What is your New Year's resolution?
Maybe it's to do more exercise, spend more time with family, or to develop a new skill. It wasn't my intended '2015 resolution', but this year I feel like I've finally started living in my destiny, after years of waiting for it to magically arrive. As a result, I'm happier, healthier and more productive than ever before!
How do you find your path of destiny? And how do you live in your destiny?
While I am only a novice, I dare you to try some of the following ideas... who knows what will result?
Survey the land: Identify the patterns of the Master Designer
'Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.' (Proverbs chapter 3 verses 5-6)
Tip #1. Spend time seeking the Lord about his calling on your life.
Tip #2. Pray into these words and pictures.
The Father speaks to us in many ways, including scripture, prayer, dreams, visions, inner peace, circumstances and the wise counsel of mentors. Weigh and test the ideas presented, making sure they agree with the principles of love and holiness in God's Word. Write down and draw what you see and hear, also noting down skills, interests and highlights from your life so far, to look for patterns in God's leading.
Begin to thank God 'in faith' for the realisation of these dreams, visualising the positive outcomes. Pray in advance for the people and provision required for these visions and seek God's guidance regarding how to prepare, so that you are ready when the time comes to 'emerge from the cocoon' and burst forth into your full potential.
Sow generously: Success is the tip of the iceberg
'Remember this - a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.' (2 Corinthians chapter 9 verse 6)
Tip #3. Invest in your skills.
Tip #4. Take an interest in others.
Tip #5. Offer your skills to enrich your work and relationships.
Tip #6. Look at small ways you can live out your dreams in your current situation.
Tip #7. Work on your character.
There is no substitute for hard work and careful preparation! Preparation includes both solo skill-building and also using your gifts to serve others, taking an interest in them and serving their visions.
At the end of the day, the effectiveness of your work will depend largely on your character—the basis of decision-making, your ability to turn mistakes and failures into positives, and your relationship skills.
Look closely at your inner health and address areas requiring emotional healing, consider your principles and purpose, and develop regular life-disciplines that will maintain a healthy body, mind, soul and spirit. This is indispensable for preventing you from burning out in the long journey ahead.
Reap a harvest: Dream big, step small. Big achievements are made up of many small ones!
'Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin...' (Zechariah chapter 4 verse 10a)
Tip #8. Recognise relevant opportunities when they arise, and say 'yes' if possible.
Tip #9. Say 'no thank you' to other demands that are not your responsibility or in line with your calling.
Tip #10. Walk together with God day by day, neither running ahead of what he has shown you, nor resisting his prompting out of fear or apathy.
See everything as a training ground for the 'bigger and better'. Every 'yes' to something is a 'no' to something else, and every 'no' to something is a 'yes' to something else! Time is finite, so we must learn to direct our energies wisely. Remember that Jesus only did what he saw the Father do (John chapter 5 verse 19), showing that a life of faith and destinyis all about relationship.
Above all, it is both powerful and important to recognise all of those people, responsibilities and fruit in your life that were once only dreams. Thank God for them, making the most of them now that they are here!
Rosanne Menacho has a keen interest in sustainable and healthy living, and enjoys learning new languages. She is studying a Masters of Interpreting and Translation at Monash University and is loving every minute of it. Rosanne lives with her husband and Staffordshire terrier in the outer south-east of Melbourne, Australia.
Rosanne Menacho's previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/rosanne-menacho.html