Living free from guilt and being at peace with God

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). 

The first time I read that scripture was in a Francine Rivers’ novel, and it moved me to tears. While reading the novel, I remembered my past struggles and it dawned on me how far God brought me from the miry clay and set my feet on the rock to stand. 

It also reminded me of God’s unchanging love for humanity, despite whatever we might have done, and how he seeks to take our sins and their guilt away from us, as far as the East is from the West. As you read this article, I pray that every weight of sin and guilt weighing down on you and causing you to shrink from God’s love and presence will be lifted and you will experience the peace of God. 

In this article, we’ll examine what guilt is, how to deal with it healthily, and scriptures to meditate on to be free. Let’s get started. 

What is guilt?  

Close your eyes for a minute and imagine how Judas felt after he betrayed Jesus, which led him to kill himself. Yes, that right there is guilt. 

He felt extremely bad for having betrayed Jesus, and that feeling led him to take his own life. This is how dangerous guilt can be. 

Now, for some of us, feeling guilty after doing something wrong may not make us think of killing ourselves. But it can be like a cloud hanging over our heads, weighing us down, making us feel extremely bad, and making us condemn ourselves. This is not how God wants us to feel, and He definitely wants to take that burden off our chest. 

See, there’s no undo button in life, and as humans, we’ll always make mistakes. However, we must realize that we are not our mistakes, and there is nothing we can do that God cannot forgive. If Judas had known this, he probably might not have killed himself and might have gotten another chance. 

So, how do you deal with guilt? What should you do after you’ve made that mistake you swore you were not going to make again? Is it time for condemnation and for getting depressed? Is it time to curse yourself and allow depression to overwhelm you? Definitely not.

Here, we’ll examine how you can deal with guilt healthily and scriptures to meditate on to live a guilt-free life. Let’s get to it. 

You should read: 3 Powerful Ways to Overcome Fear

How to deal with guilt healthily 

While there are unhealthy ways to deal with guilt, such as passing the blame for what you did wrong to someone else, condemning yourself, etc; there are healthy ways to deal with it. 

With these approaches, you will overcome guilt and shed its weight with the help of God. Let’s examine them.

1. Know that God loves you

The first and most important thing that will help you overcome guilt is coming to an understanding of God’s love. This was the difference between Judas Iscariot and Simon Peter. Peter was close to Jesus and knew that Jesus loved him and would continue to love him regardless of whatever he did. 

This was why he was bold to still come to the Lord even after he denied him 3 times. But Judas on the other hand didn’t understand the love of God for him, and that made him commit suicide after he betrayed Jesus. 

When you know that God loves you, then it will be easy for you to approach his throne of mercy and seek his forgiveness whenever you do something wrong. See, God loves you regardless of your past, He has forgotten your past. So, know this, and don’t allow guilt to hold you down from seeking God. 

And even if you are dealing with a weakness presently that is causing you to be overwhelmed with guilt, you need to know that staying away from God is not the solution. In fact, God is waiting for you to come to him so that He can help you. 

Related: Challenges Christian Teenagers face and how to Overcome

2. Confess your sins freely

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). 

God will never withhold forgiveness from us when we come to him with sincerity of heart and confess our wrongdoings. The psalmist said, “A contrite heart, God will not despise.” Psalms 51:7b.

So, if you go wrong in any way, the solution is not to sit and wallow in guilt and regret. Instead, go to your Father and confess what you’ve done. And just as he promised in his word, He will forgive your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Remember, he bought you with the precious blood of Jesus.

3. Let it go

Now, for some individuals who deal with guilt, their problem is not knowing that God has forgiven them, instead, they are the ones withholding forgiveness from themselves. They condemn, blame, criticize, and look down on themselves so much that the devil doesn’t even need to do anything to make them feel bad. They do the job of the devil by accusing themselves, even after God has forgiven them.

Are you also like this? If yes, then you need to release yourself from that stronghold. You need to let go of that critical and negative self-talk.

Yes, I understand that you are disappointed in yourself, and you just can’t believe that you let that happen. But trust me, you cannot undo the past. So,  focus on what can be done to make the present and future good and let go of your past mistakes. 

4. Get closer to God and immerse yourself in his love

To fully overcome guilt in a healthy manner, you need to cultivate an intentional and active relationship with God. Just as a fish cannot survive outside water, we also cannot do life when we are disconnected from God–our source. 

So, you must stay connected to the Lord, and pursue an active relationship with Him. Immerse yourself in his love, read scriptures speaking of God’s love for you, and get to know him intimately through prayers and bible study. As you do this consistently, you will feel lighter, the weight will lift and even when you do something wrong, you will not hesitate to ask for His forgiveness. His love makes everything better!

Scriptures for meditation to overcome guilt 

Here are some scriptures to read if you’re struggling with guilt. Read, meditate, and pray with them. 

• “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17). 

•  “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

•  “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7). 

• “ ‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ ” says the Lord, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool’ ” (Isaiah 1:18).

• “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). 

• “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more” (Hebrews 8: 12)

• “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12)

•  “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1).

•  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

Anxiety: Thief of Present Joy

And which of you by worrying can add one hour to his life’s span?

Luke 12:25 AMP

This is such a beautiful scripture that describes the uselessness behind being anxious. 

See, I get it. You just can’t keep yourself from being worried over an issue, or hearing something just triggers a lot of worry and anxiety that you can’t seem to control. 

But let me ask, beyond being stressed out from thinking and being anxious, what else does being anxious produce? None, I bet. 

So, in this article, we would examine what anxiety means, its causes, and what God says about it. 

What does Anxiety mean? 

According to Billy Graham, anxiety is the natural result when our hopes are centered in anything short of God and His will for us. 

This means anxiety occurs when you take your focus away from God and place it on your struggles and problems. It happens when you try to figure things out by yourself, instead of relying on God for guidance. 

Anxiety prevents you from enjoying the present, whilst worrying about the future that you have no control on. It steals your peace and makes you focus on the wrong things.

Now, for some individuals, anxiety could result from a medical condition. For such people, medical care coupled with God’s word will bring healing. 

However, for individuals who struggle with general anxiety; identifying your triggers and focusing on God’s word are some of the best ways to combat it.

Have you read: Seven powerful steps to help you study the bible consistently

Causes of Anxiety

Wrong Thinking

One of the common causes of anxiety is wrong thinking. Your thoughts have the greatest impact on your life, and you will start to believe and act out whatever you constantly think about, whether positive or negative. 

Anything you pay attention to becomes bigger. So, when you constantly focus on the things that are not working, negative occurrences, etc. you would only see those and lose sight of all the great things happening in your life. This then leads to overthinking, being anxious and may even lead to depression.

However, God’s word admonishes us to focus on the right thoughts. Right thoughts produce a right life and vice versa. When you have the wrong thought, you start looking like the wrong people. Examine your thought life today! 

Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].

Philippians 4:8 AMP

Fear of the future

Fear of what may be or not, fear of tomorrow, what ifs, etc. also lead one to being anxious. When you are constantly thinking about the future, you wouldn’t have time to enjoy the present and it would make you anxious.

But when you learn to trust God in your journey, even when it seems bleak, you would find peace.

Even though I walk through the [sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me.

Psalms 23:4 AMP

Lack of trust in God:

Not trusting God and his ways also leads to being anxious. As a human, you are limited in what you can see, whereas God sees the end from the beginning.

When you don’t trust Him, you would get anxious and fearful of tomorrow since you can’t see what He is seeing. However, when you learn to trust God and His ways, He will surely bring you to your desired destination. 

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts higher than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:9 AMP

Must read: Importance of building a relationship with God

Triggers from past hurtful experiences:

Every anxious person has things that trigger their anxiety. This could be past hurts from someone close, past failure, etc. And when the individual sees something similar to those events, it reminds them of the past and triggers anxiety. 

However, with God’s word, you can combat those triggers and replace them with positive reactions, instead of going down a spiral of anxious thoughts.

Related: 5 Ways to build a relationship with God through prayers

What God Says about Anxiety 

Anxiety is a negative emotion that drains your life and joy. It prevents you from enjoying the present while making you overthink the future. This means you don’t enjoy what you have now, while still being afraid of your tomorrow.

However, God’s word always emphasizes the best cure for anxiety; which is trusting in God and having a deep understanding of God’s love for you.

See, God loves you. Imagine someone giving his only son to die for your sins. Do you then think there is anything that person would withhold from you? I don’t think so.

As a child of God, God already has your days written in his book. There is nothing that happens or would happen to you that He doesn’t know already. 

When you know this, and you understand the faithfulness and kindness of God, then you would be rest assured in all situations that He’s got your back.

God is for you, not against you. You have His backing, you are not walking alone. So, rest in God’s love and be at peace.

You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character], Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].

Isaiah 26:3 AMP

Wrapping Up

If this article blessed you, kindly share it with a friend or teenager around you. In the next article, we would discuss individuals who experienced anxiety in the Bible, how they overcame it, tips to help you overcome anxiety, and scriptures to meditate on. 

Remain blessed!

Defeating People-pleasing: Taking our Focus off People and Placing it on God

Source: Pexels

Ever seen someone who doesn’t have a mind of their own, but always do things just to please others? That is what people-pleasing is. Does it describe you too?

People-pleasing involves doing things to get people’s approval and praises, sometimes at the expense of doing the right thing. For example, if you are asked to tell a lie by your friend, to save her from being punished by her parents.

Telling that lie would be trying to please her, or even being complicit in the wrong. Rather than telling the truth and risking getting disapproved of. Ever been in such a situation?

So, it is key that you snap out of the stronghold of people-pleasing, and be free from its hold. 

On a surface level, people-pleasing may seem like being agreeable, selfless, kind, etc. However, it is not, because the motive is wrong. 

Most people-pleasers do so because they love the praises and approval of other people. They are overly sensitive to criticism and disagreement, so, they do all they can to get people to agree with them, by trying to please others.

But guess what? “If you live for people’s acceptance, you would die from their rejection.” – Lecrae.

Signs you are a people-pleaser

Here are some sure signs that reveal you are a people-pleaser.

• You are always worried about what others think of you, so you always do things in a bid to please them.

• You can’t think for yourself. So, you allow other people’s opinions and thoughts determine what you do.

• You do things that you know are wrong or even things that God does not approve of, all in a bid to please someone or get their approval.

How to Overcome People-pleasing

Avoiding people-pleasing is not impossible, even though it is difficult at first. When you have lived a large part of your life trying to please people and get their approval, it would take some time and effort to break out.

However, with the right approach, you can be truly free from people-pleasing. And we would examine some ways to achieve that.

1. Focus on pleasing God first:

The first thing to do to be free from people-pleasing is first focusing on pleasing God.

Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.

Ephesians 5:10 NLT

The bible urges us to determine what pleases God and do just that. You are to live your life to give pleasure to God.

Your life should be a living sacrifice that brings a sweet smelling savour unto Him. When you focus on that, other people’s desire would come last, and that would help you get freedom.

2. Be clear on your values and set boundaries:

Having a strong value system which dictates the things you do is very important if you would be free from people-pleasing. If your values are based on God’s word and instructions, there are certain things you would never do, even if it means displeasing others. 

Also, setting and enforcing clear boundaries is key. Now, people may want to trespass those boundaries. However, when you insist on them, people will realize with time that those things are non-negotiable to you, and they would adjust.

3. Be open to criticism:

If everyone likes you, then you need to check to see if you are not compromising. Not everyone would like you as a believer, and you know what? That is totally fine!

If you truly want to be free from people-pleasing, then you need to be open to the fact that some people would be critical of you. And this is especially when you insist on doing the right thing that doesn’t please them. 

Your approval means nothing to me, because I know you don’t have God’s love within you.

John 5:41‭-‬42 NLT

Standing for the right thing, doing the right instead of the easy thing would not always stand well with everyone.

Some people want you to compromise and do something that they feel is fine, whereas, the word of God frowns against. In such situations, be ready to be criticized, and accept it without shifting ground.

Source: Pexels

4. Tell the truth regardless of consequences but with kindness:

Jesus was a perfect example of someone who did this consistently. He was always saying the truth, regardless of who he had to say it to. 

He didn’t mince words in saying things as they were, even when it meant that he would be rejected. And this was what led to him being crucified. 

Many times, you may find yourself in situations where you need to call out bad behavior and tell the truth. In these instances, you should do so, however, in kindness. 

A good example was when Paul saw that Peter was being hypocritical and he called Peter out for that behaviour. God does not want us to cover sin, he wants us to expose them, to help the person be restored to the right standing.

But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. 

When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. 

He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.

Galatians 2:11‭-‬13 NLT

5. Find your worth in God:

People-pleasing always stems from feelings of low self-esteem and need to be approved of. However, when you find your worth in God, you would not be obsessed about people approving of you.

God approves of you. He is ever mindful of you. And he doesn’t reject you. And when you find your worth in Him, you would be secure.

People’s opinions are fickle and turn with the tide. So, when you base your worth on their approval, you would always be turned to and fro. However, when you base your worth on what God says about you, then you are able to live life, free from people-pleasing!

Scriptures for Overcoming People-pleasing 

When people’s lives please the Lord, even their enemies are at peace with them.

Proverbs 16:7 NLT

Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.

Galatians 1:10 NLT

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:2 NLT

But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.

Acts of the Apostles 5:29 NLT

Living a life that pleases God

Many of us struggle with people-pleasing, including me. However, there is always help in God to free us from its bondage.

To take a stand for Christ, we must be ready to face opposition and not always be supported. To live is to Christ and to be rejected and die is gain.

If this article blessed you, kindly tell me what you took out from it. Also, share this with a friend or teenager around you.

3 Powerful Ways to Overcome Fear

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I had a very eventful week. And I experienced many things that made me realize how much God wants to deal with fear in the lives of his children. 

Beginning from last week till the beginning of this week, He started speaking to me about not living in fear, and trusting him, regarding issues in my life. 

And it started with a conversation with my friend, where we discussed an issue that was bothering me. And she spoke to me about not being afraid, because God is the one in control, not the devil or even me.

Also, during bible study at church on Tuesday, the teacher taught on fear. Funny enough, the bible study outline for the day had little to do with the subject of fear. However, she taught extensively on fear and how we can overcome it.

And to me, this revealed how intentional God is about this topic. And how deadly fear is, to the life of any individual trapped by it. So, today, we would examine some effects of fear in an individual’s life, and 3 powerful ways to overcome it.

Let’s dive in

Effects of Fear in Your Life

1. It leads to Bondage/Torment:

1 John 4:18 GNT: There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear. So then, love has not been made perfect in anyone who is afraid, because fear has to do with punishment.

The bible clearly states that fear brings torment. It is a negative spirit that seeks to torment the minds and lives of God’s children, as well as put them in bondage.

When you are operating from the place of fear, your mind is usually blurred, and you are not yourself. It makes you anxious, uneasy, and disorganized. And this is surely not the will of God for your life.

2. It makes a person stagnant:

Fear can lead to stagnancy, causing someone to be on a spot for a long time. When you live in fear, you would be afraid of daring the impossible, even when God is the one urging you to go. 

Fear would make you believe its illusions, instead of believing God’s word that assures you of success. Fear impedes growth and stifles life out of a person’s journey.

3. Disobedience:

Another effect of fear that we need to be wary of is disobedience. When we are fearful, we would find it difficult to obey God’s instructions, simply because our eyes cannot see everything. 

God doesn’t work the way we do. So, sometimes, he may give us seemingly impossible assignments to do. And in such situations, fear can come to discourage us from doing it.

Now, if we heed the voice of fear, we would walk in disobedience to God’s instructions. And this would lead us out of his will for our lives.

The fruit of fear is always death. It has no positive result to give.

4. Being wise in your own eyes:

Proverbs 3:7 GNT: Never let yourself think that you are wiser than you are; simply obey the Lord and refuse to do wrong.

Another product of fear is being wise in one’s own eyes. Yes! When you live in fear, you would always try to strategize and plan your life by yourself, without relying on God. 

You would always try to live life by your own wisdom, being guided by what only your eyes can see. And this is simply because you are afraid of what may be or not be. 

5. Not living to the full potential that God intended for your life:

Fear also leads to not living our lives to the full potential that God intended. Fear limits. It restricts and stagnates.

When a man is bound by fear, he would not be able to step out in faith, in the face of impossiblilities, to do what God asks him to do. He would not leap and allow God to catch him. He walks by sight, and so, he is limited by only what his physical eyes can see.

So, how then can we overcome fear? We would examine 3 practical and powerful ways below:

Source: Pexels

3 Practical Ways to Overcome Fear and Live with Boldness

1. Study and meditate on God’s word consistently:

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Hebrews 4:12 NLT.

The word of God is alive and powerful! It is no mere words. It is potent and can change your life!

Check through the Bible, and write scriptures that speaks about that area of life. Then read, meditate on and confess them regularly. 

I challenge you to do this for seven days, and you would see the results for yourself.

The first step to overcome any issue of life, especially fear, is to study and meditate on God’s word. If there is any area of life you have fears in, whether in your academics, family, future, etc. then you need to study God’s word regarding those areas.

When you do this consistently, your thoughts, words, and actions would start to align with God’s word regarding that issue. And with that, fear would flee from your heart, and faith would take its right place in you. 

2. Place your focus on God:

I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. Psalms 16:8 NLT

The scripture above is one of the scriptures God highlighted to me, during my National Youth Service Corp year in Imo state, Nigeria.

The scripture steadied my heart in many situations and kept me at peace. And I am sure it would help you too.

So, another way to displace fear from your heart is to place your focus on God. Come to the realization that God is always with you. And because he is right beside you, then you can’t be moved.

Always have this meditation in your heart. “God is with me. He loves me. He is right beside me. He keeps me secure!” This train of thoughts helps you to focus your heart and thoughts on God, and keeps you off the terrain of fear, taking you to the place of joy.

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!: Isaiah 26:3 NLT

3. Trust God with your life:

One thing that excites me about this topic is the fact that as God is ministering to me to write, He is also teaching me these things personally. 

And one of the core things He has been teaching me is how to trust Him with my life. How to know that He is in charge of my life, and that He cannot mismanage my life.

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.: Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

God’s plans for our lives are beautiful. So, for us to overcome fear, we must fully believe his words concerning us. 

God is reliable, and His words cannot fail. So, if He says a thing, He would definitely do it. 

And this is why we can and should trust Him with our lives. Let him take the driver’s seat in your life. Let him lead your life. 

Allow him to lead, guide, and instruct you as you live your life. This would give you perfect peace, dispel fear from your heart, and help you live as God intended.

So, I hope you have been blessed by these series of articles. If something stood out to you in this article, kindly let me know in the comments.

Also, share this article with a friend or teenager around you. See you next week. 

Overcoming Fear and Living as God intended

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. 

It is said that the phrase “fear not” appears for 365 times in the Bible. This means that there is one “fear not” dose, for you to use everyday.

And it makes me wonder, what is it about “fear not” that it had to be stated in the Bible for that number of times? Well, it just goes to say how much God knows we are prone to fear, and his proactivity to tell us not to fear. 

What a kind father!

What is Fear?

Fear is a spirit. Yes, it is beyond that feeling of anxiety or worry that you experience when you are afraid of something that happened or has not happened. It is actually a demonic spirit sponsored by the devil to cripple God’s children and keep us out of faith.

Fear makes see our problems as bigger than God. Thus, making us focus on the wrong things rather than on what God would have us focus on.

And the bible clearly states that fear brings torment. It is the opposite of love, making it the opposite of God. So, fear is not of God. However, by God’s help, we can overcome.

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

What God says about Fear

Fear is one of the emotions that God warns us against. The Bible says in Revelation that even the fearful would be cast into the lake of fire. That makes one take a second look at how deadly it can be.

Revelation 21:8

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Fear starts as a thought. It starts when something not favourable comes into your heart, and then after thinking about it for a while, it begins to affect the way you feel, and then the way you act. So, fear doesn’t just stop at our thoughts, it goes on to wreck havoc on our feelings, actions and ultimately on our lives. 

I once read the story of a woman who was always scared of thieves barging into her home, even when it has never happened before. However, the day some thieves did enter her house, her husband said to them, “welcome, my wife has been expecting you for a long time”.

And this is what fear does. It makes you anticipate negative things that may never even happen, but makes you suffer for them, as if they have happened already. It keeps your mind in bondage and rules your thoughts. 

However, as children of God, we must take our stand against this negative Spirit and refuse to allow it control our lives. And one way to do this is to guard our heart jealously.

We must guard the thoughts that we allow into our hearts. We must be mindful of the things we see, hear, feel, taste and even smell, because these things affect our thoughts.

For example, if you keep listening to bad and negative news about students who failed their final examination; unconsciously, you too would begin to nurse the fear of failing your exam.

Now, asides guarding your heart from the wrong things, you must also begin to focus your mind on the right things.

The mind does not exist in a vacuum. So, while you are trying not to let the wrong things into your mind, you need to let in the right things.

And the best way to fill your heart with the right thoughts is by diligently reading and meditating on the word of God. This would help you focus your thoughts on the will of God, helping you form new thoughts, feelings and actions that are in line with God’s word. 

Scriptures to Meditate on for this week to Overcome Fear

Jeremiah 42:11

Do not fear the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid. Do not fear him, declares the LORD, for I am with you, to save you and to deliver you from his hand.”

Lamentations 3:57

You came near when I called on you; you said, ‘Do not fear!’

Matthew 10:28

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 10:31

Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

2 Timothy 1:7

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

Hebrews 13:6

So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

Psalms 94:19

When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.

So, I hope that you begin to take your stand against fear today, and live your life as God intended. If you learnt something from this, kindly share this post with a teenager you know or a friend around you.

I would also love to hear what you think on how we can overcome fear, drop your thoughts in the comment section below.

10 Sure-proof Ways to Break Free from Low Self-worth

Breaking free from low self-worth takes time. Thus, you need patience to go through this phase.

However, is it doable? Absolutely!

In the last two posts, I wrote on what low self worth is, as well as its effects on individuals. Catch up on them, to learn. 

So, for this post, we would focus on 10 sure-proof ways to break free from low self-worth, and live a victorious life in Christ. Let’s get to it. 

1. Choose your focus:

Energy goes where attention flows. And anything you focus on becomes bigger and more obvious. So, to overcome low self-worth, you need to consciously choose what you focus on.

No one is totally perfect and flawless. And while you might make some mistakes, you need to understand that focusing on those mistakes and continually beating yourself up over them, wouldn’t change anything. In fact, it worsens the situation.

So, to overcome low self-worth, you need to focus on the right things. Focus on your strengths and not weaknesses. Focus on those you love and who love you in return.

Philippians 4:8 

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.

2. Cultivate positive self-talk

The internal conversation you have with yourself is one of the greatest determinant of how you feel about yourself. A positive and warm inner voice leads to a high esteem, and a condemning and negative inner voice leads to low self-worth.

So, for you to overcome low self-worth, you need to silence that critical inner voice that continually whispers negative things to you. You need to flip the script and say positive things about and to yourself.

And as you do this, your perception about yourself would change; leading to an improved self-worth. Start using these declarations from today to change your self-talk from negative to positive. 

3. Improve your relationship with others:

Your relationship with people around you affects your feelings and ultimately, your self-worth. Thus, if you can maintain a good relationship with others, it would lead you to being at peace.

However, if the opposite is the case, it leads to being uncomfortable, and can trigger negative feelings.

Now, this doesn’t equal people-pleasing. This simply refers to being at peace with others, to help us lead more peaceable lives. 

Hebrews 12:14 

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

4. Stop overthinking:

Another way to overcome low self-worth is by pausing that engine of over-thinking.

Yes, I get it. You did something not so good, and now you have over-analyzed the situation, and turned it over in your mind a thousand times.

My dear, that will change nothing. Over thinking only makes you anxious; so, you need to stop it now! 

Matthew 6:27 

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

5. Be kind to yourself and forgive yourself:

Source: Pexels

One factor common to individuals with low self-worth is the inability to be kind to yourself, and to forgive yourself when things go wrong.

Life happens, and sometimes you may do things you are not proud of. However, being kind to yourself and forgiving yourself is an indispensable trait, if you want to overcome negative and condemning thoughts.

You need to extend grace to yourself, just like you do to others. You also deserve to be forgiven, and not beat yourself up over every issue.

Give yourself grace today! Forgive yourself today, please. 

6. Stop comparing yourself with others:

Comparison is a serious signal of low self-worth. Thus, to break out, you need to stop this act of devaluing yourself.

Yes, it is an act of devaluation. Because the more you compare yourself, the more you become blind to the uniqueness that God has created in you.

You must learn to embrace and accept yourself. Don’t base your self-worth on how you are better or worse than someone. You are worth more than that in God’s sight.

2 Corinthians 10:12

For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

7. Don’t base your worth on people’s commendation:

Another important thing is not to base your worth on people’s commendation or praise. See, it is easy to get carried away and feel good with yourself when people praise you. However, this should not be what determines how good you feel about yourself.

Man’s opinion is always fickle! Remember when the people turned against Jesus and asked that he be crucified, a few days after they hailed him Hosanna? People’s opinion would always turn with the tide. 

So, your view of yourself must not be based on people’s opinions. Instead, it must be based on what God’s word says about you. And this is why, your relationship with God must be solid!

Psalms 139:14 

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

8. Be patient with yourself:

Breaking out of low self-worth is not a day’s journey. It is a gradual and steady work, which would yield great results, if you do the work daily. 

Thus, it is key that you are patient with yourself as you walk this journey from where you are, to where you want to be.

Hebrews 6:12

That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

9. Surround yourself with positive people:

Source: Pexels

Surrounding yourself with positive individuals who encourage you is also important in this journey. You need people who speak positively and not negatively. 

You need people who would ignite your fire, and not those that would kill it. You need encouragers, not discouragers.

Ecclesiastes 4:9, 12

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

If you need someone to speak to, send a message to me at ibukunoluwakinsha98@gmail.com. And I would respond speedily.

10. Study, mediate and declare God’s word every day:

I saved the best for the last. Yes! The word of God is the most potent force to overcome low self-worth and break out of its stronghold.

And a consistent study, meditation and declaration of God’s word would yield the greatest result in the shortest time. The best cure of all times!

Therefore, as you go on this journey, you need to have certain scriptures that you study, meditate on and declare every day. 

Scriptures to study, meditate on and declare everyday

Genesis 1:27

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Psams 27: 3

Though an army beseige me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. 

Proverbs 28: 1

The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.”

For more scriptures, kindly check the previous articles written on low self-worth. You can also write them down in your notebook, and keep declaring them every day. 

So, I hope this series of articles have blessed you as much as they have blessed me. If so, kindly drop a comment and share this with a friend or a teenager you know.

God is rooting for you! 

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!

Overcoming Low Self-Worth: What God says about You

One lie the devil sells to God’s children is that they are of no value. He brings negative and critical thoughts to hold you captive and torments your mind with self-criticism. 

He reminds you of your past mistakes and brings condemnation to make you feel bad about yourself. And this is all to make you feel low and worthless. 

However, this is not how God thinks about you. And this is not how He wants you to live.

So, in this article, I talk about what low self-worth is, what causes low self-worth, what God says about you, and some books to read to overcome low self-worth. And in subsequent posts, I would write about other aspects of low self-worth and how to overcome it.

And it is my prayer that these series of articles liberate you from low self-worth, and elevate you into who God wants you to be. Let’s dig right in. 

What is Low Self Worth?

Low self-worth is a feeling of worthlessness, which comes from having a critical and negative view of yourself. When you view yourself from a negative angle, you will always focus on the negative things you did or the mistakes you made. 

You would never remember when you did the right thing or helped someone in need. And what this does is keep you in a stronghold of defeating and condemning thoughts.

Causes of Low Self-Worth

1. What you believe about yourself:

The things you believe about yourself would influence your self-worth. So, negative beliefs lead to low self worth, while positive beliefs lead to high self-worth.

Proverbs 23:7a:  

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.

Now, most of us have wrong beliefs about ourselves. And most of these beliefs have their root in wrong words people have said to us, past mistakes we made, the lies of the enemy, etc.

And once we accept and believe these negative words, it would lead to negative thoughts and a low self-worth.

So, let me ask you…

What do you believe about yourself? What mistakes have you made in the past, which you have taken as part of your identity? 

Probably, you did something wrong to someone, and you were called out for it. And now, you have pondered over it a billion times, and it has become a lie that you believe about yourself.

Look here, you can make mistakes and errors. However, that doesn’t define who you are. Only Christ defines you.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

2. Disapproval from Authority Figures:

Another thing that causes low self-worth is being disapproved of by authority figures. This could be one’s parents, teachers, or anyone one looks up to. And even if this disapproval happens in childhood, it can follow one into adulthood.

However, I am here to tell you that human invalidation or disapproval does not invalidate you before God.

Do you even know what you are? I mean, do you know who God has made you to be?

A whole Masterpiece like you!

Beloved of Abba!

Apple of God’s eyes!

Ephesians 2:10 NLT

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

So, people will always have their opinions and reasons for disapproving of you. However, those reasons should not be what you base your life on.

Instead, focus on what God says about you and His opinions of you. 

What God says about You

Isaiah 62:3-5 

Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.

Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.

For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.

The thoughts and opinions of God towards you are beautiful. They are genuine thoughts of good and not evil. And these are the thoughts you should base your life on. They are the thoughts you should believe about yourself and ponder on. 

God made you. And so, only He can give the best and most perfect definition of who you are. Thus, make it a habit to meditate on God’s word always and focus your mind and thoughts on God’s opinion about you.

Look at yourself from the mirror of God’s word.

Scriptures to Meditate on for the Week:

Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

1 Peter 2:9 NLT

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. 

As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

Psalms 139:14‭-‬17 NLT

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. 

You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. 

You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!

Wrapping Up

Finally, here is a list of Christian books for you to read to overcome low self-worth.

1. The Confident Woman: Start today living boldly and without fear by Joyce Meyer

2. Help me, I’m insecure by Joyce Meyer

3. Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer.

4.  The Search for Significance: Seeing Your True Worth Through God’s Eyes by Robert McGee

5. Self-Worth: Discover Your God-Given Worth (Hope for the Heart) by June Hunt

In the next post, I would discuss how low self-worth blinds you from your identity in Christ. Till then, keep your mind focused on God’s word, and think only good and godly thoughts about yourself.

Philippians 4: 8 NLT

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

If this post blessed you in any way, kindly leave a comment and share with others too. I love you dearly.

7 Powerful Steps to help you Study the Bible Consistently

God’s Word is one of the greatest gifts given to humanity. I mean, we have access to the very words of God and Jesus himself while on earth. Such a privilege! 

Hence, the study of God’s word is very important if you want to build a relationship with Him. 

God’s word is God himself! He is not separate from his word, and he honours his word more than His Holy name.

John 1:1:

In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

God’s word is all-powerful. And it was this same Word that was used to create heaven and earth. 

John 1:2-3:

The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made.

Also, when God was creating the earth, it was his Word that was used. His word was pronounced and all he said came to pass. And it is still this same Word that we have today, which is written in the Bible.

Genesis 1:3:

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

Now, one of the importance of studying God’s word is that it can changes our lives. It has transformative power!

Hebrews 4:12:

For the word of God is quick, powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The Word of God can make you into a changed person. And this only happens when you apply it to your life. However, before you can apply it, you need to first read it, right?

Now, beyond reading and studying God’s word, another important thing to do is to meditate and think about it. 

What does meditation mean?

Meditation means giving careful and thorough thought to something. It means to read something, and then think about what you have read. It’s that simple!

When we study the word of God, we must not only read, just to say, “Okay, I have read my Bible today”. Rather, we must also take time to think about what we have read, and think about how we can apply it to our lives. 

For example, if you read this scripture below:

Psalms 23:1:

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

If you only read it, you would only get a simple understanding of God being a shepherd and because of that, we shall not lack. However, when you meditate on that scripture, you get a deeper understanding. 

To start, you would try to understand who a shepherd is. And a shepherd is someone that takes care of a sheep. Then you understand that “Okay, so, I am the sheep and God is my shepherd”.

Then, when you meditate more, you get more understanding that a Shepherd always carries the sheep around to give them food. For example, if you have seen some herdsmen/women and how they lead their cows around to get food, then you would understand this. 

However, God does more than these herdsmen/women do. He carries and leads us; as well as provides all that we need. He cares for us, nurtures us and takes care of all our needs. And because of this, we shall not want.

Now, all this understanding can only be gotten when you meditate, and not only when you read. Do you understand?

Materials you need to Study God’s Word

1. Your Bible

2. A notebook or journal

3. A pen

Other Study Resources to Help you

1. An audio bible you can listen to

2. Other Bible translations

3. An online bible plan or a bible study manual

7 Powerful Steps to Studying and Meditating on God’s Word Consistently 

Step 1: Pick a time to study God’s word

The first thing to do that would help you study God’s word consistently is to dedicate time to it. Dedicating time to the study of God’s word would help you because whenever that time comes, your mind would immediately go to studying the word.

You could decide to do it in the morning before you go to school/work; or after school/work. Also, set a time duration for the bible study. This could be for 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, etc.

Step 2: Have a plan for what to study

It is also important to have a plan for what you intend to study. And you can do this‌ in many ways.

To start, you can pick a topic/issue to study. For example, if you want to learn about faith at a particular time, you can focus on that for your Bible study. Other topics you can focus on include academic excellence, provision for your parents, overcoming fear, holiness, etc.

You can also decide to study the life of a bible character, to learn from their journey. For example, if you want to learn about faith, you can study the life of Abraham. If you want to learn how to please God, you can study the life of David and Jesus. And if you want to learn about how to excel in school or work, you can read about Daniel, etc. 

Lastly, you can also study the bible by picking a book of the Bible to study. This can be any book of the bible, depending on what you want to learn. For example, if you want to learn how to live rightly and wisely, you can read the book of Proverbs, if you want to learn about Thanksgiving, read Psalms, and if you want to learn about your new life in Christ, read Colossians, etc.

Step 3: Pray

Before you study the Bible, it is important to pray. This is so that the Holy Spirit gives you a thorough understanding of God’s word. 

When you pray before studying the bible, you are inviting the Spirit of God into the study. And He would make all scriptures clear to you. 

This is an important step that must not be skipped!

Step 4: Study based on your plan

After you pray, it is now time to study the bible based on the plan you made in Step 2. Take your Bible, find a comfortable and quiet place to sit, then study the scriptures you have in your study plan.

Also, after reading, make sure that you understand what the scriptures is about, and that you can explain them to another person. 

Step 5: Write what you learn

After reading, it is also important to write what you have learnt. You can also write the action points from the scriptures that you would apply to your life. 

This is key because we are not only to be readers or hearers of God’s word, we must also be doers. And this is what changes our lives!

James 1:22-25:

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

For if any be a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Step 6: Meditate and Memorize

After writing the key points learnt and to be applied, you then move to meditate on what you have read. This is important so that you don’t forget, and so that the scriptures you have read can guide you as you go about your daily activities.

Meditation on God’s word is so powerful! It helps you keep God’s word in your heart, to overcome the devil’s lies which come as negative thoughts. 

Also, when you fill your heart with God’s word, it helps you to overcome any form of challenges or emotions of fear, anxiety, worry, etc. that may try to enter your mind. In addition, it helps you to have a scripture for every situation so that nothing catches you off-guard!

Joshua 1:8:

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

After meditation, you should also memorize a verse or two, or as many as you can. This helps you to respond to situations around you, as you ought to.

Step 7: Pray after studying

After meditation and memorization, you should then pray for God to help you be a doer of His Word. Also, pray for more light and understanding of his Word.

Final Thoughts

Bible Study is one of the most intimate ways to know God better. It is also the means by which God confirms messages gotten through other channels like dreams, prophecy, etc.

This means that if you have any dream or receive a prophecy that the word of God does not agree with or confirm, then that dream or prophecy is not from the Lord.

However, you can only know this when you are a student of the Bible. And this can be achieved by consistently studying God’s word, through the 7 powerful steps discussed above.

So, what are you currently studying in the bible? For me, I am studying on having the right thoughts and focusing my thoughts on God.

What about you? I would like to hear from you in the comments.

5 Ways to Overcome Distractions to Fulfil My Purpose

There are many hindrances that you would encounter in your journey to purpose fulfilment. And while these hindrances are bound to come, a way of escape is also available to help you scale through.

Many have died without fulfilling their purpose to the highest level that God intended. The hustles of life, the desire to make much money, unhealthy competition with others, laziness, etc. distracted many of them.

However, this is not God’s will. He is much more interested in the fulfilment of our purpose than we even are. So, in this article, we would examine some ways to overcome the hindrances that may want to prevent you from fulfilling your purpose.

1. Build a consistent life of fellowship with God: 

The first way to overcome the hindrances that may be in your way to purpose fulfilment is by building a great relationship with God. And you achieve this through consistent fellowshiping with Him, in prayers, and His Word.

When you daily fellowship with God, you stay connected to the source of life. And this is one of the greatest requirements to live a purposeful life. 

As you fellowship with God, He would always prompt you and give you instructions on what to do on the journey of purpose fulfilment. He would teach you what to do, tell you the things to let go of, etc. He would also build you, equip you, and make you better, as you do His will.

Building a consistent life of fellowshiping with God would give you a heavenly perspective on your purpose and its importance. He would place burdens in your heart about your purpose. And those burdens would always drive you to seek him more.

He would set you ablaze, aflame, and aglow for him! You would be too on fire to be distracted! You would be the one soul that serves the Lord, and because of you, a generation would be led to him.

2. Make your eyes single:

Another way to overcome hindrances in your journey of purpose fulfilment is to make your eyes single. Set your face like a flint. Stay focused! 

Know what God requires of you, and focus solely on it. Don’t be distracted. 

You shouldn’t compare yourself to others. Don’t compete. Don’t run faster than others that you miss your destination. Make your eyes single!

Read also: 7 Steps to take to fulfil your purpose

3. Create a schedule:

You should also create a system and a schedule that makes it easy for you to fulfil your purpose. After knowing what God requires of you, and identifying your goals and objectives, it is time to create a productivity system.

If your assignment is to reach out to teenage girls through writing blogs, physical meetings, etc. You should create your blog topics for the month ahead of time. Also, create a time on your calendar for your monthly meetings ahead of time, and stay conscious of those commitments.

Block out time in your schedule weekly to focus solely on what God has instructed you to do. Then stick to that schedule consistently. When you do this, with time, it would become a part of you.

4. Join a community of like-minded visionaries:

Joining a community of like-minded individuals who are also on their journey to purpose fulfilment would also help you stay focused on your journey, too. 

Proverbs 27:17

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

When you walk with the wise, you become wiser. In the same vein, when you walk with people of the same mind, they encourage and push you to be more intentional and focused on your purpose, too.

You would love: 5 Simple ways to discover your purpose as a teenager

5. Get a deep understanding of the importance and urgency of your purpose:

This is a crucial point that every person should know. Your purpose is VERY important to the world, and the world awaits your manifestation. A generation would keep groaning in pain till you arise. So, you can’t afford to keep stalling and wasting time.

Also, remember, you don’t have all the time in the world. Hence, once you are instructed by God to go, just go. Don’t doubt it. Don’t be afraid!

Live with a sense of urgency. And live a life that deserves the statement, “Welcome, good and faithful Servant. Come into the joy of your Lord. “

So, which of these strategies are you currently applying in your life as a visionary sent by God? 

Or which other tips would you like to add, which have worked for you? I would love to learn from you, too.

Kindly share this article with a friend, and be a part of this move of God!