Deutronomy 2:2 
Moses speaking said ‘And the LORD spake unto me, saying, 3 Ye have compassed this mountain long enough:  turn you northward.’ 

• DAILY READING  1 Corinthians 14:1-25; 2 Kings 8; Jonah 3

At the 1936 Olympics, Owens was easily the most dominant athlete to compete. He captured four gold medals (the 100 meter, the long jump, the 200 meter and the 400-meter relay) and broke two Olympic records along the way.  Owens’ world record for the broad jump would last 25 years before being broken.

Yet Jesse Owens started out in life with virtually  nothing. The son of a sharecropper and the grandson of slaves, Jesse Owens was a frail child who was often sick from battles with chronic bronchial congestion and pneumonia. Still, he was expected to work, and at the young age of seven he was picking up to 100 pounds of cotton a day, to help his family put food on the table. When a teacher  suggested that he take up sports as a way for improving his poor health, the family could not afford a sporting equipment. But since, at least  he had his legs, he decided to put them to good use by running. The more he ran, the more his potentials as a good athlete began to manifest. 

At High School, Owens quickly made a name for himself as a nationally recognized sprinter, setting records in the 100 and 200-yard dashes as well as the long jump. After graduating, Owens enrolled at Ohio State University, where he continued to flourish as an athlete.

Indeed as he began to do what he could, with the little he had, God blessed his efforts.  

The 1936 Olympics, gave Owens the opportunity to greatly display his athletic ability. His stunning achievement of four gold medals, made him the best remembered athlete in Olympic history.

Yet, at the beginning, all Jesse had was his legs, but when he put them to good use, God multiplied his efforts.  

No matter how little or inconsequential your talent or ability, when you turn it over to God, it will become greatly multiplied. 

When the widow required Elijah’s help to pay off her husband’s creditor, so that her two boys would not become slaves, Elisha asked her, ‘Tell me, what do you have in your house?”

She said she had nothing except a jar of oil. However through God’s power, the oil was multiplied to meet all her needs. 

God has a grand plan for us this year. But for it to be accomplished, we have to entrust God with the little we have. 

When you are faithful in the  little, God will see to it that it becomes much.

Having come into the second month of the year, it is time for us to begin to move in the definite direction of God’s will.

In Deutronomy 2:2 Moses speaking said ‘And the LORD spake unto me, saying, Ye have compassed this mountain long enough:  turn you northward.’ 

God was asking them to stop going around in circles. It is time to go forward. We are in the year of the Eagle’s flight. And it is time to go forward. The race to the top has started. You can’t afford to be a spectator. January has gone and today marks the beginning of the second month. No matter how little what you have, as you turn it over to God, He will multiply it exceedingly.  

And one way to engage God’s multiplying ability is through the force of praise. You gain altitude through expressing gratitude. You’ll never drop in altitude unless you drop in gratitude.
Make up your mind that this is your year. It is your turning point year and season of forward movement. Therefore, don’t be deterred by any discouraging situation that may surround you. No matter how difficult or impossible the  circumstance, you can still overcome and move forward. Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…It’s about learning to soar even in the storm. 

Turn your worry into worship and watch God turn your battles into blessings. And as you engage the force of praise, God will turn every  test into a testimony for you in Jesus Name. 

PRAYER: Lord, please give me the wisdom to utilize the gifts and talents that You have given me. As I make the most of what is available, please do for me exceedingly, abundantly above all I could ever ask or imagine in Jesus Name. 
QUOTE 

Your attitude always determines  your altitude in life. -WORDBITE 222. 

 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK REJOICE]