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

Jeremiah 17

In looking back to where you have started and where you are, can you make a claim to have sincerely embarked and engaged yourself in doing good and not evil? It can never be too much in doing what is good; neither can it be too late to reap the fruitfulness of doing good. Be encouraged if you have been doing good in dealing with a wicked and desperate world. Jeremiah 17:9-10, ÒThe heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? 10 I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.Ó The two verses should speak to your encouragement. The word that is directly from God has never failed and He will never be late in carrying out His word. Be encouraged if all that you are doing is sincere to the glory of God and with no hidden agenda for self glorification. In your meditation, add the word of Jeremiah 32:19, ÒYou are great in counsel and mighty in work, for Your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings.Ó He that gives eyes and ears does have eyes to see and ears to hear. Let nothing derail you from doing what you are doing that is bringing glory to GodÕs name. There is nothing under heaven or earth that is too difficult for Him to do. All your mockery will be converted into miracle. You have to get up on your mind and be encouraged and know that you will be given according to the fruit of your doings. Do not bother nor wonder how long it will take, but be assured that it will not be long. Be encouraged and not be discouraged.

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

Matthew 8:23-27

In every journey storms will come and everything on board will be shaken and moved.  When a storm comes, it is not always to kill but to reveal the character of the one in journey. Also, how you respond in the time of a storm is what will deliver you to your expected end. Storm will generate fear but you are to be elevated by faith. In the time of a storm, if you begin to loose power instead of gaining power, that is required to take control, you are heading towards trouble. If you begin to dislike the way things are going around you, note that the steam of your love is waxing cold. In your storm, if your mind begins to wonder back and forth calculating how you will jump out of the journey then you have lost operating with a sound mind. Fear is what it takes for disability to have its way in the midst of a storm. Once Jesus was sleeping in transit when a storm came up and the disciples were overtaken by fear. The disciples woke Jesus up Matthew < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>8:26, ÒBut He said to them, ÔWhy are you fearful, o you of little faith?Õ Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm.ÕÓ What has overtaken you in your storm? Take all to Jesus and  He will not sleep over your challenges. It is written in 2Timothy 1:7, ÒFor God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind.Ó He has given us the spirit that will make us a winner. The spirit of power, love and sound mind that has been given will only work and become active when there is understanding that He never lie nor fail at His word. Activate what has been given by His grace then you will be motivated to stay through the journey.

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

Mark 2:1-12

It was recorded in the Bible that a paralytic man was brought to Jesus but there was no room to receive him. Also, they could not get near the door (Mark 2:2). 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 resists 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 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). The four men with the paralytic man took their faith up to another level. Mark 2:4, ÒAnd 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.Ó There is so much to learn from the word of God as 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 notice you take it up to another level.

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

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 < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Israel passed through it to get to their 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 the children of Israel was through the wilderness. The fact the Lord led them through the wilderness was evident that it was the best available route (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. Jesus went through the wilderness. Mark 1:12, ÒImmediately 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.Ó Jesus went through the wilderness because He knew that we would have to go through it. JesusÕ going through the wilderness was to leave behind a foot step for each and every one that answered His call to follow through. The same wild beasts are still there but the good news is that the ministering angels that saw Jesus through are waiting to see us through.

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

Genesis 27:1-8, Matthew 18:19-20

When action is based on the knowledge gained in the understanding of the word of God, it becomes impossible for action not to prevail. The word of God declared in Matthew < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>18:20, ÒFor where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.Ó God is not a liar and His words are true and will never fail. Isaac realized that he was old and he did not know the day of his death. He wanted to make a lasting pronouncement by blessing his son Esau and he called him saying in Genesis 27:7, ÒBring me game and make savory food for me, that I may eat it and bless you in the presence of the LORD before my death.Ó Isaac was not talking out of the blue; he recognized that with him and Esau coming with obedience they will be qualified for gaining His presence. The word asked for where two or three are gathered together. Isaac could have said he was going to bless Esau instead he proposed that he will bless Esau in the presence of God. Operating in the word of God is more than just knowing about the word of God. However, operating in the knowing of the word will bring power into place because it is a demonstration of understanding. As a believer, if you will begin to consciously operate in the word of God with sincere and desired expectation the word will bring manifestation. Many believers are missing it because they are saying it from the mouth and not from the heart. To many, the word of God has become only a signature tune instead of using it as means to tune heaven into response. Do not be limited by the lack of knowledge; be embedded by the knowledge that is in the word of God. The word of God is true and it is power.