Tag: devotional

Read: GALATIANS 4:1-7 

Meditation verse: 

“Therefore, you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Galatians 4:7).

The earth is the Lord’s and all its fullness.” (Isaiah 50:12). As an heir of the One who owns and controls all things, you are entitled to certain privileges.

You are entitled to divine provision. “The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want”. (Psalm 23:1). You are entitled to divine promotion. “And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them” (Deuteronomy 28:13).

You are guaranteed of divine protection. “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall, I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1).

You are assured of continuous help from God. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

God’s presence will be with you wherever you go. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you” (Isaiah 43:2).

You will receive divine guidance. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye” (Psalm 32:8).

You are entitled to divine health. “So, you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take away sickness from among you” (Exodus 23:25).

However, with privileges, come responsibilities. A son honors the father. God’s expectation of you is that “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Mathew 22:37). This is the first and greatest commandment.

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

Read: Hebrews 4:14-16 

Meditation verse: 

“Where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:20). 

The covenant relationship we entered, when you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour delivers several benefits and privileges to us. Jesus Christ is the High Priest of this new covenant. As a High Priest, He stands between God and us. Hebrews 4:14-16 says, “seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need”.

Jesus Christ is also our advocate. An advocate speaks in favour of, supports, defends, and pleads on behalf of another. We need not live in guilt or self condemnation. 1 John 2:1-2 says, “my little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world”.

He is our Shepherd. We need not wander through life aimlessly. He will lead us (Psalm 23:2). He will guide us to do His will. Hebrews 13:20-21 says “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen”.

He is our intercessor, interceding on our behalf. Hebrews 7:25 says “therefore, He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them”. He is our mediator, surety and guarantor, guaranteeing that this covenant will never fail.

However, this covenant will only be activated in your life if Jesus Christ is the Lord over your life. John 1:12 says, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.  Have you received Him as Lord and Saviour?

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

Read: Luke 15:11-31

Meditation verse:

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your  soul prospers” (3 John 2).

God’s plan for you is that you prosper in every area of your life. He wants you to  be in close relationship with Him. He desires that you live in good health,  experience flourishing relationships with others, thrive financially, have a sound  mind that is devoid of fear and accomplish your purpose on earth. His plans for  your life are plans of good and not of evil. 

Today’s reading which highlights the story of the prodigal son portrays the heart  of God, our heavenly Father. The heart of our Father is full of love, compassion,  mercy, forgiveness, and grace. Psalm 103:11-14 says “For as the heavens are  high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as  the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As  a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows  our frame; He remembers that we are dust”.  

You are loved, forgiven, pardoned, helped, strengthened, and graced by your  heavenly Father to live an abundant and fruitful life. Jesus said, “I have come  that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John  10:10). In Mathew 7:11, He says “If you then, being evil, know how to give good  gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give  good things to those who ask Him!”. Isaiah 41:10 says “Fear not, for I am with  you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help  you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand”. This is the heart of our  Father. 

Choose to focus on the heart of your heavenly Father which is set to do you good  always. The song writer says, “I have a Father who will never ever fail me, I have  a Father who will never ever fail me, Jesus is my Father, He will never ever fail  me, King of glory, never ever fail me”. What a blessed assurance. Make this your  declaration daily.

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

Read: Deuteronomy 1:6-8 

Meditation verse:

“When we were at Mount Sinai, the Lord our God said to us, ‘you have stayed  at this mountain long enough. It is time to break camp and move on (Duet 1:7,  NLT). 

A camp is a temporary structure typically used by soldiers, refugees or travelling  people. It is meant for a specific purpose and for a period. As the children of  Israel wandered through the wilderness on their way to the promised land, they  lingered on Mount Horeb, and God had to urge them on. 

As you journey through life, you may find yourself in certain situations that  require you to accept conditions of living that you ordinarily should not. That is  your camp; it may be a place, situation, a position, or a job. It is only intended as  a temporary abode. The problem is that you become so comfortable and remain  in a place that was intended for a specific purpose and period.  

You know there is something bigger and better ahead, but you allow fear, self doubt, counsel from men or the unwillingness to step out of your comfort zone  to keep you from God’s best. You allow your distractions instead of your faith to  define your journey. Sometimes, your ‘promised land’ may not be a clearly  defined path, but you need to trust God’s leading when He says to you ‘it is time  to move forward’. 

God is saying to you today, that you have stayed in that place long enough, you need to break camp and move forward. To advance and take giant strides, which  camp do you urgently need to break from?

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

Read: Zechariah 4:1-14

Meditation verse:

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work  begin, to see the plumbline in Zerubbabel’s hand” (Zechariah 4:10 NLT).

No matter how easy or difficult a task is, it will never be done until the first step  towards accomplishing it is taken. Every magnificent building was erected by  laying the first block. Every great task begins with a singular activity. Every  journey in life begins with a step. That first step is always the critical one. Until  it is taken, nothing happens.  

The first step may be as simple as making a phone call, sending an email, writing  down a plan or it may be as significant as travelling to a different location or  making a purchase. God is always delighted when you take that vital first step  towards whatever He has stirred your heart to do. It is an indication of your  obedience and trust in Him.  

Zerubbabel had the task of rebuilding the temple and God said to him “Do not  despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see  the plumbline in Zerubbabel’s hand” (Zechariah 4:10 NLT). A plumbline is a  weight suspended from a string used as a vertical reference line to ensure a  structure is centred. It’s an indication that construction is ongoing. 

What goals have you set for yourself? What are your plans for the month?  What assignment or task has been committed into your hands? Is the plumbline  in your hands already or are you still evaluating and analysing? Do not get caught  up with the bug of ‘the paralysis of analysis’ Take hold of the plumbline  immediately. “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen  those whose hearts are fully committed to Him” (2 Chronicles 16:9 NLT). As God’s  eyes scan the earth, will He see you holding the plumbline in the place of your  assignment?

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

Read: Psalm 119:89-106

Meditation verse:

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).

When God gives you a word of promise, He expects you to do something with  it. He gave it to you as a guide so that you do not grope or stumble in darkness.  The bible states that God’s word is a lamp to our feet. Your feet are for going  forth. When you take hold of a lamp in a dark room, you do not just stand still.  You put the light in front of you and move forward. That way, you do not grope  in the dark, stumble, fall or end up in a wrong place. Similarly, with God’s word,  you will not stumble through life or miss your way entirely. But you must run  with the word, for it to light up your path.  

It took several years before I understood this principle. Towards the end of each  year, I would take out time to wait on God in fasting and prayers. I would ask  Him for a theme based on a scripture to guide me in the coming year and He  was always faithful. One evening, I sat at my desk looking at all the themes that  God had given me in the past years and wondering why they had not yielded the  results I expected. It suddenly dawned on me that God had expected me to order  my plans and activities for each year based on the word He had given me. I had  however sat still, expecting a magic wand to make things happen.  

For instance, the year He gave me “purposeful advancement towards a life of  significance”, did I in the cause of the year, come up with a plan on how I would  advance into significance in key areas of my life? Did I seek out enough  opportunities to show case my gifts and talents? Purposeful means intentional,  planned or thought off and to be significant, you must show up. When He said,  “grow unto perfection”, did I increase the time I spent studying His word? Did I  ponder on what immature things I needed to do away with to become mature?  

When God gives you a specific word, it is because He wants to accomplish  something specific in that area of your life, but unless you act based on the word,  nothing happens. Be diligent to run with every word that God speaks to you this month. If His mouth has spoken, then His zeal has already perfected.

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

Read: Exodus 4: 1-17 

Meditation verse: 

“Then the Lord asked him ‘what is that in your hand? A shepherd’s staff, Moses  replied (Ex 4:2).

God will often use what you already have in your hands to provide what you  need, especially in the purpose He has called you to accomplish. The bible is  replete with such instances. When God wanted Moses to go and lead the  children of Israel out of Egypt, He told Moses to use what he already had in his  hands: the shepherd’s staff. David used what he already had in his hands to  defeat goliath. When a certain widow cried out to Elisha for help, after her  creditors threatened to take her two sons as slaves, Elisha used what she already  had; ‘a flask of olive oil’, to make provision for her (2 Kings 4:2). 

However, we often despise what we have in our hands. We believe it is  inadequate or insignificant. To Moses, the staff was ‘just a stick’, but to God, it  was the instrument for performing the miracles needed to convince the hard hearted Pharoah to let the people go. To the widow, her flask of olive oil was  “nothing at all, but to Elisha it was enough to fill all the jars she could lay her  hands on (2 Kings 4: 1-7). To Jesus’ disciples, what they had to feed the multitude  was “only five loaves of bread and two fishes”, but to Jesus, it was all that was  needed to feed five thousand (Luke 9:12-17). In each case, they did not think  much of what they had. 

Similarly, you may feel inadequate or insignificant. You may feel you have  nothing much to offer to the world. But what you have in your hand is always  enough for God to use. He can work with whatever you have, no matter how  small. He can take that little qualification, skill, talent, or ability and make  something great out of it, if only you will surrender it to Him. Quit feeling  intimidated. Ask God to open your eyes to see what you have, then step out in  faith this year and put what God has put in your hands to good use. And when  you look back, you would be amazed by what you have accomplished.

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

Read: 2 TIMOTHY 4:6-8

Meditation verse:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2  Timothy 4:7).

Not everyone who begins a race gets to the finished line. Some runners lose  their balance and fall by the way, some get distracted, others become too weary  to continue. Those who finish strong are the ones who never take their gaze off  the finish line. Similarly in the race of life, some people get distracted by the  cares of this present world, others become weary from fighting the battles of  life, still yet many do not even get started. Paul the apostle kept his eyes on the  finish line and ended well. In discharging his apostolic mandate, he completed  three long missionary journeys, planted at least 14 churches, wrote 13 of the  New Testament books and endured some of the toughest conditions,  persecutions, and trials. The life that will finish strong must be purpose driven  and there are 3 essentials of purposeful living. 

PURPOSE: Your Purpose is what you were made for. It is your God-ordained  assignment. You are on earth to solve a particular problem, add value to the  lives of those around you and impact your world. Your purpose is the vehicle  you will use to accomplish this. God has put inside you, everything you need to  accomplish your purpose. The greatest love you can give to yourself is to  discover the reason you were created and accomplish it. 

PROGRAM /PLAN: You should have a program(s) or plan of action for actualizing  your purpose. Paul’s programs for fulfilling his apostolic mandate were  missionary journeys, church planting, letters as well as follow-up visits. 

PEOPLE: In Mark 4:32, Jesus likened God’s kingdom to a small mustard seed that  was sown in the ground, and which became a great herb with large branches  such that the birds of the air nested under its shade. Your purpose is not for you.  There are people whose destinies are tied to your purpose. These are the people  you are called to serve; they are meant to nest under the shade of your purpose.  Do you want to end well? Identify your purpose, create a plan of action, then  find and engage your people.

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

Read: PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9 

Meditation verse: 

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble,  whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely,  whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything  praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8). 

It is almost impossible to live a satisfying or fulfilling life by default, so much gets  thrown at us daily. You need to intentionally protect your self-confidence if you  desire to live a happier and more fulfilling life. Begin by observing and auditing  your focus: Ask yourself regularly: “what am I focusing on and how is this  affecting how I feel? Then change your focus if you need to. By default, the  human brain prefers to focus on what could go wrong. So, it would rather focus  on what you have lost, why it happened and whose fault it was rather than on  what you can gain and how you can do better next time. Your goal should be to  spend more time on the things that build your confidence and less time on the  things that erode it. 

Eliminate outside forces or influence: What is that thing in the outside world  that rubs you of your self-confidence when you see it? Social media handles of  certain people? other people’s views or advice? Or their presence? Take a diet  of whatever it is. Focus on your strengths: Figure out what you are good at and  become amazing at it. Don’t keep working on your weaknesses as this will slow  down your progress or even stop you. Pay others to do what you are not good  at.  

Lastly, take charge of your life; get out of the goal post and play. Action breeds  confidence, inaction breeds fear. Choose to be a thermostat which controls  things rather than a thermometer that fluctuates based on the happenings  around it. Control your own outcomes.

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

Read: 2 Peter 1:5-7 

Meditation verse: 

“Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may  see your progress” (1 Timothy 4:15). 

To adjust means to alter or move something slightly to achieve the desired fit,  appearance, or result. To achieve the results that we desire in life, we may need  to make some adjustments. Some of us need to adjust our mindsets from that  of a victim to that of a victor. Others need to adjust their attitudes from a  negative one to a more positive one. Your attitude affects how you feel and how  you feel affects what you do. For some of us it is our behaviours that need to be  adjusted. Laziness, anger, spiritual apathy, self-doubt, fear, procrastination,  idleness, and slothfulness will get you nowhere. Success in life is about  progression, not perfection. If you desire to get to the top or achieve success in  life, you must make certain adjustments as you progress. 

Some of us need to adjust how we spend our time. Ephesians 5:15-16 says, “See  then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time,  because the days are evil”. For some of us, it the company we keep. Proverbs  13:20 says “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools  will be destroyed”. For some of us it is how many hours we sleep. For some of  us it is the number of hours we spend on our phones or other devices that we  need to adjust. Some need to adjust how they spend their money or what they  spend it on. Many of us need to adjust what we feed our minds with. What goes  into your mind affects your thoughts and as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.  It is always a case of garbage in, garbage out.  

2 Peter 1:5-8 says, “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your  faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control  [d]perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and  to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be  neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ”. 

It’s a new month. Be intentional about making the necessary adjustments to get  to where you need to be. Stop making excuses and adjust your way to the top. Happy New Month!

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.