CHRISTIANS, DON’T INJURE YOURSELVES..
It’s true that anointing breaks every yoke and faith moves mountains, but it’s not everything we find in our lives that is a yoke that needs to be broken or a mountain that needs to be moved. Some things just needs discipline. That’s right! There may be certain challenges in our lives that the easiest way to make progress while in those challenges will be to discipline ourselves in other not to trigger them.
I was so happy last Sunday when I heard Bishop David Oyedepo say that he doesn’t take cold water because it always has a negative effect on his voice. He started by sharing an experience he had during one Shiloh, a yearly camp meeting where church members and other Christians gather for a retreat. On the last day, which was the impartation service, he took cold water before the service, something he had not done since 1976.
According to him, his son in the Lord Bishop David Abioye couldn’t even hear him clearly when he spoke, how much the congregation he had to speak to. Yes, the effect was that bad. So he wrote in a sheet of paper, telling Bishop David Abioye that once he climbs the altar, he should go with him so that he could amplify whatever he said. But God so kind, He miraculously had utterance – even though it was clear that there was an issue.
I remember that service, we honestly thought that the issue with the voice must be because of the stress from the five days. We were worried to the teeth, because we had never seen our father in the Lord in that state before. Asides the voice, we could see the weakness in his body. He had a flask which he drank from occasionally, I presume it was warm water to clear his voice. He’d speak for a while, and while major activities were to be done, Bishop David Abioye would take it up. That was the first time both of them would stand on the altar ministering together. Believe me, if Bishop David Oyedepo didn’t share this experience last Sunday, we’d still be in doubt about what caused the weakness that day.
Now imagine that Bishop David Oyedepo decided to wage war against his inability to enjoy cold water since 1976, he’d probably still be fighting that war till now. And the implication of that is that he’d be distracted from fulfilling purpose. Only God knows the destinies that have been aborted because of indiscipline. Some of you know that taking a particular meal repeatedly would affect your wellbeing, why would you continue to take it? Just because your heavenly Father is a Healer doesn’t mean you should make yourself sick. If you continue to live a life that needs healing, when will you start living a life of purpose?
I know a colleague that gets typhoid whenever he eats bread repeatedly. I honestly told him that it was his mindset until I saw it happen to someone else. Meanwhile, there are people who can eat bread night and day for 365 days, yet nothing will happen to them. The wisdom here is to understand your body and avoid the things that brings unnecessary pain to you.
I fought allergies for many years, it was my prayer night and day, and in every church service I attended. Whenever they told us to write a list of what we wanted God to do, it was always on top of my list. In fact, I remember one program where it was the only thing on my list. I fasted, I prayed, I expressed great faith in scriptures, but it just wouldn’t leave me aloneš¤£. Then one day, I realized that my focus on my health was hindering my progress in life, so I decided to stop praying about it. I started making progress, despite the allergic condition.
I know that preachers talk about their challenges when it has turned to a testimony, but it’s also important that they share the ones that hasn’t turned to a testimony yet. Because the truth is, an average believer may think that we never have challenges, or that we are spirits. Yes we are spirits, but I’m pretty sure that none of us have come to our fullness yet, we still have some weaknesses that we’re dealing with. It may just appear insignificant because we discipline ourselves in those areas.
I started observing the food and drinks that triggers the allergic reaction, and little by little I made discoveries. For instance, you won’t see me eat coconut, not because I don’t like it, but because it triggers a severe allergic reaction. My entire sinus will be congested for days, and I won’t be able to sleep. So instead of bringing pain to myself, I simply disciplined myself to stay away from it. I don’t take any form of soft drink, because I get the same reaction. When I need to take sugar, I drink tea or have some fruits. It’s been many years since I had a bottle of soft drink. Again, it’s not because I don’t want to take them, but because I don’t want anything that will distract me, even for a moment. Imagine that I’m battling with a congested nose this morning, how would I be able to write to you?
Mysteriously, one of those days when I had an episode, I was so sad because I had really worked on myself to avoid such episodes no matter what it was costing me. So as I walked into my street from work that day, I heard the Holy Spirit say “Go to that pharmacist and explain how you feel”. I was amazed, why would the Anointing refer me to medicine? It didn’t make sense to me until I obeyed. I had not even finished explaining to the chemist when he recommended an anti-allergy drug. He adviced that I took it anytime I take something I was allergic to. Coincidentally, I had been to the hospital several times, and the doctors said they couldn’t find a problem. In fact, at some point in my life I thought it was a demonic attack. But then, how is it that a pharmacist knew the problem at the very moment the Holy Spirit told me to see one? This tells me that the Holy Spirit also corporates with us when we discipline ourselves.
Now don’t get me wrong, this doesn’t mean that God cannot take the allergy away; as a matter of fact, there were many things I couldn’t take that I take freely now – which clearly means that God is working. But it’s been many years of discipline that has paid off. Today, I’m not just an author of over sixty life transforming books, I’m a blessing to my generation. Imagine that I’m still fighting allergy till date? I can’t even imagine hurting myself yet needing healing.
So, don’t injure yourself! Don’t let your cravings or addictions bring unnecessary pain into your life. If your body doesn’t want something, then stay away from it. There are people who cannot sleep under fan, if they do, their health will be in a mess the next day. Yet, the same people can sleep under intense heat. Stop forcing the anointing on something that just requires discipline, you’re bringing unnecessary pain to yourself. Till today, we still haven’t understood what it is that was a thorn in Apostle Paul’s flesh. But for everytime he prayed to God about it, God’s response was, “My grace is sufficient for you”.
I hope this has brought enlightenment to someone.
Remain ever blessed, in Jesus precious name!
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