Hi friend,
I usually don’t do this.
(Lol. You’ve heard that line before, I know.)
I don’t post on Wednesdays but I’ll never miss the chance to post on Valentine’s Day for anything in the world.
Love is in the air. I see your couple goals. I love them. Please don’t stop giving us back to back. I can never run out of “AWWNNNs” to say.
It’s like they said last to surprise their partner is a fool because you guys are going over and beyond to see your person smile and I’m in awe of the love you “scrumshy mushy” lovers share. “Scrumshy” is not a real word but it made sense in my head and it’s coined by “Nuella Blaq” to mean “an insanely amount of love and mushiness with an extra dose of sweetness sprinkled on top.”
I love LOVE and I’m patiently waiting for love to happen to me because they didn’t really swear for me and I’m not an “Agojie” or “Indaboski.” I refuse to be.
But till love happens to the best of us, Let’s talk about “Living in Answered Prayers.”
What does living in answered prayers mean to you?
It may mean the big break you earnestly prayed for that is now here or the visa or your relocation to another country, your permanent residence, the spouse you just got married to, the dream and better paying job, the career advancement or large deals you just closed, the graduation and so much more.
Very valid! I put it to you, these are beautiful prayers answered.
It’s so satisfying when these big and amazing things happen for us but I hope we never get so lost and caught up looking out for the “Big Answered Prayers” that we forget or overlook the seemingly little answers to prayers.
Because everyday that I wake is an answered prayer, food, good health, clothing, a roof over my head is definitely me living in my answered prayer.
Everyday I go out and come in. Everytime I get to hear from my family. Even when I cry sad or happy tears.
Everyday I get to pass gas freely and excrete without distress is me living in answered prayers. (I’m a nurse, I know what I’m saying.) A lot of people, sadly, don’t have it easy. They are praying for all that we so graciously overlook and term as “normal.” Some wish they have this normalcy in their lives.
If you are like me who prays not to live just yet another ordinary life, may we also be grateful for even the normal or ordinary life we now live while praying for the best.
Most times, we are too fast paced and focused on what is yet to come that we never really stop to appreciate the blessings of the now.
And also remember that what we have now that seems little was once a fervent desire on our prayer list that year.
Why should we forget so soon?
I need us in this month of love to also reflect on the love and mercy God has poured out on us in form of answered prayers. If He doesn’t do any other thing he has already done more than enough.
Every prayer we have made from the day we became accountable have been answered one way or the other. Either as a “YES,” a resounding “NO” or the most dreaded “WAIT.”
Single or married or entangled (I strongly pray you’re not) there’s just so many answered prayers to be thankful for.
And instead of feeling pressured or left out on Valentines Day, I hope you see this season of your life as the Answered Prayer it is.
Because,
Some of us are successfully and happily single because God fought to bring us out of toxic and unequally yoked relationships we couldn’t find the courage to leave.
Some are happily single because God is protecting us from ourselves or the hurt we may cause others by not fully healing before dealing. For some, God is actively training and preparing us to be better versions of ourselves for a better future yet to come.
Some are happily married because against all odds, regardless of what it may have looked like, God fought the enemy and made sure you crossed paths with your partner. An answered prayer.
Whether we see it or not. Know it or not. Acknowledge it or not, we are all living in answered prayers.
Take inventory of your life and see how much God has blessed you. This is why you should own a journal. There will always be need for a journal because you can’t always remember everything.
You can go back to this journal occasionally and see which prayers have been answered and in what way. Because most times God doesn’t answer our prayers the way we want them answered but they are still answers.
You may not be where you envisioned you’d be by now but look and see how far God has brought you and be encouraged.
You may not have all the things you hoped you’d acquire but you’ve come far enough. Look at all the knowledge and wisdom you acquired on your journey.
You’re not the man or woman you used to be. The kind of mindset and level of intellect and grace that you exude is definitely an answered prayer.
In this month of love,
I challenge myself and you today to look and see what you now have and appreciate all the answered prayers you are walking in; or have walked in. Take a moment and express gratitude for the journey that you are on.
I love quite a number of months but February I love differently. A significant month.
I’ll tell you why.
This month, three years ago, with so much pain, a heavy heart, a ruined mental health, I exited a very heartbreaking and toxic relationship. And a huge part of me thought I’d be that woman who’d be stuck on an ex, that woman who’d forever be broken and shattered. Well, I had made that prayer (you know that sacred prayer) and God didn’t hesitate to answer, not minding how broken I’d get.
But here’s the best part,
This month, two years ago, with so much joy, I encountered God and my life changed and is still changing. I made a prayer asking that He’d mend my broken heart and I’d not live my entire life a broken woman, that he’d take the pain away. He answered, he took my pain and gave me Himself. Jesus embraced me and showed me so much love that it healed me. Now, I think I’m so healed that I don’t like nobody but Jesus😹
I found Jesus in the midst of so much pain and that’s why I’d forever love the month of February. Valentine or no Valentine. Booless or Boo’ed up. This is the month that changed my life. This is the month of my answered prayers.
In this season of love,
Take time out also, to count your blessings and be a blessing others can count on.
Let’s not become weary in showing love even to the undeserving.
Jesus died for us, even though, undeserving.
You can express love to someone in your space or a random stranger. It would make their day.
You can show me love by liking, commenting and sharing this post.
Anyhoooooo,
I wish you a warm and happy Valentine’s Day. May this day and month enrich your lives, bring so much love, joy and laughter into your space and homes. May this also, be a memorable day for you as it is for me.
On a side note,
Who else followed VEEKEE JAMES’ carnival wedding? I’m in love and in awe. I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m all over the place, moving from one Instagram page or blog or story to another just so I don’t miss out on anything. Wahala for online guests and in-laws. I love the attention to detail and I’m reminded again that I must never be broke in this life.
A dreamy bride🥹
Living proof that God still answers prayers.
Emem Abasi❤️🔥🤎.
Here’s a Backstory nobody really knows.
When I look at this graduation picture of mine, my heart swells with gratitude and my eyes unintentionally become misty. This is my answered prayer. I got into the wrongest of relationships and I came out extremely bruised, battered and broken. So it affected my grades in the Second year of my nursing degree. I cried so much and felt so much pain and I was particularly disappointed in myself that I’d let the male gender do me dirty like this.
My brother was helping me apply for a scholarship scheme and they needed my current level results, I couldn’t provide it.
I was so close to going home to tell my family to withdraw me that I couldn’t make it. I was scared I’d get an extra year and it broke me down even more. But I opened up to my cousin who doubles as my personal therapist, she encouraged me and I also prayed, faithlessly, because I couldn’t be convinced that God would hear me or even answer me but I prayed tearfully, anyways.
Three years after, with tears in my eyes and joy in my heart and laughter in my mouth, I present to you “Nurse Edeke Emmanuella (BNSc, RN, RPHN)” I may be unemployed for now but I’m a graduate nurse.
If this isn’t an Answered Prayer, I don’t know what is.
I may be unemployed for now
Tell me what Answered Prayer you are currently living in the comments.
Lastly, I’ve been listening to “Love After Hurt” One House ft Trevor Jackson and Annatoria.
Also, you can check “You are here (HolyGhost, I’m so glad)” by Kofi Dartey.
Thank God for mended hearts.
For me, I'm grateful to God for how merciful He is.
An answered prayer I tangibly have is the presence of His love and forgiveness . It's priceless
Thanks for sharing this piece