The Privilege of Well-Being

 STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 

A Daily Devotional by Bishop David Bakare

The Privilege of Well-Being

Saturday, 17 August

 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. Psalm 3:5

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Lamentations 3:21-26 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.  22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.  24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.  25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

 

MORE LESSON: Psalm 3:5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.

 

There are acts of benevolence of God that men receive and take for granted. For example, sleeping and waking up every day is by God's mercy but people take it for granted (Psalm 3: 5). So men sleep, wake up and jump to start another day without even acknowledging what they have received from God. Having food and being able to eat, having water and being able to drink, and breathing air freely are gifts and privileges that we receive from God. The fact that everything is alright with a man is not a right but a gift of privilege from God. A man's approach to life generally takes a new perspective when he realises that everything good about his life is not a right but a privilege and gift from God. It is only when things go wrong that most people complain. When things are alright, they take it for granted. As a wise child of God, you must learn to see everything you have as a gift and privilege from God and live in gratitude.

Well-being is not a right, it is a gift. Being at ease in life is not a right, it is a privilege. This is the reason you should learn to reciprocate the kind gestures of God on a daily basis. The first way to reciprocate is to thank Him for everything in life. As you praise Him for the kindness you have received, there is an increase of privileges He gives to you. According to His Word, Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us: Psalm 67:5-6.

You should also reciprocate God's privileges by living in righteousness and the fear of the Lord. Recognising that your life is a gift from God, you should live with a consciousness of Him. As you live in the fear of the Lord, He multiplies His gifts in your life. Psalm. 25: 12 – 13 says, What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.

You should also reciprocate by extending God's goodness to others. As you become aware that all you are and have are not earned rights but privileges of grace, you should extend the same grace to others by seeing to their well-being not because they deserve it but because you are being gracious to them. Remember, . . . freely ye have received, freely give: Matthew 10:8.

God is committed to your well-being as an act of privilege to you. He has determined that your good is His priority. Learn to embrace His blessings with a consciousness that they are privileges and also extend privileges to others.

 

Prayer/Action

* Thank God for sustaining you every time you sleep and wakeup.

* Pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to help you to walk in righteousness everyday of your life.

* Appreciate God for the gift of life and well-being.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Father, I renounce and rebuke every work of darkness in every area of my life today, in the powerful name of Jesus.

The Outstanding Life

 STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 
A Daily Devotional by Bishop David Bakare

The Outstanding Life

Friday, 16 August

 

There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. 1Corinthians 15:41

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: 1 Corinthians 15:40-41 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.  41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

 

MORE LESSON: Matthew 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 

Did you know that the stars there in the sky in the day time, but you cannot see them? The reason is that the sun shines so brightly that it makes everything else in the sky but itself to be unseen in the day time. The sun rules outstandingly in the day, so the glory of the other heavenly bodies are hidden during the daytime. The glory of the moon is not seen during the day because the sun is more outstanding. This fact is portrayed in the Scripture which says, There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory: 1 Corinthians 15: 40-4.

When you are not outstanding, whatever you do or know is not regarded no matter how much effort you put into it. It is only an outstanding man that has a voice. No matter how hard a man works, until he hits the outstanding mark, it just looks as if he is not doing well enough. Sometimes it is not as if a man is not good enough or even doing it right, it is just that his results are covered and not getting the right expression. A man may be doing all right and making efforts but as long as the outstanding result has not manifested, it will look as if he doesn't know how to do it. This is the reason the issue of getting outstanding results and living an outstanding life must not be taken for granted, as Christ advised, ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house: Matthew 5:14-15.

I believe that God's children should be outstanding wherever they are found. An outstanding man is the man who is able to stand out in everything he does. You cannot be doing what everyone else is doing and achieving the level of results they are getting and expect to be outstanding. There is the outstanding Spirit and mindset that you need to contact today and I pray that you will contact it. It is the outstanding man that is conspicuous. He is celebrated and regarded as superior. Today, I want to create a desire in your heart to become outstanding. My prayer is that the Lord will make you outstanding in every area of life this new year.

 

Prayer/Action

* Ask the Holy Spirit to place the mark of distinguish power for an outstanding Life.

* Pray against every form of small in your life and destiny.

* Pray that your efforts will not become frustrating to you.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: I declare today that there shall be no more roadblock in my destiny, in the mighty name of Jesus.

 

TODAY’S FASTING FOCUS: Unstoppable advancement; Joshua 1:1-5; Psalm 89:3-4, 22-24

The Greater Life

 STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 
A Daily Devotional by Bishop David Bakare

The Greater Life

Thursday, 15 August

 

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; Mark 16:17

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

 

MORE LESSON: Mark 16:15-20 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

 

Today, I want you to know that God is not glorified in your living a mundane life. God is not happy about your poverty, debt, sickness and failures. God is not proud of the fact that life is difficult for you. Any one that portrays Christianity as a life of struggles and hardships is not correct. A victorious destiny is God's design for you.

Did you know that God doesn't want you to have less than what Jesus had while He walked on the earth? He doesn't want you to be less than Jesus was; that is why Jesus said, he that believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do because I go to My Father. John 14: 12 (NKJV). What excites God in Heaven is when He sees His children living the greater life.

Smith Wiggles-Worth the great preacher went to preach somewhere and when he finished, he retired to the room where he was to sleep. In the night, he was woken by noise in the room; so he opened his eyes and rolled away the blanket to see what was responsible for the disturbance in the room, he saw a demon bouncing up and down in the room, he hissed and said, 'I didn't know it is you', pulled the blanket back to cover himself and continued to enjoy his sleep. Without a prayer or a command, the devil left, angry. That is the greater life! it is not when you dream that a goat is pursuing you and you start running to see all the prophets in the country.

There is a greater life in every area of your life. You can be greater in your spiritual life, finance, in success and impact, and in your ministry. That is God's will for you. Jesus is our perfect example; He lived on top of every situation when He was here in the flesh. He faced hard times and challenges and He overcame them; that is the greater life.

The greater life is not a life void of challenges; it is the life that prevails. Paul the apostle was in a shipwreck and everybody was devasted and unable to eat but he stood up and started encouraging everyone else; including his captors (Acts 27:22–27). He assured them that he had spoken to God and had secured all their lives with God and none of them would die. The greater life is victorious in tribulation and cannot be quenched by trials of life. Today, go for the greater life in every area of your endeavour; that is your inheritance in Christ Jesus. You were born to be great, don't do anything less; go for the greater life in Christ Jesus. You will do greater works as He has said, in Jesus’ name.

 

Prayer/Action

* Pray against every form of hardship in your life.

* Pray for the grace to do exploit for God here on earth.

* Pray for deeper knowledge and intimacy with God.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: As the LORD lives, my progress this new month shall be more and more until the perfect day, in the unfailing name of Jesus.

Life and Health

 STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 
A Daily Devotional by Bishop David Bakare

Life and Health

Wednesday, 14 August

 

For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Proverbs. 4:22

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Proverbs 4:20-27 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. 25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

 

MORE LESSON: John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

 

All around us is clear evidence of search for renewal and improvement of men's health. Millions of financial resources are spent daily to help men live better, longer and fuller. Varieties of foods are being recommended and prepared continually, with different essential nutrients and ingredients to help reduce mortality and increase vitality for better quality of life. All these are good but today's Bible reading reveals a divine provision for healthy living and fulfilled life.

Proverbs.4:22 says: For they are life to those who find them and health to all their flesh. What is this divine health renew formula? It is the Word of God. This verse of the Bible says that as many as take their time to read, meditate, ponder on and study the Word of God will find life and health. What is the nature of God's word that makes it so necessary for life and health?

Hebrews 4:12 says: For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. The word of God is active, operative, energizing, and effective as expressed in the same verse of the Amplified Bible version. “Operative” implies that the word can perform operations that men cannot perform, even to within the bone marrow.

Has that issue of your health been written off? Come to the place of the true and active word of God and there will be a divine operation for you. Also, the word “energise” implies that the word of God will give you energy. What is it that has drained you and left you weak and dry? Get to the place of the Word and your energy will be renewed.

Conscientiously take the tablets of the word of God daily. Then you will experience a life full of vitality and sound health all your days and fulfill your destiny. Happy Word-filled day!

 

Prayer/Action

* Thank God for giving you life and good health.

* Declare that divine health and good life is your portion.

* Pray for the grace to believe in God's covenant for life.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Rivers of my destiny, overflow your limits today, in the matchless name of Jesus.