Praying with Understanding

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Prayer, I believe is a conversation between us and God, either we are giving thanks, making requests or even asking questions. Yet it is not uncommon to feel like a prayer could be such a complicated and maybe even a delicate conversation to have, after all, it's God we are talking to here. There is no way that wouldn't be somehow daunting! I remember learning to pray as a child during family devotions and how nervous I'd get, mumbling through my words, hardly able to get anything coherent out. My auntie, bless her, would jump in the middle of one of my many long pauses to rescue me and carry on with the prayer but once we were done, my uncle would almost chide her for not giving me a chance to learn and develop my confidence. I didn't blame her; I found those long pauses very uncomfortable too! So, I usually understand when people tell me they do not know how to pray and would prefer others to pray for them or they'll just avoid it altogether and some even ask if
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2020 - Teacher of Gratitude

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Hi, just decided to share my thoughts this last night of 2020. If you ask me how I got to this last day of 2020, I can only think of one of the songs that carried me through the year as an answer, that is Akamdinelu by Mercy Chinwo. I honestly just lived it minute by minute, but I've never been so mindful and grateful for all those precious minutes.

If anyone can raise up their hands and say they made it this far on their own strength and wisdom, I will certainly call them liars.

This year tested us, but I saw the best of my fellow humans this year as I believe it gave us a chance to reflect on our life choices and how well they are working for us or against us. I also believe it tested our strength and showed us where our strength ends and can't take anymore is where God's strength picks us up and helps us continue.

I was guilty of echoing "Can't 2020 be over already" before I realised I had not fully figured out what this year required of me and stopped sharing that sentiment. I feel this is the same for most of you.

Questions I asked people including myself was: "What does charity and giving really mean to you?"

Giving encompasses material things like food, clothing and other essentials but also immaterial things like love and forgiveness.

I also checked how I view myself: am I profoundly grateful for how far God has brought me? Do I truly have the love of God I profess in my heart towards others?

I searched my heart and understood that being in Christ and having the confidence of His love helped me to be the person I am. I love who I am.

These questions also included: “Have I done things right?” “Have I done enough?” “Where am I lacking?” “What more can I do to show this selfless love I talk about?” (….lots of questions I know, but I did have all these months to think up these questions. Lol!)

There are so many of us that read the Bible, pray fervently, sin and pray to be forgiven but the deepest recesses of our hearts are so dark and seemingly impenetrable. We wield unforgiveness as a weapon forgetting we are not without sins ourselves. God’s light can break down any wall if we would allow it shine through.

Don't carry unforgiveness into the new year!

I'm glad to shut the door on 2020 as much as the next person but my focus is more on what I've learnt about myself through this scary uncertain year. There were certainly loads of lessons to learn.

I found the strength I did not know I had, for one, I never knew I would ‘sanely’ work from home for all these months, I would have thought I'd be climbing all over the walls and ceiling after a month, but here we are almost 10 months and counting.

My heart broke over and over listening to news of the devastating effects of the pandemic; the loss of lives and in lots of cases, you'd read how unexpected their demise was; the depth of suffering; and the brutality of Nigerian Security Forces exposed by the #endsars protest. Hate, abuse and racism became a topic of conversations that had to be had within many households. Despite all these, there were positive stories of people looking out for each other, showing a strength to keep forging ahead and a determination to do their part to make the world a nicer and safer place for us all. I am now more determined than ever to be a world changer too.

In my dark hours, I hid myself in worship songs like ‘There is a Place’ and ‘Olorun Agbaye’ by Nathaniel Bassey which never failed to remind me of what will remain when all earthly troubles ceases to be.

Things never happen randomly, it does for a reason, always.

I stumbled on a host of literature, videos, songs and spoken words that formed the wings I soared on through 2020.

Thank you to all the wonderful ministers of God that fulfilled their calling to share their gifts and help us through times like this.

We have so much to be thankful for, and I'm thankful for the "me" that is about to step into 2021.

I’m not beating myself up over resolutions that didn’t come to fruition because of disruptions caused by the pandemic, I am simply grateful to God that I and all my loved ones far and near are still here.

My little advice today as we exit this year, is to reflect on the "you" that you are taking into 2021.Take the best "you" forward and leave the cobwebs of the past behind, you will need it in 2021. Clarity in purpose will see you through whatever the new year holds because though nothing is guaranteed, God with Us - Immanuel is guaranteed.

I pray peace and protection upon you all this last day in 2020 and a triumphant entry into 2021.

Love always. xx

Ige

 




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