Growth

Dear friends,

I have grown so much in the past month that I cannot just cover in a short update. As I mentioned before, I have started working full time in the ministry setting, and I am being so blessed by it. My supervisor is very keen on pruning me, and as a result, I am being renewed every week and making changes in my life with thorns that have plagued me for a long time. As I prayed with more direction, discernment, as well as more faith, small miracles are happening in my life.

A few of the miracles I've experienced so far are:

Increased productivity
i) my reading speed has quadrupled, as I have been able to read faster and focus for longer
ii) my time awareness and management has improved, as I recognise that I am a steward of God's resources and that includes time. I have started to plan on the go, and to do a constant rundown of each day and each task, to ensure and repeat success.

Better relationships
iii) I have acquired more of a human touch, such that even strangers around me are warming up to me in a very short time, and people that I've known for longer are also yielding the way to their hearts.

Better discipline/Self-control
iv) I have gain discipline over the fear of hunger, as well as the sin of gluttony, as I have learnt that hunger without fear, pride or insecurity, is just a physical symptom, and while fasting, I can fully rely on God and His provision for my health and my needs. As a result of fasting, I have cut down my meals to healthy amounts with nutrition as a focus, rather than fullness.
v) I have also been shown that I have taken in certain destructive lies of the enemy, such as being transparent with emotions is equivalent to honesty, while it is just grounds for the enemy to reap destruction. So, in seeking to manifest more self-control in this domain, I'm working towards even more productivity and better relationships.

Greater understanding of God's Word
vi) From reading, memorizing and meditating on the Word, as instructed in Joshua 1:8, I have gained more insights on what the Word says, as well as opened new ways to gaining more truths. I'll share more about that in another update.
vii) I have been rereading God's promises and reciting those Scriptures to myself to keep myself in a constant state of joy and hope, which is exactly what God intends for us. Rather than focusing on the darkness that is happening, we are the salt and the light, we should focus on the God of hope and be brimming with joy and peace at all times (Romans 15:13).

Additional benefits
viii) As additional gains from the above blessings, I have more time, better relationships, and better health than ever before, and as a result of this, I am able to pick up a few hobbies that I didn't have time before. I now hit the gym once a week (will work up to twice a week when possible), picking up a new instrument, the Ukelele, for personal worship, reading and memorizing more of the Bible (something that I am adamant about now), and also reading the occasional book to invest into the future that God has planned for me.

As you can see, God is leading me to higher grounds and it's been an amazing adventure so far. I've also been doing a bit more writing on Facebook, just short devotions for my friends to share in my discernment. Not sure if God is calling me towards writing more, but I'll be writing my lengthy updates here and focusing on snippets of God's Word on Facebook.

Much love,

James