Tag: In His Presence

Read: Mathew 15:8-20

Meditation verse: 

“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and  they defile a man” (Mathew 15:18). 

Today’s reading is very instructive. There is a high tendency as humans to focus  on the outward man. We exercise, eat right, take care of our skin and ensure  that we are well put together all the time. The big questions however are; How  are we taking care of our inward man? Do we put in as much effort to take care  of our heart or mind? Are we careful to guard what goes into our minds? Are we  careful to ensure that unforgiveness, anger, jealousy, envy, lust or idolatory do  not take root in our hearts?  

Jesus highlighted the importance of focusing on the inward man. “Do you not  yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is  eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the  heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts,  murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are  the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a  man.” (Mathew 15: 17-20). Your heart is a treasure box. It stores up whatever you allow in. And out of this treasure box, proceed the fruits of you life; whether  good or evil. “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth  good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For  out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (LuKe 6:45). 

This is a call to pay as much attention to your inner man as much as or even  more than you do your outward man. Proverbs 4:23 says “Keep your heart with  all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” The state of your heart will  invariably determine the course of your life. Psalm 19:14 says “Let the words of  my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord,  my strength and my Redeemer”. Psalm 119:11 says “Your word I have hidden in  my heart, that I might not sin against You!”. After David committed adultery and  murder, he cried out to God, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a  steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). Your focus will determine your actions and your focus stems from your heart. It is always a heart matter. 

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye 

Founder: The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM) 

For prayers, counselling or to support our vision of blessing more lives with this  devotional, email: rockteachingministry@gmail.com 

For more enquiries, visit: 

www.rockteachingministry.org

Read: 2 Kings 3 & 4

Meditation verse:

“And he said, “thus says the Lord, make this valley full of ditches” (2 kings 3:16).

The King of Israel had gone to war against the Moabites, accompanied by the  king of Judah, Jehoshaphat and the `king of Edom. After marching for seven  days, there was no water for the army, nor for the animals that followed them.

In their desparation, Jehoshaphat suggested they seek the face of God through  the prophet, Elisha. As Elsiha enquired of the Lord, he instructed them to make  the valley full of ditches, “for thus says the Lord, “you shall not see wind nor shall  you see rain, yet the valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle,  and your animals may drink”.  

In 2 kings 4:1-7. A widow cried to Elisha because her creditor was coming to take  her two sons as slaves. Elisha asked for what she had in the house and instructed  her to go borrow vessels from everywhere, pour oil from her single jar of oil into  all the vessels, sell the oil, pay her debts and live on the rest.

As she obeyed the  instuction, the oil from her jar flowed continously into all the empty vessesl untill  there was no more vessel to fill. At the wedding in Cana, Galilee, the wine got  finished. The mother of Jesus informed Him of the problem and instructed the  servants to do whatever Jesus told them to do. The instuction was “fill water  pots with water and draw out from them”. The water bacame wine that was  sweeter that the initial one that got finished.  

In each of these examples, an instruction preceeded the miracle. There was a  great need that demanded immediate intervention. The situation was so dire  that only a miracle would save the day. The people involved were wise enough 

to seek divine intervention and immediately follow whatever instruction was  given. The result was an overflow because God will always respond with what  is bigger and better than you asked for.  

What is that dire situation in your life that demands divine and immediate  intervention? Have you sought the face of God concerning it or are you trusting  in the arm of flesh? Has God give you an instruction and are you obeying the  instruction fully?

Partial obedience amounts to disobedience. The miracle is in  the obedience and obedience starts with taking the first step. It’s a new month.  Why not present that challenge to the Almighty and listen to His instruction. And  as you obey, may you receive your miracle in Jesus name, Amen. 

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye 

Founder: The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM) 

For prayers, counselling or to support our vision of blessing more lives with this  devotional, email: rockteachingministry@gmail.com 

For more enquiries, visit: 

www.rockteachingministry.org

Read: ISAIAH 43: 18-21

Meditation verse:

“Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I  will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19). 

To receive the new, you must get rid of the old. Before God announced to the  nation of Israel that He would do a new thing, He first instructed them to forget  the former things and not consider it at all. You cannot open a new chapter of  your life if you keep reliving the previous one. Do you desire a new experience  in an area of your life in this new month? How are you preparing for it? It is often  said that success occurs when opportunity meets preparedness.  

“No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece  pulls away from the old, and the tear is made worse. And no one puts new wine  into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled,  and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins”  (Mark 2: 21-22). To enter a new realm, you must first adopt a new mindset.  Identify and get rid of the former mindset that limited you. Some people are  limited by fear, others by self-doubt, or the need to be approved by others. You  may not receive the new experience if you are still weighed down by a self limiting attitude or mindset. You must believe that you are worthy of a fresh  start and that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you  (Philippians 4:13). 

You also need to get ready for the new experience that you desire. Isaiah 54:2  says: “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. Enhance your capacity in the relevant areas. Sharpen your skills, develop your  character, and get rid of destructive habits.  

Earnestly anticipate and expect it. What you do not expect, you may not receive  as you will not notice when it is occurring. Lastly, position yourself for it. “You  are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they  light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to  all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see  your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Mathew 5: 14-16). Where  do you desire a change in your life? Why not begin to prepare for it in this new  month.

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye 

Founder: The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM) 

For prayers, counselling or to support our vision of blessing more lives with this  devotional, email: rockteachingministry@gmail.com 

For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org

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 last day of the month. 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 Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

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

Read: HABAKKUK 2:1-4

Meditation verse:

“I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected” (Habakkuk 2:1).

When God speaks to you, do you hear or listen? Although hearing and listening may sound like the same thing, truth is, there’s a world of difference between the two. Merriam-Webster defines hearing as the “process, function, or power of perceiving sound; specifically: the special sense by which noises and tones are received as stimuli.” Listening, on the other hand, means “to pay attention to sound; to hear something with thoughtful attention; and to give consideration.

Hearing is a passive behaviour of perceiving sound by the ear. Listening is choosing to do something; it is an action. Listening utilises more senses in your body than hearing. In listening you move beyond perceiving the sound to processing and understanding, to give a suitable response or act. Hearing is physical, listening is cognitive.

Habakkuk set himself upon the rampart and stood his watch to listen to what God had to say about the evil that was going on. That speaks of preparation and positioning. And God spoke to him. God longs to speak to you all the time. He is relational and He created you for His good pleasure. However, you will not hear or understand what He is saying if you do not prepare and position yourself. God cannot be heard in noise and chaos, only in silence. Your heart must be ready, your ears open and He must have your full attention. I have come to realise that the best way to position yourself to listen to God is to wait on Him in fasting and prayer. 

A famous song says: “God has something to say, listen, listen, pay close attention, for God has something to say”. God has something to say about every area of your life- your marriage, children, health, career, relationships as well as your walk with Him. He wants to give insight into that situation. He wants to direct your path. Isaiah 30:21 says, “right behind you a voice will say, this is the way you should go, whether to the right or to the left” (NLT). Will you listen to the voice?

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

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

Read: 2 CHRONICLES 20: 1-13

Meditation verse:

“Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the Lord” (2 Chronicles 20:13). 

There was an emergency in Judah. The people of Moab, Ammon, and Mount Seir came to battle against Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. When they told the king that a great multitude was coming against him, he feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So, all the cities of Judah gathered to ask help from the Lord. 

I recall reading this passage and pondering over the thirteenth verse: “Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the Lord”. It had already been mentioned earlier that all Judah gathered to seek the face of God. Why was it important to emphasize the fact that the men, their wives, children, and little ones stood before the Lord? The answer came to me as a revelation. When a man stands before God with his wife and children beside him, God honours that commitment and answers them speedily. Psalm 133 states, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing—Life forevermore”. The picture of the family coming together in unity and fellowship strikes a chord in God’s heart.

The family unit is the smallest church, with the man as the priest. The importance of the family coming together daily to pray cannot be ignored. In the family altar, God is worshipped and glorified, the faith of each member is built up and issues are resolved. “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who build it” (Psalm 127:1). A famous quote says: “a family that prays together, stays together”.  By honouring God in the place of your family altar, you are inviting His Lordship over your home and ushering in His presence and in the presence of the Lord, “there is fullness of joy and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). Joshua said “…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). Do you have a family altar in your home?

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

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

Read: 1 Peter 5:8-11

Meditation verse:

“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus,  after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you”  (1 Peter 5:10).

The movie “In pursuit of happyness” is an American biographical drama based  on the life of Chris Gardner who went from being homeless to owning his own  multi-million-dollar brokerage firm. At some point, Chris worked as an unpaid  intern stockbroker at a brokerage firm, where he was amongst twenty interns  competing for a paid position as a stockbroker. Chris worked so hard despite  being a single father and homeless. He found a way of ensuring that he made  more calls to prospective clients than the others. After working hard at the job,  he would pick his son from the daycare, retire to the homeless shelter, and then  study all night. He would then return to work the following day after dropping  off his son, with his suitcase in hand because he couldn’t leave it in the shelter. 

One time, one of his bosses asked him to pay for his taxi fare and Chris had to  part with five dollars which he could barely afford. Another time, a second boss  asked him to park his car for him. Chris obliged even whilst running late for a  potential sales appointment, which he eventually missed. On the last day of his  internship, Chris Gardner was selected for the coveted full-time position. It turns  out that the requests by his bosses were to test his integrity. They knew he was  financially challenged and under pressure but needed to test his character in the  face of adversity. The job at hand required someone with grit, integrity, and  resilience. Chris passed all the tests without even knowing he was being tested.  

God knows what you are going through and His plans for you are good. Be sure  to pass all your tests. Do not faint, do not give up. Proverbs 24:10 says if you  faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Hebrews 10:39 says we are  not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and  obtain life. Job 23:10 says He knows the way I take, when He has tried me, I shall  come forth as gold. “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you  may become blameless and harmless children of God without fault in the midst  of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the  world” (Philippians 2:14-15). You never know when your helpers are watching  you.

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

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

Read: PROVERBS 31:10-31

Meditation verse:

“that our daughters may be as pillars, sculptured in palace style (Psalm144:12).

A pillar is a tall vertical structure of stone, wood, or iron, used as a support for a  building. Without a pillar, a building will crumble. We started noticing cracks in  the walls of our home about a year and a half after we moved in. The cracks increasingly got worse; we knew we had to do something. We called in a  structural engineer who discovered a massive structural defect. The master bedroom upstairs was sitting on the parlor downstairs, without any supporting  pillar and it was giving way under the weight. We had to move out of our home  so everything in the affected areas could be removed. When the wardrobe was  removed, the walls behind had almost split in two. The defect was rectified by  erecting two big pillars in the parlor to carry the weight of the room upstairs.

“The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands”  (Proverbs 14:1). As a woman, you are a support structure in your home,  community, or wherever you find yourself. And not just any kind of pillar,  sculptured in palace style- standing out, beautifully adorned. Today’s reading  portrays a woman who is a pillar in her home and community. She is a  manufacturer, seamstress, importer, realtor, employer, manager, and  philanthropist. She is focused on the welfare of her husband, children, staff, and  community. She eschews laziness and idleness. Surprisingly, nothing is  mentioned about the physical appearance of this woman.

The value of something is not in its beauty but in its usefulness. A vessel can  beautiful but completely useless, unable to hold down anything. Your worth is  neither determined by your appearance nor the value of your car possessions,  but by how useful you are to God and those around you. As gold is purified by  passing it through fire, the challenges of life are designed to refine you. You are  designed to be a polished pillar in your home, standing firm through the challenges and storms of life and emerging stronger. Are you appropriately  positioned as a pillar in your home or is your home in danger of crumbling?

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

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

Read: MARK 4:1-9

Meditation verse:

“But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots,  it died” (Mark 4:6, NLT).

The oak is a very tall tree between 40 and 80 feet and is said to surpass 300  years. A very interesting feature of the oak tree is the root system. It pushes  downwards as deep as the height of the tree and branching out wide. It can  withstand very strong storms like tornados. Even when stripped of the leaves,  they survive because of the strength of their root systems. An oak has breadth,  depth, and width. The sower in today’s reading went out to sow and the seeds  which fell on shallow soil sprouted quickly but alas, when the sun arose, the  plant wilted because the underlying rocks had prevented the roots from growing  deep down.  

Three fundamental questions to ponder today are “how deep is my root?” “Can  it withstand the storms of life?” “What rock is preventing it from reaching deep  down”? Your root is your relationship with God. If it is shallow and superficial,  you will be like a wave of the sea, easily swayed by the cares of life. You will be  easily defeated by adversity. The rock hindering your roots maybe your current  challenges or problems, adversity, sin, wrong relationships, self-sufficiency, or  your lack of faith. Realize however that in all of these, you are more than a  conqueror, through Christ who loved you. 

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor  principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor  height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us  from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Romans -8:38-39.  

So, take away the rock hindering your root from reaching down. If there is  unconfessed sin in your life, ask God for forgiveness. Give attention to prayers  and study of the word. The more time you spend in God’s presence, the deeper  your roots will be.

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

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