THROUGH CHRIST, YOU CAN CONQUER YOUR HABIT

Let's say you're trying to lose weight, but you love doughnuts. How can you overcome temptation? By repeating, 'I must not eat doughnuts, I must not eat doughnuts, I must not eat doughnuts?'

No, the more you think about doughnuts, the more you're going to want them. Instead you must focus on something else ( or someone else - Jesus) who can help you overcome the temptation. Your problem is not in the doughnuts shop, it's in your mind.

That's where victory is won or lost. Paul writes: 'Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him.

Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect' (Romans 12:1-2 NLT).

You can get your whole mind on Jesus, draw strength from Him, and drive victoriously past every doughnuts shop in town.
The same principle applies to any bad habit you want to break and any sin you want to conquer.

Does victory come easily, or overnight? No, Satan tempted Jesus repeatedly in the wilderness, and he'll keep tempting you until he realises his strategies no longer work.
'
Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him' (Matthew 4:11  KJV). Through Christ you will conquer.

I love you but Jesus loves you more
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AFTER ALL IS SAID AND DONE WHAT’S NEXT

After all the accusations what’s next? After you've cried your heart out because you have been mocked, hated, envied, insulted etc, what’s next?
Life is full of ups and downs. Nobody lives on an island. Everybody has to live with somebody somewhere sometime at a certain place. No matter what happens to us in our various stages in life, it’s our reaction and approach towards these happenings that determines our next stage in life, whether it will be a positive or negative process.
For instance, let's look at the issue of forgiveness. Forgiving someone isn’t for their good but yours. When you forgive it is you who gets that psychological freedom to operate with or without the presence of the offender.

Forgiving others may seem to be a choice, and in a sense it is a choice but God has been very clear about forgiveness. He has given us specific direction in numerous Scriptures, all of which can be summed up in just one word -- forgive! God's Word says, "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins" (Mark 11:25). "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven" (Luke 6:37).

God is saying that it is in our own best interest to forgive! He is not talking about what is in the best interest of the person who needs to be forgiven. We are the ones God is trying to protect. We are the ones who receive the most benefit from forgiveness, not the other person. A spirit of unforgiveness complicates and compromises our daily walk with God. Forgiving others releases us from anger and allows us to receive the healing we need. The whole reason God has given us specific directions is because He does not want anything to stand between us and Him. God's love for us is beyond our comprehension. Forgiving others spares us from the consequences of living out of an unforgiving heart.

Forgiving others does not carry with it a single decision that we need to ponder. God has not qualified one sin as being more grievous to Him than another and He has not qualified one sin committed against us as warranting forgiveness and another not. For example, God is not saying that if a person lies to you or steals from you, you should forgive him, but if someone abuses or harms your child, you can hold them in unforgiveness. He is saying we should forgive everyone, always, and do it immediately.
So you see your next level, after all is said and done, depends on you and no one else and how you handle the whole situation.

Let us learn to forgive so we can easily access our next level. May GOD bless and keep us from falling. Amen.
I love you but JESUS loves you more

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GOD WILL GRANT YOU YOUR REQUEST*

We are dwelling on Jabez whose story most or all of us know and can relate to in the Bible.
Sometimes, we get to a point in life where we have just one request or a particular heart’s desire, for which we know that if granted us just like Jabez, we will sail or break through in life.

I am here to tell you that GOD says He will grant you that request because you are also an honorable man just like Jabez was and He will forever make sure you live a victorious life on earth.

We all have a particular heart’s desire - could be marriage, fruit of the womb, employment, financial breakthrough, scholarships to continue our education etc.  But God says He will grant you that special request so you can have a turn around like Jabez.....

Don't be frightened or worried that you have been hated and rejected by society. It's simply because you are one of a kind. That is why you are facing all those challenges, backbiting, insults, mockery and so on.

The contention is for a good cause so keep moving.
I need all of us to keep going and still have faith in God that we are more than conquerors. Your latter glory shall be greater than the former.
So our WORD FOR THIS WEEK IS FOUND IN 1CHRONICLES 4:9-10

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BUCKLE UP YOUR SANDALS AND GO ALL OUT

The best part of men not knowing who you are is for them to look down on you and not believe in you.  It's actually right for them to see you that way so they see and realise the hand of God upon your life when you start to manifest it.

Joseph's brothers had to mock and hate him for who Joseph was as a man and not who God had made him in His might.

Gideon had to even flee for his life because he had no idea of who God had made him to be - a mighty man of valor.  I am very sure he himself saw nothing but a mere man in him. But all that while God had actually empowered him to be a generational leader and a deliverer.

Moses thought he was not man enough to lead God's people from Egypt to their promised land till he was made to see who he was in God and he was able to accomplish leading the children of God out of Egypt.

What am I saying? It's about what God has entrusted into your hands to accomplish through His ability that matters and not what men think you are capable of.

Wherever you find yourself in this world,  your capabilities don't depend on men's approval but God's. If all these  men whose names are mentioned above could achieve such miraculous results through the might of God in various dangerous and difficult situations, trust me when I say that you can do more than them.

Remember, Jesus said it clearly that we can do more than He accomplished if we believe in Him. (John 14:12)
So my dear, you are very well equipped in Christ to do wonders in His name not yours.  It's about time you buckle up your sandals and go all out in God's might.
God needs only your obedience to fulfill His purpose through you and with you.
I love you but Jesus loves you more.

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DEPRESSION (2)

The Bible says: "When Elijah saw how things were, he ran for his dear life from Beersheba...He left his young servant there and... went on into the desert another day's journey.
He came to a lone broom bush and collapsed in its shade, wanted in the worst way to be done with it all-just to die" ( 1 King 19:3-4 MSG).

What was Elijah's mistake? The same one we sometimes make when we are depressed: We focus on our feelings rather than the facts of the situation. It happens when we are down. Elijah felt like a failure because of an incident that intimidated him.
He thought to himself, "I am such a coward. Why am I running?" And because he felt like a failure he assumed he was a failure.

Feelings often lie; and when we focus on feelings instead of faith we get into big trouble. For instance, when we make a mistake in one area, the devil will make you feel you have failed in all of life generally.

That is one of his devices to keep you down. Everyone is entitled to make mistakes and you can fail in some areas without being a failure as a person if you learn from those mistakes and rise up. God doesn't tell us to get in touch with our feelings, but to get in touch with the truth of His Word because ultimately that's what sets us free from Satan's lie ( See John 8:32).

To overcome depression you must often study God's Word that will generate strong faith and then you practice bringing your feelings into alignment with what it says.
I love you but Jesus loves you more

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DEPRESSION

DEALING WITH DEPRESSION (1)
Elijah, who had been Fearless for three years in radical ministry became frightened when Jezebel threatened his life. He ran to the desert, when he became depressed and announced, "I have had enough, Lord...Take my life" (1 King 19:14 NIV).

Elijah became a prime candidate for depression when he got physically tired, emotionally drained, and felt threatened. He was a basket case of emotional problems: fear, resentment, guilt, anger, loneliness, and worry. And the Bible says, "Elijah was a man just like us" (James 5:17 NIV). He wrestled with same problems we do.
He got so repressed that he wanted to die. How do we get ourselves into such emotional mess? Sometimes it's because of what happens to us- bad circumstances that occur in our lives. But more often it's due to faulty thinking.

The  truth is our emotion are generated by our thoughts, and when we think destructive ways we are going to feel depressed. Our emotions spring from how we interpret life, and if you always see things from a negative viewpoint you are going to get down.

To rid yourself of harmful emotions, you must learn to change the way you think. That is why the Bible talks about being "Transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2 KJV).

To overcome depression you must Learn to correct your negative thinking to positive thinking. Looking at things from the right point of view- God's viewpoint- is the path to overcoming depression.

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THE VIRTUE OF HUMILITY (2).

The story's told of a young pastor who was widely know to be a gifted preacher. But as his congregation swelled-so did his head!
One Sunday after he had delivered his latest masterpiece, a church member shook his hand and said, "You are, without a doubt, one of the greatest preacher of our generation." This was all the young minister could do. Just squeeze his head into his car as he slid behind the steering wheel.

And as he and his wife drove home he told her what his parishioner had said. She didn't respond, so after fishing for affirmation he said, "I wonder just how many 'great preachers' there are in our generation?"

She replied, "One fewer than you think, dear!" Try to imagine Jesus kneeling with a towel and a basin to wash the dirt from your feet. In those days of unpaved streets, it was a common courtesy. When you visited someone's home they would wash your feet as a way of saying, "I welcome and honor you."

When Jesus' disciples protested, He said to them, "I have given you an example to follow: do as I have done to you...That is the part of the blessing" ( John 13:15-17 TLB).

Someone once asked Leonard Bernstein, the brilliant New York Philharmonic conductor, what the most difficult position in the orchestra was. He replied, "Second fiddle." Everybody wants to sit in the first chair. But in God's kingdom we are called to consider others first and ourselves second. When we do, God promises to honor us.
I love you but JESUS loves you more!!!

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THE VIRTUE OF HUMILITY

When Benjamin Franklin was twenty-two he was living in Philadelphia after escaping an oppressive  apprenticeship. He was, as they say, "trying to find himself." One question burned in his heart: "What are the greatest priorities of life?"
An answer, he developed resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, and chastity.

Franklin took his list of virtues to an old Quaker friend and asked his opinion. His friend read them and said, "Franklin , you've forgotten the most important one." Surprised, Franklin asked which one.

The old man replied, "Humility." Franklin immediately added it to his list. He organized his life into repeating thirteen sweet cycles, focusing on one of those  virtues each week.

At seventy-eight years of age, he began reflecting on his life and the qualities he had built all around. Though he felt pretty about having achieved most of them, here's what he said about himility: "I cannot boast of much success in acquiring the reality of this virtue; but I have had a good deal with regard to the appearance of it."

The Bible says, "Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life." Humility is an awesome and interesting virtue; you're supposed to show it-Not only just know it! Revivalist Jonathan Edwards said, "Nothing sets a person so much out of the Devil's reach as humility."
If there's one thing in this world your ego will neither seek nor strive for, it humility. Yet true and durable success strongly depends on it.

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#WORD

THE GOLDEN RULE (1)

Try to slot yourself based on one of these statements: (a) I'm always ethical. (b) I'm mostly ethical. (c) I'm somewhat ethical. (d) I'm seldom ethical. (e) I'm never ethical.
Which Slot do you fall into? If we are truthful, most of us would likely put ourselves in slot (b). Why? Because of personal convenience.

Think about it. Paying the price for success is inconvenient. Putting others first is inconvenient. Practical personal discipline is inconvenient. Risking confrontation is inconvenient.
Most of us think being ethical is fine-unless we're on the losing end of somebody else's ethical lapse.

But if you're serous about establishing an ethical standard to live by, you need look no further than the Golden Rules: "Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you(Matthew 7:12 NLT).

(1) It brings peace and self-worth. When all is said and done, you need to be able to do live with yourself because "wherever you go you take yourselves with you."If the only way you can win is by cheating, you lose your self-respect. fear being exposed, lack confidence in approaching God, and your successes feel hallow.

(2) It results in a win-win. Are you the kind of person who think that in order for you to win, somebody else must lose? That philosophy doesn't work. Get this: When you treat other people the way you want to be treated, they win; and when they reciprocate, you win. There are no losers.

(3) Simply put yourself in other person's shoes. That's it!
Love you but JESUS loves you more

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GET THE PROCEEDINGS RIGHT BEFORE YOU START THE PROCESS

HUMILITY

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STILL KEEP YOUR FOCUS ON THE FINISHING LINE

If only you will be still and look to GOD only in trial times. that small way out will be the boat to sail you through that big storm that seems to swallow you up
Jesus saw five loaves of bread and two fishes as the solution to the big storm the disciples were seeing especially Peter (Matthew 14:13-21). He knew with the FATHER GOD by His side nothing is impossible

He knew there will or are storms but there is definitely a way out because God can use anything to achieve anything at anytime anywhere.

So whatever that's eating you up.  Remember there's a way out of that situation to your advantage. Don't worry if there are no signs of a solution.
So far as it in God's hands you can take a chill pill and watch how your deliverance comes around like rapture

With Jesus in the boat,  you will still get to your destination no matter how heavy,dangerous , scary, annoying, threatening, discouraging etc. the storm is.
Praise your way through the storm and let your enemies be confused as to how you still have a smile on your face upon all the challenges.

Remember until you cross the finishing line you can't stop running 
I love you but Jesus loves you more

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THE POWER OF ONE (2)

God told His people: "See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you" (Deoteronomy 30:15 NIV).

Hear this: One person with the love of God in their heart can start a chain reaction. John Wilkes Booth shocked the world by assassinating President Abraham Lincoln. At that time, Booth's brother Edwin was considered one of the greatest actors in America. Believing the family name had been shamed forever, he retired from acting and went into seclusion. But his legacy turned out not to be one of death and disappointment, but of life and influence.

A few years before Lincoln's assassination, Edwin was at a train station in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was standing nearby when a young man lost his footing on the platform and almost fell into the path of a moving train. Without hesitation, Edwin rescued the young man by reaching down abs pulling him up by his collar. There was a brief exchange of gratitude, but Edwin never dreamed  how significant  that moment  would bevome. .

Some years later he received a letter from then President Ulysses Grant thanking him for his heroic deed.
Why? Because the young man he had saved was Robert Todd Lincoln, the son of Abraham Lincoln. Edwin Booth took that letter to his grave; a reminder that we may not be able to change our past but we can certainly change our future. By God's grace you can change yours too!

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THE POWER OF ONE (1)

Gideon came from a family of idol worshipers, so he didn't think he had any good future. But God thought differently. God said to him, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" And today Gideon is remembered as one of the greatest leaders in the Bible.

That's  what's known as "the power of one." Do you doubt that one person can can make a difference? Winston Church convinced England they could survive the Nazi war machine. Lee Lococca turned Chryston around and saved the company.

Florence Nightingale transformed the care of patients by emphasising sanitary design and hygiene in hospitals, practices that carry over to this day.

Rosa Packs, a lone black woman, overturned two centuries of racial discrimination. But you don't  have to be a George Washington, an Abraham Limcoln, or a Mother Teresa to make a difference.

Your influence may not be as far-reaching as theirs, but "charity begins at home," which means you can grown and thrive where you're planted.

In a Psalm of life Henry Wadsworth  Longfellows writes: "Lives of great men all reminds us, we can make our lives sublime or count; and departing, leave behind us, footprints on the Sands of time.

" Like Gideon, you may not be able to change your family history [you can if you truly determined] or undo your past mistakes.

But you can learn from them, grow, and create a legacy that outshines your heritage. Not sure where to start? Commit your life to Christ your Saviour and start following in His footsteps.

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