Tag Archives: health
TD Jakes: Don’t follow the culture!
Romans 12:1 tells us not to be conformed to the ways of the world. The strength of the Church is in her uniqueness. Our victory is in the peculiarity of our faith and not in our conformity to worldly standards.
We might adopt their technology. We might use their gadgets. But we must be careful not to conform to their culture. Our words must not be like theirs – ours must be seasoned with the Grace of God that dwells in us.
Our lifestyles must be unique from theirs. We must be consecrated unto God. Until the Church restores her culture of uniqueness, she will remain powerless.
TD Jakes speaks more on this in the video below;
Why you shouldn’t be wealthy… the wrong way
We now live in a world where the pivotal purpose of existence has turned from living for eternity to living for vanity.
As a result of this, men have become desperate for wealth and in their desperation, illegitimate businesses have become a norm.
Here in Africa, there has been an increase in the number of youths who engage in Internet fraud; it has become a social convention and has even dubbed ‘yahoo’.
Folks who engage in this chain of fraud seem to earn a lot of profit from it. They drive expensive cars and live extravagantly. This flaunting and extravagant life is also like the scent of sugar that drives men like ants to engage in it as well.
However, as believers, we must be resolute in our decision not to engage in such mischievous act.
Both Bible history and recent history has taught us that we can prosper as believers through legitimate businesses. The likes of Oprah Winfrey, Don Won Chang, Strive Masiyiwa etc, have proven this.
Thus, we must be careful not to keep our eyes focused on making a living legitimately and not fraudulently. This is because;
ILL-GOTTEN WEALTH WILL END IN SHAME:
Proverbs 21:6: The riches you get by dishonesty soon disappear, but not before they lead you into the jaws of death.
My father once told me of a very wealthy elder who once lived in his village. This elder had lots of houses, cars, trucks etc. He lacked nothing. He was also influential and was among the most revered elders in the village.
However, before his exit, he called my father – at this time, my father was still a teenager, and began to counsel him.
‘He showed me his great wealth and narrated the story of how he achieved all he achieved. Then he looked at me with pain in his heart and said, “Don’t ever get into the occult”’ My father said to me.
‘He told me how he got into the occult because of his desperation to be wealthy. But in the occult, he lost his wife, he lost his peace of mind; and all his children are living a wasted life. And then he said to me, “Don’t chew meat that is very sweet but will eventually cause your gum to bleed”’ my father recalled.
The story of this elder is an illustration on how the life of those who use ungodly means to get wealth will be.
Like Ahab, they might be lucky to escape judgment here, but their children will suffer for their sins, and the flames of hell will also eagerly anticipate their arrival.
Here’s another text that further illustrates this;
Micah 2:1 How terrible it will be for you who lie awake at night, thinking up evil plans. You rise at dawn and hurry to carry out any of the wicked schemes you have power to accomplish.
Micah 2:2 When you want a certain piece of land, you find a way to seize it. When you want someone’s house, you take it by fraud and violence…
Micah 2:3 But this is what the Lord says: “I will reward your evil with evil; you won’t be able to escape! After I am through with you, none of you will ever again walk proudly in the streets.”
GOD PROSPERS
Strive Masiyiwa, one of Africa’s leading entrepreneurs, started his business with just $75 according to Arrow Leadership and followed Biblical principles of prosperity. Here’s his story;
“Like most business owners Masiyiwa faced hardships along the way. He requested a license to cellular frequencies from the Robert Mugabe government. Mugabe refused to grant a license, claiming he had potential for becoming a monopoly. Masiyiwa sued the government. Almost immediately, Zimbabwe’s Supreme Court ruled against him, leaving seemingly no chance for appeal. It appeared his dreams of a pan-African mobile network were doomed.
It was then that his wife convinced him to go to church with her.
Masiyiwa recalls, ‘It seemed as though everyone in the room except me was so happy! The young American pastor was preaching about Jesus Christ, whom I thought I had known all my life. Now I realized that I did not know Him; I only knew of Him.” That moment changed everything for him. He borrowed a second-hand Bible, and read the entire thing in two weeks, committing his life (and business) fully to Christ.
With renewed determination, he dove back into the fight against the Mugabe government. Five years, and thousands of prayers later, Masiyiwa was granted the license and the means to grow a mobile technology company.
Today, Econet Wireless, operates in more than 15 countries and enjoys a majority share of Zimbabwe users. The company began offering mobile banking, and within 18 months, some 20 percent of Zimbabwe’s GDP was passing through its networks.
If his story ended here, it would be a powerful testament to the strength of Christ in the lives of businesspeople who are fully committed. But over the years Masiyiwa has grown into one of the most prolific philanthropists in Africa and around the world. As part of the The Giving Pledge, Masiyiwa spends nearly as much time and money giving back as he does growing Econet Wireless. He is the co-founder of the Capernaum Trust, a Christian charity that sponsors the education of over 28,000 Zimbabwean orphans, he founded the environmental group the Carbon War Room with Sir Richard Branson, and sits on countless boards from Grow Africa to organizations leading the charge against HIV/AIDS and Ebola.”
Strive’s story is one of thousands of testimonies that show God’s willingness to bless and prosper His children.
Therefore, let us keep our eyes off the fraudulent money of the evil and follow the true path to godly and lasting prosperity.
YOU ARE PERFECT
When I was a kid, I never got to experience the full range of childhood exploration. This was due to the fact that I had extremely low self-esteem. I was embarrassed about myself, my family, and my body.
As a child, I was short and lanky, and my peers thought I was a nerd. One thing people always noticed about me was my lanky stature.
As a result, I was ridiculed and even threatened. As a result, I ceased public performance. I no longer attend parties or other public gatherings. I felt self-conscious every time I walked across the street.
People’s negative words infiltrated my mind and became a stronghold there for many years, until I began to experience a spiritual reawakening and turnaround.
I became interested in my Bible, and as I studied it, I discovered that I had believed a lie all these years.
The things I saw in the Bible about myself were the polar opposite of what I had been told as a child. I began to see myself in a whole new light.
This viewpoint was initially difficult for me to accept because my mind was already programmed to believe negativity.
It had become so accustomed to negativity that it dismissed and filtered out any positive statement that came its way.
However, as I began to study my Bible and learn more about God’s love for me, this stronghold of negativity began to crumble.
Today, I am living up to my full potential. I am a bold preacher of the Gospel; I am a leader in my organization, and there is no trace of timidity in me.
Your current situation may be similar to mine. Perhaps you’ve been told that you’re not beautiful enough.
That you’re not beautiful enough; that you’re not holy enough; and you’ve been living in the shadow of those voices. It’s time to toss them aside and listen to what God has to say to you.
You are God’s design. You are His child, and He adores you.
See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know Him. (1 John 3:1)
I recall talking with a friend who had adopted a child from an orphanage. I asked her why they chose the young lad out of all the kids. ‘I don’t know,’ she replied. I saw him and I fell in love with him.’
This is the type of love God has for us. He adores us without condition. He loves us despite our flaws and weaknesses, both physical and spiritual.
Everything changes the moment you realize and accept this truth. It changes your perspective and mindset. All that matters is that God loves you.
He regards you as Holy and beloved. Height has nothing to do with one’s ability and innate quality, whether you’re slim or fat, tall or short.
One can have a large stature and be hollow on the inside, or a very large stature and be full of massive potentials.
Whatever your situation is, learn to accept yourself. Accept your body for what it is. You would never have had that kind of body if it didn’t look great on you.
Put a stop to the intimidation. Satan will always try to use those voices to make us fearful and prevent us from reaching for success.
When everyone else is speaking with this voice, however, look within and listen to the voice of God within you.
Speak positive thoughts to yourself. Speak up for yourself! It makes no difference what your physical disability is – success is determined by what one has within, not by the shape of one’s body.
So don’t bother with plastic and cosmetic surgeries to alter your body. You are ideal just the way you are!
Put a stop to the timid voices! They will always be there for you! People will make fun of you if you are thin. People will make fun of you if you gain weight.
People will make fun of you if you are short. People will still make fun of you if you grow tall. So don’t let other people’s perceptions of you shape your own!
Turn their stones of mockery into a push for success as they hurl them at you. Never go back to respond to them! Maintain your focus on the task that God has assigned you, and complete it with joy.
Finally, live a positive and optimistic life. Fall in love with yourself on a daily basis – look in the mirror every morning and speak genuine words of affirmation to yourself.
Allow positivity to serve as your filter, allowing it to filter out negative thoughts and voices in your head.
You’re perfect!
Written by Nwodo Divine
Living in Victory
Man was created to win over every condition of life! He was created with the mandate of dominion. This is seen in the account of man’s creation recorded in Genesis 1.
If man was created with the innate ability to explore and have dominion over the circumstances of life, how come we see believers living in misery?
The main reason for this is that we haven’t come into full understanding of the incredible tools God has given us to live this life of victory.
Today, we will be exploring these tools. I call them ‘The Provisions for Victorious Living’.
1. The Mind: “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” Proverbs 23:7.
Have you ever wondered what makes man superior to other animals?
We do not have the speed of the Cheetah, so it certainly has nothing to do with athleticism. We do not have the strength of an Elephant or the ferocity of a lion; yet, we are described as superior to these animals. The superior factor is the mind. We have a mind full of unlimited creativity.
Furthermore, If you think on God you will get more of God. As far your mind can think you can get there, as far as your eyes can see you can possess it.
In Romans 12:2, Paul admonishes us to renew our mind as in it lies our transformation. If a Saint will be shifted from a life of mediocrity and misery to a life of victory, such a saint must be continually improve on the quality of his mind daily. This can be achieved by studying your Bible, listening to inspirational tapes etc.
In order for us to live victoriously, let us be resolute in getting rid of mediocre thinking. Excellent prospects and perspectives must be embraced. Positivity must become the order of our minds.
2. The Scriptures:
Every inventor has a manual for instructing the users of his product on how to make best use of his product. The Bible is God’s manual to us on how to apply the finished works of Christ into our lives. Also, through the Bible, we get what is known in the military as ‘Intelligence briefings’.- the warfare strategies of the Kingdom are revealed to us.
Any believer who wants to live in victory must be a diligent student of God’s word as it is the word that teaches us how to win.
Besides if consistent study of academic work will make a child brilliant, how about constant learning from God’s word. The word of God is the source of spiritual intelligence.
Through its ageless instructions, it moulds, remoulds and enhances our character. It reshapes our perspectives and imparts us with the wisdom needed for victorious living.
3. Prayer:
Prayer is a path that cannot be ignored if one desires to live in victory. This is because prayer strengthens our spirit and puts us in a disposition to boldly face the challenges of life.
Any believer who doesn’t know how to pray will always be destabilized when he faces turmoil. But a believer who has mastered the art of prayer will always experience the peace of God no matter how bad things may seem to be.
Do you want to live in victory?
The secret is in having a habitual prayer life. Folks, this is where our victory is – in prayer. A wise man once said, ‘The more you spend time on your knees in prayer, the more God takes you higher’.
DON’T JUST HEAR, DO!
James 1:22 admonishes not to be mere hearers of God’s word, but to also practice it. Thus, use these provisions for victory daily. Constantly improve on the quality of your thinking; be a student of God’s word and be consistent in the place of prayer. God bless you!
How to develop a Mind with unlimited potential
Your mind is the mirror of who you are. What you don’t think about yourself you can’t become. Your mind is like a soil anything you put in it will surely germinate.
We must be careful of what we hear, what we watch and who we listen to, this period – as all these can either limit or expand your mind.
The mistake many make is that they invest more in the quality of their dressing than in the quality of their thinking.
If believers invested in the quality of their minds as much as they invested in their fashion and physique, they’d be unstoppable.
– Nwodo Divine
Quality living is not based on the quantity of things acquired, quality living is built on the quality of knowledge you have invested in yourself.
Your mind needs information to be active just like you need to eat to remain alive. You must feed your mind daily to defeat ignorance.
What you see about yourself in your mind can only come into fulfilment if you have an accurate knowledge.
Some of us are limited in our minds because of the kind of environment and background we grew in. But do you know you can break Such limitations?
Your mind is important to God because he releases ideas, imagination and pictures to help you discover His purpose for your life.
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26:3
How to break Limitations off your Mind
1. The Knowledge of God
The knowledge of God is illuminating; it is enlightening. The mind that has been fed with the knowledge of God will remain creative and fruitful.
It is through the knowledge of God that our minds can able to receive the pictures and ideas that God is showing us.
“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;” – Heb. 10:16.
The above mentioned passage gives us an insight how God uses the human mind as a platform to transform humanity into His likeness.
Our mind can only be enlightened if we pursue the knowledge of God.
Meditation is the art of visualising God’s word.
– Nwodo Divine
2. Prayer and Meditation 🧘♂️
Meditating on the scripture is what produces a picture for your future. Until the saint meditates on the scriptures lines upon lines, precept upon precept, the saint will never be able to fully experience the reality of God’s promises.
If we must profit from the scriptures we must meditate and give ourselves totally to things of the spirit.
“Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.” – 1 Timothy 4:15.
Reading Quality Books 📚
A robust, mental and spiritual life is needed for a successful life. Reading is a lifestyle to anyone who wants to remain relevant in God.
“And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;” – Ezekiel 2:9.
Read books that will add value to your life. Books that will build your knowledge bank.
When we read books we begin living from the place the books stop. Books are powerful and you must give them priority because people will only look for you based on the relevant information you have in you.
When you begin to apply the information you have gotten, your value increases and your knowledge expands.
Have a Mentor 👨🏫
Mentorship delivers you from your own destruction. Knowledge with guidance from a mentor will produce wisdom.
There are people who had knowledge of so many things, but they lacked guidance, they made several mistakes.
One of the way to break limitations off your mind is to follow a mentor who has knowledge and valuable experience.
If we must break limitations of our mind we must start using the resources God has given to us to free ourselves.
God bless you.
This article was written by Green-Hills Emmanuel Amarayahweh
We are running out of Time!
Years ago, I lived parents’ house as a kid, running around the compound without your slippers on.
Years ago, I was in high school, dependent on my parents for funding and survival. Yet, in the twinkling of an eye, I am semi-independent, at the verge of becoming a University graduate with a B. A degree. Everyday brings me closer to a life of total independence.
Years ago, I’d never have imagined that I could live alone, without my parents. It made me reject the consideration to attend a Boarding school.
Yet, as a student of The University of Benin, Nigeria, I have been living in my private apartment without my parents’ supervision for nearly two years now.
In all these, I have learnt a vital lesson, which I intend on sharing with you through this article. That lesson is the lesson of Time.
I have learnt that time waits for no man. No matter how much one wants to remain in comfort and mediocre living, one must gird his loins and get moving if one must succeed in life.
Proverbs 6:9: ‘But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? I want you to learn this lesson’
Proverbs 6:10: ‘A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest’ —
Proverbs 6:11: “and poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.”
I want to talk specifically to the young fellows. Make use of your time! Make proper use of your free time! Time is valuable. Time is money! I’ve always thought that the greatest, yet most delicate asset God gave to man is time.
Today is an opportunity to have a better tomorrow! Everyday is a seed for a greater condition in the days ahead. What are you doing with your time? What are you doing with your ‘today’?
Hours ago, it was jjust 5am here in Nigeria. It was dark, cool and good for sleep.
Yet, within four hours from now, we’ll be in dusk, working hours will be over and the day will be paving way for the night to come.
No matter how much we want to slow the hands of time, it remains a force that is beyond our control.
So, the best you can do, is to achieve all that is achievable, and do all you can in the Now.
Two things to do with your Time
1. Invest in Yourself
Many of us invest more in what we wear than in who are. We invest more in the quality of our dressing than in the quality of our thinking. It’s time for a change. Spend every minute of your day in becoming a better version of your former self.
– Invest in your mind.
– Read good books.
– Improve on your skill.
Do not cringe from spending money in bettering your craftsmanship.
Instead of wasting time in unnecessary activities, take masterclasses and attend webinars that will sharpen your mental acumen and entrepreneurial skills.
You’ll never go broke if you invest in yourself. Benjamin Franklin said,
‘An investment in yourself pays the best interest’.
Everything done towards becoming a better person is a self-investment. It will make you a better person, not just to yourself, but to the society. The society will only value you if you spend time in self development.
Invest in your Health
Improve your eating habits. Cut out eating junk. Carve out time exercising daily.
Instead of spending the morning lying on the bed lazily, grab your sports vest and go for a jog.
2. Invest in Others
Add value to the lives of people. Eleanor Roosevelt said, ‘For our own success to be real, it must contribute to the success of others’.
Use your time to better the lives of people. Use your time to make the society a better place to live in.
Haven’t you observed, that the richest men are always the richest givers. Great men are always great givers.
There are children with bright minds, yet living in poverty because there is no one to help them. Be the one to help them. Make them appreciate the phenomenon of human existence.
Every morning God gives you, is given to you for others. Therefore, before jumping off the bed, the first question you must ask yourself is, ‘What can I for my society.’
What do you have that the society needs? It is in the answer to this question that we attain discovery of our true value.
Heal the sick. Sow seeds of compassion to people. Give people a reason to be alive.
If you center your time on doing these two things, your profitability will appear to all.
Were you blessed by this? We would love to hear from you 😊; drop a comment or send an email to nwododivine82@gmail.com. God bless you! ❤️
The Power of Confidence
Confidence is trust in your abilities and skills. It is the quality of having value and esteem in yourself.
Cicero defines it as, ‘that feeling by which the mind embarks in great and honourable courses with a sure hope and trust in itself.’
Confidence is the mind-set of winning before the battle begins. It is the ability to pull energy from what you believe to achieve what is higher than you.
Confidence in the ‘Greek’ is ‘Peitho’ which means to agree or to be assured.
Confidence is the ability to face challenges and situations and use them as opportunities for your lifting.
‘Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.’ Philippians 1:6
God has begun something in you ever since the day you were Born. He is perfecting every step of your destiny.
Confidence is that energy drawn from within that causes you to react differently in situations and brings out your boldness in times of challenges.
Our confidence must be in God not only in our abilities.
‘Confidence and strength flood the hearts of the lovers of God who live in awe of him, and their devotion provides their children with a place of shelter and security. To worship God in wonder and awe.’ – Proverbs 14:26.
Confidence in God gives us the strength to achieve mighty things in God. It is only those who love God and go through the scriptures that receive confidence.
Gideon was the least in his family and his tribe was the least In Israel. With confidence in God, He liberated his family from oppression and got the Israelites back to the free worship of God.
King David placed his confidence in God. And he won all the battles. Trough his confidence in God, God made him defeat Goliath and he became the greatest king in Israel.
Confidence in God is the cure to depression.
The cause of depression is a lack of faith in God. Lovers of God draw confidence by studying the words of Christ and applying them.
Incorporate yourself with those who believe in you. In every organization, the staff believes in the vision of the leader. Surround yourself with people who believe what you can offer and how valuable you are.
Destiny is not fulfilled in isolation, you need people to help you achieve your goals and targets. The purpose is for people not for you, you need to have people who have confidence in your capability. We draw inspiration from God, we receive motivation from men.
Whoever drags your spirit down is not meant to be your friend. Every David needs a Jonathan. Every Saint needs a fellow believer to uphold his arm in moments of uncertainty.
Build your confidence in God and surround yourself with the people who have confidence in you.
Written by Greenhills Emmanuel Amarayahweh
Health Talk: Dealing with Menstrual Cramps
Most adolescents are not unfamiliar with the word ‘menstruation’. It has become a household name.
By definition, it is simply a woman’s monthly bleeding often called ” Period“, which can last for as long as 2- 7 days.
The typical age for girls to start menstruating is age 12. However, some girls start as early as age 8 or as late as age 16.
Women have menstruation up until 45-55 years old, and then they enter Menopause.
Menstrual periods are natural and are part of every woman’s life. However, some women find it difficult to deal with as a result of the discomfort that comes along with it.
It is fundamental to know what a menstrual cycle is and what constitutes a healthy one. The menstrual cycle is the monthly series of hormonal changes a woman’s body goes through in preparation for a possible pregnancy.
It starts on the first day of your last period and ends on the first day of your next period. The average length of a cycle is 28 days long. However, anything between 21 days and 45 days is considered normal.
This series of hormonal changes affect the whole body resulting in familiar menstrual symptoms such as:
1. Acne
2. Cramping in the lower abdomen and back.
3. Mood swings.
4. Constipation/loose bowel/ more frequent bowel movements.
5. Food cravings.
6. Trouble sleeping.
Nevertheless, You may need to visit a physician if:
1. You have severe pain during your periods.
2. You bleed for more than 7 days.
3. You change pads or tampons hourly.
4. You’re 16 years old and still haven’t seen your period.
5. Your period or premenstrual symptoms keep you away from your usual day-to-day activities.
6. Your periods stop or suddenly becomes irregular.
7. You get very gloomy and nervous around the time you get your period.
What can affect your Regular cycle?
The menstrual cycle varies from woman to woman. What is considered normal in one woman may be abnormal in another.
Nonetheless, some factors can affect the regular cycle in any female. These factors include;
1. Using birth control methods like pills, implants, etc.
2. Stress
3. Poor diet and nutrition.
4. Changes in your hormones/hormonal imbalance.
5. Exercising too much
6. Sudden weight gain or loss
7. Being sick
8. Taking certain drugs
It is advisable to keep a track of your menstrual cycle and that is how best to learn if your period is regular or not.
MENSTRUAL CRAMPS
This is one of the most discomforting symptoms of a regular period. While some ladies experience this a lot, some others are fortunate enough to not go through it.
Menstrual cramps can be “primary” or “secondary.”
Primary menstrual pain is caused by the menstruation itself. Secondary menstrual pain is caused by another root element, such as a health condition like endometriosis.
While primary menstrual pain can be relieved by a few simple steps, it is advisable to visit a medical doctor when the discomfort gets severe.
What to do to ease menstrual cramps?
1. Heat- try using a heated pad or a heated water bottle on your abdomen or back. Some others find relief in getting soaked in a hot bath.
2. Pain relief drugs like ibuprofen are quite useful.
3. Exercise – Physical workout. You may need to concentrate on exercises that stretch the abdomen.
4. Rest.
5. Avoid smoking and alcohol
KOINONIA ART 