What a year it has been right? We all started this year happily. With plans for summer, plans for school, plans for birthdays and everything. If we made 10 New Years resolution tips, we probably accomplished 3/4 of it. Well I’m  speaking for myself. Even though it was a weird year, it’s 365 days in a year and if you’re reading this, today is your 365th day of the year so hooray. Some may say it was a weird year. People lost their loved ones and people lost their jobs and but it is by the grace of God you are alive. Give thanks to God. 

Tomorrow, we step into the New Year.  It won’t be 2020 anymore but 2021. That puts a smile on my face. This year has opened my eyes to the fact that you never know what will happen tomorrow. Look at how covid just came from nowhere and it’s been months and it’s still going on. Every day we hear something new on the news about covid so you just know this world ain’t going back to normal anytime soon. Normal? Do you even remember what that is? Unusual is the new normal. 

Today’s blog is about a new beginning; a fresh new slate. Another shot at this. My first blog I spoke about the fact that due to covid, I got closer to God. My slate was wiped clean when I accepted God. Whatever I go through now, I just think of the fact that if I didn’t know God and believe everything happened for a reason, I don’t know how I’d have gone through it and came out stronger. Everything happens for a reason. And we are all going to enter 2021 with that mentality. 

Let’s dive into individuals that had a new fresh slate in the bible. Moses, after he killed someone and left Egypt, got another chance. God called him to deliver His people from Egypt. That’s his new slate. Paul, after persecuting the people who believe in God, got his second chance, his new slate. Jonah, after God sent him and he disobeyed and ended up inside the stomach of a whale got his second chance. Speaking of second chances, Jesus died for us so we can get a second chance. Second chances have been in the air since day one. Let’s breathe it in today. 

As we enter into this new year, there are a few things we need to try and leave in 2020. Worries, fears, negativity, complaining, low self-esteem, pain, anything that isn’t positive. This may be hard but it’s about giving it a chance. Some may say fake it till you make it. 2021 should be full of joy, peace, ambition, purpose, love and kindness. No matter what you are going through, God knows. God sees. God is with you. That’s the vibe you need to take into 2021. Follow your goals. Follow your heart. If you don’t try, you will never know. I read today that “Let God do the super and you do the natural”.

Prayer: Heavenly Father we thank you. God, we thank you for our lives. 2020 was a different year but we are still breathing today. God we are grateful for everything. God, in 2021 we pray for guidance, peace, blessings, grace. No weapon formed against us should prosper. Let us step into this year with faith and let your glory fill us. We bless your name. 

Testimony: 2020 I wanted to create a blog and you all encouraged and followed my journey. God bless you all. 2021, I pray God takes your higher and higher. May He speak through this blog and receive anyone He wants to reach. 

FORGIVENESS

FORGIVENESS 

“Forgiving” is easy said than done. We all have these moments when we forgive someone but then when they do something to you again and you just remind them about that day. Yes, that day that you said: “it’s fine”. Most times, forgiving is hard. Sometimes you just feel like “I just can’t move on from this betrayal or argument...let me hold onto it for a while”. But what good will that bring you? 

We tend to say we want to live our lives like Jesus but our actions are very different. Jesus forgave those who crucified him. On the cross He said “Forgive them, Father! For they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Jesus forgave the people that killed him so we can also forgive our friend that stole our money. If someone was killing you, you wouldn’t say “Father forgive them”, rather the opposite. This is Jesus showing us that every situation is forgivable. 

The Lord’s Prayer has this section when it says “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who trespass against us” (Matthew 6:14-15). This is a clear proof that if you want God to forgive us, you first need to forgive people too. It’s like asking your boss to forgive you for your mistakes but you can’t forgive your wife. It clearly sounds unfair. Mark 11:25 also emphasises that “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too”. This is a must. This is basically an eye for an eye. You can’t expect God to forgive you your sins but you can’t forgive others. Do unto others as you want them to do unto you (Matthew 7:12). That is the Golden rule. 

Sometimes our friends are stubborn, our parents are not understanding, our colleagues are very annoying, our teachers are frustrating but we need to forgive them anyway. It shouldn’t be a thing like I’ll only forgive them if they forgave me. Yes, previously I said “do unto others as you want  them to do unto you” but sometimes you need to start first. Some people are too stubborn that if you don’t take the lead, you’ll both be stuck there. Some people’s pride are off the roof to even ask for your forgiveness. Sometimes people even think they are not in the wrong to start off. But as a child of God, we need to learn to be peacemakers. The bible says in Matthew 5: 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God”. Don’t you want to be called a child of God? Sometimes we just need to let the past go and just forgive people, no matter how stubborn they are. Sometimes people even ask us for forgiveness and you just think “they don’t deserve it” but as a child of God, you need to forgive and “forget”. I said it..."forget”. There’s no point forgiving someone if you’re going to keep bringing it up. Let it go. Forget it. 

It’s hard and we all fall victims of reminding people what they did to us the other day but today, let’s learn how to forgive everyone. Call one of your old friends that hurt you, and tell them “they are forgiven”. The past is in the past. If they keep doing things to hurt you, still forgive them. Just like how God forgives you of your sin every day. Be a forgiver. Let forgiveness come effortlessly to you. God loves you and he forgives you of all your sins today. 

Prayer: Father Lord we thank you. God we thank you for always forgiving us our sins. Today we ask you to give us the spirit of forgiveness. Let us forgive daily and constantly. We thank you in Jesus name, Amen. 

Testimony: I thank God that I’m alive. This week has been very long and eventful. I just want to thank God for my life. I also want to thank him for adding another year to my sister’s age. I bless your name Lord. Keep doing good things for me.