Thankful to God I am for 2016 journey, it was one full of both beautiful and ugly experiences; nonetheless, it ended in praise. Like every other years I have witnessed on earth, the previous year exposes me to a whole lot which I gleaned from; the few lines of this article can never be enough to express all, but I will bring out the cogent ones which culminated into my top ten lessons for 2016; each with a theme song and quote.
GOD’S WORD IS INFALLIBLE: There is a regular saying that ‘when God says it that settles it.’ He is not a liar that he should lie! I felt some of God’s promises or revelations were just too good to be true or materialize, however, God who appraises His words much more than His ‘STRONG TOWER NAME’ proved me wrong.
Quote- ‘God’s Word Remains Alive.’
Theme Song- He is Able by Darwin Hobbs
DON’T LIMIT GOD: More like disbelieving God’s word is the act of limiting God. The statement ‘there is no impossibility with God’ remains true. God isn’t human and therefore shouldn’t be viewed as such. Remember, the disciples of Jesus Christ knew not the value of what they had and therefore were limited to certain things when Christ was with them; also, John the beloved was the closest to Jesus, he sleeps on Christ’s chest times without number yet he had little faith, but the woman with the issue of blood exercised her faith just by touching the tip of His garment…what a great faith.
Quote – Faith is the evidence of your obedience to God’
Theme Song: Sinach’s All things are possible
DONT LIMIT YOURSELF, EVERY HUMAN IS MULTIFACETED– Well, the previous year unveiled a lot of hitherto unknown things about myself to me, which I never believe is innate; I was saddled with a lot of assignments and responsibility that I felt were just not possible for me to actualize and then I remembered that I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. Every individual is in themselves a broad spectrum and a wide range, however, you need to do some exploration within you, call out the potentials and value into being – no one else will do it for you; therefore you can’t afford to limit or underrate yourself. You are an embodiment of wonders.
Quote– ‘Exploration of your entirety, reveals the real you.’
Theme Song: I Believe by Yolanda Adams
YOU ARE NOT FORLORN; EVERYONE HAS A PUSH, GET YOURS – No one is an Island, I remember I wanted ‘out’ so badly of a particular activity I had been doing because of some disappointments; nonetheless, there were some ‘angels’ in human form who gave me a push which I accepted and it eventually translated to breaking new grounds. Just as you’ve been positioned to help another and shape their lives, in the same way some have been positioned to mould your life and help you arrive at your life destinations.
Quote – ‘Give your push, use your push.’
Theme Song: Hezekiah Walker's I need you to survive
ALL THEORETICAL LIFE PHASES HAS ITS EQUIVALENT PRACTICAL PHASE – There comes a time in one’s life when all you have read, learned and imbibed from books, sermons, teachings, seminars etc. will come to play. From my cradle, there were virtues that I had inculcated yet i have never had any reason to display, but all were demanded at a difficult junction of my life and with God I was able to practicalise them.
Quote – ‘All learned virtues are both workable and practicable’
Theme Song: Man in the mirror- Keke Palmer
PRAYER AVAILETH GOOD – Prayer is key, like the usual saying ‘a prayerless christian is a powerless Christian’. I am not saying I know how best to pray, but I am a testifier to the wonders God wrought through prayer. Rather than grumbling or being frustrated by life happenings, tell it to God. Prayer is simply communing with God. There is actually no restriction to God in Prayer, you can tell God about that boil (lol), the annoying boss, the horrible job, the friend in need etc…anything. Don’t wait till other sources of consolation fail before you commune with God.
Quote – ‘Prayer is never a last resort, it is a first response.’
Theme Song: He's Everything- Joyful Noise
HUMANS WILL REMAIN HUMANS; ENVISAGE BETRAYAL TO AVOID SHOCK: Stop overrating your fellow being, don’t expect too much; when your expectations of others are being met, appreciate it, if not see it as a case of a fallen man who needs to rise again. My reliance or expectation on/of some people dealt me a great blow when I least expect but I was able to get over it quicker than I thought, moved on and related like nothing happened.
Quote- 'Too much reliance on fellow being is equivalent to a big blow'
Theme Song: In Christ Alone by Stuart Townsend
BREAKTHROUGH IS SYNONYMOUS TO CHALLENGES.: At that very point when life seems extremely impossible and difficult, comes the awakening of breaking-through and breaking-forth. I see those difficulties as ‘hijackers of benefits’. Waiting can be really difficult but if one endures, the end result is always glorious. Pains are always forgotten in but short moment. I cried and experienced both psychological and emotional trauma in 2016, but in just a bit I forgot all.
Quote- ‘Breakthroughs are borne out of difficulties and life challenges.’
Theme Song: Emi a Riire by Lara George
SERVICE TO GOD IS A PRIVILEGE: I was so preoccupied with work and other irrelevances that I hardly had meaningful time for God; I missed my responsibilities in church, with my mentees and some other details; nonetheless, God being a merciful God that He is never leave me, I enjoyed His mercy ‘first hand’ but I knew something was amiss- usefulness in God’s house. Beloved, while you are there in His vineyard, cherish the moments, give it your best shot; a time will come when you will wish you can do all those but you won’t be opportune, serve God while you can.
Quote- ‘Service and worship to God are the core or essence of life.’
Theme Song: Not Enough- Joyful Noise
LOVE IS ESSENTIAL, BUT IT ISN’T ALL THAT IS REQUIRED TO SUSTAIN ANY RELATIONSHIP: I have learnt to, and have practically sacrificed, done things I would ordinarily consider stupid for others, I had gotten angry and got over it almost immediately; I had looked out for others, sometimes much more than myself. Every relationship, whether platonic or not needs more than just love- you need trust, sacrifice, good communication, meeting others halfway, hearing others out and bearing each other’s pain.
Quote- ‘Love, though big is yet a minute part of relationships.’
Theme Song: Maybe I'm Amazed- Keke Palmer and Jeremy Jordan
Once again, Happy 2017
Much love
From: ‘Mobolanle Oyedokun
Note: You will do well to share your 2016 life lessons with us, so that we can also learn. Please do this by commenting in the comment box below or via our mail address: debbydokson@gmail.com.
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