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

  The Battle: Converterlator vs. Consumerlator “ There were two hundred leaders from Issachar. They knew what Israel should do, and they knew the right time to do it. ” (1 Chronicles 12:32) “ Listen, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as clever as snakes and as innocent as doves. ” (Matthew 10:16) We find ourselves in a world filled with all kinds of conflict. Conflict rages in both the seen and unseen realms. Secular forces battle spiritual forces all the time, but we often are only able to see the partial results of the battle. Individually, we all face battles of various kinds, including physical, material, spiritual, emotional, and mental stresses. Human casualties are abundant. But the Word of God gives us the hope, power, guidance, and instruments needed to fight these secular and spiritual battles. “ The Lord says, ‘I will make you wise and show you where to go. I will guide you and watch over you.’  ” (Psalm 32:8) God tells us how he will make us like the sons

  …whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things. Philippians 4:8 Recognize What’s Really Extraordinary In today’s Scripture, it’s significant that the apostle Paul used the word “if.” “If there is any excellence.” He was saying you have to look for the good in your spouse, your children, your workplace, and in that difficulty you’re facing. It’s so easy to focus on all the flaws in our loved ones and on the discouraging things we face. How many times on our daily journey are we not recognizing what God is doing and what He has given us. We’re so caught up in the stress of the day that we don’t see how God is sustaining us, favoring us, guiding us. You have to look past all the wrongs and see the good things in your life and be grateful. Don’t take for granted the people God has given you to love. They may not be perfect,

The Compass of Life “ He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered. ” (Proverbs 28:26) “ In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. ” (Judges 21:25) Our point of reference is critical in becoming a  CONVERTERLATOR . The above verses summarize what is wrong in our world: People refuse to acknowledge God and instead trust in their own hearts. To do so is to make oneself a fool. People do whatever they think is right in their own eyes. They think that no one, including God, is going to tell them what to do. We see the evidence of this foolishness on the evening news. Many Christians drift away from their mission. They fail to do what the Psalmist did:  “ I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. ” (Psalm 16:8) Many have fallen into the trap of the  CONSUMERLATOR  and follow the world and its wisdom. “ However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet

  But Jesus said, “Don’t resist anymore.” Luke 22:51 Wrongs That Lead to Rights When Jesus was about to be arrested and crucified, the temple guards approached Him. Peter said, “This is wrong,” and struck one of them with his sword. The betrayal, the false accusations and trial, and the crucifixion were all wrong. But just as the other disciples were about to draw their swords, Jesus said, “Quit fighting these wrongs! They’re a part of My destiny.” The disciples couldn’t see that these wrongs against Jesus were necessary to get Him to the cross. It wasn’t the enemy leading Him into the wrongs; it was the hand of God leading to a right. Too often we get stuck in the wrongs—the setbacks, the position you didn’t get, the hurtful things you don’t understand. As Peter did, you’ll be tempted to fight, get upset, live frustrated, and say, “God, where are You?” No, God is saying, “I am in control. Those wrongs are leading you to a right. Quit fighting everything you don’t like; flow with it.”

  Going, Going, Gone! “ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. ” (Mark 13:31) This is an incredible statement! Everything is ultimately going to pass away. Our time, talents, and treasures will expire when we do. They will do us no good in eternity. We must use them while we are on this side of eternity. We are like the shopper who has won a contest and is allowed to buy as many groceries as she can within a short period of time. When the time expires, the shopping spree ends. However, according to the Bible, we know that the Word of God will never pass away and that the soul of each person is going to exist forever in either heaven or hell. The soul going to heaven will spend eternity based on how his time, talents, and treasures were spent on earth. This is why Kingdom of God is concerned with the brevity of life. The Bible comments extensively on life and how short it is. “ He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return. ”

  Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. Mark 6:31 Stay in Balance Everywhere Jesus went, He was healing people, teaching in the synagogues, pouring Himself into His disciples. People made constant demands on His time and energies. Imagine how He felt. As the Son of God, He had this incredible power, anointing, wisdom, so much to offer. Yet at times, when He was exhausted, He would go away from the crowds and get alone so He could be refreshed. Despite the pressing needs around Him, Jesus knew that He had to take care of His temple.  If the Son of God had to be alone and rest, if He couldn’t meet all the demands of the people around Him, why do we think we can go all the time and be everything for everyone? No matter how anointed, strong, smart, or gifted you are, you get depleted. Despite all the needs around you, you have to

  Hammer, Saw, or Screwdriver? “ God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing. ” (Ephesians 2:10) To be effective  CONVERTERLATORS , we need to know how we have been individually designed and the purpose for which we have been designed. There are all kinds of tools for building a house, including hammers, saws, and screwdrivers, just to name a few. Each one of these has been designed for a specific purpose. It is not effective to try to use a saw as a hammer or a screwdriver as a saw. First, we must realize that we are God’s workmanship. He has made us. “ Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. ” (Isaiah 64:8) “ He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works. ” (Psalm 33:15) Our purpose for this world is to do good works—specific works that God planned for us a long time ago! Second, we discover just what kind of 

Gracious God, all who revere you and do what is right are acceptable to you. Your Son, Jesus, is Lord of all. Thank you for the outpouring of the gift of your Holy Spirit and for welcoming and embracing all who put their faith in Jesus. In your holy name I pray. Amen.  

The Big Weapon of the Consumerlator “ So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? ” (Luke 16:11) The  CONSUMERLATOR  will use many weapons to blunt our efforts as effective  CONVERTERLATORS  of our time, talents, and treasures. One of the most effective weapons the CONSUMERLATOR uses is worldly wealth. Remember, the CONSUMERLATOR wants us to spend all of our time and efforts on earthly matters that are in the process of perishing. The person who buys strictly into what the world system has to offer is going to end up with nothing in eternity. The mature CONVERTERLATOR has made the great discovery: “ Then the Almighty will be your gold, the choicest silver for you. ” (Job 22:25, NIV) “Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you. ” (Job 22:21) “ After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.’  ”

Lord God, open my heart and my mind to your Word and to your surprising joys, and to new opportunities to advance your kingdom. Amen. 

  Converterlator Weaponry “ For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ” (Hebrews 4:12) “ And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. ” (1 Thessalonians 2:13) “ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ” (Ephesians 6:17) A Christian cannot be an effective CONVERTERLATOR without the Word of God. Along with the Holy Spirit, the Word is a modality for bringing the necessary transformation in our hearts, attitudes, and mindsets. It is the means for nourishing and fueling the very roots of our being. The Word also is usually the major means we learn about the will of God and how to implement the strategies he reveals to us t

  “When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” Isaiah 43:2 Fire California’s magnificent sequoia trees can stand over three hundred feet tall and live over two thousand years. What’s significant is that the sequoia cones are full of seeds that are locked up inside. Fire dries out the cones, enabling them to crack open and deposit their seeds on the forest floor. Then the seeds are able to germinate and become what they were created to be. The fire is necessary for new growth. In a similar way, there are seeds that are locked up in you—seeds of favor, greatness, and purpose. The only way they’ll come out is through fire—the business slows, a friend walks away, the medical report isn’t good. It’s easy to get discouraged, but God won’t allow a difficulty unless He has a purpose for it. There is potential locked up in you, gifts and talents that you won’t discover without going through times of adversity when it’s uncomfortable

  Seals, Reveals, and Deals “ That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.’ But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. ” (1 Corinthians 2:9–10) The Holy Spirit does all of the above. He seals us at the pivotal point of spiritual birth: “ In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, ” (Ephesians 1:13) As we cultivate our relationship with Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit reveals more and more to us as we mature. Scripture teaches us the source of true life so we can be the yield-active  CONVERTERLATORS . “ And he said to them, ‘Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’  ” (Luke 12:15) “ It is the Spirit who g

  But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. 1 Corinthians 15:10 The Free You Today , life is going to try to put impatience, jealousy, compromise, and bad breaks on you to keep the true you, the person God created you to be, from coming out. The good news is that God is going to keep working on you, making and molding you until the true you comes out—the free you, the blessed you, the patient you, the victorious you. By His grace, God specializes in removing everything that’s not the true you. Now, you need to get in agreement with God and see the free you, not the defeated you, the depressed you, the hurt you. It’s easy to carry bad breaks, hurts, shame, and feel unworthy of being blessed. Don’t believe those lies. What people did to you didn’t stop the true you. The anger and bitterness are not the true you. The true you is peaceful, loving, and kind. The true you is about to come out. What’s holding you back is being broken. The shame is bei