Author: Vanessa Moonkie

“He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Happy new week my beloved family. We are still studying the life of John the Baptist. After sometime in the wilderness getting the training he needed, being hidden from the world , finally it was time to make an appearance. It was time to finally serve his generation. John began to fulfill his ultimate calling: to be a forerunner of the Messiah. It was time. There is a time for training. There is a time for process. Then comes a time for taking action.

John’s message was a call to repentance. Some people think that repentance is mostly about feelings, especially feeling sorry for your sin. It is wonderful to feel sorry about your sin, but repent isn’t a “feelings” word. It is an action word. John told his listeners to make a change of the mind, not merely to feel sorry for what they had done. Repentance speaks of a change of direction, not a sorrow in the heart. What l love about John’s ministry is that he did not go out to talk about himself and all the honey and locusts he ate. It was never about him. He went into all the country to talk about the Messiah. Maybe that’s why you haven’t been sent anywhere else because all you do is talk about yourself.

Many of us have fallen into sin. Actually, the bible says anyone who says they have not sinned is a liar. We know how bad and terrible it was to find ourselves in that moment of sin. We cried. I would cry. Whether it was a chemical response to soothe my conscience or l was really sorry only God knows. Sometimes I’d find myself back in the sin. I thought repentance meant saying “I’m sorry” but it actually means to turn away from. John was saying to them, “This path you have taken is wrong, turn and take this one instead.”

Preparation for the Messiah is not bathing and ironing clothes, l mean that’s wonderful. It is not carrying a bible and posting a bio on Instagram, that is also great! The way to prepare for the Messiah is to repent. We do not choose how we prepare, the template is already there. John truly was a transitional figure, forming the link between the Old and New Testaments. He preached about the kingdom of God. He says “Make straight the paths for the Lord.” This gets me wondering, are our paths straight? Or do we zigzag in and out of sin , in and out of purpose, into the light then back into the darkness. Repentance involves recognizing that you have thought wrongly in the past and determining to think rightly in the future. More than a desire to change, it is a decision to change. Selah.

We can not truly preach about the Messiah without emphasis on repentance. The short biblical definition of repentance is “a change of mind that results in a change of action.” This is why evangelism is of primary importance. There are so many people who need to hear the gospel. So so many. I totally love how bold John was. We will get into more of his message tomorrow but he was a bold man. You sure need to be bold to go into places preaching the gospel.

Have we turned away from our sins or will we keep falling and crying to soothe our conscience? Have we been baptised? Have we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour? Not because we are afraid of going to hell but because we recognise that we have truly been living unrighteously and we want to change. Wishing for change and actually changing are two different things. I know because there was a time l wished to change and a time l actually changed. Even right now, any part of me that is still canal and not ready to meet with God, may l change today. Can’t we see? The more we delay, the more damage caused. I don’t want to continue in reckless living, l want to be home with my Jesus. I want to check out of the pigsty. I want to prepare to meet the Messiah.

Aren’t we tired? Of losing so much for so little. Why don’t we repent today. Be finally tired of living like that. A friend of mine said to me,”I got tired of living in sin.” Another said, “ I got tired of saying I’m sorry everyday.” I say “ I got tired of being the one responsible for breaking my relationship with Jesus. I got tired of a divided heart.” Even now, l don’t claim perfection, l choose to repent today. What are you choosing to do?

“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods!”
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭24‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Believers also face trying times.”

The issue of mental health is often discussed in the world and rarely or almost never in the church. Perhaps because we have the Christianese language of “just be strong.” It has robbed us of many gifted people. It has destroyed marriages. It has crept into the pulpit where we have anointed ministers smiling and delivering the message with power yet in their closets they are weak, bruised and tired. The truth is this is a real problem that must be confronted and dealt with by teaching people how to deal with such things from the lenses of scripture.

Many Christians turn to the secular world instead of the church, because they sense they will get more understanding, sympathy, and help there. However, secular approaches can sometimes lead to further spiritual difficulties and complications. Dear Christian, the solution is here with us. We have the desperately needed antidote for anxiety, brokenness, depression. Before l go any further, how are you? How’s your heart? Your mind? (Id like for you to actually verbalise your response. Say it out as opposed to a thought response) How has your week been? Shall l be honest with you, l had an okay week, l felt more rested yet I did have anxieties about certain areas of my life.

While he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”
‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭19‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We read about the prophet Elijah who felt suicidal at a point in life. Was he a man of God? Yes. Was he anointed? Double yes. Elijah had endured a traumatic episode with the prophets of Baal and Asherah up in the northern region of Carmel. Although he successfully dispatched the prophets and demonstrated God’s power to Ahab, something was wrong. I imagine we can all think of difficult situation like this. When we were triggered by fear or pain to say, “You know what, l cannot do this anymore.” We can think of Hagar in the wilderness with her young boy, but God would not allow that situation to endure.

Some of us have experienced many years of victory and so we can’t seem to understand how things could suddenly go wrong. I love Elijah though. He teaches us to bring all our emotions to God. Telling the Father that you had a bad week and you need a hug. Listen to what the Bible says , “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.” James 5:17 (AMP) How did such a man find himself saying he wants to die, he’s tired, he’s done with life? I by no means am an expert in mysteries of scripture but l am certain this story will encourage you that depression and mental health issues are experienced by the best of us and it’s possible to overcome them.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
— Psalm 73:26 NIV 

Elijah felt alone in his struggle, a common sentiment we can feel when we are depressed , anxious or scared. Look into the mirror. Do you need a hug? I may be unable to give you one but God can. God CARES. He cares even during the moments when you feel He doesn’t. The number 1 way to prolong a low season is to stay down. The key is knowing when enough is enough and when it’s time to get up. When it’s time to look the enemy in the eye and remind him that you have dominion over the situation. If the David in you does not arise to face the giant, the giant will bully you to your defeat. David ARISE! Elijah ARISE! Gideon ARISE! Déborah ARISE! Hannah ARISE! Vanessa ARISE! Arise and shine! Arise and eat and go in thy strength!

Let the dna of the Lion of the tribe of Judah in you kick in and you roar away all fear. Don’t stay down. Start to laugh. Laugh in the spirit! Hahahaha laugh at the enemy! Did he think he would take you down? Really? A whole you? A mighty you? A gifted beautiful you? A Jesus filled you? NEVER! I want you to verbalise it, DEVIL YOU CANNOT MAKE MY LIFE YOUR PLAYGROUND! Take authority! And hey, you are more powerful than you think. You don’t really want to die, you want a hug from your Abba! Get it and Get up!

I got a picture for you! Make a sound in the spirit! Don’t be silent! ROAAAAR. I bet you can even hear this picture!

Have a good weekend! I love youuuuuuuuuuuu! 💗