God of Preparation I

Friday 21 July
READ: Psa. 23: 5
MORE LESSON: Matt. 25: 1 – 12

Preparation is everything. A prepared man cannot be easily defeated. When a student that is prepared walks into an examination hall, you can see confidence ooze from him. Also, an unprepared student is not difficult to identify; you can see him physically fidgeting, panicking and looking around. If you don't want to see shame in life, you must learn to prepare. Preparation makes for orderliness and beauty. When good preparation is made, you see everything well set in its place and beautiful in its season. Preparation is the reason we spend time to dress up: we prepare to look good when we go out. Some people spend time to prepare to look good for the day but do not spend time to prepare for destiny.
I have noticed that a lot of believers don't prepare. They don't prepare for the Lord's coming; they don't prepare for examination; they don't prepare for marriage; they don't prepare for their financial future. They always want to cover everything with spiritual gymnastics. Note a man who was not saving and investing money but wasting all his resources on unnecessary things. When economic challenges and needs pile up, he starts fasting and praying. He could have avoided trouble by good preparation. Similarly, a student who didn't read and attend lectures, may wait to bring his pen to be anointed when it is exam time. No matter how anointed a pen is, if the head of the student is not anointed or is empty, there is nothing for that pen to write.
In the parable of the ten virgins, what actually differentiated the wise from the foolish was simply preparation. The five wise virgins were prepared but the five foolish virgins were unprepared (Matt. 25: 1 – 12). Eventually the five foolish virgins were trying to use prayer and emotion to do what they should have used adequate preparation to do. It is only when you prepare that you will not see shame.
Even God prepares. The Bible says about God that, Thou preparest a table before me...: Psa. 23:5. This shows that God prepares ahead of needs; God never allows Himself to be caught unprepared. Before an incident occurs, He prepares. In 1 Kings 17: 3 - 4, during the time of famine, God said to Elijah, I have prepared the brook Cherith and I have prepared ravens to bring food to you. When the brook was about to dry, God prepared a widow in Zarephath to feed Elijah. (1 Kings 17: 7 – 9). God prepared the earth and all the food that man would need before He created man. Our God is a God of preparation, and as His children, we must also learn to prepare for things ahead of time.

Prayer/Action
* Lord, prepare me as a vessel for Your glory, in Jesus’ name.
* Ask for the presence of the Lord in all that you prepare to do even today.
* Pray that you will not miss out of God's preparation for your life.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Today I receive new ideas, grace, and renewal of strength to advance in destiny from glory to glory, in the name of Jesus.

The Glory for the Story

Thursday 20 July
READ: Psa. 3:1-4
MORE LESSON: Judg. 11:1-5, 12:7

Every man has a story. Some people’s stories have broken and shattered their lives while others’ stories have drawn them closer to God who is able to change a man's story into glory. When God wants to end the mysteries of a man, He gives him glory, which is much more than the story of pain, sorrow, failure, and troubles he has gone through in life. The psalmist had a story to tell; those that troubled and rose against him increased. Because of the stories around his life many told to him he could not find help even in God. No matter the troubles you have gone through in life, be sure that the glory that shall follow is greater than the story; For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory: 2 Cor. 4:17.
Stories of different people’s lives range from those of difficulties and challenges faced in life; challenges associated with different stages of life, the good and the bad times. This makes some to believe that life has not been fair to them. The experience you may be going through could be the process that you need to get into your glory. Let not the present process or the path of life distract you from the glorious destiny ahead. The Bible records concerning Jesus Christ that for the glory that was set before Him, He endured the cross despising the shame and is now sitting down at the right hand of the throne of God.
To journey from story into the glory God has ordained for you, you must do the following things.
1. Have the picture of the glory you desire. Many times we lose sight of the glory ahead of the story at hand (Heb. 12:2).
2. Ask the Lord to end the negative story with His glory. There is always a role which God plays in every story that will end up in glory (Psa. 42:8).
3. Change the script of the story by your confession and words of prophecy upon your life. No matter what the enemy desires, it will not end as the enemy has planned. Speak a positive ending to your story. Rehearse the day of your testimony and prophesy the counsel of God for your life (Est. 9:1, 22).
4. Hope in the Lord; Why are you cast down, oh my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise him: Psa. 42:5.
From our text, the psalmist had a testimony of God becoming a shield for him, his glory and the lifter of his head. In the name of Jesus, your story will end in glory.

Prayer/Action
* Declare that your story will not end as the enemy desires, in Jesus' name.
* Ask God to change the story of sickness, pain, failure, and endless waiting to a glorious testimony, victory, great beauty and triumph, in Jesus' name.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
I command the love of God for my life to swallow up every force of hatred and bad luck over my destiny, in Jesus' name.

Waiters don't Waste

Wednesday 19 July
READ: Psa. 123:1-4
MORE LESSON: Psa. 27:13-14

In this generation, people are always in a hurry to do one thing or the other. Unfortunately, many have missed their blessings because of hasty decisions. Solomon, the wise king of Israel, counselled against haste in acquiring property, An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed: Prov. 20:21. In life, one is bound to be a waiter at one time or the other for marriage partner, children, healing, promotion, admission etc. It has never been easy to wait. It takes patience, assurance, hope, expectation and at times, lots of sacrifice. All waiters must have the attitude of a servant to his master.
David gave us the secret, Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us: Psa. 123:2. A servant that cannot wait on his master cannot be relevant in the household of his master. To remain relevant in God's household you must cultivate the habit of waiting on the Lord in prayer, fasting, praise, worship and thanksgiving. True waiters that don't compromise in the waiting time are always rewarded. The psalmist testifies to this, They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed: Psa. 34:5. Waiting attracts divine attention, The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry: Psa. 34:15.
God has never denied waiters of their righteous desires. Are you a waiter? Don't give up, don't despair. Waiters will not be put to shame and they don't waste. God is not unaware of your state and He does not rejoice in your pain, therefore wait. If there are things you need to do while you wait, keep doing them, don't slack, your day is already here. In Matt. 7:11, Jesus talked about the God that answers prayer, If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? I have always wished nobody waits endlessly for anything around, how much more the good and great God we serve!
Wait on God, He is too good to forget you.

Prayer/Action
* Ask the Lord to hear the petition of every waiter today, in Jesus' mighty name.
* Ask the Lord to give a new song to waiters today, in the mighty name of Jesus.
* Declare your faith in God to grant you all your heart desires, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Double jeopardy shall be the portion of anyone that works against God's counsel for my destiny beginning from today, in the mighty name of Jesus.

A Pillar to Lean on

Tuesday 18 July
READ: Judg. 16:25-30
MORE LESSON: Psa. 46:1-11

Nothing can be more devastating on the battle field than being disarmed by your enemy. Because the strength of a warrior is in his weapons, thus the seizure of one's weapons ordinarily signifies the end of the captive. This scenario is far more tragic when a child of God faces a situation of spiritual disarmament by the enemy. Before the birth of Samson, God set him aside for an assignment, …he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines: Judg. 13:5. He started well but because of his relationship with Delilah, he later fell into the hands of the Philistines. The dreaded Samson became a theatre piece brought out of prison to entertain his enemies.
May we never degenerate to this level. Thank God Samson realised what to do. He told the lad that held him, …Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them: Judg. 16:26. What pillars do you lean on in your trying times? The pillars of encouragement that can lead you back to reconcile with God, where you ask for the renewal of your strength dictates how far you can go in your relationship with God. Leaning on the pillars for support, Samson cried unto the God of Israel, …remember me…: v.28. May God remember you when you call on Him in your days of trouble. He cried, …and strengthen me…. May the Lord strengthen you when you are weak. And he concluded, …I pray thee, only this once.... The God of compassion answered and Samson pulled down the building and killed more enemies that day than in the twenty years that he judged Israel.
Who are the philistines that plucked out your eyes of righteousness and commitment? Ask God for more than one more time to regain your strength. He will answer you. Even when all seems lost like Samson, find the pillar of prayer, fasting, service, faith, God's Word and the Holy Ghost to lean on. Have faith in God, He will answer yet.

Prayer/Action
* Destroy the forces that reduce a man, in the mighty name of Jesus.
* Pray that your enemy will not see your end, in the name of Jesus.
* Ask God to restore strength to every location of weakness in your life, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
On the authority in the name of Jesus, I decree that my sun shall not go down, neither shall my moon withdraw itself, in the name of Jesus.