Beloved

At the commencement of last year the Lord told me through multiple prophecies that He was going to give me honour in my relationships. The word says faithful are the wounds of a friend:

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. — Proverbs 27:6, KJV

One of the most painfully beautiful things my friend Roxie said to me last year was : “Toki you want the people in your life to honour you but you aren’t honouring yourself!” I love and appreciate my friend and I was both in awe at her statement so responded with excitement like anyone would when a rapper drops some good bars, but then I let the words sink in, and they sank into my soul and ministered to me. My soul leaped like John the Baptist did in Elizabeth’s womb, because it bore witness to a deep cry. I realized that what I saw as honour, was silencing and perseverance through abuse and mistreatment, covering the multitude of sins of others with love, grace and understanding. And while I had a holy motivation to please the Lord in how I guarded my heart ferociously from bitterness, I didn’t realize that I neglected the second greatest command: love your neighbour as you love yourself: I didn’t see that honouring myself honoured the Lord, walking away from toxic relationships, erecting and enforcing boundaries set. I saw now know that honour to the Lord seldom looks like unlimited access to the untrustworthy, the unkind, the non integrous, and even the broken.

To honour myself meant I understood His love for me it was a reflection of my honouring of His sacrifice for me

Just because He told you to engage in close proximity with someone doesn’t mean it’s indefinite, even if initially that was God’s intention, a persons stewardship of you matters to Him. Having discernment and wisdom is important as they act as a boundary in that they help you to know that God will not allow you to stay in a situation at the expense of yourself.

God doesn’t require you to be faithful to a word at the cost of my soul and health especially when that word is conditional on another’s actions

God watches over HIS word to perform it-NOT us, so when we are in relationships that compromise or safety  know that Gods love for you contends to protect you.

Then the Lord said to me, ‘You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.— Jeremiah 1:12

God’s mercy sometimes looks like you walking away and committing people into His hands and grace.

Saul didn’t steward what God gave to him, so God removed it from him.

Who you allow access to, and who you let near is a reflection and expression not only of your self-worth, but also shows what your revelation of Him is. When you truly grasp that He DIED for you, you begin to understand: such a love is too holy to give just anyone access the deepest parts of you.

Not everyone has the integrity, maturity, capacity or character to cherish and value you and what you carry. You are worthy of relationships that honour the sacredness and sanctity of His sacrifice, that reflect the holiness of your redemption, and are aligned with the price Christ paid for your soul.

Worthy of depth, integrity, accountable and mature people who walk through imperfection, (theirs and yours), under His banner of grace, but with reverence for what it cost Him to redeem you.

The Shepherd Who sends you also shelters you. Gods’ love for those you are called to reach or are sent to isn’t diminished by his mission through you, the same love He has for those you’ll serve, is the same love He lavishes on you and jealously watches over you with.

You already belong to THE ONE who treasures you, and desires that you see yourself the way He sees you.

Living from the secret place, from the place of intimacy and the fear of the Lord, isn’t just about obedience, worship, communion and consecration. It also means we are faithful stewards to honour, cherish and guard jealously, and with intentionality God’s investment in us and relationship with us.

Love you 💕