Quiet! God at Work!

“Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth.” PSALM 46:10 AMP

Life's hustle and bustle is inevitable but these could be life's greatest hindrance to what God wants to do. As I pursue life's requirements, I must find time for the stuff that really matters.

Life's greatest discovery is to find and know God. Your degrees may matter to an extent; your connections may only take you so far; the most important knowledge in life is to know the God who makes life worth it.

God introduces himself to all who would come to him and prescribes the channel and manner of approach. I must be still if I must find him. With God, you must seek the experience that comes from a sustained relationship. It is not a seasonal wonder, an on/off switch, a spare wheel used only in emergencies. He is the One who is Lord of all, Creator of the universe and sustainer of life itself.

God has been introduced; it is left for me to seek him out on his terms. In that search and discovery lie the very essence of my creation and purpose. His time of favour is here.

Prayer: Lord, may I never be truly satisfied until I have found you. May I never lose the joy of my salvation. Amen.

All you know!

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,  Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Ephesians 3:20‭-‬21 KJV

If your mind can fully comprehend all that God is, then you need to check again which God you claim to know. If you can define God in a few sentences, then you need to introduce to us again the God you have met.

The God introduced to us in the Word is the one who does things beyond what the mind can ever think or imagine. He is the One who specialises in doing the ordinary in extraordinary ways, and doing the extraordinary on a regular basis. His power is such that no bounds can hold it. A good example of this power is the raising of Jesus from the dead. That same power is available and is the same one still at work in those who have given him their hearts as a dwelling place.

Oh yes, this power is available not just now, but for all eternity. It is not a seasonal wonder; but an eternal reality. It is a daily experience, a daily reality, and an eternal assurance that one day soon, we will be raptured, change residence, and live with the power forever. His time of favour is here.

Prayer: Lord, let your power find expression in my life, so I can be all that you have created me to be. Amen.

Timeless!

The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 PETER 3:9 AMP

How do you define by time a God who is timeless? How do you place bounds on a God who was before time began, defined time himself and works according to his own time? When it appears God is slow about things I have committed into his hands, or what he has promised, I must remember that what is at stake isn't my reputation but God's name.

When he sees wrong and seemingly keeps quiet, is it that he is wilfully blind or supportive of wrong? When he sees someone do what is right, yet gets no earthly reward, is it that God too shows partiality? So many questions and not too many answers, but when you are dealing with God, you have got to plan for the unknown.

His greatest achievement is to make me like his Son. His purpose is that His life is manifest in me. He takes no joy in the eternal death of anyone, neither is he driven by revenge. When he seems slow, maybe he's thinking of the great value that life will be to him in the future. Ask Paul. If I have his heart, I will see others the same way. I will rejoice at the change of eternal destination of any life. God doesn't promise it will be easy, particularly if the person in question has taken a life, but then, if God could give me a fresh start, then I have grace to do the same. His time of favour is here

Prayer: Lord, as you work in time, help me respond to your leading, correction and direction, so I can be found in you at the end of my race.

Faith and Fear

“Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me. JOHN 14:1 AMP

When you hear words such as the ones at the start of today's extract, you know that fear is a valid emotion. Jesus had just told his disciples about the coming passion, his betrayal, death and life, and that even those he has nurtured for more than 3 years would betray him. You wouldn't hear that from a man you have followed closely, watched him do wonders, endured insults from family and friends, and not wonder what would become of you when the man in question is no more with you.

Just as he told his disciples then, he tells us also now: do not let your hearts be troubled. The basis of that confidence lies in that same verse: the one who deals with fear is the one who is speaking. He is the One who calls out substance from nothing, and he is able to sustain whatever he has ordained. If he says go and you go at his command, the results he wants are guaranteed. As long as I depend on him totally, holding on to Him alone, relying on his Word and Presence, then I have no reason to fear.

Oh yes, storms will rise, winds will blow, rains will fall. Substance and depth are tested by adversity. Only the man who has found anchor in God alone is  the one who can smile through the storms. Are you one? Do you believe in God? Does God know you as his own? His time of favour is here.

Sonship

But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name- JOHN 1:12 AMP

There is always a BUT when it comes to decision making. There will always be a choice between two extremes; two eternal destinations. Whether you are conscious of it or not isn't the issue: the fact is that at a point in time in your physical life, you must decide where your real life will be spent.

For today's extract, the choice is between receiving/welcoming or rejecting Him - the one presented by God as the only one who can secure eternal life for us. You will make a choice. There is no middle ground; no sitting on the fence for this one. Indecision itself is a decision, as your allegiances will be tested and you will have to choose a side eventually. What will it be for you?

When you receive it, you are called by a different name, one that indicates your new identity and ownership. Being called a child of God means you are beginning a new life, right from a new birth. You learn how to feed, crawl, walk, run, jump, whilst living under the name you bear. You don't get to decide how you will bear the name; God has laid down the standard, and expects that all who come to him live as He directs.

It is very important to know who you are now, so you can be assured of what is expected of you. Have you taken that decision of new ownership? It is not just enough to call yourself by His name, or for the world to assume you are His. Does God know you as his child? His time of favour is here.

Timeless!

In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. JOHN 1:1 AMP

We only hear of the beginning. Not much is recorded about the status before the beginning, except maybe about Lucifer. We open the Scriptures, and what we first see is what God has chosen to reveal. Before the earth was created and time began to count, there is a timelessness to the One who brought out the earth from whatever there was then. We only read that the earth was formless and void, but out of it came all we see today.

It means that there was a Presence then, as well as a sustaining Power now, keeping things they were then and they are now. That Presence is the one called the Word. He was there before recorded time, he has always been there with God before and after life was formed on earth, and he will remain God long after the earth as we see and know it now will cease to exist.

He is the Authority himself, the Power, the Presence and the Peace that holds all things in place. By the Word, all things were created, and till now, all things are being sustained by the Word. Same applies to my life: I only need to apply God's Creative, sustaining and lasting Word to my life's situations, and see God at work. How he will do it is up to Him, all I can do is take him at his Word. His time of favour is here.

Sustained!

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT

There is nothing new under the sun. The cycle of life is assured, where we are born, and then we die. In between life and death are so many experiences, some palatable and pleasurable, some definitely not. Whatever the experiences may be, there are assurances given by God today, and these are that I am not alone in those experiences, I am not being singled out for suffering, I do not have to fight in  my strength, and that there is always a way, in God, out of anything life throws at me.

There is no point thinking that maybe God is singling me out for suffering; his love for me is the same as what he offers to the whole world. He is interested in my growth and development in my experience if him, and all he allows will shapen, sharpen and sift me, so I can be all he desires. Whatever he allows has been carefully prepared to bring out the treasures in me, so I can be a visible testament to the power of God. It does not matter what the source is; what is key is that if it comes, God has put ingredients in it that will teach, develop and strengthen me.

I must allow him work, and I must allow the work to take root in me. Complaining, grumbling and giving up won't do much good; thinking God is the One punishing me for something will also not do much good. God is a faithful God, One whose plans are founded in eternity and executed with eternity in mind. He wants me to experience him in a personal way, so that long after I have endured and overcome, I would become stronger, better, wiser and closer to God.

Would I allow him work? His time of favour is here.

God's Searchlight!

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23‭-‬24 NIV

The human heart is prone to deceit and deception. God's verdict is that "the heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked". If I trust God's verdict, it should give me cause for concern, while also praying to God to help me. The heart can lead a man down the path of prediction, because from it flow all both life's scum and treasures. It all depends on who is in control at every point in time.

The Psalmist asks God to search out and test his heart, so that only the right stuff may remain. God who created the heart is the only one who can clean it and make it fit for purpose and impact. There are things that may be in the heart, and which can never make it worthy of noble use. That is why God must work on us, cleanse, purify, purge and sanctify, so we can be led by him on the path to life.

God will not turn the broad way into the narrow way because of me; all he can do is to take me from the broad way and keep me in the narrow way. Some things will not happen until I am yielded and willing for God to work on me. Am I surrendered to him? Is my heart such that is open to God to touch and use as he pleases? His time of favour is here.

The Law!

For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is fulfilled in one precept, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, you shall have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit].” GALATIANS 5:14 AMP

God is very interested in human relationships. In fact, I believe he created each human being complete in himself/herself but ensured that full complement is found in healthy, mutually benefitting relationships. His word also backs up this fact, as throughout recorded history, the lineage of man is perpetuated by relationships, such as marriage. It shows that God places great importance on relationships, and today's extract also emphasizes that.

Over 6,000 rules and regulations were given by God to Moses, whilst the children of Israel were journeying to the Promised land. Many of them touched on human relationships, and also on connection with God. Today's extract says that the whole law on human relationships is fulfilled in just one instruction: LOVE. Sounds ordinary, but in truth, very fundamental. If I am asked not to steal, not to covet, to help the animal of my enemy, at the heart of such instructions is love. I can't truly love someone and not seek his/her good. I can't love someone and not seek what's good for the person. Christ himself laid down the perfect example for us, and we will do well to walk in his steps, if truly we claim him as our father.

Take stock today: do I truly fulfil God's law on love as he has instructed? His time of favour is here.

Beyond Compare!

but just as it is written [in Scripture], “T hings which the eye has not seen and the ear has not heard , And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, who obey Him, and who gratefully recognize the benefits that He has bestowed].” 1 CORINTHIANS 2:9 AMP

Only in God do you find new, undiscovered potential. Life and nature have amazing treasures, with most of them still untapped and undiscovered. As life progresses, some of these treasures are unearthed and applied to life. We have moved from walking on foot to travelling by air, yet it appears from today's extract that we still haven't scratched the surface.

Today's extract seems to mean that whatever you think you have seen so far, heard or experienced in life so far, is nothing compared to what God has in store for us. God has been from before time began, and he has been at work ever before then. It then means that the full picture of his whole plan cannot be viewed by one generation or lifetime. You can only tap into the divine and access the knowledge, insight, direction and impact that God intends for you and your generation. He is always at work, building lives, changing destinies and planting eternity in the hearts of men.

One small caution though: it appears that the full picture can only be fully experienced by those who have found space in their hearts for God's love alone, and nothing/nobody else. When you believe in someone totally, you take him at his word and trust absolutely in him. If there is no trust, there is no absolute devotion. I ask myself: do I truly love God alone, or have I conveniently found room space for various allegiances?

Today's promise is for those who love God. Do i? Does he hold my heart exclusively? His time of favour is here.

Where you at?

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:7‭-‬8 NIV

Trusting in God is like an on/off switch: you are either all in or all out. Doubt and Faith cannot exist in the same heart. You cannot also play both sides: you cannot trust God and also trust in man -made devices; you have got to choose a side and stick with it.

For the man who trusts in God alone, today's extract says a lot about who he is, where he is located, what happens to such a person, and the kind of fruits that flow out of such a life.

Today's extract calls such a man blessed. Indeed, when God blesses you, everyone will notice. You are like a tree planted by water, with roots deep down. In effect, by location, your allocation is guaranteed. Every provision for growth and impact is provided in that location.

Heat will definitely come; that is an assurance, but because location is right, such temporary discomfort is just a step in the direction God is taking you to. Drought is a phase, something on the external that does nothing to affect the inner peace of the man who is rooted right. His life will remain evergreen, never out of focus, never empty, always connected.

Are you rightly located? Are you where God's blessings can reach you, and is your life such that God can use as a vessel to reach others? His time of favour is here.

Gifted for Love

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction]. 1 CORINTHIANS 13:1 AMP

I could be amazingly gifted, yet be deficient in the things that matter the most. Jesus left all his glory in heaven and came to earth as a man, so he could identify with our sufferings and weaknesses. Love spoke out of all his actions, because he considered our eternal status more important to him than any other thing.

Man celebrates gifts; we are moved by them and can be distracted also by them. Gifts are good, especially the ones that seek to edify others and build them up, but unless they are exercised right, I only become an empty vessel, making so much noise but having little impact. The earth was created by Love and will respond first to love before anything else.

So, as I go out today, I must seek the good of others in love, before I seek to prove I am right. I must relate with others the same way God relates with me- in love, not minding my past or present, but focused on what I could become in his hands. His time of favour is here.

Blessed!

“Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.  Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.” Romans 4:7‭-‬8 NIV

The definition of being blessed goes beyond earthly possessions. Our scope of blessings is limited to what we think we can get out of God, forgetting that being truly blessed is a function of what God gives. I wonder what could be more important than the blessings stated in today's extract.

We have inherited the sinful nature from Adam, and are therefore objects of God's wrath. But God's mercy just won't let go. A price was paid for people who didn't 'deserve' it, and who couldn't even pay the  price for redemption either. A blanket cheque for redemption was issued to all men, inviting them to take advantage of the free gift offered. It is free, it is available, it is for all.

I must step up and accept the offer - that is the blessing at work. I couldn't do anything to earn it, but all I can do to enjoy it is to accept what is given and walk in it everyday. In Christ, I get forgiveness of past and present sins, and  even an assurance that even if I fall, he is there to help me up and restore me. His promise is that when he forgives, he also forgets and doesn't hold the sin over my head like a sword. It is the height of blessing that no man on earth can guarantee or provide.

To make matters even better, this is a quote from the Psalmist, David. The Bible records his life as one full of issues- murder, adultery and other vices. But one thing was present all through- the blessings of God that forgives transgressions and covers sins, when they are confessed. Oh yes, consequences may follow, but there is an eternal assurance that the blessings received will guarantee eternal life. His time of favour is here.

Ownership and Pursuits!

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites. GALATIANS 5:24 AMP

Who do you belong to? It is a  fundamental question, with its foundation steeped in eternity. Your ownership structure determines a lot about what you do and where you end up.

If I know I belong to Christ, there is no room for compromise. I can't sit on the fence or waver between two different opinions. I cannot choose a middle ground because I do not want to offend anyone; whatever choice you make, you become an enemy to the other side. Friendship with the world is enmity with God and vice versa. There is no part-ownership; you are either totally on God's side or totally on the world's side.

So, if I belong to God, what kind of person do I become? Both the Godly and sinful natures come with their passions and desires and both natures must be nurtured to full maturity. As you feed one, the other becomes weaker and subdued. The truth is the walk is a daily one. God expects the sinful nature to be crucified, but because we are human, we must keep depending on God on a daily basis for the sinful nature to remain crucified. As long as i am in this flesh, i can never outgrow that dependence on God. As long as I am human, both natures will continue to be at work, seeking to take control. My ownership structure therefore would determine my pursuits and priorities.

Lord, I depend totally on you. The race ahead is  long, windy and uncertain, but I know you are the One who knows the way. Hold my hand, lead me through life and land me safe on the right side of eternity. His time of favour is here.

Worthy Legacy!

The righteous man who walks in integrity and lives life in accord with his [godly] beliefs-- How blessed [happy and spiritually secure] are his children after him [who have his example to follow]. PROVERBS 20:7 AMP

The Righteous - it has nothing to do with personal achievement or efforts; it has all to do with who God is. When a man is referred to as 'Righteous', it is not about the man's ability but God's capacity and empowerment. I do not come seeking God on my own terms; I seek him on his own terms. When the identity is right, then the lifestyle will be right. The Righteous man lives on the strength of the inner Presence. His life is guided by the One who is able to sustain and uphold him.

Life itself is also an investment. All I do is a seed of a kind; and there will be a harvest of the seeds sometime in the future. It does not matter how long it takes or how well the seeds are hidden; someone somewhere will reap the benefits or detriments of the actions being done now. My parents could do their own part, I have a choice to follow. I must also remember that just as I go will reap from the labour of my parents, so would the children coming after me do the same. I had better live right. His time of favour is here.

Little with God!

Better is a little with the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the Lord Than great treasure and trouble with it. PROVERBS 15:16 AMP

What are your priorities? What do you consider important and necessary on the journey of life? Is it a crime to be wealthy? Is it a good thing to always have little or a bad thing to always have excess?

The answer lies in my heart and my heart is the key answer to those questions. Sometimes, the test is in the little or it could be in the much. Sometimes, it could be that the much was given to you so you could be a blessing to someone else. The little may have been given to you as the contact point for your miracle of plenty. What is key is your heart.

Ask the boy with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, seeing a multitude of only 5,000 men, apart from women and children. What could his little do? He gave it anyway, and he got 12 full baskets of leftovers. Ask the rich man who had much, and couldn't spare any for Lazarus at his gate. He had much but his heart wasn't right. Ask the widow who gave her mite, the smallest by man's estimation but the best by God's estimation. So, you see, it is not really about  what you have or don't have, but about your heart at all times.

In all situations, whether in plenty or in little, fear God. When you fear him, nothing else will matter: whether there is little or much. When God is my utmost pursuit, every other thing fades away into nothingness. So, which one is your focus: the little, the much or the heart that seeks to please God, no matter what it holds? His time of favour is here.

Stay Protected!

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous runs to it and is safe and set on high [far above evil]. PROVERBS 18:10 AMP

There are many options, but then there is the name of the Lord. Men have built high fences and strong gates, yet life's storms have swept them away. It tells me that only in God are you truly safe.

That name is introduced to us as a strong tower. It symbolises a place of safety, protection, provision and guidance. A tower is usually higher than all its surroundings, so you can easily spot danger before it comes. In God, you get that same assurance.

A choice must then be made: the offer has been made, and is available, but I must run into it. Observe the class of people who run into it and are safe:The Righteous. Not those who are sure of themselves and confident in their man made schemes, but people who know who they are in God and are totally dependent on him for all. Others may call on him, and he will answer, but would you sacrifice eternal rest just for a few moments of emergency safety?

You are safe only in God. Nothing else will work and nothing else will do. His time of favour is here.

The Law of Love

Carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the requirements of the law of Christ [that is, the law of Christian love]. GALATIANS 6:2 AMP

As long as I am alive, in the flesh, there will always be pressure. It is a part of the process of growing up, of developing roots, and learning all that God intends. It is therefore easy to ignore the needs of other people and focus on your own. It is more convenient to keep an eye on your own needs and ignore those needs around you.

Today's extract admits the fact that life itself has burdens, but it also underlines the truth that God calls me to a higher standard, a noble calling. He expects me to lend a helping hand to someone else, even while I am carrying my own burdens. Oh, there is no guarantee that my own burdens will automatically disappear; all he asks me to do is to help where I can. The law of Christ, which is the law of love, seeks the good of others over and above my own. Christ's example, dying for people who didn't care who he was then, lays the foundation for what God expects from me.

So, I go out into the world today. There will be lives crying out for a touch, a kind word, a small gift of time and attention, maybe money. May my eyes, ears and heart be open to God's guidance, so I may know whose burdens he is sending me to carry per time. As I obey, he will also send someone to help with mine. His time of favour is here.

Weighed!

Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs and examines the hearts [of people and their motives].
PROVERBS 21:2 AMP

It really does not matter what you tell yourself; it does matter what your heart says. Men have mastered the art of deception, saying one thing and doing the other whilst also meaning another. Relationships have lost value because the focus has been on what I can gain, not on what I can give. I do what I do, and tell myself that I meant the best. I may defend myself as having had the best of intentions, but it goes beyond all that; I must also satisfy God's expectations by ensuring that my heart is right.

I recall men like Cain: nice on the outside but mean on the inside. I also recall David -  adulterer and murderer, yet on the inside, God saw a young man he could use. I recall Amaziah - the world testified that he served God all the days of his life, but God's verdict was that his heart was not perfect. Whose opinion counts at the end of the day? Daniel's life in exile had a change because of his heart's resolve not to defile himself with the king's food.

Man's applause is deceptive and dangerous. Whilst I am celebrated, God may have moved on. At all times, I must find out what God approves and make that my utmost priority. It is not about popular opinion; it is about divine approval. His time of favour is here.

Test!

Beloved, do not believe every spirit [speaking through a self-proclaimed prophet]; instead test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets and teachers have gone out into the world. 1 JOHN 4:1 AMP

This is the age of information and awareness. The world is discovering amazing ways of doing things, whilst also unearthing novel ways of sinning. Slowly but steadily, what God declared as abominations are now backed up and enforced by man -made laws. Men who call God also join in the process, leading men astray and offering them palliatives whilst on the  road to hell. Men who call God may also send themselves on self imposed errands, speaking when God is silent, and seeking the applause and reward of men when God has not asked them to speak.

For all who have God living in them, we have a standard to follow and apply to all of our lives, and that is the Holy Spirit. The first reaction you must have to all you hear is to test. The fact that what is said comes to pass isn't even a proof of truth; people have learnt how to manipulate events and actions to arrive at a predetermined conclusion. It is risky basing your life on the uncertainties and unpredictability of what has been said by mortal man.

The only true test will be a testimony in your spirit that God has indeed spoken. If what is in you is not of God, how would you know if it is God that has spoken? When you have not created time or space for God to dwell in you, how does his Spirit guide you into all Truth? If you don't have Truth in you, how do you define and determine what is false? The test is not first of all experience or someone else's testimony. Don't rely on the drama and effects the world has perfected; there could be earthquakes, a fire or strong wind, yet God may not be present. It is the still, small voice that counts; the voice that calms all storms, the voice that speaks and all others shut up.

Whose voice have you been listening to? His time of favour is here.

Anger and God's Ways

Be angry [at sin--at immorality, at injustice, at ungodly behavior], yet do not sin ; do not let your anger [cause you shame, nor allow it to] last until the sun goes down. And do not give the devil an opportunity [to lead you into sin by holding a grudge, or nurturing anger, or harboring resentment, or cultivating bitterness]. EPHESIANS 4:26‭-‬27 AMP

Oh yes, be angry. Today's extract even seems to encourage it. We are human beings, people of passion, and it is easy to react to everything that happens to us. Yet, we are warned of the limits to our anger and the proper context of our emotions.

If I am a child of God, I must share the same desires as my father. If God hates sin, I must also hate sin. I must treat sin the way God treats it- run away from it. I was saved from a lifestyle of sin, and called into a new life in God. God expects me to also treat sin the same way - hate it, have nothing to do with it. I must be angry at anything that promotes wrong, but my anger must not lead me into the very thing I have been saved from.

I also have a timeline to the anger. Anger is an emotion which if not checked, also affects physical and mental health. If God could forgive me all my past sins, even guaranteeing that the future ones too are forgiven, how much more should I let go of hurts and pains caused me by fellow weak humans like myself?

And the devil? Oh, he's always looking for a way to come into a life and destroy it. Have you not seen a simple word spoken in anger, or an action taken in anger leads to death? That's why I must be careful of what my life produces.  I have been called out of shame into a life of favour. My actions and emotions must reflect that. His time of favour is here.

Consistency!

Blessed and favored by God are those who keep His testimonies, And who [consistently] seek Him and long for Him with all their heart. PSALM 119:2 AMP

Does God testify? Today's extract says he does. He testifies of his power, his might, his awesome grace, his ability, capacity and capability. The Word of God, both in written and spoken form is backed up by his person, and endures to all generations. No matter the age and time you seek out the testimonies of God, they are always  relevant, contemporary and enduring, because they are backed up by God himself.

So, if you align yourself with God's testimonies, you are very prone to blessings and favour. When you seek God out, first not because of what you seek but for who he is, you expose yourself to a lifetime of favour and blessings. The condition of seeking is to do so with ALL your heart is fundamental here: God cannot be deceived by the outward show. He sees the heart and judges all men based on Truth as determined by Him, not the standards of the world.

Get the search right, get the focus right, and get the target of your heart right; his  time of favour is here.

In Place and Replaced!

For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:  And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
2 Corinthians 5:14‭-‬15 KJV

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Corinthians 5:14‭-‬15 NIV

What's my motivation for all I do? Or better still, what should be the motivation for all I do? Is it the fame I get for standing in front of people? Is it the applause that comes with making 'impact'? The only motivation should be the love of Christ which I have received and internalized. The love is the critical factor that colours all I do.

What's this love and how does it work? At a time when I didn't care who God was, he sent his Son to pay the price for my sins. I couldn't pay, I couldn't stand, and I couldn't do anything to earn it, but Christ came and cleared the debt. Death was the price to pay, someone had to pay it, and only a perfect sacrifice could do it. The price has now been paid, and I am set free to live my life as a reflection of the One who gave me grace to stand.

If I am convinced that I stand by grace, then there is no room for pride or self confidence. If I know my life rests on the price of someone else's life, then I will be eternally grateful to the One who gave me that life. His priorities must be my pursuits, his commandments must be my delight, his desires must be my utmost aspirations. Can I truly say this is true of me? His time of favour is here.

My Part, God's Part

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18; 7:1 KJV

I am called to be in the world, yet not be a part of the world. My area of influence is the world, yet I am not to be influenced by it. It is a conscious decision on my part, and would entail some painful excisions: I may have to change location and companions, I may have to deny myself what is mine by right, so that I occupy my place as a son.

A true son is one that looks like his father. Earthly children are easily identified by their facial expressions or marks who their parents are. How much more those who claim God as their father. Can the world look at me and determine my identity and ownership? Or, have I found a balance between both camps, seeking to please both extremes? God cannot deal with such a person, as he is holy. He does not condone sin, and though his love is eternal, he is also a God of judgment.

Sonship is the path to eternity. You need to belong to him to be able to take his name, enjoy the benefits of the name and also live with him forever. His time of favour is here.

Consistent Lifestyle!

And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.  And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. Acts 28:23‭-‬24 KJV

Paul was a prisoner, but his mouth was not closed. He was limited in movement, but God's Word knows no bounds. Everywhere He is spoken of, the Word of God works wonders.

It does not matter how eloquently you speak; what gives your words efficacy is the Person of the Word himself. You can speak down fire, and blow tongues as you please; but the presence of Jesus is the key factor to the message about God. How do I speak about God's love without addressing the One sent as an expression of that love? How do I speak about the coming judgment of the world if I do not mention the One who has been appointed as the judge of the whole earth? He is the substance of the message, the one the Law and the Prophets testified about.

Just as it was then, so it is now: not all will listen and heed. It is an expression of free will and choices. However, please note that just as man has a choice, so does God also present us with his choices. If God has been true to his Word, then you can trust that one day, this present world will cease to exist, and all men will be judged using the standard God himself has set. May I not be found wanting on that day. His time of favour is here.

Mightier than All!

The seas have lifted up, Lord , the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.  Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea— the Lord on high is mighty. Psalm 93:3‭-‬4 NIV

As you take a look at creation, you cannot but be amazed at the wonders all around. Everywhere you turn, you witness something that beats your imagination and you just have to ask if there is no power, might or authority in charge of the awesome things you see.

One of such awesome things are the bodies of water: different types and dimensions. You see the mighty waves and the pounding noise as the waves crash on the seashore. You see the numerous things the water flows bring back to shore and they flow back and forth. The life form in these waters are also amazing, as several creatures, some as big as houses, live therein. Why then would a mortal man, without very clear understanding of who God is, not want to worship created things?

No matter how amazing the created is, there is someone greater. No matter how loud the noise from the sea is, the One who gave it voice is greater. No matter how powerful its waves are, the One who gave it its boundaries and limits is greater. He is the One who deserves all praise, adoration, majesty and worship. He is seated high above everything he has made, and he is the One who controls all things. He speaks, and all is silent. He speaks, and all respond in praise. His time of favour is here.

Who's leading?

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Isaiah 58:6 NIV

Let's for one moment put aside the kind of fasting prescribed by God here, and just focus on the first part of the sentence above: "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen". On so many levels, we all need to go back to God and hear what he has to say on all matters. We have allowed the world dictate terms for so long that God's standards now appear outdated. We want to do God's work the way it pleases the world. We want to take the world's principles, practices and  procedures and apply them to the Word's commands. Unfortunately, the Word and the world are two eternally parallel lines that can never meet.

I need to retrace my steps back to God and ask him to lead me right. I need to tarry in his presence and get clear guidance on what he wants. I could do my best and the world applauds, while God is asking who inspired my actions. God has made clear his choice, his purpose and his will, and I can only make impact and fulfil purpose when I act at his command, in accordance with his will and timing and as he desires.

So, whatever I want to do, I must get God's leading and direction. It will save me from wasted years and fruitless labour. His time of favour is here.

What do you See?

He continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding through the vision of God; and as long as he sought (inquired of, longing for) the Lord , God caused him to prosper...And his fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped until he was strong. But when Uzziah became strong, he became so proud [of himself and his accomplishments] that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful and sinned against the Lord his God, for he went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. 2 CHRONICLES 26:5‭, ‬15b‭-‬16 AMP

What is it about achievements and success that makes us think we can ever become independent of God? Why does success get into our hearts and heads and turn us away from God? When you are weak and helpless, we are not far from our knees. When we receive strength and have become independent, we cut off the wings, and seek to fly on our own.

Seeking God is not an occupation; it is a lifestyle. Seeking God is not an option; it is the secret to all I can ever be. Men become great, not because they are educated, connected or charismatic, but because God helped them. Would I then become great and remain great when I abandon the one who brought me to that position in the first place?

With pride comes destruction. A mere mortal man seeks to play God simply because he has become successful. Uzziah seeks to play king, prophet and priest at the same time, contrary to God's express command then. I must recognize and respect God's boundaries over my life. They are there to protect me from harm and destruction, and I can only ignore them at my own peril.

Learn from Nadab, Abihu, Miriam, Phinehas and Hophni; God cannot be mocked. When you hold on to him, he never disappoints. When you let go of him and hold on to other options, disappointment is an appointment you will keep. His time of favour is here.

Seek, and Rejoice

But let all who take refuge and put their trust in You rejoice, Let them ever sing for joy; Because You cover and shelter them, Let those who love Your name be joyful and exult in You. For You, O Lord , bless the righteous man [the one who is in right standing with You]; You surround him with favor as with a shield. PSALM 5:11‭-‬12 AMP

1. God is not a magician. You get out of him what you have spent time investing in. He is a refuge, but he won't do you any good if you choose to live outside of him. If you run into him, you can stake your life on his protection.

2. God blesses and protects the one who acknowledges him as God. Can I truly say that my life confesses God as supreme over all? Is God the Lord or just one of many options?

3. Nothing can break the shield of protection God places, without his permission. Ask Job, ask the three Hebrew boys, ask Daniel. God stakes his reputation over the generations, when he calls himself our shield. Unlike man's shield, his own cannot be penetrated, neither can it fail.

Are you in God, or you are hovering all around, seeking alternative options? His time of favour is here.

Money and Character

Let your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from the love of money [shun greed--be financially ethical], being content with what you have; for He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake  or  let you down  or  relax M y hold on you [assuredly not]!” HEBREWS 13:5 AMP

There is this strange connection between money and character. The more money you have, the more you have to watch your actions and reactions. There is something deeply spiritual about possessions and acquisitions; there is a strange emotion the things you have give you. There is also nothing bad in having plenty of money; how you get it and what you become when you have it become fundamental to your eternal destiny.

The reason why my character must be free of the love of money is because I  cannot find space in my heart to build character according to God's standard, and also find space in the same heart to love money. Both loves are parallel lines that will never meet, because they will never end in the same place. God assures me of his Presence and power, and he also promises that once I can pursue him, he will make all other things pursue me. If I abandon him and pursue other things except himself, I will most likely acquire a few things, but I would have missed out on the most important thing.

These words are vital: "I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or  let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!” No matter what goes on around you, what is more important is who lives inside you. If God is with you, your good end is guaranteed. You may have to go down into the Pit sometimes, or have a Potiphar's house experience, or maybe undergo a period of 'Prison' limitation, but if God be God, that Palace experience is guaranteed. It is all about WHO is in you, not about WHAT is in your wallet or pocket. His time of favour is here.