Human Flourishing
Have you heard of the term Human Flourishing? Well, the first time I heard of it was on July 12, 2025 during my one-on-one conversation with the Most Rev. Prof. J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist. He asserted that God wants us to be faithful servants and also successful people in life and that is called Human Flourishing in Theology. Friends, that is nugget number two (2) as I had promised in my blog dated July 13, 2025 to share with you all. God is not just interested in our service to Him but that He is also interested in our overall success as people.
If you grew up with the kind of mindset about christianity like I did, we were intrinsically wired to think that life in Christ means salvation for your soul while you languish in your sufferings on earth until you get to Heaven. John 16:33 was the buttress for many believers to affirm that Jesus said we will have trouble so let’s endure it any way;
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Even my younger self knew back then that God did not take pleasure in my lack and suffering so I resented that kind of teaching which was made worse by all the suffering and lack I saw around my family and friends who genuinely loved and faithfully served God. It seemed like they had accepted that teaching and it was manifesting in their reality. When I started coming into a deeper walk with Christ and growing in my understanding of scriptures, I learned differently, that God takes no delight to see us living below the standards He has set forth for us. It was a blessing to my spirit to hear the Presiding Bishop echo these sentiments - that God truly wants us to do well and live life to its fullest. In John 10:10, Jesus says, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." This declaration captures the essence of human flourishing, suggesting that Jesus' mission is not only about spiritual salvation but also about enabling individuals to experience life in its fullest, most abundant form. This fullness of life encompasses not just our spiritual well-being, but also emotional, relational, and even physical dimensions, inviting us (believers), to pursue a balanced and thriving life.
The imagery found in Psalm 1:1-3 further enriches our understanding of flourishing by illustrating a life rooted in divine wisdom and guidance. It describes a person who delights in God's law as "like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers." This metaphor paints a picture of stability, growth, and productivity, suggesting that true flourishing comes from living in harmony with God’s teachings. It implies that when we root ourselves in spiritual and ethical principles, we are able to withstand life’s challenges and bear fruit in all areas of our lives. Ultimately, these biblical insights encourage a holistic approach to flourishing, where spiritual depth and moral integrity pave the way for a vibrant, fruitful existence.
I pray for you this week, that as you diligently pursue God, may He cause you to immensely prosper and flourish in every area of your life. Let it be so and so it is in Jesus’ name. AMEN!
XOXO,
Lady Abena.
Do What It Says
James 1:22 (NIV)
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
Let me come full circle here - in as much as I promote Christian activities and engagements, I’m usually that girl who will opt to join virtually unless I am left without that option. My personal relationship and standing with God is so important to me that the natural me will prefer to recluse myself from engagements especially in settings where I see so much hypocrisy. Yup - if I don’t see something or hear it then I’m free of reprove from the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, the places where we are supposed to encounter God have become places where we encounter bad behavior. Someone once described the church to me as a hospital where some patients are responding well to treatments and others are not. I told him if that is the case, then it looks like the doctors are administering the wrong medications and I will not want to be on their ‘clinical trials' - we both laughed.
I think we (believers) take God for granted in our churches. Or maybe we just take His mercy and grace for granted but still think we love Him? I get very disturbed in my spirit when I encounter people who are supposedly followers of Christ but have no sense of reverence for Him. They like the idea of religious activities and processes but clearly lack the form and being of who a true follower of Christ is. James 1:22 emphasizes that true faith in Christ, which is the essence of our christian life, is demonstrated through actions, not just outward appearances or superficial adherence to religious practices. When Christians proclaim their faith but fail to live according to God's commandments, we risk being seen as hypocritical, undermining our witness to others.
I’m in no way saying I’m perfect but there are things I will not dare do in the house of God or even think of doing to anyone let alone God’s people. I fear God that much and He knows that I’ll rather mess up on my own outside His church than ever bring my mess close to His house or people. I know, it sounds crazy but that’s me. God does not give me sleep when I don’t do what is right and He knows I like to test His patience to the core - it’s my personal relationship with Him and you don’t get to comment on it my friend. Well, He also makes sure I bear the consequences of all my actions but He does it in love - as a Father who is very principled as well and does not bend His nature for anyone, even me, His spoilt child.
Why am I writing this? The hypocrisy of believers in the house of God is unbecoming and it’s worse that people outside the christian sects are the ones to even call us out. We can be so focused on outward appearances of righteousness but we are desecrating the house of God. If we are not the culprits ourselves, then we are enabling others to and fostering toxicity in the house of God. When the spirit of God does not convict you anymore as a believer - then you should know He has calmly left you in your seared consciousness. For those who like to quote Romans 5:20 to abuse the grace of God please remember to read Romans 6:1 as well.
Unbelievers do not bear the burden of religious pretenses and, therefore, are sometimes perceived as more authentic in their actions and rightly so. The challenge for Christians is to demonstrate sincerity which is lacking in most Christian sects today. The hypocrisy of some is inadvertently tarnishing the reputation of the churches and hindering others from experiencing the transformative power of God's love. It is very imperative for us believers to examine our hearts daily and strive for authenticity so that our lives genuinely reflect Christ’s character and attract others to His message of salvation. Genuine faith and integrity mean living in alignment with Christ's teachings from the heart. When Christians fail to do so, we risk being judged by non-Christians and lose our witness for Christ.
I pray that this week, we will all do an internal review of our hearts as believers and turn back to our first love - Christ. Really become the image of Him to the world and to each other. Let it be so with the help of the Holy Spirit. AMEN!
XOXO,
Lady Abena.
Self-Discipline Is Not Arrogance
Yesterday, Saturday, I had the honor of hosting our Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, the Most. Rev. Prof. Johnson Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, in a one on one podcast-styled conversation. A lot of nuggets of wisdom were dropped and I will be expanding on a few of them in the next few weeks on my blog. I could literally write an entire book of all the wisdom he shared in that short interview.
Nugget number one was when he described himself as a man of discipline and further explained that most people construe a person of discipline as someone who is arrogant but that is absolutely not the case. The Cambridge dictionary online describes a person of discipline as someone who is “able to carefully control the way that he/she works, live, or behave, especially to achieve a goal.” Do you know that human beings naturally like to control others? So, when we meet a person who is already in control of his or her own life and has set/defined boundaries, we get upset that we cannot disrupt their flow or they will not bend to ours.
The bible has a lot to say about self-discipline and when you meet a person who has really mastered it, honor them. In Hebrews 12:11, we learn that self-discipline yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. The Apostle Paul told the people of Corinth in 1 Corinthians 9:27 that he disciplines his body and keeps it under control, lest after preaching to others he himself should be disqualified. I humbly share this that anytime I messed up it was because I did NOT stick to my own principles and tenets and yes the outcomes were never good for me. I’m also on a journey to stay the course of being disciplined, however painful or unpleasant it might be sometimes, so I can experience the peace that comes with knowing you’re safe within those boundaries you have set for yourself and for others.
I pray for you this week that the Lord will endow you with the spirit of self-discipline so that you will not be like a city broken into and left without walls. (Proverbs 25:28). Let it be so and so it is in Jesus’ name. AMEN!
XOXO,
Lady Abena.