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  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Is anyone looking for you?

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Is anyone looking for you?

    Read: MATHEW 5:13-16

    Meditation verse:

    “When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” (Mark  1:37).

    Everywhere Jesus went, during His time on earth, He did good. He opened the  eyes of the blind, made the deaf hear, healed the sick, raised the dead, cast out  demons from the oppressed and fed tens of thousands. Little wonder a great  multitude followed Him wherever He went. When He withdrew to a solitary  place to pray, His disciples searched for Him and said, “everyone is looking for  you”.  

    “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). 

    Everyone is attracted to light. Our lives are energies which people encounter  when they meet us. This energy can either be a positive or negative one. When  you add value to the life of others, you will constantly be in demand. The greater  the value, the more the people looking for you are. When you love people and  make them feel good in your space, they will seek to be with you always.  

    If on the other hand, you treat people badly and make them feel unwelcome in  your space, they will stay away from you. “You are the salt of the earth; but if  the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but  to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men” (Mathew 5:13). If your  presence is not felt, your absence will not be missed. It is as simple as that.  

    Here’s a good question to ask yourself today: “is anyone looking for me?”

     

    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: Carrots, eggs and coffee beans

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Carrots, eggs and coffee beans

    Read: 2 CORINTHIANS 4:7-18

    Meditation verse:

    “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more  exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

    A lady was tired of dealing with the challenges of life. it seemed that as one  problem was solved, a new one arose. In desperation, she went to her mother  for help. He mother took her to the kitchen and placed three pots of water on a  high fire. She put a carrot, an egg and coffee beans, into the three pots  consecutively and left them to boil without saying a word to her daughter. In  about five minutes, the mother fished out the carrots and eggs and placed in  two separate bowls. She lathered the coffee and placed in a cup. Turning to her  daughter, she asked ‘tell me, what do you see?’ to which the daughter replied,  ‘carrot, egg and coffee’. The mother asked her to come closer to feel each item.  She felt the carrot and noted that it was soft, she felt the egg and removed the  shell, the inside had become hard. She took the cup of coffee and savoured the  rich sweet aroma.  

    Turning to her mother, she asked ‘what does this mean’? Her mother replied  that each item had faced the same adversity- hot boiling water. The carrot went  into the hot water hard and unrelenting, but came out soft, wobbly, and weak.  The egg had been fragile, with its outer shell protecting the liquid interior, but it  came out hardened on the inside. The coffee beans had been unique. They  changed the source of their adversity-the hot water, turning it into a sweet smelling liquid.  

    You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Do not let the challenges  of life cause you to lose your flavour. Do not let adversity transform you into a weakling or a hard-hearted person. Be like the coffee beans; emerge from every  adversity you face, a better and more valuable person. Let your affliction work  in you, a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

     

    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: God knows what you need ahead of time

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: God knows what you need ahead of time

    Read: Mathew 6:25-34

    Meditation verse:

    “Therefore, do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need  of before you ask Him”. (Mathew 6:8).

    My fingernails are soft and break easily. So, every now and then, I add acrylic stick-on nails to protect them. Recently, I was scheduled for a medical  procedure. A few days to the procedure, the stick-on nail on my right thumb fell  off. I recall feeling slightly irritated and saying to myself, “now my nails will look  odd, with the stick-on missing in one finger”. Little did I know that my Father in  heaven was going ahead of me. 

    I arrived the hospital on the morning of my procedure and the nurse came over  to take my vitals. Measuring my oxygen level, required me to insert my  forefinger in a little device. It turned out that the machine could not get any  reading because of the acrylic stick-on on my nails. The only way my oxygen level  could be measured was through the thumb with the missing artificial nail. How  on earth could I have known this? I probably would have had to forcefully pull  out the artificial nail that morning to get the required reading. 

    God knows what you need ahead of time. Luke 6:26-30 says “Look at the birds  of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly  Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by  worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet  I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is  thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” 

    Irrespective of what is going on in your life right now, relax in the knowledge  that your Father in heaven knows what you need and exactly when you need it.  That little inconvenience is working out something good for 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

    or call +2348155525555

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

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: God is always at work for your good

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: God is always at work for your good

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Acts 7: 1-57

    Meditation verse:

    “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose”. (Romans 8:28).

    When faced with a confusing array of challenges, it may be worth your while to remember that God is in control of all things and in all things, He is working out His perfect plan. Though it may not seem like that to you at that moment. Look at the summary of the sufferings of the patriarchs and the nation of Israel in today’s reading and see how God was working out His perfect plan all the time. 

    Vs 2: God called out Abraham to a foreign land

    Vs 6-8: God told Abraham about the promise and gave him the covenant of circumcision, then he begot Isaac and Isaac begot Jacob and Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs amongst whom was Joseph

    Vs 9: Joseph was sold to slavery into Egypt by his envious brothers

    Vs 10: But God was with him and he found favour with Pharoah who made him governor over all.

    Vs 11: A great famine came over all Egypt and Canaan. 

    Vs 13: Jacob sent his sons to Egypt for food

    Vs 14: Joseph was revealed to them and he sent for his father and all his relatives

    Vs 17: When the time of God’s promise drew near, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt

    Vs 18: A king who did not know Joseph arose and dealt treacherously with them 

    Vs 20: Moses was born and got raised by Pharoah’s daughter

    Vs 29: Moses fled after killing the Egyptian and dwelt in Midian

    Vs 30: After 40years, God appeared to him in a burning bush and commissioned him to go set His people free

    Vs 37: He led them out of Egypt through the wilderness and after 40 years, they eventually got to the promised land. And God’s promise was fulfilled.

    God is never late with His promises “for a thousand years in His sight are like yesterday when it is past” (Psalm 90:4). Irrespective of what you are going through today, do not give up. God is at work in your life and in the fullness of time, His perfect plan and promises over your life will surely come to pass.

     

    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: Love: A more excellent way

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Love: A more excellent way

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: 1 CORINTHIANS 13:1-13

    Meditation verse:

    “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).

    As the world celebrates love on this day, let’s remember that love is not just a feeling. It is an action. It is a strategy for obtaining peace, mending broken relationships, overlooking offences, and building better relationships with others. Where words fail to bring the desired results, love will succeed. “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-7). Love covers a multitude of sin and answers to several life issues.

    John 3:16 says “for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. In 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, Paul the Apostle said, “for the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again”. Let the love of God be your focus of celebration this day. Let it permeate your whole being. Let it determine your choices, attitude, perspectives, speech, character, and actions.

    Choose the pathway of love always and not just for this day.  Love is a more excellent way of relating with people. When people treat you badly, if you choose to love them rather than retaliating, you are more likely to win them over.  When God blesses those around you and you begin to feel envious, if you love them at that moment by speaking a kind word, your feelings of envy will disappear. When you have the good things of life and others around you do not, loving them will prevent you from being puffed up. Love enables you to accept and relate with those who are not of the same social status as you. It helps you eschew that which is evil. “Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away” (1 Corinthians 13:8).

     

    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: ARE YOU A GRATEFUL PERSON?

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: ARE YOU A GRATEFUL PERSON?

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: 1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18

    Meditation verse:

    “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

    Your gratitude to God should neither depend on the circumstances of your life nor should it be based on what is going on around you. The bible instructs us to be grateful and give thanks in all things. Developing and maintaining a heart of gratitude to God is one sure way to live a happier and more fulfilling life. Are you a grateful person? Here is a checklist for you.

    Grateful people are content with what they have. They believe that everything they own is a blessing from God. They eschew the self-entitlement mindset, believing they have received all by God’s mercy and grace.

    Grateful people attract peace to their lives. “Thankfulness creates gratitude which generates contentment that causes peace” (Todd Stocker).

    Grateful people are cheerful givers. Because they believe they have freely received from God, they are willing to freely give back to others. 

    Grateful people easily forgive others. They acknowledge their own humanity and are willing to overlook the shortcomings of others. By extension, they are accommodating of others.

    Grateful people have no need to compare themselves with others. They are content with who they are and what they have. “…But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:12). Grateful people are wise.

    Lastly, grateful people always attract God’s presence and blessings upon their lives. God inhabits the praise of His people (Psalm 22:3) and wherever God dwells, blessings are sure to abound. “When you are always thankful to God, your tank will always be full”. So, be a grateful person.

     

    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: Do not stay in the place of doubt

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Do not stay in the place of doubt

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: 2 Kings 7:1-19

    Meditation verse:

    “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of  the sea driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:6).

    The Bible describes the one who doubts as a wave of the sea, blown and tossed  by the wind, and such a person should not expect to receive anything from God.  People who doubt hardly ever begin any meaningful project, because they are  constantly questioning the possibility of its success. They doubt themselves and  everyone and everything around them. They believe the worse would happen  because they are sceptical about everything. 

    Amid a severe famine in Samaria, Elisha prophesied that there will be abundance  of food by the following day. But an officer of the king doubted, and said “Look,  if the Lord would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” And Elisha said  to him, “In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it.” (2  Kings 7:2). The officer was trampled at the gates of Samaria whilst others were  rushing to partake of the abundance. Doubt separates you from your supply. It  prevents you from being a partaker in it. The opposite of doubt is faith. Faith is:  “confidence in what we hope for, assurance about what we do not see”  (Hebrews 11:1, NIV). The bible says: “without faith it is impossible to please  God” (Hebrews 11:6). You cannot activate God’s favour and help when you lack  faith in Him. 

    Do not stay in the place of doubt. Doubt is an internal giant and a dangerous  stronghold that can keep you stuck in a rut. If you have a habit of doubting  everything including yourself, ask God to help you. He knows your level of faith  anyway. In Mark 9:23, Jesus said to the father of the boy who had the mute spirit  “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”. He knew the  man had little or no faith, and immediately the man responded honestly “Lord,  I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).  

    “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and  without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no  doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the  wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;  he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:5-8).

     

    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: HE IS ABLE TO KEEP IT

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: HE IS ABLE TO KEEP IT

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Psalm 91:1-16

    Meditation verse:

    “For this reason, I also suffer these things; nevertheless, I am not ashamed, for I  know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I  have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Timothy 1:12).

    When you have a valuable item, you would want to keep it safe. So instead of  leaving it to lie around the place, you take it to a safe deposit box and custody it  there. Similarly, you take your money to the bank to keep it safe.  

    The enemy is the thief that comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). He  wants to steal your peace of mind, your health, the joy in your marriage, your  finances, the destiny of your children, your job and even your life. God can  safeguard whatever is entrusted into His hands. Psalm 127: 1-3 says “Unless the  Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards  the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to  sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep. Behold,  children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward”. 

    Are you currently anxious because you are on the brink of losing that which is  precious to you? On your own, you are unable to safeguard anything, no matter  how hard you try. And no other power can help you. Instead of struggling why  not commit that difficult marriage, stubborn child, ailing body, failing health,  unsaved loved one, financial situation or whatever it is unto the hands of God?  The wording of a famous song says, “I am safe whatever ills betide me, in the  hollow of His hands”. You can be sure that the One who neither sleeps nor  slumbers will keep whatever you have committed to Him.  

    “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall [b]direct your paths. Do not be  wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to  your flesh, and strength to your bones” (Proverbs 3:5-8).

     

    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: IT SHALL NOT HAPPEN

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: IT SHALL NOT HAPPEN

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: 2 Corinthians 10:1-6

    Meditation verse:

    “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling  down strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

    Most of our fears are based on things that are yet to happen and which may  never happen. Isn’t it ironic that we fear that certain events will occur in the  future and most times these fears are not founded upon any evidence? People  who have a fear of flying fear that something will go wrong, and the aircraft will  crash. And yet they have never been in an aircraft that crashed. People who fear  the dark are afraid that some evil occurrence will come upon them whilst it is  dark. Those battling with the fear of public speaking are afraid that they will  mess up before a crowd. Those struggling with the fear of failure are  unconsciously preoccupied with the thought that they will fail anyway no matter  how hard they try. Those who are afraid of the future fear that something will  go terribly wrong with them in the future.  

    To fear is to be frightened of someone or something. At one time or the other  we may entertain some degree of fear, but for some people fear becomes such  a significant psychological threat, that they unconsciously sabotage their  wellbeing and success in life in a variety of ways. Certain personality traits are  prone to fear. Individuals with a high score on the trait, ‘Neuroticism’ which is a  long-term tendency to be in a negative emotional state have high anxiety. They  worry about things, are often depressed, self-conscious, easily intimidated,  impulsive and are vulnerable to strong negative emotions or panic attacks.  Naturally, for these kinds of people, fear of almost everything is a given. 

    Fear can lead to what is known as a self-fulfilling prophecy, where what you fear  the most comes to pass. This happened to Job when he said, “What I feared has  come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me” (Job 3:25 NIV). And the  reality is that despite the best efforts of others, only you can set yourself free.  Fight with the word of God. Memorize and internalise scriptures that will help  you. There is a connection between your mind and your actions. As you feed your mind with God’s promises over your life, your fears will be transformed to  courage. Watch your thoughts also, focus on what is positive.  

    Next time you find yourself stopping in your track because of fear, ask yourself  ‘what is the worst thing that can happen if I do not fear? This is what The  Almighty says in Isaiah 7:7, “It shall not stand, Nor shall it come to pass” (Isaiah  7:7). “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you  received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father” (Romans  8:15). You are an heir of God entitled to special privileges. You are part of a  chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a special person (1  Peter 2:9). You are not a fearful cringing slave, so quit acting as one. “What then  shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans  8:31).

     

    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: FREE TO LIVE

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: FREE TO LIVE

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Romans 8:1-12

    Meditation verse:

    “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and  death”. (Romans 8:2).

    As Jesus was dying on the cross, His last words were “it is finished”. He put an end to sin,  death, and separation from God. He purchased your freedom with His precious blood. If you  have trusted Jesus Christ as your Lord and saviour, you are free to live an abundant and  victorious life in Christ. Galatians 5:1 says “stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ  has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. For you did not  receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom  we cry out, Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15). You are an heir of God entitled to special privileges.  You are part of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a special person  (1 Peter 2:9). There is therefore now no condemnation.  

    Rise, this day above every limitation that has kept you bound. Rise up in the power of Jesus  name. You are empowered and not imprisoned. This is the life of Christ in you. As you step  out each today, boldly declare: “The Lord is my helper, I will not fear. What can man do to  me?” (Hebrews 13:6).

     

    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.