Amos 6:1 ‘Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!’

DAILY READING – John 11:28-57; 2 Chronicles 12-13; Psalm 76

John Alexander Dowie was a man greatly used by God in the 19^th century. He became probably the most renowned pioneer of Divine Healing worldwide. In his ministry, the power of God was constantly demonstrated, as many people were healed of their afflictions. And by the turn of the century he was known to millions around the world.

Dowie was also a fighter in the true sense. Even as a young minister, he was very vocal in speaking out against the ills in the society, boldly battling the sin and compromise he found all around him. Due to his fearless preaching, he had many enemies especially among the politicians. He was arrested over 100 times on trumped-up charges, ceaselessly attacked by the most prominent media men in the city, and he even suffered street-riots and attempts upon his life. However, he eventually won all these battles with his credibility intact. He became God’s most effective champion of Divine Healing in America up to that point.

Tragically however, when the early years of constant battles were done, and a time of relative peace and prosperity settled in upon him, Dowie eventually made the tragic mistake of relaxing his guard. At that moment  he began to engage in secular activities, and departed from the simplicity of his earlier days of needing to constantly battle. This was when his decline began, and this daring fighter who had brought healing to many, ended up being deluded into dressing in High-Priestly robes and  claiming that he was Elijah the prophet. And so the ministry of this man who had become a world leader and whose actions were watched by the eyes of multitudes, began to decline. John Alexander Dowie eventually descended into ignominy. And several years later, he ended up sick, broken and a shadow of his former self – having lost his ministry and literally everything he owned. Indeed how one of God’s greatest fighters  could come to such a tragic end, is something that should be an object lesson to us all.

Amos 6:1 says ‘Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!’

Life is a battle, a warfare and not funfare. There is no demilitarized zone in this battle. Everywhere is a warfront. This is why we must be continually vigilant. Do not relax. Be constantly sober and vigilant because the enemy goes about as a lion looking for whom to devour.

We must be sober-minded and watchful, the enemy is always on the prowl, waiting for an opportunity, to strike. To let down our guard even for a moment gives him the moment he has been waiting for. But if we are watching and praying, then we can always resist him, firm in our faith. No matter how great the revelation we have received from God, if we don’t build up a resistance against the enemy, we may not be able to stand when temptation comes.

Jesus commanded us to watch and pray always so that we do not enter into temptation. It is those who fail to keep watch, who decide to relax, that eventually fall prey.

1 Peter 5:8  says “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”-

Life calls for constant spiritual vigilance.  At all times your prayers should be intense, and your search of scriptures should be in-depth and your sensitivity be increased. We have to maintain our connection with God from the time we arise in the morning until the time we go to bed. Obviously we can’t be on our knees all day,  but we need to maintain an attitude of prayer even as we go about our daily activities. The weapons that Jesus used to overcome were prayer and God’s Word, and these same weapons will work for us today. As we maintain constant spiritual vigilance, we will certainly become too hot for any devil to handle in Jesus Name.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me never to fall into any deception or delusion of the enemy, By Your grace I will always be guided by Your Word and Your Spirit as I run the race of destiny in Jesus Name.

quote :

Illuminate your world for you are a star destined to shine. WORDBITE 222.

Ephesians 2:10

‘For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.’

 DAILY READING – • John 11:1-27; 2 Chronicles 10-11; Psalm 75

The very popular song: “It Is No Secret What God Can Do” was written by Stuart Hamblen. Prior to the time he wrote the song in the 1930’s, Hamblen was a musician and radio show host. And though raised as the son of a Methodist minister from Texas, he didn’t handle his fame very well. He engaged in drinking, brawling and other destructive behaviors that landed him in jail many times.

However, this all changed in 1949 when Billy Graham appeared on Hamblen’s show to publicize his Los Angeles Crusade, which would later become a historic crusade. During the show, Billy Graham extended an invitation to Hamblen to attend the crusade. Hamblen honored the invitation and the result was that he surrendered his life to Christ.

When Hamblen’s conversion became public news, a lot of people were surprised at his transformation. He no longer drank, and even refused to advertise alcohol on his show. Later on Hamblen ran into a friend of his, the famous actor, John Wayne, who asked him about the rumor around town that he had changed his ways. In replying, Hamblen told Wayne that it was no secret what God had done for him and that God could do it for Wayne too. On hearing that, John Wayne said it sounded like a song and suggested Hamblen write a song out of it. The result was one of Hamblen’s best known songs, ‘It is No Secret What God Can Do.’  It was a crossover song that is regarded as the first to become Number 1 in the gospel, country, and pop categories. Later in life, Hamblen devoted his time to serving Christ and started a new Christian radio program titled, ‘The Cowboy Church of the Air’, which was very successful and became nationally syndicated. Indeed, it is no secret what, God can do!

As a son of a Methodist minister raised in the ways of the Lord, Hamblen missed his way. Yet in all his rascality God did not forget nor abandon him. God gave him a new beginning and brought restoration.

It is true sometimes we may miss the mark, but thank God for the blood of Jesus that is able to cleanse us from all sin and bring restoration to us. No matter how far we may stray, the blood of Jesus is always available to bring restoration to us. All we need to do is to retrace our steps and come back to the place where we missed the road and take the right turn. It’s never too late to do the right thing.

God’s gifts are without repentance. No mistake you’ve made is too much for the mercy of God. Nothing you’ve done has canceled your destiny. You can still become who God created you to be. That’s what grace is all about. That’s why it’s called ‘amazing grace.’  Christ paid the price 2,000 years ago and through His blood, cleansing and restoration has been provided for us, even when we miss the way.

Hebrews 9:13-14 says, ‘For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?’ Through the power in the blood, the sin barrier between God and man is totally broken. Cleansed and restored, we can then come boldly into the presence of God. And because of the price Christ paid at Calvary today, we can celebrate the freshness of God’s grace, and the living energy of His love. And whether you are scaling the greatest mountain-tops or trudging through the deepest valleys, you have reason to celebrate every moment. Why? Because Christ lives. And because He lives, you can live also. Surely, by His grace you can face tomorrow with great hope that the very best is yet to come!

PRAYER:

Lord, I thank You for Your grace that has been lavishly and abundantly made available to me. I thank You for the price of Your blood that has made been paid to give me eternal victory in Jesus’ name.

QUOTE

Your heart needs to be filled with the Word of God to the point of overflow. – WORDBITE 222.

TEXT: Jeremiah 29:11 ‘I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future.’

DAILY READING • John 10:22-42; 2 Chronicles 9; Psalm 74

James Watt was a Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer, renowned for his improvements in steam engine technology. One day, when he was a little boy, Watt sat by the window watching the steam come from a tea kettle on the stove. Tired of watching it, he looked out of the window and saw a colt walking beside its mother as she was drawing the plow about the garden. The boy said to himself that if a colt could be harnessed, like the mother, and made to work, Why not steam? From that time on, young Watt was always thinking about steam and how it could be harnessed as energy and put to work.

Fascinated with mechanics, as he grew up, he initially worked as a maker of mathematical instruments, but soon became focused again in steam engines. And with time, he began to work on improving the steam engine already in existence at that time, because it proved to be grossly inefficient. Through much study and experimentation, years later, he began to manufacture his own steam engines, which many people found to be very efficient. He later formed an engineering company that manufactured steam engines and in no time became very wealthy as a result. His ability to effectively harness steam became part of the machinery that made the industrial revolution in Britain a possibility. And today, a unit of measurement of electrical and mechanical power – the watt – is named in his honour.

Just as James Watt learned how to harness steam into a usable energy, we can learn to harness whatever appears like heat or steam in our lives into energy that works for us. We all face pains and problems at some points in life, the question though is, how are we going to deal with them? We always have a choice; we can decide whether to take the opportunity and grow, or whether we will miss it and groan.

We find in the genealogies of the Old Testament, a man called Jabez. Chronicles 4:9-10, says  “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother named him ‘Jabez’ saying, ‘Because I bore him with pain.’ Now, Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, ‘Oh, Lord, bless me indeed and expand my territory. Keep Your hand on me, and keep evil from me, that I may not cause pain!’ And God granted him what he requested.”

Jabez in the Hebrew means “One who causes pain.” Pain seemed to be identified with Jabez even from birth. But he decided to turn his pain into power by engaging God’s help. The prayer of Jabez is very inspiring and challenging on how we approach God with our problems. Jabez prayed for God to bless him and give him a change of story and God did.

Uncomfortable situations should lead us to cry out to God for help. Like Jabez, pain can push us towards our greatest breakthroughs. You can live with the name and the reputation life tries to enforce on you, or you can decide to live the way God has preordained for you. Your present does not have to determine your future. No matter what things may seem like, God always have good plans and good thoughts towards you.

He says in Jeremiah 29:11 ‘I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future.’ No matter the occasional heat and steam the enemy tries to bring your way, determine to live the good and great life God has ordained for you. Ask the Holy Spirit for the wisdom to turn your stumbling blocks into stepping stones. There is always a way out. Do not settle for the obvious. We do not walk by sight, but by faith. Beyond what may look negative, there is a seed of an equivalent benefit. Ask the Holy Spirit to show it to you.

Do not blindly accept the pressures, learn to look for the turnaround trigger. There is something you can do that will suddenly turn everything around. And often the key is prayer. Jabez prayed and God turned around his situation and enlarged his territory. So can it be for you. Though it may seem like life has handed you lemons, you can still turn them into lemonades. The truth is that if you want to accomplish the purpose God has for your life, you are going to have to overcome some things. Through the help of God, you can be more than a conqueror in every situation. As you call upon God like Jabez did, surely your pain will be turned into power and your territories will become enlarged.

PRAYER:

Lord, through the help and counsel of the Holy Spirit, please show me the right way to go at every crossroad of life. Thank You Lord for turning around every negative situation for me and enlarging my territory in Jesus’ name.

QUOTE:

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

Luke 16:10

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.’

DAILY READING – John 10:1-21; 2 Chronicles 8; Psalm 73

Frederick B. Meyer was a Baptist pastor and evangelist in England. Though he started off as a small unknown minister, he eventually wrote over 75 books, including Christian biographies and devotional commentaries on the Bible. He later became lifelong friends with American evangelist Dwight L. Moody. He was involved in inner city mission work and was also known as a crusader against immorality who brought about the closing of hundreds of saloons and brothels.

In 1878 he initiated the building of Melbourne Hall, an entirely new, independent venture, designed to evangelize people in the surrounding communities. This mission center attracted great visitors including national figures such as Hudson Taylor as well as local people. Melbourne Hall became a place of pilgrimage and a center of evangelical and missionary influence in Leicester and far beyond.

One day a young preacher approached Dr. Meyer and asked how he could one day become as influential and well known as him. Dr. Meyer responded, “Don’t waste your time waiting and longing for large opportunities which may never come. But faithfully handle the little things that are always claiming your attention.”

Luke 16:10 says ‘He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.’

When we read the biographies of great men, we often find that most of them started from humble beginnings, from where they grew to eventually become great. This agrees with the words of Jesus in Matthew 13:31-32, which described the Kingdom of Heaven as a grain of mustard seed that gradually grew into a big tree.

Again, in John 12:24, Jesus tells us that except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone, but when it dies it brings froth much fruit. Indeed, for us to bring forth much fruit, we have to be willing to fall to the ground, to be buried in the unseen season of life, where we die to self and the flesh. In that place where we are unknown and unsung, God trains and prepares us for the assignment ahead. It is the place of pruning, purging and preparation. It is the wilderness journey where we experience a spiritual change of diet as we move from the leeks of Egypt to manna from Heaven.

We must be purged to be ready for the Master’s use. We must be pruned to bring forth much fruit. Anyone who will be used of God has to pass through this process. For Joseph, it was being in prison before ascending the throne of Egypt. For David it was being a shepherd boy, killing lions and bears in the bushes, until he was able to kill Goliath and ascend the throne. For Moses it was leaving his place as Prince of Egypt, and living as a fugitive in the backside of the dessert, until his time of visitation.

God has a different process for each of us. But the important thing is that we must pass through that place where we are proved faithful in the little. Indeed he that is faithful in the little will be faithful in the much. God rewards faithfulness and Proverbs 28:20 tells us that the faithful shall abound with blessings. We have to begin to show faithfulness in little we have been assigned to.

Where you are now is not God’s ultimate for you. But it is how well you handle today’s placement that will determine tomorrow’s blessing. Doing the best today puts you in the best place for tomorrow. So, are you being faithful with the little? Or are you waiting until the big breaks? The truth is that the race has begun; the process of proving your faithfulness has been initiated. And what you do with what you have been given now, will determine what God brings your way tomorrow.

PRAYER:

Father please open my eyes to see the opportunities that abound around me. Enable me to have the right perspective so that I can act right in every situation in Jesus’ name.

 quote :

It is only when you can see God in the light of who He truly is that you can begin to walk in the overflow of His blessings. – WORDBITE 222

Psalms 110:1

The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.  The LORD shall send the rod of Thy strength out of Zion: rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies.

DAILY READING – John 9:24-41; 2 Chronicles 7; Malachi 4

Jerusalem, known as the city of God, is the most celebrated city on earth. Jerusalem means the city of peace, yet it is perhaps the bloodiest city on earth. More wars have been fought over Jerusalem than any other city in the world.  Throughout history, nations and empires have always sought to grab it as the ultimate jewel.

News about the mid-east often focuses on Jerusalem. Jerusalem is sacred to the three major faiths in the world. For Jews it is the center of who they are as a people, for Christians it is the scene of Jesus’ agony and triumph; for Muslims it is the site of one of Islam’s most sacred shrines, the dome of the rock from where according to them,  Mohammed ascended to heaven.

The struggle for Jerusalem is at the heart of the Israeli/Arab hostility. The Jews claim Jerusalem as their capital city, while the Moslems claim it as their third holiest site after Mecca and Medina.

The Jewish occupation of Jerusalem today is a miracle. For 2,552 years, the Jews had no control of Jerusalem. But in the 1967 Arab/Isreali war, famously known as ‘The 6 Day War’, God miraculously returned control of Jerusalem back to the Jews. However, contention over who really owns Jerusalem still continues. Perhaps this contention over Jerusalem has a spiritual significance. In Rev 21, we read of the New Jerusalem which will come down as a bride adorned. That is the bride of Christ, the Church. And just as Jerusalem has seen many wars, spiritually also the Church has seen many wars, especially now as we draw to the close of the age, the tempo of spiritual warfare has greatly increased. But we have been assured by Christ that the gates of hell shall never prevail.

Psalms 110:1 says, ‘The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool. The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies.’ Despite the raging spiritual opposition, it is our season to rule in the midst of our enemies. God has purposed to make them our footstool.

In this season, God has ordained victory and dominion for us both as a Church and as individuals. And victory comes through prayer. Let us therefore receive grace for constant prayer, so that we can remain ever victorious.

Jesus said we should rise and pray lest we enter into temptation. Without prayer, a child of God cannot hope to be victorious against the forces of darkness. Some Christians have found themselves in situations they never bargained for, all due to prayerlessness. Leviticus 6:13 says, ‘The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.’ We are to maintain constant fire on our prayer altar through a ceaseless flow of prayer. Prayer is the breath of our spirit man. It is what keeps us spiritually conscious and alert. If you lack fire on your prayer altar you will become spiritually cold and insensitive. Which means you can easily fall prey to the enemy. Through prayer we are constantly guided by the Holy Spirit. It doesn’t matter the level of opposition, when you are guided by the Holy Spirit, you will always be victorious.

PRAYER:

Lord, help me to be victorious in the battles of life,  please use me in this generation to affect my world. Let my light so shine that men may be brought into your kingdom.  

 Quote

The battle you are faced with today is a good warfare because God has already foreordained victorious end for you.- WORDBITE 222.

TEXT: Luke 11:52

Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

DAILY READING: John 9:1-23; 2 Chronicles 6; Malachi 2:17-3:18

Some time ago in the news, there was a story of a poor homeless 60 year old man in Salt Lake City, Utah, who had inherited money but didn’t know it. He went about pushing trolleys and sleeping in parks, not realizing he was rich. He had spent almost three decades living rough, in Salt Lake City, pushing all his belongings in a dilapidated shopping trolley. Unknown to him, his rich elder brother on his deathbed had requested that all his estate should be handed over to his homeless brother. But no one knew where he could be found. So a relative engaged private investigators, to search for him. It took the investigators many months before they could locate him.

The down-and-out man was eventually found by private investigators wandering around a park in Salt Lake City. He was left in shock when he was told he had a great inheritance from his brother, whom he hadn’t seen in 15 years. The investigators took him out to lunch, which would be his first proper meal in 25 years. Though this man had come into great inheritance months earlier, he had still lived poor and homeless, simply because he didn’t know he was rich. He had no idea what belonged to him. Though he was wealthy, ignorance kept him from accessing his inheritance.

This illustrates how sometimes as Christians, we go about pushing and suffering in life due to lack of knowledge. Hosea 4:6 says, ‘My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.’ Knowledge is the key to accessing our inheritance from God. Psalm 82:5 says because they know not, neither do they understand, they walk on in darkness and all the foundations of the earth are out of course.

That man in Utah was rich, but because he did not know it yet, he could not access it.  A wise man said, there is no mountain anywhere, everyman’s ignorance is his own mountain. Ignorance is indeed a dark mountain that blocks a man’s view of God’s goodness. The story is told of the eagle who grew up among chickens, and never knew he could fly high, but lived, groveling like the chickens on the ground. It was the eagle’s right by nature to soar, but because he didn’t know it, he couldn’t engage that innate potential.

Knowledge is the key that opens the door to our inheritance. In Luke 11, Jesus rebuked the scribes and Pharisees, for taking away the key of knowledge. And in Mathew 16:19, Jesus speaking to His disciples said ‘And I will give unto you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.’

The Kingdom of God is operated by the keys of knowledge. God has so much stored up for us. As His sons we are meant to live a life of Heaven on earth. But access to this heavenly lifestyle is only available for those who by knowledge, have grown into sonship. Knowledge of the Word is like a special key or code that grants access. The more you know, the more you can own. Discovery leads to recovery.

We must therefore search diligently in the Word until we make a discovery. The woman who lost her coin in Luke 15, lit her candle and searched diligently until she found what she was looking for. When we find it, there shall be a reward and our expectations shall not be cut off!

2 Peter 1:3 says God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him. It is through knowledge of God that we gain access to all we need to live a glorious life. Everything is available. The question is, are we willing to pay the price of diligent search? It is those that know their God that can do exploits.

Lack of knowledge can keep a man grounded when he should be flying. Ecclesiastes 10:5 describes an error where servants ride, while princes walk. Why? Because the princes lack knowledge. Not growing up into sonship through knowledge will cause heirs of the Kingdom to walk like servants. Galatians 4 says an heir as long as he is a child [a spiritual babe] is no different from a servant.

It is knowledge that differentiates between sons and children. No right thinking father will hand over his company to a six year old child to run. The same way God cannot entrust certain things to a believer who is still a babe in Christ. Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:1 says, ‘and I brethren could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.’ He refers to spiritual babes as still carnal. And the carnal person is not subject to the laws of God, he is still full of envying, strive, divisions. [Romans 8:7,1 Corinthians 3:3]. He needs spiritual maturity to handle certain levels of blessings. If God gives a million dollars to a spiritual babe, He may lose both the believer and the money. Because the prosperity of fools, shall destroy them. God doesn’t want what was meant to bless you to destroy you. So He waits until you grow to where you can handle the blessing before you can have access. So when we think we are waiting on God, He actually may be waiting on us to grow up in knowledge. When we are due, we will not be denied. We must therefore grow up in Christ to enjoy the privileges of sons. We must revolt against ignorance. We must settle down to seek the truth. And when we know the truth, we shall be set free from every bondage and oppression.

PRAYER:

Lord, I know Your Word is always true, please grant me the grace to access the faith I need for my inheritance to be delivered to me. May I never be a victim of spiritual ignorance in Jesus name.

QUOTE:

Nothing liberates like truth, the truth you know and act upon will set you free. WORDBITE 222.

Ephesians 1:19–20 says, “I pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe Him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead…” (NLT)

DAILY READING: John 8:48-59; 2 Chronicles 5:2-14; Malachi 2:10-4:7

Yates Pool is a famous oil field in West Texas, which was discovered on October 28, 1926. The oil field was owned by a man named Ira Yates and the story of its discovery is a lesson on how God can suddenly change a man’s fortune.

By the time Ira Yates was 12 years old, both of his parents had died. He and his brothers had no choice but to take care of themselves. So they got jobs working at a ranch. When he grew older, he married the daughter of a Methodist minister. Working hard together they saved enough money to purchase a large 20,000 acre ranch on mortgage, which they were to pay off within three years.

In the 1920s, the Yates Ranch was still struggling to make a profit when the Great Depression hit with full force. In this time of economic hardship, Ira’s family, like many others, lost virtually everything and had to live on government subsidy.  Soon Ira fell behind on his mortgage payments and the bank threatened to foreclose and take away everything he had. With little money left, day after day, Yates racked his brain trying to figure out some way to pay all his bills. He then approached the Transcontinental Oil Company in San Angelo and convinced them to drill on his ranch despite that it was in a location where there was no likelihood of finding oil.

With a few days left before Ira lost everything to the bank, the oil company drilled on his land and to their greatest surprise discovered massive reservoirs of oil. Instantly, Ira became a millionaire! And instead of losing everything, Ira received more than enough resources to bless his entire family and his community. Through revenues from the oil deposit, he built schools, children’s homes, Boy Scout camps, and gave to Christian causes. He even developed a town that still exists today.

It is indeed amazing how Ira’s life was suddenly transformed. This is an indication that truly nothing is impossible with God.

No matter how dark things may look, God can turn things around in a single moment.

No matter how cold and harsh your winter might have seemed, or even been, remember there comes a changing of seasons. Soon, winter turns into spring. Spring symbolizes new birth, a fresh start.  See God doing something new and fresh in your life. It doesn’t take time, it takes God. In a single moment, God can make all things new for you. You may be hearing negative reports about the current economic conditions, but never forget that God’s Word controls even the economy.

The Bible says in Philippians 4:19, “And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (AMP). God is saying that He is able to meet your every need. But what you receive is what you believe. So it’s up to you and your choice! Keep choosing to stay in hope, believing God to make things new, in His time. Remember, if we don’t give up, in due time we will reap.

Ephesians 1:19–20 says: “I pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe Him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead…”  (NLT).

You have resurrection power inside of you. As a child of God, you can resurrect from any dead situation. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is at work in you. It is the same power that caused Christ to triumph over every force of darkness, disease and destruction. And by the same power at work in you, there is no pit you cannot come out from.

It’s true God’s incredible power is available to us, but we have to do our part and believe in Him and by faith, receive what He is offering. Never forget faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God. Let us therefore deeply feed on the Word daily, knowing that when we truly believe, nothing can be impossible to us.

PRAYER: Lord, I know that with You nothing shall be impossible. I thank You for the amazing miracle and sudden positive change of story You are set to manifest in my life in Jesus’ name.

QUOTE: To get into the next level of your life, God will always give a specific instruction. – WORDBITE 222.

Isaiah 41:10  ‘Fear thou not; for I am with thee:  be not dismayed;  for I am thy God:  I will strengthen thee;  yea, I will help thee; ’

DAILY READING –Matthew 22:1-22; Numbers 21; Song of Solomon 1:1-2:7

The Cherokee Indians have an interesting way of ushering their  young boys into adulthood. As part of the ceremony to teach  a boy to become  a man, the father of the young boy takes him into a forest, blindfolds him, and leaves him there. To pass the test, the boy is required to be alone in the forest all night and not remove the blindfold until the morning sun arises.

To show he has indeed grown up, he does not cry out for help. And if he survives the night, he is then regarded as a man. Later on, he cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each youngster must come into manhood on his own.

For each boy, as his father leads him into the forest, blindfolds him and walks away, the boy is terrified. Left alone in the dark, his mind plays tricks on him. As the wind blows the grasses and trees, he hears all kinds of noises. He thinks wild animals must surely be all around him. But he must remain still, no matter what, and never remove the blindfold. Finally, after a fearful night, the sun appears and he can remove his blindfold. But as he looks up, what meets him is an amazing sight. Standing nearby, with a bow ready to defend him, is his father who had been watching over him, all night long. All the whole while he thought he was alone in the forest, his father had been there, ready to fight for his son.

We can liken this story to how our Heavenly father watches over us, when we pass through some lonely, fearful night seasons of life. At those times we may tend to feel left alone and afraid.

But the truth is that we are never alone! God is always there.

It is true we may sometimes pass through some high fires and deep waters. But even at those times God says in Isaiah 43:2 ‘When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.’

It doesn’t matter what you may be going through or how dark the night season, God promises to be always there. And it is His Presence that makes the difference.

Psalm 56:3 says  ‘What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.’

Many times when faced with challenges we tend to feel all alone, but the scriptures tell us today that God is indeed our ever present help in the time of need. As a child of God, you are never alone. And if you are in a night season of life, God is saying to you today  ‘Fear thou not; for I am with thee:  be not dismayed;  for I am thy God:  I will strengthen thee;  yea, I will help thee; ’ [Isaiah 41:10]

It doesn’t matter the situation, you will surely come out strong, because God is with you. Indeed God is not unaware of our feelings of infirmity. This is why Jesus came to the earth. Jesus came to have a practical taste of what it means to be human, to know our struggles.

Hebrews 2:18 says ‘For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.’  Jesus  is not a stranger to temptation and trials. He knows exactly how it feels. He has been there. And in case you are passing through a night season today, He is saying to you ‘Lo I am with you always even till the end of times’

PRAYER;

Lord, I am grateful that  You never leave me alone to fend for myself. Thank You Lord, for Your ever abiding Presence that always makes the difference for me. You are indeed my ever present help at every time of my need in Jesus Name.

Quote :

For you to enjoy victory in the Kingdom of God, you need to develop a Kingdom mindset, that thinks in line with the Word of God.  – WORDBITE 222.

Revelation 12:11

‘And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death’
DAILY READING –John 8:1-20; 2 Chronicles 1:1-2:16; Zechariah14

A story featured in ‘The Voice of the Martyrs’ publication in 2016 told of how 6 Christian men escaped a terrorist attack. On the fateful day, in Afghanistan, around 5:00 a.m, this handful of men, had gathered secretly inside an apartment to share fellowship and pray. The group leader was named Farid, and his prayer was barely above a whisper, so as not to be heard. . But as he introduced the book of Acts suddenly someone began pounding on the door. Before anyone could react, dark-clothed intruders burst in brandishing rifles and knives. Farid was slammed to the floor and a knife was placed just inches from his neck. However, amid the panic and confusion Farid prayed, asking God to forgive his would-be-assailants. Farid believed it was an honor to die for God’s glory and didn’t want the intruders’ blood on his hand. He then closed his eyes, waiting for the pain of the knife and the end. However, nothing happened. Farid sensed God wanted him to stand up and leave the room. So he stood up and walked toward the door, which was guarded by two armed men.
One pointed his AK-47 rifle at Farid and squeezed the trigger. But surprisingly nothing happened. The rifle had jammed! He fired again and yet no bullet was released. As the rifle’s failure diverted both guards’ attention, Farid fled. As he raced down the stairs three or four steps at a time, he heard gunfire, but he escaped unharmed.
The story of his escape is even more amazing in light of the fact that none of his five companions were injured. Only the leader of the terrorist group was accidentally shot. According to police, the terrorists had planned to videotape the beheading of all six men and send it on social media. Evidently, the attackers knew Farid was winning Afghan Muslims to Christ. The videotape would warn missionaries, evangelists and former Muslims that they would be killed if they didn’t stop their evangelism and discipleship. However, what the terrorists wanted to accomplish that morning did not happen. Heads did not roll. Blood was not spilled, rather the only casualty was their leader.
Isaiah 54:17 says no weapon formed against us shall prosper. And Psalm 91:11 says God will give His angels charge over us to keep us in all our ways.
Indeed God’s promises of divine protection are real. And we need to constantly walk in a conscious understanding of our covenant rights and privileges. Through the power in the blood of Jesus, we are exempted from harm.
In Exodus 12:13, God’s condition for exemption is ‘when I see the blood, I will pass over you’ The night that God passed through Egypt there was wailing in every house except the houses whose door posts were marked with blood. Why the Israelites escaped was because they had the mark of the Blood.
This is why it is important for us to know what to do so as to be exempted from the evil of the end-times. For the law of divine exemption to work for you, you must walk in an understanding of God’s Word and His covenant. As a child of God, things are not permitted to happen to you anyhow. Evil may be happening to others, but it is not permitted to happen to you; only with your eyes shall you see the reward of the wicked. All those who serve the Lord genuinely are exempted from evil and affliction.
Revelation 12:11 says ‘And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death’
By the blood we are able to overcome every evil. Therefore in your goings and comings continually plead the blood over you and your household. As you do The Spirit of The Lord will lift up the standard of the blood against every flood of the enemy.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for the covenant of divine exemption. I know that indeed my case is different, because by the blood of Jesus I am separated from all evil in Jesus Name. ..

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The battle you are faced with today is a good warfare because God has

already foreordained victorious end for you

Romans 8; 28 ‘And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.’

• DAILY READING –     – John 7:25-52; 1 Chronicles 29; Zechariah13

Denis E. Waitley is an American motivational speaker, writer and best-selling author. One day in 1979, he was on his way from Chicago to Los Angeles to deliver a speech and had been booked to fly on DC10 flight 191. However, he was late to the airport and found himself racing to catch the flight. To his great disappointment, just as he arrived, he saw the gate agent locking the entrance. He pleaded with her to open the gate and let him board, but she refused. All of Waitley’s plea fell on deaf ears. Furious and fuming, he left the boarding area to go and complain to the airport authorities.

However, only twenty minutes later, the news came through that the plane he had just missed had suddenly crashed on take-off, killing all on board.  Denis was shocked to his bone! Instantly, all his anger and disappointment at missing the flight, turned to gratitude to God. Overwhelmed, he left the ticket line and checked into a room at the airport hotel. There, he knelt beside the bed thanking God for causing him to miss the flight. And instead of returning the unused ticket for a refund, he decided to keep it as a reminder that disappointments can be blessings in disguise.

Indeed everyone experiences disappointments in life. And it is not always easy to get over those disillusionment that seem to be bumps on our path. However, we must learn to trust God at such times.  Many times what we may think are disappointments eventually turn out to be blessings in disguise.  Sometimes, life may appear to be treating you wrongly, but understand that God knows our future from the beginning. The road we pass may meander through several sharp bends, but it ultimately leads to a destination. You may not understand everything you are going through right now, but know that God is in control and He has a great plan and purpose for your life. Your dreams may not always turn out exactly as you had hoped, but the bible says that God’s ways are better and higher than our ways.

God knows our heart’s desires. He also knows what is best for us and more importantly, He knows when to bless us with the things that we need and want.  As humans, our scope of understanding is very limited. But God sees beyond the present, far into the future. He knows the beginning from the end. His desire for us is that we prosper and live fully. However, this can only be possible, if we place all our cares and worries on Him. There is a plan and purpose to our lives and we must be patient and wait on God’s timing. When He leads He always leads us to green pastures.

Joseph’s story illustrates the fact that God superintends our lives so that even the bad things work out for our good in the end. Our disappointments are God’s appointments. we need to constantly remind ourselves that God really is in control. God is sovereign and knows all about your situation. Joseph recognized that the disappointments which he had experienced, even evil at the hands of his own brothers, were miraculously woven together by God to preserve many lives from starvation in the ancient world.

Genesis 50:20 gives us the conclusion of the story “God meant it for good…”

And the same applies to us. When we are in God’s will then we can be rest assured that indeed all things are working together for our good.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You that indeed You are causing everything to work together to favor me. I thank You Lord, that everything the enemy meant for evil in my life, You have turned it all around for my good in Jesus Name.  

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God’s promises in Christ in your life may appear delayed, but never forget that delays are not denials.  WORDBITE 222.