28 thoughts at 28

Thursday 25th January 2018

It’s quiet here. The office is virtually empty as most of the staff have gone for the burial of a colleague’s father. I could not go because someone had to remain in the office. As I listen to the sound of silence, I feel a surge of joy exploding in me. It is in these quiet moments that I am reminded that life is a beautiful gift.

As the years go by, I become reflective. I have no regrets, not really because life in a way has been good to me. There are moments though that I wish I had done some things differently. I wish I had not broken up with my first ever boyfriend back when I was sixteen. I was young and I felt that I was not ready for a relationship. I wasn’t rude when I broke up with him on the contrary I was cordial and we even assured each other that we would remain friends. It is twelve years since, and not a word from him. Sometimes I wonder what if I had waited a while longer to see if things would have worked out. One thing I am sure of is that he LOVED me. I saw it in the way he cared for me.

I wish I had been a good teenager. I went to high school so young. I was still a brute and I did not have much guidance. I also wish I had been a little wild in campus. I was always so reserved, so kept together. My parents never had to worry about me, but I wish I had let loose.

I wish that I trusted the Lord more. I may not have been wild physically, but mentally I was. I had such great ambitions, though they are only beginning to take shape now, probably because I am older and a little wiser. I wish I had learnt the art of trusting more and worrying less.

As I turn twenty eight, here are my 28 lessons:-

I am damn beautiful. Psalms 139:13 says that ‘I am fearfully and wonderfully made.’ He thought out every part of me when he created me and he looked at me and said that it was good. No one will convince me otherwise.
The Lord loves me. He was willing to die a cursed death for me. He has shown me time and time again that his love for me is unfailing (Isaiah 54:10).
I am a fearless woman. Judges 6:12 says that ‘and the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, the Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.’ I am fearless and courageous because the Lord is with me.
All the answers are found in the house of the Lord. Let no one cheat you that you can be a bedside Christian or a house Christian. You gotta go to the house of God. Psalms 84:4 says, ‘blessed are they that dwell in THY HOUSE: they will be still praising thee.’
It is okay to let your hands fall in surrender to the Lord. You don’t have to always be strong, or have it figured out. The best you can do is let the LORD be your strength. Psalms 84: 5–7 says ‘blessed is the man whose strength is in THEE…..they go from strength to strength.’ When the Lord is your strength, you fly on wings like eagles.
It is not futile to love and serve the Lord. We know in Romans 8:28 that all things work together for good to them that love the Lord and are called according to his purpose.
Do not take the teachings of the Lord lightly. To walk in righteousness may seem like the hardest thing, but it is not, because with Christ you can. Remember it is not by our might or strength but by the power of God. There are a lot of benefits attached thereto. The Lord promises in Psalms 84:11 that he will not withhold any good thing from them that walk uprightly.
It is not your business to judge those you find in church. Your business is with the Lord and you are there to seek him, not to complain and whine about those who are living below the standard of Christ. Who knows maybe you are the one who is not living within the standard of Christ. Remember Philippians 2:12, everyone must work out their salvation with fear and trembling.
Towdah is a Hebrew word which means thanking God for things not yet received as well as things already at hand. That is why we raise our hands to the Lord in praise so that we may receive of him. For whatever you want, lift up your hands in praise and thanksgiving.
Do not settle for less than God’s best. The Lord wanted to give Israel the best of all lands. He promised Joshua in Joshua 1 that every place that his feet treaded upon would be his and that no man would be able to stand before him. How much more us who have been chosen and loved by God. He will do exceedingly, abundantly, above what we can hope for or imagine. Let us settle for the Lord’s best.
Do not be afraid of what this world can throw at you. The Lord says in Isaiah 41:10 fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
The LORD should be our first priority. He is second to no — one (Isaiah 45:5–6).
My desire is that the LORD reduces me to love. Love changes things. It quietens anger and makes the waters still, and love gives us peace.
Do not spend so much time regretting your past failures. They are just that…in the past. Use them instead as a stepping stone to future greatness but do not let them debilitate you.
Learn to appreciate other people’s achievements, and let them motivate you to seek and follow your own purpose.
Dream big. Do not let anyone tell you that your ambitions are too wild. Condoleezza Rice, Kofi Annan, Margaret Thatcher, Wangari Maathai, all dreamt big. Dreamers are the ones who achieve the greatest things.
Remember that it is the Lord who makes all things possible. Lay therefore all of your plans before him, and you will succeed.
Be willing to let the Lord guide you. There is no greater feeling than knowing that the Lord is in control and you don’t have to do a damn thing except have faith and let the Lord lead you.
Do not be a lone wolf. You cannot walk this path of life alone. You must have a support system, people to comfort you when you are down, and celebrate with you when things are going well.
Try to do the impossible and trust that the Lord will not let you fall. Remember how Peter walked on water as if on dry ground. He only needed to trust that the Lord would not let him fall.
Take long walks alone in the early evenings as the sun is just beginning to set and there is that cool breeze. During these walks do not think so much, just feel. It gives your mind a chance to relax.
Pray all day if possible. Wake up at 4 o’clock, during the last watch of the night and pray. Pray during the noon time watch and the evening watch like Daniel who prayed three times a day. In between especially when you find yourself alone whisper a word to the Lord. It will give you peace in every situation because you are in constant communication with your father in heaven. Plus it will strengthen you in the faith. Jesus was strengthened concerning what was to befall him because he prayed and the Lord strengthened him. (1 Samuel 30:6, Daniel 6:10)
Fast as many times as you can. You will be surprised how denying your body awakens your spirit to the Spirit of God. You will get revelations, impressions, perceptions and you will always know the mind of God.
Never ever allow yourself to be convinced by others to do something that you firmly believe that you should not do or you are uneasy about. At the end of the day you are the one who will suffer the consequences. Always ask the Lord whether you should do it. David always made sure to consult the Lord on what was to be done. Joshua also. The one time Joshua FORGOT to ask the Lord, he ended up binding himself in a covenant to protect a people that the Lord had already predetermined was to perish. (1 Samuel 23:2, Joshua 9).
Travel. Save up money continually and travel. See new places. Meet new people and enjoy this beautiful earth that the Lord has given us. Visit the waterfalls, and the forests, and the mighty mountains. Travel by ship. Travel by road. Travel by air and see what is above the clouds. Go on nature trails. Nature has a way of giving us a new perspective (trees particularly cure headaches; this I know for a fact) (Psalms 24:1).
Do not let people with negative energy or pessimists in your inner circle. They just have a way of dulling you and taking away your joy and optimism.
Be a person of honour. Honour is what will distinguish you from other people. It is what people will remember about you, long after you are gone.
Just have fun. Do not fear the flu, dance in the rain. Celebrate each and every achievement. Laugh a lot. Watch comedy shows and laugh. Watch funny videos and laugh. Do things that make you happy. Hold parties, and mingle with friends over food and laughter, but always remember your creator (Ecclesiastes 12:1).