PRAYER – The Believer’s Tool

First of all, sorry this blog post is just being released today! It has been in the drafts since Jan 27th and unfortunately I forgot to schedule it for publishing! Please bear with me and read through for the time it was intended. On that note, happy new month as well, lool!

– Mo

Happy New Year dear friends and readers!

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It has been a hot minute. I am grateful to God for safely seeing us through the end of 2023 in joy and ushering us wonderfully into 2024. I hope your soul has been prospering even as you have been prospering in this new year.

As we settle into the year and develop our routines, it is important to place first things first. It has been so encouraging to see those both online and offline that have made commitments to reigniting the prayer altar. It is an indication of the great move of the Spirit. I pray that we shall be a part and member of this move.

One of the toolkits we have as believers in our Christian walk is the gift of Prayer. It truly is a gift. We must never neglect to see it as such. We must NEVER despise the opportunity and the grace to pray.

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Prayer:

ignites our soul

connects us to the heart and mind of the Father

when combined with scriptures and backed by the word of God, ensures we receive that which we are praying for.

helps to realign our life’s purpose and hearts mission.

A key thing I have been learning is the gift of praying in tongues. Praying not just in our understanding, but relying on the Holy Spirit to make intercessions for us. It sends forth prayers on our behalf for we know not what the year holds. We have no idea what is even going to happen in the next minute, but the Holy Spirit, our helper and advocate is very much aware.

Ceaseless Prayers

To pray without ceasing means that we are constantly in communication with our heavenly Father. We are thinking and speaking to Him in our hearts, with our lips, words, mind and thoughts. Our full focus and attention is upon Him. When we do that, it is easy for us to offer prayers ceaselessly to God.

Jesus was always thinking about the work the Father had committed into His hands. In order to get it done, He had to be in constant and consistent communication with the Father. He had a clear focus and attention on His heavenly Father. That is what we need.

I pray that we receive a revival and refuel of what our God ordained and assigned life’s mission such that we have no choice but to run to our heavenly Father to receive rhema and guidance to actualize those grand plans. It will likely only be a God plan as it requires strength, wisdom, insight and actions beyond ourselves.This is a way that God uses us to display His excellencies and to lead us in triumphal procession to spread the sweet fragrance of Himself to the world around. If we could have achieved something by our own power and strength, how exactly does God get the glory from that?

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But when men that knew us before can see our lives and see that of a sure thing this is a person helped by God. It draws them to God. They want to know the God that was able to help you so far.Do not despise what God is doing in you and through you. The person and situation you see is not ordinary. It is for the glorification of God and the edification of the body. We must let Christ be richly be formed in us.

Remain in Christ

One of the things building a robust prayer life helps us with is to remain in Christ. We allow His words to rest in us, we speak His words back to Him and He sends His word back to us.

One of the songs that ministered to me last year was: ‘We Behold (Qavah anthem)’, I suggest playing it or adding it to your playlist.

In this year, I pray that we harness our prayer tool effectively. May we never be fodder for the enemy or become lazy in igniting our prayer altars. It is not expressly only our job to keep the fire burning – that is the responsibility of the Holy Spirit, because He is the one that enables us to keep tarring. What we must do is to be a yielded vessel. We must be willing to purge our hearts, minds, schedules of all those things that will inhibit and hinder the move of the Holy Spirit. Cut them off! Contend for your destiny.

The enemy is relentless. Spiritual wickedness in high places never take time off, they are always looking for ways to bring us down. But GOD is victorious, Christ has already won the victory and because of that we are also victorious over all schemes. But to walk in that victory, we access it in the place of prayer and devotion.

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So dear friends harness your tool of prayer very well. No gree for anybody! By God’s grace we will scale over all walls and enter into the open doors and great things God has planned for us. We receive His empowerment and will not take His grace for granted. I cover myself and everyone of us in the blood of Jesus.

In Jesus mighty name. AMEN

Have a great rest of the year friends!

#DiscipledByChrist

Mo 🙂

Meditations

We live in a day and age where people still ask ‘Can I listen to secular music?’ This is a very valid question and will be even in many years to come and for future generations. But, it raises a very interesting thought for me – what are we meditating on? and what are the things we are spending our time thinking about

I was reading Psalm 1 and it addresses this quite interestingly, at least in my opinion.

"Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers."
  • How do we get the advice of the wicked if we are not around with them, to meditate on the things they say. Moreover, we must be careful that we check the things we meditate on does it bring joy. Does it bring peace, does it teach you patience? These are some telltale things and signs to watch out for concerning the things we choose to meditate upon.
"But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night."
  • Rather than thinking or pondering on things that do not bring joy rather we must learn to delight in God’s Word. We do this by meditating on it day and night. Have you ever heard, the more you behold something the more you become that thing. The more we give ourselves to studying, thinking about, reading, speaking God’s Word, the more we will enjoy it and it’ll become the delight of our lives.
"They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leave never wither, and they prosper in all they do."
  • Our meditations determine the course of our lives. We are fruitful and remain prosperous because of what we feast on. Out of our belly shall flow rivers of living waters. We pour out what has been poured into us. We are never caught unaware or bamboozled because our Heavenly Father who we allow to guide us is never caught unaware as well. As they say ‘Lion no dey born goat‘, so because of our heritage through Jesus Christ, we are people that become aware of times and seasons like the sons of Issachar.
"But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind."
  • In order to avoid being like the wicked, we must avoid wicked ways and avoid thinking, seeing or speaking wicked things. We do not want our lives to be seen as worthless or for our lives to be scattered by the wind and directionless. So we must choose what we meditate on.
"They will be condemned at the time of judgement. Sinners will have no place among the godly."
  • The people we commune and fellowship with will also determine our meditations. The bible says “Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14). Like associates with like. We may need to take stock of our surroundings at times and evaluate the places that we inhabit.
"For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction."
  • Lastly, as we meditate on God’s Word, we know His ways and that way can be hidden under His shadow and protection. We can accept His guidance and directions and His watching over us and our lives will never be in vain. Rather, He directs our paths accordingly leading us into the bright and hopeful future that He has for us (Jeremiah 29:11).

May God help us to meditate on his Words day and night. May the words of our mouth and the meditations of our heart be pleasing to God, in Jesus name.
AMEN.

Psalm 19

#RestinGod

Mo 🙂

Peace, Be Still

As we progress through the last quarter of the year and still waiting and hoping for the manifestation of all those promises God gave us at the start of the year. It is important to keep our minds steadfast on God and on His words. That is the only way we can experience true Peace.

A word of PEACE

It is easy to want to rush ahead and work to make those things happen but we have to first learn how to abide. To abide in God’s presence, to wait and tarry at His feet. To diligently meditate on God’s words and read our Bible. To take a moment to hear and ponder also on the words that God is speaking to us individually in our present situations.

What is the word of God you are running with in this last quarter?

Mark 4: 35-41

When Jesus was in the boat with the disciples and it seemed like the storms of life was about to overturn the boat and the disciples were thinking what is really going on?? Especially, since it was Jesus that seemed to commission this journey when he stated in verse 35 “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.”

I am sure in the thick of the storm, the disciples were seriously contemplating what was going on and probably started thinking ‘Is this Jesus okay with the state of things??’ (verse 38). The disciples were probaby thinking if I had just minded my business jejely and just gone home after listening to His sermons, and not joined with this journey (that Jesus himself by the way told us to go on) I would be safely in my house.

How many of us sometimes feel this way?

Omo, I have asked God that question so many times in these past few weeks and I am honestly tired of asking at this point! When it seems like you have spoken and cried to God about something so desperately for so long and you know that He is able to do something but it seems like nothing is happening. It is frustrating! So, yes I understand how the disciples felt. The disciples were probably even more frustrated and flabbergasted that they had God in flesh and could see Jesus Christ physically with them, yet it seemed like He was comfortable with the storms they were going through.

But, Jesus woke up and spoke such simple words: “Peace, Be Still”

Sometimes that’s all that is required. One sentence. One command. One word – PEACE.

Jesus then goes on to ask the disciples why did they had such little faith? That’s how it be sometimes. The enemy of our soul and our flawed human nature has made us look at the storm more than at Jesus. Our faith starts to decrease and get low. We wonder if God truly cares for us and the safety of our souls.

In another verse it says ‘Be Still AND Know that I am God.’ It is in the stillness that we see God and get to know Him. When we are always on the move and in the process of moving and never satisfied or able to fully trust God, it can get confusing. Apart from that, the same verse Psalm 46:10 says that as we are still before God, we give Him chance to show Himself as God. He will be honored in every situation we are in, when we invite Him and let Him do this thing. In doing this, we get to Know the God we serve. We see Him at work rather than striving to do things within our own power and strength.

As much as I believe it is important for us to chase after achieving those goals, I would request that we also carve out time to be still before our heavenly Father. It would be a shame to achieve all those goals and then realize that God had actually called us to go another way.

Believe that no matter what the rest of the year may hold for us, God has already won 2023 for us:

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrow. but take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

May God continue to help us and direct us. Have a great last quarter of the year!

#RestinGod

Mo 🙂

Enduring FAITH

Hebrews 11:1 states:

"Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see."

To hope for what you cannot see seems foolish but that is the realm we operate in as believers. We call those things that be not as though they are.

A lot of times I see and hear stories both in person and online from people that have gone through situations and come out of the other side. But, what do you do when you are still hoping to God to show up for you. I dear command you dear brothers and sisters to charge up your faith.

We do not have a high priest that is unaware of our sufferings but just like we are weak He was also weak and He felt EVERY. SINGLE. EMOTION we feel. He is loving and compassionate.

Even as I write dear reader, best believe I am in intense pain, in faith just in the past hour of writing this my faith and hope was shaken. One thing it can never be is diminished or destroyed. The bible says the expectation of the righteous will not be cut short. As a Christian and a believer in our Lord Jesus Christ, you are the righteousness of God found in Christ Jesus, therefore your expectation can NEVER be cut short. If it feels like God isn’t answering the way you want Him to or in the manner you would like, His ways are not our ways. He goes far and beyond what we can hope or dream for. That is what that means. He is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above what we can ask or think of, so therefore how can our expectation be cut short when we have a God that can totally exceed it. These are times when we’ll need to encourage ourselves in the Lord.

IF God is good, why..?

I posted a question on my Whatsapp story asking “If God is good, why does he not meet the good desires of His children?” I had a few amazing replies, shout out to those people that see, read and engage with your stories, you are saving lives! Here are some of the nuggets that my awesome community shared with me:

But it really reminded me that my life is truly in God’s hands. I have no need to attempt to save face or try and help God’s reputation. As He is sovereign He will surely do whatever He desires with my life for the glory of His name. He is invested in this life and destiny. As long as we continue to live for God truly and completely, we are free from any pressure to try and make things work out for ourselves. We are free to be vulnerable and honest with those that might benefit from our story. When we desperately need to see someone’s process and see them walk through the process and still walking out their faith. Perhaps, we are the hope that someone out there needs as well. To be what we hope to see.

I am convinced and resolute that come what may, God will get the glory out of my life. I hope you are resolute in this as well. Trusting God with the not so pretty parts of our lives. Everyone wants to come out and give a nice testimony, share a cute story on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram or BellaNaija (hello!), but there is a story that is happening even before that.

I pray that God helps us to develop and grow in our enduring Faith. To continue to hold unto hope in the midst of disappointments. May our hearts never grow bitter but be continually renewed by the love of Christ.

Please do not give up. Hope deferred might make the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. And our God never fails. Please keep trusting Him. If I can do it, so can you. We may cry, grumble, rant and sulk but we do it into the ears and at the feet of our Father. One thing I know and have experienced is that he ALWAYS shows up. And more than that He sends the right word in due season. Please keep holding on. I am so excited to hear your testimony. It will end in Praise my dears! Keep on Keeping on!

Word of Our Testimony project is still active! Submit your entries here.

#RestinGod

Mo 🙂

HONOR

Happy Father’s Day to all our awesome fathers and daddies all around the world. We appreciate and celebrate you today.

I was playing the song ‘IBA‘ by Nathaniel Bassey ft Dunsin Oyekan and Dasola Akinbule and just meditating on the greatness of God. I was in reverence of God and started thinking of God’s goodness to me by selecting me as a daughter to my earthly father. One of the character traits I aim to emulate from my Dad is honor.

Daddy Ajidagba – a man of honor.

Looking back over the years, my dad has been a huge contributor to how my relationship with my heavenly father has gone. At first, we see our fathers as the disciplinarian and the tough parent, the one that is harder to please with the highest expectations. To some extent that bled into my revelation of my relationship with God. But when I truly had an encounter with this God I realized this was a flawed way to relate with my Abba.

Luckily for me, my relationship with my earthly father also matured into a more seasoned and graced relationship. I started to understand more of what my dad had been trying to teach me over the years. As an adult, I started to see his traits replicated in me to some extent. My dad is a honorable man. Not only in his actions but in choosing to honor those around him. I have witnessed how my dad honors his spiritual fathers and authorities, how he honors my grandfather, how he honors his siblings, how he honors his wife and his family. Most especially, how he honors our heavenly Father. He lives with an unapologetic devotion to serve God and seeking to do His will. Therefore, what excuse would I have, having gone through his training and sat under his tutelage for a large portion of my life.

My God continue to help our fathers to be shining examples of a purposeful life that is devoted to advancing the Kingdom of God and living for Jesus Christ.

prayer for daddy
Our Father’s Words are Long Lasting

It’s not about perfection, because none of us are perfect but I truly admire my dad’s resilient spirit and his teachable heart. There are some technological things that my dad is about to figure out that as a millenial, I am ashamed to say I struggle with. But, that is the type of man my daddy is. A man dedicated to excellence in all his actions.

I will never forget these words my dad spoke to me when I was younger; “Morenike, you must strive to be meticulous in every aspect of life.” Back then it just seemed like Daddy was out to get me again and highlight my weaknesses. But truth be told, those are words that today still play in the back of my mind. If my Daddy’s words can hold that much weight in my mind even many years after it was spoken, how much more weight and power would the words of the ancient of Days hold in my life?

But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. ISAIAH 43:1

And I am still always asking God, my heavenly Father, to help me be meticulous and diligent in everything I find my hands doing. That is the precedent my daddy has set for me. There is a certain confidence I have gained in knowing that even though my dad will always be quick to check me and address any bad behavior, he truly wants the very best for me and wants me to be ALL God has graced me to be.

What an honor to be loved in this manner both by an earthly father and by our heavenly Father.

Abba Father

This is probably one of the greatest traits that any child desires in their Father. To have the support and blessing of our Fathers. Even still, our Heavenly Father wants us to prosper even as our soul prospers. The Word says He has blessed us with every rich blessing in the heavenly places. We lack nothing good just because of who our Father is. He is our beloved, our ABBA. The one who has the power to declare, give us the vision of the life He has called us to and to also give us the power and wisdom to bring that vision to life. The multi breasted One.

May God open up our eyes and insight to truly see and walk in the identity that we are sons and daughters of the Most High God.

I am proud to be a daughter to my Daddy Ajidagba (ABA). I am most proud to be a daughter of El Shaddai, my Lord and Maker and joint heir with Jesus Christ.

Thank you Daddy for the inheritance and godly legacy of faith that you have set our family on and for the generations to come. May God bless you and keep you all the days of your life. Thank you Abba for helping our fathers thrive in their roles and for being their help since ages past. We commit them into your hands that you continue to empower them, support them and teach them. May they find refuge and safety in You. May they never lose heart, hope or be put to shame O Lord. Hold them up by your righteous right hand.

To all our fathers and father figures (aka my big brothers!), we celebrate you and we pray that God will continually add more strength, wisdom, insight and boldness.

#RestinGod

Mo 🙂

SONG: We Honor You by Nathaniel Bassey

XXVII

God is good, God is kind, God is trustworthy, God is dependable.

Glory be His Holy name!

If you have been following the blog for a while, you might have noticed I usually blog to mark my birthday, except for a few years where I didn’t make specific posts dedictaed to my birthday.

Related Posts:

Year 20

Year 21,

Year 22

Year 23

Year 24

Year 25

Year 26


Well, this year the enemy tried to convince me not to give God the glory but my God is too good. He reminded me that his faithfulness and goodness exists outside of my feelings and current situations. It was in a conversation and a testimony being shared by my mother that I was reminded of the victory that God performed 27 years ago. It’s so easy to get caught up in what we are still trusting God for that we forget what kind of God He is. What He has done and accomplished.

For the fact that I am alive, my mother is alive, I am grateful to God. You know to go into a labor room and come out is indeed a huge testimony in itself. We can never forget that the fact we are alive, that you are reading this and can comprehend what you a reading is a miracle in itself. Our God is still in the business of performing miracles. Women are still going to that same labor room and coming out healthy and with their babies in their arms. God watches over us and he does not sleep neither does he slumber. If you know any woman that has gone through labor, you better do a little praise dance on their behalf and send a quick word of thanks to God. It is a huge miracle!

I don’t know about you but this little girl that God delivered in that labor room 27 years ago will boldly and loudly shout his praises! God redeemed me, he continually redeems me. He saves me! He saves my soul daily out of the pit of darkness. He sanctifies me and ensures I am daily reminded of His love for me. He gives my life purpose and He has promised me that He will bring my life to an expected end in Him. He gives my life meaning. Not only did He save my life but He gave my life meaning by then bringing me into his family of believers. He called me a King and Priest, He called me beloved. I mean, who am I, and who is my family what you have made this our testimony?

God I am grateful.

Oh God, My Help Since Ages Past

Looking back over my childhood years, the hand of God has always been over my life. Through the primary school years in Nigeria, to the remaining primary school years in London, then to my secondary school years and teenage years spent in London. To my young adults years in Edmonton, Alberta. This God has been too kind to me. Grace has been multiplied unto me in areas I never imagined. He has been my Ebenezer, my help since ages past. Showing up for me even when I did not or would not acknowledge His presence and His hand in my life and over my life. God has always been so patient, so kind and so loving with me.

Thank you Jesus.

I prayed for community and God gave it to me in abundance. True, genuine, patient, loving friendships that have blossomed into a community and family.

Through situations where I have felt hopeless God has shown up and met me in that pit of despair and poured out his love on me.

When I have disappointed and hurt by people, in the same manner God used people to heal those wounds and reminded me that He is my everlasting love and the true lover of my soul.

I have lacked nothing. God has been my JIREH.
He remains my all in all.

I want to spend a day not thinking about what I don’t have yet but rather focus on thanking God for what He has done for me and what He continues to do.

Where would I be without His hand over my life, guiding and directing me?

What would have become of my life? When my own strength failed me miserably, yet He was still gentle and loving and kind with me, reminding me that He is the strength of my life.

I may see things clearly now but I can trust and receive the peace that comes from entrusting my life fully into his hands.

See guys, it’s not that it’s so easy for me to write this in fact I started this post with something else in mind. But this is what happens when you submit yourselves to the Holy Spirit. He is in control of my fingers as I type and in control of my mind as I think. He causes me to think deeply and see His goodness throughout my life. If you are still in the fence and trying to decide if you’d like to try this Christian thing, please I would recommend you try the Jesus thing first! Jesus is the every essence of our faith as Christians. It’s not just a religion and following decrees, it’s about a relationship that is laced in grace. It’s about fellowship with the Holy Spirit. It’s about submitting your life and decisions to his leading. It’s not that life will be easy, words will flow easily or that your heart will always flutter. But it’s an immovable trust in the fact that He has our best interest at heart. He wants us to prosper even as our soul prospers. It’s a freedom to know that you’re not alone even if you feel like you are alone. When nobody else gets it, Jesus always gets it. He’s not an inanimate being that we pray to. He is present and with us. He sees us and He hears us, as El Roi, He is ALWAYS present.


If you are reading this and would like to take part in the Word of Our Testimony Project by sharing your experience and story please complete the form.

The bible says we overcame by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our Testimony. The blood has already been confirmed but we must daily confess the word of our Testimony. It is a great reminder for the writer to sit back, think and meditate on God’s goodness and a great inspiration to the reader to be reminded that our God is STILL in the business of performing wonders and miracles.

I pray that we all learn to enjoy and seek His presence all the days of our life. To my Lord and Master, I am eternally grateful for Year 27, wherever the journey leads I trust you, I love you. Please continue to strengthen my faith in you and help my unbelief in the ways I’m falling short. You are the source of my life, my joy, my glory and the lifter of my head.

The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands. PSALM 138:8 (NKJV)

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. PSALM 138:8 (ESV)

The LORD will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me. PSALM 138:8 (NLT)

LORD, Your name alone be magnified and glorified,

yours lovingly, totally, completely and fully

Toluwabori Morenike

#RestinGod

Mo 🙂

Generations

One generation commends your works to the next.

One of my favorite things to do is to honor and celebrate my parents and my family. It’s part of my gratitude habits. I am grateful because I know and see how far God has brought myself and my family. It is surely the grace and favor of God that sustained and kept us. My parents celebrated their wedding anniversary this past week and the verse that kept playing in my mind was PSALM 145:4 

 "One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts."

I see it, I know it and therefore I must celebrate it.

Deuteronomy

In reading the story of the Israelites I am reminded of how key it is think and ponder on God’s faithfulness and remind future generations of God’s goodness. In Deuteronomy, Moses nears the end of his life and he reminds the Israelites of their journey so far to provide them clarity on how far God has brought them and to remind them of God’s goodness and faithfulness.

How can you commend the next generation if you don’t know about the past generation? How will you be able to move forward with knowledge from the past without giving thanks because we are no longer in the past? Even if your family history was terrible, thank God that you are no longer in that situation. And if you feel like you still are, we thank God that we are not in a far worse situation.

We thank God that we are no longer where we used to be even if we are not yet where we would desire.

When we submit our desires you to the Lord, he grants us the desires of our hearts by aligning us with His divine plans.

The story of the children of Israel in the Old Testament was a real eye opener. There were so many instances they had to remind themselves of God’s goodness. In fact, the whole book of Deuteronomy is basically Moses narrating and documenting their journey out of Egypt and in the wilderness.

"Remember the days of long ago; think about the generations past. 
Ask your father, and he will inform you. 
Inquire of your elders, and they will tell you." 
Deuteronomy 32:7
Personal Testimony

I was having a casual phone conversation with my mum and she was sharing her story with me, a testimony that opened my eyes and really spoke to my own current situation! I was shocked because it wasn’t like I hadn’t heard her give this testimony before but never got into the details of it. How many of us miss out on life changing and perspective shifting stories like this because we refuse to sit and engage our loved ones, especially our parents?

Even the Bible speaks about the fact that in sharing our stories with each other there is wisdom and safety in it.

We know that there is nothing new under the sun, therefore there is no challenge we will experience or currently are experiencing that somebody else out there hasn’t gone through before (Ecclesiastes 1:9). We just pray God that open our eyes to see and direct us to the right people that can counsel us accordingly. In the same way, Hebrews 12:1 states;

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. 
And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."

Generations after are still reading the stories in the Bible and gleaning wisdom and lessons from it. Isn’t our God just so wonderful!

To think that someday I will be sharing my stories, struggles, triumphs and testimonies with my children and the next generation in my family. With this knowledge, I am learning to trust God to steward my seasons well. Ultimately, we will have to give an account to God and we cannot change or twist the narrative in our favor because the 24 hour CCTV that is the Holy Spirit that resides in us and with us, is making recordings of ALL our actions and even more than that of our THOUGHTS.

May God help us to align our actions, words and thoughts and our heart to His will and His word.

YAH – Dunsin Oyekan

“…Generations, after generations
Keep praising You, yet no word sums You up
Then I asked the Lord, “What name fits You?”
And He said, “Yah“

Yah, the Hallowed One
Yah, the Holy One
Yahweh, the King of Zion…”

#RestinGod

Mo 🙂

Revive Our Hearts

For King and Country is one of the most popular modern Christian contemporary bands. Do you ever wonder where their name comes from? According to the duo:

“For King and Country” was the battle cry of English soldiers willing to lay down their lives for their king and their country. And now it has become our mission, to lay down our lives for our King and our country

What are we willing to do ‘For The Kingdom’?

In 2020 the blog addressed the idea of revival and a revolution related to pursuing purpose. Recently in media we have heard of several occurrences of revivals such as the Asbury Revival taking place in Kentucky, US. It seems like a revival is taking place right now in our day and time. The Nigerian gospel minister Dunsin Oyekan has also initiated a revival known as ‘The Outpouring’ all around the world, so far he has had services in various cities in Nigeria as well as London, UK and even more loading. Similarly, Nathaniel Bassey has been conducting The Hallelujah Challenge since 2017 and it has only grown more with several testimonies and people coming to encounter the love and power of Jesus Christ.

We have heard of the previous revivals but now, we have one taking place in our generation. The truth though is that revival is an everyday occurrence if we allow it to be.

Luke 17:20-21 

One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?” Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs. 21 You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you."

But that raises a question.

What is a Revival?

It usually refers to the refreshing of our souls and a reviving of our soul’s mission as we are reinvigorated and reminded of the reason why we are present in the areas we are. As we look forward to celebrating Easter (the greatest display of God’s love for humanity), revival can mean a reminder of the work of salvation and coming back to the heart of Jesus Christ.

We might have read this Old Testament verse in Joel 2:28 – 30, where God promises restoration and to pour out His Spirit upon His people.

"“And afterward,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your old men will dream dreams,
    your young men will see visions.
29 Even on my servants, both men and women,
    I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
30 I will show wonders in the heavens
    and on the earth,
    blood and fire and billows of smoke."

This is a promise of God to His people. We are God’s people. So perhaps this is a time of restoration, to come back to the heart of the Father and to receive rest and revival for our souls.

So, why do we need a Revival?

#musings

The truth is that nothing else really matters except that which we do for the Kingdom.

Let His Kingdom come. May His will be done.

Excerpt from the lord’s prayer
A Kingdom Perspective

An analogy to orient our minds is to consider that we have a King that left his citizens in charge and in doing that a coup has taken place where the citizens did all sorts and caused major damages to the country. Another ruler came that was more abrasive to the citizens and arrested them requesting for the damages to be resolved. But the King sent his son to pay the debt and cover all offences of the country’s citizens. So, they are able to technically live in the country but aren’t subject under the authority of this other ruler. The ruler just rules the land but the citizens are not subject to his authority.

Jesus Christ gave himself up as a ransom for our sake. In John 17:13-19, Jesus in prayer to God the Father (aka the King) informs us that we are in this world but not of this world (verse 16). Let His sacrifice not go in vain over us. Rather, it is our duty to work to recruit other citizens that are yet to understand this to join our army of Christian soldiers.

And in doing this we are aware of 2 Timothy 2:4

"Soldiers don't get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them."

We do not entangle ourselves in the civilian lifestyle, rather we train ourselves for what is ahead (#ForTheKingdom).

One of my favorite verses to this day is Matthew 6:33

"Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these other things will be added to you."

God’s kingdom is our first and foremost pursuit. In reviving ourselves, we are reminding our soul and bringing others to the awakening that ‘Christ is King‘. Those involved in the Asbury revival are students with responsibilities. You might say surely it’s not compared to having a family, people depending on you or a job that requires your full attention. Yet, there will always be something calling our attention away. The truth is what do we choose to give our attention to.

Ezekiel the prophet spoke of a vision in Ezekiel 37:1-6

"The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”
4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”

We call those things that be not as if they are. There is power in the Word of God. When we read it and meditate on it. We can understand the authority behind it and speak these things into our lives and situations.

To engage in spiritual discipline is not a theoretical practice but is practical and should be practicalized so that we can engage in the battle of life.

Do not be fooled we are in a struggle daily over light and darkness. Good over evil. We have to ensure we equip ourselves correctly, so our souls do not become lackluster and lose the essence and hope we hold unto. That hope is Jesus Christ.

May God help us.

Recommendations for Pursuit

To seek means to search out, to desire something and attempt to obtain that thing.

Jesus used parables used in New Testament teachings and particularly in Matthew to showcase the treasure that is the Kingdom of God. It’s not made accessible to everybody, just those that truly seek after it and pursue understanding of the word of God. Are we among them? True pursuit requires brokenness to some extent and desperation. How desperate are we for Jesus? Does our soul totally and completely yearn for Him like a dry and parched land? We cannot come to Him in a lax manner or thinking about the refreshing or encounters we have had in the past.

Behold, He is doing a new thing, therefore we must forget the things that have happened in the past and look with eager anticipation for the encounter to come. We must prepare our hearts and have a contrite spirit to fully receive His Spirit. As he pours, are we ready and primed to be poured into?

#musings
It’s in the Small Things

We do not have to wait to do something grand to count it as revival. In fact just loving on those in our sphere of influence with the right intent of heart is powerful enough. How are we stewarding our relationships and contributing positively to our community?

Do you see someone struggling in an area, are you offering them your support, expertise and advice? Do we turn a blind eye to the struggle of our brother and sister and feign ignorance because we are too wrapped up in our own struggles? I know sometimes, we all have things we worry about but by leaning on God, he offers supernatural strength to help us in our times of need such that we will be shocked at how we can support others going through a similar or totally different situation.

We cannot operate like people of this world, they do not have access to the same strength and wisdom of God that we have. It’s not boasting or being prideful. Rather, it is a divine understanding of our identity in Christ. Imagine you had a child that never acknowledged or celebrated you as their parent?

It is our duty to recognise the supremacy and majesty of our God. To keep beholding Him in the beauty of His holiness and to strive to display the excellencies He has bestowed upon us.

For the Kingdom.

In all our pursuit of the good things of this world, we must neglect to keep Christ at the center and His kingdom should be our top most priority.

1 Corinthians 4:20 says

"For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God's power."

May the power of God be made evident in our lives and in our situations. May we not be people that deny the power of God at work in our lives to truly transform us.

Are you confused about a decision or overwhelmed with which direction to go?

When we seek God’s kingdom first, He provides us with divine vision and direction.

Here are a few recommendations of online media to help revive our hearts:

Motion pictures like: ‘The Train‘, ‘Enoch‘ by Mount Zion Films, The Chosen tv series

Podcasts like: TED (Tolu, Ella and Dara), The Table with AO (Anthony O’Neal), Whoa! That’s Good podcast, to my sisters & the Bible, Babes and Banter podcast.

YouTube channels like Beleaf in Fatherhood, The Winlos, Minister GUC and Nene, Maze Lee & family and so much more.

Musings with Mo hopes to be fulfill a mandate to gain the airwaves and media for the propagation of the Gospel. The goal is to build a platform where people can grow and be edified in their walk with Christ as well as encouraged to be the best version of themselves in their various spheres of influence.

Something to ponder, What does Matthew 16:28 mean? 

"And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom."

Please share your thoughts and comments below!

Kingdom
Fellowship in Heaven
The King is Coming
Kingdom Sounds

Kingdom by Maverick City Music

Fellowship in Heaven by LifePointe Band

The King is Coming by Nathaniel Bassey

#RestinGod

Mo 🙂

Character over Comfort

What experiences in life helped you grow the most?

God is more interested in refining our character than in granting us comfort. This does not mean God is wicked and does not want to comfort us. But, God wants us to be transformed by the renewal of our minds. You can be comfortable in sin and living a life that that does not glorify God.

That is not a life that God cosigns. Only God can bring us true comfort. The type of comfort that isn’t based on earthly or temporary things.

2 Corinthians 1: 3-12: God of All Comfort

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 

5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 6 Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. 7 We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.

8 We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. 9 In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. 

10 And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. 11 And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.

12 We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you. 

Therefore, we should be of good cheer when we go through persecutions and trials because we know that will produce good character in us.

These are the experiences that help us grow the most.

To answer the question that prompted this blog, what helps us grow the most is usually what stretches and challenges us. Nothing ever grows in the comfort zone.

So take heart my dears, and trust that situations that seem uncomfortable right now is an opportunity for the strength, wisdom and goodness of God to be manifested in our lives and situations.

Lastly, to leave us with some hope is Apostle Paul in the book of Romans

Romans 5:3-6 – God shows up at the right time

3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 

Even when we feel overwhelmed, hopeless or helpless God is never far away from us. He will turn ALL things together for our good, as long as we yield to His purpose for our lives.

Be of good cheer my dears, it will end in praise!

Happy New Month!

#RestinGod

Mo 🙂

Worship His Majesty

Our God is Holy, worthy and He alone is worthy of our Praise and Worship.

That’s it. That’s the whole blog!

But honestly, we can never stop reminding ourselves of the majesty of our God. When we behold Him and look intently upon Him then our insecurities, anxieties about tomorrow (sometimes even today) fades away into oblivion.

We can enter His rest and fully accept the grace He has made available to us through Jesus Christ.

There is nothing impossible for God to do. Read that again. There is absolutely NOTHING impossible for God to do. Sometimes what we lack is faith.

Photo by Nicholas Githiri on Pexels.com
“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible - Matthew 17: 20 NLT

Moreover, if we are aware of this but we think but I am just a mere mortal with so many shortcomings and weaknesses why would God want to do anything for me or give me anything. It’s because God loves us. Read that again. God loves you. God is in love with you. (Romans 8:35-39, NLT) Nothing can separate us from the love of God found in Christ Jesus).

Apostle Paul is so secure in this understanding that He boldly states in Philippians 4:13 

"For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength."

So anytime we feel undeserving, we must understand that it is not our power our might or our actions that justifies us but we are saved, redeemed and ransomed (Romans 8:29-30, NKJV) through faith in Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:4-10, NLT)

Let’s be wary of our thoughts and feeling that might make us think we need to sustain our relationship with God in our own power. Let’s be humble in how we esteem ourselves. Recently played back the verse that speaks on humbly assessing ourselves

"Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning. Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us." - Romans 12:3 NLT

It showed me that in this race we are all running it with the grace of God. Do NOT ever place anybody on a pedestal, and be wary of people that might try and do that. We rely on the grace of God to sustain us and renew us daily by renewing our minds and refreshing our souls. Not only should we read or say this but we must truly believe this and live our lives with this understanding.

When we realize just how weak and unable we are, we can better appreciate the greatness of our awesome God.

Yes, we are spirit beings with a soul that reside in a body. Therefore, we must understand that we live our lives based on our Spirit. The things we see that manifest in the physical is as a result of what has already occured in the Spirit. Let’s avoid distractions and rather we must place our focus on Jesus Christ the author and finisher of our faith. Only He can sustain us and truly satisfy our souls.

This is why we must worship His majesty.

The Lord is glorious and majestic in all His ways. How great are the works of His hands. Let us reason together for a minute and consider just how amazing our heavenly Father is. Have you ever gone through a period of time that you thought you would never make it out of? Have you ever felt lost, disappointed and just jaded with life? Then think to moments when God brings sweet relief. When He reminds us of His goodness through His words, or through the testimony of others. This is just relational revelations of our God. Now, consider the practical revelations seen in the miracle of waking up everyday. The fact that we have oxygen that we breathe into our lungs and it goes around our body and in the same mechanism, carbon dioxide leaves our lungs and is expired out into the atmosphere. The balance of gases are just right on Earth to sustain our human lives and keep us alive.

Photo by SHVETS production on Pexels.com

We have access to technology and technological advances that helps make our lives easier each day by allowing us to connect with people all around the world at the click or swipe of a button. We have reasoning faculties to be able to think, deduce and induce things based on evidence around us. That is the majesty of our King. Oh, that men would praise the Lord and think of His wonderful works! Oh, that men would praise the Lord and think of His wonderful works!

May we never lose our wonder of His majesty.

Have a great week ahead and may we be intentional in spending time just lavishing love upon our Maker.

Playlist to Worship His Majesty found here

#RestinGod

Mo 🙂