Making Quality Decisions (Part 2) By Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Topic: Making Quality Decisions (Part 2)

Dear Reader,

Last week, we saw the importance of choice making. This week, we will be looking at: Your Choice and Your Destiny.

Though God has predestinated you for glory, your choice in life will determine whether you will arrive at that destination or not. Choices are powerful and they have a lot to do with our destiny. Wrong choices can bring about ruin, while right choices bring about excellence. Understand that God respect whatever choice we make.

Man is a creature of choice – his choice either makes him or breaks him, but it never leaves him neutral. That is why at creation, God gave both Adam and Eve a unique gift – the power of choice. The gift of choice is to help you succeed on the earth.

Also Read: Dwelling In Understanding (Part 1) by Pastor Faith Oyedepo

If you take advantage of God’s provision for sound choice making, your marriage will be satisfying and valuable, without regrets. Your choices determine what becomes of your home and destiny. God has an equal destiny of shining for all His children. God’s Word says: For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified (Romans 8:29-30).

It is our individual choices that distinguish one person from another. After creation, when God gave Adam a wife, and he turned around to blame God for the wife when he fell, every step man took from then was a product of his choice. Whatever you become in life is a product of your choice. Life is full of choices. Beginning from the time of breast-feeding, a baby decides to bite, play, suck or stop sucking the breast based on his needs and desires. Let us see how the destiny of some people in the Bible was affected due to the choices they made.

Adam

The number one example is found in Genesis 3:6. We see how Eve made a choice to eat the fruit that God told them not to eat. God was watching in heaven, while Eve was picking the fruit. Why did He not just knock Eve on the head, and say, “No! You can’t eat it?” He didn’t do that, because man was created as a creature of choice. So, Eve disobeyed God and ate the fruit, giving room to the devil, and by so doing enslaved humanity.

You will observe that the choice Eve made did not only affect her, but affected generations after her. That is how the choices we make on a daily basis, do not only affect us, but also our seed and seed’s seed. That is why it is very important to be futuristic in our choices. Don’t only consider now when you are making your choices; consider the future as well.

Ruth

After Naomi’s husband and her two sons died, Ruth had a choice to either go to Israel with Naomi or stay back in Moab. The other woman, Orpah, chose to stay, but Ruth chose to follow Naomi. That choice brought her into the enviable lineage of Jesus Christ. Don’t make choices on impulse. If you do, you will end up regretting. That is why you have to be futuristic in your plans and choices. Change may be painful, but if you endure the pain, its gains will come tomorrow. The gains may not come right now, but your future is settled!

Many, particularly women, are more concerned about now than tomorrow. They just can’t wait; they are too much in a hurry. For them, it is either now or never, and that is how the enemy ends up catching up with them. You will not be caught!

The most important choice any husband and wife can make in their marriage relationship is to place God first in their lives. This is by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Saviour and Lord Peradventure, you are not born again and you want to accept Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour, then say this prayer in faith: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are now born again and a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored)

“Please click HERE to read other inspiring articles by Pastor Faith Oyedepo”

Pastor Faith Oyedepo is the wife of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel, and Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria.

Topic: Rekindle the Fire [Kenneth & Gloria Copeland 23 September 2018 Daily Devotional]

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you… – James 4:8

Remember when you first got into the Word and were so excited about the things of God? Remember when you could hardly wait to read the next chapter in the Bible or listen to the latest teaching tape? There was only one word to describe you—hot! Your reborn spirit was on fire for God.

When Ken and I first heard the message of faith, we were like that. We were so on fire that nothing else in the world interested us. We had learned that we could trust God’s Word just like we could trust the word of a close friend, and we were hungry to find out everything He had promised us in His Word.

Back then, it seemed all I did was read God’s Word. I read faith books. I listened to tapes. I was dedicated. My total interest was the Word of God.

But slowly that changed. At first I didn’t even realize it was happening. Then the Holy Spirit went to work on me and showed me that I had grown lukewarm. I had let the fire die down. I still read the Word, but I had lost my enthusiasm.

Maybe you’ve had this same experience. If so, I want to tell you how to get the fire back. It worked for me and it will work for you.

God’s Word says to draw near to Him and He will draw near to you. In order to do that you will have to first drop the things that are stealing your time from reading the Word. Delight yourself in His Word. Become diligent again. If you will give your attention to the things of God, soon your desire for God will increase. Your desire will follow your attention. The more you attend to something, the more your desire is drawn to give attention to that thing.

I can show you that this is a natural principle. If you play golf, you’ll go for months at a time without even thinking about it. Then one day you’ll make time in your schedule to go to the course and play a round or two. The next day you may want to play again. Your desire gets stronger and stronger the more you play.

This same thing will happen in the spirit realm. Your soul’s desire will follow whatever you spend your time doing. Start building yourself up by praying in the spirit. Believe and act on everything God says to you. Before long that flicker that’s been wavering in your spirit will grow again into an all-consuming fire!

Scripture Reading: Revelation 3:13-22

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Kenneth and Gloria Copeland’s Daily Devotional Here’’

This message was written by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, the leader of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries (www.KCM.org) that specializes in teaching principles of bible faith – prayer, healing, salvation and other biblical topics.

Topic: Living By the Precepts of Men [DCLM Daily Manna 23 September 2018 Daily Devotional]

Text: Isaiah 29:9-15 (KJV)

Key Verse: “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men“ (Isaiah 29:13).

MESSAGE:

The late revival preacher, Leonard Ravenhill said, “You may fool your pastor; you may fool yourself, but you will never fool God”. No one can fool God. He knows all things and sees all things. He knows the difference between what you say and what you mean. He sees what you do and knows why you do them. He can smell a fake believer anywhere, anytime. He is the omniscient God. Nothing is hid before His all-seeing eyes. He knows and sees the secrets of every heart.

During the time of Isaiah’s ministry, the Israelites abandoned the worship of the true God. Though religious, God did not hide His displeasure for the wrong things they did. He condemned their lack of spiritual vision and ignorance. God further accused them of drawing near to Him with the mouth alone, honouring Him with the lips only, while removing their hearts far from Him and fearing Him only after the precept of men. God hates it when His children engage in deception and worldliness. A Christian is to serve as the light of the world and we do not take our cues from the unrighteous. The precepts of man symbolise the ways and lifestyles of unbelievers.

Precepts of men are different from the precepts of God. God’s ways are holy, precise and clear; men’s precepts are opposed to godliness. Today, you can decide to break away from following the worldly principles of deception, sincerely repent of all sins and acts of formalism, and put your faith in Christ to obey the voice of the Lord. He sees your heart and will help you along the road to glory, if you let Him in as your Lord and Saviour.

Thought For The Day: Beware! God sees your thoughts and intentions!

Bible Reading In One Year: Esther 1-5

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Deeper Christian Life Ministry, DCLM Daily Manna HERE

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

Flatimes’ Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:

Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.

If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

Topic: The Profit of Dedication to God [Seeds of Destiny 23 September 2018 Daily Devotional]

Scripture: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33

Thought For The Day: It is not possible to give God the first place in your life and come last in life.

To be dedicated to God is to make God the number one priority of your life. It is making God the centre of your adoration and worship. Dedication is also serving God with the whole of your life, resources, time and talent in uprightness.

The Bible makes it clear that dedication to God leads to the addition of things desired for success in life and destiny. A life that is dedicated to God can never be devoid of the additions of desirable things.

Now, let me give you three facts on dedication to God:
1. There is no wasted service to God. We do not serve God in vain (Isaiah 45:19).
2. The place you give to God in your life determines the place you find in time and in eternity.
It is not possible to give God the first place in your life and come last in life.
3. The dividends of dedication to God far outweigh the cost of your commitment to God.
The gain of your commitment to God is more than the cost of your dedication to Him.

Beloved, the reward of dedication to God is priceless.

Therefore, determine to be dedicated to God and it will amaze you where He will position you in this life and in the life to come.

Remember this: It is not possible to give God the first place in your life and come last in life.

Assignments:
1. Endeavour to be involved in active service in church by joining a service unit where you can make your service to God count.
2. Do not allow your devotional life to be replaced with vocational activities.
3. Let your heart be involved in your service to God; do it as unto God, not unto man. Do it to be raised by God; not to be praised by man.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE PROFIT OF DEDICATION

Prayer: O Lord, I surrender myself and all I have to You. I receive the grace to be dedicated to You and be committed to Your service, Lord in Jesus’ Name.

Amazing Fact: An adult is made up of 7,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (7 octillion) atoms

Today In History: 23/09/ 1846 – Astronomer Johann Gottfried Galle discovered the planet Neptune.

Daily Reading: Isaiah 41:17 to 43:13, Ephesians 2:1 to 22, Psalm 67:1 to 7, Proverbs 23: 29 to 35.

Quote: Faithfulness means to be reliable and trustworthy; until faithfulness is in place, service is a waste! Culled from SERVICE; YOUR UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST by Dr Becky Enenche.

Parental Prophetic Blessing: You are about to obtain favour in the sight of God and man! Favour shall answer you! The favour you saw last is shadow compared to the one you are about to see, in Jesus’ Name. Dr Paul Enenche

Also Read: Click HERE to read Other Inspirational Messages by Pastor Paul Enenche“

Today’s devotional was written by Pastor Paul Enenche of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), headquartered at Abuja, Nigeria, with Pastor Paul and Becky Enenche, as the Senior Pastors. It is a power-packed arena where God’s Presence, Principles and Power are at work for the salvation, healing and restoration of human destinies and dignities

Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:

Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.

If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

Topic: Listening to Your Brother [Our Daily Bread 23 September 2018 Devotional]

Read: Matthew 18:15–20, Bible in a Year: Song of Solomon 1–3; Galatians 2

Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins. James 5:20

“You need to listen to me, I’m your brother!” The plea came from a concerned older brother in my neighborhood and was directed to a younger sibling who was moving farther away from him than the older child was comfortable with. Clearly the older child was better able to judge what was best in the situation.

How many of us have resisted the wise counsel of a brother or sister? If you’ve had to face the consequences of resisting the good advice of someone more mature, you’re not alone.

One of the greatest resources we can have as believers in Jesus is a family—those who are spiritually related because of a common faith in Him. This family includes mature men and women who love God and each other. Like the little brother in my neighborhood, we sometimes need a word of caution or correction to get us back on track. This is particularly true when we offend someone or someone offends us. Doing what’s right can be difficult. Yet Jesus’s words in Matthew 18:15–20 show us what to do when offenses happen within our spiritual family.

Thankfully, our gracious heavenly Father places in our lives people who are prepared to help us honor Him and others. And when we listen, things go better in the family (v. 15).

Prayer: Father, we praise You for placing us in Your spiritual family. Help us to learn and grow through the wise words and godly behavior of mature believers.

Wisdom grows when we listen to the words of mature believers.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Our Daily Bread Devotionals HERE”

This message was written By Arthur Jackson [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Jesus the Servant [Andrew Wommack 23 September 2018 Daily Devotional]

Mark 12:29 “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord”:

Text: Mark 12:28-30

Jesus repeatedly made reference to His deity for which the Jews had sought to kill Him, and yet He quotes from Deuteronomy 6:4, that “The Lord our God is one Lord.” There are not two or three Gods and yet Jesus claimed to be God just like God the Father. This union is a great mystery that defies human understanding but can be accepted and believed.

Jesus in His pre-existent state was in the form of God. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Jesus is God manifested in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:16). However, Jesus did not demand or cling to His rights as God. He laid aside His Divine rights and privileges in order to take the form of a servant and be made in the likeness of man. He further humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the Father, even to the point of death. This was the supreme sacrifice that identified Jesus totally with humanity and enabled God to redeem mankind. By dying a criminal’s death upon the cross, Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy of Deuteronomy 21:23, and bore our curse in His own body. This redeemed us from the curse, opened wide God’s blessing of justification through faith in Christ, and gave us the promise of His Holy Spirit (Gal. 3:13-14).

The Creator became the creation; the Lord became the servant; the Highest became the lowest. All of this was done because of God’s great love for us.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Andrew Wommack Daily Devotional

This message was written by The Association of Related Ministries International (ARMI) is an extension of Andrew Wommack Ministries (AWM). ARMI is a unique partnership committed to providing resources to help like-minded ministers succeed in a spirit of excellence and to draw from the experience and expertise of both the AWM and Charis Bible College staff. (www.awmi.net).

Topic: How to Handle Temptation [Billy Graham Daily Devotional 23 September 2018]

. . . who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able . . . — 1 Corinthians 10:13

It is Satan’s purpose to steal the seed of truth from your heart by sending distracting thoughts. It should encourage you to know that the devil considers you a good enough Christian to use as a target.

The difference between a Christian and a non-Christian is: though they both may have good and evil thoughts, Christ gives His followers strength to select the right rather than the wrong. You see a man going to prayer meeting with a Bible under his arm. That man was undoubtedly tempted to stay at home, go bowling, or to some other activity. But, as these diverse thoughts came to his mind, he made the right selection, and headed for the church.

Another man walks through the night to a bar. It no doubt occurred to him that he had best stay home with his family. But he yielded to the negative thought, and gave in to his lower appetites.

It is not the temptations you have, but the decision you make about them that counts.

Prayer for the day: Decisions will have to be made each day, Lord. With Your strength and wisdom, help me to make the right ones

“If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Billy Graham’s Daily Devotional HERE

Written by Billy Graham, Founder of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association(BGEA). BGEA exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by every effective means and to equip the church and others to do the same.

Open Heavens 23 September 2018 Sunday Daily Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye – An Accuser of the Brethren?

Topic: An Accuser of the Brethren? (Open Heavens 23 September 2018)

Memorise: “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”– Mark 11:25

Read: Revelation 12:10-11 (KJV)

10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Bible in One Year: Song of Solomon 5-8, Mark 12:13-27

Open Heavens 23 September 2018 Sunday MESSAGE:

As revealed by today’s Bible reading, the devil is the “accuser of the brethren”. It is unfortunate that some people ignorantly possess this attribute of the devil. How can a person be an accuser of the brethren without knowing it? The answer is simple: when you refuse to forgive those who wronged you, you are passively accusing him or her as an evil doer. The practical implication of refusing to forgive those who have wronged you is that you become a prosecuting witness against a brother or sister. You are therefore on the side of the devil in heaven’s court litigating against your own brethren. It’s therefore wise to heed the words of Jesus in Mark 11:25:

“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Many professing children of God find it difficult to forgive. One wonders if such people have ever experienced the joy of forgiveness from God or man before. Unfortunately for them, the fellow they are accusing in their heart may not even know about it, or may even have settled their case with God, thereby obtaining forgiveness and justification through the Blood of Jesus Christ (Revelation 12:11, Hebrews 12:24). For this reason, Romans 8:34 asks a rhetorical question and answers it saying:

“Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”

May you not be found guilty of working against Christ’s ministry of intercession through unforgiveness.

Beloved, who are you directly or indirectly accusing relentlessly? Of course, he or she might have wronged you; nevertheless, the Lord is saying that you should forgive the fellow. Once you do, he or she is no longer an offender to you, and so, no accusation originates from you anymore. The reward for this is revealed in Matthew 5:7 which says:

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”

The good news today is that the God who is asking us to forgive and forget has demonstrated the same towards us when He through Christ forgave our sins. Have your sins been forgiven? If you have not experienced the joy of forgiveness, confess your sins today and you will receive the mercy of God without measure.

Open Heavens 23 September 2018 Sunday PRAYER POINT:

Father, please forgive my known and unknown sins, and teach my heart to forgive others in Jesus’ Name.

Also Read: Open Heavens 22 September 2018 – Orderliness and Godliness

Open Heavens 23 September 2018 Sunday HYMN 15: Nearer My God To Thee

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness comes over me, my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!

There let me see the sight, an open Heaven;
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy given;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!

Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!

Open Heavens 23 September 2018 Sunday Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC. Open Heavens 23 September 2018 Sunday Daily Devotional.

Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:

Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.

If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.