How to Have a Happy New Year! Part1

**Fenny West** Tue 03 Feb 2009, 2:55 pm

This is a season of goodwill. Many will be wishing each other a Happy New Year. Many will be hoping for a change in their circumstances for good or the better. Some did well in 2008 but they would nevertheless want to do better in 2009 and rightly so.

This is also a time when many make New Year Resolutions. This year I shall lay every excess weight aside.” 'I year I shall begin that course I have been dreaming of.'

'I shall learn to play the guitar this year.' 'I shall have my first property this year.' For another, “I shall increase my property portfolio.” And so the wish or resolution goes on

For some of us a resolution is not enough. We need a revolution, a complete transformation. And such a transformation can only come from a divine intervention. No amount of resolution can help us. We have tried in times past, willing ourselves on for about two week into the New Year, and reverting back to our old ways. “

This is why only a few realise their wishes or resolutions by the end of the year and the cycle of making wishes continues. Unless we identify the root of the problem and lay an axe to the root we would be wasting our time. If self discipline is the problem, it does not come overnight. We must learn gradually how to discipline ourselves in doing small things before applying it to major goals.

If you want to put an end to this endless worthless cycle read on otherwise it would be advisable to stop.

I have devised this acronym (OPECA) to help you remember how to have a happy new year.

Objective:

You must have an objective, a destination, a goal, where you want to be at the end of the year otherwise you will flounder, blown about by any wind, anything goes. Without a defined destination there is no way of knowing whether you have arrived or derailed. It is therefore wise to sit down and prayerfully write down say ten things you will like to achieve by the end of 2009. If ten things are too much for you then try three or four or a manageable number

“The Just Live by Faith Then the LORD answered me and said: “Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.. Hab 2:2

Before you do that you need to look at 2008 and see what limited you. What eluded you? Why did they elude you?

Setting your self an objective sets a boundary to your life. It enables you to discipline yourself.

28 Whoever has no rule over his own spirit

Is like a city broken down, without walls. Prov. 25:28 NKJV

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

(1Cor9:24-29)

Without a goal you will arrive where you do not expect. “No goal, no go.” If you aim at nothing you’re bound to hit it – nothing!

Set financial goal, spiritual goals, relational goals, career goals, mental or educational goals, investment goal, family goals etc.

Have short term (6months to 12 months) medium term (1-3 years) and long term 3-10 years.

What is the dream of your life? What are you most passionate about? That may point to your calling.

Read the full versions of the following poems if you wish: ‘Keep your Dream alive’, ‘You Have a Destiny’, ‘Made for a Mission’, and ‘I am Unique.’

Made for a mission,
To fulfil vision.
A trophy of Grace,
In the Race of Grace.
Honed to reflect His glory.
Born a vessel of praise.
Born to be a bonfire.

You have a destiny,
Not to be treated with ignominy.
You have an assignment,
Not for confinement.
You have a purpose
Not to be forever postponed.

Do you have a dream?
Make it a life-giving stream.
Let your dream be big.
Be in the topmost league.

Keep your dream alive
CH: Keep your dream alive
Go fulfil purpose.
Go now to your God
And let Him tell you your purpose;
And life will have a new meaning.

Every one has an assignment.
Each one has a purpose.
Everyone has a God-ordained dream.
Life has no meaning
If you don’t know its reason.
So keep your dream alive!

Fight the good fight of faith.
Fight for God- given dream.
Fight in the power of His might.
You’re a light, take your rightful place.
Shine Saint, in the night
So keep your dream alive.

A dream without an action is an illusion

A dream without an action
becomes a nightmare.
A vision without an action
is an illusion.
Dreams don't fulfil themselves.
Dreams must be married to passion
to beget.
Dreams must be focused on to produce reality.

Do you have a dream, a life ambition?
Then work at it and let it work for you.
Don't use the excuse, "No Provision"
For every vision, there is a 'pro-vision'
You can do all things through Christ -your strength.

I am unique,
With a unique gifting.
Fitting my assignment

I have a special assignment;
A God -given assignment.
I will discover that assignment,
And progressively fulfil it.

You are not an accident God created you for a purpose. You need to discover that distinctive purpose and start preparing yourself to fulfil it. You have an important contribution to make to the human race. Prepare to make your plan. Let it not be that you came and you went. End of story.

Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

God has made you a partaker of the divine nature through knowing Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

“as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. “2Pet. 1:3-5

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God wants you to be effective and efficient dealing wisely in the affairs of life God want you to succeed. Others may succeed without acknowledging the Lord but as a child of God, your pathway is different. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Any success you obtain without the Lord is not good success. It is likely to make you arrogant and set you up for a fall.

7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;
But we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
8 They have bowed down and fallen;
But we have risen and stand upright.

God gave Joshua who was stepping into the shoes of Moses, the blue print for success ordained of God. If there is a good success, then there is a bad success.

Greatness and good success.
Serving others and not yourself.
Not goods success,
But godly success.
Not me first and others last
but others first, and me last.

[
It's using what you have
to do the best you can.
It's faithfulness, commitment
Trustworthiness, dependability
Low profile, not low self-esteem
It's putting on the apron of humility
To serve the Master any where
Not eye service-
Seeking man's approval or applause.

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.Prov.1:7, 9:10, Ps111:10
If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; Isa 1:19

God has good plans for us, but we need to co-operate with Him for those plans to come to fruition. God has a destiny for each one us. He wants us to find out what those plans are and start working towards fulfilling those plans. Any achievement outside the will of the Lord shall leave us famished like a fish out of water.

33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given
to you as well.Matt6:33

Let us pray:
Lord, help me to have the right priorities this year. May I put you first and allow you to lead me each step of the way. Amen.