Seek Things Above

Text:Col 3:1 -2
MORE LESSONS:I Jn 2:15-17
Bible Reading in one Year: 2 Chronicles 26-29

If you are a new creature in Christ, the evidence that must show is your affections, desires and priorities in life. Many claim they are citizens of Heaven but all their interests, pursuits and conversations are of the earth. The latest fashion, technology, news and physical things are the pursuit of many who claim to be seated in heavenly places with Christ. However, the Scripture makes us to understand that the evidence that a man is seated in heavenly places with Christ is that his affections will be on things above and not on earthly things, Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also: Matt 6:19-21.

As a citizen of Heaven your investments, thoughts and pursuits should centre on God's Kingdom. One of the best ways to know where a person's heart lies is to check where he puts his money and time. Do you put your resources into the Kingdom of God or into things of this world that will pass away? The way you live also shows what you are seeking. A man seeking athletic medals doesn't eat and live like everyone else. The kinds of exercise, discipline and diet he adopts always show that he is seeking something.

As a seeker of God, all the deeds of the old man that do not glorify God in your life are to be put off and the works of the flesh are to be killed (Gal 5:19-21). You should be clothed with the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5: 22-23) and follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Heb 12:14.

Seeking God and laying all your treasures above will not lead to being of no good on earth, rather it is the secret to supernatural impact and greatness on earth. Every seeker of things above and propagator of the Kingdom is always a shining star in his generation because Scripture has promised, But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you: Matt 6:33. The path to a glorious destiny and effortlessly getting all the things that men strive for is seeking first the Kingdom and the things above.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God for grace to make Heaven a priority.
* Pray that everything that competes with the will of God in your life will lose their hold now.
* Ask for a life that is ever ready for the coming of the Lord.
* Pray that no worldly pleasure will rule your life.

BENEDICTION: Say it to yourself after every prayer:

Jehovah is the Alpha and Omega of my year,
I shall not fear, He beautifies my days with grace and glory,
I shall not lack.

The Lord of Hosts is the strength of my life,
He shall not leave me nor forsake me, He shall deliver me from all evil
Even when men are being cast down, yet shall I arise and say.

2014 is my season of His GLORY, the Spirit of the
Lord shall perform these
Now and forever more

Amen! Amen!! Amen!!!

New season,
Glory time

Reprogramming your Mentality

Text: Rom. 12:2
MORE LESSONS: Prov . 23:7
Bible Reading in one Year: 2 Chronicles 23-25

The mind of a man is the seat of his thoughts, reasoning, values, words and actions. The behaviour and life of a man are a product of his mind. Christians put a lot of emphasis on the spirit, spiritual exercise and spiritual growth, and that is right and necessary . However, you should not forget to develop your mind, reasoning and intellect because the spirit of a man can only relate to this physical realm through the soul, which contains the mind. So no matter how much a man has grown spiritually, he is still limited if there’s no corresponding change in his mind.

Personal development, education, study, attending conferences and seminars are ways of improving your mind, Be renewed in the spirit of your mind: Eph 4:23. The biblical account of the growth of Jesus is revealing, Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man: Luke 2:52. That is mental, physical and spiritual development in that order. Many strongholds that people battle with are in their minds.

It is not every poverty, sickness or failure that is a spiritual attack; most are as a result of poverty and failure mindset that has been so ingrained in a person by the reason of his background, environment and experience; thus the person always thinks, talks and believes poverty and lack. So many people do not sincerely think it is possible to live a sickness-free life, some can't imagine themselves wealthy and great.

Your mind needs to be renewed by God's Word till you see yourself in agreement with what God says about you.
Many times people struggle with sin and lust and they want laying on of hands, binding and casting to be delivered from sin. Of course there are several cases of people who need deliverance from the hold of sin but more often than not, freedom from the hold of sin will be by the renewal of the mind of the person, by the washing of the water of the Word of God because the mind is the battle ground of temptation and sin. When a man gets born again, his spirit becomes brand new and perfect but the mind is the same with the same memories, feelings and thought patterns.

Therefore, the Word of God needs to reprogramme the mind for total liberty and maturity in the faith. You need to expose your mind much to the Word of God so that it can think in agreement with the mind of Christ.
Today I want you to take the responsibility of realigning your thinking with the Word and reprogramme yourself for success in God.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God to purge, deliver and renew your mind for a greater life.
* Ask God to help you reprogramme your mind by removing all negativity.
* Pray that your mind will always align with the Holy Spirit.

Pass Through to Get to

Text: Acts 27:18-24
MORE LESSONS:2 Cor. 4:8-9, 17
Bible Reading in one Year: 2 Chron. 20-22

In our first reading, Paul has appealed to Caesar in Rome and at take off, God tells him he is going to get to Rome. But the journey on the sea turns out to be a terrible experience because the wind is contrary to them. In fact it’ s so bad that for 14 days they can't eat, they go into an unplanned and unproclaimed marathon fast for 14 days. However, the Angel of the Lord assures Paul, ...Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee: Acts 27:24. It happens as the Lord says, the ship is lost but the people are saved, and they all get to Rome.

This story paints a picture of many in the journey of destiny when experience and situation turn out to be very terrible. Many people at such times start doubting God and ask questions like, Why I in such a bad time as this when God told me the destination will be good? I want you to know that nobody gets to without passing through. You should not count such times when you are passing through as bad times but as a passage t o your glorious destination. There are things you have to pass through in order to get to where you are going.

As a student you might be going through stress, making sacrifices and to eat might even be a difficulty now but by the time you finish school brilliantly and your certificate starts opening doors for you, you am will thank God for all the things you endure as a student. Difficulties should not always be seen as bad times because sometimes they are to make you on your way to where you are going. When you are still in the process of going through, it might be difficult to believe and accept that God is aware of your plight but when you begin to reap the harvest of the pain, then you will thank God for taking you through the pain and stress.

Paul knows that those fourteen days are just a passing time and not a permanent situation, so he could encourage the others in the ship. Eventually they get to where God intends taking them to. No matter what you are passing through today , I want you to be encouraged in the Lord because you will still get to your glorious destination, When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee: Isa 43:2

Prayer/Action
* Declare that every challenge you face will become a testimony for you.
* Prophesy that no evil time will swallow you up.
* Declare that every test will become a testimony.

Overruling a Season

Text: Dan. 2:21
MORE LESSONS: Psa. 57: 1-11
Bible Reading in one Year: 2 Chronicles 17-19

As a child of God, you must know how to get events, times and seasons to align with God's will and purpose for your life. One portion of the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples is Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven: Matt 6:10. So when God's will is not being done in a season of your life, what to do is to overrule that season.

I want to let you know that there is no season that you cannot overrule. If hard times, difficulties and bad seasons come your way, you can overrule them. Don't allow seasons to rule you, rather you overrule them. Everyman, even the righteous, may go through an unfavourable season one time; so it is not the fact that you are in a challenging time that is the problem. The problem comes when you allow that difficult time to prevail over you. You are to prevail over bad season by overruling it.

Let us look at some principles of overruling a season from the Bible, Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities' be over past: Psa. 57:1. David was a man who experienced many adverse seasons that needed to be overruled. From this scripture, we see a secret that he knew , . . . until these calamities be over past. David said this calamity will pass, and it did.

Even in the midst of calamity David had the hope and expectation that the situation would change. The first thing to do to overrule your bad season is to be convinced of the possibility of change. You have to believe that a bad season is nota permanent state. Unfavourable seasons are not to be accepted.. . . for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge. This is the expression of faith and trust in God. Many are not able to overrule their negative season because they do not stand in faith but rather panic in fear . Only the still can still the storm. Faith and fear don't work to get her. Unfavourable seasons are not to be feared and panicked over . Faith is the victory that you need.

Finally , For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith:Mark11:23. You overrule by the words of your mouth. Seasons change as you declare words that are empowered by the Holy Ghost.

Payer/Action
* Make a decree that evil season will not thrive in your destiny.
* Command every contrary season to change today and bow out of your life.
Using the following scriptures, take 10mins each on 3 different occasions today and declare your victory over any evil season- Dan.2:18-21, Lk. 21:15