It has always been in everyone’s heart to have a New Year’s Resolution. It’s a firm decision to do or not to do something at the onset, but how many of us are able to sustain it all throughout the year? What then was the secret behind your success?

At the strike of midnight entering 2020 (last year), I was praising and worshiping the Lord with my keyboards. It has always been my desire to end the previous year with a shout of thanksgiving and welcome the new year with a prophetic shout of victory! And in the midst of praise and worship, I always long to have a theme for the year. It is not a new year’s resolution. It is something that I keep in my heart that serves as my beacon. Regardless of what the year may bring, this personal theme of mine will always be highlighted that becomes my anchor of hope!

“We have this certain hope like a strong, unbreakable anchor holding our souls to God himself. Our anchor of hope is fastened to the mercy seat which sits in the heavenly realm beyond the sacred threshold,” (Hebrews 6:19 TPT)

2020 for me was a Year of Greater Glory!

Did I then see 2020 a Year of Greater Glory? YES, I did! It may seem like it was a year where darkness covered the earth due to the pandemic, but in the midst of it, the Light Of Jesus shone brightest. You may agree with me or not, but we all have our own opinions and perceptions as to how we see things. Perceptions are very personal, yet they can be guided accordingly by the power of His Word which is the Light upon our path and the Lamp upon our feet, breathed by the Spirit of God.

“Your marvelous words are living miracles; no wonder I long to obey everything you say. Break open Your word within me until revelation-light shines out! Those with open hearts are given insight into your plans.” (Psalms 119:129-130 TPT)

When we focus our eyes on the Word, we set our eyes on Jesus, Whose Name is the Word of God (Revelation 19:13). His Light can never be dimmed nor switched off within us if we stay in faith, knowing what it means for Him to live and move and have His being in us, as we move and live and have His being in Him.

“Living within you is the Christ who floods you with the expectation of glory! This mystery of Christ, embedded within us, becomes a heavenly treasure chest of hope filled with the riches of glory for His people, and God wants everyone to know it!” (Colossians 1:27 TPT)

Our faith in Him and His promises make us see beyond the obvious that gives us a confident expectation of good. We go by faith and not by sight. And the best part of it is that it is He Who graces us to tap into His thoughts and His ways as we delight ourselves in Him, as we continually meditate His Word day and night.

“So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising Him always.” (Philippians 4:8 TPT)

Seeing God’s goodness and glory does not discount the losses that this year brought. We wept with those who wept. We helped with those who needed help. We prayed for comfort and peace. We prayed for the Light of Jesus to bring HOPE into dark situations, making Him known, that even in the midst of difficulties we will see more clearly our Heavenly Father’s Love enveloping us and how committed He is to our good.

When we see people comforted, at peace, full of hope and expectation because of what the presence of God brought into their lives, and made them see how He is turning things around for their good because they heard how good He is, we see His glory manifested.

When we see someone who lost his job yet remained encouraged knowing that when a door is closed, God is about to open a bigger door because He is a God of promotion and progression, we see His glory manifested.

When we see jobless people offered a more promising employment even at this point in time, we see His glory manifested.

When we see lovers of God doing what He has called them to do at a given time, being His hands and feet, being His voice that they may speak words of life in season to those who are weary, we see His glory manifested.

When we see people, both individually and corporately going of of their way, reaching out to help, we see His glory manifested.

When we see people healed and made whole from this virus, we see His glory manifested.

When we see people supernaturally protected in spite of being surrounded by those who were tested positive, we see His glory manifested.

When we see families spending time together at home, paused from all the busyness of life, we see God’s glory manifested.

When we see friends and families across the globe, reaching out, touching base through social media avenues, we see God’s glory. Surely the Great Creator of the universe knew and foresaw what was about to happen, that at this point in time we will be all locked in our own homes. He made sure that internet was set up and established to keep us connected. He knows that we are stronger together. That in itself is God’s glory manifested.

When we see the skies bluer and clearer, rivers greener, we see God’s glory manifested.

When we see His Word preached all around the world, we see God’s glory. The church was not silenced nor stopped to proclaim the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ. I personally have not seen these many live streams in my life. The airwaves have been invaded and saturated by the power of His Word.

There are countless things that carried His manifested glory in 2020. You can personally do your own list which I recommend now and when you do, you will be amazed to see that there are definitely MUCH MORE reasons to rejoice and give thanks.

The Lord our God Who is GOOD is NOT the AUTHOR of what is not good! Unless our minds are renewed to this thinking, our thoughts will drive us against seeing His goodness. Questions that bring doubt weigh us down. But when our minds are reprogrammed to see how GOOD He is and how GOOD His plans are for us, our perception changes. We are to keep reminding ourselves that we are what we think. We see according to what we think. His Word says, “As a man thinks in his heart, SO IS HE.” (Proverbs 23:7)

For this year 2021, at the strike of midnight, I found myself singing Israel Houghton’s song, “YOU make all things NEW, YES, YOU make all things NEW, And I will follow YOU forward.”

Indeed, the INCREASE in and of His kingdom knows no end. We are moving forward for He takes us from strength to strength, from favor to favor, from faith to faith, from glory to glory.

For me, 2021 is A YEAR OF INCREASE!

When our HOPE is in Him, SURELY He will take us to our expected end, seeing MORE of His goodness, MORE of His faithfulness, MORE of His mercy, MORE of His grace, MORE of His favor, MORE of HIM and His glory in our lives all because CHRIST is IN US, and He is THE HOPE OF GLORY 🙏😇.

THERE IS MORE THAT GOD HAS IN STORE. We have not seen nor experience anything like it yet. The INCREASE comes with an enlarged, expanded, extended thinking. THINK BIG!

We cannot remain the same if we want to see something GREATER, for “no one pours NEW wine into OLD wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined.” (Luke 5:37 NIV)

It is time to renew our thinking, for transformation only comes with a renewed mind.

It is interesting to know that the process to renew old wineskin is that it needs to be submerged in water for a period of time. Then, oil is poured into it and is massaged into the leather to renew it and make it pliable again.

Our mindset is likened to the wineskin. An unrenewed mind cannot contain the awesomeness of what our Great God has in store for us. Thus, to meditate on His Word day and night is a necessity to bring pliabilty to our thinking. His Word is like water. As our minds are submerged to His Word, we begin to absorb it until we think His Word. When the oil of the Holy Spirit is poured upon us, breathing life on the Word that we received and believed, revealing to us the relevance of His Word at every given moment, it changes us as it breaks the limitations of our old mindsets. Our limited thinking leads us to living a limited life, but a renewed thinking opens a way for us to think bigger, believe bigger, expect bigger and experience the greater things that God planned for us.

“Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in His eyes.” (Romans 12:2 TPT)

Greater days are at hand. We have a GREAT GOD Who so loves us above and beyond our intellect can comprehend yet experientiable in our hearts ♥️♥️♥️.

Like an aroma of perfume sensed by our noses when someone is wearing it that passes you by, let our words and deeds demonstrate God’s greatness, faithfulness and goodness. Let us encourage one another and be a light to someone who is in darkness, bring hope to those who are hopeless. Let us love one another by letting His love fill us and flood out through us. Let us allow His light to shine in and through us. His Light is not limited only to illumine our own path but it also lights up the paths of those around us. Let us be conduits of His light until the whole world will see the beauty of His glory as the waters cover the sea.

This is the Kingdom of God invasion and expansion through you and me that God has privileged us to be a part of. The INCREASE comes when we yield ourselves to His move as He moves us.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank YOU for 2020 where we saw Your glory manifested in spite of. We saw Jesus glorified as His Light shone bright and brilliant giving life and hope to those who desperately called upon His Name. Truly, YOU are our Hope Who never disappoints. We have entered this New Year 2021 with a confident expectation of seeing the INCREASE of Your Kingdom that knows no boundaries. Come, Lord Jesus. Be our Lord and Savior every moment of our lives. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for enlightening our minds to see what You see, hear what You speak and make our hearts beat in rhythm as Yours. We know that ALL that Jesus has made available to us and for us, it is You Who reveals, declares, discloses and transmits to us. With humble and open hearts, we receive them all in the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen!

Photo Credits: Babette Arriola; New Zealand