HORM Devotional

Exodus 15:11 ‘Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders’

DAILY READING •        Acts 12; Joshua 15-17; Job 28

A video of a race that took place ten years ago recently went viral on You Tube. The video captures the epic moment when an athlete Heather Dorniden, rose to win a race she was not expected to win. In 2008, Heather Dorniden, a celebrated athlete was representing the University of Minnesota in the final heat of the 600-meter race at the Big Ten Indoor Track Championships. She soon took the lead and seemed to be on her way to win. But then suddenly, when she was just 200 metres away from the finish line, the unexpected happened. Another runner cut her off, and she fell flat on her face. Suddenly it seemed the race was over for her. But what happened next was amazing and inspiring. Though left behind by the other runners, instead of giving up, Heather Dorniden got up on her feet, and continued running. And incredibly, to everyone’s astonishment,  she zipped past the other competitors, finally crossing the finish line in first place.She would later say that in the last 50 meters, she was infused with strength she never knew she had. Heather who is a Christian believes God imparted divine strength into  her that enabled her to win. Heather’s incredible show of perseverance moved many who watched the old clip, causing her to recently become a Youtube sensation. And she gives all the glory to God for divinely enabling her to win that incredible race.

Philippians 4:13 Says ‘ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me’.

Often times in life’s race, when the going gets tough or you get knocked down, it can be tempting to just give up and throw in the towel. But the truth is that  the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong and by strength shall no man prevail. It is only by God’s grace that we can win in life’s race. Despite the stumbling blocks the enemy often throws on your path to cause you to stumble, by God’s grace you can still exceed every expectation and win.

If you feel knocked down along the way, or find the stumbling blocks too many to overcome, don’t give up yet. There is still something you can do to cause things to suddenly turn around for you. Switch to praise. When you praise God, you engage His power for a forceful turnaround.Praise is vital for supernatural breakthroughs. As long as you know what to do, you cannot be a victim.

Exodus 15:11 says ‘Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders’

Indeed God is fearful in praises. When you praise, God will cause you to be raised. Therefore stop looking at your limitations. Stop looking at the doctor’s report, stop looking at your bank account. Lift up your eyes and look up, your help will come from The Lord who made Heaven and earth. And as you praise Him today, He will release upon you the overtaker’s anointing to go past men’s expectations and break limits. You will be carried by wind of The Spirit, and ride on the wings of grace.  Indeed there is nothing God cannot do. There is no situation He cannot change. Don’t forget you are serving the God of Joseph who turned a prisoner to a prime minister overnight. Don’t forget you are serving the God of Esther who turned a slave girl to a queen suddenly. Don’t forget you are serving the God of David who turned a shepherd boy to a king. The same God will make your feet as hind’s feet and cause you to ride upon your high places.

The truth is that you are capable of much more accomplishment than you realize. You have potentials for greater victories within you. It is not about you, it is about Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is not about your capability, it is about His ability at work in you. So do not limit yourself to present circumstances.  Do not settle for less than what God has ordained. Raise the bar of your expectations, raise the standard. Step out in faith, trust God for miracles. Something is about to happen. Keep praising God because everything is about to turn around for your good. Through praise, God will turn every test to a testimony for you!

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for the grace to run life’s race, I know indeed that as I praise You today, everything is turning around for my good. I sincerely thank You Lord for the great and mighty things You are set to do in my life in Jesus Name. .

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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

2 Chronicles 20: 17 ‘Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you’
DAILY READING –Acts 11:19-30; Joshua 13-14; Job 27

During the American Revolutionary War, the Americans and British severally engaged in fierce battles. One of those battles  has come to be known by the Americans as the ‘Christmas day victory’. On December 25th, 1776, the American army had a surprise victory over their enemies, through divine help.

Prior to that time, leader of the American army, General George Washington  had faced a very desperate situation. His army having been defeated in earlier battles, the morale of his men were very low and many had deserted. From 22000, the number of his soldiers had dwindled down to just about 2000. To worsen matters, Washington had information that the British had employed a formidable mercenary group, from Germany  called the Hessians to attack them. If such an attack was allowed to take place their little army may be totally destroyed. It was indeed a desperate situation. But Washington was a man of prayer, and at this time he and his soldiers prayed to God for a miracle. Confident of  God’s help, Washington then planned a secret attack on the Hessian Forces who were in Trenton New Jersey. The plan was to cross to the enemy side, under the cover of darkness and attack. He titled the operation ‘victory or death’.
Using ferries and small boats the American troop crossed the river to the enemy side. Americans attacked at sunrise on December 26 during a driving snow storm, with the wind at their backs and blowing into the faces of the mercenary Hessian troops. The Hessians, who had been celebrating Christmas the day before, were still groggy from too much wine and were completely caught off guard. After a short but fierce resistance, most of the Hessians surrendered. In less than an hour, General Washington easily defeated the Hessian troops. He lost only 3 men, and managed to capture over 1000 prisoners.
This victory was a much needed boost to the American army. And it inspired the soldiers whose morale had been low. Only a week earlier, the army had seemed on the verge of collapse, but now the dramatic victory attracted new recruits to the ranks. However, George Washington knew this miraculous Christmas day victory had come only through God’s divine help.

Indeed there are times in life when it seems we are faced with impossible battles. Looking around there may seem to be no way out, but if only we can learn to trust in God, we will find that indeed no situation  can ever be impossible to Him. There is no situation God cannot turn around for us. In life, battles are real. But even more real is our victory. As believers we are called into warfare. But much more importantly we are also called into victories..

2 Corinthians 2:14 says God, always causes us to triumph in Christ.
“Always” means all ways. Our victory is guaranteed in all ways and in every place. It is God that causes us to triumph. The battle is His. In  2 Chronicles 20: 17 God says ‘Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you’
Psalm 24:7-8 declares ‘The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.’ The Lord is indeed strong and mighty in battle. When He comes into the battle arena, the earth trembles. He makes every opposition to bow. When He arises His enemies scatter.  Therefore anytime it seems you are locked in and there seems to be no way, always know there is a way out through God’s help. And one way to access divine help is by the Word of God. Jesus says ‘I am the way’, and Jesus is The Word. So when you get into The word, you will always locate your  way out of every tight situation. Surely victory in battle belongs to those who know their God.

Daniel 11:32 says ‘But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.’
As the year rounds up, whatever battle is still lingering around you can be won by God’s help. God is set to crown the year for you with good things. Determine therefore to end this year with a shout of victory.  The victory that overcomes the world is our faith and faith comes by hearing The Word.  Continue exalting The Word of God in your situation. Praise God for His faithfulness to do what He has said He will do. He will never fail nor forsake you. Surely God’s counsel alone will stand in your life in Jesus Name.

PRAYER: Father please grant me renewed appetite for Your Word, so that through study of Your Word I can know You more and more. Because when I know You, I shall do exploits and have the victory in every battle 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.

Exodus 12:1-2  ‘And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying, This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.’

 DAILY READING – –  Acts 11:1-18; Joshua 11-12; Job 26

Today, the Passover Is the Most Widely Celebrated Jewish Holiday. In Israel, Passover is the seven-day holiday of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, with the first and last days observed as legal holidays and holy days. During those days, observant Jews do not attend work or school. Holiday candles are lit at night, and kiddush and sumptuous holiday meals are enjoyed. One of the most important Passover rituals for observant Jews is removing all leavened food products, known as chametz, from their homes. No leavened bread can be consumed for the duration of the festival. During Passover, Jews refrain from eating bread and stores stop selling bread and bread products for the entire week. Jews can only eat an unleavened type of bread called matzo. Some Ethiopian Jews destroy their dishes and cookware and make new ones to signify their hope for redemption.

Though widely celebrated by Jews today, the Passover was instituted by God only as a  foreshadow of Christ’s sacrifice that would take place at Calvary.

Revelation 13:8 describes Jesus as “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world”

In God’s agenda Christ is the Passover lamb whose Blood would be shed to pave the way of freedom for us.

1 Corinthians 5:7 says “Indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us”.

And just as the Passover was necessary to usher the Israelites into a new beginning, the Blood of Jesus was shed to usher us into a new season and phase of life. As we therefore prepare to enter into the new year, it becomes necessary to engage the power in the Blood to enable us successfully cross over into the new season. It’s not by accident that Passover is celebrated in the month of Nissan, the first month in the Hebrew calendar..

Exodus 12:1-2 says ‘The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, ‘This month shall be for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you.’ As the Passover marked a new beginning for the Israelites, likewise today, the Blood of Jesus is ushering us into new beginnings. We are leaving behind every affliction and bondage of Egypt and coming into our promised  land flowing with milk and honey. Indeed we are coming into new seasons of unending blessings.

God said in Exodus 12:13 ‘And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.’

Indeed by the Blood of Jesus everything contrary to our destiny has passed over us. Therefore, by the power in the Blood your freedom from every bondage of sin, sickness and infirmity is established. Surely affliction shall never arise a second time. The Egyptians you saw before you shall see no more forever. Indeed by the Blood today, we are separated from every affliction and ushered into our new season of unending glory.

PRAYER; Lord I thank You for separating me today from every affliction of Egypt. Truly by the Blood of Jesus I have been ushered into my new season of glory and unending victory in Jesus name.

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

 WORDBITE 222.

Matthew 2:11 ‘And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

• DAILY READING – Acts 10:34-48; Joshua 9-10; Job 25

Although Jesus is the chief celebrant at Christmas, it often seems as if He is a stranger at His own birthday. In all the secular Christmas hype, there is hardly much mention of Christ. Rather images of Santa Claus, Rudolph the reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, the Grinch, elves etc decorate the season. Christmas is meant to be the season we remember Christ’s birth, but rather it has become the reason for hyper-commercial frenzy.  Christmas is typically a peak selling season for retailers in many nations around the world. Sales increase dramatically as people purchase gifts, decorations, and supplies to celebrate. In the U.S. sales run into trillions of dollars during the Christmas holidays and the shopping season can start as early as September. For many families, the Christmas season is also full of activities. It is a time for traveling, family get-togethers, parties, eating copious amounts of delicious food, and opening presents. This cultural celebrations of Christmas have indeed made it hard to focus on the origins of this day.

Matthew 2:11 says ‘And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.’

The wise men not only brought presents to Jesus but they also worshiped Him. Beyond the presents of this season, let us focus on His Presence. Jesus is the reason for the season.The true meaning of Christmas is appreciating God for the greatest gift of all; The gift of His son Jesus Christ. Can you imagine what the world would have been like if Christ hadn’t come. We would have been lost, hopeless, miserable and condemned to eternal damnation. It is true we desire miracles from God, but let us always thank Him for the greatest miracle of all, which is salvation through Christ.

Truly God deserves our praise in this season. And as we celebrate Christmas today let us pause and ask ourselves, what birthday gift do we have for Christ? Presenting our bodies to God as a living sacrifice will be a worthy present.

Romans 12:1 says ‘I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.’

Christ will be pleased when we gift him with a life focused and centered on pleasing Him. John 4:23 says God is seeking for worshippers in spirit and in truth. Let us therefore decide today to gift Christ with re-dedication of our lives to His service. Indeed may our lives become a sweet smelling savour, holy and acceptable unto Him..

PRAYER:  Father, I  thank You for the amazing gift You have given  to us through the birth of Christ. In appreciation of Your gift, please grant me the grace to live a life that constantly pleases You and glorifies You always in Jesus name. .

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

1 John 3:8 “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

DAILY READING        Acts 10:1-33; Joshua 7-8; Job 24

It is often said that where purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable. One Sunday in 1799 a 12 year old boy named Conrad Reed and some of his siblings went to fish in Little Meadow Creek, Cabarrus County, North Carolina. While fishing, Conrad saw a shiny rock gleaming in the water which he took home to his father. His father, John Reed examined the very interesting looking rock but not knowing what it was, he placed it by the door to be used as a doorstop. Unknown to John Reed, the rock was solid gold which at today’s gold prices would be worth at least $240,000! Yet John reed and his family used this gold rock as a doorstop for the next three years. However, one day in 1802 John Reed decided to take the interesting rock to a jeweler. The Jeweler realizing it was a 17 pound gold nugget quickly asked to buy it. And John still not knowing the value asked to be paid a mere $3.50. Later realizing that the jeweler had cheated him, he started searching for more gold in the area.  The news of the discovery of gold in the area would set the stage for America’s first gold rush. And  John Reed and his family would later become rich through discovery of more gold. 

It is however interesting that for three years John Reed and his family used gold as a door stop without knowing the true value. Likewise sometimes we can be staring something of  great value in the face and miss it’s real worth. Some people have been celebrating Christmas for so many years without really knowing the value of the season. To many it has become a ‘doorstop’, a celebration that comes before the door is opened to the New Year.

But beyond celebrating the season we must know the immeasurable worth of Christ’s birth. We must celebrate who He is and why He came to the earth. He came on an emancipation mission.

1 John 3:8 says “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

He was manifested not only to take away our sins, but also to destroy the originator of all sin. All suffering, sickness, and sorrow are because of the presence of the devil in the world. Jesus came to destroy his works and to restore to us all that was lost. The enemy is the thief that came to steal, and to kill, and to destroy but Jesus has come that we might have life and have it more abundantly. This is the reason for our celebration. It is a celebration of victory, it is a celebration of emancipation. It is a celebration of the new season of great and amazing blessings.  Let us therefore decide that this Christmas will not be another ‘doorstop’ to the New year.  Our lives must begin to experience the tangible benefit that Christ’s birth has brought.  And in realizing the true value of Christmas we must continually offer thanks and praise to God for the great and mighty gift He gave to us by sending Christ to the world.  

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for making every benefit of salvation real in my life. The tangible value of the coming of Christ will not be lost to me, indeed I have entered into a new season of unending celebrations in every area of my life in Jesus Name.

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Praise always guarantees you power for a raise, learning to praise God in season and out of season is key to fulfilling destiny. – WORDBITE 222..

Isaiah 40:22 KJV

It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:

• DAILY READING – Acts 9:26-43; Joshua 5:2-6:27; Job 23

On May 20, 2010, scientists were put in a strange dilemma. They woke up to find that for no apparent reason something had suddenly changed in the solar system. The largest planet Jupiter had lost one of the equatorial belts around it. Jupiter is the biggest planet, more than 80 times the size of the earth. Pictures of the planet always showed a signature appearance of two brown cloudy belts around it. But now, one of the belts, the South Equatorial Belt (SEB), twice as wide as Earth, was suddenly gone. The loss of such an enormous “stripe” from the universe’s largest planet was indeed a big concern to scientists. They were worried about what could be going on in the outer space. Has something gone wrong with the solar system? Is the earth in danger?

But as scientists were still speculating and hypothesizing, few weeks later the belt was back on Jupiter.

They couldn’t tell how the belt was lost, or how it had come back again. Though they made many educated guesses they were never really able to find out what exactly had led to the disappearance and reappearance of Jupiter’s belt.

Since man is grossly limited in his exploration of the outer space, what actually happened is a question only God can fully answer.  Indeed only God knows the mysteries of life. And He alone runs the affairs of the universe without man’s help or intervention.  No government, company or individual can control the outer space. If anything were ever to go wrong, there is hardly anything man can do to avert disaster. It has been said if the earth moves just one mile closer to the sun, everyone on earth would melt, and another mile farther away, everyone will freeze. Yet why don’t these things happen?  Because God is in control. He has set laws in motion that control and guide how things work.

It is therefore amazing how men can ignore the awesome work of God in the universe and be fretting over the mundane concerns on earth. Indeed God is in control.

Isaiah 40:22  says  ‘It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:’

We often get caught up in our own little problems and forget that there is a bigger world out there. We worry about what to eat drink and wear, but do we ever worry about what is going on in outer space or who is orchestrating things? Our personal concerns pale in significance when compared to the vast  workings of the universe. Yet God runs things in outer space perfectly. There is perfect order in the universe. That is why the sun shines in the day, moon shines at night, and rain falls in its season. Each follows its path and pattern.

This serves as a sign to man. Indeed God who controls the great planets is able to control our little lives.

When we submit and follow His laws there will also be perfect order in our lives. God has set forth laws in His Word for man to follow so that it can be well with him. It is only when man is out of order with God’s law that confusion sets in. Disobedience to God’s law is what brings suffering and problems. A man who is in line with God’s word will end well in life.

Indeed God is in control. He has ordered everything in existence, the basic needs of life God has freely supplied to man. Oxygen in the atmosphere is free, yet if you need oxygen in the hospital you may need to pay a huge sum of money. Imagine where everyone has to buy oxygen before they can breathe. Yet we keep getting a constant free supply. This is why Jesus says if God can take care of the sparrows how much more His children.

Understand that it doesn’t matter how disheveled your life may look right now, or the confusion that may seem to be reigning, once you can get back on course with the Word of God, every other thing will fall into place for you. Issues will sort themselves, situations will align with the will of God, and you will enjoy peace and order all round.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to learn to align with your word, to allow your Word to control my life so that there can be peace and order around me in Jesus Name.. . 

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

Psalm 34:1 KJV

‘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 9:1-25; Joshua 3:1-5:1; Job 22

When you are on a flight, as the plane gets higher and higher; houses, buildings, cars, streets all seem to take on a different look. It looks as though you are looking down on a child’s train set. Trees, houses and other structures become smaller. The road and rivers  looks like a long windy line when you look at them from above. Now of course the houses, buildings and roads have not changed, but what has changed is your prospective. When we change our perspective things look very different. All through life our perspectives change. As children we may have seen those in their 30’s and 40’s as old, and as teenagers we may have thought  our parents were extremely out of touch with reality. But now as adults, though things have not changed, but our perspective, the way in which we look at them, has changed.

Perspective is not what we see, but the way we see it. And how we see things or our perspective controls our reaction. If a person sees a situation from the eyes of faith and someone else sees it from the eyes of fear, both will react differently.

The story has been told of how the potato, egg and coffee bean were all put in  boiling water, but each reacted differently. The potato went in strong, but came out soft and weak; the egg went in fragile and came out hard. However, the ground coffee bean was unique; when put in the boiling water, it changed the water and created something new. Question then is; how do you react when confronted by adverse situations?

Many times you will not be able to change what you are going through; you may not be able to change the reports around you, but one thing you can change or control is your perspective and your response. Two individuals may have a common experience, yet one sees the obstacle as a stepping stone and the other allows the obstacle to become a stumbling block and a barrier to their destiny. The difference between these two individuals is their perspective. Ultimately the difference between winners and losers, is the way they view setbacks and adversities. Losers see setback as the end of the road, but winners see it as a bend in the road.

David often saw his situations from the eyes of faith and committed himself to praising God at all times.  He recognized that by praising God, you make room for Him to come and change adverse situations and turn things around to your favor. Because all things work together for good to them that love Him. This is why David  says in Psalm 34:1 ‘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.’

You may be feeling overburdened today, by the various trials facing you. Perhaps right now you are even tired of it all and wondering a way out. Well, it doesn’t matter how tough the situations you may be facing, look beyond them and see rather how great your God is. God is still on the throne. He reigns in your life and He is able to turn everything around for your good. Exalt God above that situation by giving Him worthy praise today.  And as you do He will turn your mourning into dancing., and turn every test into your testimony in Jesus Name.

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

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

Joshua 6:16  ‘And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city!’

DAILY READING – Acts 8:26-40; Joshua 1-2; Job 21

The American civil war was mainly fought over the issue of slavery. While the Northern states of America wanted an end to slavery, the Southern states wanted to still keep slaves. When they couldn’t agree the Southern states decided to secede. Starting with South Carolina, eleven states would eventually leave the United States and form a new country called the Confederate States of America. The North did not agree and this eventually led to the civil war.

The Battle of Gettysburg was the deadliest battle of the American Civil War. On the first day of battle, the Confederate army outnumbered the army of the Northern states, [also called the Union army] and caused them to retreat. However, the  Union army reinforced and by the second day, there was fierce fighting throughout the day with both sides taking heavy losses. By the third day, the Union Army had defeated the Confederate Army. It is interesting that on the first day of battle the confederate army were winning and intimidating, but in the end it was the Union army that won.

Often at the initial stage of every battle the enemy comes with intimidating force, doing all he can to  demoralize and discourage you. This is why you must not give up too soon. Learn to always hold on and persevere.

In Joshua chapter 6, the people of Israel were ready to begin the conquest of the Promised Land. Their first obstacle was the city of Jericho. However it looked like they couldn’t win because Jericho was a fortified and walled city; it was a formidable,fortress, tightly secured. It had both an inner and outer wall. It was built to defend the eastern approach to Canaan, and could not be bypassed. This was enough to discourage and demoralize the Israelites. However God said to Joshua ‘I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men”. God spoke of Jericho as having already been defeated, because the battle was The Lord’s. The army only had to just obey God’s instructions.

Joshua 6:16 says ‘And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city!

And when the people gave God resounding shouts of praise the walls of Jericho came tumbling down. Likewise , today as you give God worthy praise every wall of Jericho resisting you will come tumbling down.  Perhaps in your first attempt to access your promised land you have been defeated. Maybe the door has been shut in your face for a job, a contract, or relationship. Or perhaps you have received  negative report from the doctor that looks hopeless. Well, don’t just sit docilely and accept the enemy’s verdict. You have what it takes to turn things around. Switch to praise. Praise is an unbeatable weapon in the battles of life. It has the capacity to crush our toughest and roughest battles. According to Psalm 22:3 God inhabits the praises of His people, therefore whatever battle cannot resist God, cannot resist praise. Indeed there is nothing God cannot do in your life. Believe God for the miraculous today as you engage the power of praise.  When you give Him worthy praise He will arise for you. And when God arises every enemy will be scattered.

PRAYER: Lord, As I praise You today, I thank You for causing every wall of Jericho resisting my progress to come tumbling down. Truly by Your grace I am unstoppable and unbeatable,  and nothing can ever hinder my forward movement in life in Jesus Name.    

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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.

Galatians 6:9 ‘And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.’

• DAILY READING Acts 8:1b-25; Deuteronomy 33-34; Job 20
• Charles H. Spurgeon, was revered as last century’s greatest Baptist preacher. Known as a prince of preachers, he preached over 600 times before he was twenty years old. His sermons sold about 20,000 copies a week and were translated into twenty languages. The collected sermons fill 63 volumes equivalent to the 27 volume edition of Encyclopedia Britannica, and “stands” as the largest set of books by a single author in the history of Christianity”

Yet despite his achievements, he was so plagued by discouragement, that he tendered his resignation thirty-two times in thirty-nine years.

One of the incidents that greatly discouraged him was what happened on October 19, 1856 when he preached for the first time in the Music Hall of the Royal Surrey Gardens because his own church would not hold the people. At this time Spurgeon was only twenty-two years old. The 10,000 seating capacity of the hall was far exceeded as the crowds pressed in. Then suddenly someone shouted, “Fire!”. But it was a prank. At this shout  there was great panic in parts of the building. Seven people were killed in the stampede and scores were injured.

Spurgeon was devastated by this calamity. However the very following day after the calamity on October 20, his wife gave birth to twin sons. Though Spurgeon suffered criticisms and several other discouraging incidents, he gradually discovered that such lows always seemed to precede new times of good things in life. So despite the persecutions Spurgeon kept on preaching in the midst of adversity and setbacks. He maintained his joy. His hearty laughter was well known. His humour also found expression in his sermons and writings.

Past heroes and modern champions of the faith have also at one time or the other encountered  bouts of discouragement. And it is interesting that many of them felt the most discouragement, just at the verge of breakthroughs in their lives. What does this tell us? That It is always darkest just before the day breaks. This is why you must never give up. Most challenges come at the verge of new horizons, just when you are about to break forth and rise to your new level. The enemy fights hardest at that point of emergence, because he doesn’t want you to get to your destined place. You are coming  into a new season, therefore do not be surprised if the enemy tries to discourage you through the people or circumstances around you.  

You can’t control what people do or say, but you can control how you respond. Most of the conflict we engage in is a distraction. The enemy’s aim is to get you off-course. Your job is not to mind people’s attitude. Your job is to run your race. Quit being sour about your critics,  they are helping your destiny. Without the betrayal of his brothers, Joseph would have never made it to the palace.  Instead of being discouraged, like David encourage yourself in The Lord. Sit down in God’s Word to receive fresh fire and unction. Focus on maintaining your joy. Though weeping may endure for the night, your joy is coming. Indeed your due season is here, and if you don’t faint you will surely reap. 

PRAYER: Lord, please help me not to become weary in well doing.. Please grant me the grace to keep going forward no matter the discouraging situations I may sometimes face. Thank You Lord for causing all things to work together for my good in Jesus Name. .  

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

Exodus 12:13 ‘And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt’

DAILY READING –  Acts 7:23-8:1; Deuteronomy 31-32; Job 19

In July 2014,  Dr. Ada Igonoh, a young medical doctor was working at First Consultants Medical Centre in Lagos, when Patrick Sawyer, the Liberia-American, who introduced Ebola Virus Disease to Nigeria was admitted. During the course of treating him, she came in contact with him. And when he eventually died she was the doctor that confirmed him dead. However, few days afterwards, she found out that she had contracted the virus. Along with her, the Lead Consultant Physician and some other members of their medical team, had also contracted the deadly virus.

As their symptoms began to develop, the government immediately quarantined everyone affected at an isolation center. For Dr Ada it became a battle for her life. However, though being at the isolation center felt as if she was placed on death row, as a  Christian she understood her covenant rights and believed she would not die. She engaged the power in the blood of Jesus by regularly taking the communion. Also every morning, she read Psalm 91 and then continued with constantly studying The Word of God, praying, and listening to messages on faith and healing. Though while at the isolation center, some others in the ward began to die of the virus, she tenaciously believed the Blood of Jesus would speak for her. At this time Ebola was killing people enmasse in other countries  and she had contracted the deadliest strain of the virus which was the Zaire strain. Medically her life hung in the balance. However, the Blood indeed did begin to speak for her. After a few days, her severe symptoms of ebola stopped and after 14 days of being quarantined, miraculously she survived. She was tested and declared healed and then allowed to return back home to her family. Miraculously also none of the family members she earlier had contact with contracted the virus.

Exodus 12:13 ‘And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt’

Indeed because of the mark of the Blood of Jesus upon our lives, our case is different. By covenant what afflicts others cannot afflict you. Just like the Israelites dwelling in Goshen were separated from the afflictions of Egypt, we have been separated from the plagues and afflictions in the world. The bible says there is no condemnation for you now that you are in Christ Jesus. Christ has paid the price for every affliction, He became a curse for us, that we might experience a blessed life. Therefore affliction cannot arise a second time. Whatever affliction Christ paid for at Calvary has no right to ever afflict you again.

As a child of God, your body is the temple of The Holy Ghost. And because The Holy Ghost carries fire, your body is a temple of fire. You are charged and electrified and any evil attempting to touch you gets electrocuted. The blood of Jesus is hot with the Holy Ghost fire.  It is a fire that burns every chaff. So you cannot be carrying His blood and be carrying infirmity at the same time. Just as chaff cannot survive inside fire, diseases cannot survive inside you. Therefore whatever cannot afflict the blood line of Jesus cannot have access to you. Therefore every ill fortune, every lack of progress, every poverty, every plague trying to afflict you they are all swallowed up today by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

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”.

Indeed by the Blood we are overcomers in every conflict of life. By the blood we will always have the victory  in Jesus Name.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for victory by the blood of Jesus. Indeed by the blood I am separated from every evil affliction and everything which my Heavenly Father has not planted in my life has been permanently uprooted  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