Written By Joy A. Adewumi

Welcome to 2021, fam! Our blog is good to go this year! Yay! I’m so glad we made it through 2020. It could only have been God!

This year we are launching the “A Better You” category and it promises very engaging sessions with the Holy Spirit. This category will feature nonfiction articles and maybe an occasional dabble into true happenings, that will depict lessons and teachings on how to walk more consistently and closely with God. Join me as we make it a year to walk with God. I present to you our maiden article!

Dear reader, 2021 is like a fresh slate even if in the real sense of it, it isn’t. You still have to deal with projects carried over from 2020. You still have to deal with consequences of decisions made in 2020 and you basically are still the same person who crossed over from the last year. Well, that is until you do something definite about changing your status. That the year changed from 2020 to 2021 really doesn’t change much unless you take measured, intentional steps towards change.

However, I know how overwhelming it can be trying to make new year resolutions only to find 31days into the new year that you’re still where you used to be and it’s like déjà vu- 2020 happening all over again!

How then can you make things different? How can you make sure 2021 is not only different from 2020 but better?

Focus!

Haha! I sounded like a motivational speaker right there, didn’t I? Now, you’re simply disinterested in the same ol’ mantra of years gone by. Before you make that conclusion though, you might want to hear me out.

I’m no motivational speaker because motivational speakers try to influence you to achieve the greatness they’ve been able to achieve. I am someone who is also working on herself and trying to make 2021 worthwhile. Hence, here is an open invitation to walk and work together to make 2021 a year of greater wins than the yesteryear.

Now, back to focus!

I believe why we run the other way when we hear things like focus, determination, due diligence and all those other motivational tips is because there’s nothing more frustrating than trying so hard to work on all these only to end up with no legit results in sight.

Download your free copy of Dare to Hope here

What I would encourage you to do however is to first and foremost, focus on God!

This year, your “on God” status should go beyond the social media. Let it be real! Let it be true! Let it be practical!

Renew your relationship with God now as we start out the year and make a special request for Him to hold your hands firmly as you journey through the year. Ask Him, in His mercy, not to let go even when you’re straining to be free and to stray. Request for grace to keep your gaze focused on Christ Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith.

When Christ is the centre focus of your life pursuit, dear friend, every other thing falls into their right places.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)

When you have focus on God settled, then you need to ask Him to guide your journey this year and focus on His answer.

There are only few things in life more frustrating than perambulating through life’s journey. This however is needless. Really. God has a plan for your life written in gold and He has 2021 all figured out already. Why wander through the year when you can get right on track from day one? Why bother with heartbreaks that accompany the trial and error approach to life when you can enquire of God and know the exact path to take and get right on it?

Ask God for what path to take and focus on it! That is the way to go this year!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; (Proverbs 3:5)

Then, you really need to focus on diligence!

You know success is not all spiritual. Though the spiritual controls the physical, the physical aspects cannot be overemphasized.

You should know that all the things the motivational speakers say are on point. The only difference here is rather than try to figure out your niche and purpose by your limited knowledge, you can ask the One who made you and pre-ordained you to a grand and beautiful purpose.

So, you still have to focus on your path and give it all it takes. Be diligent, funnel your passion not into your fantasies but into your handiwork. Wake up every morning knowing what God has committed into your hands and doing it with all you’ve got.

Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; (Romans 12:11)

Start reading the just-concluded REDEEMED series here.

You however can’t focus on your path without shunning distractions.

Distractions at first look like legit attractions, until you are in deep and you realise they aren’t contributing to the fulfilment of your divine purpose. So, you have to be discerning and for this you’ve been blessed with the guiding Spirit of God.

Thus, you should make 2021, a year to focus on your sensitivity to the Spirit’s nudge too.

Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
“This is the way, walk in it,”
Whenever you turn to the right hand
Or whenever you turn to the left. (Isaiah 30:21)

You also have to focus on trust in God.

You can’t get through a path God set your feet on without His constant guidance. It’s not enough to ask for the right path, you have to let Him walk and talk you all through. Sometimes, trusting God means making seemingly illogical decisions, but guess what? That’s the beauty of the total dependence and blind faith God requires of us.

This year is a year of trusting and simply obeying without doubt! You’ll be surprised how far and how fast you’ll travel this year when you obey every of the Spirit’s nudge.

So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” (2nd Chronicles 20:20)

Before I move on to the last point, reader dearest, you need to focus on your track!

There will be many people running this year, some running along the right and some along the wrong. Wherever you look, there will be sprinters and there will be wins too. Don’t lose focus of your path.

Their track may be shorter or they may have avoided the bend and used a shortcut, whatever the reason they have gotten ahead of you and have so many wins to celebrate, you should know that it doesn’t mean you’re slow or unsuccessful. It’s just that you’re two different people with two different paths and at the end of the day, all wins will be tested. The legit ones will stand the test while the fake and ill-gotten ones will fall like a pack of cards.

Stick to your path, don’t be intimidated or distracted!

For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. (2nd Corinthians 10:12)

Finally, focus on praise!

Look up here for a bit! You need to know that small wins though overlooked and underrated are the most important wins, because they lead to the big wins.

The mistake we make however, is to overlook the small wins and go through the year looking for one big break. Give big thanks to God for every little victory you win. This will move Him to give you bigger ones. When you do not lose your praise, you’re are reminded that God has been faithful and that He who has done this is able to do more.

And He has exalted the horn of His people,
The praise of all His saints—
Of the children of Israel,
A people near to Him. (Psalm 148:14)

Dear reader, I decree and declare that this year will be a year of the Spirit’s guidance, of peace like an ocean, joy like a river and praise unending. I pray the Spirit of wisdom and counsel will rest on you and the grace of God will be with you. I pray we will do greater for, with and under God than we did in yesteryears. I pray we will wait on and trust in God like never before this year.

All these I pray for in Jesus name. Amen.

Yours truly,
The Girl with the Winning Smile,
Saying: A beautiful new year to y’all!