In 2007, a friend and I were led to spend some time praying and ministering to God. We had no requests. We just prayed and praised. During the prayer, God impressed it on both our hearts that I was going to write a devotional. I had given my life to Jesus and had been a Christian for a few years but I felt I had absolutely nothing to offer anyone. I barely knew nor understood the Bible.
All I knew at the time was that I loved God and wanted to be in the centre of His will for my life. I wrote down the words I received about the devotional and moved on with life, trusting that God would bring it to pass at the right time. Slowly, I totally forgot about this word. Between 2013 and 2014, I went through a rough patch spiritually. I had just had my son, I was far away from my support base in Nigeria and I was overwhelmed with taking care of him. Being a last child who had no experience in taking care of babies, I was terrified, overwhelmed and tired. I felt I was not getting anything right. I also felt so disconnected from God. It looked as though all I did was change nappies, breastfeed and clean.
I was used to having long times of prayer and periods alone with God and then all of a sudden, I had birthed a little child who required constant attention and care. I wasn’t able to find the time to study the Bible the way that I wanted. I couldn’t pray the same way I was used to. Everything had changed and things were beginning to take their toll on me. I looked forward to my bath times as those were the only times I could be alone with God.
One morning in May 2014, I got into my bath to have my five minutes with God and for the first time in a long while, I heard God. He dropped the idea for the three minutes with the word audio devotional in my spirit, and gave me the format. I was at a stage in my life where I needed bite-sized portions of the word to keep me going. God wanted me to help others having the same challenge. I jumped out of the bathroom, picked up my phone and recorded the very first episode titled ‘Watch your words.’ I did not re-hearse it. I just got out of the bath, threw on my towel and did the recording. I did it afraid. I felt it made no sense but I knew I spoke what God had given me.
I shared it with my husband and then gathered the courage to send it to a few friends. The feedback and encouragement was overwhelming. 7 years after the first word came in 2007, the devotional had started only this time it was not written, it was spoken. In these seven years, I have had to record episodes at 12 am when the children finally settled in to sleep. I have had to stay up at ‘very Godly’ hours to study and read the Bible. I have had to respond to messages of people who were hurting and broken and in need of encouragement. Over 1000 episodes later, I have no regrets for obeying the voice of my master.
There are times when I have had people from all over the world send me messages. Incredible overwhelming feedback. There are yet other times when I hear absolutely nothing from any of my listeners. God has taught me through these years to keep my gaze fixed on Him alone and that has kept me encouraged. The three minutes with the word Audio devotional is definitely not intended to be an intense bible study programme. It is just a bite-sized portion of the word which Christians can listen to ‘on the go’, before or after their own quiet time.
Be blessed as you visit this website and listen to the devotionals in Jesus name.
Love,
Lilian.
