Happy New Year!

New Year’s signifies an exciting time for something new, a fresh start, new goals, and for some resolutions.  2021 is an especially different type of celebration.  So much we want to forget about 2020!

One thing that is constant as the years advance: you’re still the same. You don’t change, but you can evolve and add or subtract characteristics about yourself.  No matter where you are, you’re still you.

We are so ecstatic to see you in January 2021! Fresh start, new opportunities & collaborations.  If the prior year taught us nothing else, we can’t do it alone.  We made it.

What are you planning for your 2021?  Let’s get into some personal goals. The stroke of midnight on Dec. 31st is not a magical wand that grants wishes and resolutions; let’s save that for fairy tales. Fairy tales are needed. I love a good story with a happy ending, don’t you?  May I suggest you make a declaration or aspire to goals even if you don’t know the steps to accomplish your dream, or desire to achieve. 

Now what are you doing with this new year? What do you desire? How will you implement and take action on your dreams?

As we transition out of the holiday celebrations and the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the first chapter of Luke is the account of the blessing and the journey of Mary, mother of Jesus.  Mary’s journey is the inspiration for this article. Can you imagine how difficult of a task Mary had in front of her?  Here she is pregnant with the Savior, unmarried and has to explain this to Joseph her fiancé.  Mary needed help from an accountability partner–she found this help in her cousin Elizabeth.

The passage that continually is highlighted for me is Luke 1:45:

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her.”

Mary was carrying a blessing, but it was an overwhelming and complicated journey. Where did she find the confidence to move through her destiny? 

What tools are you using to accomplish your goals this year?  Sometimes we need to make it plain and take it back to elementary.  Let’s begin with some ABC definitions.  

A- Accountable. Responsible, liable, answerable, obeying.

B- Blessings. God’s favor and protection, favor.

C- Confidence. The feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; firm trust.

Do you keep the promises you make to yourself? When we can be honest with ourselves about what we truly desire, then we can connect our desires to the creative power of the spirit within us.

Blessings & Favor are not a wishing well like resolution.  When you decide you believe what the Bible says, when you can interpret the message in the text or have a teacher of the word your pastor, spiritual leader, and positive influence, you will become more confident in the changing path your journey takes you on.  Your story does not reset when a new year begins. I have all that I need, not what I want.

Here is a formula that may help guide you on the path to accomplish or finish a dream or your declaration. 

First, identify your purpose. Then gather all your options leading to your purpose. Evaluate which options should remain–which options are attainable and will get you to your purpose.

Study the attainable, the obstacles, outside factors including your mind, spirit, heart and clarity on who will benefit from your purpose.

Finally what is the cost to get to your purpose? Examples are class fees, education costs, or the cost could be your willingness to spend time on building or working out for your purpose.

There are several more steps; however, I feel it may be too much to digest all in one setting. For now let’s stick to the ABC’s: Accountability, Blessing and Confidence.

This was a lot to share and by now your mind may be focused on something you left waiting in the sitting room or lobby of your heart, spirit, brain or your soul.  It may be finishing a goal created with someone you lost in life but gained spiritually.  It may be a childhood dream, or guess what, it may be keeping you up at night.  Can’t get a good night’s sleep? What thoughts or dreams are you burying?  Your dreams are seeds of the whole entire plant? 

Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there, and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. 

Matthew 17:20 NIV

When you don’t move in belief that nothing is impossible, your help is not summoned.  Faith and Action will produce fruits.  Okay, stay with me, you have the seed of your dreams, faith that nothing is impossible, and action producing fruit.  So let’s formulate this. 

Dream = Seed

Faith = Nothing Impossible

Action = Movement, Producer (Fruit)

Examples

Dream+Faith+Action = Attainable Goals

Faith-Action+Dream = Wishing and Hoping 

Action-Faith or Dream = Produces Nothing without Purpose

There are unlimited variations to make this point. I hope you can find some guidance or resources on your journey through 2021.

Let’s get back to Mary’s story.  Mary was visited in her dream by an angel.  Mary’s dream was not the same as what she was gifted with; she had to figure this out and have an accountability partner (Elizabeth) to help her take action and have confidence her faith would lead her to her purpose. 

I pray your New Year produces your purpose, that you walk boldly in your blessings, and your seeds of faith bloom above and beyond your original dream.