the musings of this nigerian gal

Have you ever wondered why, after you pray to God to give you something, He places it in the hands of someone around you instead of directly into your hands?

Well, I have wondered. I didn’t stop at wondering, sef. I went forward to ask God. He did say we should bring forth our strong reasons. So I asked.

Do you know what He said? Lambano. (Lambano is the Greek word for laying hold as in 1 Timothy 6:12. )

When I heard that, I almost lost my mind.

I am in pains here and your are telling me to lambano? If I wasn’t laying hold, would I have been praying in the first place? Is this a joke?

But do you know what God did? He kept on talking. And talking.

He started listing examples from the Bible.

Elijah and the widow of Zarapeth.

David and Nabal (foolish Nabal).

The Israelites and Moses.

At this point, I told Him, “these people were in the old testament. I am not.”

I’m sure He burst into a guffaw. Then He continued listing:

The twelve and the seventy when Jesus sent them out.

Jesus and the kid with the five loaves and two fish. (In other words, you wan do pass your saviour?)

So I conceded defeat. Seeing this, the Holy Spirit then began to explain.

He took one of my argument — which was, since He created us as individuals, why do we have to dwell, exist and survive on community? — and said it is pride that makes us want to separate ourselves from the community He has planted us in.

That makes us want to do it solo.

Needing the help of others doesn’t make us less of ourselves, less of our individuality.

It is humility that makes us look to God for help and receive that help, no matter in what shape it is given.

You see, love and humility cohabit. And just like you can’t love God and hate your brother, so can you not claim to be humble before God and seek to maintain your pride before men.