Never Mind The Sceptic

The sceptic and the critic will always be there. As you progress towards your breakthrough, the path will be littered with highly opinionated individuals. Everyone has an opinion. I remember one of my college professors telling me, “Everyone can make recommendations. Everyone will have an opinion, but you do not have to listen to everyone.” Just look at how many people give advice on the social networks. There is so much advice on the internet, yet not all of it is good advice.

Someone will think your idea will not work. That person may even have an impressive CV, but that does not make them the expert of your life. Someone will not like you. That’s okay; thousands of Jews didn’t like Jesus and voted for him to be crucified. Someone will predict your downfall, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you will go down.  Someone will shout at you, but that does not mean you are wrong. Ever since I got into direct selling, I have found that the majority of people are negative minded. They always think of the reasons why something will not work. They look at the reasons why things will fail. Very few look at possibility. What if things work? What if the idea actually works out?

Learn to be like that old cow that chews the grass and spits out the sticks. Decide which words to give sanction and which ones to deny. Listening to everything sceptics say will get you stuck in one place. You will never be able to do anything because the sceptics will amplify the risks. There is very little that is worth doing that carries no risk. What a joy when you take the risk and it pays off! Sceptics never get anywhere. They remain tied to their comfort zones and are too scared to venture out. They only want to claim origination when the daring have succeeded. So you hear them say, “I was the first one to think of that idea!” Thinking up an idea is useless if nothing is done about it. Dreams never worked on are mere fantasies.

As you purposefully move towards your dream, remember to create a filter that screens out the negative chatter. Remain focused, calculated, determined and purposeful. Use your own checks and balances, but never abort your dream because of the energy-syphoning words of the sceptic. If you entertain them long enough, they will certainly be the kryptonite that zapped the might out of the mighty superman.

 

Focus on the Master

One of the main challenges we face as Christians is that of misplaced focus. While we have a real adversary whose interests are contrary to ours, we should bear in mind that he is a defeated foe and that victory has been given to us to enforce.  Enforcing that victory is done by using the name of our Lord, Jesus. The Bible declares that, “There is one name given in heaven and on earth, that at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow…” We therefore do not put our trust in the anointing of our leaders but in the authority of Jesus.

Christ consciousness is the central part of the Christian walk. We study the word of God and imbibe of it. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. As we have fellowship with that word, it becomes a part of us. We put on the mind of Christ because as we focus on him and fix our eyes on him, we become like him whom we behold. We are transfigured into the same image. What you focus on grows. He (Christ) is magnified in our lives as we focus on him.

The Bible deliberately gives very little information on the anatomy and physiology of the devil’s camp. Jesus spoke more about the Kingdom of God than he did about demons and fallen angels. The apostle Paul preached the good news of the completed work of Jesus Christ. His prayer was that we may grow in our wisdom, knowledge and revelation of Jesus, not the devil. Yet many of us today have stopped talking about Jesus but are preoccupied with what the devil is doing in the world.

As we focus on Jesus, we are filled with his goodness. It is his goodness that leads to repentance, not several deliverance sessions. It is his goodness that leads to a victorious life, not deliverance sessions. It is his goodness that leads to the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit, not deliverance sessions. When we see demons in every corner and stoop to their level, we operate far below where we have been placed – at the right hand of the power in Christ. The name of Jesus is far superior to anything that the enemy can ever do. In that light, we treat him as we do the darkness – we switch on the light and darkness vacates. We don’t intensify our prayers because there are demons present. We intensify our prayers because of our love of Christ. The former is based on fear; the latter is based on love. That which is not of faith is sin. That which is not of love is sin.  

Instead of being sin conscious, darkness conscious and demon conscious let us aim to be grace conscious, light conscious and Christ conscious. The joy of the Lord is our strength. Don’t get me wrong, there is a time for deliverance and rebuking of the enemy. There is a time for healing people from the works of the enemy. However, what sustains deliverance and healing is faith. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Focusing on the nature of God, his love and desire for us to prosper and be in good health. How that every good and perfect gift comes from him and there is no variableness in him.

Choose today to look in the right direction. Focus on Jesus and his goodness. Meditate on the Kingdom of God. Think of grace, truth, light, and the virtues of the Holy Spirit. Let your prayers be the positive declarations of who God is and what He can do in this world. Ghost busting prayers just keep you demon conscious. Hey, what happened to all the angels and the Holy Spirit? Don’t major on the minor. Major on what can create.

The New Superman!

I am the new Superman.

There’s no obstacle too great for me.

Though the enemy comes at me in one direction,

He will flee in seven directions.

He may have come like a flood,

But the LORD has risen up a standard against him.

No weapon fashioned against me prospers.

I am the new Superman.

I may be down, but I’m not out.

I refuse to be perplexed.

The Greater One is at work in me.

I have a vision,

I will see it through in the name of Jesus!

I’m never forsaken; the Almighty is by my side.

I KNOW WHO I AM!

Great are the afflictions of the righteous,

But the Lord delivers him from them all!

I’m standing tall with confidence,

I boast in the Lord, because he is my fortress.

A thousand may fall on my side,

And ten thousand on my right,

BUT it will not come near me!

I refuse to regard the problem,

My focus is on Christ, the author and finisher of my faith.

All things are working together for my good.

Even this situation is working for my good!

I am the new Superman,

The new creation,

Seated with Christ in heavenly places,

Blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places.

I can never lose.

I’m a winner! Glory to God, I’m a winner.

This is my confession.

I KNOW WHO I AM!

Do You Feel Significant?

Have you ever been in a meeting and suddenly people start competing for the best idea. They tread down the other person’s views or contributions and push forward their own idea, even when their idea is really not that good. They are trying to feel significant.

One of the three basic needs we have in life is the need for a sense of significance. We want to know that our contribution matters; that our efforts carry value. This need should be satisfied when we are still children, but unfortunately in many cases, this does not happen. We grow up to be individuals that are hungry for a pat on the back. When no one pats our back, we feel that we did not do well enough. Such people tell you about their “exploits” when you have not provoked them. They just start to tell you of how they have done great things in their lives even though at times these things may even be made up because they want to feel significant.

Significant people don’t look for the praise and accolades. They just do what needs to be done, even at times in the background. They even do some great thing anonymously. They don’t mind passing on the credit to other people and teamwork because they carry an inherent sense of significance.

As Christians, our true sense of significance lies in Christ. We know that He gives us the power to will and to do of His good pleasure. He gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater. The earth and the fullness thereof belong to Him. By His grace we are able to do the mighty things we do. Because of spiritual gifts we are able to operate excellently in some areas that most people can’t. We therefore defer the glory to Him, and He in turn glorifies us.

Affirmation: I can do all things through Christ (the anointing) which strengthens me.

Stick To The Plan!

Sometimes when you embark on a project, it feels like you made a mistake and would be better off aborting the whole thing. I spoke recently to a friend who’s been taking on a Masters Program and he said, “It really feels like a mistake because the work required to accomplish is a bit much.” It sure is much, that’s why many people never get there. Another lady who embarked on a construction project said, “I underestimated the work that was required. I’m just pushing forward so that I can complete the project.” Again, anything worth the while will demand a lot from you.

Stay focused on the reason why you started in the first place. Everything worth the while will feel painful and will require some sacrifices, but it is worth it. That is how we get most of the things we cherish.

Education will take studying.

Children will cost come through pregnancies.

Raising them requires your time and effort.

Happy marriages need to be worked at.

Successful businesses take various forms of sacrifices – time, money, emotions.

Ministry comes with back stabbing, misquoting, bad publicity, ridicule, offenses, e.t.c.

Everything worthwhile has a cost attached to it, it hardly ever comes on a silver plater.

Refuse to recoil and abort mission. Press forward. Press on for the prize ahead as the apostle Paul said.

Affirmation: I press on towards my goals and count the pains as evidence of progress.

Your True Net Worth

You are significant. Even without a job, you are still significant. You still have a purpose in Christ. Times may get difficult and almost unbearable, but greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. He has made you more than a conqueror. You may think that your CV is not that great, but there is one who doesn’t care about your CV. He sees the end from the beginning, and the beginning from the end. He has blessed you with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places. He found you significant enough to deposit his Holy Spirit in you. You are significant.

You are loved with an unending, immeasurable and unfailing love. Though it may be hard to find someone to get married to, his yardstick is totally different. Man may deceive you and cause untold heartache, but he is dependable. He would have come to save you if it was just you that needed saving. He calls you the apple of his eye. It doesn’t matter what you have done or where you’ve been; he loves you all the same. He wants to spend eternity with you.

He created a universe for you. He made beautiful flowers with heavenly aromas for you. He left his glory for you. He endured the scourging of the Roman torture creativity for you. He carried the heavy wooden cross for you. He took the nails for you and was lifted up as cursed for you. The Creator of heaven and earth and all that is, on a rugged cross all for love - his love for you. So lift up your head and square up your shoulders! There’s more to you than meets the eye. You are worth more than you can imagine.

Affirmation: I am accepted in the beloved. I am worth more than silver and gold.

What’s Your Shiny Object?

One of my favourite television programs was the 1986 “Shaka Zulu” serial. I particularly remember when the British intruders came with cheap merchandise from Europe and used it to gain favour with the valiant king. When Nandi, Shaka’s mother had died and the king had tried to save her with the “youth restoring” hair dye to no avail, the king was greatly disturbed and furious. The Zulu speaking European, unaware of the change of heart the king had experienced approached the king’s chambers only to be greeted with a question (paraphrased).

“How do you trap a monkey?”

“Ndabezitha?”
“How do you trap a monkey?” the king repeated.
“Umm, you find a goad that you fasten to a tree. Having made a tiny hole that only fits the small hand of the monkey; you place a shiny object in the goad. As long as the monkey holds the shiny goad, its hand will not fit out of the goad. When you come you will find the monkey there, trying to take the shiny object out.”
“Why will the monkey not let go?”, came the follow up question from the king.
“Because of its greed, Ndabezitha.”
“So what shiny object have you brought this monkey?”, came the ‘checkmate’.

Very often in life we behave like the monkey. We find a ‘shiny object’ and fail to properly weigh the relative value of that ‘shiny object’ to the rest of our lives. We hold on to things that destroy us with all we have. It could be a job, a toxic relationship, an idea, a town, or whatever that you are better off without.

This week, take time to think what shiny object you might be holding on to. Do you really need it? Are you not better off without it? Let go.

Could Today Be Your Day To Be Healed?

A few years ago I was serving in the call centre at a church. A lady called for prayer and described that she had been experiencing side pain that was making her life miserable.

“Be healed in Jesus’ name!” I said over the phone.
“Is that all?” she inquired. “I thought you would say a long prayer!”
“That will be all ma’am,” I replied, “Have a blessed day.”
Some minutes later, the same familiar voice was on the other end of the line.
“You prayed for me about half an hour ago. A few minutes after your short prayer I felt a click as though something was moving into place in my side and that miserable pain is gone!” she exclaimed.

Maybe it was a coincidence, but I think that she had received her healing as a result of the prayer.

About a year ago, I was leading prayer before one of our church meetings. As we were praying, I sensed that someone was about to be healed so I said, “There is someone here who almost didn’t come to the meeting because you were not feeling well. God is healing you right now. Receive your healing in Jesus’ name.”

After a few minutes we finished praying and an elderly lady raised her hand. She said, “As I was walking into the room you spoke of someone who almost didn’t come because they were not feeling too well. It was me. My knee was so painful since morning but the moment you said the prayer, the pain stopped immediately. Thank God I came!”

Maybe it was another coincidence.

In another instance, I had just come from a conference and I began to feel very sick. I felt like there was no air to breathe, and it took a great effort to go upstairs to my apartment. For about an hour I lay in bed and my wife was worried. She brought food for me but I had lost appetite and could not eat anything. Then I sensed the Holy Spirit asking, “What are you doing?” I was mature enough to know what that meant so I pulled myself out of bed and stood upright. I began to pray in other tongues with all the energy I had. As my voice got louder, I felt more strength filling me. In about ten minutes, I had been restored to full strength and wellness.

Maybe it was another coincidence, but the numerous experiences I have seen personally and on other people have made me believe that these were not coincidences at all. God still heals people today. You might just be the next person that God wants to heal. Receive you healing in Jesus name today!

Why Personal Growth Seminars Are Good For You

There are four levels of competence namely:

1.       Unconscious incompetence

2.       Conscious incompetence

3.       Conscious competence

4.       Unconscious competence.

The more you learn, the more you are aware of areas that affect you where you are incompetent. It is not possible to know everything, but we live in the information era. An awareness of what you need to get to the next level in your life will determine where you will look for assistance. As you work in each area of your life, you move from level 1 through to level 3 and 4.

Some principles that work in individuals’ lives also affect performance in the workplace. To be better at what you do in the workplace, you need to be effective as an individual. By the time you get to the 4^th level of competence in any area, you have internalized the habits that make you effective in that area just like driving. In that place of competence is high probability of achieving breakthrough.

Have a great week!