Category: 2018: F.C.A.

A C H I E V E

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First things First!

CELEBRATIONSSS

The Blog turned One year young in the past week, and I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported and read and shared and liked and commented and prayed and just done something, someway, somehow to encourage and build this ministry.
God bless you all from the bottom of my heart.

There definitely will be a post coming up to reflect on the past year, but in order to keep our F.C.A. series all together, I’ll delay this until after today’s post.

With the celebration of One Year online in the atmosphere, our word today to conclude the series is very apt…

Let’s look at the word A C H I E V E…

In 2018, you will not just labour for the sake of it, rather you will surely reap your harvest in due season; ripe produce, exactly as God has pre-ordained for it to be, and exactly how God has designed for it to be, in Jesus’ name.

When we look at the meaning of the word Achieve, according to the Oxford dictionary, it says it is to “successfully bring about or reach, a desired objective or result, by effort, skill or courage”.
The word Achieve is a verb, therefore it is an action word – a word that requires you to be Proactive and Do…
We’ll pray about all this at the end, but first, I want us to look at a man in the bible; Noah.

An inspirational character, who obeyed God’s word, and did exactly what we are doing this year – Noah Focused on what he had to do, Noah Led the process of reaching his goal, and Noah Achieved his desired outcome.

Let’s read,
And actually, I want you to click the link for Genesis 5:32 – 8:21, to read the story of Noah and the great flood, before heading back here for us to explore it…
(See you in a few mins).

…

Back?

Perfect!

So in this passage, the bible tells us that the men and women on earth at the time were just absolutely atrocious! Their behaviour and decisions were constantly displeasing to God, therefore He decided to wipe them out.
But Noah – the word of God tells us that he found grace before God, because he was perfect in his generations and he walked with God.
So amongst all of these innumerable humans on the earth at that time, Noah was the only one whom God could single out as pleasing in His sight.

Let’s pause here for a moment…

You see, one thing that is special within this context is that the bible tells us that Noah was a ‘just man’ (Genesis 6:9). And I look at that and I wonder what it means.
But what God uses this word to tell us is that He is pleased with us in our plain and simple state.
He didn’t choose Noah because he was a king, or a highly esteemed individual within the society, but rather because Noah did what was right in God’s eyes, and in his plainness, he knew, and had a relationship with God.
Reiterating what we’ve discussed in F O C U S, in order to Achieve this year, we must desire and pursue an upright, up-close and personal relationship with Almighty God.
Let God know you are that one that He can depend on, because He hears from you daily, you obey when He instructs, and you long after His heart.
         Father, like Noah, let us please You with our entire being. Enable us to walk closely with You, and grant us a heart of obedience, in Jesus’ name. Amen

Now let’s proceed.
We read that God gives Noah an instruction – ‘Make an ark’ – (Genesis 6:14).
In this year, in order to Achieve what God has truly designed to be ours, we must listen carefully to what He says, and not just run with what we have on our own agendas.
I’m not telling you not to have your own goals, but what I’m saying is that you should take them to God, and before you move – ask Him for the instructions of how to go about them, because look at what happens next with Noah and God…
When we read all of Genesis 6:13-21, we see that God gives Noah details!
God gives Him specifics, and God gives Him clarity! How good is it for us to be clear on what we’re doing?!
If only you can rest in God, and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6), He will tell you exactly what you need to do to reach your goals this year.
And once we have those instructions, our Achievement this year will come through complete Obedience to God – the bible tells us in Genesis 6:22 that Noah DID, according to all God commanded Him. We too must DO, exactly as God commands us.

Now just as we linger here in this avenue about instructions, God wants me to tell you not to be afraid. And this is very very important…
He is saying, when you get the instructions from Him, do not be overwhelmed by the magnitude of work you have to do – You Can Do It – remember in L E A D we establshed that we are more than capable.

You see, Noah wasn’t scared of accomplishing what God told him to do.
And in 2018, I pray that all fear that has crippled your ability to Achieve in the past, be destroyed and removed from your life, from today onwards in Jesus’ name.

We must understand that God trusted Noah.
And just in the same way, God trusts you.
He has looked at your ability, your qualities and the gifts He has endowed you with and He KNOWS you can execute the plans He has for you, Excellently.
Therefore again I emphasise that when you hear the instructions from God about how to move and advance towards your glory this year – Do Not Fear that it is too big for you to do.
Rather, Trust in God’s trust in you, and like Noah, be Proactive and DO.

So the ark was built successfully, and it served its great purpose, in that it contained and covered Noah, his family and all the animals from the great flood that took over the earth. (Genesis 7:1)
And friends, even though we know that the ark was built by now, yes it means Noah Achieved his building goal, but we’re not quite done yet with this story.

The rain stopped (Genesis 8:2), but Noah and co. were still in the ark.
Why? Because God’s plan wasn’t quite done yet.

I want us to understand that our Achievements are bigger than just what we’re going to get out of them.
You see, from the beginning, we are made to understand that God desired to protect Noah from the flood.
So let’s apply simple logic; by nature, after it rains, though the showers may have ceased, the waters still remain on the land for a while don’t they?
Therefore in order for God’s word to be fulfilled and for this true protection from the destructive power of the flood to happen, it meant that Noah and his people were to remain in that ark until the land was dry and safe for them to tread on again.
What is God saying to us with this?
Friends, He’s telling us to allow our testimony to be full!
We will have many small victories towards our goals, but let us have patience to allow the whole glory to manifest in its entirety!
If we go to Genesis 8:3, this is the verse straight after we are told that the rain has stopped – but it doesn’t say ‘So Noah and family evacuated the ark immediately’. In fact none of the next few verses say such.
Noah was not in a rush for God’s plan of protection to be fulfilled, but rather he endured a waiting season in order for the perfection of God’s plan to manifest.
In Genesis 8:6-12, we see that Noah waits to ensure the waters have dried up completely. He sends a dove back and forth to determine the state of the earth and he doesn’t step out in haste without hearing from God. We must do the same.
Great Achievements are already our portion in 2018, however we ought be extra sensitive to God’s voice, and we mustn’t desire a premature fulfilment of God’s word, because trust me, anything that comes before its appointed time, is incomplete.
In 2018, allow the manifestation of the glory God has for you to come exactly when He has planned for it to come, and you will see that not only will your joy be full, but through the mercy of God, other people will be blessed, favoured and delivered because of your Achievement and Obedience to God. (Genesis 8:20-21).
Some of us in the past have reached a point in our goals which in our eyes seemed like the end result – but God has more for us!
In 2018, we will wait to receive the ‘more’, in Jesus name, and I pray in addition that all the past ‘mores’ that our impatience has caused us to miss out on, shall be restored onto us and given to us in fullness in Jesus’ Mighty Name.
Now finally, let’s pray with that loaded Oxford definition of Achieve,

In 2018, [EFFORT] I pray that you will rid yourself of all laziness and nonchalance, and you will apply yourself in the best way you possibly can!
[SKILL] I pray that you will discover every single gift that the Lord has given you, and you will put it to work with excellence and wisdom in order to produce great results.
[COURAGE] I pray that God will give you the heart of a Lion, to know that nothing is beyond your reach, and nothing is too hard for you to do, through His strength!

 

Friends I am so excited for us to go forth in this year and grab everything that God has purposed for us!

I pray that the words;

F O C U S      L E A D    A C H I E V E

will remain clear in our hearts and minds, and surely we will use them along with the grace and wisdom of God to optimise our entire existence in 2018!
Go Get It!
Keep the Faith, Don’t Stop Believing
God Bless you.
#FocusLeadAchieve
#FOCUS
#LEAD
#ACHIEVE

L E A D

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You will  L E A D  your own (God-directed) way to your destiny this year.

Meaning, you aren’t going to get there by following.

In 2018, God is commanding you to step forth, step out and possess your possession (Deuteronomy 10:11).

He wants you to
Take charge.
Stand up.
and Be Bold.

When God gave me this word – L E A D – He was speaking to me about conviction.
As I engaged in a reflection of my actions and various decisions made in the past year, I remembered times when I had been swayed, or had ‘gone with a flow’, though it hadn’t  really been designed for me.  
Thus, God began to speak to me about sticking to my guns, sticking to my beliefs in the word of God, and sticking to what I know would make Jesus proud.
He also spoke to me about being forward, having self-belief, and fearlessly pursuing whatever I truly desire to do – regardless of if I have people’s approval/agreement or not.
Through this meditation with Him, He therefore made it clear that this year I would need to LEAD my way to where He has purposed for me – not piggy-back on other people’s journeys.
I would need to be bold in my convictions and not compromise; and shake off fear and self-doubt, and stop standing in the background.

So here we go friends, I’ve got to tell you;

The word ‘LEAD’ will push us out of our comfort zones this year.

It will set us apart from the crowd, and single us out from the midst of those doing what isn’t pleasing to God.
It will force us OUT from wherever/whomever we’ve been hiding behind all this time, and it will require us to finally start having some faith in what God has placed in us –  the He that is within us (1 John 4:4).

So Two Aspects to our Leadership this year;

1 – Leading our lives away from sin.

2 – Taking the Lead on the journey to our place of glory and purpose.

And here’s the scripture we are going to focus on;

““You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.  
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
[Matthew 5:13-16]

 

1 – Leading our lives away from sin…

You see, what the word of God tells us in the scripture above, is that we must not blend in any longer. (We’ve touched on this before, have a look at ‘Dare to be Different‘ to refresh your memory).
As the salt of the earth, we have an essential role to play in transforming the world. We are a key factor in the successful process of affecting change in our societies, and the way God has called us to do this is through the renewed minds and lives we have in Jesus Christ.
For this very reason, we must live boldly in our convictions in 2018, and remove ourselves from situations that will denounce Christ.

So errrm, be prepared to feel uncomfortable. Be prepared to stand alone sometimes. And be prepared to break some ungodly bonds (with things and people)…
Simply put, some of the Leading steps you will take, out of the crowd, out of the muck and out of the darkness, into the light, will not be easy.
Many times they won’t be the popular choice or decision that everyone else is going with, therefore you’ll often find yourself feeling lonely even though you are doing the right thing.

But it’s okay – because you are starting something here…
The stand you take as an Example and Ambassador of Christ, will speak to the lives of those around you and that’s what God wants from you this year and always.
He wants you to be unashamed of the gospel, and rather than be timid and silent about the things of God, He wants you to rise up to fulfil them, and not conform to the things of the flesh such as sexual immorality, lying, cheating and deceit.

The more you LEAD your life out of the pleasures of this world, and into the kingdom of God, you’ll notice a difference in the dynamic of your journey towards your goals, as you will hear and feel the directions of God much more distinctively.
A life more aligned with the kingdom, will allow you to be undistracted and unclouded, and will permit a clearer mind to operate with.

Let us remember that whilst our Leadership and Boldness to flee from sin this year will benefit our personal walk with Christ, actually, as little seeds are sown in the lives of others, we will also inspire a change within them too!

2 – Taking the Lead on the journey to our place of glory and purpose…

Now let’s address this shyness, or laid-back attitude, which has been keeping many of us in the back for all these years…
God Himself has called us OUT!

(1) Some of us are very polite; we like to step back and give others a chance, or we’re so sure of ourselves (in an accurately humble way) that we don’t we feel the need to battle with others to take up roles when it comes to certain tasks, jobs, or assignments.
(2) Some of us are gripped with fear however, and we are overtaken by worry, doubt, and anxiety, and a lack of self-belief. Even though we know we are good in our own right, we always believe someone else is better and therefore is more deserving of the opportunity/limelight than we are.
(3) Then there are those of us who are simply too lazy to care. We can’t be bothered to use too much of our energy, or apply too much effort to do things, therefore we just chill at the back and allow others to do the work.

Whichever category you fall into, and even if your description isn’t here – we all have to change this year.

You see, as much as our spiritual uprightness and cleanliness is important, so is our excellence on this earth!
Our reference scripture above says;
“A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.” 
This is God’s call for us to stop hiding, and instead, step out as the beacon of light that He has called us to be.
He hasn’t created us to be second best, or a follower of any man, rather we are meant to LEAD and take charge, in every area of our lives, so that this Light can shine, and people will acknowledge the goodness of God and give Him glory.

Now look, I’m not telling you to be arrogant and shove everyone else aside. I’m not telling you hog the spotlight and become self-obsessed, in fact in your Leadership, you must still carry others along, and serve others in many ways (Luke 22:24-27).
But what I am saying here, is that you must live as though you truly know and believe that you are a Chosen Generation. (1 Peter 2:9)
You must grab opportunities firmly (when God tells you to) when they are presented before you, and run with them and never look back.
You must strive to achieve excellence in all things concerning you, and never settle for anything less.

The bible tells us that Daniel was described as having an extraordinary spirit, (Daniel 6:3). Prior to this impressive description, he had displayed confidence by standing out for his God.
Daniel Led.
He Led by not conforming, and he also led by showing forth the gift of God within him, and in fact he turned the heart of an idol-worshipping king, to come to know our true God of heaven and earth. (For more insight, read Daniel chapters 1–4, and ‘Can They See You?‘).

Just like Daniel, Leading your way to your destiny this year will manifest through you being the ‘shot-caller’. (But notice the wisdom with which this was executed in his case).
You’ve done enough observation and listening over the years, and it’s now time for you to put the learnt theory into play and let some fruits begin to yield forth from it all.

I’ll leave you with this;
When God gave me this message, He wanted me to emphasise the fact that You are so Capable.
And friend, you must remind yourself of this fact every single day.
You are Capable, and endowed with so much greatness, therefore with your humility intact, this year is about you fully becoming YOU – Stepping into your full glory and manifesting forth the very gift, talent, skill-set, qualities and qualifications that God Himself has given you in order to prosper throughout this land.

That Bold, Fearless and Forthcoming spirit to LEAD, is what I prophesy that we each possess from today onwards, and with it, we will encounter every great thing designed for us in this year, and beyond, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Return in a few days for our third keyword for this year;
A C H I E V E.

Keep the Faith, Don’t Stop Believing
God Bless you

 

#LEAD
#NewYear
#2018
#FocusLeadAchieve!

 

F O C U S

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In 2018, I pray for the ability for you to  F O C U S  well, and  F O C U S  right.

Two scriptures we’re going to take for this topic;

Psalm 121:2

Philippians 3:13-14

So let’s start with our King of Kings…

In 2018, I want US (because I’m part of you all too!) to walk with God closer than ever before.
Some of us, through the years or past few months, have been consistent on our journey with Him, and have taken our Christian walk with pride and purpose and have truly grown in Christ Jesus. Some of us… haven’t quite had the same story.
But this year, all of us must intensify our relationship with God.
Yes, even if it was good before, it can be better, so this is for you too!

Let us be intentional about our relationship with God. Let us actively make time for Him and the things concerning Him.
The bible teaches us to seek FIRST God’s kingdom (Matthew 6:33) – therefore we must not alter that order for any one or any thing!
First means First, and therefore I want ‘A better relationship with God’ to be at the top of our goals list this year.
When our eyes are fixed on God, we can be assured that we are indeed Focusing Right – and the bible tells us in that same verse in Matthew, that everything else, will be added onto us accordingly. (Yeah, you can smile about that promise, I did too).

With our eyes fixed on Christ as advised by the word of God in Colossians 3, we will find that we will become more in tune with the things of the kingdom, and therefore the things of God. Even our goals and dreams and aspirations will point towards edifying the name of God, and with that manifesting, we will find ourselves truly becoming who God has called us to be!
Quickly, before we leave this section, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered if you’re feeling like you have absolutely no clue where, and how to start with this whole drawing nearer to God business. Just head over to a previous post called ‘Schedule Him In’ for some practical tips on actively giving more time to God.

So now we’re Focusing right, let’s talk about Focusing well, and let’s hone in on all those other goals and resolutions on your sheet of paper…

Scripture 1 says;

“My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.”
[Psalm 121:2]

There’s a reason this verse is written as it is.
When you say this verse with your own mouth, not only are you declaring the source of your help, but you’re also reminding yourself of the magnitude of the Power, Ability and Strength of that source – The Maker of Heaven and Earth…
This tells us God is Limitless, All-Powerful, Always Able, Ever-Present, Got connections galore, Never runs dry – it basically tells us He has Absolutely Everything you and I need.
So why are we looking elsewhere?

In 2018, whatever that material or earthly goal is, please be reminded at all times to go to God first.
Be it your career goal, education goal, family goal – when you’re seeking help, direction, resources of any kind, go to Him first!
And yes, even though He may send the response through a human like yourself, you can have perfect peace knowing that it’s the right thing and the right package.

Remember in the previous post I spoke about distractions?
We will meet people this year that will be no good for where God is taking us. We will come across ‘opportunities’ this year that will be wrapped in shiny paper looking like it’s all part of God’s plan, but we must keep in mind what we have set out to do, and consult God before even considering taking any detours.
Distractions can also appear in the form of failures – you didn’t quite get the result you were looking for in that section, so you think it means you should abort the journey towards that goal – Wrong!
See, I’d be lying to us if I said we were all going to have a rosy year, with no bumps, pauses, or hurdles. The truth, rather, is that some things will come in our way this year that will not be according to our plan, nor will they be convenient for the aim we are striving towards.
But hey, let us FOCUS on what is ahead of us.
I pray for strength in our minds to constantly keep a clear sight of the glory that is to come, and in doing so, we will not be held back or thrown off track by the obstacles we encounter. Rather we will be empowered by a God who cares about us, and pays close attention to us – an Ever-Present help in time of need (Psalm 46:1), a God who does not slumber nor sleep (Psalm 121:3-4).

So now our Focus is strong, right? It’s pretty firm I’m sure, but before we go, we’ve got to do a final check to ensure it’s actually facing the Correct Direction…

Our second scripture says;

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.“
[Philippians 3:13-14]

Now this passage is very relevant and applicable to our Focus on Christ, however I actually want us to use its concept to understand the fact that we must Focus in the right direction!
What good is it to us if the prize is in front of us, and we’re so fixed on what’s behind? Yeah, NO Good at all!
Therefore friends, I want us to promise each other that we will allow the past to be past, and just as this scripture says, we will press on, in 2018, toward the new thing that lies ahead.

You see, the reason why many of us have struggled to achieve certain goals in previous years is not because we weren’t physically capable of doing it, but it was simply because we were mentally lagging behind. We remained so stuck on the what ifs, could haves, should haves and mistakes of the past. We wasted valuable energy on a detrimental type of recollection of our decisions/actions, rather than channelling those thoughts into a constructive reflection that would have propelled us forward.
This year, if we’re going to look back at all, I want us to only do it in the form of the latter! And don’t spend too much time there, because there is so much more waiting for us ahead.

This scripture says ‘forgetting what is behind, and straining toward what is ahead’.
Another translation says, ‘I forget everything that is behind me and look forward to that which is ahead of me’. A third says, ‘one thing I do, is forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead’.

You can probably tell that I struggled to decide which translation to quote in the full reference above, as they all read so nicely.
But what we see in all of them is an explicit delivery of the message: NO LOOKING BACK.
Whilst the beginning of verse 13 serves as an accurate acknowledgement of our current status and present standing of ‘I’m Getting There’ – it goes on to tell us the importance of this one thing to do – which is to look toward where we are going, rather than where we have come from.
It tells us to leave behind that which is now meant for ‘behind’, and work at all costs to ensure the great attainment of what we ought to grab which lies IN FRONT of us!

2018 – First step  F O C U S…

We must keep our eyes, minds and hearts firmly on the goals that we have set for ourselves – and have a positive mindset accompanying every thought of those goals.
We aren’t looking at our past failures, we aren’t looking at what our neighbour is doing, and we aren’t looking at short-cuts or ways to get there sooner (because endurance of the full journey just as God has ordained it, is what we should long for).

Friends, let’s agree that you and I are Focusing firmly, correctly, and in the right direction, in order for us to the see the fruitfulness of our goals in this year – No delays, No compromising.

 

Head back here in a few days for a word on  L E A D.

 

Keep the Faith, Don’t Stop Believing
God Bless you

 

#FOCUS
#NewYear
#2018
#FocusLeadAchieve!

Happy New Year; 2018!

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Happy New Year!

What a blessing, privilege and great opportunity it is to be in this New Year 2018.

Before you read on, I want you to spend at least 30 seconds just appreciating and thanking God for selecting you and favouring you to see this New Year.

. . .

Now let’s get into it.

Welcome to 2018;
A year to

FOCUS

LEAD

ACHIEVE.

God has given me these words to share with you as the three keywords to run with this year.
So make it your motto, your theme, your slogan, whatever you want to call it!

The assurance I have for you is that the correct application of these words in whatever you do this year, will surely produce great results and success in all your endeavours.
Not only will these words affect the results, but also the journey you travail to get there will be purposeful, meaningful and filled with life-enhancing lessons.

Today we’ll touch the surface of what God is saying with each of these words, and over the next few posts, we’ll go into further detail for each one.

F O C U S

Check this out…
You’re driving a vehicle, riding a bicycle, or simply walking – it doesn’t matter what your mode of transport is, but the point here is that you are in motion.
Question: What happens if your eyes are fixed on a completely different direction to the the one you’re going in?
You’re driving/cycling/walking forward, but your eyes are looking to the left.
We all know that eventually what happens is a collision.

Getting your Focus right is crucial this year.
It doesn’t necessarily eliminate the potential hurdles or obstacles from coming your way, but it definitely eliminates your ability to get distracted by them.
Therefore without you even telling me what your goals are for this year, I’ll tell you that your first Focus should be Jesus Christ at all times.
Eyes on Him, a close walk with Him, and a sensitive heart to His directions, is already a good step in the way of a fruitful and fulfilling year.

 

L E A D

Paying attention to this word and actively manifesting its meaning is what will set apart the fruits of this year, to that of all other years that have come before it.

For some of you, you’ve always been great at following rules, helping others out, and being the ‘back-up’ person, or assistant to greatness.
This year, with your humility intact, God’s agenda is to raise you as the HEAD.
It’s time you start making the decisions for yourself (with inspiration from the Holy Spirit), and being bold in owning who you are and what you possess.
Leadership this year will not only pertain to your business/education/career goals, but also in the relationships you keep.
This year, Leading, will involve you sticking to the convictions you have in Christ, and refusing to compromise them for any thing, or any one.

 

A C H I E V E

Naturally, with this as the third word, we attribute it to the end, the product, the result, and so on.
To Achieve, is to get ‘there’ wherever there is, or get ‘that’, whatever that is.
Emphasis on the Achievement this year, means that we will not settle for a 2018 glory to arrive in 2019 – the things meant for this year, will surely manifest in this year, in Jesus’ name.
In as much as Achievement is always seen to come last, after the hard work, and after the Focusing and Leading, God wants us to keep the word in the forefront of our minds, in order to push ourselves to reach the goals we have set.
And to reach them in a timely manner! No More Delay.

So anyway, that’s a brief introduction to our recipe for greatness this year, given to us by God Himself.

I pray 2018 brings forth great joy, blessings and peace for you and your family, and as I already eluded to above, I confidently prophesy into your life that this is the year for the manifestation of long awaited glories, in Jesus’ Mighty Name! Amen.

Please keep supporting Untainted Word, and share share share with everyone you know! Don’t keep it to yourself.

Keep the Faith, Don’t Stop Believing
God Bless you.

#NewYear
#2018
#FocusLeadAchieve!