The Sunday Mail
During this thanksgiving season, I would like to take an opportunity to encourage you to give thanks to the Lord for taking care of you throughout the year. Take time to thank Him for your family and friends and all the good things that have happened.
In 1 Thessalonians 5 v 18 the scripture says, “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
There might have been some negative experiences along the way, such is life. Thank God while you are in them because He always has a better plan for you.
Many years ago, my pastor said something that has stuck with me ever since. He said, “How you exit one dimension determines how you enter the next dimension.”
Many of us tend to live our lives recklessly, particularly when we are still young. Youths are synonymous with being carefree which is a good way to experience new things. However, it is important to take note of the milestones in our lives and to also be aware of the significant planned and unplanned moments that occur during life’s journey.
We are all looking forward to the new year and expecting good things to happen. However, very few of us ever look back and make the effort to ensure that we enter the new year without any excess baggage. In 2 Kings 1, there is a very interesting story of a young man and his mentor. His mentor is about to leave, never to return. The young man knew that his life’s season was about to change.
In verse 9 and 10, he asked for a double portion of his mentor’s anointing and his mentor says “ . . . Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.”
In other words, Elijah was saying to Elisha an opportunity for the next level of your life has come. It will not be easy for you to be elevated, however if you want it hard enough you will get it right and you will have access to the next level. The same applies as we conclude the year. You have an opportunity to start afresh next year but it all depends on whether you have learnt this year’s lessons well.
Let me give you another example.
A young lady named Ruth was widowed at a very tender age and after the death of her father-in-law, her mother-in-law, Naomi, decided to relocate to Israel. One can tell that she had a good relationship with her daughters-in-law by their emotional goodbyes. At this point, Ruth had the option of going back to her old life, her old nature, experiences and relationships.
But she says in Ruth 1 v 16 – 17, “And Ruth said, entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”
Ruth saw an opportunity to move on to the next level and took it. Her fellow sister-in-law decided to go back and we never heard of her again, yet Ruth decided to go forward and became the great grandmother of David and subsequently became a part of the Christ’s lineage. There are some skeletons in your closet that you might need to deal with before going into next year. You might need to apologise to some people before going into next year. There are some people you need to forgive before next year.
There are some relationships you need to let go for good because they are not good for you. You need to drop some of those habits if next year is to be progressive for you.
Till next week. God bless.
Tinashe Zinyemba is a pastor with New Life Covenant Church. Email feedback at [email protected]
It is definitely not going to be easy.
As the New Year approaches, take time to make peace where possible, clear your conscience, be honest with yourself, release unnecessary baggage (emotional and mental) and embrace the new season.
Till next week. God bless.
Tinashe Zinyemba is a pastor with New Life Covenant Church. Email feedback at [email protected]
