HAPPY NEW YEAR!
He’s alive. We’re alive. And we have another opportunity to connect with God’s mission, vision and purpose for our lives.
Well, that’s three good reasons right there, but today I want to share three powerful principles from the Bible that are guaranteed to help you exceed whatever you experienced in 2020. Following are three reasons why 2021 can be an amazing year for you.
Because You Say It Will Be
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit of thereof.
Proverbs 18:21
Notice what the scripture does not say. It does not say that life and death are in the power of God, or the devil, or any other entity. It says that life and death are in our mouths. Selah. I am not talking about wishful thinking or trying to will or force your way into a desired result. I am talking about an attitude. An attitude that believe what the word of God says about us. If God says that He has sent His Word out to us and that His Word will accomplish His Will then we should be saying what He has already established for our lives to help bring His will to pass (Isaiah 55:6-11).
While I would classify myself as an optimist, I am so optimistic because I refuse to receive anything less than what God has established for my life. The year 2020 was an epic year for me. I mean, I am still blown away. It is the year that after over a dozen years in the mission field, we moved into a new home; it is the year that I launched my self-publishing business; it is the year that there would be new doors of ministry opportunities. And even though there were some “setbacks” and losses (my husband’s outreach ministry was initially upended, and the children’s mobile baking business pretty much came to a screeching halt), everyone who was employed in our family remained employed. As my mom use to say “God always has a ram in the bush” and all He needs from us is a positive confession that says “Lord, I believe what your word says about me.”
Okay. So what are you going to say over this year? We need an unshakeable faith. A biblical declaration that is undeniable. And a reserve that says “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me”.
Because You Will Write The Vision
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Proverbs 29:18
God has given you a vision. It is bigger than you. You cannot achieve it without Him. You are on a journey preparing to bring that vision to pass at the time that He has appointed. As we continue on this journey, we are to learn and grow and bear fruit for the Kingdom of God. Your vision fuels your inspiration to help you to keep growing and going towards it.
I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Habakkuk 2:1-4
Vision Gives Us Purpose and Value
Writing your vision can be as simple as writing your dreams, desires, goals on a sheet of paper, notebook or journal. Or you can take it up a notch with a vision statement. In the last post, we talked about the benefits of writing a mission statement. A personal mission statement helps to direct us concerning our mission in the present. A personal vision statement helps us to project towards our tomorrow. These statements should reflect our values as children of the Most High God and can also be used as catalysts to unite our families via family mission statements.
A great place to place your mission and vision statements is on a vision board. A vision board is a visual representation of your mission, vision, goals, desires… They contain images and text and serve as a reminder and inspiration to “stay on the wall” (think Nehemiah) and commit to finishing the path that Your Heavenly Father has prepared for you. A vision board should be proactive. It is not something that you do and passively wait for the manifestation. It is a creative force that “speaks” to you and empowers you to “become”…
For example, on my vision board, I have adjectives that describe who I am and who I want to become: faith builder, strategic thinker, sympathetic, perceptive, purpose-driven, an anointed writer, lover of Jesus… My mission statement: “To love the Lord with all my mind, soul and strength, and to follow His purpose and His plan for my life. In doing so, I am operating in His will. I am a blessing to my family and others. Therefore I am blessed! To carry out His plan, I endeavor to study His word and pray intentionally, eat healthy foods, exercise regularly. And to help support the vision that God has ordained for our family. Lord, You are good and Your mercy endures forever. Thank you for empowering me to carry out your will.” I also have a picture of my children and a prayer card underneath it stating what I want to manifest in their lives. Write the vision. Make His vision for you your vision and He is guaranteed to support it, and bring it to pass.
Because You Will Execute The Vision
How do I know that you will execute the vision? The truth is, I don’t know. But He knows. And He told me to tell you that you have the mind of Christ (I Corinthians 2:16), you are an overcomer and He has already given you the victory over every circumstance that the enemy has thrown at you thus far. Shout hallelujah! This too shall pass. So, fix your eyes on the future (yesterday is over), and call those things that are not as though they are because they are. They are the promises of God (that have already been created in the spiritual realm, waiting for you to call them forth) that belong to His children and we don’t have to sit timid waiting for someone to dictate our future to us. Give God the praise. You made it through 2020. You broke through the darkness and here you are sitting (in 2021) in His glorious light. You have been forgiven. Therefore forgive. You are loved. Therefore give love. You have been given the gifts and callings of your Heavenly Father and He will bring every dream, every promise, every vision to pass as you move forward in Him for His purpose, for His Glory, for the upbuilding of the Kingdom of God.
Say It. See It. Do It.
When we speak what the word of God says, His angels move forward to help us bring His Word to pass in our lives (Psalms 103:17-22). This spiritual truth is so poignant, yet most of us want to ignore it and try doing everything in the natural realm. When you utilize the wisdom of God’s time-tested principles you began to see the outcome of what occurs when you achieve victory over darkness in the realm of the Spirit. God’s timing is perfect. We don’t want to get ahead of Him neither do we want to lag behind Him. So when we declare that we are healed, or our children are saved, or our bills are paid-in-full, we are speaking from a place of knowledge of His word or experience. Either way His track record is impeccable. So to recap how to we put these spiritual principles into practice we:
- Say It – “Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth” (Proverbs 6:2). Are you declaring what kind of year will it be or are you waiting for someone else to tell what kind of year it will be and are you agreeing with that? Declare: “2021 Will Be An Amazing Year For me and my Family”! To God be the Glory! Amen (So Be It)!
- See It – Seeing it means that you release your faith to believe that you receive what God (and you) has said (Mark 11:23). Not, “‘ll believe when I see it”.
- Do It – You can start your journey towards an amazing utilizing the resources above: making daily affirmations, creating mission and vision statements, and following a daily Bible reading plan to help you Change your Mindset. Discover Your Mission. Manifest Your Destiny…in Him.
Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.
JOB 22:28
Tip: For those of you who want to take your mission/vision to the next level to help facilitate your amazing year, the Daniel Fast is an incredible opportunity to experience a mental, physical, financial, or spiritual breakthrough.
On A Practical Note
There are several ways that you can get started with learning new skills that aligns with your mission, vision, and purpose, or perhaps you’ll discover talents that you didn’t even know that you possessed. You can learn a new skill in many different formats:
- Attend a Workshop/Seminar
- Read Books on a Subject of Interest (Your local library is a cost-effective way to learn a new skill)
- Take An Online Course
- Find a Mentor (You can access them via their books, courses, videos, podcasts, email, etc.)
- Start Your Own Online Business
Skills of interest can include Video, Photography, Programming, Business, Marketing, Art, Design, Jewelry making, Knitting & Sewing, Writing, Podcasting, Coaching… One of my favorites sites to recommend for personal and professional growth on a practical level is 16personalities.com. Take the assessment test here.
Conclusion
I tell my children “you are the captain of your ship. What you are saying is what you are getting”. You know, this forces them to learn how to have a more positive confession and work towards a positive goal. It is a process. But the more you put it into practice, the more you recognize what occurs when you lack consistency. It is your mission, your vision and your purpose; and you have the power in your mouth to declare and decree a thing.
God spoke the world into existence (“God said”). He has bestowed unto us that same creative power to use our words to speak life to our life or to speak death to our life (Psalms 18:21). Will you declare that you will have an amazing year (therefore opening yourself to the possibilities of your decision to say what God’s Word says about you, or are you in agreement with the naysayers (who will also have what they are saying)? Which one will you choose? And, remember, to not make a choice is to make choice, because it takes discipline to get into agreement with God.
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
JOSHUA 1:8
In the midst of chaotic times, God’s Word has not changed. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. When we read the Book of Psalms, we can see that even though the psalmnists went through perilous times, in the end they always gave praise to God because He had given them the victory.
Because Emmanuel Lives, I Expect Victory Everytime.
Grace and Peace to you. And here’s to an amazing year. Amen!
