Wishing you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year!

There are different metaphors that have been used to describe life. A few that I’ve heard before are: 

• Life is like a camera. Focus on what’s important. Capture the good times. Develop from the negatives and if things don’t work out just take another shot.
• Life is like a box of chocolate you never know what you’re going to get.
• Life is like a cup of tea, its all in how you make it.

And I’m sure you’ve also heard of life being likened to a book with different chapters. 

Life is like a book. Some chapters are sad, some happy, some exciting. But if you never turn the page you will never know what the next chapter holds.  There comes a time when you have to choose between turning the page and closing the book.

2018 was a chapter that has come and gone. If you could think of a genre to describe that year what would it be… Drama? Horror? Action? Adventure? A thriller? A romantic comedy? 

As with any best selling book, you have reviews such as “Astounding. Thrilling. Lovely and amazing’ “a mesmerising novel”. How would you rate the year that has just gone by? What star rating would you give it? Did God (the BEST selling author of your life) keep you on the edge of your seat? 

When I was younger I loved reading. I’d spend hours after my bedtime turning page after page so that I would find out what happened to the characters I had fallen in love with. I had a few friends who would read the first chapter then skip to the last one and attempt to fill in the details, strange right? My thoughts exactly. Why couldn’t they just read the book normally and enjoy watching the story unfold? But then again it would be great to know the ending to a new beginning. For example, we have started the 2019 Book, you may have already set out goals or made plans that you want to know how they turn out. Unfortunately, I’m not here to fill in the minute details of what this year might hold for you but I do have something to share, it’s a spoiler though. So drum roll, please… GOD WINS!

I want to challenge you this year to increase your OPTIMISM. A more familiar synonym to optimism is HOPE. “Let your hope in Christ shape your future”. When God is weaved into the intricacies of your life there is truly no limit to the wonders He can display.

‘What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ‘ Romans 8:31

What shall we say to anxiety and / depression

What shall we say to financial troubles

What shall we say to unemployment

What shall we say to educational problems

What shall we say to confusion or doubt

What shall we say to poor health and illnesses

What shall we say to failing friendships and relationships

What shall we say to challenges and obstacles

What shall we say to fear or other negative traits or habits

IF GOD IS FOR US, WHO/WHAT CAN BE AGAINST US?

We will certainly have opposition in this world, but what is the world compared to God? What is satan compared to God? What are the obstacles or difficulties we encounter compared to God? What are the trials and temptations we face compared to God? The Answer is resounding NOTHING.  You + God is always an unconquerable majority. When God is added to the equation it is impossible to find yourself on the losing side. To those without hope and faith it may appear that you are defeated but ultimately victory belongs to Jesus. He is our deliverer and provider. The Psalmist reminds us that “With God, we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.” (Psalms 60:12)

As I mentioned earlier, God is the BEST selling Author and He has great plans for your future, you are destined for success this year.  With only a few days into the New Year I ask you; What do you want the review of this chapter in your life to be? Be optimistic and Trust that God has you in mind and He will cause you to have total victory. Everything will be more than alright in the end and if it isn’t, it simply isn’t the end of that chapter. The Word of God over your life outweighs the plots of the enemy against your life. God had a plan before the enemy had a plot. I pray that God will surprise you and surpass your expectations because absolutely nothing is difficult for Him.

I leave you with this excerpt from Jesus Calling: Do not be weighed down with problems and unresolved issues for Jesus is your burden-bearer. In the world, you will have trials and distress, but don’t let them get you down. Jesus has conquered the world and deprived it of power to harm us.

When you get a chance listen to the words of this song “Victory Belongs to Jesus by Todd Dulaney and be encouraged.

Once again Happy New Year, thank you for your continued support.

Stay blessed,

Dara xx

P.S : Are you living your best life? Check out how you can on last year’s New Year’s Post Living our best life in 2018