HORM Devotional

Lamentations 3:22

‘It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.’

DAILY READING –  –  Mark 7:14-37; 2 Samuel 18; Daniel 11:21-45

Imagine waking up in the night and finding out that your one year old baby, who was sleeping beside you was gone. The baby had wondered out of the house through an open back door, into a cold winter night, wearing only diapers.

This was the story of Leyla Nordby, which made News headlines, on February 24, 2001 in Canada. Her one-year old daughter, Erika wandered out of the house and spent the night in the cold.

By the time Leyla found her, some distance away from the house, Erika, was face down in the snow, stiff with cold, not breathing at all. An ambulance was called. A medical emergency team arrived, and tried to insert an IV needle into Erika’s arm, but couldn’t. Her veins were frozen solid. There was virtually no hope for Erika’s survival.

They were rushed to the hospital. And after a long wait a doctor said to Leyla “Your daughter’s body temperature dropped more than thirty degrees, her heart stopped for at least two hours. Her condition is dire.”

Leyla knew she could not do this alone. And there was no one that could help her now, except God. But Leyla was running from God. After losing a baby at birth 7 years ago, she had become bitter, turned her back on God and stopped praying. But now she knew God was the only hope she had.  She went to the hospital chapel, and prayed to God.

‘Lord, I can’t bear another child’s death. I’m just not strong enough. I need your strength. Erika needs it. Help us.’

As she prayed a powerful conviction took hold of her, that everything would be okay. The fear that had gripped her heart like a fist, suddenly loosened.

And from that moment things began to change positively, her child’s condition began to improve.  Each piece of good news seemed like a reminder from God: Everything’s going to be okay.

Erika’s temperature returned to normal. Her heart rate grew steady. Erika stayed another week in the hospital before being released. She was whole and hearty without any organ damage. The doctors said she is one of the greatest medical miracles they had ever seen.  Leyla knew it was so because God had intervened. Her daughter was alive, because God had shown her mercy, much more than she deserved.

Lamentations 3:22  says ‘It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.’

Although we have no claim on God’s mercies, and although they are altogether undeserved, nonetheless they never cease.

God is so good.

James 2:13 says ‘Mercy triumphs over judgment.’

For Leyla, having turned her back on God she did not deserve mercy, but yet God’s mercy prevailed over judgment.

There are times God does things for us, that His goodness just leaves us speechless. Especially those times, when you know you didn’t deserve His goodness, you know you didn’t merit it. Yet God shows up. In the moments of despair and desperation, where it seems there is no way out, God shows up with His mercy and grace.

Just like the woman that broke her alabaster box at the feet of Jesus. She knew she didn’t deserve the mercy The Lord had shown her. She would have been death and gone, if The Lord had not shown up to save her when He did.  Those around couldn’t understand her worship. But that was because they didn’t know the depths The Lord, brought her from. And that is our story.

Sometimes people may not understand our praise. They may not understand the depths of our worship. They may not understand why you cry when you lift your hands in worship, and even why you roll on the ground. But then, they were not there in the midnight hour when God delivered you. They were not there when there was no way, yet The Lord came and made a way.

Psalm 145:9 says ‘The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.’

Indeed our God is good. If  it had not been for The Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us…., if it had not been for The Lord who was on our side when we passed through the valley of the shadow of death…., If it had not been for The Lord on our side, where would we be?

Therefore let nothing stop your praise, let nothing hinder your worship. God deserves all the praise and honour, for all the victories He has won for us; in battles seen and battles unseen; For all the deliverance He gave us, from enemies know and unknown. Indeed our God is good. And we will worship Him forever, because this our God is too good.

PRAYER: Lord, I know indeed You are good and Your mercies endure  forever. Today let Your mercy speak for me, let Your mercy prevail over judgment in every area of my life, even as I Praise and bless You always 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 METAMORPHOSIS]

Psalm 103:19 –

The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all..
DAILY READING -Mark 12:28-44; 1 Kings 4-5; Hosea 7:3-16

One of the most important things for us  to understand, is that God is in perfect control of our lives. He rules on the earth and in the kingdoms of men. And He perfectly controls what goes on in the universe. 

Two events happened this year that alarmed scientists. On September 1 2017, a huge space rock named Florence, about 4.4 kilometres in size, whizzed past Earth, relatively very close. It is the biggest asteroid to fly near Earth in more than a century. 

Again on Oct 13, 2017 , an asteroid passed so close to the Earth, that it  narrowly missed  hitting communications satellites orbiting  above Earth.  

Apart from these glaring instances, there have been other cases in the past, where asteroids have come close to hitting our planet, and yet somehow they don’t.  According to scientists, a meteor impacts our earth every decade, but most of them simply fall into the ocean and go unnoticed.

However, in 2013, the world had a rude wake up call, when one of these meteors, exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia.  It became a major news item, because it heavily damaged the city and about 1,500 people were injured from the resulting shockwaves. Though no person was directly hit or died from this event, the fact that it actually impacted the earth made it an extremely uncommon occurrence. People began to then realize how vulnerable the earth is.  And it is indeed a miracle, that with these millions of space rocks flying about in the solar system, none has yet destroyed major cities or even wiped out humanity. This is simply because God is in perfect control of the universe. And God, who created the asteroids, also determines their course. Every asteroid, every comet, every meteoroid, is controlled by the power of God’s Word. 

In Isaiah 48:13 God says ‘Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together’

Indeed God upholds all things by the  Word of His Power.  God has authority and dominion over all the universe, over all nations, and over all people. He owns everything in the heavens, on the earth, and under the earth.

1 Chronicles 29:11 says  “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.” 

Indeed God reigns supreme over all creation. He directs all the events in history. 

Psalm 103:19 says ‘The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.’

Daniel 2 tells us that God removes kings and sets up kings. He is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone He wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men. 

Most importantly this God that rules the universe is our father. The same hands that control the universe is the hand that holds our lives.  And when He stretches forth this hand to bless us, who can turn it back?  When He speaks concerning us, who can contradict it?  

He sits upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers. He has stretched out the heavens as a curtain, and spread them out as a tent to dwell in:  Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are like dust before Him. 

He is God all by Himself.  He is the judge; He puts down one and exalts another. 

There is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

This is why we should  not look to men, but rather rest upon God’s promises. 

He says He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ. So we don’t have to wonder or ponder about how this year will end for us. It is surely ending well. All we need do, is to be rightly positioned in Christ and every other thing will fall into place for us. This is why we draw close to God’s Word, so as to become one with Jesus.  And as we become one with Christ through His Word; the hand of God that causes the universe, to work in perfect unison will also cause all things to work together for our good in Jesus Name.
PRAYER: Lord, I know that indeed You are in perfect control of my life and all that concerns me. Help me to be rightly positioned, through diligent study of Your Word, so that I can partake of the spiritual blessings you have laid up for me in Christ Jesus.. 

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] 

1 Corinthians 3: 18,
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
DAILY READING Mark 12:1-27; 1 Kings 3; Hosea 6:1-7:2
James Irwin is the 8th man to ever walk on the moon. He was part of the Apollo 15 mission crew, which made the 4th human landing on the moon. He was also the first person to ever ride a lunar cart, or vehicle on the moon.

However while on this mission, James Irwin had an encounter with God that changed his life forever.

While on the moon, he tried to set up an experiment that repeatedly refused to work. Already he and his fellow astronaut, had spent an elongated period of 3 days on the moon, working for an extended period with little rest. Outside their spacesuits, the temperature on the lunar surface was 150 degrees. As a result, James was sweating greatly, and was losing his electrolyte balance, which could trigger a heart attack. The longer they stayed on the moon the more dangerous it became, as chances of a heart attack increased. Frustrated in his attempts to get the experiment to work, James cried out to God. Although he had been raised in a Christian home, he had no real relationship with God, but he realized at this point he really needed God’s wisdom to be able to get the experiment to work. So he said, “God I need your help right now.”  As he said the short prayer, suddenly Irwin experienced the presence of Jesus Christ in a remarkable way, unlike anything he ever felt on earth. He was overwhelmed at seeing and feeling God’s presence so close. The Lord showed him the solution to the problem and the experiment was set up and worked perfectly. This unusual encounter with Jesus, from 238,000 miles above earth, changed Irwin’s life.

After his return from the moon, God dropped it in his heart that he had a responsibility to mankind to share  the Gospel with everyone. And that was exactly what James did. Within a year of his return from space, he resigned from NASA and formed High Flight Foundation, which is on a quest to reach the world as “goodwill ambassadors for the Prince of Peace.”

As he travelled around preaching the Gospel, he told people that Jesus walking on the earth is more important than man walking on the moon. As James Irwin traveled the world, he presented small flags he carried from the moon to leaders of various countries, using that also as opportunity to share the Gospel.

Indeed nothing matters in this life more than God. When astronauts look at our planet from the outer space it is just like a small blue ball, that is why they call it the ‘blue planet.’

And interestingly, from space one can’t even see the biggest structures on earth. The greatest mansions, best cars or greatest companies are invisible from outer space. To an astronaut looking from up there, everything is just one big blue blur. The things that are considered important on earth, are not even visible from space.

This is why we have to put things in proper perspective and prioritize our relationship with God above all else.

We must keep our focus on our relationship with God and shun the pursuit of mundane things.

In Isaiah 45:22, God says  “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”

Our salvation comes from our focus on God. We should keep looking unto Jesus The author and finisher of our faith.

The more we look on God the more our lives are transformed to manifest God’s glory on the earth.

1 Corinthians 3: 18, says: But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

There is a call of God upon our lives, which we must focus on, and not allow ourselves to be distracted by mundane things. As good soldiers we must not be entangled with the frivolities of this world.

Every child of God is a product of divine predestination, created with a particular and well-defined purpose.

Romans 8:29-30 says ‘For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified’

Our focus must be on God. It is our degree of commitment to seeking God first that determines our ultimate height in the race of life. Destiny is essentially a race of responsibilities. And the utmost responsibility for us is to seek God and His kingdom above everything else. When we do then every other thing is added unto us.

Your life does not get better by chance. It gets better by the choices you make. We must fight to keep our focus on Christ. Nothing is more valuable than focus on God in the journey of life. If you stop seeking God, you start sinking fast in the sea of life.

Focus your life on what really matters, when you seek first God’s kingdom, then every other thing will come after you. You are either running with a vision, going on a mission, or burning with a passion. If you lack any of these, life is reduced to a burden. But when we seek God’s will life becomes exciting.

We strengthen our focus by reading, studying and meditation upon The Word of God. It is The Word of God within us that strengthens our focus on God. Every change begins from within.

Maintaining God as your focus is what turns you to a focus among men. When you run after God, things will run after you. What follows you is determined by who you are following. When you seek God,  good follows you.

Therefore decide today, to place your ultimate value on God and surely, He will turn you to a wonder among men.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to focus on You, through diligent study of Your Word, and obedience to Your commands. I know that when I seek You first, then indeed every other thing shall be added unto me in Jesus Name.

QUOTE

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

WORDBITE 222.

[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK FAITH CLASSICS]

I Corinthians 1:26-30

“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.’

• DAILY READING Mark 11:15-33; 1 Kings 2; Hosea 5:5-15

God often chooses the most unqualified to do His work. Throughout scriptures, we find several instances, where God took someone unqualified and gave them a central place in His plan. Indeed God often chooses the foolish things to confound the wise.

And even today God continues to use unqualified men and women to shine forth His glory in the earth. Nicky Cruz is one of these people.

In the 1950s, gang violence was sweeping through New York city. One of the fearsome gangs then, was the Mau Mau gang. And their leader was a fierce, notorious, young man named Nicky Cruz.

Nicky was fearless and seemingly immune to physical pain. And due to his rugged reputation he rose through the ranks of the notorious gang to become their War Lord.

However, Nicky Cruz’s life was on a downward spiral of violence and dysfunction. He was at loggerheads with the law and the police were after him. A psychiatrist, during one of Nicky’s court appearances, told the court that Nicky was doomed…finished…on a one-way trip to jail, the electric chair and hell.”

Even Nicky’s own parents had rejected him.  His own mother called him the son of the devil. Unable to live with him, at 15 years, his parents had sent him away to live with a relative, but on the way there, Nicky had run away and began to live on the streets, where he eventually became the leader of the maumau gang.

There seemed absolutely nothing good about Nicky’s life. Nobody expected him to live long, talk less of amounting to anything in life.

However at this time, God sent a young preacher named David Wilkerson to begin to hold evangelical meetings in Brooklyn, in the neighborhood where Nicky operated as the warlord. One day while holding a meeting in the war-torn streets of Brooklyn, David  came face to face with Nicky. David Wilkerson said to him, “Jesus loves you.” On hearing this Nicky responded by spitting on the preacher, slapping him and threatening to kill him. But David  told Nicky ‘Even if you kill me and cut me into a thousand pieces, every piece of me will still love you.’

Next time David attempted again to convert Nicky, he received the same response. But David didn’t give up. Later, he organized an evangelistic meeting in the neighborhood. When Nicky heard about it, he headed with some of the members of his gang to the arena, to disrupt the meeting. But when they arrived at the arena, an unexpected thing happened. Immediately, Nicky’s gang began to feel a deep conviction, as The Holy Ghost worked on them. These hardened young men, began suddenly to feel sorry for their past evil deeds. When David gave an altar call, a large number of the gang members responded, including their leader Nicky Cruz. David  prayed with them and led them to a new life in Christ.

And from then on, these gang members became transformed. They went to the police and turned in all their weapons. The police were shocked and amazed at the change in their lives. Nicky Cruz began to study the Bible and later went to Bible college.

Nicky would go on to become a preacher. He began travelling around the world sharing his testimony with millions of people. His life story is told in the best-selling book, The Cross and the Switchblade, which was made into  a movie of the same title. A full length Hollywood movie titled thousand pieces, based on his life story was also released in 2013.

Today Nicky Cruz is the best-selling author of many books and is the president of Nicky Cruz Outreach, and Executive Producer of TRUCE, an international discipleship and evangelism ministry dedicated to reaching and mentoring young people.  The Wall Street Journal has described Nicky as the “Billy Graham of the streets.”

Many people, including Nicky’s parents are shocked at how his life has eventually turned out. For someone whom no one gave a chance, who was written off by society and even by his own parents, it is indeed amazing what God has done with Nicky’s life.

This is why no man can predict the final outcome of anyone’s life, except Jehovah Himself.

Therefore never allow anyone to limit or underrate what God can do with your life. God is not looking for the qualified, rather He is looking for those He will qualify. It doesn’t matter your situation or circumstance, you can be uneducated, untalented,  too poor, too old etc. Whatever your case, only God has the final say over the eventual outcome of your life. In a very real sense not one of us is qualified, but rather God calls us and then qualifies us.

I Corinthians 1:26-30 says “For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.’

Men may look at you and see a ‘nobody’. But then God looks at you and sees a ‘somebody’. This is why you don’t need to be bothered by men’s opinion, but rather concern yourself with God’s vision.

In Abraham’s time men saw a man too old for his assignment. But God saw an obedient vessel, through whom He could do a quick work. And from the unqualified Abraham, God has today brought forth a trans-generational icon, who is a father of many nations.

During David’s time, what men saw was a shepherd boy, a “nobody”. But God saw a mighty warrior and a king.

Though we are often short sighted, God always sees the big picture!

We are all works in progress. It is not about our strength, it is about the God who works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. It is not about our ability, It’s about our availability.  We may not see the full picture, but as we obey God daily, His plan is gradually being fulfilled.

In the eyes of men we may not look qualified enough, but God who has called us, knows how to qualify and prepare us for the assignment. Our lives and times are in His hands. This is why we keep looking up to Him, knowing that faithful is He who has called us who also will do it.

Jeremiah 32:27 asks ‘is there anything too difficult for God? What His mouth has said concerning us, His hand is also able to accomplish. So it doesn’t matter what men may think. It doesn’t matter how you may even feel sometimes about yourself, what matters is what God thinks about you. And He says the thoughts He thinks towards you are thoughts of good and not of evil to give you an expected end. There is an expected end He has foreordained for you. It is a glorious end. And though the enemy may have tried very hard in the past to distort God’s plan for you, what matters is that you will arrive at your expected end. God has pre-planned and preordained how your story will end. So be rest assured you will not die in poverty, you will not die in sickness, you will not die in obscurity, you will not die as a ‘nobody’. Though your beginning may have been small, your later end shall greatly increase. God’s gifts and callings are without repentance. That good thing God has purposed concerning you, He will surely bring it to pass. Nicky Cruz started out as a gang leader, but today He has ended up as Gospel preacher. So it doesn’t matter how you may have started, according to God’s plan, you will surely end well in Jesus Name.

God is committed to ensuring you run this race and finish your course. So that you can obtain the crown laid up for you. This is why we cooperate with The Word of God and The Spirit, as they guide us on the road of destiny. And though we may not be qualified, as we follow on in obedience, we will eventually arrive at our glorious destiny in Jesus Name.

PRAYER: Lord, please help to stop worrying about my limitations, or how unqualified I may be. Help me to see indeed that through Christ I can do all things. I know by Your grace I will run this race and finish my course. Thank You for enabling me to end well and finish strong  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.

[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK REJOICE]

Habakkuk 3:17-19

 ‘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 now 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 joy of The  Lord God is my strength,…

DAILY READING – Mark 11:1-14; 1 Kings 1; Hosea 4:11b-5:4

Pastor Nick Vujicic is one of the most widely recognized evangelists in the world. Yet he has no arms or legs. Though born without limbs, God has used him mightily. He travels the globe to preach the gospel and instill hope in people’s hearts.

This 35 year old Australian Christian evangelist was born on 4th  December 1982,  with a very rare disorder, called tetra-amelia syndrome, which was characterized by the absence of all four limbs. But despite being disabled, he has pulled through to become an international symbol of victory over adversity.

At the tender age of 17 years, he established his own non-profit organization called ‘Life Without Limbs’.  Since then he has been presenting motivation speeches all over the world.  He has shared his message of hope to more than 5 million people across 44 countries. Hundreds of thousands of people in different countries have also come to faith in Jesus Christ through his preaching.

He has written books and featured in films. He is happily married with children.

Though today, Nick has abundant smiles and positive energy, he didn’t start out in life that way. As a young boy he was so depressed by his condition, he almost committed suicide. But after many years of wondering why God allowed him to be born that way,  one day God spoke to him from John chapter 9. In this place,  Jesus said a blind man was born the way he was, so that the works of God could be made manifest through him. Nick after reading this, realized God also had a purpose for allowing him to be born without limbs. Thereafter he gave his life to Jesus, and began a relationship with God, which changed everything for him. He became joyful, trusting that God was in control of his life. He decided not to worry about the things he didn’t have, but rather to be thankful to God, for the things which he had. Having learnt the secret of contentment, he then began to enjoy his life. He became full of joy, and full of smiles. That joy became the door opener to his glorious destiny. One day their school  janitor seeing how happy he always was, despite his circumstance, said to him,  “Nick you are very happy even though you don’t have arms or legs. But others are very disappointed on their very silly problems. Can you just speak to them?’

Nick agreed and at the age of 17, he began to conduct classes where he spoke to encourage other students. One day he was speaking to 300 sophomore public high school students and half of the girls began to cry, touched by his speech. From that moment God ignited his heart with a passion, and he realized that he was called to be a worldwide evangelist.

In 2005, he founded an international non-profit organization and ministry, Life Without Limbs, and he also owns the motivational speaking company, Attitude Is Altitude. Nick has travelled all over the world preaching to millions of people. And today he is doing far more than many people with arms and legs. Indeed he is a great blessing to people around the world.  But his change of story came when he decided to be joyful, despite his circumstance.

Indeed the joy of The Lord is our strength. We need to be joyful in order to be successful. Not only do we need joy to be successful, we equally need to be joyful to maintain that success. Your high places in life are inaccessible without joy.  Joy is God’s mystery for taking us to the top. The joy of the Lord enables us to carry His presence always and this brings us to our high places. Joy causes us to rise above our fellows in life.

Psalm 45:7 says ”Thou lovest righteousness and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows’.

God wants us to be above our fellows. He has reserved the top of the success ladder for us. But joy is our access to it.

Also to ride upon our high places we need extraordinary insights. Isaiah 12:3 says ‘Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.’

It takes joy to draw insights and knowledge from The Word of God.

Proverbs 24:5 says “A wise man is strong, yea a man of knowledge increaseth strength.” So Joy gives us access to knowledge from God’s Word, and this knowledge increases our strength and causes us to do exploits.

However, it is the Holy Ghost that imparts to us Joy. He is the one that enables us to be joyful despite whatever circumstances may surround us.

1 Peter’s 1:8, says ‘though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.’

Unspeakable joy, is unexplainable joy. It is the joy you can’t explain in natural terms. You are just on top, even when things are not working out as you expect. You refuse to be moved despite your circumstances.

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 now 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 joy of 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.

So no matter the situations around you, maintain your joy. This Joy is the source of your rising to your high places. But depression or lack of joy can stop you from getting there. Depression is the enemy’s trap for stealing your joy, so he can steal your colorful destiny. Don’t allow it! Once the devil succeeds in stealing your joy, he has succeeded in stealing your strength. Do not allow money, relationships or anything to control your joy, because they are inconsistent. But God remains constant,  reliable and He never fails.

Let us therefore trust Him, no matter what situations come our way. Let us remain ever joyful, knowing that God is working it all out for our good.

Let us therefore begin to engage the mystery of joy, so as to move up to our high places. Miracles are no myth or magic, but faithful compliance with the demands of scriptures. When we remain Joyful, we will walk upon our high places. Pastor Nick despite the impossible situation he was born into is riding upon his high places today through engaging the mystery of joy. Those who walk in God’s way, cause waves on earth. Only the joyful become fruitful, because Joy secures for you divine Presence which causes you to win all the time.

 PRAYER: Lord, please help me to remain joyful and keep praising You despite any situation, let nothing ever stop the continual flow of your praise from my mouth. As I praise You, I know indeed that I must surely ride upon my high places 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]

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Psalm 67:3,7

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

DAILY READING –  Mark 10:32-52; 2 Samuel 24; Hosea 4:1-11a

Many of us have heard the story of Oliver Twist, as written by Charles Dickens. Though, a fictional tale, it was a true reflection of the condition of orphans in Britain in the 19th century. At that time, orphans had no one to care for them and had to beg or steal food to survive. The government put them in work houses to work under the harshest of conditions.

At this time too, a missionary evangelist named George Muller felt led by God, to build orphanages for these children, where they would be educated. Though he didn’t have much money he decided to trust God. As he shared his vision, God touched the hearts of people to begin to give to this project. In 1849 a building was completed to house 300 children. And over the next 21 years four more homes were built that housed over 2,000 children. Even Charles Dickens the writer of Oliver Twist visited George Muller, and was so impressed that he wrote an article for the newspapers in November 1857 telling about the work. However as the number of Children became larger, George Muller really had to trust God to provide for them. Through this, he learnt the power of gratitude. And in his journal he kept records of several instances of miraculous provisions, through gratitude. One morning, there was no food and no money to buy food. The children were standing, waiting for their morning meal. Müller said, “Children, you know we must be in time for school.” Then lifting up his hands, he began to thank God for providing food for them. Just then, there was a knock at the door. The owner of a nearby bakery stood there, and said, “Mr. Müller, I couldn’t sleep last night. Somehow I felt you didn’t have bread for breakfast, and the Lord wanted me to send you some. So I got up at 2 a.m. and baked some fresh bread, and have brought it.” Mr. Müller thanked the baker, and no sooner had he left, when there was a second knock at the door. It was the milkman. He announced that his milk cart had broken down right in front of the orphanage, and he would like to give the children his cans of fresh milk so he could empty his wagon and repair it. And so miraculously the children had enough bread and milk for breakfast. Such instances of divine provision abounded in the life and ministry of George Muller. And he would end up caring for over 120,000 orphans. He also traveled to 42 countries, to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and teach about the power of faith and gratitude to God.

Indeed thanksgiving has multiplication power. It brings supernatural provisions. In John 6:5-12, when Jesus fed 5,000 men, thanksgiving was what multiplied the loaves of bread. Thanksgiving ensures that nothing finishes in your hand.

The earth yields its increase to us, when we praise God.

Psalm 67:3,7 says ‘Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.

Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.’

By giving thanks to God, we encounter the multiplication power of praise. Gratitude is also a spiritual force that empowers us to scale great heights. As it is often said, it is your gratitude that determines your altitude in life. You cannot stop gaining altitude unless you stop expressing gratitude. And you will never drop in altitude unless you drop in gratitude. You can’t go higher than the level of your gratitude.

Gratitude is also the key to seeing God’s promises manifest in our lives.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us in everything to give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us. So thanksgiving is the will of God. And Hebrews chapter 10 tells us it is after we have done the will of God that we obtain the promise.  So it is after we have given thanks, which is the will of God, that we can obtain, what has been promised us by God. This means His promise will not be accomplished until we first do God’s will, which is to give thanks.

It is time therefore to engage God’s Presence, through praise, so as to see His promise come to pass in our lives. When you invoke divine presence, you live as a sign and wonder to your world.

You can experience a change of story, through engaging the power of gratitude. The more grateful you are the higher you rise in altitude. There is no mountain that God’s presence cannot level. There is no sea that He cannot dry up. In Psalm 114, when the children of Israel came out of Egypt, God was their sanctuary. The sea saw them and fled, Jordan was driven back, and the mountains skipped like rams. It was God’s presence that took them through the Red Sea and gave them victory over their enemies. In 2 Chronicles 20, king Jehoshaphat took the rear and allowed God to go ahead. And when God took over their battle, victory was sure.

It is true we are often faced with challenges. Every child of God carries enviable destiny that attracts opposition from the enemy. But life is not just about waiting for the storms to pass, it is about learning to soar even in the midst of the storms. It is about ruling and dominating in the midst of your enemies. And it is God’s Presence that guarantees our victory. A heart of gratitude is your fastest escape out of any tight situation.

Praise causes God to fight on your behalf. Through praise and gratitude we pass our battles over to God.

When you are grateful you wouldn’t need to fight to win the battle. God takes your place in battle, while you just watch. This is a covenant technique that guarantees cheap victory. God inhabits the praises of His people. So when you live a praiseful life, God’s presence abides with you; and when He abides with you, your life becomes a sign and a wonder.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to be always full of gratitude, so that I can carry    Your Presence always. Grant me the grace to live a lifestyle of continual praise so that I can be  a sign and wonder to my world 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: 6
‘Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.
DAILY READING Mark 7:1-13; 2 Samuel 17; Daniel 11:1-19
The one thing we must seek on a daily basis, is the face of God.

And when we seek Him and find Him, there is a reward, and our expectations are not cut off.

Psalm 34:10 says ‘The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who Seek The LORD shall not lack any good thing.

Indeed God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. And one man that diligently sought the face of God until he found Him, was John G lake.
Lake was a man mightily used of God in the 20th century. John G. Lake was known as God’s “Apostle to Africa”. In 1908, God sent him to Africa, where his anointed miracle ministry resulted in an extensive and powerful missionary movement in the continent.   He spent five history-making years in South Africa, engaged in a ministry which could be likened to that of the Early Church, in its manifestations of miracles, signs and wonders.  Upon his return to America, Lake established a ministry in Spokane, Washington which resulted in no less than 100,000 astounding miracles of healing within the space of five or six years. He then established a similar work in Portland, Oregon, where there were also mighty eruptions of God’s power.
However before entering into full time ministry and recording these amazing manifestations of God’s power, Lake was a businessman who was simply hungry for God. The response of his soul to the Spirit was an intense longing for an intimacy and a consciousness of God. Speaking in his book, ‘John G. Lake – Apostle to Africa’,  Lake says ” I believe I was the hungriest man for God that ever lived. My soul was demanding a greater entrance into God, His love, Presence, and Power’

His hunger was such that sometimes when he left his office in Chicago, and walked down the street, his soul would break out, and he would cry out, ‘Oh God!’ Often people in the street would stop and look at him, and wonder if he was alright. He led aside certain hours of the day that he dedicated to God, as times of meditation, and prayer. While he went about his daily affair his spirit remained in constant communion with God through a ceaseless flow of prayer.

With such desperation and hunger, it was not long before God responded and began to move mightily in his life, manifesting great miracles and wonders through his ministry.

And John G Lake would go on to become one of the greatest men of God that ever walked the earth.

Though many saw and marveled at the great glory upon his life, few knew the story of his desperate hunger and desire for God that brought the eruption of power.

Indeed it is when we seek, that we find. God is committed to filling those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. To encounter God’s power we must be hungry for it. It is a law of the spirit that only the hungry gets filled. Mathew 5: 6 says ‘Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.’

Every prize demands a price, and progress in life calls for a pressing in. There are wonderful things to be had in the Spirit, but we must press in to where they are. The treasures of life are never on the surface but in the depths.  There are mighty manifestations of power and glory, miracles signs and wonders, awaiting us when we pay the price to press into the depths.

As a child of God, you are meant to live an amazing life. You are to be a sign and wonder to your world. You are not at all to live an ordinary or mediocre life. You are the light of your world, a city set on a hill that cannot be hid. Men are meant to look up to you. They are meant to come to you for answers and solutions, you are meant to rule in the midst of them and be the head and never the tail.

All these will come into manifestation when we pay the price, and press into the depth where the power of God is. It is through the greatness of the manifestation of the power of God that we can indeed rule. Power is the scepter of our rule, but prayer is the price.

We must come to that place where we are totally hungry for God and diligently seek His face. Seeking God first has to be the priority. The place of God in your heart determines your placing upon the earth. You cannot make God first, and become the last. If you will let Him get the throne of your heart, He will secure a throne for you on the earth. All we need is to seek first the kingdom, and every other thing will fall into place.

Therefore enough of hanging around shallow waters, enough of spiritual laziness. Without any doubt, spiritual laziness is a robber of destiny. Proverbs 24:30-34, describes the field of a lazy man and those who love to sleep.

To arrive at our glorious destiny, we must accept full spiritual responsibility. There are no short cuts to success. We must pay the price of seeking God with all our heart until we find Him and He comes and turns away our captivity.

In this season we must be willing to pay whatever price it takes to be on fire for God. Lev 6:13 says the fire shall ever be burning upon the altar. To ensure the fire keeps burning we must keep loading our heart with The Word. Because where no wood is the fire goes out. But the more we are filled with The Word, the more we will be on fire.
PRAYER: Lord, Please help me to pay whatever price is required of me to seek Your face diligently, for I know that when I seek You and find You, there shall be a reward and my expectations shall not be cut off in Jesus Name.
QUOTE

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

[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK FAITH CLASSICS]

Psalm 124: 2-7
‘If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul: Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth’ Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.’

DAILY READING Mark 10:1-31; 2 Samuel 23; Hosea 3
It is indeed true, that because of The Lord on our side, we are able to make it in life. Despite all that we have been though, we are still here. Why? Because The Lord has been on our side.

A story that illustrates this fact is perhaps what happened at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. It was the quarter finals of the 400 metre sprint, and British athlete Derek Redmond was one of those expected to win the gold medal. For Derek, this race was very important, he had greatly looked forward to it. Four years earlier, at the 1988 Olympics, Derek had pulled out of the race, just 90 seconds before the race was to begin, because of an unexpected injury. But now four years later, after having gone through five surgeries, he was eager to get on the tracks and win an Olympic gold medal.

The starting gun went off, and the athletes burst out of the blocks into the tracks.  Derek  started out very well, and halfway through the race he was leading. It was almost certain he was going to win this race. But then suddenly, disaster struck. His hamstring tore and he collapsed on the track. . It was a crushing blow.  The agony on his tear streaked face was both physical and mental. Paramedics rushed out to help him, but he refused their help, waving them aside. He had to go on. He was probably thinking about the long, hard road he’d taken to get to this point. He couldn’t just give up and let his dream die because of another injury. .He struggled to his feet. Because he couldn’t walk he started hopping, sometimes even crawling, determined to finish the race.  And then, a big guy came charging out of the stands. He pushed a security guard aside, ran to Derek’s side and embraced him. People wondered who this big guy could be.

It was Derek’s dad.  “You don’t have to do this,” the father told his weeping son. “Yes, I do,” said Derek. “Well, then,” said his father, “we’re going to finish this together.” And they did. With his arm around his son’s waist, Derek’s dad helped him as he limped. Derek buried his head in his father’s shoulder. They stayed in Derek’s lane all the way to the end. The crowd was on its feet, cheering and weeping. Millions of TV viewers around the world did the same. Finally, Derek and his dad crossed the finish line together, arm in arm, long after the other runners had finished the race. The roaring crowd, remained on their feet, and kept applauding. It became the defining moment of the Barcelona Olympics.

As Christians we can identify with this scenario. Often times like Derek, we have been broken and limping on the track of life. And in those times of weakness, when it seems we can’t make it, Somehow our Heavenly Father had shown up and carried us in His arms, and helped us until we could cross the finish line.

We are where we are today, only because of God’s grace. We are who we are only because of His mercy. No man can boast of making it on His own, We have all been helped and carried along  in this race by His grace. There is no self-made man, we are all products of God’s grace. Everything God does and is still doing for us is wrapped up in His Mercy. The mercy of God is deeper than human comprehension.

In Isaiah 46:4 God says ‘:And even to your old age I am He; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you’.

We all know our different struggles. We all know those times, when it seemed we couldn’t  just take another step, when we were about ready to throw in the towel and give up. But somehow, God made a way, and we were able to make it through the day. Somehow though weeping endured through the night, yet, joy has come in the morning.

In Isaiah 43:2 God says ‘When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee’

The times we have passed through the fire and through the water, God has always been there for us. When we were  weak, and it seemed we couldn’t  make it, The Father had held us in His arms. After the storm is over, me may look back and wonder how we made it. And we find that it was because of His mercy that we were not consumed. It was because of His grace that we were not swallowed up by the storm. With our backs  against the wall, and it seemed we were about to fall, God had shown up and carried us through.

Lamentations 3;22-3 says ‘It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.’

We may not know how God does it, but somehow we survive the storm. Men may look at us and think it is because we are strong, or because we are lucky, No, it is simply because we have a Father in Heaven who has numbered every hair of our head, who would not allow our foot to dash against a stone. He is faithful even to the very end. He makes a way for us when there seems to be no way. He never leaves us without help.

Psalm 124: 2-7 says ‘If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul: Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth’ Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.’
By God’s kindness and loving mercy we are still here, despite all the storm. Even those times we thought we couldn’t make it, somehow, by His grace we made it.

The times we have been faced with challenges too great for us, the greater one in us simply had shown up. He brings forth from within us reserve strength. Sometimes when we face a mountain, we may wonder, how will I make it up that steep hill? But we have to know that there is reserve strength in us. This strength comes from the greater One in us.

Paul says in 2 corinthians 12:10 ‘for when I am weak, then am I strong.’ When it seems we are weak, God’s strength shows up for us. On the flat roads the car engine may be quiet, but on the steep hill you can hear the extra cylinders kick in. Those extra cylinders were there all the time. It was strength in reserve. This strength arose when the car was faced with a challenge. God has some strength in reserve for you. It is true, you may be facing a great challenge, but there are some extra cylinders about to kick in, taking you where you can’t go on your own. They say when the going gets tough, then the tough gets going. The measure of a man is not where he stands in the time of comfort but where he stands in the time of adversity. Adverse situations reveal the hidden strength in us. And that hidden strength is Christ in us the hope of glory. Whatever you are going through now, God will arise for you. Don’t think God has forgotten you. He is watching over you to perform His Word. He will never leave you nor forsake you. It doesn’t matter how dark the sky may seem right now,  even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.  Even when it seems your back is  against the wall and men  think it is over, because you trust in God, He will show up and make a way. God will surprise your detractors. God knows exactly where He is leading you to.  You don’t have to wonder or ponder where your help will come from. Your  help is in the Name of The Lord who made Heaven and earth. And because He is on your side, you will make it through to the finish line, in this race of life.
PRAYER: Lord, please help me to always rely on Your Help. It is only by Your Grace that I can make it in this race of life. Indeed without You I can do nothing.  I know that indeed Your grace is sufficient for me and by Christ I can indeed do all things 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.
[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK DIVINE ORDER FOR A LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS]

Acts 16:26

‘And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.’
DAILY READING -Mark 9:2-50; 2 Samuel 22; Hosea 2:2-23
Corrie ten Boom was the first licensed female Dutch watchmaker. She grew up in a devout Christian household in Holland. But during world war 2, In 1944 she became a prisoner in the Ravensbruck Concentration Camp, because she and her sister had worked with the underground resistance, sheltering Jews from the Germans.

In prison, Corrie and her sister Betsy clung to God, strengthening themselves with the thought that His will was their hiding place. Corrie miraculously had been able to sneak her Bible past searching guards. And in the prison she preached with the Bible to other prisoners, leading some of them to Christ. In December, her older sister   Betsie died at 59 years. But before her death  she told  Corrie that God had revealed to her that Corrie would soon be released. That seemed quite impossible,  but then, that was exactly what happened. Two days later, Corrie heard a name being called over the loudspeaker. “Ten  Boom  Cornelia!’

For a while Corrie failed to realize it was her name. Because for a long time, she had not been called by her real name, always being addressed by the guards as prisoner number 66730.

She stood and waited until her name was called again, before she responded. To her amazement, an officer handed Corrie a certificate of discharge. Though she didn’t know why, she was miraculously being released! On 30 December 1944, the prison gates opened and Corrie walked out, free at last! She immediately boarded a train and left Holland.

But her release had been a mistake, it was only afterwards that prison authorities found out they had mistakenly released her due to a clerical error. But it was too late, because Corrie was gone! A few days after she left the prison, all the women her age were killed. Corrie would have been among them, but by divine intervention, she escaped death.

After the war, Corrie Ten Boom would spend the rest of her life serving The Lord and spreading the Gospel around the world. She told her story in her book titled ‘The Hiding Place’

Indeed we serve the God of sudden visitations. More often than not, God steps into the affairs of men suddenly.

‘Suddenly’—it’s God’s specialty. While we are wringing our hands in despair or wondering what is going to happen, God is setting the stage for a divine intervention. God is never late. Even those times, it seems we can’t see Him working, He is setting things up behind the scenes. And then, at the perfect moment, He suddenly acts in ways we never expected and that changes the picture dramatically and completely.

For Corrie, when it seemed all doors were closed and she may never be free, God moved suddenly. The clerical error that set her free was totally miraculous.

God may not move immediately, but He moves suddenly. Just when we sometimes think it is over, and there is no way out, God moves for our deliverance.

In truth, we serve a God of miracles. There are several instances of divine visitations, where God moved suddenly in the scriptures.

God moved suddenly for the Christians assembled in the upper room after Christ’s ascension.

Acts 2:2 says ‘And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.’

Again God moved suddenly for the early church experiencing severe persecution at the hands of Saul. God moved and Saul was converted and the persecution ended.

God moved suddenly also for Paul and Silas in prison. They were locked up, beaten up, not knowing what next would befall them.  Acts 16:26 says ‘And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.’

It doesn’t matter how long you may have been locked up in that situation, believe God for a sudden change of story. Every day is God’s day; the day you believe is your day. One encounter with God can end a lifetime of struggles. There is nothing impossible with God. Psalm 145 lets us know God has more than enough resources to meet all the desires of every living being. He is able to take care of you and all that concerns you.

God crowns the year with good things. Therefore, be assured that as the year rounds up, He has concluded a definite plan of divine completion for you. All you have been believing God for in this year can still come to pass. It is never too late. The expectations of the righteous shall not be cut off. Suddenly God will move in your favor. Only just believe.

Violent faith is one way to attract divine visitation. Everything about our inheritance requires the engagement of spiritual violence. Matthew 11:12 tells us the violent take it by force. Therefore in this season be prepared to get your portion by force. And because every divine agenda speaks loudest at the end, as the year ends, be prepared for sudden prophetic fulfillments of God’s Word to you.  What is entitled you by covenant, you will not miss it! Therefore, do not allow the enemy to cheat you by telling you, it is too late. It doesn’t take time it takes God. Believe God for a sudden turn around. Believe Him for miracles. Believe Him for a sudden change of story. And it will be unto you according to your faith.

PRAYER: Father I thank You for turning everything around for my good. I thank You for Your  sudden visitation that will bring about my positive change of story. Indeed that which is  impossible to men  is totally possible to You. I know by Your grace I am surely ending well in Jesus Name.
QUOTE :

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

[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK TRIUMPH OF LIGHT OVER DARKNESS]