How To Get The Answers

"I will stand my watch and station myself on the rampart; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint" Habakkuk 2:1 NIV

Yeah, it's been a while. The silence hadn't been due to lack of zeal or utterance. It was a break to prepare and plan. So by His grace, i'm back and better.

Straight to the heart of the matter, everybody needs answer. If not, Google wouldn't be bombarded with questions ranging from "what to eat" or "how to care for my dogs". Believers also want answers to their numerous heartfelt needs. However, while it takes just few seconds to get your answers from Google, hearing or getting answers from God often take longer than that. We have all at one time of our lives felt as though God is too slow in answering us. It is the goal of this article to open our eyes to ways we can get specific answers from God according to His timing and will.

God speaks and expressly too. Why we don't hear him most time is because we are off channel or fixed up to even pay attention to the voice of His word. In case you are awaiting God's mind regarding what and how on a particular areas of your life, you may have to pay close attention to the following steps and realign where necessary.

Where: Oh my! Does God has a specific place? The whole of the scripture is filled with invitations  for believers to come. As you know every appointment has a venue. This is  where to meet with God and listen to specific instructions. When God also calls, it is not always to a deserted mountain or a lone motel but an invitation to the place you usually meet. Doesn't it sound like a date? Now search your heart, where do you usually hear God? It could be in church during worship, during pastor's sermon, or your personal devotion, the three work for me though. We may have to identify our individual place and stay there. We always complain how challenging it is to wait to hear God's voice, perhaps, He is been waiting for us to show up all along.

When: Though God speaks every time, we all have our different times and periods that we access His word more. While early in the morning works for some people, others would prefer late in the night. Is yours during the heat of the afternoon sun or in the coolest of the night as you meditate on your bed or as you pray or praise God with His people? Identify your time and henceforth be in your place at your time.

After the two factors above have been settled, then we begin to wonder how long the waiting is going to be. We must never forget that God is never late. Perhaps God want us to wait a little longer in order for Him to work on our hearts and prepare us for what He has to say. We must learn to persevere in waiting. What if additional twenty minutes in His presence is all you need to get the long awaited answer. You might never discover that if you don't try it.

So simple and so profound are these steps if they are consciously and prayerfully considered. God cannot be put in a box though, you may have to be sensitive per time in case you seem to miss in your specific place and time.

Why Am I different? (2)

   

In the earliest post, I wrote about the futility of comparing ourselves to others especially in the areas of our physical features. 

We have been fed wrongly and so accepting ourselves the way we are seems a bit challenging. The reason being that all our lives, we've believed something is wrong with us. Perhaps loved ones have consistently confimed our insecurities, we've accepted their verdicts because we thought they were right about us. Then the wound has gone deeper, confidence lower and self esteem has dwindled.

Depending on the extent of the emotional bruise, healing may take time. As you take each dose of the below listed suggestions, I believe you'll discover the pleasure inherent in seeing yourself the way your maker sees you.

First thing first! Identify that part of your body that you're ashamed of or you really aren't comfortable with. It could be the shape of your head, nose, size of your tummy...whatever gets you intimidated by others. You'll be surprised to discovered you have only been insecure because you thought others' are better.

Now, it is time to find out what God says about that part and your whole body. You will have to meditate on and declare God's word concerning that area. There is need to remind yourself every now and then how God describes you. This will definitely reprogram your mind, it'll purge it of every erroneous perceptions and replace it with beautiful and godly thoughts. You also need to extend grace to others' frame too. Are there people you believed aren't as beautiful, smart, confident as you are?

Start seeing these ones the exalt way you believe God sees them. And that includes no ridiculous and condescending comments about others.

You may also have to deal with funny and intimidating comments from loved ones. Whenever a friend, siblings or mates want to make jest of you, calmly remind them of what God says about you. Trust me, you'll never have to correct them again. The other side of this coin is to equally give positive comments always.  Remember what you give has a way of getting back to you. 

In case you really desire to add weight, lose it or want an improvement on any of your features, begin with the right belief.  See all you have to do as means to a healthier and confident you because God created you the way you are and accepted you, you're not in anyway less than others.

Why Am I Different?

" l know I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that fully well" Psalm 139:14

We might not be able to pinpoint how it started and why, all we can see is the unsatisfied teenagers and confused adults. Everyone has responded in a way to the societal picture of the ideal woman; thin is beautiful and fat is ugly, fair is good, dark is dull...we now find it difficult to recognize each other when the light is on because of the many cover ups that has tainted our shades and colours.

As it is, the world is doing a great job in reshaping women to its norms, Christian women need not undergo the rigour of fitting in but to just stand out, joyfully embracing the figure God has blessed them with.

God doesn't make mistakes. In creation, He never compared any creature to another. We didn't hear God say" Night is better than Day because that's when man rests". However, He clearly declares them good "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good..." Definitely, in God's schemes of things, night and day is only relative to man as each has its purpose unique and different from other but in no way better. Also, who can boldly declare that blue is better than yellow, green better than purple or black better than red? Are they not all types of colours providing a wide variety for man to choose from,depending on the individual tastes?

Where then do we get the idea of comparing ourselves to ourselves? From whom did we learn that the taller the better, the fairer the prettier or the bustier the happier? Obviously, it isn't from God as He who made us in His image wouldn't feed us with self degrading thoughts.

It's time to start embracing and appreciating God's work in us. We need to stop apologizing for our coloured hair, fleshy legs, fat hips, fuller lips or whatever the features that we think is less attractive or acceptable to others. We must be free to be who we are without feeling odd because someone out there desires the exact thing you're complaining about. I always find it amusing when my fat friends wants to lose weight while the slim ones are looking for tips to gain additional weight. Funny how one person's poison is food for another!

As we were made in the semblance of God, that means we are as smart as smart can be, pretty as much as required and very unique. Others are as good as you are, you must not allow the devil to steal your joy.

I actually believe you are cute, intelligent and lovely the way I am... What do you think?

Watch out for the concluding part.

When God Shut That Door!

  
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" Romans 8:28 NIV.

Blessed day friends! I believe your experience thus far in the week has been delightsome. It is the last hours of the month of July and I am thankful to the one who has brought me this far.
Still in the mood of thanksgiving, my mind reminisced on past years, I checked my journals and my discovery surprised me: the list of prayer requests, aspirations and desires. I was overwhelmed with how God answered and denied each one of them. One interesting thing about those things denied or blocked by God is that I actually didn't need those things, they have had no negative impact on where I am today.
But trust me, I didn't feel that way then. Those things got me thinking I couldn't survive without them but I eventually did. God had practically brought me through that season and I have come to realise how all things work out for my good.
That's my story! Let's talk about yours. Are you seeing God's hand in your distressing experiences? You probably aren't aware of how God scared away that abusive lover of yours. You may not know God denying you that offer was His way of  shielding  you from being wrongly influenced.
Yes, you felt disappointed by God. You were so sure about that job until it was given to someone less qualified than you; you still failed that course after sleepless nights and positive confessions; you were so convinced you'll make a lovely couple until he proposed to your best friend; you watched people less committed than you being favoured while you had to be turned down every now and then; you were so confident about stepping out in faith until you landed in trouble... the list is endless but each attempt to figure out the reasons for this experiences can be fruitless. All we need to hold on to is that God's love is unfailing.
We may not know why some things happen or why they don't but we can always be assured of His consistent love. When this phase has ended, you will definitely realise that it was by His mercy and grace that some doors were shut.

 Help, I'm Lonely!

"Lonely, I'm Mr Lonely, I have nobody for my own..."

Sounds familiar I guess. You know the rest of the lyrics right? The tune we all hum in the secrecy of our hearts while wishing we had someone to lean on, someone who cares, someone we can really call our own.
The cry for companionship can be intense. Single folks, widows and divorced can tell the tale. It is definitely true that everybody has needs, everyone needs a companion. However, married people are not left out, the feeling often transcends what absence of people can initiate, it gets worse when the heart longs for more intimacy, love and attention while in the midst of people. It now means that loneliness doesn't thrive in the absence of others but  in the innermost need of the person. Whether married or single, we can still have memorable experience in this season. Here are the ways to respond to this need whenever it comes knocking.

Know That It Is Normal: Just like it's normal to be thirsty, hungry or sleepy, loneliness is normal. It doesn't mean you're not contented or you're relaxing in your trust in God, rather it signals the need in your life, reminds you of what is needed but is missing. There is really nothing wrong with that you know.

Don't Blame Others: Oh, stop it! Please don't pass the blame on others. Many time, we easily shift the bulk of the blame on our insensitive partners, clueless friends even parents or siblings. We've concluded that it's the duty of these ones to make us feel whole and complete. However, only God can do that.  As such, we shouldn't blame others for not doing what only God can do.

Eat: Whatever you do when you feel hungry or thirsty, exactly what you have to do in this case. Since loneliness signals the need that couldn't possibly be met by our strength, then we have to seek the one who can satisfy our quests- God. Explain your needs to Him without reservations, He can be trusted to reply you without condemnation. And of course, He knows how to fix all hunger.

Reach Out To People: Loneliness can make one get extremely self absorbed, but snap out of it. It isn't good for you. Remember the golden rule" Do unto others what you want them to do unto you " A senior friend taught me to show love to people around me during this time. Trust me when I say the burden gets lifted as I do this. There is always someone nearby who needs your love. You never can tell how God can use them to bless you.

Gratitude: This obviously works for all season. Never bow your head in shame, always be grateful to God for life. Remember that only the living gets hungry.

See Lessons From Mary Slessor

 

Though Mary Slessor was buried a century ago, the indelible mark she made during her life time is evergreen. She wasn't just the first female missionary in the heart of Africa but the very first whose impact is still relevant decades after her demise.  Her story is such that inspires one to totally release oneself to the plans and purpose of God for one's life. Let's explore her life together and let see one or two things to emulate.

Her Background: Hers wasn't a wealthy home, so she lived a simple life always living from hand to mouth. She rose to the challenge by fetching additional income for the family. Her teenage years was spent between school and work in order to augment the meagre salary of her mother. She often had to take care of her siblings. This responsibility she sheltered all through her life in Africa taking care of weak and abandoned children. How God prepares us! What are your experiences in previous years? What have you learn from them? The over protective parents, abusive uncle, noisy cousin and annoying siblings may be God's instruments in moulding you. The little discomfort you experienced in your childhood may be a training. There is actually a message in your mess.

Her Faith: Greatly influenced by her mother's faith, she turned to God early in life. Believing in God's saving grace, she joined the saints bringing the light to Africa. She came at a time when Malaria was as deadly as Ebola. She was unwavering in her commitment to the gospel despite her challenges. She obviously believed that God and one is a majority. What is your belief now? Do you see light at the end of the tunnel? Can you also set out in faith? You have a big God.

Her Heart: Her gracious heart must have bled at the height of cruelty and savagery of African then. She however stood her ground fighting for women right, abolishion of slavery and abandonment of twin babies. Just like the, the society is still in need of people to protest against illiteracy, poverty, child abuse and of course rape. Will you be the voice of change? What will you do or say to make this world a better place.

Her Womb: She neither married nor have any biological children, yet, she adopted the unloved and jettisoned children. Her home was a place of solace, comfort and shelter to these young lives. She was a mother in all ramifications. She birthed grace into this ones.

Some of her favorite quotes are listed here:

If you are ever inclined to pray for a missionary, do it at once, wherever you are.

It were worthwhile to die, if thereby a soul could be born again.

If you play with temptation do not expect God will deliver you

The secret of all failure is disobedience.

Love is the root of missions; sacrifice is the fruit of missions.

Sin is loss for time and eternity.

Now, this is the conclusion of the whole matter,Fear God and keep His commandment for this is the whole duty of man. Ecc 12:13