An End-of-the-year Love Letter

I was going to do a “2022 wrapped” with some of my highlights and worst moments. Then I changed my mind. When I reflect on 2022, I think of it as a good year- not great, but definitely not bad. Just good. There were a lot of things I wished I did, there were also goals that I accomplished that I didn’t even plan for. 

For 2023, I decided not to plan too many new things. Right now, I can’t think of any new additions. I had a good number of “I wish I did this”. I want to stop wishing and do them. The things that worked, I want to improve on them. Sometimes, we don’t need new things, we just need to improve on what we already have going on for us and start the things we’ve been putting off.

 

After reboot camp (my church’s camp meeting), I received words for 2023 but the one that has stuck with me is: 2023 is for those who obey. This is my number one goal for 2023, to obey God. Everything God has asked me to do, I do. I’ll be scared sometimes but I’ll always fix my gaze on Jesus and his word. Obeying God is not easy because God will ask you to do big and even daring, unusual things. You’ll be scared, doubt, and ask for one million confirmations. But if you do a few things right, it’ll become easier to obey. 

1. Put God first

   You know when the Bible says to put God and his kingdom first and everything would be added to you? It’s no joke. Spend time praying every day. Read your Bible. You can do one chapter per day or browse a Bible reading plan that you can actually stick to. You can’t obey God if you don’t read your Bible because you can’t know his voice or his words so how would you hear the instructions? When you know God’s plan, you need strength to execute God’s plans. It is in the place of prayer that you receive the strength to obey. One cannot replace the other.

 

2. Create an environment of possibilities.

   Follow people that have what you want to see in your life. If you want to be in a godly relationship, follow godly relationship pages, not instablog. If you want to excel in a field, follow someone who is a Christian excelling there so you can see that it is possible. Create the right environment in your mind by studying the word and praying. Be around godly, positive people. The right environment will make obeying God even easier.

 

3. Create a vision board and put it as your phone home screen.

   You can use the Canva app to design one. I’ve never done one before but I’m doing one this year so I can be reminded of the vision whenever I look at my phone, which for most of us, is all the time.

 

4. Expand your mind to expect and receive good things.

   Sometimes, our minds are not trained enough to think big. We’ve not seen or been around success stories. Open your mind. Read books, read stories. It was through reading Zikoko’s Naira life that made me know that in this life, you can make good moneyyyy. Na strategy you need. Read people’s stories and allow yourself to dream.

 

5. Put into action.

   Prayer will not still take the place of obedience. After God says ‘go’ and he strengthens you, you will still need to actually Go. So put in the work. Plan your time. Stay where God has put you. Try not to compare yourself with anybody. You are doing your OWN unique purpose. No journeys are the same. Don’t try to be like anybody. Do your work.

 

6. Don’t take up extra responsibilities than you cannot handle.

   There will be other things that will get your attention. Things that you might be interested in. Make sure you don’t bite more than you can chew. This year, I felt like I took up so many things at a time and that’s why I’m not excited about rushing to write new goals. Extra responsibilities might make you delay your main task or make you put it aside completely. 

 

If you haven’t started working on your goals, there’s no need to be hard on yourself. I was talking to the Holy Spirit about all the things I needed to get done by the 31st and he said: you know you have the 2nd and 3rd of January right? And he was right, I have these days to properly align my goals. Salem King also wrote about one of his friends who took out January 2022 to plan and went on to have the best year of his life. You can take out the first day or the first few days to plan. But make sure you don’t procrastinate. 

 

Also as you go about your goals in 2023, be kind to yourself. If you discover during the year that a method is not working for you, try another. For example, If you want to wake up by 5 am but it’s not working because you’re a night person, try setting your most important work at night. 

 

To you who is reading, I pray 2023 is a great year for you. I pray in 12 months, your song will be See what the Lord has done.

 

With the warmest hug and love,

Chioma and Abba.

 

Missed my last blog post? Click here to catch up.