Lessons I have Learnt in Life

[Julie Ngwabi]

Life is a journey. Life happens to everybody. We move through different times, from season to season, phase to phase and place to place. We encounter and experience events that can be life changing and determine how we progress or get stuck. As Christians, these can make us understand our past, make sense of our present and prepare us for our God given destinies. With God “nothing just happens.” At times we have to pause and ask ourselves “what is God teaching me with this experience?”

Nothing takes God by surprise; He is the all knowing (Omniscient) and the all present (Omnipresent) God. He is aware of what we are going to do before it even happens. He knows our thoughts before they even cross our minds. He is great! That should be liberating, knowing that you can shock or mesmerise people but not God. He knew exactly what you were going to do today, right now, before you were even born! From everlasting to everlasting He is God.

I would like to share with you some of the biblical principles and truths I have learnt in my own life and in my walk with God. There have been too many learning moments in my life, too many to write about but I chose just a few to blog here!  Learning is Iifelong and as long as we live, we continue to learn and grow.  The more we seek Him the more He reveals himself and the more we learn. We even learn from our mistakes! I know I have, and I pray that I will continue to learn from my future ones too.

My identity is in Christ

It was a life changing moment for me when I finally got it ingrained in my heart, my soul, my spirit and being that first and foremost; I am a child of God!  Talking about God, it says in Ephesians 1 verse 4- 5, “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.” Everything else is built upon and should be determined by that. If you don’t know your identity you will follow anybody and be moved by every hype and fad. The world gives us different identities with various responsibilities, but everything makes sense and falls into place when primarily we know who we are. When everything and every title is stripped from you, who are you?

People suffer from identity crisis, not knowing who they are and why they were created. If you are saved, you are the righteousness of Christ, the Spirit of the living God dwells in your spirit and you have been made whole. I know who I am and whose I am. I know where I belong. People can call you all kinds of names and label you, you can’t control that, but you can choose what you respond to. Knowing your identity is crucial to survival; you can live anywhere and still make it. You can boldly call upon the Father with confidence that He hears you and assurance that He will never leave nor forsake you.

God has a plan and a future for my life

I have learnt that my life was predestined by God and He had a plan and purpose for it. He says “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future,” Jeremiah 29 verse 11. God never meant for our lives to be chaotic and meaningless. We all have a destiny, He is taking us somewhere. According to Psalm 37 verse 23, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.” Our lives are meant to be progressive as God moves us from point A, B, C, and on and on through various stages according to His plan for our individual lives. He is a good shepherd, as we walk with Him; He directs our footsteps and paths. He leads us to an abundant and full life. At times we may not know where He is taking us, but we just have to follow. After all, it makes sense for His ways and thoughts are above ours! (Isaiah 55 verse 8).

I have learnt that the devil has his own plan for my life; he wants to kill, steal and destroy me. He is cunning, evil and dangerous. He desires to steal my joy, my peace and my destiny. His mission is to lead us astray.  He can even succeed if we let him. But I have I have learnt that I constantly have to remind myself that I have authority and dominion over him.

God is the same yesterday, today and forever

We all and find comfort from this scripture, but its talking about God. The bible doesn’t say the same about us! We are meant to constantly change, the more we fellowship with Him and continuously seek Him, the more we are transformed into His image and likeness. The bible says in Roman 12 verse 2; “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will.” I have learnt that for Christians this is a lifelong commitment, as long as we seek His face and will, the more He will reveal Himself in different areas of our lives.

I have learnt to empty myself of myself

I have learnt not to trust in my own wisdom, strength, intellect or abilities, but to totally lean on and rely on God. I have been so sure and positive about things before and yet have been proven wrong. I have allowed my feelings; emotions and willpower to lead me and l have failed! We live in a forever changing world, people change, things change; it’s an evolving world. Even our feelings and emotions change. Our minds wander off and we constantly have to bring them back to line. I have noticed that for each season and each task, God brings the right people in my life and also gives me the grace to do what He wants me to do. The Word says in 1 Corinthians 1 verse 25, “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

I pray that you take time to reflect on your life and what you have learnt. May God richly bless you. I encourage you to read my book “Realise the Power of Your Christian Identity.”