Declarations for May 2024
Welcome to the fifth month of 2024 and yes we have made it thus far through all the odds. The storms are roaring and daytime fades so quickly into the night - it can get a bit scary sometimes. The spirit of the Lord took me to the book of Joshua, chapter One (1) and I noticed something so prevalent, “be strong and courageous” is noted several times so let’s declare this several times this month:
- I am strong and courageous, because the Lord has appointed me to lead my family to inherit the land He swore our ancestors to give us. (Joshua 1:6 paraphrased)
- I will be strong and very courageous. (Joshua 1:7 paraphrased)
- The Lord has commanded me to be strong and courageous. I will not be afraid; I will not be discouraged, for the Lord my God will be with me wherever I go.” (Joshua 1:9 paraphrased)
I declare strength and courage in our lives this month. That anything and anyone that exalts itself above the name of Jesus Christ in our lives will be brought down. It is so and so it is in Jesus’ name. AMEN!
XOXO,
Lady Abena.
Enjoy Your Blessings
I honestly do not know if it’s because most of us started from a simple household where you only had your needs met and not your wants BUT, it’s a real challenge for some of us to splurge a little even when we can afford it. May the Lord deliver us from this. I mean it! The amount of obituaries I see on my social media newsfeed is a daily reminder that our days are really numbered. I ask myself, what are we toiling and working all our lives for? By all means, be a blessing to others but also, do not cheat yourself out of the good things of life if you can afford them.
Life has a way of making you feel guilty about enjoying the pleasures of life and my question is, where else will you enjoy the blessings that God has created for us on this earth? I do not subscribe to that doctrine that teaches people to remain poor and convince them that God wants us to suffer here on earth, give up all we have worked for so we can go to heaven and enjoy life there instead. The God I know said that it gives Him pleasure to give us the desires of our heart. I also read so many times in the bible where he blessed men and made the great with wealth, riches and honor. So, my dear brother or sister reading this blog, when God blesses you, please enjoy your blessings because it is your lot. Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 NIV says it all:
“I have seen personally what is the only beneficial and appropriate course of action for people:
to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all their hard work on earth during the few days of their life that God has given them, for this is their reward.
To every man whom God has given wealth and possessions, He has also given him the ability to eat from them, to receive his reward, and to find enjoyment in his toil; these things are the gift of God.
For he does not think much about the fleeting days of his life because God keeps him preoccupied with the joy he derives from his activity.”
My prayer for you this week is that the Lord will bless you abundantly and when He does, be a blessing to humanity and also enjoy the blessings. AMEN!
XOXO,
Lady Abena.
Less Is More, Cut The Waste
If you’re ever tired of hearing that less is more, please don’t be because it gives you a much better quality of life. You’ll be amazed how much waste we gather in our lives when you start cleaning out - from your closet to kitchen to the monthly expenses. One of my life nuggets that I want to share with you is to take an inventory of your whole life - I mean every area of your life and do a ‘tummy tuck’ in each area.
Humans are natural hoarders if you ask me and we like to hold on to things even when they are expired. Our wants outweigh our needs and so we go for everything we want especially for many people who have access to get things they want. Even the one that has severe needs, given the opportunity to choose, he/she will go for the things they desire versus what they need. Letting go is not in our DNA but when you finally overcome that, you’ll find a more enriched quality of life than too much quantity which devalues your life.
You can begin to cut the waste in every area of your life including the time you even spend on things that do not make you productive. Always think about quality versus quantity and gather just what you need so you do not throw away so much. Even Jesus cautioned in John 6:12 after feeding the 5000 that the rest of the food be gathered and stored and not thrown to waste.
“And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.”
I pray for you this week that the Lord will empower you to be a good steward of the resources He has blessed you with. AMEN!
XOXO
Lady Abena.