HORM Devotional

Deuteronomy 31:6 ‘Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee’

DAILY READING; • Luke 7:18-50; Genesis 11; Psalm 5

During the Vietnam War, America applied the tactics of psychological warfare against their Vietnamese opponents.
In June of 1968, the USA began ‘Operation wandering soul’, a tactic employed to directly strike terror into the hearts of their enemies.
This psychological warfare was spiritually terrifying for the Vietnamese due to their traditional beliefs. They believed that if the dead were unburied, their souls would be doomed to wander in agony. The American psychological Operations unit therefore saw this as a chilling opportunity to weaken the resolve the Southern Vietnamese soldiers.
U.S. engineers spent weeks recording eerie sounds and altered voices, which seemed like the pained cries of the lost soul of slain Vietnamese soldiers, pleading with their countrymen to turn back. These ‘ghost tapes’ were played on loudspeakers in Vietnamese villages and towns, at night. Helicopters and patrol boats were also deployed to broadcast the recordings of the ghost tapes at night.
This proved an effective tactic, in creating fear and demoralizing many Vietnamese soldiers, leading to their capture. These tapes also caused fear and panic among the civilians, causing them to flee their homes.

US military analysts believe that psychological warfare is a chief military strategy that is capable of defeating the enemy without physically fighting them.
Spiritually, satanic attacks are psychological too. Often the enemy attacks the mind in the attempt to demoralize and instill fear. Science has found that when people receive diagnosis of certain diseases, it can be psychologically more devastating to them than it is physically.
Truly, the mind is where victory or defeat is decided.
Fighting fear is a mind battle and faith from God’s Word will always defeat fear. Hebrew 4:12 says that God’s Word is alive, powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword.
When we stay focused on the Word, we will receive an inoculation of faith that will always keep us in perfect peace.

2 Timothy 1:7 says that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Your destiny is too great to let fear intimidate you or stop you from experiencing God’s best for you. Therefore, constantly guard your mind and resist fear, no matter what you may see or hear concerning your health, finances, relationships etc.
Always keep your gaze on the infallibility of God’s Word. Let us mind what is written and not what is happening.
Instead of worrying, meditate on what God says about your situation. When you walk in faith instead of fear, you activate God’s miracle working power in your favor.
God is always in control and He has said that not one hair can fall from your head without His knowledge. Nothing is a surprise to Him and He has already armed you with strength for every battle! Therefore, in every situation let us keep our focus on His promises and not on the problem. What God has said He will do, He will surely do it, as long as we stay in faith. Indeed the Lord in our midst is greater and mightier than the noises and propaganda of the enemy.
As we abide strong and courageous through the study of the Word, prayers and praise, surely, we will always emerge victorious from every battle.

PRAYER; Lord, I thank You for You are always faithful. No matter what may be going on in the world, I thank You for the grace to stay in faith so that I can see the manifestation of Your promises in my life in Jesus Name.
QUOTE
God’s promises in Christ in your life may appear delayed, but never forget that delays are not denials. WORDBITE 222

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Psalms 90:13 ‘So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.’

DAILY READING; Luke 7:1-17; Genesis 8-10; Psalm 4

Christina Stanton is author of the book “Out Of the Shadow of 9-11: An Inspiring Tale of Escape and Transformation.”
In 2001, Christina had a good job in New York while her husband was a finance executive on Wall Street and they were focused on pursuing material things and climbing higher socially.. At that time, they lived on the 24th-floor of a high rise building, close to the World Trade Center.
On the morning of September 11, 2001, Christina became alarmed after the first plane crashed into the twin tower . As she watched the smoke billowing from the World Trade Center, the second plane flew within 500 feet of their apartment. The sound of the roaring engines knocked her down and out, rendering her temporarily deaf. She and her husband, grabbed what they could and began to run. Christina was still in her nightgown and wore no shoes.
They joined the throngs on the streets running for their lives. As the towers fell and the yellow debris covered everything, Christina felt death was near and she asked her husband: “Are we going to die?” He responded by calling upon God in prayers.
At that moment Christina realized how fickle life was outside of knowing God.
Just in a few short minutes, she and her husband went from being upscale New Yorkers to refugees, not knowing if they would survive the day.
Though Christina had often gone to Church on Sundays, she had never really taken the time to develop an intimate personal relationship with Jesus.
After surviving the 9/11 disaster, her worldview was drastically changed and it transformed her life. She no longer lived for accomplishments or pursuing worldly accolades.
Her desire to have a deeper relationship with God and serve Him better made her to take up a job as the director of missions for her Church. Though it meant a drop in salary, it gave her personal satisfaction to focus on serving God and building up a deeper relationship with Him which, for her, was what really matters most in life.

We must understand that we are living in the last days, which are perilous days on earth and we can’t afford to misplace our priorities.
There is an urgent call for believers to awake out of spiritual slumber and begin to truly live for God and His purpose. Indeed if ever there was a time to live with total focus on seeking God’s kingdom, it is now because no one knows the time or the hour when the son of man shall come!
Spiritually we can’t afford to go on a ‘holiday,’ or live like the rest of the world.
We don’t have to wait for a life-altering event to awake us to the consciousness that life on earth is temporary.

It is therefore time to quit playing and to begin praying and seeking greater intimacy with God.
We don’t assume, we know God just because we go to Church. There’s need to develop a deeper relationship with Him through daily quiet time spent in studying the Word, praying and worshipping.
The Presence of God is our safe Haven as gross darkness encroaches upon the earth.
Let us therefore make a fresh commitment to keep our focus on seeking God first and pursuing what He has called us to accomplish on earth. We must remember that one day we will be called upon to give an account of our lives, therefore we can’t afford to continue to indulge in spiritual carelessness.
Truly We need wisdom to maximize our days on earth..

Psalms 90:13 says: So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

In these last days, we are in a season of divine realignments. It is time to refocus and begin to fervently pursue what matters most which is our divine purpose on earth.We cannot afford to prioritize worldly pursuits and ignore the Heavenly race before us. It is truly time to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
As we make God our topmost pursuit, surely there shall be a reward and our expectations shall not be cut short.

PRAYER: Father please help me to make seeking You my priority. Please grant me the grace to seek greater intimacy with You in prayer and the study of Your Word, help me to move from the outer court to the inner court in my relationship with You in Jesus’ Name.
QUOTE;
Your heart needs to be filled with The Word of God to the point of overflow. – WORDBITE 222

Psalm 66:3 “Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.”

DAILY READING; Luke 6:27-49; Genesis 6:1-7:24; Psalm 3

One man that practically proved to the world that there’s dominion and power in Christ, was Archbishop Benson Idahosa.
At the time when Idahosa became a Christian in 1952 in Benin, it was said that only one out of ten people in Benin went to church. Also Benin was called the city of blood due to the extreme prevalence of idol worship and blood sacrifices.
However, God so used Idahosa to transform the city that it became more known as a City of God, where nine out of every ten people went to church.
One of the remarkable incidents where Idahosa manifested the power of Christ in Benin city was when he stopped the hosting of the first international conference of witches.
When an academician of Bini Origin and lecturer at the University of Benin, held a press conference to announce the intended meeting of witches from around the globe in Benin, Idahosa vehemently reacted against it.
In the next edition of his TV program, ‘Idahosa and You’, Archbishop Idahosa said that it was impossible for such a meeting to hold in Benin city. When he boldly declared that according to Exodus 22:18, he would ‘kill them all’, everywhere buzzed with the news.
The media then arranged a TV program where Idahosa would meet the Bini academician who was the Chief host of the meeting, to defend their individual positions.
During the live program, the moderator asked them to tell how strong their power is. The chief host of the witches’ meeting spoke first. When it was Idahosa’s turn, he read some Bible passages and then said it was time for somebody to die! There was pandemonium in the studio. With everyone watching, Idahosa turned to the self confessed wizard and chief host and asked :
“I just need an answer from you and your life is hanging on your answer. A witch is not supposed to live and I intend to kill you now if you are one”
Across the nation, viewers were glued to their TV screens and the tension was palpable.
Idahosa said “Now answer me in one or two words. Are you a wizard? Just answer, Yes or No?
The obviously frightened man quickly replied ‘I am not’
“Then there is no need to go on, stand up and leave the studio”! Idahosa commanded.
The Chief Host quickly walked out as Benson Idahosa began to blast in tongues.
Just as Idahosa had declared the international conference of witches never held in Benin city. Idahosa had indeed proved to the world that his God is supreme and most powerful.

The kingdom of God is not in word but in power. To boldly represent God in this generation, we must walk in power, authority and dominion.
Our wrestle is not with flesh and blood, but with spiritual wickedness in high places. We must therefore be always empowered and ready to overcome.
The last days are the most climatic days on earth, marked by great spiritual warfare. You will either be prepared to overcome or you become a victim.
As believers in these end-times, we are part of God’s front-line troops and we have a great responsibility to build up ourselves spiritually.
It is through the greatness of God’s power manifesting through us that the enemies will be subdued [Psalm 66:3].
To be victorious, we must know how to wield our spiritual weapons of warfare, which are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.
The Blood of Jesus is an irresistible weapon of warfare that subdues every enemy. The Blood of Jesus is God’s ultimate assault power! It is the spiritual nuclear force that destroys all barriers, resistances and oppositions. It is God’s answer against all satanic assaults.

Revelation 12:11 says ‘And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death’.

Through the power in the Blood we will always emerge victorious in spiritual battles. Let us therefore accept the spiritual responsibility of fervently seeking God’s power, so that we can subdue oppositions and prove His greatness to our world.

PRAYER:
Lord, Please help me to pay whatever price is required of me to seek Your face diligently, so that I can be empowered to manifest Your power and greatness to the world around me in Jesus Name.
QUOTE
Illuminate your world for you are a star destined to shine. WORDBITE 222.

Deuteronomy 20:4 (NIV) ‘For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”

DAILY READING ; Luke 6:1-26; Genesis 3-5; Psalm 2

Tamrat Layne was a guerilla fighter and self-proclaimed atheist, who believed that freedom only came out from the barrel of the gun. He and his best friend, Meles Zenawi led the guerilla army in the Ethiopian Civil War in the 1980’s to overthrow the existing oppressive government.
After taking over the government, Tamrat Layne became Ethiopia’s Prime Minister from 1991 to 1995. Thereafter he was succeeded in 1996 by Meles Zenawi as Prime Minister.
However when the two close friends began to have disagreements over their leadership ideologies, President Zenawi brought charges against Layne and the Federal Supreme Court of Ethiopia sentenced Tamrat to 18 years in prison for corruption and embezzlement.
Though he claimed to be innocent of all charges against him, Layne was locked up in an isolated cell known as The Dark Room.
Feeling totally betrayed by his best friend, Layne became obsessed with thoughts of killing Zenawi.
In the prison, he started reading books and studied all kinds of religions, but nothing seemed to give him relief.
One day, a nurse slipped a piece of paper under Layne’s pillow that said ‘Jesus loves you, Jesus is the way, and Jesus is the only one who can give you hope.’
Somehow Layne couldn’t get his mind off the words on the bit of paper. To his amazement, that evening, he had a vision of Jesus which totally transformed his life.
After surrendering his life to Christ, Layne felt the Lord asking him to forgive Zenawi. It was a very hard decision for Layne but eventually he chose to obey God and completely forgave Zenawi. Miraculously, in twelfth year of his eighteen-year sentence, Layne was released from the prison in December 2008.
Thereafter he set up a meeting with Zenawi. Face to face with his old friend, Tamrat hugged him, and said, “I forgive you, and I love you.’

Zenawi was stunned and became emotional. Layne was glad he had obeyed God, especially when Zenawi later died .
Since then, Tamrat Layne has been an active Christian, sharing his faith and testimony through several media platforms with people around the world.

David was the victim of multiple conspiracies. It looked like everything ganged up to frustrate his life. He was a victim of betrayals and confrontations even from his own son, Absalom.
But despite all that David suffered in life, he decided to hand over his battles to God. Several times when he could have taken matters into his own hand, he decided to honor God and obey His Word.
When David had an opportunity to smite Saul, because he feared God, he decided not to do so.
The result of his honoring God was that the house of David began to wax stronger, while the house of Saul waxed weaker. God turned the tables in David’s favour. Eventually Saul melted into oblivion, while David, till date, remains the most beloved king in Israel. Again when David could have retaliated and killed Nabal, but chose not to, that night God Himself dealt with Nabal, thus David was delivered from bloodshed.
As you pass through life, you will often be confronted by situations that could make you bitter, but you must learn to always leave matters in God’s hands.
The truth is that God can fight for you more than you can ever fight for yourself. When God is on your side, there is no battle or situation that can overcome you.
You may be a victim of multiple conspiracies, confrontations, disappointments, human failures but through God’s help, you will always overcome.
David was a victim of all of that, but through divine help, he was always victorious. He fought 66 battles and never lost one battle.
Therefore, if you will decide today, to let go and let God, you will certainly experience His amazing miracles of victory. No matter who or what has conspired against your life and your destiny, you will triumph over them all. God will turn your adversity into your advancement!
What the enemy has brought against you, the Lord will use it against the enemy! What you passed through, God will use it to pass something good to you.
Let us therefore, today, decide to trust God and follow His instructions and be at rest. As we draw closer to Him through study of the Word, prayers and praise, certainly, the Lord will fight our battles and we will hold our peace.

PRAYER: Father please grant me the grace to always allow Your Word to take preeminence over my feelings and emotions. In every situation I may face, let only Your will be done in my life, in Jesus’ Name.
QUOTE;
Trials, oppositions, resistances are oftentimes only an indication that your promotion is around the corner. WORDBITE 222

1 Corinthians 15:58 ‘Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.’

DAILY READING; Luke 5:27-39; Genesis 1:1-2:25; Psalm 1

Growth is a necessary component of life. Sometimes, to get to your destined state, you must be willing to force your way out of your present state. This process is beautifully illustrated in the life of a butterfly..
In the butterfly’s life cycle, there are four stages. A butterfly starts life in its first stage as a very small, round, oval egg. When the egg finally hatches, it enters the second stage when it becomes a caterpillar.
Caterpillars are ugly, short, stubby and have no wings at all. As soon as a caterpillar is done growing and they have reached their full length, they enter into the third stage and form themselves into a pupa, also known as a chrysalis. From the outside of the pupa, it looks as if the caterpillar may just be resting, but inside it, the old body parts of the caterpillar are undergoing a remarkable transformation, called ‘metamorphosis,’.
Metamorphosis, is a process of discomfort. Here, a caterpillar has to endure the struggle through the tiny hole in its cocoon. When it is struggling to get through the hole it is actually forcing the fluid from its body into its wings. Without the struggle the wings will not get the necessary fluid to grow, without the struggle the butterfly’s wings would never be strong enough to function and fly. And without flight the butterfly will not be able to survive.
This process of ‘metamorphosis,’ transforms the ugly parts of the caterpillar. In the fourth and final stage, it emerges from the cocoon as a beautiful butterfly, ready to spread its glorious wings and fly.
While butterflies are synonymous with beauty and color, it has to pass through a tough process before it can come into its full manifestation.

Likewise to come into the full manifestation of our glorious destiny, we must be willing to endure a period of stretching and growth. This process of transition is a make or break phase of life where you sometimes have to pursue your vision in obscurity.
However, your depth of preparation at this stage will determine your height of outward manifestation.
Once you have known what God has called you to do and put your hands to the plough, you must be prepared to go through the necessary process of stretching, planting, learning and growing.
For some people, this process can be so tough, it discourages them from pressing forward. So they settle for the mediocre or ordinary and are content to live on barely-get-along street.
But for those who hang in there, keep their hands on the plough and keep putting in their best, it is only a matter of time before they reap their harvest of rewards.

1 Corinthians 15:58 says ‘Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.’

Certainly your labor shall never be in vain! As you continue to be consistent and persistent and serve with excellence and finesse, God will move you from obscurity into the limelight.
God’s plan for us is to keep growing and moving forward until we come into the fullness of the destiny He has for us. As believers, our path is meant to shine more and more every day.
Therefore wherever you may be today, as you abide faithful in what God has called you to do, be assured that your season of manifestation is soon coming. Especially in this ninth month of September, which is prophetically a season of birthing, you can trust God to compress time and do a quick work in your favor.
It is indeed our time to come into the glorious things God has ordained for us this year. lt is our time to break free from every limitation and experience amazing speed and acceleration in our endeavors.
As we faithfully pursue God’s will, and refuse to become weary in well doing, we will soon experience miraculous fulfillment of His promises in our business, career, health, finances, family and all areas of our lives.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for the great and mighty things You have in store for me in this season. Please enable me to pay the price of spiritual preparation so as to see the manifestation of Your promises in Jesus’ Name.
QUOTE:
The treasures of God are never on the shallow end but are always buried in the depths of God’s Word. It takes a personal discovery to get there. – WORDBITE 222.

John 16:13 ‘Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.’

DAILY READING – Luke 5, Ezekiel 47, Isiah 66

Lighthouses are meant to guide ships to safety, but there was once a lighthouse that wrecked more ships than it saved.
In the mid-19th century, the cliffs around Jervis Bay in Australia were notorious for shipwrecks, and so it was decided that a lighthouse was needed for the safe navigation of ships.
However, the Architect of the lighthouse, when looking for a suitable site was more interested in the ease of construction rather than providing an efficient navigation aid.
After the construction of the Cape St George lighthouse, it proved to be ill-fated for ships as it stood at a place where it shouldn’t have, thus luring ignorant ships into the very rocks they were trying to avoid.
For the next four decades, the wrongly sited lighthouse, was responsible for some two dozen shipwrecks.
Eventually in 1899, the lighthouse was replaced by another light house in a much more suitable location .
But even after being decommissioned, the Cape St George lighthouse continued to cause navigational problems especially on moonlit nights when the golden sandstone tower glowed in the dark, creating confusion for ships. So near the turn of the century, the tower was reduced to rubble to prevent any further disaster.
The Cape St George lighthouse due to its improper location failed to fulfill the duty of a proper lighthouse which is to warn ships of hazardous coastlines and guide them to safe harbors..

In life we often come across people who are like the lighthouse on Cape St George. They create more havoc than solutions through their ill-fated counsels and wrong advice. In following their directions, people end up with disastrous results and worse off than they initially were.
To avoid life’s pitfalls we need the genuine counsel of the Holy Spirit who is a true and trusted guide. In the journey of life, we need His ministry to avoid a shipwreck of destiny.

John 16:13 says ‘Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.’

The Spirit shows us things to come. He shows us what to do to ascend to the next level of greatness that God has in store for us. What He showed Joseph took him from the prison to the palace overnight. As we fellowship with Him, He will show us what eyes have not seen, nor ears heard and neither has entered into the hearts of men. He is our light in the dark and treacherous waters of this world. It is by His guidance that we can keep our ship afloat as we navigate through the journey of life.
The Holy Spirit empowers us for the Fulfillment of Destiny. He enables us to do exploits, to set the pace, blaze the trail, and ascend to amazing heights. Therefore for us to fulfill destiny, we need Him actively at work in our lives.
There is a plan God has laid out for us. And we need The Holy Spirit to fulfill it, because what will be accomplished in our lives will not be by might, nor by power but only by The Spirit.
As believers engaged in fierce spiritual battles we can no longer afford to live anyhow. To live anyhow, is to end up anyhow. There are many pitfalls on the path of destiny and we need the light of The Spirit to guide us out of those traps.

In the days of ignorance, or spiritual immaturity, God may have winked at us, but now He wants us to come to the place of sonship, where we are led by His Spirit. Indeed it is only as many as are led by The Spirit that are the sons of God. Let us therefore in this season, earnestly seek greater intimacy with the Holy Spirit because It is only through His guidance that we can experience true greatness in life.

PRAYER: Lord, Please by Your Spirit, guide me on this journey of destiny. Help me to be willing to pay whatever price it takes, to experience the empowerment of Your Spirit in my life in this season 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

Psalm 119:11 says ‘Thy Word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against Thee’.

DAILY READING – Luke 4:31-44; Ezekiel 46-47; Isaiah 65

Mauricio was still young when his parents got divorced. Afterwards, he took to the streets selling pop bottles, old newspapers and cardboard. He also began to join some children to steal toys from department stores.
At 11-years-old, Mauricio began to experiment with illegal drugs. As he got older he joined a street gang, and began injecting heroin into his veins.
One day, he got involved in a robbery that resulted in his murdering a person.
In May 1966 he was arraigned for robbery and murder. Though he should have faced the death penalty, by the grace and mercy of God he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
While in prison, he hated and even viciously attacked Christians who attempted to witness to him in his cell. Despite this hatred for Christians, during his somewhat frequent trips to solitary confinement, the guards often left a Bible in his cell. He started reading the Bible to pass the time, but little did he realize that God, in His great love, was slowly planting His Word in his heart.
Years later, in 1978, he attended a prison evangelistic meeting for the first time, where a minister preached on Saul of Tarsus persecuting Christians and about his subsequent conversion. After leaving the meeting Edward went to his prison cell, got on his knees, and asked God to forgive Him and surrendered his life to Christ. Four years later, by God’s grace, he received a reprieve. He was paroled and soon released. He became a committed Christian, who eventually became a minister of the Gospel, preaching in many nations of the world. Today, Edward Salazar Mauricio is a prominent pastor in Mexico. He is known for his far-reaching efforts in preaching the Gospel and winning souls into God’s kingdom.

It is indeed amazing how God could take a murderer and turn him into a missionary.
In Luke 19:1-10, we find the story of a sinner whose life was dramatically transformed by an encounter with Jesus.
Zaccheus was Chief among the tax-collectors. The Jews hated these dreaded tax-collectors, for extortion and making illegal profits for themselves. The Jews regarded them as great sinners, wicked and oppressive.
When Jesus chose to come to Zaccheus’ house, He didn’t say a word to him about his sinful life, yet Zaccheus became so convicted that he willingly decided to make a change instantly. He said “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.”
Jesus then said, “This day is salvation come to this house.”
A true encounter with Christ will indeed change anyone!
Sometimes people attempt to change sinful habits by their own willpower, only to find themselves back in the same old rut they were in before.
There is a spiritual force behind sin, and it takes a spiritual approach to gain real victory over it. Overcoming sin comes through faith in God’s Word which is the victory that overcomes the world.
Psalm 119:11 says ‘Thy Word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against Thee’.
It is by hiding God’s Word in our heart that we can stand strong in the face of sin and temptation.
Psalm 119;9 says ‘Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.’
The Word of God has the power to cleanse and sanctify us from all impurities and unrighteousness.
John 17:17 says ‘Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth’ and John 15:3 says ‘Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you’

Also the entrance of God’s Word gives us the light we need to break every hold of darkness in any area of our lives. On the road to Damascus, the life of Saul the murderer was completely and forever changed by the light from Heaven.
Jesus is the light of the world. John 1:4-5 says ‘ In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.’
Today, in any area where you desire a change, you can experience it by sitting down with the Word and allowing the light from Heaven to flood your heart. As you do, you will find victory, power, new strength and grace to triumphantly run the race of destiny and finish well.

PRAYER: Lord, please enable me to meditate constantly on Your Word so that my mind can be insulated from sin. Thank You Lord for the grace to live as a shining example to the world around me in Jesus Name.
QUOTE:
Your heart needs to be filled with The Word of God to the point of overflow. – WORDBITE 222

Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

DAILY READING; • Luke 4:1-30; Ezekiel 44-45; Isaiah 64

As a child, Harland David Sanders attended Church with his family.. His mother, a devout Christian, often prayed that her children would know the Lord.
But as Sanders grew older he drew farther away from his Christian upbringing. Plagued with hot temper, he often got into fights. After serving in the army, he worked with the railway but soon got fired for insubordination.
Sanders knew he should have been walking with God, but he was more focused on pursuing success first.
He studied law and soon began working as a lawyer.
But his legal career only lasted three years. After getting into a fistfight with his own client in the courtroom, his reputation as a lawyer was destroyed.
Sanders continued to encounter repeated failures due to character flaws. His next job as an insurance salesman again ended with him being fired.
His attempt to run a filling station became embroiled in trouble when he had a shootout with a local competitor.
At age 50, Sanders opened a restaurant after developing a secret recipe for frying chicken.
But after suffering financial ruin, at age 65, he sold the restaurant.
He tried to franchise his secret chicken recipe to other restaurants, but was turned down severally. After much persistence, his franchise idea finally took off and became a huge success. His company, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) rapidly grew and expanded internationally. Though he had become rich and famous, yet Sanders didn’t know true fulfilment until age 77, when he finally recognized his need to get right with God. It was a long-delayed answer to his mother’s prayers.
At 89 years, just before his death, he said his salvation was his greatest experience in all of his lifetime.He was quoted as saying “There’s no use being the richest man in the cemetery when you can’t do any business in there.’

From the womb to the tomb, the tale of most men is that of struggles and troubles.
Despite every effort to succeed many people find themselves plagued by repetitive cycles of failures.
Though they may start out early in life, pursuing their goals and dreams, they find the race to the top marred by disappointments, anxiety, discontent and pain.
What many people do not realize is that there are negative spiritual forces that fight their progress and it takes connection to God to conquer these invisible battles.
And even when a man eventually succeeds, life remains unfulfilled if Christ is not at the center of it all.
Despite the success a man achieves, he will remain spiritually bankrupt if he doesn’t bank on God’s grace. It is only the blessings of God that makes rich and adds no sorrow with it.
Therefore, instead of the pursuit of uncertain riches, our most important quest in life should be a strong relationship with God.
No one will leave the earth with any earthly possession or attachment, everything will be left behind. The only treasure that will accompany us will be our relationship with God.
We must therefore keep our priorities right.
As believers, we are destined to achieve success and live in dominion on earth, but more importantly we should keep our focus Heaven-ward where our true treasures abide.
Our aim should be to become daily more and more like Christ, through allowing His Word to transform our lives.
Having come into this new month, let us be more determined to prioritize seeking God above all else. As we do, certainly, our lives will overflow with true riches, blessings, peace and joy unspeakable, full of glory.

PRAYER: Father please grant me the wisdom to seek You above all else.Thank You Lord for indeed overflowing my life with Your abundant blessings, peace and joy in Jesus Name.

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

2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:10‬ ‭AMPC “For we must all appear and be revealed as we are before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive [his pay] according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil’

DAILY READING; Luke 3:21-38; Ezekiel 42-43; Isaiah 63

Franja Partisan Hospital, in Slovenia, is a secret hidden hospital that operated during World War II.
When Nazi soldiers occupied Slovenia in April 1941, the people resisted the occupation of their land and fought back. Disregarding the agreements of the Geneva Convention to protect the wounded during times of war, the Nazis mercilessly killed the Slovenian fighters, including even the wounded and the sick.
To secure the safety of the wounded, Slovenian doctors decided to build hidden hospitals in forests, underground caves and other hard-to-reach places. From 1942 to 1945, there were around 120 secret hospitals built in Slovenia. The Franja Partisan Hospital was prominent among these secret hospitals.
Much effort was put into keeping its location a secret. The wounded were transported during the night and blindfolded so they could not disclose the location of the hospital after their recovery.
Franja Partisan Hospital was relatively well equipped, and even had an X-ray machine which was a rarity at that time. Many serious cases and sick patients of various nationalities were brought there to be treated.
Interestingly, even wounded enemy soldiers found in critical conditions by the locals were brought to be treated at this secret hospital.
The lives of these enemy soldiers were saved at the same hospital they had been searching for to destroy and by the doctors they had been seeking to arrest.
Despite the atrocities committed by the Nazis, the Slovenian doctors rendered service to their enemies, rather than repay them according to their deeds.
And despite all the desperate efforts of the Nazis, it was one hospital that they were never able to find.
Today the Franja Partisan Hospital stands as a symbol of courage and selfless service and a national monument in Slovenia, and it has been placed on the UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage.

It can be tempting to repay people the way they have treated you, but we have to allow the Word of God control our actions and reactions.
We all have to deal with unfair situations and people who do us wrong, but no matter what happens we must obey God and let Him be the judge. We don’t have to settle our account; God knows how to do it for us.
Our focus rather should be to do good to all men and follow peace with them.
God says, “Justice belongs to Me. I will repay the exact compensation owed you. I will settle the accounts of My people” (Hebrews 10:30).

Does this mean wrong doers will get away with their actions? No. The Bible says, everyone will give an account of himself to God.

2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:10‬ ‭AMPC says “For we must all appear and be revealed as we are before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive [his pay] according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil [considering what his purpose and motive have been, and what he has achieved, been busy with, and given himself and his attention to accomplishing].”
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Knowing that everyone will give an account one day, our concern should be to run our race well. We have to understand that most of the negative things we encounter are hurdles of the enemy meant to stop us from finishing well and receiving our divine rewards.
Life on earth is a temporary adventure, which we should not allow to compromise out eternal destiny with God.
Jesus died on the cross to give us the power to overcome the hindrances to our spiritual race and serve God with unparalleled zeal.
Let us therefore by His Blood receive the grace to run well especially as we come into the new month of September today. This ninth month signifies birthing and manifestation. By the Blood of Jesus, it will certainly be our season of experiencing manifestations of God’s glory in greater dimensions and reaping divine rewards.
Therefore do not allow anyone or anything to steal your joy in this season, because joy is a principal tool for reaping your harvest.
In every situation let us keep praising God, as we run our race, looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for bringing me into this new month. By the power in the Blood of Jesus, I receive the grace to always walk in line with Your Word so that I can run my race well in Jesus Name ..
QUOTE;
Nothing liberates like truth, the truth you know and act upon will set you free.- – WORDBITE 222.

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John 15:13 ” Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

DAILY READING • • Luke 3:1-20; Ezekiel 40-41; Isaiah 62

The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has been one of central Africa’s cruelest armed groups over the past 30 years. It has brutalized communities since its inception in 1987. The LRA has abducted over 67,000 youth, including 30,000 children, for use as child soldiers, slaves, and porters.
As the atrocities of the LRA raged and the lives of many children stood at risk, one American preacher felt compelled to do something.
Sam Childers was a former gang biker and drug dealer from Pennsylvania. But after serving a prison sentence for his crimes, his life took a new turn when he got born again. In a miraculous way, God arrested Sam and totally changed his focus.
After attending Bible college and becoming a Pastor, Sam became passionate about going to missions in Africa.
In 1998, Sam Childers made his first trip to Sudan and was exposed to the atrocities of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA].
When Sam found that large numbers of Sudanese children were being kidnapped and forced to become child soldiers by the L.R.A, he felt compelled to rescue these children. In collaboration with the government, he began leading armed raids against the LRA and successfully saved many lives.
Today Sam Childers dedicates his life and resources to the rescuing of children in the war zone countries and runs an organisation called ‘Angels of East Africa (AOEA).
His ministry houses these rescued children and takes care of their education.
Sam has been internationally celebrated for his heroic efforts that has saved the lives of thousands of children.
Sam Childers details his story in his book titled ‘Another Man’s War’, which has been turned into a movie ‘The Machine Gun Preacher’.

Though many people see Sam as a hero for risking his life to save kidnapped children, he only sees himself as obeying the call of God to serve.
The truth is that the world is full of hurting people, and sometimes it becomes necessary to go beyond the walls of the Church and do something practical to help.
We are called to practically impact the lives of men.
Jesus said in Matthew 25:42 “For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.”

This verses shows that Jesus expects us to practically show love.
Practical love gives food to the hungry, clothes the naked, goes into hospitals to pray for the sick, visits prisoners and goes the extra mile to help the lost and dying.
Practical love is what Jesus Christ revealed to the world from the cross, when He shed His Blood to rescue us from death and destruction.
And just as we have been redeemed by His love, Jesus is calling us to go into the world’ and spread His love to others.
We are the hands and feet of Jesus and wherever we go we need to let the world see Christ’s love through us. .
Today, everywhere you look in the society people are plagued with pain and problems. Our purpose is to reach out with hope and healing to a hurting world.
It is not just enough for us to warm the pews in Church, our lives must burn with passion towards impacting humanity with the love of Christ.
On this last day of August, let us receive the grace to henceforth be more practical in sharing the love of Christ.
Certainly, as we passionately seek to make a difference in the world through service in God’s kingdom, our lives will supernaturally overflow with divine rewards and abundant blessings..

PRAYER: Lord, please grant me the grace and passion to practically show Your love to the world around me. As I seek Your kingdom first, certainly everything other thing shall be added unto me in Jesus Name.
QUOTE;
God protects and shields us when we are being led by Him. – WORDBITE 222.