SELF-DOUBT

I have been thinking on this issue and how it affects our sense of security. 

Self -doubt questions everything we do, even when we are sure it is the right thing to do. Self-doubt kills the courage to take risks, and stops us from relying on God’s unlimited power rather than our own limited resources.

Many times in scripture we have words like 'Be confident', 'Be 

strong', 'Be courageous' and we often dismiss them as though they do not apply to us. We try to get everything we do validated by those we adjudged as stronger and more confident. 

The truth is, God has placed in us everything we need to be strong and confident.

Taking hold of God's word and trusting the power that flows in these words releases into us the inner strength to take charge. Releasing ourselves into taking great steps is the sure start to a stronger and more confident people of God. Being your own no.1 fan, 

How do you want others to receive you when you have lost faith in who you are ???

Recognize and accept that uncertainty is a natural part of life. Seek answers to all your questions. Don’t base your sense of well-being on any accomplishment or relationship with another person; base it on the only true source of security – God.

Understand that you alone are responsible for the kind of person you become. Be willing to take risks and make mistakes in order to grow. 

Don’t let the past unduly influence you; conform your life to current truth. Recognize your power in Christ to heal and overcome difficult circumstances.

Realize that it’s not reasonable to believe that everyone is out to get you. When a paranoid thought enters your mind, refuse to entertain it. Replace it with another, more positive, thought. 

The most meaningful form of change, starts inside of you. Outside changes tend to be temporary, and add more salt to the wound... thus leaving you feeling like your living nightmare is on constant repeat... we have to overcome the routine dysfunction in our lives, and break the mental barrier that our lives will always be dysfunctional. The only thing stopping us from changing is ourselves... we continuously think negative. Do not allow your wounds to transform you into someone you are not.

You must be intentional about the way you view yourself. God says His thoughts towards you are good. That is the only reason why your thoughts about yourself must be good. Satan seeks to wreck a havoc and deal heavy blows on your confidence in God, but needs your consent to do it.

A lot of the doubts that you have about yourself are only in your thoughts. That is why scripture says we should guard our hearts and mind in Christ Jesus.

Satan questioned Jesus repeatedly saying "if you are the Son of God.......". (Matthew 4:1-10) Starting with that phrase was aimed at making Him doubt or question if He was indeed the Son of God. Jesus Christ answered with words beginning " It is written........". 

Sister, do you know what is written concerning you? Do you study the Bible enough to know who God says you are? If you do, then make it your defence. Move from self doubt to confident life in God through Christ Jesus.

What makes you is not your degrees, status, money, job or cars. What makes you is the beautiful girl inside you that Christ died for, and is now transformed into the image of the precious Lamb of God Who by death has removed the stains of Sin and has now become a child of the Most High God. That is who you are !!!

"God believes in you, and now it's time for you to believe in yourself..."

LET GOD CARRY YOU

Recently, I visited a care home for the elderly with a Pastor friend, to share communion with a beautiful Christian couple in their 90's who had been married for 68years. We came into the home after they had finished having their lunch and we were ushered into their apartment by a lovely Christian carer. 
This couple were sitting comfortably on a large sofa and I quickly noticed they were holding hands and rubbing their shaky legs on each other. I just couldn't stop looking at what I believed to be a genuine show of affection.

After we had shared and received communion, the Pastor requested that the old man prayed. He began to praise God for the upcoming marriage supper of the Lamb. He reminded God of the request they had made for their departure, that God should come and carry them together same day and that they hold hands and clutch to each other in readiness for that.
Then, I understood why they were holding hands. He said repeatedly in His prayers that God should keep on carrying them around as they feel too fragile to carry themselves now.

That prayer meant the whole world to me. I have carried myself around in my ideology and reasoning, forgetting to ask God to carry me. I need not wait until I am in my 80's (If Christ tarries) before I begin to pray that prayer. It was for me, a prayer of complete reliance on Him Who is able to carry me, a weightless feather, compared to the weight of the whole world that Jesus carried on the Cross.

I got home from that visit, turned on the TV so my little girl could watch Superbook on TBN. It was about 15minutes to the start of Superbook, Nick Vujicic was on air. Nick is the man who was born without limbs and got married recently. He was speaking about his love for Jesus and the finished work of salvation. He said God made him the way he is for His glory. Concluding, he said, everyday when he prays, he tells God to carry him around throughout the day as he could not carry himself. He says that is what happens on a daily basis and God has never let him down.

Wait a minute, few moments ago I was listening to the elderly couple praying the same prayer though in a different context. It began to make huge sense to me. Since then, I began to pray that God would carry me. I had thought I could carry myself through, with all my struggles and inadequacies. I was wrong. I needed Him to carry me all along but never asked Him to.

I encourage you my sisters to come to Him in complete surrender, to Him, who is able to carry you to the end. He says he will never leave you nor forsake you. He says clearly in scripture:

"........I've been carrying you on my back
from the day you were born,
And I'll keep on carrying you when you're old.
I'll be there, bearing you when you're old and gray.
I've done it and will keep on doing it,
carrying you on my back, saving you."
(Isaiah 46:3-4,MSG)

What a great and blessed assurance to know that we are asking from Him what He has already promised to do. We are simply claiming what is rightfully ours. Isn't this God great ???

Let us pray.

Dear Lord, Thank you for your faithful promise to carry us. We are sorry for the times we had thought we could do without you. We realise how much we need you to carry us. In full surrender we ask of you to carry us and bear us up in your arms. Keep us in your perfect will dear Lord we pray in Jesus name. Amen.

LOVE IS NOT CONTROLLING

I know God is speaking to somebody about this issue. I may just be confirming what He has been telling you. It will be painful to make a wreck of your emotional self because you desperately want this relationship to work. There are signs already that he is a Control Frick but you are in love with him and he seems a nice guy (on a good day). That is who he is, and that is the man you are about to spend the rest of your life with.
1Corinthians 13:5 says: love " does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil."
Controllers are people whose main relationship technique is to control others. Through their forceful personalities, they get their ways and get what they want. They are often times fulfilled and you are not. When you marry such an individual, even in intimacy, he gets sexual fulfilment and can't be bothered whether you do or you don't. You can simply be raped emotionally and sexually by a controller. He gets it when he wants it, it is his way or no way.
Such men never take responsibilities or accept wrongs. You dear not even charge them with any wrong. Even for his obvious wrongs, he'll blame you, blame circumstances or he passes the blame to other people. Always on the defensive. Many women who fell for such men are unable to reach their full potentials in life. A controlling husband will never, under his watch, allow you to rise above him. He can never be Christlike. He is full of self.
Controllers are very good at spotting desperation, this they use to their own advantage.
God is definitely against oppression. The man with an oppressive spirit does not know the love of God and will never be able to give what he doesn't have.
A man can lead/control his family in a loving way. That is why great emphasis is being  laid on marrying a man who has surrendered his life to Christ. This type of man is able to lead his family in the love of God, because he has known the God of love. (1John 4:7-8)
When a man obeys God by loving his wife, It becomes automatically easy for the woman to respect her man. The natural instinct in the woman would be to react to a controlling husband. In reacting, respect is thrown into the wind and that will be followed with a sharp decline in their relationship. However, just when it is easy for a man to move-out and move-on, women are often left with the responsibilities of caring and nurturing the children.
In God's leadership style, leading is meant to be an act of love towards those being led and this is why He commanded the men to love their wives and women to submit/respect their husbands. Jesus said, of leadership role, ".............if you want to be a leader, you must first be slaves, become servants."(Matt. 20:25-28)
There is already enough stress in the world, but to put up with a controlling or abusive husband will place undue pressure on you and and your family.
Marriage is good and very sweet too. This I can tell you for sure. I will choose my husband again and again and again. Even when it is not necessary, he is always making sure we are a part of every decision in the family. Oh yes! I give him credit for that.
Ladies, honestly, you all deserve the best. You are precious in His sight. You cost God His only Son. Your worth is far more than rubies. When a man finds you, he gets God's favour. That's how much you're worth. Begging him to marry you and putting up with all his controlling tactics just so you are married is like mortgaging your future and that of your children.
If that man you are with at the moment fits perfectly into this description, its high time you got back into your room, shut the door behind you and dial heaven using the name of God's Son Jesus to plead your case. God is sure to show up for you with a godly, loving and respectable man.
You are blessed.

GOD IS TAKING HIS TIME

Ever wondered why single women go through the struggle and stress of waiting? Sometimes I wished it were  the opposite. I really hope to see a time when men will have to go through the rigour of waiting for a lady to accept their proposal for marriage. Perhaps men will come to appreciate what most women endure before finally getting married. Sarah Markas once said that "What we want the most may make us most miserable" How true! We spend days, nights, hours and every second thinking about what we want. We imagine how we will get it and what it will mean to us to have a feel of what we've been longing  for. The longer it takes, the more it becomes draining. It leaves us sometimes emotionally exasperated. At this moment, we wished God could speak and make a miracle happen.
This unfortunately is the time that He seems silent the most. Year after year, month after month, and nothing seems to be happening, it can become depressing.
Claire and Ron met at a Church day-out and both just clicked immediately. Three months after they met, they were married. These two were in their early 40s and often wondered why they haven't met some ten odd years back. Seeing how much they loved and cherished each other, they knew God never made a mistake. They both agreed they wouldn't have been able to manage their marriage if it had come earlier. The last ten years they should have met was needful to prepare them for their eventual meet. Its about 30years since they've been married, still waxing strong in love. Most of their mates who had married earlier are either living separately or divorced.
Although they were overstretched during the time they waited on God to bring them together, that period had matured them to appreciate the gift of one another in love. Truly, God works all things out together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.(Roman 8:28)

If you are feeling over-stretched at the moment, remember that it is all in the plan. The ultimate purpose of God in this experience will be revealed in due season. You will praise God for stretching you. God will gain this time back for you. He will work it out for your good.
God has a set time for the answer to all you're praying about at the moment. You may have to step back and  watch others move on, rejoice with them and support them, but be sure your own appointed time is coming. Be sure that this same God who has called it their season today will call it yours tomorrow. Just refuse to get ahead of God.

God does fine-tune us through adversity, He is able to make a woman of excellence out of your brokenness. It is a matter of time, you just walk in the Spirit, and everything that God has planned, purposed and promised for your life will come to pass.
Any attempt by you to reduce the time span or make it quicker will mar the whole process, rob you of that glorious ending and make a waste of all your waiting.

Your plan for your life and God's plan for you, which of these do you think will be the best for you ?

MAKE A U-TURN TODAY

This afternoon at a local festival, I joined with other believers in my neighbourhood to give away free Christian literatures, tracts and CDs. This young man came and insisted to pay for whatever we give. We explained to him gently that these materials are free and he should pick as much as he is able to read. He declined to receive any unless he pays. 
He was insistent. I felt within me there is more to this. I followed him and asked to have a chat. To my shock, he asked me "Do you want to preach to me?" I said 'no'. He then told me to listen. He said he is a backslider and he thinks he has been so ungrateful to God. He said he is not sure whether God will still forgive him or accept him back into the kingdom after he's messed up so badly. Guilt and shame would not allow him to have any thing from God free as he has judged himself undeserving of mercy. 
My response to him was that his feelings and judgement of himself could be true but not according to the power of God's love and mercy. I explained that Satan had lied to him that he cannot be forgiven and restored. I reminded him of Isaiah 1:18-20. No matter the depth of his backsliding and how badly he thinks he has messed up, the power in the blood of Jesus is still able to wash him clean and restore him to a joyous and flourishing and fulfilling relationship with his heavenly father. 
Struggling through unbelief and doubt due to the weight of sin that is starring him in the face, coupled with the damning voice of the enemy saying God cannot receive him as he is, with tears about to drop from his eyes he asked me "are you sure God will take me back?" Already getting teary myself, I replied yes. I saw a man broken, a man sorrowful, a man crying out to God for mercy, a man wishing he never walked away from his loving heavenly father, a man waiting and longing for speedy restoration. I handed him over to a local pastor standing by who finished up the conversation and prayed with him. 
This pastor is now following up on him. I am sure God's got him back today. My sister, how far have you gone? How deep have you sinned? Since when have you felt disconnected from HIM? How long more are you willing to keep up appearances? You must not be caught without HIM. That will be an eternal disaster. You cannot continue putting up with the lie that God cannot forgive. He is waiting and willing to forgive you and take you back. Do not try to put things right on your own because you cannot. 
Try to call on Jesus, your Christ, tell him everything you have done/doing, tell him to safe you from yourself. Do not even try to justify your wrongdoings and making out reasons/excuses will not help. Tell it as it is and lay it all bear before him. He knows everything even before you start to pray. REPENT AND YOU WILL BE FORGIVEN. God is love, and He wants to pour this love upon you. Satan knows if you do this you will be forgiven restored and saved, that is why he's been lying to you. Jesus is the TRUTH. Let this truth set you free. 
I have been there and I know what it feels to be drowning in sin and yet living a lie. That day, at night, when I gave it all to JESUS, sin lost its grip, immediately I became free. I felt it and knew it and I began to live it. Ever since, the truth in Christ beams God's light on sin, I can easily recognise my old ways when its coming and I just run to Christ who is my strength. From Him, I get empowered to look sin in the face and say NO. I now have a victorious Christian life through the power of the HolySpirit at work in me. 
This message is for somebody today. I cannot wait till tomorrow as it may be late for someone out there this time tomorrow. Today is the day of salvation. The time of the Lord is drawing near. He that has ears please heed. Be a wise virgin, put oil in your lamp while it is still day. If this message has ministered to you, please just roll on your knees and pour your heart out to Jesus. Have a little talk with Jesus. Get every help from within the body of Christ and do all within you to remain steadfast and immovable. 
The pleasures of this world are fast passing away and you are growing older each day. Your name must not be blotted out of God's book of life. I want to hold you tight, give you a big hug and tell you Jesus cares for you. 
Now, unto Him who is able to keep you from falling, to God, the immortal, the invisible and only wise, I commit your soul. AMEN.

I DON’T CARE WHATEVER

Whatever, I don’t care, I can’t be bothered, It doesn’t matter,  I’ve had enough, I don’t want to know anymore, etc. These and many more are some of the languages commonly used today to reflect our state of mind and attitude of heart. So repulsive are some of them when used, they reveal how care ‘less’ we have become on matters that pertains to our lives.

These words, unfortunately, are often followed up with regrettable decisions and senseless actions  . When we get to the point where we don’t care whatever becomes of us, we arrogantly but purposefully dive into situations that gratify our ego momentarily. Even when faced with the daring consequences of our actions, we still stand by our decisions and defend them.Some of the consequences that trail the actions from these words include: compromises, indifference, manipulations and deceitfulness (deceiving and being deceived).

As professing believers in Christ, we cannot afford to plunge into foolish actions simply because we are tired of the demands of the Christian life. Satan is very quick at taking advantage of our feelings especially at moments of despair and hopelessness. This is why we need to ask for the grace of God to face all of our life’s situations without wavering in our faith.

I was told of a lady whose marriage lasted only twelve months after suffering emotional neglect and violent abuse from the man she married. She told God she was going ahead to marry ‘whoever’ if by the time she turns 40, God hasn’t brought the right man to her. At her wedding reception, the man was giving his speech when she turned to her chief brides’ maid and whispered “I think I have made a mistake”. In the man’s speech, he had implied that he doesn’t really believe in marriage but ‘whatever’, he is married and hopes the marriage works. She was stunned to hear the man she just married give such speech at their wedding. My conclusion is that she went for ‘whoever’ and she got a ‘whatever’.

The bible says that the power of life and death lies in the tongue. The tongue, though boneless is stronger and mightier than any other part of the body. When we speak, we empower the mind; the mind empowers our mental faculty and enables our body into actions. Walk in the Spirit and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.  We must never allow the languages of this world to drown the voice of the Spirit of God that is able to redeem our soul, recover and regain all that the years have stolen.

 The truth is God will never force us to wait for His will to be accomplished in us. Even though He urges us to wait, He won’t compel us. Here is what He promised those who will choose to wait on Him.

“But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

“Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion;
    they will not be defeated but will endure forever.” Psalm 125:1

May be we should start using words like: By God’s grace, Lord help me, I trust God, Lord have mercy, Show me Lord, Speak Lord, Your will be done, Is this your will Lord, and every such word that can give us inner strength and encourage complete dependency on the father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Stay strong my sisters. It won’t be long!