When I did my research and took a personal look at my life (as I have been trying to work on developing better habits for living a more fulfilling life), I came up with these three specific pointers:

Arm yourself with a good book

I, like many Nigerians grew up doing ‘morning devotions’ that consisted of sitting at the dining table most mornings and reading through a devotional book which are usually drawn up for 365 days. We would go round the table discussing personal key take-outs from the word of the day. The Redeemed Christian Church’s devotion book called Open Heavens is a popular one –  so popular that even Nigerians in diaspora order the book alongside rare gems like plantain chips and garri. Yes, it ranks that high.

However, I’m not speaking about a devotional book in this regard. Good spiritual books such as anything by T.D. Jakes and Joyce Meyer are great adds to your library and your spiritual life. I find that devotionals can become quite monotonous and are often too short to really get your day off to a high spirited start but, a chapter of a good book will not only make you wiser but may also help reiterate some of the key pointers that the pastor has raised over the course of your church life which we tend to forget as the days go by. What’s also pretty amazing about it is that you can choose books based on the phase you’re currently at. For example, I read Finding God’s Purpose for your Life, a book authored by Joyce Meyer, after I had graduated college and was struggling with decisions about what I wanted to do with my life. Because of that book, I knew I had to be led by God’s purpose for my life and it has helped out a lot over the course of my life with decision-making and giving me direction. A good way to figure out your next book can be looking through Amazon for ratings and reviews, and hearing what others are saying about the book before making a purchase so you don’t waste your time or money.

Create a prayer group with your inner circle

So, the circle is great to hang out with for drinks, turn-up and a little tete-a-tete. But, there’s nothing more intimate and ginger-worthy like prayer time with your closest friends. Together, you could actually get solutions to some of the issues you’ve discussed about your personal lives. It is also a time of communion and will foster growth among members of your circle. Opt to make it more interesting by having rotational shifts for each friend to host throughout the year.

Matthew 18:20

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Listen to worship songs as you kick off your day

I started ensuring that I did this after it was recommended to me by a friend. I found that I was more energised and also more positive. Something about singing along to Isaiah Houghton’s Reckless Love, that makes you feel like come what may, you’ll be able to withstand the trials that come your way because God has your back and His love for you runs deeper than you could ever fathom.

Photo Credit: Dreamstime

The 29-year-old daughter of popular pastor T.D. Jakes, who is also a wife and mom, recently caused quite a stir on Instagram when she posted the photo below.

She captioned the photo as follows:

Yeah, I know…. It’s different. It’s unexpected. It’s something that you would never expect and that’s the whole point. When’s the last time you did something for the first time? When is the last time you broke out of your comfort zone and dared to charter into the realm of the unknown?  When’s the last time you stretched your faith by forcing yourself to face your fears?  For reasons I have yet to fully understand I decided to stretch my potential this year. Podcasting, online store, conference, 2 campuses, 1 amazing husband, 6 kids, 15 speaking dates, and there’s still more I have in my heart to do. Things I’ve never done before…Things I am severely unqualified for, but I’d rather walk on water than stay in the boat. Do something that forces you to dig deep within and uncover another dimension of who you are.

After she posted the photo, lots of her followers criticized her choice of clothing, calling it “wordly” and “ungodly.” Apparently, she also got lots of DMs from people who disapproved of her clothing choice.

She subsequently addressed the criticism, stating that the whole point of posting the photo was to do something people would deem as “unexpected” coming from someone like her, as she was trying to drive home a point – to challenge people to do the unexpected and get out of their comfort zones, as illustrated in the photo caption. She also stated that she has always had a passion for fashion, and as a result, she’s never afraid to take chances with her style.

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So guys, what do you think of Sarah’s outfit? I personally see nothing wrong with it. It’s not like she is showing excess skin or wearing anything provocative. The fact that she’s a Christian woman, a preacher, and the wife of a preacher doesn’t mean she should walk around looking like a nun.

Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments below!