By: Janice Rock
Scripture: Luke 22:31-32 (The Message)
31-32 “Simon, stay on your toes. Satan has tried his best to separate all of you from me, like
chaff from wheat. Simon, I’ve prayed for you in particular that you not give in or give out. When you have come through the time of testing, turn to your companions and give them a fresh start.”
Many of us were ready to see 2020 end. We spent the entire year trying to reach goals that were set in January. Some of us are worried that we did not accomplish all that we had planned; we are off course and time is running. We spend hours upon hours strolling through social media, watching everyone post their new business adventure and their life’s story of success. We have pondered and wondered to ourselves, “Did I fail in 2020 to meet my goals? Did I miss the mark? Also, we begin to question our purpose and destiny. We begin to replay in our minds, “What did God call me to do? I should be doing something, but I can’t figure it out.” Your mind is bombarded with thoughts and ideas, but they never matured into an actual business, because you are afraid to fail.
Let’s take a look at the word “Fail.” According to the Strong Concise Concordance, Fail means (ekleipo) to leave out, to leave off, or to cease. Luke 22:31-32 tells us that Satan’s goal is to separate us, isolate us, and cut us off from others, so we will not achieve all that God has called us to do. During the Christmas season, more people become isolated, depressed, and think about suicide. It’s should be a time of celebration, but everyone does not feel the sense of celebration, because the enemy use techniques, tools, and people to tell us we have failed. Therefore, I decided to expose the deception of the word FAIL and create a positive acronym instead. I hope this acronym helps you maintain a positive outlook throughout 2021.
F = FALSE – not according to truth or fact.
A = ASSUMPTION – a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof.
I = IMPERSONATING – pretend to be (another person) in order to deceive someone.
L = LESS – a smaller amount of or quantity of something.
Whatever you did not achieve in 2020, understand that God’s timing will never cause you to
miss the mark. Even if you have lost money, your business closed, or you depleted your savings to live, God is a redeemer of time. God promises in Joel 2:25, HE will restore the years that the locust has eaten.
When Job lost it all, his friends and wife thought he did something to anger God. Job’s wife told him to curse God and die. Job replied to her “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity? In all this, Job did not sin with his lips, Job 2:10. Job was tested because God allowed it. God trusted Job and knew the testing would increase his faith and not cause him to sin. It appeared from the eyes of others Job had lost, but in the end, Job won. Because Job remained faithful through the time when others felt he lost it all, God restored and blessed Job with more than he had before. Job 42:12. Regardless, of what happened in 2020, you have not failed.
It’s a False Assumption Impersonating Less. It is a lie from the enemy. It’s a demonic façade to cause confusion and doubt which produces fear. Begin to declare the truth of God’s word over your life.
Daily Declaration: In 2020, I did not fail, but I gained. I declare it was a year of harvest and not lack. What God has cut away, ended, or let die, it was needed in order to receive all HE has for me. If it’s God’s will, everything I lost, can be restored, replaced, or regenerated. I am royalty and I am the inheritance of God. Kingdom wealth and inheritance is my portion.
I am prosperous in all that I put my hands to. I have the favor of God’s success over my life. God puts his plans with my plans and causes them to succeed. I will no longer worry about failing or be afraid to fail. I will step out on faith and do all God called me to do. Lord, I trust you in every area of my life. I am confident you order my steps. The Lord bestows favor and honor, no good things will you withhold from those who walk uprightly. If I ask anything according to your will, you will bless. If there is anything I attempt to do, and it will cause me harm, please Lord protect me from those things. Lord, I silence the voice of the enemy that will tell me that I failed. From this moment on, I will remember waiting produces patience and protection. A closed door, a denial, or rejection is not that I failed, but it’s your divine protection to keep me on the path that you have purposed for me. When I receive a “NO,” it’s not a step-down, but a hand up to the next level in God, which propels me forward into my Kingdom Purpose. Nothing and no one can separate me from the Love of God for your promises are yes and amen. I declare and decree, whatever happened in 2020 was not a loss or failure, but it prepared me for my “NEXT.” I daily live in abundant faith and expectancy. I trust and believe 2021 will be a fresh start and reservoir of new beginnings, in Jesus Name.
About Janice:
Janice Rock is a teacher and the owner of Bridge Consulting Firm. Ms. Rock is a graduate of Webster University, where she received her Master's Degree in Education and Innovation. She is a Certified Entrepreneurship Teacher through YES Carolina Youth Entrepreneurship Program. As a consultant, Ms. Rock provides services and is an advocate for the disabled, veterans and their families. One of her major goals is to finalize a business project, Bridge Literacy and Fine Arts Center, a non-profit 501(c)(3)- afterschool program that will promote literacy for disadvantaged learners through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math). Ms. Rock is a blogger and writes inspirational articles on a variety of topics. One of Ms. Rock's favorite scriptures is: "She is clothed in Strength and Dignity and she laughs without fear of the future." Proverbs 31:25
Connect with her on the following platforms: