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1/ I've been waiting for results to come out so I would have proof to substantiate my testimony. But over the past few days I have become increasingly convinced that I have to do this.
2/ So, here goes My NLS Testimony.
In every exam I've ever written, every test, coursework, assessment etc. God has always been instrumental to my success. But for Bar Finals, it really was at a different scale and level like never before.
In every exam I've ever written, every test, coursework, assessment etc. God has always been instrumental to my success. But for Bar Finals, it really was at a different scale and level like never before.
3/
I tell you God was the one on trial. And it’s safe to say that He gloriously gave me the victory in these exams.
I tell you God was the one on trial. And it’s safe to say that He gloriously gave me the victory in these exams.
4/
The preparation leading up to Bar Finals was a very very unique one no doubt, I mean from the minute we began externship I took a week to tidy up all my notes, then I began to pray and ask God for a strategy by which I would cover the large curriculum.
The preparation leading up to Bar Finals was a very very unique one no doubt, I mean from the minute we began externship I took a week to tidy up all my notes, then I began to pray and ask God for a strategy by which I would cover the large curriculum.
5/
I planned to read through my notes at least once and under the influence of the Holy Spirit strategically mark out sections which would be Bar Final questions.
It took three weeks to go through my Criminal notes.
I planned to read through my notes at least once and under the influence of the Holy Spirit strategically mark out sections which would be Bar Final questions.
It took three weeks to go through my Criminal notes.
6/ At that point, it became clear that this wasn’t a winning strategy, and I became Increasingly afraid that I wouldn’t cover the syllabus on time.
At this point, I became increasingly drawn towards past questions.
At this point, I became increasingly drawn towards past questions.
7/ The Holy Spirit seemed to be saying, you don’t have to read everything, only what I tell you. The Holy Spirit also told me to make sure I do a draft a day, unfailingly.
8/
So, I bought a book, I went through years 2013 - 2017 of past questions by subject and categorized all the questions to see what often recurred in the past question. And then I did every draft I could find along the way within those past questions.
So, I bought a book, I went through years 2013 - 2017 of past questions by subject and categorized all the questions to see what often recurred in the past question. And then I did every draft I could find along the way within those past questions.
9/
At this point, I was knee deep, it was so bad the externs in my firm were already referring to me as the authority.
At this point, I was knee deep, it was so bad the externs in my firm were already referring to me as the authority.
10/ “Jola, is this in past questions?” “Have you ever seen a past question where?” And then they would often discuss things that were in the syllabus but not in past questions, and I wondered, God, What will I do, I really really haven’t read everything.
11/ And The Holy Spirit would cut me off, “You don’t need to read everything, Only what I tell you”
Ah, Okay. I said to myself. That’s your own.
Ah, Okay. I said to myself. That’s your own.
12/
I carried on with my plan to finish reading all my notes and tag certain sections as Bar Final questions, while also completing the Holy Spirit’s plan to do a draft a day and finish all the MCQs and Past Questions.
By the end of externship, I was exhausted.
I carried on with my plan to finish reading all my notes and tag certain sections as Bar Final questions, while also completing the Holy Spirit’s plan to do a draft a day and finish all the MCQs and Past Questions.
By the end of externship, I was exhausted.
13/
I had done MCQs from 2012 - 2016. All the drafts in all the past questions. I had also finished tagging all my notes except for Corporate Law.
Here was the issue. I still hadn’t covered the entire syllabus.
I had done MCQs from 2012 - 2016. All the drafts in all the past questions. I had also finished tagging all my notes except for Corporate Law.
Here was the issue. I still hadn’t covered the entire syllabus.
14/ When we resumed, We were taught new topics, which resulted in having to make notes again, since I didn’t read those topics on my own.
I was in a prayer group during externship and we prayed for discernment, and also for speed.
I was in a prayer group during externship and we prayed for discernment, and also for speed.
15/ I had also watched an Apostle Selman Message, where he prayed for speed to recover lost time.
So, I went back to the drawing board with God, Lord. I’ve been foolish. I have been listening to you, but also doing my own thing on the side. I need speed.
So, I went back to the drawing board with God, Lord. I’ve been foolish. I have been listening to you, but also doing my own thing on the side. I need speed.
16/ God gave me speed and a clearer strategy.
I discovered these revision notes made by Total law, they were a compendium of questions done for every subject based on the topic. God told me to study them.
Actually, during pre-bar i.e. Mock-exam, I had studied using the…
I discovered these revision notes made by Total law, they were a compendium of questions done for every subject based on the topic. God told me to study them.
Actually, during pre-bar i.e. Mock-exam, I had studied using the…
17/ …corporate law compendium, and it made so much sense, but I couldn’t find the remaining four, I didn’t even know who to ask or how to look for them, but somehow, it was uploaded to the CLASFON WhatsApp group during externship.
18/
I downloaded and printed it from there and planned to read them after I finished reading my notes.
Now, I started doing what I should have done from the beginning when the Holy Spirit initially told me to go through past questions.
I downloaded and printed it from there and planned to read them after I finished reading my notes.
Now, I started doing what I should have done from the beginning when the Holy Spirit initially told me to go through past questions.
19/ I would take a year of past questions and condense it into the revision notes, updating it along the way. That way, everything I needed to know was in question and answer form, and contained in one document, along with drafts.
20/
This bridged the gap in my knowledge because I had only been revising from 2013, but these revision notes also contained questions from 2009 - 2012.
Now, doing this took up all my time, to the extent, that by the time I was done, it was 12 days to the exam.
This bridged the gap in my knowledge because I had only been revising from 2013, but these revision notes also contained questions from 2009 - 2012.
Now, doing this took up all my time, to the extent, that by the time I was done, it was 12 days to the exam.
21/
God encouraged me with so many words along the way. It is so interesting how soaked and How clearly you can hear God when you have a singularity of focus and purpose.
God encouraged me with so many words along the way. It is so interesting how soaked and How clearly you can hear God when you have a singularity of focus and purpose.
22/ I had only one thing I cared about and wanted God to speak to me about: Bar Final.
I noticed that I started lagging in studying the Word and prayer, so I had to get intentional about that.
I noticed that I started lagging in studying the Word and prayer, so I had to get intentional about that.
23/ I made a list of prayer points unrelated to the exam and hung it around my table/bedside, so as I woke in the morning, I would see it and just stop to pray till I had covered each prayer point.
24/
On the eve of MCQs, I was finally wrapping up on Criminal law, I was a bit panicky that I didn’t get to revise MCQs or even Property, I thought to myself - God, this thing is here, its staring me in the face, but I was so thrilled and excited.
On the eve of MCQs, I was finally wrapping up on Criminal law, I was a bit panicky that I didn’t get to revise MCQs or even Property, I thought to myself - God, this thing is here, its staring me in the face, but I was so thrilled and excited.
25/ It felt like I was going off to a war I knew I was going to win. I was tried and tested, I’ve never exceeded 55 mins on any MCQ, this would be a breeze. Ladies and gents, that’s I found myself with 10 mins to go and over 40 questions unanswered.
26/ When they said 10 mins, I hadn’t finished the last three subjects on the paper. I know that I got waylaid by either Civil or Corporate and I hadn’t done ethics.
27/
But somehow, somehow I just started hearing music playing in my head, it was one of these TY Bello / Tope Alabi’s Spontaneous songs, and believe it or not, I finished all the questions.
But somehow, somehow I just started hearing music playing in my head, it was one of these TY Bello / Tope Alabi’s Spontaneous songs, and believe it or not, I finished all the questions.
28/ As soon as I shaded the very last question and I was looking at my paper, the invigilator said “You have Zero minutes remaining” Stop writing now. I nearly started screaming, God delivered me. I heard so many stories of people who didn’t finish their MCQs.
29/
I said God, I your child, it can’t be my story, do it for me like you did it for Joshua, and truly God did it for me. I was shading answers without looking at the questions, God helped me!!! In summary, DEVASTAVIT wanted to devastate me, but God did not allow it.
…
I said God, I your child, it can’t be my story, do it for me like you did it for Joshua, and truly God did it for me. I was shading answers without looking at the questions, God helped me!!! In summary, DEVASTAVIT wanted to devastate me, but God did not allow it.
…
30/ …This devastavit question, i’ve never even seen it anywhere before, some said it was in past questions, others said it was in the handbook, I didn’t read the handbook, or see this MCQ question but somehow, I shaded the correct answer. God is so good.
31/
On the morning of property law was really when I started reading. Flipping 10 hours to the exam. A few people asked me if I was ready, I told them, Look Honestly, I’ve not read anything.
On the morning of property law was really when I started reading. Flipping 10 hours to the exam. A few people asked me if I was ready, I told them, Look Honestly, I’ve not read anything.
32/ Sometimes I wondered what I even did during externship because it was as if what I read that time vanished from my memory.
Alright, so there I was, on the morning of property law, having a mental breakdown.
Alright, so there I was, on the morning of property law, having a mental breakdown.
33/ I cried, I wanted to call my dad, but I couldn’t, because lol dead people don't have phones. So I cried. I cried only twice during Bar final.
34/ Once during Property, and again during Civil Litigation.
The night before, i.e. after MCQs, we’d had a group discussion session where someone would read out questions and each person would take turns answering.
The night before, i.e. after MCQs, we’d had a group discussion session where someone would read out questions and each person would take turns answering.
35/ The question was on the steps for non-contentious probate, and it was my turn to answer, and I bravely said, I haven’t read it, I don’t know it, It’s not coming out.
HAHAHA, the confidence. CHEI.
HAHAHA, the confidence. CHEI.
36/
Because of this, a colleague who was present at the group discussion, on the morning of the exam said she felt a leading to go over probate with me, since she felt uneasy at me saying I didn’t know it yesterday.
Because of this, a colleague who was present at the group discussion, on the morning of the exam said she felt a leading to go over probate with me, since she felt uneasy at me saying I didn’t know it yesterday.
37/
She sent that text while I was crying in my room, so I thought AH, God is that you? Are you saying something, but He said nothing.
She sent that text while I was crying in my room, so I thought AH, God is that you? Are you saying something, but He said nothing.
38/
So she came to my room and went over ALL the steps on how to obtain probate, letters of administration etc. etc.
After she left, God reminded me again that I didn’t need to read everything. Only what He tells me. And suddenly I was reassured that It wasn’t coming out.
So she came to my room and went over ALL the steps on how to obtain probate, letters of administration etc. etc.
After she left, God reminded me again that I didn’t need to read everything. Only what He tells me. And suddenly I was reassured that It wasn’t coming out.
39/
So, I went back to Mortgage and just continued my reading. Because of what happened during MCQs, one thing I now started praying about was time management.
So, I went back to Mortgage and just continued my reading. Because of what happened during MCQs, one thing I now started praying about was time management.
40/
I’d asked God for speed in studying, and time management in my revision, but not during the exam in actually answering the questions.
I’d asked God for speed in studying, and time management in my revision, but not during the exam in actually answering the questions.
41/
I wanted to finish all the questions and have enough time, I didn’t want what happened during MCQ to ever happen again, after praying about it, do you know during the exam God instructed me on which questions to answer first to make sure I would finish on time!
I wanted to finish all the questions and have enough time, I didn’t want what happened during MCQ to ever happen again, after praying about it, do you know during the exam God instructed me on which questions to answer first to make sure I would finish on time!
42/
It was an amazing experience. He’d say do number 6 first, then do the two compulsory questions, then your other optional question. The instruction was different for EACH exam but I always finished ON TIME.
It was an amazing experience. He’d say do number 6 first, then do the two compulsory questions, then your other optional question. The instruction was different for EACH exam but I always finished ON TIME.
43/
I asked God, all this going up and down won't I answer in the wrong booklet? But it never happened. See, in obedience, there is so much peace. For corporate I finished so early that I was scared for myself.
I asked God, all this going up and down won't I answer in the wrong booklet? But it never happened. See, in obedience, there is so much peace. For corporate I finished so early that I was scared for myself.
44/ I didn’t know what to do with myself I was just singing TY Bello’s Hallelujah in my head.
In each exam, while waiting, a song would come to me, often a Tope Alabi/TY Bello Song.
In each exam, while waiting, a song would come to me, often a Tope Alabi/TY Bello Song.
45/ I don’t like people talking around me about the exam, like you can talk about anything else, but not the exam haha. I’d even talk to you about another subject o, just not the one we’re writing today, I hate that.
46/ So I would just fill my head with gospel music, sometimes take a stroll around till they bring the paper.
I love how purposeful and intentional God is about EVERYTHING. I got a good, sturdy table from the start and never had to struggle to change my chair.
I love how purposeful and intentional God is about EVERYTHING. I got a good, sturdy table from the start and never had to struggle to change my chair.
47/ The seat next to me was empty somehow, because God knows me I like personal space and I don’t want anyone to do psst psst to me in the exam. How we’re grateful even for the little things. The ever-mysterious BAR FINALS, My God made it so plain.
48/
Another interesting thing that God told me to do during the final revision was to read my notes/textbook from the back.
Another interesting thing that God told me to do during the final revision was to read my notes/textbook from the back.
49/ After I prayed for speed, God instructed me to read certain courses like Civil from the back, while others like Corporate from the front, in order to cover more ground. And somehow it made sense.
50/ The major courses in Civil are at the back of the curriculum, while for Corporate, (although everything is important), starting from the front was helpful for me. Same thing with Criminal.
Further, for cases, I barely learned any.
Further, for cases, I barely learned any.
51/ It was only in Property law I think I learned cases like that, and that was only due to peer pressure haha. I was mostly fixated on learning orders for civil, sections for corporate law, and the relevant sections of the Evidence Act.
52/ And in the end, it was just a waste of my time for the most part.
On Sunday, I didn’t want to go to church, but I was so glad I did.
On Sunday, I didn’t want to go to church, but I was so glad I did.
53/ You see, God hardly sends words to me through people (because I just won’t believe you haha), but somehow He sent a colleague I look up to as a role model to share some words of encouragement with me.
54/ She just came to me after the service and pushed a paper into my hand saying God said I should tell you this, open it when you get back to your room. I was stupefied. I just looked at her, said thank you and walked away.
55/ Knowing myself I couldn’t resist, so I opened the paper of course and in it were very detailed, very beautiful words of encouragement. I quickly closed it back and said, this really has to wait till i’m settled.
56/ When I got to my room, I read through it, nodding and crying at every sentence, wow, God you really knew I needed this after MCQs, I glued it to the curtain in my room so I would see it every day and read it, and those words truly I got me through these exams.
57/
After Property, we had a break before criminal, and during those 24 hours I tried to revise all the subjects again. I read through Ethics, then Corporate, then Civil, then as in you can imagine, this means I didn’t get to revise Criminal till the morning of the exam.
After Property, we had a break before criminal, and during those 24 hours I tried to revise all the subjects again. I read through Ethics, then Corporate, then Civil, then as in you can imagine, this means I didn’t get to revise Criminal till the morning of the exam.
58/
I kept thinking, Oh God why is this happening to me again? But I turned off my mind and just said, God, what will it be today? And The Lord led me in the right direction.
I kept thinking, Oh God why is this happening to me again? But I turned off my mind and just said, God, what will it be today? And The Lord led me in the right direction.
59/
I got into some small banter with my friend over whether God knows what the DG will pick, before he picks it. She said God wouldn’t know the questions because the DG hadn’t picked them yet.
I got into some small banter with my friend over whether God knows what the DG will pick, before he picks it. She said God wouldn’t know the questions because the DG hadn’t picked them yet.
60/ She rather believed that God knew all the questions that were on the table since our lecturers had submitted them already. I disagreed with her of course, because I think that God knows what we will use our free will to do.
61/ She thinks that means God set Adam & Eve up, but that’s talk for another day.
However, she may be right though because all my “divine expo” only seemed to drop on the morning of the exam.
However, she may be right though because all my “divine expo” only seemed to drop on the morning of the exam.
62/
It’s on the morning of the exam that there’ll suddenly be a past question paper lying around my room and God will tell me to leave my revision and attempt this past question. And they were usually resit questions that I hadn’t covered originally.
It’s on the morning of the exam that there’ll suddenly be a past question paper lying around my room and God will tell me to leave my revision and attempt this past question. And they were usually resit questions that I hadn’t covered originally.
63/ One way or another, they became relevant in the exam hall.
I also had a friend who knows that I sometimes get divine expo, it happened during my undergrad and also during my masters.
I also had a friend who knows that I sometimes get divine expo, it happened during my undergrad and also during my masters.
64/ So she would always come and say, Jola what are you reading, what shall it be, what’s the plan etc etc. And this was just somehow extra pressure for me. Pressure to perform haha. Pressure to show that I still got it.
65/ I started looking for God in the places where I thought He would usually be, in dreams and visions, hoping he would “do it again” like my undergraduate years. But He didn’t come in visions, this time He came through whispers and strategies.
66/
And whenever she would ask me, I didn’t know what to say. Of course I had what God had told me to study, but I often felt like those things only applied TO ME. And some of them were even wrong.
And whenever she would ask me, I didn’t know what to say. Of course I had what God had told me to study, but I often felt like those things only applied TO ME. And some of them were even wrong.
67/ When Appeals (Civil & Criminal) were coming strongly to me, who knew it was because God was telling me to cross it out of my revision, not share it as a possible exam question.
68/ God told me I wouldn’t answer any procedural question for corporate, I assumed its because none would come out, but the procedure for winding up came out, but I didn’t answer it. I didn't even know it was there till after the exam when we were chatting.
69/ So I started realizing, that ah, my divine expo was really just for me only. God knew the questions that I would be skilled at, the areas in which I could apply myself to get the best result.
Corporate law came and went, and then Civil. I started breaking down again.
Corporate law came and went, and then Civil. I started breaking down again.
70/ I suddenly started crying on the morning of the exam, I was scared and shaking uncontrollably in my room.
There were too many drafts I hadn’t revised. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, Me, matrimonial causes and election petition weren’t getting along too nicely.
There were too many drafts I hadn’t revised. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, Me, matrimonial causes and election petition weren’t getting along too nicely.
71/ Everyone was sure there would be election petition, but me and my God had agreed beforehand that it won’t be compulsory, and I wouldn’t be drafting the petition. I didn’t even learn the draft for it. It was a very dangerous move but it paid off.
72/
God also gave me a strategy for drafting, my drafts were condensed into a small booklet and on the morning of the exam was actually the day I learned the drafts for Notice to Quit and 7 Days Notice.
God also gave me a strategy for drafting, my drafts were condensed into a small booklet and on the morning of the exam was actually the day I learned the drafts for Notice to Quit and 7 Days Notice.
73/ It was right before I left too, from the minute I woke up God just kept saying, you MUST do these drafts before you leave your room today. It was that same morning that I learned everything concerning Fundamental Human Rights.
74/ Civil Litigation was the exam I was most concerned about, but it was also the exam that I came out of thinking, “was that it?” I was just all over the place. It felt like I didn’t even need to study for ethics, because "expo go drop by morning".
75/
Another major testimony for me is that throughout my time at NLS I never had cause to go to the clinic. Other than for registration, I never went there for anything ever again.
Another major testimony for me is that throughout my time at NLS I never had cause to go to the clinic. Other than for registration, I never went there for anything ever again.
76/
I just want to say that God really taught me through this exam that I can be fully devoted to Him and not be bored or tired, that I can deny my body of pleasure, of entertainment, to achieve a goal/purpose.
I just want to say that God really taught me through this exam that I can be fully devoted to Him and not be bored or tired, that I can deny my body of pleasure, of entertainment, to achieve a goal/purpose.
77/
If I can alter my sleeping, eating and entertainment habits for Bar Finals, how much more if only I would take His purposes seriously. How fervent I can become for His Kingdom!
If I can alter my sleeping, eating and entertainment habits for Bar Finals, how much more if only I would take His purposes seriously. How fervent I can become for His Kingdom!
78/
Through Bar Finals, God has shown me that the kind of radical Christian living we often say is impossible, is actually very possible, by His grace and through the Holy Spirit.
Through Bar Finals, God has shown me that the kind of radical Christian living we often say is impossible, is actually very possible, by His grace and through the Holy Spirit.
79/ Many many times I found myself with only a short time to revise, and out of that short time I’d spend 90% of it just praying in tongues, yet I walked into every exam 100% confident that I knew all I needed to know.
80/ I don't know how else to say this but, Bar Finals was an exercise in TRUSTING GOD. Honestly, those are the two words that best explain my experience. I was forced not to depend on myself but to TRUST GOD.
81/
I developed a relationship with Him in the run up to the exam that is unlike anything else I have ever experienced. "God where should I buy food today? God what am I wearing today? God will you please wake up me up at______ time."
I developed a relationship with Him in the run up to the exam that is unlike anything else I have ever experienced. "God where should I buy food today? God what am I wearing today? God will you please wake up me up at______ time."
82/ God, please what do you think of this topic? God, what message should I listen to today? God I'm feeling sleepy, but I still have much to cover please help me? God please will you send angels to do this for me?
Wow, see, I can go on and on.
Wow, see, I can go on and on.
83/ All this long talk is merely a short piece of my testimony.
Bar Finals was like a Honeymoon time for God and I. We were on a ROLL and I loved every second of it. I didn’t want to come out of that. I wanted it to continue, and I know it will.
Bar Finals was like a Honeymoon time for God and I. We were on a ROLL and I loved every second of it. I didn’t want to come out of that. I wanted it to continue, and I know it will.
84/ I am sad to say it has lulled of course, but it will pick up again, I have no doubt. That intimacy I forged then can’t ever be shaken. I have tasted, touched and handled God. My success is guaranteed.
85/
And I’m sure so many of His children have similar testimonies, because He loves us so much!!!
If you want to testify of God’s goodness to you at NLS, please share your NLS testimony with the hashtag #MyNLSTestimony or send an email to @ gossipforjesus.gmail.com
And I’m sure so many of His children have similar testimonies, because He loves us so much!!!
If you want to testify of God’s goodness to you at NLS, please share your NLS testimony with the hashtag #MyNLSTestimony or send an email to @ gossipforjesus.gmail.com
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