Living a life of purpose (I)

Jeremiah 1:4 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

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God is a God of purpose, He created us for His pleasure, it is His desire that all we are and do would bring pleasure to Him.

Rev 4:11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honour and power; For You created all things, And for your pleasure they are and were created.

He also desires that the world would be reconciled back to Him through the sacrifice of Jesus. 

2 Cor 5:19 “For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.” (NLT)

Over the past few months, I’ve been seeking His face diligently to reveal His purpose and plans for my life, in order that I may walk in it in fullness, I’ve come to realize that He will not reveal everything thing to us at once, He wants to guide us step by step, the sun doesn’t just rise at dawn and go full blast like it’s midday, and as it is written, the path of the just is as a shining light that shines brighter unto the perfect day.

Prov 4:18 "But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day." (NKJV)

He unveils to us His plans as we mature in Him as it is also His desire for us to grow and become more like Him, He reveals to us by His Spirit, the much we can handle per time. If a child wants to become a lawyer or a doctor in future, the school is designed to help that child get the required education per time, no matter how much the child would want to be in the hospital attending to patients, he or she would have to go through the process of learning the ropes, taking the required exams, develop physically, mentally in order to handle the demands of being a doctor, a lawyer or any other profession.

The same way it is in our walk with God, we would have to keep growing, keep learning, keep moving with His Spirit and His word as our guide until we fully mature in character to handle some of the demands of the office or purpose for which He has called us, we need to be patient, have absolute faith in Him and expect that it is also His desire to take us to that place in His good time.

Along the way, we may pick up things that have been useful for a season and may try to hold on to it, we must learn to let go of those things, structures, systems and mindsets that would no longer be useful in the next phase or season for our lives.

Prayer
Heavenly Father I thank you for your love for me, thank you for your divine purpose for my life, grant me the grace to trust you absolutely for the outworking of your purpose for my life. Help me to remain in you and not be distracted, but to remain focused as you lead me in this journey of life. In Jesus Name. Amen

The Way Maker

Last month, I strolled into my children’s bathroom only to discover that the WC was out of order, water was leaking from the pipe below the toilet seat after flushing. We called a plumber to inspect and fix it.

The plumber said we would have to replace the pipe below the toilet seat and remove whatever item that must have blocked the passageway to the sewage system. We gave him money to replace the pipe, he did all he could do and the issue became worse. This time around after flushing the WC the whole bathroom floor became flooded with water. He advised that the only way to rectify the problem was to break the bathroom wall, locate and replace the entire piping system or create a new bypass along the wall (which would look awkward anyway).

His suggestion didn’t sit well with my husband and I and we ask him to give us some time to think about it. After the plumber left, I went to the bathroom and began to pray in tongues and declaring that the Lord is the Waymaker, asking and trusting Him to make a way through the pipe system whatever had blocked it should give way.

We got a second plumber about four days later and to the glory of God, the problem was solved without having to break down the walls of the bathroom or change the entire piping system of the WC.

God is interested in every detail of our lives, even things we consider as mundane. He made a way through the Red Sea, He will make a way for you because He is the Waymaker. In Isaiah 43:19 - He said I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert... He specializes in making the impossible become possible.

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Prayer

Heavenly Father, I thank you because there is nothing too hard for you to do! I receive grace to trust you at all times and to walk in the revelation knowledge that nothing is impossible for you. In Jesus Name. Amen.

The Dangers of Being at Ease in Zion - by Dr. Elvis Ukpaka

Friends, greetings in Jesus Name! Today I will be sharing with you on what I title, "The Danger of Being at Ease in Zion". Let me begin by saying that Christianity is a call to action. It's a call to take dominion. Unfortunately, you can't have dominion by sitting back on a rocking chair and sipping a cup of coffee. No! You have to conquer territories to achieve that. Meaning, there are battles to fight. You must roll up your sleeves and engage in warfare. It is unfortunate to note that many believers in Christ are at ease. Unknowingly, many are in captivity. It is pathetic that majority of Christians today do not understand spiritual warfare. They go about wallowing in ignorance. Joyfully, the enemy is having a field day because he thrives on people's ignorance. It's time to arise and take your stand. 

Listen, you can't afford to be sleeping at this hour. Why should you be at ease at the expense of your joy, peace, prosperity, good health, promotion, success, and all the good things of life that the Lord has earmarked for you? Why would you rather prefer to be bound in sickness and disease, failure, pain, and depression when you have power in the name of Jesus to overcome? Does it make sense? Really, you deserve the best things of life. But it won't fall on you with ease. There is a price to pay for it. You must arise and engage in warfare to reclaim what is yours that the enemy has stolen from you. Yes! There must be no retreat no surrender. Jesus has given you victory but the devil is still laying claim to it. So, you must arise and command Satan to get out, otherwise he will sit on your progress for as long as you keep mute. 

I was watching a preacher ministering on TV. Then he raised a prayer point and said, "O Lord, give my enemies basket to be fetching water - an unending assignment - that will keep them busy for eternity so they will forget about me." I laughed when I heard it. You know what? That prayer is dangerous! Why do I say so? The opposite is the case for many individuals. They are the ones assigned by Satan to be fetching water with basket. But that has to be reversed in Jesus Name. The bible said in 

Psalm 89:8, "O Lord of Hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto thee? Or to thy faithfulness round about thee?" 

According to Rick Joyner in his book, Breaking the Power of Evil, he said, "God is love, yet the most common title given to God in Scripture is The Lord of Hosts, which literally means the Lord of Armies." Therefore, if we call ourselves followers of the most high God, then we are in army. We are God's soldiers here on earth. What do soldiers do? They defend territories against intruders. So, why should you be in a docile state, not standing against the intruders militating against your life.

As a child of God, if you do not take up your place of authority, the enemy will undermine your power and authority given to you by God. 

Luke 10:19 says, "Behold, I give you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you." 

From the above scripture, it is evident that there are serpents and scorpions out there - not to favour you - but to hurt and harm you. Now, it takes a battle-like mindset to arise and stop them. You don't have to pretend that those things do not exist. They are out there on the streets with weapons in their hands, ready to fight against you. They don't care whether you are prepared or not, they are out to fight dirty and injure you. Therefore, you can't afford to be at Ease or Ignorant about their operations. As you go this week, raise your spiritual antenna to pick every satanic signal hovering around your environment, and then deal with it accordingly. 

Happy New year!

Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Welcome to the year 2019, we thank God for the privilege to be alive. It’s my prayer that we would continue to grow in our relationship with Him and be transformed more and more into His likeness.

Yesterday during my quiet time, the Holy Spirit dropped a word in my spirit– The Kingdom of God is…  righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. I let it sink in, even though it’s a word I’m familiar with. I was hoping that during the day, the word would continue to unfold and I would gain clarity as to what He is pointing at.

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After I rounded up my quiet time, I went to my room to take my bath and get ready for work. I discovered that the tap was not running, I went to the children’s bathroom and it was same.

I asked the housekeeper if she had pumped water to the tank the previous day and she said yes. Then I knew something was fishy, there must be a leaking tap somewhere. On getting to the guest room downstairs, while looking for the leaking tap, I found out that the place was flooded with water, the valve in the toilet tank was faulty and water had leaked out – a full overhead tank of water!

Already I was beginning to get upset, because I was running late for work, and I had planned to leave the house early enough to beat traffic and get to the office on time. Amid this chaos, the word the Holy Spirit dropped in my spirit rose up within me – The Kindgom of God is… righteousness, PEACE and JOY in the Holy Spirit. I chose by His enabling grace to align my emotions with the word of God. Thank God for the comfort of the spirit. I remained calm and my hubby found the central lock and turned it off, the water stopped leaking. We were able to pump water again into the overhead tank and I got to the office in good time.

In this I learnt that in whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, we must remember that the kingdom of God is within us and the Holy Spirit who lives in us is always there to help us overcome every negative emotion or reaction if we would yield to Him and His promptings, allowing the peace that flows from Him (…Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit) to permeate our soul. His grace is sufficient for us.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I thank you for our indwelling Spirit, help me to always respond rightly in every situation or circumstance I find myself that my life will reflect your glory. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Give Thanks

Psalm 100:4 (NKJV)
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 

It’s the end of the year again and as I reflect on the days gone by, I am full of thanksgiving to our Father God.
For saving me and for the precious gift of the Holy Spirit, His work in me and through me.

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The trials, the tests, the things I understand now and ones I’m yet to understand. 

God is faithful and I know that He has been good to all of us.
I pray that we will continue to seek Him daily and continue to draw near to Him.
He will indeed manifest (reveal) Himself to those who seek Him and keep His commandments as promised.

John 14: 21 (NKJV)
He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous 2019.

Our Walk with God - A Walk of Patience

Heb 10:36 - For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise (NKJV)

Walking with God involves patience, there are some promises the Lord has made to us that will not happen immediately, however we must understand that God is never late and not bound by time. 

Abraham received the promise of a son, and it took about twenty-five years for the promise to be fulfilled. It looked like it wasn’t going to happen and Abraham and Sarah decided to help make it come to pass and the result was Ishmael. However, God still fulfilled His promise to him.

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Waiting patiently is not easy on the flesh, because while you are waiting, the enemy will sometimes taunt you, thoughts of unbelief may overwhelm you, anxiety will also try to make you do things outside of God’s help as we see in the life of Saul who couldn’t wait for Samuel to come before offering an unlawful sacrifice.

1 Samuel 13:11-13
11 And Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, 12 then I said, ‘The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord.’ Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.”13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. (NKJV)

Pressure from people who mean well may also lead us astray as seen in the life of Sarah who asked her husband to take in her maid Hagar and Ishmael was born.

God expects us to wait patiently with the right attitude, He is also interested in what we are becoming during the process of waiting. 

James 1:4 Let patience have it’s perfect work in you that you may be perfect and entire lacking nothing. (NKJV)

He expects us to rejoice in hope - Romans 12:12 rejoicing in hope, patient[a] in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; (NKJV)

God’s word will surely come to pass, no matter how long it takes. It may not be there when you want it, but He is always on time.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father I ask that you grant me the grace to wait patiently for the fulfillment of your promises in my life. Help me to maintain a right attitude always. Thank you because your faithfulness is forever, and I know you will never fail. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Our walk with God – A walk of Love

In recent times, the Lord has been quickening this scripture in my heart – 

1 Peter 4:8 (NKJV)  And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 

In the Message translation it reads: Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything.

Love is God’s nature and He desires for His children to walk in love. One of the ways to walk in love is by the words we speak, our words should be filled with grace that edifies those who hear us.
Eph 4:29 (NKJV) Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

Our response to people who hurt us is to forgive, not wishing them evil or seeking revenge. Even when we see our enemies fall, we are not to gloat. The Word of God says we should love our enemies, pray for those who spitefully use us.

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1 Corinthians 13 summarizes the Love walk, Love is the fruit of the spirit and fruit takes time to develop. Same way we become more and more mature in our love walk. Philippians 1:9: And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment.

Walking in love is also walking the path of wisdom 
James 3:17 (NKJV) But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
To be continued…

PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father, I ask for grace to grow in love each day, help me to respond rightly to people I meet and situations I face daily.