Exodus 12:1-2  ‘And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying, This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.’

 DAILY READING – –  Acts 11:1-18; Joshua 11-12; Job 26

Today, the Passover Is the Most Widely Celebrated Jewish Holiday. In Israel, Passover is the seven-day holiday of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, with the first and last days observed as legal holidays and holy days. During those days, observant Jews do not attend work or school. Holiday candles are lit at night, and kiddush and sumptuous holiday meals are enjoyed. One of the most important Passover rituals for observant Jews is removing all leavened food products, known as chametz, from their homes. No leavened bread can be consumed for the duration of the festival. During Passover, Jews refrain from eating bread and stores stop selling bread and bread products for the entire week. Jews can only eat an unleavened type of bread called matzo. Some Ethiopian Jews destroy their dishes and cookware and make new ones to signify their hope for redemption.

Though widely celebrated by Jews today, the Passover was instituted by God only as a  foreshadow of Christ’s sacrifice that would take place at Calvary.

Revelation 13:8 describes Jesus as “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world”

In God’s agenda Christ is the Passover lamb whose Blood would be shed to pave the way of freedom for us.

1 Corinthians 5:7 says “Indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us”.

And just as the Passover was necessary to usher the Israelites into a new beginning, the Blood of Jesus was shed to usher us into a new season and phase of life. As we therefore prepare to enter into the new year, it becomes necessary to engage the power in the Blood to enable us successfully cross over into the new season. It’s not by accident that Passover is celebrated in the month of Nissan, the first month in the Hebrew calendar..

Exodus 12:1-2 says ‘The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, ‘This month shall be for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you.’ As the Passover marked a new beginning for the Israelites, likewise today, the Blood of Jesus is ushering us into new beginnings. We are leaving behind every affliction and bondage of Egypt and coming into our promised  land flowing with milk and honey. Indeed we are coming into new seasons of unending blessings.

God said in Exodus 12:13 ‘And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.’

Indeed by the Blood of Jesus everything contrary to our destiny has passed over us. Therefore, by the power in the Blood your freedom from every bondage of sin, sickness and infirmity is established. Surely affliction shall never arise a second time. The Egyptians you saw before you shall see no more forever. Indeed by the Blood today, we are separated from every affliction and ushered into our new season of unending glory.

PRAYER; Lord I thank You for separating me today from every affliction of Egypt. Truly by the Blood of Jesus I have been ushered into my new season of glory and unending victory in Jesus name.

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Faith is more than just believing, it is acting upon The Word that you believe.

 WORDBITE 222.

Matthew 2:11 ‘And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

• DAILY READING – Acts 10:34-48; Joshua 9-10; Job 25

Although Jesus is the chief celebrant at Christmas, it often seems as if He is a stranger at His own birthday. In all the secular Christmas hype, there is hardly much mention of Christ. Rather images of Santa Claus, Rudolph the reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, the Grinch, elves etc decorate the season. Christmas is meant to be the season we remember Christ’s birth, but rather it has become the reason for hyper-commercial frenzy.  Christmas is typically a peak selling season for retailers in many nations around the world. Sales increase dramatically as people purchase gifts, decorations, and supplies to celebrate. In the U.S. sales run into trillions of dollars during the Christmas holidays and the shopping season can start as early as September. For many families, the Christmas season is also full of activities. It is a time for traveling, family get-togethers, parties, eating copious amounts of delicious food, and opening presents. This cultural celebrations of Christmas have indeed made it hard to focus on the origins of this day.

Matthew 2:11 says ‘And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.’

The wise men not only brought presents to Jesus but they also worshiped Him. Beyond the presents of this season, let us focus on His Presence. Jesus is the reason for the season.The true meaning of Christmas is appreciating God for the greatest gift of all; The gift of His son Jesus Christ. Can you imagine what the world would have been like if Christ hadn’t come. We would have been lost, hopeless, miserable and condemned to eternal damnation. It is true we desire miracles from God, but let us always thank Him for the greatest miracle of all, which is salvation through Christ.

Truly God deserves our praise in this season. And as we celebrate Christmas today let us pause and ask ourselves, what birthday gift do we have for Christ? Presenting our bodies to God as a living sacrifice will be a worthy present.

Romans 12:1 says ‘I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.’

Christ will be pleased when we gift him with a life focused and centered on pleasing Him. John 4:23 says God is seeking for worshippers in spirit and in truth. Let us therefore decide today to gift Christ with re-dedication of our lives to His service. Indeed may our lives become a sweet smelling savour, holy and acceptable unto Him..

PRAYER:  Father, I  thank You for the amazing gift You have given  to us through the birth of Christ. In appreciation of Your gift, please grant me the grace to live a life that constantly pleases You and glorifies You always in Jesus name. .

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It takes a heart for God to make a mark in the sands of time. – WORDBITE 201.

1 John 3:8 “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

DAILY READING        Acts 10:1-33; Joshua 7-8; Job 24

It is often said that where purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable. One Sunday in 1799 a 12 year old boy named Conrad Reed and some of his siblings went to fish in Little Meadow Creek, Cabarrus County, North Carolina. While fishing, Conrad saw a shiny rock gleaming in the water which he took home to his father. His father, John Reed examined the very interesting looking rock but not knowing what it was, he placed it by the door to be used as a doorstop. Unknown to John Reed, the rock was solid gold which at today’s gold prices would be worth at least $240,000! Yet John reed and his family used this gold rock as a doorstop for the next three years. However, one day in 1802 John Reed decided to take the interesting rock to a jeweler. The Jeweler realizing it was a 17 pound gold nugget quickly asked to buy it. And John still not knowing the value asked to be paid a mere $3.50. Later realizing that the jeweler had cheated him, he started searching for more gold in the area.  The news of the discovery of gold in the area would set the stage for America’s first gold rush. And  John Reed and his family would later become rich through discovery of more gold. 

It is however interesting that for three years John Reed and his family used gold as a door stop without knowing the true value. Likewise sometimes we can be staring something of  great value in the face and miss it’s real worth. Some people have been celebrating Christmas for so many years without really knowing the value of the season. To many it has become a ‘doorstop’, a celebration that comes before the door is opened to the New Year.

But beyond celebrating the season we must know the immeasurable worth of Christ’s birth. We must celebrate who He is and why He came to the earth. He came on an emancipation mission.

1 John 3:8 says “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

He was manifested not only to take away our sins, but also to destroy the originator of all sin. All suffering, sickness, and sorrow are because of the presence of the devil in the world. Jesus came to destroy his works and to restore to us all that was lost. The enemy is the thief that came to steal, and to kill, and to destroy but Jesus has come that we might have life and have it more abundantly. This is the reason for our celebration. It is a celebration of victory, it is a celebration of emancipation. It is a celebration of the new season of great and amazing blessings.  Let us therefore decide that this Christmas will not be another ‘doorstop’ to the New year.  Our lives must begin to experience the tangible benefit that Christ’s birth has brought.  And in realizing the true value of Christmas we must continually offer thanks and praise to God for the great and mighty gift He gave to us by sending Christ to the world.  

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for making every benefit of salvation real in my life. The tangible value of the coming of Christ will not be lost to me, indeed I have entered into a new season of unending celebrations in every area of my life in Jesus Name.

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Praise always guarantees you power for a raise, learning to praise God in season and out of season is key to fulfilling destiny. – WORDBITE 222..

Isaiah 40:22 KJV

It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:

• DAILY READING – Acts 9:26-43; Joshua 5:2-6:27; Job 23

On May 20, 2010, scientists were put in a strange dilemma. They woke up to find that for no apparent reason something had suddenly changed in the solar system. The largest planet Jupiter had lost one of the equatorial belts around it. Jupiter is the biggest planet, more than 80 times the size of the earth. Pictures of the planet always showed a signature appearance of two brown cloudy belts around it. But now, one of the belts, the South Equatorial Belt (SEB), twice as wide as Earth, was suddenly gone. The loss of such an enormous “stripe” from the universe’s largest planet was indeed a big concern to scientists. They were worried about what could be going on in the outer space. Has something gone wrong with the solar system? Is the earth in danger?

But as scientists were still speculating and hypothesizing, few weeks later the belt was back on Jupiter.

They couldn’t tell how the belt was lost, or how it had come back again. Though they made many educated guesses they were never really able to find out what exactly had led to the disappearance and reappearance of Jupiter’s belt.

Since man is grossly limited in his exploration of the outer space, what actually happened is a question only God can fully answer.  Indeed only God knows the mysteries of life. And He alone runs the affairs of the universe without man’s help or intervention.  No government, company or individual can control the outer space. If anything were ever to go wrong, there is hardly anything man can do to avert disaster. It has been said if the earth moves just one mile closer to the sun, everyone on earth would melt, and another mile farther away, everyone will freeze. Yet why don’t these things happen?  Because God is in control. He has set laws in motion that control and guide how things work.

It is therefore amazing how men can ignore the awesome work of God in the universe and be fretting over the mundane concerns on earth. Indeed God is in control.

Isaiah 40:22  says  ‘It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:’

We often get caught up in our own little problems and forget that there is a bigger world out there. We worry about what to eat drink and wear, but do we ever worry about what is going on in outer space or who is orchestrating things? Our personal concerns pale in significance when compared to the vast  workings of the universe. Yet God runs things in outer space perfectly. There is perfect order in the universe. That is why the sun shines in the day, moon shines at night, and rain falls in its season. Each follows its path and pattern.

This serves as a sign to man. Indeed God who controls the great planets is able to control our little lives.

When we submit and follow His laws there will also be perfect order in our lives. God has set forth laws in His Word for man to follow so that it can be well with him. It is only when man is out of order with God’s law that confusion sets in. Disobedience to God’s law is what brings suffering and problems. A man who is in line with God’s word will end well in life.

Indeed God is in control. He has ordered everything in existence, the basic needs of life God has freely supplied to man. Oxygen in the atmosphere is free, yet if you need oxygen in the hospital you may need to pay a huge sum of money. Imagine where everyone has to buy oxygen before they can breathe. Yet we keep getting a constant free supply. This is why Jesus says if God can take care of the sparrows how much more His children.

Understand that it doesn’t matter how disheveled your life may look right now, or the confusion that may seem to be reigning, once you can get back on course with the Word of God, every other thing will fall into place for you. Issues will sort themselves, situations will align with the will of God, and you will enjoy peace and order all round.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to learn to align with your word, to allow your Word to control my life so that there can be peace and order around me in Jesus Name.. . 

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God is preparing you for the season He prepared your breakthrough. – WORDBITE 222. 

Psalm 34:1 KJV

‘I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.  My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad’. DAILY READING   Acts 9:1-25; Joshua 3:1-5:1; Job 22

When you are on a flight, as the plane gets higher and higher; houses, buildings, cars, streets all seem to take on a different look. It looks as though you are looking down on a child’s train set. Trees, houses and other structures become smaller. The road and rivers  looks like a long windy line when you look at them from above. Now of course the houses, buildings and roads have not changed, but what has changed is your prospective. When we change our perspective things look very different. All through life our perspectives change. As children we may have seen those in their 30’s and 40’s as old, and as teenagers we may have thought  our parents were extremely out of touch with reality. But now as adults, though things have not changed, but our perspective, the way in which we look at them, has changed.

Perspective is not what we see, but the way we see it. And how we see things or our perspective controls our reaction. If a person sees a situation from the eyes of faith and someone else sees it from the eyes of fear, both will react differently.

The story has been told of how the potato, egg and coffee bean were all put in  boiling water, but each reacted differently. The potato went in strong, but came out soft and weak; the egg went in fragile and came out hard. However, the ground coffee bean was unique; when put in the boiling water, it changed the water and created something new. Question then is; how do you react when confronted by adverse situations?

Many times you will not be able to change what you are going through; you may not be able to change the reports around you, but one thing you can change or control is your perspective and your response. Two individuals may have a common experience, yet one sees the obstacle as a stepping stone and the other allows the obstacle to become a stumbling block and a barrier to their destiny. The difference between these two individuals is their perspective. Ultimately the difference between winners and losers, is the way they view setbacks and adversities. Losers see setback as the end of the road, but winners see it as a bend in the road.

David often saw his situations from the eyes of faith and committed himself to praising God at all times.  He recognized that by praising God, you make room for Him to come and change adverse situations and turn things around to your favor. Because all things work together for good to them that love Him. This is why David  says in Psalm 34:1 ‘I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.  My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.’

You may be feeling overburdened today, by the various trials facing you. Perhaps right now you are even tired of it all and wondering a way out. Well, it doesn’t matter how tough the situations you may be facing, look beyond them and see rather how great your God is. God is still on the throne. He reigns in your life and He is able to turn everything around for your good. Exalt God above that situation by giving Him worthy praise today.  And as you do He will turn your mourning into dancing., and turn every test into your testimony in Jesus Name.

PRAYER: Lord, You are always good and faithful, no matter what happens around me, Please grant me the grace to always give You worthy praise in every situation. I thank You Lord because I know You  are even right now turning things around for my good in Jesus Name. .

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

Joshua 6:16  ‘And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city!’

DAILY READING – Acts 8:26-40; Joshua 1-2; Job 21

The American civil war was mainly fought over the issue of slavery. While the Northern states of America wanted an end to slavery, the Southern states wanted to still keep slaves. When they couldn’t agree the Southern states decided to secede. Starting with South Carolina, eleven states would eventually leave the United States and form a new country called the Confederate States of America. The North did not agree and this eventually led to the civil war.

The Battle of Gettysburg was the deadliest battle of the American Civil War. On the first day of battle, the Confederate army outnumbered the army of the Northern states, [also called the Union army] and caused them to retreat. However, the  Union army reinforced and by the second day, there was fierce fighting throughout the day with both sides taking heavy losses. By the third day, the Union Army had defeated the Confederate Army. It is interesting that on the first day of battle the confederate army were winning and intimidating, but in the end it was the Union army that won.

Often at the initial stage of every battle the enemy comes with intimidating force, doing all he can to  demoralize and discourage you. This is why you must not give up too soon. Learn to always hold on and persevere.

In Joshua chapter 6, the people of Israel were ready to begin the conquest of the Promised Land. Their first obstacle was the city of Jericho. However it looked like they couldn’t win because Jericho was a fortified and walled city; it was a formidable,fortress, tightly secured. It had both an inner and outer wall. It was built to defend the eastern approach to Canaan, and could not be bypassed. This was enough to discourage and demoralize the Israelites. However God said to Joshua ‘I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men”. God spoke of Jericho as having already been defeated, because the battle was The Lord’s. The army only had to just obey God’s instructions.

Joshua 6:16 says ‘And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city!

And when the people gave God resounding shouts of praise the walls of Jericho came tumbling down. Likewise , today as you give God worthy praise every wall of Jericho resisting you will come tumbling down.  Perhaps in your first attempt to access your promised land you have been defeated. Maybe the door has been shut in your face for a job, a contract, or relationship. Or perhaps you have received  negative report from the doctor that looks hopeless. Well, don’t just sit docilely and accept the enemy’s verdict. You have what it takes to turn things around. Switch to praise. Praise is an unbeatable weapon in the battles of life. It has the capacity to crush our toughest and roughest battles. According to Psalm 22:3 God inhabits the praises of His people, therefore whatever battle cannot resist God, cannot resist praise. Indeed there is nothing God cannot do in your life. Believe God for the miraculous today as you engage the power of praise.  When you give Him worthy praise He will arise for you. And when God arises every enemy will be scattered.

PRAYER: Lord, As I praise You today, I thank You for causing every wall of Jericho resisting my progress to come tumbling down. Truly by Your grace I am unstoppable and unbeatable,  and nothing can ever hinder my forward movement in life in Jesus Name.    

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Praise always guarantees you power for a raise, learning to praise God in season and out of season is key to fulfilling destiny. – 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 Acts 8:1b-25; Deuteronomy 33-34; Job 20
• Charles H. Spurgeon, was revered as last century’s greatest Baptist preacher. Known as a prince of preachers, he preached over 600 times before he was twenty years old. His sermons sold about 20,000 copies a week and were translated into twenty languages. The collected sermons fill 63 volumes equivalent to the 27 volume edition of Encyclopedia Britannica, and “stands” as the largest set of books by a single author in the history of Christianity”

Yet despite his achievements, he was so plagued by discouragement, that he tendered his resignation thirty-two times in thirty-nine years.

One of the incidents that greatly discouraged him was what happened on October 19, 1856 when he preached for the first time in the Music Hall of the Royal Surrey Gardens because his own church would not hold the people. At this time Spurgeon was only twenty-two years old. The 10,000 seating capacity of the hall was far exceeded as the crowds pressed in. Then suddenly someone shouted, “Fire!”. But it was a prank. At this shout  there was great panic in parts of the building. Seven people were killed in the stampede and scores were injured.

Spurgeon was devastated by this calamity. However the very following day after the calamity on October 20, his wife gave birth to twin sons. Though Spurgeon suffered criticisms and several other discouraging incidents, he gradually discovered that such lows always seemed to precede new times of good things in life. So despite the persecutions Spurgeon kept on preaching in the midst of adversity and setbacks. He maintained his joy. His hearty laughter was well known. His humour also found expression in his sermons and writings.

Past heroes and modern champions of the faith have also at one time or the other encountered  bouts of discouragement. And it is interesting that many of them felt the most discouragement, just at the verge of breakthroughs in their lives. What does this tell us? That It is always darkest just before the day breaks. This is why you must never give up. Most challenges come at the verge of new horizons, just when you are about to break forth and rise to your new level. The enemy fights hardest at that point of emergence, because he doesn’t want you to get to your destined place. You are coming  into a new season, therefore do not be surprised if the enemy tries to discourage you through the people or circumstances around you.  

You can’t control what people do or say, but you can control how you respond. Most of the conflict we engage in is a distraction. The enemy’s aim is to get you off-course. Your job is not to mind people’s attitude. Your job is to run your race. Quit being sour about your critics,  they are helping your destiny. Without the betrayal of his brothers, Joseph would have never made it to the palace.  Instead of being discouraged, like David encourage yourself in The Lord. Sit down in God’s Word to receive fresh fire and unction. Focus on maintaining your joy. Though weeping may endure for the night, your joy is coming. Indeed your due season is here, and if you don’t faint you will surely reap. 

PRAYER: Lord, please help me not to become weary in well doing.. Please grant me the grace to keep going forward no matter the discouraging situations I may sometimes face. Thank You Lord for causing all things to work together for my good in Jesus Name. .  

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

Exodus 12:13 ‘And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt’

DAILY READING –  Acts 7:23-8:1; Deuteronomy 31-32; Job 19

In July 2014,  Dr. Ada Igonoh, a young medical doctor was working at First Consultants Medical Centre in Lagos, when Patrick Sawyer, the Liberia-American, who introduced Ebola Virus Disease to Nigeria was admitted. During the course of treating him, she came in contact with him. And when he eventually died she was the doctor that confirmed him dead. However, few days afterwards, she found out that she had contracted the virus. Along with her, the Lead Consultant Physician and some other members of their medical team, had also contracted the deadly virus.

As their symptoms began to develop, the government immediately quarantined everyone affected at an isolation center. For Dr Ada it became a battle for her life. However, though being at the isolation center felt as if she was placed on death row, as a  Christian she understood her covenant rights and believed she would not die. She engaged the power in the blood of Jesus by regularly taking the communion. Also every morning, she read Psalm 91 and then continued with constantly studying The Word of God, praying, and listening to messages on faith and healing. Though while at the isolation center, some others in the ward began to die of the virus, she tenaciously believed the Blood of Jesus would speak for her. At this time Ebola was killing people enmasse in other countries  and she had contracted the deadliest strain of the virus which was the Zaire strain. Medically her life hung in the balance. However, the Blood indeed did begin to speak for her. After a few days, her severe symptoms of ebola stopped and after 14 days of being quarantined, miraculously she survived. She was tested and declared healed and then allowed to return back home to her family. Miraculously also none of the family members she earlier had contact with contracted the virus.

Exodus 12:13 ‘And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt’

Indeed because of the mark of the Blood of Jesus upon our lives, our case is different. By covenant what afflicts others cannot afflict you. Just like the Israelites dwelling in Goshen were separated from the afflictions of Egypt, we have been separated from the plagues and afflictions in the world. The bible says there is no condemnation for you now that you are in Christ Jesus. Christ has paid the price for every affliction, He became a curse for us, that we might experience a blessed life. Therefore affliction cannot arise a second time. Whatever affliction Christ paid for at Calvary has no right to ever afflict you again.

As a child of God, your body is the temple of The Holy Ghost. And because The Holy Ghost carries fire, your body is a temple of fire. You are charged and electrified and any evil attempting to touch you gets electrocuted. The blood of Jesus is hot with the Holy Ghost fire.  It is a fire that burns every chaff. So you cannot be carrying His blood and be carrying infirmity at the same time. Just as chaff cannot survive inside fire, diseases cannot survive inside you. Therefore whatever cannot afflict the blood line of Jesus cannot have access to you. Therefore every ill fortune, every lack of progress, every poverty, every plague trying to afflict you they are all swallowed up today by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

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”.

Indeed by the Blood we are overcomers in every conflict of life. By the blood we will always have the victory  in Jesus Name.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for victory by the blood of Jesus. Indeed by the blood I am separated from every evil affliction and everything which my Heavenly Father has not planted in my life has been permanently uprooted  in  Jesus Name.

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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. WORDBITE 222

2 Timothy 2:3-4  ‘Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier..

DAILY READING      Acts 7:1-22; Deuteronomy 29-30; Job 18

One of the best ways Professional boxers train is by fighting with a sparring partner. A sparring partner is someone who helps a boxer practice and train for a fight. Sparring sessions are like the fight before the real fight. Recently in the News, Anthony Joshua who holds the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO world heavyweight titles highlighted the crucial role his sparring partners played in preparing him to win his fight with Russian challenger Alexander Povetkin on September 22^nd 2018. He told the media that during his training camp  he sparred with fighters from different countries, to prepare physically and mentally.  He hailed these sparring partners for providing him with hard sparring and tough competitive rounds that prepared him to eventually win.

Hard sparring is essential to sharpen skills and develop true fight shape conditioning for fighters. Often people who are used to hard sparring, can endure a hard fight without getting knocked out. Therefore, when a sparring partner is hitting the boxer hard, he knows it is for his own good, he endures it, knowing that it is only preparing him to win in the real fight ahead.

2 Timothy 2:3-4 says ‘Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.’

We must understand that there is a training that precedes our reigning.  Preparation must precede manifestation. Many of the things we pass through in life like sparring partners are only training us to reign. And as good soldiers of Christ we must endure, knowing we are being prepared for something better and greater.

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. Though David had no idea of the future that lay ahead of him, he had been faithful to prepare by fighting the bears and lions.

Like David, sometimes it may feel as if  you have been alone in the bush for so long fighting the bears and lions. But be patient, God is training you. God has a plan for you. He is preparing you for where He has preordained for you. No matter the level of success you think you have seen, God still has greater things in store.  For eyes have not seen, nor ears heard, neither has entered into the hearts of men the things which God has prepared for those that love Him. Do you love Him? Then get ready, God is set to give you, eye-popping, ear-tingling, mind-blowing blessings.

1 Timothy 6:12 says ‘Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, ‘

Let us be prepared to fight and win every fight of faith that comes our way. Each of these battles are training  us for reigning. Some of the things you passed through this year only came to better prepare you to face the coming year, which is the year when God’s glory will be unveiled. Indeed our light and momentary afflictions are achieving for us a far more eternal weight of glory. Maybe you had a setback in past years, but 2019 will be your year to see beauty for ashes. There is coming a reaping season. We are therefore encouraged not to become weary in well doing; do not be weary in maintaining a lifestyle of purity, fervent prayers, fasting and study of God’s Word.  God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him. And He has not called the sons of Jacob to seek Him in vain. Therefore, get ready, for indeed your due season has come!

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to always submit to Your training for reigning. Grant me the grace to never be weary in well doing. I thank You because the due season has indeed come for the unveiling of Your glory in my life in Jesus name. .  

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God is preparing you for the season He prepared your breakthrough. – WORDBITE 222

Habakkuk 3:17-19

 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

 DAILY READING          Acts 6; Deuteronomy 28; Job 17

When he was the American President, Abraham Lincoln had to keep a heavy schedule of appointments day after day. However one day, in the midst of his very busy schedule, he was told an elderly Lady wanted to see him. Graciously he asked his aides to allow her in. He thought perhaps she required his help and assistance in one way or the other.  As the elderly lady entered Lincoln’s office, he rose to greet her and asked how he might be of service. She replied that she had not come to ask a favor. She rather said she had heard that the President liked a certain kind of cookie, so she had baked some for him and brought them to his office.

With tears in his eyes, Lincoln responded, “You are the very first person who has ever come into my office asking not, expecting not, but rather bringing me a gift. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

In the same way, many times we are more interested in what we can get from God in prayer, rather, that what we can give to Him. We know that God delights in praise.

Psalm 69:30-31 says 30  ‘I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.  This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.’

Sometimes we need to sit down and deliberately offer God praise for all His goodness in our lives. To take God for granted is to be grounded. As the year rolls to an end we need to take time to count our blessings and specifically thank Him for each and every blessing we can recall; the many deaths we could have died but God’s mercy intervened, the many times the enemy organized shame for us, but God’s mercy prevailed and His glory covered us from seeing shame. . Do you know how many times death came for you, but God said ‘No’. The same road you passed through without harm, some people passed through it and their blood got shed. The sickness you passed through and recovered, some people suffered it and died from it.

The reason why you are still alive today is because of God’s faithfulness. Left to your enemies you would have been dead  and buried long ago. Indeed it is because of His mercies that we are not consumed. So before you think of  your unreached goals this year, or worry about the size of your bank account;  thank God first for the very breath in your nostrils. The psalmist said let everything that has breath praise the Lord. As long as we have breath, we owe God praise.

Don’t let the enemy deceive you from praising God, by showing you the things that are not working in your life. Though things may not be perfect yet, you are still alive. And to him that is joined to the living there is hope. So there is hope for you. Truly a living dog is better than a dead lion.

Habakkuk 3:17-19 says  ‘ Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.’

No matter what it may look like around you, be thankful. The wonderful thing is that when you praise God, deliverance comes to bring you out of every tight corner. Paul and Silas were shut up in prison, but when they praised God at midnight there was an earthquake and their bonds were broken. There is a mystery about  praise that breaks every prison and bondage around you.

Let the thing the enemy thought would hinder you from praising God, be the very reason why you praise Him. When you praise God He raises you and causes you to walk upon your high places.

PRAYER:  Father, I truly bless You today because indeed You have been so good to me. If it had not been for Your grace and mercy all through this year, where would I be? Father, I am truly grateful. Be Thou glorified in my life now and forever in Jesus Name. .

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Praise is proof that you believe God to do what He said, He would do in your life, – WORDBITE 201.