Tag: devotional

Read: James 5:13-18

Meditation verse:

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man will bring much good” (James  5:16).

The bible is replete with commands on not just how to pray, but when to pray,  what to pray for and the benefits of praying. Psalm 95:2 enjoins us to begin our  prayers with thanksgiving. John 14:13-14 tells us to ask in the name of our  Saviour Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 instructs us to pray without ceasing.  

Jesus Christ understood the importance of being in constant touch with His  Father during His time on earth. Before every important event, He took time to  be away from the crowd that constantly followed Him, to pray. Before He began  His ministry, He went into the desert where He prayed and fasted for forty days  and nights (Matt 4:1- 2). Before choosing His twelve apostles, He went out to a  mountainside and spent the night praying to God (Luke 6:12-15). Before  treading the path of Calvary to His death, He agonized in prayers in a place called  Gethsemane (Matt 26:36-45). He prayed so much that once after praying, His  disciples asked Him to teach them to pray. 

Luke 18 highlights the importance of continuous prayers with the parable of the  persistent widow. Bottom line: ‘keep praying even when it seems not to be  yielding any result. This way, prayer becomes a way of living so that you are  constantly in God’s will for your life irrespective of what circumstances dictate.  The biblical characters who lived exceptional lives, prayed continually. David  prayed in the morning, at noon, in the evening (Ps 55:17) and in the night (Ps  42:8). Even whilst on his bed in the early watches of the day, his heart was stayed  on God (Ps 63:6). Daniel’s custom from his early days was to get down on his  knees three times a day to pray and give thanks before God (Daniel 6:10).  Apostle Paul spent countless hours fasting and praying (2 Cor 11:27). 

Are you in constant touch with God through prayers? Spend quality time this  year tarrying in prayers. Prayer is a safe space where God through His Holy Spirit  instructs, teaches, guides, and corrects us.

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 6:18-20 

Meditation verse: 

“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

PRAYER OF CONSECRATION: This is the prayer of submitting and dedicating  yourself to the will of God. Praying this type of prayer always, even in the face  of dire situations, will help you remain at the centre of God’s will. Jesus prayed  this prayer in the garden of Gethsemane; “O My Father, if it is possible, let this  cup pass from Me, nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will”. (Mathew 26:39) 

PRAYER OF WORSHIP: This type of prayer is said solely to minister to the Lord,  without making any request. Acts 2:46-47 says the disciples continued daily with  one accord in the temple breaking bread from house to house and praising God.  And the Lord increased them. God inhabits the praises of His people; prayers of  worship will enable you develop a deep and intimate fellowship with the  Almighty.  

PRAYER OF COMMITTING OR CASTING YOUR CARE ON THE LORD: 1 Peter 5:7  says, “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. “Casting” means to  throw upon or to deposit with. Casting your care therefore requires humility and  entails that you completely trust the person. You are to cast your care upon the  Lord and once done, leave it there. Worrying amounts to going back to collect  your care back. You cannot trust God and worry at the same time. 

PRAYING IN TONGUES: This type of prayer helps to build your spirit man. It is  your spirit speaking mysteries concerning your life and because the secret things  belong to God, this type of prayer is a direct communication to God, enabling  you to pray his perfect will. 1 Corinthians 2 says, he who speaks in a tongue does  not speak to men but to God. Praying in tongues edifies and charges you up.  Jude 20 says, “beloved building yourself up on your most holy faith, praying in  the Holy Spirit”. It is an effective way of praying when you feel weak and weary or when you do not know what to pray for.  

So, what type of prayer should you pray? Pray all types of prayers.

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: Luke 18:1-8 

Meditation verse: 

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit and watching  thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians 6:18). 

Prayer is an intimate two-way communication between you and God. It is you  talking to your Father as well as listening to Him speak to you. There are different  types of prayers highlighted in the bible that you can pray for different  situations.  

PRAYER OF FAITH: This is a prayer you say, asking God for a specific lack or need.  James 1:5-7 says “if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all  liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith,  with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed  by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the  Lord”. This makes it clear that a prayer of faith should only be said once for a  particular need, because if you asked in faith and you believe that God has heard  you, then there is no need to repeat the same request, as this would amount to  doubting. All you need to do is to keep thanking God for granting your request. 

PRAYER OF AGREEMENT: Prayer said by two or more people, concerning a  specific request. Mathew 18:19 says if two of you agree on earth concerning  anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. This is  a powerful type of prayer for a husband and wife who are in right standing with  God and living in harmony with each other. 

PRAYER OF INTERCESSION: Intercession is standing in the gap in prayer for a  person or persons who have invoked judgement upon themselves through their  wrongdoing. You can pray this prayer for unsaved loved ones, backslidden  Christians as well as for nations. Psalm 106: 23 says “therefore he said that He  would destroy them, had not Moses, his chosen one stood before Him in the  breach, to turn away His wrath, lest He destroy them”.  

PRAYER OF SUPPLICATION: This is a humble, earnest heartfelt request made to  God for your needs as well as those of others. You can make supplications for all  men. 1 Timothy 2:1 says “therefore, I exhort first of all that supplications,  prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men”.

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 SAMUEL 11:1-28 

Meditation verse: 

“He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes  them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). 

After a particularly restless night, I got up in the early hours to take off a weave  I had attached to my hair. The heat and discomfort on my scalp had become  unbearable. I stood in front of my bathroom mirror at about 3am with a pair of  scissors in my hands, taking off the threads that attached the weave to my hair.  As the weave came off, I cringed at the state of my hair. It looked very dry and  had gone grey at the roots. The weave had served as a cover for the true state  of my hair. On the outside, my hair looked perfect and well groomed, but  underneath the weave, were rows of dry and damaged hair. I decided there and  then to visit a hair therapist and commence the process of rejuvenating and  restoring my hair to a healthier state. 

Whilst praying a few moments later, it was impressed in my heart that in much  the same way, we cover up mistakes, sins, and wrong attitudes in our lives. We  use pretence, falsehood, lies or bravado to cover up the rottenness that is going  on inside us. After committing Adultery with Bathsheba and impregnating her,  king David tried to cover up his act by ordering the death of her husband in the  battlefront. But his actions were visible before God, and He was displeased.  David’s life and family were greatly affected by that singular indiscretion. 

Do not cover your sins no matter how grievous they are. If you do, it will not be  well with you at the end of the day. You may succeed in fooling others, but God  cannot be mocked. He knows about them; He is waiting for you to own up and  ask for His help. I could only commence treating my hair, after the weave came  off. Complete restoration and healing can only occur when you confess and  forsake your sins. Decide today to remove every cover of falsehood. No sin is  too great to be forgiven, and none is too small to be confessed.

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 7:13-14 

Meditation verse: 

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12).

I got into a traffic jam, whilst returning from work a few days ago. The gridlock  was so bad that we remained on the same spot for a while. And then several  cars began to take a diversion to drive on the lane meant for those coming from  the opposite direction, because it was clear and free of cars. For a while, they  sped by, whilst those of us who remained on the right lane appeared foolish. 

Suddenly, our lane opened as if there was no gridlock in the first place. As I drove  by, I observed that those who took the wrong lane had gotten stuck in an even  worse gridlock, because they had come face to face with those coming from the  opposite direction. And there seemed no way out of the jam. As I pondered on  this incident a short while later, I was reminded of the scripture thatsays, “there  is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death”.  

We are living in extremely difficult times. Economic downturns and rising costs  of living have led to all kinds of corruption and evil. The temptation to take the  short cut is high. Evil seems to be thriving on all sides. Mathew 7:13 also warns,  “enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads  to destruction, and there are many who go in by it”. It was tough to watch those  cars drive past us. I also had no way of knowing they would get stuck ahead, but  I was determined not to join them to take the wrong lane. 

What about you? Sooner or later, you may find yourself in an extremely  challenging situation. The question is “how would you respond”? Will succumb  to the temptation to cut corners or will you stay on the straight and narrow lane,  even if you are the only one standing there? “Narrow is the gate and difficult is  the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Mathew 7:14). May  God’s grace be sufficient for you to remain on the right lane. “The end of thing  is better than its beginning. The patient is spirit is better than the proud in spirit” (Ecclesiastes 7:8).

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: JOHN 16:31-33

Meditation verse:

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

There are three main dangers faced by a ship in stormy weather. The first is the inability to see ahead. Its vision is severely blurred. But with calmness, comes clarity of vision and the ability to see several miles ahead.

There’s also the danger of been tossed about and off course by the winds or of being destroyed. Lastly, the noise of the storm is so loud that it drowns every other distinct sound, including their own cries for help.

The meditation verse’s prescription for dealing with anxiety is to present your issues to God in prayers, thanking Him as you do. Note however that it did not say you will get what you requested for when you do this, but that the peace of God will guard your heart.

When Jesus was preparing to leave His disciples, He said “peace I leave with you, My peace I give you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

On appearing to His disciples after His resurrection, again He said, “peace be with you”.

Peace is very important. With peace comes clarity, hope and the inspiration to dream again. The heart is a bucket of ideas and vision, but it cannot dream when it is anxious.

That’s why your heart needs to be guarded with peace. With calmness, comes the ability to hear God’s voice. Let God’s peace guard you out of the storms of life. If you persist in the storm, your dreams, vision, relationships and even your health may be destroyed.

“For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength…” (Isaiah 30:15).

Irrespective of what is going on around you now, ‘peace be still’.

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: Numbers 12:1-16

Meditation verse:

“This Moses whom they rejected, saying, ‘who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer…” (Acts 7:35).

Moses had to deal with rejection from both the people he was sent to deliver as well as his relatives. Miriam and Aaron spoke against him saying “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?” (Numbers 12:2).

Jesus Christ was rejected in His own Country: Nazareth. They questioned the authority and wisdom with which He taught in the synagogue, saying “is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, judas and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us? (Mark 6:3).

Jesus responded to their offence by saying “a prophet is not without honour except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house (Mark 6:4).

As a young pastor, Timothy, faced rejection until he received counsel from his mentor, Apostle Paul: “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” – 1 Timothy 4:12-16.

If you are struggling with rejection in any area of life, remember that it is not unique to you. If our Lord and saviour experienced rejection, why do you suppose that you are above it? Hebrews 12:2-4 has a word of encouragement for you, “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin”. So, keep your eyes on Jesus, His love and acceptance are what matters most. And He loves you unconditionally.

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: Luke 8:16-18

Meditation verse:

“His lord said to him, well done good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Mathew 25:21).

The story is told of a CEO who was about to retire and needed to select a successor from amongst his top managers. He sent for them and gave each a seed to plant in a seedling bag. The bag was to be placed by the window in their different offices. He informed them that in a year’s time, the person with the biggest plant would become the next CEO. As time went by seeds of all but one of the managers began to sprout. Everyone laughed at the manager whose seed showed no sign of growing. He felt dejected and wondered why his seed had failed to thrive like the others. He had watered it daily and positioned it to receive adequate sunlight.

Eventually, a year passed, and it was time to present their plants to the retiring CEO. One after the other, they presented their thriving plants with pride, and everyone scoffed as the manager with the dead seed showed up with an empty seedling bag. The CEO inspected all the plants and to their utmost surprise announced that the manager whose seed did not grow will become the next CEO. He said “every one of you except him has proven to be dishonest. I gave you seeds which had been boiled in hot water, there is therefore no way the original seeds I gave to you would have grown. What you did was to swap my seeds with another when you discovered what I gave to you was not growing.

Only this man stuck with the seed that I gave to him even when it would not grow. How can you become the next CEO when you lack integrity?”.

Luke 8:17 says “for nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light”. The folly you commit in secret may become known in a manner and time you least expect. And it may lead to a significant loss. Who are you when you believe no one is watching? Remember, God sees and rewards all. Integrity pays.

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 has 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.