Taking Stock – Take A Pause, Count The Cost

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Luke 14:28 (KJV)

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. Mark 1:35

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psalms 90:12

God has arranged times and seasons on earth. Each year rapidly draws to an end and to many, it will be a sigh of relief from a tumultuous year. To others, it will be a year of good memories and unprecedented achievements and yet to some, it is a mixed feeling. No matter which side you are on, as God grants us life, we all move into an unfolding new year. Usually, there are various scientific and spiritual predictions. Some people will make lovely New Year resolutions. In Christendom in particular, many get ready for “powerful prophetic declarations” from the pulpit to enter into the New Year. However, it is sad to say that just last year, many of these declarations may never be fulfilled in our lives because the most powerful thing in a prophecy is not the blessings or events of the prophecy but the conditions or instructions attached therewith.

Life is essentially a transaction and just like any good business person, we need to regularly take stock or monitor and evaluate our actions or activities, if we are going to make progress. It is a usual saying that doing the same thing, the same way, and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. It is a hard truth that you will still be the same person, in the same position and same wishes, come December of the new year, no matter the anointed oil or spiritual declarations, predictions, dreams, or visions on your head if you do not take a pause, withdraw yourself, and take stock of your life processes and intentionally take steps to improve yourself or cut out areas that are not productive.

In the scripture above our Lord Jesus, admonished us to take the stock and count the cost before entering any transaction. Even the Lord Jesus, had to withdraw to a solitary place to pray where he could align his thoughts, plans, and purposes with that of his father. No wonder he said that His Father is always with Him because He does His Father’s pleasure.

It’s not too late to withdraw ourselves from the noise of family, friends, social media, praise singers or whatever distraction and lay a solid foundation for our growth and development. If we do not plan, we will still accomplish things but it will usually be in the plan of others. Do you want to see sustainable progress in life, come the new year? Now is the time for us to set the goals, draw the plans, and determine the course of our actions for the New Year.

Newton’s 1st law of motion states that an object remains in the same state of motion unless a resultant force acts on it. If the resultant force is zero, a stationary object will remain stationary. Stop the wishes and start taking actions – do the research, read the new book, rearrange that schedule, build the new circle of friendship, change the job, change the business plan, challenge yourself to be the best in your field, make that investment, take that vacation, … there is no limit to what we will be able to achieve in the new year. God wants us to succeed. This is our year to change ourselves, maximise our potentials and God’s will shall come to pass in our lives!