Category Archives: Devotions

New Name

NEW NAME< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Genesis 32

 

Since you have been born, the name that you answered has not been moving you forward and you cannot identify if you are in the same spot. You know that some things have to change in your life before you enter into His divine schedule for your life and you cannot figure what needs to be changed. Jacob had a name change and his life was never the same like when he first started. Jacob means supplanter and for some time in his life, he was constantly exposed to being deceived. Jacob lived by his name and his name was answering for him. What is your name? Does your name makes meaning to where you are or what you are doing at the present stage of your life? Jacob had a name change after his struggle with the angel. It is written in Genesis 32:28, ÒAnd He said, ÔYour name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.ÕÓ He got a new name from heaven and he became registered in heaven while living on earth. Before Jacob could enter into the encounter that gave him a new name, the Bible testifies in Genesis 32:22Õ ÒAnd he arose that night and took his two wives, his two females servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them over the brook and sent over what he had.Ó Having sent all, the Bible confirmed that he was left alone. What is it in your life that you need to let go for now? Whatever you are holding on to does have a need to be sent over. Jacob was left alone for a divine encounter and you need to be left alone for your encounter to have its way. All that Jacob did was send them over for later reunion so there could be a room for his encounter. Position yourself for a divine encounter and you will carry a name that is heavenly generated. JacobÕs name was changed to Israel meaning God strives. He will give you a name that will preserve you for His name to be glorified.

Power

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

Genesis 31

 

When it was time for Jacob to leave Laban the Syrian, the brother of Rebecca, the mother Jacob, Jacob did not let it known to Laban. Despite having two of LabanÕs daughters (Rachel and Leah) as his wives and having made all his wealth from working for Laban, Jacob did not inform nor bid farewell to Laban the Syrian at the time of his moving. JacobÕs excuse for such a move was based on the fact that he heard from God that he should return to the land of his family. Indeed, it was documented that the countenance of Laban was no longer favorable towards Jacob as before. As a result of all the development and by the timing in GodÕs hand it is written in Genesis 31:3, ÒThen the LORD said to Jacob, ÒReturn to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.ÓÓ After Jacob had left, Laban went after him with bad intentions because LabanÕs household idol was stolen by Rachel. With all his bad intentions, God appeared to him in a dream and cautioned him to be careful in his dealing with Jacob. As a result, when he caught up with Jacob, he stated in Genesis 31:29, ÒIt is in my power to do you harm, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ÔBe careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.ÕÓ Whenever God asks you to go or return, there is no other power under heaven that can stand against you neither is there any power that is capable of hurting you in the journey that the Lord has placed in your life. It was God that called Jacob back to return and Laban is not in position to operate against the command of God. Whenever a man is not in position he will be powerless in operation. Concerning Jacob, Laban was powerless. Ask God in your going out and coming in this month that every agent of the wicked will not gain any position to operate in power against your life. Ask Him, He is a faithful God, He has promised us to ask and it shall be given. It is yours to ask for while it is of the Lord to hear your request.

Be Still And See

BE STILL < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>AND SEE< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Exodus 14, Jeremiah 1:1-12

 

When God declared to Jeremiah that He has put His words in his mouth all that Jeremiah needed to do and be able to operate the word is to see what is not there as being there. God told him in Jeremiah 1:10, ÒSee, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and To destroy and to throw down, and To build and to plant.Ó What was said to Jeremiah by God is the representative of God Himself. For the word of God to come to be, Jeremiah will have to see what is not in place as being in place. God wants His children to be exercising a creative faith by seeing what is not in place as being in place. The children of Israel in their coming out of bondage needed to break through a confronting roadblock to their promise land. The children of Israel allowed fear to rise and faith to sink. As a result of their state of mind, Moses had to make a move to encourage them in Exodus 14:13, ÒAnd Moses said to the people, ÒDo not be afraid, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today you shall see again no more forever. God gave His word to the children of Israel through Moses. The word was with power and it will only work on condition. The condition that makes the word to work and bring forth result is in the ability to see what is not there as being there. Seeing will only be in place when a believer is able to stand still. Fear, distraction, inconsistency and lack of commitment in serving the Lord are among the forces that will always deny a believer from standing still. What is that blessing the Lord created to be running after you, but you have changed position and began to run after such blessing? Where they have told you there is no way, begin to see as if there is way and the way will be there. God has never gone to sleep and He will not fall asleep concerning your situation. Take to MosesÕ advice in Exodus 14:14, ÒThe LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.Ó See well, see through faith that your miracle is at hand.

Persistent Trouble

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

Daniel 3

 

When trouble becomes persistent and intense, when there is no way out, what the trouble is saying to you is Òand who is the god that will deliver you from my hands.Ó All that you have to do is to tell that trouble in prayer (by using the word of God that is power) and in action (which is to remain consistent in godly conduct) that you have no need to answer in the matter. Let the trouble know that your God whom you serve will deliver you. Do you serve Him indeed and in truth? Do you serve Him with all of your heart all of your soul and all of your strength? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were once in a situation where a problem was harassing and questioning their God. They refused to fall down and worship an ordinary gold image and they were threatened with a burning fiery furnace. Also they were questioned, ÒAnd who is your god who will deliver you from my hands?Ó(Daniel 3:15). The response of the three friends stated in Daniel < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>3:16, ÒShadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, ÒO Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 ÒIf that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 ÒBut if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not worship the gold image which you have set up.Ó Can you say it with confidence that you are serving Him? Serving God is not by mouth or noise making, serving Him is not by emotional display? The three friends were so sure of their stand in the Lord to the point that if God did not deliver them, it would not have been because He could not. Your courage that is based on your relationship with God and your character that is based on how you walk in the word by the grace of God is what will terminate persistent trouble. He is absolutely and undeniably a faithful God.

Dream Route

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

Genesis 37-41

 

Dream route is a dreadful route. Joseph dreamt at age 17 and it did not come to be until he was age 30. The dream route was dreadful for Joseph. At every stop of his journey in the dream route, his situation did not get better but worse. He started the journey when he could have avoided the journey. Joseph started by wandering in the field when his father sent him to Shechem to go and see his brotherÕs well being. It was recorded in Genesis 37:15, ÒNow a certain man found him, and there he was, wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying, ÒWhat are you seeking?ÓÓ A wandering journey became a wonderful journey but not without a severe pain. At every step in his journey, when things seem to be getting better, it constantly became worse and dreadful. He was dropped into the pit by his brothers when he finally got hold of them at Dotham. One will think JosephÕs adversity was over when he moved from the pit into slavery. His brothers sold him to the Ishmaelite as a slave and he ended up in the house of Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. In the house of Potiphar, it was supposed to get better but it got worse with a false accusation in the hand of PotipharÕs wife for a sexual harassment. Do you wonder how worse it could be for a young man of JosephÕs age? Is your situation close to that of Joseph? All that surrounds you have begin to put into account different reasons why you are the only one that moves from a deep pit of affliction to a deeper pit of affliction. The dreadful journey was not over for Joseph until he got into the prison. Despite all, there was neither single documentation that Joseph ever complained nor rebelled against the name of his God. All you can do by His grace is to remain focused. The plan of God for your calling is different to others. Joseph wandering into a dreadful journey led him up into a prisoner before he became a prime minister of the whole of < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Egypt. As a dreamer he became an interpreter of a dream that made his dream come true. In reading the whole story of Joseph, you will found a consolation that your wandering will turn into a wonderful celebration.