Posted by tamorragoldsboro@gmail.com on January 3, 2022January 2, 2022

As we begin a new year, we are walking through a threshold of a new door. As I see the future in front of me, I begin to think about the belief systems that got me here. This place that I am in is a new place. The year of 2020 has brought a lot of us to a new place. 2021 was a year of deciding to walk our new paths. I found myself in 2021 reverting back to old ways of thinking. I didn’t understand why it seemed I was going backwards . . .

I am asking God to help us walk in our purpose this year. I am praying that we allow him to direct our hearts.

One of my professors wrote this to encourage her doctoral students.

Verse: May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance (2 Thessalonians 3:5, New International Version).

Translation: We need God to direct our hearts.

Application: When we are faced with challenge or adversity, the Lord will provide us with direction for our hearts and minds.

Where are we going in 2022?

I wish that I had the confidence to be further along than what I am now. While others started businesses, I decided to go back to school which has taken up so much of my time. I also decided to go back to work, which has taken so much of my time. I now realize how valuable time is to us. I also would like to point out that stealing our time is a major weapon in the enemy’s arsenals.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

John 10:10

I hear some preachers say that we blame too much on the enemy. They say that sometimes we are our own worst enemy. However, I would like to argue that we do have an adversary whose purpose is to get us to underestimate him, underestimate his attacks, and underestimate his strategy. His job is to set us off track!

The enemy thinks that he has stolen our time in the past, but I believe that the Lord is going to restore that time to us. We just have to be patient and let the Lord work it out for us. I pray that the Lord help us find the time to live on purpose. I pray that we can look at this upcoming year and not be afraid of making plans. I pray that our hearts start to align with God’s purpose. I pray that we begin to fight against the tactics of the enemy instead of being complacent Christians. I pray that we begin to fight and take over territory that has been promised to us!

I leave behind old ways of thinking this year. You know, the type of thinking that is developed through fear. I am not going to spend anymore time wondering if I'm doing things right or wrong. I'm just going to keep praying that the Lord leads me on the right path. This way I know that I am always, exactly where I need to be.

Oh yes, the enemy has set up systems to destroy us. Let us be aware that not making any plans with our time allows us to be idle. When we have nothing constructive to do, our nature will find us something sinful to do.

The living Bible has a special translation of Proverbs 16:27-29. It says:

Idle hands are the devil's workshop; idle lips are his mouthpiece. . .

The lesson to learn is to find something constructive to do in 2022!

Your motivation for this Monday is to know that if God is for you. The enemy is having a hard time getting to you because we are protected by the love of Jesus!

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” j

37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, k neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:35

Look for the warning against idleness here

https://biblehub.com/kjv/2_thessalonians/3.htm

I continue to promote and encourage people to seek after the Lord for encouragement, hope, motivation, and food for your soul. He said that if you really do thirst or if we are too heavy with the burdens of this world, then we can turn to him. Let us turn to him so that he can restore our souls.