YOU’VE GOT MAIL

I  was walking down memory lane and I came across answered prayers that I hadn’t taken a note of, things that I have that I never prayed for, healing that I didn’t realise, giftings and talents that I didn’t notice were sharpened… This GOD.
It isn’t so because I have been a “Good Girl” or because I worked for it or because it was my works that pleased HIM, but because HE is GOD and HE is good. HE is a Good Good FATHER and HE keeps HIS Word.
As I was down that lane, I couldn’t help but remember all that I have gone through, some good, some really good, some bad and some really bad.
I couldn’t help but be grateful to GOD that all that is behind me and I felt so fresh and wow in the now. GOD is indeed a Restorer and a Keeper of Promises.

With all that came the question, “What would you tell your younger self, looking at how far you have come and with all the lessons?”
I thought to write a letter to her and tell her how the story ends, but the truth is, she’s not there. She is here. Past the pain, past the brokenness, past the mistakes and past it all.
She is here and she will never go back to that place and so she may never need to hear what I have to say, because she knows how the story ends. She has seen it all and there is nothing new I will have to tell her and even though I spoke to her as if it were twenty years ago, the narrative of how things turned out will not change one bit.
But she’s here seeking to help a younger self of someone else.
Hopefully, what she knew then and now will help someone who is at the age she might want to address.

I have had my own misgivings, unfortunates and pain, but I will always remember to see the good in it.
I have been trying to be careful to count all my Blessings, especially when nothing is working out the way I would want it to. It reminds me that it’s not bad all the way.
And so whatever I write to you is not from a place of defeat or regret, but from a place of overcoming and victory. A place of giving thanks for what I have gone through because I can be of help to someone.
I have overcome and I am still overcoming pain, low self esteem, lack of identity, lack of progress, betrayal, rejection, you name it.
I have conquered and made it through situations that I never thought I would.
I am not perfect, but I am allowing CHRIST to continue perfecting me. I have fallen and HE got me up. I have abandoned HIM and HIS ways, but look at us now.
It doesn’t mean that following everything I say to you to the last letter will keep you from trouble or from facing challenges, but it will sure make it easier on you, to rise and to move forward.

This goes out to you in School; Primary School, High School, Campus…
You who is young enough to need guidance from an older me.
You who GOD directs to this Blog.
May you learn from those ahead of you and from those that GOD directs you to.

Here goes “The Letter.”

Hey Young Blood,

Let me tell you how the story ends…
If you are in CHRIST, GOD wins, you win.
GOD overcomes, you overcome.
GOD heals, you are healed.
GOD restores, you are restored.
GOD favours, you are favoured.
Victory will never start from you. It always starts and will always start with CHRIST.
If I were to end this letter here, my point is home.
But you know Lydia. She speaks in Blogs. Hihi!!
So I will keep going…

Your story, whatever has happened and is yet to happen, is not small stories. Never take any occurrence in your life for granted. Each has a purpose to fulfill.
Each will make an effect in your life in the future, a positive one or a negative one.
Everything you do, good or bad has a consequence, on you, on you and your loved ones, on you and your friends, or on you and someone or something else. But you will remain the constant. The consequence starts its movement from you then to the outside.
So be attentive to how you act and react.

You are human, and so is everyone else around you.
Stop expecting anything from anyone.
Instead, commit your needs to GOD and HE will work through someone or something to bring to you what you need.
Be it your basic needs, your wants, be it love or friendship.
Just learn to commit it all to GOD and by HIS Own chosen means, HE will provide.
The problem with expecting from people is that you will be fixated on places where GOD does not want you to be fixated on.
Some places may not work through and the disappointment that comes with that is heart wrenching.
Allow GOD to help you focus on the right place, HIMSELF.
Some will come through to take advantage of you. Allow GOD to vet them for you.

Being Human also means that none of us is perfect and so we will hurt you, mess up and mess you up, be it that it’s your Parents, your Siblings, your Mentors or anyone you look up to, your Spouse or anyone you love.
None of us is GOD, none of us is perfect. To err is Human and Human is to err.
That doesn’t mean there don’t exist good ones, those working towards what GOD would want them to be.
My prayer for you is that GOD brings them your way, and in the case that anyone hurts you, you will not drown.

Those two lessons, Victory and being Human, are the most important for me in this life, but allow me to break it down some more.
First, take these four summaries with you.

1. Always consult with GOD for everything, however petty looking or sounding.
2. Set yourself up for victories.
3. Take care of your mind, body and soul.
4. All you do Spiritually, Mentally and Emotionally will affect you Physically.

That said, let me outline some ways of taking care of all that, that which stood out for me growing up and even where I am now.

SPIRITUALLY

1. Know GOD for yourself. Your Parents, Guardians or Spiritual Authority may introduce you to HIM and help you with your walk with HIM, but your life will never be established on how someone else knows HIM. Each one of us is called to a personal relationship with HIM and no one will walk that journey for you.

2. Find your identity in CHRIST.
Identifying yourself with other people or finding your identity in other people will mess you up. Be who CHRIST wants you to be and that way, you will never feel the pressure to be who everyone else is. The confusion in there is a mess and you will be left lonely and lost when you can longer change to be someone else or have run out of avatars or when you can’t find what you are looking for in people.
But in CHRIST, your identity is constant and in continuous perfection.

3. Read your Bible, Pray Everyday is not just a song sang in Sunday School.
Apply it and you will discover so many secrets and find so much assurance in there.
Take part in Bible Studies, set aside your personal time with GOD, memorise those Bible Verses, take those Bible Vacations and Camps if possible, go to Church, serve in Church. Do whatever it takes to position yourself to know GOD more and not to pass time or to meet and socialise, but to know GOD deeper. All those other things shall be added to you. Let then find you in GOD, then you will know how to handle them.

4. Stand firm on Godly Principles, Values and Morals.
Do not waiver from them. Hide GOD’s Word in your heart that you may not sin against HIM. Meditate on it day and night. Let it be the last thing on your mind before you sleep. Know what GOD values, live by HIS standards.

5. Have Godly Mentors. And not only because they are rich and famous, but because GOD has directed you there.
Mentors have a way of saving you some wasted years. They have a way of, sometimes if necessary, taking you a few steps ahead.
If you are still under your Parents’ or Guardians’ roof, those are your free GOD-Given Mentors. I pray that they bring you up in the ways of GOD. Respect them, be their help… Obey them… It is the only commandment with a promise.

6. There is nothing like being “Over Spiritual” or “Over Spiritualistic” or “Over Spiritualizing.”
Look at everything from a GOD- Perspective. I mean everything. GOD is Spirit and so yes, Spiritualise it all. For how will you communicate with a Spirit when you’re in the flesh? Spiritualise it Young Blood. You will never go wrong.
If anyone is uncomfortable with you being “Shpiri”, let them scatter!! There is no logic outside GOD. Dying to self every living second and rising in CHRIST is one thing you will never regret.
Just don’t use GOD as an excuse for laziness and other list of things that are not Biblical.

MENTALLY

1. Carefully analyse anything you allow into your head. Sieve whatever doesn’t fall into GOD’s standards. Sieve whatever doesn’t give you a peace of mind.
Mind what you watch and see, what you hear and what you listen to. It has the capability of moulding you or getting you into trouble and destruction.

2. Stop creating unsure stories from what people do to you and are like.
Unless it comes from their mouths, the rest is really none of your business, whether it’s true or not. The Bible has reminded us to take their no and yes for just that. Whether they lie or tell the truth with their no’s and yes’ is truly up to them.
Stop overthinking, tossing and turning in bed wondering what they meant or why they did. Be at peace. What you don’t know won’t hurt you and what you know will hurt you only if you allow it to.

3. Ask GOD to deliver you from the liars, from people you shouldn’t be with.
If HE separates you without giving you a reason, best believe HE saved you. If HE gives you the reason, HE knew you could handle the truth and you needed to hear it. HE doesn’t tell you the truth to hurt you or to give you material for gossip to bring down those that are no longer with you.

4. Ignore the bullies. Practice this art intentionally Young Blood… I plead with you.
They exist even at our age, only that they get more intelligent with age.
Pay no attention to what they say or think about you.
Remember that bullying comes in many forms. Even your so called “Best Friend, B-to-the-F-to-another-F, Best Friend Foreveeeeeeerrrrrrrr” can be a bully. Even the most subtle of words and actions can be a form of bullying. Discouraging you from your dreams and ambitions could also be. Identify the bullying and refuse to be touched.

5. Position your mind to success.
Success can come from even the greatest of failures. Failing is part of success, depending on how you look at it. So even when things are not working out the way you want them, fix your eyes on what you want it to be. 
It’s called Faith. Call and live them out in Faith.

EMOTIONALLY

1.Allow The HOLY SPIRIT to place in you HIS Fruit. It comes with a lot that you need for your daily life.
Divine Love in all its varied expressions, Joy that overlows, Peace that subdues, Patience that endures, Kindness in action, Goodness (A life full of virtue), Faithfulness (A Faith that prevails), Humility (Gentleness of Heart) and Self Control (Strength of Spirit) . I love how the The Passion Translation has quoted Galatians 5:22-23.
Never set the law above these qualities, because against such things there is no law.
Oh the Bible is so full of Wisdom. I ignore that last bit for being no law against such qualities. I repent for all the times I have gone against these things… I digress…

2. GUARD.YOUR.HEART!!
I can’t say it any louder than that! Normalize the art of ignoring the negativity and non-benefials. Whatever you process in a factory is eventually given to the masses and you are one in the masses. Your heart is like a factory. Whatever flows from it is determined by the raw materials you allowed in. Whatever waste the raw materials leave after the product is made can be toxic or recyclable. I pray that your raw materials will bring forth and leave behind worth.

3. Bite your tongue when you feel the need to speak waste. It’s a way of guarding your heart.
Bite your tongue if you can’t speak life. You will build the Body of CHRIST.
Never forget we said consequence flows from you to the outside.

4. Take responsibility for your actions, good or bad.
Actions are mostly a result of our emotions, so GUARD.YOUR.HEART!!

5. Bullies are addressed here too.
Don’t let their actions influence what your heart will feel like. Most of what they do is from their own cowardice. From a place of wanting to look better than you. Let them fight themselves…walk away! There is nothing to proof to a bully. It’s like throwing pearls before swines.
Don’t let what is said about you or done to you or happens to you through them ruin your Self Esteem. Their bullying you has nothing to prove you wrong.

6. Leave relationships and friendships that will cost you your peace. GOD intended Love to come with a wholeness of everything nice. If it comes with the sourness only, love from a distance. If it doesn’t come with seriousness and deliberation, stop wasting your time!!
Never believe or allow the lie, “But they will change or I will change them by my being in their lives.”
Young Blood, only GOD can change a willing heart. Never waste your life trying to change people. Accept them as they are and do your due diligence to either leave them or pray for them from an arm’s length. If you decide to keep them, pray for their change as well, but never try it yourself. It is like pouring acid on yourself. Very painful.

7. Bridges don’t have to be burnt. It’s a lot of energy emotionally. If they are needed, they will be there without having to use more energy building others. Let them dry off by themselves if no one ever uses them with time.
Basically, be at peace with everyone…I mean each and every person. It doesn’t take away the fact that they did what they may have done, but it helps to GUARD.YOUR.HEART and so, Forgive and Let go easy, as soon as.
You have heard it said that holding on to a grudge is like taking poison and hoping for the other to die. But why would you want them to die? Don’t wish on them anything wrong. Don’t plan on them anything wrong either. Use that energy for something constructive.
Holding back forgiveness is so so toxic. Start forgiving them one by one, whether they apologise or not. It will do you a lot of good.

8. Love all, but not all will be in your inner circle.

9. Everything you go through now will affect your decisions and lifestyle in the future. Choose your battles and involvements carefully. Not everything or everyone needs to be fought for, needs to stay or needs to be involved in our lives.
Remember to never give up relations that matter to you, that GOD would want you to keep. Now those, those are worth you fighting for. Work at them with all that you can.

10. Never believe the lie that nobody loves you or nobody cares about you. These are statements that may seem simple and easy to state, but hold a lot of weight Young Blood. You are loved by someone somewhere and most of all, by GOD, that Steady Kind of Love.

PHYSICALLY

1. You are Fearfully and Wonderfully made!! See those ones you think are beautiful, you can’t be that beautiful? GOD thinks of you way way higher than you think of them. 
Beauty has a Worldly tag on it nowadays, but don’t let the World define that for you. Allow GOD to. 
Make-Up and Beauty Regimes will never make you look beautiful if you don’t believe it. You are only making manufacturers richer. They will never make you look more beautiful. You already are.
Appreciate how GOD created you. No ingredient got into or was removed from your formula by accident. It was purely intentional and the MASTER CREATOR made no mistake, on any part of you!
Start loving how you look. You will never change unless you go for those artificial changes, that are unnecessary if you start loving what you see in the mirror with intention.
Acne and Break Outs may be a problem at some point. You may add or lose lots of weight within the years, but don’t let that get to your Self Esteem.

2. Eat healthy and exercise now. Your body will thank you later.

3. Groom up. Don’t spare that item for a special day. Everyday is special, regardless of where you live or are going.
Look good. Never apologize for it. Never tone down! Never do it to prove a point. Do it for you.
Cover up well. You will come to later understand that and why some parts of your body are meant only for your Forever Spouse.

4. Do not allow yourself to temporary physical pleasure in form of pre marital sex (fornication), any form of immorality, drugs and alcohol. It will seem harmless and fun times at the moment, but that one moment will affect you in every way, in such extent, for such a long time; Spiritually, Mentally and Emotionally. But GOD is a restorer. If you are already in it, ask HIM to deliver you. If you are not, submit to GOD, resist the Devil and he will flee from you!

GENERALLY

Society has made us believe that status, wealth and money are the end goal. But what they didn’t tell us is that even with all that in check, you will never enjoy it if you are not in a proper state of mind Young Blood.
The Bible has also reminded us to seek first The Kingdom of GOD and HIS Righteousness and all these things shall be added to us. We are also reminded that GOD shall supply all our needs according to HIS riches in Glory..
Don’t be caught up chasing all the Worldly as you waste away.

Run your own race. Competition is for the insecure.
Do not be pressured to be who they are, to do what they do because you feel like they are ahead of you. You are where GOD intends you to be.
Your journey is very personal. Stop the comparison even when society thinks you should be somewhere else.
Compare yourself only to GOD’s Standards, Clock and Calendar of events for your life.
You are a work in progress. You will not always have it all, have it all right, have it all together or have it altogether.
You will not always be right. You will never be perfect. Don’t be in a rush.
The best of Ageless Masterpieces take time in the Manufacturer’s Hands.
Be content with where you are, who you are and what you are becoming.
Don’t be in a rush to “make it” so that you can show it off or otherwise. I would rather you ask and work for success so that you can be a blessing to others that will need you.

Never look at yourself better than anyone and especially than those that have an advantage of experience that comes with years and age. They are ahead of you by the advantage of that, age and experience, and neither you or them can take that away.
Don’t put pressure on yourself by them and never allow them to put pressure on you. They had their chance to grow, grow as well.
Work on yourself without the noise and ask GOD to bring and show you opportunities to better yourself. Milk every opportunity dry.
There’s room for improvement, you can be better than you were a second ago. Not better than someone else a second ago, but better than you were a second ago. So grow at you own peace and pace.

With age comes more responsibility that will take away time to take care of yourself, socialise and do a couple of other things.
Make the routines you’d like to keep going to an older age now.
Don’t compromise on what matters to you even when the responsibilities get heavier.

Be happy when other people’s prayers are answered before yours, or even when they are answered at whatever time.
Rejoice with them. Your success starts where you are genuinely happy for others, regardless. Be their celebration. Hanging around them with Joy will help you keep your Faith and Hope up.

They tell you to enjoy life when you are still young. True, but do not take it as an excuse to try it all, good and bad, so that you can “see for yourself.” You will only be setting up a field to destroy your future. Remember Paul in the Bible says,

“Everything is permissible for me, but not all things are beneficial. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything.”
1st Corinthians 6:12

They might tell you to not take life too seriously. Be easy and flexible. True, but do not take it as an excuse to not take the opportunity to prepare your future.
They might tell you it’s too early or you are too young. From what I know, I was never too young when I did something that affected my life. I was never too young for its outcome.

Young Blood, start preparing for your future now. A time will come when it will be just you and GOD to move forward.
Take advantage as you have an upper hand now. I am not saying that it will be too late to correct your ways when older, but mess ups have a way of delaying you.
We will say it is GOD’s timing, but do you know that when you take the wrong turns you miss even what GOD has already placed for you on the right path? Now you know.

I am still working on so much right now that came from back then.
So much I still need to undo, so much I still need to “Unbelieve”, just so much.
Maybe, just maybe, if I knew then what I know now, it would have been easier, but we will never know and that’s okay.
So I will accept everything that has happened and allow the goodness in it to mould me.
Life is about finding the good.
I usually say, whatever it is you are looking for, you will find. If you don’t know what you are looking for, you will find anything, most that will destroy you, most that will be useless and a waste of your time.

There is so much more than can be added to all these, but this is what is at the top of my list for this life I am in, and the lessons still keep coming.
If you are out here wondering where to start from Young Blood, start with knowing GOD.
I pray that the HOLY SPIRIT has convicted you or will convict you to know CHRIST as your Personal Saviour.
If HE already has, find me on my Socials and I will be walk with you. You can also fill in the Contact Form on my Website to reach out.
You can also allow HIM to lead you to someone or a Church that will lead you to CHRIST and help you walk firm in HIM.
We always begin everything with GOD. Do not ever believe otherwise.

More of GOD’s Grace, Love and Light.
With Love,
Lydia Ndwiga.