A Certain Kind Of Wisdom

 True wisdom is not common.

The truly wise are few and far between.

Life demands we operate in wisdom for wisdom can determine our relevance, our durability, our impact, our resourcefulness, our creativity, our choices, our decisions and how far we will go in life and eternity.

Wisdom is essential to life and living, wisdom is applicable to every sector of human concern and existence.

No wonder it is called the principal thing in scriptures.

We need wisdom!

It is essential.

The principal thing is that which is most important. the primary thing, the foundational element in a given context.

Wisdom to live and do what we need to do, wisdom for what what life demands of us is so important.

Since every endeavor of life requires wisdom, and there are so many sides to life; a certain kind of wisdom is required.

A many sided wisdom is needed.

A wisdom that helps us find and get the balance in life is needed.

Balance is the way to life for we will find ourselves having to balance a lot in life.

People should pray to the Lord, for sufficient wisdom for the Creator loves to give us wisdom.

People should pray to the Lord for wisdom that is sufficient and relevant to the times they are in.

A manifold or many sided wisdom is wisdom that you can apply to every area or sector of life.

People have to pray for wisdom, wisdom that helps them balance every aspect and area of their lives well.

As a kid I was interested in the Swiss pocket knife.

I was fascinated by the different tools such a small product contained

They are a multi-functional pocket knife with a distinct red and white cover.

I felt and still feel its a neat product, the coolest thing, a very useful product.

They are a beautiful, easy to carry compact product with many functions.

It has a tooth pick, usually on the side(s) that can be cleaned and slid back into its place, it has the long knife and the short knife, it has a cork screw, scissors amongst other functions all folded into one beautiful and compact design, which you can attach to your key holder if you wish.

You just pull out the tool you need from your Swiss pocket knife when needed. Neat!

Made by the Swiss company Victorinox,

Much like the Swiss Army Knives Victorinox makes,  the manifold wisdom of God is like that in the sense that it is applicable to the different dimensions and areas of our lives.

It is a certain kind of wisdom.

You can 'pull' out this wisdom and apply it just as you can pull out different tools from the Swiss army knife.

There is a certain type of wisdom required for every dispensation.

The Lord can give you the manifold wisdom you need for your day and age, for the times you live in.

We are in a changing world, a fast changing one at that!

Yesterday's wisdom may not suffice for today's challenges and fast changing seasons.

The wisdom needed in medieval and ancient times is different to the kind of wisdom needed in this technological and innovative age.

As we see from the scriptures, the wisdom patriarchs like Abraham and Isaac needed to be outstanding in their time was different to the kind of wisdom Jacob needed; the wisdom Jacob used was different to the wisdom Joseph displayed in Egypt.

Four different generations, different application of wisdom for their time.

Abraham and Isaac dug wells and prospered doing it, as well as kept livestock.

Jacob was purely a livestock breeder who gave gave trading secrets in a dream that helped him build up his own business.

Joseph was neither a digger of wells or a breeder/keeper of livestock, we was a dream interpreter.

Joseph's generation was more of a time when dreamers were needed and in demand.

God gave him the gift of having inspired dreams and the ability to interpret dreams.

This was the major wisdom and skill he would need to ascend his throne of destiny.

With wisdom comes skill.

It is God who gives us what we need.

There is a certain kind of wisdom you need for these times, your time.

Why not ask the Lord for it?

Wisdom can be upgraded.

Wisdom can increase.

Perhaps you have been operating with a certain degree of wisdom.

It just might not be enough.

You might need more wisdom to do more and achieve more.

Just like the Swiss Army knife, its maker Victorinox has been upgrading it over the years.

When I was a kid, their pocket knife had about 10 to 12 different functions and I found it thrilling.

I'm aware they have an army knife that has nothing less than 33 different functions/tools- the Swiss Champ pocket knife.

Victorinox has done a great job upgrading their product over the years.

This has kept them relevant as a company and producer over the years, it has maintained their uniqueness and competitive edge, as well as given their product endless possibilities.

Wisdom is like that.

You might have started off with wisdom that made you great at one or two things, perhaps a few things.

However time has changed and you need to operate with more superior strategies, greater skill and better ways of doing things.

You need a wisdom upgrade.

A manifold wisdom upgrade.

Very much like the Victorinox Swiss Army Pocket Knife I love.

Your Mindset & Your Promised Land

Your mindset can unlock miracles in your life and allow lots of blessings manifest for you, if you have a miracle mindset.

A right mindset can and should produce right results in your life.

Your mindset can also set you back and put you at a disadvantage if it is wrong.

A wrong mindset can block your progress and delay your own miracle or stop your miracle altogether.

Our mindset matters, it is a big deal.

Our minds need to be programmed right.

At times, things go wrong with how people think and how their minds have been programmed.

Situations, circumstances, unpleasant experiences and poor parenting can reprogram our minds wrongly.

Wrong philosophies, misleading wisdom, bad advice, and false beliefs we have accepted and processed can reprogram our minds wrong.

Mass media is daily programming people's minds.

What kind of mindset do you have?

Your mindset determines how you 'see' yourself, how you see yourself determines how people treat you, what you do and what you can have.

Your mindset determines your self belief and the kind of steps you will take.

Your self belief and your actions often determine what you get.

Our mindset is either making us seize opportunities or lose opportunities.

Some people have been traumatized mentally.

There is a need for internal healing when we have been wounded in our minds, in our souls.

The mind of Christ grants us a mindset that is healthy, it gives us a mindset that becomes whole when our minds are connected to His. 

It gives us a creative and resourceful mindset from a healthy source.

The Lord heals internal wounds, He heals soul wounds, He heals mindsets, its one of the reasons He came, "to bind up the broken hearted"

Being broken hearted is a soul condition, its an internal scar and pain.

The Lord takes care of us internally, not just outwardly.

Unforgiveness hinders internal healing, bitterness negatively programs our minds, envy poisons our soul and jealousy corrupts our mindset.

Fear blocks and hinders the fruitfulness of our mind and life.

The children of Israel left Egypt and journeyed to the promised land after a lot of resistance, power tussle and demonstration of power.

Unfortunately, that generation of Israelites who were once Egyptian slaves didn't make it into the promised land.

Their mindsets hindered them from receiving God's best for their lives.

They were stubborn and obstinate, and they had the mindset of slaves.

Despite the miracles and wonders they saw which was demonstrated through Moses for their deliverance, despite the miracle provisions from the Lord in the form of manna, quails, water out of the rock, their clothes and footwear being miraculously preserved, deliverances and the humbling of enemy nations, particularly Egypt; they still doubted God at the slightest opportunity, worshiped a false god they carved, provoked their leader Moses, murmured against the Lord and believed false reports of not being able to take the promised "land flowing with milk and honey" the Lord had promised them.

Their mindset hindered them.

They hand the mindset of slaves.

The Lord demonstrated Himself on their behalf, but their mindset was just too scarred and slave-like to enjoy, believe and claim their inheritance.

It's popularly said that "seeing is believing."

The Lord would have us believe before we see because "blessed are those who believe before they see."

With the children of Israel, the Lord honored them with the rare privilege of seeing His deliverance, power, and might which liberated an entire country, turned them into free men and provided an occasion not to ever doubt the Lord.

Their mindsets would make them doubt the Lord and doubt themselves when it mattered.

They saw themselves as small, unable and incompetent when it came to taking the promised land.

Weak mindsets panic in fear over every natural challenge.

Weak minds don't see possibilities.

Their mindsets was their down fall.

It disqualified them from the promised land.

It stopped a generation of people from enjoying what the Lord wanted them to enjoy and have what the Lord would have them have.

Moses, the leader of the Israelites sent twelve spies into Canaan (the promised land), among the twelve was Caleb and Joshua.

They were to spy the land and bring report back to Moses and the people about Canaan and what it is like.

Moses and Caleb had the right mindset, the other ten spies had a wrong mindset.

A ratio of two to ten shows us that those who have the right mindset in life are usually fewer than those who have a wrong mindset.

Caleb and Joshua came back with a positive report of  possibility and optimism.

The other ten spies came back with a gloomy report of fear, impossibility and negativity.

Caleb and Joshua had a mindset of faith while the other ten spies had a fear mindset.

The faith mindset delivered the right report, the fear mindset delivered a wrong evil report.

What type of mindset do you have?

People who have the right mindset in life are fewer than those with the wrong mindset.

Be in the category of the chosen few, the wise minority, the right thinking minority for "many are called few are chosen."

It's not surprising Caleb and Joshua are the only ones from that generation who made it into the promised land.

No one else did.

Their mindsets didn't qualify them.

For this reason the Lord wasn't pleased with them.

What is your mindset qualifying you for or disqualifying you from?

Ten spies saw themselves as too small and insignificant to take the land.

They looked at the giants living in the land and felt like "grasshoppers" compared to them.

Joshua and Caleb on the other hand saw a land flowing with milk and honey, ready to be taken!

Two people out of twelve saw an opportunity, the other ten saw impossibility.

Two people saw their inheritance, the other ten saw a death trap.

Two people saw God's ability to deliver the promised land to His people, while ten people saw giants who wouldn't make it happen.

What is your mindset saying and what are you seeing with you minds eye?

Develop a positive, optimistic, possibility seeing and thinking mindset.

The Stuff Of Legends!

 Stories of legends inspire and interest many of us.

Whether they are fictional or true, we enjoy reading about them, watching movies of them or being told about them.

A legend is a person who has done or achieved something extraordinary, something remarkable, and historical through sacrifice, character, ability or strength.

From warriors to kings, sports men to politicians, business men to men of God, poets and writers to orators and public speakers, we find then standing out in every field of life.

We even have animals that are legends in their service to humanity- dogs that have won medals in the armed forces.

From the police to the military forces they have demonstrated heroism, sacrifice, and obedience.

Some have fought in wars, lost their lives saving their handlers, rescuing people and getting injured for the sake of team and country.

Such dogs are heroes.

There is the story of Hachiko, an Akita Inu breed of dog from Japan who is reputed for legendary loyalty.

Hachiko's life story has been made into a movie- HACHIKO (2023).

Hachiko's story is a timeless reminder of love, the loyal love of a dog to its owner.

Hachiko died on the 8th March 1935 but he is still remembered today among movie fans and dog and animal lovers.

Hachiko was owned by a Professor, Professor Ueno.

Professor Ueno later died but Hachiko didn't know.

He was used to the routine of waiting at the train station daily for his owner like he had always done. 

He knew the time of the day the train Professor Ueno boarded from work arrived at the train station every work day and Hachiko never missed a day, waiting patiently in front of the train station  to welcome his master and they would make their way home together.

Hachiko continued going to the train station daily, waiting patiently and faithfully for 10 years after his owners demise, until his own death.

Hachiko never lost hope, he died believing Professor Ueno would come out of that train station one day.

Whenever his master didn't arrive, he would go back home and repeat the same procedure the following day

Hachiko is a legend in my opinion, his character, patience, hope and loyalty qualifies him as one.

There is a lot we can learn from Hachiko.

Legends tend to be people who faced odds, who confronted the impossible, broke records, and achieved the unimaginable, sometimes for the greater good.

Most people don't turn out as legends in life, and people who turn out legends or die as legends didn't plan it.

Situations, circumstances, a great cause, fate or the call of their life's assignment thrust greatness and a legendary status upon them.

Our choices matter, our decisions go a long way.

There are people who were presented with the opportunity to be pioneers, they were presented with the chance to be on the good side of history, they were offered the opportunity for greatness but blew it due to poor choices and decisions.

Judas Iscariot comes to mind.

He had the opportunity to go down in history with a good name, he had the once in a lifetime blessing and privilege of walking with, being imparted by, and learning from Jesus when He was in the flesh.

He could have been one of the 'fathers' of the early church and Christian faith, he could have made heaven, perhaps he could have ended up a legend like John the beloved, the Apostle Peter and the Apostle Paul but he made choices that made him lose his place, his position and eternity.

He chose the path of betrayal.

He reaped the consequence.

We don't have to be like that!

There are lessons we can learn from Judas Iscariot.

Legends are great people.

Great people are often betrayed.

The legend of Jesus the Christ will continue to ring from generation to generation and all through eternity.

He was betrayed.

He also didn't allow betrayal to stop Him.

You may have been betrayed, don't allow betrayal to stop you.

Betrayal is not the end of the story.

The betrayal you faced doesn't have to be your full stop.

Be sure not to be the one who betrays, that does not have to be your script or story.

Legends are people who often proved their doubters wrong.

They achieved or overcame the impossible.

Jesse Owens, Roger Bannister, and Usain Bolt are regarded as legendary athletes.

Jesse Owens is an athlete who triumphed over adversity during the time of Adolf Hitler's myth of Aryan supremacy which Jesse Owens crushed with his achievements at the 1936 summer Olympics in Berlin where he won four gold medals.

Roger Banister is the first person to run a mile in under four minutes, a seemingly impossible feat before he did it.

He shattered a major physical and psychological barrier.

Usain Bolt is regarded as the greatest sprinter of all time.

The only athlete to win both sprint titles (100 metres and 200 metres) at three consecutive Olympic games.

Oleksander Usyk is a boxing legend.

Regarded as one of the greatest boxers in modern history who became undisputed in both the cruiser weight and heavy weight divisions.

He rose from a small village in Ukraine to the pinnacle of boxing!

King David is a legend.

With one of the most inspiring life stories, the shepherd boy who became king, first of Judah then Israel is regarded as the greatest leader the nation of Israel has ever produced outside of Jesus Christ.

King Solomon is a legend.

His legendary wealth and wisdom puts him in a league very few mortals or kings can boast of .

King David and King Solomon are evidence that it is God who makes kings.

They enjoyed grace.

Grace is the God factor.

It is God who makes people legendary for the qualities that make legends who they are were given to them by the Lord.

God is the Lord.

Samson was a legend.

Though flawed like many legends can be, he was blessed with the gift of might.

Samson could do more as one man than an entire army could do.

No man has been known to operate with that kind of legendary might, not before Samson or after Samson.

Haille Selassie is revered by some (Rastafarian movement) as the living embodiment of God.

Whether you accept that or not, that belief creates a certain mystery and legend around the last emperor of Ethiopia who was regarded by some as a prophet and resistance hero.

He is believed to be from the lineage of king David.

He had an incredible 20th century legacy as a leader and he lived a great life.

William Shakespeare is a legendary writer and literary giant.

The most legendary figure in English literature.

He is the most quoted author in history.

"The stuff of legends.

This is a phrase that refers to a person, event, or object that is so extraordinary, exceptional, or remarkable that it feels like it belongs in a myth.

It describes something so impressive that people will remember it and tell stories about it for years to come."

With that which is legendary, words like extraordinary, exceptional, remarkable, great and greatness stand out.

God makes legends out of men.

"Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations." 

Isaiah 60:15

It is the Lord that changes our story and makes it great!

He is the one who picks up an individual and makes legends out of them.

"the Lord "raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap" to "make them inherit the throne of glory"

1 Samuel 2:8

There are stories, characters and change of fortunes we see from the scriptures that are the stuff of legend.

Many promises in scriptures are the stuff of legend.

 The Lord "raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap" to "make them inherit the throne of glory"

1 Samuel 2:8

It is the Lord God, who made David legendary.

Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel.  And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth.

2 Samuel 7:8-9

It is God who distinguishes, scripts our lives, changes our stories and makes legends of men!

 "The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 

Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice,  behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. 

So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”

The Belt Of Truth

People who fight for a living are called prized fighters, whether they are boxers, kick boxers, mixed martial arts fighters, or  karate tournament combat contestants.

They fight for trophies medals or belts.

Belts are the main prize when it comes to combat sports, outside of money.

These are not cheap belts, they are prize belts which have a lot of history and tradition behind them that legends of that sport have held unto with pride.

Specially crafted, laced with gold, silver or sometimes precious stones, they can be custom made for the individual, the tournament or occasion.

In combat sports belts show your rank, your status, your achievement, they tell a story; your story. 

They show you have paid your dues. 

They communicate to us that you are not a push over in your chosen sport, they tell us you are experienced, they inform us you're a champion and you are following the path of legends before you.

The belt shows you have fought your way up.

Judging by the prized fighters belt we can tell if the fighter is a world champion, unified champion, or undisputed champion.

From the fighter's belt or belts, we know whether the combatant is a world player, continental, national player or regional player.

Belts have sanctioning bodies, these sanctioning bodies 'empower' the belts.

We have spiritual belts too, spiritual belts and sashes.

I believe they come in various colors with the colors having different meanings.

A belt spoken about in scripture is the belt of truth.

The belt of truth is part of the believers armor.

The belt of truth is a precious and very valuable possessions we are blessed to be custodians of through our Lord Jesus Christ!

No earthly belt is as valuable, precious, exquisite or expensive as the belt of truth.

The belt of truth is priceless.

We can't afford it, we receive it by grace and the Lord's good will towards us.

The belt of truth is not only part of our spiritual armor, it tells a story; a history of the love and goodness of our Savior towards us.

It is evidence of the Creator's love to us.

It is an armor, it is a gift, it is sacred and it is a reward to us, as spiritual combatants and warriors in Christ Jesus that we are.

In the same way, sanctioning bodies determine the value of the belts boxers win, the kingdom of God empowers the belt of truth.

The belt of truth is for only those who have been translated into "the kingdom of God's dear Son."

Combat sports champions display their belts with pride, and rightly so.

They labored for it, it has been sweat, blood and tears and may hours of training and sparring. 

They fought their way up to earn it, they took out many tough men and even champions to become dominant in their division.

The belt(s) are part of their reward and identity.

The belt of truth is part of our identity.

It shows we are the Lord's champions, it shows we have our armor on, it shows we cannot be deceived anymore and deception and error has no place around us.

The belt of truth shows we are the real deal spiritually, we are no fake.

The belt of truth tells our story and we must wear it with pride because legends in the faith have worn such belts before us.

The belt of truth shows our rank in the kingdom, it shows our rank in warfare, it reveals we are warrior princes and princesses of the kingdom of God!

In karate, the color of the belts contestants receive goes from light to dark as they move up the ranks in their discipline. This symbolizes a students journey from a beginner to a seasoned expert.

They have about eight color belt variations- white (beginner), yellow, orange, green, blue, purple, , brown, and black belt (highest rank)

Truth is of the highest quality and rank.

The belt of truth is of top quality and rank.

The Father of all spirits in His wisdom didn't give us a sash, but a soldier's belt of truth, a combatants belt. 

It is the belt of warriors and champions.

Belts can be fashion accessories and an integral part of our dressing.

The belt of truth looks good on us spiritually.

It is an impartation, it imparts the nature of Jesus Christ into us for He is the Truth!

The belt of truth protects our groin region spiritually.

Belts are used to hold up our trousers.

The belt of truth holds us up spiritually!

The belt of truth makes the enemy of our souls respect us, even as championship belts bring respect to the fighter in combat sports.

"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist....."

Ephesians 6:14

The Fight

The 'fights' often determines your 'height'.

That there is a fight before you is evidence there is a new height ahead of you.

Those going to the heights fight the most battles.

The fights of life that keep coming your way are evidence you are rising up the ranks.

Your tough opposition is evidence of your own strong stance and position.

Life presents its battles.

Life comes with its storms, challenges, resistance, opposition and warfare.

They should not break us, if anything they should make us.

The Lord Jesus Christ was once in a ship with his disciples, this ship had a lower deck where Jesus was sleeping or pretending to sleep.

While the ship was journeying on the high seas, the storms raged and the seas were unsettled.

The disciples of Jesus were afraid, they thought they would sink!

Like the disciples of Jesus, we sometimes feel afraid and get unsettled when life seems to be 'fighting' us.

Lets not be like the disciples of Jesus who thought the worst.

They ran down to the lower compartment of the ship where Jesus was sleeping on a pillow or perhaps pretended to sleep, they woke Him up asking why He wasn't afraid the ship would sink.

Jesus arose and rebuked the wind and the storm. Wind, and sea, obeyed Him!

There was a great calm and their ship made it to the other side, to their destination.

Liken that ship to your life, the seas the ship was traveling on to your life's journey and the destination of the ship to your destiny.

On the path to destiny there can be resistance, distractions and storms.

Sometimes these opposing forces seem to be fighting us rather fiercely.

The enemy of our souls fights hard to resist our destiny, our godly success, and our life's path.

It can be overwhelming and daunting  like a real boxing match!

A make or break fight.

If you persist, stay the course, trust the process, and especially trust your Creator you will journey successfully to your destiny where glory awaits you and God will be glorified.

Be like the disciples of Jesus who did the right thing by reaching out to the right person for help!

When Jesus is in the boat/ship of your life, you won't sink, peace will manifest and you will journey through life safely to the other side (your place of destiny).

Life can be likened to boxing, in many ways.

In the sport of boxing, there is resistance and you face an opposition who is contesting with you for the same belt, the same glory.

At the end of the fight, one boxer's hand will be raised as the winner, someone has to win.

Be the one who wins.

Occasionally, boxing fights can be a draw, a tie.

Fight to win.

Be the one who's hand is raised as the winner.

Don't have a tie or a draw with your enemy.

The good Book encourages us not to let anyone take our crown.

Be determined that your reward, your crown, your glory for the fights of life will not be taken or given to anyone else.

You don't have to be defeated.

In the sport of boxing, each boxer has a team, each boxer has his own side, and each boxer has his own supporters among the crowd/audience watching the fight.

Your team is called your corner during the match.

The team or corner of a boxer can determine whether the boxer wins or loses, they can determine how far the boxer goes in his boxing career.

The team or the corner of a boxer look out for the welfare of the boxer during his fight.

How good your team is determines how far you go.

Winning teams often have or produce winning fighters.

A boxers team is made up of a promoter, a coach or coaches, a nutritionist or nutritionists, the bucket man and a medical teams.

They work together for the benefit and enhancing of their fighter.

In life you are fighting, you're a fighter and you have opposition.

Listen to the team you've been given, there are things you can't do alone.

You need others to a certain degree in your life's journey.

The Creators camp is the winning team.

Let the Jesus team be your corner during your life's fights and battles.

How far will a boxer go if he tries to be an effective boxer, and be his own promoter, his own strength and conditioning coach, if he wants to come up with his own strategies, if he wants to be his own bucket man and do the work of the nutritionist and cook, as well as being his own cut man and doctor (medical team)?

He definitely won't go far.

As you move from one level of glory to the other, as you go up the heights in life, appreciate those who helped you get to your next level.

Appreciate the good people who come your way, who contribute to your development and favor your righteous cause.

In life you have your own crowd of supporters, value them and appreciate them.

They are cheering you on.

We have spiritual crowd/fans/supporters too, they cheer us on from the grand stands of heaven, we have the cloud of witnesses.

We must not fail our own, our people, our supporters.

We must fight a good fight, we must win and we win through the Lord.

In boxing, the coach of the boxer is responsible for coming up with the strategies, tactics and gameplan a boxer operates with.

Who is your coach in life, business, career, finances, family and ministry?

Who you take instructions from and listen to matters.

The Holy Spirit is the best coach!

Just like the game of boxing, your team can't fight your battles for you, they don't step into the ring.

Your teams job is outside the ring.

They have done their bit, they are doing their bit, but they can't get into the ring and fight for the boxer.

Fighting within the square circle is the exclusive assignment of the fighter/boxer.

It's the boxer who does the fighting in the ring.

The boxer's team's work outside the boxing ring should hopefully reflect in the ring, with a great performance from their fighter.

It is the boxers responsibility to fight according to the game plan.

If the boxer steps into the ring and sees that his coache's game plan can not deliver him the victory based on how his opponent/opposition is fighting; its the fighters responsibility not to stick rigidly with his teams game plan and fight using his initiative!

In life's battles and fights, we have to be wise, flexible and use our initiative to get the best result.

Just like it is in the sport of boxing, as a rising fighter moves up the ranks in his boxing career, the quality of his opposition gets tougher.

The tougher the opposition, the higher up the boxing ranks with each victory and the bigger the glory the boxer enjoys.

Successful boxers fight quality opposition, they don't face journeymen all through their boxing careers.

Quality opposition is tougher opposition, tougher opposition means more skillful, durable, and talented opposition.

Boxers often start their careers fighting 'nobodies'  and journeymen but they fight quality opposition in time and move up the boxing ladder.

Life can be like that.

There are minor challenges you've overcome, there are tough opposition you've overcome.

Now, you've noticed the opposition has increased, the challenges are tougher, the resistance is more fierce.

It's because you have climbed higher, your past victories have qualified you for higher heights.

So, the quality of your opponents are tougher.

When more wicked spirits start coming against you, when principalities and powers start noticing you, when more skillful and obstinate enemies start trying to get the better of you; its because your influence and status has increased.

More so, spiritually.

It is popularly said, that "with new heights come new devils".

"For a great door, and effectual, has opened unto me, and there are many adversaries."

Fight, fight to win.

You're a winner!

Shine Don't Dim

 To shine is to generate, give out or reflect light.

To dim your light is to reduce or diminish the intensity of the light you generate, give or reflect,

Luminous bodies like stars generate their own light.

Non luminous bodies like the moon also shine by reflecting light.

The moon reflects the light of the sun.

The value of heavenly bodies is in their light.

Both luminous and non luminous objects can shine.

The sun is a yellow dwarf star located at the center of our solar system.

The value of the sun is in its light, its shinning.

If the sun ceases to generate or emit light, it is of no value to us.

The light of the sun must not be dimmed.

Your value is in shinning your light not dimming your light.

The purpose and value of stars is in their light, they are meant to shine their light not dim their light.

You are created to shine, to reflect the Savior's light.

When you do good, you are shinning.

When you use your gifts and talents the right way, you are shinning.

When you stand for what is right, you are shinning.

When you make progress, you are shinning.

When your ideas and dreams come to pass, you are shinning.

When you bless others, you are shinning.

When you pray and the Lord responds, you shine!

When you use what you have been given, you shine.

Your light is needed, let it shine!

The Lord would have you shine.

The value of candles is in their light.

When a candle is lit, it benefits everyone in the room or house where its been lit by its light.

There is a light you have been given, the world must see it, and be blessed and benefit from it.

The world, even your world needs your light.

Don't dim you light.

Insecure people will want you to dim your light.

Wicked people want you to dim your light.

Spiritual thieves want to steal your light.

Don't dim your light for anyone.

Don't let anyone steal your light.

Don't cover your light and don't let anyone cover your light.

Jesus the Christ is the Light of the world.

The Pharisees couldn't cover His light, they couldn't dim His light and they couldn't put out His light.

The Sadducees didn't have any answer to His light.

Misguided Jews tried to put out His light through death, but death failed.

Light is that which is superior within you.

Light wins.

Light is divine.

Light is excellent.

Light is immortal.

Light is legendary.

Light is that which contains and represents everything positive, good, heavenly, virtuous and glorious.

In light there is visibility, order, speed, progress, and establishment.

There is prosperity, divine virtues, and a kingdom in the light.

Light makes manifest.

Let good manifest through you.

Be the light and let the Light manifest through you.

Our heavenly Father is the "Father of the heavenly lights."

If God is your heavenly Father, shine your light!

Shine, don't dim your light.

Light is within you.

Stubborn Optimism

 

Optimism is a worthy virtue.

Being optimistic has to do with the mind.

To be optimistic is to have a positive mindset and outlook to life and issues.

It is having a positive perspective to matters and life's experiences.

Optimism is an important part of spirituality, it is an aspect of faith.

Optimistic people are hopeful people, optimism and hope are intertwined.

The state of being optimistic is worth learning and cultivating.

For the tough times the world is in it will serve us well to be stubbornly optimistic.

Stubborn optimism is optimism that refuses to give up or give in to negativity.

Stubborn optimism is optimism that does not cave in despite the odds.

Stubborn optimism is what an individual has when he or she has every reason to give up but doesn't.

When situations, and circumstances don't look favorable but you keep going believing for a good outcome and positive change despite the contrary physical and natural evidence it can be said that you have stubborn optimism.

Stubborn optimism believes a way will be made where there seems to be no way, stubborn optimism sees a door where others see a sealed brick wall, it sees a road where others see a wilderness.

Faith has stubborn optimism in it, and stubborn optimism is an aspect of true faith.

Stubborn optimism has to do with how you think!

We need to think right!

A Christian writer, motivational speaker, and a Pastor of blessed memory by the name of Norman Vincent Peale wrote books on optimism and positive thinking.

He was an inspiring writer who wrote the best selling book The Power Of Positive Thinking.

Norman Vincent Peale influenced a generation through his books, he influenced people all over the world and from every walk of life including the present President of America Donald J. Trump.

Donald Trump and his father Frederick Trump used to attend Norman Vincent Peale's meetings and church services at Marble Collegiate Church.

 A generation of writers and ministers of the gospel who are of Vincent Peale's school of positive thinking thought and who have been influenced by his works continue till this day.

Norman Vincent Peale's work on positive thinking was so well received because people realized the need and the place of positive thinking in a world that can be gloomy.

Many people learnt how to be stubbornly positive through Norman Vincent Peale and his writings.

Being stubbornly optimistic is something you probably need to learn too.

The Bible is a book that gives us a positive perspective and outlook to life.

When we contact Bible faith we become stubbornly optimistic.

It won't be an optimism based on mere motivation, temporary excitement, or being pumped up by a great speaker or a wise man's advice.

Through Bible faith we develop a stubborn optimism that's powered by the Spirit of the Lord!

A Spirit generated way of thinking, seeing, and believing that only the Lord's Spirit could produce.

It will be a faith and optimism only the Spirit of the Lord can give.

Stubborn optimism is an aspect of being tough minded!

Tough mindedness is essential to doing the right thing, achieving in life, standing out in the world and glorifying God!