Exhortations for The Soul

DISCLAIMER: Please listen to this presentation in context. I do not intend to misrepresent God or cause any one to feel uncomfortable in the process. Amen?! Oh my God! Do we make such exclamations as Christians or is it calling the Lord’s name frivolously?   Because when we hear people say that, it’s not a prayer, or is it? I really want to know.   Because I continue to hear many people, even right here on this platform, whether it’s in devotions or testifying, saying that phrase. I hear it and it troubles my spirit to be quite honest.   Even sometimes I find myself saying the enemy is messing with us, and it triggers me to the point where I know I need to stop using that terminology.   I have also heard preachers using the word crap on the pulpit.   Even in the YouVersion devotion for today discussing Romans and how we ought to do right by God, I see the writer asking for us to think back to times when we QUOTE UNQUOTE screwed up.   It was a reference to t...

1. Have thine own way, Lord!   Have thine own way!   Thou art the potter,   I am the clay.   Mold me and make me   after thy will,   while I am waiting,   yielded and still.   2. Have thine own way, Lord!   Have thine own way!   Search me and try me,   Savior today!   Wash me just now, Lord,   wash me just now,   as in thy presence   humbly I bow.   3. Have thine own way, Lord!   Have thine own way!   Wounded and weary,   help me I pray!   Power, all power,   surely is thine!   Touch me and heal me,   Savior divine!   4. Have thine own way, Lord!   Have thine own way!   Hold o'er my being   absolute sway.   Fill with thy Spirit   till all shall see   Christ only, always,   living in me! Research tells me that this hymn “Have Thine Own Way, Lord” was written by Adelaide A. Pollard in 1902. And the music was composed by George C. Stebbi...

I want to start by making this bold statement: Many of us are people pleasers and we don’t even know it.   In fact, i will make an even bolder statement: all of us are people pleasers, to some extent. At one point in our lives or another, we made conscious decisions to prioritize the needs, desires, and expectations of others over our own.   Ok so as not to judge or categorise any one falsely, let me speak for myself. I’ve had many an occasion where I have gone out of my way to make others happy without regard for my own well-being. In general, individuals who are labelled as people pleasers do this all the time. Here are a couple of reasons why. 1. They have difficulty saying no. They could be as we say colloquially, busy as a bee or have a million and one things to do,   just ask and they will spring into action. 2. They have low self worth and lack confidence in themselves. They always need to seek approval or validation from others and this is one way of getting that....