If you're doing it...
Do it well!
I don't know how to start this letter but I will anyway. It's a rainy day and I'm nestled in my bed as I write this to you. The weather is very cold and I can feel the cold entering my bones. I can't help but wonder when my clothes will finally get dry ‘cause I can't remember the last time I saw the sun shine. My sunscreen too is just lying here on my table, useless. I just finished this K-drama series that I started two days ago and I'm in a daze, sort of. The drama was so beautiful and my heart is doing me somehow. Drama series about young people always do this to me, especially the ones that have their setting in high school. Ugh, k-drama is bae!
Let me tell you a little bit about my love for K-drama series; they give me one kind of comfort that I donot find in books. I love reading so much, I think you know that by now, but books mess with my head so much these days, I don't know why, probably because I imagine a lot.
*smiles in delulu is the solulu*
That's not the whole point of this letter anyways, I got lost in my train of thoughts, sarry sarry.
Before I continue, say a word of thanks to God.
2 Timothy 2:15 KJV
[15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 NIV
[15] Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 NLT
[15] Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 TPT
[15] Always be eager to present yourself before God as a perfect and mature minister, without shame, as one who correctly explains the Word of Truth.
At the beginning of this week, I was trying so hard to decide what my letter to you this week will be about. It seemed like nothing was coming forth for a while but later on, my mind got fixed on this phrase from the bible.
"Study to show thyself approved"
Almost immediately as I got that thought, I pushed it to the back of my mind because why in the heavens will I be writing about studying in this holiday period? But, I couldn't just get my mind off it and guess what happened? I started seeing the bible verse everywhere! On instagram, on YouTube and someone even posted a video where her pastor was talking about the verse. I just knew I had no choice but to do this.
So, here I am, writing to you about studying against my own will. Abba father, nice one.
My love, I want you to understand first that, this verse, though it might be applied to other areas of our lives, is very specific or literal about it's meaning. The later part of the verse talks about "rightly dividing the word of truth" and we all know that the word of truth refers to word of God. The TPT version says "correctly explains"and I think that's very self-explanatory. So, in order to not be misled or mislead others, study the bible properly! I think we should actually learn how to properly study the bible. We need to be interested in learning or studying not just the interesting or sensational parts of the bible but even the “boring” parts. We need to be ready to grow, even in theological knowledge. Aw, what's that look on your face? You're not alone, my dear. We're together in the same boat, don't fret. Now that I think about it, it's kind of interesting that throughout this week, I've been hearing a lot of "learn to read the bible in context." Hm, God will help all of us.
However, for today's letter, I’m making use of this verse to emphasize to you that whatever that is worth doing is worth doing well. Be it your walk with God, academics, business, relationships with people, even skincare, you need to "study" and work hard to make yourself approved. Don't embark on or start anything if you're not properly informed about it! If you've started it already, it's never too late to learn. Read books if you have to, ask questions, be open to learning and unlearning, so that you can do these things rightly and also be able to guide others.
As a student, before you resume for new session, learn about the class or level you're about to begin. Learn about the courses and the lecturers. Ask questions from people that have passed through that class before you. Study even before you resume, so everything doesn't seem so strange to you. And when it's time for the exams, study like you won't pray and pray like you haven't studied! Never stop learning.
Yes, you can absolutely learn about friendships! You can become a better person and friend, if you're ready to learn and unlearn. Mind you, if you don't know something, you reflex to study about it should be greater than your reflex to argue. You'll just end up disgracing your family members, if you're not careful. Study, first to know, and then, to be able to put mouth in some conversations. Last week, something caught my interest and I've been reading everything readable on it. Why? I don't want to delve into it only to look or sound like a idiot when I'm trying to explain to others why I'm doing it. If you're doing something, you should do it well.
Note that this is not me telling you to become obsessed with being perfect. For someone like me, there's no amount of effort that I put into something that always seem enough, I always think that I should have done more and that, my friend, is not really a good habit. Perfectionism can be toxic and we need to understand that as humans, we’re flawed and very prone to mistakes. So, when we make these mistakes or we don't get the perfect results we wanted, we shouldn’t beat ourselves up for it. Besides, God's standards aren’t the same as ours. Your “not enough” might be “more than enough” on His scale. I'm not saying you should be lazy too oh. Work hard. In fact, do your best and do the rest too! God's plan for us is not mediocrity. Mediocrity, in this context is very subjective tho, but that's not the point right now.
These days, I'm learning that every single thing, skill or person that God has sent my way are prized possessions that I must not mismanage or waste. My life, on it's own, is the most important gift that I shouldn't mismanage. My love, be intentional about everything that concerns you, even up to your physical and mental health! Your body is the temple of God, you should take good care of it. Don't do things that’ll harm your body and mind. Learn how to sharpen your mind and improve your mental health. Learn, unlearn and learn, don't stop. Everything that is worth doing is worth doing well, including this life thing.
At the end of my journey, I want to be able to tell my master that I have used all his gifts wisely and I even made profits for Him. I want to earn His approval! My one goal in this life is to be a profitable servant and it should be yours too.
How was your week? Let me know in the comment section. Thank you so much for reading, my love!
Till next week, I love you, bye!❤️
•Absolutely in love with the way I started this letter.😌 Sounds like something out of a novel, I don't know if it's just me.
•I don't know why but I feel like I should say this again, don't study solely for the purpose of argument. There's absolutely no gain in doing that. You might win the argument ,but then, that's all. Study to KNOW.