Divine Encounters

Day 120 Reading: 1 Chronicles 24:1 - 1 Chronicles 29:30 Success is not a coincidence. No one who is termed successful did it by chance. Success is a result of good decisions towards a goal. Success requires a system in place to enable the goal to become a reality. Reading through the passages of Scripture for today's reading I realised that many times I have assumed success would just happen. I don't know why we sometimes think this way, however, I have today reinforced it within myself that I can only be successful if I am willing to have systems in place that run a well-oiled machine to fulfil the vision within. Put people in the right place and they will function well. David had systems in place to govern the land. He oversaw appointments that ensured the worship of God was coordinated well and that had leaders appointed to various tasks. Every department of governance was overseen by a capable person. Appointments were not dished just because you were born or h...

Day 119 Reading: 1 Chronicles 21:1 - 1 Chronicles 23:32 Dear Son, I know that this sounds strange that I have chosen to write to you. Especially when I could have called and told you what I want to say to you. This letter is not to criticise you but to encourage you of the great days that lie ahead for you. I had a conversation with God and heard things about you that astounded me. I was blown away thinking of the many things that God has in store for you. No matter what you are seeing I have news for you: God has great exciting plans for you. I told God about my dream to build a temple of worship for Him. I can't understand why we have allowed God to dwell in a tent while we have built cities for our people. Yes, I know that whatever we build cannot contain Him, however, I believe we are responsible for building the best for God. If anything, all our enemies worship their idols in magnificent buildings why worship God in some dilapidated building of a tent.  A...

Day 118 Reading: 1 Chronicles 17:1 - 1 Chronicles 20:8 Do you know that God speaks? Yes, He does. God desires the best for you and me. When God speaks it is for our good. Once God has spoken we have a responsibility. That responsibility is to pray the promise into manifestation. God cannot fail in delivering His promises. God promises and delivers on the promise. The question then is why do we not see the promise fulfilled? Saul was anointed by God to become king and yet he never fulfilled the expectations. David on the other hand is regarded as the greatest king of Israel ever.  David on being established as the king and having secured his kingdom desired to build a house for God. He couldn't stand staying in a palace whilst God was in a tent. He expressed his desire to the prophet Nathan who tells him to do as he desires. However, that night God speaks to the prophet and sent him to David. David was instructed not to build as his son would build the House of God...

Day 117 Reading: 1 Chronicles 14:1 - 1 Chronicles 16:43 Every pain we experience in life has a termination date. Nothing was ever made to last forever. That stinking situation that has made your life hell was never meant to last. Please before you read further speak to that situation and announce to it that it is being terminated. Every troubling situation has an expiry date. If man-made products expire why should issues on earth last a lifetime? God didn't create you and me for trouble. We were born to reign. Remember that in the beginning, God spoke light into darkness Genesis 1:3. The beginning of your turnaround is with your words. Speak light to terminate darkness. The Philistines were not happy that David whom they had sheltered while Saul was seeking to kill him was now their rival. They must have thought now that David was king they would have an alliance of some sort. Time to cohabit with the enemy was over. They weren't going to have a party together. ...

Day 116 Reading: 1 Chron. 11:1 - 1 Chron. 13:14 Who surrounds you? What makes those around you tick? Why should anyone follow you? Reading today's portion of scripture I was challenged on various aspects of being a leader sent by God. David emulated a style of leadership that turned worthless men to great champions. What may we learn from David's leadership in this passage? Firstly, David loved God. The Word declares that God was with David. He on becoming the King sought for the Ark of the Covenant to be brought to Jerusalem because the children of Israel had not inquired of it. David understood that the Ark was important to maintain the covenant with God. Is God with you in your leading? Secondly, David was surrounded by different skillsets. He had men who were giant killers. He also had men who understood timing. The sons of Issachar had an understanding of the times. They understood seasons and timings of seasons. It's important to be surrounded by peop...

Day 115 Reading: 1 Chron. 6:1 - 1 Chron. 10:14 Reading through the first ten chapters of 1st Chronicles can be tedious if one is not keen to understand why the genealogy is listed. Why would God's Word have the genealogies of many written out? As I pondered on this I realised a few things. Firstly, the world today is filled with doubters, agnostics, apologists, atheists and every kind of person who has some belief or none existence of belief in God. The genealogy is written to show that God is a God of plan, order and continuity. God is not haphazard in His ways. The book begins with a listing from Adam to the sons of Abraham. From the Creator's first man to the Creator's new man for a new beginning of a nation. We see God listing the genealogy from Adam to Abraham. Adam was created first by God. Abraham would be used to create God's nation. God desires to show us in these first chapters that He is a God of process and order.  Secondly, within the genea...

Day 114 Reading: 1 Chronicles 1:1 - 1 Chronicles 5:26 God is a God of order. Chaos is not His idea. The Bible begins with God introducing Himself as the Creator and the Beginning who brings order to chaos. If God is in every beginning as the Beginner in everything of our lives then we would fight different battles. Many times we are fighting battles that we shouldn't be fighting because we strayed from the place of God. Let God order your steps and begin all that He has planned for your life. The two books of Chronicles are a different summary of the history of Israel from what we have read so far. We shall see more in-depth information about those kings who walked after God. It completely ignores the Kingdom of Israel because of the false worship. The beginning of the book of the first book of Chronicles lists the genealogy of the tribes of Israel from Adam. We learn some insights into the tribes especially the effects of the prophecy of Jacob to his sons. To Reuben Ja...

Day 113 Reading: 2 Kings 24:1 - 2 Kings 25:30 Today we see many places of worship in the westernised world closing down for many reasons. This is not a new phenomenon. When the people of God have departed from worshipping God, the House of God has been destroyed. As I wrote this blog all I could hear was a clarion cry to return to God wholeheartedly. The day of God's wrath is drawing near and yet many are asleep to this fact. Arise and tell the world to get ready for a shaking is coming.  After King Josiah died, the kings we are introduced to never sought God. They walked in the ways of the those who departed from God's commandments. And as God had declared in the days of Manasseh, the Jerusalem and Judah were taken captive. We are introduced to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon who laid siege over Jerusalem and took all the bronze, gold and silver from the House of God. He simply took apart the House of God taking away the beauty it had.  In reading about the ca...

Day 112 Reading: 2 Kings 21:1 - 2 Kings 23:37 One thing I have come to learn over and over again is that God is a God of a sudden happening. Everything may look bleak and then all of a sudden there is a change in circumstances that causes men to wonder how or where did that miracle come from.  To you my dear reader who is facing challenges that have driven you to the end of your wits, please know that God is a God of 'Sunddenlies'! He is able to show up suddenly in that situation and resolve it. Are you willing to believe that God is more than able to manifest Himself suddenly? Cast your burden on God and celebrate God for your season can change without an appointment.   Manasseh, the son of King Hezekiah was nowhere near like his father. King Hezekiah served and loved God, however, his son was the worst king to rule over Judah. He did everything that was wrong. The Bible says that Manasseh did abominations that exceeded the nations that God evicted from livi...

Day 111 Reading: 2 Kings 18:1 - 2 Kings 20:21 Let every boaster boasting against God know that God reigns supreme. There is no higher court than that of God. In the midst of turmoil around us, we need to remind ourselves and our adversaries that God is still in charge. I understand it's difficult to maintain focus when everything around is not working, however, don't allow the circumstances to speak to you greater things than the promises of God. Paint a bigger picture of God in your imagination. King Hezekiah loved God and walked not just after God that the Bible says after him there wasn't any other king like him. And because of his pursuit of God, the Lord prospered him that he rebelled against the Assyrians who had placed the region under oppression.  When King Hezekiah rebelled against the Assyrians, King Sennacherib sent messengers to threaten the people. He didn't get messengers who needed translators. His intention was to deliver his message to ...

Day 110 Reading: 2 Kings 15:1 - 2 Kings 17:41 Is God real to you? Is God everything to you? Is God the only One you worship in the midst of all that happens in the nations of the earth. Reading through the books of Kings in the Bible I can't but help thinking of the world today. The similarities of the conditions of the hearts and actions of mankind are unbelievable and yet the child of God is in many cases oblivious to the ways of God.  Reading through the portion of scripture above we are introduced to Uzziah the King of Judah who reigned for 52 years. The longest reigning king of Israel. He is referred to as Azariah also. He began his reign at 16 years of age. He did what was right before God even though he died a leper for God struck him with leprosy. Responsibility comes with a load of accountability.  As Uzziah reigned over Judah numerous kings reigned in Israel. None sought God that finally, God gave the Assyrians victory over the people of Samaria and ...

Day 109 Reading: 2 Kings 12:1 - 2 Kings 14:29 God answers prayer and yes I know sometimes it looks like our praying is only hitting the ceiling. It can be frustrating to our walk with God when all things are not working out as expected after prayer. There are various facets to prayer. Prayer is a vast topic and one I am continually learning. Prayer is communication with God. Its a two-way conversation with God regarding circumstances in life. Jehoash on becoming King of Judah is recorded as having walked in the ways of God. He did what was right in the sight of God even though he never removed the high places that people were using to worship. He was keen to see the House of God restored and wondered why the priests were not heeding the instructions to get the work going. Lord, give us leaders who will yearn for Your House to be restored to its glory.  Jehoahaz became the King of Israel in the 23rd year of King Jehoash's reign. This was the year that King Jehoash b...

Day 108 Reading: 2 Kings 9:1 - 2 Kings 11:21 Many people will want to know how they can see the promises of God fulfilled in their lives. One of the biggest frustrations I find amongst believers, me included,  is many suffer from unfulfilled promises. Too many are fatigued wondering why the promises are taking longer to come to pass. These frustrations and stagnation in life have caused many to lose faith in God. However, don't fuzz your blessing by thinking that delay is denial. God's word can never fail. His Word is guaranteed to come to pass. Learn to remind yourself of the times God's Word has come to pass. Elijah was given instructions by God when he fled to the cave in Horeb after the threats of Jezebel. After the encounter where God speaks to him with a still small voice, he received instructions to anoint three people. Elijah was to anoint Jehu as King of Israel, Hazael as King of Syria and Elisha as his successor. Elijah anointed Elisha as his successo...

Day 107 Reading: 2 Kings 6:1 - 2 Kings 8:29 Faith is what enables us to see divine answers on human challenges. Without faith, we cannot enjoy the blessings of God. Faith is what makes the promises of God come alive. Faith is what made Abraham the father of the children of Israel. He believed God that what God said would happen. Faith places you in the proximity of God and removes you from the level of mere men. Faith provides the bridge to access the land of promise. The challenges you are facing are simply weights to help build your faith for greater dimensions of living. To build muscle and become stronger you must lift weights that are uncomfortable. See the place where you are as a faith-building exercise for exploits. One area we need to apply our faith is in extending our boundaries. The sons of the prophets stated that the residence was too small. They went out to cut down logs to build the extension. In the process of logging, one prophet who had borrowed an axe h...

Day 106 Reading: 2 Kings 4:1 - 2 Kings 5:27 God is more than able to turnaround our situations from ugly to beautiful. It doesn't matter how bad the mess is. God can deal with every situation and is more than willing to provide a solution to the challenges we face. The Word of God is creative in nature. In the beginning, we saw the God speak as part of Creation. Reading the passage of scripture above I perceived that it's God's mind to release His power over every messy situation we are in.  Let every debt in your life hear the mind of God. Within you is the capacity to deal with that debt. The woman and her two sons were facing creditors who were coming with bailiffs to take away her sons as slaves. She cried to the prophet that by reason of the service to God her husband had given to God, may the family see the merciful hand of God in delivering them from this oppression. She didn't buy anything to trade with to get out of the situation. God multiplied wh...