We have a natural need for inclusion. Being part of something gives us a sense of identity. It’s one of the reasons we group ourselves into races, ethnicities, religious denomimations, and many more.
Two main groups cut across all others; good guys and bad guys.
The good people; we tend to like, and reward with inclusion. The bad people? We don’t want anything to do with. They’re like bad eggs that deserve exclusion and probably harsher punishments too. We ‘other’ them and keep them far away from ourselves.
Not Jesus though.
Jesus hangs with one group of people – the ‘Whosoever Wills’.
Whosoever will come.
Whosoever will believe.
Whosoever will trust.
Whosoever will…attend.
At Matthew’s (A Tax Collector) house , He invites some of society’s most despicable people to have dinner with Him – other tax collectors.
Understand who tax collectors were back in Jesus’ day. They were traitors, hated with considerable levels of passion. Being Jews who worked for the Romans, they played a key role in ensuring the Roman Empire maintained its oppressive grip on their own people. What’s worse? They often collected more than was due, and the Jews had no choice but to pay. They were the bad guys of the times.
Jesus chose to hang out with these people, and other sinners too. He probably shared a joke with the robber, talked intimately with the adulterer, showed interest in the affairs of the swindler. He got so comfortable talking with them that the Scribes and Pharisees, who maintained the margins of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ became extremely uncomfortable.
Here’s the thing, Jesus didn’t see them for who they were, He saw them for who they could be. They may have been outcasts to society, but they were also, the exact sort of people Jesus was looking for. He knew that reaching the lost, required having some contact with them. He knew they were guilty, but chose to personify mercy in place of condemnation. He didn’t come to judge the ‘bad guys’, He came to offer them salvation.
Sitting at that dinner table, Jesus shook the faulty tenets of righteousness, good and evil that were in effect. What is even more beautiful, is that he did it over and over, and over again (John 4:27: Luke 7: Mark 7: Luke 5: Luke 19).
The souls of men are of far greater importance than the frowns of a few and threat of exclusion. Jesus knew that and we should too.
No matter what you’ve done, no matter how long it’s been. Even when the whole world counts you out, Jesus still invites you in.
I began feeling it long before I knew what it was.
It was prize giving day in high school, and I’d made it to top 3 in my class. We had Math prodigees on the stag who had won inter-school and state championships. I’d never done anything like that, and in my silently growing panic, I wondered if they’d miscalculated my scores.
It was the feeling of not being sure I belonged. More specifically, the feeling of wondering if I was awarded by mistake.
Over the years, I’ve found this feeling to be quite common with a lot of people. I mean people worry that their school admitted them by mistake, or they won a scholarship by some stroke of luck or their boss overestimated their abilities, or their church thinks they’re a better Christian than they actually are, and sooner or later someone is going to figure it out. In a lot of cases, this feeling moves from worry to fear and then anxiety, timidity, self-sabotage, and outright quitting.
Other times, it creates a deep uncertainty about being loved or accepted by our friends, family, or even God. It births a need to do more, to be more, constantly measuring ourselves against standards that exist only in our heads.
“It was the feeling of not being sure I belonged. More specifically, the feeling of wondering if I was awarded by mistake.”
As you may be able to tell, impostor syndrome is quite powerful. It’s the reason a lot of people self- sabotage, or quit even before they begin. Sometimes, it looks like our insecurities or our limitations. Shaming us with lies of not being good enough and fear that everything could crumble if anyone were to probe deeply.
For believers, it’s one reason many of us don’t step into our calling because we feel like a fraud. An extra layer for the believer is the weight of guilt from sin, mistakes, and choices from our pasts. Some of us have chapters in our life stories that stand in stark contrast to where we now are and what God is calling us to do. Impostor syndrome plays on these experiences and slowly and silently kills the believer’s call.
“An extra layer for the believer is the weight of guilt from sin, mistakes, and choices from our pasts. Some of us have chapters in our life stories that stand in stark contrast to where we now are and what God is calling us to do”.
If this is you, I’d like to let you know that impostor syndrome is built on lies. That’s the key reason we have to resist it. Its aim is to paint a picture of unworthiness and make us believe that we do not deserve what we have because of something we have or don’t have or who we are or are not. The truth is that Jesus has made us joint heirs with Him, entitled to every good and perfect gift. It was never about us – He did it long before we ever came to know Him and become saved. He loved us in advance and with plenty more to spare!
The idea that “I’ve got to prove myself in order to get myself loved” is in total variance with the gospel of redemption. By grace alone, through faith alone, on the basis of the work of Christ alone, we stand on the glorious rock of the forgiveness of our sins, our acceptance with God, the removal of our guilt, the canceling of our debts — all of it rooted in the love of God, who chose us for himself before the foundation of the world.
“The truth is that Jesus has made us joint heirs with Him, entitled to every good and perfect gift. It was never about us – He did it long before we ever came to know Him and become saved”.
In Luke 5, Jesus reveals himself to a fisherman called Peter who had toiled all night but caught nothing. Suddenly, this man makes an appearance, and his nets are overflowing with fish. Peter, realising who Jesus was and what He’d just done for him gave the a classic impostor Syndrome response – ‘Please leave me, I’m a lowly sinner, not worthy to be in your presence’. Peter felt unworthy and inadequate. He wanted to hide.
Jesus’ response is significant. He does not coddle Peter or skirt around his fears, He shifts Peter’s focus to a higher calling – ‘Don’t be afraid, from now on you’ll be fishing for people’.
Jesus ripped at the self-depriciating nature of Peter’s response. He knew that apart from feeling bad about himself, his feelings would distract him from what God had called him to do.
Impostor syndorme disables you through fear and feelings of inadequacy. It’s like having weights shackled to your ankles, keeping you from running full speed. The devil knows that as long as he can do this – keep your eyes on your inability instead of God’s ability. You’ll live a life of fearful restraint and miniscule goals.
But know that you have been engraced for every call of God over your life. Know that when God called you, He qualified you irrespective of your age, gender, experiences, background, mistakes, and any other variable.
As believers, there’s another layer of guilt and shame that comes from sin, but know that there is no pit so deep that His love is not deeper still. He loves you so much that he makes provisions for your shortcomings. Circling back to Peter who Jesus tells ‘I know you are going to deny me, but I have put something in place to help you out of that. And when you are helped, dont forget your call – help others too!
So what do we do when impostor syndrome begins to rear its ugly head? We do what 2 Corinthians 10:5 says.
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
We declare that we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, and we are entitled to every good and perfect gift. Guilt and shame have no power over us.
And for the times when it wears the deceptive cloak of ‘luck’, remind yourself that there is no such thing as luck — period. There is no such thing as luck. What the world calls luck is God’s providence. So, what you’re dealing with is not several thousand professional instances of luck, in which you lucked out and proved competent and responsible and helpful by accident. That’s not what’s happening; there’s no such thing as an accident or luck. God, not luck, brought about those thousands of moments of competency and responsibility and helpfulness. This is a pattern of divine sustaining, divine support, divine help, divine guidance, which bears all the marks of a calling, a vocation from God.
“And for the times when it wears the deceptive cloak of ‘luck’, remind yourself that there is no such thing as luck — period. There is no such thing as luck. What the world calls luck is God’s providence. “
Therefore, when you wake up in the morning and you feel anxiety that your luck might run out today, one of the answers is to preach to yourself, “There’s no such thing as luck. Stop thinking that way. It doesn’t exist. God has sustained me in all these thousands of moments of competency that I’ve been calling ‘luck.’ God has sustained me even if I am truly incompetent.”
When impostor syndrome takes hold of you, you take hold of it. Speak God’s word and refuse its lies and deception.
You were made worthy when Christ died and shed His blood for you. You DO belong in that church, that job, that programme, and anywhere else on this planet God has called you. So don’t look at the people around you. Don’t look at your limitations. Don’t even look at yourself. Just look at Jesus and move.
Mary is wide awake. The pain has been eclipsed by wonder. She looks into the face of the baby. Her son. Her Lord. His Majesty. At this point in history, the human being who best understands who God is and what he is doing is a teenage girl in a smelly stable. She can’t take her eyes off of him. Somehow Mary knows she is holding God. She remembers the words of the angel. “His kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:33).
He looks like anything but a king. His face is prunish and red. His cry, though strong and healthy, is still the helpless and piercing cry of a baby. He is absolutely dependent upon Mary for his well-being. Majesty in the midst of the mundane. Holiness in the filth of sheep manure and sweat. Divinity entering the world on the floor of a stable, through the womb of a teenager, and in the presence of a carpenter.
The world define us by our degrees, our professions and our possessions, but no matter how much we accomplish we always, somehow, still come up short. We strive for excellence and just when we think we’ve attained it, the goal post shifts and we continue the chase to ‘being enough’.
No wonder Jesus earnestly calls out to all who labour and are heavy laden, He knows there’s a whole bunch of us seeking rest.
He says if you come to me, I’ll give you an identity that stays the same, no matter what happens. When Jesus sent the 70 out in Luke 10, he asked them to leave their belongings behind. He wanted to show them the sufficiency and validation embedded in total dependence on God. In John 3: 8. He likens us to the wind; free, powerful, irresistible, imperceptible, indiscernible, and unaccountable to the natural mind. Just like the wind, we are not subject to the dictates of this world and cannot be defined by it.
Don’t define yourself by worldly standards, you were made for more. #madeformore
You have all you need to go into your next level.You have all you need to effect a positive change in your life. There’s a lot more in you than you know. You are capable of a lot more than you think. Everything God created is PERFECT (1 Tim 4:4; Gen 1:31), and fortunately this includes you and me. No need to dwell on the long list of things you wish you had. What you have, who you know, where you are, are enough for you to move forward. When you get to the point where you need more, God will be right there, waiting to endow you with those needs. Trust your Maker
Whatever you have is enough. Whatever you do not have at the moment, you do not need. Inadequacy is not a word associated with God, for He has given us grace sufficient unto all things (2 Cor 12:9). At the limit of our human effort, is the apex of His supernatural power and grace to see us through till the very end. Don’t mind your inadequacies, they’re an avenue for God to be glorified. Where you are weak, He is strong.
So whether it is being a parent, starting a new job, starting a business or going to school, approach it with confidence; knowing that you and God are the most formidable team.
With Love ❤
Your Sis
… And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say” (Exodus 4: 11-12 KJV).
I wrote this piece about a week ago, just after I’d heard the disheartening news of the Gwarzo Boy’s Secondary School scandal in Kano state, Nigeria. I pondered on how acts of wickedness had suddenly become so rampant, and even somewhat acceptable to some. I was so livid at the dissimpassioned, flippant attitude of the school authorities to the reports, bearing in mind that most of the victims were young JSS1 boys.
Two days ago, I’d just arrived from Nigeria and walked into the living room. The “breaking news” banner flashed across the screen. As I set my trolley aside, I was anxious to read what it said “…hostage situation in Paris”, “…about eleven feared dead”. By the next morning, that number had sky-rocketed far passed what I could have ever imagined. I was saddened, but I was not surprised.
End time perils are scriptural, and cannot be prayed or wished away. In these last days, we will hear of many terrible things. Evil and perversion will multiply. But in the midst of this, a set of people will soar far above these dangers. The children of the Most High God won’t only be exempt, they will prosper exceedingly- Malachi 4:2. GOD’s gift of salvation does not eradicate evil and wickedness from the world, but it guarantees exemption from, and victory in every one of the manifestations of the powers of darkness.
However, we must be careful not to wish our way into this protection, we must consciously make a decision to get under the covering of Jesus. Joining this ark of safety has always been easy, there is no waiting list, no admittance fee -accept JESUS into your heart, as your Lord and personal Saviour, renouncing and repenting of your sins. He loves you so much and He is ready to receive you with open arms. Living without Jesus in this age is comparable to walking into a raging war-zone unarmed and unprotected -anything can happen. So we must seek Him while He can still be found… for the night time cometh when no man can work- Jn 9: 4; Ecl 9: 10
Yes there is great wickedness. It may seem like pain and suffering is the inevitable fate of all -but there is a greater power. Power that delivers prey out of the clutches of the mighty predator. There is an ark of safety, for all who want to celebrate a ‘lifting up’ while the world laments of a ‘casting down’. There is safety in the name of the great Man of Galilee, JESUS. Brethren, do not let the evil of the day keep you from living a glorious, purposeful life. Neither you nor I can stop it, we can only be exempted from it. Financial markets are crashing and recessions are looming. The world might have changed, but God remains the same. The earth is STILL the Lord’s and He still keeps in perfect peace all who keep their eyes stayed on Him. So lift up your head and rejoice, for your redemption is close. Lift up your head and rejoice for our God is on the throne!
Relating events in every day life to scripture -I doubt I am the only one who often catches herself doing this.
My mom sent me this video and asked for my thoughts. After a five minute conversation with her about it, I thought it would be nice to share it with everyone.
Blessings! 🙂
So here is this tree monkey -little of stature and feeble in strength. Ordinarily, this fella would be easy lunch to these tiger cubs. But this clip is rather unusual. We find the monkey making a total joke of these ferocious beast -even swinging down to pull them by the ears.
His confidence was particularly intriguing -he actually he began poking fun at them, even after they had decided to leave him alone. This monkey knew he had something the cubs didn’t – speed and lightweight!
That’s also how God has made us! We are faster, stronger and smarter than the opposition. Yes, the enemy is big and strong, but our God is immeasurably mighty and He has given us authority to dominate and poke fun at our enemies. I like how KJV Bibles qualify the The Lord and his works as ‘terrible’. Yes, in the camp of our enemies, The Lord causes terror, fear and trembling (Joel 2:11; Nehemiah 9:32). You know, if my earthly dad commanded one-twentieth as much power, I would go around bold as brass -how much more my Eternal, Almighty Father. Family, I live my life to the fullest, bearing in mind that all oppositions to my advancement are rocks that are easily ground into powder by the Hammer of The Word (Jer 23:29).
Brethren, don’t give fear the time of the day ;look at the size of the God within you, not the appearance of your enemies. Our God has given us every spiritual blessing, empowering us to subdue all your enemies under your feet.
Focus on the might and power your God possesses. Remember (Psalm 34:10) Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry. But those who trust in The Lord will lack no good thing!
By virtue of God’s omnipotence -nothing you go through has the right to ‘take’ from you. Instead it ‘adds’ to you. If one friendship or relationship didn’t show you what you wanted, it showed you what you didn’t. My ‘Mordecai’ (Re: my previous post) told me about Isaac’s wells in Gen 26. Every time Isaac dug a well, it got taken from him -but he kept digging. He finally found one no one could take away.
Beloved, you are defined by God’s Word, not by disappointments and mistakes -what God can do for you can override anything else anyone has done to you. Let nothing you’ve been through take from you, let it add to you. You are the answer to so many people’s prayers.
So keep on investing in yourself, do things you’re passionate about (take that professional qualification, learn a new skill, take dance lessons, go on holiday, learn about a different culture, learn a different language!).
Don’t give into self-pity and despair. The world is too big and beautiful, there is so much more to see.
Sis, Bro, your value does not decrease over time -you’re not a perishable item. The world may say so, but God says otherwise. Whose report will you believe?
The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts- Haggai 2:9 (KJV)
Queen Esther was the face that could launch a thousand ships. Historically, she was one of the most powerful women on earth. But her beauty wasn’t the reason behind her fame. Esther had an uncle whose advice shaped her destiny. His name was uncle Mordecai.
Young Hadassah (Esther) was a beauty to behold (Esther 2:7), but her aesthetic features wouldn’t take her anywhere close to where uncle Mordecai’s instructions would. Pretty much what (Proverbs 11:22) echoes.
She held on to all Mordecai had taught her as a child- even after she was made Queen (Esther 2:12); (Esther 2: 20).
She didn’t get embarrassed or upset when she heard uncle Mordecai was wailing loudly in sack cloth, at the gate of the palace. Uncle Mordecai was a noble man -she knew something was very wrong and reacted quickly. Esther persistently sent people to him until she found out why he was so sad.
She believed all he told her about Haman’s evil plan to eliminate the Jews, and put her her life on the line, by going before king Ahasuerus, uninvited (Esther 4).
It was by her obedience to uncle Mordecai’s words that Esther’s people were preserved and her name was forever inked into the pages of history.
On your way to the top, God will always place a Mordecai in your life to guide you through life’s affairs (Jeremiah 3:15). Mordecai knew Esther was a queen, long before she assumed the throne. Your teachers will see miles ahead of you, and tell you the truth -no matter how bitter. They may not be your choice but they’re God’s choice -which we all know is the best choice! Your contempt or regard for them will greatly affect your fulfillment of destiny. The Bible also echoes the same message:
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid- (Proverbs 12:1 KJV) Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end- (Proverbs 19:20 KJV)
Esther was terrified to go before King Ahasuerus uninvited. But Mordecai knew just what to say to Esther. He knew he could entrust her with the fate of all Jewish people in the kingdom of Persia (Esther 4:12-17).Esther listened to Mordecai and brought hope and joy to herself, and her people.
So let’s be honest
We don’t usually like to be instructed. Maybe after a long argument and some negotiations, we may consider a contrary point of view. But instructions are an integral part of God’s guidance policy. He lead all great men and women through instructions and he still does.
There’s no great man/woman who despised instruction and made sustainable success in life. Sometimes it’s a friend, a pastor, parent, grandparent, or in Esther’s case, an uncle.
And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding”- (Jeremiah 3:15).
I dare say it’s a fact of life; you need to be under the covering of a saved teacher or instructor. Someone who’s instruction is laced with love, wisdom and Biblical-based truth. When you find them, establish a healthy relationship with them and honour them. Mordecai saw a great Queen in his niece, even when she lived as an orphan in his home. He also kept Esther grounded, and reminded her of where she was coming from.
Mike Murdock will always advise that we treat our teachers with respect and honour. It’s much worse when an instructor becomes fed up and refuses to instruct, than when a student refuses to learn.
Identify the Mordecai God has placed in your life, not the one you have chosen by yourself. Watch out for men and women who encourage you to surpass your boundaries. Ask for grace to abide in their presence and draw from their wealth of knowledge. Get under their covering. Their wisdom will make the journey to destiny less laborious.
This season in which you find yourself may puzzle you, but it does not bewilder God. He can and will use it for His purpose. Let’s remind ourselves that God is not sometimes sovereign. He is not occasionally victorious. Jeremiah 30:24 tells us, “The Lord shall not turn back until He has executed and accomplished the thoughts and intents of His mind.”
Case in point. Joseph in prison. From an earthly viewpoint the Egyptian jail was the tragic conclusion of Joseph’s life. That was the logical end to a boy who was too much of a goody-two shoes to cut corners. The devil had Joseph just where he wanted him. But gues what? So did God. What Satan intended for evil, God used for testing.
If you see your troubles as nothing more than isolated hassles and hurts, you will grow bitter and angry. But, if you see your troubles as tests used by God for his glory and your maturity—then even the smallest incidents take on significance.
This is not a cliche, it is a promise from God- You’ll get through this!
But this is what the LORD says: “I will seize even the warriors’ plunder, and the captives of tyrants will be rescued. I myself will quarrel with those who have a quarrel with you, and I myself will save your children- Isaiah 49:25 (ISV)
Graceuntold 