Created Unique

Wednesday 24 August
READ: Exodus 2:1-4
MORE LESSON: Psalm 139:14

No child born into this world is a product of an accident. God carefully fashioned everyone and created a purpose which they are to fulfil. Nobody is in this world without a purpose and responsibility. One reason why some people do not succeed in entering into God's purpose for their lives is their parents’ lack of foresight of the manner of children God has given them. Since they lack understanding, they are not able to instruct, guide and direct the path of their children from infancy. Moses' parents had foresight. Moses was born at the time when all Israelites who gave birth to male children threw them into River Nile, in obedience to Pharaoh's decree. But when Moses' parents looked at the baby in their hand, they saw a “goodly”, “unique”, “fine”, “proper”, “extraordinary” child. They saw in that child a world-mover; a deliverer, a prophet, a miracle worker. They saw greatness, prosperity and success in their baby. What they saw in that baby made them to dare to disobey Pharaoh's decree and hid the child, By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment: Heb.11:23.
Parents, what good do you see in your children, and what are you doing to preserve that which you have seen in them? What are you doing now to help your children realise their dreams? It is unfortunate that some parents only see in their children folly, “block head”, “stupid child”, “you will never make it in life”, “good-for-nothing”, and these are what they yell at their children every time. What these parents do not know is that their words go a long way to rule over the destinies of their children. If you keep insulting your child as good for nothing and stupid, the forces of darkness may simply reckon your words as a curse upon that child and ride on that to afflict your child. Moses' parents saw in their child excellence, achievement, greatness, and they worked Moses into it.
It is possible that your parents never saw anything good in you, and those around you never assisted you to pursue your dreams, but how do you see yourself? Moses grew up in Pharaoh's house, but he never saw himself as an Egyptian, By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter: Heb.11:24. Now that you are grown up, your destiny is in your hand. It is how you see yourself that matters. God created you great, and has purposed to use you for great things. Begin now to see yourself the way God created you, and you will enter into your greatness.

PRAYER/ACTION
* Lord, open my eyes to see the unique gifts in me and my children.
* Grant me what it takes to nurture my uniqueness to fruition.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
I command every weakness in my spiritual life and the weariness on my pilgrimage to give way to strength today, in the name of Jesus.

Be a Blessing, not a Curse

Tuesday 23 August
READ: Esther 6:1-3
MORE LESSON: Luke 5:1-8

One of the reasons why God granted you the opportunity to be alive, working, or schooling is to be a blessing to all who come your way. You are to use your position, profession and occupation to bless humanity. God has also programmed that through that position you will enter into His blessings and increase for your life, if only you will discharge your responsibility with a sense of service, not as a hireling. Unfortunately, many believers don't know this truth, and they handle opportunities to bless those that come their way, their offices, their business centres carelessly; they discharge their duty without a sense of commitment. Some even use their position to oppress others. For such people, their promotion has become a symbol of pain and curse for men.
In our passage today, Mordecai, an exile in Babylon, was privileged to serve as one of the keepers of the door of the king's chamber. It was his responsibility to defend the king. When his fellow door keepers plotted to assassinate the king, he exposed their plot. That was the beginning of his promotion in that land. If he had kept quiet, the plot may have succeeded, but Mordecai may lose his job after all, because a new king may not likely retain the same gate keepers.
In Exodus 1:15-21, the Hebrew midwives were handed over a decree from Pharaoh, When you are on duty and you see a Hebrew woman give birth to a son, kill him; if it is a girl let her live. It was an order from Pharaoh and whoever disobeys is doing so at the risk of his life. But the midwives approached their duties as midwives with the fear of God, and let the male children live. They were determined to be a blessing through their profession and not to be a tool in the hand of a superior officer to inflict pain on subordinates. When these midwives were confronted for failing to carry out the king's order, they simply explained with wisdom why it was difficult to implement the king's decree. Therefore, God blessed them and provided them their household (vs 20, 21). Be determined to be a blessing to others through your profession, occupation, and position of authority. Make up your mind that no one will use you to cause pain and affliction on others. Be determined to discharge your responsibility with every sense of commitment and loyalty, expose every kind of wickedness as Mordecai did. Your day of honour is at hand.

PRAYER/ACTION
* Repent of every mistake you made in using your position to cause pain for others.
* Ask the Lord to grant you the grace to serve humanity through your present occupation.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
I receive grace to do mighty exploits for God in 2016 and nothing I do will fail, in the name of Jesus.

Example to Follow II

Monday 22 August
READ: Gen.17: 1-10
MORE LESSON: Rom.4:1-10; 18-22

We continue on the instruction of Jehovah God to us all, “Look unto Abraham”. There are more areas of obedience to God which Abraham complied to, worthy of emulation. He raised altars to Jehovah as he sojourned in the Promised Land (Gen.15: 9-17). Abraham obeyed God in ensuring a peaceful marriage between him and Sarah (Gen.16: 1-6). Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it: Eph.5:25. Though he shouldn't have practised the custom of the land in child bearing but rather should have encouraged Sarah in her discouragement, he loved her and valued their marriage, thus taking Hagar in.
Abraham obeyed God in establishing covenant tokens as instructed by God in circumcision of all males in his household (Gen.17:11-27). There are various covenant tokens in Christianity. Also, if you will walk with Jehovah and have a part in Him, you must obey these tokens as spelt out in the Bible, the manual for the Christian walk. Establish memorials and permanent flow of blessings by following covenant tokens of fellowship, offerings, tithes and vows.
Abraham obeyed God in practising hospitality (Gen.18:1-9). This act hastened the fulfilment of God's promise of childbearing. The Christian who is not hospitable contradicts the pattern of love given by God, Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality: Rom.12:13.
He also obeyed God in the ministry of praying for others including his enemies and his family (Gen.18:23-33). Even God had a testimony concerning Abraham's training of his household in righteousness (Gen. 18:19). Abraham's intercession contributed to the deliverance of Lot and his family from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham obeyed God in the ultimate test of sacrificing his son Isaac to God, though God did not allow the death of Isaac and gave a ram instead, lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me: Gen.22:12.
Abraham obeyed God in ensuring his child married an Israelite not Canaanite, Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness/ and what communion hath light with darkness? 2 Cor.6:14. Be a friend of God by continual obedience to Him and He will make you a continuity for greatness in your generation as He did with Abraham.

PRAYER/ACTION
* Lord, help me walk with You that I might be a blessing to my generation like father Abraham.
**Make a list of areas in which you will obey the Lord this year and diligently adhere to them by His grace

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Today, I rebuke any destiny blockage on my pathway, I turn road blocks to stepping stones, in the name of Jesus.

Example to Follow I

Sunday 21 August
READ: Isa.51:1-2
MORE LESSON: Gen. 12:1-10

There is a clear instruction in today's reading that calls all seekers of God to attention, Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him: Isa.51:2. Abraham is one unique man whose name is a reference point, across all religions and generations. His life before God is a pivotal story in the history of Jews and Christians. All worshippers of God are told to follow the pattern of Abraham in serving God. What was the peculiarity of father Abraham that Jehovah God could ask men of all generations to emulate him? Some people have suggested that Abraham lives on though dead because he is the father of faith, the friend of God and the centre of covenant that God instituted with both physical and spiritual Israelites. I quite agree with all these but the real reason why Abraham's life is still speaking though dead for thousands of years now is OBEDIENCE. This characteristic of Abraham is what God asks us to look on to in this great patriarch's life. Abraham had his faults as every man born of a woman has but he uniquely obeyed God.
The fifteen chapters of Genesis (11-25) are stringed with Abraham's life of obedience to God. We will trace some together so that each one of us will really be able to “look to Abraham”. He obeyed God when he was told to leave his roots and origin in his father's house to follow God (Gen.12: 1-5). He obeyed God by preferring Lot to himself though he was older and brought Lot, his nephew, out of Ur. He asked Lot to choose first and he would choose after Lot, Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves: Phil.2:3.
Abraham obeyed God in paying of tithes (Gen.14:20). No wonder he was a prosperous man, as his servant testified (Gen. 24:35). Do you want to be great? Then, follow Abraham's pattern and tithe all that God gives you as income so that you can enter into material prosperity like father Abraham.
Abraham obeyed God by believing God's promises to him even in contradicting circumstances, And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb. He staggered not at the promises of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith giving glory to God: Rom.4:19-20. Will you be considered righteous in God's sight? Then believe the promises of God no matter what you are passing through now.

PRAYER/ACTION
* I receive help from God to emulate Abraham the father of faith.
*Lord, give me strength to live a life of obedience to You.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, I dedicate my life to You, release Your grace in my life, make me a reflection of Your light to disperse darkness everywhere I go, in the name of Jesus.