…..and be sure your sin will find you out

- (Numbers 32:23)

Shall we have the slightest inclination of the deceptively destructive way of sin than shall we certainly do all in our strength to avoid travelling on its, though enticing but poisonous, path that has no other destination but in death; recorded in the bible is a tragic story in this direction.

After committing the sin of adultery, a woman fled her marital home to stay with her father in another land. But, her husband, having forgiven her, went to seek and bring her back home. On their way back to Israel however, darkness fast approaching, they decided to pass the night in the city of Gilead where they found lodging with an aged local resident.

However, they were suddenly awoken at night by tumultuous noise outside; the perverted demands of some perverted men of the city. As things would turn out, the runaway wife ended up being abused by the evil men of the city from the dark of night till the light of day; time by which she was left hanging on to life by a thread (Judges 19)

She died shortly afterward.  The sin of adultery that she had previously indulged in came back mulitplied to hunt and destroy her in a very violent end.

Such is the way of sin; it always returns, in the form of a several headed beast, for its perpetrators; hence the admonition to flee its alluring temptations (2 Timothy 2:22)

Prayer

I thank You Lord for I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me in the Name of Jesus.

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Be sober, be vigilant; becauseyour adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour

- (1 Peter 5:8)

Tranquillity ranks among the greatest ironies of existence; it’s naturally characteristic, even indicative, of safety and peace but in most cases disappoints not to prove otherwise.

The people of Dan, having not yet received allotment of land in Israel, sent out spies to the surrounding land. Eventually, these arrived in a place called Laish where they discovered a surprising, even amusing, sight.  They found a people safety, quiet and security; strange citizens of a tranquil world without any care of expectation for danger. Thus they returned to their tribe to gather force for an assault on the city.

Meanwhile, the people of Laish lived on, suspended in a world of illusion. They lived in tranquillity virtually oblivious to the storm of destruction and annihilation already gathering up against them. So they continued until they were suddenly descended upon, put to the sword and their city torched with fire. Thus the tribe of Dan settled there, naming it accordingly; thus people of Laish were wiped away from the pages of history; they were deceived unto annihilation by tranquillity.

Nothing presents the adversary with the best atmosphere of operation like a false of safety and security. That it appears tranquil doesn’t always mean it’s so in reality; reason we are admonished to stay vigilant in ceaseless watchful prayer (Mathew 26:41, 1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Prayer

In You Lord I trust, let me not be put to shame in the Name of Jesus.

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Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,…

- (Ephesians 6:18)

That the born again Christian is a soldier in the kingdom of light against that of darkness is an established fact that need no further stressing. Important however, that this soldier takes heed not to make the same mistake as David and his men, who though gifted and renowned warriors committed a most horrendous, even laughable, error.

While the dwelt away from Israel in the land of Ziklag given them by the king of the philistines, need arose for a military campaign. Surprisingly, David and his men left without any provision for the protection of their families and properties; all six hundred left leaving none behind to guard those and things that matter to them.

It isn’t a surprise therefore that they returned the third day to find all their loved ones missing and their settlement in flames having been descended upon by raiding Amalekites; the immense cost of neglect.

As cavalries of the Lord, this is a mistake we need be wary: not to so focus on a some certain areas of our lives in prayers as to neglect the others. Such is creating of a doorway for the thief and destroyer; the result of which can be very costly indeed. Let’s always endeavour therefore, to touch upon and commit every areas of our lives to the Lord in prayer; the praying of All kinds of prayer and supplication.  

Prayer

Unto You Lord, I surrender all in the Name of Jesus.

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The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe

- (Proverbs 18:10)

Among the greatest of mysteries is the irony of protection; it resides contrary to where reason expects it to be and exists independent of the condition of any environment.

Recorded in the bible is the story of a certain Levite who went in search of his runaway concubine; eventually locating her in a foreign land with her father.  On their way back to Israel, the servant advised that they lodge for the night in the nearby city of Jebus. But on the man’s counter suggestion based on the argument that the city not being a part of their people puts their safety at risk, they proceeded to Gilead, a part of Israel where protection was seemingly assured. However, it was a fatal misconception.

In the midst of the night, perverted men of the city descended upon their lodge demanding sexual relations with them. By the time the light of day had risen upon the horizon, they’d molested the life out of the man’s concubine! (Judges 19:26-27) They encountered fatal danger where reason guaranteed safety!

Such is the mysterious way of assured protection; it, like the way of peace, transcends human understanding and is to be found nowhere else but in the Name of the Lord which is the only strong tower where protection from the raving roaming devourer is forever assured.

Prayer

In You Lord I take refuse, let me be shielded in the Name of Jesus.

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I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them; Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed

- (Psalm 18:37)

 As a teenager, Joseph had some revelatory dreams, the interpretations of which were quite obvious. However, the impetuous youth couldn’t keep his mouth shut but on the contrary went ahead to telling, flaunting and probably even taunting his brothers, to whom the interpretations and corresponding implications weren’t oblivious, with the dreams. His understandably prickly words were like fuel to the fire of already they already had burning toward him.

Eventually, it went beyond the threshold were no longer able to take it, they conspired and sold ‘Joseph the Great’ to slave traders who took him down to a foreign land; far away from the comfort of his home and the reach of his loving father. But doesn’t this weakness of Joseph’s have an origin? Isn’t it the fruit of the root from which he proceeded?

Well, did Jacob, his father, not have a similar challenge keeping his return from Padam Aram to Canaan a secret hush? Did he not send messengers ahead to his brother, Esau, to announce his home coming and broadcast his great achievements and possessions? (Genesis 32:4-5) The same weakness with the mouth found its way from father to son.

Personal weaknesses are illusive enemies that must be pursued, overtaken and brought to total annihilation, with the help of the Almighty; at least for the sake of the next and upcoming generation.

Prayer

With You Most High God, I scale every walls of weaknesses in the Name of Jesus.

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praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18)

Mission finally accomplished; a wife from among Abraham’s brethren secured for Isaac through the miraculous intervention of the Almighty. The servant was about to return with her to Canaan when her family gave their final prayers. Among these was a special line of decree worthy of attention: that the descendants of Rebecca will possess the gate of their enemies (Genesis 24:60)  

Now, since entrance into a city is through the gate, the direct translation of this is that rather than wait till the arrival and assault of the enemy before defending is response, Rebecca’s descendants, the children of Israel, will specialise is taking the battle to the enemy on their territory; at the very door step; the best form of defence! An enemy constantly defending itself on its own territory will certainly have a difficult time taking battle to another’s territory.

This is a worthy stratagem which should not be found wanting in the Christian walk which of course is a battle against the kingdom of darkness. We need not always wait for the arrival of roaring Goliath on our territory before rising up in defence. On the contrary, the devouring lion of destruction should be constantly kept bound and defeated in his den through the avenues of ceaseless prayer and constant confession of the Word of Truth.

Prayer

In You I put my trust Lord, let me not be put to shame in the Name of Jesus.

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Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord

 - (2 Corinthians 6:17)

In answer to his prayer, the steps of young and beautiful Rebecca was divinely directed to the well by which Abraham’s servant waited. After he’d watched and confirmed her as the Lord’s choice for his master’s son, he followed her home where he made his intention known to her father and brother. Without hesitation, they gave their full consent.

However, when the servant, mission having been accomplished, requested that he sent back to his master with Rebecca, her family counteracted with a request also: that she be allowed to stay with them for another at least ten days.

Now this calls for attention. Rebecca was just about to become wife to Isaac, son of the friend of God and heir of the precious promises and here were her family asking her to further keep them company. They are the perfect definition of entanglers; delayers of good things.

But thank God for the wisdom of the servant. His understandably hard and long journey through the hot eastern desert had been miraculously prospered and he wasn’t going to let anyone delay him; an argument he put forward in response to their request.

It isn’t uncommon, in time of promotion, for delaying entanglements to suddenly spring up. But the right course of action of course in such situation is refusal to be bugged down by anyone or anything and chose to press on full steam ahead with the Good Shepherd to green pastures.

Prayer

Separate me Lord, as far as the east is to the west, for every delaying entanglements in the Name of Jesus.

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……But a prudent wife is from the LORD

- (Proverbs 19:14)

A leading revelation remains, for single women, which unknown is the reason for the misdirected prayers, concerning a life partner, that results in much delay and the consequent frustrations. At the beginning of things in Eden, we read that, following her creation, Eve was brought by the Creator to Adam; viz. the woman to the man (Genesis 2:22); an established principle by which the Almighty initiates the coming together of two to become one.

However, it’s principle wrongly believed to have been operational only in the pre-fall era having been cast out by the Lord along with man and woman’s ejection from the garden; a great contradiction to biblical revelation. In the post-fall case of Rebecca, wasn’t she divinely brought by the Lord from her home in Nahor, Mesopotamia to Isaac in the Israel through Abraham’s servant?

And let’s not forget Ruth whose steps were divinely directed by the Worker of Miracles from Moab to Israel and finally to the threshing floors of Boaz. Certainly, the Lord’s principle of bringing the woman to the man remains unchanged for it’s man that changes, ever more swiftly than the shifting shadows. And God is not man; the perfect way in which He works remains, like Him, ever unchanging.

That’s why your prayer, dear single sister, should be that your steps be divinely directed by the Good Shepherd to the one He has in mind for you.

Prayer

My steps I totally commit to you Lord; have Your perfect way in the Name of Jesus.

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It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps

- (Jeremiah 10:23)

She’d just finished drawing water and about to turn on the way home when a man called her attention asking for water. Just a bit earlier on, Rebecca had picked up her pitcher and headed for the well not knowing her destiny, the purpose for which she existed in that generation in human history awaited her. She was oblivious to the fact that the stranger was the servant of her uncle and had journeyed, under oath, to seek a wife for his son from among his brethren in his home town.

She let down her pitcher, in response to his request, then proceeded to fetch water for all his camels until they’ve had enough; unknowingly passing the litmus test requested by the servant of the Lord as confirmation of the right wife for Isaac. Her coming to the well on that day was the link to her destiny for she eventually became the wife of Isaac, heir of the glorious promises. Her steps were divinely directed to greatness.

Struggling for greatness in the arm of the flesh is a common human denominator yet one which so ready ends in failure and frustration. But shall we submit our steps to the Good Shepherd then shall we be led to the green pastures of abundant prosperity (Psalm 23:1-2)

Prayer

My steps I commit to You Lord, acording to Your loving kindness lead in the Name of Jesus.

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…Yet I will not forget you

- (Isaiah 49:15)

It was one of the worst droughts in Israel. Left with nothing but a handful of flour and a jar of oil, a widow concluded it was time to die and proceeded to make preparations for a last meal with her son. Away to the city gate she sorrowfully made her and was there gathering sticks that a man’s voice called her attention. It was that of a stranger who asked her for water; a request which graduated into the divine decree that rendered both flour and oil inexhaustible.

Thus, rather than die, the widow and her son were sustained throughout the drought. The Lord sent His prophet to speak forth the creative word of miraculous provision before it got too late; before hunger had forcefully escorted both mother and son from the land of the living. The Lord gave life to their flickering candle of hope before it went out.

Perhaps a situation exists over which you are crying out to the Lord for divine intervention. Perhaps, rather than getting better, it’s gradually getting worse and threatens to go overboard soon becoming irreversible. The Living Word for you today is that it will not; because the One who has promised never to leave nor forsake you is never late (Hebrews 13:5) He knows the end from the beginning and therefore the perfect time to arise on your behalf.

Prayer

Unto You O Lord, I surrender all, have Your way in the Name of Jesus.

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