HORM Devotional

Malachi 4:2 says ‘But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall’

DAILY READING – Hebrews 1; Genesis 45:1-46:27; Psalm 36

Rjukan, a town in Norway, is known as one of the darkest cities on earth. For five months in a year, the town does not see the sun. The town has no direct sunlight from September to March because of the mountains surrounding it.
During these months of darkness, the inhabitants of Rjukan were often in desperate need of the sun for their overall well-being and also for vitamin D which is vital for health.
In order to give the locals at least a bit of sun, during these dark months, the town embarked on a very expensive project of installing mirrors on the mountains that could reflect sunlight down into the town.
In 2013, the town officially installed solar-powered mirrors that are placed 450-meters above, which track the movement of the sun across the town. As a result – the sunlight shines down on a small area of the town, where the town square is located.
The idea of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars just to have a little sunshine, was criticized by some people, who saw the project as a waste of money.
But many of these critics changed their minds after seeing the positive effect on the townspeople who were grateful to have much-needed sunshine, no matter how little, during the five months of darkness.

The fact that the townspeople of Rjukan were willing to spend so much money just for a little sunshine, shows just how crucial light of the Sun is to the existence and well-being of man.
Likewise, spiritually, man has a great need for light because the whole world lies in darkness and wickedness (1 John 5:18-19].
Psalm 74:20 says that the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.
From these spiritually dark regions, man is oppressed and suffers sickness, afflictions, financial woes and all manner of calamities on earth.
The Bible says that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness and the rulers of the darkness of this world. And the only way to break the power of these forces of darkness is through the introduction of the light from God.

Malachi 4:2 says ‘But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall’

Those who fear God enjoy the arising of the Sun of righteousness, that brings healing and deliverance from the oppressions of darkness.
Jesus is the Sun of righteousness and just as the sun shines to keep away death and sustain life on earth, so also Christ’s light shines to keep away the forces of darkness from those who fear God.

John 1:5 says ‘And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.’

When the light of God shines upon anyone, every oppression of the forces of darkness must cease in that life.
Therefore to keep away the encroachment of darkness from our health, finances, family, relationships etc, it is important that we stay in the fear of the Lord.
Our level of the fear of God determines how far we can go in life. The fear of God means living to please God as a lifestyle. It means walking in line with God’s Word and obeying His instructions. Jesus says that when we keep His commandments He and the Father will abide with us.
The light of God’s Presence with us will shatter every oppression of darkness in any area of our lives.
When we have reverence for God’s Word, the entrance of His Word gives light that saturates our life.
This is how we can keep our bodies healthy and free from oppression. As the light shines in us there will be no hiding place for any sickness or disease.
Today, as we commit to loading our heart with God’s Word, the Sun of righteousness shall indeed arise with healing in His wings for us. The light of God’s countenance will shine upon us, bringing healing, deliverance and establishing our all-round victory in Jesus Name.

PRAYER: Father, thank You, for the light of Your Word that is shattering every darkness around me and establishing me in dominion. Thank You Lord for making me triumphant and victorious over every affliction in Jesus Name.
QUOTE :
Your heart needs to be filled with The Word of God to the point of overflow. – WORDBITE 222

Isaiah 59: 19
“So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him”

DAILY READING; Luke 24, Genesis 44,; Psalm 35.

Floods are usually controlled by redirecting excess water to purpose-built canals or floodways, which in turn divert the water to temporary holding ponds or dams.
In downtown Houston two dams, the Addicks and Barker dams  have protected the region from flooding for 70 years. But during  hurricane Harvey, after one of the heaviest downpours in U.S. history, both reservoirs’ water levels rose to record highs.  And after five consecutive days of  such rain the dams began overflowing, adding to the rising floodwaters that had  virtually crippled the city.
To avert an impending crisis, in an unprecedented move, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began releasing water from these two overfilled reservoirs in west Houston. The release of the water meant that some streets were flooded, and some homes inundated with water for weeks. However the release was necessary, officials said, to ease the strain on the dams and avoid their total collapse. 

Just as dams are standards raised against floods, spiritually, the Holy Spirit raises for us standards against the evil floods of life.

Isaiah 59 lets us know that when the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of God will raise a standard against him. No matter the velocity and ferocity of the flood water, it will never overflow or overpower the standard raised against it by The Spirit. 
While physical dams are manmade structures that tend to weaken and can even collapse, when faced with something beyond its capacity, the standard the Holy Spirit raises is infallible and is our constant divine defense.
In Mathew 7, Jesus told us how the flood , wind, storm and the rain beat against the house that was built on the rock, but that house did not fall because it was founded upon the rock. That Rock is Christ. When our hope is built on nothing else but Christ and His Word, our house will never fall.
Daily the enemy attacks with floods of problems and troubles. His intention is to get your house to fall. But when these flood of trials and temptations arise, The Holy Spirit raises a restraining wall against them. This wall is the Scriptures stored up in your heart. If you have taken time to meditate on the Word, you will find that when troubles suddenly arise, the Word girds your mind. Your faith will be strong. As you hold on to the Word of God, floods will never overflow you. 

In Isaiah 43, God promises that even when you go through the waters, the waters will never overflow you.  He will be with you.  He will never leave you nor forsake you. 

God is committed to our deliverance. Understand that The Holy Spirit is a fighter. He will raise a shield of protection around the believer against the arrows of the wicked. He was the cloud that came between Israel and the army of pharaoh. While He gave light to Israel He gave darkness to pharaoh and his army. In the same way He will turn the light into darkness for your enemies and destroy the plans of the wicked concerning you. .

The Holy Spirit is the seal that protects the believer. Just as a manufacturer places a seal over his product to shield and protect it, so God has placed the seal of The Spirit around us to shield us from the evil in the world. This shield does not allow any flood to touch us.
As long we fear the Lord and obey His Word, we don’t have to fear the things in the world, because we are under divine cover. It is an impenetrable, unbreakable threefold shield, because our life is hid in Christ and Christ is hid in God.  
Certainly, through a lifestyle of diligent study of the Word, we will abide in the fear of the Lord, which guarantees us a divine defence against the floods of the enemy..

PRAYER: Lord, Please grant me the grace to be continually filled with Your Word and Your Spirit so that I can remain under divine cover, where I become untouchable to every flood of the enemy in Jesus Name. .   

QUOTE 
When you obey God’s instruction you are delivered from destruction . WORDBITE 222

Psalm 115:11 [AMPC] ‘You who [reverently] fear the Lord, trust in and lean on the Lord! He is their Help and their Shield.’

DAILY READING; • • Luke 24:1-12; Genesis 43; Psalm 34

As an engineering student in New York City in the ‘70s, Joe Torrillo and his classmates had visited the site of the World Trade Center towers which was under construction. Their engineering teacher had pointed out to them that the design of the new building featured more steel and less concrete.
Nearly 30 years later, Joe Torrillo was serving as a fire department lieutenant, on September 11, 2001, when hijackers crashed American Airlines Flights into the twin towers of the World Trade Center.
Torrillo, who was a block away from the tower, gazed up at the burning towers in shock. Recalling what his engineering teacher had said about the design of the World Trade Center, he knew the buildings were going to fall.
And so he headed to the scene to warn others of the imminent danger. But within minutes of his arrival, the second jet passed over his head and collided with the South Tower. As the building began to collapse, he and others began running to get away. However the building came crashing down on them and Torrillo found himself buried under steel beams and concrete. He suffered a fractured skull and broken ribs. His spine had been crushed and one of his arms broken. He was also suffering from massive internal bleeding.
As people died around him, Joe cried out to God for help. And God did intervene, as rescuers found him minutes later and he was pulled out from beneath the rubble. He was strapped to a stretcher, but while being evacuated to a hospital, the second tower began to fall towards them, and for the second time he was buried alive underneath debris. In the midst of it all, Torrillo continued to pray and thank God. Miraculously, about 45 minutes later, he was once again rescued and then taken to a hospital, where he underwent intense treatment.
He was among the very few survivors out of over 300 firefighters from the New York City Fire Department who first responded to the emergency. He credited his miraculous deliverance to his faith in God.
After his recovery, Joe began traveling around the world as a professional speaker sharing his testimony of God’s faithfulness.

Looking around today, sometimes it does feel as if the world is under a terror attack. Daily on the news are reports of wars, civil unrest, natural disasters, pandemics, rising political tensions, financial uncertainty and anxiety about the future.
In the midst of these adverse circumstances people sometimes feel as if they are being buried under the weight of overwhelming challenges.
However, for believers in Christ who fear the Lord and hope in Him, their case will always be different. God is our solid rock upon which we can stand when all other grounds are sinking sand.
We serve the mighty God who can deliver out of any depth and make a way through the mighty waters. No matter the things that come against you, always realize that God has you covered.
Today, you may be facing uncertainty in your job or struggling financially or facing challenges in your relationships. But no matter how these pressures try to weigh you down and push you under, always realize that God is on your side. Because you fear Him and serve Him, He will be your ever present help at every time of need.
Certainly, when you place your faith in God, He will not allow you to be swallowed up or buried by adversities. Rather, where others fall, He will cause you to rise. While others struggle, He will cause you to soar. And while people are striving to survive, you will only keep thriving and rising higher.
You’re not at the mercy of fate, chance or bad luck; there’s a covenant speaking over your life. Your choice to fear God and serve Him has secured for you divine immunity against the trials and troubles of the world. Jesus said that while there are tribulations in the world, those who are in Him will have peace.
Truly, as we reverently fear the Lord, trust in Him and lean on Him, He will ever be our help and our shield (Psalm 115:11)

PRAYER: Lord, please enable me to keep drawing closer to You so that I can always overcome trials and adversities of the world . By Your grace I will only keep rising greater and stronger in Jesus Name.

QUOTE :
When you make God your priority, God automatically makes you priority in His own plan. – WORDBITE 222.

Psalm 31:19: “How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you.”

DAILY READING • Luke 23:26-56; Genesis 42; Psalm 33

Yom Kippur is the “Day of Atonement,” for the Jews. It is the holiest, most important day of the year for them.
This year’s Yom Kippur ended two days ago. It began at sundown Tuesday, October 4, and ended on Wednesday evening, October 5th.
According to Jewish tradition, the first Yom Kippur took place after the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt and arrival at Mount Sinai, where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. When Moses descended from the mountain, and caught the people worshipping a golden calf, he shattered the sacred tablets in anger. Because the Israelites atoned for their idolatry, God forgave their sins and offered Moses a second set of tablets.
Just as Moses sought God’s divine forgiveness for the Israelites, the tone of the Yom Kippur holiday is focused on repentance and atonement.
The ten days that lead up to the Yom Kippur are known as the days of Awe or Repentance.
The Jews spend these ten days to reflect on their personal lives, and repent of their sins.
After the ten days of Awe or repentance, then comes the Yom Kippur which is a day of fasting. For 25 hours the Jews would “afflict their souls” by abstaining from food and drink, not bathing or applying creams, nor wearing any leather footwear. They spend the day in synagogue, praying for forgiveness.
It is tradition for everyone to wear white clothing on Yom Kippur day.
White reminds them that they are to be like the angels, and also symbolizes for them forgiveness and spiritual cleansing.

The Jewish day of atonement is a reminder to us to often take the time to seek the Lord for repentance and revival.
The word “repent” means to acknowledge our sins, renounce it, seek God’s forgiveness, and try to live differently.
While the Jews have a set period for seeking repentance, as believers, we are to daily live in reverential fear of the Lord and be quick to repent of anything that could hinder our relationship with Him.
When our lives are governed by the reverential fear of the Lord, then we can expect to see His abundant blessings.
There are several benefits that come with fearing God, one of these is longevity.
Proverbs 10:27 says, “The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be shortened.”
Today, modern men will do anything to have the guarantee of living long on earth. But the Bible says people who fear God are assured of long life and peace. They will be delivered from death and have abundant supply.
Psalm 33:18 says: “the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.”

Truly the goodness of God is stored up for those who fear Him.
Psalm 31:19 says: “How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you.”
When the Bible says that the “fear of God is the beginning of wisdom”, it means it is the foremost thing for any wise person to do to secure his life on earth.
When you begin to live in the fear of the Lord you are assured of a glorious destiny.
A life of sincere repentance from sin is evidence that we are truly living in the fear of the Lord.
Let us therefore today, take the time to reflect on our lives and be sure we are living right and maintaining unbroken fellowship with the Lord. With a lifestyle of intimate relationship with God, surely, we will enjoy divine establishment and overflowing blessings on earth.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for granting me the strength and grace to get rid of every possible barrier in my relationship with You. Thank You Lord for renewed zeal to pursue Your will always in Jesus Name.
QUOTE;
You have got to learn to acknowledge the report of God’s Word in your life and ignore what the devil is reporting- WORDBITE 222.

.

Proverbs 14:26 ‘In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, And his children will have refuge.’

DAILY READING; •Luke 23:1-25; Genesis 41; Psalm 32

Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong was known as the most densely populated city on earth. The buildings were so packed together that no sunlight penetrated the narrow, passageways on its streets. Locals called it the “City of Darkness,”.
This city became one of the world’s largest opium producing centers, ran by Chinese criminal Triad gangs. The city was not policed and was a haven of crime and sin, where prostitution, pornography, and drug addiction flourished.
To this fearsome place came a 22 year old British girl named Jackie Pullinger to begin her missionary work in 1966.
After graduating from the Royal College of Music in London, she headed to Hong Kong propelled by her deep desire to serve the Lord on the mission field.
She arrived in Hong Kong in 1966 and dwelt in the infamous walled city where she started a Youth Club. Miraculously, many boys who were violent gang members began to come to the Youth club and got saved.
The gangs had a rule that once you were a gang member you were a gang member for life. The boys who left the gangs could expect severe retribution or even death. But the gang bosses had seen how Jackie had success in getting the boys off drugs completely, something they had been unable to do. They became so impressed that they renounced their claims on the gang boys who became Christians. This was unprecedented in Hong Kong gang culture. Truly it was the work of God.
Over the years Jackie’s efforts led to an amazing degree of success and many lives were saved. She set up the St. Stephen’s Society, which is one of the most successful organizations in the world today in rescuing hundreds of young people from a life of misery on the streets.
Jackie Pullinger’s amazing story is contained in her classic autobiography ‘Chasing the ragon’.

The fear of God makes you fearless among men.
In the quest to fulfill our calling, we will be confronted by giants, battles, and all manner of fearful challenges.
But through faith in God, we can accomplish incredible things. We must never limit what God can do in our lives.
When Israel was about to take the promised land, God gave Joshua charge to be strong and courageous. The taking over of the land would be determined based on the state of the mind. God commanded him to meditate on the Word day and night, by so doing he would be victorious and not be afraid or dismayed.
Likewise to possess our promised land and come into our calling, we must be filled with faith through God’s Word.
It doesn’t matter how formidable or impossible the outward conditions, what matters is how strong the faith within you. Jesus has given us the power to tread upon serpents and scorpions and over every power of the enemy and He said nothing shall by any means hurt us. When we are emboldened by the promises in God’s Word, we can overcome any fearsome situation.
Indeed to do the work of the Lord, we need supernatural boldness. Though we may sometimes face intimidating situations, the greater One who lives in us will always help us overcome.
Certainly, when God is with us we will not need to fear or become dismayed. His Presence around us will strengthen us to do exploits.
To see signs and wonders we must not let fear stop us from taking bold steps of faith.
The truth is that, when you move by faith and do what you can do, God will step in and do what you can’t do. When you do the natural, God will do the supernatural.
Even when outward circumstances appear too difficult, through faith in God’s Word we can experience victory and fulfill our calling.
Always remember, you are created to make a difference. God will direct your steps and give you opportunities to be a blessing to others, to meet their needs.
Certainly today, as we stay focused on doing God’s will, surely He will show up and establish His Word and cause us to experience His miracles, signs and wonders. As we continually fill our heart with the Word, surely, the Holy Ghost will impart into our hearts the faith we need to overcome the world.

PRAYER: Lord, please enable me to meditate constantly on Your Word so that I can have the faith to do incredible things. By Your grace what looks impossible to men will surely become possible in my life in Jesus Name. .
QUOTE;
When you apply The Word of God, it will work for you, anywhere and anytime- WORDBITE 222.

Proverbs 19:23 [AMPC] ‘The reverent, worshipful fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it rests satisfied; he cannot be visited with [actual] evil.’

DAILY READING; Luke 22:39-71; Genesis 40; Psalm 31

David Glenn Winans is noted as the patriarch of perhaps the most successful family in contemporary gospel music history. He was born in Detroit in 1934 and began singing in the choir at his grandfather’s church. By age 18 he was part of a vocal quartet called the Nobleaires. Around this time he befriended another young musician named Sam Cooke who was making waves as a star of Gospel music.
Sam Cooke was the son of a Baptist pastor and his early musical development took place in the church. However, after a while, Sam began leaving Gospel to cross over to secular music.
He tried to persuade David Winans to join him and move from singing in churches to singing in nightclubs and bars. But David refused, insisting on pursuing his call in Gospel music.
Sam Cooke left him and went on to eventually achieve great fame as a secular musician. But his success was very short-lived. At the height of his career, Sam Cooke seemed lost spiritually, and was taking comfort in excessive drinking and drug use. His indulgences eventually led him to a lonely death in a shoddy motel room. In December 11, 1964, at only 33 years, Sam Cooke was shot dead under controversial circumstances for attempted rape. The police later found a bottle of whiskey and a copy of The Bible, lying next to each other in the passenger seat of his car.
David Winans continued to follow Gospel music and his fear for God manifested even in the ways he raised his children. He and his wife had 10 children, whom they raised strictly in the ways of the Lord. They forbad their children from playing any other music but Gospel in the house.
Mom and Pop Winans taught their children to focus only on songs that glorify God. Things were hard at the beginning and David Winans worked as a car salesman, taxi driver, barber and janitor to support his children’s first steps into music.
His dedication eventually paid off and the Winans children all found fame as mostly Gospel singers, selling millions of albums and winning many Grammy Awards.
Speaking at 2003 Essence Awards pop Winans said “God has blessed us to raise these children, but in the fear of the Lord; there ain’t no other way. Train them up in the way the Lord want them to go, and the Lord will bless you.”
The Lord indeed blessed David Winans for his dedication. From obscure beginnings, today, his family has soared to great success and acclaim in the world.

In a fast-paced, demanding world, full of lures and temptations, we must keep focused on where God is taking us to and refuse to compromise.
It can be tempting to seek the shortcut to fame and riches, however, there is a way which seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
To walk in the fear of the Lord, is to walk on the safest path in the world.
The wide and broadway may be seductive, but it ends in destruction. Though the strait and narrow way may seem hard, it is the road that leads to life.
As believers, we cannot afford to deviate from God’s call to follow the glint and glitters of the world. It can be dangerous. Let us not be deceived, God is not mocked, whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap. If you play today, you will pay tomorrow.
No matter how hard the journey, don’t sell out, don’t give up, keep walking in the fear of the Lord and keep believing His Word.
Though your beginning may seem small and obscure, be assured that God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
It is God’s plan for us as His redeemed to become pacesetters and trail blazers in the world. He has ordained us to be kings and priests to reign on the earth.
This is what the Blood of Jesus has purchased for us.
However, we must be willing to patiently wait for the Lord’s time and follow His leading. Following God’s plan demands time spent in prayer and study of the Word.
As we walk in the fear of the Lord and in obedience to His Word, it is only a matter of time before we begin to see the manifestation of His great and wonderful purpose for our lives.
Today by the Blood of Jesus, let us receive the grace to run our race without deviation, looking unto Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith.

PRAYER: Lord, I ask for the grace to always walk in fear and reverence of Your Word. As I do, I thank You for connecting me to my next level and unfolding the good and grand plan You have ordained for me in Jesus Name.
QUOTE;
There is something that God has placed within you that the world is eagerly awaiting to see.– WORDBITE 222.

!

Psalms 112:1-3 says ‘Blessed is the man that fears the Lord and delight greatly in God’s commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: his generation shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness shall endureth forever.’

DAILY READING; Luke 22:1-38; Genesis 39; Psalm 30

Johann Christoph Blumhardt was a renowned German pastor in the 19th century.
Early in life it was revealed to him that his life was to be used by God. And so while growing up he had fear and reverence of God and later attended a school of theology. There, he sought to live holy, often studied the Bible and followed the lives of reformation leaders, such as Martin Luther.
After graduation, he eventually worked as a pastor in the small town of Möttlingen, in southern Germany.
As he persevered in fervently seeking God, miracles and healings soon began to occur in his parish. One day a mother came running to Blumhardt because she had spilled a pot of boiling oatmeal on her three year old child. The child was screaming in pain, and covered with burns. Blumhardt picked up the child and prayed. All pain immediately ceased and the burns were gone within days. The occurrence of such miracles began drawing many people to Blumhardt, to receive prayer for their sicknesses. This led to a revival in Blumhardt’s parish and there were many healings, conversions and radical transformations of lives.
However, the government and some church leaders looked upon these miracles with disfavor. At the beginning of 1846 the government demanded that Blumhardt stopped praying for people to be healed and should rather direct them to the medical profession. Blumhardt’s heart was broken, that he was not allowed to pray for people who came with their needs.
Eventually, he decided to obey God rather than men and so he left the town and started his own ministry in the town of Bad Boll in Germany. Here, people began to flock to his ministry and were regularly healed. God’s power was mightily displayed. His ministry of healing and deliverance paved the way for many other ministries to follow. He is respected as a forerunner of the Divine Healing Movement in Germany.

Indeed great faith is the product of great fights. Great triumphs can only come from great trials. If we are going to achieve anything great in life, we must learn to fear God rather than fear men.
We cannot allow men’s opinions stop us from doing what God has called us to do. When we fear God, we will elevate His will above what people may say or think of us.
When your life is making a positive impact on men, the devil would often look for ways to hinder your progress by raising oppositions. But no matter what comes your way, always make the decision to please God rather than please men.
Regardless of their attacks, men cannot limit what God has purposed to do in your life. Anyone who fights against God’s will for you, is ultimately fighting a lost battle.
No matter what anyone does to suppresses you or oppresses you, God has factored in all those things in His plans for you already. Joseph had a dream of his brothers bowing to him, and all they did to stop his dream only ended up working together to bring it to pass. Therefore do not bother about anyone who is working against you, just focus on obeying God. God is a master strategist who knows how to cause the plans of your enemies to backfire and work to propel you forward.
When you understand this, you will always choose to fear God and obey Him, rather than fear what men can do. Certainly, those who fear God end up elevated and rewarded with His abundant blessings.

Psalms 112:1-3 says ‘Blessed is the man that fears the Lord and delight greatly in God’s commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: his generation shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness shall endureth forever.’

The fear of God positions us for supernatural provision and progress. Let us therefore today, make the choice to abide in the fear of God, to follow His Word, and do whatever He requires of us.
As we do this, surely our lives will overflow with abundant favor, miracles and unending wonders.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to always make the pursuit of Your will a great priority in my life. May my fear, love and reverence for You continue to grow deeper every day in Jesus Name.
QUOTE: Illuminate your world for you are a star destined to shine. – WORDBITE 222

Psalm 111:10 ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever’

DAILY READING ; Luke 21; Genesis 38; Psalm 29

When Mary Slessor began her missionary work in Calabar, she was determined to take the Gospel to the unreached tribes, where no missionary had gone before.
She felt particularly burdened for the Okoyong tribe, who lived away from other tribes and were greatly feared. Cannibalism, violence, drugs, poverty, murder, and diseases ruled over the Okoyong tribe.
Other missionaries warned Mary Slessor against going to minister to the Okoyongs. But she persisted until her mission committee finally, in 1888, granted her request to live among the Okoyong people.
To survive and be accepted to live among this dangerous people, she needed divine wisdom. She learned the language, dressed like them, ate their native foods and adopted every practice of theirs that she could, without giving up her faith. Mary tirelessly worked to resolve the violence within the tribe. She realized that the lack of a basic economic system was causing the people to live a meaningless life that led to most of their problems.
Mary decided to unite the men through their labor. She dedicated 15 years of her life and ministry to the Okoyong tribe which ended in great success and there was a complete positive shift in the entire tribe.
In 1892, Mary Slessor was appointed vice-consul of the Okoyong territory by the British consul-general. This meant that Mary was the judge and law enforcer for the British Government in the territory.
In her position, she judged discretely and was widely celebrated for her wisdom in handling difficult cases.
People traveled hundreds of miles to seek settlement of their disputes at her court.
Because she feared God, men feared her. Chiefs from far and near bowed to her commands.
However, in spite of her many administrative duties, Mary Slessor always preached Christ and led many tribal people to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior
The impact of Mary’s service of God and humanity, was immeasurable. As a form of remembrance and acknowledgment of her great works, Mary was also the first woman to appear on a Scottish banknote in 1997.

God accomplished great and incredible things through Mary Slessor’s life, because she connected to divine wisdom through her fear of the Lord.
Importantly, one of the commandments from scriptures for accessing divine wisdom is the fear of the Lord.
Psalm 111:10 says: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.’
The man who walks in the fear of the Lord has automatic access to supernatural wisdom.
Indeed, the fear of the Lord is a basic requirement for anyone who will excel in their calling.
We will succeed in the journey of destiny to the extent to which we fear God and reverence Him.
We serve the God of signs and wonders, but it is only those who fear and reverence Him that will taste of His power.
The men who were distinguished and achieved great things in the Bible were men who had the fear of the Lord.
Likewise if we want to be distinguished in our generation, we must walk in fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom.
We receive the fear of the Lord through hearing the Word of God. The more we hear the Word and know God, the more we will increase in our fear and reverence of Him.
To excel through divine wisdom, let us choose to continually seek God through His Word and fervent prayers, even as we keep expressing praise and appreciation to Him.
As we so seek God, He will greatly distinguish us and cause us to stand out in our generation

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for enabling me to always walk in the fear and reverence of Your Presence so that I can excel in my endeavors and become outstanding in every area of my life in Jesus Name.
QUOTE
Your attitude always determines your altitude in life. -WORDBITE 222.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 ‘The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.’

DAILY READING; • Luke 20:27-47; Genesis 37; Psalm 28

During World War II, it was a total risk for the Ten Boom family to obey God’s Word, in the face of Nazi opposition. However, being devout Christians, Corrie ten Boom and her family made the costly choice to fear and honor God’s Word despite the risk.
As the Nazis killed thousands of Jews, they turned their home into a hiding place to harbor Jews from arrest. Corrie ten Boom became a leader in the movement to protect Jews, overseeing a network of “safe houses” in the country. Through these activities, it was estimated that 800 Jews’ lives were saved.
However on February 28, 1944, betrayed by a fellow Dutch citizen, the entire family was arrested and imprisoned. Miraculously though, the Jews hidden in their home were not found by the German soldiers despite thorough searches. They later escaped to safety.
Corrie and her sister Betsy were taken to the Ravensbrück concentration camp, a deadly women’s labor camp in Germany. Even there they still held worship services using a Bible Corrie had miraculously sneaked in, undetected. Though Betsy later died from illness, Corrie was released by divine intervention, due to a ‘clerical error’, where her name was wrongly placed among those to be freed, but before her captors could realize their mistake she was already gone. A week after her ‘wrong’ release, all the women in her age group were killed in the gas chambers. She started a worldwide ministry and later told her story in a book entitled ‘The Hiding Place.’

To fear God means to obey His Word no matter the cost.
Even when obedience may not be convenient, we must always walk in line with the Scriptures, asking God for the grace to do what is right. Obedience is proof that we love God. When it comes to taking decisions we must let ourselves be guided by the fear of God and allow His Word to have the final say.

In Ecclesiastes 12:13 Solomon said, “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”

Solomon, the wisest man in his generation, tells us that life is all about fearing God and obeying His commandments.
No matter what we may think or what we may feel, as believers, the Scriptures must have the final authority in our lives. Our anthem ought to always be ‘Not my will but Yours be done’
In our business, marriage, career, we must let God’s Word have top priority. That is how we fear and honor God. And when we honor God He promises He will in turn honor us.

In 1 Samuel 2:30 God says ‘for them that honor Me, I will honor, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.’

Every commandment of God is absolutely for our benefit
Let us therefore today make the choice to show fear and reverence to God by making His Word our greatest priority. As we do so, we will find that God will in turn honor us and elevate us. He will set us apart and set us high above people in the world.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to obey you always, even when it seems difficult, may Your will, only be done in my life now and always in Jesus Name.
QUOTE;
When you make God your priority, God automatically makes you priority in His own plan. – WORDBITE 222

Proverbs‬ ‭9:10‬ ‭[AMPC] “The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight and understanding.”

DAILY READING; Luke 20:1-26; Genesis 35:1-36:43; Psalm 27

Just before the midnight of September 30, 1960, key government figures, all gathered at the Lagos Race Course awaiting the birth of an independent and emancipated new nation called Nigeria.
They all stood and prayed for this new nation as they were led in prayers by the Anglican Bishop of Lagos, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Lagos and the Chief Imam of Lagos. When it was exactly12 midnight, the floodlights were dimmed and the light came up again, as the British flag was lowered and a new Green White Green banner was lifted up. The new Nigerian flag replaced the Union Jack on the flagpole.
All present were filled with joy at the final realization of their long struggle for independence.
They sang the new National Anthem with great hope and sense of total commitment to a great new nation of Nigeria.
Later in the morning, many people gathered to witness the occasion as the Queen of England, Elizabeth II, represented by her cousin, Princess Alexandra of Kent, formally handed the constitutional instrument to the Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.
It was an unforgettable experience for the thousands of spectators who gathered to participate in the historic occasion. They were jubilant and filled with hope, aspiration and dreams for their new nation.
After having been a British protectorate since 1901, Nigerian citizens were happy to be finally allowed to start making decisions as regards the future of their nation.
However, though filled with dreams of greatness for their nation, what they failed to realize was how long and difficult the journey that lay ahead.

Certainly, the dawning of a new day in the life of a nation or individual offers a new opportunity for great things.
However, though the journey may start with great hope, it takes divine involvement, to ensure it doesn’t end in pain and frustration.
On the journey to the promised land, in Exodus 33:14-16, Moses told God that he would not go on the journey without His presence.
Indeed without God’s Presence, Israel would never have made it through the wilderness to their land of promise.
We need total dependence on God if we want to go far in life. Except The Lord builds the house every man’s labour is in vain. It is the hand of God that makes the difference, not just the labour of man.
1 Samuel 2:9 says ‘By strength shall no man prevail’.
There is a place for hardwork and diligence, but ultimately it is the blessings of God that makes the huge difference.
When God takes over your journey, you can be sure of victory, but if you choose to fend for yourself, then defeat is inevitable.
Why many lofty dreams and aspirations fail to find fulfillment is due to failure to recognize the unseen spiritual battles.
Every new level comes with new devils and open doors certainly attract oppositions. In 1Corinthians 16:9 apostle Paul says that the great and effectual door opened before him came with many adversaries and resistance.
How we deal with the resistances to our progress is by increasing our connection to God. The fear of God is a great necessity if we are to experience victory over our adversaries. Through the fear of God we receive the wisdom to triumph and thrive in our new level.
Proverbs‬ ‭9:10‬ ‭(AMPC) says “The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight and understanding.”
‭‭
As long as we draw near to God, He will draw near to us.
And certainly, when God is with us, nothing and no one can ever be against us.
On this first day of the month of October, let us make the commitment to seek God with greater fervency, so as to experience the glorious new season He has for us.
As a nation and as individuals, it is time to break away from the things that have tried to hold us down and sail to greater new heights.
By the power in the Blood of Jesus, we are making a definite break with past negative experiences.
No matter how dark the past has been, God is about to bring light out of the darkness.
It is certainly our time to arise and shine, for indeed our light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon us.

PRAYER: Father, I am grateful that You enabled me to see this brand New Month. Thank You Lord for granting me the grace to seek You diligently so as to experience a full manifestation of the great things You have destined for me in Jesus’ Name.
QUOTE
To enjoy divine opportunities you must be willing to take the risk of faith.. WORDBITE 222