All Things New......

Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]. 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17 AMP

Still in the season of new things, 2017 is still fresh. It is a year loaded with great things, and what you get out of it will depend on who you are and who you know.  The world teaches the importance of knowledge, skill and appropriate connections, but my brief sojourn on earth has taught me that there are SME things that the human mind and intellect cannot explain or fully comprehend. One of such things is the focus today- new life in Christ.

Today's extract says that the way to newness is through Christ. You really cannot experience the new life outside of the One called Life himself. The  world will keep changing its focus and standards because they are not hinged on Christ himself. But for as many who have found Him, he has become the source and essence of Life,  and the sustainer of that same Life.

Check these out: you can't be around Christ or be aware of who he is and  what he can do: you must be IN Christ. Church membership, active ministry or visible 'anointing' isn't the issue; it is about having Christ as Lord and Saviour. You also cannot boast of your knowledge or relationship with Christ; after all, it wasn't as if we were the ones who went looking for him. He came looking for us, even when we were the most unworthy people. He gave his life so we could have all he is and have. We were grafted into him, not as per right or entitlement but by faith in that finished work.

Also, it is not about a physical process but an inner, spiritual transformation that only the Holy Spirit can work out. We depend so much on our earthly connections and knowledge, but unfortunately, these cannot help us when the question of eternity needs to be answered. Only the personal experience and knowledge of Christ will guarantee eternal life. There will also be a definite change. People may not notice an instant change, which is the way of the world, but the Holy Spirit does not come into a life and leave it the same way. There is a power released to live the Life that only Christ can birth in a man.

Have you experienced that change? Have you received that Life? Remember, the journey ahead is uncertain and unsafe if you do not know the way or the One who is leading you. May we not set out into the unknown without a sure knowledge and personal experience of the One who can take us safely through the journey and guarantee safe harbour. His time of favour is here.

Timely Help!

Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment]. HEBREWS 4:16 AMP

Here we stand, on the final day of the year. It has been an experience; there have been highs and lows, and so many other things in between. One thing that has become nonnegotiable is the fact that God has not changed one bit, neither has his standards diminished in any way. He had remained faithful and consistent through all the seasons of our lives. How do I know this?

1. God's place of authority is a throne of grace, not a place of condemnation. God knows we are weak and cannot help ourselves, so he has given us unhindered access to that throne. There, you find unmerited favour and undeserved help. We don't qualify for birth by privilege, birthright or connections, but simply by God's grace.

2. He asks me to come with confidence. It is difficult to approach with confidence if you are not sure of who you are and what has been offered you. You are not coming because you made the way possible; you are coming because Jesus already opened the way for you to approach. Don't let the devil hold you to your past; he is doomed because he has no future. You do have a future, secured by the death and life of the One called the Saviour.

3. God's throne dispenses mercy now. It does not matter how terrible your past or present may be; the fact that you are alive and reading this means that mercy is still available for you. For every failure, shortcoming, weakness and inability, God has mercy as a response. A warning though: a time is coming when the same throne will dispense judgement for sin. Then, it will be too late to repent or be truly sorry. Approach now, mercy has made a way.

4. God is always on time, on point and with help that meets the particular need at the particular time. Sometimes, our human nature cries out for attention NOW. We want the help NOW. We want the comfort NOW. God is however more concerned about building up my character, than he is in giving me everything I want when I want it. He wants me to be a vessel he can display his glory and grace in, not one that is untested and therefore untrustworthy. Whatever he allows has been fully flavoured with his grace, and whatever comes to me has always passed through his throne of grace.

I am therefore confident that nothing can destroy or derail my life. I look forward to the new year in hope, confident that mercy and grace have been packaged into the year ahead and into every experience that is ahead. His time of favour is here.

Renewal Options

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 NLT

In just a few hours, one year will give way to another. We have been taking stock of the old year, and making resolutions and commitments towards the new one. We will plan, we will have expectations, we will have hopes, dreams and ideas about how the new year will pan out.

Unfortunately, many will plan and hope without the help of the One person we cannot do without. Several will commit themselves to a higher purpose, without the help of the God of purpose. Many will journey into the unknown year without any help or input from the One who owns, knows and holds the  unknown. It is a continuous cycle that we repeat every year and it is not a surprise that nothing seems to work still.

What does God expect from us? The  key factor here is trust in God. Please do not use the word 'trust' lightly. It is not depending on God as one of many options. It is not taking God as a spare wheel, to be used only in emergencies or the failure of other key life components. He is not a fail-safe plan, a just-in-case option. He is the God who knows, holds, owns and controls all of life. He demands our total devotion and commitment. Picture this: when you get into a plane, do you doubt the ability of the pilot to get you to where you are headed? Won't you trust his knowledge and skill, confident in the fact that the pilot is well-trained in his profession? It is the same thing with God. Would you dare launch out into life without any help or input from God? Would you take a step into the unknown, without being confident that God is who he says he is and that he will hold you up and uphold you?

As I trust God, I find new strength. Day by day, I find inner grace to keep working, walking and rejoicing, even in the face of difficult circumstances. I keep at it, not because of my own convictions alone, but by the help of God himself. And as I trust God, he helps me through life's journey, without comparing me with anyone else or holding me up to another person's standards. I have a personal walk with God, and it is a walk according to his dictates, not mine, and according to his terms, not mine.

Whether I am soaring high on wings like eagles, or I am running or walking, I experience strength that is beyond my physical expectations. My physical limitations or the world's expectations of my ability is not the issue here. What I think I can achieve or where I think I should be is not the issue here. It is about where God says he is bringing me to, even as I walk with him and trust him completely. Irrespective of the stage of growth, I can never outgrow my dependence on and need for God. As I trust him for the years ahead, one thing is certain: the only way to survive is to trust God completely. Not halfway or almost all, but totally, completely and absolutely. Nothing less will work. His time of favour is here.

Comfort for the Journey

‘Do not fear [anything], for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you; I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].’ ISAIAH 41:10 AMP

Another year is winding down, and another is knocking at the door. It has been an odd year, economically and financially. So many things have happened to test the quality and depth of our faith and dependence on God, but no matter what happens around us, one thing is clear: God's grace is not tied to our proper behaviour but to his own nature. His promises are Yes and Amen because he is the Amen, not because we have earned or deserved the blessings. That is the focus of today's extract.

God says: "Do not fear". Strange words considering the times we are in, but then, what would you believe: the facts that surround you or the Truths of God that are  eternal? Whoever tells me not to fear has got to give me strong reasons for that advice. What reasons does God give? What follows is his CV. First of all, he introduces himself;  he calls himself GOD. That word summarises his name, his nature, his power, his might, his wisdom, his grace, his mercy and so much more. He goes ahead to tell me what he can do. He promises strength, he promises help, he promises to hold me with his right hand. These are no ordinary words. Recall Samson? Ordinary hair gave him extraordinary strength. It was not just about the hair, but about the power backing him up. Recall Joseph? Went to sleep one night as a prisoner and went to bed the next night as a Prime Minister? Recall Samaria at a time of hunger, when mothers were taking turns to eat their children, in just one day, God turned famine into overabundance. Daniel in the land of exile knew nobody except God, and God came through for him. The three Hebrew men knew nobody else in the fire and God came through for them. He holds us up when the world lets us down. He bears us up when everything else around us is falling to pieces.

Check out the definition of his right hand: it is a hand of justice, power, victory and salvation. As I take stock of this outgoing year, there is no doubt that God has come through for me. There have been dangers averted, disasters diverted, and troubles dissolved. Even when they came on me like a flood, his Presence was never absent. He didn't say I would have it all smooth; he only promised me his never-failing presence. When I consider that I cannot help myself, I will depend solely on God's Right hand. When I know I do not have the faintest idea about what tomorrow holds, I will trust his wisdom and power. When everything around me is sinking sand, I will depend on God who alone can sustain and uphold. Ultimately, salvation is his greatest gift, because through it, I enjoy every other blessing that has been promised.

What would it be for you? I have decided to trust completely in God, because I have seen him at work in and around me. He has always proven himself as God in my life, so I am rest assured that beyond 2016, his hand will hold me up and sustain me through all of life's journeys. That is for me; what would it be for you? His time of favour is here.

The Commission

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19‭-‬20 NIV

It has always been established that God is a God of purpose; everything he does is steeped in eternity. Nothing just happens, or happens by accident; everything is a result of careful planning and brilliant execution. When man was made, there was a plan. When man fell, God still had a plan. When man was restored back to God through the death of Jesus himself, this was the culmination of centuries of planning.

Now that the gift has been given and Life has been offered fully and freely,  what does God expect from those who have received that Life? Today's extract reveals  the endgame of God's purpose for giving his Son. First of all, he expects us to go and make disciples of all nations. People who have walked the walk are the ones who can show others the way. If you do not know where you are going, how can you show others the way? Secondly, those who have tasted of the Spirit can testify of his power and effect. We are to baptise men in the name of the Trinity, not first of all into our denominations and divisions. We were not the ones who died to redeem men, so we are not emphasizing creeds or denominations here. It is first about the power and  grace made manifest in Christ. Thirdly, we are to pass on the same message of love, grace and power that we have also received. We are not to keep the power to ourselves, but to share it with others. We teach, we admonish, we correct where necessary, we encourage, but we DO NOT keep quiet.  Fourthly, the assurance is that in all these, God promises us his ever-abiding presence. He says he will never leave us. It does not matter how things look around us, or what people say; what God says is more important that how things look. His Presence is not dependent on my qualifications or experience, but on his never-failing nature. Till we take our last breath on earth and relocate to the Promised land, his Presence never leaves us. In fact, this portion of the Bible is termed "The Great Commission". Check this out: he does not send me out on my own. It is his assignment, his ministry and his plan; I am just a coworker with him in what he is doing. It is a co- mission, a joint effort, God working with me to establish his kingdom here on earth.

Can God find me as a vessel in His hands? Can he count on me in these last days to be his hand and voice, reaching out and speaking out with his power and grace? This is the season of love; his love will not be in vain over our lives. His time of favour is here.

Testify!

The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told! Luke 2:20 MSG

At the time of the birth of Jesus, some unusual things happened, which underlined the fact that God is not moved by popular opinion or bothered about people's reception of his plans and purposes. A king was born and kept in a manger where animals fed, wise men from another part of the world came seeking him after seeing his star, and in today's extract, we see the forsaken and forgotten of the earth, mere shepherds, being the voice of proclamation of all that God has done.

How did we get here? How did God see fit to go see ordinary shepherds, people we do not consider important, to be the bearers of good news? First of all, the gift given was not for the rich or connected or powerful, but for all men. It was not for people who could afford it, but for all men,  irrespective of status, lineage, origin or tribe. These were men in the fields at night, probably tired, probably hungry and maybe sleepy. But one experience turned their lives around, and a visit by multitudes of angels turned them into evangelists, because they had seen and confirmed all that has been told them by the angel.

That is the second point for consideration here. These men were not intellectuals or rational people, who would subject all they heard or read to the test of logic and reason, and act accordingly. Nothing they heard that night made logical sense, yet they left all they had in the fields and went looking for the gift that had been given. Can we also be like these ones, believing all that God says, even when realities around us are showing otherwise? Can we stake our lives on God's reputation and Word, knowing that he has the power to do all he has said?

Of course, when a man has received unequivocal confirmation of all that he has heard or received, there can be no other reaction but to proclaim the truths of all s/he has heard. Today's extract says the shepherds let loose, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard. This season is the foundation of True Life itself, when Life was given to redeem what was lost. When you have received Life, you cannot keep it to yourself. You have got to share it with others. Have you received that life? Are you sharing that Life with others? His time of favour is here.

Eternal Plans

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 NLT

It is never about a particular day or season, but about a plan and purpose. God did not come to establish a day but to put into effect his eternal plan. He didn't have a fresh idea about our salvation and redemption, but only brought into manifestation that which had been his plan and purpose from eternity. This is evident from today's extract, which us quoted in Isaiah, at least 500 years before the actual fulfilment. The first thing that is established by God is that he always keeps his promises. As long as I can tie God's promises to his Word, and believe what he says to me, I am going to receive the fulfilment of his Words. His integrity, name and reputation are all tied to his Name.

The precise mission of the gift is also made manifest here: he will be called by names that nobody else can bear, no matter how well placed, connected or wealthy. Check out the eternal consequences of these names: wonderful counsellor, whose words and counsel are true for any generation. He is the Mighty God, whose power, wisdom and might cannot be limited by time, space or circumstances. He is the Everlasting Father, the One who had always been before the foundations of the world were laid, the One who has continued to hold the world together and the One who will continue to be when this present world will cease to exist. He is the Prince of peace, coming to establish what the King of Peace had already promised. He is not coming to establish a new doctrine or found a new movement, but to fulfil God's mandate on the earth, which is to bring peace to the earth, particularly into the lives of all those who are willing to receive him into their lives.

If Isaiah's prophecy, written centuries before their  actual fulfilment could be right, how much more the amazing promises God has made in his Word and which he continues to make to us as we relate with Him on his own terms. This season is a season of joy, blessings, favour and goodness, one that celebrates God's greatest gift, and the start of man's new walk with God. Have you received that life? Do you have the Life? Does he know you as his own? Does he live inside of you? Your answers will determine your eternal destination, so be sure. His time of favour is here.

Good News

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” Luke 2:13‭-‬14 NLT

Over the past few days, we have established that God is always at work in and around us, seeking to plant eternity in our hearts, as was the plan from the creation of the world. Sin came in and tried to disrupt the plan, but because of God's predetermined purpose and will, the just punishment for our sin was paid with an innocent life and with precious blood. Life had to be given in order for us to receive life.

At the time the gift was given, many of the people in His days did not recognize him. He was not born in a palace, so even the wise men missed it. He was not born in the right place, so even inn keepers and hoteliers didn't have space for him. The world continued to rotate normally and men went about their usual ways, unaware that Life had changed and destiny was being rewritten.

But in the midst of this seeming confusion, we find this beautiful story. God didn't bother going to Herod's palace to announce the birth of his Son, he chose simple shepherds. He didn't seek out the highly connected persons of the day; he sought out simple men, and with a simple message, broke down the dividing wall, the hypocrisy and the pretence that man puts up as a defence. These men were at work, tending and protecting sheep. It was night, it may have been cold, but they were at work. Can't say what God saw in them, but the message is clear: God accepts all men. He died for all, and he loves all, irrespective of age, race, colour, lineage or ethnic leanings. Man has found a way to prove superiority, but today's extract breaks down that argument. God is not moved by connections, possessions or knowledge; but he seeks a heart that will believe and accept his message of love that was made manifest at this season.

God has come down to preach favour and goodwill to ALL men. He has brought peace down to earth for as many as would accept him. This is the crux  of the matter: God does not force himself on any man, neither does he compel you to accept his message. He puts the love out there, and he keeps calling. He declared peace at the birth, and he is still declaring peace now, seeking a place in our hearts. His Son is called the Prince of Peace, and any life that receives him receives that peace.

What would it be for you? What will be your preference? Would you respond to God's call to receive his peace or would you prefer to keep working on your own, striving in vain by your own power to win God's approval? Nothing else will work, except the One that has been approved by God to be the author of salvation to all men. Accept Him today, for his time of favour is here. Merry Christmas

Time and Opportunity

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. Luke 2:6‭-‬7 NLT

As we live our lives from day to day, we are reminded of our limitations and human nature. We realise daily that there is a superior power at work around us, who is fully in charge and who is working out all things, at his own time and in his own way. The events around the birth of his Son, which is the essence of the Christmas season, also buttresses this fact. Let's look at a few lessons:

1. There is always a season of manifestation for all that God has promised. It does not matter how bad or unlikely it looks now; if God has said it, he will rearrange the world, if he needs to, to fulfil his promise. Joseph and Mary were not in Bethlehem, the prophesied place of the birth of the Saviour. A decree for census then came, forcing both of them to travel to Bethlehem. Call it chance, call it politics; things had to change for the promise to be fulfilled exactly as God has decreed it.

2. When both came to Bethlehem, the time of the fulfilment met them there. When God disrupts our plans and desires, he has big things planned for us, things that our human mind cannot comprehend.  Abraham was asked to leave his father's house and just keep moving, his obedience opened the door for generational blessings; Isaac stayed in a land of famine, and his economy didn't look anything like where he was living. Joseph and Mary too obeyed, and today, we speak of Life given and Eternal Life received.

3. Unfortunately, God can be hard at work and the world will not care, as it will be busy doing its own things. God never works in line with the world's expectations, that is why the world always misses his  visitations. A king had been born, even the wise men went to the palace to look for him. The inn where the baby was born didn't know any better, didn't care much, and could only prepare a place for the baby in a manger, where animals fed. While men were busy taking up space, God was busy taking up room in the hearts of men, planting eternity in their hearts. The same is true today; we are busy, yet focused on the wrong things. We spend heavily at this time, yet our lives are empty of the real essence of the season. We need to conform to the prescribed image, forgetting that God never came to establish just a religion or  life behavior, but a living, breathing relationship with us.

Can God find room in my life? Am I distracted by the revenue opportunities around me or am I secure in my relationship with God? While the world is singing the carols and singing of 'Joy to the World', have i really found that true joy? Whilst I pursue a living, have I found true Life? Does he live inside of me? This season must not be the usual; find room in your heart for God. He will make the present and the future worth it. His time of favour is here.

Love Defined

This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God. 1 John 4:9‭-‬10 MSG

It is still the season of Christmas, when we make merry and celebrate like we have never done before all year round. It is important to keep in mind the essence of the season, so we do not end up exalting the day over and above the reason for Life itself. We can get so caught up in the outward effect of the season, and forget that beyond the day, Life himself is the reason why we celebrate. He could have been born on any day of the year; we only take this season as a remembrance of  the greatest gift ever.

Why is the gift the greatest sign of love? Because with it, redemption and eternal life is sealed. We had lost it, wandered away from God and gone our own way, we had rejected God and held on to our own human devices and means. However, God's love would not let go. How do we know this?

Today's extract lays the foundation: first, His love did not need a reason or justification; he loved us at a time we did not even deserve it. We couldn't earn it, we couldn't strive for it. He just had to give it to us, clearing the way for us so we could approach him and ask whatever we desired. Secondly, his love was not seasonal or tied to a particular day like Christmas, but is valid for all time, until judgment. This tells me that as much as his Love may be valid and genuine and lasting, one day, his mercy will be replaced by judgment, and all of us, dead or alive, would have to account for our lives. That is the third foundation of God's love- it cannot be taken for granted and you cannot presume it would be there forever. Fourthly, his love was shown so we could be restored back to the original plan. We were made for fellowship with God, which is confirmed by the breath of God in us at creation. It does not matter how fine or well built you are; you are a summary of God's breath in you. If that is taken away, then you are nothing.

In this  light, I must embrace the love on offer and take advantage of the Life that has been given. Remember, it is not about the day or season, it is about the Life that has been given. It is not a concept or idea or theory or season; He is a Person, Jesus himself. His time of favour is here.

The Greatest Gift

And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 NLT

Why is the Christmas season the most-talked about season ever? What makes it so fundamental to our lives and calling as human beings? Why do we talk about it with so much passion and fervour? Today's extract sheds some light on the essence of this season.

Firstly, if God were to do the usual, people will probably assign it as a footnote and consign it to the dustbin of history. God decided to bring the Saviour of the world via a virgin. It has never happened before and it will never happen again. This child was different, his origins and assignment were different and his end is also different. It is therefore still a wonder that men didn't take notice of this miracle. A king was born, probably at the wrong time and in the wrong place and with the wrong accompanying noises, so the people of that generation missed it completely. It is the same today: the gift has been given, life has been given, yet men seem to embrace death. The way to Life has been revealed but it appears it is not a popular path.

Secondly, his name reveals the calling and assignment of the child to be born. According to the NLT version, His name Jesus means "The Lord Saves". The greatest need of man is not earthly possessions, abundance of resources or a good, full life based on physical things, but salvation. Jesus was not sent to make men rich but to save their souls from eternal damnation. Jesus did not come to guarantee temporal earthly comfort but to grant me permanent residence in heaven. Which one do I have? Have I received life or am I still holding on to the old, the familiar, the temporal and the earthly?

Lastly, he is to save his people from their sins. Because we are His creation, made in his likeness, carriers of his breath that gives life, he owns us. It does not matter what the devil says; he cannot lay claim to something he did not create. Jesus' assignment is simple: redeem man back to God, restoring the rights of ownership that the devil had tried to tamper with.

As we celebrate this season, be conscious of this fact: you have always belonged to God, and his love for you would never change no matter how bad you have been. The life offered by Jesus is still valid and effective, as long as you can take advantage of this free gift. Remember, it is a gift with a timeline.   One day soon, the gift will become the basis of judgement. Don't wait till it is too late; receive the gift today. His time of favour is here.

Season of Salvation

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:17 KJV

Today's extract follows probably one of the greatest love stories ever told. God establishes his eternal purpose for mankind by giving the greatest gift possible- the life of his only Son. This was the only guarantee against eternal damnation, and this death the only guarantee of eternal life. Through this gift, we now have access to the throne of grace, where we can approach God and make a demand for all that the death and life of Christ has guaranteed for us. The life has been given, the price has been paid, death has been dealt with, and eternity is assured. You would think it would be that easy to accept.

However, reality around us shows that man seems not to believe in free gifts and must strive for everything he gets. Man has developed a self-help mechanism, which seems to abhor dependence on anybody or anything. We don't like the fact that we are helpless and could not save ourselves, so we go all out to earn salvation on our own terms. We do all we can by our strength, thinking we can work our way to heaven without any help from God.

Today's extract establishes many truths, two of which we will mention here: firstly, God did not send Jesus because he just wanted to prove a point; he sent him to restore man back to himself. Man had sinned and become unworthy, so Jesus was sent to break the hold of sin and restore that unbroken fellowship. Man gives whatever he gives because he wants to be celebrated and recognized; God gave all he did because he wanted our hearts to be his forever. He didn't come to condemn us because we were sinners, but because our sins had become a barrier to his purpose and plan for us, he had to die to restore hope to man. Secondly, He is the only recognised way to God. The world preaches alternatives and choices; God has always established only One way to Him, and that is through Jesus Christ. The world will preach all sorts of messages this season, take out the Christ in Christmas away, and replace him with partying, activities, church programs and others. However, only the Presence of Christ in a life makes the season worthy of celebration. It does not matter how many options you try; until Christ is the focus, nothing all work right or look right.

Without Christ, the season is incomplete. Without Christ, we will have a jolly good time but a season that is empty of essence. He is the reason for the season, the channel through which the Life of God has been made manifest and the only way approved by God for man to be acceptable to Him. Are you considering other options? God says there is no other Way. Christ is the only way. His time of favour is here.

The Sign

All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). Isaiah 7:14 NLT

It is the Christmas season, the season of merriment, fanfare and good old fun. It comes up once a year, when gifts are wrapped and shared. However, beyond the merriment that goes on with the season, there is a need to again critically examine the spirit behind the season. Are we aware of the reason why we celebrate yearly? Do we know the reason for the season in the first place?

Let's put today's extract in context. God had just made a promise to the king of Judah that 2 kings- Syria and Israel- were planning to attack, but that the attack would not happen. It must have been difficult for Judah's king to believe this, because God directed that the king ask for a sign of confirmation. Though the king refused, God himself gave a sign, incontrovertible evidence that He has power to do all that he has promised.

Firstly, a virgin shall conceive a child. In human history, it has never happened, and till the end of human history, it will not happen. Men know what 'impossible' means; God does not have impossibilities in his dictionary. God's power is best seen in a life that admits its weaknesses and limitations. Are you self-sufficient or fully dependent on God alone?

Secondly, the name of the child speaks on God's eternal purpose and plan. God had always desired a relationship with man and had put his Spirit in man to be that link. Sin came in and tampered with that plan, but because the template could not be tampered with, God simply put in motion a plan for redemption and restoration. The son would abide with man forever. God was going to be living with and in man forever. That is the import of the name 'Immanuel'.

As I celebrate this Christmas season, would Christ be the focus or the unknown 'x' factor? Would my life point people to the essence of the season- Christ himself- or would it be the usual eating, drinking and merriment that is empty of meaning and direction? Remember, when this great gift was first given, men of that age also missed it. Many went about their regular duties, unaware that Life had just been given as a gift. Kings and men in authority were afraid for their positions, while ordinary shepherds and wise men from far away were busy rejoicing at the birth. What would it be for you? His time of favour is here.

Preferences!

To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice [for wrongs repeatedly committed]. PROVERBS 21:3 AMP

We are creatures of feeling, emotion and physical gestures. We interpret people and define them by the things they do and how they do them, without necessarily caring too much why they do these things. We are all about outward gestures and appearances, and we have mastered the art of deception, because we know that ordinary men cannot discern our motives and intentions.

The problem is that we have sought to apply the same measures to our walk with God. We make this dangerous assumptions that we can keep some things away from God, or that we can pretend about our motives and intentions. We give out this false air of dedication and devotion, carrying on activities very faithfully, very visible in church and its organs, with people also praising the quality of our commitment. Unfortunately, it goes beyond all these.

As an old year rolls out and a new one comes in about 12 days, we need an honest audit of our lives and motives. Are we all about the physical, or the spiritual? We live as we please, fully aware that God is a merciful God and he will definitely forgive if we return to him. We sin deliberately sometimes, confident of the fact that his mercy will always be available. We live as we please sometimes, telling ourselves that before we die, we will definitely return to God. As much as God's mercy is sure, there is nobody alive who knows the expiration of his own mercy or the time of God's visitation.

We are warned everyday that the coming of the Lord is at hand. We are reminded everyday that he will return shortly to take only those who are prepared for him. How can I make sure I am ready for him- it is to live daily in the consciousness of the righteousness of God. I cannot help myself, save myself or guarantee eternal life for myself; I must trust God totally that he is able to take me there. And when I trust him totally, I live right, I do right by his grace, I uphold his justice, I love whatever he loves and hates whatever he hates. My life becomes a daily testament to the greatness of God.

Today, i need to focus on God and his desire- righteousness and justice. I must repent of whatever assumptions or deliberate wrongdoing I have been involved in, and align myself with what God is doing. Sacrifices, whether daily or regularly, will not guarantee me eternal life, only a life lived as directed by Life itself will end well. His time of favour is here.

Life Compass

How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word. I’m single-minded in pursuit of you; don’t let me miss the road signs you’ve posted. Psalm 119:9‭-‬10 MSG

It is a strange season. Slowly but steadily, we are raising a generation of people without fear and without limitations. The boundaries of science are being pushed back on a daily basis, and what we thought were in the realms of impossibility a few years ago are being taken for granted these days. Because almost anything is possible, messages on restraint and caution do not seem to sell these days. TV images and celebrity status encourage the young ones to imitate what they see and hear, without much thought to the eternal value of these things. It is good to raise people full of confidence in their person and ability, but it must never be at the expense of the fear of God.

As the world's standards shift from day to day, there is an anchor that stays strong and true. As people keep aspiring to the next 'big thing', God is reminding us again that only in Him do you have true stability and consistency. It does not matter what the world tells you or how much the world backs you up; you will still have to deal with God and his standards at a point in your life.

Today's extract puts out a question and provides an eternal answer. It is a fundamental question that all of us must answer: how do I live to please God? We have already established that the purpose of our lives is to please God, and until you do that, you are only pursuing a lie. The only standard for my life that will never change is the Word of God, the true compass for life. We have allowed the false image of the world to dictate our priorities, forgetting that one day, everything we see now will pass away. We have allowed temporal gain cloud our vision of eternal reward, and because talk of God is not popular, we avoid it because we want to be accepted and loved by all. That desire to please everyone is the quickest recipe for disaster.

God demands single minded devotion from all who will follow him. He craves a healthy relationship with all who profess to follow him or walk with him. His Word has instructions for daily living, and it is only when I heed his words and warnings that I am truly living. The world cannot push you to God because it does not know the Way; God wants me to know him intimately and follow him closely and the only way I can do that is to seek his will through his Word.  That is the only guarantee that I will not miss it in life. That is the only way to guarantee eternal life. Nothing else will work and if i miss that, nothing else will matter. The world cannot help; friends cannot force me in, popular opinion will not matter. All that will count is how I have taken God's Word and how much of it has guided my pursuits, priorities and principles. His time of favour is here.

Love Defined!

Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end. 1 Corinthians 13:6-‬7 MSG

Nollywood, Hollywood, Bollywood and all the other -wood seem to have different interpretations of the word Love. We see actors/actresses with 'stars of love' in their eyes. Several authors have written novels and pieces on the timeless topic of love. Several people in different fora have tried to define it too, but the more man tries to explain it, the more confused man gets. The reason is simple- love was never meant to be understood as a term or an idea; it is understood from the perspective of the One who is called Love himself. Man will always fail to explain whatever he does not fully understand, and only the help of the One who is the embodiment of Love can help us understand what it means and how it affects our lives.

Let us review the definitions of love given in our extract below. There is a picture of persistence, putting others first, contentment, humility, level-headedness, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrong, takes pleasure in truth, and several others. As I look at all these, I keep remembering all the false imitations and pretensions we called love while growing up. We saw love from the narrow prism of what a man shared with a woman, or probably the deep feelings shared between parent and child. However, as I read the above again, it is apparent that love is much more.

It is not first a feeling, therefore it is not subject to the emotions. You cannot truly stop loving simply because you don't feel like it. It is also not just an act which you carry out and people see. It is not what people around you call it or how the media space explains it, but how God defines it. Go back to the extract and decode who fits the description perfectly. Jesus alone does. His life is a testament to the definition and expression of love. Loved us when we rejected him, came to earth in our form to identify with our weaknesses, yet we rejected him. He died on the cross yet while on the cross, he was being mocked. His sacrifice was offered when the beneficiaries of the grace didn't care about him, yet he persisted. He was despised and rejected. He gave his life and all for unloving, unappreciative man.

This is where God's view is different- man always seeks reciprocity. He always wants to get back what he gives, and he is cross when the object of his 'love' does not return the feeling. God has given us the highest expression of love- Jesus Christ. He's holding him out today as his own expression of love. What would be your response? Will you keep holding on to false impressions or would you hold on to the real deal? His time of favour is here.

Life Fruits!

With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth! My friends, this can’t go on. James 3:9‭-‬10‭ MSG

The tongue is one of the smallest parts of the body, but one with arguably the greatest impact on life. It is a window into the quality of our lives and it reveals the quality of the deposits and investments we have made over a period of time. Its use reveals the kind of persons we are.

Today's extract teaches a deep lesson about who we are. We were made to bring glory and praise to God; that was the original plan. We were created for God's pleasure and purpose and we were to fund fulfilment in the pursuit of that divine purpose. However, sin came and disrupted the plan, albeit temporarily, and has brought up a distortion of God's purpose for our lives. Man has now developed other uses for his life contrary to the original plan. We are comfortable combining characteristics of both natures at the same time. We do not completely deny the human nature, but we also want to please God. We are comfortable playing both sides, forgetting that with God, there is no sitting on the fence.

The tongue is used to bless God and also to curse men created in the image of that same God. Our tongues extol God's power and creative ability, yet at the same time condemning and destroying the visible proof of God's power. This abnormality is seen in different areas of our lives- we claim to follow God, yet our lives look nothing like people who even know God. We claim to be his disciples but we live nothing like people who have an idea of what God wants. We have mastered the art of deception, like the church in Sardis, known by men for being alive, yet to God, very dead.

Curses and blessings cannot proceed from the same source. We are children and products of a loving father, one from whom all good and perfect things come. Because He is the One who is the Righteous judge, he has the authority to dispense judgment and mercy as appropriate to all men, but he has not given the duty of judgment to any man. All he asks is that I live as his child, showing off his power, nature, love and mercy. My life must be a loud testimony of God in my life, one that shows that indeed, God is at work in me. I cannot combine both natures; I was not made to function that way.

This early morning, I take stock again: if I am to make withdrawals from the daily deposits in my life, what would they be? Would my life produce a stench, arising from deposits from the sinful nature, or would my life produce a sweet-smelling savour, obtained as a result of deposits of God in my life? My daily pursuits and priorities will provide answers to that question. His time of favour is here.

Faith and Confidence

This is the [remarkable degree of] confidence which we [as believers are entitled to] have before Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, [that is, consistent with His plan and purpose] He hears us. And if we know [for a fact, as indeed we do] that He hears and listens to us in whatever we ask, we [also] know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted to us] the requests which we have asked from Him. 1 JOHN 5:14‭-‬15 AMP

It is important to lay the right foundation for our faith, so we do not give the false impression that when a man comes to Christ, everything he needs or desires are automatically met. This has become the trend these days, and you find people who come expecting largess and plenty, and are disappointed when these do not materialize. Today's extract teaches fundamental truths about our walk with God, some of which need to be emphasized.

Firstly, it is God's plan and purpose for my life that is more important than whatever well laid plan I may have. Many times, we come to God asking him to validate our own plans, and we are disappointed when he does not. We forget that long before we were made, He already had a plan for our lives. We can never know more about life than the One called Life himself and our lives would only make sense and have direction when it is at the instance of the One who owns it.

Secondly, He has mandated us to ask anything according to his will, and he will do it for us. If I do not know Him, how do I know his will? If I do not know what his purpose for me is, how would I even ask according to his will? The word provision is a combination of 'pro' and 'vision', which to me, means that provision is actually God's move in your life in line with the vision he has given you, not the schemes of your own heart. You don't come to God, asking he stamps your own desires; you come to him in surrender, asking that he reveals his own purpose for you so you can pursue. When you are pursuing purpose/vision, provision that is appropriate for the vision given to you by God will be made abundant.

Thirdly, the above will then make me confident about my present and future. Even when today does not make sense, I am confident in the wisdom and timing of the One who holds all things in his hand. Even when things fall apart, my inner core remains intact because of the Presence of God in me. When the devil holds my own past in my face, I remind him about his own future, while resting assured of God's word of restoration and fulfilment. When the present does not make sense, I remember that God had been at work long before I was born, and if he is in charge, nothing will really go wrong, as all things will work out for my good. That is total confidence in God and his wisdom, power, might and mercy.

What is the basis of your confidence: what you own or who you know? His time of favour is here.

Temporal Affiliations

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15‭-‬17 NIV

In the face of the attraction that the world holds these days, it is difficult to preach this kind of message. The world appeals to the fallen man. Its standards are always changing to suit what man wants, and the principles are never cast in stone. They can be amended as the need arises. The world offers man several 'good' things: power, position, privilege, possessions and many others. The world would also take care of its own and look after the interests of its own. When the world's standards are my pursuits, naturally, the world will pay me dividends according to my investments. Unfortunately, the only end to the pursuit of the world's standards is death.

That is what today's extract establishes. There is a stern warning not to love the world or anything in it. We must be careful in our use of the things of this world. We are in the world, but we must be careful to avoid pollution with the world. How do we guard against this pollution: by filling our hearts with the love of God. Whatever occupies your heart determines your pursuits. If there is space in your heart for the world's priorities, you will always find time to feed that affection. Unfortunately, you cannot do both: love God and the world at the same time. One would always be the focus.

Take a quick audit: what are your priorities and pursuits? Are you all about what you can see, what you can touch or what you can control? Can God interrupt your busy schedule to give you assignments out of your comfort zone? Have you believed the lie that God needs to make you comfortable before you can serve him or that His job is to give you all you need, whether you even know if it is good for you or not? Are you proud of whatever you have accomplished, even if all were made outside of God?

The end of both are also established by God: the world's standards and gifts never seem to last. Check out the great discoveries and fashions of the world; they have all been overtaken by newer and better things. Sometimes, what had become extinct long ago becomes the fad again. This tells me that whatever the world offers you is too fickle and shallow to be the foundation of my life. Everything I see now will one day become extinct. God alone lasts forever and he is the only one who can take me to the place of eternal rest. No device on earth and no world discovery can guarantee me that.

The world is passing away. Great discoveries have been made, and great men have been born. All these great discoveries have been overtaken by newer and better things, and other great men have also been born. Nothing in the world ever remains the same. Meet the God of all wonders, the same yesterday, today and forever. The One who has set his standards long before creation began and whose standards have not changed at all through all generations. He is the only One who gives life, and gives it full, free and permanently. His time of favour is here.

Strength in Weakness!

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christʼs power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

Our human nature abhors any kind of weakness. We love to project the image of strength and self- sufficiency. When sin came, we lost our total dependence on God and began trusting in other man-made devices. Unfortunately, nothing else outside of God will work, and no devices set up by man can guarantee sufficiency. You can have the best savings plan and still die a pauper. You can be well built physically and still never enjoy perfect health. There is a major factor in our lives that we cannot do without and that is the grace of God.

How does this grace work- it has nothing to do with ability, qualification, association or position. No one can earn it with currency, or strive for it by force. No man can qualify for it by good works or by being exceptionally nice. First of all, it comes from God, never from man. It has nothing to do with what man calls luck. God looks at us, knows we are weak and cannot help ourselves, so he extends grace to us. It is not about seasonal help; it is about help that is available all day long and all year round. Like every gift, we can embrace it or reject it; the choice is ours.

When you deal with God, forget everything you think you know about life. Self says fight for yourself; Grace says you cannot help yourself. Self says you have to hustle for everything you want; Grace says it is not of him that runs, but of God who shows mercy. Self says I can; Grace says God alone can. That is why Grace can make a man rejoice in his weakness. He knows he cannot do it by himself, he knows there is no ability of himself, so he relies totally on God for everything.

Paul here had come to that point- nothing in me can push me closer to God, except Grace. Nothing in me seeks after God. But when Grace speaks, everything falls in place. My weaknesses become God's springboard for miracles. God takes those things that I have given up on and makes them the raw materials for miracles.

Can I boast in my weaknesses? Can I emphasize my inadequacies so I can enjoy the fullness of God's Grace? Am I a willing vessel through which Christ can display his power, might and greatness? Remember, life itself belongs to God and it must be lived for the glory and praise of Him who owns it. His time of favour is here.

My One Aim!

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of Godʼs grace. Acts 20:24 NIV

Everywhere you turn these days, we are in the season of resolutions and decisions. Everyone is looking to the new year at hand with an air of expectations, trusting that it will bring in new things. The present year has had its moments- rough and otherwise, but God has always been good. As we take a peek into the new year and plan for all that God has in store for us, how do we plan within God's perfect plan for our lives?

We see a man like Paul here completely sold to God's purpose for his life. He had walked with God very closely since his conversion, and had come to realize what the important values were. Let's see a few of the lessons and how they apply to us:

1. My life cannot be more important than the assignment that God has given. God always works from eternity past to eternity future. Everyone he calls to work for him is only taking a part of an already-concluded purpose. I cannot therefore exalt my life over and above God's purpose; I am to find out that eternal purpose of God and work at it, as that is the only way my life can make sense.

2. There is a race that I must complete. God called me out of many and set me on a particular path to walk, run, and work for Him. Nothing else matters; only a pursuit of God's purpose for my life will be blessed by him. Every other assignment is secondary to the race God has set out for me.

3. A task has been assigned to me, which will definitely outlive me, if the Lord tarries. That task is the same that Christ himself started, and which he has commissioned every follower of his to do- testify of the good news of God's grace, which is the embodiment of Christ himself. Christianity will be a fraud without the person of Christ himself, the cross will only be a piece of wood without the One who was offered on it, the grave would have been the final nail in the coffin of our hope if there had been no resurrection and we will have nothing to look forward to or to anchor our faith on if we did not have precious promises awaiting us in eternity.

In the light of these great promises, I keep fighting, running and working. I am not yet made perfect, but I have understood that the quality of my life will be determined by impact for God, not popular opinion. Just like Paul, I focus on God, his assignment and the pursuit of his purpose for my life. Indeed, nothing else matters. Nothing else will matter on the day of judgment except what I have done with Christ. His time of favour is here.

Witnesses to Truth

John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. John 1:8 NLT

These are times when we must be careful about our priorities and preferences. We seem to be slowly and steadily raising men and institutions as standards instead of raising God as the only Standard worth following. We have exalted men over and above the God they claim to serve, whilst not even sure of the God they truly serve. In gatherings called to hear God speak, we have described and introduced servants of God in ways that seem to make them bigger than the One who has given the assignment. Men have been called 'great' instead of God, men have been superlatively described in ways that only God should be.

It is no wonder then that this generation seems to be devoid of the power and move of God. There are several 'churches' and gatherings called to honour God, yet the focus is on man, his gifts, talents and appearance. Servants of God arrogate to themselves the honour and prestige due to the master, while church members seem to honour the words of servants over and above those of the master. No true servant has a voice of his own; he speaks only as directed, and when he speaks, lives must be impacted. People who hear God speak cannot but react, either positively or negatively, but the fact is God has spoken.

John was not the light, and he did not ascribe such powers to himself. He was content pointing people to the light, and when the light came, John was content to be relegated to the background. In fact, as soon as Jesus was baptized by John, we hear nothing about John until the events that led to his death. That is a life totally sold out to God, conscious of his assignment and content to be at his duty post, no matter how insignificant or ordinary it is. Rewards are not tied to visibility or popular opinion but to the pursuit of purpose. You don't get God's approval by speaking grammar but by speaking as led by the Master himself. John was in the desert, not dressed in power suits or flowing gowns, but in animal skins. He didn't eat from plates or have the best of dishes, but his meal was locusts and wild honey. Yet, great men left the city and went to him in the desert, because he was a man with a message from God. Am I pointing others to the light, or am I struggling to be seen and appreciated by men? Can i pray John's prayer: He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30 KJV. His time of favour is here.

Living Right!

Therefore, since we have these [great and wonderful] promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, completing holiness [living a consecrated life--a life set apart for God’s purpose] in the fear of God. 2 CORINTHIANS 7:1 AMP

Just in case you were wondering what the promises referred to above are, check out what the verses before today's extract say: “So come out from among unbelievers and be separate ,” says the Lord, “And do not touch what is unclean ; And I will graciously receive you and welcome you [with favor], And I will be a Father to you, And you will be My sons and daughters,” Says the Lord Almighty. 2CO 6:17‭-‬18 AMP. There is no free gift from God except salvation; that cost God something but demands nothing from us except faith. However, every other promises of God is situated upon the fulfilment of certain conditions, the most fundamental of which is purity or holiness. It cannot be overemphasized just how important a pure walk with God is.

God's Word is full of precious promises, but all of them have attached conditions for fulfilment. I have a responsibility to steer clear of all pollutants and distractions, so I can live a life set apart for God's purpose.

1. Cleanse myself- it is a conscious act on my part, where I take active steps in auditing what goes in and out of me. I can only make withdrawals out of whatever I have deposited over time, so if all I have stored up is filth, my life is bound to replicate filth. The cross is the only place of cleansing; nothing else and nobody else will do that for you.

2. Live a consecrated life in the fear of God- this is not possible without the first one being done. You can't be dedicated to anything until you are rid of all other distractions. You can't live a life of purpose if you are not free from false/wrong pursuits.

The great danger about spiritual filth is that you will be contaminated in both body and spirit. Sin destroys both the physical and spiritual realms, and has irrevocable and eternal damnation as its end. You do not want to get to the end of your life and discover that you had pursued the wrong purpose, being distracted by the wrong values, and had lived by different standards from what God had laid down. I owe it to myself and to eternity to make sure I am pursuing the right purpose, in the right company and on the right path to God's permanent residence. His time of favour is here.

One Time Offer!

so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him. Hebrews 9:28 NLT

The cross and all it represents seems to be getting lost in the daily pursuit of what the world calls success, prosperity and progress. It appears that the cross has become an outdated tool, something that appealed in the past to old generations but needs to be modified or aligned to this present generation. Unfortunately, the cross has to be the start point of any meaningful relationship with God and an understanding of his purpose and plan. What does the cross represent:

1. It is God's divine expression of love. By it, God showed that if he could give his best, his one and only Son, there is nothing else too big for him to release to all who come to him;

2. It is the mark of reconciliation between God and man. Sin broke the cord, the cross sealed it for all time. God came down and identified with man, took that sinful nature and nailed it to the cross, offering life and peace and joy and health to all who come to God through the cross. God and man now relate, because the offering made on the cross cleaned out the dirt.

3. The One who died on the cross lives again and he is returning again one day. It has already been established that God works in eternity so all we see now were settled in eternity. If God sought to restore fellowship with man, it is because that was his original plan, and his purpose for all of eternity to come. If you do not know God or God does not know you, you have not yet found your path in God. Eternity is at stake.

4. When he comes back again, sin will not be the focus but the hindering factor. When he returns, all that will matter is your relationship with God sealed through the cross. He is coming back again. When he comes, Possessions, power, prosperity, success and wealth will not matter in that day; all that will count is your path to God through the cross. Have you found your way to God through the cross? His time of favour is here.

Pleasure of Pressure

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. James 1:2‭-‬4 MSG

Trials and tribulations are hard messages to sell in this season of difficulties. Things seem hard enough, without having to emphasize the inevitability of trials. Yet, today's extract seeks to underline a fresh perspective to trials. Check out the following:

1. Trials will come at you from all sides. You do not have control over your experiences, but you do have control over how you will respond. How you respond will determine the quality and depth of the lessons you will learn and the impact your life will make.

2. Trials are built to build you up and develop your character. There are things you could never imagine you could bear until the test came. There were situations you thought you could not handle until you had to endure them. When you have endured and stood your ground in God, the lessons learnt would be worth the experiences.

3. Trials have a expiry date. One very common expression in the Bible is: "And it came to pass". One comfort from God's word is that nothing lasts forever, except God himself. All trials, tribulations, physical signs of success all have cycles and expiry dates, therefore we do not fret and worry over situations; we simply trust in the wisdom of the One who can work out all things to his glory.

4. Trials lead to Maturity and Growth. It is a bit difficult to explain how this works, but it is only God who takes a 'negative' thing and works out something positive with it. The owner of my life determines what is required to bring out the best in me, and he administers those things in the right measure and the appropriate dosage, so I can be all that he wants me to be. His wisdom is amazing, his timing perfect and his plan eternal. His time of favour is here.

Give Thanks

Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. 1 Chronicles 16:8 NLT

In a season of recession, messages like these do not sell. No one needs to tell you what's important; the realities around you will dictate what you should focus on. The get-rich-quick schemes have picked up momentum, the ponzi schemes of years gone by have resurfaced and everyone is in a race to 'make it', whatever it means and however it takes. Yet in the season of recession is God's progression and power best seen and appreciated. It is in seasons like these that the priorities of our hearts become crystal clear.

We are told that there was famine in the land, yet Isaac sowed in that same land and reaped a hundredfold of what he sowed. We are also told of a season of famine, and God promised that in just 24 hours, price of food will crash. It was so 'unbelievable' that someone in authority actually went ahead to declare that even if God would open the windows of heaven, it would not be possible. Well, as you know, in both instances, what was at stake wasn't man's qualifications but God's name. When God declares a thing, he stakes his name and reputation on that thing. No wonder Jeremiah knew God as the One who 'watches over his Word to perform it'.

No wonder the call to praise God has been consistent in recent days. It is not normal to do so, but when I realise the kind of God I have, then I will not be cajoled to praise him. When I consider my life and the great impact he has made on my life, I do not need anyone to compel me to praise God. My life is the template and the motion picture that the world is watching. Everything I do and say will speak of my relationship with God and my understanding of his person, power and purpose.

Is my life a testimony to the greatness of God or the capacity of man? Am I exalting my abilities, earning power and qualifications over and above the God who is bigger than time, space or circumstances? For me, the choice is clear and unmistakable: God, I declare you are great, there is no one like you. Your time of favour is here.

The Mysterious God

Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things. Ecclesiastes 11:5 NLT

There are several things that are beyond our comprehension. There are mysteries all around us that we cannot fully understand. When you take stock of your life, and all that you have experienced, you will realise that you could not really explain how so many things turned out. There are natural laws, one of which is that your input would always determine your output, and what you sow, you will reap. That is the natural law of God and nature and it has been proven true in many respects.

But then in steps God, and you just realise that some natural laws would not stand when God is at work. How do you scientifically explain how 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish will feed 5,000 men, beside the women and children, and you still have 12 baskets of leftovers? How do you logically explain how a cup of water changes to the best wine between its source (the jar) and the master of ceremonies? Today's extract also explains another mystery- the path of the wind and how a baby grows in its mother's womb.

It is a foolhardy exercise to attempt to logically and rationally process God. It is not a profitable exercise to ever imagine that you can tick the boxes by predicting how he will handle a situation. If God can create over 7 billion people and counting with unique fingerprints, then he has over 7 billion ways he can solve a particular problem. His ways are beyond searching out, and his understanding, no one can fathom. "Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. Isaiah 40:28 NLT.

That is the God I have and serve. Do you know this God, and does he know you as his own? His time of favour is here.

God's Mysterious Ways

Delight thyself also in the Lord ; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Psalms 37:4 KJV

In this journey of faith, I have seen God do strange, mysterious things. I have seen God do what man concluded was impossible and also seen God settle the unbelievable. I have also seen 'delays'; where men had sought God's face for something and it appeared that God was not listening. I have seen men give up after several years of waiting, and I have also seen men hold on tightly to God for several decades, waiting for the fulfilment of a promise made by God to them.

It then appears to me that I cannot claim length of relationship with God or the length of time of praying or seeking God's face as a guarantee that I will get what I have asked for in prayer. I cannot bribe God with long prayers or fastings or quoting a lot of Scriptures and conclude that because I have fasted and prayed for years and memorized several verses, God is bound to give me what I want. Today's extract lays a deep foundation: "delight yourself in the Lord." This is a deep statement. I must eat, drink and live God in my daily living. I must constantly seek his perfect will in my life daily, and follow him closely. I must seek to know his mind on every issue that I face, because he always knows what is best at every point in time. I must take delight in the things that please God. That is the only assurance that guarantees that the desires of my heart shall be granted. When my own desires are already aligned with his will, why will I not get what I want? When all I desire is to please God and bring him glory through my life, why would God not work on my behalf?

Another year has just rolled by, and another one has begun. The old year may have been a tough year for some, and a smooth lovely year for others, but whatever your own experiences may have been, one thing is clear: your walk with God is personal. Your experiences this year are also personal, and your breakthroughs, even if they encourage  others, are also personal. It then means that I cannot concern myself so much with how God is blessing others, but my priority should be discovering and fulfilling God's divine purpose and plan for me.

I take stock of my priorities today. Are they aligned with the things God is doing presently? Am I pursuing my own agenda or God's divine mandate? Have i busied myself with how well others around me are doing, without minding so much how  and where God wants me to be? His time of favour is here.

Right Company

Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces. Proverbs 13:20 MSG

The importance of walking with the right people is emphasized by both the world's system and the Word lifestyle. Both agree that the company you are comfortable with shows the kind of person that you are. We can pretend for a while to be something else, but a review of our lives, particularly those who pride guidance and mentorship to us will reveal just what kind of persons we are.

The world has a saying: "Show me your friends, and I will tell you who you are". It is a clear testament to the importance of living right, moving right and walking right. You cannot divorce who you really are from who you move it, because the quality of your life's decisions will influenced by those around you. The Word of God also has its sayings, one of which is today's extract:" become wise by walking with the wise". Watch these: "You cannot attract who you are not"; "You cannot give what you do not have"; "You cannot also make a withdrawal from an account into which you have not made a single deposit". These are but a few of the conclusions that God would have us know about life.

God's purpose is first eternal, then personal. He gives a personal vision, then he assigns the right company with the complimentary gifts to help fulfil joint or linked visions/purposes. When God assigns visions, he will always provide the resources- human and material- that will aid the fulfilment of that vision. We must therefore edit our company and review our pursuits; are we in and with the right company? With the present friends and companions that I have, will I fulfil God's purpose?

The extract above ends with this warning: if you hang out with fools, your life will literally fall to pieces. With your own hands, you would have derailed God's purpose for your life. It is therefore important to know the place, timing and purpose of people that God brings your way. If they are there for a reason, discover and pursue that reason. If they are there for a season, maximise the season and when the reason or the season has expired, and they walk away, don't hold tight. Your vision and assignment is much more important than the people who move with you.

Take stock today. His time of favour is here.

Balance

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Ephesians 2:8‭-‬9 NLT

God has always been at work before the beginning of creation, and he is still at work today. Man is his special creation, the one created in his image and the one he longs to have fellowship with. Even when man fell in the garden of Eden, God was still planning how to save man and restore him back to fellowship.

However, the following is key to our understanding of our role and God's responsibility. First, salvation is by grace, after we believe. Sin hinders a man from ever acknowledging his need for God, but God would always reach out to man. Why then would man ever think that what he has is his right/entitlement?

Secondly, my faith and belief in God is fundamental to the process of salvation. The gift has been given; what remains is for me to take hold of the gift and enjoy the benefits.

Thirdly, there is nothing I could do to improve what God has already given. The sacrifice was complete, total and absolute, and is valid for all time, until Jesus returns. For as many as would accept this gift, salvation is freely given to them.

I cannot also boast in something I did not develop or discover. I simply walk into it by faith, so there is no room for pride or self-satisfaction. I stand in the abundance of the grace given me by God, which called me out of darkness into his marvellous light, so I can be a living testimony to the greatness and power of God to save. I have accepted Jesus as Saviour and Lord; what about you? His time of favour is here.

Right Focus!

Why are you in despair, O my soul? Why have you become restless and disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God. PSALM 42:11 AMP

It is obvious that we have been focused on the wrong things over the years. We have measured success by the wrong standards and striven to achieve 'right' things through the wrong means. We have devised sayings like 'the end justifies the means' and we are content with whatever we have amassed even if we had to kill or step on someone else to get it. In the midst of plenty, our hearts are heavy. In the midst of so many physical possessions, we are painfully aware of the distress that rages in our hearts.

We have convinced ourselves that it is the way of the world to get whatever we want, but we also conveniently forget that only in God is there permanent satisfaction. The Psalmist here had firsthand experience of depression and despair. He must have tried several things, but has come to the conclusion that only in God could he have true help. Like him, we must also come to that realisation that nothing else will work, except a focus on God and God alone.

We must also provide answers to the question raised here: 'my soul, why are you restless and disquieted'? The answer must be as the Psalmist's: my heart, hope in God. The world will not get any better, but my heart can change its focus. The world does not have all the answers, God does. The world does not offer help to 'slow' people, but God is the one who does not judge on the basis of speed, but on the basis of his mercy and grace. Men may seem to have gone so far ahead, but the question is: who is measuring the progress and what is the basis of the measurement? Why not hold on to God in absolute trust, confident that he is the one who can bring you to and sustain you in the place he has prepared for you. One day of favour can completely erase ten years of labour. His time of favour has indeed come.

Living Clean!

How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word. Psalm 119:9‭ MSG

Indeed, there are pressures all around us. The world and its standards keep shifting and changing, putting its inhabitants on a never ending rat race. There is a mirage of success that the world has established; a picture of prosperity that the world would want all of us to aspire to. However, for all who would aspire to God's desire and purpose for their lives, the question in today's extract is fundamental to that aspiration. The world has its standards; God also has His standard. Both will never agree, because both do not have the same foundations.

God's Word is a map for life, with answers to all of life's questions. There is practically nothing you want to know about life itself that the Word of God does not proffer a solution. However, just like a map, it is there as a guide. You cannot be forced to follow its directions; you can only choose willingly to be guided by it. It gives directions and guidance for as many as would heed and obey. If I would live a pure life, if I would have a clean life, if I will be properly guided, the Word of God is my one and only sure bet.

Therefore, if the question above is my pursuit; if living clean is my utmost desire, the answer is also provided: careful reading and obeying the Word of God. It sounds simple enough, until God's Word attacks the very foundations of the wrong beliefs I have held on to for long. I must be willing to test my beliefs and convictions on the strength of God's Word and be sure I am living right and living clean. The world cannot answer that question for me; only the Truth can. The world cannot provide guidance for my life; only the true map of God can. His time of favour is here.

Handover!

casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. 1 PETER 5:7 AMP

As I live daily, there are pressures I am bound to face, trials I must endure and difficulties that I must pass through. At no time did God promise that it will be smooth all the way. What do I need to do?

First of all, I must cast all cares. I must consciously and deliberately pass all the worries, cares and pressures. I was not created to hold on to them, I was not built to process and handle them.

Secondly, I must process them correctly, by handing them over to God, not other people. I do not have the strength or wisdom to properly handle these cares and worries, so I do as instructed: handover everything to God. It is also a complete and daily process, not something to be done at my own spare time or at my convenience. It is complete and total, not partial or halfhearted.

There is a reason why the command to handover is given, and that is because God cares about me. When I was created in the image of God, the breath of God that makes a man truly alive was also given to me. That breath empowers me to live above all that surrounds me. When I give my life to Christ, I take on the nature of Christ, living in dominion and authority. Stress loses its hold, pressures lose their focus, tribulations make sense and cares/worries are properly dealt with. God is watching over me as his prized possession, so I know that whatever he allows is for my utmost good.

Check out the MSG version of the extract above: Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you. God is doing the caring and the planning, I am to live my life in that consciousness, showing off God's power, ability, favour and blessings. His time of favour is here.

Thankfully Deep

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Colossians 2:7 NLT

I cannot bear fruits until I have been appropriately planted and properly rooted. It is the start point of growth. There is a right kind of place for planting and that is in Christ alone. You cannot bear fruit if you are planted anywhere else- on position, possessions, privilege, wealth or connections. These things do not last, and cannot be trusted. God alone is the one who can guarantee deep roots and fruits.

When I have been properly rooted, then the building itself will be done properly. When I am founded on Christ himself, then my life makes impact. When his Word guides my thoughts and actions, I am set up to be a blessing. No other way can work- other grounds, no matter how solid they appear, will be sinking sand compared to the surpassing grace of knowing Christ.

When I have gotten the rooting and building right, fruitfulness is the natural consequence. Whatever kind of seed was sown would determine the kind of fruit that will be produced. Is my life founded on the Truth of God's Word or on convenient falsehood? Do men determine what I believe or am I guided by Truth himself?

Of course, Thanksgiving is an integral part of my life. I was made for praise, I was created to give God praise and I was made for his pleasure. Am I fulfilling that purpose? Is my life headed in that direction? Am I full of thanks or bitterness? Am I full of praise or complaints? That is the choice before me; it is the same for you. His time of favour is here.

He is Coming!

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. Malachi 3:1 KJV

As another year rolls by, it is important to take stock of what is important, so that our hearts are not swayed by the comfortable and the usual around us. The message of the second coming of Christ has been preached all over the world, but it would appear to logical minds that this coming back is pretty delayed and may not happen. However, we deal with a God who does not deal with us on our terms or according to our own timetable. How do we deal with his Word here:
1. He has sent messengers- apart from the assignment of John the Baptist, there have been several other messengers who have declared the mind of God as it relates to the Second coming. Are we prepared or are we being deceived by the deceit of possessions, position, power or privilege?
2. His way is being prepared. Men are hearing the Truth, and are willing to accept and live by the Truth. Hearts of men are being prepared to receive the seed, and fruits are produced from those hearts.
3. The Lord will come again. If we can trust all other promises made by God in His Word, and can wait patiently for their manifestations, why would we think that he will not return, just as he has also promised?
4. He is coming back to and for his temple, that place that bears his glory and reflects his person, that place that has been kept clean and holy, that place that gives glory to Him. In case you were wondering, it is not a building, no matter how fanciful, but a person, who has accepted Christ as Lord and Saviour, and has Christ residing in Him. Are you that temple, or are you still focused on raising physical structures?
5. All words are weighed on the character, power, pedigree and quality of the One making the pronouncements. The Lord of Hosts is speaking here, the one who leads out the armies of heaven, who has never lost a battle, and who cannot be dethroned or confronted. He is from age to age, timeless and boundless. That's the God speaking. I think that is enough to help me know whom I am dealing with. What say you? His time of favour is here.

The Conclusion

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. Ecclesiastes 12:13 NIV

When you read the account of Ecclesiastics, you may be tempted to think it was written by someone like Paul, one with a deeply spiritual encounter with God, one who walked with God very closely all his life. The words are deep and fundamental to our purpose on earth, and the book establishes just what is important. The lessons put the person who wrote it in perspective.

Solomon lived a good life. In fact, he once claimed that there was nothing his eye or heart desired that he did not give it. He lived the physical life to the full, but at a point, he concluded on the vanity of possessions, position, power and influence. Solomon was the richest man on record anywhere in the world, yet we remember him more for the wrong reasons. He taught us the importance of time, he showed us the value of hard work, he emphasized the quality of diligence, silence and wisdom, but unfortunately, he was more of a preacher than a doer. He showed us what was necessary, but his life followed a different path. How am I living my life today? Can the world around me match the values of God's Word to the values that are apparent in my life?

At the end of all his pursuits, Solomon must have realized what was truly important- the fear of God. You can have all that the world can give, it is useless in the day of God's wrath. You can have the best the world can give, it will not save you from the lake of fire. What will matter at the end of my stay on earth won't be what people said about me, but what God says about me. I must live daily in his fear, I must be guided by his Word and Spirit, I must live in the consciousness of accountability. One day, I must render account of my stewardship to God, and nobody will stand with me on that day.

Would I live like the Preacher or live like Jesus? Am I paying lip service to God, while my heart is far away from him? Am I conscious of eternity, doing all I can to obey God, fully aware that one day, he is coming back? The decision is mine alone, the consequences of my decision are eternal. His time of favour is here.

Praise Again!

Enter His gates with a song of thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, bless and praise His name. PSALM 100:4 AMP

It appears that the popular call these days is an encouragement to praise God. Times are tough, and has made people rather self-conscious and selfish most times. We now look for our own interests first of all, satisfy our own whims first of all, and consider our own needs first of all. That is the normal human reaction expected. However, today's extract wants us to do things differently, to see God from another perspective. It is a call to see life from God's point of view; to praise God irrespective of what is going on around you. If it was that easy, the command to praise God won't come with such force and power. If praise came easy for man, today's call would be the easiest command to obey.

Check out another version of the same passage: "Enter with the password: “Thank you!” Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank him. Worship him". Praise is the key to unlocking the vast treasures that God is. Don't confuse God with who He is and what he gives. It is easy to express gratitude or praise to God when He has done great things in your life, but how do you do when things are not so easy? When the horizon looks bleak and it appears God is silent, can you still praise him through the pain? When hope seems pointless, can you still praise God?

Praise is the password to God's treasures. Gratitude makes your heart free from worry or pain, allowing you see God for who he is. Focus on God and who he is opens the door for God to express what he can do in your life. When things don't go according to plan, praise God. When the pain is real, thank God. When the road is rough and uncertain, worship God. Life will not always be smooth or fair, but God will always be God and good. His time of favour is here.

Basis of Praise!

Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength. “O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name!
1 Chronicles 29:12‭-‬13 NLT

Today's extract examines the foundations of our lives and seeks to set us on the right path. We are in a possession, position, power and privilege-conscious generation, where worth is measured in physical terms. We judge men by what they have or don't have, by the clout they command, by the position they occupy or by our own weak and unstable standards. Consequently, man has mastered the act of pursuing the earthly temporal things because he wants to be recognised and noticed.

However, some eternal truths stick out in the extract above:

1. Wealth and honour come from GOD alone, and power and might are in His hands. The world cannot give what it does not have, and it cannot explain what it does not give. Wealth is not what the world defines it to be, but what God determines it to be. He is the only source; all other sources will only end up in shame and disgrace. Man wields power as if he would have it forever. We have leaders who have been in 'power' for more than 30 years, afraid to relinquish position to another. They forget that nobody can last forever, all positions are just transient and only God remains forever. Power and might is God's exclusive preserve. Power and might is within God's exclusive control. No man can exercise power and might; you are only there for a while and for as long as the Power himself permits.

2. God rules over everything, and at his discretion, people are made great and given strength. That is authority, unquestionable authority. His determines who gets what, when and how. He raises up one and brings down another; he enters into eternal covenant of blessings with whoever he pleases, and he brings down men from their lofty positions, when they think they have it all locked down.

When I then consider the above, how would I not be moved to praise this God? When I realise that all that I have comes from him, and I do not amount to much outside of him, how would I not praise Him? God, I praise you, there is no one like you, you do great and marvellous things. Your time of favour has indeed come.

Real Victory

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin [by which it brings death] is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory [as conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 CORINTHIANS 15:57- 58 AMP

The fall of man in the Garden of Eden paved the way for sin to operate in and rule over the world. God had given man so much room in the garden, and had spelt out the terms of engagement. Man was to work, live well and relate with God, while keeping away from the things that could destroy that relationship. You would think it was that easy. Since the fall, man has consistently shown that obeying laws is difficult. Man has always shown a propensity for rebellion and disobedience. Through that act of disobedience by Adam, sin has been given power to rule the world as well as its inhabitants. Only in Christ is there freedom from the power of sin and the strength of the law.

God, who had foreseen that man could not help himself had devised a means for man's restoration. He gave his one and only son as the propitiation for our sins. Jesus shed his blood as the perfect antidote for the poison of sin and through him, we come into a new standing with God.

However, like everything God does, we must make a conscious decision to accept the gift. It has been given to the whole world, but only those who take up the offer, and accept the life offered by Christ, will fully enjoy the benefits on offer. The gift is available, life is available, hope is available, and death and eternal damnation are also available choices. It is your choice; how would you play it? His time of favour is here.

That One Gift!

Now thanks be to God for His indescribable gift [which is precious beyond words]! 2 CORINTHIANS 9:15 AMP

God is a giver. He is a God who delights in blessing his people, as evident in the story of the Garden of Eden. Everything that man would ever need was provided and in place long before man was created and placed in the garden to nurture and sustain it. The same principle applies till now, in spite of the fact that man has fallen away due to sin. God's divine arrangement and provision has still not changed and he is still very much in the business of doing great things.

However, in the midst of this great testimonies lie one important truth that today's extract reveals. We are aware of God's numerous blessings and provisions, yet today's extract only talks about one indescribable gift. In the face of God's promises of different things, both for the present life and the life that is to come, we are confronted by one indescribable gift. What or who do you think it is?

Could it be things or a person? When you consider all that God is, you realise that his  greatest blessing is his presence. In the garden, God would come down and talk with man. When man fell, that fellowship was the first thing that suffered, as man his himself from God. It has taken God giving his Son for that fellowship to be restored. I realise that with the Son, every other thing is assured. If God did not spare his son, what else won't he give us? If he has given us the best that he has, what else won't he give?

Today, I take stock of my life, and I appreciate God for the gift of his Son, Jesus. Through him, I have received forgiveness, redemption and eternal life. By him, I walk in a covenant of life and peace, certain of where I will end. Precious to me are his promises, but much more valuable is his Presence and Power. Indeed, thanks be to God for this great gift. What will it be for you too? His time of favour is here.