If you've lived long enough one thing you would have definitely noticed in life is that it's hard to balance it. Whether in school, work or even with something you are passionate about. Not to forget God in the whole equation.

Sometimes I find myself putting so much in to work and in the process forget the other areas of my life. It is dangerous putting your all into one part of your life and leaving the rest lacking. For a lot of us it's our spiritual life that is lacking because  we are so focused in trying to better ourselves physically. You’re striving so hard to do well in school, get promoted at work, secure a better future and God is sitting there waiting for us to just call on him.

Seek first His Kingdom and every other thing will be added. This is all God requires of us, and my God it's so simple!  Seek God first, put him at the top of your list before you go into each day and what you are seeking physically will be added.
How easy is this, but yet so hard? Why is it so hard for us to just hold on to that word? Why is it so hard for us to just put him first in our life and then let the promotion at work follow and the money and cars roll in after?

So many times I've had to go back to God and beg him, I just say ‘God I'm sorry I tried to do it on my own again. I tried to live life on my own again, I tried to make that crucial decision on my own. I'm sorry’.  Why do I keep taking my life back from God when he has told me that all I had to do was cast my burden to him? Every time I try to live life on my own, I end up running back to him.

To have a fulfilled and balanced life, your priorities have to be in order. In order words, God has to come first then everything follows. Social media, friends and all sorts can take up your time. You have to be self-disciplined and self-conscious. Self-disciplined in that you know when it's time to get off the phone and do some work. If you planned on studying for 1 hour, make sure you actually study for an hour. Self-conscious being that God has to be first in my life. So when you wake up in the morning God is the first person you speak too not grab your phone and reply your messages. You consciously pray and read your bible before you head out. This will eventually by the grace of God be a part of you.

Love your neighbour as your self. Not more than yourself or less than yourself.  Before you can apply this principle you need to actually love and value yourself. It's said that people treat you or see you the way you see yourself.  Have you been seeing yourself as a failure and wondered why you are constantly failing in everything or find your self constantly being disappointed? It's because of how you see yourself.  Do you see yourself very small and wonder why people look down on you?  It's because of how you see yourself.

I remember being called for an interview in a company once.  At that point in my life I was very insecure, a negative thinker and I was almost giving up on looking for a job.  Then, I was very intimidated by people. The inverview happened to be a group interview and at a point each of us where given sometime to speak about ourselves, our achievements and why we should be given the position and we had to do this in front of everyone. Let's just say that interview didn't go well at all.  I was so scared, so intimidated by the people there, I was shaky and couldn't even get a sentence out correctly. I knew for a certainty that I wasn't going through the second round. With the kind of mindset I had it was written all over me.

About a year or so after I had another interview with the same company. But this time I had grown, I had developed my confidence, I was sure of myself, I  knew I was just as good as the next person beside me.  I had achieved a lot as well.   The love for me was growing. I was loving myself more and this was written all over me. It was the same process again, stand up and talk about yourself. This time I spoke with so much confidence with a smile on my face. This was in front of the group and also in front of the founder of the company. Just before I got home that day I received a call for a second interview. I was told the founder of the company was very impressed with the way I spoke and also with the questions I asked. 

The way you see yourself matters a lot in how people perceive you and also relate and treat you. You can't love your neighbour as yourself when you don't love yourself. Change the way you think. If you say 'I can do it' then you can't. If you say 'I am beautiful' then you are. If you love you others will too.

Begin to focus on yourself. Look in the mirror and tell your self you are beautiful.  God made us in His image so there is no way we can be less than what God planned for us.

You are what you think you are.

It's very easy to accomplish something in life and then be lost in what you've achieved and you forget to move on. You find that you are still bragging about an achievement of two years three years ago when really you should have accomplished alot more since then.

For example you've finally finished your degree ang gotten a job. Two years or three years into the job and you are still comfortable where you are not thinking about going for further studies or trying to get promoted at work. In your mind you keep thinking "at least i have a degree".

I found I was in this same bubble for a while not even realising it. I was so comfortable where I was.  It's ok to shine definitely but it's so much better to keep shining brighter and brighter. When we get lost in our past achievements our light begins to dim and loose it's shine.

The bible says we are the light of the world. Which means it's up to us to shine up the place where ever we find ourselves. Sometimes I get intimidated though by this world because definitely their are people out there who can do alot better than myself there are people out there who might have more drive or determination than myself. But the bible does say with God all things are possible. It also says I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. This is exactly what makes us shine brighter than the rest.

I once heard: when you have an orchestra each one playing it's own beautiful piece not one of them in a competition with the other because they all know their position they all know the part they play and when they all play together it results in a very beautiful sound.

Once you are sure of youself and where you stand you are sure of your purpose, you would not need to be intimidated by the next person beside you. Each person shining brighter to be the light of the world. Never dwell on your achievements for too long. Once you've accomplish something move on to the next Don't get stuck in the past when the future is well ahead of you.

One thing I have learnt in my relationship with God is  when I have prayed and prayed over a long period of time for something, and I don't get an answer. Be it a 'Yes' or 'No' or a result. Then I know God wants me to wait.

The waiting stage is tough. It's absolutely hard. One minute I'm thinking, has God forgotten about me,  the next minute  I'm telling God, God I trust you. Another minute I'm thinking, is He going to come through for me or has He forgotten about me.

To wait is literally letting go and letting God. To wait is giving up what 'WE' know how to do and to let God do what 'HE' will do. The waiting stage can put us in a weak place. It certainly puts me there.
 
The word says “in your weakness the spirit intercedes on your behalf with groans words cannot utter”.  

Thank God for this scripture. Have you ever found yourself in a place where you can't pray?
It's great knowing you have the Holy Spirit interceding and praying for you even in your weakness.

While He does that the word also says “those that waits upon the Lord He shall renew their strength”.

I got to realise that if I just whispered  to the Holy Spirit and asked him to intercede for me and on my behalf my strength will be renewed. Then I can trust God again rather than doubt Him. I am waiting on God but my strength is being renewed everyday.

The waiting stage is the trusting stage. Do you trust God enough to wait on Him?

Are you in a place where you can't pray?
A little whisper to the Holy Spirit can make a difference.

Let go and let God!

When “A New Year” comes, we get all the vibes of “A New Start, A New beginning”, something like a second chance. Everything you couldn’t do last year there’s an opportunity to maybe do it this year. Everyone gets excited at this time of the year.
They start making plans, writing New Year’s resolutions, everyone’s feeling like this Year will be the best year of their life.

Then here comes April, May, June, July, August and before you know it, it’s September like we are in right now, and things just go right back to the same way they were last year, and the year before and the year before.
So at this point, nothing is new or changing and the year continues to stay the same, and it will until you realise that you don’t actually need a new year for things to change.

A new mind is what you need. A renewing of your mind.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.    Romans 12:2

If your mind stays the same in a new year you will realise that you’re still just as angry, bitter, upset, moody, lazy always procrastinating and constantly doing the wrong things.  Nothing is changing why? Because your mind is still the same.

To renew your mind is to not try to do things by your own strength, it’s to not want your will to be done but he’s. To renew your mind is to test and approve, to find out what God’s will really is and make it yours. It’s to allow God change you from the inside out. Once you leave your will to God, things get better and easier to achieve, you get better in the year, not the year get better for you.

Now nobody was born angry, or upset or always negative, nobody was born with a problem.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

The devil has a way of planting a seed without you even knowing. It could have been something so minor that happened when you were younger and then before you know it it’s now something so big that you are living with, it’s now a part of you, it’s now a norm. You don’t try to figure out why you are like that or how it all started.
That’s exactly the plan of the enemy he comes to steal to kill and to destroy Gods’ will, God’s plan and His purpose for you.

Do not let him. It’s time to stand up wake up realize and figure out the root of that problem. Figure out where it all started. If you find yourself thinking opposite what Philippians 4:8 says then you know it’s of the devil. Renew your mind. Allow God’s will to be done. Then you’ll see the things you’ve been longing to change begin to change without so much effort.

Life… Every day there’s something distressing on the news, so many things are going wrong worldwide; also in our individual lives, we struggle so hard to be in control of ourselves and the outcome of our actions & efforts but it becomes worrying to realise that even after all the energy we invest to get things right, the results sometimes could still be discouraging resulting in distress;

Hope... Despite all, would you believe me if I tell you that there is a better life out there, a life of hope and strength, a ‘never relenting’ life, a fortified life ready to face all the battles and storms of life? don’t think of all the things that have happened in the past – but think of a life of goodness that you would begin to live if you believe? – You are capable of so much more than you think!!! There’s only 1 that can give you this life, His name is JESUS – You can start living this life by saying these words “Jesus I believe you came to save me, give me this new life that you have promised me and help me to overcome the battles of life” - don’t waste any more time!