The Ultimate Plan
A lot of us set plans and goals for ourselves and especially coming into a new year like this one, oh, it is a must for most of us. It’s a good habit to live by because you cannot walk in life aimlessly, without an agenda or destination. I tell you what though, the problem is not the plans we set for ourselves but it is whether we commit our plans to God and allow Him to perfect these plans according to His will.
Someone asked me, “how do I know God’s plan for me?” In a simple response, it is anything that is good and progresses your life. Anything that does not bring you harm but gives you hope and a future. Most importantly, anything that glorifies God in your life and people can see it and bless God as well. If the plan does not show a God who is glorified through your life, it is not the ultimate plan. (Read Jeremiah 29:11).
Proverbs 19:21
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
I have seen how the year can go south when all your plans are scheduled to go upwards so I pray for you that in this year, the Lord’s purpose for our lives will be fulfilled and that purpose will prosper us in every area of our lives and give us total peace. I declare it is so and so it is in Jesus’ name. AMEN!
XOXO,
Lady Abena.
Speak Up
Here’s another life nugget this year - learn to speak up. William Shakespeare wrote in ‘Macbeth’ that “There's no art to find the mind's construction in the face.” In other words, no one can tell what you’re thinking by just looking at your face. A lot of us have so much to say and share which can bless someone or even save someone from a terrible situation but we like to stay silent and just watch events happen. Then, when it goes south, we will be the same people to say, “Oh, I thought of saying something…” but you didn’t.
God gave you a voice for a reason and even for people who medically have no voice, they still try to communicate their thoughts through signs or gadgets. So, you have a voice, why won't you speak up against wrong doing, injustice or even advocate for yourself? Some of us come from a culture where we have very high self-esteem because of our accruement but our confidence level to express ourselves is very low. Hence, we end up enduring experiences we could have avoided if only we spoke up for ourselves or communicated verbally what we actually wanted or did not want.
I’ve read many scriptures in the bible and in almost every situation, God asks the prophet to speak! Speaking is an important part of creating our realities so I pray for you that this year, you will develop the confidence to speak up and speak out what you desire, what you expect from others, against anything that does not align with your values and principles in life and against anything that hurts others. May the Lord help us all. AMEN.
XOXO,
Lady Abena.
Stay Calm
In the beginning of last year, I shared some little nuggets about life to help us navigate some situations. Well, let’s start again. Today’s nugget is about staying calm in the midst of whatever situation or storms will arise in your life this year. Yes - I know it’s easier said than done and of course I’m not in your shoes but if the bible is correct as it is, then please know that there is nothing new under this sun as Ecclesiastes 1:9 says. In other words, there’s nothing that you will encounter this year that someone hasn’t survived already, or is going through it or hasn’t overcome it. Problems go around just like the earth circles around the sun so when the dial stops, it is bound to find someone.
There’s a scripture that intrigues me every time I read it and it is Mark 4:38-40 (paraphrased). Jesus was sound asleep and unbothered on a boat which was in the middle of a raging storm. The disciples were so afraid and one of them out of frustration woke Jesus up, asking if He didn’t care that they were all about to die. Jesus stood up and at one command told the wind to be still and everything became calm instantly. He looked at the disciples, bemused and scolded them for their fear and lack of faith. Knowing very well who He was and that He was also on the boat with them.
Here’s your cue when you feel like you need to scream or jump or react and it is out of fear or panic, take a deep breadth and stay calm. Do everything in your power to calm yourself because in the midst of chaos, you can’t make the right decisions. Find a place of solace and revert to this scripture because with Christ in your boat, you will always smile at the storms. They will overwhelm you but they cannot drown you.
I pray for you this week that the Holy Spirit will calm your spirit in whatever storms may come your way.
I declare it is so and so it is in Jesus’ name. AMEN!
XOXO,
Lady Abena.