Hello friend,
I hope the past week went great for you. We were on a break because of the American Thanksgiving holiday. I took the opportunity to finish the book of the month - The Supernatural Ways of Royalty by Kris Valloton and another one of great interest from one of our facilitators, Chuck Parry. It is titled - Alignment: Live a Life of Miracles. I’ll begin with some thoughts on that.
A Supernatural Life
Chuck Parry immediately reminded me of John Paul Jackson. The similarities of the beards and deep voice are somewhat obvious but I would say that what most connected them in my mind is the twinkle in the eyes. John Paul had this twinkle in his eyes that made you want to look inside and touch the things He was teaching about. Chuck Parry has the same. He also shared a story about a ministry he and his family led in New Age and Wiccan communities. John Paul also did the same at some point too. But most of all, the aura of God’s presence carried with dignity and joy is undeniable. This is what struck my heart as I listened to his class. I wept for the first viewing. God’s presence and conviction were so strong. He taught on Healing as being central to the gospel. For someone who was struggling with a medical decision, it felt like the class was prepared just for me. The question was clear and the answer rang louder.
“How would you live if you believe that God is and is all He says He is?”
We often coast through what we claim to believe but in reality, remain controlled by beliefs that have been seeded by our experience of the world. What do you believe about God? Is that how you are living?
I love a story he tells in the seventh chapter of his book - Alignment, about two people who said they didn’t think he was genuine about his joy. They said it was impossible for someone to be happy all the time and decided he was in denial. He said he tried to imagine faking joy and couldn’t picture it. The real thing is available, so why go for a fake one, right? He told them the reason he was so happy all the time was because God loves him. One replied, “You act like you believe it”.
Do you believe it? You’ll act like it. I feel like we move around like there is a battle about to choke us out instead of knowing that we are in a battle that has already been won. Coming into an understanding of the supernatural is joy-inducing. That’s the Kingdom default mode. Joy is the evidence that we believe in His love and are connected to it. This is where the supernatural flows freely from. We are not anxious about our prayers or wondering if we will be able to do the work He has called us to. We just move because His joy is what channels power through our lives to others and the earth. We aren’t constantly looking at our limitations but to His wondrous abundance.
Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. Psalm 72:18
The entire Bible packs stories that tell of God’s wondrous love and wonderful works that depend on nothing but Himself. He is an abundant God for every area of our lives. We just need to believe and see it show in the way we live.
As I listened to Chuck Parry and read his book, I kept reaffirming my decision to live a supernatural life that overflows into the world around me. God has called us into His abundance. We’ve got to know what that contains and live in it. Know the truth of His word and promises and be made free.
Alignment is available in any good bookstore. It’s only available in hard copy in the Bethel Store. I read it on Scribd. If you aren’t subscribed, you can use my referral link to get a free trial for 60 days.
A supernatural bride-in-waiting
I had an exciting awakening this weekend.
On Thursday, a few students had arranged a meet and greet for students outside of the United States who weren’t celebrating the Thanksgiving Holiday. One of the questions asked was to find out what historic event you’d like to be a part of and what role you’d play in it. The first thing that popped into my head was to be a bride at a royal wedding. This may have come from just watching one of those cliche Christmas love stories. When I said it, my classmates immediately encouraged me with affirmations that I am a bride of Christ and that great day would be amazing. Well, I actually meant getting married to a European prince but I’ll definitely take the Prince of Peace over any other prince!
It was a fun hangout and I didn’t make much of that answer until Saturday. I stumbled on a YouTube video about the Queen Consort of Denmark. She’s an Australian who met the Crown Prince at the Olympics in 2000. They struck up a friendship, fell in love and got married. It is a beautiful love story. At her first official interview, she had to speak in Danish to the press. The next video after that was her husband’s 50th birthday 17 years after their marriage. Here, she gave a full speech in Danish. Well, YouTube is an endless spiral once you click on a video and I got assailed with more videos of Royals. Williams and Catherine are such a beautiful picture of royalty. Catherine also had to learn the way of the Royals when she entered the family. I also read about Prince Daniel of Sweden. He was a personal trainer and owner of a gym business before he met and married the crown princess. As I saw these stories, the Thursday playful moment came to mind with a whole new perspective. So much I could say but here’s the core part below.
I am a royal bride-in-waiting!
Ephesians 1:13 says that we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit in anticipation of the promise. That is my engagement ring, so to speak. The entire royal family is excited and has opened their arms wide to receive me. The King is beside Himself and has given me access to meet with Him at any time I want. He is always available for me! My groom is pleased in Himself and in me. He gave Himself up to bring me into the family to be treated just like He is. The pages of tabloids may explode with accusations about my past and present imperfections, but the Royal seal on me is all that the Kingdom is focused on. I CANNOT be rejected.
With all of this pomp, acceptance and access are the resources I need to prepare and perform my role in the royal family. I have a dedicated and loving teacher to show me the ways of the royals. He teaches me in word and in experiences, introducing to everyone in the Kingdom and immersing me in the culture.
No one can break off this wedding. No one, but for me. But that’s crazy. Who would want to give up this life?
You see, the royal life is not for the faint of heart or the self-indulgent. Therefore, fear and personal desires must give way to Kingdom ideals. This is where many people struggle, delay, or even run from the prospect of this grand marriage. The ways of royalty include a brutal denial of self and prejudices. It includes a complete satisfaction in who you are that you are not afraid to give up everything and serve. It means being immune to offence and the pull to go back to being a commoner, no matter what level you may have attained before.
There are habits and ways of thinking that I cannot continue with as this bride. This is not because I will be rejected because of them, but because I will soon eject myself from the gates of the domain if they remain my focus. These are habits and a culture that is so far out of the Kingdom that the pursuit of them will lead me away from the boundaries of the Kingdom’s authority. I’m thankful for every time I make a mistake and turn back to see my King standing right there, arms wide open to welcome me. But I’d rather not be flaky but steady in His arms.
I began to recount the details of the Supernatural Ways of Royalty in a new way. Royalty carries dignity and with it, responsibility. It carries rights and respect, and with those, expectations. It carries power, and with it, the ability to use it for the good of all. Royalty doesn’t need to defend itself or bring others down in order to prove its worth. Royalty is not trying to win and see others lose. The heart of royalty is always after truth and justice. The heart of royalty is after the desires and growth of the Kingdom. Within that is your personal satisfaction.
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need. Luke 12:31
This royal wedding is an invitation to intimacy and a covenant that produces fruit for and in the Kingdom.
Fellow brides-in-waiting, are you excited about loving, living, and working with your groom?
From The Bible this week
I finished the book of Acts and screamed at Brother Luke! How do you end a story like this? Yet, I had such gratitude to him for recording the amazing life of devotion that they lived for the Kingdom. Paul’s fiery pursuit of the Kingdom is beyond inspiring. The events in Malta were incredible. The boat just crashed on the way to Rome and a short stay turned into a kingdom invasion of the Island. When you carry fire and move with fire, it burns everything on the way to your destination. I want to burn like this, always. ALWAYS!
I’ve also gotten into the book of Exodus!
Reading the Bible is so amazing. It always feels fresh! My thoughts would be a lot to write here at once. If you are my friend on the YouVersion Bible App, you can follow some notes I share while reading. That’s always fun!
There is always so much to share. But most of all here’s a reminder to share the gospel with someone this week.
It’s also my birthday in a week’s time. Decemberrrrrrr 6! I am always so excited about my birthday. This is the first birthday since my 18th birthday that I won’t be celebrating on social media. It feels so fresh and so good!
I do want personal birthday presents - lots of cash in Naira, USD, and Crypto, vanity items like facial and natural hair products, a high-end phone, a camera, lots of good food, a house with a furnished studio, a car, a trip, a gym membership, a tour, a vacation to any of the seven kingdoms in Europe…
Yes. Plenteous! So you’ll have options!
Sitting above these and most wanted is a hunger to keep growing in the Supernatural. I want to live permanently in the abundance and authority of the Kingdom. This is my life and my pursuit. As I turn 33, I have no doubt that this is a year of wonderful climbs in the supernatural.
Have a wonderful week ahead.
Love and love,
OTDamilola