Change Your Seat!

 We are two weeks into the New Year, today being January 15th.

And while some persons would have stepped into 2024 excited about the successes of the previous year and confident about the tremendous possibilities that lie ahead, truth be told, there are some persons who brought their old selves, their problems, their negativity, their pride and selfish tendencies rolling into even today.

For some people, especially Christians, the realisation that God has brought us through another cycle of life, is a fleeting moment of gratitude when they’re not out having fun. 'Thank You Jesus for another year'. 'I will be a better person this year'. 'I won’t let anyone disturb my peace and steal my joy'. These words roll off our tongues like nothing.

But all too soon, they slide right back into the malaise, the lackadaisical behaviours, the compromising, the bad habits, the putting off of being better, the stubbornness and 'oh I’m not going to be the bigger one, they wronged me first'.

Psychologists might refer to this phenomenon as a lack of self-awareness or cognitive distortion. These people don’t think what they’re doing is wrong because they try to justify every action. Honestly, I find myself doing that sometimes and it is something we have to acknowledge and change.

Psychologists say in order to address this issue, these persons must do some honest self-reflection, emphasis on honest, develop more empathy for others as opposed to always expecting people to sympathise with them, and encourage themselves in acts of self care, personal growth and positive change.

The Bible emphasizes the concept of spiritual growth and transformation. And as Christians, we must always look to the Word first and to confirm anything the world says. Because if God says it we want it and if it’s not in His Word we reject it. Amen??!!

Romans 12:2 encourages believers not to conform to the patterns of the world but to be transformed by the renewing of their minds. The idea is that by aligning oneself with God's teachings and seeking a deeper relationship with Him, individuals can experience positive changes in their character and behavior.

So in the process of becoming better, it is important to have faith in God. It is important to recognise our wrong doings and repent, and it is important for us to walk in obedience to God, not only when others are watching, but at all times. Because God is always watching us.

In Philippians 2:12-13, the apostle Paul, speaking to the believers in Philippi, said: "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose."

We can no longer pretend that we are Christians. People are dying left right and centre. We do not know when our turn will come. We cannot be actors as Christians. We cannot continue to be fake. We must be genuine, serious about living right, and represent the Father well.

2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

Pastor Erma C Vanterpool of Rhema Worship Tabernacle in Anegada, Virgin Islands preached yesterday about new wine and changing our old ways of living. She said some Christians are so dry and hard and brittle in their ways. 

Family, it is past time for us to stop taking this life for granted and ask God to do a new thing in us, make ourselves available to receive that new thing, as God pours out fresh anointing on us.

It is literally Family, about checking where we are seated and changing our seat to God’s seat.

I don’t know if you remember that testimony from Sister Andrea Rowe in December on ZJoyVI where she testified about sitting in a different seat on the bus on a particular day when there was this accident. She said if she had sit in her regular seat, based on what she saw, she probably would have died.

Family, 2024 has got to be different good, different better. We must be wiser in the things of the Lord and we must become stronger in our faith and obedience to Almighty God.

Ephesians 4:22-24: "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

I have had to turn a new page in the chapter of my life in these past few days of 2024. The enemy tried to accompany me on this journey, but I had to shake him off. How many of you can testify?

By the grace of God, we will continue to rebuke every evil tendency, every demonic attack, every thought of slipping back into our old ways, if only for a minute.

We will remember how and live the way God wants us to live. Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

We will remember that we have changed our seat from where the ungodly sits and we are now seated in heavenly places.

Ephesians 2:6: “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.”

So no longer will we allow negative thoughts to turn into evil actions.

Even if we have to start again today, as God has lent us the breath of life once again, we will change our seating, we will not entertain this stinking thinking that pops into our heads at times, we will not engage in any negative actions.

Instead, we will become more aware of the beauty of God’s creation that we are, become more self-aware, make more of an intentional effort to focus on ourselves, seeking spiritual counseling and professional help if we have to.

As we continue to reflect on 2023, let us see the setbacks as catalysts to plunge into 2024 more determined to change our flawed and dirty seats to God’s perfect seat.

Let us learn from any setbacks, accept them as part of the process of learning and growing, adjust our approach and keep moving forward.

We will not allow anything or anyone to hinder our personal and spiritual growth from this day forward. Amen??!!

Check where you’re seated right now. Not literally, but check how comfortable you are in the company of persons who utter curse words as a regular part of their conversations.

Check how comfortable you are choosing to stay home from church or running from one church to the next.

Check how comfortable you are putting off studying the Word of God yet finding time to keep up to date with the latest on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

If as you think about it you feel uncomfortable, it’s time to change your seat to God’s seat.

The Bible provides guidance on transforming one’s thinking and actions, emphasizing the renewal of the mind and aligning oneself with Godly principles.

Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Remember, the mind plays a crucial role in shaping actions. Transformation starts with the mind.

May God help us today to renew our thoughts, focus on positive virtues, and align ourselves with God’s will for a righteous and fulfilling life.

It’s time to change our seat to God’s seat. That may mean sacrificing some pleasures, setting boundaries, losing some friends, being ostracised by family, doing some things differently…

But in the final analysis, all that really matters in this world is for us to surrender control and allow God to guide our lives.

aub 15 January 2024

admin@zjoyvi.com