Divine Encounters

Day 191 Reading: Isaiah 51:1 - Isaiah 53:12 While in Sunday School I was taught a song. I am sure you also know the song and many times one may even declare this song in prayer. The song was titled "Father Abraham". We declared how Abraham had many sons and I am one of them. Yes, God promised Abraham that he would have many descendants and this song helped birth that promise in us at a young age Genesis 12:1-3 . As a child of Abraham, every believer needs to understand the path trodden by Abraham.  Isaiah declares to God's children that they must look to the rock from which they are hewn from. Notice that Isaiah didn't speak of the root but the rock; not a pebble but a rock; not a leaf but a rock; not a liquid but a rock. A leaf can be blown by the wind to and fro, a liquid can change its state to gas depending on the heat applied, while a pebble may be crushed easily. A rock, on the other hand, is solid, unshaken while the forces and tempests of life blo...

Day 142 Reading: Job 5:1 - Job 8:22 Whilst going through adversity we are tempted to think that God is not with us. The enemy's agenda is to separate us from God. He assails our minds with thoughts of defeat and worthlessness. HIs attempt is to get us to waver in our faith and walk in fear. Once he succeeds in doing this, defeat is on the horizon except for the mercies of God. We have a responsibility to hold onto the promises of God to know them and know them for ourselves. Have a personal knowledge of the promises of God. When we magnify problems we become the problem. Notice when people talk about lack of money all the time they become broke people living broken lives. What you are seeing in that situation that is and how you address it will determine the end game result. Understand that when all you. perceive is trouble then you cannot see the promises of God. Job in the midst of adversity questioned why he was born. He began to curse his life and questioned the wi...

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 7 Reading Gen. 24:1-Gen. 25:34 God desires to bless with all things in all areas. As a child of Abraham this is my inheritance. Fruitfulness in every arena of life resulting in health, peace, joy, abundance, well being are all blessings that God has ordained and given to me. God cares for our relationships and Abraham understood that he had a responsibility to maintain covenant. Ensure you walk with those who will not steer you away from the place of living a committed life to God's standards in all areas of life. Learn to daily pray that God gives you success to accomplish His agenda. Understand that daily life is to be lived as a messenger of God. Each day God is sending me into the world to stand for Him. Abraham's servant who he sent reveals by his prayer his faith in the God of Abraham. Notice his prayer was made with a sign as an answer. There are depths in the walk with God. One who knows the voice of God will not seek for signs. A baby crying for milk j...

Day 6 Reading Gen. 20:1-Gen. 23:20 One of the joys of this new season is that God is constantly showing me that He is a speaking God. May God open my ears to hear Him continually. May my eyes also be open to see Him. We are introduced to Abimelech who takes Sarah and God immediately protected His own and defends Abraham by speaking to Abimelech. May God speak to those who have anything that is mine. Abimelech defends himself not by justifying himself but by reminding God of the people he, Abimelech, was the leader over and that they were a people who were seen as righteous. Charles be the kind of leader that God will seek to leave in authority even when you are mistaken genuinely in your actions.  Abraham was reprimanded by Abimelech, however, because of the instruction God had given Abimelech, Abraham left the place wealthy. There is a dimension of wealth that comes your way only as a result of God instructing people to give to you. This year get ready f...

Day 5 Gen. 17:1- Gen. 19:38 'Charles, I am Elshaddai, walk before Me and be blameless. And you will partake of My covenant and I will multiply you. Today, I am changing your name to  fruitful in all things. No longer will you be called failure, useless, good for nothing, missed the plot person, nearly made it person! You will be known as and called fruitful in every area of life.' God's covenant working in me changes all things from negative to glorious.  God is a merciful God. We have no record of divine encounters between God and Abraham for 13 years. God then shows up and sets the standard for Abram. He also changes his name to Abraham. May every encounter with God result in transformational change. In the midst of an encounter be careful what you say. Notice that as God promised a son, Abraham didn't see how it would happen. All he was seeing was in the natural how it was impossible for Sarah and him to have a child.  Abraham laughed in the presence...

Things just seem to be getting tougher a friend said to me recently. As they said this I perceived within their words that they were on the verge of giving up. Many times as we go through life we face difficulties that seem to challenge every belief we hold on to. As I sat and reviewed my life, the year so far, the days ahead it became clear to me that I needed to buckle up and resolve that no matter what the battle or how tough life looks I will hold on to my faith in God and not quit. Looking through the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11 we see people who obtained the promises given by God and each one of them persevered even when all looked lost. Abraham and Sarah waited for 25 years before they held their son. David overcame Goliath by holding on to the faith that Goliath was not bigger than God, and he had no right to terrorise the children of Israel.  My simple encouragement to you this week is don't quit. Reading through Hebrews 11, I was encouraged to stand firm and abso...