PRAISING GOD...

Count your blessings name them one by one...and it will surprise you what the Lord has done." Yes, that will always be evergreen as far as gospel songs are concerned. There is no way I can reminisce the year and not say 'Thank you Father!', indeed God has been faithful all the way, even whilst I was yet unfaithful.

In one of my earlier blogs, I mentioned that I have been highly lucky...better still, favoured. Yes, I have lived a life  underserving in more ways than one, yet, I have survived, crossed huddles, surpised many (including myself). I am one of those people many may wonder "ba wo l' ose nse" (meaning 'how does he do it' in Yoruba language). I have to state categorically (on and off records); the Lord has been indeed faithful even in my unfaithfulness.

In the next few lines, I would be sharing with you my key secrets of success. This will be amplified with real life examples from my experiences and actions in the outgoing(gone) year. Whislt the list in inexhaustible, it is pertinent that we all discover what works for us...these are my own mini-nuggets of praising God, read and learn (and/or re-apply).

1.   Praise God everyday, all the time, anywhere

    Yes, the only true way to say thank you is by praising God, in all ways possible, I was fotunate to realize this early in life. I love praising God, be it in church dancing like I am at a carinval (ask DCC camera peeps), in my car listening to some good old 'Amona tete ma bo' or some priestly Chris Delvan ('Yahweh') or every morning when I wake up. Praise is essential, show appreciation as it does at least 2 things;

      (a) You get repeat business (more blessings)

      (b) Confidence in who you worship.

2.   Pay your tithes, even go a step further

      I am not saying bribe your pastor (or worst still God, sic), I am saying claim what is written in the laws of God (e.g., in the Bible; Malachi 3:8-12...). Don't rob God for starters, do more, go an extra mile too. I have to emphaisize that the fact that I do this gives me so much confidence going into the future, it makes me feel untouchable...you need to read the verses quoted above to understand what I mean.

      Apart from physically praising God, this is my 2nd most important source of blessing and assurance.

3.   Be fair to God...and man

      My mum makes a particular statement in Yoruba a lot in reference to her confidence in doing good; "...ni gba ti mo ba t'eyan je..." meaning 'since I have not destroyed another being'. Truth, it works, do your best to be fair to all concerned, God and man, clean up your conscience. Be just and trust God in all you do. Remember, blessed are the meek and merciful!!!

4.    Prayer and fasting works

      I pray a lot, before I eat, before I leave my house, when I get to work, on the road, when I am happy or challenged...no matter how brief, learn to pray, start from somewhere. Truth is I sometimes wake up too late to have my devotion, I just get up and say the Lord's Prayer hoping to be able to do a little reading of the word at work.

    

    Prayer is no doubt 'the master key' to every and anything. Remember the word of God; "...ask and you shall receive...", mix this with fasting ( I try to do once a week, realize what works for you), it's no shaking for you (Amen).

     

5.   Faith, a mover of mountains

           Simply put, trust God to do all things, I believe in God, in His promises for me and all that His word
           says. I am the modern day apostle of faith, the precursor of possibilities, realities and actualities. I have
           full confidence in God, to say the least.

           

           Let me share a personal testimony; I have not taking any form of drug (medicine et al) since 21st of
           November, 2003. I told God then I believed He did do it then...I still do and He is still doing it, I have
           been ill twice since then (Malaria I believe) and was cured thorugh rest only. No Be God!!!

So, that is it, my life...live what you believe in, hold on to your faith, your God. I still have a long way to go spiritually but I will keep on keeping on, holding on to what little God has shown me and trusting Him for more, more and more. I am blessed to be part of a church that preached faith in a personal way, as a personal thing and I always like to remember (and re-apply) something they say to visitors; '...worship with us for 3 months and do all that is preached from this pulpit and you will realize a marked changed in your life'.

PRAISE GOD PEOPLE!!!