Sunday's one of our favorite days of the week. We got to attend the mass and fellowship with the rest of our church mates. Christian service has affected a lot of aspects in our lives. Aside from profounding our knowledge of HIM, it also established our faith and has provided us greater wisdom to live a peaceful life.
TOPIC: “How to live a victorious life for 2009?”
Answer: Moving On and Moving Up
Leave the Dark Past Behind and Never Look Back
Last year may be remarkable to some, but worth forgetful for the rest. Trials and desperations might've clouded 2008. I would say mine was. My friend got murdered February 2008. I had to give up my job and leave Philippines to overcome the trauma. It wasn't easy living abroad. I was not able to cope up immediately. Self-esteem, confidence and patience will be tested.. Those were challenged for the entire 2008. Career, relationship and faith were all affected. Nonetheless, I still feel blessed after all. I was asked to go through all these trials to make me a better person. Some people get so sensitive whenever we talk about the past. They might've been through tough-shameful experiences and they wouldn't want to go through the details or even the topic, itself. Thus, move on and leave the past behind. Never look back to the sins you've committed. If you know that you've already admitted and had already asked for God's forgiveness, you are deserving to be called righteous. 2008 might've been a year of learning. Face 2009 as a year of application. Apply everything you've learned after undergoing tough trials. Live your life in the best design that problems molded you to become.
“...Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus”.- Philippians 3:13-14
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”- James 1:2-4
Forget your wrong and negative beliefs and expectations
As we were encapsulated in a sphere of trials, war, depression, recession and frustrations, we've tended pessimistic ideas of the world and of tomorrow. For 2009, this shouldn't be your atmosphere. News might've brought forth the results of economics; trusted sooth-sayers might've delivered its predictions, yet we have to remain optimistic that beyond science and the impossible, there lies God. Again, our worries will be dependent on how strong is our faith in HIM. News and predictions might initially and temporarily terrify a human mind and body, but if we know that we're with God, our inner soul will be at peace.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”- Proverbs 3:5-6
Account your goals
If you have goals that you plan to attain for 2009, FOCUS! As we focus, don't look back. A runner who wanted to win a race looks and runs forward. A backward runner who expects to win a race is insane, don't you think? Thus, if you plan to do something big this year, throw off the things and the habits that might hinder you from reaching your visions. Discipline is an important element that one should practice if we want to be a conqueror of our own dreams. I remember Jay one time, he swore to take care of his helath today and had attended a party that same night. He told me that he won't ever drink alchohol ever again. His officemates asked him to take a shot. It was his first time to dine out with the boys so I understood the politeness he demonstrated when he took the first shot. I noticed that he was already taking more than 3 bottles. I talked to him and reminded him of his promise. He told me, he can no longer stop because he misses alchohol and it was his first bonding with them.
Is there something wrong? Yes. The intention's clean but the acts weren't. Was it wrong to bond and to show politeness? No, it's not but it was wrong when you can no longer stop and you still used politeness to cover-up for an undisciplined behavior. What was the goal again? Not to drink alchohol to avoid diabetes and pancreatic illnesses (as it runs in the blood). Was the goal attained? No, because when he exposed himself to the environment of challenges, he thought he has enough courage to say “No”. The power was strong to stop him from achieving the goal and because he lacked discipline and the “throwing-off” character needed to overcome the trials of winning, he failed.
“....let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.- Hebrews 12:1
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”- Hebrews 12:11
Be explorative
Are you tired of doing the same things over and over again? Tired of your job? Of your boss? Of your life? Then, don't be. Move forward by being explorative. Movement doesn't always mean a change of environment and of position. It also means adding and subtracting the activities we do to shift from one habit to another. We sometimes feel bored because we become complacent to what we do. We've mastered the art of making our jobs as activities that have already been habitual over a certain length of time. Thus, we focus more on the boredom of the job and not to the adventure of how we do it. Replace complacency (via Maxwell) by adding knowledge to what you think would be required for the next position you eye of having. Shop for someone better than you are. Give yourself the challenge to move up and do not be afraid to take risks. Be the explorer of your own galaxy and let Him be NASA. Allow God to move in bigger ways, allow God to do bigger things in your life. If in any case, you have no certainty to move up, then don't and stay where you are. Do not do things to pull yourself backwards.
“All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.”- Philippians 3:15-16
Decide wisely and peacefully
Find time to ask for HIS help in making decisions, easy or tough. I remembered when I asked Tita Detch: “How would I know that my choice was God's?” She said: “If you find peace in your heart”. I recalled, there were 2 jobs offered to me last May. One includes good employer with a better position, the other one is with a good company with a better remuneration. I don't know which to select. I prayed hard and the answer was revealed to me. I chose the latter. Money matters so much to sustain a living in Singapore. Eversince I got up the ranks at the age of 22, I can't remember the last time I worked for 8 hours. I would always work 10-16 hours before. I can't remember the last time I slept when no one calls me from time to time about reports and clients' requirements. I can't remember the last time I watched a movie without my laptop enggaged on assignments. Events Organizing was my job. I might not be the boss of my company as I was before, but I was able to explore time for myself, for Jay, and for God without sacrificing abundance and sharing of resources.
“Be anxious for nothing, but for everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”- Philippians 4:6-7
Live a life worthy of your purpose
No one's an accident. Nothing's an accident. We were born to fulfill a purpose. We are living to perform a calling. Before, I find these statements “baduy”. I find people who tells me all these weird. Nonetheless, in a spiritual and logical perspective, it is indeed true that everything happens for a reason. My friend died. I went to Singapore. I left a glamorous life and a successful job in the Philippines. I felt regretful. I felt retarded for leaving all those behind. The things I discovered- I think deeply now, I believe in optimism, I have hope, I've known God and had helped many people gained confidence, fixed relationships and understood their worth. I've seen how I became a stubborn follower to being a hardworking mentor. I've seen how I was used by God to teach people lessons they ought to learn and how He uses other people to teach me, mine.
Our purpose is to win. We are never designed to lose. Losing was never God's option, it is man's choice. If you believe that when your boyfriend broke up with you or you got retrenched from your job, you lost life's essence then it would really be pretty much that way. Yet, if you believe that you won when you gained strength, patience, wider opportunities and lessons learned, then you would LIVE a glorious life that's worth all the pains and trials.
“Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.”-Proverbs 19:21
“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test , he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”- James 2:12
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