In all Your Ways

STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 
A Daily Devotional by Bishop David Bakare

In all Your Ways

Friday, 23 August

 

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:6

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Proverbs 3:6-10 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. 8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. 9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

 MORE LESSON: I Corinthians 2:8-10 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

 

I am sure there are many things you are still dreaming of for the year 2024. Desires, plans, targets and resolutions are wonderful, but you need to hand them over to Jehovah God if they must succeed. The book of Proverbs counsels you to acknowledge God, not in some, but in all your ways, (Proverbs 3:6). This means to recognize that without God your plans won't work, especially if they are not in conformity with His Word and will for your life. Note that acknowledging God means the following things.

(1) Give all your plans to Him.

(2) Recognize His supremacy over all.

(3) Make sure your plans are not contrary to His Word or will.

When your proposals and ways pass these three tests in 2022, there is assurance of fulfilment; anything less is a mirage. I like you to note the phrase …all your ways.... It means that in all your plans, without exception, small or big, recognize and bring God into them. This command is with a promise …and he shall direct your paths. The secret of the success of whatever we commit to God's hand is divine direction. This is because Jehovah is the God of all knowledge; He knows where to get what and how.

He cannot miss His way, so He is able to direct even the blind on the way he doesn't know. He promises in Isaiah 42:16: And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.. Again, in Isaiah 45:3, He says: And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. Similarly, in Jeremiah 32:27, He says: Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

This year, take all things to the God of all flesh and it shall be well with you.

 

Prayer/Action

* Thank God for how far He has brought you both in Life and destiny.

* Pray for God's guidance in all you do, so that you will remain in touch with His plans.

* Ask God to reveal his plans for your life, so that you will please Him.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Ancient of days, this month, fight my battles and make a way where there is no way, in Jesus' mighty name.

 

TODAY’S FASTING FOCUS: Rivers in the desert; Isaiah 43:19

Peace through the Word

 STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 
A Daily Devotional by Bishop David Bakare

Peace through the Word

Thursday, 22 August

 

Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. Psalm 119:165

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

 MORE LESSON: 2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

 

The word of God is the power that a man needs to be an achiever in life. The text for today is an incredibly great scripture, great peace have they that love thy law and nothing shall offend them. This scripture means that for loving the Word of God, a man is signed up for perpetual peace. Everybody wants peace in his life. The rich, the poor, the young, the old, the strong and the weak want peace. As a matter of fact, peace is so important that Jesus came solely for the purpose of making peace between man and God and He brought peace to the world. Peace is very vital and desired by all. Now God is saying that by finding the Word of God, you find peace. Staying with the Word of God is subscribing for a life of uninterrupted peace, You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You: Isaiah 26:3.

Beloved, that crisis that has broken your heart and afflicted your life will give way if you can start today and develop a lifestyle that is dedicated to the Word of God. Take the Word, read it and I assure you that in reading, loving and living by what you read, you will find peace. Peace cannot be purchased in the marketplace. There is no amount of money that you have that can buy you peace. That is why there are rich men whose lives are devoid of peace. The study of a book in your shelf can impart peace into your heart and make you full of peace. You do yourself a great service when you devote yourself to reading that great Book.

Great peace have they that love thy law and nothing shall offend them: Psalm 119:165. Nothing will offend them. That means nothing can trouble a man that is filled with the Word of God. There is absolutely nothing that will prevail over a man that loves the Word of God. Nothing will afflict, disturb or subdue the man that loves the Word of God. Note that this wonderful promise is not just for the church goer or the Bible carrier. It is for the lover of the Word. When reading and living by the Word becomes your desire at all times, you will be at peace in all aspects of your life. Nothing shall offend, afflict, hurt or prevail over you. You will always be on top in life because you love the Word of God, Acquaint now thyself with him and be at peace thereby good shall come unto thee.... Job 22:21.

 

Prayer/Action

* Thank God for giving you peace through his word.

* Declare peace over that situation that have been a thing of concern to you.

* Pray for grace to be dedicated to the word of God so to enable you find peace in time and in eternity.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: My Father, by Your mercies today, take me beyond where my strength can go, in the powerful name of Jesus.

The Eternal Priest

 STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 
A Daily Devotional by Bishop David Bakare

The Eternal Priest

Wednesday, 21 August

 

The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. Psalm 110:4

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Hebrews 7:24-25 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

 

MORE LESSON: Psalm 110:3-4 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. 4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

 

The text from today, referring to Jesus, says, But this Man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them: Hebrews 7:2-25. Priests are mediators between God and men; they take requests from men to God and bring the oracles of God to men. Every religion has an established form of priesthood by which they claim that their adherents can have access to God. Even in the Old Testament, there were many priests but they were always terminated by death; they died and could not function anymore.

However, Jesus the Great High Priest, unlike all the other earthly priests, could not be stopped by death. There are several reasons why only Jesus is qualified to be the only Mediator between God and man; the first reason being that He died, rose again and is still alive up till today and is going to still remain alive forevermore; so He lives forever to mediate for those that believe in Him. He has an eternal priesthood – no other priest qualifies on this count. Also, Jesus is sinless and doesn't have to offer sacrifices for His own sins before He atones for the sins of the people. No other priest also qualifies on this count - every other priest was born in sin.

This explains why Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me: John 14:6. Jesus is the only way to God: He is the only One qualified to mediate between God and man. He is the eternal priest who lives forever to intercede, forgive and save to the utmost those that believe in Him. I don't know who you have chosen as the priest over your life. You might even be living without any priestly coverage over you, but you surely need an advocate and mediator with the Father because, whether you like it or not, you have an accuser. Satan is the accuser that accuses you day and night. With Jesus, however, you are safe because He neutralises the ministry of the accuser by defending your case before the Lord.

You need Jesus, the eternal Priest, He who sits at the right hand of the Father to defend you and make sure you get safely to your eternal home. To accept Jesus as your priest; come to Him, confess your need of Him and receive Him as the Priest over your life and your position with God the Father is secure.

 

Prayer/Action

* Thank God for Jesus who is our Eternal Priest.

* Thank God for the death and resurrection of our dear Lord who is alive forevermore.

* Thank Jesus for interceding to the Father on your behave.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: By the anointing of the Holy Ghost, I command every Jordan separating me from my Canaan to dry up now, in the powerful name of Jesus.

Mind your Success

STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 
A Daily Devotional by Bishop David Bakare

Mind your Success

Tuesday, 20 August

 

And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved. Psalm 30:6

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Psalm 30:6-12 And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.

 7 LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.  8 I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication.  9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?  10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.  11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;  12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

 

MORE LESSON: 1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

 

The time for success is a very crucial time for a man to be careful. Anyone can be humble and seek God when he is in need. It is the time when things work fine that you need to be cautious so that you will not slip away from God. When a church has few people and growth is needed, a lot of fasting and prayer goes on; the congregation seeks God, 'Oh Lord enlarge our coast, multiply us, increase us, bring more workers, bring more pastors, the devil must be silenced etc.'' Then multiplication comes and you begin to have first, second and third services with overflows. The time when the congregation gets enlarged is the time to be careful. You can buy musical instruments without fasting; you can build structures just by announcing and asking people to put money together. This is the time you must watch your message and ensure you are still holding unto the principles and truths that God delivered to you. Increase in church means greater number of good and bad people. As more people come in, the devil also sends in fornicators, Jezebels, and moneybags who want to determine what you preach to them because they can pay for everything in church. At such times, you need grace to be careful and not let pride, men and the flesh lead you astray and destroy the foundation that you have laboured to build over years.

This is the same with a business man who fasted and prayed seeking for God's help and asking God to send increase, destiny helpers, favour, and to lock the devil up.

There is no problem with increase; you can be ambitious, hardworking and ask God for prosperity. But when the money reaches your hand, the god of this world tells you that making more money is more important than serving God or fellowshipping with Him. The time of success is the time to watch and pray more. Maybe you were always in church and belonged to several units when you were seeking for a life partner, now that you are married, you need to watch and pray lest you slip away from seeking God.

The psalmist, who sought God passionately, got to a place of success where he said to himself; and in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved: Psalm 30:6. Then trouble struck, but for God's mercy that located him and caused the mourning that he landed in to be turned to joy again and make his glory to sing one more time. Do not get to a point where, because God has blessed you, you say to yourself, 'No shaking anymore, we have arrived’, Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall: 1 Cor 10:12.

 

Prayer/Action

* Pray for the capacity that you will serve God when things are good and tough.

* Thank God for all that you have been going through.

* Pray against every success that will want to take the place of God in your life.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: This day, I break every jail, known and unknown to me, that has been speaking restrictions to my destiny, in the powerful name of Jesus.