I may not have been able to remember what day it was or why I and Uche (a friend) were on the road that day but the sight we saw stays fresh on my mind till this day. I do know for certain though that we were on our way to the house we both shared, in the University and then we saw the most awkward sight. Right before our very eyes was a really angry chicken furiously chasing after a dog. If I had not seen this myself I would have doubted the incident firmly but it did happen and fortunately enough I can testify to it. Anyways, just to be sure I asked Uche who was obviously as stunned as I was if he had witnessed this same sight and he confirmed it, a chicken had just chased a dog across the street.

True to instinct I went for my phone but before I could capture anything comprehensible the scene had ended. The chicken chased the dog through an open gate leading to the home of the Priest for the Catholic Church in my school.
While we watched in amazement, all of a sudden we saw the dog chase the chicken out of the gate they had just gone into minutes earlier. At that moment the sigh that escaped our lips must have sounded like “Aha! That makes sense”. All was well because order had been restored to the world or so it seemed.

You know, I think for a moment there that poor dog must have forgotten who he was especially by the amount of noise this cock was making. Still for whatever reason while in the premises of the Catholic priest, he must have come to himself and with whatever dignity he had left he conquered his fears and showed the chicken who’s boss.

Most times, we are like that dog. We seem to forget who we are in Christ Jesus and when the devil makes a little noise, we scamper off our tails between our legs. Well this here is to remember you who you are. You are a son of the living God, created in His Image, surnamed of Him and carrying the fullness of His nature within you. The devil might be a spirit but you are a trinity just like divinity. You are powerful. You are beautiful. You are just not like the dog in my story, you are a Lion! So gather yourself, stand up bold and strong and put the devil in his place.

Grace
Ezeonyeka Godswill

Have you ever been in a serious fix and you have no clue as to what to do or where to turn to. You know, that moment when prayer seems like such a dumb option. That’s the kind of situation I once found myself. I cannot really remember what the issue was but I guess I will never forget how distressed I was. I just lay there on my bed in my room desperately in need of a solution.

I needed an idea that will provide me an escape route. I didn’t need anyone, I just wanted a way out. The thought of getting on my kneels to pray seemed so ridiculous at the time (that must have been the devil at work ). So I did the craziest kind of prayer I can remember ever saying. While still laying down face up, I said out loud how much I needed help and not just any help but God’s help. Then I proceeded to consider my options again.

True to God’s nature as I mauled over the issue again it hit me. Twas a simple solution really and the more I thought it through I realized God had answered me. I could now see a way out of the mess. God had made that way for me. God had answered me. Sure it was no prayer by any religious standard but God answered me anyways.

Thing is, God is not moved by our religious sagacity, our eloquence or our righteousness. When it comes to prayers all that really matters is sincerity and a desperate need for God and not just what He can offer us whilst believing totally that He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think!

Grace
Ezeonyeka Godswill

Only under real pressure would you really identify the contents of a man’s character

 

On Monday this week, I for some reasons, could not make it to work as early as I should and then my mum asked me to help her re-park her Sienna Car. You need to know I am not an expert driver, however, whenever it came to parking a car I certainly had very little issues (and I am not bragging!) Anyways on this fateful morning, I obliged to go park the car, my mind set on finally nailing the parallel parking concept without having someone direct me from outside the car.

At first, I drove down to the spot mum needed the car at and parked well but as I stepped down to score my work I noticed though I had improved considerably in the control of the vehicle, I still didn’t park parallel to the kerb. So I decided to correct my mistake.

As I started the ignition, everything seemed fine up until I put the car in gear and proceeded to move a bit forward then, the film show started. I tried to turn the wheel and it wouldn’t budge then I sensed there must be a problem so I went for the brakes immediately. Alas, the brakes were useless then I reasoned I could set the car to the parking gear (the car uses an automatic gear system) and still that didn’t work since the car was on a slope.

So here was I, in a moving car with no stops, a huge gate right before me, an intersecting road just after that gate and absolutely no idea as to what to do as I was only seconds away from impact with the huge black gate. For some weird reason, I was not scared. Rather, I was angry because all I could think of was how no one would understand how helpless I was at that moment and probably judge me and my inability to drive. I guess I didn’t realize the mortal danger I was in at the moment. So it was quite a quiet moment for me, there was no Jesus! Jesus! shouting, I just sat there.

Sure enough, within seconds the car pushed through this massive gate, kept on moving to the intersecting road and crossed to the other side where it was stopped by a pile of sand heaped at the side of the road.

I was safe.

No casualties.

A frantic woman that had watched it all came and commanded me out of the car. She scolded me because I was not thankful to God for the obvious miracle He had just done. I stepped out of the car and looked around. Only a few people had noticed what had gone down and miraculously the car had only sustained a little scratch. Also, the intersecting road which I crossed to get to my stopping point was one that stayed busy all week especially with children playing around or motorcycles just hanging yet on this Monday the street was empty which I must say is just amazing. I wonder what hurt could have been caused had the situation of that street been otherwise.

Moments later, it was found out that the brake pads were damaged and the brake oil had run out and it dawned on me. I had no chance against this situation yet God saved me. I did not call out to Him at the spur of the moment, yet He saved me. I may have not been in that situation at all if I had left earlier for work but then how would my dear mum deal with such a brake system while running at 100km/hour on a four-lane highway? That is not pretty.

Two things I learnt from this. I have obviously not gotten the name of Jesus into my head yet because instead of getting angry on a failing vehicle I should have run for refuge in the name that is above all names, Jesus. Secondly and most importantly, I further know how good my God is in planning out a strategy.

God does care!

 

Grace

Ezeonyeka Godswill