This article was in my heart to write about when I released my/His first book in 2015 but somehow I never got to share it.
Its 2018 and again the Lord is calling me back to it.
So few days back, I was speaking to a sister about how my book “Prayers for your future husband” was being shared for free in WhatsApp Groups/groups with single ladies and I felt bad a bit because the book isn’t for free.
A part of me saw it as no biggie. The message was still being spread and a part of me felt slighted.
CONFESSION TIME:
I had these hangups on my book not really flying as it should be… not being a bestseller or breaking the internet and still, a lot of these persons who would read the book for free would keep mute about it and not share.
So in my heart a bit I felt slighted.
And then on Monday something happened in our The Women At The Well Ministry online group.
A certain lady of ours who’s to get married soon had gotten overwhelming help from ladies in TWTW who she didn’t know.
She sent me a voice note on WhatsApp totally blown away and overwhelmed by the support and among the things she said, she said: “and I don’t know you or them from anywhere. God just used you ladies as strangers to help me even when my family and close friend turned their back on me. It was just your book I read that linked me to you…”
And then she proceeded to pray for me in a way that brought tears to my eyes.
I felt like: “my God!!”
You see, she very likely had been sent my book for free in one of those groups and then linked to our women ministry and then in time of need God had arranged help also from the women at the well ladies for her. All these God did even without anyone of us having prior foresight of it.
I thought:
WHAT’S BESTSELLER STATUS IN THE LIGHT OF WHAT GOD HAS PREORDAINED TO DO THROUGH A BOOK IN THE LIVES OF HIS PEOPLE?
I had to repent also. Of my carnal and fleshy thoughts and small mindedness.
I was studying James the next day and was spoken to with the exact same scripture God had used to speak to me in 2015 on selfish ambition with the books He has given me.
“But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.”
James 3:14-16 NLT
God gives us things to do and things to birth upon the earth and He makes us stewards of those things. But then we carry those things as ours and measure them by the measurement of the world and standards of men.
If a thing’s origin is from heaven, who is to determine what its success is to be measured by?
Selfish ambition is wanting what we want with those things we are stewards over and the Bible says that where that exists, there is evil and disorder of every kind.
What has the Lord created a thing to be?
Whats heaven’s use for that which He used you to birth on the earth?
Perhaps its more than for the bestseller status and wide-spread of YOUR NAME?
Maybe there is a bigger purpose for it all than for just the one laid up in your mind.
This is applicable to everything that the Lord gives us to steward for Him.
Who gets the glory?
At the back of your heart, whose name do you really want to be spread abroad?
May the Lord help us to cleanse our hearts and align with the wisdom of God.
Prayer:
Lord cleanse my heart thoughts. Holy Spirit cleanse me from within from jealousy, envy and selfish ambition. Let it be you that I see. You that I worship. Your purpose that I am driven by. Your heart that I seek. Your fame and glory that I desire. Let it be your heart that I sink into. Let it be your mind and purpose for what you have given me that rules over all that I do in Jesus name I pray, amen.
***
“But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace-loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. “
James 3:17, NLT
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Till next time,
Lots of Love,
HF.
JOYFUL NEWS:
1:
You can order for all copies of my books here
2:
Pre-order my new book “Prayers for your future seed” here
2 Comments
Esther
March 23, 2018 at 10:21 amI am also guilty of this cause sometimes as a person we get lost in our purpose then we start wanting recognition and accolades.pastor tdjakes. Said sometimes our testimony is not for us but for others we are just pencil in God’s hand used to write his will.The Lord Will give us Grace to abide In Jesus name Amen
Frances Okoro
April 19, 2018 at 3:53 pmAmen and amen Esther. That we would decrease and He increase! Amen! Thanks dear