Self-Sabotage

Nearly twenty years ago, my pastor (in South Africa) asked me to prepare to take the Word that Sunday. My first reaction was horror. “I cannot. I am not ready," were the first words out of my mouth. Bless him, he gently rebuked me and said, “You are ready’. I nearly self-sabotaged even before the ministry Christ has committed into my hands saw the light of the day.

Over the years, I still see self-sabotage raise its ugly head. Those negative thoughts and even action that is contrary to what I want to achieve. But I have realised that Self-sabotage is one of the most powerful destiny killers.

It happens when our own thoughts, habits, actions, or behaviors undermine or interfere with our gifts, purpose, goals, or well-being—even when we genuinely desire progress. Often it’s unconscious. We want to succeed, yet our patterns block us, and the cycle repeats.

Common Ways to Self-Sabotage

* Procrastination: Delaying important tasks even when deadlines are close.
* Negative Self-Talk: Telling ourself we are not good enough.
* Unrealistic Standards: Setting the bar too high, then quitting when we fall short.

Why do we Self-Sabotage?

• Fear of Failure or Success
• Low Self-Esteem
• Comfort in Familiar Patterns
• Unresolved Past Experiences
• What is your reason?

Biblical Pictures of Self-Sabotage

Samson
He was chosen and gifted, yet his impulsive desires—especially his entanglement with Delilah—led him to betray his own calling. His downfall shows how ignoring boundaries can sabotage destiny.

King Saul
Anointed as Israel’s first king, yet insecurity, disobedience, and jealousy caused him to lose God’s favor and ultimately his kingdom.

Lesson: Even with divine calling, unmastered impulses and fears can derail purpose.

Biblical Pictures of Overcoming Self-Sabotage

Peter
He denied Jesus out of fear, but Jesus restored him. Peter became a bold leader—proof that failure can refine, not define.

Moses
He doubted himself and felt unqualified, but God reassured him. Moses stepped into his assignment and became Israel’s great deliverer.

Jonah
He ran from God’s instruction, but repentance restored him. His obedience led Nineveh to repentance.

Lesson: Self-sabotage doesn’t have to be the end of our story. With humility and obedience, we can rise again.

Breaking the Cycle

It is possible for us to break free.
- [ ] Prayer: Pray without ceasing
- [ ] Increase Self-Awareness: I notice patterns that block progress.
- [ ] Challenge Negative Beliefs: Replace “I can’t” with “I’m learning.”
- [ ] Set Realistic Goals: Break big tasks into steps.
- [ ] Seek Support: Accountability helps me reframe my thinking.
- [ ] Practice Self-Compassion: I treat myself with patience.

Key Takeaway

Self-sabotage is not a permanent trait—it’s a pattern I can change. When we recognize the signs and address the fears beneath them, we stop undermining ourself and move closer to our God-given purpose.

🙏 Prayer Points

1. Renewed Mindset
Lord, transform my mind and remove every negative thought pattern that causes me to doubt myself or sabotage my progress.

2. Discipline and Focus
Father, strengthen me to overcome procrastination, distraction, and laziness.

3. Freedom From Fear and Insecurity
Lord, break the hold of fear, insecurity, and self-doubt. Fill me with boldness and confidence.

4. Obedience and Humility
Heavenly Father, keep me from pride and disobedience. Teach me to walk in Your will.

5. Restoration and Purpose

Lord, restore every area where I have sabotaged myself. Redirect my steps toward Your purpose and let my story reveal Your grace.

Adeola Akintoye

Súrù Lèrè — Patience Is Profitable

Recently, I was driving through Ojota in Lagos, Nigeria. I was exiting from one motorway into another when I suddenly found myself sandwiched between two trucks. I believed I was already ahead of them, so I continued driving, expecting both drivers to slow down.

But in a split second, the truck on my right clipped the back of my car. The impact scraped the side and pulled out the edge of my rear bumper. His own front bumper was also damaged.

In that moment, a Yoruba adage rose sharply in my mind:

Súrù Lèrè — Patience is Profitable.

If either of us had exercised just a little patience—one extra second, one small pause—both vehicles would have passed through without damage. No repairs. No inconvenience. No unnecessary loss.

Life is like that.

A moment of impatience can cost far more than we expect.
A moment of patience can save far more than we imagine.

Where Patience Matters Most

Patience is not weakness; it is wisdom. It is strength under control. It is the quiet discipline that prevents unnecessary battles and preserves what truly matters.

Here are some areas of life where patience becomes a shield, a teacher, and a lifeline:

1. As a Parent

Children grow in stages. They test boundaries, learn slowly, repeat mistakes, and stretch our capacity.
Patience teaches us to guide rather than react, to nurture rather than explode, to model the calm we want them to embody.
A patient parent raises a secure child.

2. With a Spouse

Marriage is a union of two imperfect people learning to love each other daily.
Patience softens conflicts, slows down harsh words, and gives room for understanding.
Sometimes the greatest gift you can give your spouse is time—time to process, time to grow, time to heal.

3. In Friendships and Relationships

People disappoint. People change. People evolve.
Patience helps us hold space for others without forcing them into our expectations.
It keeps relationships from breaking under the weight of assumptions and quick judgments.

4. In Career and Business

Not every opportunity matures immediately.
Patience keeps you from rushing into wrong partnerships, premature decisions, or shortcuts that cost more later.
Growth takes time—real, sustainable growth even more so.

5. In Personal Growth

Be patient with yourself.
Transformation is not instant. Healing is not linear. Becoming who God designed you to be is a journey, not a sprint.

Biblical Wisdom on Patience

Scripture consistently presents patience as a virtue, a fruit, and a mark of spiritual maturity.
* “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” — James 1:4

Patience completes us. It shapes character.
* “Love is patient, love is kind…” — 1 Corinthians 13:4

The first description of love is patience. Without patience, love cannot stand.
* “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” — Psalm 37:7

Patience is an act of trust—trusting God’s timing over our urgency.
* “The fruit of the Spirit is… patience…” — Galatians 5:22

Patience is evidence of the Spirit at work in us.

The Bible doesn’t treat patience as optional. It is foundational to wisdom, relationships, and spiritual growth.

The Heart of the Matter

Impatience is expensive.
Patience is profitable.

Whether on the road, in the home, in relationships, or in the quiet corners of our personal journey, patience protects us from unnecessary losses and positions us for lasting gain.

In life, a little patience can prevent a lifetime of regret.

Súrù Lèrè. Patience truly pays.

Adeola Akintoye

Rest

And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:12-14 NKJV

Rest is something we take for granted. We enjoy it only fleetingly. It is not everyone that has a day off or takes days off work that have rest. You can even sleep and not be rested. Why is rest not a sustained state?

 

Rest can be defined as when there is a cease of work or movement to relax, sleep, or recover strength. This is characterised by minimal functional and metabolic activities. It could also be characterised by freedom from activity or labor.

 

Why is rest important? We can get some insights from the creation story. 

“So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.” Genesis 2:1-3 NLT

 

Rest comes after work, without work there is no rest. Jehovah God instituted rest, blessed the day of rest, and declared it holy. This means rest is not just going to work, sleeping, or taking holiday. The day of rest is blessed and holy.

 

When Jehovah was shaping the nation of Israel in the wilderness, he gave them a commandment to observe the day of rest. This was a commandment of blessing. They were to rest on day seven after working for six days. Isn’t this amazing?

 

“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days, the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day, he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.” Exodus 20:8-11 NLT

 

The day of rest was to be dedicated to the Lord not our pleasure. Because it is a holy day it must be kept holy. 

 

Rest is a gift from the Lord as Jesus invited, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 NLT

 

Rest comes from the Lord, and it is sustained by Him. Moses got this nugget of wisdom when he refused to move unless Jehovah goes with him because, without the presence of the Lord, there is no true rest.

“Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up these people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.’ Now, therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.” And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:12-14 NKJV

 

Rest requires an active action. Because it is a gift, it requires faith and obedience. “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. Let us, therefore, be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.” Hebrews 4:1, 11 NKJV

 

Many people desire a rest that will bring peace of mind, health to the body and hope to the spirit. This type of rest is from the presence of Jehovah to those who are in a relationship with Him. His Son, Jesus Christ is the way to Jehovah. And He is inviting you today to “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 NLT

 

Why not open your heart to Jesus today. Believe in your heart that Yeshua Christ Jesus is the Son of God. Repent and ask forgiveness for your sins, for we are all sinners and have fallen short of the glory of Jehovah. Prayerfully look for a bible teaching fellowship near you to fellowship with other brethren and study the word of Elohim. Dedicate or rededicate your life to him. The Spirit of Truth will come and dwell in you and lead you in all things.

 

Prayerfortheweek: Almighty Father, give me the grace to diligently enter into your rest.

 

Thank you for joining me today on this journey of spiritual maturity.  You can also check my videos on YouTube and my bite-size podcast on Anchor Practical Christianity with Adeola Akintoye. 

 

Remain Blessed.

 

If you accept Jesus or turn back to him, please get in touch. I am so excited! You give me hope and joy and are my proud reward and crown when I stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns. Yes, you are our pride and joy (1Thessalonians 2:19-20 NLT).

Inbox me, email me, just get in touch. I want to join you in prayers every day

My email is info@adeolaakintoye.com

 

I pray that this inspires you to reflect on your relationship with Elohim and be determined to be more and do more for Him each day. 

#AdeolaAkintoye©

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