Make 2018 your best year yet!
I watch my daughter at swimming lessons and on the weeks that I remind her, “Don’t look back”, she wins the races almost every time. When I forget to prompt her, she inevitably races while her head is to the side, looking to see where her opponents are. Granted, these are not professional races but this teaches me a lesson every single time I watch her.
Comparison is a killer. Regrets will murder any hope you have.
I know. I’ve lived them all ….. but no more!
How about you?
Philippians 3:13-14 (NLT):
“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”
As we come into another new year, 2018, may I suggest that you look at the year from a position of things accomplished and lessons learned. There’s no point focusing on regrets or ‘what if’s’.
Our children and I write in our ‘Gratitude Journals’ everyday. At the top of the page we write: “Today I am grateful that:” and then we list things that we are thankful for today. Half way down the page we write: “What 2018 looks like”. The things that we are grateful for changes each day but the things that we want to see happen in 2018 remain the same. The idea is to get our eyes focused firstly on Jesus and the second is to keep our eyes focused on what we feel the Lord wants to accomplish through and in us in this coming year.
A couple of examples would be:
- I have begun a certain course
- I exercise 5 times a week
- I spend 30 minutes in the Word each day
You get my drift. Write them in the present tense and make them personal to you. I have quite a few things but even just having 2 or 3 dreams for the year is amazing.
Romans 4:17 (ASV) says, “…. even God, who giveth life to the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were.”
This is exactly what you are doing.
The Lord keeps saying to me that 2018 is a year of acceleration and supernatural empowerment to achieve the impossible. A host of angels have been released specifically for this time. The Lord wants to pour out an even greater glory upon the earth so that multitudes will be drawn to Him but also, so the Bride of Christ (you and me) will know who She really is and what She means to Jesus.
He also keeps referring to this outpouring as a train that has left the station. You and me need to be preparing now, like we prepare to go on a holiday, for when the train comes to our station – and it will. If we are not ready, the train may just leave without us.
I know that’s not what you want, nor do I.
What does this preparation look like?
Preparing our hearts in humility to be servants of the Lord and each other. Spend time in solitude with the Lord. Tune your radio frequency to hear His voice. Take specific time out to read and study the Word, and to listen for His voice. A major factor in this is obeying what He tells you to do. “Anyone who can be trusted in little matters can also be trusted in important matters. But anyone who is dishonest in little matters will be dishonest in important matters.” Luke 16:10 (CEV).
Now, before you let the thoughts overtake you of “I don’t have time. It’s too much pressure”, I am not talking about hours and hours of your day. I am talking about maybe giving up one of your favourite tv shows of a night-time or getting up just 1/2 hour earlier in the morning to spend quality time with Jesus instead. I am not talking about adding chores to you life. What I am saying is to replace things that don’t add eternal benefit to your life.
The train of God’s glory is coming, whether you are ready for it or not.
It’s up to you. Do you want to be in the exact same place in your life this time next year? eg. physically, spiritually or emotionally? One definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.
Purpose your heart and organise your life to seek God this year and commit this year to Him.
Purposely dream again. It’s ok. God wants you to.
Psalm 37:4 (NLT) says, “Take delight in the Lord and he will give you your heart’s desires.”
God put the dreams in your heart in the first place. Don’t you think that He would want to do everything He can to help you fulfil them? He is your Heavenly Father who loves you fiercely and desperately. He wants to bless you!
If you don’t have a dream, ask Him for one, or two or ten. He wants you to. He’s waiting for you to ask.
Matthew 7:7 (NLT) says, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”
Would Jesus have said this if it wasn’t true? No.
God is for you!
On January 1st, I will again be spending the month on the Facebook page sharing about gratitude. I do this with my family and it would be great if you would to join us as we dedicate the first month of the year to being grateful to the Lord Jesus for all that He has done for us, what He is doing, and what He will do in the future. It sets us up for success and a deeper relationship with Him.
See you there and may you have the greatest year yet!
May the Lord bless you greatly in this coming year and may you know His deep and incredible love towards you in a new and very personal way.
Happy New Year!
(Photo credit: www.pexels.com)
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