Every good start comes with hope, energy, and commitment. Hope that everything will be fine. Energy is a fuel that is needed to work towards making everything okay, and dedication the energy required to keep pushing even in hard times.
Regardless of whether you are optimistic or not, a new or fresh start comes with an excitement that is hard to hide. Perhaps all I have said above might not be true for you; however, nobody frowns at new stuff—for instance, a new car, a new shirt, a paycheck, even a new hairdo.
Today is one of those days we are most hopeful. With all that has happened in 2020, the least we can do is hope for a better new year. It is a new year; why not be hopeful and trust God?
Many are yet to recover from the shock of the previous year. Are we to hold on to the pain and suffering of the last year? No! There is no time to drown in anger or despair. Pick up the pieces, hoping, working, and pushing against forces that are against our advancement.
"Fight back?" some might question.
I am only pointing to this:
"For though we walk in the flesh; we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds)." - 2 Corinthians 10: 3-4
I know some might not be with the whole Christian thing, I hear and respect you. However, I will need you to spend a little time out of your busy schedule to complete this post because this might be the only or right thing you need to hear now.
I have shared this story over and over on different platforms. For those who are bored of my account, forgive me. We can all agree new visitors have the right to hear my story. That said, I would encourage old visitors to stick around because there is something you don't know.
November 2019, The spirit of God laid it on my heart to do a 31-day prayer and praise. It was to be held from the 1st-31st December 2019. I am not one to say no to enjoying myself with God, so I got excited. My excitement quickly switched to unwillingness when the spirit of God told me to record the program and publish it to the world.
Hmmm, I can't do this! Speaking is not for me. By the way, I don't have the right tools to get this done. So I am the wrong person for this assignment. Those were the lies I told myself.
After days of fighting and convincing myself everything was in my head, I did not feel peace. There was a sense of urgency and unrest within me. My breaking point was when I remembered Moses from the Bible story. He kept giving excuses about why he was the wrong person to aid the deliverance of the Israelites in Exodus, chapter 3.
Okay, I will do it, I told myself. On a podcast! I will use the one I stopped using because I sucked at creating and sharing my journey there, simple. It is not convoluted; I pray always; the only issue is that there will be a lot of blabbing, but I will do it.
On the 31st of November 2019, I was working on some book reviews and articles. Then I asked my husband if tomorrow was the 1st of December, and he said yes. That was when I realized the next day was when the prayer and recording would start.
I was in shock, confused, in denial, and in pain. Once again, I convinced myself there was no going back. Below I have embedded the 1st of December episode; this helps you to understand how confused and unprepared I was.
I must mention it was uncomfortable. It was hard for me. You know the feeling of being outside your comfort zone? That was me, but I kept pushing.
On the 20th of December 2019, the word of God came.
"2020 would not be as easy as you imagine. Winds will blow, and if you are not solidly planted in the word of God or Jesus Christ, you will be blown away." These were the exact words God said through me."
I have never experienced anything like this! After these words came, my body felt like it was not mine. I felt an uncommon chill, and the next moment, I started to question what I just said.
If you listen to this recording, it got to a point when I said something around the lines of "I don't mean to be a prophet of doom, but this was what I was hearing." I spoke these words because I was scared of what I said in a real sense.
I am used to having dreams that come to pass. My family has settled for taking my dreams seriously after many revelations. This, however, was outside what I have experienced in the past.
With this development, my prayer point changed. I started engaging in prayer for protection. I remember someone I shared this with asking if what I said was along the line of hurricanes. I said no, it was a disaster.
2020 eventually arrived and took the world by storm. As I said in another post, it was not a time when the USA was crying, and Italy was celebrating. The world cried together.
The mind-blowing part is that Italy was the first place in Europe that was hit by this virus. If you don't know, I am based in Italy. As if that was not enough, the first region the virus hit was Lombardia, the area where I live. Not just that, the town with the most cases in Italy was 30 minutes away from where I lived.
Our help quit because he came in contact with victim 1. My husband insisted we hold back on going for Sunday services. I was against it, and I frowned at his decision. A week later, after God used him to speak to me, the church was closed because the new help of the priests had the virus.
As of today, my church parish has just two priests out of seven. The rest died of the virus. 70% of the seniors in our retirement house are dead. Thanks to coronavirus.
My family and I have danger all around, but no harm has befallen us. None of my extended family has fallen because of the virus. None of our tenants are down with coronavirus. Our help tested negative for the virus. Our closest friends are healthy and are living.
"Oh, you are just lucky." No, It's just that I serve a living God. A God who knows the end before the beginning. A God who is still speaking through his children, a God who is too faithful to fail.
"For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore, ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." Malachi 3:6
Because his plans for us are of good and not of evil, he sent a message to those who are willing to listen—the obedient were delivered from the plague that attacked the world.
"’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’" - Jeremiah 29:11
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight" - Proverbs 3:5-6
Welcome to a new start, a new year. It is safe to say you can start a new life if you want. God is so good that he said something about 2021 in 2020. If you follow my podcast, you must have come across the 29th of February 2020 recording.
I heard and said, "2021 will be or will seem like a period of rest from all we've lost or all we will lose in 2020. But it is just the beginning. The sure and only way is to cling unto God." Find attached the recording below.
For some, this might be depressing, but it is a confirmation God is always looking out for his own.
For example, in the book of Genesis, God spoke to Noah to aid the deliverance of those who are willing to turn from their wicked ways. Unfortunately, none of them harkened to the voice of God, and they all perished.
Likewise, in the book Genesis, God used Joseph to deliver the Egyptians from the famine ahead of them.
Let's not forget Moses in the book of Exodus, who God used to aid the Israelites' deliverance from the hands of the Egyptians.
In the new testament, Jesus aids the deliverance of the Samaritan woman, dead Lazarus, the woman with the issue of blood, you and I, among others. Let Jesus aid your redemption and secure your future.
Don't for one second think I have anything to do with this because I don't. I am just a vessel that accepts being used for God’s purposes.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" - 2 Corinthians 5:17
Giving your life to Christ is a perfect start for anyone who is lost, broken, confused, or is touched by my testimony and wants to get in partnership with God. It is only through Jesus that you can get access to the Father.
In John 14, there was a conversation between Jesus and his disciples. When he told them he was going to the Father to prepare a place for them, this did not make sense and caused them to protest, explaining they did not know the way because they didn't even know where he was going. And Jesus replied, saying he is the way.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; also believe in me. My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."
Jesus the Way to the Father. Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." - John 14: 1-6
Ultimately, for a new start, we all need Jesus. And this means that through Jesus, you are automatically a child of God. So if you are ready to begin anew, read the words below aloud, with assurance and concentration.
Lord Jesus, I thank you for this opportunity to meet you. Thank you for loving me, even in my unfaithfulness and unwillingness to acknowledge that you have been there. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins, giving me yet another opportunity to reconcile with the Father. I open the door of my life and receive you as my Savior and Lord. I believe in you, and I ask for the grace to be a better person. Amen.
Congratulations, you just started anew. Welcome to a new beginning.
I encourage you to find a Bible-believing church you can call home. Learn about their weekly program and find a way to integrate yourself into the system.
One thing I always encourage new believers is that a church is a church; however, it is not all churches you can call home. So ask for God's direction towards finding the perfect Christian home for you.
I hope you've found this helpful. If so, please drop me a comment. And if you have any reason you want to spend more time with me, check out my other fun posts.
Grace to Make Better Decisions (2 Corinthians 6:14)
There Shall be no Weeping in my Household (Exodus 12)
Prayer for Wisdom (Proverbs 29:11, Proverbs 1:7)
Prayer for Protection (2 Thessalonians 3:3)
Thy Will be Done (Matthew 6:10)
Christmas Checklist for Late Planners.
My December Essentials as a Person of Faith.
Ultimate Gift Idea for Her this Christmas.
Ultimate Gift Idea for Him this Christmas.
90 Christmas decoration ideas.
56 Iconic Christmas Dinner Recipes.
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