Refuse to Receive< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Daniel 1:1-16

Daniel and his three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego, were taken captive to < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Babylon. While in captivity the king gave an order of special provision to build them and have them for his service. Daniel 1:5, ÒAnd the king appointed for them a daily provision of the kingÕs delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king.Ó Daniel and his friends rejected the kingÕs offer; they did not eat what was ordered by the king. The situation on ground could not bring Daniel and his friends to the level of unbelief. Daniel and his friends were able to stand for whom they believe despite being in captivity. Is your situation changing you, or you are changing your situation for GodÕs glory? When it was time for the test to determine how they have grown, they appeared better than everyone. Daniel 1:15, ÒAnd at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the delicacies.Ó In addition to their appearance, they stood a better chance for breakthrough because they chose to be on the LordÕs side. Daniel and his friends refused king Nebuchadnezzar because of the Lord of Lords and King of Kings, and they received more from God. Do not be conformed to what the world has to offer. You cannot hide your wrong doing. Ask for the grace to do right before Him. Doing wrong and presenting it right will not last forever. Daniel did it right before God; they took their stand for God in secret and in open. Above all, they did not lose, but gained by His grace.

Assurance< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Joshua 7:1-8

Joshua and the children of < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Israel had faced giant obstacles but none was enough to stop or slow them down in their journey. At every step in their journey they were consistent in getting assurance from God. Are you taking any step in your journey for granted? It can be tempting to take some steps for granted if your previous steps have been relatively easy. Having brought down Jericho without raising man made weapons but GodÕs praise, they moved forward against Ai. Joshua sent men to go and spy Ai before going in to attack. The spy went and came back with a report of assumption. Joshua 7:3, ÒAnd they returned to Joshua and said to him, ÔDo not let all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not weary all the people there, for the people of Ai are few.ÕÓ Can you imagine the people of God turning to self-assumptions instead of God-assurance? They went and they could not stand against their enemy. Joshua 7:4, ÒSo about three thousand men went up there from the people, but they fled before the men of Ai.Ó The children of Israel were struck and lost a smaller battle and could not stand against their enemy. If their battle was based on GodÕs assurance, it would have been a different story. If you are still marching in the direction of victory, keep up with seeking GodÕs assurance and do not move when He did not ask you to. The devil is a liar; there is no easy battle for a child of God except the one that God fights for His children. His assurance will win for you; your assumption will ruin your victory.

Prepare for Repentance< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

2 King 22

Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Jerusalem. The Bible declared him has one that did what was right in the sight of God. In his eighteenth year as king, he began to get involved in the reparation of the house of the LORD. Josiah sent for provisions to be delivered to the workers that were overseeing and working to repair the house of the LORD. 2 Kings 22:5, ÒAnd let them deliver it into the hand of those doing the work, who are overseers in the house of the LORD; let them give it to those who are in the house of the LORD doing the work, to repair the damages of the house.Ó He had a heart for the house of the LORD to be repaired. When you begin to identify in your life a need to repair the house that the LORD has given you (you are the temple of God), you will find God. 2 Kings 22:8, ÒThen Hilkiah the high priest said to Shapan the scribe, ÔI have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD.Õ And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.Ó ShaphanÕs coming across the book was not for decoration, it was meant for declaration. Shaphan read the book and could not be quiet, and that made him take the Book of Law to King Josiah. 2 Kings 22:11, ÒNow it happened, when the King heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes.Ó The king tore his clothes because he realized how far he and his people have been from God. Repairing the house of the LORD brought revival to the land. Are you interested in being revived for redemption? Just like king Josiah, your desire to be repaired will open you up for the word of God and for repentance.

Ride< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Genesis 41, Daniel 5:10-29

In the journey of life, the gift of God stands out to be the most undeniable vehicle that will take a man through his breakthrough–only if you can identify what God has deposited in you. DanielÕs ride into breakthrough was in his gift of interpreting visions. Joseph also rode on otherÕs dreams into his breakthrough from prisoner to prime minister. Genesis 41:15, ÒAnd Pharaoh said to Joseph, ÔI have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.ÕÓ Are you taking note of any positive things that are being said about you without knowing it? God must have deposited something in your life that will give you a ride to your breakthrough. Until you realize what it is, your struggle continues. After the interpretation of PharaohÕs dream by Joseph, Pharaoh designated power to Joseph by putting his signet ring in JosephÕs hand; and he changed JosephÕs garment. Genesis 41:43, ÒAnd he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, ÔBow the knee!Õ So he set him over all the < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>land of Egypt.ÕÓ Joseph rode on dreams, from prison to prime minister of Egypt. What would your ride be? 

Wall of < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Jericho< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Joshua 5:13-15, Psalm 121

The Psalmist says in Psalm 121, ÒI will lift up my eyes to the hills from whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.Ó If you are conversant with Psalm 121, it is obvious that you should know about looking up for help. Abraham, before He could identify what God has in place to replace Isaac from being the sacrificial lamb, looked up with expectation. Genesis 22:13, ÒThen Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there was a ram caught in the ticket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.Ó Looking up for help is very important. If you are not one that is used to looking up for help in time of need or trouble it can be challenging for your breakthrough in times of difficulty. Joshua crossed over Jordan to face another wall of hindrance from getting to his promise land. Joshua did not just know about God, he knew God and he approached his wall as one that knows his God. Joshua 5:13, ÒAnd it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in his hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, ÔAre You for us or for our adversaries?ÕÓ When Joshua looked at the right place, he found the right help at the right time. Are you looking at the right place for the right help? Let looking up to God for your help become your lifestyle, manÕs style for help will not go far enough.