“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise”
(Ephesians 5:15 NKJV).
In this simple sentence, Paul arms us with one key secret we need
for success in 2016. The word “circumspect” means watchful and discreet;
cautious, prudent. In other words, to walk circumspectly requires us to walk
wisely and discreetly. To be cautious and prudent. To appreciate the full
import of what it demands from us, let us see the different ways other versions
rendered it. The New Living Translation puts it this way, “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who
are wise.” The “Contemporary English Version” says, “Act like people with good sense and not like fools.” Then “The Message Bible” put it snappy
and sharp, “So watch your step. Use your
head.” What all these imply is simply that one needs a lot of wisdom to
experience a major breakthrough this year. Wisdom is knowing what God would
have you do in any given circumstance. The biblical equivalent of the believer in the
2016 Nigeria is Isaac in the land of Gerar (Genesis 26).
There was famine in the land and every worldly-wise person was
moving to where to find sustenance both for the people and livestock. Isaac
contemplated migrating to Egypt but God stopped Him and promised to prosper him
in the land irrespective of the prevailing famine. Here is the testimony of the
breakthrough he experienced.“Then Isaac
sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord
blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became
very prosperous; for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and
a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him” (Genesis 26: 12-14
NKJV). Here are some conclusions we can draw from this. The atmospheric
condition does not determine the yield of ground, the grace of God does. The
state of a nation’s economy does not determine the amount of money that gets
into your pocket, the grace of God does. Isaac sowed in that land. Which land?
The land ravaged by fierce famine. He reaped in that year a hundred fold. Which
year was that? The year of famine! In this year that the worldly-wise have
described as a bad year, God will grant you more prosperity than you have ever
experienced in your life in Jesus name. Isaac became so prosperous that the
people became envious of him. People will become envious of you when they see
the blessings of God upon your life in 2016.
However, Isaac
provided for us a clue to the secret of his success in a very distressed
economy, like ours.“Then the Lord
appeared to him and said: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I
shall tell you. Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for
to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath
which I swore to Abraham your father” (Genesis 26:2-3 NKJV). He paid
attention to the word of God and obeyed His instructions. Isaac’s decision to
go down to Egypt in order to escape the famine could be compared to human
efforts to solve his problems apart from God. It surely would require more
faith to live in a land of famine than to live in a country that has plenty of
food. But is not living by faith the very life God called us to live? This year, we must endeavor to live by faith
and not resort to any approach that would undermine the glory of God. You must
prioritize prayer and study of the word of God if you must make it though this
year with a testimony. You must decide to give more time to the work of God
this year than you ever did before. You must not withhold your first fruit and
your tithes or reduce your offerings as a means of raising more funds for
family needs. That would be equivalent
to going back to Egypt. The faith alternative would be for you to intentionally
increase your tithes and offerings as a testimony that you depend on God and
not on the state of our national economy to prosper.
It is very necessary to make up your mind upfront to take a bold
stand for God in every sphere of your life. God has more for you than the devil
or the world can ever muster against you. Prioritize your relationship with God
over every other consideration that you may face you this year. Walk
circumspectly and do not fall prey of the enemy’s antics. God will deliver on
all His promises, even the one He made to Jesus. If He could perform the promises he made to
Abraham to Isaac, you should have no qualms trusting Him to fulfill the promises
He made to our Lord Jesus to you. This is going to be a good and exciting year
for all who would place their faith in Christ. Welcome to 2016, our year of
fulfillment.
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