The new year usually starts with so many high hopes, new resolutions, and I feel like sharing some biblical experiences which might come in handy to encourage us during the year. Hope you enjoy it, it’s long though but you will like it.

God – Plan your year like God created the world. In the beginning the earth was all but a canvas and God was the artist. However, this spherical canvass was dark, without form and void ( probably a creative way of saying trash). Sometimes life gives us the debris. Take solace with the fact that every architectural masterpiece once had a site which looked rough and tardy at some point during construction.
God saw the earth and was objective in his assessment. It was indeed dark, void and formless. Yet he didn’t say “What sort of terrible situation is this”, he needn’t, it was obvious. He said “let there be light”. Confess what you want to see and not what you are seeing. The world like water takes the shape of our confessions.
The creation story wasn’t a day’s event; it took a week literally, so break down your plans into smaller and easily manageable units. Take time to rest too, even God took a break on the seventh day.
Put the cart after the horse, God first created light, same reason you connect your TV to the mains before switching it on. Also remember to be the first to appreciate your efforts, God liked his works.
Delegate tasks, define boundaries, give people the freedom to express themselves. Micromanagement couldn’t have stopped Adam from eating the apple, it wouldn’t help you either.

Noah – Indulge yourself in that idea which sounds stupid but intuitively possible. On a lighter note like embarking on a construction project to build castles in the air and actually going to the local government to obtain an air permit, seriously stupidity is a kind adjective here. But Noah could have looked the same when he was building an ark in time for a flood, it was a time when men had never seen rain (it is is arguable though that there was rainfall before the flood). It is today's equivalence of building bunkers for protection over an alleged alien attack that would happen in 2113, while others are building skyscrapers. It is absurd and stupid but so have been a lot of successful people’s ideas. Sometimes it takes being stupid to do something extremely smart. The beauty about being stupid is when your idea turns out right – you own the rights, instantly you become a genius, and a datum for bravery. There are too many wheels which have been invented, it takes an astonishing idea to do something new nowadays. Like Nike, just do it (however be careful o)

Moses – Value people’s opinion. Moses interacted with God like they were close friends on Facebook; the Israelites in turn followed him a la twitter. God explained even details to Moses as we saw in the several instances of exact dimensions given to him. Yet, when Moses' father-in-law Jethro chipped an idea into Moses’ ears to delegate a task to several people, he considered and accepted it. Moses could have said “Sir, God normally tells me in exact terms everything he wants me to do. Seriously we are that close and he would have told me if such idea is needed, thanks for your concerns though". Instead Moses realized it was God speaking through a grey-haired (or bald headed) Jethro. Pay attention, even Donkeys speak. God could use anybody, look down on nobody, sustain good relationships; you don’t know when they would come invaluable.

David - Don’t despise your ability. There is a David in all of us. Several times we have fought the fiercest of lions and bears in our backyard devoid of the world’s attention, not knowing how to blow our trumpets we have learnt to play our harp alone with happiness. Yeah, we are tucked far away from the glamour of the spotlight yet possessing slingful skills which can achieve no mean feats. Surely, that opportune moment always comes veiled and unheralded, and we are not even invited nor are our opinions warranted. But to the discerning, this is when the David in us needs to stand up and be counted. Those series of eureka moments you had in your bedroom in night time might be all that is needed to be in your limelight. Step out! Goliaths are not as perfect as they seem.

Jesus - Respect the process. I sometimes imagine Jesus made a lot of friends while growing up, and sure a lot of them would have been decent carpenters too. Interestingly none of his possible carpenter friends made it into his twelve disciples list; instead we heard more of fishermen and a tax collector. Don’t bring in friends and family into every vision if they are not required. Respect the process and what it needs. Keep emotions aside, they are too elastic. Choose your vision partners Jesus-like, be objective.

Peter – Make space for mistakes. Peter always wanted to learn but also made a couple of mistakes. Mistakes expose our incompetence and give people a less than perfect impression of who we really are. However, mistakes equips us with knowledge of what not to do. Take a step of faith, learn when you err, cry for help when you sink in life's sea, admit when you let others down. Allow yourself to be chastised, surely it would hurt your pride and prune your ego but in the end it makes you a better person. Mistakes are part of success stories; they give us the extra attention and inspiration necessary to take quantum leaps. Mistakes makes us blaze trails eventually.

Paul – It’s never too late. If at all you feel it is too late to achieve your plans during the year, take a leaf from Paul. By the time he started his ministry, some like Stephen were already retiring to heaven in style. Paul really needed a career salvation. He had to unlearn and learn. With obedience, dedication, thanksgiving and God’s grace; Paul was able to carve his niche and ended up writing the bulk of the new testament. Don’t give up if your colleagues have gone ahead of you, be thankful for your every little increase and don’t use another person's time to measure the progress of your performances. Each individual has his/her own time zone, be yourself, or you might end up using people's best to measure your worst and end up with a complex of inferiority. Focus on the distance you have covered from your starting point, it is never late.

Have a wonderful 2013


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