Numbers 23:19 ‘God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?’

DAILY READING Matthew 24:32-51; Numbers 28-29; Song of Solomon 8:5-14

In 2016, English Gardner entered the Rio Olympics as the world’s second-fastest woman for the year. She had won the U.S. Olympic trials for 100 meters in 10.74 seconds, making her the fourth-fastest American in history. However, before arriving at this place of recognition as an accomplished athlete, she had passed through a lot of challenges.

When her mother, Monica, was pregnant with English, she believed God had an incredible destiny for the child. And so the parents, who were both ministers of the Gospel in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, gave her the uncommon name of ‘English’ because they believed she would stand out in her generation.

Nevertheless for English Gardner, arriving at that place of greatness has been a long battle. While in school, she was a great runner and began to win competitive races. It looked as if she was on her way to becoming a top athlete. But while she was a high school freshman, her family received startling news that her mother, Monica, had stage three breast cancer and was likely to die within months.

While Monica underwent treatment, English Gardner’s father, Anthony, who also was her coach, suffered a stroke. However, to the glory of God, both parents survived. Few months later English Gardner herself tore the muscle around her knee joint in a football game. At this point it looked as though she might never run again. Doctors had little hope for her full recovery. This made most of the universities which had offered her scholarship with the hope that she would run for them withdraw their offer. Only one University still kept its scholarship offer open.

She had to undergo surgeries for her injuries and spent a lot of time in recovery. At a point, she fell into depression and lost a lot of weight. Despite these difficulties, she didn’t give up hope. She and her mother spent every day on their knees praying. English did recover fully and continued with her athletic career, and in 2016 English Gardner won the U.S. Olympic trials for 100 meters in 10.74 seconds, making her the fourth-fastest American in history. Today she is one of America’s most celebrated female athletes.

Numbers 23:19 says, ‘God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?’

God is faithful to bring to pass His promises to us. However, on the journey to that destined place, you will often face storms. In Acts 27, Apostle Paul faced a storm on his way to an appointment with destiny. He had been unlawfully jailed in Jerusalem and had appealed to Caesar to be given fair hearing.

He was on his way to meet Caesar for that important appointment that would set him free from captivity when the storm hit, and the storm was so fierce that for 14 days they didn’t see the sun or the stars, leading many in the ship to lose hope.

Yet in the midst of the storm, Paul resorted to prayer and received a word of assurance from an angel of the Lord: that he would arrive safely along with everyone else on the ship, and that he would stand before Caesar.

Immediately, Paul told those with him what the angel had said, and concluded by saying, “I believe it will be just as God said.” And though the situation didn’t change, and even appeared to get worse, Paul held on to God’s promise.

Sometimes God’s promises may appear to be just the opposite of what we see. But we can’t be moved by what we see; rather we are to be moved by what is written in God’s Word. Don’t ever let the storm talk you out of what God has promised you. In the middle of the storm learn to declare words of faith. Talk faith in the face of fear, talk strength in the face of weakness, declare health in the face of sickness, speak life in the face of death, talk victory in the face of defeat.

No matter how tough that situation may look, understand that it cannot stop you, as long as you hold on to God’s Word. Why? Because you are on divine appointment and running with divine purpose. There’s a calling upon your life, an assignment God that has ordained for you to accomplish. You’re a person of destiny, and even if situations do not look like it, keep declaring what God has said concerning you. The reason the enemy is fighting so hard – sending financial troubles, sickness, family problems, etc – is to distract you from your appointment with Caesar. But your purpose cannot be stopped by the waves of opposition. Your destiny is greater than the disaster.

There’s something significant you’ve been called to accomplish in your generation. There’s a calling upon your life that you must fulfill. Therefore, don’t let the storms on your way abort your purpose. Don’t let the trials talk you out of reaching your destination. As long as you believe God’s Word, it will surely come to pass.

Though the ship hit bottom and broke apart, everyone on board was saved, and Paul eventually arrived in Rome and stood before Caesar, just as God had promised him. In the same way, God’s Word to you this year will surely be fulfilled. You don’t have to figure out how it’s going to happen; all you have to do is believe. Stay in faith and let God speak to you through the scriptures. The Word of God is able to keep you stable and anchor your soul in the midst of any storm.

Turbulence also often indicates you are close to your miracle. It has been said that it is often darkest just before the day dawns. Hence, whatever you may be faced with today, hold on to God’s Word and keep rejoicing in Him. Surely there is an end, and your expectations shall not be cut short.

PRAYER
Lord, I thank You because You alone have the final say over my life, and I know that surely Your promises to me will come to pass. Please grant me the grace for diligent study of Your Word so that I can have the faith to stand until my miracle comes in Jesus’ Name.

QUOTE
The battle you are faced with today is a good warfare because God has .already foreordained a victorious end for you. – WORDBITE 22