Oluwafemi .The Word of God is a light to my Path.

"...let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us…" (Hebrews 12:1) Called Higher If we are going to live a victorious life in Christ, we have to be willing to deal with anything that is keeping us from being our best. It may be an addiction, a bad habit, or a hot temper. Maybe it’s not getting to work on time, not treating someone right, or having a critical spirit. God is always dealing with us about something, calling us higher. But anytime we go higher, our flesh has to go lower. If you have an area you struggle in—and we all do—don’t ignore it. Don’t pretend it’s not there or hope it just goes away. You will never conquer what you don’t confront. If you have a problem, get it out in the open. When you have a humble attitude, in faith asking God for help, He will never let you down. If you do your part and deal with it, God will do His part and help yo...

The Roots of Hope “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. For the director of music. On my stringed instruments. ” (Habakkuk 3:17–19)  From a circumstantial standpoint, the prophet Habakkuk lived in a terrible time. The land was soon to be invaded and, because of the disobedience of the people to God over time, prosperity was no more. Even though the circumstances were bad, Habakkuk gives us the formula for not only surviving but also thriving in such a period. The above passage shows us that Habakkuk did not allow circumstances to steal his joy. It is an example for us that our joy and happiness have to be based on more than just having good...

"…if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God…all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you…" (Deuteronomy 28:1–2) The Commanded Blessing When you honor God with your life, keeping Him in first place, He puts something on you called a “commanded blessing.” The commanded blessing is like a magnet. It attracts the right people, good breaks, contracts, ideas, resources, and influence. You don’t have to go after these things, trying to make something happen in your own strength, your own talent, hoping that life works out. All you have to do is keep honoring God, and the right people will find you. The right opportunities will come across your path. The favor, the wisdom, and the vindication will track you down. Out of nowhere, a good break comes. Suddenly, your health improves. Out of the blue, you’re able to pay your house off. Unexpectedly, a dream comes to pass. That’s not a coincidence. That’s the commanded blessing on your life. Why? You’ve b...

Will You Forfeit Your Future for Today?    “ Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. ” (Jonah 2:8) When we decide to cling to worthless idols instead of following God-given directives, our lives can be shortened or destroyed. A self-driven life forfeits what possibly could have been a great future for the rubble of temporary pleasures. This principle is demonstrated over and over in the Bible: Esau traded his birthright for a bowl of stew.  Cain failed to conquer sin crouching at his door, killing Abel, and was “marked” for life.  Achan and his entire family were stoned to death because Achan disobeyed the Lord by taking and hiding silver in his tent when the Hebrews attacked the city of Ai as they entered the Promised Land.  Absalom shortened his life by rebelling against his father, King David, when he attempted to usurp the kingdom from David. King Belshazzar, the last king of Babylon, had an untimely e...

"When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown…" (Isaiah 43:2) Faith in the Middle In Genesis 37, God gave Joseph a dream that one day his family would bow down before him. God showed him the end, and the promise was planted in his heart. But what God didn’t show him was the middle. Years later, when the dream came to pass and Joseph was ruling over the nation of Egypt, I can hear him saying, “God, You gave me this incredible promise, but You didn’t tell me I’d be thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, falsely accused of a crime, and put in prison for years.” If Joseph were here today, he would tell you, “Don’t get discouraged in the middle when life doesn’t make sense.” You know the promise is in your heart, but every circumstance says just the opposite. Keep believing, keep being your best. If you’ll have faith for the middle, the God of the middle is going to protect you, provide for you, and favor...

Three Objectives to Help Us Make the Most of Our Lives “ Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. ” (Colossians 4:5 ) For the person practicing  Kingdom of God , redeeming the time we have been given is extremely important. We often hear in the world that “time is money.” Colossians 4:5 counsels us to make the most of every opportunity and to be wise in the way we act toward those who are outside of the faith.  We must act on this challenge because our loaf of time grows shorter by the day. We must redeem our time since our time will run out.  What objectives should we implement on a consistent basis if we want to make the most of our lives? First, the Word of God needs to become personally operative in our lives. We should heed the popular saying that we need to “walk the talk, if we are going to talk the talk.” Another way to put it is we need to “practice what we preach.” We cannot effectively communicat...

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart…" (Galatians 6:9) Take Hold of Strength God knew one challenge we all would face is weariness. It’s easy to get tired. Weary means to lose your sense of pleasure, to not feel the enjoyment you should. You’re doing the right thing but not getting right results. Sometimes because the battle is taking longer than you thought, you become weary. Let me encourage you that your due season is on the way. Don’t let discouragement convince you to give up or settle where you are. You may be dealing with battle fatigue today. You’re tired of fighting and don’t think you can go on. But you don’t have to do it on your own. God says, “Let him take hold of My strength.” It’s available, but you have to take hold of it. When thoughts tell you, “It’s never going to change,” just say, “No, I know my time is coming. I’ve been armed with strength for this battle. I can do all things thro...

The King’s Service  “For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. ” (Matthew 7:8) There is nothing like being in the King’s service. Then we realize what we are designed for and the particular works he wants us to do. We experience a fulfilling and abundant life when we are in the center of God’s will. Our lives will truly echo into eternity as we experience the favor and blessing of God when we are in harmony with his will.   How do we know this for sure?  “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. ” (Ephesians 2:10) This verse tells how we are God’s handiwork, special vessels made for the purpose of being productive. He wants us to be engaged in the good works he has prepared for us. When we are spiritually born into his family, we become a new creation with renewed purposes and works to do for his kingdom. How do we find these wor...

"For still the vision awaits its appointed time…If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay…" (Habakkuk 2:3) Right on Time None of us like to go through waiting periods, but we all have things we’re waiting on—a dream to come to pass, our health to improve, to meet the right person. We know God put the promise in our heart, but we wonder why it’s taking so long to happen. The Scripture says there’s an appointed time, which means any other time is the wrong time. If you don’t understand that God will always be right on time, the waiting periods will cause you to be frustrated. But you can only receive the promise within God’s timing. He knows when you’re ready, when to open the door, when to turn it around. If it’s not happening yet, be mature enough to say with David, “God, my times are in Your hands." Now do your part and trust Him. Wait for the God who created the universe to unfold His plan for your life. A Prayer for Today “F...

The Lord Will Provide   “ So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, ‘On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.’”  (Genesis 22:14) What an incredibly intense encounter with God! Abraham was told by God to sacrifice his son, Isaac, as a burnt offering. Nothing was more precious to Abraham than his son. Abraham had so much faith in God, and was obedient to the point of preparing to sacrifice Isaac when God, at the last moment, provided the lamb needed for the sacrifice. What can we learn from Abraham’s encounter with God? We are called upon to sacrifice the BIG “I” or SELF at the foot of the cross.  We do this by trusting in God’s provision for our salvation. We renounce, reject, and repent from trusting in “self-justification” by works, behavior, or anything else for our salvation. Instead, through faith, we accept the gift of Jesus’s sacrifice of his own life on our behalf. Daily, we are called upon to put to de...

Dear Jesus, may I experience the joy that comes from telling others about you and the Good News of your love and salvation. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and renew me each day with your precious Word. Amen.

Do Paul’s Life and Writings Support a Prosperity Gospel?        “ Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. ” (2 Corinthians 11:23–27)  Some teachers promote the “prosperity gospel,” the idea that you will prosper in this world if you just believe the right way. But do the life and writings of the apostle Paul support...

Lord God, everything I have comes from you. Curb my desire to want more than I need. Open my heart and teach me to give unselfishly to those in need. Amen.

Root Your Zeal in the Knowledge of God  “ For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. ” ( Romans 10:2-4) What a huge red flag for us to heed in these verses from Romans! Indeed, zeal is a wonderful attribute to have in doing the Lord’s work. However, we must be sure our zeal is based on the right knowledge of Christ. We do not want to have a zeal that is unproductive. Instead, we need to be fueled by the Spirit of God. The religious establishment of Jesus’s day had a zeal for God, but it was based on the law, self-effort, works, and self-justification rather than faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  When Jesus was in this world, zeal for his Father’s house consumed his life. When I th...

"Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe..." (Mark 5:36) Wake Up A synagogue leader named Jairus came to Jesus and pleaded, “Will You please come to my house and heal my little daughter who’s dying?” Jesus said He would, but then was delayed to the point that news came that the girl had died. Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” When Jesus arrived at the house, everyone was upset and crying. He said to them, “The child is not dead but asleep.” He went in and said to the girl, “Wake up,” and instantly she stood up and was perfectly well. You may have dreams you’ve given up on, promises you think there’s no way they can happen now. The good news is they’re not dead, they’re just asleep. God is about to wake up what you thought was dead. He’s going to bring to life dreams you’ve given up on. Now do your part and start believing, get your hopes up. Your dreams are waking up right now. A Prayer for Today “Father,...

Walking the Talk  “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”  (Galatians 5:16) We recently received a question from a subscriber of the 31-day  Kingdom of God Applied  devotionals about how to overcome a particular moral issue in his life, in addition to fending off the accusations of Satan even after confession of the sin to God.   We suggested several steps an individual can take to overcome sin. The first step is to confess: “ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ” (1 John 1:9) Confession includes repentance from continuing or practicing the sin. Second, God gives us the power to overcome temptation and sin by the power of the Holy Spirit.  “Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to...

"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path…" (Psalm 119:105) Step-by-Step God has a detailed plan for your life. He knows your final destination and the best way to get you there, but God doesn’t show you the details. The Scripture says His Word is a lamp for your feet. A lamp implies you have enough light to see the life path in front of you, but not for the next fifty years. If you trust Him and take that next step into the unknown, not knowing the outcome, He’ll lead you step-by-step into your destiny. The question is, will you be bold and take the next step that God gives you with the light you have? The unknown is where miracles happen, where you discover abilities you never knew you had, and where you’ll accomplish more than you ever dreamed. If you have the courage to do what you know He’s asking you to do, He has the provision, the favor, and all that you need to go to the next level. A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You that what lies ahead...

Sonshine: The Call to Be Lights in a Darkened World    “‘So may all your enemies perish, Lord! But may all who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength.’ Then the land had peace forty years. ” (Judges 5:31) Think of the sun when it rises in its strength. We can feel its warm and comforting presence. It provides light so we can see where we are going. Christians are called to be lights in this darkened world. Scripture affirms our identity as light bearers: “ You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness ” (1 Thessalonians 5:5).  Again, we are challenged to be lights: “… that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world ” (Philippians 2:15). Each Christian has the daily opportunity to be a light in their personal world. We are the message bearers of the good news, as ...

"…Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha..." (2 Kings 6:17) Surrounded by the Most High Elisha’s assistant thought they were surrounded by the enemy army until the Lord opened his eyes. Suddenly, he looked out and saw the hills full of powerful, warring angels with their horses and chariots of fire. The enemy was surrounded by our God. Like this man, you may be surrounded by trouble, but what you can’t see with your natural eyes is that the Most High God is surrounding what’s surrounding you. If God pulled back the curtain, you would see powerful angels at work on your behalf, protecting you, pushing back the forces of darkness. You would see God moving the wrong people out of the way, lining up things in your favor, arranging healings and deliverance. If you only focus on what you see with your physical eyes—the sickness, the addiction, the obstacle—you’ll be worried and discou...

Fix It With Philippians 4:6 “ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ” (Philippians 4:6-7) One time I heard a person say, “Fix it with Philippians 4:6.” We experience a lot of turmoil and challenges we need help to overcome. Philippians 4:6-7 gives us a formula to cope successfully with these episodes. The key to overcoming challenges is learning how to pray. Everything good thing is sourced in God, and all of God’s promises have their “yes” or fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. This in itself should help relieve the anxiety or worry that the flesh wants to control us. With an attitude of thankfulness that God will hear our prayers and requests, we are to make our needs known to him. The promise is that the peace of God will, indeed, guard our hearts and minds in Chr...

"The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!…" (Matthew 13:23) Check Your Soil Jesus told a parable about a man who sowed seed on good ground, and it flourished, producing great crops. But some of the seed fell on rocky ground, and lacking soil and deep roots, its plants withered. Other seed fell among the thorns, and its plants were choked from growing. All the seed was the same quality; what made the difference was the soil. You are a seed. You are full of gifts, talents, and potential. But if you plant yourself in unhealthy soil, if you hang around friends who compromise and pull you down, if you’re in an environment with limited mindsets where people tell you how you’ll never accomplish your dreams, you won’t see the growth you should. It’s not because there’s something wrong with your seed. It’s that the thorns and rocks ar...

Ever Grateful “ …Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. ” (Colossians 1:12–14) This passage is a great candidate for being a Spiritual M & M (Memorize & Meditate). I lift my heart in gratitude to God for his marvelous provision of salvation. Truly, he is the God who sees and provides. God himself has qualified us to partake of the inheritance of the saints. He qualifies us when we place our faith in the person of Jesus Christ, alone, for our salvation.  Salvation is a  gift of God . Paul emphasizes this: “ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ” (Romans 6:23)  “ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift...

"...Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk..." (Acts 3:6) Exceeded Expectations The crippled beggar was expecting the ordinary from Peter, a few coins, but God showed up and exceeded his expectations. The man didn’t see it coming, but that one moment of favor, that one exceeded expectation changed his whole world. I can hear him saying, “I never dreamed I’d be able to walk or work or be this fulfilled!” God has some of these “I never dreamed” blessings in store for you. Similar to the crippled man, sometimes we’ve struggled in an area for so long that we’ve gotten comfortable with it. We’re expecting a few coins, something to sustain us, but God is about to do a new thing. You’re believing for the ordinary; God is going to the extraordinary. He’s going to take you where you’ve never been. No more coins, no more dysfunction, no more being stuck in your career. You’re a...

“ A male and female of each kind entered, just as God had commanded Noah. Then the Lord closed the door behind them. ” (Genesis 7:17) With all of the turmoil in the world, God is turning up the volume and asking, “Do you hear me now?” God has a timetable. He has a plan, not only for the world, but also for each Christian in this world. God has a plan for YOU! We want to make sure we are living according to his plan, his values, and his timetable. Noah was obedient to God.  People must have laughed at him when he was building an ark in the middle of a desert-like environment. However, Noah had his instructions from God. He did not care about the world’s opinion. God’s opinion was what counted. Noah was a spiritually motivated person.  When he finished the project God gave him to do, what happened? Noah and his family entered the ark, and God shut the door! For us to be faithful in practicing  Kingdom  of God, we need to be aware of the “ loaf of time ” ...