Cause and Effect

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

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

These Times!

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

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

Want God?

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

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

Stay Connected

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

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

Unity

But I urge you, believers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in full agreement in what you say, and that there be no divisions or factions among you, but that you be perfectly united in your way of thinking and in your judgment [about matters of the faith]. 1 CORINTHIANS 1:10 AMP

Few Lessons
1. This verse is addressed to believers, not church goers or moralists. You are either in or out, there is no fence to sit on, because Jesus has broken down every wall of partition. You are either living in Him, or living independently of him. You can't do both.
2. It may amaze you to know that the early church never seemed to have disagreements on what needed to be done. The way and manner of approach may require discussion, but God was at the centre of their focus and fellowship. If I am truly conscious of God's presence everywhere I go, would I dare to do the things I do? We crave the attention of men, and behave well in the presence of earthly powers; yet we are unruly, selfish and  disobedient when we come into God's presence. Do we think God lives in the midst of such recklessness?
3. Can there be true agreement in what we all say, and there exists no division amongst Christians? I believe that there can be. One thing we need to check out is our focus: am I trying to look good, trying to push my own ideas forward, trying to make people see things my own way, or seeking God's glory? God cannot lead two people in opposite directions over a single issue. One of these two or both of them may not be listening well; the manner of approach may be different, but it will not cause divisions and conflicts. Check your focus again: who is more important to you: your prestige or God's glory?
4. I never forget this: God placed me where I am presently to function in a particular way. It will be utter disregard to God for me to envy someone else's position and abandon my own calling. That is the seed of discord and conflict. God, help me to identify where you are at work, and where you are inviting me to join you at work, so that I can fulfill your own purpose for my life and bring glory to you. His time of favour is here.

National Awareness!

First of all, then, I urge that petitions (specific requests), prayers, intercessions (prayers for others) and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all people, for kings and all who are in [positions of] high authority, so that we may live a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 1 TIMOTHY 2:1‭-‬2 AMP

A few lessons:
1. On this Independence day anniversary, it is a good time to remind ourselves of what we need to do and what we need to stop doing, if things must get better: the priority is not national conferences or discussions, it is not in complaints and in murmurings, it is not in referendum or secession; it is in prayer. I am yet to see the problem that prayer has failed to solve, but we all have seen the effects of failed national policies, conferences and discussions. Let us try what God has called as important to him: prayer- and see if it works.

2. There are different kinds of prayers that can be offered for all people- petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving. Do you do any of these for anyone? Are you only interested in grumbling, in backbiting, in discussing issues with fellow men, but not praying? Nothing will work until it is given to God to work on.

3. Kings and those in authority are mentioned as a class to be prayed for. In this country, we need to do more of this than cursing them. Many of us can criticize them and their decisions, but in our private and public lives, are we not guilty of the same things that we accuse the leaders for? We hold them to a higher standards than ourselves, forgetting that the God of judgment does not discriminate between leaders and the led. All alike will be judged for their motives, intentions and actions.

4. When we don't pray, we deserve whatever we get. When you need peace, yet you don't speak peace into the nation, how would peace work for you? When all your words are hateful and inciting, how would your own life ever enjoy love and quiet? Your investment now is a picture of your returns later. Whatever you sow into your community and nation is what you will get in multiple folds in return. Make sure you are sowing and living right. His time of favour is here.

Make the Approach!

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:15‭-‬16 NLT

Quick Lessons:
1. We have a High Priest. Unlike the Old Testament priest, Jesus took his own blood, offered his own life as the perfect sacrifice for sin once and for all. There I'd no need for repetitive offering; the one sacrifice is good for all time and eternity.
2. Jesus came to identify with us in our weaknesses. We could not make it on our own, but his coming shows that we do not have to keep going on in our own strength.  His life shows a victory over sin, and it is only by living in him that we can enjoy the same victory over sin.
3. His once and for all sacrifice has granted us permanent access to the Presence of God, where we meet with the God who is everything we need. The temple veil has been torn, the deep secrets of the Holy of Holies have been revealed, and man can walk in just as he is, and receive necessary help at the time it is most needed.
4. All needs are met in the presence of God, not in the company of men. Men will call a committee to debate the how, when and the why they have to help you; God invites us to approach him anytime. God says I am all you need so I have all you need. In me you find the fullness of life itself. At the time when the need is greatest, and the help is required, God steps in. He may not come at the time you think it is best for him; but he will surely come at the right time. When we are down and out, God does not count us out. He's watching, waiting, working; he wants to help. What are you waiting for? Make the approach. His time of favour is here.