Tag: devotional

Read: Joshua 3: 1-17

Meditation verse:

“And they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the  covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you  shall set out from your place and go after it (Joshua 3:3).

The children of Israel were about to cross over the Jordan to the promised land  after forty years of wandering in the wilderness. The officers went through the  camp and instructed the people to move only when they see the priests and  Levites bearing the ark of the covenant of God. They were to set out from their  places only after they had seen the ark, so that they would know the way to go. 

The ark of the covenant was a symbol of God’s presence: Yahweh’s presence:  His strength and Almightiness. Today, you do not have the ark with you or the  Levites who bear it. But you carry the presence of God inside you, in the person  of The Holy Spirit. You are the bearer of the ark. A lot of times, we move ahead  with our plans without ‘seeing the ark’, and then we get frustrated, disillusioned,  or bitter when things do not go as planned. What does “waiting till we see the  ark” imply? 

It means tarrying in God’s presence and seeking His face concerning His plans  before stepping out each day. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all  your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways  acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths”. 

You would also need to study and meditate on God’s word. His word is a lamp  unto our feet and a light unto our path (Psalm 119:105). As you study, a  particular text may light up before you; it is the Holy Spirit giving you insight.  

You can also seek counsel from trusted servants of God. “When you see the ark  of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then  you shall set out from your place and go after it”. Ark bearers also symbolize  men and women who carry God’s anointing. They can pray with you, seek God’s  face on your behalf and counsel you alright. Proverbs 11:14 says where there is  no advice, the people fall, but in the multitude of counsellors, there is safety.  Wait till you see the ark before moving ahead. When you do this, “your ears shall  hear a word behind you saying, ‘this is the way, walk in it’. (Isaiah 30:21).

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: 1 Samuel 9 &10

Meditation verse:

“So, when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him, ‘there he is, the man of whom  I spoke to you. This one shall reign over My people” (1 Sam 9:17).

Israel wanted a king and God had chosen Saul. Now the donkey of Saul’s father  Kish, got missing and he sent Saul to search for it. After three days of searching  without any result, Saul said to his servant that it was better they returned, else  his father would become worried. But the servant advised that they go to a town  to see a seer (Samuel), who could tell them where to find the lost donkey. When  they got to the town, Samuel had just arrived and was about to go to the high  place for the feast. As they approached Samuel, God told Samuel that Saul was  the man He had sent him to anoint as king.  

The story of how Saul was anointed king, teaches us very important lessons  about the ways of God. Firstly, God will always bring His plans to pass and most  time may not be in the way we expect Him to. Secondly, seemingly ordinary acts  of coincidence in our lives, may be part of God’s plans to fulfil His purpose in us. 

And in the cause of fulfilling this purpose, He orchestrates the events of our lives  so that we can cross paths with the people who are relevant to our purpose. 

Thirdly, disappointments, failures and frustrations may sometimes precede a  breakthrough. If Kish’s donkey did not get lost, he would not have sent Saul to  look for it and if Saul did not go in search of the donkey and fail in his efforts at  finding the donkeys, he would not have met Samuel.  

Lastly when we have exhausted all our options, then God shows up.

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 Corinthians 12:7-10

Meditation verse:

“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the  revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet  me, lest I be exalted above measure” (2 Corinthians 12:7). 

The exact nature of Paul’s infirmity is unknown. But whatever it was, it must  have been uncomfortable because he pleaded with God on three occasions to  take it away. He seemed desperate to get rid of. When God in His infinite wisdom  refused Paul’s appeal, he did not let the ‘thorn in his flesh’ prevent him from  fulfilling his ministry. He recognized God as His true source of strength and knew  he could depend on His power to remain effective and useful. By affirming God’s  strength, he accepted the reality of his weakness and refused to let it stop him. 

There may be situations or challenges or defects in your life that you have been  praying for God to intervene, but these have lingered on for years. God in His  sovereignty does not always answer us in the way we desire. He may sometimes  permit an uncomfortable situation to remain in your life, to fulfil a particular  purpose in His overall plan for your life. For Apostle Paul, it was to prevent him  from being puffed up, since he was such an anointed servant of God. What is  your thorn of flesh? An infirmity? A reproaching situation? Financial difficulty?  A difficult spouse or child?  

Whatever it is be rest assured that If God is permitting a difficult situation to  remain in your life, He has already made His grace available to you for that  situation. Grace is an enabler that propels you forward even in difficult  situations; all you need do is appropriate His grace. And you appropriate God’s grace by repeatedly declaring His strength over that situation and walking in its  consciousness by constantly declaring: “Lord, Your grace is sufficient for me,  Your strength is here to help me in this situation. I depend on it over my  weakness. I surrender my will to yours”.  

“Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17). As you  continue speaking God’s word over that situation, you will be strengthened.  Apostle Paul said he takes pleasure in needs, in persecutions and in distresses.  Do not let the thorn in your flesh stop you from becoming all you were created  for. “For when you are weak, then you are strong in the power of Christ”.

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: ROMANS:1-39

Meditation verse:

“O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is  abundant redemption” (Psalm 130:7).

God is Almighty, all knowing and full of mercy. With Him is abundant  redemption. He always has a redemptive plan for us. When the first man fell in  the garden of Eden, God did not have to scratch His head or frantically search  for an alternative plan. He knew man to be flesh with futile imagination, so He  already had a redemptive plan in place which he unfolded in the fullness of time  in the person of our saviour Jesus Christ. His plan was that His son would come  into the world, take on the nature of man, suffer and die on the cross; bearing  our sins and rise on the third day to redeem mankind from the grip of the enemy.  

Wherever you are today; whether overwhelmed with sin, burdened by  difficulties, loss, grief, or guilt, God has a back-up plan in place for you. He does  not condemn you. The bible says He pities those who fear Him as a father pities  his children, for He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust (Ps 103:13-14). If you feel that you have wandered too far away, because of the wrong  decisions and choices you made in the past, why not return to the One who is  plenteous in mercy, and with whom is abundant redemption? Just as He  redeemed Israel from all her iniquities, He will redeem you from all your sins,  errors, mistakes, and failures. He will redeem all the wasted years. Here’s His  promise over you: 

So, I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the  crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great  army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and  praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with  you; and My people shall never be put to shame. Then you shall know that  I am in the midst of Israel. I am the Lord your God and there is no other. 

My people shall never be put to shame. – Joel 2:25-27 

God will not change His mind over you. And you shouldn’t either.

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: Acts 7: 1-57

Meditation verse:

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to  those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

When faced with a confusing array of challenges, it may be worth your while to  remember that God is in control of all things and in all things, He is working out  His perfect plan. Though it may not seem like that to you at that moment. Look  at the summary of the sufferings of the patriarchs and the nation of Israel in  today’s reading and see how God was working out His perfect plan all the time.  

Vs 2: God called out Abraham to a foreign land 

Vs 6-8: God told Abraham about the promise and gave him the covenant of  circumcision, then he begot Isaac and Isaac begot Jacob and Jacob begot the  twelve patriarchs amongst whom was Joseph 

Vs 9: Joseph was sold to slavery into Egypt by his envious brothers Vs 10: But God was with him, and he found favour with Pharoah who made him  governor over all. 

Vs 11: A great famine came over all Egypt and Canaan.  

Vs 13: Jacob sent his sons to Egypt for food 

Vs 14: Joseph was revealed to them, and he sent for his father and all his  relatives 

Vs 17: When the time of God’s promise drew near, the people grew and  multiplied in Egypt 

Vs 18: A king who did not know Joseph arose and dealt treacherously with them  Vs 20: Moses was born and got raised by Pharoah’s daughter Vs 29: Moses fled after killing the Egyptian and dwelt in Midian Vs 30: After 40 years, God appeared to him in a burning bush and commissioned  him to go set His people free 

Vs 37: He led them out of Egypt through the wilderness and after 40 years, they  eventually got to the promised land. And God’s promise was fulfilled. 

God is never late with His promises “for a thousand years in His sight are like  yesterday when it is past” (Psalm 90:4). Irrespective of what you are going  through today, do not give up. God is at work in your life and in the fullness of  time, His perfect plan and promises over your life will surely come to pass.

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: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Meditation verse:

“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven”  (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

Growing up as little children, we were subject to rules, routines, and schedules,  both at home and in school. There were rules about what to do and what not to  do. We had times for sleeping and times for waking up. We had specific times  for reading, leisure, and diverse household chores. I bet we all felt trapped and  just couldn’t wait to become adults. The growing-up years are now over, we  heave a sigh of relief and revel in our freedom as we realize that the strict life of  rules and routines is finally over. We are completely free to do exactly as we  please, whenever we please. 

But if truth be told, our lives were properly shaped by the rules and schedules  we resented back then and we have become who we are today because of being  molded by our guided childhood. The bible states train up a child in the way he  should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Prov 22:6). The life that  will be exceptional and successful must continue with some measure of rules,  routines, and schedules. Zig Ziglar said “People do not wander around and then  find themselves at the top of Mount Everest”. Success in life requires intentional  or purposeful living and this entails discipline, sacrifice, self-denial, and planning  No kidding! Our life of routines and schedules isn’t nearly half over yet. 

Today’s bible reading puts it aptly: there is indeed a time for every purpose or  activity under heaven. To become that fulfilled individual, who excels in every  area of life, you must subject yourself to some form of routine. Time must be  allotted to every area of your life. Timing is important. The bible enjoins us to  walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise redeeming the time because the days  are evil (Eph 5:15-16). Wasting time on irrelevant and mindless is unprofitable  The secret to success and fulfillment lies in knowing the appropriate time for  every purpose. Difficult? Maybe, but the results are well worth the effort. 

“Those that make the best use of their time have none to spare” (Thomas Fuller). An important question to ask today is “am I making the best use of my time?

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: Acts 15:36-41

Meditation verse:

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as  Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

As humans, it is impossible for our relationships to be devoid of offenses. The  bible acknowledges this fact. Paul and Barnabas disagreed to the point of going  their separate ways. When they were about to depart for their second  missionary journey, they disagreed sharply over Mark, a young man who had  abandoned them during the first journey. Barnabas wanted Mark to come along,  but Paul insisted that they had no business taking someone who had deserted  them on the job. But Barnabas refused to give up on him.  

Barnabas was gifted at recognizing potential in others. A respected leader of the  early church, he was originally called Joseph, which translates to ‘son of  encouragement’ (Acts 4:36). When Paul arrived Jerusalem following his  conversion, he tried to join the disciples, but they were reluctant to take him in.  Barnabas took Paul to the disciples, convincing them that he was now a genuine  believer in Christ. It is interesting to note that Paul, who was given a second  chance, refused to extend the same hand of fellowship to Mark. 

What relationship have you given up on due to an offence? Barnabas’ kindred  spirit is worth emulating. God will never give up on you. You should therefore  be willing to give others a second chance. We can only wonder what would have  become of Paul’s ministry if Barnabas had not intervened or if the Apostles had  remained adamant. Do you sense God asking you to restore any relationship?  You never know how useful that person would become in your life. Mark later  reunited with Paul and became very useful in his ministry (2 Tim 4:11).  

God works through conflicts and disagreements to fulfill His purposes. The  disagreement between Paul and Barnabas resulted in the doubling of the  missionary efforts. No one understands the workings of God who makes all  things. So, which broken relationship(s) do you need to fix today?

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: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

Meditation verse:

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet  will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed”  (1 Corinthians 15:52).

In the evening of October 4th, 2021, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp  crashed and stopped working. And it happened suddenly; one moment they  were on and the next all three platforms froze. Initially, my husband and I did  not realize what had happened. We refreshed our browsers, changed our  internet providers, and even restarted our devices, believing the source of data  was the problem. But then we received a message that all three platforms had  stopped working. How could this have happened? It had never occurred. It took  us unawares leaving us with unsent messages and contents we had previously  scheduled for posting.  

The bible speaks of a future event which would occur in a similar manner.  Suddenly and in the twinkle of an eye, the trumpets will sound, and Jesus Christ  would appear in the sky. The dead in Christ will rise first and then we who are  alive will be caught up in the air to meet Him. Just like with the crashing of the  platforms, most people would be unaware. As certain people begin to disappear  from the earth, their loved ones would wonder where they are and begin  searching for them. Then, it would dawn on all that the ‘rapture’ has taken place.  And there will be messages not delivered, apologies not said, and mistakes not  corrected. 

Luke 21:34 says, “but take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down  with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you  unexpectedly”. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and  you are living your life in accordance with His word, then you are prepared, but  if you are still living a life of sin, let the sudden events of October 4th remind you  of the need to surrender your life to Him. You can do so right away.

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: Mark 2:21-22

Meditation verse:

“No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece  pulls away from the old, and the tear is made worse.” (Mark 2:21).

The story is told of a monk who embarked on a long journey on foot. He came  across a river and wondered how he would cross over. He tried walking across,  but it was too deep; he couldn’t swim either. Eventually, he built a raft and  successfully crossed to the other side of the river. He then said to himself “this  must be very useful to me; I have to hold on to it”. He strapped it to his back and  continued his journey. A short while later, he came across a very thick forest,  with rows of trees. As he attempted to walk through, the raft behind his back  kept getting stuck between the trees, making it impossible to go through. After  several attempts, he realized that the raft was now the obstacle holding him  back, so he took it off. 

What served you yesterday might become a stumbling block tomorrow. What is  your own raft? What old mindset, habit, relationship, desire, goal, or behavioral  pattern are you still holding on to that no longer serves your interest?  Sometimes, you may need to do away with the old, to make progress in life.  Isaiah 43:18-19 states: “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the  things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not  know it? The bible says, new wine cannot be put into old wineskins, else the  wineskins will stretch and burst, and the wine will be spilled” (Mark 2:22). Is it  possible that your old way of doing things is the cause of the stress and stretch  you are currently experiencing in your life?  

Notice that it was the Monk who held on to the raft, nobody put it on his back.  Therefore, when he realized he needed to get rid of it, he had to do so by  himself. Similarly, you need to decide the things that are preventing you from  moving forward and get rid of them by yourself. It is often said that if you want  to know the person holding you back, look in the mirror. Decide today to change  that bad habit, get out of the abusive relationship, or change that attitude. No  one else can do it for you. And just as the Monk progressed on his journey with  ease, after he got rid of the raft, your progress will become evident to all.

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.