Introduction:

At the beginning of the year 2015, l waited on the Lord to receive direction as many thoughts were on my heart to present as prayer issues. l asked the Lord, “Help me pray according to your will for this new year”. He directed me to go to the first book of the bible, Genesis, to discover the Seven Points for First things.
It has helped my perspective as l embark on new projects or relationships. I trust it will make a difference in your level of preparedness as you start a new thing.

Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. What is the first thing you will do? Won’t you sit down and figure out how much it will cost and if you have enough money to pay for it?  Luke 14 :28-29(CEV)

1. PURPOSE 

God said, “Now we will make humans, and they will be like us. We will let them rule the fish, the birds, and all other living creatures.” 27 So God created humans to be like himself; he made men and women. Genesis 1: 26 -27.

God has a purpose for making you in his image. Have you  discovered it yet? Everyone God created has at least a gift from God. In Romans 12:6-8 we find a list of Motivational gifts, you need to discover yours and start developing them. When you begin to see fruit from using them, then you are on your way to your purpose.

2. PROVISION

God gave them his blessing and said: Have a lot of children! Fill the earth with people and bring it under your control. Rule over the fish in the ocean, the birds in the sky, and every animal on the earth. 29 I have provided all kinds of fruit and grain for you to eat. 30 And I have given the green plants as food for everything else that breathes. These will be food for animals, both wild and tame, and for birds. Genesis 1:28-30

He has made provision for all you need to be fruitful, multiply and have dominion through the Blessing. Claim it!

God\’s provision may not come in a beautiful package, it may come as a gift or skill you can use to serve people and get rewarded for it.  A ready example l can give is God’s provision for Moses in Midian.  When he arrived at the well he noticed a need and  decided to help. Jethro’s daughters who were watering their Father\’s flocks  were being harassed by some Shepherds, he didn’t wait to be asked but assisted them . This act of kindness earned him a place to live and provision for that season. Provision comes sometimes in form of a raw material, a seed you need to multiply for food. What do you have in your hand right now? Can you trade it, or can you offer it for service? See more examples in 2 Kings 4:1-7,8-17.

3. PERSON

The Lord God took a handful of soil and made a man. God breathed life into the man, and the man started breathing Gen. 2:7

You are the person God has given the mandate to do the works you are designed  for, so get started. We often look down on ourselves dwelling on our shortcomings, God\’s strength is made perfect in our weakness when we allow him to take the lead. Stop looking for the perfect  person, you are just right for the job.

All that is required is to yield yourself to God as a living sacrifice, commit to transformation through study and obedience, be faithful in the small tasks and God will announce you to the world.

4. PLACE

The Lord made a garden in a place called Eden, which was in the east, and he put the man there. Gen. 2:8

There is a definite place where you must be, to be all that God wants you to be,  identify it and relocate if need be. There were many mountains where Abraham could have offered Isaac, but he had to obediently follow God till he reached the land of Moriah. Genesis 22:1-9. Lot choose the best looking grassland in Canaan, he ended up in Sodom and lost everything. Are you sure you are at the right place of your calling?

God is interested in places, do not settle for a place because of convenience or comfort, be led by the Spirit.

5. POTENTIAL

From Eden a river flowed out to water the garden, then it divided into four rivers. 11 The first one is the Pishon River that flows through the land of Havilah, 12 where pure gold, rare perfumes, and precious stones are found. 13 The second is the Gihon River that winds through Ethiopia.14 The Tigris River that flows east of Assyria is the third, and the fourth is the Euphrates River. Gen. 2:10 -14

There is latent potential God has placed in you to sustain you throughout this year, it may be in four parts, four gifts or talents, four skills, four relationships. or four streams of income. Discover and tap into it. In Deuteronomy 28:1-6 God gave  different blessings to his people, if you own cattle and refuse to have flock or plant a field, then you limit the benefits God could have released to you.

Maximise every God given potential.

6.  PLAN

The Lord God put the man in the Garden of Eden to take care of it and to look after it. Gen. 2:15

There is a laid down plan you need to identify and work with, that plan reveals your assignment and how to achieve it. David was wise enough to always enquire of the Lord the plan for every battle. Presumption is dangerous, seek out God’s plan before you launch out. 1 Chronicles 14:13-15

What responsibilities do you wake up to every morning? Do you start your day  early to seek God\’s face?

 Failing to plan is a guaranteed plan to fail , because many are the thoughts in the heart of a man, but only the counsel of the Lord stands.

7.  PROHIBITION

But the Lord told him, “You may eat fruit from any tree in the garden, 17 except the one that has the power to let you know the difference between right and wrong. If you eat any fruit from that tree, you will die before the day is over!” Gen. 2:16-17

There are prohibitions that God has laid out for your own good which you must avoid. Know them , understand them, and keep away from them.

These prohibitions are there to protect you against yourself. David neglected it and it cost him the lives of his children and almost his throne. The enemy of your soul knows your weaknesses, he will always present a bait you can\’t resist except you respect God’s prohibition. 2 Samuel 12:9-12