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MOST of LIFE's struggles are fights of faith. A fight of faith is anything you do to preserve your belief in God. It 's a fight you engage in as long as you live. WHEN Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den, he fought the good fight of faith by trusting God (Daniel 6). And when Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace, they fought for their destiny (Daniel 3 verses 8-25). They stood their ground and did not bow to the king’s golden image. WHEN Satan took the fight to Job, Job lost his children and all he had, but Job did not sin (Job 1:22). ESTHER fought her fight of faith when Haman threatened the Jews, and she had to put her life at risk to see the king (Esther 5 verses 1-14). So when Jesus saw Satan in a vision coming after Peter, he told him. Satan has demanded permission to sift [all of] you like grain; but I have prayed [especially] for you [Peter], that your faith [and confidence in Me] may not fail; and you, once you have turned back again [to Me], strengthen and support your brothers [in the faith].” (Luke 22:31) Jesus taught Peter how to safeguard his faith. THERE are two parts to a fight of faith: What you trust the Lord to do and what you need to do. If you do not want your faith to fail, you must pray . Prayer is seeking God’s help to keep your faith alive. Prayer is how to get God involved in all you do. JEHOSHAPHAT prayed when the Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites came against him for battle. He told God that they did not know what to do, but their eyes were on Him (2 Chronicles 20 verses 3 -15) YOU MUST pray because there will be times when life will not make sense. You’ll pray to gain insight. Jeremiah 33:3 says: Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you [and even show you] great and mighty things, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish.’ You must not be angry at God if you do not want your faith to fail. CAIN was angry at God when God rejected his sacrifice, and when God warned him, he dismissed the warning (Genesis 4:6). He did not realize that God is, and would only do what is right. Whenever you're angry, find out why. If you do not want your faith to fail, be conscious of where you are. WHEN God came to Eden, he asked, “Adam, where are you?” (Genesis 3:9) And when God came to Elijah at Horeb, God asked, “Why are you here?” (1 Kings 19:13) God is, and he will only do what is right. If you do not want a faith failure, be conscious of where and why you are there. MOUNT SINAI was not for sightseeing; it was the mountain of God, and the reason to go there was to meet with God. You must know why you're running if you do not want your faith to fail. When you run, you are either running to or from something. Proverbs 28:1 says: The wicked flee when no one pursues them, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. ONE WAY to know your actions are right is to ask yourself if your decisions are out of fear or faith. When Elijah ran from Jezebel, he feared for his life. He thought only he was left, but he was wrong. God had many in Israel who had not bowed their heads to Baal (1 Kings 19). Ten men out of the twelve sent to spy on Jericho gave an evil report. They were convicted based on fear. As a result, they did not make the promised land (Numbers 13 & 14). Are you running out of fear or walking by faith? Fear will push you from God, but faith will pull you to God. SATAN has a pattern of theft. His mission is to steal from you, where care is not taken to kill your faith and destroy whatever you have left. However, Jesus has come that we might have life and abundantly. If you're yet to know him, it's your time. Tell him that you're wrong and he is right. Ask Jesus to come into your heart and be your Lord and Saviour. Final Thoughts If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.’ – C. S. Lewis. Have a great week.

MANY MEN proclaim their loyalty and goodness, but who can find a faithful and trustworthy man? (Proverbs 20:6) People are often called faithful not because of how much faith they possess but how much faith others can place in them. ESTHER trusted her cousin, Mordecai, because he had been her father since her parents' passing. So when he took her to the king’s harem, she knew he meant well. (Esther 2 verses 15-17) FAITHFUL FATHERS guide others in the right direction and help them push the limits. They urge others to speak when necessary and be quiet when needed. Mordecai warned Esther not to reveal her race when he took her to the harem, but he prompted her to speak to the king when Haman wanted to eliminate the Jews. He urged her to push the limits because the King did not see anyone without an appointment. So, the Jews in Susa, Esther and her maids fasted and prayed, and she found favour with the King. (Esther 5:14) FAITHFUL FATHERS want the best for their family and the people around them. Abraham wanted a good life for his nephew, so he took him along when God told him to leave home. (Genesis 13:5) FAITHFUL FATHERS love peace. After God prospered Abraham, he became wealthy in livestock, silver, and gold. His nephew, who moved around with him, also had livestock. The land could not support their livestock if they stayed together. So, Abraham told Lot: Please let there be no strife and disagreement between you and me, nor between your herders and my herdsmen, because we are relatives. Isn't the entire land before you? Please separate yourself from me. (Genesis 13 verses 8-9) FAITHFUL FATHERS protect their family. When Abraham heard that Lot had been taken as a prisoner, he led 318 trained men to rescue him. He risked his life to save him. (Genesis 14 verses 12-16) Faithful fathers show consistency between their words and actions. FAITHFUL FATHERS put God first. While returning from rescuing Lot, Abraham met the Priest of the Most High. The priest blessed him, and he gave the priest a tenth of the spoil. Abraham knew that his conquest was possible because God delivered the enemy into his hands. (Genesis 14 verses 17-20) FAITHFUL FATHERS see the future and prepare for it. When God told him he planned to destroy Sodom, he interceded for the city. He wanted God to save his nephew, and God did. (Genesis 18 verses 22-33) FAITHFUL FATHERS put God on display. Abraham put God on display when he believed in, (affirmed, trusted in, relied on, and remained steadfast to) the Lord; and He counted (credited) it to him as righteousness (doing right regarding God and man). (Genesis 15:6) He became a testament to obedience and God’s goodness. So, it wasn't surprising that he told his servant, Eliezar, not to take his son back to where he came from; Abraham knew there was no going back. (Genesis 24, verses 1-7) FAITHFUL FATHERS touch the lives of others to the point where they can trust God for themselves. When Abraham prayed for his servant, he told him that the Angel of God would go before him. And when Eliezer got to the well outside the city, he prayed. O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today, and show lovingkindness (faithfulness) to my master Abraham. (Genesis 24:12) FAITHFUL FATHERS put their hope in God. When Jacob was old, he called his sons and told them to gather around so he could tell them what would happen to them in the future. Jacob became prophetic. (Genesis 49:1) By faith, Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the Israelites' exodus from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones. (Hebrews 11:22) Joseph believed in God so much that he told his sons to carry his bones to the promised land. FAITHFUL FATHERS pray for their children. Job prayed for his children and consecrated them to God at all times. (Job 1:5) He knew his duty as a parent was to pray for his children. FAITHFUL FATHERS say what is right of God. God turned Job’s captivity and gave him twice what he had before when he prayed for forgiveness for his friends. (Job 42 verses 1-10) So, Job wasn't casual with prayer; he was a man of prayer. FAITHFUL FATHERS are present fathers. They are dependable, loved and trusted. They show consistency between their words and actions. We celebrate you today and always. However, we must honour the number one Father, the Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the good Father. We worship you! Happy Father’s Day.

FEAR is mostly used negatively—anything you fear is considered harmful or dangerous. However, the fear of God does not scare you away from God; it draws you to Him. WHEN DAVID sinned by conducting a census, God gave him the chance to choose the consequence, and he decided to fall into God's hands. He understood that the best place to be was in his hands. ELIJAH knew he was in God's hands when God told him to go to Brook Cherith—and when it dried up, God told him to go to the Widow of Zarephath. (1 Kings 17 verses 9-16) THE FEAR of the Lord will let you into the future. It will take you into the prophetic. The angels of God stopped at Abraham’s tent—and when they were leaving, God wondered if he could hide his plan from Abraham. So, he told him what he was about to do—and he interceded for Sodom. (Genesis 16 verses 18-33) If you desire God to speak to you, fear Him. THE FEAR OF GOD is important because we cannot see the world as it is except through God’s perspective. Noah saw the world through the lens of God and was moved by reverent respect for God when he was asked to build an ark. (Hebrews 11:7) THE FEAR OF GOD not only keeps you in check, but it also keeps you close to God. Daniel’s awe of God kept him close. When he was offered meat dedicated to idols from the king’s table, he turned it down. (Daniel 1 verses 8-16) THE FEAR of the Lord leads to life so that one may sleep satisfied and untouched by evil. (Proverbs 19:23) ELISHA woke up besieged by an army. "What shall we do?” said his servant. However, when the Lord opened his servant’s eyes, he saw that the hills around them were full of chariots of fire. (2 Kings 6 verses 16-18) WE FEAR , men, because we do not fear God. This lack of fear makes us say, "I'll do it; after all, I know God will forgive me." When you knowingly hurt God, you have no place in Him. ACHAN lost his life and the lives of every member of his family when he took the accursed thing. (Joshua 7 verses 19-26) BALAAM knowingly chose to go to Balak despite God’s warning not to go, but graciously, God opened his donkey’s eyes to see the angel holding a sword and standing in its path. (Numbers 22) You cannot walk in true wisdom unless you fear Him. Righteousness flows from only one principle — the fear of God - John Calvin. THE REMARKABLE THING is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else—and when you see God, you see nothing else. God told Jeremiah not to fear their faces because he was with him. (Jeremiah 1:8-9) THE FEAR OF GOD delivered Joseph from the fear of men. So when Potiphar’s wife wanted him to lay with her, he said: My master is not concerned with anything; he has given me charge of everything he owns. He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept anything from me except you because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil and sin against God [and your husband]?” (Genesis 38 verses 8-10) Righteousness flows from only one principle—the fear of God. THE FEAR OF GOD will make you please Him. Paul said, "Am I now trying to win the favour and approval of men or God? Or am I seeking to please someone? If I were still trying to be popular with men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ." (Galatians 1:10) The thing God wants from you most is to give Him pleasure. Final Thoughts NO ONE can know the true grace of God who has not first known the fear of God—A. W. Tozer.

FAITH manifests in three ways: in doctrine, what you believe, in worship, your fellowship with God and his church, and how you live. Abraham understood that faith was the connection between man and God. So, he believed in God, and this belief was considered righteousness. (James 2:23) He worshipped God and lived like one, convinced that God, who had promised, could perform it. (Romans 4 verses 19-25). Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation.” – D. Elton Trueblood BY FAITH [with confidence in God and His word], Noah, being warned by God about events not yet seen in reverence, prepared an ark for the salvation of his family. By this [act of obedience], he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness which comes by faith. (Hebrews 11:7) Faith causes you to act in a certain way. WHEN Jacob saw a ladder from heaven, he called the place Bethel. He rose and made an altar and a vow to God. (Genesis 28:17) Faith requires you to create a sacred place to meet with God and revere Him. NOAH prepared an ark for his family's salvation—and in reverence to God, he built an ark expecting rain when rain had never fallen on the Earth. (Genesis 6) So, faith makes you prepare for the rain to pour. Faith comes with expectations. MATTHEW 7:7 says, Ask and keep on asking, and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking, and you will find it. Knock and keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. Seeking God without expecting anything in return is considered abnormal. Faith makes the impossible possible. BY FAITH , the people [of Israel] crossed the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted it, they were drowned. (Hebrews 11:29) Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light.” – Helen Keller. I don't know your struggles, but your focus on God will keep you grounded and your faith in Him will get you through. Seeking God without expecting anything in return is considered abnormal. To live a life of wonders, faith must be your ally. Faith takes you from the mundane to the realm of the miraculous. BY FAITH , Moses kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood [on the doorposts] so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them (the firstborn of Israel). (Hebrews 11:28) Faith makes you seek God’s presence. MOSES told God: If Your presence does not go [with me], do not lead us up from here. How can it be known that Your people and I have found favour in Your sight? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we are distinguished, Your people and I, from all the [other] people on the face of the earth?” (Exodus 33 verses 15-16) I know that you're the temple of the Holy Spirit. However, commit your ways daily to God and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you. Faith is God's mindset. It influences one's thinking. It makes you stand for God and associate with His children. BY FAITH , Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter   because he preferred to endure the hardship of the people of God rather than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin. (Hebrews 11:25) Faith is God's mindset Faith makes you appreciate the reproach that Jesus suffered. MOSES considered the reproach of Christ [that is, the rebuke he would suffer for his faithful obedience to God] to be greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt, for he looked ahead to the reward [promised by God]. (Hebrews 11:26) Faith makes you know you're just a man. God humbled Nebuchadnezzar, and he attested that God’s signs are superb, his miracles so powerful! His kingdom is everlasting, and his rule is for all times. (Daniel 4:3) Final Thought The greatest act of faith is when a man understands he is not God.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

IF YOU BELIEVE in Christ, you'll know that you cannot make sense of God or what he's doing or what he plans to do without an encounter with Him. JACOB tried to make sense of events as he ran from Esau. As he lay to rest because the sun had set, he saw a stairway placed on earth, the top reached the heavens, and the angels of God ascended and descended on it and called the place Bethel, the gate of heaven. (Genesis 27:41; 28 verses 10-12) You must desire to have encounters with God. KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR encountered God when he saw the fourth man in the fiery furnace. “Look! I see four men untied, walking around amid the fire, and they are not hurt! And the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!” (Daniel 3:25) His place of encounter was his place of revelation. TO UNDERSTAND GOD or your situation, you need a revelation of Him. BALAAM encountered God when God opened his eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; he bowed his head and lay face down. (Numbers 22 verses 22-28) PAUL encountered God in the place of prayer . To keep him from thinking of himself as important, a thorn in the flesh was given to him, a messenger of Satan, to torment and harass him, to keep him from exalting himself! And when he pleaded, God said: My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” [2 Corinthians 12, verse 9] Someone said, "Race is when you run alone. Grace is when you run with God. " TO BETTER UNDERSTAND your situation, you need to wait on God and for Him. PAUL understood his situation better as they sailed; he fasted for days. And an angel of the Lord appeared at night and told him that God had given him the lives of everyone sailing with him. (Acts of Apostles 27 verses 23-27) Race is when you run alone. Grace is when you run with God. TO KNOW GOD better, you must pray that he opens your eyes. David said: Open my eyes [to spiritual truth] so that I may behold wonderful things from Your law. (Psalm 119:18) You need to see God in the pages of the Bible. GOD opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well. She filled a bottle of water and gave it to her son. (Genesis 21 verses 19-21) GEHAZI was initially panicked when he saw an enemy army surrounding their city. However, Elisha prayed that God would open his (spiritual) eyes—and God did. (2 Kings 6 verses 17-20) TO MAKE SENSE of life, your life must give God pleasure. Moses was confused when he fled Egypt. He knew he had a call on his life, but didn't understand it. He found it easier to find a wife than to pursue his purpose. (Exodus 2:21) Pray daily to God that your life will give Him pleasure. MOSES couldn't worship God without knowing Him, and his life couldn't please God without a relationship with Him. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of [our great] God.” You cannot be intimate with someone you do not know. TO MAKE SENSE of your calling, you must be sent. Moses couldn't go without being sent. Romans 10:14 says, “But how will people call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher (messenger)?” Moses needed a message from God to lead God’s people. You have no business at the pulpit without a message from God. TO UNDERSTAND GOD, you need an affirmation from him. Rahab’s testimony to the Hebrew spies was an affirmation. She said, “We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear, and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. (Joshua 2 verses 10-11) God confirmed Moses as his servant when he made him like God to Pharaoh. (Exodus 7:1) He affirmed Abraham when he said: “For I have known (chosen, acknowledged) him [as My own], so that he may teach and command his children and [the sons of] his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is righteous and just, so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has promised him.” (Genesis 18:19) Pray that God will affirm you. Final Thought IF YOU'RE going to make anything with God, you must trust Him. You were made by God and for God and until you understand that, life will never make sense.

As we celebrate Mother’s Day, we appreciate our mothers and motherhood. We tell you how much we love you and let you know you have a place in our hearts. ABRAHAM LINCOLN said: "I remember my mother’s prayers. They have always followed me, clinging to me all my life." Faithful mothers do not joke with prayers. They know their prayers follow their children wherever they go, altering their lives for good and changing their destinies. We thank God for them. MOSES’ MOM changed his destiny when she kept him for months, and when she couldn't keep him any longer, she put him in an ark, on the Nile, leaving her daughter to see what would happen to him. She desired to have God intervene, and he did. [Exodus 2:verses 3-10] Faithful mothers give their children a voice. BATHSHEBA gave Solomon a voice when she reminded David of his promise. My lord, you swore by the Lord your God to your maidservant that Solomon your son shall certainly be king after you, and he shall sit on my throne.’ But now, behold, Adonijah is [acting as] king; and now [as things stand], my lord the king, you do not know it. He has sacrificed oxen and fattened steers. [1 Kings 2:19] Faithful mothers want the best for their children. TWO WOMEN came to Solomon to intervene in their dispute over their sons. One of their sons died during the night. The woman with the dead child took the living one and placed the dead child next to her neighbour. When King Solomon told them that he would kill the living baby, the mother begged him to spare his life. The king knew immediately that she was the mother of the living child. [1 Kings 3 verses 16-28] Faithful moms pass on a legacy of faith. TIMOTHY had two mothers who impacted his life: Lois and Eunice. I remember your sincere and unqualified faith [the surrendering of your entire self to God in Christ with confident trust in His power, wisdom and goodness, a faith] which first lived in [the heart of] your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am confident that it is in you as well. [2 Timothy 1 verses 5-7] Timothy grew up in a godly environment. His mom and grandmother were people of faith. Faithful mothers do not let go. HANNAH was a woman of faith. She went to Shiloh yearly with the same request: "God, give me a child." She was desperate because she had waited for a while, and her rival, Peninnah, tormented her. But she never stopped praying. Hannah knew God was faithful. [1 Samuel 1 verses 2-20] She understood that her best view would come after her hardest climb. Trust in God. Faithful mothers know how to engage God. AFTER ENGAGING God in prayers for a while, she had adequate words to say. O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction (suffering) of Your maidservant and remember, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life; a razor shall never touch his head.” [1 Samuel 1 verses 8-28] Your best view will come after your hardest climb Faithful mothers seek a need to meet. HER REQUEST sounded like one who knew there was a gap to fill. She spoke like someone who perceived what to say in prayer. When you pray long enough, you'll have the right words to say to God. The Holy Spirit will help you pray because you do not know how. [Romans 8 verse 26-27] Faithful moms give God whatever they expect in anticipation that God will use it. HANNAH dedicated her son to God; no wonder God called him at a young age and told him what he would do. Mothers who trust God with their children impact their lives and shape their destinies. Mothers who trust God with their children impact their lives and shape their destinies. Faithful mothers show gratitude. MOTHERS who keep their vows show their gratitude to God. After Samuel was weaned, she said to Eli: As surely as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood beside you here, praying to the Lord. For this child, I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my request, which I asked of Him. Therefore, I have also dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he is dedicated to the Lord. [1 Samuel 9 verses 26-28] Perhaps you're a spiritual mom to someone, or trusting God for a child of your own. By this time next year, you'll have yours. He will intervene for that child whom you've prayed for and who doesn't want to serve God. God will give you beauty for ashes, and the oil of joy for mourning. God will turn your graves into gardens. Happy Mother's Day.

MONUMENTS are usually created to honour the departed and commemorate their passing. For example, the Washington Monument was built to honour the United States' first president, while the Great Pyramids of Egypt were built as tombs for Pharaohs and their families. Monuments are places of remembrance. Monument A FUNERAL PROCESSION was on its way when Jesus stopped it. Filled with compassion, Jesus told the mother of the dead not to weep. He touched the briers and called him back to life. Then, he handed him to his mother. [Luke 7 verses 11-17] Death has always been a sour point for the human race. No wonder when we lose a loved one, we are sad. A CENTURION was close to losing a loved one when he sent some Jewish leaders to Jesus. As Jesus neared his house, he sent friends to him, saying, "Do not trouble yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof." I did not even consider myself worthy of coming to You, but speak a word, and my servant will be healed. JESUS spoke a word, and His servant was healed. [Luke 7 verses 1-10] Whenever people were in crisis, they sought him to say a word. Today, he wants you to speak His word. When JESUS got on a boat with his disciples, a fierce storm arose, almost swarming them. They woke him up to speak a word. He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Hush, be still (muzzled)!” The wind died down [as if it had grown weary], and there was [at once] a great calm [a perfect peacefulness]. [Mark 4 verses 35-41] THERE WAS a great calm in Mary and Martha's home until their brother Lazarus fell ill. So, they sent for Jesus. But he did not come quickly, and Lazarus died. LORD , if You had been here, my brother would not have died. Even now, I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give to You.” She knew Jesus could heal and stop him from dying but did not know that he could do much more. Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise [from the dead].” Martha replied, “I know he will rise [from the dead] in the resurrection on the last day.” “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, relies on) Me [as Savior] will live even if he dies.[John 11:21-25] LAZARUS was dead, but Jesus called him back to life, and people saw Lazarus walk out the tomb. God can raise anything you have killed—including yourself. ON THE NIGHT , he was betrayed; after communing with his disciples, he took them to the Garden of Gethsemane, where he told them to sit and pray. My soul is deeply grieved, so I am almost dying of sorrow . Stay here and stay awake and keep watch with Me.” [Matthew 26 verses 36-46] He went a little farther, fell face down and prayed. “My Father, if it is possible [that is, consistent with Your will], let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will. He was in a place of discomfort but chose his Father’s Will. The SECOND TIME , he prayed: “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.” Jesus understood the process and was ready to finish what he started. He told the Father to glorify him as he had glorified the Father. [John 17:4] He willingly allowed them to take him away when they came to arrest him. IT WAS a very difficult day for those who knew him. They couldn't understand why an innocent man like him would be arrested and sentenced to death. He was nailed to the cross between two thieves who deserved to die but did not defend himself. He took his last breath and said, "It is finished" (tetelestai). [John 19:30] However, things did not end there. The sore thorn in man's flesh—the power of death—had to be removed. So when he rose from death, he led captivity captive and gave gifts to men. [Ephesians 4 verse 8] EVERYTHING spoken by God was enacted in the physical. So God made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness]. The living Christ did everything for us. Bringing it Together JESUS consumed the cup of wrath, restored the broken access between man and God, and reconciled us to God. Now, you can live a finished life because God can raise anything that you have killed—including yourself. Happy Easter.

MANY PEOPLE do well when seeking God to succeed but stop being circumspect (cautious) when great things happen to them. Thoughtfulness EPHESIANS 5 verse 15 says: Therefore, see that you walk carefully [living life with honour, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil], not as the unwise, but as wise [sensible, intelligent, discerning people]. SOLOMON ’s son is unintelligent when he ignores the counsel of the elders and consults with the young men who grew up with him. (1 Kings 12:1-16) SAUL was unwise when he didn't wait for the prophet to come and proceeded with the sacrifice. When Samuel came, he told him the people were scattered as if they were his (1 Samuel 13:11-14) He forgot that the main ingredient of faith is patience . AARON wasn't patient and discerning enough when the people told him to make them idols. He took their gold and made a calf. And when Moses returned, he said that the people were prone to evil. (Genesis 32:1-29) As a leader , it’s your responsibility to discern and avoid traps and to watch the company you keep. He who walks [as a companion] with wise men will be wise. But the companions of [conceited, dull-witted] fools [are fools themselves and] will experience harm. (Proverbs 13 verse 20) The company you keep will determine your success. EPHESIANS 5 verse 16  says, Make the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence] because the days are [filled with] evil. TIME is fleeting; you can’t recoup it when you lose it. You redeem the time by doing God’s Will. You walk in the light as he is the light. (1 John 1 verses 7-9) As YOUR SERVICE to God is your door to promotion, diligence is your fast track to honour. Do you see a man who is skillful and experienced in his work? He will stand [in honour] before kings and not before obscure men. (Proverbs 22:29). When your diligence in obedience permeates every aspect of your life, you’ll realize that greatness comes from serving others. (John 13 verses 1-17) MOST BELIEVERS do well in church because we have a preponderance of knowledge but little or no application (wisdom) outside. You must live as one who wishes to be a Christian and be called a Christian. Your duty is not to feel superior to anyone but to illuminate the world. When you allow God to sit on your life's throne, you become a reflection of Him. (Matthew 5 verses 14-16) Your success as a believer depends on your knowledge of God's love. God will overrule whatever you do not allow Him to rule over EPHESIANS 5 verse 17  Therefore, do not be foolish and thoughtless but understand and firmly grasp the will of the Lord. The enemy looks for cracks in your life and relationships to exploit. The twelve DISCIPLES were thoughtful . So, when they learned that the Hellenistic (native Hebrew) widows were neglected, they told the believers to choose seven men with good reputations [men of godly character and moral integrity], full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom they may put in charge of the task. They avoided the trap by sticking to God’s calling and giving themselves to studying the word and the apostles’ doctrine. They implemented strategies and systems that made it impossible for the enemy to penetrate. Strategies and systems are things you need to keep out the enemy. EPHESIANS 5 verse 18: Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. To maintain what you have, you need the Holy Spirit . David understood only God could choose and maintain his lot. (Psalm 16:5) Job knew only a man approved by God could laugh at famine and destruction. (Job 5:22) Bringing it Together The KINGDOM of GOD must be your primary focus. (Matthew 6 verse 33). Know that God will overrule whatever you do not allow Him to rule over.

I DO NOT KNOW  the season of life you're in. But I do know you're in one. Your season will reveal your strengths and weaknesses. It will show your friends and enemies and tell where your priorities lie. Mordecai knew his enemy when he heard of the plot to kill the Jews in Susa (Esther 3-5). Pharaoh felt vulnerable when he saw patterns in his dreams and couldn't tell what they meant (Gen. 41:1-8). Israel could talk about Samson's strength when he killed the Philistines with the jaw bone of a donkey (Judges 15:16). Eli noticed a pattern when Samuel came to him twice—this must be God, he thought.   So, he told Samuel to say, Speak Lord for your servant hears (I Sam. 3:7-11). These people   recognized their seasons and the seasons of others because they saw the patterns. PATTERNS  tell a story of peace and prosperity or adversity and chaos. They call your attention to something. The ability to discern (see) these patterns will influence your actions. MY QUESTION  is: What patterns have you seen, and what actions have you taken? When David noticed a pattern of victory, he built on it. He said the Lord who gave me the lion and the bear will give me the Philistine (I Sam. 17:37).   When Joseph noticed he had the gift of dreams, he stimulated it by asking the butler and baker about their dreams and interpreting them (Gen. 49:6-8).   He knew how to grow a gift by using it—and the more he used it, the better he became. Paul gave Timothy similar advice when he told him not to neglect the gift he received through the laying of hands (I Tim. 4:14).   PATTERNS  tell you the presence or absence of something. When Ruth and Naomi noticed the patterns of famine and death, they knew they had work to do ( Ruth 1:1-6). Jabez knew life was spiritual when everywhere he went, he caused pain. So he cried out to God. Patterns tell a story Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain! (I Chron. 4:1-10) What you see will determine what you do. What you do will determine what comes next. WHAT DOES  God want you to see? He wants you to see yourself in the pages of the scriptures. So, it becomes a lamp to your feet. David saw himself in the Word of God and said: When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that's higher than I (Psalm 61:2). And the word of God jumped at him when Nathan told him a story. God wants you to see yourself in the pages of the scriptures TWO MEN  lived in a town: one rich and the other poor. The rich man had many cattle, but the poor man had one little ewe, like his daughter. The rich man had a visitor. He did not take any of his animals. Instead, he prepared the ewe that belonged to the poor man for the traveller. David was angry when he heard this, but Nathan told him he was the man (2 Sam. 12:1/20). BIBLE CHARACTERS  mirror the seasons of your life. They tell you there's nothing new under the sun. They help you learn from people's victories and defeats, strengths and weaknesses. And when you take their successes and failures to heart, you'll see the seasons of your life. When you learn to do this, their stories jump at you. Bringing it Together GOD USES  patterns to get his message across to you. Hannah was the picture of Israel when she couldn't conceive for years. And when she had a son, God started a new season in Israel ( I Sam. 1:9-28). Watch the patterns you see!

MANY TIMES , what looks like an open battle isn't an open one—after all, life is much more than you think—and this is why you need to pray. The Narrative WHEN NEBUCHADNEZZAR came against Judah, he took the wisest, strongest and most influential people as prisoners of war. Daniel and his three friends were among them. He would have an unending supply of capable people— cripple the conquered nation and make them helpless. Nebuchadnezzar was after the soul of the nation. But Daniel stood for the Lord, and God prospered him. ONE DAY , he saw in the scriptures that Jerusalem will be desolate for seventy years and will be restored. (Daniel 9 verse 2) Daniel was deeply troubled by the prophecy. He turned to God. We have sinned and wronged You. We have acted wickedly in our rebellion, going so far as to disregard Your commandments and regulations. O Lord, You, always do what is right. It is Your due, but we deserve nothing this day but public and open shame. (Daniel 9 verses 1-7) He took ownership of their wrongdoing and submitted it to the Will God. Daniel was saying, "God take the wheel." Prayer is not a convenient device for imposing our will upon God or bending his will to ours, but the prescribed way of subordinating our will to his – John Stott. WITH PRAYER and fasting, he began the process of restoration. Lend an ear, my God, and hear this prayer. Open Your eyes and see our deserted streets and witness the devastation across the city that bears Your name. We are crying to You and asking for mercy, not because we are righteous and deserve it. No, we bring these petitions to you because we know of Your great mercy. (Daniel 9 verse 18) Daniel took the sin of his nation upon himself. He knew that calamity would not leave until they returned to God. If there's something we must do for our nation, it's to ask God for mercy—and in every way, we have failed Him that he will be gracious to us. God said , "If My people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14) God intends to heal our land, and He is looking for people to stand in the gap. (Ezekiel 22 verse 30) Each time you intercede, you touch His heart . If there is no urgency in life, something is wrong. MANY PEOPLE will say that they have been praying, but they are yet to see a change—that's true, but you cannot stop now. Prayer will allow you to gain insight into the future and see with the eye of God. When he saw the future, Daniel prayed more. He never stopped praying while he waited for answers. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him. I would have been here sooner; however, for the past 21 days, Persia's spirit prince opposed me and prevented my coming to you. Then Michael, one of the chief princes of heaven, came to my aid because I alone was busy dealing with Persia's kings. (Daniel 10 verse 13) You must understand that you're in contention for the soul of your nation—and whenever you're out of options, prayer should be the best recourse. God owns the heavens, and he has given the earth to you. (Psalm 115 verse 16) When Adam fell, humanity ceded its authority to Satan. But the great news is that you got it back in Christ —and as many as received Him, he gave them the power to become the sons of God to those who believe in His name. (John 1 verse 12) BRINGING IT TOGETHER IF THERE'S no sense of urgency in life, something is wrong. You must understand that the outburst of God does not begin until you pray. Your destiny is tied to God—now that you know, it's time to pray.

Waiting and Winning ONE WAY God answers prayers is to tell us to wait. So, we wait nine months for a baby to mature and emerge from the mother. If the baby comes before term, we say it's premature. THEN , we wait for the baby to grow. We wait as the child passes through elementary and high school, post-secondary, and finally, to become an adult. We wait for everything. We do because we know that growth is a process. SIMEON and ANNA knew the process, so Simeon had a heightened expectation when he waited for the Messiah, and Anna worshipped day and night, fasting and praying . They actively waited for the coming of the Lord. Unsurprisingly, the Holy Spirit led them to him when they brought baby Jesus to the temple. (Luke 2 verses 25-39) JESUS’ DISCIPLES waited for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They knew they needed his power to do the work. They waited on God, looking forward to the fulfillment of prophecy. (Acts of Apostles 1 verse 8) THE CHURCH regularly prayed for Peter when King Herod arrested and imprisoned him. They had a heightened expectation that God would intervene, and he did. (Acts of Apostles 12 verses 3-19) After you have prayed, you must wait actively to receive anything from God. JOB WAITED actively on God after he lost his children and possessions. Then, he felt God left him when his wife told him to curse God and die. But as he waited on God to intervene, he said: Even though He kills me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless, I will argue my way to His face. (Job 13:15) YOU MAY HAVE prayed for a visa, been waiting on God to heal a loved one, trusted God for funds to do business or struggled with why you must wait. You may have prayed all manner of prayers, but one thing I know is that God will not leave you or forsake you. As he did to the disciples, yours may be a fourth-hour miracle. Jesus walked on the water. (Matthew 14 verse 25) He may come when all hope is lost, as he did with Paul. (Acts of Apostles 27 verses 20-26) IF YOU ARE going to win any battle, you must learn to wait. Waiting will mature you. The boy David did not ascend the throne, and neither did the boy Joseph become Egypt's prime minister. They were tested and purified in the furnace of affliction and came out refined. They were proven to lead. Waiting will mature you. DAVID understood the waiting process. He said: “Once has God spoken. Twice has he heard that power belongs to God.” (Psalm 62 verse 11) No wonder after cutting the edge of Saul’s robe, his conscience bothered him. So, he said, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to put out my hand against him since he is the anointed of the Lord.” (1 Samuel 24 verse 6) He knew he was anointed to kill Goliath but not Saul, so he did not cross the line. He knew to sit on the throne, he had to wait for God’s timing. WEEPING may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. (Psalm 30 verse 5) The Lord had given Israel a word of victory the previous day. So, the following morning, King Jehoshaphat told them to believe in the Lord their God, and they would be established. He also told them to believe in his servants, the prophets, and they would prosper. (2 Chronicles 20:20-22) Belief is the backbone of certainty. THE INGREDIENT for the winning season [establishment and prosperity] is faith in God. By faith, the people [of Israel] crossed the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted it, they were drowned. By faith, Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed along with those who were disobedient because she had welcomed the spies [sent by the sons of Israel] in peace. (Hebrews 11 verses 29 & 31) Belief is the backbone of certainty. Final Thoughts. YOU MAY have a great heart for fighting challenges, but you’ll need a life-conquering faith to overcome them. To us, waiting is wasting. To God, waiting is maturing.

ONE THING Jesus did repeatedly was highlight the importance of prayer. He taught his disciples how to pray. (Luke 11 verses 2-4) Before he fed the five thousand, he gave thanks. (Matthew 14 verses 13-21) He prayed on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17). And before he went to the cross, he prayed that we would be one as he and the Father are one. (John 17 verses 21-24) The WARRING SEASON is a time of prayer. It’s a period of contention and struggle—a time to fight battles. When he wrestled with the angel, Jacob knew something was missing from his life. So, he told the angel that he would not let him go unless he blessed him. (Genesis 32 verse 26) Jabez knew something wasn’t right with him when he caused pain everywhere he went, so he asked God to bless him. Enlarge his territory, put his hand upon him and keep him from harm. (1 Chronicles 4 verse 10) When something isn’t right, you go to God in prayer. THE HEBREW root word for wrestling in Jacob’s story is to contend, struggle and get dusty. You will have to contend to get things right. You will have to struggle in prayers to move forward. When King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and wouldn’t share it with anyone, Daniel told his friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, to plead for mercy from God concerning the mystery. (Daniel 2 verse 17) NO WONDER , he began to pray when he saw a vision of a great war. He knew he needed to pray things into existence. He understood that the spiritual controlled the physical. When God shows you something, He wants you to talk to him about it—and when he says something to you, he wants to do something with it. God does not do anything just for the fun of it. He does things to bring things to your attention. JOHN THE BAPTIST was in the wilderness waiting for the set time. When the time came, he returned to the city, telling people to prepare the way for the Lord. (Luke 3 verses 2-16) Whatever revelation God gives you, even for someone else, it still has something to do with you. JOHN KNEW that the prophecy wasn't a destination but a path. (Matthew 11 verse 11) So, when he tells you something, it's for a relationship. Prayer is where you cultivate intimacy with God. GOD WILL share things with you to make you pray, so prayer is a relationship. Knowing something gives you certainty—and certainty brings hope. Hope in God makes you unashamed. (Romans 5 verse 5) DANIEL did not get an answer until twenty-one days later, but he hoped in God. And when he did, the angel told him what had happened and gave him more insight. (Daniel 10 verses 1-14) Like Daniel, trust his heart when you cannot see God’s hands. PAUL said: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places . (Ephesians 6 verse 12) If there’s a struggle, there’s a force at play. God’s mercy appeared when Hannah pleaded for a child (1 Samuel 1 verse 11). His force was at play when Jesus prayed for Peter. (Luke 22 verses 24-38) Likewise, His force will come into play when you pray. When ELIJAH prayed intensely for it not to rain, it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then, he prayed again, and the sky gave rain, and the land produced its crops [as usual]. (James 5 verses 17-19) I have often seen that prayer starts when we are at the end of ourselves. PRAYER is the background noise of the life of the believer. When you learn to pray, you learn to move the hand of God. The church knew how to move God’s hand. When Peter was arrested and jailed, the church offered constant prayer to God. (Acts of Apostles 12 verses 5-9) They prayed like people who wanted Peter alive, knowing something was at stake. IF THERE’S nothing urgent about life, something is wrong. God knew the urgency, so he sent an angel to free him, and Peter walked out of prison. If there's nothing urgent about life, something is wrong. THE TEN HEBREW SPIES said they couldn't possess the promised land, and God told them they wouldn't. (Numbers 14 verse 28) Your words are like prayers to God. They are either pleasant or unpleasant (sweet aroma or putrid). TO MOVE beyond the ordinary, you must trust God. Faith in God is a holy place. Faith got Rahab to look away from race to grace. It grafted her into the family of God. (Acts of Apostles 2 verses 1-24) It magnified the centurion's voice and gave him a foot in the door. (Matthew 8 verses 5-13) Faith opens you up to grace. GRACE brings divine possibilities to you. It opens you to God, and the will of God will not lead you to where the grace of God will not keep you. Bringing it Together PRAYER is the gateway to God’s wonders. The warring season is when you cultivate intimacy with God. To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing." - Martin Luther.