It’s been my practice to ask the Lord for specific values, principles and Scriptures that serve as a spiritual compass, helping me to navigate through the year. They are keys that unlock the plans, purposes, breakthroughs and blessings of God.
For 2016, the Holy Spirit showed me three specific keys. Obviously, they are not exhaustive. Other values, like hard work, diligence, responsibility, stewardship, wisdom and discernment, are just as important keys to living a blessed life.
Key No. 1: The Goodness of God
You can never go wrong with the goodness of God. It’s the cornerstone that anchors our faith.
“SURELY your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (Ps. 23:6, MEV, emphasis added).
If you set your heart on pursuing the goodness of God, you’re always headed in the right direction.
Moses knew that really well. Moses prayed that he would know God, to know His ways, to know His presence and to know His glory! And because his heart was postured in the right place, requesting the right things and praying for the right priorities, the Lord then promised to shower him with His goodness!
Moses prayed in Exodus 33:
“Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You, and that I may find favor in Your sight. … Then he said to Him, ‘If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.’ … Then Moses said, ‘I pray, show me Your glory'” (Ex. 33:13, 15, 18).
And the Lord replied:
“And He said, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’ … Then He said, ‘I will make all My goodness pass before you’ (Ex. 33:14, 19).
To know God is to know His glory, to know His glory is to know His presence, to know His presence is to know His ways, and to know His ways is to know His goodness!
How would you like it if the Lord’s goodness permeates and invades every area of your life this year, bringing healing and restoration, breakthrough and dreams fulfilled, relationship reconciliation and family salvation, debt cancellation and increased favor at your work?
Psalm 31:19 says, “How great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have done for those seeking refuge in You before people!”
The Hebrew word for “great” here is “רַב” (rab), meaning abundant, large, of major importance, chief, weighty, noble, princely. And that is the basis, measure and magnitude of God’s goodness that He wants to lavish on us.
And it says God has goodness “stored up” for those who fear him. It’s in the past tense. In other words, in the heart of God and from heaven’s perspective, the goodness of God is a done deal. He’s got it ready, and it’s stored up for you and me. The goodness of God is not something that God does; it is who He is! It is His nature to be the “goodest” to His children! He is incapable of sabotaging His nature! All we need is to choose to believe His goodness, declare it, speak it over our lives and circumstances, receive it by faith and watch what the Lord will do on our behalf!
The Lord will bless you before a watching world! People are going to witness the power, provision and blessings of God over your life!
Declare with me:
- I am confident that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!
- The Lord has stored up goodness for me, and He’s ready to lavish it over my life!
- The Lord will bless me and enlarge my territory. His hand and favor will be so evident in my life!
Key No. 2: Faith and Tenacity
In the new year, many are making resolutions and praying for their dreams to be fulfilled. While they have faith, however, without tenacity many will not see their breakthroughs becoming reality.
“So that you may not be lazy, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Heb. 6:12 MEV).
The Message Bible puts it this way,
“Don’t drag your feet. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them.”
It is not enough just to have faith. In order to see the promises and blessings of God coming to past in your life this year, you cannot have faith without tenacity. Faith and tenacity go hand in hand. You need to have a bulldogged determination, a “refusing to let go and give up” attitude.
Don’t just pray for breakthrough; ask God for the tenacity to endure till it breaks through!
Jacob was such an individual. He was promised his wife Rachel, but he had to persist and endure with patience for 14 years before Rachel became his wife. He also wrestled with the angel of the Lord and said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” (Gen. 32:26)
In response, the Lord changed his name from Jacob (deceiver, supplanter) to Israel (God-wrestler; God will prevail).
“Then the man said, ‘Your name will no more be called Jacob, but Israel. For you have fought with God and with men, and have prevailed’” (Gen. 32:28, MEV).
Because Jacob persisted and did not give up, he was blessed with a new identity, from being mediocre to being blessed.
I believe that as you persist in faith and endurance this year and believe in the Lord’s goodness over your life, the Lord will begin to change your identity from “lack,” “poverty,” “sick,” “depressed,” “unhappy” and “unfulfilled” to “blessed,” “happy,” “thriving” and “having more than enough!”
Declare with me:
Because of God’s immeasurable goodness,
- I will thrive and not strive!
- I will persevere in the promises of God with joy, hope and peace!
- I am strong, determined, courageous and full of faith!
- I will not let go of God’s promises until I see them come to pass!
Key No. 3: Pray It Forward
I have felt the Lord say this year that as you orientate yourself to kingdom values and kingdom priorities, shifting from just praying for yourself and your needs to increasingly praying for others, focusing on what’s eternal rather than what’s earthly and temporary, breaking from self-centeredness to magnanimity and generosity, looking out and praying for the interests of others, you will begin to see the Lord coming through for you in ways that will blow you away in 2016.
You will start seeing answers and provision for things you didn’t even pray for. You are going to see doors open that you could only dream of. You will see acceleration and recovery and restoration in outstanding fashion. The paradox is that as you focus more on heaven and on others, you are going to see more of God working on your behalf. It is a heavenly principle: Seek first the kingdom of God, and everything will be added unto you.
Founder of 7K, Cornelius Quek is originally from Singapore, born into a Buddhist family. Cornelius is passionate about speaking to, equipping and mentoring contemporary leaders and culture-makers who know their God and do mighty exploits in every sphere of society. He has 20 years of leadership and ministry experience in more than 20 countries in Asia, Australia, America and Europe. Cornelius’ ministry is marked by sound biblical teaching, the presence of God, in healing and supernatural provision. He and his wife, Tiffany, are ordained by Bethel Church in Redding, California, where they serve as Connect Pastors. Cornelius also teaches the Bible at church as well as the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry.
For the original article, visit the7k.org.
Joyce Meyer 
Stephen Strang 
Charisma Media Staff 
