Mark 11:24 ‘Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.’

DAILY READING; • • Acts 15:1-21; Joshua 23-24; Job 32

James Hudson Taylor was missionary to China and one of the most influential carriers of the Gospel since the days of the apostles.
As a young man, few months after his conversion he took time for a special season of seeking God. While praying, he heard clearly the call to serve as a missionary in China.
It seemed a very difficult call because at that time China was not open to the Gospel.
Though Taylor, did not know how to go about his call to China, and had no money, he believed God would make a way. And so he began to get ready for this mission by studying the Chinese language. Young Taylor would also begin the study of medicine as well as Greek, Hebrew, and Latin.
As he vigorously prepared, he became greatly discouraged when he sought counsel from his pastor and was told his desire to serve in China was an archaic idea, which would not work.
However, Hudson believed that God who called him would see him through. And so from then on he took the decision to take his eyes off man and focus only on God. His most important preparation became seeking God in the place of prayer. As he persevered in faith, miraculously God opened a way into China for him and provided the funds he needed for the trip. .
When he finally arrived in China, he faced horrendous challenges and was almost overwhelmed by the enormity of the undertaking to serve there as a missionary. The nation generally was beset by local wars and international tensions. Extortion, pillaging, and torture were common. Diseases were ravaging, with little proper medical care. Opium addiction, slavery, poverty, and famine were rampant. Foreigners such as Taylor were feared and hated and often became targets of violent attacks.
These circumstances caused Taylor to spend many wakeful nights in prayer. He continued to rely on God for protection, provision and everything else.
And indeed God helped him marvelously. Hudosn Taylor would go on to do mighty exploits in China. He founded the China Inland Mission which was responsible for bringing over 800 missionaries to China and began 125 schools, which resulted in the conversion of thousands of Chinese people.
When Taylor arrived in China in the 1850s, there was one Protestant Christian for every one million people. Fifty years later, estimates place the ratio as one Protestant Christian for every two thousand people.
Taylor took on the challenge of preaching Christ to one-quarter of the world’s population and saw the power of the Holy Spirit move in a way rarely witnessed since the days of the first century Christians.

Often times, the great and effectual door God opens for you also comes with many adversaries. And you have to be prepared beforehand to overcome.
When the door to become king of Israel was opened for David, it came with many adversaries; including Goliath and Saul. However, prior to this time, God had trained David in the secret place. Though David had no idea of the future that lay ahead of him, he had been faithful to prepare by devotion to God through worship and prayers.

Likewise this year, we will succeed based on our dedication and commitment to fervently seek God. As we draw closer to Him, we will be continually revived and ignited to triumph over difficulties and accomplish His will for us this year.
Surely, as we make God our sole focus, we will be more than conquerors in every battle.
Therefore, rather than looking at the global conditions, our best preparation for success this year is our spiritual preparation. This we do through diligent studying of the Word, fasting, prayers and fellowship with the Spirit.
As we seek first the kingdom of God, every other thing will fall into place. Certainly as we seek God first we will never be last, rather we will be the head and never the tail; above only and never beneath.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to commit to diligently seeking Your face in this season. As I do, please guide me by Your Spirit into the great things You have in store for me this year in Jesus Name. .
QUOTE;
The battle you are faced with today is a good warfare because God has already foreordained victorious end for you – WORDBITE 222.