Dear Friend,
Have you ever told a lie so you could get out of a situation? Perhaps you haven’t but I have. When I started out in ministry, I barely had food to eat let alone pay for bills. I was always late on my rent until it got out of hand; one time I went 8 straight months without paying.
Sometimes when we think of our Pastors we imagine they don’t have to deal with personal issues like this after all the LORD does take care of them. Yes He does, but on this occasion it was my fault. I didn’t understand the meaning of “Be Still”
I was preaching the gospel, but I was handling personal matters personally and the LORD stood on the side lines and watched me. As the rent bill mounted so did my lies. It never occurred to me that the same God who was opening blind eyes by my hand, healing the sick, the lame and speaking a REMA into people’s lives was the same who could handle my bills.
I let him use me but when it came to my personal things, I kept Him out of it. The results were terrible; the LORD had mercy on my foolishness and ignorance and bailed me out. Every time my landlady called, I told her I was expecting some ka money and that I would pay her in full when I got it. Frankly speaking, I had nowhere to get it. I had ditched my job for ministry; there wasn’t any hope of getting this money.
The thing about telling lies is that you have to keep reinventing them until you forget and start recycling the same lie all through, you will certainly forget what you said but people don’t. When my bag of lies ran out, I opted for something else, leave my house very early and return late in the night and make sure lights never go on when I am back lest I attract attention. So my new excuse was, I am not around but when I return I shall pay you yet I was right there.
All this time, the LORD watched me dishonour myself simply because I didn’t understand how He works and how much He was willing to get involved in my personal life. Then one day when I was really tired of telling lies and pulling strange moves, I sat quietly in my living room and opened my bible, not that I was looking for answers, then boom, it was right there,
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalms 46:10 NKJV
I thought deeply about this scripture, what did it mean for me and how do I even stand still in my current situation, as I pondered in my heart, that’s when the revelation became clear to me, the LORD was waiting for me to arrive to that point where my heart wasn’t worried and my mind trying to run through all kind of ideas to come out of a situation. It meant simply trusting the LORD even in the middle of my worst situation. I learnt then that the Holy Spirit would do nothing if I kept running around telling all kinds of lies and giving whatever excuse I could come up with.
When the Holy Spirit had finished dealing with me in His Word, I was ready to tell the truth even if it hurt. I stopped leaving the house early and crawling back in so late like I was a midnight rat. I walked out boldly with my head held high and I wasn’t worried or scared anymore. When my landlady called, I told her the truth, I said I didn’t have but when I have, I will give to you.
Oh the joy of telling the truth, oh my my. You wont know the feeling until you have boldly told the truth. Well now you know your beloved Pastor told lots of lies but I learnt my lesson. Now I will throw the truth in your face on any given day. Will you stand still before the LORD today! Discover how the LORD your God works then you will be less frustrated.
Listen to the Spirit today saying, be still, and know that I am God.
This is the Word of the LORD.
His servant,
Pastor Mark A Odeke
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Romans 11:36
