PHEW!!! AND IT'S A WRAP!!

Hiya! [Writes like this is a newsletter, LOL]

It's been a minute since I last wrote. 

I know, I know.... I promised to be consistent but I wasn't. 

Before you roll your eyes, let me explain.  Truth is, so much was happening I just couldn't keep up.

But this year? This year, I'm taking the bull by the horns! Y'all will have front row tickets to hear all my thoughts per time. No delay and definitely no hiccups.

Before I dive in, HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY NEW YEAR, LOVELIES!

It’s the first day of the year, and I am so grateful to have you in my corner. 

I pray that 2025 is a blissful and fulfilling year, where your dreams align with God’s plans and become your reality. Amen! 

Now, to the business of the day.

It’s the season of recaps, and there’s no way I’m missing out on this amazing trend. 

Phew! What an emotional rollercoaster 2024 was.

Have you ever experienced two extremes? Have you left a position or situation that didn't look great, only to move into a seemingly better one and realize it's worse and you really do not know what’s best for you? That was 2024 for me. A year where God reminded me of my limitations and His sovereignty.

2024 was my year of unlearning. Yes! I had to say goodbye to some warped ideas. No, I didn't check off all my ambitious goals, but I grew where it mattered most.  For an ex-perfectionist like myself, I'll dare say I deserve some applauds, because I finally learnt to walk and work with God without trying to help Him to help me.   

The crybaby who would once shed “hot tears” at the slightest sign of discomfort evolved into an intercessor, a true worshipper, and a minister of the Word (not to others first, but to myself). I trusted God, shut out all the internal and external noise and metamorphosed into my dream  introverted Christian girl stepping boldly into 2025.

And, like everybody else, I have lessons to share. 

Lessons 2024 Taught Me

1. God’s timing is never rushed: No amount of pleading, crying, or self-loathing will make Him do what He isn’t ready to do. His sovereignty is immovable, and His plans are always perfect. Even when it feels like nothing is working, keep waiting patiently cus He has the perfect timing. 

2. Life is a connected thread of coincidences: Every experience, no matter how random, is a puzzle piece in God’s grand design. The more closely you examine your circumstances, the clearer His purposes become. Every act of obedience or disobedience impacts the future in ways we can’t always comprehend. Be conscious of your actions and expect them to have consequences. 

3. Idolatory can grow from an obsessive desire for genuine spiritual encounters: Not in the way most people understand idolatory; with carved images and overt rituals, but I unlearned the subtler forms of idolatory. While almost obsessing over true spiritual prowess and encounters, I learnt that shifting the focus from glorifying God to acquiring His gifts for personal gain is idolatory. When the end goal is self-gratification and fulfillment of lustful desires, it is idolatry. 

4. Spiritual warfare is won by soldiers with known identities: I discovered that the enemy’s attacks thrive on your ignorance of your identity in Christ and the sense of fear and guilt to get up after sinning. The moment you awaken to your authority as a soldier of Christ, you’re equipped to fight battles that once seemed insurmountable. “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). God who knew no sin, became sin for you through Jesus, so you could live a life of right standing with Him. You are too equipped to have identity crisis.

5. God’s plans are non-negotiable: If God has set a path for your life, no alternative will suffice. He will guide you through the storms and valleys because they are part of His purpose for you. Your life has been predestined and you're simply acting out scenes of an already concluded story. The end isn't changing because it's an "happily ever after." 

6. When life seems hardest, praise is the loudest declaration of faith: “Without faith, it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). Praising Him in difficult seasons is a weapon against the enemy’s schemes. It’s a declaration that you trust Him no matter what. [JSYK, the devil intensifies efforts when he knows he's loosing, so praise when it's hardest, cus you're winning]. 

7. Cherish the bond called family: Family was another recurring theme for me this year. I saw them as my “recharge bank,” "my constants" amidst life’s uncertainties. Relationships aren’t always easy, but those who truly love and care for you are worth holding on to, even through rough patches. So choose family [whomever fits the description] always. 

8. Contentment will save you from a load of stress: When I finally got what I wanted, the exact opposite of my reality (then), I realized that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Sometimes, the peace I sought was already present, I just hadn’t embraced it.

As we step into 2025, I hope the lessons I've learnt and shared are valuable to you on your journey of life. 

I hope you love yourself enough to protect your peace and you let go of everything God hasn’t approved for you, even when they're too great to say goodbye to. God's kind of blessings are too good to miss out on. They make rich without the addition of sorrow, worry or pain (Proverbs 10:22).

I pray you boldly chase your passions, and  remember that true fulfillment lies in aligning with God’s will, not in meeting worldly expectations. Please celebrate your growth, no matter how small, and remain steadfast in your walk with Christ.

Once again, Welcome to 2025 and Happy New Year!!!

See you on the 15th of January.