Job 14:7-9
For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.

• DAILY READING John 21; 2 Chronicles 33; Psalm 89:1-18
Trees are important for the continual survival of man on earth. They provide food and shelter, help keep water clean, clean the air of toxins and supply various needs of man. However trees need access to water in order to survive.
Water is essential for the health of all plants. With most plants, if they do not get enough moisture, the signs are immediate. Leaves wilt and droop and colors changes.
Some of the world’s oldest trees have existed for thousands of years, due to their connection to water. Though the old trunk may die off after some years, but because the tree’s root remains connected to water, after a while this root will sprout a new trunk, which will again grow branches and leaves. This process is known as vegetable cloning, and through it many of the world’s oldest trees continue to survive, some having existed for thousands of years.
This is what The Bible clearly describes in Job 14:7 when it says ‘though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant’
The important thing for the tree’s continual survival, is its connection to water. The same thing happens when as a believer you are connected to The Word. No matter where you may fail or get cut down, God says you can rise again. Job 14:9 says ‘Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.’
‘Water’ in the above scripture refers to the Word of God, because Ephesians 5:26 says ‘That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word’.
The water represents the Word of God. Every encounter with God’s Word in any aspect of our lives, springs up a new beginning in that area. No matter how old any problem facing you may be, through connection to God’s Word your miracle will be delivered to you. The Word of God carries the wonder working power of God. And when you believe on His Word, then anything and everything is possible to you.
Even when men may have written you off, never forget that God has not written you off. As long as you are still joined to the living there is hope for you. You can still sprout again. You can still have your miracle.
Let go of the past and face the brighter future ahead of you. As apostle Paul said, forget those things that are behind you and press forward. Through connection to the water of God’s Word you shall surely rise and sprout again and bring forth fruit. Indeed there is hope for you because you are rooted in Christ!

PRAYER: Lord, by the power from your Word let every dead situation in my life be revisited and revived, let the good seed You have planted within me come alive for manifestation in this season in Jesus Name.

QUOTE
The study of The Word will keep shame and disgrace far from you.
[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK FAITH CLASSICS]

Psalm 46:1 

 ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.’

• DAILY READING – John 20:19-31; 2 Chronicles 32; Psalm 88
In his book, ‘Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations,’ Paul Tan, told the story of what happened in a local church in Beatrice, Nebraska on March 1, 1950. He wrote that on that day, choir practice was scheduled for 7:30 pm at the church. But when the pastor, his wife and daughter were ready to leave for the meeting, they discovered that the little girl had soiled her dress and needed to be changed. This made them to come late. Another person meant to be at the meeting was a high school sophomore named Ladona, who usually used to come early, but that evening she  had trouble with her geometry and so stayed back to finish her homework. Two sisters were delayed from coming to the meeting  because their car wouldn’t start. A church member, Mrs. Schuster, who normally arrived for choir practice at 7:20pm, had to stop over to see her mother who needed her help. Another church member took a nap and overslept. And so, one after another, the members were detained for various reasons.

Meanwhile at the church, unknown to anyone a gas leakage had occurred. And just five minutes to the scheduled choir practice, at 7:25pm, the church building suddenly exploded! When everyone arrived a short time later, they were amazed to see how their lives had been miraculously spared. The fact that all of them failed to come on time—something that had never happened before—had to be more than coincidence. As far as they were concerned, the Lord had been their shield and protector.

Psalm 46:1 says ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.’

Indeed it is because of The Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed. This is why we praise Him at all times and in all things. God is always good. Even when sometimes things seem to go wrong, we keep blessing The Lord at all times, because we trust He is working it all out for our good.  Indeed God knows how to turn disappointments into blessings for us. In every situation God is always working behind the scenes, to manifest His goodness towards us. This is why in everything we give Him thanks. 

When the men of Ammon, Moab and mount Seir, gathered to fight 

King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20, it looked like trouble. But what Jehoshaphat did not know was that God was using those nations to bring wealth to his kingdom. But as he and his people praised God, victory was cheaply delivered to them. And it would take the men of Judah 3 days to gather the great spoils, brought to them by their enemies. In the same way what may appear as trouble right now God is able to turn around to become a blessing to you. This is why we keep praising Him. 

Indeed God is fearful in praises. And as you praise Him today, He is about to cause an unexpected shift in your situation. He is about to come from an angle no one ever expected. He is about to do the unprecedented, the miraculous. He will turn your mourning into dancing and give you beauty for ashes. 

Indeed God is able to handle whatever comes your way. If He could stop the sun for Joshua, and part the red sea for Moses, and give Abraham a child at an old age, certainly He can turn any situation around for you. Indeed He is able to turn every disappointments into blessings for you. 

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for giving  me a supernatural turnaround. Indeed by Your grace every disappointment is being into a blessing for me in Jesus Name.   

QUOTE 

The battle you are faced with today is a good warfare because God has already foreordained  victorious end for you. – WORDBITE 222. 
 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK FAITH CLASSICS] 

Isaiah 57:15   ‘For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.’
DAILY READING –  John 20:1-18; 2 Chronicles 31; Psalm 87
Geographically, it is said the higher you go the cooler it becomes. This principle is called temperature inversion. This happens when sun rays hit the earth’s surface and produces heat. But as this heat rises from the earth’s surface it loses its hotness as it goes higher up. So while the air on the lower grounds are hot, the air on the higher grounds remain cool. Thus temperatures on mountainous areas are generally cooler than temperatures on lower lands. Temperature inversion says that with every 1 km one moves above sea level, temperature decreases by 1ºC. 

This is why people in the higher areas of the Rift Valley region of East Africa, Jos Plateau in Nigeria and the Andes in Peru enjoy generally lower temperatures than people on the low lying areas.

The same can be said spiritually. Our lives are cooler and free from heat of trouble when we learn to rise higher in the place of prayer. When you live above, it becomes harder for the heat of harassment, problems and troubles from below to reach you. 

Therefore to live victorious we must seek the higher life.

Isaiah 57:15 says ‘For thus says the High and Lofty One

Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.’

When we go higher spiritually, we dwell in the high and holy place of intimacy with God. Those who abide in this secret place of The Almighty are those who like Apostle Paul, count all things dung that they might gain Christ. These people seek God with their whole heart, and it is to them that God reveals Himself.

Jesus has asked us to rise and pray so that we do not enter into temptation. So rising in prayer is an escape from temptation. Sin is a sinker that keeps men bound to the ground, but through prayer we arise above its  shackles and bondages. The more we pray the more we move from the confines of the flesh into the glorious liberty of the sons of God.

Proverbs 15:24 says ‘The way of life is above to the wise that he might depart from hell beneath.’ 

God is calling us today to rise to that higher life. As the waters carried Noah to the top of the mountain let us allow the Word to carry us up, to our high places.  

PRAYER: Father please grant me the grace to always rise in the place of prayer. Please destroy every spiritual weakness that tries to keep me on the floor. Indeed by Your Grace I am rising to my high places  in Jesus name.

QUOTE : 

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

[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK ESTABLISHED BY THE WORD] 

Romans 1:16 KJV 
 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek..

• DAILY READING – John 19:16-42; 2 Chronicles 30; Psalm 86

On October 8, 1871 in Chicago, D.L Moody preached a sermon titled, “What then shall I do with Jesus which is called Christ.” 

At the conclusion of the sermon Moody gave the people one week to make up their minds about Jesus. He then asked his music minister, Ira Sankey to sing a solo. 

As Sankey sang, suddenly there was the noise of clanging of fire bells and engines outside the church. Soon,  Sankey’s voice was drowned out by the increasing noise. Unable to continue the service, people in the hall rushed outside. They were shocked to find that flames of fire were sweeping toward the Hall where they were.  This was the beginning of the great Chicago fire. The fire swept across the city, destroying thousands of buildings, including Moody’s church. Property worth $192,000,000 were destroyed, 100,000 people were left homeless, and 300 people lost their lives.

This fire incident opened Moody’s mind to how fragile man’s existence was in this world. Moody wished he had not asked the people to take one week to make a decision for Christ. He called it the biggest blunder of his life, and would never again give an audience such time to think of their salvation.  From then on, whenever  he  preached, he would press upon the people to make a decision for Christ on the spot. The new urgency in his preaching, ignited revival fires, which began to blaze throughout the city bringing many souls to salvation. 

In 2 Timothy 4:2 apostle Paul says ‘Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.’

Indeed salvation is literally a matter of life and death, therefore, our preaching should be a matter of greatest urgency. 

Let us not delay in preaching The Word, because we don’t know what next may befall men. Let us have a sense of urgency in reaching the lost for Jesus. The world is in dire need of light. Every life without Christ is in crisis. Often times, the men and women that appear to have it all together on the outside, are actually tearing up in the inside. Anyone without Jesus is living in death and bondage. They are under torment of the adversary and within them there is a cry for freedom. We can’t therefore keep ignoring this silent cry.

Twice God told Ezekiel: “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me” (Ezekiel 3:17; and Ezekiel 33:1-9).

We are God’s watchmen in these last hours. We have to preach The Word in season and out of season. We must  understand that we are in a fierce battle with the kingdom of darkness over the souls of men. Everyday millions are headed for hell. There is no room therefore to delay or procrastinate. We have to use every available means and voice to reach the lost. 

Paul in Colossians 1:28 compel us to “preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus’ 

Ours is to preach The Word, while The Holy Spirit does the convicting. And let us never forget also that there are many benefits attached to preaching The Gospel. Exodus 23:25-26 says ‘And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee. There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfill’. 

Indeed God is a rewarder. And as we obediently serve Him, in turning many to righteousness, we shall shine as the stars for ever and ever. [Daniel 12:3]
PRAYER: Lord, please help me to preach Your Word in season and out of season, As I speak,  may the glorious light of Your Gospel shatter the darkness in men’s hearts, and bring them to salvation  in Jesus Name. 
QUOTE : 

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

 [ADAPTED FROM TRIUMPH OF LIGHT OVER DARKNESS] 

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      – John 18:38-19:16; 2 Chronicles 29; Psalm 85

The Boxer Rebellion was one of the darkest moments in Asian history. The Rebellion began in 1900, when a little group of revolutionaries in China, decided to get rid of western influences in their land. Members of this group were called boxers because they trained themselves in Tai-Chi—a form of boxing that was supposed to give them supernatural powers and make them impervious to bullets. 

This little group, soon grew into an enormous, ruthless army. They looted foreign businesses and murdered the foreigners they found. Christians were at the top of their list; foreign missionaries were murdered, Churches burnt, and Christian schools destroyed. 

However something remarkable happened, when they came to a little missions school in Peking. They broke into the chapel, pulled a large cross off the wall and threw it out into the courtyard where it sank halfway into the mud. Then they gathered the horrified students together and told them that they were ‘free to leave’, only under one condition: on their way out, they would have to step on that cross, trampling it into the mud. If they did, they were free, but anyone refusing to do so would be shot immediately. 

The first eight students, stepped out into the courtyard, trampled upon the cross, and then walked to their freedom, while the Boxer troops laughed and cheered them on. 

But then, came one Chinese Christian girl, about nineteen years old. “Never!” she cried out. “I will never dishonor the cross of my Lord. I will never betray my Savior!” Her declaration spurred the other remaining 92 students. For them trampling upon the cross was a sign of rejection of Christ.  That young girl and 92 of her classmates went to their deaths refusing to dishonor the cross of Jesus Christ. 

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 associations with this world there’s always a subtle invitation to trample on the cross. We must therefore make a definite choice of whom to serve. 

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.”. 

Indeed the time has come for each of us to ask ourselves the same question that Joshua asked! This choice faces us today. 

Man is basically a creature of choice. In our daily lives what kinds of choices do we make? Are we choosing to honor God or are we trampling upon the cross?  Are we living for Christ or are we seeking things of the flesh?  Are we living holy or are we toying with sin? 

With God, it is always all or nothing. You are either hot or cold. In Revelation 3:14-22 the church in Laodicea, had everything it needed, except for the presence, power and glory of God. And in Revelation 3:16, Jesus says ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth”

The Christian life often requires difficult choices, where we must chose the will of God over what is comfortable and easy. When we love God we must be willing to pay the price of following Him at all costs. Christ proved His love for us by giving up His heavenly status and coming to the earth as a man to die on the cross for our sins. And today we must prove our love for Him by choosing Him above all else. 
PRAYER: Lord, please help me to always choose You above all else. No matter the temptation I am faced with, may I never deny You or compromise my faith. Thank You for granting me the grace to live a life that pleases You at all times, 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. 
 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK REJOICE] 

1 Peter 4:8 [New Living Translation]

 ‘Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.’

DAILY READING        John 18:19-38; 2 Chronicles 27-28; Psalm 84 

For thousands of years, Pearls have long been used as jewellery items by humans. Pearls compare in value to diamonds and other precious stones.  However it is interesting how they are formed. Pearls are the only gem created by a living creature. A pearl is formed when a single grain of sand creeps inside an oyster and lodges itself in its tissue. If not removed, that tiny particle of sand can cause severe damage to the tender mollusk of the oyster. The particle of sand is an irritant which causes the oyster to produce a lacquer-like substance called nacre. The oyster secretes the nacre over the irritating sand as a way of protecting itself from the sharp edges of the granule. Those smooth layers of nacre coat the sand granule, eventually sealing off the irritation and forming a gorgeous pearl. 

In the same way, we often have irritants in our lives, people or situations that irritate or offend us 

In Mathew 18:7 Jesus said ‘For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes.’ In other words Jesus  is telling us such offending or irritating situations are inevitable.  

Indeed in the journey of life, hurtful things may happen to us. People will let us down, break their promises, say things that hurt, and treat us unfairly. If we allow these offences to lodge in our hearts, it can keep us from God’s best. But like the oyster we must seek to cover the irritation so that it does not damage our hearts. When we refuse to allow that irritation or offence to be embedded in us, then what was meant to hurt us God can turn it into beautiful pearls of blessings in our lives. We insulate ourselves from the damage of offenses by releasing love. 

1 Peter 4:8 [New Living Translation] says ‘Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.’ The love we continually release can protect our hearts from the damaging effect of unforgiveness.  

We are to bless those who curse us and pray for those who spitefully use us. Romans 12: 21 tells us not to be  overcome by evil, but rather to overcome evil with good.

The truth is that God has shown us the example of how to love. Despite the times we have sinned against Him, He has freely given us His grace, forgiving and covering all our failures and all our mistakes. No matter how many times we fail and mess up, God never gives up on us. He is patient and His love will never run out. And as we have freely received His love so also we freely release to others. God blesses us so that we can spread the blessing.

1 John 4:11-12 says ‘Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us.’ 

When we can love people despite their faults or wrong doings, it is evident that The Holy Spirit dwells in us.  Because He is the one that sheds abroad the love of God in our hearts. Every time we decide to forgive people, it is like covering that offense with a beautiful layer of love.  And because a man reaps what he sows, when we release love in the place of hurt, then we are sowing good seeds from which we will reap beautiful pearls of blessings.  

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to manifest Your love wherever I go. No matter the offences or irritations that may come my way,  grant me the grace to continually release Your love rather than being offended in Jesus Name. 

QUOTE : 

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

. 

Psalm 46:10 KJV
10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.  –

• DAILY READING –             John 18:1-18; 2 Chronicles 26; Psalm 83

We need stillness to hear the voice of  God. When we can’t clearly see the way forward, or unsure of what next direction to take, it is such times we wait upon God to hear His  next instruction. 

In 1967, Kenneth Copeland was a Bible school student and quite unsure of what direction his life would take. He was fearful of taking any step forward. One day in March 1967, Kenneth knew the Lord was trying to tell him something, but he didn’t know what. He came home from school that afternoon, and decided to go down to the quiet area of the Arkansas River bed, just about a mile from his house, to pray and listen. It was there, standing in the dried-up Arkansas River bed, that Kenneth received God’s call to ministry. There, as he stood before The Lord, he heard within him, the voice of God, calling him to preach the gospel to the nations. Afterwards Kenneth meditated on what God told him in that riverbed for months. When summer came, all the fear he felt was replaced with faith, and Kenneth was ready to accept the calling. 

Standing before the Lord, Kenneth declared he would preach the Gospel from the top of the world to the bottom, and then preach it all the way around the middle, and he would never compromise. 

Kenneth  had no money, and there were no meetings scheduled, but he was quite convinced he had clearly heard God. So he began to spiritually prepare to  preach to the “nations”. And as he began to step out by faith God began to open doors. Calls for him and his wife  to minister in various places started coming in. And ever since Kenneth and Gloria Copeland have been preaching the Gospel, from the top of the world to the bottom and all the way around. And Up till today they continue to preach the uncompromised Word to the nations.

Indeed we need the voice of God to show us the way forward. Those times when we are at crossroads or filled with confusion not knowing what exactly God wants us to do, these are the times we get still and wait upon God to hear His voice of divine direction.  Often times in the midst of life’s challenges or battles,  the Spirit of God says to us ‘ Be still and know that I am God’

Why should we be still? Because the battle is not ours but the Lords. God is able to handle every situation  we face, when we trust in Him.

Imagine how the children of Israel must have felt as they stood at the edge of the red sea! In front of them was the huge ocean, with waves rising and crashing, tempestuous winds roaring. Then behind them was Pharaoh’s army furiously edging in. Yet, in the midst of this desperate situation, Moses stands up and says to them  ‘stand ye still and see the salvation of The Lord. 

In such a tight situation, caught between the rock and the hard place, the supernatural power of God showed up. God parted the red sea and made a way for the Israelites. Indeed where there seems to be no way, God is able to make a way. This is why in  the face of confusions or  challenges we need to  be still and wait for God to show up. We need His voice to direct us and His power to break through for us.  Where it seems everything has tightened up, and all doors closed, you need God’s power to cause an earthquake and break the prison doors. Therefore no matter what situation we are faced with, we need to learn to maintain stillness in our inner man, because it will take stillness to encounter God. It will take stillness in prayer to hear the voice of The Spirit that shows us the way out. Indeed it is only when we are still, that we can experience His power and truly know that He is God.

  PRAYER: Lord, please give the strength to be still in every  storm, and the wisdom to discern your voice when you are trying to guide me in Jesus Name.  

QUOTE 

God will never allow the flames of trial to burn you more than is necessary. – WORDBITE 222. 

 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK FAITH CLASSICS

Romans 12:2 
 ‘And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.’ 

 DAILY READING     John 17; 2 Chronicles 25; Psalm 82
The story is told of the old mule that fell into a deep pit. When the owner saw he couldn’t bring it out, he decided to bury the animal in the pit. But as he poured sand into the pit, the wise animal began to step on the sand. The more sand the owner poured to bury it, the more it stepped on the sand and rose higher until it was able to get out of the pit. What was meant to bury it became its stepping stone to freedom. . 

Indeed there are times it may seem like that old Mule, we are being buried by problems. There can be seasons of temptations, where it seems problems pile on top of each other. It can be frustrating. Things get in our way, or don’t go our way. Plans seem not to work, relationships may go sour and life appears hard. But the way to handle the stumbling blocks is to use them as stepping stones. When life gives you lemons, you make lemonades. Really, it is not the storm as much as our reaction to the storm that determines its effect upon us. While the same things may happen to us all, they do not have the same effect upon us all. While challenges, make some people bitter and resentful, it can make others more sweetened and refined. Rather than be defined by problems, we can be refined by them. Indeed rather than let situations affect us negatively we should affect them positively. 

Romans 12:2 says ‘And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.’

What determines if we conform or reform is based on our spiritual foundation. When our root is deep in God’s Word we will react in faith to whatever comes our way. 

And how we respond determines whether we are beaten or blessed, whether we are victims or victors. Through faith in God’s Word, we can change problems into possibilities, and stumbling blocks into stepping stones. 

God wants us established upon the solid rock of His Word. In all things we should trust that our God is able to deliver us to the uttermost. 

What the enemy meant to bury you with can become stepping stones to your victory. God can turn it all around to your good. The important thing is to remain connected to The Word of God. Because it is The Word that imparts faith into the heart and faith is the victory that overcomes the world. 

PRAYER: Lord, by the power from your Word let there be a forceful turnaround in my life. Let every dead situation around me be revisited and revived. Let Your Word within me bring about a positive change of story in Jesus Name.   
QUOTE 

The study of The Word will keep  shame and disgrace far from you.

 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK FAITH CLASSICS] 

Philippians 4:6 KJV
‘be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God’.–
• DAILY READING       John 16:4-33; 2 Chronicles 24; Psalm 81
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness of this age. According to a recent report by the World Health Organization, anxiety disorders are on the increase globally. Indeed it seems the world is entering a new age of anxiety. As the economic situation worsens, fretting in the general population seems to be on the rise. 

However the Bible in Philippians 4:6 says ‘be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God’.
God’s will is for us to focus on prayer and thanksgiving instead of worrying.  

J. Arthur Rank, a devout Christian, was one of the early pioneers of the film industry in Great Britain. When he realized he had a problem with worrying he made a pact with God to limit his worrying to only one day in a week. He chose Wednesdays, and made a little box, which he called his Wednesday Worry Box. He placed the box on his desk, and whenever a worry cropped up, Rank wrote it out and dropped it into this Wednesday Worry Box. He refused to think about the problem, until Wednesday. Then when Wednesdays came, he would  open the box, and bring up each piece of paper where he had written his worries. However as time went by,  Rank began to discover something amazing. Instead of having piles of problems to worry about on Wednesday, he found that only a third of the items he had written, were still worth worrying about by that time. He found that somehow the rest had managed to resolve themselves. From this, he came to the conclusion that worrying never accomplished anything. 

In Luke 12:25 Jesus said, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”! Then, in the following verse 26, Jesus pointed something else out: “Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” 

Indeed worry never solves any problem, Psychologists tell us that roughly 40 percent of what we worry about will never happen and 30 percent has already happened. Additionally, 12 percent of worries are over unfounded health concerns. Another 10 percent of worries involve the daily miscellaneous fretting that accomplishes nothing. That leaves only 8 percent. In other words, people are worrying 92 percent of the time for no good reason, 

Worry has been described as interest paid on trouble before it comes due. Worry is like a rocking chair; requiring a lot of energy, and yet it gets you nowhere. 

Instead of worrying, we have to trust that God is in control of our lives. We look to Him in every situation knowing that He will definitely work things out to our favor. 

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. The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places’

This is why we maintain a joyful attitude in the face of any challenge, because we trust God is in control of our lives. God says that He thinks good thoughts towards us, which means that whatever the situation, He is working everything to align with His good thoughts for us. This is why we do not fret nor worry.

Jesus put it plainly, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me.” Indeed when we believe in God and trust in Him then our hearts will not be troubled, rather we will be full of praise, knowing that God is at work in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. . Indeed God is good. Therefore never allow anything to steal your praise. Instead, learn to turn your worry into worship. Rather than wasting energy in worrying, invest that energy in praise. Every time you’re tempted to worry, turn it around and thank God for His blessings. Indeed if you look back and count your blessings, you will find that God has really been faithful to you. If you can think, then you can thank. Indeed God is good, all the time!    

. 

PRAYER: Lord, please help to stop worrying about things I have no control over, I trust you are in control of my life, and I know that even right now you are working out everything for my good. 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. 

WORDBITE 222…

[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK REJOICE] 

Hebrews 12: 2 
 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

• DAILY READING -John 15:1-16:4; 2 Chronicles 23; Psalm 80

Every great destiny will face setbacks at some point. But 

when you trust in God, He is able to make all things work together for your good. 

At the 1992 Olympic games in Barcelona Spain, Gail Devers took Olympic moments to new heights by winning the fastest women`s race in history. A crowd of 65,000 at the Olympic Games saw her win the women`s 100-meter dash in 10.82 seconds. As the 25 years old Gail circled the track in joy, she told the media how the last three years of her life had been a miracle. Just 17 months earlier, she couldn’t walk and had to crawl across rooms in pain after  suffering complications from a misdiagnosed Graves` disease.  It all started during the Seoul Olympics in 1988, where she had performed poorly, and couldn’t make the finals. Soon after that, her health began to deteriorate. Doctors were baffled by her symptoms of hair loss, vision loss, shaking, lethargy, extreme weight loss, skin problems and other strange seemingly unrelated problems. Finally, Doctors diagnosed her with a cancer of the thyroid gland. She fought hard just to survive.

Being the daughter of a pastor from California, she had gone  back  home to stay with her parents. And for two and a half years, she had languished, going from bad to worse. At a point her appearance became so terrible, she stopped going out in public. Her feet developed severe bleeding blisters, some so large and painful that she couldn’t walk. To get around, she crawled.  In February 1991, she was rushed to the hospital where doctors considered amputating her feet to save her life. Gail said of that time, “I prayed to God: ‘Not my feet, please. If you save them, I will use them for however long you wish me to.’’ Despite all she went through, Gail continued to hold on to God, never losing her faith or hope in God’s ability to deliver her. 

Eventually doctors found out that the complications she was suffering was due to an overdose of her radiation treatment. With a change in medication, she finally began to improve. Within a month, Gail was walking again.  Doctors were amazed that she even survived at all.  

As her health returned, her focus on the Olympics returned as well.  In March of 1991, she began training with her Coach again. Within just a few months, Gail won the Silver medal in the 1991 World Championships held in Tokyo.

In 1992 at Barcelona Olympics, she asked God to help her run the best race of her life and come out with gold. God answered her, and she won a gold medal in the women’s 100m event.  Thereafter, she went on, soaring in her career to become one of the greatest female athletes of all times. Sportswriters called her story the greatest comeback in track history. However Gail gave all the credit to God for her miraculous healing. 
Indeed with God, nothing is impossible. When men think it is over that’s when God likes to take over. Setbacks may come, but with God you can always overcome. Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning. We should never limit God. Indeed it is not over until God says so. 

Maybe you are in the middle of a trial, an affliction, or a setback. But whatever you may pass through,  always remember, that your destiny is greater than your disaster. 

Never let your situation or circumstances limit what God can do in your life. What God has said He will do, He will surely do.  God is not man that He should lie, nether the son of man that He should repent. Everything may be rising up against you, yet do not limit God. He is able to deliver by many or by few. It doesn’t matter what may have happened, it is not over until God says so. 

Hebrews 12:2 Says “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

To fulfill destiny we must despise present challenges and keep our eyes on Jesus. Despite the  challenge, always keep your eyes fixed on God’s Word. All the roaring of the storm is to try to get you to shift your gaze. But remember that the moment Peter shifted his gaze from Jesus to look at the storm, he began to sink.  If the enemy is able to shift your focus from God, defeat is inevitable. Therefore keep holding on to God’s Word.     

No matter how contrary present circumstances may seem, as long as you trust in God, He is working it all out for your good. And even if you have experienced a setback, it is only positioning you for a comeback! The road to destiny consists of endings and beginnings; setbacks and comebacks. A door shut means a door is about to open. An ending only means that there is getting ready to be a new beginning. 

Regardless of what you may have seen so far, the truth is- Your greatest days are ahead. The work God began in you He will finish. What God started in you He will complete!

Therefore no matter what comes your way, do not despair, do not give up, do not give in. Fix your eyes on God’s Word and hope on His promises. Surely they that put their trust in God shall never be ashamed. Surely there is an end and your expectations shall not be cut off. Indeed if you can believe, all things will be possible to you. 
PRAYER: Lord, I know with you nothing shall be impossible. Please help me to always focus on your Word so that I can possess the faith for my desired miracle. Indeed what You have promised, I know  You are able to perform in my life 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. 
[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK ESTABLISHED IN THE WORD OF GOD]