Isaiah 48:17
Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. 

DAILY READING    1 Corinthians 8; 1 Kings 22; Amos 6
In 1987, at the famous John Hopkins hospital in Baltimore, a team of neurosurgeons were faced with a very difficult surgery. They were to separate a set of Siamese twins, joined at the head. Such a surgery had never been done successfully before. In past cases the patients had often bled to death. As the doctors pondered on what to do, one of them decided to turn to God for divine wisdom. He was  a young neurosurgeon named Ben Carson. Being a Christian he knew God could help him to solve the medical puzzle. One day, while watching water drip from a tap’s mouth, he suddenly caught an inspiration! Suddenly he knew how to develop a method to stop blood flow during the surgery!

When the time for the surgery came and he applied this method, the surgery was successful. The twins did not bleed to death, they survived. It was a medical breakthrough that suddenly launched Ben Carson into international limelight and sudden fame. He had accomplished what no other doctor had done before. 

By connecting to divine wisdom he had received inspiration to accomplish an amazing medical feat. 

His story is indeed a testimony of  how the wisdom of God can make a difference in a man’s life. Job 32:8 says ‘but there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.’

It takes the inspiration of the Almighty to elevate a man. 

Ben Carson began life as a ghetto kid from the inner city of Detroit, brought up by a poor single mother, and had little or no future. It is amazing to see how this boy who hardly had any chance of survival has today turned out to be one of the greatest neurosurgeons the world has ever known. But that is what partnership between man and God can produce.

Many of the inventions that have taken place today are because of the inspiration men received from God on what to do. You cannot go far in life depending on your own wisdom. It is the wisdom of God that makes stars of men. No one gets far with common sense, you need extra ordinary sense to get ahead. Just one word from God is enough to cause your generation to celebrate you.

This is the pattern God has been setting all over the bible, to show us that promotion comes not from the east, nor west or south, but promotion comes from God alone. In the story of Joseph, we see a prisoner who became a prime minister; David a shepherd boy who became king and Esther a slave girl who became queen. This is God’s pattern and God has not changed. He is still showing us today that partnership with Him works. And that He makes impossibilities possible. God is more than enough. 

If He could take a boy without prospects from the ghetto, and turn him into a world renowned neurosurgeon, how much more you? 

Mathew 6:33 says ‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God and every other thing shall be added unto you.’ 

Don’t waste your time running after things that don’t matter. Make God your priority, and other things will follow, including success. What God  did for Joseph, David, Esther, and for Ben Carson, He can also do for you when you put your trust in Him. 
PRAYER: Lord, Please give me the grace to always put You first in my life.  Please help me to connect to Your Wisdom, so that Your foreordained  plan and purpose for me, can come  into full manifestation,  in Jesus Name. .   

QUOTE 

When you obey God’s instruction you are delivered from destruction 
[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK TRIUMPH OF LIGHT OVER DARKNESS] 

JOEL 2: 25-26

And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent.

DAILY READING1 Corinthians 7:1-24; 1 Kings 20; Amos 4:4-13

The first clocks were invented in 4000 BC, in ancient China. Chinese teachers taught their students about time, using a simple demonstration. They would tie a rope to the ceiling of the house, with knots tied on it representing the hours. The teachers would then light a flame from the bottom of the dangling rope, so that it burnt evenly. As the flame went up on the rope, each knot on the rope that got burnt indicated the hour that had passed. However in the process of this teaching and demonstration, many houses got burnt down in those days. So the Chinese teachers resorted to using a clock made of water buckets. It worked by punching holes in a large bucket full of water, with markings representing the hours, to allow water to flow at a constant rate. Time was measured by how fast the bucket drained. The essence of these demonstrations was to teach the students that once time was gone, it could never be recovered.

It is indeed true that time is limited. Unlike money that can be saved in a bank, or gold that can be hidden in a treasure box, time cannot be saved. Money can be restored. Property can be restored, relationships can be restored but time cannot be restored. Time flies and it does not return. Years pass and you never seem to get them back.

But in Joel 2:25, God promises what looks impossible, when He says “And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm,’.

Here God is promising to restore lost time back to us. This wonderful promise meant that years of abundant harvests would follow the years of desolation brought about by the locusts. In this chapter, God’s people had suffered the complete destruction of their entire harvest through swarms of locusts. But in Joel 2:18-19, God said, “Behold I am sending to you grain, wine and oil, and you will be satisfied.’

God promised that as the nation turned to Him in repentance, He would make up for the lost years with overflow harvest.

God is by nature a Redeemer, and Jesus has paid the price for our redemption and restoration. And despite our mistakes and failures, when we turn to God, He can bring a divinely accelerated overflow that will restore lost years back to us. Such is the power of His grace and mercy .

He is the God of the second chance. And even when it feels as though you have missed the opportunity to fulfill His purpose or to step into your prophetic season, it is never too late for God. Through Divine acceleration, He can still bring His purpose and plan to come to pass in your life. Indeed nothing is impossible to God. He is faithful, He is sovereign, He is powerful. And, He is the God of the resurrection. He is also the God of divine speed. God is not only bringing restoration, but also He wants to make it come to pass speedily. And the hand of God is what engenders divine speed.

In I Kings 18:46, Elisha outran horses by divine speed.

When God’s hand comes on a man’s life, that life begins to gather speed.

And one way we can trigger divine speed is by revelation. If you want to go faster you must see clearer. It is the entrance of The Word of God that gives light.

Jeremiah 1:11-12 says ‘Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.’

When you see the word well, God is committed to hasten it to come to pass.  The better you see, the quicker it delivers. Until you see it, you can’t seize it.

The capacity of your destiny is at the mercy of your light. If your light is dim, your speed will be dim; if your light is bright, your speed will be fast.

And you cannot have revelation and lose relevance. Therefore it is time for us to go for a search in The Word of God so as to encounter light that will bring speed and restoration to us.

It doesn’t matter the things you may have lost, it doesn’t matter the times of your life that may have been wasted. We serve the God of divine restoration and speed. There is nothing impossible to Him. When God is at work, you find yourself caught up in a divine move that shifts your circumstances, removes obstacles and commands progress. And as you believe His Word today, He will ignite an unstoppable momentum in your life, that will bring a definite restoration of lost time and years back to you, in Jesus Name.

PRAYER: Lord, I believe that You are able to do even the impossible in my life. I thank You for full restoration of whatever may have been lost in my life. I thank You for divine speed and acceleration that will cause me to excel throughout this year in Jesus Name.

quote

For you to enjoy victory in the Kingdom of God, you need to develop a Kingdom mindset, that thinks in line with the Word of God.  – WORDBITE 222. [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK FAITH CLASSICS ]

Mark 11:24

What things so ever you desire when you pray believe that you receive them and you shall have them’

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

Through the ages, there have been many great men of God, known for their exceptional prayer lives. These men stood resolute in the place of prayer and prayed until sometimes, even whole nations were moved. One of such men was John Hyde, who became nicknamed ‘Praying Hyde.’ This man spent most of his adult life on his knees. God would send him into towns that were under the power and dominion of the devil and he would pray as God led him and see major breakthroughs in the spirit realm. He ceased to live for himself and lived only to see the Kingdom of God manifest through him. As a result, multitudes were set free. God used him mightily to break the hold of darkness in cities, and bring many souls to Christ. Indeed he was a man possessed by the Spirit of God and used mightily by God in his generation. John Hyde often persisted in the place of prayer, until he received answers.

James 5:16 says: ‘The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much’.

A man who will fervently persist in the place of prayer, will have his answers.  Much is achieved through prayer. Prayer does change things, prayer does level mountains. Indeed prayer works. However we must be willing to pay the price of persistence, if we want to see answers to our prayers.

Many people give up too soon before their answer comes. After a few prayers and nothing seems to be happening they just decide it is not going to work and they give up and conclude that God did not answer their prayers. But God answers prayers.

Mark 11:24 tells us ‘What things so ever you desire when you pray believe that you receive them and you shall have them’

This is the promise of God. That whatsoever we desire, when we pray God will answer us. It doesn’t matter how impossible the situation, as long as we commit to pray about it, God is committed to answer.

Getting answers in prayers requires resoluteness and a certain stubbornness. You have to decide  that you will not quit until you get your result.

God does not store prayers, He answers them.

But we have to learn to persevere until the answer comes. The key is persistence. Refuse to give up. The enemy knows that if you persist you will receive, this is why he tries to discourage and weary you to give up before your answer comes. But tell yourself,  it doesn’t matter how long it takes I will keep praying because I know God has promised me an answer and He keeps His promises. You will reap if you faint not.

If only you will dig in your heels and refuse to quit until your answer comes.

As long as you continue to call upon God, your answer will surely come. If you don’t give up praying God will eventually answer.

Perhaps you are believing God for the salvation of your loved ones, or for a breakthrough in a certain area, make up your mind to push in prayer until something happens.

In Luke 18:1 Jesus says “Men ought always to pray and not to faint”. Then He goes further to illustrate this principle by a parable in Luke 18:2-5, of  how the widow’s persistence finally leads the Judge to avenge her.

We must learn the lesson from this determined widow not to quit praying!

We all have expectations for the year;  there are goals, we desire to achieve at some set time. But the truth is: that we have to be persistent in prayer to see the  manifestation of those desires. Things don’t just happen, they are made to happen. Certain doors might not be opened to you except you engage in violent prayer. There are many things that are rightfully yours, but you must contend through prayer to possess them. 

Often times when God opens great doors for us, challenges and contentions arise.

1 Corinthians 16:9 says ‘For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries’.

But you do not  just give up because there are many adversaries. Rather you enter the war room of prayer, and decide never to give up until your victory is established. 

Indeed prayer works, and if we don’t quit, in due time ,we will surely receive our answer.

PRAYER: Lord, please  give the grace to persevere in the place of prayer until my answer comes, help me not grow weary but to persist until I see my desired result.  . 

quote

Until you cry out in the place of prayer certain things won’t happen

– WORDBITE 222.

[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK FAITH CLASSICS]

Gal. 6:7-8

“Do not be deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that will he also reap. For he that sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap life everlasting

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

Since 1946, when television broadcasting began, fears about the negative influence of television  have often been voiced.  One study in the early 1960s shocked the public by showing that children shown a TV program of adults beating a toy clown, ended up manifesting the same behavior. Over the years, other research evidence has been accumulating that suggests that exposure to violence in media increases the risk of violent behavior on the viewer’s part. This can be likened to the fact that growing up in an environment filled with real violence increases the risk of a person also behaving violently.

According to a 17-year study reported in the journal Science, adolescents who often watch aggression on television are more likely to commit aggressive and violent acts when they become adults. The study, which began in 1983 tracked more than 700 adolescents from when they were 14 years till they reached 30 years of age. The study established a link between aggressive media and aggressive behavior. These findings have prompted the call for more parental control over children’s exposure to violent scenes in the media.

The law of the mind is that what you put in is what you get out. The truth is that what constantly enters your heart though your eye gates and ear gates eventually dominates you and controls your actions.

Gal. 6:7-8 says “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that will he also reap. For he that sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap life everlasting’

What you sow is what you reap.  And as a man thinks in his heart so is he. It then becomes important that we be careful the things that are going into our minds.

Some people watch immoralities on television, and then turn around and wonder why they struggle with those temptations. Every seed sown must find expression. If you don’t want the fruit, then don’t sow the seed.   What you don’t want, don’t watch, or listen to. Because there is nothing hid that shall not be made manifest. You cannot sow fleshly things into your mind and then expect to reap a spiritual harvest.  God has given us the ability to control what we sow and thereby control what we reap.

Jesus said, by their fruits you shall know them. A child or adult produces the fruit of the seed sown in the heart.

Luke 6:45 says “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

The question then is; what is in your heart? Is it good treasure or evil treasure?

When we sow the treasure of The Word of God into our hearts, our lives blossom into an enviable treasure on the earth.

The harvest of your tomorrow depends on the seed you sow today. In fact, what you are experiencing now, is due to the kind of seed you sowed in the past. Let us therefore endeavor  to always sow the right seeds.

Luke 8:10-11; says ‘The seed is the word of God’

When we sow The Word of God in our hearts we reap the fruit of signs and wonders in our lives.  God’s Word is pregnant with wonders.

Psalms 119:18 says ‘Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law’..

When you fill your heart with The Word of God your life becomes a wonder on earth.

God’s Words are mysteries that we operate to gain mastery over life situations.

Let us therefore regulate the things that enter into our hearts. Let us be careful the kind of media we are exposing our minds to. And instead of filling our hearts with chaff, let rather commit to filling our minds with the precious seed of The Word of God, so that we can reap a harvest of the  wonders of God in our lives.

PRAYER: Lord, Please grant me the grace to fill my heart constantly with Your Word. May I have a renewed desire and appetite for Your Word in Jesus Name. .  

quote

When you obey God’s instruction you are delivered from destruction

[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK TRIUMPH OF LIGHT OVER DARKNESS]

Proverbs 23:18

For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

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

On a snowy Christmas Day in 1987, Gospel singer, Delia Knox, was involved in a life-threatening accident.  Delia was in a car with her sister and brother-in-law when they were hit by a drunk driver.

Although the others escaped with minor injuries, the crash left Delia paralyzed from the waist down. Doctors told her she would likely be confined to a wheelchair the rest of her life. But  Delia believed God would heal her. And despite the paralysis, she was determined to live her life.  An accomplished gospel singer,  she continued her work in music ministry, and would push herself everywhere in her wheelchair.

She later met and married Bishop Levy Knox, who became a major source of inspiration for her. Often he would support her infront of the mirror and ask her to imagine herself standing.

By 2010 Delia had been in a wheelchair for over 22 years. Yet, she still had not lost hope. Then in August of 2010, she and her husband were attending a conference when a Pastor started praying for her. And for the first time in 22 ½ years,  she had feelings in her legs.

She felt the power of God  come all over her. And with the assistance of her husband, Delia slowly rose, and was able to take a few steps.  As the congregation sang and prayed, Delia stunned the crowd as she started walking around the church.  After believing for so long, finally, she was beholding the manifestation of God’s promises being fulfilled right before her eyes. She was walking!  It was indeed a phenomenal and life-changing experience.  And she has been walking ever since, and today leads worship at Living Word Christian Church in Mobile, Alabama, where her husband is the pastor.

Proverbs 23:18 says “For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.”

One key factor for the miraculous is expectation.  The force of expectation is a very powerful force. It is a supernatural force that draws whatever you are expecting towards you. Indeed expectation is the mother of manifestation. Against all hope, Delia believed she would walk, and  finally she did.

God has promised to grant our expectations.  But the question is what are you really expecting from God? Do you believe God to do what He has said He will do in your life? Every man sets the stage for his own miracle. What you expect is what you will get.

God is able to do what He said He will do.  And no matter the situation, God is always faithful to His Word.

Though weeping may endure for the night, surely joy will come in the morning.

And no matter how dark the night, the day will certainly break.

Maybe like Dalia, you have been believing God for a miracle for so long, don’t give up hope yet. Your day is coming. Your  expectation will not be cut off.

See with your eyes of faith. See into the plans of God for your life, and be assured that the best is still ahead.  It is indeed your year of eagle’s flight, therefore expect to scale new and unprecedented heights. Determine this year’s prophesy must have full expression in your life. Believe God for greater things.

Learn to always judge God faithful. Delays are not denials. As you keep looking unto God, believing His Word, you will never be ashamed.

Psalm 34:5 says “They looked unto him and were lightened and their faces were not ashamed.”

As long as you put  your  trust in The Lord, you shall never be ashamed. Jehovah alone has the final say over your life. Sickness, disease, poverty or lack cannot have the final say over you. No enemy can have the final say over you. Only God’s will and purpose concerning you  shall stand.

Proverbs 19:21 says ‘there are many plans in a man’s heart , nevertheless the Lord’s counsel – that will stand.’

Therefore begin to claim God’s counsel over your life. Feed on The Word so that your faith can be built up for great expectations.   God is not man that He should lie, neither the son of man that He should repent. Has He said it? Then He will surely do it for you.  And whatever  you are expecting will surely come to pass in Jesus Name.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to keep my focus on You at all times. I know indeed that my expectations for a glorious Eagle’s flight this year shall surely come to pass, in Jesus Name.   

 quote

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

 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK DIVINE ORDER FOR A LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS]

Psalm 37:23-24

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand”

• DAILY READING – 1 Corinthians 11:1-16; 2 Kings 4; Amos 9

Until 1996, the US Women’s Olympic Gymnastics Team had never won a gold medal. It seemed they were always coming behind other countries. But at the 1996 Olympics, they were determined this time to win a gold medal. The team was made up of seven women, who came to be known as ‘the magnificent 7’.

Kerri Strug ,18 years of age, was the anchor on this Gymnastics Team. At the final competition they were up against the Russian team, and it looked like the Russians were going to cart away the gold. Though the US team had started well, one of the team members had performed poorly thereby giving the Russians a chance.

Then finally, it was time for the last performance from the US team. This would be the deciding factor if the US won the gold or not. This last performance was to be taken by the team’s best vaulter, Kerri. The gold medal now depended on her performance. Spectators held their breath as she began sprinting down the runway; She hit the vault, flipped in the air, but only to come crashing down in a fall.  It was a disappointing performance. Her score was not enough to tip the scale in her team’s favor. But worse yet, she had injured her left ankle when she landed. Now unable to walk properly she was hobbling. Yet, she still had one more performance before the final score by the judges. Many people wondered if she would be able to perform that last vault.

As she sat on the edge of the mat with an ice pack on her ankle, it looked impossible that she could make another try. But to everyone’s surprise, she got up and  hobbled to the judges, acknowledging that she was ready to take her last vault.

Her ankle and her head were  throbbing, but she took a deep breath and said a prayer, “Please God help me make this vault.” Temporarily pushing her  pain aside, Kerri once again began her sprint down the runway; she hit the vault, twisted in the air and made her landing without falling. She stood just long enough for it to be scored.

As the score flashed on the large board, the crowd inside the Georgia Dome erupted with joy; the Americans went wild with jubilation. She had hit a high score. And the score had given the American team the desired victory. It seemed the entire nation rose to their feet on that day. Despite her initial failure, Kerri had endured the excruciating pain of an injured ankle, to achieve an amazing performance. It would become one of the greatest Olympic moments of all time!

After the score was posted, Kerri fell to the mat holding her left ankle, her face grimacing with pain. In her second landing, she had torn two ligaments in her left ankle and was now unable to walk off the mat on her own. She had to be carried and supported.

However, her heroic effort had ensured that the American Woman’s Gymnastic Team won their first team gold medal ever. Kerri’s fall on the first vault, though it was important, was not the story. It was how Kerri Strug got up after the fall that made this event one of the most significant in U.S. woman’s gymnastics.

Proverbs 24:16 says ‘for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.’

Often times in the journey of life we may fall at some point. Being righteous does not mean absence of failure or trials in one’s life. The righteous may fall, but he gets back up again, he doesn’t stay down, he rises. Failure, in some sense, is inevitable. It’s how you react to it that matters.

As we journey through life, we may at some points do things we are not proud of. We may make mistakes we wish we never made. But what matters is not that we fall, but how we react to the fall. We can bounce back up and fight through the pain like Kerri or we can choose to lie on the floor and wallow in our pain. We must understand that failure is not equal to defeat. Every man fails, but not all accept defeat. Therefore don’t allow your failure to graduate to defeat. Arise and try to fight again. Never fold your hands if you don’t want life to fold up on you. No matter where you may have fallen, get up and keep moving forward.

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. The worst failure of life is failure to try. Those who try again will triumph again. We can take advantage of our failure by learning from what we have done wrong. If we failed through sin, then we need to, repent, and lay hold of God’s forgiveness. We need not drown in guilt or become blinded to God’s mercy. We can always swim back to shore, helped by the incoming tide of God’s grace. Morally speaking, no one has a perfect score. Everyone, even Peter the Apostle at some time failed the Master.

But thank God, we serve the God of a second chance, He is the God who prefers to mend rather than discard. God is a potter who works with mud and is able to take that which is marred and remake it into a thing of beauty again. God loves to restore the broken and brittle and then parade them before the world as trophies of His grace.

We are all products of His grace. Apostle Paul said ‘I am what I am by the grace of God’. When we are weak, He remains strong. And it is by His grace that the race is made great.

God’s commitment in Christ is to mend, heal  and help us along the way, as we travel on this journey of life.

Psalm 37:23-24 says

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand”

God upholds us by His mercy.  He is able to restore us if we miss the way. He is able to keep us strong against the storms of life. Therefore as we run this race, let us keep looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Let us not rely on our own strength, but rather on God’s grace. Let us learn always to come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

PRAYER: Father please enable me to always rely on Your grace and mercy. Please help me to keep moving forward no matter what trials and temptations may come my way. May Your grace always be sufficient for me in  Jesus Name.

 quote :

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