HORM Devotional

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.’

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

In his 1996 book ‘Gifted Hands’, Dr. Ben Carson shared how his mother was instrumental in his rise to a world renowned neurosurgeon.
His mother, Sonya Robinson Carson, was a single mother with little formal education, yet she is credited with being the molding influence on one of the world’s greatest doctors.
Though born into a dysfunctional family and raised in deep poverty, Ben Carson overcame the odds with the help of his mother who chose to believe God for incredible things.
Ben Carson was only eight years old when his father left his mother. Sonya, who had only a third-grade education, was faced with the daunting task of raising her sons Ben and Curtis by herself. She worked as a maid, sometimes holding two or even three jobs to support her family.
Sonya would patch clothes from the Goodwill in order to dress her boys. They would go to local farmers and offer to pick vegetables in exchange for a portion of the fruits which Sonya used for her boys’ meals.
Their family’s poverty often made Ben the butt of cruel taunts from his classmates.
A further source of frustration in Ben’s life was his poor performance as a student.
He fell behind in studies and was considered the ‘dummy’ of the class.
To address this, his mother quickly limited her sons’ television viewing and required them to read two books a week. The boys then had to give written reports to their mother on what they read. While other children were outside playing, Sonya Carson forced her boys to stay inside and read.
Because of her own limited education, Sonya could not read or write, but she was determined to give her sons a better life and so placed great emphasis on their education. Her actions, proved to be a tremendous influence on them.
Before long, Ben moved from the bottom of the class to receiving academic honors and eventually attending medical school. As a doctor, he became director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital at age 33. There, he soon became famous for his groundbreaking work separating conjoined twins.
He later moved into politics, was an American presidential candidate and remains a highly respected world figure today.

By human estimation an uneducated poor black woman with a low income job is not in the best position to raise a world acclaimed neurosurgeon. But that is what happens when God is in your corner. Through divine help, you can break all limits and do the incredible.
As believers, we are born to be wonders to the world.
Every redeemed soul is a potential star.
In Revelation 22:16 Jesus declared ‘I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star’
So, if Jesus came as the bright and morning star, then we are ordained to be stars on the earth.

We have been redeemed by the Blood to enjoy the blessing of Abraham.
Galatians 3:29 says ‘And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise ‘.
We are born after the order of Abraham and ordained to greatly impact our generation.
It is our redemptive heritage to be the head and never the tail; above only and never beneath.
Jesus paid the price at the cross for Abraham’s blessings to become ours. Therefore we have all it takes to be trailblazers and pacesetters. We are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden.
Through redemption we are positioned for success. It doesn’t matter the odds against you or how impossible your situation, the price for your elevation has been paid by the Blood.
Though you may sometimes feel weak, overwhelmed or overburdened by life’s situations always remember that you are born of God and whoever is born of God overcomes the world.

Indeed we are overcomers by the Blood of Jesus. Therefore don’t ever bow to the winds of opposition. Don’t ever cooperate with your problem by giving up. As a child of God, defeat should never be part of your vocabulary. Failure should never be part of your options. This is because you serve the God who never fails and He is committed to always giving you the victory.

So don’t be discouraged, no matter how tough things may seem, always trust God to make a way for you.
Through God’s help you can arise above the limits and attain any height in life. If you feel unqualified, remember that God uses people who were broken, battered, tattered and torn to do incredible things. He uses the weak to confound the wise.
Just keep focusing on the Word and keep believing God for great things. Certainly, as you maintain strong faith in God, you shall soon become a wonder to all.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for Your great faithfulness in my life. By Your grace I shall never settle for less than Your best for my life. Thank You Lord for enabling me to soon become a wonder to all in Jesus Name.
QUOTE :
Nothing liberates like truth, the truth you know shall set you free. – WORDBITE 222.

Isaiah 53:5 ‘But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.’

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

Alexander the Great was an ancient Macedonian ruler and one of history’s greatest military minds. As King of Macedonia and Persia, he established the largest empire the ancient world had ever seen.

His reign began in 336 B.C., when his father who was the king of Macedonia was assassinated by a bodyguard. Though only 20 years old,
Alexander immediately claimed the throne and killed his rivals before they could challenge his sovereignty.
Alexander was charismatic, ruthless, brilliant and power hungry. He inspired such loyalty in his men that they followed him anywhere and were ready to die for him.

Though Alexander ruled for only 12 years, yet his influence on Greek and Asian culture was so profound that it inspired a new historical epoch—the Hellenistic Period.
By the time he was 32 years old, Alexander had conquered an empire stretching from the Balkans to modern Pakistan.
He was poised on the edge of another invasion when he fell ill around 323 B.C.
It was said he searched desperately for a legendary river that was supposed to heal all sicknesses, yet he could not find a cure. He eventually died after days of excruciating suffering.
Some historians say Alexander died of malaria or other natural causes; others believe he was poisoned by some of his rivals.

Despite his vast conquest of the ancient world, Alexander the great could not conquer disease. After surviving battle after fierce battle, the young warrior succumbed to the hands of sickness and died in June 323 B.C at age 32.

Like Alexander, there have been many great and influential men whose lives were snuffed out in their prime due to diseases..
Though powerful and wealthy, these men had no defense against the ravages of sickness.

Today, despite the trillions of dollars invested by the rich in eradicating diseases, there is still not a permanent solution.

However, as believers, we have access to total health and divine healing from all diseases through the Blood of Jesus.
The Blood of Jesus is the divine provision for our freedom from all sickness and satanic oppression.
It is true that we live in a wicked world where evil arrows fly about in forms of sickness and evil attacks. However in the mist of all these evil, we have the promise of divine preservation through the Blood.

No matter the medical or scientific explanation, the root cause of every disease is spiritual. And the solution and permanent cure is the Blood of Jesus. There is power in the Blood of Jesus to both heal and deliver us from every negative condition of life.
Jesus paid a great price at Calvary to ensure that nothing and no one cuts short our lives and our destinies prematurely..

However it takes spiritual understanding for us to appropriate the full benefits of our redemptive package.
Ignorance is what makes people to become cheap victims.
God has sent His Word to heal us and deliver us from destructions, but people perish due to lack of knowledge.

Our heights in life is a function of our depths in the Word.
From the Scriptures we understand that Redemption has re-positioned us for eternal victory over every afflictions of life. Therefore what afflicts others cannot afflict us.
At the Crucifixion Jesus was given 39 lashes on His back. Today, every disease – including those newly and recently discovered, fit into the 39 categories. What this means is that every disease known to man was represented in the 39 stripes that Jesus bore.

Isaiah 53:5 says that we are healed by His Stripes.

The bible does not say you are going to be healed. It says; you are already healed! In other words your healing is present and permanent. The circumstances and diagnoses notwithstanding, God’s Word says you have already been healed!! Therefore we must determine to believe the report of The Lord instead of the report of the lab.

Jesus died young that we might live long. His blood was shed so that our blood will never be shed.
But it takes spiritual understanding to live in the reality of the victory Christ has won…

Indeed the sacrifice of Jesus cannot be in vain in our lives. The price has been paid and we now have all it takes to live in power, dominion and total victory on the earth.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You that by the mystery of the Blood covenant it is my season to experience unending wonders. I receive today the grace for in-depth study of Scriptures so that I can gain access into the full benefits of the victory Christ purchased for me in Jesus Name.

Quote
The battle you are faced with today is a good warfare because God has already foreordained a victorious end for you. WORDBITE 222

Job 23:10 ‘But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.’

DAILY READING; • 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:13; 2 Kings 18; Micah 7

Samuel Logan Brengle was a leading author, teacher and preacher on the doctrine of Holiness. He also served as a Commissioner in The Salvation Army.
Because of his stand on holiness and for upholding the truth of God’s Word, his ministry faced oppositions.

One day as he passed by a drinking parlour, some men threw a brick at his head. Their aim was good, and Samuel Brengle suffered serious injury that landed him in the hospital.
He nearly died and spent eighteen months in recovery. Though he was unable to preach for those eighteen months, he spent this time of recuperation in writing articles that would form the basis of his book “Helps to Holiness.”

After he had fully recovered, he published the book, which became an instant success. It was loved by many Christians and due to the great demand, thousands of copies were published.

When Samuel began preaching again, people would often thank him for writing the book. He would respond by telling them that if he had not been hit by the brick, the book may not have been written.

This brick that was used to attack him was preserved by his wife. She had Genesis 50:20 engraved on it: “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”

Indeed God is able to turn stones used to attack us into stepping stones to our greater destiny.

The life of faith is not about the absence of problems, but the presence of God’s power in the midst of it all..

No matter what comes against us, we are always guaranteed victory through the turnaround power in the Blood of Jesus.
The things that the enemy meant for evil God is able to turn them all around for our good.

The truth is that when you choose to live an uncompromising Christian life, not everyone will be happy with you.
For refusing to bow to what they are bowing to, you may get thrown into the fire.
But always realize that anytime you are being attacked or persecuted for righteousness sake, God is right there with you.

He says in Isaiah 43:2 “When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. The flames will not harm you’

Even in the fiery trial, God will be there to carry out a rescue operation. And after you have been tried, you shall come forth as gold.

Job 23:10 says ‘But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.’

Though you may go through the fire today, be assured that you are coming out better and stronger.
God’s Hand upon you will be proven because you will survive. There will be proof that there’s a grace over your life because you walked through the valley of the shadow of death and yet you feared no evil. Rather, you came out victorious.
Anybody else would have lost their mind or suffered a nervous breakdown. But by the power in the Blood, despite all you went through, you were preserved.

Indeed as you remain faithful and continue to choose to please God rather than man, you will see more and more of God’s exceeding goodness. Whatever the enemy meant for evil, God will keep turning it all around to your advantage.
He will prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies, He will anoint you head with oil and your cup will run over with blessings.
Where your detractors thought you would stumble and fall, God will cause you to arise and shine. Indeed your life will become a wonder to all.
As you keep focusing on God’s Word and seek to always honor Him, surely, God will give you double for all your troubles.

PRAYER Lord please grant me the grace and strength to continue to uphold the truth of Your Word and stand in faith no matter the oppositions I may face. Thank You Lord for fighting my battles and giving me the victory today and always in Jesus Name.

QUOTE
When you apply The Word of God, it will work for you, anywhere and anytime- WORDBITE 222.

Psalm 93:3-5 ‘The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.’

DAILY READING; 2 Corinthians 4:1-5:10; 2 Kings 17; Micah 6

A publication by “Calvary Life Fellowship” on 27 January 2005 shared the miraculous stories of people saved from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
One of these stories is that of Uma who is a member of the Believers Church in Tamil Nadu, India.
Uma had a habit of taking her Bible wherever she went.
On December 26, 2004, she took her Bible with her as usual, when she went to draw water at the river. While talking with a man and young woman from the village, she saw the huge waves of the tsunami sweeping inland only a few yards away.
As the waves descended on them and swept them away, Uma and the other two people clung together.
Uma still gripping her Bible, cried out to the Lord to rescue them. They held on to a palm tree, however it was uprooted and they were swept with it for miles. Eventually, the young woman grew weak, and she died holding Uma’s hand.
The waters kept carrying Uma and eventually also she was separated from the young man.
Uma grabbed hold of a damaged boat that floated near her. Amazingly, she realized it was her own fishing boat. She held onto this boat until a helicopter pilot spotted her and rescued her. It had been ten hours since the wave swept them away.
Though Uma sustained some injuries, she miraculously survived. When News correspondents visited and spoke with her a month later, she was still clutching her beloved Bible, thanking the Lord for His saving grace and amazing deliverance.

Sometimes in life, stormy situations, just like a tsunami, can suddenly sweep into a believer’s life. At such moments, holding on to God’s Word is the sure way to overcome and triumph over every wave of trials.
Despite how intimidating any situation , God’s Word assures us that when we walk through the waters it will not overwhelm us [Isaiah 43].
If health challenges, financial troubles or relationship problems seem to loom large and insurmountable, always remember that God is stronger and mightier than those floods.

Psalm 93:3-5 says ‘The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.’

One of the mysteries of science is that the mighty oceans do not overflow the earth. The Earth is known as “the water planet” because over seventy percent of the earth’s surface is made up of ocean water. On the contrary, sand is only about 20 percent of the earth’s surface. Yet interestingly, the greater oceans are kept in check from overflowing by the lesser sand.
We can find the answer to this mystery in Jeremiah 5:21 where God’s says ‘Fear ye not Me?” saith the Lord. “Will ye not tremble at My presence, who have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it; and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?’

Indeed though the ocean may be greater and more powerful, yet God has ordained that the sand would keep the ocean in its boundaries. The ocean may roar and pound the sand with its waves, but because of God’s decree, the sand will not be overpowered. Even if the ocean overflows its banks, it is only a matter of time before it returns back to its boundaries, kept in check by the sands on the shore.

Likewise, though tough situations may look bigger and more powerful than you, yet God’s Word in your heart is an everlasting ordinance that will ever keep that situation in check. His Word is like rock in your heart that ensures that your house never falls, despite the storms.
Though the enemy may come against you like a flood, the Spirit of God will lift up a standard against him.
As you keep holding on to God’s Word, you are guaranteed the victory. As long as you stand in faith, you will never fall.
No matter the challenge you may face today, find the relevant Scriptures to stand on and keep believing God for your miracles.
If the flood comes against you through sickness, stand firm on God’s Word and declare “I will live and not die. The number of my days God will fulfill.”
If the flood comes through financial problems, stand strong and declare ‘My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory..’
If the attack comes through family problems, boldly declare ‘No evil shall befall me neither shall any plague come near my household. Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders.’
Indeed as you stand firm in faith, God’s promises over you will prevail. The plans of the wicked will fail. Every wave coming against you will return back to sender. And you will emerge victorious and triumphant soaring higher and greater than ever.

PRAYERS;
Father I thank You that no matter what I may face, You alone have the final say over my life. Thank You Lord for upholding me through the power of Your Word and enabling me to always triumph over every storm of life in Jesus Name.

QUOTE
Faith is more than just believing, it is acting upon The Word that you believe.

Ephesians 2:6-7 ‘And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

DAILY READING; • 2 Corinthians 2:5-3:18; 2 Kings 15-16; Micah 5:2-15

Kefa Sempangi was the pastor of the Redeemed Church of Uganda during Idi Amin’s rule of terror.
On Easter Sunday 1973, Pastor Kefa Sempangi had his first serious brush with death at the hands of Idi Amin’s goons. At this time, Idi Amin had banned many Christian denominations and it had virtually become a crime to be a Christian.
But Easter Sunday of 1973 Pastor Sempangi bravely and openly preached on the risen Lord in his town’s football stadium to over 7,000 people. Despite the threat of death, that Easter morning many worshippers gathered at the Redeemed Church to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ. .
After the all-day worship service Pastor Kefa Sempangi went exhausted to the vestry to change clothes.
He did not notice that five of Idi Amin’s Secret Police had followed him to the room. They closed the door behind them and pointed their rifles at the Pastor’s face. “We are going to kill you for disobeying Amin’s orders,” said their leader.
Pastor Kefa was shocked beyond words, but at that moment he heard a voice begin to speak, he was astonished to realize that it was his own voice. He said “My life is dead and hidden in Christ. It is your lives that are in danger; you are dead in your sins. I will pray to God that after you have killed me, He will spare you from eternal destruction.”
The leader took a step towards him and then stopped. In an instant, this man’s face changed. He lowered his gun and motioned to the others to do the same. Then he said “Will you pray for us now?”
Pastor Kefa was very astonished by their response. But he prayed for them and thereafter the leader of the gang promised the pastor that he wouldn’t be harmed. Then as they were leaving, he said to the pastor, “I saw widows and orphans in your congregation,” he said. “I saw them singing and giving praise. Why are they happy when death is so near?”
The pastor replied him, “Because they are loved by God. He has given them life, ..because they died in Him.”

One of the most important revelations we can receive through God’s Word, is the fact that we are now living through Christ. It is no longer us that live but Christ is living His life through us. We are simply an extension of Christ as we live on earth.
We are never alone, Christ is always with us.
After His death on the cross, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. (Mathew 27:51)
The curtain in the temple symbolized the separation between God and man. Because of man’s sins, he was denied access to God’s Presence that abode in the Holy of Holies. Only the high priest and direct descendant of Aaron could walk through the curtain on the Day of Atonement to sprinkle the blood of the atoning sacrifice.
However, through His death, Jesus tore the veil that separated us from God. The tearing of the veil signified restoration of the relationship between God and man,
With the middle wall of partition broken down, God’s Presence now abides with us. We have been accepted into the beloved. And because God is for us, nothing and no one can be against us.
Indeed as Christ rose from the death, so have we been raised to sit with Him in heavenly places far above principalities and powers and every force of darkness.

This understanding of our spiritual change of status through Christ’s resurrection will remove every fear from us. Though we may walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we shall fear no evil for God is with us..
Whatever comes against us comes against the God in us. Whoever touches us touches the apple of His eyes.
What cannot happen to Christ is not permitted to happen to us. In Him we live and move and have our being.(Acts 17:28).
He lives in us, moves on us, and works through us. Our lives have been bound in His life. We have been crucified with Him and our fleshly life died on the cross with Him. And we also arose with Him, now no longer living as human beings but living as divine beings in Christ.

PRAYER
Father, I thank You that through Christ’s death and resurrection, I have received new life and complete victory over every force of wickedness. Thank You Lord for Your Presence that abides with me, even as I walk daily in the full consciousness of my redemption and victory 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

LUKE 24; 3-6 ‘And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass.., two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen’

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

Westminster Abbey in London is renowned, because in it rests the bodies of English nobles and notables. Buried at Westminster Abbey are 30 English kings and queens starting with King Edward the Confessor whose magnificent shrine stands just behind the High Altar.
Similarly Arlington cemetery in Washington, D.C., is revered, for it is the honored resting place of many outstanding Americans, including some American Presidents. .
The pyramids of Egypt are famous because they contained the mummified bodies of ancient Egyptian kings.

However, the most notable burial place of all is a Garden Tomb, located outside the walls of Jerusalem. This tomb is famous not because of who is buried within, but because it is empty!
The Garden Tomb is historically believed to be the possible location for the burial and resurrection of Christ Jesus.
In the Gospels we read that “at the place where Jesus was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no-one had ever been laid” (John 19:41).
Archeological evidence, including an ancient winepress, suggests the Garden tomb is the one described in the Gospels.

According to the Scriptures, Jesus was crucified in a place named “the Skull” or ‘Golgotha’ in Aramaic. Today there is a rocky hill near the garden Tomb which indeed physically resembles a skull.
In the mid-19th century, several Christian scholars suggested that this hill could indeed be the place of the Messiah’s crucifixion because of its noted proximity to a main city gate and its association with executions according to local tradition, which all fit the descriptions from the Gospel.
Perhaps the most convincing aspect of the Garden Tomb as the burial place of Jesus is the fact that it is empty!

2000 years ago, on a Friday afternoon on April the 3rd, 33 A.D, Jesus was crucified and buried in a tomb.
On Sunday morning, some of the disciples came to the tomb and were amazed to find it empty! The body of the Lord Jesus was no longer there.
As they stood greatly perplexed, two angels appeared and said to them, ‘why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here but is risen.

‘He is Risen!
These words which rang powerfully in the hearts of the disciples that Resurrection morning, will today echo on the lips of millions of Christians across the world.

‘Christ is risen!’
These amazing powerful three words changed the world forever!
The Resurrection of Jesus became the eternal game-changer that turned humanity’s worst day into our best day.
There is no Christianity without the Resurrection. It is the core of everything we believe, receive and experience.

Jesus came into the world through a virgin’s womb, and he left through an empty tomb!
The tomb of Jesus is empty because death and the grave could not hold Him bound. He broke the chains and arose and now He ever lives to make intercessions for us.
Because of the resurrection, we don’t have to fear death because Jesus now holds the keys of hades and death. All power belongs to Him.
Therefore the forces of wickedness have no more power over you.
Every chain that still tries to hold you bound was shattered on the Resurrection morning.
Whatever negative situation, you may be facing today, Jesus died to give you the victory over them. On the cross, Christ paid our debt in full. Therefore refuse to live a defeated life. Choose today to live in victory.
Because Christ lives, we shall live also.
He is risen indeed and is alive forever more!

PRAYER; Father, Please help me to begin to live in the victory Christ has won at the cross for me. Please enable me to be a partaker of the goodness and redemptive package He won at Calvary. Indeed on this resurrection day, I receive a positive change of story in every area of my life in Jesus’ Name.

Quote
God is preparing you for the season He prepared for your breakthrough. WORDBITE 222.

Colossians 2:14 ‘Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us. He took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross;’

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

On February 27, 1991, during the Desert Storm War, a woman by the name of Ruth Dillow received the worst call of her life.
She was told that her son, Clayton Carpenter, Private First Class, had stepped on a land mine and was dead. For the next three days she grieved. No one could comfort her.

On the third day after receiving the terrible news, the phone rang. On the other end of the phone there was a voice that said, “Mom, it’s me. I’m alive.” At first she thought it was a cruel joke, but as the conversation continued, she realized it was her son.

Later she said she laughed and cried and rejoiced because what seemed to be a hopeless situation turned out to be the greatest day of her life.

The disciples of Jesus were devastated by news of His death through crucifixion. But three days later, they received the best and greatest News that had ever come to humanity; ‘He is risen!’

After Jesus was crucified, the disciples were shaken, confused, depressed, demoralized and saddened by his death. They were full of grief and disbelief.
For three years, they had been together with Jesus, traveling, eating, sleeping and living with Him. Then, on a seemingly random Thursday night, Roman soldiers suddenly appeared and arrested their master and by the following day had crucified Him.

The disciples were in anguish and also afraid for their own lives.
However, while they mourned His death, unknown to them, Jesus had gone down to hell to fight their battles and win complete victory for humanity.
What Adam gave over to the devil in the Garden of Eden by disobedience, was taken back by Christ. Jesus completely devastated the kingdom of darkness and left hell in shambles, triumphing over the devil, and disarming all principalities and powers.

Colossians 2:15 says, “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it”.

After Jesus had sealed the devil’s defeat, He arose from the grave and appeared to His disciples.
Imagine the joy of these disciples as they saw Jesus again! Their mourning was turned into dancing, their darkness was turned into light and their night was turned into day.

And so it is sometimes in our lives.
While we may be wondering where God is in our situation, He is very much alive and working behind the scenes.
This is why we must always trust Him even if we cannot trace Him. He is always there and is our ever present help in the time of need.
We must learn to rest in His love and abide in His promises.

At the cross, Jesus fought our battles and won and has given us total victory and liberty in life.
Whatever was trying to destroy your life, your future and your purpose, was defeated at Calvary.
Indeed Christ has blotted out the handwriting of the ordinance that was against us, which was contrary to us. He took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross; [Colossians 2:14]
Any addiction, any bondage, sickness, affliction in your life; Jesus took them all to Calvary for you. And He declared ‘it is finished’.
Indeed it is finished with every harassment of the enemy over our lives. Through His death, Jesus destroyed sin’s power to dominate over you. He defeated death’s terror to hold you down, and you don’t have to be afraid of anything anymore.
Now you have the power and you have the victory!
That indeed is the message of the cross and the resurrection!

PRAYER
Lord, I thank You for the victory You have won for me at Calvary. Thank You Lord, for giving me victory and dominion over the forces of darkness. Indeed through Your Resurrection power, I see every contrary situation turning around now for my good in Jesus’ Name.

QUOTE
It takes a heart for God to make a mark in the sands of time. – WORDBITE 201.

Proverbs 23:18 “For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off. “

DAILY READING – 1 Corinthians 15:35-58; 2 Kings 11; Micah 2

Rabbi Yaakov Halevi Friedman is a Jewish author who survived the holocaust.
In his memoirs, he gave an account of a celebration of the Passover, in a concentration camp where they were being held prisoners by the Nazis during WW2.

In 1945, in the midst of sufferings and death, a group of Jewish prisoners were able to secretly observe the Festival of Freedom despite being in captivity.
In the days before the Passover, Rabbi Yaakov Friedman and a few other prisoners were sent outside the camp to clean up a railway that had been bombed. In one of the destroyed boxcars, the Rabbi found wheat in burlap sacks. He believed God made him to find the wheat which was needful for baking the Passover bread.
Hiding some of the wheat, he was able to smuggle in a fairly large amount back into the prison.

He and the other prisoners ground the wheat in the dead of night, and using a clean piece of cloth, sifted the flour from grit. They lit a fire under a metal can to function as an oven, and then began baking the Matzah, which is the unleavened flat bread that is an integral element of the Passover.

They worked quickly, knowing they could be killed if caught by the Nazis. They ended up baking about 20 small matzahs.

On the night of the Passover, despite the hardships of the Holocaust, these prisoners sat down to celebrate and remember the redemption experienced by their forefathers in the book of Exodus.
Though their tears mingled with the bread in their mouths, they each prayed fervently that they would experience their own redemption too.

The prayers and expectations of these prisoners soon became reality. Few weeks later, the allied forces overran the German army and defeated them. Rabbi Yaakov Friedman’s prison camp was liberated and he and the other Jewish prisoners were finally set free from their captivity..

Proverbs 23:18 says “For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.”

Expectation is indeed the mother of manifestation.
Where no vision is the people perish, but where there is vision, people flourish.

A major lesson from the Resurrection season is to know that we can always arise from any dead situation.

Today, being Good Friday marks the crucifixion of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

Though, He went through a harrowing experience, Jesus came out of the grave victorious.

Likewise, no matter the situations that try to bury you, you can break free from any captivity..

Disappointments and setbacks may occur sometimes in life, but what matters most is the faith and resurrection power within you..
You can indeed come out better, instead of bitter. You can come out stronger, instead of weaker.
Instead of being defeated, you can come out with a new passion and a new fire..

Don’t just go through a trial, ‘grow’ through it. The fiery trial is not there to stop you. It is there to prepare you, to increase you and develop you.

God is really in control of your life. Be assured that He will never allow what you cannot bear to come your way. The enemy may turn on the fire, but the good news is that God controls the heat. He knows how to turn around situations for your good.

Therefore always keep hope alive. You need to hold on to the promises of God even in the midst of adversity..

There is a purpose for the trial. Every struggle is making you stronger. Every difficulty is growing you up.
God is preparing you for the next level of your destiny.

Therefore keep a good attitude. Count it all joy, knowing that the pain is leading to your gain.

James 1;2-4 says ‘My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.’

No matter how hard situations may sometimes seem, always keep hope alive. Don’t give up, don’t give in, keep believing God’s Word.. Surely His promises will come to manifestation and your expectations shall never be cut short..

PRAYER: Lord, please grant me the grace to always keep my faith strong in You despite any situation around me.. Please help me to always maintain my joy in the face of trials. Certainly, You are in perfect control of my life and will always cause me to triumph in Jesus Name
QUOTE
God will never allow the flames of trial to burn you more than is necessary. – WORDBITE 222

Exodus 12:2 “This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you”.

DAILY READING 1 Corinthians 15:1-34; 2 Kings 10; Micah 1

The Western calendar is today’s internationally accepted civil calendar. It is also known as the Gregorian or Christian calendar.
However, there is another calendar used by the Jews, which is called the Hebrew calendar. This calendar is used predominantly by the Jews for religious observances.
While, the Western calendar is solar and keeps in step with the Earth’s progress around the Sun; the Jewish calendar is Lunar and reflects the phases of the moon; with each month always beginning at a new moon.
Also while the months of the Western calendar vary in length between 28 and 31 days to make a solar year of 365 days, the months of the Jewish calendar are either 29 or 3o days long and reflect the Biblical feasts of each season.

Today, January is generally accepted as the first month of the Western calendar, but for the ancient people of Israel, the first month of the year was the month of Abib, which roughly equates to our month of April.

Speaking of Abib, God said in Exodus 12:2 “This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you”.

God said this to Moses at the time of Israel’s deliverance from captivity in Egypt. In this manner, the Jewish year began with the month in which God delivered His people from bondage.
The departure from Egypt marked a new beginning for Israel.
And God wanted His people to always remember this season, so he instructed them to observe the month of Abib as special unto the Lord.

Exodus 13:3-4 says “Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt….This day came ye out in the month Abib”

This month, as the Jews remember their deliverance from slavery through the Passover, Christians also remember their deliverance from sin through Christ’s Resurrection. Both of these miraculous events represent redemption

Indeed, in this sacred season, God’s great love is made manifest through His desire to redeem His people.
As Christians, let us especially remember in this season, the ultimate price paid for the salvation of our souls.
After being savagely beaten, Jesus dragged His cross through the streets to Calvary as sweat and blood dripped down His body. Up on Golgotha’s hill, the Lamb of God was slain for our sins that we might receive new life and become the sons and daughters of the living God.
He became a curse for us, that we might experience a blessed new life. For our sakes, He became poor that we might be made rich.
Let us therefore determine that our lives must constantly reflect the great victory Christ won at the cross.

He has redeemed us unto God as sons and daughters who will dominate in every affair of life and manifest God’s power in all spheres of human endeavors.
Especially in these last days, God is raising us as a strong and mighty army who will be a wonder to the world. It is an army of overcomers who will dominate through the power in the Blood of Jesus.

Therefore 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 take advantage of this season and resurrect from every stagnancy and redundancy. It is time to arise from every bed of sickness and dominate over every affliction.
It is certainly our season to see glory and not shame. It is our season of exploits and miracles. And by the power in the Blood of Jesus nothing shall stop us from experiencing the wonders God has ordained for us in this season in Jesus Name.

PRAYER: Father, I thank You for this new month and new season of life. Please help me to pay the required spiritual price so as to align with Your plans for me in this new season. I thank You that indeed by the Blood of Jesus I am arising to become a wonder in Jesus Name.

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

Exodus 11:1 ‘ Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether.

DAILY READING; 1 Corinthians 14:26-40; 2 Kings 9; Jonah 4

This week, the Jews are observing the 2021 Passover celebration which began at sundown on March 27 and ends Sunday evening, April 4.
The Passover is a festival of freedom for the Jews.
It is an eight-day holiday that commemorates their departure from slavery in Egypt more than 3,000 years ago.
The name ‘Passover’ is a reference to Exodus 12:13, in which God “passed over,” or spared, the houses of the Israelites in the final plague, when He killed the firstborn sons in Egypt.

During Passover, entire Jewish families – from great-grandparents to newborns – sit at the table to retell the story of the exodus.
However, during this period of the global pandemic, open celebrations of the Passover was made virtually impossible as extended families could no longer gather together under one roof to celebrate as they normally would have.
Last year especially, as the COVID-19 pandemic raged, for many Jews, it was the first time in their lives to celebrate the Passover at home, not going anywhere, nor socializing.
Yet the lockdowns, travel bans and closed synagogues still did not deter the Jewish general observance of the Passover season. With some ingenuity and technology—Jews from all over the world were able to celebrate virtually.
Several organizations and synagogues created guidelines to hosting virtual Passover via Zoom, FaceTime, Facebook Live etc.

The pandemic is definitely not the first or even the most unprecedented of challenges under which Jews have celebrated the Passover. Throughout history even under the worst of conditions, the Jewish people have always held on to the celebration of the Passover. For them it is a constant reminder of God’s deliverance and their freedom from every bondage.

As believers, the Passover is also a constant reminder to us that we have passed spiritually from slavery to freedom.
When the mystery of the Passover Blood was engaged in Egypt, God delivered the Israelites from 430 years of captivity.
Though God had sent several plagues to Egypt still Pharaoh had refused to release the Israelites.
Then in Exodus 11:1 God said to Moses ‘ Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether.

The “one more plague” was the mystery of the Passover Blood.
At God’s instruction, Moses called the Israelites and told them to take a lamb and kill it. Then they would take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood of the lamb and strike the door posts of their homes. (Exodus 12:21-23).

As the Jews obeyed the words of Moses, they were preserved as the angel of death passed through the land. Through the mystery of the Passover Blood, the siege of captivity over them was finally broken and they were set free from the bondage in Egypt.

In the same way today, as plagues and pandemics rage in these last days, through the mystery of the Passover Blood, we shall be preserved. Certainly, no evil shall befall us and no plague can come near our dwelling place.
Indeed, the Blood is God’s instrument for our deliverance from all assaults of the wicked.
Just as a lamb was slain for the sprinkling of the Passover Blood, Jesus is the Lamb Who has been slain on the Cross for our freedom and deliverance.
There is no yoke so strong that the Blood of Jesus cannot break it in your life. There is no bondage so thick that the blood cannot destroy it.
Indeed every affliction that the enemy has tried to ensnare you with, can be broken off today, as you engage the power in the Blood of Jesus.

The Blood of Jesus is the Blood Covenant that redeemed us from the curse of the law to enjoy the blessings of Abraham. [Galatians 3:13-14]
Therefore, if any generational curse is working against you in any way, you can engage the Blood to establish your freedom today.
Indeed there is wonder-working power in the Blood to break every chain of captivity.
Today, as we connect to the blessings of this Passover season, surely, in every area of our lives, the Blood will keep speaking ‘Passover’ to every evil and secure our total freedom from every bondage.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for the Blood of Jesus that is speaking ‘Passover’ in my life to every evil. Indeed today, by the Blood I am preserved from every plague and have the victory over every affliction in Jesus Name

QUOTE; Discovery will guarantee you a recovery of anything ever lost or missing in your life. – WORDBITE 222.