7 Ways to Overcome Depression

Depression is a spirit, and the Bible calls it the spirit of heaviness. Trust me, God doesn’t want any of his children to live with such a Spirit. Instead, he wants you to live content, satisfied, and full of joy and light. 

Now, while God has beautiful plans for you, the devil also has his own plan, through which he would try to stop you from enjoying all that God has in store for your life. And sometimes, he does that by inviting the spirit of heaviness and depression, at other times, he can introduce fear, anxiety, lust, etc. And they all start in the mind.

Every time you feel down, discouraged, unhappy, fearful, anxious, and other negative emotions, it first starts in your mind. That is why you must take control of your mind, to overcome depression.

Here, we will examine 7 ways to overcome depression by using the word of God, leading to victory in every area of life, and restoring God’s joy and peace to your mind. Let’s get right into it.  

Recognize it for what it is and refuse it

The first thing to do when you feel the Spirit of heaviness or depression coming upon you is to recognize and immediately rebuke it. 

The way the devil works against believers is to first attack with a small test. And if you fall for it, he then becomes bolder and confronts you with something bigger. 

This is why it is key to immediately rebuke that feeling of depression, immediately it rears its ugly head. Don’t just wait around for it to overwhelm you. Instead, rebuke it with God’s word and it would flee from you. 

Activate an atmosphere of joy around you through worship and praise: 

After refusing it, you should then activate an atmosphere of joy around you. Because just as depression is a spirit,  joy is also a spirit; one of the fruits of the Spirit. 

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.

So, start by singing songs of praise and begin to worship God. Ponder on God’s love for you, and think about his faithfulness and mercies. 

As you do this, your atmosphere would become heavy with the presence of God. Because God dwells in the praises of his people. 

Psalms 22:3

But Thou art holy, O Thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

Renew your mind with God’s word: Read and Meditate

Another important thing to do to conquer the spirit of depression is to read and deeply meditate on the word of God. This is literally one of the best things you can do for yourself.

Place your mind on God’s word. Keep it in your heart, think about it, and say it to yourself. Let it change your thinking, let it renew your mindset, let it change your view of things, let it lead your life.  

Romans 12:2 KJV

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Joshua 1:8 NIV 

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Speak out God’s word

Now, after meditating on the word of God and keeping it in your heart, it is now time to speak that word. 

See, the human mind is so powerful! And that is why Scripture says we should diligently guide our hearts because from it proceeds the issues of life. 

Proverbs 4:23. 

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

This means if something does not enter your mind, then it cannot enter your life. That is what is meant by “for out of it are the issues of life.” 

Now, the devil knows this. So, he always launches his attacks through the mind.

He comes subtly with wrong thoughts to make you feel guilty and bad about yourself. He whispers lies and condemnation, and if you don’t immediately rebuke him, you would have given him a foothold. 

However, as a believer, you are smarter than the devil. And to resist him, you must prioritize the word of God. 

You do this by reading, meditating, and speaking the word of God. So, anytime the enemy tries to launch his attack, you already have the appropriate word of God to respond with. And you don’t just respond in your minds, you say it out.

When depressing and sad thoughts come into your mind, don’t respond to them in your mind. No. You have to respond to them by speaking out the word of God. Say it. Proclaim it. Shout it if need be. Don’t keep silent, Beloved. 

Revelation 12: 11 KJV

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death.

Declare God’s word that speaks peace and joy. Declare that the joy of the Lord is your strength. Proclaim that peace is your possession because you have your mind stayed on God.

Isaiah 26:3 NLT

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Be intentional about your walk with the Lord: 

Your walk with God is the most powerful force in your life. It will literally change you, inside and outside. And it is the most potent way to chase depression and other negative forces away.

The more you walk with God in an intimate relationship, the better you become as an individual, the brighter you become, and the sharper your mind gets. 

You begin to think and talk like God. You begin to set your heart only on things that please him. And as you do that, depressive thoughts would have no place to stay in your mind. You become a powerhouse, too hot to host wrong and depressive thoughts. 

Don’t lose your relationship with the Lord. Build that relationship and be consistent in communing with your Abba. 

Focus on God and find your satisfaction in Him

If you don’t let the devil impress you with what he does, then he can’t oppress you; and if he can’t oppress you, then he can’t depress you. – Joyce Meyer. 

I love this quote by Joyce Meyer because it is so profound. Many times, the devil tries to play games with you by doing some things. But if you don’t allow those things to get to you, but instead place your heart on the Lord, then you will render the devil powerless. 

I love this story of when David returned to his city with his soldiers and discovered that all their wives and children had been kidnapped by some people. And while everyone was sad and getting weak, David did something profound.

1 Samuel 30: 6

And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

He was not happy about what happened and it was recorded that he was greatly distressed. But instead of staying down, depressed, and dejected, He encouraged himself in the Lord. 

This means that he shifted his focus from what has happened and focused it on God, to seek direction. He knew God was the one who could help out in that situation, so, he took satisfaction in that fact and focused solely on the Lord.  So, beloved, encourage yourself in the Lord. 

Join a community of believers 

Isolation empowers depression. So, it is important that you always surround yourself with the right company of friends and family.

Don’t isolate yourself or think you have the power to do it alone. Instead, speak to someone about what you are experiencing, open up to a trusted believer, and let them walk with you through whatever it is you are experiencing. 

Stay rooted in a community of believers, who can lift you when you are down, and encourage you when you’re weak. People who would pray for you when you need it, and build you up with words of faith and encouragement. 

Ecclesiastes 4:9 NLT

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 

Scriptures to meditate on to overcome depression

God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” 

Hebrews 13:5, NLT

I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow— not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

Romans 8:38, NLT

For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.

Ephesians 2:14 NLT

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! 

But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.

Isaiah 53:4‭-‬5 NLT

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

2 Timothy 1:7 NLT

So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Hebrews 4:14‭-‬16 NLT

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

Isaiah 26:3‭-‬4 NLT

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

John 14:27 NLT

A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 15:13 NLT

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

Proverbs 17:22 NLT

Victory is Ours in Christ Jesus 

As a child of God, you already have victory over all things, depression inclusive. So, depression is not meant to have dominion over you, because Jesus already died and took power away from it.

So, from today, understand the authority that you have in Christ and use it whenever you feel any depressive thoughts coming into your mind. Stand your ground and refuse to be overwhelmed by the lies of the devil.

How Low Self-worth Distorts your Identity in Christ

It is said that everything in life has its advantages and disadvantages. But not low self-worth!

It has no advantage or benefit to offer you. All it offers are negative vibes and toxic effects.

Last week, we talked about low self-worth and its causes. And in addition, we flipped the script, emphasizing how focusing on God’s word is important to overcoming low self-worth. 

I hope you read those scriptures that were given? If not, go read the last post now.

So, today, we could discuss some of the effects of low self-worth. And in addition, scriptures to meditate on would be given to stir your heart in the right direction.

Ready? Let’s begin!

Effects of Low Self-Worth on Individuals 

1. It makes you not see yourself as God sees you

One of the toxic effects of low self-worth is that it makes you view yourself in a negative light, away from how God sees you.

God sees you as precious, honourable, beloved, and priceless. However, that critical voice of low self-worth constantly whispers thoughts of condemnation; making you view yourself as useless and worthless.

And one example to examine in this case is Jeremiah, when God called him. 

Here, Jeremiah saw himself and referred to himself as a child. However, God had to correct him, and make him see how he had been chosen for the work, right before he was even born.

Jeremiah 1:4-8  Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.

Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah saw himself as a child, whereas God saw a prophet to the nations.

How do you see yourself? Is it in alignment with how God sees you?

2. It makes you feel incapable of doing God’s work

Another effect of low self-worth is that it makes you underestimate yourself, and feel incapable of doing God’s work. It makes you underestimate yourself and feel incapable of the assignment God has given you.

Remember when God appeared to Moses, and informed him of the assignment of saving the Israelites? What did Moses say?

He started talking about how he was slow of speech and incapable. He felt he couldn’t do it and gave several excuses. 

Exodus 4:10, 13  And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

Moses was so unsure of himself that he even asked God to send someone else to do the work. Low self-worth is a great hindrance to the fulfilment of your purpose.

3. It leads to being timid and limiting yourself

Another effect of low self-worth is timidity, and placing a limit on oneself. When one sees him/herself as low and worthless, he/she would always feels less, and place limits on what he/she can do.

And Gideon did this when the angel of God appeared to him, while he was threshing wheat in the winepress. Another sign of timidity there.

So, when the angel told him he would save Israel from the hands of their enemies, he limited himself, stating how he was the least in his father’s house.

Judges 6:14-15  And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? Behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.

This shows how much low self-worth can make you limit yourself.

4. It leads to accepting negative and condemning thoughts as the Truth

Your thoughts determine the course of your life. So, negative thoughts lead to a negative life and positive thoughts to a positive life.

Thus, another effect of low self-worth is that it leads you to believing negative and condemning thoughts and allowing them define you. These thoughts can come in form of past mistakes, which the devil takes advantage of to make you feel bad. 

However, you need to realize that you are not your mistakes. Your mistakes do not define you, only God’s word does.

Thus, the only truth you must accept about your life is the Word of God. And this is why studying the Bible consistently is important.

Your self-worth must not be based on what men think, whether it be positive or negative. It shouldn’t be based on the approval or disapproval of men. 

Because while people’s opinions about you may change, based on the situation; God’s word and opinion about you would never change. It is settled forever.

Psalms 119:89

For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

5. It leads to craving external satisfaction or validation

Craving of external validation and acceptance is another sign that an individual is suffering from low self-worth. 

When you have a low and negative view of yourself, you would seek acceptance and validation from others to fill that vacuum. However, this is not healthy, because people’s acceptance of you does not validate or invalidate your worth.

This is also why an individual with low self-worth is more likely to engage in destructive behaviours with his/her peers to gain their acceptance. And this is not healthy at all.

An example of this was demonstrated in the life of a young prophet in the Bible who disobeyed God. And instead, he obeyed an older prophet, who told him to do the opposite of what God told him. And this led to his untimely death.

1 Kings 13:21-22, 24  And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee,

But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the LORD did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.

And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase.

Low self-worth has such devastating effects!

6. It leads to anxiety, depression, and causes fractures in our relationship with others

Low self-worth also rears its ugly head in our relationships with others. An individual with low self-worth is deeply insecure. Thus, he/she gets easily offended. And this leads to fractures in relationships.

Low self-worth also leads to feelings of anxiety and depression; making a person feel down and low. 

When an individual feels low about him/herself, such a person gets easily affected by things around them. And this can lead to thoughts of anxiety and depression.

Using God’s Word to Overcome Low Self-worth

Now, regardless of how toxic the effects of low self-worth may be; God’s word is capable and more than enough to detoxify and neutralize its effects.

God’s word is life! It is powerful! It is potent enough to change our perspective and turn our lives around. And building a relationship with God is key to achieving this.

So, here are some scriptures to meditate on, from today, to start your journey to overcome low self-worth and live a life of victory in Christ.

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Jeremiah 17:7

But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Philippians 4:13

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Hebrews 13:6

So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

In our next post, we would discuss practical ways to overcome low self-worth. Till then, keep meditating on those scriptures above. 

Also, if this post blessed you in anyway, kindly drop a comment and share with others. You are priceless before God!

5 Strong Factors that can Hinder You from Fulfilling Your Purpose

Discovering one’s purpose and knowing how to fulfil it is a great thing. However, there are some factors that can hinder you from fulfilling your God-given purpose, if care is not taken.

Now, one important thing about your purpose is this: As much as God is interested in it, so is the devil interested. Yes! 

On one hand, God is rooting for you to succeed, so that you can establish his kingdom on earth, as it is in Heaven. Also, the devil wants to hinder you from fulfilling that purpose, so that you don’t become who God has created you to be. And so that you don’t do what God created you for.

Factors that hinder you from fulfilling Purpose

1. Selfish ambition: 

One factor that can hinder you from fulfilling your purpose is pursuing a selfish ambition that doesn’t have God’s purpose as its focus. 

When we pursue things other than what God wants us to pursue, such as the pursuit of money, fame, influence, etc. We would surely get distracted from what God really wants us to do. 

Anyone who wants to serve God and fulfil their purpose, such a person must die to themselves and become selfless. The person must make God’s purpose the centre of their life’s purpose. 

2. Lack of focus: 

Another factor that hinders people from fulfilling their God-given purpose is lack of focus. Not having focus or priorities makes many people fail in many areas of life.

It is important to know that you cannot do everything. You need to prioritize and focus on the things that are most important if you want to fulfil your God-given purpose. Then you must prioritize it and focus on achieving it.

Laser-focus ‌separates winners from mediocre. You can’t afford to be distracted by social media, other people’s achievements, etc. 

Be laser-focused! Set your face like a flint! 

Read more: Challenges faced by Christian teenagers and how to overcome them

3. Lack of clarity:

After the discovery of purpose, another factor that can hinder you from fulfilling purpose is lacking clarity on how to achieve the purpose. In anything one wants to attain in life, clarity is KEY!

You must clearly understand your purpose, understand the importance of the purpose, know your target audience, know the ways through which you would fulfil the purpose, etc.

And you can only achieve this by asking God, who created you and ordained that purpose to be fulfilled by you. Go to God in prayers, and ask him to reveal your purpose to you: the what, why and how.

4. Wrong association:

Bad communication corrupts good manners. When you walk with wise men, you become wise, but a company of fools shall be destroyed.

These statements point to us, the importance of good association, and the consequences of the wrong association. Your association in life affects you in a lot of ways. The people you associate with would either encourage you to do more for God or discourage you from going all out for God’s kingdom.

Thus, when you are in the wrong association, such a company hinders you from fulfilling your purpose and being the person who God has called you to be. 

5. Laziness:

Another factor that hinders ‌people from fulfilling their purpose is laziness. Yes, laziness! 

Some people already discovered their purpose and know its importance. However, they are lazy to put in the work that it requires. They are not ready to go all out because they love their comfort zone and are not ready for the more that God wants to do through them.

They procrastinate, give excuses, etc. Laziness is another reason ‌many have not emerged in their God-given assignments. 

You would like: Tips to living a victorious life in Christ

Final Thoughts on Factors that hinder you from fulfilling Purpose

As believers, we ‌know that our purpose is beyond us. It is part of a gigantic puzzle that God aims to piece together in order to establish his kingdom upon the earth.

Thus, every believer must take his/her position and stand in their place. Everyone must be ready to put in the work, in his/her little way, for the entire agenda to be fulfilled.

The world awaits the manifestation of you and I. World problems are waiting for us to arise and emerge with world-class solutions. We can not afford to be complacent.

We arise for God’s mandate and his will be done!

What are you doing to enforce the will of God on earth? Let’s talk in the comment section. 

7 Steps to take to Fulfill Your Purpose

Purpose refers to why you were created. It refers to what God wanted to fulfill, for creating you.

In my last post, I talked about what purpose means, and the steps to take to discover your purpose. If you haven’t read it, please do. It lays an important foundation for this topic. 

Now, in this article, I would talk about the practical steps to take to fulfill purpose.

It is not enough to discover your purpose. You must ‌take practical steps to bring that purpose to life. You must not only discover it, but you must also fulfill it. Now, why is purpose fulfilment important?

Why is purpose fulfillment important?

1. God is counting on you:

You must fulfill your discovered purpose because God is counting on you in that area. Your purpose is a part of God’s big agenda. So, if you don’t fulfill it, you would make God’s plan incomplete. 

2. The future of the world depends on it:

Nations are tied to the fulfillment of your purpose. Your purpose extends beyond you. The future and destiny of nations depend on it. 

For example, if your purpose is to mentor teenagers. This is an assignment that is key to the world because the teenagers of today would become the adults that would lead tomorrow. 

Thus, if you do the right thing today, by leading those teenagers aright, you would help the future of nations tomorrow.

3. Purpose fulfillment brings contentment:

It brings ease to your life, knowing that you are being a blessing to some people out there. Purpose fulfillment brings ease, while purposelessness brings disease.

7 Steps to take to Fulfill Your Purpose

Now, let’s examine some steps you can begin to take today, to fulfill your God-given purpose.

To begin, it is important to know that your purpose is unique to you. Thus, there are some specific steps that God would reveal to you about your purpose along the way. 

However, we would examine some general steps that everyone can take to get clarity and wisdom on purpose fulfilment. They include:

1. Ask and trust the Lord for directions:

One of the important steps to take in fulfilling purpose is asking God for direction. After discovering your purpose, you must ‌inquire from God how He wants you to go about fulfilling it. 

He is the master planner of your life. So, you must trust Him to lead you. 

Proverbs 3:5-7  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

2. Develop your character: 

Purpose fulfillment starts with you. It starts with your mastery and self-discipline. Hence, you must become a better person, from the inside. 

This is because the better you become, the more equipped you are to fulfill your purpose. Let go of limiting and negative beliefs. Renew your mind with God’s word! Be transformed from inside, and it would reflect in your journey to purpose fulfillment. 

Philippians 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

3. Develop yourself in the area of your calling: 

Knowing your purpose is not enough, you have to be equipped to fulfil it. You need to gather expertise and knowledge about what God would have you do.

If God is sending you to children, you need to learn how to talk to children, how to hold their attention, etc. You must grow in the knowledge of your calling. Don’t be mediocre, increase in knowledge. 

2 Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

4. Set SMART Goals:

SMART Goals stand for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound Goals. Goal setting is a fast way to achieve your purpose. Set small goals to achieve, to ‌fulfill the bigger purpose.

For example, if your purpose is to reach out to teenagers, to make them know God, you can set these goals: writing teen-focused articles every week, going out to preach to teenagers twice in a week, praying for them every day, etc.

Break the purpose into small goals, then ‌carry them out, bit by bit. Follow the SMART goal formula when setting your goals. 

Proverbs 19:21  There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

5. Be accountable: 

Being accountable to someone helps you with being consistent. It also prevents you from slacking off and being undisciplined.

You should pick an accountability partner, who you respect and can take corrections from. This person would help you stay on track, as well as correct you when going astray.

Accountability also helps to remove procrastination through the constant check-up of your accountability partner.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10  Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor

For if they fall, the one will lift his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

6. Build a structure:

Building a sustainable system that would outlive you is also important, in purpose fulfilment. You ‌must know that your purpose is beyond you. Thus, ‌build a structure that makes the fulfillment of that purpose easier.

This could include building a team, collaborating with people with similar purpose, etc. 

7. Measure your growth and continually ask God for help: 

This cannot be over-emphasized. As you work to fulfil purpose, you should continually measure your impact and growth.

You should be able to see how you have grown in your own life. Also, you should be able to measure how you have been a blessing to others. 

Examples of great men/women who fulfilled their purpose on earth:

• Jesus- To save the world from sin.
• Paul -To preach the Gospel of Christ.
• Deborah- To lead Israel as a prophetess
• Esther- To save her people from death
• Billy Graham- To preach the Gospel in Africa.
• You? – (What is your purpose?)

So, which of these steps are you currently taking to fulfill your purpose? Or which would you take from today?

Let’s talk. I would like to hear from you in the comment section.

Experiencing Peace in the midst of Chaos

Just imagine that a riot broke out in your neighbourhood, and while everyone is scampering and running, you are just walking slowly across the street, passing through the riot scene into your home.

Wouldn’t that be strange? Wouldn’t that be weird? How could you even walk in peace and quietness in the midst of such chaos?

Now, that’s the kind of peace that Jesus has and the kind of peace, he wants to bless you with too.

John 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Jesus’s kind of peace is not the kind of peace that this world gives. The kind of peace that the world gives is one that can only be experienced, when physical circumstances are right. You can only experience that peace when money is in your bank account, when you have that dream job, when you have gotten that desired solution.

But the peace Jesus offers? It is one that defies whatever circumstances of life that you may be going through. That kind of peace is present when things are good, and when they are going wrong. That peace is present in the midst of calm and in the midst of chaos.

It is a peace that is beyond human understanding!

Philippians 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Remember the story of Jesus sleeping in the ship, during the storm? That is what I am talking about here.

When reading that passage of the Bible, did you ask questions like, was it that the boat didn’t rock enough to make Jesus wake up?
Was it that he didn’t hear the disciples shouting for help and trying to save the boat? How can someone be sleeping in the midst of a storm? How can you experience peace in the midst of turmoil and unpleasant circumstances?

It is simply by focusing your heart on God’s word. Don’t worry, I have a personal story to tell to convince you.

In 2017, I wrote the private WAEC (GCE) examination for the second time, just to be able to get a good grade in mathematics. And when the results came out, I still had a bad grade in maths. I was devastated.

This was an exam I had to stay back at school (I was already in the university at this time) to write.

And in the midst of my sorrow, I started playing a song “Same God” by Tye Tribbett. The lyrics of that song really ministered to my heart and comforted me.

And in the instant, I focused my heart on God’s promises and before I knew it, i started singing in joy. No jokes! My mood changed.

Now, that is what God’s word can do for you.

As a believer, the only way to constantly experience and enjoy God’s peace in any and every circumstance, is to simply focus your mind on His word!

Psalms 119:165  Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

Philippians 4:8-9  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

What is that issue that has kept you in constant anxiety? What is that thing that keeps you worried all day? I have an antidote for you.

1. Get scriptures that addresses that issue.
2. Read the scriptures
3. Meditate upon them
4. Constantly put them before you.
5. Declare them to yourself, and peace would gradually flood your heart.

God does not promise us a life free from challenges. But he does promise us peace, in the midst of those challenges.

John 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

In this world many things would attempt to take away your peace, steal your joy and destroy your assurance. But you have to be determined to maintain a peaceful atmosphere.

You just have to be adamant that nothing would put you down. It is a constant fight. Keep at it!

God’s word is enough to change that circumstance. The Word of God works!

Keep your eyes off the storm

Keep your eyes off the storm

The location
Of your eyes
Determines the
State of your mind

Keep your eyes
Off the storm

Keep it on
The Cross

Life may seem daunting
But fix your eyes
On God

Things may look
Impossible, depressing

But get your perspective right
See from God’s
Point of View

You would never
Get peace
If you focus
On your needs
Troubles, pain

Because
The world
Is full of them

But Jesus joy is consistent
Ever enduring

It can keep you
Off worrying

It can give you peace

Place your heart on God

He gives perfect peace
To those
Who have their minds
Stayed on Him

Trust in God always

He is strength
For all

Isaiah 26:3-4

Righteousness Through Faith

Genesis 15:6  And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

As believers, one thing that we receive as part of our salvation package is “Righteousness”.

The moment you believe in the Lord Jesus and accept to be under His Lordship, you are immediately given the right to become the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!

Your righteousness does not come from any work you do, from praying or fasting for it. It simply comes as part of your born again package, and as a core aspect of your identity as a believer.

This is a truth that is confirmed in so many scriptures. Consider the following carefully:

Romans 3:22
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Romans 4:5
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Romans 4:9
Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

Romans 9:30
What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

Philippians 3:9
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Confirmed? Absolutely, God’s word CANNOT lie.

So, you are no longer condemned. You are not a filthy rag, you are the righteousness of God in Christ.

Say that: I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!

Yes, that is who you are. That is your new identity.

You are not a sinner, who is afraid of God, no! You have boldness to approach God, because the righteousness you carry is not self made; it was bestowed upon you by God, through your faith in Christ.

You can now approach God as a son, not a slave! Yesss, Glory to God!

You have access to talk to God, you are no longer a slave to sin, fear, demon or anything. You are now seated with Christ in heavenly places, above all principalities and powers!

You are above satan! You are above condemnation! You are above fear, sin or crisis!

You are the righteousness of God in Christ! That is your identity. Don’t let the devil cheat you.

YOU ARE NOT A FILTHY RAG IN GOD’S PRESENCE! YOU ARE A SON!

God Is Counting on You

God is an orderly God, He doesn’t just do things anyhow, and trust me, He also put that same thoughtfulness and intentionality, when creating you.

You are not just a random being, adding to the demographic of the humans on earth. You are actually very specific in God’s eyes.

God looked upon the earth, saw something that needed to be done, then created and sent you forth to do that thing!

Do you realize how important you are then?

It does not matter your age, social status, background, whatever; the truth remains that you are a solution to a problem on Earth, and this has been ordained even before you were born.

Jeremiah 1:5-7

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.

However, to walk in this reality, the first step is to get born again. If you are born again already, congratulations, if not, say this prayer:

Lord Jesus, I believe that you came to die for me, so that I can have eternal life. I believe in your death, burial and resurrection.

I accept you today, as my Lord and personal saviour. Come into my heart and be my Lord in Jesus name. Amen.

Congratulations, if you just said that prayer. You are now a child of God.

So, after being born again, it is very important that you cultivate an intimate relationship with God, in order to find out what he has created you for.

To start with, the first most important reason why you are on Earth as a believer is to preach the Gospel.

Jeremiah 1:9
Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

Get men saved, fill them with the Holy Ghost and disciple them.

God would also be sending you to the nations of the Earth, to represent him in different sectors, such as in education, finance, health, business, administration, government, arts, etc.

Your work in this different sector would be to establish the Kingdom of God there, honour him, and be his representative there.

God is counting on you. He really is! Go find out what you have been sent to do, go and show Him forth.

Jeremiah 1:10
See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

Joy; My LifeStyle

Last year, I was in a meeting with some teenagers, where one of my brothers in Christ was addressing them, and he talked about Joseph in the Bible.

And during the course of that conversation, he mentioned one striking thing, which was that despite the various challenges that Joseph faced, the things he lost, etc, one thing that helped him was the fact that he didn’t lose his joy!

He was always joyful! Hence, he was able to recognize that someone else was in a bad mood in the prison.

This is so important, because trust me, if he was always in a depressed and sadistic mood, he wouldn’t even know that the butler in the prison was sad on that fateful day.

Genesis 40:6 

And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad.

What is Joy to a believer?

Is it that deep cackle when you hear a funny joke, or that glimmer of smile that crosses your eyes when you receive a credit alert of a surprise money?

Is it when that project finally clicks? Or when you get clarity on that concept you have been working on?

Yes, maybe…

Also, can joy be defined in terms of the peace we feel, even in the midst of chaos?

Could it be that unexplainable peace and warmth in your soul, when you receive a rejection mail, knowing that if that thing was for you, God would have made it yours?

What is Joy to you? Who/What is the source of Joy? How do we access this Joy? How do we maintain Joy? Is Joy different from happiness?

Joy is the extreme feeling of bubbly peace, contentment, excitement and warmth, that goes deep into the soul.

Joy is not a feeling! It is a state of your mind! Happiness is a feeling, but joy, no.

Happiness is influenced by many external factors, whereas joy is from within! It is the posture of your heart that determines whether you are joyful or not.

God is the source of Joy! No human, or money, or possession, accomplishment, etc can ever bring man joy. All they can do at most is make you happy.

Romans 14:17

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, it is your life, as a believer. God wants you to always be joyful. Circumstances do not alter our joy bank, because circumstances did not put it there in the first place!

Nothing fazes us, we are always basking in the joy of salvation.

Psalms 51:12

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Another interesting thing about Joy is that, it is a portal to access things. Joy helps us to get thing, it is a fetcher of great things. We draw goodness with Joy! Without Joy, you have no access to all that God has planned for you.

Isaiah 12:3

Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

One of the key ways to access Joy is through the Word of God. The Word of God is joy itself, it is a strengthener, it is a Joy-giver.

It opens our eyes to all that we are, and all that we have in Christ Jesus. And with this, there is a bubbly feeling of excitement and assurance in us, that indeed, we are safe in the Father’s hands.

Dear Believer, never lose your joy. Don’t let anything dampen your spirit!

You don’t have a job yet? Rejoice that God is preparing you for a greater place, and maximize your current season.

You need funds for your business? Rejoice in the knowing that your Father is the owner of Heaven and Earth.

Never lose your joy, be content in the Lord, be rest assured in his promise.

Be Joyful Always. Rejoice!!!!!!

Philippians 4:4 

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

You are the Light of the World! What did Jesus mean?

Light is a powerful force that has its presence strongly felt anywhere it shines. Right from the beginning of the world, we see its importance, as it takes the first position in the creation process.

When God started the work of Creation, the first thing he created was light, when Jesus was to give a comparison of us as children of God, and what we signify and stand for in this present world, He also called us Light!

The Light of The World!

Also, Jesus once said that he is the Light of the World too!

John 9:5

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

Matthew 5:14

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Now, what did Jesus mean by those statements?

Let’s examine the role of light in a dark room… What is the significance of light in our day-to-day lives, as humans?

Light takes away the darkness! Light makes hidden things known! Light exposes us to see clearly and see things as they are!

And another fascinating thing about light is that it brings life.

John 8:12

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

As believers, we have been called to shine as light in a dark world, to show people the way of life and lead them to the right way; which is Jesus Christ!

The world is in a perverse and depraved position, people are desperate for help, they are looking for something beyond them.

And as believers, that is our assignment! We have been given the assignment of calling and bringing people to the knowledge of Christ. We have been commissioned to go into the world and preach the Gospel to every creature!

Mark 16:15-17 

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

This is exactly why we are called the Light of the World! We have been given a mandate, to show people who are in darkness, the way of life: Jesus.

We have been mandated to show them Christ and bring them to His knowledge.

You need to rise and do your work! Preach the Gospel! Do the Work of an Evangelist! Fill them with the Holy Ghost! Disciple them! Pray for them!

That is your Job Description as the Light of the World!