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Tag: devotional

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Lessons from the marriage at Cana

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Lessons from the marriage at Cana

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: John 2:1-10

    Meditation verse: 

    “A host always serves the best wine first, he said. Then when everyone has had  a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best  until now!”.

    At the wedding in Cana, Galilee, where Jesus and His disciples had been invited  to, the wine got finished and there was a problem at hand. The host, whose  party it was should have been the one to handle the issue, but Mary, the mother  of Jesus knew exactly who could solve the problem. She went to Jesus and simply  said “they have no wine”. She did not go into any long explanations. Even when  Jesus answered and said “woman, what does your concern have to do with me?”  She remained resolute in her belief that Jesus would handle the situation, so she  said to the servants “whatever He says to you, do it”.

    Who is your first point of contact in times of trouble? Do you run to Jesus first  for the solutions you seek or is He the last resort? How often do we run around  looking for solutions in the wrong places? Ordinarily, the host of a party is the person to seek for the needs of the guests, but Mary knew that would be a waste  of time. She knew that Jesus was both compassionate and capable, and there  was nowhere the problem would linger with Him around. When you approach God for answers and there is a delay, do you remain resolute, or do you lose  faith immediately? When He instructs you on what to do concerning that issue,  do you do it exactly as He instructs or do you tweak it to suit your own plans or  that of someone else.

    God is never late; He saves the best for the last and in so doing, the answers we  seek may be delayed. We then interpret the delay as denial and lose faith in Him.  Mathew 21:22 says “and whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will  receive”. If you do not believe, you will not receive. Jesus touched the eyes of  the two blind men and said, “according to your faith, let it be to you” (Mathew

    9:29). If you believe and expect the best, you will get the best, if you believe and  expect the worse, that’s what you will receive. So, choose wisely.

     

    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 may sometimes seem foolish

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: It may sometimes seem foolish

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31  

    Meditation verse: 

    “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is  stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25).

    Consider the following scenarios: 

    • Abraham packing all his things at over ninety years and leaving his  homeland to a place he knows nothing about.  
    • Noah telling people that God was bringing flood waters to destroy the  whole earth and then proceeding to build an ark the size of three hundred  cubits in length, fifty cubits in width, and thirty cubits in heights.  
    • Young Joseph telling his parents and older brothers that they would bow  before him and then ending up locked up in prison.  
    • Daniel stubbornly refusing to stop praying to his God and then ending up  in a pit surrounded by hungry lions.  
    • The son of a carpenter whom everyone saw growing up, starts telling  people He is the son of God and then ends up being crucified between  two notorious criminals.

    However, these stories did not end this way. Abraham went on to be the father  of many nations. The floods came and consumed the whole earth, but Noah, his  family and two of each type of animal entered the ark and the doors were shut.  The young lad Joseph, went from prison to the palace, and became the Prime  Minister of Egypt. The hungry lions did not touch Daniel all night, his God was  then pronounced as the only true God in the province. And guess what? Death  could not hold the carpenter’s son captive. He arose on the third day and has  been saving mankind since then. What do all these characters have in common?  In fulfilling their destines, they all had to do something that seemed foolish to  the world. 

    The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger  than men. Conversely, what seems wise to the world, is foolishness in God’s  sight. Do not interpret the events of your life based on what seems right to you.  Do not reject the counsel of The Almighty because it appears foolish compared to the ways of the world. God says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor  are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the  earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your  thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). It is better to look foolish before men but be wise in  God’s sight, than to be wise before men, but appear foolish before God.

     

    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 rule of first

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: The rule of first

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Mathew 6:25-34

    Meditation verse:

    “But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things  shall be added to you (Mathew 6:33).

    Whatever it is that we consider most important in life is what will always come  first. And whatever comes first, we would always prioritize and make time for.  This is the rule of first. This rule also states that we commit our resources: be it  time, attention, money, energy, commitment or focus to what comes first in our  lives. Whatever comes first to us, we preserve, nurture and service.

    It therefore follows that whatever you put first in your life will be the master of  your life. “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one, and  love the other or else, he will hold on to one and despise the other. You cannot  serve God and be enslaved to money” (Mathew 6:24, NLT). The amplified  version stretches it further by saying “you cannot serve God and mammon  (money, possessions, famer, status or whatever is valued more than the Lord)”.

    God is not against your prosperity. Psalm 35:27 says He delights in the prosperity  of His saints. In John 10:10, He says he came that we may have life and have it  in abundance. 3 John 2 states “Beloved, I pray that you may [prosper in all things  and be in health, just as your soul prospers”. However, God understands the rule  of first and so He wants you to put Him first before any other thing. Mathew  6:33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all  these things shall be added to you”.

    Here’s the difference. When you put these other things first, you miss out on  God’s best for you, but when you put God first, you get His best and in addition,  He adds the best of these other things to you. Given both options, which would  you choose? Choose wisely.

     

    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: Increase comes from God

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Increase comes from God

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: 1 Corinthians 3:1-15 

    Meditation verse:

    “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6).

    We were created to work and not to be idle. Ephesians 2:10 says, “we are His  workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared  beforehand that we should walk in them”. As soon as God created the first man,  he gave him an assignment; to till the garden, be fruitful and dominate the earth.  You were put on this earth to fulfil your own assignment and take dominion over  the earth. There will always be work for you to do. Ecclesiastes 9:10 says that  whatever your hand finds to do, do it well. The size of a task is immaterial, your  responsibility is to always give it your best. The outcomes and results you get  whilst accomplishing a task are up to God.  

    The Apostle Paul said he planted, and Apollos watered but God was the one who  gave the increase. In order words, the results of their efforts were in God’s  hands. This is an important insight for anyone feeling discouraged by the  outcomes of their efforts in whatever task they are doing. If you have toiled in a  particular endeavour but have seen minimal results, keep toiling. Proverbs 16:33  (NLT) says “we may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall”  Ecclesiastes 11:5 says as we do understand the path of the wind or how the  bones grow in a woman with a child, so we do not understand the working of  God. Psalm 75:6 says that promotion does not come from the East, West, or  South. Romans 9:16 says that it does not therefore depend on man’s efforts. 

    Increase comes from God. Keep working at the tasks you have been given.  Commit to whatever your hand finds to do. Stay faithful and do not relent. “Now  the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in  him” (Hebrews 10:38). Do not cast away your confidence, for in due season, you  will reap if you do not lose heart (Galatians 6:9). Be rest assured that whatever  God is involved in must grow. So, commit your work to Him and you will succeed.

     

    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: What you are doing today is important

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: What you are doing today is important

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Psalm 78:70-72

    Meditation verse:

    “From following the ewes that had young, He brought him, to shepherd Jacob  His people and Israel, His inheritance” (Ps 78:71).

    Today’s work, no matter how insignificant it may seem, is not a wasted effort.  Whatever you are doing today is preparing you for tomorrow’s assignment. It is  storing up experience, skills, knowledge, and talents for future use. It is enabling  you create a reputation in a sphere of influence. And when you become known  for something, you will be sought after when that skill is needed. Little wonder  the bible says: “whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might”  (Ecclesiastes 9:10a).

    David spent his early years shepherding sheep, without knowing that he was in  training for his future responsibility as king where he would shepherd God’s  people. (1 Sam 16:11-12). At the appointed time, God took him from caring for  sheep to caring for His people. The role of a shepherd is critical. The flock is  dependent on the shepherd for provision, guidance, and protection. So, when  God was looking for a king to care for His people and not just to rule them, David  was the right person. God had tested him with sheep, and he had done a  fantastic job. As king, he did a fantastic job too. “He shepherded the people  according to the integrity of his heart and guided them by the skilfulness of his  hands” (Ps 78:72).

    Several years ago, long before my purpose in life became clear to me, I began to  develop a deep hunger to acquire knowledge, so I invested a huge amount of  time and resources building my knowledge base. I studied God’s word like my  life depended on it and I went on to acquire two master’s degree in Psychology,  which is a subject that deals with human development and behaviour. I had no  idea that God was preparing me for the assignment of building, equipping, and  transforming lives. Yesterday’s work is ‘stored work’. So, approach whatever you are doing now with all the seriousness it deserves and work at doing it  excellently. “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones.  But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater  responsibilities” (Luke 16:10 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: God will always make a way of escape

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

    By Oke Chinye

    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 several reasons some  of which are:

    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: Adjust your way to the top

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Adjust your way to the top

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: 2 Peter 1:5-7

    Meditation verse:

    “Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may  see your progress” (1 Timothy 4:15).

    “Life is a lively process of becoming” (Douglas MacArthur). Success is about  progression, not perfection. If we desire to get to the top or achieve success in  life, we may need to make certain adjustments as we progress. To adjust means  to alter or move something slightly to achieve the desired fit, appearance or  result. Some of us need to adjust our mindsets from that of a victim to that of a  victor. Others need to adjust their attitudes from a negative one to a more  positive one. Your attitude affects how you feel and how you feel affects what  you do. For some of us it is our behaviours that need to be adjusted. Laziness,  anger, spiritual apathy, procrastination, and slothfulness will get you nowhere.  To change outcomes, you must change behaviour. To change behaviour, you  must get to the underlying attitudes and change them.

    Some of us need to adjust how we spend our time. Ephesians 5:15-16 says, “See  then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time,  because the days are evil”. For some of us, it the company we keep. Proverbs  13:20 says “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of  fools will be destroyed”. Still yet, many of us need to adjust what we feed our  minds with. What goes into your mind affects your thoughts and as a man  thinketh in his heart, so is he. It is always a case of garbage in, garbage out.

    2 Peter 1:5-9 (MSG) says, “so don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve  been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual  understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm  friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the  others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow  under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your  experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can’t see what’s  right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.

    “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). It’s a new month. Adjust your way to the top.

     

    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 blessing of the ‘latter’

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: The blessing of the ‘latter’

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Job 42:1-16 

    Meditation verse: 

    “Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen  thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female  donkeys” (Job 42:12).

    The word “latter” means occurring or situated nearer to the end of something than to the  beginning. There are several scriptures that highlight the blessings of the “latter”. Job 8:7 says,  “Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly”. Haggai  2:9 states, “The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former; says the Lord of  hosts. ‘And in this place, I will give peace,’ says the Lord of hosts.” Ecclesiastes 7:8-9 says “The  end of a thing is better than its beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in  spirit. Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools. Do not  say, “why were the former days better than these?” For you do not inquire wisely concerning  this’. Deuteronomy 8:16 says “who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers  did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the  end”. Ezekiel 38:8 says “After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come  into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the  mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and  now all of them dwell safely”. Zechariah 4:10 says “For who has despised the day of small  things?” 

    What can be inferred from these scriptures? Firstly, a small or bad start does not transmit to  a small or bad end. The fact that the beginning of the year has been very rough does not  necessarily mean the year will end on a difficult note. Also, that your life has been challenging  this far does not mean that you will live in sorrow for the rest of your life. God’s ability to  restore that which has been wasted, broken, ruined, lost, damaged or even dead is beyond  human comprehension. Psalm 126:1 says, “When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, 

    we were like those who dream”. Job suffered so much loss, but God blessed his latter days more than his beginning. He died old and full of days. 

    Your present loss is nothing compared to that of Job, so be rest assured that your season of  joy and restoration is coming. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “To everything there is a season, a time  for every purpose under heaven”. That suffering, pain and defeat will not go on forever. There  is a ‘latter rain’ blessing coming your way. The latter part of this year will be better than the  beginning. The latter part of your life will be better than the former. What do you do in that  situation? In all his suffering Job did not curse God. Keep your faith and trust in God. He is  never late. The end of a matter is better than its beginning. Scriptures cannot be broken.

     

    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: As it was in the beginning

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: As it was in the beginning

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Genesis 1:1-31

    Meditation verse:

    “Then God said, “let there be light”, and there was light” (Genesis 1:3).

    The first book of Genesis offers an interesting insight for us, whenever we find  ourselves in an overwhelming situation or when we are enveloped by a sense  helplessness, confusion, and lack of clarity. Genesis 1 states that In the beginning  God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void;  and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering  over the face of the waters. Then God began to create. The first thing He created  was light and He saw that the light was good. He then divided the light from the  darkness. He called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night.

    If you are a child of God, you are a carrier of the Holy Spirit. And because the  Holy Spirit is in you, you can call forth light to shine into the chaotic and dark  situations that you encounter. Job 22:28 says “You will also declare a thing, and  it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways”. You have the  power to call forth order amid chaos. “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound  in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven (Mathew  18:18.

    It’s the first day of a new month. What is that circumstance before you that feels  overwhelming? A difficult spouse? Joblessness? Dead marriage? Difficult child?  Financial difficulty? ill-health? With God on your side, no situation is ever as bad  as it seems. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love  it will eat its fruit (Proverbs 18:21). You have God’s power on your side. You have  authority in Jesus’ name to stop disorder and permit order. You can call those  things that are not into existence through the power of the Holy spirit in you.

    Ask God to open your eyes to understand your authority as a believer. “that the  God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of  wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding  being enlightened; that you may know what the hope of His calling is, what are  the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians 1:17-18). Then  open your mouth and call forth light into that dark situation. “Let there be light!”.

     

    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 not look back

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Do not look back

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Genesis 19:1-29

    Meditation verse:

    “But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt” (Genesis  19:26).

    In today’s reading, God had decided to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. He sent  two angels to warn Lot to flee with his family. The instruction was “escape for  your life, do not look behind you”. But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became  a pillar of salt. Looking back is dangerous; it stalls your movement, hinders your  progress, and keeps you rooted in the same spot. When you keep looking back  you are identifying with what is behind including your mistakes, fear, errors, and  all. Stop looking back at what should or should not have been, what is ahead of  you is more important. This month ends today, get excited about what God has  in store for you in the new month, which begins tomorrow. You cannot open a  new chapter of your life if you keep reading the previous one.

    Look up to God in gratitude, faith, and anticipation. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I  know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and  not of evil, to give you a future and a hope”. Psalm 121:1-3 states, “I will lift up  my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the  Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He  who keeps you will not slumber”. These are God’s promises over your life, and  he is saying to you this day, “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? I will make even make a road in the wilderness and rivers bin the  dessert”

    Isaiah 55:11 says, “so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth. It shall  not return to Me void. But it shall accomplish what I please and shall prosper in  the thing for which I sent it”. Once God speaks, it is as good as done. So, get  excited about tomorrow.

     

    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.