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. 🌸