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Tag: devotional

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Arise, take up your bed and go

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Arise, take up your bed and go

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: LUKE 5:17-26

    Meditation verse:

    “…He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house” (Luke 5:24).

    ‘Arise’ is an action word. It connotes a getting up or a shifting from an original position and naturally, effort will be required. The paralytic in today’s passage arose immediately he heard Jesus’ command. He could have hesitated in doubt or tried to analyse the practical reality of his situation. After all, he may have been bedridden for a while and the joints of his limbs may have gone stiff. Instead, he chose the path of faith and action by an immediate response to Jesus’ command.

    You may feel stuck and unfulfilled in a particular area of your life today; maybe you need a job, or you desire to start a business, or your marriage feels dull and lifeless, or your health is failing because you are overweight. Chances are the Holy Spirit is prompting you to do something about your condition. How will you respond? Will you rise in faith to do the needful or will you sit back in doubt? The key to receiving your miracle lies in stepping out and acting. God will not stirrup your spirit unless He has gone ahead to make provision for you. Perhaps, you tried in the past to get out of that hopeless situation but got discouraged by the challenges you encountered. Let the word of God come alive in your heart again and inspire you to arise.

    Jesus instructed the paralytic to take up his bed. His bed was what he had been lying on in his condition. It was that on which he had remained motionless and bound. Your own bed may be fear, doubts, failure, sickness, lack or sin. Just arise and go in that condition and God will honour your faith. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). “Winning starts with beginning” (Robert H Schuller). Do not enter a new month in that condition. Arise, and take a step of faith.

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns 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 God of processes and order

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: The God of processes and order

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Genesis 2: 1-25

    Meditation verse:

    “Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it” (Genesis 2:15).

    God had not yet formed man to till the ground, so He did not cause rain to fall on the earth. As a result, no plant or herb had grown on the field. After He caused a mist to water the whole face of the ground, He knew that plants would begin to grow on the earth, so He created man from the dust. Then He planted a garden eastward of Eden and put the man He had formed in charge of the garden to till it. “Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:15-17). He then realized that the man would be too lonely in the garden; he would need someone to keep him company and help him look after the garden, so He created the woman as a help mate for the man.

    The Almighty is a God of processes and order. He may withhold some blessings from you, until certain things are in place in your life. For instance, He may delay your promotion to that exalted position until your leadership skills are in place or certain habits that will derail you are eliminated. He may also delay the blessing of a life partner if you are still a boy at heart. God will always show up at the appropriate time. If you sense a delay of His promise in any area of your life, why not ask Him today what He wants you to put in order? It may be an offensive habit or trait that needs to be gotten rid of, or a skill that needs to be developed, or a lesson that needs to be learnt. God’s blessings make rich and add no sorrow to your life.

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns 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: Retrieving your losses

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Retrieving your losses

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: 2 KINGS 6:1-7

    Meditation verse:

    “But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron axe head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, master! For it was borrowed” (2 Kings 6:5).

    Some years ago, I had this journal in which I wrote inspirational messages, goals I was working towards as well as specific promises I received from God each time I spent time in His presence. It was a treasured possession, but then suddenly, I couldn’t find it. I searched everywhere I could possibly have kept it but did not find it. Weeks of searching turned into months, and then one morning when I was not searching, I found it in the least likely place.

    I had been getting a stirring in my spirit to say a prayer which I had written down on a sheet of paper and placed inside my bible.  On this morning, the desire to say this prayer was so strong, so I opened my bible to retrieve the paper and as I lifted the flaps, I saw my long-lost journal. My joy and gratitude knew no bound as I reached out and picked it up. The Holy spirit knew how important my dream journal was to me. Even though I had given up searching for it, He kept prompting my heart towards where I would find it. Suddenly, I lost my treasure and suddenly, I found it in the least likely place.

    In today’s reading, the sons of the prophets were cutting trees, when suddenly, the iron axe head fell into the water. Using an unconventional approach, Elisha made the iron float and said to them “Pick it up for yourself. So, he reached out his hand and took it” (2 Kings 6:7). What have you suddenly lost? What are you currently searching for? Peace of mind, good health, a job, or the joy and sweetness in your marriage? God’s word for you today is that you are retrieving your losses. Suddenly and in the least likely manner, you will find that which you seek. When you do, reach out take it.

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns 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 cover it up

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Do not cover it up

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: 2 SAMUEL 11:1-28

    Meditation verse:

    “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).

    After a particularly restless night, I got up in the early hours to take off a weave I had attached to my hair. The heat and discomfort on my scalp had become unbearable. I stood in front of my bathroom mirror at about 3am with a pair of scissors in my hands, taking off the threads that attached the weave to my hair. As the weave came off, I cringed at the state of my hair. It looked very dry and had gone grey at the roots. The weave had served as a cover for the true state of my hair. On the outside, my hair looked perfect and well groomed, but underneath the weave, were rows of dry and damaged hair. I decided there and then to visit a hair therapist and commence the process of rejuvenating and restoring my hair to a healthier state.

    Whilst praying a few moments later, it was impressed in my heart that in much the same way, we cover up mistakes, sins, and wrong attitudes in our lives. We use pretence, falsehood, lies or bravado to cover up the rottenness that is going on inside us. After committing Adultery with Bathsheba and impregnating her, king David tried to cover up his act by ordering the death of her husband in the battlefront. But his actions were visible before God, and He was displeased. David’s life and family were greatly affected by that singular indiscretion.

    “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 16:25). Do not cover your sins no matter how grievous they are. If you do, it will not be well with you at the end of the day. You may succeed in fooling others, but God cannot be mocked. He knows about them; He is waiting for you to own up and ask for His help. I could only commence treating my hair, after the weave came off. Complete restoration and healing can only occur when you confess and forsake your sins. Decide today to remove every cover of falsehood. No sin is too great to be forgiven, and none is too small to be confessed.

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns 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 are you hungry for?

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: What are you hungry for?

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Acts 10:1-23

    Meditation verse:

    “And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat” (Acts 10: 13).

    Peter became very hungry and wanted to eat, then he fell into a trance where he saw a great sheet descending from heaven containing all kinds of four-footed animals, wild beasts, and birds of the air. Then God told him to rise, kill and eat. Peter’s hunger put him in a state that enabled him to see the vision God had for him. Similarly, God can create a void in your life in preparation for the vision He has for us. This void leads to a hunger within you, which either puts you in a state of vulnerability or creates a restlessness in you.  Either way, as you look up to God for answers, He opens your heart to perceive what He wants you to do. The bible states that as Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit spoke to him, revealing what the vision was about.

    It is difficult to go after what you are not hungry for or what you have no desire for, because you are likely to give up at the slightest challenge. The hunger becomes the motivation that pushes you further. The greater the hunger, the greater your desire to satisfy it. When God was leading the children of Israel to the promised land, He repeatedly told them that the land was beautiful and good, flowing with milk and honey. He was creating a hunger in them that would enable them take possession of the land, despite opposition from its previous inhabitants.

    Which area of your life is there currently a vacuum or deep void? What are you hungry for? What is your deepest heart desire? The hunger and yearning you are feeling, may be connected to the vision that God has for you. It may be tied to your God-ordained assignment. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled (Mathew 5:6).

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns 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 latent function of work

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: The latent function of work

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Genesis 2:1-15

    Meditation verse:

    “Whatever your hand finds to. Do, do it with your might, for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). 

    From the beginning of creation, God instituted work. As soon as He created the first man, He gave him work to do. “The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it” (Genesis 2:15).  Psalm 104; 22-23 says, when the sun rises, they steal away and lie down in their dens. Man goes out to his work and to his labour until evening”. Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, “whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going”. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 says, “that you aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you”.

    Work is important for our total wellbeing. Absence of dignified labour affects our mental, emotional, social, financial, and psychological health.  According to social psychologist, Marie Jahoda, work has some latent benefits, besides a paycheck, which include:

    • Imposing a time structure to your day
    • Conferring status and identity on you
    • Enabling you to be part of a collective purpose
    • Providing you with activities to get involved in
    • Providing opportunities for social contact 

    If you have been feeling out of sorts, unfulfilled and worn out, a good place to begin your search is the work that you do. Are you meaningfully and sufficiently engaged? Are you utilising the gifts and talents that are important to you? Is your work an integral part of who you are? Is it in alignment with your core values?  Do you interact with others while discharging your duties? And are you part of a purpose that is bigger than you?

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns 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 many voices that speak to us

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: The many voices that speak to us

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: John 10:1-30

    Meditation verse:

    “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27).

    There are many strange voices speaking to us that we need to be aware of. Voices are powerful because they shape our lives. But listening to the wrong voice can impact your life negatively. What are some of these voices that speak into our lives?

    Your past mistakes: One of the ways the enemy tries to keep you down is by constantly reminding you of your past failures, errors, wrong choices, sins, and setbacks until you become imprisoned in it. That silent voice of accusation belongs to the devil. He wants you to focus only on what is wrong with you, until you lose your faith in God and in yourself.

    Your imagination: Our imagination always makes things seem worse because the brain prefers to focus on what could go wrong. Your imagination can speak into your life can causing you to focus only on what is wrong or can go wrong.

    The voice of others: Different people will speak to you based on their opinion of you and what their intentions are. Those with good intentions will speak good words, whilst those with evil intentions will speak negative words. Be very careful of the voices you permit into your life.

    Your thoughts: take heed to the thoughts you allow to take root in your heart for as a man thinketh in his heart so is he.

    Your experiences: Our experiences can take on a voice and begin to speak into our lives. For instance, if life has dealt you many bad blows, you begin to expect nothing good in life. That is your experience taking on a voice and speaking into your life. Failing a few times does not make you a failure. You only experienced failure for a season in your life, you can also experience success in a different season of life.

    The danger with some of these voices is that while what they speak might seem true because they mirror the realities of life, they are nit the truth. The only truth is what God says about you in His word and that is the only voice you should only to constantly speak into your life. John 10:2-5, NLT, says, “but the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice”.

    Why not silence every strange voice currently speaking into your life and speak God’s truth instead?

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns 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 exactly what you were created to do

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Do exactly what you were created to do

    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).

    The story is told of a lady who died and was on the queue standing before the Judge on judgement day to give an account of her life. She watched those in front of her reel out the mighty exploits they had done whilst on earth. Some had built great cathedrals and several places of worship, others had given billions of naira in God’s name, and some had fed thousands of people.

    Finally, it was the lady’s turn. Feeling intimidated and bowing down her head in shame as she approached the judge, she said “I am so sorry that I did not do much with my life. I stayed at home to raise my four boys. But to her utmost surprise, the Man at the gate said “well done woman, you did better than the others because you did exactly what you were put on earth to do. You were sent to raise these four boys well so that they could fulfil the great call on their lives. And because you did that, your three sons who are pastors have collectively won thirty million souls into God’s kingdom and your last child created an invention that improved the existence of mankind here on earth. These other people did what no one asked them to do, even though they spent millions doing so.

    Isaiah 55:8-9 says “for My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor 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. Before you were formed, God knew you and ordained you for a particular assignment. It is important that you discover, stick with, and actualize your purpose, because when all is said and done you will stand before God and give a full account of how you accomplished your purpose. 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 One who created you did so for a reason. So, stick with who you were called to be, every other person is taken.

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns 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: Identify and feed your multitude

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Identify and feed your multitude

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Luke 9:10-17

    Meditation verse:

    “But He said to them, “You give them something to eat.” (Luke 9:13a).

    A multitude followed Jesus as He went to a deserted place in the city of  Bethsaida. When evening came, His disciples urged Him to send the multitude  away to find food and shelter, but Jesus said to them ‘you give them something  to eat’. You are a bundle of wisdom, abilities, skills, and knowledge which you  have gathered over the years and your life experience is an asset. There is a  multitude out there waiting to drink from your wealth of experience. These are  the people you have been called to serve. This is the multitude you are meant  to feed. You were not called to serve everyone on earth. You cannot be  everything to everybody. There are about seven billion people in the world. You  are called to serve only a tiny dot of this seven billion.

    So how do you identify the multitude your multitude? Your life experiences can  lead you to them. What trials have you overcome? What processes have you  gone through and succeeded? What have you become an expert at doing? The  things that happen to us in life are hardly random, they are usually part of God’s  plan to get us to where He wants us to be. God will hardly waste a life  experience, including a painful one. If you allow Him, He can enable you use it  to feed your multitude. People are helped better when they can relate to your  personal experiences. The bible says that God comforts us so that we can  comfort others with the same comfort wherein we were comforted. (2 Cor 1:4).

    What is your story? Are you a cancer survivor? Are you a victim of rape or  domestic violence, a parent with an autistic child or a rehabilitated drug addict?  A thriving single parent, divorcee or at home mother? Your experiences can help  you identify the multitude you are called to serve. You can feed them with your  mess to message story which is a powerful tool to transform someone’s life.

    Your life is a bundle of energy which people must experience when they  encounter you. Quit feeling sorry for yourself. Identify and feed your multitude.  You have enough to feed them with. You are the light of the world. Light up your  section of the world.

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns 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: Take no thought for tomorrow

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Take no thought for tomorrow

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Mathew 6: 25-34

    Meditation verse:

    “Therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what  you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than  food and the body more than clothing?”.

    Learn to live in the present and do not worry about tomorrow. Does this mean  you should not plan for tomorrow? The answer is no. Planning for tomorrow  entails putting well thought out plans in place. It is action based and is time well  spent. Worrying about tomorrow is fretting and agitating without taking any  action. It is a harmful as it interferes with our productivity and efforts for today.  It also portrays lack of faith in God.

    The same God who put life in you, surely can be trusted with the details of your  life. Jesus enjoins us to take no thought for tomorrow, but rather focus on His  kingdom and righteousness. When we make God our priority, everything we  need will be given to us in due course. Rather, than fretting over prevailing  circumstances, the psalmist yearned for God amid his distresses. He said “why  are you cast down, o my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in  God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance” (Psalm 42:5).

    The song writer says, “count your blessings, name them one by one and it would  surprise you what the Lord has done”. Are you currently worried over a future  occurrence over which you have very little control? Why not spend the time  instead counting your current blessings. Icons of God’sfaithfulness over ourlives  are always evident. Enjoy the blessings of today. “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” (Philippians 4:6-7).  Praying about tomorrow, is time well spent. Worrying about tomorrow is time  wasted.

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns 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.