NB. This post was first published on this blog in 2021
How have you managed to keep the fire burning?
What do I do when I really don’t feel like it?
Don’t you get tired?
I seem to start and be on fire, then stop, and am too disappointed to go back.
Any of the above familiar when it comes to you passion for Jesus and Christian faith in general?
Keep reading. I share five practices that have kept me on the ‘straight and narrow’ while staying on fire since I got born again.
I also have a YouTube video to throw some more 3D light on number 1
Trusting God to use my words to help and bless you.
Hey Saints,
As I mentor people,I get asked a variant of any of the questions above, especially when we start to talk about spirituality and faith. I sat and thought about 5 things that have helped me sustain my passion and love for Jesus.
TFS 2021 MENTEES SHARE THEIR MENTORING EXPERIENCE
If you KNOW me, and have known me for the past 15 years, you can testify that I have increasingly loved Jesus and here are a few things that have helped.
If you KNOW me, and have known me for the past 15 years, you can testify that I have increasingly loved Jesus and here are a few things that have helped.
1. Regular Retreats
I put this as number 1 because it really is THAT important. I find that, beyond quiet time and daily devotion, my time alone with Jesus and away really helps to fuel me. I shut down the world and really press in to Him, for at least 2 days or more. Even as a student in Uni, I did this. I found those cheap christian retreat places like Scripture Union house, Dominican and more, all in Ibadan. I recall I would pay like 2500 or 3k per night for it (in naira), and just be alone with Jesus. In Dominican, I stayed for free cos the Rev Fr there was a friend, and I still connected with him recently in Ibadan.
As a graduate, married woman, and now mom of 2, I still go on regular retreats at least 4 times a year.
In this video on YouTube, I share five ways to rock out your retreat
This will help you especially if retreats are new to you.
2. Submitting to Mentoring
Another very key one, and I know how it has POWERED me on. I have the privilege of both close mentors and distant mentors (check out my post 10,000 teachers and a rich slip stream for more on mentoring).
10,000 TEACHERS GUYS…STAY HUNGRY! LEAN IN!! GO HARD!!!
Where I have had direct access, I have asked many questions, and also opened up myself to accountability and correction and guidance from them, like my Rev, and the Kingsley-Okonkwo’s. I don’t run away or hide from my mentors.
Where I don’t have access, I stay and immerse myself in their rich slipstream, almost stalking their whole lives, like Joyce Meyer, Christine Caine, Lisa Bevere and more. I read their books, watch sermons and drink as much as I can. Hearing their stories and being a part of their journey deepens my convictions that being a LOVER and FOLLOWER of Jesus is SO WORTH it. You cant pay me enough to drift.
3. I invest my money, energy, and time into it
What you feed grows, and what you starve dies. My time is spent on consuming content from healthy christian sources, and of course Bible study. I also invest my money into it, like this post that talks about my Bibles. My energy also goes into it, so I can skip sleep just to grow my spiritual life. In fact in this season, I have been telling myself that I could sleep for 8 hours if I want but I CHOOSE to take out 3 hours from it and invest in my spiritual growth instead.
Its not just mouth; I put my money where my mouth is.
4. I steer clear of thorns
In the parable of the sower, one of the grounds the seed fell on was the thorny ground, and the Bible tells us that these ones received the word with JOY but they got choked with life’s worries, riches and pleasures, that the word had no room to grow.
If I am not intentional about keeping thorns away from the soil of my heart and life, they will choke away the life of my faith. Like I share in this post, I am constantly ridding myself of distractions as they try to increase or disguise.
5 ways to simplify and JOY-ify your life at HOME!!!
I lead a simple life and stay with the basics. In fact I embrace JOMO like I shared on this YT video
5 Ways To Enjoy The Joy Of Missing Out
This way, the word of God has room to spread and grow in my life without pleasures and social media
snuffing the life of it.
5. I stay in community
By God’s grace and mercies ONLY, I lead a fantastic Christian community called the WILD WOMEN.
If I didn’t lead it, best believe I would have found a community of faith to be plugged into. All through my years as a student, I served well in church and campus fellowship, from 100L. I had my christian friends with whom we prayed and chased Jesus together. I don’t know if I would still be this fire-filled if I isolated myself and stayed a one-man army Christian. These groups help me stay accountable and keep me straight.
You can find out about the WILD here and shoot us an email if you would like to join wild@thewild.ng
Ok, so these are five things that have truly kept me burning for Jesus. There is more but let’s stay with this. Practice it, like a child and I know you too will see your fire increase and increase.
And don’t forget to check out the YT video that accompanies this blog, with more details on how to rock out your retreat in 5 ways.
I also have this post on retreats that would help .
HOW TO PLAN A PERSONAL END OF YEAR RETREAT (MSG BY APOSTLE JOSHUA SELMAN)
Let me know which one has been the most helpful for you, and don’t forget to find ways to apply them NOW so you don’t forget. If you have a friend that needs it, please share with them.
Cheers to the fire burning, Saints
So much LOVE.
Eziaha