Have we ever really sat down and thought about our Christian experience? What are some of the standards we need to incorporate in our daily routine so as live a victorious life worshiping and serving God?

Is it just about us accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior? Does it end there? Is it about going to church and having fellowship with others? Is it about just professing our faith in God?

There were times I remember that I use to live thinking that okay, I did water baptism and I would go to church as often as I could. I tried to have God at the forefront of my thoughts meaning I would have my adhoc conversations with him throughout the day.  At nights before I go to bed I always endeavored to pray, sometimes I was so tired I would fall asleep in the middle of praying. The one thing I started doing and it has stuck with me even now albeit the one and two times I would forget is that I would consistently thank God for waking me up each morning. I really tried to make that a habit.

As I look back on those days and compare them with now I realize that even though I tried to do the things that I felt would make me a “true” Christian I found that I was falling short a lot of the times. I would do things without realizing until it was too late, that the devil was involved. I was also full of misery, self defeat, I gave up easily…I was such a big procrastinator and through all of this, no one could tell me I was not a true Christian. In retrospect, I was still allowing the devil to control me and not realizing it.

Until God stepped in one day…

The first thing that I was told to do was a 3 day fast. A three day fast!!!!  now think about it, maybe when you are new to this thing , you might start with a half day… but in no uncertain terms it came to me that I needed to do a 3 day fast. I was at a point where I was broken; I would do anything to fix my life. So I was obedient, it was not easy … being the mother of 3 children who had to prepare them breakfast and dinner ( and I am a good cook, need I say more…put it this way I remember putting up some of the food for after the fast… this is where you laugh).

What I found out was that God  was teaching me something at that time  –  that I was stronger than I thought, it was his way of telling me that I COULD CONQUER THE ENEMY.

1. WHEN WE FAST, THE PURPOSE IS TO GAIN SPIRITUAL STRENGTH OVER THE ENEMY.

I was also made aware that I was not reading my bible – A Christian who does not read their bible is like a workman expecting to fix a client’s problem without tools.  I will not even make an excuse for this, it is what it is (let’s not judge-smile). I know better now, as much as a lot of people shun Christianity the bible is still the number 1 bestselling book of all times and still is. What does that tell me? It tells me that I was missing out on something quite essential, and as I started reading the Bible, I fell in love with it and Our God who inspired man to write it. It is indeed the greatest book ever written.

2. THE BIBLE IS OUR TOOL THAT WE NEED TO HELP FIX OUR LIVES; IT IS OUR WEAPON THAT WILL HELP US TO BE VICTORIOUS OVER THE ATTACKS OF THE ENEMY. THE BIBLE IS OUR TOOL FOR TEACHING, REBUKING, CORRECTING & TRAINING.

And as I read more about Jesus and what his life was on earth, his goodness towards the disciples and the people who gathered to listen to him. His endless wisdom and knowledge he freely shared. His authority that he used to remove evil from himself and from the people he ministered to daily and just the many other examples that he set for us. I cannot help but want to grow daily to become like him.

3. JESUS’ LIFE ON EARTH IS THE KIND OF LIVING THAT WE SHOULD STRIVE FOR. WE SHOULD ACCEPT PEOPLE EASILY AND WANT TO DO GOOD FOR OTHERS. WE SHOULD PRAY FOR WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE SO THAT WE CAN DO OUR PART AND WIN SOULS FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

A fear that I had was that of praying and doing so out loud, it did not come easily but I found that as soon as I surrendered my situation and opened up and allowed God’s work to take effect in my life, praying came easily, I am talking about praying for myself, my children, my extended family, my friends and people in general.

4.WHEN WE DON’T KNOW HOW TO PRAY WE NEED TO ASK GOD’S GUIDANCE , THAT WAS WHAT THE DISCIPLES ASKED JESUS TO DO FOR THEM – TO TEACH THEM HOW TO PRAY AND SO CAN WE. WE CAN ALSO ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO HELP US which leads me to my last point.

I think a lot of  us underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit. It is so funny, I knew the Holy Spirit was a part of the Holy Trinity and also God himself but I did not attach much significance until I heard a preacher talk about The Holy Spirit and what the Holy Spirit can do for us (that is a whole new post). When Jesus was leaving the earth, he told the disciples “It’s for your advantage that I’m going away, because if I don’t go away, the Helper won’t come to you”.

5. THIS HELPER IS THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO LIVES WITHIN US IF WE ALLOW HIM TO. GOD SENT THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR US, TO TEACH US ALL THINGS AND REMIND US OF EVERYTHING THAT JESUS TAUGHT AND REPRESENTED HERE ON EARTH. LET US WELCOME THE HOLY SPIRIT INTO OUR LIVES AND GIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT FULL CONTROL TO TRANSFORM US.

In essence my life has evolved to where I am today through consistently incorporating and acknowledging all of the above. I am still far from perfect but I know without a doubt that God’s continued work within me will take me one day to where he intends for me to be and that should be the desire for all Christians, to get to our final destination. Existing and living a life that is filled with peace and purpose dwelling right beside him, our father God.

Be blessed and if  this message is for you I will end as I started, Mark 4:9 (NIV) Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”