The Sunday Mail
Pastor Tinashe Zinyemba Christian Youth
AS we are less than three months to a new year, my prayer is that you are growing in character and stature.
Do not let the negative experiences you face go to waste. Learn from the mistakes, bad news, betrayal and disappointments.
Also, learn from the good and do not let success get to your head. It is said success is the greatest hindrance to progress and development because we tend to dwell too long on where we have won. In the process, life overtakes us.
Be diligent, be consistent be hungry for personal development and the sky will only be a starting point for you.
Many people are in a place where they cannot answer certain questions about their life. So I want to ask you: “What do you want?”
Your answer to that question reveals a lot about you and where you are in life. The answer can also reveal what your problem is and why you are not where you want to be in life.
James 4:2-3 says, “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”
In Matthew 14 there is a story that gives perspective to this. Matthew 14:7 says, “Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.”
The background to this verse is that this girl named Salome had impressed King Herod after dancing before him and his guests.
The king asked her what she wanted, to the extent of offering up to half of his kingdom. Salome then went to ask her mother, Herodias, for advice. Herodias was the wife of King Herod’s brother, Herod Antipas. Herodias had left Herod Antipas and was now staying with Herod.
Salome was the daughter of Herod Antipas and Herodias. I am sure you can already see that this is like a script from a soap opera.
Can you imagine a king asking you what you want and offering up to half of his kingdom? What would you ask for?
Salome asked for the head of John the Baptist (Matthew 14:8). But before you judge or condemn her, look at your own life first and consider some of the things you want.
What is the motivation behind your requests and desires? Maybe it is anger, bitterness, pride or a desire to impress someone. Who has shaped your desires and wants? Are you sure that is really what you want or you just grew up in an environment that encouraged that?
Genesis 25 speaks of twin brothers Jacob and Esau.
In Genesis 25: 30, Esau returns from hunting famished and all he wanted was something to eat. In verses 31-32, Esau was willing to give up his birthright/inheritance as the elder of the twins simply because he was hungry.
Now honestly speaking, Esau was not going to die if he did not eat the food that Jacob cooked. But before you condemn Esau, consider yourself.
There are things we say we want and sometimes we will do whatever it takes to get them.
As a young girl you might want to get married so much that you will do whatever it takes to get or keep that man. Does the trade-off you are making really benefit you?
Analyse your desires and demands.
Sometimes God does not get us to a place of receiving what we want because the result of you getting what you want is disastrous to you. Most times in those circumstances we end up forcing the matter which results in regret. Esau gave up his birthright and it was gone for good, Salome has become known in history as being a loose girl who caused the death of John the Baptist.
What do you want? Look at yourself in the mirror and be honest about it to yourself. That is all for now, we will continue to discuss this question next week. Take care and God bless.
Tinashe Zinyemba is a pastor with New Life Covenant Church. Feedback: [email protected]
