HORM Devotional

Deuteronomy 28:13 KJV
13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath;: 

DAILY READING – – Mark 13:1-13; 1 Kings 6; Hosea 8

Israel as a nation has often suffered hatred from its enemies, down through the centuries. Whole nations have engaged in efforts to exterminate the Jewish people.  This hatred is called anti-Semitism. In ancient Egypt, the Pharaohs ordered that all Jewish boy-babies should be cast into the Nile. In Babylon, at the time of Queen Esther, a plot was formed to murder the Jews and seize all their property. In more recent times, during World War 2, the Holocaust in central Europe wiped out six million Jews in the German and Polish death camps. 

In Kiev, Ukraine, near the World War Museum, there is a plot of ground where 50,000 Jews were shot, thrown into a valley and covered with dirt. 

The Bible predicted a scattering of the Jews which came to pass in AD 70, when Roman soldiers attacked the Jewish nation. They were scattered from one end of the earth to the other—just as God had said. And for 2,000 years the Jewish people were without a country.  God also predicted that Israel would be regathered again into her ancient homeland. By 1900, there was not a single “Jewish village” anywhere, but on May 14, 1948, in fulfillment of prophesy, Israel became a nation again. The return of the Jews to their ancient land, and the rebuilding of the nation of Israel, is one of the greatest fulfillment of biblical prophecy.

The survival of the Jews is one of the most amazing miracles of all times. There were other powerful nations in the Middle East in Old Testament times. There were the Philistines, the Hivites, the Jebusites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Edomites, etc. but how many of them survived?  The Philistines and Hivites and Amorites, etc. have been absorbed by other nations—and have all lost their identity. Yet the Jewish nation still remains. 

And not only that, today it is thriving and dominating in the middle east. On the global scene, Israel is a leading nation in innovations and technology. Indeed the survival and existence of Israel is a living proof of the truth of God’s Word. 

And it is also proof that if God be for you, nobody can be against you. 
It didn’t matter how many times enemies tried to destroy the Jewish people, they only kept rising and thriving, because of God’s backing. 

And likewise in this era, it is God’s will for us, as His people, to dominate, and rule in the midst of our enemies.

Psalm 110:1 – 2 says ‘The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.  The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.’

We are in the era of the dominion of the Church . According to God’s endtime agenda, Kingdom dominion is the portion of every child of God. You are therefore to dominate your world. You are to be the head and not the tail, above only and never beneath. You are to take the lead, while others follow. That is your heritage. Because you are born of God, you are born to overcome the world!. 

It is time for our enemies to be made our footstool. The world and the wickedness thereof must be subdued.  But you cannot dominate without being empowered. The kingdom of God speaks in power not just in word. It is the power content at work in your life that makes you dominate. It is the level you operate in that will authenticate the level of dominion you can manifest. 

It is therefore time for us to go for Power. And power is encountered through prayer and in-depth study of The Word of God.

Enough of being dominated by situations and circumstances. In this season, determine that power must change hands. It is your time to rule. Determine to rule over sickness, disease, poverty and every enemy of your life and destiny.  Decide to live in victory and dominion, as apportioned to you by God. It is indeed your time to reign. 

PRAYER: Father I desire to live a life of victory and dominion. I know it is Your Will and plan for me to be the head and never the tail. I therefore today declare that I am dominating over every enemy of my life and destiny. By Your Power I am ruling in the midst of my enemies, in Jesus Name. 

QUOTE : 

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

 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK KING IN ME] 

Psalm 119:11 
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
• DAILY READING Mark 13:1-13; 1 Kings 6; Hosea 8

William P. MacKay is the author of the popular church hymn, “Revive Us Again.”. He was a Scottish doctor, who later became ordained, as the pastor of a Presbyterian Church.  His story reflects God’s grace to locate a backslider wherever he may be, and restore him again back to fellowship. 

William Mackay was raised in a Christian home. His mother was a godly woman, who many times would be on her knees in prayer for his soul. At the age of seventeen, when William MacKay left home to attend college, his mother gave him a Bible in which she had written his name. When he got to college, before long, William began to drift further and further away from the godly way he had been raised. He began drinking heavily. At a low point, to satisfy his thirst for whiskey, he carelessly pawned his Bible. Many years went by. Eventually, he completed his medical training and took up work in a city hospital. There, one day The Lord met him in a special way. He encountered a dying patient who had only one wish; a request that his landlady send him “The Book…”

His landlady was contacted and did bring him ‘the book’. This man read this book as long as he could, and when he became too weak to read, he kept this book under his bed cover. Dr. Mackay on his regular visit to the man’s bed was struck by the quiet, almost happy expression constantly on the man’s face. Later on the man died.

Dr. Mackay was curious to find out about this “book” that had been so precious to the dying man. When a nurse brought this book to him, he was surprised to find that it was a Bible. But not just any Bible. There inside the front cover, in his mother’s handwriting, was his own name, William Paton MacKay. It was the same Bible his mother gave him when he was 17 years old.  What a strange coincidence! Obviously someone had reclaimed the Bible from that pawnshop, and it had become a priceless treasure to a dying man. MacKay went to his office and closed the door. He opened the Bible, slowly turning the worn and weathered pages.  Many contained specially marked verses his mother hoped he would read. He was alone in that room for many hours. But when he emerged the long night of sin had been blasted away by the life-changing light of heaven. With now a changed heart, and a desire to reclaim wasted years, he resigned his place at the hospital. After training he went on to serve the Lord as a pastor.  He eventually wrote one of the church’s favorite hymns “Revive Us Again.”

In Jeremiah 3:22 God says ‘Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings’

God is indeed the God of mercy and grace. No matter how far anyone may stray, God still seeks ways to reach them and bring them back home. It was not a coincidence that the Bible Dr. Mackay pawned would be brought back to him in a strange way after so many years. It was God’s way of again reaching to him in his backslidden state.   

Often times, in the battles with temptations, Christians who are not vigilant, may find themselves falling into the enemy’s traps. 

However, though a believer may fall, God’s loving concern for him is steadfast and sure. No matter how far a person strays, The Lord keeps calling him back through the work of the Holy Spirit. We can see this clearly in the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15. 

No matter where you may have missed it, The Heavenly Father truly cares about you and wants you to return. Do not let anything hold you back from God and His forgiveness and grace. Don’t let the pleasures of sin deceive you. 

James 4:8 says ‘Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.’

God is always waiting with open arms to receive you back home. When you call to Him, He will answer you. Do not let doubt or guilt hold you back, from God’s grace. 

1 John 1:9 says ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’

When you call upon the Lord and ask for His forgiveness, believe His promise to forgive you. He will surely cleanse you of your sins and restore you to fellowship with Him. The Lord’s mercies are new every morning, His compassions fail not.

However do not take His grace for granted so that you do not become grounded. Do not keep singing The Lord’s song in  a strange land and think you can always get away with it. The wages of sin is death. The consequences of unrighteousness can be devastating. Therefore flee from every appearance of evil, flee from situations that tempt you. Give no room to the devil. If you give the devil a toehold, he builds a stronghold. So beware of his schemes. If you find yourself being tempted, begin to plead the Blood of Jesus over your mind. Have a trusted prayer partner that you can share your personal struggles with. Learn from the mistakes you made that led to backsliding, and determine to not repeat those mistakes. Above all, guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. 

Psalm 119:9 says ‘Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed to it, according to thy word.’

And Psalm 119:11 says ‘I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.’ 

So to keep your heart clean and to avoid sin, store up The Word of God heavily in your heart. As you feed constantly on The Word of God, you will receive the power to overcome sin and the grace to live a victorious life.  
PRAYER: Lord, please grant me a  renewed appetite for Your Word. By the Power in Your Word and by the precious blood of Jesus, please break every yoke of sin in my life. I receive grace today to overcome every temptation of the enemy and live victoriously all the days of my life in Jesus Name, .  
QUOTE 

Nothing liberates like truth, the truth you know and act upon will set you free.- –WORDBITE 222

 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK DIVINE ORDER FOR A LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS] 

Galatians 6:9 says ‘And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.’
• DAILY READING Mark 12:28-44; 1 Kings 4-5; Hosea 7:3-16

A good example of not being weary in well doing, comes from the life of William Carey. He was the first modern missionary to India. Though he faced a lot of  challenges on his assignment,  he persisted without giving up, until success came.
At the onset of his missionary trip, Carey faced official oppositions from a  British Company which did not want missionaries in India. But Carey persisted and finally made his way to India, with his wife and children. When he arrived India, due to insufficient funds, his family passed through a lot of hardship. They suffered repeated attacks of malaria and cholera.  And due to these harsh living conditions, Carey and his wife eventually lost three of their small children. His wife was devastated, unable to cope, she progressively lost her sanity and became invalid.  

Carey labored in preaching The Gospel, for seven years without winning a single convert to Christ. But In 1800 he finally began to reap what he had sown, baptizing his first Hindu convert. This was the firstfruits of an eventual  great harvest among the Indian people.

Yet Carey still faced other challenges; he fought against evil practices, such as  children being sacrificed to the gods; and widows being burned alive on their husband’s funeral pyres.

A disastrous fire in 1812 at the mission printing plant, destroyed years of Carey’s translation work. Undeterred, Carey formed a team that  translated the Bible to 34 Asian languages, compiled dictionaries, started an  influential College; began churches and established 19 mission stations; formed 100 rural schools; started the Horticultural Society of India, printed the first Indian newspaper; and introduced the concept of the savings bank to assist poor farmers etc. Carey’s fight against the burning of widows helped lead to its ban in 1829.

Despite all the challenges he faced, Carey eventually made a great impact in India with The Gospel. Though he sometimes grew weary in doing good, Carey refused to give up, until he reaped a bountiful harvest.  

Galatians 6:9 says ‘And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.’ Every reward answers at the end.  We must therefore endure and persist in well doing, if we want to reap our reward. Many of life’s failures are people who gave up before their harvest came. There is a due season for reaping. And  we must not faint if we are to access  that season.

In Eccle.3:1, the Bible says, ‘To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven’. 

God has an appointed time for each season of our lives. He is working with a master plan. 1 Pet. 5:6 says we should humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand so that He may exalt us in due time.  

When we trust God, we will be patient to wait until our appointed season of harvest comes. Despite his many challenges, Joseph did not faint nor grew weary, he waited  until his appointed time came.  Moses could have given up after 40 years of staying at the backside of the desert, but he persisted until his appointed season came. We don’t have to run ahead of God. We must understand that God relates to us according to the times and seasons of life. He has the  script to our lives’ drama.  Therefore in each season we wait for His timing and prompting. Our responsibility is to ensure that we are cooperating with His Spirit to follow His perfect will for our lives.

God is in control. Our promotion comes only from Him, and not from men! If men exalt you, they can also bring you down. It is God who exalts us in our due season. John 3:27 says ‘A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.’ and James 1:17 says ‘Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and from the Father of lights..’

God is the raiser of men, and when He raises you, no man can erase you. This is why we patiently wait for Him. When we are due we will not be denied.

Therefore no matter the situation you may be facing, don’t give up, don’t give in, keep pressing forward. There is coming a reaping season, there is a reward awaiting you. Your labor cannot be in vain. And if you do not faint, surely in due season, you shall reap.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me not to become weary in well doing. I know my reaping season is coming. Please help me to stay strong as I await Your appointed seasons of harvest for me in Jesus Name. .   
QUOTE 

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

[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK TRIUMPH OF LIGHT OVER DARKNESS] 

John 16:13

‘Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come .’

DAILY READING -Mark 12:1-27; 1 Kings 3; Hosea 6:1-7:2

John Alexander Dowie was greatly used of God in the late 19th century. Untold millions came into God’s kingdom and experienced the healing power of The Holy Spirit through his ministry. However, due to his strong uncompromising stance on the Gospel, he suffered great trials, and oppositions.

The great impact of his ministry in changing lives, and turning many away from drunkenness, led to attempts  made on his life by those who ran the liquor trade.

One day, dynamite was placed under the floor of his study, in order to kill him, but God fore-warned him in a dream. In that dream, one of his congregation, warned him that an attempt would be made on his life.

Later, sitting at his study, he was dictating to his secretary, and was  unaware that dynamite was under his chair. As the long lit fuse slowly crept towards him, two times in a row, Dowie heard the distinctive voice of The Holy Spirit, saying, “rise, go!”

The third time the voice thundered in his ear, Dowie knew God was urging him to leave.  And so along with his secretary  he left his office. A little later they heard the sound of an explosion and when they returned to the church they found the place where Dowie had been seated was completely destroyed, all the chairs and desk were broken up and a huge gaping hole in the floor beneath where his chair had been. Dowie knew God had through the guidance of The Spirit, saved his life. Yet, rather than deter Dowie, this incident spurred him on to be more relentless in preaching the undiluted Word of God.  And despite the many oppositions he faced, he was able to overcome them by the help and guidance of The Holy Spirit.

We can escape any trap of the wicked, through the guidance of The Holy Spirit. When you are anointed by the Holy Spirit, you become untouchable to every adversary.. Through the  empowerment of the Spirit it becomes impossible for you to be a victim or be defeated in life.

The Holy Spirit is the custodian of our lives and destiny. He shows us how to go about our lives so as to make the most of it. That is why the Bible says in John 16:13 ‘Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come .’

What the Holy Spirit showed Joseph took him from the prison to the palace overnight.  What he showed Moses made him to become very great in the land of Egypt before Pharaoh and all his servants.  Also what He showed  Daniel made him to be preferred above the other princes, and he  became relevant under 3 kings for 65 years.

In the same way what The Holy Spirit shall be showing us in this season will turn us into living proofs.

When The Spirit comes upon a man, He turns him to a wonder among men.

Life is an upward journey, and our path is destined to shine brighter and brighter. We therefore constantly need the guidance of The Holy Spirit to lead us to our new heights. Where we are today is not our final bus-stop, but a stepping stone to the next level. And we need the guidance of The Holy Spirit to take us to this next level of greatness.

As we get ready to move into the new year we need the guidance of The Spirit more than ever before. For many of us, we have gone round this mountain long enough, now it time to turn northward in our journey. That is to say, we are due for next levels. However,  it is only through sensitivity to The Spirit that we can access the new levels of greatness God has planned for us. If next year must be better then we must submit to the guidance of The Spirit.

You cannot know greatness until you know guidance! Don’t be people guided, rather, be Spirit guided. Don’t just invest your energy everywhere you see. Ask God, if that is where He wants you to be. If you are not guided, even green pastures can turn to brown pastures. We can only profit through the guidance of The Spirit.

In these last days, there is a rise of an  end-time army. Divine guidance will be very crucial in their operation. We must therefore submit totally to the help and  guidance of The Spirit so that we do not miss our place in this great army.

It is only those who are led by the Spirit of God that can fully manifest as sons of God’.

PRAYER: Lord, please enable me to always submit  to the help and guidance of Your Spirit. I know that I can of my own self do nothing, I therefore  need Your Spirit to guide me into the place You have ordained  for me in destiny in Jesus Name. .

quote :

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

 [ADAPTED FROM TRIUMPH OF LIGHT OVER DARKNESS]

Zechariah 4:6  
“This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts’”

DAILY READING – Mark 11:15-33; 1 Kings 2; Hosea 5:5-15
In 2011, Brian Dickinson made a descent from mount Everest that was totally amazing and astounding. He was 29,035 feet up on the mountain, when he became blinded by snow. Unable to see his way, and low on oxygen, he miraculously survived a climb, all alone, from the top of the world’s highest summit.  

His story is recorded in his best selling book, ‘blind descent’ which has been made into a movie.  

In 2011, Brian began a climb to the top of mount Everest. He was roughly 1,000 feet from reaching the summit, when his guide became ill, and had to turn back. Brian was left with a difficult decision: should he continue to push alone for the summit, or head back down the mountain? After carefully weighing the options, Brian decided to continue toward the summit—alone. Despite numerous hiccups in his journey, including broken goggles, four hours later, Brian summited the highest peak in the world. On reaching the peak of Mount Everest, Brian said he was overwhelmed by the presence of God and filled with peace. After taking a few pictures, Brian radioed his team to let them know he had summited safely. Then he got ready to begin his descent back. And that was when disaster struck.  As he began to descend the mountain, his broken goggles failed to protect him from the sun’s reflection off the ice. This caused his vision to become blurry, his eyes started to burn, and within seconds, he was rendered almost completely blind. All alone at 29,035 feet, low on oxygen, and stricken with snow blindness, Brian was forced to inch his way back down the mountain relying only on his faith in God.  Brian says “I told God I couldn’t do this alone, that I surrendered my heart and my life to Him. Suddenly, I felt a surge of energy lift me to my feet and I knew God was right there with me.” 

Hand over hand, he made his way down, blind and alone. What should have taken 3 hours to reach the camp, ended up taking him 7 hours. At a point, he suffered a major fall and eventually ran out of supplemental oxygen. But through determined faith and focus he survived.

In his book, Brian states “I shouldn’t be alive, but through God’s grace, I survived the impossible.’

Indeed, Brian survived only because of God’s mercy.  Unable to use his eyes, he had to walk solely by faith, trusting God with every step he took.   

Similarly in life’s journey we are called to walk by faith, not by sight. Walking by faith, means total dependence upon God to guide us . It means trusting Him with our lives and believing He will lead us aright. They that trust in God never rust in life. 

A statement of confident dependence on God is found in 2 Timothy 1:12, “For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” We have to come to the absolute certainty that God will take care of our lives committed to Him.  

It can be easy to fret and worry  over problems, but we have to trust that God is indeed in control of our lives. He is watching over every step we take. 2 Chronicles 16:9 says that His eyes are searching to and fro over the earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those that trust in Him. 

God is our Helper, without Him, we can do nothing. He is our Source, without Him our purpose can never be fulfilled. In Genesis 1, in the beginning Life had no meaning, everything was void, dark and in confusion, but as soon as God stepped in, heaven and earth began, everything was formed. In the same way God is the one that gives meaning to our lives. Our lives remain void until God steps in. Without Him we can do nothing.

We can never make it on our own.

We need to trust in His guidance. We need to learn to walk by faith, and not by what our senses are telling us. It may mean putting one step down after the other, not knowing where next to go, but when God is leading us, we will never fail. Just as Brian made that amazing blind descent from mount Everest, we can be sure that God will guide us safely to our destination.  

God wants us to depend on Him to do the impossible in our lives. We are not to make calculations on the standard of our own strength. 

Zechariah 4:6  “This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts’”

With God nothing shall be impossible. Instead of considering your circumstances today, why don’t you consider your God? Yes, you may have so many desires and expectations you want to see fulfilled, but trust God to do what He has said He will do in your life. Know that He is always working behind the scenes, to ensure the fulfillment of His promise. . When thoughts come saying, “It’s too late. It’s impossible,” learn to ignore them. Learn to turn to The Word of God and believe only God’s report. When men say there is a casting down, believe God that there is indeed a lifting up. 

Every good and perfect gift comes from God. Whatever we have or are, we owe it all to God. Our times are in His hands. Our next breath depends on Him. And that is why with that breath we are commanded to praise Him. Because He is worthy. And even now, He is working out everything for our good. 

PRAYER: Lord,. Please help me to always trust in Your guidance,  as I go through the journey of life. Enable me to always walk by faith and not by sight, knowing that indeed You are  leading me  to my high places in 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] 

Job 14:7-9  
  “For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. ”
DAILY READING Mark 10:1-31; 2 Samuel 23; Hosea 3
In the early 1960’s, during excavations at the site of Herod’s palace in Israel, archeologists unearthed a small stockpile of seeds.  It was  stowed in a clay jar dating back 2,000 years. Believing that the seed would be no good after all that time, scientists abandoned them in a drawer at Tel Aviv’s Bar-Ilan University. 

But after four decades, in 2005, a botanical researcher decided to plant one of the seeds and see what, if anything, would sprout. And amazingly, the multi-millennial seed did sprout. It produced a sapling no one had seen in centuries, becoming the oldest known tree seed to germinate.

The ancient palm tree, the seed produced has aptly been named Methuselah. Genetic tests indicate that Methuselah is most closely related to an ancient variety of date palm from Egypt known as Hayany. There is strong belief that it is one of the plant species, the Israelites brought back from Egypt, during the exodus. Today methuselah, is a living archeological treasure. It continues to grow and thrive; In 2011, it even produced its first flower, — a heartening sign that the ancient survivor was eager to reproduce. This ancient plant is helping researchers to gain a unique glimpse back in time to the kind of fruits that were eaten in the past.  

The sprouting of this 2000 years old seed is indeed amazing. Despite how long it had been dormant, it simply came alive through introduction to water. This validates what the Bible says in Job 14:7-9 ‘For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant’ 

“Water” in the above verse refers to the Word of God, because Ephesians 5:26 says ‘That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word’ So water speaks of The Word of God. And just as that 2000 year old seed sprouted, once it encountered water, the same way, an encounter with God’s Word will cause any dormant situation to come alive, The Word of God can bring about new beginnings. 

God’s Word is indeed pregnant with wonders.  Anything can happen at the instance of The Word. Miracles, signs and wonders can spring forth from any dead situation once The Word of God is introduced. There is no situation so dead that The Word of God cannot revive it. 

In Ezekiel 37, in the valley of dry bones, the situation had looked totally hopeless.  But once the prophet began to release The Word of God, there was a shaking. At the coming of The Word of God, things began to move. Suddenly, those age old dry bones came alive and became a mighty army.

In Matthew 8, the Centurion, who came to Jesus, realized that there is revival power in The Word. This is why he said ‘ just speak the Word only and my servant shall be healed.’ And the Bible says that as the Word went forth, his servant was healed in the selfsame hour. 

There is no situation so dead that The Word of God cannot bring back alive. There is no situation so old that The Word of God cannot revive.

Do you need a change in your situation? Do you want to see a turn-around in any area of your life? 

Then The Word of God is what you need.  Or perhaps do you feel the situation is already hopeless? Has the doctors said there is nothing more they can do? 

Again, God’s Word is your answer. 

Psalm 107:20 says God sent His Word, and healed them and delivered them from their destructions.

The Word of God will heal you and deliver you from any form of destruction.

God and His Word are the same, and just as nothing is impossible to God, so also nothing is impossible to The Word of God. 

However, we must understand that the promises of scriptures places a responsibility on us. We must do whatever God has asked us to do if we are to see His promises manifested. And to experience the power of God’s Word, we must take up the responsibility of consciously feeding on it daily.   

The Word of God is indeed full of wonders. But for our eyes to be opened to see these wonders stored up in the Word for us, we must take up the responsibility of consciously studying it daily. 

PRAYER: Lord, by the power from your Word let every dead situation  in my life be revisited and revived, let the good seed You have planted within me come alive for manifestation in this season in Jesus Name.   
QUOTE 

The study of The Word will keep  shame and disgrace far from you.

 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK FAITH CLASSICS] 

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

DAILY READING -•            Mark 9:2-50; 2 Samuel 22; Hosea 2:2-23

In life, we must focus on the race that is set before us. It can be easy sometimes, to get sidetracked. But focusing on what really matters, is important if we are to finish this  race successfully. The following story illustrates, the importance of focus;

In 1845, an expedition led by Sir John Franklin sailed from England, to find a passage across the Arctic Ocean. however, it turned out to  become one of the biggest disasters in exploration history. Despite being outfitted with the best provisions and equipment of the time, the entire crew perished. The reason why this happened was because the crew loaded their two sailing ships with a lot of things they didn’t need: a 1,200-volume library, fine china, crystal goblets, and sterling silverware for each officer, with his initials engraved on the handles. And then, amazingly, for what was meant to be a 3 year expedition, each ship took only a 12-day supply of coal for their auxiliary steam engines.

The ships became trapped in vast frozen plains of ice. After several months, their leader, Lord Franklin died. The men decided to trek to safety in small groups, but none of them survived.

One story is especially heartbreaking. Two officers pulled a large sled more than 65 miles across the treacherous ice. When rescuers found their bodies, they discovered that the sled was filled with table silver.

Those men contributed to their own demise by carrying what they didn’t need. Instead of focusing on getting to their destination faster, they were weighed down by the extra weights they carried with them.

Hebrews 12:1  says “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

In the race of life, we must be careful to focus on what really matters.  Competitive long-distance runners lay aside everything and run with only what is absolutely necessary. If you try to run while lugging around extra weight, the race becomes really hard and very difficult.

The journey of destiny requires us to keep our eyes single. Matthew 6:22 says that when your eye is single your whole body shall be full of light.

1 Corinthians 9:24 says ‘Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.’Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly… [but] I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.’

We must discipline ourselves if we are to win in this race of life. The Lord has given each of us a unique track to run. We can’t afford to run aimlessly. You can only become a star by focusing on your own track. Therefore drop everything that tries to distract you or weigh you down and focus only on what matters.   Whatever sin, habit, attitude, or  fear that has become a burden in this race, you must have to lay it aside. And these burdens and yokes can often be dealt with on the platform of prayer and fasting

Isaiah 58:6 says ‘Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?’

So part of the reason why God asks us to fast is to undo heavy burdens and break yokes.

Also to win in the race of life, we must focus mainly on our call. Not every good idea is a God idea. We must understand that, the enemy’s greatest strategy is distraction, he wants us to lose focus of our main target and be hindered by unnecessary things. Be careful from being encumbered by things that add zero value to you.  Be wary of human and social distractions, and anything else that may rob you of your focus. Anybody or anything which is not part of your assignment, can become a dead weight, or an unnecessary burden which can weigh you down. But when you are diligent in doing only the business God has called you to do, you will stand before kings.

In Joel 2, we discover that the glory of the end-time army lies in each one locating his own track and running on it, without breaking ranks or being distracted.  Therefore, don’t allow yourself to be weighed down from fulfilling destiny by carrying excess baggage.

One thing is needful for us to seek, and every other thing will fall into place. When we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, then every other thing shall be added unto us.

PRAYER:  Lord please help me to focus on what really matters as I run this race of destiny. Please deliver from besetting sins,  distractions and weights that hinder. Enable me to run this  race successfully  and to finish my course with joy 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 SUPERNATURAL LOVE OF GOD]

Psalms 105:13 – 15 

When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people; He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.’ 

DAILY READING Mark 8:22-9:1; 2 Samuel 20-21; Hosea 1:1-2:1

One of the great benefits of fellowship with The Holy Spirit, is divine protection. Through the guidance of The Holy Spirit, we walk in God’s perfect will, where we enjoy divine protection. When God leads you, He also protects you. When you walk in God’s foreordained path, He gives His angels charge over you.

In Exodus 23:20, God says ‘Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.’ 

A remarkable story of God’s angelic protection is recorded in Billy Graham’s book, ‘Angels: God’s Secret Agents.’ Here, Billy Graham tells the story of Reverend John G. Paton, pioneer missionary in the New Hebrides Islands. 

According to the story, one night, hostile natives surrounded Reverend Paton’s mission headquarters. They wanted to burn his house and kill him and his wife. John Paton and his wife prayed all during that terror-filled night, that God would deliver them. When daylight came they were amazed to see that, unaccountably, the attackers had left. They thanked God for delivering them.

A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Jesus Christ, and Rev. Paton, remembering what had happened that night, asked the chief what had kept him and his men from burning down their house and killing them. The chief replied in surprise, “Who were all those men you had with you there?” The missionary answered, “There were no men there; just my wife and I.” The chief argued that they had seen many men standing guard – hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords in their hands. They seemed to circle the mission station so that the natives were afraid to attack. Only then did Mr. Paton realize that God had sent His angels to protect them. 

This true story indeed shows, that God does send His angels to protect His servants. 

We are not alone in this journey of destiny. As we walk in God’s will He sends His angels to keep and protect us. In Exodus 23:23 God says ‘For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites…and I will cut them off’

With angels on assignment around you, indeed you are too defended to be a victim. God has assigned these angels to clear off any opposition that may want to obstruct us on the path of destiny.

The main thing is to ensure we are indeed walking in God’s perfect will. And it is by the guidance of The Holy Spirit, that we can locate God’s will. This is why we maintain close fellowship with Him. 

The best of our wisdom and our logical thinking is not a substitute for God’s guidance. No one knows the future like the One who created it. Therefore we do not just get up and do things, rather we consult the Holy Spirit in all our ways. Proverbs 3:5-7 says ‘Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.’

We enjoy divine protection when we are led by The Spirit of God. The safest place to be in the whole world is to be in the will of God.  We do not just assume, we make a conscious effort to always consult The Holy Spirit. In our journeys by air, land or sea, we seek His direction before we embark on it. Because there is a way that seems right onto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. So we do not just do what is convenient, we only do what He has commanded.  When we walk in God’s will we are fully protected. 

Psalms 105:13 – 15 says ‘13 When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people; He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.’ 

Every time you locate yourself in God’s will, He is committed to protect and preserve you.

In Acts 18:10, as Paul pursued  God’s will, Jesus appeared in a night vision to him and said ‘For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.’

As long as we are in God’s will, no devil is permitted to touch us. We will be too defended to be a victim. A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. The Lord will be your shade on the right hand and on the left. 

Divine protection is real. Just seek The Holy Spirit in a closer walk and you can be sure of total protection. Indeed no weapon formed against you shall ever prosper. And wherever you go, whatever you do, you can always be sure of God’s protection. 

PRAYER: Lord, by the Guidance of Your Spirit enable me to walk in Your perfect will, so that I can  be divinely protected. Because my life is hid in Christ, I know I am totally protected. Thank You Lord, for giving Your angels charge over me to keep me in all my ways in  Jesus Name. .   

QUOTE 

When you obey God’s instruction you are delivered from destruction.
 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK TRIUMPH OF LIGHT OVER DARKNESS]