Ignore Your Pastor or Prophet on New Year’s Eve

*Disclaimer: The Author does not by any means champion rebellion against spiritual authority in any way. It is the Author’s admonition that the reader takes full responsibility for their outcome in 2013 based on their heart’s desire.*

I can almost guarantee you that in January, especially at the new year’s eve, very many pronouncements will be made across the globe for 2013. Here is my prediction on just some of the pronouncements you will hear:

1. 2013 will be the year of a double portion!
2. 2013 will be the year of rest!
3. 2013 will be the year of abundance and prosperity!
4. 2013 will be the year of recovering all that has been lost!
5. 2013 will be the year of breakthrough!
6. 2013 will be the year of divine favor and appointments!
7. 2013 will be the year of open doors….!

Notice also that all these prophecies are to their credit, always positive. To the best of my spiritual knowledge, prophecies are normally a double aged sword…cutting both the good and the bad…but I digress…The list can go on and on and on. Normally it is someone in spiritual authority who makes these declarations, and then the spiritual subjects start aligning their lives in the year in anticipation for the fulfillment of the prophecies.

The problem however normally arises as the year progresses…more and more people realize that there is a very big chasm between these declarations and the reality on the ground. The year of favor for example turns out to be the year of pain and disillusionment.

The year of prosperity turns out to be the year of lack, struggle and financial ruin. The year of open doors turns out to be the year of closed heavens.

I have been having this gut feeling that as far as this subject is concerned, visionaries for once need to ignore their spiritual leaders and listen to Life Coaches! Now this is seriously controversial to the super-spiritual, so you better hang on as I explain.

The folly of making new year resolutions goes hand in hand with the mistake of waiting for someone to ‘decree’ what kind of a year it will be so we can follow. 

New year resolutions are normally emotional decisions (although very well meaning) that lack strategic plans, commitment, and accountability structures to see them through in the long haul. We need to move away from them as fast as possible and embrace the discipline of goal-setting.

New year declarations are normally inspirational statements spoken at a psychological new opportunity by a spiritual authority ostensibly to give direction of where the year would go. The following are some characteristics of these pronouncements:

1. They are always generic: A blanket declaration over a group of people seldom becomes a specific to all.
2. They are always one-time: Lots of emotions are pumped up at the beginning of the year. Sustained progress and achievement needs more than a one-time declaration by someone else over another’s life.
3. They are never personal: It mostly is the pastor or prophet who makes the declaration (whether it is from God or not). It seldom comes from the average attendant of such an event. Seldom do the consumers of these declarations derive their own, they hinge on what is given to them. It is far more powerful for the vision to come from deep down inside your gut than from the mouth of a new year’s eve prophet. Progress in 2013 will depend on how personal my vision is.
4. They always ignore structure: People are seldom admonished to do something to bring the declaration to pass, save from being in good books with God. People living by them subconsciously cede control and performance of their lives entirely to God. Yet we have already discussed here that God is a Goal Setter! Success in 2013 will heavily hinge on how much we recognize our importance in the process of progress.
5. They are always motivational rather than motivating:Something motivating causes you to take action immediately. Unfortunately for the most part the action we take with declarations is waiting! Something motivational inspires hope (which is important but not enough) and good feeling of expectancy.

You have a choice to wait for what your man of God says 2013 will turn out to be. You also have this wonderful choice to hire a Life Coach to help you design not just your 2013, but even the years beyond. Such a professional will help you track your progress, and help you get unstuck whenever things get thick.

• He will help you identify what really matters to you so you can wholeheartedly focus on it.
• He will help you clarify your Values, Mission, and Vision.
• He will help you set 360 Degrees Goals
• He will help you prepare a strategic plan of action for your goals,
• He will give you the necessary tools to attain each and every one of your goals.

Between new year resolutions and Goals, what do you think will give you a better chance for success in 2013?So, between your preacher and the Life Coach I am talking about…whom do you think has a better chance to impact your progress in 2013?

Between you taking personal charge of your destiny in 2013 and waiting for the preacher to declare what year it could turn out to be…which is the better option?

Think about that.