LESSONS IN SILENCE

We have been away for a while and I am glad that we are back!!
GOD had sent us out on a different Mission and now that that is done, we can keep going with this one.  
In the time we were away, GOD took us through so many lessons, I am glad HE did, and I want to share them with you.  
They are mainly about Ministry and Life, and one big lesson I have been given, to summarise all of the lessons, is that the state of my Personal Life will affect how I deliver the Ministry to the People GOD has called me to.  
Hence, it is important that I get it together and right with GOD in my Personal Life before I can bring out HIS Word.  
The Word of GOD is powerful and I cannot afford to speak it out to anyone before it makes a difference in my life first.  

Here goes…  

ABOUT MINISTRY  

1. Though we have all been called to Minister, GOD would never force HIS Work on anyone.
 
2. To be a cheerful giver, not only in sharing the tangibles, but also in sharing GOD’s Word and Love. 
I have learnt not to murmur when the Ministry seems a lot or out of my comfort zone.
 
3. To make a commitment fully to do the Work of GOD and do it well.
That I need to want to do it, not because everyone else is Ministering and not because of what other people will think if I don’t.
 
4. Ministry was never meant to be a competition against other Ministers of the Word of GOD. 
We are all running a race and if one falls, we all lose and if one wins, we all win.  
We have been called to work together for the same results, for the win of the Kingdom of GOD.  

5. I am enough as I am in the Kingdom of GOD.
I can get better but who GOD has let me be at this moment is enough to do HIS Work right at this moment.  
That shouldn’t make me redundant and in a comfort zone, but I should strive to grow in GOD and HIS Calling in my life.

6. I have a responsibility to do my part in the Kingdom of GOD and so does everyone else that has accepted the Call to Minister.  
GOD will, one day, ask me why and what I did or did not do. My answer will not be about someone else, but it will be an answer that will be about me, why and what I did or did not do.
When GOD gives me a role or a responsibility, I should do it, working unto HIM.
I should not look over my shoulders to see whether everyone else is playing their role, or not, because when Judgement comes, I will stand alone with GOD; not able to point fingers at anyone or anything for my lack of obedience.  

7. To speak what GOD has said and do what GOD has ordained without the fear of persons.  
To focus on pleasing GOD first. 
For as long as HE has called me to it, I should do it unafraid, with Bold Power, Authority, Strength, Confidence and Courage.   

8. GOD will bring situations in my life that will teach me to totally stop thinking about self all the time.  
HE will bring situations where everything will revolve around other people and their welfare.  
I had to accept that I was not brought to this Earth for only me.  
I accepted that there is a Potential and a Ministry that GOD is introducing me to by sacrificing self.  

9. Ministry is not slavery.  
It’s a calling from GOD and I should willingly get into it, not out of obligation or lack of anything else to do, but from my genuine dedication to help save souls from Hell.  
Truth is, no one will punish me if I  don’t Minister. I have every freedom to stay away from it, but my level of obedience to GOD will lead me to it.  
GOD will also not threaten me into Ministry. HE calls, I answer and if I don’t, HE won’t force me into it. 
But I am more aware now that  GOD will raise and use someone else in my stead, to do my intended work, if I don’t accept HIS Calling. I surely don’t want that.  
Serving GOD is a privilege and an honour and I wouldn’t want to lose that.  
It was made clearer to me that I am not the only one called and has obeyed. 
GOD’s Work will keep going on at every second, even when I don’t do it.

10. To share the Word of GOD and its Revelation when it comes to me.
Sometimes God will give a Word specifically for me and HE may not need me to share it with anyone.
But when HE asks me to share, I should, in the exact way that HE asks me to, and with immediate obedience.
I have learnt that delayed obedience is disobedience.
I also learnt to share the Word of GOD with everyone around me.
Sharing the Word of GOD does not take away the Word of GOD from me.
I also learnt to take time away with The HOLY SPIRIT to refill me with more of what I should share.   

ABOUT LIFE  

1. GOD creates a necessary opportunity for my silence to create a necessary opportunity for my time with HIM. 

2. Not to be afraid of or doubt what GOD is working out in me.  
GOD is working in the enemy’s camp for my favour. I will find the camp making decisions and doing things in my favour, even without their knowledge; things that will lead me to my triumph.  

3. To talk to GOD first, about anything… First!! Not after giving the information to someone or someones, but to GOD first!!  
If HE instructs that HE needs a conference to help solve whatever I shared with HIM, then HE will tell me whom to talk to.  
Sometimes HE wants it just between me and HIM. I learnt to keep it so.  
Some of us are regretting the things that we told people because we were too quick to disperse information before talking to GOD.  
HE will remain the only safe place for my secrets.  
It’s not always “a problem shared, half solved” with men, but it is always so with GOD. 
Some people only enjoy hearing your challenges to achieve a pedestal over you, not because they genuinely care. 

4. When GOD confirms it, I shouldn’t doubt it on account of someone else thinking it’s not good enough. 

5. Know who people are, understand them as they are, accept them as they are.  
That way, when they do something unexpected, it won’t come to me as a surprise and I won’t hold grudges over what they do.  

6. To be kind to people in their situations. I may never know what they are going through unless I am in their situation.  
If my peeps go quiet for a while, I shouldn’t carry grudges on them. I could, better yet, check up on them and as often as I can.  
And even though they do not warm up to me, I should pray for them.  
I learnt to never detach myself for their lack of communication; not to turn myself into the victim over a situation I have no clue about.  
The lesson, that I have seen going around, that one finds time to respond only to them that they really and sincerely care about is not necessarily true. Some could really be having the desire to respond, but they are in such a gory place that the sound of a phone notification triggers fear. 
And “No one is ever too busy to respond to you…” is also not necessarily the truth.  
If you knew just how busy some people are out here trying to keep it together, you’ll show Grace.
Please Abeg… Show Grace and may that Grace be shown to you.  
I have learnt to be kind and take up what someone else is not doing, I just never know.  
I have learnt that a fast, slow or a not-at-all response should not be a place to measure my Friendships and Love. 

7. Be intentional and deliberate in my Friendships with Family and Friends.  
Be supportive of them, be there, be present, be available for them in every way that I can.  

8. To walk my own journey without expecting anyone to walk with me or understand what I am going through. No one is obligated to actually.  
If they walk with me or feel the need to walk in my shoes, advantage. If not, I will #GoAhead.  
GOD will always be with me whether I am walking alone or with support. 

9. To be happy for the success of others as I wait.  

10. It’s okay to accept what I am feeling, I need to understand what I am feeling. 
That way, I will find the mental capacity to control what to choose from there; stay in the situation or leave. 
GOD has given me such power and control over how my situations will make me feel and where they will leave me. 
I learnt to accept where I am and that way, I will know how to tune my mind. 

11. To do what I can with the strength I have for now. Doing anything outside my means does not guarantee success. 

12. I am no less of another in the Kingdom of GOD and in the different areas of life and in responsibility.  
I need to allow GOD to work on the areas of my Confidence, Courage, Authority and Power.
I am no more of another either. GOD sees us all equal and I need to allow GOD to work on the areas of pride in me.

13. There’s nothing GOD will bring to me before preparation and there’s no preparation that comes in or with comfort. 
If I want to pray it away, I could, but I need to allow GOD to work HIS Will over my life. 
I may be praying away something that could be preparing me for the very blessing I have been on my knees about for years. 
If GOD finds it necessary that I go through the fires and the waters, HE will go with me, shield me and give me strength. 
I learnt to be at peace and always know that GOD is in control.  
HE doesn’t have too much in HIS Hands, HE hasn’t forgotten me in pain and HE would never make plans to harm or hurt me. 

14. Gradually, wounds become scars and scars become signs of a Victory.  

That’s much about it that I could capture in this space. I will share anything else that I have learnt, are learning and will learn as it comes.  
I pray that this helps you with a few areas in your life and I pray that it can be practical in the areas that need.  

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