HORM Devotional

Mathew 28:18-19   And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:.

DAILY READING   Romans 4; 1 Samuel 13; Psalm 58

Edward Payson was an American Congregational preacher in the 18th century. One Sunday, when there was a storm, he found he had only one person in his audience. That still didn’t deter him from preaching.  He must have preached down fire and brimstone, because his one audience got quickly converted. This convert later told Payson, “For whenever you talked about sin and salvation, I glanced around to see to whom you referred, but since there was no one there but me, I had no alternative but to lay every word to my own heart and conscience!”

We may not be able to preach to the entire world, but we can start where we are with who we can; one person at a time.  It has been said “Every soul with Christ is a missionary; every soul without Christ is a mission field,”

In preaching the Gospel to those around you or serving in the church, you may often wonder if you are really making any real difference. This can be so especially if we are not seeing any immediate effect of our spiritual labor.  But though we may not always see the immediate fruit of our labor, let us trust that God is working out His eternal plan and purpose, as we obey each of His leading.

The Spirit brought Philip to the Ethiopian eunuch who was reading the Scriptures and needed someone to help him understand. (Acts 8:26-35). The Spirit gave Philip the right words to say, to bring the eunuch to salvation. The vibrant church growth witnessed in Ethiopia in the early centuries after Christ, is linked to this Ethiopian Eunuch’s conversion. .

God has a well mapped out strategy for the building of His Kingdom and everyone has an important part to play in the overall plan.

Mathew 28:18-19   And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost

We have been given the great commission of preaching the Gospel to the world. It is God’s plan that His glory will fill the earth. Each time we obey The Holy Spirit and share the Gospel the plan is coming together. We may not immediately  see the larger picture, but as we obey The Holy Spirit, we trust that God is at work, connecting the dots together,. But each time we are disobedient to preach we may be breaking the chain and frustrating God’s grand agenda. . Let us therefore  be obedient to preach to anyone and everyone The Spirit leads us. He alone knows the end from the beginning.  Let us be sensitive and obedient to move and obey each time The Holy Spirit is prompting us to preach to someone. We may never know the vital role such persons may eventually play in God’s overall plan. But as we obey, we can be sure God is bringing His grand plan to pass.

PRAYER: Lord, Please help me to be obedient to the promptings of The Spirit to preach The Gospel to those You are leading me to. May I never be ashamed of your Word, May I preach The Gospel always in season and out of season in Jesus Name.

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

Psalms 119:71   It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

DAILY READING   • – Romans 3:9-31; 1 Samuel 12; Psalm 57

In 1933, shortly after assuming power as chancellor of Germany, Hitler  moved forward with plans to turn the 1936 Olympics into showcases for his regime. He ordered the construction of a massive new stadium in Berlin and channeled funds toward the completion of an airport to welcome international visitors. However at this time, Adolf Hitler preached a flawed doctrine called ‘Aryan Supremacy’ His doctrine claimed Germans were superior beings, while other races were inferior, ‘subhuman’ and should be eliminated. This he would later carry out in his systematic killing of over 6 million Jews, gypsies, blacks, Slavs, communists, etc. In fact, he deliberately kept Jews out of athletic events.

However as athletes arrived from other nations for the games, one of those representing America was a young black man named Jesse Owens. Jesse when he arrived Germany experienced hostility because he was black.

Though Jesse was unnerved by the evident disdain for the black race by the German people, he determined not to let the hatred for his race put him down, rather he decided to prove Hitler wrong before the whole world. He knew the odds were great, and he went on his knees in prayer to engage the help of God. And God did send help. As the competition commenced, Jesse shocked spectators with his amazing performance. From almost the get-go, Owens seized the reins as the star of the 1936 Summer Olympics. Owens undoubtedly stole the spotlight from the host country’s zealous leader. He broke Olympic records and won four gold medals, more than any other athlete. This made him the most successful athlete at the games. Hitler’s  ‘Aryan Supremacy’  theory was quickly overturned as people saw that a black man of the ‘subhuman’ race had defeated the ‘superior’ Germans. Hitler was so infuriated that he refused to give Jesse the traditional congratulatory handshake. But the German people were won over, and Jesse became a crowd favorite. Hitler’s hatred instead of hindering Jesse had fueled him to become one of the greatest athletes of all times.

Indeed God can use your haters to promote you. We all know that God can bless us, show us favor, promote us, heal us, but we don’t always realize, God can use our enemies to bless us. The truth is that you couldn’t reach your destiny without them.  it’s all a part of God’s plan to get you to where you’re supposed to be. In the journey of life, just as God has divine connections lined up, He also has people who will be used to push you. Goliaths are not for your destruction, but for your elevation. Discouragers and haters can stir you up. Those against us perhaps help us sometimes more than our friends.  So understand that your haters are serving an important purpose in your destiny. We wouldn’t reach our highest potential without oppositions. If God removed some of oppositions today, you probably would become spiritually lazy. So God allows them sometimes as thorns on your side, to keep you pressing forward. Just as God strategically placed Goliath on David’s path and also used Joseph’s brothers; haters can push you to your throne. Without the naysayers you wouldn’t become all you were created to be. Thank God for your friends but also learn to thank God for your enemies. That’s why Paul tells us in Romans 12:20  ‘if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink’. Why? Because he is helping your destiny. You need to see people that oppose you in a new light. They are there to make you better, not bitter. They are there to press you so that the treasure buried in you can flow out. Perhaps if Hitler had not disdained  the black race, Jesse may not have pushed as hard as he did to win the 4 gold medals, and prove him wrong. So instead of being discouraged by oppositions ask God to give you the needed wisdom to thrive. It is by the wisdom of God that pressures are turned to pleasures. The Holy Spirit as you seek Him, will show you how to maximize the situation. When  you stay in faith, God will turn your stumbling blocks to stepping stones. He will turn your pain into power, and  your mourning into dancing.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to see those that oppose me through the light of your Word. Help me to know that You are using them to move me into my greater destiny. .Grant me  the grace to still love them despite what they may have done, because I know all things are working together for my good in Jesus name. .

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When God places His hand upon a man,  nothing can come against him, this is because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.- WORDBITE 222.

Psalm 67:5-6  ‘Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.’

DAILY READING   Romans 2:1-3:8; 1 Samuel 10:17-11:15; Psalm 56

A study was done by psychologist Dr. Henry H. Goddard, on energy levels in children. He used an instrument he invented, called the “ergograph” for this study. Managing to get some children to stand still long enough, he connected them to this machine to measure their energy levels. And his findings are fascinating.

He found that when tired children are given a word of praise or encouragement, the ergograph shows an immediate upward surge of new energy. When the children are criticized and discouraged, the ergograph shows their physical energy take a sudden nose-dive

And  the same principle applies to even adults. When people are genuinely thanked, praised, and encouraged, they definitely feel much better and energized. But when they are criticized or just feel bad, the energy level certainly falls and they are de-energized.  What happens to human beings when they are praised is perhaps also a reflection of how God reacts to our praise. When we praise God, it excites and pleases Him.

Psalms 68:31 says ‘I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns’.

Indeed praise pleases God and when He is pleased He causes  amazing signs and wonders to follow us. Level changes as praise goes up. You will never find a thanksgiver or praiser at the same spot, he is always moving forward. Paul and Silas were left in the prison, but an attitude of gratitude and praise changed their position.  Praise continually increased the early church. Acts 2:46‭-‬47 says “they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

Indeed increase comes when we praise God .Psalm 67:5-6 says ;Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.’

Through Praise God transforms pain to gain. He takes failure and creates success! Indeed we escape misfortune and enter into favor when we praise God.No matter what you go through, maintain your praise. If you are sad, it will be bad. If you are depressed,  the enemy will oppress you. But when you turn to praise, God’s Presence is engaged for your deliverance. God answers your adversaries on your behalf in the midst of praise. Indeed the force of praise provokes divine intervention.

Psalms 30:11-12  says ‘You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.’

Through Praise God turns our mourning into dancing! He replaces sadness with gladness Indeed you can praise your way out from every form of misfortune to favor.  As you begin to praise God, break down will be converted into breakthroughs. Therefore rather than allow frustration to occupy you, occupy God with your praise. When we praise God, it causes him to be excited.  Therefore as you engage the force of praise today, expect God to bring about for you a sudden change of story, indeed your mourning shall be into dancing and your sorrow into joy in Jesus name.

PRAYER: Lord, Please help me to maintain a praise-full lifestyle, so that I can engage your help to overcome the oppositions against me. I know that with Your help every opposition against my glorious destiny has been crushed and silenced forever 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

Gal. 6:7-8  “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that will he also reap. For he that sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap life everlasting’

DAILY READING –     Romans 1:16-32; 1 Samuel 9:1-10:16; Psalm 55

It is truly amazing that a graduate of mathematics from Harvard and who at 25 years old became the youngest assistant professor in the history of the University of California at Berkeley, could turn out to become a terrorist. But that is the story of Ted Kaczynski, famously known as the ‘Unabomber. At his arrest the question on many lips was what could have altered the course of this brilliant professor, to turn him to a terrorist.  The answer was traced to an experiment done on him while he was still a teenager. He has gained admission to Harvard when he was only 16 years old and had participated in a psychological experiment where he had been hooked up to electrodes to measure his physiological response, while being subjected to hours of negative words. He participated in this experiment for more than 200 hours, lasting for three years. And the result of this intense exposure to  negative words, was that his mental and emotional well-being suffered greatly.

After graduating from Harvard, at 25 years, Kaczynski became the youngest assistant professor in the history of the University of California at Berkeley.  However, he would suddenly resign and begin living as a recluse in a remote cabin without electricity or running water outside Lincoln, Montana. It was from there that he eventually began to carry out his  terrorist attacks.  He conducted a series of attacks, using mail bombs to target academics, business executives and others. The FBI called his investigation “UNABOM” (for university and airline bomber) and the media thus dubbed the attacker the “Unabomber.” A 17 years nationwide manhunt began for Ted Kaczynski, which became the FBI’s longest and most expensive manhunt. He was finally caught in 1996 and since his arrest, he remains incarcerated, serving eight life sentences with no chance of parole at the Supermax security prison in Florence, Colorado.

Proverbs 4:23 says ‘Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.’

The mind can be likened to the control room of life and headquarters of a man’s existence, because it co-ordinates and controls the activities of a man. Whatever therefore accesses and dominates a man’s mind would eventually control him. Indeed as a man thinks in his heart so is he. The seeds you sow into your mind is what you eventually reap.

Luke 8:10-11; says ‘The seed is the word of God’

When we sow The Word of God in our hearts we reap the fruit of a glorious future.  . Filling our hearts with the right knowledge is the key to freedom.  Nothing approximates the power of Knowledge. It is the key to dominion.  Indeed until something changes within you, nothing changes around you. It is when  you sow the treasure of The Word of God into your heart, that your life begins to manifest His glory. Indeed God’s Word is full of glory and pregnant with wonders.

Psalms 119:18 says ‘Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law’..

You need a new mindset in order to experience a new lifestyle of glory this year. It is your mentality that determines your reality. Since every seed sown into the mind finds outward expression, we must carefully guard what accesses our mind. Instead of filling our hearts with chaff from social media or other media, let us rather commit to filling our minds with the precious seed of The Word of God, so that we can reap a harvest of the wonders of God in our lives. What constantly enters your heart though your eye gates and ear gates eventually determines your reality and controls your actions. The law of the mind is that what you put in is what you get out.

Gal. 6:7-8 says “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that will he also reap. For he that sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap life everlasting’

Jesus said, by their fruits you shall know them.  A child or adult produces the fruit of the seed sown in the heart.

Luke 6:45 says “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

The truth is that the harvest of your tomorrow depends on what seeds you  sow into your mind today. Therefore in addition to praying and fasting in this season, let us diligently endeavor to sow the good seed of God’s Word into our hearts. We will harvest  the prophesied glory for this season, when we sow the right seeds.  Through diligent study of God’s Word, we will indeed reap a harvest of glory, signs and wonders all through this year in Jesus Name.

PRAYER: Lord, Please grant me the grace to fill my heart constantly with Your Word. May I have a renewed desire and appetite to constantly sow Your Word into my heart so that I can reap a harvest of  glory,  signs and wonders this year in Jesus Name. .

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When you obey God’s instruction you are delivered from destruction

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

According to medical science, the Volume  of bacteria in the world is such that scientists think they’ve identified fewer than one percent of all bacterial species. Though there are some helpful bacteria, yet there are dangerous ones that can cause sickness. These bacterias are everywhere; on the human body, they are on the skin, in the nose, the throat and in the mouth etc.  In the event of an accident, these bacteria will seek to enter the body through the broken skin or tissue. This leads to infection and poisonous toxins entering into the body, which can damage many of the life-essential organs. However, through the cleansing power of the human blood, these bacteria  and other impurities are constantly removed, so that the body is kept clean and safe.  The blood is constantly cleansing every cell, and washing away all the debris that accumulates all the time. There are different kinds of blood cells, each with its own purpose. One type protects the body from bacteria, the other removes damaged tissue and helps the thickening of the blood so that in case of an accident it minimises the loss of blood.

In addition the blood conveys nutrition to all parts of the body, nutrients from the digestive organs and oxygen from the lungs to the cells in the body.  And millions of cells clean the body from metabolic products 2-3 times per minute. Indeed the human blood does a wonderful work to keep our bodies preserved and protected from diseases.

If therefore the human blood is so wonderful, how much more wonderful will the Blood of Jesus Christ be, which cleanses even our soul.

Hebrews 9:14  “How much more shall the blood of Christ purge your conscience from dead works?”

Indeed the blood of Jesus is ever cleansing our lives from all the debris of sin. Sin is an illness of the soul, attacking the thoughts and imaginations, contaminating the mind, weakening the will, hardening one’s conscience, and stopping spiritual activity. Just as bacteria brings about infections that can cause death, sin is infectious and contagious and pollutes the soul. The consequences of sin has kept many destinies bound, stagnant and unprogressive. And there is no possible way for mankind to free itself from the power of sin and its consequences  except through the power of the blood of Jesus.

Only the Blood of Jesus Christ can free the soul from all the ravages of the enemy. The blood of Jesus has been given to us to secure our glorious destiny in Christ. It is God’s will for you to see glory this year, and escape every shame. Therefore decide for yourself that this year will not come and go like other years. Stage a fight to stake your claim. We must war with prophecies to see their manifestations. It is by the blood that we can access the glory ordained for us this year.. It is by the blood that we can overcome every attack of the enemy against our lives. The blood is the eternal answer to every satanic harassment. Anything that will keep us from seeing glory we must overcome by the blood. Those sins and habits we may have been struggling with must be brought under the power of the blood. Every limiting sickness, near success syndrome and all forces of stagnancy must be destroyed by the blood of Jesus.  You must be violent to take your portion by force. The Egyptians that held you captive last year, decide and declare that they will never hold you down again. Refuse to be kept at the same level. You must move with the cloud. Your journey should be from glory to glory. The path of the just is as a shining light that shines more and more, As a believer your path is ordained to be progressive. Refuse to remain on one spot. Decide to stop making excuses for failure. It is time for every pharaoh contending your freedom to be swallowed by the red sea of the blood of Jesus. Enough is enough. You have what it takes to rise to your desired place in life. You have been given the power to overcome.

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

Whatever may be confronting you today, come against it by the blood of Jesus and your victory will be assured in Jesus Name..

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for the Power that is in the blood of Jesus. Indeed by the power of the Blood of Jesus, I have overcome in every conflict of life. Lord, indeed  by Your grace , I know a new day has dawned for me in  Jesus Name.

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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

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

DAILY READING •          – Acts 28:17-31; 1 Samuel 6-7; Psalm 53

In the ancient times, it was thought that the Moon, like the sun, produced its own light. But, science has since found out that the Moon only reflects the light of the Sun in accordance with its orbital position. The shining of the moon at night is the reflection of the sun bouncing off the surface of the moon, appearing to us on Earth as the moon shining. So the light we see coming from the Moon at night is an illusion, it is actually the reflected light from the Sun, bouncing off the Moon. This is like flashing a torchlight at a mirror and seeing the reflection elsewhere.

The moon doesn’t have a light of its own, It only borrows from the magnanimous sun, and simply positions itself at a particular angle to the sun and shines. As bizarre as it may sound, the Moon is actually very dark – like coal, and it doesn’t even glow on its own. When astronauts walked on the moon’s surface, they reported that it was of a dark grey color. and because of its dark color and bumpy surface, it only reflects about 12% of the light that hits it. Indeed, the moon would have been just a dull orb if not for the sun’s rays.  The sun generates the heat and light, while the moon simply because of it’s right position reflects  the sun’s glory.

 In the same vein, Jesus is the Sun of righteousness and God’s living Word; when we align our thoughts with Him,  we also begin to manifest His glory.

The moon shines because of its positioning to the sun. In the same way for us to shine we must stay rightly positioned to the son. We must keep looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. The shinning is not from you, rather it is from Christ in you, the hope of Glory. It is in His light that we can see light. When Moses stayed long in God’s Presence his face began to  shine. It is through being with God in the place of prayer and intimate fellowship that His glory rubs off on us, and our face begins to shine.

Psalm 34:5 says ‘They looked unto Him and their face was lightened, and they were not ashamed’.

Our shining is indeed connected to our looking unto Jesus. Jesus is the light of the world.  And in Him is life and the life is the light of men, and the light shines in darkness and darkness comprehends it not. When we position ourselves rightly to Christ, we contact to His light that causes us to shine to our world.

We can never be able to shine if we are far away from The Lord. It is not of him that wills or him that runs but of Christ that shows mercy. Indeed by strength shall no man prevail. We must always acknowledge that God is our source. We  can only succeed because of our connection to light. It is who you follow that determines what follows you. It is our connection to God that causes us to shine among men. Indeed when you sit at the feet of Jesus, you stand tall among men.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to rightly position myself to you, by spending enough time with you in prayer and intimate fellowship. I know that  as I abide in Your Presence and continue to look unto you, Your light shall begin to shine through me for the world to see in Jesus Name.

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There is more to you than meets the eyes.  Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise. – WORDBITE 222.  .

Psalm 40:1-2 ‘I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 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’

-DAILY READING  Acts 28:1-16; 1 Samuel 4-5; Psalm 52

Trapped in a mineshaft in Copiapó, Chile, in 2010 with 32 other miners, Jose Henriquez experienced firsthand God’s provision during 69 days of waiting and praying for rescue. “Without any doubt, the power of God has no limits,” Henriquez told students at Dallas Baptist University during a recent chapel service. He has written a book recounting his experiences,

Jose Henriquez, is the author of the book ‘Miracle in the Mine: One Man’s Story of Strength and Survival in the Chilean Mines’. He was one of 33 Chilean miners trapped underground for 69 days in 2010. The accident, received worldwide notice, and and in his book Henriquez refers to it as “God’s accident” since he said God used it to make himself known. The explosion that set the story in motion occurred in the mining shaft where Henriquez was working with other miners on August. 5, 2010.

After assessing the damage and accounting for all 33 miners, the group soon realized all exits were blocked. Henriquez and his co-workers came to the conclusion that only God could save them. All of the miners were aware Henriquez was a Christian, and they soon called on him to lead the group in a prayer.  As the days went by and  there seemed to be no in sight, the miners began a practice of holding a prayer service every day at noon and 6 p.m. Even the miners who were not Christian became more willing to join in prayers and singing praises. For them, prayer became so important, even as they began to feel God’s presence in a very special way.  For the first few weeks, they   survived by sharing small amounts of tuna and mackerel that were in the shelter, along with water.

Above on the ground, Emergency officials battled to find a way to rescue the trapped men.  Engineers sought for ways to drill hole to reach the depth where the men were trapped. And for over two weeks no one was sure if they were dead or alive because there was no contact. However as the engineers continued to drill, 17 days later they were able to lower a probe into the mine, and what a delight when the probe came up with a note tied to it, written in red ink, by the miners,  it read, “We are fine in the shelter, the 33 of us.” it was indeed a joyous moment for family members of the miners who have been camping around the mine. Eventually the authorities found a way to send food and water down to them. And for another two months the accident received worldwide notice, as people around the world watched what looked like an impossible rescue unfold on live TV.

However, Henriquez and the others miners remained confident that God would save them. And God did indeed save them. Eventually a hole was drilled, through which a capsule was lowered to bring up this miners.  When the time came for their rescue, before anyone left the mineshaft, the group came together and prayed, thanking God for saving their lives. And carried one by one by the capsule they finally made their way above ground again, where they were joyfully received after having spent 69 days trapped underground. Fifteen days after he was saved, Henriquez began traveling around the world, sharing about the miracle of their rescue and the saving power of Christ.

Indeed there is power in prayer. Even from the depths of the earth, when these miners began to pray and call upon The Lord, they were miraculously rescued.  And God who delivered them, is still available to deliver anyone who calls upon Him. It is indeed God’s will for you to come out of every pit, captivity and imprisonment. It doesn’t matter the depths you may find yourself in. it doesn’t matter how deep you may have sunk, as long as you can all upon The Name of The Lord you shall be saved.

Psalm 61:2 says ‘From the depths I shall unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I.’

Indeed God can deliver you from any depth. Whatever the problem surrounding you, God can deliver you, when you call upon Him in prayer. In Psalm 50;15 God promises that if we call upon Him in the day of trouble, He will deliver us. And deliverance from the pit is indication that your glory has come. It is when you arise that you can begin to shine . When you are delivered from the pit you will no longer be pitied because men only pity those who are in the pit of life.

As believers we have been lifted out of every pit and  raised together with Christ, who is the Head of all principality and power. Nothing can hold you down any longer.  Whosoever the son of God has set free is free indeed. You are free indeed. Jesus has raised you up,  so stay up! You are no longer meant to dwell in the lowly places of life, but to soar far above. We must have a far-above mentality. Therefore, you cannot be held in any habit you don’t want.  You cannot be slave to the sin you hate. You have been set free from every pit. So whatever has been trying to hold you down, it is time to rebel against  them and establish your victory. And one way to contend for our glorious destiny is on the altar of prayer. Only those who travail in prayers, prevail in life. Every enemy of destiny is subdued by prayer. No matter the situation of your life, God will rescue you on the prayer altar. Prayer is the spiritual control room of all happenings in our life. It’s where output is determined. When you’re in the control room, you are in charge. Prayer isn’t a gift; it’s a choice. And it is when you make the decision to pray that deliverance comes.  There is a price to be payed in waiting upon The Lord for us to experience deliverance.

Psalm 40:1-2 testifies: ‘I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 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’

When you pay the price of waiting upon The Lord in prayer, He will not only rescue you out of the horrible pit, but also He will set your feet upon the rock. You will become like a city on a hill that cannot be hid. You will be like a candle set on a candle stick that gives light to all that in the house. Your light will break forth as the morning, and the glory of The Lord will be seen upon thee.

PRAYER; Lord I thank You for the grace to persevere in the place of prayer. By Your grace I know I have been  delivered out of every pit of life. I thank You indeed that my new season of glory has come in Jesus Name.

QUOTE

Until you cry out in the place of prayer certain things wont happen, those who throw pity parties stay in the pit longer.

1 Peter 5.8  ‘Be sober, be vigilant. Your enemy the devil prowls looking for whom to devour.’

DAILY READING  Acts 27:13-44; 1 Samuel 3; Psalm 51

An eagle’s focus is amazing, he can focus up to 5 kilometers from the air. When an eagle sights prey- even a rodent from this distance, he narrows his focus on it and sets out to get it. No matter the obstacle, the eagle will not move his focus from the prey until he grabs it. In a world of mass distractions we need unwavering focus. God has an assignment for our lives, we need to stay focused on this call.

Like the eagle we have to narrow our vision and lock on to God’s assignment. We need to keep our eye single, because how well we follow our call is what will matter in the end. Jesus said ‘ If your eye be single your whole body shall be full of light.’

The world is full of distractions, the enemy is trying to shift men from their focus. Mass distraction has hit many in this end time. People, have been knocked off course, as they spend precious hours on what doesn’t matter. Sometimes these distractions can be disguised as harmless options or even useful  things. The social media presently has become a great addiction to many. People are always surfing, searching, chatting, emailing, texting etc. Often it seems the  brain has been put on constant alert; in an  “always on” mode. Others have been lulled into thinking that through multi-task they can get more done. Yet, a great task awaits us, which is God’s assignment for our lives.  We need to practice some “planned neglect” of other things, even good things, so as not to be distracted from God’s call.  Men who walk with God do not run around with men.

We must keep our eye single on our call. In a fast-paced, demanding world, mass distraction lurks around every corner.  There is an enemy on the prowl. 1 Peter 5.8 warns us  ‘Be sober, be vigilant. Your enemy the devil prowls looking for whom to devour.’ We must therefore not allow ourselves to be entangled with the distractions of this world. No matter where we are or what we do, we must always keep in mind that there is a call upon our lives, there is a race set before us. And we will be judged according to how well we run this race. Maybe you are facing some distractions right now. Maybe you are being distracted by all the activities in your life. Maybe it is even affecting your devotional life and time spent  with The Lord.  You need to get back to what matters most, which is keeping our eyes single on God’s assignment. Jesus lived his life on earth focused on His mission.  He did everything he did with a clear sense of purpose.  His vision was sharp, His goal was clear and he never allowed anything to distract him.

The disciples when they began their ministry, followed the example of   Jesus and lived a focused and Spirit-driven life.

Paul also demonstrated the same in his life. He was very sharply focused, and  driven by a clear sense of purpose, both in life and ministry.

And this is the pattern we should follow, and also inspire others to emulate. We should not allow anything, to distract us from the call of God. Like the eagle we should lock our vision onto our God given assignment. There is a race set before us, let us focus on it. Let us set aside, every distraction, every besetting sin and all that weighs us down. Let us run this race with patience looking unto Jesus The author and finisher of our faith.

PRAYER: Lord, you are always good and faithful, no matter what happens around me, Please grant me the grace to always stay focused on Your call for me, may I never be distracted  in Jesus Name. .

QUOTE

Your attitude always determines your altitude in life. -WORDBITE 222.

Jeremiah 32:27 says ‘I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?’

DAILY READING – Acts 27:1-12; 1 Samuel 2:11-36; Psalm 50

The faith-based  movie, ‘Miracles from Heaven’, released in 2016, has become a great inspiration to many people across the globe. It is the true life story of God’s miracle and mercy to the Beam family, when they desperately needed His help.  Annabel Beam, born in 2002, was diagnosed by doctors as having an incurable, deadly digestive disease. With these chronic and life threatening disorders, Annabel’s family life revolved around hospital emergency rooms and rare disease specialists. Doctors tried their best, but it seemed a losing battle. Annabel suffered through years of pain, invasive hospital tests, and failed surgeries, before doctors unable to do anymore for her, finally sent her home to die. While at home from the hospital, Annabel was weak and often needed pain medicines to endure the pain. One time Annabel said to her mother, “Mommy…I just want to die and go to Heaven and be with Jesus where there’s no pain.” While the family continued in prayer, they did not know God will answer them in unexpected ways.

On December 30, 2011, Annabel’s mother was pleased when nine year old Annabel, who had been bedridden for some time, decided to go outside and play with her sister.  Annabel joined her sister Abigail in climbing a cotton tree in their yard. But while climbing high, Annabel accidentally stepped on the edge of the tree trunk, which suddenly crumbled beneath her feet. She fell head first, thirty feet below into the dark hollow of the tree trunk. Alarmed, Abigail quickly climbed down, and alerted their parents.

When their father climbed up, and  looked down into the tree’s hollow, he could see Annabel lying motionless at the bottom. The parents immediately called the emergency response team. It took firemen over two hours to finally lift her out of the tree. Fortunately she was alive. Immediately she was air lifted to the hospital, and went through a barrage of tests and exams to access the damage.  But to everyone’s surprise, the ER doctor reported that she didn’t have any serious injury. Not only that, medical specialists were amazed to later find that her long standing incurable digestive disease was gone. They couldn’t understand it. However Annabel revealed that while lying at the bottom of the tree trunk, she had a divine visitation and encounter with Jesus, and He had healed her of her incurable disease.  Annabel’s transformation was undeniable. Soon she got off all her medications and became a happy, healthy child. Her incredible story is captured in the award winning movie ‘Miracles from heaven’ which has inspired millions of people around the world.

Indeed we serve the God of miracles to whom nothing is impossible.

Sometimes like Annabel’s parents we may find ourselves faced with problems that seem bigger than us. At those times, the natural tendency is to worry and fret. But what we really ought to do is to hand over that situation to God and believe Him for the incredible.

Indeed it is not over until God says so. After you have done all, just stand in faith and believe God for your miracle. God is able to do incredible things in ways and manners that we cannot fathom.

How could falling 30 feet into the hollow of a tree cure a child of a deadly chronic disease?  Well, when it doesn’t make sense, it makes God. Doctors had given up and sent Annabel home to die, yet God showed up in an unexpected and unprecedented way. This is why we cannot limit what God can do in our lives.

Jeremiah 32:27 says ‘I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?’

Indeed there is nothing God cannot do. This is why we should quit looking at our challenges and rather get our eyes on the all-powerful, Almighty Creator of the universe. Quit talking to God about how big your problems are and start talking to your problems about how big your God is.

No matter what it may look like, as long as we trust in God, we can be assured He is working it all out together for our good.

Numbers 23:19 says ‘God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?’

Whatever God Has promised, He is able to perform. There is no situation that we may face that is too difficult for Him. Whatever adversity or challenge you may go through, always remember that God is well able to see you through.

Psalm 46:1 says ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear,’

In God, we have an immovable rock that we can always run to. In your darkest night, when you feel the weakest and it looks the most hopeless , be assured that your loving Heavenly Father is right there with you. Even when nothing seems to be happening, He is moving mountains and orchestrating situations to bring forth your miracle. Therefore don’t quit praying, don’t quit believing.  God will send help to you out of Zion. He will bring deliverance in ways and manners your thinking could never even fathom. He will give you the victory, because He is a good father. Indeed, to God, nothing is impossible.

PRAYER: Lord, I know with you nothing shall be impossible. Please help me to always focus on Your Word so that I can possess the faith to believe You for my miracle. Thank You Lord for the amazing things You are set to do in my life this year in Jesus Name..

QUOTE

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

[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK ESTABLISHED IN THE WORD OF GOD]

Psalm 34:1-2  ‘I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

DAILY READING      – – Acts 26:1-18; Ruth 3-4; Psalm 48

In 2014 several news outlets, reported the story of how a gospel song saved a 10-year-old Atlanta boy from his kidnapper. According to the story, ten year old Willie Myrick was in his front yard when he saw money on the ground. As he bent down to pick up money, suddenly a man grabbed him from behind, and threw him into a car. The man then slammed the door and drove off with Willie inside the car. The man told him, he didn’t want to hear a word from him. Realizing the great danger he was in, Willie knew he needed God’s intervention. Remembering what he had been taught in church, he switched to praise. He began to sing the gospel song “Every Praise” by Hezekiah walker. As he sang, the kidnapper started cursing and repeatedly told him to shut up, but he wouldn’t. He sang the song for about three hours while being held hostage in the moving car. Eventually the kidnapper got fed up, stopped, opened the door and threw him out of the car. The little boy ran to a nearby home and asked the resident to call his guardian.

Later, when he shared the testimony at his Church the News went viral. And when Hezekiah walker heard the story, he travelled down to Atlanta, to personally meet Myrick and sing the song with him in his church.

Indeed there is power in praise. Praise is an unbeatable weapon in warfare, because  praise brings God’s presence.

Psalm 22 says that God inhabits the praises of His people. The more you praise God, the more His presence surrounds you and when God is around you, no evil can come near you.

Whenever you are faced with a situation you don’t know how to handle, switch to praise.  There is a mystery about praise that breaks every prison and bondage around you. When Paul and Silas were shut up in prison, and they began to praise God, suddenly there was an earthquake and their bonds were broken.  Anytime you are going through a bad situation, go into clamorous praise. It is no time for you to complain or murmur, rather  it is time for you to praise because when you do that, God steps into the scene and that compels every devil to bow out.

When armies came against King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20, he said ‘we do not know what to do.’ And God said ‘‘I know what to do, ‘praise Me’’. And when they praised God, He turned the enemies to fight among themselves and kill each other.

David knew how to celebrate God in season and out of season. David committed himself to praise God at all times no matter the situation.

He recognized that by praising God, you make room for Him to come and change the situation and turn it all around to your favor. Because all things work together for good to them that love God, and they that love Him are those that praise Him.

Psalm 92:1 says ‘It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto Thy name, O most High.’

God is indeed good all the time! He reigns in every situation and He is more than able to turn everything around for our good.

Are you faced with a challenging situation today? Then it is time to turn up the volume of your praise! God is still on the throne! Give Him worthy Praise and watch Him work your miracle!

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You because You are always good and faithful, no matter what happens around me. I know even now You are working out my miracle. .  Please grant me the grace to always give you worthy praise in every situation in Jesus Name. .

QUOTE

Your attitude always determines t your altitude in life. -WORDBITE 222.