“EVEN IF THE ENTIRE WORLD TURNS AGAINST US…”

… and we know God is for us, no problem, my boo! We can lose everything and everyone, but we will never lose God!” That was me to my daughter, Julie, yesterday, and can you believe God went to the trouble of confirming it? First, this showed up at my prayer altar from an old post:

“And that’s the love and connection I want the world to feel, knowing that there is never one moment when God is not with us. In every thought we think, every conversation we have, everything we do, and everywhere we go, God is there standing with us. That’s what gives me the courage to keep going, no matter the challenging situations I come up against, with the mentality of “IF MY GOD IS WITH ME, WHO CAN BE AGAINST ME?” And having that bravery and strength to joyfully tackle my life, walking by FAITH and not by sight.”

Then, fast forward to Joel Osteen’s message for today, which continued that theme:

“Nikki, the blessing is an anointing on your life, which means God has marked you or set you apart. You are marked for favor—that’s where people are good to you and don’t even know why, where doors open that weren’t supposed to open, where you get promoted when you weren’t the next in line. You are marked for opportunity to come looking for you. You’re marked to excel in whatever environment you’re in—WHETHER PEOPLE ARE FOR YOU OR AGAINST YOU, whether the economy is up or down, whether you’re getting good breaks or doors have closed. The blessing is the reason you keep rising up when circumstances try to keep you down. The blessing doesn’t stop the adversity, but it causes you to triumph in the trouble. WITH HIS BLESSING, DEEP DOWN YOU KNOW THAT GOD BEING FOR YOU IS MORE THAN WHAT’S TRYING TO STOP YOU.”

That’s why I continue to emphasize that everything in this life is between you and God-it’s not about others or circumstances. Truly, if God is for us, who can be against us? Remember, GOD IS THE CONTROLLER OF EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE! Even when life seems chaotic or unfair, we can trust that God’s plan is working behind the scenes. Like Julie taught me, forget logic and reasoning-God can do the impossible, turning setbacks into setups for His glory. Our faith in His sovereignty keeps us grounded and hopeful, no matter what challenges come our way.”

The disappointments will come. The rejections will come. The betrayals will come. But I want us to keep our eyes fixed on God, being the people He would have us to be. Overcoming evil with lots of good! Even when others are unfair to us, God’s ways are more than fair. Every heartbeat, every breath is a gift from God. Let’s be God’s Rockstars out there, staying on the high road with Him, constantly asking, “God, what would please you here?” Living intentionally with grace, kindness, patience, love, gentleness, and mercy, we reflect His character. Walking in the awareness of God’s continual Presence with us, doing everything (EVEN EVERY GESTURE!) for His glory. Heehaw!

BE GREAT EVERY DAY…WE ROLL WITH GOD

HON, WHAT DO YOU THINK GOD IS TRYING TO SAY TO US HERE?

I asked hubs about a dress (the green one in the photo above) that he showed me in a cupboard just last night. It appeared on the very page I read in “Appointment with God” today, by our prayer altar. After discussing it with him, I thought maybe God was saying I needed to get back to losing weight again. So I went back to asking God more about it, continuing my alone time with Him. Can you believe God had me balling crying when this song played as His answer to that question:

“But then You remind me that You’re holding me tight

You say the past is behind me

And it’ll be alright

And You say to me

It’ll be alright” – Where Do I Fit In by Justin Bieber

God arranged that dress to show up to remind us all that HE IS HOLDING US ALL TIGHT AND HIS DEEP LOVE FOR US, NO MATTER OUR PAST!!!! It was another one of my God winks, where everything lined up a little too perfectly. This awareness of God’s Presence is what gives me the joy, peace, courage, and HOPE to tackle whatever this life throws my way – GOD STRONG, BABY!!!

Are you feeling God’s unseen Presence with you? As you take one step closer to God, He takes 100 steps towards you! It’s all about developing a relationship with Him so you can learn His voice and character and know when He is speaking to you and what He is saying. I want us living with one foot on earth and in the physical realm, and the other foot in heaven and in the spiritual realm, where we can discern what God would have us do (or not do!) moment by moment.

I’m talking about constant conversations with God, discerning through all the cues, nudges, feelings, meditations, promptings, and signs that can show up everywhere. It does take lots of practice, practice, and more practice, though, and genuinely trying our best to follow what we feel from Him. Eventually, His voice will become clearer the more you get to know Him. But I promise you, there’s nothing better than knowing you have the Best Adviser always ready to help, no matter what comes your way! Start tapping in! He turns all our darkness to light if we give Him the chance to walk closely with us. Wink! Wink! Give God a try!

BE GREAT EVERY DAY…WE ROLL WITH GOD!

EVERYTHING ELSE IS RUBBISH COMPARED TO THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD!

That’s my testimony! The love and attention I receive from Him are PRICELESS. There’s nothing better than navigating life knowing that the Creator of the universe is by your side—helping, loving, and approving of you despite your weaknesses, failures, and mistakes. He supports you, guides you on the best paths for your life, advises you with heavenly wisdom, protects you, and grants you special grace and favor wherever you go. NOTHING BEATS THIS!

I can’t help but feel awe at how He shows such deep love and intimacy through moments I call “God winks.” These moments fill me with wonder and remind me of His constant presence. This one started yesterday when I read these verses to our Breakfast and Bible group:

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; _
His mercies never come to an end; _
They are new every morning; _
Great is Your faithfulness.” – Lamentations 3:22-23_

Fast forward to this morning: I opened my Jesus Calling devotional, which has over 700 pages, and asked God what He wanted to share with me. I promise you that I opened directly to these verses:

“Through the LORD’S mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I hope in Him!'” – Lamentations 3:22-24

And if that wasn’t enough, just minutes later, I started my daily God morning routine by listening to a prayer on YouTube. The very first video that appeared at the top of my feed began with this message:

“When you pray with faith, chains are shattered. When you place your day into God’s hands, confusion becomes clarity. Weakness is transformed into strength. Fear is replaced with boldness. As you continue praying with this video until the very end, I believe with all my heart that you will receive renewed grace, heavenly wisdom, deep peace, and unshakable confidence to walk in victory today.

The word of God declares in Lamentations 3:22-23, ‘Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness!’ (Wink! Wink!). Each morning is a blessing, a fresh canvas filled with mercy and grace. Today, as you join in this prayer, you are choosing to begin your day not with anxiety, not with fear, not with doubt, but with worship and surrender to the King of Kings. Let us pause and give honor to God.” – Trust God Morning Prayer

Amen! How can anyone say this was just a random coincidence? Here’s how the Jesus Calling describes what happened, as if God is speaking directly to us:

“As you go through this day, look for treasures strategically placed along the way. I lovingly go before you and plant little pleasures to brighten your day. Look carefully for them, and pick them one by one.”

God Himself placed those verses in my devotional and in my daily prayer, revealing another glimpse of His invisible presence with us. Don’t miss out on all this love. Notice how I’m always seeking God and how He shows up. WE MUST MAKE HIM A FIRST PRIORITY EVERY DAY! There is nothing more important and enjoyable than having God as your Constant Companion and GREATEST FRIEND EVER!

BE GREAT EVERY DAY…WE ROLL WITH GOD!

EVERYTHING ELSE IS RUBBISH COMPARED TO THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD!

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; _
His mercies never come to an end; _
They are new every morning; _
Great is Your faithfulness.” – Lamentations 3:22-23_

Fast forward to this morning: I opened my Jesus Calling devotional, which has over 700 pages, and asked God what He wanted to share with me. I promise you that I opened directly to these verses:

Amen! How can anyone say this was just a random coincidence? Here’s how the Jesus Calling describes what happened, as if God is speaking directly to us:

BE GREAT EVERY DAY…WE ROLL WITH GOD!

YOUR GIRL WAS IN THE HOT SEAT

Everyone was coming at me last night, pointing out all my mistakes, failings, and weaknesses, and questioning me. Afterward, I went venting to God, reading my Jesus Calling devotional, and out of over 700 pages, here is how He responded to me in that moment, written as if He was speaking to me directly:

“EVEN YOUR MISTAKES CAN BE RECYCLED into something good through my transforming grace. You tend to view yourself as someone who should be almost perfect, making few errors. My perspective is quite different. I see you as My beloved—weak in many ways, prone to wandering from Me. However, your weakness and waywardness cannot diminish My constant Love for you.”

There I was being bashed for all my weaknesses and failings, and God said, ‘Nik, I see you as My girl—weak in many ways (guilty as charged!). However, your weaknesses, shortcomings, failings, and mistakes cannot decrease My love for you.’ I love this old post:

“That’s the sweetness of God I’ve come to know. That morning, feeling again good for nothing, beating myself up that I’m so far from the person I strive to be, this amazingly showed up in my morning appointment with Him:

“Even when you feel good for nothing (exactly me at that moment), give me this nothing. Didn’t I create with nothing?’ – He and I

Didn’t God create the entire universe from nothing? So, I’m happily giving Him my nothingness-my past mistakes and failures-trusting He can turn it into something extraordinary. Will you do the same? Let’s give God everything-the good, bad, and ugly-as we look to Him in every moment to help guide our lives on the most fantastic paths with Him as our Guide and Life Partner.

And that’s the love I want us all to know about God-His unconditional love that never fails. Because of His great love for us, can we extend that same grace to others-show kindness, patience, and forgiveness, even when it’s hard? Let’s be reflections of His love in our daily interactions.

BE GREAT EVERY DAY…WE ROLL WITH GOD

THERE IS FULLNESS OF JOY IN GOD’S PRESENCE, BABY!

That’s my testimony! I can’t get over the God wink in my Jesus Calling devotional this morning. I opened up to this verse:

“You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.” – Acts 2:28

But not feeling like a high five from God, I immediately randomly opened to another page where God confirmed this very verse, written as if God is speaking to us:

“It also helps you to enjoy Me; IN MY PRESENCE IS FULLNESS OF JOY (Wink! Wink!).”

And God didn’t stop there! Fast forward to me getting to work some hours later, I have a ritual where I connect with God on our family’s website before beginning work. At 49 minutes past the hour, I went to page 49 and look what showed up:

“I’m feeling so close to Him (God) now, and I want us to pray to Him all day. Every day. Allowing Him to be the guide and center of our lives. Today, He is nudging me to get back on my discipline game after I’ve been in such a rut. God, anything to please You, let me learn. God, I’m enjoying You all day. Every day! THERE IS FULLNESS OF JOY IN GOD’S PRESENCE! (HUGE SMILE) Don’t miss out!”

And that’s my prayer, that you all don’t miss out on this beautiful life adventure with God. NOTHING BETTER THAN WALKING THROUGH LIFE WITH GOD (ONLY THE CREATOR OF THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE!) AS OUR CONSTANT COMPANION!!! He is with us! It’s just for us to invite Him into our lives, making Him our top priority and focus, living with one foot in heaven, having continuous conversations with God, while also tackling all our issues with His wisdom and direction.

Make sure you are devoting some time each day to learning His voice—whether through reading, listening, or prayer—so you can grow closer to Him and strengthen your relationship with Him. God is pretty talkative!

BE GREAT EVERY DAY…WE ROLL WITH GOD!

THIS LOVE FROM GOD IS SERIOUS!!!

I feel blessed by the attention I receive from Him. It started yesterday when I saw an old email from my friend Marcie, and I was unsure whether to reach out. This morning, I went to page 57 of our family’s website (werollwithgod.com) for my prayer time. I didn’t feel my usual connection with God, so I skipped to page 12 out of 149 pages, and there I found this:

“I was bragging to my friend, Marcie (Wink! Wink!), on my run today…”

This was a clear sign of God’s presence as He was saying, ‘Nik, I noticed you looking at Marcie’s email and telephone number yesterday. I know everything about you!’ I find such comfort in these verses that David wrote 3,000 years ago about God, but are still applicable to our lives today:

“Where can I go to get away from your Spirit? _
Where can I run from you? _
If I go up to the skies, you are there. _
If I lie down where the dead are, you are there. _
If I rise with the sun in the east, _
and settle in the west beyond the sea, _
even there you would guide me. _
With your right hand, you would hold me.” _
Psalm 139:7-10

I asked my daughter Julie some months ago if she looks for these winks and signs from God like I do. She replied, “Not really, mom, I just walk in the awareness of God’s Presence with me.” About a week later, I attended a reception in Miami, that her university’s President spoke and incredibly said, “We train our students to walk in the awareness of God’s Presence.” Heehaw! I was again blown away by God, like He personally handpicked this university for our daughter. I love this old message from my brother, Ceri, on page 12 about walking with God:

This morning, I will read from Joshua 1:8-9:

“Study this Book of Instruction constantly. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything in it. Only then will you succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

This verse is powerful because it reminds us that God is with us wherever we go. Sometimes we feel alone in dark places, but we are never truly alone. This verse can help. You can keep it in mind, walk with it, and use it as a tool. It is your weapon against fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. God reassures us that He is always with us.

BE GREAT EVERY DAY…WE ROLL WITH GOD

“NOW I’M FOCUSED ON BRINGING THE ENTIRE HUMANITY CLOSER TO GOD”

That was the text message I sent to Mo, my influencer! He inspired me to start my own 21-day Umrah (journey of faith), seeking spiritual renewal, forgiveness, and closeness to God, giving up whatever I feel is holding me back from being the best version of myself as a sacrifice for God.. Mo has this extraordinary wisdom from God. So, today, I want to share his most popular TikTok (@mobeezzytv) video, which has greatly encouraged me to up my game for God, and I pray it inspires you, too!. Here’s what Mo had to say:

Don’t sell yourself short, man. Stop half-assing (not putting your best foot forward!) everything you do. Stop half-assing that job. Stop half-assing those workouts. Stop half-assing that diet. Stop doing it, man. You’re going to have a mediocre ass life. Mediocre ass mindset. Feel me? The millionaires and billionaires ain’t a coincidence where they got to and why they got there. They stop half-assing. They realize, right, you know what? I got to become more intentional with every little thing I do. Become sharp and precise in the decisions I make. Cuz those decisions lead to everything else that happens in your life.

Y’all tend to blame God or blame everybody else for the mistakes y’all made. The only way you could grow is to look within and figure out what you did wrong. Find a way to figure out what you did wrong in every little situation that happens. Cuz those are the choices you make. You lost that job. Was it because they were being racist? Or did you mess up? Oh, they fired me because I was late this one time. You decided to be late. You live with those consequences. Blame yourself for it. Instead of saying, “Nah, they fired me because they’re racist.” You decide to give them that chance to fire you cuz you were late to that job. It just shows like it’s a mindset thing.

Start paying attention to details. Are you drinking? Are you smoking every day? Are you eating right? It’s something that’s holding you back. It comes with paying attention to the details. You say you want to lose that beer gut, all that fat that you’re drinking every day. Well, uh, like I drink sometimes. But you drink. Pay attention to the details. When you start paying attention to details, things in your life will begin to change. You drink. Every influencer says drinking is bad. There’s a reason you want to look like them, but you don’t change the things that make you more like them. Make no sense. Do you really want it as bad as you say you do? Are you letting your temptations, your lack of discipline, and your lack of respect for yourself hold you back?

Attention to the details, man. You can do whatever you want. Find a way. Change your habits. Build new ones. Build that discipline. Build that respect for yourself. Become the best version of yourself. Whoever you imagine yourself to be, become that. But again, it’s all achievable. You just have to find a way. I found a way to become bigger. I was the first person. I ain’t seen nobody else around me that was big that taught me I’m talking about in my family. The first person to be big in my family. And we all thought we were meant to be skinny. My parents are skinny. Older brother, everybody. We were all. But I found a way. I had to pave the way. I mean, you are who you think you are. Nothing more, nothing less. You are who you think you are. You are who you show yourself to be. You feel me?

Build that. Build it. Build yourself up. You know what I mean? You can become whatever you want to become. I’m going to graduate with my master’s. You feel me? First person in my family to graduate from college and earn a master’s. Man, I ain’t seen nobody do that first ever in my family to become a college athlete, D1 athlete. I ain’t seen nobody do that. It seems to look at me and hate what happened to me. You feel me? But I am where I am because of all the L’s (losses) I’ve taken, because of all the shoulder surgeries I’ve had, because of all the injuries I’ve had. I ain’t going to let that stop me. Nobody cares about the Ls that you take until you make that big win. That’s when everybody listens to your ass. Nobody cares about you losing. Nobody cares about your sorrow, about your pain. Nobody cares. Go get it. Keep grinding. Keep grinding. Nobody cares until you win. So win. Get to it. I’m leaving that in y’all’s thoughts, man. Leave y’all with that.

GOD GETS IN ON OUR MORNING’S CONVERSATION

This God wink started maybe a week or so ago when I was eating some mangoes from our backyard, and our faithful cook, Victoria, said, “Enjoy them. They’re a gift from God.” I then go and open up my meditation book (written as if God is speaking), Jesus Calling, and God continued:

“Content yourself with a quiet, simple life that accepts each moment as a gift from Me (Wink! Wink!).”

Ever since then, I’ve had a new perspective on my life: EVERYTHING IS A GIFT FROM GOD.

Fast forward to this morning: I’m bragging to Victoria and hubby about how I see both of them as precious gifts from God. I asked Victoria, “Where would I find a husband like this who goes so hard for his family?” Then I turned to hubby, “Where would we find someone like Victoria who cooks us all these great meals, keeping us healthy and strong?” I then left them both to continue my running. I had calculated my 45 minutes of jogging to end at precisely 8:00, so as I sat at our prayer altar, I thought to read page 8 of our family’s website first, and look what showed up at the very top:

“But I (God) have much better gifts for you (Wink! Wink!). Gifts of supernatural proportions! They are My Presence and My Peace. These gifts never get holes in them. They never need NEW BATTERIES (Wink! Wink!). And they never go out of style.” – Jesus Calling Devotional For Kids

Nothing better than having God’s Presence and Peace!!! I’m talking the peace you cannot buy, knowing that God Himself is with you, for you, and by your side to take on anything that may come your way. What’s too difficult for God? Nothing! My brother, Ceri, has importantly taught me that we can lose everything, we can lose everyone, but we will never lose God’s Presence with us. Heehaw!

I’m going even further in seeing things that may not be seen as gifts, as gifts. I love my prayer this morning that said:

“Let everything within us give You praise. Let our pain praise You. Let our healing praise You. Let our waiting seasons praise You. Let every step of the process praise You. Let our restoration praise You. Let our scars become living evidence of grace. Let our mouths never run dry of worship. Let this day overflow with declarations of Your goodness.” – via Daily Prayer With God

I’m thanking God for the good, bad and ugly, knowing God is using everything for our good, even the pain, disappointments, challenges, betrayals, difficulties, sicknesses, failures, mistakes and weaknesses KNOWING God uses them to shape us into the people He has designed for us to be – strong, courageous, brave, while at the same time gentle, forgiving, loving, patient, peaceful and joyful.

BE GREAT EVERY DAY…WE ROLL WITH GOD

GOD, JUST FREAKED ME OUT WITH THIS!!!

So a few days ago, I shared this in a blog:

“God knows every thought I think! This morning, while listening to my prayer on YouTube, it said that God always answers our prayers. I thought to myself, ‘Nope! That’s not true!’ And I thought of how many times God politely told me a big no to my prayers and instead would politely say to me, ‘My grace is sufficient, My Nik!’”

Fast forward to today, my sweetie sister, Kelly, sends me a message about how she opened up a random book she just so happenned to walk by, and this incredibly showed up:

“The Problem: When God Says No

There are times when the one thing you want is the one thing you never get. You’re not being picky or demanding; you’re only obeying his command to “ask God for everything you need” (Phil. 4:6). All you want is an open door or an extra day or an answered prayer for which you will be thankful.

And so you pray and wait.
No answer.
You pray and wait,
No answer,
You pray and wait.

May I ask a very important question? What if God says no? What if the request is delayed or even denied? When God says no to you, how will you respond? If God says, “I’ve given you my grace, and that is enough (Wink! Wink!),” will you be content?”

Wow! Wow! Wow! How could my sister in the Bahamas randomly open a book and say I will read whatever shows up on page 130, and it’s in complete alignment with what I shared this week from Nigeria about how God speaks to me? God is pretty talkative, and His Spirit is with us all! It’s just for us to be attentive to His voice, recognize His responses-including ‘no’-and most importantly, KNOW that His grace and Presence are sufficient for us to navigate our lives.

That’s the greatest news we have about rolling with God on the daily: God Himself is our constant companion. We handle nothing alone! We have God’s help, support, kindness, love, protection, wisdom, tact, personality, charm, favor, angels, and wonderful grace available to us on a moment-by-moment basis, which should fill you with a sense of security and deep closeness.

That’s why I am committed to my God-morning routine, baby! I love the prayer on YouTube from Daily Prayer with God, while running up and down the stairs of our home for 45 minutes. Then I sit by our prayer altar for some quiet time, reading from our family’s website, werollwithgod.com, and some of my favorite meditation books. NOTHING BETTER THAN STARTING YOUR DAY IN ALIGNMENT WITH GOD!! This routine helps me feel grounded in faith and connected with God, and I pray it encourages you to find your own daily God morning routine. Let’s go!

BE GREAT EVERY DAY…WE ROLL WITH GOD