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WITHOUT GOD, we cannot. Without us, God will not - Saint Augustine. God desires to get us involved in His plan. However, we can only fit into His schedule if we are needy of Him. HANNAH became needy of God when she couldn't conceive. So she sought God's heart by asking for a son that would serve Him. (1 Sam. 1:9-28) Is your prayer a steering wheel or a flat tire - Corrie Ten Boom? GOD founded Israel. It was His enterprise—and they were His people. So when they asked for a king, it displeased him. Nevertheless, he gave them Saul. (I Sam. 8) That He gives you a thing does not mean you are walking in His Will. YOU CANNOT say you love God and hate his commands; neither can you call Him Lord and keep a part of your life to yourself. Israel wanted the blessings of God (acts) but not His instructions (ways). Having him in charge of your life is only fair if you are God's. And taking instructions from him will be sufficient. If our infirmities touch Him, God has emotions—and if God has feelings, they matter. The question is, do they matter to you? OUR LIVES are works of God—and God has our best interests at heart. (Jer. 29:11) He had a plan for his people and would keep them from truncating it. So when Saul disobeyed, God searched for a king. When he found David, he asked Samuel: How long will you mourn over Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Isreal? (1 Sam. 16:1) To continuously have the mind of Christ, you must be careful not to stay where God has moved on. Does God's feelings matter to you? GOD isn't impressed with competencies but with character. When your heart is right with God, he strengthens you and sends destiny enhancers. (2 Chron. 16:9a) He positioned him for the next phase of his life when he sent the prophet to anoint him. SOME are called to a few; others are called to many. To the world, you may be one person. But to one person, you may be the world - Bill Wilson. If your ministry engages a few people, don't be envious of someone called to many. It's in the mandate and not in the numbers. Wherever you find yourself, just be faithful. CHAMPIONS are creatures of routine and people of consistency. David understood these facts. He lived a life of repetition, doing the right things. He saw himself as one under authority. Do you see yourself the same way? GOD IS AT WORK whether we know it or not. He works behind the scenes. He gives us personal victories. And when the time is ripe, they become public. David was in the wilderness tending his father's sheep when the lion and the bear came after them. He smote the lion, then the bear. But no one knew till he had to face Goliath. Anyone after the heart of God would understand that if God did it before, he would do it again. (1 Sam. 17:34-46) To allow God to overwhelm you is to underwhelm your schedule THE ONE who says it can't be done is usually interrupted by the one doing it - Harry Fosdick. David interrupted Saul when the latter tried to stop him from fighting Goliath. Truly, the dedication of one can bring about the deliverance of many. TWICE, David had the chance to take Saul's life. But he wouldn't because Saul was God's anointed. He knew that vengeance wasn't his. He wasn't after the gift (throne) but after the giver. A man after God's heart must learn to walk some paths alone. WE ARE not called primarily to understand people but to love them. (1 John 4:7) David loved the king. Holy handicaps made him ask God for help, time and time again. WHEN David slept with Bathsheba, God sent Nathan to him. (2 Sam. 11) The prophet told him a story and made him understand that he had sinned. David realized that character living is pure living. (Ps. 23:3-4) He discovered that until your heart is pure, your sight is hazy. No wonder he wrote: Create in me a clean heart and renew the right spirit within me. (Ps. 51:10-19) OBEDIENCE to God must come from a place of delight. Your faith in God is your perception against deception. He did not look at his challenges with deception. So, he saw grace all around him. TO ALLOW God to overwhelm you is to underwhelm your agenda—and to underwhelm your schedule is to spend time with Him. David sought God early in the morning. (Ps. 63:1) He knew that God was his helper. Bringing it Together THE WAYS of God are deeper than His acts. Walk in His ways this week, and you'll be a man after His heart.

OUR FAITH in God is a measure of our life's worth. Abraham believed God and trusted His promises, so God counted it in his favour as righteousness. (Rom. 4:3b) The Narrative ABRAHAM was old, and the Lord had blessed him. So one day, he called his most trusted servant. Take a solemn oath that you will not get my son a wife from Canaan. Instead, he said, you would go to my relative's land. "What if the woman doesn't want to come to this land with me? Should I take your son back to the land you came from?" Make sure that you do not take my son back there. God will send his angel ahead of you, and you will get my son a wife from there. (Gen. 24) What promise are you standing on? IF YOUR WALK with God does not change you, something is wrong. Abraham was a changed man. He had seen God do the impossible. His trust in God was solid. His impact on his servant was obvious. He had prayed about this trip and stood on that truth. What is your testimony? PROXIMITY to someone does not necessarily mean you know the person. The disciples of Jesus had been with him, but Jesus asked them: Who do you say I am? Abraham's servant had been close to his boss. He knew that God was with him. He was there when his boss' family waited on God to have a child. He saw God prove himself. He knew their testimony. How do you position yourself? ELIEZER, Abraham's servant, got to the outskirts of Nahor's city. He made the camels kneel by the well. The well was like a hub where women came to fetch water in the evenings. He knew the best point of contact would be that location. So, he waited there. He positioned himself by walking in obedience. What do you do when you get to a crossroads? HE PUT HIS wisdom on the back burner and prayed. Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today. Show your kindness to Abraham. (Gen. 24:12) The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him. (Prov. 15:8) What are your expectations? ABRAHAM believed that God would send his angel before his servant. Eliezer also believed that God would show up. As a result, both of them believed in God. The woman, with the issue of blood, had an expectation too. She thought, "If I only touch his (Jesus) clothes, I'll get well." (Mark 5:28) And she was satisfied. Therefore, when you pray to God, you must have a heightened expectation of him. Does God delight in you? GOD couldn't be more delighted in his prayer. Before he finished praying, an attractive girl came to fetch water. Eliezer said to her: Give me some water to drink. She quickly lowered her jar and gave him some water. Then, she drew water for the camels to drink until they had had enough. He did not jump the gun. Instead, he kept watching Rebekkah to see if his trip was successful. When you pray to God, you must have a heightened expectation of him What do you do when you succeed? WHEN YOU succeed, you give him praise. As she mentioned her name, Eliezer bowed and worshipped God. "The Lord has shown unfailing love and faithfulness to my master, for he has led me straight to my master's relatives," he said. God is your AUDIENCE Why do you testify? WHEN he followed Rebekkah home, he told her brother, Laban, how the Lord had blessed his boss and how he was sent to find a wife for Isaac. Then Laban and Bethuel replied, "The Lord has brought you here, so there is nothing we can say. Here is Rebekah; take her and go. Yes, let her be the wife of your master's son, as the Lord has directed." You testify because you want people to see God's goodness and give him the glory. It does not have to be perfect, but it must be true. Bringing it Together YOUR VIEW of God will eventually show up in all that you do. Never forget that God is your audience―and He deserves your worship.

I LOVE the scriptures because they make you understand the mind of God. And when things are challenging, they help you translate a tragedy into an advantage―so you can lay hold of the future. WHEN HANNAH married, her desire to conceive did not go as planned―and her wait turned into years. So she prayed: "Lord of Armies, if you will look at my misery, remember me, and give me a boy, then I will give him to you for as long as he lives. A razor will never be used on his head." (1 Sam. 1:11) You need Speed STEPHEN was just matyred when the enemies of the cross arrested Peter and threw him in jail. The apostles could not let any harm come to him. So they prayed without ceasing. (Acts 12:5-6) When time is of the essence, pray. Trust God RUTH needed encouragement when her husband passed. Her trust in God helped her look at things differently. "Don't urge me to leave or return from you," she said. Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God my God." (Ruth 1:16) She spoke like one who knew that God had a plan―and that plan was good. Know God's Plan MORDECAI knew that God had a plan. So when Haman threatened the Jews, Mordecai made a desperate plea. "If you stay silent during this time, deliverance for the Jews will come from somewhere, but you, my child, and your father's family will die. And who knows? Perhaps you have been made queen for such a time as this." (Esther 4:14) Esther recognized her purpose. She had a heightened expectation of what the Lord would do. Take a Stand WHEN ESTHER called for a fast, she took a stand―and where you stand will determine what you see. She trusted God to strategically position her and ensured that her endeavour was God's work. JESUS endured the cross despising the shame because he saw the joy before him. (Heb. 12:2) WHEN JOHN stood with God on the Isle of Patmos, God opened his eyes. (Rev. 1:9) Taking a stand for God makes you encounter Him. Ask questions THE MIND of God is a good place to go when you need clarity. At Ziklag, David knew he had to rescue the families of his men. So, he asked God if he could pursue his enemies. And God said: Pursue, you will surely overtake them and recover all. (1 Sam. 30:8) When you ask the Lord questions, you open up yourself to know Him. Know you're Unstoppable SOMEONE said: If God wants something to succeed, you can't mess it up. If he wants a thing to fail, you can't save it. So rest and just be faithful. The secret to success is hating what God hates and loving what he loves. Joseph had the mind of God. His brothers hated him. But he laid hold of his future because God authored his story. (Gen. 37:20; 50:20) Know your Worth SOMETIMES, your worth will only be appreciated once you find yourself among strangers. Joseph experienced the same. JESUS could only do a little because a prophet is not without honour except in his town and home. (Matt. 13:57) When people do not appreciate you, it's a signal to go where they know your worth. Value the Spirit of God THE DISCIPLES of Jesus understood their success in ministry depended on the Spirit of Jesus. So they tarried at Jerusalem for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8) They waited on God as instructed. SIMEON took comfort in God's promise and waited for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Spirit led him to the temple the day Jesus was presented there. (Luke 2:25-26) The Holy Spirit is your All. (John 14:26) Wait for it WHEN YOU desire a thing, you ask for it―and when you appreciate it, you wait for it. Every patron in a restaurant waits to be served because the food is important to them. I've seen lines of people in front of a bakery waiting to buy fresh bread as early as 6:30 am. To all the single sisters, if a man cannot wait till he marries you to have you, he does not deserve you. Recognize the defining moments ONE OF JOSEPH's defining moments was when he interpreted the dreams of the baker and butler. He could have chosen not to intrude, but his love to help came to the fore. He understood that service would bring about the solution he desired. To lay hold of the future, you need to recognize those moments and do the needful. Understand the Times JOSEPH understood the times and what to do like the sons of Issachar. (1 Chron. 12:32). He felt his season of life was about to change, so he asked the baker to put in a word for him. He understood the times and did what was right. And God sent someone to invest in his life. Ruth's selflessness caused Boaz to invest in her life. (Ruth 4:13-17) Bringing it Together YOUR FUTURE is certain but there are things you must do to lay hold of it. And never forget that you can only lay hold when the time is right.

LIFE isn't what you think it is but what you make out of it. The Narrative THE WOMAN of Samaria lived among her people. Jesus and his disciples were passing through her town when they stopped to rest at the historic well Jacob gave to his son Joseph. And as Jesus sat by the well, he saw her come to fetch some water. "Would you draw water and give Me a drink?" (John 4:5-30) THE CULTURE of the day frowned at Jews associating with Samaritans. "I cannot believe that You, a Jew, would associate with me, a Samaritan woman, much less ask me to give You a drink," she said. Jesus broke down the social barrier. He met her where she was. Ephesians 2:14 says: So, he is our peace. He has made Jewish and non-Jewish people one in his body by breaking down the wall of hostility that kept them apart. YOU DON'T know the gift of God or who is asking you for a drink of this water from Jacob's well. Because if you did, you would have asked Him for something greater; He would have given you living water. (John 4:10) Answers are great, but that's if you know the question to ask. DRINK this water, and your thirst is only quenched for a moment. You'll have to return to this well repeatedly, said Jesus. (John 4:13) She had a desire that nothing in this world could satisfy, so she said: Please, Sir, give me some of this water, so I'll never be thirsty and never again have to make the trip to this well. (John 4:15) If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for a different world – CS Lewis. THEN BRING your husband to Me. I do not have a husband, she replied. Technically, you are telling the truth. But you have had five husbands. Presently, you are living with a man you are not married to. (John 4:16-18) Do not be afraid to be vulnerable in God's presence. He knows you better than you know yourself. YOU are a prophet. We worship on this mountain, but your people say Jerusalem is the place to worship. Which is it? You worship what you do not know. I'm here to ensure you get it right – and this is how. The Father is spirit and seeks worshippers who will worship Him in Spirit and truth. (John 4:23-24) I KNOW that Messiah is coming. When he comes, he will teach us all things. Jesus told her, "I who speak to you, I am he." (John 4:25-26) Time and circumstances can destroy one's expectation. But she stood by her dream. Are you standing by your dream? Bringing it Together JESUS CHRIST came that we might get it right! Her treasures of faith were only enough when Jesus came on the scene. Everything he said to her was intentional. His fellowship was for her to meet the Messiah. Have you encountered him? If you haven't, this is your day. Confess your sins and ask Him to be your Lord and Saviour. If you have done so, I rejoice with you. God bless you.

FAITH begins with a backward look at the cross, but it lives with a forward look at the promises – John Piper. We are commanded to look unto Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:2) The cross gives us perspective, and the promises make us focus. So, we can live as God pleases—continually in an atmosphere of His Presence. ONE distinct behaviour of successful people in the scriptures was to be in his presence. The woman with the Issue of Blood sought his presence. So when she touched the hem of his garment, she was made whole (Mark 5:22-43). David knew the atmosphere of his presence would make the difference, so he took the ephod and worshipped (1 Sam. 30:6-8). And Psalm 16:11 says: "In His Presence, there is fullness of joy. At His right hand, there are pleasures forever more." Some things do not stand in His Presence! THE DISCIPLES chose Stephen as one of the deacons to serve when the Hellenistic widows were neglected. He was a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit. Through his hands, God performed many miracles (Acts 6:5-15). But you must understand that the devil goes around like a roaring lion seeking who to devour. And he isn't far behind whenever God does great things in your life. A GROUP called the Free Synagogue arose and opposed the message he preached. But the Holy Spirit gave him wisdom in responding to their arguments. Whenever you reach a crossroad, God has promised to tell you what to say to the enemies of the cross. (Luke 12:12) Wisdom was not far from him because he was a man of His Presence (Prov. 2:6). IN RETALIATION, they spread a vicious rumour that Stephen spoke blasphemies against Moses and God. They grabbed him and hauled him before the council. The group had convinced some witnesses to give false testimonies. As they did, the entire council turned to him to see how he would respond—but his face was radiant with peace. God will keep in perfect peace whose heart is stayed on Him (Isaiah 26:3). Your peace is hinged on your focus. STEPHEN was energized because his purpose was right. However, his journey to demonstrate Jesus didn't begin there. He lived a Christ-centred life; he was a man of his presence. He knew that whatever he did was cumulative. His walk with God impinged on the collective walk. Your walk with God affects others. Joshua understood this too. So he stayed in the tent, not wanting to leave God's presence (Exod. 33:11). You must spend time with him to be a man of his presence. WHEN the council asked him to respond, they gave him the platform to talk about Jesus. And in the atmosphere of His Presence, expressing Jesus became easy. They thought that he would recant his message, but he didn't. So instead, he testified of Jesus. He made them understand that the life of Christ is a carefully scripted story of redemption—and in it, they could write their stories. AS STEPHEN spoke, they boiled with fury; they clenched their jaws and fists. But he was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:54-55). Gazing to heaven in worship, he saw something they couldn't see. He saw the glory of God and Christ standing at God's right hand. The atmosphere of His Presence took him beyond the physical—and this is where God wants you to reside. When Jesus died, the curtain that separated the outer and the inner courts tore in two (Matt. 27:51). So we could gain access to the holy of holies. Isaiah had a similar encounter when he saw the Lord—and God's train filled the temple (Isaiah 6:1). AS THEY pelted him with rocks, he knelt in prayer and said: "Lord, do not hold this evil against them." Then, he fell asleep in death. (Acts 7:60) He gained perspective in His Presence. You can do the same too. Bringing it Together OUR OBEDIENCE is God's pleasure when it proves that God is our treasure – John Piper. Stephen had a backward look at the cross and a forward look at God's promises. So, Christ saw his light in him. The total of your life will be what God see's in you. Will it be life or death? My advice is that you choose life that you might live!

THERE are four things that God will not change. He will not change his mind—God is not like people. God tells no lies. He is not like humans. Therefore, God doesn't change his mind. When he says something, he does it. When he makes a promise, he keeps it. (Numb. 23:19) MOSES was shepherding the sheep of Jethro like he normally did when he saw a strange sight—the burning bush. "What's going on here? I can't believe this! Amazing! Why doesn't the bush burn up?" And when God saw that he stopped to look, he called out of the bush. I am here, Moses replied. (Exod. 3:4) For God to have you, he needs your attention. For him to use you, he needs you. Jacob had a vision of the night while running from his brother. He saw a stairway from heaven and woke up confessing that God was in the place and never knew it. (Gen. 28:10-22) Jacob needed an encounter to know that God was with him. You need an encounter too! GOD appeared to Moses to keep the promise he made to Abraham. He had told Abraham his descendants would live in a foreign land as outsiders for 400 years. Then, he will punish their enslavers, and their offspring (of the children of God) will march out of there loaded with plunder. (Gen. 15:13-15) Has God made you a promise? His promises are for him to keep. GOD said to Moses: Don't come any closer. Remove your sandals from your feet. You're standing on holy ground. So he introduced himself as a holy God. Moses had heard about the attributes of God but not this one. This encounter was extraordinary. No wonder Moses' relationship with God was different. God spoke to him face to face as one talked to his friend. (Exod. 33:11) You'll enjoy the peace of God when you know the mind of God, the Will of God, the purpose of God, and the plan of God. EVERYTHING God does is triggered by something. God told Moses: "I have seen how My people in Egypt are being mistreated. I have heard their groaning when the slave drivers torment and harass them; for I know well their suffering." (Exod. 3:7) If God was touched by their pain, he sees yours too. Cry out to Him! Jeremiah 33:3 says, "Call me, and I will answer you. I will tell you great and mysterious things you do not know." We need to know that they groaned not because of work but the harshness. They had gone through so much pain. For God, the trigger was their groanings. But for Moses, it was a strange sight. You must recognize the trigger and press into His presence to seize your moment with God. GOD will not change his Will. The Will of God is the Bible. It contains how God wants you to live and not to live. Someone described it as simple enough for a kid to understand but deep enough for an elephant to drown in it. So no matter your size or situation, it's sufficient. If you need direction in life, the Bible is where to look. Then, when you do, you will walk in the light. The word of God will become a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path. (Ps. 119:105) Every explorer has a packing list—you cannot have one without referring to it. Since we are explorers on earth, we have the Book. We were designed with God in mind. GOD will not change his purpose. He knows what he's doing. He has it all planned—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, to give you the future you hope for. (Jer. 29:11) So, he wants you to live your life to the fullest. Moses had tried to do so but failed. He knew something was missing; he couldn't grasp it. But when he met God at the desert's backside, there was an exchange: God gave him glory for his story. And for his pain, God gave him his purpose. With every Godly encounter, there is an exchange. Your fulfilment will only come from knowing your purpose and walking in it. GOD will not change his plan. It contains his blueprint for your life. His plans stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. (Ps. 33:11) Moses found out the plan of God during the encounter–and did not hesitate to ask questions. The questions you ask at the outset will help you prepare. The ones that you ask at the end will help you reflect. Moses had to imagine the future. Your feet will never take you where your mind has not seen – Bill Winston. Bringing it Together MOSES' encounter marked him–and made him hungrier for God. Subsequently, he understood the ways of God, while Israel knew only the acts of God. He could rest in God's peace because he understood the mind of God, the Will of God, the purpose of God, and the plan of God. To enjoy the peace of God, you must do the same.

THE SCRIPTURES tell us how to live and, sometimes, how not to live. They do not tell us only what God hates; they remind us of what God loves. God hates lawlessness. He loves righteousness. (Heb. 1:9) The Narrative THERE was a man in the scriptures who had two sons. The younger one said to the dad, "Father, eventually, I'm going to inherit my share of your estate. So rather than waiting until you die, I want you to give me my share now." And so, the Father liquidated assets and divided them. (Luke 15:11-12) A few days later, the younger son gathered all he had and left for a distant land. No one knew his heart until he left home. He moved to where he could live without rules—where no one would put him in check. Unbeknownst to him, he was setting himself up for failure. Seek Counsel WHENEVER YOU are deciding on anything, be careful to think deeply. Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counsellors, there is safety. (Prov. 11:14) A relationship without rules will lead to rebellion Choose Wisely YOU SAY your choices are better than God's when you live as you please. When you refuse His instructions, you prefer yourself to Him. But when you obey His Word, you give Him his rightful place—and God is pleased. He takes delight in the welfare of His servant. (Ps. 35:27) Rules are Necessary THE PRODIGAL SON thought he knew how to live when he left home but discovered that he still had so much to learn. He needed to understand that a relationship without instructions would lead to rebellion. He loved his Father but not his rules. Not Enough AFTER he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in the land, and he began to live in the space of not enough. So, he approached a citizen of the country who hired him to feed pigs. He longed to feed himself with the pig's food, and no one gave to him. The prodigal son realized that no one was as gracious as his Father. We (believers) do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses but one who, in every respect, has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then draw near to the throne of grace so we may receive mercy and find grace to help in times of need. (Heb. 4:15-16) Right Mind SOMEONE said: Scarcity focuses the mind—this was true for him. He wasn't in his right mind when he lived carelessly. But when he came to his senses, he said: 'How many of my Father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!' I will set out and go back to my Father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and you. (Luke 15:17-19) He could see himself in his Father's story. Messed Up AT THIS POINT, he acknowledged that he was wrong and his dad was right. But more is needed to acknowledge you're wrong. First, you must be willing to make amends. He acknowledged that he had brought shame to his family and was willing to change his ways. So he said to himself: 'I am no longer worthy of being called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.' (Luke 15:19) But when he returned home, his Father saw him from afar. He ran to his son and hugged him. Then, as he asked for forgiveness, he told them to change his clothes and put his ring on him. (Luke 15:20) Until you accept that you are wrong, God will never be right in your eyes. BRINGING IT TOGETHER GOD's MESSAGE will make no impact except you see yourself in this story. Until sin is bitter to you, grace will never be sweet. If you do not have Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, or perhaps you're a Christian, and there's a sin in your life, this is an opportunity to reconcile with him. He's waiting to have you!

PRAY on it. Pray through it. Pray over it - Anonymous. Whatever your issues are, God wants you to pray about them. And whenever you pray, know that your prayer says certain things about you. It reveals how you see God. HANNAH had suffered greatly at the hands of Peninah, so she prayed to God. "O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head." (1 Sam. 1:11) She saw God as her protector, deliverer and provider. It tells a story. SENNACHERIB had sent a threatening chit to Hezekiah. "Do not trust in Hezekiah, said Rabshakeh. He cannot save you from me! Do not allow Hezekiah to deceive you into trusting the Eternal when he says, 'The Eternal One will save us, and our city will not be handed over to Assyria's king.'" (2 Kings 18:17-19) And Hezekiah said to Israel: "Today is filled with hours of sorrow, pain, anxiety, and reproof. Children are ready to be born, but there is no strength to deliver them." It may be that the Eternal One, your God, will disprove the words of Rabshakeh, whom Assyria's king has sent to taunt the living God. So pray hard that your God, the Eternal One, will rebuke those words and save His few children who remain." (2 Kings 19:3-4) It tells where your heart is. ABRAHAM told God he had given him no child, so he planned to make his head servant the heir. He made it about himself, but the covenant was not primarily about him. Instead, it was about God and His Kingdom. So God said no. Your son will be your heir. (Gen. 15:4) Prayer puts you where God is It increases your capacity to love. WHEN ABRAHAM took it upon himself to intercede for Sodom, it showed where his heart was at. (Gen. 18:22-33) He believed in second chances. When you pray for others, you think less about yourself. It helps you experience the Kingdom of God. MOSES left Aaron and Hur in charge when he went to the mount to meet with God. In his absence, the people got impatient and began to ask for a physical representation of God. Aaron complies, and Israel falls into sin. The following day, he interceded for Israel. (Exod. 32:30-33) God was using him to bring about what he wanted to do. It places you where God is. WHEN YOU pray the heart of God, you are about what he's about. You seek His Kingdom. Haman had plotted against the children of Israel because he hated Mordecai. Esther got wind of what Haman had done and called for a fast. Assemble all the Jews in Susa. Fast for me: Do not eat or drink for three days. My servants and I will also fast. After that, I will go to the king, even if it is against a royal decree. If I die, I die. (Esther 4:16) Your prayer places you where God is and puts you in charge of your area. You become an expression of Him. And where squatters sneak in, you can kick them out. Bringing it Together WHEN YOU pray to the Lord, remember that you are telling a story. And God does not go out of character. Therefore, do not expect Him to give you anything alien to His Word when you pray to Him.

CHALLENGES are not the privilege of a few, but a burden to many. They give life a better meaning; through them, we build our summer bodies in winter. WE SEEK GOD in our helplessness and cry to Him in our hopelessness. And when we pray, we acknowledge we do not have what it takes to get things done and are needy of Him. JABEZ knew something wasn't right when he cried out: "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me and keep me from harm so I will be free from pain." (1 Chron. 4:10) ABRAM prayed to God: "Eternal Lord, what could you possibly give to me that would make that much of a difference in my life? After all, I am still childless, and Eliezer of Damascus stands to inherit all I own. Therefore, since You have not given me the gift of children, my only heir will be one of the servants born in my household." (Gen. 15:3) ELIJAH was needy of him when he prayed for rain. (1 Kings 18:41) He knew that every blessing of God begins with open heavens. But how do you keep the heavens open? You keep the heavens open by seeking His face. DAVID said: O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You. (Ps. 63:1) SOLOMON had just finished building the temple when God appeared to him by night. And God said: I may shut the sky so there is no rain or command grasshoppers to devour the countryside or send an epidemic among my people. However, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray, search for me, and turn from their evil ways, I will hear their prayer from heaven, forgive their sins and heal their country. (2 Chron. 7:13-14) You will find God when you seek him. You keep the heavens open by drawing close to Him. WE TEACH people how to treat us by the way we present ourselves. And when we are ill-treated, we understand we have work to do. When Saul maltreated David, the latter knew he had work to do. He treated Saul fairly and ensured that his relationship with God was solid. In Psalm 61:2, he prayed, "From the end of the earth, I will cry to You. Then, when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I." David gave himself to God. (Acts 13:22) The way we give ourselves to God will determine the relationship he will have with us. You keep the heavens open by knowing God. PAUL never stopped learning. He knew you could never outgrow God. He said: Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. (Phil. 3:12-13) The secret to knowing Christ is the continuous willingness to learn, hunger and thirst after righteousness. You keep the heavens open by worshipping him. Worship will change things and you. Where God is at the center of things, worship inevitably follows. Where there is no spirit of worship, God has been dethroned and displaced - Sinclair Ferguson. When God opens his hand, he satisfies the desires of all living things. (Ps. 145:16) You keep the heavens open by asking God to go with you. MOSES told the Lord, "You have been telling me, 'Lead these people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, 'I know you by name, and you have found favour with me.' (Exod. 33:12) Moses understood the secrets of the open heavens. He knew that the presence of God would make the difference. Relying on God begins every day as if nothing had been done. So before you step out any day, ask the Lord to go with you. Bringing it Together YOU wouldn't say because you relied on Him yesterday; you wouldn't do the same thing today. Even as you are hidden in Christ and Christ in God, you'll have to trust God to open the heavens continuously over you. Have a great week!

A PASTOR facing a series of challenges—a dying wife, raising an infant son and running a thriving ministry was asked, “How do you cope?” “While God is the warehouse, I consider myself a warehouseman. I handle a burden long enough to unload. I wheel my burden to God and leave it there,” he replied. You’ll agree that such wisdom does not come from books. It comes from walking with God. The Narrative IN THE LAND OF UZ lived a man by the name of Job. His character was spotless, and his integrity was unquestioned. He was also wealthy. One day, angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan was with them. And God asked Satan if he has seen his servant Job. He is unlike any other person on earth—he so believes in Me that he seeks, in all things, to honour Me and deliberately avoids evil in all his affairs. (Job 1:8) “Job believes in You because he is protected,” said the accuser. Strike his possessions, and he will curse You. Certain wisdom does not come from books Okay, you can touch his possessions but not his life. From this point on, Job found things challenging. He lost all his possessions and his children. And when he heard of the calamities, Job tore his robe, shaved his head and fell to the ground. He sprawled in the dirt to worship. (Job 1:1-20) A Man of Courage HE FEARED GOD. Job confronted evil in the hearts of his children by praying for them. The height of courage is staying the course when everyone has abandoned you—and that was what Job did. When his wife had nothing encouraging to say to him, he rebuked her. (Job 2:9-10) A Man of Transformation FOR JOB to make a change in his walk with God, there had to be a crystallization of discomfort. Before this incident, Job never had an encounter with God. He obeyed God, but his relationship was distant. However, with the condemnation from friends, the absence and presence of God, and the tragedies, Job became a different man. He differed from his friends’ beliefs—there was a paradigm shift in his reasoning—and he stopped looking at things the way he saw them before the tragedies. A Man of Resilience HE DID NOT COMPARE himself to anyone. Job saw this situation as a transformation. He built self-awareness, looking at his motivations and actions. (Job 6; 7 & 8) God wants you to continue to examine yourself and ensure that you are always in the faith. (2 Corinthians 13:5) A Man of Obedience HE CREATED POSSIBILITIES by obeying God, and with Him, nothing shall be impossible. Job discovered that pursuing the truth provides undue possibilities that only God can provide. And God’s eye is on those who respect him, the ones who are looking for his love. He’s ready to come to their rescue in bad times; in lean times, he keeps body and soul together. (Psalm 33:18-19) A Man of Honesty HE WAS TERRIFIED with having a confrontation, and God appreciated his honesty. Job cried out to God in his pain and sought answers to his situation. He moved away from the view that he suffered all because of sin. Job had no bitterness for his friends. He forgave and prayed for them, and God blessed him. (Job 42:10) BRINGING IT TOGETHER WHEN CHAOS CALLED, Job knew that his story was far from over. He understood that there were many things yet to unfold. To see God change your situation, you need to hold on to His promises and lay your burdens and worries at His feet. (1 Peter 5:7) And as you walk with Him, every other name will fade away.

WHAT A WAY to end a year: the end of the week and the month. The children of Israel had just ended a difficult phase of their lives—and they looked forward to a new beginning. God had liberated them from Pharaoh after four hundred years of slavery. So they could breathe a sigh of relief. In their gratitude, Moses warned them never to forget. "Always remember this day. It was the day you came from Egypt from a house of slavery. God brought you out of here with a mighty hand. So don't eat any raised bread." (Exod. 13:3) That day was different—and Moses wanted them to be thankful. HE wanted them to know that God had a purpose for their lives and a destination in mind. So as they continued their journey, he said to them: "Remember today and never forget that the Lord is God in heaven above and here on earth. There is no other god." (Deut. 4:39) They were not ordinary people but the people of God—and he wanted them to know. If you believe in Christ, you are a child of God. He wants you to remember, so you would keep sight of where you are going. God is mindful of you. (Psalm 8:4) GOD had set a plan in motion. So that through his relationship with them, he would reach other nations. Faithfulness to God makes your gratitude genuine SOMEONE said: A person who truly values you will never put themselves in a position to lose you. From the beginning of creation, God positioned Himself to ensure he kept us. However, he knew humanity would miss the mark one day, so he prepared his Son. Jesus Christ is the Lamb that was slain from the earth's foundation. (Rev. 13:8) WHAT would it be today if I asked you what you are most thankful for? A new house, a new job, your family, a financial miracle, a new business venture, sustenance, protection and divine healing are all great things. But if you said the salvation of your soul, that would be awesome. Now that you know that your salvation determines your story, what is your story? You must always be thankful if you are a believer—and your faithfulness to God makes your gratitude genuine. HOWEVER, if you do not have a relationship with Him, your gratitude to Him will be insufficient until his death and resurrection become your story. How can this be? Confess your sins to Him, ask Him to forgive you and be your Lord and Saviour. Romans 10:9 says: "So if you believe deep in your heart that God raised Jesus from the pit of death and if you voice your allegiance by confessing the truth that "Jesus is Lord," then you will be saved! If you have done this, you are a believer in Christ. Have a happy and prosperous New Year!

UNLIKE YOU THINK, God still visits people. He came to Moses in the burning bush. (Exod. 3:2-4) When Elijah was angry for the wrong reasons, he spoke to him in a still, small voice. (1 Kings 19:11-13) There is no doubt in my mind that God is in this place, and I did not even know it said Jacob. (Gen. 28:16) Nebuchadnezzar saw him as the fourth man in the fire. (Dan. 3:25) Joshua saw him as the Lord of host outside Jericho. (Josh. 5:13-14) And the shepherds saw an angel of the Lord. (Luke 2:18-14) God is visiting you this season. FOR FOUR HUNDRED YEARS, everything was silent. So, when the angel of the Lord visited Mary, she was frightened. Don't be afraid, Mary. You have found favour with God. You will become pregnant, give birth to a son and name him Jesus. He will be a great man. He will be called the Son of the Highest. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. Your Son will be king of Jacob's people forever, and his kingdom will never end. (Luke 1:26-38) God gave Mary the grace to bear the Son of God through the power of His Spirit. And God can make all grace abound to you. (2 Cor. 9:8) MARY was engaged to marry Joseph when this visit occurred. And when he learnt that she was pregnant, Joseph wanted to put her away quietly and save her from embarrassment because he was a kind and righteous man. He did not want to be complicit in the matter. And as he had decided to act on his instincts, the angel of the Lord came to him. Do not be afraid to wed Mary and bring her into your home and family as your wife. She did not sneak off and sleep with someone else. Rather, she conceived the baby she now carries through the miraculous wonderworking of the Holy Spirit. She will have a son, and you will name Him Jesus, which means "the Lord saves," because this Jesus is the person who will save all of His people from sin. (Matt. 1:20-23) JOSEPH needed an understanding, and God visited him. While the angel talked to him, the grace to walk in obedience was in waiting. All he needed to do was accept it. Obedience never walks alone. It walks with the grace of God. So Paul said: I am what I am by the grace of God. (1 Cor. 15:10) GOD does not need our input in choosing who to use or not. Neither does he subject his selection to a vote. Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. (Ps. 115:3) Mary and Joseph did not choose themselves. Instead, they were chosen by God. SOMEONE had written that if our greatest need were education, God would have sent us an educator. He would have sent us a scientist if our greatest need were technology. He would have sent us an economist if our greatest need had been money. He would have sent us an entertainer if our greatest need had been pleasure. But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Saviour. TODAY, the word saviour carries a different meaning. And many people distance themselves from it because they think they can solve their problems. But if all were well, we wouldn't need a Saviour. GOD knew we couldn't go up, so he came down and never left. He is Emmanuel, God with us! (Matt. 1:23) For God so loved the world that he gave us his only Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life—this is the Christmas story! It's only necessary to enjoy Christmas music by giving thought to the lyrics. Jesus is the reason for the season; give your life to Him. Merry Christmas!