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The Yielded Believer

Naming your child šŸ¤±šŸ½

My favourite people! God bless you. Have you ever met someone with a really funny or weird name? Then you come across someone else with a unique name. Some have biblical names and some have ā€œZimbabweanā€ names. Thank God my parents didn’t try to be funny when naming me.

I once heard of a man called Promotion. I mean, yes being promoted is a good thing, but should that really be your name? In my village, there was someone named Builder. Great concept, I suppose maybe they hoped he would build the family but as a name? I don’t think so. But at the end of the day, we can’t blame the child. Why? Because it’s the parents who name the child.

We often laugh at Zimbabwean names, but some American names also don’t pass the mark. Someone might name their child East, East of what, exactly? Then there are names like Blue or Pink. Sometimes it feels like a party of random words, and when you try to make literal sense of them, there’s just… nothing there. Again, parents name the child. I know someone called Sikhathele , it means ā€œwe are tired.ā€ And another named Senzeni, meaning ā€œwhat have we done?ā€ Now imagine growing up with names like that. It’s no surprise some of these kids end up getting bullied in school. You will understand in a moment why I’m saying all this. I’m not trying to be funny at all.

When Mary became pregnant, she was given a name for the child. When Elizabeth conceived, both she and Zechariah were also given a specific name for their son. God didn’t leave it up to them even though I’m sure there were many beautiful names they might have chosen on their own. So why did God insist on naming them? Because a name is not just a label , its identity. And beyond that, it carries deep spiritual significance. That’s why, when you’re birthing a vision, a calling, or a purpose, you need to ask God what He wants it to be called. He already has a name for it. Don’t just name it based on your feelings or circumstances ask Him. Because the name matters.

And He was given a name above every other name. That means there’s also a name suitable for your church, your ministry, your vision. You can’t just wake up and decide to name your church some funky name. My apostle always jokes saying things ā€œSibongile Flying to Heaven Ministries.ā€ It sounds funny, but you will be shocked some names people claim God gave them. Be careful. Be careful not to birth a God-given vision and then name it in the flesh. I want to share something with you that happened to me a while ago…

In a dream, I encountered a spirit. We had such a fierce fight. At one point, I asked, ā€œWhy are you fighting me?ā€ The spirit responded, ā€œArimaka, I must destroy you.ā€ I was confused who is Arimaka? My name is Vanessa. But the spirit repeated it, three times: ā€œArimaka… Arimaka… Arimaka.ā€ Then she said, ā€œYou don’t even know who you’re called in the spirit.ā€ And as I started to gain victory over her in the dream, all she could say was, ā€œArima… Arima….ā€ The meaning of the name is devoted one.

The moment I woke up, the first thing I did was Google the meaning of that name. And in that moment, I discovered something profound: everyone has a spiritual name. Some people are called poverty. Some are called delay. Some are called wealth. Some are called favour.

Why did Jacob need a name change? Why did God change Abram to Abraham? Sarai to Sarah? What’s the big deal? Because names have spiritual implications. As you birth that vision ask God, ā€œWhat is the name?ā€ As you write that book, ask Him, ā€œWhat should the title be?ā€ As you raise your children name them wisely. Don’t go and carry demonic spirits into your home.

Every name is an identity. It will either attract things or repel them. will either open doors or close them. It matters what you name your child. It matters what you name your vision. It matters what name you carry in the spirit.

ā€œBut immediately, he drew his hand back, and out came his brother; and she said, ā€œLook how you have broken out of the womb!ā€ So, he was named Perez, the one who breaks through.ā€
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭38‬:‭29‬ ‭TPT‬‬

See you tomorrow. ā¤ļø

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The Yielded Believer

Giving birth šŸ¤±šŸ½

Sending you holy hugs!ā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļø

I just opened this blog after two weeks away, and I couldn’t help but smile. I truly missed it, missed writing, missed reflecting, and even missed simply browsing through. We all have something we’re passionate about, something that fuels us from the inside out. For me, writing is more than just a passion, it’s part of my purpose . People often ask me, ā€œWhat inspired you to write this?ā€

My answer is: God.

Every gift is meant to produce a harvest. Every talent, every skill should yield fruit should change lives, beginning with your own. That’s what this space is about: impact, inspiration, and living a yielded life.

Welcome to Yielded Blogs.

I don’t know how many of you attended the Ownership Conference whether on-site or online but let me just say this: it was life-changing. One of the best conferences I’ve ever experienced in my entire life. Can we take a moment to acknowledge the impact the men of God had on us? Now, pause and imagine for a second… what if they had never discovered their purpose? What if they had ignored the call, silenced the gift, or walked away from the process?

More than 10,000 people attended that conference. That’s more than 10,000 destinies that could have been disadvantaged if those men had not aligned with God’s will. That’s how serious this is. That’s how urgent purpose is. So again, I say to you: Discover purpose early. Let’s talk about giving birth. The men of God spoke to us powerfully about travailing, the painful, intense, often lonely process of pushing through in prayer, in obedience, in surrender. But here’s a question. When you finally give birth… then what?

So, I’ve never given birth naturally, yet. I will soon… when I get married, of course, soon 😊 But this I know for sure: the journey doesn’t end with giving birth. If anything, that’s where the real journey begins. Whatever you give birth to becomes 100% your responsibility. Normal mothers don’t give birth and then walk away. They don’t leave their newborns at the hospital and expect doctors to raise them. ( l said normal ones. Not those who throw babies in rivers or dustbins, God help them.)

When a woman gives birth, the baby is immediately placed on her chest. Why? To connect. It’s a sacred moment, an exchange of love, identity, and responsibility. It’s the same in the spirit. You must give birth to something that’s connected to your spirit. But oh… how I’ve seen people walk away from their own vision . They start something they swore ā€œGod told me to do thisā€ and a few months in, they dump it. Then they say, ā€œGod told me to leave it.ā€

God? Really?

Does God start things randomly, impulsively, just for fun? No, He is intentional. So if you travailed, if you pushed through to bring something into existence, why would you walk away from it the moment things get tough? Yes, you birthed a good marriage but now there’s conflict, and suddenly you’re ready to turn your back on your spouse and children?

Did you not travail for this? Here’s the problem: People give birth and forget the pain of travail. Today, I just wanted to show up and say this to you:

šŸ‘‰šŸ½ When you give birth, connect with your child.

šŸ‘‰šŸ½ Love the child.

šŸ‘‰šŸ½ Let it become part of your life.

Even if the baby cries… he’s still yours. Even if the vision struggles… it’s still yours. Even if the journey gets heavy… stay connected. Because in the day of adversity, when pressure hits, it’s your connection that will keep you from jumping ship. I do some work at an orphanage, and let me tell you, some of those kids have parents who are alive and well, living comfortably. But they gave birth and forgot their children.

God is counting on you. He entrusted you with something. Be responsible for what you’ve birthed. It does not end at just travailing and giving birth.

I love you.

See you tomorrow. šŸ’›

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The Yielded Believer

Reflection Friday

Have you ever woken up just not feeling well? That’s me today. My whole body aches, and like Samson I thought, ā€œI’ll just get up and shake myself as usual.ā€ But it didn’t go as planned. Please keep me in your prayers, pray for me as often as you can. I need them more than you may think. I am planning something different with our Special Edition Thursdays, so let me cook.

Today, I’d like us to pause and reflect on fruitfulness. What does it really look like? How fruitful are you right now, and how fruitful do you desire to be?

I’ve realized that the very first step to true fruitfulness is abiding in Christ. He said, ā€œThose who abide in Me shall bear much fruit.ā€ That made me stop and ask myself: Am I truly abiding? What fruits can I point to in my life? What impact am I having in my family, in the lives of those around me? When people look at me, do they see fruitfulness so evident that they cannot help but see Christ through me?

How fruitful have you been this week?

What did you achieve? Remember, we are called to be fruitful and to multiply. That talent, that skill, that gift in your hands, it was never meant to remain hidden. It’s meant to bring impact to your generation.

You have to occupy the space God has given you and give it your very best. No one supports a vision you yourself are not willing to defend. So let me ask you: What’s your vision? You can’t expect people to support something you haven’t even defined. Impact is the result of fruitfulness it’s what you’ve done with what God entrusted to you. Unless you want to remain a champion only in your own house, you must strive to be fruitful. Do you have a business? Start advertising. Start thinking empire. Start using that gift.

Sometimes fruitfulness is not about money. It’s about who you’ve blessed with what you carry. Maybe being fruitful for you looks like going into communities and teaching for free. If you can do hair, teach someone less privileged. If you do makeup, find someone in your neighborhood who is unemployed and willing to learn. It won’t kill you to do it for free ; it will create impact, and your legacy begins right there.

Selah.

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The Yielded Believer

Worship Wednesday

My lovely family, it’s Worship Wednesday!!šŸ’ƒ

I want to share something with you that I believe is a word in season. Many times, when I’m too stressed, too overwhelmed, too burdened, I find it hard to worship. My prayers feel like they shoot straight from the pain point almost as if the only thing I can speak about is the heavy thing weighing on me. I end up saying, ā€œLord, please show me mercy and do ABC for me.ā€

I don’t know about you, but some burdens are so distracting that they consume our focus. The grief of losing a loved one is the same; it can be all-consuming. I may not know exactly what you’re going through, but I want to walk you through the path and process of casting your burdens onto the Lord so that your worship is not distracted.

One of the biggest challenges people face is financial strain. As you get older, the bills pile up, the world increases its demands on your pocket, and the things you never had to think about at 15 are now unavoidable. There’s no dodging them. It’s hard to pray when your account is empty, when you have no job, when you’re in debt and even worse when there’s nobody to help you.

But here’s where I want you to start: abandon the orphan spirit. I’m teaching you what I had to learn myself. You are not dealing with this issue alone, even if it feels that way. God wants to help you. You might say, ā€œBut how? I’ve been praying.ā€ Yes, but perhaps you’ve been praying panic prayers or doubtful prayers. And scripture says that such people should not expect to receive anything from God.

So how do we cast our burdens on the Lord?

It starts with relationship. Who is God to you? If you said, ā€œMy Father,ā€ then think about what that means. Those who’ve had the privilege of a good father know that a father provides. A wealthy man whose child is starving is a wicked man. And if an earthly father provides for his children, don’t you think God your heavenly Father, is better than man? Would He sit in heaven with streets of gold while you struggle to pay fees? Struggle with grief? Struggle with sickness?

The issue is often relationship. I cannot walk up to a stranger and ask them to do ABC for me but in relationship, confidence is born out of faith. Faith that says, ā€œThis person loves me and has my best interests at heart.ā€ Stop seeing God as far away. Start seeing Him as your present, loving Dad. Approach Him as you would a father you trust:

ā€œDear Dad, this is what I’m facing. I can’t help myself. I need ABC. You told me to ask when I need help, so help your son/daughter.ā€

How you ask shows the depth of your relationship. And when you come to Him as a child who knows their Father’s love, you can truly cast every burden on Him knowing He cares for you. Today I want you to go before God in worship with a list of things you need. Please trust me, I’m not bluffing. I’m telling you the truth. Write it all down. Put on a praise song and dance. Put on a worship song and worship while holding that paper. If you like, carry it in your hands as you praise and worship.

When you finish, read it to God and pray that prayer above, then thank Him. Remember, you are speaking to your Father! Cast the burden, release your praise, and watch what God will do. I can’t wait to hear your testimony.

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The Yielded Believer

Worship Wednesday

The habit I want us to unlearn today is this: worshipping only on Sundays.

From Monday to Saturday, we’re soaked in worldly songs and entertainment, and we console ourselves by saying, ā€œAt least Sunday is coming.ā€ We spend the whole week immersed in idol worship not necessarily of statues or wooden images but idols like WhatsApp, Netflix, gossip, or endless scrolling.

Then Sunday comes, and we say, ā€œI hope the worship team sings my favourite song.ā€

But let me tell you something: God misses you.He misses you, the one who used to worship with tears, who couldn’t wait to sit at His feet and just tell Him how good He is. Now? A minute in worship feels like 24 hours. You’ve lost the fire. You need to be jumpstarted to lift your hands, to say something or anything to Jesus. Can you imagine? The One who gave everything for you… Waiting all week just to hear your voice?

Let’s talk about the habit of distracted worship. Many of us are in this troubled boat. We’ve mastered partial worship , physically present, but spiritually absent. Here… but also there. Doing this… but also doing that. In this moment… but also mentally in another place. We lift our hands in church, but our hearts are bowing elsewhere. We sing, but we’re also replying to texts. We kneel before God, but emotionally we’re kneeling before a notification, a lover, a conversation that feels ā€œurgent.ā€ And somehow, we convince ourselves:

ā€œAt least I worshipped , others don’t even try.ā€

That’s self-righteousness in wrongdoing. You gave God what was left over after you had given your attention to everything and everyone else. Since when did the King of Kings have to compete for your focus? Since when did Jesus have to wait His turn while you entertain distractions on His time?Worship isn’t about showing up, it’s about showing up fully. Heart, mind, body, and soul. Let’s stop giving God fractions and calling it faithfulness.

Shall we worship Him today?