Pursue Good Knowledge
I mentioned in my blog last week that I’ll be sharing some life practices that have helped me greatly and continue to be a blessing to me. In my son’s words, “sharing is caring mommy.” Consider this “Life Practice Number One” pursuing good knowledge. Do you know that for most people, since they graduated from school, they have not picked up any book to read? Very few people are committed to reading and we have become victims of this generation who would rather scroll through pictures or watch short clips on social media than pick up a book or an article to read. Thanks to technology, we now have digital books, audio and other formats. I mentioned “Good Knowledge” because whatever book or information you choose to invest your time in must be something that edifies you and progresses your life somehow.
Reading requires that you carve out time in your busy day to make it happen. For the average person, working and taking care of families and other commitments, it’s almost impossible to make out that time. Here’s what I committed to, 30 minutes every night to read a chapter of a book. I also spend another hour reading the scriptures and praying before I sleep. I canceled my cable television subscription about 3 years ago because I had gone for a whole year without watching a single show on TV. I spend that time on reading a life-building book and studying the bible. It’s a huge sacrifice I’ve had to make but to be honest with you, it has paid off for me greatly. I’ve seen growth in every area of my life and I don’t intend to stop this life practice until the day I die.
The bible even cautions that “my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.”, (Hosea 4:6(a)). So, in everything you chase in life, be sure to chase knowledge so you are empowered in your decision making. Find that 30 minutes each day to read and yes, you might need to reduce your social media time or frivolous conversations or gossip with people but it’s worth it. Our lives and destinies are so precious and we cannot leave it to chance.
I pray for you this week that you will receive the grace to make time to pursue good knowledge so you can accomplish everything you set your mind to. AMEN!
XOXO,
Lady Abena.
How’s Your 2024 So Far?
January is an overly sensitive month for me - and for most people too. You find yourself in a new chapter of life and it can be exciting and scary at the same time. You look ahead into the next 12 months, read over your goals and plans for the year a billion times and then all kinds of emotions kick in. They kick in because for most of us, we had almost the same goals and plans for the last few years but they did not materialize so you’re wondering if this might be your year of breakthrough or come December 31, you’ll be staring at the same list of goals and plans.
For me, my January is a little more heavier - closing the year 2023, activating new initiatives, lots of business policies and processes to change or implement, renewing contracts, ending contracts, looking for new opportunities, trying to keep tabs on clients, staff, team members, family members, friends, everything and everyone. If you spend just 5 minutes in my head you will not survive. I’m serious about it so stay right outside of it 😂. Add on the raging INFLUENZA that caught me off guard for the last 2 weeks, these not so friendly snow storms here and there and Satan is also busy, kicking and throwing tantrums at us at every turn and corner. Whew! It's one HECK of a January I have to say. I don’t drink caffeine and sometimes I’m surprised how I make it through long hours in the day. I guess that’s a special grace from God that I do not take for granted.
In the midst of all these thoughts and activities, I work on keeping my peace and staying calm and focused. Matter of fact, I have experienced what He calls, "I give my beloved sleep." I sleep soundly at night in spite of all the frenetically busy schedules I live through in the day. Only God can do that. One scripture that keeps me sturdy is Isaiah 54:10 AMP;
““For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake,
But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you,
Nor will My covenant of peace be shaken,”
Says the Lord who has compassion on you.”
However your year is starting off, hopefully not as heavy as mine, I pray the same for you that you’d be reminded daily of God’s covenant to keep you at peace and secure. Be blessed this week and I’ll share some life practices with you in the coming weeks that have helped me greatly. AMEN!
XOXO,
Lady Abena.
Don't Survive, Overcome!
I’ve been thinking really deeply about this lately - anytime I hear someone say, “I survived this or that”, I’m reminded that the person is still living in spite of whatever danger or hardship they faced. It also means that the situation is still there - it hasn’t been completely eradicated. The person has just managed to find a way to live around the situation or manage it somehow. Then I am reminded of what Jesus said in John 16:33 ESV;
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have OVERCOME the world.”
The promise was that we are OVERCOMERS not survivors. When you overcome anything, it means you have defeated the situation or problem completely. You’re an overcomer because Jesus has already overcome the world. Let this sink in especially as you navigate through 2024. Whatever may come your way, remind yourself that you’re not going to just survive it but you will overcome it, defeat it and completely wipe it out because “Affliction of God’s people will not occur twice.” (Nahum 1:9b AMP).
May you live a life of an overcomer in 2024. I decree it is so and so it is in Jesus’ name. AMEN!
XOXO,
Lady Abena.