Tag: devotional

By Oke Chinye

Read: Mathew 7: 7-11

Meditation verse:

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be  opened to you” (Matt 7:7).

Today’s reading highlights a powerful model for receiving answers to our  prayers: ‘the ask-seek-knock model’. To ask means to demand for what you  desire. To seek means to search for or go in search of that which you desire. It  goes beyond just asking. Knocking entails striking a surface noisily to attract  attention, until you get what you want. It can also entail knocking down or  demolishing barriers that may prevent you from getting that which you desire.  

Unfortunately, most of us stop at asking. We make a few hard-hearted attempts  at asking and give up, then we wonder why our requests are not answered. In  Luke 18, Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow, who continually cried  out to the judge for justice against her adversaries. Jesus concluded by asking  “and shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him,  though He bears long with them? 

If you are yet to receive answers to a long-awaited request from God, can you  of a truth say you have thoroughly applied the ask-seek-knock model? There are  certain miracles we will not receive until we persist in ask, seeking and knocking.  Mathew 17:21 says, “however, this kind does not go out except by fasting and  prayer”. Keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking, for everyone who asks  receives, everyone who seeks find and to everyone who knocks, the door will be  opened. God’s word is forever settled. In due season the answers you desire will  come.

 

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.

By Oke Chinye

Read: Isaiah 7:1-9

Meditation verse:

“Thus says the Lord God: “It shall not stand, nor shall it come to pass (Isaiah 7:7).

The kings of Syria and Israel went to make war against Jerusalem at the time  when Ahaz was King of Judah. When it was reported to him that Syrian forces  had been deployed against the house of David, the hearts of the king and all the  people were moved as the trees of the woods are moved with the wind; they  were terrified. But then God spoke through the prophet Isaiah, “Take heed, and be quiet; do not fear or be fainthearted for these two stubs of smoking  firebrands, it shall not stand, nor shall it come to pass”.

The are very soul trying times. Insecurity, high cost of living, flooding, terrorism,  and invasion of our land, resulting in the killing of innocent souls. The arrogance  of the wicked is frightening. Globally, the picture is not brighter, with the war in  Ukraine, the energy crisis, pandemic, flooding, costs of living crisis and global  recession. All of which is leading to a spiral in mental health issues: – depression,  stress, and anxiety.  

Amid all of these, God is sending His word of comfort to you this day.  “O you afflicted one, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I  will lay your stones with colourful gems, and lay your foundations with  sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of crystal, and  all your walls of precious stones. All your children shall be taught by the  Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you  shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not  fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. Indeed, they shall  surely assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever assembles against you  shall fall for your sake. Behold, I have created the blacksmith who blows  the coals in the fire, who brings forth an instrument for his work; and I  have created the [b]spoiler to destroy. No weapon formed against you  shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and  their righteousness is from Me, says the Lord” (Isaiah 54:11-17). 

But you must believe and keep faith. Do not give up. Do not lose your faith in  God. “If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established” (Isaiah 7:9).

 

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.

By Oke Chinye

Read: Revelations 20:11-15

Meditation verse:

“And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of  fire” (Revelations 20:15).

I narrowly missed an appointment with death several years ago. I had gone to a  hospital for what was to be a simple surgical procedure. Unfortunately, it ended  up as a “failed surgery”, as my abdomen began to swell up with severe pains. The most terrifying part of my ordeal was the knowledge that neither my  surgeon nor any member of his team had a clue as to what had gone wrong. It  was after about ten days of suffering, that the surgeon requested a scan after  which he informed us that I had developed post-surgical abscess in my  abdomen, and he would have to perform a second surgery to drain the fluid 

My husband, who was already dissatisfied by the doctor’s ineptitude, rejected  his request for a second surgery, a decision that turned out to be divinely  inspired. He demanded that I be discharged from the hospital and went on to  perfect arrangements so I could be flown abroad the next day. I was admitted  into a hospital as soon as we arrived the Country. Till date, the words of the  surgeon at that hospital still send cold chills down my spine. He said: “if you had  gone to the theatre a second time, it would have been fatal”. He informed me  that the failed surgery had caused a serious infection in my stomach, such that  opening it up would result in the infection spreading throughout my system. The  abscess was drained by inserting a long needle through my backside which was  guided by a C.T scan, whilst I lay face down. The 2-hour painful procedure was  yet another miracle of God. I left the hospital after 2 weeks, out of death’s claw.  

I was given a second chance at life as I could have gone for the second surgery  and died. And I have shared my story to show that death can come knocking  when we least expect it. Hebrews 9:27 states that it is appointed for men to die  once, but after this, the judgment will come. After death, everyone, small and  great will stand before God and face ‘The Great White Throne Judgment’. The  books would be opened, and we will be judged according to our works, by the  things written in the books and “anyone not found written in the Book of Life 

will be cast into the lake of fire” (Rev 20:15). The bible refers to this as the second  death. This is a spiritual death signifying an everlasting separation from God. For  your name to be written in the Book of Life, you must have trusted and accepted  Christ as your Lord and Savior, for “except a man be born again, he cannot see  the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Why not examine your life this day to determine  whether the life you are living now will earn you a place in the Book of 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.

By Oke Chinye

Read: Jeremiah 1:1-10

Meditation verse:

“Then I said, “Behold, I come; in the scroll of the book, it is written of me” (Psalm  40:7).

Irrespective of the circumstances of your life, God thought about you, and  purposely put you in your mother’s womb. Your conception was not an accident.  Your birth was not a mistake. You purpose was determined before your arrival  here; the number of your years was decided by the One who put you here. The  story of your life has already been written by God; you are just living out the  script. And there are several scriptures that highlight these facts.  

Psalm 139:13-17 says, “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my  mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not  hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest  parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your  book, they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were  none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is  the sum of them!”. 

Jeremiah 1:5 says ““Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you  were born, I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations. “Romans 8:28-30 says “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. For whom He  foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He  might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He predestined,  these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He  justified, these He also glorified”. 

One important question that we need to ponder over is “am I living out the script  written by God? The only way you can be certain that the script you are living is  the one predetermined by Him is if you have surrendered your life to Jesus Christ  as Your lord and Savior. Because if you have done so, you have the Holy Spirit in  you, working in you to will and do according to God’s will for your life. Outside  of this, chances are you are either living out your own script, the script dictated  by the world or even that dictated by the devil. Remember you will give an  account on the last day.

 

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

or call +2348155525555

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

By Oke Chinye

Read: John 4: 21-24

Meditation verse:

“God is a spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth”  (John 4:24).

Worship is an expression of our love for God, who He is to us and our need for  Him. True worship should reflect how we truly feel about God. There can be no  pretense in the place of worship. Your mouth must profess what your heart  longs for. One of the reasons God described David as a man after His own heart  was that David was intentional and truthful in his worship of God. He chose his  words carefully to express his deepest feelings and yearnings in the place of  worship. One time he said, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my  soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come  and appear before God?” (Psalm 42:1-2). Another time he said, “Bless the Lord,  o my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name” (Psalm 103:1). Most  chapters in the book of Psalm were expressions of his love and need for God.  

I came across a beautiful piece in the “Woman Thou Art Loosed” edition of the  bible authored by Bishop T D Jakes, which exemplifies the heart of a true  worshiper: 

God, You alone are King of my heart. My Hero, my Helper, my Confidant,  my Friend. You are the great and only Lover of my soul. My solace, my  Listener, my Amazing One. Protector, Provider, Supreme Sacrificer, Source  of life and love and all good gifts. You are the River that runs through me,  the Rock of Ages beneath me, the God of Glory above me, the Spirit of Life  within me. My heart beats for You. Yours is the love that I lean on. Yours  is the hand that I reach for.  

Yours is the breast my tears find their way to. You are Counselor,  Comforter, Captain of all my ways. You are the Searcher of my heart, the  Keeper of my secrets, the Giver of my dreams. You are all the wonder that  is love to me- my most intimate Companion, Dweller in the deepest parts  of me. We walk together now and through all eternity-Father and child,  King and prince/princess, Savior, and saint. Heaven and earth. The most  natural conversation of my day is prayer. You are my favorite Friend. I love  You deeply my Lord.  

Are you a true worshiper?

 

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.

By Oke Chinye

Read: Daniel 1:1-18

Meditation verse:

“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).

Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon had besieged Jerusalem and taken captive  some of the children of Israel. What was the criteria of selection: ‘young men in  whom there was no blemish, but good looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing  knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s  palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the  Chaldeans” (Daniel 1:4).  

Among those selected were Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These  young men were gifted in knowledge, skills, and wisdom. In addition, Daniel had  understanding in all visions and dreams. They were not just gifted in skills; they  were exceptional in character and in their commitment to God. Daniel purposed  in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s delicacies and wine.  He insisted that they be given vegetables and water instead. At the end of their  probation period, these four young men were found to be ten times better than  all the magicians and astrologers in that area.  

How are you standing out in your place of work, community, church, or  wherever you are living your life? Are your skills, character, commitment,  excellence, and diligence causing you to stand or are you lost somewhere  amongst the multitude? The path to greatness is a lonely journey. What are you  doing differently from others that will single you out for favor and promotion? 

For the sake of what are you willing to do or not do what?

 

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.

By Oke Chinye

Read: Genesis 27:1-40

Meditation verse:

“By your sword you shall live, and you shall serve your brother; and it shall come  to pass, when you become restless, that you shall break the yoke from your  neck” (Genesis 27:40).

Jacob had pretended to be his brother Esau, and their father, Isaac gave Esau’s  blessings to him. As Esau pleaded with his father to bless him with whatever was  left, his father said to him, “behold your dwelling shall be of the fatness of the  earth, and of the dew of heaven from above. By your sword you shall live, and  you shall serve your brother; and it shall come to pass, when you become  restless, that you shall break the yoke from your neck”. 

There are certain conditions or situations that we have tolerated in our lives,  and these have become yokes unto us. We allow them to remain even though  we do not like them. A yoke is a wooden piece fastened over the necks of two  animals and attached to a cart for them to pull. Naturally these animals would  exert much effort and their pace would be slow. Scripturally, a yoke represents  bondage, servitude, or a burden. Anything that diminishes your chances of  succeeding in life is a yoke. Anything that slows your pace or causes you to be  weighed down has become a yoke in your life. A yoke could be a bad habit, a  persisting challenge, sin, servitude under a wicked boss, an abusive marriage,  excess weight causing health issues, negative mindset, or any other thing that is  taking away value from your life. Today’s scripture is saying, ‘you are only  tolerating it because you are not fed up with that situation. When you can’t take  it anymore, you will break loose and run free.  

Standing in front of a mirror several years ago, weighing over 100kg, I knew I  was fed up with the yoke of excess weight that was reducing my quality of life  by affecting my self-esteem. After years of struggling with low self-esteem and  fear, I knew it was time to break free. It is time for you to break free too. Do not  settle for less than what you know you deserve in life because of the burden of  a yoke. We only live once on earth, and we are not gifted with the knowledge of  how long we will be here. Make the most of your today; become restless and  remove that yoke from your neck. Determine what you need to do to move  forward, and then get going.

 

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: 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).

I watched a guy called Wyn Stacks sing his original song tittle “who I am” on the  America’s Got Talent (AGT) show some weeks back and that song made a whole  lot of sense to me. Here are some words from his song: 

I’ve been closing the door all my life, held it in but not anymore 

Got two feet on the floor, this is it, I’m stronger than ever before 

Pardon my imposition, but this is my conviction, I need to get this off my mind; 

I gotta be me, Gotta be I, Gotta be who I know I am inside 

Can finally breathe, taking it in, look at me flying! 

It’s always been there, it just took me a minute to find it 

If I were to be anybody else, I’d just be hiding who I am 

Lookin’ back, back on a little boy, never gave him a chance to ever be more I didn’t love him but I’m gonna love him right now and forever 

It’s time to push open the door. Pardon my imposition, but this is my conviction Ain’t nothing left to hold me down. I gotta be me. Gotta be I, Gotta be who I know I am  inside 

Can finally breathe, taking it in, look at me flying! 

Before you were formed, God knew you and ordained you for a particular  assignment, this is your purpose on earth (Jeremiah 1:5). You are here to fulfil  this assignment. God put a distinctive seed of greatness inside you, and He has  shaped you to accomplish it. You must identify that specific purpose and live it  out fully. You must be exactly who you were created to be.  

Unfortunately, some people despise who they are and attempt to be someone  else. Wyn Starks song taught us that this would amount to hiding who we are.  His song makes us understand that true freedom can only come when you  identify who you were created to be and live it out fully without any apology.  Because when you do that, you are energised, and it feels like you are flying. Not  living out your purpose amounts to closing the door of your own life and that is  not self-love. Wyn says it’s time to push open the door and be you. Give yourself  a chance to be more. Live out the greatness that God put inside you. Do not let  anything hold you back. Be exactly 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.