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A CHRISTIAN family lives in Chicago—and travels to California every year to see their relatives. But every time they return, their daughter will ask the same question. Why do we live here and not in California? And her father will always give the same reply. We live here because this is where the Lord has led us. How many of us can say that we are in a good place because the Lord has led us? Innovators go where their creativity takes them, but we go where the Spirit of God leads us. Certainly, all who God’s Spirit guides are God’s children. (Rom. 8:14) Elijah knew that he was in a good place when God told him to go to Zarephath. (1 Kings 17:10) And the Spirit of God led Jesus to a hard place—to be tempted by the devil. (Matt. 4:1) The Holy Spirit may not always lead you to comfort, but he will guide you into God’s Will. To get to where God intends for your life, you must always think about the big picture. THE NARRATIVE GOD had kept his promise to Abraham—his children had become great. But when the Pharaoh who knew Joseph died, things changed. The new king felt he couldn’t trust them. So, he came up with strong measures and outright hostility. He increased their chores and appointed slave masters over them. They were becoming too powerful for his liking, and he commanded the Hebrew midwives to kill their male sons at birth. But the midwives feared God and did not do such a thing. Moses was born at this time, and his mother would not give him up. She did not fear Pharaoh’s directive and hid him for three months. But when she could no longer do so, she put in an ark covered with bulrushes, and she put him on the river. (Exod. 1) She trusted that God would save him, and he did. Pharaoh’s daughter came to take a bath. She spotted the ark and knew it was a Hebrew son. The princess liked him and favoured him. So she gave him to his mum to nurse. Moses grew up in her arms—and when the time was right, she returned him to the palace. EVERY MOMENT of our lives is charged with meaning. Moses chose not only to be seen as the son of the king’s daughter but to share in the sufferings of the children of God. He considered the abuse they had suffered in Egypt. When he saw two people fighting, an Israelite and an Egyptian, he killed the Egyptian. The following day, he saw two Israelites having a spat and confronted the offender. The offender asked him who made him a judge over them and accused him of murder. Fear gripped him. He knew the news had spread—and he needed to get out of town. (Exod. 2:11-15) Greatness isn't in your comfort but your mandate He ran to Midian, where he later married the daughter of Jethro. YOU CAN NEVER be more concerned about the kingdom than God Himself. God once answered Moses’ cry for help. He told him to choose 70 elders. God took some of the Spirit upon him and placed it on them—and they shared his burden. (Numbers 11:16-25) The burden you carry is shared with you by God. If you are a believer in Christ, you are not your own. (Gal. 3:13-15) You do not take matters of God into your hands without involving God. Moses was concerned about his people, and he walked the route alone. Elijah once felt he was alone, but God told him that he had others doing the work. (1 Kings 19:10) You may love a fellow believer, but you cannot love them more than God. Whenever you are concerned about someone, do not gossip about them. Instead, take the person to the Lord in prayer. LIFE COMES from our daily pursuits. A good life comes from what you care about—but merely good is the mortal enemy of great. When you settle for good, you’ll never be great. Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego had good lives in Babylon, but they sought God’s greatness. And they told Nebuchadnezzar , “Even if the Lord does not save us, we will not bow to your idol.” (Dan. 3:16-18) They knew that the only legitimate idol they could have in their lives is God. If you choose not to make the thoughts of God your own, you risk moving on a downward spiral. The present and future of every child of God are not in disobedience but obedience to the word of God. ONE DAY , God appeared to Moses at the backside of the desert and shared his plan with him. Moses realized his purpose and returned to Egypt. Your story will become effective when God ties you to the big picture—without it, your life will have no meaning. Jesus Christ is the big picture. BRINGING IT TOGETHER BATTLES are won when God fights them —the path to victory is not going the route alone. Moses lived in prosperity—but he was lonely. His greatness wasn’t in his comfort but in his mandate. What is your mandate? Have a great week.

The SEASONS OF LIFE may not be clear to you, but they are like a diary showing where you are and where you are headed. ELISHA could tell where he was headed when Elijah threw the mantle on him. All he could do was leave everything and follow him. (2 Kings 2 verse 13) SAMSON knew things were bad when the Philistines cut his hair, removed his eyes and made him a sport. And he prayed: “Lord, remember and strengthen me this time. Let me take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes.” (Judges 16 verse 28) PETER became aware of his location when he fell at Jesus’ feet and told him to depart from him, for he was a sinful man. (Luke 5 verses 8-9) MARTHA knew something was about to shift when she heard Jesus say, "I am the resurrection and the life." (John 11 verse 25) If you're conscious of where you are, you can tell what season of life you are in. But how do you know your season of life? Living in the moment; one season at a time. PATTERNS and HAPPENINGS around you can tell you. Abram was so burdened about not having a child that he said to God: What reward will You give me, since I am [leaving this world] childless, and he who will be the owner and heir of my house is this [servant] Eliezer from Damascus?” (Genesis 15:2) SOMEONE can tell you what season you're in. For example, Jesus told Zacchaeus that salvation has come to his household because he, too, is a[spiritual] son of Abraham. (Luke 19 verse 9) GOD can tell you the season of your life. Through word of prophecy, Agabus told Paul what season he was getting into. He tied his hands with Paul’s girdle and said this would happen to the girdle's owner. (Acts of Apostles 2 verse 11) LIFE can be divided into four spiritual seasons. Wilderness is the first season we will discuss. WILDERNESS is a lonely place of hunger and thirst, a place of provocation. You know how painful it can be if you've been in one. Jesus was led to the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. So God can orchestrate your wilderness season. (Matthew 4 verses 1-11) The children of Israel were led forty years in the wilderness to be humbled so that God might know their hearts. (Deuteronomy 8 verse 2) Your wilderness is where your heart is revealed. SATAN made it a place of provocation, but Jesus made it a place of manifestation. He knew that consistent provocation could mess with one’s destiny. So, he told Satan, “For it is written.” While his calling was an ordination, his obedience was a manifestation. Whenever you are tempted, speak Jesus. THE WILDERNESS is not only a place of trial. It can be where you meet with God. Jacob made it his sacred place when he dreamt of angels walking up and down a ladder from heaven. He built his altar and named the place Bethel. (Genesis 28 verses 10-17) Paul made the boat he was in his sacred place. He said: For this very night, an angel of the God I belong and serve stood before me. Stop being afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. Behold, God has given you [the lives of] all those sailing with you. (Acts of Apostles 27:13-44) Israel struggled on the way to Canaan because they refused to name the wilderness their sacred place. Recall that they left Egypt to worship God. So, every path was sacred. You'll not have a safe place until you make your wilderness sacred. Speak Jesus. IN THE DESERT, you must be careful what plants you eat. Once, the sons of the prophets gathered wild gourds, poured them into stew, and cooked them. But as they served and ate them, they realized they were poisonous. (2 Kings 4 verses 38-41) Be noble. Ensure what you are taught is true. (Acts of Apostles 17 verse 11) YOU CANNOT eat from anywhere and not be poisoned. Some pulpits are not of God. Paul said to the Galatians: I am astonished and extremely irritated that you are so quickly shifting your allegiance and deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ for a different [even contrary] gospel. This is not another [gospel], but there are [obviously] some [people masquerading as teachers] who are disturbing and confusing you [with misleading, counterfeit teaching] and want to distort the gospel of Christ [twisting it into something which it is not]. (Galatians 1:6-8) TO GET counsel, be careful where you go and what company you keep. David missed it when he tried to make a pact with the Philistines—and they rejected him. When he returned to Ziklag, he found his camp plundered, and everyone had been taken captive. (1 Samuel 29 & 30) You'll not have a safe place until you make your wilderness sacred. WILDERNESS is a place of thirst. Because of the need for water, desert travelers look for wells. Astronomers will tell you that water is a sign of life. So when they see water on a planet, they think there might be life there. IN YOUR wilderness season, look for a source of life where you can feed properly and receive the words of hope. David said: “As the deer pants for the waters, so my soul pants after you. (Psalm 42) Anyone or source that will pull you from God is of the Devil. Stay far from it. Bringing it Together A MATURE and BALANCED FAITH is not one that has refused the agony and the wrestling but one that has been through them and grown from the experience—Malcolm Guite. Have a great week.

MANY PEOPLE think they own their lives, so they live as they please. Paul lived as he pleased until the Lord met him on the road to Damascus. Then, he became a changed man. (Acts of Apostles 9:3-20) He said: Jesus died for all so that all who lived would no longer live for themselves but for Him, who died and was raised for their sake. (2 Corinthians 5 verse 15) IF YOU want your life to count, you must live unto God. Paul also said: I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him, I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. (Galatians 2 verse 20) The true call of a Christian is not to do extraordinary things, but to do ordinary things extraordinarily — Dean Stanley. IF YOU desire to please God, you must trust him. Jehoshaphat trusted God completely when he said, "Believe and trust in the Lord your God, and you will be established (secure). Believe and trust in His prophets, and you will succeed. (2 Chronicles 20 verse 30) When you trust him, you show gratitude. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied with Him — John Piper. LIFE is God’s novel. Let him write it — Isaac Bashevis Singer. Life is like a novel You make your life count when you allow God to write your story. BY FAITH , the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. (Hebrews 11 verse 31) She did not make history; history made her. Her faith in God became her story. May your scars be your testimony. You do not make history. It makes you. ABRAM’s FAITH in God became his story, too. He left his father’s house and kindred for a city built by God. (Genesis 12 verses 1-3) He knew God would bless anything he authors. So , he placed God in the driver’s seat. Abram knew with God, he had potentials. Your potential is the sum of all the possibilities God has for your life— Charles Stanley. WHEN God calls, he makes his perspective known. Jeremiah learnt this early in life when God said, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” God had called him to serve even before he was formed. So, his life wasn't about him. It was about God. He told God he was too young, so vulnerability before God is acceptable. (Jeremiah 1 verses 1-7) TO MAKE your life count, you must be vulnerable to God. Your inability makes you depend on God. Jehoshaphat wasn't scared of letting God know his vulnerability before his people. He was not too dignified to admit his weakness. He prayed: O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless against this great multitude which is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You. (2 Chronicles 20 verse 12) FOR YOUR LIFE to count, you must be focused . Jesus said: The eye is the body's lamp; so if your eye is clear [spiritually perceptive], your whole body will be full of light [benefiting from God’s precepts]. (Matthew 6 verse 22) Your focus determines your spiritual health. When your life glorifies God, you'll make it count. In Paul's letter to Timothy, he said, I have fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. Now there is in store the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—not only to me but to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Timothy 4 verses 7-8) Bringing it Together PAUL could say this to Timothy because he was leaving empty. He had poured everything into Timothy and the people he met. What will people say to you when your time comes? Will you leave empty? Have a blessed week.

A WALK with God isn't a stroll in the park or a walk on the field. At times, it's as challenging as life itself. However, our consolation is that we serve an ever-present God who is all-seeing and all-knowing. So, when we walk into turbulence, we run to Him. When no one is listening, we cry out to him. JEREMIAH cried out to Him when nothing made sense and wept over Israel when no one listened. (Jeremiah 8:18) Their attitude greatly saddened him. ONE DAY , God asked him: "If you have raced with men on foot, and they have tired you out, how can you compete with horses?" If you fall in a land of peace [where you feel secure], then how will you do [among the lions] in the [flooded] thicket beside the Jordan? (Jeremiah 12:5) Running with horses is living God’s best and not settling for less. So, how do you run with horses? YOU COMPETE with horses by doing the Will of God. The Will of God starts with you having a relationship with Him. Subsequently, you would pray that God will equip you with every good thing to carry out His will and strengthen you [making you complete and perfect as you ought to be], accomplishing in you that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. (Hebrews 13 verses 20-21) When you follow God's will for your life, you can see how yesterday's events prepared you for today's challenges and tomorrow's opportunities — Dr. David Jeremiah. YOU RUN with horses by waiting on the Lord. Isaiah 40:31 says Those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] will gain new strength and renew their power. They will lift their wings [and rise close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]. They will run and not become weary; they will walk and not grow tired. WAITING on God and waiting for God would change you. It changed David to the point where he longed for Him. (Psalm 42:1) That is where God wants you. IF YOU ARE going to run with horses, you must hunger and thirst after righteousness. Horses Your hunger after righteousness will give you the mind of Christ—and blessed are those who thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6) The desire to walk with God will make you live a holy life. IF YOU ARE going to walk in the miraculous, you must know your God. Daniel 11:32 says: With smooth words [of flattery and praise] he will turn to godlessness those who [are willing to] disregard the [Mosaic] covenant, but the people who [are spiritually mature and] know their God will display strength and take action [to resist]. When you know God, he becomes your big picture, and your stories find themselves in him. TO RUN with horses, you need to pray. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours [with the same physical, mental, and spiritual limitations and shortcomings], and he prayed intensely for it not to rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. (James 5:17) The secret is consistency. Sometimes, it isn't the length but the frequency. When you know God, he becomes your big picture, and your stories find themselves in him. TO RUN with horses, you learn not to run your life. You do not have all it takes to run it. And as you submit to the Lordship of Christ, you will realize that you are no longer your own. You’ll stop to run your life and the lives of others. TO COMPETE with horses, you need to know the heart of God. When David reached the crossroads at Ziklag, he sought God's heart and was told to pursue, overtake, and recover everything. (1 Samuel 30:8) God is the centre from which all lives develop. When we start from ourselves, we make a fundamental mistake that leads us away from Him. TO COMPETE with horses, you need to know what to do. Success is not what you have done compared to what others have done. It is what you have done compared to what you were supposed to do—Tony Evans. David knew what to do when he stepped out to fight Goliath. Daniel and his friends knew what to do when they refused meat sacrificed to idols. Knowing what to do is an offshoot of insight. Bringing it Together RUNNING with horses is living God's best and not settling for less. There's no time God's best is less than his promise.

COVERING  is a word most believers use loosely. We sometimes interchange it with words like mentor, counsellor, or pastor. However, in many cases, covering should not be used at all. Someone can act  as a cover, but that does not make them your cover. God is the only one who qualifies to be your cover, providing protection, guidance, and support in all aspects of your life. When GOD  took the children of Israel from Egypt, he distinguished them from every other nation by covering them with the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. At the Red Sea, the pillar came between the host of Israel and Egypt. (Exodus 13 verses 19-21) The pillars were coverings and manifestations of his presence. When MORDECAI  took his cousin Esther into his home, he acted as a father, a counsellor, and a mentor. He sought the best for her, just as God seeks the best for each of us. When he found an opportunity in the palace, he took her to the king's harem and told her not to reveal her race. He did everything possible to prepare her for what the Lord would do, and she did not disappoint. When trouble  came, she understood that God was her covering and said: "Go, gather all the Jews in Susa, and observe a fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will also fast in the same way." "Then, I will go in to [see] the king [without being summoned], which is against the law, and if I perish, I perish." (Esther 4 verse 16) Esther did not contract  her prayers to anyone. She coveted their prayers as she prayed. She knew that Mordecai was her mentor , but God was her covering . Who is your covering? Although God's name was not explicitly mentioned in the Book of Esther, his wonders were shown. When the HELLENISTIC  widows were neglected, the apostles told the brethren to choose seven men full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom to serve. (Acts of Apostles 6 verses 1-4) The church acted as a cover to the widows. GOD  was Hannah's covering when she needed a child. She prayed: O Lord of hosts if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your handmaid and [earnestly] remember, and not forget Your handmaid but will give me a son, I will give him to the Lord all his life; no razor shall touch his head. (1 Samuel 1 verses 9-11) She sought God's cover because she knew he was the only person who could cover her shame . GODS'S GRACE initially covered Adam and Eve, and were unashamed . However, they realized their nakedness when they sinned, just as the Prodigal Son felt shame when he left his father's house. When they heard God coming, they hid and covered themselves with fig leaves. (Genesis 3:1-13) Sin  brings shame, but righteousness  brings honour. Isaiah 61 verse 7 says, "For your shame, God will give you double honour." God wants to remove your shame if you'll allow Him. The PRODIGAL SON  lost his covering when he left home. After he wasted his livelihood, he began to want, and he said: How many of my father's hired men have more than enough food while I am dying here of hunger! I will get up, go to my father, and say, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired men."' (Luke 15:19-20) He got up and returned home because he had a relationship with his father there. The prodigal son knew his dad would cover his shame. I do not know your situation, but Jesus knows. He is waiting for you to come to him. Final Thought AIM at HEAVEN , and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth, and you get neither - C. S. Lewis.

HAVE YOU noticed God puts you on the podium when you dislike the limelight? When you struggle to love, you meet ungrateful people. When you pray for patience, you encounter a delay. And when you are lazy about praying, you find yourself in situations that force you to pray. God does this to make you learn. He teaches you by doing because he wants you to respond to him with every fabric of your being. JESUS’ DISCIPLES had seen John the Baptist teach his disciples how to pray, so they asked Jesus to do the same. He told them, When you pray, say, “Our Father, who art in heaven. Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Luke 11 verse 2) You learn to pray by praying. Likewise, you learn to trust God as you trust Him. PETER LEARNT trusting Jesus when he told him to cast his net. Master, we worked hard all night [to the point of exhaustion] and caught nothing [in our nets], but at Your word, I will [do as you say and] lower the nets [again].” He did not stop at what he experienced; he followed the Master’s instructions. When they lowered the net, they caught so many fish that it broke. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell to Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” (Luke 5 verses 1-10) He realized that his place in revelation was his point in definition. MOSES REALIZED the same thing when he turned to see the burning bush—and God called him from the midst of it. He helped Moses to find a sacred place in his difficulty and turn adversity into greatness. (Exodus 3) God will help you find your sacred place during your difficult times. Just like Moses, God wants you to have a place to meet with Him—this is how you respond to Him. Many died when DAVID numbered his soldiers and the prophet told him to build an altar. He built an altar, offered peace and burnt offerings, and God answered his prayers. (2 Samuel 24 verses 18-25) Prayers are not tools for doing or getting but for being and becoming—Eugene Peterson. YOUR ALTAR , or place of prayer, is where you interact with God. He does not want you to react but to respond to Him. The difference between responding and reacting is that you're prepared for one, while the other catches you unawares. The first is well thought out. The second is on a whim. FOR EXAMPLE , David reacted to Nabal's insults. He took his sword with four hundred men to go and kill him. However, he responded to Abigail’s plea by accepting her gift and changing his mind. (1 Samuel 25 verses 4-35) The YOUNG PROPHET sent to curse the altar responded to God by going. However, he reacted to the old prophet’s suggestion by staying back. (1 Kings 13:11-25) ESAU reacted to hunger pangs by giving away his birthright without thinking. (Genesis 25 verses 29-34) God wants you to be careful how you respond to things. IT SEEMED right when David wept with his men, but his tears did not go far. His men wanted to stone him. However, David encouraged himself in the Lord. He worshipped, and God gave him instructions. (1 Samuel 30 verses 1-8) The moment you return to God, you respond appropriately to your situation. PAUL GAINED a new perspective on God’s grace when he begged for the thorn in his flesh to be removed. And 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.” My prayer for you this week is that you'll find your sacred place so you can respond to God. Final Thought YOU DON’T need God to respond to you; you need to learn to respond to God—Andrew Wommack.

HAVE YOU noticed that what the enemy fights most is your purpose? He tries to stop you from starting by corrupting your foundation. And when he can’t, he derails you through the wrong counsel. Then, he challenges your home, businesses, finances, and other areas of life. The enemy does all he can to distract and destabilize you to reduce productivity. WHEN CAIN sinned by killing Abel, Satan corrupted his foundation—and Cain was marked for life (Gen. 4:8). HE TRIED to stop the Israelites from starting when Pharaoh would not let them go (Exodus 5:1- 5). He tried to stop them from fulfilling their destiny. Walking towards destiny SAUL tried stopping David from fulfilling his purpose. The young man won a major battle for Israel, and the king felt threatened by him. So he tried to kill him. A demon occasionally possessed Saul, but God used the grace of David’s life to give him respite (1 Sam 16:23). He hated David, yet he needed his help. God will cause your enemies to need you. JACOB’s SONS hated Joseph because of his dream. The devil used them to try and stop him by sending him into slavery (Gen. 37:12-36). They orchestrated their plan but did not realize God was in his story. What they meant for evil, God turned it for good. God will turn every evil orchestration around for your good. THE DEVIL had tried to stop Paul from making it to Jerusalem through the storm. But God told him he would stand before Caesar to testify (Acts 27:24). The storm couldn’t stop him. Then, a viper latched to his hand, and he shook it off (Acts 28:3). When God needs you, nothing can kill or stop you before your time. THE TIME of a young prophet ended when he listened to an old prophet. God had sent a young prophet from Judah to Bethel to speak against the altar, but God had told him not to eat in the place or return the same way. When an old prophet heard what he did, he saddled his donkey and followed him to where he sat under an oak tree. “I, too, am a prophet, as you are. And an angel said to me by the word of the Lord: ‘Bring him back with you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink water. But he was lying. While they sat at the table, God gave the old prophet a word for the young prophet. You have defied the word of the Lord and have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. You came back and ate bread and drank water in the place where he told you not to eat or drink. Therefore, your body will not be buried in the tomb of your ancestors.’” On his way home, he was killed by a lion (1 Kings 13:17-22). My prayer is that God will help you discern. THE FACT that God honours his word in a man's mouth does not mean he is right with God. Does the word align with what God has said? If it doesn’t, don't take it to heart. You have a responsibility to FactCheck whatever word you receive. WHEN PETER told Jesus he wouldn't die, Jesus knew he had spoken in a contrary spirit. So, he said: Get thee behind me, Satan (Matt. 16:23). ANYONE who tries to stop you from worshipping or walking in God’s purpose operates under a different spirit. Don’t be fooled by their eloquence and niceness. I DO NOT know where or what you’re struggling with, but I do know that if you call on God, he will answer you and show you great and mighty things you do not know (Jeremiah 33:3). So call on him today. Bringing it Together THE LIFE that God advances is one of commitment. Find your purpose and stay committed to it.

THE ENEMY does not come after you because of your past. He comes after you because of your future. He tries to steal your hope and get you into despair. When the CHILDREN of ISRAEL bought his lies, God told Moses that as they had spoken in his ears, he would do. (Numbers chapter 14, verse 28) Whatever lies he's told you, replace it with the truth. That's how you unmask the enemy. Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee. (James chapter 4 verse 7) THE ENEMY tried it with Job when he killed his children. However, rather than lose hope in God, he said: Even though he kills me. I will trust in him. (Job 13 verse 15) Job faced his future with resolute hope. THE ENEMY saw JOSEPH’s hope, so he had his brothers sell him into slavery. When he couldn't stop him from progressing, he tried to tarnish his testimony through Potiphar’s wife and wanted to silence him when his master put him in prison. However, God knows the end of everything from the beginning. (Isaiah chapter 46 verse 20) God’s dreams and plans cannot be stopped, and His voice cannot be silenced. JAMES 3, verse 16 says: “Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder [unrest, rebellion] and every evil thing and morally degrading practice.” HAMAN was jealous of the Jews when he came up with a scheme to eliminate them. But he was impaled on the gallow that he set for Mordecai. (Esther chapter 8 verse 10) When SARAH couldn't conceive, she gave her servant to Abraham. But when Hagar conceived, she despised her mistress. One of the tactics of the enemy is to divide and destroy relationships. When God told Abraham to send Hagar and her son away, he unmasked the enemy. (Genesis chapter 21, verse 14) God will tell you what to do, but he will not fix your relationship for you. God is the person to go to when nothing makes sense TO SUCCEED , you must know your enemy. David gets into a dialogue with Saul, who wants him dead. He asked, Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, or what evil is in my hand? P lease let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the Lord has incited you against me, let Him accept an offering [from me]; but if it is men, may they be cursed before the Lord, because they have driven me out this day to keep me from sharing in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods. (1 Samuel chapter 26 verses 19-20) JESUS unmasked the enemy when he told Peter that Satan had planned to sift him. But he had prayed for him. (Luke chapter 22, verses 31-34) Unmask In prayer, you can discern. Oswald Chambers said: God does not exist to answer our prayers. But by our prayers, we come to discern the mind of God. ANOTHER WAY the enemy gets to you is to confuse you. When you are scared, you become confused. Confused , David tried to make a pact with the Philistines, but they saw him as an adversary. (1 Samuel chapter 29 verses 4-5) When he returned to Ziklag, he found his camp plundered and the families of his men taken. He and his men wept till they had no strength. His men were so discouraged that they planned to pelt him with rocks, but David encouraged himself in the Lord. He asked Abiathar to bring the ephod and inquired of the Lord. (1 Samuel chapter 30, verses 1-8) God is the person to go to when things don't make sense. ADVERSITY triggers season change. When you face adversity or opposition, it's about your future. For example, Daniel prayed when he saw Jeremiah’s prophecy. He knew he had to contend for anything to come to pass. You will have to do the same because life is spiritual. After praying for weeks, an angel of the Lord told him that his prayers were heard from the first day. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia stood in opposition for twenty-one days. Then, Michael came to help. (Daniel chapter 10 verses 12-14) Discernment unmasks the enemy. PAUL was on his way to prayers when he met a slave girl who had the spirit of divination [a demonic spirit claiming to foretell the future and discover hidden knowledge]. She brought her owners a lot of money through fortune-telling. The girl followed Paul and others, shouting, "These are servants of the Most High God." She did this for several days. Paul was annoyed and commanded the spirit to come out of her. (Acts chapter 16:16-18) He could tell because he had the gift of discernment of spirits. Paul could tell that she was a counterfeit. To unmask the enemy, you must know the genuine from the counterfeit. Bringing it Together IF YOU do not want to fall prey to the enemy, you must know the truth. It begins with hiding the word of God in you. There are many wolves in sheep’s clothing. And the devil parades himself as an angel of light. (Matthew 7:15 & 2 Corinthians 11:14) The place of prayer is your place of discernment.

A BASKETBALL in the hands of a famous player will be worth millions, while the value will be much less in the hands of a pedestrian . The value of a thing is determined by the hands in which you put it—and a person's worth is revealed in the company they keep. In His Hands PSALM 1 verse 1 says, “Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favoured by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example].” He does not stand in the path of sinners nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of scoffers (ridiculers). But his delight is in the law of the Lord and on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night. So, he watches his association and location . Caleb was one of the twelve spies sent to search the promised land. He walked away from the pack when he gave his testimony. Then, God said: But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it. (Numbers 14 verse 24) Your company will determine your exploits . NEHEMIAH could do wonders because his eyes were on God. He prayed for his people. Let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to [reverently] fear Your Name [Your essence, Your nature, Your attributes, with awe]; and make Your servant successful this day and grant him compassion in the sight of this man [the king].” (Nehemiah 1 verse 11) If your focus is on you , the devil is at work. The HEBREW BOYS knew the devil was at work when they were offered meat dedicated to idols. So, they rejected the offer, and Daniel told the prince of the eunuchs to test them for ten days. (Daniel 1:verses 9-18) They risked all to prove God’s point. My question is, what are you willing to risk to follow Him? God is in control when you submit to Him, and the devil is in control when you disobey God. If your focus is on you, God is not at work The WIDOW of SAREPTA yielded her control to God and lived beyond the famine . (1 Kings 16 verses 7-16) My prayer for you is that you’ll laugh  at famine and  destruction. Terror will not come near you. Whenever you visit your home, you'll find nothing amiss. (Job 5 verses 22-24) God's INSTRUCTION is where human reasoning and experience go to die. His place of instruction is your place of direction. (2 Timothy 3 verse 16) PETER struggled with instruction when he said, "Teacher, we worked hard all night and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll lower the nets.” (Luke 5 verse 5) The prophet's WIDOW went to Elisha for instructions. “Borrow many empty containers from all your neighbours. Then close the door behind you and your children, and pour oil into all those containers. When one is full, set it aside.” (2 Kings 4 verses 3-4) The instructions led her into abundance. If you remain in the hands of men, they'll treat you like men. However, in the hands of God, he will love you like his Son. (John 17 verse 23) Do not take your situation to God if you do not want his perspective. When the MOB brought the woman caught in adultery to Jesus, they wanted to trap him. He continued to write on the ground and told them that he, who had no sin, should throw the first stone. JESUS called their attention to something they had missed . They were sinners. I am calling your attention to the same thing. They left one after another until she was the only one left. Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you? She answered, “No one, Lord!” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go. From now on, sin no more.”] (John 8 verses 10-11) Her fate changed when they brought her to Jesus Christ. Final Thoughts Do NOT TAKE your situation to God if you do not want his perspective. The presence or absence of God will determine your worth. Give your life to Him!

IF ANYTHING bothers us in life, it’s the fear of the future. The antidote is never to be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God — Max Lucado. ONE THING that Joseph learned early in life was how to trust God. He trusted God when no one in his household believed him. They hated him when he shared the first dream, and his father rebuked him when he shared the second. However, it wasn't concerning until he visited them in the field—and his confidence waned when they sold him to the Midianites. But he trusted his unknown future to a known God and prospered. He understood that obedience and trust in God cannot be separated. So, when his master’s wife wanted him to lie with her, he ran. Joseph knew that holiness could not be substituted! 1 Peter 1 verse 16 says: You shall be holy (set apart), for I am holy.” DO NOT take the bait. Whatever the devil offers you is a trap. No matter how good-looking his apples are, they are full of worms. Potiphar’s wife lied on him—and he was thrown in prison. (Genesis 39 verses 1-22) THE FACT that you're doing something right does not mean you cannot get into trouble. Your trust in God makes you a target. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego knew this truth. They trusted God and said to the king: O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to answer you. If so, our God we serve can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image you have set up!” (Daniel 3 verses 17-18) They were thrown into the fiery furnace when they wouldn't bow to the king’s idol. Furnace WHEN YOU stand for God, he stands with you. God, in his infinite mercies, joined them in the fire. King Nebuchadnezzar saw him and said: Look! I see four men untied, walking around in the fire, and they are not hurt! And the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods. (Daniel 3 verse 25) Whenever you trust God, he helps you write your story. ONE THING Joseph demonstrated was his consistency . Joseph trusted God when he approached the baker and the butler to explain the meanings of their dreams. He trusted God when the butler forgot to say a word for him. He stood before Pharaoh and said: “It is not in me [to interpret the dream]; God [not I] will give Pharaoh a favourable answer [through me].” (Genesis 41 verse 16) To do exploits this year, you must be consistent in your dealings. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. (James 1 verse 8 If God were to speak, what will He say about you? ABRAHAM had trusted God in many things. Then, God told him to sacrifice Isaac, his only son. The following day, he left home for Mount Moriah with his son, Isaac. His son could see the wood and the knife but not the sacrifice. So, he asked his father for the sacrifice. Abraham told him that God would provide himself with a lamb. God stopped Abraham from sacrificing his son. He said: “Do not reach out [with the knife in] your hand against the boy, and do nothing to [harm] him; for now I know that you fear God [with reverence and profound respect] since you have not withheld from Me your son, your only son [of promise].” Many of us are so familiar with God that we show Him no respect. If you're going to walk with God, you must reverence Him. Holy awe is non-negotiable. GOD DELIGHTS in your intimacy with Him. He said this of Abraham: 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 verse 19) If God were to speak, what would he say about you? Final Thought MAKE THIS YEAR a different one. Choose to walk deeply with God, and you'll be amazed at what will happen to you.

The new year stands before you like a chapter in a book waiting to be written. However, you need not write your story alone. Just as God waited for Abram to help write his story, he's waiting on you. Abraham saw his future on the horizon when God told him to leave his relatives and father’s house for a land he would show him. (Genesis 12:1-3) He knew God had a plan for his life. Likewise, God has a plan for you. His plans and thoughts toward you are plans for peace and well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and hope. (Jeremiah 29:11) Abram left the comfort of his home with Sarai and his nephew, Lot, for a city whose architect and builder is God. (Hebrews 11:10) He understood the importance of the beginning of every walk. Abraham walked by faith. Without faith, it's impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6-8) You must know God to enjoy His peace and to see His wonders ; you must believe in Him. Peter believed in Jesus when Jesus told him to cast the net. He said, "We have toiled all night [to the point of exhaustion] and caught nothing. At your word [I’ll do as you say], I will let down the net.” (Luke 5:5) When he followed the command, he submitted to Jesus. Abraham couldn’t grasp the future until he left the past—and when he did, his past became a footnote . God will make your past a footnote when you allow Him. He will bring you out to take you in. Paul underscored this; he said, "I do not consider that I have made it my own yet, but one thing I do is forget what lies behind and reach forward to what lies ahead." “I press on toward the goal of winning the [heavenly] prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14) He recognised he was a work in progress and continued to look up to God. You are destined to become the one you seek. The moment you seek God, you're not alone. Joshua 5:13 says, When Joshua was by Jericho, he looked up, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his drawn sword in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said, “Are you for us or our adversaries?” The Lord will fight for you while you [only need to] keep silent and remain calm.” (Exodus 14:14) The person you are destined to become is the one you seek. And we all, with unveiled faces, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit.(2 Corinthians 3:18) Do not be dissuaded by who you're with or be distracted by what you hope to achieve. Sarah dissuaded Abraham when she convinced him to lie with Hagar. They were distracted by what they hoped to achieve. (Genesis 16:2) They tried to do it themselves, delaying God's plan. They forgot they needed God to fulfil his promise. When Abraham and Sarah pursued their dreams at the expense of the giver, they made their dreams idols. Eventually, they had to wait on God and wait for Him to fulfil His promise. Do not be dissuaded by who you're with or be distracted by what you hope to achieve I do not know your dreams, but obedience is what you need. When you seek God, you become a beginner. Your strength will show in your willingness to let Him lead. Even when the excitement of knowing the future wanes, you will still believe in Him. Abraham 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); this is character. (Genesis 15:6) God's desire is not to stop your glory but help you write your story Most things in life seem impossible until they are done. When Elisha asked for a double portion of the anointing, Elijah called it difficult. But God did it. No matter how impossible your future looks, God will do it. I speak the name of Jesus over you and say that the delay you’ve experienced will cease. And God will move you forward. I pray that your healing will manifest today and that your circumstances will change. I pray that the funds you need will be available and you will receive the wisdom you need for the year. I pray that you will believe Him more and that your life will continuously give Him pleasure. Bringing it Together God's desire is not to stop your glory but to help you write your story. My prayer for you is that God will help you walk in His abilities and give you control over your future. Have a great year!

There is a place  in God you'll never find unless you know him. There is a space  in him that you'll never know unless you seek Him. When LAZARUS  was sick, Mary and Martha sought Jesus. But he did not set out till three days later. And when he got to Bethany , Martha said to him: If you had been here, my brother wouldn't have died (John 11:20-21). However, Martha's defining moment  came when Jesus said: 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. And everyone who lives and believes in Me [as Saviour] will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26) Your defining moment is to make you believe in Him. JACOB  was returning home and wasn't seeing things as God wanted. He was filled with trepidation and did not want his family to be harmed, so he sent them ahead. While he was alone, an angel wrestled with him till daybreak. When he wouldn't let go, the angel dislocated his hip and asked for his name. Jacob, he said. "Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel, for you have struggled with God and men and have prevailed." (Genesis 32:27-28) A defining moment  is a time that shows what something is about. MOSES  did not know what his life was about when he ran from Egypt (Exodus 2:11-15). While his people suffered because they lacked God's knowledge , Moses was famished because he lacked His Presence . Moses went to Midian and sat by a well where he got help (Exodus 2:15). Wherever you go when you need assistance will determine your future in life. AFTER forty years, God met Moses at the burning bush, and his essence became a reality (Exodus 3). He moved from mediocrity to excellence and found fulfillment in God. Moses' place of submission became his place of definition. AT THE RED SEA , he cried out to God (Exodus 14:15). Moses cried out to God again when they got to Mara and couldn't drink the bitter water (Exodus 15:22-24).   From time to time, he sought God; he wasn't after God's wonders but God Himself. Moses spent time with God, and God made his ways known to him (Psalm 103:7). The WAYS  of GOD  will remain a mystery unless you spend time with Him. To have found God and still want to know Him is the desire of God. Paul had a goal in mind when he said: So   that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers], and [that I may share] the fellowship of His sufferings, by being continually  conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His death [dying as He did] (Philippians 3:10). Paul's knowledge was continuous. To have found God and still want to know Him is the desire of God ISAIAH  desired to know God, too, and God gave him various prophecies for Israel. (Isaiah 1-5) But the year King Uzziah died, he saw the Lord (Isaiah 6). Isaiah's life was one of progression. His defining moment came when his walk with God took a new turn—and he received his commission. WHY  do some persons 'find' God in a way others do not? Why does God manifest His Presence to some and let multitudes of others struggle in the half-light of imperfect Christian experience? Of course, God's will is the same for everyone. He has no favourites within His household. All He has ever done for any of His children. He will do for all of His children. The difference lies not with God but with us - A.W. Tozer. FOR EXAMPLE, when God rejected Saul, he told Samuel to go to the house of Jesse. God had chosen one of his sons to be the next king. He chose David because of his heart.   Bringing it Together DEFINING MOMENTS come as you love God. He takes you on a new trajectory when you seek Him. You'll never know what you will find when you fellowship with Him. God will show you the path of life. In His presence, there's fullness of joy. At His right hand, there are pleasures forever (Psalm 16:11).