STorMs oF LiFe...

Luke 8:22-25 “One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

1.       You were born to face the storm – I’m sure you’re most likely wondering, like huh? Well… the truth is that you were actually born to face the storm. Storms of life were never reserved for a particular set of people.  As far as you are alive, life will definitely bring storms your way, small ones and mighty big ones.

2.     Jesus does not promise me a life void of storms, but He does promise to be there with me and give me peace when the storm comes. - Jesus, being God, most definitely knew that a storm was coming on when He and His disciples got into the boat. He is well aware of the fact that I will experience storms in my life, but when the storms come, His peace which passeth all understanding will guard my heart and mind (Philippians 4:7). God’s presence and peace is far greater than any storm I have faced, I am facing, or will ever face.

3.     Do NOT chicken out of a storm! – Just like there’s light at the end of every tunnel, so also is there land at the other side of every storm! Be ready for the storm and courageously face it. Once you have Jesus in your boat, you do not need to worry about the storm. Because He has power over every storm, I do not need to fear anything.

4.     Faith in Jesus will see me through any storm –Where is your faith? Are you passing through depression, fear, the loss of a loved one or even physical pain? Put your faith in Jesus Christ! These are all storms of life and only your faith will take you through it all. Faith is key if I must successfully get to the other side of the storm. Sure, you’ll probably lose it every once in a while but do not lose your faith. Remember that even if you have faith like a mustard seed, it can work wonders for you. (Luke 17:6) In those moments when you think you are drowning, call out to Jesus to raise you up! He is able!

“Lord, I do not ask you to prevent me from the storm because I am not immune to storms of life. All I ask is that you increase my faith in You. Deliver me from doubt so that You can bring me to the other side. Amen.”

References:

The Holy Bible

Images from Google Search

Nuggets To Help You Study Better

Hey folks!

Personal study has helped me a great deal in my academic journey for the few years of my life nowJ.  I would like to share with you what I have learned and practiced over time that I believe will help you study better. Yes you.

1.               Identify what keeps you alert: This is very important as a key element in studying is staying awake. It’s obvious that you can’t study while asleep. For some people like me, music is quite adequate to keep us awake while we study and does not pose much of a distraction. For some other people it’s sipping on coffee or eating. Find what keeps you awake.

2.           Develop a positive attitude towards all your subjects: In many cases, when you dislike a subject, you find it very hard to want to study it. This is because your dislike for it will cause you to see only the difficult sides of the subject and make it look impossible to understand or even eventually pass with good grades. When I developed a positive attitude toward Mathematics, I found it easier to study and had good grades at the end. Attitude is important folks!

3.           Study in a conducive environment: It is best to avoid noisy or crowded places. It is also advisable to stay away from places that have any distractions that you know will cause you to have divided attention. A serene and quiet environment is the best to study in. This does not include your bed!

4.           Set out a specific time daily to study: Set out an hour or two, or even three that is convenient for you to study on a daily basis. Try as much as possible not to allow this time encroach upon your resting time. Avoid time stealers! Do not allow anything unimportant to take you away from you study time.

5.           Sit up!!!! : Do not make the mistake of fooling yourself thinking that you can study lying down on your bed. This technique is very tricky! You can become too comfortable and fall asleep before you know it. Therefore, it is advisable to study using a table and chair.

6.           Are you a night owl or a day person? : When do you study best? At night or during the day? Find out what time suits you and fix your study period then. Personally, I find it easier to study at night.

7.            Set goals: For each daily period of study, set goals for yourself. Write down all the things you want to achieve in that period. It is important to write it down. This list should include the subjects you want to study, the duration of time allotted to study each subject and the topics you want to cover under each subject. Additionally, set long term and short term academic goals. What do you want to achieve in each particular subject by mid-term? End of term?

8.           Turn it off!!! : Unless you are using your mobile phone for research purposes, if possible, turn it off while you study. You will see the difference.

9.           Rest well: In order to study better, you also need to rest well. Make effort to get enough sleep daily.  Well, I would say 8 hours if possible. Hahaha. This will keep your mind ticking and also aid in avoiding exhaustion.

10.     Pay attention in class: This too is important for better studying. When you listen in class, it makes your personal study easier and more understandable. You will only be studying to refresh your memory from the lecture and you will have more time to carry out more research on your topics.

Finally, my advice? STUDY, STUDY, STUDY. Do not wait for the rush period before tests or exams to study.  When you study daily, you will be able to make more valuable contributions in class. You will also be better prepared, have better composed answers, and be much more relaxed for tests and exams. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “ Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (KJV) Burn your midnight candles, bulbs, phone lights and torchlights now, it will all be worth it in the end.  J

References:

The Holy Bible (King James Version)

Pictures from Google Search Engine