NEW YEAR’S DEVOTIONAL

As we head into the new year something that makes it so significant is fresh starts and New year’s resolutions. However, a lot of times New Year’s resolution are often forgotten about mid-year or maybe even earlier than that. If you’re like me then you probably have big dreams for yourself and it can be hard to see those dreams as a possibility because of obstacles that get in our way, and ultimately, we feel discouraged. I am going to show you guys how you can be successful this New Year, 2021, for a destination that you have been longing for. I promise you it’s not what you think.

Personally, I have these crazy goals for myself, but I found nothing major really happening in my life and then God gave me a message. What he told me was that the more of junk I had stored up in my heart, the harder it was for God to work in me. II wanted so badly to sing, but my throat hurt almost this entire year. God didn’t want me to not ever sing, but there were things that he had to work in me first because he didn’t want me to go out and minister without a proper foundation. What God wanted for me last year was greater than singing and that was for me to be basic. Yes, God wanted me to be basic. The reason was because I needed to humble myself and give my all to him. He didn’t tell me that I was a horrible person, he wanted me to take my time and use the entire year if I had to get closer to him. Do I regret it? Not one bit. I then realized the bigger the dreams, the more preparation it required.

He gave me the confidence to know that what I want to happen is going to happen. A verse that really spoke to me was “the Lord is not really being slow about his promise, he is being patient with you for your sake because he does want you to perish but have everlasting life.” That really was something that kept me going. I knew that there were some things that God had to teach me in preparation for what he had planned for me so that when I was where I needed to be, I would not fall. The truth is good things take time and you need enough ammunition to keep that goal alive. I know that God has a plan for you as well and that thing that you desire is not crazy because God has placed it in your heart on purpose because that is your purpose (see what I did there). How do we know this? Well It says in Phillipians 2:13, “God is giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases Him”. The truth is, that we already want to do what pleases the Lord and sometimes it’s us getting in the way of ourselves. There are toxic relationships that are slowing you down because they were not meant to be in the place where you’re called to go. There might be people in your heart that you must forgive. Believe me I know how hard it is sometimes to forgive, but that is what is holding us back. The Lord does not want you to suffer anymore having this person penetrating your heart.

Now as we head into the new year, we should be searching our hearts to see if we are the ones blocking our blessings because God already wants it for us, we just must know how to receive it. Another helpful tip is to really try to get to know what God thinks of us because a lot of times, what is stopping us, is not thinking that we are good enough. How do we know that we are good enough? Simple. By reading about what God says about us. When Abraham was in despair because he couldn’t conceive with his wife, God brought him out of the tent and told him to look at the stars and try to count them. He couldn’t, obviously. God told him that was the number of descendants he would have and the fact that WE are descendants of Abraham just proves that there is a promise that God is going to fulfill for us. Now, the promise cannot be taken away, but something that steers us away from reaching your potential in the process, is thinking that you can do it on your own because Lords knows you can’t! We need friends that are going after Christ and helping us stay on track because if one person falls another can pick that person up and God can also speak to you through them. Also remember that God is a God of perfect timing, and the place you are in is the place that God wants you to be in, unless he tells you otherwise. It is a no unless God says yes, not the other way around. Also don't be deceived by thinking that the more effort you put into working is going to replace the amount of God you need in your life. God wants you to earnestly seek Him first and know that Christ alone is capable of carrying us through. A familiar mentality that I would get into was, “I am not doing as good as I should be and therefore, I’m just going to quit altogether”. A verse that I want to encourage you with if this is you is, “seek first the kingdom of God and all else will fall into place” Matthew 6:33. There are so many truths in God’s word and as you start reading it, you see those truths manifest in your life.

So, make your goals this year to get close to God because he will bring the encouragement you need to pursue your dreams, and will give you the people that need to be in your life to get you there. Don’t rush into things and don’t be discouraged by lost time because God is the restorer of time!

Blessings my friends.

Prayer

My spirit longs for you Lord, take what I have, give me a vision of the destination and get me to where you want me to be. I need you Lord my soul yearns for you, give me all your love and pour out your grace to me. Set me free of the weights that have been holding me down. Remove the burdens of my life and turn them to be a blessing to others. I might not be where I want to be in the moment, but Lord, I accept that this is where you want me to be. Please help me release unforgiveness in my heart so that it will no longer be there, and I pray that this is the year for you to get me to where you want me to go. This is the year Lord that you are going to move through me. Reveal in my heart what is holding me back from knowing you more and if it is your will please don't allow me to go back into my old ways. I know you are going to give me a revelation and know that it will be used for your glory. I know that you want so much for me this year, and all this preparation is for my good and preparing me for what you want me to do. I know that you are a God of Love and of peace, forgiveness, so forgive me of my mistakes and make them into something beautiful. I know that you will work so much in me for the benefit of your people and bringing me into the potential that I was called to be in. I need all of you Lord, so I relinquish all of me in Jesus name, amen.