Everyday we have an encounter with people of all walks of life. Some on our way up others on our way down. Some who barely look at our direction, others who do, but have nothing good to utter. Some are waging war with us for no just cause. It is like we are constantly at war with monsters/demons in our heads. What should we do? Fightback, take it to them, or remain humble?. To tell you the truth, sometimes I just want to give it back on a silver platter, so they experience the hurt they dishout. Other times, I want to humble myself, so I can be lifted up by God. In reality, I feel like fighting for my rights and damn the consequences, but we all know there is no resolution or anything good that has ever come from fighting.“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed, perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-10.

“The Word of God says that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and not by our own efforts or works” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Grace alone means that God loves, forgives, and saves us not because of who we are or what we do, but because of the work of Christ that was already accomplished on the Cross – there is nothing we can do or need to do to make Him love us less/more. Faithfulness is who God is. “If we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself” 2 Timothy:13. All our iniquities have been washed away by the blood of Jesus, all we need to do is to continue walking in the light just like He is in the light. Light and darkness have nothing in common. For us to remain in Him, we have to come out from the darkness and follow in His footsteps. We need to sort out our redeemer, get into His presence and seek Him through prayers, worshiping, studying the Bible and be filled with the Holy Spirit. It is about making a conscious decision to follow Christ and being intentional in your words and actions.

How we feel, think and act have a lot to do with our surroundings, the people we surround ourselves with and our upbringing in life. We can’t tell people how to treat us, but we can definitely decide and control how we react. The only way of achieving this is by holding every negative thought captive and making them obedient to the Holy Spirit. In one of my midweek classes, we were asked to think of something good/bad that someone has said or done to us and how it has affected our lives in a positive or negative way. The funniest thing is, with all the million hates, hurts, and backlash I have received in my life; I found it difficult to remember a specific negative encounter that had been geared towards me. Reason being, I have decided to make it a God problem instead of a me problem. God has a way of erasing/blocking all the negative things in our lives. “Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?” Lamentations 3:37-38. 

On a bad day, the things that can easily drag me down in this life are countless. However, I have decided to focus on the things of the spirit rather than the things of the flesh. All the assaults, abuses, iniquities, pain, insults, humiliation that we have received as children or adults do not have a hold on us, if only we direct it to the Purifier. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”. 1 John 1:7&9”. It is hard to explain how I got to this place of freedom & serenity, but I know it starts and ends with a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He has a way of washing away our pain, stains and replaces it with joy, laughter, dancing. If your pain is weighing you down, you have to make a conscious effort to pick up your cross and follow Him. Is a personal relationship. Ruth made a decision to stay back with her mother-in-law even after the demise of her husband with these powerful words of proclamation “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” Ruth 1:16.

Our destiny is determined by God, but its fulfillment is determined by us. Therefore, we have to be intentional and work towards achieving the purpose of our creation. The scripture assures us of God’s unconditional love and presence. I will be with you till the end of time. Don’t be discouraged by the challenges and difficulties you experience everyday, yet be glued to the words of God and keep marching onto the cross. Failing is part of growing, if we are not growing, we are not changing and that includes our daily walk with Him. So “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4.

There are three effective ways to help us to fight the demons/monsters in our heads. First, we should pray as though everything is dependent on God and work as though it depends on us. When we pray, the result is God’s Peace which transcends all understanding. Jesus prayed in His worst moments, after which He was able and willing to face hardship because of prayer. Prayer is a decided response in hard times. Is in prayer that we connect with God and listen to the amazing words He has to say. There is a reward for hard workers, and that can come in many ways – most importantly, it gives us the ability to afford the finest things in life and live life to the fullient – as God intended without feeling guilty. Is making your prayer life a priority the next right thing for YOU? “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him”. Hebrews 11:6. 

Secondly, we should worship even when we don’t feel like it. Worship shows what is true even when we don’t see it. Worship enables us to remember the faithfulness of God and declare Him through every circumstance – Lord here is my heart, take it and make me hold. We don’t praise the what, we praise the Who! He is the Alpha & Omega, the Embodiment of Perfection, our Helper, Advocate, Consuming Fire, Just One, King of Zion, Living Word, Finisher of our faith etc. God does not forsake his own. He found you, he chose you and he called you even when you doubted your worthiness. God is the same God that took the power of death from the devil “Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty– he is the King of glory”. Psalms 24:9-10. The devil dared God so, you will be dared as well. Keep in mind that the same God that fought battles in the old is still fighting battles for us today and for years to come – He is unchangeable.

Thirdly, we have the most important book – the Bible, in our possession to teach, instruct, direct, guide, inspire, educate and lead us to the right direction. We can learn a thing or two from men and women of faith who were tried, persecuted, stoned, beaten & died all because of their faith and love of God. We can emulate their strength, stronghold, courage, resistance & fortitude in spite of the adversary they face. We have been given an advocate – The Holy Spirit, who lives within us to understand scriptures, to walk with us and to make us anew. God’s words never change, but have a power through the Holy Spirit to change us. “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever–The Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you”. John 14: 16-17.

Life is not meant to be done alone. You have to find your own niche, small groups, friends, like minded people, colleagues or anyone who can take away some of that lonely feeling. I have noticed that, sometimes all we need to get by is talk out our frustrations – biggest therapy. The people we meet on our way down/up are also in search of what we are searching for – someone to talk to. It might be a simple concept but practical. God will use your situation to turn your eyes back towards Him, don’t fight it, just let it happen. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”. 1Thessalonians 5:16-18. Demons/monsters are like us – humans, looking for an open opportunity, for someone to let them in – would you? They are the disasters, distractions or calamities waiting to explode. Make every effort to “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breast-plate of righteousness in place and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation  and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests”. Ephesians 6:11 & 13 -18. God is always calling us to something new, we just need to be attentive to know what His next is for our lives. When will you be when He calls? Your location has no hindrance to His calls; just have an open mind/heart and be ready to receive His messages, follow His directions/instructions and respond with ‘I am willing Lord – Use me like an instrument’ or I will follow.