The Legacy of Peace

Thursday 31 August
READ: Mk. 4:35-41 
MORE LESSON:  Num.25:12-13

Peace is not the absence of conflict or trouble, but the ability to cope with it. Therefore, one can have peace in the midst of trouble. Isa. 26:3-4, says,Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.... In other words, a believer can experience peace on a daily basis as he fellowships with God through the Word and prayer. We need peace of mind to be able to do many things in life as a disturbed man cannot achieve much, try as he may. So, peace is a great asset to a believer. And because of the importance of peace, Jesus came as the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6). This means He is the one who removes all peace disturbing factors and secures peace for those who trust in Him. Jesus came into this world bearing this name so that mankind can be free from restlessness and torment of fear. Once a man is in Christ Jesus, he begins to enjoy peace because Jesus brings peace wherever He rules. Is Jesus ruling your heart and mind? Then you have eternal peace that cannot be taken away by circumstances.

Moreover, when Jesus was going He left for us a legacy of peace,  ...my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you...: Jn. 14:27. However, Satan has stolen the peace of many believers and introduced anti-peace habits and situations into their lives without their knowledge. Murmur, complain, doubt, worry, anger, strife, e.t.c. are anti-peace; Paul calls them the middle wall of separation (Eph. 2:14). Rather than fret, hand over the control of your heart and mind to the Prince of Peace and He will bring abundant peace into your heart; life will begin to unfold as you desire.

Jesus our Lord Himself once had a restless situation around Him while on a mission. The sea suddenly became stormy! The disciples did all they could but couldn't stop the storm. Then they called on The Master who at that time was fast asleep in the boat. The same storm that was troubling the disciples was simply rocking Jesus to a sweet sleep. Rather than fret, Jesus woke up to rebuke the storm and the wind, and instantly peace returned. Thus Jesus left us with the legacy of peace; He left us with the assurance that our peace can be challenged but cannot be taken. Also, that whenever our peace is challenged we should not fret but face the storm and speak to it. The sea will surely obey the Master, if only you can speak to it rather than panic at it.

Prayer/Action
* Lord God set Your peace as guard over my heart, in Jesus' name.
* nGod keep my heart in perfect peace, not regarding the turbulent situation  around me, in Jesus’ name.
* Pray that the peace of God will reign in all circumstances that confront you in life.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
God of all goodness, thank You for the month of August and the remaining greater months ahead, in the name of Jesus.

A Word in Season

Wednesday 30 August
READ: Isa. 50:4
MORE LESSON: Prov. 15:22-23

Words are very powerful; they can make or break a man. At the point of hearing a word, a man can either be defeated or encouraged. Words are spoken to frighten an enemy at war. When David confronted Goliath, it was not first about fighting; it was about exchange of words (I Sam. 17:43-46). Spoken words can even make nations go to war; such is the power of words.

Much as words can lead to fighting and war, well spoken words can bring peace, encouragement and uplifting. When you have the tongue of the learned, you know how to speak a word to encourage the weary. In life's journey everyone is weary at one time or the other. Those that are weary need words of encouragement, and God is counting on those with the tongue of the learned to encourage the weary in order for them to come out of weariness.
Unfortunately, some people don't have what it takes to encourage people that are downcast, so they complicate the matter. That was the case with the three friends of Job in the Bible. They spoke so many words to Job, but none of them told their friend about the God who gives a song in the night (Job 35:9-10). All their words were spoken out of season. The Bible says, A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver: Prov. 25:11. You can create a wonderful world around people by speaking correctly into their lives. Instead of being critical and judgmental, it is possible to paint a beautiful picture that brings people out of trouble. As you go out today, make up your mind to be a blessing to someone by the way you speak;
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man: Col. 4:6. The Message translation says, Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out: Col. 4:6.
That says it all: as God's children our words must raise people up, strengthen and give them hope. We must not be accusers of the brethren nor help Satan in the ministry of killing and destroying. We must watch our tongue that it does not bring out both sweet and bitter water at the same time;
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Jam. 3:10-11.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God for the tongue of the learned to always be a blessing.
* I Pray that my words will be seasoned with salt and give grace to all that hear me, in Jesus’ name.
* Ask God to put the Word of life in your mouth to give life to all that hear you.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
I draw the goodness of God from this day and I shut out every hellish preparation, in the name of Jesus.

Faith and Patience

Tuesday 29 August
READ: Heb. 6:12
MORE LESSONS: Heb. 6:13-15

The dictionary defines patience as the ability to endure waiting, delay, or provocation without becoming annoyed or upset. It is the ability to persevere calmly when faced with difficulties. Patience is part of the fruit of the Spirit as listed in Gal. 5: 22. Another word used in the Scripture for patience is longsuffering; so patience means to be long spirited, that is, being able to forebear. The word also connotes the tone of being cheerful or hopeful in forbearance and endurance. Patience is endurance that is characterised by cheerfulness during the period of waiting or in the face of difficulties. Faith is the requirement accessing salvation and other things from God; so every believer has a measure of faith, at least, sufficient to get him saved.
Many believers know that with faith, we can possess what we want but their understanding of faith is incomplete. Patience is what completes faith. The proof that you believe God is that you wait for Him, ...he that believeth shall not make haste: Isa. 28:16. Nowadays, people say if it is truly faith, then it must happen right now. But the Scripture makes us to understand that, Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing: James 1:3-4. Patience is a test of faith. How long you are willing to wait shows how much you believe.
When God gives a promise and it has not materialised, the person without faith will quickly go out and explore alternatives while the man of faith will keep waiting on God because he knows that God will unfailingly come around for him.
Searching through the Scripture, you will discover that the words 'faith' and 'patience' appear together most of the time because faith without patience is incomplete. Abraham, the hero of faith, was also renowned for his patience as he waited on God for years till God fulfilled the promise made to him, And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise: Heb. 6:15. One thing proves that your faith has patience, it is praise. While you wait on God patiently, keep thanksgiving and praise to God running in your life. This will always provoke God for you and keep the devil far. Abraham did just that and it worked for him. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God: Rom. 4:20.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God to help you patiently wait on Him, in Jesus’ mighty name.
* Pray that as you patiently wait on the Lord you shall not be ashamed, in Jesus’ name.
* Pray that God will attend to all who are waiting upon Him for one thing or the other, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Today is a great day for me, I see Satan fall like lightning, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Leaders and Followers

Monday 28 August
READ: 1 Sam. 12:19-23
MORE LESSONS: Jn. 21:1-17

Beloved, the exemplary leadership skill of Samuel when the Israelites asked for a king is striking. Although God and Samuel were greatly displeased with the request of Israel for a king, Samuel the leader restrained his anger and continued to plead before God for the people. In asking for a king, the people had rejected Samuel's children (who should take over from him) because of their sinful lives, and by implication, Samuel. They said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations: 1 Sam. 8:5. Yet Samuel said, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you…: 1 Sam. 12:23. That is exemplary leadership.
When the followership misbehave or are ignorant, leadership should continue to do what Samuel did: (1) He continued to pray for them. (2) He vowed to continue to teach them the good and the right way. This takes a lot of grace and maturity but with prayers for our leaders, God will help everyone occupying any leadership position, beginning from the home to the church and the society, to follow this example. Today's leaders at all levels must learn never to give up on their followers, just like Samuel. Jesus our perfect example did the same. After all He did to build the disciples, as soon as He died, Peter led six of them back to the river side from where Jesus had taken them, thus going back to their old vomit (Jn. 21:3). But thank God for Jesus' love; as soon as He resurrected, He went to the river side to bring them back. When He found them, He still called them children, not bastards or backsliders.
As leaders, seek the lost even when they take wrong positions. Followers also should not make the work of their leaders difficult and must endeavour to understand the pressure that leaders go through.
One thing that breaks my heart each time I read the story of Samuel is his sons. Samuel's unparallel leadership quality over Israel was not reflected in his home. Even when the people told him to his face that his children were not like him, there was no report of his reaction to it.
The worst of it is that Samuel was a replacement of Elis’ sons, it was Samuel that God used to prophesy against Eli about his sons’ ungodly acts now he saw himself in the same trouble. All leaders should know that their home matters. Leadership should begin at home, even if you are not a leader today, yet you should build your children to be godly, we are leaders someday.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God to grant you the spirit for leadership, in Jesus’ mighty name.
* Pray as a leader that you will not fail in the home front, in Jesus’ mighty name.
* Ask God to help you to be a faithful follower that will make the work of your leader easy, in the mighty name of Jesus.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
The load of benefits for my day will not go to another, neither will any force be able to hijack it from me, in the name of Jesus.