Divine Encounters

Day 272 Reading: Acts 9:1 - Acts 13:52 God is a God of details. Information in the Bible is not given to fill space. There is always a reason for something. While Stephen was being stoned to death a young man was receiving the clothes of others who took part in the stoning. That young man is named Saul. Saul soon is a terror to the church and is given permission by the High Priest to round up the Christians and persecute them. Many of the new believers were of the Jewish heritage and thus this new found faith was threatening Judaism. Saul's mandate was to eradicate these people and ensure the faith he believed in remained intact. On this journey to Damascus, Saul has an encounter that changes his life. God will meet you in the most unlikely of places. No case is too hard for God. Every time I read the story of Saul's conversion am encouraged to know that Jesus cares so much for the soul of everyone. It doesn't matter who you are wherever you are God will reach ...

Day 258 Reading: Luke 12:1 - Luke 13:35 The Law of Moses was about works. You had to do something to attain rightness with God. Jesus whilst walking on earth begins to point out the mistakes of the religious folk. Religion is concerned with actions or works whereas God is interested in a relationship stemming from the heart, a clean heart. As I read today's passages I was struck by how Jesus spoke against hypocrisy especially Matthew 13 .  The word hypocrisy in the bible is from the Greek word hypokrites. This word was from the theatre where an actor in Greek and Roman plays used masks to augment the voice. From this general meaning, the word was applied to people who pretended to be something yet they were not in real life. Jesus warned that we be careful of the leaven of hypocrisy. Yeast is mixed in the dough when baking bread and left to affect the dough. Hypocrisy has a way of affecting every area of life.  Why would Jesus warn the believer of hypocrisy? The fol...

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 87 Reading: 2 Samuel 1:1 - 3:39 Life is filled with ironies. Have you ever been in a situation and you wonder how could this happen? As David was recovering all that he had lost Saul was being killed. 3 days after David had received his victory he receives a report from the battlefront. The second book of Samuel opens with how David saw prophecy became manifest. A new chapter will open in your life with you taking over the place you were born for. A young man, an Amalekite runs from the battlefront to David and gives him the news that Saul was dead. He then recounts how Saul asked him to kill him off for he had a wound that would not heal according to him. It's interesting how human beings can decide that this one is 'dead' forgetting that God is a specialist in impossible situations. This is one of the most ironical passages in the bible. Saul disobeyed God when it came to destroying Agag the King and the people he led the Amalekites. What he couldn't ...

Day 86 Reading: 1 Sam. 28:1 - 1 Sam. 31:13 Dear Friend, Thank you for encouraging me to not give up. Lately, it seems many friends I know have been living between a rock and a very hard place. Yes, I wake up and see the blue skyline and thank God that I am alive, however, I feel the pain of many who are lost in the earth as situations are not changing. Somethings don't seem to be working out. You mentioned that you feel life is passing you by each day. I felt it best I write to encourage you. Whenever I am in trouble I remind myself that I am not the first to go through this and that God has a solution. Life's blows are never fair. Somehow we seem to expect the devil to play fair when he has never played fair.    Today as I read the Bible, hope was rising within me that all will be well. I feel that the clouds over my life are about to burst forth with showers of God's blessing. Yes, I know it's been tough but today God reminded me that nothing is impos...

Day 85 Reading: 1 Sam. 25:1 - 1 Sam. 27:12 Life will always have curves and twists. The ups and downs of life should not define us instead they are to be chapters of God's marvellous works in us. The happenings, challenges, situations are simply part of the story and not the main story of life. The main story is how God brought you through each situation and brought about victory in your life. When the focus is on God, everything else pales in comparison to who He is and helps us maintain focus on our walk with Him. Whilst in the hiding place David and his men protected shepherds who were looking after the livestock of a very rich man called Nabal. Shortly after that, the sheep are being sheared and David seeks for something small for his men as a token of good gesture and goodwill for the services rendered. No discussion had taken place between David and the owner of the livestock, they just protected them. However, Nabal was not ready to play ball. He was not willing...

Day 84 Reading: 1 Sam. 21:1 - 1 Sam. 24:22 Dear Child, I know your pain, troubles and desires. Don't think for any moment that I have forgotten you. I called you by name and have anointed you to reign in life. The challenges you are passing through are simply a fire to refine you. Yes, I realise you are faint because it has been long and every day you wonder whether I care. That's why today I want to speak to you from the life of David as Saul was seeking to kill him. I want you to learn a few things to ensure My Hand is holding yours in the valley. David in fleeing from trouble went to My House. There he sought for bread. Don't forget that I showed the children of Israel in the desert that I am able to provide nourishment for My children. When deserting the place that has been the place of provision run to My House and receive nourishment. Run to My Word and receive the strength needed for the journey. Don't flee from the enemy on motivational input fr...

Day 83 Reading: 1 Sam. 18:1- 1 Sam. 20:42 Victory over Goliath will bring open doors to places where you only visited. However, challenges also follow after a victory. The enemy doesn't sit back and relax, he gets busy. Saul only called David when he was needed before the fight with Goliath. After he killed Goliath David sat on the same table with Saul and ate from his table. The days of visiting the place God has set for you are coming to an end for victory over Goliath will introduce a new dimension of glory. David behaved wisely. He must have known that Saul was laying traps to snare him and only wise actions would save him. You don't see David running to his network to look for help. He behaved wisely. Wise behaviour sometimes is silence but letting God do his work.When a characteristic is mentioned twice we should not take it for granted. Thrice in one chapter, the Bible records that David behaved wisely. May this be the story of our lives. Jonathan loved ...

Day 82 Reading: 1 Sam. 16:1 - 1 Sam. 17:58 People may write you off as not qualified but thank God He sees differently from humanity. God is the best reference giver for what He has ordained in our lives. Many times I was told I was not qualified, however, God has proven Himself faithful. Today's reading only strengthened my faith that God will always qualify me to do what I was born to do. Men may see my shortcomings God sees my potential to rule in life. Men may not place me in line for promotion, God promotes outside of the rules of men.  Samuel was sent to anoint a new king by none other than the One who calls and qualifies. He arrived and looking at the first son of Jesse he thinks this must be the new king. God advises him that while men look at the flesh, God doesn't. I am encouraged to think that Samuel even in his old age was still learning the ways of God. When God says no to the seven sons that Jesse presents as his, he confesses that there is another on...

Day 80 Reading: 1 Sam. 11:1 - 1 Sam. 13:23 God has established a throne for you. Don't limit where you are as all that God has ordained for you. Saul came from looking for his father's donkeys to becoming the King of Israel. God can take you from anywhere to the throne He planned for you. Once we are sat on the throne remember the adage that maintaining is harder than obtaining. It takes great responsibility to maintain the throne that God establishes you to reign in.  Saul was told in private that he would be king by Samuel and shortly after an announcement to the population was made of their king. Not everyone was happy with the choice and I'm sure he knew, however, God was about to make sure people saw Saul not just as a handsome tall man but as an excellent warrior. The men of Jabesh Gilead were attacked by the Ammonites which set a chain reaction of events culminating in God giving victory to Saul and the children of Israel over the Ammonites. This battle ...

Day 79 Reading: 1 Sam. 8:1 - 1 Sam. 10:27 God can see where you and I haven't even fathomed. He knows everything and is everywhere watching us. God is in our today and can see our tomorrow. He is God and holds the universe in His hands. Throughout the Bible, we see the love of God as He deals with humanity despite our wicked nature. One manner in which God brings us to the place of promotion is through divine connections. God can connect a person to provide the door to greatness leading to a life of favour.   Before we see the divine connection, God first gives some background happenings. The children of Israel began to ask for a king and they had a good reason. Samuel was old and his sons were corrupt. Reading about the failings of Samuel's sons made me wonder whether he didn't learn from Eli and his sons. The people in asking for a king were fulfiling scripture. When Moses gave the law he included some advice for when the people ask for a King just like other...