Distractions II

Sunday 7 August
READ: Eph. 3: 4 - 14
MORE LESSONS: Heb. 12: 1

Distraction takes away from distinction. In the text, Paul gives a list of all his qualifications and achievement. He went ahead to say that he overlooked all these things so that he might press towards the mark of Christ’s calling. He knew that those things were gain to him but he counted them loss so that he might gain Christ. Past success could pose as a distraction for you in entering into your next level. No man is above pressing forward; whether a pastor, doctor, professor or rich man. There is something you have not achieved that you can press towards. When you get to the stage where they talk about pressing forward and you feel that is for the young boys since you have arrived, then you are finished. A wise man says that when a man stops growing, he starts dying. You didn't come this far to start dying, refuse to be distracted by past success, move forward.
At other times, past failures could be the distraction.
A man might try something and fail and each time he wants to do another, he remembers the last failure and cowers in. As a child of God, the last failure is the steppingstone to the next success. When you try something and fail, do not be discouraged. Go back to the drawing board in your secret place with God, draw your goals and plans, and then re-launch. Failure is never final; refuse to take no for an answer. Try again till you achieve your target; remember the Word of the Lord, ...let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not: Gal 6:9. Refuse to faint till you achieve what you want.
Some people distract themselves by being busy-bodies. A believer that goes around talking about people behind them is going nowhere in destiny. Do not distract yourself talking about other people's results; get your own. A gossip is ever distracted; he is trying to look at other people and so is not focused on anything of his own. A goalless man is always distracted; he is trying to be like everybody he sees making it. Know what you stand for and where you belong and then get to work about it. Keep moving in destiny, don't worry about those who talk about you. In fact, give them enough to talk about. Finally, don't be distracted by problems, rather, be a problem solver. May be you see a need in a brother/sister's life, why not let God use you to meet that need. Don't join those that go around talking about what is supposed to be done in church and is not done, locate problems in church and solve them. Make being a problem solver your goal from henceforth and you will realise that you will not remain the same in destiny anymore.

PRAYER/ACTION
* I receive the grace to focus in destiny, in Jesus’ name.
* Lord, make me a problem solver and not a creator of problem for others, in Jesus’ name.
* I shall not faint, but remain focused, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Today is my perfect day of all-round blessings, I rebuke whatever makes it less, in the name of Jesus.

Distractions I

Saturday 6 August
READ: Rom. 8: 35 - 39
MORE LESSON: Psa. 112: 7

Distraction is the enemy of distinction. You will only get to the throne if you refuse to give up or divert your gaze. Your heart has to be fixed like a flint on the glory ahead for your crown not to be taken by another. On your journey to your great destiny and eternal home, one thing you must fight ardently is distraction. Paul said, Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus: Phil 3:13-14. He had to forget or remove his attention from some things that could serve as a distraction for him to get his prize.

Distraction in life comes from different sources; some internal and some external. Internal distractions come in the form of evil thoughts, intimidation from enemies and suggestions from satan that bombard your mind. You must deal with all these distractions by speaking and focusing only on the Word of the Lord. This is the reason the Bible says that you must guard your heart with all diligence (Prov. 4: 23). Sometimes you have to learn to deal with distraction by rebuking it. Jesus never dialogued with satan when he came to distract Him, He rebuked him with the Word. It was through dialoguing with satan that Eve missed her destiny (Gen 3: 1-6). Do not allow satan to put distractions into your mind, rebuke them in Jesus’ name.

Distractions can also come from without; Rom 8: 35-39 gives a list of things that might want to distract you from the love of God and your glorious assignment. However, the submission of Paul in this writing is that in all these things, we are more than conquerors. This means that greater is Christ that is in us than all the distractions that the enemy might bring. Therefore you must refuse to succumb to these distractions.

When bills, needs and challenges pile up and they want to lead you into anxiety and worry, refuse to be distracted. Remember, the Lord will supply all your needs (Phill. 4: 19). When people are shouting global economic recession and national scarcity, refuse to be distracted, you are from above and so you are above all that (Jn.3:31). When fashion, entertainment, latest technology and cars want to distract you from pursuing your purpose in life to pursuing things, remember that when you seek the Kingdom of God, things will be added to you (Matt 6: 33).

Refuse to be distracted by anything. Set your heart like a flint on getting to where you are destined for. Do not let false prophets and doctrines, scoffers, enemies or anything dissuade you from your goal in God. Go and get it.

PRAYER/ACTION
* I forbid every destiny distractor from manipulating my life, in Jesus’ name.
* I set my face like a flint, I shall achieve my goal, in Jesus’ name.
* Nothing shall dissuade me from my goal, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
The agents of goodness, mercy and favour shall be my companions all through this month and the rest of the year, in the name of Jesus.

Precious Name II

Friday 5 August
READ: I Jn. 5:9
MORE LESSON: Psa. 118:10-15

Today, we continue our meditation on the name of Jesus as we consider what is in the name. Today's reading brings home to us other benefits of the precious name of Jesus, These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the son of God; that yea may know that ye have eternal life on the name of the son of God: I Jn. 5: 13. These benefits are:

1. The benefit clearly outlined here is that all that believe in the Lord Jesus have eternal life through the name.
2. True repentance and remission of sin come only by the name (Luke 24:47).

3. We have healing through the name of Jesus, Then Peter said, silver and gold have I not but such as I have give t thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk: Acts 3:6. There is healing in the name of Jesus for you today. Take it, rise up and walk!
4. There is wholeness and strength in the name, And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all: Acts 3:16. May the name of Jesus bring you perfect soundness today.

5. Benefit of the name is in the Scripture verse loved by all, The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe: Prov. 18:10. In these days of insecurity, run to the name and be safe. Daily hide all members of your family in the name before stepping out and God is bound to keep you safe according to His Word of promise that cannot fail

PRAYER/ACTION
* Safety, soundness and perfect health are mine, in the name of Jesus.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
This month, no more satanic manipulation of my life and destiny, in the name of Jesus.

Precious Name I

Thursday 4 August
READ: Phil. 2:5-11
MORE LESSON: Isa. 9:6

God has made adequate provision for successful Christian living for His children, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: II Pet 1:3. One strong provision of God for us is the name of Jesus. This name is at the centre of the Christian faith along with the Blood of Jesus and the Word of God. It's necessary to know and appreciate the efficacy of the name of Jesus. Victorious Christian living will be very difficult for anyone who does not know how to appropriate the power in the name.

There is need to meditate on the provision by the Blood. First, it's a name above every name (Phil 2:9). Any power behind any other name in this world or in the world to come must line up behind the name of Jesus. Second, the name of Jesus commands the respect of every being, human and spirit, visible and invisible, up above and down below, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth: Phil.2:10.

The name of Jesus is the only name that brings all to their knees. That is why Jesus is above any prophet and king, born or yet to be born. In fact, in Rev.19:16, He is called the King of kings and Lord of lords. His name is an authority that all must obey. No other name wields such power. The authority of using the name of Jesus has been given to every child of God, And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do…: John.14:13. I urge you to take the name with you today, glorify it, proclaim it and use it.

PRAYER/ACTION
* Every knee over my life must bow, in the name of Jesus.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Let every marine, terrestrial and astral altars working against God's promises for my life be consumed by the power of the Holy Ghost on this fourth day of the new month, in the name of Jesus.