Judith

Why You Must Be Joyful – No Matter What!

Is it possible to stay joyful despite the challenges we experience in life? Do the word’s and actions of other’s, determine how joyful we should be? Do we have the power within us, to choose our response to anything we may experience in life? The scripture below provides an answer:

Hab 3:17-18: Even though the fig trees have no blossoms and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even if the flocks die in the fields and the cattle barns are empty; YET, I WILL REJOICE IN THE LORD! I WILL BE JOYFUL IN THE GOD OF MY SALVATION.(NLT)

Despite the adverse circumstances enumerated above, the prophet made a decision to remain joyful no matter what.

Indeed, we also have the power to choose our response to any circumstance we face in life!

Here is why it is extremely important to stay joyful-

I. The lack of Joy makes one prone to psychosomatic illnesses – ( physical illness caused by mental or emotional stress) These may manifest as headaches, ulcers, high blood pressure, eating disorders and other dangerous health conditions.

II. We need Joy to enjoy everyday life. – Is 51:11- Therefore the reedemed of the Lord shall return and come with singing into zion and everlasting joy shall be upon their head; they shall obtain gladness and joy and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

III. We need Joy to attract the presence and power of God into our situation. – Is 12: 3 – Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

IV. We need Joy to maintain healthy relationships. No one enjoys being around a constantly negative and unhappy person.

V. Joyful and positive people experience more favor, promotion, health and opportunities in life.

The importance of Joy in our lives cannot be over-emphasized. Below are Six proven strategies to maintain joy in your life always.

1.Make a firm decision up-front to maintain a joyful attitude: You are responsible for your reaction to everything in life. This was a difficult pill for me to swallow because I was in the habit of blaming others or my circumstances for the way I felt. All that changed when I discovered that, nothing in life holds any meaning except the meaning I give to it. This meant that I could be going through “hell” and yet choose to react positively. This truly changed my life. You too can DECIDE today to be joyful no matter what life throws at you.

2. Consciously choose positive thoughts and words: The way you feel at any point, is determined by the thoughts in your mind and the words you speak. Your subconscious mind relies on the pictures in your mind and the words you speak, to determine what to manifest in your life. If you constantly think of fearful and hurtful things and speak same, I guarantee that you will never feel joyful. Consciously choose your thoughts and words by replacing the negatives with positives. Avoid toxic people and places that tend to trigger negative feelings in you.

3.Use Faith-filled affirmations- One of the most powerful ways to reprogram yourself to stay joyful, is to declare the word of God out loud. I make a practice of standing in front of my mirror and speaking the word of God over my life. I declare words such as – “I am full of joy and peace”, ” The joy of the Lord is my strength”, “God is working out all things for my good”, to mention a few. Repeat this practice until you feel the words have taken root in you. You will be amazed at the transformation in your life.

Eat. Rest. Sleep – No matter how anointed you are, if you fail to take care of yourself by eating properly and resting, you will not feel great. Even God almighty rested on the seventh day! Taking good care of yourself, by eating healthy, exercising and drinking plenty of water will contribute to your well being.

5. Practice Gratitude: The human mind tends to dwell more on things which aren’t going so well, rather than those which are going well. We can break that cycle by developing an attitude of gratitude. Learn to be thankful for the seemingly little things in life such as fresh air, flowers, friends, family etc. Spend your first 5 minutes each day just being thankful to God for anything and everything. This is one of the most powerful ways to maintain joy in your life.

6.Spend time with God daily: This is the most important of all because where all else fails, God cannot fail. Spending time daily in prayers and study of the word of God restores joy and peace like nothing else can. It is impossible to experience true joy and satisfaction in our lives, without a relationship with God. You can imagine what happens to a branch that is cut off from a tree. It wont be long before the leaves on that branch wither and the branch dries up. This is exactly what happens when we are disconnected from our source – God. If you are yet to have a relationship with God, you can do so NOW by inviting Jesus christ into your life as your Lord and saviour. He will forgive your sins and fill you with his holy spirit. Only then will you experience joy unspeakable; full of glory!

God’s desire for us is to have joy to the full!

Please if this post has resonated with you please drop a comment below and share the post with others.

I can also be contacted for prayers or counselling via our facebook page @ comforterstouch.

God loves you!

8 Simple ways to overcome the pain of loss.

Life can be challenging. We are sometimes faced with some situations that cause us so much pain that we are tempted to give up. How do we cope when we lose someone we cherish and love deeply? Be it a family member, pet or even a relationship, it is never easy. The truth is, no one will ever truly understand how you feel but the Almighty God does.

Ps 34:18 – The Lord is close to the broken hearted, he rescues those whose Spirits are crushed. (NLT)

After the tragic loss of my mother two years ago, I felt completely devastated and was not sure how to cope. However the Lord led me through his Spirit to do certain things that have put me on the road to total recovery. I trust God to do the same for you. (Though this article focuses on coping with the death of a loved one, it is also helpful in dealing with other forms of loss.)

1. Ask the Holy Spirit for help : It may seem obvious but it is easy to become consumed by your pain, that you forget the Holy Spirit is there to bring comfort. He alone can reach deep into your heart and heal the wound, strengthen and give you the courage to move on. This is so important because many have become depressed and utterly fed up with life because they have tried to carry the burdens on their own. People may offer words of encouragement, which is fine, but I can tell you from my experience that mere words, do little to ease the pain. Take some time to pour out your heart to the Lord. Tell him exactly how you feel and how you need his help. You will be amazed at what he will do. Note, one can only receive help from the Holy Spirit if he is born again. If you are yet to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord, I encourage you to do so now.

Isiah 61:2-3 – He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favour has come and with it the day of God’s anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory. (NLT)

2. Spend time in prayers and study of the bible:

Jude 1:20 – But ye beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.(KJV)

Studying the bible and praying may be difficult when you suffer loss. However it is the most important thing you need during this period. If you find it difficult to concentrate, I suggest you invest in an audio bible and messages that will lift your soul. I recommend Archbishop Benson Idahosa’s teaching on the “Benefits of death”. It will give you a good perspective on the subject and make it easier to deal with this inevitable occurence of life. It is available on you tube. You should also build yourself up by praying in the Holy ghost often.

3. Listen to Uplifting music:

Eph 5:19 : Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs; singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. (KJV)

Good music can be helpful during this period, particulary praise and worship songs. Dont give room for depression by being in a dull enviroment. Praise and worship invites the presence of God into your situation.

4. Do not dwell on the past:

Isiah 43:18-19 – Remember not the former things, neither consider things of old. Behold I will do a new thing,now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

I know this may seem impossible but it must be done, if you are to recover. Whilst we should always cherish the memories of our loved ones, overtly dwelling on pictures, videos or materials that remind us of them can make the recovery process slower. I suggest you give yourself time to accept the situation and heal first before you dwell on those.

5. Take it “One day at a time”:

I Pet 5:7 – Casting all your cares upon him for he careth for you.

If you try to comprehend every detail regarding how to cope without your loved one all at once, I guarantee you will end up overwhelmed. Whilst you should plan for important things like the funeral, finances, mortgages etc. everything should be broken down into manageable activities each day. Ask God to help you not to worry about tommorow. Seek professional counseling if you think you need it.

6. Eat. Rest. Sleep:

Ps 127:2 – It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for he giveth his beloved sleep.

You may not feel like doing any of these during this period but you need to stay energised to face the days ahead. It is important to eat healthy and drink a lot of water. Sleep is also needed to calm your nerves.

7. Surround yourself with people who can cheer you up:

Prov 27:17 – Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. (KJV)

When we feel sad, we most likely want to be left alone. While it is alright to spend some time alone to reflect, locking yourself away from others for a long period of time can be harmful. The devil knows you are most vulnerable at this time and he may begin to make destructive suggestions to you. Avoid people who may make you feel worse about your situation. Spend time with Godly people who can speak positively to you. Resorting to alchohol, drugs, immorality and the likes, CANNOT erase the pain. The momentary pleasure they give soon fades away and you are left feeling worse. Only the Holy Spirit can turn your pain to a blessing.

8. Give yourself time:

Rom 8:28 – For we know that ALL things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. (KJV)

The healing process may be slow and difficult especialy if you lost someone you deeply love. However, I encourage you to first accept the reality of what has happened. Also refuse to be consumed by guilt. Some people may they should have done something to prevent the death from occuring. Even if this were true, please forgive yourself. If you fail to do so, you will never recover. I also felt guilty after I lost my mother in a car accident. I felt I should have given her better first aid to save her life. I struggled with this until I asked the Lord for help. He healed me and helped me understand that even without my input he could have still delivered my mother if he wanted to do so.

No one and nothing can replace your loved one but be open to receive the new oppotunities God will bring your way.

Please if you have personal experiences or other helpful tips kindly share in the comment section below. You just might be helping a soul!

God bless you.

Do yourself a favour; FORGIVE!

Mathew 6:14 – 15 -” For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you forgive not men their tresspasses, neither will your Father forgive your tresspasses.”

Do you think God knew how cruel, insensitive and wicked people can be, when he gave the instructions above? Ofcourse he did! I know you may have been deeply hurt and probably have justifiable reasons to hold a grudge, but here is why you should forgive without delay:

Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting someone else to die. Have you noticed how your body system reacts when you see or think of someone who has hurt you? It makes you bitter, steals your joy and health and keeps the person constantly on your mind. Unforgiveness is poisonous and it is a demonic tool designed to stop you from receiving a breakthrough. The most dangerous thing about unforgiveness is that it hinders your prayers. God will not accept prayers or offerings where there is unforgiveness.

Futhermore, YOU ARE THE ONE IT HURTS; NOT THE PERSON THAT HAS HURT YOU. When you reach out to someone in forgiveness, it doesn’t mean you approve of what he or she has done. It doesn’t mean that you want them to do it again. Reaching out in forgiveness means that you value the love God has for that person and you want to be a channel through which that love will flow to them. Many have been afflicted with illnesses such as cancer,high blood pressure, depression,mental disorders due to unforgiveness. Sometimes, all it takes to receive healing, is to let go of all the hurt and bitterness.

Another reason you should forgive immediately is, when you continue being bitter and plan for revenge, you put yourself in God’s position. He says in Romans 12:19 ‘” Vengeance is mine”, vengeance is not yours! Unforgiveness is actually an emotional take-over of authority from God. It is ascending to God’s throne to make yourself a judge. Can you contend with God, and go scot- free? You are not the one who should dictate consequences for those who offended you! It is not your job to make sure they feel the appropriate amount of guilt for what they have done! God will do it for you.

Unforgiveness also hinders you from moving forward and receiving new opportunities in life. “When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and go free.”-Katherine Ponder.

The devil is on a mission to stop you from getting God’s best for your life. He will often use people you care about, to get to you. However if you make up your mind to forgive easily, you become unstoppable. When people hurt you, its like they are throwing a big chain on your path to tie you down. Refusing to forgive them is like taking the other end of the chain and tying yourself to them. You cannot move ahead, you stay tied down.

Forgiveness is the virtue of the brave. It is for people who are destined for greatness; those who have decided that no matter what anyone says or does, they will not become negative or bitter. Mother Theresa said “People are often unreasonable and self- centered , forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives, be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you, be honest anyway. If you find happiness people may be jealous, be happy anyway. The good you do today, may be forgotten tommorow; do good anyway. Give the world your best and it may never be enough; give your best anyway. For you see, in the end it is between YOU and GOD. It was never between YOU and THEM.” The bible encourages us to do everything as unto the Lord. (Col 3:23)

I encourage you today, please forgive for your own sake. It is not always easy to do this, so you must ask the Holy Spirit to help you. Pour out your heart to the Lord and tell him exactly how you feel. He will bring you comfort and release the grace to forgive. In the same vein you must also forgive yourself. Many have no problems forgiving others but they constantly beat themselves up over past mistakes or failures. Forgiving yourself is just as important as forgiving others, for no one can give, what they do not have.

Please share your experiences with us in the comment section below and do let us know what you have decided to let go.

God bless you richly.

You Are Not Your Body – Discover the Power Within You!

Job 32:8 – There is a Spirit in man; and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.(KJV)

Recently, the issue of racism has been on the front burner since the death of George Floyd in America. This has further exposed the identity crisis being experienced by many across the globe. Many do not really know who they are. This crisis can only be attributed to one thing – rejection of God and his word.

Our opening scripture clearly reveals that man is Spirit. The physical body is merely a container which enables man to function here on earth. This means that you are neither black nor white but, Spirit. You merely live in a black or white body. This lack of understanding concerning the true nature of man based on the word of God, is the root of all racism, human slavery, bigotry, hatred and division among mankind. Man has rejected the truth of God’s word in Genesis 1, which states that we are all made in God’s image and likeness. We are all one with God; whether living in black or white bodies.

Until we become aware that we are all precious Spirit beings, there can be no end to racism or all forms of division. We must escape the ignorance perpetuated by the world system to keep man in ignorance concerning his true nature. Cease to define yourself and others by external features such as race or class. However, in order to see the divine in others, we must first see it in ourselves.

I had an epiphany regarding this on the 5th of February 2017, when my mother passed away right before me. We were chatting excitedly in our vehicle while on a trip, when we suddenly had a fatal road accident. My mum passed away a few moments after the crash. As I carried her lifeless body on my laps, it dawned on me that my “real” mum, was the spirit which had departed. Her body was merely a covering or rather a suit, which her spirit wore to be able to operate in this world. Her physical body could no longer speak, laugh, love, counsel or hug me, like she used to. As the bible puts it in Jam 2:26 – For as the BODY without the SPIRIT is dead..

At that moment, I received this life changing insight – I AM NOT MY BODY! I had spent most of my life mainly focusing on my body and external circumstances rather than my inner being, fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God. This realization completely changed my life. Indeed our body is important and we must care for it because it houses the Holy Spirit and us here on earth. However, our Spirit is much more important. The bible says in Prov 18:14 – The Spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity, but a wounded spirit who can bear. This means that if your Spirit is weak, everything about your life will be affected. However if your body is weak or disabled in any way but your spirit remains strong, you can still go on to do great things in life. In order to rise above hate, racism and to truly love and accept others we must become aware of our true nature.

Spend quality time building up your Spirit by studying the word of God and dwelling only on positive thoughts. You will be amazed at how stronger, confident, joyful and succesful you will become. By recognizing who we truly are, we can make the world a better place. Black lives matter and so do ALL lives, in the eyes of God!

God bless you!

Please do share your thoughts in the comments below or contact me via Facebook @comforterstouch.

( Further study – Luk 8:55, 23:46, 24:39, Jn 3:6, Rom 8:16, 1cor 14:14, 15:44)

SOS- A wake up call for us!

2 Timothy 3:1- 4 –This know that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, despisers of them those that are good. Traitors, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.

Recent events around the world, clearly indicate that we are at the end-times. Never in the history of mankind has there been this extent of violence, immorality, perversion, natural disasters, diseases and godlessness. One may argue that most of these things have always occured in the past but you cannot deny that the intensity and frequency, is at an all-time high. Like a pregnant woman at the point of delivery, the frequency and intensity of contractions have increased tremendously. Never have we seen such a blatant rejection of God and biblical values, such that any mention of his name in certain public places is outlawed in the guise of ” progressiveness”. Inordinate affection (LGBT) is being promoted and celebrated in the guise of “human rights and liberty”. Terrorism is on the increase daily in the guise of “holy war” and much more. We must understand that satan the devil is subtle and crafty. He uses wonderful and acceptable adjectives to make sin more appealing to us. He gives the illusion that human rights and liberty is being advanced yet he keeps ignorant individuals in deep bondage. One of his oldest forms of deception is to make man believe, there will be no consequences for disobedience to God’s commands. This was the strategy he used for Eve in the Garden of Eden, which inevitably led to the fall of mankind. (Gen 3). The word of God remains the truth by which we should live our lives. I must state here that the bible does not support intolerance, homophobia, hate speech and the likes, however we are admonished to speak the truth in love, warning all men of the eternal judgment of God if they fail to repent.

These are not times to continue business as usual. These are not times to be casual with your bible study, prayers, holiness and relationship with God. It’s time to WAKE UP! In Mathew 25, Jesus shared a parable about 10 virgins who fell asleep while they awaited the bridegrooms arrival. Fortunately, 5 of the virgins were wise enough to have extra oil in their lamps as the bride groom tarried. The other five who were foolish, ran out of oil before the bridegrooms arrival, hence they were cast into outer darkness where there was weeping and gnashing of teeth. This post is a wake up call for us, to do all we can to get extra oil( anointing) for our lamp(life).

Recently the Lord impressed it in my heart to do some self examination and I discovered some areas where I was falling short. With the help of the Holy Spirit, I have started making the necessary adjustments. I encourage you to do the same, lest we be caught unawares.

Whenever I meet someone who doubts the existence of God and the contents of the bible, I am quick to remind them that I have absolutely nothing to loose by believing God and his words. His commandments are not grevious and are actually for my good. If I exit this earth and I find out that everything I believed still holds true, I still get to enjoy love and fellowship with him here on earth and in eternity. However if I reject him here on earth, only to find out in eternity that everything the bible says is true, I would have lost a relationship with him here on earth and in eternity. Worst still is the terrible fate that the bible says awaits unbelievers in hell fire.

Please if you are yet to invite Jesus into your life, do so NOW. In a maximum of 100 years if Jesus tarries, everyone reading this post will most likely have exited the earth. What will be your eternal destiny?

Please say the prayers below to invite Jesus into your life.

Father, I come to you today, I confess that I am a sinner. I acknowledge that Jesus died and for my sins and resurrected. Please come into my life and be my Lord and personal saviour. Thank you Lord, I am now born again!

Congratulations! you are now a child of God. Please join a bible believing church to continue to grow in the Lord. I will be delighted to pray with you also. Do drop a comment below if you would like me to.

God bless you. Live ready!

How to REALLY Know What You’re Worth.

How do we really determine our worth in life? Is it by how much money we have in our bank accounts or by the number of private jets, business empires, luxury cars, real estate or connections we have? Is it by our looks, social media followers, popularity or place of residence? These are some of the common indicators the average person considers,when determining their own value or that of others. How then is it, that some of the “celebrities” who seem to have it all, are still hooked on hard drugs and even suicidal?

The truth is, as wonderful as these indicators are, it is entirely wrong to let any thing external determine your value. This was such a powerful and transformational insight received from the words of Jesus in Luke 12:15 :

Then he said, Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. LIFE IS NOT MEASURED BY HOW MUCH YOU OWN. (NLT)

For several years in my life, I felt inferior around people who were richer and would often pass by opportunities and relationships which I felt were “too good” for me. I was born into a low income family in Nigeria, where I had little access to the basic necessities of life such as food, shelter and clothing. My parents worked hard to provide for our family and often resorted to borrowing money from relatives and friends to pay my school fees. Sure enough, I soon began to let my outward conditions define my self worth and erode my self confidence.

However, things changed when I surrendered my life to Jesus christ and discovered from the bible just how valuable I am! I believe God almigthy created the world and everything in it. In Gen 1:26-30, it is clear that I am made in God’s image and likeness. The value of a product is often determined by its manufacturer. For instance, you are likely to value your Rolex watch more than a watch bought from a thrift store. In the same vein, the value upon my life is determined by my maker- God almighty! To further confirm this, God sacrificed his one and only son Jesus christ for my salvation! Think of this; would God pay such a huge price for someone who has no worth?

One of the greatest destroyers of human potential is a low self esteem or a dependence on the wrong things for validation. People who let peripheral things such as money, fame, beauty etc determine their worth are often left shattered when these things are no more. The recent Corona virus outbreak further exposes how unreliable the world system is. Can you imagine the fate of a person whose worth is determine by his stake on wall street?

The key to developing unshakeable self worth and confidence is to let God and his word determine your worth. I am passionate about helping others achieve success by developing a healthy sense of worth and finding value within themselves. God has helped me acheive this through our Non- profit organization (www.ndozie.org) where we continue to empower under-served women and girls in Nigeria with information and resources which can help them fulfill their potentials. I hope this post also helps as well!

5 ways to overcome ANY life challenge. (Including impact of COVID 19).

Life is comprised of series of challenges and difficulties. You are either experiencing one right now; have just come out of one, or will soon be experiencing one. What makes the difference however, is how we respond. We can either choose to respond with faith or with fear. We can either overcome the difficulty, or be overcome by it. Either way, the choice is ours. I will be sharing 5 proven principles, that guaratee victory in every situation. While it is important to pay attention to professional advice regarding contemporary and health issues, more important is what happens within us. It is crucial to develop within ourselves, those attitudes, behaviours and belief systems that enable us face lifes challenges with a “winning mentality”. Some people lose their battles even before it begins. For instance, many people will die from the fear of COVID 19, rather than the virus itself. Here they are:

Engage in spiritual exercise: While building your physical and mental muscles may have some benefits in difficult times, it is much more important to build your spiritual muscles. Spiritual activities such as praying in the spirit, bible study, fasting, obedience to the word are key in gaining victory over adverse circumstances. You must realise that you are a spirit and live in a body. If your spirit man is weak, your life is susceptible to attacks, but if your spirit man is strong you are capable of witstanding anything that comes against you.

Guard your heart: Faith comes by hearing but so does fear. Consciously choose what information you let into your heart. Dwelling on CNN (Um, I actualy mean, Constant Negative News, not the cable news network) for too long, only sets you up for destruction. Prov 4:23- ” Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.

Eliminate negative thoughts: Thoughts are things. Negative thoughts have a tremendous impact on our lives. We clothe everything around us with our most dominant thoughts. Rather than dwell on thoughts of despair, failure, death and pain, we can replace them with positive and uplifting thoughts. This does not mean living in denial of the situation but rather choosing to shift our perspective and seeing it as a life lesson. Prov 23:7: For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.

Make positive confessions: Our words can either build us up or tear us down. In challenging times, locate bible scriptures that address your situation and declare them aloud in faith. In Genesis we are told of how God created the world with his words. As his children, made in his image, we also have the power to create what we want or don’t want with our words.

Choose to be Joyful, no matter what!: One of the most difficult things to do in difficult times is to stay joyful but that is exactly what you must do, if you desire God’s intervention. Understand that joy is actually a spiritual weapon that attracts supernatural attention and makes the devil mad. Just when he thinks he has you cornered ,you discomfit him with your singing dancing and excitement. Staying joyful in the midst of difficulties is the hallmark of overcomers and the panacea to depression, anxiety and stress.

Put these 5 principles to work and you will testify.

I would really like to know which of these principles resonated with you so please drop your comments below. Stay blessed!

3 reasons every child of God is GUARANTEED to succeed.

I am so excited to share some insights the Holy spirit revealed to me from the bible. I trust you will also be richly blessed by it. First, I want to start by answering the question – Who is a child of God?

A child of God is NOT someone who attends church, is born into a christian family or participates in religious activities. As great as these things are, they don’t make you a child of God. A child of God is a person who has repented from sins, accepted Jesus christ as Lord and savior and receives the Holy Spirit. He is a person whose will is completely surrendered to God and who now lives according to the word of God. Every child of God is guranteed success, however many still struggle due to ignorance. In God’s kingdom, your depth of revelation of God’s word is directly proportional to your level of success and dominion. Knowledge establishes you but the lack of it leads to destruction.

Here are 3 reasons why every child of God must succeed:

It was commanded by God at the begining of creation. – When you study the account of creation in Genesis 1, we see how God “said” and everything came to be. He commanded and there was light, water, earth and every living thing. In the same way the bible states in Genesis 1:27-28 – ” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God BLESSED them, and God SAID unto them, BE fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and have dominion... If everything God spoke about at creation came to be, then every child of God is blessed, fruitful, able to multiply, replenish and have dominion. Halleluyah! Note that this blessing, was for all mankind, until Adam sinned and lost his glorious inheritance. Thankfully, Jesus christ died on the cross to reconcile man to God and restore all the blessing’s to those who receive him. This is confirmed in John 15:5 – ” I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me, ye can do nothing. Every child of God who stays connected to christ is “GUARANTEED” fruitfulness in all things. We must however follow God’s principles of hardwork, honesty and patience in our dealings. You simply cannot fail or be disadvantaged in life anymore. Halleluyah!
The second reason why a child of God must succeed is because God’s promises cannot be broken. God promised to bless Abraham and make him a blessing (Gen 12: 2-3) According to the bible, everyone who has received Jesus is also a partaker of Abraham’s blessings. Whatever God says he will do, consider it done. Numbers 23:19 – God is not a man that he should lie; neither the son of man , that he should repent: hath he said and shall he not do it or hath he spoken and shall he not make it good? If you are a child of God you ought to be excited about this because with God’s blessing in your life, prosperity is certain. The best part is that no one can curse a person whom God has blessed. (Num 23:20)
The third reason children of God must succeed is they belong to a different kingdom and operate by a different set of rules. (Col 1:13) The economy and system of this world does not determine their success in life. 1 John 5: 4 says – ” Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world. God’s will for his children is to prosper and be in health even as their soul prospereth. (3 John 2). If you’re a child of God and you’re broke, sick, discouraged or struggling in any area, I charge you to arise today with this knowledge. You are made in God’s image and you have his blessing upon your life. Just like your father did at creation, begin to speak his words into your life and watch things turn around! If you are yet to receive Jesus christ into your life, please say this simple prayer: Heavenly father, I come to you in the name of Jesus christ, I believe in my heart that Jesus christ is the son of God and that he died for my sins. I believe that you raised him from the dead for my justification. Lord Jesus,please come into my heart right now. I receive you today as my personal Lord and saviour and I give God the glory. Amen. Congrats you are now a child of God! Please get a bible and join a church, where you can grow in the Lord. Please share comments, testimonies in the section below.

10 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE COMFORTER – THE HOLY GHOST.

10 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE COMFORTER (HOLY GHOST).

John 14:26 – ” But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost, whom the father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance,whatsoever I have said unto you”.(KJV)

Most people know little or nothing about the incredible person of the Holy Spirit of God; yet the bible teaches that his role in the life of believers is invaluable.

Here are ten things the bible tells us about him:

1. He is the third person of the Trinity.

Mathew 28:19 – ” Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.(KJV)

Contrary to popular belief, the Holy spirit is not a dove, wind, light or fire. He is a personality. He speaks, moves, relates and can also be grieved.( Ephesians 4:30, 1 Tim 4:1). He was there at the begining of creation (Gen1:2) and throughout scriptures, his power and influence have shaped what we know as Christianity today. When a person surrenders his life to Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit begins to dwell in him. He is the member of the trinity presently here on earth with us.

2. He is a Helper.

John16:7 – “Nevertheless I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away, for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”

It is IMPOSSIBLE to have a succesful christian life without the help of the Holy spirit. Jesus knew how crucial his presence was to believers, hence he said it was necessary that he left to make way for the Holy Spirit. All the great works Jesus did were by the power of the Holy spirit.

The first and most important role of the Holy Spirit is to prepare us for that crucial moment when we stand before God on judgement day. It is only through the Holy spirit that the works of the flesh are mortified (Rom 8:13). It is difficult to resist our fleshly lusts and passions with merely our will and power; thus the bible admonishes us to walk in the Spirit so as not to fulfill the desires of the flesh. The world is filled with evil and the devil is constantly trying to pull us off track, only by the help of the Holy spirit can we be guaranteed victory.

3. He is a Teacher.

Many struggle to study or understand the bible. For some, it is mere fiction or a history book. The truth is, the bible is a spiritual book and can only be understood indepth, when the Holy spirit opens your understanding. Luke 24:25 states ” Then opened he their understanding that they might understand the scrptures”. This verse clearly reveals that except a persons understanding is opened, he will be unable to get any revelation from the bible. He will merely read the stories but it will have no impact in his life ( Math13:11).

Beyond the scriptures, the Holy Spirit also teaches us what to do in confusing situations. We are faced with difficult choices daily. Sometimes what seems right may be destructive in the end. We can therefore rely on the Holy spirit to teach us what to do. Futhermore he also teaches us what to say. The Devil wants you to make decisions or say things that may destroy you. Our words are very important, and many have been ensnared by their utterances. The Holy spirit is always available to teach us what to say. ( Mark 13:11).

4. He Intercedes for us.

Romans 8:26 ” Likewise the Spirit helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered”(KJV).

A lot of people struggle to pray consistently and when they do, may not pray according to the will of God. Prayer is crucial in maintaining fellowship with God and victory over the enemy. The Holy Spirit therefore intercedes for us and strengthens us to pray according to the will of God. You can ask the Holy spirit to help you build a vibrant and consistent prayer life today.

5. He is a Seal upon all believers.

Ephesians 1:13 – ” In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also afte ye believed, ye were sealed with the Holy spirit of promise”(KJV).

The bible declares that if any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his (Rom8:9). The Holy spirit is received when you confess Jesus Christ as Lord and saviour. He dwells in you as a guarantee or mark that you belong to christ.

In the corporate world, seals are placed on items to show they are official and have the authority of top management. In the same way God seals us with his Spirit to indicate that we belong to him and have his approval.

6. He is a Comforter.

John 14:16 -” And I will pray the father,and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.(KJV)

We live in an imperfect world thus we will inevitably experience pain, suffering and difficult situations. The goodnews however is that Jesus promised not to leave us comfortless. The Holy spirit sees your heart and can bring comfort like no one else can. He listens, understands and deeply cares about our pain and suffering. I have personally experienced his amazing touch after I lost my dear mother. ( See my previous post for full story).

If you open your heart to him he can heal you and turn that ugly situation to a testimony.

7. He reveals the future.

John 16:12-13 -“I have many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear it now. Howbeit when the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future (NLT).

As intelligent as humans are, our knowledge is extremely limited. Many are uncertain and apprehensive of the future. The Holy Spirit however knows the end from the begining. By the Holy spirit, prophets of old revealed the birth, crucifixion and resurrection of christ decades before he was born. The bible also foretells the future of mankind and earth.

We can ask the Holyspirit to reveal secrets to us, especially regarding mysterious occurences in our lives.

8. He empowers believers for signs and wonders.

Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power after that the Holy ghost is come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth”(KJV).

120 men who were mostly uneducated, caught a vision and ran with it; such that it swept through the entire earth, changing lives. These were the disciples of Jesus that met with the Holy ghost at the upper room in Jerusalem. Anything the Holy ghost comes in contact with does not remain normal. It functions at a speed and power that is beyond human. Believers who have encountered him, now have supernatural powers for miracles, signs and wonders.

9. He is our business partner.

Exodus 31:2- ” See I have called Bezaleel son of Uri, the son of Hur of the tribe of Judah; and I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom and in knowledge and in all manner of workmanship, to devise cunning works, to work in gold and in silver and in brass.

Many assume that the Holy spirit is only needed for spiritual activities. However the scripture above reveals that the Holy ghost can annoint you to do your regular job excellently. Your work, designs or business can have a special touch, with his help. Important business decisions such as mergers, acquisition, partnerships etc can be highly profitable if done under the guidance of the Holy spirit.

10. He brings the dead to life.

Romans 8:11 – ” But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you; he that raised up christ from the dead, shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.(KJV)

If the Holy Spirit could raise Jesus back to life after three days, most certainly he can give life to any dead thing in your life. Be it a dead marriage, career, health, business, prayer life etc. Some people with multifunctional smart phones only use it to make and receive calls, whereas there are tonnes of things that can be done with their devices, without struggle. Most believers behave this way with the Holy spirit.

It is amazing that we have such a powerful person with us always and yet we ignore him. I hope this article helps you to appreciate the Holy Spirit and deepen your understanding of his unique role in your life.

In my next article I will be sharing some tips on how to walk with the Spirit, as taught by Rev. Oyiks Alfred, a great woman of God, whose teaching has been a blessing to me.

An Open letter to my suicidal friend.

Dear Friend,

Trust this meets you alive and well. Before you drop your suicide note, please read this letter. I know you have been through difficult times and you think things will never get better. No one seems to understand the pain, loneliness, shame and frustration you face daily. Life can indeed be hard and I am truly sorry for everything you have been through. However, as your friend, I will not hesitate to tell you the truth…

WORSE PAIN AND SUFFERING AWAITS YOU IN ETERNITY, IF YOU COMMIT SUICIDE!

How do I know this? “Thou shalt not kill” ( Ex 20:13, Deut 5:17). Killing yourself or anyone else, is in direct disobedience to God and the consequence is eternity in hell fire! 1 Corinth 3:18 says ” Whosoever destroys the temple of God, God will destroy”(NLT). Does it make sense, to escape the temporary heat of life, only to end up in everlasting fire?? Remember you did not give yourself life therefore, you have no right to take what is not your’s.

In my opinion, suicide is one of the greatest expressions of unbelief in God. It means you do not trust God and his love which he showed by sending Jesus to die for us. You also do not believe that God can and will turn that ugly situation for good.

You must note that Satan seems to be in a hurry to send as many souls to hell as fast as he can because, we are in the endtimes. I say this because research shows the suicide rates around the world have increased drastically.

Dear friend, God loves you and wants you to know that he will never leave or forsake you, no matter what you are going through. Even as you read this letter, the Comforter – the Holy Ghost is right there with you, to help and to heal you. It’s not over yet! No situation is so hopeless that God cannot turn it around for good. Many times the storms of life come to make us stronger and better people. Take a moment to pray and ask the Holy Spirit for help.

I love you and I pray the almighty God gives you the strength and courage to face life.

God bless you.

Sincerely your’s,

Judith.