Best Of

(⛔️Trigger Warning)  

😁Y’all, in this journey of faith, there are often misconceptions and judgments that cloud our paths. Shall I testify🙋‍♀️?? Many say you can’t be of the world and be a Christian, but I stand here as living proof of the contrary. I came to Christ while fully embracing my "identity", which said, “I am only human” or “I’m not perfect.”. And despite lingering desires and struggles like lust, alcohol, pornography, and self-harm, I kept showing up at church, attending prayers and revivals, and clinging to my love for God. The Holy Spirit was guiding me through deep sermons and scriptures, yet still, the struggles persisted. Nevertheless, believe it or not, my commitment to Christ deepened with each passing day.

Then, one morning, I woke up to a realization - my satisfaction with these 'things' was slowly decreasing. Each time I had an urge or craving, I reluctantly prayed. (Yes I prayed.) Did He not say we must Cast our burdens unto Him, and He will sustain us? (Psalm 55:22) Exactly! So I told God plainly how I really wanted a drink or to harm myself, or watch porn because they would make me feel good. But that’s just it, I wasn’t praying because I knew I would feel good, I was praying because of the feeling of guilt and disgust I knew would overcome me afterwards. WAIT!😐️ What just happened? The longing for the Lord had grown from just showing up on Sundays to happening internally now every day. Do not despise the prayers and worship that don't yield instant results!🙌 (Inspired by Zechariah 4:10) The transformation had long begun, the cravings were dying. I just could not see it at the time. The great work He had begun, was just that- WORK! Think about it, no work has ever been instant, that's why we return from our jobs tired, every day!! 

Sis, Its a process, of faith and surrender. God's transformative work isn't hindered by human judgment or expectations. It is not a two-minute magic process. It is messy, you will cry, your pride will die, your heart will be broken, and I even lost weight! But as Job said, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him” (Job 13:15). Surrender to the difficulty, the discomfort, and the suffering, it is for your salvation! Now, years later, I stand as a testament to God's grace. God is still at work. I am still learning that He is enough and He has been. I am still in church without fail surrounded by a cloud of loving witnesses, but the difference? I am encouraged to keep pursuing my Father God, Seeking His Kingdom, drawing nearer to Him😍.

#SeekTheKingdom #ChristMade #EvidenceofGrace 

The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts.- Haggai 2:9

We thank God that He is always with us, even during those kicks He is still with us and He is still our God, I am reminded of 2 Corinthians 4 verse 8-9 which says "we are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed" and I am mostly comforted by verse 16 which says "Therefore we do not lose heart, even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day", kicks will be there but we have God who loves and takes care of us❤️

"There's a profound sense of spiritual support and love available to us. God, in His boundless love, has equipped us and keeps equipping us with all the grace necessary to journey through life in His glory"

It's so humbling to see how much God loves us. He loved us before we loved him he keeps on loving us even though we hurt him. He is concerned with us having time in his presence.

Thank you for the encouragement.

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying:

‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.- Jeremiah 31:3 (NIVUK)

‘And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’Matthew 28:20 (NIVUK)

In moments of doubt and self-questioning, do you feel spiritually inadequate? It's a common struggle, it is my current struggle but take heart. It's a reminder that, even in moments of doubt or fear, and hopelessness. There's a profound sense of spiritual support and love available to us. God, in His boundless love, has equipped us and keeps equipping us with all the grace necessary to journey through life in His glory. Remember, as Psalm 34:5 assures, those who fix their gaze upon Him radiate with confidence, unburdened by shame.

Reflect on Jeremiah 31:3, where God tenderly declares His everlasting love for us. In every season, His kindness draws us closer to Him, reminding us of our infinite worth in His eyes. Pause on that for a second, He is pleased with you, not because of what you can do, but because of Him staring at you, His image, His likeness. The same voice that spoke light also looked and said to you, "It is very good" & blessed you. This beautifully portrays God's everlasting love and unfailing kindness towards us. This reminder of God's enduring love serves as a balm to the soul, broken & imperfect, reassuring us of our infinite worth in His eyes. Despite our imperfections and struggles, His love remains constant and unwavering, drawing us closer to Him in every season of life.

I have had to intentionally hold fast to the promise of Matthew 28:20 where The Lord assures me of His eternal presence, a comforting assurance that even in my moments of weakness, I am never alone, especially in the storm or in the silence. So, let us embrace His grace, bask in His love, and journey forward, secure in His unfailing companionship. In this verse, we are offered the comforting promise of God's eternal presence. Knowing that God is always with us, even to the end of the age, brings a sense of security and peace. In moments of spiritual inadequacy or weakness, we can take solace in the fact that we are never alone. God's presence sustains us, strengthens us, and guides us through every trial and tribulation.

So dear Friend, this is a reminder that spiritual inadequacy is a reality, but it's not a barrier to God's love and grace. Instead, it's an invitation to draw closer to Him, to lean on His strength, and to trust in His unfailing companionship. In His presence, there's courage to overcome our doubts and insecurities- WHY? Because we are deeply loved and cherished by our Father.

Bagcinile's devotion on "moving forward" inspired this:

We are not easily deflated. We stand strong under all circumstances because we are filled by His Spirit.

Remain blessed.

I am a child of God who has received salvation through the shed blood of Jesus. I am cleansed, sanctified, and purified on a daily basis. The blood of Jesus redeemed me, allowing me to establish a relationship with the Holy Spirit and enter into fellowship with Christ. It established harmony between me and God and provides me with the certainty of eternal life. According to Romans 8:1, the blood of Jesus releases me from condemnation, and it also grants me authority over the adversary, as stated in Revelations 12:11. There is, therefore, no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

I am led to discuss the topic, "Moving Forward."

There are many individuals among us who have experienced unfortunate events in their lives. I am of the opinion that God is the ultimate "permitter/refuser" of events in our lives, I am of the opinion that events are unable to transpire without His "Yes," regardless of whether they are positive or negative. He may also send us to Babylon (a place of captivity) as a result of our disobedience or for reasons that are best known to Him. However, our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases, as stated in Psalms 115:3. What I love about God is that it is never in vain. All the time Romans 8:28 - For those who love God and are appointed according to His purpose, all things work together for good.

I would like to focus on two scriptures:

1. Jeremiah 29:10-14a
2. Exodus 14:15

Kindly get your Bible and open Jeremiah 29:10. "After 70 years are completed", (when the time that God has designated has elapsed), "I will visit you and perform my good word towards you". Are you experiencing a hunger and longing for God like you have never experienced before? Are you experiencing a sense of urgency to become more intimate with Him, as you sense in your Spirit that He is also urging you to approach Him to establish a more intimate relationship with Him? Certainly, despite the fact that you may feel this way, you may also feel as though you are still in captivity in certain aspects of your life, even though the visitation has been so apparent recently. Let me tell you that the visitation you are currently experiencing is indicative of the Babylon from which you are emerging. It is necessary to open your spiritual eyes to recognise that this is not merely a feeling, but rather a visitation, and that your liberation is imminent. Verse 11 discusses His intentions to provide you with a prosperous future and to ensure that you are never destroyed. God has good plans for you, despite the fact that it sounds like a common verse that has been repeated so often that its significance appears to have diminished. This is not merely a visitation; it is a demonstration of His intentions to bring you prosperity. Now there are verses 12 "Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14a I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; 

It seems when He has visited you,

• You must recognise that it is God who is visiting you.
• You must call upon Him (pray), and He will listen to you.
• You must seek Him and search Him with all your heart (and He is willing to be found)
• He will be found by you.
• Then He will bring you back from captivity

God is not a 2-minute noodles God. He wants commitment, dedication, time, and your whole heart's effort. This will require you to believe that this word is true. Remember Hebrews 11:6 that says it is impossible to please God without faith because he who comes to God must believe that He is God and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. During this hunger and thirst for Him, which He also promised in Matthew 5:6 that it will be filled, just pour your heart to Him. This visitation is for you to just sit at His feet and worship Him to ignite a move of God in your life. Psalm 22:3 says He inhabits the praise of Israel. God is moved by your:

• obedience (Duet 28:1),
• faith in Him (Hebrews 11:6)
• Worship (Psalm 22:3)

During Israel's captivity in Egypt, God visited Moses. Egypt. He visited Moses when the time of captivity had elapsed. See? He shows up to redeem! The Israelites went through hell. But can you imagine a soccer ball filled with air. When you kick the ball, it is only the leather or the plastic of the ball that feels the impact of the kick but while the air inside remains unaffected. Today, I implore you to adopt the soccer ball mentality. Fill yourself up with the Holy Spirit so that your inner man only worships as if nothing is happening when your physical body is kicked. The Israelites did so because they were aware of their identity and were confident that their redemption would come. This is the manner in which we have been built. We are made of flesh and Spirit, but Spirit is more resilient, stronger, and in possession of a God greater than any kick.

Exodus 14:15b "Tell the children of Israel to go forward." Despite the numerous kicks and blows you have endured; God commands you to "move forward." His visitation is your redemption. Imagine that God instructed them to move forward regardless of the Red Sea was in front of them, but He said, "Move forward." They had to obey, believe, and take action. Can you do that today? Can you walk in that confidence that because He says so, you can say, "I will move forward. I will forget my Babylon, my Egypt and the impossibilities I see before me, and just trust and obey." Forgive the ones you feel have held you captive. Move forward. This hunger you feel is a visitation; start packing; your freedom has come. You are about to live in your answered prayers.

He is willing to be found by those who seek Him with their whole heart.

May God bless you. You finished reading, and I believe that it is because it is your day to start packing and move forward. Your visitation has brought about your redemption.