Recently, I found myself on an inward journey of reflection. At the oddest moments, I would catch myself looking back at some moments in my life , and smile absently at the good good Father who had been there all along.
One morning I decided to be DELIBERATE about that journey, and I was wowed at what I got out of the journey.
One of the verses in Psalms that amazes me is Psalm 78:9
Take, for example, the sons of Ephraim. Though they were all equipped warriors, each with weapons, when the battle began they retreated and ran away in fear.
Psalms 78:9 (TPT)
Why would equipped warriors run from battle? The answer is in verse 11
They forgot his wonderful works and the miracles of the past,
Psalms 78:11 (TPT)
They FORGOT!!!! They Forgot the God who is their rock. They forgot the one who leads them into battles. They FORGOT the miracles, the breakthroughs , they forgot….and they became captives of a situation they were well prepared to handle.
Like I said earlier, I decided to journey deliberately in my heart, and see a God who had been there all along.
That was when I began to see the bold prints of a God who journeyed with me in different phases of life. It’s that feeling you get when you walk a path, get to the end and look back to see 4 footprints, instead of 2!!!
I began to see God in the coincidences. The fateful incidences that changed everything for me, the days I thought I got ‘lucky’, there was a presence all along.
All along, I have lived in the presence of a God who has never failed nor forsaken me.
I remembered how I met some of the amazing people in my life today. Some of them I met in a taxi, some through a friend, some I met while taking an elective I grudgingly agreed to register in school! Talk about odd chances.
At some point, I told myself, you could have been born into any family, you could have attended any other school or higher institution, you could have been in any other kind of church, there were more than 5 biology teachers in your secondary school, what’s special about that particular teacher who took an interest in you and set your life on a life changing course?
Why was that lady my roommate in secondary school? Why did I find myself in a room where I got to watch a senior say her prayers night and day, consistently for 1 year?
Why did I have a seat mate who stirred up compassion in my heart like no other person I’ve met? Why did I go to the library stand on the fateful day that this guy turned amazing friend decided to buy a book by Andrew Wommack?
I come from an amazing family. The perfect family I needed to mold me into all I am today and becoming tomorrow. Time will fail me to talk of the intelligence of Stephen, the bravery of Ben , the all round beauty of Rachael, and the kindheartedness of Emmanuel. Mama’s strength , and Papa’s visionary character. A blend of amazing people who were strategically placed in my life for a purpose!!!
How did I meet amazing people, who had something I needed in strategic seasons of my life? For some, it was their time and attention I needed. For some, they had a gift or grace upon their lives that affected me positively. Others were just the buddies and friends I needed, some were the ‘spoilers’ when I needed to be pampered, and some were the disciplinarians when I needed an extra dose of sense!
What a DETAILED God!!!
I am blown out of my mind!!! Every detail of your life has been marked for GOOD by a master strategist.
I hear you wondering about the pain and aches…. I had my fair share of that too. The days of lack, hunger, disappointment, physical and emotional assaults, days I thought I would lose my mind, moments of long nights and dreary days… haa!
But looking back, and deliberately looking into the archive of these experiences, I see a God who shielded me through it all. God didn’t cause the pain and loss. He didn’t set me up for pain, some were as a result of ignorance, wrong choices, current situation of things in my environment, etc, but the God of my journey was there all along, DEFINING every experience FOR GOOD
Today, a compassionate heart is budding, because it has found grace to endure the dark nights. A brave warrior is emerging, because strength came to look at fear in the face and say ENOUGH!
You should be in awe of a God who works ALL THINGS TOGETHER FOR GOOD
A God who has numbered every strand on your head, who has a record of your experiences, who knows you much more than you would ever know.
One good thing that has come out of my inward journey of reflection is that my CONFIDENCE in God is increasing by the day.
The God and friend who walked me through the red sea moments, would definitely part the Jordan ahead.
Graham Cooke once said “God allows in his wisdom the things He could easily prevent in his power”.
There is a beautiful tapestry being woven into the details of your life. Even in the little details of everyday life.
The things you love, the things you dislike, the issues that get you fired up, all these are subtle pointers to the tremendous beauty God has hidden within you, and the glorious journey of unraveling He has set before you.
THE GOD OF YOUR JOURNEY
Ephraim ran back from a battle they were well equipped to fight, because they FORGOT the miracles of the past, the many ways that a Faithful Father had showed up in the past.
I want you to deliberately take stock today, of every tiny detail of your life. The environment where you grew, the friends in your life, the painful moments , the fearful decisions, good or bad as it seem to your eyes, I want you to switch lenses. See them through redemptive eyes.
It’s amazing how beautiful everything looks when we see through renewed lenses.
You can see the details of your life differently. You can see your journey through new eyes
And…..
You can deliberately call to mind, the wondrous works of a MIGHTY GOD who showed up in various moments of your life, in ways that you knew and DID NOT KNOW. A lot of times, we are like Jacob, the Lord is staring at us in the face and we do not know (Genesis 28:18)
Not only should you REMEMBER the goodness of God to you in the past, you also need to ACKNOWLEDGE his blessings to you TODAY.
Yesterday’s experiences are your building blocks for a future victory, your present moments are also a part of the beautiful preparation.
Brace up wonder warrior. The glory days ahead of you are powerful! Recount on God’s faithfulness towards you, and find new strength for the mountain tops ahead of you. Get ready for an exhilarating experience in God, another opportunity to have your roots deepened, to have your heart strengthened and your wings helped to SOAR!!!!
What are the ‘not so obvious’ but very important blessings that the Lord has placed in your life ? What are you grateful for? Who are the people he has miraculously blessed you with ? What are the new interests, passions, desires and abilities budding within you? What are the divine coincidences he is currently weaving into a beautiful tapestry ?
I would love to hear from you in the comments or by mail.
With so much Love!
Omo Oba