For Zikora

How to do Life, the Christian Way.

Christian Living

How to be Powerful and Effective, Using Lessons from Mark Chapter 4.

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Dear Zikora, 

This blog post is based on Mark chapter 4 and is a continuation of the previous post: Why the Bible Can Be Hard to Understand: A Look at the Parables of Mark 4

In this blog post, I want to show you how applying the lessons from the parables in your everyday life can be a power move and help you go further in life as you navigate different kinds of relationships.

1) Talking in parables: Don’t Over-Share or Over-Explain.

Notice how in Mark 4 vs 10 & 34, Jesus only gave the explanations of the parables to his inner circle and close friends (the disciples). Jesus did not over explain the parables to the crowd. I think there is a lesson to be gleaned here: reserve your explanations for those who intentionally want to understand you. There may be many who want to hear what you have to say, but they may not be listening to hear and understand you. Be discerning, save your energy, and maintain some mystery. Speak concisely and clearly, using easy to understand examples, but don’t spend valuable time ensuring that everyone understands you. Find your inner circle, and explain to them in depth.

2) Parable of the Sower: Great Results are not always from Over-Extending Yourself.

There are always variables and factors that affect our communication or outcomes we hope for. Know and understand what those variables and factors are, and use that knowledge to your advantage.

Sometimes it is not a communication problem, it is other things such as presence of other distractors, lack of awareness, poor timing, an unreceptive environment etc. (Mark 14-20). Therefore, in all you do, first pray and ask God to ensure that your efforts land on fertile soil. Saying this prayer will save you a lot of wasted attempts and failed ventures.

Knowing this will also help you strategize better, ensure a better use of your time and resources, and will increase your chances of getting the outcome you desire. It will also help you not to take anything too personally. Again, the key here is to remember that you are not overextending yourself in one spot/or in one activity. The Sower spread so many seeds, and the seeds that grew, grew, those that didn’t, didn’t. The Sower exerted the same amount of energy in spreading of seeds. 

Also, Diversify: in addition to the above point, make sure that you are not putting all your efforts in one area, or pitching only to one audience. Diversify, try different areas, but pray first!.

3) Parable of Seed Growing: Don’t be too concerned with Receiving Credit or Recognition.

Just like the planting, it takes time for the seeds to grow and we don’t know exactly which seeds will grow or when. We must be patient, and not get easily frustrated when we don’t see immediate change. Just the same way that you don’t go digging up the seed that you planted to see how it grows and also the same way that after planting, you don’t know exactly how or when the growth happens, so it is with people and situations. That said, always pray and practice discernment in your waiting. Also, don’t be upset when you aren’t given credit for your role in starting the change. It is a waste of energy. Remember, we really do not control many factors that influence change just as we don’t control the factors that influence a seed to grow. God makes the seeds grow and God makes our efforts prosperous (Mark 4 vs 26-29). It is quite ignorant to insist that you alone caused a certain change to happen. When you are tempted to think this way, remember that you are only a vessel, and that it could have been anybody else. Be glad that you were the chosen vessel. 

So, just plant the seed. Focus your energy on planting several godly seeds in several areas and be content in knowing that the seeds will grow whether you get any credit or not. 

Note, sometimes, planting the seed is just you leading by example, it is  you living the truth of Jesus that you want to see in another. It can also be you sharing your story or vision. The truth is, you might share these things, and only years later will the change it sparks start to materialize. 

4) Parable of Mustard Seed: Practice Self-Awareness

Sometimes we underestimate just how impactful we are in the life of others around us. Even our tiniest actions have great impact. Just like the mustard seed example (Mark 4 vs 30-33), our little acts that show God’s love, our display of good morals, our random act of kindness, etc can literally start and lead to a massive positive transformation in the life of others in our sphere of influence. So, don’t take living correctly for granted. Don’t go through life being unaware or without paying attention.

5) Lamp Under a Basket: Be Bold, Stop Hiding

Don’t hide who you are or the gifts you have whether out of shame or fear of judgement. The secret comes out sooner or later. There is no secrecy. There is freedom in living authentically and being honest, because there is nothing hidden that can’t and won’t be revealed. So be upfront to avoid the shame that whatever secret you are hiding reveals eventually (Mark 4 vs 22).

That said, share your gifts. Don’t hide them. Sharing your gifts and talents works paradoxically in that the more you share, the more gifts and talents you will eventually have. However, if you don’t share, you will eventually lose the talents you had initially (Mark 4 vs 24). You have often heard this colloquial saying: “if you don’t use it, you lose it”. Remember sharing your gifts doesn’t mean telling everyone your every move. Practice discernment, you can share your gifts and talents, without announcing everything you know or your every move.

  • Pay attention to what you Hear and Consume:  If it is not the true word of God, if it is not bringing you closer to God, then don’t hear, entertain or consume it. 

6) Even when it doesn’t feel like it, God is still With Us:

Have faith, always. The story of Jesus calming the storm is one that we often experience in our day to day life. Sometimes it feels as though God is silent when we experience the issues of life. Using the story in Mark 4 vs 35-41, I want to remind you to have faith today and everyday. God is still at work and always with us. You can call to him in your distress, but do not panic. Be right with God, remember how powerful God is, and remember all his promises to you. If you have accepted God as your lord and saviour, then God is with you, and will never leave you. If you haven’t , please say this prayer: 

My dear lord Jesus, I believe and I confess that you are the true son of God and that you died for my sins. I accept and receive you into my life as my saviour and redeemer. Please forgive me my sins, come into my life and dwell with me all the days of my life. Thank you for loving me first, and for answering my prayers, in Jesus name. Amen. Congratulations, you are now a child of God. Read Romans 10 vs 9 and See this post: How to Have a Close and Strong Relationship with God.

and Psalm 81: How to Preserve Our Relationship with God and Ensure a Soft Godly life.

As we ring in the new year, I hope that you remember these lessons from the parables in Mark 4 and that you apply them to your life in the beautiful and prosperous year that is 2026!

Prayer:

Thank you Jesus for these lessons that I can turn into strategies. Please fill me with wisdom on how and when to apply them to my life and situations. Please help me to not misinterpret or misunderstand your words. Help me, and save me. Please fill me with courage and boldness as I apply your words to my daily life. Help me to live a life that promotes your kingdom. Thank you my lord, for I know that you have heard my prayers. I thank you because I know that you are able to do exceedingly abundantly all that I have asked and prayed for. Blessed be your holy name, in Jesus name. Amen.

Why the Bible Can Be Hard to Understand: A Look at the Parables of Mark 4

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Dear Zikora, 

Have you ever wondered why some people read the Bible and don’t understand it? Or why they read it and complain about how difficult it is to follow? Mark chapter 4 gives us an insight into why this is the case and arms us with a proper answer to this question.

 This chapter opens with Jesus teaching and preaching to a crowd about a lot of things using stories, particularly, the story of a man sowing seeds- Mark 4 vs 1-9. Although Jesus is teaching them, Jesus doesn’t make it particularly easy for the crowd to understand, even though he explains using very relatable anecdotes and stories of common events (parables). However, Jesus would later explain the parables to his inner circle and disciples- (Mark 4 vs 10 & 34).

Why did Jesus do that? When Jesus’s disciples asked him why he does this, here is Jesus’s response: “And he said to them, to you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven”…Mark 4 vs 11-12.

Here is my take on the meaning of Jesus’ response: the mind that already received God and is intentionally seeking God will understand the word of God, but for the mind that has not received Jesus, is unready or unwilling, the word of God will be a mystery.

Notice how Jesus uses many references and experiences that are not uncommon to the people? I think this is so that the people can understand it easily, but the people would have to be aware in order to grasp the meaning behind those parables. This makes more sense when you realize that the parable are also open to different interpretation, depending on your perspective…

Furthermore, Jesus explained that the revealing of the kingdom of God in simple words is for his friends and inner circle (children of God). However, outsiders (non-Christians) will have to discern God’s words wrapped in a story. This might explain why the Bible might be complicated to understand for a non-Christian.

That said, this doesn’t mean that the Goodnews of the kingdom of God is not to be shared with non-Christians. It just means that although it is available and accessible to all, understanding  it is still reserved to those who have already received Jesus into their life. That is to say that the seeker has to be intentional, conscious, aware, and most importantly, receive God first. Here is how the Bible puts it: “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”…(John 1 vs 12). Also, “My Sheep (my children) hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10 vs 27). So while the word of God is available and accessible, it is still exclusive. Always pray for understanding before reading God’s words.

If you have not received Jesus into your life, fret not, just say this prayer: My dear lord Jesus, I believe and I confess that you are the true son of God and that you came to die for my sins. I accept and receive you into my life as my saviour and redeemer. Please forgive me my sins, come into my life and dwell with me all the days of my life. Thank you for loving me first, and for answering my prayers, in Jesus name. Amen. Congratulations, you are now a child of God. Read Romans 10 vs 9 and See this post: How to Have a Close and Strong Relationship with God. And..

Psalm 81: How to Preserve Our Relationship with God and Ensure a Soft Godly life

Now let us examine and interpret some of the parables and see the role we play when it comes to our efforts at sharing the news about the kingdom of God.

1) The Parable of the Sower: 

This is the very first parable that Jesus uses to explain what happens when people are first introduced to the word of God. If you pay attention, you will notice how this plays out in our everyday life, and not just in terms of the word of God. You can also extrapolate this to other areas of life such as in your studies, relationships etc.

In this parable, we learn of the people who hear the word of God, but because it doesn’t land on the right soil (and this can be due to the time, place, circumstances or state of mind of the person hearing), the word of God either isn’t received or it does bear any fruit or make a difference in their life (Mark 4 vs 14-20). This also explains why sometimes, we hear the gospel/word of God and somehow forget, or don’t abide by it. Our prayer here should be that God make us a fertile ground on which the seeds land and we are to pray against any factor that might prevent the seed from taking growth/root and multiplying. We are to be careful because the factors can crop up anytime and the world is full of such factors (e.g  distractions, persecution, tribulation, deceitfulness of riches, etc). We must also be patient as some seeds take time to grow and manifest. So don’t get discouraged if the word of God you received is taking some time to change you or change someone you shared it with. Stay actively praying and intentionally trying and abiding by it, it will eventually grow, and take root in your life.

2) Nothing Hidden: Parable of Lamp Under a Basket

In Mark 4 vs 21-25, Jesus gave another short parable using light/a lamp. Again, there are many ways this parable can be interpreted, but only does who know that Jesus is the light of the world (John 1 vs 9-10, & John 8 vs 12) will understand this parable. This parable explains that whether people believe in God or Jesus, it doesn’t really matter, because eventually, everyone will come to know about Jesus and find out that the word of God is true (Mark 4 vs 21-23). So it is important that we hear and obey the word of God. Here is how the Bible puts it: “If anyone has ears, let him hear”. And he said to them, “pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the onwards who has not, even what he has will be taken away”…Mark 4 vs 23-25. This simply means, the more you hear the word of God, the more you will understand and be filled with the word of God/Light, and the more you share, the more you have and the cycle continues. The opposite is true too.

  • Another way to interpret this parable would be that we are not to hide the light of God within us. We are to share the light (that is Jesus) with the world. Because there are really no secrets. Whether we share it or not, people will eventually come to hear and know about the light of the world (Jesus/God).This is what Mark 4 vs 22 means when it says “nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light”. So the more you share your light, more light will be yours and if you don’t, even what you once understood will be taken away.
  • Pay attention to what you hear and consume: make sure that you not only hear the word of God, but that you do what it says. At the same time, pay attention to what you are listening to. Make sure it is God’s words and not evil disguised as the word of God…Mark 4 vs 24.

3) Spreading the word of God: Parable of Seed Growing

In Mark 4 vs 26-29, we are given a glimpse of the Kingdom of God, and how it starts out…like a seed, and then grows without much input from us. Our job, is to spread (scatter) the seed/word of God to people through our words, actions, testimonies, etc. It is God who uses those seeds and makes them grow in the hearts and lives of others. So we should not get upset when people don’t immediately accept God’s words when we tell them or become changed immediately. We also shouldn’t obsessively watch out to see if others are changing and becoming more Christ-like. Our job is just to spread the word and live in the truth of the word. It is God who does the changing of people’s mind. Just the same way we don’t know when or how  the seeds grow, but we come when the time is right and harvest that which we have planted.

4) Our Little actions have major Impact: Parable of the Mustard Seed

This is an interesting parable because according to Jesus, it is the parable that is used to compare and explain the kingdom of God, (Mark 4 vs 30-33). It is so telling because it emphasizes that the kingdom of God starts out as a very small seed, and then it grows into a large plant with large branches. One can infer that spreading God’s kingdom is just like sowing seed and farming. “Tiny Seed”/”Mustard seed” symbolizes that even the tiniest things such as our actions, words, the way we do our job or carry ourselves, our testimonies, and other things we think are inconsequential can all have a major impact. So again, don’t be afraid to sow a seed in someone’s life. No matter how small you think your impact is, God has the ability to magnify that impact. Just do your part, don’t be shy or afraid.

5) Have Faith in God: God is With us Even When We Don’t feel Like it.

in Mark 4 vs 35-41, we learn that Jesus got in a boat with his disciples and then they experienced a massive storm while Jesus was sleeping on board. Even with Jesus being with his disciples, the disciples were still afraid of the storm. Jesus was not pleased with them for not having faith. We do this when we forget that God is always with us, and we let fear come into us and we don’t operate from a place of faith, or we question God. Jesus was sleeping/having a nap when the storm started, but he was still in their midst. It may feel like this for us at times, but God is always still with us. Have strong faith because our God is faithful and always still with us. Not having faith/being afraid is like an insult to God. God is pleased and delighted when we have faith in God. 

Prayer:

Thank you Jesus for the beautiful gifts in the Bible, the wise parables and how you help me understand it and apply it to every stage of my life. Please help me to not misunderstand or misinterpret it. Continue to guide me in wisdom and knowledge. Please help me o God to continue to be a light in this world and to continue to spread your kingdom and the good news of your salvation through my words and actions and lifestyle. Save me from all the ways I try to sabotage or ruin myself. Help me to stay encouraged and motivated.

I thank you so much because your love for me is beyond words. Thank you my lord because I know that you have heard my prayer. Thank you because I know that you will do exceedingly abundantly all that I have asked and prayed for. Blessed be your holy name in Jesus name I have prayed. Amen.

How Lessons From Jesus’s Human Experience Can Help Us Navigate Ours.

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Dear Zikora,

Today’s reading is from Mark chapter 14, and it tells the story of Jesus’s betrayal and arrest. There is so much to learn from Jesus’s human experience and this is the start of the “Exploring the Human Experience of Jesus” series. The many lessons in this reading are another reminder that we do have an understanding saviour, because Jesus has experienced and can relate to whatever it is we are experiencing. Jesus has truly seen it all and by understanding Jesus’s experience, we can be able to understand and navigate some pesky real life issues, such as:

1) The Nature of Enemies: 

Today’s reading opens with a little backstory and we learn that two powerful sets of people: the Chief priest and the Scribes, were plotting to kill Jesus. Now during Jesus’ time, chief priests were  highly respectable keepers of the Jewish temple and they also represented the Jewish people. The scribes on the other hand, were highly educated people who studied and interpreted the Jewish law, prophesies etc. Although these groups were powerful, yet, they did not want to provoke the common people by capturing and killing Jesus during the upcoming festivities. So, two days before two important festivals, these people in high places were already brainstorming on how to execute their plan. Now there is a lot to unpack in this first two verses:

 A) Jesus’s enemies were not just the regular everyday people from his town. His enemies were the highly respected, highly educated and powerful people.

B) Jesus’s enemies were his own people who already knew that Jesus is the truth, the true Messiah (case in point, Judas Iscariot, the scribes, and the chief priest).

C) Jesus’s enemies were very strategic and understood their opposition, so they left nothing to chance. (Even when Judas Iscariot went to betray Jesus, he gave an unmistakable sign-vs 44).

D) The ultimate enemy is not an outsider (vs. 10-11).

2) The Triviality of Worry: 

While Jesus’s enemies were plotting, Jesus was having a ball! Jesus was relaxed and having supper in Simon the leper’s house, and “as he [Jesus] was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head”-Mark 14 vs 3b-4. 

This scenario is important for various reasons, but I want to focus on this: Jesus knew beforehand that he would soon be arrested and killed. Jesus revealed this information again when he was referring to the people scolding the woman with the alabaster flask: “She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial” vs. 8). That said, he was not letting this sad news worry him. In fact, he was relaxed, emphasis on the word “reclining”.

 From the picture painted in verse 3 to 9, it is obvious that there are quite a few people in this gathering, and that it was not a gloomy supper. 

This portion of the story is another reminder for us, urging us to go through life relaxed. We have been told that we will face trials and troubles, but that we shouldn’t worry, because God has overcome it all (John 16 vs 33).Yet, do you still worry? I want you to remember this and calm down. By being a child of God, saved by Jesus, I promise you, you will not go through any hardship alone, so stop worrying, and relax.

In addition, Jesus already knew the particular disciple that would betray him, yet, he still sat calmly, relaxed, and ate with his betrayer. Here is a direct quote: “And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “truly I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me”- vs 17-18.  Take a moment and realize the significance of this. If you knew someone was going to betray you, would you still associate closely with them? My advice? Don’t worry about who will betray you. Don’t worry about anything. God will turn that betrayal/source of worry around for your own good and for God’s glory. So go through life unbothered!

But, do you see the irony in it all? Jesus was betrayed by his friend but it led to your salvation!

3) Hypocrisy in Friendships: 

While Jesus was still at Simon the leper’s house, a random woman comes and starts anointing Jesus with costly oils and perfumes (vs. 3-4). It is important to note that (from this story), this woman was not among Jesus’s circle of friends. The other guests at this supper were annoyed at the woman for doing that. Here is what they had to say: “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor”. And they scolded her [the woman]-vs 4-5.

Now my first question is: did those people who were annoyed know that Jesus was the Messiah? I think they did. Did they not like Jesus? They probably did. Now if they did know and like Jesus, why did they think that Jesus did not deserve to be splurged on?

Jesus on the other hand loved the experience, disagreed with the others, defended the woman and called what the woman did “beautiful”. Here is a direct quote: “But Jesus said, “leave her [the woman] alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could, she has anointed my body before burial. And truly I say to you, whereever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her”-Mark 14 vs 6-9. 

This moment is monumental and highlights an important character of Jesus: Wisdom and understanding. Jesus understood exactly what those people were trying to do and  he eloquently calls out their hypocrisy and does not let the people guilt or shame him (as they tried to do using the woman). Finally, using their own argument, he turns it back on those people all while not sounding accusatory. 

You see, those people saying that the ointment should have been sold and the money given to the poor did not say that out of love for the poor, and Jesus knew that!

So what does this portion of the story teach us? 

  1. Practice self-awareness; Pay attention to the way you make people feel. 
  2. Before replying, strive to understand the situations, meanings of the words people say and the motivations behind those words or actions.
  3. People will remember how you make them feel.
  4. Know how to wield the power of language.
  5. Do not be stingy to yourself or your friends. Give thoughtful, memorable gifts.


Human relationship is important and going all out, doing special things for people earns you a blessing. The woman who anointed Jesus’s feet with the expensive ointment did something touching for Jesus, and it was an expensive gift. Jesus appreciated this so much and blessed her even though everyone around her disapproved of her actions and called it a waste of money. This also teaches us not to be stingy and make memories. 

4) The Nature of Betrayals:

Although the people in power wanted to capture Jesus, they couldn’t do it on their own. They needed help, and who better to help them than someone in Jesus’ inner circle!. However, here is where it gets interesting, Jesus’s powerful enemies did not try to tempt any of Jesus’s friends into betraying Jesus. Instead, one of Jesus’s friend went to Jesus’s enemies and offered to betray Jesus to them! This is how it played out: “Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him”-vs 10-11. I think that the story of Jesus’s betrayal by one of his 12 diciples tells us that betrayals are not only inevitable, but they will come from those we know and not strangers. If it is the will of God, one day we might be betrayed by someone we picked and trusted. Ofcourse God uses it for our greater good and for his glory. This doesn’t mean we should be careless when picking our friends, but it means that we can never be too careful. Jesus already knew that one of his disciples would betray him, and he knew which one it was (vs 17-21), but he also knew that it was part of the will of God for God’s glory and the salvation of mankind.

5) The Authority of Jesus and How Jesus Exercised It: 

Jesus is powerful and from our reading, we know that he was also powerful then. This next portion of the story depicts another example of Jesus’ authority. 

So on the first day of the festival of Unleavened Bread, Jesus’s disciples needed a venue to prepare Jesus’s supper. Here is a direct quote: “And he [Jesus] sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, and whereever he enters, say to the master, “The teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us”. And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he [Jesus] had told them, and they prepared the Passover”-Mark 14 vs 13-16.

I love this part of the story so much, because it really depicted the authorithy of the name of Jesus. Jesus did not even have to show up in person, just the mention of his name to this stranger, and everything was sorted!. I hope that this portion of the story reminds you of the mighty power in the name of Jesus. I hope that you confidently call on the name of Jesus in every situation that challenges you.

This goes to show that Jesus can make a way where there seems to be no way. He will create people to help and provide what is needed. 

Now when Jesus and his disciples were having supper, Jesus already knew that the disciple who would betray him was also eating with him, but Jesus did not use his authorithy to make the betrayer change his mind. Doing this would be abusing Jesus’s authorithy because it was the betrayal was all in God’s plan. Instead, “Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me” vs. 18-19. 

Further along in this chapter, we observe that this same Jesus, with all his authority, felt distressed and sorrowful and he acknowledged it (vs 34). We also notice that Jesus never tried to change his “bestie” Peter. Jesus already knew that Peter was fearful and would deny him, although Peter swore that he wouldn’t. “And Jesus said to him [Peter], I tell you, this very night, before the cook crows twice, you will deny me three times” vs 30. Jesus did not use his authorithy to stop that from happeneing. Having your best friend deny you publicly sounds shameful, but Jesus let it happen to him. As the story unfolds, we also observe that Jesus endured a lot. Jesus let himself be captured (vs 43-53), he endured the ridiculous trial before the high priest(vs. 53-64) and the humiliation. Here is a direct quote of some of the humiliating things Jesus endured: “Some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows!”–vs.65. 

In addition to highlighting the authority of Jesus, by observing how Jesus used his authority, we learn other lessons such as:

a) Practicing humility especially when we are in a position of authorithy or power.

b) The importance of not letting our position or “identity” stop you from seeking help or acknowledging your humaness and emotions.

c)  Acknowledging God’s will and not abusing your power.

d) Allowing people (our friends especially) to be true to themselves and not using our authority to enforce loyalty or manipulate their behaviour etc.

6) Recognizing, and Naming our Emotional states and Trusting God:

Towards the end, Jesus was sorrowful, distressed, and troubled. He recognized his emotional state, named it and told his trusted friends. He was not afraid or ashamed of his emotions or emotional state even though he knew that this was all God’s plan and God’s purpose. Still, knowing this, he prayed to God; expressing his feelings to God, and asking God to even remove this suffering, but concluding with and agreeing that God’s will be done. Here is how the Bible tells it: “And they went to a place called Gethesemane. And he said to his disciples, “sit here while I pray”. And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, “my soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch. And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will”-vs 32-37.

Sometimes it is God’s will for us to go through a particular difficult season. Sometimes it is God’s will for us to go through a particular challenge. We can pray that it goes away, or for strength, but always remember to pray for God’s will to be done. Honoring his feelings did not make Jesus weak, it made him stronger and encouraged. And it again teaches humility, faith, and courage. 

Also notice how Jesus confided in only three of his disciples and not all of them? This portion of the story teaches us that we will not be close with all our friends. And likewise, we shouldn’t expect that all our friends will be close with us. It is important to know this when navigating platonic relationships.

7) Get Comfortable Being Alone/ Going Through Situations alone:

Despite having many friends or a few trusted confidiantes, there are many situations that you must go through alone. Although Jesus was with his trusted friends at Gethsemane, when he was feeling distressed and sorrowful, he was the only one going through it. Even when he asked his friends to watch and pray, he still was the only one praying because his friends fell asleep and didn’t help in watching or praying. He asked them for their emotional support three times, but they kept on falling asleep each time he asked (vs 32-42). This goes to show that many times we will go through hard situations alone despite the support network that we have. This is why we must trust God always and not put out our hope in people. If you don’t have friends, or you have a few, and you are sad about this, remember Jesus had friends, yet at his hour of need, when he specifically asked for their emotional support, they fell asleep and weren’t helpful at all. Perhaps Jesus’s friends were tired and had their own needs to meet first. Remember also, when it came time for them to physically defend Jesus, these friends all ran away and Peter, who swore that he wouldn’t deny Jesus, denied Jesus 3 times!!! (vs. 66-72).

8) The Nature of Platonic Friendships/Relationships: 

Here are some do, don’ts and what to expect in this type of relationships:

  1. Don’t micromanage the relationships or your friend’s emotions towards you; let your friends be who they are. Here is a direct quote: “And he came and found them [his 3 close disciples] sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour?” vs.37.
  2. You will not be close to all your friends, so figure out your close 3 (vs 33).
  3. In the same vein, don’t expect that all your friends will consider you one of their 3 closest friends. So don’t let this make you abandon or cancel your friends.
  4. Be prayerful; as someone’s friend, you occupy a special and priviledged position in someone’s life. It is important to be prayerful so that the devil doesn’t use you to harm your friends. Here is how Jesus puts it: “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is indeed willing but the flesh is weak”. vs 38.
  5. Don’t be overly dependant on your friends for emotional support. vs 32-42.
  6.  We should always endeaveour to understand people. Perhaps understanding the intentions behind actions helps us  know how or if to continue in relationships with people. Perter was probably scared… however, sometimes, these let downs are all part of the plan. Jesus did not let the momentary disappointment derail the ultimate plan (Peter went on to testify and do miracles in Jesus name and lead people to Jesus. Read Acts chapter 3).
  7. Be prepared for disappointments in friendships/relationships. Don’t dwell in anger and hatred when your friends disappoint you, because they will. Remember Jesus also experienced all these, learn from how Jesus handled his experiences in Mark 14.
  8. Give of yourself in your platonic relationships. Be honest and generous often, and make it a habit of sharing memorable moments together. (vs. 22-25).

9) Jesus’s Reaction to Hostile Environments/His Enemies:

If you are sent by God to do great work, people will hate you and try to stop you, slander you, hurt you, etc. That said, from time to time, you will experience hostile people or hostile environment be it at work, in relationships, or even where you live. We see confirmation of this in the part of this story where Jesus faced his enemies. Each time Jesus faced his enemies, new lessons emerge, here are some:

a) When Jesus ate with his betrayer: we learn to be calm and control our emotions. Jesus did not lash out emotionally and wonder why Judas chose to betray him. He understood what must happen, and also knew that God will handle the matter (vs. 17-21).

  • When Jesus faced the soldiers who came to capture him: Again, when Judas actively betrayed Jesus and the soldiers seized Jesus, Jesus remained peaceful. He called for order even when one of Jesus’s supporters cut off a soldier’s ear (vs. 47). He spoke rationally and activated the spirit of reasoning in his captors. Here is a direct quote Jesus gave when he faced his captors “And Jesus said to them, “have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled”. And they all left him and fled” (vs. 48-50).
  • When Jesus faced the high priest and the Council:  

The charges that were brought against charges were ridiculous and Jesus did not go on and on trying to defend or prove himself. Jesus knew who he was and stood in his power. Most importantly, Jesus knew when to stay silent, and when to set things clear, and Jesus spoke with confidence and authorithy. Jesus was not intimidated. Take a look: “And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” But he [Jesus]remained silent and made no answer. Again, the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the tight hand of power, and coming with the clouds of heaven”-vs 60-62.

In addition, when you find yourself in a situation where people are making up stories/lies against you, don’t worry about what they are saying. Don’t be afraid, if God has not willed that you will be hurt by it, then no harm will come to you no matter how hard they try. Remember, even the people witnessing against Jesus didn’t have reasonable arguments and their testimony kept getting thrown out out until it was the appointmed time for Jesus to be crucified. The false witnesses’ testimonies “did not agree”. Here is a direct quote: “For many bore false witness against him [Jesus], but their testimony did not agree…” (vs 57-59). In other words, their lies  didn’t match up and they kept on making a fool of themselves.

10) Standing Bold and Forgiveness:

Even in the midst of the unfair trial, Jesus stood boldly, answered boldly and never sugarcoated his words or lied despite what was at stake. A glaring example for us to stand in our intergrity. If it is the will of God, then we have nothing to worry about as God will always protect us and have better plans for us. 

Also forgiveness; although Jesus’ friends were not there for him emotionally at Gethsemane, and Peter denied Jesus 3 times, Jesus still forgave them. Ultimately, Jesus died to save those who did not like or believe in him. But he did it so that we can have access to God the father. What a selfless act of love!  A proper example for us. So don’t be quick to withhold love or forgiveness, you have a saviour who experienced it all and still showed love and forgiveness. Now this is not to say that you should stay in a toxic, or hostile relationship. All I am saying is: Don’t let the awful things people have done to you make you bitter or hateful. You can love and forgive and still leave toxic or unhealthy relationships or environment (there are many examples of when Jesus did this, and we will get to those in future posts). See: How To Love God, Yourself and Others

Although, I’ve heard this story many times, the insights I’m gaining is new and I am grateful for it. I hope that you are able to fully appreciate the significance of the human experience of Jesus.

Prayer:

Thank you Jesus for today’s reading. Thank you that I have a saviour who has experienced all of my human experiences. Thank you for loving me so much and enduring everything for my salvation. You loved me even before I knew of you! 

Please help me to continue to learn from your words and to gain the correct insights. Thank you Jesus for the gift of salvation, please may I not take it for granted. Thank you my king for answering my prayers, in Jesus name, Amen.

Psalm 31: How to be Undefeated in Any Situation

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Dear Zikora,

Psalm 31 is a powerful prayer; however, I want you to pay attention to the Psalmist’s attitude as he interacts and prays to God. Reading through this chapter, we can infer that the psalmist is in dire need of help and is hurting, however, he is not cowering or “begging” hopelessly. Reflecting on this chapter, one can begin to see a trust so deep that it produces an unshakable confidence and throws out any fear or whimpering. We also begin to notice a vulnerability without shame, a surrender not from fear, and praise that comes only from complete certainty. The psalmist is in no way defeated by his situation because he knows that God is his secret weapon that never fails, as seen in this verse: “For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me; you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge” … Psalm 31 vs 3-4. 

Dear Zikora, please remember Psalm 31.

So, let’s dive in, here is the step-by-step guide on how to be undefeated in any situation:

Step 1: Be Certain and Unapologetic in your stance with God:

The psalmist is not timid or cowering even though he seems to be in distress and needs help quickly. Notice how the psalmist starts this prayer/psalm: 

“In you, O lord, do I take refuge: let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me!

Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me!… …Psalm 31 vs 1-2.

I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the lord…vs. 5

Step 2: Trust and Surrender Completely to God:

The beautiful thing about being a child of God is the confidence we carry, so that even when we are in despair, surrendering to God is not an act of fear, but of trust and wisdom. We surrender because we trust God, and we trust God because God is faithful. Here is how the psalmist put it:

“Into your hand I commit my spirit. 

you have redeemed me, 

O Lord, faithful God” …vs. 5.

And also:

“But I trust in you, O Lord, I say, “You are my God”. My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors” …vs. 14-15.

Step 3: Praise God and Remind God of Who he is in your Life:

God loves us praising him, and many conquests recorded in the Bible were won just by praising God alone. Praising God is like reminding God of who he is. And the beautiful thing about this is that it also reminds you of who God is in your life. This in turn strengthens your faith and confidence. Here is how the psalmist demonstrated it in his prayer:

“For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me; you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge” … vs 3-4. 

That said, praise God and bless the name of the Lord regardless of what situation you are in, good or bad. Here is an example from the psalmist: 

“Blessed be the lord, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was in a besieged city. 

I had said in my alarm, “I am cut off from your sight”. But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help” …vs. 21-22.

Step 4: Present your Request with Sincerity. Tell God what hurts:

Don’t be shy, tell God everything. Narrate the situation to him. Yes, God already knows, but tell him anyways. Notice how the psalmist presents his requests: vulnerability wrapped in eloquence! The psalmist acknowledges his errors and does not claim complete ignorance or innocence as to why he is experiencing his predicament. In fact, he takes a penitent stance and even starts by asking for forgiveness. He says:

“Be gracious to me, O lord, for I am in distress, my eye is wasted from grief, and my soul and my body also. For my life is spent with sorrow and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away. 

Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me.

I have been forgotten like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel. For I hear the whispering of many- terror on every side! – as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life”.…vs. 9- 13.

Notice how the psalmist punctuates his requests with praise and by reaffirming God’s sovereignty?  This goes to show you that step 3 and 4 go hand in hand. The psalmist then picks up his requests again from vs 16 (after praising God from vs 14-15). This time, the psalmist is even bolder and does not mince words. Here is the rest of his request:

“Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love!

O Lord, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon you; let the wicked be put to shame: let them go silently to Sheol. Let the lying lips be mute, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt” …vs 16-18. 

Step 5: Verbalize Gratitude and Practice Joy that comes from having Faith in God’s kindness:

Joy is voluntarily choosing happiness regardless of circumstances. Rejoicing is joy in action, and this particular joy is fuelled by faith in God. It is that peace that comes from knowing that God will keep his promises. Here is how the psalmist acknowledged step 5: 

“I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul, and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; and you have set my feet on a broad place” …vs. 7-8. 

And also here:

“Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!

In the cover of your presence, you hide them from the plots of men. 

You store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues” …19-20. 

Step 6: Be patient, and don’t be discouraged:

This is self-explanatory. It is easy to get discouraged by how dire the situation is, however, stay strong, remember that God is with you. Be certain of that, and you will be undefeated, no matter what. This is why the psalmist ended Psalm 31 this way:

“Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the lord” …vs. 24.

Step 7: Encourage Others:

Share your testimony and encourage others. Doing this regularly will in turn be a constant reminder of God’s faithfulness in your life. Making it even easier to continue to trust God and to bask in the confidence and assurance you have in God.

“Love the lord all you, his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride” … vs. 23.

Prayer: 

Dear Lord, Psalm 31 is my prayer today. I thank you for making me read this beautiful psalm and understand it. Please help my understanding and improve my insights so that I don’t miss anything you want me to learn from this psalm. Thank you for being my redeemer, my rock, my fortress and my refuge. Thank you for loving me and for protecting me and for answering my prayers. Blessed be your holy name might Jehova, in Jesus name I pray. Amen.

How to Face Scary and Uncertain Times Using Psalm 91

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And How To Access the Antidote to Fear

Dear Zikora,

How are you today?

With today’s entry, I hope that “afraid” will not be among one of the feelings you have. Today’s reading will bring you calm and assurance that your protection is guaranteed. It will also give you an answer to questions like “What’s in it for me as a Christian?”.

Psalm 91 outlines the wonderful benefits God assures us are ours because we maintain a deep, intimate, and trusting relationship with him. Check out this blog post for how to create this kind of relationship with God: How to Have a Close and Strong Relationship with God.

Read this post for how to maintain it: Psalm 81: How to Preserve Our Relationship with God and Ensure a Soft Godly life

Psalm 91 is quite specific in the way it speaks to our promises from God. It emphasizes that these promises are for those who “dwells” in the Lord. Take a look:

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the Shadow of the almighty”…Psalm 91 vs 1.

This means that, these promises are for those who choose to have a constant close relationship with God. It is for those who make God their top priority. Psalm 91 further breaks down these promises in 3 parts. By specifying the rewards and assurances that are inherently ours in three parts, the importance of the intentional ways we must be with God are emphasized. To be clear, God’s promises are available to us, however, knowing exactly how to get to them gives us confidence, and ensures that we actually enjoy and utilize them.

Now that you have chosen to dwell in the lord, here are the promises you have in God in three parts:

1) Promises For Those Who Intentionally Trust and Commit their Ways To God:

Intentionally trusting God is crucial and gives us audacity and confidence to face any fear. Plus, it is backed up by many promises. Here are some of the promises in a direct quote:

Psalm 91 vs 2-8:

“I will say to the Lord, My refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust;

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, not the arrow that flies by day; nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destructions that wastes at noon-day.

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked”.

2) Promises for Those Who Intentionally Choose God:

With God, you have to be intentional. You have to deliberately choose God in all you do. This is the freedom that the love of God affords you. God does not force you to choose him, or to choose to do his will. You have the free will to do whatever you want, however, choosing God is the best decision you can ever make. If you choose to remain in God’s camp, here is the reward for you in a direct quote from Psalm 91 vs 9-13:

“Because You have made the Lord your dwelling place- the most high, who is my refuge- no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.

For he [God] will command his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot”.

This particular portion is loaded with so much promise for you to walk in boldness and have no fear or anxiety. I want you to memorize this portion because it will be your antidote for scary times or days when you are frightened but need to show up with boldness.

3) Promises for Those Who Intentionally Know and Love God:

Loving God is our first great commandment. It is the first step in your journey as a Christian. See this post: Why Love is Non-Negotiable

Here is your reward in a direct quote from Psalm 91 vs 14-16:

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;

I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With Long life I will satisfy him, and show him my salvation”

After reading the above portion, what more do you need, eh? What more incentive do you require? As a child of God, there is a lot of benefit for you. I hope you remember Psalm 91 whenever you start to be afraid of what the world is becoming.

Before you go, remember that if you feel that you do not get to partake in these promises because of your sin, please ask God to forgive you of your sins and truly repent of them (that is, don’t deliberately repeat those sins). Loving God and doing God’s will is a daily conscious effort. God sees your heart and knows your intentions, so don’t let guilt rob you of your boldness and rights in God.

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you so much for the gift of Psalm 91 in this scary and trying times. Thank you that I get to live each day knowing that your protection is guaranteed. I thank you so much for your patience with me as I get to know more about you and your love for me. You are worthy of my praise Lord. Help me to always remember Psalm 91 and to operate from a place of confidence and not fear as I go about my daily activities. Thank you oh Lord my King. I pray this in the mighty name of Jesus name. Amen.

How to Have a Close and Strong Relationship with God.

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Dear Zikora,

Want to have a soft life? Have a strong relationship with God! Do you want to know the best part? God also desires to have a close and strong relationship with you! Here is a supporting quote: “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5 vs 8. God has always desired a close and strong relationship with us and that is why he sent Jesus (his son) to remove all barriers. This does not mean that your life will be without any challenges, instead, it means, you will navigate those challenges with ease and help from God.

So how do we develop a close and strong relationship with God intentionally? Here are a few detailed steps on how to:

1) Know God:

Know God’s character, his qualities, his instructions and commands. Know God for yourself. It is easier to love and trust God once you know and experience God for yourself. How to know God? Read his word which is the Bible. In fact, study the Bible to understand what is being said to you. The Bible is God’s love letter to you, open it and read. That said, with every chapter we explore, you will continue to learn more about the character of God.

I want you to start understanding God’s character with every chapter of the Bible that you read. How to do this is by asking yourself after each reading; what is God trying to convey here? What underlining character does this emphasize?

2) Love God:

Honor God, let the love of God guide your every move and decision. Loving God is God’s first and great command to us. Here is the quote from the bible depicting the interaction between a Pharisee lawyer and Jesus, and Jesus’s reply to the lawyer’s question:

“And one of them, a lawyer asked him a question to test him. Teacher which is the great commandment in the law?” And he [Jesus] said to him, You shall love the lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment” …Matthew22 vs 35-38.

Make no mistakes, God commands us to love him, and this is how to love him: “If you love me, keep [obey] my commands”…John 14 vs 15.

For more on loving God, Read Why Love is Non-Negotiable:

3) Listen and Obey God:

For God’s word to be beneficial to you, you must obey God’s words and commands. There is an old hymn that goes “trust and obey, for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus”. The words in that hymn is true.

Here is a direct quote: “Whoever has my commands and keeps [obeys] them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my father, and I too will love them and manifest myself to them”…John 14 vs 21.

Furthermore, in the Bible, Samuel, a leader in the old testament of the Bible cautions and reminds us of the importance of obeying God in this way: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifice, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams”…. 1 Samuel 15 vs 22.

Here is yet another supporting quote:

“But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in the mirror. for he looks intently at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like”…James 1 vs 22-24.

4) Fear God:

This means that you should be in awe of God and all that he has done. Don’t mock God. In addition, don’t take God’s love and grace for granted. Do things because you fear and respect God’s authority. Fearing God is an essential tool you need to navigate this world. The Proverbs puts it this way: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”…Proverbs 1 vs 7.

5) Let God be your First Priority:

Put God first in all things. Let him be your confidante, your first point of call in every issue, your all and all, your safe space, your landing, and hiding place. This is also the first commandment God gave to his people in Exodus 20 vs 3-4: “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth”.

6) Believe, Have Faith and Trust God:

If God made a promise to you in his word, trust me, that promise will come to fruition if you believe it. There is so much evidence of this in the Bible to support this. So just know, at the right time, it will happen for you. God has your best interest and knows every single thing about you. He has so much power and has offered you protection, guidance and love. For encouragement, here is a supporting quote for you: “Those who put their trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion which cannot be moved but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth, and forever more”… Psalm 125 vs 1-2.  

Here is another quote: “For the scripture says, anyone who believes in me [God] will not be put to shame”… Romans 10 vs 11.

That said, believing and having faith in God is crucial. Remember, “And without faith, it is impossible to please him [God], for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him”…Hebrews 11 vs 6.

It is important to note that sometimes waiting is how we show that we have faith, believe, trust, and obey God. Sometimes the wait seems long, however the wait is always worth it. God encourages us here: “But they who wait for 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 vs 31.

7) Verbally Declare your Believe in God:

This is self explanatory and here is how the Bible puts it: “Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved”…Romans 10 vs 9-10.

Note: For anyone who has stumbled upon this page and is wondering how to be saved or how to become a child of God… Read Romans chapter 10. Blog post coming soon..

8) Make your Body and Life God’s home:

Making your body, your heart and soul conducive for the holy spirit to dwell ensures that God always dwells in you and you dwell in him. Pay attention to what you consume. This entails both physical food, and mental/emotional food such as social media, movies, conversations, etc. This is how the Bible puts it:  “Or do you not know your body is the temple of the holy spirit within you, whom you have from God?, You are not your own, for you have been bought with a price. So glorify God in your body…1 Corinthians 6 vs 19-20.

9) Talk to God:

This is done through prayer. By praying to God constantly, and about everything, you will find that your relationship will deepen more and more. Prayer is not just for asking for requests, it is also a way we commune with and confide in God, seek God’s help in fighting our battles, and maintain our relationship with him. Prayer and maintaining a prayerful life and attitude is a really important key in our walk with God. So pray, talk to God about anything, and everything, at all times.

The Bible encourages us to “Pray without ceasing”….1 Thessalonians 5 vs 17.

Summary:

Now that you know how to have a strong and close relationship with God, you must maintain and protect this relationship. Maintaining your relationship with God is crucial because this world would always try to be a distraction. The forces of this world will constantly try to ruin our relationship with God. The Bible warns us: “Be sober-minded, your adversary, the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” …1 Peter 5 vs 8.  To learn how to maintain your relationship with God, read this blog post: Psalm 81: How to Preserve Our Relationship with God and Ensure a Soft Godly life

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you so much for the way you continue to teach me. I love that you continue to guide me and show me how to be close to you. Please help me to not be just a hearer, but to be a doer of your words. Help me to practice and choose every day to have a close relationship with you. Help me for I cannot do it on my own power alone. I thank you because I know you have heard me. I thank you because I know you can do exceedingly abundantly all that I ask and pray. I pray all these in Jesus name. Amen.

Psalm 81: How to Preserve Our Relationship with God and Ensure a Soft Godly life

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Dear Zikora:

This chapter is a good follow up for the last entry: How To Navigate Life Like a Pro..

As with everything, maintenance is how you ensure that things not only last, but keep running smoothly. Today’s reading is a warning in form of reminders on how to protect and preserve our relationship with God. It is also a guide on how we can continue to enjoy God’s provisions and promises. Here is the step by step how to from Psalm 81.

1) Praise God Always:

This chapter opens with a command to praise God. The first three verses gives us exact ways in which we are to praise God. They include:  in loud, obvious, demonstrative, celebratory, joyful ways, and using music. Here is the direct quote:

“Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob!”-verse 1

“Raise a song; sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp”-verse 2

“Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day”- verse 3

It should be noted that praising God is not a polite recommendation. It is a command from God, a statute as it is written in verse 4-5a:

“For it is a statute for Israel; A rule of the God of Jacob”.

“He made it a decree in Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt” … Psalm 81 vs 4-5a.

2) Remember the Miracles of God in Your Life:

Always recall the works of God in your life; this helps you to stay grateful and in love with God. It also strengthens your faith in God and gives you confidence to face different challenges. Check out this post: How to Cure Chronic Anxiety: Looking back in Gratitude to Face the Future with Confidence-.

 In verse 5b-7, God even reminds his people that God does not forget the miraculous deeds he does for his people, and he wants us to remember them as well. That is what the verse below means:

“I hear a language I had not known: I relieved your shoulders of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket”.

“In distress you called, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah”…Psalm 81 vs 5b-7.

It is important to remember always what God does for us because God does not forget either. Forgetfulness of God’s faithfulness in our lives is one of the tools that the devil uses to instill fear and anxiety in our lives. Be wise, stay alert.

3) Listen to God’s words and Avoid idols and false gods:

God should always be our top priority and God should be first in our lives. God is always vocal and reminding us in several instances to stay away from idols (it is also one of the 10 commandments we must abide by). I think the reason for these constant reminders to avoid idols is because it is very easy to have an idol or idols. An idol can be a distraction that takes up most of our time and diverts our attention from God. This can be in the form of our jobs, relationships, money, our habits, fantasies we indulge in, our favorite thoughts etc. God seriously warns us to not bow down, that is, do not give in to things that threaten to take God’s place in our lives. We should only bow to God almighty, and here is how God puts it:

“ Hear O my people, while I admonish you!

“O Isreal, if you would but listen to me!”

“There shall be no strange god among you;”

“you shall not bow down to a foreign god”…Psalm 81 vs 8-9.

God is sufficient and will fulfill all our needs abundantly, so we do not need any idols. Here is how God puts it:

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth and I will fill it”…Psalm 81 vs 10.

4) Listen to God’s words, Submit and Walk in God’s way:

Similarly to the point above, God doesn’t just warn and admonish us to listen to his words, he also presents us with the rewards of doing so and the punishment for not doing so. In a nutshell, listen to God’s word and be sure to obey it. I have lived a life where I did both (listened to God’s word and not listening to God’s word) and I can tell you, listening and obeying God’s words is far better. I got so much heartache and pain from disobeying God’s word. I tell you with so much certainty that disobeying God is definitely not worth it. Don’t believe anyone who tells you otherwise. And no, God won’t change his commandments just for you. Here is the punishment for when we refuse to listen to God’s words:

“But my people did not listen to my voice; Isreal would not submit to me.

“So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels”…psalm 81 vs 11-12.

I will tell you for free, when you get to live life exactly how your mind tells you, you are in trouble and it never ends well.

On the other hand, here is the reward for when we listen and submit to God’s words and ways:

“Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Isreal would walk in my ways!

“I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes”…Psalm 81 vs 13-14.

SUMMARY:

In summary, love God always. Loving God makes Praising,  listening, obeying and submitting to him very easy. There is great reward for doing so and it is the best way to sustain your relationship with God. It is also the best way to ensure that your life goes smoothly (aka living a soft life). Choosing to do life any other way is foolishness and you would be doing yourself a great disservice. Here is how God puts it:

“Those who hate the lord would cringe toward him, and their fate would last forever”…Psalm 81 vs 15.

“But he would feed you [those who love God] with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you”…Psalm 81 vs 16.

So bottom line:  Love and Praise God, pay attention, listen, understand, submit, and obey God’s words! There is a reward from God if we do!.

PRAYER:

Dear God, thank you so much for loving me dearly that you constantly remind me of ways to please you. Please help me to completely submit to you in all ways. Make it easy for me to remember your commands and obey them without grumbling. Thank you, my king, because I know you have heard my prayers. I praise you because I know you will do exceedingly abundantly all that I have asked in this prayer. In Jesus name, Amen.

How To Love God, Yourself and Others

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And How to Know When It is Not Love

Dear Zikora,

As you move on in life, you will encounter several situations and people who claim to love you. Some of them want to deceive you using the words “I love you” or “do it because you love me” and so many other lines like that. Capitalism will also try to sell you a concept of what “self love” entails. Perhaps one that involves esthetic pleasing forms of self indulgence or certain purchases. Remember, Love is not an emotion and Love is not performative. It is a mindset and a very crucial one at that. See Why Love is Non-Negotiable

How To Love God:

This is straightforward; Obey his commandments. It is very clearly stated in John 14 vs 15: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments”. Similarly, in First John chapter 5 vs 3, it says: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome”.

How to Love Yourself and Others:

By knowing what Love is and isn’t, how to love God, Yourself, and Others become obvious. So pay attention to what love is and isn’t from 1 Corinthians 13 vs 4-7 and use it to guide the way you relate to yourself and others. In doing so, you are also loving God, because you are obeying his commands and instructions.

1) “Love is Patient and Kind”-vs4a

This means that Love is not in a rush.  Love is not Instant Gratification, and it is not People Pleasing. Love is not Lust, Greed, or Selfishness which are all urgent feelings. Love takes its time and is helpful. So, a good way to know if it is love is to ask yourself: is this helpful to me and others and/or am I being pressured or rushed? Remember, being kind does not mean being a People-Pleaser or being a door-mat, it means being assertive and considerate. If you want to Love anyone, start by being patient and kind to yourself. You cannot love others without loving yourself first…Matthew 22 vs 39.

2) “Love Does Not Envy or Boast”-vs 4b

Have you noticed how unsustainable and unending the actions/behaviors you cultivate out of envy or a desire to boast are?

Love is not a competitive. If you find yourself being boastful, or aspiring to something with the purpose of bragging or out of envy, then you are not operating from a place of love. It goes both ways, if the person you are dealing with is boastful or envious of you or others, they don’t have love in them. So be careful when they say that they love you, because they don’t.

That said, you should still develop and utilize your gifts and talents to share with others. This should not be because you want to be better than others, but because you are living according to the purpose for which you were created.

3) “It [Love] is Not Arrogant or Rude”: vs 5a

Love is not Pride. True love is humble; it doesn’t look down on anyone.  Don’t let anyone deceive you, you cannot have love and be rude or arrogant at the same time. If you notice yourself looking down on anyone, stop and remind yourself that true love doesn’t do that. In the same vein, anyone who treats you or others in an inferior manner does not have love in them, don’t believe them if they claim to love you.

4) “Love Does Not Insist on It’s Own Way”: vs 5b

This means that love is not self-centered. Love does not say “it has to be done my way”. Instead, Love considers others/everyone involved as well.

So if you have someone/situation who or that gets upset/irrational once you say no them, or it does not go their way, then that person is not operating from love. If they did, they would consider you/whoever is on the receiving end as well. So beware, if you ever run into situations like this, do not think it is love. Get out of such situations, as it can be harmful. Harming yourself in the process of loving another is most certainly Not Love.

Another way to look at this it: let’s say you are working on being more healthy, taking better care of your body, and you are exercising daily etc., remember it has to be motivated by love. This would look like, giving your body a break, not insisting on doing some exercises even when your body hurts and is giving you signs that things are not quite  right.

Loving God, yourself, and others also means fixing or refraining from the negative habits you indulge in, because they are harmful to you and, or to others. This means that you don’t insist on executing harmful behaviors because “you only live once” or “this is just who I am”. Operating from love in this context would mean considering your actions and how it would affect you, and the other parties or persons involved. Such as your body (God’s temple), your friends, your family and the world around you.

5) “It [Love] is not Irritable or Resentful”: vs 5c

To Love yourself correctly, don’t resent or be angry at yourself, despite the parts of you that you may not like. If you find yourself harboring negative feelings to the point where you are now disliking yourself, or people, then you have not been operating from a place of love. Again, it goes both ways. If you are in a relationship with someone who claims to love you and you notice that they are often irritated with you or resent you, just know that that person does not love you. In the same vein, if you find yourself in a relationship where you are constantly irritable or resentful, you need to step back/outside and reevaluate. Because you cannot have love if you harbor resentment.

6)“It Does Not Rejoice at Wrong-Doing, But Rejoices With the Truth”: vs 6

To Love God and yourself properly, you must tell yourself the truth, and avoid partaking in wrongful behavior or injustice. This verse also means that Love calls out injustice and stands by the truth. Again, if you find yourself on the side of the oppressor, just know that you are not operating from love, and get out of there. Similarly, don’t be fooled  when an oppressor tells you that they love you.

Lastly, no matter the relationship you have with someone who perpetrates injustice, do not side with the oppressor. True Love does not support injustice.

7) “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all the things” vs 7.

In terms of self love, this means: Accepting and forgiving yourself completely and never giving up on yourself. In terms of relationship with others, it starts to get tricky and is often misconstrued and misunderstood. This is the verse that is often used to trap people into staying in unhealthy situations or to guilt trip them for leaving. I made many mistakes in my youth because I too didn’t understand this. To better understand this verse, we must refer to the whole chapter description. Here are some examples to further explain…

Sometimes positive situations can be challenging. For instance, you need to learn a helpful new skill, or stop indulging in harmful/negative habit etc. if you are operating from a place of love for your God and yourself, you would be able to endure the hardships that come from these situations. You would understand better and accept the situation. Thus, in this scenario, Love fuels the discipline that you need to persevere.

On the other hand, if the situation is not bathed in love, i.e., it is toxic, (please note, the situation/behavior/relationship has to have only one of the negative criteria for it to not be rooted in love. I say this in case you encounter a situation where some qualities of love are present and others aren’t).

Back to the toxic/negative situation; once you have established that the situation is not rooted in love, you should still operate in love. Now remember,

  • “Love does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth”…vs 6. So, evaluate the situation, who is committing the wrong doing? You have to distance yourself from that. Wrongdoing in relationships is any behavior that is not align with the descriptive qualities of love. You also need to distance yourself/remove yourself from the party committing the wrong doing or change your toxic ways if you find yourself to be the toxic one.
  • If you do not do not remove yourself, and you insist on being hurt or being on the receiving end of toxicity for whatever reason, you are not operating from love either. This is because being on the receiving end of toxicity breeds irritability and resentment and love is not that. And once you develop resentment within yourself, it is difficult for love to also reside in your heart.
  • Here are other supporting verses to help you clarify that the “ bearing all/ enduring” quality of love does not mean physically staying in a toxic relationship: proverbs ….”better is a dry morsel in quiet, than a feast in a house full of strife” (Proverb 17 vs 1).
  • “It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman” (Proverb 21 vs 19).

These are all some examples of where we are encouraged to leave toxic environment. So yes, you still need to love them, but you don’t have to be physically present, or continue in that toxic environment/situation/relationship to prove it. Instead, you are to exercise the qualities of love still by accepting them how they are, forgiving them, praying for them, doing good to them (Luke 6: 27-36), and not rejoice over their misfortune (Proverbs 24: 17-18). All these can and should be done from a distance.

Summary:

“Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease, as for knowledge; it will pass away”…vs 9. Love is what we carry with us to the end, after all is said and done. 1 Corinthians 13 vs 8-12 explains that love is the greatest because we don’t, and won’t ever know everything perfectly or fully. We only have partial understanding and knowledge of things and exercising love makes up for all the parts of ourselves, a matter, or relationship that we do not see or fully understand. Be wise and don’t be deceived by the worldly definition and expectations of Love.

So my dearest, if you want to obey the first and great Commandment, start practicing Biblical love. In so doing, You will learn how to Love God, Yourself and ultimately, others. You will also be able to identify when it is not love. And if you have not been acting from a place of love or didn’t understand love properly before, don’t feel sad, or bad, or guilty, you can change now. I hope this helps.

With Love,

Mama.

Why Love is Non-Negotiable

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Part 1: What is Love?

Dear Zikora,

This is the part where I try to answer the million dollar question, What is Love, and Why Love?.

A song by Anita Baker titled “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” called love a “second hand emotion”. Others have called love fickle, impossible to attain, a fantasy, and even a battlefield. Love has even been used t brainwash and deceive people in both platonic, romantic, cooperate, and other kind of relationships and often chalked up to be just what silly people indulge in.

However, Love is none of that. Contrary to popular opinion, Love is not an emotion. Love is a Mindset. Love is an intentional, and powerful way of being. It is the very essence of what life and living is made of. It is the reason for and behind everything we are called to do and be as Christians. Therefore, Love is non- negotiable.

Those who know how to love and truly love are the ones who have genuinely figured life out. Because Love is the ultimate life hack!. Today’s reading gives us the Biblical and true meaning of Love. It also describes the importance of love, how powerful, healing, and redeeming love is. Let’s take a look at 1 Corinthians  chapter 13.

Why Does Love Matter?

Firstly,

  1. Love is the First Commandment:
    • In Matthew 22 vs 36-38, a lawyer asked Jesus: “Teacher, which is the Greatest commandment in the Law?”, and he [Jesus] said him; “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment“. Need I say more? We cannot live the way God called us, if we do not obey his first commandment.

2) Love is the Most Important Virtue:

“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love”…1 Corinthians 13 vs 13.

According to this verse, it is more important to have Love than it is to have Faith. Now remember, “And without faith, it is impossible to please God…” Hebrews 11 vs 6a. So how then is having  Love more important than having faith? This would be because having love for God fuels our faith, helps us to be intentional about not to sinning against God, and it regulates the relationship we have with ourselves, and people.

3). Without Love, Everything is in Vain:

Love should be the motive behind our every action. 1 Corinthians 13 vs 1-3 puts it this way:

  1. “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal”- vs 1. This here means that even if you are so spiritual and you are able to communicate to both men and angels and higher powers, if you don’t possess love, it is quite useless, and you are not making sense. So no, it’s not about being pious or looking holy, it is about having love.

B) “And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and knowledge, and if I have faith, so as to remove mountains, but have no love, I am nothing” – vs 2. This here again informs us that being so in tune in our spirituality, being so knowledgeable and  powerful in the spirit realm, and making things happen because of your faith means nothing if you do not operate from a place of love.

C) “If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing”- vs 3. Wow, so you could sacrifice everything you have and be generous  to the point of holding nothing back, however, if the motivation is not from the love you have, you have simply wasted your. How profound!

Who Are We Commanded to Love:

Before we get to all the things love is and is not, lets figure out who we should love. I had difficulty making this entry because I kept on inserting romantic relationships as the only place where we can exercise love. In fact, most of the argument against this chapter’s definition of love will be from people who think love applies only to romantic or close familial relationships. The arguments will center on the toxicity that can be found in relationship dynamics and how it is unfair, impossible, or dangerous to love that or love despite that.

While this is a valid argument, it is not a complete way to look at Love. A better way to consider Love is to pay attention to who we are called to love.

In Matthew 22 vs 36-40, a lawyer asked Jesus: “Teacher, which is the Greatest commandment in the Law?”, and he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the prophets”. Thus, we are to Love: God, Ourselves, and Other people and God’s creation. We don’t need to/have to be in a romantic or any relationship with anyone to exercise love. We are called to just love, God, Ourselves, and Others, period.

To explore the definition of Love, how to Love, and when it is not love, click here: How to Love God..

How to Cure Chronic Anxiety: Looking back in Gratitude to Face the Future with Confidence-

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Find Peace and Conquer Chronic anxiety in 7 steps using Psalm 118.

Dear Zikora,

About a year ago before I made this entry, I entered a very difficult season in my life. I have faced many challenges before, but this time, it was because of the series of mistakes I made as a result of my disobedience to God.  You were very little then and really did not understand what I was going through. However, you knew I was sad, and sometimes you would ask: “are you going to cry again?” or “please don’t be sad”. I will tell you all about it when you are older. Remind me by asking me to tell you of that summer when I drank my tears for breakfast, lunch, and supper.

That said, back to today. This morning. After saying my morning prayers, I am led to read Psalm 118. As I read this chapter, I am immediately reminded of the significance of today even though I had completely forgotten the series of events that happened just the year prior. This chapter reminded me to give thanks to God for the gift of God’s goodness and steadfast love to me. It reinforced for me that God has always being on my side, even when I didn’t realize it. Even when I didn’t believe it. It is a poignant reminder of how God stood by me and gave me victory on all sides. I am grateful that I got this reminder this morning and I am even more glad that I get to share it with you.

Moving on, here is what I want you to do if you notice that you are still (or constantly) worried or anxious about something. Look back and remember a time when something worked out for you, even though it did not work out exactly the way you had expected. By reminding yourself of how God helped you in the past, you will be encouraged and reminded that God can help you again now, and always.

Psalm 118 is not just a reminder for the past, it is reinforcement for the now, and an encouragement for the future. Put this chapter in your arsenal, it is very valuable. And did I mention that it helps with chronic anxiety? My darling, it does!

Check out How to Cure Acute Anxiety (part 1): A Simple ABC Guide using Psalm 23.

Here we go, the step by step how to!

1) Practice Gratitude:

 In the first few verses of Psalm 118, we are called to give thanks to God for God’s goodness, and steadfast love to us. Look back intentionally at all of God’s goodness and be genuinely thankful. And yes, God has been good to you. You can start by thanking God for the gift of being alive, the air you breathe, God’s unending love for you, and for that positive thing that suddenly or randomly happened to you etc). We are again commanded to give thanks to God even at the end of this chapter. Thus, start and end with Gratitude!

”Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”…Psalm 118 vs 1.

”Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”…Psalm 118 vs 29.

2) Verbally Affirm God’s strength and Love for You:

My darling,  it is not enough to just remember God’s power, goodness or God’s steadfast love in your life, you must say out loud to yourself that God loves you and that God’s love for you never ends. Keep saying it until you believe it. This chapter instructs us 4 times starting from verse 1- 4!

 “Let those who fear the Lord say, His steadfast love endures forever” …Psalm 118 vs. 4.

Also verbally affirm this verse:

“The Lord is my strength and my song,

He has become my salvation.

Glad songs of salvation are in the tent of the righteous:

The right hand of the Lord does valiantly,

The right hand of the Lord does exalts, the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!” …Psalm 118 vs. 16.

3) Bring your Requests and Worries to God in Prayer and Thank him:

Trust completely that God will do what is best for you. In the same prayer, believe that your prayers have been answered and thank God for answering your prayers. Here is an example of how you can pray, be as specific as you want:

“Save us, we  pray, O Lord!

“O Lord, we  pray, give us success!”…Psalm 118 vs 25.

Then;

“I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone

This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes”… Psalm 118 vs 21-23.

We are also commanded to praise God as we bring our request, that is what the following verse means:

“The Lord is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!

“You are my God and I will give thanks to you;

You are my God; I will extol you”... Psalm 118 vs 27-28

4) Don’t let Shame and Guilt stop you: 

Now did I mention that the anxieties and worries I was dealing with were caused by the mistakes I made because of my disobedience to God?  

The truth is that we will always make mistakes and disobey God. And yes, there is punishment and discipline for when we sin against God, but don’t let your sin stop you.

Here is how the psalmist acknowledged this and prayed to God for forgiveness and for help in being righteous. This is the prayer and I want you to do the same:

“The Lord has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death.

Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.

This is the gate of the lord; the righteous shall enter through it.

I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation”…Psalm 118 vs 18-21.

5) Trust God completely and stop looking to people for help or sympathy:

God is fully on your side, he understands and always has your best interests. Other people or institutions may make the same claim, but they have their secret agendas wrapped in the beautiful lies they tell. Remember this:

“Out of my distress I called on the Lord;

The answered me and set me free.

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

The Lord is on my side as my helper, I shall look in triumph on those who hate me”

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man,

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes”

 …Psalm 118 vs. 5-9.

6) Confidently Declare Positivity and God’s words over your life:

When sadness and worry overwhelm you, or even before this happens, keep reminding yourself of God’s love, and promises for you. Choose to be happy no matter what. Choose Joy because you don’t fight alone. Practice steps 1-5 and keep repeating these verses to yourself:

“I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord”…Psalm 118 vs 17.

“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes“…Psalm 118 vs 22-23.

“This is the day the lord has made, Let us rejoice and be glad in it”…Psalm 118 vs 24.

7) Share  your Testimony and stories of God’s goodness in your life with Others:

Contextually speaking, psalm 118 is a testimony that the psalmist is sharing about how God delivered him (Psalm 118 vs 10-16). In sharing his story, the psalmist’s faith in God is renewed, the story stays fresh in his mind, and those listening are enriched, encouraged and learn how to trust God with their anxiety. And it is what you should be doing too.

I promise you, there is no better way of reminding yourself of God’s past goodness and of his unending love for you than by sharing your testimony with others. Also, doing this will instantly shift your perspective, strengthen your faith, and ease your current worries.

 I know it does for me, and I know that once you get into this habit, it will also work for you too.  I didn’t write Psalm 118, but Psalm 118 vs 5, 10-16 is my exact testimony. Every single word was as it happened exactly for me. Lets take a look:

“Out of my distress I called on the lord

The lord answered me and set me free”…Psalm 118 vs 5

“All nations surrounded me; in the name of the lord I cut them off!

They surrounded me, the surrounded me on every side;

In the name of the Lord, I cut them off!

They surrounded me like bees;

They went out like a fire among thorns;

In the name of the Lord I cut them off!;

I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, But the Lord helped me.

The Lord is my strength and my song,

He has become my salvation.

Glad songs are in the tents of the righteous;

The right hand of the Lord does valiantly,

The right of the Lord exalts.

The right hand of God does Valiantly!”…Psalm 118 vs 10-16.

So, there you have it, the 7 proven steps to conquer worry and anxiety according to Psalm 118. I hope you practice because I know it works!

This was such a wonderful way to start my day. You woke up while I was still making some notes and we went outside to soak in the sunshine. It was while you were cuddled up in my lap and I was making more notes that I realized that I would share this with the world as well!.