A gracious discovery

While leading the Christian Union
fellowship at the Polytechnic Ibadan, I attended a meeting
with some friends where Bro Gbile
Akanni was teaching. This man’s perspicuous presentation of Biblical truths is outstanding.

His message that day centered on
Samson. The lessons from Samson’s utter disgust for that new jawbone of a donkey
with which he’d successfully slain a thousand Philistines totally overwhelmed me.

When he ended and made the altar
call, the atmosphere was so charged some people were already weeping before
they got to the altar. I was among them.

About twenty of us knelt before the
altar and for fifteen minutes or more, were left to pray and cry our hearts
out.

When the tempo of the prayers began
to die down, Bro Gbile raised the song – Oh
to be like thee and instantly we reprised with renewed passion for a few
more minutes.

He soon began to pray for us and
his first words hit me like lightening. He said rather emphatically, “May
you never succeed,” and paused for a few seconds, in a rather dramatic way.
I immediately opened my eyes and looked up at him. I wasn’t alone. Most
of us before the altar had our jaws drop in shock. He saw our bewilderment and
said, “Relax, I’ve not finished.”

He continued, “Oh, may you
never succeed or even appear successful outside the will of God for your life…
May you meet divine hindrances each time you step out of God’s purpose…”
The Amens were not loud; in fact, I was busy reasoning with and trying to
understand this kind of prayer.

At the end of that meeting we all
dissolved into the night without the usual banters that accompanied a gathering
of students from different campuses.

Late that night, I lay in bed
wondering if I haven’t jeopardized my hopes for a prosperous career
in computer science by saying Amen to this man’s insane prayers.

But I made a
shocking discovery that evening. My desire for riches, for a successful career,
to be accepted and respected, totally eclipsed my hunger for a pure heart and a
genuine fellowship with Jesus. I thought I loved God but it was clear I loved me more.

This discovery was a harsh awakening. It not only exposed my hidden struggles with this
dawning reality, it seemed to give it life. Though I was saved, my search for
success and purpose lasted years. Why?

Selective obedience and compromise trailed
my spiritual experience as I fumbled my way through life, pretending I knew
where I was going. This is the case for many people in church today.

The paradigm shift Bro Gbile’s
prayers foisted on me needed a midwife
to help birth. Though I wasn’t looking for one, that singular encounter stuck
with me. I had to understand or redefine the meaning of success and more importantly, I desperately needed to live free! Free from my shriveled dreams and the burden of people’s expectations.

Someone said and I agree, “Success
means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person
you believe you were meant to be.” That person may not make the headlines among men, but if they connect with their purpose, they’ll be in heaven’s dailies often.

Few years ago, Abba graciously
led me to Yei in South Sudan where I now work with young people, especially students. My search for success and even significance is over.

Success is not the acquisition of more stuff and titles. It’s a journey that begins with an awakening, leading to a discovery with God at its core.

The discovery of purpose bestows on one a sense of deep satisfaction and joy that flows from knowing you are doing what you were made for, with Abba’s smile as your fuel.

You can make this discovery.
Click here, to get some help.