He Saved Me From Myself!
You’re wondering who aren’t you? I mean my father Jesus. I’ll tell you what, for a very long time in my life I felt like I was carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. Honestly, I was, I kind of still do but I’ll tell you what’s happening now. During the last quarter of 2021, I got a consulting gig in New Orleans for over Two months. Then just this last Two weeks, I found myself in Santa Barbara, CA. These Two opportunities were such a blessing to me and I wondered why God brought them my way, knowing I have to be away from home?
Truth is, He knew my body, soul and spirit needed it. It was a time of some separation from my normalcy and when I was alone, I had time to think, rethink, dream and re-dream, plan and unplan. You just think about everything your brain could process and I was processing them faster than a computer’s Central Processing Unit (CPU). One thing stood out, that my life thus far hasn’t been light. It has been quite a heavy one. One of these nights, as I laid quietly in my room, I felt GOD asking me, “do you trust Me?” I said “ I DO”. Then I asked myself this time, if I trust God then why do I worry so much about everything? There was stillness everywhere and I quickly reflected on all the challenges, obstacles and situations I faced and how God prevailed and continues to prevail. So truly, why am I still worrying and keeping a long list of things that must happen and I am working so hard to figure it out on my own?
I came to the end of myself and I said a heartfelt prayer - “Father, save me from myself”. It felt like a self-deliverance session for me that night. I sensed an unusual calmness in my spirit and in my mind. Somehow I felt I had let go of something and someone was receiving it with an outstretched hand. I have taken a different approach to my life. I'll give it my ALL in excellence but not doing it on my own strength because the Lord knows I’ve crashed a few times on my own. I have to completely trust the same Father who has carried me and continues to carry me daily. To not allow any one or any situation to project any doubt, fear, worry or anxiety into my day. Even when I don’t see the sun, I will still trust Him. I know it sounds hard to do but honestly, He has never forsaken me. He has never disappointed me or abandoned me. Even the tough situations I got myself into by following my own will, He saved me from it. So why can’t I trust Him? With all the news of accidents on the road that we read every morning, has it deterred any of us from getting into our cars and driving? Look at how COVID silenced the world for almost a year, have we stopped living because of it? I even trusted the pilots to fly me safely to and from my destinations without ever thinking for a minute that they are human beings and can make mistakes.
Seriously, whichever way I turn, going to bed and waking up every morning is a risk on its own. Life is a risk and only God, the One who created it, can give us the security we need in life. I’ve written this scripture boldly on my heart and mind as a alert system to ensure that I don’t so relapse into worrisome self anymore;
Proverbs 3:5-6 AMP
Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart
And do not rely on your own insight or understanding. [a]In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].
I want the best out of life, and if Jeremiah 29:11 was spoken by Him, then I know He wants the best for me and everyone else. But, doing life on our own will cause us to crash. Whatever weight you’re carrying, can I ask you to try what I did? Leave it all to the Father and see what He does with it. You’ll be amazed - doing life with Jesus is easier!
XOXO,
Lady Abena.
Declarations For February 2022
Who can separate me from His love?
February is recognized as the month of love with the Fourteenth day officially declared as the day when lovers express their affection for each other with greetings and gifts. Some have expanded this day of love to include family and friends. I remember my late uncle Moore and my dad used to send me cards with some money in it when I was in High School. As I grew older, I came to understand why they did that - it was their way of keeping me away from the boys. How smart huh? They wanted me to feel the love of the father, that it supersedes any love or affection I will receive from those younglings running around campus. I know there are so many people who are hurting, disappointed in love, wondering if love will ever find them or who even feel that no one loves them. I am here to declare Romans 8:35-37 AMP over your life, that you are loved by a Father who is incomparable.
I decree and declare that;
- No one shall ever separate me from the love of Christ.
- No tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword.
- I am more than a conqueror.
- I have an overwhelming victory through Him who loved me so much that He died for me.
- I am convinced and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate me from the unlimited love of God, which is in Christ Jesus my Lord and savior.
I declare it is so and so it is in Jesus’ name. AMEN!
XOXO
Lady Abena.
Discern
In my studying of scriptures, I noticed a lot of emphasis and sometimes caution on how we as believers should be very DISCERNING. The Collins Dictionary defines DISCERN as “to perceive by the sight or some other sense or by the intellect; see, recognize, or apprehend”. For me, to be discerning is becoming aware of what is happening in and around you and also, understanding the source of that thing.
Let me attempt to break this down for you, a lot has been happening around me lately and I have to tell you that they are all good stuff. Anytime I think of something, as my spirit prays for it even without me uttering the words out loud, it happens or somehow I receive it. I think about people that I haven’t connected with in months or even years and in less than 24 hours, they are calling or texting me. These occurrences were beginning to disturb me but I was led to various scriptures which explained what happens when our spiritual senses are activated and elevated. I used the word “disturbed” because I was forced to be careful what I think and desire for myself and others. We truly are spiritual beings and I am recognizing that each day.
1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”
That scripture is so true. The natural me was interpreting everything as either a coincidence or as some may call it, luck. My dear friend who’s reading this blog, “coincidence” and “luck” do not exist in the life of a believer. We are spiritual beings and everything that happens is already orchestrated in the spirit before it manifests in the physical realm. When you have this mindset ingrained in you, you will become more discerning. Discernment can save you so much trouble in life. You will avoid errors and situations that cause unwarranted delays and mishaps in your life. A discerning life is one filled with divine wisdom and knowledge from God. You perceive what is at work and you act immediately. Spiritual Ignorance is a topic I am going to reserve for another day but can I tell you that most of us have suffered and continue to suffer because we are not spiritually intelligent? I know this because I was a victim of spiritual ignorance for a very long time and I am grateful for the illumination of the word of God in my life which is now beginning to correct my spiritual lens and awareness. The missed opportunities, the people we drove out of our lives because we lacked discernment to know that they were part of our destinies, the unnecessary afflictions and torment we got ourselves into because we didn’t see all the signs and warnings God was giving us. The list goes on but even just calling them out wearies me.
The good news is, God is one who gives mega second chances. Yes - He does. When you give up your own triune (Me, Myself and I) and take on the divine one, (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), he starts to shift your focus and awakens your spirit man. What seems like foolishness to others is wise to you because you can discern what God is doing through that. When people are running out you will be running in. You see light even in the darkest corners and you begin to fly over mountains instead of waiting for them to be demolished.
This week, make a conscious effort to DISCERN!
XOXO,
Lady Abena.