"Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them." (Gen 26:18)
For several years I have kept journals in which I recorded dealings of God with me: words He's inspired, prophecies spoken over me, words of wisdom from mentors and fathers, prayer goals and answers, testimonies and other important spiritual milestones. Recently, while I was fighting discouragement over an issue, I picked up one of the journals dating back several years and began rereading it. It did not take too long reading through before I was overflowing with encouragement and joy. I was reminded of words God had spoken to me in the past and I saw how they were fulfilled. I also saw promises from God that were still pending fulfillment. I read past prayer desires that looked impossible then but which have been answered. I became so full of the Spirit and inspired to move on in the Lord. It was like the reopening of a clogged well.
Yesterday, we applied our text to rekindling spiritual truths that God had brought to His body, the church at large. Today we will apply it to your personal life. If you have walked with God for a while, you will have had some dealings with Him. He would have spoken to you in your bible studies, in messages you hear, prophecies from others, counsel from mentors, books you read and other means. Those dealings of God are like spiritual wells of nourishment. They are meant to enrich and refresh your life. However as time passes, it is very easy to forget those words and rather get entangled in the battles of today.
Words from God that have been forgotten are like clogged spiritual wells. They've been clogged with the passage of time, clogged with forgetfulness. But the words of God are eternal. They are incorruptible seeds. What He has spoken to you before still stands today and sometimes you need to go back and reopening the wells again. You need to remind yourself of what He said to you. Forgetting is a weakness of every human. God through Moses gave several instructions to the children of Israel. Later He had to repeat the same instructions to them in the book of Deuteronomy, which means "a second reminder of the law," yet they still forgot. You will be amazed at how much of God's simple dealings and words over your life that you have forgotten and how encouraging it will be to you to be reacquainted with the chronicles of your past walk with God.
So wherever you are today, I encourage you to go back and pick up your past journals and notes. Obey the instructions to not forget His benefits, His word and faithfulness over you life. David did this when he faced Goliath. He reminded himself of how God had helped him in the past to kill the bear and the lion to protect his fathers sheep. He became so inspired that He ran toward Goliath and killed him.
So, remind yourself of what He has said to you. Remember what he has done for you. Reminisce about where He has brought you from. Dig those clogged wells again. Reawaken those past prophecies over your life and wage a good warfare with them now. If you are not in the habit of journaling, begin now to so. It will be one of the most fulfilling exercises you would ever do.
Decision of the Day
I know that the past dealings of God in my life are like wells of spiritual refreshment. I will reopen those wells by reminding myself of what He has spoken and done. I also will make journalling a habit.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
March 30: Dig the Wells Again
"Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them." (Gen 26:18)
Isaac redug his father's old wells. He tapped into past provisions to meet current needs. His aim was to reclaim wells that once supplied water, and thus life that had since been clogged by the enemy. These were literal wells but there is a spiritual truth we can glean from this.
The move of God is progressive. With every generation God advances in His plans and does new things. But to walk in the fulness of the spiritual truths and refreshing from the wells of God, in addition to what we are learning now, we have to look into the past and dig out clogged wells of spiritual truths that the past generation walked in. We are not to let go of the spiritual truths revealed to past generations.
There is nothing God has done before in the dispensation of the church that He intends to stop doing. If they are not being done, it is because the wells have been clogged by the enemy. We read of great things in the Book of Acts about the works of God in the infancy of the church. We read of the Holy Spirit falling upon people in places after places beginning from the day of Pentecost. We read of great signs, wonders and healings being performed by the early Christians. We read of cities and nations been turned upside down by these fervent believers who are our predecessors in the faith. We read of their commitment to the cause of the kingdom even to the point of not loving their own lives to death. We read of massive conversions and vibrant church communities.We also hear and read of great revivals and awakening in times past. We read of great men of faith that God used to bring life into the church, multitude to the faith and establish great movements for God's glory.
But then we look around us now and we see relics of these past moves of God. We see once full churches now only empty cathedrals. We see many denominations explaining away the miraculous, that God has ceased moving in those way. Past truths and operations of God that were common place and that blessed past generations are now believed to be anomalies, works of God only for the past ages.
But this is untrue, God has never changed. He is still the same, yesterday, today and forever. Th dispensation of the church that began in the Book of Acts is still continuing. You will notice that of all the books of the Bible, Acts is the only one without a proper conclusion or benediction. This is because the Holy Spirit is still performing His acts. The problem is that the well has been clogged. It has been clogged with unbelief, tradition, religion, wrong beliefs and dogmatism. The water is still present underneath, but the sands of men's rationalization has clogged it.
It is time to do what Isaac did. It is time to dig the wells again. Time to revisit the old gospel of repentance, commitment, holiness, sanctification, consecration, power and supernatural interventions. It is time to continue the Acts of the Holy Spirit. Our time needs these truth more than it has ever been needed. The population of the world that need to hear the gospel is more than it has ever ben in history. The challenges to faith by popular culture is at historical highs. The people who are scattered, oppressed and under bondage to perversion, addictions, diseases and sin are in unprecedented multitude.
The waters from the old well is needed. The world is thirsty. The question is who will reopen the wells? Who will pay the price to dig again to unclog the wells? It will take passion, persistent prayer, fasting, faith and travailing with God. It will take boldly proclaiming lost truths uncompromisingly. It will take going against the tides and standing firm in the midst of religious people who have a form of godliness but deny the power. Can God count on you to dig?
Decision of the Day
I understand that there are certain things that God has done in the past, truths He revealed in the past, that the fathers of the faith walked in, but that are now lost in our days. Some truths have been clogged by tradition and unbelief. I will be a well digger. I will seek God for the restoration of these truths.
Isaac redug his father's old wells. He tapped into past provisions to meet current needs. His aim was to reclaim wells that once supplied water, and thus life that had since been clogged by the enemy. These were literal wells but there is a spiritual truth we can glean from this.
The move of God is progressive. With every generation God advances in His plans and does new things. But to walk in the fulness of the spiritual truths and refreshing from the wells of God, in addition to what we are learning now, we have to look into the past and dig out clogged wells of spiritual truths that the past generation walked in. We are not to let go of the spiritual truths revealed to past generations.
There is nothing God has done before in the dispensation of the church that He intends to stop doing. If they are not being done, it is because the wells have been clogged by the enemy. We read of great things in the Book of Acts about the works of God in the infancy of the church. We read of the Holy Spirit falling upon people in places after places beginning from the day of Pentecost. We read of great signs, wonders and healings being performed by the early Christians. We read of cities and nations been turned upside down by these fervent believers who are our predecessors in the faith. We read of their commitment to the cause of the kingdom even to the point of not loving their own lives to death. We read of massive conversions and vibrant church communities.We also hear and read of great revivals and awakening in times past. We read of great men of faith that God used to bring life into the church, multitude to the faith and establish great movements for God's glory.
But then we look around us now and we see relics of these past moves of God. We see once full churches now only empty cathedrals. We see many denominations explaining away the miraculous, that God has ceased moving in those way. Past truths and operations of God that were common place and that blessed past generations are now believed to be anomalies, works of God only for the past ages.
But this is untrue, God has never changed. He is still the same, yesterday, today and forever. Th dispensation of the church that began in the Book of Acts is still continuing. You will notice that of all the books of the Bible, Acts is the only one without a proper conclusion or benediction. This is because the Holy Spirit is still performing His acts. The problem is that the well has been clogged. It has been clogged with unbelief, tradition, religion, wrong beliefs and dogmatism. The water is still present underneath, but the sands of men's rationalization has clogged it.
It is time to do what Isaac did. It is time to dig the wells again. Time to revisit the old gospel of repentance, commitment, holiness, sanctification, consecration, power and supernatural interventions. It is time to continue the Acts of the Holy Spirit. Our time needs these truth more than it has ever been needed. The population of the world that need to hear the gospel is more than it has ever ben in history. The challenges to faith by popular culture is at historical highs. The people who are scattered, oppressed and under bondage to perversion, addictions, diseases and sin are in unprecedented multitude.
The waters from the old well is needed. The world is thirsty. The question is who will reopen the wells? Who will pay the price to dig again to unclog the wells? It will take passion, persistent prayer, fasting, faith and travailing with God. It will take boldly proclaiming lost truths uncompromisingly. It will take going against the tides and standing firm in the midst of religious people who have a form of godliness but deny the power. Can God count on you to dig?
Decision of the Day
I understand that there are certain things that God has done in the past, truths He revealed in the past, that the fathers of the faith walked in, but that are now lost in our days. Some truths have been clogged by tradition and unbelief. I will be a well digger. I will seek God for the restoration of these truths.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Desperate for Water
"Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them. Isaac's servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there.But the herders of Gerar quarreled with those of Isaac and said, "The water is ours!" So he named the well Esek, because they disputed with him. Then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah. He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth, saying, "Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land."
In many places around the world, such as in some parts of Africa, wells are still the sources of water supply for households and communities. Water from the well sustains life. That was the case in the setting of our text today during Isaac's time. Wells were essential for living. It was from them that people and livestock drank from. They were also gathering spots. That's why so many significant events in the Bible took place around wells.
Although the wells in our text today were literal, we do no injustice to scriptures to draw a spiritual lesson from the events that took place in Isaac's life regarding the wells. In several other parts of scriptures, wells are are used metaphorically to represent spiritual refreshing and nourishment. They represent the life giving flow of the Holy Spirit. For example,
"With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." (Isa 12:3)
"But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:14)KJV
For the next few days we will be meditating on this verse.
The first thing we notice in the text is that Isaac was on a quest for wells. There was drought in the land as we saw so he needed to tap into water from deep under the ground for sustenance. Without flowing wells and the waters they provide, dehydration would set in and death will soon follow.
In the same way, spiritually, we have to be on a quest for the renewal of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Without a constant renewal, the freshness will disappear from our walk and soon death and decay will start to set in. Life loses its excitement and joy and everything becomes a drag.
Isaac was on a quest. He wanted water at any cost. He thought he had it a few times, but it got taken from him. He did not stop. He persisted. He dug and dug again until he came to a flowing well that was uncontested.
Your spiritual nourishment by the word and the Spirit of God is essential. It won't happen automatically. You will have to dig and even when you dig, Satan will contest with you. Things will happen that will try to stop your well from flowing. People will pour sand in your well. Are you desperate enough for the anointing of God upon your life to continue until you reach your goal.
The things of God require pursuit and strong desire. The Holy Spirit comes on thirsty people, those who crave Him desperately. Go for Him with passion. You will hit a gusher like Isaac did.
"The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. (Isa 41:17)
Decision of the Day
I am thirsty for God's Spirit in my life. I want my well full of water. I will seek and pursue Him with fervency and persistency. God will honor my pursuit and bring a new level of His Spirit in my life.
In many places around the world, such as in some parts of Africa, wells are still the sources of water supply for households and communities. Water from the well sustains life. That was the case in the setting of our text today during Isaac's time. Wells were essential for living. It was from them that people and livestock drank from. They were also gathering spots. That's why so many significant events in the Bible took place around wells.
Although the wells in our text today were literal, we do no injustice to scriptures to draw a spiritual lesson from the events that took place in Isaac's life regarding the wells. In several other parts of scriptures, wells are are used metaphorically to represent spiritual refreshing and nourishment. They represent the life giving flow of the Holy Spirit. For example,
"With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." (Isa 12:3)
"But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:14)KJV
For the next few days we will be meditating on this verse.
The first thing we notice in the text is that Isaac was on a quest for wells. There was drought in the land as we saw so he needed to tap into water from deep under the ground for sustenance. Without flowing wells and the waters they provide, dehydration would set in and death will soon follow.
In the same way, spiritually, we have to be on a quest for the renewal of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Without a constant renewal, the freshness will disappear from our walk and soon death and decay will start to set in. Life loses its excitement and joy and everything becomes a drag.
Isaac was on a quest. He wanted water at any cost. He thought he had it a few times, but it got taken from him. He did not stop. He persisted. He dug and dug again until he came to a flowing well that was uncontested.
Your spiritual nourishment by the word and the Spirit of God is essential. It won't happen automatically. You will have to dig and even when you dig, Satan will contest with you. Things will happen that will try to stop your well from flowing. People will pour sand in your well. Are you desperate enough for the anointing of God upon your life to continue until you reach your goal.
The things of God require pursuit and strong desire. The Holy Spirit comes on thirsty people, those who crave Him desperately. Go for Him with passion. You will hit a gusher like Isaac did.
"The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. (Isa 41:17)
Decision of the Day
I am thirsty for God's Spirit in my life. I want my well full of water. I will seek and pursue Him with fervency and persistency. God will honor my pursuit and bring a new level of His Spirit in my life.
Monday, March 28, 2011
March 28: Sowing in Famine
"Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed him.The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy. He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him.So all the wells that his father's servants had dug in the time of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped up, filling them with earth.Then Abimelek said to Isaac, "Move away from us; you have become too powerful for us."
A famine comes as a result of a drought. A drought is a long period of time with little or no rainfall that can extend for months and years. During a drought, the ground is without moisture. It is not conducive for farming. So the lack of farming or destroyed seeds leads to a shortage of food. Planting your seed during a drought is like throwing away precious resources. No one sows in a drought. But Isaac took a different approach. He sowed. What a step of faith! He put his seeds in the dry ground, got to work cultivating it. When everyone was hoarding, he scattered, and in the same year he reaped a great harvest and became extremely wealthy.
In the same way, some circumstance in your life may look so hopeless making you come to a point where you feel it is absolutely a waste of time and resources to keep pouring out into it. You feel you should begin withholding your love from that spouse, your energy from that business or work, your commitment from that relationship, your prayers or praise concerning that situation or your money from more investments. You want to quit. You want to stop giving of yourself or at least reduce your output.
We all face the tendency to withdraw. We are tempted to withdraw from giving when finances are tight, from laughter and joy when things are not going our way, from prayer, if the answer seems delayed or from teaching protégée or children, because it seems they are not getting all that we've been teaching. Sometimes we want to crawl into our shells and just shut out the whole world. We have had it to our necks and we are not giving or pouring out anymore.
This is not a wise decision however. The worst thing you can do in drought is to withhold. It is not God's method. His method is to scatter and sow. Withholding causes things to shrink. That's what Satan wants you to do. He wants to force you into a small restricted corner. He wants your world to cave in into you since the world of the scatterer gets larger and larger and the world of the hoarder gets smaller and smaller(Proverbs 11:25).
So don't yield to the temptation to withdraw or withhold. Keep pouring out in the drought of your life like Isaac did. Pour out more love into your marriage. Sow more encouragement and help to others. Keep giving to God financially. Keep looking for ways to bless others. Instead of withdrawing into depression, let the joy of the Lord flow out of you.The circumstances should not dictate how you act. Let the word of God do. When you feel encompassed by fear, that's when to act. There is drought out there but you are not observing the wind or regarding the clouds. You are casting your bread on the waters in season and out of season.
The blessing came on Isaac's seed in famine producing a hundredfold. You have that same blessing too. You are child of the promise like Isaac. As you obey God in continually pouring out even when things are tight, His blessing will rain upon you droughts and your precious seeds will grow and increase. If you had withheld and the rain came, there would have been nothing in the ground to water. So keep pouring out. Sow in the midst of the famine, God will multiply your seeds.
Decision of the Day
When I am pressurized to stop, I will no quit. When all points to withholding, I will keep pouring out. I am a blessed person. I will sow even when the climate seems contrary. I not give up praying, loving, tithing, praising etc. God will bless my seeds.
Sowing in Famine
A famine comes as a result of a drought. A drought is a long period of time with little or no rainfall that can extend for months and years. During a drought, the ground is without moisture. It is not conducive for farming. So the lack of farming or destroyed seeds leads to a shortage of food. Planting your seed during a drought is like throwing away precious resources. No one sows in a drought. But Isaac took a different approach. He sowed. What a step of faith! He put his seeds in the dry ground, got to work cultivating it. When everyone was hoarding, he scattered, and in the same year he reaped a great harvest and became extremely wealthy.
In the same way, some circumstance in your life may look so hopeless making you come to a point where you feel it is absolutely a waste of time and resources to keep pouring out into it. You feel you should begin withholding your love from that spouse, your energy from that business or work, your commitment from that relationship, your prayers or praise concerning that situation or your money from more investments. You want to quit. You want to stop giving of yourself or at least reduce your output.
We all face the tendency to withdraw. We are tempted to withdraw from giving when finances are tight, from laughter and joy when things are not going our way, from prayer, if the answer seems delayed or from teaching protégée or children, because it seems they are not getting all that we've been teaching. Sometimes we want to crawl into our shells and just shut out the whole world. We have had it to our necks and we are not giving or pouring out anymore.
This is not a wise decision however. The worst thing you can do in drought is to withhold. It is not God's method. His method is to scatter and sow. Withholding causes things to shrink. That's what Satan wants you to do. He wants to force you into a small restricted corner. He wants your world to cave in into you since the world of the scatterer gets larger and larger and the world of the hoarder gets smaller and smaller(Proverbs 11:25).
So don't yield to the temptation to withdraw or withhold. Keep pouring out in the drought of your life like Isaac did. Pour out more love into your marriage. Sow more encouragement and help to others. Keep giving to God financially. Keep looking for ways to bless others. Instead of withdrawing into depression, let the joy of the Lord flow out of you.The circumstances should not dictate how you act. Let the word of God do. When you feel encompassed by fear, that's when to act. There is drought out there but you are not observing the wind or regarding the clouds. You are casting your bread on the waters in season and out of season.
The blessing came on Isaac's seed in famine producing a hundredfold. You have that same blessing too. You are child of the promise like Isaac. As you obey God in continually pouring out even when things are tight, His blessing will rain upon you droughts and your precious seeds will grow and increase. If you had withheld and the rain came, there would have been nothing in the ground to water. So keep pouring out. Sow in the midst of the famine, God will multiply your seeds.
Decision of the Day
When I am pressurized to stop, I will no quit. When all points to withholding, I will keep pouring out. I am a blessed person. I will sow even when the climate seems contrary. I not give up praying, loving, tithing, praising etc. God will bless my seeds.
Sowing in Famine
Sunday, March 27, 2011
March 27: Wisdom for Crisis Times
"Now there was a famine in the land—besides the previous famine in Abraham's time—and Isaac went to Abimelek king of the Philistines in Gerar. The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham...So Isaac stayed in Gerar." (Genesis 26:1-4, 6)
In the late-2000s, a financial crisis said by many to be the worst one since the Great Depression of the 1930s, hit the world. Many large financial institutions collapsed. Businesses failed. The stock markets took a dive. The housing market was also hit with lots of evictions, foreclosures, drop in house values and vacant houses listed for long periods of time. The wealth of people generally declined, spending dropped and many lost their jobs as their employers closed shops. There was fear everywhere as the effect crept over into households all over the nations.
According to our text, a crisis worse than this took place in Isaac's time. There was a famine. A famine is a period of severe food shortage leading to mass starvation, malnutrition, disease, death and migration. People were migrating to other nations like Egypt to escape the effects. It was crisis time for everyone. Meditating on Isaac's response to this famine teaches a lot about how to handle crisis times. Here are some wisdom keys for handling such times:
1. Know that the crisis you are going through is not special. The first things we see is that troubled times are cyclical. There was a famine in Abraham's time, now there is one in his son's time. As we will see later there was another famine in Jacob's, his grandson's time too. So troubled times visit every generation. People have been through what you are dealing with before. Others will still go through it after you. There is something encouraging about knowing that you are not alone in the issues that confront you that others are there and have been there. This is the reason why Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that
"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."
So what you are going through is not unique. You can look around you and to the past and you will see others who are tackling or have tackled similar things.
2. Your response to the crisis should be dictated by an instruction from God. When crisis times hit, there is a tendency to take matters into your own hand, plotting your way out by yourself without finding out what God has to say about the issue. You want to use your wisdom to deal with the financial or housing, health or marital issues you face. You are so concerned and worried that consulting God on the matter is the last thing on your mind.
3. The instructions of God on what to do in a crisis may go contrary to popular opinion or historical precedents. When Abraham faced a famine, He went to Egypt and prospered. But God's instruction to Isaac was different. Everyone was leaving town but God told him to stay. God told Him to stay in the place where there was scarcity because that was where his blessing was. During crisis times, God may tell you to act contrary to how economist predicts you should act or how others are acting. He may tell you to sell when others are buying or to buy when everyone is selling. He way tell you give more when others are hoarding. He may tell you to stay in that company or city when others are bailing out. The instruction may sound foolish, but obeying it is where God's blessings lie.
4. Your survival and victory in crisis is based on God's presence with you and His promises over your life. This is the real key. Isaac's victory was not going to be based on his physical location, the prevailing crisis, the government or the environment. He would thrive through God's assistance and covenant alone. That was why God promised to be with him and reminded him of the promises to Abraham that now belonged to Isaac. God is able to pull you through whatever crisis times, you are going through. His covenant promises cover all situations. Like Isaac you are also a child of the promise. The blessing of Abraham is yours and you will be victorious over that crisis because of it.
So if you are going through any crisis now, be comforted that you are not alone in it, but refuse to be afraid. Refuse to blindly copy or repeat how others are responding, especially if it is in fear and lack of faith. Turn your eyes to the God of your covenant. Read His words to you. He will give you specific directions on what to do about the situation. Choose to obey this instructions even if they look foolish. Things will work out for your good.
Decision of the Day
In the time of crisis, I will turn to God. I will be dependent on Him. I will seek His wisdom and obey His instructions even if they are contrary to popular opinion. He will take care of me and put me over because of His faithfulness to His covenant promises.
In the late-2000s, a financial crisis said by many to be the worst one since the Great Depression of the 1930s, hit the world. Many large financial institutions collapsed. Businesses failed. The stock markets took a dive. The housing market was also hit with lots of evictions, foreclosures, drop in house values and vacant houses listed for long periods of time. The wealth of people generally declined, spending dropped and many lost their jobs as their employers closed shops. There was fear everywhere as the effect crept over into households all over the nations.
According to our text, a crisis worse than this took place in Isaac's time. There was a famine. A famine is a period of severe food shortage leading to mass starvation, malnutrition, disease, death and migration. People were migrating to other nations like Egypt to escape the effects. It was crisis time for everyone. Meditating on Isaac's response to this famine teaches a lot about how to handle crisis times. Here are some wisdom keys for handling such times:
1. Know that the crisis you are going through is not special. The first things we see is that troubled times are cyclical. There was a famine in Abraham's time, now there is one in his son's time. As we will see later there was another famine in Jacob's, his grandson's time too. So troubled times visit every generation. People have been through what you are dealing with before. Others will still go through it after you. There is something encouraging about knowing that you are not alone in the issues that confront you that others are there and have been there. This is the reason why Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that
"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."
So what you are going through is not unique. You can look around you and to the past and you will see others who are tackling or have tackled similar things.
2. Your response to the crisis should be dictated by an instruction from God. When crisis times hit, there is a tendency to take matters into your own hand, plotting your way out by yourself without finding out what God has to say about the issue. You want to use your wisdom to deal with the financial or housing, health or marital issues you face. You are so concerned and worried that consulting God on the matter is the last thing on your mind.
3. The instructions of God on what to do in a crisis may go contrary to popular opinion or historical precedents. When Abraham faced a famine, He went to Egypt and prospered. But God's instruction to Isaac was different. Everyone was leaving town but God told him to stay. God told Him to stay in the place where there was scarcity because that was where his blessing was. During crisis times, God may tell you to act contrary to how economist predicts you should act or how others are acting. He may tell you to sell when others are buying or to buy when everyone is selling. He way tell you give more when others are hoarding. He may tell you to stay in that company or city when others are bailing out. The instruction may sound foolish, but obeying it is where God's blessings lie.
4. Your survival and victory in crisis is based on God's presence with you and His promises over your life. This is the real key. Isaac's victory was not going to be based on his physical location, the prevailing crisis, the government or the environment. He would thrive through God's assistance and covenant alone. That was why God promised to be with him and reminded him of the promises to Abraham that now belonged to Isaac. God is able to pull you through whatever crisis times, you are going through. His covenant promises cover all situations. Like Isaac you are also a child of the promise. The blessing of Abraham is yours and you will be victorious over that crisis because of it.
So if you are going through any crisis now, be comforted that you are not alone in it, but refuse to be afraid. Refuse to blindly copy or repeat how others are responding, especially if it is in fear and lack of faith. Turn your eyes to the God of your covenant. Read His words to you. He will give you specific directions on what to do about the situation. Choose to obey this instructions even if they look foolish. Things will work out for your good.
Decision of the Day
In the time of crisis, I will turn to God. I will be dependent on Him. I will seek His wisdom and obey His instructions even if they are contrary to popular opinion. He will take care of me and put me over because of His faithfulness to His covenant promises.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
March 26: A Sense of Value
"Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright." (Genesis 25:34)
Esau despised his birthright. He regarded it with contempt. He scorned it. He counted it as unworthy of his interest or concern. It was a sacred privilege but he had no value for it. He lost it irreversibly. Jacob on the other hand, valued it. He craved it and eventually got it, even if it was by dubious means. He demonstrated his high esteem for the birthright.
The kingdom of God has a code and it is honor and value. The level of value you place on kingdom things determine how much value they bring into your life. God speaking to Eli about his negligence to discipline his sons who were desecrating the temple of God with their immoral and corrupt acts said:
"Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: 'I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.' But now the lord declares: 'Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained." (1 Samuel 2:10). In other words, God reciprocates honor.
So one of the secrets of being valued by God is to value His things. In the kingdom, the flow of virtue to you depends on your sense of value. Whatever has lost value to you cannot release its benefit in your life. Whatever you treat with levity in the kingdom will produce light or no positive impact on your life but whatever you treat with gravity will greatly impact your life. This is the reason why Satan always wants to get you to a point where you don't value kingdom things anymore. Look at some examples:
Losing your value for prophecies and manifestations of the Spirit because you have heard and been around them a lot, will stop them from coming in your direction.
Reading the bible like just another book, but not as the sacred word of God that should be honored and trembled before will stop the flow of revelation in your life.
Becoming too familiar with your pastor or man of God, to the extent that you no longer receive him as a prophet that should be treated with honor and gravity in your life, but just as a mere person, will cost you dearly.
Treating your body which is the temple of the Holy Spirit without reverence through sexual immorality may cost you your life.
Treating your marriage vows, and your marriage partner with disdain, will stop your prayers from being answered.
Giving God leftovers of your possessions, half- hearted worship and commitment, putting his concerns second place will stop you from enjoying the favor of God.
Despising your calling, His church and instructions from Him that look foolish will cost you dearly.
This is how the kingdom works. It produces for those who value it dearly. It is for the likes of the men who broke the roof down just to get their friends to Jesus or the woman who pressed through the crowds to touch the hem of Jesus' garment or Zacchaeus who climbed the tree to see Jesus. It is for people who can pour from their alabaster box, their precious ointment, at his feet because He is valuable to them. It is the hungry and the desperate that will be filled.
God's things deserve reverence and honor. They are to be pursued and sought as treasures. When you maintain such an attitude, God will reciprocate in your directions with His mighty works.
Jesus went to his hometown but He could not do any mighty works there because they were too familiar with Him. They said:
"Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home. He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them." (Mark 6:3-5)
They knew His story and background. They knew Him as a carpenter so they didn't receive Him as a prophet.
Take some time to think today. Have you lost your sense of value for something that is of God? Are you still fascinated and awed by His works, gifts, works, words and servants. Don't let Satan steal your fascination. Don't let familiarity cloud your reverence. The things of God must be reverenced. Your honor of them determines your level of honor from Him.
Decision of the Day
I will not despise the things of God like Esau did. I will maintain my reverence and fascination with God's word, works, servants and things. I will honor God. I will treat Him and His things with gravity. I will pursue Him because He is valuable. He and His things will never become just "one of those things" around me.
Esau despised his birthright. He regarded it with contempt. He scorned it. He counted it as unworthy of his interest or concern. It was a sacred privilege but he had no value for it. He lost it irreversibly. Jacob on the other hand, valued it. He craved it and eventually got it, even if it was by dubious means. He demonstrated his high esteem for the birthright.
The kingdom of God has a code and it is honor and value. The level of value you place on kingdom things determine how much value they bring into your life. God speaking to Eli about his negligence to discipline his sons who were desecrating the temple of God with their immoral and corrupt acts said:
"Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: 'I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.' But now the lord declares: 'Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained." (1 Samuel 2:10). In other words, God reciprocates honor.
So one of the secrets of being valued by God is to value His things. In the kingdom, the flow of virtue to you depends on your sense of value. Whatever has lost value to you cannot release its benefit in your life. Whatever you treat with levity in the kingdom will produce light or no positive impact on your life but whatever you treat with gravity will greatly impact your life. This is the reason why Satan always wants to get you to a point where you don't value kingdom things anymore. Look at some examples:
Losing your value for prophecies and manifestations of the Spirit because you have heard and been around them a lot, will stop them from coming in your direction.
Reading the bible like just another book, but not as the sacred word of God that should be honored and trembled before will stop the flow of revelation in your life.
Becoming too familiar with your pastor or man of God, to the extent that you no longer receive him as a prophet that should be treated with honor and gravity in your life, but just as a mere person, will cost you dearly.
Treating your body which is the temple of the Holy Spirit without reverence through sexual immorality may cost you your life.
Treating your marriage vows, and your marriage partner with disdain, will stop your prayers from being answered.
Giving God leftovers of your possessions, half- hearted worship and commitment, putting his concerns second place will stop you from enjoying the favor of God.
Despising your calling, His church and instructions from Him that look foolish will cost you dearly.
This is how the kingdom works. It produces for those who value it dearly. It is for the likes of the men who broke the roof down just to get their friends to Jesus or the woman who pressed through the crowds to touch the hem of Jesus' garment or Zacchaeus who climbed the tree to see Jesus. It is for people who can pour from their alabaster box, their precious ointment, at his feet because He is valuable to them. It is the hungry and the desperate that will be filled.
God's things deserve reverence and honor. They are to be pursued and sought as treasures. When you maintain such an attitude, God will reciprocate in your directions with His mighty works.
Jesus went to his hometown but He could not do any mighty works there because they were too familiar with Him. They said:
"Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home. He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them." (Mark 6:3-5)
They knew His story and background. They knew Him as a carpenter so they didn't receive Him as a prophet.
Take some time to think today. Have you lost your sense of value for something that is of God? Are you still fascinated and awed by His works, gifts, works, words and servants. Don't let Satan steal your fascination. Don't let familiarity cloud your reverence. The things of God must be reverenced. Your honor of them determines your level of honor from Him.
Decision of the Day
I will not despise the things of God like Esau did. I will maintain my reverence and fascination with God's word, works, servants and things. I will honor God. I will treat Him and His things with gravity. I will pursue Him because He is valuable. He and His things will never become just "one of those things" around me.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Losing the Future for Now
"Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, "Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished!" (That is why he was also called Edom.) Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright." "Look, I am about to die," Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?" But Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright." (Genesis 25:29-34)
There are certain privileges that come as a result of being born. For example, the 14th amendment of the constitution of the United States declares that: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside."
So just by the virtue of being born in the United States, one enters into a birthright citizenship. All the rights and privileges of being a citizen of the United States, such as the protection of the government, ability to vote, ability to travel into the United States and many nations without need of visas etc. become one's legally. These rights are one's perpetually unless there is a voluntary relinquishing of citizenship through renunciation.
In the July 17, 2010 edition of the Financial Times, an article addressed the issue of the renunciation of U.S Citizenship. It says that in 2009, as many as 743 people renounced their U.S Citizenship. Many of these individuals do so to avoid paying taxes or other perceived immediate benefits. As a result they forfeit all the benefits of their citizenship. Another downside to this is that the renunciation of citizenship except by minors is an irrevocable decision.
The concept of the birthright in our text today is very similar. It was a serious and sacred privilege that came as a result of being the firstborn in a family. The birthright had material and spiritual advantages. It contained a double portion of the father's inheritance (Deuteronomy 21:17), guaranteed that the owner would be the ruler and patriarch of the family when the father passed (Genesis 27:29) and as in the case of Isaac and Jacob, made the owner heir of the promised blessing of Abraham (he would be the one through whom the covenant blessing made to Abraham would be realized and through him, ultimately the promised Messiah would come). This was what Esau possessed. This was what was at stake when the events of today's text took place.
Jacob had had his eyes on that position from the womb. Why? He valued it. Esau had it thrust on him, but he didn't count it as much. In fact our text says he despised it. He counted it as worthless, so much so, that he willingly traded it away for a single meal. He irrevocably renounced his birthright and threw away all its privileges. Esau had no respect for God, for the blessing, for the plans of God that could have been accomplished through Him. He left it all for sensual satisfaction. He chose the fleshly over the spiritual, the present over the future, instant gratification over future blessing and legacy. We are admonished,
"See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done." (Hebrews 12:16-17).
It was a decision he could not reverse. This is serious. There are some irrevocable decisions we could make.
What is the message to us in this? We also have some spiritual inheritance that came to us by birth into the kingdom. We are heirs of the promises and the blessing of Abraham (Galatians 3:29), joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:16-17), heirs of eternal life (Titus 3:7) and of the kingdom (James 2:5, 2 Peter 1:11). We have an inheritance not just in heaven but for our present lives (Mark 10: 28-30).
We have glorious things that God has prepared for us and has coming our way (1 Corinthians 2:9).
We can also throw all these things away by being like Esau, refusing to value them and losing them to instant fleshly gratifications. A wonderful marriage can be thrown away by a moment of sinful pleasure of fornication or adultery, a calling and a great ministry can be lost through a moment of compromise, destinies can be lost by marrying the wrong person. Satan is always bargaining with us for our birthright through his temptations. By succumbing to the passing pleasure of sin, a great future can be thrown away. The act may look simple, justified or necessary, but it steals away your future potentials. The current always looks more alluring but with every dabble into sin, something is lost and thrown away.
So make up your mind not to bargain away your destiny and birthright no matter how attractive the offer may be to you now. Respect the anointing of God on you. Reverence the inheritance He has stored up for you. Don't let Satan trick you out of it. Honor the things of God more than fleshly things. If you have fallen into some compromise or sin, run to Him in repentance today before it is too late. Ask for His mercy. Show him that you value and honor His gifts. Your inheritance is precious. Don't lose it.
Decision of the Day
I understand that my spiritual inheritance can be lost through fleshly indulgence. It is my choice today to value my inheritance more than the things that are attractive to my flesh, that ask for instant gratification. I will honor the word of God, the Holy Spirit and His purpose for my life. I will not give in to Satan's bargain to make me lose my destiny.
Search Amazon.com for Esau's Birthright
Search Amazon.com for sexual immorality
There are certain privileges that come as a result of being born. For example, the 14th amendment of the constitution of the United States declares that: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside."
So just by the virtue of being born in the United States, one enters into a birthright citizenship. All the rights and privileges of being a citizen of the United States, such as the protection of the government, ability to vote, ability to travel into the United States and many nations without need of visas etc. become one's legally. These rights are one's perpetually unless there is a voluntary relinquishing of citizenship through renunciation.
In the July 17, 2010 edition of the Financial Times, an article addressed the issue of the renunciation of U.S Citizenship. It says that in 2009, as many as 743 people renounced their U.S Citizenship. Many of these individuals do so to avoid paying taxes or other perceived immediate benefits. As a result they forfeit all the benefits of their citizenship. Another downside to this is that the renunciation of citizenship except by minors is an irrevocable decision.
The concept of the birthright in our text today is very similar. It was a serious and sacred privilege that came as a result of being the firstborn in a family. The birthright had material and spiritual advantages. It contained a double portion of the father's inheritance (Deuteronomy 21:17), guaranteed that the owner would be the ruler and patriarch of the family when the father passed (Genesis 27:29) and as in the case of Isaac and Jacob, made the owner heir of the promised blessing of Abraham (he would be the one through whom the covenant blessing made to Abraham would be realized and through him, ultimately the promised Messiah would come). This was what Esau possessed. This was what was at stake when the events of today's text took place.
Jacob had had his eyes on that position from the womb. Why? He valued it. Esau had it thrust on him, but he didn't count it as much. In fact our text says he despised it. He counted it as worthless, so much so, that he willingly traded it away for a single meal. He irrevocably renounced his birthright and threw away all its privileges. Esau had no respect for God, for the blessing, for the plans of God that could have been accomplished through Him. He left it all for sensual satisfaction. He chose the fleshly over the spiritual, the present over the future, instant gratification over future blessing and legacy. We are admonished,
"See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done." (Hebrews 12:16-17).
It was a decision he could not reverse. This is serious. There are some irrevocable decisions we could make.
What is the message to us in this? We also have some spiritual inheritance that came to us by birth into the kingdom. We are heirs of the promises and the blessing of Abraham (Galatians 3:29), joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:16-17), heirs of eternal life (Titus 3:7) and of the kingdom (James 2:5, 2 Peter 1:11). We have an inheritance not just in heaven but for our present lives (Mark 10: 28-30).
We have glorious things that God has prepared for us and has coming our way (1 Corinthians 2:9).
We can also throw all these things away by being like Esau, refusing to value them and losing them to instant fleshly gratifications. A wonderful marriage can be thrown away by a moment of sinful pleasure of fornication or adultery, a calling and a great ministry can be lost through a moment of compromise, destinies can be lost by marrying the wrong person. Satan is always bargaining with us for our birthright through his temptations. By succumbing to the passing pleasure of sin, a great future can be thrown away. The act may look simple, justified or necessary, but it steals away your future potentials. The current always looks more alluring but with every dabble into sin, something is lost and thrown away.
So make up your mind not to bargain away your destiny and birthright no matter how attractive the offer may be to you now. Respect the anointing of God on you. Reverence the inheritance He has stored up for you. Don't let Satan trick you out of it. Honor the things of God more than fleshly things. If you have fallen into some compromise or sin, run to Him in repentance today before it is too late. Ask for His mercy. Show him that you value and honor His gifts. Your inheritance is precious. Don't lose it.
Decision of the Day
I understand that my spiritual inheritance can be lost through fleshly indulgence. It is my choice today to value my inheritance more than the things that are attractive to my flesh, that ask for instant gratification. I will honor the word of God, the Holy Spirit and His purpose for my life. I will not give in to Satan's bargain to make me lose my destiny.
Search Amazon.com for Esau's Birthright
Search Amazon.com for sexual immorality
Thursday, March 24, 2011
March 24: Activities in the Womb
"The Lord said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger" (Genesis 25:23).
Anyone familiar with political debates in America will be aware of two opposing camps on the issue of abortion, the pro- life and pro-choice camps. The pro-life camp believes abortion is wrong because it is the murder of an innocent child and potential fully-grown human, since life begins at conception. The pro-choice camp believes the choice to abort or not to abort should be left to the woman since the baby lives in her body and she has the right to privacy. Many pro-choice people believe that abortion is wrong but would prefer the woman to make the call of whether to abort or not to abort. However some pro-choice people, in defending their position go to the extent of saying that aborting a child in the womb, especially in the early parts of the pregnancy, is not killing a human, just an embryo who is part of the body of the woman.
What is God's view about life in the womb? Our text today and several other texts in scriptures inform us. God talked to Rebekah about the children in her womb, calling them nations and declaring the outcome of their lives after they were born. It is safe to say that God saw them as humans with unique purposes and potentials. The plans for these children predated their conception.
This fact of a purpose known to God of children in the womb is not only revealed in today's text. It is not an isolated concept in scriptures but one that runs through the old and new testaments. Examine the following scriptures for a few instances:
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." (Psalm 139:13-16)
"The word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1:4-5)
"But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John...for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born." (Luke 1:13,15).
"When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. (Luke 1:41)
"But when God, who set me apart from my mother's womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being." (Galatians 1:15-16)
In addition to our text today, these scriptures all emphasize one theme, that a lot of God-activity goes on before a child is born. God knows unborn children and ordains them for a purpose. He declares how their lives should be and can fill them with His Spirit from the womb. They can sense things in the womb and react to them. God separates children in the womb for unique purposes to be fulfilled when they are born. He wonderfully creates them to the specifications of what it would take for them to fulfill their purposes.
With so much activity going on in the womb, pregnant women should be seen as destiny carriers. They are carrying the future of the world and God's plan. The future great preachers, scientists, politicians, inventors, people with specific answers to the problems of the world, are residing now in the wombs of pregnant women. With the termination of any of these lives, the world loses something. Imagine if Jesus had been aborted by Mary in her first trimester. It would have been disastrous. The world would have lost a savior.
Let today's meditation be an encouragement to you if you are pregnant. Bless your unborn child continually. Let it be an admonition if you are considering an abortion. Don't kill that nation. Don't end that destiny. God knows more about who you have in your womb than you do. Listen to Him. Most importantly, let it be an inspiration to all that their lives are not without meaning. That you are not an accident of unprotected sex. There are no illegitimate children, only illegitimate parents. No matter the circumstances around your conception, you were on His mind. You are not a nuisance. You are special in His plans. Be the nation He saw you as. Before God allowed you to be conceived, He knew you and ordained you for a purpose. Get up and get on with that purpose for that's the reason you were given the privilege of life.
Decision of the Day
I understand that God's purposes for me predates my time in the womb. I am not an accident. There is a special plan for my life. There is an end I must reach. I will rejoice and be glad. I will go on to fulfill my purpose.
Anyone familiar with political debates in America will be aware of two opposing camps on the issue of abortion, the pro- life and pro-choice camps. The pro-life camp believes abortion is wrong because it is the murder of an innocent child and potential fully-grown human, since life begins at conception. The pro-choice camp believes the choice to abort or not to abort should be left to the woman since the baby lives in her body and she has the right to privacy. Many pro-choice people believe that abortion is wrong but would prefer the woman to make the call of whether to abort or not to abort. However some pro-choice people, in defending their position go to the extent of saying that aborting a child in the womb, especially in the early parts of the pregnancy, is not killing a human, just an embryo who is part of the body of the woman.
What is God's view about life in the womb? Our text today and several other texts in scriptures inform us. God talked to Rebekah about the children in her womb, calling them nations and declaring the outcome of their lives after they were born. It is safe to say that God saw them as humans with unique purposes and potentials. The plans for these children predated their conception.
This fact of a purpose known to God of children in the womb is not only revealed in today's text. It is not an isolated concept in scriptures but one that runs through the old and new testaments. Examine the following scriptures for a few instances:
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." (Psalm 139:13-16)
"The word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1:4-5)
"But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John...for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born." (Luke 1:13,15).
"When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. (Luke 1:41)
"But when God, who set me apart from my mother's womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being." (Galatians 1:15-16)
In addition to our text today, these scriptures all emphasize one theme, that a lot of God-activity goes on before a child is born. God knows unborn children and ordains them for a purpose. He declares how their lives should be and can fill them with His Spirit from the womb. They can sense things in the womb and react to them. God separates children in the womb for unique purposes to be fulfilled when they are born. He wonderfully creates them to the specifications of what it would take for them to fulfill their purposes.
With so much activity going on in the womb, pregnant women should be seen as destiny carriers. They are carrying the future of the world and God's plan. The future great preachers, scientists, politicians, inventors, people with specific answers to the problems of the world, are residing now in the wombs of pregnant women. With the termination of any of these lives, the world loses something. Imagine if Jesus had been aborted by Mary in her first trimester. It would have been disastrous. The world would have lost a savior.
Let today's meditation be an encouragement to you if you are pregnant. Bless your unborn child continually. Let it be an admonition if you are considering an abortion. Don't kill that nation. Don't end that destiny. God knows more about who you have in your womb than you do. Listen to Him. Most importantly, let it be an inspiration to all that their lives are not without meaning. That you are not an accident of unprotected sex. There are no illegitimate children, only illegitimate parents. No matter the circumstances around your conception, you were on His mind. You are not a nuisance. You are special in His plans. Be the nation He saw you as. Before God allowed you to be conceived, He knew you and ordained you for a purpose. Get up and get on with that purpose for that's the reason you were given the privilege of life.
Decision of the Day
I understand that God's purposes for me predates my time in the womb. I am not an accident. There is a special plan for my life. There is an end I must reach. I will rejoice and be glad. I will go on to fulfill my purpose.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
March 23: Praying for Your Loved Ones
"Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. " (Genesis 25:21)
The author, Stormie Omartian has sold more than twelve million copies of her books including, The Power of a Praying Wife, The Power of a Praying Parent, The Power of a Praying Husband, The Power of a Praying Woman, and The Power of Praying Together. In all her books she speaks about the power of prayer to change people and situation with an emphasis on the family. A praying wife can invoke the power of God to change her husband for good and the husband can do likewise. There are many testimonies of people who have used the prayer guidelines in her books and have seen positive changes in the lives of those they prayed for. Those stories are proofs of the efficacy of prayers for loved ones.
Prayer is powerful. There is no greater way to exercise influence over the circumstances and situations you or your loved ones face than through prayer. In our text today, Isaac and Rebekah faced a situation that could have brought confusion and despair. Rebekah was barren. Isaac chose to address this situation by turning to God in prayer. God answered him and gave them twin children who were potential nations. Out of the barren situation, nations were born.
You will also be confronted with difficult situations regarding your loved ones. It might not be concerning having a child, but it may be other issues like a loved one struggling with depression, a spouse who can't seem to keep his job, an addicted loved one, a spouse who has a struggling business, a sick relative, a wayward child, or a child struggling at school. These are just a few examples. There is a myriad of negative situations that people face concerning the lives of loved ones. The good news is that, no matter what the situation is, we can do exactly what Isaac did, pray to God on behalf of our loved ones and expect Him to answer.
The answer may not come exactly packaged as you expect or manifest itself immediately you pray, but if you leave the situation in God's hands and continue to praise Him in spite of the situation, doing whatever He directs you to do about it, you will definitely see God intervening in the situation. This is because God honors the persistent prayers of His children. You will see various instances in the ministry of Jesus when people brought issues regarding their loved ones to Him. Friends brought their paralyzed buddy to Him. Mothers and fathers brought sick children. A master brought a sick servant. Peter's mother-in-law was healed etc. Jesus demonstrated over and over in all these situations that God honors the faith of his children on behalf of their loved ones.
So what is that situation going on in the life of one of your loved ones today? Rather than getting worried or complaining about the issue, take it to God in prayer. As Stormie says in her book titles, the praying woman or man has power. Use that ability. God will honor your faith on behalf of your helpless loved ones.
Decision of the Day
I decide today not to fret or worry about situations and circumstances in the lives of my loved ones. Rather I will bring them before God in prayer. I will take them to His feet and leave them in His hands. God will honor my faith and bring deliverance and solutions to the glory of His name.
The author, Stormie Omartian has sold more than twelve million copies of her books including, The Power of a Praying Wife, The Power of a Praying Parent, The Power of a Praying Husband, The Power of a Praying Woman, and The Power of Praying Together. In all her books she speaks about the power of prayer to change people and situation with an emphasis on the family. A praying wife can invoke the power of God to change her husband for good and the husband can do likewise. There are many testimonies of people who have used the prayer guidelines in her books and have seen positive changes in the lives of those they prayed for. Those stories are proofs of the efficacy of prayers for loved ones.
Prayer is powerful. There is no greater way to exercise influence over the circumstances and situations you or your loved ones face than through prayer. In our text today, Isaac and Rebekah faced a situation that could have brought confusion and despair. Rebekah was barren. Isaac chose to address this situation by turning to God in prayer. God answered him and gave them twin children who were potential nations. Out of the barren situation, nations were born.
You will also be confronted with difficult situations regarding your loved ones. It might not be concerning having a child, but it may be other issues like a loved one struggling with depression, a spouse who can't seem to keep his job, an addicted loved one, a spouse who has a struggling business, a sick relative, a wayward child, or a child struggling at school. These are just a few examples. There is a myriad of negative situations that people face concerning the lives of loved ones. The good news is that, no matter what the situation is, we can do exactly what Isaac did, pray to God on behalf of our loved ones and expect Him to answer.
The answer may not come exactly packaged as you expect or manifest itself immediately you pray, but if you leave the situation in God's hands and continue to praise Him in spite of the situation, doing whatever He directs you to do about it, you will definitely see God intervening in the situation. This is because God honors the persistent prayers of His children. You will see various instances in the ministry of Jesus when people brought issues regarding their loved ones to Him. Friends brought their paralyzed buddy to Him. Mothers and fathers brought sick children. A master brought a sick servant. Peter's mother-in-law was healed etc. Jesus demonstrated over and over in all these situations that God honors the faith of his children on behalf of their loved ones.
So what is that situation going on in the life of one of your loved ones today? Rather than getting worried or complaining about the issue, take it to God in prayer. As Stormie says in her book titles, the praying woman or man has power. Use that ability. God will honor your faith on behalf of your helpless loved ones.
Decision of the Day
I decide today not to fret or worry about situations and circumstances in the lives of my loved ones. Rather I will bring them before God in prayer. I will take them to His feet and leave them in His hands. God will honor my faith and bring deliverance and solutions to the glory of His name.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
March 22: After You, Then What?
"After Abraham's death, God blessed his son Isaac, who then lived near Beer Lahai Roi." (Gen 25:11)
On January 23, 1999, John Osteen, the founder of the Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas passed away to glory. Osteen got into the ministry at the age of 17 initially as a Southern Baptist minister and later as a charismatic preacher. He then started the Lakewood church in an abandoned feedstore in 1959 and labored for 40 years pastoring the church, investing heavily in world missions, helping the poor and the hurting, through television and publications etc. His life and messages touched millions all around the world. By the time of his death, the church was approximately 6000 people in numbers with an extensive TV ministry, missionary support and food distribution ministry.
At his death in 1999, some wondered who would fill his shoes and what would happen to the Lakewood Church. His son Joel who had only preached once in his life, just the week before his father's death, became the Senior Pastor of the church. The church has gone on since then to become the largest church in America with over 40,000 attendees weekly, and a TV ministry that is seen in over 100 nations, with meetings in large arena all over the world. Recently the church purchased the former Compaq Center in Houston for its worship facility. Joel Osteen has said many times that many of the blessings flowing in his life and ministry had nothing to do with Him but because God was honoring his father's obedience and service.
In our text today, the same is said of Abraham. After his death, God blessed his son Isaac. God blessed Isaac because of his father Abraham. It was a blessing that flowed down from one generation to the next.
Many are concerned about what has happened before them and what is happening currently in their lives but the really wise one, look ahead to what happens after them too. Wise men have legacy on their mind as they focus on the present. Legacy is what comes after you. "After Abraham's death, God blessed his son..." Abraham left the best legacy - that of the blessing.
How you live your life now has an effect on your children and those coming after you. You are part of chain that extends beyond your sojourn on earth. Your legacy could either be that of the blessing or the curse. After Hitler died, no one wanted to be called by that last name anymore. His living family all changed their last names. Yet others die and their families remain proud of their heritage because it keep opening doors or them.
So what is the secret of a blessed legacy? Primarily it is by living a life of obedience to God. Godliness has rewards. Doing what God tells you to do in any aspect of life is a seed that the harvest continues after you. Helping others, faithfulness in God's service, considering the poor, giving financially into kingdom causes, living a life of holiness and integrity, walking in the fear of God are all seeds for a blessed posterity. Also speak good words over your children and love them. Train them. Invest in their all-round growth. Commit them to God in prayer. You will be sowing seeds for blessed legacy. Look at the following verses of scripture:
"Praise the Lord. Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands. Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever ...They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted high in honor."( Psalm 112:1-3,9)
"Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!". (Deut 5:29).
"A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous." (Proverb 13:22)
God wants to continue what He has started in your life in the lives of your children. Physical and material inheritances are good but a spiritual inheritance is better. Live with legacy on your mind. When you are about to make a decision, think about how it would affect not just the now but the future. When you feel like quitting in obeying God, remember that where you quit is where your children will have to start from. Whatever you conquer you conquer for them and whatever conquers you they will still have to fight. Win the battle for your children. Win the battle over inertia in obeying God. Win the battle over poverty. Win the battle over lust. Win the battle over alcoholism. Win it over broken marriages. The measure of your success in life is not only what you accomplished on earth but what you leave behind after you are gone. Success without succession is failure.
Decision of the Day
I understand that what comes before me or is currently in my life are not the only things that matter. What comes after me matters. My legacy is important. I choose today to leave a legacy of the blessing by obeying and honoring God in my lifetime. I will walk in my integrity, love the poor, serve my generation with goodness. I will be faithful to God. He will bless the generations after me for my obedience.
On January 23, 1999, John Osteen, the founder of the Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas passed away to glory. Osteen got into the ministry at the age of 17 initially as a Southern Baptist minister and later as a charismatic preacher. He then started the Lakewood church in an abandoned feedstore in 1959 and labored for 40 years pastoring the church, investing heavily in world missions, helping the poor and the hurting, through television and publications etc. His life and messages touched millions all around the world. By the time of his death, the church was approximately 6000 people in numbers with an extensive TV ministry, missionary support and food distribution ministry.
At his death in 1999, some wondered who would fill his shoes and what would happen to the Lakewood Church. His son Joel who had only preached once in his life, just the week before his father's death, became the Senior Pastor of the church. The church has gone on since then to become the largest church in America with over 40,000 attendees weekly, and a TV ministry that is seen in over 100 nations, with meetings in large arena all over the world. Recently the church purchased the former Compaq Center in Houston for its worship facility. Joel Osteen has said many times that many of the blessings flowing in his life and ministry had nothing to do with Him but because God was honoring his father's obedience and service.
In our text today, the same is said of Abraham. After his death, God blessed his son Isaac. God blessed Isaac because of his father Abraham. It was a blessing that flowed down from one generation to the next.
Many are concerned about what has happened before them and what is happening currently in their lives but the really wise one, look ahead to what happens after them too. Wise men have legacy on their mind as they focus on the present. Legacy is what comes after you. "After Abraham's death, God blessed his son..." Abraham left the best legacy - that of the blessing.
How you live your life now has an effect on your children and those coming after you. You are part of chain that extends beyond your sojourn on earth. Your legacy could either be that of the blessing or the curse. After Hitler died, no one wanted to be called by that last name anymore. His living family all changed their last names. Yet others die and their families remain proud of their heritage because it keep opening doors or them.
So what is the secret of a blessed legacy? Primarily it is by living a life of obedience to God. Godliness has rewards. Doing what God tells you to do in any aspect of life is a seed that the harvest continues after you. Helping others, faithfulness in God's service, considering the poor, giving financially into kingdom causes, living a life of holiness and integrity, walking in the fear of God are all seeds for a blessed posterity. Also speak good words over your children and love them. Train them. Invest in their all-round growth. Commit them to God in prayer. You will be sowing seeds for blessed legacy. Look at the following verses of scripture:
"Praise the Lord. Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands. Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever ...They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted high in honor."( Psalm 112:1-3,9)
"Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!". (Deut 5:29).
"A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous." (Proverb 13:22)
God wants to continue what He has started in your life in the lives of your children. Physical and material inheritances are good but a spiritual inheritance is better. Live with legacy on your mind. When you are about to make a decision, think about how it would affect not just the now but the future. When you feel like quitting in obeying God, remember that where you quit is where your children will have to start from. Whatever you conquer you conquer for them and whatever conquers you they will still have to fight. Win the battle for your children. Win the battle over inertia in obeying God. Win the battle over poverty. Win the battle over lust. Win the battle over alcoholism. Win it over broken marriages. The measure of your success in life is not only what you accomplished on earth but what you leave behind after you are gone. Success without succession is failure.
Decision of the Day
I understand that what comes before me or is currently in my life are not the only things that matter. What comes after me matters. My legacy is important. I choose today to leave a legacy of the blessing by obeying and honoring God in my lifetime. I will walk in my integrity, love the poor, serve my generation with goodness. I will be faithful to God. He will bless the generations after me for my obedience.
Monday, March 21, 2011
March 21: The Patriarch's Practice
"Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev. He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching." (Gen 24:62-63)
The Reader's Digest wrote a story about when Henry Ford once hired an efficiency expert to evaluate his company. After the evaluation, which took a couple of weeks, the expert presented his report to Mr Ford. It was all favorable with the exception of one thing.
"It's that man down the hall," said the expert. "Every time I go by his office he's just sitting there with his feet on his deck. I think He's wasting your money."
Mr Ford replied, "That man once had an idea that saved us millions of dollars. At the time when he got the idea, I believe his feet were planted right where they are now."
So far, we have seen Isaac as a child and as a young man, submitting himself to be killed by his father as a sacrifice to God, but it is interesting that our first introduction to him as an adult was to inform us about his meditative practice. This is significant because it lets us know that the spiritual practice of meditation goes back to at least 4000 years ago, probably predating written history.
The practice of meditation is one of the most fruitful spiritual practices. It is the retirement of the soul from all its activities into solitude in order to focus on life transforming truths. It is the ventilation of the mind as it breathes new ideas and creativity. Meditation is the crucible from which great ideas are born. It was the practice of the patriarchs of faith. It is the practice of great souls. The valuable man with his feet on the desk at Henry Ford's factory was practicing meditation. There are many verses of scriptures for example, Psalm 1, that encourages us to also practice this discipline. I would like to share with you a poem I wrote a while ago on meditation. It is long but I think it will bless you. It is titled, The Pristine Summit.
The Pristine Summit
Sometimes I wonder how much more we could know
How much less we’ll be confused
How much more our creative juices will flow
If we had a little bit less noise
A little bit less movement
A little more time alone in quiet contemplation
I sit right now, my laptop positioned where it got its name, on my laps
Awaiting my taps
I am drinking in the silence of the night
Reveling in the serenity that comes when most of humanity is asleep
I am smiling with glee, feeling like I made it through another hurricane.
My mind on the sacred book: Psalm 46:10
With stillness comes inspiration. I cannot but write.
The damage has been assessed
Scattered toys gathered
Crumbs of food swept
My sweet babies pacified by daddy’s special touch
Now I am alone
The faint cricket sounds, the occasional snore from across the hallway and the amplified ticks of the clock above my head doesn’t bother me at all.
Silence still rules.
It would have been strange if it did bother me
Because a few moments ago, noise had its reign
The whole house made a chorus.
Clanging dishes. Rumbles on the floor. Ear splitting cries.
Splashing water in the bath. Giggles. Little running feet. Collision with tables and walls
Screams of “Daddy, Joshua bit me”
“I want cheerios”. “Carry me”. “ I don’t want bedtime”. “Daddy, what color is that?”
.“Daddy I fell down”. “Jesse took my toy” “ I want to watch Sponge Bob”
“O say can you see” sings the patriotic phone (My ring tone is the national anthem)
Signaling the start of a session of pastoral counseling
Computer hums in the corner. Bill O’Reilly screams to be heard above the cacophony
A few more hours then at last, the bleeping security system signaling the closing of the doors,
The closing of the day for many. But not for me
Now at last, the phone has stopped it song
Night prayers have ascended
Dad kisses kids
Mom kisses daddy
Now, the little angels lie peacefully in their beds
Renewing strength for tomorrow’s work or is it play?
Mom is in bed.
I am awake, enveloped in silence. Granted solicitude. Still
The hurricane is past. Now I can get to work
The stillness slows my breathing. Silence opens my hears
Solitude makes me aware of the sacred
Quietness ushers in the calm of the Carpenter of Galilee
I can hear His voice. “Come to me those who are weary and burdened”
Now I can hear the still and small whisper within me with amplified clarity
A pin drop in the spirit is discernible
Signal to noise ratio is pretty high
My receiver only needs to be tuned
Now, words hidden deep in the recesses of the heart can surface
Like submarines from the oceans depth
I can converse with the Creator
And dine with the Divine
Oh, how I love silence and solitude
Here, the vast subconscious reigns over the familiar
Untapped strength suddenly emerge
And creativity overwhelms mediocrity
Inspiration tramps desperation
It is here in this crucible, the world is moved and changed
Here, Einstein explained the world,
Edison lit it,
Da Vinci painted it,
Beethoven composed its melody,
Tennyson rhymed it
Shakespeare scripted it
Twain satired it
Ford built it
And Billy Graham saved it
What an irony that the noisiest gadgets of today
Were forged in the creative silence of yesterday.
The best movies, were probably scripted in the solitude of the night
But now, the mechanical clamor of the Industrial Revolution
The electronic beep of the Information Age
Have obliterated the soothing quiet that once embraced us
Unnatural sound has invaded virtually all of our public spaces
Now it is raiding our inner-sanctums
And we feel obliged to welcome it
To keep up with the Joneses
To you who read here’s my point
Take time often to cross from the mundane to the celestial
Escape to this sanctuary of stillness
To sit at this peak of rest
Mute the TV and the phone. Park the car. Stop the video game
Skip a few parties. Have a retreat
Lock in yourself with your spirit and Him
Visit the fullness of your possibilities
In silence, stillness and solitude
Join me in this Summit
This pristine, uncrowded place
Let’s find ourselves
And let’s change the world.
So like Isaac, take some time off your work. Take a walk in the field. Shut yourself out from the noise that surrounds you and fill your mind with the beauty of God in creation and the world. Your soul will be strong. New ideas will come and you will be in the company of great minds and patriarchs of faith.
Decision of the Day
I decide to practice meditation regularly. I will have specific times that I retire from all work and activity to commune with God and ponder on His works and words. I will visit the pristine summit and great ideas will flow from my mind that will bless the world.
G.L Ijiwola
www.thecitylight.org
www.facebook.com/pastorlan
To subscribe friends and family to these daily devotionals, send their emails to devotional@thecitylight.org
The Reader's Digest wrote a story about when Henry Ford once hired an efficiency expert to evaluate his company. After the evaluation, which took a couple of weeks, the expert presented his report to Mr Ford. It was all favorable with the exception of one thing.
"It's that man down the hall," said the expert. "Every time I go by his office he's just sitting there with his feet on his deck. I think He's wasting your money."
Mr Ford replied, "That man once had an idea that saved us millions of dollars. At the time when he got the idea, I believe his feet were planted right where they are now."
So far, we have seen Isaac as a child and as a young man, submitting himself to be killed by his father as a sacrifice to God, but it is interesting that our first introduction to him as an adult was to inform us about his meditative practice. This is significant because it lets us know that the spiritual practice of meditation goes back to at least 4000 years ago, probably predating written history.
The practice of meditation is one of the most fruitful spiritual practices. It is the retirement of the soul from all its activities into solitude in order to focus on life transforming truths. It is the ventilation of the mind as it breathes new ideas and creativity. Meditation is the crucible from which great ideas are born. It was the practice of the patriarchs of faith. It is the practice of great souls. The valuable man with his feet on the desk at Henry Ford's factory was practicing meditation. There are many verses of scriptures for example, Psalm 1, that encourages us to also practice this discipline. I would like to share with you a poem I wrote a while ago on meditation. It is long but I think it will bless you. It is titled, The Pristine Summit.
The Pristine Summit
Sometimes I wonder how much more we could know
How much less we’ll be confused
How much more our creative juices will flow
If we had a little bit less noise
A little bit less movement
A little more time alone in quiet contemplation
I sit right now, my laptop positioned where it got its name, on my laps
Awaiting my taps
I am drinking in the silence of the night
Reveling in the serenity that comes when most of humanity is asleep
I am smiling with glee, feeling like I made it through another hurricane.
My mind on the sacred book: Psalm 46:10
With stillness comes inspiration. I cannot but write.
The damage has been assessed
Scattered toys gathered
Crumbs of food swept
My sweet babies pacified by daddy’s special touch
Now I am alone
The faint cricket sounds, the occasional snore from across the hallway and the amplified ticks of the clock above my head doesn’t bother me at all.
Silence still rules.
It would have been strange if it did bother me
Because a few moments ago, noise had its reign
The whole house made a chorus.
Clanging dishes. Rumbles on the floor. Ear splitting cries.
Splashing water in the bath. Giggles. Little running feet. Collision with tables and walls
Screams of “Daddy, Joshua bit me”
“I want cheerios”. “Carry me”. “ I don’t want bedtime”. “Daddy, what color is that?”
.“Daddy I fell down”. “Jesse took my toy” “ I want to watch Sponge Bob”
“O say can you see” sings the patriotic phone (My ring tone is the national anthem)
Signaling the start of a session of pastoral counseling
Computer hums in the corner. Bill O’Reilly screams to be heard above the cacophony
A few more hours then at last, the bleeping security system signaling the closing of the doors,
The closing of the day for many. But not for me
Now at last, the phone has stopped it song
Night prayers have ascended
Dad kisses kids
Mom kisses daddy
Now, the little angels lie peacefully in their beds
Renewing strength for tomorrow’s work or is it play?
Mom is in bed.
I am awake, enveloped in silence. Granted solicitude. Still
The hurricane is past. Now I can get to work
The stillness slows my breathing. Silence opens my hears
Solitude makes me aware of the sacred
Quietness ushers in the calm of the Carpenter of Galilee
I can hear His voice. “Come to me those who are weary and burdened”
Now I can hear the still and small whisper within me with amplified clarity
A pin drop in the spirit is discernible
Signal to noise ratio is pretty high
My receiver only needs to be tuned
Now, words hidden deep in the recesses of the heart can surface
Like submarines from the oceans depth
I can converse with the Creator
And dine with the Divine
Oh, how I love silence and solitude
Here, the vast subconscious reigns over the familiar
Untapped strength suddenly emerge
And creativity overwhelms mediocrity
Inspiration tramps desperation
It is here in this crucible, the world is moved and changed
Here, Einstein explained the world,
Edison lit it,
Da Vinci painted it,
Beethoven composed its melody,
Tennyson rhymed it
Shakespeare scripted it
Twain satired it
Ford built it
And Billy Graham saved it
What an irony that the noisiest gadgets of today
Were forged in the creative silence of yesterday.
The best movies, were probably scripted in the solitude of the night
But now, the mechanical clamor of the Industrial Revolution
The electronic beep of the Information Age
Have obliterated the soothing quiet that once embraced us
Unnatural sound has invaded virtually all of our public spaces
Now it is raiding our inner-sanctums
And we feel obliged to welcome it
To keep up with the Joneses
To you who read here’s my point
Take time often to cross from the mundane to the celestial
Escape to this sanctuary of stillness
To sit at this peak of rest
Mute the TV and the phone. Park the car. Stop the video game
Skip a few parties. Have a retreat
Lock in yourself with your spirit and Him
Visit the fullness of your possibilities
In silence, stillness and solitude
Join me in this Summit
This pristine, uncrowded place
Let’s find ourselves
And let’s change the world.
So like Isaac, take some time off your work. Take a walk in the field. Shut yourself out from the noise that surrounds you and fill your mind with the beauty of God in creation and the world. Your soul will be strong. New ideas will come and you will be in the company of great minds and patriarchs of faith.
Decision of the Day
I decide to practice meditation regularly. I will have specific times that I retire from all work and activity to commune with God and ponder on His works and words. I will visit the pristine summit and great ideas will flow from my mind that will bless the world.
G.L Ijiwola
www.thecitylight.org
www.facebook.com/pastorlan
To subscribe friends and family to these daily devotionals, send their emails to devotional@thecitylight.org
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