The year is almost out, and the months feels like hours and the days feels like seconds. And somehow most of you feel like you’ve been through hell and cannot wait until this year comes to a close.
But are you ready for the next season, next chapter or the next “breakthrough”? Have you ever thought that maybe God has to work something out of you in order to work something through you? What would be the purpose of expecting and receiving a “breakthrough” if you’re planning to circle around that same mountain again or carry the same baggage, drama or bitter attitude into the new season of your life?
A new year always starts with new decisions, new hope, and new resolutions. However, if you’re planning to do things as usual, plan to get the same results. You must have a vision for your life. Habakkuk 2:2-3 (MSG) reads, “And then God answered: “Write this. Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run. This vision-message is a witness pointing to what’s coming. It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn’t lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time.” So, it’s already in position waiting for you!
Although we may not know what the year 2018 will bring, this is a new season that must include prayer, fasting, discipline, motivation, consistency, and energy in order to see changes in our lives. Instead of new year’s resolutions, set your mind to some new year’s expectations. A “breakthrough” requires a straight path if you want to have a clear picture of your vision. It also requires a change in mindset which includes positive thoughts and an attitude of gratefulness. Consider 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (MSG), “Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.” We must remain in the position and posture of gratefulness. On the other hand, I know that remaining in gratefulness is not always easy, but it is possible if God has it written in His Word. Anything that we already have, i.e., children, husband, car, home, job or finances is more than some folks have, so yes, it’s possible! Matthew 17:20, says, “Because you’re not yet taking God seriously,” said Jesus. “The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn’t be able to tackle.”
How do we keep pushing ourselves when we don’t see results?
Although I feel as if this will be a start of my 88th diet plan, starting for the coming year, I refuse to give up on my weight loss goal or anything that God has planned for my life. I’m not receiving a “breakthrough” on my weight loss journey because I’m sabotaging the goal that I try to conquer each year. In some cases, I believe we ask God for things He has already given us the ability to do ourselves. If I want to lose weight, I already have the ability to eat right and exercise. I believe it will happen for me and instead of saying the word “diet” I will now see it as a healthy way of living. However, if you’re going to conquer the weight issue, stop smoking, stop drinking alcohol, stop whatever it is you feel is hindering you, it shouldn’t start on midnight of December 31st; the transition into your new season should start NOW!
I have learned that the more I put things off, the more time I have to think about it, then talk myself out of it. I read an article called “What To Do While Waiting On God,” written by Joyce Meyer. Joyce said, “Once we’ve asked God to answer a question or solve a problem, we need to be eagerly awaiting His answer. We need to be serving actively, aggressively and expectantly. When our hearts are eager to hear from God, He loves to rush in suddenly with His solution. In many cases this waiting period actually serves as a time of preparation for the answer. If God answered right away, many of us would be ill-prepared to handle His solution. Sometimes we find ourselves in such horrible messes that it’s hard to imagine waiting one more second. But we need to keep waiting on God and trusting Him with a sweet and simple faith. Then, in a way we never could’ve figured out—God moves suddenly!”
Although we must manifest and activate our vision, new season, new goals and anything that is a part of us getting to our “breakthrough,” we need someone to hold us accountable as we’re transitioning to the crossover of the new year. We need the accountability to believe in what we say, what we write and what we do in order to access the direction we’re going. We need to break the cycle of circles and create new patterns in our lives. My prayers for us is that we all receive transformation: “breakthrough” to a pathway that will lead us to UNITY and the ability to be on one accord!
Draw Closer to God http://daniel-fast.com/