WAY TO THE OTHER SIDE
Matthew 14:13-32

The disciples, having been around Jesus for quite a while, had learnt so much but their much was not enough for their calling. Their need to learn more became evident while at a deserted ground. The ground was empty and there was nothing to feed the multitudes. “…His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.”” (Matthew 14:15) As a believer, do you think there is a place deserted enough to prevent Jesus from making a provision in the place of lack? At that juncture the disciples demonstrated a need for a learning experience. “Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.” (Matthew 14:22) It was a compulsory trip; it was a trip of learning. The trip in a boat to the other side, at a late hour was of strong importance and urgency. The disciples needed to carry a mark of experience of what it means to lay it all on Jesus in every deserted ground. As one that has been following Him, have you been carrying a mark of experience that sets you apart for Him? It is a mark of separation unto Him and it could be that what you’re going through now is your crossing over to the other side. The learning experience is not always in the beginning of the crossing but in the middle, “But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.” (Matthew 24:26) In the middle when turning back is bleak and going forward could be challenging with no chances of survival. The disciples saw what was not true because they were troubled. “Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. ” (Matthew 14:25-26) Where there is no faith fear will occupy and trouble will prevail. He has called you, He will train you, He will instruct you, and His eyes will guide you. As one that is in training for the business of the Kingdom of God, what you are going through is a learning experience and it will prepare you for greater work to come. In the learning experience of the disciples Jesus showed up and assured them when, “…He spoke to them saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”” He is true to His word.

Prayer for today: O Lord have mercy on me, in my time of crossing over, let me not sink and miss my divine calling.                

RELY TO PREVAIL
2 Chronicles 13

As many as there are millions of hearts, God alone sees all the hearts on earth. 2 Chronicles 16:9 testifies, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to him…” God is interested in knowing those whose hearts are loyal to Him not whose hearts are racing away from Him. A loyal heart is a faithful heart and it is the heart that relies on God. Once, Abijah the king of Judah was confronted by Jeroboam the king of Israel. In this confrontational war, Jeroboam was set in battle with eight hundred thousand men of war against Abijah’s four hundred thousand men of war. Jeroboam, by virtue of the strength and depth in his men of war, had no need to rely on God but self. However, Abijah had every need to commit it all to the hand of God. Abijah warned Jeroboam with his testimony, “Now look, God Himself is with us as our head, and His priests with sounding trumpets to sound the alarm against you. O children of Israel, do not fight against the LORD God of your fathers, for you shall not prosper!” (2 Chronicles 13:12) Despite the warning signal, Jeroboam chose to go forward hoping his reliance on man’s strength would prevail against Abijah’s reliance on God. “But Jeroboam caused an ambush to go around behind them; so they were in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them. 14 And when Judah looked around, to their surprise the battle line was at both front and rear; and they cried out to the LORD, and the priests sounded the trumpets.” (2 Chronicles 13:13-14) Are you facing any challenge that shows there is no way out for your victory? Abijah took three steps to attain his victory: The people cried out to the Lord; the priests sounded trumpets which represented alarming call to heaven and the men of Judah gave a shout. Abijah knew who he believed and he cried unto God. Jeroboam was defeated despite his reliance on what man could do for him. God sees the heart and He will not fail to spot out the ones that rely on Him. As a result of Abijah’s reliance on God, “Thus the children of Israel were subdued at that time; and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied on the LORD God of their fathers.” (2 Chronicles 13:18) A heart that relies on God will be loyal to Him and it is the evidence of the fear of God. 2 Chronicles 19:9, “…You shall act in the fear of LORD, faithfully and with a loyal heart” God does not sleep and His eyes will not miss when you rely on Him. Rely on Him and you will prevail.

Prayer for today: O Lord takeover my heart and let me not have any reason to rely on any other God but you.

SOUND THAT ELEVATES
2 Chronicles 15

2 Chronicles 15:1-2, “Now the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded. 2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.” Azariah kept on with his exhortation while Asa listened. Azariah then concluded his exhortation by stating, “But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!”(2 Chronicle 15:7) Exhortation that sounded in the direction of Asa turned things around for Asa, “And when Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and removed the abominable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities which he had taken in the mountains of Ephraim; and he restored the altar of the LORD that was before the vestibule of the LORD.” (2 Chronicles 15:8) The word cannot sound without bringing forth testimony. Any time the word of God sounds, it is always backed with power to heal and power to deliver. The Psalmist testifies, “He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.”(Psalm 107:20) The word of God is all that will make the difference that is needed for the journey of life. God described His word when He stated in Jeremiah 23:29, “Is not My word like a fire?” says the LORD, “ And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? ” Is there anything that does not represent God in your life and needs to be burnt off? Apply the word of God that sounded in your direction. Is there any rock of hindrance in your way that needs to be broken? You can ask for the hammer nature of the word of God to break it down. Jeremiah once found the word of God in his time of need for encouragement and he testified, “Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 15:16) Remember, it is the same word that the Lord God used in the creation of the whole of heaven and earth. Psalm 33:4, “For the word of the LORD is right, and all His work is done in truth.” The word of God can sound through His messenger and it can be contacted in the pages of scripture. His word has never failed and it cannot fail. All reforms of Asa were in response to Azariah’s exhortation that sounded in Asa’s direction.

Prayer for today: Ask God that the same word that sound and distinguish Asa will sound to distinguish you for His glorious name.    

FOUNDATION
Genesis 22:1-19

Everything that comes out to be good or bad has its foundation. Also, if faith can be demonstrated in minor challenges it should also be demonstrated in major challenges. If you have been trusting God for a minor provision, when the need for a major provision presents itself trusting in God should also be in place. Experience that brings out the best out of man in the journey of life builds up and adds up to empowerment. Experience into empowerment does not come overnight; it adds up and builds up. An adage says, ‘Rome was not built in a day.’ Practice is what makes perfect. Practicing faith will bring out the best to stand tests as they come in the way of a believer. When it was time for Abraham to enter the test that settled him and defined him for his divine agenda, the Bible recorded, “Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham…” (Genesis 22:1) The statement, ‘After these things’ is undoubtedly referring to all his experiences and responses from the time he was called out to the time God wanted to finally elevate him. Abraham, a faith practitioner had passed through many minor tests before he was set for major test. Abraham’s response to the King of Sodom after Abraham’s victory of bringing Lot and people back from the captivity of king Chedorlaomer and other kings was evidence of the fact that Abraham’s passing the final test was rooted in the earlier test. Genesis 14:21-23, “Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’” Abraham was bent on trusting God as his only divine source and provider. When the final test of using Isaac as the sacrificial offering came up, Abraham did not hesitate to demonstrate his trust and reliance on God as his source. When Isaac asked for the lamb for burnt offering Abraham knew there was no lamb at hand but yet responded, “…My son God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering…” (Genesis 22:8) There was a foundation in Abraham’s defining moment. Abraham’s foundation had been in trusting God for His word. Trusting God is resting in God and not rusting in the world of challenges.

Prayer for today: Ask God to ensue you with all that it will take for you not to miss His visitation that will pass you into divine agenda for your life.    

CONFRONTATION WITHOUT CONFIRMATION
2 Chronicles 18

As a believer in the name of the almighty God, knowing who you are will be a determining factor in how you end up on the journey of life. Once, during King Jehoshaphat of Judah’s visitation to Ahab king of Israel, his assistance was requested in joining Ahab against Ramoth Gilead.  “So Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth Gilead?” And he answered him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will be with you in the war.” (2 Chronicles 18:3) King Jehoshaphat’s knowing who he was prompted his request from Ahab stating, “…Please inquire for the word of the LORD today” (2 Chronicles 18:4) It is written in Psalm 32:8, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” Knowing who you are will always request calling for God’s direction in every area of life. However, calling on God for direction can be very challenging where there is a ready made decision about what to do or what to get. In the case of King Ahab, he knew what he wanted to do and how to go about it before calling on God for direction. Ahab wanted to go against Ramoth Gilead and all that he wanted to hear was a direction to go to war with victory prophesied. Often time, man forgets that God cannot be put in a container and neither can He be lead because He is the Leading leader. In response to Jehoshaphat, King Ahab “…Gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?” So they said, “Go up, for God will deliver it into the king’s hand.” (2 Chronicles 18:5) King Ahab heard what he wanted to hear but Jehoshaphat wanted a confirmation. King Ahab responded, “…There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me but always evil. He is Micaiah…” (2 Chronicles 18:7) Jehoshaphat, knowing who he was, insisted on getting a confirmation before getting into a confrontation. Anytime a believer makes a move without a confirmation it becomes a confrontation with the opposition (the evil one). Four hundred prophets spoke what King Ahab wanted to hear but Micaiah stood out and gave the word of God, “…I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.’”(2 Chronicles 18:16) Confrontation against the enemy without His confirmation is equal to termination. King Ahab went to war without God and he became history when he could not return from the war in peace.
 
Prayer for the day: Lord let it become of me to become a constant and consistent listener to your direction.