Browsing Category

Inspiration

Inspiration

Talk to Jesus!

It’s a quiet chilled evening and after a long day at work, am catching up with Being Kambua’s podcast. Each episode of this remarkable podcast is not merely a listening experience but a beacon of light for those navigating the intricate path of TTC (trying to conceive), healing from loss, or simply seeking guidance on the journey of parenthood. Kambua’s eloquent and thoughtful interviewing style, coupled with the raw honesty of her guests, transforms each episode into a profound learning opportunity.

In a world where the complexities of maternal health and the challenges of starting a family are often shrouded in silence, Being Kambua’s podcast stands out. It is more than just a podcast; it is a ministry of compassion, education, and empowerment. It serves as a reminder that these conversations, though difficult, are essential for fostering understanding.

This particular episode featuring Shiku Masika is a heartfelt narrative of a decade-long journey encompassing marriage, faith, the struggles of TTC, and the ultimate triumph of adoption and motherhood. Shiku’s unwavering faith and endurance serve as a powerful reminder that miracles can indeed blossom from the most challenging of circumstances. The path to parenthood is often filled with unexpected twists and turns. However, it is through faith and perseverance that we discover the true miracles that await us. And I retire to bed very hopeful, carrying with me the inspiration from Shiku’s journey and the reassurance that amidst life’s trials, there is always the potential for miracles to unfold.

So, you can imagine my shock when I woke up the following morning to find myself suddenly overwhelmed with an intense wave of heavy emotions. It felt as though I was struggling to swim but being dragged down by turbulent waters at sea. I had gone to bed content, only to awaken to a tormented heaviness that was inexplicable, unexpected, and deeply unsettling. I attempted to retrace my steps through the events of the previous day, hoping to identify what might have triggered this sudden onslaught of emotions. Unfortunately, I was unable to pinpoint the exact cause of this emotional turmoil. Especially coming after https://mywalkoffaith.co.ke/embracing-april/ where I stepped into April with a wave of joy, excitement, and eagerness.

With a heavy heart, I reluctantly prepared for work, grappling with the weight of my emotions. I was torn between acknowledging and processing feelings of sadness, yet recognizing the necessity of not allowing them to consume me entirely. If this was me a few years ago, I would have been debating who I need to call to help me think through the situation and get a solution. However, I’m grateful for the growth I’ve experienced through the grace of God, learning to turn to Him in moments of need.

During my commute to work, amidst moments of prayer and meditation, I found it challenging to concentrate as my mind and emotions seemed to be in disarray. The intense sadness and heaviness I felt gave rise to self-destructive thoughts, leading me down a path of harsh self-judgment and condemnation. Suddenly, I found myself dwelling on past mistakes, feeling inadequate and insignificant in the face of my own harsh critique.

I got to work, and my first task is always to engage in devotion, inviting God into the workplace and setting the tone for the day. It’s during this time of prayer that He lead me to Psalm 46:

1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

This verse instantly calmed me down and I smiled because God really knows how to get me. And here He reminded me that I am never alone and never have to feel like am sinking in the boat by myself. He is right there with me, my ever-present help in trouble. He reminded me that in my moment of weakness, I can rely on Him for strength which is perfectly magnified in the moments I feel I am drowning away in my sea of misery. He reminded me that His name is my strong tower and I can run to it any time and be safe as He is my refuge.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

He reminded me the world I live in will never be devoid of chaos but I need to strive to find the joy of the Lord in the midst of chaos because I have nothing to fear. Simply because I know who I am in Christ and the assurance He has given me. In this world we will have trouble but we should take heart because Christ overcame the world.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. This was such a timely word as I was struggling with my emotions at the very break of day and needed to anchor myself back on His word. He reminded me that if God is for me, who can be against me. He reminded me that the weapons would be forged but He would never allow them to prosper. In the midst of the enemy’s onslaught, bombarding my mind with lies, God was present, guiding me to the truth of His word.

6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; He lifts His voice, the earth melts.

He reminded me that in the middle of chaos, either around me or within me, He still reigns because the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it. Only at His command does the world move. In a noisy world where everyone is screaming for my attention and trying to grasp me away from His hands, He remains sovereign above all and therefore His voice should be my only anchor and lighthouse to lead me home.

7 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

The Lord reminded me that am never alone even in those moments am feeling utterly helpless and overwhelmed. The devil is always prowling around like a lion seeking to devour BUT He is my shepherd and He never leaves His sheep alone. That when the rain comes falling down, I can always run to Him for shelter because He is my fortress.

8 Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth.9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

In this beautiful journey of salvation, God reminded me that we each have distinct roles to play. His role is to take the lead, fighting the battles that come our way, while mine is to walk in obedience, allowing Him to guide me and being still as He accomplishes what only He can. My task is simply to trust and obey.

After completing Psalm 46, the cloud of darkness lifted off and I felt a profound peace and a lightness in my heart and spirit. Once again, I could breathe freely, returning to the fountain of joy the Lord welled in me. Despite the enemy’s attempt to steal my joy, the Lord prevailed, and together, we used the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, to emerge victorious.

And am reminded that this is the beauty of coming to God and having real talks with Him. When I gave my life to Christ, I gradually learnt to shift all my venting to God simply because:

  1. I never have to recap the story. God sees all things!
  2. I never feel misunderstood. God intricately knows me!
  3. I never worry about fairness. God is just!
  4. I never fear being ridiculed. God teaches, rebukes and corrects in love and trains me in righteousness.
  5. I never worry about being shamed. God forgives and forgets my transgressions.
  6. I never walk away without a solution. God responds and teaches, corrects, rebukes and trains according to His word.

This is such a freeing way to live because it takes the pressure off myself, off other people and it places it on God who can confidently and comfortably handle it. And P.S He has NEVER FAILED.  As I write this am reminded of the lyrics of a song Talking to Jesus by Elevation Worship:

There’s no wrong way to do it

There’s no bad time to start

It doesn’t have to sound pretty

Just tell Him what’s on your heart

Cause it’s not a religion

It’s more like a friendship

Just talk to your Father

Like you are His kid

Just start talking to Jesus

You can talk to Jesus

Whenever you like

Life will not always be a smooth cruise. We will certainly experience moments we are surfing and having the time of our lives and moments we are hitting sea bottom and struggling to stay afloat. These moments will come whether we like them or not. Some will be triggered by our own doing and some will be slyly orchestrated by the father of all lies, the devil himself. And my prayer for you is that you will walk in wisdom and discernment to understand the seasons of life and above all you will surrender and walk with God as He leads and guides you to your destiny.

It’s okay to open up to our friends, get them to try cheer you up but it’s wrong to place that responsibility and expectation on them. It’s easier to bow down and have a talk with God about your feelings than it is for you to reach out for your phone and try get your friends attention. Because let’s be honest, our friends are not always on our minds and vice versa. But God …He never takes His eyes away from us. He is always ever present and lovingly waiting for us to open up to Him.

So today, as you debate who to tell your problems, talk to the one who already has a solution, your King!

#WhyWorryWhenYouCanPray

#TrustInJesus

#RealTalkWithGod

Inspiration

EMBRACING APRIL!

Happy New Month!

Since stepping into April, a wave of joy, excitement, and eagerness has overwhelmed both my heart and spirit. I find myself singing to everyone I encounter about the sweetness and special aura of this month. There’s something almost tangible yet inexplicable about April. It’s as if the Lord has planted a fountain of joy within me, and I am deeply awed by it. My spirit is buzzing with anticipation for the new thing the Lord is about to do, even though I can’t pinpoint exactly what it is. In a way, I’m grateful I don’t know the precise blueprint of His magnificent plan because it allows me to approach Him with an open mind and heart.

Like a little babe, I know He is my Father and He only has good plans for me, plans to give me a hope and a future, and His plans will never harm me. One of my many favorite memory verses has got to be Luke 12:32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom”.

Many are the times, in our human nature, we think that God thinks like us lol and we end up boxing Him into the confines of our littleness. We think small. We dream small. We expect small. Simply because we are quite small in comparison to His greatness. I believe the moment believers grasp the beauty of God’s character and nature, we will be catapulted into a realm of walking in power and dominion.

The Bible clearly states in 1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.

I don’t know about you but this always gets me super pumped. Every day as I reflect upon the goodness of God in my life, am always truly humbled. Words will never be enough to describe all that God has done for me. I truly know the feeling of being the lost sheep that the Shepherd tirelessly searches for. All I can say is that I was super lost and super broken BUT He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. I am a living testimony of how a broken piece in the hands of the Master can be transformed to a masterpiece for the glory and honor of His name.

And I can only imagine how much more He has in store for me on this beautiful journey of walking with God as He conforms me to the likeness of Christ. 2024 is the year of exceedingly great rewards and with the dawn of April, my excitement is heightened because I know my God is super faithful.

My prayer as I step into the new month is that:

I will continue to dwell in the shelter of the Most High and rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will continue to love the Lord with all of my heart and with all of my soul and with all of my mind.

I will continue to walk in total obedience to His word.

I will continue to hide His word in my heart that I may not sin against Him.

I will continue to let His word be a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.

I will continue to surrender my life to the Good Shepherd and allow Him to lead me.

As I walk besides Him, I will keep praising Him through it all because that’s how we win these battles.

In the moments when the enemy attacks my mind and tries to whisper his deception, I will only anchor on the voice of God. That I will not quench the Holy Spirit but I will utterly, totally and completely depend on Him to guide me to ALL truths.

As we embrace the new month, let us do so with open hearts and minds. Let us welcome its gifts with gratitude and its lessons with humility. May this month be filled with moments of joy, growth, and blessings.

Above all, may we make the most of each day, living with purpose and intention. The beauty of living purposely is knowing what you were born to do then relentlessly pursuing that path with all of your heart, mind and soul.

So may we surrender our lives to God our creator as only He knows why He created you the way you are and what He predestined you to achieve on this world.

Inspiration Motivation

Graves of Craving!

The ongoing joke amidst this intense heatwave we’re all enduring is how Nairobi feels more like an oven than a city; you start your day sun-kissed and end it as burnt offerings! ? I know am not the only one who has craved a chilled, refreshing ice-cold drink, perfect for melting away the sweltering heat of Nairobi’s ‘oven. And the funny bit is, once the image of that chilled drink is planted in your mind, you can’t stop thinking about it, it beckons with promises of relief from the relentless sun as we navigate the streets of this sunbaked city.

Isn’t this scenario quite similar to our life experiences whereby you find yourself chasing after the cravings and desires of your heart? I know I have severally if not most of the time and it’s perfectly normal to have desires, after all we are humans. Our souls are made up of the mind, will and emotions. The soul is the heart of feelings, desires, and affections. In the busy rush of our lives, it’s easy to get caught up in the pursuit of our desires. Whether it’s success in our careers, fulfilling relationships, or material possessions, our hearts often yearn for things we believe will bring us happiness and fulfilment.

It’s so easy to get caught up in the rat race of life, relentlessly pursuing one thing or the other, then ultimately end up fatigued, burnt out and unfulfilled. I know this feeling all too well because I’ve been there myself. It turns out the problem was channeling my efforts and energy into the wrong ventures as well as channeling them into the right ventures but at the wrong season. A one year old baby can’t wake up and start running, a five year old child isn’t expected to be a driver and a ten year old isn’t mature for a relationship/marriage…Life works in seasons and phases. No matter how hard we try, when the season isn’t right, chances are high that things won’t work out optimally as they were originally designed to. Ecclesiastes 3:1 there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. Wisdom guides us to walk in discernment, allowing us to differentiate between the seasons.

The Bible is rich with scriptures that talk about the desires of our heart:

Psalms 37 4 Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalms 145 16 You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

Psalms 145 19 He fulfils the desires of those who fear him; He hears their cry and saves them.

At first glance, these verses might seem to promise that God will grant us whatever we want if we just delight in Him but as Christians we are called to examine the desires of our hearts and align them with God’s will. When we delight ourselves in the Lord, when we cultivate a deep relationship with God, spending time in prayer, studying His Word, and seeking His guidance, our desires begin to shift. A story is told of a young man, an addicted chain smoker, who got born again. Every Sunday, when the pastor asked if anyone had a testimony, he would gladly and boldly stand and share that he had smoked a certain number of cigarettes, much to the chagrin of the elders. But what was amazing is that every week, the number of packets gradually reduced until one day he stood and testified that he had stopped smoking. When we start to desire the things that are close to God’s heart, our desires begin to align with His will.

The book of Numbers 11 tells a chilling experience of unruly desires. Background story: the Lord had delivered the children of Israel from Egypt and they were en route to their promised land. The entire way they kept incessantly mumbling and grumbling about one thing or another. The first complaint, as seen in Exodus 14, arose when they found themselves at the edge of the Red Sea with the Egyptians hot on their heels. It seemed they were caught between a rock and a hard place but God through Moses made a way for them to cross. The second complaint, detailed in Exodus 15:22-25, occurred when they couldn’t find water to drink. Upon arriving at Marah, the water they found was too bitter. Moses cried out to the Lord, who then showed him a log. Moses threw it into the water, miraculously turning the bitter water sweet. The third complaint {Exodus 16} arose when they arrived at the desert of Sin and the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, saying, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger. The Lord heard and rained down bread from heaven.

The story continues, detailing how they persisted in complaining against God and Moses, despite the numerous ways in which God had proven Himself faithful in keeping His promises. In Numbers 11: 1-2 the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when He heard them His anger was aroused. Then fire from the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the Lord and the fire died down. You’d think they would learn their lesson, right? Wrong. Lol. In verse 4, the rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!”

Moses heard the people of every family wailing at the entrance to their tents and the Lord became exceedingly angry, and responded to Moses “tell the people: ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat. The Lord heard you when you wailed, “If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!” Now the Lord will give you meat, and you will eat it.  You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, ten or twenty days, but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and you loathe it—because you have rejected the Lord, who is among you, and have wailed before Him, saying, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?”

And true to His word, a wind went out from the Lord and drove quail in from the sea. It scattered them up to two cubits deep all around the camp, as far as a day’s walk in any direction. All that day and night and all the next day the people went out and gathered quail. No one gathered less than 1.6 metric tons. Then they spread them out all around the camp but while the meat was still between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the anger of the Lord burned against the people, and He struck them with a severe plague. Therefore the place was named Kibroth Hattaavah, [graves of craving] because there they buried the people who had craved other food.

What a tragic irony, that the very thing for which they cried and lamented became the very source of their downfall. Despite my numerous readings of this chapter, it never fails to send a shiver down my spine. The gravity of the situation is palpable and I find myself compelled to pause and reflect as my heart cries out in prayer.

Oh Lord, we humbly pray for the alignment of our desires and cravings with Your divine will, so that we may walk in obedience to Your commands. Grant us the strength to resist the temptation to covet and desire that which is not ordained for us in each season of our lives. Help us refrain from murmuring and demanding things that ultimately lead to our own misery and spiritual death.

May we always seek Your wisdom, enabling us to recognize Your voice amidst the noise of the world. Grant us the discernment to understand Your will and the seasons of our lives, guiding us to walk in obedience. In those challenging moments where taking up our cross to follow You feels contrary to our natural instincts, teach us to trust in Your goodness. Even when Your plans diverge from our own desires, instill in us the faith to believe that Your intentions for us are always for our ultimate good.

Thank you that Christ set the perfect example of aligning His desires with the Father’s will. In the garden of Gethsemane, facing the weight of the cross, He prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” Luke 22:42. In this moment of intense human struggle, our Savior submitted His desires to the will of the Father, ultimately bringing salvation to all who believe.

Lord we are grateful for the desires You have placed in our hearts. Help us to align these desires with Your perfect will. Give us the strength to surrender our plans to You, trusting that Your ways are higher than ours. May we delight in You above all else, knowing that as we seek You first, You will give us the desires of our hearts and as we align the desires of our hearts with Your will, we will find a deep sense of peace and fulfilment that the world cannot offer. Our desires will no longer be driven by selfish ambition but by a desire to honor and glorify God in all that we do.

May we not be like the seed that falls among thorns, hearing Your word and letting the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke out the word, rendering us unfruitful. May this seed fall on good soil, that we will hear the word and understand it leading us to produce a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

Help us Lord that we will not love the world or the things in the world for all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life, is not from the Father but is from the world. Remind us always that the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Teach us to rejoice in You always and to give thanks in all circumstances. And Lord when we get overwhelmed with worry and anxiety about anything, remind us that in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, we are called to present our requests to You. For You have promised that Your peace which transcends all understanding, will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.

Lord teach us to bring our desires before You in prayer and shape them to reflect Your perfect will for our lives. Help us to dive into Your word to understand Your heart so that our desires begin to align with God’s principles. Give us the strength to surrender our will to You, to let go of our plans and embracing Yours, even when it’s uncomfortable or unclear.

Surround us with fellow believers who will encourage and support us on this journey, who will share the struggles and victories with one another, and pray together for God’s will to be done in our lives. Above all, may we continually seek to align our desires with God’s will, finding true joy and fulfilment in You alone, for the glory and honor of Your name. Amen!

Inspiration

It Will Add Up!

16th February 2024. Today is just one of those days you feel meeh! You know you are okay and nothing is wrong but yet you don’t feel okay and you really can’t pinpoint why you are feeling so. You feel like your feelings are all over you and you can’t wash them away, lol. You reflect back and you have had a pretty good week and achieved your goals at work in spite of the challenging factors outside your control. You think to yourself, maybe you have strained and your body is hinting at burn out because after all you were on sick off the entire previous week {explains why I didn’t publish a blog post}. So you decide that a good rest is what you need over the weekend, just sleep in and let your mind, soul and body breathe. Probably throw in some comfort food so the stomach feels included in the self-love plan. Then you start to feel lighter at the thought of this.

If only life was this simple to figure out, like this is what is happening and this is what I need to do to get these results so you go ahead and do it and voila, you get the exact expected results. Simple, right?. But we both know it’s not as easy as A, B, C…well at least not all the times. Some days you just can’t seem to figure things out. You have done your part and yet things are not falling in place. How do you explain the days when you’re burning with zeal and passion to pursue all you intend, and then other days when you’re burning out? How do you explain the stark contrast between the promises of God and your current circumstances? I know how frustrating this place can be and I empathize more with unbelievers because who do you turn to when you get here?

I am glad that in these moments I can turn to God for solace, for comfort, for wisdom and guidance and above all for light in the darkness. I am glad He is always there, always ready to embrace me and hold my hand through the maze called life and He gladly teaches me and orders my steps. I am glad that even when I can’t see what lies ahead, I know the one who holds tomorrow and He has assured me that He has gone ahead of me to prepare the way and that He is walking with me every step of the day.

Reading the bible greatly encourages me in such moments because Romans 15:4 states “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope”.

It is encouraging to know that some, if not most of the great men and women in the bible, went through these moments as well. I think of Abraham, promised that he would be blessed, made a great nation and that all people on earth would be blessed through him. God promised him that his offspring would be like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then his offspring could be counted. Yet he waited 25 years for his son. I wonder what was going through his mind those 24 years of waiting, knowing what God said and trusting in spite of the circumstances.

I think of Joseph, who dreamed as a 17-year-old that God would make him a great leader, greater than any of his family members. His brothers hated him with such zeal that they threw him into a pit before selling him into slavery. We know the whole story, from the pit to Potiphar’s house, to prison, and finally to the palace. It took 13 years of pain in Egypt for him to enter Pharaoh’s service as his second in command.

I think of Moses who was raised as Pharaoh’s son and yet deep in him, he knew his calling wouldn’t allow him to identify as his son as stated in Hebrews 11:24-26. “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.  He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.” When he ran away from Egypt and lived with his father in law for 40 years, I wonder what was going through his mind, knowing the great purpose ordained for him and yet living as a shepherd in a foreign land.

I think of David, who was anointed to be king as a young shepherd boy. He didn’t even look the part because he was Samuel’s last choice. Then he endured being viciously fought by Saul until his ascension on the throne at 30 years old. I wonder what was going through his mind during those difficult years of being chased like a dog, facing several attempted murders, fleeing from home, and living in caves, all while knowing he was the rightful anointed king.

Hebrews 11 is a summary of the men and women of faith and yet it is written that they were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth Hebrews 11:13.  Imagine that!

Life will not always make sense and I have come to understand that we are not expected to make sense of it always. Some seasons we will walk in boldness of knowing the blueprint of God in our lives. Some seasons we have to walk in faith and not sight because all we have is His word, His promise and the assurance of His character. And that will be more than enough. We won’t always get the full picture of how it will be. All we have are bits here and bits there as we try and figure the whole picture out.

Looking back at my life, I spent so many years trying to figure it out myself, I ended up making the wrong decisions all because I wanted control over the pieces of the puzzle. I wanted so bad to be in charge of how it all fit in that I didn’t notice I was slowly putting myself up for misery.

We can’t figure our lives on our own, not without running to the arms of the one who knows why He created us and the exact reason He created us. Anything less of this will be us trying to grope around, fitting pieces here and there, some fit in, some stick out like a sore thumb, but nothing will come close to looking like the masterpiece the Creator had in mind in for us. Because He is the God of perfection, His plans are good, pleasing and perfect, anything we do outside His will be a cheap imitation.

The only person who knows the beginning from the end, who knows what works and what won’t work, who knows the plans for our lives is our creator Himself. He says so in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

In the days when things don’t make sense, I pray that your faith will carry you through because the God in whom you have believed in is faithful. He keeps His word and none will return to Him void without fulfilling the purpose He intended it for. When God promises you something, believe Him for it because it is already in existence in His realm and at His appointed time, you will walk in the fulfilment of the manifestations. It may not look like it at the moment but oh it will soon! And when it does, you will look back in hindsight and join the dots of the puzzle called life and it will add up.

Like Joseph did when he revealed himself to his brothers “Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no ploughing and reaping.  But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt” Genesis 45:4-8

Am I still trying to figure out the pieces and puzzles of my life? Yes, I still think of how I’d want my life to be but I don’t fight God about it anymore. Yes, I have desires, but am learning to conform them to His. It’s His way, His will. He does what is best for me and I do what’s best for us (Him and I), I obey because I’ve learnt that obedience is the key to in the walk of faith.

Is my life making sense? Not always but I am letting Him use me in His Kingdom for His glory and honor.

Do I know what lies ahead for me? Not entirely, just bits and pieces of the blueprint of where He is taking me. The rest, only He does and as along as my hand is in the hands of Him who holds tomorrow, am buckled up, excited for the amazing ride we will have because am assured there’s no way this could turn out wrong.

Am I happy? Absolutely, I am infinitely blessed, thankful and whole. My pieces and puzzles are in the right hands and He is making a Master Piece.

Let Him do the same for you, won’t you?

Inspiration Motivation

Valley Of Berakah!

Happy New Month!

Just the other day we were excitedly crossing over to 2024 and today we are on the second day of the second month. Time indeed flies. I know most of us, if not all ,have goals/resolutions for the year and my prayer is that you are striving to grow in what I believe are the core spheres of  life namely spiritual, mental development, assignment, financial, relationships and health.

One of my spiritual goals this year is to complete a 1-year bible plan on 01/01/2025 and by God’s grace this is an area I don’t struggle with. I love reading my bible and despite having read it cover to cover severally, it’s always exciting to embark on this journey again simply because every time I open the word of God, He gifts me a fresh revelation.

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. “ Hebrews 4:12

Rick Warren rightly said: “God’s Word generates life, creates faith, produces change, frightens the devil, causes miracles, heals hurts, builds character, transforms circumstances, imparts joy, overcomes adversity, defeats temptation, infuses hope, releases power, cleanses our minds, brings things into being and guarantees our future forever.” God’s word is truly alive, active and far more powerful than any of us can ever imagine.

I have been born again since 26th May 2016 and I can confidently say that salvation is a beautiful, exhilarating and life changing journey but truth be told it’s not always glitz and glam. It has its hills and valleys moment. Moments you’re on the mountain top celebrating victories and testimonies and answered prayers: the highlights of your walk of faith. Then the other moments when you’re knee deep in the valleys, drowning in fear, battling unbelief and fighting raging wars within your spirit and your environment.

I’ve had my fair share of highs and lows: highs that have been incredibly-mind blowing and literally the favour of God shining through and lows that have been down right heart-breaking. But in these moments, God has greatly encouraged me, assuring me that He knows and sees the end from the beginning so He knows how the story started, how it will end and everything in between. Nothing catches Him by surprise. In all these moments, He remains God and I am assured that He works ALL things together for good to them that love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Today I’ll share one of my favorite valley story in the bible that always encourages me.

2nd Chronicles, Chapter 20.

Looming Battle:

The chapter opens up in verse 1 with a heavy profound statement “After this, the Moabites and Ammonites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat.”

Background story: in chapter 19, Jehoshaphat carried out an intense revival campaign throughout the land urging the people to turn back to God. He then went ahead and appointed God fearing judges and instructed them, “Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for mere mortals but for the Lord, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. Now let the fear of the Lord be on you. Judge carefully, for with the Lord our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery. “He then proceeded to appoint Levites, priests and heads of Israelite families to administer the law of the Lord and to settle disputes. He gave them these orders: “You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the Lord. Jehoshaphat was on fire and zeal for God and his passion was very impactful as a leader. You would think that after such a fiery season, there would be great reward but the very next chapter we are told his enemies united to wage war against him

Lesson: Serving God diligently and faithfully doesn’t always insulate you against battles. God has ordained a special set of circumstances, some are positive and some are not, but He knows ultimately it is for our advantage. In between where you are and the next level you desire are battles and because God knows we will never initiate them on our own accord (lol), He will arrange them for us. Our job is to keep a steadfast gaze on Him and not be overwhelmed by the surrounding circumstances.

Reaction to Battle:

When Jehoshaphat was informed of the approaching enemies, he was alarmed (who wouldn’t) but his next approach is what distinguished him as a servant of God. “3 He resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.”

He didn’t let his alarm get the best of him, he knew where to immediately turn to, he knew where his help came from, he knew he never walked alone, he knew God is his refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. I wish I could confidently say that his approach is always my 1st response but truth be told, I have my many moments where I let circumstances and emotions get the best of me. And in those moments I always end up anxious to the core, worried and anxious until the Holy Spirit has to step in and remind me who I am and who I belong to. He is teaching me and am learning to take captive all those thoughts and make them obedient to Christ.

Lesson: Make God your first and only priority whom you turn to and depend on for everything and in all situations and circumstances, good or bad. You have not been called to do life alone. You can only do all things through Christ who strengthens you and ultimately it is not by your strength or might but by His Spirit.

Jehoshaphat cried out to God:

“6 Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7 Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9 ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’10 “But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. 11 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. 12 Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

He didn’t pray his fear or his feelings based on the prevailing circumstance (like we are tempted to do most times). He didn’t go to God lamenting how he had been faithfully serving God and now he was under attack. He didn’t make mindless prayers in the face of great adversity. He confidently prayed the word of God, He acknowledged God’s power and sovereignty over all the earth. He remembered the great deeds and victory God had granted them in the past with their forefathers. He reminded God the promise He had given them when Solomon built the great temple of God: that when they stood in His presence before His temple that bears His Name and cried out to Him in distress, He would hear them and save them. Then he surrendered his enemies into God’s hand and expressed his utter dependence on God alone. This was such a beautiful and powerful prayer.

Lesson: May the Lord teach us to love and delight in His word. May He teach us to pray His word at all times. God will never go against His word. May His word be our anchor over our thoughts, feelings, deeds and circumstances.

“God is not human, that He should lie, not a human being, that He should change his mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfil?” Numbers 23:19

“All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever” 1st Peter 1:25

“So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it”. Isaiah 55:11

Response to Battle: God

Because our God is a faithful God, He responded to Jehoshaphat:

‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”

I can only imagine the relief he must have felt when he heard the word of God. Many are the times our faint hearts probably expect that God will totally annihilate the enemies just like that and we won’t have to do a thing or break a sweat. And He totally can do this but He won’t all the times because in our relationship with God, we are both required to act. He faithfully does His part and waits on us to obediently do our part.

God assured Jehoshaphat that the enemies would still come and he would still need to face them but the battle belonged to God.

Lesson: In the midst of storms of life, don’t wear yourself out with worry and anxiety and the little strength you have of your own. Turn to God and let Him fight for you.

Response to Battle: You and I

The immediate response of Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah was they fell on their knees, face to the ground and worshipped God then the priests stood up and praised God with a loud voice. ’20 early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” 21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of His[c] holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever.”

And we are told that as they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another. Would you imagine that? When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped.

This the part that greatly excites my spirit and makes me break out in joy. When God fights for you! Glory to Jesus! They didn’t have to lift a finger, all they lifted were their hearts to look up to God, their voices to give praise and worship God and their feet to move in obedience and march down against the enemies. Period! The rest was left to God and boy didn’t He put up a mighty show for the glory and honor of His name!

And the cherry on the ice cake: on top of the seamless victory, Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. Look at God!

Lesson: As soon as they began to praise, God acted and set ambushes: your victory heavily relies on your obedience, if they hadn’t stepped out in faith, I shudder to imagine the outcome. What a faithful and awesome God we serve who not only meets our immediate needs but also lovingly looks out for our wants and lavishes upon us His overwhelming blessings, more than we could ask or imagine. What won’t God with a broken and surrendered heart? May we learn to truly let go and let God, to be still and know He is God and to surrender our hearts, minds, bodies and everything concerning us to Him. There is nothing too big or too small that He won’t fight for you.

After Victory:

On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah, where they praised the Lord. This is why it is called the Valley of Berakah [Berakah means praise.] to this day. Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the Lord with harps and lyres and trumpets.

Lesson: Don’t be so overexcited at the victories, the blessings, the miracles that you forget to give thanks to God who enabled all things to work in your favor. Never be so caught up in seeking God only for what He can give you but always for the intimacy of His presence and the sweet fellowship of a relationship with Him.

Then we are told at the end that the fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.

Lesson: When God wins a battle for you, you don’t have to fight that one ever again, it’s marked as ‘done and dusted’ lol. Don’t strive for the peace that the world gives, which always comes at a costly price of compromise but let God give you His peace.

I’ve read this chapter countless times but it still always gets me excited all over again like a little girl and as I type this am shaking in joy and can’t stop praying, praising and above grateful that am blessed to call this God my God!!Most times we hear that valley seasons are full of pain and anguish but here is a testimony that when you trust God in your valleys, you can still smile and come out praising Him in victory.

In this life you have so many adversaries and yet you are oh so little BUT you have a BIG GOD and that in itself balances the equation. Won’t you let God fight for you?

*****

I’d like to challenge you this year: pick up your bible, let’s read and grow together. There are countless bible plans that will help structure your reading and one of my fave resource that I have come to love is https://www.youversion.com/.

See you on the other side of growth!

 

Inspiration

Cheers To The New Year!

19th January 2024 and the first blog of the year. Happy New Year dear reader!

My prayer is that we are all in good health and high spirits as we embark on the exciting journey that the New Year brings. 2024 is still young and fresh, full of hope and excitement of what it brings forth for us. The year still smells of its newness (for some of us, lol) with goals, dreams, hopes and desires for a fruitful, productive and prosperous year. Day 19 and am still super excited for the New Year; I’m super excited to see what God has in store for me.

Late in 2022 before crossing over to 2023, I was in a season of prayer and God gave me His word that He is opening a door and much would begin to shift through this new space, a dimension of change and He was unlocking my purpose and especially in my gifting’s and potential. At that point I really couldn’t pinpoint what God had in store or more accurately I wasn’t spiritually mature enough (then, lol) to exactly discern it, all I had was a deep gut conviction in my spirit. So when crossing over to 2023, I was certain that I was not just physically crossing into a new year but it was a change of season, the end of closed doors and the dawn of a new era of open doors. I knew that God was leading me to right where He needed me to be.

True to it, 2023, the Lord gifted me this burning hunger and desire for Him and I pursued Him with all of my heart. I did not just read my bible, I studied it and meditated on His word. I became more intentional in the gathering of believers and attended as many nurturing fellowships as I could where we talked, shared and spent time reading the word, praying and holding each other accountable to ensure we were all growing deep in God. I devoted my time and gifts to serving in the marriage ministry in my church where we walked with couples desiring to set God as the foundation of the marriages. I spent time listening and studying sermons of men and women of God as the Spirit would lead and guide me. I wasn’t seeking Him for what I could get in return, nope, I just wanted Him.I had my deskie ask me one day at work ‘apart from church stuff, what else do you do?’ lol. The core of my being was entirely devoted to seeking God and growing in and with Him, the rest didn’t matter as much to me.

James 4:8–10 writes, Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.

I have truly walked in the fullness of that word. As I grew more intimate with Him, He began to reveal Himself more to me and also reveal my identity and the fullness of it in Him. I grew more grounded and confident of who I am in Him and the limitless power I carry as the child of God and His chosen vessel. I grew out of being bothered/triggered by small weightless things, I was less anxious about what was/is to come because I was now walking in light, in knowledge and in revelation. He gave me dreams, visions and a Rhema word of His perfect will for my life and I was walking and resting in assurance.

I am simply, truly and deeply overwhelmed by God’s doing. He is Ebenezer and faithful to His word; none of His word falls to the ground. 2023 was the year of open doors and I saw God move in my life, not only for me but also for my family. We saw God move in ways that only He could; we dwelt more in His presence, we walked in favor, provision and protection, we experienced His healing, the list is simply endless. I have loads of testimonies: in summary it was a God Year and He showed up and showed off lavishly.

Most of us know God as a father, healer, provider but He is also a rewarder, the rewarder of men. My core verse was “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6

2024 without a doubt I am confidently assured that I am still walking in the blessing of that new season because when God opens a door, NO MAN can shut it.

“These are the words of Him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.” Revelation 3:7-8

This explains my excitement for 2024 because I have tasted and seen that the Lord is incredibly amazing and I am looking forward to growing in more intimacy with Him, to walking into more open doors and to be lavished by His overwhelmingly great and exceeding rewards.

This is my prayer for you as well:

I pray that as you have begun the year, you will anchor yourself on the rock who is CHRIST, the only firm foundation, the rest are sinking sand.

I pray that as you are excitedly planning and setting goals, that God will be a priority and He will find room in your hearts and your lives.

I pray that you will desire to know Him more starting from right where you because you are never far away, all you need is to turn back and He will meet you there.

I pray that you will experience God in a way that you never have and in doing so, you will experience freedom from every captivity, chains and strongholds that have been holding you back.

I pray that you will find your freedom in Christ alone because He paid for it ALL.

I pray that you will come to the full understanding of how much God deeply loves you and that nothing you have done/ will do can separate you from His love.

I pray that you will prosper concerning all things and to be in good health, just as your soul prospers.

I pray that God will shake off every foundation, connection and relationship that is not of Him as He anchors you on His will.

I pray that God will make you lie upon lush pastures and He will lead you by restful waters.

Above all, I pray that you will distinctively know His voice as you walk in obedience to Him.

So here is a toast to the New Year!!

Cheers to learning and growing together as the Lord leads us.

Amen!