WEEKLY DEVOTION WITH MUGISA ABWOOLI | 29.01.2024

 

PREPARE YOURSELF TO WIN: THE LIVING REALITY

ECCLESSIASTES 8:10-15

Verse 15: “So, I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink and enjoy life. That way, they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.

Praise God! Again, I say, praise God!

Happy new week where we expect to see and tell more of God’s goodness in this land of the living and the prosperous. We look forward to ending January and starting February on Thursday, this week!

Warm greetings from the Mugisas and our associates. We wish you and your loved ones the very best in life.

As we think about winning and being victorious in life, we must understand that everything starts and ends with GOD, our Creator. King Solomon, in the portion of scripture that we have read emphasizes that everything in life is meaningless; it is vanity upon vanity. This almost presupposes that we may relax and chill, since whatever it is that we see and have, is useless, meaningless, vanity. He, however adds that despite the fleetingness of life, we must find some time to eat, drink and make merry or cheer up.

The mind of a winner is structured in such a way that we know that though this world may not be our home and though everything might be vanity, we should constantly plan ahead and enjoy life to its fullness. The Bible reminds us in Mathew 6 that we should not worry about tomorrow; that tomorrow shall care for itself; that tomorrow has enough troubles of its own. This too, does not call us to relax and wait upon God alone. Not at all. We must plan for tomorrow if we must win.

There are five thought-lines that we must put into practice this week as we prepare ourselves to win. These are:

        1. Know who you are

Do you know who you are? Apart from knowing your name, where you come from; your profession; your spouse; and this and that; do you know who you truly are? What is your personality? Who do people know you to be? That can help you to win because as you reflect upon the winner in you, then you work even harder and better.

        2. Forgive and forget

I am mindful of the fact that as long as we relate and associate with people on a day-to-day basis, we are likely to get hurt in one way or another. Holding people at heart because they wronged us is the hardest and strongest barrier to our success and victory. The people who did us wrong may not even be conscious or aware that they hurt us. It is easier and feels cool to keep on forgiving the people who hurt us because in doing that, we free ourselves from some form of self-bondage.

3.        3. Be compassionate – give as much as you can – sacrifice

Reaching out to the needy is another way we prepare for victory and for more of god’s blessings. Haven’t you seen people who have so much including what they don’t need anymore? Haven’t you seen people who hold so much onto life’s issues and never want to let go? They think everything is about them and them alone! It is high time that we practice love if we preach love. Let’s look out for one person and another person to bless so that we may be blessed as well. Compassion is about sacrifice; sacrificing what you should have had for yourself but instead choose to give it up to someone else. That’s what Jesus did. He gave up his life as a living sacrifice for all that we would be free.   

4.       4. Plan for tomorrow today

Yes, let us plan for tomorrow. God blesses our plans and the work of our hands. This means that we should be up and working. The Bible has called us not to worry about tomorrow but hasn’t called us to be idle or lazy. We are reminded in Proverbs 3:5-6 to submit our plans to God and he shall direct our paths or make our paths straight. Our tomorrow must be great than today.

5.        5. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling 

We must practice what we preach. If we got saved, we must live lives that portray the character and nature of Christ. If Christ has set us free, we must live lives that reveal freedom and not bondage. We cannot say that we are born again and live a life of losers. Those who are in Christ are victorious; they have overcome; they live daily in victory. Indeed, no weapon formed against them will ever prosper. 

Prayer for this week:

Heavenly Father,

Please prepare us to win. Prepare us for victory.

Thank you, O LORD, for our past, present and future. Our lives belong to you. Without you we can do nothing but with you everything is possible. May you give us success this week so that we may continue to glorify your Holy name in all the earth. Help those in need; heal the seek; increase the joy of the joyful; divert the plans of the evil one. Teach us the way of love for one another. Glorify You name in our midst, now and forevermore, amen.   

Mugisa Reflection 4 of 2024