A Good Night’s Sleep!

​I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me – Psa 3:5 (NIV)

How many times have we woken up, stretched ourselves and gone off into our daily chores without a shard of thought for the one who wakes us up from sleep? No, not your wife nudging you in the ribs, nor your kids trying to nestle under the covers with you on a Saturday morning. For there are many with wives and kids who slept yesterday night and are not up today. I speak of Him, who watches over you as you sleep – who never slumbers nor sleep as you renew your strength for tomorrow.

You wake up from sleep because He sustains you. The Lord, He sustains you. Learn to say "Thank you, Lord" because He sustains you – yesterday, today and everyday!

 

Walking By Faith – No Matter What!

For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Cor 5:7)

As believers, the bible expects us to walk by faith. Walking by faith implies walking according to God’s Word.

Sometimes we are faced with a dilemma, where the circumstance we are facing contradicts the Word of God that we believe in. At those times, our victory is assured only as we line up our actions with the Word. As the scripture says in Jer 1:12, “Our Father watches over His word to perform it”.

Regardless of the pressures we face, God has assured us of victory as we walk according to His Word. The miracle we are looking out for may not come in 10mins, 10days, 10weeks or 10 months – but it will come. The Word never fails.

So when next you are faced with a seemingly impossible situation, and all you can see around you seem to be insurmountable mountains – remember this: We walk by faith, not by sight!

 

Our God is Good!

Is God always good? Or is He only good to us when we experience good things? Is our concept of the nature and character of God defined by the sum total of our daily life experiences, or are we spending time getting to know who He is through the medium He has given us to do so – His Word?

About two and half months ago, our daughter went home to be with Lord after fighting with a brain tumour. Beautiful and vivacious, she was absolutely adorable. Her laugh was infectious, and she had the ability to get you break into a smile no matter what mood you were in.

Her death shook us intensely. Whilst she had received treatment after her diagnosis, we had held on to God’s Word and expected a miracle. She had been prayed for at different times by many of our Pastor mentors, and we were absolutely certain she was going to be fine. So when she finally went home to be with Jesus on 25 June AM, it was absolutely unexpected.

Does God still heal today? Is it really right and appropriate to teach about divine healing? Are miracles for today? Many of these questions assault your mind when you lose a loved one – particularly when it appears like you have done everything the Word says to do and the result does not appear forthcoming. Is God a good God? If He is good, why did this happen to us? Why did my she have to die? Why did she have to be sick?

My wife and myself have always been students of God’s Word – we have never followed men or women of God, neither have we followed doctrines. Don’t get me wrong: I respect men and women of God and the office they hold (Eph 4:11), because God has set them in these offices to be a blessing to the body of Christ. However, no man or woman of God died for us, Jesus did. So we follow Jesus through the Word, not men or women of God. Therefore when our daughter died, we did what we had always done when faced with a crisis – we went into God’s Word to understand what we were going through, and how to get through the dark period.

We learnt that God is a good God – has always been and would always be. Sometimes, we go through difficult periods, but this does not mean that God has forgotten us or is no longer a good God. Satan is the god of this world (2 Cor 4:4), and he is a thief (John 10:10). Whilst we are in this world, we can expect him to be contrary to us and to try to steal from us. God has promised us protection (Psa 91), for we are overcomers in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 2:14). Occasionally we do lose a battle like we did with our daughter (although I must stress that this is NOT God’s plan for us – a defeat is usually due to us not being as synched into the Word and the Spirit as we should) but we can be sure that we always win the war (1 Jo 4:4).

So, even though our daughter has gone home to be with the Lord, the devil still lost. Someone would ask – really? Yes, really! For starters, Ayooluwa is in heaven with the Lord that she loves, which is more than the devil can ever expect to have. Secondly, she is not sick or in pain anymore. And thirdly, we get to see her again in the resurrection (1 Thess 4:13-17). So, we can join Paul in saying “O death, where [is] thy sting? O grave, where [is] thy victory?” (1 Cor 15:55).

Our God is a good God – always has been and always will be !

 

God Cares !

Can a woman forget her suckling child, that she should not have compassion on the child of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me – Isa 49:15-16 KJV

We have all experienced it at some point in our lives: everything is going well, life is good, things are in their proper places. Everywhere we turn, we feel the love and care of the Lord for us. It’s a wonderful feeling.

Then suddenly, something happens to bump us off this road of bliss – a loved one dies, you lose your job or a door of blessing that was hitherto open closes. At this moment, the question on most people’s lips is “God, where are you?”

At those kind of moments, it’s very easy to lose the consciousness of God’s love and care for us. Did God stop loving me? Did I do something wrong? Has he abandoned me? Why do I feel so alone?

Not so. God is always there for you and me. He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us (Heb 13:5b). In (Isa 43:2), God promised to always be with us whatever the circumstance. And we serve a God who cannot lie (Num 23:19).

At those times we need to know that God is there for us, not against us. Whatever may have been the cause of the situation, God wants to rescue us and show us a way out. We need to run towards God, not away from Him.

The Amplified version of Isa 49:16 says God has indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palm of each of His hands. What joy! He constantly remembers and longs for you. He wants you to be happy all the time, the same way we like for those we love to always be happy.

God cares for you very much. He’s got a plan and purpose for you, for good and not for evil (Jer 29:11). Ask him for wisdom to overcome the challenge you are currently facing – He will abundantly give (Jam 1:5).

Your best days are ahead of you!

 

Decisions

Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [therefore] get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. (Prov 4:7 [KJV])

Sometimes we wander through life, wondering what our next decision should be. Should we take on that “fantastic” job? Should we marry that beautiful or handsome person that always manages to set our heart racing? Should we relocate or stay where we are? Decisions, Decisions, Decisions. We are faced with them all the time !

The dictionary defines wisdom as “The ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting; insight.” (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition.) Simply put, wisdom is the ability to discern what the next decision in your life should be. It’s not the ability to take “a” decision, but the ability to take the right decision that will ensure present and/or future profiting. Now I know that sounds really easy, but just imagine how many people have gotten this wrong and held up their lives and it will help bring things into perspective. Effectively, these people are living out of God’s perfect will for their lives, and missing out on numerous blessings. Not a choice place to be, I tell you.

We don’t have to get ourselves in a rut though when we are in this type of situation, wondering and worrying about what to do next. The bible provides us a way to ensure we make the right decision every time that will ensure both present and future profiting.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (Jas 1:5 [KJV])

Isn’t that great? Our Heavenly Father knows the end of a thing from the beginning (Isa 46:10), and there is no searching of His understanding (Isa 40:28). He is a present help in time of need, and is near to them that call upon Him (Psa 91:15, Psa 145:18). What joy !

So when next you find yourself agonising or worrying over a potential life-changing decision, don’t. Just find a quiet corner, look up to your Heavenly Father and ask Him for wisdom. He giveth to all men liberally, Hallelujah!

Take this confession of Faith with me:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for the ability to come into your presence and find grace to help in my time of need. I receive your wisdom right now to take the right decision about this and walk in your perfect will. I walk in the confidence of your counsel, and my profiting is apparent to all. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Remember, don’t speak the circumstance. Speak God’s word, Speak Faith !

 

Watch Your Mouth !

A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof – Prov 18:20-21 (KJV)

There are a number of sayings out there in the world that I have heard a couple of believers use in conversation with me. One of them is that “talk is cheap“, and another is that “action speaks louder than words“. In the natural, this seems common-sensical and thus appears quite succint and precise. Beware though – for you cannot always apply natural principles in the kingdom of God !

For starters:
1. Talk is not cheap. Proverbs 18:20 says pointedly that “A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled“. If your belly is not getting satisfied at the moment, watch your mouth ! Some of the words you have spoken in the past may be responsible for your belly not being satisfied.

2. In the kingdom of God, action does not speak louder than words – action work in tandem with words – your words. Get this truth into your spirit – your life depends on it. Your words play a prominent role in your life in the kingdom of God. Remember, “with your mouth, confession was made unto salvation“. Without your mouth, you wouldn’t have been able to get saved !

Words cause wars; they also end them. Words spoken out of turn have been known to tear families apart for ages, and turned loving brothers into deadly foes. Words can tear apart, but then words can also reconcile. Words can build, but they can also destroy. Words can cause death, but they can also build life. Any wonder the Psalmist asked God to set a watch before his mouth (Psa 141:3 KJV) ?

Death and Life are in the power of the tongue. Think about that for a second. Your tongue has the power to speak death or life. Take stock of your life this minute – if your life is not where the word says it should be; if the abundant life that Christ came to provide is not nearer to you now than when you first believed, I beseech you to take a closer look at the words you are speaking each day – into your life and into the life of others around you, particularly your family.

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear – Heb 11:3 (KJV)

As God’s children, we inherited the ability to speak things into existence from God the Father. However, we are responsible for what we speak into existence in our lives – death or life, good or bad, success or failure. Your words are framing your future and that of those around you.

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life – Prov 4:23 (KJV)

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith – Mark 11:23 (KJV)

The words you speak project the state of your heart – what you really believe. Remember that what you read or listen to the most will stay deposited in your heart and will in turn be reflected in your life. That’s why Solomon enjoins us to keep our heart with all diligence. Your heart needs to be stayed on God’s word at all times so God’s word can become your default language regardless of the situation or circumstance you find yourself in.

In Mark 11:23, Jesus says you will have whatsoever you say – not what someone else says, but what you say provided you believe in your heart. Now if your heart is filled with failure and poverty thinking, and not what the word says about your needs being met in Christ Jesus, or you having good success and eating the good of the Land, then clearly your speech will be wrong ! You will spend most of the time talking about how hard things are, and how you have no money in your pocket or in the bank. And that will hardly make things better.

Supposing in Genesis 1:1 when God saw darkness all over; all He did was complain and talk about the darkness. How much better do you reckon that would have made things ? Supposing He spent half the first chapter of Genesis talking about how terrible and messed up things were, would that have helped ? I think not ! Rather than moan and speak death, your Father said, “Light be”, and there was light. He spoke into being what He wanted to be in place. He spoke Life !

So my friend, get into God’s word and understand your place in Christ Jesus. Then start speaking those words of life today. Death and Life are in the power of the tongue, but choose to speak Life. You will eat the fruit thereof !

Speak God’s word, Speak Faith.

For additional study resources that will help you in your christian faith, please visit the following websites:
http://www.creflodollarministries.org
http://www.kcm.org.uk
http://www.jsmi.org
http://www.jdm.org