A New Name

Friday 2 September
READ: Isa. 62: 1-4
MORE LESSON: Gen. 32: 9-13

There are three ways by which people bare names; parents give names to children when they are born, situations and circumstances put names on people even though the names may not be what those people love to bear, and also, God bestows names on people. A woman once gave birth to a child and gave him one of the worst names in contemporary and ancient times in 1 Chron. 4: 9, . . . his mother called his name Jabez, saying, because I bare him with sorrow. The meaning of Jabez is sorrow; the mother named this boy 'sorrow' because of the experience she had when the baby was born.
The three Patriarchs of Israel, each had a different way by which they got their names. Abraham was initially given the name 'Abram' by his parents. 'Abram' meant 'the exalted father'. Isaac was given his name by God, the meaning of the name is laughter. The Lord Himself told Abraham to call his son 'Isaac' (Gen 17: 19). Jacob was given his name by his circumstance, he was born holding his brother's heels and so he was named Jacob, meaning 'supplanter'; it is not a good name, it is like being called a parasite or a cheat. However, when we look at the lives of these Patriarchs, the Lord changed the names except the one He gave by Himself. He changed Abram's name to 'Abraham'; the father of many nations' (Gen 17: 5). He changed Jacob's name to 'Israel'; 'a prince with God' (Gen 32: 28). God allowed Isaac's name because He was the one who gave it. It is time for every name that God has not given you to be changed.
Jabez, like Jacob also had a circumstantial name. While some circumstantial names are good, others are bad. Jabez was called sorrow because of his circumstances. The good news is that God visited all these men and changed their names. God removed sorrow from Jabez's destiny and made him more honourable than his brethren. His identity changed from sorrow to honour. The Lord will give you a new name today. Everywhere you have been called a name of reproach, the Lord will visit your circumstance and the same people will sing a new song about you. Your new name will tell of permanent greatness, glory, fruitfulness and splendor, in Jesus’ name, Never again will you be called "The Forsaken City" or "The Desolate Land." Your new name will be "The City of God's Delight" and "The Bride of God," for the LORD delights in you and will claim you as his bride: Isa. 62:4 (NLT).

PRAYER/ACTION
* Ask God for His grace to give you a new name today, in Jesus’ name.
* Decree that every evil name that connotes misfortune and pain in your life be abolished today, in Jesus’ name.
* Tell the Lord that from today your name shall denote glory, favour and greatness, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
In this ninth month, I shall rule my world and shall not be a slave of destiny, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Forward Ever

Thursday 1 September
READ: Exo.14:5-18
MORE LESSON: Lk.18:1-8

And the LORD said unto Moses, wherefore criest thou unto me? Speak to the children of Israel that they go forward: Exo.14:15. This verse is God's message to all His people at these times, “Go forward”. The background story clearly shows that there were contrary situations around the Israelites that contradict forward movement but the Lord still says to move forward. Fainting situations will arise that discourage and tend to slow you down but the Lord Jehovah says to you this morning refuse to give up and cease forward movement. You have to press forward even in the face of challenges because this is God's will for you. The Israelites were faced with the Red Sea in front and the Egyptians pursuing strongly behind them but the Lord still told them to cease crying in despair and hopelessness, rather they should move forward.
I say to you today, “Arise from that crying, despairing and mourning situation and move forward.” When you obey God and move forward in the face of challenges, then you see great manifestations of God's power as the Israelites did. The Red Sea parted for them to pass and it became a burial ground for their enemies. May you also have such a resounding testimony; you must make up your mind not to faint but to move forward, For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again and the tender branch thereof will not cease, though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground: yet through the scent of water, it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant: Job 14:7-9. Though that business was totally ruined by that fire incident, there is hope my brother; rise up and go forward. Though the doctor's report is all negative and discouraging, believe God and rise from that bed of affliction to go forward because that is what the Lord says to do.
You must know and act on the following to go forward:
1. Know that that delay is for a while. It is not a “NO”. God has good intentions for you and He is working out a greater plan for your life.
2. Your hand must stay on the plow; do not give up. Pray about what is going on in your life and then move forward. Take steps that the Holy Spirit ministers to your heart in the place of prayer.
3. Go for counseling and prayers before men of God who God has placed in your life and fortify to move forward.
Press forward by choosing to stand while others are sitting all around you. Fulfil Isa.40:31.

PRAYER/ACTION
* I renounce every fainting spirit and I receive fresh grace to move forward.
*I rebuke every Red Sea in my life and I declare also that every Egyptian of life and destiny be buried in the Red Sea.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, I thank You in advance for the remarkable progress and blessings that I will have this month, in the name of Jesus.

Prepared Goodness

Wednesday 31 August
READ: I Cor.2:6-13
MORE LESSON: Matt.25:34

Today's Scripture reading is good news for all who read it. In a world where good news is becoming scarce day by day, I have good news for you: “God has prepared goodness laid up for His own”, But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things God hath prepared for them that love Him: I Cor.2:9. In this same nation and generation, God has divine preparations for you. These include:
1. Overflowing blessings-thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies, thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over: Psa.23:5. In the presence of those who want to see you beg and cry, God has prepared a table of abundance for you. Everyone around you may be confessing lack and hunger, but I tell you today that you have a prepared table of fat things in abundance.
2. Treasure of goodness-Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men: Psa. 31:19. Believe God this morning; He has laid up goodness for you if you indeed trust in Him. Do you? Have you not shifted that trust to other things or men? Are you still trusting God to help you in times as these? If you trust God then you have access to the treasure of God's goodness.
3. A spiritual feast- Again he sent forth other servants saying, tell them which are bidden, behold I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage: Matt.22:4. God calls you to a prepared feast of great grace and abundant experiences in the Holy Ghost, so come and dine!
4. A heavenly home- In my father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you: Jn.14:2. God is the only Father that prepares for His children both in Heaven and earth. He prepares for His own not just here on earth but eternally. I urge you today to step into God's divine preparations for you. How? By revelation given by the Spirit of God. Take time to pray about your life before Him, commit your ways to His guidance and leadership and you will enjoy all that your loving Father has prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

PRAYER/ACTION
* Lord, I believe Your Word and I step into the reality of divine provisions today.
* Holy Spirit, as I step out today, lead me into all that my Father has prepared for me in opportunities, increase and all fruitfulness.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Jesus thank You, because of You I didn't lose August and I shall not lose September, in the mighty name of Jesus.

A Good Time to Praise

Tuesday 30 August
READ: Acts 16:22-28
MORE LESSON: Eph. 1:3-4

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praise unto God: and the prisoners heard them: Act. 16:25. Is this how we react to hardship? Most of the time when trouble overwhelm us, we only plead with God for deliverance from the suffering, for healing of disease, for provision, for success and for God's quick intervention. We don't always remember to do as Paul and Silas did from the depths of jail cell, to offer thanks for God's loving-kindness, neither do we offer praise to God for giving us life and the blessed promise of eternal life.
There is this story of a man called Terry Waite, a courageous British negotiator during an international hostage crisis who went to Lebanon to arrange the release of prisoners. But he was also arrested and detained in solitary confinement. And through his long, lonely days and nights, not sure whether his life would be spared or not, he offered a prayer written in 1596 by Queen Elizabeth I. He expressed most humble and hearty thanks for manifold mercies so abundantly bestowed upon him as well as for God's preservation, regeneration, peace, gifts of seasons and times and great mercies exhibited by God in Jesus Christ.
When we do as Paul, Silas and Terry Waite did, we will surely get the result they got. It is sure that there are situations of life for which we find it difficult to thank God. But at that time, the best thing to do is to remember God's mercies of the past, give Him thanks for them and leave the present situation for God to handle as He did before.
Through the account of Paul and Silas, it is sure that one thing that makes God respond to men's situation quickly is praise and worship. Note that the Bible says, And suddenly... You need God's quick intervention: you need to do the unusual like them. You need to quit crying, murmuring or looking for men's connection to overcome the problem and worship like these apostles did. If you do it with the whole of your heart, you can be sure, the angel of the Lord will open the prison door and bring you out immediately (Acts 5:19). When we acknowledge God's great mercies, we are able to offer Him praise, even in pain and difficulty because praise comes naturally when we count our blessings.

PRAYER/ACTION
* Father God, there is no situation of life that You cannot handle, therefore I praise You.
* Thank You Father for Your unlimited mercies over my life.
* Oh Lord, I judge You able even in my present situation.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
I am moving forward, I will not retreat, I will not go backward, I will gain speed more and more, in the name of Jesus.