WHAT ARE YOU FEEDING THE NEXT GENERATION?

Image
WHAT ARE YOU FEEDING THE NEXT GENERATION? PART 5: WHAT ARE YOU PASSING ON? Deuteronomy 6:6–7 (NLT) “And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.” In Part 1, we asked: WHAT ARE YOU FEEDING YOURSELF? We discovered that what we consume matters. In Part 2, we asked: WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE YOU? We learned that what enters us must be processed. In Part 3, we asked: WHAT IS FLOWING OUT OF YOU? We learned that what is inside us eventually finds expression through our words, attitudes and actions. In Part 4, we asked: WHAT ARE YOU PRODUCING? We looked at the fruit of the Spirit and discovered that our lives should produce something that others can receive. Now we come to another important question: WHAT ARE YOU PASSING ON? Because life does not end with us. Something is al...
Post a Comment

TAKING THE CIVILIAN OUT OF YOU: A JOURNEY OF TRANSFORMATION PART 11: HUNGER GAMES – SURVIVING WHEN YOU’RE EMPTY

 


TAKING THE CIVILIAN OUT OF YOU: A JOURNEY OF TRANSFORMATION
PART 11: HUNGER GAMES – SURVIVING WHEN YOU’RE EMPTY


2 Timothy 2:3

''Endure hardship as a good soldier of Christ 

Jesus”


Welcome to Part 11 of our series, Taking the Civilian Out of You: The Journey to Discipline and Transformation.

In Part 10, we explored the breaking point where even sleep was denied. We saw how discipline isn't always born in comfort but often forged in suffering. Now, we dig deeper—into the painful world of hunger and thirst, where survival becomes a mindset and discipline must carry you through when strength fails.


When the Body Is Empty but the Purpose Isn’t

Conrad, in his honest recount, shared that they were denied food and water. Not as punishment, but as part of the process. The idea? What you think you need to survive isn’t always what you truly need.


You had to draw energy not from your belly, but your belief—not from quick fixes, but purpose. It wasn’t starvation—it was conditioning. And guess what? No one was allowed to complain. There was no 'I’m hungry.' There was only 'I’m still standing.'"


 Endurance Is Fed by Purpose

One morning, after a routine of exhaustion, they were assembled at the square. Conrad shared how his eyes spun, his legs shook, and everything within him screamed, “Fall down. Let them feel sorry for you.”


But he heard another voice:

“If you fall down, you’ll be slapped. You weren’t told to fall. Survive.”


He bent down slightly and hung on. That’s when the dismissal came. That act of endurance, while empty, became his breakthrough.


In our spiritual, physical, financial, and academic lives, we face seasons of emptiness. But what we do in those empty moments defines us.


Reflection: What Emptiness Teaches You


Five real-life reflections:

Spiritually: There will be moments in prayer when you feel nothing—no spark, no emotion. But don’t stop. Keep showing up. In the kingdom, consistency matters more than feelings. Discipline is greater than emotion.


Physically: Your body will scream “Rest!” but the mission says “Move!” Keep going.


Financially: You’ll lack resources, but God wants to teach you creativity in lack.


Academically: You’ll study tired, hungry, or drained—but the exam won’t wait. Push.


Mentally: You’ll want to check out, but staying present builds maturity.


Pain is not always a punishment. Sometimes it’s preparation.




Endure your “hunger” season. Let it teach you what satisfaction cannot.


Stop waiting for ideal conditions—be excellent even when you’re empty.


Encourage someone today who may be facing their own emptiness.



PRAYER

Lord, help me thrive even in my empty seasons. Teach me to trust you when strength fails. Let my hunger never silence my obedience. May I draw power from purpose and not from comfort. I choose to survive this phase with grace. Amen.



Next Chapter: Part 12 – Companions in the Heat

In Part 12, we explore the power of companionship during adversity. How two soldiers encouraged each other with JAMA chants and determination to cross the finish line. We don’t run alone—we finish stronger together.


📌Let’s Talk:

Can you share a time when you had to push through empty seasons—financially, academically, or spiritually? How did you survive, and what did God teach you through that season?

Let’s learn and grow together.




Prince Julius Nenebi-Darkson 

(EL-PJ God’s Penman)


Comments

  1. Esi9 May 2025 at 12:25

    What I learned from today's devotion is that, what you do in the dry seasons shapes who you become in the fruitful ones. God bless!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

We’d love to hear your thoughts! Share your reflections, testimonies, or questions below. Let’s grow together in faith!

Popular posts from this blog

WHEN FOLLOWING JESUS COSTS EVERYTHING PART 7: WHAT IS YOUR “ONE THING”?

Image
WHEN FOLLOWING JESUS COSTS EVERYTHING PART 7: WHAT IS YOUR “ONE THING”? Luke 18:22 (NIV) When Jesus Christ heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing…” In Part 6, we encountered the rich young ruler—a man who was disciplined, moral, and sincere, yet walked away from Jesus Christ because of one thing he could not surrender. He was close to Jesus—but not surrendered to Him. Opening Thought 🌅 Sometimes, the greatest barrier between you and your next level in God is not many things—it is just one thing. Not obvious. Not loud. But deeply rooted. Key Phrase “ You still lack one thing …” Insight 🔍 This statement is both simple and profound. It means: You can be doing many things right… and still miss one thing. You can be progressing… and still be held back. You can be committed… and still be divided. The rich young ruler didn’t lack discipline. He lacked surrender in one area. And that one thing became everything. Deeper Application 🔥 Your “ one thing ” may not be money—but ...
Read more

THE GREAT WALL: WHEN WALLS FAIL PART 2 — THE ENEMY AT THE GATE: STRONG WALLS, WEAK WATCHMEN

Image
THE GREAT WALL: WHEN WALLS FAIL PART 2 — THE ENEMY AT THE GATE: STRONG WALLS, WEAK WATCHMEN In Part 1, we saw that walls do not fail because they are weak; they fail when the gates are compromised. Even the mighty Great Wall of China, built with stones, sweat, and sacrifice, could not stop an enemy when its gatekeepers failed. True strength lies not in the wall itself, but in the vigilance and integrity of those who guard it. Now in Part 2, we explore how weak watchmen at the gate can undo even the strongest defenses. Every wall has two sides: the builders who raise it and the watchmen who guard it. A wall can be tall, thick, ancient, and mighty…but if the hearts of its watchmen grow tired, distracted, or compromised, the enemy does not need strength — just an opportunity. The Great Wall teaches us this: Strength is useless without vigilance. Protection is fragile without attention. A boundary is only as safe as the person standing at the gate. Let’s journey deeper. THE STORY — Part 2 ...
Read more

🐦THE TAILORBIRD AND THE WISDOM OF STARTING SMALL PART 1: USING WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR HANDS

Image
🐦THE TAILORBIRD AND THE WISDOM OF STARTING SMALL PART 1: USING WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR HANDS Exodus 4:2  “What is that in your hand?” Luke 16:10  “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much…” PERSONAL ENCOUNTER STORY Recently, I came across something that genuinely arrested my attention. I was scrolling through TikTok one evening when I saw a short clip about a small bird called the tailorbird. At first, I thought it was just another nature video—something interesting but ordinary. But as I kept watching, something unusual happened. This tiny bird was shown “ sewing ” leaves together to build its nest. At first, I doubted it. It looked almost staged. But curiosity pushed me further. I paused the video… watched it again… and then again. That moment didn’t just stay on TikTok—it followed me off the app. I found myself searching: “ Is this real? How does a bird sew leaves?” And that was the beginning of a deeper journey. The more I researched, the more I r...
Read more