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& you will too!
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  1. hi! i’m glad to read you here! when your post began, i thought, “oh, nigeria, really, what can be done there?” i am too quick to forget that we only need to petition our Heavenly King and He will work…we have extra full confidence in that when, as in your instance, He has clearly told us to do the praying. Please continue in this work!

  2. Dear Ibukun
    Your story touches me deeply. Sometimes I find I am following God’s word more in part because I want others to know that I am and to think well of me for this. That is the wrong motive. My journey with God should be completely personal, and not put up for comparison or approval. Thank you for helping me remember that.

  3. This IS huge! May God do mighty things in the hearts of the Nigerian people….and your own…… because of this obedience!

  4. Oh…how God sees and “measures” in His kingdom is polar opposite from this world…We are part of His upside down Kingdom…where a cup of cold water matters…5 loaves can be multiple upon multiples…where the uneducated can profound the wise…don’t grow weary in doing good…you will reap a harvest in His kingdom…and with Him and in Him it is enough…yes…one day at a time.

  5. Thank you for this reminder. I and my husband have experienced this several times over the past year. And what I find is when I do have success, I want to take the credit and pat myself on the back. Lately God has called me to do things quietly and without recognition. Keep doing what you are doing.

  6. I love that you pointed this out — we need to be reminded so often of the importance and significance of obedience…
    I remember years ago, I felt that kind of nudge… I was working in a doctors office and the only Christian there… but one person had God’s attention. He prodded me every day for a week to ask this girl to go to church with me sometime. I knew she would laugh and maybe even look down on me, so I avoided the nudge. Monday went by. Tuesday went by. Each day the same nudge — ask her. I kept looking over my shoulder at God and saying No I just can’t!… until Friday. Somehow I sensed that if I walked out of that office for the weekend without doing what God asked, I would disappoint Him greatly and never know the purpose for this. So at the very end of the day on my way out the door — I finally got up the nerve to ask her: Bonnie, would you like to come to church with me sometime? And the answer — thanks but no thanks! with a hearty laugh… but was I humiliated? no… I felt such a tremendous relief walking out that door because it finally dawned on me that the ‘stats’ or the ‘outcome’ was not up to me — I just needed to obey!

  7. There is always work to do everywhere and willing hearts to do it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience.

  8. THANK YOU so much for this! As a new-to-the-public writer — and after feeling the Lord had called me to this — I couldn’t agree more! It’s so easy to get caught up in the need for more social media to promote, but God isn’t calling us to promote!! He’s calling us to share His impact in our life with others so they can see Him and know Him, too!

    I’ve struggled with this in the sense that some of the “big names” out there in Christian/women’s writing/blogging/speaking/etc. seem to speak into my heart differently than they did a year ago. My feeds/inbox/wall is overwhelmed with another push to read the same exact post. The photos that used to be overlaid with His words are now their words channeling me to Him through them instead of directly to Him. What used to be all about Him is now about getting to Him through them, and I struggle with what I see.

    I pray regularly about NOT getting caught up in this perspective and about walking in His will and in His ways as He calls. …being obedient. As a new writer, I have no idea where God will lead, but I want His name to be the BIG name no matter where He takes me.

    Blessings to you! I am excited to see your perspective, your prayer, your hope and your leading from Him in print!

  9. Ibukun,

    My brother prayed for me for 8 years before I became a follower of Jesus. He was the only believer in my family prior to that.
    Where the Lord calls us, He equips as we need equipping. Before Jesus did anything, He prayed to His Heavenly Father. When the disciples were chosen, He was in prayer all night. Prayer is where the Lion’s share of the work is done, hearts changed, circumstances lined up, and people moved. You are exactly where you will do the most good for now. Your marching papers may change, and they may not. You are doing Kingdom work, and it is important, for both you and your country of Nigeria.

    Blessings,

    Joanne

  10. Thank you sweetie for sharing your journey! I knew there was a reason i was drawn to you on IG, big hug!

  11. Karen Fawcette’s comment reminds of one timid woman’s obedience to hand out a tract, which God used to build a church – the church I attend. 25 years ago one of our church members was at the doctor’s office. He was not a believer. A woman there handed him a tract. He ended up getting saved and sharing the gospel with friends. He sows a lot of seed to this day. Anyway his best friend at first thought he was crazy, but later answered God’s call to salvation.

    Several years later the two of them, together with a handful of people, began a church. At first they brought in an outside pastor but eventually God called the best friend to preach. He has been pastoring this church ever since. The gospel of Jesus Christ has been proclaimed in this place for 20 years. Souls are saved, lives are transformed.

    And it all started because God chose to use one woman with one tract.

    Keep walking in obedience. God will give the increase in his time.

  12. Karen Fawcette’s comment reminds of one timid woman’s obedience to hand out a tract, which God used to build a church – the church I attend. 25 years ago one of our church members was at the doctor’s office. He was not a believer. A woman there handed him a tract. He ended up getting saved and sharing the gospel with friends. He sows a lot of seed to this day. Anyway his best friend at first thought he was crazy, but later answered God’s call to salvation.

    Several years later the two of them, together with a handful of people, began a church in their town, which had not had a gospel preaching church up to that point. At first they brought in an outside pastor but eventually God called the best friend to preach. He has been pastoring this church ever since. The gospel of Jesus Christ has been proclaimed in this place for 20 years. Souls are saved, lives are transformed.

    And it all started because God chose to use one woman with one tract.

    Keep walking in obedience. God will give the increase in his time.

  13. My parents lived in Lagos for 4 years back in the late 80’s. I was in college and spent summer/winter breaks visiting. We attended First Baptist while there and met many loving Christians.
    I’m embarrassed to admit that my heart had become caloused to the Nigerian people. Most of what the rest of the world learns of Nigeria has to do with fraud. Your blog reminded me of the sweet souls I met while there. I even had the opportunity to accompany the local Baptist foreign missionary on a day trip to the north. I saw a completely different Nigeria that day, listening to stories of Christians being persecuted and hiding.
    Thank you for reminding me. I am convicted. I’ll be praying for you and for the success of your obedience. I praise God for His people who are faithful to obey and pray that I will submit myself to such obedience.

  14. This is outstanding. What a story – and what a heart you have. Thank you for sharing this – a great reminder for us to “show up” when He calls. Blessings to you!

  15. It’s so encouraging to read of people praying for their own hearts and for our country. We desperately need it, as you said. Thank you for organizing these prayer groups. I’ll be in prayer too.

  16. Thank you for being obedient to God. It is amazing what we can accomplish when God is in the center of it all!

    Sounds like you are doing great work! Keep it up and you never know what will happen! 🙂 I will start praying for the Nigerian people myself!

    God Bless:)

  17. This is just wonderful – every bit of it. The idea, the lessons learned, the encouragement to just do the next right thing when that is what God asks of us and then, to let ‘performance’ worries go. Thank you!

  18. We all need this reminder no matter what we are doing for Him. “He doesn’t need our performance. He needs our obedience.” Powerful words. Incredibly true. Thank you for posting!

  19. I needed to hear this afresh in your own words, to really get it. So, all I need to do is obey God, and not worry about the result. God will make the result whatever He wants it to be. So many times I get frustrated that my efforts are not making more of a difference. I think God is annoyed with me for not trying harder. But you are right, the performance is not as important as the obedience. Well said.