How to have a great year

Every new year comes with higher aspirations and much anticipation of what the year has for us and we always hope to achieve greater things than we did the previous year. No one wants to experience a bad year. That’s why we find people making resolutions and setting goals. There’s no straight formula for having a great year but the truth is you can actually have a bad year if you don’t intentionally take some things seriously. Now let’s look at some of the things that can help us have a great year.

1. Know what God has said concerning you.

This is the first thing to do. Find out in the scriptures what God has said concerning you and meditate on them. Reject anything that is not in His word concerning you. God has said a lot of beautiful things in His word concerning you. A classic example is this scripture in Genesis 1:26-28;

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

God has said that you are to be fruitful, not only in childbearing but in everything that you set your hands and minds to. Expect nothing less during the year. Challenges will come but you must make up your mind that you will subdue all challenges and not have challenges subdue you.

So always remember that it’s God’s desire that you walk in dominion and excellence. God wants us to reign and rule with Him. Romans 5:17 so bring everything that is not of God under subjection and under your dominion.

2. Recognise what you have

There are two important personalities in you that you should not take for granted. They are the Holy Spirit and The Word of God. Jesus is the Word of God and the Holy Spirit is the One who has been given to be our Comforter. John 14:16. Your new birth is by the agency of the Word of God and the Spirit of God.

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. – John 3:5 KJV

The water here represents the Word of God.

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. – 1 Peter 1:23 KJV

The Holy Spirit quickens and strengthens us to do what we are supposed to do. He is our main inspiration and our biggest motivator in life. He gives us the ability to do God’s word. He is the One to guide us to know which part of the Word to study. He is the One who brings God’s word to our remembrance when we need it. Depression cannot keep you down if you rely on the ministry of the Holy Spirit! He will bring to your mind all the scriptures that will lift you out of that depression.

The word of God and the Holy Spirit will definitely give you the energy you require to go through the year with joy and to be able to accomplish all that God wants for you.

3. Walk by faith

We’ve been called to live by faith (Romans 1:17 Galatians 3:11) and the Bible even lets us know that it is impossible to please God without faith. (Hebrews 11:6)

Faith is this – I don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow but I’ll believe and act in a way that proves that I believe that what God has said is real and that it’s true. Don’t let anything take your attention from what God has said.

If fear knocks at your door, you’ve got to tell it that you are full of courage and of love. Talk faith. Not fear. And act as a courageous person. There’s a remarkable story about faith in 2 Kings 4. The Shunammite woman acted in faith in that scriptural passage. Just like this woman, we have to live by faith and refuse to accept anything contrary to what God has said.

4. Pray

You’ve got to pray if you want to have a great year. Prayer is one of the best keys given to us as believers and we must make full use of it. In Acts 12, the Apostles got a remarkable testimony through prayer. Peter was saved from death miraculously because of their prayer.

You’ve got to pray about the days and months ahead. The best way to pray is by speaking in tongues like the Apostles did (Acts 2). The Holy Spirit is already in tomorrow so let Him aid you in arranging things in the days to come before you get there.

Conclusion

God wants you to have a great year! That is the truth of the matter. By focusing on His Word and His Spirit, you will achieve greatness. I see you have a great year this year. May all the years that have been wasted in your life be restored to you this year in Jesus’ name.