2020! As the author Charles Dickens wrote, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” From losing Kobe Bryant to Chadwick Boseman, from wildfires to the pandemic, from losing jobs to losing loved ones, from practicing social distancing toseeing a radical change in the education system, 2020 has certainly been one for the books. It was humbling, exhausting, depressing, and just plain chaotic.

But as with all things, we move forward with hope. We believe that this too shall pass. We remind ourselves not to dwell on the past. We make resolutions and promises. We take stock of our disappointments and victories. We promise ourselves that 2021 will be the year of change. We allow ourselves to believe because we know that God himself is going to do a new thing for us. We have faith and it is this inherent faith that encourages us to believe in things hoped for, yet unseen.

As we closed the door on 2020 and welcomed 2021, we manifested for ourselves a better tomorrow. At some point or the other, we have all heard people say that if something is meant to be, it will happen. Manifestation works slightly differently. It is based on the principle that you claim something as yours and you work towards making it happen.

While manifestation in itself is not a new concept, it has been altered to reflect the new age thinking. Some people equate manifestation with creating a vision board or writing down their plans or goals for the year.While manifestation does involve noting down your goals with clarity and intention, it also requires far more on your part. As Christians, it requires us to:

• Be mindful about what we are trying to manifest and how we go about achieving it. Is what we are trying to manifest for ourselves in tune with God’s will? 
• Pray without ceasing. Pray about its purpose. Pray about hindrances. Pray about possible, unintended consequences.
• Speak life into it. Use small, powerful, and intentional words. Substitute the “ifs” and “maybes” with “when.”
• Align your manifestation with hard work and a good work ethic that revolves around discipline and consistency.
• Practice gratitude. What you are manifesting might not work out in your time, but rather in God’s time. Be thankful for the delays because as they say, in your waiting, God is working.

Whatever it is that you are manifesting, allow yourself to submit to God’s will and purpose. Know that “there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)