Faith – FEARFULLY WONDERFULLY MADE

Mind Games: Overcoming The Battle In Your Mind.

January 16, 2023 No Comments

What if I was to tell you that your mind is more powerful than you think. Is this something that you’ve ever considered?

As I have grown in my faith I have come to realise that the mind and the thoughts that we have are very important and can affect every aspect of our lives.

The enemy knows this, and uses our minds as his playground more times than we can imagine. One of his main missions is to create strongholds in the mind which are contrary to what God says about us and to distort our perception. This can create a life of bondage and stagnation, hence the reason why God led me to speak on this topic. God’s desire is that we are free to live the life that He intended for us to live.

The enemy is skilled at playing mind games. The Oxford Dictionary defines mind games as a course of psychologically manipulative behaviour intended to discomfit another person or gain an advantage over them. When our minds are not aligned with God’s Word we are easily susceptible to being controlled by the enemy. This can show up as paranoia, rumination, double-mindedness, negative thought patterns or thought patterns that are carnal. The Bible says that the carnal mind is enmity against God. (Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭7‬).

Have you ever been sitting there and all of a sudden a negative thought pops into your mind out of nowhere and you question where it came from? Or you may struggle with replaying negative scenarios over and over again in your mind. Maybe it was an argument with a friend and you are ruminating about it, thinking about what you could have said to really hit deep. Trust me, I have been there. How have you felt after a negative thought session? I can guarantee that you didn’t feel good about it.

Negative thoughts rob you of your peace.

This is why it is important that we exercise control over our minds and learn ways of being intentional about our thought process. A negative thought pattern cannot produce a positive life. What we think about usually affects our emotions, which can affect our behaviour, our words and the trajectory of our lives.

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…”
~ Proverbs‬ ‭23‬:‭7‬ ‭~

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The Bible tells us that we ought to renew our minds.

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
~ Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭~

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When we renew our minds, we can get a better revelation of what God’s will is for us and clarity about our purpose. Imagine being in a very noisy and chaotic environment, and your friend is trying to tell you something. It is likely that you will not be able to hear what they are trying to say due to the noise around you drowning out their voice. In the same way, a cluttered mind can drown out the voice of God. Remember, God’s voice is often quiet and still (1 Kings 19:12).

There has to be a point where you come to the realisation that any thought that is not of God, is not serving a purpose in your life and has to go.

Renewing your mind is one of the best investments that you can make in yourself. Meditating on God’s Word and His goodness is imperative to gaining victory over your mind. Make it an intention each morning when you first wake up to meditate on God’s Word. You will find that this will set the tone for your day. I like to write down my thoughts in a journal as it helps me to see things more clearly. It also helps to write down key scriptures in my journal from the Bible that are contrary to any toxic thoughts that I may have. You will find that the more you fill your mind with God’s truth, the more you will be able to combat the enemy’s lies and live a prosperous life.

Bringing our minds into subjection to the Word of God can take time, but with every thought, we can make the choice to exercise authority and discipline by not meditating on negative thoughts.

So I have a question. What thoughts usually occupy your mind? Below are some declarations that I have found helpful in gaining victory over my mind and that have been helping me to cultivate a healthy thought life.

1. I choose to fix my mind on the truth of God’s Word.

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”
~ Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭~

2. I have the mind of Christ.

“For ‘who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.”
~ 1 Corinthians‬ ‭2:16‬ ‭‬‬~

3. I find power in God’s Word, which discerns my thoughts and the intentions of my heart.

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
~ Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬ ‭~

4. I acknowledge any negative thought patterns that I have, and anything in my mind that is not aligned with God’s Word, I take captive and teach to be obedient to Christ.

“casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,”
~ 2 Corinthians‬ ‭10:5‬ ‭~

5. I replace the lies of the enemy, with the truth that is God’s Word.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
~ Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭~

6. I am at peace because my mind is focused on God.

“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.”
~ Isaiah‬ ‭26:3‬ ‭~

7. I take authority over negative thoughts.

“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
~ Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭19‬ ‭~

8. I choose to set my mind on things above.

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
~ Colossians‬ ‭3:1-3‬ ‭~‬‬

9. I am a new creation in Christ, therefore I do not have to dwell on negative thoughts. Old things have passed away and all things have become new.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
~ 2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬ ‭~

10. I choose to meditate on God’s Word, His goodness and all of His marvellous works.

“I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of Your deeds.”
~ Psalms‬ ‭77‬:‭12‬ ‭~

11. I call on the Holy Spirit, my Helper to help me tear down strongholds that are hindering me from having healthy thoughts.

“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor, Counsellor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever.”
~ ‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭16‬ ‭~

12. I have life and peace because my mind is governed by the Spirit.

“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”
~ Romans‬ ‭8:5-6‬ ‭~

Found this blog post? Then please leave a comment below.

Please also feel free to check out our journal and planner collection at FW|Made Store.

Click here to download a list of these declarations to keep with you.

Stay blessed and encouraged

Nkay

xoxo

Motivation

8 Biblical Reminders For December.

December 1, 2022 No Comments

Hey beautiful ladies,

As we have entered into a new month and are fast approaching Christmas, I have put together eight reminders below for every day living before this year ends.

1. First and foremost, put God first in everything that you do.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
~ Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭33‬ ‭~

2. Be grateful in all things, no matter how big or small.

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
~ Thessalonians‬ ‭5:18 ~

3. Forgive and let go.

“Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”
~ Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬ ‭~

4. Spread kindness everywhere you go.

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
~ Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭32‬ ‭~

5. Be patient and wait on God.

“But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”
~ Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭31‬ ‭~

6. Pray always.

“Pray without ceasing”
~ Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬ ‭~

7. Invest in renewing your mind.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
~ Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭~

8. Trust God and do not be anxious.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
~ Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭~

I pray that you have found these reminders useful.

Click here to download a list of these Biblical reminders to keep on your phone or around your home and workplace.

Stay blessed and encouraged,

Nkay

xoxo

Motivation

7 Biblical Affirmations For November

November 1, 2022 4 Comments

I always get excited towards the end of the year, especially in November as it’s my birthday month. Not only that, but there is just something about starting a new month that refreshes the soul.

To kick off this new month I encourage you to speak these seven biblical affirmations over your life.

1. God goes before me. I don’t have to be afraid (Deuteronomy 31:8).

2. I am deeply loved (1 John 3:1).

3. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13).

4. God supplies all of my needs (Philippians 4:19).

5. God has a good plan for me (Jeremiah 39:11).

6. God will finish the work that He started in me (Philippians 1:6).

7. I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).

Stay blessed and encouraged

Nkay

xoxo

Motivation

Pressure Creates Diamonds

October 25, 2022 4 Comments

Have you ever been through a test or trial so severe that you did not know how you were going to make it through? You may also have felt confused or forgotten by God. Going through trials or other painful experiences is not pleasant, however many times these experiences can shape us for a greater purpose. This does not negate the fact that what we experience can be painful as I really believe that there is a grieving process that needs to take place so that one can heal in a healthy way, however the aim is to not stay in that place.

As I thought about many trials I have experienced, God showed me the process of how a diamond is created. A diamond is a precious stone and is described as beautiful due to its multiple facets and shiny appearance. They are mainly valued due to their natural strength. There is, however a refining process that takes place before diamonds are formed. Diamonds are created under immense heat.

Like the diamond creation process, we also go through periods of pressure, some more intense than others. One of my hardest moments was losing my Grandmother under horrific circumstances in 2016. Your period of pressure may be very different from mine, however we should never be defined by what we go through, instead we should allow difficult circumstances to refine and transform us. The truth is, without pressure, nothing ever grows.

Navigating through trials is imperative to Christian growth. Have you ever noticed that one of the questions asked in job interviews is “how do you work under pressure?” This question is asked, because pressure is inevitable and being able to function under it is a recognised skill.

Scripture tells us that we should rejoice when we go through trials- James 1:2. This is not because we are mad and enjoy going through pain, the answer is actually found in the next two verses.

“knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
– James‬ ‭1:3-4‬ ‭-

Similarly, Romans 5:3-4 says that trials, build our character. Difficult circumstances can either make you bitter or better. I’m not sure about you, but I desire to be better.

God wants us to come out better than we were before the trial occurred. Job went through various trials within close proximity of each other including losing his children, live stock, properties, and health, however, amongst it all, he chose to persevere.

“But He knows where I am going. And when He tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.”
– Job 23:10 –

We may not understand the painful experiences that we have gone through or may be going through at this current time, however we can trust God. Proverbs‬ ‭3:5‬ ‭says that we should not lean on our own understanding. I believe it says this, as God is sovereign and we do not see the whole picture or the ending.

If you are going through a difficult time right now, remember that God promises to work all things out for your good. Things may have not worked out the way that you hoped, or you may have incurred failure, but God wants the best for you.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
– Romans 8:28 –

Below are some helpful pointers to remember when going through trials:

1. Have Faith That God Will Bring You Through It.

Often times, a trial is a sign that something bigger is coming. Look at the story of Job. After he went through various trials the Bible says that his latter was greater than the beginning. Trials are very difficult to go through, however we can have a positive outlook when we experience them. The Bible says that we should rejoice when we go through trials, but we can only do this if we have faith that God will bring us through them.

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” ‭‭
– James‬ ‭1:2-4‬ ‭-

2. Exercise Gratitude.

“…in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
– 1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:18‬ ‭-

I have found that remembering the times when God delivered me from things or took me out of dark places helps. David did this when he faced Goliath. He remembered a lion and a bear that he previously had victory over and I believe that this gave him the motivation to face Goliath. Remembering your previous victories, and being grateful that God brought you through them will help you to overcome your current situation.

3. Pray.

Prayer is effective, and the Bible says that we should do this constantly (1 Thessalonians 5:17). When we cry out to God He hears us and delivers us from not just some, but all of our troubles.

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.”
– Psalm 34:17 –

4. Resist Temptation.

Many times when we go through trials, temptations can come our way. We see this played out with Job when his wife told him to curse God and die and Jesus when He was tempted in the wilderness. Wilderness seasons can make us vulnerable to temptation. During these times you will need to endure temptation, knowing that your perseverance comes with a promise.

“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
– James 1:12 –

5. Be Hopeful.

As long as you are still breathing, there is hope. Despite anything difficult you are facing right now, God has a plan for you that prevails against your current circumstances.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
– Jeremiah 29:11 –

6. Speak Positively.

Whilst it may be tempting to complain or speak negatively when going through a trial, please note that this is an open door for the enemy to infiltrate your mind and heart. Also, words have power. Make a conscious decision to praise and worship your way through difficult times. Meditate on the word of God trusting that He will bring you out of it.

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”
– Psalm 19:14 –

7. Encourage Yourself In The Lord.

1 Samuel 30:6 tells us that when David was greatly distressed, he encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord. We should also do this, as there is beauty in crying out to God. You will find that when you don’t have strength, He will give you His strength.

“As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength.”
– Psalm 138:3 –

8. Surround Yourself With People Who Encourage You.

Whilst there are times when we need to spent time with God, or time alone, we need to exercise balance. Remember, the enemy works amongst isolation. One of Gods greatest gifts to us is through relationship. We need to ensure that we are connected to the right people. Surrounding yourself with the right people, people who genuinely want the best for you and that can encourage you when you encounter trials will benefit your life in so many ways.

“Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”
– Proverbs 11:14 –

9. Finally: Persevere.

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” ‭‭
– Galatians‬ ‭6:9‬ ‭-

The Promise:

Queen, I would like to encourage and remind you that you are a diamond and your suffering has not been in vain. There is actually a promise attached to what ever you have either been through or are going through.

“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.”
– 1 Peter 5:10 –

Also remember that through Christ you can overcome. God says in John 16:33 that in the world we will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, He has overcome the world.

With that, I pray that this blog post has encouraged you. Feel free to share your views by leaving a comment below.

Stay blessed and encouraged

Love, Nkay xxx

Lifestyle, Motivation, Overcoming Series

Overcoming Pride

March 6, 2022 5 Comments

One of the hardest things to recognise in ourselves is pride. Not too long ago I saw a quote on social media that states, “pride is like bad breath, everyone knows you have it but you,” and to some extent this is true. We tend to see pride in others, however rarely can see how it plays out in our own lives.

Pride is defined in the Oxford dictionary as “a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.” Whilst it is not wrong to have a sense of happiness about our achievements, the kind of pride I am talking about is the pride that God warns us about in the Bible. Proverbs 6:16 says that pride is the first of seven things that God hates, and rightly so. Pride comes from the enemy. Remember that Lucifer was cast out of heaven due to his pride. He wanted to be like God and we see in the book of Genesis 3 how he sowed this seed into Adam and Eve. He does this throughout the Bible and we are not exempt. Pride is deceptive. Eventually, you will stop hearing from or following God and this often pushes people into a life of sin.

Pride is something that many of us have struggled with or may still struggle with. This can look like having an inflated view of self; being judgemental or overly critical; self-righteousness; stubbornness; refusing to take correction; or being envious when God blesses others. This list is not exhaustive concerning pride. God has recently been speaking to me about perfectionism, especially in relation to writing and various other aspects of my life. I realised that I was procrastinating and delaying what God was trying to do in my life because I did not feel as though it was “perfect.” Anytime you take your eyes off God and direct them to yourself, or rely on your own strength, this is pride. We are not called to please humans, but to live a life that is pleasing to God.

Pride can have many different sources and for some it may not be that they have an overly high opinion of themselves, but rather deep rooted insecurities, low self-worth, feelings of rejection or fear. The behaviours that some may describe as prideful or arrogant may be a defence mechanism.

Pride Leads To Destruction.

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty (arrogant) spirit before a fall.”‭‭
– Proverbs‬ ‭16:18‬ ‭-

Consider Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar was ruled by pride and failed to acknowledge that God gave him his riches and power. The result of his pride is illustrated in the book of Daniel, chapter 4 when the Kingdom of God departed from him and he was made to eat grass like the animals. The moral of this story is that we should never exalt ourselves.

“And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
– Matthew‬ ‭23:12‬ -‭

Our blessings, deliverance and healing can be blocked due to our pride. I say this as the Bible is clear that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5). Being humble is crucial to your Christian walk as this will take you to places that pride will never allow you to go.

So how do we overcome pride?

1. Keep Your Eyes On Jesus And Put Him First.

When we depend too much on ourselves we are not giving God enough space to move. We should therefore seek God first in all things.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”‭‭
– Matthew‬ ‭6:33‬ ‭-

2. Examine Yourself Regularly.

“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.”‭‭
– 2 Corinthians‬ ‭13:5‬ ‭-

As Christian’s we should be examining ourselves regularly and we can do this to see whether there is any pride in us. The Bible says “test yourself.” If you identify with any of the behaviours described in the beginning of this blog post, or you think you may be struggling with pride, ask God. The Holy Spirit will surely reveal this to you so that it can be dealt with.

3. Commit To Reading God’s Word Daily.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”‭‭ ‬
– 2 Timothy‬ ‭3:16-17 –

People who struggle with pride, also struggle with receiving correction. By reading the Bible regularly you will start to develop a deeper revelation of God’s word. The word of God is described as a two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). It will convict and correct you, however this is not intended to hurt you. God corrects us because He loves us so that we can see the necessary changes in our lives.

4. Love Others.

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up.”
– 1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:4‬ ‭-

Love is not prideful or arrogant, however is the complete opposite, that being humble and kind. To love, you can start by thinking of others more than you think about yourself, as well as taking a genuine interest in people as Philippians‬ ‭2:3-4‬ says. God is love, and we can use Jesus as our prime example of what this looks like.

5. Resist The Enemy By Being Humble.

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”‭‭
– James ‭4:7‬ ‭-

We have one enemy, the devil and he is the father of all lies. The Bible says when we resist him, he will flee from us. We can also resist him by clothing ourselves with humility. When you do this, God will lift you up at the right time ‭‭(1 Peter‬ ‭5:6).‬ ‭

6. Heal.

“…And by His stripes we are healed.”‭‭
– Isaiah‬ ‭53:5‬ ‭-

If you struggle with pride, try identifying areas where you need to heal. Knowingly or unknowingly using arrogance as a defence mechanism will always have the reverse effect and keep you in a cycle of pain. God promises us healing and He gives us authority over the lies of the enemy, therefore you can start to speak the word of God, which is truth, over your life.

This is the last post in our Overcoming Series and I pray that you were blessed and encouraged by it. The Holy Spirit led me to write regarding these topics in particular because many times we think that we are okay because we haven’t committed the “big sins” for example murder, sexual immorality, and stealing to name a few. However, what we may see as little things such as, insecurity, rejection, fear, unforgiveness, jealousy and pride can eventually lead to the bigger sins. This is why they need to be dealt with. “The little foxes add up, and will eventually ruin a strong healthy vine” as Joyce Meyer once put it.

God wants me to tell you that you are His precious daughter, you have overcome the world because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 John‬ ‭4:4‬).

I hope you have enjoyed this series. Please check out more posts from the Overcoming Series.

Stay Blessed and Encouraged

With love,

Nkay

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