Salut Mes Amis!

It is another time where we glean from an everyday experience. I am firm adherent of the truth that God gets to speak to us through several media; it all depends on if we are attentive and sensitive enough; to hear Him.

Three weeks ago, I went online to just feed my eyes with some goodies on Zara, and there it was. They were having sales; good sales, I must add. And I do love me some bargain. I got two handbags. I told my friend who was with me, about my online venture, and trust this babe to go all out. She got three handbags. So what happens next?

WE WAIT

Yes! We had to wait for delivery. My friend got her delivery almost a week later, but mine was another story of over two weeks. And in these moments of waiting, I was taught these:

Sidenote: I urge you to ponder on these words in context of the foundation story. There are possible exceptions, but today’s post is for such a context as today’s.

RESPECT THE DISTINCTIVENESS OF YOUR ‘ORDER’ AND THAT OF OTHERS

You see my friend paid more for the three bags. Actually, there was a particular amount that would have the incentive of free delivery, and she spent that much. As for me, I wanted only the two bags and I did not want to pay for delivery, so I chose the option of my order getting delivered to a store, where I would pick it up.

We need to understand that there are depths and heights that are distinct in this race of life. There are intricate details that distinguishes the paths that we walk individually, and wishing to have life and promises like everyone else can frustrate our being and view.

Respecting the distinctiveness of your ‘order’ entails respecting the sacrifices of others as well. My friend paid more for her bags, and I paid less. That’s sacrifice there. Our life manual tells us that ‘As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest….’ Genesis 8 v 22a. When it is time to plant, how much are you planting? How far are you willing to go? Are you planting a mustard seed and expecting a pawpaw in the harvest time?

The truth is we may never know how much the next person planted, so we need to learn [with the help of the Holy Spirit] to respect, appreciate and be content with the distinctiveness of our purposes/promises.

YOU CAN FUNCTION WHOLLY WITHOUT THE PROMISE, FOR NOW

Okay let me explain…

I remember saying to my friend: ‘If that blue bag was here now, I would have rocked it with this outfit today’. The truth is, in as much as a blue bag would have gone perfectly color-wise, what about style-wise? Style-wise, it would not have gone with the outfit I was wearing that day. The bag would have been too casual for such a corporate outfit. And, yes! I rocked a bag that matched color-wise and style-wise.

So if the promise is not manifest yet, we can live whole, purposeful, amazing lives, today. Our lives are never incomplete without the things we look forward to or long for. God’s divine power has granted unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to his own glory and excellence. 2 Peter 1 v 3 ESV

We have everything that we need, now! The knowledge of God brings us to that path of walking in His glory and excellence. The things that pertain to life and godliness will not be given to us. No! God has given that to us already. He has done it. Whether we are walking in the power of His deed, is dependent on us. So can we just quit with the thinking that; my life will be so much better if …. No! Our lives are better today. Better than yesterday, just as tomorrow will be better. Still the promises of God yet to manifest, cannot be matched up to the presence of God in our lives. The presence of God in our lives today opens us up to all we need to function wholly, today.

NOTICE OF CONFIRMATION IS NOT LICENCE TO RELAX

You just know that when you purchase goods online, and you receive your confirmation email, the ideal thinking is Yaaay! my order is going to be with me soon. Just in a matter of days! So I thought when I received my confirmation email, a day after my order, but I waited for two great weeks.

So we dig into the Word or we open up devotionals and we are stirred up with a word we believe, through confirmation of the Holy Spirit, is the word for the season we find ourselves in, we do the dance, get all excited, sing and just marvel at the awesomeness of God and His epic ways of coming through, and then, relax, while keeping our eyes on our wristwatches. God, tick! tock! Lord, have mercy on us. We will do better. Amen

A notice of confirmation should not make us take our eyes off God and then focus on the promise. It should not make us too excited that we relax, and just literally wait. Remember, waiting is not passivity, see more here. Wait prayerfully.

The story of Daniel and the prince of Persia in Daniel 10 is always an eye-opener to the fact that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers in high places. We should not keep mute or slack in the place of prayer. We should stay drawing closer to God even after we receive our notices of confirmation. stay drawing closer to God, always!

Also, remember Blind Bartimaeus who shouted louder, after he was rebuked and told to keep quiet, when he called for Jesus’ attention in Mark 10 v 46-52. Just like this man, we need to be persistent and determined to see the promise come to pass. Not by watching our clocks, but by being strategically ready to receive what we request for, in the place of prayer, boldly professing the Word of God and believing God.

You see in the space of that two weeks, I called up Zara to find out where my order was. I called three times, and only the third call brought the desired change. I received my pick up email, the next day after the third call. On my way to pick up the bags, I felt the most horrible of ways. Nauseous. Sweaty. Dizzy. And to top this up, the train got to the stop before the last stop [which is where I get off], and the doors refused to open. The few passengers on-board, [myself inclusive] were on standstill for thirty minutes. The train driver and attendant were trying to figure out what was wrong. Oh! and did I mention that we were also forced to freeze as well. The AC was just so competitive with oxygen. Summer woes!

After all these shake-ups, I have the bags with me, now. And I feel great, no nauseousness and the likes.

I know waiting is not the most pleasant of all exercises, that we engage in, but it builds the most amazing, unshakable roots of faith, that blossom into being witnesses of the faithfulness of God.

I sense that there are many of us who have given up on the process just because we feel God is taking His time to deliver. Some of us have lost the strength to stay persistent and have given up  on saying: Son of David, have mercy on me!  My prayer is that the Holy Spirit convicts our hearts right now and enable us to get back to the race, not focusing on the promises but keeping our eyes on Him, forever!

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise. Hebrews 10 v 23 NLT

I am praying with you.

P.S Shout out to the newest members of the family. I see you all. I hope that you feel at home here, meeting with the Holy Spirit every click on here. I also hope you add your colorful suggestions too. Welcome!

PT TIP OF THE DAY

True, God made everything beautiful in itself and in its time- but He’s  left us in the dark, so we can never know what God is up to, whether He’s coming or going. I’ve decided that there’s nothing better to do than go ahead and have a good time and get the most out of life. That’s it- eat, drink, and make the most of your job. It’s God’s gift. I’ve also concluded that whatever God does, that’s the way it’s going to be, always. No addition, no subtraction. God’s done it and that’s it. That’s so we’ll quit asking questions and simply worship in holy fear. Ecclesiastes 3 v 11-14 MSG

Missed my last post?

I know you’ll love this one: Rhema from my bus route

Got questions/suggestions: preciousthoughts2013@gmail.com

Princess Okechukwu!