Wednesday 26 August 2015

Moving Forward with Greater Grace

Hello everyone,

Trust you are well and enjoying what is left of the summer break.  This blog is all about sharing my thoughts and I also aim to inspire others with my posts.  I just got back from a week’s break in Nice with my family. We also had the opportunity to visit Monaco, Cannes, Grasse and Antibes.  The South of France is such a beautiful place.  It was really a great family break for us so I am grateful to God for the opportunity.  Nice is a wonderful place to relax and unwind.  On my mind today is about moving forward with grace.

In order for us to move forward, we have to forget things that are behind us so we can press forward to that which is ahead us.  You have to forget your mistakes, successes and regrets. It means learning your lessons and using them as stepping stones to higher things.  So what are the common things that can stop us from pressing on to lay hold of our destinies in Christ.

Fear – this is a common one that affects most people and it can stop us from moving forward.  If you don’t walk by faith, you will not take any step or do anything.  We have to get rid of the fear of failure and rejection.   As women, we are always looking for validation from everyone.  What happens when those close to you will not validate you, will you give up?  You must be prepared to walk with God by faith to fulfil your destiny

If you feel in adequate for your God given assignment, be inspired by the story of Gideon in Judges 6.  As God told him in verse 16, ‘I will be with you’.  He is always with us to accomplish His purposes in our lives.  The Spirit of God will clothe us with power to press into our higher calling in Jesus name.

Unhealthy Association – in order to press into God’s plan for our lives, we have to align ourselves with the right people.  A good example is the story of Samson; this was a man who had a specific call of God on his life even before he was born.  He also had a problem with choosing the right woman.  In Judges Chapter 16, we have an account of how he trusted Delilah with his secret even after she lied to him three times.  One would think that he should have realised that Delilah was not good for him.  If you notice that someone is consistently letting you down or bringing bad things to your life, you need to prayerfully evaluate that relationship and ask God for wisdom before they finally sink you like Delilah did to Samson.

Finally, there is always a time of preparation before your showing to the world.  I am reminded of the story of Joseph who was sold into slavery after God gave him a glimpse of his destiny.  He was hated and suffered great rejection but the One who gave him the dreams brought them to pass.  He had to forgive those who hurt him along the way knowing that God turned around everything for his good.  If you have been hurt by people close to you, you can and must forgive them so you can be healed and move forward.

I believe there is so much ahead of us, so let us move forward and pick up those God-given projects that we might have abandoned.   God wants to press in prayer, in His word and action.  We have to make plans for growth so we can grow and fulfil our potential.   We also need to trust God for greater grace to accomplish and overcome limitations or whatever stopped us in the first place.  I leave with you Philippians 3:13-14:

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”

Shalom,
Dupe Makinde

www.godsgracefoundation.org
www.blossomnetwork.org




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