Lately, I have been pondering on what life is really all about. Every news of death that I receive makes an indelible impact on my mind but none has got me searching deep about the essence of life like that of Ibidun Ighodalo ( a Nigerian female philantropist who died of cardiac arrest on the 14th of June 2020), Chadwick Boseman ( a well-loved American actor who died of colon cancer on the 28th of August, 2020) and Nomthi Odukoya ( the lovely wife of a well-known Nigerian Pastor who died of Cancer on the 9th of November, 2021)
I think of what Chadwick and Nomthi’s mindset would have been after they were diagnosed with cancer and were told how long they had left to live. It is obvious that they were already making positive impacts in their respective worlds before the viperous cancer hit but how did that awareness affect their perspective about life afterwards?
I thought of how my view about life would be if I am equipped with the knowledge of the number of days that I have left on earth.
Ibidun on the other hand, may not have known the length of her life on earth so I find myself trying to comprehend the mindset which made her, despite her unresolved fertility issues, commit to sponsoring the invitro fertilization (IVF) procedures that birth babies of other women undergoing fertility problems.
I am not so sure of why but their death made me realize how fickle our life on earth is. No wonder it is written in the Bible that it is more profitable to go to the house of funeral than to go to the house of feasting.
Most of the time I get so caught up with my desires for the world’s idea of success. I know that this is quite inevitable for me as a human because the world’s structure has programmed us, from our childhood, to equate success with the acquisition of money and fame. We tend to prioritize making a living over making a life as we continually pursue academic and career goals .
I know that my physical body, its needs and its desires are temporal, therefore I wish my life can be driven by something that will stick to me forever.
Since my soul and spirit are eternal, I would rather prioritize investing in them by developing the right perspective about life. This, I believe, will make my earthly journey worthwhile.
For me, the right mindset is the one that focuses on glorifying God at every point in time. God is glorified when we surrender to His will and to His desires about all situations.
With this outlook, we experience abundant peace because we understand that God is constantly working out all things for the greater good no matter how our situations may be.
If we truly trust God’s plans and purposes for our lives, it will be easier for us to forgive offenses and believe the best for everyone.
Less marriages will fail when spouses are choosing to rest in the plan of God for their union. We, parents, will be more tolerant of our children’s mistakes as we yield to the will of God concerning them.
The pressure from an inconsiderate superior/boss will be more bearable because we are confident of God’s ultimate plans regarding all circumstances. Subordinates will submit willingly to the authorities over them, knowing that all instructions and policies will favour God’s desires for their lives.
We will develop the patience required to sustain our relationships despite the misunderstandings that may arise. Life will, also, become less stressful and complicated as we abide in absolute surrender to God’s will.
I have observed that the best way to adequately express our love for God is by letting go of our desires to allow His desires to prevail instead. This is true love.
Love is first expressed in our mindset not in our actions or words. A heart of love will eventually produce acts of love but acts of love are not necessarily born out of a heart of love.
Obviously, our most valuable possession in life is a heart that desires to see the will of God played out at all times. I pray that we are able to keep this kind of heart throughout the year 2022 and onwards. Amen!
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Another thought provoking blog. Welldone 👏. This statement really struck me ‘a heart of love will eventually produce acts of love but acts of love are not necessarily born out of a heart of love’.
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“God is glorified when we surrender to His will and to His desires about all situations”. This stood out for me
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‘Our most valuable possession is the heart that desires to see the will of God played out at all time’
When we make him the lead in our ways he always lead better. May God help us to cherish him better.
Thanks for this wonderful piece. More wisdom IJN.
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Nice piece..thank you for sharing this.
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Lovely write up! I enjoyed reading it.
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Thank you for this beautiful and thought provoking piece. I am particularly struck by this: “Since my soul and spirit are eternal, I would rather prioritize investing in them by developing the right perspective about life. This, I believe, will make my earthly journey worthwhile.”
I pray we will all be mindful of these truth!!
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I am improved and inspired about how you explained life and the quality of life lived here on earth. Thanks once again for your immeasurable expression of matters that pertain life.
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Thank you Busayo for this piece. We have to constantly put our trust in God and let His will be done. As we trust in Him, may we also live each day to glorify His name and impact the lives of people around us.
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Particularly at the start of the year, it is important to consider the journey ahead in the context of the meaning of life and the impact of death as you have so clearly painted.
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Hmm….very true. When we know that we are eternal beings then we are not afraid of death.
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This is apt my dear sis.
Life is meaningless if we do not surrender to the Lord’s will, while we strive to know him better and obey his instructions always.
Personal desire for intimacy and fellowship with God should be every Christian’s pursuit this year because there lies the discovery of the deep seated secrets of God’s plan for us. When death comes eventually, our success will then be measured by how much of God’s assignment we are about to achieve on earth.
May the Lord help us to finish well. Amen.
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This is apt my dear sister,
Life is meaningless when we do not yield to the will of God for us, while we strive to know him better and obey his instructions always.
The personal desire for intimacy and fellowship should be every Christian’s pursuit this year because there lies the discovery of the deep seated secrets of God’s plan for us. When death comes eventually, our success will then be measured by how much of God’s assignment we are able to achieve on earth.
May the Lord help us to finish well and strong. Amen.
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Nice read🥂”Love is the greatest”.
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Wonderful piece Busayo. Makes you reflect once again about the purpose and existence life in itself. To think beyond this earthly success and reflect on God’s own plan and the tru meaning of life in itself. Thanks for this…….
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Wonderful piece Busayo. Makes you reflect once again about the purpose and existence life in itself. To think beyond this earthly success and reflect on God’s own plan and the tru meaning of life in itself. Thanks for this…….
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This should be our mindset especially as we have just commenced the journey of 2022,so that we can enjoy true essence of living. Bless you for this good job. More insight for impact in Jesus name
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A very thought provoking read. Yes indeed having the right mindset focused on pleasing God is the ultimate. May the Lord work in us both to will and to do according to His good pleasure.
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This is a very beautiful piece indeed. May the Lord help us to do His will @ all times in Jesus Name, AMEN. Thank you for sharing, Pharm Busayo.
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Very profound
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