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...

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 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 250 Reading: Matthew 25:1 - Matthew 28:20 Words are powerful. Ever been to a court of law? When the judge gives a ruling its given in verbatim and written format. When one is marrying vows consisting of words are made. Sign language is an expression of words using signs to convey the words being spoken. Science tells us that women speak more words than men.  Solomon declared that one is satisfied by the fruit of their mouth Proverbs 18:20.   Jesus understood the power of words. He understood that words have an impact. Words are what either make you or condemn you. Jesus  declared that by your words you will be justified or condemned Matthew 12:37 .  Thrice Jesus declared the process of His death and resurrection. I find it interesting that Matthew in writing this gospel noted this. Matthew wanted to convey to us the importance and power of words. He desired that we understood the power of words in shaping our lives. Here was the Messiah provoking th...

Day 174 Reading: Ecclesiastes 5:1- Ecclesiastes 8:17 The Preacher in Ecclesiastes in his sermon was interested in every aspect of life. Solomon studied life and from it, he wrote this sermon. He urges that one be careful what words they speak in the House of God. Too many times we offer to God words carelessly. We get excited with being in His Presence either because of a message preached, an altar call or an offering being raised and never realise the effects of not thinking through the consequences of our actions in the House of God. God is not mocked and when vows are not fulfilled we equate ourselves with foolishness.  Words we have seen before carry power of life or death. It's important we understand what happens when we speak. One needs to realise that without words there can be no movement. Your words determine where in life you will be. Words either unlock destiny or deny access to greatness to negative speakers. Be careful that when you speak you don't an...

Day 169 Reading: Proverbs 14:1 - Proverbs 18:24 The words we speak will either make or break us. Words are important to God. They are so important that at the beginning of the Bible we encountered their power in creation Genesis 1 . God has conversations and listens to conversations. Words are not empty contrary to the popular saying. They carry life or death in them, even that empty promise carries a death sentence to the person who made it. We must understand the power of our verbiage. When you understand the purpose and power of something you can use it effectively. Job understood the power of words having understood that words establish things in our lives Job 22:28 . Here are a few pointers on words. Speak few words to avoid sin Proverbs 10:19 . Learn to be one who speaks few words Proverbs 17:27 . Deal with verbal diarrhoea. Don't be a participant in every conversation just because you feel like talking. Set a guard over my mouth is a daily prayer I make Psalms 14...

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...

For many today we are in the eleventh hour in many areas of life. In footballing terms for many people the the game of life is nearly over; in fact we are playing what we call injury time. It seems as though only a miracle will save anyone from defeat. As this month begins flood your heart with the possibilities if God. Get ready to see mountains move as you speak God's language of faith Mark 11:22-23 . Part of the reason life is not moving is because our hearts are not filled with faith. Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks Matthew 12:34 implying that our hearts are the nerve centre of what we say. As we are aware our faith filled words will move mountains but only if the heart is full of faith. Paint your mind and heart with pictures drawn from the living Word of God. Remember nothing is too hard for God Jeremiah 32:27 . God created the universe including you making any challenge insignificant in its power to defy God. 

The bible begins by declaring that God created the universe before telling us how darkness covered the earth. The story doesn't end there but God begins to speak light and life into being. Your life may so far appear to be like Genesis 1:1-2 but am glad that God set up a template of what would happen anytime darkness seemed to envelope our lives. He spoke into the darkness and said " Let there be light Genesis 1:3 "; words that are still echoing even today. You and I are not boxed in by the circumstances we face. You and I have the capacity to transform our environment using the God given authority that is inherent in us. At creation God decided that humanity would be made in His image and likeness( Genesis 1:26-28 ). Being made in the image and likeness of God makes me a copy of the Creator of the Universe. If He spoke into darkness and light covered the earth then as one made in His image and likeness I should speak into every form of darkness covering my life and see...

Everyone is hopeful for a better tomorrow. That's why we say "Good morning" at the start of the day as 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's do not fail Lamentations 3:22-23 . 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 Hebrews 11:1 . Faith gives hope tangibility. To be without hope is to open the door of low living. as 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 li...