MY STORY (II)

                 I was falling in and out of sicknesses. I'm not the type that usually falls sick, but for months, I wasn't fine. If I didn't have a bad migraine for at least 4 days, where I cannot successfully bend or turn my head, I'd suddenly feel very weak, and not feel motivated to do anything. I remember writing my final exams in sickness. I go to the exam hall with this bad headache. Sometimes, I get "malaria" symptoms. I'd take drugs, and after a short while, it'd come back. Where I lost it was when I'd fall sick at night and be completely fine in the morning. I'd be shivering under my blanket, vomiting whatever it is that I ate, and if I ate nothing, I'd vomit spit. I couldn't sleep, and my body was so hot if you placed a raw plantain on me, I could boil it, and if not properly monitored, it'll burn (this is not a joke. I mean this literally). Then when it's nearing the early hours of the day, I'd be fine. My roommate was so confused. She'd often check on me during the day, and I'll go around my things in good health like a bouncing baby girl. Then the night comes, and boom, I'm back again. Did I remember to mention that even as I was having dreams of houses I had stayed in before, I was seeing a particular dead person, that I still up to this moment cannot believe is dead? At this junction, I believed the devil was out to take me out. Since other things were not working well, I also succumbed because I was worn out already, and didn't have any strength in me to fight. Most of those times, I didn't believe I could make it out alive, but remember, ("though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me!"). My friend reading this, I didn't remember this scripture. I just wanted to die, since the devil wouldn't leave me alone. I told my mentor how I had prepared my mind, and how my family would have to put up with my death, but he wouldn't let me say that. He was quick to stop me from saying that, and declaring that I will not die. Still, I didn't pay any attention to him. Then, I had this inclining to attend a program organized by the University Joint Christian Mission of my school (UJCM).

                Pastor Femi Lazarus was the guest minister. Before I talk about him, let me not forget to mention that at this time, I was already done with my university education, but I did not have money. You call it being broke. I had just left my place of work, and God would not have me work under anyone. I'd have really loved to explain this, but some people would not understand, so I'll just let it be (But don't forget, everyone did not come to this life to fulfil the same purpose, DO NOT compare yourself with me or any other person. Only find out what God has called you to do, and do just that). I remember mentioning to my mentor that I'm not sure I made a good decision leaving my workplace, where I was already having issues, but I decided to still stay back because of the money involved. He told me, if it was the right decision, I'd know in time, and if it's not, I'll know with time. Right now, I still do not have the money as I want to, but I am glad that I left there. The moment I just imagined going back there, I didn't think of it, I just painted a little picture in my mind. That night, I had a dream about what would happen to me if I dared to back there. There and then, I dropped that idea of staying with God until He told me what to do next. Which is what I'm doing right now.

                I didn't have much on me, and it was one of those days I felt very weak, and as the time for the meeting drew closer, I felt weaker and weaker. I gave up and made up my mind that I wasn't going to attend the meeting. In my weakness, I felt the Holy Spirit quietly beckoning on me to stand from my bed, and attend the meeting, but I had excuses. When it was about 30 minutes to the commencement of the meeting, I encouraged and dragged myself out of my bed, and off I went.

God has us at heart. He is a Father that is one of a kind, and He is His "only" kind. The man of God came upstage and was talking about people living in fear of death. Believe me when I tell you my weakness immediately jumped out of me. I didn't know how or when. I just suddenly felt an enormous strength, and I was shouting every single confession he made. He said and I quote "The devil is not with the key of death, but he kills by convincing men and creating fear. Jesus already went to the cross, He died, went to hell, and took the keys of death and hell from the devil, and He rose the third day! Hallelujah! Therefore, the devil has no power to kill me. He is just a stupid boy! Our reality in Christ is sealed! What is written is written, and can never be changed! Jesus came that I might have life!" There's something he said that I cannot forget, it's that "the devil fights his war when God releases His best!". As I write, this gladdens my heart because I AM GOD'S BEST! I mean, there's something the devil has seen that God wants to do through me that he is trying to stop. He knows something has been deposited in me for my generation, and I certainly count myself worthy of honour, that both God and the devil know me, and each has plans for me, but you and I know whose plans top the list and will eventually come to pass! Hallelujah! I recall the man of God also said "Whenever the devil brings a thought to you, don't fight it with a thought, fight it with a shout! Already, you have complete victory in Christ!" I wrote these things down on a sticky note and placed them over my bed. I confess it every morning, and it gladdens my heart.

I AM VICTORIOUS IN CHRIST!

                I got home that night, and my roommate didn't understand what had happened to me. I looked different and acted differently. I started confessing and explaining to her all that the pastor had said. I tell you this before God and man, and I lie not; those incessant sicknesses stopped instantly. I slept like a baby that night, and I have been sleeping like a baby every other night. I haven't even had a headache or anything close to sickness. I regained the spiritual consciousness that I had lost and started confessing the Word of God as regards good health, prosperity, long life, my stance in Christ, etc.

                There's also something the man of God mentioned that I mustn't forget to tell you. He said, "Joy is constant. If you stand before the Lord, you'll leave with joy. Whenever and wherever joy is missing, everything good leaves". A minstrel, Minister Dunsin Oyekan also had this line in one of his songs, "Never lose your joy, joy is a fetcher". Another man of God also said, and I paraphrase, "here (i. e. amongst believers), we don't do praise God, and jump around in church because God has done something, rather because we know He will do something". I immediately chose to remain happy all the time, because I was always acting happy, I wasn't happy. I was always making jokes, but my life seemed to me like a joke. I completely avoided anything that'd make me lose that joy in me. What did Romans 14:17 say? "For the kingdom of God is not in meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and JOY in the Holy Ghost"! In Matthew 6:25, Jesus explains how our heavenly Father will take care of us. So why should I bother or fret about what He has already done for me? He already has plans for me, and that's what I'm going to follow. I do not pay attention to what the devil said or did or is doing to me, but what God has for me. That's the devil's nature, to spoil God's good plans. However, what is God's plan? "To see that His children are properly catered for, and not subject to the lies of the devil!"

                I end my story here. I believe you've learnt one or two things, and most importantly, I believe this blessed you, because that is the sole reason for sharing this, as I usually shy away from sharing personal stuff. If I were to talk, I'm not sure I'd be able to say all of these. I also shared this as in obedience to the instruction of the Holy Spirit. We believe, it'll bless you. Before I bid you farewell, I'd like to share one more thing that the Holy Spirit had been pushing me to put in this. It wasn't initially in the plan, this happened recently.

                I was coming from a vigil organized by my spiritual father. As a matter of fact, he had to send me the transport fare because I didn't have enough on me to transport myself to the venue of the meeting. There was a monthly church program I had to attend, so I went straight to the church from the vigil. I got there early, and the ushers asked that I helped in the cleaning of the chairs, it was quite a large auditorium but I happily did it. I always want to work in the church, in any capacity that I can (You see, that's one group in church I cannot join. Ask me to carry the speaker, the amplifier, even the generator, but please, don't ask me to be an usher. Why? Follow this blog, and one of these days, I'll tell you why). I did that- cleaned the chairs. The program started, and it ended. It was time to go home. With the little I had left, I had gone to the market close to the church to get something, and I was left with a meagre amount. It was time to hop in the public transport, and I discovered the ridiculous amount these guys charge per fare. I quickly did 2 plus 2, and spoke to my legedes Benz (legs), that it's going to have to take me home. I was pretty tired from the vigil, and the program, and I didn't even have that luxury of spending such an amount of money on transport fare. So, I moved. I started my journey back home, as my place wasn't that distant from the church. In about 15 to 20 minutes, I got to the bus stop of my house. Just some moments before I got there, a white man had greeted me, on his own. I wasn't interested in talking to him anyway. He approached me and asked how I was faring, after asking me if I couldn't greet him. I was surprised. I didn't though they liked greetings. I didn't take offense. I greeted him, he smiled, greeted me back, and asked how I was doing. He was showing his dentals all through, and I smiled as well. Well, I believe God is planning to send me out of the shores of this county. Amen?

                I wasn't trekking back home in sadness. Matter of fact, I did it happily. I was smiling like someone just proposed to me, and I was praying and painting pictures of when I'd have more than enough even to bless others. It was then the white man intercepted me. Who knows, maybe I had to trek just to meet and greet him? (that's by the way though). Anyways, long story short, I got up and was woken up by a call that someone had sent me a call card. I thought it was just a little amount, meanwhile, it was sufficient enough to buy me data, because I didn't have enough left. As I was trying to recover from that, I got an alert. Is God not good?

                Is it the time I needed to complete my house rent that He came through for me that I should mention? Or the time I wanted cake so badly, and my housemate gave me cake slices in different flavours? I could go on and mention different times God appeared and completely shocked me. That's the moment I promised myself I'll never bother about anything again, because my Father, as I often refer Him will take care of me. God is good. All you have to do is trust Him wholeheartedly, fulfill your part of the deal by doing what He has asked you to and you'll see Him work in, through, and for you!

                There's also something I should not fail to mention. It's that the devil has not stopped trying to kill or stop me. Those dreams started coming again, but now I know how to tackle them. He doesn't just bring me former houses, he has also added to his list, the house I recently moved out of. However, I'm not moved by that. I'm only moved by the Word of God. added to this is that my system and the charger would just shock me, even my phone's charger, my hotplate, all of which has never happened before. I remember grinding my pepper the other day, and right before my eyes (I wasn't dreaming), it turned black (this was, and is really funny to me). It happened at night, and that day I had little cash left (I'm always broke right? Lol. That'll change soon). Thankfully, the woman selling pepper had not gone to bed, so I got another one, ground it, and was laughing, but it didn't turn black this time. Let me not forget to add that I was as hungry as Jesus who cursed the fig tree, and here was my pepper turning black, while nothing was wrong with it. It doesn't bug me though, I mean what the devil is doing to me. I'm not a bit bothered. I definitely have something big, and he has plans to stop me, but God has plans to keep me.