HORM Devotional

Exodus 14:14 ‘The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.’

DAILY READING –2 Corinthians 9; 2 Kings 22:1-23:35; Nahum 3

The Great Siege of Malta occurred in 1565 when the Ottoman Empire attempted to conquer the island of Malta from the Knights of St John.
The Knights of St John were a fighting religious order drawn from most of the nations of Christendom.
Before then, Suleiman the Magnificent, the Ottoman Sultan, had forcibly ejected the Knights from their base on Rhodes after a six-month siege of Rhodes.
From 1523 to 1530 the Knights lacked a permanent home until they were finally able to resettle in Malta which was a small, desolate island.
However, the Ottomans still came again to Malta to attack the Knights in their new headquarters
This time the knights were ready to stand against the might of the Ottoman Empire.
At the time, the Ottoman Empire was at its peak. Under their sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent, the Turks had conquered most of Eastern Europe. But Ottomans met a stiff resistance when 70,000 of their soldiers attempted to seize the island of Malta from about 500 Knights and 3,500 Christian troops.
Despite being very grossly outnumbered, the Christian defenders held out for almost four months, despite 50 percent casualties. And just when it seemed all hope was lost, help suddenly arrived. On September 11, a long-belated relief force from the Continent reached the battle to assist the Christians and inflicted a final great slaughter on the Ottomans, whose survivors fled by sea.
Before this time, Suleiman’s army seemed to be invincible and were feared. But their defeat by the Knights of St. John undoubtedly led to the eventual erosion of the European perception of Ottoman invincibility.

Sometimes in life, we may face battles where it seems we are outnumbered and outgunned.
It could be medical diagnosis that seems frightening, financial lack that seems insurmountable or problems that simply defy solutions.
In a situation that appears more than you can handle, it is tempting to accept defeat and believe it’s all over. But if you will refuse to quit and continue to stand in faith, help will soon come your way.

In 2 Chronicles 20, a great army came against King Jehoshaphat. He was greatly outnumbered and did not know what to do. But when he turned to the Lord, help arose to defeat his enemies.

Truly, no matter how intimidating any situation, God can enable you to withstand and overcome formidable enemies.
If it seems you are facing an impossible situation, always remember that there is God in Heaven who rules in the affairs of men. He is the God of sudden visitations, who can suddenly intervene when it seems all hope is lost.
No matter how insurmountable the obstacle,, we must always remember that we serve the God who is the mighty Man in battle. He is El Shaddai, which means Almighty God who destroys over powers.
He is Yahweh-Sabaoth, the LORD of Hosts, who has military prowess and is the Mighty Warrior. And He is Yahweh-Nissi, the LORD our Banner.
Indeed when God arises to fight for you, every enemy must be scattered. This is why we should always ensure God is on our side by remaining spiritually fervent when faced with trials and oppositions.
One key way to engage God to fight for us is through praise.
Just like Jehoshaphat did in 2 Chronicles 20, when you begin to sing and praise God, He sets an ambush against your enemies. Praise is what triggers the intervention of the Omnipotent God. Praise is God’s hotline anytime! Praise attracts God’s presence.[Psalm 22:3].
When you live a praiseful life, God’s presence around you ensures your victory in every conflict.

Anytime, we are faced by strong battles, God’s desire for us is to stand in faith and not be moved by circumstances. Certainly, the battle is not ours, but the Lord’s.
Today, as we remain steadfast in faith, prayers and praise, the Lord will indeed fight for us and we will hold our peace.

PRAYER; Lord, Please help me to hand over my battles to You through maintaining a praise-full lifestyle. Thank You Lord for causing me to triumph always 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

Proverbs 14:12 ‘There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death’

DAILY READING; 2 Corinthians 8; 2 Kings 20-21; Nahum 2

Today, “Death Valley” is one of the largest national parks in America. It was given its name by a group of gold prospectors who almost lost their lives in the valley.
In 1848, when gold was discovered in California, many people from all over America began rushing to the region to seek for gold and hope for a new and better life.
In October of 1849, a group of such gold prospectors began their journey from Salt Lake City. They were being led by an experienced guide named Captain Jefferson Hunt who was the only one in the town who knew the trail well. But captain Hunt drove carefully and went at a pace slower than what most of the passengers wanted.
Some of these impatient people became excited when a young man rode up to them claiming to know a better way. He presented a hand-sketched map that showed a fictitous “short cut” across the desert to a place called Walker Pass. The people agreed that this would cut off 500 miles from their journey and help them get to their destination faster. And so while the patient ones decided to continue with Captain Hunt, the impatient ones chose to follow the purported ‘short cut’.
About 20 wagons abandoned captain Hunt and followed the unreliable map, thinking that all they had to do was keep going west and they would eventually arrive at their destination.
But as this group followed the shortcut, they found themselves in areas of deserts, mountains, and barren valleys that seemed to lead nowhere. Eventually they ended up lost.
After weeks of wandering across the desert in no particular direction, they were weary and were almost dying from thirst and hunger.
Finally, they came to a point where the road became so treacherous that they could no longer go on with their carriages. So they decided to leave their wagons and belongings behind and walk. They slaughtered several oxen and used the wood of their wagons to cook the meat.
They then embarked on a treacherous trek across sand dunes, Mountains and Valleys. By now the “short cut” that had lured them away from Captain Hunt’s wagon train, proved to be a long torturous route that trapped them for about four months in the desert before they finally found a trail that led them back to civilization. By the time they emerged from this journey, some of the men had lost their lives and most of their belongings were gone. Their experience and entire ordeal led to the naming of that region ‘death valley.’

Proverbs 14:12 ‘There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death’

Every destiny is at risk without proper guidance.
Life is full of ways that seem right at first, but only end up as paths of death. To avoid them we need to be divinely guided by the One who knows the way.
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He is all-knowing, all-powerful and everywhere-present. He is tried, true and trustworthy. And it is wisdom to trust Him to guide us in the journey of life.
He is the One with foreknowledge. He knows the end from the beginning and as we trust in Him, He will lead us on the right pathway.
Though we may sometimes walk through the valley of the shadow of death, when God is with us, we shall fear no evil.
Unfortunately today, many lack the patience to wait for God’s guidance and follow His righteous standards.
In the desire to move faster in life, they look for shortcuts to success. But some so called ‘shortcuts’ only end up becoming deathtraps. Certainly, not all that glitters is gold.
To truly go far in life, we must submit to the guidance of the Spirit. The security of our destiny lies in His guidance.
By His help we will be able to escape those pitfalls on life’s pathway that trap men and immobilize their journey.
Indeed for every believer there is no substitute for divine guidance. Either you are guided or you are grounded.
We must therefore avoid spiritual laziness and consciously pay the price of walking the strait and narrow path of spiritual discipline.
This we do by developing sensitivity to the Holy Spirit through fervent prayers, worship and diligent study of the Scriptures.
Through His death and resurrection Jesus has provided a sure path for us to follow to every good thing in life.
And as we follow Him, we will be made and guided into His great and glorious destiny for us.

PRAYER: Lord, please enable me to choose the path of divine guidance so as to avoid the pain of regret in destiny. Thank You Lord for granting me the grace to always follow Your will at all times in Jesus Name.
QUOTE:
God knows how to work everything together in your life for your own good. WORDBITE 222

Job 36:11 “If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.”

DAILY READING; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:16; 2 Kings 19; Nahum 1

Dr. Lester Sumrall is considered one of the greatest 20th century ministers of the Gospel.
However, when he first started preaching as a teenage evangelist, he was so impoverished that to earn money, he had to resort to feeding the hogs on a pig farm.
It was soul-destroying work and one day in desperation he lay in the middle of the field and cried out, ‘Oh, Lord, maybe I should go home and die!’ But the Lord calmed him by telling him to be faithful and He would give him much greater things.
Soon after that Lester had a vision of people from all over the world on a road to hell and heard God telling him to go to foreign nations and preach to them or else their blood will forever be on his hands.
One day, while holding a meeting in a small Church, God told him to close the meeting and go to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, to the Tri-State Campmeeting. When Lester told the pastor of the Church where he had been preaching that God had asked him to close the meetings, the pastor was angry and called Lester “unstable” and refused to give him any honorarium.
But Lester was determined to obey God and travelled to Tri-State Campmeeting in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, as directed by God.
One of the speakers at the meeting was a well known British evangelist named Howard Carter. After the meeting, Lester was standing on the sidewalk outside the auditorium, when Howard Carter walked by him to go to his hotel. Hardly knowing what he was doing, Lester suddenly grabbed his hand and said “Sir, I will go with you over the highest mountains, I will go with you over the broad plains, I will go with you through every desert…..’
When Lester realized what he had said, he profusely apologized for saying those words.
But Howard smiled, and said, “Come to my room.”
In his hotel room, Howard told Lester that about two years earlier in London, God told him to go to the nations of the world and preach and that He had prepared a companion for him. He said God told him that person would say identically the same words that Lester had just told him on the sidewalk.
Miraculously, God had separately prepared these two men to preach to the nations
Their dramatic meeting led to a relationship likened to that of Paul and Timothy in the Bible. Howard was 41 years and Lester was 19 years and together, they traveled to many different countries, spreading the Gospel and establishing Churches.

What if Lester Sumrall had not heard God’s instruction to go to Arkansas, or perhaps, he heard it but failed to obey, he probably would have continued in a life of frustration and obscurity.
Truly, hearing God’s voice is our greatest asset in life and ministry. It is what brings us out of obscurity to the limelight.
God has a wonderful plan for each of His children but many are still languishing in irrelevance due to lack of hearing and following God’s voice.
God has positioned people who are destined to take us to the next levels of our assignment. But it will take our obedience to connect the dots in God’s plan.
This is why it is important that we spend time in prayer and study of the Word so as to know what God is saying to us per time. To successfully follow His leading, we must take time each day to devote ourselves to seek His will.
As God leads us, though we may not initially see the whole picture, we need to trust Him and move in obedience to the much He shows us. As we abide faithful in the little things, soon the bigger pictures will begin to unfold.
The determination to obey God, will sometimes put us in conflict with other plans or people’s expectations, but we must always elevate God’s will above all else.
We are not to lean on our understanding, but rather to trust in the Lord with all our heart.
When we yield ourselves in complete and whole-hearted obedience to God, He will lead us inch by inch into the grand plan He has for us.
Therefore, from this moment, let us determine to persistently follow God’s guidance and walk in obedience to His instructions. As we do, it is only a matter of time before we begin to see the manifestation of His great and wonderful purpose for our lives.

PRAYER: Lord, I ask for the grace to always follow Your vision and not my own ambitions. 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.

Zechariah 2:5 ‘For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.’

DAILY READING – 2 Corinthians 5; 2 Kings 18; Micah 7

‘Guiding Hand’ is a book by the well known author Horace L. Hastings. In it he records this remarkable story of God’s divine protection.

In 1812, the French leader Napoleon Bonaparte sent an army of about 650,000 soldiers to invade Russia. But Napoleon’s army failed to conquer Russia for several reasons, including faulty logistics, disease and bad weather. Frustrated over their failure, as the French army retreated from Moscow, they unleashed a trail of terror on the villages they passed through.
In one of the village exactly in the course of the retreating army, was a poor woman that had an invalid son. As reports of the approaching violent army reached their village, the people were terrified and fled en masse until the village was deserted except for the family with the invalid boy. The boy urged his mother to leave him to his fate and leave with his sisters. But his mother assured him that God would be their refuge and build them a sure wall of defense.
That night snow began to fall and through the night it collected rapidly. A stormy wind blew the snow into drifts against the low roof of their cottage. By the morning they woke up to find that a heavy barricade of snow had entirely almost shielded their house like a protective wall that concealed it from immediate sight.
It was during this time that the dreaded retreating soldiers passed through their village, destroying, ransacking and carting away valuables.
But the low-roofed cottage, where the crippled boy and his family stayed remained unseen to them, sheltered beneath its wall of snow.
Just as the mother had said, indeed a “sure wall” had been built for their defense.

When the angel of death passed through Egypt, God built a wall of defense around His people with the blood of the lamb. While the plague raged in Egypt, God kept His people safe under the covering of the blood. .
Today, as news of terror rages through the earth in the form of banditry, kidnappings, killings, robberies etc, we need not be afraid. God has built a spiritual wall of defense around us through the Blood of Jesus.
Truly God is committed to the protection of His people.
The Blood of Jesus is our spiritual ‘sure wall’ that defends us from every passing scourge and rampage of evil.
The Blood continually surrounds us and speaks over our lives, ‘Touch not My anointed’ to every passing plague.
The mark of the Blood, identifies us as Blood-washed and Blood-bought. It shows that we belong to the One who was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. Therefore by His Blood, we have been made untouchable.
Indeed the Blood is our stronghold in battles and God’s protective wall of fire around us and our families.

In Zechariah 2:5 God says ‘For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.’

The Blood of Jesus is our divine seal that makes our lives inaccessible to the forces of wickedness.
The only way a believer can be afflicted is if he steps outside of the hedge of the protection of the Blood. This is why we are counseled by Scriptures not to break the hedge through sin. Certainly as we maintain purity and holiness through a spiritually fervent lifestyle of prayers, study of the Word and praise, we will abide under divine cover.
As we daily plead the Blood, our household will be protected from afflictions, harm and evil occurrences.
Bloodthirsty men and workers of iniquity will be blinded from seeing us. No assassin’s bullet can locate us. Rather than become victims we will be more than conquerors in every situation. We shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day [Psalm 91:4].
Truly by the power in the Blood, no weapon formed against us shall ever prosper.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You that by the Blood of Jesus I am shielded and protected from every arrow of the wicked. Thank You Lord for the constant shield of the Blood around me and my family now and always in Jesus Name.
QUOTE:
The truth of God’s Word in the life of a believer is always reflective, the results can never be hidden. – WORDBITE 222.

Proverbs 24:16 ‘for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.’

DAILY READING; 2 Corinthians 4, 2 Kings 17; Micah 6

It is amazing how Katherine Kuhlman was able to rise from the ashes of her failures to become one of the greatest evangelists of her generation.
She began preaching when she was 17 years and her ministry grew steadily until 1935, when at 28 years, she established the Denver Revival Tabernacle.
But Kathryn, compromised her convictions, when she began a relationship with an evangelist named Burroughs A. Waltrip and he eventually divorced his wife to marry her on October 18, 1938.
Soon after, Kathryn.realized the marriage was a mistake and would later say it was the single greatest regret of her life.
In the ensuing controversy, her congregation at the Denver Revival Tabernacle rejected her and within a short period of time, ministry invitations stopped as nobody wanted to do anything with her anymore.
In one occasion, Kathryn Kuhlman was preaching in a church in another town, when someone informed the pastor concerning her, and she was embarrassingly asked to leave.
Failure after failure followed her descent into obscurity during the six years that followed her marriage.
Finally one Saturday afternoon, while taking a walk, Katherine came to a dead-end street. Realizing that it was symbolic because her life had come to a dead end, there she surrendered all to God including her marriage.
After that, she walked away and never looked back. She bought a one-way ticket to Franklin, Pennsylvania and tried to start all over again.
Her life became like a grain of wheat that fell into the earth and died. But God resurrected her ministry, giving her a new beginning.
Even though Kathryn Kuhlman had been out of public ministry for almost 8 years, when she began again, the glory of the latter house surpassed the former.
Suddenly all the churches that rejected her, began to open their arms wide.
God restored her better and greater. The heavy presence of the Holy Spirit she carried led to amazing healings and strange miracles that accompanied her ministry till her death in 1976.

Truly, God is in the business of second chances. He can resurrect anyone who has come to a dead end in life, once they surrender to Him.
Many of us have disappointed God at some point, by abandoning His will only to end up in failure.
But every time you get to the darkest hour of your night God is able to give you another day!
It doesn’t matter how far you may have fallen or what you may have lost, through God’s help you can always bounce back, better and stronger.
Men may write you off, because of past mistakes; you could even have written yourself off because of past failures. But God’s grace is greater than our sins, faults and failures.
Therefore rather than sit in the ashes of past mistakes, we learn from it and make a fresh start. Life is too precious to waste any of it regretting the past.
At a time of doubt, fear and insecurity, when we feel alone and helpless, God’s grace is able to show up to offer us another chance.
As long as we confess our sins and failures, God is able to forgive us and make miracles out of our mistakes.

Today, perhaps, due to stepping out of God’s will, you have been beset with setbacks, if only you can retrace your steps and surrender all to God’s will, you are going to have an amazing comeback.
A knock down, only becomes a knock out, if you stay down and refuse to get up.
Proverbs 24:16 says that though the righteous may fall seven times, yet they will rise again.
Today, it doesn’t matter where you may have fallen, by God’s grace, you are getting right back up again!
God will not only give you the strength to bounce back, you are coming out better off than you were before!
In this resurrection season, there is healing, deliverance and restoration available through the Blood of Jesus.
Therefore, let us connect to the power of the Cross, to rise above past failures and begin to live the life of glory and power God has ordained for us.

PRAYER: Lord, I know you have so much in store for me, please enable me to put the past behind me and forge ahead into the glorious future of blessings You have planned for me in Jesus Name. .
QUOTE:
True success is not verifiable in the fact that a man has never fallen before but in the fact that he did not only fall but also got up. WORDBITE 222.

Revelation 12:11 “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death”.
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DAILY READING; 2 Corinthians 2:5-3:18; 2 Kings 15-16; Micah 5:2-15

David Livingstone was the legendary pioneer missionary, who blazed a trail for the Gospel across Africa.
About 30 years after his death, another missionary arose, named Harmon Schmelzenbach who seemed to carry the same fire.
In the flyleaf of Harmon’s Bible was written this quote from David Livingstone.
“Lay any burden upon me; only sustain me. Send me anywhere; only go with me. Sever any tie, but that one which binds me to Thy service and to Thy heart.” –

This quote was Harmon’s prayer as he embarked on his missionary trip to Aftica.
Arriving in1907, he and his wife focused their work in Eswatini, a country that was then called Swaziland.
Their’ ministry in Eswatini did not begin smoothly and they were not initially accepted by the Swazi people because the Swazi Queen had previously made a vow not to let any white person to take up residency in her country.
As Harmon and his wife persevered in prayers, after about a year, the Swazi Queen changed her mind. She agreed to let them buy land and build a mission house.
But as they commenced building, they suffered attacks from the local people. At one point, a group of warriors were given orders to kill them but by divine intervention the queen countered the order and said no one should touch them.
Twice the materials for the Church building were burned by their enemies. And after it was finally built, the local witch doctors warned the people not to attend the Church or else they would be cursed. Seeing that the people were too afraid to come, Harmon Schmelzenbach then began to make daily travels to minister to the Swazi people where they lived and worked. Eventually an evangelistic breakthrough came and many people began to flock to Christ around the country.
Despite the challenges he faced, Harmon remained passionate and faithful to his call. His work in Africa paved the way for many missionaries who followed in his footsteps.

When there is fire in your bones, you will become unstoppable. The inner vision and passion within you will keep driving you forward despite any opposition you may encounter.
Apostle Paul was so passionate about preaching the Gospel that even death could not stop him. The Bible tells us that in Lystra the Jews dragged him out of the city, stoned him and left him for dead. But zeal for the Gospel would not let him die. It brought him back to life. He not only got up, he went right back into the city and preached there! The passion in Paul was so much that no opposition could quench it.

To succeed in life what is pushing you forward has to be greater than what is trying to stop you.
You can’t carry the fire of the Holy Ghost and be silenced. That fire will radicalize you and make you unbeatable..
In these last days, the acquisition of spiritual fire is a necessity if we are to overcome the oppositions against our progress.
Fire is what gives us the audacity and authority to withstand challenges.
Today, we live in a world that places a very high demand on our spiritual lives because of the increasing wickedness in these perilous times.
To avoid becoming victims of the evil schemes of men, we must maintain a high spiritual temperature.

As we run our race, there will be attempts to hinder or stop our vision and mission. We must keep increasing our fire everyday so as to remain stronger than the opposition.
The secret of contacting spiritual fire is by appearing before God daily in worship and prayer and study of the Word. We need to keep our fire fresh because yesterday’s mantle cannot handle today’s battle.

Especially, this month, let us tap into the grace of the resurrection season to arise from every spiritual slumber and walk in power. It is our season of triumph over every force of the grave trying to hold us down. Let us ask God to set us on fire and anoint us with greater power.
Truly by the Blood of Jesus, we are overcoming every hindrance and opposition and going forward to fulfill the divine call upon our lives.

PRAYER: Lord, Please grant me a renewed desire for Your Word and prayer, so that I can be empowered to burn with fire and passion to overcome oppositions and accomplish Your mission for me in Jesus Name.

QUOTE
Illuminate your world for you are a star destined to shine. WORDBITE 222

Romans 8: 28 –“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose.”

DAILY READING; 2 Corinthians 1:1-2:4; 2 Kings 14; Micah 4:1-5:1

In the 11th century, young princess Margaret emerged as the rightful heir to the English throne. However, when Danish conquerors invaded England, her family was exiled to Hungary. After a brief stay in England, in the year 1066, Margaret and her family boarded a ship to return to Hungary. However a fierce storm that blew during the night, redirected their ship and they landed in Scotland. This was to them a disappointing situation that almost found them stranded in a strange land where they knew no one.
They later discovered that their ship had landed very near to the residence of King Malcolm III of Scotland.
Later on, when the king saw them he took an instant liking to Margaret who was about 21 years at the time.
He would eventually propose to her and they got married.
Before Margaret came to Scotland, ignorance ruled the land. Religious observances had slipped into error. But Margaret who was raised with godly virtues, began to pray for a change in the land. Her godly influence eventually transformed her husband, his court, and the nation.
As the leading lady of Scotland, she set an example of holiness and worship of God. At her insistence, a synod or council of church leaders was called to correct the wrong doings in the land.
At her patient insistence, Sunday became the day of rest and worship that it was meant to be. She set an example of charity by personally taking in at least nine orphans.
The gracious queen loved to read, especially the Gospels, and an illuminated book of the Gospel that she used to treasure still exists today. She sponsored new churches and improved existing ones so that the people might be attracted to Christianity. Her life greatly affected the people of Scotland.

In light of Margaret’s remarkable story, we must believe that it was no mere chance that a fierce storm redirected their ship to land in Scotland. Obviously, she was sent to perform a missionary work in the land.
Many times a disappointment can be a blessing in disguise. Something can happen that may seem to appear as if things have fallen apart, but if you will choose to trust God that situation can be turned around.
When you ask God to show you a way out, He will open your eyes to see possibilities and seeds of blessings you probably never considered.
The Bible says that with every temptation God makes a way of escape. Often hidden in a seeming disappointment is a way of escape that can turn things around in ways and manners you never dreamed of.
When you are a child of God and walking in obedience to His Word, there can be no disappointments in your life. All things will work together for your good because you love God.
What may look like a cloudy day today can turn around to become your brightest day tomorrow, as long as you can trust God.
In every situation, keep your faith firm in Jesus by looking to His Word and holding on to His promises. Surely, His thoughts towards you are thoughts of good to give you a hope and a future.
People may fail you, situations may disappoint you, but always remember that Jesus never fails.
This is why in everything we keep giving Him thanks and keep judging Him faithful.
Truly, we must learn to live our lives in an attitude of gratitude and keep blessing God at all times.
While we may be worrying or getting frustrated over disruptions to our plan, in reality, it could be God’s way of orchestrating deliverance and guiding us into better positions in life.
Surely, God is able to turn every mourning into dancing and give us double for every trouble.

PRAYER: Lord, I believe that everything is indeed working out for my good. Please help me to always diligently study Your Word so I can have the faith to see You at work in my life in every situation 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..

Exodus 23:20 ‘Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.’

DAILY READING; 1 Corinthians 16; 2 Kings 12-13; Micah 3

Reverend John G. Paton was the pioneer missionary in the New Hebrides Islands.
For 49 years he worked among the cannibals in these Islands, proclaiming the Gospel despite the many dangers. Oftentimes, the natives attempted attacks against him, but always God’s divine hand protected him.
One of the first of these miracles of deliverance occurred soon after he and his wife arrived in the region, for their missionary work.
One night, hostile natives surrounded their mission headquarters wanting to burn it down and kill them.
During that terror-filled night, John Paton and his wife prayed fervently for God’s deliverance.
Miraculously, the natives failed to burn down their mission house or kill them as earlier threatened.
Paton and his wife were amazed to find that unaccountably, the attackers left without carrying out their mission.
They thanked God for delivering them.
Months later one of the natives who had spearheaded the attack that night got converted to Christ. Curious to know what had happened, Paton asked him why he and his men had failed to burn down their house and kill them as they had planned. The native replied that it was because of the mighty men that were guarding their home that night.
But the missionary answered, that there had been no one else with him and his wife.
The native insisted that they had seen many men standing guard – hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords in their hands. He said they seemed to circle the mission station which made the natives afraid to attack.
It then dawned on Paton that there had been angels surrounding them. As they prayed, God had sent His angels to protect them from harm that night.

If only we can see what transpires spiritually when we pray, we will have greater faith in God.
In a world full of dangers, where we daily hear news of terror attacks, kidnappings, robbery etc; God has His angels on duty all around us.
God has promised to send His angels to go before us and cut off the enemies on our paths.

In Exodus 23:23 God says ‘For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites…and I will cut them off’

Truly we are not alone in the journey of life. Thank God for His divine defense around us and our household.

As we embark into this new month of April, we can be sure that God has given His angels charge over us to keep us in all our ways lest we dash our foot against any stone or stumbling block of the enemy.
As we take time to pray to know God’s will and walk in it, no evil will be permitted to touch us. A thousand may fall at our side and ten thousand at our right hand, but it will not come near us. The Lord will be our shade on the right hand and on the left.

Divine protection and guidance is our heritage when we are following God’s will.
When God leads you, He also protects you. When you walk in God’s foreordained path, He gives His angels charge over you.

In Exodus 23:20, God says ‘Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.’

There is a place God has prepared for us in this new month. Let us ensure that we are walking in God’s perfect will, so that we can be brought into our divine location and allocation. This is why it is necessary to maintain close fellowship with the Spirit, throughout this month.
As we are guided by the Holy Spirit we can be sure of total protection. Indeed no weapon formed against us shall prosper. And wherever we go, whatever we do, certainly, God will surround us with divine defense and keep us in all our ways.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for enabling me to walk in Your perfect will this month of April, so that I can be divinely protected wherever I go. Thank You Lord, for giving Your angels charge over me to keep me in all my ways in Jesus Name. .
QUOTE
When God places His hand upon a man in life nothing can come against him, this is because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. WORDBITE 222

Isaiah 43:18-19 “Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

DAILY READING; 1 Corinthians 15; 2 Kings 11; Micah 2

April is a month that means different things to different people, but most of the meanings tend to have one thing in common: new beginnings.
The word “April” comes from the latin word “aperire”, which means “to open”. This could be a reference to the opening or blossoming of flowers and trees, which is something mostly experienced at this time of the year.
April means green leaves and sunshine, blooming flowers and new life. Many animals give birth at this time. It is when birds migrate north and settle down for the summer to mate and to reproduce.
Also animals that spent the winter in hibernation come out of their dens, while those that traveled to warmer regions return back.
April is often marked by increased rainfall, which helps to water the infant seeds taking root in the ground.
In nature, April is a month that signifies a season of rebirth and renewal.
Spiritually also, April is a month that marks a new day for Christians as we celebrate the resurrection of Christ.
For the Jews, it is the month of celebration of the Passover which is considered to be their ‘new year’.
It is a month when Jews remember their deliverance from slavery through the Passover, while Christians remember their deliverance from sin through Christ’s Resurrection. Both of these miraculous events represent redemption. Truly, the month of April comes with a resounding message of hope, freedom and new beginnings.

With the new beginnings that April represents, we can therefore trust God for a change and turnaround in our lives. We can tap into the spiritual significance of this season and believe that it is indeed a new day for us.
The celebration of the Passover and Christ’s resurrection in this month can serve as reminders of God’s deliverance power.
Just as the angel of death passed over the Israelites because of the blood, so shall every plague Pass over our households through the Blood of Jesus.
On this first day of April, let us tap into the grace of this resurrection season.
It doesn’t matter where you may be today, it is time to resurrect from every affliction and bondage. It is time to arise from every bed of sickness and begin to walk in dominion and victory.
It is certainly our season to see glory and not shame. By the power in the Blood of Jesus, we are making a definite break with past negative experiences.
Let us claim a new beginning of stronger health, increased finances, better relationships etc.
It is indeed time to experience new levels in God and conquer new territories in our journey.
It is time to break away from the things that have tried to hold us down and sail to the new heights of glory God has ordained for us this month.
Make the choice today to leave the old behind—leave behind old habits and old thinking and soar to new horizons of success.
It is also time to go deeper in our study of God’s Word, prayer and worship, so as to embrace the faith that will usher us into new blessings the Lord has in store for us.
Therefore let us begin to step out in faith believing God for new heights in our endeavors and fresh encounters in our spiritual lives.
It is certainly a new day for us!

PRAYER: Father, I thank You for bringing me into this new month. Please grant me the grace to seek You diligently so as to experience the new and greater heights You have ordained for me this season in Jesus’ Name.
QUOTE
When God is on your side, anything is possible. WORDBITE 222

Psalm 40:2-3 ‘He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God’

DAILY READNG; 1 Corinthians 15; 2 Kings 10; Micah 1

Casting Crowns is a seven-member music group made up of all youth pastors.
Mark Hall is the lead vocalist and has gained a huge fanbase because of the way he eloquently paints pictures of God’s Word through his lyrics.
His songs stem from his own struggles as he has lived through some of the lyrics he writes.
As a child, Mark was diagnosed with learning disabilities and struggled in school with ADHD and dyslexia. Not being able to read was a constant source of humiliation, which made him to grow up feeling like a loser.
After high school graduation, he wanted to go to Bible College and sing for Jesus, but self-doubt and fear kept him bound.
Any time he felt God was leading him to do something, the enemy would convince him to keep quiet so as not to let people know his painful secret of learning disability.
Finally when Mark was 21 years old, he attended a Bible conference where he heard a speaker share his own testimony of overcoming dyslexia.
Inspired by this testimony, Mark soon launched into music ministry. As he took steps of faith, God helped him to overcome his limitations and took him beyond his wildest imaginations.
Today, his music group, Casting Crowns, has won many awards including, Dove, Billboard and American Music awards.
One of their very popular songs “Praise You in This Storm” written by Mark Hall, perhaps best captures his life’s story.
Despite all the pains and trials he has faced in life, he has continued to praise God in the storm and has seen His amazing faithfulness.
Through God’s help, Mark Hall has been able to overcome dyslexia, ADHD and cancer.
Today, Mark Hall continues to be a source of inspiration and blessing to many people as he testifies of the goodness of God wherever he goes..

It can be easy to bless God when things are going well and no storm is brewing on the horizon. But what happens if we are faced with unprecedented obstacles and confronted by impossible battles?
Even in the shifting seasons of life one thing is certain; God is always faithful. That is why we can lift our voice, raise our hands in praise and bless Him at all times even in the storms..

God says in Isaiah 43:2, “When you go through the waters, I will be with you, when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you, when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned”.

We can always trust God’s faithfulness, when we go through the waters, rivers and fires of life.
God is our ever present help and refuge. He is always there to pull us out of stormy weathers..

In Mathew 14, the disciples were in the middle of a storm and saw Jesus walking on the water towards them. As Peter stepped out by faith to walk on the water to meet Jesus, he suddenly found himself drowning. As Peter shouted “Lord, save me!”, immediately the Lord reached down and pulled him up to safety.

Sometimes in our walk of faith we may find ourselves overwhelmed by the storms. Because the Lord’s ears are open to the cry of the righteous, as we call upon Him, He reaches down and pulls us out of trouble.
Truly, God is our ever present help in any time of need.. This is why we can be confident in the midst of any storm and be at peace even in the midst of adversities.
Our confidence is not based upon what is happening in the world. Our confidence is based upon God’s infallible Word. We are established on the Solid Rock that is eternal and unshakable.
We praise God in the storm because we know the storms are only there to make us stronger.
We praise Him because we know that great fights produce great faith and through Christ we are bound to triumph always.

Today, having come to the last day of the month of March, we have every reason to be thankful to God. He has preserved us and brought us into a season of supernatural overflow. And as we continue to praise Him in the coming months, surely, He will turn stumbling blocks into stepping stones and cause the rock to pour out rivers of oil for us.

PRAYER: Lord, Please grant me the grace to always give You worthy praise at all times. Thank You for bringing me to the end of this month and I know You have greater things ahead for me in Jesus Name.
QUOTE;
Your attitude always determines your altitude in life. –WORDBITE 222