Author: Vanessa Moonkie

•Faith-filled🌼 •Love-driven🌺 •Spirit-led🌸
Heyyyyyyy ! I am V OF THE MOST HIGH GOD. Welcome to the Yielded Center. Through my reflections on faith, my meditations on scripture and intimacy with Holy Spirit, l aim to inspire my readers to cultivate an authentic transformative walk with God. We yield by living a spirit led life.
Do you desire this? Then keep showing up here and let’s get practical.
And hey, God loves you. 💞 [ We laugh and love here]

Categories
The Overcoming Believer

Occupying the right way

Sooooo, imagine you are driving past a beautiful, big house. It is everything you have ever dreamed of breathtaking, perfect, exactly how you envisioned your future home. You stop and realise it is vacant. At the gate there is an agent’s sign, “To rent or buy, call this number.” But instead of calling, you decide to break in and move in because you saw it in a vision and you believe it is yours ( me at Aspen Hills) 😂

Do you know what would happen?

You would be arrested. You might even rot in jail. Did God give you a vision for a house? Yes. Is the house vacant? Yes. Did you occupy it the right way? No. They would say ,”But we left a number at the gate to help you with the process of occupying legally. If you had reached out, we would have helped you.” So then having a vision does not cancel process. Having a burning desire to occupy does not cancel the righteousness needed to occupy.

When you read Scripture, you will never find God encouraging cheating in order to occupy. There is no verse that teaches fraud, witchcraft, manipulation, or demonic assistance in order to arrive at a God-given destination. Not this generation that wants to occupy through divination. Not this generation that forces marriage through oils, spells, or dark spiritual practices. Not this generation that testifies “God did it” after using occult power. Not this generation that wants to occupy through violence, corruption, and bloodshed.

You want to occupy? Then occupy God’s way. The prophet didn’t say to the woman , “Go steal the jars. Steal a lot.” He said ,”Go and borrow.” Meaning you may not have the jars but if you ask those who have, you will get them. Ask them don’t threaten them or cheat or steal from them.

There are tenants who live in someone else’s house and refuse to pay rent. They are occupying but illegally. Zeal to occupy is not permission to steal. Desire is not a license to disobey. Believers do not just occupy. We occupy where God wants. How God wants. With whom God wants. We do not break laws or partner with the devil. We do not partner with demons to accomplish purpose. We do not build God’s promises with Satan’s tools.

“Dishonest business practices are something Yahweh truly hates, but He delights when we use accurate and honest standards.” Proverbs 11:1 (TPT)

You can shout, “It’s my year to occupy!” but also ask yourself, Am I doing this God’s way? Does this please the Lord? Occupying is not by all means, it is by God’s means. You cannot poison your boss, take his position, then come testify. You cannot spread lies to get a promotion. You cannot manipulate a person into marriage. You cannot compromise holiness to gain territory. Using sin to occupy is wrong. You can’t sleep around to travel the world then say you have taken over ten cities. No you haven’t! Eh The cities have taken over you 😂

Using deception to occupy is wrong.Using any spirit other than the Holy Spirit is wrong. Why do we occupy? For the purposes of the Kingdom. God is not glorified by structures built outside His design. Marriages built on lies cannot glorify Him. Businesses built on fraud cannot glorify Him. Success built on compromise cannot glorify Him. So as we occupy this year, let us do it the right way: With integrity. With the right paperwork. With honesty in business. With faithfulness at work. With the Holy Spirit as our only source. With diligent seeking in prayer, fasting and the word. Don’t rush the process and end up doing things the wrong way okay? Ok sharp. See you tomorrow .

🌼 I love you 🌼

Categories
The Yielded Believer

Occupying through relationships [2]

Happy Monday, Yielded People. Some of you have already started fasting, some are starting today, and some had no idea what’s happening 😂 but yes, we are fasting and seeking the Lord for our year. We want to move according to God’s instructions. As Apostle Judge Dube says, your spiritual life is your own responsibility. You are the reason you struggle to fast and pray. If you truly wanted to change it, you would. It’s that simple.

Last week we spoke about occupying through relationships, how who you know matters, who knows you matters, who doesn’t know you matters, and what you are known for matters. But as I reflected after church yesterday, I realised there is another major hindrance to our mandate to occupy: how we handled past relationships.

The Bible tells us that Abraham’s servants and Lot’s servants began to quarrel. But Abraham and Lot themselves did not fight. They had a conversation. They acknowledged the tension and chose to separate peacefully so both could thrive. No war. No insults. No bitterness. Even the conflict around them from the servants could not turn them against each other.

Some of you, however, are fighting people because you “bluetoothed” hatred from someone else. Your friends dislike someone, so now you dislike them too. They did nothing to you , you just adopted battles that were never yours. This year, stop that. Make your own decisions about people. Don’t let borrowed offense sabotage your future.

Some people burned bridges they needed for this particular year. Discernment is important. Lot needed Abraham’s intercession wayyyy later in life. Imagine if he joined the servants to fight Abraham over something that just needed them to separate. Separation doesn’t mean burning bridges. You can leave a church without fighting the pastor and everyone there. You can leave a job without destroying the office and bashing your boss. Be wise! A lot of people think departure is the offense, when in reality it’s the damage done on the way out that creates the problem. Later in life you discover that you need that door but you can’t anymore because you left such a mess. 

There is a way to leave that keeps dignity on both sides. Many people recklessly exited, they posted nasty things and even sent paragraphs of foolishness. Some ghosted. Some called names and insulted. Some leaked private things messages and secrets.  Some made a scene so loud that everyone remembers it. When you leave like that, you’re not just closing a door, you are destroying any future opportunities that could come from there. Please note that this doesn’t apply to all relationships, you guys are wise, you’re catching my drift. 

Some people’s issue is not that you left. They were okay with it. It’s how you left.

Vanessa Moonkie

It’s not in the walking away. It’s how you walk away. You can separate peacefully without calling people animal names and acting like you know what tomorrow holds.  You either close it with respect or you live with the consequences of how you closed it. The thing is, unless you are prophetic and extremely discerning, life is unpredictable. You never really know where God will bring you back to. Esau could have killed Jacob. Jacob didn’t just leave ,  he left badly. He deceived his brother, took his blessing, and ran. Years later, when God told him to return home and occupy, he became afraid. Why? Because of how he left. You may have to return to that place you left but can you? 

The Bible says:

“Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed, and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies… and Jacob said, ‘O God of my father Abraham… please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him.’” Genesis 32:7–11

Jacob had to pray, strategise, and send gifts ahead of him just to be able to go back home and occupy with his family. When he left, he probably never thought he would come back. But God brought him back , to occupy. His family was in trouble because of his actions.  And what about how Jacob left Laban’s house? He ran secretly. Laban later confronted him and said, “Why did you leave secretly and deceive me?” (Genesis 31). Even there, his exit almost became a war. Some of you think, “I’ll never go back there.” But sometimes you won’t , your children will. Sometimes you won’t , someone connected to you will.

Nobody is saying stay. But leave well. Don’t pull the hinges off the door. Don’t spray-paint the walls. Don’t trash the room. Nobody is forcing you to remain in that church  but get off social media where you’re planning to do something foolish. Nobody is saying stay in contact but leave with the mindset that if you ever need to pass through that space again to occupy, you will be able to.

Some people committed crimes and fled their countries thinking they escaped only to find ten years later their faces are still on wanted posters, this time with a heavier ransom. You may apply for a job one day and discover the CEO is the very man you cheated. You want to occupy? Then be careful how you shut doors. Right now, some of you could have occupied certain spaces, but people still remember your rude words. Or someone you mistreated told someone who is now connected to your destiny. They told them how you shouted a whole 5 hours nonstop. Tell me that is not a concern! “I don’t need them anymore! I can live my life alone.” You swear and cuss but have you been to August 2026? Have you seen February 2026 or even October 2027?

Nobody said Lot had to stay with Abraham because they were related . They were meant to separate at some point. But Lot left well so when God planned to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham could stand and intercede for him. He had himself an intercessor when he really needed it but you have paragraphed yours and told them where to get off. Then you posted on your status , “Fake people ABC.” Okay.

Leave, yes. If you want to. If you can’t stay anymore. If you are led to. Sometimes you aren’t even supposed to leave or cut them off, you just need to discern well. But IF you are to leave, do it in a mature and peaceful way that preserves mercy incase , just Incase. Selah

🌸See you tomorrow. I love you. 🌸

Categories
The Yielded Believer

The BIG 2️⃣🧁


Today we turn 2 years old! 🎉 I am deeply grateful to Jesus for His grace, gifting, and divine enablement to keep writing, to keep showing up, and to keep sharing my thoughts with you all. So today, our Reflection Friday is exactly that, to pause and reflect on the journey of The Yielded Center Blog. Where we have come from? What have we walked through together? What have we built, learned, and overcome?And most importantly how do we move forward from here? Shall we? 🥰

Name

The Yielded Center

Tagline

Living a Spirit-led life


Guiding Verse

“If the Spirit is the source of our life, we must also allow the Spirit to direct every aspect of our lives.”Galatians 5:25 (TPT)

More information is provided at the foot of the page, where the writer shares the heart, purpose, and vision of the blog.

Launch Date: 9 January 2024
Age: 2 years


Overview

The Yielded Center blog is a faith-based, reflective platform focused on personal growth, life reflections, and Christian living. Our content blends personal essays, spiritual reflections, interviews, and series (multi-part posts). The blog is single-handedly managed, edited, and designed by Vanessa Moonkie, who also serves as the main author.


Posting frequency:

High, often multiple posts per week


Top posts:

1. When you leave
2. The Wound – Series
3. I question the love


Special Edition Thursday:

Features individuals from around the world. Notable guests include:
• Naledi Dike
• Ps Alice Halidu
• Lilo Kolisang
• Sibusisiwe Makhubu
• Prosper Iyo
• Jerry Duza
• Erica Williams


Peak engagement:

Activity trippled statistics. Women’s Month 2024 (August) reflecting the blog’s thematic resonance with readers.

Comments

A total of 669

Author / Founder

Vanessa Moonkie


Role:

Founder, sole manager, editor, designer, and main author. You can also find posts where she mentions her counselling expertise as well as book sales. You can find her social media links at the foot of the page for further enquiries.


Responsibilities:

Writing, editing, design, content management, and overall site administration.


Total reads (2024–2025):

About ~8,100


Yearly trend:

2024: Higher reads (~257 posts)
2025: Slightly lower (~177 posts), reflecting 80 fewer posts than 2024


Global engagement/readership:

Africa: South Africa (as number one), Zimbabwe, Ghana, Nigeria, Botswana, Namibia, Kenya, Uganda

Europe: Poland, Ireland, United Kingdom, Belgium, Sweden

North America / Caribbean: USA, Canada, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados

Asia: China, India, Hong Kong, UAE, Indonesia (ID), Japan

Oceania: Australia

The blog reaches readers across multiple continents, attracting an audience interested in faith, personal growth, and inspirational content.


Hate / Spam Comments

The blog occasionally receives negative feedback or spam, which is actively moderated:
Examples:


1. Scary content complaint: A reader was “scared by a woman who speaks like a ghost” in a post linking to Kathryn Kulman’s video posted on here. Her comment was deleted.

2. Criticism about content: Spam comments stating the blog focuses on “silly things” rather than “real-life issues”

3. Profanity: A comment containing a cuss word

• Spam comments are automatically filtered and not visible to readers
• Negative or inappropriate comments are moderated
• The comment sections remain active, safe, and constructive


Blog Writing Style & Workflow


• Freestyle writing: ~75% of posts are freestyle, written and posted on the spot without prior drafting. The writer’s most used words are;

  1. Yielded People
  2. I love you


    • Featured posts / special content: ~25% of posts, including Special Edition Thursday interviews and themed features, are drafted and scheduled.

    • Real-time posts: Most other posts are written spontaneously, reflecting Vanessa’s immediate thoughts and creative flow.

    • Impact: This workflow creates a fresh, authentic, and personal feel, keeping content engaging and reflective of real-time reflections


Monetary:

The author does not financially benefit from this blog. All content is shared freely with readers, and there is no monetary charge for access or engagement. Any financial support is purely voluntary and given at the discretion of the reader as a gift or donation. Such contributions serve as encouragement and support for the writer, who tirelessly creates and shares content.

Banking details for voluntary giving:

Account Number: 10233478009

Account Name: CN Mbazo

Bank: Standard Bank

Alternatively, support can be given via the following link:

https://buymeacoffee.com/ziyambivanx

Your support, whether through reading, sharing, or giving, is deeply appreciated and helps sustain the work of the blog.

Writer’s comment

Starting off, I honestly had no idea what I’d write about. I didn’t want it to be too formal, but not too informal either. I wanted a space that was in-between, where both the young and the old could find simplicity, understanding, and something that would make them want to come back the next day to read again.

That desire pushed me to be consistent which is NOT easy, especially since I usually freelance or write on the spot. I’m always reading or studying, so I’d always have something to write about, even if someone handed me a pen and paper on the spot. But honestly? Having the drive to sit down and write consistently was a stretch.

I am so grateful that through this blog, I’ve written books, connected with incredible people, and grown not just as a writer, but as a person. I’ve discovered things about myself too, like apparently, people think I’m humorous, and that I say “I love you” a lot… like a lot lol.

I’m incredibly thankful to all of you , those I know personally and those reading from parts of the world I’ve never even been. Your presence matters.

So my ask for this year is simple: please comment a lot. Don’t let me just see the statistics of your country , let me see your comments too. And yeah, I love you❤️.

In summary:


The Yielded Center is a vibrant, two-year-old blog managed solely by Vanessa Moonkie, combining faith-based reflections, personal growth insights, global features, and interactive engagement. Its freestyle approach, featured interviews, and consistent posting make it a unique and authentic space for readers across the globe.

Now we want to hear from you,

How has this blog been a blessing to you?

Share on the comments and celebrate with us!

Categories
The Overcoming Believer

Occupying Through Relationships

Hey family! We are exactly two days away from Yielded Blog’s second birthday. I know I promised a Zoom party, but I think I’ll just get a cake and praise the Lord instead. I’ve written over 600 posts so I sure deserve a cake. Two years ago at this time, I was still doubting whether I should go ahead with this vision. The decision to start, although this platform does not pay me anything, has opened doors to many other things, including relationships. Some of these connections have changed my life in ways I never imagined. If you’d like to give and celebrate YC with me, please use the details below. Any amount will be greatly appreciated, and if you cannot give, please tell someone about Yielded. Partner with me to spread the word and grow this platform.

10233478009
CN Mbazo
Standard bank

Let’s talk about occupying through relationships. Once you hear the word relationships, people are quick to think of lover boy and lover girl LOL, but I’m talking about relationships in general. I have already shared that this very blog has connected me with so many people, people I would have never been able to speak to had it not been for the purpose of this blog. Now I am in relationship with them, and I am telling you, I am occupying. Relationships can open doors for you, they can limit you, they can help you grow or make you a dull axe, they can move you forward or keep you stagnated. The issue of relationships is no joke at all.

In the story of Joseph in the Bible, do you realise that his family would have never occupied Goshen or received favour with Pharaoh if they knew no man? Joseph was their ticket to the land. Joseph was the man they were related to who was relating to Pharaoh. Note the difference. Goshen was only free to those who knew Joseph. You could know another man in Egypt and that was fine, but when it came to staying in Goshen, you needed Joseph. Otherwise, Jacob, his sons, and all their livestock would have had to return to Canaan. They needed Joseph in order to occupy, and Joseph himself was aware of it.

Who are you in relationship with? Let’s even start with romantic relationships, who do you know, and who knows you? You may be like the man at the pool of Bethesda. How many years did he stay there? Thirty-eight years. Why? Because he knew no man. No man often means no help, because God uses people to help us. No man many times means no occupying, because the land already belongs to someone. You can be in one place for many years until just one person shows up and says, “I have the key, let’s go.”

This calls for wisdom in nurturing relationships. You must learn how to apologise. “Sorry” is not an apology. “I am sorry” is muuuuuuch better. “Hi, I need help with,” is not how relationships work. “Hello, how are you?” is a better place to start. Wait for a response. Care about how they are before introducing your troubles. For some of us, the issue is not that we don’t know people, it’s keeping them. You cheat on women God gives you to marry, and they leave, yet one of them could have helped your destiny. You cut off people every year and call everything toxic.

Some of the relationships we call toxic are simply the ones that confront us, and we hate correction. People leave churches over silly things, yet pray for godly friends. Where will they come from? The trees? Some people can’t even give. You cannot take money and buy a gift for someone who is always buying for you, and people notice these things. You miss birthdays, anniversaries, and do not send condolences when people lose loved ones, but you want to occupy? Na lie.

Even Jesus needed a man. Simon of Cyrene had the connections that allowed Jesus’ body to be buried in a tomb that was paid for. Relationships mattered even then. If the only time people hear from you is when you need something, they already know. Trust me, those people already know. That pause before answering your call is because they know why you are calling. You are not a celebrity, and even celebrities die alone when they cut off community. You cannot thank people for being there for you, not even your pastors. Yes, God called them, but entitlement must die. Some people say, “I’m not a friends person,” but how will you occupy? You don’t know Pharaoh, you don’t know anyone, and you say God will help you, you’re funny.

The Bible says, “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” Pastor Dolapo in one of his podcasts said, “If you only have favour with God, people can still say no, even when Jesus has said yes, because free will has been given to us all.” Saying, “I don’t care if nobody likes me,” is dangerous. Not everyone will like you, but someone must. That is one of the ways we occupy. You may enter a place, but because you cannot nurture relationships, they remove you and replace you.

This is serious. Mary needed Joseph. Lazarus needed Jesus. Martha could host Jesus because they nurtured relationship. She even got busy. Who have you ever been busy for? Everyone’s busy for you? No, that must change. Respect your parents, they are not your age mates. Respect your siblings. All I came to say is, Goshen is not a by-force situation. In Goshen, you must know Joseph, who knows Pharaoh, and that is how you will occupy. May this word help you.

🌸I love you🌸

Categories
The Overcoming Believer

Occupying Through Wisdom

A couple of days ago, I went on a retreat with a friend of mine. We were praying at different sheds, spending time alone with God. Later, when we came together to share what the Lord had laid on our hearts and what we were praying about, to our wowses we realised we had been praying the exact same prayer point. What was it?

“Lord, make me a wise woman.”

I have seen how wisdom brings men into palaces, into rooms and spaces they never imagined they would ever enter. Wisdom has a sound, a weight, a clarity. You can tell when someone is speaking by the wisdom of God. It is evident. Solomon was not just any other king. No. Other kings sent people to come and listen to this king. Why? Because he had something they did not. There was a uniqueness to his throne. He wasn’t an ordinary king doing ordinary things, he was wise. Solomon was a king among kings, yet he stood out. And that was how he occupied.

The Bible says:

“And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.”
1 Kings 4:34 (KJV)

Do you want to speak like all speakers? Write like all writers? Lead like all leaders? Even if you want it, I refuse that for you. The wisdom of God must rest upon us and believe me, it is not limited. We can all take a share and still be unique. You have to be wise. This is not optional. Wherever and however you occupy, you will need wisdom to remain the occupant. You do know that you can occupy a place and still be kicked out, right? We see this in governments all the time. You are not president forever unless you are a tyrant or you rig votes (which many of them do). That is not occupying through wisdom by the way, that’s force, greed and whatever.

The truth is, you can be removed from the very place you celebrated entering. Wisdom helps you secure your seat. Why? Because people will need you there. You carry solutions. You know what to do. Wisdom makes people plead with you, “Please stay. Keep the chair. Keep the spot.” There will be a demand for your gift because you do it differently. This year, you must occupy through wisdom.

And the Bible tells us,

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
Proverbs 9:10 (KJV)

That is the starting point. Step one. So if you are planning to carry the spirit of wisdom without step one, then by definition you are not wise. Wise people know to start counting from one, not ninetynine. “Lord, make me wise at work.”
Okay, but do you fear the Lord? How do you put on a hat and earrings before you put on your clothes? How do you put on clothes before you bathe? There is an order. Go with the steps this year. Ask yourself, “Do I fear the Lord? Do I obey Him? Do I love this God I am asking for wisdom from? Do I honor Him? I want Him to help me occupy but do I even walk with Him?

The Bible also says that wisdom is not hiding from you. She is calling out,

“Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets.”
Proverbs 1:20 (KJV)

I came with KJV today hehe. Elabashantaaaaaaa. Wisdom is already calling. She is begging you to receive her, for your business, your career, your calling, whatever you are doing. Wisdom is saying, “I can help you occupy.” Why occupy with foolishness and clumsiness when we can be wise and offer the world solutions it has never seen before?
Just like Solomon.

Even the Queen of Sheba, a whole queen with her own palace left her home and traveled to meet him. Not because he was wealthy. But because he was wise. “Who is this man? Why is he so wise? Let me go and hear him.” The bible says she was WOWED! Wisdom is not just in beautifully crafted words , it’s also in action , the bible says she saw for herself that naaaah this man na Wizkid. I’m joking 😂

Your audience may not be drawn to you by flashy clothes. They may come because of the wisdom you carry. How did Solomon get this wisdom? He asked God. Yet today, we ask robots for wisdom. They can give you information but wisdom? Forget it. We live in an information, obsessed society. Many people have information but the one who pairs information with wisdom will always be superior.

So what’s your choice?
To be wise or to be like everyone else? How will you occupy? I love you. See you tomorrow. Think about these things. How will you occupy?

I love you again.