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IF THERE is anything we do often, it is to pray. We pray when we are happy and when we are sad. We pray when we are frightened and when we are calm. We pray that God will carry, save and sustain us. However, if prayer means this much to us, what does it mean to God? Prayer means obedience. WHEN JESUS taught his disciples to pray, he led by example. They saw him give thanks before he fed the five thousand (John 6:11). The disciples were with him when he raised an only son back to life (Luke 7:11-17). They saw him stay all night in prayer with the Father (Luke 6:12). The disciples saw him pray before he called Lazarus out of the grave (John 11:38-44). So when he told them that men should always pray and not lose heart, they took it as a command (Luke 18:1). They knew he meant it. Prayer shows God his place in you. GOD NEVER tells you to do anything that means nothing to him. He told Noah to build an ark to keep him safe (Gen. 6:13-22). So, Noah’s well-being was important to Him. GOD TOLD Abram to leave his country and father’s house and go to a land he would show him (Gen. 12:1). So, God was very concerned about Abram’s future. No wonder when God told him that he would destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, he knew he had to intercede for his nephew (Gen. 18:16-33). Abraham‘s prayer showed that he understood God's heart , and God knew where Abraham’s heart was. Prayer shows God your reliance on Him. ISRAEL knew where King Jehoshaphat’s heart was when he called a solemn assembly. He received news that the Moabites, Ammonites, and some Meunites had come to wage war against him. He prayed: Our God, will you not judge them? We have no power to face this vast army attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you (2 Chron. 20:12) God came to his rescue because Jehoshaphat depended on Him. Prayer is a place to express your desire for God Prayer shows your trust in God. GOD SAW the same dependence in the apostles when they interceded for Peter. They had lost Stephen and didn't want to lose Peter, so they prayed regularly for him (Acts 12:5). DAVID trusted in God when he told Saul, The Lord, who saved me from the lion and the bear, will save me from this Philistine (1 Sam. 17:37). Prayer shows your desire for God. YOU SPEND time with a loved one because you have something in common to discuss. Jesus spent time with the Father, too. Prayer is one place you express your desire for God. David did that when he said: As the deer pants after the waters, my soul longs after you (Psalm 42:1). Prayer is taking ownership. GOD SEES ownership whenever you go on your knees in prayer. Daniel prayed to God to act when he saw the seventy-week prophecy in the scriptures. O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations and the city called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy (Dan. 9:18) While you see sovereignty on God’s side, God sees ownership on your side. Prayer shows your direction. WHEN NEHEMIAH fasted and prayed for Israel, God saw his direction . Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this servant and your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favour in the presence of this man (Nehemiah 1:11). You choose your direction when you pray. Bringing it Together PERHAPS it’s a mistake that has haunted you for years or a future that's not humanly feasible, a marriage that's at the brink of collapse, a loved one that wouldn't change his ways or a medical diagnosis that has defied treatments; there's one more thing to do. You can pray. Pray because God commanded it; pray because your miracle is a prayer away!

I DO NOT  know your challenges, but I do know God cares. He cared very much when enemies surrounded Elisha, and he put the soldiers of heaven on standby (2 Kings 6:18). Jesus spared the thief on the right cross from eternal damnation when he gave him a pass to Paradise (Luke 23:42-43). God cared so much for Paul that he saved him (Acts 9:5-6). And he cared so much for you that he sent his Son to die on the cross (John 3:16). NAAMAN  was the commander of the Army of King Aram when God gave him battle victories. He returned home with a young Israeli girl from one of his raids. When she noticed that Naaman had leprosy, she mentioned a prophet in Samaria to her mistress. She moved from being the house help to a witness. God will not leave you without a witness (Acts 14:17). IF YOU WALK  into a room, one way to find a power outlet is to look for electronic devices plugged in . Once you find one, you'll locate the power source. We live in a congested  world where you must intentionally  look for God. FINDING a witness  is what you need. Saul found one when he went searching for his father's donkey—and his servant said: A man of God is in this town. People respect him because everything he says comes true. Let's go into the city. He could tell us something about the journey we have taken. (1 Sam. 8:6) Although the Pharisees wouldn't believe it, they met one in the blind young man Jesus healed. He said: Whether or not He's a sinner, I don't know. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I can see! (John 9:13-41) They were close to their miracles but did not know it. NAAMAN  needed someone plugged in , so he went to his king to help talk to the king of Israel. When Naaman arrived at the King of Israel's palace with King Aram's note, the King of Israel was scared and tore his clothes because he thought King Aram was preparing for a fight. ELISHA  heard what happened and told the king to send Naaman to him.   However , when Naaman arrived at his place, he sent his servant to tell him what to do. Wash yourself seven times in Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and cleansed (2 Kings 5:10-12). NAAMAN  was angry. I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy, he said (2 Kings 5:10-12). He was desperate for conversation , but all he needed were instructions . IT WILL SURPRISE  you that some of the healing Jesus performed was simple  instructions. When he met the ten lepers, he said: Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed (Luke 17:11-18). At the Pool of Bethesda, he told the man who had been sick for thirty-eight years to get up, pick up his bed and walk (John 5:8-9). SOMETIMES , we have a mental picture of how our problems should be solved. We forget that the horse may be prepared for battle, but victory is of the Lord (Prov. 21:13). BUT GOD ,   in his mercy , gives us good people to unlock  our miracles. Some people call them destiny helpers. He gave Naaman a second  chance when his workers said: "My father, would you not have done it if the prophet had told you to do something great? (2 Kings 5:13) May God give us people that will tell us the truth. NAAMAN DIPPED  in Jordan seven times, and his body was restored like a young boy's (2 Kings 5:14). He realized that the instruction was as good as prayers. Final Thought GOD  gave us access because he cares! His instructions may seem silly, but they come alive when you follow them. .

YOU WONDER why you are the most tested in your family. You are curious why you have to fight for everything. You fight because nothing is given; you have to cease it. Since the time of John the Baptist, the Kingdom of God has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force (Matt. 11:12). You fight because life is a battle, and you're caught in it. ABRAHAM was caught in the nuances of life when God called him. Leave your country, people and your father's house to the land I'll show you (Gen. 12:1). He chose him to break a cycle. If you walk in the miraculous, you'll be breaking cycles. GOD CHOSE Samuel to destroy the corrupt foundation Hophni and Phinehas built (1 Sam. 3:11:14). And Israel started on a new slate. GOD HAS chosen you to break the enemy's hold on your family and environment. You are his battle axe. He has promised that when you call on Him, he will answer you and show you great and mighty things you do not know (Jer. 33:3). WHEN you act on God's revelation, the enemy's chains are broken. God took Ezekiel to the Valley of Dry Bones and told him what to do. When he did it, the dead bones came alive (Ezek. 37). EVERY dead situation in your life can receive life, too. But understand that your warfare weapons are not carnal. They are mighty through God, capable of bringing down strongholds (2 Corin. 19:4). So you fight your battles on your knees. GOD wanted to show Abraham Canaan, so he led him. You cannot walk in the miraculous unless he leads you. As many as are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God (Romans 8:14). Being led is easier than you think, but you must be intentional in your walk with God. When he sees your commitment to Him, his Spirit leads you. IMAGINE how great you'll feel when you are led by His Spirit. You can look up and call for help when you run into storms. ONE THING you are guaranteed when God leads you is prosperity. It starts from your soul and spreads to every other part of life. THERE is no sudden greatness even when you are led. Isaac prospered until he became very great (Gen. 26:13). When God leads you, he prospers you. Your place of greatness is in God. HIS PROSPERITY was not built on location but on association with God. Likewise, your prosperity isn't tied to a location. It's bound to obedience as you follow God. WHEN JOSEPH was sent into slavery, prosperity followed him. Potiphar's house prospered because of him (Gen. 39). At his release, he became Pharaoh's second in command. Joseph walked in the miraculous—and his life epitomized the reward of obedience. ELIJAH obeyed God, and the ravens fed him (1 Kings 17:2-6). God will prosper you as you follow Him. The obedient will escape with dignity when calamity comes. When famine invades the nations, they will be fed to their fill (Psalm 37:19). TO WALK IN THE MIRACULOUS is to work your gift. Your gift is not for you but for other people. Joseph's gift of dreams and interpretation brought him before Pharaoh. PHARAOH knew nothing about the God of Israel until Joseph introduced Him. Nothing is given; you have to cease it And Joseph said: It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favourable answer (Gen. 41:16). He knew that God was the interpreter of dreams. When you know your calling, you will operate from a place of understanding and acknowledge the gift's giver. JOSEPH lived a life of gratitude. He told his brothers even though you planned evil against me, God planned good to come out of it. To keep many people alive, as he is doing now (Gen. 50:20) YOU MUST see God's hands in your life to walk in the miraculous—and as you inhale God, you'll express gratitude.

MY PLACE  of PROMINENCE  is my place of purpose—and my place of calling is my place of relevance. Esther was just another queen until Mordecai told her; perhaps you were born for this time (Esther 4:14). No one could have come to the battle camp at a better time than when David, a young shepherd boy, showed up and realized he was called to fight Goliath (1 Sam. 17:22). Gideon never imagined that God would call him to fight the Philistines when he hid in the wine press threshing wheat (Judges 6:11-23). Peter never imagined that one day he would meet a man who would tell him to follow him and make him a fisher of men (Matthew 4:19). UNTIL THEY  had their moments, they were normal people living ordinary lives. Then, they became a people of purpose. Moses was a man of purpose who needed direction. The thought of his people living in slavery and him in the palace tortured him. To find relevance, he killed an Egyptian and became a fugitive (Exodus 2:11-15). He ran to Midian, where he found favour and lived a pedestrian life.   AFTER FORTY YEARS  of tending to his father-in-law's sheep, he saw a strange bush burning and was not consumed (Exodus 3:2-5). So he stopped to look. And God told him to go back and deliver his people. MOSES  realized that his place of revelation  was his place of definition . His role in God's plan became defined. Your place of revelation is your place of definition THESE PEOPLE  came to God's prominence  when they found their purpose . To find relevance, you need to find your purpose in Christ. MANY  have found their purpose in Christ but feel less than they should because they compare themselves to others. But we must understand that our life trajectories differ because God did not call us to do the same thing. While God called Moses to lead his people, he called Aaron his spokesman. Without the office of Moses, Aaron and Miriam would be irrelevant. When Aaron and Miriam criticized Moses, they queried God's wisdom, and God was angry with them. So, God gave Miriam seven days of leprosy (Numb. 12:1-15). He wanted them to stay in their lanes. PURPOSE is where you find prominence. God determines prominence. While he calls some to a few, he calls others to many. Mordecai was called to one—Esther (Esther 2:15-17). Nehemiah was called to his people (Nehemiah 1). Our life trajectories differ because we are called to different things THE FACT  that a person has a larger influence does not mean God loves them more. It just means that's their calling. Your calling determines your relevance—and your reward will be based on it. CONSIDER  what he called you to do whenever you think of relevance. A master was going on a trip when he called his three servants and gave them talents according to their abilities. The first servant received five talents, the second three and the third one talent. They were to mind the master's business (Matthew 25:14-30). PROMINENCE  can be in the open or in obscurity. But God does more in obscurity than in the open. Elijah was prominent in the open. God used him repeatedly to uproot evil from his people. But he misjudged prominence when he said he was the only one left (1 Kings 19:18). And God told him that he had seven thousand men who had not bowed their heads or kissed Baal. When you realize that God's purpose for your life isn't just about you, He will use you in a mighty way - Tony Evans. EVERY RELATIONSHIP  deserves commitment but a different measure of growth. One relationship that should always grow is the one with Christ. Your commitment to him should increase day after day. Bringing It Together WITHOUT WALKING  in your purpose, your ability to please God is greatly diminished. Your place of revelation is your place of definition—and your place of definition is your place of purpose.

IF YOU’VE EVER been locked out of your car, you know how important your car keys are. If you've seen carjackers trying to snatch a car, you can tell how essential your car doors can be. Your doors are your first line of defence. They shut intruders out and keep you in. GOD CLOSED the door behind them when Noah, his family, and all the animals entered the ark (Gen. 7:16). He shut the door to keep them safe. God ended one season of their lives and started another. So, a closed door may be God keeping you safe. PAUL and his companions knew this well. They travelled throughout Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. They experienced closed doors twice. So they could tell that it was God. Then, Paul had a vision where the Man of Macedonia was begging them to come. So they went there (Acts 16:6-910). PAUL submitted to the leading of the Holy Spirit. God wants you to do the same. As many as are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God (Romans 8:14). WHEN PETER was arrested, the believers did not want to lose him. So, they prayed regularly for him (Acts 12:5-17). God wants you to intercede as often as possible so that he can intervene in your affairs. HE SHUT the door of death and opened the door to life, sending an angel to free Peter from prison. When Peter got to the door of the home where the apostles were praying, Rhoda recognized his voice. She was so happy and ran back in without opening the door to announce that Peter was there. But they felt she was beside herself. So Peter was kept out until they were sure it was him. Be careful not to shut friends and Destiny helps out of your life. WHEN YOU mention doors, many people think of physical ones because they cannot see the spiritual ones. However, spiritual doors exist. GOD opened a spiritual door when Jacob saw angels walking up and down a ladder from heaven (Gen. 28:17). To Jacob, it was the gate of heaven. But to God, it was a manifestation of His Presence. Jesus Christ is the only explanation from God WHEN CAIN got angry because his sacrifice was rejected, God told him that sin was crouching outside his door, waiting to have him (Gen. 4:7). YOU MUST understand that whatever situation you face, Satan wants to have you. He wants something bad to happen to you. So, life is spiritual. LUKE 22:3 says: Satan entered Judas’ heart—and he went to the chief priests and captains to discuss how he will betray Jesus. Judas opened the door of his heart to the devil. GOD WILL NOT open or close your heart’s door for you. You’ll have to do it yourself by guarding your heart with all diligence because life issues flow out of it (Prov. 4:23). When David stood on the palace roof and kept looking at Bathsheba having a bath, he fed his heart with the wrong image (2 Sam. 11:2). JAMES 1:15 says: When a person is carried away with desire, lured by lust, and when desire becomes the focus and takes control, it gives birth to sin. When sin becomes fully grown, it produces death. So your goings without God will lead to death (Prov. 14:12) IF YOU UNDERSTAND that your eyes and ears are gateways to your soul, you’ll do things differently. My question is, what are you consumed with? What is driving you? Who is building your life? Bringing it Together JESUS CHRIST is the door—he is the only explanation from God (John 10:9; 1:18). EVERYTHING that exists in the physical is spawned by the spiritual. To fix the physical, you'll need to fix the spiritual - Tony Evans. To do this, you must engage Jesus Christ and give your life to Him.

ISN’T IT CONFUSING that when you sin, you want God to be patient, but when you want something from him, you want him to hurry up? JESUS TOOK his time when the mob who brought the woman caught in adultery waited for his response (John 8:1). He took his time while his disciples travelled all night on the lake (Matthew 14:22-33). He took his time when the servants waited for his directive at the marriage feast (John 2:1-8). JESUS WAITED two more days after he received Mary and Martha’s message that Lazarus was sick (John 11:6). He took his time because he knew how the story would end. God knows how the story ends TIME BECOMES irrelevant when you know how the story ends, and your desire to share comes to the fore. He told his disciples: Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him up. (John 11:11) Lazarus is dead, and for your sake, I am glad I was not there so that you may believe. But let us go to him (John 11:14-15). Jesus was mindful of them. Everything he did was to make them believe. WHILE he was close to Bethany, Martha came to him. My brother would not have died if you had been here. But I know God will give you whatever you ask (John 11:21). She understood the power of presence and the depth of absence. MARTHA ASKED for a miracle but couldn't schedule it. You can schedule a prayer, but not a miracle. SHE KNEW that Jesus loved Lazarus and based her request on it. Romans 5:8 says, While we were sinners, Christ died for us. It isn't about what you've done but his love. So, when you know God, you can confidently approach the throne of grace (Hebrews 4.16) When you start this way, God’s goodness becomes the ground for your expectations. And you can truly say the expectation of the righteous shall not be cut short (Proverbs 23:18). You can schedule a prayer, but not a miracle ONE THING she got wrong was telling Jesus how to do things. You do not tell God to help you and tell him how to run things. God can only be your life's author when he is its driver. WHEN SHE SAID, if Jesus had been here, she meant Jesus caused his death. She contradicted herself because she knew Jesus loved Lazarus. So, God cannot want the best and the worst for you. The fact that God allows something to happen to you does not make him the cause. JESUS told her that her brother would rise again. And she said: I know he will on the last day. She had faith in the future but not the present. You can trust God for the future but must trust Him for the present. Jesus told her that he was the resurrection and the life. God takes his time because: He is God. He knows how the story ends. There's a now you need to see. He wants you to seek His face. To be the Lord of your life. He wants you to leave the heavy lifting to Him. God wants you to trust Him.

YOU ARE in awe when someone nominates you for an award you do not know about. And you're delighted when someone you love who lives out of town shows up at your event. WHEN YOU look forward to something, you have an expectation. However, it is a surprise when you do not know what is coming. An expectation will affirm your beliefs. A surprise will upend your expectations and make them look small. When your expectations are met, you’re delighted. However, when they are surpassed, you’re blown away. I pray that God will meet your expectations and surpass them. MESHACH, SHADRACH and ABEDNEGO expected God to deliver them from the fiery furnace—and he did. But before he delivered them, he joined them in the fire—he showed them the power of presence. He surpassed whatever they thought of him. Jesus became their revelation before he met their expectation. YOU WILL AGREE that adversity is a great time to get a revelation from God—and some will say that is when you need Him most. Jacob will agree to this. He was relieved when he saw angels walking up and down on a ladder from heaven. Surely the LORD is in this place—and I did not know it! He said (Gen. 28:16). Paul felt better when he heard God say, be of good cheer (Acts 23:11-15). And when God gave him the souls of everyone on the ship, he knew this was something to share. THERE’s SOMETHING about engaging God that sets you apart from the pack, and hearing from him makes you feel loved. Elijah knew he was loved when God came to him in the cave (I Kings 18:9-18). Stephen knew he was loved when he saw Jesus standing and welcoming him home (Acts:7:55). Peter knew he was loved when Jesus came for him after the resurrection (John 21:1-17). God comes to you to show you his love. There's something about engaging God that sets you apart HOWEVER, WHAT is God saying or showing you in these difficult times? Whatever he says to you will point you in the right direction. THERE WAS A WIDOW in Samaria who heard God in famine (I Kings: 17:7-16). The instruction was precise, and the time was difficult, but the widow knew it was God. She understood what to do but had to wait for the prophet to tell her what would happen. Anything you wait for, you have no control over. SHE KNEW that her obedience would yield results, but to the extent it would go, she did not know. The same happens when you pray to God; you do not know what he would say or do. But you trust him. THE WIDOW trusted God when she shared her last meal. She believed in God when she put her and her son’s lives on the line. She knew that an engagement must precede an expectation. So, she engaged God to live beyond the famine. Likewise, you must engage God and listen to his voice. WHEN YOU LISTEN to your circumstances, you are downcast. But when you speak God’s Word to yourself, your spirit is lifted. The prodigal son spoke to himself and returned home (Luke 15:18-21). The Woman with the Issue of Blood did the same and touched the hem of Jesus’ garment (Luke 8:43-48). Your problem isn't where you've been but how you see God WHEN YOU WALK in obedience to God, your life moves from ordinary to extraordinary. And when you confess His Word over your life, something in you comes alive. You talk to yourself until your heart agrees with what you’re saying—and it becomes a revelation to act on. David spoke to himself repeatedly until God’s Word became a revelation (1 Sam. 17:37; Ps. 43:5 and 118:11). YOUR PROBLEM isn’t where you’ve been but how you see God. When you do not pursue God’s perspective, you make yourself mediocre and limit your life. So, how do you see God? The Woman with the Issue of Blood had been in pain for years but saw a healer (Luke 8:43-49). The Madman of Gadarenes had lived in the cemetery but saw a deliverer (Luke 8:26-39). THE WAY you see him will determine your contact with grace. The man on the stretcher received healing because he and his friends believed in the ministry of Jesus (Luke 5:18-20). MANY PEOPLE will tell you they respect the anointing, but their behaviour says the contrary. If you do not honour a man’s grace, you cannot benefit from it. Judas Iscariot did not appreciate Jesus, and he did not benefit from him (Matt. 26:14-16). The other disciples honoured him, and Jesus kept them close (John 6:39). The centurion came believing that Jesus could heal his servant—and he did (Luke 7:1-9). Mary appreciated Jesus and poured an expensive perfume over him (Matt. 26:7). APPRECIATION leads to engagement. Engagement precedes revelation—and revelation is followed by expectation. You must honour God to expect Him. Bringing It Together GOD’s GOODNESS is the ground of our expectation - Wilson Tozer. To enjoy his goodness will require you to know Him—and the way to do this is to give your life to Him.

A FATHER—Philip Gray, wasn’t surprised when he was deployed to Afghanistan. He knew how hard this might be on his seven-year-old daughter. So, he wrote a hundred lunchbox notes for her—one for each day. His daughter loved the happy notes and did not want him to stop writing them. The soldier-dad planned for the future. Fathers are planners. They have foresight. God the Father knew one day, humanity would sin, so he prepared for it. He looked for a sacrifice that would suffice. Fathers make sacrifices. He sought someone in heaven to send—and Jesus chose to come (Isa. 6:8). When we were dead in trespasses, God the Father sent his Son to die for us (Eph. 2:5). Greater love can no man have than to lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). Fathers share their plans. Hundreds of years before Jesus came, God the Father shared his plan through visitations and prophecy. When it was close, he shared it with Simeon and Anna; they were led to witness the dedication of the baby Jesus (Luke 2:34-52). He did not leave humanity in the dark. Fathers are dependable. Jesus did what he saw the Father do when he was on earth (John 5:19). He worked when he was to work. He talked when he was to speak. He told them, if you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father (John 14:8-9). He was a living witness of his Father. Fathers are awesome. Everywhere Jesus went, he gave hope. He spent time with people, restoring them to life—and pointing them to the Father. When he met a funeral procession, he raised the dead son back to life (John 7:11-17). He stood in between the woman accused of adultery and the mob (John 8:3-11). He restored hope to the hopeless. Fathers are appreciative. Jesus was delighted when Mary poured a bottle of alabaster oil on him (John 12:3). She anointed me for burial, he said. Fathers love processes. The process is as important to him as the outcome. God not only validates outcomes but also celebrates efforts. For the joy set before him (Jesus), he endured the cross despising the shame and he is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb. 12:2). Fathers are providers. Before Adam was formed, God provided all he would need to live (Gen. 2:15). So, all Adam had to do was tend the garden. He did not have to start from scratch. The only thing God has in his heart is love Fathers make commitments and keep them. Every day, God came down to fellowship with Adam. No wonder when he came one day and couldn’t find him, he called out: Adam, where are you? Fathers are active listeners. Even when Adam fell, God asked him what happened (Gen. 3:8-11). Fathers give leadership. God calls everyone to give them direction. He called Abraham and showed him the plan and purpose for his life. So, Abraham had something to pursue (Gen. 12:1-3). Fathers know. God knows the end of a matter from the beginning. He has knowledge that is passed searching out (Rom. 11:3). When the extreme wind caught Paul's ship, God sent an angel to encourage him (Acts. 27:23-24). Fathers do not give up on their families. The narrative of the prodigal son is a good depiction of the Father’s heart. The son was away, but his thoughts never left the father’s heart. He could sense something was wrong. No wonder he expected his return. The moment he saw him from afar, he ran and hugged him. He asked his servants to change his clothes and put a ring on him (Luke 15:11-32). Bringing it Together THE ONLY thing God has in his heart is love. He’s expressing it to you today. Give your life to Him. To the dads, Happy Father’s Day!

IF YOU’VE ever lost a battle, you’ll agree not everyone wins. Saul and Jonathan lost a battle to the Philistines and died in the process (1 Sam. 31:8). When Eli heard that the ark of God had been taken, he fell backwards and broke his neck because he was fat (1 Sam. 4:18-22). No wonder Jehoshaphat was terrified when he heard the Ammonites, Moabites, and men from Mount Seir were coming. So, he called for a fast and prayed: OUR GOD, will you not judge them? We have no power to face this vast army attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you. Then, GOD said through Jehaziel: Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. The battle is not yours, but God’s (2 Chron. 20:12 & 14). The first strategy for winning is talking to God. PRAYER (talking to God) brings normalcy and spirituality to your relationship with him. You acknowledge God when you pray. He recognizes you when he responds. You enthrone him when you seek his face—and when you are thankful, you deserve the future. Prayer is a two-way street. The second strategy to winning is understanding that you were not made to walk alone. JACOB realized he wasn’t alone when he saw a ladder from heaven with angels walking on it (Gen. 28:10-17). ESTHER knew she wasn’t made to walk alone when Haman planned to wipe out her people—and God intervened (Esther 4:16). YOU CEASE to be alone when you become a child of God (I Cor. 16:19-20). And when you know him, you’ll realize that you cannot give a part of your life and keep the rest to yourself. If God is in charge, then the power is his. Prayer normalizes your relationship with God The third strategy to use in all situations is acknowledging you have no power. SINCE PAUL had no power to handle the pain, God gave him the ability to endure it (2 Corin. 12:9). That ability is called grace. Paul was made for that, and you are made for this time. God is most glorified when you are most satisfied. The fourth strategy is to put your know-how behind the burner and seek God. SOLOMON made an unusual request the night he dedicated the temple. He sought God's wisdom to rule over Israel, and the kingdom of God became his priority (1 Kings 3:7). FOR GOD to be the author of your life, he must sit on the throne of it. John the Baptist said I must decrease that he might increase (John 3:30). Paul confessed that he’s been crucified with Christ. He no longer lives, but Christ lives in him (Gal. 2:20). The fifth strategy is—do not to fear. Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God - Corrie Ten Boom. JEHOSHAPHAT rose the following morning and told his people to believe in God and be established (2 Chronicles 20:20). To win in life, you’ll have to trust God. The sixth strategy is setting your eyes on Jesus Christ. Just as MOSES lifted the snake in the wilderness, the Son of Man must be lifted so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him (John 3:14-15; Numb. 21:4-9). Your focus will determine your destination. The seventh strategy is knowing God has a stake in you—so he fights your battles. YOU DO NOT qualify to fight Satan except by Jesus. The sons of Sceva tried and regretted it (Acts 19:14-17). JESUS has been given a name higher than every other name. (Phil. 2:9). If you truly want to win, you will need Jesus. So confess your sins to him. Ask him to forgive and cleanse you. Invite him to live in your heart. Thank him for choosing you. If you’ve taken this bold step, your winning season has begun. I’ll like to hear your story. God bless you.

DO YOU look down on people because you think you're better than them? Do you think you made someone because God used you during their climb to prominence? GOD RAISES one and lowers another. He decides who to bring down and lift (Ps. 75:7). If God will bless you, he will send someone. If Satan will attack you, he will send someone too. THE DEVIL sent some Pharisees to trap Jesus. They brought a woman caught in adultery to him—and cited the Law of Moses. But Jesus knew they were not after her but him. THE BATTLES you face are not yours. Your weapons are made to work through God to pull down things that have settled themselves and are unwilling to go (II Cor. 10:4). HOWEVER, Jesus looked away and wrote on the ground. She did not say anything—and Jesus said nothing. SOME skirmishes only deserve your silence. I pray that God will teach you when to be quiet and when to speak. And when you speak, he will put the right words in your mouth for your detractors. CRITICISM and fault finding are great traits in the right settings. However, anytime you accuse someone, you may be extending the devil’s reach. THEY DEMANDED an answer, so he said: Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her (John 8:7). Jesus stood in between the woman and the mob. THE SECRET to being an intercessor is looking into the mirror and reminding yourself that you’re a recovering Pharisee. When you remember where you were taken from, it'll be easy to forgive. AS YOU go to your megachurches this Sunday, remember you're a sinner saved by grace. The difference between you and the unbeliever is the grace of God over your life. ABRAHAM understood the mercy of God and interceded for Sodom. (Gen. 18:16-33). BUT JONAH ignored this office and wouldn’t go to Nineveh to preach (Jonah 1). He believed more in God’s justice than his grace. The Pharisees adopted the same posture. THE OFFICE of the intercessor is one every believer is called into. God is looking for people who will stand in the gap and pray (Ezekias. 22:30). He wants to pray through you. YOU CANNOT sit on the fence; you’re either an accuser or an intercessor. Jesus stood between the mob and the woman and spoke as an intercessor. When you intercede, you partake in the ministry of Jesus. IF YOU ARE MARRIED to someone who is yet to know the Lord, your responsibility is to intercede for them. Even when they don't treat you well, God still wants you to treat them well. You owe God that duty. When you intercede, you partake in the ministry of Jesus. CHRISTIANS do not pay evil but good for evil (I Pet. 3:9). Saul did not treat David well, but David spared his life. When the king realized this, he wept. You are more righteous than I, Saul said. You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. You have just told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me (I Kings 24:17-18). WHEN JESUS looked up, her accusers were gone. Where are your accusers? They are gone, she said. Go on your way. From now on, don’t sin (John 8:10-11). Bringing it Together THE VOICE of the intercessor is always louder than that of the accuser. It’s the voice of mercy and grace—the voice of the intercessor is the voice of God. Never stop interceding!

NOT ALL PRODUCTS come with warning labels, and when they do, they are printed in tiny fonts that are difficult to read. However, God's warning signs are different. They are easy to read and simple to understand. GOD WHISPERS to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain. It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world - C.S. Lewis. He spoke to David's conscience when David cut Saul's robe's edge (1 Kings 25:1-7). But when he committed adultery, God sent Nathan, the prophet, to him (2 Sam. 12:1-7). WHEN GOD calls your attention to something, he provides the grace to avoid it, make amends or go through with it. For example, Jesus knew Judas would betray him. But he chose him to fulfill prophecy (John 17:12). To keep Paul from becoming conceited because of the great revelations he was given, a thorn—a messenger of Satan was put in his flesh to torment him. And God told him that his grace was sufficient. (2 Cor. 12:7-12) Paul realized it was much more about grace than pain. When you are deliberate, the world becomes a billboard How do you know a warning sign? WHOEVER is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them (Hosea 14:9). So, a good place to start is to hide God's Word in your heart—which will help you train your mind (Psalm 118:11). God intentionally warned Adam not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Gen. 2:17). When you're deliberate, the world becomes a billboard. WHEN PAUL was arrested and transported on a ship with other prisoners, he perceived the voyage would be treacherous (Acts 27:21). So he advised his captors not to sail. Sometimes, the Spirit of God makes you restless—and you wonder why. So, having a hunch isn't out of place. It can be a warning sign. WE IGNORE health warnings when we eat unhealthy foods—and risk complications when we drink less water. We tell our bodies they don't matter when we sit for unending hours and don't exercise. We might soon lose our bodies when we have pain and ignore them. Isn't this what we do when we ignore God? WE CHOOSE everything else except Him. We treat his words with little regard. When he speaks, we say we've heard this before—and turn down his overtures. LOT missed the first warning sign when he chose the plains of Jordan and went toward Sodom (Gen. 13:11). He missed the second one when Abraham rescued him from captivity, and he went back (Gen. 14:14-16). However, God gave him a final chance when his uncle interceded—and he was saved (Gen. 18:16-33). God is giving you a chance today. He wants you to reconcile with Him. All you have to do is acknowledge that you have wronged Him. Ask Him to have mercy and forgive you. Invite Jesus to come and dwell in you. If you have done this, please get in touch. God bless you!

THE BIBLE is filled with women who demonstrated courage in adversity and changed the course of history. They shed light in the darkness and brought hope to a dying world. HANNAH brought hope to a dying nation when she vowed to give her unborn son to God (1 Sam. 1). MOSES' mother trusted God when she put him in an ark and placed it on the Nile (Exod. 2:1-3). RAHAB secured her future by protecting the Jewish spies (Josh. 2). ESTHER knew her people depended on her. So, she put her life on the line to have an audience with the king (Esther 4:16). These women were the unsung heroes of their time. THE WIDOW of one of the sons of the prophets realized she was in a dire situation when she heard the creditors were coming for her (2 Kings 4). Her late husband left her a debt she could not pay—and a default would lead to the seizure of her children. We do not know if her husband sought help while he lived, but she planned to do so. THE RIGHT APPROACH to solving a problem is recognizing there's one. Without an acknowledgement, there's no problem to solve. THERE's a cliche among believers. Our answer to most questions is it is well. But is it okay when you need help and do not ask for it? Sometimes, you must open up to others to solve your problem. A GOOD PLACE to start is your resource. The widow looked at her support system and went to the prophet. She began her request by referencing that her late husband feared the Lord. So, you can fear God and be in debt when you do not know what to do. WHEN ELISHA asked how he could help, he wanted her to be specific. What do you have in your house? He said. Your servant has nothing there at all except a small jar of olive oil. 2 Kings 4:2) God will bless what you have, not what you don't have. He will do things with you and not for you. At Cana, Jesus told the servants to fill the jars with water (John 2:7) and draw. THE HEART of God is where you go when you have questions—and when you do, instructions come. The widow went to Elisha to hear God. Go around and ask all your neighbours for empty jars. Don't ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars and put it to one side as each is filled. She filled the jars. And when she had no more, the oil stopped (2 Kings 4:1-6). Are you filled? God is looking for jars (human vessels) to fill. God will do things with you and not for you. AFTER THE MIRACLE, she returned to Elisha for more instructions. If you value the grace and goodness of God, you'll return to Him. God does not tell you the whole story at once. He reserves bits for the next time. Elisha told her to sell the oil, pay her debt and live on the rest (2 Kings 4:7). God will do exceedingly, abundantly, much more than you can ask or imagine (Ephes. 3:20). Final Thoughts THE DIFFERENCE between her past and present was the impossibility made possible. The earnest way to proceed is to walk by faith—anything that's impossible slips out of the realm of belief. Happy Mother's Day.