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Is my ministry for me or for God?

Emmanuel Oganla
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Is my ministry for me or for God?

It’s important that we go into ministry for the right reasons.

Paul, in his letter to the church at Ephesus alludes to the reality that all Christians are ministers. This is true because he asserts that Christ gave gifts to the church to ‘equip saints for the work of ministry’ (Ephesians 4:7-12). The relevance of this is that Jesus graces all believers with the responsibility of ministering, though we may minister in different capacities. Consequently, no believer is exempt from the question this article seeks to answer. In this article, we will be uncovering who owns the ministry; the minister or God and how to ensure that the owner isn’t mistaken. We will do this by exploring the temptation to seize what belongs to God due to the nature and consequence of the fall, which also plays out in ministry.

The nature of the fall and how it plays out in ministry

Let’s start with Paul’s admonition to the Colossians:

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,” Colossians 3:23

Paul excludes nothing in what he urges us to do for God, so ministry is obviously included. With that being said, we also learn from Paul that there’s a sense of responsibility or ownership that believers should feel towards their ministry, he uttered ‘For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,’ (Romans 11:13). The problem comes when you forget that you were entrusted with stewardship over it, and it really belongs to God. In the Garden Adam had a sense of responsibility and ownership towards it, his work was to dress and keep the garden, but its source was God. When the serpent tempted Adam and Eve, he appealed to their selfish ambition, Eve saw that it was ‘good for food, a delight to the eyes and it was to be desired to make one wise,’ the temptation was to apprehend the benefits of the tree without regard for its source.

Our ministry is the same way, we have responsibility and a sense of ownership towards it, but its source is God. Paul urges us against this same selfish ambition saying, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” (Philippians 2:3). Our ministry can expose an array of selfish ambitions: a means for position, significance, wealth, and power. The wise king Solomon did say ‘A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before the great’ (Proverbs 18:16). The problem is when your ministry becomes more about the rooms you want to occupy and the dignitaries you want to rub shoulders with than honouring God. Ministry has become about you and not about God.

Learning from Jesus’ example

The gifts God gives to aid our ministering will inevitably provide opportunities. This is especially true in our celebrity culture. In Jesus’ case, the opportunity was not merely to be before kings but to be king of all the kingdoms of the world and their glories. A position he was tempted to rise to by bowing to the enemy. The temptation was strikingly similar to Adam and Eve’s because they were made in God’s likeness but were tempted to disregard God in order to be like him. The Father’s plan was always for the Son to not only be king but to be the King of kings. Thankfully he had his priorities straighter than Adam and Eve had theirs.

“Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Therefore, when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.” John 6:14-15 NKJV.

At different points of his ministry, Jesus slipped from the crowds before they could crown him because his ambition was for God. He was working heartily in all he was doing for God and not for men. Not to be applauded by men (which is what the crown represents) but to be applauded by God.

In another instance, he had the opportunity of renown, to amass an audience for himself but he responded the same way, again because he understood that his ministry was for God. “However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. So, He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.” Luke 5:15-16

He ran from the crowd to be with the source of his ministry, and we ought to do the same.

Jesus overcame the public temptation in his ministry because he overcame the garden of Eden-like temptation he faced in the wilderness (Matthew 4). Again, like Adam and Eve, his temptation was to gratify selfish ambitions outside of the will of God.

Questions we can ask ourselves to ensure the ministry we are at stewarding is God’s and not ours:

  • Are you content without the microphone or the stage?
  • Are you content without an audience seeing and applauding your gifts and good deeds; is the secret place enough for you? (Read Matthew 6:1-6 for more context)
  • Are you striving to be a Mary or a Martha? (Read Luke 10:38-42) for more context.
  • Who is fundamentally responsible for all your ministerial success?

If we are being honest with ourselves, the ‘right Christian answer’ isn’t always the truth in our ministerial journeys. You might need to take frequent breaks like Jesus did to ensure your contentment lies in God alone. You might need to take a break altogether. I know I’ve had to personally. Concluding that you won’t ever need to ask yourself these questions and examine your heart isn’t the wisest disposition. Scripture calls us to examine ourselves (2nd Corinthians 13:5). As Christians, we are ministers with a unique blend of gifts to aid our ministry. Our ministries will attract attention because of our gifts but we must have our priorities straight. We must choose the disposition of humility and not pride. We must take the type of ownership that mirrors responsibility for our ministry whilst acknowledging our source like Jesus did, seeing ministry as a means of service to people for the glory of God. We must examine and be honest with ourselves when we are being fuelled by selfish ambition. We must repent and take breaks if we need to, to find contentment in God alone. May God help us to use our ministries to serve people for God’s glory and not for ours in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Why we changed our name

M.T. Omoniyi
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Why we changed our name

After 7 years of wearing our God Given Mission with pride, we are changing the name of our organisation and moving into the next chapter of our work

I lay out some of the reasons for our new name in the video below. Have a watch and share it with someone too.

It would take far too long to go into all the details about our new strategy, however over the next few weeks, it will become more apparent what we are working on.

I want to thank all the people who pray for us, and who share our work and also a special thank you to our donors who make our work possible.

Here is to the next few years of an amazing impact

What to do in a spiritual drought

Chinedu Agwu
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What to do in a spiritual drought

Apathy. A feeling where we lack interest and enthusiasm, a word that can be applied to various situations such as work, and studies but could we also feel this way towards our Christian faith, worshipping, reading the bible or praying? Yes, that is the simple answer. It is entirely possible for a Christian to go from being a vibrant and zealous spiritual experience to a day or week after, feeling numb and apathetic. It is no foreign or alien feeling but rather something we should expect and be vigilant about, considering that we can face hardships, go through busy seasons, and grow weary over time.

I just don’t feel like it…

In a period of spiritual drought, it is hard to do the things of God like fellowshipping with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ or even go onto the bible app. This can be triggered by so many things, a bereavement, stress at work or university, exhaustion from burn out, being made redundant and so many other things, the list goes on. Apathy can also be triggered by complacency (Amos 6:1-4), or where we can get too comfortable in our faith and start to lose our awe and wonder of God (Hosea 13:6). And if we identify this state of apathy but do nothing to leave it, this will distance us even further from God (James 4:17).

You see the devil prowls around looking for people isolated and vulnerable to devour, so it is important that we arm ourselves and stay sober and alert. If we liken apathy to dust or dirt that collects in our house, in a good season we will regularly clean/tidy up every 1-2 weeks but a time may come when your house is neglected for 1-2 months. In that situation, a deep spring clean will be required to restore and recalibrate your home to its original state. And following a period of apathy, we will need a deep and intentional spring clean to recalibrate and reignite the flame for God once more.

A compassionate God we serve

So, how do we fight apathy when it comes? Well below are a few suggestions: –

  • Bring your need to the cross, our God is compassionate and rich in mercy, we can come to Him as we are and lay at His feet. Time in His presence, delighting in Him once more will bring back the fervent joy of our salvation.
  • Bring your need to a healthy Christian community, in times of apathy and disconnect…talk about it. It is nothing to be ashamed of, but it is essential you try to reconnect with the body of Christ once more, allowing someone to walk alongside you and encourage you during this season.
  • Prayer and fasting, our prayers are powerful and effective. Regaining the habit of talking to God, remove any distractions whether it is food, social media or tv. And being intentional about re-opening the communication line with God, be it for 10mins, 30mins or 1hr a day.

Because of the LORD’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail

Lamentations 3:22

Friends, this is not a problem without a solution, the first step is to identify that something is not clicking spiritually. There has been a break in your connection with God. And then taking steps to re-establish that connection. Our God is gracious and patient towards us, so I urge you to fight to reignite the fire, and apply intense effort and ardent zeal against apathy (which may seem like an uphill climb).

With the help of the Holy Spirit inside of you, you CAN reclaim the joy, awe, and wonder that comes from knowing God once again! So, while spiritual apathy may make an appearance in our lives, let us be mindful it doesn’t dominate our lives and steer us away from our heavenly father. Spot it. Stop it. And live the superabundant life promised to you through Jesus!

What Does The Gospel Say To Trauma, Sex And Sexuality

M.T. Omoniyi
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What Does The Gospel Say To Trauma, Sex And Sexuality

Like many around the world, my first sexual encounter happened far sooner than it should have. I was maybe 4 years, in Nigeria, when a group of neighbours intervened during an encounter In the back garden. They stopped an older neighbour and me from ‘playing around.’ I didn’t know what this neighbour was doing to me but I remember being stopped, being told it was wrong and being punished for it. He was punished too but was giggling, he didn’t take it very seriously. Even though I was only 4 years old, I vividly remember being shocked and confused. I remember being ashamed, and that shame felt like I’d just been stung by a bee.

In a recent book, I read ‘What Happened To You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing‘ the authors raised a central point about how the earliest experiences we have can shape us in ways beyond our imagination. This article explores what the Gospel has to say about trauma and sexuality

A year or two after, my whole family would move to the UK to start a new life. My young mind buzzed with excitement at what might lay in London. That early incident lay dormant most of my early life, I just never visited that basement. I had an ordinary childhood, played sports, loved music and enjoyed making people laugh. I became a Christian at 13 years old at a church in southeast London. That was the first time I heard the Gospel presented to me. The pastor articulated it persuasively and I was hooked. I became aware that I was a sinner in need of saving.

I believed the claims he made about Jesus, his death, his burial and his resurrection; I remember walking forward to be prayed for, excited at the prospect of actually becoming a Christian. At that time, I was also very attracted to the idea that the Gospel might free me from lustful thoughts about women that were starting to develop in my mind as I was going through puberty and had recently discovered pornography.

Falling in Love

The next chapter of my life was about love, I fell in love with many things, sports, music and politics, these were pure loves that greatly enriched my life. I also fell into a toxic love with Pornography and built a very unhealthy habit of watching things no child really should see.

Later on, I would fall in love with my now ex-girlfriend, however, my addiction to pornography at the time meant there was always a sexual undertone to my thoughts about her. I struggled to see her as a full person and not just an object of desire and lust. However, she was kind to me. She taught me so much. How to open up, laugh and be empathetic. The truth is, I believed I would marry her and so when the relationship ended abruptly, it was very shocking to my system.

I remember feeling devastated and lonely but having no real way to express it. I told friends I didn’t care and that I had moved on but the truth was, I was hurting and in lots of pain. As a natural planner, I felt as though I had been building a pretty good life up until then and my break-up meant this was no longer the case. I had made an idol of planning and building a life that looked good to other people and the failure of this relationship was devastating to me. Even though I loved this girl, I struggled to connect emotionally, largely due to all sorts of images that would often rush through my mind.

At the same time, a parallel plot was developing, the earlier, played-down incident was growing in my mind as I became increasingly lustful becoming emotionally open and vulnerable with people of the same sex. It would spill over into indecent thoughts, desires and acts which after sobering up, I would be deeply ashamed of. This would lead to a shame cycle which made me more and more lonely even whilst being surrounded by amazing people.

What was odd about this was, even though I would speak to God about everything, I wouldn’t bring this up to him. I felt the same flavour of shame I knew all too well from when I was younger and had that earlier incident. This was one area of my life I refused to share with God or to expose to his light. I would often tell myself “well I like girls more than all of this other stuff so I guess it doesn’t matter.” This was a distortion of confession and an attempt to stay in denial and subsequently locked up in a cloud of shame, regret and very low self-worth. It was odd because as I grew up, I was building a strong reputation and achieving so much whilst feeling sad, empty and largely worthless. I believed that God was ashamed of me and prayer started to slowly cease. I didn’t feel like I could rely on people because of betrayal and naturally pushed away people who loved me. One of the first people I opened up to, secretly recorded the conversation and shared it with a few other people behind my back. I remember the taste of betrayal, driving me into more secrecy and distrust of the very people who loved me.

The Re-energised Gospel

That early chapter was one of shame.

As I grew older, my understanding of God’s grace also greatly evolved. God’s grace is not simply forgiveness but empowerment to see yourself the same ways he sees you. Part of doing the work as we reach adulthood is to revisit past trauma, connect the dots and allow God’s spirit to deeply minister to us.

As I’ve spent more time with God and in an authentic Christian community, I’ve begun to have a much clearer sense of what God may be doing in my life and what lies I may have traded for his truth. I know many people are where I was and part of my journey is the share my deep shortcomings so that others can and may find freedom.

I remember when I first prayed about all of this, I had so many questions for God. Why did I experience what I did at such a young age? Was I made this way? Why could he not just keep my life simple and clear? Why all these side roads and distractions? On some of these questions, there has been significant progress but I also don’t have the answers to all of them. However, there is one thing that can give us hope

All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28.

This means that God, in his divine providence, uses all things, even traumatic experiences, to achieve his unique goals on this earth and beyond

God uses everything to make something beautiful in our lives

I have made some grave mistakes in my life, offended some people, and committed acts that I wish I could rewind time to undo, however, none of us gets a chance to go back in time. Somehow God uses all of our shortcomings to mature us, grow us and make us more like him

He offers rest and peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7) but it requires we make an exchange (1 Peter 5:7). I always understood this theoretically but struggled to hand this area of my life over to him. My worries were about, being seen through a lens that made me look weak, what would happen to my future wife and kids and what would happen to me. In time, I have learnt that all these things had nothing to do with my relationship with God but everything else like public standing and perception. Things that don’t matter and were not the fruit of my salvation. God called me, saved me, and offered me peace that surpasses all understanding in exchange for casting my cares and burdens onto him. All the other things shouldn’t be my immediate concern.

In Christian life, shame is not something we negotiate with, instead, it’s something we set aside because truly if God is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31). When we negotiate with shame, it drives us away from the closeness and nearness Jesus’ death bought us.

1. We need to create more safe spaces

God wants all of us. As a church, I fear we haven’t done enough to open up our hearts, homes, and spaces to people that have unique stories. I am guilty of this. Sex and sexuality are so elevated and allowed to accrue unique dread and fatality in popular culture. Some people believe they are better off dead than experiencing same-sex attraction at some point in their lives. This is a tragedy

Many people have told themselves they will die with secrets when the reality is that a community with God’s people can and should be a balm for people making sense of their experiences. Just like everything else, when exposed to God’s light, it doesn’t change how God sees us. When God shines his light on us, it is warm, inviting and transformational and not burning, hard, scolding or humiliating. That’s the light that society shines.

The reality of Romans 10:3 is that God sees us as sons, as his chosen people. He doesn’t see us through the lens of what we are wrestling with or have wrestled with. We must give people the licence to be their full and authentic selves and not some acceptable shadow of who they are.

Your friend and Bible study partner who’s married with three kids might experience same-sex attraction. The single guy who serves faithfully on the hospitality team might have known since he was little that his desires were different from other boys. The elder’s wife who is every woman’s shoulder to cry on may weep privately about this struggle that just won’t go away. I’ve met all of these people and everyone needs space to tell their story.

2. What we suppress, comes out in other forms

I believe what we suppress, festers and comes out in unbefitting ways. One of the major reasons I believe scandals are commonplace in the church is because of a failure for us to be human and to confess freely. For us to tell the truth and make sense of what we think and feel in a healthy environment. I have lived experience of scoffing at therapy or making light of the importance of deep and radical confession. I have since repented from this because those are the very tools the church needs to use far more often to help people begin and continue a healing journey.

Confessing and sharing what we think and feel is crucial to healthy and holistic development. James 5:16 says ‘Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail’

3. A message to those making sense of their experiences

Now several people may be reading this article because they have experienced same-sex attraction and have no idea what to do about it. I am no fountain of wisdom, but my encouragement would be to start by bringing it into the light. Talking to God about how you feel and what you are going through. Next are people who love you and trust. This can start in your circle of friends or even in your church. It’s important to note that you are saved by grace, through faith and not because of your good works or right living. Christian living is a fruit of salvation and not the root. It is what flows out of a life yielded and lived in submission to God. The Gospel is about your salvation and the fruit that comes thereafter, not only about your sexuality. In the church, we have a habit of elevating sex and sexuality so much that we forget there is a whole Christian ethic we have been called to observe.

Christians, we serve a God who casts out fear with love; we worship a Saviour who came that we may have life to the full; we are filled with the Spirit who makes all things new. In his power, let’s be quick to listen and slow to speak as we embark on the long road of discipleship.

Why We Need Community as Christians

Emmanuel Oganla
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Why We Need Community as Christians

The Bible describes the community of Christians as the body of Christ. Like the body is made up of different parts, the body of Christ is made up of different individuals. The intention of God clarified throughout the New Testament is that every Christian forms a significant part of the community or body. In this article, I will be uncovering why as Christians we need community, fundamentally and practically. I pray that you will embrace your need for community and that it bears good fruit in your life in Jesus’ name.

Embodying the God of community

The Christian cannot honour God without living in community. I propose the notion that community aids us in being image bearers, which ultimately allows us to honour God, a fundamental reason we need community.  

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Genesis 1:26

Being God’s image or his representation is more connected to living in community than we realise. This is because God exists in community. In Genesis 1:26, when ‘us’ is used, it refers to the Godhead, the three persons that form the community where God exists and works all things, namely, The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. Fundamentally, if we neglect community then we are neglecting to be God’s image, which in turn leads to a plethora of other issues. Without knowing it, living in isolation can be a claim that one is more capable than the God who lives in community.

Man with the Bible

The person within the Godhead we are called to embody specifically is Jesus, who lived as a human being in community. He had a community of twelve men he shared life with and within the twelve, he had an inner circle of three. I remember exploring the idea of community amongst a group of men I share life with meaning we walk through the scriptures together and hold each other accountable.

We were speaking about the need for community and one of them made a point about Jesus, who took the three within his inner circle: Peter, James and John with him to the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus was about to face the temptation of choosing his will over the Father’s so he told them to watch and pray (Mark 14:32-42). Granted they weren’t the best accountability partners at that point because they fell asleep, nevertheless, he saw the importance of having people who were watching and praying whilst he faced his test.

If Jesus sought community, who then are we to think we can do this Christian walk alone?

Obeying scripture’s mandate for community 

It can be more difficult to be obedient to the scriptures if we live outside of community.  The New Testament authors, inspired by the Holy Spirit encourage us towards community with verses like:

  • ‘Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ’ (Galatians 6:2)
  • ‘Exhort one another daily so that you are not hardened by the deceitfulness of sin’ (James 3:13)
  • ‘Confess your sins to one another and pray for each other that you may be healed, for the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective’ (James 5:16)

These are amongst many admonitions towards community in the New Testament. These verses can only be adhered to by those who are actively living in community and the consequence of isolation often means that Christians are discouraged and struggling alone.

A brother or sister can remind you that there is no condemnation in Christ when there is a temptation to yield to condemnation. A brother or sister in Christ can stir you up into faith and good works and a brother or sister can sharpen you as iron sharpens iron. Community allows us to practically apply Paul’s admonition to Timothy to ‘flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart’ (2 Timothy 2:22). A phone call to a trusted brother or sister when youthful lusts seem more appealing than righteousness could be what aids you to ‘flee and pursue’. Having communities that help me to apply this and the above verses has proven to be a major source of strength and it should be for every member of the body of Christ. If it isn’t then we are being disobedient to the scriptures.

It’s clear to see biblically that the call to community is non-negotiable if we truly want to honour God and glorify Him. At its root, community allows us to be image bearers and practically, it allows us to mirror Jesus, our God who lived in community. It also allows us to be obedient to the admonishments that scripture calls to. It can make a significant difference in us thriving and being victorious or being discouraged, living in defeat, in our walks with God. I pray again that God allows you to see your need for community and for it bear good fruit in your life.

God’s Plan for Our Financial Well-being

Chinedu Agwu
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God’s Plan for Our Financial Well-being

Jehovah Jireh – the Lord who sees beforehand and provides

With two thirds (66%) of adults in Britain reporting their cost of living increased in the past month, rising energy prices are a growing factor in the squeeze on household budgets. With a rise in living cost, the current financial climate can breed uncertainties about the financial future. Many of us are able to work for most of our lives because God has provided wonderful opportunities to earn a living. We may not always work in a job that we particularly love (some do!), but out of our obligation to provide for our family and to be a contributing member of society, we endure each day, doing whatever God has given us the opportunity to do. As Christians, we know we are to do all things unto Lord and not for man (Colossians 3:23) and should have an attitude of gratefulness as we work. Why, then, do so many of us fear about the money we earn each week? There is the fear of losing it, or the fear of not having enough—perhaps the fear of whether we are investing it properly or fear of not being able to pay our debts. What is driving this fear, and how do we silence it? This article is for the person going through financial stress or hardship.

Financial peace is yours

One thing I learnt around 5 years ago is that the money I make is not my own, but the Lord’s and He has given me stewardship of His money. Therefore, if I am only a “keeper” of said money, I can rest assured that God will take care of what is His! However, it is up to me, to be responsible with what I have personally been given stewardship over. What is also important as Christians, is to eradicate the “poverty mindset” that we should live in lack and also the “materialistic mindset” that we are entitled to everything, but rather through Christ we are fully equipped to live a dynamic financial life (Philippians 4:12-13). More importantly, amid our financial challenges, do we try to still give generously? Be it your tithes, church offering, a £1 donation to a foodbank, buying a sandwich for a homeless person or volunteering your time to support an elderly person with their garden, let us continue (where possible) to be cheerful givers.

Financial freedom is yours

I assure you that this present suffering is only temporary, our finances do not have to steal our peace or joy. What the world did not give, it cannot take away. Where possible find a safe space to be transparent about your financial journey be it in lifegroup, a spiritual mentor, family and/or friends or even Christian financial charities such as CAP. Talking about finances is the beginning of surrender and a step towards freedom, as you hand over your cares to the Lord to carry the weight you were never meant to alone.

Useful financial tips

  1. Speak life over your finances and change your financial language
  2. Start and Maintain an Emergency Fund
  3. Stay Disciplined > accountability partners can help keep you in check
  4. Don’t Spend More Than You Make
  5. Small Savings Add Up – Don’t Underestimate the Small Changes
  6. Plan for Large Purchases > avoid impulse buying
  7. Create a Budget Plan and Track Expenses using Excel sheet/book (Monzo or Revolut card are useful for monitoring spending)
  8. Monitor Subscription Services > do you need everything you subscribe to?
  9. If you drive, compare petrol price using petrolprices app also consider car sharing to split petrol prices and combining with public transport use
  10. Subscribe to “Lookaftermybills” to receive regular updates on how to save money

I hope by reading this that you understand our financial wellbeing is influenced by the spiritual and physical actions we take. Though there be “financial crisis” and anxiety/fear may be thick in the air, trust that you serve a God who will provide your daily bread (Matthew 6:11). Whilst we strive to earn more money, get a promotion, pay our bills let us remember to store our treasures in heaven and not on earth (Matthew 6:19) and continue to walk in the will of God. Friend, remember it is God’s will to provide for you, so continue to be specific in your requests whilst giving thanks (Philippians 4:6-7). And finally, in your prayers remember the needs of others when praying for financial breakthrough/increase.

Help! I’m Struggling to Pray

Shumi Mararike
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Help! I’m Struggling to Pray

Prayer is an opportunity to communicate with the Creator of the Universe as our Father. His ear never grows tired of our cries. Prayer is a privilege, and should be a delight.  However, so many of us find it difficult to make the time to pray. To be frank, some of us just find it boring, so we’d rather do something else. Distractions abound. Isn’t it funny how all the other tasks and errands spring to mind when you finally sit down to pray? We then convince ourselves that they must be tackled immediately, and just like that, prayer is over before it even began. Prayer is a struggle. So how can we help ourselves when we are struggling to pray?

1. Make Prayer a Priority

One of the biggest lies we tell ourselves is that we don’t have time to pray. This is not a time issue; it’s a belief issue. We make time for the things we consider most important. Hence, if we don’t set time aside in the day to pray, it’s likely that we believe prayer is less important than all our other daily activities. The irony is, the busyness of our days should give us more reason to pray. A failure to pray is a failure to follow our Lord’s example of humble dependence on the Father (Mark 1:35; Mark 6:46; Luke 5:16) and ignores the numerous commands to practice this spiritual discipline (Romans 12:12; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). Therefore, we must make prayer a priority. Our souls need it.

2. Pray With Others

Praying with others is a good way to combat prayerlessness. Corporate prayer often renews our desire to pray. There is something powerful about linking arms with fellow believers, with one heart and in one accord, praying for yourself or interceding for others (James 5:16). What previously felt burdensome becomes lighter as you share the load with your brothers and sisters in prayer. Persisting in corporate prayer cultivates the discipline needed to pray privately. Attend your church’s prayer meetings. Reach out to members of your church family, or grab a couple of friends and pray together.

3. Use prayer cards, notes, jars etc.

Prayer cards, notes, jars and the like provide a good starting point if we don’t know what to pray. These help to focus our prayers, yet simultaneously build a sense of anticipation as you prepare your heart and mind to pray on the given topics. For example, you may divide the content of your prayers into the following categories:

Monday: the salvation of family, friends and colleagues

Tuesday: the church (local and global)

Wednesday: politicians, rulers, government and so on.

4. Pray the Scriptures

The Bible is overflowing with material we can use to a revitalise our prayers. By drawing inspiration from the psalms and the prayers of Scripture, we learn that we can bring anything to God in prayer with great honesty and vulnerability. For instance:

  • Hannah’s prayer demonstrates God’s compassion toward those who pour their heart out to Him in desperation. Accordingly, God removed Hannah’s shame and disgrace by giving her a child after years barrenness (1 Samuel 1).
  • Hezekiah’s prayer reminds us that even in the face of severe illness and imminent death, God can respond to our pleas by healing us extending our days (2 Kings 20:1-6).
  • Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians provides a weighty supplication for the church. It reveals one of the the church’s great needs: to receive wisdom and greater revelation of who God is and the hope to which He has called us in Christ (Ephesians 1:15-23).

We can also pray the psalms. For example, reading Psalm 23 can lead us into prayer concerning God’s shepherding care over us in. Additionally, the transparency in the Psalter encourages us to speak to God honestly and openly when praying certain passages. To illustrate, Psalm 42 helps us to acknowledge our discouragement. We then pour out all our emotions, speak to our souls, and encourage ourselves by re-ordering our hope in God. Click here to see more detailed examples of how to pray the psalms.

5. Pray the Lord’s Prayer

If ever in doubt, pray the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6: 9-13). It fixes our attention on what matters most: God’s holiness, His glory and His kingdom, before turning to our own needs. How Jesus taught us to pray is less me-centered and more God-centered. Each petition is rich in its content and is a goldmine of material for lofty prayers to God.

Prayer does not have to be dull. As we commit to make it a priority and adopt the various approaches to prayer above, prayer will excite us. It will refresh our souls and help us enjoy our fellowship with God. Some periods will be better than others. Despite this, make every effort to develop a consistent prayer life and see how the struggle reduces as the joy increases.

Take away points:

  1. You have time to pray, make it a priority – It all starts with just talking to God.
  2. Praying with others, encourages your spirit to make a start.
  3. Use prayer cards, or notes to aid your memory and build focus.
  4. Follow the examples of fellow believers’ prayers in Scripture. Look at their testimonies and remember that no matter the situation God will come through.
  5. When in doubt or stuck, follow Jesus’ example and let it guide you.

Your Pastor Needs You

Chude Obuaya
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Your Pastor Needs You

Your pastor is human. It perhaps doesn’t feel that way when they stand on a pulpit or facilitate a bible study, but pastors are human. This means that your pastor has both positive and negative emotions. In an age where church hurt is coming to the fore, often pastors are left out of these conversations. It may seem like everyone can be discouraged by the church except pastors. After all, the sheep are the vulnerable ones. But what happens when the sheep turn on their shepherd, or perhaps worse when they neglect their shepherd? Being a pastor requires much responsibility and that weight may be unbearable at times. The scripture commands us to bear each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), and what better way to alleviate some of the burdens your pastor may be carrying than by encouraging them.

Remember Your Pastor

How does your pastor feel? Do you know? We may fall victim to the kind of thinking that reduces a pastor’s work to the 1 hour he may be allocated on Sunday. But the preaching of the word, although a critical work, only scratches the surface of what a pastor may be engaged in during the week. Hebrews 13:17 states ‘Obey your leaders and submit to them, since they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you’. The role of the pastor is to be a shepherd over our souls. This is a seismic task, the size of which is often misunderstood by the sheep. We can be so focused on what the pastor does, that we neglect to be concerned about how they feel. We want our pastors to do a good job yet we neglect to consider how the pressures of life, the disheartening comments of saints, and the unbelief of the community may be weighing our pastors down. The writer in Hebrews instructs us to not add further weights to the load our leaders are already carrying; instead alleviate the weights through obedience and submission, since our pastors doing a good job is for our benefit.

Tend to the Wounded Shepherd

Over the last two years, we have seen a substantial rise in the stories of church hurt. Perhaps, being away from the physical gathering has allowed people to reflect on their church experiences. These stories ought to be shared and bring light to the way that Christians can often let their fellow covenant siblings down. However, how often do we hear stories about our pastors? Have you considered that your Pastor may have experienced or is currently experiencing church hurt too? There are so many different people, with varying personalities and needs. Pastors can’t make everyone happy and for some, a pastor’s best efforts just aren’t good enough. The very people pastors are called to serve may be the very people that disappoint pastors the most. However instead of complaining about our pastor’s quality of work here’s what Paul exhorts us to do, ‘Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to give recognition to those who labour among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you, and to regard them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves’ (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).

It can be easy to focus on the pastors who have failed, but many pastors are labouring to faithfully keep watch over your soul. So, the next time you seek to complain about what your pastor hasn’t done, remember what they have done and encourage them to keep going. After all, it’s for your joy that your pastor does their job well.

davecreates’ New Album Explores All Things Love

M.T. Omoniyi
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davecreates’ New Album Explores All Things Love

We sat down with rapper davecreates to talk about motivations, God’s love and creativity following the release of his much-anticipated debut album Amour.

London born and Essex raised, davecreates is a creative with eclectic taste, consistent work rate and versatile expression. He delivers rhythmic rhyme, witty wordplay and profound perspective over the backdrop of soulful soundscapes, expressing hope and excellence while challenging listeners to be the best version of themselves.

Having previously collaborated with the likes of Grammy-nominated Alic Walls (Walls Group) and shared the stage with top talents such as US rapper S.O. and MOBO Award winner Triple O, davecreates continues to push the boundaries of sound with popular releases including ‘Transform’ and ‘Kinfolk’. 

His music has been featured on notable platforms including BBC 1Xtra, No Signal and Rapzilla, and he continues to expand his global reach through social media.

Read more: davecreates’ New Album Explores All Things Love

What inspired this new album?

Whenever I approach creating art, I aim to capture the thoughts, feelings and emotions of the space and time I find myself in. During the process of creating Amor, I was in a place where I wanted to be more open and vulnerable about different areas of my life, in particular relationships. The main inspiration of this album is love and romance, following the journey of falling in love and understanding how that changes oneself while seeing how this path reveals areas within that you didn’t know needed healing, and ultimately asking yourself if you’re willing to make the necessary changes in order to grow.

The deeper I’ve got into music the more I’ve enjoyed soulful soundscapes and pensive lyricism. Listening to artists such as Alex Isley, Saba and Children of Zeus also provided musical inspiration, challenging me to delve into the world of hip-hop/soul and leave my own sonic fingerprint on this unique sound.

What motivates you to create?

Creativity is a way that I can express myself and connect with others, as well as helping me process what I’m going through below the surface. I have many memories of listening to songs or watching films that have spoken to my situation at various high and low points of my life – feeling this and realising the healing power of art inspires me to use my creative gifts to connect with others. It also motivates me to continue being open and vulnerable in my art, knowing that someone out there will relate and hopefully benefit.

I see creativity as a gift given by God! Stewarding this gift well is a way in which we can honour Him – knowing this also motivates me to create, whether through writing songs, producing instrumentals or exploring photography. I ultimately see my creative efforts as a way of bringing glory to God.

How do you think about God’s love?

Where do I start? God’s love is far beyond what we can ever understand and comprehend with our limited human intellect. From what I’ve experienced in life and through understanding the Bible, I know that God’s agape love isn’t dependent on my mistakes or goodness, it’s a love that is sacrificial, a love that guides and disciplines, a love greater than anything I could earn and deserve and a love I’ll forever be grateful for and model my life after.

What do you hope this new album achieves?

To finally release this album after working on it for about two years feels like an achievement in itself! I’d love this body of work to help others process their own journeys in and around relationships, as well as inspiring other creatives to take risks with their art and be honest in their expressions, even just in general day-to-day life. I often feel that there isn’t a lot of music present within the more chill/alternative side of hip-hop compared to other more popular sounds – especially within the Christian creative community. To help bridge this gap and see others delve into this sound would be exciting!

Who are your biggest artistic influences?

My palette of musical influence ranges from hip-hop to gospel to neo-soul to rock! Over the years I can cite someone like Kendrick Lamar for his elite penmanship and mastery of the craft. The timelessness of his art is something I’ve studied and drawn much inspiration from. Other influences include Hawk House for their seamless fusion of experimental hip-hop and soul, Emmavie for her lush vocals and immersive vocal arrangements, John Givez for his raw yet heartfelt honesty and Hayley Williams for her passionate vocals and energetic sound she crafted with Paramore. I’d also shout out Jay Prince for the way he combines future bass, R&B and hip-hop into eclectic and melodic vibes!

davecreates can be found on all major social media platforms at @iamdavecreates | Download/Stream “Amor“

How Do We Reconcile God’s Sovereignty and Suffering in this World?

Chude Obuaya
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How Do We Reconcile God’s Sovereignty and Suffering in this World?

Why is the world full of suffering? This is the question that plagued me for much of my early 20s. A good God and a suffering world just seemed incompatible to me. If God is sovereign, couldn’t He make all the world’s problems go away? There is something about suffering that causes us to ask questions. What can start off as honest interrogation to diagnose our situation can end up spiralling into faithless accusations toward God. In a world that was first created as good (Genesis 1:31), how do we explain the state it is now? How do we reconcile a sovereign God in a world full of suffering?

Not just Sovereign

To be sovereign is ‘the power or authority to rule’ as defined by the Cambridge dictionary. If you have been around churches for any length of time you’ve heard this term used to describe God. However, whilst this describes God’s position in the world, it doesn’t describe His character. After all, if God was sovereign but evil, we might be able to understand the suffering in the world better. But that’s not the picture that the Bible depicts. In fact, this is how God describes Himself ‘The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation’ (Exodus 34:6-7). The picture that is consistently painted about God is that He is perfectly good. This is what makes it difficult for both Christians and non-Christians alike to reconcile suffering in the world when there is such a good God.

Glory is coming

Sin ruins everything. From the moment that Adam and Eve fell into the garden, the world was never the same again (Genesis 3:6-7). As sin entered the world, so did suffering. But sin and suffering didn’t come alone, hope came alongside them. ‘And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.’ (Genesis 3:15). Where sin sought to have the final word, God said no. Instead, He gave us a word from the beginning that sin, along with suffering, will be finally destroyed. In the person of Jesus, we see the fulfilment of this sure word given in Genesis. Sin is defeated forever (Hebrews 2:14-15). Whilst we don’t see the total accomplishment on this side of eternity, what we do have is hope – that sin and suffering in all its forms won’t have the last say. So, whilst we wait for that glorious day where suffering is no more (Revelation 21:4), let’s learn to trust God. Whilst the suffering in this world may be great, it is nothing compared to the glory that awaits us (Romans 8:18 cf 2 Corinthians 4:16-17).

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