Tag: devotional

Read: LUKE 5:1-11

Meditation verse:

“But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to  Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38).

Simon was an experienced fishermen who fished all night but caught nothing. Then Jesus got into his boat and showed him where to fish, and he caught so  many fish that the net was breaking. Another time Jesus was in a boat at sea  with His disciples, and a great windstorm arose and threatened to capsize the  boat, they cried out and Jesus calmed the storm. In both cases, the presence of  Jesus in the boat turned the tides around.  

Similarly having Jesus in the boat of your life can make a whole lot of difference.  Your boat is your heart. Have you invited Him into your heart? John 3:16 states  that, “for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that  whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”. Romans  10:10 states, “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the  mouth confession is made unto salvation”. Jesus said “Behold, I stand at the door  and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him  and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelations 3:20). Jesus is knocking at the  door of your heart; all you need to do is believe in your heart that He died for  you, ask Him to forgive your sins and invite Him into your heart as Lord and  Saviour over your life. 

However, having Jesus in your life is not a guarantee that you will never  encounter challenges. He was in the disciples’ boat when they encountered a  storm. However, with Jesus in your life, you will not be defeated by the  challenge. The tides will always be turned in your favour, eventually. If you do  not yet have Jesus in your boat, why not say this prayer right now: “Dear Lord, I  am a sinner in need of grace Thank You Jesus for dying to set me free from sin.  Please forgive me for all my sins and come into my heart. I confess You as my  Lord and Saviour. Fill me with Your Spirit and enable me to live for You. In Jesus  name, Amen.

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

or call +2348155525555

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

Read: 2 CHRONICLES 20: 1-13

Meditation verse:

“Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood  before the Lord” (2 Chronicles 20:13).

There was an emergency in Judah. The people of Moab, Ammon, and Mount  Seir came to battle against Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. When they told the king  that a great multitude was coming against him, he feared, and set himself to  seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So, all the cities of Judah gathered to ask help from the Lord.

I recall reading this passage and pondering over the thirteenth verse: “Now all  Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the  Lord”. It had already been mentioned earlier that all Judah gathered to seek the  face of God. Why was it important to emphasize the fact that the men, their  wives, children, and little ones stood before the Lord? The answer came to me  as a revelation. When a man stands before God with his wife and children beside  him, God honours that commitment and answers them speedily. Psalm 133  states, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together  in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the  beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of  Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded  the blessing—Life forevermore”. The picture of the family coming together in  unity and fellowship strikes a chord in God’s heart.

The family unit is the smallest church, with the man as the priest. The  importance of the family coming together daily to pray cannot be ignored. In the  family altar, God is worshipped and glorified, the faith of each member is built  up and issues are resolved. “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain  who build it” (Psalm 127:1). A famous quote says: “a family that prays together,  stays together”. By honouring God in the place of your family altar, you are  inviting His Lordship over your home and ushering in His presence and in the  presence of the Lord, “there is fullness of joy and at His right hand are pleasures  forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). Joshua said “…but as for me and my house, we will  serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). Do you have a family altar in your home?

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

or call +2348155525555

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

Read: Psalm 133:1-3

Meditation verse:

“Not forsaking the assembly of ourselves together, as is the manner of some,  but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day  approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).

You are not meant to run the Christian race alone. We are meant to belong to a  local church, where we can fellowship with other believers. Acts 2:46-47 says,  “so continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from  house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church  daily those who were being saved”. Psalm 133:1-3 says, “Behold, how good and  how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious  oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running  down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon  the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing—Life  forevermore”. 

Belonging to a local assembly provides you with an opportunity to be part of a  family of God’ people where you can worship God and fellowship with people  who share your faith. We are social beings, created to do life with others. You  will also hear God’s word and be established in it. Your church family can provide you with support and friendship in times of need. Your local assembly can also  provide a platform for you to serve with the gifts that God has given to you, for  the edification of every member. (Ephesians 4:11).  

Do not isolate yourself, no matter how justified you may feel. The bible talks about the lone sheep that is a prime target for the wolf. The enemy knows that  it is easier to reach you when you are alone. So, be a part of a local assembly. Proverbs 27:17 says, “as iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance  of his friend”.

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

or call +2348155525555

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

Read: ISAIAH 54:1-3

Meditation verse:

“Enlarge the place of your tent and let them stretch out the curtains of your  dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes”  (Isaiah 54:2).

Some people live in such a way that the ‘tent’; of their lives have very little room  for others. These people live in their own world. They are mostly alone with very  few or no friends. They live life on a unilateral lane, moving only from their  homes to their place of work and back to their homes. They have very few strong  relational ties with their own family members and may not even have a spiritual  family that they fellowship with. They are not willing to put in the effort required  to make and keep friends. These kinds of people are said to be suffering from  “short cord syndrome” (SCS).  

People with SCS are usually very critical of others. They disconnect from people  at the slightest offence and burn every bridge in their lives. They have succeeded  in ostracizing themselves from every relational tie. As a result, when afflicted,  they suffer alone. Interestingly, people with SCS live in denial. They see nothing  wrong with the way they live and tend to believe others are to blame for their  short cords.  

Are you suffering from SCS? You can be set free through a personal relationship  with Jesus Christ. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come  that they may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10, NIV). Jesus Christ can  help you extend the tent of your life to accommodate several people- He can  give you the wisdom needed to understand others, put love for people in your  heart and teach you relational skills to connect easily with people. He can direct  you to a church family you will enjoy being a part of.  

Do you have a personal relationship with Him? Here’s a prayer you can say now: “Dear Lord, I am a sinner in need of grace Thank You Jesus for dying to set me free from sin. Please forgive me for all my sins and come into my heart. Be my  Lord and Saviour. Fill me with Your Spirit and enable me to extend the tent of  my life for others to come in. In Jesus name, Amen.

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

or call +2348155525555

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

Read: Mathew 8:1-34

Meditation verse:

“But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must  believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him”  (Hebrews 11:6).

A centurium in Capernaum came to Jesus, requesting healing for his servant.  When Jesus said He would go to his house to heal the servant, the centurium  replied, “Lord I am not worthy that you should come to my house, just speak the  word and I know my servant will be healed”. Jesus marvelled at the centurium,  referring to his faith as “great faith”. In another scenario, the disciples found  themselves in a boat tossed by a great tempest, whilst Jesus was fast asleep.  When they woke Him up in fear, Jesus rebuked them for their lack of faith,  referring to it as “little faith”.  

Both stories highlight two different measures of faith: great and little faith. What  category does your faith belong to? Is it possible that the reason you are yet to  receive answers to your requests from God is due to your little faith? Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith, it is impossible to please God, for anyone coming  to God must believe and acknowledge Him as God and as a rewarder of those  who diligently seek Him. How can you increase the measure of your faith?  Romans 10:17 says “so then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of  God”. So, study and meditate on God’s word daily. Feed on His promises. “This  book of law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For  then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success”.  (Joshua 1:8).

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

or call +2348155525555

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

Read: HEBREWS 11

Meditation verse:

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also”  (James 2:26).

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For  by it the elders obtained a good testimony” (Hebrews 11:1-2). In today’s reading,  we see the mighty acts of some biblical characters. Through their faith, they  chose to live differently (worked righteousness), were victorious in battles  (subdued kingdoms), obtained long awaited promises and were involved in  seemingly impossible acts: they stopped the mouth of lions, quenched the  violence of fire, and escaped the edge of the sword. Through their faith, they  overcame their weaknesses and became valiant in various battles.

What are you doing differently, because of your faith in Christ? How is your faith  standing you out? Are you overcoming that sinful desire or winning that battle  over addiction or saying no to wrong relationships or refusing to falsify the  records at work because of your faith in Christ? Faith without works is dead.  Your faith must lead you to do that which will glorify God or refuse to do that  which will dishonour Him. By faith Abraham obeyed God and left the security of  his homeland to a place he knew nothing about. By faith Shadrach, Meshach and  Abednego refused to bow to King Nebuchadnezzar’s idol, choosing to face the  burning fiery furnace (Daniel 3:16-17).

There will be times in your life when you will have to choose the lonely or  uncomfortable path because of your faith. The Christian race is not an easy one.  Jesus said: “in the world, you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have  overcome the world” (John 16: 33b). Trials and temptations will come, but you  are already an overcomer. Put on your shield of faith daily. Live a victorious life, not one of compromise and defeat. You are in the world. but not of the world.  Let your faith single you out, wherever you go. “But the just shall live by his faith”  (Habakkuk 2:4). “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who  comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who  diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

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

or call +2348155525555

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

Read: Ephesians 5:15-21

Meditation verse:

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise” (Ephesians  5:15).

‘Intentionality’ is the fact of being deliberate or purposive. Synonyms include  considered, planned, prearranged, predetermined, and thought out in advance. Being intentional is a philosophy and can be a way of life. When a person is  intentional, he or she makes decisions and take actions based on what is  important to them. The quality of their mental state (thoughts, beliefs, desires  and will) is directed towards some object or state- this becomes their default  position. Being intentional does not occur by happenstance. It is a choice you  must make. And you can be intentional about any and everything. You can be  intentional about being happy in which case your thoughts, beliefs and actions  align with what makes you happy. You can be intentional about being on time.  You can be intentional about achieving excellence in all your affairs.  

The apostle Paul lived life based on this philosophy. One time he said “But I  discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to  others, I should become disqualified. Another time, he said, “Brethren, I do not  count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things  which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press  toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore,  let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think  otherwise, God will reveal even this to you” (Philippians 3:13-15). 

Being intentional is a primary ingredient for success in life. It entails being clear  upfront about what you want to achieve and being willing to pay whatever price  is needed to achieve it. Motivational speaker Zig Ziglar is quoted as saying  “People do not wander around and then find themselves at the top of Mount  Everest.”. Intentionality is a mindset which you must adopt if you want to  accomplish your goals in life.

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

or call +2348155525555

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

Read: Psalm 90:1-17

Meditation verse:

“So, teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm  90:12).

The year 2020 had a profound impact on my life, occasioned by two events that  made me decide to become a more intentional person. The first of course was  the covid-19 pandemic. Suddenly, the whole world was brought down to its  knees. I recall weeping one evening in the early months of the pandemic, not  only because many people were dying all over the world, but also because it just  dawned on me how vain we had become as humans and how much we had  taken God’s abundant grace for granted. Our vanity upon vanity, our busyness,  our clamouring for more, our strivings, our selfishness and greed. All for nothing.  Suddenly, we were content just to be alive and be able to breathe on our own.  

The second event was the passing away of the film actor, Chadwick Boseman:  ‘the Wakanda Hero’. No, I didn’t know Chadwick personally, I wasn’t even too  crazy about Black Panther. I watched more out of curiosity because of the buzz  it was creating at that time. But in the wake of his death, I followed the life and  times of Boseman on social media. Chadwick personified values that I admire  and aspire to in life: excellence, brilliance, spirituality, integrity, and oratory  prowess. He was such an inspirational actor and orator. A real gift to humanity.  And he did all he did excellently well, whilst battling colon cancer for 4 years.  And nobody knew? Chadwick made me realize that I have no excuses to make  in life.  

Both events made it clear that life is finite and must be lived on purpose, for a  purpose. Ephesians 5:15-17 sums it up nicely for us: “see then that you walk  circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days  are evil. Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord  is”. There are activities we need to take on, there are those we need to  relinquish. There are relationships to be bettered, there are those to be  relinquished. And the time to do them is now. Live your life on purpose for a  purpose.

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

or call +2348155525555

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

Read: Proverbs 31:10-31

Meditation verse:

“That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters  may be as pillars, sculptured in palace style” (Psalm 144:12).

The life of a male and female child may follow the same trajectory from birth,  until when the female gets married and begins to have children. In essentially  all countries, the responsibility of caring for the child and keeping the home falls  predominantly on the woman and this usually will come at the time of full launch  of her career. The stress of combining work and family has caused a significant  number of women to take career breaks and work at home as full-time wives  and mothers, devoting all their time, intellect, and energy to running their  homes and to their children’s upbringing. 

Those who manage to remain in careers, find themselves grappling with juggling  the demands of both and must keep taking time off work to nurse a sick child or  attend a crucial event at their child’s school. Invariably this will impact upon their  chances for promotion and career progression. Marriage and motherhood,  though beautiful have had a significant influence on the life course of many  women. Career scholars are agreed in the assertion that the young parenthood  stage is the most stressful period for a woman.  

It’s International Women’s Day today, and we are taking time to celebrate and  honor women all over the world for the amazing work that we do. According to  Ann Crittenden, best-selling author of “IF YOU HAVE RAISED KIDS, YOU CAN  MANAGE ANYTHING”, Leadership begins at home. She says a mother’s  responsibilities include components of at least 17 different professions. A  mother is a financial manager and consultant, Crisis manager, Nutritionist,  Counsellor, Project Management consultant, Child development Supervisor,  Doctor, Nurse, Teacher, Educationist, Psychologist, Adviser and Team Manager.  

So, woman, celebrate and love on yourself today. Irrespective of your life’s  journey, realize that you are enough and deserve the best that life has to offer.  Be brave enough to demand more, be disciplined and do the work required to  be more and to get more. Happy International Women’s Day.

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

or call +2348155525555

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