GOSPEL CORNER: “I ALSO TELL YOU THIS: IF TWO OF YOU AGREE HERE ON EARTH CONCERNING ANYTHING YOU ASK, MY FATHER IN HEAVEN WILL DO IT FOR YOU.”MATTHEW 18:19, NLT

21/10/23/

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
Today’s Word

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.”
Matthew 18:19, NLT

Agreeing Together
We’re all believing for a dream to come to pass, or praying for a situation to turn around, trusting that God is working. But according to today’s Scripture, something more powerful happens when you have someone agree with you for what you’re believing for. Jesus doesn’t say, “Just believe for yourself, and it will happen.” He says, “Find someone who will come into agreement with you.” He was showing us the power of agreement.

When you’re believing for something, you need people with bold faith, not people who say, “I don’t see how that can happen. You really think you’ll get well?” Doubters are a dime a dozen. You need people who say, “If you’re bold enough to believe the addiction is broken, I’m bold enough to agree with you.” You need a faith partner, someone who will take the limits off God with you, who inspires you to keep believing, even when it seems impossible. When you come into agreement, it releases favor in a new way—healing, breakthroughs, and abundance that you won’t see by yourself.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that Jesus made it so clear that there is a power in agreement in prayer. Thank You for the people who are truly joined in spirit with me and who I can count upon to be faith partners. Help me to keep them close at all times. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

SECTION TWO


Beloved, we have a resource that is greater than any attack the devil can launch against us. Would you like to know how you can activate angels in your life?

The most important key is worship. As you offer your praise to the Lord, the passage above tells us that’s when angels are most active.

Our Lord Jesus defined “fear” as “worship” for us. When Satan tempted Him in the wilderness, Jesus responded by quoting from Deuteronomy 6:13, which says, “You shall fear the LORD your God.” But He changed the word “fear” to “worship” and said to the devil, “For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God'” (Matt. 4:10, boldface mine).

Beloved, when you worship the Lord, His angels camp all around you, surrounding you to deliver you. If you are going through a difficult period in your life and are fearful, choose to worship Him. Fear fills our hearts when we are occupied with ourselves, but when we worship the Lord, we become occupied with Him, His beauty, and His goodness, and His angels surround us like a protective shield.

My ministry receives praise reports from people all over the world who, upon encountering His love for them personally through the preaching of the gospel, go on to be conscious of and full of thanksgiving for His goodness and grace upon their lives. Let me share with you a praise report from Sophia (who lives in Georgia, US), who’s also experienced the Lord’s intervention and protection.

“Today, I read your Daily Grace Inspiration titled God’s Angels Are Watching Over You, and was really encouraged. I recall an incident when my daughter and I were driving down the road behind an eighteen-wheeler when a vintage-looking car suddenly tried to get between our vehicle and the truck. I thought, “Why are you—” Right then, I heard a voice inside speak to me, asking me to be quiet. So I let the car squeeze in front of us. Immediately after I let the car in, one tire of the eighteen-wheeler blew. Surprisingly, the vintage car stayed in front of my car, taking the full impact of all the flying pieces of the exploded tire.”

“Once there were no more tire pieces coming from the truck, the vintage car returned to the left side of the road and drove off quickly. It then dawned on me that perhaps the driver of this car was an angel of the Lord. I was so encouraged to know that God protects us in these days and times!”

Amen! When God gives His angels charge over you, they go ahead of you to guard and protect you from all sorts of danger. And yes, they may even choose to travel in vintage cars. Hebrews 13:2 (KJV) says, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

NO WORK NO PAY POLICY PRESIDENT TINUBU APPROVES WAIVER ORDER ON RESIDENT DOCTORS

20/10/23

SHINA JO

President Bola Tinubu has approved the waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” Order that was instituted against striking members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on August 1, 2023, following the commencement of their industrial action which began on July 26, 2023.

After several constructive engagements between the Federal Government and NARD, the Resident Doctors called off their strike on August 12, 2023.

The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation was directed to withhold all salaries accrued by striking NARD members during the 17 days of their strike action.

In view of the faithful implementation of terms which were agreed upon during the fruitful deliberations between the Resident Doctors and the Federal Government of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has directed the grant of an exceptional last waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” Order on Resident Doctors, which will allow for the members of the NARD to receive the salaries which were previously withheld during the 17-day strike action.

The President has directed the grant of the waiver with a mandatory requirement that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment must secure a Document of Understanding (DoU) establishing that this exceptional waiver granted by the President will be the last one to be granted to the National Association of Resident Doctors and all other Health Sector Unions.

FRANCE BED BUG OUTBREAK : FG HEIGHTENENS SURVEILLANCE ACROSS BORDERS

20/10/23

DANIELS OG

The Coordinating Minister of Health and social welfare, Prof Ali Pate has urged Nigerians to cooperate with the Port Health Officials at the various entry point to avert the entering of Bed Bugs into the Country from France

The Minister said it has become expidient to heightened surveillance at all Port of entry into the country following the outbreak of bed bug infestation in France and other Parts of Europe.

According to a press Statement signed by the Director Media and Publicity, Patricia Deworitshe, the Coordinating Minister of Health and social welfare, Prof Ali Pate, has assured the Public that measures and responses were already in place to contain the Bed bug infestation Nationwide.

Bed bugs are small flat reddish-brown wingless insects that infest beds, sofas, luggages and other Furniture .

The insects are associated with Poverty and Dirtiness in Most rural Communities and dirty environment

GOSPEL CORNER : WE NEED TO TRUST IN JUST HOW COMPLETE AND PERFECT HIS FINISHED WORK IS.

20/10/23

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Ephesians 2:10, NLT

A MASTERPIECE
Psychologists say our self-worth is often based upon what we believe the most important people in our lives think of us—a parent, a spouse, a friend, or a mentor. The problem is that sooner or later people say something that cuts like a knife and brings heartache and pain, or they show by their actions that we’re not really that important. If we’re receiving our value and worth only from those who hurt us, we’ll likely feel inferior, insecure, and less and less valuable over time.

The key to gaining a true sense of value is to let your Heavenly Father be the most important person in your life. If you listen to what He says about you, you’ll feel accepted, approved, redeemed, forgiven, confident, and secure. You will feel extremely valuable, and that’s exactly the way God wants you to be, His masterpiece. You’ve been custom-made, one of a kind. You’re not average or ordinary. God created you in His very own image. And that is exactly how you should see yourself.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
“Father, thank You that because You have made me, there can be nothing ordinary about me. Thank You that I am Your child and created in Your image. I believe and declare that I am Your masterpiece, designed by You on purpose just the way I am. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

SECTION TWO

There are some Christians who believe that you can lose fellowship with God when you sin, and you need to confess your sin to God and obtain forgiveness to become righteous again. They claim that your relationship with God is not broken when you sin, but fellowship with Him is, so you need to confess your sin to restore fellowship with Him.

It sounds very good. But believing that your fellowship with God is broken when you sin will affect your ability to come boldly to His throne of grace to receive from Him. In reality, both the words “relationship” and “fellowship” share the same Greek root word koinonia.

This means that even if you fail, relationship and fellowship with God are not broken. Why? Because your sins and failures have all been paid for at the cross. How can you ever lose your righteousness in Christ when it is based entirely on His perfect work and not your imperfection?

To see how we have everlasting righteousness in Christ, look at the prophecy in the Book of Daniel about Jesus’ work at Calvary. Daniel 9:24 describes His mission in no uncertain terms: “To finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness.”

Beloved, we can rejoice today because Jesus has fulfilled every iota of this prophecy! The blood of bulls and goats in the old covenant only provided limited and temporal righteousness for the children of Israel, and that is why with every new failing, the sacrifices had to be repeated.

But in the new covenant, the blood of Jesus put an end to sin and gave us everlasting righteousness! Listen carefully to this: Jesus does not have to be crucified repeatedly whenever you fail because every sin has already been paid for on the cross.

We need to trust in just how complete and perfect His finished work is. Today, as a new covenant believer, you are righteous not only until your next sin. You have everlasting righteousness!

GOSPEL CORNER: IN THE AREAS THAT YOU ARE STILL DEPENDING ON YOUR OWN EFFORTS TO SUCCEED, START RESTING IN JESUS’ UNMERITED FAVOR AND BEGIN EXPERIENCING HIS MANIFESTED PRESENCE AND GLORY UPON EVERYTHING YOU TOUCH! :

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD

19/10/23

Today’s Scripture
Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men.
Judges 15:15, NIV

ORDINARY TO EXTRAORDINARY
You can have an extraordinary problem, but with the favor of God, He can provide an ordinary solution and make you victorious. That’s what happened with Samson when a huge army surrounded him. He had no weapons, no protection. All he could find was the jawbone of a donkey. It was small and ordinary, but Samson realized that this jawbone was part of his destiny. Even though that jawbone was ordinary, it became extraordinary when God breathed on it.

You don’t have to be bigger, stronger, or tougher to overcome your obstacles. You don’t have to have great talent, the best education, or a certain personality in order to do something great. When you honor God with your life, you have the most powerful force in the universe breathing in your direction. God knows how to take what you may feel is ordinary and make it extraordinary. What makes the difference is God’s anointing on your life when you give Him what you have.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
“Father, thank You for making me just the way I am. Thank you that You’ve empowered me with the talent, resources, and personality You wanted me to have. I believe that I have exactly what I need to fulfill my destiny as You breathe upon me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen In more than two decades of ministry, I have learned this from the Lord: Without Him, we cannot. Without us, He will not. What this simply means is that we need to recognize the fact that if we do not depend on Jesus, there can be no real, long-lasting and abiding success—without Him, we cannot.

SECTION TWO

The Bible tells us that unless the Lord builds the house, we labor in vain (Ps. 127:1). Believers who want to experience His success need to recognize this truth and begin to depend on Jesus and Jesus alone.

There are some believers who may not articulate it, but in their hearts, they believe that without Jesus, they can still succeed. By believing and acting on this, they fall from the high place of God’s grace (His unmerited favor) back into the law, back into trying to merit and deserve success by their own efforts.

These are strong words of warning. Once you start depending on your own merits and efforts to deserve God’s favor, you are back under the system of the law. You are cut off from Christ and have fallen from the place of having His unmerited favor work in your life.

Don’t misunderstand me, Jesus is still with you (He will never leave you nor forsake you [Heb. 13:5]), but by depending on your self-efforts, you effectively cut off His unmerited favor in your life.

So what do I mean when I say, “Without us, He will not”? Well, Jesus is a gentleman. He will not force His unmerited favor and success down your throat. He needs you to allow Him to work in your life. He waits patiently for you to trust Him. He waits patiently for you to depend on His unmerited favor, the way Joseph trusted and depended wholly on the Lord’s presence, until His manifested presence took over, and His glory radiated from everything that Joseph touched.

Beloved, let’s learn quickly that without Jesus, we cannot succeed, and if we choose not to respond to His unmerited favor, He will not force it on us. God’s unmerited favor is ever-flowing toward us and Jesus is waiting for us to come to the end of ourselves. He is waiting for you to stop struggling in your own attempts to somehow “deserve” His favor, and just depend on Him.

So in the areas that you are still depending on your own efforts to succeed, start resting in Jesus’ unmerited favor and begin experiencing His manifested presence and glory upon everything you touch!

God’s Word tells us, “For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace [unmerited favor]” (Gal. 5:4 NLT).

BREAKING: NAFDAC APPROVES GARDASIL VACCINE AGAINST CERVICAL CANCER

17/10/23

PRESS RELEASE

OLADIPO DG

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has approved the use of Gardasil Vaccine as single dose in the routine immunization against cervical cancer.

In a joint statement by NAFDAC and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said NPHCDA will commence the introduction of the off-label use of quadrivalent Gardasil vaccine as a single dose schedule into the routine immunisation in Nigeria in the last quarter of 2023.


She explained that data from immunogenicity trials, post-hoc analyses of efficacy trials, and post-licensure observational studies among females have demonstrated that a single dose of HPV vaccine was sufficient to elicit an immune response that provides similar protection as a multidose regimen against initial and persistent HPV infection.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 119,000 new cases and 81,000 deaths from cervical cancer occurred in Africa in 2020, accounting for 22.5% of the global burden.

Prof Adeyeye said: “Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, has one of the highest cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates in the continent, with an estimated 15,000 new cases and 10,000 deaths annually. Several factors contribute to the high disease burden of cervical cancer in Nigeria, such as low awareness, poor screening coverage, limited access to treatment, and high prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

“Human Papillomavirus infection (HPV infection) is caused by a DNA virus belonging to the family Papillomaviridae. The virions are non-enveloped and contain a double-stranded DNA genome. HPV is the most common viral infection of the reproductive tract and causes a range of conditions

in men and women, including pre-cancerous lesions that may progress to cancer.

“The decision to deploy the off-label Gardasil as a single dose schedule is based on the scientific evidence that a single dose of Gardasil vaccine can provide solid protection against cervical cancer caused by human papillomaviruses (HPVs).

“The benefits of the single dose Schedule include; Reducing the cost and logistical challenges of delivering multiple doses, especially in resource-limited settings, Increasing the coverage and equity of HPV vaccination, as more girls and women can access the vaccine, accelerating the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem,

“Gardasil is a vaccine that protects against human papillomavirus – HPV -, a common sexually transmitted infection that can cause cervical, vaginal, vulvar, and other cancers.
The vaccine is given two or three doses, depending on the age of the person receiving it.

“At 18 months post-vaccination, the efficacy of a single dose of HPV vaccine against incident persistent high-risk (HPV16/18) infection was 97.5% (95% CI 82–100) for the nonvalent vaccine and 97.5% (95% CI 82–100) for the bivalent vaccine.

“Gardasil has been granted registration approval by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in exercising its mandate as stipulated by its enabling law, NAFDAC Act CapN1, LFN 2004 and after rigorous regulatory evaluation process for vaccines. The single dose has comparable efficacy and duration of protection as a 2-dose schedule and may offer programme advantages, is more efficientand affordable, and contribute to improved coverage.

GOSPEL CORNER: ONE OF OUR ASSIGNMENTS IN LIFE IS TO HELP WIPE AWAY THE TEARS. ARE YOU SENSITIVE TO OTHERS’ NEEDS?

18/10/23

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
Today’s Word

Today’s Scripture
“Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him.”
Luke 10:34, NLT

Lift the Fallen
Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan who saw a man on the side of the road beaten and left for dead. He put him on his donkey and took him to a place where he could recover. You’re never more like God than when you help hurting people. One of our assignments in life is to help wipe away the tears. Are you sensitive to others’ needs? Many times, behind the smile is a person who’s hurting, alone, and in turmoil. When someone is struggling, reach out. Be a healer. Be a restorer.

Your job is not to judge, or to figure out if someone deserves something, or to decide who is right or wrong. Your job is to lift the fallen, to restore the broken, and to heal the hurting. There is healing in your hands and voice. You are a container filled with God. Right now, you are full of encouragement, mercy, restoration, and healing. Everywhere you go you should dispense the goodness of God. The most important thing: You can become someone’s miracle.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
“Father, thank You for calling me to lift the fallen, to restore the broken, and to help the hurting. Help me to see others through Your eyes and to become a dispenser of Your goodness. Show me how to connect with others and to be a healer. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

SECTION TWO

When I was a teenager, I used to belong to a Christian fellowship group. We would sing this song which you may be familiar with. It went like this: “Is He satisfied, is He satisfied, is He satisfied with me? Have I done my best? Have I stood the test? Is He satisfied with me?”

Let me just say that 10 out of 10 times when we sang this song, I would always believe that God was not satisfied with me. When we look to ourselves, all there is to see is the inadequacy and futility of our ability and performance. In and of ourselves, we will never meet God’s standard for Him to be satisfied with us. We will always fall short!

You can imagine how condemned we felt each time we sang this song. After all, we had never been taught that God was satisfied with His Son’s sacrifice at the cross, and we did not understand what the new covenant of grace was all about. We were young and zealous for God, but defeated by our lack of knowledge.

With all due respect to the songwriter, whom I believe had the best intentions when he wrote the song, this song is not based on the new covenant of God’s unmerited favor. It negates the cross and places the emphasis back on you—what you must do, what you must perform, and what you must achieve for God to be satisfied with you.

But the question to ask today is not if God is satisfied with you. The question that we need to ask is this: Is God satisfied with the cross of Jesus? And the answer is this: He is completely satisfied!

At the cross, our acceptance is found. There, Jesus cried out with His last breath, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). The work is complete. The full punishment for all our sins was exacted on Jesus at the cross. God will not punish the believer again, not because He has gone soft on sin, but because all our sins have already been punished in the body of Jesus.

God’s holiness and His justice are now on your side! Today, God is not assessing you based on what you have or have not done. He is assessing you based on what Jesus has done. Is God satisfied with Jesus today? Yes, of course He is! Then, to the same extent that God is satisfied with Jesus, He is satisfied with you.

God’s own Son had to be crushed at Calvary for this blessing to become a reality in your life. The gift of His unmerited favor and His righteousness is only a free gift for you today because the full payment for this gift was exacted upon Jesus’ body. The cross made all the difference!

Don’t let anyone hoodwink you into thinking that you need to pay for your own sins. Don’t let anyone deceive you with the lie that your eternal salvation in Christ is uncertain and shakable!

FORGING MARITIME SECURITY: ECOWAS GATHERS CHIEFS OF NAVAL STAFF FOR 3RD SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING “

PRESS RELEASE

17/10/23

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is currently organizing the 3rd Meeting of the ECOWAS Sub-Committee of the Chiefs of Naval Staff, which is taking place from October 15 to 16, 2023, in Lome, Togo. This highly anticipated event is aimed at reviewing and assessing the operations and functionality of the ECOWAS Maritime Centres, with the objective of strengthening maritime operations and combating illicit maritime activities in the region.

The primary purpose of this meeting is to evaluate the performance and effectiveness of the ECOWAS Maritime Centres, which will provide valuable insights for improving maritime operations and effectively dealing with illicit maritime activities in the ECOWAS region. Participants in this significant gathering include representatives from the ECOWAS Commission, ECOWAS Maritime Centres, Chiefs of Naval Staff from Member States, and their respective Heads of Operations.

During his opening speech, the Chief of Staff of the Togolese National Navy, Frigate Captain Atatoum Babaté, expressed that by organizing this meeting in Lome, ECOWAS shows its commitment to effective maritime governance and its desire to ensure peace, security, and prosperity in the West African sub-region. He also emphasized that member states have strengthened their individual and collective efforts in addressing threats related to maritime security, and stressed the importance of remaining united in combating maritime insecurity.

In his opening address, the Permanent Representative of ECOWAS in Togo, His Excellency, Barros Bacar BANJAI, on behalf of Ambassador Fatau Musa, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, commended the Member States for their contributions towards equipping the maritime security centers. He highlighted that significant progress has been made in reducing maritime attacks, with a decline from 68 attacks in 2018 to 50 in 2019, and further decreasing to 18 in 2021 and 15 in 2022. He attributed this positive trend to the cooperation and coordination among Member States and the international community.

Minister of Maritime Economy, Fisheries, and Coastal Protection, Honorable Kokou Edem TENGUY, underscored the importance of maritime security due to the significant flow of goods and equipment passing through the sea. While this contributes to economic development, it also poses risks of illicit activities linked to maritime insecurity. He assured that Togo, as the host country, remains committed to participating in the ECOWAS maritime strategy and the fight against maritime piracy and illicit activities through the establishment of multinational maritime centers.

The Multinational Maritime Coordination Centres (MMCCs) play a crucial role in the ECOWAS maritime security architecture. These centres, along with the Regional Centre for Maritime Security in West Africa (CRESMAO) in Côte d’Ivoire, have significantly enhanced maritime security in the region and have led to a decrease in piracy and theft incidents at sea.
In parallel to the Chiefs of Naval Staff meeting, the 7th International Symposium of the Gulf of Guinea is scheduled to take place in Lome, Togo from October 18 to 19, 2023. This simultaneous gathering will provide a platform to discuss broader issues related to the Gulf of Guinea, including its challenges and potential solutions.
The ultimate goal of the Sub-Committee of Chiefs of Staff of the ECOWAS Navy meeting is to have a fruitful and productive session that will result in the preparation of a comprehensive report to be submitted to ECOWAS management.

ADEBAYO BENJAMIN LANIYI APPOINTED AS SECRETARY WOMEN DEVELOPMENT SECRETARIAT

PRESS RELEASE

17/10/23

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Adedayo Benjamin-Laniyi as the Mandate Secretary for the newly established Women Affairs Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

Her appointement as mandate secretary was contained in a statement released by the Director of press, Office of the FCT Minister, Anthony Ogunleye.

The mandate secretary, Adedayo Benjamin-Laniyi was born in 1965 and hails from Ogun State.

She has over 35 years of experience in publice service and as a Communications Consultant, Social Entrepreneur, and international mentor.

She attended Queens College School Lagos for her secondary school education and is part of the class of 1989 graduates of English from the University of Ibadan. She has made significant contributions to society as a prominent compere and renowned motivational speaker.

Her passion for social issues, particularly those affecting women and children, is evident in her remarkable work.

The appointee has demonstrated her commitment to women’s political participation by aspiring for a senatorial position in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2022. As the Grand Matron of “Hope Again for FCT Women in Politics,” she has played a vital role in encouraging and mentoring women in the political arena.

Her deep understanding of the political landscape and her ability to navigate complex policy challenges will undoubtedly contribute to the advancement of women’s rights and well-being in the Federal Capital Territory.
She will play a pivotal role in the administration’s commitment to promoting the well-being and empowerment of women and children in the Federal Capital Territory.

GOSPEL CORNER: “NOT BY MIGHT NOR BY POWER, BUT BY MY SPIRIT,” SAYS THE LORD ALMIGHTY.PHILIPPIANS 4:12–13, NLT

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES

THE 15/15 EXPERIENCE SPECIAL EDITION – FINALE

Today’s Word

Today’s Scripture
“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the LORD Almighty.
Philippians 4:12–13, NLT

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
When Jesus was on earth, He went around healing people, teaching in the synagogues, lifting people up, and spending time with His disciples. Everywhere He went, there were needs. People would come up and ask, “Will You heal my child? Will You come to our city? Can I touch the edge of Your robe?” People made constant demands on His time and energies. Imagine how He felt. As the Son of God, He had this incredible power, anointing, and wisdom—so much to offer. Yet at times, when He was tired, the Scripture says that He would go away from the crowds and into the mountains to be alone so He could be refreshed. He could have felt guilty. “There are so many needs. There are people to heal and lepers to cleanse. I can’t take a break.” But Jesus knew He had to take care of His temple. No matter how anointed you are, you get tired. No matter how strong, smart, or gifted you are, you get depleted. Despite all the needs around you and despite what your children, spouse, boss, and friends are counting on you for, you have to have these times to get alone and recharge your batteries. If Jesus, the Son of God, had to be alone and rest to meet all the demands of the people around Him, why do we think we can go all the time and be everything for everyone?p

“I can’t let them down. They’re counting on me.” I’ve learned that the sun will still come up if I don’t get everything done. The sun will still rise if I don’t keep everyone happy. You’re not doing yourself any favors if you’re living in a depleted state. Sometimes we’ve been doing it for so long that we don’t realize how far below our potential we’re living. You won’t be as good a parent, spouse, leader, or friend if you’re not taking time to get away. There will always be needs, always be something to do or someone who wants your attention. You have to make it a priority to stay in balance. It’s okay to be depleted, to work hard, to give it your best, and to be there for people, but it’s not okay to stay depleted. You have to get filled back up.

REFLECTION
In this final principle, Take Care of Yourself, think about what refreshes you. Write about the things that refill you with energy and stamina.

Everybody replenishes themselves differently. Take some time to think bigger and get creative. How can you make your health and well-being a priority, just as it is to God?

DECLARATION
Today, I declare that I will rely on the Spirit of the Lord instead of working in my own strength. I will keep my life in balance and give myself time and permission to rest and replenish my energy. I declare that I will let go of the pressure to perform. I will take care of myself physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I declare that I am worthy and valuable just as I am, and that the Almighty God will bring me to where I need to be.

PRAYER
Dear Lord, you’ve given me a heart to serve others, but help me realize that my well-being matters, too. Show me, Father, that it’s okay if I can’t always be the go-to person. Remind me not to carry guilt for prioritizing my health. People might get upset. They might wish more from me, but Lord, You alone are my judge. My health, my purpose, my destiny are all in Your hands. You didn’t create me to be a hero for everyone else’s expectations, but to follow the path You’ve set for me. Guide me, Father, to not live selfishly, but balanced, recognizing that You’ve put me in charge of my emotional and physical health. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

SECTION TWO


A life that is founded upon the gospel of Jesus Christ is unshakable. When you build your life upon the gospel, you are building on a strong foundation that will give you stability and the power of God for lasting breakthroughs (Rom. 1:16).

You may be going through an extremely difficult season right now. Perhaps you are reading this and you have just received a negative medical report, or maybe you are surrounded by some challenging circumstances at your place of employment. I want to encourage you to say this by faith: “I am too blessed to be stressed.”

Now invite our Lord Jesus into your situation. Involve Him in your area of need. Whether it is a healing, provision, or relationship breakthrough that you need, see and believe that the Lord is with you.

My dear friend, don’t put your trust in your own understanding. Instead, lean wholly on the one Who is more interested in your success than you are. The book of Proverbs tells us, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” (Prov. 18:10). Run to Him and cast all your cares upon Him for He cares for you.

Speak with me this promise of God found in today’s scripture into your situation right now: ” ‘No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me,’ says the LORD.” Amen and Amen!

Meditate on the last line of this powerful scripture. In the new covenant of grace, your righteousness is from the Lord Jesus Himself. Now, the more you understand your righteousness in Christ, the more you will experience His promise in today’s scripture.

The opposite holds true. When God’s people are not established in their righteous identity in Christ, they become susceptible to the weapons of the enemy. Weapons such as sickness, lack, guilt, condemnation, fear, depression, and all kinds of disorders and addictions. That is why it is so important to be sure that you are listening to the real gospel.

God’s Word proclaims that none of these weapons, even if they have already been formed, shall prevail against you. And every unfounded accusation, every malicious lie, and every false allegation you shall condemn! The enemy doesn’t have a hold over your life. God does, and He holds it together!