Simone

The Bible, the Word of God, teaches us that all Christians have a common enemy, and even though many names are ascribed to him, the ones we see predominantly shared in the scriptures are Satan or the Devil (Revelation 12:9).  When we read and study the Bible, it gives us enough insights for us to understand Satan’s origin, and it also gives us a clear portrait of who he is and how he can affect our lives. The Bible also identifies Satan as an angelic being who fell from his position in heaven due to the sin of rebellion (Isaiah 14:12-15; Luke 10:18) and is now completely opposed to God. As not just our enemy but an enemy of God, he always seeks to thwart or abort the purposes of God. St John 10:10 identifies Satan’s three-fold mission, which is to steal, kill, and destroy. First, Peter 5:8 says he goes around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.  As our enemy, one of his destructive missions is to block us and hinder us from reading the Bible because he knows the importance of God’s Word to the Christians’ lives. The first reason Satan doesn’t want you to read your bible is: It increases our faith in God, empowering us with confidence and security.  Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” When we don’t spend time reading and meditating on the Word of God, we will lack faith in God, and we will lack faith in his ability to care for us in every way. That’s what Satan wants. He wants us to lack faith in God so that we will live in doubt and defeat. 1st John 5:4 NIV states that “everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” How do we overcome trials and testing of all sorts? By Faith How do we walk in the victory that God has given us? By Faith. READING GOD’S WORD BUILDS OUR FAITH! Galatians 3:11 says The just or righteous shall live by Faith. Let’s look at Ephesians 6:10 -17 with emphasis on the verse 16 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. 14 Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth (the truth is knowing & believing the word of God wholeheartedly.)and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:   Ephesians 6:16 from the Amplified Version says, Above All, Lift Up The Protective Shield Of Faith. If we are not reading our Bibles daily to build our faith, we leave ourselves open to severe attacks from the enemy, which the Scripture calls “fiery darts” in Ephesians 6:16. These ‘fiery darts’ are the spiritual attacks, temptations, and doubts that Satan throws at us to weaken our faith and trust in God. In Matthew 4, we see that Satan is no respecter of persons. He went to the Son of God, Jesus incarnate, who was and is the very Word of God(St. John 1), and challenged him. Jesus knew he had the power to overthrow Satan, but that would have aborted the purpose of God for which Jesus came. Instead, Jesus left us a perfect example of how we should operate when the devil comes to challenge us.   Jesus responded to all of Satan’s challenges with the phrase, “It is written!” When the enemy comes with his lies, threats, and promises of good things, we should not bow to him, but we must counteract them with the Word of God. We must follow Jesus’ example in Matthew 4 by responding to Satan with the words, “It is written!” Jesus also said in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”  In Genesis 3, when Satan that liar talked with Eve in the Garden, he caused her to doubt God’s word. When Satan comes with his lies, because he’s the father of lies, according to St John 8:44, you must be so full of God’s word that you too can say, Devil, “it is written!”  The Second reason why Satan doesn’t want you to read your Bible is: He doesn’t want you to know the truth. Truth is a part of our spiritual armor. Remember Eph 6:14, the Belt of Truth? In St. John 8:32, we are told by Jesus that “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Satan doesn’t want us to know the truth about God, about his love for humanity, or his character.  Satan doesn’t want you to know the truth about the Kingdom of which we are a part.  He doesn’t want us to know the truth about our identity—whose we are and who we are. This knowledge of our true identity in Christ is a source of affirmation and confidence that the enemy seeks to undermine.  He doesn’t want us to know the truth about our inheritance or even the truth about him, the Devil himself.  Satan doesn’t want us to see the truth, period.  Listen, a Christian void of truth about this Kingdom that we are a part of will undoubtedly live … Read more

The most successful people are the ones who take a chance on themselves. What are you passionate about? If money weren’t an issue, would you do it? During the 2020 pandemic, many people were forced to create new ways to generate income to care for their homes. So many started putting their God-given talent and abilities into productivity by starting a side hustle out of what they loved to do,  and it’s so funny how many were not afraid to put themselves out there. The pandemic caused many to rise to the challenge and enter entrepreneurship. Nobody cared if they failed; it was a matter of survival. Many people finally started their dream business, and the funny thing is they ended up leaving their 9-5 job to pursue their passion that they set aside for years because we were taught that a full-time job (which some of us hate) was the only way to make money.  Procrastination is one of the biggest dream killers of a person’s destiny.  It is also said that “procrastination is a thief of time.” What have you wanted to do since forever, and you keep putting it off? Well, stop putting it off right now! The world is waiting on your God-given gifts, talents, and abilities. Stop for a minute and answer the following questions: If you can’t answer these now, set aside some time to ponder them prayerfully. You may also ask those around you because sometimes the people closest to you can see what you are great at even when you don’t see it!  Believing in yourself and your ability to accomplish great things is not just necessary; it’s crucial.  If you don’t believe in yourself, who will? Who will take you seriously? Who will be willing to take a risk with you if you don’t believe in yourself? Your self-belief is a powerful force that will make others take notice of you. It will radiate from you, and others will be inspired to support you in whatever way they can. Have you ever heard of the saying, “It takes money to make money?” Listen, that saying is true. There is nothing more rewarding than building yourself up through paid learning. I know there are tons of YouTube videos out there that can teach you a thing or two, but let’s be honest; how far can they go if you want to be the best at what you do or plan to do? How far can YouTube videos go if you want to master your skill or craft? Now, I am not saying to put yourself in debt trying to hone your skills, but what I am saying is to work towards investing in yourself, and while you’re doing that, by all means, use YouTube videos to learn, grasp, and perfect your skills. But please don’t sit there for years with that method; instead, save while learning from YouTube videos with a goal in mind: invest in yourself. Even if that means going back to school part-time.  It’s always possible to reinvent yourself; it takes a robust and determined mindset. Covid taught the world this lesson. What was that childhood dream career you wanted, but life stepped in the way, and you thought your life was over, so you threw it aside? With the right mindset and great determination, you can reinvent yourself and go for it. What do you have to lose? Absolutely nothing. Changing your mindset toward your goals is one of the most significant ways to achieve anything in this life—no matter what. Changing your mindset can move you from the back of the line to the front. And let me tell you something: you must have a winning mindset. You must have a determined mindset. You must have a victory mindset. No excuses. With the right mindset, you can overcome any obstacle and achieve your goals.  Once you start, don’t quit! As the saying goes, “Winners never quit, and quitters never win.” I am sure you have heard of the tortoise and the hare. The tortoise understood that “slow and steady wins the race.” When you set out on a new path to achieve what you want in this life, DON’T QUIT!! It might be hard at first because, truthfully, life is hard. You may even ask yourself if what you’re pursuing is worth it. Yes, it’s worth it! As Les Brown would say with his infectious laugh, “You gotta be hungry!”  Hungry people are unstoppable.  Persistence is vital.  Les Brown says you can endure anything if you know “the whys” for living.  I implore you to Write five things that would make it worth it! As you ponder these seven things, create a vision board and begin to work on them. If you fail, please give yourself some grace, get back up, and try again because failing is not the end.  Roy T. Bennett says the one who fails and gets up is stronger than the one who never tried. 

The book of Psalms is such a powerful book. Many of the Psalms are comforting and encouraging. When I’ve hit rock bottom and feel like I have no strength to persevere or I can’t pray, I often turn to the Psalms. I meditate on the words, underline scriptures, and use them to pray. I love to start reading from the back because that’s where most of the praise Psalms are located. Reading the Psalms will give you strength to fight the good fight of faith.  We are living in very challenging and frightening times. Recently, many have become more fearful of the unknown, especially with all that’s happening in the political arena in America and in the wars across the world.  Psalm 46 is a favorite of many. It contains so many comforting words that, if we take it as it is, it can put our minds at ease. The central sentiment of this Psalm is that the Lord of Host is with us, and the God of Jacob is our refuge. Psalm 46:1-3 NKJV 1. God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2. Therefore, we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. 4. There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. 5. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. 6. The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. 7. The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Refuge means being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble. When you think of a refugee camp, you think of a place of safety from severe harm or danger. Even in the Old Testament, they had various Cities of Refuge where those whose lives were threatened could go and be safe. So, when we think of God as our Refuge, we say He is our hiding place, our shield from danger and harm. Psalm 3:3 says  But you, O Lord, are a shield for me; my glory and the lifter up of my head.  Psalm 91: 1-2 says, “He that dwells in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the almighty I will say of the Lord. He is my refuge and my fortress; my God in him will I trust.” The AMP Bible says, “He is my refuge and my fortress on Him I lean and rely on, and in Him I confidently trust.”  God is always ready to help us, so we can always go to him when the storms of life are raging, causing fear to grip our hearts. Remember, 1st Peter 5:7 tells us “to cast all our cares upon him because he cares for you.” Indeed, He’s our refuge and strength, a very present help in troublesome times. Proverbs 18:10 assures us that the name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it, and we are safe. Psalm 46:2 Therefore, we will not fear. Even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; In verses 2-3, the psalmist describes great calamities in nature, which are likened to the troublesome times we are living in now. News reports about various wars, the economic decline, and the state of America are driving fear into the hearts of many people worldwide. Due to the high cost of living, many are on the brink of homelessness. It’s had even become difficult for some to buy food and the necessary things for life. These skyrocketing prices are also driving fear and anxiety into the lives of many. Even in the political sphere of the United States of America, one of the most significant countries in the world, people are becoming fearful of what today, tomorrow, and the future will be. Matt 6:25 -34 tells us, amongst many things, not to worry. It also tells us that God will take care of us. Believers, God can be trusted. Always remember who holds our today, our tomorrow, and our future. All are in His hands. Listen, now is not the time to be fearful. You have to trust God in these times of uncertainty. The Bible made it clear to us what will be in the last days; consequently, we need not fear. That’s why the Psalmist emphasized this statement about God – He is our Refuge and Strength, a very present help in times of trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth be removed and the mountains be carried into the midst of the seas. In other words, no matter what is happening, we have security in God therefore, we must not fear. Psalm 46:3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling.  When water roars in the ocean, it can bring a tsunami because the plates have shifted at the bottom of the sea. Usually, it is as a result of an earthquake. Some situations in our lives are like tsunamis; they come to disrupt and destroy our lives.  Believers are not exempt from troubles, tests, or trials. Jesus admonishes in St. John 16:33 that we will have tribulations in this world, but that we should be of good cheer, for he has overcome the world. When all of hell is breaking loose, and the Devil is on the path trying to destroy your life and frustrate the grace of God upon your life, remember to be of good cheer, for God has already given you victory. Whatever tsunamis are trying to destroy you … Read more

Today, I am here to share my testimony about my son, who was born with Spina Bifida.  I pray that my testimony will encourage you to believe that God, according to Ephesians 3, can do exceedingly and abundantly above all we could ever think or ask. God is still a miracle-working God.  Luke 18:27 says that the things that are impossible with men are possible with God. I want to remind you that God specializes in the impossible; only believe.   Twenty-two years ago, in 2002, my husband and I had a bouncing seven lb baby boy who was born with spina bifida. Spina Bifida is a condition where the spine doesn’t develop properly within the first three weeks of pregnancy, and a lot of complications can happen as a result of the spine not being correctly formed in the womb. The severity of the complication depends on where the spine was damaged.  There are four types of Spina Bifida. David was born with the most serious one. He has many complications; among them are club feet, Paralysis, incontinence, no feelings in the lower limbs, and deformity in the legs. When David was born, I saw ten toes and ten fingers. His little face was so cute. But due to the severity of his condition, they whisked him away immediately to the children’s hospital as there was a massive lump on his back, which they call a sac; it was filled with fluid, and in it lies the damaged spinal cord and nerves.  I think it was about two days later that I was released from the hospital, and I remember my husband and I headed straight to the Children’s Hospital to look for our son. We were told that the doctor wanted to speak with us upon arrival. So, while we were there waiting on him, I was looking at David and, in my mind, I was like, God, I know you can heal our son. Before David was born, I used to watch a program on TLC called Baby Story, and for that entire month, they showed babies born with Spina Bifida. I believe God was preparing me for it. Spina Bifida is due to a lack of folic acid in the body. Studies have shown that they are not sure anymore if lack of folic acid is the real reason, but anyhow, when the doctor came to us, he said, “I am not going to do anything to this child because David is going to be a vegetable for the rest of his life. The doctor went further to say he won’t be able to say mommy or daddy and won’t be able to do anything; in other words, he’s just going to leave him to die.  On the program that I watched before giving birth, they would do surgery on the back and push in the sac that contains the spine, nerves, etc., and close it up. Even though the child will still have some form of complications, the surgery would help in specific ways. One way is that the baby won’t have a lot of infections, and the baby won’t have that big sac out on the back draining spinal fluid. But because the doctor already gave him over to die, he didn’t care to do anything. I pondered what he said in my heart, but my faith in God was not shaken.  I know the God of the Bible for myself, and He has proven to be Jehovah Rapha, The Lord our healer.  After the doctor told my husband and me all the bad news, his opinions, what he would not do, etc., I didn’t let it shake my faith. I said to the doctor, ok, But God is able, and every time the doctor said something terrible,  I would say, ok, But God is able. I remember I went back and looked at my son and said, “God, I know the God in whom I believe, and I know that you are able.” After spending time with our son, I prayed for him before leaving late that night.  You see, I chose to believe the Lord’s report. That night, I went home, took up my Bible, got a red pen, and went through the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. I looked for every healing scripture in those books and wrote the word healing beside them. Every day, I would read them and remind the Lord that He is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore.   Whenever I went into my prayer closet, I read those healing scriptures aloud, looked up, and said, “Jesus, remember you did that.” I never ceased to pray, and I never ceased to read those healing scriptures.  I even laid my Bible on David, prayed, and reminded God that he is a miracle-working God. I had my consecrated olive oil, and every day after cleaning David, I lotion his body with it, prayed, and told God those scriptures. I remember one day when I was cleaning David, I pinched his leg to see if he would feel anything cause, remember now, David has no feelings from his waist down. So, I pinched him, and I saw a reaction. I don’t know if it was a false reflex, but I remember I did it again, and David flinched. You see, the doctor told me the only way he would do surgery is if life came in the legs, so because I believe in God, I felt this was some hope.   Later that evening, When the doctor came to do his rounds, I told him with expectation, hoping that he would perform the surgery. He said no because that little flinch is nothing, and he once again said, “David is going to be a vegetable for the rest of his life, so he won’t waste his time doing anything. So, I asked what would happen to his back because he had to be dressed every day due to the spinal … Read more

Apostle Joshua Selman said, “Prayer is a system established by God for fellowship, warfare, intercession, and making requests.” Prayer is powerful; we should do it daily and as often as possible. Luke 18:1 (NIV ) says, “We must always pray and not give up. Prayer is a commandment. Matthew 6 doesn’t say if we pray; it says “when we pray.” Therefore, God is expecting us to always pray. Prayer, when paired with the Word, has power over everything. It has tremendous power to transform our lives and the lives of others in every way because of the one we pray to( God our Father, Who Art In Heaven.) We know He hears and will help us. Isaiah 59:1 reminds us, “God’s ears are not deaf that He cannot hear us, nor is His hand short that He cannot save.” That’s why we must always see prayer as something other than merely making requests for our needs. There are different types of prayers. For instance, praying for others is called intercessory prayer. We petition God in the name of Jesus Christ on the behalf of others. Contrary to popular belief, intercessory prayer is not mandated for a particular group of Christians. As a result of our relationship with God through Jesus Christ, all Christians are urged to intercede for all people.  In 1st Timothy 2:1-4, we see Paul’s exhortation, “that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men: for kings, and for all that are in authority: that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour: who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.  This Bible verse shows how important it is to pray for others. It instructs us first to offer supplication prayers. A prayer of supplication is simply asking for something; next, he says prayers. Supplication and prayers go hand in hand, as prayer is communication with Abba, our Father, who is in Heaven. Intercession is making a request on someone else’s behalf. So, you see how the three words connect. We Pray to God the Father in the Name of Jesus by making requests on behalf of others. Since we live in a world filled with troubles, heartache, pain, and sorrows, we should prioritize intercessory prayers. If there was ever a time in history when we needed to intercede for others, that time is now. Interceding for others is one way we show God’s love for all humanity. Intercession allows us to reach places we cannot physically go.  In the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, we often read how Jesus would awake before dawn and go to a solitary place to pray. He understood the priority of communicating with God daily. God wants us to commune with Him daily through prayer. The Bible encourages us to pray as God takes pleasure in hearing from us (Luke 18:1). It demonstrates how much we need God as we are not independent of Him. God is our Abba: our Father, our Source, our Defender, our Present Help, and so much more! And so it is pertinent for us to come to Him often in prayer.  There are many reasons why we should pray for others, but I want us to look at four (4) things that happen when we do so.   1) It kills selfishness. If the truth be told, the world is full of selfish, self-centered people. We often think about our needs, desires, and wants. When the cares of our lives bombard us, we spend time petitioning God for ourselves and not others. It should not be so as we are instructed in the Bible to pray for each other, especially since others are suffering and facing trials of all sorts (1st Peter 5:7-9).  Jesus Christ is our perfect example, as we see him in the New Testament as the ultimate Intercessor. In Luke 23:34, we see Jesus in the most selfless intercession of all as he petitioned God on behalf of those who crucified him. Jesus was and still is the greatest Intercessor of all time. Romans 8:34 tells us that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God, making intercessions for us Daily. We see the same selfless intercession in Acts 7:59-60 when Stephen was stoned to death; he knelt  and raised his voice to heaven saying, “Father, do not hold this sin against them!” So, praying for others will help us not be selfish and self-centered. When we lose selfishness, we become better givers and show more love and compassion for others. As a beautiful byproduct, we receive strength, which empowers us to face life’s challenges with resilience and grace. Now, this leads me to the second reason of what happens when we pray for others. 2) You receive strength! Jesus often stole away to pray, as he knew the importance of praying and could do nothing outside God’s strength. Not only do we receive strength when we pray with or for others, but we also receive joy that is unspeakable, full of glory and peace like a river that attends unto our soul. Oh, how, In these troublesome times, we need the Lord’s joy and strength. That strength, happiness, and peace we receive will help us face our challenges with patience and endurance because we aren’t focused on our problems but on the needs of others. 3) You sow seeds that will produce a harvest in due season Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived. God is not mocked, but whatever a man sows, he will reap.” Sowing involves more than money. We can sew our gifts, talents, and abilities. In other words, we can sew ourselves for the glory of God. The Bible says in (John 12:24) that except a seed falls into the ground and dies, it cannot bear much fruit. When you pray for … Read more

Prayer is communicating with God. We pray for various reasons, and one reason is making requests and petitions. In the same way, a child looks to their parents to meet their needs and to help them, so we must look to our heavenly Father for everything. God is so loving; He wants us to come to Him for everything. There is no request, too small or too big, that we cannot ask of him. He is Abba!   Parenting is not an easy job, and we don’t always get it right. So, we need our heavenly Father to help us every step of the way.   1st Timothy 2:1 (NIV) says, “I urge then first of all that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people.”  Based on this Scripture, we need to make prayer a priority for our children.   Whenever we pray for our children, we must pray scripturally-based prayers. We must take God at His word and not doubt Him, and we must believe that God hears and will answer.  1st John 5: 14-15 (NIV) says, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”  As such, let us look at what the Word of God says about our Children and let this be the motivation for making prayer for our Children a priority.  Psalm 127: 3-4 NLT “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him.” Children are precious blessings given to us by God, and we ought to give God thanks for our blessings and pray for them daily.  Additionally,  we must love, care, and treasure them.  There are many books written giving good advice on parenting. However, with the plethora of information, many can say that they have missed out on being the perfect parent. Even with the overload of information, we must realize that we cannot do it alone.   As a Christian, I rely heavily on God to help me raise my children, especially in the fear of God. Most of us try to do that, but there is an enemy called the devil who goes about like a roaring lion seeking to destroy lives and that includes our children. He wants to abort the purposes of God for their lives. Listen, no matter if your children are good or bad or in between, one thing I know for sure is that we must pray for our children daily. It must be at the top of our priority list!   Jeremiah 29:11 (AMP) For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you says the Lord plans for peace and wellbeing and not a disaster to give you a future and a hope.  To know that the Creator of the universe wants the best for our children is something that should stir a great desire in us to pray for them daily. I can’t stress this enough because sometimes we give up on our children especially if we see them veer off to a wrong path. Sometimes those wrong paths can cost them everything, but we can’t give up on them. We can’t stop praying. As  Jeremiah 29:11  reminds us, God’s thoughts towards our children are good and He wants to see His plans and purposes fulfilled in their lives.   Psalm 139:16 (NLT) You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.  God knew our children from within the womb. And He still knows them up to this present day. He desires for them to walk in the way that He has laid out for them, even though the devil wants to rob them of their destiny. We can’t afford to sit by and let that happen! Even if our children go astray like the prodigal son, we can’t stop praying for them, covering them, and placing them in God’s hands. We must ask the Lord to guide them in how they should go because He said in  Psalm 139:16  that He saw them in their mother’s womb and all their lives have been planned.  Proverbs 22:6 says, train up a child in the way they should go and when they are old, they will not depart from it.   God’s word is true. As you are reading this today, you may have grown children who may not be walking in the good way that you have taught them.  Don’t lose heart. Just continue to give them to God in prayer and believe Him for everything concerning them.  Luke 19:10 KJV For the son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.  If your child has not accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior that alone is reason enough to be praying for them daily because God desires that all people will be saved and come to the knowledge of Him, by 1st  Timothy 2:4. Yes, we want our children to have a good education, a good job, a good spouse, good friends, favor and prosperity and all the good stuff in this life, but what good is all of this if they lose their soul to hell.  Matthew 8:36 (KJV) says “What does it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his soul?  If you haven’t been faithful in praying for your child/children every day, you can start right now by using this prayer below:  Oh, wonderful Lord, I come to you today to pray for [my child]/[my children]. I give you all the glory and all the praise for you alone are worthy to be praised. Thank you for making a way that we can always come boldly before the throne of grace to obtain … Read more