Malachi 3:5   ‘And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness’.

DAILY READING  1 Corinthians 7:1-24; 1 Kings 20; Amos 4:4-13

In Australia, sugar cane is one of their main crops. Until the early 1940’s most sugarcane in Australia were cut by hand and then topped and loaded manually. However a time came when there was a serious outbreak of Weil’s disease (spirochaetal jaundice). This was a potentially fatal disease spread by rats in the sugar cane. As a result pre-harvest burning was adopted by farmers. They intentionally set the whole sugar cane fields on fire. And as the fire swept throughout the crop, it burned off diseases and also destroyed the dead useless parts of the sugar cane, thereby making it easier to cut and load the cane. The farmers also found out that burning the sugar cane before harvest raised the nominal daily output per cutter from six tonnes a day, to about nine tonnes. Also, the burning increased the yield of sugar recovered per ton of sugarcane and improved overall quality of the sugar produced. Therefore from World War II onwards, burning became standard practice and farmers acquired great expertise in burning limited areas without imperiling their neighbours’ crops or their own.

Just as these farmers discovered that burning the sugar canes produced better quantity and quality of sugar, sometimes in life we go through fire so as to become better and sweeter.

When the three Hebrew boys refused to bow down to the king’s golden idol, they were thrown into a fiery furnace. However, the fire that was meant to destroy them, only ended up making them better. The only thing that was burned in the fire were the cords that held them. Thus the fire separated them from their limitations, destroyed their bondage and they came out with a new confidence, and greater trust in God. Indeed, as long as God is with you, every trial ends in praise.

1 Peter 1:7 says ‘That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:’

All through the Scripture we see this principle. All of the great heroes of faith went through their “trial by fire” experiences, yet because God was with them, it all ended in praise.  The truth is that the fire is a necessary purification process for anyone who will be used by God.

Malachi 3:5 says ‘And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness’.

Gold is precious but until it passes through the refiner’s fire, it holds no value. Likewise, every one of us carries an enviable destiny, which must be processed through the fire for our real values to manifest. A refiner’s fire does not destroy that which is of value.  It only burns up the chaff. The fire melts down the bar of silver or gold, separates out the impurities that ruin its value, burns them up, and leaves the silver and gold intact. In the fire, what gets burned up are the chaff and the impurities in us. When you’re under pressure, when the fire is hot, that’s when impurities in your character show up. And if you will let God purify and refine you, you will come out better and brighter.

Perhaps today, it may seem as if you are passing through a ‘trial of fire’. In Isaiah 43, God promises that when we go through the fire He will be with us. When God is with you, the fire isn’t going to consume you; rather it’s going to refine you and set you free. It is God’s Presence that makes the difference. Therefore make every effort to draw closer to God in times of trials. Indeed though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we shall fear no evil, when God is with us.

PRAYER: Lord, please grant me the grace to daily draw closer to You via Your Word.  By Your grace through every trial and temptation, I shall come forth better, sweeter, stronger, and wiser than ever before in Jesus Name..

QUOTE

When God places His hand upon a man in life nothing can come against him, this is because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Matthew 5:16 ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’

DAILY READING  1 Corinthians 6; 1 Kings 19; Amos 3:3-4:3

During World War II, of the 16 million military men who were in uniform, only 431 received the Congressional Medal of Honor. One of the recipients of America’s highest national award was a young Christian, named Desmond Doss. What was amazing about Desmond Doss, was that as a soldier he refused to carry a gun. His only weapons were his Bible and his faith in God. He applied personally the Biblical Commandment, “Thou shalt not kill”.

His refusal to carry a gun caused a lot of trouble among his fellow soldiers. Nobody believed a soldier without a weapon was worthwhile. His fellow soldiers saw this Bible reading puritan, as being totally out of sync with the rest of the Army. So they ostracized him, bullied him, called him awful names and declared him mentally unfit for the Army. However, things began turning around when the men discovered that despite how they maltreated him, in each military operation, Desmond, who was a medic, exhibited extraordinary dedication in treating the wounded soldiers, including even those who had abused him.

On May 5, 1945, the men in Desmond’s division were engaged in a heated combat on a mountain area, called Hacksaw Ridge. More than half of the men were wounded and officers ordered an immediate retreat. All the soldiers rushed to retreat, except Desmond. He charged back into the battle field to rescue many of those who were wounded and scattered across enemy soil—abandoned and left for dead. His iron determination and unflagging courage resulted in at least 75 lives saved that day. Eventually, the Americans won the battle. Desmond’s actions won over his fellow soldiers and he became celebrated. In recognition of Desmond’s heroic acts, on October 12, 1945 at the white house, the American President Harry S. Truman, honored him with the nation’s highest medal.

Matthew 5:16 says ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’

Though grossly maltreated by his fellow soldiers, yet through his actions, Desmond eventually won them over. There is no question that we live in a dark and hurting world. And sometimes we may find ourselves in what seems like a dark and negative situation. But you’re not where you are by accident. You are there to make a difference. You can either be a thermometer and just measure the temperature, become like everyone else, or you can be a thermostat and change the temperature.

Light works best in the dark places. People may sometimes push your buttons expecting to get certain reactions. But no matter how you are pressed, determine to let your light always shine. Always respond with kindness and love. Remember, as a Christian, your life is your message. People are reading it daily. Your actions are speaking louder than your words. And people believe a sermon that they see more than a sermon that they hear. People can’t see God, but they see us. And the question is, are we making God look good? Are we attracting men to Him by our light?

You cannot give what you don’t have. To shine forth light, you must have first received light. And it is the entrance of God’s Word that gives light. Let us therefore be continually filled with His Word so that His light will shine through us to rescue those in darkness.

PRAYER

Lord, please help me to shine my light with greater intensity. Please enable me to make a difference to the world around me.  Let your love, your kindness, your mercy be seen in everything that I do in Jesus Name.

Quote

Illuminate your world, for you are a star destined to shine- – WORDBITE 222

 Joshua 24:15   ‘If it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

• DAILY READING  1 Corinthians 5; 1 Kings 18; Amos 2:1-3:2

The great American civil rights leader Martin Luther King was just 26 years old when he was appointed leader of the civil rights campaign in Montgomery, Alabama. However despite being young he was a person of tremendous courage. He endured vilification, beatings, imprisonments, death threats, his house was firebombed. What kept him going was his strong sense of God’s call upon his life. King Apart from receiving terrifying threats from the Ku Klux Klan, was harassed by police. Arrested for driving 5 miles per hour over the speed limit he was given his first stint in jail. The night after his release he was at home when the phone rang and a menacing voice on the other end, threatened to kill him and burn his house if he didn’t leave the town within three days. On hearing this, King was unnerved and very afraid – for himself, for his wife and for his little children. As he pondered on the threat, he realized that on his own he was weak, he knew he needed God to help him. so he bowed his head in prayer and said ‘Lord, I’m down here trying to do what’s right. I think I’m right. I think the cause we represent is right. But Lord, I must confess that I’m weak now. I’m faltering. I’m losing my courage..’

And it seemed to him that moment that he could hear the voice of The Lord saying to him, ‘Martin Luther, stand up for righteousness. Stand up for justice. Stand up for truth. And lo, I will be with you, even until the end of the world.’ Feeling greatly strengthened he refused to give in to the threat to live the town. And three nights later the menacing threat made in the phone call came true: a bomb exploded on the front verandah of the King home. Thankfully no one was hurt. But King was able to get through it: His experience in prayer a few nights before had given him the strength to face it. And throughout his ministry Martin Luther King often returned to that experience to strengthen him as he faced terrible difficulties. 

We may never be faced with such extreme life threatening choices. But in our everyday lives we are faced with similar pressures. In our daily lives in the workplace and in our association with this world  do we pay any price to stand up for what is right or do we choose to compromise?

In Joshua 24:15, Joshua addressed all the tribes of Israel saying: “…If it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”.

We must choose always to do what is right and stand up for the truth, despite whatever pressure the enemy may mount against us. It is not always easy to stand up for what is right. When we stand for the truth, the enemy will fight us. But we must not cower in the face of the enemy’s threat. When we choose to obey God and do what is right, we glorify God and He releases divine assistance to us as a result. Indeed when we are weak, God will be strong for us. When we choose to obey God above all, we will sometimes sacrifice our comfort, the opinions of others, and our social standing. People may reject us, ridicule us, and despise us for our faith. However, when we love God we must be willing to pay the price of following Him at all costs. Nothing should be able to separate us from the love of God; not tribulations or trials, or heights or depths. When you love God you must be willing to give up everything to follow the one you love and serve Him totally.

 PRAYER: Lord, please help me to always choose You above all else. No matter the temptation I am faced with, may I never compromise my faith, may I always stand up for the truth in Jesus Name.

 Quote

Your attitude always determines  your altitude in life

Isaiah 40:31:

But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

DAILY READING  1 Corinthians 4; 1 Kings 17; Amos 1

Mountaineers who climb high mountains, and athletes who run long distances, are often very careful about their diet. This is because what they eat, can ultimately affect their  performance. Also eagles, known to be high flyers, are selective about the food they eat, because the eagle’s ability to fly high is dependent upon the strength of its diet. Eagles don’t just eat anything. They avoid eating dead things and feed mostly on freshly killed prey.

Birds that do not fly high such as the  vulture, eat dead things, and as a result they often become easy prey to predators. But the Eagle’s diet keeps it strong and enables it to fly to the topmost heights. And so like the eagle, to fly high, we must also be careful what we eat spiritually.

Our primary source of spiritual strength comes from The Word of God. When we wait on The Lord in His Word our strength is renewed to mount up with wings as eagles. It is from The Word, that we receive the divine strength and ability to confront every opposition and overcome.

Jeremiah 15:16 says ‘Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.’

When we eat The Word of God, it imparts into us joy. And we know that the joy of The Lord is our strength. Indeed Through Christ we can do all things.

Ezekiel 2:2 says ‘ And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet,’

Jesus said His Words are spirit and life. As God speaks to us through His Word, The Spirit enters into us and  sets us on our feet, moving us into our God ordained path. Well, it doesn’t matter your natural strength or abilities, when you connect to The Word, divine strength will be imparted into you, for supernatural accomplishments. Because it will not be by power or by might, but by The Spirit of The Lord. Strengthened by The Word, we will mount up with wings as eagles, we will walk and not faint, we will run and not be weary.  Indeed by The Spirit we will be go from glory to glory, and from victory to victory.

PRAYER: Lord, please grant me the grace to come daily to Your Word to draw strength for this journey. By Your Spirit, please carry me on the wings of grace, to unimaginable heights, so that I indeed become a sign and wonder to my world in Jesus Name..

QUOTE

When God places His hand upon a man in life nothing can come against him, this is because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Psalm 23:5

‘Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

• DAILY READING – 1 Corinthians 3; 1 Kings 15:33-16:34; Joel 3

Summer time can be a traumatic time for sheep. It is generally known among shepherds that “summer time is fly time.”  During summer, the advent of warm weather brings with it, a great cloud of flies, mosquitos and other insects that especially attack the heads of the sheep. Bugs bug people, but they can kill sheep. If flies succeed in depositing their eggs into the soft membrane of the sheep’s nose, the eggs become worm-like larvae which drive the sheep insane.  They forget to eat.  They aren’t able to sleep.  Ewes stop milking, and lambs stop growing. The results could range from irritation to disease, even death, as the sheep violently hits its head upon the rocks to get rid of the insects.

There is one way shepherds can protect their sheep from the torment of insects. And that is by anointing the sheep with oil.  Oil acts like a repellent.  The fragrance keeps the insects at bay and the flock at peace. The oil immediately wards off insects from attacking the sheep, thereby causing the sheep to experience immediate relief. Though the sheep may still be in the presence of the insects, because it has been anointed, it becomes untouchable.

Psalm 23:5 says ‘Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil.’

Indeed when we are anointed with the oil of The Spirit, we become untouchable to every enemy. When God is our shepherd, He not only leads us, He also protects us. God prepares a table for us in the presence of enemies, because He knows we are too defended to be molested. The anointing places a ‘touch not’ seal upon the believer. The enemies will watch you eat of the dew of Heaven and of the fatness of the earth, but they will be helpless to do anything about you.

Psalm 105: 14-15 says ‘He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.’

As we progress in  life, carrying God’s anointing becomes very necessary because the table God is preparing for us will attract the envy of the wicked. But through God’s Presence we become immune to every evil attack. Indeed the anointing that promotes you, will also protect you.

Psalm 61:3 says ‘For thou has been a shelter  for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.’

Indeed God is our refuge. King David, with all the battles he fought, was never wounded, because of the thick Presence of God covering him. He said  in Psalm 140:7 ‘O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.’

David enjoyed divine protection because of the anointing.  God said in Psalm 89:20 ‘I have found David My servant, with My Holy oil have I anointed him.’

Because he was anointed, David became untouchable. In the same way, when we are anointed, we become untouchable to the hordes of hell. Key to carrying God’s anointing is maintaining a lifestyle of praise. That was David’s secret, he praised God seven times a day. The oil of gladness and garment of praise gives supernatural covering.  And as we endeavor to always praise God, the anointing of His Presence will shield and cover us. Truly by the anointing, we are untouchable.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for anointing me with fresh oil. Indeed by Your Anointing upon my life, I have become immune to every attack of the enemy in Jesus Name.

Quote

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

PSALM 124: 2 ‘If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:   Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:’

DAILY READING – – – 1 Corinthians 2; 1 Kings 15:1-32; Joel 2:12-32

Morris Goodman  is known the world over as the miracle man. He is a man with  an amazing testimony of God’s grace.  Speaking in a CBN news interview he told the story of how his life drastically turned around.

By 1981 Morris Goodman seemed to have it all. He was one of the most successful insurance agents in America.  But one day in March 1981,  his world suddenly collapsed, when he took his new airplane out for a test flight. That flight ended in tragedy, when his landing gear got caught in power lines. His injuries were horrific. Morris’ neck was broken in two places. His kidney, bladder, bowel and liver didn’t function, almost every organ in his body destroyed. All he could do was blink his eyes, once for yes and twice for no.

While all thought he would die, Morris Goodman fought for his life. He fought  long and hard, until he began to regain control of his body one step at a time.  After eight months he walked out of the hospital. Morris freely admits that God was a major factor in his recovery, even though he wasn’t even a Christian then. He said the accident in retrospect was probably the best thing that ever happened to him, because it brought him to the place where he made Jesus His Lord and savior.

Today, Morris is a sought-after motivational speaker. His clients include AFLAC, General Motors, and Xerox to name a few. He’s written a powerful book and there’s even a short film made about his life.  He says “I’m very thankful that I didn’t die at the time of my accident ‘cause I don’t know where I would be today. I’m thankful that He gave me another chance to find salvation and to save my soul.”

Its amazing that God gave Morris this incredible deliverance even while he was still a sinner. Lamentations 3:22  says ‘It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassion fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.’

Many of us like Morris could have died in our sins. We would have been buried long ago and forgotten if not for the mercy of The Lord. Even while we were yet sinners, He preserved us. Some of the friends we started out with died, along the way. Yet by His mercy and grace God preserved us.

Indeed if it had not been for The Lord who was on our side, where would we be?  God is good and very faithful..And no matter what things may look right now, be assured that He is working it all out for your good.   This is why we appreciate and praise Him. We may not trace Him, but we trust Him, knowing that He is too faithful to fail, and that what His mouth has promised concerning us, His hands are well able to perform.

PRAYER:  Lord please grant me the grace to praise You in every situation. By the revelation of The Spirit, help me to see indeed  that You are working out all things for my good always. Thank You so much Jesus.  .

Quote

When you praise God despite your situation power is released for a raise. – WORDBITE 222.

Ephesians 6:12   ‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.’

DAILY READING –1 Corinthians 2; 1 Kings 15:1-32; Joel 2:12-32

Kirk Cameron is one of the best known Christian actors today. He recently was the main actor in the award winning movie, ‘fireproof’. And perhaps he is best known by many Christians for his role as journalist Buck Williams in the “Left Behind” movie series. Cameron is also the co-creator of ‘The Way of the Master ’TV program.

However, though he is a well known Christian today, the surprising thing is that he used to be a staunch atheist who didn’t believe in God. He started acting at a young age in Hollywood and by 17 years, he was already a successful actor that seemed to have it all. But when he was invited to church by a friend’s family he had an encounter with God that led him to give his life to Christ. And ever since he has been serving God without wavering and boldly preaching Christ to the world.

It is indeed amazing how God can suddenly transform a man’s life. Truly there is power in the blood of Jesus, to effect a positive change in anyone’s life. It doesn’t matter how strong the bondage, the blood of Jesus is able to shatter the hold of sin and set a man free to serve God.

The fact is that sin is a force. and to overcome it is a battle. And according to Ephesians 6:12 our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

This is why we must engage the weapons of our warfare to overcome. And our sure weapon of victory is the blood of Jesus. The enemy is always seeking for ways to get men to stumble as they run the race of life, his temptations can come in many subtle shapes and forms, that sometimes a man may not even immediately realize that a pit has been dug for his feet. But when we release The Blood of Jesus, it becomes a weapon of mass destruction that locates every satanic devise and trap and destroys them from our path. Yes, the enemy may gather against us, but as they gather, so also shall they surely fall for our sake. Indeed we have the victory by the blood of Jesus.

Revelation 12;11  says ‘And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they did not love their lives to the death.’

By the blood we can overcome any challenge from the regions of darkness. By the blood we have the power to overcome every spiritual gang-up against our destiny. Let us therefore learn to plead the blood against the force of sin or any contrary thing contesting our glorious destiny. Indeed by the blood of the covenant we have been brought out of every water-less pit, including the pit of sin, sickness, poverty, ill favor etc. Truly by the blood we are more than conquerors.

PRAYER: Father, I thank You for making me an overcomer in every battle of life.  Indeed by the power in the blood of Jesus I have overcome the force of sin and every contrary thing contesting my glorious destiny. in Jesus Name.

Quote :

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

Galatians 6:9

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

DAILY READING –  1 Corinthians 1:18-31; 1 Kings 14; Joel 2:1-11

During Israel’s Independence War, Israeli forces entered Katamon which was a key strategic position in Jerusalem. They quickly captured a monastery being used as the Arab forces’ base of operations. However the Arabs soon mounted a fierce counter-attack. And after hours of fighting the Israeli soldiers found themselves  low on ammunition. Additionally, they had suffered serious  injuries, including their Platoon Commander, Raful Eitan who was shot in the head.

And so they decided to retreat. But some of the wounded soldiers couldn’t move, and if left behind and found by the Arabs, they would be tortured and mutilated. And so it was decided that those too badly wounded would be put in a room rigged with explosives. Two soldiers would stay behind and detonate the explosives when Arab forces came to capture them. However what the Israelis did not know then was that the Arab forces had also suffered many casualties and were out of Ammunition and they were just about to surrender. The Israeli soldiers were on their way out the door, when suddenly a message came on their radio. “don’t retreat”. The message came from their military headquarters. The Arabs had already retreated! Overjoyed, the Israeli soldiers stayed on until reinforcements arrived to treat the wounded. Raful, the platoon commander, who was shot on the head, survived. And most miraculously the Israeli troop, regained strength and eventually won the battle!

Galatians 6: 9 says  ‘And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.’

Sometimes, in the midst of a fierce battle we may be tempted to give up . But the message to us today is  ‘Don’t retreat!, don’t give up.’ Help is on the way.

It is often darkest just before the day breaks. Don’t give up! Often in life’s battles, when the going gets tough or you get knocked down, it can be tempting to throw in the towel. But Whatever you may be faced with today, understand that you are born to win. You are fighting, not for victory, but from victory. Victory is already in you by reason of Christ in you. Therefore it doesn’t matter how fierce the battle, through Christ you are more than a conqueror.

The truth is that you are capable of much more accomplishment than you realize. You have potentials for greater victories within you. It is not about you, it is about Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is not about your capability, it is about His ability at work in you. You have what it takes to win your battles. So do not be weary, do not give up too soon. Your victory is around the corner. The enemy has already lost the battle and has  been defeated. The Goliath fighting you today may look like a champion, but like David, you are the one with the heart of the champion. You have the victory!. Just keep praising God, because help is on the way. indeed very soon everything will turn around for your good.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to stand strong despite the fierce winds of oppositions. I thank You because through Christ I am more than a conqueror in every battle in Jesus Name.

Quote

True success is not verifiable in the fact a man has never fallen before but rather in the fact that he did not only fall but also got up- WORDBITE 222.

Proverbs 4:18 ‘But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day.’

–DAILY READING •   1 Corinthians 1:1-17; 1 Kings 12:32-13:34; Joel 1

In 2013,  Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the Olympic torch relay race for the following year’s Winter Olympics in Sochi.  As part of the ceremony, he  passed the Olympic torch to a former Soviet swimming champion to begin the longest ever Olympic torch relay race that would  last 123 days and pass through 130 cities in all 83 of Russia’s regions; the route was more than 65000 kilometres long.

However, few minutes  after, the former Soviet swimming champion, began to run with the Olympic torch, the flames went out. A strong wind had blown it out. A fast acting  guard saved the day by lighting it back immediately with his cigarette lighter. But to the Olympic officials the flame from the lighter was not acceptable, because the whole point of the epic relay race was to transport the original flame ignited in Olympia through the many routes that eventually ends with the lighting of the cauldron in the Olympic stadium of the host country. Officials doused the flame ignited by the cigarette lighter and replaced the fire with one from a back-up torch they usually carried with them.

Leviticus 6:12 ‘And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out:’

In the race of life, we need to guard our fire from going out. The journey of life can take us through different roads, some good, some not so pleasant. But whichever road we take, we must keep our fire burning.

Proverbs 4:18 says ‘But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day.’

When a  man is on fire, he is like a city set on an hill that cannot be hidden. Apostle Paul tells us that as sons of God we are to shine like stars in a dark world.

Gross moral darkness covers the earth and sin abounds everywhere,  but through the fire in us, men will be attracted to God. This is the fire we must protect with all diligence. However, where no wood is, there, the fire goes out. Therefore, we must Keep our fire burning, through daily fellowship with God’s Word. Just like the disciples on the Road to Emmaus in Luke 24, when you open up your heart to God, His Words will burn like fire in your soul. This is why we must maintain daily fellowship with Christ through His Word. We are in a personal race. And we are not only to run this race but to finish it with our torch still burning brightly. There were those in the Bible who started their race with their fire burning bright, but ended the race with their fire put out. Typical examples are Samson and King Solomon. They started strong, but didn’t stay strong. When Solomon was young, he “loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father”. God was pleased with him. (1 Kings 3:3-5). However it is sad to note what 1 Kings 11:6 says about the Solomon later in his life, “Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord” . Likewise Samson too.

Therefore as we run the race let us keep our eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. As long as we keep looking to Him through daily fellowship in the Word, He will enable us to keep our fire burning.

PRAYER: Lord, Your Word is unchanging, and true. Please grant me a fresh appetite for Your Word, so that my fire will keep burning  brighter and  brighter. Indeed by Your grace my fire shall never go out in Jesus Name.

quote

Reading The Bible gives you over view, Studying it takes you to depths. – WORDBITE 222.

Acts 16;25-26  ‘And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.  And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken’

• DAILY READING –  – Mark 16; 1 Kings 12:1-31; Hosea 14

During world war 2, on 10th May 1940, Hitler unleashed a military onslaught on France and Belgium. Within days the British Army – outmaneuvered and unprepared – along with soldiers of other Allied nations, found themselves with their backs to the sea and hemmed in by enemies. Hitler’s army boasted with confidence that they were ‘proceeding to annihilate the British Army’. Indeed the total destruction of the British army seemed  imminent. Prime Minister Winston Churchill found himself preparing to announce to the public an unprecedented military catastrophe involving the capture or death of a third of a million soldiers.  But it didn’t happen. On 23rd May, King George VI requested that the following Sunday should be observed as a National Day of Prayer. Late on the Saturday evening the military decision was taken to evacuate as many as possible of the Allied forces. On that Sunday, the nation devoted itself to prayer and praising God, in an unprecedented way. Eyewitnesses and photographs confirm overflowing congregations in places of worship across the land. Long queues formed outside cathedrals. The same day an urgent request went out for boats of all sizes and shapes to cross the English Channel to rescue the besieged army. About 800 vessels were eventually gathered for this rescue operation. As the prayers went on across Britain, miracles began to take place. In a decision that infuriated his generals and still baffles historians, Hitler ordered his army to halt their attack on the British troops. Had they continued to fight, the destruction of the Allied forces would have been inevitable. Yet for three days the German tanks and soldiers stood idle while the British evacuation unfolded. Not only so, bad weather on the Tuesday grounded Hitler’s warplanes, allowing Allied soldiers to march unhindered to the beaches. In contrast, the sea was extraordinarily calm, making the perilous evacuation less hazardous. By the time the German Army was finally ordered to renew its attack, over 338,000 troops had escaped from the beaches, including 140,000 French, Belgian, Dutch and Polish soldiers. They had escaped an imminent destruction by Hitler’s army. This was truly miraculous. Sunday 9th June was declared a National Day of Thanksgiving, as the people blessed God for this miracle of deliverance for the British troops.

Indeed God is fearful in praises. Exodus 15:11 says ‘Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?’

God does wonders in praises. Praise is a spiritual medium through which we transfer our battles to God. When you praise God, He makes a way for you.  He sets an ambush against your enemies. When the three enemy nations came against king Jehoshaphat, God set an ambush against them. He caused them to arise and begin to kill one another, till the last person was dead.

Indeed, it doesn’t matter the odds against you, as long as God is on your side you will surely escape. When you engage God through praise, He will always arise for you.  Whenever you find yourself in a tight corner, Praise is the way out.  Instead of worrying, switch to praise. And when you praise God, He will always create an escape for you and ambush your enemies. Whether it is the enemy of sickness, poverty, joblessness. disfavor, etc, as you praise God today, He will ambush them and give you the victory in Jesus Name.

PRAYER: Lord, please grant me the grace to always switch to high praises in the face of every challenge, so that I can experience total deliverance in every area of my life in Jesus Name.

Quote

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