Category: Yielding the mind

This month of November, we are studying the book of Proverbs. If you missed the first post, you can find it at the foot of the page. I don’t know about you, but I want to be a wise woman. The Bible says that wisdom is profitable to direct , it helps us make sound decisions and live with purpose. But wisdom doesn’t come automatically; it’s something we grow into through learning and applying God’s Word. Let’s look at Proverbs 1:2–6 to understand why this book is so important. We will take one verse per time .

“Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

He says this book is written to teach people wisdom and discipline, which means wisdom and discipline can actually be taught. So when you read this book, you are yielding yourself to lessons of wisdom and discipline. You’re saying, “Lord, teach me how to think, how to live, and how to make sound decisions.” It also means that if by the time you finish reading this book you are not wiser or more disciplined, then you didn’t really read it well, because this book carries power to transform the way you live. He also says this book will teach you to understand the insights of the wise. In other words, as you grow in wisdom, the things that once sounded “too deep” or “too complex” will start to make sense. You’ll begin to understand what wise people mean when they speak, because your spirit and mind are being trained in understanding. Now, let’s go to verse 3.

“Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Loveee this one! We are being taught discipline and success! Don’t you want to succeed? Because I dooo! This is exactly why it’s so important for us to study this book especially now, as we prepare to step into a new year. By the time we finish, we’ll have gained understanding that will propel us to go forward. Proverbs helps us to do what is right, just, and fair. It teaches us how to live in a way that pleases God. I don’t know any truly saved person who enjoys doing wrong , it’s just not in our nature anymore. So, this book becomes your friend and companion in the journey of living right and walking wisely. Now, let’s go to verse 4

“These proverbs will give you great skill to teach the immature and make them wise, to give youth the understanding of their design and destiny.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬ ‭TPT‬‬

This is a skills book! It teaches the immature how to become wise and gives young people understanding about who they are, their design , and what their destiny is. That’s why it’s such a powerful read for the youth. Leave all the magazines alone for a moment and open the Book of Proverbs! It will teach discernment to the young. And if there has ever been a time when we, as young people, needed discernment, it’s now! So many don’t know who they are or what they’re called to do. But this book will point you in the right direction, helping you discover your purpose and identity in God. Now, let’s look at verse 5 I hope you’re learning something.

“For the wise, these proverbs will make you even wiser, and for those with discernment, you will be able to acquire brilliant strategies for leadership.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬ ‭TPT‬‬

“I thought only the unwise or fools should read Proverbs.” You’re wrong. This book is also for the wise! He says, listen , if you are already wise, you can become even wiser. There’s no limitation! You are your own limitation if you’re comfortable staying on the same level of wisdom you’ve been operating in. He tells us that wise people can read and gain another dimension , another level, more, better, higher!

And to those who already have discernment, don’t say, “This isn’t for me.” No , you have the opportunity to acquire strategies for leadership. Where are the leaders? Read this book and receive divine strategies. It will give you the right ideas to implement and the guidance to lead with excellence. Can you see that we’re becoming what creation has been groaning and waiting for? Let’s stop here for today. Take some time to really reflect , are you interested in becoming wise, or wiser? Or are you content with being shallow and indisciplined ? Bring a friend tomorrow. ❤️

Greetings my people!

Shock of my life yesterday, I was somehow locked out of my account and couldn’t access it to write! But glory to God, it’s fixed now. Eh, I almost cried for 72 hours straight. 😭 Somehow, though, I just knew I’d recover it, because God knows how much I would’ve nagged Him to supernaturally intervene. That’s the kind of relationship I have with Him, personal, EXRA , and sometimes dramatic! They say, “wherever and whenever you see am, bill am!” 😂

Anyway, we are back, and I want us to take a journey of Wisdom together. We’re going to have a great time studying the Book of Proverbs! You have your Bible, don’t you? Let’s go!

I’ve read the Book of Proverbs a couple of times before, but this time, I came with curiosity. I found myself asking, how does one man carry such wisdom to write a book that solves so many of life’s problems, yet the very people facing those problems haven’t taken the time to study him closely? So I told myself, I’m going to study people who have what I want, how did they get it, what principles did they follow to keep it, and how did it shape their lives and the lives of those around them?

Take Solomon, for example: he was the wisest man who ever lived, so if I desire wisdom, he’s someone I must study carefully. There were also wealthy men in the Bible who walked with God and handled riches righteously, they too are worth studying. Even in real life, who are the people who have what you desire or are doing what you dream of doing? Humble yourself and learn from them. If they’re not within reach, follow their pages, read their books, study, and listen. We rise by revelation, and revelation is simply revealed knowledge.

Proverbs starts off with an introduction , Solomon presenting not just his book, but the purpose behind it. To every writer, this alone is a powerful lesson. Writing without purpose is useless. Never write a book just to add the title “author” to your name; you will not be impactful if your writing lacks intention. That’s the first lesson we learn from the book of Proverbs purpose must precede expression.

Solomon clearly defines what his book is about, who it is for, and what it aims to produce in its readers. The contents, the audience, and the desired outcome are all made plain. So before you write, teach, or build anything, ask yourself: Who is this for? Who will benefit? Why am I doing this? Solomon gives us a detailed introduction in Proverbs 1:1–6. We are bible people, lezz read.

1 These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.
2 Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise.
3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young.
5 Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance
6 by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles.

So in verse one, Solomon introduces himself as the author. “These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.” Let the world say what they want if you create something original, whether it’s a post, a blog, a design, or a business, tag it. Make sure your name is on it. If you check MPG posts, you’ll notice we always include our logo or our name. Imagine writing a whole book and forgetting to put the author’s name on it! Our generation sometimes confuses humility with hiding, but true humility doesn’t mean erasing your identity. My love, if it’s your original work, own it. This book is by you. That business is by you. Your name matters. Think about it , billionaires don’t just have money, they have names. Mention their names and you immediately know who they are and what they do. They built a name, a brand. So don’t shrink back because someone might laugh at you for branding your business or ministry with your name ,you’re going somewhere!

We’re learning from a wise man here. Solomon began his book by boldly saying, “This is my work.” It’s not the work of Moses, Peter, James, or even his father David. It’s Solomon’s work. That alone carries a lesson. There was a time in Zimbabwe when there was so much hunger that people sold both branded bread and no-name bread. The no-name loaf was cheaper and actually very nice, but the branded one was expensive and still sold well. To this day, I can’t tell you the name of the company that made the no-name bread because they never built a name. They even called themselves no name! That’s how some people are today. Your business or ministry exists, but there’s no logo, no identity, no mark. Yet Canva is free go design a logo! If you can’t, pay someone who can. Get a name. Build something that people can recognize and remember.

You won’t make a mark by simply existing you must be known for something. Imagine if Gucci said, “We don’t want to be known.” Then they’re not ready to sell! Today’s takeaway? Brand it. Put your name out there. Who knows you? What do they know you for? As Proverbs begins, “These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.” And on that note , this is The Yielded Center, a blog by Vanessa Ziyambi, two-time author and professional counsellor. Have a great day and see you tomorrow! 💛

Introduce yourself in the comments , tell us who you are and what you do. Let’s get to know you and your brand.

Okaaaay! Welcome to the Yielded Center. I love you. My name is Vanessa, which means butterfly 🦋 that’s how I fly into people’s hearts daily and refuse to leave (LOL).

Newsflash , I’m an author hehe! My book came out yesterday and I’m so excited! Yesterday, God reminded me of all those years I was writing for the shelf, writing so much but never quite breaking through as an author, even though it’s been my greatest desire. This year, I self-published two books. Then God said to me, “You have broken a threshold. You have broken the limitation.” And I was like, “Wow! I didn’t even realise it!” The enemy tried to stop me before but I’ve punched him in the face twice! 💥

I’m sharing this to remind you: sometimes the prayer you prayed yesterday has already birthed something new you just haven’t seen it yet. Give it a few days or weeks, and you’ll know. Anyway, go buy the book it’s only R180 . “That’s too expensive!” Some will say? Well, I’ve learned something: what one person says is expensive to buy from you, they have bought the same thing from someone else for the same price or more. It’s not the price, it’s you. It’s not the product , it’s who is selling it. Now, let’s talk about something that’s been on my mind…

I was reading a message one of the ladies I know wrote yesterday, and it got me thinking deeply about the mental health crisis in the church something we’ve merely brushed off with phrases like, “You’re being too dramatic,” or “Just leave this depression talk; you’re just sad for no reason.”

Now, I’m not saying this because I’m a counsellor. I’m saying this because I’ve spoken to people who, without a doubt, were depressed and even suicidal, yet they couldn’t find a safe place of expression. Why? Because they feared being judged as weak believers people who “don’t take the things of God seriously.” But here’s the truth: we have no idea what people are going through in their homes. Behind every smile could be a battle, a silent cry, a heart hanging by a thread.

Does the Bible talk about depression? Nah. Not in those exact words. But when you read closely, you’ll meet people who, by all accounts, were discouraged, suicidal, worried, stressed, and completely disconnected from joy. One of them was Prophet Elijah. He literally says, “I’ve had enough, Lord. Take my life.” (1 Kings 19:4) Wait, what? You’re a prophet talking like that? I thought people in ministry don’t go through such things!

Jokes on you. 😅

Elijah had just come from a mighty victory he’d called down fire from heaven, embarrassed the prophets of Baal, and witnessed God’s power firsthand. Yet right after that, he wanted to die. It makes you pause and ask, “How can someone feel so low right after a big win?” After a conference? My people, you know the answer.

Before I became a counsellor, I still spoke to many people. Looking back, I realised I was too tough on them, and I’m truly sorry. I was very hard on some people. I’d say things like, “You need to get up! Nobody is coming to save you. Don’t remain weak!” And I meant well, but I was wrong in how I approached it. It took me actually studying and gaining understanding to realise something important:

If you’re not well-informed about a situation truly informed then please, keep your advice to yourself. Don’t go around counselling people just because you have a few “wise words.” Don’t try to explain situations that are beyond your enlightenment. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply listen and offer prayer. Why? Because many times, without realising it, we’ve added to someone’s depression. Now, am I saying we should entertain the spirit of depression because yes, it is a spirit? NO! I’m saying we must first acknowledge that it’s there, and then find a way to pull people out of that pit with a gentle hand.

Prophet Elijah, Why are you suddenly speaking of death? Don’t you want to run the race anymore? You don’t want to minister to people anymore? Why?Why are you now talking about sitting down while others serve? Are you okay? Why don’t you show up joyfully like before? What’s on your mind, dear prophet? I thought you were fine just by looking at you but it seems you’re not. Prophet Elijah, why is your best option to die? Can’t you at least say, “Lord, strengthen me”?

Ah, people of God sometimes we don’t even know how to pray because we are so overwhelmed. I see you, and I understand. And most times, you’re alone, because even those around you are wondering: How can a prophet be asking for death?An apostle? Someone everyone looks up to? God forbid! But my people, it’s there. It happens. And I want us to be very careful about how we handle such people. Again, it’s better to offer prayer than to speak rashly about what you don’t understand.

Your friend says they’re suicidal, and you reply, “You’re ungrateful, you have food at home!” Can you just shush for a moment and listen more carefully? Because if you listen long enough, you’ll find a line or two a clue that leads you to the real problem. I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again I’m sorry. I did not handle some cases well because, truth is, I just didn’t know.

There’s a difference between advice from someone who cares for you as a friend and advice from someone who has actually studied mental health. And I’m not saying this to sound like I know it all. I’m simply drawing a contrast between the me who used to advise and the me who now counsels. Two completely different people. Why? Because now, I can listen to you and actually discern what the real matter is. By the way Elijah just needed food and strength.

And maybe a good trip, because right after that, he travelled for forty days. 😅 Sometimes, that’s all you need too a hug and a little money. I just came on here to tell you this: The same God who saw Elijah’s sadness and helped him up has seen you, too. And He will lift you up. I love you, and see you tomorrow.

Head over to https://buymeacoffee.com/ziyambivanx to purchase my book or support my blog with a gift. Thank youse! ❤️

Hey everyone! Welcome to our chilled Thursday. I started off my day with a bad migraine but l had to show up here anyways. I’ve learnt that about consistency , it puts a system in place. Where there’s no order, there’s no consistency. I have an amazing movie for us to watch today but first let me say something about the lady on the photo above.

Grace and l met on WhatsApp through a friend. We have never met physically before yet the kind of heart she has towards me is God standard. Everyday of her life she pushes yielded blogs , she has carried this vision like her own child and so yes!! I must give honour where it is due. Grace, I celebrate you on your birthday. You are a destiny helper. I couldn’t think of any way to make this special but to put it on what you call your “favourite blog”. As the founder of yielded, together with Holy Spirit, we say happy birthday! Thank you for your support. Thank you for being you! Happy new year ! Please help me celebrate her!! 🎂❤️

Okay now, click on the link below to watch the movie! You better not miss this one!!! You’ll love it, I know!

And hey … l love you. 🩵

Don’t just watch me , help me carry this thing!

☺️🙃❤️

There you go, l love you.

Hey family! Happy Thursday! I hope you are okay. I hope your heart is okay. I hope you are holding on because we are closer to the promise with each day that passes by. As always; if you’re not fasting grab popcorn! IF YOU ARE! My dear don’t use me as an excuse to break your fast after two hours o! Push it! You will eat popcorn next week – it’s not like you need it and stuff 🤣🤣 [l hope you have a sense of humour because even God laughs]. I’m not even bluffing , see.

“The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬


Anyhoo… here are the July counselling slots.

You can book by email or simply send me a dm on Instagr; book atleast 24hr prior to your desired slot . Please note that this is free biblical counselling.

I hope you guys were able to download and read the books l sent. As much as we watch the Christian movies it’s also important that we feed our minds with these books. Knowledge sets free. Ignorance chains. I am also looking for an animator for our yielded tv series. If you know one please refer me to them or vice versa.

Here’s our movie for today ..

CLICK TO WATCH