Divine Encounters

Everyone is hopeful for a better tomorrow. That's why we say "Good morning" at the start of the day. It's an indicator of the hope within that welcomes the dawning of a new day to bring better fortunes our way. God's mercies are new every morning and His compassion does not fail. When faced with adversity it becomes harder to see a better tomorrow, but resilient people are focused on the fact that trouble is only a comma in the sentence of life. At a time where fear has gripped many hearts because of various reasons, it is difficult to remain hopeful. Without hope, you cannot have the faith necessary to live. Faith is the substance of what is hoped for. Faith gives hope tangibility. To be without hope is to open the door of low living. Hopelessness is the start of damnation in life. You and I were born for a reason. We are not just statistics, making up numbers in any particular nation. You and I were born to reign in life. That situation that has so far made...

Life has been compared to a roller-coaster ride and not many people enjoy them as many also never enjoy life. "Why would you want to enter a roller-coaster ride where one is turned upside down and yet life's challenges also do the same?". This was an interesting question my friend once asked me. I retorted by saying that it helps take the sting out of life's punches when you have fun even in the midst of the fiery furnace that life is. Recently, like a few years now, I had a situation that really brought me to tears. As I meditated on the events leading to the painful experience I was in, I had to question whether I needed to be on this roller-coaster ride. As I reflected more on what I could have done differently, I began to realise why bitterness is such a killer. Not only did I see my mistakes and what I could have done better, but I also realised where I let my guard down and allowed the enemy in. When going through the throngs of life I was reminded that t...

Day 300 Reading: Revelation 1:1 - Revelation 22:21 I remember reading the Book of Revelation for the first time as a teenager. It filled me with awe and also left me with questions. It also placed in me a hunger and desire to go to Heaven. This one book in the Bible that many fear reading. Ask many Christians and they will tell you that Revelation fills them with trepidation. Human beings fear death and thinking of the ever after is an issue. The Book of Revelation paints not just a graphic photo of the afterlife but also gives a detailed account of what will happen to all in those days. Here are my few lessons from this awesome Book. Jesus is watching every believer and knows where one's heart is . The first three chapters are opened not just by the encounter John the Apostle has on the island of Patmos but also the admonishments he is given to give as a warning to every church. I am challenged by God's desire for me to overcome in every situation and that He has a ...

Day 298 Reading: 1 John, 2 John, 3 John We live in a world that is craving for love. Many are looking for love and looking in all the wrong places. The world is fuelled by a lust that many have mistaken as love. The devil has disguised his offering of lust and camouflaged it as love. We see it every day presented and served to us in many different forms. What many don't understand is that the devil's offering is presented to the world with an icing that covers the contents of what is laid on the plate offering from the enemy. Paul writing to the Corinthians warned them that the enemy does camouflage as an angel of light 2 Corinthians 11:14. The result of consuming what the enemy has served us is that our hearts have been dulled and many of us have shifted from having our moral compass guided by the Bible to become humanistic in our morality. Compromising doesn't begin with a big sin, but with a subtle shift of the heart from loving God wholly to having a mixtur...

Day 299 Reading: The Book of Jude We are living in days that can be best described as the last days. This is evident when you see the backsliding of many who are oblivious to the fact that they are backslidden and don't desire to hear any person pointing out that they are living in sin. Even worse is how believers have taken to discuss the body of Christ with anyone and everyone. Our faith is being fought and many believers are being used to deny the faith yet they are not aware.  Do you know that more persecutions take place today more than any other time in history? Do you know in some places that were once God-fearing, wearing a cross can lead to being fired from your job? Places that worshipped God no longer do. Churches are being converted to shrines and apartments. While this is happening some believers are fighting other believers on matters that don't matter. The reality of Heaven and Hell has been lost by believers leading to many not having a fiery faith ...

Day 297 Reading: 2 Peter 1:1 - 2 Peter 3:18 Many of us have a desire to know God. Even more than the desire to know God is the desire for a miracle in the lives of many. To hunger for a miracle more than hungering for God, Himself is a crime. It's the mistake of the church today. We have preached every message and the believer has listened to every message on how to get, yet God's desire from the beginning of time has been for fellowship. God desires that we know Him. My purpose here on earth is to know God and Him alone.  Peter encourages the believer to understand that grace and peace is tied to one's knowledge of God. Grace and peace are multiplied as you increase in the knowledge of God. Peter continues to tell the believer that God has already given us everything that is for life by God's power. However, Peter makes the believer understand that seeing the manifestation of the promise of things are tied to your knowing God.  God desires to reveal Hi...

Day 296 Reading: 1 Peter 1:1 - 1 Peter 5:14 Challenges are the way of life. We celebrate winners because they overcome hurdles. Think about it, how many times do we celebrate those who innovate or break into new frontiers. The Wright brothers did what no other person had done. They flew a plane. They conquered the law of gravity with the law of flight. Was it a one day exercise? No, it took years. The worked on a plane from 1899 to 1903 when a power plane flew and continued to perfect it and the first practical aeroplane flew in 1905. Thomas Edison is celebrated for inventing the light bulb which he displayed after many failed experiments to get it to work.  Peter in writing to the churches encourages the believers to understand the place of process. He helps the believer understand the period between the trial and deliverance or a miracle is necessary. It's necessary for you and me to learn about trusting God fully. Peter exhorts the believer to fully rest his or her ...

Day 295 Reading: James 1:1 - James 5:20 Whilst reading the Bible in each book I have sought to look for one main thing that is a focal point. I am sure you will agree that it's not simple to do that as each book in the Bible has numerous teachings that God desires we understand. While reading the Book of James my mind had many thoughts of what to blog. However, as I thought and prayed about it I felt I should blog about the tongue. James in writing this letter warns the believer that many destinies have been ruined by the tongue. When this small part of the body is not under God's control the havoc it can do is great. Just think of the many dictators in history. Many rose to the place of prominence because of their words.   You taste food with the tongue, not the hands that bring it to your mouth. Your eyes may see a meal and it may look delicious but the tongue will reveal whether what you saw was great to taste or not. This is the same with words. How do your words ta...

Day 290 Reading: 1 Timothy 1:1 - 1 Timothy 6:21 Welcome to the first letter written to Timothy. I believe God has something ordained for you and me in this season that can be found in the instructions, advise and wisdom Paul wrote to Timothy. Remember that Paul and Timothy went on a missionary journey together. However, Timothy remained in Ephesus and became the overseer of the flourishing church. Ephesus was a busy trading town with a flourishing economy with people from many different cultures.  Whenever we start a new season we find ourselves hopeful of making greater progress more than ever. We look to a new day as an opportunity to change our fortunes of yesterday. We experience this either at the start of the new year, new month, new week or even in the morning when starting off a new day! Developing the right mentality to see what we desire established and the pain we suffer eradicated we need to understand that we need to understand the value of a good fight of...

Day 294 Reading: Hebrews 7: 1 - Hebrews 13:25 Faith is a position. Faith is a state of being. Faith in God is confidence in His Word. Faith is to believe in God. The Bible is filled with examples of faith. Jesus while walking on earth mentioned faith a number of times. Each time Jesus spoke of faith in the gospels we see a miracle.  The disciples were with Jesus in a boat when a storm arose yet Jesus was asleep. They woke Him up crying and asking whether He cared that they were perishing. Jesus not only spoke to the storm he however also made a stunning statement of His disciples questioning why they were fearful and had no faith! Mark 4:40 . Every time I read this portion of scripture I always ask whether I am walking in faith. The disciples were riding in a boat with the Master of the Universe and they panicked when trouble arose. How many times do you and I panic when trouble hits? Silence in Heaven doesn't mean God has abandoned you? God cares for you and the storm...

Day 293 Reading: Hebrews 1:1 - Hebrews 6:20 In constructing a building they will tell you that the foundation is key to how the structure will stand. We constantly find that the writers of the letters in the New Testament had to grapple with the folk who believed in the superiority of the Law of Moses to the finished work of Jesus Christ. This was an issue that the author of the letter of Hebrews had to contend with. The Book of Hebrews lays foundations of the faith. The author makes us understand that God is the builder of all things and that Jesus is the sure foundation. Why do we need to understand the foundation of our faith and its basic tenets? So that we may not be drawn away from the place of knowing our faith. For many believers today we only have a fuzzy knowledge of Christianity? You may respond and tell me I am not a pastor or you didn't study theology. However, this is the misconception of today that has blinded many. Imagine living life without knowing th...

Day 292 Reading: Philemon 1:1 - Philemon 1:23 God is interested in every aspect of our lives. He is not just a God who answers our big prayer needs but also interested in our small day to day details. God sees everything and thus when Paul writes the letter to Philemon we learn about God's heart to employers. Firstly, God is the biggest employer in the universe. Look at creation and you will realise that God has many employees. God's employees range from the angelic to human. In God's system, God has many tools to use that all work for Him. He is the Master and in control of everything. However, God has given mankind a free will. That free will gives you the ability to either recognise your employer or disregard His intentions for you. Many today go about their business without consideration of who God is. When as a believer you don't view your vocation as part of your worship to God then mediocrity is the result. I am at a place in my life where the im...

Day 292 Reading: Titus 1:1 - Titus 3:15 One of the words we find used by the Apostle Paul is grace. Grace is unmerited favour. Paul told the Corinthian church that he was made by grace. Regularly we see Paul saying that grace gave him the strength to press on. He consistently began his letters by praying for grace, peace and mercy upon the listener and reader. Is the grace of God for special people? As I read the Book of Titus, I was amazed by one statement: that grace has appeared to all mankind. Many think that grace is not available for all. Many even question if God's grace is available? Others say that grace is only available when you religiously follow God. Paul when writing he said that when the love and kindness of God appeared because of His mercy God saved and justified us by His grace. Grace is what made sure that the charge against you in God's court was ruled out. When Jesus shed His blood and rose again He laid an offering in Heaven that paid the ...

Day 291 Reading: 2 Timothy 1:1 - 2 Timothy 4:22 We live in a day and age where people admire giftings. When we think of Serena Williams we think of the gift she is in tennis, when we think of Mozart we think of classical music and I could list many giftings that society admires. One day while thinking about my place here on earth God reminded me that I am gifted. Please say it to yourself, " I am gifted".  Life has a way of dividing people into haves and have nots and many times we believers seem to think we are in the realm of have nots. Paul whilst writing to Timothy reminds him to stir up the gift within him. Paul was telling Timothy there is potential inside of you and it cannot become something unless you awaken it. God placed gifting in you. It's your responsibility to stir up the gift within to be able to shine like a star in God's eyes.  Why must we stir up every gift within us? God has not given us a spirit of fear. Fear is one reason many hav...

Day 289 Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1:1 - 3:18 One of the worst things that can happen is to meet a bad teacher. You see teachers help develop the mind. A good teacher will cause a student to question and seek knowledge that benefits their development. A bad teacher, on the other hand, brings knowledge that doesn't grow a person. Instead, it derails the mind of the learner from the truth and sets them on a course of falsehood. Paul in writing the second letter to the Thessalonicans is having to address the issue of false teachers. False teachers cause people to walk in error. May I ask you what teachings or thoughts have you imbibed that are false doctrine? What have you read, heard or thought that has hindered your walk with God? Ever heard something agreed with it because it sounded right but something was not right?  We live in a day and age where our ears need to have sieves to be careful about what we allow into our minds and hearts as teachings. We need to ...

Day 288 Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1 - 1 Thessalonians 5:28 Life has so many distractions. Too many I should add. Many times I have left home with a plan of action but then one phone call derails the entire day. Social media doesn't help. We now have to detox ourselves of Whatsapp, FaceBook, Instagram and many others we use. Paul in writing to the church at Thessalonica gives brief instructions. This was a church that was started and before Paul could stick around to ensure that the new believers were grounded Paul accompanied by Silas had to flee to Berea at night Acts 17: 1-10 . The accusation against Paul was that he was turning the world upside down. We need more people like him today more than ever. Paul encourages the believers to not forget that Jesus is coming again and the date or day is unknown. He encourages the believers to stay ready for the return of the Messiah. The believer is encouraged to put on light and do away with every form of evil deeds. Fle...

Day 287 Reading: Colossians 1:1 - Colossians 4:18 When Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians he focused on Christ and the body. The letter to the Ephesians is about what Christ has bestowed on the body. Thus we believers discover that we are sat in heavenly places in Christ from Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus. However, to the church in Colossae, he focuses on Christ the Head. Notice that Paul prays for the believer to be filled with wisdom in both letters to the Ephesians and Colossians. We all need wisdom, however, divine wisdom is more important. One of the first things that Paul speaks about is that the believers in Colossae had a faith in Christ that was spoken of. As I read this statement the Holy Spirit reminded me of the importance of having faith in Christ alone. Many today have faith in people, things, money, a gift from God and forget that faith is to be rooted and grounded in Christ alone. Faith in anyone and anything else is bound to fail. The ...

Day 286 Reading: Philippians 1:1 - Philippians 4:23 I am yet to meet a person without any trouble here on earth. This year has taught me a lot. I have seen both mountain tops and valleys that I didn't know existed. We all have our share of stories of trials and testimonies. In my listening to many stories of the woes of many, I have sought the heart of God regarding a simple matter. What attitude does God expect of us His children in the midst of warfare?  Paul's letter to the Philippians was written while he was under armed guard. He was a prisoner facing the prospect of being sentenced to death. Paul consistently encourages the believers to rejoice. In my Bible, and I use the NKJV version, the word rejoice is used by Paul 8 times in this letter to the Philippians.  You are to rejoice because you have hope in Christ. Irrespective of the challenges of life you are facing, don't despair that your case is hopeless. You have something that only Christ can give...

Day 285 Reading: Ephesians 1:1 Ephesians 6:24 The letter to the church in Ephesus is one of my favourite books if that is allowed in the Bible. This is one book of the Bible I have read many a time seeking to understand the position of a believer. You see in this book there are three words that I believe are key to understanding it: SIT, WALK and STAND.  Paul begins by telling the believer of the place He is situated. We are not walking towards the throne, we are already sat on the throne together with Christ. Once it becomes clear to the believer that they are seated in Christ with Christ in heavenly places then every satanic agenda is a walkover. You and I have to understand that we are partakers of the inheritance that God set for Christ. We are co-heirs. Learn to sit in Christ as one who is victorious. As one sits then they are able to seek for wisdom that they may understand the depth, length and breadth of the glorious riches to be accessed in Christ.  P...

Day 284 Reading: Galatians 1:1 - Galatians 6:18 How we relate with God is a matter that many have written or talked about. The church in Galatia contains a lesson for every believer. Reading through the letter to the Galatians you feel Paul was cross with the vacillations of the believers in Galatia. Paul was dealing with issues that plague the believer even today.  Many start the race well and suddenly after some time start running the race in a manner that seemingly appears to pour cold water on fire. The Galatians listened to teaching that derailed them. They soon were preaching and subscribing to a gospel that was different from the true gospel. They had imbibed a lie that the gospel required them to do works to maintain or attain salvation. As I read this I began to ask myself how many times have I allowed an opinion of men to cause me to waver from the place of faith?  Paul instructs that we believers are to walk in the Spirit so as to avoid the lusts of...