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  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Engaging the power of words

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Engaging the power of words

    Read: 1 SAMUEL 17:1-51

    Meditation verse:

    “This day, the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you” (1 Samuel 17:46).

    The words that we speak can give life to a person or situation. Our words can also kill or destroy a person or situation. The story is told Is told of a man who put two plants in two similar pots under similar conditions. The only difference was that each morning he would speak positive words to the first plant, words like “you will grow healthy and strong, your leaves will be evergreen”. But to the second, he would speak derogatory words, such as “I see you withering, you will not do well”.  After a period, the first plant had thrived, whilst the second withered and dried up. 

    In Today’s reading, we see David, a young shepherd boy, stand before the towering Goliath, who was an experienced warrior, and describe how he would cut off his head and give to the birds of the air. The amazing fact was David had no sword in his hands when he uttered these words. But he had spoken the words, and when the time came for Goliath’s head to be cut off, there was a sword before David.  

    Proverbs 18:21 says, death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it, will eat its fruit, and bear the consequences of their words. Mathew 12:37 says for by your words, you will be justified and by your words, you will be condemned. In Mathew 21;21, Jesus said to His disciples, “if you have faith and do not doubt in your heart, you will say to this mountain, be taken up and thrown into the sea, and it will happen. 

    What mountain is currently before you? Debt, bareness, failing marriage, sickness or lack? Why not confront it in Jesus’ name and declare specifically what you will do about the situation. Remember death and life are in the tongue, use yours wisely in this new month.

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

    For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

    or call +2348155525555

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

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: World Day for Safety and Health at Work

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: World Day for Safety and Health at Work

    Read: 3 John 2

    Meditation verse:

    “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your  soul prospers” (3 John 2).

    It’s world day for safety and health at work and I will be focusing on mental  health issues in the workplace. On March 24, 2015, news broke that a young co pilot for Lufthansa’s low cost-airline Germanwings had intentionally crashed a  passenger jet into the French Alps, killing himself, 144 passengers and 5 other  crew members. The young co-pilot, who had previously been treated for suicidal  tendencies and declared “unfit to work” by a doctor, kept this information from  his employer and reported for work. Shortly after reaching cruising altitude,  whilst the captain was out of the cockpit, he locked the cockpit door and  initiated a controlled descent until the aircraft collided with a mountainside. He was not suffering from a physical ailment when he plunged that aircraft into the  French Alps, he was suffering from a mental health issue. Investigations revealed  he had been suffering from deep depression. One member of an organization  had a mental health issue, but many paid dearly for it.  

    Organizations tend to focus on physical health much more than they do on  mental health, maybe because physical conditions are visible to the naked eye whilst mental health issues aren’t, but they are as damaging, if not more so.  Before Covid, employee mental health was arguably treated as an afterthought.  Discussions on employee wellbeing and mental health are no longer exercises in  futility. They should be a core part of HR concerns in the post covid workplace.  

    Our workplaces need to normalize discussions on mental health and address  issues around it directly and persistently. That way employees will be encouraged to seek support when they feel the need to. Employee Assistance  Programs should adequately provide the essentials needed to support  employees. Line managers now have an expanded role, they would need to be  trained with the counselling skills needed to respond to and care for their teams. Leadership at all levels must model a caring and inclusive culture through their  communications and day to day actions. Mental health at work is now  mainstream. Happy World Day for Safety and Health at Work!

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

    For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

    or call +2348155525555

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

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Woman thou art loosed

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Woman thou art loosed

    Read: LUKE 13:10-17

    Meditation verse:

    “But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “woman you are  loosed from your infirmity.” (Luke 13:12).

    By the time you reach your middle years, you may have gone through several  life experiences, some of which may not be so pleasant. The challenges of life  can constrict your life or cause you to bend over. And this is particularly so for  women due to the cultural stereotypes of our largely patriarchal society. Many  women are constricted by the trauma of failed relationships, broken dreams,  abuse, rape, hurt, unforgiveness, neglect, infidelity, bottled up emotions, unmet  expectations, financial hardship, grief, deceit, divorce, regrets, and several other  disappointments. This constriction has diminished our expectations out of life  or caused us to give up in certain areas of life.  

    Some of us have been disconnected from who we were supposed to be because  of the things we have gone through. We are angry, frustrated, beaten,  overburdened or weary. And we are now bent over by the very many battles we  have fought over the years. Being ‘bent over’ is a dangerous posture to adopt;  you only see what is beneath you. When you are bent over, you cannot see  ahead, your pace is slow, your abilities are diminished, and you would require  much effort to accomplish anything worthwhile. The woman in today’s reading  had been constricted and bent over by her infirmity for eighteen years. When  Jesus saw her, He had compassion on her. He said to her “woman, you are  loosed from your infirmity and laid His hands on her, and immediately, she was  made straight. He can do the same for you today.  

    Are you bent over because of an abusive marriage, a cheating spouse, betrayal  from a sibling, death of a loved one, unemployment, financial hardship, failed  relationships, or neglect from those you expected to be there for you? God  wants to make you straight today. Irrespective of how long your condition has  been, He is saying to you “woman, thou art loosed. What does it mean to be  loosed? It means to be set free from the burden of your past. It means to be  delivered from the consequences of your mistakes, failures, and wrong choices  as well as from the consequences of the actions of other people. Why not cry  out to God today. His touch is only a prayer away.

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

    For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

    or call +2348155525555

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

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Before God will use you (3)

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Before God will use you (3)

    Read: 1 Samuel 16: 1-23

    Meditation verse:

    “So, Saul said to his servants, “provide me now a man who can play well and  bring him to me” (1 Samuel 16:17).

    Preparation of Circumstances: The last area is the preparation of the  circumstances that will usher you to the place of your assignment. God began  preparing the circumstances needed for David to emerge as king when He  rejected King Saul as king over Israel, due to an act of disobedience on his part.  Next, He set David up to fight with Goliath. Then He began training him for life  in the royal court by setting up work for him there as the King’s armorbearer.  “So, David came to Saul and stood before him. And he loved him greatly and  became his armorbearer… And so, it was, whenever the distressingspirit from  God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then  Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart  from him” (1 Samuel 16:21 & 23).  

    Similarly, preparation of your circumstances will be part of God’s plan to get you  to the place of your assignment. God is busy working behind the scenes of your  life to prepare the circumstances that will enable you to emerge and succeed in  what He has planned for you. He has information known to Him only. Your  circumstances may look bad now, but be encouraged, because God may just be  preparing you for your assignment.  

    Refuse to allow what you see dictate what you believe. Do not judge by what  your eyes see, but by what you hear in the spirit. Do not label any occurrence in  your life as a coincidence or happenstance. God is for you. He is already ahead  of you rearranging the circumstances to favor you. You must be sensitive and  totally submissive to His leading, else you may get discouraged and give up even before you begin. 

    As Jesus (The word) works in you to change your character, the Holy Spirit is  bringing about His fruit to bear in your life. Develop your competence and track  your circumstances. In the fullness of time, you will emerge in the place of your greatness.

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

    For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

    or call +2348155525555

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

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Before God will use you (2)

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Before God will use you (2)

    Read: 1 Samuel 16: 1-23

    Meditation verse:

    “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skilful in playing, a  mighty man of valour, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person;  and the Lord is with him” (1 Samuel 16:18).

    Preparation of Competence: Your competence will also need to be prepared.  Every assignment requires a particular set of competencies and these need to  be sharpened. Practice is the best way to sharpen a competence. Musical  competence requires diligent practice. A warrior needs to develop fighting skills  alongside courage. A preacher needs to immerse himself in scriptures to preach  from it. A gifted speaker needs to practice. Even looking good requires effort.  So, the period of preparation is a period for working at your competencies. 

    Before David began his reign as king, he had had enough practice and experience  at developing the competencies he needed: He had mastered the act of  shepherding, he had great courage and an ability to speak. When a particular  skill- ‘playing the harp’ was required in the palace, David received an unsolicited  nomination because his skills stood him out.  

    Several years ago, before I became aware of my assignment, I began to develop  a deep hunger to acquire knowledge. I had no idea that God was preparing me  for the assignment of building and equipping lives. God uses the competencies  we learn: our degrees, our skills and everything else we have. He can take all of  these and strategically position you in the place of your assignment. So, 

    whatever you are doing now, work at doing it better. You just might be in a  season of preparation for your God-ordained purpose. God is a God of  excellence, and He requires you to be excellent at whatever He has entrusted  you with. Success is often said to be the meeting point of preparedness and  opportunity.

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

    For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

    or call +2348155525555

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

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Before God will use you (1)

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Before God will use you (1)

    Read: Psalm 105: 17-24

    Meditation verse:

    “They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. Until the  time came to fulfil his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character” (Psalm  105:18-19, NLT).

    Before God uses you, He will take you through a period of preparation. The  greater the assignment, the longer and more strenuous the preparation will be. Biblical characters like David, Joseph, Paul and even our Lord Jesus Christ did not  start their ministries immediately. They all went through periods of preparation.  Joseph moved from his dream to the pit, from the pit to Potiphar’s house, from  Potiphar’s house to prison, before he was exalted to the palace. Every step of  the way, in character and competence, he was being prepared for his dream.  Saul had a 3- year gap before he began his ministry as Paul, the Apostle. Between  ages 12 and 30, Jesus immersed himself in scripture, worked with his father,  Joseph on his trade and looked after his mother, before He began His ministry  at age 30. There are three main areas of preparation: Preparation of Character,  Preparation of Competence and Preparation of Circumstances. We will be  looking at each in the next couple of days. 

    Preparation of Character: Certain character flaws need to be dealt with before  God will use you. Character is often shaped by trials and suffering. In every trial  you face in life, God is teaching you something. James 1:2-4 says “my brethren,  count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your  faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be  perfect and complete, lacking nothing”. If God is going to prepare your  character, He may allow you to pass through some not so pleasant experiences  and you must cooperate with Him.  

    Character is also prepared as you mature in your relationship to God. “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). Character is  shaped in the place of solitude and stillness. “In returning and rest, you shall be  saved, in quietness and confidence, shall be your strength” (Isaiah 30:15).

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

    For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

    or call +2348155525555

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

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Stop looking back

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Stop looking back

    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 them. 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” (Phil  3:13). No matter how messed up your life is 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 and move on  It is as simple as that.

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

    For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

    or call +2348155525555

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

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: You give birth to what you see

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: You give birth to what you see

    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. Whatever you focus your mind on will  eventually spur you on into a path of success or defeat.  

    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 Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

    For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

    or call +2348155525555

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

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Pray without ceasing

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Pray without ceasing

    Read: Luke 18: 1-8

    Meditation verse:

    “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

    Praying continually entails acknowledging God as the source of your life,  admitting your total dependence on Him by surrendering your will to His and  asking for His direction before taking any decision. It entails being in constant  touch with Him, speaking to Him in your spirit even as you carry out your daily  tasks. It is about making prayer a way of living.  

    The biblical characters that lived exceptional lives, prayed continually. David  prayed in the morning, at noon, in the evening (Psalm 55:17) and in the night  (Psalm 42:8). Even whilst on his bed in the early watches of the day, his heart  was stayed on God (Psalm 63:6). God referred to him as a man after His own  heart (Acts 13:22). Daniel’s custom from his early days was to get down on his  knees three times a day to pray and give thanks before God (Daniel 6:10). Little  wonder, he distinguished himself above the governors and satraps (Daniel 6:3).  Paul spent countless hours fasting and praying (2 Corinth 11:27) and went on to  shape the history of Christianity as no human had ever done.  

    Even Jesus Christ in all His divinity understood the importance of being in  constant touch with His Father during His time on earth. Before every important  event, He took time to be away from the crowd to pray. Before He began His  ministry, He went into the desert for forty days and nights (Matt 4:1-2). Before  choosing His twelve apostles, He went out to a mountainside and spent the night  praying to God (Luke 6:12-15). And before treading the path of Calvary to His  death, He agonized in prayers in a place called Gethsemane (Mathew 26:36-45).  

    The life that will be successful, must be a life of prayer. In the place of prayer,  God through His Holy Spirit instructs, teaches, guides, corrects and restores. And  if there is any time, you need to pray without ceasing, it is now. The world is  currently going through difficult times. Global recession, inflation, food crisis,  wars, climate change, energy crisis, natural disasters, insecurity, terrorism, mass  killings, suicide bombing, political instability and so much more. Every time you 

    tune in to listen to the news, it’s one picture of gloom or the other. So, determine to make praying without ceasing a lifestyle.

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

    For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

    or call +2348155525555

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

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Your vision board

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Your vision board

    Read: Habakkuk 2:1-4

    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).

    Before a is building is erected, the architect comes up with a drawing in paper  of what the building will look like when completed. This is known as the building  plan, and it is a prototype of the proposed building. However, for that to happen,  the plan must be followed to the later by the builders. Do you have a plan for  accomplishing the purpose for which you have been created? What are your life  goals? Are they clearly articulated? Have you written them down? A vision board  is a visual representation of your life goals which should include your purpose.  It contains images and texts that represent what you are trying to accomplish.  

    In today’s reading, Habakkuk was questioning God over the plundering of the  nation of Israel. He wondered how long it would take God to intervene and God  instructed him to write down what it was that he was expecting and wait for it  to happen. Visualization is a powerful concept. The power behind it is: “we  become what we see because the brain wills the body to move towards what it  has seen. The brain captures a picture of what you have seen and creates a  hunger for it within you. This hunger becomes the motivation that drives your  actions. The more you visualize, the greater the hunger. It is difficult to keep  pursuing what you are not hungry for or what you have no desire for, because  you are likely to give up at the slightest challenge. 

    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. If you feel  overwhelmed by your goals, put them down clearly on a vision board. Use  images and text to represent whatever you want to achieve in any area of your  life. Then position the vision board in a strategic place where you can see it  clearly daily, like in front of the refrigerator or your bathroom wall.  

    As you visualize and affirm your vision daily, your internal energy and creativity  will flow in that direction and eventually, your dream will become a reality.

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

    For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

    or call +2348155525555

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