It is common knowledge that a person’s background or how they were raised determines so much about their behavior and response to life’s situations. My parents raised us to be liberal, accountable to one another, loyal and honest; but like many of us, meeting new people with different backgrounds and personalities and having to adjust to or accommodate them has been one of the most tricky changes in my life.
I have personally served God since 2006 while in my senior one, but after my university studies, I began to serve in a ministry that has ever since changed my life, given me a purpose and an identity. Fortunately or unfortunately, there was a lot to learn on job since this was a new kind of space with strange and new experiences, and needless to say, I was quite young and immature in many things to be exposed at that time.
It took me time to refresh my mind and adjust to this new way and also acknowledge that the hand of God was on my life for something special, and because of that, I continued to live my life as I would at that time. Now, of a truth, when a person becomes born again their standard is raised because they become a new creation and begin to live in the realm of the high calling. Nothing about that person is ordinary or normal, because God himself begins to dwell in that person.
Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own, You were bought with a price [purchased with a [a]preciousness and paid for, [b]made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.
1Cor 6:18-20
There is a certain reverence that the life of salvation requires from us and until you acknowledge that truth, you are bound to have the most scarred walk of life under the sun.
The early years of my exposure to ministry and the things of God were not without errors and failures; and in fact as the song says “A thousand times I’ve failed, but still your mercy remains” I had no defined boundaries especially in regards to relationships with people; most of my days were marked with many shenanigans due to immature choices; and to make things even harder, the introvert in me always tried to fix issues on my own, which resulted into a sad, unhappy and depressed life. Of course I often got the help I needed and became a better person with time, and after all these experiences, I had to examine myself and figure out the best way to live and enjoy this life of salvation as God’s will and purpose is for all of us.
In my examination, I realized that as a growing Christian, there are things which feel right for you to do, but might be stumbling to others or misinterpreted or misunderstood by the world because our perception is different. Looking at it one way, you could say, “Anything goes. Because of God’s immense generosity and grace, we don’t have to dissect and scrutinize every action to see if it will pass muster.” But the point is not to just get by. We want to live well, but our foremost efforts should be to help others live well. 1Corintians 10:23-24.
For example, I used to find it kind and normal to host groups of friends at home from time to time just to build family and friendships. We would have conversations, play games, pray together, and some times spend nights doing the same. My door was always open to whoever needed help; but as much as this looked normal and kind, having observed my parents do the same over the years, I realized that it was probably not yet the right time for me to do it because of many reasons; you never really get to know people’s motives by merely looking at them or assuming that they are friendly.
But also, exposing people to such liberty with you can be dangerous if no clear boundaries are set and communicated so that there is clarity with the people you walk with in terms of understanding the kind of person you are and how you desire to be understood. I saw how dishonest motives can set the wrong foundations for friendships; I saw how the spirit of wickedness can seek to destroy what is beautiful; I’ve seen the enemy sow seeds of discord through slander and backstabbing; and much as sometimes these things can work together for good in due time, years later I had to learn that not all things are expedient for me to do, so I had to deal with me enough to know how to handle myself and some of the things that would cause unnecessary confusion and pain.
But if your brother is being pained or his feelings hurt or if he is being injured by what you eat, [then] you are no longer walking in love. [You have ceased to be living and conducting yourself by the standard of love toward him.] Do not let what you eat hurt or cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died!
Romans 14:15
As the saying goes, ‘the anointing attracts’; The anointing of God will always draw people to you, because it is attractive. Before I was exposed to the world and started to minister, the people in my life then knew me for who I am. When God started to minister through me the way He chose, the anointing amplified my personality and everything I was; it took me time to learn to increase in the anointing and responsibility on my life. And because it attracts, I started to meet many people who liked what God was doing upon my life but cared less about who I was and what He was doing in my life. Somehow the pressure grows on you, people with all kinds of motives come to you, and because the seed of greatness is rising in you, jezebel begins to attack you in ways unexpected.
You can’t probably miss to have misunderstandings with people; people getting attracted to you because God’s glory is shinning on your life; for me, some were affected by my behavior or personality because as it is, you have to be conscious of who you are and what God has made or is making you so that you have the wisdom to walk with certain people the way you should; otherwise you may communicate vibes that unintentionally cause other people to misunderstand you and consequently that will hurt them when they realize that it’s not what you intended.
Relationships with people have to be defined clearly and healthy boundaries set, so that you are not misunderstood in your words and actions. When I examined myself, I realized that some of the pain I had was as a result of my own shortcomings, and some, merely an attack on my person and ministry. The spirit of jezebel is always roaming around the ones that carry a seed of greatness to discourage, destroy, depress and silence them. The earlier you realize this, the more vigilant you become to subject yourself to the transforming power of the truth and living your day to day life before God who is our saving grace.
John 8:31-32 says So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.
There have been situations that I probably wouldn’t have recovered from or that I would have fallen into had it not been for God’s prevenient grace; but even then, I learnt that how we respond to most of these things is what forms or defines our character. What you see as a scar, sometimes is the very thing that is giving you fortitude that should build a certain character in you that turns that scar into a beauty-mark.
There will be many things that will happen to you in this world; weapons will be forged against you, you will be slandered, there will be attempts to destroy you, unfair things will be said about you, you will meet people with ulterior motives, you will be betrayed by the least expected, you will be a topic in the corridors, you will fail in many ways than one, you name it; but in the end, it’s how you respond to all this that matters. There is nothing new under the sun. Everything happening to you happened to our master Jesus, but He taught us well, He didn’t throw in the towel and give up. He said “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]” John 6:33
It doesn’t matter how long it takes, in the end you have to make a conscious decision to grow; to grow out of certain things, to grow into certain wisdoms and maturity; you have to make up your mind to change. When you reach the end of yourself, the grace of God will always be waiting for you to start it’s work of transformation in you. The challenge with many of us is that when we accepted Jesus Christ into our lives, we robbed him of his place and responsibility to save us. We must always remind ourselves that He is our daily Savior and Lord, and that we can’t change on our own; he can deliver us from whatever is distressing us, but also to know that he reigns as Lord over our lives and therefore nothing is too hard for Him. He says “Behold, I am Jehovah, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:27 ASV” And that as we give ourselves this grace, we also remember to give it to others too.
When I reached the end of myself, gracefully broken, helplessly vulnerable before God, He began to do his transforming work in me as an individual. He took me without the camp, and made me. He put his crafting hand in every aspect of my life, and started to give beauty for all my ashes. He gave me the most supportive people, opened my eyes to the bigger picture and set my feet upon a rock. Now I constantly delight in his word because I have tasted the power of His transforming grace.
GOD made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him. When I cleaned up my act, he gave me a fresh start. Indeed, I’ve kept alert to GOD’s ways; I haven’t taken God for granted. Every day I review the ways he works, I try not to miss a trick. I feel put back together, and I’m watching my step. GOD rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.
2 Samuel 22:21-25 MSG
I am not saying I am a perfect human being now, but I have gladly made up my mind to be proud of my weaknesses, because they mean a deeper experience of the power of Christ. Because of them, I find myself constantly falling before His throne of grace. I can even enjoy tests, privations, persecutions and difficulties for Christ’s sake. For my very weakness makes me strong in him, yet vulnerable before him. I am glad to be a living demonstration of Christ’s power, instead of showing off my own power and abilities.
A good name [earned by honorable behavior, godly wisdom, moral courage, and personal integrity] is more desirable than great riches; And favor is better than silver and gold.
Proverbs 22:1
Friends, make it your personal vocation to allow God to deal with you, to heal and to transform you by His word. No one else will change for you; the earlier you lay your pieces before God, the quicker your life will bear fruit. Our relationship with him is not just a mere show of what’s good and exciting, but also a glorious transformation of our scars into beauty-marks. So, what/where are your scars? What do you need to lay before God today that he can heal, and use as his banner of beauty for others to be changed. Do you care about becoming a better person? Remember that our transformation is not a passive process, but a deliberate choice to believe in the transforming grace and unfailing love of our master and savior Jesus Christ.
May this article bring refreshment to your spirit and give you reason to pick yourself up and move forward for your glory has come. So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:16
Hallelujah
Stay Blessed
#WiGTyT
Share your love
Newsletter Updates
Enter your email address below and subscribe to our newsletter
