Tuesday 3 January 2012

Starting well.

Towards the end of  2011, I attended a powerful kesha (overnight prayer meeting) and the minister of God was sharing with us in conclusion to a series of messages he had been teaching on, themed "Finishing well".

Obviously it was not finishing well the year 2011, but this journey/walk with our Lord Jesus Christ.

On finishing well, he pointed out that it requires one to be determined. To be determined is not a gift but a choice by the way. It is to decide or settle for something conclusively.

In my world this brand new year 2012, as everyone else is busy setting new year's resolutions, we are going to twist the "Finishing well" to "Starting well" as an idea for some resolutions to those of us who might find it helpful.

Pretty much, Starting well also requires determination.


For you start well, you need to:


1. Know who you are.

Its really hard to start well if at all you don't know yourself. 

Many of us tend to think that other people should be able to define us (including myself sometimes). 

Focus on finding yourself. When you know yourself, you will not struggle with what you want to become or about what others think of you.



2. know what/who you want to become.
 
Many people have dreams of power, popularity, wealth and many more but there is another kind of dream that is even more powerful and far more fulfilling. Finding and following God's dream for our lives. 

Search yourself and find that one thing that puts a smile on your face when you do it. Ask God for guidance and pursue it. 
 


3. Choose to be free.

(Galatians 5:1) "For this freedom Christ has liberated us. Stand firm, then and do not be held fast again by a yoke of servitude". This is one of the scriptures that am holding on to this year.  

You need to be free this year. Free from things that have been holding you captive (you know them). Take the initiative to set some goals for your life. Refuse to be a slave to your failures if any.



4. Take care of your relationships.

One of the greatest relationships you need to take care of, is with our creator. If you have a personal one with Him,take it a notch higher. If you don't have it yet, what are are you waiting for? His arms are wide open waiting to receive you.   

Your family should come first after God. Purpose to spend quality time with them. Cultivate that closeness that you share. Stand firm with them in whatever they might be going through whether good or bad. 

Your friends (those with good morals) also play a big role in your life. Communication is a key and is channeled from both sides. When it's one person driving the relationship and silence from the other end, then there is a problem. 

Relatives. See who you haven't talked to, called or visited in a long time and create time to do so. We need them dearly in our lives. (if you are not married yet, they are the ones that will fill a larger percentage of guests on your wedding day. you see!) :-)



5. Stick to your goals. Avoid procrastination.

It's almost a tradition that resolutions are made but very few are  achieved by the end of the year.Well,as we said from the beginning, determination is not a gift but what? a choice!. 
  
You make it a choice to make possible what you desire. No one else is responsible for your life but you. Purpose to complete tasks. Give yourself a deadline for your goals.Quit saying I will do this later.