We march for those who have lost their voices,
The vulnerable, the broken, the captive,
Those who’ve been told all their lives that they don’t matter,
Those who have lost meaning to life,
Those who are heartbroken, torn apart,
We march for those who can’t fight for their rights,
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Hi guys,
I’m sure my last post must have left a lot of you feeling gloomy. I kinda feel bad every time I don’t stick to the vision of my blog, which is to “inspire you to live victorious lives.” What I’ve come to understand however, is that living a victorious life doesn’t mean I’ll always write about rainbows and unicorns. I’ve always been honest here and I wouldn’t hesitate to use my life experiences to pass a message of how you too can be victorious.
Going through dark phases can be really tough, especially when you don’t have people around who understand you. But I don’t want you to linger too long in that dark phase, I want you to come out of it victorious. So sitback and enjoy the tidbits I’d be sharing as the Holy Spirit guides me. Read more
We cannot talk about victorious living without talking about vices. 
The dictionary defines it as an immoral or evil habit or practice. It is also defined as a fault, defect, or shortcoming. Other synonyms include failing, weakness, flaws, sin or imperfection.
When we view vices in the general term of the word, we still realize that young people play the major role in what is termed as vices in a society.
However, they didn’t begin to do that overnight. It all started from an inner struggle with their evil habits and weaknesses.
What are your vices?
I need you to take some time to think about that question. Truth is, the first step in overcoming and gaining victory is in knowing what the enemy is. Possibly, you’re the only one who knows about it. But then again, you can fool everyone but not yourself and definitely not God.
From my experience with vices, I know it ties the victim with cords of shame; the feeling of not being good enough or perfect enough or even ‘godly’ enough comes along with it. It’s a sad, depressing feeling. While society might go all out to punish young people for performing such vices, I’ve come to know it’s not always as willful as we think it is.
It’s a constant battle between good and bad, right and wrong. We want to be moral but we find ourselves doing what is tagged ‘immoral’. We want to do good but we find ourselves doing bad. We want to be free but day after day we fall into bondage. This is a struggle Paul faced as well;
I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.
It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.
I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question? -Rom 7:19-24 (MSG)
This struggle from within has resulted in suicides for some people and for others, prison sentences. Of course, that’s when the vice leaves the secret corner of our personal space to the public space. For some of us, it is still an internal battle which we somehow feel is ‘controlled’ enough. But if vices could become so destructive, we need to nib it in the bud!
Am I a pro in overcoming vices? Nah. I’m still overcoming mine. But I know someone who is a pro in thrashing everything that isn’t good in us- God! The triune God makes this possible for us by; 1. Jesus died and His blood cleanses us from all unrighteousness. 2. The Holy Spirit lives in us, searches our hearts for these evil habits and helps us deal with them.
Paul also admits:
The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.- Rom 7:25 (MSG)
Don’t struggle with the vices alone. I know you may not be comfortable telling anyone about it. I know how people could change in a second when they hear the vices we deal with! But it’s okay. They are humans, they have the right to freak out and probably stay away from us as the plague. But God- He wouldn’t flinch for a second when you tell him about the vices you struggle with. He will gladly help you get free from them.
Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. –John 8:36
It’s pretty dangerous to get stuck in your head. A lot of people have been destroyed by their vices. If you’re reading this right now and you’re honest enough to admit you also have some vices of your own, then it’s time for you to get free. It’s time to tell God about it and stop struggling on your own. Stop trying to hide it from Him.
I pray for you right now, that you overcome the vices in your life and you begin to walk in the victory Christ won on the Cross for you. You are free from today, in Jesus precious name. Amen!
It’s always my desire that you live victorious lives!
Lots of love,
©Mfon Etuk, 2016
One minute you think you’re free from the chains that held you bound; the shame that took you captive, the addictions that controlled you; the secrets and lies that had you insecure. You feel free and liberated; confident about your life. Then one day, it slowly creeps in like the darkness, uninvited. You fall so hard, you can’t get up. Whatever happened to your freedom? Was it all smoke and mirrors? Is there really no way out of this pit?
The lies begin to seep in. ‘You will never be free’,’ You can’t tell anyone about this’. No one knows you struggle with this ‘weakness’. Yes, you call it a weakness because you’re scared to call it what it is- SIN.
It eats so deep into your system, wraps its tentacles around you, clogging your intake of God’s light through His word. Slowly you begin to distance yourself from people who love you, especially people who love God. Nah, you don’t need the judgement from church folks. Nobody does.
Soon enough you begin to feed the sin without complaining. Unconsciously, subconsciously you give your body what it demands, being a slave to it’s bidding. ‘I want more food!’ ‘Yes master!’ sounds familiar? Nobody chooses to be a slave. But as soon as you sign the sin contract, you begin to avail yourself to your body’s beck and call.
Slave to sin, slave to the flesh. Heck! I don’t want to be a slave no more! I want to be able to put my body under subjection and say; ‘hey, body! You’ve gotta fast for 3 days!’ And it obeys without complain. Once you begin to plead with your body, beg your body- you’re bound! You can’t play with sin and remain unharmed. You can’t feed sin and think it wouldn’t grow and multiply. FYI sin is a living thing. It co-habits with the flesh and takes over your entirety; your thoughts and your mind. It blurs your vision from what was once distinctively black and white. You begin to see various shades of grey instead. The poor little conscience you once had gets so stifled by your constant refusal to listen.
You live in an illusion of freedom when in reality you are bound by shackles to your own body and the substance (sin) you’re feeding it. I would know, because I’m talking about me.
I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question?
The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different. –Rom 7:24-25
There is definitely a way out and you haven’t run out on your ‘Grace Express Card’ yet. Withdraw from it in true repentance. Turn to the one who has the key to the cuffs that hold you bound. He’s the only one who can save you. I know you may feel, ‘hey, I can still control this’. But you really can’t. Soon enough, the sin grows and multiples and keeps having babies on your inside. All pulling you to do the things you ‘don’t’ want to do. Oh yes! A little part of you doesn’t. But sin doesn’t care. It does a hostile takeover!
So take in a deep breath (evidence that you’re still living). Good. Please say this prayer from the depth of your heart.
Dear Lord. I believe in you. I believe you died and rose for me. I have been struggling with this sin (mention it) for some time now. And I want to be free from it. I know you can set me free and I believe that I am free. Please forgive me for my sins and take me back. I can’t do this on my own. Thank you for hearing and answering me. In Jesus name, Amen!
So if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through.-John 8:36
It’s my desire that you live victorious lives! Go ahead and live young and free!
Lots of love,
© Mfon Etuk, 2016
He loves you too much to let you go!
Okay, I’ve heard it over and over again of how much God loves us. But there are times when I’m like; ‘God, I’m way too messy for you. Just be you, up there and let me be me, down here- a mere human’. There are also times when I put my hands in the air after stumbling a couple times and I’m like, ‘you know what, I’m done trying!’
But then you see one little quote or a Bible verse while scrolling down your Instagram timeline, a little sentence that says; ‘God loves you’. Of course you shake your head in disbelief and continue the day’s work.
Just before you shut your eyelids for the night, you think about it again; ‘if He hates me, He could kill me at any time; maybe this night. Oh wait! I can’t sleep with the lights turned off’. Then insomnia sets in, along with anxiety and depression. Soon enough you move farther away from God and find solace in your ‘drug’, whatever it may be.
It sets you on a temporary high, takes your fears away for a moment, and gives you an illusion of love. But it doesn’t last so long. It drops you so low; you could swear you fell off a cliff! So, we take it more often till we can’t do without it; call it an addiction. Then the struggles to get lose from its claws begin. The shame; the guilt; who do you tell? Who would understand?
In the midst of this, through the mist I see, His hand reaching out. His love is still present. ‘No, how can this be? I’m way too far gone; you really don’t want to have anything to do with me, God’. But how long will we keep running? What’s there to lose? Really, I’ve got nothing more to lose!
Still afraid, I lift my hands in surrender, too weak to run. I raise the white flag. And there He is, with arms open wide. I quickly turn around, unsure it’s for me. But it is. He pulls me into a deep embrace and I’m crying hysterically. I just don’t get it! What kind of love is this? I mess up. I fall. I struggle. I falter. Yet, He still loves me! I’ll never be able to fully grasp the depth of His love. It’s just crazy! But it’s crazy amazing!
Soon enough, you begin to love Him back. Longing to be with Him- to make Him smile. He’s already given us everything! How can we repay Him? Just love Him some more! Obey Him. Love the creatures He has made; even though they may be irksome sometimes. But it gets a little easier. Because He helps you do it by living inside you, making His thoughts your thoughts, His words your words! Such a beautiful possession!
How long do you think you’re gonna keep running? Forever? Believe me, it’s exhausting! There’s a whole lot more to gain, than there is to lose. I think that’s a beautiful exchange! My imperfection for His perfection; my sins for His righteousness; my mess for His mercy; my shame for His glory; my hurts for His healing; my bondage for His freedom. Oh my! This is by far the best deal ever! Call it the Sicilian offer, one that can’t be refused.
Are you ready to take the offer?
© Mfon Etuk, 2016
Dainty M. 