It's Not Over

After Saul’s third attempt to murder David, David knew it was time to run. However, what David must not have anticipated was that his own people will betray him and eventually share his hiding place. One could imagine his surprise when he suddenly saw Saul and his army closing in from a short distance. There was certainly no time to escape but there was indeed time to believe in a favorable outcome.

You see, for many of us, we lose sight of His promises when all hope seems lost on the journey. However, in the case of David, he was so confident God will rescue him from any trap set by his enemies- even if that enemy was within. He understood that when trouble surrounded him, he will always be vindicated. And it’s the actions of David - in his moment of darkness - that believers must learn to emulate in times when life begins to spiral downhill.

The closer the army got, David continued thanking God for his protection and for making a way out of the abrupt predicament. One could even label it as an act of prophesy. Precisely in the view of the fact that as soon as Saul was just about the make a command, one of his men rode very quickly to give him a message- “the Philistines are attacking our city!” Why did this message come then and not after the attack? The reality is we can never fully comprehend the ways of God but what we can witness and appreciate is how his glory transpires in times we call on Him. Saul immediately called off the chase and sped back home.

You may be a point where you’re being pushed over the edge but you can still persist and stand your ground. Even if you cannot get yourself to pray, I challenge you to give thanks for the now. And just like David, God has a way to distract your gatekeepers and annihilate your problems. The missing part of the equation has always been your belief; strive not to underestimate that power planted within you.

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This message was originally shared on instagram here.

Packaging

It’s often said that the meaning of life is to find your gift and the purpose is to give it away. So how is it that we have people who indeed discover their gifts, share them with the world, and yet do not feel fulfilled? Instead, they constantly find themselves in a state of despair. Personally, in times where my hope seemingly depletes, I revisit one of my favorite scriptures- Matthew 6. You see, verse 21 teaches believers that “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” And with each time I meditate on that verse, my mind gravitates to the word “packaging.”

There’s no doubt that one of the most recurring frustrations many of us face stem from finances. It’s precisely why in times you are serving as a vessel for God, you still question the decision to avail your temple. Imagine there are bills to pay coupled with your peers accumulating the worldly treasures you admire. Any frustrated believer who reads Proverbs 22:2 - “the rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all” - may begin to question the Maker.

However, in the times of questioning, it’s important to believe that we all have a choice about how we package our gifts and ultimately share with the world. It’s in the packaging where we discover our treasures.

Let’s contextualize. There are two writers who stem from similar socioeconomic backgrounds. One decides to become a songwriter in a hit-or-miss world; the other works in an environment where career trajectory is predictable. Fast forward, the faith-inundated songwriter becomes a millionaire after years of trial and error. Understandably so, your exposure often determines the height of your success. Around the same time, the other begins experiencing discontentment for not being compensated enough. Both discovered their gifts; the difference in fulfilment boiled down to how the gift was packaged in the process of giving it away. How are you packaging?

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This message was originally shared on instagram here.

Seasons

Within the month of April, I visited several cities across three continents for work. What I had certainly anticipated was the drastic change in weather conditions. However, upon arrival, the weather in almost every city was misaligned with the expected weather of the season. In times like these, residents either become disoriented or elated. Go figure.

There’s a story about a gentleman who visited a well-recommended therapist for the first time. Throughout the session, he ranted about his problems in hopes of a solution to overcome his depression. Once he paused the rant, the therapist simply gave him a ticket to watch a comedy show happening that weekend. She guaranteed that based on her clients’ reviews, he will laugh all his problems away. Believing she just gave him the magic pill, the now-teary gentleman rather responded, “Funny how I am the comedian you’re referring to.”

You see, just as cities experience different expected and unexpected seasons, we too have our fair share of seasonal changes in life. However, the good news is that as believers, we have been trusted with a manual to guide us in navigating the rollercoasters. In fact, below are 3 simple scriptures from the manual to propel you through the seasonal trials:

Ecclesiastes 3:1 - There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the Heavens…”

Psalm 1:3 - [You are] like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever [you] do prospers.

Galatians 6:9: And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Fam, regardless of the season, you have the choice of the hard right or easy wrong. And as you go through the motions, you have the power to choose the hard right by consistently proclaiming victory over your life. So if you are currently undergoing seasonal trials, “Let your conversations be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” [Colossians 4:6]. Even a broken clock is right twice a day; you too can rightfully speak into existence that your season of jubilation will indeed manifest in due time.

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This message was originally shared on instagram here.

What’s Your Competitive Advantage?

“What problem are you solving?” is a very common question after pitching a funder. And rightfully so because as the Serial Entrepreneur, Peter Diamandis, said: “The best way to become a billionaire is to solve a billion-person problem.” The challenge is most people set out to implement an idea because it worked for someone else, and not out of frustration. Most fail. However, a few do indeed attain success once the idea evolves to mirror their strengths. This group grasps the philosophy that sometimes leaning into your competitive advantage is more powerful than the idea.

I will never forget when a student deduced that we needed a new leadership skills instructor, and approached me after his orientation session. Within a few minutes, we shook hands, and the deal was sealed. However, before walking away, he made a rather candid statement:

“Sowing is matching your skill to an opportunity that is the will of God. Suffering is matching your skill to an opportunity that is not the will of God.”

What he saw was a glaring opportunity, and he understood that this was a clear path to fulfilling God’s will- and also getting compensated for it! Society has programmed most of us to believe that coming up with a great idea automatically leads to success. However, the secret to maximizing our odds of success is to choose the right field of competition. You see, so many of us are working in environments or pursuing seemingly breakthrough ideas that take so much out of us, and yet we keep beating ourselves up each day.

Fam, a rule of thumb is that the work that hurts you less than it hurts others is the work you are most likely built to pursue. It’s also natural to believe you do not have the appropriate skills, and lose hope even before the journey starts. However, competitive advantages are not only about your skills but also about what you’ve been born and blessed with. And the moment you grasp that your genes do not determine your destiny but define your areas of opportunity, you learn to approach opportunities with full authority.

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This message was originally shared on instagram here.

Breakthrough At Rapid Speed

During a recent gathering, I connected with an inspiring entrepreneur who had relocated from North America to the African continent to build her now-thriving company. As we exchanged pleasantries, she asked, “How long have you been building your current company for?” I then responded, “Almost 5 years.” Following her smile, her words that escaped stayed with me: “Yup, it takes about 5 years for this entrepreneurship thing to make any sense.”

Earlier this month, I was in Lagos-Nigeria to oversee one of our on-going Blossom Academy Fellowship programs. As my colleague and I commuted in the scorching sun to visit potential partners, what kept ringing in my mind was “It takes 5 years.” However, an even more pressing question haunted me at the end of each working day: “Am I willing to spend another 5 years to navigate the building process in another market?”

This deeply held belief was challenged during the Skoll World Forum at the University of Oxford the following week. On several occasions, I engaged with leaders who had accomplished a great deal in a relatively shorter period of time and, dare I say, in even tougher economic conditions. At the peak of my curiosity was precisely when I heard a piercing quote on a panel:

“If it takes ten people to move a big rock, we must not take turns trying to move the rock one person at a time. What’s important is for all ten people to work together to push the rock.”

Indeed, you can spend 5 years trying to push the rock solo or you can rather apply discernment and collaborate with mission-aligned experts who believe in your shared vision. What the forum reminded me of was the importance of introspection to build teams, coupled with the power of compounded experiences. You see, it may truly take 5 years for “this entrepreneurship thing” to make sense. However, it’s also a disservice to yourself if you fail to realize that the skills acquired over the years will simply not translate. So fam, let me also challenge you to get unstuck from the mindset that half a decade or more is your portion to elevation. You too are deserving of a breakthrough at rapid speed because of the seeds you’ve once sown. Believe that.

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This message was originally shared on instagram here.

Are You A Big Fish?

According to Dictionary.com, a Big Fish is an important or powerful person.

When we recount the unusual story of Jonah, we encounter a prophet who neglects one fundamental principle as a believer:

Anything God gives you - whether it be money, fame, or a spiritual assignment - is simply not for you but rather for His purposes. In times we wrongfully cultivate the thought process that what has been given to us is solely ours to keep, we subconsciously lock it up. We neglect the fact that just as we crave for God’s anointing upon our lives, He too craves for us to allow Him to operate through our temples- our bodies.

When Jonah was called to give prophecy, his fear and pride caused him to run from God. He was convinced the people God had commanded him to preach to in Nineveh were his enemies. You see, Jonah must not have believed he was a Big Fish in the Kingdom so he rather boarded a ship for the opposite direction. Lo and behold, a raging storm surfaced, and as the crew determined that Jonah was the problem, they threw him overboard.

Sometimes, when we fail to embrace the magnitude of our calling, God pushes us to conjoin with other forces that seamlessly complement our divine prowess. Let this sink in- God has plans for you and will see to it that you conform to those plans (Ephesians 2:10). Despite Jonah’s disobedience, he was reminded that he was indeed a Big Fish when he ended up being swallowed whole - not chewed - by a big fish. In the belly of another force is where Jonah gets clarity, and when the fish eventually vomited him on dry land, he trekked to fulfill his calling.

It’s quite poetic how Jonah spent 3 days and 3 nights in the fish’s belly; ironically the same amount of time Christ was in the grave for (Matthew 12:40). And it’s so disturbing how most believers doubt their importance and influence in the Kingdom, and as such, go through so much pain to avoid a calling they can never hide from. Fam, just imagine how much more peace and clarity you will attain if you, unlike Jonah, would submit to Him without delay. Now if you ask me, it’s a small price to pay after Christ died for our sins. Happy Easter.

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This message was originally shared on instagram here.

Tune Out The Noise

Being a believer takes difficult work. Imagine being discontent with where you have been planted and yet those who chastise the same Word you believe in seem to be progressing at an exponential rate. What’s more disturbing is that in times where you fall short of His glory, your punishment seems more severe compared to theirs of an unbeliever who hasn’t sown your same seeds of faith.

You see, we fixate our attention on the anointing upon David’s life during his teens- which ultimately lead to his reign. However, just imagine how David must have felt having to wait for ~15 years from the time he was first anointed by Samuel to the time he became “mini-king” of Judah. How many of us are willing to tune out the noise for another ~7 years before being anointed king over all Israel?

You may be wondering that kingship is a thing of the past so let’s contextualize. Let’s presume there’s $1M reserved for anyone who can score a goal against the world’s best soccer goalkeeper. Although there is bound to be a chaotic queue, what’s fascinating will be the personalities we encounter. Some will see the chaos and immediately excuse themselves. Others will join the queue, grow tired, and exit.

Now there’s that group who will strike once, miss the goal, and return home. An identical group will strike twice- maybe thrice - but their determination eventually gets drowned by the noise, so they leave too. And there’s that one person who firmly chooses not to question God’s promises. She tunes out the noise from the crowd, and keeps striking over and over again. Dozens of strikes later, she finally scores the goal. What every single person recalls after that moment is the ball in the net, not the strikes she missed.

Fam, is your appointed person failing to recognize the value you bring to the relationship? Keep striking. Is that business idea taking forever to manifest? Tune out the noise. Does the breakthrough you expected at a certain age seem like a far stretch today? You are not forgotten. Once you make the error of embracing the noise, you’ve suddenly invited others to co-create the life that only you can live. What a disservice to your purpose.

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This message was originally shared on instagram here.

Genesis 41:46

“Joseph was 30 years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt.” - Genesis 41:46.

We underestimate our ability to self-prophesy because we undervalue the anointing that has been placed upon our lives. It’s truly never too late; one of the simplest and most effective ways to self-prophesy is to replace our names with theirs of the anointed in the Bible. You see, annointing is birthed through positioning and the earlier you can comprehend this, the more beautiful your life evolves.

On this birthday, Genesis 41:46 has a new refined meaning in my world because I choose to rightfully position my name in the scripture. And I challenge you to position your name in the haven you deem fit.

Jephthah was 30 years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Jephthah went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt [the world]. Selah.

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This message was originally shared on instagram here.

What Are You Trying To Prove?

We met around the World Trade Center, and as I simultaneously sipped my coffee and ranted about our organizational challenges, she simply stared at me so intently. I was confident her response would be so comforting, in fact- welcoming. However, the words that followed rather impaled my light trance:

“What are you trying to prove?”

The train ride afterwards was obstructively contemplative. Was I indeed trying to prove something? I mean isn’t life about sacrifices that birth rewards? Pain that births sustained gains? Could it be that this belief had been a facade and that life was rather about settling for good enough?

Father passed away exactly 21 years ago today. One would assume I must have completely healed by now, but this thing called healing can be relative. You see, everyone deals with death differently, and triggers can indeed be so unforgiving. In my experience, I eventually grew numb to emotional pain, and subconsciously embodied the identity of a provider.

Father was a provider, and I so strongly wanted to be like him- the him I had always admired at a such a tender age. Every challenge I embarked on was in anticipation of getting a pat on the back. Each door that opened as a result of cracking the code was in hopes of bringing this game of “hide and seek” to a halt. The search always prolonged.

Over the years, I’ve come to accept that sometimes pain triumphs love at the start of the race. And when you are exposed to the worst, almost nothing can frighten you. Healing takes the back seat, and coping with the loss becomes the driving force for deriving at something meaningful. And as I reflect today, what I had been trying to prove was exactly what my father had once proven to me- God’s existence. As believers, we prove the existence of God when we are God’s point of contact in the lives of others, as my father had once been in mine.

I Love You, Fred Acheampong

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This message was originally shared on instagram here.

Be Specific In Your Request

If I were to tell you that to a large degree, God’s answers don’t look like our prayer requests, would you agree? It’s no coincidence that you may fast and pray for patience, and then all of a sudden, you are tested by loved ones in ways that cripple your faith. One truth I can always defend is that prayers work. However, it’s also the intentionality powering the prayer that often dictates the circumstances that may follow.

You prayed for wisdom and then suddenly began experiencing one pain after the other. It may not make sense in the moment but how do you effectively lead others when you don’t have visible scars to remind you during times of counsel? When it’s written that faith without works is dead, what can be contextually deduced is that after praying for wisdom, the difficult work is turning the wounds you did not anticipate into wisdom. But what if the outcome of our prayers lies in the nature of our requests?

Most believers hold the misconception that King Solomon simply asked for wisdom. However, when you study the Word, it’s better understood that Solomon asked for wisdom to administer justice. Unlike Solomon, our prayer requests are often vague and misaligned with our own capacity. As such, when they are forcibly granted, we fumble the opportunity. Nonetheless, what’s noteworthy is how Solomon’s request was in direct alignment with God’s will. No surprise he was also granted personal resources he never even asked for.

Fam, the intentionality to allow God to use your body for His will is an underestimated part of the recipe for achieving success. And if you really think about it, it’s actually in God’s best interest for you - the crazy believer - to be elevated to heights beyond human understanding. The challenge we primarily endure is that we prioritize our will over His will and eventually, evolve into becoming Sauls to Davids. Such a wasted opportunity to reign in a manner that glorifies instead of crucifies!

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This message was originally shared on instagram here.

Love As A Bonus

Seeing a fig tree by the road, Jesus went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered. The depth of this encounter must not be overlooked- especially during our relationships with significant others.

Some attract partners based on alignment of purpose, and in turn, build something beautiful. The shared vision triumphs the obstacles once the honeymoon phase is indeed phased out. Others attract partners based on what the eyes can see, on the tangible. The reality is that in both circumstances, love exists. However, the positioning of love often dictates the strength of the relationship.

You see, significant others who believe that God paired them to bring stability into each other’s lives often embody the attributes of the palm tree. Palm trees can be blown by a hurricane as hard as possible but they only bend and not break. For hours during a hurricane, oak trees, tall pine trees, and others are uprooted. However, palm trees simply bend because God has designed them to withstand the storm. What’s even more incredible is how palm trees can bend to the point where they almost touch the ground, and as soon as the hurricane is over, they rise up again.

The thing about love is that when you are deeply in it, it can easily evolve into fear, control, and even hate with a misaligned partner. It takes deepened maturity and recommitment to vows to understand that being backed by love is sometimes more powerful than being in love. The former allows you to isolate the feelings during the hurricane, and rather tap into the multiplication of your strengths. It reminds you that you are exactly where you are supposed to be regardless of the challenges endured. And such relationship have no other option but to bear fruits in all areas of life because what couldn’t kill it will only make the anticipation of what’s ahead clearer.

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This message was originally shared on instagram here.

Which Person Are You?

While catching up on one of my favorite shows - Billions - I paused upon hearing a fascinating comment;

“There are two kinds of people in this world. Those who things happen to them and those who make things happen. Once you figure out which side you stand on, that’s when you tap into your true source of power.”

Upon hearing this, I couldn’t help but reflect on how the majority of us simply let things happen to us. We just accept the outcome. In times we fall, we chuck it up to “We never had the resources. We are not from the right family. We don’t have the strength and favor to overcome this misery.”

However, there are the very few who have programmed their mindsets that if they fall seven, they rise up eight. They just cannot, will not accept things to happen to them. They affirm their greatness every single chance they get. They embrace their power regardless of societal perceptions. They don’t see the setbacks as failures but as lessons. And the more I think about this group, I’m strongly reminded of 2 Timothy 1:7, which teaches us that “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

The point here is crystal clear; if you indeed believe in yourself because you are created in His image, then you simply cannot afford to let things happen to you. You learn to accept that you’ve been planted by the river so you will never lack. And you have been given everything you require to win in this game called life. So don’t let everything rather get a hold of you.

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This message was originally shared on instagram here.

The Easy Target

Just imagine you’ve greatly displeased someone you truly care about. You’ve successfully worked your way up to identifying how things must have gone south. So now the appropriate thing to do is to offer an apology and then hope the receiving party can extend some grace. It seems this is the universal approach to strengthening weakened bridges however, most believers are rather quick to point the finger. The easy target? “It’s the work of the devil.” But what if- just what if - the problem is your character?

You see, our inability to look within and have the difficult conversations that shape our growth is what eventually eats at us. Sometimes it’s not God testing His strongest soldiers; it’s simply us welcoming highly consequential challenges that may have been compounded over time. The good news is that challenges are the nectar of life because they cause us to grow.

We hear the stories all the time. He cheats. She forgives. They collectively blame the devil. He cheats again. And then again. I’m certainly not disputing the fact that the devil indeed shows up to disorient us with temptations. However, it’s equally important to remember that despite the extreme hunger that followed His fast, Christ refused to turn stones into bread. Funny how we pray to be Christlike, but how many of us can truly stand our ground when the temptation knocks? How many of us can affirm in isolation that our integrity is not for sale?

Just imagine again that you’ve “miraculously” been given an option that could provide your desired pleasures today as opposed to waiting until an unknown future. It takes a certain level of willpower to walk away- which is intentionally cultivated over years through undisputed faith. But Fam, it’s not too late to turn over a new leaf today. It’s not too late to diminish your disappointment that the unexpected visitor saw your washroom wasn’t clean. Be rather expectant that the next time, the washroom would be spotless. Shifting the blame - as opposed to tackling the difficult internal work - only keeps you in the dirt. And if you truly believe that’s where you belong, then why did God breathe life into you?

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This message was originally shared on instagram here.

Power In Your Decisions

For many years, I’ve held the belief that no one is destined for a specific career path. What I’m completely aligned on is that we’ve all been called to fulfill a spiritual assignment. However, our lived experiences- coupled with our mentality- shapes how that calling eventually manifests. Let’s assume you have been called to heal others. Musicians heal through music, doctors heal through prescriptions, fitness professionals heal through exercise. The career journey you decide to embark on boils down to the limiting or uplifting beliefs you subconsciously - sometimes consciously - have about yourself.

You see, there’s this benevolent professor who gave his students the option to take the most important test of the year or settle for a ‘C.’ To his utmost surprise, half of the class volunteered for the latter- despite burning the midnight oil. Once the volunteers exited the room, the professor handed over the tests faced down. You could just feel the anxiety that circulated the ambience of the room but the remaining students still sat firm. For the next minute or two, the professor encouraged them about the importance of always making bold decisions in life; regardless of the pain and tribulation that may await. And when he finally gave the instruction to turn the paper around, it simply read: “Congratulations, you earned yourself an ‘A’.”

Most of us spend our entire lives settling for average. How disturbing when you have been created in the image of God! Newsflash; if you do not have a plan for your life, it will be planned for you by someone else. So it’s about time you disarm the negative beliefs you have nurtured about yourself. It’s now time to stay in faith so God can move the gatekeepers out of your way. And Fam, the moment you decide that you can be the door and not always at the door is when you’re spiritually led to your divine supremacy. Your maximum potential lies within and the decision to annihilate the doubt today is yours for the taking.

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This message was originally shared on instagram here.

The Curse Of Expectations

The realization dawned on me when I caught myself growing bitter about not receiving credit for my extensive support. Upon stumbling upon the celebratory post, I regrettably assumed the role of a critic instead of a celebrant. The glaring problem was that the sacrifice it took to respond to my divine mandate subliminally came with expectations from a human being.

In the months that followed, shifts occurred in my actions without permission. The more I expected credit or acknowledgement, the quicker my drive for helping others seemingly derailed. The funny thing about expectations is that it masks itself as a well-deserved reward when in truth, it’s venom. Prior to it becoming deadly, it evolves into becoming an attitude of indifference. In other words, “whether you acknowledge my effort or not, I do not care anymore because never again!” It’s quite unfortunate that the moment you begin to lose your joy for serving others is precisely when you diminish your strength to keep going.

You see, the funny thing about cultivating an attitude of indifference is that sooner or later, others smell it on you. They see through the smoke and mirrors, and slowly refrain from reaching out moving forward. In hindsight, this scenario creates a well laid-out bed for loneliness to be tucked in. And with loneliness comes anger, depression, pain. The tears at the darkest hours slowly quenches the fire in your belly. Your halo fails to shine even brighter as your divine mandate gradually becomes meaningless. But that’s not your story…

Fam, as we navigate 2024, it’s my prayer that you become more secure in who you have been created to become. Once you can embrace and unlock this new level of awareness, you confidently clap for others because it does not diminish you. Instead, it draws you closer to God’s best for you. It positions you to keep digging deeper until you hit that water source, and eventually become the fountain. Now the more they draw from your well, regardless of your receipt of credit or not, the more God replenishes. Is there really a better reward than this?

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This message was originally shared on instagram here.

Cultivate Pure Intentions

There's a beautiful parable about an evil king who went to meet a good king. When invited to stay for dinner, the evil king asked for his plate to be switched with the good king's plate. When the good king asked why, the evil king replied,

"You may have poisoned the food." The good king simply laughed. 

That reaction made the evil king even more nervous, and he switched the plates again, thinking maybe he was being double-bluffed. The good king just shook his head and took a bite of the food in front of him. The evil king didn't eat that night. 

More often than not, the darkness that has engulfed our hearts is what prevents us from tapping into the blessings prepared on the table before us. In the story, the evil king projected his own dishonor onto the good king. And in the same light, our suspicion about others is a signal that it’s time to address and let go of our insecurities. You see, the challenge most of us face is that the more resources we get, the more walls we put up, and the more distrusting we become. However, when we can learn to hold firm the belief that when God breathed life into us, He also put a part of Himself into us, cultivating pure intentions become effortless.

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This message was originally shared on instagram here.

Who Is Sinking Your Boat?

We stood in the queue for over 30 minutes. It was the festive season and it was clear each buyer definitely needed the items in their respective carts. As we inched closer, we understood the cashier’s scanner had been faulty. Witnessing the ‘opportunity,’ a young man - aged about 13 - pleaded with an older man behind him to save his spot because he had forgotten to pick up one more item. Once he left and returned, the older man refused to permit him in occupying his previous position. Instead, he was ridiculed. That’s when the cashier’s scanner mysteriously jammed.

We waited for another 15 minutes and there was no sign of progress. And yet everyone stayed put except the older man in discussion. It was evident he was filled with rage as he stormed out of the supermarket. Personally I found it quite intriguing because when we take the story of Jonah, we discover that the storm only stopped when the men threw him into the sea. You see, one of the painful truths in life is that you can never have a divine encounter until some people have left you. Jonah’s presence almost cost an entire ship of innocent men to sink.

As the older man hurried out, everyone - regardless of position in the queue - pleaded with the cashier to scan their products before leaving as well. None scanned. However, when the teenager presented his loaf of bread and ice cream, the scanner strangely worked. Everyone’s groceries followed seamlessly. Fam, sometimes God is allowing you to be ridiculed because in the realm of the spirit, you’ve been appointed to have the last laugh. The reason why it may be taking you so long to get the next phase of your transformation is due to who you may or may not have welcomed to sit in your boat. And the longer they take to leave as a result of your silence, the deeper the boat sinks in the midst of the storm.

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This message was originally shared on instagram here.

Your Validation Is Within

At many points in our lives, we dream. Some of us dream big, others dream small. In ordinary cases, the size of your dream depends on what you’ve been exposed to. However, in divine cases, some are blessed with audacious dreams for the purpose of fulfilling their spiritual assignments. Regardless of the case, what’s most disheartening is to wake up in the middle of the night dripped in sweat as the dream gradually evolves into becoming your worst nightmare.

The challenge some of us face is that we are in a rush to bring all our dreams into reality. An even greater challenge is that we confuse motion with action. And as we are in a hurry to see our dreams realized, we gallivant to seek validation from others. We forget that the dream planted within us is actually validation from God. We neglect that our dreams fail to manifest because we keep thinking of what they think…

Let’s take the story of Joseph. His understanding as the ‘first legitimate son’ of Jacob endowed him with the confidence to be vocal about his dream of supremacy. The funny thing about life is that sometimes those closest to you subconsciously cultivate a perception of the heights you can attain. The moment you show any inclination to rise above their perception, unexpected negative attributes begin to surface. For Joseph, his brothers went as far as plotting to kill him but eventually sold him to traders.

In our current times, those you seek validation from may not plot to kill your physical being but they may kill your drive with their disproving thoughts and cripple your spirit with their energy. You see, Joseph’s dream was so divine and potent that despite the struggles he faced, it was realized many years later. However, unlike Joseph, so many exit Earth with dreams that could have transformed their world and theirs of generations to come. It’s quite powerful how the river can pour out fishes for consumers in abundance but it knows in the end, it will always end up in the ocean. As dreamers, we too can choose to keep pouring out our dreams but in the end, we risk losing a part of us only to circle back within where direction is found.

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This message was originally shared on instagram here.

You’re No Imposter

Her entire life, she had worked so hard to shatter glass ceilings effortlessly. Success wasn’t just handed to her; she earned it through blood, sweat, and tears. And yet, she didn’t feel like she belonged. Instead of leaning into her wins by cultivating a mindset of abundance, her anxiety rather engulfed her in a bubble. So although she tried to keep her head up, she kept it down in prayer- in tongues that never made sense.

Let’s drill deeper. It’s possible there’s no direct correlation between your input and the blessings that have been circulating around your doorstep. As expected, you often feel undeserving. However, when we take and dissect the story of Baby Moses, it’s evident he also had no say in ending up in the palace. All we can safely deduce is that he was part of God’s long term plan. You see, when Baby Moses was put on the Nile River by his mother to avoid facing the same fate of all male babies, it was no one other than King Pharaoh’s daughter who saved him.

Growing up in the palace, Moses always got triggered. Just imagine you are in an environment filled with people who enslave others whom look just like you. Just imagine your own people wouldn’t accept you no matter how much you strive to fit in. Moses was always torn between different identities and eventually fled away. Where he had been planted must not have made sense to him then but it eventually did when he had an encounter with God years later. Fam, even in times we find ourselves unworthy of His Grace, He still communicates to us through diverse mediums.

What’s most fascinating is that Moses was not chosen for his spiritual assignment because he was the strongest person to lead the Israelites out of bondage to the Promised Land. It was arguably because he was raised and understood the language of royalty. It’s with this understanding that propelled him to demand the release of his people. Sometimes, God puts you in certain positions because of the vision He has on your life. However, the manifestation of the vision always starts with the belief that you’re an incredibly important piece in His enigma, and the journey will eventually make sense.

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This message was originally shared on instagram here.

Walking Billboards

You ever pondered the catalytic effects of your first impressions? It was on one cold night as I pulled an Irish exit at an event in Central London. The battery in my phone had died, leaving me no option but to hail a cab. After what seemed about half an hour and countless efforts, I finally boarded one.

Now without properly exchanging pleasantries, the driver inquired whether my heritage was tied to one country (unnamed). As I shared that it wasn’t the case, my response seemed to be the key he needed to unlock the floodgates of bitterness stored within his heart. You see, many years ago, he had picked up a passenger who originated from the unnamed country. Once they arrived at her apartment complex, she pleaded to rush upstairs for her wallet. Hours passed by and she never returned.

We can assume something may have happened upstairs or maybe she purposefully decided not to pay the fare. Regardless, the driver held on to the latter assumption and built a negative impression about any passenger that remotely resembled this lady. And as we approached the hotel, it immediately dawned on me: We are all walking billboards. The actions we take is what propel others to believe or disbelieve that God can indeed be found in people.

There is quite a fascinating story about two ad executives who got into a car. The first executive said, “I saw an ad for Aston Martin and bought this car.” The second responded, “But Aston Martin hasn’t advertised for years. How is that possible?” It was only possible because the first executive had seen the ad when she was 13 years old, and she’d never forgotten it. 

Fam, presentation holds power. It may seem the ways in which you present yourself today do not matter because you are only a ‘small person’ in the midst of giants. But what you may also be forgetting is that dynamite comes in small packages. The right impression you leave wherever you find yourself today could be the greatest impact you can have on an entire community tomorrow. Don’t underestimate that.

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This message was originally shared on instagram here.