Divine Encounters

Day 253 Reading: Mark 10:1 - Mark 13:37 Words are powerful. Words are loaded with either life or death Proverbs 18:21 . Many today are suffering from a words-said problem. For example, some people have never become what God designed them to be because someone ridiculed them. Words by an authority carry weight. When a ruler or a person of authority speaks the spoken word it releases or binds the hearers. This is what the Centurion understood when he approached Jesus about his sick servant. He understood that Jesus only needed to speak the Word and his servant would be healed. The Centurion also understood that his part was to believe the word spoken carried authority. The Centurion honoured Jesus as he understood that Jesus operated with an authority that mere men didn't have Matthew 8:5-13 .  Creation reveals to us the power of the spoken word. Look up and see the sky, and remember that God spoke a word calling for a separation of the heavens and the earth. God before ...

Day 242 Reading: Zechariah 7:1 - Zechariah 10:12 I don't know whether you have been a place where it was so dry that you cried for rain. I remember once we had a drought which led to a famine. No rain led to no food for an entire region of the world. It got so bad that the whole world turned to see how to aid the people who lived in that region. The world came together and raised loads of money to feed the hungry. Just recently we had one of the driest summers ever in the West. I don't take for granted that I have been privileged to visit and live in different continents of the world. However, I have come to realise that a drought is no respecter of geography. When a drought hits there is only one thing to cry for. It is Rain. If ever there was a time to cry for the Lord's rain on the earth it is now. The day and age we are living in is one where hearts are battling issues that a mind-boggling. Goal posts are being moved today. We have believers who believe onl...

Day 241 Reading: Zechariah 1:1 - Zechariah 6:15 God's word is powerful. It is backed by Heaven. God backs His Word. Angels perform God's word Psalms 103:20 . God created the world by His Word Genesis 1:3. We live in a day and age where many don't believe in God. The world is in need of men and women who will believe God at His word to see its power released here on earth. A recent survey by the BBC in the UK revealed that 3 in 5 people believe in miracles. People are hungry for miracles.  The Bible gives us clues to seeing miracles in our lives. Zechariah was raised to encourage the people during a time where they were struggling to rebuild the Temple. Zechariah was addressing the children of God who had returned from captivity under the direction of Darius to return home and rebuild their land. God's word will overtake you. If I use the narrative of a car on a highway, the promise may be behind you or far from the view of your mirrors. However, understand ...

Day 235 Reading: Micah 1:1 - Micah 4:13 If you asked many people today what is the singular word to describe the miracle they need I wouldn't be surprised if it is 'breakthrough'. Many feel imprisoned and are crying to break out. We all are crying for a breakthrough in one area or other. It may be a breakthrough in the family, marital arena, finances, business, career, health, social or at a national level. We today are facing a litany of issues that are weighing many down. Just speak to many people and you will realise that stress for many is becoming the norm yet God called us to live in joy and peace Psalms 23 .  Micah is sent to prophesy judgement to the children of Israel for the wayward ways in their worship and livelihood. In the midst of His prophecy, he declares that their redemption would come in the place of their captivity. That place where you are crying about, that place or situation making you moan and wail in prayer, that issue that is mocking y...

Day 221 Reading: Ezekiel 34:1 -Ezekiel 36:38 God has great things ahead. Oh, I can feel it within me that God has great things for me. As I read the scriptures all that came on me was a sense of a new beginning. God is interested in our well being. He desires the best for us.  Throughout the Bible we see God drawing mankind to Himself. Declare the new season in your life. While reading today's passages I picked a few promises from God that accompanied the sense of a new beginning that weighed heavily on me as I read and meditated on the Scriptures.  God will give us good shepherds. Shepherd not just in the Temple but in nations. God promised that the reign of poor shepherds who only want to eat for themselves will come to an end and that He would appoint good shepherds whose heart is aligned to God Jeremiah 3:15 . God is the True Shepherd and will provide, nourish, nurture, and protect His sheep. He also promises to judge the sheep. Don't ever forget that Go...

Day 212 Reading: Ezekiel 1:1 - Ezekiel 4:17 Welcome to the Book of Ezekiel. Ezekiel was a priest and we are introduced to him when he's a captive in a foreign land. Priests presented the sacrifices to God and carried out duties in the Temple of God. Here was a priest living in the foreign land far from the place he was called to serve. Many believers today are like Ezekiel. They are prayerful but are crying to God far from the land they are ordained to live. Let me interject here, Ezekiel was not living away from Israel because of choice, he was captured and taken to live abroad. Many believers are living far from where God ordained for them bound by a captor who takes many forms. Ezekiel means God strengthens. It is amazing that the Book of Ezekiel opens with God strengthening him. The heavens opened over Ezekiel and his eyes saw into the Heavens. Reading this phrase my heart began to yearn for the heavens to open and that my eyes would be opened to see the unseen. To...

Day 211 Reading: Lamentations 3:1 - Lamentations 5:22 A friend sent me a message after reading this blog a few days ago stating that the reason many cannot pray is all the issues people are facing. This friend continued to explain that one cannot focus on anything else when they are dealing with the challenges of life. As I read today's portion of Scripture my friends' words were ringing in my mind. We all feel as though God has forgotten us when we are going through challenges. Reading the Word of God gives one hope. Jeremiah stated that he had hope and for specific reasons. Firstly, Jeremiah understood that God's compassion does not fail and results in His mercies being new on a daily basis. I don't know what mountain or giant is boasting in front of you that is making you feel hopeless and helpless. I have good news for you. You have a reason to hope that your situation will work out better than expected. You have a reason of the hope that a miracle with...

Day 210 Reading: Lamentations 1:1 - Lamentations 2:22 Jeremiah was sent to warn his generation of impending disaster. His generation didn't heed his call to return to God. Today we find ourselves in such similar times. Many today are not heeding the call to worship the One True God Jehovah.  We find that Jeremiah wrote a second book and its aptly named Lamentations. These were his cries for the salvation of his people. The Book of Lamentations begins with Jeremiah weeping about the fallen state of the city of God.  Many today are not burdened for their generation. We live in a me, myself and I world and we must be careful that we don't view life through this spectacles. Jeremiah lived for God's purposes only and as we saw in Jeremiah it had consequences that were painful. Reading through the Book of Jeremiah I was struck by how much Jeremiah must have been a man of prayer. Burdened to lift his nation before God. Is it any wonder that he received such prophetic ...

Day 204 Reading: Jeremiah 29:1 - Jeremiah 34:22 I sat down thinking of what I was going to write even before I read the scriptures. Deep down I knew that today's blog would recharge one's faith. I don't know what devils you are fighting, however, I do know that there are many to be fought at this hour in life. One thing I have been encouraged today as I read the passage of scripture is that God is a covenant keeping God.  Before you go any further may I challenge you and ask where have you written down your prophecies? If God would tell Jeremiah to write down prophecies, how much more us today. Learn to write down every prophesy you receive. This helps as a reminder of what God has promised you. Prophesies are trajectories for your life to take. Use the promises God  reveals to you as stepping stones to the next level. Let every prophetic word you receive be a step up a ladder towards God and all that He has ordained for you. It's important to write down pr...

Day 194 Reading: Isaiah 61:1 - Isaiah 64:12 My Friends, I woke up with an excitement in my spirit. I was bubbling from within as I prayed and prepared myself for the day. Little did I know that I was preparing to battle discouragement. Sometimes in life when you do your best it's not acknowledged to the extent that some people despise you. I have learnt through it all to look to God. Like the Psalmist said 'why are you discouraged O my soul? Hope in God for I shall yet praise Him.' Psalms 42:5 . In the midst of my feeling discouraged, disappointed and down I read today's portion of scripture. Hidden inside were nuggets for my lifting. Assurances that God was with me and would lift me. God has planned things eyes have not seen. Charles, what God has planned for your eyes haven't seen. Inventions, innovations are secrets that God gives to men and in this hour I believe we are going to see a release of many. Ears haven't heard. Men and women haven...

Day 165 Reading: Psalms 141:1 - Psalms 150:6 The Book of Psalms is filled with promises that release the power of praise. I have every reason to praise God. God is the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth Genesis 1:1 . He is the Author of my life Genesis 2:7 . God is the one who is able to save Psalms 103:1-5 . I praise God because His thoughts about me are uncountable Psalms 139:17 . God is mindful of me Psalms 8:5-8 . God cares so much for me that He set a crown on my head. I know maybe my life doesn't look like it has a crown however like David I will yet praise God because even if Goliath boasts I know who I represent and praise Jehovah. As I praise Him I see His power displayed.  When I praise God His power is displayed because praise enthrones God in our lives Psalms 22:3 . Many times we go through situations where the enemy seeks to be enthroned. All we talk and think when in the valley is about that which is a shadow of death. However, remember that though you ...

Day 162 Reading: Psalms 119 Giving praise to God continually is to be a habit we cultivate or inculcate in our daily life. We should allow praise to flow from our inner being to the Most High effortlessly. Let everyday present you and me with an opportunity to celebrate the works of God.  Reading through the Book of Psalms, you will encounter the longest Psalms and or chapter in the Bible, Psalms 119. The shortest chapter or Psalms is 117. The middle point of the Bible if you were looking for the centre of the Bible when measuring using the chapter count then it is Psalms 118. Today, however, we shall look at Psalms 119 and especially one phrase that struck me as I meditated on this portion of Scripture. I use the New King James Version and I was struck by this phrase "according to Your Word". The Psalmist understood that life was to be lived according to God's Word and not man's word. Throughout the Bible, speaking the Word of God releases the power ...

Day 161 Reading: Psalms 109:1 - Psalms 118:29 God is the creator of family. In the beginning, He placed the family in His plans for creation. One reason why Adam was not to live alone was that of family. Through family, society was grown and the population would increase. However, we find that this unit of society is under duress. When the family unit is destroyed then society's fabric begins to crumble. God desires to see families abound in His goodness. The Psalmist listed various blessings for the family.  God's love is unending to His children Psalms 103:13 . The manner in which a father pities the plight of His children how much more the Father of all fathers, the Creator, the Lord Almighty. God's love and desire for your wellbeing cannot be quantified. Man is finite while God is infinite. We cannot comprehend all that God has for us with our minds. Throw yourself on His love and watch as God's love bathes your life swaddling you with joy and peace. Go...

Day 159 Reading: Psalms 91:1 - Psalms 100:5 The Book of Psalms is filled not only with prayers and songs of praise but also with instructions that guide the believer towards greatness. One can actually study the Book of Psalms and see the different instructions that draw us closer to God. Today I will list a few of the instructions contained within our reading. Abide in God. Learn to stay in the Presence of God. Safety is only found when one makes the Presence of God the place of habitation and not an occasional place. Notice that the promise to abide under the shadow of God Almighty is given to those who dwell in the secret place. Many people quote Psalm 91 thinking that quoting it will give to them the desired result of protection. The key to receiving what God has ordained is tied to your dwelling in the secret place.  Make the Lord your refuge. We live in a world where people make many other things, idols, people, money their refuge. The Psalmist exhorts that one m...

Day 158 Reading: Psalms 81:1 - Psalms 90:17 Who doesn't want God involved in their affairs? Yes, I understand there are those who don't believe in God. However, for those who believe that God is real and more than able to affect my affairs here on earth, we desire that His hand be in our lives. Whilst reading the Psalms we discover that many times the psalmists cried to God for His hand to be involved in their lives. The Psalmist understood that dominion in life was only possible if the hand of God obtained the land for them. The Psalmist records that the children of Israel obtained the land by the Hand of God. Yes, they fought wars to possess the land as we have seen in the book of Joshua however, they understood that the reason they were victorious is not that of a superior army but God being with them and fighting for them. The classic example is the fall of Jericho where the walls came crumbling down in a supernatural manner. The Hand of God in your live enable...

Day 157 Reading: Psalms 71:1 - Psalms 80:19 The words we speak affect us just as the words we hear. It's imperative we understand the power of what comes of our mouth. Our words are either building or destroying lives. The writers of the Book of Psalms understood this and constantly cried to God making declarations about the words they would speak. Here is a brief breakdown of what the psalmists ordered as the prescriptions for those wondering what they should speak. Tell the deeds of God. Tell the generations to come of the awesome deeds of God. Tell those around you of the wrath of God that is coming towards those who chose to walk in unrighteousness. Let your words be words that magnify God. Sing the praises of God. Too many times we sing of our love for others and forget to sing praises to the one who gives us life. Sing of His goodness. Singing has a way of generating peace and joy that enables the heart to become calm. Did you know that when you sing your brain op...

Day 156 Reading: Psalms 61:1 - Psalms 70:5 I woke up thinking of the awesomeness of God. God gives you and I breath without asking. Just think of the many times God has been good to you. Reading through the Psalms I am enjoying the various descriptions of God's awesomeness over every area of creation.  We make prayer to God because we understand that we can run to Him. He is our Safety and Rock when we are shaken by the circumstances of life. God is able to give us a support to go through life. God is a Pillar that one can hold onto when in need of help. God is also a Shelter who provides cover from the elements of this life. In the olden times during the war, the people hid in a tower. The safest rower we can hide is God. He is a Strong Tower providing protection from our enemies. Waiting on God enables us to enjoy His Awesomeness. Waiting on God enables on to enjoy the goodness and power of God. A waiter waits on your table receiving your orders and deliveri...

Day 152 Reading: Psalms 21:1 - Psalms 30:12 Answered prayer is one of the most intriguing issues of the believer's walk with God. To some, it looks like hit and miss. God delights in granting our desires. God desires that we come to the place where answered prayer is normal. God loves us so much that He desires we experience bountiful harvests of His goodness. God desires to meet us with blessings of goodness and set a crown of pure gold upon our lives Psalms  21:3. Effective prayer is made with understanding. Prayer is effective when it hits the target. When we receive answers to prayer it is a result of effective prayer. Prayer is never complete without praise. Praise precedes and envelopes prayer. Prayer made with the understanding that God establishes His throne through praise will position one to be effective in prayer Psalms 22:3. When one walks with the revelation of who God is to them and His desire for them prayer becomes easy. David understood that the Go...

Day 150 Reading: Psalms 1:1- Psalms 10:18 The Book of Psalms is a collection of prayers, songs, instructions covering a large array of topics. You can find a verse dealing with every situation in life in the Book of Psalms.  Within the psalms is wisdom for living. The Psalms are authored by different people from Moses to King David and Asaph the leader of worship in the temple.  As you read the psalms they not only encourage you by offering answers to questions but the psalms are also great at helping one develop a lifestyle of worship. Reading the psalms in the morning helps focus one on God.  The Book of Psalms begins with a psalm containing instructions to being a blessed person. God desires that you be blessed in every area of life. God desires that we walk with Him wholly to be able to access the best of what He has assigned to us. Reading through the Psalms you will get provoked to draw closer to God.  Reading through the first 10 Psalms no...

Many times I wake up and wonder what if. Have you ever just sat down and appraised your life and wondered what if?  I am sure you have questioned yourself all in the name of self evaluation especially when things are not working right. As I sat on my bed on Sunday and went through a conversation that I had earlier that day I suddenly asked myself this question "What if?" As I looked through my life that night I kept crying out the same question.  In the midst of the turmoil within my soul I was reminded who My Maker is. Friends cannot make you, nor can family, neither can the well paying job, or even a billionaire spouse, or being the most gifted person!! Only God can make into the person that shines as a bright star. Isaiah the prophet encouraged people to make the God the Maker their husbands Isaiah 54:1 . Get intimate and submit your life to God who made heaven and earth and watch as He makes your life. Unless you are walking in union with God as your Maker He can...