It is customary for Nigerians to be inundated with prophecies from our elite preachers at the beginning of every year. Obviously, because of the prominence of some of the predictors, their massages often make the headlines in the news media. This explains why many people are swayed by these prophecies even though records show that, at the end of the day, most of these predictions scarcely come to pass.
The purpose of this article is to put things as they pertain to prophecy in their proper context. This is imperative so that our youth do not pay undue attention to spiritual messages above the reality of life in an organised secular environment. Prophecy has its relevance, but we should not live by it. The Bible even admonishes that, the “Just shall live by faith,” (Rm 1:17).
Churches often dedicate each year to the fulfillment of certain expectations or the pursuit of some vision. That’s why we see labels or car stickers with inscriptions like “2018: Our year of success;” “Our year of Destiny fulfillment” “Our year of Victory,” etc. These are mere prophetic declarations given in faith to strengthen or encourage the believer. It is okay. Nobody should quarrel with that. The ideal thing to do is to key your personal vision into whatever declaration your church has made and pursue it in faith.
This is because you are to live by faith, not prophecy. Many young people idle away at churches, prayer mountains or spiritual homes, hoping for miracles. This is an unrealistic way to live. We are no longer in the old covenant days. The pressures of a dysfunctional world place a demand on you that require fierce urgency of action on your part, if you hope to survive.
In 2018, you ought to set a realistic agenda for yourself, if you have not done so already. Do not grope in the dark. Forget about last year’s hurts and pick up the pieces of your life. There’s hardly anything you went through, or are going through right now, that’s peculiar to you. Other people have had same experience as you. What makes the difference is your attitude to the adversities that come your way. Everyone has a dragon to slay; everyone has a demon to vanquish, everyone has a testimony to give; whether it is of victory or defeat depends largely on the individual’s disposition.
Set your goals and make them clear. Make sure your goals are achievable. When you reach a dead end, retreat and re-evaluate your strategy. You may need new tactics to finally overcome your obstacles. Naturally, what stands between you and your goals are daunting odds. You have to map out a strategy to crush these obstacles, if you hope to succeed in 2018 and beyond.
Sitting down and wishing makes no one great. If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. I hope you have heard these wisdom nuggets before. So, stand up and fight. That’s the only way to win. Never think of giving up. Many surrender on the eve of their victory, when they’re at the door step of success. Too bad! My personal motto is: “Never give up, even as you give up the ghost.”
Don’t give up on your dreams because, even when you die, someone else may pick up the pieces of your dreams and actualise them. Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “There’s no limit to what we can achieve if it doesn’t matter who gets the credit.” Dearly beloved, most of the Bible writers, through whom awesome revelation of the word of God came to us, worked in terrible conditions.
Some of the Bible writers wrote from jail, under scotching sun in the wilderness, in hunger, in cold, in dark caves under the threats of wild animals; while being pursued by fearsome enemies, etc. Yet, they were still able to communicate the wonderful message of salvation in illuminating poetry, melodious psalms or music, enchanting prose that have no parallel in any literature. Most of my best books or essays were written under harsh conditions.
Great things are sometimes borne of adversity. That’s why pregnant women have morning sickness and birth pains. They go into labour before they deliver. It’s the law of nature. Nothing good comes easy. No price, no gain. If you want to succeed in 2018, you must be prepared to pay the price. Maybe you need to up your ante in order to make it this year.
Therefore, don’t be discouraged. I know it is not easy to make it, but you can make it, nevertheless, because others are making it and they don’t have two heads. All the great man or woman has is faith in themselves and most of the qualities we have shared here or in some other essays. This may just be your year. I pray it is.
Weekend spice: “Success comes to those who become success-conscious.”
– Napoleon Hill.
Okay, folks, let’s do it again next Friday. Stay motivated!
•Ladi Ayodeji is an Author, Rights Activist, Pastor and Life Coach. He can be on reached on 09059243004 (SMS and Whatsapp only)