For Zikora

How to do Life, the Christian Way.

Life Hacks

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.

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 Navigate Life Like a Pro.

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The Step by Step process using Proverbs Chapter 4!

Dear Zikora,

The proverbs is full of brilliant lessons and it is one of my favorite books in the Bible. If you ever have questions on how to navigate any situation, pick up the book of proverbs and apply its foundational principles!

This chapter emphasizes the importance of wisdom and insight. These two qualities help us understand how to relate to people, things, and ourselves. It also helps us move forward and thrive in any situation. Lets get into the step by step how to:

1) Know the Word of God and Practice it Always:

First things first, God created the world (Genesis 1 vs 1), so if you want to know how to live in the world God created, you must know, understand, and practice the guidelines stipulated in God’s words (the Bible). Think about it this way, what do you do when you buy an electrical gadget or toy? You first read the manufacturer’s manual to know how to utilize that gadget or toy properly!. Thus, knowing the word of God is the upper hand you need as it helps you navigate the world and, directs you on how to respond to every situation.

 Proverbs 4 vs 3-4 puts it this way:

 “When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me”;

 “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments and live” ….Proverbs 4 vs 3-4.

So how do you know the word of God? By reading and meditating on the Bible day and night, always thinking deeply about the words you’ve read. This helps you understand God’s instructions and commandments. It helps you to always be ready to execute and answer any situation correctly. This is also how you increase and maintain wisdom and insight. Here is how God wants you to do it:

“My son, be attentive to my words” ;

“Incline your ear to my sayings”.

“Let them not escape from your sight; Keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh”…Proverbs 4 vs 20-22.

Here is another quote:

“Keep this book of law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” : Joshua 1 vs 8.

2) Be Attentive and Obedient to God’s Words:  

Now that you know the word of God, Trust what it says (Trust God). Make sure to pay close attention to what it says and carefully obey it. There will be many doctrines circulating as you go through life, but remember, only the word of God, as found in the Bible, is what you should listen to. So, when faced with a situation, only do what God commands or instructs to do regarding that situation.

“Hear, O sons, a father’s instructions and be attentive, that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching”…Proverbs 4 vs 1-2.

Furthermore,

“Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many”

“I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness”.

“When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble”

“Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her for she is your life” …Proverbs 4 vs 10-13.

3) Practice Wisdom and Insight:

Wisdom means having great knowledge and good judgement. Insight means to have a deep understanding of situations and people. Proverbs 4 vs 5-9 explains the importance of having these two qualities in this way:

“Get wisdom, get insight”

“Do not forget, do not turn away from the words of my mouth”.

“Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you”

“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get Wisdom”

“And whatever you get, get insight” .

“Prize her highly and she will exalt you”

“She will honor you if you embrace her”

“She will place on your head a graceful garland”

“She will bestow you a beautiful crown”…Proverbs 4 vs 5-9.

 How do you get wisdom and insight? It’s simple! You get wisdom and insight by doing step 1 and 2 above: Knowing the commandments and word of God and doing the commandments and word of God. Remember, the Bible makes it clear that “the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom; fools despise wisdom and instruction” Proverbs 1 vs 7.

All these goes to say: the word of God gives us wisdom and insight into the way the world works. It offers us protection, guards us, helps us, heals us, and gives us an upper hand.

Furthermore, adhering to the word of God makes our lives easier to live and removes the anxiety from it.

To summarize:  

Use the word of God to guard your heart, meditate on it daily, when you are alone and even when you are with others. Think about it, reflect on it. Always cross reference your words and actions with the word of God before executing any action or saying any word. This means, pause (to think about what the word of God recommends in that scenario) before executing.

4) Intentionally Avoid Evil:

“Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil”…Proverbs 4 vs 26-27.

Do not participate in anything immoral, evil, harmful, or bad according to God’s standards. This also means that you do not befriend the wicked, do not want them to notice you. Do not walk in the same path or area as them. Do not mingle with the wicked, do not be wicked. Do not intentionally want people to fail or stumble. Do not intentionally cause people to stumble or fail. Do not devise means directly or indirectly to be evil. Do not be a hindrance to other people’s success. I think you get where this is going. So, no matter how enticing it might be to partake in evil, always choose righteousness as this is God’s clear instructions according to Proverbs 4 vs 14-17:

“Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil.

“Avoid it; do not go on it; Turn away from it and pass on”.

“For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence”

When it comes to navigating life, always choose the morally right thing to do. It is the wise thing to do, and you cannot go wrong because according to Proverbs 4 vs 18-19:

“But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day”.

“The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.”

5) Be Mindful of Your Thoughts and Thinking Process:

“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life”…Proverbs 4 vs 23.

What do you think about in your mind? Why do you think those things? In order to make the best out of life, you need to understand what you are always thinking about, and what is motivating your thoughts. You should be intentional about the thoughts you allow linger in your mind. Guard your heart and mind from things such as malice, evil, jealousy etc., as these things corrupt you and they directly impact you, your actions, your speech, and your outcomes in negative ways. You should only be thinking on what is: “True, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4 vs 8).

6) Pause and Think Before You Speak:

 In the same vein as step 5 above, watch the way you speak and the things you say. It is related to step 5 because your thoughts dictate your speech as well as your entire personality. (“As a man thinks in his heart, so is he” Proverbs 23 vs 7).This is a very important aspect of having wisdom, insight and understanding. Pay attention to your tone, your manner of speech, the content of your speech, and your body language as it includes a lot of things that you are saying but don’t say verbally. When you speak, speak the truth. Don’t try to deceive people with your words. Here is a direct quote:

“Put away from you crooked speech and put devious talk far from you”…Proverbs 4 vs 24.

Remember, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits”…Proverbs 18 vs 21.

So be very careful about the things you say and how you say it, both to yourself and to others. Speak life and love into yourself and into every situation always.

7) Focus, Think Things Through, and Don’t be Easily Distracted:  

“Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you”

“Ponder the path of your feet, then all your ways will be sure”. – Proverbs 4 vs 25-26.

In Life, you will experience lots of distractions and conflicts, however, stay focused. Whatever it is you want to do, first check that it is in line with God’s word, pray about it and then execute. Stop being distracted by fantasies, what other people are doing, or random thoughts. If you get tired rest, and then keep going. Don’t loose your focus, be Strategic. Don’t try to “wing” things. Be thoughtful and carefully consider your plans or actions  before you execute them. Pay attention to what it is you want to achieve in life, what would it require, how would you gather what it takes? How would you cope in the process etc. Don’t just go in willy nilly. This is important because things take time and cost resources. Similarly, if things are not done properly or not well thought out, you would have wasted your time and resources while achieving mediocre results. Thinking things through allows you to be strategic and patient and give each endeavor the proper amount of time and resources it needs to become fruitful. It does not mean to aim for perfection before attempting any endeavor, however, you should be aware of certain factors involved before taking on or trying out serious projects.  

In summary, focus! Run everything  by what the word of God says and pray, committing it to God first. This is how you will know if it is in line with God’s word and will. After you have done this, execute without overthinking. Execute with clarity and confidence. Do not look to see what others are doing and be distracted or discouraged by it. Once you have decided and spoken to God about it, Execute. If God is with you, and it is the right time, you will succeed. Check out this blog post for more: How to make a decision and other lessons

Prayer:

Thank you Jesus for your word to me today. Please help me to learn, to be attentive, to meditate, and to abide by your words. Help me to gain the wisdom and insight that it holds. Help me to practice it daily and answer every situation correctly. Help me to guard my heart and mind, and heal me, in Jesus name, Amen. Thank you, Jesus because I know you have heard and answered my prayer!

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!.

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

by

Dealing with Acute Onset Anxiety.

Dear Zikora,

Anxiety is that uneasy feeling, or constant worry and fear that overwhelms one because they do not have certain immediate answers. Sometimes, it comes on suddenly, other times, it is an ache that won’t go away. Anxiety makes it difficult to live a fulfilling and joyful life, yet, Life can be filled with all kinds of challenges that create anxiety. Luckily, there is a simple hack that conquers anxiety, especially, when it comes on suddenly! It’s just ABC!

click here to learn how to manage chronic anxiety : How to Cure Chronic Anxiety: Looking back in Gratitude to Face the Future with Confidence-

 So, the next time you hear a news or have a thought that suddenly gives you anxiety, do this: A=Agree, B=Believe, and C= Claim the words in Psalms 23. Your anxiety will disappear once you do this regularly. I promise you; it is as easy as that!

Psalms 23 was a very popular chapter growing up. Everybody knew this chapter by heart, and I used to recite it everyday as a child. I still do. Sometimes I cheerfully recite it out loud, other times, it is a proclamation I remind myself in a tiny, terrified voice. Nevertheless, it is a prayer that comforts and calms me instantly and I want you to memorize it. I want you to remember and believe every single word because it is tried and true. I have lived through many experiences, and I can testify to the truth in every word.  I have plenty of proof.

This chapter was written long before you and I were born, and it is a lyrical testimony that King David gives summarizing who God is to him, how God helps him navigate life and the assurance that is found in God. This verse was true in King David’s life, it is true in my own life, and it gives me fresh confidence to walk through life unafraid, knowing that I am never alone. Although I know this chapter by heart, reading it again always reminds me of how powerful my God is, and how strong my confidence, faith and trust in him should be. Like I said, I have so many examples of how the words in this chapter have proven true in my life.

So here we go; a breakdown of Psalms 23 for conquering any anxious thought:

a) Is Life Hard? Worried about the future? – trust in God, and do the A, B, C as you recite this verse:

“The lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want”… Psalm 23 vs 1

             The above verse means that, God ensures that because we are his children,  we are always provided for and that we shall not lack anything that we need.  

            “He makes me lie down in green pastures”

            “He leads me beside still waters”… Psalms 23 vs. 2.

 This means that God brings us to a place of abundance and rest. It means we do not have to struggle, or strive, or enter any moral conflict to achieve an abundance of what we need.  All we have to do is to remember that God takes care of us, and trust in him completely.

b) Feeling drained and weary, weird, or confused? : Trust God, and do the A, B, C as you recite this verse:

“He restores my soul”

“He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake”- Psalm 23 vs 3.

The above verse is a reminder that God heals us, even in our soul. God shows us how to do the right thing and helps us as we do it. Remember this during the confusing days.

c) Feeling afraid, alone? – stay calm, and Trust in God, because

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death”

“I will fear no evil, for you are with me”,

“Your rod and your staff, they comfort me”…Psalm 23 vs.4

                This verse is a reminder that God is always with us in every situation, every circumstance. No matter how scary,  we have nothing to fear. We are guided by God’s words and instructions which also bring us comfort and calm.

d) Feeling like your enemies and those who hate you have won? –  Your enemies have not won, trust in God as you recite this verse:

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies”;

“You anoint my head with oil;”

“My cup overflows.”…Psalms 23 vs 5

This verse means that despite the evil plans of those who hate you and want to harm you, God will bless you and make you shine and grow. God will set you apart and fill you with the strength and gifts to thrive and succeed. And your enemies will get to watch you flourishing and thriving. The above verse is so true my girl, I have many stories about this and I no longer get upset when I’m surrounded by haters.  As we go through the Bible together, you will also see several instances where this is true and the various ways that God has done it in the past. I want you to remember this as you go through life as well.

e) It feels like all hope is lost?–  Trust in God. God has a plan to bring you to victory, and you will eventually come out smiling. It is what the verse below means. Don’t loose hope. If you forget everything, I want you remember this verse and make it your mantra:

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life”

“and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever”…Psalm 23

Oh, and here is a little snippet of what we did today: we colored together, and you forced me to color everything like the rainbow. Then you scolded me for not coloring it properly and then we got into a little argument because I said that there isn’t any pink in the rainbow. Then you told me that Violet was your friend’s name and not part of the rainbow colors either.

I gave you many hugs and made pancake and eggs for you three times today because it was the only thing you wanted to eat. I didn’t yell at you today and we had a nap as well. We had a wonderful day today I must say!