OPPOSITE OF FRUITFULNESS
1 Samuel 1

“But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.” (Luke 1:13) The angel that appeared to Zacharias pointed out to Zacharias that to be afraid is a prayer hinderer. Prayer and being afraid cannot go together before the manifestation of prayer request. The prayer point of Zacharias was not mentioned but it can be concluded, from the response of the angel that Zacharias must have been praying against barrenness in his marriage. Prayer opens heaven for the extension of God’s hand over every prevailing force. Absolutely, there is no door that prayer cannot open. Barrenness will succumb to every effective fervent prayer that is rendered unto God. Psalm 128:1 states that, “Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways.” The psalmist went further and mentioned the kind of blessings. Among such blessings that are mentioned in Psalm 128:3 is, “Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plants all around the table.” Barrenness is the opposite of fruitfulness and through the whole Bible, the only one that was mentioned for barrenness was Micah (Wife of David, the daughter of King Saul). Micah mocked King David for praising God. Besides Micah, it is evident that prayer opened wombs and terminates barrenness. Hannah having waited for a long time for the fruit of the womb, prayer was her only avenue to confront the agent of barrenness. 1 Samuel 1:12-15, “But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.” Pouring out our soul before God is also an effective fervent prayer and it will open every door that has been shut on us. Barrenness, the representative of lack and of stagnation, will undoubtedly respond to prayer. In the life of Zacharias and Elizabeth, in the life of Elkanah and Hannah, prayer unlocked the door of barrenness and they were blessed with fruitfulness. Are you experiencing barrenness in any area of life? Today be encouraged, in your experience, experiment with prayer and an effective fervent prayer by pouring your soul out to the Lord. The blessed, good and merciful God will not pass you by.
 
Prayer for today: O Lord my God I ask that you intervene in all that is representing barrenness in my life. I ask in Jesus name that you make me a fruitful vessel.

TROUBLED?
Psalm 27

In every area of life, in every confronting situation, not having been through is an evidence of no qualification to take a position of consoling those that are encountering troubling situations and challenges. Among the giants in the Bible, Job is one of the most qualified to tell what it is when trouble comes. Job stated, “I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, for troubles come.” (Job 3:26) The evidences of trouble in the life of the troubled ones are: not being at ease, not being in a quiet state of mind and lack of rest. Anywhere there is trouble, confusion will abide also and making wrong decisions will have its way. Pride is a prominent avenue to trouble. King Herod had no reason to be troubled at the announcement of the birth of the King of kings, Lord of lords. Matthew 2:1-3, “1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.” King Herod’s reason to be troubled could be caused by a wrong perception and intimidation of the birth of a new King. The trouble that came into the life of King Herod led him to make wrong and confused decisions. Trouble is the root of wrong and bad judgment or bad decision making. Herod made an error in judgment and a wrong decision in his attempt to terminate God’s divine agenda. The decision of the wicked king to terminate God’s divine agenda brought to life the way and the infallible word of God to manifestation as it is written in Hosea 11:1, “When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son.” The trouble in King Herod brought confusion into his life to think he could terminate the King of kings. Are you experiencing any kind of trouble? Are there any signs of trouble that are evident in you now? There is a place in the time of trouble where a believer can bubble and triumph. The Psalmist pointed out, “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.” (Psalm 27:5). God is at work on behalf of all who seek refuge in time of trouble.

Prayer for today: O Lord my God, I ask that every representative of Herod in my life be activated so that Your word concerning my life will come to pass in Jesus name.  

IT IS ALL ABOUT KNOWING
1 Samuel 3

Knowing about the God that you believe is not the same as knowing Him. It is possible to know about the Word of God and not behave the Word. However, it is impossible to know the Word of God and not behave the Word. There is a difference in knowing about God and knowing God. Once a knowing is set in the life of a believer, living godly will become of the believer. I Samuel 3:1, “Now the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.” The fact that the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord before Eli was not evident that Samuel knew God, but only knew about God. When the Lord came calling on Samuel, Samuel could not relate neither could he identify with the word that was calling him. The Lord repeatedly called Samuel but Samuel had no understanding of where the callings were coming from, “Then the LORD called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 (Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor was the word of the LORD yet revealed to him.)” (1 Samuel 3:6-7) At the time of Samuel’s calling there was no understanding of who God was and Samuel could not answer like the one that knows God. Knowledge is wealth and there is power to be different when knowledge is in him that understands, “…Go, lie deep inside of the carrier. Eli, by virtue of his experience with the Lord, enlightened Samuel by making down; Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.” (1 Samuel 3:9) Samuel with understanding that was acquired knew exactly what to do to begin to hear from God. “Now the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.” 11 Then the LORD said to Samuel: “Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.” (1 Samuel 3:10-11) The boy Samuel understood and he knew how to hear from God and that made the difference in all the days of his life. God is a God that wants to maintain constant and consistent communication with His children but the lack of knowing often denies believers. Gain understanding of knowing Him and you will be enabled in your living for His glory.

Prayer for today: My Lord and my God I ask for the grace to know you more abundantly in Jesus name.

A CERTAIN PLACE
Genesis 27:41-46, Genesis 28

After Jacob stole the blessings of Esau, there was no way of escape for Jacob from the wrath of his brother other than to run for his life. A time of running can be a wilderness journey in the life of the one running for his life. Jacob could not have perceived what he was getting into when he was advised by his mother to flee to her brother Laban in Haran. Rebekah suggested to Jacob to go, “And stay with him a few days, until your brother’s fury turns away,” (Genesis 27:44) Jacob entered his wilderness journey, a journey with no way of turning back. It was a journey that leads to the center of divine assignment. Jacob, on the journey of his escape, came to a certain place, “Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. 12 Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. ” (Genesis 28:10-12) A certain place is a particular place in time of man’s journey. Jacob, in his certain place had an encounter with the Lord, “And behold, the LORD stood above it and said: “I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. 14 Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.”  (Genesis 28:13-15) A certain place is a place of God’s visitation; a certain place is a place of God’s assurance. It is demonstrated in Jacob’s journey that, a certain place is a place of God’s promise, also an awesome place. Jacob in his certain place woke up from sleep and testified, “Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”  (Genesis 28:16-17). Arriving at your certain place in the journey of life will place you in the center of God’s divine assignment for your life.
 
Prayer for today: Father I ask in the name of Jesus Christ let me not miss my certain place during the course of my journey in life.  

WILDERNESS
Matthew 4

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” If Jesus the King of kings and our Lord and savior could pass through the wilderness before getting to the center of His divine assignment, there will be no exception for any believer to avoid the wilderness journey. Evidently, it is how wild a wilderness journey is that will determine how wide the ground to be covered in a believer’s divine assignment. Wilderness journey is a journey of no turning back. In every wilderness journey there is no back road or short cut to the expected end, every ground must be covered. Remember the children of Israel? God took them through a route that would cause them not to change their mind and return to Egypt but through the wilderness. (Exodus 13:17) Wilderness journey is not a journey that you plan for but a journey that puts you in the plan of God for your life. Wilderness journey is not a journey of comfort neither is it a journey of your choice or interest. Wilderness journey is a journey that every vessel in the hand of God must pass through. Jesus was led into it, Abraham was called into it, and Moses was forced into it after committing murderer. It was not Joseph’s choice to walk into the wilderness journey of his life neither did Paul the apostle know what he was getting into in his attempt to go and commit his murder against the disciples of the Lord. Wilderness journey is a journey of trial and temptation and it is the only avenue that leads from the promise of God to getting to God’s Promised Land for His children. An attempt to avoid the wilderness journey will make a believer become a wanderer and not a wonder in the area of divine schedule. Wilderness journey is a wild journey where nothing works but faith. Wilderness journey is a journey where every believer in it has to walk by faith, see by faith and move by faith. In the wilderness journey, a failure to progress by faith will lead to a passing on to falling for temptation. In the wilderness journey personal need for survival will be threatened, a need to test God for His word will presents itself. Thirdly, reason to worship other gods will present it self. In these three areas of temptation, Jesus demonstrated faith and passed through. “Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.” (Matthew 4:11) After passing through, “…Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” (Matthew 4:17)   
 
Prayer for today: Father, I do not know the way in the wilderness, help me in my journey through.