5MistakesToAvoidInTheNewYear - (3) HoldingOntoYourPast

...but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. #Philippians 3/13

The third mistake I believe we ought to do away with is the mistake of holding on to the past. Many never move forward because they find it difficult to let go of what has happened before. It's sad when you talk to a lot of people, they are quick to make references to what has happened before as being the reason why their lives is what it is. (Copy and tweet). However if God didn't believe in your today, He wouldn't have allowed you to cross the threshold of your yesterday. (Copy and tweet).

The challenge for most people is really having the tools to fight the urge of their past. (Copy and tweet). If you focus on your past, you empower the negatives thereof which will eventually affect your present. (Copy and tweet). However, if you reject that negative energy and begin to focus on the future, you empower the possibilities yet unborn to be yours.

The enemy's desire is to hold you accountable for the things that have happened in your past. The weapon of pity and guilt is what he uses. This is the reason why he does everything possible to make sure you never break free from your past. (Copy and tweet). God desire is to free you so you can have the freedom to be upwardly mobile. This is the time to make your move and redeem yourself!

You could have yet you didn't. You should have but you never did. So what do you do now? You thank God for another opportunity and a new day  to start all over again. Mistakes sometimes make living life worthwhile! (Copy and tweet). The best in scientific innovation isn't gotten in an instant. Remember the initial design of the earliest mobile phones?  They came as bricks! Lol! Imagine if the inventors had gotten stuck in their past? They wouldn't have come up with innovative and new ideas for mobile phones. 

What am I taking about? The past should serve as the platform for the future. (Copy and tweet). Anyone who doesn't remember their past is bound to repeat the mistakes thereof. No wonder our opening scripture is very succinct about what an individual should do - forget the past and in so doing look forward to the opportunities ahead.

In conclusion, hope is nebulous yet futuristic. A person who focuses their hope into the future automatically activates the faith they need to move on. It's the New Year and a new day where life is brimming with greatness and opportunities. It's also ready with open arms and I can hear the Spirit beckoning and mentioning your name and saying this is your time! (Copy and tweet).

What past issues keeps rearing its ugly head into your future and how are you dealing with them? Let me know your thoughts.

In His Service

J. Akuoko II

5MistakesToAvoidInTheNewYear - (2) Procrastination

The wise define procrastination as the thief of time….the dictionary defines it as putting off doing something especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness more so to delay or postpone needlessly. (Copy and tweet).Whilst God sees it as a spirit that causes His children to lose sight of His best for them which stops them from coming into fruition subsequently. “One of these days means none of these days” is an old English adage that spells out the doom and gloom awaiting those who never seem to get important and needful things done because of procrastination. (Copy and tweet).

In the field of psychology, procrastination refers to the act of replacing high-priority actions with tasks of lower priority, or doing something from which one derives enjoyment, and thus putting off important tasks to a later time. (Copy and tweet). Hmmm! Selah!

Life and its challenges are enormous yet the everyday pressing and important things you have to do in order to enhance your life cannot be left at the beck and call of your emotions. (Copy and tweet). One of these days……yes you said so and so did you say the last time but up on till now nothing has been done. One of the most subtle weapons of hell directed at the children of God is PROCRASTINATION. (Copy and tweet). The devil knows if he can stop you from doing that which you are meant to do, then he can stop you from achieving the fullness of your dreams and aspirations you have.

Until you make a move towards doing what has to be done, your life remains the same and like a rat, you will be caught in the same wheel of unproductivity, regret etc and forever remain a rat (Copy and tweet). People who act on their word are progressive people!

Like the slothful in the book of Proverbs 6, he lives his life knowing what to do everyday yet never does any of them. (Copy and tweet). In the absence of action, slumber and sleep and the folding of the arm is what he is left with. This in the end produces nothing but regrets and abject poverty. He is reduced to a pauper and a beggar. 

A few years ago I stopped making “new year resolutions”simply because I realised none of them got satisfied as far as am concern. I saw them as just things I procrastinated on. I have made up my mind to MIND the things that matter first in almost every day I live. (Copy and tweet). Have you notice something about God that He never procrastinates? If He isn’t ready, He doesn’t do anything. (Copy and tweet). When God gets ready, He moves with power and authority to do what has to be done. (Copy and tweet). We have been created in the image of God and it’s about time you learn to do what God does -kill the spirit, attitude and character of procrastination.

I have been afforded the privilege of talking to many who are advanced in age. Those who procrastinated about certain things they ought to do, now live in so much pain and regret and sometimes they end up in jealousy, envy and regret. (Copy and tweet). Those who maximised the moment, eschewed procrastination and did what had to done have joy and laughter oozing freely out of them. (Copy and tweet). **Secret– they have also been financially rewarded!

Prayer – Father in the name of Jesus, help me deal withthe attitude and Spirit of procrastination. I commit all that I have to do this year into your hands. I believe the Holy Spirit is in my life to help me be a doer of the ideas you freely give to me. Thank you in Jesus mighty name. Amen!

What are some of the ways one can deal with Procrastination? Letme know your thoughts.

In His Service

J. Akuoko II

5MistakesToAvoidInTheNewYear - (1) Indecision

"Adouble minded person is unstable in all his ways” – James 1:8

You have to decide to decide…..your failure to decide is a decision in itself.(Copy and tweet). It will interest you to know this- that your future is dependent on the decision or indecision you make right now! A person’s indecision in matters that are pertinent is something they will live to regret for a long time to come. Many will testify that their indecision in a lot of matters has impeded their progress. Anyone desiring to be great at some point and inspite of the price to pay decided to decide. I have come across many who clutter their “decision making” abilities with so much and end up being indecisive about everything. They have become Jack of all trades in decision making yet a master of none- “indecisive jackies”. (Copy and tweet).

Life isn't running ahead of you….in reality you make life. (Copy and tweet). How you turn up is as a result of the strategic decisions you make. That is why even if you feel you are late,you ought to take your time and decide on one issue at a time. Decision making is paramount if you are to excel in getting to your intended place of victory.It didn't matter how sinful the world was, God had to take His time and doing so decided on the time Jesus had to be born. Man’s continuous sinning couldn't create an  indecision in the strategic plan of God for our redemption. (Copy and tweet). 

In this New Year, you have to kill off the indecision that has been plaguing you for "yongs". Indecision about the relationship, finance, vision etc has got to be dealt with right now! The issues of life are many yet those who take time and deal with it one at a time through a quality decision making, always get the best results. (Copy and tweet). Indecision will leave you at the beck and call of anything…you will become a slave to the whim of just anything. (Copy and tweet). 

Deciding grants you to right to the tranquility you need to press ahead. (Copy and tweet). There might be many opportunities right now but when you have a clear cut decision, choose the most appropriate out of the lot to execute. Indecision has nothing but emptiness and regret waiting for you. What must be decided on now shouldn't be left at the mercy of another. You will only live a life of regret, pain and frustration if you are indecisive. What most fail to realise is that indecision has the same amount of power as decision making.

Our opening scripture says its all- an indecisive person is unstable in all their ways. Instability is equated to faithlessness and without faith it is impossible to please God.(Copy and tweet).It’s about time YOU GET RID OF INDECISION…..and begin to make those quality decisions that will impact your life for a long time to come.

What are some of the “indecisions” you have to get rid of ?

In His Service

J. AkuokoII

5TypesOfPeopleWeRelateTo - (5) The Multitude type

And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. John 6/2

The word multitude seems to me as “multi- attitude” when broken into two. (Copy and tweet).  They are many with different ideas and mindset. They don’t have a united mind to be channelled into something worthwhile. They only followed Jesus because of the miracles which they saw him perform and not for the word to transform their lives. They have the tendency to be only receivers but not contributors. They have their mouths well opened to receive and never give back to others what they received. They will keep you busy preaching, teaching and even giving out everything you have. They have a motto that reads - “no contribution but we are here to enjoy”. (Copy and tweet).

They come in so many forms and they do not seek anything but the best you have to offer without any contribution from them. If in church, they could represent the people in the parable of the sower in a sense. They will cause you to preach for the word to fall on rocky hearts, wayside hearts, and thorny hearts. They are very quick to fill churches, raise you up and with the same quickness raze you down in search of a new anointing or kid on the block. (Copy and tweet) 

There is a tendency for you to try and prove a point when you come across the multitude type. (Copy and tweet). Watch out! For they might let you to do things God hasn’t told you to do. They will put you under enormous pressure and sometimes even sin against God.

Though sometimes there might be an iota of skill, talent and ability within them, you do not need to spend so much of your time with them. If you are not careful you will focus all your energy and time trying to help people who do not need it. (Copy and tweet). We meet these people every day in our lives but your focus should not be on what they do. 

Of cause some will help you achieve your vision but the ratio of your helpers compared to your detractors will not be in your favour. (Copy and tweet).

Have you ever encountered a person with a multitude mentality? Let me know your thoughts.

Yours In His Service

Joe Akuoko II

 

5TypesOfPeopleWeRelateTo - (4)The Disciple type

And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. John 6:11

They did not have the resources required by Jesus to feed the five thousand people but were very diligent in distributing it. It’s easy to count yourself out especially when others have the connections and finance to move a vision or a purpose. Yet a careful perusal of your life will prove that you have something different to help. (Copy and tweet). Like the disciples, you may not have the resources needed to help a vision but your time and your concern about the vision will count a lot. (Copy and tweet).

There are people who are constantly fasting, praying and working behind the scenes to make sure that an idea or vision is bettered.  They are evangelists who relentlessly reach out to others with the details of the vision. They might not have the strength and capacity to fight the “Goliaths” of life but have what it takes to bring the “Davids” into the presence of the King Saul. (Copy and tweet). 

I see the disciple type of people as individuals who inspite of their lack of the needed expertise help with everything else they’ve got. The disciples had the skill of orderly arrangement and distribution- a vital tool in helping Jesus achieve the miracle. (Copy and tweet). Obed-Edom could not go with King David to bring the ark of God back to his people. Yet he was prepared to allow the King to bring the ark into his house when the Lord killed Uzzah. (Copy and tweet)

The Lord eventually blessed the house of Obed-Edom and prospered him. Even though the Ark was eventually taken away, the blessings were to remain in Obed-Edom forever. When we are able to keep some one else's God will surely bring us our own. (Copy and tweet).

Never underestimate what the disciple type of people we relate to are capable of doing. Every little effort of the disciple type of people helps achieve the dreams and aspirations of a visionary. (Copy and tweet).

What other doings of the disciple type of people can you think of? Let me know your thoughts.

Yours In His Service

Joe Akuoko II