Why I Hate Religion

Religion is the cause of many wars, it has ordered more deaths than it has given life, it judges people without fully knowing who they really are, it sets impossible standards that people can’t meet and it’s the cause of many who suffer from mental health. I hate religion!!

Now before you get carried away let me clarify. I’m not saying I hate God but I’m simply saying that I hate the way people have created God to be. And just so you know, I’m not the only one that feels this way. Jesus felt the exact same way and had zero tolerance for it. The Pharisees (religious people) were all in contention with Him and He warned His disciples to stay away from their teaching. They valued the Word and theory of God rather than a real relationship. Love was never the centre but instead rules and regulations were. This is the same thing we have seen time and time again in history and in the present, but just manifests in different ways.

Here are some reasons why I hate religion:

– It requires everything from you but doesn’t give anything back
– It focuses on the outward appearance but neglects a persons heart
– You can’t do anything right
– It requires you to attain perfection by yourself
– It promotes hate over love

Jesus never promoted this sort of lifestyle but promoted love everywhere He went and gave people life. He was not focused on people’s sin and mistakes but was more concerned about bringing healing to a lost generation. His ultimate sacrifice on the cross freed us from a mindset of trying to get to God through works, but now through simply believing. Where religion makes it complicated God makes it simple!!

5 Tips To Having A Healthy Mind

Most people think that living a successful life is based on outward appearance, how much money a person can make and the material things they posses. This might be a fruit of success but definitely not the main thing. It’s having a healthy mind and possessing right thinking that will set a person up for success.

Let me give you 5 tips on how to cultivate a healthy mind:

1. Spend time reading books that make you come alive – Reading is like food to the mind and a motivator for most of the great people we know in our age and the ones in previous years. John Maxwell once said that, once his daily reading stops so does his productivity. Books have the ability to motivate you to action and more importantly they challenge your mind to think differently. Whatever challenge or question you have you can always find a book to help you through your obstacle and lead you on to healthier thinking in particular areas of your life.

2. Be thankful for the good things that are happening and don’t focus on what hasn’t happened – Thankfulness is a big deal because it redirects our mind to focus on what is happening without stumbling over what hasn’t happened yet. When you focus on what hasn’t happened yet, you set yourself up to be offended at life and at this point you give fear and depression legal access to your mind. Now, this might sound extreme but it happens all the time!! On the other hand, when we focus on the positive and are thankful for what is happening it gives us confidence to dream big and puts an expectation on what’s about to come next.

3. Seek healing for past hurts and overcome destructive patterns – If there were a list from 1-10 of things that hold people back and plague their minds, I would have this as number 1. Unhealed wounds will cause you to hurt other people and yourself. It’s main priority is to make sure your mind doesn’t prosper and will keep you going around in circles until it is dealt with. I’ve had times in my life that I’ve been hurt and because of it I limited my willingness to love because I was afraid I might be hurt again. The problem was that it caused me to shut people out and then seek pleasure in places that were unproductive. In spite of this, I sought healing. When I received it, my heart came alive and it felt like I was given different lenses to see life through.

4. Go after everything that’s on your heart and evading your conscience – Having a clean conscience does not just involve ensuring that you don’t live with a lack of moral integrity but also in not fulfilling what you said you were going to do. Dreams that have been neglected will send signals to your conscience causing the alarm to go off. This will happen until you have done what you said you were going to do.

5. Let go of all gossip, hate, backbiting and choose love – Hate and gossip cause darkness to cover our minds and no good will ever be found in it. When I find myself gossiping I can feel my mood changing from positive to negative and from thankfulness to being ungrateful. Love on the other hand will always lift your mind to its highest altitude. It sees the good in everything and always hopes. It never disappoints and will never lose!!

The Revival That Never Stops

Most revivals we know have started well and produced extraordinary fruit but for one reason or another have stopped. This became a common theme for moves of God such as Azusa Street, The Welsh Revival and the Jesus People Movement where they would have a year or two of intense breakthrough but then it would end because of failure to take proper responsibility for what was given.

Even though this was once normal for revivals to stop, it was never meant to be the norm. When God starts something it’s not meant to end but instead go on to impact generations to come. The aim is to go from glory to glory and not from glory to nothing!! Another revelatory fact about revival is that it was never meant to be something that magically turns up out of nowhere, but it was always meant to be carried and stewarded by individuals that know their identity and what is available to them because of the price Jesus paid. Bill Johnson senior Pastor at Bethel Church, Redding, Ca says that “Jesus didn’t just pay a price to get us into heaven, but He paid a price to get heaven inside of us!!” When we begin to view it this way we realise that we walk under an open heaven where anything could happen at any time if we dare to believe.

If you are currently experiencing a move of God in your life and you are afraid that it might stop, or you are experiencing tremendous favour then please note that it is not meant to stop but only increase as we are born to bear fruit until the day we die. You are unstoppable!!

A Taste Of Grace

The word Grace is probably the most misunderstood word in Christianity. In my personal life I used to think that Grace was just a word you use when someone got on your nerves. I would say things like, “we need to have grace for the person.” Apart from that I didn’t know what the word meant or how it applied to me.

It wasn’t until I began to study that I found out it wasn’t just a word but more a way of life. A way of life whereby things are now made available that previously wasn’t. I found out that it’s called favour, but not favour that can be earned. The Apostle Paul even says that because of our position in Christ we now stand in Grace. In other words it is from this place that we now live and do life from. It’s a lifestyle of unmerited favour where anything is possible at anytime. If you dare to believe!!

‘Grace’ is a controversial term because not only do we receive a lifestyle of favour but sin loses its power and we get to live a life of total freedom. It offends people that feel justified by their work and great efforts to please God. Let me note that it’s not by our efforts that we are justified, but rather our faith in His ability to justify us. The moment we start to trust in our limited abilities we level off and disqualify ourselves from experiencing the impossible. On the other hand, if we can learn to just receive the incredible privilege He has given us, then our lives become an adventure is stress free, without struggle and filled with joy.

Learn how to receive grace today and watch what happens!!

7 Reasons Why The Power Of God Is Not Active In Your Life

1. You believe it’s only for certain individuals – I use to believe that the power of God (miracles, signs and wonders) were only for certain people because that is how I was taught. I was taught that only leadership was allow to lay hands and visiting pastors or prophets. I thought I would have to fast 40 days and nights to even get close to what they are carrying. In light of this, it all changed when I found out that the Spirit of the Resurrected Christ lives in me. I realised I carried the same power so I too was able to see what they saw!!

2. You only wait for things to happen but don’t step out to see the power of God activated – If the Holy Spirit lives in you then the next step is to look for opportunities to see Him released. Waiting for things to happen only expresses lack of understanding in what you have and the commission to give it away.

3. You pray things like ‘IF it’s Your will!!’- The word ‘if’ should never be used at the start of a prayer as far as faith is concerned. It only serves to make you double minded and unsure as whether or not God wants to do what you have requested.

4. You might of been taught that miracles were only for Bible days – Some church circles believe that miracles passed away in ancient times so now we only get to practice a Christianity that is based on moral behaviour, being good to people and getting people saved. This might sound right but was never the example of Jesus or anyone in the New Testament. In fact He commanded His disciples to go and teach the world everything He commanded them. What did He command them to do? Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy and drive out demons!!

5. You have been sucked into a culture that celebrates theories and concepts more than experience – “Bible study without bible experience is pointless.” – Bill Johnson. The point is that when we focus on just reading or listening to words without experiencing them we step into an inferior Christianity. Christianity was never meant to be known by words only, but by power. Knowing God can not be achieved by just reading and entertaining concepts. To know Him is to experience Him!!

6. You are waiting to get to a certain level of spirituality – The power of God is not based on where you are spiritually and certainly not on how good you are. It’s always based on how good GOD is!! The Spirit of God lives in you now, not later and comes fully equipped with power so start moving!!

7. The fear of something not happening holds you back – Before I started to see miracles through my own hands I was afraid to step out because I thought I would feel embarrassed if I put someones hopes up and then nothing happened. After doing this for a little while I realised that if I don’t step out and take the risk nothing will happen!! I then had to get over myself and step out regardless of whether I saw an instant result or not. It’s about the risk more then the result.

Don’t Let Anyone Undermine Who You Are

One of the saddest things in a life is when you stop pursuing something that is important to you and hold off who you are destined to be because someone else doesn’t understand.

I will put both hands up and say that I have been that person for many years that wanted to achieve but was afraid because people didn’t understand. It’s not that they were bad or dishonouring but they just didn’t understand the unique and quirky ideas that God has put inside of me. It felt like what I wanted to do was constantly being questioned by people’s fears and concerns. After a while it simply just got tiring and I found myself giving in to what other people felt was best for me. What I thought was accountability was actually the fear of man and was stoping me from hearing the voice of God.

It wasn’t until I had a light bulb moment, when I realised that I had been allowing people to undermine who I’ve been created to be without defending my cause. I was being pushed back and forth by people that thought they knew what was best but didn’t seek my creator to find out. I quickly had to make a decision to follow my heart and what I felt God saying over people’s fears and opinions. It wasn’t that they no longer mattered but I was tired of going around in circles. I figured out within myself that if anyone is going to have an opinion of who I should be, it will God and Him only. Every other opinion would have to match with His or it is not worth me listening to.

My message to you today is never to let anyone undermine who you are but stand firm even if it doesn’t make complete sense. Not everyone will understand but it’s better to follow your heart than someone else’s standard for you.

7 Ways To Deal With Disrespect

1. Set Boundaries – Boundaries are like barbed wired that protect an area of value. It shows people your value and puts them in their place. It commands respect and causes a disrespectful person to make a choice whether to be around or not.

2. Let Them Know Your Standards And Expectations – It’s my personal belief that we teach people how to respect us. If someone is being disrespectful and we just allow it to happen, we have just taught them about our worth and what we are willing to allow. If we speak up then we are setting a standard for other people to grab a hold of. It’s also important that we don’t tell other people what to do but instead we tell them what we are going to do and that’s the only person we have control of. If not, we only end up frustrated and feeling rejected.

3. Walk Away If You Have To – Sometimes it’s good to walk away from a disrespectful person until they are willing to be respectful. People have to know that every conversation that you participate in has to be respectful or you won’t participate in it. Once again this sets a standard for people to follow.

4. Anger Does Not Solve Problems, Love Does – A lot of people think that getting angry will solve disrespect and to be honest in some situations it will. However, in everyday situations with your spouse, family and friends this does not work. “Anger is actually fake power” – Danny Silk. It might make you feel better but you have just successfully taught people to only take you seriously in that moment. In every other moment they will continue to be disrespectful until you explode again. On the other hand, love breaks down the barriers people have put up & commands respect from people.

5. Don’t Be Afraid To Confront – Most people are afraid of confrontation because they are not sure if they will be rejected or no longer favoured but the truth is, confrontation brings life, peace and clarity when it is done correctly. The aim of confrontation is not to be right but instead to make a relationship stronger. It is to create standards and to take a relationship to another level. Confrontation should never be used just to air your problem or as many people say, “I tell it as it is!!”. This only causes people’s guard to go up and may increase disrespect.

6. Let Them Know How Their Actions Are Affecting Your World – People have to know how their actions affect the world around them. It is actually really helpful feedback and you will find that most people don’t know how their actions affect other people. They go about life thinking that they are the kindest person until someone is bold enough to let them know otherwise.

7. Nip It In The Bud Right Away – The moment you recognise disrespect it is good to deal with right away rather then letting it fester. If it is left for a while then your power and influence over the situation will start to diminish. After this has been done it will be hard (not impossible) to get that power back.

5 Signs Of A Controlling Leader

1. Branching out is a sign of disrespect for them – A controlling leader never wants you to progress apart from themselves. They will use manipulation and sometimes lies to make sure that you stay with and under them.

2. They don’t like anyone else to get take the lime light but themselves – Most controlling leaders are insecure in some way or another so they only want one person to get the lime light – themselves!! If you do start to get the lime light it’s only ok if you are mentioning their names or promoting their agenda.

3. They use their authority to lord it over people rather than empower – Leadership is meant to empower not hold back. Leaders are suppose to create a safe place for people to flourish and feel a sense of belonging. There should never be a moment where leadership is used only to tell others what to do and to hold them back from what God really has for them.

4. Their vision is the only vision that matters!! – If you have been around a controlling leader you will soon realise that your personal vision does not matter. All that matters is making your leaders vision happen at the expense of sacrificing your own life and sometimes your family.

5. If you disagree with them you are labeled rebellious – This is very common for controlling leaders. They don’t like you to disagree with them. In fact if you disagree or go against what they say you will be labelled rebellious and out of order. This is all an attempt to make you feel bad and guilty for what you have done so you can come back and be submissive.

11 Traits Of A Confident Man

1. He is not afraid to speak up when he sees injustice – Most people in society remain silent when they see injustice or think they are not significant enough to make a difference. A confident man is not bound by who he is not, but rather who he is. Its hurts him to NOT speak up.

2. He sees vulnerability as a strength not weakness – Vulnerability is part of overcoming shame and fear of being seen for who you really are. Confident men will show who they really are without apology.

3. He is not afraid to celebrate other people – A confident man loves to call out the gold in other people and celebrate who they are. It does not make him feel insecure because he knows who God created him be.

4. A confident man is not afraid to admit his flaws – Everyone has flaws no matter who you are but not everyone has the humility and boldness to admit those flaws. A confident man will admit his flaws because he realises that it is not about where he is at now but where he is going. He is also not afraid to be judged.

5. He knows that God is his source and that prayer is essential – Without acknowledging God as your source your confidence and advancement is limited. With prayer and acknowledgment that God is your source your confidence increases and you become comfortable in who you are.

6. Failure is seen as strength – If failure is handled well you are guaranteed a victory. The reality is that failure is just an opportunity to learn and get better at what you do. It’s not the end but potentially the start of something great.

7. He doesn’t use control to gain respect but uses love – When you are not comfortable in who you are, you have to use control to get people to respect you. A confident man does not have to use control but just believes that people will do things for him based on who he is. He gains respect because he is an integral person.

8. Putting himself out there seems scary but he will still do it regardless – Putting yourself out there is not always the easiest thing to do but sometimes you just have to go for it anyway. Fear only becomes a problem when you give in to it!!

9. He is not defined by other people’s perceptions of him – People’s perceptions don’t matter at all. They only define you if you allow them to. Perceptions can change at any time so it’s just easier to believe in who you are and who God calls you to be and don’t worry about what people think.

10. God’s word is the most important thing in his life and everything else is secondary – When you make God’s Word first in your life then success is sure. You continue to change and your confidence rises.

11. Lack of resources does not define him – A confident man does not wait for everything to line up before he moves but believes that when he moves resources will come. He also is not defined by what he doesn’t have but focuses on what he does have.

Condemnation Vs Conviction

Many people can’t tell the difference between condemnation and conviction even though they are very different. They can feel the same sometimes because of how it is taught or when people say, “I feel convicted.” What they are really saying is that they feel guilty and Sometimes shameful.

The biggest difference between condemnation and conviction is that conviction empowers while condemnation disempowers. Let me explain… Conviction shows you who you really are and who you are called to be and the standard that you really know you ought to live by. It almost feels like a light bulb moment and right away you feel the power to change it. Whether you have wronged somebody, participated in a sinful habit or not gone after what He has called you to. He will release power to apologise, turn from sin or go after your calling. Condemnation on the other hand pushes you into a hole and allows you to follow in self pity. It’s primary function is to cut off your awareness of the power you have and make you feel guilty and distraught. One of the reasons why this feels like conviction is because a lot of people are used to performing out of guilt or pressure to be someone. Sometimes it’s our parents, teachers, friends or bosses that have made us this way so we think that the only way we can change something is if we feel guilty enough, but God thinks differently.

Contrary to popular opinion God does not have to use guilt to get people to do stuff. His method always involves love, mercy and grace. Grace is not just unmerited favour but it’s the operational power of God. This basically means that He can empower you to do something you could not do moments before, so if you are in a situation He will use conviction filled with grace so you can get out successfully.

The next time you feel convicted pay attention, because typically grace to change will follow, to empower you to make a right decision and move forward. If you don’t feel any of these you are probably just hearing the voice of condemnation speaking!!