Child Of Destiny ~ Pastor E.A Adeboye

Memorise: And he shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call his name JESUS for heshall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21

Read: Jeremiah 1:4-5,

4Then the word of theLordcame unto me, saying,

5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.(KJV)

Bible in one year: 2nd Chronicle 18:1-20:23, Ecclesiastes 2:1-8

MESSAGE

Before the earthly existence of Jesus Christ in the New Testament, His destiny had been foretold. Do you also believe that according to the Word of God, before you were formed in your mother’s belly, the Lord knew you? Do you really believe that before your physical existence on the face of the earth, the Lord had ordained you for His purpose? If you believe this, then I congratulate you. With this assurance, you can be confident of the fact that you are not an ordinary person; you are a child of destiny. God has a plan for you and it is a good plan. The most important thing you need to do is to find out what you must do to secure this glorious destiny in Christ Jesus. I have illustrated this several times through the story of two friends who decided to seek the help of an oracle to know what lay in the future for them. As for the first one, after due consultation with the oracle, he was assured that he would be a future monarch who would rule over a kingdom. His friend however was told that he would die a servant.

Upon returning from the oracle, the one who had been told he would become a king decided to remain passive and crossed his legs, waiting for the day of his coronation. The one who had been destined to be a servant encouraged himself by saying “at least I can be useful to myself”. He went deep into the bush, far out of the town and began to farm on a large piece of land there.

After several years, there was a heavy famine in the land. When the people discovered that there was someone somewhere in the wilderness who had a large farm to feed the entire community, they decided to make him their king as long as their feeding was guaranteed. The other man who was day dreaming and waiting for his coronation eventually became his servant. Even the wisest king ever said, “There is an evil which I have seen upon the earth. I have seen princes walking and servants riding upon horses.”

There is a part you have to play if you must arrive at the plan of God for your life. Moses, as a child of destiny, was destined to be a deliverer for the children of Israel. He had the full backing of the Almighty God and he remained supernaturally in command. Jesus Christ had a mandate to save the world, and He fully achieved that mandate from you. You also have a glorious destiny in Christ Jesus, and you must protect it and never allow anything to steal it.

The Christian life is that of continuous warfare. We are at war against Satan and he is trying all he can to take us down. You must resist him and not faint in your spirit. We must ask for wisdom from God so that we can put the devil where he belongs (under our feet). Be prayerful and continue to dwell on the Word of God at all times.

Key Point
Every child of destiny runs away from all appearances of evil.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.

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Be Anxious For Nothing ~ Joseph Prince [@JosephPrince]

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

When faced with a challenge or crisis, our tendency is to get all anxious about it. But God does not want us to react this way. He does not want us to be anxious about anything. Instead, whatever the problem is, He wants us to go to Him in prayer and supplication, telling Him what we need and thanking Him for the answer. When we do that, His peace, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds from all worries, anxieties and fears.

"Pastor Prince, it is easy for you to say, 'Be anxious for nothing.' Try living with my husband for one day. Try disciplining that wayward teenager of mine. Look at the balance in my bank account! How can I not be anxious?"
Hold it! I am not the one who said, "Be anxious for nothing." The apostle Paul said it. Yet, it was not him—he was prompted by the Holy Spirit.

And when Paul wrote that, he was a prisoner under house arrest in Rome. He had been sent to Rome because he had appealed to Caesar regarding his death sentence. The Jews in Jerusalem wanted him to be put to death. (Acts 28:16–20)

Yet, under those trying conditions, he wrote these words: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."

My friend, if you are anxious or worried about something, remember those words. Let's say that you are anxious about a huge debt. Go to the Lord and pray, "Lord Jesus, I no longer want to be anxious about this problem. I hand it over to You and ask for supernatural cancellation of this debt. It is in Your care now. You are in charge. I thank You for taking care of it."

God is true to His Word. As you pray this prayer and cast your care to Him, you will find His peace setting your heart and mind at rest. So be anxious for nothing—let the One with whom nothing is impossible take care of it for you!

Thought For The Day
Cast your cares to God in prayer, and find His peace setting your heart and mind at rest.

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Strength for the Weary ~ David McCasland

Read: Isaiah 40:27–31| Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 19–20; John 13:21–38

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Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. Isaiah 40:31

On a beautiful, sunny day, I was walking in a park and feeling very weary in spirit. It wasn't just one thing weighing me down—it seemed to be everything. When I stopped to sit on a bench, I noticed a small plaque placed there in loving memory of a "devoted husband, father, brother, and friend." Also on the plaque were these words, "But they who wait for 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" (Isa. 40:31esv).

Those familiar words came to me as a personal touch from the Lord. Weariness—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual—comes to us all. Isaiah reminds us that although we become tired, the Lord, the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth "will not grow tired or weary" (v. 28). How easily I had forgotten that in every situation "[the Lord] gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak" (v. 29). When life's struggles make you weary, find strength in the Lord.

What's it like on your journey today? If fatigue has caused you to forget God's presence and power, why not pause and recall His promise.

"Those who hope in theLordwill renew their strength" (v. 31). Here. Now. Right where we are.

Lord, thank You that You do not grow weary. Give me the strength to face whatever situation I am in today.


*When life's struggles make you weary, find strength in the Lord.

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Being Rich ~ Billy Graham [@Bgea]

Real life and real living are not related to how rich we are. — Luke 12:15 (TLB)

There are two ways of being rich—have a lot, or want very little. The latter way is the easier for most of us. Many people make themselves miserable by wanting more than they can ever have. They suffer from "thing-itis," the insatiable desire for more, better, and newer things. Jesus was the most satisfied man that ever lived, and He had less than most of us. "The foxes have their holes, and the birds their nests, but the Son of man has no place to lay His head." He had learned the secret of adjusting His wants to His needs.

E. Stanley Jones tells about a poor man who had an overnight guest, and as he showed him to his humble bedroom in the hayloft, he said, "If there is anything you want, let us know, and we'll come and show you how to get along without it."
We don't need to learn how to get more, but how to get along with what we've got, and get on with the business of living.

Prayer for the day
Father, You have given me so much more than I deserve. May I always show a grateful and contented heart.

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Appreciate Who You Are ~ Pastor Chris Oyakilome

That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus (Philemon 1:6).

As a new creation in Christ Jesus, you're peculiar; you're the first and the best of God's creatures: "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures" (James 1:18). You're the crowning beauty, and the highest of everything God made. You're His excellently crafted masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10).

Psalm 139:14 says you're exceptional, and wonderfully made; you're God's marvellous work of art; and the Psalmist said, "My soul knows this very well!" You should know it too and be conscious that you're God's best.

Therefore, love and enjoy yourself. Appreciate who you are. Don't wish you were someone else.
There're so many good things inside you. You're a pearl of great value. If you don't love yourself, you can't really love anyone else. Don't wait for others to compliment you; stand in front of a mirror and appreciate what God made. Compliment yourself. Affirm that you're beautiful, and then, give God praise for making you so excellent and full of glory. Look at yourself in the mirror and say, "Lord, I love what you made!"

Understand that you exude His glory. Therefore, love Him, and love what He made—YOU. Enjoy every moment of your life. Look always at the positive side of things. Appreciate good things everywhere you see them. Appreciate you, and then appreciate others around you. Challenge your mind in the positive direction of life; and you'll be amazed at the results.

You're God's number one! This is what you should say to yourself always. Never judge yourself by what people say about you; what matters is what God thinks of you. And you know what? He thinks highly of you, which is why He invested so much in you. Glory to His Name forever!

PRAYER

Dear heavenly Father, righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. Thank you for making me the expression of your glory and grace, and for adorning my heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit! O, what a joy to know that I'm your excellently crafted masterpiece! I'll tell of your wonderful deeds and wondrous love always. Amen!

Further Study: || James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. ||

|| 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: ||

|| Ephesians 2:10 (AMP) For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. ||

Daily Scripture Reading

1-Year Bible Reading Plan: John 17:1-26,
1 Chronicles 9-10

2-Year Bible Reading Plan: 1 Corinthians 15:11-19,
Proverbs 29

EXTRACT FROM: Rhapsody of Realities Daily Devotional

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God Is Interested In The Soul Of Sinners – Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor [@wlbcigc]

By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace"(Hebrew 11:31)

Today we would begin with the story of Rahab, a harlot. When the Bible says a person is a harlot it implies that such a person is an enemy of God."Harlot"is one of the strongest descriptions in the Bible for a sinner. When you study the Bible, you discover that the word"harlot"is not limited to women. The word is used to describe men, cities and nations as well."Harlot"is a very strong term used to describe the enemy of God. The truth about the love of God is that He is still interested in the soul of sinners. The fact that one is a harlot does not mean that he/she cannot become a friend of God.

The fact Rahab the harlot's name was mentioned in the hall of fame of faith shows that no matter how filthy or dirty one's sin is he can still be accepted by Christ. The reason Rehab's name was listed in the hall of fame of faith was because she changed from her sinful nature and accepted Christ. When you study Matthew 5:1, the Bible says,"And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; Obed begat Jesse…" The above passage is telling us that there was a harlot in the biological lineage of Jesus. In other words, one is not separated from God because of what he/she did yesterday. Everybody did something wrong yesterday. Your separation from God is when you refuse to change.

When a person is separated from God, it is because that person refuses to change from his/her sinful nature. Separation from God is not because of what you did yesterday but because of your refusal to change today. The Bible says,"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarleth, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" (Isaiah 1:18).

The first time I came in contact with this scripture many years ago, I was amazed that the Almighty God is ready to reason with a human being. You can see the reason why I say that separation from God is not because of what you did yesterday but it is simply because of your refusal to change today. I plead with you to change from everything evil around your life today.

FURTHER READING: Isaiah 1:18-19; 44:22

PRAYER/CONFESSION:Lord Jesus, come into my heart, I accept you again to come and take control over my being, I disconnect myself from my wrong and from sin. Father in the name of Jesus, today I change from my old ways.

WORDS OF WISDOM:Separation from God is not because of your past but because of your refusal to change.

Eagles Devotional is a daily revelatory and inspirational Publication by Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the founder and presiding Pastor of Word of Life Bible Church, Warri, Nigeria.

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Change Within ~ Pastor William Kumuyi

Key Verse:"Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold all things are become new"(2 Corinthians 5:17).

In the words of Helen Keller (1880-1968), American renowned deaf-blind lecturer and author: "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart".

Conversion, in the same vein, is the greatest and most exciting experience a person may know, but it is a change that takes place within, in your heart, when you ask Jesus in earnest prayer of repentance to come into your heart.

When He comes in, He cleanses your heart of sin and guilt and condemnation. He then dwells within you. Christ living on the inside of you is the reason and power for a really new life which others can see. Some folks are deluded, thinking that religious observances and self inflicted punishments would do.

The hardest thing for a sinner to do is change the attitudes that originally produced sinful behaviour in them. He must be born again to really become a new creature. Being born again is more than being religious. It is more than making personal resolutions. It is a change of life to a completely new and godly behaviour made possible by the Spirit of Christ within.

There are things that testify in the believer's life that he is truly of God, namely, the absence of the old sinful lifestyle, self centeredness, unholy affairs or pursuits and such other things. Jesus becomes the very centre of his life.

The change within is reflected in the corresponding good works produced without.

The way we are on the inside matters so much to God. If you are new inwardly, your attitude without will be right. Are you born again?

Thought for the day:New life, evidence of Christ within.

Bible Reading in one Year: 1 Samuel 27-29

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

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The Lord, My Healer ~ Pastor E.A Adeboye

Memorise: Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. –John 2:4

Read: Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 (KJV)

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

Bible in One Year: 2 Chronicles 14:17, Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

MESSAGE:

God is a God of time and purpose. There is no lateness with God and in His own time, He does as He pleases and makes everything beautiful.

There are many things you will never access from God until you have an understanding of the principles of timing. To have testimonies that will stand the test of time, you must learn to wait upon God in patience and perfect obedience. Unfortunately, many people are not willing to wait for God. In their own wisdom, they believe God's time comes too late, so they go about 'quickening' things up. We live in a world where people want to be announced before their set time. They want quick fame and glory. They get carried away with the glories of others without asking about their stories. When things do not work out at the time they want, they begin to cut corners, unfortunately, every time they cut corners, they short-change themselves.

One of my sons said that "proper preparation prevents poor performance". This is true because God will only reward those who wait and prepare for his appointed time. It doesn't matter how fast others are travelling, just ensure you are in the will of God and all those you think have gone ahead of you will soon ask for the secret of your stability. There is the need to contentedly believe that God has everything under His control. In life, God has established seasons by which we will experience different phases. In the plan and timetable of God, there is a season to rejoice over things that are good and there is a time to identify with those who are experiencing joy. Never allow your own times of doing things be set at variance with God's time.

The truth remains that no matter how far you think you can strategize, you can never have anything better than what God has in store for you. There are many people who are presently looking in the wrong direction, when God brings their blessings, they will miss the opportunity. Elisha never allowed the voice of the 50 sons of the prophet to distract him from God's timing and purpose. There were several distractions and discouragements but he stayed to the end and got a double portion of his master's anointing.

Are you tired of waiting upon the Lord? Don't be. Every moment you spend waiting faithfully on the Lord can never be wasted. As you wait upon the Lord, you are saving time and not wasting it, you can be sure that at the end, nothing will be lost.

Prayer Point: Father, help me not to miss my time and chance.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.

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You’re an Everything/Nothing…and So Am I! ~ Joyce Meyer

What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him? Yet You have made him but a little lower than God [or heavenly beings], and You have crowned him with glory and honor. —Psalm 8:4-5 AMPC

Pride is a terrible sin, and we are instructed in God's Word not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to (see Romans 12:3). That doesn't mean that we need to have a bad opinion of or look down on ourselves. It does mean that we are to remember that we are no better than anyone else and that whatever God has enabled us to do is a gift from Him. We have no more right to claim credit for a special ability we have than we do for blue eyes or brown hair. Paul wrote to the Corinthians and asked them what they had that did not come as a gift from God (see 1 Corinthians 4:7).

When we are warned not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to, it means we are to realize that we are nothing apart from Jesus and without Him we can do nothing. The value we have is found in Him, and we can celebrate who we are only because of Him. Actually, when we celebrate who we are in Jesus, it is a way of celebrating Jesus Himself.

We make this a lot more difficult than it needs to be. It is simple—we are everything in Jesus and nothing in ourselves. I like to say, "I am an everything/nothing!" We celebrate because of the amazing work God does in us, and not because of any worth we have in ourselves. As long as we continue giving God the glory for anything good that we manifest, we are on a safe and right track.

For some reason religion has taught people that to be godly they must have a low, or even bad, opinion of themselves, and I believe this kind of thinking has done incalculable damage to the plan of God. As long as we know we are lower than God and He is always our Chief and Head, then we are safe.

Trust in Him: Say out loud daily, "I am nothing without Jesus, but in and through Him I am valuable and I can do great things."

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No Regrets ~ Billy Graham

If we are living now by the Holy Spirit's power, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives. —Galatians 5:25 (TLB)

When Bill Borden, son of the wealthy Bordens, went out to China as a missionary, many of his friends thought he was foolish to "waste his life," as they put it, trying to convert a few heathens to Christianity. But Bill loved Christ and he loved men! He hadn't been out there very long before he contracted an oriental disease and died. At his bedside they found a note that he had written while he was dying. It read, "No reserve, no retreat, and no regrets." Bill had found more happiness in his few years of sacrificial service than most people find in a lifetime.


Prayer for the day
Help me not to count the cost of serving You, Lord Jesus, but let me be completely yielded to Your leading.

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God Is Not Punishing You For Some Sin ~ Joseph Prince [@JosephPrince]

Ephesians 1:7

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

Some Christians believe that although you have forgiveness of sins, you are not free from the penalties of your sins. In other words, you can still expect punishment from God. For example, some married Christian couples have been told that they are childless because God is punishing them for having had pre-marital sex. So although God has forgiven them of that sin, He still has to punish them for it.

I am certainly not for pre-marital sex, but I want you to know that God, who is the only one who can fully appreciate the full value of His Son's blood and who is completely satisfied by His Son's sacrifice, is at rest in His heart today concerning your sins! That is why He is not against you even when you fail. Neither is He out to punish you when you sin. No, He still loves you, is for you and wants to help you overcome that sin.

In the Old Testament, the blood of bulls and goats could only "cover" sins and not take them away. (Hebrews 10:4) But the blood of Jesus is not like the blood of animals! For by one sacrifice, the eternal blood of the Son of God has forever removed your sins (Psalm 103:12) and cleansed you of all unrighteousness! (1 John 1:9) In fact, God is so satisfied with His Son's perfect work that He says to you today, "Your sins and lawless deeds I will by no means remember!" (Hebrews 10:17) And if God does not remember them, why would He punish you for them?

Beloved, you have "redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace". Because Jesus' work is complete,all your sins have been completely forgiven. And complete forgiveness means that the penalties for your sins can no longer fall on you because they had already fallen on Jesus at the cross. (Isaiah 53:5)

So don't think for one moment that God is punishing you for some sin just because something bad happened to you. Look to the cross and know that all your sins have already been punished fully in the body of Christ. Believe that God is for you and expect victory!

Thought For The Day
Because Jesus' work is complete, all your sins have been completely forgiven.

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Not a Simple Story ~ Tim Gustafson

Read: 2 Chronicles 16:7–14 | Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 15–16; John 12:27–50


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The eyes of theLord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chronicles 16:9

Life seems straightforward in the laws of the Old Testament. Obey God and get blessed.

Disobey Him and expect trouble. It’s a satisfying theology. But is it that simple?
King Asa’s story seems to fit the pattern. He led his people away from false gods and his kingdom thrived (2 Chron. 15:1–19). Then late in his reign, he depended on himself instead of God (16:2–7) and the rest of his life was marked by war and illness (v. 12). In God’s eternal plan, His blessings arrive in due time.

It’s easy to look at that story and draw a simple conclusion. But when the prophet Hanani warned Asa, he said that God will “strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (16:9). Why do our hearts need strengthening? Because doing the right thing may require courage and perseverance.

Job got the starring role in a cosmic tragedy. His crime? “He [was] blameless and upright” (Job 1:8). Joseph, falsely accused of attempted rape, languished in prison for years—to serve God’s good purposes (Gen. 39:19–41:1). And Jeremiah was beaten and put in stocks (Jer. 20:2). What was the prophet’s offense? Telling the truth to rebellious people (26:15).

Life is not simple, and God’s ways are not our ways. Making the right decision may come at a cost. But in God’s eternal plan, His blessings arrive in due time.

Lord, thank You for the examples of courage and obedience in Your Word. Help us learn from their mistakes and from their wise choices, as we make our choice to serve You.
God helps those who depend on Him.

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[#SoulSpring] SPIRITUAL EPIPHYTE ~ David O. Lawal

"Lean not unto thine own understanding." -- Proverbs 3:5, KJV

Admit it or deny it, you are a spiritual epiphyte. An epiphyte is a plant that when detached from the stronger plant that provides it support, dies. And that's you.

No, you are not a plant. You are spirit (and God is the grand Spirit). You are a spiritual epiphyte. Your neighbour is a spiritual epiphyte. Your classmate is a spiritual epiphyte. Your lecturer, or school teacher, is a spiritual epiphyte. Your pastor, too, is. So are your parents. So am I. We all are spiritual epiphytes.

Think for a moment about the people you meet every day. Think particularly about those whose life you do not admire. Ever wondered why their life is as pale as it is? Well, it could be that they've sought to detach themselves from God, to lean on themselves, to lean on their own understanding.

An epiphyte standing in the air, leaning on no support, is symbolic of a Christian who attempts to lean on his own understanding. Ever seen such a self-sustaining epiphyte? It's yet to exist! And even if it ever existed, it must by now be pale, withered, fallen to the ground, decomposed.

Can an epiphyte support itself? No; except it wants to self-destruct. Can you, a young Christian, live to declare the glory of Christ on the land of the living all by yourself? You know the right answer already.

It is because you can't that Scripture counsels with great earnestness: "Lean not unto thine own understanding." Your life may lack freshness, vigor, joy, peace, growth -- a lot of things -- right now. If that's the case, then you are detached from Jesus. But once you throw your life upon Jesus today, He will channel blessings into your life.

Jesus is the mighty life-support for every soul; the giver of life, in fact. Though a mighty oak may dry, turn woody, and die after years of providing support to several epiphytes, our Lord never dies. He is the immortal Spirit. He will sustain you eternally. Lean on Him today. Lean on.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, today I lean on You. Grant me the grace, Lord, to acknowledge always that You are the source from which my soul draws strength. Amen.
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#SoulSpring- HEARTILY TRUSTING THE LORD - David O. Lawal

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart." -- Proverbs 3:5, KJV

The last thing most young people want to do is put their trust in the Lord. Now many youngsters may put their trust in their dreams, or in their powerful intellect. They may boast in their bursting youthful energy, in their wrinkle-free face, in their gorgeous physique, or in the swift and gracious movement of
their amazing body. But to trust in the Lord? That's no way. And isn't that why too many young people miss out on God's glorious plan for their life?

But aged Africans love to boast that they trust in the Lord. They make it seem like the older we grow, and the richer in experience we get, the more prayerful we become. Yes, the more prayerful we get. The more dependent on God -- and the less dependent on ourselves or any other creature -- we become, as we age. But that's only a sobering testimony to the heart- wrenching lessons that failures and trust breaches teach.

In that light, we see that the nearer people draw to death, the clearer it appears that nothing counts greater than to trust in the Lord. To trust in the Lord, with the most precious thing that humans possess: our heart.

Aging teaches that once the coconut shell of life is finally cracked (often through bitter labours), most people end up face-to-face with the white essence of life: to trust in the Lord.

And they finally bow to God's sovereignty. They
accept the truth from which they had fled all their life. You see that? Now that all a youngster may put his trust in has gone up as dust in their life; now that they are left with nothing glorious -- in their feebleness and old age -- but their fainting heart, they are willing to give all that they have -- all their heart -- trusting the Lord.

Friend, isn't it a tremendous blessing that elderly people can teach young people through counsel what they cannot by example? That's perhaps what King Solomon aims at with these words: "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart."

You see, God doesn't want you to lose all of life's
beauties and all of your youthful glories before you begin to relish the white essence of life. You don't want to. You don't have to. God wants you to trust in Him, now, today, in your youth.

What's certain? God will crack life open for you. He will save you the sweat that sinners break as they blindly try to make life work for themselves.

And even when you walk in the valley of the shadow of death, as you travel through life, God's commandments will be your path lamp and His promises your staff of comfort. He will save you from a lot of heart-ache.

PRAYER: Dear Father in heaven, help me to trust you truly with my youthful heart. Amen.

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Be About His Work ~ Pastor Chris Oyakilome

…This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven (Acts 1:11).

More than ever, you must take your participation and involvement in the things of God very seriously. Commit yourself to God’s vision. His vision is soul winning; He wants the whole earth to be filled with the knowledge of His glory as the waters cover the sea. Hence, everything you do must be geared towards winning souls for Jesus Christ; it’s your calling. Stay focused and committed to it.

Make no mistakes, He’s coming back again, and He needs to find you busy, doing what He told you to do. He said to His disciples, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). If you truly love Him, do His will; live for Him. Don’t let your life be conditioned to this earth. Let Him come and find you doing what He’s called you to do.

You may ask, “How soon is He coming?” Very soon! It doesn’t matter if it’s in a matter of days, weeks, months or years; as long as you’re in fellowship with Him, walking in the light as He is in the light (1 John 1:7), when He comes, you’ll be ready. You might just be winning souls on that day, or disturbing Rhapsody of Realities when that trumpet sounds, but you’ll hear it.

The Bible says, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52).

Put away every distraction and be afire for the Lord, fulfilling the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Let God, and His work of kingdom expansion, be all that you live for. One day, you’re going to stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ, and give account for everything He instructed you to do (2 Corinthians 5:10). Let Him say to you at the end, “…Well done, thou good and faithful servant…” (Matthew 25:21).

PRAYER

Precious Lord, your zeal and passion have consumed me, and like never before, I’m spreading the message of the Gospel of Christ into the nations of the world. I’m enabled by the Spirit, to proclaim the Word with power and boldness, turning many from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, and into their inheritance in Christ, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Further Study: || Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. ||

|| Luke 21:25-27 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ||

Daily Scripture Reading

1-Year Bible Reading Plan: John 15:18-16:1-16, 1 Chronicles 5-6

2-Year Bible Reading Plan: 1 Corinthians 14:31-40, Proverbs 27

EXTRACT FROM: Rhapsody of Realities Daily Devotional

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How Can You Fight? ~ Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor [@wlbcigc]

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12)

There is no better way to fight the battles of life than in the place of prayer. Remember that these battles are spiritual and not physical. There are principalities, powers, evil altars and rulers of darkness trying to rubbish your achievements. But if you can pray there is always a God that can answer. I want to assure you that there is nothing that can withstand God. The fact is that the Bible acknowledges that there are powers. The Bible also assures us that there is only one known as the Almighty to whom all the others put together must bow down. When you read Ephesians, you discover that there are clear instructions given to Christians on what to do.

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the LORD, and in the power of His might" (Ephesians 6:10).From this scripture, you discover that when you are strong in the LORD through prayers, you can enjoy the power of His might. How can you be strong in the LORD? You can only be strong when you study God's Word and pray by His Word. You must arise from your bed to pray. Satan will not give up easily in the battles of life but because God is on your side, power is on your side. When God is on your side, victory is sure. You don't serve a dead God. You serve a living God who remaineth the same forever.

One of the reasons you must pray is that prayer takes you from the ordinary level to the supernatural."And Jacob awaked out of his sleep…" (Genesis 28:16a).Not until Jacob arose from his prayerless state, he could not see spiritually. The moment he woke up to pray, see what happened,"… and he said, surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not" (Genesis 28:16b).When you are prayerless, your spiritual alertness becomes dead. Jacob turned the altar to a sleeping bed.

FURTHER READING: 1 Peter 5:8; Luke 22:46

PRAYER/CONFESSION:In the name of Jesus, empower me to deliver my breakthrough this month and let my enemies be ashamed. Amen!

WORDS OF WISDOM:Prayer is still God's only channel to reverse the irreversible.

Eagles Devotional is a daily revelatory and inspirational Publication by Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the founder and presiding Pastor of Word of Life Bible Church, Warri, Nigeria.

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A Glass Of Water ~ Pastor E.A Adeboye

Memorise: For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. –Mark 9:41

Read: James 2:14-18 (KJV)

14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Bible in One Year: 2 Chronicles 10-12, Ecclesiastes 1:1-5

MESSAGE:

The Bible has laid much emphasis on the art of giving, especially to God, the poor, widows, and our neighbours. Galatians 6:9 enjoins us not to be weary in doing good. One good thing we must not be tired of is sowing. To access your greatest financial harvest, continuous, consistent quality sowing is required. Your first seed may open the door to blessings, but keeping the door open requires persistent sowing. Are you already calling it quits with sowing just because you cannot quantify the returns of previous seeds?

Don't! You may be closing the door it took you so much effort to open! In the case of the widow of Zarephath, it took the sacrificial cake she gave on meeting Elijah the first day to open her door to abundance. If she had stopped at that, her miracle would have expired long before the end of the famine, but she did not. She kept the door permanently open by making cakes for Elijah daily for the entire period. Your first seed must have the backing of the other seeds if you will experience your ultimate financial breakthrough. Some people have pegged their blessing or limited the space through which their blessings come.James 2:14says:

"For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward."

Another relevant example is King Solomon. His first notable seed was when he sacrificed 1000 cows(1 Kings 3:4-15). This opened the doors of wealth, wisdom, and honour to him. But he did not stop there. In fact, immediately he got up from his revelational dream, he responded to God's answer by offering more. And he continued and increased his seed. In1 Kings 8:63, he gave God an offering of 22,000 oxen.

Solomon continued to increase in wealth because he sustained his giving. He became so prosperous that they lost count of his wealth. In fact,1 King 10:24-27says the whole world sought after the wisdom of Solomon and choice things as silver and cedar become common place in his kingdom.

"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?" –James 2:14He later concluded that"faith without works is dead."

Do you know that like King Solomon, God can bless you to the point that the business idea He gives you could be sought after by the whole world? It is possible for what people consider as priceless treasures to become common place to you. But there is a price you must pay continuously. You must not stop sowing. The door the Lord has opened to you which you were already closing by refusing to sustain your seeds will be kept wide open from today. However, play your part. Like Solomon continue to increase your seeds.

Prayer point: Father, please make me a giver and use me to provide solutions to the problems of many in Jesus' name.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.

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Faith Comes In The Word ~ Pastor Chris Oyakilome

And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you (Luke 17:6).

Jesus emphasized that the smallest amount of faith can produce great results. Someone may say, “How am I sure I have faith, let alone little one?” The Bible says, “…God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Romans 12:3). Notice that it says, “the measure of faith”; that means there’s a definite measure for everybody.

We all received the same measure of faith at the new birth, but what you do with yours is what matters; you have to make it grow. Some have made their faith grow, some others haven’t; they’re still living at the level of faith after many years of being a Christian. You must exercise and grow your faith by putting it to work.

When you think you don’t have enough faith, then you need to hear more of God’s Word; the Word will produce and impart faith to your spirit. You don’t have to struggle or try to make it happen; just hear the Word, and faith will be stirred in your spirit: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

A young man walked into church some years ago, having been convinced by his friends to come. He came in with so much doubt and unbelief, but as he listened to the Word being preached, he began to have a change of heart. When I had a chat with him after the service, he said to me, “Somehow, I believed the things you preached.” He believed because faith came to him in the Word.

You might have noticed sometimes, as you listen to God’s Word, maybe while in church, or on your own during your personal study, the whole world suddenly seems small. All the challenges you may have been facing suddenly seem like nothing. The reason is that when the Word of God enters your spirit, it sparks up faith in you. Every time you hear God’s Word, your spirit is energized; the Word becomes real in your spirit, giving you a sense of victory and dominion.
PRAYER

Dear Father, I thank you for the faith that your Word bolsters in me even now! Armed with the Word in my heart, and in my mouth, I surmount challenges, change situations, work miracles, and consistently walk in victory, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Further Study: || 1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. ||

|| Romans 4:18-20 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; ||

|| Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
||

Daily Scripture Reading

1-Year Bible Reading Plan: John 15:1-17, 1 Chronicles 3-4

2-Year Bible Reading Plan: 1 Corinthians 14:20-30, Proverbs 26

EXTRACT FROM: Rhapsody of Realities Daily Devotional

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Arise From Your Sleep ~ Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor [@wlbcigc]

“And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not” (Genesis 28:16).

Jacob fell asleep at the altar of God unknowingly because he was prayerless. Little did he know also that his grand-father had raised an altar years ago in that very place where he fell asleep. Because of his prayerlessness, he struggled all through the night with his blessing. How can a man fight his own blessing? He did it in ignorance because of prayerlessness. Prayerlessness can be very costly. It was during the period of his struggling that he saw the trafficking of angels. He saw in his dream angels ascending and descending in that place and he shouted out of bed.

The reason why most Christians live below standard is because they don’t know how to pray. It is prayer that can take your spiritual challenges to a spiritual level. It moves them from the physical to the supernatural. If the devil cannot withstand you in this world, he cannot withstand you in the supernatural either when you can pray. Jacob wrestled all night because he was prayerless. I may not know you by name but God knows you. So I charge you to wake up from your sleeping bed and start praying because prayerlessness endangers your life.
I want you to understand that a life without prayer is very dangerous and full of temptation.

God gave you an assignment in this world and
He also gave you the equipments (prayer) to accomplish the task. The only way you can accomplish the assignment and not be rubbished by the devil is through prayers. When you cannot pray, you are not sure of what will befall you tomorrow. There are so many things prayer can do for you.“Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.”By implication, prayer can prevent you from falling into temptation. Peradventure you are falling already, prayer can bring you out of that temptation. Prayer can also empower you to overcome temptation.

Let me quickly say that the life of a Christian is the life of battles. But how can you fight these battles?

FURTHER READING: 1 Peter 5:8; Luke 22:46

PRAYER: Holy Spirit baptize me with the fire of prayer. Let all flesh overthrown from my life. I refuse to faint or be weak in the place of prayer. I speak strength to my spirit man. I overcome every form of temptation in my life

WORDS OF WISDOM: Persistence in prayer is the key to unlock your door of escape out of hot oven.

Eagles Devotional is a daily revelatory and inspirational Publication by Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the founder and presiding Pastor of Word of Life Bible Church, Warri, Nigeria.


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Salvation is Free ~ Billy Graham [@Bgea]

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. — Romans 3:24

Salvation is free! God puts no price tag on the Gift of gifts—it’s free! Preachers are not salesmen, for they have nothing to sell. They are bearers of Good News—the good tidings that “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3). Money can’t buy it. Man’s righteousness can’t earn it. Social prestige can’t help you acquire it. Morality can’t purchase it. It is, as Isaiah said, “without money and without price.”

God is not a bargaining God. You cannot barter with Him. You must do business with Him on His own terms. He holds in His omnipotent hand the priceless, precious, eternal gift of salvation, and He bids you to take it without money and without price. The best things in life are free, are they not? The air we breathe is not sold by the cubic foot. The water which flows crystal clear from the mountain stream is free for the taking. Love is free, faith is free, hope is free.

Prayer for the day
Even though my salvation was obtained only through the costliest sacrifice ever made, You freely gave it to me. Lord, I praise You for this gift so lovingly given.

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