NB: The voiceover is a whole vibe😂 so I advise you to listen as you read. It's literally the audio version of this post, with a bit more pepper and a ton of filler words such as 'like' and 'sha'🤭 Oya oya, you can go ahead to read the real thing now.
I promised you guys a birthday special and so, a birthday special you are getting. If you're new and you're wondering what the gist is, the back story is that my birthday was last (ahem two) months and I turned a very significant age. Every age is significant sha but okay😂
My previous age spanned the year of the new. That was the word God gave me in July 2022 just before my birthday and brethren, having completed that season, all I can say is WOW.
In a nutshell, the year of the new stretched me, thrust me into new circumstances and taught me to navigate them, raised questions within me and gave me answers, caused me to grow, unlocked new facets of the identity God has given me, impressed on me the value of stillness and the preciousness of obscurity, strengthened my faith and gave it more depth, taught me a little more to surrender, showed me a glimpse of what unhurried devotion looks like and above all, gave me more reasons to fall deeper in love with God.
PS: This is your encouragement to ask God for a word as the season of your birthday rolls around. I've discovered in quick succession that God usually has something for you around that time and it is a kind of thermostat for what the year is going to bring.
Here are a few lessons this past year has taught me that I believe may be beneficial for you.
•My motive and end has to always be God - Everything I desire must take its root and see its end in my Lord. If God cannot be found within it, it is not worthy of being pursued.
•Seek God for the Bread he is and not the bread he gives - Isn't it interesting that Jesus was more emphatic about his being the Bread of Life than about his ability to give and multiply bread? In a world where prosperity gospel is all the rage, I have to constantly examine my motives. My prayers shouldn't revolve solely around self, it should be so much more than that. My LIFE should count for more than self. There is God's heart to consider, my brethren in Christ, the church of God, those that aren't saved etc. There is so much more.
•God is not a means to my end, He is the means AND He is the end - God doesn't exist as a supernatural tool to be manipulated to sate man's selfish desires. He's not my errand boy, neither is He a genie or an ATM. God is the means through which I attain the end, which is also God. It is by God I attain God.
•Romance with God is not just possible, it is attainable - I learnt to step more out of mindless religion, to inquire of God how He may be found and to pursue Him with what I knew, as much as I could. I learnt to see my relationship with God as much more than linear, but to be all-encompassing. If I were to paint a picture of this dimension of the relationship I've found with God, I think of slow-dancing. Intimate, steady and wraparound. I asked Him for butterflies, and as I continue to seek Him, I discover more facets of who He is. As for the butterflies, they erupt on their own, as a fitting response to the beauty that is God.
•There's no going back - When I was having a dry spell, I was in the thick of it and talking to some of my friends who were facing similar challenges. And as we encouraged each other, the revelation hit me. No matter how long I go without praying or studying my Bible, I will always find my way back. I have to always find my way back. Do you know why? Because I've tasted of this eternal life, I have known truly the Father of Light and my life is forever transformed. So why then would I ever be content with going back to the darkness? There is only one way for me, and my choice is made. God has literally ruined me for any other option.
•Art is worship - In one vein, my creativity is one of the most accurate expressions of who God is and as such, should reveal God to my world. I must fight for the preservation of the purity of those expressions by sharing them the exact way they were given to me. In another vein, He taught me to create art solely for Him. No one else sees it because I create them specially for His pleasure. It has given us a deeper sense of intimacy and I'm grateful for it.
•The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want - God always provides what I need, per time. He even indulges my cravings sometimes🤭 Since He has provided how many billion times since I gave my first cry, He is going to continue, never giving me a reason to lack. I can always count on that.
•Premature manifestation is dangerous - Just as quickly as the seeds that fell on the path sprang up, they died out. That's what premature manifestation can do to a soul.
These are a few of the lessons God taught me in the last year. Which one stood out most to you? Share it with me in the comments.
Mo's BTS Note
My apologies, guys, for how late this is. This should have gone out since, but I've been battling a crippling mental fatigue. Haven't been able to do much of anything, except things that wouldn't pressure my mind to work.
I almost decided to scrap this entirely sef but somehow I just couldn't. I said lemme give it one more try and would you look at that, it has come together nicely, won't you agree?
In case you're wondering, I'm much stronger now, though I'm not exactly there yet. Had a burst of energy and I was able to complete this. If you're able, please say a prayer for me💚
I guess even in this, God has been teaching me another lesson. To give myself grace, and that the fact that the grace I need now looks different than what I've known in prior seasons, is no fault of mine. So I can give myself all the grace I need without holding back.
Well, that's the 411 on me. How about you? How are you doing? Will you write me back? You know I'd love it if you did🤗
If you're new here, you're welcomeeee. You're gonna love it here, I promise. Don't leave without subscribing o🤭 You can do that below.
See you as soon as I'm able.
All my love,
Mofeoluwa💚
Absolutely a fantastic piece. It was everything for me..
Please, let the grace of God together with the love from your readers and family continue to push you beyond your limits/comfort zone cos that's where God's strength starts to connect with you.
You said we should say a word of prayer for you, so here it is: "Father Lord, I pray concerning your daughter in your care that you make all your will be evident in her life and she would, more than ever recognize and see you working in her life in Jesus name". I hope this stirs you the more to give your best to what God has placed in your heart to do. So, How about you? How are you doing? I'm doing alright by God's divine grace. Thank You so much..
This also came timely as always.
Thanks for this beautiful piece once again.
As for the one that stood out most to me was the path of God not being a supernatural tool for we humans to manipulate.
He's also neither my errand boy nor my ATM.
I've learnt to communicate and treat God as my Father, friend, mentor etc with respect and not just always run up to him because of what I want.
Another is Romance with God is not just possible but attainable.
God Is a care free and jovial supernatural being. If you take him with all your heart, he would take you with all seriousness and he'll Always be with you.
That's what I term my romance with God as 😁.
I can go on and on but I would like to sum it up instead that he's my shepherd and I shall not want.
This is like sharing a testimony because God has been so so good to my family and myself.
Hope you're feeling better dearie?
I pray for strength from above that you won't be weak or tired in Jesus name. Amen.
Don't know if anyone has complemented your writing style, but I'm saying now that I'm always impressed by it. The flow and everything.
Thumbs up to you dear. Never give on that.
Wow, this would be soo lengthy but anyways byeeee💗