Praying Right!

The Lord is near to all who call on Him, To all who call on Him in truth (without guile). He will fulfill the desire of those who fear and worship Him [with awe-inspired reverence and obedience]; He also will hear their cry and will save them. PSALM 145:18‭-‬19 AMP

Truth Facts:
1. I must call upon God, not spend time complaining to men or grumbling about my lot in life. We can talk to others about our heartaches and disappointments or we can hand them over to God to sort for us. The choice is ours.

2. Closely tied to the advice to call on God is his promise to be near all who call. This is an incontrovertible fact: God is always there. The reason why he appears slow or absent is because we have not learnt how to surrender all to him and allow him work at his own time and in his own way. Do I trust God enough to work out that which is perfect or do I place God side by side with my many other options?

3. Calling on God has a right way. I must call on him in truth. There must be no guile, no deceit, no falsehood.

4. Check out the promise that ends this command to call on God: he will fulfill the desire of those who fear and worship him; He also will hear their cry and will save them. There is an urgent need to check your heart again: am I pursuing God only because of material gain or have I settled all controversy by deciding that I will call on God alone, even if it kills me?

God saves, but he does it in his own way, in his own time and as he pleases. Mine is to trust his wisdom, his timing, his working and his promise. His time of favour is here.

Light!

Jesus once again addressed them: “I am the world’s Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in.” John 8:12 MSG

Truth Facts:
1. There is no other person, no other authority, no other truth apart from Jesus. The world always looks for options, or the easy way out. Unfortunately, there is no easy way out of this: you are either guided by the Light or you are walking in darkness. There is no middle ground.

2. Jesus speaks from the place of authority, because he knows who he is, who is backing him up and what he can do. He is the undisputed Light of the world, who gives clarity to the thick uncertainties that surround us. Do you know where you are?

3. Have you located your position in Christ or you are still chasing shadows, unsure and uncertain about your eternal destination? Do not forget: on the dreadful day of judgment, there will be no joint effort, no group judgement, no collaboration or cooperation in sentencing. Each of us will render an account to God for our lives, and we will receive the just consequences of our actions.

4. Following Christ means walking with him and being guided by him. It means Christ determines all that you do, say and experience. He is the Light that shines on your path, guiding your feet where you should go, guiding your hands into what you should do, guiding your thoughts into what is proper and good and guiding your life into eternity. He provides plenty of light, enough to guide us for the rest of our lives.

Where are you headed? Do you even know where you are at the moment? Is Christ the one and only factor that you consider when taking decisions? Is he your only life coach, consultant and caretaker? Do you have other viable options? Consider critically; eternity depends on the answers to those questions. His time of favour is here.

God's CV

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and the One who rescues me; My God, my rock and strength in whom I trust and take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower--my stronghold. PSALM 18:2 AMP

Truth Facts:
1. The Psalmist here had a personal experiential knowledge about God. He wasn't speaking generally, quoting from a book or recounting someone else's testimony; this was his own experience, his own personal testimony. What's yours?
2. Check out the words used to describe God here- can you relate to any or all of them? He is a rock and a fortress, portraying a place of protection, defence, residence and safety. He is also the one who rescues. You know why the word ' rescue' is important here: because there are times when God will not keep you from hard times, but he will manifest his power and glory in the midst of those hard times. His glory and power are better appreciated in those times.

3. He is also a shield, and a high tower and stronghold. These words mean that trouble, danger, offence and wars will come your way. It is a guarantee. However, ahead of the experiences, God is already telling you that he is your protection. Note also that this is not about what God can give you, but what he is. He is protection, he is safety, he is my provision, therefore he also can give me all that I need.

Who is this God to you: is he just one of your many options or the only one that matters? Is he your only hope, trust and defence or is he one of the many options for protection? Remember, the day of decision will come, when the fruits of your faith will be made manifest. Will you stand in that day? His time of favour is here.

Help is Key!

God is not unfair. He will not forget the work you did or the love you showed for him in the help you gave and are still giving to your fellow-Christians. Hebrews 6:10 GNB

Truth Facts
1. God is not unfair. That is an eternal statement whose truth has been proven over and over again from biblical times till the present time. What I call time wasting is what God calls his season of preparation. What I call God sitting on his hands and doing nothing is actually God moving things around for my good. What I call delay is actually a preparation for awesome testimonies. Whichever you play it, God is wiser, stronger, smarter, older and more in tune with time than any other person that you think can help.

2. God does not forget. That is a truth that is also steeped in history. I do not recall anyone who came to the end of his life and concluded that he had served God in vain. In the course of life, there will be hard times, trials and tribulations but God still says: I will not forget you.

3. In holding on to God's promise not to forget me, I must also not ignore the things that God has promised not to forget: my labour of love and the help I render to others, particularly fellow believers. It is not just labour that God blesses, but labour of love. My motive must be right, must be that which puts God and others first, not the one that seeks to focus attention on me. It is not help that seeks to draw attention to my wealth of possessions, but to the depth of God's love. Which is my focus?

4. Do not forget: everything you do is to and for God. When that is the focus, you are free from man's ever changing expectations or impressions. You will find freedom to really live as God pleases, since you are not bothered with man's reactions. Keep loving, keep working, keep being faithful; the God who never forgets will remember you in due course and cause your end to be a glorious one and one that testifies to the greatness of God. His time of favour is here.

Real Life!

If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we’re obviously lying through our teeth—we’re not living what we claim. But if we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God’s Son, purges all our sin. 1 John 1:6‭-‬7 MSG

Truth Facts
1. Your daily life profession is a testament to your daily submission. Whoever you have submitted to will determine what your life produces. No man truly lives in God and produces works of darkness; it is not possible under any circumstances. I need to do an audit of my life and truly determine who is in charge.

2. Walking in the light will speak by itself. I do not need to introduce myself sometimes; the words of my mouth and the produce of my life will speak.

3. Interestingly, people know the right standards but will not live up to it. When I profess to live in the light, I do great injustice to myself if my life procession does not agree with my mouth confession.

4. Deep will always call out to deep. Men of like minds, whose lives have been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus, share a common bond, irrespective of skin colour, blood group, ethnic leanings or denominational differences. The connecting chord must be Christ only, the Light of the world.

Have you accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour? Have you been washed by the blood? Do you share sweet fellowship with others, washed and saved like you? Are you a member of the body of Christ, being prepared for the marriage supper of the Lamb, pure, free from stain, blemish, spot or wrinkle? Eternity is dependent on the answers to those questions. His time of favour is here.

Peace! Peace!

.... Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:32b‭-‬33 KJV

Truth Facts:
1. Nowhere else in the Bible is the truth about our walk with and call in God better explained than here. Jesus himself was left alone by men, let down by his disciples and abandoned at the critical moment of destiny, when he faced the cross. The truth is the same even today- men will not follow you to death, no matter how hard they promise. It is a personal walk, and the only person whose company makes the journey worthwhile is God.

2. It really does not matter what promises have been made to you by man. Marriages fail, agreements are broken without remorse and the world generally makes provision for disappointments. It then means that it is the way of the world to disappoint while it is the way of God to stand by you all the way. The choice of the company you want is yours to make.

3. Of course, your decision is even made more important by the assurance that life will not be smooth. Man likes comfort and convenience, but God has consistently shown that he will not bring us to the place of destiny through the easiest way. He wants us to learn lessons, to build character, to learn dependence and absolute trust in Him, not in our man-made contraptions.

4. Why should we be confident about facing the world? - because God has overcome. His death and life sealed our redemption, and opened the door for us to experience the amazing life God has for us. It may not always be rosy, but God's presence will surely smoothen the path for our feet. His eternal purpose is impact here and life hereafter, and not just the amassing of possessions. His time of favour is here.

Sustained for Life!

Jesus replied to them, “ I am the Bread of Life. The one who comes to Me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in Me [as Savior] will never be thirsty [for that one will be sustained spiritually]. JOHN 6:35 AMP

Truth Facts

1. There will always be questions on our life's journey. So many things will require clarity, clarification and assistance from powers higher, stronger and wiser than us. We will need assistance on this journey, but how far you go or how well you travel is dependent on the One who is holding you up or sustaining you. Will that be God or your parents, your trust fund, bank account, talents or connections?

2. Bread symbolizes nourishment, help and support. Nobody alive can go far without bread. Different people/systems/alignments will offer you palliatives or alternatives, but none can do what God alone can do.

3. Coming to God is a sure bet against hunger. It does not make me immune to persecution or hardship or lack, but it assures my heart that in all things, and at all times, God is everything that I need and has everything that I need. I must take that step of approach, surrendering all to Him and allowing him take total control. I believe that he is able to save me, therefore I surrender my life to him; after all, I do not even own the life in the first place, I am only offering it willingly to the One who owns it.

What or Who is sustaining you? Do you even realize the need for a Saviour or have you taken control of your life, asking God to step back. Remember, God can only sustain whatever he ordains, so you had better be sure you are who God can support and where his hand and eye can reach. His time of favour is here.

Sustained for Life!

Jesus replied to them, “ I am the Bread of Life. The one who comes to Me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in Me [as Savior] will never be thirsty [for that one will be sustained spiritually]. JOHN 6:35 AMP

Truth Facts
1. There will always be questions on our life's journey. So many things will require clarity, clarification and assistance from powers higher, stronger and wiser than us. We will need assistance on this journey, but how far you go or how well you travel is dependent on the One who is holding you up or sustaining you. Will that be God or your parents, your trust fund, bank account, talents or connections?

2. Bread symbolises nourishment, help and support. Nobody alive can go far without bread. Different people/systems/alignments will offer you palliatives or alternatives, but none can do what God alone can do.

3. Coming to God is a sure bet against hunger. It does not make me immune to persecution or hardship or lack, but it assures my heart that in all things, and at all times, God is everything that I need and has everything that I need. I must take that step of approach, surrendering all to Him and allowing him take total control. I believe that he is able to save me, therefore I surrender my life to him; after all, I do not even own the life in the first place, I am only offering it willingly to the One who owns it.

What or Who is sustaining you? Do you even realise the need for a Saviour or have you taken control of your life, asking God to step back. Remember, God can only sustain whatever he ordains, so you had better be sure you are who God can support and where his hand and eye can reach. His time of favour is here.

Why the Love?

I love the Lord , because He hears [and continues to hear] My voice and my supplications (my pleas, my cries, my specific needs). Psalm 116:1 AMP

Truth Facts:

1. The Psalmist here declares his love for God publicly, and without shame. He even wrote a song about his love for God. Do men know where you stand with God? Is your love for God from your whole heart or out of forced obligation? Truth is, the foundations of your love will be made apparent  eventually; you cannot hide it for a long time.

2. One of the reasons why the Psalmist could declare his love for God was a testimony that God answers prayers, and continues to do so. One of the peculiar things about God is his eternal consistency. His answers do not always align with human reasoning and logic, but it will always be what is best for us. 

3. You do not love God only because of what he gives you, but because of who God is. We are who we are, not because of what we have, but because of who we know. We are because God is. Do not get distracted by the needs, be lifted by the greatness of the God that you serve.

4. There is nothing too little or too big to take to God in prayer. Human nature hates being dependent, but God craves our trust. Should we keep holding on to false tokens of hope and help, instead of holding to the God who hears the most silent whisper, sees every tear that falls and meets all the needs that we have, no matter how complex? 

The choice is always ours to make. God is always at work, seeking to establish his kingdom in the hearts of men and asking that we trust his wisdom, workings and ways. Do you have a choice but to love God? His time of favour is here. 

It's Personal

But as for me, I will sing of Your mighty strength and power; Yes, I will sing joyfully of Your lovingkindness in the morning; For You have been my stronghold And a refuge in the day of my distress. PSALM 59:16 AMP

Truth Facts
1. Joy is a personal thing. If you consider the realities all around you, and the issues you face daily, it will be a hard sell to rejoice. But God is not subject to our earthly realities; he is God who is over and above all that we face.

2. God's mighty strength and power are the only things that need to be considered if we are to truly rejoice. Which is bigger: God or your situation? A clear understanding of the answer to that question will determine if you can truly laugh at the storms when they come.

3. Every morning is a reminder of God's newness. He does not give us stale blessings; he is always at work in and around us, daily loading us with blessings that are perfect for each day. If God can make over 7billion people each with unique fingerprints, God can indeed give me a unique experience of joy like no other person's.

4. Days of distress will come. Days of pain will come. Pain and sorrow are sometimes interjected with seasons of joy and laughter on this side of earth, but in all, God is the only safe place where joy is assured and certain. God is a stronghold, a place of refuge, where you are kept safe in the face of destruction.

Where are you located? What are the contents of your heart? What are your priorities and pursuits? It is a personal walk and a personal race; God will always play his part. Am I playing my part? His time of favour is here.

Living Free!

It was for this freedom that Christ set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery [which you once removed]. GALATIANS 5:1 AMP

Truth Facts:
1. Is the life of God birthed in you? Do you understand the demands, responsibilities and limitations of that life that has been birthed in you? God calls us into the freedom that only faith in Christ can guarantee, but we are reminded that is is possible to once again be held to slavery.

2. It is key to know and accept that Christ is the ONLY recommended and approved source of freedom. Nothing else will give you peace or give you the freedom that you desire. John could testify that he had seen all sorts of lives in his day, some living as they pleased while others lived as the devil directed. The fruits of their lives must have led him to declare that: So if the Son makes you free, then you are unquestionably free. JHN 8:36 AMP.

3. In living free, please note that license is not given to live as we please, but as the giver of the freedom pleases. At no time are we free from the control of someone: you are either directed by God or the devil. You cannot sit on the fence on this one. Standing firm must be in the freedom given by God, not in the freedom declared by man- reckless, direction-less and dangerous.

4. It is possible to be made free yet subject oneself to slavery. I was called out from slavery to sin, self and Satan into Sonship. I was called into a new order, but if I do not allow God to work on me continually, I may end up surrendering my life to the control and direction of rules, forgetting that God has called me into a relationship with him. There are rules in relationships, but God places more stock on me as an individual than on simply being bound by rules. I must not get stuck on process, procedure and principles and forget that God's purpose for me is a daily walk of love and eternal life at the end of this present life. His time of favour is here.

Proof of Life!

He who believes and trusts in the Son and accepts Him [as Savior] has eternal life [that is, already possesses it]; but he who does not believe the Son and chooses to reject Him, [disobeying Him and denying Him as Savior] will not see [eternal] life, but [instead] the wrath of God hangs over him continually .” JOHN 3:36 AMP

Truth Facts:
1. Eternity is a choice. Death had come because of sin, and life had been restored by the death of the One who is called Life himself. The invitation has now been made, asking all to believe and trust in the Son, so as to possess eternal life.

2. There is no other message, no other name, no other action that will give you eternal life. The way, means, channel and person who can guarantee that life has been determined. Morals won't get you there; being an active member of a living church is not the guarantee; knowing all the good graces of the Christian church will not give you that life. It is accepting him as Saviour that gives you life. Don't settle for anything less than the complete message; don't let anyone tell you that you are okay as you are without a Saviour.

3. It is certain that there is a life after this present one. The only one who knows what is ahead is the one who has asked us to believe in his son. What would it cost us to believe and accept Christ? When death comes, all the pretence is stripped away, all friends take their leave, and this reality steps in: you are indeed alone and you will face judgment alone. You had better be sure that you have made the right choice and you are headed in the right direction. His time of favour is here.

Doing Good!

Let Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in. GAL 6:9 AMP

What would God have me know?
1. Doing good can be tiring, especially when the target of your good works does not care what you do, or repays you evil for the good you have done. It is just important to note that God is not asking that I do good simply because of what the other person will say, but simply because he has asked me to do good.

2. Doing good always come with a reward; it just may not be the kind of reward you want or at the time you think it best. God promises a proper time- at his own convenience, when he sees fit and how he sees fit. One thing is however settled: whenever he shows up, he is always right on time.

3. The reward is also subject to the condition that I do not give up. This is the hard part. Why do I keep knocking my head against a seemingly closed door? Why do I keep loving the unlovable, helping the ungrateful and teaching the incorrigible? Simply because God asked me to. That should be enough reason for me. Nowhere in this verse is God asking me to align my actions to the reactions of the people he has sent me to. At no time am I to do good because good is also coming my way in return. What is key is what God has commanded, and what he has promised to reward.

I then have a choice- do I do the good expected of me because there is something to be gained, or do I do good simply because I want to draw attention to myself? Do I do good because the good God has commanded it, and I know he is one to keep his promises. I do not care what the reactions are; I just want to out myself in the line of God's amazing rewards. His time of favour is here.

True Source

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 NIV

Few Lessons:
1. The greatest need of any individual is to be saved from the natural consequences of his actions. We are by nature disobedient, rebellious and sinful, and the natural consequence of our actions is death- full, final and irreversible. However, right from the very place of man's rebellion- the garden of Eden- came the message of redemption, restoration and salvation.

2. Salvation does not flow from any natural man, neither is it bestowed by being rightly connected or physically blessed. The rich as well as the poor need it; the high and the low need it; the 'scum of the earth' as well as the 'rulers of the world' need it. You cannot buy it, earn it, deserve it, work for it or possess it by force. It is bestowed on as many as would come to the true source of salvation.

3. A name has been given. There is power in names, and this explains why till today, you hardly find people bearing Judas Iscariot and other names that did not have such good endings. The name given is the source of life and salvation. No other man on earth has the name; you could bear the physical name Jesus without possessing the power behind the name. There is a power at work behind the name: when you  call it, it brings forgiveness, salvation, healing, redemption, blessings, favour and grace. When you ignore it, you still live your life, but without eternity in view.

Forget popular opinion or the false doctrines that men have preached: nothing else will qualify you for heaven: not works, not good morals, not high standing in society, not popular opinion. These do not count; only a full and complete trust in the name given- Jesus Christ- will guarantee that your life ends right. His time of favour is here.

Daily Trust

So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34 AMPC

Few Lessons:
1. The advice/command is clear- do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow. It couldn't have been clearer. It is good to make plans for the future- saving up money for tomorrow, planning for the children, clothes, bills, fees, food and obligations that will be due tomorrow.

2. While it is not bad to plan for these, the attitude is the key factor here. Am I planning so well that God does not matter in the equation? Have I gotten it so well laid out that nothing can ever go wrong? Have I focused all my energy on what I do not have now that I am not even grateful for all the things I already have? In all the planning, am I conscious of what God desires and have I planned in faith, knowing that God is the One who can bring all the plans to pass? Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Prov.16:3 NIV.

3. Each day God creates has its own provision from God, which will be sufficient for that day. Even with God, his mercies are new every morning. He knows our hearts are prone to worry and fear, so he assures us of his Power, Presence and Presents on a daily basis. Where then is the place of fear? Why do I fret?

4. Each day has its own troubles. You could make the best plans and God will throw all of them out of the window the next day. Make the plan, but put all your faith in the dexterity and ability of God, not in the soundness and perfection of your plans. God will never be moved, neither can he be moved by anyone.
That song says: 'Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand, but I know who holds tomorrow, and I know he holds my hand'. Is that your confession and reality or a dream and hope? His time of favour is here.

True Friendship

An open rebuke is better than hidden love! Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy. Proverbs 27:5‭-‬6 NLT

Few Lessons:
1. What is the quality of the relationships you have nurtured over the years? Does truth feature prominently in these relationships or have you found a way of keeping it together by not wanting to hurt each other's feelings? Do you honestly review and assess your relationships, quick to own up to your wrongdoing, and quick to apologize even when it is apparent that you are right?

2. The life of Jesus in us leaves no room for self righteousness or pride, but at the same time, it does not prevent us from pointing out each other's faults, so we can learn from them and move on. Love is always active, always involved and always truthful. It does not seek to hurt deliberately, but it places more value on the eternal worth of a relationship than the temporary monetary gain to be made from that relationship. Which one is your priority- eternity or monetary gain? Would you keep quiet over wrongdoing, simply because you stand to gain something from the person who has done the wrong?

3. When you have friends who can tell you the truth in love, hold on fast to such friends. When you want to do the correcting, place more value on nurturing the friendship and leading the person into eternity, than to prove that you are right.

Remember, we are all human, and we can make mistakes. God has provided a support system, which is his body, to provide the required help, guidance and advice required to make it to the end. He has also provided his Word to rebuke, instruct, correct and training in righteousness, and it must be the basis of our interaction. May my love for you be based on God's Truth and may my life be an encouragement to you to hold on to the Truth until we earn eternal life. His time of favour is here.

The Right Way!

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who listens to counsel is wise. Proverbs 12:15 AMPC

Few Lessons:
1. Who does the Bible refer to as a fool?- he who says there is no God. It is not just by saying this, but by living it out in your daily life. Do you acknowledge God in your life? Do you consult him before taking any decision, no matter how minute? Have you even given your life to Him, asking him to take total control, or you are still in full control of your life?

2. No wonder a fool would think his/her way is always right. It is only logical that you would follow whatever path your leader determines is right. If self or sin or Satan is the leader, it is only natural that he will determine the course and destination of your life. Unfortunately, it is not what you think is right that is actually right, but what God says is right.

3. It is also not all counsels that you should listen to, but the right kind. How do you determine the right counsel? When you have the wisdom and the power of God himself living inside of you. There is no other replacement and no other path to wisdom. The same Bible says that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. When you fear God, you want to walk in his ways, you want to please him, you want to be led by him. That is the way to life.

Before us today is a choice- wisdom or foolishness; being led by our noses or being led by God. The choice is ours, the eternal consequences are already determined. His time of favour is here.

Way to Go!

As for God, His way is perfect! The word of the Lord is tested and tried; He is a shield to all those who take refuge and put their trust in Him. Psalm 18:30 AMPC

Few Lessons:
1. If God's way is perfect, it means that there are imperfect ways. The devil will always give us options; he wants us to think that we can place God side by side with other 'viable' options, and take one, depending on the circumstances we face. However, it is clear that there can only be one perfect way. Jesus is the Way, not one of the ways; Jesus is the Truth, not one of several truths; Jesus is the Life, not one of several sources of life.

2. You can never divorce God's nature from the deep truths established in His Word. Through his Word, we discover the nature of God- One in full control of the universe, and whose hands and eyes are imprinted on the world. No corner is so dark that his eyes do not see, and nobody is so far gone that he is beyond the reach of God's mercy.

3. God's Word has been tested and tried through the ages and has been found faithful. It has been applied to various circumstances and it has remained true across the broad spectrum of life. No matter the circumstances- birth, life, marriage, divorce, work, attitude, beliefs, actions, motives, intentions and death, God's Word establishes one eternal truth- whatever God has said is what will last.

4. You are only truly safe when you are in the One who is the true shield and refuge. The world speaks of high fences, electrocuted gates, arms-bearing bodyguards and CCTV, yet no one is truly safe. Meet the God who neither sleeps nor slumbers, who says he is a very present help in times of trouble. He is the One that can turn a lion's den into a room for the night, and can turn a fiery furnace into a cold room. The condition is however specified- take refuge and put your trust in God, not only call when you are in trouble and leave him out at other times. Nothing is impossible for God. His time of favour is here.

Ever Flowing!

He who believes in Me [who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living water. John 7:38 AMPC

Few Lessons:
1. For all of God's promises, there are conditions that must fulfill in order to enjoy the benefits of the promises. We seem to be listening to the wrong messages these days, and it appears we have settled for blessings without accountability. We claim God's promises by speaking them out, not necessarily because our lives agree with our confession.

2. Check out one of the conditions for walking in God's blessings- believe, cleave to, trust in and rely on God. No other way will guarantee that you will enjoy God's favour. Until you walk in the right paths, you don't enjoy the right connections and you don't get the right benefits. Where are you walking? Are you fully involved in God's business, or are you a passerby, coming in at intervals to take what you need and going out again? Full Residence, not temporary squatting, is the way to fully enjoy what God has on offer.

3. When you are rightly connected, your innermost being will testify to the touch of God. Your life will showcase the glory of God. It will be a continuous flow, not an intermittent drip. It will be rivers and streams, showing abundance, not a small, unnoticeable flow. It will be a never-failing supply. It will not produce stale, smelly or brackish water, but it will be a spring, constantly refreshed and replenished and renewed, always giving out newness.

Is your life producing living water or producing deadness? Are you showing off God's amazing favour or you are busy trying to keep your head above water? Your survival is tied to God, not your family background or your bank account balance. Your eternity is determined by the one to whom you are connected to and drawing strength from now. His time of favour is here.

Eternity in View!

My mind and my body may grow weak, but God is my strength; he is all I ever need. Ps 73:26 GNB

Few Lessons:
1. Life itself is a process and a journey. It will teach you lessons and it will take its toll on you. Friends will come your way; some will leave for a reason or no reason; some will stay for a season or two or forever; some will leave indelible prints on the sands of your life. In all these, there are lessons to be learnt, one of the most important is that God alone lasts forever.

2. Life itself is also a cycle. At the point where we were born, we were tiny, helpless and dependent. If you live long enough, life will come back full cycle. You will have strength and vigour as promised by God, but there will be a few things that wisdom will teach you to avoid. In all these, the most important lesson is still this: God alone lasts forever.

3. Life itself is a lesson. It teaches us so many things: the vanity of possessions, the futility of power and the shallowness of pride and position. We spend most of our lives seeking these things, forgetting still the most important lesson: God alone lasts forever.

4. Your life needs just one thing, and that is God himself. Other things will come to you in the process of time: money will be earned, some saved, some spent; possessions will be bought and disposed off; time will come to pass, but your greatest life investment will be what you do with Jesus. When all of life and its trappings are gone, and you are standing by yourself, you may realise that you had spent your life in pursuit of the wrong priorities.

Whatever else you get, get Jesus into your life. He makes the journey worth it. He guarantees you a successful journey: not a trouble-free one, but a favour-filled one. He is all you need, because in him alone lies all that you will ever need for life. His time of favour is here.

Cause and Effect!

For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices. James 3:16 AMPC

Few Lessons:
1. Check your heart. Truthfully check it in the light of God's Word. What are the contents of your heart? How do you relate to other people's "success"? When it appears you are struggling and others are 'making' it, when it appears as if God has remembered everyone else around you and forgotten you, when it appears that you are struggling for space and attention with people you feel you are younger then you, less experienced than you or less mature than you, how does you heart react? The truthful response to these questions would reveal the state and contents of your heart.

2. It does not end with you alone. God has so intricately designed life in a way that what I need is in someone else. Nobody outside of God can complete me, but the requisite growth materials are placed in various people, who I will come in contact with in the course of my life's journey.

3. It then matters how I relate with other people. If my life produces junk, it will flow out and pollute others. If my life allows junk from other people, it will also pollute the good that God has deposited in me. It is therefore my responsibility and duty to ensure that my life is not a prepared ground for junk to fester and flow out to others. It must be a place where virtue, grace and love flow from. My life will definitely impact, but what I allow in or cultivate in my heart will determine the product and output of my life.

4. Once again, check your environment. How has it been lately? Before you go pointing fingers, please look inward; the problem may not be so much an external one, but an internal adjustment required. His time of favour is here.

Strength, in the face of hopelessness

In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. Ephesians 6:10 AMPC

Few Lessons:
1. In the face of current realities, it is becoming increasingly difficult not to have a Plan B or a second opinion. Not a Plan B in terms of investment or income, but a Plan B in respect of help and support. Salaries no longer cover needs, family needs do not follow any known pattern and the economy has defied all known logical solutions. Is it possible to look only to God, in these very odd times?

2. God asks me to be strong in Him alone. I must depend on God alone, to the exclusion of all others. I must seek God alone for strength, sustenance and support, even when everything around me is going to pieces. Things will test your faith, circumstances will test your stand, situations will test your convictions. If there was no potential trouble ahead, God would not warn me to stand firm in Him. Like it has been said, it is not when trouble comes that your reaction is determined, but in the days when things seem to be going well. If you do not have convictions when you have all you need, you will definitely not have any when trouble comes.

3. Your strength must be in God alone. Isn't it amazing how we allow men to deceive us, by offering us placebos and palliatives that cannot help us? A man takes something that has been created, says a few things and gives you as protection, or as your source of wealth. Nobody considers that anything created, no matter how powerful or connected, can ever be greater than the One who created it. Why chase after the temporary appeal of the created, when you have all the power, strength, support, protection and provision that the Creator of the whole universe can give you? His might is boundless, his wisdom is beyond searching out, his understanding is unfathomable, his love is beyond searching out. That is just a tip of the greatness and power available to you when you make God your one and only option. His time of favour is here.

Making your stand known!

Anyone who confesses (acknowledges, owns) that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides (lives, makes His home) in him and he [abides, lives, makes his home] in God. 1 John 4:15 AMPC

Few Lessons:
1. There is an open invitation to the whole world. It has been settled that the world, as we see it today, will not last forever. Everything will be destroyed by fire, and the heavens and the earth will pass away. However, there is just one assuring knowledge - Jesus lives forever, and all who know him and have received Him will also live with Him forever.

2. The invitation is for all to acknowledge, own and confess that Jesus is the Son of God. Every word is important here - you must acknowledge his rulership and authority over your life, you must surrender total control to him and accept him as Lord and Saviour of your life. It is not enough to agree with his claims of Lordship or accept that he is King, his reign and rule must be true in your own life first. It is not enough for the world to call you a follower of Chirst, God must truly know you as his own, and he must be sure of your allegiances.

3. Your confession of Jesus as Lord is the key to the abiding presence of God in your life. God wants to dwell in us, take charge and direct our affairs into his perfect will. However, he does not force himself on us; we must willingly and consciously give over control to Him. You then enjoy a mutually benefitting relationship with God, where you stand to gain much more than you could ever give.

Have you made your home in God? Is God living, abiding, residing and dwelling in you? Have you received Jesus as Lord, and surrendered control to Him? That is the pathway to joy, peace and eternal life. His time of favour is here.

God's Placing

I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Psalm 16:8 AMPC

Few Lessons:
1. God's place in your life will determine the resources that will be available to you. Some people have made God one of many options or the fallback plan, just in case the main plan and the plan B does not work. Unfortunately, things may have gotten irretrievably out of hand before you get to the God-option.
2. Have you determined with certainty God's place in your heart? When things threaten to get out of control, where does your mind go? You can choose to see the amazing size of your problems or you can choose to see the amazing size of the God who can do all you think are impossible. It is a matter of focus. It is not an option or a temporary or occasional thing. At every point in time, whether things are hard or easy, God is the only focus and the continual point of our affection.
3. If you will remain unmovable, you must sort out your heart long before the problems start. You do not get to the middle of the river and complain about the wetness or the volume of water; you have to settle in your heart where God fits in your life. The three Hebrew men didn't make that speech on total commitment just on a whim; they had taken time to know God and to develop a relationship with him. Daniel couldn't have been calling on God because a lions' den was waiting for him; he had developed and consistently nurtured a living, breathing relationship with God. It is the same with us today: don't wait until the problems start. Know God now, seek him now, wait on him now, learn to trust him now. The days of testing and shaking are coming. Your standing then is determined by your priorities and focus now. His time of favour is here.

Taste and See

O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good! Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him. Psalm 34:8 AMPC

Few Lessons:
1. God can be tasted, literally. When you take stock of all you have been through, and truthfully examine the impact of God's hand on all your situations, do you not feel God at work in all situations? Have you not seen his invisible yet strong hand leading, guiding and protecting you even in the valley of the shadow of death?
2. The invitation is out there, asking that I come, taste and see. It is a picture of assurance from God's perspective, stating with certainty that with Him, you cannot have anything else except good. It is not seeing from the dim light of your own limitations, but seeing as God sees. I must approach the throne of grace with confidence, I must open my mouth to ask and my arms to be carried. God does not force himself on anyone, but he will move heaven and earth for anyone who trusts in Him. I must not define life by what I see, but what God wants me to see.
3. Trusting in God always leads to blessings. Trusting in God always opens doors that nothing else can open. Abraham was blessed by God beyond what any man could give him, simply because he trusted God. Isaac was blessed beyond the country where he was living because God blessed him. You cannot take your eyes away from God and fix it on the shallow, temporary circumstances that surround us daily.
4. Taking permanent refuge, not temporary residence in God, is what qualifies you for blessing. Too many times, we see God as one of many options, thinking we do have a choice. God is not at our disposal, to be used and dumped as we please; he is the One who alone must be served, worshipped and trusted. If I must end well, and if I must enjoy God's divine favour, I must just trust completely, absolutely and wholly on God alone. His time of favour is here.

Where are you resident?

You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages]. Isaiah 26:3‭-‬4 AMPC

Few Lessons:
1. God does the guarding and the keeping, while we are expected to do the staying, the committing, the leaning, the hoping and the trusting. This picture is one of absolute assurance of your own limitation and the confidence that God is able to do all he has promised. If you have options, God also has staying power. He can wait, after all, he has been existing long before this earth was created, and he will continue to exist long after this present world ends. You don't have that luxury, so your options are truly limited.
2. In trusting God, what seems to be key is that your mind, both in inclination and in character, is stayed on God. Your mind does not consider options first, before deciding who to trust, but it sees God as the only one that is worthy of trust. Your mind is stayed on God alone, not seeking temporary residence in a lot of options. God is not a spare tyre, to be used only on emergencies, and completely ignored and forgotten most times.
3. God's peace cannot be defined by the world, because the world does not understand its foundations. Peace that God gives does not shield us from issues, but it gives us calm in the face of the most distressing of circumstances. Don't let the world define what peace means; God has been defining it since the days of Joseph in the prison, the three Hebrew men in the furnace of fire, and Daniel in the lions' den. That is peace - God's presence in the face of the most distressing of circumstances, and joy in the midst of the strongest discomfort.
4. When you hear someone make a promise, you watch out for the capacity, capability and ability of the person promising to fulfil what s/he has promised. God sets out his ability,capacity and capability in these few words-he is the Rock of Ages. That is deep. Long before the problems came, God has been God, and long after the problems would have ceased, and life itself as we know it would have ended, God would always remain God. He can be trusted to keep his promises. His time of favour is here.

Who are You?

The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the [consistently] righteous (the upright, in right standing with Him).  Proverbs 15:29 AMPC

Few Lessons:
1. God has already established his will, desire and purpose for us. His Word is the map, the plan and the compass. If his Word does not back you up, you are simply pursuing your own agenda. As you read the Word of God, not the compilations of men, you see God's consistency in dealing with sin and unrighteousness. God punishes it wherever it is found, either in Israel or in Babylon, either in David or in Nebuchadnezzar. It really does not matter how close to God you claim to be; what really matters is that you know, approve and follow what God has established as his will and purpose for your life.
2. Wickedness is not the conscious committing of evil, but a constant rejection of God. As long as you are a friend of the world, you are an enemy of God. It does not matter if the world stands to applaud you; it does matter whether God approves of you. Man's approval is always temporary and hypocritical; God's favour is always eternal and generational. God is far from the wicked, and when he is far, he does not hear their prayers. Unfortunately, the wicked will appear to prosper, they will have all the physical, outward signs of success. However, beyond the surface you see is an eternity in jeopardy, an awaiting of eternal loss if there is no return to God. Pause here and seriously consider: are you living to please man or seeking God's approval and mercy?
3. God's ears are always attentive to the prayers of those who have made him their only trust. Righteousness cannot be bought or transferred; it is given by God to all who have come to trust him alone, and who constantly rely on him alone. That word "consistently" is key here. You do not start in Him and attempt to finish it on your own. You do not depend on him most of the time and try to work it out by yourself the other times. There must be a continuous, unending dependence on God.
4. PRAY! There is amazing power in talking to God. Man cannot help, no matter how noble his/her intentions may be. God is waiting for that conversation, that connection with you. He promises to hear, and to respond to our earnest desires. We may not always like what we hear, but beyond our getting all we need, we have a friend in God, the author, maker, sustainer and perfecter of all that concern us. Isn't that just perfect? His time of favour is here.

Learning God's Way

May the Lord lead you into a greater understanding of God's love and the endurance that is given by Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:5 GNB

Few Lessons
1. God always leads us to a deeper understanding of who he is and how he works. God is not content with our good start; he also wants us to grow deeper, stay longer, work harder even as we get to know him more.
2. God's leading as described above is encompassed by his love. All he does is in love, even when events around you speak otherwise. One of the hardest lessons that we need to learn is that God is powerful enough to cause even the 'evil' events around us work out for our good.
3. My understanding of God's love is key to how I see life. Do I see life from God's perspective or from the narrow prism of my own experiences? Do I summarize God's dealings with me just on the basis of what I go through? Do I trust God enough that his love for me is far greater than the pain and trouble that I may face?
4. You will learn endurance by walking with and working for God. I am yet to see a man being used of God without being tried and tested. I am yet to see a man who God took a long way without first approving the depth of his convictions and the quality of his endurance. As God tries and tests, he's preparing you for higher assignments. Take the lessons, learn all you can about God. The lessons you pick up now will speak for you in the places God has been preparing you for. His time of favour is here.

Cause and Effect

I will give thanks to You with an upright heart, When I learn [through discipline] Your righteous judgments [for my transgressions]. PSALM 119:7 AMP

Few Lessons
1. Check your heart. Input always determines output. When you have not made an investment in appreciating God for whatever he brings your way, how would you live a life of thanksgiving? When all you see is what you do not have, how would you see all the good things that God has done for you or is presently doing?
2. What is the motive for worshipping or thanking God? Is it in full appreciation for who he is, or what you stand to gain? Man's applause is easy; you just have to do what pleases him, pretence inclusive. With God, you cannot pretend. He created the heart, therefore the heart cannot hide its true motives and intents. Is my heart right before God, and thanking Him with the right motives?
3. There are lots of things to be thankful to God for, but this extract discusses just a few. One of such lessons is the investment of God in our lives through our experiences. God sharpens, shapes, cuts, melts, molds, breaks and fills us as he pleases, so we can be all that he wants us to be. He disciplines us so we can be fit for use and fitted for purpose. Our lives are not ours in the first place, so  you cannot determine by yourself what you want to do, what you want to be, or where you want to go. That is God's prerogative. Another lesson of assurance is that God will punish sin, wherever it is found. This has got nothing to do with favouritism or partiality. Right from the first man, the wages of sin has always been death, and till now, nothing has changed. Love may give you many chances to repent, but judgment is bound to happen some day.
4. The balance of God's discipline and God's judgment is this: he desires to keep us away from sin and its evil consequences. That is the argument in favour of his discipline. He desires to teach us his ways so we can live right and live free. Because he has his eyes on my eternal destination, he will ensure that I learn all I can about Him and his expectations for my life. Even when I go wrong, he does not abandon me. He will punish so he can heal, he will punish so he can restore me, he will punish so that I do not become forever lost. Why would I not praise and thank him? Why would I not appreciate such wonderful foresight? Why would I take his dealings with me for granted? His time of favour is here.

These Times!

Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Matthew 24:34‭-‬35 KJV

Few Lessons:
1. We are indeed in the end times, spoken by Jesus while he was on earth. Strange things are happening, evil seems to be on the increase, but God keeps on doing his work in and through his children. Are you expectant of his second coming? Do your present works and life prove that you are eagerly awaiting his appearing?
2. There is an assurance that this generation will experience the signs of the end of the times. In fact, God speaks in every generation, seeking to draw the hearts of men away from the ephemeral to the eternal. The question is whether we are attentive enough to hear God speak, or patient enough to wait for his directives.
3. God's Word can be trusted. If u can believe his promises, why would I reject his warnings? We want the blessings, the favour, the success that he has promised, but we reject his demand for holiness and purity. Can I accept his gifts and reject his person? Can I take what he offers and reject his demands of my life?
4. God goes on to assure us that even the earth as we see it now, with all its beauty, grandeur and style will pass away. Heaven will also pass away, and both will give way to new ones. Am I preparing for the new? I cannot hold on to the old and accept the new. If I do not let go of the old, the new cannot be received. God wants to make my life new, he wants to give me a brand new life, he wants to give me hope that will not disappoint. The ONLY way is through Jesus Christ, not activities, not morals, not the right principles; just an acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Do you have the new? His time of favour is here.

Want God?

Jesus answered, “If anyone [really] loves Me, he will keep My word (teaching); and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling place with him. JOHN 14:23 AMP

Few Lessons:
1. There is a definition of love according to Jesus and another according to the world. My eternity is dependent on my choice to define my life by the right definition.
2. How does Jesus define love? It is inextricably linked to obedience. If an imperfect earthly father is accused of being partial to a child who is ready to obey, imagine how the perfect Father will feel if those who claim to know him obey all his commands. You cannot love God without obeying Him, and you cannot obey God if you do not love him.
3. Of course, there is an assumption that you even know God's Word. How do you keep something you do not know anything about? How do I obey a command I have not even known or heard about? The foundation of love and obedience is the cultivation of a relationship with God. As I grow in my knowledge of him, I know more about him and his expectations for my life.
4. Love for God and his Word leads to permanent residence. When I allow God's Word to be the only factor in my life, I simply allow God dwell in my life, after all, Jesus is referred to as the Word of God. With Jesus comes the Trinity- the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Is Jesus an afterthought, or is he the landlord and controller of my life? His time of favour is here.

Stay Connected

constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ], steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer [continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength], ROM 12:12 AMP

Few Lessons:
1. Joy is not the absence of issues, but the consciousness of who I am. I rejoice because my life is in the hands of the One who is able to sleep through the storms.
2. My joy has a basis: hope in Christ and in eternity. I know it does not just end here; everything I do now is a preparation for eternity.
3. There is an assurance that distress will come. I have learnt to ignore messages that assure me that I will not have problems; I choose to focus on God's Word and the many promises made. He talks about His Presence, his Power, his Protection, his Provision, his Peace, his Potency and his Perfect Will. If my heart is focused on these many assurances, how can I be afraid of what tomorrow holds?
4. I must keep seeking God's face in prayer. Yesterday's leading does not cut it for today. I must seek fresh insights and direction for today, because no day is ever like the one before or after it. I must keep God ever before me, because he knows the way I should take, and the way that will lead to the fulfilment of his purpose for my life. His time of favour is here.