He That Watereth

Having the right mission is the key to unlocking your full potential. Many people don’t reach their goals not because they lack talent or effort, but because they lack a clear vision of what they want to achieve. Imagine the incredible things we can accomplish when we tap into the power of our God. Ephesians 3:20 reminds us that God’s power within us can exceed our wildest dreams, but it all starts with having a mission worthy of our God in the first place. Elihu pondered whether a mediator, as rare as one in a thousand, could declare to a person what is right for him (Job 33:23).

In 1900, David Hilbert published a list of 23 problems that he proposed would be the important ones for mathematicians to solve in the upcoming century. That list sparked a century-long focused effort, and the vast majority of the problems have been fully or partially resolved. William Crookes was named president of the British Association for the Advancement of Science in 1898. In his inaugural address, he outlined in detail a coming catastrophe: The wheat-eating peoples of the world were going to start running out of food in the 1930s. His big-speech inspired Fritz Haber to invent a process for making nitrogen fertilizer.

You can (and you should), talk to people who have a better understanding and vision than you do. They can assist you in seeing further than you could on your own. They have the spiritual maturity, love, and perspective to assist you in focusing your talents on something meaningful. There are many problems afflicting our world today, and you have the grace to solve them all. Our communities are dealing with self-centered, purposeless leadership, illiteracy, poverty, and diseases. Follow in the footsteps of Hilbert and Crookes if you have perspectives on these issues. Begin talking about the issues and inspire a new generation to seek solutions.

A sledgehammer is not used to crack a nut. A lawyer is not required to resolve a playground dispute between your children. You don’t need more of something (such as a quantity or an action) than is required or appropriate for a specific purpose. Therefore, if your goals are modest and well within your ability to achieve on your own, you do not really need the help of God. If you continue to pursue goals that you can reasonably achieve with your current means and resources, you won’t need to cling to faith. However, it is time to raise your mission to a level worthy of our God.

According to James 4:6, God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. According to Ephesians 3:20, God is able to do far more than we can ask or think because of his power at work within us. The problem with your mission is that it isn’t challenging enough for you to draw grace and strength from the supernatural. Your mission may have spiritual roots. It’s something you’re certain the Lord would want you to do. However, you have refined the concept to the point where you can deliver it entirely on your own. When it comes to mission execution, scale matters.

God split the Red Sea for Moses and the massive walls of Jericho for Joshua. What exactly do you require of him? You don’t need a professional chef to make a cup of tea, and you don’t need God to accomplish several tasks. Learn from people who have demonstrated great faith and courage. “I have so much to do,” Martin Luther once said, “that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” His mission was so difficult that he couldn’t hope to complete it without the help of God. You have the money, resources and networks of our God. Now, go and find a mission worthy of our God.

Direct your gaze beyond the immediate, transcending the boundaries of your current circumstances. Embrace the limitless realm of imagination fueled by faith in God, because, as Benjamin Franklin wisely observed, “the way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason.” Stop focusing on the limitations of your environment, because it is this focus that is impeding your path to extraordinary accomplishments. You cannot achieve anything extraordinary if you remain realistic (and reasonable) about your hopes and dreams. As a result, you must shift from reason to faith. You must now reason out your new dreams once your new goals have been imprinted in your heart.

Many Christians believe that God is all-loving, all-knowing and all-powerful. They maintain that there is nothing God cannot do. They claim to understand that because of their relationship with God, there is nothing God cannot do for them. However, it is worth noting that all of this boasting does not translate into anything tangible in the real world. It’s like boasting about your billionaire father while failing to take advantage of the opportunities and resources that such a relationship has provided. Your goals have been far too reasonable and realistic. This makes it difficult for you to rely on God as much as you should.

If one’s goals are modest and well within one’s ability to achieve on their own, one does not require their billionaire father’s money, resources, or network. If you continue to pursue things you can reason about, you don’t need God to do anything for you. Break free from this way of thinking. Within your spirit is the grace to move mountains and part the seas. You can help your community combat poverty, illiteracy, disease, and underachievement. God can use you to give hope to those who have lost hope. However, you must close the eye of reason and then reason from a place of faith in God.

Every word we utter should echo the truth of our hearts. To call someone a friend, brother or father is to bestow upon them a piece of our soul. Such labels should not be carelessly thrown about, for they hold the power to shape connections. Respect these titles; they’re not mere words but bonds of trust and affection. Let your words be sincere, for insincerity poisons the wells of friendship and family. Reserve these names for those who truly deserve them, for in meaning what you say, you nurture the roots of meaningful relationships.

The words you use to describe someone with whom you have a relationship are extremely important. You must exercise caution when assigning tags to your relationships. While it was possible to have thousands of teachers, Apostle Paul pointed out that having many fathers (or daddies) would be insane. This is significant because your primary identity is linked to who you call your father (1 Corinthians 4:14-16). When you refer to someone as your father or mother, you are expressing your desire to interact with them as their child. You must submit as an apprentice when you tag someone as your master.

Malachi 1:6 asks, “If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear?” There are promises, obligations and expectations in every relationship. Jon Snow warned us all, “when enough people make false promises, words stop meaning anything. Then there are no more answers, only better and better lies.” There must be a distinction when you call someone your brother or sister; things you would not do for someone who is not your brother. If everyone is the same to you, no matter what you call them, you’re lying. And lying is strongly condemned in the Bible.

Africa’s recent history has been marred by a disconcerting pattern: seven military coups in just three years. This alarming frequency calls for a moment of reflection, pointing to deeper issues in Africa’s relationship with governance, democracy, politics, and power. Notably, these coups have found support with the masses, indicating dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs in those nations. The coup in August 2023 in Gabon presents an intriguing case. For over five decades, the Bongo family maintained an unbroken grip on Gabon’s reins, ruling the nation for 55 of its 63 years of independence from France.

Omar Bongo ruled Gabon for 41 years before handing over the presidency to his son, Ali Bongo, in 2009. The situation was beginning to resemble a monarchy dressed in democratic robes. And military officers seized power following an election widely criticized for lacking fairness and transparency. How did one family subvert democracy to rule and subjugate a nation? We seem to forget that beyond the facade of democracy lies the essence: effective governance. A government for the people is the government that exists to dispense justice, mercy, and righteousness to their people. The end goal is not political parties, democracy and coups, it is good governance.

The political landscape of Africa teaches us that democracy is not everything. Some of history’s greatest minds, including Socrates, were harsh critics of democracy. The argument was straightforward: we don’t want the most popular person to fly the plane. We needed the most capable hands possible. Socrates was concerned about the problems that an uneducated majority could pose to the state (as seen in Nigeria). A problem that continues to confound thinkers today. It is critical to understand that God is dedicated to righteousness, mercy, and justice on earth (Jeremiah 9:23-24). Democracy is one way to accomplish this, but democracy should not be confused with governance.

In the last two decades, a seismic transformation has occurred in the world’s economic and geopolitical landscape. The rise of the BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—has introduced a robust counterbalance to the traditional dominance of the G7. This shift marks a significant departure from the past, raising intriguing questions about the future. The G7, composed of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, and Japan, has historically wielded immense influence in global economic governance. Yet, the emergence of the BRICS bloc, with its members experiencing rapid economic growth, is reshaping the status quo.

It is important to understand the world around you. Remember the words of our Lord Jesus, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). If you are to fulfill your calling to be the salt and light in your world, you must understand the socioeconomic forces at work. In his letter to the Corinthians, Apostle Paul stated, “I do not run without purpose, nor do I fight like a man beating the air.” Historians believe that Paul’s knowledge of the Roman empire aided him in fulfilling his calling.

You can’t do great things unless you understand the socioeconomic forces that shape your world. The combined BRICS share of global GDP is expected to reach 32.1 percent this year, up from 16.9 percent in 1995. This surpasses the G7’s share of 29.9 percent. The most important lesson to be drawn from the emergence of the BRICS bloc is that anything is possible. African nations, too, can ascend with thoughtful planning and collaboration. Let us respond to this call by actively shaping a world in which economic and geopolitical forces work together to foster peace, prosperity, and understanding among nations.

Consider a socioeconomic landscape fueled by purpose and love. It would be such an exquisite panorama in which money is secondary because each individual works in harmony for the betterment of their neighbours. You would not need money to live your best life if you lived in a world driven by purpose and God’s kind of love. Acts 4:32-35 echoes this beautiful vision, providing a glimpse of its potential. Unfortunately, our reality is not a utopian canvas; it is tainted by greed, desire, and a plethora of corrupt deeds. As a result, we must build a strong economic presence that can withstand the challenges of our imperfect world.

You would not need money to get things done if everyone was consumed by a zeal for meaningful work and outdoing each other with acts of love. You would only have to concentrate on your core mission, with no need to commercialize it. However, in this world, you must become proficient in both your mission and the business and economic machinery. This is what will ensure the sustainability, and longevity of your mission. The world around us is dominated by ideas and missions that have figured out their business equation.

Football, music, and reality television shows are only popular because some people have figured out how to build a consistent business around them. As a watchman tasked with guiding your world towards a brighter future, you must devise a strategy for building a consistent business around your mission. You should not think that you will always find “free money” to do the things you want to do. A mindset like this will not allow you to do your best work. You will be enslaved by those with economic power. As long as you are in this world, you have to build a self-sustaining enterprise around your ideas.

You should approach your mission from two perspectives: spiritual and intellectual. It is important to be able to articulate your spiritual convictions regarding the actions you wish to take. Equally important is the need to explain your mission in plain English, rather than hiding behind vague and verbose religious-sounding jargons that hide your ignorance. “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.” Habakkuk 2:2 (ESV). The heavenly vision must be expressed in such a way that anyone who looks at it can understand what it is all about and see how they can contribute.

Noah understood that God would judge mankind during his lifetime, bringing disaster to the earth. He could explain why they needed to build an ark, and how they would build in simple English. If you read Genesis 6: 13-22, you will notice that Noah understood his mission so well that he knew exactly what he had to do at all times. The ark’s exact dimensions were known. The precise materials needed for the construction were known. The project was not ambiguous in any way. A six-year-old could understand it if you explained it to them. Anybody should be able to pick up on what you’ve written and run with it.

Matthew 6:10 says, “your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven”. Your divine ideas and spiritual mission must be expressed in words that people can comprehend and act upon. Your spiritual mission must have a clearly articulated physical goal. It’s fine if things aren’t entirely clear right now. Clarity improves with time. However, it is critical to recognise that you do not yet fully comprehend your mission. Using an app to write out your mission statement, such as the Hemingway app, will help you determine whether you understand your work well enough to explain it to a child.

The main reason heavenly visions fail to manifest on Earth is a lack of clarity. The thing about a spiritual mission is that, on the one hand, you believe you understand the vision and are on the right track because of exotic revelations and the prophetic word. In reality, you have no idea what you’re doing. Like Daniel, you should not stop at the realms of dreams, visions and prophecies. You have to do the work required for insights and understanding. According to Habakkuk 2:2 (ESV), “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.”

There are two key points to take away from Habakkuk 2:2. The first is that it is critical to document a spiritual mission in writing. You must document it. The second lesson is to recognise that clarity brings with it velocity and momentum. If your mission is not clearly written down, implementation and execution will be slow. Make a list of everything that needs to be done. The greatest characters in the Bible, such as Moses, Daniel, and Paul, had more than just revelations, dreams, and prophecies. They operated from a place of understanding.

It is critical to write down your mission and to do so in a clear and understandable manner. Write something that a six-year-old can understand. The truth is that if you can’t define the words and terms you’re using clearly and simply, you don’t really understand what you’re talking about. Writing helps you think because it gives you nowhere to hide. Today is a good day to find a child and explain your mission to him or her. Explain in a way that they will understand. After that, write out your mission. If you are having difficulty explaining your mission, seek the assistance of a more spiritually mature person.

The foundation for creativity is knowledge. The prophet lamented, “my people perish for lack of knowledge!” You cannot create if you are ignorant. The all-powerful Almighty Creator (Omnificent God) is also the all-knowing Omniscient God. There is a connection between your level of understanding and your capacity for creativity and production. You must develop your spiritual gifts and creative abilities if you want to fulfill your calling. To do so, you must deepen your understanding. You should be able to explain the mighty works you want to do in a simple six page document.

According to Mortimer Adler, “the person who says he knows what he thinks but cannot express it usually does not know what he thinks.” As a result, we can conclude that the ultimate test of comprehension is your ability to explain your thinking and thought process about a subject. Seeking to expand your knowledge and understanding extends beyond simply reading books and remembering enough of what you read to pass any test or examination. You must be able to explain your knowledge and apply it in a variety of situations. We all too often fall into the trap of believing we understand something simply because we know what it’s called.

Richard Feynman explained the difference between knowing a name and understanding how something works, “See that bird? It’s a brown-throated thrush, but in Germany it’s called a halzenfugel, and in Chinese they call it a chung ling, and even if you know all those names for it, you still know nothing about the bird. You only know something about people: what they call the bird. Now that thrush sings, and teaches its young to fly, and flies so many miles away during the summer across the country, and nobody knows how it finds its way.” If you cannot explain yourself to a kid, you don’t know what you’re doing.