by builder | Feb 20, 2019 | DEVOTIONAL, Uncategorized
A Tip to maximise your Mid-Week Truth Turn Up …
Your Mid-Week Truth Turn Up is a 'meaty' devotional that can re-centre your heart on Jesus as you go along in your week. The devotional is slightly lengthier than a daily devotional and that is because I post them only once a week and they are meant to be your repeat meditation for the next 7 days till you receive the next Truth Turn Up.
My tip is therefore that as your week goes on, you visit and re-visit your Mid-Week Truth Turn up and meditate on the Bible Meditation passage, my write up as well as the Further Study at the bottom of the devotional. Take the whole week to meditate on it and get it into your spirit. Do not try to compress the whole devotional into one reading.
Enjoy (* wink *)
Coach Toyin
Occupy The Whole Mansion (Part 1)
YOUR MID-WEEK TRUTH TURN UP (DEVOTIONAL) WITH COACH TOYIN
Meditate on this: Hebrews 7:20-28 (in the NIV)
Feature verse: “Therefore, He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.” Hebrews 7:25
“Save completely”? Hmmm … Child of God, do you feel “saved completely”? Has this ‘complete salvation’, or as other translations say, “saved to the uttermost”, has it manifested as a reality in your life?
Let me start this series by introducing myself to you. My name is Oluwatoyin Oladiran, a.k.a Coach Toyin. I was born into a Christian family and raised with a strong Christian heritage that plays an untold role in keeping me on a path with God. That notwithstanding, and though I made genuine life choices in those early years to follow Christ, so much about this life in Christ just did not add up for me. “One plus one did not add up to two” for me and I found myself experiencing much defeat and hopelessness. “Jesus saves to the uttermost”? I would often ask myself. “Really? It sure doesn’t feel like it.”
You see, I was taught that being a Christian meant that you would be free from sin, yet I struggled with sin like you would not believe. I was taught that Jesus loves and heals the broken-hearted, yet not only did my heart remain broken, my identity and lifestyle remained cracked and bruised by painful experiences of the past and present. I was taught that being a child of God meant that I could ask God for what I needed and if I had faith, He would meet my needs. Yet, more often than not, when I prayed, it felt like the words slobbered out my mouth, floated about in mid-air for a bit and fell like wet blobs to the floor.
I was taught that God loves me and that therefore, my relationship with Him would feel real, intimate, vibrant and interactive. Yet many times when I ‘talked’ to God or tried to worship, it felt like I was simply kidding myself; conjuring up a figment of my imagination. I was taught that God is more powerful than the forces of darkness, yet I often cried the name of Jesus when the devil afflicted me in my dreams, and my fear only intensified. I was taught that God has a great and unique purpose for my life, yet I had no idea how I was meant to discover, talk less of walk in this. I was taught that as a follower of Christ, I have power to work miracles like Jesus did; I have power to pray for my healing and that of others, I have power to change a nation, yet … oh my! Let me not even go there.
None of these so called ‘perks’ of being a Christian were real to me by any means. It was like I had been given an unimaginable gift; a magnificent mansion, and it had even been registered in my name, but not only was I barricaded out of the mansion, I was not even allowed to set eyes on it for more than a few minutes a day!
Hmmm …
Our Bible meditation today tells us that Jesus Christ was the perfect High Priest to make atonement for our sins because not only is He sinless and undefiled by the brokenness of this world, He lives forever. Hebrews 7:25 says that Jesus saves “completely” or “to the uttermost”. Hallelujah! Well guess what?! I’m so thrilled to tell you that as I have continued to grow more in the Lord, I can now safely testify from experience that Jesus does save completely!! Praise God! I’m getting goosebumps as I type this! All that abundance that I grew up believing that He makes available for those who follow Him? That supernatural life? That intimacy with God? That power over sin and brokenness? That purpose-driven living? It’s all real! So if you read any of the scenarios I gave earlier, and they were familiar to you, trust me, there is hope; THERE IS SO MUCH MORE!
I invite you to follow this series titled “Occupy The Whole Mansion” over the next few weeks. Join me to explore ‘the Christian Life’, or like I want to call it in this series, ‘this Magnificent Mansion’. Let us assess whether you have occupied the whole mansion, or whether you are still barricaded out of the mansion, or only able to access some of the rooms or floors. Our aim at the end of this series is to click RESET on your Christian life, so that you are planted neatly in your journey to occupying the whole mansion! You see, I’m taking my whole mansion! I don’t know about you but, I am not willing to accept a shoddy Christian experience. I’m sorry. I’m just not. Do you feel the same? I really hope so.
Let us pray
Lord Jesus, You came to give me LIFE and that ABUNDANTLY! Why then am I saddled with a fraction of the fullness of what You came to give me? I know You have so much more for me and I want to have it all. I want the intimate relationship with You. I want the power over sin and the healing from inner brokenness. I want the grasp of Your purpose for my life and the certainty that I can and am walking in it. I want to pray and know that You hear and are answering me. I want to change the world into what You intended it to look like. I want to operate in Your power and anointing to do great things for You in this life. I want it all. Lord, keep me on this journey and help me to lay hold on ‘that God-life’. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
I am Coach Toyin, fully convicted by my own words and very much still under construction in the hands of the Father.
by builder | Feb 14, 2019 | BLOG POSTS (CROWD THE PLATFORM), Uncategorized
NIGERIAN ELECTIONS 2019; TO PRAY OR TO VOTE?
A ‘CROWD THE PLATFORM’ PIECE BY COACH TOYIN
So, the Nigerian Elections 2019 are taking place this weekend (16 February 2019). Many praying earnestly towards it and also receiving some intense insights into what God’s heart is for Nigeria at this time, and into what will play out in the coming months. Some of the stuff God is showing us is scary, some is exciting … .
At the start of this week, the Lord guided me to begin a 7-day Pray-For-Nigeria series on my Social Media and Email platforms. The aim is to ignite other children of God to pray as well. I went ahead and did this knowing full well that many people, Christians included, no longer believe that prayer can make a difference in Nigeria. In fact, the idea of praying for Nigeria often comes across (even to me sometimes) as childish, possibly even ridiculous. Sad, but true. But I’ve learnt to follow God’s instructions and leave the ‘over-thinking things’ to anybody else who has time. Lol.
During this week, I’ve had varying reactions to the prayer series. Many have prayed along and have contacted me to let me know that they are excitedly trusting God to shake the status quo and usher Nigeria into a new era. Some have asked me whether I am going to vote. Others have said stuff like “How has prayer ever helped Nigeria? People need to go out and vote!” Others have said, “we already know what will happen – they will rig the whole thing and life will go on as usual in Nigeria.”
So I decided to write this blogpost to share my heart with you all and my prayer is that it ignites you to PRAY … AND VOTE!
SHOULD YOU PRAY RATHER THAN VOTE?
Friends, please, VOTE! Prayer and voting are not in a competition! They are not fighting for space. Don’t pit them against each other. One is a necessary tool in the seen realm where things play out, while the other is critical and packs power in the unseen realm where decisions are made and power is allocated. So, Child of God, do both; fervently and wisely. Do not carelessly neglect one and think the other can work. Selah.
“NAH BUT WHAT HAS PRAYER EVER DONE FOR NIGERIA? WE ARE A PRAYING PEOPLE, YET LOOK AT THE STATE OF OUR NATION?
I hear you, and if I were to respond to this fully, this would become a working draft for my next book (*grin*). I’ll summarise.
Growing up, as a family, we prayed for Nigeria daily. We stopped in my teens; not sure why. To my mind though, it was time we accepted ‘reality that Nigeria cannot be different’.
As I came into my own, I swore I would never live in Nigeria again and I decided that there was no point praying for Nigeria, or for the world, for that matter, because, well, we all know that the Bible says that in the last days, things are just gonna go from bad to worse, so … LOL!
Well, fast forward to 2019 and not only do I live in Nigeria and LOVE it, I’m here with my husband and three little kids! How did that happen? Story for another day (LOL!). But, I’m older now (I mean as a Child of God, not in physical age) and I am coming to understand a few things about prayer:
1) Prayer is a gift from God that must be unwrapped, and you cannot afford to misunderstand or misuse it.
Prayer, when misunderstood and/or misused packs very little power, which only causes the person praying to be misdirected, or frustrated and to lose hope altogether. This, sadly, is the state of many children of God all over the world, especially in Nigeria.
I am coming to understand what prayer really is and why I cannot afford to live a ‘prayer-weak’ life. Next week’s ‘Coach Toyin’s B.O.O.M TIPS‘, will address what prayer really is and how to get your life ‘prayer-strong’ so follow me on Facebook or Instagram to get those tips. Let me share a small preview:
Prayer is not just a way to report your needs to God and tell Him what you think He should do to fix them. God is not a genie in a bottle, neither is He your servant. Prayer is actually the way to align you to God’s heart and purpose, so that you are equipped and prepared to effect His perfect will in your life and in the earth. Prayer connects you to the solution to your problem and that of the world’s.
BOOM!
2) All through history, God has always worked with times and seasons.
Every nation, people, kingdom has a time and season, and when God’s time for a shifting comes, child of God, you better know it and align with Him through fervency in lifestyle and prayer. In Hosea 4:6, God said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” A prayer-strong life is the key to gaining knowledge of God’s heart regarding your times and seasons, and that of your family, your nation, your world. When you gain that knowledge, you can align your life to Him, and thrive. You can also help others under your influence to align and thrive. This is how we heal the world friend.
3) There is a seen realm and an unseen realm
Spooky? No. There’s nothing spooky about this. Can you see your inner parts (I’m talking about the things that make you you, like your mind, will, emotions, logic, spirit, memories?) How about your bae’s inner parts (since today is Val’s day haha)? But you know your inner parts are real and they literally govern what your body chooses to do, right? Which in turn affects what happens in your life and in the world right? So yes, there is a seen realm and an unseen realm.
As children of God, we are called to live in the seen realm (physical) but strongly and consciously from the unseen realm (spiritual). In other words, we are called to be strong in the spirit, and one of the most potent ways to be strong in the spirit is through prayer. 2 Corinthians 4:18 says, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
What happens in the seen realm is determined by what happens in the unseen realm, and sincere and heart-felt prayer is one of the most powerful tools that God has given mankind to shift things in the unseen realm, so that in the seen realm, we can effect a deviation from a sure trajectory of brokenness that this world dishes out, towards God’s loving pattern and plan.
Sadly though, sincere prayer is the most endangered practice among people who consider themselves to be followers of Christ, because we misunderstand its purpose and/or we no longer believe in it’s power. This is tragic because because the world is fallen and broken and by nature, it breaks the people within it … so if those who believe in the God who loves His creation do not rise to pray and shift things in the unseen realm, we will continue to see increased brokenness in the world … and we will blame God for being ‘distant’ or ‘uncaring’. Whereas, the state of a nation is actually always a reflection of the state of the church within that nation (whether the church is a prayer-strong church or not). Hmmmm…
Back to the imminent Nigeria Elections
Nigeria is at a critical crossroad, and is ready to shift from one season to another. I thank God for being patient with me and for igniting me to pray at this time. I pray in order to understand the seasons that we are in as a nation, so that I can align with what God is doing at this time, and mobilise others to do the same. I pray because I understand that those who desire to continue to rape this nation know that to shift things in the seen realm, they need to be strong in the unseen realm; so they are doing what they can to gain strength. If I do not rise and pray, along with other children of God, we will see this nation further destroyed. But “If My people, who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will come and heal their land,” says God (2 Chronicles 7:14).
This is why I pray. Child of God, I encourage you to do the same.
If you missed out on the prayers so far and would like to catch up, click here.
I am Coach Toyin, fully convicted by my own words and very much still under construction in the hands of the Father.
by builder | Jan 17, 2019 | DEVOTIONAL, Uncategorized
A Tip to maximise your Mid-Week Truth Turn Up …
Your Mid-Week Truth Turn Up is a 'meaty' devotional that can re-centre your heart on Jesus as you go along in your week. The devotional is slightly lengthier than a daily devotional and that is because I post them only once a week and they are meant to be your repeat meditation for the next 7 days till you receive the next Truth Turn Up.
My tip is therefore that as your week goes on, you visit and re-visit your Mid-Week Truth Turn up and meditate on the Bible Meditation passage, my write up as well as the Further Study at the bottom of the devotional. Take the whole week to meditate on it and get it into your spirit. Do not try to compress the whole devotional into one reading.
Enjoy (* wink *)
Coach Toyin
AND JESUS POSTED, “#CHALLENGEACCEPTED”
Featured passage:
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
I’m giggling while I type this devotional but to be honest, I really don’t put it past my Lord Jesus Christ to see the #tenyearchallenge that’s been making waves on social media for the past week and be like, “Ok people, CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!” Lol!
So just in case you don’t know, the #tenyearchallenge is a social media challenge for people to put up photos of themselves from ten years ago (2008 or 2009) and compare this to current photos from 2018 or 2019. Social media has been ablaze with the challenge and I for one have been tickled to see the effort many of us are making to put up the most flattering 2018/2019 picture, so we look like we haven’t aged for one second since 2008! Hahaha! But let’s be honest, despite our valiant attempts, all those pics have one thing in common: TEN YEARS CHANGES A PERSON. Yea, some folks don’t look older, but they sure look more tired. Others don’t look more tired, but they sure look more at peace. Others don’t look more at peace, but they sure look more confident. Others don’t look more confident, but they sure look richer. Others don’t look richer but they sure look more care-free … or less care-free … or more burdened … or less burdened …
My point is; Change is constant.
But Jesus … has He changed, from who He was in 2008? Or 1998? Or 1988? Or 1978 or 1968? or A.D 68? Or B.C 58? No, He has not. In Revelations 1:8, Jesus introduced Himself as “the Alpha and the Omega, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” In Malachi 3:6, God said of Himself, “For I, the LORD, do not change.” In Psalm 102:27-28, David said of God, “But You are the same, and Your years will not come to an end.”
I can also testify that even though my experience of God has grown over the years, His manner of approaching me, the things He says to me, the way He woos me, the way He works in my life … not much has changed. I have changed because the more I grow to love Him, the more of Him I experience. But in truth, He has stayed the same. He’s still after my almost 36 year old heart the same way He was after it when I was 6, or 16, or 26.
Jesus is indeed ‘that Guy’ who has been the same since the beginning of time, and He will remain unchanged.
Instead of closing out with a prayer today, I wrote this piece for you to sink your heart into. I hope it inspires you to pray in your own words to Jesus, the Unchanging One, and to commit your life to Him in a more committed way.
You are the same God who created Adam from dust
who called childless Abraham a father of nations
who exalted imprisoned Joseph to become prince of Egypt
who grafted widowed Ruth into the lineage of Jesus
who anointed fervent David as king of Israel
who empowered devout Elijah to call fire from heaven
who revealed mysteries of future kings and kingdoms to Daniel
who placed the Son of God into the womb of a virgin Mary
who called lifeless Lazarus to rise
who picked twelve ordinary men and invited them to leave everything and join You to begin the greatest revolution of all history
who birthed the early church in the Holy Spirit and heaven’s power fell on them.
You are still the same God;
the One who formed me in my mother’s womb and planted Your purpose in my DNA. You are the same God who loved me from the start, and never stops wooing me to love You back. You are the same God, who patiently forgives my many erring ways, delivering me from evil at every turn, and fitting me for Your purpose in this earth. You are the same God who invites me into a deep and lasting love-dance with You, so that one day when I stand before You to give account of my life, You will say, “Welcome home, My child, My friend, My bride.
Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, today and forever. Challenge Accepted.
I am Coach Toyin, fully convicted by my own words and very much still under construction in the hands of the Father.
