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ISN’T IT FUNNY how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back, everything is different - C.S. Lewis. Nothing seemed to change for the children of Israel until Moses walked into Egypt to do the wonders of God. God had heard their cries. He had seen their affliction (Exod. 3:7). Their prayers had formed a memorial before Him—and he came to save them. THE CHILDREN of Israel realized that prayer is not driven by requirement—but by relationship (1 Thes. 5:17). If truly your prayer is driven by your relationship with God, it would be easier to trust him. SIMEON and ANNA had waited for the Messiah all their lives. They trusted God to keep them to see Jesus Christ. Anna did not leave the temple worshipping with fasting and prayer, night and day (Luke 2:36). The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he saw the Messiah. The Holy Spirit led him to the temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present Jesus, he was there (Luke 2:25-35). They set the stage for the coming of Jesus. Both of them were not praying for things. They prayed for the Messiah. When we learn to intercede as the Holy Spirit leads, our prayers will change from seeking things to seeking Him. Prayer sets the stage for anything to come. WHEN HANNAH prayed for a son, she set the stage for things to come. She sought God in prayer, not knowing what she would find. However, Hannah got a son and a priest (1 Sam. 1:20). IN ANTIOCH, while some prophets and teachers worshipped and fasted, God said to them, “Set Barnabas and Saul apart for me. I want them to do the work for which I called them.” (Acts 13:2) The value of persistent prayer is not that God will hear us, but that we will finally hear God - William McGill. Prayer unlocks the power of God. HEROD put Peter in prison, but constant prayers were offered for him by the church. The night before his trial, an angel of the Lord appeared to him and told him to leave. As he walked, the gates opened until he was out of prison (Acts 12:5-17). The strength of a people is seen in their posture to prayer. Your attitude to prayer reflects your commitment to God. Prayer isn't just bended knees. Luke 18:10 tells the story of two men—a Pharisee and a tax collector who went to pray. The Pharisee stood and prayed: I am not like the other people. He made himself the standard and flouted his self-righteousness before God. The tax collector stood at a distance and asked God for mercy. He had bended knees and a humble heart (Luke 18:10-14). He went home justified. Success in life is a product of prayers. IT TAKES continuity to have the right association and a proper selection to have the right people. Jesus had many people around him, but he needed a few. So, he prayed all night to the Father. At daybreak, he chose the twelve disciples (Luke 6:12-16). Jesus sought the Father’s will. Prayer must be everywhere—on the bed, in the car, while you walk, and many more. It must have dominance. WHENEVER you pray, you're asking God to intervene. Whenever you seek the Will of God, you're asking God to dominate your life. John the Baptist said he must decrease that Jesus might increase (John 3:30-35). He understood it was time to leave the scene. His job was done. No wonder Jesus called him the greatest (Matt. 11:11). JESUS told Peter that Satan had planned to sift him, but he had prayed for him. Prayer is the first way to fight your battle. Bringing it Together EVERYTHING that's worthwhile is uphill. The world is mute when you turn to God. Every battle has a weapon. Ask God to show you.

THERE’S NO DOUBT that God wants to use you. The question is, Will you allow Him? Will you trust him when he speaks to you? Will you listen to his voice when he instructs you? Will you follow him when he leads you? Abraham trusted God when he left his father’s house, seeking a city whose builder and architect is God. (Heb. 11:10) Moses listened to the voice of God when he returned to Egypt to perform all the wonders God gave him (Exod. 4:18; 7:7). Paul followed God’s leading when he saw a vision of the Man of Macedonia, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” (Acts 16:6-10) To allow God is to engage Him. WHEN YOU turn your head, your body turns, also. Where the head (Christ) goes, the body (church) follows. The body looks to the head for direction. No wonder Paul said: Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ (1 Corin. 11:1). How do you engage God? Paul engaged God through His Word. THE PEOPLE of Israel once told Ezra to read the Laws of Moses to them. He read it out loud from daybreak till noon, and they listened attentively (Neh. 8:1-3). When you cultivate the habit of reading the scriptures out loud, you’ll be amazed at the difference it makes. ANOTHER WAY to engage God through His Word is by speaking it to yourself—meditation (Josh 1:8). But God does not only want you to say it; he wants you to live it—and as you live it, he prospers you. (James 1:22-25; Josh. 1:8b). You engage God when you pray the scriptures. JESUS told his disciples when you pray, say, Our Father (Luke 11:1-4). The early church achieved two things as they prayed the scriptures directly (Acts 4:24:26). They meditated and reminded God of His Word. The Voice of the intercessor is louder than that of the accuser You can engage God through intercession. FOR WE do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. He helps us intercede according to the Will of God (Rom. 8:26-27). So, praying the heart of God gives you bearing. When you pray in The Holy Ghost, the fear of praying amiss is removed. No wonder his voice (as an intercessor) is louder than the one of the accuser. Praying in the Spirit gives you relevance You also engage God by breaking bread. COMMUNION reminds us of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (1 Corin. 11:23-26). So, anytime we break bread and share the cup, we acknowledge his work of redemption. Bringing it Together The effectiveness and efficiency of any believer hinge on the ability to engage God. Be careful not to crowd out the important while you pursue the urgent. Have a great week!

IT IS ONE THING to understand your season; it is another to know how to work it. The sons of Issachar understood the times and knew what Israel should do (1 Chronicles 12:32). However, the sons of the prophets understood their season when the axe head fell, but they did not know what to do (2 Kings 6:5-7). So, they called on Elisha, who knew what to do. WORKING your season will depend on what you know and do not know. So, how do you work your season? Acquire Knowledge THE SONS of Issachar had acquired knowledge. When people came calling, they were able to advise. The School of the Prophets was set up partly to pass knowledge from generation to generation (1 Sam. 10:5). THE YEARS of adversity Joseph faced were full of experiences in which he learnt to lead. He was in charge of Portiphar's house. In prison, he supervised his mates. Then, he became the second-in-command in Egypt (Gen. 38:3-10; 41:41). See a man diligent in his work; he will stand before kings, but not before mere men (Prov. 22:29). DAVID worked his season using his skills. He had the grace to worship. Whenever he played the harp, the demon tormenting the king left, and he was refreshed (1 Samuel 16:23). He also used the sling well. When he faced Goliath, he employed this skill and killed him (1 Sam. 17:50-53). WHATEVER field of endeavour you're in, you need to have sufficient knowledge to not only do what you do but to do it with excellence. Understand your season FOR THE EARTH yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, and then the full grain in the head. But he immediately puts in the sickle when the grain ripens because the harvest has come. (Mark 4:28) The farmer does not remove the sickle when it's just the blade. He brings it out during the harvest. Understanding gives you the responsibility to work your season. Honour your season You honour your season by not looking down on days of small beginnings (Zech. 4:10). WHEN RUTH stayed back with Naomi, it seemed there was nothing in it for her (Ruth 1:16). But she saw grace over Naomi's life and willingly built her future on a mother-in-law who saw nothing in herself. Ruth did right when things went wrong. ONAN despised his season. It was the culture of the Jews to give widows to their husbands' brothers to have children. Onan knew that the child would not be his, so whenever he slept with his brother's wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother. What he did was wicked in the Lord's sight, so the Lord put him to death ( Gen. 38:9-10). You honour your season by doing God's Will. Put good systems and structures in place. THIS APPROACH may be as simple as teaching your children how to do things or as big as pouring your life into people. When Abraham learnt that his nephew had been taken prisoner, he assembled 318 men to battle (Gen. 14:14). While the men rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem, those who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other (Neh. 4:17). Nehemiah and Abraham had systems and structures in place to build and battle. Work it faithfully—stop working it only when you're excited. IT'S EASY to praise God on the mountaintop but not in the valley. But the psalmist says: I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise will continually be in my mouth (Ps. 34:11). You cannot love him when things are exciting and hate him when things are tough. God wants you to pray and worship Him. Have the fear of God. THE TWO Hebrew midwives would not kill the male children because they feared the Lord (Exod. 1:17). They knew that they would be going against the plans and purposes of God. Bringing it Together HOW YOU handle your season will determine what you get out of it. If you're going to work your season as intended, you must learn to have God author anything you do. Enjoy the week ahead.

THERE IS NO DOUBT that we pride ourselves in knowledge and think we know so much. However, we are humbled when we realize how little we know and blown away when God shows us another part of Himself. PETER, JAMES and JOHN were in awe when Jesus was transfigured, and they saw Elijah and Moses talking to him (Mark 9:2-8). They had been with Jesus but never saw him this way. EVERY ENCOUNTER you have with God is meant to make you revere God and know him more. It may be as simple as talking to Him or as great as God speaking to you. It doesn't have to be spectacular. It just has to be revelatory. JESUS SAID and DID things that people around him might know that the Father sent him. What do you gain when you do things a certain way? What is your motive for doing them? Is it so that people will see you or that God will take pleasure in you? MARY and MARTHA took pleasure in Jesus. They sent for him because their brother, Lazarus, was sick. And when Jesus was about to leave where he was, he told his disciples, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep. I go to wake him up." Jesus used sleep as a metaphor for death. Then he became explicit: "Lazarus died. And I am glad for your sake that I wasn't there. You're about to be given new grounds for believing. Now let's go to him." (John 11:1-15) Every challenge and encounter with God is a new ground for believing. MARY and MARTHA understood this, they knew he had the power to save Lazarus. But Jesus delayed in coming—and when he got to Bethany, Lazarus had already died for four days. If you had been here, Lazarus wouldn't have died. I know whatever you ask God, he will give you. I know he will be raised in the resurrection at the end time. You don't have to wait until the end. Right now, I am the resurrection and the life. (John 11:17-24) Jesus loved Lazarus enough to be late. LORD, he has been dead for four days; the stench will be unbearable. Remember, I told you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God. And Jesus called Lazarus out. Death could not hold him down because Jesus needed him. With God, delay isn’t denial. MANY JEWS took pleasure and believed in Jesus when he raised Lazarus from the dead, but some left and told the Pharisees. And Caiphas, the high priest for that year, planned how to catch Jesus. (John 11:45-49) But Jesus knew everything. He knew that Judas would betray him. DESPITE the challenges before him, Jesus was full of gratitude. He gave thanks at the grave of Lazarus. He did the same when he fed the five thousand. (John 11:41-42; 6:11) Six days before Passover, Jesus appreciated it when Mary anointed him with an expensive perfume. When Judas took offence, Jesus said she anointed him for burial. (Mark 14:8-9) AS THE PASSOVER approached, people talked about Jesus—waiting to see him in Jerusalem. The Pharisees and Chief Priests ordered that if anyone knew his whereabouts, they should report it so that they could arrest him. (John 11:57) They did not understand that you take a side when choosing. But Jesus knew he took a side when he chose to die. And the Father loves him because he laid down his life that he might take it again. (John 10:17) JESUS had low moments. Once, he told Philip and Andrew that his spirit was low and unsettled. How can I ask the Father to save Me from this hour? This hour is the purpose for which I have come into the world. But I can say this: "Father, glorify Your name!" (John 12:26-28) In the Garden of Gethsemane, he told his disciples that his soul was overwhelmed with sorrow. (Matt. 26:38) He was sorrowful, yet he prayed for you. Some of the best moments to pray and break bread are when you’re overwhelmed with sorrow. Jesus prayed that the glory the Father gave to him would be passed onto you. He also called on his Father to love you the way he (Jesus) loves you. (John 17:22-23) The Father’s love for him knows no bounds. So, this is the greatest prayer. His prayer was mostly for you. AFTER his prayer, they arrested him and took him away. The following day, they sentenced him to death and nailed him to the cross. Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice. But on the third day, he rose again from the dead. (1 Cor. 15:4) Nothing could hold him back. Bringing it Together WHEN JESUS sees sickness, he sees a chance to heal. When he sees filth, he sees a chance to clean. When he sees sins, he sees an opportunity to forgive. His death on the cross was an opportunity to save you. Now that he's paid the prize, he's offering you the gift of forgiveness. Give your life to Him. Happy Easter!

TWO THINGS in life determine how far you go: the things you believe about God and what God thinks about you. God's beliefs about you will define your relationship with Him (Gen. 18:19). And your beliefs about God will give God an impression of you (1 Kings 8:17-18). Whichever way you view it, your thoughts are important to God and should also matter to you. No wonder Paul warns that you should take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corin. 10:5). You ensure that whatever you think gives God pleasure. TO IMPRESS is to gain the admiration or respect of someone—to be in their good book. Cain did not find God's admiration when he offered his sacrifice. God rejected it ( Gen. 4:3-7). However, Abel gained God's acceptance by offering his sacrifice by faith. (Heb. 11:4). The question is, who gains when faith is present? Who profits when doubt is absent? If you can answer these questions correctly, dealing with temptation will be easy. DOUBT was absent when Isaac stayed and sowed in the land (Gen. 23:12-36). Faith was present when Abraham did not consider his body now dead nor the deadness of Sarah's womb (Rom. 4:19). So, faith is accepting the ability of God. Wherever faith takes you, hope is present. And wherever God is present, there's always hope (Ps. 147:11). HOPE came to the fore when God said to Paul: As you have testified of me in Jerusalem, you will do the same in Rome (Acts 23:11). His desire to know God and make Him known did not go unnoticed. GOD gave Paul the lives of everyone on the ship. He also kept them alive in a shipwreck. And when a viper bit him, he shook it off and threw it into the fire without ill effects (Acts 23:8). OBEDIENCE gives you relevance with God and ensures you do not die before your time. You become significant to God when all you see is Him. For example, Saul could not take David's life because God kept him from harm (1 Sam. 18:10-11). God protected him as he was part of his plan. You become significant to God when all you see is Him. HE WENT through life, building the capacity to receive what God wanted to give him. His longing for God grew as he sought God in difficult times. If you are to achieve anything as a believer, your conviction in God must go deeper. THE SCRIPTURES in your head will only do so much to you if you accept them. It's the truth you are grounded in that you will walk in, and it's the same truth that will change your life. If the Holy Spirit will remind you of anything, it's the truth you have read. (John 14:26) Obedience is when your heart agrees with what your mouth says. The Woman with the Issue of Blood believed that if she touched the hem of Jesus' garment, she would be whole (Luke 8:43-48). She must have muttered this thought to herself repeatedly—this is how you meditate. Faith makes you speak. (2 Cor. 4:13). Final Thought THE DISTANCE you go with God depends greatly on how you see and think of Him. See God with the eye of faith, and your perspective on life will be different.

YOU CAN ONLY know how limited you are if you see yourself beyond where you are. Hannah saw how limited she was when she desired a child. (1 Sam. 19:10) Elisha knew it was a changing season when Elijah threw his mantle on him (1 Kings 19:19-21). Peter saw himself beyond being a fisherman when Jesus met him ( Matt. 4:19). Submission matters WHEN JESUS told Peter to cast his net into the lake, Peter said they had toiled all night and caught nothing (Luke 5:5-7). His frustration came when he heard what he had never seen. He was the expert, but Jesus was the visionary. The connection was submission. Elisha could only benefit from Elijah once he submitted to his leadership. To understand your season of life, you must be flexible and submit to God's leading. Know Your Past NO MATTER how well you've done in the past, your future lies in wait. Many people you do not know are waiting for you to manifest God’s glory. Mordecai understood this when he said to Esther: "And who knows, but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:4) David knew this when he told Saul that the Lord who delivered him from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear would deliver him from the hand of this Philistine (1 Sam. 17:37) Elisha understood that his past was for reference; his future would be his residence. To know the past is to understand it, and understanding the present shapes the future. Your past is for reference; your future is your residence Trust God THE CHALLENGE most believers have is translating the written word to daily living. David took notice and said: “Deep within me have I hidden Your word so that I might not sin against You (Ps. 119:11).” Walking with God is trusting Him in the trenches of daily living. Moses had to trust God to understand his season of life. There were people life had taught Elisha to trust, too—the family he had depended on and the friends he had spent time with. However, he had to trust Elijah to move into the next phase of his life. So he was attentive and focused. Know Yourself TO UNDERSTAND yourself, you may have to risk being embarrassed. Zaccheus had to climb a sycamore tree to see Jesus (Luke 19:1-10). Joseph was scolded when he shared his dream with his family (Gen. 37:10). Peter risked embarrassment when he walked on water and began to sink (Matt. 14:28-29). But he never stopped asking questions and desiring Jesus. Elijah gave an unfriendly response when Elisha made his request. Everything God gives comes in measures Desire God ELISHA understood that Elijah had much to give. So, he asked for a double portion anointing. Nonetheless, Elijah did not scold him. He only said: You have asked for a difficult thing (2 Kings 2:10). Someone said: The things of God are first impossible, then difficult and finally, possible. It was difficult, but God made it possible. Obedience Profits GOD IS MOST impressed by obedience because that is where he is most glorified. Obedience can be as simple as telling the truth or as hard as trusting God with the future. Abraham believed in God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. (Gen. 15:6) Elisha trusted God with his future, and God rewarded him. Grace is all you need EVERYTHING God gives comes in measures, dimensions and stages. There was so much grace over Paul’s life. Handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, their illnesses were cured, and the evil spirits left them. (Acts 19:11-12) Luke said with great power, the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of Jesus, and great grace was upon them. (Acts 4:33) If you understand that anything God gives is in measure, your attitude to asking will change. You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet, but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God (Jam. 4:2). He wasn't desiring an anointing for nothing but for something. Holy Ghost SOMETIMES, manifestations of the Holy Spirit make you do strange things. When Jacob prayed for Joseph's sons, he crossed his hands. He placed his right hand on the younger and his left hand on the older (Gen. 48:18-20). You need the Holy Spirit to tell you what to do. When you learn to do so, you'll talk like Paul, who said; I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13). Prayer is therapeutic. PAUL did not understand the season of life when he had a thorn in his flesh. So he prayed. And God said to him: My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is perfect in weakness. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, reproaches, needs, persecutions, distresses, for Christ's sake. When I am weak, I am strong (2 Cor. 10:8-10). Paul took pleasure because he understood his season. Final Thought YOU CAN NEVER be right by choosing God's wrong. You can never go wrong choosing God's right. Know that choosing the thing with the least resistance will lead to mediocrity.

IF YOU CANNOT see God in your situation, perhaps you do not know him. However, if you’ve read the Bible lately, you’ve seen God show up in people’s circumstances. God provided himself a lamb when he told Abraham to sacrifice his son. (Gen. 22:8) He was the fourth man in the fire when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into it. (Dan. 3:24-26) God shut the lion’s mouth when Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den. (Dan. 6:22) And Jesus was made the wisdom from God unto us. (1 Cor. 1:30) AT THE BURNING BUSH, God did things differently. (Exod. 3:3) He told Moses to remove his shoes because where he stood was holy ground. God is holy. (1 Sam. 2:2) WE LIVE in a time when people talk of evolution. Some say the Bible should evolve so they can change the scriptures and twist them. However, God does not evolve, so his Word does not change. God is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Mal. 3:6). God does not become; He is who He is. TRUTH IS constant no matter where you take it. If it's a personal truth, it’s likely twisted. That was what Saul did when his soldiers took the accursed things. He said they spared the animals’ lives to use them for sacrifice. And Samuel said to him: Be certain of this: that obedience is better than sacrifice, to heed His voice is better than offering the fat of rams. (1 Sam. 15:22) God does not become; He is who He is. YOUR SERVICE to God must be based on loyalty and not profit. A broken and contrite heart, God will not refuse. (Ps. 51:17) WE MIGHT THINK that God wanted obedience to a set of rules, whereas He wants people of a particular sort - CS Lewis. God wants a people of obedience. He demonstrated this in his Son—and being found in human form, he (Jesus Christ) humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Phil. 2:8) IT IS BETTER to be divided by truth than be united by error. It is better to speak the truth that hurts and then heals than to speak falsehood that comforts, then kills. It is not love; it is not friendship if we fail to declare the whole counsel of God - Adrian Rogers. Jesus is the whole counsel of God. (John 14:6) YOU CAN want the prospect but not the reality. You can love the corridors of the Kingdom and not the Lord of the Kingdom. YOU CANNOT call yourself a believer and not live the reality of it. You can only have God when you want all of Him. Final Thought YOU MUST COME out of the mindset that you can put one foot inside and the other outside. TO KNOW GOD is to love him, and to love him is to depart from iniquity. Have a great week!

EVERYTHING that happens to you happens for a reason. It offers you a story and gives you a revelation. For example, the disciples were devasted when Jesus died. Some stayed indoors, while two left for the village of Emmaus. (John 20:19-28) As they walked and talked, Jesus joined them. But they were kept from recognizing him. And when they got to the village, they invited him to stay. Inside their home, Jesus gave thanks and broke bread. Then, their eyes were open. (Luke 24:13-29) Their challenge told a story not only about Jesus but also about them. It Reveals Your Faith. WHEN YOU face difficulties, one thing you do is pray. You pray that God will shorten the time. You pray that he will soothe the pain and show you a way of escape. You pray that God will stop the adversity. However, to pray to someone you do not see requires faith. FAITH is believing in advance what can only be understood in reverse - Chuck Swindoll. Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him as righteousness. (Gal. 3:6) The Woman with the Issue of Blood believed that if she touched the hem of Jesus' garment, she would be whole. (Luke 8:43-44) You have to believe to receive. It Reveals Your Trust in God. WE DON'T gain Jesus' trust by simply believing in Him. Friendship with the Lord is reserved for those who fear Him - John Bevere. The fear of God is the recipe for holiness. NOAH feared God and lived a blame-free life. No wonder when God looked down, he saw that Noah was holy. (Gen. 6:9) He trusted God to live beyond the flood. The fear of God is the recipe for holiness RAHAB knew adversity was imminent. So, she took her fear to the people of God. She put her life on the line to save them—and trusted them to keep their promise. (Josh. 2:1-24) You cannot walk with God without trusting Him. It Shows Where Your Allegiance Lies. GOD DOES not need a test to know how faithful you are. However, you need a test to see where your allegiance lies. The night Jesus was betrayed, he told his disciples they would fall away. Though they all fall away, I will not, Peter replied. And Jesus said to him, "The rooster will not crow this day until you deny three times that you know me." (Matt. 26:31-35) Peter said he wouldn't. But when it happened, he remembered and wept bitterly. (Matt. 26:69-75) It Reveals Your Friends. BE CAREFUL how you celebrate a victory. You may be hurting some people. David had just killed Goliath when the women of Israel sang his praise, but King Saul was very angry. (1 Sam. 18:7) Over time, he wanted to take David's life. But Jonathan, the king's son, stood by him. (1 Sam. 20:42) It Reveals Your Purpose. WE ARE NOT just thrown on this earth as dice tossed across a table. We are lovingly placed here for a purpose -. Chuck Swindoll. When Esther was sent to the harem, that was sufficient. For fear of persecution, her uncle advised her to keep her family background and identity a secret. (Esther 2:20) But when adversity came, Mordecai said to her: If you stay silent during this time, deliverance for the Jews will come from somewhere, but you, my child, and all of your father's family will die. And who knows? Perhaps you have been made queen for such a time as this. (Esther 4:14) Esther discovered her purpose in her trying time. She realized that she was made for more. It Reveals The Future. IN AN ATTEMPT to help his people, Moses killed an Egyptian and ran to Midian. Forty years later, God met him at the burning bush. (Exod. 3:1-5) The mental fog over him dissipated. He saw as God intended. Moses realized that God was his future. It Makes You Focus. WE VIEW our slight, short-lived troubles in the light of eternity. We see our difficulties as the substance that produces an eternal, weighty glory far beyond all comparison because we don't focus our attention on what is seen but on what is unseen. (2 Cor 4:16-18) Final Thought GOD ALLOWS your challenges because he wants you to seek Him. Your challenges create an awareness that makes you see yourself in the light of God. They open the door to the supernatural, allowing you to see God's other dimension.

THE ENEMY knows the scriptures like you do. He quoted them to Jesus and will likely do the same to you. But he's unable to comprehend how far God is willing to go to protect his own. He saw a bit of it when God saved Noah from the flood. (Heb. 11:7) Then, he saw the full force of God when he raised Jesus from the dead. (Mk. 16:5-7) GOD HAS PUT all you need in place to make you succeed. His divine power has given you everything you need to experience life and to reflect God's true nature through the knowledge of the One who called you by His glory and virtue. (2 Pet. 1:3) PAUL realized this and said: I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13) Paul knew he was made for more. ESTHER understood that her life wasn't ordinary when Mordecai told her: Perhaps you were made for such a time as this. (Esther 4:14) PAUL encouraged Timothy to stir up the gift of God in him because he knew Timothy was made for more. (1 Tim. 1:6) I DO NOT KNOW what life has offered you. But I do know that your life can be better. So, if you think you have achieved enough and you plan to sit back or quit, you will cap your growth and die spiritually. WHEN ELIJAH ran from Jezebel, he wanted to die. The Angel of the Lord came to him. He baked Elijah some cake and brought him some water. Then, God instructed Elijah on what to do. (1 Kings 19:6-19) God told him to anoint Hazael as king over Aram, Jehu, son of Nimshi, as king over Israel, and Elisha, son of Shaphat, to succeed him. God made him understand that he wasn't done with him. PEOPLE are bound to question your resolve and your dream when they do not understand God the way you do. If this is your story, know you're not alone. But understand there are things the natural man cannot comprehend. Only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit is saying. (1 Cor. 2:14) JOSEPH's FAMILY could not comprehend how they would bow to him, considering he was the youngest. However, Joseph saw himself beyond his bedroom. He understood the only place he could not go was where the grace of God would not take him. He knew that he was made for more. JOSEPH's DREAM seemed mundane, but he believed in it. He believed in God's plan for his life. Joseph thought he was destined for greatness. His brothers conspired and sold him into slavery, and they wondered what would become of his dream. (Gen. 37:19-26) Unbeknownst to them, God had Joseph where he wanted him. The only place you cannot go is where the grace of God will not take you HE IS GOD, and we are not. Nothing comes to him as a surprise. His sovereignty makes him know the end of a matter from the beginning. (Isa. 46:9-10) So he can make things work according to His plan. When the enemy ends his plot, God starts his process. HAVE YOU ever wondered if your challenge is where God wants you? Pray that he will open your eyes. So you'll see the stability that prayers bring to your life. WHEN YOU are sensitized by something, you look for it. From the moment Joseph had the dream, he positioned himself by walking in obedience. He knew that his future lay in the sacrifices he was willing to make. ANY REVELATION or word you receive from God creates an awareness and heightens your expectations. As your anticipation rises, so must be your obedience. Joseph’s engagement became a chance to please God. Every opportunity resulted in a manifestation of his inner man. (Gen. 39) AT A TIME, the word of God was scarce in Israel, and Hannah was barren. Her physical state mirrored the spiritual state of Israel. But she knew she was made for more than life had offered. So, she cried out to God in prayer and made a vow. If you give me a son, I will give him to you all day of his life. (1 Sam. 1:11) Hannah discovered what she needed to do in prayer. You'll never know what you find when you spend time with God in prayers. Final Thought WHEN YOU know you're made for more, it will transform your present and shape your future. Prayer points for the week: God, open my eyes to see who I am? What will you have me do? Place me where you want me. Start your process with me. Let me know your move. Give me an understanding as I pray. God help me see that I am made for more.

ONE can only live a life of significance by first identifying what's important and pursuing it. When you recognize it, you have something to work for. When you seize what's important, you have something to hope for. When you identify it, you have someone to live for. Recognize what is important. NEHEMIAH recognized the hand of God over him. So, he trusted God to find favour with King Artaxerxes and return to build the walls of Jerusalem. (Neh. 1:1-7) Seize the Moment. ABRAHAM identified God's plan for his life and hoped for a city with foundations whose builder and maker is God. (Heb. 11:10) Identify what is crucial. ESTHER understood the purpose of God and put her life on the line to save her people from destruction. (Esther 4:15-16) Each one had faith and put in work. (Jam. 2:17-26) They recognized it and did something about it. When you identify what's important, you have somene to live for. Know God for yourself. THE DISCIPLES of Jesus had been with him for some time when he asked: Who do you say I am? Peter replied: You are Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus turned and said: Flesh and Blood have not revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. (Matt. 16:13-20) This is not from you Peter. No human has a revelation of me. You couldn't have known me without a revelation from God the Father. Seek God. MOSES could not understand him until God appeared in the burning bush. (Mk. 12:26) Jacob knew little about God until God wrestled him and changed his name. (Gen. 32:34) Saul of Tarsus realized he was fighting God when he heard a voice say: Why do you persecute me? (Acts 9:4) No one meets God without God choosing to meet with him. JESUS said: The Father has handed over everything to My care. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son—and those to whom the Son wishes to reveal the Father. (Matt. 11:27) You can surmise that without a revelation from God, you cannot know Him. How does God reveal Himself? GOD REVEALS himself through our situations. Isa. 43:2 says: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. When you know him, you talk about him. David prayed: Because I dwell in the secret place of the Most High. I will abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (Ps. 91:1-2) He understood that God was his safe place. GOD MAKES himself known through the pages of the scriptures. But you can read them and still not know him. The young ruler read the Torah and kept the commandments from his youth. Yet, something was still missing. (Mk. 10:17-27) If you read the Bible as a storybook, you'll learn nothing. So what do you need? YOU NEED the Holy Ghost to reveal God's life through the scriptures' pages. Before Jesus went to the cross, he told his disciples it was expedient for him to go. Without him leaving, his Spirit will not come. (John 16:7) The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Cor. 3:4-6) You can ask Him to teach you. It would be best to consciously employ the ministry of the Holy Spirit in every area of life. Philippians 1:19 calls him the Spirit of Jesus. 1 Cor. 2:12 says: What we have received is not the Spirit of the world, but the Spirit from God, so we may understand what God has freely given us. To understand the things of God, you need the Holy Spirit, who searches the deep things of God. (1 Cor. 2:10) What is important? YOUR RELATIONSHIP with God is important to him. It gives you relevance. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says,  For our sake he (God) made him (Jesus Christ) to be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. He wants you reconciled to Him. How do you do this? GOD WANTS you to confess your sins and invite Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. I would love you to share your testimonies if you have done this. God bless you!

IT IS A CLICHÉ in some settings to say: I know God. But wouldn't it be better to say, God knows me? The first statement is an assumption; the second is God's affirmation. My assumption could be wrong, but God's affirmation can only be right. IN THE DAYS of Noah, the people were bad. They were corrupt, and their actions were continually evil. However, Noah was righteous and blameless. He walked faithfully with God, and God knew him. (Gen. 6:9) His covenant with God was a two-way street. His focus was fixed. How can you touch the heart of God? NOAH touched the heart of God by being faithful to him. And when a man does this, God does not hold back. For example, God did not hold back when David had it in his heart to build him a house. God sent Prophet Nathan to him, saying: The Lord will establish a house for you: When your days are over, and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise your offspring to succeed you, your flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. (2 Kings 6:12-14) God is touched when we are delighted in him. What determines God's interaction with people? EVERY RELATIONSHIP  has a depth of intimacy. The depth of intimacy with God will dictate his interaction with you. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” He is the God of reciprocity. Enoch walked with God and was not because God took him. (Gen. 5:24) God would rather have him come home and be with him. When God saw that Noah was faithful, he shared his heart with him. Faithfulness is a sign of trust. He found Abraham worthy and couldn't hide what he was about to do from him. (Gen. 18:17-19) You can never know God without spending time with him. You can only hear him if you listen to him. When God came to Elijah on the mountain, he could tell that God was not in the wind, he was not in the earthquake neither was he in the fire. But he heard the still small voice of God because he listened. (1 Kings 19:9-18) God is ready to share things with you, but you must be willing to fellowship with him. He must be convinced that you want him. When you set aside a time to meet with God, he's there waiting for you. Knowing God and serving Him before we come to love Him is exhausting - Beth Moore. The depth of intimacy with God will dictate his interaction with you. Why is ownership important? THE PRESENCE of obedience indicates responsibility. And responsibility is taking ownership. Nehemiah took ownership of Israel's sins. (Neh. 1:4) However, Eli did the opposite. He should have corrected his sons when they were wrong. Hophni and Phinehas were irresponsible and disrespectful. They trashed and denigrated the things of God. Rather than speak to Eli, the old prophet, God spoke to his assistant, the boy, Samuel. (1 Sam. 3:1-14) God would share secrets with someone he can trust. Can he trust you? Why does God reject people? THE REASON God will not share certain things with people is that they have fallen out of grace or he has found them irresponsible. Saul fell out of grace because he disobeyed God's command. (1 Sam. 15:23) I pray that your life will continually give God pleasure. Knowing God will be nothing without him knowing you Are you a friend of God? YOU CANNOT call God your friend when what matters to him does not mean anything to you. If you are a friend of God, your relationship with him will influence every aspect of your life. Your beliefs will show up in all you do. Your desire to put him first will become your priority; you'll know you are wired differently. And you will be uncomfortable when you miss it. David was restless when he sinned. (Ps. 51:11-12) If you are a friend of God, you'll know you are wired differently. Does God know you? JESUS SAID: "Simply calling Me "Lord" will not be enough. Only those who do the will of My Father in heaven will join Me in heaven." (Matt. 7:21) The secret to spending eternity with God is God's Will. Final Thought THINK DEEPLY when you think you know God because knowing God will be nothing without God knowing you.

SOMETIMES, people ask for your name to put a face to it. Others ask for your name to know you better and remove the mystery surrounding you. So when next someone says: What is your name, don't be afraid. God called the light day and the dark night. He made two great lights and commanded the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to rule the night. (Gen. 1:3; 16) God gave them names to express themselves. NAOMI changed her name to express her grief. She lost the men in her life and couldn't see beyond the sorrow. So, she said, "Do not call me Naomi (sweetness); call me Mara (bitter), for the Almighty has caused me great grief and bitterness. (Ruth 1:20) However, her daughter-in-law, Ruth, knew she could have pain and purpose in life. Your name can cause you pain. EVERYWHERE Jabez went, he caused pain. So he prayed. "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." (1 Chron. 4:10) And God granted his request. Jabez could not choose his past, but he selected his future. Your name paints a picture. ICHABOD came at a time when things were dire. His dad and uncle had just died in a war, and the Ark of God had been taken. His grandpa heard the story, fell backward, broke his neck and died. His mom was in so much pain and went into early labour. And she called her baby Ichabod; the glory has departed. (1 Sam. 4:21-22) May the glory of God never depart from your life. Jabez could not choose his past, but he selected his future Your name tells a story. ABRAM was ninety-nine when God appeared and told him to walk before him and be blameless. (Gen. 17:1-2) Then, God made a covenant with him. God changed Abram and Sarai's names to tell a story. Both of them would be parents to nations, and through them, the peoples of the earth will be blessed. God blessed them so that they might be a blessing. Some names are titles. JESUS had just sailed into the country of the Gadarenes when a madman with many demons walked into him. He cried out, fell before Him, and loudly said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me." What is your name? (Luke 8:30) He said: "Legion," because many demons had entered him. The name Lucifer is a title. It means son of the morning. Devil means demons. Some names are concerning. WHEN Rebekkah was pregnant with her twins, the two of them struggled with each other in the womb. She sought God's face and learnt that they were two nations. One will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger. AT BIRTH, the older one had red skin and was covered with hair. So, the parents called him Esau. The younger came out holding the heel of the older. The parents called him Jacob (heel or deceiver). AS THEY grew, Esau came home famished one day. He wanted Jacob’s food. So Esau sold Jacob his birthright for a stew pot. And Rebekkah helped him steal the blessing. When Esau realized that his brother had stolen his birthright, he planned to kill him. Jacob had to leave home for fear that Esau would hurt him. So, he went to his uncle, Laban. AFTER YEARS of living away from home, God told him to return. But Jacob was afraid. He was fearful because of what he had done. Jacob realized that choices come with consequences. And consequences are not easy to manage. So, he prayed that God would rescue him from his brother. (Gen. 32:9-12) Some names indicate a change of season. HE sent his wives and children ahead and was alone. People are usually alone when God gets their attention. Jacob was at the end of himself. A MAN came to wrestle with him till the break of dawn. When the man noticed Jacob wouldn't let go, he dislocated his hip. And Jacob said: "I will not let you go unless you bless me." (Gen. 32:26) He knew that despite his enlargement, something was missing. Jacob understood that despite the father’s blessing, something wasn't right. He was quick to play a fast one on people. You cannot look to the One bigger than you until you realize that you are not there yet. THE MAN he wrestled asked: What is your name? Jacob, he replied. Your name will no longer be Jacob. You'll be called Israel now because you have fought with God and men and won. (Gen. 32:28) You cannot look to the One that's bigger than you until you realize that you are not there yet WHEN God asks you a question, he draws your attention to something. God asked Adam where are you? (Gen. 3:9) It wasn't that God couldn't see him. Adam was distant from God because he had sinned. He asked Cain: Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? (Gen: 4:6) God called on Elijah: What are you doing here? (1 Kings 19:8-15) It was a moment of awakening. He was displeased with Elijah’s flight, and he wanted him to come to his senses. So I ask: What is your name? Jacob had to come to this place of revelation to walk into fullness. PHILIPPIANS 2:8 says: God has given Jesus a name above every name -- that every knee shall bow at the name of Jesus. God revealed Jesus. Now, Jesus is revealing the Father. And he wants to give you a name. He wants to make you a son of God. To become one, you must believe in Jesus and accept him as Lord and Saviour. Then, you can bear his name. Merry Christmas!