The Beginning!

The Beginning!

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:1‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

IN THE beginning God (prepared, formed, fashioned, and) created the heavens and the earth.

We have God's account of creation laid out in the verse above. It is a simple sentence, yet it has been the subject of several questions and debates. There could have been some form of life on some form of place, but when God chose to initiate his relationship with this earth, he laid out its beginning in the verse above. We have the specific mention of a timeline, the specific mention of an authority and the specific mention of substance or matter. We have a defined territory, a defined timeline and a defined authority. What would these mean to me? First, whatever may be the accepted account of creation, there is no doubt that there is a divine and awesome power who put everything in place. If man evolved from apes, as one of the popular positions states, why have present apes not continued to evolve? How have apes continued to give birth to apes and man continues to give birth to humans, each after its own kind?  The fact that the law of reproduction was laid out since this record of the beginning is testament to the creative and sustaining power of the Creator. 

If indeed God is the Creator, then all He has made must answer to Him. If the created will find purpose and make impact, it has to find and submit to its Creator. Too many times, we have sought alternative gods and masters, trying to replace the Creator with other created things like ourselves. Unfortunately, if it is not the real deal, it can never be the same as the real deal. Man will keep chasing the dream until he finds and submits to the Creator. Whatever may have gone before now may be terrible or unpleasant, but as long as I am alive, I can go back to the One who is the beginning and the end and ask Him to sort out my life. When he sorts it, everything from there begins to work out fine. God has prepared the earth with sufficient resources to meet my needs. Sin has made man selfish and greedy but it has not changed God's original plan in any way. He has placed me on earth for a reason and a season. I must find out the reason and purise it, even as I prepare for the eternal season with him in heaven. Am I ready for all that is ahead? God's time of favour is here. 

Pray 2!

Pray 2

Matthew 6 : 6 AMP

But when you pray, go into your [most] private room, and, closing the door, pray to your Father, Who is in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open.

As I press on in this new year to discover and fulfil God's plan and purpose for my life, one thing I cannot do without is prayer. It does not matter how simple or complex I consider the issues before and around me are; I just must find time to pray. Prayer is an admission that I do not have all the answers or the help within myself for all that life will throw at me. It is an acknowledgement of the fact that I know God alone is the One who can help me with all that will come my way. I also note that the word used in the verse above is WHEN, not IF. It is not really an option not to pray. It is a practice that must become a fundamental part of my life, if it is not yet one. How can I know God's mind on anything, if I do not ask Him? How does God even speak to me if I do not create time to be alone with Him, where I can hear His voice?

The atmosphere for prayer also matters. Indeed, one can speak to God at anytime and place, but true strength and empowerment comes from the secret place, away from the noise and distraction publicity can bring. I can ask God for anything at anytime, but if I want to get guidance that will impact lives and have eternal consequences, I cannot engage in perfunctory and occasional prayer. It has to be a lifestyle; something that I seek to do daily and regularly. It must be away from prying eyes and public acclaim. It must be away from human approval or applause. The power of the secret place is tied to the secret place but its manifestation will definitely be in the open. Men will see the manifestation and desire it, but not too many will pay the price for it. There is no one who has come truly seeking God that has been turned away by God. 

For the one who seeks to experience it, the price has to be paid. Go into your most private room and close the door, then speak to your Father, who is in secret. He who sees the desire and sincerity will definitely reward in the open. He will provide the inner strength required, and that empowerment will lead to public impact that the world cannot ignore or deny. The reward here may not always be how or what you expect it to be, but God who sees in secret knows how best to reward in the open. In His wisdom, He has set treasures in the secret place. That is the reason why you do not walk on the road and just pick up gold or silver. You have to mine it in some of the darkest places in the world. His reward is for those who understand this principle. However he decides to reward, the world cannot ignore His impact upon my life. God's time of favour is here. 

In His Time!

In His Time!

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

There is indeed a time for everything under the sun. Man has a timetable for all he seeks to do. The world will demand a schedule for all the milestones that man seeks to achieve, and even life itself will also drag some of these deliverables out of you, even if you do not plan for them. For example, those who are into active sports like football, basketball or tennis cannot maintain peak condition past 40 years old. There is an ideal time for ideal conditions in order to achieve ideal solutions. As it is in the physical, so is it in the spiritual too. God has also worked it out that all He demands from me align with his timetable and schedule for my life. He has a perfect will for all He has formed and given life, but He will not force anyone to submit to Him. It has to be of my own freewill. Between birth and death, a lot of things are designed by God to impact me and lead me to the path designed by God for me. As the old year gives way to the new, have I aligned my life with the perfect will of God? Do I even know him at all? 

One of the greatest, if not the most important reasons why I must be motivated to align with God's perfect will for my life is the reality of eternity. I have not been promised anything of value on this side of eternity, except a living and breathing relationship with God that leads to eternal life with Him. Everything the earth gives me will be taken back by it when the end comes. God has also designed it that my life will always be empty unless and until I have found God. When God breathed into man, man became incomplete and inadequate if he was not connected the right way to God. That is why man will run and pursue after all the world can give and still not be satisfied, until he had found God. Finding God is the secret to knowing the meaning of life and the right preparation for eternity. God is the first and the last, and if my life will make sense, I must make sure that I am in God when the end comes. Anything else will amount to a waste. Only in and by God is life truly well spent. God's time of favour is here. 

Pray!

Pray!

And when you pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much speaking. 

The old has given way to the new, and the days begin to roll by yet again. The daily challenges of life may not have changed for many, while for some others, there is a new phase of life starting. Whatever the spectrum you are on, or the peculiar circumstances you are currently going through, today's verse is a reminder of one of the most important things you can do with the life that you have been given, which is to seek the help of the One who is wiser, older, stronger and better at solving issues than you are. It has to be noted however that you can only seek the help and intervention of One whose power, might and mercy you do recognize, acknowledge and submit to. 

How would I access the benefits and blessings of a master whose authority I do not accept? This is the start point for anything that will make sense. Jesus was speaking here to his disciples, teaching them how to pray. Defining who I am is critical here. Am I a disciple, or am I still giving my heart to just anything or anyone? If I will make impact, the secret is actually in the power of the secret place. There is an empowerment that cannot happen in the open because of its many distractions. I must go to the source of the power and the supply that I need for the life I have been called to, and I must be sure of the supply before I can dare to give out from what I have received. It will not be in the many words I speak, but in the personal encounter I must have with the One who supplies all I need for life and Godliness. 

It is not in many words, but in the actual and public demonstration of the power of God, which will only happen when l have paid the price in the secret place. Elijah spent time in private, and it is not a wonder that his public life had the impact it did. All who desire a life that will please God must seek Him where and when He may be found, and that is always in the place of prayer. He loves to hear me speak to Him; he wants to show Himself strong and mighty on my behalf. He wants to change the world by first changing me from the inside, because He knows that if He owns my heart, He can impact the hearts of men and do mighty things in and through them. Does He hold your heart? God's time of favour is here. 

Authority!

Authority!

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭103:19‬ ‭AMP‬‬

The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all [the universe].

This is a psalm of David, the man after God's heart. This reference bears repeating over and over again because of its relevance to us today. If God has not changed at all since the days of David, it means He is still looking for men and women that will understand Him the way David did and walk with Him as David did. My knowledge and understanding of who God is will definitely impact my walk with and work for Him. God has made known His person as well as His plan and purpose for me through His Word, as well as the daily guidance He provides for all aspects of my life. He has not left me in the dark about His expectations and demands for me too, and I will do well to take time out to find out what these are, and not waste precious time seeking after the things that do not profit. Like David, can God trust my heart with the deep things of His kingdom? Can He vouch for my commitment, dedication and devotion to the things that are dear to His own heart? 

The verse lays it out clearly that the Lord has established His throne in the heavens. First, there is the Lord introducing Himself as well as the scope and territory of His kingdom. He is the Lord whose authority cannot be defined by mere words, and therefore cannot be limited by mere words. A throne is the symbol of power and a defined territory, and if He is Lord of all, it means that there is actually no way to limit his spread. The heavens are vast; words cannot adequately describe them. How, then, can mere words explain the power of this Lord whose throne has been established long before the foundations of the world were laid? If He created the universe, what part of it can reject His authority? If the universe is His creation, how can it function outside of the One who gives it its essence and identity? He is Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent, and He is not limited by time, space, elements and senses the way man is. He is the Lord, no contest. I bow before Him today of my own freewill, because I know Him. Would you do the same? God's time of favour is here.

The New!

The New!

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:29‬ ‭KJV‬‬

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

The world celebrates strength. Not much regard is given to those who are deemed weak. The world only recognizes and understands the language of violence and force, and that may be one of the reasons why nations are termed 'first-world', 'second- and third-world countries, based on the perceived strength, nuclear and warfare capacity and capability, as well as economic strength of the nations. Nobody cares about the little, weak guy. Those who are strong never want to lose their significance, whilst those who are weak also seek strength. These desires will lead many down the holes of disaster and disappointment, especially if you seek these from the wrong source. The devil knows that this is the desire of a lot of people, so he has made up all sorts of sources and distractions that men can follow in their quest for strength. Who do I go to for the supply of that which I need for life?

Unfortunately, you cannot give what you do not have, and you cannot sustain that which you do not even know its origin. What God offers isn't anything like the world can give or imitate. The world seeks power for itself and its adherents, and those who can do anything at whatever price are usually rewarded. God starts from the premise that He alone can supply what I need, without my help. Those who are faint and have no strength do not come pleading anything of their own. They know the status, and are therefore open to whatever it is that God wants to do in and through them. There is no room for pride or self-sufficiency; they are totally in the hands of God. How can there be an increase of strength to one who has no might, except if it is done under the control and influence of the One who can turn the deepest mess into the greatest message? If I know I cannot help myself, all I need is in God. He waits for me. God's time of favour is here.

Do Good!

Do Good!

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

The call goes out again today, reminding us of the things that really matter. The world lays emphasis on acquisitions and possessions, and not much is said about how it is acquired. We judge men based on what we see them do or what we think they have, and not much is said about who they really are. The world celebrates wealth as something massive, and without a doubt, it is important to be able to afford the basic things of life, but they must not be at the expense of the lives that have been placed around me. God has so structured life in a way that there will always be a need to meet, a life to bless and a destiny to impact. I cannot have everything or be endowed with all I need for life and Godliness all at the same time. There are lives that will pour into me, and lives that I am expected to pour into. Iron has to sharpen iron. The gifts that God has given me are for the good of others, and the gifts that have been given to others have some benefit for me. It will therefore be selfishness for me to covet another person's gifts when I have been given mine too. 

Have I discovered that which I have been given, which is for the benefit of other people? If not, what am I doing to discover that which I have and which is for the benefit of others? There will always be opportunities to be a blessing to other people. There is too much emphasis laid on money. What of a shoulder to cry on? What of a listening ear? What of the emotional support your mere presence can give to another person, more valuable at that time than money? I note that nothing is said about the other person's reaction or response. It should not matter whether the person knows or appreciates the value of what I do. I am concerned with obeying God. I must do good to all men first, but particularly to those of the household of faith, because charity has to begin at home. If I know I am a child of God, that assembly of believers has to matter. The early church understood this; it is not a wonder that the world was shaken by its witness. Same God still; same instructions; same world. The world earnestly awaits the manifestation of the sons of God. Are you one? Am I? God's time of favour is here.

Focus!

Focus!

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭73:26‬ ‭KJV‬‬

My flesh and my heart faileth: But God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

The old is giving way to the new, but the new will at some point become old, and then the new will come. As long as the earth remains, there is a cycle of life that is in place, and as God has laid it out, it will contine to be so until the fullness of time. God's promise is that as long as the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, day and night will not cease. If that is true about nature, you can bet that it is true also for all of natural creation. It is pointless to pray for long life on this side of eternity if you will not find out and pursue the purpose of God for promising long life in the first place. Asaph must have also been at this point in his life as he penned down the words of this psalm. He considered what he thought was the prosperity and sound health of the wicked. It was almost as if he considered God to be a bit unfair that men who did evil were favoured by God while those who chose to fear God seemed to be live short, bitter lives. 

As it was in the days of Asaph, so are they in our own time today. 

Men keep aspiring to be 'successful' by any and all means, because the world has defined impact and meaning by physical things. Unfortunately, no matter how hard you try, at some point, we must depart this earthly phase and make our way to the eternal phase. No matter how well we take care of this earthly, mortal body, the effect of age and time will impact it. As I wait for the fullness of God's purpose to be revealed in me, what are my pursuits and priorities? As I seek to impact the world I have been placed in, I must be mindful that I do not have forever on this side. Time runs; the owner of life will demand an accounting from me on how I used his gifting and enablement. I must focus on God alone, to the exclusion of all other people and things. As long as that person or thing is created, it is limited in its usefulness. God is the only One who counts, because He is the only One who is eternal, and long after this flesh and body are long gone, all of life will have to face the Owner of all things. It is best to submit now willingly, than to do it out of the reality of eternal damnation. What is your choice? God's time of favour is here.

Pay it Forward!

Pay it Forward!

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; And that which he hath given will he pay him again.

It is the season where we remember the greatest gift ever given to man. No one can outgive God, who gave His life as a ransom from sin for all men. What makes this gift even bigger and better than anything else is that it was given with no thought of the reception of the gift. Whether mam would accept the gift or not was not the initial consideration, but that God wanted to give man an opportunity to approach Him and have access to all He could give. Even if it was only one man that would accept the gift, God would have still given it. Even though He had no guarantee that man would receive and submit to Him, He still pressed on regardless. That is the definition of love I should hold on and aspire to. This is the season to extend the same love we have received to other people who have not yet known or responded to the love we have come to enjoy. 

There will always be the poor amongst us. In fact, this is the conclusion of Jesus when his feet was being anointed by that woman before he went to the cross and Judas was being pretentious about caring for the poor. I may not always have a daily opportunity to give to people, but whenever and wherever the need arises, I must ask God for grace to be able to extend help to those who need it. It is not really about being wealthy, but about being able to look outside myself to see the need around me. God has blessed me so I can in turn also be a blessing. Whatever I own or hold right now isn't really mine; it has been given to me to make profit thereby through being a blessing to others. God promises that nothing I do is in vain; as long as I do it to obey and honour Him, I will not miss His reward. When God gives you, you can never have enough room to receive all. Give; God blesses when we do. God's time of favour is here. 

Here Now!

Here Now!

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1:21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

[21] And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

The vessel was not always popular. If an amazing gift like the Saviour of the world was promised, you will expect to find such a great gift in palaces. At least, the wise men thought so too, and they came to Herod's palace, seeking the Saviour to be born. The people of thst time had no idea what was about to happen, and they went about their usual busy lives, unaware that their lives were about to change. Even the vessel did not fully understand what was about to happen, but she was willing to surrender her life for the work that God wanted to do. The shepherds in the field were also at work that night, and they also got the news of the birth of the Saviour of the world. Different audiences, different reactions and receptions. The same message, but different responses. Herod went on a murdering spree, the wise men came and bowed before a child they had just met, the shepherds came and worshipped the same child, and I am sure the mother and father would have sat there wondering what was going on. 

As it was then, so is it now. The gift that was given then is still available today. Just as men had the power to choose how to respond then, so do we now have the power to choose to respond. I can reject the gift, or I can worship the gift. I can pretend to like the gift, to see what I can get from it, or I can surrender my life to that gift and let Him do with me whatever He pleases. The vessel was totally surrendered, and by her the Saviour was born. His name, assignment and purpose were laid out before he was born, and He set about that assignment. Today, I am a recipient and beneficiary of that assignment. I can make a claim on the benefit of that purpose, the key being salvation from sin. I note that this is the only thing mentioned in the verse above. He is also the protector, provider and Healer, but what use would a healthy body be if there is no eternal life to look forward to? Why settle for just a drink when I can have the entire vineyard? The gift is here; the decision on what to do with it has to be made today. What would yours be? God's time of favour is here.

Gifted

Gifted!

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭9:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

[6] For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Merry Christmas. We have received an amazing gift. The world has nothing free to give to anyone. In fact, the world will not give you anything without first taking something away from you. The world will make you promises it cannot keep, or promises that it will not tell you what the preconditions are. By the time you get into it, sometimes, it is too late. However, for God, long before the promise was even fulfilled in the physical, He had laid out the person and the purpose of the gift He had promised. Isaiah here was prophesying about the birth of a son about 700 years before the promise was physically manifest. That can only be from a God of absolute knowledge and power, who can do whatever He promises to do, and whose purpose and actions cannot be thwarted by anyone. The gift is not like the world will give. The world cannot give you what it does not have. It cannot give you eternal life as it does not have it. Only the One without a beginning or an ending is the one who can offer me life without end.

The gift is the Son. Others may give you something of value, but no one will give his life for someone who does not even know him. At the time the gift was manifest, I was not even born, yet God was willing to stake his life on my accepting His gift centuries later.  That gift is the key to all that God is and has. Check out all the names and identities the gift is to have: Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father and the Prince of peace. You note that these names are capitalised, which means that they refer to a Person, not an idea or a thing. This is the person of Jesus Christ Himself. He is the person of peace, who has come to make peace between God and man. His birth, death and resurrection all underscore the mew life we have been called into. Your past is not as important as the future. Whatever the weight or the stain of the past is, Jesus offers a new, clean and fresh start. What are you waiting for? No one and nothing else can give you that which the life of Jesus has already secured for you. God's time of favour is here.

The Sign!

The Sign!

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭7:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 

If the usual and the normal always happen, it may not catch my attention. God is the amazing God of miracles, signs and wonders and He is in the business of doing that which man calls impossible. The story of this season of Christmas is one of such mighty and amazing things. The old covenant had its demamds: men could only receive a cover from the consequences of their sin through the shedding of the blood of bulls and goats. It was not a perfect solution, but it was accepted by God until the manifestation of the perfect sacrifice from sin. Of course, if the perfect sacrifice came the same way other men like Him had come, how would he be different from other men? This is why the birth of the Saviour of the world had to happen from a different perspective. The old trend could not support what God wanted to do under the new covenant, so he brought forth His son without the help and limitations of human conception. It is this new path that has now led to new life for all of us. It is this new covenant or way of doing things that has sealed redemption from sin and eternal life with God for us. 

The old covenant was limited in that it could not really offer total forgiveness from sin. The sacrifices had to be made frequently, and blood had to be shed copiously and often, but under the new covenant, blood has been shed just once, and it is good for all time. I do not have to look for a medium or middleman to help me with access to the Father; I can go in myself and lay claim to all the benefits and blessings that His death and life have secured for me. Under the old covenant, God did not seem near. It must have been a frightening experience to see the high priest going into the Holy of Holies with a chain around his waist, and he would have to be pulled out if he died in there, as no one else could go in. Now, I have direct access to the throne of grace, and the name of the One I have been asked to come to is 'Immanuel', which means 'God with us'. He is with us. He wants to live in and lead us to heaven with Him. His life is for all of us. Would you take advantage of this free gift? God's time of favour is here..

Sure!

Sure!

1 John 5 : 15

And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.

It is critical to start with the verse that lays the foundation for the verse above, and it is this: 1 John 5 : 1: EVERYONE WHO believes (adheres to, trusts, and relies on the fact) that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah) is a born-again child of God; and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him (His offspring). This is the start point for anyone and anything that will resemble what God can back up and bless. God has laid down the rule as it relates to his engagement with man.  I have a choice to make: I can choose to believe in the Sonship AND Lordship of Jesus or I can choose otherwise, but I cannot deny either and still claim to be a child of God. There are benefits and blessings linked to being a child of God, but you really have to be one to access them. This is the one thing that you cannot fake. Men may be deceived by the hypocrisy and eye-service, but the only One who matters cannot be mocked or fooled. 

Once the relationship is settled and access is granted, then I can approach the throne of grace and make a demand. One of such blessings is answered prayers. I have a standing guarantee by God that anytime I call on Him, He hears me. He may not always say Yes or No, but whatever His response is, my relationship with Him is all I care to nurture. Possessions will come and go; position is not permanent. Power will fail sometimes, and the one who installs a king may decide he wants to depose him. God is not like that at all. If I do not speak to Him, what is the measure of the knowledge that He answers prayer? If I don't make a demand, how can I make God and His wonders known to all men? It is His name and nature at stake, so it will be to His glory and praise that He can be trusted to do exactly as He has promised. What are you waiting for? Ask away. God's time of favour is here. 

Serve!

Serve!

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭100:2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Serve the LORD with gladness: Come before his presence with singing.

There are quite a number of available definitions of the word 'serve', but one quite interesting one is this one: "Middle English: from Old French servir, from Latin servire, from servus ‘slave". Does that sound odd or out of place in this free economy that we have come to see the Christian faith as? We feel we can come in when we like and go out when we like, because there really is no one to crack the whip and make us fall in line. We do things when and the way we please, while forgetting that the Christian faith is actually a call to bonded service, which as the definition above puts it, is like a slave. By its very strict definition, a slave has no control over his time, resources or ability. Everything is under the control, influence and direction of the One who owns the slave. The slave only rests when the master says so, and must rise at the command of the master. 

If indeed I have been called to serve, how do I see my commission and call? Do I even know the terms and demands of this service? If I know the One who calls me to serve, I will do it with joy. In fact, a personal knowledge of and encounter with God is a prerequisite for service. How can I acceptably serve a God I do not submit to or acknowledge as Lord and Saviour? How do I submit and give my best to a God whose authority I do not recognize? Slavery does not have a positive connotation and you would not expect a slave to serve with anything resembling joy, but with a God who is the essence, personification and definition of love, this is the one and only time serving as a slave can actually be done with joy. The verse above encourages me to serve the Lord with gladness. I have to know who it is that calls me to serve, so I can do so with the right heart, attitude and application. 

I also note that I am directed to come before His presence with singing. The first part that asks me to come before his presence is key to the second part. If I claim to serve, how do I determine if my service is acceptable if I do not check in frequently with the One I claim to serve? Service as a slave is at the command of the owner. If I am God's servant, He must be able to lead, guide and driect me when and how He chooses. By experience and frequent encounters, I come to know this Lord as one who deserves all the praise and thanksgiving that I can give. This is a service that I do not need to be compelled to give; I do it with joy and gladness. I know who God is, and I know the benefits and blessings that come from Him, so I do all I am asked to do with the right heart. Where do you stand? What decisions do you also need to make about the quality of your service to God? He owes no man and He will definitely repay faithful service. God's time of favour is here. 

Rejoice 2!

Rejoice 2!

‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭16:10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Glory ye in his holy name: Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.

David had learnt his lesson the hard way. There was the right way to handle the ark of the covenant, and even good intentions were not enough to save Uzzah from death when he reached out his hand to steady the cart that carried the ark of the covenant. As it was in those days, so is it now. The mode of worship may have changed, but the target of the worship has not changed. It is still the same Holy God, who places demamds of holiness and righteousness on all who will come to Him. The other man, Obed-Edom, who received the ark of the covenant must have done right, because in three months of the ark being in his house, it is recorded that God blessed his house and all that he had. It matters if you do know the subject of reverence and awe, so you can worship Him the right way, and you can be blessed by Him. As nice as the processes and procedures for worship are, they are not replacement for having a personal encounter with the God who actually instituted the mode of worship that is accepted by Him. That is one of the messages in the verse above. 

His name alone deserves all the worship. His name is holy, and all whose lives and offerings will be accepted by Him must align with His nature of holiness. If my life aligns, it will lead other people to seek to know God. He is looking for men who will align. As Hanani the seer told Asa the king of Judah, the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. As I seek Him, I have the definite assurance that I will find Him. That should give me joy that I have a God who delights to see me approach his throne of grace and to state my case before Him. You cannot seek God and end up in disgrace. I cannot seek God and still have no joy to look forward to. This verse is an encouragement to all men to try God. You may have tried other options, and maybe you are at your wits end. Nothing seems to be going right. Well, if you are open to many options, seek God sincerely. You will not be disappointed. My heart rejoices because it has found its rest in God alone. I look forward to all the amazing things that are given to me now, and the great things in store. God's time of favour is here.

Rejoice!

Rejoice!

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭47:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

[1] O clap your hands, all ye people; Shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

The sons of Korah are credited with the words of today's verse. As you read the pages of the Bible, you find different versions and accounts of the descendants of Korah. The story did not start off well, as we remember the rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram, who were swallowed up by the ground. It was interesting to note that though these three men and most of their families were killed, the sons of Korah at the time were not killed along with the rebels. These sons went on to become great men, who were not far from the throne; either the physical throne of kings Saul and David, or the spiritual throne, as they served as praise leaders and instrumentals, composing songs of praise and thanksgiving giving glory to God. Indeed, my past or present look nothing like the future. The legacy of my parents may or may not be good but it does not have to be my own. By personal encounter, God gives me the grace and the opportunity to meet and get to know Him. I must not allow the devil to depress, oppress or repress me; God wants me to know Him and experience His power, so that by my testimony, other people can be drawn to Him.

The sons of Korah enjoin us to clap our hands and this is a call to all people. Language, tribe and culture can all identify with this call. The call pays no respect to influence, power, position, prestige or possession. Both the rich and the old can clap. I do not need to spend money to make some noise with my hands, as long as God has given me grace to use them. Clapping involves the use of both hands, and it is also a sign of focus. My hands cannot be busy pushing my own agenda if they are involved in praising God. I am also enjoined to shout unto God. I shout, not because God is deaf or hard of hearing, but because I cannot hold it in. He has done and is doing great and amazing things in my life and the right thing to do is to shout about it. I draw attention to God in and through my life. I make God known by my words and actions. I can shout because I am sure of victory over all that is going on around me. Like the encounter at Jericho, the walls will come down as I lift up my voice and shout in praise and thanksgiving to God. I ask God for more grace to keep my focus on Him alone, no matter the strength or ferocity of the storms raging outside. God's time of favour is here.

Looking Ahead!

Looking Ahead!

Romans 8 : 18 AMP

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred on us!

We live in strange times. These times place different demands on different people at different times. The times are referred to as 'the perilous times', and have been extensively covered by different teachings across different genre and dispensations. Daniel, Exekiel and Malachi spoke about these times in the old testament, and Jesus, Peter, James and John the Beloved all spoke about these times in the new testament. This means that the truth about these times do not respect time, earnings, wealth, influence, connections or anything else. It is a truth I have to learn about, determine what God wants me to know and what He expects from me. One thing God makes clear about these perilous times is that there will be a price to pay anyone who dares to follow Him closely. Nowhere does God promise a life free of trouble and tough times. What he promises me is a life full of His presence, provision and protection. I must know that I cannot go through this life without His help. I will fail woefully. 

The pressure may not always be obvious, but it will always be pressing. There is temptation to blend in and just follow the tide. There is pressure to compromise once in a while, because the time requires it. There is the desire to once in a while give in to the heart's desires based on what the senses perceive, and this is why we speak about total and absolute surrender to God. I cannot make it on my own, and just depending on my physical or emotional strengths will not cut it. With God, I have this assurance that nothing down here was built to last except that which is eternal. As long as this earth gives you, you cannot take it with you. Only that which God does or gives abides forever, and the biggest work of God is that which He births and sustains in the heart of a man who is totally surrendered to Him. That is the basis of the hope that allows me to look ahead and forward to all that God is able to do. He secures both the present and the future. God's time of favour is here. 

Helped!

Helped!

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭28:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

[7] The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: Therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

David writes the words of today's psalm, and as we know, this is a man for whom trust in God is a personal matter. Here is a man of whom God Himself testified about to be a man after His own heart. This has to be the result of daily dependence, trust and devotion to the things that really matter to the heart of God. As you read the words of the various songs in the book of Psalms, you see quite clearly why God said what He said. From my own current pursuits and priorities, can God dare to make this definitive statement about me? Does He own my heart so tightly that He is the only option I have when things go wrong? This has to be my default setting, otherwise, I will have a problem down the road. God is able and capable to provide all that I need for life and Godliness, but I have to trust Him completely. Nothing less than the whole of my heart will do. 

If God is my strength and shield, it means He is the One who supplies all I need for Impact. He helps me as I live on a daily basis, making sure that my choices are empowered to glorify Him. Of course, when the desire is to glorify God, He will defend me in return. I cannot be on assignment for God and He will leave me to my own devices. I cannot speak for Him and end up in disgrace. I cannot move at His command and lives will not be greatly impacted. It is the focus of my heart that shows in the direction of my life. Let it not be that I only know the words, but I do not know the Lord. As God does His bit, I will praise Him. As He intervenes on my behalf, I will praise Him. He alone deserves all the glory, and I know that when I praise Him, He will do even more. May my life be the platform where God can be glorified. May my choices lead to His glory. God's time of favour is here. 

Hope!

Hope!

‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

[13] May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Deep can only call out to deep, or expect a response or reaction from deep. The verse above is taken from the letter written by Paul to the church in Rome. This was a hard time for the church, with persecution and tough times ahead, but God always had a word of encouragement and hope to give to His own, in the midst of the most distressing circumstances. The Word of God is the person of Jesus, as well as the depth of insight and guidance available in Him for my good. By His Word, He gives me His person, presence, principles, policies, procedures and practices that provide the pathway for a life of impact. Everything in His Word is given to teach me how to endure and hold on to God and the hope that He births in me. There is no one and nothing else in this life that can provide that hope. However, as it has always been laid out, God does not force Himself on anyone. I do have a role to play to allow Him work in me that which He desires. I have the choice to make on who/what is allowed to make an impression on my heart. 

The reason why I need to watch that impression is because there are earthly and eternal consequences to whatever it is that is permitted to settle in my heart. God wants to fill me with hope so that I can have peace and joy. I cannot have either without His presence. As I trust Him, I am saying I give him total control over my life's pursuits and priorities. I am saying that I want Him to fill me up to the brim so that I can overflow with all that He is and has. Of course, this is a lifestyle that cannot be faked. You can try for all other situations, but here, you cannot give what you do not have. How can I pass on the hope of eternal life to another, if I do not have an idea of what it means? How do I show another the way if I do not know the Way? God wants to be known and glorified in and through me, and the only way that works is for me to His eyes, ears, mouth, hands, feet and heart. In the tough times we are in now, this is the right message for this season. There is hope only in Jesus. The economy of the world will fail, but only in Jesus is my hope secure. Does He live in me? Does He live in you? God's time of favour is here. 

Proof!

Proof!

‭‭John‬ ‭13:35‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

[35]  By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].

Again, it has to be emphasised that the audience defines the output. If I know what my desired outcome is, I have to work on the people or the situations that will guarantee that outcome. Jesus is the one speaking here again, and this is strictly for disciples also. How would men know who I am if there is no distinguishing feature to recogize me by? If I then claim to be a follower of Jesus or His disciple, I will be a liar if I do not reflect His presence and power. There has to first be an internal and intimate touch, before there can be an external and visible impact. Too many times, we want the world to know us and to accord us some regard, but we forget that the world will only give you any regard when it recognises the gift of God in you, which it does not have and cannot fake. I can make any kind of claim I want, but at some point, I have to speak up, relate with and interact with other people. Then, the proof of my interaction with God will then be made clear. I need to sort out my identity and allegiance, so that I can touch the world with who I am and what I have been given. 

All men must know that the mark of God is upon me. One way that can be made clear is by the way I love other people. I note that the verse above does not demand a response from me based on what the other person does or does not do, but on who I am and whose I am. The world may not always listen to the long messages that we seek to preach or the winding paths that may be demanded, but the world cannot resist the different lifestyle and priorities that the disciple lives by. My lifestyle must challenge the rotten ways of the world. My lifestyle of love must be an example worthy of emulation. As a disciple, Jesus is the role model and my life must offer the close resemblance to who Jesus is. That was the testimony of the early church and if it is still the same God, the standards have not changed. He will not demand from me that which He has not supplied grace for. If He demands it, it is because God is able to sustain it. I give my life to Him completely, so that the world can know Him through me. God's time of favour is here.

Do Right!

Do Right!

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭AMP‬‬

[17] Whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus [and in dependence on Him], giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

As always, in defining the application and scope of instructions, you have to first identify the relevant audience. There will be no point in giving directions to people who have no inclination, desire or ability to do what you say. The book of Colossians from where today's verse is taken is addressed to 'the saints and faithful brethren in Christ'. That is pretty specific; this allows me review my life and define who I am. When I know who I am, I know what the expectations and demands are. It is also equally important to know that the foundation of all I do is the condition and contents of my heart. I can fake the life of the moral and the good for some time, but it is difficult to fake the life of Christ. It is either I have it or I don't. The world loves to focus on the outward and the visible actions, because there is no way it can define or determine the motives or intentions of the heart. Many have been led astray and destroyed by the hypocrisy and eye-service of people who claimed to know Christ but only knew of Him. They had no personal relationship with Him. Let it not be that this would be God's view of me: full of activities but no personal relationship with Him.

The one way I can make sure of the contents of my heart is to carefully filter whatever I allow leave an impression on my heart. It is from the impressions on the heart that the expressions of the life flow. It is not a wonder then that the verse just before today's extract says I have to let the Word of God dwell in me richly. That is the only guarantee that my heart will always have the right foundation for the expressions that will touch the world the right way. The disciples in the early church did not always have to shout that they were followers of Christ; everything about them spoke about their allegiance and dedication. When the relationship of the heart is sorted, then the life of service is also sorted. Then all I do becomes a channel of blessing by which God can be glorified. There is nothing like a small or inconsequential action; everything that has been placed in my hands becomes an opportunity to make God known. My life's expressions then lead to praise, because men will be drawn to the God I serve. My light will so shine before men that they will glorify the name of the God I worship. What is the basis of your actions? Make sure that God can be glorified in and through you. God's time of favour is here. 

Kept!

Kept!

‭‭John‬ ‭14:21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

[21] He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

These were the last words of Jesus to his disciples, just before He went on the cross to die for the sin of the whole world. He used the opportunity to lay down the principles and practices of His kingdom, so that all who would desire to follow Him would know what the standards are. If I claim to be a disciple, it means that I am consciously seeking to know more about the person I am following, and striving to get closer to Him on a regular basis. Discipleship is not a weekly, monthly, quarterly or annual affair, but a daily walk with the Master. I come to Him daily for guidance, instruction and correction, and I apply the lessons learnt to my daily living. That is the message in the verse above: 'He that hath my commandments AND keepeth them'. Note the AND that links the having and the keeping. I cannot have and then refuse to keep; that would be hypocrisy. I cannot keep what I do not first have; that is trying to fake it. None works; the proof of discipleship is the discipline to search for the truth, and when you have known it, to live by it on a daily basis. Am I that kind of disciple? 

One of the greatest benefits of discipleship is the love of God the Father. Whatever else you may have, if you do not have the love of God in your heart, it is of no value. Obedience to the commands and instructions of God the Father is also a sign of love. It is quite critical to also mention that the love for Jesus can't be divorced from the love for His Father. How can I claim to love the Father and then have no regard for the Son? It is the Son who gives access to the Father, just as the Son has made clear that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through Him. Just picture what it means to be loved by God the Father and God the Son. Look at the lives of all who God said He loved: Jacob, David and Solomon. See how their lives turned out. Check out the life of Esau, the one who God said he hates. You will not go far in life, at least in line with God's will and purpose for you, without finding the love of God. This is critical to both the earthly and eternal impact that God wants me to make. When I have received love, then I can give it. When it is real to me, I will not struggle to show it to others. Have I known this love? Does He also know me as His own? God's time of favour is here.

Come!

Come!

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭95:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

O come, let us worship and bow down: Let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

The writer of this psalm is not known, but the message is clear and unmistakable. There is an invitation made to all and sundry, asking us to come, worship and bow down. First of all, the one who asks us to come must know the place, person and purpose which all inspire the invitation. How can anyone invite me to a place he does not know or does not even know how to get there? How do you invite a man to come and worship something or someone you do not know or have not tested and approved as the genuine article? As we read the verse above, it is clear that personal relationship is at the heart of the invitation laid out here. You cannot give what you do not have, and you cannot purport to lead people to a place where you have not been to yourself. It starts with me, and it must be full in me before it can pour out to bless and impact other people. 

I also have to be careful of the places and people to whom I am asked to bow down to or worship. A lot of people, places and pursuits are seeking to take hold of the heart of men, and turn them against the Maker and Creator, but let it be known today that God is a jealous God who does not share His glory with anything or anyone. He does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not contend authority or control with anyone. It has to be given to Him willingly, with all my heart, so He knows I choose Him of my freewill, not out of compulsion or a lack of other options. In fact, I may have tried other options, and they would have failed me miserably, so I come, as I have been invited, now sure and certain that only God can help me. I will not struggle to kneel down and acknowledge the authority of the One to whom I have given total control of my life. 

If indeed I know that God is Lord of all, I will not struggle to surrender to Him on a daily basis. I will seek his face on a daily basis before I take steps. I will ask Him for directions and directives for all my life's endeavours. A child looks up to His parents for everything as s/he grows, and in this walk of faith, this is one time when I never cease to be called a child of God.  At no time do I ever become an 'adult' of God, which means I have to remain perpetually dependent on the supply of grace by God. Kneeling means total surrender, because in that position, I cannot run or try to hide from the One in whose presence I am. In that position, I will always be lower in height, status, stature and position before whom I kneel. The One before whom I am asked to kneel is called the Lord our Maker. A time comes soon when all of life, either by choice or compulsion, will bow before Him. I do it of my own freewill today. God's time of favour is here. 

Confess and Possess!

Confess and Possess!

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4:15‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

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

There is power in confession. That which the mouth says is a function of the conviction that has been established in the heart. There are times when hypocrisy and eye-service may work to create a confusion between what the heart believes and what the mouth confesses but this verse is speaking to people whose hearts have been convicted by the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that can rid a man of deceit and selfishness. It is the Holy Spirit that can so work on a man's heart that his lips will have no choice but to accept and acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God. It has to be established here that what I choose to believe does not in any way change the fact that Jesus is the Son of God. I can accept or reject it, but the Sonship of Jesus had long been established before any of us alive today was born. He does not need me to be God but my life will be the blessing and have the impact it was created for if I would submit to the Lordship and authority of Jesus, and allow Him work in and through me that which is His perfect will. Anything less will only end up in disgrace.

What would the benefit of this confession be? The verse above says God is pleased to make his home in the one who confesses that Jesus is the Son of God. Why is this critical? I cannot accept the Lordship and authority of Jesus and still hold on to my own ways. I cannot claim that Jesus is Lord of my life and I am still struggling for control and influence with God. It means that I have let go, and I am allowing Jesus reign and rule in my life. Of course, God does not force Himself on anyone but for as many as would take him up on his free offer of salvation will have access to the presence and provision of God for all of life. It has to be noted also that this becomes a mutually beneficial relationship. God lives in me and I also live in God. Nothing touches me without God's permission. Nothing happens to me by accident, but by His divine design. I am at home with God in this physical body, and also expectant of the amazing life that lies ahead in the incorruptible body. Does this describe me? God's time of favour is here.

Priorities!

Priorities!

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

[25] Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 

In a world of competing interests, there is an urgent need to define and determine what is really important. The world tries to define what is important, and then also tries to get us to focus on those things, to the exclusion of all other things. The problem with this focus is that once you get it wrong, every other thing will be wrong. The world also has legitimate interests too, and as we know, food and drink and clothes are all important to having the basic quality of life. In fact, several international pronouncements such as the Universal Declaration of Human rights lay these out as fundamental to the quality of life for every human being. Yet, as I read the verse above, it seems to me that Jesus is telling His disciples that as important as these are, they cannot be your sole focus. The bible says that if a man does not provide for his own house, he has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel. Physical needs are critical, and God wants me to do what I can to meet them, but they cannot be the sole focus. There is more to life than worrying about food, drink and clothes. 

The verse asks me to take no thought about what to eat, drink or put on. It is the anxiety that leads to even greater health challenges. No one can by worrying add a single day to the number of years God has given him, yet we fret over the plans we have made for the next 5 years. It is good to plan, but it is also critical to plan with God in full view of all that we look ahead to. Food and drink are important to daily life, but so also are the food and drink that are important to the spiritual life God also calls us to. As we strive to satisfy the needs of the physical, so must we strive to satisfy the needs of the spiritual. Too much thinking about how to meet the physical needs will rob you of the joy each day brings. As a disciple, I have the assurance that my leader and teacher knows what I need, and He will supply accordingly. That is why today's verse is addressed to disciples, not the crowd. I can make all the claims I want; access is only given to those who have surrendered their lives to the control and influence of Jesus. Does that describe me and you? God's time of favour is here.

Prepare!

Prepare!

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

[3] The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 

There are a number of lessons that the verse above brings up, but three would suffice here. The first is that God will never lack a vessel He can use at the time it is needed and for the assignment that needs to be carried out. The world can dress anything and anyone up as indispensable, but only God is indispensable. Every other person or thing is under the control and influence of this God, and He can direct its impact and application whichever He desires. He can pick up or discard as and when He pleases, and He is not subject to audit the way the world's systems are. In the verse above, 'a voice' is that vessel that needs to be used. That voice is subject to the control and direction of the Lord, and it is to declare the coming of the Lord. Can God count on me to use whatever He has given me for His glory? 

The coming of the Lord is the second point. Whether I like it or not, the Lord will return one day. He has not told us the day or the hour, but He has made clear what the signs of the end will be. It is quite clear from the events all over the world that the return of the Lord is near. How am I preparing? The voice has been mandated to declare the coming of the Lord and to make known what the required preparations must be. I do now have a choice to make: prepare the right way, or risk being lost forever. This preparation for the coming of the Lord will take so many things away from me. There are old habits and practices to stop and new ones to learn. There are daily encounters I must now seek, in line with my preparations for that return. Am I preparing the right way? If the Lord were to return right now, would I be able to go with Him? 

The third lesson is when God is on the move, there is no one and nothing that can stand in His way. Mountains must bow down, storms must cease and dry bones must rise again, in line with the purpose of God for the particular season. Even the strangest places will experience the move of God. Deserts are known for not being the nicest places on earth: dry, dusty and burdensome, yet, at the command of the Lord, even the most mundane will give room to the miraculous. We speak of the Lord who made the heaven and the earth and to whom all things answer to. God does not force Himself on anyone, but a time comes when, either by compulsion or freewill, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. I should do it willingly now. May my life be prepared as a channel through which the grace of God can flow. God's time of favour is here. 

The Greatest!

The Greatest!

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:13‬ ‭AMP‬‬

[13] And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love.

The three things mentioned in the verse above are quite fundamentally important to our journey of life. Faith, hope and love all impact our earthly and eternal life experience. How do these interact? At the foundation of my spiritual journey is faith. In fact, the bible says that without faith, it is impossible to please God. Faith is also part of the whole armour of God, which He has provided for our safety and protection. It is by grace that we have been saved through faith. We could not have come to the Lord by our own efforts and labour, and that is why God's enablement for me to come to Him has to be appreciated. His work of grace in my heart is the reason why I came to believe in Him and to trust Him with my life. That faith also leads to hope, which is the assurance I have that life will continue with God in eternity. 

Whatever comes my way on my journey of faith, I have this amazing and indescribable hope that it will end well. Hope is also that factor that keeps you focused even when you do not understand the reason for your experiences. As the bible says, if only in this world we have hope, we are of all men most miserable. There has to be someone or something that keeps me hanging on, even when everything is falling to pieces around me. And then there is love. The only way to fully understand this is to go back to the points raised above about faith and hope. It was love that drew up the plan of salvation, as well as the foundation of the grace that made Jesus give up His life for me. It is impossible to explain love without the practical examples that Jesus had laid out for us. This is why love is seen as the greatest, because it is the physicial manifestation of the amazing love of the invisible God. 

Faith and hope are quite critical to my journey, but they are first personal and internal, before their benefits can be seen on the outside, in the way I relate and interact with other people. I can make claims to faith, and I can have a cheery and happy disposition at all times, but love, as defined, designed and expressed by God cannot be faked. It is either that God is the One being made manifest through my actions or I am simply putting myself forward and seeking glory for myself. Love is the proof that my faith and hope are based on God. To the end of time, these three will remain. Until Jesus returns, these three will be relevant, but love is the person and manifestation of God. With it, I can never go wrong. Have you responded the right way to the love of God that has been offered to you? He waits; you do not have forever to make up your mind. God's time of favour is here.

Favour!

Favour!

‭‭‭‭Psalms‬ ‭147:11‬ ‭AMP‬‬

The Lord favors those who fear and worship Him [with awe-inspired reverence and obedience], Those who wait for His mercy and lovingkindness.

Just before the verse above, you read such words as these: "He does not delight in the strength (military power) of the horse, Nor does He take pleasure in the legs (strength) of a man". There is a limit to that which man originates. There is an end to anything that man births, if we can call it that. There is no benefit in relying on human strength, power or wisdom; these have all failed to change the dynamics in any way. Man can run as fast and as far as he wants; he can never outrun God. Man can fight as hard as he can; he can never overpower God. There is a healthy fear and awe that must flow out of my life when it comes to dealing with God. He is this mighty and awesome God, so holy that no man in his natural human state can behold his face, yet He seeks to have a relationship with me. The Lord of the universe wants to live in me and direct my life's affairs. That reality must make me very careful about my pursuits and priorities. I cannot do things my own way and expect God to just stamp my actions with his approval, even if it goes against His Word. God will not be false to the principles He has laid out in His Word. 

If I will have his favour, I must deal with Him in fear, awe, reverence and obedience. With God, the minimum standard is that of obedience, borne out of a love for God. If I love God, I will desire to obey Him at all times. If I love God, it will not be difficult to also love the people He has made like me, and then placed beside me on my life's journey. I will worship him first with my life, and of course, with all that I own and hold. True worship flows out of a heart with clear understanding of the Person and Power of the One to be worshipped. It is not something to be rushed, or to be treated with levity. Also, I would learn to wait upon Him for His mercy and lovingkindness. God's mercy is given to all men, but like all free gifts, I have to respond to, accept and live by its dictates on a daily basis. He may not come at the time or in the manner I expect him to come, or the same way He came the last time, but I do know that He always shows up, and whatever He touches must reflect His grace and power. Am I truly one of His own? Does He know me as His own? God's time of favour is here.

Hold Fast!

Hold Fast!

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

[23] Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 

There is a call to all who have professed Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. It is not a general call to everyone. There are directives and instructions for disciples, and there are also pieces of advice and counsel for those who also want to come into the fold. I need to define who and where I am, so I can determine God's expectations for me. The people the verse above addresses are those who are called 'brethren', who have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. They do not come by their own strength or wisdom or connections, but simply by the finished work of Jesus on the cross. Every life that will have and make impact must start the journey from this point. Can I say, of a truth, that this is where I am now? Am I fully trusting the grace of God that has been fully expressed in the free gift of salvation and redemption through Christ? Morals and good behaviour do matter, but they truly count only when they are based on the foundation of faith in that finished work of Christ. 

If I am a believer in Christ, I have been given some amazing promises and blessings. Faith in Christ makes all of Christ available to me. The devil, having been in the presence of God before he fell, knows the value of this interaction with God, and he will do anything he can to tamper with it. I need to hold fast to that which I have been given, because there is grave danger in not holding on. The bible is clear on this danger, where it warns that no man, having put his hand on the plough, and looking back, is fit for service in the kingdom of God. Jesus also warns in his letter to the church in Philadelphia that it should hold on to that which it had been given, so that no one will take its crown. The One who gives the gift is the One who defines the conditions for enjoying it. If I will enjoy the gift, I have to align with the conditions. He has the ability, capacity and capability to do as He has promised. He is faithful, and that makes Him trustworthy. Would I also trust Him with my life? God's time of favour is here.

Right Heart!

Right Heart!

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3:15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 

Again, the importance of the contents of the heart is emphasized here. The heart is the place where the decisions are made; where the priorities are set and the pursuits are defined. It is from the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks. I have been advised to guard my heart with all diligence, because out of it flows the issues of life. This same heart is the one that has been judged by God to be deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. The points made above would mean that I have to place premium on whatever I allow to make an impression upon my heart. I cannot just permit anyone or anything to stake a claim for a place in my heart. That is what the verse above makes clear: the Lord has to be sanctified in my heart. He has to be given His rightful place of honour in my heart. He is Lord of all; my choices may confirm or deny this, but it does not change the fact that He is Lord. I can decide to let Him be Lord, or I can decide to hold on to the controls. I just must remember that there are eternal consequences to whatever decison I make.

When the heart is right, then the mouth is also right. When the heart is set on the things of God, the mouth will always reflect the things of God. You can fake it for a while, but you cannot fake it forever. If indeed God is in charge of my heart, his imprint upon my life will definitely show. Men will ask to see the reason for the change in me. When I do not follow after the pattern of the world, iI am challenging the world and asking it to look at my life as the perfect pattern for what pleases God. Men will definitely ask for the basis of the hope I have, and the reason why I do what I do the way I do it. This is why the work that God does in my heart will also reflect in the way I answer those who want a reason for my hope. I know who I have believed, and I know what He has saved me from. I know where I am headed, and I know the blessings that accrue to me right here in earth, and also in eternity. I live in meekness, because I acknowledge the work of God's grace in my life. What of you? God's time of favour is here.

Be Strong!

Be Strong!

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭31:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

If we stay on context, I am sure Joshua was terrified here. He had been a servant to Moses for quite some time, and had seen the capacity for rebellion and disobedience by the children of Israel. Of course, at a time, he was directly involved, where he and Caleb were the only ones who stood by God's promises, sure of the ability and capacity of God to do all He had promised to do. But leading these people was a different proposition altogether. Who could lead all these people, with their different priorities and leanings? Who could feed and take care of them in the desert without divine help? This is why the verse above is quite critical to own situation today. There are a lot of uncertainties in our world today. Nothing is ever the way it should be, and men keep finding new ways to perpetuate and promote evil. However, today's focus would have me fix my gaze on that which goes on inside of me, not what is raging outside of me. That is the summary of the message in the verse above. 

First sort out the inner content and the outer situations will sort themselves out. If I let the fear of the outer take hold of my heart, it will displace the confidence and trust I should have in my heart about the ability of God to keep me safe from all the storms that may rage on the outside. If there is no inner presence, where is the hope of victory? If there is no inner confidence, how can I look forward to the mighty things that God can do? If God goes with me, it does not really matter how many turn back from going with me. If God is for me, it will not matter what the quality or quantity of the opposition against me is. Before I dare face the world and all its machinations, I had better be sure that God is in and with me. May I not be like Samson who toyed with the presence of God and paid a steep price for it. Moses said it quite clearly when he told God that if God would not go with them, there was no point in taking any further steps. That has to be my default position at all times. God's time of favour is here.

WAIT 2!!

WAIT 2!

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

but they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

As defined in the focus for yesterday, waiting is to 'stay where one is or delay action until a particular time or event'. Just as it has been made clear above, it has to be emphasised that it matters what you do while you wait. It is not a waiting due to boredom or lack of motivation, but it is a waiting for a particular time or event to occur. In the verse above, we know now who/what we are waiting for.  The verse asks me to 'wait on the Lord'. Some versions use wait 'for' the Lord. Waiting on God means I am staying where I am until there is clarity on the next step. I am waiting for the person to place an order, or to speak and give directions to me before I step out to carry out the instructions. Waiting on someone could mean the person is expected, and it could also mean that you are before that person, and can identify the person you seek to serve. Can I say, of a truth, that I am waiting on God, as I stay in His presence, focused on His Word, seeking His face and seeking His clear Word for the next step of my life?  Am I living daily IN His presence, or am I a weekly, monthly, quarterly or annual visitor to His presence?

As I wait ON God, I have his promise of a renewing of strength. How it works may not always be clear, but no man waits on God the right way and then messes up the order or instruction. If I wait on Him and get clear instructions, I know that He is the Lord and Master of my time, resources and application, so I will not struggle with obedience and surrender. There are things I will be asked to do that the natural supply of wisdom will not be able to define or cope with. There will be demands on my time and resources thst the natural man will struggle to give up. There are achievements that are only possible based on the daily dependence on the supply of the One who gives the instructions. Also, when God is the focus, you are not in competition with anyone. Whatever the level I am in now, God is ready to help me, and to supply all that I need for the journey He has asked me to undertake. It is only in God that a man can run and not be weary, or walk and not be faint. There is a limit to human ability, influence or connection. No one waits ON God and regrets; there is no limit to the impact a man who God helps can make. God's time of favour is here.

WAIT!

WAIIT!

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭130:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

[5] I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.

In understanding what it means to wait, one available definition says it means to 'stay where one is or delay action until a particular time or event'. As we apply this to our walk with God, it is important to consider the pressure the world and the devil want to put us under. We want it now, and we want it ready to be delivered. The human nature in us does not want to wait, or we do not want delayed gratification. This was also what led to the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. This couple were told clearly what the rules were, and they had daily visitations from the God who had placed them where they were. Could they have waited just till evening for the usual visit by God, and they could again clarify? Be careful of anyone or anything that seeks to push you to act NOW, without considering the eternal consequences of that action. Be wary of anyone that seeks to convince you that now is the only time you can get that thing, and if you don't have it now, there is something missing. One lesson from the verse above is that it pays to wait, but it has to be for the right person. If man is your sole confidence, you are bound for trouble.

My whole being must wait for the Lord. I cannot afford to pay lip service to waiting, while my actions speak otherwise. My hope must be in the Word of God, because it is by the Word of God that creation is formed and also sustained. If there is change to be made, the secret lies in the changing power of the Word of God. If there is a change to be sustained also, the power lies in the unfailing Word of God. The Word of God is the person of Jesus Christ Himself, the son of God. By Him all things were made; therefore, all things made by Him must answer to Him. I can hope in His Word because I have the assurance that He can do all He has promised. There are two immutable things by which it is impossible for God to lie, and these are His Name and His Word. When I have both, I have hope. When I have none, what is the basis of the confidence I claim to have? In a world that is increasingly becoming godless, His Word is the anchor I need to face whatever comes, and overcome. Do you have His Word? God's time of favour is here. 

Grace!

Grace!

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:8‬ ‭AMP‬‬

For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God;

As I read the verse above, I struggle to see anywhere that personal effort and labour counts towards the dispensation of grace that has been made available to me. The verse starts with the declaration that it is by grace that I have been saved from the judgment that I actually deserved due to sin. It is important to consider what grace is: 'the spontaneous, unmerited gift of God's divine favour in the salvation of sinners, and His influence operating in individuals for their regeneration and sanctification'. It is not based on merit, influence, connection or ability, but simply on the gift of God, given solely by His pleasure, so that all of us could approach His throne and obtain salvation from sin, leading to the new birth and sanctification. If there is any gift that is purportedly from God, but which does not demand turning away from sin, that gift is not from God. If there is anything I hold today, which does not remind me of the need to ensure that my life is free from sin, and daily dependent on the supply of God's grace that has brought salvation to me, that I have to be careful about such things. 

The gift of salvation is the foundation to all that I will ever hope to be, have or become. As I did not earn it by works in the first place, there is nothing of my own labour that I can do to sustain or keep it. I must first get it by faith, and then sustain it by a daily walk of faith also. It was grace that drew me to Christ and it is grace that will keep me in Christ. Good works will follow, and these are critical to the manifestation of the grace I have received, but I must get the order right. I cannot focus on what I want to achieve for God, and then ignore that which is the foundation of acceptable service by God. If the vessel and the channel is NOT holy and dedicated to God, God may still flow and touch other people through the vessel, but the vessel is in danger of just being used, with no eternal benefits to enjoy. I do not want to be a vessel that is just used and dumped. I want the grace of God to be manifest in and through me, so that men can see the benefit of grace, and be drawn to the visible evidence of God's power, mercy and compassion. God waits for all of us; eternity lies at the end of whatever decision I make. God's time of favour is here.