A REWARDING MINDSET TO HAVE THIS NEW YEAR ~ Precious Victor Akah

A vast number of people live the way they want and do things the way they want to do it, but they soon realize that their way was foolish and destructive; the wisdom they thought they had was actually foolishness. The new year unfolds and wraps up without them achieving anything significant nor actualizing any goal they had set for themselves at the beginning of the year, nor realizing the vision they found for themselves. WHY? Because they think it's all about them.

This year, if you must realize the goals you're setting for yourself, if your passion and purpose must produce your desired result, and if you'll look back at the end of 2024 and be glad for the achievements, progress, success and goals you set and achieved, you must have and run with this mentality/mindset - IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE ONE WHO GAVE YOU LIFE AND SUSTAINS IT. 

Just thinking, since you didn't give yourself the life you have now, neither are you the one sustaining it that you made it successfully to year 2024, what makes you think you have the right to live it the way you want? The One who gave you life even says you must give account of how you lived it to Him one day (Romans 14:12), meaning the gift of life isn't a free gift that you receive and do whatever you want with the gift. But a gift that comes with an obligation to live according to the dictates and desire of the GIVER OF THE GIFT OF LIFE.

One way to live a selfish life is to think the world revolves around you, in other words, it's all about you. And a life of selfishness will not give the person living it joy, fulfilment and peace in the end. For the present, it may look as though they're happy and having fun living how they want to live, but they'll look back in the end and be filled with regrets and sorrow. Therefore, to avoid living a selfish life this new year, understand that it's not all about you.

Let me tell you what happens when you think it's all about you:

1. You are prone to take advantage of people. You will seek only your good and benefit in your dealings and relationship with people. You'll attach yourself to people simply because of what you hope or want to be selfishly getting from them.

Hear what Philippians 2:4 (MSG) instructs God's children if you're one: "Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand." Let this scripture sink in and regulate what you do throughout the year 2024.

Whoever lives to take advantage of people, to seek only their good, and look out for their own interests alone in anything will end up losing all they acquired in an unrighteous manner.

One terminal disease or incurable sickness - and they lose all the money they got from cheating and taking advantage of people. You don't want to tread this path this year. 

You take advantage of people when you overcharge them for a product you're selling or service you're rendering, because you think they're financially bouyant and wouldn't mind paying any amount, or you just clearly want to make more profit.

You take advantage of people when you use the wrong weights and measures to sell anything to them. "Differing weights [one for buying and another for selling] and differing measures, Both of them are detestable and offensive to the LORD." Proverbs 20:10

2. You do things without considering the effect it'll have on others. You just consider only yourself, and once it's comfortable for you, you don't care if it inconveniences others and makes them uncomfortable or even instigates them to sin.

As a lady (married or single), you are always seen dressed up in wears/clothes that barely cover the alluring parts of your body, because to you, you're comfortable in them, it is what you like. Your breasts are all out for the world to see. Your tummy is on public display. Your thighs is displayed in the bum shorts or booty shorts you're wearing or the dress with a long slit you're putting on in a public place, and you're supposed to be a Christian lady with love for your neighbor. 

How is this action really glorifying God? How is it showing regard and love for your neighbor? And you expect God to prosper your plans this year? Are you not aware that there are some sisters (who while in the world were lesbians) and now that they're in Christ, they're doing all they can to live a sexually pure life, but you're standing as a temptation to them?

How about our brothers, though in Christ, are still struggling with masturbation, lust, fornication, adultery? Are you truly helping them with this your style of selfish dressing?

"Oh, it's what is convenient and comfortable for me!" What about the inconvenience it is bringing to your neighbor?

"Oh, my husband loves it and wants me to dress that way." What happens to your neighbor you're supposed to love as a command from Jesus your Saviour? Is your husband superior to Jesus now?

"Oh, it's just the style of dressing I love. It is the only way I dress and feel confident about myself. Should I now inconvenience myself and comfort others?" Well, what did Jesus say in Philippians 2:4: Don't be concerned only about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others."

We are called to love. We are called to a life of love and not to a life of selfishness. If you truly love and obey Jesus, you'll live by His principles and keep your arguments and opinions aside and do exactly as He says. When you do, you'll experience success in your endeavors because you're living according to God's will.

3. You will live, not being concerned about what the One who gave you life wants, but be consumed with what you want for yourself.

You'll set your own goals and pursue them. You'll build a vision for yourself that Christ Jesus, who gave you life, is neither in nor anything concerning Him. You'll have dreams that does not have anything to do with Jesus. And when you set these goals and not achieve them at the end of the year, you will feel miserable.

Some however achieve the selfish goals they set for themselves, but they still realize at the end of the year when they sit down and have a self check that even though they achieved their goals, it came at the cost of their peace of mind and joy or their health.

Do not forget to live with Jesus in mind this year. As you set your goals, have Kingdom goals in it (goals related to promoting the Gospel of Jesus, strengthening the Body of Christ, reaching out to the needy and harvesting souls for Christ). When you truly seek God's Kingdom first, all other things you've set to achieve this year will come to you very easy. (Matthew 6:33).

Have this mindset and when the year 2024 wraps up, you'll be so glad with all you've achieved and done to the glory of God. If you're yet to accept Jesus and make a decision to live for Him, this new year is a beautiful time to make a fresh start and have a taste of the good life Jesus offers His children. Make that decision now to serve Jesus. His mercy, love and patience kept you alive to see this new year, giving you a chance to repent and say YES to Him. Do it now.

Next week we will look at how to live a productive life this new year. Be sure to come back for it.

Joyous New Year to you and your family.

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