HORM Devotional

Psalm 124:7-8 ‘Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth..’

DAILY READING; – • John 17; 2 Chronicles 25; Psalm 82

Diet Eman was an ordinary, young girl in the Netherlands—when the Germans invaded their country in 1940.
Eman felt God calling her to resist the German oppressors, which included risking her life to find hiding places for Jews and other people being targeted by the Nazis.
Eman and her fiancé then began aiding in the Resistance fight against the Germans.
However, in 1944, the Germans started hunting for the Dutch resistance fighters, causing Diet Eman to spend months on the run. She frequently changed locations and her name, with the help of fake identification cards. But one day, while she was transporting illegal documents under her shirt, six German officers caught up to her and stopped her.
Looking at Eman’s ID, they pinpointed it as fake. Eman knew that if they found the illicit trove hidden beneath her clothing, she would be arrested for immediate execution.
But before they could further scrutinize her, at that very moment something happened that she saw as an act of God.
The officers’ attention were suddenly diverted by another officer, who had a new raincoat made from plastic, a rare material in those days. This man started to show off his digs to his colleagues, who all momentarily focused on him, marveling at his raincoat. Taking advantage of the distraction, Eman carefully pulled out the bundle of documents under her clothes and tossed them far away from her.
When the officers finally returned their attention back to her, the only thing they could accuse her of was having a fake ID.
She was arrested on light charges and was eventually released.
Though Many of the other Resistance fighters, were caught and sent to concentration camps, Diet Eman, escaped capture by divine grace.
Her story is contained in the book ‘Things We Couldn’t Say’.

Indeed the story of Diet Eman showcases the power of God’s grace..
Grace can create an escape out of the snare of the fowler.
The grace of God is one of the vital mysteries of life. Our survival does not depend on our strength or smartness, rather it is the grace of God that makes the huge difference.
If we are to depend on our five physical senses to survive on earth, we would be grossly limited.
Sometimes we can walk unawares into the evil traps of the wicked, yet God causes our soul to escape as a bird out of every snare.
We live in a world of uncertainty today, where grace is a total necessity. We have often heard stories of people who stepped out of their home, only to end up getting kidnapped or falling into diverse traps of evil agents.
In a world of such great insecurity and increasing wickedness, we constantly need God’s divine help..
Grace is able to blind the eyes of the evil ones from seeing us. It can cause us to miraculously escape what may trap others.
Indeed we all need God’s grace to survive the evils and troubles of these end times..
One way we can multiply God’s grace in our lives is through knowledge.
2 Peter 1:2 says “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,”.

Therefore let us continually fill our hearts with God’s Word so that His grace will keep increasing upon our lives.
Today, it doesn’t matter how tightly the enemy may seem to have woven his nets or dug his pit, God will surely cause you to escape. It may seem right now as if there is no way out of that looming financial crisis, health challenge or family problems, but trust God to show up with miracles, signs and wonders..
As we constantly acknowledge, appreciate and celebrate God, certainly, every setback will only become a setup for His grace, to show up for our miraculous deliverance.

PRAYER, Father, please enable me to diligently study Your Word so that Your grace will be multiplied upon my life. I know that even right now You are making a way for me through Your saving grace that is at work in my life in Jesus Name.

QUOTE;
It’s never over in your life until you win God is still in control of your life. WORDBITE 222

Psalm 118:17-18 ‘I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.The Lord hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.’

DAILY READING; John 16:4-33; 2 Chronicles 24; Psalm 81

Oral Roberts was born the fifth and youngest son of godly parents in 1918 in Oklahoma, America.
His father was a very strong powerful preacher who built and established 12 churches. His mother was a deeply spiritual woman, who had dedicated Oral to God even while he was still in her womb.
But after being born, as he grew to be a teenager, Oral was rebellious towards God and his parents; so he left home at an early age. He played basketball and when his school coach was to move to another town, Oral went to go and live with him. Oral wanted to be free to pursue his own ways, although he knew God’s hand was on his life.
While living with his coach, one day, at age 17, he was playing basketball when he collapsed and the doctors found that he was in the final stages of tuberculosis. In those days, there was no cure for the disease as antibiotics had not yet been discovered. He was taken back home and lay bedridden for 163 days and had no chance of survival.
Three doctors told him that he had about three months to live. So he resigned himself to the fact that he was going to die.
When he had about two weeks left to live, his elder brother came and picked him up in his car to take him to a healing crusade.
While in the back seat of the car, Oral said he suddenly heard the audible voice of God say to him “Son, I am going to heal you and you are to take my healing power to your generation. You are to build me a university and build it on My authority and the Holy Spirit.”
What he heard seemed impossible. But God was true to His Word. During the meeting, Oral was miraculously healed. He later became a preacher and eventually ended up being used by God to raise a vibrant global ministry. He rose to become the founder of Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association and Oral Roberts University. His ministries reached millions of followers worldwide for more than six decades.

Through the grace and mercy of God, Oral Roberts was delivered from the consequences of a rebellious life and restored to a glorious new destiny in Christ.
It is true sometimes we may miss the mark, but thank God for the Blood of Jesus that is able to cleanse us and bring restoration.
Indeed the resurrection power of the Blood can raise you from any dead situation. It is the same power that caused Christ to triumph over every force of darkness, disease and destruction.
And by the same power at work in you, there is no depth you cannot arise from.
Christ paid the price 2,000 years ago, providing grace for us, even when we miss the mark.
God’s grace is greater than our sins, faults and failures.
Grace does not look upon our weakness or shortcomings, rather it observes us through eyes of love.
No matter what may seem to be coming against you, through God’s grace, you can always overcome and arrive at the awesome destiny God ordained for you.

If faced with afflictions or oppressions of the enemy, always know that your destiny is greater than the disaster. It is certainly God’s plan for you to live and not die, so you can declare His works in the land of the living.
All you need is to connect to the Word of the Lord.
It doesn’t matter what the facts or the experts may say, God’s Word will always prevail over man’s opinion. Indeed it is not over until God says so.
If you find yourself in the middle of a trial or a setback, never let your situation or circumstances shift your focus from God’s Word. It is the Word that imparts faith into the heart and faith is the victory that overcomes the world.
Even if everything seems to be rising up against you, always remember that Jehovah, alone has the final say. Through faith in His promises, problems can be changed into possibilities.
What the enemy meant for evil God can turn it all around for your good. By God’s grace, you will triumph over every trial, you shall arise out of every pit and you shall surely live to declare the works of the Lord in the land of the living!.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for Your grace that is at work in my life. I know that by the power in the Blood, every negative situation is being turned around for my good and I am triumphing always in Jesus Name.

QUOTE
Whenever God places a demand on you, He is only positioning you to receive more from Him. WORDBITE 222

Lamentations 3:22-23‘It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness’.

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

Ron Roberson is a Producer and Anchor for CNN Headline News in the Los Angeles area.
It is hard to believe that this successful journalist once lived homeless on the worst streets of Los Angeles.
He was raised in a dysfunctional family by an abusive, alcoholic father. This made him at the age of 13, to run away and live in foster homes. As a young man, he tried to gain stability in life, but an addiction to drugs stripped him of everything, until he was destitute and living on the streets. He stooped so low he had to start eating out of trash cans and was sleeping on park benches.
Finally fed up with his lifetime of suffering, Ron Roberson decided to end his life. He got up on the 10th floor of the Frontier Hotel in Los Angeles and prepared to jump from a window.
But at that very moment, Ron said he heard the audible voice of the Lord say to him ‘You’ve tried everything else. Why don’t you try Me?’
That was the turning point! He jumped back from the window and fell on his knees and prayed and surrendered all to Jesus.
After that prayer, the very next day, he got a job. From the moment he received Jesus, there was no more desire for drugs and his life was changed by the supernatural power of God.
He faced life with renewed zeal and vigor and faithfully began to serve God. As his faith grew, so did his opportunities. He saw God’s faithfulness in lifting him from a crackhead who was eating out of trashcans to a position where today, he interacts with prominent people as he serves as a News anchor for CNN news.
Ron continually shares his testimony and expresses his gratitude to God for His mighty deliverance.

As believers, we all have a history with God.
We’ve all come through challenges and difficulties that could have ended our journey. Some of us went through rejections, tough childhoods and obstacles that could have defeated us early in life.
Somehow, through God’s grace and mercy we were able to outlast those oppositions.
When we go back over our history with God, we can see how He has always been faithful. He has always showed up right on time.
He caused rivers to flow for us through the desert, pulled us from the fiery furnace, delivered us from the lion’s den, healed us from deadly diseases, and gave His angels charge over us to keep us in all our ways.
Despite all the plans of the enemy, God’s will over our lives has prevailed. Many of us would have been dead and buried long ago but by God’s mercies we have not been consumed. From the dunghill, He lifted us and made us to sit with princes. He set our feet upon the rock and established our goings.

God has always been there, working behind the scenes and pushing back the hands of darkness that could have truncated our destiny.
Truly if it had not been for the Lord on our side, where would we have been?
Although we have no claim on God’s mercies, and they are undeserved, nonetheless they never cease.

Wherever you may be today, you didn’t get there by yourself. Some of the friends you started on this journey of life with died along the way. But through the grace of God you are still here.
And even if perhaps you lost anything, God is the reason why you did not lose everything. Though you may not be where you want to be, but neither are you where you used to be.
Truly, we ought to be continually grateful to God. His praise should continually be on our lips.
And as we continue to go deeper in our relationship with Him, we will see more of His goodness as He keeps taking us higher; from glory to glory and from victory to victory.

PRAYER: LORD, I praise You for all Your amazing goodness in my life. I am truly grateful for Your mercy, grace and favor which has brought me this far. Thank You so much Lord for Your faithfulness in my life in Jesus Name.

QUOTE
The study of the Word will keep shame and disgrace far from you. – WORDBITE 222

Psalm 44:3 ‘For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.’

DAILY READING John 14:15-31; 2 Chronicles 21:2-22:12; Psalm 79

The ruins of Babylon, also known as Babel, date back over 3,000 years.
After becoming president of Iraq in 1979, Saddam Hussein conceived a grandiose scheme to rebuild the ruins of that ancient city. He promised that Babylon’s grand palaces and legendary Hanging Gardens which was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, would rise from the dust. At that time, Iraq had vast oil wealth which enabled Saddam Hussein to invest more than $500 million toward his goal of restoring Babylon.
He believed himself to be the reincarnation of King Nebuchadnezzar II and was consumed with reviving the glory days of Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar.
On September 22, 1987, Saddam inaugurated an annual musical event known as the Babylon Festival. At this festival, lasers would light up the sky with images of portraits of President Saddam and the ancient king Nebuchadnezzar.
Just as Nebuchadnezzar had done, Saddam focused the project of rebuilding Babylon on bringing glory to himself and his rule. On the walls were enshrined his pictures and decorated with his initials in traditional Arabic calligraphy. On the bricks were inscribed writings celebrating him and his accomplishments.
However, Saddam’s extravagant plans were interrupted by the U.S. invasion of Iraq and Saddam’s consequent fall from power.
Despite the millions of dollars fuelled into it, few years after Saddam’s fall, his palatial project became a ghostly shell. The expensive building had been looted and broken glass and graffiti were scattered through the once-grand palace halls. Saddam’s ambition to rebuild Babylon and glorify himself all came to an end with his demise.

Saddam had seemed determined to echo Nebuchadnezzar’s bold proclamation: “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30).
After Nebuchadnezzar made those statements and claimed the glory for building Babyon by his own might, God sent him into the forest to live as an animal for seven years until he learnt humility and acknowledged God’s sovereignty.

Luke 12 gives another example of a person God dealt with for refusing to acknowledge His sovereignty.
Luke 12:16 talks about a certain rich man whose ground yielded an abundant harvest. This man believed he had amassed the abundance by his own power and made plans to continue enjoying his wealth till his old age.
But God said to him “You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?”.
The Bible called him a fool, because the fool says in his heart that there is no God and fails to acknowledge His help.(Psalm 53:1).
We must understand that our achievement does not lie in our strength, hard work, or mental smartness. God is the Doer of every good thing in our lives. It is only because of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed. It is only by His grace that we exist. It is by His favor that we make progress in life.
Psalm 44:3 says ‘For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.’

The favor of God is the unseen hand that pushes us forward in life. It is only pride that makes a man to trust in himself and depend on his own abilities.
It is indeed dangerous for anyone to think they can make it in life without God, because by strength shall no man prevail.
James 4:6 says: …God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
When God resists a man it means he will lack grace in his endeavors and surely end in disgrace.
Let us therefore continually celebrate God’s hand in all our affairs. Everything we are we owe to God; everything we have comes from Him.
We are in a season where God is set to arise and favor Zion. Acknowledging God at every turn and blessing Him at all times is what will connect us to His divine favor.
Therefore, for every little progress we see in our lives, all the glory must go to God.
Certainly, the more we praise God, the more He will raise us. The more we humble ourselves under His mighty hand, the more He will exalt us to great and unimaginable heights.

PRAYER: Lord, please grant me the grace to always bless and praise You in every situation. I know You are always faithful and I thank You for Your goodness, mercy and favor that continues to prevail over my life in Jesus Name. .
QUOTE;
Your attitude always determines your altitude in life. -WORDBITE 222.

Psalm 34;5 ‘They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

DAILY READING – • John 14:1-14; 2 Chronicles 20:1-21:1; Psalm 78:56-72

The goldfish is one of the most beloved ornamental fishes in the world.
Goldfishes are naturally greenish brown or gray in color, but about 1000 years ago, Chinese people began breeding them to create more colorful varieties. Today, there are more than 125 breeds of goldfish found throughout the world. They can be gold, red, orange, white, black, or a combination of colors.
One of the main things a goldfish requires to manifest its colors is having the right lighting conditions. Like the majority of plants and animals, a goldfish needs light to survive, but beside that , it uses light to maintain its color. The goldfish has pigment in its skin that reacts to light. It will lose its color if it is not kept near the light. If kept in darkness for a certain length of time, or light that isn’t bright enough, the color of the goldfish begins to fade and over time, they can lose their color entirely. In order for the gold fish to maintain its glowing color it needs to stay close to the light. Indeed the key to getting the best from a goldfish, it to keep it in optimum conditions.

Like the gold fish, believers can only shine and manifest their colorful destinies when in optimum spiritual conditions.
Our shining is dependent upon our connection to the light of God’s Presence.

Psalm 34;5 says ‘They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.’

When we look to God, every form of shame will be removed from us and we will shine with His favor.
The Israelites were enslaved for many years. Their lives were shrouded in darkness and misery.
But when the light of God’s countenance shone upon them, their condition suddenly changed. God supernaturally delivered them from bondage and covered them with His favor, such that the same people who had oppressed them for 430 years, suddenly turned around to show them unexpected, inexplicable goodness. The Egyptians gave them their gold, silver, and jewels.
James 1:17 says ‘Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.’

God is the Father of lights. When you connect to Him,
He can cause people to suddenly see you in a new light and begin to favor you.
This is why you don’t have to bother about who is against you. Rather concern yourself with maintaining a strong spiritual connection to God.
God can change anyone’s attitude towards you. The heart of the king is in God’s hand and He can turn it to any direction He desires. All we need to do is come into connection with the light of His favor and we will experience a sudden change of story.
It is only when a believer disconnects from Gid that he begins to lose color. Therefore for you to keep shining, hang around the light of God’s Presence.
Maintain the fire of fervent prayers and stay in the light of the Word.
As we focus on seeking God, His light will begin to reflect through us and draw people to do us good. Surely when a man’s ways pleases the Lord, He can cause even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Certainly when God is with you, no one can be against you. Through God’s favor, your mountain will stand strong and you will stand out in life.

PRAYER: Father please help me to always walk in obedience to Your Word so that I can connect to Your glorious light and be covered with Your grace, mercy and favor wherever I go and be a wonder to my world in Jesus Name.
QUOTE :
It is only when you can see God in the light of who He truly is that you can begin to walk in the overflow of His blessings. – WORDBITE 222

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

DAILY READING ; John 13:21-38; 2 Chronicles 19; Psalm 78:38-55

Today, marks the day Israel declared its independence on May 14, 1948 and established the modern state of Israel.
Interestingly, 2500 years ago, Israel had also gained independence from Babylonian captivity through the benevolence of an ancient Persian king known as Cyrus the Great.
Though a pagan king, Cyrus is mentioned more than 30 times in the Bible and is celebrated in Jewish history because it was under his rule that Jews were allowed to return to Israel after 70 years of captivity in Babylon.
The Bible has interesting records about King Cyrus the most amazing being the prophecy by prophet Isaiah which was written about 150 years before King Cyrus was even born! Even his name was mentioned! King Cyrus’ rise to power, his defeat of Babylon, his humanitarian legacy—were all prophesied by God before Cyrus’s birth! This is indeed an awesome proof of the veracity of the Holy Bible.
Before Cyrus was born prophet Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 45:1, 4; “This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him . . . ‘I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me’

Josephus, a foremost Jewish historian recorded that King Cyrus after he was born and grew up actually read this prophecy given 150 years before his birth. After reading Isaiah’s prophecy, he realized the things he was predestined to do!
Just as the Bible had predicted, Cyrus released the Jewish captives in Babylon.
Knowing that he was fulfilling divine purpose, perhaps explains why Cyrus was so benevolent and so enthusiastic towards the Jews.
Today, he is celebrated as one of history’s most brilliant and outstanding monarchs and his life is well documented in several historical and archaeological records..

Our days have been ordained by God even before the foundation of the world.
Our purpose have already been mapped out even before we were born.
It doesn’t matter the circumstances of your birth, you didn’t come into the world by accident. God has a preordained plan for you and you are born to fulfill certain prophesies.
There is a set plan and a blue print we are destined to follow. There is a script to our life’s story.
Especially, in these last days, God has brought each of us into His kingdom for such a time as this to fulfill a definite part of His overall plan.
From Joel chapter 2, we understand that the end-time saints are born for exploits.
Therefore you are not ordinary, you are a carrier of a glorious destiny and you have especially been packaged from Heaven and sent into the earth at this time to fulfil precise divine assignments.
Therefore you cannot afford to live anyhow so that you don’t end up anyhow.
We need to carefully strive to fulfill God’s preordained purpose by constantly looking into His Word and seeking the guidance of the Spirit. This way, we will be taught to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.[Psalms 90:13]
As we follow His divine leading, God will protect us and strategically orchestrate our steps to go in the right direction.
Certainly, when the Lord becomes our shepherd, He will lead us to our green pastures in life.
Approaching life with the understanding that we are on earth to fulfill divine purpose, will enable us not to fret and run after personal ambitions, rather we rest in Christ and seek His divine vision for our lives. We give thanks to God in everything and bless Him at all times knowing He is in perfect control of our lives..
As we continually depend on the Faithful One who has called us, certainly, He will do it; He will enable us carry out His divine purpose and fulfill the prophesy çoncerning our lives.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for Your continual faithfulness in my life. I praise and bless You because even right now I know You are working in my life and guiding me into the divine purpose You preordained for me in Jesus Name.
QUOTE;
Praise always guarantees you power for a raise, learning to praise God in season and out of season is key to fulfilling destiny. – WORDBITE 222.

Isaiah 14:27 ‘For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?’

DAILY READING; John 13:1-20; 2 Chronicles 18; Psalm 78:21-37

Charles Finney is called the “father of modern revivalism” and was a major leader of the Second Great Awakening during the 19th century.
When Charles Finney was overseeing the congregation of a small farming community of Oberlin, Ohio, in the 1830’s, intense drought threatened to wipe out their livelihood.
A long time of no rain had left the fields parched and brown. The people were anxious because they were farmers whose livelihood greatly depended on the rain.
One Sunday morning, Finney woke up feeling compelled by God to pray for rain. Though there was no rain in the weather forecast and hadn’t been for months, but he sensed greatly that the time had come for God to send them rain. After praying, he felt so sure that there would be rain that as he went to Church that morning, he carried with him a large, black umbrella.
During the service, half way through his sermon, suddenly they began to hear low rumbles of distant thunder. Charles Finney stopped his preaching and began to sing in gratitude to God. Soon, the room was filled with the thunderous sound of water cascading on the rooftop. The rain came in such torrents that the preacher’s voice could not be heard.
Tears streamed down the cheeks of the people in the pews as the congregation wept in wonder and sang praises to God.
Though the weather forecast didn’t predict rain, yet God had showed up and visited them with miraculous answer to their prayers for rain.

In 1Kings 18, right in the middle of a famine, Elijah declared, “I hear the sound of an abundance of rain”.
Elijah spoke those words in faith at a time where there had not been one drop of rain from the sky in over three years.

In times of drought and discouragements, we need to stand in faith and trust God to show up with miraculous answers to our prayers.
There may be things you have been believing God to do and you have waited for so long that it seems it may never happen. But we serve the praying answering God who has a set time for favoring His people.

Psalm 102: 12-13 says, “But You, O Lord, are still on the throne. You will arise and have mercy on Zion, for the time to favor her, yes, the set time has come.”

No matter the drought or dryness around you, as you stay strong in faith, you are going to come into your set time of amazing miracles.
You may have been waiting for the rain for so long, but suddenly God will open the windows of Heaven and pour you out such abundant blessings that you will not have enough room to contain it.
God has already put it on the schedule. The date has already been ordained. Suddenly that long waited healing, financial breakthrough, marriage, promotion, will all suddenly come your way.
Certainly, when your set time of favor comes, nothing can stop God’s hand from stretching towards you. (Isaiah 14:27)

To see our set time of favor requires us to walk by faith, not by sight. Our hearts must be dominated more by what is written in God’s Word than what is happening around us.
Faith is not moved by obvious facts, rather it looks at defiant circumstances and decides to trust God against all odds.
To walk by faith will require a decision to daily spend quality time in God’s Word because faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God.
According to the prophetic word of this season, it is our time to experience divine favor, mercy and grace..
Therefore it doesn’t matter what the natural circumstances around you may be saying, choose to believe God, and expect uncommon blessings in all your endeavors.
Because it is your set time of favor, God will step in and scatter the perpetual hills and everlasting mountains in your lives, those long-standing problems that seem to have defied all solutions will soon be defeated.
The enemies you’ve seen in the past you will see them no more.
Therefore, in every situation, let us continue to praise and bless God for His rain of favor, which is coming our way in this season.

PRAYER: Lord,. I thank You because it is certainly my set time to see unprecedented favor, mercy and grace in all my endeavors. Enable me to always walk by faith and not by sight, knowing that indeed You are too faithful to fail me in Jesus Name.

QUOTE
It is only when you can see God in the light of who He truly is that you can begin to walk in the overflow of His blessings. – WORDBITE 222.

Psalm 41:11 ‘By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.’

DAILY READING; • John 12:27-50; 2 Chronicles 16-17; Psalm 78:1-20

700 years before Coronavirus, was a Bubonic plague, known as the “Black Death”. It was the deadliest pandemic recorded in human history. It killed 25 million in 14th century Europe, roughly 40 percent of the population.
Its cause was suspected to be flea-infested rats that spread the deadly disease throughout Western Europe. But at that time much was not known about communicable diseases and as people searched for answers, they began to look for whom to blame.
People became suspicious of the Jews when it was noticed that they were not dying massively from the Black Death like the rest of the population. However, the possible reasons could be Jews may have had strengthened immune systems through eating Kosher food as required by the dietary laws in the Torah. Also while many people at that time regarded cats to be evil and didn’t harbor them, the Jews bred cats which killed the rats spreading the Black death.
Soon the Jews became the scapegoats as rumors began to spread of how they were causing the epidemic by pouring poisonous powder into wells. As these rumors circulated, what followed was a massacre of Jews unparalleled in its magnitude and ferocity. There was slaughter of the Jews in Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland and other European cities. Jews were burnt alive and hundreds of Jewish communities were destroyed.
Such wide spread hatred against Jews was not new as they had often been subjected to episodes of violence. 600 years later, they faced perhaps the most gruesome of the violence when Hitler systematically annihilated about six million Jews during the holocaust.
Yet despite all these hatred, God’s blessings upon the Jews have continued to prevail. Their continual existence remains a great mystery to the world. The grace and favor upon them have overshadowed and superseded the hatred of their enemies causing them to continue to excel and today rank among the greatest nations of the world.

Psalm 41:11 says ‘By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.’

When God’s favor is upon you, it doesn’t matter what negative things may come against you, the blessing on you will override them all. Certainly, what God has blessed nothing and no one can curse.
When the Israelites headed toward Jericho and were camped on the plains of Moab, the Moabite king, Balak saw their great number and was afraid. So he hired Balaam to curse the people of Israel. But every time Balaam opened his mouth to speak a curse against Israel, a blessing came out instead.
Unable to penetrate God’s protective shield around His people, Balaam finally told Balak, “How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? Or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied?” (Numbers 23:8).
The example of Balaam shows that the power of God’s blessing will always overcome the enemy’s attack against a people who are blessed and favored by the Lord.
When you make the choice to walk in obedience to God and give Him first place, you will find favor in His sight. His blessings on your life will keep pushing you up, no matter who is trying to push you down.
People cannot hinder your progress because of the greater forces of God’s blessings and favor at work in your life.
Truly, if God is for you, no one can be against you!
In this season, as we make the choice to move higher in our service to God, let us get ready for explosive blessings of favor. God will be doing something unusual, something that we have never seen before. There will be miracles we can’t explain. There will be such manifestations of uncommon favor that will baffle every enemy and detractor and make them realize that truly we are serving the living God!

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for covering me with Your uncommon favor. No matter what happens around me, I know You are in perfect control of my life. May Your praise continually be on my lips now and always in Jesus Name.

QUOTE:
You will never need more than God to experience the impossible in life. – WORDBITE 222.

Colossians 1:13-14
‘Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: In whom we have redemption through His blood,’

DAILY READING – John 12, 2 Chronicles 14, Psalm 77

It was a dash for freedom that was caught on camera and captivated the world: The incident played out at the Demilitarized Zone, one of the world’s most fortified frontiers separating North and South Korea. The two sides of Korea have technically been in a state of war since the 1950’s. Though it is illegal to cross over to South Korea, the harsh oppression in North Korea forces many of its citizens to do everything possible to defect.

On November 13, 2017, a North Korean military officer named Oh Chung-sung, made a desperate dash to escape from his repressive country. Surveillance cameras captured the moment he drove a jeep directly up to the Military Demarcation Line dividing North and South Korea. He smashed the car through the military checkpoint, which caused North Korean soldiers to begin pursuing after him. He drove furiously towards the boundary but his escape bid became stalled as his jeep got stuck in a ditch. With the chasing North Korean soldiers almost upon him, he climbed out of the car and started to run towards the border which was just yards away. As he was crossing, the North Korean soldiers opened fire. The hail of bullets tore through Oh Chung-sung with at least five shots hitting him directly. Though bleeding, with his remaining strength, he ran until he crossed over and collapsed on the South Korean side. There he lay unconscious as South Korean soldiers who had witnessed the scene came to him and dragged him over to their side. The North Korean soldiers could not pursue him any further because according to international laws, once he had crossed over, he had become untouchable to them. They had no right to pursue him across the border. In fact, for shooting him, while he was crossing, those soldiers were sanctioned and removed from their positions at the border.

After being rescued, Oh Chung-sung was flown to a hospital in South Korea, where doctors who operated on him said it was a “miracle” that he survived, because he had lost half of his blood from gunshot wounds. After recovering, Oh Chung-sung began a new life in South Korea. He continued to marvel at his miraculous, narrow escape because if he had been caught, he would probably have been executed by a firing squad or sent to a concentration camp.

It is an interesting fact that once Oh Chung-sung crossed the border, he became untouchable to North Korean soldiers. This gives us a glimpse of what happens spiritually when a believer crosses over from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. Once you have made the dash for it and crossed into the kingdom of God, the hordes of darkness are no longer permitted to touch you.

When the Israelites crossed over the red sea, representing the red Blood of Christ, Pharaoh’s attempt to pursue after them resulted in the disastrous destruction of his army. When you become a child of God, it means you have now crossed to the realm where forces of spiritual wickedness can no longer touch you. You become seated with Christ far above all principalities and powers.

However, despite being Blood-bought, some believers continue to suffer the oppression of the enemy. This is a result of spiritual ignorance because according to spiritual laws, as long as you have crossed over into God’s kingdom, afflictions are no longer permitted to arise again in your life. But it takes knowledge to enforce our covenant rights and privileges. God’s people only perish due to lack of knowledge, but when you know the truth you shall be set free.

Today, you can break free from any form of oppression by going after knowledge of God’s Word. In this season of grace, mercy and favor, it is certainly our time to enjoy total freedom in every area. The grace of God is available to usher us into a new season of victory and triumph.

Colossians 1:13 says that God has delivered us from the power of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son. Therefore, let us resist everything that tries to keep us in oppression.

Certainly, in our family, health, finances and all areas, we are rising to greater levels of freedom and dominion by the Blood of Jesus!

PRAYER
Lord I thank You for bringing me into a new season of divine favor. Indeed, by the Blood of Jesus I have crossed over into a realm of inexplicable blessings. Thank You Lord for all You are set to do in my life in this month in Jesus’ Name.

QUOTE
The tests you are going through in life today are not for your destruction, they are for your testimony. – WORDBITE 222.

Proverbs 28:20-22 ‘A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.’

DAILY READING; John 11:28-57; 2 Chronicles 12-13; Psalm 76

Billy Graham came to Christ through the preaching of an evangelist Mordecai Ham, during a tent meeting held in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1936.
However, Billy almost missed the opportunity to encounter Christ, because when he came into the tent meeting and found no empty seat he impatiently wanted to leave.
At that time Graham was 16 years old, and had no time for religion. He actually only came to the meeting because he heard some youths planned to disrupt the sermon of the evangelist who had been preaching against their youthful lusts and excesses. Billy and his friend had come along to witness what would happen. When they got into the tent that night, they realized that there was no empty seat and so wanted to quickly leave the place.
However as they turned to go, an usher who had noticed the two restless young boys, stopped them and put his arms around their shoulders. He said, “You are welcome. We’re so glad you’re here. Let me take you to a seat.” The usher found two seats for them to sit down. As Billy Graham listened to the preaching that night, he surrendered his life to Jesus and he went on to take Jesus to the world.
By the simple act of making two boys feel welcomed, that usher helped to shape history. He helped to usher into God’s Kingdom Billy Graham, who preached the Gospel to more people than anyone in history. During his life, Graham preached in person to more than 100 million people and to millions more via television, satellite, and film.

In our lifetime, we may not even be aware of the full harvest of souls brought to the kingdom of God simply because we remained faithful in our service.
This is why we must endeavor to be dedicated and diligent in every assignment. Some of the seemingly inconsequential work we do might be the pivotal hinge that swings people into their place in destiny.
The truth is that everything we are called to do in God’s kingdom is adding up to achieve a greater purpose. Every part of the Body of Christ does a crucial work. When we aim to be the best in what we do God is glorified.
Sometimes, we may get frustrated because we are not on the platform, where we can be seen, rather it seems we are hidden in the background where we’re not being applauded or appreciated.
But while we may think nothing is happening, God is keeping record and using our faithful service to accomplish much.
God could be using us to save and preserve precious souls in ways and manners we could never fathom.
Though you may think what you do is ordinary, God could be using it to accomplish the extra ordinary.
God is watching to see our faithfulness in the little things. As we serve diligently and as best as we can, God will open doors to greater opportunities.
David was anointed king, yet he continued to serve as a shepherd boy in the field. He was faithfully running errands for his father. It was while taking food to his brothers, that he was presented with the opportunity to defeat Goliath and ascend the throne.
Truly a faithful man shall abound with blessings [Proverbs 28:20].

However it is our diligent pursuit of God in the secret place of prayer that reflects in our dedication and service to His kingdom. Our spiritual life is the engine room that generates the light that shines from our lives to the world. It is when we have been first watered in God’s Presence that we can water others also.
As we continue to take pleasure in the stones of Zion and serve faithfully in our different assignments in God’s Kingdom, surely He will entrust us with greater things and do exceedingly, abundantly above all we could ever ask, think or imagine.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to be diligent in serving You where I am right now. As I serve faithfully, I thank You for causing me to abound with blessings and ascend to that glorious place You have ordained for me in Jesus Name. .. ..
QUOTE
When you make God your priority, God automatically makes you priority in His own plan. – WORDBITE 222..