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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 Yielded Believer

Letter to MY Yielded People ❤️

Happy New Year, Yielded People!

I just want to take this moment to say thank you. This platform has truly changed my life. Every time I show up here and write, you show up too, you read, you comment, and some of you even send messages to tell me how impactful this blog has been. I am so grateful to God.

This year, we added six more countries, Mexico, China, Belgium, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, and Japan. I have personally never met anyone from these places, but the Spirit surely gives wings to kingdom work. Our statistics went beyond 11, 000 reads which could’ve been more provided l was off this platform for sometime regardless, I am so, so grateful you. Thank you. Thank you. A BIG, BOLD THANK YOU!

This platform officially turns two years old this January. God gave it to me on January 9th, 2024, after a retreat. When I returned, I started obediently. I intend to celebrate it with you maybe on zoom? Shall we do that?

Last year, we published 257 posts, which is over 80 posts fewer than 2024 (yes, I slacked 😄), but that’s because I also had to focus on writing actual books and that matters too. Thank you for the support in every form, buying my books, booking counselling sessions, sharing, reposting. You truly are the very best. In a time when it’s so hard to get people to read anything, your support means everything.

When I started, someone told me I shouldn’t write that I should do a podcast or audio books because people don’t read anymore. She said I would be disappointed. But here we are, two years later, with people who read and genuinely love it, both young and old. I want you to know that you made my dream come true. You kept me going. You are my fuel. You are my treasure. You are part of the reason I can still write. You are the greatest encouragement I could ever ask for. Thank you 🤍

My prayer for you this year is that the Lord will send you destiny helpers men and women who will stand with you and support the work God has placed in your hands. May He raise people who will willingly share your flyers, amplify your voice, and stop at nothing to ensure that your gift reaches nations and that souls are won for Christ. May you fully occupy your space in the Kingdom and in society.I love you.

Let’s meet again from January 5th and continue growing together. I love you endlessly, my Yielded People. Remember, we are called to live a Spirit-led life, and here, we love, learn, and laugh. Did I say I love you? Would you mind a double dose? Yes or no? 😂

Well… I love you anyway. Any doubles. Any tripples. Any billions. Happy New Year, family! ❤️

With gratitude,

Vanessa.

Categories
The Yielded Believer

Worship Wednesday

Today I don’t have much to say because on Wednesdays we focus on praising and worshipping the Lord.

I have a scripture for us and a book I’d love for us to read. I hope you are all okay and doing your best to be the best. And I hope it’s to the best of your ability and in the best of ways.

“Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name.”

‭‭I Chronicles‬ ‭29‬:‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Have an amazing praise filled day!❤️

Categories
The Yielded Believer

Takers vs givers

Gooooodmorning! I love you guys, I hope you know that. Happy new week! Buy my books. Join MPG. Study. Read the Word. Pray. Fast. Show up for your business. Brand and rebrand. Write the book. There are so many accredited free courses online, so study something. Think of new ideas. Meditate. Above all, this week requires that you show up fully for God and for yourself. Do your best, okay? Ok cool. Let’s go!

We live in a world where people give and take. Since the beginning, it has always been a cycle of giving and receiving. God gives, we take; we give, and God takes. That’s the rhythm of life. This same pattern flows into how we live with one another. God gave us His Son, and in return, we give Him glory , do you understand where I’m coming from? It’s a that exchange , that’ flow, that sustains everything. As people, we are called to follow that same pattern not necessarily by dying for each other, of course, but by living in alignment with this art of giving and receiving. It’s what keeps the world running.

Let me ask you a question , are you a giver or a taker? Or are you both? The answer should be, I am both. If you answered “giver,” understand this: nobody should always be the one giving while nothing is ever reciprocated. That kind of imbalance breeds bitterness, anger, and resentment. It drains the giver until there’s nothing left to pour. Even God, who gives abundantly, requires that we give something too. I’ve already mentioned giving Him glory, but there’s so much more. Offer your body as a living sacrifice. Give your offerings. Pay your tithes. Offer prayers. All these are forms of giving but remember, it’s not meant to be one-way.

Anything that operates only one way is bound to create frustration ANd it eventually destroys the giver. Think about it: if the ground is meant to give you fruit, you must first give it the seed and the rain. Without that, you could wait twelve months and still see no harvest. Fruits are never 100% the work of the soil, no matter how fertile it is. There’s always a human who sows the seed and a God who sends the rain.

You see, if only one gives, the cycle is incomplete. People often say, “I’m a giver,” but many of those same people are the most frustrated because they fail to understand that givers are also meant to receive, just as takers are meant to give. It’s as simple, and as complex, as that.

Someone may have said, “I am a taker.” Takers are often the selfish ones, the greedy ones. And the tricky part? They usually don’t see it. They convince themselves it’s okay, but it’s not. If that sounds like you, I want you to know, it’s not okay.

If you’re unsure which one you are, don’t worry. Tomorrow, I’ll share a list that can help you identify whether you’re more of a giver or a taker. Why is it important to have these kinds of conversations? Because we lose valuable people when we don’t understand the art of cultivating and nurturing relationships.

Relationships don’t just “work out” on their own they are made to work out. The people involved have to put in the effort. It’s not about wishing or fantasizing; it’s about doing the work. Whether it’s family, a couple, friends, or colleagues, relationships must be a two-way, reciprocal process if they are to become strong and healthy.

When we keep losing relationships, we must stop throwing tantrums and take a moment to reflect what exactly was the flow of that relationship? The flow is important. The flooring is important. It’s what keeps a relationship steady or makes it slippery. I want you to understand that you are responsible for how each relationship in your life turns out. Giving and taking. Taking and giving. That’s the rhythm that sustains connection.

Shall we meet tomorrow? This was just an introduction, lol.

Oh here’s a Scripture:

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.”

Philippians 2:3–4 (NIV)