I don’t know about you all, but 2018 is my year. And on the 5th day of the New Year, I’m wondering what that means for me.
I’ve been told this by several people and though I take it to heart (I mean who wouldn’t), I am not sure what a “my year” is supposed to look like. Do ALL of my dreams come true? Do I become besties with Oprah or something? Do I get married? Do I win the lottery without even playing? What does a “my year” look like?
I think it’s different when you go into the New Year making positive affirmations and declarations for your new year. Honestly, you can do that at any time, for any set length of time. For example, I already claimed my 30s as my best decade yet. So what happens when you’re prophesied to or God confirms directly in your spirit that this is your year?
Basically, I don’t want to be this person at the end of the year.
That’s what happened to me before 2018 even started. I don’t think it’s off or spooky; I think it’s a chance to level up in my faith like never before. To believe like never before. To give in faith like never before. To obey Him like never before. To receive from the Lord like NEVER BEFORE.
I don’t know what the rest of my 360 days look like, but Lord willing I will see each one and that God blows my mind in the process. Here are a few things to consider if you too are believing that 2018 is “your year”:
Define success for yourself
“Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” Proverbs 4:25-27 NIV
Comparison is stunting our growth and own prosperity in this day and age. We have to remember God doesn’t want us to envy and covet other peoples’ blessings.
So define success for yourself. What does that look like to you? It should not be defined by your pushy mama, not your ambitious friends, not some person on social media you don’t know in real life, and definitely not by your ex. Success to you can be measured, can be considered small compared to what the world sees (and that’s okay), can be achieved in more than one year. It could simply be just doing better than you did the year before. Whatever the definition, have faith and do the work to get there.
Confess your success
Actress Tiffany Haddish to many has had a “my year” experience in 2017. She made history, made more money than ever, published a nationally acclaimed book, and other deals. She said in an interview that she always speaks positive affirmations such as she is successful over her life daily:
“Whenever I take pictures I always say ‘success’, when I drink my coffee it’s ‘success coffee,’ I’m eating ‘success oatmeal’. That’s how I think; everything around me and put in me is success…” -Tiffany Haddish (Source)
What we can learn is that her attitude towards receiving success is unapologetic and fearless. Some of us are still afraid to be successful, even in our personal definition of what that means. For believers we have the Word to meditate on and use are our weapon in spiritual warfare against the enemy’s tactics to come against our success. The devil is going to come for your dreams, goals and visions; it’s up to you to fight in this with God on your side by confessing the truth and God’s promises over your situation, especially when things don’t look like they’re going well. Life and death is in the power of our tongue, don’t let the wrong things slip out of your mouth this year.
Celebrate throughout the year
“I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1 KJV
Have gratefulness be on your heart every day. When we are grateful we consider where we are with God and how much we need Him, how thankful we are for the things He’s given us, we put ourselves in a position of humility and understand that everything that we do is not by our power or will alone. It’s up to God and our reliance on Him in this walk is worship.
When you face the low and uncertain moments, trust that God is working and that He is up to something. Usually that’s the best time to get into praise and worship because it shifts your mind’s focus from the doubt and the problems to the Father. He’s always available for us to draw closer to Him. Change your environment by putting on praise music and give Him thanks for what He has done. Your year is just starting, but if you thank Him in advance you will have a better outlook on things as they come along this year.
It’s time for radical faith that births testimonies that lead people back to Jesus.
Let’s not lose hope or momentum this year. I want an open Heaven over my life and I don’t want to doubt what the Lord will do for me throughout this year. Let’s believe in God’s promises for our lives with the same faith (if not more) than the time we received it.
Listen to the episode on Radical Faith Moves on my podcast Journey Through 30:
