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Tag: devotional

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: A new beginning

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: A new beginning

    Read: Isaiah 43: 16-19

    Meditation verse:

    “Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I  will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19).

    The Bible says in Luke 5:36-38 that “No one puts a piece from a new garment on  an old one; otherwise, the new makes a tear, and the piece that was taken out  of the new does not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old  wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the  wineskins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and  both are preserved. To receive the new, you must do away with the old. Are you  expecting a new experience in an area of your life? Here are some ways to  prepare for it: 

    Forget the pains or failures of the past. Adapt a more positive and new  mentality. 

    Get ready for the change. Make all the necessary adjustments that you need to.  Isaiah 54:2-3 says “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. For you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your  descendants will inherit the nations, and make the desolate cities inhabited. 

    Position yourself for the new experience and earnestly expect it. What you do not expect, you cannot receive. When you expect something to happen, your  whole body must be aligned to it. Your words, mannerisms and actions should  align to your expectation. You cannot speak words that are contrary to your  expectation.

     

    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.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Live a full life

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Live a full life

    Read: 2 Timothy 4:7-8

    Meditation verse:

    “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” 92  Timothy 4:7).

    I listened to an interview of the late music legend, Tina Turner by Media Mogul, Oprah Winfrey. Oprah asked Tina how she felt being 73years old. Tina  responded by saying she had lived a full life and was very fulfilled. She said she not afraid to leave this earth when her time came because, she had done all she  was supposed to do on earth. She said, “I have lived, worked and done all; I have  lived a full life”. Tina Turner touched the world with her music. 

    Several years ago, Paul the apostle having finished the ministry that God had  called him to do said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I  have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness,  which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me  only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).  

    When all is said and done, will the life you are living now earn you the right to  say “I have finished the purpose for which I was born? Do you even know why  you are on earth? If your answer is no, start afresh today and make things right  with God by praying: “Lord, I acknowledge that the life I am living right now is  not in complete obedience to Your word. I ask for mercy and rededicate myself  to You this day. Fill me afresh with Your spirit and enable me to live in total  submission to Your will and purpose for my life”.  

    “We are given a fresh start not only at the beginning of the year, but every  morning when we wake up. We have the chance to start anew and make things  right” (Maria Fontaine).

     

    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.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Do you know who you are?

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Do you know who you are?

    Read: 1 Peter 2:9-25

    Meditation verse:

    “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own  special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of  darkness into His marvellous light;” (1 Peter 2:9).

    The story is told of a little eagle who found himself amongst chicken and became  a part of them. He grew up walking and behaving like them, thinking he was a  chicken. One day he looked up and saw an eagle flying high up in the sky. He  wandered what that was and said to himself, “I wish I was like that creature,  flying high up there”. Poor little eagle, he had lived amongst chickens for so long  and had lost his identity. He had no idea; he was indeed an eagle.  

    Many Christians are like that little eagle. We have lived so long in the place of  defeat, failure, disappointment, and despondency that we have lost touch with  the core identity of who we are in Christ. The enemy, who the bible refers to as  the “accuser of brethren” has sold us a lie and we have believed the lie of the  devil.  

    But here’s who God says you are: 

    “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own  special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of  darkness into His marvellous light;”. You are God’s masterpiece; fearfully and  wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). You are empowered and can do all things  through Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13). You are destined for  greatness and not mediocrity. God has not given you the spirit of fear, but of  power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).  

    Quit living like a chicken. You were not saved to live a life of defeat. You were  saved to live a life of abundance. Jesus Christ said,” the thief does not come  except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life,  and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Little wonder Paul the  apostle prayed for the Ephesians that “the eyes of your understanding being  enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the  riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding  greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His  mighty power” (Ephesians 1:18-19). Make that your prayer 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.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Enter the ark

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Enter the ark

     

    Read: Isaiah 26:1-4

    Meditation verse:

    “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he  trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3).

    I recall having a conversation with a lady some time ago about the insecurities  of the times. As we mused about the current difficulties, she said that her  husband had told them that as a family they were all inside Noah’s ark. I laughed,  but as I recalled our conversation moments later, I couldn’t help agreeing with  her. The bible records a time when there will be so much iniquity and  lawlessness in the land that God instructed Noah to build an ark and enter it  with his family, because He was going to destroy the earth with flood waters. 

    The ark in biblical times was a symbol of YAHWEH’s presence. Amid the present  insecurities, we need to enter the ark with our loved ones and shut the door.  We enter the ark by daily abiding in God’s presence through prayers, worship,  and consecration. Psalm 91:1-7 says, 

    He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the  shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my  fortress; my God, in Him I will trust. Surely, He shall deliver you from the  snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you  with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall  be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, 

    nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in  darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand  may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not  come near you. 

    “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be  lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers,  disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers,  without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty,  lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:1-4). We are currently  living in such times. So, enter the ark with your household and shut the doors  behind you. 

     

    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.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: God will always make a way of escape

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: God will always make a way of escape

    Read: 1 Corinthians 10: 1-13

    Meditation verse:

    “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God  is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but  with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to  bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

    It is often said the only thing that is constant in life is change. What this means  is that we have little control over certain events, and so life can suddenly  happen. Things can happen suddenly that disrupt the normal course of our lives.  However, no matter how badly disrupted our lives and plans become, God can  never be taken by surprise. He always makes provision for you to overcome any  disruption. You may however fail to see the provision due to several reasons. 

    If you keep focusing on the problem. Yesterday is not ours to recover, but  tomorrow is ours to win or lose. Look to God and ask Him to show you the route  of escape to that problem. Psalm 123:2 says “behold, as the eyes of servants  look to the hand of their masters, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her  mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He has mercy on us”. 

    If you refuse to step out of your comfort zone and move forward. Due to fear of  the unknown, we stay rooted in the same spot even when God has shown us  what to do to navigate the problem. God had to rebuke Moses; “why are you  crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! (Exodus 14:15, NLT). God had  already guaranteed them a safe passage to the promised land. Yet as they  approached the red sea, with Pharoah and his men behind them, they were  afraid and kept crying out to God. They choose to keep their eyes on the problem  instead of on God. 

    If you desperately hold on to old plans you will not be able to create a new way.  When things fall apart, something new can rise to replace it. Collapse does not  only mean devastation, but it can also mean opportunity. Life is a lively process  of becoming. If your previous plans have been disrupted due to an unexpected  occurrence, make new plans. Until you try, you may never know.

     

    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.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: The Heart of your Father

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: The Heart of your Father

    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. 

    Irrespective of where you are today or whatever the circumstances around you  may be, do not faint or lose heart. Focus rather 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!

     

    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.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Dealing with excess weight

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Dealing with excess weight

    Read: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

    Meditation verse:

    “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and (that your body) may  keep well even as I know your soul keeps well and prospers” (3 John 2, AMP).

    God is as concerned with your physical life as He is with your spiritual life. He  wants you to look after your body and nourish it with healthy balanced meals  and regular exercises, just as you take care of your soul by nourishing it with  prayers, fasting and bible study. Paul highlights the hard work involved in fruitful  Christian living. Becoming an effective and faithful witness for God involves  discipline and commitment. We may also be required to give up certain habits  and pleasures that hinder our progress and taint our testimony as Christians.  Similarly, taking care of our bodies requires discipline, commitment to a healthy  lifestyle and abstinence from foods that lead to excess weight and diseases. 

    Being overweight or obese can dampen your self-confidence and make you feel  insecure. It is an area with a huge propensity to affect other areas of your life  especially for women. Some women under the guise of Christianity, let  themselves go after bearing children and this begins to affect their marriages.  You have a duty to yourself and your husband to stay in shape and remain  attractive. Likewise, a husband owes it to himself and his wife to stay in shape. 

    God cares about your physical wellbeing. If you are battling excess weight, He  knows your struggles and wants to help you, but you must be willing to commit  to the required discipline and self-denial. There are no quick fixes when it comes  to losing your excess weight. It will take time, but if you are ready to take a step  of faith today, you are well on your way to a more fulfilled and wholesome life.  Recognizing the need to get started is half the battle won. 

    The beginning of a new year is a good time to start. Come up with a plan for  regular exercises and healthier eating. Commit your plan to God and appropriate  His power. As you go along, change what you can about yourself, but learn to  accept what you cannot change. If you have done all and there is little change in  your weight, embrace and love yourself. Remember that you are fearfully and  wonderfully made in God’s image (Ps 139:14) 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.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Dealing with stress

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Dealing with stress

    Read: 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

    Meditation verse:

    “Come to me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”  (Mathew 11:28).

    Stress is an adverse reaction that we have when excessive and sustained  pressures or other types of demands are placed on us either at work or outside  work. It is not an illness, but a natural reaction to excessive pressure. You  become stressed when you perceive that you lack the resources, whether  physical, psychological, or financial to cope with the demands of your life.  Certainly, you would experience a certain level of pressure in the cause of your  daily existence, but this should not be interpreted as stress. Up to a certain level,  feeling pressured can keep you on your toes or motivate you to meet deadlines.  However, when the pressure becomes excessive, it leads to stress, which if  present for a long period of time, can lead to mental and physical illness. 

    The earliest signs of stress are changes in your mood, behaviour, or level of  productivity. It could be a decline in performance, loss of motivation to perform  tasks, moodiness, restlessness, irritability, or a lack of interest in your  appearance or general affairs. Physical symptoms also emerge, and these  include stomach upsets, tension headaches, backache, skin irritations, high  blood pressure and heart disease. 

    Why not do a stress check-up today to see if you are in danger of a mental or  physical breakdown, by taking a holistic look at your life. How well are you  coping with the physical and emotional demands of your job and life in general?  Are you working to the exclusion of any rest? Are you happy or constantly  worried? Are you overly anxious about any situation or do you feel under  excessive pressure in any area of your life? If you think you are, talk to God about  your concerns right now and then seek professional help. The bible advises you  to “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” (Phil 4:6-7). You have a great High Priest who is touched with the  feeling of your infirmities (Hebrews 4:15). Therefore, come boldly to His throne  of grace today and cast your cares upon Him, for He cares deeply for you.

     

    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.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Dealing with sexual issues in marriage

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Dealing with sexual issues in marriage

    Read: Proverbs 5:1-23

    Meditation verse:

    “The husband should fulfil his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfil her  husband’s needs” (1 Corinthians 7:3, NLT).

    Sex was created by God as an expression of love between a husband and a wife:  to provide physical, emotional as well as spiritual bonding. “Therefore, a man  shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall  become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). Your sexual experience in marriage enhances your wellbeing. Sex is also a key cause of marital strife. Since God created sex,  He knows how destructive it can be if used in the wrong context, hence He set  very specific boundaries for it. It must be within a marriage. “Flee fornication.  Every sin that a man doeth is without the body, but he that commits fornication  sins against his own body” (1 Corinthians 6:18).  

    Today’s bible reading is an allegory of faithfulness in marriage. Couples are  enjoined to drink water from their own cistern and never allow their springs to  overflow unto the streets. Sex is likened to a spring or river, which if contained  within the banks (marriage) will lead to enjoyment and satisfaction. If the spring  exceeds the banks and spills unto the streets, great devastation can occur. Keep  your marriage bed pure and stay faithful to your spouse. God’s purpose for  marriage is for a husband and wife to always enjoy a sexually fulfilling  relationship regardless of how long they have been married.  

    Maintaining a healthy and fulfilling sex life in a marriage requires a conscious  effort on the part of both parties. According to Psychologist and marriage  counsellor, Dr Richard Nicastro, sex is not always simple and straightforward. A  whole range of factors can negate the experience of sexual fulfilment in a  marriage. An underlying physical or medical condition, or the side effects of  prescription drugs can impact a man’s libido or lead to loss of erectile function.  The demands of child rearing, juggling work and housekeeping can wear a  woman down and cause sex to drop to the bottom of her list, leaving her  husband sexually unsatisfied. Emotional issues such as unresolved anger and  resentment can result in a total loss of sexual desire.

    A negative self-image can also diminish sexual fulfilment in marriage. Some  women pile on excess weight after having children and complain that their  spouses no longer find them sexually appealing. Others begin to feel self conscious about their bodies. With all these factors, many couples find  themselves struggling to keep the sexual passion and desire alive in their  relationships. Research on long term relationships and sex show that as many as  15% of married couples have not had sex in the last six months to a year. Married  couples in a sexless marriage are more likely to consider divorce than couples  who argue constantly but remain sexually active. Sex is not just important for its  sake, it is important for the marriage relationship, as it can make or break it. 

    If you and your spouse are struggling with dwindling sexual desires or a loss of  sexual activity, if your sex life is currently boring, unsatisfactory, or devoid of  passion, you need to know that this is not God’s desire for you. Faithfulness in  marriage need not be boring, dull, or lifeless. The first and most important step  in dealing with this is to acknowledge that a problem does exist. Communication is important. You and your spouse need to come together in an atmosphere of  honesty and love to uncover and deal with the underlying factor(s). Seek  professional help if you need to.

     

    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.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Dealing with grief

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Dealing with grief

    Read: John 11:1-37

    Meditation verse:

    “Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not  have died.” (John 11:21).

    Part of being human is facing difficulties. Sometimes these difficulties are swift  and severe. Other times they can be an accumulation of small events. Failed  businesses, failed relationships, financial difficulties, death, loss, or separation.  Life is happening every day, affecting our mental health in various ways and  leaving us drained emotionally. 

    The untimely death of a loved one is one of the deadliest blows that life can  throw at any time, and this can alter our lives in more ways than one. Death is no respecter of persons, whether it is the loss of a spouse, parent, sibling, friend,  or an unborn child. The pain can become extreme and leave you numb. It can  cause you to withdraw into a shell or to lash out at others and apportion blames.  You may even begin to question God’s love for you or His existence. 

    In today’s reading, Mary and Martha were overwhelmed with grief as they  struggled to deal with the demise of their beloved brother and the reality of  Jesus’ “abandonment” in their hour of need. Jesus had failed to show up when  they pleaded with Him to come heal their brother and Lazarus died before Jesus  arrived their home. It was a known fact that Jesus loved Lazarus. In fact, all three  siblings were close to the Master, He had visited them, and they had personally attended to Him, why then did He let their brother die? 

    Are you grieving today or struggling with a painful loss? Are you wondering how  God could have allowed it to happen, even though you have faithfully served  Him? He is not responsible for your loss. We live in a fallen world where we are  up against all kinds of evil. When Jesus saw the grief that followed Lazarus’  demise, He groaned in the spirit and wept. Similarly, He sees your pain now and  He is full of compassion for you. Your time of grief will not go on forever. Your  harvest of rejoicing is coming. God can give you beauty for ashes. “Weeping may  endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).

     

    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.