Ah! You made it! You’re currently reading this. Hence, you made it to this new year, this new decade! I’m so glad you and I are here, hale and hearty. Surely, God deserves our unreserved praise and glory.
With your vision board in place, your new year’s resolution in sight, and your determination level on a thousand, I heartily wish you a happy new year! In Africa, besides ‘Happy New Year’, the most popular sentence I hear (I don’t know if it’s because I’m still unmarried) whenever a new year begins is ‘This year is your year!‘. *inserts chuckling sounds*
For many persons, those words have become a cliche – the-just-say-it-halfheartedly and-get-on-with-your-life kinda expression. For some persons, those words mean a lot. They really hope the words come through. Some have heard it over and again. They are plain tired of hearing the stale gist. You know what? About those words, I found one truth.
This year is your year…only if you choose it to be. Kindly reread that statement.
If this year is your year of birthing great visions, it’s also got to be your year of taking corresponding actions. If it is your year of breaking limits, it’s got to be your year of taking great risks.
Friend, nothing great comes cheaply. For this year to be your year, it will cost you. You will take risks. Even your decision to NOT take any risk is also risky. It is risky to fear failure and not try at all. Thing is- 2019 is gone. It will never be here again. All we have left are lessons, memories, and past experiences. Still, there is good news! You have a gift called THE PRESENT! You are right there, right on here, right now! That’s a priceless gift. You are living. You matter. You count. You are worthy!
Dear One, this new year, please give yourself the permission to live intentionally. Exude your uniqueness thoughtfully. Serve unreservedly. Love lavishly. You have just one life to live. Live it to the Glory of our King. Live out that God-ordained purpose of yours this year and beyond.
Did you just mutter to yourself ‘but what is my purpose?’ Your purpose is to honor God- to know Him and to make Him known. The medium through which you do the above is your assignment. (Salem King taught me that.) The more you pursue God’s purpose for you, the more glaring your life’s assignment will be.
Among a few other things I do, I know fully well that one of my life’s assignment to write notes and pieces that will inspire men and women to be Christians whose character and accomplishments are worthy of commendation and emulation. How did I discover my assignment? In the place of active, hearty service! (This deep topic of service is for another day.) If I never served, I absolutely doubt if I’d be on here today.
In case your current career or vocation is not giving you the joy your soul longs for, guess what? All hope is not lost. Surely, with God, you will not end in a rut. It’s time put a praise on it. Praise God through that phase. Serve Him and see Him take you from where you currently are to where you truly belong. In the midst of praise, God’s people are raised. (See Psalms 67:5-7, 2 Chronicles 20:20-21)
So take it from me.
This year 2020 is your year…if you choose it to be.
Hear what Daddy is saying to us;
“Today I am giving you a choice. You can choose life and success or death and disaster. I am commanding you to be loyal to the LORD, to live the way he has told you, and to obey his laws and teachings. You are about to cross the Jordan River and take the land that he is giving you. If you obey him, you will live and become successful and powerful.” Jeremiah 30:15-18 (Contemporary English Version)
You and I don crossed over 2019. We’re past Jordan. It’s only wise for us to choose God over the world, to choose right over wrong, work over mere wishes and sloth, productivity over procrastination…
The Choice is yours. Choose wisely.
With love and passion,
Ashley
