God is the reason.

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Deuteronomy 9:4‭-‬6 (NKJV)
“Do not think in your heart, after the Lord your God has cast them out before you, saying, ‘Because of my righteousness the Lord has brought me in to possess this land’; but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out from before you. It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you go in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord your God drives them out from before you, and that He may fulfill the word which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Therefore understand that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people.

Beloved, in a previous post God is gracious, we were told that "it was not the righteousness of the Israelites (adherence to the law of Moses) that made God give them "a land flowing with milk and honey", No, not at all. It was because of His exceeding graciousness. They were a rebellious and incredibly annoying people, but God was exceedingly gracious to them." Please read the post and you will glean wonderful insights about God's gracious dispensation towards the vexatious and undeserving Israelites.

Meanwhile, as you perform your 2021 appraisal (I am sure many have or are already doing this), what I would really love you to do over the next couple of days as the year draws to a close - and please indulge me if you can - is to reflect critically on your entire life as you meditate on the scriptures under consideration. Really reminisce on your successes, victories, growth in 2021. Is it your hardwork that has given you the ascendancy you have attained this year? Is it your knowledge, experience, connections that have secured the accomplishments in your catalogue? You may even think back to previous years and recall those wonderful moments that have culminated in the heights you have attained today? Were those high points a consequence of your inputs exclusively? Can you really correlate your results with your investments? Don't you see God in those moments!

Beloved for me, I have taken a look at my life and can't but conclude that the reference scripture is true. I am fully convinced that where I am today is not a product of anything I do or have done but a consequence of the manifold grace and goodness of God! And yes, you may have had some watershed moments along the way - we all have and will do from time to time - but undoubtedly, it could have been much worse for you if not God, can't you see that? You had a few too many unpleasant experiences - obviously you are not alone in that - but do you think that turning point was all you? That brilliant idea, strategy that ultimately gave you the result you desired and more, do you think it was exclusively the product of your mental faculties or contributions? Indeed, it is not your righteousness (which is filthy at best), good works, connections, experience, knowledge that has taken you to the stratospheric heights you have reached or given you the victories of 2021 and previous years. 

As you come to this conclusion hopefully, let it fill your hearts with love and appreciation for God that inevitably flows out of your mouth. A compulsory output from your 2021 review must be mindful and meaningful 'thanksgiving', and this should not be taken religiously. Let God know that you realize that it has been Him all the way! Let Him know that you acknowledge that He is the source of your successes and victories and give Him praise for it! Deeply and sincerely express a profound gratitude to Him for His wonderful endowments upon you. Let this be an action point for the concluding moments of 2021. As you do, you will prepare and position yourself to receive even more victories and upliftmens from God in the new year and years to come that will exceed that of the previous years. 

God bless you!

Comments

Dunamis Oghama said…
Great insights, thank you very much👏🏿🙌🏿it's all God's plan taking shape in my life, not my efforts.
23 December 2021 at 15:39
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