What a wonderful thought to start off the New Year with being blessed. What promise a new year holds. What opportunity to do things this year the way that we wished we had last year. Yet the question arises: How are we to take advantage of this fresh year and ensure that we will be like the ‘Blessed’ man in Psalms 1 and have a Phenomenally Successful year? Reading through Psalms 1, the Psalmist is trying to tell us that it is vitally important that we be right and level in our lives. Straight and true! As believers, there are 2 kinds of people we should avoid and not be ourselves if we really want to experience phenomenal success.

First, the Ungodly:

The ungodly give wrong advice and are people who do not allow the character of God to develop them and make them like God. They seek no change and are comfortable with their lifestyles. Lay off all ungodliness and do not allow the counsel of the ungodly to direct your steps.

Secondly, the Scornful:

We cannot settle into the seat of the scornful. The scornful are the unteachable who refuse to listen. They are the source of strife and contention. Always resenting correction and apt to criticize everything.

Only the godly prosper because they conform to His laws and commandments and strive daily to model their lives after Jesus. So, do you truly want to be a blessed man? Be Godly!

Howbeit, there are also barriers to overcome to be blessed;

• The Traditions of men (Mark 7:13, Matthew 15:6)

The traditions of men make the Word of God null and of no effect in our lives. There is no room for the Doctrines and Traditions of men in God’s Word.  Our salvation had nothing to do with earthly and worldly things as told through the various traditions coming from men. Know that if there is no enemy within the enemy outside can do you no harm, so we should pay no attention to man and his methods of profiting through his doctrinal agendas.

• Wrong Thinking (Numbers 13)

Wrong thinking is the ideas and misconceptions you form in your mind which could very well affect your life negatively. Wrong thinking will position you wrongly. For example, if you believe that money is evil or that money is hard to get, then your success will be limited. Know that your thoughts are much more powerful than you think and that what you think is what you say because as a man thinketh, so is he (Proverbs 23:7).

You can only correct your thinking by thinking in line with God’s Word (Joshua 1:8). So stay in the Word and let the Word of God permeate your being and you will become the Word.

• Unforgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15, Matthew 18:21)

This is the sin that eats you up from inside out. It makes it impossible for you to live a victorious Christian life. People mistakenly think that their bitterness and refusal to forgive will make the other person suffer, but the reverse is often the case. Freedom comes to you when you forgive.

• Unbelief (Hebrews 3:15-19)

It is the wrong and evil attitudes in our hearts that stop the move of God in our lives. Not trusting God and obeying Him will cause all kinds of wicked behavior in us. So choose rather to have faith by constantly giving yourself to God’s word and trusting in His words.

Having known this, here are the practical things to do and be consistent at:

• Give quality time to prayer every morning
• Start to make decisions and plan to execute them by taking little steps
• Master your time (Ephesians 5:18)
• Build good relationship
• Turn your negative things to positive.

While this year is still fresh, determine that you will be right and level to have a phenomenally successful 2018.