A NEW YOU IN A NEW YEAR!

It’s a new year. Thank God you made it. The year is going already, before you realize, it has come to an end. But it will not go just like that. I believe it will be your most remarkable, most exciting and your most fulfilling, in Jesus name.

The Lord spoke to us in RAPHA INT'L MINISTRIES that this is a season to OCCUPY (Luke 19:13). To occupy is to busy oneself with, that is, to trade, or do business. It calls on us to get busy about the Father’s business, to employ all resources within our hearts and the ones in our hands for the glory of God. It is a call for us to take our place in His Kingdom, bringing the influence of the Kingdom to bear within our sphere of influence.

God never changes, yet He changes the times and the seasons (Dan. 2:21). He works with us based on times and seasons (Eccl. 3:1; Psa. 102:13).

I want you to note however, that just because it is a new year doesn't necessarily mean anything is going to change in your life. The calendar or clock doesn't have the power to change anything. If you were sick on 31^st Dec, you didn't get well because it was Jan. 1.

So, lest you get caught in the euphoria of celebrating the entry of a new year and forget how to get the benefit of this present season, I have written this article to you.

Zig Ziglar said, “One definition of insanity is to believe you can keep on doing the same thing while expecting different results.” So for some of us, there is a need to re-evaluate our lives so as to re-focus, re-strategize and re-direct our hearts for maximum effects.

Jesus said you cannot pour new wine into old wineskins, lest you burst the wineskin and lose the wine. The wineskin must become new (Luke 5:37-38). You must become a new wineskin to receive & retain the new thing God is doing this year.

Rom. 12:2 says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

“Transformed” comes from the Greek word, Metamorphoo, meaning, change in form, a word from where we get ‘metamorphosis.’ This verse shows us that we can be transformed (changed) not because it is a new year, but because your mind is renewed, signifying a new you. You are not holding on to your old ways of unbelief, unforgiveness, bitterness, sinful lifestyle, etc. it is a new you in a new year. Things must change – your level of commitment, dedication, sacrifice, your attitude to God, your involvement in the service of God, must all reflect a positive change. Unless something changes in you, nothing changes around you. Things won’t change simply because you’ve entered a new year, or that you tag the year “your year of … whatever!”

To make the best of this year, I admonish you to change your ATTITUDE towards:

1(1)      GOD: Put God first, above everything else. Those that honour God, He will honour (1Sam.2:30). Therefore honour God with your substance (Matt. 6:33; Prov. 3:9,10). Give to God the first of your harvest this year (firstfruits). Be faithful with your tithes. Be generous with your offerings. Wake up each morning and begin with worship. Take time to pray (at least an hour a day), praying more for others than for yourself. Study the Word daily – at least a chapter a day.

2(2)      CHURCH: Be consistent in Fellowship (Heb. 10:25). Be faithful in your finances this year. Support every project being done in your church. Don’t default in your tithing. (The tithe is 10% of your income – anything that comes into your hand/pocket). This will ensure a continual flow of God’s blessings in your life (Mal. 3:8-12; Lev. 27:30; Heb. 7:7-8). Get involved in the service of God. The service of God is a covenant tool for blessing (Exo. 23:25-27). Be committed to your local church. Don’t just attend, be actively involved. (Heb. 10:25; 1 Cor. 15:58). Win souls for Christ this year. Be fruitful in the Kingdom (Prov. 11:30; Dan. 12:3; Mk. 16:15)

3(3)      YOUR PASTOR: Follow, support, honour & be a blessing to your Pastor this year – 1Cor. 11:1; 1Thess. 5:12,13; 1Tim. 5:17,18; Heb. 13:7,17; Gal. 6:6-9.

4(4)      MONEY: Be faithful with the resources God commits to you this year (Lk. 16:11). Learn how to make, manage & multiply money. Be generous. Block all leakages – no waste.

5(5)      PEOPLE: Life is all about people. Relationship is the currency of life. All you ever need is here on earth, and probably in somebody’s hand. People are channels. Decide to be a blessing to the people God brings your way. Don’t despise anybody. Help as many people as you can this year.

I believe this year to be your best so far in the name of Jesus. I see a new you in a new year, set for new things in a new fashion. They will see in you what has not been seen before. They will hear about you things not heard before. 

PLANNING YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS

Failing to plan is planning to fail. Benjamin Franklin

said, "by failing to prepare you are preparing to

fail".

Planning is the arrangement of facts to achieve your

set objectives. It is the process of deciding in detail how

to do something before you actually start to do it.

For every achievable destiny, planning is required. 

"The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the

answer of the tongue is from the LORD."

A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his

steps." (Prov 16:1,9, NKJV)

Two things are noted here:

1) When the heart is prepared, God brings an answer.

But planning or preparation precedes the answer.

2) When the plan is set, God grants the inspiration

and direction required in achieving the plan. Planning

precedes direction. You will receive the wisdom to

move step by step.

Many indolent people simply fold their arms waiting

for God to move. It’s like lame man at the pool of

Bethesda who sat down crippled for 38 years waiting

for somebody to push him into the water. (Jn.5:1-7).

Thank God for people that move us, but when there is

nobody around, my friend, move yourself. In fact,

don’t wait for anybody. E.W. Kenyon said, "What you do

for yourself counts far more than all that others have

done or could do for you". Sometimes you have to defy

all sorts of discouragement, and like David,

"encourage yourself in the Lord". (1Sam.30:6) 

Dr Mike Murdock said, "When your heart decides the

destination, your mind will design the map to reach

it".

Not having everything in place is not sufficient

enough to become an excuse. You don’t to have

everything in place before you launch out or even

begin to plan or prepare. Pastor Mary Yohanna says,

“Excuses are for those who are not determined.”

Eccle.11:4 (TLB) said ‘if you wait for perfect

conditions, you will never get anything done’.

A one-time British Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli

said, “The secret to success is for a man to be ready

for his time when it comes.”

I’ve heard of people who were trusting God for doors

to open for them, and when the doors opened, they

couldn’t enter because they were unprepared. Do you

remember the parable of the virgins, and how the five

foolish ones lost out because they were unprepared?

(Mt.25:1-13).

Whitney Young said, “It is better to be prepared and

not have an opportunity than to have one and not be

prepared.”

"The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but

victory rests with the LORD." (Prov 21:31,NIV)

It is true that the battle is not to the strong (Eccle

9:11), and that no one wins on account of the strength

of the horse (Psa.33:16,17), yet, to enjoy victory

from the Lord, it takes a prepared horse.

When you do what you can, God will do what you can’t.

God will do His part, but you’ve got to do your part.

"Any enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes

strong through common sense, and profits wonderfully

by keeping abreast of the facts". (Prov. 23:3-4, TLB)

Planning is using what you have to get what you want.

Thinking

Thinking is the principal tool for planning. Yet Henry

Ford said, “The most difficult job in the world is

thinking’”

Never confuse worrying with thinking. What is

thinking? It is the rational, analytical, intelligent

and logical reasoning. It is considering facts or

realities on ground to produce a desired result.

While worrying focuses on impossibilities, thinking

focuses on possibilities. Worrying sees ‘a brick

wall’. Thinking expects a way where there seems to be

no way.

A man once said that only 5% of the world populace

think. 15% think that they are thinking. 80% would

rather die than think. Why is thinking that much of a

problem? It is because many have not been trained to

make use of the resources that God has deposited

within them. They fold their arms and think they are

being spiritual by asserting ‘God will do it for me’.

Don’t try to use faith for something you can do.

Purpose

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the

LORD's purpose that prevails." (Prov. 19:21,NIV)

This verse admonishes us to plan based on purpose. God

calls us to accomplish different things based on His purpose

for our lives. So you need to seek out God’s purpose for your

life and then begin to plan towards achieving that purpose.

Goal-setting

Goal-setting is an act of mental projection of things

you desire to achieve. It forms the framework for what

you desire to build.

The purpose of goals is to stop you from wandering

around achieving nothing. You will not be full of

activity yet lacking productivity; moving yet making no 

progress. 

Can you imagine a football competition without goal

posts on the pitch? How then will you determine the

winner?

Someone said, ‘your goals need to be S.M.A.R.T., an

acrostic meaning Specific, Measurable, Achievable,

Realistic and Time-related.

Take some time out and prayerfully set your goals for the year

and trust God to achieve them all in Jesus name. Be

free to share some of your goals with me so I can join

my faith with yours and pray in agreement for them to

come to pass (Try to limit your goals to not more than

seven for the sake of focus, concentration and

expectation). Then do like Jephtath: “Speak (repeat) all

these words before the Lord.” (Judg. 11:11)

I see you rising to the very top this year. I see you

celebrating every day of this year. I see you walking

in victory over every onslaught of the enemy. I see

you shining gloriously. In Jesus name!

YOU WILL OCCUPY!

MARRIAGE WITHOUT TEARS III WHY PEOPLE FAIL TO MARRY Marriage is a very fascinating subject, as it is the most intimate form of relationship between a man and a woman. It was ordained by God. Not going about it God's way is the source of the many hurts and frustration experienced today, "but from the beginning it was not so." (Matt.19:8). Though there is nothing wrong with being unmarried (as Jesus or Paul never married), you can if you desire to (1Cor. 7:2). And please realize that being unmarried is not a yoke or a curse. Mary and Martha (sisters of Lazarus) were friends with Jesus. There is no record He even prayed for them to get husbands. I pray these points will be of help as you set out on this voyage.  Why do people fail to marry?  1. They know what they want They have a goal in life and it's not worth compromising simply on the altar of marriage. It doesn't mean you are a bad person or 'unmarriable.' It's simply that you adhere to principles you're not willing to trade. If you just want to marry for marrying sake, you could get married tomorrow - to just anybody. But you know there are people you could never marry, even if they were the only person left unmarried on earth. 2. They don't know what they want Sometimes people find themselves pursuing fantasies and not the real thing. You hear someone saying, "I want to marry a Doctor."  Is it a husband you're marrying or a profession? Somebody attended her friend's wedding to a Military Officer and got fascinated with the crossing of swords and all the paraphernalia of the ceremony, and there and then vowed to marry a soldier, forgetting that all ceremony was for the wedding. A colorful wedding is not a guarantee for a colorful marriage. Don't overlook the character of a person and be carried away by their charisma. You want to marry a rich man? Is it money you're  looking for or a husband? You can make money on your own. In those days, marriage was more like a "workshop" where the man works and the woman shops, but things are fast changing. You also hear of people who want a spouse who will do this or that for them. A house help could fit that role. What do you consider? Shape? It changes with age and childbearing.  Fine face? What if an accident dents the face? And then, like a sister once quipped, "Na fine face we go chop?" 3. You never attract what you don't respect. Do you feel that women are like animals? Do you say that men are insensitive and heartless? All men are the same? (In my haste I said all men are liars - Psa. 116:11). That's why experience is not the best teacher.  That someone betrayed you is no indication everybody is a traitor. Stop being sarcastic, caustic, cynical and critical of people. 4. You are neither here nor there  Some profess propriety but practice profanity. As a child of God, you expect to marry a child of God (2Cor. 6:14-17; 1Cor. 5:10,11), but your dressing and behaviour only attracts unbelievers - who you can't marry, except you choose to court disaster. I tell our sisters, when you flaunt yourself around and expose your body, the brothers see a "sister Rahab." (Remember Rahab the harlot?). They'll see a sex toy, but not a wife. Some people have unrealistic expectations. They behave like sinners but expect to marry a saint. They don't rate themselves correctly. Water will always find its level. In life, you attract what you are, not what you want. Birds of a feather flock together. A pretending brother will always end up with a pretending sister. 5. Impatience. You're so much in a hurry to marry. That’s why the older you get, the more difficult it becomes to marry, not only because there are fewer singles around your age, but because you feel you don't have all the time to really get to know the person.  You commit to a relationship too early only to discover within weeks the person is not what you thought they were. Remember, all that glitters is not gold. "Whoever believes will not act hastily." (Isa. 28:16). That's why when you're too available you cheapen yourself and you keep being overlooked because people don't like desperados. It’s impatience that makes people to look for ‘finished product.’ No one is perfect; not even you. So why are you looking for a flawless person? Instead of looking for a ready-made material, work on what you have, aiming for the image you have in your mind of your spouse. See Eph. 5:21-33. 6. Unforgiveness. If you've been hurt in a previous relationship, and you refuse to release that hurt through forgiveness, you carry it with you.  You move into another relationship still bearing those hurts and the cycle of disappointment continues. And, hurt people hurt people. Sometimes, failed relationships are an indication that you've not mastered certain aspects of relationships. It's like a failed course in school. That someone left you could be because they don't belong in your life. They've moved on. Release them and move on too. It's not the end of life. The best is yet to come. 7.  Lack of understanding of God's will as it relates to marriage - Eph. 5:17 Some marry with no regard to whether it is God's will or not. Some others never marry because they're praying for God's will. They won't make a move because they're waiting for a revelation of God's will for them. God will not force on you someone you don't want. 1Cor. 7:39b, talking about a widow, says she is at liberty to marry WHOM SHE WILL; only in the Lord. 1Thessalonians 4:3-7 3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. Scriptural injunctions : 2Cor.6:14-17; 1Cor.5:10,11 "And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]." (Colossians 3:15, AMP) 8. Terrible attitude Some are so negative nobody wants to be around them. They are so gloomy and negative that anytime anyone comes around, he/she leaves with a heavy heart. The best restaurants in town don't advertise. People keep coming back because they were well treated. They enjoyed their time there. Some people have no control over their emotions, so they allow their moods to determine how they relate with people. Isn't it amazing that sometimes it's easier for widows (even with children) to marry than some singles? That's why some fail to marry in spite of their scintillating looks and quintessential beauty, because they lack inner beauty (1Pet. 3:3-6; Prov. 31:30).

 There could be other factors other than these. You can use your faith to believe God for a spouse. But don't target a particular person and try to claim such a person in prayer. No, that will be witchcraft in action. You can't use your faith over another person's will. If it is God's will that you be together, God will make a way for you two to connect - if you have someone in  mind. 

God will lead you aright in Jesus name.

Shalom!