7 ways to experience inner health and wholeness in a post-pandemic world

As we cross the half-year mark this June of 2021, I consider it a privilege to share with you, dear friend, some really simple, inspiring and completely doable ways to help manifest inner healing and wholeness.

My own personal journey with Christ this year has had me experience some truly profound moments of emotional, spiritual and physical healing and wholeness in the aftermath of perhaps, one of the most unprecedented years in our generation, 2020.

In the midst of a world that is ever changing, I am so grateful for the anchoring and freedom we get to have in and through our relationship with an unchanging God.

It is only in the context of being able to openly process our deepest hurt and heart-ache that we are set free. Perfect Love casts out fear, dismantles lies and reveals Truth. And it is only the Truth that we know that sets us free.

So I have broken down 5 concrete ways for us to get ourselves into the safety and security of God’s Presence, which is truly and unquestionably, Heaven’s  healing salve to our souls.

1. Playing praise music

In my experience friends, putting on some praise music that helps us connect to the Father heart of God is by far, the most effective conduit between Heaven and earth.

I find that whenever I am emotionally distressed or circumstantially confused, running into His Presence for some rest and perspective is essential. The world maybe in chaos today, but the Good News is that we don’t have to. We can choose to remain at peace and rest in the Lord.

Now, this does not mean that we don’t ‘feel’ the upheaval in our thoughts and emotions as a result of whatever it is that seems to be going on in our lives from time to time, but it does mean that we are not moved by it.

We remain anchored in Christ.

Personally, whenever confronted with a challenge that threatens to take my breath away, I run to Him. I don’t walk, I run.

I simply put on some praise music that I can easily get my hands on in the moment and allow the Lord to calm me down and lovingly minister to me. I like to pray and invite the Holy Spirit to come over my mind, my emotions, my heart, my body, my spirit and my soul and do what only He can do.

“‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (Zechariah 4:6)

There often are times I confess when my heart is so full that I need to let it all out before the Lord. So my praise music has to (for some time!) go down in terms of volume a couple of notches, so that as the music continues to play, ushering in the anointing of His Presence, I have the opportunity to verbally and openly let Him know exactly how I am feeling.

I often say that for my feelings to not get in the way of my faith, I must be willing to acknowledge them and process them with the Lord. Not deny or bury. Not stifle or suffocate. Rather, bring it all out in the light. And it is through such relational dialogue in these times that I receive the healing that only His Love and Truth can bring.

Healing and wholeness in Christ are an opportunity for a most wonderful Divine exchange to manifest; Spirit, soul and body. For it is His Presence that gently rushes in and starts to breathe down the walls that threaten to block our communion with Him, and consequently our ability to receive from Him; whether it is truth-based perspective, loving correction or timely affirmation.

Tending to our souls in the midst of chaos by running to the only One who has the eternal treasures of peace, love, hope and truth to offer us in the midst of any ongoing whirlwind is the very heart of healing, health and wholeness.

So friend,

What song can you play today to invite the loving presence of God?

2. Spending time in the Word

Jesus said,

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

The Word of God to me is a doorway into His Presence. It is encountering the Truth of who God says He is, who He says I am as His covenant child, and the hope that He has for my life that allows me discern the lies that I have believed and trade them for the truth that sets me free.

Friends, it is in allowing the Lord to use His Word to personally as well as prophetically speak to us that creates both, healing and hope. Healing – as He addresses the issues of our Identity in Him, and Hope – as He reveals the strategy of Heaven for our lives.

Personally, I have prioritized my relationship with Christ through His living and active Word, over anything else. I have started learning to let Him lead my time through the Bible, both Old and New Testament. I pray for healing, renewal, revelation and nourishment to come forth.

The fruits have been sweet, friends and the rewards have been rich.

I find the Psalms of David particularly helpful. Written in a beautifully poetic manner, they effortlessly give language to the emotions I  experience as I navigate my way through life. Though any translation of the Bible can do, I find the inspiration that streams through The Passion Translation by Dr. Brian Simmons quite remarkable.

David was chosen by God  as a humble shepherd boy from Bethlehem, anointed to be king over Israel and then exalted to the prestigious position after a rather long, drawn out waiting and preparation period in between which I feel, encapsulates the heart of our own unique journey with the Lord too.

David’s life and reign reveal that he was blatantly rejected by his brothers, ruthlessly pursued by Saul, openly challenged by his own son but eventually prevailed through it all because of his abiding love for God and the trust that love inspires.

So often, we can also feel much like David. Betrayed, rejected, lost, confused, abandoned, persecuted and overwhelmed. But the Psalms always remind me that when I do, I am in good company.

Friend, where can you camp out with Jesus through His Word today?

3. Keeping a journal

In my healing journey thus far, I have found keeping a journal by my side an extremely potent tool. It allows me to co-operate with the work of the Holy Spirit at any given point of time, and to openly process hidden areas of pain with the Lord.

I realised this year friends, that most of our wounds in life date back to our childhood years.Brokenness through rejection/abuse of any sort in those early, tender years can seriously damage the lens through which we view the world. But as believers in Christ, we can take heart because we have the privilege of being able to invite the Holy Spirit into those areas so that He can shine His glorious light.

Gospel preacher and evangelist, Christine Caine often says,

“Whatever is not revealed, cannot be healed.”

I agree it can be difficult, but we can do hard things for the glory of God. We can do the hard and holy work of forgiveness. We can pray for the beautiful Holy Spirit of God to soften and tenderise the ground of our hearts, so that when we are ready to process some marred areas of our lives with the Lord, we can tap into deeper levels of freedom and health.

How can you put pen to paper today and write out your most honest and vulnerable thoughts to God, even if all you have is  one line?

4. Communing in nature

During times when I find myself in the midst of an emotional tailspin, I like to take time to myself and just go out. Mostly for a short walk outdoors – to fill my lungs with fresh air and dig my feet into the earth below, and when I’m ready, to also commune with the Lord through nature.

The beauty and marvel of creation does something to the human soul. It gets our hearts in sync with the majestic brilliance of the Creator of it all, our Father in Heaven.

Whether we are met with a dazzling array of stars in the nightsky, or the splendour of golden rays streaming through a cloudless morning, or a simple landscape of green trees and pink flowers; it all points to Him – the author and the finisher of our faith.

I have experienced God calm me through my time in nature – through the chirping of the birds, and the warmth of the moist soil below. He touches my heart through it all and points me straight back Home. I can finally, inhale and exhale. Fully and freely, friends.

Experienced author and prolific speaker, Lysa Terkeurst recently shared from her own healing journey, and said something quite simple yet profound. She suggested that at those times we feel a trauma trigger, we need to invest in some soul care – take four ounces of water and give about 20 mins for our ‘amygdala’ (the part of our brains where trauma is stored) to calm down. She also encourages us to step out and look at the sky, to remind ourselves that the same God who kept the stars in place today has my life in the palm of His hands. He remains in control, and so I can let go and trust that He has my back.

How can you take time with Jesus in nature today and allow the gaze of your heart to shift back onto Him?

5. Reading a relevant resource

I honestly love reading the testimonies of people who have gone before me. People who have had some incredible  brokenness in their past, but in and through a relationship with Christ, God intervened and made all things new.

My two favorite women of God in this regard are Joyce Meyer and Christine Caine. It is so encouraging for me to know that though they both are powerhouse Bible teachers and Christians evangelists, they didn’t really have a good start in life. Yet God saved them, healed them, transformed them, used them. And the same God is both, willing and able to do it for you and for me, for He is no respector of persons.

The Bible says,

“The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10)

What He does for one, He will do for anyone who comes to Him in humility and trust.

In the first quarter of 2021, I had the Holy Spirit lead me into reading, “Unashamed” by Christine Caine, twice. Each time I read portions of it, the Lord would encounter me in a fresh, new way; peeling back the layers of shame each time and introducing me to new found freedom.

I highly recommend reading a resource from someone whose faith and voice you respect, dear friend, to minister to you and inspire you to take those necessary steps towards healing and wholeness.

Some pertinent resources that come to my mind are –


• “Unashamed” by Christine Caine (for freedom from the baggage of shame)


• “Woman evolve” by Sarah Jakes Roberts (for moving past the shackles of fear and forward into the fullness of our Identity and calling)


• “Seeing beautiful again” by Lysa Terkeurst (50 devotionals to help find redemption in every part of our story)


• “Reflecting God” by Liz Wright (for a profound awakening to the truth of our Identity in Christ)


• “Healing the soul of a woman” by Joyce Meyer (for nuggets of wisdom on how to process our healing journey from a woman who has found a new life in Christ past the trauma of sexual abuse)

Which one will you want to pick for yourself?

6. Speaking to a trusted friend

I have a high value in life for wise, Godly counsel, and people who are able to bring  the wisdom of Heaven into my life, in and through the Love of God, are invariably a treasure house and a grace-gift to me.

As important as it is for me to receive wise counsel from time to time, it is also important that I am able to have a safe place in my healing journey with a trusted friend who is willing to lend me a listening ear, without any threat of judgement or condemnation; but rather is instrumental in creating an environment where Love can manifest.

There is healing when we are heard and understood by someone we can trust. They don’t need to hold the answers to our problems, they only need to be a safe place for us as we process the pain of our traumatic pasts. For there is healing in safety.

Sometimes friends,  the most loving thing someone can do is to just be with us in the presence of pain.

There is power in vulnerability. Pride will have us masquerade and pretend that it’s not really a big deal. But the truth is that our hearts matter. Especially when they are broken.

To help tend to our pain, a trusted friend or a Christian counselor/therapist, can prove to be invaluable. My own journey testifies.

So friend, as you were reading, did God bring someone in your spirit that you would like to reach out to? If not, would you be willing to pray and ask God to bring  a trusted, wise friend/counselor in your life?

7. Soaking

I was first introduced to the power of soaking in 2019 through the prophetic ministry of Graham Cooke. I have never been the same since.

Soaking for me is a wonderful way to enjoy a slice of Heaven on earth. Our world, particularly in this present day, time and season; is full of chaos and stress. So how can we, as a people called to remain at peace and rest, do so?

One of the strategies that holds the key to this dilemma is, in my experience, soaking. Simply put, it is an audio where the Word of God is presented and released over our lives in a powerful way. Usually, the audio will have gentle strains of instrumental music playing in the background. It’s purpose is to reveal the truth of God’s Heart towards us and the anointing of the Holy Spirit thus released, serves to heal our hearts,calm our emotions, refresh our spirits, renew our minds and restore our bodies. It truly is a time of self-care and nourishment, a time to receive abundantly so that we can truly give.

Some soaking resources that I can safely recommend are –


• Soaking by Graham Cooke (easily available on YouTube or his website, brilliantperspectives.com)


• “Reflecting God” by Liz Wright ( a soaking album on YouTube)


• “Abide Meditation” (beautiful, Biblical bedtime stories as well as promises of God spoken and prayed over the listener, available on YouTube to help soak in the presence of God before sleep)


• “Soakstream” (a channel on YouTube with  Scriptures released against the backdrop of amazing ocean sounds or soothing instrumental music)

• “Instrumental soaking music” by Eric Gilmour easily available on YouTube

How do you want to soak in His Presence today, friend?

I hope you will ponder the questions I have left you with and let yourself linger in His Presence a bit. Should it be just one way that you pick from the seven that I have listed, I want you to know you are doing well. Wherever you are on the roadmap of your journey, it’s exactly where you need to be.

For the goal is to connect to His Presence and remain connected, friend. It is His Presence which heals, redeems and resets. He is Jehovah Rapha – the Lord, our healer. May you find His loving arms to be a safe refuge and an oasis of bliss that truly nothing can compare to.

Would you allow me to lead you in prayer, friend as we use these precious moments to draw to a gentle close? Just say with me,

“Dear Heavenly Father,
I am so thankful for the gift of abundant life that Jesus died for me to receive. He was broken so I could be made whole, and by His stripes, I am healed. So I ask Father, for this beautiful divine exchange to be made fully manifest in my life – Spirit, soul and body. I entrust the healing of my heart and the restoration of my life completely into your care. I invite your radiant Holy Spirit to lead me and guide me in this process, and help me to see you make everything beautiful again. From the inside-out.
In the matchless Name of Jesus,
Amen.”

Welcome Home.

💒🤗

Pleasant bewilderment

Astonishment. Amazement. Awe.

Friends, as I pen this down after a whirlwind of insane happenings the past 11 days, I’m still learning to grow into a fuller revelation of what it means to be pleasantly bewildered.

I wouldn’t say that we need very many spectacular things to know that the season has shifted, and though chaos still ensues, what I’m learning is that the Lord is able to manifest goodness, blessing and favour in the midst of it all.

“Pleasant bewilderment.”

On googling the meaning of the term,  “bewilderment,” I was met with the following statement,

“a state of being perplexed or confused.”

I’m sure I am not alone when I say that the past few seasons have come with more than a fair share of trials and traumas. There has been heartache and suffering, pain and brokenness. Unfair situations have kept coming up from time to time, leaving us with one question,

“Is it ever going to get better?”

I have wrestled with this question. I know I have, and perhaps friend, you’ve been there too.

But it is how the Lord meets us in the midst of despair that lifts us up and redefines our journey.

He has been teaching me much, and as I write, I hope that the nuggets I’ve gleaned from His heart serve to help you make sense of your own story and walk with the Lord.

So here goes.

As important as it is to acknowledge our feelings friends, I am learning that we don’t go by them. We are called, “believers” for a reason. Not “feelers.”

I don’t mean to be insensitive, quite the opposite really.

For the truth is that though we may feel the pain and heartache that are an inevitable everyday reality in some shape, way or form; we are not defined by it. We are only defined by Love, for that is our Identity.

It is God-given, and irrevocable.

But we do have a part to play in protecting that which He has given us. So how does that work?

Ahem.

Let’s see.

My feelings should never get in the way of my faith, I believe. Therefore, it is so vital to acknowledge them and process my experiences with the Lord. He does not dismiss my brokenness, so I don’t have to either.

The key lies in not stifling my emotions nor stuffing them away. It lies in not denying nor dodging.

For a humble acceptance of truth goes a long way.

So friends, I’m wondering,

“What if instead of burying that which needs addressing, tending and healing, we slowly learn to do just that? Address, tend and heal?”

For whatever is not revealed cannot be healed.

But whatever is brought out into the open, in the safety and security of God’s presence, can be and will be healed by Him. His Love and Truth are a healing salve that nothing can diminish the potency of.

So what if we started to unpack our backpack in front of the Lord? That which we have been carrying for years now? He delights in getting in the dirt with us. To help us sort and sift through our baggage. To show us what lessons of wisdom to pick up, and what toxic emotions to let go. To empower us to forgive the pain of our past, and to trust Him with the new story of Goodness, Grace and Glory that He is writing for our lives.

Sometimes, it is us who remain hesitant.

However, I do beseech you friend, that regardless of where you are in your own story with Him, you would take the time to get in the dirt with Him. In the safety of His love and presence to receive the healing salve of His love and truth that nothing can diminish the power of.

Not a past that looks worse than a trainwreck, and not even the worst sin you can think of.

Nothing.

For when we bring into the light of His face, everything that holds our hearts hostage to guilt, shame, bitterness, anger and unforgiveness, His mercy meets us, understands us, heals us and shows us the way forward.

Suffice to say, if we are truly going to walk in health and wholeness in the midst of a world that is anything but healthy and whole, then it remains important that our feelings, both good and bad, be acknowledged. It is in that that we truly honor our design, and the value thereof.

It is then that we learn that pain and hope can co-exist. It is not “either-or.” Rather, it is “both-and.”

Sorrow AND celebration. Grieving AND rejoicing. Feelings AND faith.

Hope is at the heart of our faith, and healing is the children’s bread. There is no hope without healing, and there is no healing apart from hope.

For my experience convinces me that they are in fact, two sides of the same coin.

It is when I am emotionally healthy that I am spiritually powerful.

And yes.

It is an everyday journey, a step by step walk with the Lord.

Healing paves the way toward hope.

Though nothing can take away from our Hope that is in Christ, things can certainly threaten to dim our consciousness of it. For anything that is unprocessed is ill-processed, and whatever is ill-processed is under the influence of a lie.

Truth and Love can never be divorced, and neither can Love and Hope.

To protect and cultivate our divine design which is Love, it is important that we know the Truth for it is only the Truth that we know that can set us free. And wherever there is freedom, there is power.

Power to be redeemed, be restored and be pleasantly bewildered.

Not because everything is perfect, but because we are free.

Free to love. Free to heal. Free to have hope.

Hope for a future that though obscure is only safely tucked away within the heart of our Saviour.

Only so that in the fullness of time, we will look back and say,

“He has done everything well.” (Mark 7:37)

Pleasant bewilderment, I’d say.




Miracles in the mundane

I got these yellow cookies the other day. In India, we call them ‘besan-elaichi’ biscuits.

I didn’t plan on getting myself any cookies really. I had a simple plan for the day. But how many of us know that some of the best things in life aren’t really planned?

Not my encounters with Jesus. And not my spontaneous shopping spree.

Nope.

None of these things are planned, because I believe that our Good Good Father loves to hide good good gifts in our days as we journey on with Christ.

It was a smooth flow of the Spirit that saw a simple plan morph into a delightful evening.

An evening that had me hold out these delectable yellow cookies as a testimony of God’s Goodness for some of the most beautiful moments of discovery are what our Father hides in the seemingly mundane.

In the everyday business of our day-to-day life is precisely where we come face-to-face with the Father’s business.

Whose primary business is to shape us into the image of the first born of all creation, Christ Jesus.

The hope of glory.

He dwells within. He stands behind. He goes before.

He enfolds us within His warm, tender, protective embrace and as He moves on our hearts, we find ourselves heeding His still, small voice deep within and His gentle whispers of loving truth that beckon us to pay heed to the beauty in the brokenness, to the fruit in the barren place, to the rainbow in the clouds…

…Till the spontaneous flow of the Spirit through an unsuspecting, simple plan forges great delight in the soul and tiny blossoms of favour cause the peace and joy of believing to take root deeper still.

…Till the natural testifies to the eternal, and yellow cookies speak to the early signs of His plans and purposes bursting forth.

…Till the vineyard of our love is an uncluttered and free wide open space for the King of glory to take up residence in; and the seemingly mundane becomes an act of God worship.

…Till moments spent savouring ‘besan-elaichi’ cookies collected in The Cookie Jar become a kind of memorial stone resembling the kinds that the Israelites assembled together to attest to the faithfulness of God as they crossed the River Jordon on dry ground.

On the way to their Promised Land- a land flowing with milk and honey.

Transitions are often like that, I’m learning.

You don’t know what’s up ahead but what you DO know is that the land is good, simply because our Good Good Father delights in giving good good gifts to His children.

And no.

Giants in the promised land don’t intimidate us any longer.

Because our Father’s primary business is to shape us into the image of the first born of all creation, Jesus Christ, it turns out that greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.

And The Cookie Jar testifies.

To the beauty in the brokenness, to the fruit in the barren place, to the rainbow in the clouds…

💗

Jesus beckons

God recently connected me to another one of His precious vessels, Liz Wright.

I first saw her on a podcast with Dr Brian Simmons recently and felt the unction to check out her ministry.

Liz was quite disarming with her charm and compassion. Full of the love of God with a clear understanding of people’s eternal worth and value, I took to her instantly.

One thing led to another, and before long I found myself mailing her office to get my hands on one of her resources which in my estimate, is easily a must-have for anyone on a journey with Christ.

This resource called, “REFLECTING GOD” is packaged as a book and a soaking album. I have been able to access the latter, and sat in it for about 4 hours at a stretch last night!

Though that’s been the longest I have ever sat in a soaking experience, it left me longing for more.

More of God. More of His Presence. More of His Light.

As I sat in the Word today friends, I learnt that the Aramaic word for light is “noohra,” which points to revelation light. This, I feel, is the hallmark of Liz’s ministry and her teachings.

Immersed in the Presence of God with a deeper revelation of the Truth of who He is and who I am in Him made for an experience last night that I will forever hold close to my heart.

Experiencing a deep catharsis in Christ and learning to rest in Him as a child of God slowly awakening to her Identity as a co-heir with Christ, I’m being found.

But as I am, I wanted to pop in and invite you too.

Invite you to linger. Invite you to heal. Invite you to awaken.

Will you come?

💌

He’s always waiting.

He knows what moves you

Honesty hour.

I have often heard people worship God with phrases like,

“You reign above it all! You reign above it all!”

Until some time back, I used to think that this meant that God reigned above the messes of our everyday lives, above the chaos and confusion, above the trials and the tribulation, quite unmoved and untouched because …

… well… because He is God.

But I am so delighted to learn that I was wrong.

Our God reigns above it all. Yes, absolutely He does.

But what I’m learning now is that He reigns above it all because He is not intimidated by the work of the powers of darkness in the world.

It’s a different deal altogether.

The truth is that God is not moved by the condition of our world because He is confident in His ability to redeem and transform. In that sense, He is not moved means that He is not intimidated. It does NOT mean that He is not touched by it.

He is.

He created us and He created the world. So how can He possibly not be touched?

I repeat.

He is.

God is very much touched by what touches us. He is grieved by what grieves us. He is moved by what moves us.

John 11:35 testifies to what I feel is one of the most profound Bible verses to ever be recorded. Though the shortest, it is one of the most loaded verses ever. It goes something like this,

“Jesus wept.”

That’s it.

Two words that reveal the sheer humanity of Jesus.

God, who wrapped Himself up in flesh to tabernacle with us and make His dwelling in our midst, wept. God, who spoke the Universe into existence at His command such that it continues to expand even today, wept. God, who reigns higher than the highest heavens and remains securely seated on His Throne forevermore, wept.

Jesus wept, friends.

And that’s exactly why He moves.

He moves when we are moved for He is moved by the feeling of our infirmity.

When we are overcome with sorrow, He is moved to heal, mend and restore us. When we are confronted with an impossible situation, He is moved to give us His promises and the assurance of our hope. When we are walking through a trial, He is moved to lead us, guide us and shape us through it.

Rewind 2000 years back.

When we were unable to do anything in our own strength to save ourselves, He was moved by the feeling of our infirmity so much so that He sent His one and only begotten son, Jesus to hang on that Cross at Calvary as both, our redemption AND our redemption price.

He was moved to make a way for our salvation and our connection to the Father Heart of God.

So how can HE not be moved by what moves us?

He absolutely is.

He is moved when we are moved by the condition of a lost and broken world. He is moved when in the face of hate, we choose love; in the face of anger; we choose peace; in the face of judgement, we choose grace; in the face of injustice, we choose forgiveness; in the face of persecution, we choose prayer.

Indeed, He is moved.

And when God is moved, He moves mountains.

And guess where it all began?

With the feeling of our infirmity.

Selah.

You’re a Miracle

Hershey’s.

Hershey’s and peanut butter- strawberry sandwiches were my favourite this winter. A change in season saw me unwittingly stash away the chocolate sauce in the refrigerator.

But again.

Seasons change.

The lunar eclipse yesterday was a pretty stunning sight. A big saffron ball of light hanging low in the evening sky caught my attention like little else does.

Realising something was peculiar as the lights shining on the mountains my window overlooks had this uncommon companion last evening, I reached out for my lenses.

Yes, it was indeed the moon hanging lower than usual. A saffron ball with craters that billions across the planets had looked eyes on.

Slowly, the ball began to rise. Bit by bit till the hue changed to a bright white and the moonlight was, now that I was back in the safety of my room, shining from underneath my curtains.

I looked, I smiled, I worshiped.

Beholding the beauty of the moon through the eyes of the Father till joy bubbled up and my childlike wonder, reawakened.

Till today’s evening meal saw me toss aside the boring, mundane menu in exchange for some delicious mouthwatering Hershey’s chocolate sandwiches.

An epiphany.

Seasons change, friends. But we often miss the turning of the leaves.

So as I hasten to a close, I hope you find the courage to find your own miracle in process, because you yourself are one.

You’ve gone through the fire and the flood, the test and the trial, the mire and the mud.

And you’re still here.

Because you’re a miracle.

It’s time to make some chocolate sandwiches.

🍫 ❤️

Our Love Language

A sliver of Grace, a slice of Heaven.

So it’s a beautiful man playing a flute on the streets right outside our community garden.

Distant strains of music, still deeply resonating with my heart.

A bird starts to chirp as the sun begins to set. It’s golden rays are beaming on my face as I dare to look towards it.

Squinting, I look away and resume my writing.

In the midst of an unrelenting lockdown, the cars that are buzzing to and fro seem to point to a people that are determined to not let anything stand in their way.

I bless them.

Evenings walks with Jesus never felt more full of wonder. In the light of the mysterious way that only He knows to connect, yellow flowers have now become our love language for this season.

But wait.

The sound of someone precious putting the utensils away right where they belong.

But I know where I belong, so I resume my writing.

Stone benches held up by layers of cemented bricks are my favourite place to park myself.

But as I do, I notice that the roses in these bushes close by are a bit closed up. I sort of miss them blossoming forth as usual. But love is patient, I remind myself.

So as I resume my writing again, I seek to draw to a close.

Swift enough to return to the wonder of communing with Jesus through the majesty of creation, but hopefully potent enough to let you linger too.

Linger in the presence of His Love and linger in the beauty of your own unique miracle story with Him.

In a coffee shop. In a park nearby. In the sanctuary. In the friend’s garage or in the comfort of your home.

Because Jesus will find you anywhere.

Be still and know…

He loves you 💛

🌼🌼🌼

The Pentecost P’s

“Passion, Power and Purity.”

It was Pentecost Sunday yesterday, friends.

I was exhilarated to spend time with the Lord on a day when the wonderful sweet, precious Holy Spirit of God was sent from Heaven into the Earth nearly 2000 years ago.

However, I am intrigued as I ponder the fact that the same Spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead lives on the inside of me. And having being released in response to the prayers and intercession of the disciples of the Lord as they all gathered with one accord to bombard Heaven, He now lives in me.

It’s so beautiful to note here that Heaven was invaded by earth first, before earth was ever invaded by Heaven.

The disciples wanted what the Lord had died to give them, and they wanted it not only for themselves but also for the world they were called to shift the trajectory of.

They were passionate about the faith, moved in power and were marked by purity. Signs, wonders and miracles were the norm. Healing and deliverance was at hand for all. Salvation had finally come.

As the last days church, I believe that’s what the Lord is doing within and amongst us as He brings about the restoration and fulfilment of all things according to the counsel of His will.

I couldn’t be more ecstatic really.

In the midst of the whirlwind of the world right now, He is calling us to a place of deeper intimacy with Him, to be a people marked by the fire of His Presence.

Because His Presence is where we meet with His glory.

His Presence is where we encounter His passion for us that ignites the flame of passion within us. His Presence is where we we begin to understand His power that enables us to come to terms with our own. His Presence is where we come face to face with the purity of His selfless, sacrificial love that empowers us to lay our own lives down to see His Kingdom come.

It’s all about the Presence, friends.

As we make our way into the week ahead, let us run into His Presence. Let us sit at the feet of Jesus and let Him mark us, make us and mould us.

With Passion, Power and Purity.

Hallelujah 🙌🏼

Victory in Christ

“What is now a Prophecy of Scripture will one day become a Testimony of Jesus; and what will eventually become the Testimony of Jesus, will always carry the Spirit of Prophecy.”

It is this that the Lord has begun teaching me, friends and I share it with great delight.

Victory for one, in the Kingdom of Heaven, is victory for all.

This is because our victory does not depend upon human effort nor is it received at the cost of anyone. For it rests solely on the cost that Jesus has paid for every single one of us at the Cross of Calvary, which is not just enough, but MORE THAN ENOUGH for one and all.

There is truly no dearth in the Kingdom of God. Our God is extravagant and in Him, we can pull from the unlimited supply of His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

He is a prosperous Father who spoke good plans and purposes into our lives through the abundance of the intentionality of His Heart. And that too, BEFORE He put us in the womb of our mother’s belly.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

But He didn’t speak those plans for our lives apart from Him and the community of people that He brings into our lives.

But rather interwoven with them.

We are not an island, friends. We are a holy people that belong to the Family of God. We are called to a life that is dependent on God, and interdependent on people.

An African proverb comes to mind as I write,

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

Which brings me back to the Truth that Victory for one, in the Kingdom of Heaven, is victory for all. The same God who has proven Himself to be Faithful in one person’s life, is the same God who is Faithful over mine. My brother’s or sister’s success is not my failure. Rather, it is my success too, because everyone has a seat at the Father’s table. We are all invited to dine with Him, and dine full.

Partaking of the fullness of peace, the fullness of joy and the fullness of love in and through the fullness of the Person and the Presence of Jesus.

Which is always more than enough for every single one represented across the planet.

His Presence with you does not take away from His Presence with me. And His promises towards you do not come at the cost of His promises to me.

Because there is an abundant supply of riches for all the Children of God in the Kingdom of Heaven.

On Earth as it is in Heaven.

I’m learning, friends to let go and let Him mature me into this Truth.

Risking vulnerability at this moment with you, I do admit I feel pangs of jealousy on seeing success stories as I scroll through social media each morning. But the Lord has faithfully been teaching me what I’m now finding the courage to share.

Victory for one, in the Kingdom of Heaven, is victory for all.

God’s Word testifies.

“For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10)

I heard Pastor Bill Johnson speak at Bethel recently and he said something quite remarkable. He said that stewarding a Word is stewarding a relationship.

So I did a bit of soul searching and realised that every Word that God releases into our lives carries the very breath of God. It comes from His Presence and as we tenderly receive and faithfully steward His spoken Word, it makes His Presence even more real to us, and depending upon the assignment that the Lord has relegated to the Word, it can very well usher in the beauty and the majesty of His Presence even into the lives of those that we are called to.

Establishing the Kingdom of Heaven in our midst starts with the work of the Holy Spirit within us. As we diligently spend time in Scripture, the Spirit of the Living God goes to work. HE is activated, and then He activates us.

The Holy Spirit starts to reveal the Heart of the Father through His Word. There occurs an unveiling of His intentions toward us and His strategy to accomplish that which He speaks. Those plans and purposes that He declared over us BEFORE He put us in the womb of our mother’s bellies, are now revealed through His Promises.

Which is why Prophecy of Scripture is the backbone of our faith.

A time of trial where all we see are the impossibilities of life around us are an invitation to draw closer to the source of it all, the giver of true life who already has in His mind, redemptive solutions to every challenge we face.

Which brings me to yet another thought:

“Will the road towards the manifestation of that which He has spoken be rosy and colourful?”

No.

But it WILL BE glorious.

It may not be easy, friends but it will be saturated with His Faithfulness. It won’t always be comfortable, but it will be full of His Risen glory. It certainly won’t be predictable, but it will be anchored in Him.

He promises to never leave us, nor forsake us.

And as we embark upon this grand adventure of faith with the King of glory, it is THIS PROMISE of His Presence that is perhaps, the most important.

Because it is His Presence that catches us each time we stumble or fall. It is His Presence that we run to whenever doubt or unbelief threaten to sabotage our faith. It is His Presence that heals our broken hearts and binds up our wounds in the face of persecution and suffering. It is His Presence, friends.

I’m learning to slowly disengage with my problems and engage with my promises instead.

I’m realising His Presence is stronger than anything I’ll face.

I’m understanding His Presence is the thing that has begun a good work and His Presence is the thing that will complete it.

Jesus doesn’t leave things undone or unfinished.

Not at the Cross, and not now.

He is the same; yesterday, today and forevermore.

He cried out, “IT IS FINISHED!” so that we can operate from that reality, never towards it.

For the Truth of our Father’s nature and character is that He is alpha and He is omega. He is the beginning and He is the end. He is the author and the finisher of our faith.

And He who promised is Faithful.

The process is designed for us to learn the same kind of Faithfulness. Embody the same kind of Love. Carry the same kind of Hope.

The same kind that Jesus did.

Because what is now a Prophecy of Scripture WILL one day become the Testimony of Jesus so that what eventually becomes a Testimony of Jesus, forever carries the Spirit of Prophecy.

God said it, and He is Faithful.

I hope we are too.