Humans are imperfect beings loved by a perfect God.

As a result of our imperfections, we sometimes commit mistakes that end up hurting ourselves and even others. However, when this happens, we are not to remain in the pit of our mistakes and refuse to rise.

All of us have made mistakes. We have failed in one way or the other in the past. You may have been engaged in a wrongdoing and because of this, you keep blaming yourself even after God has forgiven you. This shouldn’t be. God has forgiven you so why don’t you come to terms with the forgiveness you have received and be kind to yourself?

Not being able to rise from the pit of your mistakes would make you operate at a level of mediocrity. This is because you will believe you are the mistakes you’ve committed, and that your self-worth is based on these mistakes. You will keep looking down on yourself, and your mind will be filled with thoughts of hatred towards yourself, and feelings of guilt and shame. This could lead to depression and even suicidal thoughts.

Inferiority complex and low self-esteem then set in, and you would not be motivated to achieve greatness in life because you will think you are a good-for-nothing person.

It is pertinent to note that it will be difficult to move past the level of your mistakes if you keep dwelling on them. Everyone makes mistakes, true. But we serve a God who is perfect goodness and who loved us even while we were yet sinners. As His word says, He will be with us to comfort, guide and protect us even through the deep and sunless valley so let Him pick you up. Allow Him to guide you. Forget the past, let it go, you’ve been made a new creature. Let God help you make effective use of your present as you fulfill the great plans He has for your future.

You’re not what you have done. The Bible tells us in Roman 8, the first verse that there is therefore now no condemnation for us who are in Christ Jesus. You’re not a failure. You are who God says you are and God himself calls you beloved, so why should you look down on yourself and think you’re worth nothing?

A man once said, you were bought by God at the price of the precious blood of Jesus, therefore you’re priceless.

Your mistakes do not cancel your destiny, another man of God stated therefore beloved, do not dwell on your mistakes. They do not define who you are or who you will turn out to be. Knowing and believing this truth will help you to truly love yourself and appreciate the gifts and talents God has packed inside you.

No matter the mistakes you’ve made, you can and will rise again. God has not left you behind, He’s right here beside you with arms wide open waiting for you to come into His embrace. Psalm 136:23 says that,

‘He did not forget us when we were defeated; His love is eternal.’ (GNT)

Dear friend, don’t hold on to your past, refusing to forgive yourself but rather hold on to God and let not your mistakes define who you are – because in Christ, you have been redeemed and made new.

Also, do not let other people’s mistakes define who you are or who you’ll turn out to be. For example, if your parents did not plan to have you and they keep reminding you about this, saying you are a mistake, do not believe that. It’s not true! God wanted you on this earth for a reason, that’s why He sent you here even if your parents did not “plan” you.

And if the Creator of the Heavens and the earth loves you so much that He sent you Jesus, His son to lay down his life for you; if the Holy Spirit has come down to live in you and be your bestie, why then do you think you’re worth nothing? On the contrary, your value is far higher than all the gems in the world. So stand tall in the identity Christ has given you!

Words are significant, especially the ones we speak over ourselves.

As a result, we are to speak good things into our lives. Don’t say things like – enu gbe, money no dey ground, boys are broke, I can’t make it, babes are ugly, my head is big but my brain is tiny, Sapa na my papa, I’m shapeless, E don spoil, I’m a poor speaker, etc.

The Bible tells us that the power of life and death lies in the tongue. This shows how powerful the tongue is, therefore use it for your good. Everyone desires a successful life, a life filled with good health, peace, joy and provision and yet we still speak failure and evil over ourselves!

Our confessions over ourselves and circumstances matter a lot so continue to speak positive words even when you have not yet started to see the physical manifestation.

Your life will align with your words because you say what you believe. Your words are a result of your thoughts, hence if you say you’re a nobody or that you can’t achieve anything in life, it’s most likely what you have been thinking in your heart.

Confess God’s promises over yourself and speak His Word into your life. He watches over His Word to perform it, so He’ll watch over the Word that you’ve spoken into your life to perform it. Isaiah 55:11 tells us that His word will never return to Him without accomplishing that which He has sent it out to do, therefore when we speak God’s word, we’ll see it becoming fulfilled in our lives.

Say things like: I’m loved and forgiven by God; I’m redeemed; I’m the apple of God’s eye; I’m unique, beautiful/handsome and brilliant; I walk in prosperity and victory; Help and helpers locate me; I’m more than a conqueror; I’m fruitful and I multiply; I’m blessed and so the work of my hands are blessed; The Lord multiplies my efforts.

Even as you make these confessions, work hard. Don’t say “I’ll pass my exams” and yet you wouldn’t read or “I’ll be promoted” and yet you’re only present at work twice a week. Study, be diligent in what you do and speak the Word because when God enforces it, success is assured.

Speak God’s Word and watch how your life becomes exactly what you desire!

Prayer is the world’s greatest wireless connection because it connects you directly to your Maker, the Lord Almighty. As Christians, we pray to God with the help of the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus.

In Philippians 4:6, the Bible tells us,

‘Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.’ (MSG)

This shows that prayer is not an exercise of your vocal cords, or you speaking to space. It is communication with the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth. It should be a conversation between you and God, not just you talking and then rushing out of His presence afterwards. You should wait and listen to what He has to say to you.

Prayer strengthens your faith in God, equipping you with the ability to scale hurdles and to do the things you could not do by your power. Invest time in praying and seeking God’s face on issues of life. Pray to know God’s will for your life, and ask Him for His guidance and strength to walk in it.

Prayer invites God into your life affairs, giving Him the freedom to do great things. Persist even if you don’t yet see the physical manifestation, because your prayers do make a difference.

If you are going through difficult times, lay them at the feet of Jesus. He is greater than whatever is causing you anxiety. Pray for yourself, pray for others; pray concerning your today and your future. Prayers do not have an expiration date. You never know when, where, or how God will answer.

Pray without ceasing and not only when things are falling apart. Don’t give in to anxiety, rather turn all your concerns and heart desires over to God believing He has heard you and is working things out for your good.

May the peace of God encompass and keep you in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Investing is spending money, time, or energy on something, especially for some benefit or purpose.

Just like the way one invests in stock, it is also possible to invest in oneself. Apart from God and your parents, no one else would spend as much money, time or energy on yourself like you would.

When you invest in yourself, you carry out actions and get involved in activities that develop you. It helps you work towards making yourself a greater person in life, so that you can become someone to be reckoned with.

How do you invest in yourself?

• Self-discovery: Take time to think deeply. Ask yourself; Who am I? What can I do well? What do I want to become in life? What are my gifts and talents? These questions will help you to realize the abilities you have been gifted with and also serve as a guide for your ambitions.

• Hone your talents: Every human being on earth has been blessed by God with a gift. What is that thing you find you’re best at, that activity that you engage in without struggles or making any special effort? It’s probably your talent. Polish it, and let it shine. It’ll make a way for you to stand before kings and noble men.

• Learn a skill: Take a course, learn a vocation, start a business. Don’t be idle, get engaged in something. Even if you have a degree already, you could still learn a trade. It could be catering, hairstyling, makeup, teaching younger ones a subject or two, learning how to fix pipes around the house or selling items like belts, perfumes, etc. What you learn now would definitely serve as a help to you later in life, because no knowledge is ever wasted. Let there be an extra to your ordinary, it’s what makes you stand out from others.

• Read books: Try to read books that will help increase your knowledge base positively. The truth is, you can’t know it all, and the more you read, the more knowledgeable you become. Books, whether hard copy or e-copy, are very essential investments because readers are leaders.

• Create meaningful friendships: Surround yourself with great minds, and you’ll become great yourself. When your friends are people who are goal-getters or achievers in life, they’ll prompt you in the same direction. Asking them for feedback and corrections concerning issues you’re experiencing helps you know where you might be slipping up. Good friends serve as proper guides to help and support you during challenging times.

• Take care of yourself: Eat good food, rest well, drink lots of water and try to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Doing this will help you enjoy good health and protect you from illnesses or diseases that occur due to unhealthy lifestyles. It is only the living that have dreams and aspirations.

• Involve God: Pray for yourself, fast for yourself, commit your future into God’s hands – trusting Him to take care of you despite how tough life might become. Seek God’s face concerning His plans for you so that you can live your life in accordance with His will. Carry God along because only in Him is there true meaning to life. When you do this, you’re not likely to go astray, as He would help you live a life of victory and excellence.

Investing in yourself is a process that never stops. You can’t do it all at once; rather it’s something you achieve over a course of time. Engage in activities that make you better. Even if it seems like results are not being yielded, remain consistent and the Good Lord will make the work of your hands over yourself fruitful.

The king sat staring into space, his finger tapping against the side of the throne. Gathered around him, his advisers spoke in loud voices.

“My lord, why don’t we attack them the same way we did the last time?”

“Your Majesty, it would be better if we—”

The king raised his hand, a sigh escaping his lips. “That’s enough. You may all take your leave.”

After the door was shut the door behind the last person, the King threw off his robe and crown before sinking to his knees.

“Lord.” He cried. “Please help me. Should I attack them like before? Will I be victorious?”

Yes. But go around and get ready to attack them from the other side, near the balsam trees.

Once again, he rode into battle and did as God instructed. As his army carried the loot of the enemy into their camp, King David smiled and lifted up his face to Heaven.

“Thank you Lord.”

Have you ever been in a situation where you don’t know what to do or how to do it? Where it seems like you’re standing on the edge of a cliff and any step forward will make you plunge into disaster?

Just as we have seen King David do in the story mentioned above from 2 Samuel 5: 17-25, the Bible tells us in Proverbs 3: 5-6 that we should,

‘Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.’ (KJV)

‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in everything you do, and He will show you the right way.’ (GNT)

At times, we are in such a rush to get things done that we forget there’s Someone who sees the end from the beginning and knows how everything would turn out. For example, you might think that a particular step or way is the best for you, however God knows that such step will not end well. God is your Father and He wants you to have the best, but most times what we think is best is not usually so.

Although God will never force you to come to Him; He loves you and is always ready to help. You can be sure He will never lead you astray so beloved, commit everything you want to do into God’s hands – whether in your finances, marital life, ministry or education. Don’t try to do things your own way, instead acknowledge how important He is, and He would remove every roadblocks from your way. Even as you go through life, trust God and be confident in Him—that He is willing and able to help and watch how things will unfold in your favour.

Cheers!