by Tannika Nikeya

Position

I was asking God what is next year’s theme for 2023 and “position” is what I heard. Maybe it was my own self giving this answer or maybe it was God. I’m not sure. But I will take this theme and mission. When looking up what position means this is what I found: What is the biblical meaning of position?
“Position” means abiding in Him and Christ’s words abiding in us (John 15:7). I also found as I googled– Topical Bible: Position
(n.) The state of being posited, or placed; the manner in which anything is placed; attitude; condition; as, a firm, an inclined, or an upright position. And the regular definitions/synonyms for position are posture, stance, attitude, place, etc.

This year we learned to take one day at a time and that healing is continual and a journey. And to seek God like never before. Next year, we get into position. We abide in God as He abides in us. We stay steadfast and believe Him no matter how much doubt tries to creep in or gain control. We allow God to renew our minds. We allow God to place us and strengthen us where He leads us. We learn to be still and know that He is God. We stand knowing that God is with us and will never leave us nor forsake us. We learn to surrender every area of our lives and get in position to know Him more, receive His love, His wisdom, His promises and His manifested peace.

Make sure you start prepping for 2023 by getting Let’s Take This One Day At A Time Planner. Available on Amazon today. Let’s Take This One Day At A Time is a planner that not only helps you plan for each week, keep on top of your to-do lists, but be intentional with each day and continue your healing journey.

11.13.18

by Tannika Nikeya

Rerouted…

This morning is as cold as a freezer and the air is crisp and gripping. Did I also mention it feels like another Monday, although it is Tuesday. So, I struggle to get out of the bed a bit. However, I awake grateful to God for a new day, read and listen to His Word, worship Him, and talk with Him. A day started with the Lord is a day better yielded to Him.

Upon leaving home, I miss my bus so I decide to catch the bus headed towards the Metra train to make up for lost time. The train tracker schedules for my train to stop at the stop I need to get off at to catch another bus. I have a lengthy commute. Anyways, one stop into our ride we hear that the train will run express all the way to the end stop. Ah man! I can get off at the current stop we just arrived at and wait for the next one but it is too cold. So, I stay on and am going to have to ride all the way to the end.

No problem. I will just have to do what I have had to do before, just travel back. I ride to the end. Now, I just have to walk down a few blocks and take another train. So, I walk to the Red Line and go downstairs and my train comes. However, this train confuses me with the fact that its route labels state not what it normally says. I get on because although the train states something different, this is where I am literally heading. The Red Line stays on the lower tracks (ground level) but this morning this train is riding on the higher track where you can see the roofs of buildings and blocks of homes and businesses lined up on our Chicago streets. I hate riding high up because of the height but God gets me safely to my destination and drives away my fears with this message.

I feel like I just took the long way around just to get to my destination. I have been rerouted twice but still heading to my destination.

What happens when you are rerouted? You have to take the long way around. Your journey gets interrupted.

Moses and the Israelites were rerouted. They had to take the long way after God led Moses to free them from slavery. In fact, God took them the long way and through the impossible.

The people got impatient. They murmurred and complained. They even wanted to turn back. Oh, I had that feeling this morning.
When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” Exodus 13:17

Yet, God took them the long way because had He led them the short distance they would have easily went back. Fear and discomfort makes you run back to comfortable situations even if they were horrible situations. They had to learn to trust God step by step, day by day. They had to learn to depend on God. They had to learn to persevere and develop patience. Prayer and patience go together. Faith and perseverance goes together. You can’t have one without the other and we need all of the above in life and through our faith walk.

So, when you get rerouted, be patient. Maybe God is protecting you from something. Maybe God wants you to develop patience. Maybe God just wants you to trust Him even on a routine day heading to work.

03.19.18

by Tannika Nikeya

Not From A Distance

If I can be honest, this verse and circumstance of Moses have always been frightening to me. How could Moses do all of those great things in the Lord, meet God face to face, have such awesome faith and still not make it into the promised land? His anger and his unholy act towards God cost him the promised land. He could only view it from a distance.

That same day the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Moab, to the mountains east of the river, and climb Mount Nebo, which is across from Jericho. Look out across the land of Canaan, the land I am giving to the people of Israel as their own special possession. Then you will die there on the mountain. You will join your ancestors, just as Aaron, your brother, died on Mount Hor and joined his ancestors. For both of you betrayed me with the Israelites at the waters of Meribah at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. You failed to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel there.
Deuteronomy 32:48‭-‬51 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/deu.32.48-51.NLT

According to GotQuestions.org, “first, Moses disobeyed a direct command from God. God had commanded Moses to speak to the rock. Instead, Moses struck the rock with his staff. Second, Moses took the credit for bringing forth the water. Notice how in verse 10 Moses says, “Must we [referring to Moses and Aaron] bring you water out of this rock?” Moses took credit for the miracle himself, instead of attributing it to God. Third, Moses committed this sin in front of all the Israelites. Such a public example of direct disobedience could not go unpunished. Fourth, it seems that God had intended to present a type of Christ in this circumstance. The water-giving rock is used as a symbol of Christ in 1 Corinthians 10:4. The rock was struck once in Exodus 17:6, just like Christ was crucified once (Hebrews 7:27). Moses’ speaking to the rock in Numbers 20 was to be a picture of prayer; instead, Moses angrily struck the rock, in effect, crucifying Christ again.” http://www.gotquestions.org/Moses-promised-land.html

And for that Moses was not allowed to go into the promised land. His resentful anger, pride, and disobedience rerouted him from what God had for him.

How many times have we come close to our breakthroughs and promised lands only to view it from a distance. It is like chess. We have to be careful how we move.

The sin and ungodliness, the lack of surrender, the diversionary battles, the fear, the doubt can all hinder us or cost us a move or win on our board of life. It could delay us and cost us some time and impact of those around us. It doesn’t mean God doesn’t love us, can’t save us, or that God won’t deliver us. We now have Jesus as our mediator and His blood as the seal of our new covenant. However, there are times God will let us face our consequences like any other parent. He will say “no, you can’t go. Not this time.”

God has kept us and covered us from the perils of life. He has loved and still loves us unfailingly. He desires the best and wants the best for us. He desires relationship and joy between Him and us. He wants us to succeed and to fulfill our destinies. He wants us to enter into our promised lands. Don’t let fear, pride, resentment, anger, lack of surrendering to Him, unforgiveness, disobedience and doubt, sin and lack of holiness keep us out of them.

I dont want to view my promised land from a distance. No way! I am going in in Jesus’ name with Him leading the way. But first, forgive me Lord for my pride, disobedience, fear and sin that have kept me from pursuing you and help me to seek ye first the kingdom of God and Your righteousness.