Oladewalaura

Finish Well!

The end of a thing is better than its beginning
Ecclesiastes 7:8a NKJV

Welcome back to my blog! It’s my prayer that today’s blog post transforms you to a better person.

Have you ever started an online course, a book, or a movie just to finish halfway? I have done all. Your Christian race, however, is not something to finish halfway.

Apostle Paul was admonishing the Corinthians in the book of 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 that they are to finish their Christian race well. He said:

24. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

25. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

26. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.

27. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
I Corinthians 9:24‭-‬27 NKJV

I personally love to read these verses in The living Bible translation. It says:

24. In a race everyone runs, but only one person gets first prize. So run your race to win.

25 To win the contest you must deny yourselves many things that would keep you from doing your best. An athlete goes to all this trouble just to win a blue ribbon or a silver cup, but we do it for a heavenly reward that never disappears.

26 So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I fight to win. I’m not just shadow-boxing or playing around.

27 Like an athlete I punish my body, treating it roughly, training it to do what it should, not what it wants to. Otherwise I fear that after enlisting others for the race, I myself might be declared unfit and ordered to stand aside.

Nehemiah also wanted to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and made sure nothing would stop him. When he realised that a war might likely stop him, he told all the workers and labourers to work with one hand and hold their weapons with the other (Nehemiah 4:15-23). He was intentional about his goal and saw to it that it was completed. This is what it means to count the cost.

God isn’t pleased with a job done halfway.

This year, before making any decision, count the cost.

You can as well learn from the five foolish virgins that to finish well, you must equip yourself with extra ‘oil’. The five folish virgins didn’t have extra oil though they waited all night to see the bridegroom. (Matthew 25:1-13)

It’s not enough to give yourself to a goal, you must have the resources that will ensure you finish well. Your extra oil as a believer is your Bible, as well as books written by inspiration of the Holy Spirit through men, conferences, audio messages and more. You must be well equipped like the five wise virgins.

Ask yourself these questions according to 1 Corinthians 9:25

-What is the contest (the goal in view)?
– What are the many things that will keep me from doing my best?
– Why will they keep me from doing my best?
– How do I deny myself from doing these things?
– What are the “extra oils” (resources) I need to ensure I finish this contest?

Lastly, remember that it is not by power nor by might but by the Spirit (Zechariah 4:6). Always remember to ask God for help and strength.

Jesus loves you so much. Jesus loves you so much and He is interested in every area of your life. He wants you to finish your race well. He, together with many witnesses in Heaven, is cheering you on.

Ephphatha!

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
Ezekiel 36:26‭-‬27 NKJV

Happy New Year! Welcome back to my blog! I pray that as you read, your heart is enlightened and you are empowered to obey God’s words in Jesus name. Amen.

“Ephphatha” was used by Jesus in His home tongue of Aramaic in the book of Mark 7:35. It means “be opened” or “open up”. In this blog post, this Aramaic word will be used in a different context.

In Matthew 17, a man brought his son who had seizures to Jesus’ disciples. The disciples couldn’t heal him. The disciples, even after following Jesus for a while, didn’t believe they could replicate the wonders Jesus did because their hearts hadn’t opened up.

Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?” “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”
Matthew 17:19‭-‬20 NLT

In Mark 6, there was a difference in the lives of the disciples. They were healing the sick, driving out demons while preaching the gospel. This was because they had opened up their hearts to believe in Jesus and in the truth that they could replicate all that He did.

They weren’t just following Him ordinarily anymore. Instead, they were following Him closely, gleaning from Him and using the authority He gave them.

So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God. And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil.
Mark 6:12‭-‬13 NLT

Change is a constant in the Kingdom of God. To live in the Kingdom of God, you must be ready for constant change. If you fight change, you won’t go far.

We show the power of the Lord to other people. It is like God has removed a cloth from over our faces. He is changing us so that we become more and more like him. We show how great God is more and more clearly. It is the Lord who does all this, by the work of his Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18 EASY

This year, God wants you to follow Him closely and open up your heart for change.

God isn’t a mean God who wants you to change just to show that He is powerful. He is loving. He wants you to open up so He can heal your broken heart, restore you and release you into a new life of victory. He will rebuke you when you need to be rebuked and will bring reproof into your life when necessary.

All God is saying to you is “open up, child!” Open up! Don’t get used to old patterns. On your feet! It’s time for a refining, says the Lord.

Challenge yourself this year to open up to a life of continual obedience to God’s Word. Follow Jesus closely! Stretch beyond comfort! Then you will experience several “ephphatha moments” like the disciples of Jesus.

I pray that God draws you and helps you to yield to Him in Jesus name. Amen.

If you are reading this and you do not believe in Jesus, open up your heart. Jesus is real and He came into this world to suffer, die and resurrect so your sins can be forgiven. Surrender, child! He says.

You can surrender to Jesus by confessing this prayer with faith in your heart “Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Saviour. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.”

If you said that prayer, kindly contact the writer at oladewalaura@gmail.com.

Thank you for reading!

Own Your Story!

For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you, says the Lord, plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 AMP

Esther was an orphan brought up by her cousin, Mordecai.

Mordecai served as a gate keeper.

Joseph was sold by his brothers and also imprisoned for many years for a crime he didn’t commit.

Daniel was a young man who was taken captive to Babylon along with his friends.

The woman with the issue of blood bled for twelve years.

Ruth lost her husband.

The Cure For Anxiety!

Hi there! Welcome back to my blog! If you are new here, welcome! I pray that as you read today’s blog post, God speaks to your heart in Jesus name. Amen.

Let’s read the next few verses below:

²⁴“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.

²⁵“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?

²⁶Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?

²⁷Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

²⁸“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing,

²⁹yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.

³⁰And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

³¹“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’

³²These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.

³³Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

³⁴“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. [Matthew 6:24-34]

There is no good kind of anxiety!

In the previous blog post, I wrote about overcoming fear. There’s a good kind of fear- The fear of God. This doesn’t apply to anxiety (or worry).

Anxiety is intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. You worry about your job security, relationships, financial stability, positions, and many more.

The major reason you worry is your eyes are not fixed on God. Instead, your eyes are fixed on the circumstances you worry about.

Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
Matthew 6:21 NLT

If your valuables (or treasures) are in the ephemeral things of the world, your heart will also be there. However, these less important things in the world do not satisfy and God wants to give them to you anyway.

Paul and Silas in the Bible were cast into prison, they also had their feet bound in chains. They had been treated unjustly but that didn’t dampen their spirits. It was supposed to be a period of anxiety and suffering but since their eyes were fixed on Jesus, they weren’t controlled by their circumstances but they controlled their circumstance.

At midnight, Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God. Immediately, there was a great earthquake and the foundations of the prison were shaken. The doors of the prison were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.

The Bible says in Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].”

God expects you to rejoice forever (1 Thessalonians 5:16) regardless of your situation. This can only be possible when your gaze is fixed on Jesus and you are dead to yourself. Why worry when you can tell Jesus about your circumstance(s)?

On a final note, joy belongs to those who believe in Jesus. If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your Saviour yet, it’s high time you accepted Him. He loves you so much and has an amazing plan for your life because He created you.

Thank you so much for reading. To contact the writer, kindly send a mail to oladewalaura@gmail.com.

But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.
Matthew 6:33 AMP

REFERENCES

1. The Holy Spirit; The Greatest Writer

2. The Holy Bible – New Living Translation, Amplified Version.

3. Mayo Clinic

Characteristics of a lazy person.

A lazy person is a person void of understanding.

A lazy person is a person with no common sense. An ant is wiser than a lazy person.

A lazy person is someone who loves poverty because he loves sleeping.

A lazy person prefers eating crumbs for free to working for his own bread.

A lazy person has wants like an armed man.

Laziness is a killer. It kills the seeds you are growing. It comes as “just a little rest”, “just a little slumber”. Don’t be lazy. Whatever your hand finds to do, do with ALL your might.