I observed that wraps of sweets were flying all around the house. My beautiful ones were dutifully engaged with them as usual. So, I asked; “Where is my own sweet?” “How can Daddy be taking sweet” was the disappointing response I got. Well, I had to mind my business.
Friend, there are times we don’t even know what is expected or required of us that only those who are discerning around us know. This is why you need to surround yourself with the right people. As much as you would need voices of encouragements in your life, you would also need voices of caution (Ecclesiastes 10:10).
While you would need some motivations to make progress in life, you would also need some balance so you won’t crash without knowing. The scripture is what supplies balance; it contains both motivation and caution if you are rightly exposed to it (2 Timothy 3:15-17). Don’t only take some portions of scriptures and run with them while neglecting others; it must be “all scriptures,” not “some scriptures.”
A lot has been said about the “Proverbs 31 Woman”, but there is also the “Proverbs 31 Man”; one is a woman of virtue, the other is a man of valour, and what makes both of them are instructions (Proverbs 31:1-10). You cannot be better than who is instructing you. You cannot rise higher than your attention to details and instructions (Proverbs 1:8, Ecclesiastes 10:15).
“The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him…” (Proverbs 31:1). Kings rule by decrees but they last by instructions. Men need mentors if they would fulfil divine mandate. Mentors are not sponsors; they are guides, enablers and stabilizers. No matter where you get to in life, there must be someone who can call you to order; there must be someone in your life who should be able to call you by your first name (Esther 4:12-14).
As you grow in destiny, you would begin to realize that some things are not necessarily sinful; they are not just needful for you (1 Corinthians 6:12, 10:23). If you always ask, “But is it a sin?”, it means you are still a child as far as destiny is concerned (Hebrews 5:11-14). Wisdom and maturity would teach you to stay away from some practises and activities if you would last and fulfil your destiny (Proverbs 31:3-5, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27).
© ‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria