Entry 10- Prayer is the master key!

There's this song we used to sing at Sunday school- "Prayer is the key, prayer is the key, prayer is the master key. Jesus started with prayer and ended with prayer. Prayer is the master key". 

I think the younger ones still sing it and it's very important they do; as it is a great mantra to grow with.

When we pray, God either locks or unlocks doors. By this I mean He either takes us out of certain situations or brings us into certain places He has prepared for us. These could be in relation to literally any and everything. You need to understand that when we start everything with prayer, we involve and include God in all of our dealings. He is able to point us in the right direction and point the wrong direction out to us. That is if we let Him wholeheartedly!

Sometimes when we pray, our faith is so small we ask ourselves why are we honestly praying? We ask questions like is there even a 'god' to hear us? You and I both know the answer, as believers, there is! There is a God all around us who is ever ready to listen to us when we speak to Him. His word in Matthew7:7 says that "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find...". It is right there in the Bible that when we do ask our Father, He gives to us.

Let me tell you about the time I needed God to come through for me recently and made it clear to me that prayer is indeed the master key- A few weeks ago, close to four weeks ago- or is it more? Anyways I was broke, broke; the type of broke that had me wondering how I was going to put fuel in my car. I woke up the morning after I had asked God for a miracle to a text message saying I had to isolate because I had been exposed to COVID-19. Was I scared and worried? Of course but immediately I thought "I didn't have to go out, meaning I didn't have to worry about spending money on my car..." God came through! I tested negative but that's a testimony for another post. 

All I'm trying to say is what I needed done was answered through prayer and believing that the God I serve will come through- you get me?

You know what I have come to learn stops prayer from being a master key; how little our faith can be, our attitude towards the word of God and our acceptance of the word of God. 

These are all from personal experiences and fellowshipping with others so quote me at your own will-LOL.

As Christians, we aspire to be Christ-like, it is in the name. Jesus Christ started His ministry with prayer and ended it with prayer. What does that tell us? For me it tells me that everything I do has to involve Gods grace and guidance. I have chosen this because of how my life has changed so much ever since I gave my life back to God.

Let me tell you this, you can be for the world and have all the riches but are you really satisfied? A life in Christ doesn't mean you will be broke oh- it just means your satisfaction is beyond silver and gold. It means whatever may come your way, you are not going to worry (as much) because God has got you.

Becoming someone who hardly prayed to someone who randomly bursts into prayer at any time of the day has been the change I needed in my life for a while. When I say God is working, believe me. I'm far from perfect but God is still working on me.

I pray as you are reading this that you are moved to commit your life to God. I pray that your life is made new and you open up and Let our Lord and personal savior in. May you learn to commit every aspect of your life to God through prayer. & for the one reading this, not sure how to pray, I pray you find the words that speak to what is in your heart. God loves you.

Entry 9- WHY SO SELFISH?

"Why so selfish?" A question I often asked myself whenever I would hold back from talking to people around me about God or not wanting to share the word of the day on social media.

I remember when I gave my life to Christ (again LOL) I used to think a lot- a lot about what people would think of me?

I remember I was conflicted; was I going to be seen as the 'Overdoing Christian'? Did I want to be this Christian? I just wanted to spread Gods Love, Peace & Joy.

Was I going to become that annoying Christian, forcing my views down peoples throats?

I didn't want to be that person- Lord, I used to roll my eyes at 'those' people.

Didn't they think about how others would feel? Uncomfortable? Guilty? Afraid? Having their thoughts challenged?

But today, with consent of course, I ask people I talk to why they call themselves Christians but are so uncomfortable with us- the so called 'Loud Christians'?- Honestly with what I have seen and experienced I have a long way to go before I can be called a loud Christian- LOL.

As the days pass by I noticed I'm sharing more. As I share the word of God with whoever is open to listening, I learn from them & I'm hoping they learn a thing or two from me.

I have been able to come to terms with the fact that some people have an easier time talking about Jesus to others & others don't & honestly, that's OK.

"The Bible makes it very clear that we're all different in our skills and abilities (1 Corinthians 12:12-26). Not everyone has the same exact talents, which means not everyone is going to be equally comfortable doing the same things (Ephesians 4:11-16). Some people have a very easy time talking about Jesus to others. Some people don't. And that's OK—you don't have to share the gospel in exactly the same way as other people." (Jeff. 2017)

I got this from another Christian blog talking about being too shy to share the gospel & Jeff, the writer was right, in my opinion. In as much as we want Christians to share the word, we should allow them to do so in their own way. Just because I am comfortable with talking about God to you in person doesn't mean every other Christian should do same.

As a Christian, I have come to accept that I do not need to be so hard on myself when I see other Christians moving in a particular way- Has God directed you to move like the others? Has God asked you to talk or walk or dress in a particular fashion? So why do we want to force it? Why do we judge other Christians because they preach differently?

I pray as you are reading this, you open up more, to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to bring you closer to Him and bless you as you get a deeper understanding of His word. I pray you find your gift that allows you to bring more people to God & not just to church. 

This prayer is for you, the one questioning his/her place in the sight of God- You are worth it & God loves you so so much! Amen.

Entry 8- Necessary Therapy 2

The year is 2019, 31st night (December into January) at church was amazing- My first ever crossover where I was present at church; mentally, spiritually and physically.

My pastor (Bra Mo) had looked me in my eyes and said "2020 is going to be your year" (He said a lot more but let's focus on this today, shall we?) - To an unbeliever, this is something he'd say to everyone right? Right! But I took it and understood it as the year I let God into my life completely. 

I was't just going to call myself a Christian, I was going to actively live a life that God wanted for me.

Then Rona hit us- The fear and anxiety that slowly over took me got me in a place I mentally wasn't prepared for- 2020 was supposed to be my year; everything about the year was/is supposed to be perfect- that's what I thought. Forgetting that a life in Christ isn't all roses and daisies. A life in Christ has trials and temptations but as a Christian we stay calm because Jesus Christ is in our boat!

I'd talk to friends about Rona, I'd appear calm and on top of things but I was scared- I was always thinking, at the slightest cough, did I have it? Was I dying already? There was so much going on in the early days of Rona. Don't get me wrong I still worry but when I do worry I pray and leave my burden on to God.

While others, I knew, thought Rona was just sitting on our happiness and on our best 2020 lives, I took advantage of what Rona came with- SOLITUDE! 

I allowed myself to look at my life, the decisions I'd made in my adult life and where I was headed as a woman, in every aspect of my life. 

I would cry as I reflected on things I'd said, how I'd acted and reacted in certain situations. How I'd let myself act without allowing the Holy Spirit to lead me- My life looked a mess based on my analysis but as the weeks went by, as I prayed more, read my bible more, met other Christians on their own journeys, I was able to forgive myself and let God in completely. 

I needed this time to realize my toxic traits and be better for not just myself but for the people around me. I needed this time to realize the type of Christian I wanted to be. I needed this time to find me and work on me. 

I doubt paid therapy would've helped much-LOL- who knows to be fair?

"You've changed Ntsifuaba!" Whenever I hear this statement now I smile like a village idiot on a warm day. Prior to this year I would've been so defensive. Like "what do you mean I have changed?"

Now I do know I have changed for the better and with each passing day I learn and change some more.

This change won't work for everybody and I've grown to accept that I will lose people on my Christian journey, I will lose opportunities on this journey- but here's one thing Rona taught me, the God I serve will restore all that I will lose in Jesus' name. Amen

Entry 7- No, it isn't what it is!

Yea, you must forgive me but part two of my previous post will be delayed a bit, not because I don't want to share it but really and truly, it isn't ready- AT ALL! Lol.

Anyways, you know about the 'It is what it is' meme right? Probably seen it or heard not once, not twice but from a few people repeating that statement over and over, it's gotten to the point of annoyance? 

Yea, you're not alone!

it-is-what-it-is: meaning said thing or a particular situation has its own distinct nature; this thing/situation is itself. The circumstance is simply a fact and MUST be accepted or dealt with as it exists.

For a couple of months now, I have been getting better at my relationship with God. This has translated into the kinds of conversations I have with friends, family and strangers even. 

It's had an impact on my lifestyle and my choices lately. 

It's gotten to a point where I am re-evaluating my life and I'm asking myself why I allowed certain things to happen when I could've either avoided them or made different choices while I lived in that moment. 

*insert your own 'it is what it is' scenarios here*

Now, ask yourself these questions:

Why did I accept, in a lot of situations that I found myself in, that 'it is what it is'?

Why did I shrug and be like yup, it is what it is? 

Why did I not try to change the situation or even try to make it better, for not just me, but for the other person or people involved?

Most of us know the part of the Serenity prayer that says "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference."

This phrase is asking us to accept certain things that we cannot change by ourselves, we need the Grace of God to do that. It even goes on to encourage us to ask God for courage, wisdom... So who are we to just sit back and accept that it is what it is when, we have a God who can show us the way to change our lives for the better? 

The Serenity Prayer,

God, give me grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, Courage to change the things which should be changed,

and the Wisdom to distinguish the one from the other. Living one day at a time, Enjoying one moment at a time, Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace, Taking, as Jesus did, This sinful world as it is, Not as I would have it, Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will, So that I may be reasonably happy in this life, And supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen.

Entry 6- Necessary Therapy 1

“I must have ‘mug’ written across my forehead cos wow…”

The words I tweeted, then deleted after I finally let go of a man I thought was my one- I know what you’re thinking. “What the hell? Not another girl with a heart broken over just a man.” Was I right? No? Not even close? Shoot I did try… But yea, this isn’t going to be one of those sad stories about how ‘I’ve been hurt’ & all men are trash; this is going to be more of a ‘I’m glad it happened' type of thing.

Still don’t get it? Let me ask a quick one (or two or three); Answer these three honestly...

• You ever look back and finally accept the way things didn’t go a certain way?
• You ever noticed the red flags… only after all the goodbyes were said and done?
• You ever asked yourself 'so what exactly did I waste a year for?'

I’ve asked myself these questions too and here is why this is different:

In a year and some, I found God again- AHA! You can’t say she only found God after getting her heart broken.

But all jokes aside this man actually helped me find God again at the beginning of our friendship and I will forever be grateful. Must have been why I thought I had to keep him around. A part of me thinking I owed him because he reintroduced me to God.

I finally accepted that, that was his role coming into my life; I just fell for him- maybe more than I should have.

Not saying falling for him was a bad thing either, it really wasn’t because at the end of the day, it made me realize my worth and why I shouldn’t settle moving forward- His part was done, so why was I trying to force him to be my person when that wasn’t his role to play?

Imagine if he’d finally accepted to want me the way I wanted him to; with no blessing from God. Yea, I would’ve been one miserable woman wouldn’t I? 

Keeping up appearances just because I finally got what I always wanted.

Yes at a point I could see us getting married and having babies and our dogs being besties and giving birth to more dogs and having that white picket fence around our little house out in the country side… a girl can only dream, am I right?

But when God hasn’t ordained something for you, it just won’t work out.

I know how I want to be loved and no, loving me doesn’t include spending all your life savings or buying me every expensive thing in the shop. For N, it’s the thought and the time that goes into whatever it is that counts the most. 

Seeing your face a few times a week and hearing you whisper those sweet nothings makes her beam like a little girl seeing her school crush on the first day of school.

So when such things went unnoticed and I was in my head a lot, it made me question my worth- Was I not good enough to be loved the way I thought I deserved? 

I questioned God, asking why He’d send a man who didn’t get me- forgetting that the God I serve would never send someone to give me sadder days than happier days.

(To be continued)