I got the idea of a series called “Hey Mo!” where readers, Instagram followers, and friends of ATBM could submit questions on any topic and my answer would be turned into candid open letters! It’s a perfect way to share what I see as beautiful stories while opening the door for an open forum!
Question: What has your faith journey been like?
I spoke a teeny weeny bit about my official come to Jesus moment in a summer post, “The Resounding Yes | #TheAbereLoveStory” (missed it? click here to read). I say “official” moment because prior to being baptized on July 20th, 2014, I had a stretch of time where I hadn’t kept my word to God. I had attended youth conference after youth conference and had learned to speak Christianese… just enough to not make me look like a heathen lol. In order words, I wasn’t saved saved. Y’all know what I mean lol. I had grown up in church, the child of a devoted servant of Christ and hadn’t quite grasped what it meant to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
I think many of us go through similar periods and we end up in a tug-of-war — God vs. the world. The things of the world look good, seem fun and despite knowing we shouldn’t, we indulge in them anyways. It’s kinda like McDonalds fries. Year after year, we hear reports about McDs not being good for us blah blah blah.. and when no one’s looking, YOU pull into the drive thru-craving it (I had to say you because I don’t do McDonalds anymore lololol). Psalms 34:8 says, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.” You can’t desire steak, garri/eba, or filet mignon (all the finer things in life… see what I did there?) and still be munching on trash.
For me, I had to decide that I really really REALLY wanted to taste of the Lord’s goodness for myself. If I’m being honest, that meant removing myself from a seven-year romantic relationship, cutting out clubbing and drinking, and seeking God to clean up the mess I’d made of my spiritual life. The beautiful thing about God is He’s ready to meet you EXACTLY where you are. My faith journey is just that.. a journey. One that continues to be a winding road full of challenges. Even with that, my faith has grown in unimaginable ways and I’m feasting on all the steak I want in the Kingdom of God.
Question: How do you stay grounded in the Word continuously when life happens?
I remember that I was never promised a life full of smooth-sailing. 1 Corinthians 4:8-10 says, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” If anything, after reading verses like that, I’m encouraged to see what else the Bible has to say about my tough times. I’m super grateful for my community that also helps me to stay in the Word. When I feel too discouraged to pick up my Word, I have sooo many brothers and sisters in Christ that pour into me. What’s your tribe looking like?
Question: What devotionals have helped you in your relationship with God? Which ones do you study or recommend? When I first came to Christ, the devotional “Our Daily Bread” was literally EVERYTHING! I was fortunate enough to receive them for free from my church. These days, I’m sure you can download the app. There’s literally an app for everything. I’d suggest ODB for anyone who is unsure of where/how to start reading the Bible. As I grew in my faith, I realized I needed a little more depth and began reading devotions from the YouVersion Bible app. I recommend buying a studying Bible and using that in conjunction with a devotion of your choosing. But don’t forget, nothing replaces the Word of God. Starting from the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) is never a bad idea.
Fun Fact: Bethel Campus Fellowship (BFC) now has an online devotional that I’d love for you to check out- click here.
At whichever stage you find yourself in this journey towards Christ, Keep Moving Forward! Thanks for your question, Reader! (I’ll Venmo $5 to the first person to respond with the name of that movie reference! One of my faveeeees).
Enjoying this series and interested in keeping it going? Leave a comment or submit a question via the Hey Mo! submission page. www.astoldbymoyo.com/heymo ❤️If you’ve sent one in, I see it! Check back in every Friday to see yours get answered!