PREPARING TODAY FOR TOMORROW
"So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God." 2 Chronicles 27:6. The future begins now. Every journey begins with preparation. Adequate preparation will always receive glorious manifestations. To prepare is to be ready. It is to plan with facts. To prepare is to have necessary information. It is to strategize. There is tremendous power in preparation.
Do you want the coming year to be better? Do you want a better future. Do you want the blessings of the Lord? Do you want a happier, more fulfilled, and satisficing life? You can have that, if you want it, but it will not just happen or fall out of the sky. Like everything in life it takes desire, dedication and then action. You can prepare for tomorrow's success today.
"But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9. God was thinking of you before you were born. He has been preparing for you! He’s a God who prepares in advance.
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8. The words “yesterday and today” are an Old Testament expression to denote continuity. Whoever Jesus Christ was in the past is exactly who He is in the present. There is continuity in Him! The word “forever” in Greek means into all the ages of the future. This phrase depicts all future time to come, including all ages that will ever be known. Hence, it describes the future. You may not know the future but you know Jesus Christ who knows! You can always count on Him. Your future is secured in Christ Jesus.
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:34. Often, we confuse planning to worrying. Planning for tomorrow is time well spent however worrying is time wasted. Planning is thinking ahead about our goals, steps, schedules and trusting in God's guidance. When we have confidence in God, our worries diminishes. But when we worry, we make it difficult to trust God fully.
It is alright to plan your life, but do not become so wrapped up in planning that you worry and stop living in the moment. Take your worries to the Lord in prayer and leave them there.
POWER OF TODAY:
1. Today enables you to learn from yesterday's mistakes.
2. Today is more powerful than yesterday.
3. Today gives you the opportunity to reclaim lost grounds.
4. Today you can erase the ugly memories of yesterday.
5. Today gives you the power to right your past wrongs.
6. Today affects your tomorrow.
8. Today is your platform for greater success and excellence.
9. Where you failed yesterday, today gives you the power to start again.
10. Today gives unlimited access to grace.
WHAT TO DO TODAY:
1. Learn from yesterday's mistakes. Romans 15:4.
Everyone makes mistakes. Yet not everyone learns from them. Willingness to learn, to adapt and change is a key ingredient in learning from your mistakes. We must choose not to repeat past errors.
2. Be grateful for today.
The Bible says God’s mercies are new every morning. So if you will take God at His Word, you can wake up every morning to a brand new day. You can live life totally unhindered by the past.
3. Work hard. Proverbs 22:29. Avoid laziness. Work hard so that you can eat.
4. Maximise your potentials. Eccl 9:10.
Every person has potential. Potential is what you are capable of doing or becoming. There's still more God has for us to be and do! Meditate on your God-given strengths and learn to encourage yourself, for much of the time nobody else will. Don't compare yourself to anybody else. You're unique, one of a kind, and an original. Focus on your potential, not your limitations. Find what you like to do, and strive to do it with excellence. Focus daily on your greatest source of strengths.
5. Be prayerful. James 5:16. Ask for His will. Say what you need. Pray the Word.
6. Give thanks to God. Thanks opens the gates of heaven.
7. Set goals. 2 Timothy 2:15.
It could be in the areas of your finances, spiritual, fitness, educational, family, career and social life. Set a time limit—because you need a finish line. Be specific. Write it down. Pursue it.
8. Have a deeper relationship with God. He loves you, and desires to have a vibrant relationship with you. The greatest thing you can do is get up every single day and love Him in return.
9. Associate with purpose-driven people.
Don't expose your dreams to people who never dreams. Fellowship with those who believe and practice in their own lives the reality that all things are possible to those who believes.
10. Prepare today. Get engaged in preparing yourself today for a sure tomorrow.
11. Read the Word daily. Psalms 119 : 105.
God’s word is light. It gives directions, enlightens and saves from errors. Learn to soak yourself in the Word. To soak yourself in the Word is to allow God's Word to penetrate your heart. It is to allow the power of His words to influence your feelings, decisions and actions.
IMPORTANCE OF TOMORROW:
1. Tomorrow is your latter end.
Don't be afraid of how small you are today. Don't be afraid of small beginnings. Increase is coming.
2. It is the crown of your yesterday's hard work.
3. Tomorrow is your unused potentials.
4. It is your opportunity to make positive impacts.
5. Your tomorrow is knocking at the door today.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR TOMORROW:
1. Repent of all sins that are detrimental to your tomorrow. 2 Corinthians 7:10.
The Greek word for repentance means “a change of mind or thinking." Repentance is a deep sorrow for wrongdoing. It is to forsake our wrongdoings. Repentance is turning to God.
2. Work on goals that will enhance your prospects tomorrow. Luke 14:28.
3. Improve on yesterday's victories. Philippians 4:13.
Refuse to live on past glory. Strive for new conquests. Aspire for new success. To succeed is to be better tomorrow than you were yesterday. Success means exceeding the achievements of the past.
4. Soak your tomorrow in prayer. James 5:16.
5. Don't sell your birth right today. Genesis 25:33-34.
The reason Esau traded his birth right was that he didn't realize how great God's plan was and how great his role was going to be in that plan. Learn from Esau! Don’t trade your future for a bowl of stew. The birth right is everything valuable about you: your beliefs, dignity, integrity, principles, and self-respect. Don’t trade those things away. The soup may satisfy for the moment, but it won’t last.
6. Don't procrastinate.
Procrastination wastes opportunities. It wastes today by postponing things until tomorrow. Stop making excuses. Establish a planned schedule. Whatever it is, put it on your calendar.
7. Be focused.
Distractions are side attractions wanting to get your attention. Fix your eyes on the goal you intend to achieve and understand that distractions are only temporal. Refuse to be distracted.
8. Be persistent. Matthew 24:13. Have a never give-up attitude.
9. Have faith in God. Hebrews 11:6. Release your faith through confession
10. Pay the price. Luke 9:23. You must pay the price to obtain the prize.
11. Be expectant. Proverbs 23:18.
12. Fast often.
13. Live one day at a time. Decide to make the most of each moment of your life.
14. Seize the opportunities. Luke 15.
Today is the bridge that connects you to tomorrow. Whatever you are today, thank God: but the best is yet to come. As long as you remain in the Lord, your tomorrow will be better than today,
PRAYER POINTS:
1. I soak my present and future in the blood of Jesus, in Jesus name.
2. My Father! Wherever I go, and whatever I do, please let your presence be with me, in Jesus name.
3. O Lord, where there is no way before make a way for me this year, in Jesus name.
4. Thank God for answering your prayers.
