Making Promises
Another “Life Practice” I’d like to share with you is on making promises. William Shakespeare once said that “words are easy” and he’s right. I think most of us share a lot, say too much and find ourselves making promises that we do not even remember. What I learned about making promises is that the words we utter have creative powers. Everything God created, He used words to call them into existence. That’s why your words can make or break your life. When we speak, the physical and the spirit realm bears witness and they use those words to create the reality of what you said.
I remember making a pledge to my church in 2023 and someone else needed the help urgently of the same amount that I had pledged to the church. I thought to myself, well, it’s the same thing, isn't it? Helping a fellow human with what I had promised God that I will give to the church. No, it’s not the same. I learned a tough lesson and had to go back to redeem myself this year. Do you know that as soon as I honored my promise, God actually blessed me with a gift Four (4) times the one I gave? I intend to fulfill it monthly. I also learned to not exchange or replace my promises or use it for something else even if it is well meaning.
The same is true of ANY and EVERY promise you utter to someone. The heavens bear witness as soon as these promises are uttered and I can assure you that there are consequences if you break the promises. I’m sharing from experience and from learning the hard way so you don’t have to. When Jesus said in Matthew 5:37 KJV that “But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.”, it’s exactly what it is. In order words, say what you mean and mean what you say - do what you said you will do. If you can’t walk the talk, then don’t talk at all. (literal translation).
I’ve become mindful of what I say and the promises I make - I only promise what I can deliver - not wishing on stars. Even when I can deliver over and above what I promised, I keep it simple and then over deliver on the promise. BUT, if you make a promise, and you have the ability to deliver and you don’t, please note that the people and heavens that bore witness will judge against you. If you’ve never read this scripture below, please take it to heart from today onwards:
Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 NIV
“When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.”
I pray for you this week that the Lord will enable you to fulfill every promise you have made to Him and to people. AMEN.
XOXO,
Lady Abena.
Contentment, Not Complacency
Welcome back! How was your Valentine’s Day and weekend? Did I tell you this new part of me where I keep my life simple and less complicated? 🙂 If any special occasion finds me with loads of goodies, fine with me, if it doesn’t I’m still fine. No matter how life swings, I’m alright. I’ve learned to be content like Apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:11-12 NIV,
“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
With my few years of experience on earth, I’ve come to understand that we get disappointed and discontented in life, mostly because we fail to meet people’s expectations of us. It’s true. It’s not even the expectations we set for ourselves, but rather, what we think other people perceive us to be or become. Question is, who are you living your life for? Others? It’s a blessing when your life can be an inspiration to others, but at no cost should you be miserable in life just to please others. Wherever God has placed you and I in life, let’s be grateful and content but by all means, add to what you have been given. Grow it like the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30).
I look at my life as a ladder which goes all the way up into the heavens and I am climbing it daily. Which means, I’m not complacent and stuck where I am, but working actively each day to get to the destination God has destined for me to be in life. I’ve shared several times that I don’t plan to ever retire from working. I work for myself and I intend to apply myself in every area God will have me as long as I am breathing. The goal is not to be working because I need money, but because I don’t want my talent, knowledge and skills to remain dormant and not bless my generations. By the many graces of God upon my life, adding His wisdom and anointing to my value and skill, I’ll never be in want or lack and neither will my children. It’s a blessing to be able to speak this boldly but it is also the truth and I work to make this truth manifest every day.
It is said that “when you stop living, you start dying” - it is so true and the same principle in this that when you stop applying yourself in life, you’ll become dormant. The devil they also say finds work for idle hands so I pray daily that my life will never be idle in any shape or form. Get busy living your purposes out and do it for God, yourself, your family and humanity. Whichever level you are currently on on your ladder of life, be content and keep working at it to get to the next level.
Be blessed this week and may the Lord increase your capacity to grow daily. AMEN!
XOXO,
Lady Abena.
Right The Wrongs
Let’s get back to the Life Practices which I've been sharing for the past few weeks. To right a wrong is not a very popular thing for many of us because our human nature is inherent with pride and ego. We are very prone to creating offenses and injustices. Ignorance, disobedience, pride, immaturity, even spiritual manipulation, etc. can make us the offenders.
Just a few days ago, my mom and I were discussing offenses and people who have done some wrongs even towards us and I shared something which she said was very profound. What I shared was that, a lot of times when people cause others pain and grief in life, and then they come to the saving grace of Jesus Christ, they are completely forgiven of all their sins and past crimes. Sometimes it looks as if they got away with hurting people and then ran to Jesus Christ and it’s all ‘kumbaya’ for them, but, until they make peace with the person who was the recipient of their atrocity and pain, it doesn’t matter where you stand with God, that bad experience you gave to someone can place a legal hold on your life. You’re free but not free. You’re free with God but not free with men.
That is how most prisoners feel - they are remorseful, repentant and even reformed from their wrong actions, yet, they will serve out their term unless the victim’s family agrees to an early pardon. They are free and forgiven by God but still in prison. In Genesis 4:10 AMP, the blood of Abel was crying out from the ground, asking for justice and vindication. Our voices are not silenced even in death, how much more when the person is alive and breathing? Every time they call your name for being the cause of their pain and speak negatively, they are reinforcing and reminding every force on earth, clean or unclean, of their legal right to place a hold on you. Words have so much power and we are all victims or victors of the words spoken for or against our lives.
God forgives you 100% but there are consequences to every action. So, while you make your peace with God, never forget to make peace with people as well - especially anyone that you know you have wronged or caused them pain. Don't forget that Satan's other name is "The Accuser" and even he has a legal voice in the judicial system of God. What God has forgiven you, Satan can use that as a hold to still cause you harm. It is the same God that said in the bible that He will remember the sins of the Fathers, even to the 4th generation. What doesn’t get resolved with you can affect your descendants somehow so make peace with people while you still can and while you are still breathing. A time might come and you will not have the chance to. "I am sorry, forgive me" can cease wars and bring peace to your life and others'. It doesn't take away your value, matter of fact, it increases your value as a person. That you're strong but humble enough to recognize when you err.
I pray for you this week that as you approach Valentine’s Day, you will find courage in your heart to reach out to anyone you need to make peace with and humbly ask them to forgive you. You would have done your part and then leave the rest to God.
XOXO,
Lady Abena