Motivation to Start 2012 Right: Principles for a Prosperous New Year
Over the holidays I set aside some much-needed time for some inner reflecting and catching up on my reading. I didn’t want to be caught up in the usual faux ritual of making empty declarations for the ensuing New Year such as: “This is my year” or “My New Year will be better than last year.” It’s not that I am suddenly taking on a cynical attitude; quite the contrary. I simply want every bit of my expectancy and excitement to authentically leap from every part of my being. I want what God wants for the New Year. I needed to know if my forward thinking is of His will, or just merely a fleshy moment of mimicking the outbursts of others.
As I always aim to thrust you forward, to help you pull from within you every bit of your power and potential, and to motivate you to design your best life, I ask that you read this article with your spiritual eyes. I pray the Father’s anointing on every word as it penetrates your heart. Know that this year, 2012, can truly be better than your 2011. Understand that you have already been equipped with what you need to make this a reality. And see to it that you don’t short-change or short-circuit yourself. If you do, you are simply saying to Jesus that he went to cross in vain. I know you would never say that, so show Him that you believe Him.
My heart is full as I write these words. Over the holidays, I was initially led into the secret place before the Father, not because I planned it, but as a necessity resulting from the circumstances that He allowed, which, in fact, caused me to have to shut everything down and seek His face. In my 2010 award-winning book, Designing for the King, God impressed on me heavily to write about idol worshipping in the home. Not so much in the form as in the Old Testament, but an idol is anything that replaces God, or more aptly, time with Him. You see, I still had my morning devotionals and enjoyed my mornings with Him before I would do anything else. But I was constantly wary of the time. In the back of my mind were the Internet and my agenda for the day. Can you see how my heart could not be fully focused on Him if I allowed my mind to wander? And do you know what He did? He allowed my Internet and phone service to be interrupted for over a week! But the knower inside of me understood that it was a courtesy check to get my attention.
Now I am not sharing this to bring condemnation to you, but my all means only to encourage and motivate you. Ladies, if you would hearken to the voice of the Lord and wait on him no matter how long it takes, I guarantee everything will alright in your life. So here’s the 2012 challenge:
Be still and know. When everyone is getting on your last nerve; when the bills are screaming at you; when your husband or boyfriend doesn’t understand; when your employer is acting crazy; when you have to choose tuna over steak for dinner; when the business is looking sour; when other voices seem louder than God’s; when your child is wayward and disobedient, and you can fill in the missing blanks here; when any of these situations overcrowd you, step back and be still. Be still and know that He is God (See Psalm 46:10). The mistake we too often make, especially as nurturing women, is taking on everything. I’ve already talked about trying to be every woman. If you missed that article, be sure to look for it in the archives. God is always tugging on our hearts to come to His throne of grace to obtain help and mercy in a time of need. Don’t ignore the tugs. Give Him quality time.
Know that the One who is inside of you is greater than the one trying to trip you up! Don’t fall for anything that is contrary to what God says in His word. And in order to recognize it, you must diligently read his word. God told Joshua to meditate on the word both day and night, don’t let it depart from you and you will make yourself prosperous. (See Joshua 1:8). Here is where I took a departure from the maxims for the New Year. Most people send prosperous New Year wishes, and I understand and appreciate their good intentions; however, as I stated earlier I desire my words and actions to authentically leap from every part of my being. Joshua 1:8 shows how this is done. Undoubtedly God wants you to prosper. That’s your inheritance as His daughter. But it comes with a price. Over the holidays He made this plain to me. Meditate on what He says. Speak what He says and get rid of the cluttered thoughts and sayings of the world. Greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world. You are in the world, but not of it.
Say only what you desire to show up. Did you know that for every idle word that you speak, you will give an account of it in the day of judgment? (See Matthew 12:36). The greatest revelation of this is you can create your desired future simply by using words. These words are not idle, but intentional. You’ve heard this before, and so have I. I teach this. But God grabbed me over the holidays and has made this so very profound to me. So before I go further, I want you to say out loud: “Father, forgive me for any idle words I’ve spoken that you cannot use to better my future.” I could write an entire article on this one point; nonetheless, I want you to be so encouraged to monitor your words. There was nothing designed without words. All things were designed by words. So, design your best life by your words. Say only what you desire to show up. Daily put this into practice. What I’ve actually done is journal the future I desire, and I read it aloud several times a day so my spirit can hear it. This helps me to become cognizant of not speaking anything that is contrary to my desired future.
When my Internet and phone service was interrupted, I had a knowing that God allowed it. He loves us so much with a jealous love and won’t take a backseat to anything or anyone. The peace that overcame me was an indication that He wanted my attention. As a matter of fact, when I sat down to author this week’s article, I truly had something entirely different in mind to write. But when you give God the attention He desires, what He pours into you will spill over onto others.
If there’s one heartfelt motivational tip that I would leave with you, this is it: Let His will be done in every area of your life. May your 2012 be one of seeking first His kingdom and righteousness and all the things you desire will be added to you. Showers of Blessings in the New Year!
I want to hear from you. Please contact me at dmurphy@eewmagazine.com.
Dr. Deana is a Marketplace Minister and founder and CEO of LivingDesigns360, a company that mentors the kingdom-minded woman in creative ways to renovate and design her interior life so she can create major breakthroughs, achieve personal accountability, emotional clarity and inner direction. Also a master lifedesign strategist, speaker, educator, blogger and award winning author, Dr. Deana’s creative approach embraces techniques from interior design. She takes her 13 years’ experience as a certified interior designer and successfully applies it to the art of Interior Lifedesign, blending in a focus on personal development and life improvement strategies from head to toe. Clients work with Dr. Deana through private strategy sessions, workshops, group mentoring programs, keynotes and retreats. Her mission: to elevate, educate and motivate the Kingdom woman so she can master her confidence, soar in her freedom and design her best life.
Visit Dr. Deana at deanamurphyglobal.com
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3 Comments
Reader Comments (3)
Thanks Dr. Deana for this great article! I'm starting the new year off with a fast and I've been thinking back over 2011. I want to be more focused and on point than ever! This is a great way to get started.
I have a real bad problem with my mouth, speaking negativity is my weakness. I get really discouraged FAST and I think the worst first. I want to change that in 2012 so saying "only what I desire to show up" will be a challenged but I am going to try my best!!!!
You've done it again Dr. Deana! You're all up in my business in a good way of course. I battle my temper constantly. I have a pretty short fuse and I have been giving myself way too much permission to fly off the handle. I'm getting that in check this year. This article was the good old fashioned kick in the pants I needed. lol