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Tag: devotional

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Thriving against all odds (2)

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Thriving against all odds (2)

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

    Meditation verse:

    “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4: 17).

    Another lesson we get from the story of little Joe is that it may not always be in your best interest to follow the crowd or the path that is most familiar. Neither is it useful to always tow the path of least resistance. You need to learn to search the unlikely and unknown or even difficult places for the things you desire in life. For in so doing, you may discover unexpected treasures. 

    Finally, the bad things that happen to you in life are not necessarily meant to defeat you but to strengthen you and prepare you for a greater glory. The pains of yesterday can become the gains of tomorrow. The pain of losing a dear brother built an inner resolve in that old man: a resolve that yielded a desired outcome. 

    “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.  We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.  For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.  So then death is working in us, but life in you.

    And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore, we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” – 2 Corinthians 4:7-18.

     

    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: Thriving against all odds (1)

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Thriving against all odds (1)

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

    Meditation verse:

    “In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world” (John 16:33b MSG).

    The story is told of a little boy Joe, who disappeared whilst staying with his grandmother in a rural community. He had been playing outside his home and suddenly was nowhere to be found. A search party was sent out to look for him, but the search went on for hours without yielding any result. An elderly man in the community decided to join in the search. His son tried to discourage him, as he had just had a surgery for a heart bypass. Besides, he reasoned that there were already so many people looking for the boy. What difference would an old man who probably would not walk fast make? But the old man refused to be dissuaded, so his son decided to go with him. They felt it was better to go their own way since joining the crowd may slow them down. They also wanted to focus on the unlikely places that would be overlooked by the crowd.

    After a few hours of walking, they came across a thick forest, fenced off with barbed wires. The son argued that little Joe would never have wandered this far, let alone gone through the wired fence. But again, the old man insisted that it was the way to go, he entered the forest, leaving his son behind. The old man had suffered a painful loss as a little boy. He had lost his little brother in a car crash and had carried the guilt of not being able to save his brother, for several years. As he trudged along the thick bush, images of his little brother flashed across his mind, and he just kept going. After what seemed like ages, he saw a dog, and then, he saw little Joe frightened and huddled in a corner. He picked him up, held him tightly in his arms and began making his way back to the crowd. The joy in his face could not be mistaken.

    There are several lessons to learn from little Joe’s story.

    Firstly, just as little Joe disappeared without any warning, life can happen at any time. You have very little control over certain occurrences in your life. Jesus said: “In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world”. You must trust God and keep striving to get ahead.

     

    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: Run to win the race of life

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Run to win the race of life

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

    Meditation verse:

    “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it (1 Corinthians 9:24).

    The most essential ingredient that will guarantee your success in life is resilience. Resilience may be defined as ‘the ability to recover from a negative life experience or set back and become stronger while overcoming it’. What differentiates those who adapt, recover, and learn from adversity from those who give up is the concept of resilience. The fundamental difference between winners and losers is how they cope with losing battles in the cause of the ‘war of life’. 

    Achieving success in life will demand a lot from you. There will be moments when you will feel like throwing in the towel. There is no doubt we are currently facing very difficult times. The world is plagued by disease, insecurity, inflation, and all kinds of evil. The pandemic ushered in so much despair and uncertainty in our personal and professional lives. These are very difficult and discouraging times. However, this is the time press forward. There is a lot that needs to be healed and restored. Your success can come from the value you dispense to others. 

    Getting to where you desire to be from where you are will not happen overnight, it will require hard work and sacrifice. You will encounter difficulties and failures, but you should not give up. Life is not made up of straight victories, but of mistakes, falls, stumbles, and bruises. Through it all you dust yourself up and keep moving. See the possibilities before you and visualize the extraordinary. Stop making excuses. Stop procrastinating. Start creating the life you were born to live. You are meant to live and not merely exist. No more sitting down when you ought to be standing tall.

    “Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings. He will not stand before unknown men” (Proverbs 22:29).

     

    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: A more excellent way

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: A more excellent way

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

    Meditation verse:

    “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).

    Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever” -1 Corinthians 13:4-8, NLT.

    Genuine love is much more than a feeling, it is an action. It is a decision we make to do good to someone even though we do not feel good towards that person. Jesus did not say ‘like your enemies’, He said ‘love your enemies’. Even when you dislike someone, you are commanded to love them. As Christians, loving others is a command, not an option. “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

    The knowledge that ‘love’ is a decision we make is life transforming. We can separate how we feel from what we decide or choose to do. I can love someone I don’t necessarily like. I can do something or act towards that person in a certain way because I know it is what God expects of me as His child even if I don’t feel ‘lovey-dovey’ doing it.’ And guess what, when you keep acting in love towards somebody, your emotions begin to line up with your actions. 

    Our thoughts affect our emotions, our emotions affect our actions, and our actions again affect our thoughts. Go ahead and try it, keep acting in love towards that spouse, neighbour, or colleague that you think you cannot stand and see if your feelings towards them would not change.  “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love”. Choose the more excellent way this year.

     

    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: Stick with your purpose

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Stick with your purpose

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Judges 9: 7-15

    Meditation verse:

    “But the olive tree said to them, ‘should I cease giving my oil, with which they honour God and men, and go to sway over trees?” (Judges 9:9).

    Before you were formed, God knew you and ordained you for a particular assignment, this is your purpose on earth (Jeremiah 1:5). He put you here to fulfil this assignment and you have been shaped by God to accomplish it. The shape of an object determines its purpose. A toothpick is shaped to pick, a spoon is shaped to scoop, a bowl is shaped to accommodate. Similarly, ‘your shape’: Spiritual gifts, Heart (what you are passionate about), Ability (natural inclination), Personality (how you are wired) and experience (your life journey) all point you towards the reason you are here. 

    Stick with your purpose this year and focus on actualizing it. We are not gifted with the knowledge of how long we would spend on earth. When all is said and done you will stand before God and give a full account of how you accomplished your purpose. You will give an account of how you used the gifts and talents that He put inside you. Whether yours is insignificant or great, stick with it. The size of your purpose does not matter to God, it is how well you accomplish it that He is interested in. 

    “The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us!’ But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I cease giving my oil, with which they honour God and men, and go to sway over trees?” (Judges 9:8-9). The story is told of a missionary teacher in a small town who received an offer of a job as chief executive in a multinational organization, he declined the offer saying, ‘I will not stoop low by abandoning my purpose in life. When you abandon your life’s purpose due to cares of this world or the pressures of life, you are stooping low. When you choose to pursue someone else’s purpose because it appears more glamourous than yours, you are stooping low. The One who created you did so for a reason. Stick with your purpose and be who you were called to be, every other person is taken.

     

    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 power to create wealth

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: The power to create wealth

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: 1 Kings 10:14-29

    Meditation verse:

    “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18).

    Our ability to create wealth comes from God and He gives in different dimensions as He pleases. King Solomon had great wisdom and people from every nation came to consult him and to hear the wisdom God had given him. “Each man brought his present: articles of silver and gold, garments, Armor, spices, horses and mules, at a set rate, year by year” (1 Kings 10:25). As he dispensed value to them, they brought him riches and his wealth increased greatly. When the queen of Sheba visited him, she was so impressed by his wisdom that she gave him one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great quantity and precious stones. Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur of the tribe of Judah was filled with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge and in all manner of workmanship to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze (Ex 31:2-4). 

    There is something of value that God has deposited inside you that you can use to create value for others such that they give you their riches in return. This is your power to get wealth. Your power to get wealth can come from a musical ability, a sporting inclination, ability to prophecy, great wisdom, leadership or organizational skills, the ability to teach, inspire or encourage.  In order words, it could be a talent, natural ability, skill, or a spiritual gift. 

    What is it that you naturally do well? For what do you always receive commendations from others? Pay close attention, as your answers may unlock your power to get wealth.  Get this power working for you by creating value for others. As you do this consistently, your wealth will increase. “Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people” (Prov 22:29, NLT).

     

    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 miracle is in the obedience

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: The miracle is in the obedience

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: LUKE 17: 11-19

    Meditation verse:

    “So, when He saw them, He said to them, ‘go show yourself to the priests.’ And so, it was that as they went, they were cleansed”. (Luke 17:14).

    The story of the ten lepers highlights the importance of obedience and faith. As they cried to Jesus concerning their situation, am certain they expected Him to say: ‘be healed’ or ‘you are cleansed from your leprosy’. But Jesus said ‘go show yourself to the priests’ and that was it. Had they not obeyed Jesus’ command they would not have received their miracle.

    I have often pondered on this story and wondered what our reaction would be in today’s church. Wouldn’t we be utterly disappointed? Wouldn’t we murmur and complain?  ‘Show ourselves to the priests?’ ‘He didn’t even touch us, how does showing ourselves to the priests count for anything? Have the priests not seen us all this while?’ These are just a few of the complaints that we would have muttered. 

    God does not owe us an obligation to answer our prayers in the way or manner we desire.  Oftentimes, we expect Him to act in a particular way, and when He gives a command or stirs us in a direction that does not match our expectations, we struggle with obeying or fail to obey. If our eyes were to be opened to behold the miracles and blessings that we have missed due to our disobedience, we would be greatly saddened. 

    Learn to trust God completely this year and commit to obeying his leading, whether it makes sense to you or not. The miracle is always in the obedience.

     

    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: It’s okay to ask God to complete your blessing

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: It’s okay to ask God to complete your blessing

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: JOSHUA 15: 13-19

    Meditation verse:

    “She said, ‘give me another gift. You have already given me land in the Negev; now please give me springs of water, too’. So, Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs” (Joshua 15:19, NLT).

    Caleb had given his daughter land in the Negev. The Negev was a dry arid land located in the Southern region of Jerusalem and Judea. It takes its name from the Hebrew word ‘Negev’ which means dry. The Negev was a dry wadi (dry riverbed) surrounded by mountains with no water at all most of the year. Caleb’s daughter realised that there was very little she could do with this type of land. Her father had given her an incomplete inheritance. So, she demanded that he make the blessing complete. She said, “give me another gift. You have already given me land in the Negev; now please give me springs of water, too”.

    It is okay to ask God to complete and perfect that which He has begun in your life. If He has blessed you with a good wife but you are yet to have children after several years, ask Him to give you children to complete the blessing of a good wife. If He has given you the gift of singing, ask Him for opportunities to bless lives with your voice. If He has blessed you with the gift of teaching and healing, ask him to open doors of opportunities so that you can minister to a hurting world with your gifts. You can ask for the blessings of promotion, upliftment, opportunities and breakthrough in your work, business, or ministry.

    In which area of your life do you see an incomplete blessing? What is required to complete the blessing? Why not ask the Lord today to complete and perfect that which He has graciously began in your 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.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: The heart of your father

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: The heart of your father

    By Oke Chinye

    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 this year.

     

    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

    By Oke Chinye

    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.