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Tag: devotional

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: You have not passed through this way before

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: You have not passed through this way before

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Joshua 3: 1-17

    Meditation verse:

    “…that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before” (Joshua 3:4b).

    The children of Israel were about to cross over the Jordan to the promised land after forty years of wandering in the wilderness. The officers went through the camp and instructed the people to move only when they see the priests and Levites bearing the ark of the covenant of God. They were to set out from their places only after they had seen the ark, so that they would know the way to go.

    It’s the beginning of a new month today: the first day of a new month. What lies ahead in the month is unknown to you as you have not passed through this month before. The ark of the covenant was a symbol of God’s presence: Yahweh’s presence: His strength and Almightiness. Today, you do not have the ark with you or the Levites who bear it. But you carry the presence of God inside you, in the person of The Holy Spirit. You are the bearer of the ark.

    Do not move ahead in this new month before you see the ark. Begin the month by setting yourself apart to wait on God and seek guidance from the Holy Spirit who is inside you. When you do this, “your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, ‘this is the way, walk in it’. (Isaiah 30:21a).

    “And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: ‘give me a light that I might tread safely into the unknown’. And he replied: ‘go out into the darkness and put thine hand into the hand of God. That shall be better than light and safer than a known way. So, I went forth and finding the hand of God, trod gladly into the night”. -ML HASKINS

    May you find the hand of God leading you in this new month.

     

    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: Stop looking back

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Stop looking back

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Genesis 19:1-26

    Meditation verse:

    “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old” (Isaiah 43:18).

    Remember Lot’s wife? She looked back towards Sodom despite being warned not to, and she became a pillar of salt. Looking back can represent thinking of the past with regret, fear, or longing. 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. He wants you to focus only on what is wrong with you, until you lose your faith in God and in yourself.

    “Selective Attention” is a concept in psychology that states that as humans, we selectively attend to what supports what we believe and selectively ignore what does not. Selective attention amplifies what we attend to, in size, frequency, amplitude and emotional tone. It determines what we physically orientate towards and move towards even when trying to avoid it. This is one of Satan’s strategies. If he can get you to believe that you are a failure, then you will only notice the ways you have failed. You will ignore your victories and who you are in Christ Jesus. You must resist him until he flees.

    God urges us to forget the former things and focus on the new. You cannot turn a new chapter of your life if you keep reliving the former one. Apostle Paul understood this when he said: “…but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead” (Philippians 3:13). No matter how messed up you are right now, what lies ahead of you is more important because of the finished work on the cross.

    So, what should you do today? If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, remember that your past sins are forgiven, look forward to a more glorious future because of your hope in Christ. If you have not yet accepted Him, pause now, and confess your sins to Him. Ask Him to forgive you and come into your heart as Lord and Saviour. Then believe that you are forgiven. It is as simple as that.

     

    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: All by His grace

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: All by His grace

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Ephesians 1:3-13

    Meditation verse:

    “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

    Grace is an unmerited favor that you receive through faith in Jesus Christ. Everything you are in life is all by His grace. By grace you were saved. Ephesians 2:5 says that even when you were dead in your trespasses, God in his rich mercy and great love for you, made you alive together with Christ. Indeed, your entire salvation and redemption journey is all by the grace of God.

    Your salvation came by grace: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11). After your salvation, you can serve God acceptably by grace. It is His grace working in you that enables you to do of His good pleasure: “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Hebrews 12:28). The spiritual gifts you receive after your conversion are based on grace: “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them…” (Romans 12:6). The power to witness to others is by grace: “And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all (Acts 4:33).

    By grace you continue to overcome your limitations, weaknesses, temptations, and sinful nature: “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness…” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Your ability to do good to others is based on grace: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

    You have become who you are by grace. Every accomplishment and success in your life has only been made possible by grace: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10). Grace is the enabler that propels you forward despite your shortcomings. You do not get the punishment you deserve because of God’s grace. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16). So, today, and always, may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

     

    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: Stop beating yourself

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Stop beating yourself

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: 1 peter 1:5-11

    Meditation verse:

    “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things” (1 Cor 13:11).

    You are not yet perfected. You are a work in progress. Your confession and acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Saviour is just the beginning of your walk with the Lord after which you would need to grow unto maturity. Therefore, you will make mistakes and stumble from time to time, or you may yield to temptation. When you do, be certain to make it right with God immediately. For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he will get up again (Proverbs 24:16). By His divine power, God has made available to you everything you need to live a godly life, but you need to obtain and utilise them. You were saved by grace through faith, but faith without works is dead.

    Make every effort to grow unto maturity, and how do you grow unto maturity? 1 peter 2:2 says, “as new-born babes, desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby”. You need to spend time in God’s presence and study His word. The more time you spend in God’s presence, the more your life exhibits the virtues of godliness, perseverance, and self-control. “But also, for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is short sighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins” (2 Peter 1:5-9).

    Philippians 2:12-13 says “therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure”. Working out your salvation is very different from working for your salvation. The wonderful gift of salvation is inside of you, you need to live out the character traits and attributes of your salvation by faith. That is what it means to grow unto maturity. You need to work out your salvation and ‘the working’ is a continuous process.

     

    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 is the object of your focus?

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: What is the object of your focus?

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Genesis 30:25-43

    Meditation verse:

    “And when they mated in front of the white-streaked branches, they gave birth to young that were streaked, speckled and spotted” (Gen 30:39, NLT).

    Your mind is a dynamic and innovative gateway. It is where you feel, think, dream, imagine, and create. It is the seat of your thoughts and beliefs. What you see and hear influence your thoughts and your thoughts influence your actions. Your actions determine your outcomes and results.

    Jacob’s strategy for building his flock depicts this powerful principle. He had asked Laban, his father in-law, for the livestock that were streaked, speckled, and spotted. Whenever the stronger females were ready to mate, he would place the peeled branches marked with white streaks in the watering troughs in front of them. And when they mated in front of the white streaked branches, they gave birth to young that were streaked, speckled, and spotted. He did not do this with the weaker females. So, he built a great flock of strong livestock.

    There is a connection between your mind and the outcomes you get out of life. You conceive in the womb of your destiny and birth whatever you focus on. Whatever you focus your mind on will eventually spur you on into a path of success or defeat. It is always a case of garbage in and garbage out. As a man thinketh in his heart so is he.

    What is the object of your focus? “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue, if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things (Phil 4:8).

     

    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: Your two realms of existence

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Your two realms of existence

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: John 17:14-19

    Meditation verse:

    “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” (John 17:16).

    As a believer in Christ Jesus, you are not of this world. You are a spirit being in a body living in a physical world. As a result, you can dwell in the physical and the spiritual realms. You can be catapulted into the spiritual realm. How does this happen? By speaking the language of the Holy Spirit.

    Every territory, locality and nation have its own unique language. The language spoken in Mexico is different from that spoken in France. Within Nigeria, there are different languages for each locality. When you spend time praying in the language of the spirit, you get transported into the realm of the spirit.

    In this world, you will have tribulations (John 16:33). But when the challenges of this physical world become unbearable, you have the option of moving into the spiritual realm. Begin by worshipping God in the beauty of His holiness, then start to pray in the language of the Holy Ghost, and as you continue, you will become enveloped by a sense of peace. At that moment in time, you have been transported into the realm of the spirit. This is a strategy I use when I get weighed down by the exigencies of the present times.

    Another way is by being in the presence of God, constantly. John 4:24 states that: “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. The more time you spend worshipping God, the more time you spend in the realm of the spirit. “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). Feeling completely overwhelmed? Begin to speak the language of the Spirit right away.

     

    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: It will happen suddenly

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: It will happen suddenly

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Psalm 126:1-6

    Meditation verse:

    “Restore our fortunes, Lord, like the streams in the Negev” (Ps 126:4, NLT).

    The Negev is a dry arid land surrounded by mountains, located in the Southern region of Jerusalem and Judea. It takes its name from the Hebrew word ‘Neghev’ which means dry. For most of the year, it remains a dry riverbed (wadi) with no water at all. However, something miraculous happens in the springtime. During the rainy season, the wadi collects water from various areas. Suddenly and swiftly, the dry riverbed turns into dangerous torrents of water within a short while of torrential rain. For a day or two, the dry wadi becomes torrents of flash floods, its dry riverbed overflowing with flood waters into the desert.

    In the journey of your life, you may encounter a Negev experience every now and then, spiritual dryness, financial crisis or marital barrenness. Just like the streams of the Negev, God can turn the tides suddenly in your favour. He can swiftly bring back your captivity and restore your fortunes. God can furnish a table for you in the wilderness. And when He does, you will be like those who dream. 2 Kings 3:17-18 says, “For thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’ And this is a simple matter in the sight of the Lord”.

    And this is God’s word for you today. Suddenly, that which you have been asking of the Lord, will be before you. You will not know how it came to be. It will happen suddenly. God will restore your fortunes, like the streams in the Negev.

     

    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: It can’t be me

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: It can’t be me

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Matthew 7:3-5

    Meditation verse:

    “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye”? (Mathew 7:3).

    Most of us are masters at seeing what is wrong with others; we can explicitly describe the details. But when it comes to seeing our faults, we become rookies. We are so blind to our faults. When issues arise, we focus on looking for the cause outside of us. We have perfected the blame game. Have you not noticed that when you point your forefinger at the other person, your thumb is pointing right back at you?

    Televangelist and best-selling Author, Joyce Meyer told a hilarious story of a conversation she had with God. She said she had reported her husband, Dave to God, but God said that Dave was not the problem. So, she asked “if Dave isn’t the problem, then who is? There’s just two of us in this home”. As far as she was concerned, it couldn’t be her.

    How often do you blame the other person for everything that is wrong, whilst failing to look inwards: -that annoying spouse, sibling, friend, child, coworker, or boss? Is there a remote chance that the problem lies with you? Does it even cross your mind to look inwards? If you are prone to saying, “it can’t be me”, here’s God’s word for you today:

    “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” – Mathew 7:1-5.

    Let the change begin with 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: Integrity pays

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Integrity pays

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Luke 8:16-18

    Meditation verse:

    “His lord said to him, well done good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Mathew 25:21).

    The story is told of a CEO who was about to retire and needed to select a successor from amongst his top managers. He sent for them and gave each a seed to plant in a seedling bag. The bag was to be placed by the window in their different offices. He informed them that in a year’s time, the person with the biggest plant would become the next CEO. As time went by, seeds of all but one of the managers began to sprout. Everyone laughed at the manager whose seed showed no sign of growing. He felt dejected and wondered why his seed had failed to thrive like the others. He had watered it daily and positioned it to receive adequate sunlight.

    Eventually, a year passed, and it was time to present their plants to the retiring CEO. One after the other, they presented their thriving plants with pride, and everyone scoffed as the manager with the dead seed showed up with an empty seedling bag. The CEO inspected all the plants and to their utmost surprise announced that the manager whose seed did not grow will become the next CEO. He said “every one of you except him has proven to be dishonest. I gave you seeds which had been boiled in hot water, there is therefore no way the original seeds I gave to you would have grown. What you did was to swap my seeds with another when you discovered what I gave to you was not growing. Only this man stuck with the seed that I gave to him even when it would not grow. How can you become the next CEO when you lack integrity?”.

    Luke 8:17 says “for nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light”. The folly you commit in secret may become known in a manner and time you least expect. And it may lead to a significant loss. Who are you when you believe no one is watching? Remember, God sees and rewards all. Integrity pays.

     

    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: Are you suffering from short cord syndrome?

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Are you suffering from short cord syndrome?

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Isaiah 54:1-3

    Meditation verse:

    “Enlarge the place of your tent and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes” (Isaiah 54:2).

    Some people live in such a way that the ‘tent’; of their lives have very little room for others. These people live in their own world. They are mostly alone with very few or no friends. They live life on a unilateral lane, moving only from their homes to their place of work and back to their homes. They have very few strong relational ties with their own family members and may not even have a spiritual family that they fellowship with. They are not willing to put in the effort required to make and keep friends. These kinds of people are said to be suffering from “short cord syndrome” (SCS).

    People with SCS are usually very critical of others. They disconnect from people at the slightest offence and burn every bridge in their lives. They have succeeded in ostracizing themselves from every relational tie. As a result, when afflicted, they suffer alone. Interestingly, people with SCS live in denial. They see nothing wrong with the way they live and tend to believe others are to blame for their short cords.

    Are you suffering from SCS? You can be set free through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10, NIV). Jesus Christ can help you extend the tent of your life to accommodate several people-He can give you the wisdom needed to understand others, put love for people in your heart and teach you relational skills to connect easily with people. He can direct you to a church family you will enjoy being a part of.

    Do you have a personal relationship with Him? Here’s a prayer you can say now: “Dear Lord, I am a sinner in need of grace Thank You Jesus for dying to set me free from sin. Please forgive me for all my sins and come into my heart. Be my Lord and Saviour. Fill me with Your Spirit and enable me to extend the tent of my life for others to come in. In Jesus name, Amen.

     

    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.