Monday 17 October 2016

What It Means To Die Empty

There is potential on the inside of you waiting to be released.

For the past few weeks, I have been reading the book, 'Understanding Your Potential' by Dr. Myles Munroe which helps the reader to recognize and understand the potential they have within them. Through this book, I have come to realize the importance of knowing what your potential is. This potential is good for nothing, if it does not move from the inside of us to the outside to create change and bring a difference to the world we live in today. 

As I read this book, the concept of dying empty became real to me and struck a heart string within. God created each of us for a reason and a purpose. Within each of us, He has placed the potential to be like Him, do what He does and say what He says. He created us in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). Within us, is the potential to do greater works than Jesus did (John 14:12-14). As a result of this, our time on earth is for a greater purpose and a bigger picture.

Potential has died with so many people who have gone before us. These people may have had the solution for a problem but were never able to realize this potential for a number of reasons. These reasons could include fear and pride. It is important for us to understand our potential and the calling upon our lives. If we do not understand it, we would never be fully everything that we were created to be. 


Die Empty


Dying empty is using all the potential within to bring change and revival to our nations for the glory of God. As the light and the salt of the world, men should see our good works and glorify our Father. It's all for the glory of God.

In order for us to use our potential, we should know what we are called to do. What are you good at? What are your passions and your desires? What do you love to do? Are you an excellent writer? Then write a book. Are you a passionate dancer? Then choreography and teach dance. Are you a musician? Then compose melodies and sounds that would create change. Just do it! Don't be afraid! Just run with it! Create a plan, set goals and act! Your passions ignite a pursuit within or rather potential within. When you know what your passions are, find ways to develop and pursue them. Turn your potential into a reality. 

How unfortunate it would be, if we never fully attained everything we were designed to do during our time here on earth. How unfortunate it would be, if we were like that servant who didn't use his talent but rather hid it because of fear (Matthew 25:14-30). We want to be good stewards of what God has given us. We want to give a good account at the end of our days. We want to die empty.

Is there potential on the inside of you that you are afraid to release? Do you have gifts that you aren't using and putting on the back burner? Are you procrastinating and not doing the task at hand? It's time to understand your potential and use it for His glory.

Sunday 2 October 2016

The Sky Is Not The Limit

Through out the years, I have always heard the phrase "the sky is the limit" as a form of encouragement to push others to reach for their dreams and to pursue their passions. Lately, I've been thinking on this phrase and I came to realize that this is really not true. The sky is not the limit.

Let me explain. First, let us examine the literal meaning of this phrase. If we really think about it, the sky can't be the limit if we have persons walking on the moon and orbiting the earth every second. #GotYouThinkingNow




Let's look at it now in relation to our lives. The sky is really not the limit. Why put a limit on ourselves, when we are able to accomplish much more than we could ever thinkThere is greatness living on the inside of us. He who lives in us is greater than he who lives in the world (1 John 4:4). As a result, limiting ourselves shows that we have unbelief and fear. 

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." John 14:12-14 (NKJV)

Why would it show that we have unbelief and fear? In John 14, Jesus told the disciples that the works that He did, they would do also. He not only said that they would also do them but what they do, would be greater. When we limit ourselves, we have a measure of unbelief or lack of faith because we do not fully believe the Word. In order for us to have faith to pursue what God is calling us to do, we must read, meditate and believe the Word of God. 

Additionally, limiting ourselves demonstrates a sense of fear. Jeremiah, known as the weeping prophet, was called, sanctified and ordained by God before he was even born. He had a great call and a tremendous responsibility to carry out in his time. In spite of this, he was afraid. In Jeremiah 1, he said , Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” This sounds pretty much like putting a limit on yourself. He was afraid to speak because he thought to himself, "Who would listen to me? I am so young!"

God then affirms Jeremiah in verses 7 and 8 by saying, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you.”  Jeremiah was afraid. He limited himself by the very words that he spoke. However, God assured him that He would be with him. God is love and perfect love casts out all fear.

Do not be afraid to go beyond what you think you are capable of doing. God is with you. He is able to equip and empower us to do all that He has called us to do. The sky is not the limit. 

What have you been putting a limit on? Have you been limiting yourself with negative thoughts and words? It's time to believe in God and the potential that He has placed on the inside of you. Arise and go beyond. The sky is not the limit.

Monday 26 September 2016

This Is Not The End

Many times we are in situations and we think that they are the end. There's no hope in sight. There's no victory to be won. However, there is! This is not the end of us. We will not end in defeat or shame but we will end in victory.


"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14 (NKJV)

We press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus, focusing on what is ahead. Truthfully, this is not easy when we look at our current situation. Sometimes, we only focus on the work in progress and can't see the beauty at the end. It is like looking at the construction of a building. You wonder how will it look. How will the end product look? Usually it is hard to imagine the end product but when you see it, you are amazed.

A caterpillar goes through many stages before it becomes a butterfly. I'm sure they probably wonder if this is the end. If their life will end in this cocoon. Will they ever see the light again? However, their fears end, when they emerge as a beautiful butterfly. This is the same with us.


This Is Not The End


We will go through turmoil. We will go through trials and tribulations but at the end, we will come out on top. We will shine like the stars bright, brighter. God is taking us from glory to glory. He is moulding and shaping us into a Bride who would be ready for the marriage supper. This is not the end of us. This is just the beginning.

"And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:3-5 (NKJV)

Through tribulations, we develop perseverance, character and hope. We are continually transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. Rejoice because there is a bigger picture. There is something bigger than your current trial. This is not the end!


This is not the end! This is not the end of us! We will shine like the stars bright, brighter!



Sunday 18 September 2016

The Bond

The bond between the two of us. The bond between the bride and the bridegroom. Who would’ve thought I would give my life to my master but I thought it was worth it. And behold it is.


The master of everything, the creator of everything. Behold You look for one who would be loyal to your own, whose heart would be yours, whose life they would surrender.

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)

Everything I am, I give to the master. It is no longer I who live but He who lives in me. My life is no longer my own. For I have been bought with a price. I have been bought with the price of His blood, ever shed on the cross for me. The blood that cleanses, the blood that washes white as snow.


The Bond Between The Two of Us


The bond between the two of us. The bond between the bride and the bridegroom. What can separate me from the love of my beloved? For His desire is toward me. For behold I am no longer a slave to sin, a slave to fear but a slave of righteousness (Romans 6:15-23). That eternal bond between my master and I has overcome me that I no longer think of myself as my own. But I think of myself as the righteousness of God, as a child of God, as the Bride of Christ.


What God has joined together, let no man put asunder. For I want to be a bride ready for the marriage supper when the roll is called up yonder. When the New Jerusalem comes, to be caught up with the master. Where there will be no more tears, no more pain and no more disaster.


The bond between the two of us. The bond between the bride and the bridegroom. A bond that was meant from the beginning of eternity. From the beginning of time, this bond between the two of us was predestine and ordained from above. A bond that was meant for you and I. A bond that was meant for us.

Monday 12 September 2016

Where Is My Well?

Life has become a journey of ups and downs. A journey of good and bad, easy and difficult that we probably will never get used to. We become familiar with everything going well, that when the bad time comes, our faith is shaken. We forget how God brought us out of our previous difficult time into our good. This is expected.

Many times, I ask myself, "Is everything really working for my good?" "Is God really working it out in the background?" Where is the well in my ...


3 Bible Verses To Hold Onto When Life Gives You Lemons


Read the rest of this post here at I Love Devotionals!

Thursday 8 September 2016

Being Grateful In The Midst

When I reflect upon life, I realize there are many times where the storm is rough and where there seems to be no hope in sight. Life seems to throw lemons in our faces. Nothing is going the way we want. We don't have a job. We're stressed out and overwhelmed. We feel like we are perishing because there is no vision. In these moments, we ask ourselves when will the promise come. When will the prophesies come to pass?

In the midst of this, being grateful is the key to surviving and overcoming. Being thankful in the midst of our storm brings a reassurance and peace to our hearts that everything is going to be ok. Everything is actually working out for our good even though we can't see it. The truth is, we don't need to see it. For what is faith then, if we walk by sight? 


Being Grateful In The Midst


Gratefulness strengthens our faith. When we thank God for all the things He has done for us, our faith grows stronger. When we thank God for bringing us through each storm, all doubts and fears begin to fade away. Life is a faith journey. It's a journey where we must have the right attitude and posture in order for us to see the promise. 

The people of Israel waited for the promise land for a number of years. During that time, they walked in the wilderness for forty years with an attitude of complaining and grumbling. They were discontented with their present situation. They didn't even thank God for bringing them out of  Egypt where they were in slavery and bondage. It's quite surprising that they would complain, isn't it? 

Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. And the children of Israel said to them, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Exodus 16:2-3 (NKJV)

They were not grateful. Their minds were set on their past worldly experience that seemed to be joyous but really they were blinded. They forgot about the numerous beatings from the Egyptians, the long days working in the sun and the many times that they wondered if it would ever end. Truly you would think that they would be grateful but they weren't. As a result, they never got to see the promise land. They never saw the land flowing with milk and honey.

Grumbling is an attitude that we must be aware of. We don't want to miss what God has for us because we complained. In the midst of every storm, God is there. He knows best. He sees the end from the beginning. 

An attitude of gratefulness will sustain and carry us through. It will bring us to the promise. In everything, give thanks and be grateful!

"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)

Monday 6 June 2016

It Will Happen

"He has made everything beautiful in its time." Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NKJV)

 When God wants it to happen, it will happen. 

There are many promises and words that have been spoken over our lives that we are eagerly waiting to come to pass. We could possibly say that we are waiting patiently but the truth is we really aren't. We keep asking when will this happen? When will I get my big break? When will I see these prophetic words come to pass?


It Will Happen


We don't have to worry ourselves with these questions. For God is not slack concerning His promises. When He wants it to happen, it will happen. God is good and He makes everything beautiful in His time. He takes ashes and makes beauty. He takes clay and makes pottery. Every word that He has spoken, will not return unto Him void.

"So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth. It shall not return to Me void,but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11 (NKJV)

For the past year, I have been trying to write. But every time, it would feel like a block. If you're a writer, then you know how difficult this could be. You want to write but nothing is coming. You want to write but there is no inspiration at all. After a while, I just surrendered and used that time as a break to refocus and reenergize. I basically waited. Sometimes, we just have to wait it out. We just have to wait on God. Those who wait upon the Lord, will never be put to shame. He will not fail us. 


There is beauty in waiting. There is something that is birthed in us that transforms us into the image of Christ. This is not to say that it will be easy but it will be worth it. It will be worth it because we know that God knows best. He knows what is best for us in this current season that we are in. We must not lose heart but rather, war with the prophecies that have been spoken over our lives (1 Timothy 1:18). Contend for them in prayer and believe in the word that has been spoken. 

When God wants it to happen, it will happen. 

Tuesday 31 May 2016

The Glory Revealed

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18 (NKJV)

Many of us go through the storm. We go through the trials and tribulations of life and ask ourselves when will it end. When will my mind and body be free? When will I be happy?

Romans 8 encourages us in the fact that it will all be worth it. In the end, every difficult situation that we go through, it will all be worth it. It will be worth it because we will come out as conquers refined in the fire like gold. In order for gold to get to its glorified state, it has to go through the fire. We have to go through the fire so that we would become more like Christ. It is taking up our cross, denying ourselves and following Him. 

All of this is true. However, when we are in the storm, we begin to doubt what we believe. We wonder if it will all be worth it because we really can't see anything good coming out of it. Further down in Romans 8, it says that all things work together for good to those who love God. Everything is working for our good. For we do not look at the temporal things but the things that are eternal. 

The Glory Revealed

Our God is a good good Father. He is never going to let us down. He is never going to leave us. He will always provide a way of escape so that we would be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13). 

The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us. God is taking us from glory to glory. We are being transformed into the image of His Son and becoming all that He  has called us to be. We may only see the darkness in the tunnel but there is a light at the end that we will only see when we press through. 

Pressing towards the mark for the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus should be our goal. We can't give up. We can't give in but we must endure until the end. For the latter shall be greater than the former.