2016 is trudging along to the abode of its predecessor. How has it been since you crossed over into the new year some sixty days ago? Are things working out according to plans? If yes, I rejoice with you. But, you must not rest on your oars. Keep rowing because the best still lies ahead. The antidote for stagnation and retrogression is progress.
Are you yet to find your compass for fulfilment and accomplishment in the year? Let me encourage you that it is not yet late to start out and make the most out of the year. This year holds lots of promises for you. It could be the year of your breakthrough, turnaround, recovery, discovery, reinvention, extraordinary experiences and superlative performance.
It is in your hands. You are the architect of the future you get. Some will fall like Lucifer while others will rise like the meteor. Some will have tales of woes while others will have testimonies of wonderful experiences. It all depends on the set of your sail. Despite the harsh economic climate and sundry obstacles, you can make it to the finishing line of glorious fulfilment in 2016.
First, you need to be connected with God who knows the best for your life and from whom all blessings flow. Denying the existence of God is like acting the ostrich. Following Christ is the best decision anyone could make. He is the way, the truth and the life.
Then you need two essential ingredients: faith and works. Faith without works is a recipe for frustration and failure. Works without faith will produce at best, barren success and could be outrightly futile. But when the two are rightly combined, there is fulfilment and accomplishment.
Faith
There must be faith in God with faith in yourself. Because God can do all things you can succeed and realize your dreams; because Christ lives, you can conquer territories and obtain crowns. Faith in God with faith in yourself is not the empty, lousy and noisy kind of faith that expects God to reward our indiscretion and laziness. Neither does it take God for granted or leaves God out of the equation. It is not insolent. It is an active and balanced faith that launches out and aims for the mountain top because the everlasting arms are underneath and the wings of the Spirit are by the sides. With this kind of faith you launch into uncharted regions or areas where failure had been recorded in times past.
Works
This is not foolish or unreasonable labour but intelligent, resourceful, systematic and thoughtful endeavours. It involves the judicious use of our God-given gifts, faculties and abilities. After Lazarus has been raised from death by faith, we no longer need faith to remove the grave clothes and let him go. Thinking through, praying fervently, stepping out in faith, studying hard, refusing to be discouraged and trying over and over again, planning and organization are the works we need to do. The world and humans are products of intelligent design and no man can make much out of life when things are approached in a haphazard, unintelligent way. Work is faith stepping out.
You need to get out of the lounge of excuses, self-pity and laziness. Armed with your faith in God and a healthy self-confidence, work your way to a successful and fulfilling 2016.
And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go (John 11: 43, 44)
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord (Romans 12.11)
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone (James 2: 17)
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