New Year, New Challenges: What I Learnt In 2017
Updated: May 20, 2018
Two zero one seven, as quoted by the preacher I heard a couple of days ago, is now complete! Can you imagine đ±
In my 23.5 years of life, I can say hands down that 2017 has been one of the best (,time definitely flys when youâre having fun). đđŸ
âNow to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.â ââEphesians⏠â3:20-21⏠âNKJVâŹâŹ
This year, God has done more for me than I could have ever asked or imagined. Iâve been tried, Iâve been tested, Iâve been more than a conqueror, Iâve been triumphant.

There has never been a time Iâve looked back at a year and thought âWow, Iâve come a mighty long wayâ, until now.
I remember this time last year, planning what I wanted to present at church about reaching goals. It was the first youth programme of the year and the overall 2017 theme was âfocusâ. Focus on myself, God, others & the future. My plan was to get everyone involved by setting themselves three SMART goals.
Specific - Itâs all in the details Measurable - How will you know youâre on track? Achievable - Is it possible? Realistic - Youâve gotta be honest here... Timely - Give yourself a deadline!
If youâve never set goals like this before, Iâd advise you try it in 2018 because lo and behold, by the grace of God, I achieved all of mine đđŸÂ

I wanted to set goals to reflect three important aspects of life, social, academic and spiritual.
In a nutshell by the start of 2018 I wanted to pray more, love more, work better and be a full license holding driver (,emphasis on the full, the green needed to be pink)! đđŸđđŸ Honestly, now I can look back and say, God is faithful because itâs through Him that I achieved all of these things!
The lessons Iâve learnt from 2017 are:
1. Donât Trust Yourself
âMy flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.â ââPsalms⏠â73:26⏠âNKJVâŹâŹ
God is the joy and the strength of my life, He removes all pain misery and strife, He promised to keep me, never to leave me, Heâll never ever fall short of His word... (Google the rest, beautiful song - God is)
The point Iâm making is that God really is the only one to trust. I donât even know what the next minute of my life holds, but God, He holds me and you and this world in the palms of His hands.
2. It Is Possible
âBut He said, âThe things which are impossible with men are possible with God.ââ ââLuke⏠â18:27⏠âNKJVâŹâŹ
Donât limit Godâs power through you. Thereâs nothing to hard for God to do or to accomplish in your life if you just believe! We often think that God used to be a miracle worker and that all His most famous works are documented history. Lies! The same God that parted the Red Sea, healed the broken, made nobodyâs into somebodyâs and so much more is the same God that can work wonders in your life today. If He did it before, He can do it again!
3. Sprinkle Everything You Do With Love
âLet all that you do be done with love.â ââI Corinthians⏠â16:14⏠âNKJVâŹâŹ
The reason I came out to Zimbabwe was to witness the wedding of two of my closest friends. The theme chosen for their big day was love. Love God, love family, love friends (,well, something like that). The preacher said that love is as strong as death, but you know what, itâs stronger. Love can make you cry, it can make you sick and it can drive you crazy but love can also give you unspeakable joy, unimaginable happiness and perfect peace.
The reason I decided to start my own business was because I recognised that itâs the things we love the most that make us happy. Whether your thinking of a business venture like me, moving to a new place, starting a new chapter or even planning a wedding, recognise that if you do what you love and love what you do, you will experience happiness on another level.
God really has granted me that happiness. When we do things in love, for love, with love, the rewards abundantly overflow!
Thereâs not much left to say except for HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope you have an amazing 2018 whatever it may hold for you. I pray that this year will be the year that you find your focus and achieve greater things than ever before.
What are your plans for 2018? Â
