40 minute read
Life on the Frontline
from GEMWoman April 2020
COVID-19: Faith Over Fear -
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A Conversation With Christian Leaders
With the global outbreak of Coronavirus/COVID-19 came a lot of conspiracy theories that fueled the fears of people. These theories gave rise to so much pandemonium despite the fact that global governmental, community and spiritual leaders have demonstrated that they are prioritizing the situation and keeping the best interests of their communities in mind. These leaders, while taking precautionary measures, can model a response that is faithful, gracious and wise — trusting God in all things, remaining calm in a time of distress, extending compassion to those who are suffering, and praying for the healing of the world. This response of calmness and godly wisdom has become even more important as this pandemic has affected the world over, at every level. In light of this, it is important to hear the right words that will fuel our faith and strengthen us to face this challenging season with confidence. We thereby sought to converse with pastors and fathers of faith the world over, to share with us on how the pandemic has affected them, and what they believe God is telling us in this season.. »
A Time To Cry Out To God
Bishop Felix Adejumo
Plagues have always afflicted man, and we can see this illustrated throughout both biblical and human history: the
Influenza outbreak in 1918, SARS in 2003, H1N1 Swine Flu in 2009, Ebola in 2014, Zika in 2015, and now, we are currently battling the Corona
Virus that has affected our social, religious, and economic operations and relationships.
It is not an attack on the Church, but an affliction on all humanity. This is not a time to pass blame or spread false
information that sponsor fear, but is rather the time to cry out to God in one accord and implore His mercy in this time of lockdown. It is also a time to cooperate with our leaders by adhering to the instructions to stay at home and avoid large gatherings.
Our fast-paced world has come to a halt, and our streets are empty, but we have hope that our world will heal, and order will be restored. The pandemic is definitely not of God, and He has promised to make a way out of all our afflictions. This too shall pass, and our God will make all things new.
We applaud the dedicated efforts of all medical personnel around the world who are at the forefront of this biological siege, and our hearts and prayers are with the surviving victims, as well as the families who have lost loved ones to this epidemic. gw Felix Aderemi Adejumo is the quintessential minister of the Gospel whose ministry is anchored on the tenet of POSSIBILITY. He is married to Funke Felix-Adejumo and they are blessed with four biological children, seven grand-children and many other adopted children. He is the Bishop of Agape Christian ministries Worldwide. A leader who leads by example, he is a great minister of the word and a renowned author of over 30 books. He and his wife have established and continue to manage two hospitals.
COVID-19: The End Of Time Syndrome?
PK Olawale
Lk 17:20-37.
It would be inhumane not to feel the global pain and share in the concerns that have pervaded our planet earth during this precarious time of the
Covid-19 pandemic. Talk of a shock!
No one could have foreseen where we have found ourselves presently. A lack of assurance in God’s Word and inability to know when the Lord is speaking has made many a Christian slaves to fear. This should not be the
As I waited on the Lord for 2020, it was revealed that we would be experiencing new diseases that mankind hadn’t known before, amongst other things the Lord made me privy to. However, nothing in my wildest dreams or deepest revelation came close to the extent of what we have seen. Covid-19 from God? from the devil ? or it is from the latter and did God allow it?. We know that God does no evil (James 1:17), though he can send plagues as he did to Egypt via divine instructions to Moses and as he sent to his people when they rebelled (Numbers 16:46). The earth isn’t a stranger to pandemics and mankind has always pulled through. What sets the present one apart is that firstly, we do not have many alive who have experienced such global pandemonium by being witnesses of a global pandemic and secondly, the world has become faster and time shorter. We have believed in our abilities so much, we seem not to need God any more, talk less of acknowledging Him. So what has been a recurring decimal in history is now deemed to be the “END OF TIME”.
One thing I can assure you from scripture is what the text says, “the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night” and will be when life is good just as the days of Noah and Lot when men were partying and marrying and given in marriage and having fun. The day of the Lord isn’t going to happen when there is global fear, apprehension and anxiety. THE WORLD IS NOT COMING TO AN END, IT IS ONLY ENDING. It started ending since Jesus walked on this earth as a man, died and resurrected. Truly, the end is relative. We shouldn’t be bothering ourselves with when the world will end but rather when “your world ends”. Someone’s world is ending right now as I type this. Worlds end every second and minute before, during and after this pandemic. we need to look inward and ask ourselves a simple question “who owns my life?”. If our lives aren’t ours, why do we worry so much about them? Saints, this time will pass and you will be unscathed. Perhaps the Lord allowed this so we can answer the question of ownership and what we live for. This pandemic has shown us that what we have in us is the real personal asset you have, not what we possess which will leave us and we will leave sometime or someday. The Kingdom of God doesn’t come by observation, it is in you ( Luke 17:2021). We can’t afford to repeat this class. Take the cue, hear God’s voice in the midst of the storm. No pandemic will be the end of the world, refusal of Jesus is the real end of life.
You can’t kill a dead man; if the pandemic is causing our hearts to fail, Selah! gw
Pastor P.K. Olawale is an Apostle, Prophet and Teacher. He is an avid soul winner who seeks to awaken in saints a desire to rule and have dominion in their territories on behalf of the kingdom. Married to Pastor Bola, they are blessed with 5 children.
My Musings On COVID-19
Rev Victor Adeyemi
“Daddy, I have never seen anything like this before”, said my 20 year old daughter on a video call about the recent pandemic that has turned the world upside down; “neither have I in my over 50 years of existence either”, I replied. Starting like other epidemics and plagues, we thought, but had no idea that within 4 months, most of the world would be on a lockdown.
With about almost 1 million confirmed cases as at the time I am writing and over 50,000 deaths, the pandemic is still spreading like wildfire and threatening the lives of millions.
It took me by some surprise because of the unprecedented impact of it on world travels, everyday business and lifestyle, economies of the world, the struggle of excellent health care systems of the west and confusion of health experts about how to treat the dreaded disease. However, as a Bible student, I know Paul predicted perilous times in 2 Timothy 3.1-3 as did the Lord Jesus in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21. They both prophesied about very difficult times before the rapture of the church and His second coming into the world. I am therefore not shocked nor am I totally perplexed.
The fall of man has given Satan access into the world system as the god of the social order (2 Corinthians 4.3-4). What do we really expect from his government, especially when he knows his time is short. We should expect heightened demonic activities and every effort to terminate life and limit man’s opportunity to turn to God.
Also, one of the characteristics of this time is that ‘iniquity shall abound’ (Matthew 24.12) which will certainly attract consequent disruptions in the health of our planet. Evil of exceptional magnitude will be devised in the hearts of men against one another and here the possibility of some truth to some of the conspiracy theories being bandied around cannot be dismissed with a wave of the hand. But, what is God saying in the midst of it all? One, I believe God is saying this is not the first and it will not be the last. The church should shed off every weight and sin and run a better race than we have been running (Hebrews 12.1-2). We are to hasten to the ripened harvest of the earth. We need to prioritize souls over all other things and cast off distractions that slow us down. We have been too complacent about saving the lost and becoming too earthly minded. The imminence of death reminds us we brought nothing into the world and we would take nothing from it.
God is calling us to a firm decision. Lukewarmness has no place in this season. Only uncompromising faith, dogged commitment to God’s Word and relentless pursuit of His purpose will save us from the evils that will befall our world.
No matter how gross the darkness however, the glory of the Lord will rise upon us to make a difference (Isaiah 60.1-2). Satan is certainly crippling the world with fear but this is the time for believers to fight the good fight of faith by resisting fear and disease with the Word of God (1 Timothy 6.12). The finest hour of the glorious church is upon us as our light shines brighter in the midst of the palpable fear and darkness falling upon the world. The greatest revival the world has ever seen is upon us. The end of it will be the piercing of the eastern skies and the appearance of the Lord of glory to take His bride out of this world and return with her to rule in righteousness for a thousand years. Be encouraged with the words of our Lord and savior:
“Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”” Luke 21:28 NKJV gw
Victor Adeyemi is the Senior Pastor of Global Harvest church, Lagos from where he travels around the world as an evangelist, bible teacher and church planter. He is married to Jumoke Bolaji and their union is blessed with children.
Understanding These (Pandemic) Times
Dr. Sola Fola-Alade
Ibelieve this COVID-19 pandemic times are a clear indication to the Church and the World that the Bible is authentic and authoritative in its prophetic expression.
It has caused the whole world to begin to discuss and seek to interpret biblical end-time prophecy . In my opinion this pandemic, typifies in particular one of the scenarios of the four horsemen of the apocalypse in Revelations 6: z The first horseman rides a white horse, which symbolises Christ the
Conqueror; the second horseman rides a red horse and symbolises war and bloodshed (Terrorism); the third rides a black horse and symbolises famine (Economic Recession); and the fourth horseman rides a pale horse and represents pestilence and death (Pandemic) From my observation the last three horsemen and their effects have shown up within the last 20-30 years: z The pale horse was given power to take a quarter of the world’s population– 1918 was the most recent episode of such a plague (the
Spanish flu). The bubonic plague is said to have taken nearly a quarter of the world’s population. In the last 20 years we have seen the three horsemen represented and featured in some shape or form.This I believe shows God’s Prophetic Timetable and Timeline is being fulfilled
In spite of the diverse speculations, no one knows the time or the hour of the end, the important thing at this time is for the church to get into the secret place (don’t be distracted) where God is speaking so we are not caught off guard. It is the time for the church to use technology innovatively to extend its reach in the digital space. Hence the shut down of church gatherings, compelling us all to explore and venture into reaching and winning new souls online.
As Salt and Light, the church through its prayers is also called to be the restraining power to the increase in deaths, impending evils and devastation. (Matthew 5:13)
I also believe God expects the Church to take more ground at this time; I recently heard that about 80% of people in the US and 96% in the UK don’t attend Church on Sunday, but most of these unsaved and unchurched people are very active online. It is indeed time for the church to colonise new kingdoms. It is the time for the church to use technology innovatively to extend its reach in the digital space. Hence the shut down of church gatherings, compelling us all to explore and venture into reaching and winning new souls online. gw
Dr Sola Fola Alade. Though he originally trained as a Medical Doctor, Dr FolaAlade is respected internationally as a pastor, author, publisher, conference speaker, coach & mentor to various businesses. PSFA (as he is fondly called), together with his wife, Abimbola, are the Lead Pastors at Liberty Church London and are blessed with two sons.
This Plague Too, Shall Pass
PSALM 126:1
Pastor OJ Kuye
The world has never been the same since the pandemic plague called COVID-19 broke out. Every facet of our collective existence has been shaken to the root, and our temporal world shaken to its foundation. Global health, business, economy, spiritual life, social and family life, among a list of others, have been fiercely impacted.
Just in days, COVID-19 has practically brought every nation of the world to its knees. It has humbled the pride of nations! Could this be the final lap for our collective home going? I don’t know, only God knows. However, I do know that our world will never be the same again! My word of assurance is in our theme for this year, 1 Peter 5:10. “This one too shall pass”. After the plague has come and gone, the Almighty God shall perfect us, establish us, strengthen us, and settle us for greater glory than we had ever experienced, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Biblical Introspection
The Bible has some historical accounts of plagues:
1The 10 plagues God sent upon Egypt in Exodus 7-10: This was a national epidemic and its purpose was to punish Pharaoh and Egypt for refusing to heed His instruction to let Israel go. The plagues stopped when Pharaoh humbled himself and did what God instructed. 2The plague that came upon Israel when they committed idolatry and harlotry with the idols and women of Moab in Numbers 25:113: 24,000 people died. The plague stopped because of the righteous zeal/ indignation of one man, Phinehas in the Camp.
3Siege/Corona plague-like situation in Jericho illustrated in Joshua 6:1: Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel. None came out and none came in. The Shout of Victory after marching around the city for seven days brought down the walls, and the siege was over.
Effect of the Present Coronavirus Pandemic Plague:
z Over a million people have been infected all over the world z Several tens of thousands of people have died as a result of the plague z It has brought down the economy of several nations. z Some corporations have shut down, and many have downsized as a protective measure. z In America, over 6 million people
filed for unemployment within a two-week period! z Social life as we used to have it has
gone z The governments at various levels seem not to have an antidote to the ravaging plague
Humanity shall overcome this challenge too like the ones before it, in Jesus’ name. But what message is God using the situation to get across to us as people of faith?
COVID-19 is a situation... a challenge... a problem... a hindrance that is confronting humanity today at individual, family, communal, city, state, national and global levels, but it’s a challenge we can overcome; we
will overcome; we shall overcome, and we must overcome, in Jesus’ name, because we are born to overcome, subdue and have dominion.
How Do We Overcome This One As A People Of God?
We will overcome this by:
1. Following instructions and comply
with directives from our government and medical personnel regarding personal hygiene, social distancing, etc.. Romans 13:1 2. Working together: We must all work together as a people, church, community, and nation.. Isaiah 41:6 NKJV “Everyone helped his neighbor, And said to his brother, “Be of good courage!” 3. Praying: Matthew 17:19, Mark 9:28; Matthew 17:21; Mark 9:29; James 5:13; James 5:15. 4. Fasting: Jonah 3:5; Mark 9:29.5. By the Blood of the lamb: Revelation 12:11; Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24 6. Word of our testimony: Revelation 12:11; Numbers 14:28; Proverbs 18:21; Hebrews 13:5; Psalm 116:10; 2 Corinthians 4:13. 7. Keeping Faith: Luke 1:37; Matthew 19:26; Mark 9:23; Luke 8:43-48.
Remember, whatever situation doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, better, greater, richer and smarter. gw
Olugbenga Joseph Kuye is a servant of God under The Redeemed Christian Church of God, where he pastors the House on the Rock in Grand Prairie, Dallas Metro, TX USA. He is a Conference Speaker on leadership, prayers and empowerment, and has authored several books. He has since 1990 been happily married to Pastor Bisi Kuye, a fellow minister of the gospel and certified health professional. Their union is blessed with three covenant children.
Take Heart, God Is In Control
Pastor Makinde
“While it looks like things are out of control, behind the scenes there is a God who hasn’t surrendered His authority” —AW Tozer
We live in extraordinary times. The COVID-19 statistics are frightening indeed!
The average believer, just like the rest of humanity, is MYSTIFIED and perplexed. To make matters worse, there are some Christian men and women who major in pessimism, always looking at the dark and gloomy side of life. They abound in every congregation. All they can do about life situations is grumble. But we need not despair.
It is the church’s responsibility to give light in the midst of darkness and to inquire what the mind of the Lord is (Ephesians 5:17). We are strategically placed to provide leadership to the government, the frontline health workers, and our city and community leaders. When hope seems to vanish on the streets, the church ought to harbour it in stockpiles.
God’s word gives abundant hope and assurance in the face of any contingencies that arise.
Believers in Christ must be calm and strong in the face of any circumstance. We must not give in to fear. Like Joshua and Caleb, we must refuse to take side with the world in their fear. No fear of giants will enter our minds if we These trying times also provide us with ample opportunities to testify to the faithfulness of our God. This is a time for faith and obedience. We do well to regularly remind ourselves that no circumstances can perplex our God.
believe God. These times call for faith and strong confidence in God’s word. He has promised to heal our land, if we will turn to Him in repentance and prayers (2 Chronicles 7:14). He has also promised to uphold us in trying times with the right hand of His righteousness (Isaiah 41:10). We must trust Him to keep His promises. He who cannot keep his promise cannot be God. The right thing to do at this moment is to put our emphasis where God puts it. What is your relationship to Jesus? What contribution does your lifestyle make to the healing of your nation? This is the perfect time to wholly surrender our lives to Christ.
These trying times also provide us with ample opportunities to testify to the faithfulness of our God. This is a time for faith and obedience. We do well to regularly remind ourselves that no circumstances can perplex our God. gw
Pastor Makinde is a retired Senior Lecturer of Chemistry and is currently a Provincial Pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Republic of Ireland.
COVID-19:
What Is God Saying?
Pastor Mike Nwanegbo
Several conspiracy theories are circulating all over social media. The issue is in listening for exactly what God is trying to tell us in the midst of these trying times.
God knew about COVID-19 before it even came into existence. If God had not permitted it, it wouldn’t have seen the light of day. I also believe God allowed the lock down to reset the mindset of the church and to speak to those who are willing to listen about his future plan for the church. Pastors are now talking about the need to strengthen the house fellowships and cell groups. Personally, I feel the lord leading me to start training men on how to be priests in their own houses and how to prepare their children for heaven. I believe this crisis is a warning shot of what is to come. I sense God is alerting the church of the coming changes in the world. We can now see the power of the state to control the church and society. I sense God is warning the church to start preparing for a coming persecution and the return of our Lord of Jesus Christ.
The suggestions I have heard experts present on TV and which the government is looking into as a result of this virus crisis is alarming. Though the COVID-19 has cost several lives, I see it as a blessing to the church in disguise. One good thing is that it has woken up the church to the need to be heaven focused. God has shut most pastors in and given them time to be with Him alone so that he can speak to One good thing is that it has woken up the church to the need to be heaven focused. God has shot most pastors in and given them time to be with him alone so that he could speak to them.
them. Many will come out with clear instructions from God on the next phase of the church. I also sense that God is using this opportunity to help keep families together and to better appreciate themselves. I believe that after this lockdown, most people will begin to give the family more priority. At least Pastors have learned that God is the owner and keeper of the church. gw
Mike Chuks Boniface Nwanegbo is a Political Science and administrative graduate of the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. He is currently the Coordinator of the RCCG Belgium Mission. He also oversees RCCG Churches in four nations in Europe. He is married to Pastor (Mrs) Boma Nwanegbo and they are blessed with three lovely children; Gloria, Praise and Redeemed.
Essential Tips For Emerging Beyond This Season
Gbeminiyi Eboda
It’s important to know that there’s going to be a redefinition of everything including work following this pandemic and your choices will be informed by the limits of your awareness.
Therefore your information sources are critical in making the best of decisions. Positioning yourself for post Covid-19 workplace relevance is critical . Bearing this in mind, here are some tips for effective Re-emergence following this pandemic:
z Take your time to observe the trends and threats and find where you can plug in within the value chain to offer solutions to emerging problems after this season. Don’t wait for the lockdown to be over but rather become task oriented and measure each day by the goals achieved or targeted tasks successfully executed. Be deliberate about positioning yourself within the value radar of your employer or customer as the case may be. If you
don’t want to be lost in the crowd, get ahead by thinking ahead.
z Start each day before it begins by being explicit and intentional about your goals and then hit the ground running, ticking your boxes as the day goes.
z Don’t undermine the value of talent and soft skills. They are great leverages that can give you unusual mileage.
z Focus on maintaining balance: Equilibrium is important, invest in wholistic development. Don’t focus on an area at the expense of others. Fortitude is being built, character is being forged, resilience is being developed. These are all essential & critical to lasting success.
z Your health and relationships are important as well as your career, emotional, financial, intellectual and spiritual well being.
z Understand the place of process- every vision has a gestation period.
z Don’t quit because it’s taking time. z The man in your mirror is most responsible for your eventual outcomes.
z You have a history of victory. Don’t underestimate what you’ve survived in the past as the outcome of this will not be any less! gw
Gbeminiyi Eboda is lead pastor at HarvestHouse Christian Center. He is an author and conference speaker who is happily married to Adeola Eboda and their marriage is blessed with two sons.
The Scourge Of CoronaVirus (aka COVID-19)
Pastor Peter Yakubu
This present scourge of the coronavirus pandemic is a well scripted scheme and agenda of the evil one. It is Satan’s plan to barricade the end-time move of God and break the spirit of man. It is also intended to destabilize the church and crash the faith of many. The corona pandemic did not originate from heaven but was incubated, hatched and delivered from the heart of hell against mankind.
But, God still remains sovereign and supreme. He can never be taken by surprise nor does anything happen without His knowledge. God saw it when it was still brewing in hell. He knew before it began that it would happen and He allowed it because He knows how to turn even chaotic situations around for the good of His people.
The virus is really not the scourge this time around but FEAR. The corona virus is one of the least causes of death in our present age; not even as lethal as the common flu in America or Ebola in Africa or even hunger in some parts of the world but the hype given to it through the news media is almost crippling the planet, which is the aim. Satan might have sought to outsmart God (which is beyond amusing) by creating the disorder, causing church doors to be shut, keeping believers apart from coming together to worship, fellowship with one another and pray to stop the devilish scourge and thereby weaken the faith of the believers, but God holds the world in His hand. Psalm 2 comes to mind here:
“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us”. Psalms 2:1-3. KJV eventually prevail: “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.”
Overall, God will gain preeminence.
For the rulers of darkness, it is an opportunity to rattle the world through fear and install their tools for the coming of the Antichrist, weaken the believers and hinder as many as they can from getting ready for the second coming of Christ. However, it is also an opportunity for God to bring to fulfillment long awaited prophecies concerning this end time. Haggai 2:6-7
After all this is said and done, the church will come out STRONGER, BOLDER, MORE FOCUSED, LOUDER, and GREATER. In addition, the church will be RICHER because He said the desire of all nations shall come- this indicates a wealth transfer. Look at what He said again in Haggai, “...and they will offer their treasures; then I will fill this temple with glory...”
As you take another look at the corona madness, let joy resonate from your inside; see God at work knowing that it is working for our good. You will have a Goshen experience where God will separate you from the rest (Exodus. 8:22; 9:26). You will not perish with the wicked. “No harm will overtake you; no illness will come near your home.” Psalms 91:10 NET Be excited !! Hallelujah!!!!! See you on the other side of the pandemic! gw
Pastor Peter Yakubu is the pastor of the Prevailing Life Ministries, situated in Lagos Nigeria. He is called into the ministry of deliverance for the body of Christ with a message of hope, revival, healing and restoration to the total man. He is passionate about preparing the saints for the coming of our Lord. He has been married to Abimbola for nineteen years and they are blessed with three children.
Rise Above The Crisis!
Pastor Dammy Timothy
Nothing in life is permanent except God and his promises. It should be noted that whatever anyone is going through is only for a season. In other words, no situation or season has eternal life.
Seasons come and go, and they do not abide forever. We have the comfort of the statement made above from the scripture below:
“Everything has its time; To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven”–Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV)
The nations of the world are currently living in a time of uncertainty both locally and globally because of the prevailing pandemic. Troubles are even in the corridors of power. Things have fallen apart and no authority can actually hold the centre. There is partial or total lockdown in the cities and nations worldwide. People are confused and no decision made has been accurate enough. The future looks blurry and no one can predict the time the current situation will expire. What is this invisible enemy that has crippled the world? COVID-19- Yes that is it! It looks like everyone alive is walking in the valley of the shadow of death! While all this is true and may seem daunting, most Importantly, God has not left his children as orphans.
This one will pass again like it has in the past. Egypt may be boiling but there is calmness in Goshen! Hallelujah! There is always something to draw from God’s word in times like this. The psalmist says: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff — they comfort me” Psalm 23:4. It’s time to rise above the crisis and trust God.
Of a truth, when you listen to the news, especially the rumours on social media, your heart will begin to race. This news is the way by which satan instills fear in the hearts of people! But as the Psalmist says, “I fear no evil” for God is with me. This doesn’t necessarily mean that danger is not out there, but no matter what is happening around us, we should be at peace because of His promise of protection and security (Psalm 91:7). Believers in Christ should not be filled with worry and hopelessness in this time. Jesus said in John 16:33–“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
There is a lot of panic buying now in shops around the world. Everyone is trying to prepare for tomorrow but forgetting that we serve the God who knows and holds tomorrow. As Christians we must stay strong and keep in mind what God promised us in His words. My message to you at this time is that you should be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10). Prophet Isaiah wrote about God in Chapter 41:10 saying, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.” I know it feels like a storm but keep your focus on God and be not afraid. Look away from the circumstances around and stop exhibiting doubt. You will not die but live to declare the works of God! Trust in His faithfulness and stay strong. It is written: “God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power” (2 Timothy 1:7). We win and overcome in Jesus’ name. God bless you. gw
Dr. Chinyere Almona
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, and the torrent of news (both fake and authentic),
I have had cause to question a lot of things, including my faith. z Where is God during the Covid-19 crisis? z What do I really believe? z Who do I believe in? z Why do I believe what I believe or in whom I believe? z What is the essence of my faith?
My life experiences teach me that faith works, and faith-filled people have more hope. When times are tough and rocky, we need an anchor in the storm. Never has there been such craziness in our circumstances, but having faith is an inner knowing that things will work out without any evidence that it is true. The Bible says that “faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation” (Hebrews 11:1-2–NLT). Faith helps you to embrace the reality of a crisis and the accompanying fear, regardless of how difficult. When I read Psalms, I see that David spoke a lot about his fears. He knew what it was to fear, and he knew what it was to know God and believe in Him. Here are five ways to practice keeping faith during a crisis.
1Remember whose you are – Our God is powerful, sovereign and has the final authority in heaven and on earth. We are His people and He’s got our backs. This is a good time to draw closer to God and leverage the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Studying the bible and praying in the Holy Spirit helps us to build up our faith, it is like
having the winds in your sail, which buoys you up and keeps you afloat. When you feel negative thoughts and emotions arise, intentionally shift your attention to God’s word and promises, you will feel hope rising.
2Revive connections–Strengthening your relationship with other Christians, can ignite hope within you and boost your faith quotient. Things like discussing the bible with my children, praying on the phone with others, starting a new bible reading routine helped me increase hope. There are many virtual groups, and these are strong faith boosters. Seek to join one of these prayer groups and stay connected.
3Resolve to be thankful–As cliché as having an attitude of gratitude in a time of crisis may
sound, it helps you focus more on God, whom you believe in. Thinking about all that you are grateful for, such as who God is, all that He has done and all that He can do, puts things in a positive perspective, which naturally makes you more hopeful. You can practice gratitude by making a gratitude list and reflecting on current happenings with the same attitude. For instance, I always navigate conversations toward the aspects of the Covid-19 crisis that are worthy of thanksgiving, such as more time with family, time to rest, reflect and rejuvenate, not having to be stuck in traffic for hours, etc.
4Reflect on possibilities – There is the tendency to feel pulled into a place of despair that makes us panic. When you feel overwhelmed during this crisis, try visualizing the great post-crisis future you can and will have. Rather than focus on the challenges, envision the things you can do during the crisis that can add value after the crisis. Can you learn a skill or a new language? Visualize the life you want and commit to making it happen, which strengthens your faith in God to bring it to pass. I invite you to reframe the stay-at-home order as a pause period to relish (somewhat).
5Realize the need for selfcare–Loving yourself can be a challenge, especially during periods of crisis. Being isolated for days on end can cause us to binge on food, whine endlessly or give opportunity for other habits that may not be very helpful. This could lead to feelings disorientation and depression. Adjusting to a crisis is not always easy, but we need to practice self-love and self-care. Be very careful what you consume – food, drink and social media news. Engage with the Holy Spirit, meditate on the Scriptures, boost and repair your body with the right food/fruits and take time to rest and reconnect with nature. gw
HANDLING Betrayal
Oluwaseun AyanfeOluwa
or expectations of someone or to be disloyal to someone. Betrayal comes with a sting that hurts so deep it leaves you numb. This is because it is usually unexpected and from people we have come to love and trust. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers who were meant to have his back, and Jesus by Judas who was in His inner circle.
“Hello Jane (not real name). What’s this I’m hearing about you and my husband? “Well, I needed a friend, and he was the only one that came along”, Jane said dismissively.
Ididn’t know what to make of what I’d just heard. How could someone I considered a friend and prayer partner be involved with my husband. Sadder still, both my (now) ex-husband and my supposed best friend did not show any sign of remorse for their actions. Eventually, we all went our separate ways.
Dictionary.com defines betrayal as the act of disappointing the hopes While He did not cause whatever issues came up in my marriage and the eventual divorce, He allowed it because He knew I would emerge from it a wiser, stronger and more matured woman.
So how do you deal with betrayal so that it does not prevent you from forging ahead with your life?
First, you need to recognize that you are not alone in that situation. There are two major stakeholders with two different agendas-God who allowed the situation and wants to ultimately use it for your good, and then the devil who orchestrated it with the mind of destroying or derailing you. Whichever agenda trumps at the end of the day depends on whose side you play on. God is never behind any act of betrayal. However, He permits the devil and people to cause us pain
through betrayal because He knows that the experience as painful as it may be will eventually make you stronger, better and wiser. While He did not cause whatever issues came up in my marriage and the eventual divorce, He allowed it because He knew I would emerge from it a wiser, stronger and more matured woman. And that has been my testimony.
Secondly, get God’s perspective on the situation. I was angry with God after my marriage crashed and I told Him. He helped me realize that there was something more glorious after the mess, and that should be my focus. Jesus knew that Judas had to betray Him as a pathway to fulfilling His destiny which was to save mankind from sin. Getting God’s perspective makes it easier to go through the process.
Forgiveness is also imperative as it sets you free to move on with your life. Of course, there were moments where the memories came back, bringing all the hurt with them. But I was resolute to forgive and so I kept declaring just that.
In conclusion, as God helps you to move on, ask Him for wisdom to redefine your relationships. The truth is when trust has been broken, it is never business as usual. There might be a need to adjust the level of access you give someone who has betrayed you, especially when you still have to relate with him or her. How to do this without being bitter or being hurt again calls for wisdom that only God can give.
I would love to hear about your stories of betrayal and how you have been able to overcome. gw
Kingsley Okonkwo
“I don’t understand. What is wrong with us living together?” A truly confused Kemi asked as she sat in my office. “PK, Jibola and I have always been good together. We met in university in the UK and hit it off immediately. We could barely be apart; in fact, it started with spending the weekend with him, then one weekend turned to two and two to three and before I knew it there was no point packing an overnight bag. I began leaving stuff over at his place. Eventually, he asked me to move in since we planned to get married anyway- why not start practicing? PK when he gave me the keys to his apartment it was so romantic. To be honest it made sense. Why keep an apartment when I’m always at his? Now, we’re moving back to Nigeria and my sister says we can’t live together because we aren’t married” »
If she wasn’t genuinely confused, I would have laughed out loud. You must understand the irony of this scenario. A couple of years ago it would have been unheard of to mention to anyone let alone a pastor that you were living together before being married but today in front of me sat a young girl who was voicing the thoughts of many others in this generation. It is important to note that as the society experiences a drastic decline in moral uprightness, couples living together before marriage is rapidly becoming a common practice. This decline may be attributed to globalization or the fact that the world has become more disruptive; resisting traditional ways, but whatever the cause, the results of cohabiting before marriage are usually not great.
a divorce. In other words, you have a 1 in 3 chance of destroying something that could be potentially great, so before you move in, let’s take time to really talk about these reasons and if they are worth making that move. It’s kind of like helping a butterfly emerge from its cocoon. When the butterfly comes out of the cocoon, the only way you have a 1 it can strengthen its wings is in 3 chance by beating them against the of destroying cocoon. That way its muscles something will grow strong. When you that could be help it, you prevent it from potentially developing the muscles it great, so would need to survive. It’s before you the same thing with moving move in, let’s in before marriage. It’s take time to important to allow things really talk. take its natural course and not try to speed up the process by moving in first. After all, we know it makes no sense to put the cart before the horse.
Popular reasons people give for cohabiting are not far from the reasons Kemi just gave me for living with Jibola: convenience, economic reasons and to test compatibility. However, statistics show that 33% of couples that start out cohabiting are more likely to end up in I think Kemi and Jibola or anyone else thinking about cohabiting before marriage should have a rethink. If you promise to come back and read, I will be glad to share with you what I shared with Kemi. gw
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