In life, there will always be two groups of people—givers and takers. Takers are those who are only concerned about benefiting from others. Givers are concerned about how they can add value and be a blessing to others.

What does it mean to add value to others? It means to be intentional about serving others. It’s about enriching and enhancing the quality of life for others. Our goal should be to leave people better than how we found them.

The only way to add value to people is to value people. When you live your life in alignment with a purpose beyond selfish ambition, opportunities become abundant and life becomes fulfilling.

So often in life we are faced with insurmountable obstacles that come to deter us from living victoriously. As a result, we tend to talk ourselves into living miserable, defeated lives.

When these challenges come, you can choose to wallow in self-pity and carry around a woe-is-me attitude. Or, you can choose to face your battles with a victory mindset.

Your mindset will either be your key to victorious living or your stumbling block in life. The choice is yours.

During those times when you feel defeated and discouraged, you need to be reminded of the victory you already possess in Christ.

2 Corinthians 2:14 (KJV) says, “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.”

In other words, you were made to live victoriously. By doing so, you glorify God and demonstrate to the world what a life dependent upon God looks like.

Are the goals you have the kind of goals that God can bless? If not, you need to set what I call “God goals.”

What are God goals?

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV), “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

That means if you are going to set goals in life, they need to be goals that bring glory to God. To bring glory to God means to honor God with one’s life.

So how do you know if your goals will bring glory to God?

If your goals cause you to love God more, serve God more, obey God more, and trust God more, these are goals that bring glory to God.

So many people struggle when their vision or plans for life are unclear. They don’t know where to start or how to move forward. As a result, they do the absolute worst thing—quit.

Instead of asking God for the entire picture, ask Him to show you the next step. Rather than fretting over what He has planned for the future, focus on what He wants you to do today.

Following God is a trust exercise. It requires faith every step of the way. When it comes to following His plan, it’s not about the destination. It’s about the journey of faith. 

Trust that God is charting your course, and He will get you there in due time.

Happy New Year! God has graced us to see another year. But what are you going to do with it? Are you going to replay the painful memories of your past? Or will you embrace the new opportunities God has before you?

A new year is like a brand new book containing 365 blank pages. It’s your chance to rewrite a story of victory! You must first choose, however, to let go of what’s behind, and give God a clean slate to do His mighty work in your life.

Remember that your past doesn’t determine your future. So whatever God has set before you, I pray that you would embrace it with an open heart and go forward with faith, confidence, and courage.

Here’s to a fresh start in 2023. I can’t wait to see what it brings you.