Utter Confusion

Millennials What's Good?

I was just listening to Great I Am by LaRue Howard and that song is VERY POWERFUL. Initially when I wrote the title for this blog post I was leaning towards writing about how confused millennials are right now. By confused I mean the search for identity, purpose, relationships, fame, power, love and so on. Bruh the struggle is REAL! Most young people around the world are confused and have no idea where their life is going; utter confusion! So many young people are going to class every week, studying for tests and exams, turning in pages upon pages of essays and research work with no genuine understanding or motivation to why they are doing it in the first place. Now, he who has no sin let him cast the first stone. I have not pieced out the pieces of the puzzle yet so somehow, I am also confused! Yes, I said it, I am confused. I struggle with identity issues, purpose and relationships like everyone else.

I find myself questioning my purpose on earth, my relationship with people and a million other things every single day. Like what exactly am I supposed to do Jesus, am I called to live a regular life? Have a successful career, get married to the best man alive *wink*, raise two wonderful kids (maybe three) OR am I supposed to do more? If I am supposed to do more, what is this “MORE” when will I find it? When will I start working on this “MORE”, WHAT DOES “MORE” EVEN MEAN SWEET JESUS?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? *takes deep breaths*

Well I am glad to announce to you that I know exactly how you can figure out what your “MORE” is. Yupppppppppp! I know where you can find your “MORE”. Come closer, keep coming, yes open this door, yup keep coming, trust me keep walking. AHA! We are finally here! Now lean in so I can whisper your “MORE” into your ears *whispers* ‘YOUR MORE IS FOUND IN THE POWER AND THE PRESENCE OF THE GREAT I AM!’

Now I know you’re a little upset and disappointed but give me a chance to explain. You see the Bible said in Jeremiah 1 vs 5 “Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you…”  MSG version. Here God is speaking to Jeremiah, trying to explain to him that all his doubt and uncertainty is kinda pointless. And I want to let you know that God is saying the exact same thing to you today. First of all, before God shaped you in the womb He already knew ALL ABOUT YOU. He knew that you will be 5 foot 2, He knew that you will have a big head, He knew that you would have a bad temper, He knew that you would struggle with finding yourself, He knew that your dad was going to leave you and your family when you were only tweleve, He knew that you will make mistakes, He knew that you will get frustrated, but that didn’t stop Him from bringing you to this earth. Despite everything He knew and saw He still made plans for you. He knew that one day you will have questions. He knew that you will need Jesus so He sent Him. He knew that you will need the Holy Spirit to navigate the intricacies of this world so RELAX.

Your purpose, the right career, the right man or woman can only be found in God and that happens when you key into who He is. Until you understand His unadulterated love for you, you will keep trying to answer questions he already has answers to. So, I encourage you to rest. Rest in the power and the presence of the GREAT I AM. Your needs will be met, “‘for I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” Jeremiah 29 vs 11 NLT version. I know it looks like disaster right now, I know you are in utter confusion but will you trust you or the one who made you? For we walk by faith and not by sight. So, go dust off your Bible, repent of your sin, stop trying to do things yourself, LET GO AND LET GOD. Maybe you need to stop trying to connect and network with people and start spending more time in God’s presence. Maybe you need to lay off those self-help books and ask the Holy Spirit what’s good. Maybe you need to stop making everything about you and start working in the house of God. Maybe you need to stop being so prideful and actually confess your sin to one another and break free from that besetting sin. I don’t know what you have to do exactly but I know that you need God, so if there’s anything stopping you from uninterrupted access to Him then you need to put that thing to the side and ask him for help. I pray that God strengthens you beyond your imagination and you begin to see Him as all sufficient, all knowing and all that you need. In Jesus precious name, and the people say AMEN! *my dad said that a lot growing up lol* 

USE THE OFF BUTTON MORE

Happy New Year guys. I know it’s been almost two weeks into the year and like most people I’m still trying to find my “funk”. Anyway, moving on! I decided last year that I would be more diligent and intentional about my blog by posting at least twice a month. I chose the second and last Friday of the month. By God’s grace I will be able to hold up to my end of the deal! While thinking of what to write about as usual I asked the Holy Spirit to lay something on my heart and He did. While sitting and thinking I heard a voice in my head say, “use the of button more”. So, at this point I’m wondering okay that was vague but then I thought about it and I begin to understand what the Holy Spirit meant. (FYI I’m gradually learning to stop saying stuff like “a voice in my head” “something told me”, that something and small voice is the Holy Spirit and I need to acknowledge that.)

Life can get really loud sometimes guys. I don’t know about you but sometimes I feel like my head is buzzing with loads of information and I can feel the stress of trying to make sense of it all. The WhatsApp group chats, the hilarious conversations, sending memes back and forth. We are a very busy generation but in all of this busyness are we yielding fruit? What are the benefits of these back to back, day to day, morning to midnight conversations? Are they helping you grow? Not just in Christ but in life as a whole. I must say I am completely guilty of this. At times, I’m having at least five conversations all at once, juggling between Instagram, SnapChat, Imessage, Facebook, sending memes, responding to memes sent, I bet reading this is giving you a slight headache! And then I wonder why I’m so tired! I didn’t do any physical strenuous activity, I certainly wasn’t lifting blocks or harvesting yams, all I did was sit and press my phone.

What are you giving your time to? No really, ask yourself, what exactly am I doing with my 24hours? Chatting away? Laughing away on Instagram? Listen, it is okay to turn off your phone sometimes. If you are expecting important calls leave your phone on but delete these apps that won’t let you have peace and watch how restless you will get! Just you and the YouVersion Bible app. We are so engaged that we don’t see how unnecessary most of the things we watch or listen to are. Get quiet and let the Holy Spirit whisper sweet somethings to you. I used to say I could talk to the Holy Spirit every second of the day, while I brush my teeth, while I’m on the train, walking home, or just sitting, but I have come to realize that it is not enough. It really isn’t guys. This world is literally fighting for your attention every second of the day through ads, tv series, movies, funny skits on Instagram, the devil didn’t come to play!

Some of us are neglecting important responsibilities and even friends all because we are too busy on our Instagram explore page. We are procrastinating, not giving enough thought to visions and dreams God placed on our hearts because we are too focused on what someone else is doing with their own vision, trying to make it look like theirs. And the Holy Spirit is just sitting on the inside of you saying, “if only you would speak to me and ask for my direction you would understand that there’s nothing good outside of me”. So, I encourage you to turn your phone off, turn off the music, turn down the radio or TV, bring out your physical Bible and talk to the Lord and watch Him talk back to you. I have so much to say but I would stop here.

PRAYER POINT: Sweet Holy Spirit forgive me for ignoring your voice, teach me to sit quietly and listen to you speak for your word is a lamp unto my feet. Help me hunger and thirst for you more than I do for social media or attention or physical things. For in Jesus precious name I pray. Amen.