13 Pillars for Starting Stronger

13 Pillars for Starting Stronger
By: Olaniyi Isaac, Omibeku

1. Problem
What one thing do I want to move my life, career, family, finances, health, business that had been difficult to achieve year in year out?

Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

What will take us to true fulfillment this year is problem-solving. Friends, you will agree with me that there is no nation of the world, no city, no town, neighborhood without its attending problems. Even people, white, brown, black, concussions have problems so what need to do is to go into the year BEING the PROBLEM SOLVER Jesus, who went about solving problems.

Please, I beg of you stop joining those are only talking about 'problems about these' or the 'problems about that'. It is just making you part of the problems.

You are one of the National, international, continental and intercontinental problem solver. Wake up

So, start to identify the problems around you and you have ability and resources to solve them. ROLL BACK started with someone.
What do you want to ROLL BACK now?

Let me give borrow you some ideas, you can ROLL BACK:

* Fornication
* Laziness
* Joblessness
* Unemployment
* Child Labour
* Terrorism
* Bad Governance
* Public Fund Embezzlement
* Bribery and Corruption
* High taste for Imported Goods
* Consumers Mentality
* Nude Dressing
* Illiteracy
* Poverty
* Hate and deceit please add to the list on your own.

2. Focus.
What one thing do I lack that is placing a limit on my life, career, family, health, finances, business...?

Get your Focus set now. Write down what the bottleneck to your achievements had been.

Why are those opportunities eluding you in your quest to change level?

Why are they saying you are unemployable?

Sit down, pray about it and study the situation. You are likely to see that you are limited because of something. You are incapacitated because of something.

Jesus Christ would have ended up being part of the problem if he had not do something about the situation he had power to do something about.

Jesus went for the anointing when others were going for annoyance against the problems. That was why the Pharisees were always annoyed each time he performs a miracle. They were annoyed also with the Roman government. They were annoyed even with fellow Pharisees. Go for the anointing!

What anointing? You may ask.

- Your own anointing may start from additional knowledge.

- You may need to add to your education. Don't worry, it will only take 4 to 5 years to acquire first degree. Second degree will take only 2 years. Go for it.

-Some of us are loaded with potentials but they are NOT packaged for excellence.

-Are you limited because your business or organization is not registered?
WAKE UP! This year must not close without you on that track to the next level.

-Are you one of those that need extra skills to add finesse to your job and career?

-Some of us need a website to launch our ideas but they haven't considered it. 
FOCUS Something worthwhile from the beginning.

3. Action.
What do I have to do to break the barrier and limits on my life, career, health, family, finances...?
Your must start to move NOW towards your focus.
ACT! Take steps and that NOW. Haven't you read in Acts of the Apostles of what Jesus began to do and to teach. Only performers are qualified to impart others. Please! Do something worthwhile this time.

4. Price.
How much do I have to pay to break the barriers and the limits...?
If the price is Money. Pay it.
If the price is Prayer. Pay it
If the price is Fasting. Pay it.
If the price is Relocation from where you are. Pay it.
If the price is Self Development. Discipline yourself and pay it.
If the price disconnecting from toxic friends. Pay it.
If Jesus had not paid the price He would NOT END UP as the savior.

It was not easy for him to fast for forty days and forty nights. It was not comfortable for him to receive the LASHES on his back. It was not easy for him to wear woven THORNS as a crown. Imagine the blood flowing down His temple. It was not easy for him to submit his hands and feet to be NAILED to the crossed hardwood. It was not easy for him to DIE.

Friends, the ONLY thing that would help you not to end this year the way you ended the previous years is the PRICE you pay under God.

5. Reward
What would you get if you get over the limits. Does the PRIZE worth the PRICE?
This Pillar will be the only motivation you would need as you are journeying into the new year and new season of your life.

What will the PRICE land you at the end?

Is it creating Family unity? That is beneficial. Pay it.
Is it Gaining my family support? That's good reward too.
Better opportunity in the business world with more confidence to do God proud? Those are good rewards. So pay the price.

Is it creating wider circle of influence for you?
Is it making you a better person likable to God and man?
Is it increasing your financial base to help others?
Is it reinforcing your assurance of making it to heaven?
The reward! State it and see yourself in it before you start the journey.

"Looking unto Jesus the author and the finisher of our faith; who for THE JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM endured the CROSS, despising the SHAME, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Jesus fixed His eyes on the reward which was set before him which enabled him to endure the cross.
State the PRIZE before you pay the PRICE and your RACE will be filled with GRACE in the FACE of DISGRACE. 

6. Relate
Who do I need to know to break off the hook and barrier to where I want to be relationally, financially, spiritually, maritally...?

Jesus knew he would be going to the cross énroute back to heaven where he came from so he needed people to make a success of his goal. What did he do? He chose disciples...

We are not permitted to look down on people. From the time immemorial, God has used the instrumentality of men in solving difficult problems.
Many people would have gone farther than where they are but for the poor relational skills.

There are people who would have been of help to you but the more they are trying to draw closer to you the more you are running away from them. Whatever you don't have or know now have been given over to men. Identify those men and relate with them.

See the account of Paul,
"Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest I should run, or had run in vain" Galatians 2:1-2

What was Paul trying to say?
Simply put, Paul had circle of friends who he relates with SO THAT HE WON'T  RUN IN VAIN.

I remember the story of the poor widow who was once indebted to the extent that she was about loosing her two sons to the creditors. The widow of the son of prophet was asked to go and borrow empty vessels from her neighbors to put an end to her predicaments and penury. So, it was her neighbors she needed to solve her predicament, not her brothers or sisters.
Not her son or husband.

Let's critically examine the under listed about the widow in relation to her relational competence.

# What if she had fought with all her neighbors?

# What if she had never talked or greeted her neighbors?

# What if she had told them she would never have anything to do with them ever again?

Reality Wisdom: Never think you won't need somebody in your life journey. It is pride!

One of the best platform to relate well with people today is the social media but many people are poor users of the media. Someone who could be helpful to you in the near future is trying to relate with you but because you just think you would never see him then it was your opportunity to heap insults on him on Facebook or other social platforms. Many have done that to their disadvantages. 

#What will your connection on social media think about you?

I beg of you, stop harassing people online because of spirituality. There are 1001 ways to say the truth without hurting anyone.

The best of friends I have got recently I connected them online. Caliber of people you cannot imagine are there for you. A simple comments with kind words can be the game changer.

Reality Wisdom:
Don't feel too big to relate with anybody. Those who do are just people-blind. We are all one relationship away from our breakthrough connections.

Reality Worksheet: Check your relationship meter, aren't you running low on love gas?

7. Disconnect
Who are the toxic people in your life? Who are those reducing your productivity instead of helping you to be more productive? There is no better advice than to disconnect right away.
Evaluate yourself and see what each of the friends is contributing to your life.
Mark these checklist to see what is expected from those who you call friends

- who among them is motivating you time after time to see you are productive?

- who among them is interested in your progress and pushing you towards your goals?

- who among your friends informs you about their progress to generate or motivate healthy competition through worthwhile projects and purposes?

-who among them contributes to the progress of your life dreams?

Those on your list based on the above checklist deserve your time and connection.

Before we draw the curtain on this, let me encourage you to travel light this year. Shed off weights. Who is just filling your contact list without any tangible purpose? I implore you to disconnect. Judas has been on the list of Jesus disciples for too long a time but at the end, Jesus gave him hot and he went to where he belonged finally. 

8. Habits
What are some of the capacity blocking habits?
Procrastination.
Indiscipline.
Self-gratification.
Self centeredness.
Those are few of them

Habits are altars. Good habits can be helpful but some habits are poisonous. Some are toxins. Bad habits are Capacity blockers. Others are very minute that we are not conscious of their dangerous effects.

Lies.
Uncontrolled tongues.
Tongue lashing.
Uncontrolled anger.

Deal with them consciously.
Since habits are altars built up from regular practices, to deal with them require the following:

Reality Worksheet: Unlearn the wrong habits you have learnt over time. Be opened to corrections. Don't ever forget that our character are formed from habits. Set boundaries to the excesses.

9. Accountability
How accountable are you? Who check mate your idiosyncrasies? Who scolds you when you are erring?

Accountability is the hallmark of the wise. Accountable people cherish feedbacks.

Reality Worksheet: On accountability, to yourself be real.

10. Boundaries
We are talking of breaking off limits why then are we tuning to boundaries again? Boundaries are right limits the other is toxic. A life without boundaries is a life heading into the ditch. Without boundaries, athletes will go off tracks. Without boundaries, vehicles will wreck more havoc than good.

Reality Worksheet: There is always a no go area in every stage of life. Discover yours and stay within your bound.

Reality Wisdom: Set boundaries, surround yourself with best friends who are truthful instead of sycophants.

11. Gratitude
Appreciation is a magnet. It magnetizes right people, favour and help to you. There is no small favour. Everyone of them is a privilege. Parental care are not your right as we were made to believe, it is a privilege. Your transportation fare doesn't cover safe landing, appreciate your driver. Saying thank you doesn't reduce you, it adds to you. Ultimately, learn to say thank you Jesus. Whatever good you have enjoyed from God has never been because of your smartness, it is at God's expense.

Reality Wisdom: If you have ever noticed stagnant people, they are destitute of gratefulness. Gratitude makes the journey smoother.

Reality Worksheet: Count your blessings. Appreciate it. Be grateful. Build your life on the pillar of gratitude and your altitude will intimidate your mockers.

12. Emerge
Let the you that God made manifest. Don't kill it. There is a part of you seeking for manifestation. The you inside of you is panting after something higher. The you in you is longing for its Maker; Its designer; Its source; Until you permit it, the best of you may never see the light of the day. Let the you in you emerge, you can have a better delivery.
Cooperate with your maker and the faucet and fountain of your destiny will shine forth. Life abhors stagnation. Everything in life gives out the best part of it.

The best part of you will surface when you allow it to. Give expression to the voice within you. Butterfly don't keep it beauty in the cocoon forever. It emerges. It is your turn to sing your song, dance the dance; act the movie; fry the pie; bake the bread; carve the figure. Stop bottling up the best of God in you. Emerge NOW!

13. Fuel
How many automobiles can go without its spirit?
What makes an automobile auto, is not the elegant design but the delivery ability.
The delivery of any automobile depends on the available PMS, the engines are just the destiny.
A Sequdia without PMS is worthless, useless and a burden because, a motorcycle with enough PMS is far better than fuel-less Sequdia.

What is PMS?
Premium Motor Spirit
Simply put, it is Spirit of vehicle destiny.

Now,
Back to Jesus,
The first thing he did after paying the price of separation, prayer and long dry fasting cum harsh experience in the lonely desert was his announcement at the first place of his assignment. Not again in the carpenter's shed.
"The SPIRIT of the Lord is upon me, because he has ANOINTED me to PREACH the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to HEAL the broken hearted, to preach DELIVERANCE to the captives, and RECOVERING of sight to the blind, to SET AT LIBERTY them that are bruised..."

The Holy Spirit is the Premium Man's Spirit (PMS). Without God's Spirit, you are limited. No matter how much you have achieved, it's nothing compared to when God is in you.

God said it, "...for without me, you can do nothing..."

"...Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him. But God has revealed them unto US BY HIS SPIRIT: for the SPIRIT searches all things, yes, the DEEP things of God.

Please don't go further without God on your side.

How far can a man go without God?
Man can only go as far as his leg can carry him. But there are journeys of life you sure knew that human legs don't travel there.

However, it is exciting to know that the Holy Spirit will take you beyond the immediate (earth) to the ultimate (heaven) in destiny.

He will not only take care of your temporary destiny (your earthly pursuits) but also permanent (heaven) destinations.

Don't be one of those who thought that God is not necessary to make it.

Please surrender your life to Jesus if you have not done so today. He is not only the way to your destiny but he IS THE WAY to GOD the Father.

Would you like to pray? Why not pray like this?

Father, I cannot go far without you, I have tried my best in the past without you but this time I need you.

Holy Spirit of God, please Fuel my life so that I may walk safely to my glorious destinations in the immediate here on earth. And in the ultimate in heaven with you.

I am grateful for your answer for I prayed in Jesus mighty name