Lifestyle, Motivation, Overcoming Series

Overcoming Pride

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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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Motivation, Overcoming Series

Overcoming Jealousy

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Jealousy is something we often do not like to talk about, especially when it comes to our own personal struggles as it puts us in a vulnerable position. A position that exposes our feelings of inadequacy or not feeling as though we are good enough. Many of us have struggled with jealousy at some point in our lives and for some this may be a stronghold. In this blog post, I will be explaining what jealousy is, it’s implications and how you can overcome.

Jealousy often goes hand in hand with envy. One of the definitions of jealousy in the Oxford Dictionary is a feeling or showing an envious resentment of someone or their achievements, possessions, or perceived advantages. This is the definition that I will be discussing in this blog post.

Have I ever been jealous of anyone? Most certainly yes. I believe my most severe case of jealousy played out when I was in University. Basically, I was with a guy and he chose another girl over me. I was wounded and found myself comparing myself to this girl in every way possible.

You see, often times we can question why God has chosen to bless others instead of us and we can rationalise in our minds all of the reasons why, for example she may be prettier, more liked, or she may have a larger following on Instagram ect ect. However this is a lie. God does not have favourites and He blesses each and everyone of us in His own way.

“For God does not show favoritism.”‭‭

Romans‬ ‭2:11‬ ‭

Jealousy has existed for a very long time, even during Bible times. We see this in the story of Joseph, David and even Jesus. Joseph was favoured by his father and by God. This caused his brothers to be jealous and they sold him into slavery. Herod was so threatened by the coming of Jesus he ordered for all baby boys under the age of two to be killed. David was known as a man after Gods own heart. Saul became envious of David at the point when the women praised David for slaying 10,000 enemies and Saul only 1000. From this point, Saul sought to pursue David in an attempt to kill him. The overarching similarities of all three stories is how destructive jealousy can be.

Jealousy usually comes from a place of insecurity and fear. Usually this fear stems from other times in our lives where we have gone through long periods of wanting, feared that God may not give us the desires of our hearts or even comparison. The Bible says that Saul became afraid of David because the Lord was with him (1Samuel 18:12).

As I’ve grown older I have reflected on previous situations within my own life where jealousy, insecurity or fear may have been present and I have come to terms with the fact that God will never give me what is NOT for me, and I am okay with that. I am at peace knowing that God will always give me His best.

Jealousy Is A Work Of The Flesh.

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are:…jealousies…of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Galatians 5:19-21

The Bible is clear that we will miss out on the kingdom of God if we have jealousy in our hearts. I believe this is because so many other negative emotions can stem from jealousy such as resentment, bitterness, anger, pride and in worse scenarios hatred. The Bible says that where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there (James‬ ‭3:16‬). These things can ultimately destroy you.

“…love does not envy”

1 Corinthians 13:4

In contrast, the Spirit will allow us to love people, therefore we can be happy for them when they are doing well.

The Comparison Trap.
Comparison often comes before jealousy. In 2018 I wrote a blog post called Stay In Your Lane. In summary, comparison will rob you of your joy, peace and your blessings. When we compare our lives with others and covet what they have, we will lose focus on what God is trying to bless us with, which can lead to us missing out on the amazing things God has for us.

“For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”

2 Corinthians 10:12

The truth is, there is enough to go around. Consider the bread industry where there are many different brands of bread sold all over the world, yet still enough customers for every brand. Similarly, God does not leave anyone out, however administers different gifts and talents to all of us to advance His Kingdom (1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:4-6‬).‭‭‭

If you are feeling overwhelmed with jealousy, your start to freedom can begin with honouring those who God blesses because you never know if or how they can be a blessing to you.
God blesses people because He loves them, and He loves you too.

Please remember that life does not get better when you hold on to jealousy towards others. Only Jesus can make your life better, however He can only do that according to your obedience and faith in Him.

Strategies To Overcome Jealousy.

1. Firstly, Walk In The Spirit.

Because jealousy is a work of the flesh, we need to walk in the Spirit so that we do not fulfil the temptation to be jealous of others. We can do this by asking God for more of His Spirit, praying, worshipping and meditating on His Word.

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”‭‭

Galatians‬ ‭5:16‬

2. Lay Aside Jealousy And Envy.

“Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby…”

1 Peter 2:1-2

You can lay aside jealousy and envy by feeding your Spirit with Gods Word. As Christians one of the things we are called to do is renew our minds (Romans 12:2). When we renew our minds with the Word of God we will then be transformed and will therefore be able to grow spiritually.

3. Repent.

The Bible says those who are jealous of others will not enter the Kingdom of God, therefore you have to repent in order to get your heart right. God is faithful and merciful.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”‭‭

1John‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭

4. Cast Out Fear By Replacing It With Love.

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”‭‭

1 John‬ ‭4:18‬ ‭

Because jealousy can be rooted in fear, fear has to be cast out. Make a conscious effort to work on loving others and tap into the love that God has for you.

5. Trust God.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding…”‭‭

Proverbs‬ ‭3:5‬ ‭

When things are not going well for you trust in God. He still has a plan for your life no matter what you see.

6. Learn To Be Content.

“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Hebrews 13:5

As a child of God you have to learn to be content in all situations. The Apostle Paul understood this as he knew how it felt to be in need, and to have plenty. This is how he mastered the art of being content in all situations (Philippians‬ ‭4:12‬).

7. Be Thankful For All That You Have.

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:18‬ ‭

Thanksgiving is God’s will for us. Grateful people are happy people because they trust God and understand that He will cater for their every need. They are able to see the beauty in all seasons.

8. Celebrate People When They Are Doing Well.

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”‭‭

Romans‬ ‭12:15‬ ‭

We should be happy for people and desire to see them do well. When they weep, weep with them and when they rejoice, rejoice with them.

As I finish I want to leave you with the below Scripture.

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”‭‭

Galatians‬ ‭5:1‬ ‭‬‬

God does not want us to live in bondage. He cares for us too much and wants us to experience the good life He has for us.

I do hope this message has blessed and encouraged you. If so, please share and tell us in the comments below how you were able to overcome jealousy.

Stay Blessed and Encouraged

Nkay

xoxo

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Motivation, Overcoming Series

Overcoming Unforgiveness

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Did you know that forgiveness can be one of the hardest things to do, but one of the most beautiful things to do at the same time? According to the Oxford Dictionary, to forgive means to stop feeling angry or resentful towards (someone) for an offence, flaw, or mistake. Bitterness usually coincides with unforgiveness. Similarly, it is defined as anger and disappointment at being treated unfairly; or having resentment.

In this life, we will all experience hurt by someone and these hurts can be of different shapes and forms. The Bible says that it is inevitable that we go through life without offence (Luke 17:1). People may abuse you, disrespect you, reject you, use you or act out in some other harmful way, however God wants us to forgive them.

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 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 ‭3:12-13‬

‭‭My own battle with unforgiveness started with my parents. Sometimes in life the people closest to us will be the ones who actually hurt us the most, especially when you have an expectation and that expectation is not met. Before I got saved I was aware that this was an issue, not only with my parents but with other relationships too. One of my flaws is that I can become resentful when my expectations are not met or when my peace is disturbed. I also can become triggered when there are injustices not only towards myself but in particular vulnerable people and struggle to let these things go, almost to my detriment. I can honestly say though, this year was the year that I was able to forgive my parents from my heart. Did it take a lot of work? Yes. However when you choose to forgive, this is work that you need to be willing to put in.

Forgiveness does not stop there… it is a continual process because we will always come into contact with difficult people or people who offend us. This is why in the book of Matthew, when Peter came to Jesus to ask how often he should forgive his brother, Jesus replied up to seventy times seven (Matthew 18:22). I believe this was His response to show Peter that there is no limits to how often we should forgive.

So Why Does God Emphasise The Need For Us To Forgive?

Again, in the book of Matthew, Jesus tells a story of the unforgiving servant who refused to forgive his servant of a debt, despite his master forgiving him of an even bigger debt. This paints a picture of what we do, however, God does not work like that. In fact His Word says:

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”‭‭

Matthew‬ ‭6:14-15‬ ‭

The above scripture is saying that the same measure you use to forgive others, God will use to forgive you. Unforgiveness is the reason why many prayers are not answered. That door you’ve been asking God to open, that just doesn’t seem to be opening may very well be a result of unforgiveness in your heart. I’m ministering to myself here as well. Unforgiveness blocks God’s blessings and I can guarantee that you will not see the fullness of God in your life whilst it remains there.

God Is Merciful And Forgiving

“He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”‭‭

Psalms‬ ‭103:10-12‬

‭The Bible says that God is merciful and gracious. He is a slow to anger, and abounds in mercy (Psalms‬ ‭103:8‬). This is the character of God. If God, Who is perfect can forgive, then how much more us?

We Can Experience Freedom When We Forgive

When we hold on to unforgiveness we can become bound by emotions such as anger, bitterness, resentment and in extreme cases hatred. These emotions don’t only effect us, but those around us also. The Bible warns us to be careful of this.

“See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”‭‭

Hebrews‬ ‭12:15‬ ‭

Some of the emotions mentioned above can make us sick in our minds, physical bodies and in our spirits. God wants us to be free from bondage and sickness. He is a healer of our deepest hurts and will intervene if we allow Him to.

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”‭‭

Isaiah‬ ‭53:5‬ ‭

Here are some steps to overcome unforgiveness that I have learned along my journey:

1. Be Transparent With God

It is okay to be transparent with God by talking to Him about the things that have hurt us. God wants us to pour out our hearts to Him because He cares about our every need.

“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”‭‭

1Peter‬ ‭5:7‬

2. Praise God For What He Did On The Cross

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”‭‭

John‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭

God loves us so much that He gave His one and only Son so that we can be free. He paid a heavy price by forgiving us so that we could be reconciled back to Him (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Despite how Jesus was treated, He asked God the Father to forgive those who reviled Him because He understood that they did not know what they were doing. In many cases, those that hurt you, do not know what they’re doing either. There is a saying, ‘forgiven people, forgive people.’ God wants us to extend the forgiveness that He shows to us to those around us.

3. Seek To Make Peace With Those Who Hurt You

“Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”‭‭

Matthew‬ ‭5:23-24‬ ‭

The Bible tells us to leave our gifts at the alter and seek peace with those who we are in conflict with. I understand that this may not always be possible and may be difficult, however our first priority should be to make peace, because without it no one will see God (Hebrews 12:14).

“Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.”‭‭

Matthew‬ ‭5:9‬ ‭

4. Overcome Unforgiveness With Love

In the Book of Mark, a scribe asked Jesus what the first commandment is, Jesus replied:

“‘And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.’”‭‭

Mark‬ ‭12:30-31‬ ‭

If you are searching for your calling, know that it is to firstly love God and to love others as you love yourself. We can look to Jesus as our perfect example.

“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us…”‭‭

Ephesians‬ ‭5:1-2‬

5. Pray For Those Who Have Hurt You

“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.”‭‭

Luke‬ ‭6:27-28‬ ‭

Loving others includes praying for them. I heard a Pastor say in a sermon once, ‘it is very difficult to hate someone that you are praying for.’ Don’t stop praying for those who have hurt you because God moves when we do. In time, those negative feelings will soon melt away and you will then begin to notice the change when you don’t have negative thoughts or any unkind words to say about them.

6. Develop Compassion

I have been reading a book by Lysa Terkeurst called ‘Forgiving What You Can’t Forget’ and one of the things she highlights is that it is very difficult to forgive without compassion, especially when the people who hurt us have shown no compassion at all. Another statement she makes that has resonated with me is that we should try to have compassion for the pain our offenders had to experience in order to make make the choices they made. There is a saying, ‘hurting people, hurt people’ and I believe this to be very true. Compassion will drive you to pray for the healing and deliverance of those who have hurt you when you realise the hurt they are facing themselves.

7. Pull Down The Stronghold Of Unforgiveness And Bitterness

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 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 ‭10:4-5‬ ‭

God gives us weapons to not only fight against the enemy but also to fight against the enemy in our minds.

“…but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”‭‭

Romans‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭

You can renew your mind by filling it with Gods Word. What has helped me is meditating on scriptures relating to unforgiveness, as well as journaling my thoughts and challenging those thoughts that are contrary to what the Word of God says.

And lastly, you can overcome unforgiveness by living out Ephesians 4:31-32.

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

Ephesians‬ ‭4:31-32‬ ‭

By replacing those negative feelings with positive ones, you are teaching your flesh how to forgive. Gods Word says that it is not His will that any of us should perish. Sadly, unforgiveness can be a barrier between us and God. God wants us to live healthy lives, free from strife and discord so that we can do His will here on Earth effectively.

I pray this post encouraged you and that every root of unforgiveness/bitterness is uprooted from your life, in the name of Jesus.

Feel free to leave a comment and share this post if you found it helpful. Please also feel free to check out our journals and planners at FW|MADE Store. All products are 10% off when you sign up to our newsletter.

With Love,
Nkay xoxo

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Lifestyle, Motivation, Overcoming Series

Overcoming Fear

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Have you ever battled with fear? Are you afraid of the future or stepping out into you God-given calling or are you constantly on edge fearing that something bad will happen? Let’s face it, we have all faced fear at some point in our lives. Fear appears to be a common emotion that many of us have experienced and is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm. This may be as a result of trauma, a bad experience or a sudden change of circumstances.

I can admit that I have battled with fear, more so at the beginning of this year. In this time I became so overwhelmed and I can only describe the feeling I felt as crippling. Recently, those same feelings tried to come back to the point I could feel the strain on my heart, however God is a healer and a deliverer. I was able to pray with friends and give every negative emotion over to God and the feeling of fear went away.

Fear Limits You

Like insecurity and rejection as previously discussed in this Overcoming Series, fear is one of the things that can stop us from walking in our purpose and reaching our full potential. This is because it can begin to control our way of thinking, which can ultimately alter our behaviours and actions.

In the Bible we see the story of Elijah in 1 Kings. Elijah was a prophet who destroyed the prophets of Baal because of their worship to their false God. When Jezebel heard of this, she sent a message that she will do the same to Elijah, as what he had done to the prophets of Baal.

“And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.”‬

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭19:3

Despite Elijah being a prophet and a prayer warrior, he still became fearful to the point where he fled. Many of us become so fearful of opposition or people trying to discourage us that we would rather forfeit our calling or purpose than step out and feel uncomfortable. We see in the next verse that Elijah even prayed that God would take his life. I believe this is when discouragement set in. Fear will leave you discouraged, but God is faithful and met Elijah where he was. He will do the same for you too. When Elijah cried out to Him, God sustained him and Elijah still left a legacy and ascended into heaven.

Fear vs Faith

Fear is an opposition to our faith.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”‭‭

Hebrews‬ ‭11:1‬ ‭‬‬

Many people struggle with faith as it is something that cannot be seen, only hoped for. Fear denies the hope that God will take care of us no matter what trials or tribulation we come up against. We see this in Matthew 14:29-31 when Jesus told Peter to step out of the boat. The Bible says that Peter walked on the water to go to Jesus. This was an act of faith. However, when he saw that the wind was rough, he was afraid and began to sink. Have you ever been in this situation? Again, like in the story of Elijah, we see Gods intervention when Peter cried out to Him.

God Has Not Given Us A Spirit of Fear

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”‭‭

2 Timothy‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭

This verse in 2 Timothy tells us that fear is a spirit. This spirit is not of God, therefore it is our enemy. For that reason we need to combat the enemy in the Spirit by prayer, worship, fasting, faith and the Word of God (Ephesians 6:10-12). Invite the Holy Spirit in, for this is not by our own strength, but by Gods Spirit (Zechariah 4:6). When we start to do this we will see that we have the power over our thoughts and the enemy, we have the love of Christ, and we will have a sound mind that is free from doubt and negativity.

So how do we overcome fear? Below are some helpful scriptures that I meditate on at times where I am consumed with fear or anxiety. I believe they will help you too.

1. Let God’s Love Cast Out Fear.

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear…”

1 John 4:18

2. Trust God.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-6‬ ‭‬‬

3. Have Faith That God Will Be With You.

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Isaiah‬ ‭41:10

4. Wait On God, He Is Your Strength.

“Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!”

Psalms‬ ‭27:14‬ ‭

5. Believe that Because of His Strength You Can Be Strong and Courageous.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭‬‬

6. Cast Your Burdens Unto Him.

“Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”‭‭

Psalms‬ ‭55:22‬ ‭‬‬

7. Pray With Trusted Friends.

“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”‭‭

James‬ ‭5:16‬

8. Declare That You Are A Conqueror.

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”‭‭

Romans‬ ‭8:37‬

9. Declare That You Are Set Free From The Spirit Of Fear.

“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”‭‭

John‬ ‭8:36‬ ‭

Let’s Pray

Heavenly Father, You have not given me the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind. I therefore ask that you would cast out this spirit of fear in the name of Jesus. I bind and rebuke every strategy of the enemy and render him useless from operating in my mind, heart and spirit. Today, I choose to not be anxious, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, I will let my requests be made known to You, and Your peace which surpasses all understanding will guard my heart and mind through Christ Jesus. Amen!

I pray this post encouraged you and that you find the above scriptures helpful. Feel free to leave a comment and share.

P.s Our Journals and Planners at FW|MADE Store are still 10% off for a limited time only. An additional 10% will be added if you sign up to our news letter.

Stay blessed and encouraged!

With love,
Nkay

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Lifestyle, Motivation, Overcoming Series

Overcoming Rejection

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Have you ever felt rejected to the point where you have found it difficult to move forward? There are times in life where we will all experience rejection whether it be through losing a job, a relationship breakdown, growing up with absent parents among a number of other things. Rejection can be defined as dismissing or refusing someone or something. The results can be very painful. That is why it is important to deal with it in a way that propels us to keep going forward so that we can walk in our God-given purpose.

The Impact of Rejection

Rejection can penetrate deep into our souls, and in some cases, start to define us. This is usually because rejection attacks the person that we are.

My earliest memory of rejection was growing up without my father. This absence led to intense feelings of rejection and abandonment which took a toll on my life throughout childhood, adolescence and even adulthood. For many females who grow up without a father figure, certainly in my case, can begin to place our value in how the opposite sex sees us, leading us to form unhealthy relationships. I found that the more I felt rejected, the more I desired these unhealthy relationships. Rejection can breed so many other negative emotions and behaviours inside of us, including, anger, bitterness, insecurity, pride, fear, anxiety, depression, promiscuity, jealousy and people pleasing to name a few. As you can see, it can play a major part in our lives, what shapes us, the beliefs we have of ourselves and can go as far as altering our personalities.

Jesus, The Stone That Was Rejected

“The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.”‭‭

Psalms‬ ‭118:22‬ ‭

The Bible tells us that Jesus was despised and rejected by men (Isaiah‬ ‭53:3)‬. This without a doubt would have been hard, however He knew that God had a calling on His life and did not give up despite how others treated Him. By His sacrifice on the cross, He redeemed us from the pain of not being accepted by taking it upon Himself. He died so that we could have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10).

Re-direction

I remember in 2015 applying for a Social Work job. I made it to the interview having passed the application process and written exercise, however I did not end up getting the job. Was I upset? Yes. However God really did bless me and has gone over and beyond with this current job that I am in. Many times rejection can re-direct us to something better. We may not understand why we are being rejected, but we can trust that God will work out everything for our good (Romans 8:28).

“…No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”‭‭ ‭‬‬

Psalms‬ ‭84:11‬

God will never withhold anything good from His daughters. He is Omniscient and knows the beginning from the end. He knows exactly what we need and when we need it. This is why when things do not work out the way that we’ve intended them to, we can trust that God still has a good plan for us.

Gods Protection

As well as re-direction, God can use rejection to protect us from things that may be harmful for us or things that are counterproductive to our spiritual journey. He knows when we are too stubborn to let go, so what does He do? He ends it! Whilst we can only see rejection and the negative emotions it brings, God can see things for what they really are and intercedes on our behalf. That is how much He loves us.

God also promises that He will take care of those who have been rejected or abandoned.

“He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing.”‭‭

Deuteronomy‬ ‭10:18‬ ‭

Here are some steps that I have found helpful to overcome rejection:

1. Putting God First

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

Matthew‬ ‭6:33

The Bible tells us that when we put God first, everything else will fall into place. When we have experienced rejection we need to realign our focus back to Him. We can do this by seeking Him through His word. I have also found prayer and fasting helpful, especially when the rejection has become a stronghold.

2. Focusing On Who God Says I am

“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.”‭‭

Psalms‬ ‭139:14

God declares that you are fearfully and wonderfully made, this is not just in the good times but during rough seasons too. The love that we have for ourselves should not be conditional because Gods love for us is not conditional. He created us so intricately and knew us before we even came into this world. He also paid the ultimate price so that we may live an abundant life, one that is free from feeling rejected. When we get this revelation we will be able to see clearly how valuable we are to Him. Beautiful woman, you have so much worth and God loves you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).

3. Knowing That God Has Accepted Me

Gods word promises that He will never leave or forsake us. Gods Word never lies and fortunately for us, He never changes His mind.

“Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”‭‭

Ephesians‬ ‭1:4-6‬ ‭

4. Being Reminded That God Has A Special Plan For My Life

Be intentional about extending kindness to yourself. The enemy sows seeds of doubt, however God is for you and He wants you to be reminded that He has a plan for your life that will exceed your expectations.

“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

‭‬‬5. Allowing God To Heal Me

When I have felt rejected, I have found that acknowledging my emotions and sharing the hurt with God helps. God wants us to be vulnerable with Him. I also find that journalling helps, especially when I can’t express the words vocally.

If you are experiencing feelings of rejection, God is wanting you to cast your cares onto Him because He really does care for you and He will surely sustain you.

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”‭‭

Psalms‬ ‭55:22

In ending this blog post I want to remind you that God loves you and wants to set you free from the bondage of rejection. He also wants to move you into a life of acceptance in Him.

“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”‭‭

John‬ ‭8:36‬ ‭

I hope this blog post has blessed and encouraged you. Please show some love by leaving a comment, like and sharing if this post resonated with your heart. I would also like to hear your views and experiences of how you overcame rejection or if this is still a process for you.

P.s Please also check out our journals and planners at FW|MADE Store. They are currently 10% off until the end of September. An additional 10% can be added if you sign up to our newsletter.

With love,
Nkay xoxo

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