You Can do It

Friday 22 July
READ: I Sam. 17: 45 - 51
MORE LESSON: Phil. 4: 13

The story of David against Goliath shows us that you can achieve anything you want to achieve if you will believe. David, the teenage shepherd boy of Bethlehem, chanced upon a battle where the Giant of Gath was threatening and blaspheming against Israel, her army and her God. Before David came to the battle to give food to his elder brothers, Goliath had been coming repeatedly to defy and challenge Israel. Every other Israelite had heard these insults for days, but they were crippled by fear. But 1 Sam 17: 23, says, And as he [David] talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them. The Bible says, and David heard them, as if the others did not hear Goliath since the first day. It is the same thing that losers hear that champions hear. The difference is how they hear – their attitude and response to what they hear. This is the reason the Bible says, Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have: Luke 8:18. How you hear determines whether you win or lose.

Before you can do what you set your heart to do it is important how you respond to what you hear. When David's brother talked to him in such a way that was discouraging(1 Sam. 17: 28), David heard the words but he didn't let the words hinder him. The Bible says that he turned away from him to another. What you hear matters and how you hear matters. When David heard what would not help his destiny, he ignored it and turned to where he would hear the correct thing so that he could continue his quest. There are people and statements you have to neglect in order to do what you want to do. You sometimes need to disregard some people and what they say and apologise to them later after you have achieved what they wanted to prevent you from achieving.

You can do it, irrespective of what people say, if you will believe. The Bible says, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me: Phil 4:13. This should be your confession, your belief and your approach to life.

PRAYER/ACTION
* Today, I can do all things through Christ that strengthens, in Jesus’ name.
* I receive boldness to face every challenge on my way forward, in Jesus’ name.
* I reject every spirit of limitation that says I cannot do it, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, today by the blood of Jesus, I dissolve the roots and foundations of bad luck in my life, in the name of Jesus.

Your Brainchild

Thursday 21 July
READ: Gen. 1: 28
MORE LESSON: Matt. 26: 7-13

When God created man, He blessed him and told him to be fruitful and multiply. This includes but not limited to giving birth to biological children. It is important to know also that there is something that has been conceived in your mind that needs to be delivered to the world. Like a pregnant woman, you have an idea, a vision or a gift inside the womb of your destiny that you must birth to reality. There is a 'brain-child' that you need to give birth to. This brain-child is the seed for your glory and greatness; do not die without giving birth to it. You have been consuming things that come out of other people's brains; it is time for people to use a product of your own brain as well. In Nigeria, it is amazing how people do as if they cannot survive a minute without phone. A few years ago these same people did not have access to any phone at all. Many people spend all their money buying the latest smart phones and i-phones. Technology is good and it is okay to have good phones but be informed that you are spending your money on someone's brain-child. There is something inside you that the world should also pay for; discover it and release it.

Let the glory inside of you come out. There is something inside you that you have been tying down for too long, let it come out. There is a bestselling book inside you that needs to be written, there is a song in you that needs to be heard, there is an invention in you that needs to be made. There is a business in you that needs to be started. Whereas some people have strangled their visions by procrastination and postponement, you must decide to be a person of impact and action by delivering your brainchild to people. You will be celebrated only for giving birth to something unique. There is no great man in the world that doesn't have a brainchild that other people need and use. Your impact, celebration and renown is in your brainchild, don't let it die.

One major determinant in giving birth to your brainchild is the willingness to think out of the box. You can't do things the way everybody is doing it and say that is your brainchild. You must dare to be unique and do something that stands out. Do not be boxed into a particular way or method of doing things. Break the box and let the precious ointment inside you come out. Do not keep up a cycle of ordinary routines from day one to the last day of your destiny; let today be the beginning of greatness as you break out of the status quo and step into uncharted territories for your destiny and generations.

PRAYER/ACTION
* Today, I shall manifest the glory of God in me, in Jesus’ name.
* I refuse to bury my God-given talent. I will profit with it, in Jesus’ name.
* Let every hidden gift and talent in me begin to manifest, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Today is the 21st day of the second half of the year, like Daniel, my delay is over, in the name of Jesus.

Wisdom Key of Praise

Wednesday 20 July
READ: Psa. 100: 4 - 5
MORE LESSON: Psa. 33: 1 - 4

Praise is a sort of celebration, rejoicing and expression of satisfaction and joy. The text of today shows that the way to enter the courts of God is through praise. When you want to access God, you enter through celebrating Him and expressing satisfaction and joy at all He is and has done for you. The book of Psalms has a lot to say about praising God. Praise is not just something you give God when you feel like; praise is a command in the Scripture.

It is quite easy to praise God when all is well and things are going the way we want them to. The difficult part of praise is giving God praise when things are difficult. Only great people can give God praise regardless of situations. The Psalmist says, I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth: Psa. 34:1. 'All times' means when things are right and when they are wrong.

Only wise people give thanks; a fool has no capacity for praise. A fool is full of complaints to God while a wise man approaches God's gates with thanksgiving. When a man praises God, the gates of Heaven open to him and miracles happen. It is wisdom not to approach God in your strength and based on your circumstances; approach Him in praise. Wise people are full of thanks even in undesirable situations because they already know the end of the matter.

Praise has the ability to make things happen without stress. Praise is a key that opens all doors. The Scripture is full of keys like prayer, giving and confession. Every key has a limitation or the other; however, praise has no limitation. Whatever door is shut against you, a life of praise will open it. Praise brings healing more than medicine; it heals faster than drugs. It has been medically proven that when people are excited, their medical condition improves. Praise brings prosperity; a joyful person goes around with an atmosphere of favour. People love to do business with an excited and praise-filled person. Customers run away from a gloomy and unfriendly person. Praise brings deliverance. Praise brings open doors and answered prayers. God loves to hear the prayers of a man of praise. The story of Paul and Silas (Acts 16: 25 – 26) and of Jehoshaphat (2 Chron. 20: 22 – 25) also show that praise is a weapon of war.

There is wisdom in praise; it is a key that opens all doors. It takes a positive mindset to really praise God effectively. It is foolish to carry a frown around, grumbling and murmuring, it turns both God and men away from you. Life becomes easy when you stay in continual praise. Praise the Lord!

PRAYER/ACTION
* Declare that nothing will take praise away from your mouth today, in Jesus’ name.
* Give God thanks for your home, work, healing, victory and open doors.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
God of Israel, give no one the opportunity to sympathise with me the rest of this year, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Press for More

Tuesday 19 July
READ: Luke 18: 1 - 7
MORE LESSON: Gen. 18:17-33

People don't get answer to their prayers today because they fail to understand the principle of pressing forward. A woman in labour must continue to push until the baby comes out; if she dares stop pushing she may kill the baby and herself. The trouble may not give way immediately you begin to press but the trouble doesn't have the ability to last forever; it is just for a while! In the parable of the unjust judge, the judge said, Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me: Luke 18:5.

Everything that is worth doing is worth doing well. Everything that is worth having is worth pressing for. If your marriage is very important to you, then be ready to pay all the price you need to pay to make it the way you want it to be. The woman kept coming to the judge; she had no money to pay the judge; she had nothing that will make the judge to rise up on her behalf speedily except her persistent coming. Your continual working at your marriage, work, business, academics, spiritual life, child bearing or whatever project without giving up, fainting and losing strength will eventually qualify you for a miracle. The Bible says that the widow asked the unjust judge to avenge her of her enemies and he would not for a while (Luke 18: 4). Delay is not denial. The man would not answer her for a while but with persistence, she got him to. This woman was intentional and she got what she wanted from an unjust judge.

We have a Just Judge; our God. Our God is not an unjust God. Jehovah is a Just Judge so He will not give you failure when you are supposed to succeed. He will not deny you when you press. If the widow eventually got her desires with an unjust judge, then you will get yours with the Just Judge; the Creator of Heaven and earth, the Everlasting Father, who authored and finished the plan of your life, will not deny you. What you are experiencing today is not the end. All these things will turn out to be testimonies for you. You must press till you are victorious over that situation so that you will be able to comfort other people that will walk that path after you have come out of it. Congratulations, victory is yours.

PRAYER/ACTION
* Father, thank You because You are always there for me.
* Pray that you shall not give up on God.
* Ask God for strength to push on till answer comes.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
My father and my God, the strength of Jacob, please fast forward my miracles this month, in the name of Jesus.