In our church, the theme for this new year 2016 is "Overflowing Blessings and Faithful Stewardship." I am particularly excited because for us especially in Nigeria as it is with other nations, God promises us abundance in the midst of serious financial and economic crisis.
In my country, whose major income comes from oil and with the dwindling oil prices, the new year promises anything but abundance. Analyst have warned that we should prepare for a very difficult year, in fact with the current situation of things there is really nothing to make us believe that this year will be bring the kind of blessing we had envisaged at the beginning of a new year. But God's word to us is that it is going to be a year of overflowing blessings and faithful stewardship.
This reminds us of the experience that the children of Israel had in 2 Kings 7 when there was famine as a result of the siege by the Syrians. In the midst of the financial crisis, and contrary to public opinion and the reality of things on ground, God gave them the promise of an overflow overnight!
Elisha replied, “Hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Lord says: About this time tomorrow, a seah of the finest flour will sell for a shekeland two seahs of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria.” 2 Kings 7:1
This was so incredulous that the minister of finance and internal affairs, not only doubted but also questioned God's ability to make it happen. Unfortunately for him, it did happen but he did not experience it.
The officer had said to the man of God, “Look, even if the Lord should open the floodgates of the heavens, could this happen?” The man of God had replied, “You will see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of it!” And that is exactly what happened to him, for the people trampled him in the gateway, and he died.
2 Kings 7:19-20
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Before i begin sharing some of the steps to experiencing God's blessings this year as he teaches me, let us first take a look at our theme for this year, "Overflowing Blessing and Faithful Stewardship."
I see this as two sides of a coin, a clock gear. It is God's utmost desire and our befitting response or responsibility. But beyond this, i also see it has God's command, readiness to bless and his description of us - Faithful Stewards. God is telling us that there is an abundance he has prepared for this year and how we are to respond not just because he commands it but because that is who we are in Christ Jesus.
God is telling us this year he is going to bless us and we will be faithful. I was praying one time and it dawns on me that this year i will be faithful, why, God has not only commanded it but also told me that that is who i am. So i declare that am faithful. No more compromises, i am settled in God's purposes for my life. This year is bringing a new dawn and turn around in my life. What i use to struggle with i struggle no more. With ease i obey God and love him like never before.
You too can make those your confessions in Jesus name.
It also means that because of the promise of his blessings, we are not holding back. We are going all out in faith with everything he has put in our hearts to do this year. Everything is for the taking! We are not shrinking back in fear and doubt, instead we are throwing everything we have got to realize his purpose for us this new year.
So if you failed at a project last year, try again this year. If you stumbled on your plans to be better last year, try again. This is our motivation as we progress in this new year:
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