Seven days ago, I celebrated my birthday and I must say that I felt more peaceful about this year's birthday than last year's. 2019 was a tough year. I started doing very well. I had a relatively good job that was flexible enough to accommodate ministry and also encouraged me to start my own business along side.
February and March, I was caught up in fasting and praying for the Nigerian general elections. When, Seyi Makinde won the governorship election in Oyo state, I was full of gratitude, I never knew what was coming won't be palatable.
Towards the end of March, she said no. After having faith for 6 months! I mean, I did a full time diploma in Waiting, Calling and Trusting! Don't laugh at me; I was in love. I have learned my lesson and completely moved on. Incidentally, today is her birthday. She wouldn't read this though.
Fast forward to June, the major project we were doing at my work place for the government was not attended to again and work had to pause! Ministry to the secondary schools suffered the same fate. I was really annoyed. The very government I contributed in fasting and prayers to help bring to power is against me!
I was edged out of everything. By August, it was clear I needed a new direction on career and marriage. So, I began to seek God's face in fasting and prayers. It took me months to realize that God had a reason for edging me out of everything :I was done in Ibadan. He wanted out of Ibadan.
Why? Why leave this place? Would Abuja be fine? What about Jos? Alas, He mentioned Lagos! I have never liked Lagos. I know about the territorial spirits of Lagos and I am least interested in a duel with them. I have seen how everyone runs here. I wonder what is chasing them. They are always rushing. I do not want that life.
About 8am, with tears, I moved out of Ibadan on January 4, 2020. My hopes were high. I wanted to settle things as fast as possible, but His thoughts are different from my plan. The first setback I noticed was that the only place I got to stay was (with a cousin in) Ikorodu.
Now, let me be truthful with you. I hid something from you in my blog post about moving to Lagos in December. The Lord gave me an instruction not to look for Job in Lagos! But I could not wrap my head around the fact that I would keep all my skills and knowledge in a bag and then be doing what exactly?
If you're familiar with Lagos, you know that Ikorodu is almost another city. Going out is exactly a trip! It's 7 months already and I have only gone out 4 times. In March, my cousin announced that he would be getting married and I needed to get my own place.
I had just started teaching Mathematics and Physics in a nearby school. I was in trouble. I went to God. He told me to rest. In that posture of rest, God supernaturally supplied my rent. Now, my house is right in front of my church. (I had planned to be attending Covenant Christian Center, but He won't permit it; hopefully He would allow later). He asked me to stay in the Potter's house and that's the name of the GOFAMINT assembly I attend. There is no coincidence in God right? I am even writing this article inside the church.
That same March, He asked me to start a fast. I thought it would be a maximum of 21 days, but that fast is still going on as at this date. In April, I had a fantastic offer to move to Yaba with one of my pastors, but He wouldn't agree. I sent out my heavily structured CV to companies. I only got an interview where I was almost kidnapped. Story for another time.
You see, my stay in Lagos so far has not been as planned at all. He has now stopped me from being active on social media. You must have noticed that I have not been writing. Lagos, so far has been a retreat. You need to see how much I cring when He shares some things with me and I know that it would shed light on the current issues on the internet, but He stops me and says that I am not the only one that can share it. I guess that's a vital lesson for ministry.
Some of my friends called me to find out how Lagos has been. They expect all the good stories about job and the money! Frankly, I feel ashamed a bit to tell them that God says He wants me on a retreat right now. I mean, He is practically hiding me. My own case is not a lockdown. It's a lockup! I have about six books ready to be published, but He says no! I was concerned about my career because I understand the fluid nature of influence on the social media. People will forget that you once influenced them in a very short while, but it's not a set back. It's a set up!
It amazes me how far God can go to make us into what He wants. I have come to realize that He is not a trophy you win after some stretch fasting and prayers, He wants a life time commitment. I have submitted to His plans. He is leading me in mysterious ways. The things I have been struggling to get for years are now coming in as I rest in Him.
The school where I was teaching has been shut down since March because of the pandemic, yet I have not called one person for money or food and I have not gone a day without good food (except I choose to fast throughout). God has been so good to me. Yes, I don't have the big cash, clothes and cars, but my soul is really prospering daily. I now know Him experientially in many ways! Finance, health, marriage (Oh yes! I think I have good news; don't ask though).
I know this is a season and I plan to be faithful. With all this, I won't fail to mention how someone called and gave me a zero percent interest loan to start my business and how I won a scholarship to study Leadership and Management in Luxury Academy, London. God is good. Doors are opening as I follow Him.
I am learning about God in a refreshed manner. Foundational teachings like Faith, consistent bible reading and prayers are being entrenched in me all over again. I am taking lessons on ministry, intimacy, purity and intercession. I am learning how to prioritize God above ministry; His presence above fame. I am opening every part of me to light! Purpose is getting clearer. The vision is no longer cloudy. I thank God!
As I continue my retreat, I want to tell you how I am faring. It feels so much like a prison here, but I am encouraged by the story of Joseph. If there is anything I want at this time, it is to be faithful. My biggest lesson is that God's faithfulness is not validated by Him providing a job or wife, car or money. He is not a trophy we can showcase after winning a contract. He is God with or without the contract. So, my decision to follow is not because of His ability to give me something, but as a result of love!
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