Perspective.

“These aren’t Divine interruptions. These are Divine invitations.”

I have recently had to face a major transition in my life. What I felt I had invested in with all my energy and time, heart and soul; I saw crumble, slowly yet steadily before my own eyes. It was not a sudden demise, but a slow death. It was not expected, but necessary. It is the reason I am who I am in the here and now. Changed, but for the better.

Perhaps, you have never had to see something of such magnitude, but perhaps you have. Perhaps you have braved storms more tempestuous and navigated seas more turbulent. Perhaps what I’m writing speaks directly to your core.

And if it does, I hope you find encouragement in these words,

“These aren’t Divine interruptions. These are Divine invitations.”

Transitions are seldom neat and usually messy. These are phases accompanied with a lot of questions, doubt and debate. These are phases that if not stewarded well, can sabotage our faith. However, if we do continue to believe that He IS who He says He is, and can do what He says He can do; our faith will only be augmented and that too, in the midst of the test and the trial, the uncertainty and the dilemma.

As followers of Jesus, we have Resurrection Power on the inside of us. The very phase that made me cringe also exposed me to the power of what I carry. As I saw one thing dying, I sensed in my spirit, the birth of yet another. Another dimension of who I am called to be. As I began to surrender to the process, He began an intricate work of healing areas that were broken, and releasing areas that were previously in bondage thereby enabling me to walk in a new found freedom. I can now testify to the absolute infallibility of the following Bible verse,

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Truly.

Friends, I’m learning that our journey is a delicate series of starts and ends. The end of a phase is inevitably the beginning of another.The now is preparation for the next, for whatever lies up ahead is so abundant that to lay hold of it, we will need to lay on the altar that which we sense in the spirit and surrender ourselves, all over again, to The Potter’s Wheel.

The season I am walking in now is definitely a wilderness, but I began to see it from Heaven’s Perspective the moment He whispered to me,

“Wilderness is a womb of healing and restoration.”

It changed everything. Let me explain.

It is in this place that we learn to shed the shackles that have held us back, whether it is fear, shame or low self esteem. It is in this place that we break away from the old patterns of anger, resentment, bitterness or unforgiveness; while simultaneously allowing His Spirit to birth and cultivate within us love, grace, truth and mercy. It is in this place that we have fresh encounters with The Lord that leave us forever marked. It is in this place that we have the opportunity to walk in the fullness of the freedom that Christ purchased for us at Calvary.

Yes, friends.

THIS is the place.

Sometimes, the answers to our prayers look like much the opposite, yet serve as the very bridge towards our Promiseland – a spiritual territory of Love, Freedom and Truth. As I am slowly learning to let God develop me in the wilderness, I hope and pray that you realize you are not alone. We are all in this thing called life together which may present us with opportunities disguised as intervals and interventions, but let’s thank God for a greater revelation, a better perspective;

“These are not Divine interruptions. These are Divine invitations.”

Thank you, Lord!

Dear God,

This Sunday I want to take the time to say, “Thank You!”

Thank You for Your Presence in my life. Thank You for being there when others are not. Thank You for Your Promises of an exceeding, abundant life which gives me the courage to believe. Thank You for the miracle of life and the glorious gift that is this day – Today. Thank You that I’m covered under the shadow of Your Mighty Wings. Thank You for friends and family. Thank You for health and healing. Thank You for your patience and steadfastness in making me and molding me. Thank You for restoring that which was lost. Thank You for giving me the desires of Your Heart. Thank You for cleansing me of my past and preparing me for my future. Thank You for being the God of Grace and multiple chances. Thank You for forgiving me and giving me the capacity to forgive, in turn. Thank You that You take me just the way I am. Thank You that You love me unconditionally and always will. Thank You for Your Word which is healing to my bones and strength to my soul. Thank You for teaching me love, grace and mercy. Thank You for hopes and dreams. Thank You for being my anchor in the storm. Thank You for the precious gift of Eternal Life. Thank you for giving me eyes to see and ears to hear. Thank you, Lord for every soul reading this, that their gratitude partnered with mine will multiply Glory that goes ONLY to Your Highest Name!

Amen.

Who.

“I need to stop thinking about what’s holding me back, and I need to start thinking about Who is sending me forth.”

When I start thinking about the giants that God has called me to slay, I find myself morph into a hybrid of fear and faith. While I know fully well that God has gone ahead of me and has equipped me with the grace I need for the moment, there still remains a part of me that battles with fear and insecurity. It was during one such vulnerable moment that I felt God speak to my heart His ever affirming words of encouragement,

“You need to stop thinking about what’s holding you back, and you need to start thinking about Who is sending you forth.”

I felt his calm, reassuring tone bring healing to my bones, and knew right then that I wouldn’t keep it to myself.

When we are called to be salt and light in a lost and broken world, there are always battles to fight. But when we know that The War has already been won, we can go forth from a posture OF victory as opposed to strive FOR victory. Our soul can rest in the Truth that no matter what we have to confront, His Promise rings true,

“All things work together for the good of those that love The Lord and are called according to His purpose.”

What lies ahead may stir emotions of doubt and hesitation, and that’s absolutely fine. It’s a natural human response when called out of our comfort zones. But as we step out to tread the territory of the great unknown, let us make a conscious effort to remind ourselves that an even Greater yet very Known God accompanies us. I love how The Amplified Bible says it,

“I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!”

And He who promised is Faithful.

If you are called to be an instrument to heal fractured relationships in your family, an agent of change to start a business that revolutionizes an industry, a rule breaker with an idea to write a book that sparks off a movement in our generation, a stay-at-home mom entrusted with the divine responsibility of raising world changers and history makers; then you are called to be someone who will be required to shatter ceilings and break the norm. You will have to magnify Faith over fear. You will have to step out of the boat. You will have to tune out the voices of the ones who are not in alignment with your God-ordained Destiny and guard your inner circle. You will have to feed your soul with The Word of God and remain undaunted even when it looks impossible. You will have to be willing to risk getting hurt or disappointed, but can rest in the knowledge of Who you are serving. You will have to fix your eyes on The One who is Faithful, and let the Truth of His Character be your anchor in the midst of anything that you may have to face.

What I’m learning, friends, is this. In order to fulfill that to which we are called, we will have to choose better. As opposed to focusing on all the ways it could go wrong, we need to realign our hearts with His. The One who calls us has already won the Victory at Calvary! All we need to do is step out in faith, knowing that even should we stumble, He will scoop us back into His arms of Love, and be more than willing to heal, restore, resurrect and re-launch!

With such a Companion in our midst, I’m guessing that our only declaration in the season we find ourselves in, is this;

“We need to stop thinking about what’s holding us back, and we need to start thinking about Who is sending us forth.”

Becoming.

“You don’t have to ‘become’ anything. You just have to ‘be.'”

The world we live in lays a lot of emphasis on “becoming.” Becoming something – a star, a celebrity, a diva, a legend. The undue importance attached to positions and titles seems to have created the kind of pressure can crush potential rather than nurture it, and kill passion rather than empower it. This is not what our generation needs to hear.

What our generation needs to hear is the freedom entailed with the process of “becoming.” As God’s very own heart, our process of becoming is very different from what we see plague the world today. The Bible says,

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

It is imperative to note the use of the word, “be.” The inference here is not to become, rather simply, “be.” I believe this is an exhortation to each and every one of us to “be” in Christ – remain in Him and abide in Him. As we do this, faithfully and diligently, day after day, the consistency thereof allows His Spirit to initiate and sustain the process of “becoming.” He begins to transform and conform us to His image, and therein begins the miracle of metamorphosis. Our old nature is replaced with a new one. Our weakness is replaced with a new found strength. Our confidence begins to be rooted in the reality of who we are and whose we are. Our thoughts are replaced with His Truth, our plans are replaced with His Purposes. Our Identity is affirmed, thereby liberating us to yield to the actual process of, “Becoming.”

As we yield to Him and allow Him to make us, mould us, shape us and re-create us; we witness and become witnesses to the miracle of becoming Children of God who through His Spirit, have found it possible to leave the emptiness and the muddiness of the past behind in order to lay hold of all that Christ Jesus laid hold of us for. But the thing that bridges the gap is the golden process of, “Becoming.”

This process will take us through the fire and the furnace. It will test us, refine us, purify us and make us new. The new creation that Christ has promised for us to be. Creations that are not conformed to the pattern of this world, but are transformed by the renewing of their minds. Creations that burn with what His Heart burns for and are consumed with a passion of enriching the world in the unique way that ONLY they can. Creations who understand the weight of The Glory entrusted to them and are committed to carrying it with humility and grace. Creations that are, as The Word says,

“His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

This Truth, once internalized, with evoke but one response: an unconditional surrender to His process of making us higher and better versions of ourselves in and through a relationship with Him. We can do this, friends, because we know and trust the nature and character of Our God. He will never require us to be like someone else. Rather, He delights in our uniqueness. If all we have is two fish and five loaves of bread, He is not intimidated but is able to manifest His Glory within the shards that we have to offer. He converts the water into wine in a way so seamless and smooth that we have no option but to look Heavenwards in absolute awe. He takes us under the shadow of His Mighty wings, till we learn to develop some of our own. And even when we start to fly and eventually soar? We are still doing it within the safety of His gentle embrace.

If THAT is how Our God is, how magnificent a creation do you think He wants to carve out of each and every single one us?

You already are enough, have nothing to prove to anyone but everything to surrender to The Only One who is willing and well able to take you as you are and launch you on the helipad of “becoming” all that He has ordained you to be in order that you may accomplish all that you are called to in this lifetime, accomplishments that are not limited to titles and positions alone, though they inadvertently follow, but accomplishments that simultaneously touch human lives and extend the reach of The Kingdom of God on the planet we call Earth.

Suffice to say, when we are content to “be,” the “becoming” will take care of itself. And as you watch it unfold, I hope and pray that you will not hesitate to point to The One who made it possible for you, in the first place.

Selah.

His.

“I’m not called to be perfect. I’m called to be His.”

When we first come to Christ, we come just as we are: broken, bruised, tattered and torn. Yet, He lovingly welcomes us with open arms. He is the image of perfection, yet He doesn’t demand it. In fact, He doesn’t even want it. What He wants is our brokenness so that His Light can shine through our cracks and The Word can be made flesh,

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”

Therein lies the beauty of being in Christ. He finds us the way we are, but leaves us forever changed. He delights in the divine exchange: beauty for ashes, brokenness for wholeness, strength for weakness, joy for sorrow, hope for despair. Like a skillful surgeon, He cuts through our facade and reaches our core. He reveals what He so longs to heal. As we allow His Spirit to gain more access to those broken crevices of our mind, body and soul that we seem to have tucked away, His Light shines on those places of shame and fear where darkness longs to have a foothold, but thank God for The Word says,

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light  (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.”

In order for us to be a light in this world, we will first have to be willing to experience His. It is His light that heals the broken places and brings restoration. It is His Light that enables us to see the way He does, whether it is our relationship with God, with ourselves or with the world. It is His Light which sets the captives free – free of guilt, shame and condemnation. It is His Light which once having seeped into our very being needs to break out from within our midst; and bring life and liberty to the world around and about us.

Each time that I have brought to Him the issues of my heart, He has not only healed me, but transformed me. He has set me free, bit by bit; and I am so grateful that the journey is still on. The times I find it hard to accept myself, His Spirit reminds me;

“For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand—
   when I awake, I am still with you.”

He says that before He put me in my mother’s womb, He knew me. He knows my inmost being. He is well aware of what I have been through and am called to. He knows the end from the beginning, and has factored in EVERYTHING that is needed for me to fulfill my Destiny. I have nothing to hide from Him. He knows, and He still loves me, cherishes me and calls me, “Beloved.”

Friends, He doesn’t want us to hide in shame or cower in fear. He wants us to abide in Him, fully affirmed of His Love towards us. He wants us to know that what we feel has disqualified us is the VERY thing that He will use to propel us into the fullness of our calling. He doesn’t want us to fake it, but rather be humble, transparent and vulnerable enough to allow Him to work with us steadfastly in order that He may mature us and grow us into the full stature of who we are called to be.

Not perfect.

Only His.

Amen.

Respond well.

“Circumstances are only an opportunity to manifest The Kingdom of God.”

Even in the midst of adverse circumstances, we have a choice to make. We can either take flight in fear, or confront them by faith. This may not always be easy, as our natural human reaction would perhaps be one of fear. But how many of us are grateful that The Spirit of The Living God that dwells within us empowers us to choose well, choose in line with The Word of God, choose to manifest the Kingdom of God.

I believe if we can ask ourselves in any given situation, “What does Love look like here?” we would experience radically different outcomes. An exhortation by Bill Johnson comes to mind where he says that we should live not in reaction to the forces of darkness, but in response to The Father. Our Father is a Father of Love, Grace and Mercy. As His children, we have the mandate of representing Him well in the world we find ourselves in.

It naturally follows that whether you are struggling in your relationship with your spouse, whether you are believing incessantly for your child to turn around, whether you are dealing with a difficult boss at work, whether you are trying to co-operate with that co-worker who tries every bit of your patience; whatever the scenario you find yourself in today, ask yourself this simple yet prudent question:

“What does Love look like in this situation?”

You will be surprised at the answers.

It may look like forgiveness. It may look like grace. It may look like compassion. It may look like empathy. It may look like something that enables you to step outside the box and put yourself in another’s shoes. It may teach you to look at the situation through their eyes. It may enrich your understanding of the person you are dealing with, the challenge you are contending with, the issue you are grappling with. It may introduce you to Heaven’s perspective, a perspective that is rooted in Love.

So the next time you are tempted to resent that which God has called you to touch and transform, remind yourself of this simple statement,

“Circumstances are only an opportunity to manifest the Kingdom of God.”

Selah.


It’s a Person!

“Our fall back is not a plan, but a Person.”

As humans, we have a propensity to have a lot of back up options. On close examination, I believe we will discover that the root of this tendency lies in fear. What if this doesn’t work out? What if I put myself out there and look like a fool? What if I invest my all in this relationship only to see it break? The list of these relentless questions is endless, but the answer is simple. God says,

“Fear not, for I am with you.”

This ought to still us a little bit, to know that the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth is with us. He doesn’t want us to put our confidence in the things of this world – relationships, opportunities, or even dreams and visions. As precious as these things are, in and of themselves, they are rather void. The presence of The Person in their midst gives them Purpose. It is not the plan that we must seek after, rather The Person who will show us what He wants to do in and through it.

When our confidence is rooted in The Person, even when things seem to fall apart, we won’t. We will rest in the foreknowledge of God who knows the end from the beginning. When our plans seem to crumble, He still is the way maker and the mountain mover. He still is The One who goes ahead of us, makes our crooked paths straight and then woos us by His Spirit to follow in His stead. He hems us in, behind and before. Suffice to say, He knows and because we know The One who knows, we can rest.

As we journey along this path, we are bound to hit unexpected circumstances and events. Plans we thought would take off suddenly seem to give way. At such times, I urge you friends, don’t run away from Him, run towards Him. Let His Sovereign Hand be your guide. His Word promises us,

“The glory of the latter day shall be greater than the glory of the former day.”

What does this imply?

It reveals to us that no matter what it is that you think you have lost, your best days are YET ahead of you. We haven’t seen anything yet. We serve a God who is able to take all our broken pieces and weave a beautiful tapestry of Grace that is for our ultimate good and His Infinite Glory. His faithfulness can assure us that we don’t need to concoct in our own strength things like Plan A, Plan B, or Plan C. We simply need to listen, trust, obey, follow. We don’t need a plan, because we have a Person.

Jesus Christ.

Hallelujah!

When it’s time to reveal

“In His Kingdom, it is never understood; only revealed.”

In my walk with God, it is evident that everything about Him is never understood with human reasoning, rather only revealed through the power of His Holy Spirit. From the nature and character of God to our Identity in Him to our Destiny through Him, it all revelation knowledge. As we continue to abide in Him and He abides in us; a natural by-product of this sacred communion is Revelation.

I don’t quite know about you, but in the season I’m currently walking, I have tried to understand and sought to see ahead. I believe in vision, don’t get me wrong. But there are times in our lives where we truly have to test ourselves to see if we really are walking out the Truth of the mandate;

“The just shall walk by faith, and not by sight.”

As I find myself surrendered to this Truth, I find my soul nestled back into the arms of safety within the warmth of His embrace. I find that my heart, mind and soul are free from the bondage of having it my way and liberated enough to let Him have His. I find myself evolve into a better and higher version of myself. I realize I may not have all the details of my calling figured out just yet, but can choose to rest in His Faithfulness to reveal in time all that He has in store, just like His Word promises;

“What no eye has seen,
    what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived
   the things God has prepared for those who love him”

….”but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit.”

It is refreshing to note that He says He reveals it to us by His Spirit. Not all at once, but enough for us to take that next small step in obedience. This is what walking by faith really is. We sense God put a desire, a prompting, a stirring in our soul by His Spirit; we choose to trust, obey, walk and watch. Watch in awe. Watch in wonder. Watch in amazement. Because He? NEVER fails to deliver.

Let me encourage you friends, that wherever it is that you find yourself in life today, be rest assured that every step of your obedience to His Voice SHALL be honored. As you sow faithfully, you will also reap bountifully. Which brings to mind another exquisite Truth about The God we serve. If you feel you have sown in one area, you may just reap a harvest in an area you never expected! This is the joy of walking with Him. He is the God of the Unexpected. He cares for what you want, but KNOWS what you need. He may just touch upon a facet of your being that you had buried under the carpet and lost all hope for, but doesn’t He delight in breathing on dry bones till they come back to life? Won’t He do it?

You bet He will.

So my hope and prayer for you, my friend, is that you will go on to believe for more and make fresh strides of faith. You will allow His Spirit to ignite within you fresh fire that can fall only from Heaven. You will be consumed with fresh passion in your walk with Him, confident that what you sow in obedience to your revelation knowledge at this point in time is what will move the heart of Heaven, positioning you to receive blessings which otherwise would have been forfeited.

I’m guessing that’s why He has you reading this.He knows. He cares. He is Faithful. So, the only thing that remains is this :

When we find ourselves cradled in the arms of such undeniable Faithfulness, let us rest in our affirmation of what I believe He put on my heart today,

“In Your Kingdom, it is never understood, only revealed.”

And that’s perfect, Abba!

Amen.

With us.

“You may be alone, but not lonely.”

As we walk this planet, I feel it is imperative to know that even when we feel like we are alone, we can choose to shift our focus to a greater reality – that which dwells WITHIN us.

I have heard of people that are surrounded by a mob, yet feel lonely. I have also heard of people who, though may find themselves by themselves, are consumed with the joy of being yoked with The One who has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.

This Promise is sealed through The Spirit of Immanuel – God WITH us. He is within us, and His Love surrounds us. In and through a relationship with Him, we have access to His Perpetual Presence which is a forever promise. As it goes in Psalm 139,

“Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
   your right hand will hold me fast.”

This, simply put, is a soul-saving Truth. I want to encourage you, dear friend, that whether you find yourself in the deepest valley or the highest summit, Your Savior is WITH you.Whether you are struggling in your marriage or battling an illness, Your Savior is WITH you. Whether you are single or divorced, Your Savior is WITH you. Whether you are recovering from a loss or collecting pieces of shattered hopes, Your Savior is WITH you. Whether you are in the midst of a mystery yet unfolding or on your way to seeing a dream fulfilled, Your Savior is WITH you.

You may not always “feel” His Presence, but The Bible says,

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”

He is in our midst, friends; but we too have a corresponding responsibility, that of drawing close to Him, bit by bit, day by day till we see Him in His Fullness on the other side. Drawing close to Him through Word, Worship, Prayer, Communion or whatever way you choose, not only creates an atmosphere where His Presence envelops us, but also creates an oppurtunity for Heaven to invade Earth. It strengthens and positions our hearts to be able to stand alone, if need be, or go out into all of the world, if called to. It develops our insides so much so that no matter what storm we find ourselves in, we can rest in the knowledge that Greater is He that is IN me than he that is in the world. It establishes us in a way that nothing and no one can take away from. It gives us access to full security in Him, and therefore, full freedom which in turn, enables us to walk in the fullness of our God-ordained Identity and Calling.

Drawing close to Him not only secures us, but also serves as an invitation for others to draw close to Him. As we develop a deeper relationship with Him, He burns in our hearts a passion to reach out to others as well. We will find ourselves engaging with people we never thought we would turn to. We learn to respond to the gentle nudges of The Holy Spirit, telling us to go talk to the neighbor who is hurting, the patient learning to cope with his paralysis, the young teenage girl who is seeking a path in life that will truly satisfy, the ailing grandmother, the parent who needs your time, the friend who wonders if you still care.

So, lets go friends!

Lets go to Him, and then lets go to them!

Because He is WITH us.

Amen.