Because you are strong
" ... I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one."
Sometimes we rush to want to speak about Jesus on social media but in real life we aren't actually living the way that we are supposed to as Christians in real life. Social media isn't real life to me. It's just an extra platform and when used right it can have some great advantages but it should never be where our worth lies. Worth with regards to influence, power, wealth even your spiritual state as a follower of Christ.
A lot of you probably think I wasn't posting because I was busy and yes that's true but it was more about wanting to develop relationships that are pleasing before God in real life with people. As a daughter, sister, friend and fellow child of God.
So today I'm just here with a word of encouragement because I've recently come out of an interesting season of my life. Every year in May we undergo 21 days of prayer and fasting. Last year at the end of those 21 days I finished them off with my first day and night (no food or water for 24+ hours). At the beginning of this year I attended a conference (cross over night into the new year) and during one of the sessions we were told that when we got back home we should write down everything that we want God to do for us in 2021 and also write down everything that we want to do for God in 2021.
When I got home I did just that. On my list, one of the points I had written under the things that I wanted to do for God (or rather for my relationship with God) was that at the end of my 21 days of prayer and fasting in May, I wanted to end with 3 days and 3 nights (no food or water) of prayer and fasting. At first I thought I was just being ambitious and that I'd never be able to do it. 3 days and 3 nights seemed like something very spiritual people would do 😂 like powerful men and women of God so I never counted myself amongst them. I still counted myself as one of the kids.
Long story short, May came and we did our 21 days of prayer and fasting. Towards the end I could feel my body was tired so I was like there is no way I'm going to be able to do days and nights after this. At that current moment my niece had been staying with us. So towards the end of the 21 days she said she wanted to do her first day and night and that she wanted me to do it with her just to encourage her since it was her first time. I didn't mind a day and night because I had done it before. So we did a day. From nowhere I felt the strength to go on and do another day. So I continued even after my niece had finished her day and night. Then day 2 came. I really thought I was going to give in on day 2 but nope sis went on😂. Day 3 came and still your girl was hanging in there. I then broke my fast on the morning of day 4.
It felt so unreal like I actually did this? Me? Miss Tory?😂. It made me come to a better understanding of Matthew 26 vs 41.
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:41 NIV
The spirit is willing. This was Jesus speaking to His disciples. Your flesh will make you feel like you can't do it. Guess what though. You have been given power over your flesh! That is the whole point of fasting. To subdue the flesh so that the spirit of God that is alive and working in us takes over. You tell your flesh what to do. Not the other way around. It listens to the voice of God that speaks through you. 3 days and 3 nights are such a spiritual time guys.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:12 NIV
So many voices will be trying to get to you. The devil even came through with some of his own mind games. But whose report shall you believe? I shall believe the report of the Lord for He is true in all His ways!
This whole experience showed me that when we do things with God's strength instead of our own we are guaranteed success. We are guaranteed victory!
So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
Zechariah 4:6 NIV
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13 NIV
God can do all things but fail. He has never lost a battle. Place yourself under His authority. My Father told me that the more I humble myself in Christ, the more He will lift me up. His glory shall show through me. We often fail in life because we try to do things with our own strength. Do it with God's strength. Jesus told His disciples to be watchful and pray. When you dwell in the presence of God you will always have strength.
I wanted to encourage us. Especially us young people. The youth. The word of God tells us that we are strong! Now is the time to show up for God! Because you have been given the strength to do so. Fast now! Break generational curses now! Give now! Go ye therefore and preach the gospel now! Because there will come a time where you won't have that same strength but because of what you would've done in your youth God will remember you and you will find favour in Him. He will bless you and keep you as well as the many generations after you for what you would've done in your youth. Establish yourself in Christ now!
God loves you so much. Always remember that He is on your team ❣
Thank you so much for taking some time out to reach this post.
'Til next time.
1 John 2:14 NIV
Hey guys! Long time. Life's been hectic. I've been going through a season of personalizing my faith. I just felt God telling me to focus more on real life ministry rather than social media ministry. Ofcourse due to Covid 19 social media was all we had when we wanted to reach out to people so it was very useful for sometime. However, it is reading and meditating on the word of God that makes you a whole Christian. Doing your best to do what the word of God says and allowing the Holy spirit to minister to you. You can read "Jesus/Christian quotes" all day on social media but you must read the actual word of God for yourself. You can listen to preachers, Christian podcasts, music and even read Christian books. All those contribute to the wellbeing of your spiritual life in Christ but if you do not make time to be intentional with prayer and meditating on God's word you will struggle with becoming a whole Christian. Don't experience God through other people and their testimonies only. Experience Him for yourself. Have your own testimony and relationship with Him.
Hey guys! Long time. Life's been hectic. I've been going through a season of personalizing my faith. I just felt God telling me to focus more on real life ministry rather than social media ministry. Ofcourse due to Covid 19 social media was all we had when we wanted to reach out to people so it was very useful for sometime. However, it is reading and meditating on the word of God that makes you a whole Christian. Doing your best to do what the word of God says and allowing the Holy spirit to minister to you. You can read "Jesus/Christian quotes" all day on social media but you must read the actual word of God for yourself. You can listen to preachers, Christian podcasts, music and even read Christian books. All those contribute to the wellbeing of your spiritual life in Christ but if you do not make time to be intentional with prayer and meditating on God's word you will struggle with becoming a whole Christian. Don't experience God through other people and their testimonies only. Experience Him for yourself. Have your own testimony and relationship with Him.
They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
Revelation 12:11 NIV
I've just been feeling that there are so many social media "preachers" these days and one day it dawned on me like how many people have I actually ministered to in real life? Before taking it to social media and creating videos, who have I actually spoken to about Jesus? Stood beside? Encouraged? Comforted? Given hope to through God's word and my personal testimony of who He is in my life? Who have I loved with the love of Christ?
Sometimes we rush to want to speak about Jesus on social media but in real life we aren't actually living the way that we are supposed to as Christians in real life. Social media isn't real life to me. It's just an extra platform and when used right it can have some great advantages but it should never be where our worth lies. Worth with regards to influence, power, wealth even your spiritual state as a follower of Christ.
A lot of you probably think I wasn't posting because I was busy and yes that's true but it was more about wanting to develop relationships that are pleasing before God in real life with people. As a daughter, sister, friend and fellow child of God.
So today I'm just here with a word of encouragement because I've recently come out of an interesting season of my life. Every year in May we undergo 21 days of prayer and fasting. Last year at the end of those 21 days I finished them off with my first day and night (no food or water for 24+ hours). At the beginning of this year I attended a conference (cross over night into the new year) and during one of the sessions we were told that when we got back home we should write down everything that we want God to do for us in 2021 and also write down everything that we want to do for God in 2021.
When I got home I did just that. On my list, one of the points I had written under the things that I wanted to do for God (or rather for my relationship with God) was that at the end of my 21 days of prayer and fasting in May, I wanted to end with 3 days and 3 nights (no food or water) of prayer and fasting. At first I thought I was just being ambitious and that I'd never be able to do it. 3 days and 3 nights seemed like something very spiritual people would do 😂 like powerful men and women of God so I never counted myself amongst them. I still counted myself as one of the kids.
Long story short, May came and we did our 21 days of prayer and fasting. Towards the end I could feel my body was tired so I was like there is no way I'm going to be able to do days and nights after this. At that current moment my niece had been staying with us. So towards the end of the 21 days she said she wanted to do her first day and night and that she wanted me to do it with her just to encourage her since it was her first time. I didn't mind a day and night because I had done it before. So we did a day. From nowhere I felt the strength to go on and do another day. So I continued even after my niece had finished her day and night. Then day 2 came. I really thought I was going to give in on day 2 but nope sis went on😂. Day 3 came and still your girl was hanging in there. I then broke my fast on the morning of day 4.
It felt so unreal like I actually did this? Me? Miss Tory?😂. It made me come to a better understanding of Matthew 26 vs 41.
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:41 NIV
The spirit is willing. This was Jesus speaking to His disciples. Your flesh will make you feel like you can't do it. Guess what though. You have been given power over your flesh! That is the whole point of fasting. To subdue the flesh so that the spirit of God that is alive and working in us takes over. You tell your flesh what to do. Not the other way around. It listens to the voice of God that speaks through you. 3 days and 3 nights are such a spiritual time guys.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:12 NIV
So many voices will be trying to get to you. The devil even came through with some of his own mind games. But whose report shall you believe? I shall believe the report of the Lord for He is true in all His ways!
This whole experience showed me that when we do things with God's strength instead of our own we are guaranteed success. We are guaranteed victory!
So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
Zechariah 4:6 NIV
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13 NIV
God can do all things but fail. He has never lost a battle. Place yourself under His authority. My Father told me that the more I humble myself in Christ, the more He will lift me up. His glory shall show through me. We often fail in life because we try to do things with our own strength. Do it with God's strength. Jesus told His disciples to be watchful and pray. When you dwell in the presence of God you will always have strength.
I wanted to encourage us. Especially us young people. The youth. The word of God tells us that we are strong! Now is the time to show up for God! Because you have been given the strength to do so. Fast now! Break generational curses now! Give now! Go ye therefore and preach the gospel now! Because there will come a time where you won't have that same strength but because of what you would've done in your youth God will remember you and you will find favour in Him. He will bless you and keep you as well as the many generations after you for what you would've done in your youth. Establish yourself in Christ now!
God loves you so much. Always remember that He is on your team ❣
Thank you so much for taking some time out to reach this post.
'Til next time.
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