Tag: devotional

By Oke Chinye

Read: Psalm 119:89-106

Meditation verse:

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).

When God gives you a word of promise, He expects you to do something with it. He gave it to you as a guide so that you do not grope or stumble in darkness. The bible states that God’s word is a lamp to our feet. Your feet are for going forth. When you take hold of a lamp in a dark room, you do not just stand still. You put the light in front of you and move forward. That way, you do not grope in the dark, stumble, fall or end up in a wrong place. Similarly, with God’s word, you will not stumble through life or miss your way entirely. But you must run with the word, for it to light up your path.

It took several years before I understood this principle. Towards the end of each year, I would take out time to wait on God in fasting and prayers. I would ask Him for a theme based on a scripture to guide me in the coming year and He was always faithful. One evening, I sat at my desk looking at all the themes that God had given me in the past years and wondering why they had not yielded the results I expected. It suddenly dawned on me that God had expected me to order my plans and activities for each year based on the word He had given me. I had however sat still, expecting a magic wand to make things happen.

For instance, the year He gave me “purposeful advancement towards a life of significance”, did I in the cause of the year, come up with a plan on how I would advance into significance in key areas of my life? Did I seek out enough opportunities to show case my gifts and talents? Purposeful means intentional, planned or thought off and to be significant, you must show up. When He said, “grow unto perfection”, did I increase the time I spent studying His word? Did I ponder on what childish things I needed to do away with to become mature?

When God gives you a specific word, it is because He wants to accomplish something specific in that area of your life, but unless you act based on the word, nothing happens. Be diligent to run with every word that God speaks to you this year. If His mouth has spoken, then His zeal has already perfected.

 

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.

By Oke Chinye

Read: Exodus 10:1-29

Meditation verse:

“Now the Lord said to Moses, ‘go in to Pharoah, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his servants, that I may show these signs of Mine before him” (Ex 10:1)

God may choose to harden the heart of men against you so that He may display his miraculous signs in your life. He wanted to display His awesome power before Pharoah as well as build up the faith of the children of Israel ahead of their journey to the promised land, so He said to Moses: “Go in to Pharaoh; for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his servants, that I may show these signs of Mine before him, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and your son’s son the mighty things I have done in Egypt, and My signs which I have done among them, that you may know that I am the Lord.” (Ex 10:1-2)

Not everyone you ask for a favour, will oblige you and not everyone who refuses to oblige you is doing so from a point of wickedness. Proverbs 21:1 says: “the king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. God can cause a man to favour you in any situation, He can also cause a man to withhold that favour from you. “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Phil 2:13). Certain rejections and disappointments are a set up for God to do the miraculous in your life. If you fully understand this, you will fret less in the face of disappointments. You will hold your peace when those you expect to come through for you fail to do so.

If you are currently nursing a grudge because the one you expected to be of help to you in your time of need, deserted you, do yourself a favour and let go of that grudge. The help of man is useless anyway and cannot be compared to the might of The Almighty. (Ps 60:11). Why not make Psalm 23: 1-3 your declaration this year: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

 

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.

By Oke Chinye

Read: Zechariah 4:1-14

Meditation verse:

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumbline in Zerubbabel’s hand” (Zechariah 4:10 NLT)

No matter how easy or difficult a task is, it will never be done until the first step towards accomplishing it is taken. Every magnificent building was erected by laying the first block. Every great task begins with a singular activity. Every journey in life begins with a step. That first step is always the critical one. Until it is taken, nothing happens.

The first step may be as simple as making a phone call, sending an email, writing down a plan or it may be as significant as travelling to a different location or making a purchase. God is always delighted when you take that vital first step towards whatever He has stirred your heart to do. It is an indication of your obedience and trust in Him.

Zerubbabel had the task of rebuilding the temple and God said to him “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumbline in Zerubbabel’s hand” (Zechariah 4:10 NLT). A plumbline is a weight suspended from a string used as a vertical reference line to ensure a structure is centred. It’s an indication that construction is ongoing.

What goals have you set for yourself this year? What are your plans for 2022?

What assignment or task has been committed into your hands? Is the plumbline in your hands already or are you still evaluating and analysing? Do not get caught up with the bug of ‘the paralysis of analysis’ Take hold of the plumbline immediately. “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him” (2 Chronicles 16:9 NLT). As God’s eyes scan the earth, will He see you holding the plumbline in the place of your assignment?

 

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.

By Oke Chinye

Read: Exodus 4: 1-17

Meditation verse:

“Then the Lord asked him ‘what is that in your hand? A shepherd’s staff, Moses replied (Ex 4:2).

God will often use what you already have in your hands to provide what you need, especially in the purpose He has called you to accomplish. The bible is replete with such instances. When God wanted Moses to go and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt, He told Moses to use what he already had in his hands: the shepherd’s staff. David used what he already had in his hands to defeat goliath. When a certain widow cried out to Elisha for help, after her creditors threatened to take her two sons as slaves, Elisha used what she already had; ‘a flask of olive oil’, to make provision for her (2 Kings 4:2).

However, we often despise what we have in our hands. We believe it is inadequate or insignificant. To Moses, the staff was ‘just a stick’, but to God, it was the instrument for performing the miracles needed to convince the hard hearted Pharoah to let the people go. To the widow, her flask of olive oil was “nothing at all, but to Elisha it was enough to fill all the jars she could lay her hands on (2 Kings 4: 1-7). To Jesus’ disciples, what they had to feed the multitude was “only five loaves of bread and two fishes”, but to Jesus, it was all that was needed to feed five thousand (Luke 9:12-17). In each case, they did not think much of what they had.

Similarly, you may feel inadequate or insignificant. You may feel you have nothing much to offer to the world. But what you have in your hand is always enough for God to use. He can work with whatever you have, no matter how small. He can take that little qualification, skill, talent, or ability and make something great out of it, if only you will surrender it to Him. Quit feeling intimidated. Ask God to open your eyes to see what you have, then step out in faith this year and put what God has put in your hands to good use. And when you look back, you would be amazed by what you have accomplished.

 

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.

By Oke Chinye

Read: Psalm 27:1-14

Meditation verse:

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

Your source of strength: Psalm 27:1 says “the Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall, I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?”. Do you know the implication of this statement? You do not have to worry whether your ability will carry you through because you have a source to draw from. The Almighty God who is so strong that He does not need to sleep or slumber to be refreshed is the source of your strength. Never doubt your ability to carry out a task. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13).

Your source of strategies: Psalm 32:8 says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye”. John 16:13 states that when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. The Holy Spirit is the greatest teacher, coach, mentor, and life strategist. He can instruct and give you strategies for success in every area of your life.

Your source of solutions: God has a solution for every problem; including difficult issues. He can make a way for you where there seems to be no way. He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, that He may seat him with princes—with the princes of His people (Psalm 119:7-8). He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children (Psalm 119:9). He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire (Psalm 46:9). He calms the storm, so that its waves are still (Psalm 107:29), He can calm every raging storm in your life. There is no disease that He cannot cure. He can raise the dead and give life to every dead situation in your life. His ability to restore life is beyond human understanding.

What God cannot do, does not exist. There is no situation that he cannot change. He is your source for every need. Let Him be your highest priority this new year.

 

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.

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).

Your mind is a dynamic gateway. It is where you feel, think, imagine, and dream. 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. 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 wanted them to create a mental image of the place. In Genesis 13:14-17, God said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered. Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.”

Great endeavours are first conceived in the mind and what the eyes cannot see, the mind cannot conceive. What can you see ahead of you? Be very deliberate about what you choose to focus on this year. Whatever you focus your mind on will eventually spur you on into a path of success or defeat. Choose wisely.

 

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.

By Oke Chinye

Read: Proverbs 4:20-27

Meditation verse:

“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23).

Your mental and emotional wellbeing are essential to the quality of your life experience. What you think of, what you do and who you associate with, will affect how you feel which will either positively or negatively impact your mental health. Proverbs 4:23 says: “keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life”. With increase in mental health challenges and suicide rates, prioritizing your mental wellbeing is important. Here are some ways to enhance your mental health to enable you thrive as you proceed this year.

• Be very intentional about what you focus on this year. Jack Ma is quoted as saying “if you want to feed a problem, keep thinking about it”. It is so easy to focus on what you have lost, times you have failed, whose fault it is and why it happened. The human brain prefers to focus on what could go wrong. You will need to constantly redirect your focus to more positive aspects of your life. Philippians 4:8, says: “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 and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things”

• Constantly audit your focus. Ask yourself ‘why am I feeling this way’? What am I focusing on? Then change your focus if you need to. Spend your time on things that build your confidence rather than on what diminishes it.

• Regulate the influence of your external forces on your mental health. Ask yourself, ‘what is that thing in the outside world that when I see, it reduces my self-confidence and sense of self-worth? It may be presence of certain people or the social media handles of some individuals, which portray them as being perfect. Distance yourself from whatever it is. Delete, block and bar if you need to.

• Be the observer and controller of your life. A thermometer fluctuates up and down, depending on the temperature of the environment, whilst a thermostat controls the temperature. Choose to be a thermostat and control the tempo and pace of your life.

• Figure out what you are good at and develop yourself to become amazing at it. Stop focusing on fixing your weaknesses. It is a losing strategy for your mental wellbeing. Pay others to do for you what you are not good at and stay with what you are good at.

• Be very selective of who you permit into your personal space. Avoid people who dispense negativism. They will drain your internal power: (that is your hope, self-belief, resilience, and optimism). Have you noticed that you become so exhausted after spending time with some people? They either keep saying negative things, putting others down, constantly arguing or trying to control you? You need to keep a distance from such people for the sake of your mental health.

• Do not let people’s actions determine your emotions and actions. Since our actions determine our outcomes, when you let others determine how you react, you are invariably letting them determine the outcomes you get out of life. You can’t control the actions of other people, People do not get you angry, they just do what they do, and you react as you will. You can control your response and reaction.

• Do not wait for apologies before forgiving an offence. You may be waiting for a long time. Suppose they never apologise? Would you stay angry forever? That carrying too much baggage around.

• Be responsible for your life and actions. Own your experiences. Cherish the good, change the bad, accept what you cannot change. Strive to become financially independent. Avoid depending on others for your existence. If you do, they will control your life.

• Assert yourself when you should. It is wise to know when to speak and when to be silent. The bible says in (Proverbs 26:4-5). do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him, in the next verse it says answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his conceit When people mistreat you, let them know. We teach others how to treat us.

• Never compare yourself with anybody. Be unapologetically who you are. The apostle Paul says comparing themselves with themselves, they are not wise. Do not be unwise. Don’t compare. The people you are comparing yourself with have their own flaws.
• Get out of the goal post of your life and play in the midfield. Action breeds confidence. Inaction breeds fear.

• Lastly, guard your heart with all diligence. The battle is always first lost in the mind. Feed your mind with the word of God and avoid unwholesome content. Remember, as a man thinketh in his heart so is he (Proverbs 23:7).

 

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.

By Oke Chinye

Read: 1 Samuel 30:1-20

Meditation verse:

“So, David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.” (1 Samuel 30:1-20)

To pursue means to follow, chase, or go after something or someone. It also means to continue or proceed along a path or route. The opposite of pursue is avoid. To overtake means to catch up with and pass while travelling in the same direction or go past something by being a greater amount or degree. If you overtake someone, you went past them because you were moving faster than they were. To recover means to regain possession of something stolen or lost.

David and his men went to war and by the time they returned home on the third day, the Amalekites had invaded and attacked Ziklag, where they had made their home, burned it with fire, and had carried away the women and those who were there, from small to great. David and his men returned to a city burned with fire; with their wives, their sons, and their daughters taken captive. They wept until they had no more power to weep, but David strengthened himself in the Lord his God and inquired if he should go after that which had been stolen from them. And God answered, “pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.” “So, David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil, or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all” (1 Samuel 30:18-19).

This is the word of God for you in this new year. You can recover all that the enemy has stolen from you. You can get back that which you have lost, be it your peace of mind, health, wellbeing, job, business, ministry, position or the joy and sweetness in your marriage. Strengthen yourself in the Lord as David did, then pursue. Naturally, effort, persistence and commitment on your part will be required. But do not give up, for you shall surely overtake and without fail recover all.

 

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.

By Oke Chinye

Read: Philippians 3:12-16

Meditation verse:

“Then the Lord answered me and said: write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it” (Habakkuk 2:2).

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

At the start of each year, we are quick to write down our ‘new year’ resolutions or the goals we would like to accomplish. We come up with a long list of dos and don’ts, which we usually abandon before the end of the first quarter of the year. Ever wondered why? One compelling reason for this is the absence of an impetus or a motivating force to back up and drive these resolutions. ‘Your Life Mission Statement’ can serve as the force that compels you to sustain or stick to your goals even in the face of seemingly unending challenges.

A mission is an assignment, a mandate, a quest or a purpose and you were created to fulfil a mission here on earth. ‘Your Life Mission Statement’ is therefore a statement that portrays your God given purpose. It involves three components; ‘who you are’, ‘what you will do’ and ‘where you will do it’. ‘Your Life Mission Statement’ is central to your life and can serve as a foundation for your goals and resolutions. It is the compass that determines the direction, and duration of your actions. It also clarifies what roles are important so that your time is not wasted on irrelevant and insignificant activities. In Habakkuk 2:2, God said to the prophet: “write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it”. Knowing your mission and putting down your mission statement is the first step towards a more productive life in this new year. When your resolutions or goals are based on your life mission statement, chances are you would stick with them and succeed.

The Apostle, Paul lived his life based on his mission statement. He was called to

be a witness for Jesus Christ and to bear His name before the Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. His mission statement which is stated in Philippians 3:10-14 directed the course of his life. What is your life mission statement? Do you even know what you want to accomplish this year? What will be the motivation behind your daily activities? Remember: “If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll end up someplace else” (Yogi Berra). And chances are you won’t like the place.

 

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.

By Oke Chinye

Read: 2 Samuel 12:15-23

Meditation verse:

“So, David arose from the ground, washed, and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate” (2 Samuel 12:20).

It is the last day of the year. Irrespective of how you think the year went for you, praise God that you made it this far and are alive.

• You may not have achieved the goals you set.
• You may not have started that business.
• You may not have gotten that house.
• You may not have bought that car.
• You may not have gotten married.
• You may not have gotten pregnant.
• You may have lost someone precious.
• You may be in a place of grief.

Irrespective of what you lost or failed to achieve over the year, do not lose your hope and faith in God. Each day offers a new beginning and opportunity for a fresh start. Tomorrow is the beginning of a new day, the beginning of a new year. How long will you mourn over your loses? As the clock strikes at midnight today, why not do as king David did: arise from the ground, wash, and anoint yourself, change your clothes (signifying a change in your countenance and mindset), and worship God. Then move forward and enter a new chapter of your life. “And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward” (Exodus 14:15). Go forward!

 

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.