gather our strength and determination and start afresh in some weak area of our lives. If you are like most people, you have made resolutions in the past only to fall back into the old patterns within a few days. What a great reminder for us that we really are powerless to make most true changes in our lives. We need God to do the changing in us. Let these two verses encourage you as you face the New Year. God is at work to sanctify — make holy, purify or consecrate — your entire being. He plans to keep working at it until Jesus returns or He takes you to heaven through death; which ever comes first. How do you know this? You know this because God has promised and He is faithful, and because He has called you to be His own possession. He’ll do it! So, this New Year, don’t worry about mustering up your strength or determination to make a break from porn. You’ll never do it on your own. Instead, rest in the grace and love of God that are yours. Turn your eyes on Jesus, and seek to know Him more closely. Trust Him to work in your life to make the changes. You are free to draw close to Him in humility and dependence. He is all you really need to look forward to the New Year. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2001 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission." -