Win The Year: Flip the Script

Introduction

Welcome to 2024! As we embark on a new year, it’s an opportunity for a fresh start, a chance to flip the script of our lives. In this blog post, we’ll explore the idea of winning the year by making intentional changes, drawing inspiration from the biblical narrative in Genesis chapter 50.

The Power of Significant Days

Vladimir Lenin once said, “There are decades when nothing happens, and then there are weeks when decades happen.” Reflecting on our own lives, we can pinpoint days that have the power to shape decades. From significant historical events to personal milestones, certain days leave an indelible mark on our journey.

In our lifetime, there are days that stand out – like the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan in 1981 or the tragic Space Shuttle explosion in 1986. We all remember where we were on 9/11 or when the news of COVID-19 broke in 2020. These are the days that happen in our lives, shaping decades of impact.

Flipping the Script

To win the year and transform our lives, we must do more than flip the calendar; we need to flip the script. The key to change lies in altering the narrative we tell ourselves. If you want to change your life, you have to change your story.

Two Kinds of Change

Drawing from the science of cybernetics, we learn about two kinds of change – first-order change, which is behavioral, and second-order change, which is conceptual and enduring. While external habits matter, internal habits, especially our internal monologue and the stories we tell ourselves, have the greatest impact.

The Power of Stories

As John Quincy Adams put it, “Whoever tells the best story wins.” Our thoughts, comprising about 60,000 daily, significantly influence our well-being. Recognizing the battle within our minds, we understand that it’s the stories we tell ourselves that matter more than the situations we find ourselves in.

A Genesis 50:20 Vision

Joseph’s story in Genesis 50 provides a powerful example of flipping the script. Despite facing adversity, Joseph saw God’s hand at work. He declared, “You intended to harm me, BUT GOD intended it for good.” This Genesis 50:20 vision encourages us to trust God’s plan even in challenging times.

Three Steps to Flip the Script

• Know Your Name: Understanding your identity in the eyes of God is crucial. Refuse to let culture define you; instead, embrace the script written in Scripture – you are blessed, chosen, blameless, adopted, redeemed, sealed, and stamped.

• Fix Your Focus: Your focus determines your reality. Embrace cognitive reappraisal and shift your perspective. Fix your eyes on Jesus, cultivating gratitude through practices like keeping a gratitude journal.

• Change Your Story: Embrace God’s story for your life. When you say yes to Jesus, you become part of God’s family and script. Live in a way that reflects God’s story, becoming a living testament to His grace.

Acceleration and God’s Timing

God can do more in one day than we can accomplish in a lifetime. The story of Joseph illustrates this – after 13 years of hardship, God’s plan accelerated, turning Joseph from a prisoner to the second in command to Pharaoh. Embracing God’s timing and staying faithful can lead to unexpected acceleration in our own lives.

Conclusion

In 2024, let’s flip the script. By knowing our name, fixing our focus, and changing our story, we position ourselves to witness God’s kingdom come in powerful ways. As we navigate this new year, may we embrace a Genesis 50:20 vision, trusting that God can turn challenging moments into opportunities for His glory.