We're going to start a series for this month of January, and we'll be looking at “Navigating a New Season for Fulfillment,” that's what the series will be about. And we'll be looking at four important things that are required for “Navigating a new season for fulfilment.”

So, we're looking at four important things that I believe that is required, that God will need to give to us or God will need to make happen for us so that we will be able, by the reason of these tools, or by the reason of these gifts, or by the reason of this graces be able to navigate a new season in our lives for fulfilment.

Now, when we talk about navigation, navigation talks about your ability or the ability of someone to be able to find a path; to be able to find direction in the midst of multiple directions. So, when you are trying to navigate your way to a particular destination, it means there are several paths, there are several ways you could pass. There are several ways you could have taken, but for you to get to where you are going, there is a path to follow, there is a way to follow. And for you to be able to know that way, there need to be a navigation tool.

A navigation tool is a tool that helps you to find the way. I'm sure many of us are familiar with maps. And now maps have become so electronic, that if you are trying to move from point A to B; stay in point A, there will be a geo-location on your mobile device that picks your location, then you just simply type in where you are going. True or false? For those of us that are used to Google Maps, I'm not doing advertisement for them but I think is the most popular map that we use.

Now, when you put your location that you're trying to reach out to, for example, you're in Abuja, you're trying to go to Garki hospital and you are in Bwari here, and the map picks your location, and you put Garki Hospital in the map. Now, there are many hospitals in Abuja. Remember there are many hospitals. Now, because a location have been selected, what the map will simply do as a navigation tool is to help you to find the fastest and the easiest route that will take you from where you are, to where you have desired to go to. Whether it's a new year, whether it's a new marriage, whether it's a new job, whether it's a new assignment or an adventure that you are about to embark upon, maybe you have even relocated, you are in a new location, it is necessary, in fact, it is paramount that you require a navigation tool to move from where you are in that place; in that new place; in that new location; in that new job, to where you desire to be.

So, every new thing, or every new season requires a navigation tool. When we're talking about navigating a new season for fulfillment, we are saying that we want to login on our maps in the Spirit. What do you desire, because I looked at it all the things we desire in our lives, ultimately cumulate to fulfillment. I want to have a happy marriage; it's fulfillment. I want to have blessed children, it is fulfillment you are seeking. I want to have a prosperous life. All you are seeking is fulfillment. You want to live a full life filled with joy, filled with happiness, filled with whatever thing you desire that is good for you. So, that's why the series is titled or captioned “Navigating a New Season for Fulfillment”.

The first navigation tool that we want to look at in this part of the series is; “The peace of God”. The peace of God — navigating a new season for fulfillment, and we're looking at the first navigation tool: the peace of God.

What is the peace of God? How does the peace of God become a navigation tool? How does the peace of God take me from point A to point B. How does the peace of God help me to be able to know what direction to follow? What way to go? What path to go. Those are the questions I believe the Holy Spirit will be providing answers to in this article. The peace of God.

We're going to start our observation from Isaiah chapter 26 verse 3. It says; “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in You.”  ‘You will keep him.’  The him refers to anyone that fulfills the condition. Now, that him is not static as it were, that him is flexible to the degree of which you have been able to fulfill or not fulfill the condition. It says you will keep him; so that him can be you. That him can be me, but there is a condition. What you will do is that ‘you will keep him in perfect peace whose mind’, so this is the condition. The ‘him’ that God will keep in perfect peace is the ‘him’ whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in You. One condition, but wrapped around a scenario.

What makes this him, this mind to be stayed on God from that verse? What makes that him, we are doing the study together? Because I believe the Holy Spirit wants to bypass our religious mindset and bring us to a point where we understand Kingdom Principle that delivers kingdom experience and encounters. It says, “You will keep him in perfect peace”. The state that we're talking about is perfect peace. Perfect peace is like the price. Perfect peace is the goal. Perfect peace is the achievement. Perfect peace is the fulfillment, but for you to enter that experience, he said, those that qualify are those whose minds are stayed on you, who is the you? God! That's why today, we're not just talking about peace as a navigation tool, we're looking at the peace of God. ‘You will keep in perfect peace whose mind’.

So, the question the Holy Spirit is throwing to us is, do you qualify for perfect peace as a navigation tool? That perfect peace carries out a lot of assignment. That perfect piece is a tool that your life is required to enter fulfillment. That perfect peace is an experience you are yearning for. But it will not just fall on your laps. You don’t just qualify for it because you have entered a new year. You just don't qualify for it because you are living or existing. You just don't qualify for it because you have confessed the Lord Jesus, you just don't qualify for it because you come to church.

It says; the precondition is that the mind of that ‘him’ is stayed on God. The mind of that man, and that woman that focuses on God, to stay on God means that there is no other space in your mind for anything else, or anyone else apart from God. Because it says, your mind is not staying, but stayed. So, it is like a permanent fixed posture.

One of the things the Lord said to me this year is that; this year is not so much about the name that you called the year. It's about the posture that you take before the Lord in the year. The year will deliver according to the Word of God to you based on the posture, you have chosen to take in the presence of God this year. So, this posture is talking about a posture that is fixed, unchanging. What is stayed is stayed. Whose mind is stayed, so the mind is not a double minded one. This mind is single. Jesus said, “If your eye be single, then your body will be full of light”.

So, this year, for you to be able to reach fulfillment, the precondition is that your mind is stayed. You are not double minded. What if God does not work? You don't have an alternative to God. God is your one source and only source. God is your one hope and only hope. If He doesn't do it, it is left undone. If He doesn't show up, no one shows up. Your mind is stayed on Him. The reason why you will have peace of God as a navigation tool this year is because you are not shifting. Your posture remains, and the important thing about this is that now many denominations have declared a fast in January. Many people are going to fast. They are going to pray, we're going to seek the face of God.

We're going to stay in the presence of God trusting Him, that He will secure the year for us, but when January is gone, will the posture change? What happens in February? What happens in March? What happens in July? What happens in September? What happens in November? You will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed; present with past; is talks about current, present. Stayed is about past, but when it is mixed with is, it talks about Present Continuous. So, ‘Is stayed’, that ‘stayed does not change’. So, as we go through the year, we are not shifting our focus from God. The activities of February does not shift our focus. The Bible says looking unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith. You are not looking unto Him in January and February your focus has shifted. You are stayed on Him.

So, when you stay on Him, without prayer points, He keeps you in perfect peace. The reason why you will stay is because in January you trust Him, February you trust Him. You trust Him all the way to September, October you are still trusting Him. November you're still trusting Him all the way to the end of the year. As you begin that journey of your marriage, you are trusting God. In the mid year you are still trusting God. You are not subject to mid-year crisis or mid-life crisis, you are still trusting Him, you are trusting Him all the way. You will keep him. When you do your part, He will do His.

One of the things that we must understand this year as we journey with God is that to be able to navigate to fulfillment, you must do your part, and allow God to do His. There is a gospel that have been preached to people that makes God look as if He is the absolute factor or the absolute doer of everything that works in our lives; and is not of God. Because if God was going to rule in his sovereignty, He will not give you and I the power of choice. He will not give man a will.

Do you remember in the Scripture, God said to the children of Israel, He said I present to you today life and death. If He is the doer can't He force them to do it? He said I present, so as we go on the journey of life, there will be the presentation of the peace of God. And there will be the presentation of what is not the peace of God which is the troubles of this world. Now, the reason the Holy Spirit is zooming on this is that this is the crux of the matter. The reason you will be in perfect peace. Now, we want to understand what the perfect peace means.

Let's go quickly to Philippians chapter 4. We want to understand what is that perfect peace. How does this perfect peace work. Philippians chapter 4 verses 6 to 7. It says; “Be anxious for nothing. but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God”.

Now, we are trying to understand Isaiah 26 verse 3 using the Scripture in Philippians chapter 4 verse 6 to 7 to interpret what God had earlier said in Isaiah 26 verse 3. “Be anxious for nothing.” How your mind will be stayed on God is that you are anxious for nothing. There is no room for anxiety because your mind is stayed on God. Praise the Lord! When God has occupied your mind, where is the space was it? No space.

So, he said, Be anxious for nothing, nothing.  But in everything, how your mind will be stayed on God this year is that by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, you let your request; we have so many requests. There are so many things we want to do this year. There are so many things we want to become this year. There are so many things we want God to make happen for us this year. In our marriages, there are certain desires we have of the Lord. And the Lord is saying that instead of allowing anxiety to fill your heart, instead of allowing anxiety to fill your mind, He said, let me fill your mind. When I fill your mind, those requests, because the requests are not anxiety, when you have requests, they are genuine.

When you take God out of the request, they become anxiety. He said but by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests, now, I want to put in this caveat: there are some people that believe that as a child of God, you should not have requests. You should just be thanking God. Are you not a believer? Don't you trust God, you should not have prayer point; you should not have requests. You should just be thanking God, lifting up holy hands, and just be thanking God and just be worshiping Him. If you trust Him enough, He will take care of you. But remember, God Himself said, “Come and let us reason together. He said bring forth your strong reasons”.

So, we want to bring balance according to the word, this is not my words, this is the word of the Lord. He said, “Let your request,” the Bible makes us understand that our requests are not bad, or they are not ungodly. Our requests are genuine because we are human beings. And God knows that we are humans, we will have requests.

When Jesus was teaching His disciples to pray, in Matthew chapter 6, He said in this manner pray, if you see that manner that Jesus asked them to pray, was there no request in it? So, don't go about this year not requesting of your father, what you need. What your destiny requires according to His will. The only thing that will be wrong with our request is that when they are not in alignment with the will of God. God said I know the thoughts that I have towards you. They are thoughts of good and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. I've digressed a little bit, but He said let your requests be made known to who? God!

So, your mind is stayed on who? God. Not that I come to Bro John, do you know, I need new shoe this year. All the shoes I have been using, they are not even good again. I need a new shoe. My request should not be made known to Bro John, my request should be made known to God. That's where we get it wrong. God can use men, but our request is not to be made known to men but to God. Do you understand it? He said, if we do this, he said, and, please, the first part we read in verse 6, is it God doing it or you doing it? It is your contribution.

It is faith having perfect work in you. It said, and the peace of God, when you have fulfilled the requirements; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, why is it called perfect peace? Because it's a peace that surpasses all understanding. How can you have genuine needs and you are still calm? I have spoken to the Lord. This year, God said it, I believe it. And that settles it. He has said, He will give me a child. And I'm at peace because He that started a good work, He is able and faithful to complete it. I've prayed to God and He said, He will bless me, and I am trusting Him for the blessing. I have told God that I need to pay my house rent this year. And He said He will take care of it.

Now, it says when you have made your request known to Him, ‘the peace of God which surpasses all understanding’. Did you see the navigation tool there? The peace of God! In Isaiah 26 verse 3, the Bible calls it perfect peace, and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. You are able to navigate to fulfilment by the peace of God that surpasses all understanding, why? You trust in Him. Because His ears are not far that He will not hear your cry, and his hand is no short that He cannot save you. You trust him.

How many of us are ready to trust God in this new season? The peace of God the Bible says, which surpasses all understanding, what does the Bible says it will do for you? Will guard your heart and mind through Christ Jesus, that peace will guard, what does it mean to guard?

And it said, this peace, what it will do for you is that; the peace will not allow you walk outside the way or the path of your fulfillment. That peace will not allow you to build and destroy it with your own hands. That peace will not allow you to say negative things about the things that God has said about your life. “My life self, I don’t even understand.”

The peace will guard, the Bible says, “Guard your heart with all diligence for out of it proceeds the issues of life”. And the peace of God will guard; will make sure that you keep walking on the narrow way is that peace that will help you navigate in difficult times. That even though you might not see the wind. Even though you might not see the rain. The valleys are being filled. It is that peace that Jesus had when they came with the news that Lazarus was sick.

They said, “Lazarus is very sick, Jesus, please come”. And the Lord said to him this sickness is not unto death, and He proclaimed it. And immediately Jesus proclaimed it. He had peace. Lazarus died. Lazarus was buried. And Lazarus had been in the tomb. And Jesus said, its time let's go to our friend Lazarus, his disciples, did not understand that peace. They did not understand the confidence, the confidence that will make Jesus to rise up after the man has been buried for days to go out and wake him up. He said, our friend Lazarus is dead, let's go and wake him up. They did not understand it. And it is the dimension in which God wants to take us in this new season.

Where the peace you have is beyond human understand, some people could think you have lost it. “We're talking about money here, what are you saying; is the money available is not available? Don't give us that.” And the peace of God that passes all human understanding, will help you navigate through those difficult paths. Until you reach your fulfillment. The peace of God, He said it will guard; do you know a narrow way, it is easy to fall off.

When you are walking in a narrow way, you can easily step out of it. That is why the peace of God is a necessary navigation tool for every believer in every new season. It is that peace that make sure you don't leave that path. it's that peace that make sure you don’t leave the way, even though it is difficult. Even though it is not easy. Even though it looks as if you're trying so hard. And it looks as if things are not working the way you want them to work, the Bible says and the peace of God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your heart or mind through Christ Jesus.

Let's flip back to Isaiah 26 and we'll read verse 12: “Lord, you will establish peace for us. For you have also done all our works in us”. “Lord, you will establish peace for us,” what does it mean? You will establish navigation tool for us. You will give us a grace called Peace. You will give us a tool that will help us navigate, called peace. It says; “For you have also done all our works in us”. And that's what God is doing. Everything that God has done, the Bible says, “The word of the Lord is settled forever in heaven”. Meaning that all the things that God wants to reveal to you is already done. So, what is God doing with us? He is a revealer. He is going to be revealing, but when He does not establish peace for us, we will not be patient enough for the revelation.

The Bible says that the earnest expectation of creation are waiting eagerly, the manifestation of the sons of God; they are waiting. They are eager to see the sons of God. Another word for manifestation is the revealing.

So, our lives and our fulfillment is to be manifested. Our fulfillment in the new season, the things that God is going to do with our marriages, the things that God is going to do with our children, the things that God will be doing with our lives, they are going to manifest but if we will not miss it, we need him to establish peace for us because He has also done all our works. I know some of us are finding it difficult to understand everything God is going to do with you this year, they are ready done in the realm of God. In the realm of God, they are settled. In the realm of God, they are already prepared.

So, coming to our realm, what we need, God has done, the Bible says that He's the one that declares the end from the beginning. He calls things that are not as though they were. So, what God does with us is that He finishes the work. Isaiah 26:13: “For you have also done all our works in us,” yes, He finishes the work, then takes us on a journey.

Please, see it through the eyes of faith, the just shall live by faith, and without faith, it is impossible to please God. This thing is for human understanding is difficult to understand. Everything that God is going to do is already done. Everything you are trusting God for, the things that God has said He will do, He has already done. Now, God now takes you back to the beginning. And He starts walking you through.

So, what God will start doing for you as He's walking with you is that He starts revealing to you the things that are done in His realm. So, when you get to a point, God makes you to pray. Please, follow the Holy Spirit in this direction. He makes you to pray, because the Bible says, who knows the mind of God said the Spirit of God. So, the Holy Spirit works in you, the Bible says, “For God works in us, both to will and for do of His good pleasure,” His pleasure has already been done.

So, He brings you into a season, He brings you into a time, He brings you into a dimension, and He makes you to pray His will for that season what has been covered; what has been hidden, because this is what your prayer will do. What has been done is revealed to you. So, your eyes are now open to see that your next level is tied to this idea. So, you will now download the idea. Everything that you download is it not that it is already there? For you to be able to download something, is it not because somebody has uploaded it?

God has uploaded your blessing. He has uploaded your next level. He has uploaded your future. He has uploaded your tomorrow. What you do as you work with the Holy Spirit is that the Holy Spirit helps you to find the download button. As you stay in communion and fellowship with the Holy Spirit, He helps you to find the download button. And by the Spirit of God, you are able to click on the download button by faith in the place of prayer; in the place of meditation and studying of the word, you click on the download button. And all the things that God has uploaded for you gets downloaded, then you can start experiencing; then you can start having, then you can start enjoying the things that He has uploaded. Praise the Lord! That's how it works. Jesus knew this, and He had peace.

The Bible says He is the Prince of Peace. And see what Jesus said about it. John chapter 16 verse 33: “These things I have spoken to you. That in me you may have peace”. Where did He say you will have peace? In Me. Anxieties come in this form, will I be able to click it? Will I be able to find it? Is there even anything uploaded for me? That's anxiety. Anxiety is doubt and uncertainty. That's what anxiety is about. But when you have peace, you have assurance. So, the Bible says these things I have spoken to you, that in Me, you may have peace, that peace talks about assurance.

So, in Christ Jesus, you have assurance. In the world, you will have tribulation. There is doubt, there is uncertainty. There are some people that have started this year, they're not even sure whether they're going to even see December. There's so much fear. There's so much anxiety, there's so much doubt. That's what is in the world. Jesus said in the world, you will have, not might, you will have tribulations. But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. He said, these things I have spoken to you that in Me, you may have peace that's the desire of Jesus.

So, as a believer following Jesus is not trying to be religious. is actually making sure you are wise. It is wisdom to follow Jesus because you are following the One that knows how to hold the mouse to the place where you can download. He is the one that has the input device that will help you to be able to click on the things.

The Bible says that the things that God has prepared, eyes have not seen, ears have have not heard, because it has been uploaded. Eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, God did not show the download button to anybody else. It has not yet entered into the heart of men, the things that God has prepared, the things that God has uploaded in the realm of the spirit, for those that love Him. And who are the people that love him? Those whose mind are stayed on him, because they trust Him. When I download from God, it can't be empty. When I download my future in God, it can’t be empty of impact.

It can’t be empty of riches, it can’t be empty of wisdom, it can’t be… there is fullness. Because the Bible says in the presence of God, there is fullness of joy, and at His right there are pleasures forevermore. Hallelujah!

So, the peace of God is what the Lord uses to make sure that our hearts and our minds are guarded. Anxiety, doubts, do not throw us off. How many of us can testify to this? The moment you allow doubt and anxiety to enter your heart, don't you notice that your mind will go to almost 1000 places at the same time? It's true. It has happened to me before, once I entertain anxiety or fear or doubt, your mind will start running riots. But truly, when your mind is stayed on God, there is peace. There is peace. There is an assurance. Glory to God.

I'm going to share two more Scriptures with us. Psalm 29 verse 11, Psalm 29 And verse 11: “The Lord will give strength to His people. The Lord will bless His people with peace”. The Lord will give strength to His people. The Lord will bless His people. It is not everybody that has peace. Peace is a blessing for His people. Peace is not a random gift or a random grace. It is for the people of God. Jesus said, Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives.  My peace. You do not have a part in Him if you are not of Him. What qualifies us for the peace of God is that we are a people of God.

So, if you start this year and you're just tagging along and you're doing bandwagon effect, the peace of God does not jump on people by association. The peace of God comes by identification. Because you are associated with me does not mean that you will benefit of what I benefit. When they say, bring your ID card, and you bring your identification card. If you are not a person of God or the people of God, you are not blessed with peace.

I want to show us another Scripture. Psalm 119 verse 165. So that we understand the peace of God is not just something that jumps on people, and is not something that is just for confession alone. It's about a posture. Psalm 119 verse 165: “Great peace are those who love your law,” perfect peace in Isaiah 26, in Psalm 119 verse 165, “Great peace are,” so they possess it. Those who love your law, they possess great peace. And nothing causes them to stumble, nothing causes them to fall. Nothing causes them to fail. Nothing causes them to falter. Great peace. Those who love your law, they possess great peace.

So, as we navigate this new season, our lives, our fulfillment, our destiny requires the peace of God. What qualifies you is that are you identified as a people of God? The Bible makes us to understand in 1 Peter, he said that these were people that were not the people of God, they have now become the people of God. Before they did not receive mercy, now they have received mercy. And now you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood. God's holy people, God's own precious people. You are translated from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of his dear son. That's how you become part of the people of God. You must be translated.

See, this year is not by association is by identification. If you are not identified with Jesus. When God was speaking to Abram about the circumcision of the flesh. And he said, See, this is will become a sign between you and I. There is a laid down principle about becoming a people of God, if you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you have not believed in your heart and confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus you cannot.

Jesus said I'm the Way the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Matthew 11:28, God gives peace to those who come to Him. I am going to conclude with this Scripture as we prepare to pray. It is important for us to pray because we have to get it right. The Bible says if the foundation be destroyed, what can the righteous do? Matthew chapter 11 verse 28: “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”. That perfect peace is the rest that we have in Him. That perfect peace; that great peace is what we possess in Jesus. And that's why we must come to Him. The invitation of Jesus is open to all of us.

The invitation of Jesus in Matthew 11:28 is open to everyone: come to me all you that labor. You labor with anxiety; you labor with double mindedness; you labor with doubt and fear. There is so much labor of fear. You are carrying the burden of fear. You are afraid to work, you are afraid to live, you are afraid of breath, you are afraid to get married. You are afraid to do great things for God because of the fear, the burden of fear. And the invitation of Jesus is open to you today.

It says; Come to me all you that labor. Outside the will of God, all you that  labor and there  is no profit, all you that labor and  nothing to show for it. Come to me, can we come to Jesus now and cry out to Him, Lord Jesus, I come to you. I look unto You, help me. In this season, I receive the grace to look unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of my faith, I received the grace for my mind to be stayed on you, the grace to trust in you with all of my heart.

 

Thanks for the gift of your time, I am Lara Gboyega Adedeji!

Feel free to share your thoughts or testimony in the comment box below. I promise to respond to them as soon as possible!