A Fresh Start.

Based on a true life event...

My name is Joy and I am the first child of my parents. I had an Islamic background, but was privilege to accept Christ at the age of 15 in a teenager’s program my school was invited for. Owing to my background, I could not go to church, attend meetings and or receive friends that could have helped me spiritually. The best I could do was to read my bible occasionally and pray.

I was inconsistent with Jesus, and entered into different romantic relationships in search of the satisfaction and love that can only be found in Jesus. Soon enough I started having pre-marital sex, which troubled my conscience a lot. Often times I said to myself, ‘I will not do this again’… few weeks after I went back to it.

I got admitted into the university and was ready for a fresh walk with God. I was privilege to have friends that were lovers of God. I joined a discipleship group and started growing in the faith. Few weeks into this new phase of my life, my ex-boyfriend visited me and persuaded me into another sexual relationship with him… again I fell into the act I just left.

I cried sore and told God to forgive me. I ended the relationship and said to myself again ‘Joy it’s time to start afresh’. Three weeks later, I observed that I was losing weight, feeling feverish and also had missed my last menstrual period…” Could it be? No!No!!It can’t be” I said to myself. My roommate insisted that I follow her to the hospital and be sure of what the problem was without making any costly assumption. “That was fine by me” I thought to myself. We got dressed and headed for the hospital. After series of test, the result stated that I was pregnant.

It was as though the ground should open up and swallow me. I was confused, terrified and frightened. My friend, trying to be good, suggested she would pay the bills for me to abort the child. I cried and thought of it over and over. I only recently began a fresh walk with the Lord. “Is killing my baby the right thing to do? ...What do I do? How will I tell my father? What will my classmates say? Will I be able to continue schooling? Will my ex-boyfriend take the responsibility? Will the church not laugh at me and condemn me? Will my father throw me out of the house? What will become of my tomorrow?My friend paying for the abortion is it a blessing in disguise?  The little my parents have is what they are investing into my education, even if they don’t throw me out can they afford to feed another mouth? What if I die in the process?” These were my lingering bitter thoughts…

To be continued…

Night Thoughts

I Die Daily Part Two

Photo Credit: https://www.slideshare.net/larrypasley/the-word-of-god-54342359

So we introduced this very essential topic at the last post and gave a background knowledge of what it means to die daily. We understood that dying daily is the only way we can live a victorious life as believers. Its the way we can live above sin and temptations.

In this post we would look at how a believer can die daily. 

Firstly, let me reemphasize that dying daily does not entail always answering the altar call, nor does it mean self condemnation, but rather it entails the total yielding of our selves to the Holy spirit.

A believer can die daily by: 

Studying the Word Daily: 

"Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful" Joshua 1:8

The constant meditation of the word daily is the secret to daily victory over temptations. Read and meditate!!!  Reading lifts up the WORD into your mind but meditation takes it inside your heart, where it begins to produce faith.

I have hidden thy WORD in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11. Here we see the psalmist say he has HIDDEN the WORD in his heart. This is a great key. You see the much of the WORD you keep in your heart the more transformed your life becomes; the more you begin to obtain victory over temptations. A believer rich of the WORD is wealthy. Such has an ancient treasure that have proven to stand sure and true.

It takes diligence to HIDE the WORD in your heart. Why must it be hidden? Couldn't it just be on my heart or in my head alone? Seeds are hidden inside the soil for them to bring forth fruits. This is because the birds of the air can feed on seeds found on the soil, men can trample on seeds found on the soil. But that is not the same for seeds hidden inside the soil. 

It's easy to be swayed and discouraged by challenges and temptations, when the Word you have heard  or read has not yet sank into your heart. 

 Practically, when studying the WORD, come as a little child...come with openness. This makes your heart receptive to the WORD. Don't be in a hurry...be free to ask questions..That would help you engage with the Holy Spirit who will make meaning of every thing you read and ask.

       The WORD is meant to be inside your heart not just your head.

In the next post we would understand the importance of  Prayers in dying daily.

Don't forget to ask your questions and leave your comments below. We would give a quick reply.

Shalom!

I Die Daily Part One

So these thoughts inundated me............

"I assure you, believers, by the pride which I have in you in [your union with] Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily [I face death and die to self]" I Corinthians 15:31 AMP.

The very essence of Christ's death was to repair a relationship long broken by the axe of disobedience, cunningly sponsored by the old serpent. God's mission was to raise up a new breed from the risen nature of Christ, that He can now, confidently call Mankind, such that every man takes up the similitude of the very nature of the One who began the new race...Christ Jesus. 

Apostle Paul in the text above reiterated the very fundamental process that transposes Man from his fallen nature into the redeemed nature. A sinner who accepts Christ is a new creature, that is, a new spirit has been given to that man which is the Holy Spirit, that sponsors a new life in him. Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]. 2 Corinthians 5:17. AMP.

The Holy Spirit in that new man begins to awaken the consciousness of a reality of distaste to unrighteousness. Such that the man's sensitivity to sin is heightened. A new consciousness has now been sparked up in that mans' life.

These consciousness stirs up a contention between the new man and his sinful nature which has began undergoing transformation. "For the sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit opposes the sinful nature; for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit] are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you [as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do." Galatians 5:17. AMP.

Then how can this new man in Christ overcome this battle against the very nature that Lorded him in time past? We hear Apostle Paul cry out "I die daily!" 

The nature of sin still dwells in the flesh. Such that any Man that needs victory over the flesh must be ready to die daily. This does not imply that we answer every altar call on Sundays, but that we sustain a tempo that enables us, after been saved to begin to grow  and obtain victory over the strength of self.

I know of a friend who held a distinction in fighting. This friend had cultivated the act of fighting such that, it became somewhat of an addiction. Anyone who got in my friend's way, was in for a lifetime scar. Shockingly this was a female friend. 

One of those days in school she had a brawl with a fellow classmate and everyone was expecting a wrestle at any moment. Soon my friend got a slap from this person....It dawned on everybody that two heavyweights champions were about to clash. But to the shock of the entire class and likewise the demons in hell, my friend gently walked away. How did that happen? Have you experienced that before? 

Upon questioning, she had recently got born again. This is an example of one whose life has been exchanged with Christ. Rather than retaliate, she sought peace because her flesh has been mortified. Saying No to the desires of the flesh daily practically means to die daily.

How can one die daily?

Lookout for the part 2 of this post, as the Holy spirit would help me point out how a believer can die daily. 

Don't forget to ask your questions and leave your comments below. We would give a quick reply.

Shalom!

Woow!! I finally got the VISA

What could be more exhilarating than getting a VISA approval, especially when it is to the place where you've always longed to be. It's such a sweet experience.

The effort it takes to get a VISA can be demanding. All the documentations and scrutinizations, the anxieties, the sleepless nights preparing for the interview (especially for the study VISA) and so on,  summates to being a daunting experience. Though daunting, it can't over ride the joy of  a VISA approval.

I have gotten my VISA approval finally!... So i'm going to this beautiful country where everything seems to just be perfect. No pains, No wars, No Famine, No economic issues, No Political toggles...Nothing bad at all happens there.

I actually got it in 2011... Yes i mean when i gave my Life to Christ, i got the VISA to eternal Life!!!

I got my VISA to heaven!!!! Halleluyah!!!

Wow! Such great opportunity i received from the Lord JESUS CHRIST, to be accepted amidst all my faults and weaknesses that demanded a refusal, yet He stood by me with His word in John 3:16.

He said in Jeremiah 29:11, that HE knows the plans and thoughts He has towards me, good plans and not bad, to give me a future and a hope.

What better place can i be than to be where my Lord is. This world is not my home, but a passing through country... Everything here seems permanent, but they are vague.

You too can have this VISA, like i have, and you'll get to enjoy the countless benefits of eternal life in God's presence. And, you start enjoying this benefits here on earth. This is the true LIFE TIME investment.

To get this VISA, follow these steps:
1. Acknowledge you are a sinner.
2. Make this prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior.
3. Congratulation, Your heaven bound VISA is approved!
 4. Join a bible believing church, and be fervent with your walk with God.

God bless you!