HORM Devotional

Jeremiah 29:13-14 ‘‘And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity’

DAILY READING – Matthew 17; Numbers 3-4; Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:16

Asa Alonzo Allen was one of the most important revivalists to emerge during the Voice of Healing revival that took place in the 1950’s.
A.A Allen held massive tent revivals and healing crusades, where there were many amazing manifestations of the Spirit. He built a far-reaching worldwide ministry, comprising an international radio program, Bible school and ministry training center, as well as overseas missions programs.
However these mighty manifestations in Allen’s ministry only came about because he became willing to pay the price for power.
When Allen first started out in ministry he came to realize that to encounter God’s power, he needed to separate himself in fasting and prayer to seek God’s face. But though his spirit was willing, his flesh was weak, and he had great difficulty in following through with fasting.
One day he decided to go on a long personal fast, but after a few hours he became hungry and decided to prematurely break the fast. But as he sat down to eat, while the first spoonful was in his mouth, the Holy Spirit strongly convicted him to stop eating and complete the fast. Repenting, he went back to his prayer closet and told his wife to lock him in and not to open the door until the prayer was over. He stayed there for several hours. In the course of the prayer he had a divine visitation from God and from that encounter he received the power to heal the sick and cast out devils. And thus began the mighty manifestations of power that led to his outstanding ministry. God used him to usher in a mighty move of the Spirit that swept the nation with powerful miracles, signs and wonders.

Indeed the power of God is desired by many but only experienced by the few who pay the price for it. As believers we are required to pay the price to see the manifestation of God’s power in our lives. The entire world is waiting for our manifestation; not our explanations.
And to encounter power we must be willing to pay the price of separation. Through desperate desire, the apostles separated themselves in the upper room and tarried there in prayers until God endued them with power (Acts 2:1-5)
Especially in these last days, we need unction to function. Anyone who must fulfill destiny must be empowered because to every open door, there is an adversary. And the forces of darkness have no respect for your title, education or background; they only fear the power of God at work in your life. It is through the greatness of God’s power in you that every enemy submits. Certainly, the kingdom of God is not in words but in power. Therefore let us go for power! Let us determine, to seek God until we begin to experience tangible manifestations of His power in our lives.

God said in Jeremiah 29:13-14 ‘And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity’

Indeed when we seek God with all our heart we will find Him. And when we find Him there shall be a rewards and our expectations shall not be cut off. And in this season as we separate ourselves in prayer to seek God, let us determine to experience a fresh encounter with His power. Surely, according to His power at work in us, God will do for us exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask, think or imagine. [Ephesians 3:20].

PRAYER: Lord, Please help me to pay the price of separating myself unto You so as to encounter Your Power. Please deliver me from every distraction and enable me to daily draw closer to You, so as to experience victory in every area of my life in Jesus Name.
Quote
When you are living and walking in the supernatural everything natural becomes subservient to you – WORDBITE 222.

Matthew 26:41 says ‘Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

DAILY READING; Matthew 16; Numbers 1-2; Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

The battle of Hattin was one of the saddest events in the history of the Christian Crusaders. At that time, Jerusalem was in the hands of Crusaders, however, their leadership became weakened due to the death of their King, Amalric in 1174.
The king had left behind a teenage son Baldwin IV and an older daughter Sibylla. At the king’s death, the throne passed to his teenage son, but he became afflicted with leprosy and so the throne was passed to his sister Sibylla’s 7 years old son. But when this boy king also died after a year, the throne passed to Sibylla’s husband named Guy of Lusignan.
Many of the nobles were not in support of Guy of Lusignan, because he was deemed to be weak and indecisive. And this weakness in Guy’s character was exploited by the Muslim leader, Saladin to defeat the Crusaders.
Saladin set a trap for the Crusader army, by attacking one of their cities, Tiberias. Saladin knew that for the Crusader army to come to the defense of Tiberias, they had to march through a long stretch of harsh and dry land. The nobles who understood Saladin’s trick advised the king against taking this bait. But in July 1187, Guy of Lusignan, king of Jerusalem ordered the Crusader army to march for Tiberias.
This made them to fall into Saladin’s trap. As the Crusader marched further and further into the hot desert towards Tiberias, they eventually became thirsty and tired. At the point when they had become very weak, that was when Saladin sprung his trap and attacked with his full army. Saladin’s army virtually slaughtered most of the Crusaders and eventually captured Jerusalem.
News of this defeat greatly angered Christians in Europe and another crusader army under the leadership of King Richard the Lionheart came hard against Saladin, soundly defeating him in battles. However, despite these victories, it would take the Crusaders a long time to recover from their loss at the battle of Hattin.

Truly we cannot afford to be ignorant of the devil’s devices.
One of the war tactics the enemy often applies in spiritual warfare is to attack believers when they are weakest.
And the area of weakness for the believer is when he is in the flesh. Being in the flesh puts the believer in the place of disadvantage because that is when he is spiritually weak and most susceptible to the enemy’s traps and temptations.

Matthew 26:41 says ‘Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Indeed the flesh is weak. Especially in these end-times, where arrows of the wicked are flying by day and by night, we cannot afford to operate in the flesh. We must remain spiritually alert and watchful in order to discern and escape the evil plots of the wicked.

1 Peter 5:8, says ‘Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:’

Through daily contact with the world, a believer’s spiritual fire may begin to go down. Despite his former zeal, such a believer may find himself losing the passion for the things of God. In such a case, the fire can be reignited through a season of waiting upon the lord in fasting, praying and study of the Word.
Indeed we can’t afford to continue in a state of spiritual coldness, it is too dangerous. We must always keep the fire on our prayer alter burning and never allow it to go out. [Leviticus 6:13].
God has given us all we need to keep the devil under our feet. Psalm 144:1 says that He trains our hands for war. He has given us weapons of warfare which are not carnal but mighty through Christ to the pulling down of strongholds.
And our definite superior weapon of destruction against the enemy is the Blood of Jesus. Indeed through the Blood, we can render useless every satanic trap and agenda, escape every temptation and live a life that continually glorifies God.

PRAYER:
Father I thank You for the power that is available to me through the blood of Jesus. By Your grace I know I have overcome every plot of the wicked. Truly I am more than a conqueror in every battle of life 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

Romans 8: 37 ‘Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.’

DAILY READING; • Matthew 15:21-39; Leviticus 26-27; Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26

Recently the Christian Broadcasting Network, [CBN] featured the story of Abraham Deng.
Abraham was just six years old when Islamic militants attacked and destroyed their home village in Sudan. In the attack, Abraham’s father was killed, and the fate of his mother and siblings became unknown.
Six years old Abraham joined other boys to run into the jungle, where they would live in hiding for many months. They later became known as “The Lost Boys of Sudan.”
While in the jungle camp, an evangelist came there and preached to them the Gospel and led Abraham to Christ.
The decision to give his life to Christ made a huge difference in Abrahams life. Without mother or father, God helped this little boy to survive harrowing experiences.
Abraham later stayed in a refugee camp in Ethiopia for four years. But again when he was ten years old, the camp was attacked and about 2,000 of the boys and girls who tried to cross a river to safety, drowned or were eaten by crocodiles. However, Abraham managed to cross the river, even though he couldn’t swim. For another nine years, he stayed in a camp in Kenya.
Abraham eventually walked more than 1,000 miles across Africa with bare feet, surviving journeys that killed many other children who were either eaten by lions, or died of exhaustion and starvation.
Throughout his ordeal Abraham kept praying to God. Eventually the international community intervened and Abraham was selected among nearly 4,000 “Lost Boys of Sudan” who became resettled in America.
With God’s help, he was admitted to Southern Wesleyan University in South Carolina, to study medicine.
After 19 years of separation, Abraham was overjoyed to learn his mother and siblings had miraculously survived and were alive in Sudan. Today Abraham uses his skill as a doctor and his resources to help people in Sudan.

1 Corinthians 15:57 says “Thanks be to God Who gives us the victory, [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ” (The Amplified Bible)

There is no doubt that we live in a fallen world where there are all manner of evil attacks and afflictions. However, in the midst of these troubles, anyone who connects to God can be able to overcome them all. And it is not a matter of “if” or not you will overcome, it is only a matter of “when”, because you will surely overcome. Jehovah never fails.
Though you may walk through the valley of the shadow of death, through Christ, you will not be consumed by the evil.

It doesn’t matter the odds against you, as long as God is on your side you will certainly end up victorious.
The important thing is to remain connected to God through His Word, because the Word is what imparts faith into the heart and faith is the victory that overcomes the world

Therefore, even in the midst of seemingly impossible situations, always believe God for your change of story. No matter how hopeless any situation, there is always help for you in God!
God is for you, not against you. He is indeed able to deliver to the uttermost those who trust in Him. His resources are endless, and His power and love knows no boundaries. And it is indeed His plan to make us more than conquerors in every situation of life.
So do not despair, no matter how bleak any situation you may face today. God is at work. And even in the few remaining days of this year He can still amaze and daze you with His inexplicable goodness. Indeed He will give you an amazing testimony and you will have cause to Glorify His Holy name.
Surely, as we wait upon the Lord in this season, He will renew our strength, raise us up above every challenge and take us to unimaginable heights of glory.

PRAYER; Father I thank You for giving me deliverance and dominion over everything attacking my destiny. As I key into this season of waiting upon You, surely my victory over every opposition will be established in Jesus Name.

Quote :

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

Isaiah 40:31 ‘‘But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint’

DAILY READING; • Matthew 15:1-20; Leviticus 24-25; Ecclesiastes 1:1-11

The Azusa Street Revival in 1906, started as a result of a ten-day fast.
In February 1906, a black unknown Gospel minister, named William Seymour, was invited to pastor a small holiness Church in Los Angeles. He went with excitement to this new assignment because he was eager to teach about the Pentecostal experience, which many didn’t know about at the time.
On his first Sunday morning sermon Seymour boldly preached on speaking in tongues from the text in Acts 2:4.
However, the leaders in this holiness Church were not pleased as they found his teaching contrary to their doctrines. Due to this, when Seymour returned for the evening service that day, they padlocked the Church doors and refused him entrance.
Seymour who was new in the town, was left stranded with no where to go. Fortunately, one of the Church members who had been positively affected by his sermon that morning, took pity on him and offered him temporary accommodation. In this man’s home, Seymour spent much time in private prayer and fasting. Soon a prayer meeting began in this home and people began to attend.
One day, Seymour announced a ten-day fast to this small prayer group so as to pray down the power of the Holy Ghost. As they embarked on this prayers, in no time, power erupted in their midst and people began to supernaturally speak in tongues. As news of this phenomenon began to spread, more people came to these prayers until crowds overflowed into the streets.
The crowds grew so large that their pressure on the house caused it to collapse from its foundation. Miraculously no one was hurt and the prayer meeting was then moved to a rented building at 312, Azusa Street.
From this new location, went forth a mighty move of the Spirit which has come to be known as the Azuza street revival. This revival, led to thousands of Pentecostal groups springing up throughout America and in almost every part of the world. Today millions of Pentecostals and Charismatics trace their beginnings to Azusa Street. And this amazing revival began because a handful of believers were willing to pay the price for power through praying and fasting.

Fasting and praying has been a key habit in the lives of the great men and women that God has used throughout Church history. Many of these, regularly fasted and prayed to stay full of the oil of the Spirit.
Indeed prayer and fasting is the pathway to fresh oil. Just like a car engine needs fresh oil to keep running smoothly, as believers we also require fresh oil to keep our spirit-man vibrant. Prayer and fasting grants us the unction to function, renewing the anointing on our lives so that we can mount up to greater heights of exploits.

Isaiah 40:31 says ‘But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint’

Praying and fasting is a commandment of scriptures. Jesus’ use of “When” and not ‘If’ when He taught about prayer and fasting, shows it is a non- negotiable price for every believer. (Matthew 5:6-7, 16-17).
Indeed every spiritually mature believer is expected to have a scheduled time for prayer and fasting. There is no substitute for this spiritual exercise in our quest to manifest as the sons of God upon the earth.
It is our prescription for a spiritual change of levels and it is what takes us from the slow lane of life to the fast lane. The more we engage in praying and fasting, the more we will keep mounting up to greater heights and move from glory to greater heights of glory.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for the great and amazing manifestations of Your power in my life. As I engage in fasting and praying and diligent study of Your Word in this season, I know indeed that You will take me to greater heights of exploits in Jesus Name. ..

QUOTE
God’s promises in Christ in your life may appear delayed, but never forget that delays are not denials. WORDBITE 222

Mathew 7: 25 ‘And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.-

DAILY READING; • Matthew 14:22-36; Leviticus 22-23; Proverbs 31

In October 2018, Mexico Beach, Florida, was hit by Hurricane Michael. While this hurricane destroyed most of the homes on the beachfront, amid the sprawling wreckage, a three-story building stood tall, largely untouched and gleaming in the sun.
This house, famously known as the Sand castle, survived the hurricane because it was designed by its owners to high standards. At every point during the building, the owners went above the required code. The Florida state code required that houses be built to withstand 120 mph winds, but the Sand castle was built to withstand about 240 to 250 mph winds.
Understandably, the extra steps taken to hurricane-proof the house made building it a bit more expensive. Though the owners were criticized by their friends and neighbors for spending much money on the building, in the end it was well worth it. When hurricane Michael struck, flattening and destroying other houses, the sand castle survived and stood tall, unscathed, amidst the destruction.

Likewise, the extra mile we go spiritually, to ensure our lives are built upon the solid rock of God’s Word, will always be worth it. When you invest in laying a strong biblical foundation, it will ensure you always survive life’s storms. While others may fall, you will rise and where others may perish, you will flourish.
Our growing spiritually means building our lives on the solid foundation of God’s Word. It means growing spiritual muscles by feeding on the strong meat of the Word. As sons of God, we must indeed pay the extra spiritual price to ensure we are built to last. And this we do through, spending time in fasting, praying, worship, diligent study of Scriptures and obeying the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The time you spend in such spiritual exercises is never wasted. It will ensure you have spiritual strength within you to constantly overcome in life.
Spiritually lazy people who build on shallow foundations of carnality, will in times of challenges, find themselves full of fear and panic.
The truth is that the battles of life have no timetable. Therefore do not wait for trouble to arrive before you begin to seek God fervently. Rather make it a daily habit to deliberately, lay up God’s Word in your heart to ensure strong faith dominates your life. Such solid faith is what will make you an overcomer in every situation, because faith is the victory that overcomes the world.
Building on the rock is the best flood insurance you can invest in. When you’ve built your life on the foundation of Christ, you have nothing to fear. No matter what comes your way, you will always overcome. Indeed when you stand on God’s Word, you can never fall.

PRAYER: Lord please help me to always build my life on the strong foundation of Your infallible Word.. Grant me the grace to pay the necessary price to store up Your Word in my heart. By Your grace, no matter what comes my way, I shall never fall in Jesus Name.

QUOTE
God’s Word is ever unchanging, changing everybody who truly comes in genuine contact with it. – WORDBITE 222.

Romans 1:16 ‘For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek..’

DAILY READING – Matthew 14:1-21; Leviticus 20-21; Proverbs 30

In 1408 the Roman catholic church banned the unauthorized translation of the Bible into English. But William Tyndale defying the ban, translated the Bible from Hebrew and Greek into English, making a Bible for the common people. 90% of the King James Version of the Bible and 75% of the Revised Standard Version are from the translation of the Bible into English made by William Tyndale.
In 1535 he was arrested and sentenced to die a heretic’s death: His alleged crimes were disagreements with the Catholic Church’s teachings and his English-Bible translations. Just before he died, on October 6, 1536 he cried out his last words, asking God to “open the eyes” of the then king, Henry VIII, to allow people in England to have access to their own Bibles. His prayer was answered within a year. And the bible became accessible to the common man. .

Tyndale could have lived a ‘normal’ life without upsetting the cart. Yet knowing the risk to his life he stood up for the truth and allowed his light to shine in the darkness. And today every one has access to the bible because one man paid the price.
We may not be required to die for what we believe but it is paramount as Christians that we be resolute in standing for our faith. Wherever we go let us shine the light of the Gospel. There are people in darkness.. Many people are confused by diverging messages in the world and they need a beacon in their darkness.

Mathew 5:16 says ‘ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’

Do not hide your light. Speak forth the truth of God’s Word to shatter the darkness in men’s hearts. Use every possible opportunity to preach the gospel. Don’t sit on the fence, knowing the truth and yet doing nothing to reach the dying world around you with the Gospel. Life is about taking sides, it is dangerous to walk in the middle of the road. Be radical for Jesus, Proclaim your faith boldly, let your light shine for men to see. In all that you do and say, let it be clear you represent God.
However to live a life of such conviction truth has to be deeply imparted into your heart. This is why there is a need to spend time in The Word of God until you are filled and controlled by His Word. You cannot impact your world until you have first been impacted by The Word. It is out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. It is only when you have been watered that you in turn can water others also.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to stand up for the truth, help me to preach your Word in season and out of season, grant me the boldness to proclaim your Word with power wherever I go in Jesus Name.
Quote :
Illuminate your world for you are a star destined to shine. WORDBITE 222.

Psalm 40:2-3 says ‘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; Matthew 13:24-58; Leviticus 19; Proverbs 29

Mark Hall is the lead vocalist for the celebrated music group, Casting Crowns. One of their very popular songs “Praise You in This Storm” written by Mark Hall, perhaps best captures his life’s story.
Mark is someone who has learnt to praise God even in the storm. In his book ,‘Lifestories’, which talks about his trials, Mark defines himself as “a broken person made whole”.
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.
However, as Mark gave his life to Christ and focused on serving God through music, God helped him to overcome these disabilities. In 1999 Mark formed the group Casting Crowns, which began as a student worship band, but has gone on to become one of the best contemporary Christian music bands.
Then in 2015, when everything seemed to be going well for him, out of nowhere, the enemy struck. At that time, Casting crowns was approaching 10 million sales of its albums. However, when Mark went for a medical checkup he was shocked to receive the diagnosis that he had cancer. While his doctors scheduled him for surgery, Mark continued to sing praises to God leading the band in worship concerts.
The surgery was successful and God again miraculously delivered him. And today, Mark Hall continues to praise God with his band, testifying of the goodness of God wherever he goes. Their group Casting Crowns has won many awards including, Dove, Billboard and American Music awards.

Our attitude of gratitude will always determine our altitude. To rise to the mountaintop in life, you must learn to praise God while in the valley.
Growing in spiritual maturity is growing in our capacity to bless God at all times. The higher the level of our intimacy with God, the more we can be able to glorify Him in every situation, knowing that He is ever with us.

God said 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”.

Through life’s fire or flood, God will always be there to pull us through. This is why we can be joyful in the midst of adversity, have a song in the night season and be at peace even in the storm.
Praising God in the storm is a sacrifice of praise. Every time you praise despite the pain, you’re making preparation for the rain. Life is essentially a seedtime and harvest adventure and no one ever gets out of life more than he puts into it. And when you chose to praise God in the midst of adversity you will reap the harvest of His miraculous intervention. Those who complain, remain, but those who praise are raised. Indeed praise will always guarantee you a raise out of any pit.

Psalm 40:2-3 says ‘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’

It doesn’t matter how great the challenge, when we praise Him, God takes over our battles.. [2 Chronicles 20:17]
However, the ability to praise God effectively is through faith imparted in our heart by the Word. The more you study the Word, the more the joy of the Lord will fill your heart and the more victorious you will be in life.

PRAYER: Lord, Please grant me the grace to always give You worthy praise at all times. I know You are always good and faithful and in every situation You are in perfect control and working all things together for my good in Jesus Name.

Quote
Your attitude always determines your altitude in life. –WORDBITE 222

Psalm 34:1 ‘I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth…’

DAILY READING; Matthew 13:1-23; Leviticus 17-18; Proverbs 28

When Jessica Cox was born on February 2, 1983, a startling hush filled the room. Jessica’s mother who couldn’t see her baby because of a separating curtain, anxiously asked the nurses “What’s wrong?”
A few moments later, the doctor came and gave her the shocking news; her baby was born without arms due to a rare birth defect.
However, despite the shocking news, Jessica’s parents who were Christians still believed God has a plan for their child. And with their support and encouragement, Jessica grew up learning to do everything with her feet the way normal people used their hands. She didn’t let being armless stop her. She learned among other things, to drive an unmodified car with an unrestricted license and to type on a keyboard at 25 words per minute. In 2005 she graduated from the University of Arizona and has become the world’s first licensed armless pilot. She is the first armless person to get a black belt in the American Taekwondo Association and she is also a certified scuba diver.
Currently, she works as a motivational speaker and has shared her story in over 20 different countries. In 2015, she published an autobiographical self-help book titled ‘Disarm Your Limits.’
Yet, Jessica deems her greatest triumph in life as her journey of faith! It was a journey that began with the question, “Why me?”, but ended with a trust in God’s plan and purpose for her life.

Jessica’s life serves to remind us to always trust God in those difficult moments we may be tempted to ask, “Why me?”
While God does not bring evil, He is still able to turn negative situations around to work together for the good of those who trust in Him.
Trials are not intended to weaken our relationship with God, but rather to strengthen it. Despite setbacks or disappointments, God is able to bring forth beauty out of the ashes.

Isaiah 61:3 says ‘to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…’

Indeed God has a plan to turn every mourning into dancing for you. He plans to give you the garment of praise in exchange for every heaviness.
Even though you may not see how initially, eventually God connects all the dots of the good, the bad and the ugly, to form the beautiful picture of His faithfulness. He works behind the scenes to eventually orchestrate the lines to fall for us in pleasant places. This is why we must continue to bless Him at all times. In all situations we must continue to praise God and judge Him faithful.
In the scriptures, Job went through many trials and tribulations, but in the midst of his pain Job proclaimed, “I know my redeemer lives”. And in the end God brought full restoration to Job and he went on to live a blessed, happy life.
We must always trust that God has our best interest at heart. His thoughts towards us are thoughts of peace, never of evil to give us an expected end.
Therefore in every circumstance, we must keep believing and keep hoping in God’s Word because He never fails. Our foremost concern should be to always abide in God’s will through close fellowship with His Spirit and obedience to His Word.
God never fails. As long as you stand in faith, when it is all said and done, you will see indeed that God has caused all things to work together for your good.

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for enabling me to always stand in faith and strengthening me by Your Word. No matter what comes my way, I thank you for the grace to always rise stronger and better in Jesus Name. .

Quote
True success is not verifiable in the fact a man has never fallen before but rather in the fact that he did not only fall but also got up- WORDBITE 222.

Ephesians 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace”

DAILY READING; Matthew 12:22-50; Leviticus 15-16; Proverbs 27

Doctor Ben Carson is a world famous neurosurgeon, who performed the first successful separation of conjoined twins attached at the head. However he is someone who through God’s grace, overcame personal weaknesses to be who he is today.
When he was a teenager, Ben was a promising straight-A student, but suffered from uncontrollable anger that threatened to ruin his future. Anytime he was angry, he would go after people with sticks, hammers or rocks.
One day when he was 14 years old, Ben Carson, had a quarrel with another boy. Blinded by fury Ben lifted a knife and struck the boy in the belly. Fortunately, the boy was wearing a large metal belt buckle which stopped the knife from penetrating. However, the force of the strike was such that it broke the knife into two.
Realizing that he could have killed the boy, Ben became scared and ran home and hid in the bathroom. In there, he realized that his dream to become a doctor would never be realized because his temper which could land him in jail. At that point he fell on his knees and cried out to God to help him change. He then brought a Bible and started reading it and listened as God spoke to him through the Scriptures. Ben ended up spending three hours in the bathroom reading and praying until he felt God begin a change in his heart. From that day forward, the outburst of anger ended in his life. And decades later, Dr. Ben Carson would become well known as a compassionate Christian leader who exhibits calmness and sobriety. Indeed through the power in the Blood of Jesus Ben Carson overcame what could have trapped his destiny and rose to become a globally celebrated neurosurgeon.

Many of us have visions and dreams and things God has put in our heart to accomplish, but often times there are personal weaknesses, sins or faults that the enemy tries to use to hold us back from fulfilling destiny.
A man may be full of zeal and passion and vision, but finds himself challenged by certain obstacles in his character that threatens to dent his Christian testimony. Despite the attempt to rise, these weaknesses can keep him deflated.
The truth is that you can overcome the things trying to hold you back and move into the fullness of God’s plan for you.
There will always be a Goliath between you and your throne, but through the Blood of Jesus you can always conquer.
Whenever you are facing situations beyond your control, learn to look up to God. There is power in the Blood of Jesus to overcome any battle too great for you.
Those obstacles that seem too much for you to handle, are never too much for God. Christ has paid the price for our freedom from bondage, Himself became a curse for us, that we might experience a blessed life. Indeed through the power in the Blood of Jesus you can be delivered from every trap of destiny.
Therefore position yourself to overcome, through diligent study of God’s Word; meditate on it, speak it, and let it sink down into your hearts.
James 4:7 says ‘Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you’.

Indeed today, through the Blood, you can resist every form of sin or weakness and overcome those besetting sins trying to hinder your spiritual growth. If there is any sin or habit trying to keep you in carnality or spiritual redundancy, today begin to plead the blood of Jesus against it, and as you do, surely your victory over such sins will be established in Jesus Name.

PRAYER: Lord, Please grant me the grace to always pursue righteousness in all I do. May the little foxes of sin never gain a hold on my life. I know that by the Blood of Jesus, I have truly overcome every force trying to hinder my spiritual growth in Jesus name. .
Quote
To get into the next level of your life, God will always give a specific instruction. – WORDBITE 222

Luke 21:36 ‘Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.’

DAILY READING; Matthew 12:1-21; Leviticus 14; Proverbs 26

On May 8th 1902 a massive volcanic eruption destroyed the city of St. Pierre, which was one of the largest cities in the Caribbean. St. Pierre was called the “Paris of the West Indies,” because of its beauty, theaters and grand parties. Its political scene was very vibrant and at that time there was a hotly contested upcoming elections between the city’s conservative Progressive party and the socialist radical party, which was slated for May 1902.
However just before this election, warning signs of volcanic activity began to come from Mount Pelee, which was close to the city.
There were small earthquakes, tremors, flashfloods and clouds of steam and smoke. However when the idea of evacuation was suggested to the leaders of the town, they thought it was insane, because they didn’t want anything to interrupt their political and commercial activities. On May 6 the mayor of St. Pierre put posters all over town telling people they were not in any danger. However some people who chose to listen to their inner convictions evacuated the town.
Then on May 8th, Mount Pelee suddenly erupted in a ball of volcanic fire. The superheated gas and steam, with a terrifying roar swept down on the city of St. Pierre, destroying everything in its path, killing about 30,000 people. The Governor and many of the politicians who had said there were no danger were among those killed by the volcano.

We are at a time when warning signs of the end-times daily surround us. But listening to the news and people in the world, it may look as if all is well, and there is nothing to worry about.
Today the world is caught up in many distractive activities and instead of observing the urgent warnings of the Bible, rather there is more concern about political, economical, social and other pursuits.
Despite the increasing warnings, people are holding on to a false sense of security, thinking that all will be well.
Yet, no matter how ‘normal’ things may outwardly appear in the world today, the truth is that the end is actually very close. God’s Word has given such ample warnings that no one has an excuse for not escaping the things coming upon the earth!
Particularly, as believers, this is the time to constantly prepare and look inward to ensure that we are standing right with God. We cannot be complacent and take things for granted. 2 Peter 1:10 tells us to be diligent to make our calling and election sure. And in 2 Corinthians Apostle Paul says ‘Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.’
We really need to pay attention to our spiritual lives at this time to ensure we are growing and really living ready.
The 5 foolish virgins were left behind because they were not ready and lacked oil in their lamps. This is the time therefore for us to constantly buy oil through paying the spiritual price of diligent study of the Word, fasting, prayers, worship and obedience to God’s Word.
Let us indeed watch and pray always, that we may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. [Luke 21:36]

PRAYER: Lord, please grant me the grace to heed the warnings in Your Word and not be distracted by the things of the world. Thank You Lord for enabling me to live right and ready and to always walk in Your perfect Will 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