Studying the book of Ruth has raised a lot of questions in
my heart and also great admiration for the heroine of the text. There are
indeed myriads of lessons to be learnt from this book of the bible.
Over the next few posts, I would be sharing my musings and lessons learnt from the book of Ruth. So stay with me as we go on this journey together.
Chapter One
Verses 11-14 – Stark Realities Of Life
It is clear from the human standpoint that there is no hope
whatsoever for whosoever follows Naomi; be it Ruth or Orpah . What would be their
means of livelihood? Was there any hope of marriage? There was absolutely no
future to look forward to.
Verses 15-18 -Decisions
In the face of the harsh realities before them, the two
ladies made their decisions. Orpah looked at all the facts on ground and made a
rational decision-Go back to the place where she already had connections, push
comes to shove, she has familiar faces she could always turn to for help. What
more, there might still be one or two connections that could land her a good
marriage.
Ruth on the other hand went out on a limb. She decided to
follow the God of her mother-in-law. In spite of the tragedy that had befallen
the family, there must be something that shined faith in her heart. Could it be
that Ruth caught a glimpse of the Almighty God in the lives of first her
husband and then her mother-in-law?
Whatever the reason might be, she took a leap of faith. Just like Abraham, she had strong faith that though it looked like all hope was lost, she was better off following the God of Israel.
Life Application
So in the face of the harsh realities of life and hopeless
situations, what should you do as a Christian?
Remove your eyes from the circumstances and look
up- Romans 4:18, 2nd Corinthians 4:18, Hebrews 12:2 and Psalms 34:5.
Do not seek to know or see the full picture
before trusting God. Romans 4:20, Luke 1:20-38 , 45
We all remember how stoked we were about leaving 2019, how everyone bellowed ‘Happy New Year’ at the stroke of 12 midnight on December 31st 2019. Little did we know that 2020 was going to be a roller coaster year. I wouldn’t sadden you with all the details; you know them and may harps, you suffered severely from the shortfall of one or more of these catastrophes.
Every one of us was impacted by the events of the past year in one way or the other. Indeed 2020 was a lesson in the case of the best laid plan of mice and men! But if you are reading this, you are not only a survivor, you are an overcomer!
So here we are at take-off – airport, train station, bus
terminal, sea port etc. whatever means by which you think you are journeying
through 2021, one thing is pertinent, who is at the helm of your affairs? What
is your compass? And where or what is your anchor?
One thing that kept me grounded through the past year was
the word of God and the Holy Spirit. As one item after another on my vision
board seemed to stare (or is it sneer) at me in mockery, there was an anchor
that held the soul; God’s Word!
So as I journey into this New Year not knowing what curve
ball the year would throw, Dare I dream again? Dare I make plans? Dare I have a
vision board? I dare say a resounding
YES!!!!!!!!!!
What gives me the audacity to dream again, hope again and
make plans again? A sure word of prophesy! Proverbs 3:5 &6.
What word do you have for the year? What has God dropped
into your spirit? Remember that the arms
of flesh may fail but we have an infallible God.
I invite you to dare to dream again, hope again and plan
again! Do not approach the year 2021 with fatalism; que sera sera.
Let me leave you with the different translations of Psalm
27:13
New International
Version
I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the
LORD in the land of the living.
New Living
Translation
Yet I am confident I will see the LORD’s goodness while I am
here in the land of the living.
English Standard
Version
I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in
the land of the living!
ANew American
Standard Bible
I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would
see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.
New King James
Version
I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would
see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.
King James Bible
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of
the LORD in the land of the living.
Christian Standard
Bible
I am certain that I will see the LORD’s goodness in the land
of the living.
Contemporary English
Version
but I know I will live to see how kind you are.
Good News Translation
I know that I will live to see the LORD’s goodness in this
present life.
NET Bible
Where would I be if I did not believe I would experience the
LORD’s favor in the land of the living?
Happy New Year once again and remember all we do is WIN!!!!!!!!!!
‘My truth’ is a popular phrase that’s becoming acceptable in
culture. But as I ponder more and more on scriptures, I come to the conclusion
that this is a deception from the pit of hell!
There is only one truth!
‘My truth’ appears harmless on the surface but it only seeks
to erode our foundation of God’s word as the TRUTH.
Upon closer examination of Psalm 91: 4, I see it clearly;
His(God’s) truth is my shield and buckler.
King James Bible
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings
shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
International
Standard Version
With his feathers he will cover you, under his wings you
will find safety. His truth is your shield and armor.
Aramaic Bible in
Plain English
In his feathers he shall deliver you and under his wings you
shall have refuge; his truth shall surround you as a supply of armor.
Ever wondered why there are so many wounded and unstable folks all around? It’s because they have left the truth of God’s word and are holding on to ‘my truth’ so they have been and are being pierced with the many arrows that life throws on a daily basis.
Circumstances and situations in life change from day to day;
this is clearly evident in the happenings of this year 2020. From when the
screams of happy new year rent the air till date when conspiracy theories on
COVID 19 and conflicting facts fill the airwaves. So many events have taken
place world over that would surely cause ‘my truth’ to change from day to day.
All these bring to mind Romans 3:4a
GOD’S WORD®
Translation
That would be unthinkable! God is honest, and everyone else
is a liar
New International
Version
Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar
New Living
Translation
Of course not! Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true
So based on the foregoing, I have caught this revelation and
settled in on it; God’s word is true while every man, situation or circumstance
is a lie. God’s truth is my shield and buckler! Halleluiah!
This is God’s truth concerning me for this season:
Psalm 91: 5-10 – (
The Message Translation)
Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night, not flying arrows in the day, Not disease that prowls through the darkness, not disaster that erupts at high noon.
Even though others succumb all around, drop like flies right
and left, no harm will even graze you.
You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance, watch
the wicked turn into corpses.
Yes, because God’s your refuge, the High God your very own home, Evil can’t get close to you, harm can’t get through the door.
Here’s my submission:-
His truth; not culture
His truth; not medicine
His truth; not science
His truth; not conspiracy theories
His truth; not myths
His Truth; Definitely Not My Truth!!!!!!
His truth and nothing but his truth is my shield and
buckler!
So apply God’s truth to every area of your life. His truth would
save you from heartache and heartbreaks. His truth would save you from mental
and emotional turmoil. His truth would deliver you from all harm and keep you
protected from all the arrows that life is sure to keep throwing at you.
Bring your truth under submission to HIS truth and know
peace!
A shadow is cast when an object obstructs a ray of light and
the shadow can either be cast in front or behind the object.
And before something or someone can cast a shadow over a
person or an object, he/it has to stand over the person or object.
Following from the above God stands watch over me that’s how
come he casts his shadow over me. Thus I dwell under the shadow of the almighty
(whether from behind or in front; I’m surrounded by his shadow).
How do I get God to stand over me? Jeremiah 1:12
God watches over his word to fulfil it. He backs his word to
ensure that it comes to pass. You have to stand over something to keep watch
over it. An example that readily comes to mind is a mother that stands over her
baby’s crib; surely that mother would cast a shadow over the baby!
God’s word is light! I run into his word and I remain there
come rain or shine. And the God who backs his word to ensure that it comes to
pass casts his shadow over me.
When that happens then every ensuing scenario from verse 2
to the end of the 91st Psalm plays out in my life! Glory! Halleluyah!
There are so many scientific explanations about shadows so much so that the analogy above may not be scientifically sound. Or even theologically astute yes I know James 1:17(Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. However my understanding of this shadow is one that is cast by his turning back on his word).
But sometimes all that is required is a mental picture that we can carry to imprint the word into our subconscious.
So for Psalms 91, get the picture in the following steps
God’s word is light
God backs his word
I stand in(on) the word
I’m surrounded by the shadow of the almighty
Psalms 91: 2 -21 is fulfilled in my life
Based on the foregoing, I can live a fear-free life no matter
what is going on around me!!
You are one of a kind; there’s no other person that has the
exact same DNA or fingerprint as you do. I know we’ve heard this over and over
again but it bears repetition. Stop trying to be like another person; own your
story, focus on your life and be the best you that there can be! (Bible reference – 2nd Corinthians
10:12)
2nd Corinthians 10:12 English Standard Version
Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some
of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one
another and compare themselves with one another, they are without
understanding.
2 Corinthians 10:18
For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved,
but the one whom the Lord commends.
Develop A Heart Of Contentment and Gratitude
Always wake up every day with a grateful heart; you could
have been long dead and gone. So every day you wake up is a blessing from God.
You may not have everything you ever wanted (and no one does by the way; no
matter how wealthy you think they are) but you have something (you identify
what it is).
1 Timothy 6:6-11 New Living Translation (NLT)
6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great
wealth. 7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world,
and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. 8 So if we have enough
food and clothing, let us be content.
9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and
are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and
destruction. 10 For the love of
money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have
wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. (Side
note: it is the love of money and not money itself; money takes on the
character of the possessor)
Always see your cup as half full and acknowledge that it could have been worse. Once you have conquered the ‘demon’ of comparison and are always content and grateful about what you have and where you are at this point in your life, you are well on your way to getting out of the rat race.
Grateful heart. Photo Credit: pixabay.com
Adopt A Minimalist Lifestyle
So many of us can do without some of the things that we
think are essential to our happiness. Through the last 5 years of my life, I
have been going through a journey of minimalism. I have had to move from a
relatively ‘bigger’ house to a smaller one. I’ve had to give out more than half
of my belongings and I’ve had to do without a lot of things that had become
part of my daily life.
And here’s my submission; I have less things to stress me
out and less bills to pay. And on a lighter note; I get dressed and ready to go
out faster because of less choices of cloths and accessories (lol).
Your children can get a solid education at a regular school
and not necessarily the most expensive or Bourgie School around. They can live
in a smaller house, with fewer toys and still grow up well rounded and happy.
Your wife can make do without the diamonds and expensive gifts(hopefully) as
long as you are around more often.
I could go on and on…
you know what is keeping you in the rat race; trust me, you can do without it.
Always Take A Day Off
Do not work yourself to death! There are 7 days in a week
and something we call ‘weekend’. This connotes the end of a working week. So
many upwardly mobile men and women take pride in being busy.
They bring work home on weekdays and clock in to work on
weekends. In most of our cosmopolitan cities, children are being raised by
domestic staff and we wonder the decline in social values?
There is limit to the discipline that a domestic staff can
mete out to a child; a domestic staff cannot love your child as much as you do.
In some appalling cases, children are left to their own devices or handed over
to schools to do what parents are supposed to do.
Marriages are failing by the seconds and young adults are
developing diseases that used to be associated with old age. Things are falling
apart and the center seems not to hold.
For the sake of your health, family and society, please take
a day off! Bond with your loved ones, sleep in; have a day when you are not
awaken by an alarm clock.
Create Loving Memories With Your Family and Loved Ones
Whether you are married, with or without kids or single,
there are people that constitute family to you.
Make out time to create loving memories with your family. Let your kids
have something nostalgic to look back on when they come of age. Let there be memories that would make them
want to come see you when you are old.
Make it difficult for them to stick you in a nursing home when
you are old! Do not be one those folks
who people would have to think real hard for something nice to say at your
funeral just because ‘you should never speak ill of the dead’
Make an unforgettable impact on the lives of those that matter to you ( and it doesn’t always take money to do so!).
Happy family. Photo Credit :pxhere.com
Let God Set The Pace Of Your Life
We started out this segment on how to get out of the rat
race by saying that we should quit the comparison game. And that we can only do so by acknowledging
that we are unique and there’s no one else like us on this planet.
If you believe that, then you need to take it a step further
and trust God with all the affairs of your life. Take out a little time to
study the parable of the talents ( Matthew 25:14-30) with emphasis on verse
15. Everyone was given something based
on their ability.
Remember that it is God that made you and he knows how he
wired you. He knows the limit to what you can take. Some people are 5 talent
folks, others are 2 while some are 1. Never, ever despise what God has given
you. Do not make the mistake of leaving God out of the equation of your life.
There is an African proverb that says that ‘ he that runs
faster than his destiny runs into destruction’
Let the person who knows the end from the beginning direct
your path and set the pace of your life. If you are a 5 talent person, God
would give you the grace to balance all you have to do with the things that
matter most in life (family and health in my opinion).
But if you are a 1 talent person who because of comparison
and greed or ignorance gets into the 5 talent lane, you would definitely run
into trouble.
So in conclusion of this point, I would say, get in touch
with your manufacturer (God) and find out your purpose and path in life. Always
consult your user manual (the bible) it would show you how to operate.
Finally, if you do not have a relationship with your maker,
that might be the reason why you are still in the rat race. Fill that God-size
vacuum in your life with the right piece (God). Make Jesus the lord of your
life today and watch him lead in you in the path of fulfilment. You can ask
Jesus to come into your heart wherever you are now. Just a simple prayer and
your new life would begin.
Say this prayer – Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that my life is
nothing without you and that I was born a sinner. I acknowledge that you died
for my sin so I accept what you did on the cross for me. I ask you to come into
my life to be my lord and saviour. I confess that Jesus is my saviour and that
having accepted him; I am now a child of God.
If you made the above prayer and need counselling and
further help you can reach us with the information in the bio. You can also
reach out to any bible believing church around you for further help and
counselling.
The Good Shepherd. Photo Credit: commons.wikimedia.org
A rat race is an endless, self-defeating, or pointless
pursuit. The phrase equates humans to rats attempting to earn a reward such as
cheese, in vain. It may also refer to a competitive struggle to get ahead
financially or routinely – Wikipedia
Rat Race is a term used to describe a frustrating, hard-to-break financial lifestyle. It is a lifestyle that is lived by countless people, oblivious to the very nature of it, to a degree that even when called upon, vehemently deny it. – Urban Dictionary
Never ending cycle
One would assume that as we enter the 40s and look forward
to our twilight years we should have gotten a better understanding of what life
is all about. But sadly that’s not so.
Many folks have been on the grind since they left college,
some even before they did. I would want to assume that by now we would have
understood that there’s no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. But the sad
truth is that, the reverse is the case. Many of us are still in the rat race.
Looking at our society today, we find that people are
consumed with self; they have taken the phrase ‘self-love’ to a whole new
level. Everyone is hustling and bustling to make it; you hear goals such as ‘ I
want to retire at 40 or 50’ ‘I want my
kids to attend the best school in the neighbourhood’ ‘I want my family to have
the best life has to offer’ , I want… I want… I want…! (bible reference 2nd Timothy 3:1-5)
2 Timothy 3:1-4 New Living Translation (NLT)
The Dangers of the Last Days
3 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
The list goes on and
on. This drive and ambition is made worse by social media that has turned the
world into a global village. I can stay in my house and peep into the life of
someone in another part of the globe (or so I think). So I now I not only have
the ‘Joneses’ to contend with but the whole world.
This leads a lot of people to work themselves to death;
literally! For others, they get all
their ‘wants’ and come back to an empty house, kids who hate their guts,
wives/husbands who are only with them for the money, fame, inheritance and a
meaningless life.
That’s how come we see and hear of famous and rich people
committing suicide. But we just saw their instagram post last week and they
looked so fly, happy and fulfilled? They even granted an interview and I was
wishing my life was half like theirs? So what happened?
What they showed the world was a façade; no one knew what
was going on inside of them. No one ever posts an instagram picture or Facebook
post of the ‘nasties’ in their lives; even when they say they do, trust me, it
has been doctored for publicity purposes.
If you believe everything you see on social or news media,
then you need to realign your vision and sight. You might say that you are not
affected by any external influence but hmmm! Think again. Take a second look at
the urban dictionary definition of Rat Race.
Some folks chase their ambitions, dreams and aspirations to
the exclusion of all else. They provide their family with everything that money
can buy but deny them of their love, presence and fellowship.
Others in a bid to climb the corporate ladder step on all toes
that try to put a foot in their way; thereby making life-long enemies. Another
group climb to the end of a ‘success’ ladder only to find to their utter
disappointment that it is the wrong ladder. Oops!
I’ve said all the above just to jolt our minds and bring the
issue of the futility of what we’ve been doing most of our adult lives, up,
front and center!
So how do we get out of the rat race? I’ll share some of the things that the Holy Spirit has awakened in me and others that some years of observation and hours of research has taught me in my next post. Stay tuned…
Sometime in 2014, I had a stirring in my spirit to enroll in Rhema Bible Training Center Abuja Nigeria. I did and I can tell you that that was one of my best decisions of the last decade.
My time in Rhema helped to realign the trajectory of my life and refocus my vision and purpose.
One of my favorite instructors and Director of Rhema Nigeria was gracious enough to share a synopsis of one of his teachings. I strongly believe that this message would help you as you chart the course of your journey through the next decade. Be Blessed!
Get The Vision
Photo Credit: https://pixabay.com/photos
Habakkuk 2 King James Version (KJV)
I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
God’s plan was for righteousness to be made available to mankind through the finished work of redemption. And thanks be unto God, Jesus consummated that plan. Several Old Testament prophets prophesied of this coming redemption which we now have today.
To Live Outside Of Faith Is Pride And Arrogance
The believer who is now made righteous in Christ is to live by faith. Faith is man acknowledging his utter dependence on God. To live any other way than by faith in God’s Word is pride.
Jeremiah 17 King James Version (KJV)
5 Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.
Romans 10:1-3 speaks similarly about Israel
1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
To walk by faith is to walk in submission to God’s way
Romans 4:13
For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Romans 3:21-22 speaks further along these lines
“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:”
A refusal to embrace the faith life is rebellion and arrogance to God. One can’t really walk in humility before God without walking in faith. Similarly, a person can’t really walk in faith without walking in humility. We must continually realize and remind ourselves that in ourselves we are nothing. It’s Jesus Christ Who is everything and it’s in Him that we are something.
What Do You See?
Photo Credit: https://pixabay.com/photos
A key ingredient to walking in faith is vision. God’s Word brings vision of who we are in Christ, what we have in Him and what we can do because of Him. By taking time to meditate on the Word and fellowship with the Lord in prayer, He brings vision to our spirits of who we are and what we are called to do.
We need to write out the vision that God gives us plainly and follow His plans for our lives. Many times we make a plan of our own and then ask God to bless it. But God can’t put His approval on man’s plans. We should go to God to get His own vision and plan for our lives for that is already blessed.
2 Corinthians 5:7 James Version (KJV)
For we walk by faith, not by sight
We shouldn’t lead our lives primarily by the testimony of our physical senses. We need another kind of sight- we need God’s vision, which is His Word and not man’s limited vision. Anything that can be seen or perceived with the physical senses is transient, temporal and subject to change. It is God’s Word that’s eternal.
Where’s Your Focus?
What we keep looking at is of great importance if we are going to walk in faith.
2 Corinthians 4:18 James Version (KJV)
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Proverbs 4: 20 -21 James Version (KJV)
20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart
Hebrews 12:1-2 James Version (KJV)
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
A man goes in the direction of his vision. We need to get God’s vision for us which is contained in a general sense on the pages of the Holy Writ. His specific plans for our individual lives would be revealed to us by His Spirit in our spirits as we spend time waiting on Him in prayer. Faith is acting on the Word of God, God’s written Word and also the specific instructions He speaks to our spirits.
Constant Fellowship with God will most certainly cause us to be visionary and see beyond natural limitations. There are absolutely no impossibilities with God. Whatever that God-given dream or vision God has placed in your spirit, He will bring it to pass if you will dare to believe Him and act upon His Word.
God Bless You.
About The Contributor
Rev. Tokunbo Adejuwon graduated from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria with a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics. He also graduated from Rhema Bible Training Center Nagpur, India as well as Rhema Correspondence Bible School Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.
He was ordained by Pastor & Mrs. Kenneth W. Hagin and is credentialed with Rhema Ministerial Association International, USA. He additionally successfully completed the Senior Management Programme of Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, Nigeria.
He currently serves in Rhema Bible Training Center Nigeria as the National Director, with campuses in Abuja (National Headquarters), Port Harcourt, Kaduna and currently making plans for the start of the Lagos campus.
He has been actively working in the ministry for over 34 years. He has helped pioneer works, pastored, served in administrative roles and he also now itinerates both nationally and internationally.
He preaches and teaches God’s Word with passionate fervor especially on the subjects of faith and healing. He’s also very strong on following and flowing with the Holy Spirit.
Brother Toks, as he is fondly called is happily married to Dr. Akunna and they have 3 lovely children: Zoe, Sophia and Victor. They are based in Abuja, Nigeria.
Do you want to receive indepth teachings and more direction on how to get the vision, follow it and fulfill God’s purpose for your life?
You can follow Rev. Toks on all his social media handles…
Twitter -@ToksAdejuwon
Instagram- @ToksAdejuwon
Facebook – Tokunbo Adejuwon
You can also enroll into Rhema Bible Training Center- Trust me that’ll be one of the best decisions of your life.
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We hear these words every time a 365-day cycle is completed.
So many people start looking forward to a new year once the end of November rolls
up. It seems that folks forget that a new year is basically a new day just like
any other. The only difference being that it heralds the start of another
365-day cycle.
I listened in on a message by Pastor Temi Odejide(London
Lighthouse of House on The Rock) and he had this to say “ 2019 is not a
personality but a culmination of choices and actions”.
In order to make this relevant for all times I say “a year is not a personality but the sum total of your choices and actions”
One of such choices today would be reading this article to the end. lol. On a serious note that’s one habit you have to pick up this year. READ!
So as we rejoice that we have left an old year and come into
a new one, let us settle one thing: – the New Year would not automatically make
all the ills in our life disappear. If you bring your old self with the old (bad)
habits and choices into the New Year, by November ending you’ll be wishing for
another new year.
I attended a 7pm -10pm cross over service in my church and
then came home and logged onto two more services before praying and going to
bed.
As I lay on my bed meditating on all that I heard in these
services and regurgitating all that God had been dealing with me on, several
things came to the fore of my mind. Some of these things were from the cross
over messages I’d heard that resonated with what has been on my mind. I’ll
share them with you and hope it helps someone.
Pastor Godman Akinlabi of The Elevation Church (TEC) in Lagos made reference to this quote in the course of his message. He posited that if you must have new beginnings, you have to keep an open mind. (Bible Reference – Acts Chapter 10).
Do not hold on to preconceived notions about how life should work. Always be open to new thoughts, new ideas and new experiences. What if God wants you to change your line of work? Maybe you worked in the Stock Exchange last year and God wants to move you to Agriculture? What if you are a 45 years old female and he wants you to date and subsequently marry a younger man? What if you are planning to leave the country where you currently live and God says stay? Would you be willing to obey?
Are you ready to pioneer new moves/trends? The Wright brothers were willing to be seen
as weird. Many people told them that if God wanted us to fly he would have
given us wings… hmmmm.. Think about that!
Pst Poju Oyemade of the Covenant Christian Center Lagos stated in the course of his message that kings and skills go hand in hand. Kings are always attracted to skill. You cannot be mediocre and stand before kings! (Bible Reference- Proverbs 22:29).
This got me and left me almost sleepless all night. Not because
I haven’t heard this scripture or even taught a class or two on it. But it hit an already sore spot in me. I’d
been regurgitating and pondering Isaiah 60 verses 1 to 3.
Isaiah 60 King James Version (KJV)
1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen
upon thee.
2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the
people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon
thee.
3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of
thy rising.
Isaiah 60 The Passion Translation (TPT)
1 “Rise up in splendor and be radiant,[a] for your light has dawned,
and Yahweh’s glory[b] now streams
from you!
2 Look carefully! Darkness blankets the earth,
and thick gloom[c] covers the
nations,
but Yahweh arises[d] upon you
and the brightness of his glory
appears over you![e]
3 Nations will be attracted to your radiant light[f]
and kings to the sunrise-glory of
your new day.[g]
Bishop T.D Jakes made reference to this scripture and said “Gentiles come
to your light but Kings are only attracted to the BRIGHTNESS of your rising”
What have you been dabbling in on the “light” level? It’s time to take it
to the “Brightness” level.
A candle is a light but it doesn’t have the same brightness as a lamp. A
lamp is a light but there are different types of lamps and intensities of
brightness.
Unless you hone your skill(s) until you get to the “brightness” level, you
would continue to attract at best “Gentiles” You want kings to seek you out?
Rise above the “light” level. (Note to Self).
Some folks are not even in the “light” level yet; well you can start the
journey by rising. It’s never too late to learn a skill. Not too late to go
back to school. You can intern with a master in your field. There’s so much
help to be had if only you would arise!
I am sharing this from experience (I am multi-talented even if I say so
myself lol). You can be a jack of all trades but can you please be master of
one?
Hone that one skill that would open up auxiliary platforms that would
showcase your other skills and talents. This is where it pays to have the help
of the Holy Spirit.
Engage God’s presence and let the Holy Spirit lead you and tell you what that
one skill is.
In the short course of my life, I’ve discovered that when you trust in God
with all your heart and do not lean on your understanding, he takes you by the
hand and leads you in the way you should go.
Now when he shows you the way, it is your responsibility to do the work;
hunker down and get it right!
Conclusion
There’s so much I can say on this subject but let’s leave the rest for
subsequent posts.
My prayer for you this New Year is that by November, you’ll be taking stock of the giant strides that you’ve taken. Note however that it may need to start with baby steps.
May you not be looking forward to 2021 as a means of escape from the frustrations of 2020.
God is ever ready to do exceeding abundantly above all you can think or
ask. Are you ready to receive? Do you have the capacity to receive? In Bishop
T.D. Jakes’ words “can you stand to be blessed?
I have this great friend of over a decade and he has remained buff and healthy since I’ve known him ( early 2000 till date). Well he’s a professional sports physiotherapist.
After I turned 40 I discovered that although I am slim, I was becoming winded more frequently than in years gone by. So I reached out to him and asked him the basic things I can do to remain fit even in my 40s and beyond.
Being the lecturer that he is, he took out time to give a somewhat detailed lecture(for a layman lol). Seeing as to how beneficial the lecture was, I decided to share it with you my good friends.
Health Benefits Of Exercise After Age 40 – Introduction
Yes you are 40 and I need you to know that your
fourth decade is actually your best. You will realize that you are wiser and
should be happier if you are doing things right. If you notice, your body will
also be undergoing some changes that comes with the age and status. I want to
use this opportunity to enumerate some of these changes for you.
Physiological
Changes from Age 40 and above
Takes longer for you to recover from
injuries
Prostate enlarges in men
Testosterone production drops
Fertility starts to decline
Vision problem starts
Memory issues
High risk of Hypertension
High risk of diabetes
High risk of heart diseases
High risk of cancer
The bone density decreases
High risk of stress fractures
Muscle mass declines
Your menstrual cycle gets wacky
Urinary tract infections becomes more
frequent in women
It’s harder to get pregnant
You experience vaginal dryness
Tooth decay increases
Your penis appears smaller
Sexual appetite starts waning
Reduced Immunity
Frequent digestive issues
You sleep less
It’s harder to lose weight
You
become aware of being shorter
Sense of smell and taste change
Skin becomes more wrinkled
Hair starts to grow in weird places
and also reduces
You experience more aches and pains
Your hangovers become more intense
Teeth becomes less sensitive
Differences
between Exercise and Sport
Exercise is a form of physical activity done
primarily to improve one’s health and fitness.
Sports is complex, institutionalized, competitive
activity and these very characteristics works against moderate and rhythmical
exercise. (CDC 1999)
Common
Reasons We give not to Exercise
• I
don’t have the time
• I
don’t like to sweat
• I’ll
look silly
• It
hurts
• I
don’t know what to do
• It’s
not important
• My
health won’t permit
• Gyms
are too expensive
• I am
too old now
Why Exercise?
A
retrospective study of over 122,000 patients over 13 years by researchers in
Cleveland revealed that not exercising is worse for your health than smoking,
diabetes and heart disease. (JAMA, 2018)
Do
you know?
• 13.5
million people have coronary heart disease.
• 1.5
million people suffer from a heart attack in a given year.
• 250,000
people suffer from hip fractures each year.
• Over
60 million people (a third of the population) are overweight.
• 50
million people have high blood pressure. (WHO,
2003)
Do
you know that ……
• Child
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions all over the world
• Children
eat more and exercise less
• More
time is spent watching TV and playing computer games
• Poor dietary habits coupled with lack of
exercise leads to significant increase in levels of coronary heart diseases and
type 2 diabetes.
How
Physical Activity Impacts Health
• Helps
control weight.
• Reduces
feelings of depression and anxiety.
• Helps
build and maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints.
• Reduces
the risk of developing colon cancer.
• Helps reduce blood pressure in people
who already have high blood pressure
• Causes the development of new blood
vessels in the heart and other muscles.
Help to maintain homeostasis which is
the state of balanced health in the body.
Health
Risk of Physical Inactivity
Leading Causes of disease and disabilities
associated with:
1. Coronary
Heart Disease (CHD)
2. Stroke
3. Obesity
4. Type
II Diabetes
5. Hypertension
6. Colorectal
cancer
7. Stress
and Anxiety
8. Osteo-arthritis
9. Osteoporosis
10. Low
back pain
What
Can Exercise do for you?
• Reduce the risk of the three leading causes of death: Heart Disease, stroke, and cancer
• Control
or prevent development of Disease
• Enhance
Mental Abilities
• Improve
Sleeping Habits and Increase Energy Levels
• Lift
Depression and Help Manage Stress
• Control
Weight, improving self-image, appearance and health
Types
of Exercise
I. Anaerobic Exercise
Photo credit:commons.wikimedia.org
Oxygen is not used for energy
Intense physical activity in which the
body’s supply of oxygen to produce energy does not meet demand.
Types
of Anaerobic Exercise
• Strength Training + muscle size+ tendon, bone, and ligament strength + your lean muscle mass throughout.
*+ Basal Metabolic Rate (minimum amount of energy
needed to maintain normal body functions)
Increase muscle mass = Increase basal metabolic
rate= increase in loss of fat
II. Aerobic Exercise
photo credit:en.wikipedia.org
Continuous activity that uses oxygen
• Blood
supply to muscles and ability to use oxygen
• Cardiovascular/
cardio respiratory function (heart and lungs)
• Threshold
for lactic acid accumulation (soreness)
• Resting
blood pressure for people with high blood pressure
• Body
fat and improved weight control
Types
of Aerobic Exercises
• Jogging
• Brisk
Walking
• More
than 30minutes of continuous activity
Walking
• Less than 3000 steps Grossly Sedentary
• Btw 3000-5000 steps
Moderately Active
• Btw 5000-7000 steps
Moderately Active
• 10000 steps and above
Very Active
Steps
to Fitness
• Write
Your Personal Fitness Goal
• Pre-participation
Checklist
• Start
Moving!
Pre-participation
Checklist
YES
NO
1. Has
a doctor ever said you have heart trouble? ___ ___
2. Do
you suffer frequently from chest pains? ___ ___
3. Do
you often feel faint or have spells of severe dizziness? ___ ___
4. Has
a doctor ever said your blood pressure was too high? ___ ___
5. Has
a doctor ever told you that you have a bone or joint problem, such as
arthritis, that has been or could be aggravated by exercise? ___ ___
6. Are
you over age 65 and not accustomed to any exercise? ___ ___
7. Are
you taking any prescription medications, such as those for heart problems or high blood pressure? ___ ___
8. Is
there a good physical reason not mentioned here that you should not follow an
activity program? ___
___
If
you answer “yes” to any question, we advise you to consult with your physician
before beginning an exercise program.
Ok,
Now What?
Create an Action Plan:
1. Decide
what you want (your goal)
2. Visualize
achieving this goal
3. Write
it down
4. Include
details
5. Reread
it often
6. Reward
yourself
The
F- I – T Principle
Frequency
(how often)
Intensity
(how hard)
Time
(how long)
F
– I – T for Aerobic Activity
F – 3-5 times each week
I – keep heart rate between 60-80% MHR
T – Exercise continuously for minimum of 20
minutes.
F
– I – T for Anaerobic Activity
F – 3 to 4 times each week
I – keep speed near 100% for 10 seconds to 2
minutes
T – Repeat your intervals 15-30 times with rest
between
3
Parts to a Workout
1) Warm-Up:
3 – 5 min. then stretch 10 minutes
2) Work-Out:
20 – 30 min., 3 – 5 times per wk.
3) Cool-Down:
gradually; “pooling”
Health Benefits Of Exercise After Age 40 – Final Tips for Being More Active
Photo Credit:geography.org.uk
• Park
the car farther away from your destination.
• Take
the stairs instead of the elevator.
• Play
with children or pets. Everybody wins.
• Take
fitness breaks
• Perform
gardening or home repair activities.
• Exercise
while watching TV
• Keep a pair of comfortable walking or
running shoes in your car and office.
• Exercise
Safely and Wisely
• Drink
extra water
• Always
warm-up & cool-down before and after your workout
• Wear
comfortable clothing
• Pay
attention to any discomfort you may feel during exercise
• Follow your doctor’s recommendations
concerning medications you may be taking.
Health Benefits of Exercise After Age 40 – Conclusion
Exercise has been proven to be one activity that
impacts positively on the human body. It’s been shown to delay the ageing
process and improve bodily functions.
The human body is made for movement however, this
issue of movement is a road less travelled by many after the age of 40.
This is because we become more comfortable, we can
now afford domestic help and subordinates who are always at our beck and call.
In addition to that we have kids who are old enough to run errands, enough
money to buy cars or pay for cabs.
What’s more we can now afford all the exotic meals
we used to crave that was impossible to have in the previous decades because of
paucity of funds.
The phrase “if you don’t use it you lose it” is
very applicable to the human body. The moment you stop moving the body stops producing
all the necessary hormones and strength that helps in balancing the body and
keeping it healthy because the body believes you do not need it and you begin
to lose fitness.
My advice to everyone in this age bracket is for
us to find a form of exercise that we love to do that won’t feel like a burden
or work. Find a partner who will do it with you so you don’t become bored. Make
it a part of your daily activity so that you can easily achieve your objective.
There are a lot of smart watches now that you can invest in to be able to monitor your physical activity in a day. Do invest in them.
Dayo Ogunkunle
Dayo Ogunkunle is a Specialist Sports Physiotherapist who is currently the Head of Sports Physiotherapy Division in the Sports Medicine Center of the Federal Ministry of Youths Sports Development (Nigeria). He is an associate lecturer to so many universities that offer Physiotherapy in Nigeria. His skills have taken him to all the continents of the world. He is also dedicated to his vocation and this has won him many commendations and accolades.
