Time, opportunity

Happy New Year!
But have you ever stopped to ponder on what exactly is a new year? I have. A new year is simply a new set of 12 months, a new set of 52 weeks, a new set of 366 days, a new set hours, minutes and seconds. In other words it is just a matter of more time given to you by God. The Almighty has done His part by giving you extra time to be, to do and to have something significant. Whether you will make wise use of it or waste it, it is all up to you.
Surely, there is a purpose why God has allowed you to enter this year alive. You have a vision to pursue; a mission to accomplish; goals to attain and resolutions to achieve. Do not tell me you have no plans for this year! Do not tell the world that you are just like a wave of the sea that is being tossed from one year to the other. Well if you did not have any fixed objectives for this year, now is the time to set them. It is not yet too late to set objectives and even to achieve them. A year is a long time.
As for you that have plans for this year, now is the time to take action. Do not try to give excuses, the time or year you have been waiting for has finally come. Do not wait any longer for something to happen before you take action. Do not postpone the fulfilment of your good ideas and goals to the future. Do not cling to the mistakes, hurts and failures of past years either. The past and the future are outside your control; the present moment is in your hand, turn it whithersoever you will.
The scripture above says that now is the accepted time. Whatever you desire to be, to do and to have this year; begin to take appropriate steps towards its achievement. It is foolhardy of Christians to adopt a wait-and-see attitude expecting God to do things or work miracles for them while they fold their hands and sit on their laurels. God expects you to have plans.
The Bible says many are the plans in a man’s heart. How come you have none? God expects you to have needs and desires. The Bible says your heavenly Father knows what things you have need of. It also says to delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Awake! God does not expect you to be empty-handed or empty-minded. The Bible says in Matthew 25:29 “For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.” This verse is talking about recognising and using the talent, skill, ability or gift you have.
Be diligent in your pursuit of your dreams. Leave nothing to chance nor to God alone. Realise that you and God are co-workers. God gives you the power to do it but you have got to do it. Do everything you can to make your dreams come true this year. God will direct your steps but that implies that you must be going somewhere.
 God will supply your needs but that presupposes that you must have needs. God will grant your desires but that means you must have the desires. I know that our common problem is determining the right time. But that should be your least worry because God who has given you the time knows the right time. Keep moving and at the right time things will happen. But you need to realise that right time, set time, accepted time or favourable time comes within the broad framework of time.
Favourable time and conditions are a function of the Lord’s doings. He gives you time and He gives you favour and opportunity within that time. Realise that favourable time and opportunity are beyond your control or influence. They are not a result of your careful planning, good preparation or clever strategy. God puts us in the right place at the right time. And this demands that besides working hard towards accomplishing your goal you need to yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit. He will teach you how to profit this year and He will lead you in the way you should go about achieving your plans.
Balancing taking action now and recognising opportunities is achieved by following a three-step success strategy for 2012 taken from Psalm 37:5. Firstly, commit your ways, plans, desires, needs and works to the Lord. Secondly, as you work hard towards your goal, trust also in the Lord for favour and opportunity. Thirdly, as you trust in the Lord learn to relax and rest eagerly expecting God to bring it to pass in His own way and time. This will make your happy new year really so.
– For prayer and counselling call 0772889766 or email mairos78@yahoo.co.uk