How To Finish The Year With God

For over 10 years now, I have had a December regiment on how I finish the year. On Saturday I urged my social media friends to seek God for 2022 and I felt I needed to give it more depth.  I want to share a few areas that I evaluate prayerfully every year. As you read through, you'll also figure out that this entire evaluation takes more than a day. So I suggest that you either go to a prayer center or dedicate your evenings and nights to the Lord.

The bible encourages constant searching of hearts, motives, and walk. These two scriptures set credence for me to do evaluations on my walk with God.

"... Ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent."  Selah. Psa 4:4
"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves." 2 Cor 13:5

1. Exaltation and Thanksgiving

Psa 50:23 "But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.”

Thanksgiving blesses the heart of God and sets precedence for his salvation. This is not an area of examination per se but one of the ways that I set the tone for my time in His presence. Declaring praises and reminding him where He took you from is something you can never overdo. I urge you to practice this oftenly not just in December. I also did a post on thanksgiving a few years ago.

2. Spirituality

"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God." Col 1:9-10

Ask yourself the following questions and answer candidly. You are in His Presence and His light will help you expose any falsehoods from within. Don't be ashamed, God is for you.

•  I'm I growing into Christ-likeness?
•  I'm I growing in Love with God and human beings?
•  I'm I increasing in my understanding of His principles?
• I'm I a good witness of the truths that He has already revealed?

Your walk with God should affect your worship and relationships.

3. Career

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Col 3:23-24

Thank God for every income-generating and knowledge acquiring activity you have. Mention specific areas of growth and thank him for the grace. Examine how good an employee you are and ask him to help you do better. Do you need to do a course, get a mentor or read more books to grow your career? Present them before him and ask for His help and wisdom. Remember God rewards faithfulness not hard work.

4. Relationships

"A man that has friends must show himself friendly..." Prov 18:24

Life is sweeter with friends. Second, to salvation, friendship is my best gift. Aps. Selman says, "everything money can buy relationships can too."  Are you a loyal friend? Are you withholding love because you were once hurt? Ask the Lord to heal you. There is no love without sacrifice; do you sacrifice for your friends? Do you practice forbearing? Are you forgiving? But above all pray and love your friends.

5. Finances

Recently my mentor told me that he made a decision many years ago that his money should be used to perform miracles. Of course, I took it and ran with it. How do you use your money? Do you love money more than God and people? Is money an idol to you? Allow the Holy Spirit to expose any demonic mindset on wealth and money that you have lived with. A few years ago as I presented this area to the Lord, He asked me to increase my offering. He didn't tell me the amount but I understood and made the necessary adjustment.

6. Health

In 2016, I got sick and the next 4 years were constraining and almost unbearable. It is saddening to have your dreams and aspirations impeded because of failing health. Take your health seriously and know that your body is the temple of God. This is an area that I consistently need to make adjustments on and I urge you also to take a keen interest in it. Part of the wisdom that the Holy Spirit gives us is health and nutritional wisdom.

This is not exhaustive, if there is an area in your life that you have been feeling you need to make changes, wait no more. Start today. A major thing to note is that you need to give God time to speak, instruct and direct you on the areas you have presented and beyond.

My desire for everyone reading this is to know God experientially. Have a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Announcement

·        I'm doing a prayer challenge in January on my facebook page starting on 3rd January 2022 and I'd be honored if you joined. 

My friends and I at a Wedding 

Consequences for not Consulting The Lord

 "So the children of Israel examined their food, but they did not consult the Lord." Josh 9:14

Joshua 9:3-21 narrates the sad story of the Israelites and Gibeonites. In the earlier verses( I.e. vs 2 and 3) the Canaanite tribes heard about the victories of the Israelites against their enemies. These brought unsurmountable fear upon them. While other nations joined forces to attack the Israelites Gibeonites used a different strategy- Deception. 

Joshua and his leaders used their judgement but failed to consult God and this had the following consequences. 

• Disobedience(sin) 
• Settling
• Death

15 Quotes By Pastor Paul Waita

Paul Waita has been in ministry for over 25 years. Currently the lead Pastor at Liberating Church in Kirinyaga County. 

• IGNORANCE is very costly. Avoid it at all expense.
• It's possible for a believer to live a SINLESS life because we're of God and His DNA runs in us.
• There is an ACCEPTABLE way of worshipping God.
• DESIRE to be great and wealthy. Wealth in the hands of a true believer will help further the kingdom of God. 
• Without mentorship, it's impossible to GROW.

• Be full of the word/life of God so that when people interact with you, they ENCOUNTER Christ.
• You can become anything God calls you to be as long as you REMAIN in Him. 
• GIANTS only appear when you've been delivered from captivity.
• The strength of a spiritual altar is determined by the COMMITMENT of the priest.
• Whatever you HONOUR comes to you. Whatever you DISHONOUR moves away from you.
• God wants to MANIFEST His glory through you.
• INTIMACY with God is what makes you fruitful physically and spiritually.
• True success is FULFILLING the assignment the Father gave you.
• Anything the ANOINTING of God touches grows. 
• Every problem in life is the enemy challenging your DESTINY.

20 Quotes by Pastor Antony Munene

Pastor Antony Munene has been in ministry for over 25 years. Currently the lead Pastor at Deliverance Church- Capital Hill. He's also a theology and leadership lecturer.

• Anything you have that is not available for God's use is USELESS.
• PRAYER is the most important strategy in accomplishing a God-given vision.
• Never create an atmosphere, feeling or sense of the PRESENCE of God...this is idolatry before God.
• The most important and secure place to be in life is to KNOW that God is with you.
• Learn to INVEST in the things God cares about. Relationships are one of them. 
• God cares about our CHARACTER more than our possessions. He will use whatever possible to build our character, including loss of possessions.
• There are graces and rewards that are given only when BELIEVERS gather together to worship God. So always desire to be where God's people are.
• The Holy Spirit is the most important PERSON in a meeting.
• All life is SPIRITUAL; marriage, business etc.
• You program FAVOUR into your life by resolving in your heart to obey God even when all else doesn't make sense.

• The highest form of perception of reality is REVELATION. The others include intuition, observation and personal experience.
• Two lacking virtues among young Christians and ministers are PATIENCE and ENDURANCE. Yet they are imperative in the making of an effective Christian leader.
• True riches are SPIRITUAL.
• God being SPIRIT, he mainly speaks to us through our thoughts for thoughts are in the realm of the spirit. 
• Always guard the presence of God and watch out against defilement. You can lose the ANOINTING if you neglect these two.
• Satan HATES and FEARS two things happening to any human being; Divine revelation of who God is and life lived based on this revelation. 
• The PRESENCE of God is what should attract you to a person, church etc.
• God seeks to have a CONVERSATIONAL relationship with us. Grow in this by learning to pour your heart to Him.
• The word of God is the DIVINE SEED from which comes divine ideas. Divine ideas are the seeds of true prosperity. 
• The greatest WEAKNESS of a church in spiritual battles is in the negligence of leaders' personal spiritual growth.

18 Quotes by Apostle Joshua Selman

Apostle Joshua Selman is a Nigerian televangelist and a teacher of the Word of God. He is the founder of Eternity Network International (ENI)which started in 2011. 

• Not everything in the Kingdom of God is a GIFT, some are rewards e.g. there is a reward for obedience, consecration, giving etc.
• The days of CELEBRITY Christianity is coming to an end.
• Correcting the church (body of Christ) is an office and the qualification is LOVE, not revelation. The Lord himself tests the heart of those called into this office.
• If you do not do anything about your life, the only thing that will keep changing is your AGE.
• In the instance where PRAYER is not the key, it becomes the hand that holds the key...either way you will still need prayer.
• It is not enough to be available, you have to be USEABLE.
• When God is SILENT, He is still speaking.
• Believers were not meant to live by miracles (nothing wrong with them) but by UNDERSTANDING God's principles and systems.
• Anytime you access the spiritual realm without the help of the Holy Spirit it becomes WITCHCRAFT.
• All believers are the same (Christ is Lord and Savior to all) but they're not EQUAL. A believers level of commitment, sacrifice, consecration, spiritual illumination is what gives ranking(authority) in the spiritual realm.

• No one becomes SUCCESSFUL by luck. If it were that easy everyone would be.
• Do not be under any PRESSURE to prove yourself to people.
• You gain SPEED in the kingdom of God by staying in the secret place, not by marketing yourself.
• The secret to God's power is DEATH. God's anointing is too heavy to be carried by living vessels.
• Truth should be received SEQUENCIALLY. Truth is like a weapon, it can destroy if received at the wrong time. 
• The devil doesn't hate believers only but all human beings. Every single person on earth can become the GREATEST man of God that has ever lived.
• The AGENDA of Satan and his demons is to prevent people from accepting Christ and accessing the truths that give them victory in life.
• Any biblical TRUTH that you're aware of but still don't walk in shows a lack of understanding.
• There are two ways the Kingdom of God advances: through EVANGELISM (establishing the Lordship of Christ in the hearts of men) and INFLUENCE (establishing the value system of Christ across every stratum of human activity).

3 Ways to Guard against Deception

A certain born again gentleman recently sent me a message on social media. He refers to himself as the "anointed one" and he believes that rejection is a precursor to being accepted. Just like Jesus, he believes that he too should face rejection before being accepted. He also proceeded to let me know that a few years ago he was struck by lightning and the resulting effect was that he gained supernatural wisdom.

First, let me note that as Christians, we stand the risk of being deceived if we don't stay alert and watchful. Dictonary.com describes deception as to ‘mislead or falsely persuade others’. In context, our definition will be "a false persuasion against the truth as revealed by the Bible." The first instance we're introduced to Satan in the book of Genesis 3, we see this nature- The Deceiver, play out.  As we delve deeper into scripture we're met with more incidences depicting his deceptive nature continuing to take centre stage. In the New Testament Jesus in John 8:44 lets us know that when Satan speaks a lie, he speaks his native language.

Deception has made many, including some generals in the faith, introduce doctrines that are not consistent with the word of God or his character. In case the story I shared in the beginning wasn’t enough a notable example you can look at is William Branham - Google and read his story just so you can internalize the detrimental effects of deception. Hopefully, you will join me in the resolve to guard against it.

   

By the grace of God I want to share 3 points that believers can heed to in order to better protect themselves from the spirit of deception;

1. Be submitted to the word.

Knowing and quoting the word is not enough. You have to be submitted to it. The Psalmist writes in 119:11 "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." You need to be so full of the word that anytime you're presented with information it needs to first go through the sieve of Scripture reservoir within you. The primary way that God reveals himself is through the WORD. Paul in Gal 8:1 warns that "...even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God's curse!" Sadly most believers don't read the word. Thus making themselves easy prey to deception.

I've made an observation among people who fall under this spirit, majority of them are extremely prayerful. Some even say they are relating better with God without necessarily studying scripture. The thing is this friend, when you exalt prayer above the word, chances are very high that you'll get into error; our prayers should be guided by the word of God. We actually pray the word back to God. When you do away with the Word then what basis are you using for your prayers? Prayer is not just uttering words to an invisible deity but a loving, submitted and obedient response to God in relation to His Word.

2. Fellowship with the Holy Spirit. 

The Spirit of God is also called the Spirit of Truth in John 16:13 and he convicts us. This basically means that he exposes any falsehoods within us and leads us in the path of truth. Like an antennae our spirit needs to be tuned to pick the right signals from the Holy Spirit who helps expose any foreign (soulish and demonic) signals. Therefore, maintaining a close fellowship with Him is extremely key.

David had a unique relationship with the Holy Spirit. In Psalms 139:23 & 24 we read, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

This is a posture that all believers should assume. More that asking God for things, we need to consistently lay our hearts bare before Him. I'm in the habit of going before God without a prayer list and genuinely asking him to search my heart. Do you allow God to vet your walk? Paul in 2 Cor 13:5 urges us to examine ourselves to see whether we are in the faith.

 

3.  Fellowship with brethren.

A common feature among believers who fall into deception is that they don't attend regular fellowship. The devil is like a predator, he uses isolation as an attack strategy. He also creates offense, envy, misunderstanding, confusion etc with your spiritual leaders and born again friends or introduces a destructive thought pattern.

God means for believers to walk together in oneness. God blesses and trains us through fellow human beings. There are gifts and graces that God has put within individuals in the church that should edify the body of Christ. Romans 12:4 lets us know that the church is like a body, with each part having a specific function. Part of edification involves rebuking and correcting in love. When we see a part of the body in error we should bring correction.

Whenever you cut off this fellowship/accountability of brethren, you also cut off the voices that God uses to shape and prune you; making you a great candidate for deception.

There is a path already set on how we should walk as believers, neglecting any instruction or command automatically removes us from that right path and sets us on a wrong one. It's also important to know that no one under deception thinks he or she is deceived but as the bible says there is a way that appears right but in the end it leads to death. Prov 14:12.

Love

Kayte 

Joseph, the Righteous Man

Because Joseph, her (Mary)husband was a righteous man... Matthew 1:19

The bible doesn't say much about Joseph the father of Jesus but from the little that's written about him, righteousness is exemplified in every instance. Here are some things Joseph’s life can teach us.

1. Joseph was obedient to God: Whenever he received an instruction or command he would promptly obey. He made no excuses or complaints. Even though obedience cost him (time, comfort, reputation, personal preferences, etc) Some scriptures you can look at are; Matt 1:24, 2:14, and 21.

Our Faith in God shows in how we follow through with his instructions. I recently came across an equation referred to as the "faith equation": Faith=Conviction +Obedience. Neither of these elements can stand by themselves.

Let me share a personal example; many years ago, I would delay paying my tithe. Sometimes I’d end up paying it 3 weeks into the month, and in some cases, I wound up paying 2 months of tithe combined. One day during offertory, I heard a question drop into my mind "Is that tithe?” and I knew exactly what the Holy Spirit meant with that question. He then proceeded to tell me to be prompt with my tithe. Since that day I pay up as soon as I can. Most of us are obedient but not prompt.

If by any chance you fall into this bracket, let Joseph's attitude challenge you.

2. He had communion with God:Joseph had positioned himself to hear God. He had trained his senses to discern God. In Hebrews 5: 14 we learn that solid food is for the mature, who because of practise have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Joseph heard God speak to him through angels and dreams numerous times. 

There are 3 sources of dreams- From God, the devil or from our souls. As believers, we need to be trained to differentiate the kinds of dreams we have, and their sources. My pastor reiterates to us that being saturated by the Word of God makes it's easier for God to speak to us. The first step in discerning the source of dreams is being a student of the word. Like Job let the word of God be your daily food. (Job 23:12)

Do you have time set aside every day to spend with/before God? If not, today looks like a good day to start.

3. Joseph practised delayed gratification: But he had no union(sexual intercourse) with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. Matt 1:25

Does pleasing God come before your own preferences? Would you postpone pleasure/comfort for the sake of Christ? Can you forsake food for the sake of the kingdom? What about money, your ego, reputation?

This is what separates many believers, making some carnal and others spiritual. Paul wrote that he disciplined his body like an athlete; so that it could do what it should (1 Cor 9:7). You and I just like Paul, need to learn this early in our walk for the sake of Christ and the gospel that we represent. The interesting thing is, many times in our day to day lives, it's not a matter of sinning but a matter of love, respect and commitment to and for God.

Take some time and self evaluate. Prayerfully audit your life. Are there things that you need to compromise on for the sake of the call of Christ upon your life? How can you further your commitment to the Lord?

4. He cared about other people: Because Joseph, her (Mary) husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace; he had in mind to divorce her quietly. Matt 1:19

Let's recreate the scenario together, try and draw a mental picture; Mary is engaged to you. She becomes pregnant and has the weirdest explanation that a ghost got her pregnant and that she had been notified of it by an angel from heaven. You live in a highly religious society that does not condone conception out of wedlock as it goes against the Law of Moses. Therefore, both you (Joseph) and Mary would be branded sinners. Let's not even mention your bruised ego or the embarrassment that you were bound to suffer. The worst bit was that the law stipulated the stoning of a woman who was got pregnant without being married.

Everything that could go wrong went wrong for Joseph.  Yet, in all this, he still thought of Mary's reputation and wanted to divorce her secretly so as not to disgrace her. It's at this point that an angel instructed him otherwise.

 

Friend, at times you might be justified to take the action that you want to take. I mean your friends, family, the law even KOT will be on your side but have you considered what God would do- like what pleases Him. Christians don't live for themselves. It's imperative to always consider things in light of the love of Christ and what He would do.

Care about people's hearts; honour those that need to be honoured, respect those that need to be respected. God loves people and so should you. I've come to find that my way is not always the right way. Remember to always give God room to step in and give his perspective (will) through his word, servants, dreams, visions or whichever way he deems fit.

The bible is the measure for holy and righteous living. It exposes things in our lives that fall short of God's character and by the help of the Holy Spirit, we can aspire, desire and contend to live out the character of Christ in our lives.

Love Kayte

My brother Edward and I at one of my Social Media 101 training in Karen

6 Characteristics of a True Believer

Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him      144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song excerpt the 144,00 who had been redeemed from the earth. These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless. Rev 14:1-5

This portion of Scripture gives us a snippet of what will happen in eternity. These 144,000 people have been redeemed by the Lamb, just like we too (believers) have been redeemed. New Living Translation Bible dictionary defines the word ‘redeem’ as to free from the consequence of sin.

I love that the bible explicitly states the characteristics of these people. I have highlighted them for our study;

1. They had the name of God written on their foreheads. When something is written on your forehead, it's exposed for everyone to see. That means anyone who has been redeemed should openly be known as a follower of God (Jesus Christ). Like Timothy, we are to set an example in our speech, life, love, faith and in purity. (1 Tim 2:11) It is common to hear the phrase ‘salvation is personal’ even though there is no where in scripture with such an implication. The Bible exemplifies the complete opposite; Everyone who’s had an encounter with Jesus in the Bible became an overt witness.

 

2. They are worshippers. They sang a new song before the throne. Worship is not just singing. Singing is one of the beautiful elements of worship. Believers should make worship a lifestyle. When you live for an audience of one, then even your lifestyle will revolve around and glorify this audience - God. In his letter to the Corinthians Paul writes exhorting them to glorify God in all things; whether it's in drinking or eating it should all glorify God. (1Cor 10:31) Are you a true worshipper?

 

3. Live a consecrated life. These people did not defile themselves but kept themselves pure like virgins. There are two angles to look at this. Firstly, the literal view,  that shows the defiling nature of sin. The second and deeper meaning is this; In the Old Testament, idolatry was portrayed as spiritual adultery. Symbolically, it means that these 144,000 people (believers) did not get entangled with pagan world systems. They resisted the seductions of anything contrary to what God stands for.

If we are to stand before the Lamb as the redeemed we need to watch out against defilement. Read more about the concept of consecration in Num 6:1-12 where the Nazarites serve as a good example of a people who lived set apart from all others. 

The Lord has been teaching me about the set-apart life and I believe it's important for my generation to be taught on the same. Choosing to live in consecration flows out of love for God and a desire for a deeper experience (also power) with him. If you are a Christian who only cares about meeting the basics( i.e the do's and don'ts), then you might have it hard living a consecrated life. A consecrated life calls for a price, a price of true spiritual discipline.

4. They have purposed and are committed to following Christ. True believers follow the lamb wherever he goes. They put their character, reputation, ego etc aside to follow Christ. COME WHAT MAY. When things are going well or not.  When choosing Christ costs them everything, they will still follow him.

They are like Job, when life happened he gladly declared in Job 13:15; “though he slays me, I will still trust him’’ or like Cornelius in Acts 10 who used his wealth to help people to the point that his generosity got to heaven as a memorial that brought salvation to his household.

5. Dedicated to God as an offering. Believers offer themselves as firstfruits to God. In the Old Testament, when it came to first fruits the Jews gave willingly the best of their crops and flocks. Similarly, true believers offer themselves willingly to God's service. We become bond slaves of righteousness and like Jesus, we go about our Father's business.

Secondly, there is an aspect of being the standard of reference. They gave their best crop. 2 Tim 2:15 urges us to present ourselves to God as approved, a worker who correctly handles the word of truth. Are you a pleasing offering to the Father?

6. No lie was found in their mouth. This talks of righteousness and holy living. The bible says there are 2 sets of people who will see God- the Holy (Heb 12:14) and the pure in heart (Matt 5:8). Sin hinders us from encountering God. Does heaven have a record of you being blameless before God?

Where do you fall when you evaluate yourself against these six traits? Are there shortcomings that you've been convicted of? Repent and live righteously before Him. The Lord desires an intimate relationship with you.

Love Kayte 

My good friend Linda and I 

WHY I HAVE A THANKSGIVING MONTH

I’ve been meaning to write this post since day 1 of my Thanksgiving month. For those who don't know, September of every year, for the past 5 years, has been my Thanksgiving month. I'm not sure which exact month I got saved, but, it happened between September and November. I had tried to get and remain saved but kept going back.

Salvation is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I always wish I’d gotten saved earlier, but I'm here now at that's what matters.

I decided to do a thanksgiving month because I treasure being in a relationship with God. Initially, it was inspired by love. Love for our amazing Jesus. He is true, his presence is life-changing and loves us so much. Importantly, he saved me from a horrid past.

On the day I accepted him in my heart, in my parents bedroom, I requested 3 things of Him; love, peace and joy. In hindsight, I realize that these three things represent and describe a person. I realize that I was actually asking Jesus for a person -The Holy Spirit. I digress.

I've been steadily growing in the Lord and in turn, He has been teaching and establishing His truths in my heart. This post will let you in on the second reason I have a Thanksgiving month. It's because, thanksgiving, I learnt, is a weapon of spiritual warfare.

"Thanksgiving I learnt, is a weapon of spiritual warfare."

(Background: There was a show I liked watching on TV but the Lord had told me to stop watching it. I would stop then slowly retrogress and resume watching it. It didn't help that my whole family liked it too and we'd often watch it together. I knew that by watching it, I was feeding my carnality at the expense of my spirit man, and so after some time and struggle, I sincerely decided to let it go and genuinely repented to the Lord.)

Allow me to share a certain dream I had about two years ago;

In my dream, I was struggling with a hideous demon that had overpowered me and had me on the ground. It was biting into my right shoulder from my back. The more I resisted the more painful it got. The demon, who I could tell was humongous and furry, was mocking me, laughing and using foul language. At some point during the struggle, any attempts at moving became extremely painful for me, so, I just lay still. As I lay there, helpless, some distance away, stood Jesus. I could see Him.

He was looking at me very sternly. As our eyes met, we began to communicate. And he took me back to a prayer class session I'd attended. (A few months prior I had completed a course in prayer.)

In this particular session, the lecturer told a story about 3 boys who’d agreed to pray and fast together for 3 days in order to cast out a demon. While they were in the process of casting out the demon, it spoke to them and said that one of them had not fasted as agreed. The lecturer then asked us, what would we have done if we'd been either of the boys.

There were varying responses. Most of them indicative of the fact that we all thought the prayers wouldn't be strong enough after one of us broke trust.

The lecturer disagreed. The power in our prayers or God's power to act is not determined so much by our human perfection or deeds.

The lesson in the story was that we should know who we are in Christ. We should understand that everything we do as Christians is because of the finished work of Jesus on the cross and certainly not our works.

While I stood there, with Jesus, somewhat relieving that session, it hit me that Jesus wanted me to remember who I was in Him. And that in my efforts to do life, His work is already finished.

He wanted me to remember, even as I lay there, helpless, with a demon biting into my shoulder, mocking me… I needed to remember "Who I am in Christ". And I did. I remembered.

(I also recalled that before I'd gone to bed that night, I had been praying and I had repented.)

Then I came back to where the demon was on my back and immediately began thanking God for all he had done.

“I thank you God for forgiving my sins, I thank you that I'm called by your name, I thank you that my name is in the Lambs book of life, I thank you for being my shield and defender. I thank you….” I began to feel the demon’s grip on me weaken. The more I thanked God the more the demon weakened, while I became stronger and stronger. At these declarations, the demon started cussing. He realized that he was losing. I didn't stop. Suddenly, he used the "F" word and flee behind me.

I then stood up and ran to where Jesus was standing. He'd been watching the whole time. I asked Him why he hadn't helped me and he spoke these words to me,

"Child, sin builds a wall between me and you."

Then I woke up. My bed sheets were covering my nose and mouth, I could hardly breath. (In the physical I would have died of suffocation) I also had an excruciating pain on my right shoulder. I went to check myself and my dressing mirror reflected back to me real bite marks!! The skin around that shoulder was red and swollen.

I haven't had a dream like that ever again.

That dream taught me that Thanksgiving is a weapon for spiritual warfare and it precedes breakthroughs.

"He who sacrifices thank-offerings hon ours me, and prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God." Psa 50:23

I truly pray that we would be moved and persuaded to make Thanksgiving a lifestyle. That we'd not just thank God when everything is going well in our lives but always and in all seasons. He is worthy of all praise and adoration. 

"You are incomparably made, uniquely loved and powerfully purposed," (Lisa Bevere) for such a time as this.

4 Ways to Love the Lord

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. ’The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. ’There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12: 29-30

I particularly love this portion of scripture because of the emphasis that Jesus gives it by saying that it's THE MOST IMPORTANT. Friends, the most important command is to LOVE God...not people, not ministry, not helping others, not working in church, or caring for widows or orphans but to love God. All these things are good (and godly) and all Christians should do them but the most important command is to LOVE GOD.

When I read this portion of scripture last week, I wondered why Jesus would say that. The most obvious reason I got was that this is the core of every other relation we (human beings) will ever have with both animate and inanimate objects. When you love him- you'll be founded on him (thus not live on men's approval) and your relationships with others will be as a direct result of yours with the Lord- You'll learn how to love others, grace them, be patient with them etc. So friends, what does Jesus mean by telling us to love him with these four areas of our lives? Let's delve in.

With all your heart.

Jeremiah 17: 9 says that the heart is the most deceitful. That means each person, and Christians in particular, are called to constantly war against the deceitfulness of their hearts and exalt Christ therein. Proverbs 4:23 also exhorts us to guard our hearts because it is the wellspring of life. Guarding one's heart starts by guarding what you allow through the gates of your eyes (what you watch), ears (what you listen to) and by what you allow into your spirit when people speak over your life (will talk about this later). You've heard it said that garbage in garbage out, sadly this adage is true.

With all your soul

Biblical scholar, F. W. Grant, said that the soul is the seat of the affections, right or wrong, of love, hate, lusts, and even the appetites of the body. Who're the people you get into partnership/relationship with?  Don't just get into partnership with anyone; the people you allow to speak into your life will affect you. I want to address an area we're all too familiar with- social media. It's been said that social media has given microphones to people who aren't ready for them, consequently, we see/hear many people share revelations, word of prophesy etc and we aren't even sure of the spirit behind their 'good/encouraging words'. By taking in their words you align yourself with them and you give them authority to speak into your life. The Bible calls us to test every spirit. (I John 4:1) Don't take in everything people post on social media. As a son/daughter of God use discernment and let the Spirit of the Lord bear witness within your spirit before taking in all these things that happen online.

With all your mind

Phil 4:8 gives us a blue print of how we can love the Lord with our minds. Is it true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy? Then meditate on such. Pastor Rick Warren said that if you know how to worry, then you know how to meditate.

I once read that you cannot prevent a bird from flying over your head, but you can keep it from building a nest on top of your head. There're thoughts that will fight for your attention but don't let them find a home in your mind, scripture tells us to cast down vain imaginations and put every thought under the obedience of Christ. (2 Cor 10:5). Dear ones, most of our battles start in our minds. Love the Lord with your mind.

With all your strength/might

Strength means state/quality of being physically strong while might means great /impressive power.

I've learnt that the Lord cares about how I treat my body that's why Paul would even urge us to exercise our physical body. I'm I eating healthy? I'm I diligent at work? I'm I exercising my brain by doing activities that increase its functionality?  These things are not sin per se but when you love him you also work to improve yourself too. In regard to intentional healthy eating, Heather Lindsey, says that food should not slow you down but energizes you to complete your tasks. Are the things that take your energy point to your love for God?

Friend, our love for God should be whole-hearted and life-encompassing!

Let's Pray

Precious Father, I ask that with the help of the Holy Spirit you teach me to love you with ALL of my heart, soul, mind and strength. Give me a hunger and a thirst for your presence that I may even grow in love with you. Let me know your heart. Teach me to love the things you love and hate the ones you hate. In Jesus' name, Amen.

"You are incomparably made, uniquely loved and powerfully purposed," (Lisa Bevere) for such a time as this.