PREPARATION FOR THE YEAR 2021

 PREPARATION FOR THE YEAR 2021

Happy New Year Family. We thank God for the completion of a great year and the start of a new one. It shall indeed be a wonderfully and most inspiring year for us all.Yes, it is true that a new year has started and everyone has begun running their affairs for the year, while some may still be pondering on how to go about it. There is no problem with any of this, if we are actually journeying right. I want us to understand that preparation is key to every successful adventure. An adventure you don't successfully prepare for, you cannot find success in it. Until certain things are laid down or brooded upon, it is not possible to fully maximize them. Therefore, it is very important that before the running of the race, provision must be made for both the start and the finishing. Let's look at the world of sports today, an athlete no matter how good, if he has not prepared at all or fully prepared for the race, there are chances that he will not end up finishing the race or even if he did, he won't be outstanding or achieve success in it. This is why we need to carefully prepare for the year.

Habakkuk 2:2; according to God's word, He said write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, so that he that sees it may run with it. We see from scriptures; God did not say run with the vision, make it plain, then write it. No,  because our God is a God of order. He knows that preparation has to come before manifestation. Even Jesus Christ had to go into the wilderness, prepare himself for 40days and 40nights then the Bible recorded,  he returned in the power of the Spirit. Do we think God created the Heavens and the earth, you and I included without a plan in mind. We see from scriptures in Isaiah 55:8-9, He is a God of plans and purpose. If He had not planned well or prepared well, maybe Man would have been created before land, vegetation or the birds of the air even before the firmaments were formed.

Preparation is very important for any believer who wants to make it in his field of endeavour.  An organization without a plan for the years costs or excesses will end up running at a loss if care is not taking. 

What then is Preparation?

From scriptures,  we see different instances where the biblical patriarchs and even God the Father himself laid down certain requirements for certain things. This is preparation.

✓ Preparation is laying down: Job 38:4 "where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding". We see in Genesis 1 how the whole foundations of the heavens and the earth were laid before putting man in control and in the seat of power. Jesus himself laid down His life before He could enjoy the glory. Philippians 2:8-9 "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:". Christ himself could only enter into that Glory realm because He had laid down that is, prepared the way (Revelations 5:9-12).

✓ Preparation is laying aside: Hebrews 12:1 "wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us...". Another way we can prepare ourselves is by laying aside whatever hindrances or barriers to our headed destination. For this to happen,  first we must recognize that these are the reasons we could not achieve certain things in the previous year and lay them away from you in the new year.  This is preparation. You can also lay aside from the experiences of those that have gone before you. What are the reasons they were not successful in that line; and you try to lay them all aside. You need to shed every heavy weight that makes you a flight risk. We know this for a fact,  that birds are light weighted; as such, they are able to fly. If a bird just happens to be of heavy weight, flight becomes a risky adventure.  To not make 2021 a risky adventure like other years before now, we need to prepare.

✓ Preparation is seeing: From scriptures,  we understand that God places a great importance on what we see. He told Abraham in Genesis 13:14-15 "Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou sees,  to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever". So many instances like this one. He also said unto Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1 "what seest thou?". Thus, it is very important to see right to have a year that is right. What you see determines the outcome i.e. where you are going. If you cannot see prosperity,  how then do you want to prosper. We can agree that the Eagle is the bird which is able to fly extreme heights; but most importantly,  the Eagle possesses a very keen sight. It sees far hence it can fly far. So, you must prepare for success by seeing success.

✓ Preparation is training: Genesis 14:14 "And when Abram heard that his brother was taken  captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan". In the field of wrestling,  if you have not received proper training,  the belt is very far from reaching your grasp. To earn your desired results,  you must work for them. We see from verse 16; Abraham brought back all the goods and also his brother that was taken captive.  It is possible;  if He had gone without untrained servants or had not fully prepared them by arming then, then they might as well have been taken captive.  So many of us are taken captive by the year, because we have not trained well ourselves for the year (risks and benefits all included). You will all agree with me training at times is not easy, but you know there is a prize at the end of it all and it far outweighs whatever cost of the efforts you put in. We must therefore prepare ourselves by training ourselves.  We can train in the place of skill acquisition for that choice field; train in the place of building capacity;  in the place of your financial expenditures;  in the place of you training your minds positively. 

✓ Preparation is seeking the truth: This is one very vital way of preparing ourselves.  Not everything goes in; Mr A has not done well in that business; Mr B lost all He had within three months...and so on. Preparation is seeking out and seeking only the truth. Ephesians 6:14 "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breast plate of righteousness ". The scripture says "stand". Another interpretation says "stand firm". But we see how to; by having the truth on you at all times. The word is "having" and it is used for continuity in English. So you continue to have the truth in you. Not everything is the Truth, we must understand this. So you have to desperately go in search for only the truth and make it your foundation for that thing you have chosen. What then is the truth? God's Word is the Truth (John 17:17). Search the scriptures, meditate on every word, seeking the truth.  One thing I have come to realize, the BIBLE is loaded with truths on every aspect of our lives, we just need to find them and hold them in our hearts. Guard your heart from all wrong influences (Proverbs 4:23 "guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it, flows the issues of life").

TO BE CONTINUED...

The Men That Lead

Building Manhood