“IT’S NOT ABOUT WORKING HARDER; IT’S ABOUT WORKING SMARTER!”
And the smarter Nikki here has learned that I NEED GOD IN EVERY MOMENT!!! Let me tell ya, this life can get pretty rough and overwhelming, but when I remember God, looking to Him in every moment for His guidance and direction, things amazingly go far better than I can ever imagine or expect.
“It’s a practical experience!” I said to the cashier at Publix a short while ago. “You learn to discern what God is saying to you by giving Him a try. If you feel He is telling you to go in a certain direction and you go with it, test it out and see how it works out. Then, eventually, you will learn His voice clearer and more evident as to what to do and what not to do on a moment-by-moment basis.
“That deal worked out pretty good,” our manager said to me. “What was the lesson?” I asked. I reminded him about when he had initially called me in Nigeria from the US and said to him that I felt good about the customers. I felt God in my spirit, saying that we should release our car to them. After a customer recently took off with one of our vehicles without any intention of paying us for it, I’ve WISELY learned to get God involved in every deal we negotiate. If I feel doubt, the way I felt before I approved that awful deal, I now know that’s God’s way of saying, “DON’T!!!’ However, if I feel peace and a BIG YES in my spirit, that’s God saying, “Yes, this is OK to move forward with.”
So all day, I want us working smarter, not harder! It was a mission getting that stolen vehicle back, but a GREAT lesson to seek God’s face in everything I do. God’s an expert in everything! He knows EVERYTHING about a person’s intention, the future, what’s good for us, what’s not good for us. That’s why I want us RUNNING to Him 24/7, seeking His direction.
And don’t forget your alone times with God! That’s where you learn His character and the person He is calling you to be in the world. What I love about them is that I get serious wisdom in helping me to make the best decisions when I’m back out in the world. He makes me better! I’m loving my God guided life! I don’t even want to imagine where I would be without Him. He makes the difficult times bearable and the beautiful times sweeter, KNOWING HIS PRESENCE IS ALWAYS WITH ME.
I said a special prayer to Him today, “God, I need You!’ I felt Him saying back, ‘No worries, I got you!’ And He hasn’t disappointed me yet! Even with some difficulties this year, He’s turned them around; They were gifts from Him to help wake me up to my life and what He has called me to do.
“Blessed are those who mourn.” Once you get past that mourning period, you awaken to a whole new world. So even when bad and challenging times come, we know that it’s all from the hands of a very LOVING God who ultimately knows what is best for us. I’m learning to take life as a lighthearted dance with God as my fun, loving, and cool dance Partner. Will you join us? God, bring us closer to YOU!!! Amen!
WEROLLWITHGOD.COM
“I WANTED BANANAS AND SUGAR CANE”
I said to someone a few weeks ago in Nigeria, when they returned instead with two bunches of bananas. Our cook, Victoria, very wisely replied, “THAT WAS THE WAY GOD WANTED IT.”
Ever since then, anything that happens that goes against my plan or the way expected, I just say, “Oh well, THAT WAS THE WAY GOD WANTED IT.” And I see His LOVING hands behind everything!
Like I asked our travel agent to book our tickets to leave on a specific date from Nigeria. She said there were no flights until a week later. It turns out there were flights, but the only thing I figured was, “THAT WAS THE WAY GOD WANTED IT.” And I believe so because the day before we left was just a day filled with God winks. He just kept showing up for me the entire day based on things that had happened the day before.
Then it was my husband also calling for me to attend one of his office BBQs. I felt terrible telling him no that I wasn’t coming because I had banned myself from his BBQs, believing I need to set my husband free to live his life without me monitoring his every move. The BBQs are his time with his buddies without the wife around. “Love sets free!” I kept thinking, which Pope Francis taught me. Then that night, unbelievable before going to bed, I searched the word “faith” in my emails, saying I would randomly pick an old post to read and see what God had to say to me. Can you believe the very one I picked, incredibly, I had written in capital letters; “LOVE SETS FREE.” Wink! Wink! That lined up too perfect after me saying that to myself after feeling bad about not going despite hubby’s request.
That was an important reminder as I travel back to the US leaving hubby behind. This area of monitoring my hubby’s every move is where I go seriously wrong, and God politely corrects me, ‘Love sets free, my Nik.’
I loved a voice note from my other messenger from God, my brother, Kevin:
“Manny (my husband) is a good person. Everybody has their little faults. But, all in all, he takes care of his family, he respects his wife, and I don’t think you can ask for more than that.”
Amen! Instead of tracking hubby, I’m doing what God has asked, “Entrust your loved ones with Me. They’re much safer with Me than in your clingy hands.” Instead, the plan is to focus on my goals and dreams, like completing my next book, Rolling With God On The Daily, continue raising my kids Obama’s mother’s style, who woke him up early before school to teach him herself. And look what he has become! Our businesses are another focus area. I tell my husband that our great, great grandkids will eat from these businesses by God’s grace. So help me God. Tomorrow I will begin another 30 days of discipline to get a jump start on 2021! I love me better when I’m on by discipline bandwagon! I’m focused, man!
How could you turn down hubby’s invitation, though, Nik? Hubs and I ended up enjoying a nice evening together. THAT WAS THE WAY GOD WANTED IT! I feel that day was God taking me even closer to Him, a higher realm of closeness, baby, which was my prayer going into 2020! Mission accomplished. It was certainly not the year any of us wanted but THAT WAS THE WAY GOD WANTED IT, and He ALWAYS knows best.
WEROLLWITHGOD.COM
“NOTHING HAPPENS TO ME; IT HAPPENS FOR ME”
Whoop! Whoop! That’s been my experience with God. He can turn the strongest poison into the sweetest honey.
That’s when we stick closely with Him and allow Him to be the Guide and Partner of our lives staying on the high road with Him.
“Do not render evil with evil; render evil with good,” is His constant reminder to me. When we love our enemies, we please God. I was reminded tonight that if we only love those who are easy to love, what good is that. That’s our challenge from Him, to even love those who hurt us. God is love and we are called to share and reflect His love in the world.
Like I always say, “Everything is between us and God. Anything that anyone else does, that is between them and God.” I find the closer I stick to God, the more joy, peace, favor, and love I find. God makes me feel as if I’m the only person in the world with all the attention He pays to me and ALL that concerns me.
This was a rough year, but I want us taking just one valuable lesson from it into 2021: We have access to God’s wisdom, love, direction, protection, strength, approval, 24 hours a day. It’s just up to us to keep our eyes fixed on Him asking what He would have us to do moment by moment. I loved an appointment with Him yesterday when He had this to say to me:
“For me each of you has a face, a path. Keep your face before my face and hasten along your path.” – He and I
That’s what my life is beautifully becoming, He and I. That even with the biggest challenges and disappointments, I can look to God to help navigate me through any rugged and difficult terrain. And I want you here with me, seeking God in all you do.
God what would please You here? Is the question I want us constantly asking, and I promise you, this is how He guides you along YOUR path to a beautiful life.
This hasten along your path was a special message to me. I get caught up too much in the path of what others are doing when I need to be more focused on that which concerns me. I’ve been rereading this quote from Devon Franklin as my reminder:
“The more FOCUS, the more FOLLOW THROUGH, the more FAVOR, the more SUCCESS. The more DISTRACTIONS, the more DETOURS, the more DEPRESSION, the more ANXIETY.In order for us to be who God has called us to be and do what He has called us to do, it requires FOCUS. We really have to start looking at our environment as to what is distracting us from being all He is calling us to be. Ask, “Lord, what is eating up my time?”
I’m going into 2021 with these keywords:
FOCUS
DISCIPLINE
WISDOM
SHINE BRIGHTER
Starting now! The best wisdom is seeking God in all our decisions. Pause and invite God to be a part of every move you make! I don’t want to be this happy by myself! The sweet life with God continues…
WEROLLWITHGOD.COM
“GOD LOVES ME TOO TOO MUCH!!!”
That was me bragging to my husband this morning after a day where God showed His invisible Presence with me THE ENTIRE DAY yesterday! Here’s how those God winks went down:
The day before yesterday, I entered our showroom, and there was a couple there buying a car. I thought to chit chat for a bit, and the husband was so interested in my country. So, he jokingly asked, “Who will replace you in the Bahamas since your husband brought you here to Nigeria?” I then popped the question to my husband, “Hon, this gentleman wants to know who will replace me in the Bahamas since you took me away?” And we all had a big laugh about it. Fast forward to my appointment with God yesterday, look what question astonishingly showed up from Him to me:
“Others will come after you, BUT WHO WILL REPLACE YOU?” – He and I
‘Who will replace you, my Nik?’ God seemed to sweetly ask, getting in on our little joke. This question lined up entirely to perfect to be some ordinary coincidence after that conversation. Of all books, of all pages, this was God revealing His loving personality and invisible Presence, letting me know He is intimately involved in every moment of my life. I am ALWAYS with you, my Nik!
Another customer that day, Godwin, encouraged me so much saying, “Forget anyone else; your posts make me happy every day.” After that conversation, I kept saying to everyone after this rough 2020, “God will win!” Up to the very next morning, hubs had me read some depressing news article, and I said, “God will win o!” Fast forward to maybe 15 minutes later, Facebook notifies me, “GODWIN (Wink! Wink!) B. likes your photo.” Again, this was God confirming, ‘YES, I WILL WIN O!!!’ (HUGE SMILE)
Then, my sweetie daughter, Julie, a few days ago, accused me of being narcissistic (a personality disorder where people are overly obsessed with themselves with no empathy for others. Just about me, me, me.) I thought about it a good bit (a little bit too much) but figured that my entire life is about service to others. I wake up every day asking, “What vital information do I need to share with everyone today?” Then from there on, my entire life is about serving others.
Can you believe God got involved in our conversation? I was determined to finish listening to a Rich Roll’s podcast yesterday, when his guest, Laird Hamilton, surprisingly says, “…at the end of the day, to NOT be a narcissist and NOT have an ego, THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE. There is no way that you won’t have some sense of narcissism or some ego aspect to you.” Rich Roll replies, “You have to have a bit of an audacious sense of self to even attempt these things (like me wanting to bring humanity closer to God!). There’s is a healthy aspect to that. Its about keeping it in check.”
I sent the recordings to Julie, and she, too, felt God’s Presence after our conversation earlier in the week. I said, “You’re a bit of a narcissist yourself, my daughter. Who are you to think that you can go to Colombia University (only the top university in the world!)? You certainly have a grand sense of self even to attempt such a thing. But now you know, without a doubt, God’s Presence is with you. Let’s keep dreaming big, knowing He has our back.”
And with love like this, I can confidently face my tomorrows. Our God will win o! Our hope is in Him!!!
WEROLLWITHGOD.COM
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NO SHAME IN MY GAME (REPOST)
Every day I run to the end of those 47 trees God had lined up for me in celebration of my 47th birthday, and I give that last tree a high five and say, ‘GOD, WE’RE TOGETHER. WE’RE TOGETHER. WE’RE TOGETHER.’
Like yesterday, that meant parking somewhere before getting to work and having an appointment with Him. Again, no shame in my game!!! I was feeling hurt, disappointed, and frustrated, and God loves me so much because I felt Him saying to me in my spirit to read the very last day in my own book, and it was the perfect message:
“Can you imagine getting to a place where you do not feel anger, insulted, offended, or annoyed by anyone for what you believe is unfair treatment by them and having such feelings only against yourself? Wow, what a wonderful life that would be, but is that even possible humanly speaking?!?”
Well, God is truly trying to get me there, and I want to challenge you to get there with me. We’re to love others, stop judging them. Everyone is on their own path with God.
We must be professional ignorers, otherwise, we will go through our lives always offended, insulted, and frustrated. When others disappoint us, we have to shake off the hurts and disappointments immediately and keep walking humbly with God, extending grace (pardoning without punishment), forgiving endlessly, becoming better instead of bitter and loving extravagantly.” – Keep Calm, You’re Rolling With God
Not easy, but the way I’m looking at my life is that I’m on this beautiful life adventure with God. Down to a quarter of a second, He is with me. I can spend those quarter seconds enjoying Him or frustrated by other people. I pick door number one: Enjoying God. I can, therefore, hand over all the disappointments to Him, with my eyes fixed on all the roses in my life. Like getting an email from my daughter, Julie’s teacher this morning saying what a pleasure it is having her in her class. I replied, “It’s a pleasure having her as a daughter!” God has exceeded my expectations in every aspect of my life. It’s just for me to focus on the roses and not the thorns and sticking with this other message from God:
“Remind yourself that alone you are nothing. Can you acquire this beautiful habit of always being with Me? TOGETHER ALWAYS (Wink! Wink!)… Invite Me often to be present in your life, as though you gave Me a ticket for a concert. And keep Me a place of honor in the front row, as if you were concerned that I miss nothing of the spectacle, this spectacle of your daily acts, all lived for Me.” – He and I
God, it’s my honor having You in my life. May all my actions be pleasing to You. Amen.
WEROLLWITHGOD.COM
“YOU KNOW YOU THE BADDEST, BABY” (REPOST)
That was what I felt was my reminder from God on our Sunday run together. My phone glitched and suddenly started playing this Future song featuring Nicki Minaj, ‘You da Baddest. I thought I might have come across arrogantly when I did one of my videos afterward, saying I’m the baddest, but that’s God’s calling for us all. Urban dictionary defines Baddest as:
“Supreme in status or standing. The very best at something. The Ultimate Champion or Warrior. Ultimate Title or Crown. The Highest Honor. The Greatest.”
I don’t know about you, but I’m going for the gold medal, not silver, in every aspect of my life – the champion momma, warrior wife, and the greatest blogger and vlogger, and God’s fav girl. (HeeHaw!) – so that when I die, God will say to me, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Amen! Heaven is our audience, and God is our Boss!
Running with my mom’s advice has paid off: “If you’re a street cleaner, be the best street cleaner possible.” When I got my first job, I took such pride in presenting my supervisors with my best work. Shortly after that, my boss in the Bahamas came to my desk and said, “Oneka, I don’t want you going to just any university, I want you going to the same university my son went to in New York. How did this happen after my mom told me she had no more money to help me finish my education, and I needed to get a job? That’s God in action, baby! When you do your best, HE is the one to reward you. That experience in New York changed the trajectory of my entire life. I had such an excellent time there, even working at the headquarters of one of the top banks in the world on Wall Street.
And now that’s my advice for you today! BE THE BADDEST. God is our Boss and He doesn’t disappoint. I want us tapping into God’s Divine mind being the people He would have us to be in every moment. Going the extra mile, all for His glory. Are you having your appointments with Him? That’s where we learn His personality and character and what He expects of us when we’re out in the world.
After saying that my motto for this year is to SHINE BRIGHT, a T-shirt I glimpse on a TV show said, SHINE BRIGHTER. I knew this was another message from Him to do my work for Him in the world, reflecting BRIGHTLY His love of each one of us. No judging allowed. We are each on our own journey with Him. God is love, and He that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God. KK?
WEROLLWITHGOD.COM
“I ALMOST MADE A MISTAKE”
That was me confessing to my husband this morning. I had a moment of fear, and I was about to make a wrong move. But when I thought about it some more, I said to myself, ‘Nik, are you forgetting the God factor? Why do you doubt His help? Has He failed you yet?’ After that reality check, I’m back moving forward CONFIDENTLY with a much bolder, courageous, and braver plan, KNOWING GOD HIMSELF HAS MY BACK. Heehaw!
Do you remember the God factor when you make decisions? In the 1,000 decisions, we make every day, I want us WISELY going to God for His input. He is our invisible Life Partner, who is available 24/7. It is just up to us to remember Him and include Him in our choices.
Even a run yesterday, I asked Him which of the Nike Running Clubs runs I should pick. I listened to those feelings when I read over the options. The very one I was excited about was perfect. Coach Cory explained how the runs were about me training my mind, body, and soul. Every hard effort that I put my body through, I get stronger, wiser, better so that the next time I can handle even more. He explained that every run was a competition between me and myself – “Every stride, every breath, there is a potential for doubt. ‘I don’t think I can do this any longer. I don’t think I can run any faster. I don’t think I can keep up with that person.’ Everyone struggles with those thoughts. You just have to believe you can. It’s not about blocking the negative thoughts, it’s about pushing pass, conquering them. Showing them who’s boss. You are in control of your own thoughts. So that shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
If I’m honest with myself, the biggest problem I have is conquering these negative thoughts. I think about the wrong things!!! They constantly pull me down and get the best of me. But God has been my therapist in helping with this battle going on in my mind. Specifically, I MUST be a very disciplined person. I may be a little extreme with it, but it’s seriously helping me. Especially in the area of food. “The tongue has the power of life and death.” The negative thinking and the food love each other! They party together. But I’ve been learning to control the thoughts by controlling my tongue. By running to God instead of food, it’s working! I look at my life from His Almighty perspective, and the messages are gradually sinking in. I’m training my mind to think about things that are excellent, noble, true, and praiseworthy. Glory be to God!
The things that I’ve been obsessing about, I’ve stopped. I’ve handed the battles over to God. I do my best with what God would have me to do, and I leave the rest with Him. Showing up as the wife, mother, and person, He would have me to be. That’s where I want us. When those negative, evil thoughts come, remind them who is boss and who you’re rolling with – the King of Kings, baby! Conquer them! Nothing is impossible for God! Fear nothing, and no one!
What are your struggles? Pray and talk to God. He loves getting involved in every aspect of our lives. Just how He has helped me. Always nudging me to begin my days of discipline again, knowing that this is how I get to higher and higher levels of joy and peace and closer to Him. Thanks, Boss!!!
“You can’t shine any brighter. I want you to work on being wise.” Wow! Wow! Wow! That statement from my brother, Kevin, blew me away yesterday! And that’s what I want us all working on, by God’s grace, being the WISE mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, sons, daughters, friends, relatives, employers, employees, and people that God Himself would have us to be. Let’s make God proud! He is our Ultimate Boss. He blesses His people with success! Wink! Wink!
‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.” – Zechariah 4:6
That’s the way to wisdom – tapping into God’s spirit within us. He is available to assist us from His Almighty perspective on a moment by moment basis. That’s how He guides us on the path to the best life with Him. God is an expert in everything! Not only that, He knows the people that we need to meet, He knows the opportunities that we should jump on and the ones we should pass. He knows the solutions to the challenges we face. He can make things happen in the supernatural realm on our behalf with His favor and grace. He can do the impossible!
That’s why it is my honor to share this GREAT news with you! That we are not alone; WE HAVE GOD. Our part is to learn His voice so that we can know what it is He would have us to do, what to say and where to go. I loved an appointment with God with my awesome thirteen-year-old son, Emmie, yesterday, teaching Him to start learning to listen to God when he makes decisions. I said if you think about doing something and you have stress, doubt, and uneasiness, that’s God saying, ‘Don’t do that!’ But if you have peace, joy, excitement, then God is saying, ‘Yes, this is the way to go.’ All day, I want us to pay attention to those feelings as to what wise choice God would have us to make.
Then we MUST spend time with God. I love starting my day reading werollwithgod.com. I randomly pick a page number and see what God has to say to me there. The posts remind me of the person God is calling me to be. Then when I’m out into the world, I do my best to align myself with those teachings. Like the other night, in the heat of an argument with my wonderful hubs, I was reminded by my spirit that I’m to respect and honor the leaders who work hard for me. I kept quiet, calmed down, and I stayed on the high road with God. Phew!
So, amid difficulties and stresses, I want us with our eyes fixed on God, believing His promises over our lives: No weapon formed against us shall prosper! Working on seeking God’s input, strategies, and solutions for moving WISELY forward.
“Trust the Lord with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own understanding. Remember the Lord in all you do, and he will give you success.” – Proverbs 3:5-6 Amen!!!
