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

  The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. Joshua 10:13, NIV Uncommon Faith  Joshua was in the midst of a great battle. The sun was going down, and Joshua knew that if he couldn’t get the enemy’s army totally defeated, they would rise up later and cause problems. So he asked God to stop the sun, something that had never been done before. God said in effect, “Joshua, if you’re bold enough to ask it, I’m bold enough to do it.” His uncommon faith brought a smile to God’s face. God interrupted the entire universe because one man had uncommon faith. Uncommon faith is above and beyond. It gives you a boldness and a confidence to believe for the extraordinary and step into the unknown. You believe God can do anything. Average faith says, “God, help me to survive this recession.” Uncommon faith says, “God, I believe You will prosper me in the midst of this recession.” Uncommon faith says, “I’m not only coming out of this problem, I’m coming out...

  4 Rs: God’s Grace  “God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.” (Romans 3:24–25, NLT) Grace is the unmerited favor of God granting salvation to all people through the death and resurrection of his son, Jesus Christ. This is a work of God alone and is given to each individual as a gift. All other religions are works oriented, requiring people to justify themselves through their own good behaviors in order to make themselves acceptable to God. Jesus Christ came into the world to save us from “self-justification.” According to God’s plan we are offered salvation based on “Christ-justification.” We must be sure that after salvation we build our lives on the foundation of Christ, and not on the foundation of self-effort. Relationship It is ...

  Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 Guard Your Heart and Mind Just as there are certain chemicals, hormones, and bacteria in our foods that can build up in our bodies and be harmful, there are all kinds of toxic thoughts—bitter, cynical, negative thoughts—that can build up in your mind and do great damage. They become part of who you are. That’s why the Scripture says to make guarding your heart and mind a top priority. If you’ve allowed those thoughts to take root, they will poison your future and sour your relationships. It’s important that you cleanse your mind of the bitterness, the low self-esteem, the negative words spoken over you, the condemnation from past mistakes, and the discouragement that’s trying to become a part of you. You have to make a decision, rather than dwelling on those thoughts, you will dwell on what God says about you. If you keep your mind filled with thoughts of hope and faith, those toxic thoughts will...

  4 Rs: Plugged in to the Power Source “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”  (Ephesians 4:30) To grieve the Holy Spirit is to live in direct disobedience to the known will of God. Why is this so important for us to avoid? Relationship The Holy Spirit is the one who has sealed us for the day of redemption. However, we must remember that this sealing is just the  beginning of a living and vital relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit has been poured into our heart to enlighten us about the will of God. The Holy Spirit gives us direction and a sense of mission. This is  Son Power  at work. Revelation The Holy Spirit reveals to us the secrets of the kingdom of God which those who do not know Christ cannot know or understand. He is the one who empowers us to live what Christ taught when he was in the world. He is the one who intervenes for us in our prayer life. When we grieve the Holy Spirit, ...

Loving and merciful God, thank you for being my God and for your law which is now written on my heart. Open my heart and mind to your Word, that I may live each day in accord with your will. Amen.

4 Rs: The Judgment Factor “This is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life. ” (Romans 2:16) The judgment of God is something we often do not want to think or talk about. But the message of this verse in Romans is that judgment is very real. Our life on earth is temporary. Hebrews 9:27 tells us, “People are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (NIV). The apostle John wrote, “The Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge” (John 5:22). Judgement is real. Relationship A right relationship with God through Christ saves us from the wrath of God. “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life” (John 5:24). We have already passed from death to life through God’s provision. Revelation Trust in Jesus Christ alone is what...

God of love and mercy, your world suffers from brokenness, war, and conflict. Forgive us for the ways in which we fail to live in community, and reveal to us opportunities for reconciliation and new life. Amen.

  4 Rs: Son Power Helps Us Understand the Times “From the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take.”  (1 Chronicles 12:32) In the Old Testament there were men of great wisdom who knew what they needed to do. We need insight provided by the Holy Spirit to understand the signs of our times. The world around us is confused, but God will give us the wisdom necessary to navigate the difficulties facing us. Relationship Our relationship with the Holy Spirit enables us to have that understanding. Revelation We know that the Holy Spirit not only seals us, but also reveals to us the secrets of God’s kingdom. Then he deals with us as he leads us in the way God’s desires. Reflection We need to look to him to empower us to do the things that he reveals to us. Redemption We must make sure the Holy Spirit is in control of our life moment by moment, asking him to ta...

  He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him. Genesis 26:14, NIV Even in a Famine At a time when there was a severe famine in the land, Isaac had planted crops and reaped a hundredfold, “because the Lord had blessed him.” He became so wealthy and successful that his Philistine neighbors looked on with envy. God wants to bless you in such a way that others are envious, so that they want what you have. There is a blessing on your life that will cause things to happen that defy the odds, to where you stand out, people take notice that there’s something different about you. When they’re struggling, you’re succeeding. When they’re complaining, you’re praising. When they’re worried, you’re in peace. You’re an example of God’s goodness. You’re not barely getting by, but blessed in such a way that you can be a blessing to others. You’re not only accomplishing your dreams, seeing overflow, setting new standards, but you’re helping others rise higher. Don’t ...

  The Power of the Cross “You once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.”  (Ephesians 2:2) In the flesh, everyone is following the course of this world that is being led by the prince of the power of the air, Satan, who works in the sons of disobedience. Without Son Power we end up being led by this spirit that follows the course of this world. The power of the cross enables us to break free from our disobedience. Without Christ washing away our sins by his own blood, we have no salvation. Without the death and resurrection of Jesus, we cannot experience freedom. He restores our relationship with God and gives us access to Son Power for everyday living. The power of the cross helps us to overcome the “joy busters” that attempt to rob us of our peace and contentment in times of instability. When we face unsettling problems, we hold on to the power given to us through C...

  What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? Romans 3:3 Be Deaf to Unbelief Sometimes we’re longing for a family member to believe in us and cheer us on or for a friend to encourage us, but it’s just the opposite. There will be people who are close to you who don’t think you can accomplish what God put in your heart. You have to say as Paul did, “So what if they don’t believe? I love them, but I’m going to be deaf to their unbelief.” These are tests we have to pass. You don’t need them to believe in you. Be respectful, but be deaf to their unbelief. The quicker you get rid of it, the better you’ll be. If you dwell on it, it will become a lie that infects your thinking. You can’t play defeat in your mind and have victory. You can’t think sickness and have health. You can’t dwell on thoughts of lack and have abundance. The way you keep the infection out is by dwelling on what God says about you: “You are strong, talented, and...

  4 Rs: The Kingdom of God “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.”  (Mark 4:26–28) Relationship The kingdom of God is established in the believer through Jesus Christ. John tells us, “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life” (1 John 5:12) Revelation The Word of God is represented by the seed in the verses from the book of Mark. The seed is planted in the ground, sprouts, and then grows to a full crop. God’s Word is planted in us as we  soak our hearts  in it. It grows in our heart and then displays its fruit in our lives. Reflection We do not fully understand how this happens, but we do know that God causes the growth. Over time we will see God’s Word growing in our lives. Redempti...

Today's Scrip ture Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21, NIV Dealing with Difficult People You’ll always have someone in your life who is difficult and gets on your nerves. It might be a jealous coworker, a rude neighbor, or a critical relative. How you handle difficult people will determine how high you go. If you treat them the way they treat you, you’ll get stuck. If they’re disrespectful, and you’re disrespectful back, that will keep you from going further. The apostle Paul says that we overcome evil with good. You never overcome disrespect with more disrespect. You never get ahead by doing to others what they do to you. That’s a test of your character. God is seeing what He can trust you with. Will you stay on the high road, overlook the insult, and be kind in your response? You only have so much emotional energy each day for your dreams, to pursue your goals, to enjoy your family. It wastes a lot of energy to get upset, to live offended, to th...

Son Power Grows Within Us to Possess Our Entire Life “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade. ”  (Mark 4:30–32) Those who do not have a relationship with God reject the principles of the kingdom of God. Satan, the god of this present age, the prince of the power of the air, does not want us to think about eternal matters. He only wants us to devote our time, talent, and treasure to the consumable things of this life which will have no value in eternity. However, when  Son Power  takes root in the heart of one who receives Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, that person begins to experience transformation into a new creature. This transformation brings about new ...