In preparing for what God will do for you in the year ahead, I will like to share with you seven things that can help you soar like the Eagle.

1.      Get in shape for flight – Get rid of dead weights

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1 (New Living Translation)

Dead weights are retrogressive elements such as procrastination, sin, bad habits, and “dead beats” (e.g. trying to revive what God has killed or trying to do what God has not instructed) etc. They are those things we hold on to or carry around, that add no value to us, but rather take much good away from us. In a recent press release, Airbus the world’s leading manufacturer of passenger aircrafts listed the excess weight of the new airbus A380 super jumbo jet as one of the key factors delaying the aircraft’s entry into service. It was also reported that Airbus has gone over budget in an attempt to get the A380 down to its target weight. I think that is money well spent because one way or the other they have to pay for the weight, either pay now to get the aircraft in shape and avoid future excess maintenance costs, or ignore the weight now and pay latter for the extra cost of fuel etc for maintaining the excess weigh of the aircraft.

We can not avoid the cost of getting into shape either. We pay (by money, time, etc) now or latter, but I am convinced now is better. Getting into shape now will position and ready you for lift off when the wind blows in your direction. Dead weights immobilize people. If you want to taxi on the runway of the New Year and soar above limits, then you must with the help of the Holy Spirit painstakingly identify and ruthlessly sever dead weights wherever you encounter them in your life.

2.      Spread out your wings – Be a blessing

There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. Proverbs 11:24 (KJV)

In order to take advantage of the wind current and soar, the Eagle always spreads out its wings (Deuteronomy 32:11). The Eagle that clutches its wings to itself can never lift-off, much less soar. The wings of a bird represent among many things, the place of compassion and security (Exodus 19:4; Deuteronomy 32:11; Psalm 17:8).

When we spread out the wings of our possessions by reaching out in compassion to be a blessing to others, we position ourselves for uplift by the wind of the Spirit. The New International Version of Proverbs 11:24 says; One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. I believe that as we go into the New Year with this mind set and open up, reaching out to others in generosity God will cause us to rise more and more above our current boundaries. This is not a year of “I”, “ME” & “MYSELF”, but a year of “WE” and “US”. Make this a year of reaching out to others and you will be surprised at how high God will cause you to rise.

3.      Stay Focused – Do not become complacent

Doth the Eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?

She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.

From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. Job 39:27-29 

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. Matthew 6:22 

One of the sharpest and most distinctive instincts of an Eagle is its sense of sight. The following are known scientific facts* about an Eagle’s eye sight:

·          A bald Eagle has eyesight that is eight times more powerful than ours.

·          While we have some two hundred thousand vision cells at the most concentrated part of our eye, Eagles have one point five million. This sensitivity helps a soaring bird find its prey up to a mile away.

·          If you cover an Eagle’s eyes with a hood, the Eagle will instantly go unconscious, its brain shutting down due to sensory deprivation.

Just as sharp eyesight is important to the eagle, so is staying focused critically essential for us to mount up with wings like an eagle. Staying focused has the following benefits;

One: It enables you to recognise when your time for lift off arrives. Like an aeroplane, if you try to rise before your time, you will stall, if you wait till the time is past, you may overshoot the runway, whichever way you look at it, both can result in a crash.

Two: Focus enables you to recognise any change in the direction of the wind and follow suit. A good pilot does not take his eyes off his navigation instruments after take off, even when he has successfully engaged the auto pilot system. This is because unforeseen circumstances such as adverse weather conditions or engine malfunction could sometimes arise.

Three: Focus keeps you vibrant and full of light (Matthew 6:22). It will prevent you from falling into a state of spiritual blackout. It keeps you in tune with God and sustains you up there where only the Spirit enabled can mount up to.

4.      Wait on the Lord

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as Eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)

Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the Eagle’s. Psalm 103:5 

From time to time every eagle gets tired and needs its strength renewed. Every aircraft needs services and maintenance at regular intervals. The various activities we undertake within the year take their toll on us physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. We also get tired, and like the eagle and aircraft, we need to be replenished. The bible says “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as Eagles…”

As part of your flight plans this year, may I suggest that you set apart quality time for waiting on the Lord and drawing near to him for renewal of strength and spiritual rejuvenation. This will enable you to be more efficient (getting more out of less) and effective (achieving desired result). We really do not have much option here. As the scripture puts it: “If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength…” When you are famished and tired, you will need to put in more effort to get things done and to soar. But when you wait on the Lord you temporarily retire to be recharged and re-fired ready to rebound.

Eagles soar through the skies by gliding on natural wind currents and thermal updrafts. Once it spots the wind it spreads wide its wings and just rises with effortless ease. They can fly to altitudes of 10,000 feet or more, and can soar aloft for hours using this strategy. Your rise this year will not be by power or by might, but by the Spirit of the Lord. If you put effort into anything this year make sure it is in trusting, waiting on the Lord, and obeying him and he will lift you up.

5.      Stay “Low” – Humble yourself

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. James 4:6, 10(KJV)

Some people may never rise beyond their current position simply because they are too full of themselves. Such people are likely to despise a disguised God sent help when it comes, because to them the packaging appears “inferior”.

Remember Naaman (2 Kings 5), he almost missed his flight from the bounds of leprosy because he felt insulted by the instructions of the prophet Elisha to go and wash in Jordan seven times. He though Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus were much more befitting to his person. It took the persuasion of his servant for him to humble himself and wash in the river Jordan. The bible says; And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? As soon as Naaman washed in the river Jordan seven times, the bond of leprosy was broken and he was lifted up from the pit of shame. This is not a year to despise little thing. Many a testimony of promotion, deliverance and uplifment will come from little things God will use and do in our lives. We will need to be humble enough to recognise and receive them when the time comes.

6.      Maintain your position at a vantage point

Doth the Eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?

She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.

From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. Job 39:27-29 

The eagle sits at the top of the food chain. It does not wallow in mire neither does it hangout with birds of lesser pedigree. It positions itself at the most vantage point – on the top of the rock and the strong place. From there it has unobstructed view and operates as the predator and not the prey. It is from this point that the eagle gains ascendancy over its surroundings, prey and foes.  It is from here that the eagle launches out on the back of wind currents and soars to greater heights.

I am not about to encourage arrogance or any sort of self aggrandisement. However the scripture does clearly emphasise the distinction God places on his own people and where they stand. The bible says in Hebrews 12:22; “…But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God…” And then again in Obadiah 1:17 “…upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.” Like the eagle, God has places his people upon the high vantage point of his Holy Mountain. Here we are built upon the sure foundation of Christ the solid rock. And it is from this position that we gain deliverance, victory and soar above limits. As we go into the New Year, it is important that you maintain this position. Do not get dragged into unequal yoking.

7.      Maintain an attitude of gratitude

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1Corinthians 15:57 

“I believe it is our attitude that determines our altitude. It is our attitude that allows us to soar above those things that would otherwise overcome us”. T.D. Jakes

The people who get the most from God are those who have learnt to maintain an attitude of gratitude through life. No matter what challenges you encounter in the New Year (and I trust the Lord such will not be above what you can bear according to 1 Corinthians 10:12), premeditate to remain thankful. The bible says; Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 2 Corinthians 2:14. Note it says “God… always causeth us to triumph… “. Do not let temporary setbacks keep you from being thankful in the New Year.  Knowing that God will always give you the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ and you will be the head and not the tail. So maintain the positive attitude of gratitude through out the New Year and the Lord will increase your altitude. Amen!

Prayer

May the Lord God erase obscurity from your life and cause you to rise and men to be drawn to the brightness of your rising.  It will be a year of rising above limits and opening up of new frontiers for you. It will be a year when God will exalt your horn as the horn of a unicorn and anoint you with fresh oil. It will be a year in which God will cause you to mount up with wings as an Eagle. In Jesus name, Amen!!!