Waiting......

Wait for and confidently expect the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord. PSALM 27:14 AMP

This is the 21st century- the digital and computerized age. We have microwaves for quick heat, we have fast foods, and we have terms such as the rat race. We are in a hurry somewhere, definition not known and motivation not certain. The world asks us to jump and we obey, not because we are sure the world knows anything, but because we do not know any better. The world tells us to acquire degrees, possessions and titles, because the world only respects you on the basis of what you have or know, not on who you know. So we run, unsure of what we are pursuing or what is motivating us to run. We fight, not with much direction, but like one beating the air. We strive with others for position, possession and relevance, thinking our value is tied to what we have.  Today's extract tells us differently.

Waiting on God is not standing still; it is living with the consciousness that self help has ended and God is in charge. All I do is with the understanding that I could never earn God's grace and favour. This frees me from unhealthy competition with other people. I am not in a race against anyone; I am on a race of discovery and pursuit of God's purpose for my life. I wait because God has proven himself a faithful God who keeps his promises. If he says "I am coming", you can stake your life on the veracity of that promise.

And as I wait, my heart has no room for fear, doubt or uncertainties. I have handed over the reigns of my heart to him, asking that he help me to hold on to him, even when everything around me is falling to pieces. He is coming. Am I ready for his coming? Is my life a testament to the blessing a life of total dependence on God can produce? His time of favour is here.

Love Defined!

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 1 Corinthians 13:4‭-‬5 NLT

Only True Love can truly define Love. Movies, novels and society have varying definitions of love, from the sensible to the outrightly ridiculous. Some have reduced  love to the act of sex alone, whilst others project the image of physical attributes and characteristics on to the view and understanding of love.

However, looking at today's extract, there appears to be nothing said about the physical or the outward first of all. There is an inner work to be done, before the outer evidence would be seen. There is no school that will teach you patience and kindness, other than God's school of love. He will bring your way difficult pressure situations and also supply grace to endure and overcome, if you would only depend on that grace. Love does not see itself as superior or inferior to anyone else, and leaving room for jealousy, pride or irritation with others. When you find yourself harbouring thoughts of jealousy, watch yourself: could be that you see yourself as better than someone else.

Love keeps no records of wrongs. In this digital age when words are archived and actions are recorded, love chooses the high road. When others at talking of revenge or payback, you are talking of forgiveness. When others are talking about equal measure, you are taking a backseat and allowing others have their way. It is not the way of the natural man; but then, true love too is not the way of the natural man. We need the help of the One called Love, to show us how it is done. Do I know this Love? Does he know me? Have I accepted this Love into my heart? His time of favour is here.

Focused Living!

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV

In this world of ever-shifting standards and uncertainties, today's extract speaks of a new focus. Just before this verse, we read of the victory over sin and death and the death and life of Jesus has secured for us. Armed with that understanding, we move in obedience to the text for today. When your anchor is secured, it does not matter what the strength of the storm is. When you have founded your faith in the one described as the Rock of Ages, refuge and fortress, you have found an eternal resting place.

God is not so much interested in my comfort than he is in my character. He will bring situations and circumstances my way that will test the quality and depth of my convictions. It is foolish to think I can coast through life, untested and unproven. God will not entrust great assignments into the hands of the one whose convictions are uncertain and unsure.

As I walk and work in this life, I am daily conscious of the one I am truly walking with and working for. When I keep man's approval and applause as the focus, my labour will always be in vain, because man is never satisfied. However, God has established his counsel and purpose since creation, and everything he says or directs is aligned with his Word. You don't work for God in vain and you don't lose when you invest in God.

Today, be sure of the basis, reason and foundation of your labour. Don't work because someone said it is your area of gifting, but work at it because you are convinced you are in the niche God has carved out for you. His time of favour is here.

Created for Impact

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. Psalms 139:13‭-‬14 NLT

The 21st century celebrates individualism. It appears now that each person is free to decide who he is and what he is to become. We now see boys/men not content to remain such but undergo sex change surgeries to look like girls, and vice versa. The beauty industry is thriving because it has projected an acceptable image to the world and everyone is spending big to conform to that image, without so much thought to what the creator himself intends.

What is God saying to us here: every single part, visible or hidden, everything that makes up the complex creature called ME wasn't accidental; God took time to form, fashion, fix and place each part where it should, and breathed his life into the form. I stand today, not because I am smart, but because God is an awesome designer. However I appear, God determines my area of influence and the world I am to impact for him. If I spend my life seeking to impress people, I would have wasted God's resources in my life.

Check out these facts: nobody shares your fingerprints, yet there is a chain of identity that is embedded in your DNA, and which can help trace your history as far back as 5 generations. Your eye is a complex structure, which itself has peculiarities that you alone have, and is the basis of various eye-based technologies today. 

Interestingly, technology seeks to deny God's existence and power, yet relies on God's creative ability to make life more comfortable. Unfortunately, you don't last long when you deal with life outside of God. The Psalmist here had gotten it right: the power is from God, not of man. The workmanship is a testament to God's creative ability, not man's greatest achievement.

What does my life celebrate: God or man? Who does my life acknowledge as Lord and Master? His time of favour is here.

Inner- Outer Match

So, as God’s own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper]; COLOSSIANS 3:12 AMP

Do you know who you are or who you belong to? That question is fundamental to what you do and how you do it. This verse is addressed to God's own chosen people - set apart, sanctified for his purpose and well -beloved by God himself. Nowhere does effort and ability come in here. You don't stand in God by your own strength or wisdom; you are who you are because of the call of God over your life. At no time does your fine looks, lovely degrees or family connection make a difference; you stand in and by God alone.

Holiness and sanctification are God's responsibility and prerogative. You don't do anything to earn them; you only need to rest in the finished work and continue to persevere in them, depending on the source daily for grace to live right. You don't start in Him and expect to continue in your own strength.

If I understand God's work in me, what is then expected of me? I must Iive an outer life that reflects my inner control centre. I cannot show compassion, humility or patience unless and until I have become God's own person. Yes, there are morally upright people, nice men, great women and wonderful people making impact all around the world; unfortunately, like Cornelius, it seems that all the good would not be enough without the help of the Greatest one.

I have a decision to make, one with eternal consequences. Would I depend on God alone and walk with him everyday, or would I depend on my own strength and capacity? Both decisions have an eternal end. May God's grace lead me to the right decision. His time of favour is here.

Pursuit of Purpose!

Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.  There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord , that shall stand. Proverbs 19:20‭-‬21 KJV

These two verses are critical in the understanding of life's priorities. In fact, the application of one verse is dependent on the understanding of the other verse. One verse unearths the secret of wisdom, the other establishes the inevitability of purpose.

If I want to obtain true wisdom as indicated by God, the only prescribed way, I must both hear and receive the right information. My ears, eyes and heart must work together in the process of getting wisdom. There will be several sources of counsel, and there will be multiple sources of instruction, but if true wisdom is my target, I must be careful to arm myself with what originates from the Truth himself. If my priority is wisdom from God, not man's applause, I must seek out his will from his Word, receive instruction as I grow with other believers and keep a guard over what my heart processes. Where God is taking me to is so important that I must watch the little steps I take to the place of purpose.

However, the sure foundation of all you would ever become is this: it does not matter how well you plan, or how 'wise' you become; God's purpose and counsel that will stand. You can make the best plans and lay the right foundations; if God wants to work outside your plans, it does not cost him anything. In fact, he will always work outside man's best plans because he does not want man to think himself more highly than he ought. We could 'plan' well and 'get it right', and think it was our wisdom that brought us through, forgetting that the right wisdom is the one you received from God and which does not lift man above God.

So, what are your plans? Have you got an idea of the purpose of your existence? Get something right first: God's counsel and purpose is nonnegotiable; nothing you do can change or thwart it, but your role is to discover and purpose that purpose for your life. If I will be relevant, as defined by God, then I must use his resources - his Word - as the foundation of my life. His time of favour is here.

Quiet but Effective!

For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17 NLT

Some statements here are truths which reality around me may try and deny but are true anyway.

God is referred to as the Omnipresent one, who is everywhere. Yet, there are times when like the 3 Hebrew men, he does not  show up until I am in the fire. It may appear that God is silent when needs around me are screaming for attention, yet there is no doubt that he is there. He lives in and with me.

He is also a mighty saviour. Being a saviour could mean different things to different people, depending on the present needs, but man's greatest need is to settle the question of earthly impact and eternal gain. Don't settle for the temporary bliss that money, position, power, privilege and possessions may give you; if God does not save you, you only hold on to false hope. If God has saved you, and you are his own, present discomforts are all temporary.

His love calms all fears. Trials will come, the wind will blow, the storms will rise, tribulations will come, faith will be tested, but God's love remains constant and consistent. Where his love lives, fear cannot thrive. When you don't have his love, you have all to fear.

Even God sings! If as Revelations say, the 24 elders, the host of angels and all other heavenly host all praise God day and night without ceasing, picture how God would sing over you as you live his life where you are. Your life is a platform for the glory and praise of God to be revealed, and you can only be truly fulfilled when your life gives glory to the One who gave life.

Where do I stand? God has always been faithful, making all his resources and life available for me. Can I trust him completely with my life? His time of favour is here.

Change Residence 2

I will say of the Lord , He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Psalms 91:1‭-‬2 KJV

Today's extract  flows from our thoughts from 5 days ago, where the verse before this was discussed. Talk is cheap; anyone can say anything, anytime. However, what you do on the day of visitation is what defines you. The Most High has offered his secret place and the Almighty his shadow as places of refuge and protection. This offer stands for as many as would come seeking and searching.

The Psalmist here responds to God's invitation. He confesses that God is the only one who offers true protection and refuge, and in Him alone will he trust. These are words that come easy to all of us when things are smooth and our principles are untested. When all we need are provided and it appears that we are coasting through life, it is easy to say God is the only one for us. However, one truth i have learnt is this: the strongest confidence is forged from the furnace of trials. The 3 Hebrew men probably never experienced God like that before, until they dared Nebuchadnezzar and stood with God. From their confession, it didn't make a difference if God decided NOT to save them; they had signed over their lives to God, and they were going to trust his wisdom, timing and work in and through them.

That is the only option. When you have choices, you will always compromise. When you know you are stuck with God, and you have made him the one and only option, you will view your trials and experiences in a different light. So, what do you say? Is God your refuge and fortress or have you found other options running side by side with God? Are you trusting ONLY in God or you also have several exit strategies lined up, just in case God fails? Speaking is easy; your word-confession must line up with your life-profession. His time of favour is here.

Hold On!

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. Hebrews 10:35‭-‬36 NLT

One of the greatest needs of man is a sense of security. Every parent wants to provide for the present and secure the future for the family. Physical needs are mostly the focus, but life has taught us that you really cannot secure any future until you know the One who owns and holds the future. The focus of today's extract were people who had lost so many earthly things because of their faith in Christ, but that did not do any harm to their joy, because their lives  were not defined by possessions.

In who/what is your confidence? Is it in the abundance of possessions, or on the certainty of your bank account balance? Recall Nebuchadnezzar, king one minute, grass-eating animal the next. Remember Israel, serious famine one night, super abundance of food the next. With God, what you hold now doesn't matter; it is who you know. When your confidence is in God, loss of possessions does not faze you.

Confidence in God is founded on knowledge and relationship, and it will be rewarded. Holding on to the end is what gets you the reward, not how much you have or earn. Things will shake you, situations will threaten your peace, trials will test your faith. In all, you must know, understand and pursue his will. It is the way to true life and the way to eternal reward.

A reward is coming. Things may not look good now, but with God, appearances can indeed be deceiving. Just at the next bend, a miracle and breakthrough is near. Just at the next turn, the dark tunnel ends and light beams. Hold on; with God, you are never alone or without help. His time of favour is here.

Relationship!

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Psalms 23:1‭-‬3 KJV

Very popular psalm, easily committed to memory. A fundamental distinction is to know both the psalm and the Shepherd, who is the focus of the psalm. In life we need guidance. It does not matter he educated, connected or enlightened you are; life will throw you curve balls. You need an experienced guide, someone who knows what is ahead and has made adequate provision for all that you need to be all that he purposes. He does not guarantee that you will not have needs; he only promises that his presence, guidance and provision will ensure that you will not lack all that you need when you need it.

When life has beaten you black and blue and you are weary and tired, the Shepherd provides refreshment and rest. You cannot run on without rest; you will only burn out. God provides rest, and he provides refreshing. He invites you to a place in Him, where you can find rest for your soul. He says "Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest".

Even when I make mistakes, he restores. He's not like man, without mercy and without grace. When I sin, he reminds me of my walk with him and gives me a contrite heart. He restores my soul. He leads my paths in righteousness.

Do I even know his will for my life? If I do not know him, how do I know who to follow? If I am asked to follow someone, it has to be someone who clearly knows the way and has been proven as a guide. If I do not know him, how would I know his will? The foundation of the Shepherd-Sheep connection is relationship. The sheep know and follow the Shepherd, and the Shepherd knows his sheep, guides, feeds and protects them.

Do you know God? Do you know his will? Does he know you as his own? His time of favour is here.

Discipline!

My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:  For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. Proverbs 3:11‭-‬12 KJV

......My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Hebrews 12:5‭-‬6 KJV

Words of wisdom, eternal words. We see it in the old testament as well as the new testament. Some people would argue that the dispensation of grace has put an end to the operation of the law in our lives  but today's extract proves that discipline is an eternal concept.

Key lessons:
1. The Lord does not discipline without love. It is love that makes a parent provide boundaries for the child. When other children are doing particular things and another parent forbids same for his/her child, the natural tendency is for the child to think the parents are unfair. Same goes for God: when others seem to be getting away with actions, God seems to be holding us to a higher standard. It is not borne out of hatred but from a heart of love. God who sees ahead knows what is at stake, and he knows just what lessons are needed to prepare you for that assignment.

2. Discipline is an offshoot of relationship-  God deals with his children in different ways from those who have not surrendered to him. The word 'son' is critical here and shows blood- connection. For the prodigal son, nothing he did changed the fact that he was a son. He did wrong, acted foolishly but on his return, the connection was obvious for all to see. Same with God: he does not treat us equally. I know we say God is a merciful God, but from Scriptures, those who know him are called into a different lifestyle, a higher standard and an eternal call. If you are in this category, eternity is the reward, but God will take you through experiences to prepare you for this. Whatever he allows has been prepared to make you into what he has purposed. Walk with him, surrender all to him, let his purpose find expression in you, no matter what he allows. His time of favour is here.

How's your Walk?

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit - ROM. 8:1KJV

Your steps are ordered according to your control centre. What you get or become is determined by the choices of surrender that you make. If God is in charge, man's approval or disapproval makes no difference. If the flesh is in charge, then you have everything to fear.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death - ROM. 8:2KJV

God operates by laws. Even when he breaks protocol to bless someone, he is guided by the laws of his Word. Life is governed by laws, just as the spiritual realm is also governed by laws. I must settle the eternal question of the law at work in my life. Like it has been said, eternity hangs on the question of my control centre.

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:- ROM. 8:3KJV

The law could not address the issue of sin, because it did not understand the origin of sin. God had to send someone who like him existed before sin, so he could be a perfect channel of redemption for man. No amount of labour outside of God can equate to favour. No amount of law-keeping can guarantee you life; Jesus, sent by God, sent in our form, and for our good, is the ONLY way God has approved. His life ends death; his birth ends death; his own condemnation ended our own unworthiness.

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:4 KJV

If I have accepted the free gift given, I have new life. Everything the law could not do, life in Christ has made it possible. The works part of the law failed miserably, but the righteous requirements of the law found fulfilment in Christ, and for all who receive him,they receive  the power to walk after the Spirit.

We really cannot amount to much outside God's help. My outer walk of faith must match the inner work of grace that God has wrought in me. It will be a major disaster for me to accept God's gift of grace and still persist in works of the flesh. The Holy Spirit is my companion, given to help me walk with God from the present to the eternal. How's your walk? His time of favour is here.

Power of Words!

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.
PROVERBS 18:21 AMP

Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.
Proverbs 18:21 MSG

Different versions, same verse, pointed message. My life is expressed by the output of my lips. My earthly impact and eternal reward are all tied to the fruits if my life, mainly expressed by what I say or do not say. Do you know why words are very important? God created the whole earth as we see it now by His Word, and he continues to renew, replenish and restore all through his Word. If indeed as the Word says, we are created in his image and likeness, then we carry the same genes of greatness and impact, and we must therefore be careful about what we say.

From the times of the Patriarchs, words have been used to either build up or tear down. Wars have been fought, destinies changed, love renewed, lives ended and generations preserved all through the power of the tongue. Indeed, the Word calls the tongue a small part of the body,  but one capable of great things. Indeed, how you use your tongue determines what your eternal impact and destination will be. You are responsible for the use of your tongue and you will live with the consequences of how you use it. Nothing is ever done in vain; God has tied a consequence to all that we do here, good or bad. That is the law of sowing and reaping, which has stood since the days of Noah.

What power are you giving your words- death or life? Your priorities, pursuits and relationships today will reveal the answer to  that question. His time of favour is here.

Staying Calm!

“Behold, God, my salvation! I will trust and not be afraid, For the Lord God is my strength and song; Yes, He has become my salvation.” ISAIAH 12:2 AMP

The world is sinking sand. Its principles are constantly shifting and changing; its morals never certain. It has no answer to the eternal because it is itself not eternal; its end has been predicted- the world and its desires will one day pass away.

However, there is a God who is eternal in existence, eternal in planning and purpose and eternal in his gifting and calling. From before the creation of this present world, he has been in existence, and he will continue to exist long after this world has ceased to exist. The Psalmist here takes time out to introduce us to this God. God is called salvation, meaning that you get all that God is. God is also referred to as  personal Strength and Song to the Psalmist. Pictures of personal relationship.

Beyond what people say about God, who do you know God as? Have you experienced him in any personal way? Is your knowledge of God limited to what people say about him, or have you had a personal encounter that will stay with you for life? Can you trust someone you do not know, or can you commit your life into the hands of someone who you have not proven as capable?

Today, I introduce you to God, my own rock, my salvation, my strength and song. It is a personal relationship, developed from experiences with him over time. I do not boast about the  search; it was God who found me. I do not qualify by human standards; everything I know today is God introducing himself to me in manifold ways. God has proven himself; all I can do is trust him to come through for me. His time of favour is here.

Focused!

Teach me your way, Lord , that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.
Psalm 86:11 NIV

There are many things we learn and unlearn as we grow in the world, but it is important to emphasize the things that are truly eternally important. There are career choices, there are marital choices, there are migration choices. These are just a few of the important decisions that we take in life. If we consider earthly impact as important, how much more the eternal?

I have to submit myself to God, if I must learn his ways. I must go through his school, if I must learn what he wants to teach me. His ways are peculiar, and you cannot find them by accident. You have got to search out God diligently, study to know him and his ways and determine to follow him daily. When I truly know God and his capacity and ability, trusting in Him is easy. When I truly know God and his ways, waiting for his divine timing is possible.

The second half of today's prayer is connected to the first. A divided heart is the seat of confusion and the doorway for the devil to destroy a life. When a man is not sure of who he is and who he belongs to, he exposes himself to the barbs and darts of the enemy. The devil will tell you that you have to do more to earn God's mercy, that you cannot amount to much unless you add a bit more effort to your hustle and that heaven helps only those who help themselves. As nice as these pieces of advice sound, they do no eternal good. When your heart is not one with God and his Word, you will not fear him as you should and you will therefore not get what you should.

Daily,  I pray for a heart that is focused solely on God. I ask God to help me fix my gaze on him. The world sure has attractions and the needs do not reduce; but Lord, I choose yo hold on to you alone, because I know that you do take care of your own. His time of favour is here.

Watch!

My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.  Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart;  for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.  Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:20‭-‬23 NIV

There is a fundamental link between what you hear and what you say. When you open your mouth to speak, the substance you have spent time ingesting will be revealed. When you speak, who you really are is made manifest. There is an advice not to let the right words out of our sight and another to keep them within our hearts. You cannot invest rightly if you do not know what is right. God's Word is life to all who read, meditate and are careful to obey. It is not just to enjoy the reading, but you must also be willing to obey.

Obedience is what guarantees you a successful life. Saul and David were both kings in successive generations but their lives and end were fundamentally different. Both knew about God and his commands, but one treated the Word of God flippantly. The other treasured God's word more than anything else. When both were confronted with their wrongdoing, one would rather seek man's  respect; the other would seek God's mercy. No wonder their lives were fundamentally different.

God's word is health and life to the body. Everything that you need for life and Godliness is provided for in the Word. God's word therefore must find root in your heart if you will enjoy the fullness of the blessings provided for in his Word. Guard your heart and ensure that it is fed the right stuff. Junk will only begat junk. You cannot give what you don't have. You can't make a withdrawal on an account where you have not made any kind of deposit. Invest right, sow right so you can speak right and live right. His time of favour is here.

Protected!

The Lord is my light and my salvation-- Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the refuge and fortress of my life-- Whom shall I dread? PSALM 27:1 AMP

There are some confident  pronouncements that come from a personal relationship with God. When you are sure of who is backing you up, you fear nothing that comes before you. The Psalmist here makes a few statements of assurance, and we will examine the basis of these statements.

First, he says "The Lord is my light and my salvation. Personalized statements. God is the Light of the world and of course, the source of salvation for all men, but until you experience him on a personal level, it remains a general statement. This is a personal testimony, a personal experience. No matter what comes, the Psalmist here knows God for who he is and what he can do. No wonder he had no basis for fear. Fear feeds on lack of knowledge about who you are and what you have. When you know God, you have all he is at your disposal.

Secondly, he knows God as the refuge and fortress of his life. The picture here of refuge and fortress show protection, safety; a place I can run to and find succour. But then, the key factor here too is personal relationship. When you do not know someone, who he is and what he can do, your experience of his person is limited. When you know the God who introduces himself as the 'mighty man of war', the 'consuming fire', the 'Rock of Ages', the 'Fear of Isaac', there is no doubt that you will fear nothing else. When you do not know God, then you have everything else to fear.

Do you know God? This is not about hearing about him or reading about him from the Scriptures? That is the foundation, but have you really known him? Can you see him at work in and around you? Who you know determines what you get. His time of favour is here.

Growing in Hope!

May God, the source of hope, fill you with all joy and peace by means of your faith in him, so that your hope will continue to grow by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 GNB

The verses preceding the above talk about the peculiar nature of Gentiles and how they came to the saving knowledge of Christ, through the finished work of God, and faith in Christ. No man comes to God of his own accord; we are drawn by God, saved by him and kept for eternity through him.

This hope does not make sense to the man outside of God. He does not see what is ahead; he is always pursuing or  being pursued by something. God is the only source of hope; what man gives you is an uninsured promise, one that can be  broken.

Some key words break out in today's extract: faith, joy, peace, hope and the Holy Spirit. Why are these words important? They only find  meaning in Christ, not in anything or anyone else. The foundation of anything I will get from God is faith in Him and his ability to keep his promises, no matter what the realities around me are. When the foundation of faith is settled, then joy and peace will follow. Because my focus is not the unstable, unpredictable world around me, I am not distracted by these. Joy is a spring and peace is a river that God alone births in me. I can't have them outside of God; what the world can only give you is what it has: troubles, pains and death.

You need God to truly make impact. The Holy Spirit is the seal of redemption in our lives, the One who guarantees the promises made by God. Do I have God living in me, or is the devil dictating terms? Am I trying to carve out space in my heart for both, thinking I can use one as back up just in case the other fails? From eternity past to eternity present and eternity to come, it has not worked. God alone must control the life, if there will be impact. His time of favour is here.

Discipline!

The road to life is a disciplined life; ignore correction and you’re lost for good.
Proverbs 10:17 MSG

Discipline is a strange word. Man does not like it, yet he cannot amount to much without it. God cannot do without it; in fact, it is his tool to model us after his own pattern. Life itself is delicate and calls for caution for all who will enjoy it. The idea of what man calls 'enjoyment' is a far  cry from what God refers to as true life itself.

Anyone who will truly live the life of purpose and direction that God intends has to go through the path of discipline. The world defines it 'as the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behaviour, using punishment to correct disobedience'.  The world cannot compel right living without the threat of punishment.

God defines discipline from the viewpoint of love and a desire to make a life better. Hebrews 12:6-7 KJV says: 'For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? '

As you travel on the road called life, situations, circumstances and events will come to test the quality and depths of your knowledge of God and his will. If you know who God truly is, compromise is difficult. When you do not know who you are or who you belong to, then you are prone to the dictates of an uncertain world. When God corrects, your present and eternal life is the focus. When God disciplines, he's preparing you for the great things that are ahead. If you ignore God's promptings, you will get lost. When nothing cautions you in your decisions and planning, then you are set up for a great fall. When God cautions you and you heed his warnings, rebuke, correction and discipline, impact is nonnegotiable. His time of favour is here.

God's Reality

Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in. And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour. And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. Joshua 6:1‭-‬3 KJV.

1.What made Jericho to be so shut up? The reason given for the shut up was because of the people of Israel. Why? News of past exploits, of God at work, the story of the spies sent earlier by Moses, must have reached the ears of the people of Jericho, and all of them, including the king and his mighty men were afraid. Does my life inspire men to fear God? 

2. Jericho was 'secure' at this time, yet, God was speaking into the future, already assuring of victory. Whose view do you hold on to? The people would weigh the realities of a high fence along with the process God was laying down for engagement with Jericho. Who determines your terms of engagement with the world- your own friends, colleagues, family, pastor? Any of these could be wrong, but God is never wrong. Too many times, we have allowed the pressure of acceptance by friends to push us into the realm of compromise. God referred to Israel's men of war. Recall that all who were 20 years and above had all perished in the wilderness, except Joshua and Caleb. So where did  the experience of war come from? Which fights did they win that God called them men of war?  Indeed, what God sees is totally at variance with what realities around you may say. Gideon, Jehoshaphat, David will all tell you that with God, human reality is deceitful; God's reality is the real deal.

3. If you obey totally, victory is also total. Rationalising what God says is counterproductive; you will never understand it. How does walking around a city once for 6 days and 7 times on the 7th day amount to a military strategy? Man says it is foolish; God says that is my way. Gideon's 300 men had pitchers and torches. Jehoshaphat had a choir, complete with instruments,  facing trained armies with weapons of war.

The substance is not in the size of the battle that you face; it is the size of the God that you obey. His commands do not have to make sense; it only needs to be obeyed. His commands do not have make logical thought; you only need to settle the issue of the one giving direction. The results are left to God to determine. His time of favour is here.

Word Power

The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 GNB

Word of God is living and active- the spoken, written and revealed word of God is always at work in the lives of men, breaking down barriers, building up character, reforming lives, teaching truths, and many other functions. It is living, because it is always contemporary, with an answer for all of life's questions. There is no phase of life that the word of God does not have answers for. It is an active agent, whose impact is felt the world over.

Sharper than any double-edged sword-  The word never comes into a life without leaving a mark. Both the one who speaks and the one who hears will be affected by the power in the word. There is a great danger in this- I could think that the word revealed to me from the written word is for someone else. Yes, it could be, but have I settled my own heart too? Is my heart confident that the revealed word has also cut in and made a mark on it?

It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together - the written, spoken and revealed word is so thorough and precise that it cuts through the self-deceit and excuses we give ourselves for all we do. We can convince ourselves that we have done all with the best of consciences, but we had better be sure that the word agrees. If a surgeon's scalpel can make the fine distinction between bone and marrow, imagine the power of the word of God, which is eternal, precise and all-knowing.

It judges the desires and thoughts of the heart - If i am fully conscious of this truth, I will be more accountable to God. If I know I cannot deceive God, I will avoid double standards. What is the state of my heart and life? Does the quality of my life match the depth of my heart's convictions? His time of favour is here.

Love Defined!

The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
Jeremiah 31:3 KJV

God always introduces himself to any man he desires to use and bless. He does not use and dump; neither does he use and curse. His blessings are packaged in a way that brings glory to Him and joy to all who surrender themselves to him. All around Jeremiah, there was distress. Many of Israel and Judah were in exile, the land itself  was desolate. It was probably the worst time for anyone to be speaking about love.

God is not like man, neither is he limited by man's weaknesses. His love is not conditioned on my worthiness, but on his own nature. When he says he loves me, he is first of all revealing who he is. Throughout all ages, that love has been at work. From the garden of Eden to the present fields of human endeavour, God's love continues to be made manifest around us.

He is the One drawing near; we could not care less. We didn't choose him of our own accord; he chose us, drew near to us and called us to himself, loving us unconditionally all the way. Am i conscious of this love? Have I responded to this love? Have I made God the sole occupier of my heart, so that his love  motivates me to live for him? His time of favour is here.

Presence and Presents

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Psalms 16:11 KJV

As I walk with God daily, there are lessons to be learnt. Today's extract teaches a fundamental lesson too: in God alone do I find life. The world cannot give what it does not have. Men seek tokens of liars, seeking to elongate life though crested things. How can something with an expiry date give you eternal life? In God alone we find the true meaning, essence and value of life.

There is a path to this life too. Check out today's extract; after life, you find a full colon, signifying that what comes after 'the path of life' is an explanation of that life. How then do I enjoy or partake in this life? Simply by dwelling in God's presence. It is not an emergency run, where you go after you have tried other options and they do not work. God will deliver you on his own prerogative, but you won't enjoy the fullness of his Presence this way. You have to dwell, take permanent residence in God. In his presence, there is fullness of joy. He does not promise that life will always be rosy, but that his presence will always be there to help through the difficult times. All the benefits of his presence would not make sense if there was no possibility that life will throw you curve balls sometimes. But this is the assurance: for all who dwell in God, you are assured of his help, his heart and his grace.

Check your present location; are you in God or just hanging out with him for a season? Are you holding on to temporary comforts or holding on to life Himself? Remember, who you know will determine what help you get in the day when trouble comes. His time of favour is here.

Rejoice!

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Philippians 4:4 NLT

Very brief charge, but a verse with loaded messages for all who will live the life God has called his children to. First of all, there is no on&off switch when it comes to living the life of God daily. I don't stay in God today and try to live it my way the next. Yes, there will be days when nothing inspires me to live the right kind of life, but when I have my focus and priorities right, I stay in God DAILY.

Secondly, what I am commanded is to be   'full of joy'. Whatever I take time to store up is what I will call on when the days of pressure come. When these days come, can I rejoice? When pressure comes, does my life produce joy or curses? When I am full of joy, there is no room for negativity. When I invest in the right foundations, my life-building will always stand the storms, winds and tempests that the enemy will bring.

Repetition is said to strengthen memory. If was that easy, Paul won't mention it flippantly or emphasize again. It appears that the world is on a race, but it is not sure about the kind of race. It pursues an enigma called success, yet it does not know the definition of that success, so it does not even know whether it has achieved its aim or not. Only in Christ do you find true peace, even in the most distressing of circumstances. His time of favour is here.

Faith at Work

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. Romans 10:17 NIV

Though there are several definitions and views on faith, the only authority whose opinion counts is God. If you want to know and understand the origin, value and foundation of a thing, concept, value system or belief, ask God. Today's extract underscores the origin of faith. What you hear is the foundation of your belief and value system. If you invest in the right knowledge, the right foundations, the right kind of connections, you make the right impact. Am I investing my time in hearing the right things?

The world has jokes, both the lewd and the pretentiously religious. We love to hear the feel-good messages, or the words with the wow-factor, but today's extract goes ahead to establish the right kind of words- the word about Christ. Trust God on this- nothing else will sustain you when the world thunders at you with its pressures. The world will threaten your foundations and your beliefs, but what you have taken time to store up will be the valuables you will call on when trouble comes.

What is the state and focus of your investments? What are your priorities? What/Who do you run to when the world runs at you? Evaluate in the light of God's truth- his Word is the only thing that remains when all else fails. His time of favour is here.

All -Sufficient God

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 NIV

Placing this in context, reading the verses before the extract above will help understand the import of the above. Paul was busy working, and God was also busy working through Paul to expand his kingdom. However, one lesson Paul's ministry teaches is that your life and service must minister to both the physical and the spiritual needs of people around you. In fact, the physical usually prepares the way for the spiritual. Paul's 'spirituality' did not prevent him from having needs, but his walk with God had taught him dependence on God and sustenance by Him.

Working for God does not equate a life of physical abundance, because that is not his ultimate and primary purpose. God is capable of taking care of both ends, but maybe not in the way, timing and manner we expect him to. However, God expects those who know him to learn how to minister to the needs of other people around them. It is not first about  me having all I need, but that I have an understanding of the all-sufficient God, who has all things in store.

As I give to others, I open the door for more from God. Clearance sales of old stock give room for the new;  even God's mercies are new and fresh every morning. If God can give me brand new blessings everyday, it is assured that he can supply all my needs. The Philippian church didn't have more than enough, but they gave all they could. History records third sacrifice and their giving, not necessarily the size of their gifts, but the spirit with which they gave.

As you face the world, remember, it is a hungry, tired and frustrated world out there. The world is crying out for a difference, a new direction, a new focus. Instead of seeing my needs, can I spare a thought for the great needs I see around me? I may be thinking that what I hold is small, but the story of the 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish teaches that what is important are the hands blessing that small gift, not the size of the gift or the magnitude of the needs around you. When the heart is right, the all-sufficient God shows up with his amazing blessings. His time of favour is here.

Running Right!

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13‭-‬14 NIV

1. Life has a purpose and an end. I must carefully and prayerfully seek out that purpose and ensure I am striving in God's strength to take hold of what is important.  I must keep pressing on, straining on, toiling on, working hard.

2. Not everything I see, feel or hold is worth clinging to; I must sort out the unnecessary, and hold tight to the eternal.

3. I cannot 'arrive' down here, because my life's journey is never about down here. God has an eternal home in place for me, and all I do now is a preparation for that eternal home.

4. I cannot achieve anything if I keep my eyes focused on past achievements, activities and victories. These are good, but they limit you from seeking out new territories and conquering new heights. Keep at work, appreciate God for the past, but keep eyes focused on the amazing potentials that await you as you walk with and work for God.

5. There is surely a plan in all that is going on now. Everything seems to be disorganized, but God assures me that he is in control. If it is God that I know, I can trust his Word. God has called me out, not because I was born into a 'worthy' home, but because I feature in his eternal plans. ROM 8:30 NIV just seals it: 'And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.'

God is faithful; he will always play his part. The issue is whether we are faithful enough to stay the course and trust his Wisdom, Work and his Word. His time of favour is here.