For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus.  He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles. Acts 4:36-37 (NLT) REFERENCE Acts 4: 32-37 (NLT) How does it feel to get an award or to be rewarded for something you have done well? How does it feel to be recognized for every effort you put into doing the right thing? How will you feel if every day, everybody around you said good things to you? Today,...

“Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19 REFERENCE Isaiah 43:16-21 There is nothing like beginning something you have always dreamt about. God loves beginnings because beginnings speak of faith- a journey into the unknown; because you must conquer the fear of ‘what if it goes wrong before you begin anything. Though we are nearly halfway through the year, you could be considering having a fresh start in some areas of your...

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) REFERENCE Jeremiah 29:11 After man fell in the Garden of Eden, Jesus came to reinstate him into God’s original plan. If God went to the extent of sacrificing His only Son just to achieve this, you can without a doubt flourish (succeed) in every area of your life as a believer, purchased by the blood of Jesus. So you don’t have to settle for failure (John 10:10b). Good...

In return for my love they are my accusers, but I give myself to prayer. Psalm 109:4 REFERENCE Psalm 109:1-4, 26-29 David is saying here that prayer is the only fitting response when all hell breaks loose, when relationships turn sour and hatred and spite are returned for love; when men scheme and plot against you and it seems you know not the next step to take, or when things are contrary to what you have expected. Prayer will bring God in and bring you out of every bad situation, it will bring light for direction on a dark night, it will...

He permitted no one to do them wrong; yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes, saying, “Do not touch My anointed ones, and do my prophets no harm.” Psalm 105:14-15   REFERENCE Psalm 105:13-15   Guess who are the Lord’s anointed ones in this time and age? They are the spiritual seed of Abraham who became his seed by reason of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross – believers.  If God didn’t permit anyone to do Israel harm as they went from place to place in the Old Testament, He wouldn’t permit harm to come to us (believers) because He is...

O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.  Matthew 26:39 REFERENCE Matthew 26:36-45 The above prayer is one of the most popular prayers of Jesus Christ. It expresses His agony as His will (his humanity) struggled with the will of God, hoping that the ‘cup’ of the cross would pass over Him. However, He eventually submitted to God’s will and not the inclinations of His own flesh. This occurred in the garden of Gethsemane. ‘Gethsemane’ in its original sense means ‘an oil press,’ a place where...

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. John 13:34 REFERENCE John 13:34-35 Love is a commandment of God; it is not a weak word, it is a force – it melts the heart of an angry person; it has healed broken relationships, it has turned sinners into saints, it has caused wayward children to return home, it has caused wars to cease, people have been loved out of an addiction. Love has accepted the rejected and comforted the bereaved, it has clothed the naked...

Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from the slave, though he is the master of all. -  Galatians 4:1 REFERENCE Galatians 4:1-7 An heir is someone who has the legal right to inherit the properties of another at their demise. On the other hand, a child is a minor who needs guardians, minders and teachers for daily direction. This means, a child is immature and is incapable of handling certain responsibilities or having certain privileges extended to it. An heir who is still a child, therefore, cannot lay...

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;  and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. II Timothy 4:3-4   REFERENCE II Timothy 4:1-5 We live in a world where there are various doctrines, opinions, philosophies, humanistic ideologies, atheism, etc., all calling for attention. Our focal scripture is being fulfilled before our very eyes because these are the days when people are turning from the truth and following fables. One of Satan’s strategies today with the advent of social...

And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!” Judges 6:12 REFERENCE Judges 6:11-23 When the Angel of God met Gideon in this story, he was hiding in fear because of the enemy. Gideon had so much self-doubt that the Angel had to introduce him to himself; i.e. the real Gideon, the way God made him and saw him – a mighty man of valor who can save a nation, but who was in confinement because he lacked belief in himself. Notice that God called Gideon “Mighty man of valor” before he could...