Welcome to the first working week of 2016 where the holiday season officially ends and reality kicks in. In times such as this, we are faced with 2 types of people: the ones who hold on to 2015 out of fear and the ones who can’t wait to grab what’s in store for them in 2016.
Being a Christian Counselling centre, our focus would be on the first type of people. If you think you are one of them, then chances are you are living a life out fear and defensiveness. That means you are a ‘take it one day at a time person’. You see life constantly attacking you and taking from you that surviving one day is good enough. Well, we want to change this attitude for your 2016.
Hope is the constant expectation of good. It is a manifestation of trust in God. In Christian Counselling, I’ve encountered people who have forgotten this trust. Somewhere along 2015, they prayed, they hoped, but they ended up frustrated and disappointed. This leads people to live life in the defensive – the ‘play it safe’ attitude. Instead of preparing for God’s blessings, we have learnt to prepare for the worst. This is not God’s best for us.
And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Romans 5:5
In 2016, we are going to do something new, I call it ACTIVE HOPE. It is placing our hopes in Jesus Christ and actively grabbing the blessings once The Lord tells us to do so. This goes in two easy steps.
Step 1:
For 2016, we can make it a point to continue praying and continue hoping. Paul had this revelation that he is praying to God who does not disappoint:
Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.
Romans 10:11
Know in your heart that The Lord has not forgotten you and He has no intention of abandoning you or your prayer. There are plenty of reasons why your prayers were delayed but this is not the topic for today. If you did not get your answers for 2015, then continue on praying and continue on hoping. The Lord wants this ACTIVE relationship with you.
Step 2:
Step out of the realm of fear and defensiveness and go out and claim what is yours! I always tell my friends and clients that risk-taking is required in breaking old cycles and habits. I know it is scary but it is worth it.
Pick up your mat and walk!
John 5:8
The season of giving has passed and now it is time for God’s children to take! You’d be surprised that all these blessings have been waiting for you all along. All you had to do was reach out and take them in the name of Jesus!
If you’ve always wanted to lose weight, ask for The Lord’s permission then go out and burn those fats!
If you’ve always wanted to marry this person, ask for The Lord’s blessings then go out to this person and give yourself this fighting chance!
If you’ve always wanted to try out new jobs or even try out a business idea, COUNSULT THE LORD (Proverbs 3:6) then step out of this cycle of fear and Actively Hope in Jesus’ name! Although please be responsible on this and use God’s wisdom over the matter.
Please please take note that I am not guaranteeing immediate success; well, not yet. What I can guarantee you is that if you hope for nothing and you reach out for nothing in 2016, then nothing will change from 2015.
We are only in the beginning of the year, so now is the best time to break our old cycles! Start your year with a goal and Actively Hope on it in Jesus’ name!
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:3