HORM Devotional

Philippians 4:6 KJV
‘be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God’.–
• DAILY READING       John 16:4-33; 2 Chronicles 24; Psalm 81
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness of this age. According to a recent report by the World Health Organization, anxiety disorders are on the increase globally. Indeed it seems the world is entering a new age of anxiety. As the economic situation worsens, fretting in the general population seems to be on the rise. 

However the Bible in Philippians 4:6 says ‘be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God’.
God’s will is for us to focus on prayer and thanksgiving instead of worrying.  

J. Arthur Rank, a devout Christian, was one of the early pioneers of the film industry in Great Britain. When he realized he had a problem with worrying he made a pact with God to limit his worrying to only one day in a week. He chose Wednesdays, and made a little box, which he called his Wednesday Worry Box. He placed the box on his desk, and whenever a worry cropped up, Rank wrote it out and dropped it into this Wednesday Worry Box. He refused to think about the problem, until Wednesday. Then when Wednesdays came, he would  open the box, and bring up each piece of paper where he had written his worries. However as time went by,  Rank began to discover something amazing. Instead of having piles of problems to worry about on Wednesday, he found that only a third of the items he had written, were still worth worrying about by that time. He found that somehow the rest had managed to resolve themselves. From this, he came to the conclusion that worrying never accomplished anything. 

In Luke 12:25 Jesus said, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”! Then, in the following verse 26, Jesus pointed something else out: “Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” 

Indeed worry never solves any problem, Psychologists tell us that roughly 40 percent of what we worry about will never happen and 30 percent has already happened. Additionally, 12 percent of worries are over unfounded health concerns. Another 10 percent of worries involve the daily miscellaneous fretting that accomplishes nothing. That leaves only 8 percent. In other words, people are worrying 92 percent of the time for no good reason, 

Worry has been described as interest paid on trouble before it comes due. Worry is like a rocking chair; requiring a lot of energy, and yet it gets you nowhere. 

Instead of worrying, we have to trust that God is in control of our lives. We look to Him in every situation knowing that He will definitely work things out to our favor. 

Habakkuk 3:17-19 says ‘Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places’

This is why we maintain a joyful attitude in the face of any challenge, because we trust God is in control of our lives. God says that He thinks good thoughts towards us, which means that whatever the situation, He is working everything to align with His good thoughts for us. This is why we do not fret nor worry.

Jesus put it plainly, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me.” Indeed when we believe in God and trust in Him then our hearts will not be troubled, rather we will be full of praise, knowing that God is at work in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. . Indeed God is good. Therefore never allow anything to steal your praise. Instead, learn to turn your worry into worship. Rather than wasting energy in worrying, invest that energy in praise. Every time you’re tempted to worry, turn it around and thank God for His blessings. Indeed if you look back and count your blessings, you will find that God has really been faithful to you. If you can think, then you can thank. Indeed God is good, all the time!    

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PRAYER: Lord, please help to stop worrying about things I have no control over, I trust you are in control of my life, and I know that even right now you are working out everything for my good. 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…

[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK REJOICE] 

Hebrews 12: 2 
 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

• DAILY READING -John 15:1-16:4; 2 Chronicles 23; Psalm 80

Every great destiny will face setbacks at some point. But 

when you trust in God, He is able to make all things work together for your good. 

At the 1992 Olympic games in Barcelona Spain, Gail Devers took Olympic moments to new heights by winning the fastest women`s race in history. A crowd of 65,000 at the Olympic Games saw her win the women`s 100-meter dash in 10.82 seconds. As the 25 years old Gail circled the track in joy, she told the media how the last three years of her life had been a miracle. Just 17 months earlier, she couldn’t walk and had to crawl across rooms in pain after  suffering complications from a misdiagnosed Graves` disease.  It all started during the Seoul Olympics in 1988, where she had performed poorly, and couldn’t make the finals. Soon after that, her health began to deteriorate. Doctors were baffled by her symptoms of hair loss, vision loss, shaking, lethargy, extreme weight loss, skin problems and other strange seemingly unrelated problems. Finally, Doctors diagnosed her with a cancer of the thyroid gland. She fought hard just to survive.

Being the daughter of a pastor from California, she had gone  back  home to stay with her parents. And for two and a half years, she had languished, going from bad to worse. At a point her appearance became so terrible, she stopped going out in public. Her feet developed severe bleeding blisters, some so large and painful that she couldn’t walk. To get around, she crawled.  In February 1991, she was rushed to the hospital where doctors considered amputating her feet to save her life. Gail said of that time, “I prayed to God: ‘Not my feet, please. If you save them, I will use them for however long you wish me to.’’ Despite all she went through, Gail continued to hold on to God, never losing her faith or hope in God’s ability to deliver her. 

Eventually doctors found out that the complications she was suffering was due to an overdose of her radiation treatment. With a change in medication, she finally began to improve. Within a month, Gail was walking again.  Doctors were amazed that she even survived at all.  

As her health returned, her focus on the Olympics returned as well.  In March of 1991, she began training with her Coach again. Within just a few months, Gail won the Silver medal in the 1991 World Championships held in Tokyo.

In 1992 at Barcelona Olympics, she asked God to help her run the best race of her life and come out with gold. God answered her, and she won a gold medal in the women’s 100m event.  Thereafter, she went on, soaring in her career to become one of the greatest female athletes of all times. Sportswriters called her story the greatest comeback in track history. However Gail gave all the credit to God for her miraculous healing. 
Indeed with God, nothing is impossible. When men think it is over that’s when God likes to take over. Setbacks may come, but with God you can always overcome. Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning. We should never limit God. Indeed it is not over until God says so. 

Maybe you are in the middle of a trial, an affliction, or a setback. But whatever you may pass through,  always remember, that your destiny is greater than your disaster. 

Never let your situation or circumstances limit what God can do in your life. What God has said He will do, He will surely do.  God is not man that He should lie, nether the son of man that He should repent. Everything may be rising up against you, yet do not limit God. He is able to deliver by many or by few. It doesn’t matter what may have happened, it is not over until God says so. 

Hebrews 12:2 Says “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

To fulfill destiny we must despise present challenges and keep our eyes on Jesus. Despite the  challenge, always keep your eyes fixed on God’s Word. All the roaring of the storm is to try to get you to shift your gaze. But remember that the moment Peter shifted his gaze from Jesus to look at the storm, he began to sink.  If the enemy is able to shift your focus from God, defeat is inevitable. Therefore keep holding on to God’s Word.     

No matter how contrary present circumstances may seem, as long as you trust in God, He is working it all out for your good. And even if you have experienced a setback, it is only positioning you for a comeback! The road to destiny consists of endings and beginnings; setbacks and comebacks. A door shut means a door is about to open. An ending only means that there is getting ready to be a new beginning. 

Regardless of what you may have seen so far, the truth is- Your greatest days are ahead. The work God began in you He will finish. What God started in you He will complete!

Therefore no matter what comes your way, do not despair, do not give up, do not give in. Fix your eyes on God’s Word and hope on His promises. Surely they that put their trust in God shall never be ashamed. Surely there is an end and your expectations shall not be cut off. Indeed if you can believe, all things will be possible to you. 
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 for my desired miracle. Indeed what You have promised, I know  You are able to perform in my life 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] 

Heb. 12:24  ’, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”
DAILY READING – – John 14:15-31; 2 Chronicles 21:2-22:12; Psalm 79
According to medical experts, every two seconds each day, globally, someone needs blood. For instance In the UK alone, 1.5 million units of blood need to be collected each year to meet the needs of hospital patients. Since blood cannot be manufactured outside the body and has a limited shelf life, there is therefore a need for constant supply by generous blood donors. However finding blood donors is not always easy. Though 37% of the population is eligible to donate blood, yet only 5% actually do. This shortage of blood donors has led scientists to seek for ways to offer an alternative to donated blood. For a number of years they have been investigating how to manufacture artificial red blood cells as an alternative to donated human blood.  After years of trying, scientists recently had a breakthrough where they were able to transform stem cells into red blood cells. Stem cells are the human body’s “master cells’’, which are the building blocks of all organs, tissues, blood and the immune system. Though turning stem cells into red blood cells is a technique that works, it is also an incredibly inefficient process, and has been unable to produce enough blood.  For instance each stem cell only makes around 50,000 red blood cells before it dies off, while a typical bag of blood used in hospitals contains around 1 trillion red blood cells. Clearly scientist still have a long way to go in being able to find ways to produce enough blood to meet the increasing human need.  

However, there is a fountain of blood that never runs dry, and is always available to meet every human need. It has been flowing for 2000 years now and will flow for ever more. This is the fountain of the precious blood of Jesus. There is no shortage of it. There is easy access to it. Every time  we  call upon this blood it arises to meet our needs. The blood of Jesus, cleanses and heals. It protects and preserves.  

Heb. 13:20-21 says that the Blood of Christ is the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant, therefore, its potency is eternal. Indeed there is everlasting power in the blood of Jesus. 

The Blood of Jesus is the divine provision for man’s freedom from every satanic oppression. It is what it takes to silence the opposition. It is our ultimate victory in every battle of life. In Egypt, despite the preceding plagues, when the blood came on the scene in Exodus chapter 12, Pharaoh quickly gave up.  

The blood of Jesus is our ultimate weapon in every battle. “Every time we say, “The Blood of Jesus!”, we  are invoking God’s very life, because according to Lev 17:11, the life of the flesh is in the blood. And when God arises all His enemies are scattered. 

Heb. 12:22-24 says “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”

The blood of Jesus speaks better things for us. His blood speaks Passover to every plague of Egypt in our lives. His blood cleanses us from all sin and unrighteousness. His blood destroys every form of sickness and infirmity.  

Through the Communion, we engage the mystery of the blood covenant by partaking of the flesh and the blood of Jesus . As we partake of His blood every Egyptian in form of sicknesses  or diseases are swallowed up by the red sea of Christ’s blood. We have to make much of the blood. We have to begin to apply the blood in every area of our lives. We have to begin to appropriate all God has made available to us through the blood of Jesus.  His blood elevates us to a place of triumph in every contest.  His blood when invoked in battle disarms and destroys the bands of wickedness, His blood is a weapon of mass destruction against every satanic assault. 

Every man has access to this ever flowing fountain of the precious blood of Jesus. Whatever your need is today, you can freely draw from this ever flowing fountain of Christ’s blood.  There is no shortage or limit to how much we can draw. There is no resistance or restriction of access. Indeed His blood flows constantly to meet all our needs. 
PRAYER: Lord, please help me to truly see the victory I have through the blood of Jesus, enable me Oh Lord, to begin to make much of the blood in every area of my life.  Indeed by the blood of Jesus I have all round victory in  Jesus Name. 
QUOTE 

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

 [CULLED FROM THE BOOK SUPERNATURAL LOVE OF GOD] 

Mathew 5:16  “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven
DAILY READING – John 14:1-14; 2 Chronicles 20:1-21:1; Psalm 78:56-72

In modern history the term “D-Day” refers to what happened on 6 June 1944 –the day on which the Battle of Normandy was fought during world war 2. This battle was the climax of the War and was probably the most carefully planned and executed military operation in history. On that day, thousands of Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy, in northern France, in a battle to liberate mainland Europe from Nazi occupation.

At this time Hitler who was in control of France, had expected an invasion by the allied forces but had no idea where it would come from. He built the Atlantic Wall, that stretched several thousands of miles, as a defense to stop any invasion. But the allied forces embarked on the  most carefully planned operation in modern war history to defeat him. Part of the plan was to misdirect Hitler from where the actual invasion would take place. To achieve this, the Allied Forces used fake equipment, double agents, spies, fake radio transmissions and even raised a phantom army in England, all to confuse Hitler and divert his attention from the real invasion planned for Normandy.

But their carefully laid out plans depended on one crucial factor; the moon.  

Because the invasion began in the early morning hours before the sun came up, aircrafts and Parachutists needed the moonlight to see the ground to know where they should land. They crucially needed the moonlight so as to avoid all the barricades and barbwires, Hitler had mounted on the seashore to hinder an invasion. 

The allied forces engaged a team of astronomers and meteorologists who helped them to plan the invasion around days with a full moon and low tide. 

The Invasion of Normandy began early in the day on June 6th 1944. It was a joint effort by all of the Allied Forces, which comprised of 326,547 British, American and Canadian troops, 54,186 vehicles, 104,428 tons of supplies, 5,000 ships and 11,000 aircraft.

At the end of the invasion the Allied Force were in full control of Normandy. The Allied Forces marched forward and continued fighting until they forced a German surrender on May 8th 1945, officially ending the Nazi reign in Germany. 

Victory in this battle was only possible because of the crucial role the light of the moon played on that day.

In the same way, in the battles of life, light from God’s Word is crucial to our victory. No matter how carefully we plan, without the light of God’s Word, nothing works. 

Jesus is the light of the world and without Him we can do nothing. 

Just as the planets revolve around the sun all our lives and operations are to revolve around the sun of righteousness, who is Christ Jesus.  Malachi 4:2 says ‘But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall’ 

It is only when the sun of righteousness arises, that we can go forth and grow up. You can only arise and shine when your light has come. Therefore to get to our next level in life, we need an encounter with Light of God’s Word.

Nothing works until light comes. And the density of your light will determine the intensity of your victory. When your Light is intense, it swallows up every darkness around you. Therefore to experience victory, go for light. And the source of light is The Word of God. It is the entrance of His Word that gives light. 

Faith, the victory that overcomes the world, comes from hearing The Word. Genuine encounter with light from God’s Word will always deliver victory to you.

Do you need victory in any area of your life? Then it is time to seek an encounter with light from God’s Word. Like peter, have you been toiling all night long in the dark without any catch? Then it is time to hear the voice of the Master from His Word. 

No man-made plan can compare to the divine direction God gives. One word from God can revolutionize your life. In our health, in our families, in our businesses, we need light from God’s Word to show us the way to victory. To overcome sin and live in true holiness, we need light from God’s Word to shatter the hold of sin. In this age of darkness, light is our rescue. Wherever light appears, darkness must bow.  Therefore every light bearer is naturally a victor in the battles of life. 

In Mathew 5:16 Jesus says, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” 

Indeed as we daily abide in God’s Word, our light will shine to swallow every darkness and deliver victory to us. 

PRAYER: Father please help me to always walk in Your light so that Your Glory can continually reflect through me. Indeed without You I can do nothing. Therefore, enable me Oh Lord to abide  close to you, so that as You shine through me, I can be a wonder to my world in Jesus Name. 

QUOTE : 

For you to enjoy victory in the Kingdom of God, you need to develop a Kingdom mindset, that thinks in line with the Word of God.  – WORDBITE 222. 

 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK TRIUMPH OF LIGHT OVER DARKNESS

Proverbs 18:10   ‘The name of the Lord is a strong tower: The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.’
DAILY READING    John 13:21-38; 2 Chronicles 19; Psalm 78:38-55
In Europe there is a natural strong tower or fortress that has played a significant role in the history of that region. This is the Rock of Gibraltar, which is known as the world’s premier natural fortress.  It is a spectacular formation  of rocks in the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea. 

From ancient times it has served as a refuge for many armies. It has been a British fortress since the early 18th century and as a vital factor in British military strategy. Gibraltar was besieged multiple times and figured prominently in many wars. During World War II, Gibraltar played a vital role in helping the British army to control virtually all naval traffic into and out of the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean.  In addition to its commanding position, Gibraltar provided a strongly defended fortress for the British army. The Rock was turned into a huge underground fortress capable of accommodating 16,000 men along with all the supplies, ammunition and equipment needed to withstand a prolonged siege. Tunnels constructed within the rock, housed guns, hangars, ammunition stores, barracks and even hospitals. 

For the British, Gilbratar was an impregnable rock, a fortress that in many ways often helped them win their wars. 

In the battles of life, we need a strong tower, a refuge where we can be continually protected and preserved.  

Psalm 61:2-4 says “when my heart is Overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings” 

Indeed The Lord is our strong tower! When we run to Him, we are guaranteed safety from all storms of life.  

Proverbs 18:10 says ‘The name of the Lord is a strong tower: The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.’

Strong towers are built not only for protection but to provide sustenance for those abiding within it. When God is our strong tower, we find in Him all we need for survival and sustenance on earth. In Him we find our Healer, Deliverer, Prince of Peace, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Provider, the Redeemer, the Strong Tower of refuge. 

God not only supplies all our needs but He is a covenant-keeping God who will never leave us, fail us, or forsake us. Indeed our safest place is in God’s hands. . In Him we live and move and have our being.  God is a tower of refuge for those who put their trust in Him!  He is our rock; He is our shield, the horn of our salvation, our high tower, and our refuge. God is Mighty to deliver, Mighty to save, the Mighty man in battle and the Lord of hosts.

When we abide in Him, we are safe from the storms and billows of life. When we abide in Him we are blessed beyond measure, we are provided for, we are healed and we are more than conquerors. Indeed when we are in Christ our safety from all life’s storms is guaranteed.

Let us therefore make seeking the face of God our priority today and always.  

PRAYER: Lord,. Thank  You for being  my hiding place, my strong tower and refuge from all storms of life. Help me to always hide myself in You now and always  in Jesus Name. .  .  

QUOTE 

It takes a heart for God to make a mark in the sands of time. – WORDBITE 201. 
[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK FAITH CLASSICS] 

1 Corinthians 2:10 KJV

10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God
 DAILY READING  : John 13:1-20; 2 Chronicles 18; Psalm 78:21-37

During world war II, a British naval officer was evacuating troops from the beaches at Dunkirk in 1940 when he was captured by the Nazis. From the German prison camp, he sent letters home to his parents. The letters would always start ‘my dear mummy and daddy,’ and talk about mundane things like farming and the weather etc. Though on the surface they looked like simple letters, underneath were coded secret messages for the British military. These letters were written in a complex alphanumeric codes, which the Germans could not decode.  The unsuspecting German officers, would read the letters and then post  them for him. They never knew about the coded words that contained hidden war intelligence reports.

In one letter, he hid intelligence report about the sinking of a British submarine by writing about the PoW camp’s vegetable garden. From his letters received in Britain, British intelligence experts were able to decode the message and learn about the sinking of the British submarine, the HMS Undine, which was destroyed in 1940. 

Though on the surface, his letters appeared ordinary, hidden within the words  were top secret information that became invaluable to the British army. 

In a similar way, the words of the Bible on the surface may appear ordinary, but hidden within them are deep spiritual secrets that are invaluable to us as believers. This is why we need to go beyond the letters and search deeper for the revelation The Spirit imparts.  

It takes The Holy Ghost to ‘decode’ the scriptures for us. God is saying so much more than you think, but you need revelation to fully grasp it.  

Psalm 62:11 says ‘God has spoken once twice have I heard, that power belongs to God.’

In other words, there is more than one hearing to the words in the scriptures. The first hearing is general knowledge on the surface for everyone to hear, but beyond is the second hearing which is revelation. This is spiritual knowledge which The Holy Spirits imparts to us, to help us move forward in life. 

1 Corinthians 2:10 says ‘But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for The Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God’. 

Revelation from The Spirit is what brings solutions and revolutions to one’s life. To succeed in life, we need the revelation of The Spirit. As we study The Word, we need to go beyond the letter on the surface and begin to access the deep truths hidden within. 

Indeed the secret things belong to God, but what is revealed to us by The Spirit  belongs to us.  
PRAYER: Lord, by the Revelation of Your Spirit, let Your Word be made known  to me. Please help me to go beyond the surface and launch out into the deep waters of Your Word, where I can receive revelations that will revolutionize my life in Jesus Name. .  

QUOTE 

Revelation from God will always  overcome  your  negative situation in life. – WORDBITE 222. . 

 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK FAITH CLASSICS] 

Proverbs 18:21,
” Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.’

• DAILY READING –  John 12:27-50; 2 Chronicles 16-17; Psalm 78:1-20

•
Sometimes, we say things and think they don’t matter. But if we consider the power behind words, we might choose our words more carefully. You may think words don’t matter, but our words are seeds, that produce fruits.  

In history it is quite interesting how seemingly ordinary words have led to great consequences. Offensive words can result in the fall of empires, or the wiping away of complete nations. When sentiments find their way into official correspondence often the effects are fatal. 

In 1870, two of the greatest powers in Europe were the Kingdom of Prussia and The Empire of France. There was suspicion between these two countries. France felt threatened that the rise to power of Prussia might dislodge it from its leading place in European power politics. At this time, a vacancy occurred for the throne of Spain and the German prince Leopold of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen was invited to become king of that country. This alarmed the French as they felt that this could result in their being surrounded by governments that were sympathetic to the Prussian cause.

Though eventually Prince Leopold withdrew his candidature, the French were however not completely satisfied and they sought assurances from the Prussian government that no German candidate would be put forward in future. King William I of Prussia was a pleasant and courteous old gentleman. On the morning of 13th July 1870 he was taking a morning stroll in the spa town of Ems when he was approached by the French ambassador Count Benedetti. He presented the king with a demand from the French government that a German  prince would never again be presented as candidate for the throne of Spain. The king refused to give a categorical assurance of policy in the indefinite future, and the two men parted rather coolly. King William authorised his secretary to send a dispatch to the Prussian chancellor Bismarck with an account of the meeting. He also authorised the chancellor to publish the account.

Otto Von Bismarck who was the Chancellor of Prussia was a very wily politician more than capable of manipulating events. He was known as The Iron Chancellor. He made some alterations in the text of the telegraph that was insulting to France, before submitting it for publication.

The change in the wording of the dispatch had the desired effect, as expectedly France took offense. The result was that there were demonstrations in France demanding war, which Napoleon III rather foolishly declared. France was roundly defeated in the war. The German Empire was declared in The Chateau of Versailles. Alsace and Lorraine were annexed to Germany. The resultant resentment against Germany contributed greatly to the tensions that lead to the First World War.

It is amazing indeed how simple words altered in a telegraph could have far reaching consequences. That is the power of words. Words can be constructive or destructive. Words are not to be treated lightly or trivialized. Jesus said every idle word that men shall speak they will give account of it.

This is why we have to be careful, the kind of words that come out of our mouths. Let us speak words that heal, not those that hurt. 

Everything you have experienced in your life today is a direct result of what you’ve been saying.

Proverbs 18:21 says “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.’ Nowhere is this more apparent than in relationships. We are either speaking blessing or cursing. There are no ordinary words. The words we speak can positively or negatively affect another. And it is better to say nothing than to speak words that are destructive to someone’s heart.  Always remember the power of words before you speak. Maybe you didn’t hear many kinds words when growing up, and now you are finding  difficult to give what you did not receive. But you can choose to release something better than what you were handed. You can sow seeds of life instead of perpetuate seeds of death. Fill your hearts with the word of God so that life can flow out of your mouth. Let words of faith and power flowing from you bring a harvest of life and blessing to others. Indeed we can make a difference in someone’s life today by speaking the right words. Indeed we can do all things through Christ.

PRAYER: Father please enable me to begin to speak right words today, please grant me the grace to speak words that heal rather than hurt. Please help me to fill my heart with Your Word so that out of the abundance of my heart, right words will flow out in Jesus Name. 
QUOTE : 

For you to enjoy victory in the Kingdom of God, you need to develop a Kingdom mindset, that thinks in line with the Word of God.  – WORDBITE 222. 

 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK TRIUMPH OF LIGHT OVER DARKNESS] 

Romans 8:18 

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

• DAILY READING -John 12:1-26; 2 Chronicles 14-15; Psalm 77

Throughout history, silver and gold, were treasured by many cultures. Many wealthy families owned utensils, jewelry, and décor made from silver and gold. Even in Biblical times, silver and gold played great roles in financial transactions. And even today great worth and value are still placed upon these precious metals.  

However the process of refining silver and gold to become valuable metals is not easy. It involves putting the metals through intense heat that literally burns and consumes all the impurities in them. 

As Christians, we are all required to go through the process of purification. And when we have been fully cleansed and purified, the image of Christ will be reflected in our hearts and lives. 

Life is in phases and seasons. Sometimes we can pass through seasons of trials where it seems we are in the fiery furnace. But whatever we go through, we should know that it is all for a reason and it will last only for a season. And the end result of the trial should always culminate in praise to God. 

1 Peter 1:6–7 says “Now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold, which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

The end result of our trials is to bring glory to God. We have to understand that in the midst of the trial, God is working out a higher purpose. Though  the enemy may  bring trials and temptations, God still causes it all to work out together for our good, when we trust in Him. 
God uses the trials to reveal His Glory in us. Temptations and trials come to everyone. 

Isaiah 43:2 says, ” When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned” The Bible didn’t say ‘if’ but  ‘when’. This  means we will all surely pass through the fire at some points in life. 

No matter what we are going through we should always give God praise. The battle is not yours, but the Lords. We must learn to praise God through the storm. When we praise God, we hand over our battles to Him.  

Do you want God to do the unusual for you? Then tune in to high, wild praises. In the midst of your high praises, God will make you to ride upon your high places. 

Don’t let the devil steal your joy. Shake off the gloom he’s trying to cover you with. Praise God in the face of your problems. Sing in the midst of your stress. Shout Hallelujah, for your God is mighty. Forget not His benefits. God has indeed done great and mighty things for you. Instead of looking at what the enemy may be doing, rather use the time to count your blessings. You will be surprised to see what God has done already. And what God has done will always far outweigh whatever trial the enemy is trying to bring your way. Therefore in everything keep praising God, for it is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to always praise You, no matter what comes my way.  Let nothing ever stop the continual flow of your praise from my mouth 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. 

 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK REJOICE] 

John 8:31-32 – 
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.         

• DAILY READING    – John 11:28-57; 2 Chronicles 12-13; Psalm 76

Most tourists know they have to be sensitive to local customs when travelling. Strange laws and local customs in other countries can catch holidaymakers off guard. If you fall foul of these laws you could end up behind bars. Therefore when travelling to other countries, it’s definitely worth knowing the laws of that country so as not to get yourself arrested.

For instance in Italy, it is an offense to sit on steps and courtyards or to eat and drink in the immediate vicinity of churches and public buildings in Florence. The penalty is usually a huge fine.

One simple concept that law students learn in their very first weeks of criminal law class, is that ignorance of the law is no excuse. This principle means that when an individual violates the law, it doesn’t matter whether or not they knew what the law said. If they are found to have committed the elements of that offense, they are guilty.

 Ignorance of the law is no excuse. That’s the standard line motorists hear when they say they weren’t aware of the speed limit, or gun owners hear when they say didn’t know about the gun laws in their jurisdiction. Ignorance of the law has put so many people in jail today and they are suffering wrongfully for not being aware of what they are supposed to have known, .

The same holds true when it comes to spiritual things. Many of us are victims of spiritual ignorance. We wonder why we are suffering, why we are broke; we wonder why we are sick, depressed and oppressed; but all these are the results of breaking certain spiritual laws.

Ignorance is inexcusable in spiritual things. The consequence of breaking a spiritual law is not suspended because you didn’t know about it. The law of gravity holds true anywhere in the world – no economy or climatic condition changes the law. 

Even unbelievers cannot claim ignorance of the law. Romans 1:18-20  Says that God’s  eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

You are expected to know the law. It is only the discovery of spiritual truths that can guarantee you lasting freedom. You should not wait until you are compelled by situations to find out what the law says. Unfortunately, many want to encounter truth without going through the search process. If you do not seek, you will not find or discover. When you do the search, your discovery leaves you with experiential knowledge that none can take away from you. Searching requires discipline, diligence and time. One discovered Word from God will change your life. 

The prize attained from discovering key truth is far more valuable than the price you have to pay to make that discovery. To attain this prize, there is the need to be spiritually educated, and fight spiritual ignorance. One way to fight spiritual ignorance is to befriend the Bible. Make up your mind to become addicted to God’s Word. That is the path to freedom.  

 
PRAYER; Lord I know there are treasures stored up in your Word for me, I need to find them, so that I don’t fall foul of spiritual laws. Please give me the grace to locate the truths I need to know from Your Word in Jesus Name. 

QUOTE  

In law ignorance is no excuse , as a child of God, failure is simply inexcusable. WORDBITE 222. 

[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK FAITH CLASSICS] 

2 Corinthians 10:4-5
‘For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;.’

• DAILY READING   John 11:1-27; 2 Chronicles 10-11; Psalm 75

The Trojan War is a famous war fought between the cities of Troy and Greece around the 13th century B.C, which lasted for ten years.  In the traditional accounts of this war, the Trojans were experienced in  protecting their city from invaders, they had a tall wall built around their entire city. In battles, Trojan fighters would stand on top of this wall and shoot arrows down at their enemies.  However  the Greeks didn’t let this great wall stop them from trying to defeat the Trojans. Determined to win the war, the Greeks finally devised a plan. 

One day, the Trojans looked out over their city wall, and saw the Greek ships sailing away. Apparently, the Greeks had given up after the long years of war. However they left behind a great beautiful wooden horse on wheels.  When the Trojans saw this great piece of art, they dragged it into their city walls.  They patted themselves on the back for having won, then threw a big party, and afterwards went to sleep.

However the whole Greek army had not departed; they had only given a false impression to the Trojans.  A small band of Greek soldiers had hidden inside the wooden horse. In the dead of the night,  these hidden Greeks came out of the horse and opened the gates to their comrades. Greek soldiers finally able to penetrate the city, then attacked the unsuspecting Trojans and massacred them. This brought an end to the long war, with Greeks defeating the Trojans. 

This strategy of the Greek, in winning the war is also a strategy often employed by the enemy in battles of the mind. The enemy often uses wrong thoughts lodged within a man’s mind to bring him down. This is why we must guard our heart with all diligence. Your mind is like a walled city. Its doors and gates are locked up. But if there are enemies within, it is only a matter of time before that city falls.

The enemy’s strategy is to find a way to bring in wrong thoughts into your mind. Once inside, from within these thoughts begin to fight your stance for holiness. And the enemy within is worse than the enemy without. The sin that brings men down often comes from the thoughts already lodged within their hearts.

In Matthew 23:26 Jesus said, ‘Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.’ 

Jesus is asking us to deal with what is within first.  We have to get rid of anything that does not glorify God in our lives. We have to be careful the kind of thoughts we allow to access our minds, because as a man thinks in his heart so is he. 

Our thoughts define us. Our thoughts lead to the actions, we take.  Once a thought takes root in your mind, it is only a matter of time, before it becomes your reality. So keep your mind always guarded by God’s Word, and give no room to the devil. If you give him an inch, he becomes the ruler. If you allow him a foothold in your mind, he builds a strong hold. So don’t even allow wrong thoughts in the first place. Don’t expose yourself to media that can negatively affect your mind. Thoughts are easy to get in, but often more difficult to get rid of.  

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 says ‘For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;.’

We have to bring into captivity every thought. We must take authority over it and command it to be flushed out of our minds in the name of Jesus. 

To have victory in the battle of the mind,  we must commit to constant study of God’s Word.  When The Word dominates our mind then we are empowered to walk in the grace and favor God has ordained for us. 
PRAYER:  Lord, Please help me to keep my mind constantly filled with Your Word. By the light from Your Word  there will be no hiding place for sin or darkness in my life. Thank You Lord for blessing me with a sound mind in  Jesus Name. 

QUOTE 

Letting down your guards exposes you to the attack of the enemy. 

 – WORDBITE 222. 

[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK TRIUMPH OF LIGHT OVER DARKNESS]