God Provides

A fortnight ago, I discovered that the water pump had been running for a while without the overhead tank filling up, usually when it fills up, it overflows and then we put off the water pump. But on this Sunday, the water pump kept running for close to 40 minutes. 

My husband decided to check the overhead tank to see if there was any debris blocking the pipes. He couldn’t find anything, but noticed that the little water flowing into the tank was not clear. It was like a colloidal solution.

We called the plumber and he decided to check the underground tank, where the water was being pumped out from, only to discover it was nearly dry. Apparently, the State water supply system had some challenges and water supply to the whole area was cut off for about three weeks.

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The plumber advised that we buy water which costs about NGN12000 for a full tank. Quickly my husband ordered for it, because our reserves were already running out. In three days, the water we bought was used up, hubby and I were already thinking on how to sustain this unbudgeted expenses, since we were not sure when the problem with the State water supply would be rectified.
Before this event, I was reading a book God’s Generals by Roberts Liardon, I read about FF Bosworth, who when confronted with scarcity of food in his household, began to shout “glory” even to the empty bread box.

Excerpt: When there was no food left, Fred Bosworth would stick his head into the empty bread box and shout, “Glory!” at the top of his lungs. Then, Estelle and little Vivien would do the same. God always provided!

I told my husband about his experience and we also decided to put our faith to work, and not to worry about the issue. I committed the matter to the Lord, and thanked Him for an answer, I also asked the children to pray and trust God for a miracle. Meanwhile, my husband was already making plans to order for another full tank of water.

The next day, on my way back from work, strolling down the street, I noticed water was flowing in the drainage a few blocks away from the house. When I got home, I noticed water was flowing into the underground tank also. The water supply had been restored! 

Glory to God in the highest! He will always come through, trust Him at all times.

He is part of the Family

Luke 12:6-7(NKJV)

6 “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins?[a] And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Last week Saturday, during my devotional time in the morning, my daughter came into my room, I asked her to go and read her Bible, specifically the book of Proverbs. She came back to tell me she couldn’t find her Bible, since I was having my quiet time, I said to the Holy Spirit “Please excuse me for a minute, let me attend quickly to the issue.” 

I went to her room and searched everywhere for her Bible, but couldn’t find it, we checked her Sunday school bag and it wasn’t there, I was tempted to get upset, because apparently she had forgotten her Bible in Sunday School class and wasn’t even aware, I decided to go back to my room and continue my quiet time with the Lord.

When I got back to my room, I asked the Holy Spirit to pardon me for keeping Him waiting, He said to me – I am part of the family- actively involved in everything that is going on in your home, so I asked Him to help us find the Bible, after that, He blessed me with His peace.

Philippians 4:6-7(NKJV)
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The next day Sunday, we all went to church, before the service started, I went to the ‘lost but found” Unit of the church to look for the Bible, it wasn’t there, I went to the Children Sunday School office, it wasn’t there either.  I went to my daughter’s Sunday School Class, and there I found the Bible on a chair with her Sunday School notebook.

I was grateful to the Lord for His care and for granting me peace, in the past I would have been very upset and anxious. He said even the hair on our head is numbered, that’s how much He cares for us. The Lord wants us to know that He wants to be involved in everything that concerns us, we need to acknowledge His presence and ask for His help. He is the present help in time of trouble. He is not just a guest in our homes, but an active member and Lord in our families.

My husband was amazed that I didn’t react as I would have done in the past on the day we discovered the Bible was missing. Well the secret is the Holy Spirit who gave me His peace that passes all understanding. 

I love the Lord!

What are you Focusing on? Are you Sin Conscious or God Conscious?

Romans 5:8 (NKJV)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

I usually take a short walk down the street to my house after closing from work, during these times, I like to pray in tongues or engage the Holy Spirit in conversations, so last week, as I was walking home I began to ask myself questions, my thoughts went thus… “I hope I didn’t commit any sin today”, “I hope I got everything right today”, my mind was focused on searching for any sin I had committed from morning until evening, the Holy Spirit suddenly interrupted my thoughts, He asked “Are you sin conscious or God conscious?” whilst it is not wrong to ask the Lord for forgiveness whenever we do wrong or fall short, it is wrong to keep our minds busy searching for sin continuously, what we behold is what we become.

If we keep focusing on our imperfections, we would never see or grasp what God has done for us. We are the righteousness of God in Christ in Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV)

21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

The word of God says …as we behold Him we become changed, not as we behold ourselves or imperfections.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV)

18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

This transformation occurs as we spend time in His presence, studying and meditating on His word, fellowshipping with Him and keeping our minds focused on the truth of His word.

Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Prayer

Dear Lord, please grant me grace to always keep my mind focused on you and your Word. In Jesus Name. Amen.

What are you Focusing on? – Heaven or Earth?

Mark 11:24 (NKJV)
Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Last week I wrote about being focused. Today, I want to share an experience I had some years ago, when I was still in the University.

In my fourth year in the University sometime in the second semester, I started thinking about accommodation in my final year (fifth year). Though as final year students, we were entitled to accommodation provided by the school. However, I didn’t plan to stay in school accommodation; I wanted to stay in a rented apartment on campus, because it was more convenient and would help me concentrate more on my studies and project work, since there would be fewer people in the apartment.

My desire was to live in a rented Lecturers’ Boys’ Quarters (BQ) which was a prime area for students. I didn’t know of any lecturer to approach and make my request, but I have my heavenly Father. I prayed about it and asked the Lord to also give me 2 young ladies whose lives He wanted to touch as roommates.

Psalm 37:4-5 (NKJV)

4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

School resumed and I still hadn’t gotten a place to stay, I was going to school from my cousin’s house about 5 kilometers away. I trusted God and believed I would get a place. However, after a while, my faith started wavering, I was worried because there was no one to talk to about getting an accommodation. 

One morning before going to school, I began to talk to the Lord about the challenges I was facing. Guess what? The Lord said to me “In heaven, no one is worried or in panic about your accommodation challenges, there is a place for you.” I wondered - so heaven is not worried about my accommodation problem? I changed my prayers to “Lord direct me to the place you have provided already.” 

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Shortly after, I met an old friend who had just resumed also, she told me she was looking for a roommate, because she had rented a BQ from a lecturer and was looking for someone to share the apartment with. I couldn’t believe my ears. She also said she had contacted another person, but the lady hadn’t accepted the offer yet.

I told her I was ready to move in, and that was how I got a place to stay in my final year. The other lady she approached eventually accepted the offer.

The Lord answered my prayer as I had requested and it was a beautiful year for us. The Lord touched our lives and it was one of my best years in the University. 

God is interested in everything that happens in our lives, He has made provision for our needs and desires that are according to His will for us. Choose to trust Him and see Him manifest in our lives, in ways we can never imagine. Even when we falter in our faith walk, don't give up, go back to Him and receive clarity, direction and even grace to sustain you until the manifestation of His promise in your life.

Note: In heaven, no one is worried about our challenges, the Lord has made provision, even before the need ever arose. Stay focused on Him. It is finished!

What are you Focusing on?

Focus (noun)
1.
the centre of interest or activity.

2 Corinthians 4:18 (NKJV)
18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Last night I had a dream, I woke up this morning and couldn’t remember what it was. And I have no wisemen and magicians like Pharaoh or Nebuchadnezzar to issue an order to help me recollect my dream. So during my devotional time, I was trying very hard, digging into my memory bank to recall the dream. However the Holy Spirit interrupted my thoughts and said to me “I am here, why not focus on me, I am more important than the dream”. Suddenly it dawned on me that my devotional time, which I should have spent in fellowship with the Lord, I was being distracted by what I thought was more important, immediately I switched my thoughts and began to receive His thoughts for me for the day.

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Sometimes when I read reports of what is going on in the nations of the world, the conflicts and wars, murders, lack of direction exhibited by young people, I feel very sad. One day as I was thinking about these events, the Lord asked me to change my focus. He led me to:

Isa 6:2-3 (NKJV)
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
The whole earth is full of His glory!”

The whole earth is full of His glory, not was full or going to be full, but present continuously full of His glory!  
When we see things from His perspective, we would have no choice but to rejoice.
Elisha and his servant were surrounded by the Syrian army. Elisha’s servant was afraid, but Elisha asked the Lord to open the eyes of his servant and he saw things from a different perspective, which gave him courage.

2 Kings 6:15-16 (NKJV)
15 And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”
16 So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

We see this severally in the life of Jesus and his disciples. They had 5000 hungry men, excluding women and children who had just listened to Jesus’ message. A young boy had only five loaves and two fish, which could have been his lunch for the crusade he attended. But from heaven’s perspective, it was more than enough to feed the crowd. Jesus was not distracted by the problem or challenge. He lifted up His eyes and gave thanks; broke the bread and His disciples distributed the supply. At the end of the day, they had twelve baskets left.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, please help me to always see things from your perspective. Grant me grace to remain calm and trust you that you are in control of everything. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Count it all Joy

James 1:2-4 (NKJV)
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Last week Wednesday, I boarded the public bus to the office, the weather looked okay from the bus stop, but there were so many people at the bus stop and the traffic was heavy. I eventually got on the bus, well dressed for the crucial meeting I had in the office. Some few kilometres to the office, it started to rain heavily and I had no umbrella, I prayed quietly in my heart that the rain should stop, it did, but by the time I alighted from the bus, it started showering again, I was drenched in the rain.

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On arrival at the office, I sat at my desk, ready to change my flip-flops – I usually put my work shoes in my bag. To my surprise, I couldn’t find my work shoes, I had forgotten it at home. Here I am preparing for a meeting with pink flip-flops! I quickly asked a friend if she had some spare work shoes and she said she had taken it home. 

The meeting was to start by 2:00pm, so I had ample time to do something, as I was busy thinking about what to do, I remembered there was a store that sells shoes close to the office. I quickly walked down to the store and got myself a beautiful pair of black sandals that did the job for the day! (Hallelujah!)

In all these I see the hand of God guiding me that day, I was drenched in the rain without an umbrella, I forgot my work shoes at home, yet the Lord helped me figure out what to do and before the meeting, my wet clothes had dried. Initially I had began to feel distressed by the events of that morning, but I chose to rejoice inspite of it all and it was as I rejoiced that I remembered the store close to the office.

How we handle distressing circumstances in our walk with the Lord matters, we must choose the path of joy over complaining and murmuring or wearing a long face!

Prayer

Lord I asked that you grant me grace to rejoice in every situation. In Jesus Name. Amen.

The Lord is my Strength

Isaiah 40:30-31 (NKJV)
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, 31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength;They shall mount up with wings like eagles,They shall run and not be weary,They shall walk and not faint.

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Last night, as I lay on my bed, meditating on God’s goodness the Holy Spirit began to quicken these words in my heart, “they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength”, “when I am weak, then am I strong,” “for my strength is made perfect in weakness”.

Two weeks ago, I had some health challenges. During this period I felt very weak and my productivity level was low. I’m much better now and I thank God for healing me, but the energy is returning gradually, I wish it can happen faster…

Well, the Holy Spirit reminded me of Apostle Paul, who was left for dead after being beaten up by the Jews, yet in that state he was connecting heaven (Hallelujah!) The enemy meant it for evil, but it worked out for good! 

2 Cor 12:2-10 (NKJV)

2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. 6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I’m learning to draw from God’s strength, but I’ve come to realise that His strength is made perfect in our weakness, when I am weak, then I am strong. Let the weak say I am strong.

In our walk with the Lord, there will be times, when we become faint or tired, but the word of God says that during those times, we should wait upon the Lord.

We wait upon Him by spending time in His presence, seeking His face and fellowshipping with Him.

As we wait upon the Lord we exchange our weakness for His strength, then we mount up with wings as eagles. In His presence is FULLNESS (not half measure)of joy, No matter where you find yourself, don’t let anything steal your joy, look to Him, meditate on His goodness because the joy of Lord is your strength. 

The Lord is my strength!