LORD’S WAY
Exodus 13:17-22, Mark 1:1-20

Wilderness is a passage where the enemy has planted all kinds of mine to derail the transportation that will bring transformation to the life of all believers. Also, it is a passage that cannot be avoided. The children of Israel passed through it to get to their Promised Land. A journey through the wilderness is a process where character is built up to maintain life at the Promised Land. Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith, could not enter into His full assignment on earth until He was led into the wilderness. When the children of Israel were coming out into the journey from the bondage of Egypt, the best and most available route for them was through the wilderness. The fact the Lord led them through the wilderness was evident that it was the best available route. “Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, ‘Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.’ So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt” (Exodus 13:17-18). The wilderness was the best available route and yet it appeared the worst and the most challenging to the children of Israel. The journey through the wilderness is the way that will carry you through to where God has a plan for you. In your journey, it could be that you are yet to face challenges or you are already facing challenges. Do not complain; turn your face to the grace and mercy of God that will carry you through. Without a doubt and in reality, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)Jesus, our Lord and Savior, went through the wilderness and for us to go through the same path should not be an exception. Mark 1:12, “Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the beasts; and the angel ministered to Him.” Jesus went through the wilderness because He knew that we would have to go through it. Jesus’ going through the wilderness was to leave behind a footstep for each and every one who answers His call to follow through. The same wild beasts are still there, but the good news is that the ministering angels who saw Jesus through are waiting to see us through.

Prayer for today: I ask that You alone take the leadership of my life O Lord my God and my King. Let me not take to any way that seems right to me.

GO ABOVE CROWD
Mark 2:1-12

It was recorded about Jesus in Mark 2:1-4, “…He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. The paralytic man that was brought to Jesus had no room to be received. Also, they could not get near the door. The paralyzed man must have heard about the news of Jesus in town very late so he arrived late at his healing ground. However, it is clear that the major hindrance was the crowd that received and resisted his getting on to the healing ground. What is it that is complicating your breakthrough? Is it your self-created crowd or the religious crowd that is waiting at the entrance of your breakthrough to deny you? It is not time for you to give up but rather time for you to take it up to another level that is not common. Zacchaeus was described as a short man in stature. He wanted to see Jesus while in the midst of a thronging crowd. He did not wait for Jesus to pass him by. He took it up to another level by running ahead of the crowd and climbing on a sycamore tree (Luke 19:1-10). Bartimaeus, the blind man, needed to gain his sight when he recognized the passing of Jesus. He called out for Jesus but the crowd calmed down his calling when they asked him to be quiet. He, however, rather increased in his calling until he got the full attention of Jesus (Mark 10:46-52). In every drive to purpose in life, there is no giving up. The four men with the paralytic man took their faith up to another level. Mark 2:4, “And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.” There is so much to learn from the Word of God in regard to getting above and leaving the crowd behind. Crowds are a major force that will discolor your destiny if you get mixed up with them. Avoid all kinds of crowds and most especially the religious crowd. Jesus will surely notice you when you take it up to another level.

Prayer for today: O Lord my God and my Father, add to me this day the grace of persistency where there is a need to be persistent.

HEARING AND HEARING
Joshua 3: 9-17

It is written in Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” Isaiah 5:13 also mentions, “Therefore my people have gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge; their honorable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.” Manifestly, lack of knowledge sent the people of God into captivity. Knowledge has its source in the hearing and understanding of the word of God. When hearing of His word is backed with obedience, it becomes impossible for failure to have a place concerning what is heard from Him. Whatever is being heard clearly, constantly and consistently will determine how you get over forces of destruction. Also, it will circumvent one from getting into captivity and it will create a way of escape from captivity. Indeed, hearing and hearing of the word of God is by every means a great asset to growing in knowledge. (Romans 10:17) The word of God is true and when a believer is true in his or her walk in the word of God then the word will work. What are you constantly hearing? After the journey of about forty years and having heard so many times from God through Moses, the children of Israel had to continue to hear in order to be able to continue in their journey. For every believer to arrive safely at their final destination on the journey of life, to be absent or to take vacation from hearing the word is a valid route to termination. At the point of crossing the Jordan River, God gave Joshua directions that the children of Israel had a need to hear. Joshua called them in Joshua 3:9, “So Joshua said to the children of Israel, ‘Come here, and hear the words of the LORD your God.’” A clear and compelling direction was laid down for the children of Israel when Joshua stated, “Come here and hear”. It is important to always go to where God’s direction is, but it is even more important to also hear. If you have been going and not hearing it is incomplete. In the next verse, Joshua pointed out to them that it is what they heard that will give them the knowledge of what God was about to do. Joshua 3:10, “And Joshua said, ‘By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Hivites and the Perizzites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Jebusites.’” Begin to spend more time in the word of God. Make hearing from Him your music day and night. 

Prayer for today: Father I ask for your deliverance over every agent or forces of distraction that has been coming in the way of my hearing from You.

BECOME HIS COMMANDER
Joshua 1

Joshua 1:1 – “After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, it came to pass that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: ‘Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.’” Moses, the servant of the Most High God, completed his divine assignment as ordained by God. After Moses, a new leader in Joshua was unfolded. Joshua needed to fit into big shoes. Without God’s intervention, there would have been no way for Joshua to step into Moses’ shoes. The Word of God that came to Joshua was a word of command to move forward and not to be discouraged. God alone is the Commanding Commander who can never miss it in His given commands. For every man that listens and hears His command, it is impossible for the obedient one not to become a commander in the hand of God, the Commander. It is written in Joshua 1:10-11, “Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, “Pass through the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess.’”Right after Joshua heard from the Commanding Commander, he himself became commander of the people of God. Is there anything that is denying you from hearing His command concerning your new assignment as a leader in your place of job; as shepherd that is shepherding the sheep of God? Hearing from God and obeying His command in every area of life or in every direction where the Lord has planted your feet is what will make a difference. In regard to how you proceed from where you are now into where He is taking you, operating as a commander in control should be directly rooted in your obedience to His command. It is impossible to receive a command from Him and not become a commander. God is a faithful God and His command will never fail you except that you fail to take to His command. It was testified of Joshua that he feared the Lord and he served the Lord in sincerity. In the fear of God, inhabit the wisdom to be obedient and not fall out of His command. Be a success of the position He has blessed you with by walking in the word of His command.

Prayer for today: Ask God for His command to sound in your direction. Ask also for His command to reign and rule in every area of your operation.