Is There Something Better Than a New Year's Resolution?

Mark Virkler's picture

I have discovered something far better than a New Year's resolution: It is a Divine Commission. Every January 1st I ask God what area He wants me to focus on as I begin a new year. I listen and I record what He tells me. I then focus on that area until I have mastered it and the Lord tells me it is time to move on.


Receive Your New Year's Focus and Resolution Through Two-way Journaling

I highly recommend everyone hear from God for the next period of their lives. Pray and let God tell you what area is important to Him for you to master during the next period of your life. Then allow Him to guide you as you explore and master that area over the next several months. For me it normally takes one year to master an area, and by way of example, for the last two years I have been focused on Vibrant Health Through Miracles and Gifts of Healings, and now, 120 blogs later and much healthier, I finally hear God say, "It is time to move on." 

Since I am a teacher in the body of Christ, God not only has me master areas, but then He guides me in developing simple, practical, revelation-based training modules which can be used by individuals or groups to help them master the same or similar areas in their own lives.

Now that I am just leaving a two year focus on achieving maximum health, does that mean my readers are ready to move on also? Maybe yes. Maybe no. God will tell each individual (and each group) what they are to focus on. Over 30 years of asking the Lord for annual direction for my life, I have noted that God has me focus on the area needed to be mastered next so I can continue to move forward in achieving the goals and purposes He has for my life.

What Does It Mean to "Focus On" a Topic?

Once God gives me an area to focus on, what do I do? I prayerfully meditate on all Scriptures on the topic. I read books by leaders in that area. I ask God to guide me to two or three people I can connect with who are ahead of me in that area, and I connect with them for a period of several months. I experiment, trying various things which I hope will take me forward. Some things work. Some don’t. I discard the things that don't work, and embrace the things which do. Eventually I arrive at a new level of mastery in the area!

Make Sure You Obtain the Highest Quality Mentors, So Your Growth Is Swift and Effective

Obviously, one’s passion and commitment to invest time and energy is important, as is the quality of the books and mentors you discover. These will determine how far you go and how quickly you master the area. So I am passionate to seek out good mentors and good training materials and I set aside quality time in pursuit of the area God has chosen for me.  

And incidentally, I feel that if I can place into a person’s hands good training materials, and they work in a group or with a good coach/instructor, they can learn in three months what it took me a year to learn.

OK, it’s your turn. Take some time in prayer and see what God wants you focused on for the next period of your life. 


Revelation-based, Proven, Life-transforming Resources for You OR Your Group

Four levels of intensity: Level 1 represents the simplest (personal spiritual growth) and level 4 is most in-depth (college level). Students within a group can be taking the same training module at different intensity levels (i.e. 1-4).

  1. Basic: 18+ Revelation-based Training Modules by Mark and Patti Virkler (1 hour homework per week, no tests, no degrees granted)
  2. Intermediate: 18+ Electronic Modules through the School of the Spirit (2-3 hours of homework per week, online self-scoring quizzes, CLU diploma awarded)
  3. Intermediate: 100+ Coaching Experiences from Communion With God Ministries (2-3 hours of homework per week, a coach provides guidance, no degrees)
  4. Advanced: 100+ Training Modules through Christian Leadership University (7 hrs homework per week, tests, grades, online instructors, degrees awarded)

Testimonies

The classes have been beyond anything I had hoped for. This has been more like an adventure than school. Vanessa Tinsley-Stone

Every Christian should read Naturally Supernatural at least once a week! You write so clearly it would be pleasant to sit under your teaching! It really would be a life-changing experience!  Isaac E. Rerri

I heartily recommend Prayers That Heal the Heart. It is the most biblical book I have read on counseling and spiritual warfare, in terms of emotional healing. While there are other good books out there that God has used, red flags have always gone up in my mind by their use of methods borrowed by modern psychology. This book isn't like that, and it is thoroughly practical with its exercises and worksheets. It can definitely be used by the Lord to change your life and break the enemy's power in your life. Brian Shilhavy

Praise the Lord for the 4 Keys to Hearing God’s Voice course! Through the adventure into the practices of journaling, vision, and unabashed praise I have come to feel closer to God than ever I have in my years of one-sided prayer and self-righteous appearances in church on Sunday. As a result of this course I have drawn infinitely closer to the Lord and continue to move closer still. Communion with Him is indescribably more rewarding than the lopsided prayer directed to a faraway God to which I was accustomed. Jessica Burton

“The best teaching I have ever seen on interpreting dreams” - Sid Roth

I have just interviewed Mark Virkler, an extraordinarily gifted man of God who teaches a course on understanding dreams. I have interviewed many on this subject over the years, but Mark’s approach is different. He is a very logical teacher. He guarantees after taking his course you will have at least a dream a week and understand them!

I took him up on his challenge, and it is working for me. I have had very few literal dreams in my life. And frankly, I usually ignore the symbolic dreams. I call them “pizza” dreams. However, since I started following Mark’s instructions, I have had dreams and I understand them! None of the other courses have worked for me. Now I have received major direction! I am so excited when I go to bed and look forward to God speaking to me in my dreams.


 

Related Resources: 

How to Be Empowered by the Holy Spirit!   

Related Blogs: 

Honoring the Holy Spirit   
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Through the Bible New Testament CD Package

3 CD Sets by Dr. Andrew Hardy | 1 Book by Mark and Patti Virkler

Dr. Andrew Hardy takes you through the New Testament in three modules. This package includes parts six - eight of our Through The Bible series,  which provide you an overview of the entire Bible. You may choose to begin with the Life of Christ and work your way through the entire New Testament, and then follow this up by going through the Old Testament.

Why are there four Gospels describing Jesus' life? How are the three synoptic Gospels different from John? What does God want to say to me through the life of Jesus? Can I really imitate Christ and be like him? Yes, Jesus came to model the lifestyle God has empowered us to live!

Price: $89.00

Through the Bible Old Testament CD Package

5 CD Sets by Dr. Andrew Hardy | 1 Book by Mark and Patti Virkler

Dr. Andrew Hardy takes you through the entire Old Testament in this five module series. This is a part of our Through the Bible series, which gives you an overview of the entire Bible. This package contains five sets of CDs which span the Old Testament and includes the Through the Bible workbook

Price: $144.00

Unique Gifts Make Winning Teams CD Package

2 books | 1 card | 1 CD set

Can I succeed like others have? What do I need to do? How do I go about it? What if I don't have the gifts necessary to do something great?  The wonderful truth revealed in Scripture is that God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary feats, especially when they say, "Yes, Lord" to the destiny He has prepared for them!

Price: $69.95

Unleashing Healing Power Through Spirit-Born Emotions CD Package

Book + 14 teaching sessions & 5 devotionals on CD

Experience Healing for Your Body, Soul, and Spirit through Kingdom Emotions!

In Christianity, emotions are often considered to be misleading and untrustworthy—a lingering part of our fallen nature that distract us from God’s truth. But our emotions were created by God, and though the enemy may seek to manipulate our hearts, Jesus sets us free! This practical teaching will empower you to see emotions as unique channels through which the Holy Spirit works to bring miraculous life-transformation, deliverance and healing.

Price: $95.00

Your Extraordinary Life CD Package

197 Page Book | 16 CD Sessions | Save 10% | by Mark & Patti Virkler

Can you imagine starting new believers off with the Holy Spirit! What if the first thing you were taught as a newborn Christian was how to connect easily and daily with the Holy Spirit Who was living inside you, anointing you, empowering you and transforming you?

Price: $45.00
LEARN 4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice Notebook

LEARN 4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice

by Mark and Patti Virkler

This 49-page Life Enrichment And Review Notebook (previously called a "Seminar Guide") is designed to go along with the CD/ DVD series and/or PowerPoint presentation. If receiving training in a group, we highly recommend that EVERY member of the group have their own copy. It offers you the following four benefits:

Price: $5.95
Counseled by God Life Enrichment And Review Notebook

LEARN Counseled by God

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 52 Pages

This 52-page Life Enrichment And Review Notebook is designed to go along with the CD/ DVD series. You will learn the precise steps to take by exploring biblical examples of people meeting God and being healed. You will be guided in taking these steps yourself, and as you do, you will find healing and release of the key emotional struggles we all face. Healing from accusation, fear, inferiority, anger, guilt and depression, all can be found by hearing God speak to you!

Price: $6.95
LEARN Prayers That Heal the Heart

LEARN Prayers That Heal the Heart - Revised & Expanded 20th Anniversary Edition

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 30 Pages

This 30-page Life Enrichment And Review Notebook is designed to go along with the CD/ DVD series and/or PowerPoint presentation. If receiving training in a group, we highly recommend that EVERY member of the group have their own copy. 

We also have a limited stock remaining of the previous version. So if you want to run a class still using your old set of DVDs, please call our office at 716-681-4896 to order those at 75% off while supplies last.

Price: $5.95
4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice Cards

4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice Cards (100-pack)

Request up to 25 of the 4 keys cards FREE with every order you place! (Excluding download-only orders.) Just specify how many you would like when checking out in the shopping cart. Spread the good news that God is still speaking and it is easy to hear His voice! Enhance someone's life!

To receive up to 25 free, do not add to your cart! Just choose a quantity of your "Free Gift" at checkout. To purchase more than 25, add to cart here.

Price: $5.00

A Stroll Along the Sea of Galilee Gift Card - 25 Pack

The #1 Tool in the World for Introducing People to Hearing God's Voice!

Why not use this powerful tool to help bring revival and restoration to your nation by distributing this FREE offer! It is an ideal gift to slip in with cards for special days such as birthdays, Christmas, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day and Easter. It is perfect for conference attendees, newborn Christians, or anyone you want to share in the gift of greater intimacy with the Lord.

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