Perfection In Weakness
2 Corinthians 12:9 CJB: “..but he told me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is brought to perfection in weakness.” Therefore, I am very happy to boast about my weaknesses, in order that the Messiah’s power will rest upon me.”
Lately a sense of calm has invaded my life and I am milking it for all I can get. See, I have an A+ type personality which means that I have to get EVERYTHING to align perfectly. Like any decent human, I’ve always craved for control in my life - in any and every situation I found myself in. The Holy Spirit had to do a number on me to bring me to a place of total dependence on Him. He started by pulling apart all the things I cherished and the ones I’ve invested years and resources to build and establish. He brought me to a complete bareness and of course panic set in. I became insufficient all of a sudden and that feeling of helplessness and inadequacy, I will never wish on anyone. Then He started to teach me something that has shaped my life forever - that I cannot see His power at work in my life if I’m self-sufficient.
Come to think of it, I had been praying for His power to be made manifest in my life but He couldn’t manifest because I felt a sense of stability in the things and situations I had. So, He had to allow me to bend and even break just so I could see His power come through so mightily. Every morning like clock work, the enemy reminds me of how I have lost control over things and situations in my life but Jesus proves him wrong by coming through for me daily. He just shows up and does the undoable. I have learned to take my rest in Him. I’ve told him that I don’t see the full picture nor the end of the road but I trust Him to take me there each day and He does. He was so right when He admonished us not to worry about tomorrow and I’d like to say the same to you.
I pray for you that in any situation where you’re feeling weak and defeated, let His power be made perfect in it for His name sake. May He show up for your mightily this week and perfect everything that concerns you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
XOXO,
Lady Abena.
Parts Of The Messiah
1 Corinthians 6:15 CJB: Don’t you realize that your bodies are parts of the Messiah? So am I to take parts of the Messiah and make them parts of a prostitute? Heaven Forbid!
Did I mention to you that I got myself a Jewish Study Bible and truth be told it has opened my eyes to the Bible in a whole different dimension. There’s something about reading the Bible from its source, written by the people who it was originally meant for, before it traveled across seas to reach us here. I am enjoying my bible studies and like a hungry archaeologist, I keep making so many finds that are blessing my understanding of scripture and the mind of God.
In this verse, Paul cautions the people of Corinth about sexual immorality. To bring it home, Paul gives a perfect analogy of our connection to Jesus Christ, who now dwells in us since we have become saved and are now part of His body. Since we are spirit beings manifesting in a flesh, if the Spirit of God is in us, then He manifests through our flesh(body) as well. That said, we cannot compromise the body(flesh) which is hosting the Spirit of God. The bible declares the holiness of God, His spirit then cannot dwell in a broken body or sinful body. Holiness is an unbendable requirement to be able to walk with God and walk in His power and presence. Once you come to this realization, you are moved to cherish your body and keep it holy for the Lord. Every time we engage our bodies in anything we do, we have to be aware that we are engaging parts of the Messiah’s body. That’s enough reminder to engage our bodies in the right things that will not dispel the Spirit of God.
I pray that this week, you will make a conscious effort to purge anything in your body that makes it impossible for the Holy Spirit to manifest in you.
XOXO,
Lady Abena.
7+ Billion Graves
This past week has been one of death news around me - a few friends experienced losses. Can I tell you that until about a year ago, I didn’t not want to hear or have to process anything about death? I consciously locked any part of me that will even open myself to think of it. Deep inside of me I immortalized everyone - especially my friends and family. It was the reason why I took any death news so hard. I’d attend funerals of people that I happened to be in the same church community or societal organizations with and I would weep my heart and soul out. My tears will run so hard I can’t stop it because it’s coming from a deep part of me. That really hasn’t changed much as I still feel the pain of a loss when I hear it.
What changed for me was when God gave me a revelation to see and understand the death process. It was a journey that took months to renew my thinking pattern and transform my heart towards this “end of life” journey. The Holy Spirit nurtured me through what an eternal life looks like. Truthfully, that understanding added more burden because now every time I hear the news of death my first worry and question was if the person was saved and had accepted Christ as his Lord and personal savior. I then start to pray hoping that even if they did not have a relationship with God, that in their last moment and final breadth, they gave their lives to God. I selfishly want to see everyone in eternity, cuddling around the Throne of God.
Just this past weekend, I attended the funeral of a friend’s husband. I really was poised to hold my tears back but hugging the widow and feeling her trembling was more than I could bear. I was so moved to see hundreds of people present to support and pay their final respects. The hall was packed and people had to stand all the way in the foyer and even outside. At the end of the service, his soccer team surrounded the casket and played his favorite song as they wheeled it back to the hearse. It was a Francophone song with a beautiful rhythm to it and immediately the song came on, so many people started to do a similar dance. It was just beautiful but moved us to tears at the same time. My friend explained that the song was the deceased man’s favorite and he always did the dance with it every time you would meet him. I could see the waving of goodbyes through the tears and as I scanned around the room, a voice in my head said “7+ billion graves are waiting”. I looked at my best friend who was there with me and I said to her, “look at all these beautiful people here, each one of us will go through this experience some day. Each one of us will be in that casket some day.” The reality hit her as well and she confirmed the voice in my head. She said “to think that all people in this world will go though this is unfathomable but inevitable.” This can only humble you as a person. That a day will come when we will become fully spirit with no flesh and blood.
The preacher said something powerful at this service, that the dash (-) between the year of birth and the end of life is rather short. So I ask, if 7+ billion graves are waiting, what do you plan to do with your dash?
XOXO,
Lady Abena