Topic: Fear Not! [Sunday April 23, 2017]

Text: Deuteronomy 20:1-9

Key Verse: “And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren’s heart faint as well as his heart” (Deuteronomy 20:8).

On Saturday the 28th day of May 2005, the British Guardian newspaper reported an almost unbelievable story. According to reports, two Japanese men, who were both in their 80s, had said they were soldiers of the Second World War, and had been hiding on the Island of Mindanao, which is 600 miles from Manila, in the Philippines.

They had deserted their division who were fiercely devastated by the United States’ forces. They had since remained in the jungle and mountains possibly unaware that the war had ended 60 years earlier. They also feared being court-martialled for possible desertion if they showed their faces again. Desertion is a serious crime in the military, usually punishable by death. In today’s reading, the Law of Moses prescribed an escape route for would-be deserters.

The officers were to ask soldiers who were afraid to go back from the battle so as not to influence others in the war. Also, during the battle with the Midianites in Judges chapter 7 verse 3, God instructed Gideon, Israel’s army general, to “…proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early…”. The greatest army division is as strong as its weakest link. A fearful soldier is the weakest link to the entire infantry.

All fears are contagious. Like virus, they can weaken the fabric of human courage and make valiant people flee from presumed danger. What causes fear in believers? Sin, an exaggeration that glorifies the enemy rather than God, lack of faith in what God has promised and taking counsel from ungodly sources can be some major reasons why Christians fear. But as God would not tolerate all other fears in the Old Testament army, so will He not condone it in the New Testament where we now have a better covenant established upon better promises. It is dangerous to look away from the Saviour. Keep your eyes and gaze on Him and He will surely help you to overcome all the battles of life.

Thought for the day: It is wisdom to answer with faith when fear knocks.

Bible Reading in one Year: Judges 11-13

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.

Risks are a part of life you can’t avoid, especially if you want to be successful. As a result, you have to learn the secrets of taking risks that will help you yield the best results. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 9 of these secrets to help you learn to take risks the right way.

Weigh the Risks and Benefits

Before taking risks, you have to ask yourself if the risk is worthwhile. You should consider and understand how much a risk taking ventures involves and its potential benefits. Always compare the possible consequences to the possible benefits of the risk to determine if the risk is worthwhile to you.

Be Realistic About What Could Go Wrong

You should remember that it is possible for your risk not to pay off and you should thus put the consequences in perspective. You should be sure you can deal with these consequences before moving forward with the risk.

Never Put Everything on the Line

This might seem counter-productive, but taking risks does not translate into recklessness. You have to be smart about it. Avoid over stretching yourself in the name of taking risks, and avoid putting all your time or cash into one venture, the odds of ruin are just too high. Always have a ‘safety net’ and a plan B for if the risk fails.

Always Have a Plan B and Even C

This can sincerely not be over-emphasized. You should always prepare for and think of a way out of or a way to deal with any negative consequence of your risks. Please do not take risks that end up leaving you trapped in unhealthy or inhumane situations. Always plan a way out or a way to deal with the consequences before-hand. It doesn’t have to be something so elaborate; it can be as simple as thinking of and having someone to go to if things go south.

Think For Yourself

You are the one taking the risk, it is therefore only appropriate that you learn to think for yourself and use your common sense to reach a conclusion before moving forward. You can listen to others advice and opinions or contributions, but ultimately the decision to take the risk should be yours and should be based on your judgement and assessment of all circumstances involved. If you feel you can’t trust your own judgement, seek the face of someone whose judgement you trust.

Take One Risk at Time

This goes without saying. You can go ‘big’ but don’t go ‘overboard’; this should be your rule for taking risks. Taking more than one risk at time is like being a woman who decides to wear bold makeup with bold jewelry, sky-high heels and a sequined shinny dress all at once. You’re going overboard and like the woman, you’re more likely to fail in risk taking.

Know Your Limits

Before taking risks, you should adhere to some personal guidelines. You should understand how much you are willing to tolerate and what will cause you to stop or back out completely from the venture. Adhering to safety standards that are comfortable for you, is what will keep you ‘alive’ during the ‘dangerous’ and ‘uncertain’ periods of your risk taking venture.

Remember that Risk Taking is Relative

Everyone has different tolerance to risk taking; you should therefore never compare your risk taking tolerance to that of another person. You can push yourself beyond your comfort zone, but never do so beyond what you can handle if things go wrong.

Be Positive

Once you’ve judged a risk as worthwhile, have planned a reasonable way to go about the risk taking venture and have prepared the appropriate safety net, try to be positive and picture everything going well. Positive thinking will help you build the confidence you need to go through the risk.

By Damilola Ojo
PR Associate Jumia Travel
+2348101556883

A Promise For You From Bible Promises:

Topic: Mercy Over All [22/04/2017]

It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. Lamentations 3:22. Read: Lam 3:1-22

When you hear some people talk sometimes, you wonder if they are God. They talk as if they own tomorrow. They boast as if they control time and season. They talk God out of their plans. They even believe sometimes that the evil that happens to others is as a result of their numerous sins. They feel because they are more righteous than others. Lk 13:1-3. Listen to me, whatsoever you have and wherever you are now, all is of the mercies of God. You are not there because you are smarter than others, nor stronger or more swift than others, but grace and mercy. It’s God’s mercies over all. We are product of His mercy. Without His mercies, we would have been consumed by our enemies.

The Preacher said in Ecc 9:11, “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all”. And God told Moses, For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. Romans 9:15-16. Celebrate God’s grace and mercy

#BiblePromisesPrayer

* Father, thank You for Your mercies over all that I do. Thank you for not allowing my enemies rejoice over me. Amen

Topic: Be Positive [Saturday April 22, 2017]

We have thought of Your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of Your temple. — Psalm 48:9

Positive minds—minds full of faith and hope—produce positive lives. Negative minds—minds full of fear and doubt—produce negative lives. In Matthew 8:13, Jesus tells us that it will be done for us as we have believed. This doesn’t mean that you and I can get anything we want by just thinking about it. God has a perfect plan for each of us, and we can’t control Him with our thoughts and words, but if we want His plan, we should think and speak in agreement with His will and plan for us.

I encourage you to think positively about your life and be thankful for the good things God is doing and going to do. Practice staying positive in every situation that arises; even if you’re going through a difficult situation, stand in faith, believing God will bring good out of it as He has promised in His Word.

Prayer of Thanks: Father, help me to keep my thoughts and my words focused on You. I thank You that You have good things in store for my life. I trust You today.

Topic: Prosperity Without Sorrow [Saturday 22, April 2017]

Memorise: The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. – Proverbs 10:22

Read: Deuteronomy 8:10-18 (KJV)

10 When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.

11 Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:

12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;

13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;

14 Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;

15 Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;

16 Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;
17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.

18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

Bible in One Year: Numbers 12-13, Jeremiah 18:1-18

MESSAGE:

Many children of God dread prosperity because of the challenges associated with it, particularly when it relates to material prosperity. The reason for this attitude can be put down to either ignorance of the word of God concerning prosperity, or ignorance of the need for the children of God to prosper, if they would not live at the mercy of the ungodly. The Bible in Proverbs 22:7 says,

“The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.”

In our Bible reading today, we discover some truths about God’s purpose concerning the prosperity of His people. Deuteronomy 8:18 says,

“But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”

God gives power and opportunities to His children to get wealth for one singular reason: to prove Himself faithful to His word. In other words, the issue of God’s children becoming wealthy is not about them but about God and His infallible word. This is why those who pick and choose what they feel is suitable for them in the word of God are losers; God cannot be mocked. Such people want the blessings of Abraham, but do not want to keep the covenant that Abraham kept with God. Jesus in John 8:39d said:

“If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.”

Beloved, I have good news for you: God is interested in the prosperity of His people (3 John 2). Not only is God interested in your prosperity, He also gives you the power to make wealth and to prosper. Furthermore, the prosperity from God is without negative repercussions and sorrow. The Lord who prospers is the same Lord who protects. He will not give you a car that will become a death trap. He will not give you a child that will break your heart. If you believe this, you will see the glory of God. Finally, in order to receive the prosperity that is devoid of sorrow, you must ensure that the prosperity you are seeking is from the Almighty God. This suggests to us that there is a counterfeit prosperity which puts its beneficiaries in tight jackets of regret and sorrow. The devil is the giver of counterfeits, but Jesus is the true source of eternal blessings. You can never regret being prospered by His benevolence because He paid the price of your prosperity in full. 2 Corinthians 8:9 says,

“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”

Key Point: Stop cutting corners. At God’s own time and in God’s own way, He will prosper you.

Open Heavens 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.

iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.

Topic: Unconditional Love [Saturday April 22, 2017]

Text: Psalm 116:1-9

Key Verse: “I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications” (Psalm 116:1).

A popular children story named “The giving tree” speaks of the life of an apple tree and a boy. In the story, the boy was always coming to the tree because of what he could get at any stage of his life and after which he would leave the tree alone. The tree gave him apples, branches and trunk until she had nothing to give.

And lastly the boy, now old, came one more time to the tree because he had need of some place to rest, and the giving tree still gave her stump to him because that was all she had left. Although the writer of this psalm expresses his love and gratitude in view of the mercies of God, goodness and deliverance, we love God because He first loved us. Genuinely redeemed Christians should love God unconditionally. Like the boy in the giving tree story, some people love the Lord and come to Him as long as He hears their prayers. What if the Lord delays answers? God wants us to love Him for who He is because He first loved and continues to love us.

Many people find it hard to believe the love story of God partly because we see His love from our point of view and not His. Human love is based on conditions. We love people because they are our relations, because they love us and because we know them. But God is different, He loves us unconditionally and requires no dime from us for the love. If the reason you love God is other than the fact that He loves you and has saved you, then your love may not be a perfect one.

Remember how Satan accused Job, thinking that his love for God was because of the blessings and hedge God built around him. But he found out otherwise. Be sure that your love will always be tested to see what sort it is. We must grow in our walk with God to love Him just for His sake.

Thought for the day: The measure of true love is in its commitment, with no strings attached.

Bible Reading in one Year: Judges 8-10

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.