Rising Above Limitations: Overcome Low Self-Esteem and Be the Best You Can Be

Copyright © 2013 2013 Milo Mlangeni.

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ISBN: 978-1-4908-0298-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-0299-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-0297-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013913139

WestBow Press rev. date: 8/20/2013

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword by Pastor JJ Zondi

Preface

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter One

Stretch Out Your Hand

Chapter Two

How Did It Happen?

Chapter Three

The Journey Towards Becoming Whole

Chapter Four

Who Do People Say I Am?

Chapter Five

Standing And Prevailing

Chapter Six

God’s Stubborn Love

Chapter Seven

Personal Breakthrough

Chapter Eight

Foxes that Spoil the Vine

Chapter Nine

The Best of You

Epilogue

Bibliography

DEDICATION

I dedicate this book to my mother, Catherine Mlangeni, who taught me about God from the time I was born. Your prayers and works of the ministry were not in vain, Mama.

FOREWORD BY

PASTOR JJ ZONDI

Ever since I have known Milo, she has always been steadfast and persistent in serving the kingdom of God. I perceive Milo as a gift, because of the message she carries in this book: RISING ABOVE LIMITATIONS, a book which exposes the enemy called low self-image which prevents many dreams from becoming reality. Milo’s message is that the way in which you perceive yourself will determine the productiveness of your life. The image you have of yourself dictates your response to the events of life.

Someone said: We don’t see the world as it is, but as we are. This implies that it is imperative not to allow anything to distort your view of yourself, be it past hurts or whichever bad experiences you have gone through in your life. Address the past, and leave it behind you, or it will jeopardize your future. As we go through life we encounter experiences, whether good or bad; these experiences become programmed in our psyches and in our emotional minds. This programming becomes a rudder, steering us to a particular destination, by controlling the manner in which we think and feel. Whenever we respond to the circumstances of life, the old programming begins to inform our response. Sometimes someone abused in a relationship, has coped with the abuse either by becoming furious and giving vent to anger, or by simply becoming a doormat, and accepting his or her lot. In future relationships this person, in dealing with life issues, may at times display anger or low self-esteem, particularly when the issue at hand is closely related to what he or she went through in the past.

Milo makes it clear in this book that the life everyone lives reflects his/her inner state. In order for us to demonstrate desirable results, we must first alter the inner state. She further explains the process of altering the inner state. This book then becomes a critical tool, assisting us to re-programme our minds, by going through a process of flushing away the old content of the mind, and installing new content which will propel us to our most propitious destiny.

The author, Milo, clarifies adequately the confusion in many minds that believing in yourself replaces your believing in God. Isaiah 61:1 Arise and shine, for the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. It is you who have to arise, for the glory of God is already upon you, firstly for you to see and embrace Jesus Christ as your door to the kingdom of God; and secondly, to comprehend what Jesus Christ has already accomplished for you on the Cross. As long as you are still held hostage by your past, and by any limiting thinking, there is no way that you can arise. The message of this book is: Arise from wherever you have been imprisoned in your mind, through the programming of your past experiences.

The author of this book, Milo, concurs with Romans 12:2, which encourages the renewal of the mind, in order for us to know the will of God. As a child of God, your spirit is one with Christ, which means grace, favour, eternal life, and the whole kingdom of God for you to rule over; for you to have dominion on earth. However, all this great wealth will be conferred on a renewed mind; the work of the mind being to possess knowledge, to analyse it and to select the path going forward. Self-esteem takes place in the mind. And you can only go as far as you know.

Hence it is incumbent upon you to believe in yourself, as in what God has made you to be, and this is in no way conflicts with believing in God.

The purpose of this book: RISING ABOVE LIMITATIONS is for you to experience unspeakable freedom from anything that holds you back from achieving your best in life. In summary, the message of this book is: Change your thinking into God’s thinking, and your life will change; your life will shock the world. Be on your way to a best-ever life, which is hidden in the mind of God. Refrain from thinking that you don’t deserve the best in life. Accept God’s thinking that you already have the best life through Christ. Remember that in Him we have redemption.

Right now you are holding in your hands a most powerful tool that will propel you to your destiny. Ensure that your loved ones read a copy of this book; they will never be same again.

Be a partaker not a spectator to make your destiny count.

Pastor JJ Zondi

Human development consultant

Speaker. Peak Performance Facilitator. Neuro linguistic Life coach

Director: Destiny Human Development Institution

Chairman: Gauteng Small Business Development Association

083 244 3547

jjzondi.destiny@gmail.com

www.destinylifecoaching.co.za

PREFACE

AFTER BEING BORN AGAIN at a very early age, I had the opportunity of being exposed to the powerful ministry of the Word and prayer; therefore I became a very fervent Christian, and a prayer warrior. I had dreams and visions about my life which made me realise the kind of life God had in store for me. However, I began to comprehend in my early adult years that I had constant feelings of insecurity. As a result, the picture I had in mind of the life God had ordained for me, and the reality, were totally different. I could not express the real ‘me’ and always worried about the way in which I was perceived by others.

This made me an unhappy person. I began to direct my focus on becoming free, so that I would be able to live my life as God had purposed it. At this time, I was writing a great deal, however, I simply shelved all my writings. I was passionate about writing; I knew that it was part of my purpose in life. Once I was finally free from the limitations of insecurity, I knew beyond any shadow of doubt that I needed to write this book for my fellow brethren, who may be struggling with similar challenges.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

FIRSTLY, I GIVE GLORY to my God who gave me the gift of life and the ability to write a healing message for the broken in heart. I then thank my family for continuous support; my sister Nontukuso, for always believing in everything I do, even when I doubt myself: I can’t thank you enough, you are the best.

To my brother, SK, thank you for being a real brother and a good role model. You make us proud.

Mom - words fail to express my gratitude to you. God chose well to give me a mother like you.

I thank my son, Lungelo, who brightens each day of my life, although you were not aware at the time that you had to sacrifice much of our time together so that Mom could chase all her dreams: may you grow up to be the best you can be in life.

I’m grateful to every minister of the Word who has played a role in my Christian walk, assisting in shaping me into the believer I am today. To the wonderful Yengwa family: Pastor Mnqobi Yengwa; thanks for being such a father and for discovering the gifts I did not know I had; Mom Yengwa, you always have had such grace that prevailed over time. I will never forget that I was not only part of your spiritual family, but also of your physical family!

Pastor Wayne Hopf; of Durban Christian Centre, thank you for your spiritual leadership and impartation. You made Bible College a threshing floor that prepared me for my as-yet-unknown future.

To the men of God, my spiritual leaders whom God has allowed me contact with over the years: Apostle Collins and Nomusa Dlomo; Pastor Vusi and Taki Dube; Pastor Authur and Linda Moses; Pastor Themba and Dudu Mahlaba; Pastor Negros and Florence Manana; Pastor Chuks and Augusta Ozabor; and Pastor Sabelo and Londeka Manyathi: it was no coincidence that I sat under your leadership and ministry. God was doing wonders in my life, and shaping my destiny. Through your word and ministry I have prevailed against giants, and reached for my promised land.

I thank all the friends I’ve been privileged to have in my life. Some have come and gone through different stages of my life; some have always been there. I love you all, and thank you for your encouragement at all points; for your prayers, your love and your support. My heartfelt gratitude to my Editor, Lydia Weight, thank you so much for your consistent support. Last, but definitely not least, I extend my gratitude to WestBow Press Publishers for accepting my manuscript; thereby turning my dream into a reality.

INTRODUCTION

THE MESSAGE OF LIVING one’s life to full potential is reaching millions of people in the present age. It is presented through sermons, books, motivational talks, and all sorts of media. In any bookshop, you find various topics which encourage individuals to pursue their dreams and live their lives to the fullest. Such availability of this kind of message should have led to millions of people living their dreams and becoming fulfilled. What then can be causing the failure of multitudes exposed to such knowledge, to live according to their God-given dreams?

Think of a pastor in a church who has ministered to the best of his ability on how to live to one’s full potential. While preparing his series, he imagines the difference this word will bring to the lives of his congregants. When he has prayed and preached for several weeks under the anointing, he eagerly awaits the change in the lives of the people. To his dismay, only a handful of lives seem to bear fruit after several months. Most of the time it’s the same handful who seem motivated enough to go for all life can give. His intention was to motivate those he knew had potential; however, somehow, they are not achieving this potential. He wonders what is lacking in his message; whether he needs to change his approach in delivering the message, or whether he needs to pray more. This causes pain to such a leader, as he has so wished to see each congregant fulfilled in all aspects.

The real reason that some are not bearing fruit after being repeatedly exposed to this message is not that they have not heard or understood it. It is that they are struggling with their own limitations. In most cases, their self-image is poor, and this makes them function within limited boundaries. The picture they have in their minds about themselves is not the self which they are portraying. It is difficult for these people to achieve their full potential; these limitations must be overcome.

THE WEALTH WITHOUT AND THE WEALTH WITHIN

Before God created man, He prepared the earth for the provision of man’s needs. The soil was made to produce all kinds of vegetation - trees and all plants for shelter and for medicine; varieties of meat were provided; minerals and precious stones; rivers and the sea; all this and more formed His amazing gift to man. Some of the provision is obvious; some not quite as obvious. When one buys a piece of land one is likely to want to build, to farm the land, and maybe to keep livestock. If the owner of the land is wise, he will want to find out whether there