Declare and Decree!

There is power in the words of our mouth. Watch what you say to yourself and the people around you.  Cultivate the habit of speaking positively to your life and the lives of others. Don't use your own mouth to negate yourself, instead use it to encourage and establish yourself. Don't underestimate yourself. Don't rule out all possible options to live a fulfilled life. Declare and believe that greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world and that you can do all things through Christ that strengthens you.

A woman shared her testimony of a new executive job with a reputable organisation. She saw the job advert and observed that she was qualified for every other requirements except the years of work experience. She loved the job and the organisation, she also believed in herself and recognised that she has a special grace as a child of God to decree and declare and it will be established. She then began to decree and declare that the job is hers and that she will be favoured beyond human comprehension. She applied and after she has forgotten about the application, she received a phone call inviting her for interview. She was amazed but grateful to God and once again she began to decree and declare that as she goes for the interview everywhere the foot of her legs tread will become her possession. Just as she declared, she possessed the job and was asked to resume immediately.  

Your situation may not be the same as this woman, but the most important thing is to faithfully declare and decree good things into your life. Speak the word of God into every situation and watch your situation take a new and amazing turn for your good. Don't always be pessimistic, be optimistic. Don't always see a dead end, see an end that lead to a new beginning. Therefore, are you seeking for a job? Decree that the Lord will establish and prosper your ways, he will order your steps and make all things to work together for your good. Are you in School? Decree that you will be a success and not a failure and that wisdom and understanding will be your portion. Are you seeking for promotion? Decree that promotion comes neither from the east or west but from the Lord and so the Lord will lift your head high. Are you fearful of what tomorrow holds? Decree that God knows the plan he has for you, they are plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Finally, start now! Declare and decree into your life, the life of your spouse, the lives of your children. Speak positively into your present and your future. Boldly say to yourself; it is well with my soul. Decree that the peace of God that passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Phil 4:7). Decree that you will not lack anything good (Psalms 34:10). Decree that the Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to (Deut 28:8). Declare that in all these things you are more than conquerors through him who loved you (Rom 8:37). There are thousands of decrees and declarations in God's word, maximise them and do not short change yourself!!!!!

"You can create the energy to turn your dreams into reality by knowing what to say when you talk to yourself" Shad Helmstetter

Be Thankful!!!

Sometimes we feel like we are the worst hit, but that is not true. There are thousands of other persons going through more challenging situations then we think. Therefore, be thankful! A woman shared a lesson she learnt lately about giving thanks. She woke up, got prepared and left for work like every other day. At work she met a colleague who told her she just lost her husband and needed to take time out of work. After a while she came across a 4 year old boy who was born with disability and had to walk with crutches or some kind of walking aid all his life. Later in the course of the day she had a discussion with one of her patients who is suffering from cancer and the patient said, she knows she will die in few months time but she prays for just one thing, that she may witness her daughters wedding in August. After all of these encounters, it occurred to her that she has not been thankful enough for her life and family. Of course, she has her personal struggles but it was obvious she would not want to trade places with these people's situation.

Often times we are busy with our daily lives and we think its just normal to wake up, drive safely to work, go to school, eat and sleep again at night. We need to be grateful for all these things and spend more time thanking God for every little details that make our life worth living. As long as we have life, we do have every reason to be thankful. Unfortunately, we easily forget this fact and focus on the not so pleasing situations which are most times temporary. We complain about everything that is wrong and give less attention to the things that are right. There is nothing new under sun, so, that condition you see as worse, somebody lived through it. You will have to make a choice to stay thankful and enjoy each day of your life irrespective of the circumstance. 

What exactly is your challenge? Would you trade it for some severe disabilities that are permanent? If you answer is No then be thankful for who, what and where you are. Be inspired by the lives of people like Nicholas James Vujicic, the man without limbs meaning he has no arm/hand and no thigh/leg. This did not happen has a result of an accident, HE WAS BORN THAT WAY. How about that? However, Nick as he is fondly called is a preacher, evangelist and motivational speaker. He speaks about his belief in God, how God is bigger than any and all disabilities and how God can use any willing heart to do his work. If you have ever listen to any of his speeches, you will know this is a man full of gratitude irrespective of his state. 

Finally, stop and think deep, count your blessings and name them one by one and indeed be thankful for what God has done. If at all you have some pressing issues, remember to "be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayers and supplication with thanksgiving, make your request known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus"(philippians 4:5-7).  

"It is not Happy people who are Thankful, it is Thankful people who are Happy"

Anonymous

Caution Your Expectation!

Expectations are great and having high expectations are even greater but if ones expectations are not properly managed and cautioned, they can bring with them some unbearable and unexpected consequences. At one point or the other, many of us (if not all) must have had an expectation about something. We understand what it feels like to be expectant even if it is as informal/little as expecting a friend's visit or formal/great as expecting a presidential visit. Whatever kind of expectations,  one common thing is the desire for such expectations to be met. Unfortunately, most of us never achieve our exact expectations about life primarily because they are often very high, difficult to achieve and unrealistic.

While growing up (in my teenage years) I had beautiful expectations about life, I wanted to graduate from the University at a particular age, have a glorious and  lucrative job, I wanted numerous investments, I wanted so many great achievements at an early age, in-short I had very high expectations. I know I am not alone, most of us might have had similar expectations while growing up. Sincerely, they are admirable expectations, but how realistic are they for most of us. We struggle to achieve these high expectations and when they end up unachieved, we feel a subtle or harsh defeat that sometimes end in frustration. While some are able to pick up the rubbles of their failed expectations and aim for a more achievable and fulfilling life, many are unable to manage their fall, they continue to live with the pains of their failed attempts. Some give up totally on life and settle for whatsoever (good or bad) life throws at them. Some others live bitter and aggressive lives, some go to the extreme to engage in socially unacceptable ways to achieve their expectations and some at the very extreme feel so worthless and end their own life. 

Now, do not get me wrong, having expectations, facing challenges and even embracing very high expectations are great. However, we most never become so absorbed with these expectations and the desire to  achieve them without also considering the possibility that they may never be achieved. Be cautioned, don't be overwhelmed by the desire to attain all possible height. Be ready to deal with failed expectations. Be prepared for the realities of life. Trust me, you don't want to be caught unaware!!!

Finally, to properly caution whatever expectations we hope to achieve is to develop realistic expectations. Make an adequate plan towards achieving your expectations, leave room for contingency, develop resilience and be flexible. If after you have taken all possible precautions and your expectations still seem to be failing, do not be too hard on yourself, it is not always your fault! The world will not remain in the same state all through from the time of developing an expectation through to the time such expectation is to be achieved. This is because in our world 'change' is the only constant thing and this 'change' can positively or negatively affect our expectations about life. At such weak point, remain optimistic about life and trade your failing expectations for appreciation. Appreciate how far you have gone and afterwards develop better ways of achieving what is left.

whatever your expectations are, they are things you have not seen but you hope for them.

 "but if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience" Roman 8:25