TAIWO JACOB

THE ESSENTIAL OF THE NEW DAWN

This is a new year, born from the one that has passed—its parent. The parent is gone; let it be buried and forgotten. As you behold the brightness of this new dawn, remove your gaze from the darkness of the past night.

This is a peculiar milestone. Do not attempt to climb its Jericho walls; instead, walk around them by faith and move forward. Do not enter its kindled fires alone—invite the Son of the living God to walk through the furnace with you.

It is another year with its own challenges, but it also carries enough of God’s promises to overcome them. Rather than fixing your eyes on mountains of problems, choose daily to focus on the pages of the Bible that contain God’s unfailing promises.

Do not step into its many streets in fear, for God has not given you a spirit of fear. Walk with caution instead, for there are slippery places along the way. As you journey, many troubling noises will echo in your ears, but there will also be one gentle voice that speaks assurance to your heart. Do not be distracted by the former; pay close attention to the whisper of the latter.

Along this path are two lions: the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the miserable roaring lion of the jungle. Draw close to the first and distance yourself greatly from the second. Reverence the first with godly fear, and do not allow the threatening posture of the second to terrify you as a believer. The first is the Savior—our loving and caring Shepherd. The second is the one who comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy, bringing pain, weeping, and wailing. Give your full allegiance to Him who is love personified and the lover of your soul, and reserve your strongest resistance for the one who operates in darkness to wreck and destroy.

On the way also are well-positioned Delilah and Jezebel, the vilest among ladies. Look not in their direction, being a godly man, but constantly remind yourself of the sin and fall of the superman, Samson the ruler. Escape their enticing spell, coated in sweet speeches and rolling eyes. Shut your ears to those polluted rants of the female devils, and firmly close your eyes to their seductive looks in order to remain a man of honour and dignity. The ways to their houses lead to the gate of death, and inside their inner chambers lie many poisonous serpents with the deadliest venom. As a present-day Adam, endeavour to possess your vessel in purity this year, and you will reap a greater harvest of peace and joy.

Also, let every woman of faith be a woman of honour and wisdom as well. Avoid the trap that was set against the soul of your first mother in Eden by the first murderer of souls. Be decisive not to trade in the market arena of vanity, in the city of filthiness. Be aware that the old serpent still actively lives in the hearts of men today to prey. On this issue, resolve to be the biblical virtuous woman, and act like all the holy women of faith mentioned in the Scriptures of life, instead of plying the dangerous paths that lead to the lustful abode of the wicked. Learn to constantly reject corrupted silver and gold in order to preserve the sanctity of your soul and destiny. Remember that the reason for the bait attached to a trap is nothing else but to deceive and to aid destruction, and this is what urgently calls for the application of wisdom. Accept the deceptive gift—it blinds the eyes. Embrace the questionable favour—it ruins the soul.

It is right counsel that for a man to receive God’s favour at all times, he needs to abstain from all appearance of evil. Let him avoid things that make one come short of God’s glory; then he will begin to see testimonies dancing graciously on the platform of his heart.

Sin remains an obstacle to man’s blessings, but a godly lifestyle is the conduit pipe for all kinds of favour and goodness for every seeker. Through this year, cease to bear the resemblance of those two pioneers of sin in Eden; only then will goodness and mercy come and join you to celebrate in your private sanctuary of success and appreciation. Man cannot yearly continue to glory in the shameful fall of Adam and expect grace to abound. Rather, he will have the denial of favour, reversal of blessings, and total exclusion of grace. Sin is like little termites; it works destructively against the pillars of man’s destiny. If allowed to remain, it will wreck a precious soul and seal eternity with doom.

During the past year, winds blew and storms raged, but God saw you through. For this reason, in this new year cast all your cares on Him and let your heart constantly ponder His words and promises. Sail your ship with the navigating compass of His love, that you may at the end bring the year to a close in joy with the anchor of His grace. Step into the year with hope, walk through its many days and hours in faith, and cover its many milestones with praise. Trust in God’s precious promises to discard Satan’s unpleasant statements. Let the divine letters be the guide to your steps, and God’s grace a soothing ointment to your soul. Discover the year’s opportunities with the lens of perception to achieve its expected end with the keys of courage and possibility. Sow in faith to reap in joy, and graciously bring home your sheaves with rejoicing. Share love with others and distribute peace to your neighbours and acquaintances.

This year, instead of looking at the storms, focus your gaze on the Calmer of storms to win your days. Let not the winds that blow threaten your foundation of faith, but see them as challenges your faith is able to conquer. Rise to every occasion in the battle of faith; set things in right perspective to peacefully and joyfully climb the many rungs of your ladder of progress. This year, the sky is not even the limit for whoever has faith to believe. Trust in Jesus to soar like an eagle. Be gentle like a dove, but wise like a serpent, in order to come out of the lion’s den and walk out of the furnace of the emperor’s fire safely. You will reign because that is God’s will for you, and you will have uninterrupted peace throughout this year, for that is Christ’s provision for you. Be careful not to go into any battle ahead of the Captain of our warfare. No matter the level of the enemy’s provocation, let Jesus lead the battle while you confidently follow behind Him. But do not follow Him from afar like Peter the stone, neither stray from the range of His radar like Thomas the doubter, and it shall be well with you.

During the many days and hours of this year, rejoice in God’s goodness, swim in the ocean of His praise, and walk in the path of His love. Conquer fear with faith, attract blessings and favour with heartfelt appreciation, then receive and keep testimonies with your offering of the sacrifice of gratitude.

However, children’s bread is not meant for strangers. Friend, is your name still written in one of the many damnable books of Satan and not in the Book of Life of the Lamb? Then turning around is a must, and a change of master is demanded. You cannot stubbornly continue on a rebellious road to Damascus and expect to land on the pleasant soil of Zion. To be a partaker of divine grace, favour, and mercy this new year, start with reverse gear and cruise on the narrow way of holiness. Confess Christ as your Lord and Saviour, and daily walk according to His dictates and commands.

In haste, joyfully enter the Ark of salvation; it is there you will discover and partake of Christ’s many treasures of goodness. Start with Jesus this year, place your feet in His footprints along the way, and fix your eyes on His beautiful and loving face at every moment of the journey. With all these done, you will smile, laugh, and shout for joy at the end of these twelve months in human history. The year will bring you unlimited peace, uncommon success, great victories, and unimaginable achievements.

I wish you a Happy New Year.

- Taiwo Jacob