You are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.

The past few days have been a  roller-coaster of emotions. Just pondering over the different things I have experienced in my life made me think about the many ways God has been faithful to me. Just like many children born in average families in Sub-Saharan Africa, I experienced a fair share of life’s challenges. However, the God of sees (El Roi) demonstrated His faithfulness even in my lowest points. As I ponder over the goodness of God, I also look back and sometimes wonder why there are so many unfulfilled dreams and desires. Who do I blame? Maybe, just like me, you have experienced life at its full score and sometimes you wonder why certain desires were not fulfilled. One thing I have come to know is that, I may still have wants (a million or over) but God always provides all my needs. Identifying our needs and wants help us to develop an attitude of gratitude even in the midst of piles of wants. Remember, not everything you want is needed!

The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.” (‭‭Luke 1:28)

One young woman, possibly a teenager whose story always inspires me, is Mary, the mother of Jesus. This woman was engaged to Joseph and before they could come together as husband and wife, she received an angelic visitation. Mary, like all the young virgins of her days, had high expectations for their life and marriage. However,  with just a single greeting, Mary’s life was forever changed. In Luke 1:28, we are told that Mary received a surprise visit from the archangel Gabriel. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.” This greeting was unusual and Luke 1:29 makes us know that Mary was greatly troubled at the words of the angel and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. Indeed, this greeting was no ordinary greeting.

Mary received an assignment that changed the course of her destiny forever. At one point, she stood the risk of losing her husband but she was favoured. She had to travel by miles to another city while she was heavily pregnant. She had to deliver her firstborn son in a stable, yet she was favoured. She had to run away with her son and her husband to Egypt to escape Herod’s tyranny, yet the Lord was with her. Years later, she had to endure seeing her son disgraced, humiliated, ridiculed and ultimately killed. What kind of favour was this? However,  Mary also experienced the resurrection of her son. She was probably one of those who saw him and interacted with him after his resurrection. Favour didn’t take Mary away from the storms of life, she overcame all the storms and today, the church universally celebrates her as a woman who was greatly used by God.

As I ponder over my life, I know that like Mary, I am highly favoured and the Lord is with me. Yet, life has not been a bed of roses. There have been different seasons of my life, times of happiness, times of tears, times of uncertainty, times of worry, among many other experiences. Yet, God has been faithful through it all. The different experiences have given me different lessons. Like Mary, my own call has taken me places and given me different experiences. I know that God isn’t done with me yet. He has more in store for me. He will continue to lead me in life and ministry to fulfill my call. Therefore, irrespective of my current situation, I am still grateful for His great grace upon my life. I am favoured and the Lord is always with me. Do you also believe that the Lord is with you always?

A portrait with my daughters

As I celebrate an important milestone today, I consider myself not to have already arrived at my goal, nor have I obtained all things, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (‭‭Philippians 3:12-14). Yes, I am blessed and highly favoured! And the Lord is with me, yet I have a charge to keep and a call to fulfill. So help me Lord.
Happy birthday to me!

A portrait with my husband

Mary, the wife of Joseph

Mary accepted her assignment to carry the Son of God. She knew that this assignment may present to her challenges including losing her betrothed husband. After all, as at this time, Joseph had no idea of the conversation between Mary and the angel. There was no scripture attesting to the fact that Mary told Joseph about her encounter prior to his own encounter. Joseph might have been excited about the prospect of their wedding ceremony. He would have envisaged the pomp and the party. Their union was yet to be consummated so he might have been excited about their wedding night. Then suddenly, there was a stir in the neighbourhood. Joseph’s family and friends needed answers to their questions. Why has Joseph brought shame to them? Why did he impregnate Mary before their wedding? Joseph might have been surprised but as a just man, he kept calm.

Joseph was no ordinary man, he was religious. Matthew 1:19 states that “Joseph, her husband, was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.” God’s assignment will always be done if the systems on earth align with God’s purpose. Mary was not the only one destined to cater for the Son of God. Joseph, a faithful man was also chosen to be the earthly father for God’s Son. Joseph, a faithful adherent of the law of God, understood the ways of God. Joseph had made up his mind to divorce Mary quietly. However, heaven intervened. Matthew 1:20-21 states that, “But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. (Matthew 1:24)

Mary didn’t have to convince Joseph, God did that. Joseph wasn’t slow to act and he wasn’t disobedient to the angel’s words. According to Matthew 1:24-25, “When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.” Joseph was patient enough to wait until the birth of God’s Son before consummation of their marriage. Indeed, Mary needed Joseph for this task. No wonger of all the young couples in the lineage of David, Mary and Joseph were chosen.

Matthew’s gospel considers this event as the fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Thus, all this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet. Mary and Joseph might not have had their dream wedding but they fulfilled God’s purpose for salvation. Mary’s husband was just the right support system for her. Joseph was not harsh, he was gentle and ready to marry Mary as soon as the angel revealed to him the purpose of Mary’s pregnancy. Imagine Joseph as the first man to hold God’s son; imagine Joseph as the first man to teach God’s Son the laws of God; imagine Joseph as the father to hear all the testimonies about his Son even as a newborn baby; imagine Joseph as the one with the mandate to escape to Egypt with God’s Son to prevent the wickedness of Herod. Couldn’t God have done all these without Joseph? No, God needed Joseph to fulfill His purpose on earth. God works through men!

As Mary said “Yes” to Joseph (whether the marriage was arranged or not), she actually said “Yes” to her destiny partner. The man heaven has ordained to be the perfect earthly father to God’s own Son.

Young unmarried woman, your husband is your destiny helper. If he has not proven himself a worthy partner while in courtship, please don’t carry him to the altar. Heaven and earth await your manifestation. Your spouse can either lead you to fulfill God’s call or lead you to abandon God’s call. It is not archaic to pray for a spouse! Not all that glitters is gold!

Mary: Be it unto me according to thy word

Mary was going through her usual day when she received a visit from the angel Gabriel. The message from the angel was quite ‘huge’ for the young woman. Heaven has favoured Mary and God has appointed her for a special assignment. The assignment given to this virgin was to conceive and give birth to a son. This son is no ordinary son for “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:33‭-‬33). Mary might have been in total shock. Why will God choose her to have a son when she was still a virgin?

Mary asked the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34). I would have asked a similar question. Why will God choose me? Don’t we ask ourselves similar questions when we are called for a task we believe is greater than we can handle? Even Zachariah, Elizabeth’s husband asked a similar question when the angel told him that his wife will have a son: “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” (Luke 1:18). Unfortunately for Zachariah, he missed the past case studies of Abraham and Sarah (and many more in the OldTestament). He was a priest and was expected to know more. The angel shut him down for nine months. He became mute.

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:38 KJV)

Angel Gabriel’s reply to Mary’s question was this: “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.” (Luke 1:35‭-‬36). As young and innocent as Mary was, she did not argue with the angel. In all readiness and preparedness she said: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1:38). Mary knew that this huge task will bring unto her challenges from every direction including rejection by family, possible divorce by Joseph, societal ostracization among other challenges including death. Mary did not ask the angel for time to think about it. She did not ask for a sign. She did not even ask about how the child will be catered for in case her family and Joseph reject her.

Mary was not anxious about many things. She did not ask the angel to tell God to send someone else like Moses did. She did not put God to test like Gideon. She did not even prepare a sacrifice like Manoah and his wife (Samson’s parents). Mary’s response to her assignment showed a total dependence on God. The Message Bible states Luke 1:38 this way: “And Mary said, Yes, I see it all now: I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say. Then the angel left her.” Mary was ready to serve right away. She was ready for the full package of God’s agenda. She knew that the task was huge but she also knew that for God to find her worthy of the task, God will definitely make all things possible for the completion of this task.

Maybe, you are not sure how God’s call on your life will be achieved considering your current situation. Instead of worrying about things YOU cannot change, make it a priority to prepare YOURSELF and position YOURSELF for the assignment. Don’t just be there… be proactive in adding value to yourself. Heaven will make a way for you to get to the destination, but like Mary, you must uphold your purity, and be ready to say, “I’m the Lord’s servant, ready to serve.”

The prophetess: Wife of Prophet Isaiah

The scriptures are very specific when it comes to the titles of the women who were in the Bible. For example, Rahab was referred to as the prostitute because of her past life in Jericho.  Ruth was referred to as a Moabite because she was from Moab. We shall consider the wife of Isaiah in this post. As we saw in the previous post, Isaiah had a profound ministry of both local and international perspective. His focus was to bring the people back to God. He spoke in plain words and he also used signs and symbols to make known the mind of God. Throughout the messages of Isaiah,  we see that God is just and yet merciful. We see God’s heart for His people and how He goes all out to bring the sinner back to Him. Isaiah’s prophetic ministry made him a voice to the kings of his time. His wife might have been an active part of his ministry. 

Then I made love to the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. And the Lord said to me, “Name him Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. (Isaiah 8:3)

Who was the wife of Isaiah? The name of Isaiah’s wife was not given in the scriptures. But, her title was given, she was a prophetess. In Isaiah 8:1, the Lord said to Isaiah, “Take a large scroll and write on it with an ordinary pen: Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.” The name Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz means “quick to the plunder” or “swift to the spoil”. In Isaiah 8:3, Isaiah says this: “Then I made love to the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. And the Lord said to me, “Name him Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.” Thus, Isaiah and his wife were in the same prophetic ministry. Prophetess Mrs. Isaiah was operating in her calling. She was a wife to a national prophet and that did not overshadow her ministry. Her ministry was active and her husband referred to her by her ministry.  It is possible that the wife of Isaiah also birthed their son Shear-Jashub. In Isaiah 7:3, the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out, you and your son Shear-Jashub, to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field. Shear-Jashub means a remnant will return. The names of the children of the prophetess are all symbolic to the revelations God was giving about Israel. 

The  wife of Isaiah did not live a rosy life because she was married to a prophet.  Imagine the fact that her husband was unashamedly to criticize the kings of her day, she would have lived with constant criticism from the people who refused to listen to Isaiah’s prophetic words. The prophetess was also unashamed to give prophetic names to her children.  She knew that even though a name like Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz might call for attention,  she understood their ministry. She was not ashamed to be married to a man of God and she supported his ministry with her own ministry. Her daily life must have reflected her calling. When you identify the call of God in your life, you don’t need a special ordination and anointing ceremony to propel you into your ministry. Like Isaiah, when you hear the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” You will joyfully reply, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8). 

When we understand that our whole lives are dedicated to God, we will not shy away from the call of God in our lives. No wonder Isaiah says, “Here am I, and the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion.” (Isaiah 8:18).

Isaiah’s prophetic ministry influenced the people of his day and he gave vivid prophecies about the Messiah. Isaiah’s wife was a daily testimony of their call. The prophetess cared for the prophet and together, they birthed children who were signs of God’s presence. Remember, when God calls the husband,  He doesn’t leave the wife behind and vice versa.  Each person must be ready to go through the school of Jesus in order to be a confident and unwavering ministry partner. Don’t say, “it is his or her calling” both of you have been called. Even if you are not at the forefront, you’re definitely at the backstage supporting spiritually, emotionally or physically. 

Sarai: Obeying the call of God

When God calls a married person into ministry, the whole family is involved. He doesn’t call the man or the woman alone. Both couples are ultimately involved and if they have children, the kids are not left out either. That is why the marriage partner and the children of a minister are under society’s watchful eyes. If any of them should misbehave, it is automatically counted by society against the minister of God. For every minister, your home is your first congregation and shepherding your family well is a sign of good leadership. As we continue the series on Sarai (Sarah), let’s consider the call of Abram (Abraham). First, Sarah was dealing with life’s issues, then she had to travel to another place and the journey got aborted midway. All this time, we are yet to see the involvement of God in their lives. Suddenly, there was a turning point in their lives. Abram received an important call that changed their lives forever. What was Sarai’s response to that call?

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there. (Genesis 12:1, 5)

As the couple continued to live in Haran, Abram had a supernatural encounter. God called Abram to begin a permanent friendship with him. Genesis 12:1-3 records that, “The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”  God indeed had big plans for Abram and Sarai. First, the couple were called to leave the country, people and family to a new land that God Himself will show them. Their obedience to that command will see them becoming a great nation and a blessing to the world. It sounds good right? Yes, it does! Looks like finally God has come to change the story. Abram and Sarai obeyed the voice of God and set out on their new journey to God’s own land. 

“So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.” (Genesis 12:4‭-‬5). Finally, they arrived in Canaan, the place Terah (Abram’s father) had planned to take the family. In Canaan, “Abram travelled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.” (Genesis 12:6‭-‬7). What a joy? Did God just say offspring? Is He going to bless Abram and Sarai with  children? Abram was Seventy-five years at this time and Sarai was probably sixty-five years old. Even in our day, it takes scientific help to make a 65 year old woman conceive. However, the couple believed God, obeyed his words and even raised an altar of sacrifice for God. 

Sarai has begun a new chapter with God and it already looks promising. She left everything behind and followed Abram to the land God promised. As she stepped into this new relationship with God, she still had her issues. However, holding on to God’s promise, “I will make you into a great nation”, Sarai’s shattered hope of being a mother was restored. She was confident that in any way, God will come through for them. Thus, she went about her life, taking good care of herself and radiating beauty that catches the eyes of kings. Remember, she was 65 years old!