President Pest Control Association Of Nigeria (PECAN) PCO Olakunle Williams has called for renewed Commitment in the fight Against Malaria
Speaking in Commemoration of World Mosquito Day 2024,Olakunle said the
journey ahead may be challenging, but with determination, collaboration, and innovation, we can achieve a malaria-free Nigeria and contribute to a healthier, more equitable world.
He said World Mosquito Day is a poignant reminder of the ongoing global battle against malaria, a preventable and treatable disease that continues to claim lives, particularly in Africa says the President Of Pest Control Association Of Nigeria.PCO Olakunle Williams
The theme for this year’s World Mosquito Day, “Accelerating the Fight Against Malaria for an Equitable World,” speaks to the urgent need for concerted efforts to eliminate malaria and address the disparities it perpetuates in our society.
The World Mosquito Day was introduced as a mark of honour to the 1897 scientific discovery of a British Doctor by the name Sir Ronald Ross who succeeded in revealing to the whole world that the female Anopheles mosquito was the cause of Malaria. His discovery laid the foundations for scientists across the world to better understand the deadly role of mosquitoes in disease transmission and come up with effective innovative interventions. This day has been set aside worldwide to create awareness on the humans deaths caused by Mosquitoes throughout the whole world and to see how these Global Deaths can be prevented.
MALARIA IN NIGERIA: A ContinuingChallenge
Nigeria bears a disproportionate burden of malaria, accounting for nearly a quarter of all malaria cases and deaths worldwide. This is a sobering statistic that demands immediate and sustained action. Despite significant progress in the past decade, malaria remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in our country, affecting millions of lives and imposing a heavy burden on our healthcare system.
THE ROLE OF PEST CONTROL INMALARIA ERADICATION
As the National President of the Pest Control Association of Nigeria (PECAN), I want to emphasize the critical role that pest control plays in the fight against malaria. Effective mosquito control is a cornerstone of malaria prevention. Our association, comprising professionals dedicated to pest management, is committed to driving innovation, enforcing best practices, and ensuring that mosquito control interventions are both effective and environmentally sustainable.
ACCELERATING THE FIGHT:PECAN’s Commitment
This year’s theme challenges us to accelerate our efforts. We must leverage technology, enhance collaboration, and strengthen community engagement to achieve our goal of malaria eradication. PECAN is committed to:
PROMOTING INTEGRATED VECTOR MANAGEMENT (IVM): By integrating multiple strategies—such as larviciding, indoor residual spraying (IRS) , and the use of insecticide-treated nets—we can reduce mosquito populations more effectively.
TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING: We will continue to invest in the training of pest control professionals across the country, ensuring they are equipped with the latest knowledge and tools to combat malaria.
ADVOCACY AND AWARENESS: Raising awareness about the importance of mosquito control and the dangers of malaria is crucial. We will intensify our efforts to educate the public and policymakers about the benefits of sustained mosquito control programmes.
COLLABORATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS: PECAN will strengthen partnerships with government agencies, international organizations, and the private sector to enhance the reach and impact of malaria control interventions.
ADVISING GOVERNMENTS TO MAKE SUSTAINABLE POLICIES: PECAN will continue to engage governments at all levels in making policies that will eliminate mosquitoes in Nigeria. Open dumping of refuse needs to be frowned at by the governments, littering of our drainages with waste plastic bottles, cans and the likes should be campaigned against.
Reconstruction of Modern Drainage System, larval Source Management, clearing of the existing Drainages to allow for free flow of waste water should be part of the priorities of the governments at all levels.
TOWARDS AN EQUITABLE WORLD The fight against malaria is also a fight for equity.
Malaria disproportionately affects the most vulnerable populations—pregnant women, children under five, and those living in rural areas. By accelerating the fight against malaria, we are not only saving lives but also contributing to the creation of a more equitable world where everyone has the opportunity to live a healthy and productive life.
Today’s Scripture Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you’?” Then the LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. Exodus 4:1–2, NIV
WHAT’S IN YOUR HAND? When God called Moses to lead two million Israelites out of Egypt, Moses asked Him how he could prove to the people that God had spoken to him. God said, “Moses, what’s in your hand?” Moses looked down at his staff and must have thought, “It’s just a stick.” God said, “Throw it down.” He threw it down, and it turned into a snake. God said, “Pick it up.” He picked it up, and it turned back into a rod. God was showing Moses he had what he needed, even if it looked ordinary and insignificant.
You may have small faith today. That’s okay. Use it, and God can move mountains. You may have average talent. That’s all right. Use it, and God can do something exceptional. He’s going to multiply your talent, your resources, and your creativity. You may feel weak, but God is breathing on your dreams, your finances, your health, and your children. This is not the time to shrink back in fear. This is the time to move forward in faith. You are equipped with everything you need to fulfill your destiny.
A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You that You have provided me with exactly what I need for the season I am in. Thank You that You have equipped and empowered me with every good thing right now, and You will keep providing for me as I need it. I declare that I am moving forward in faith. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
SECTION TWO We often hear about Abraham’s faith, but do you know that his wife, Sarah, had faith too? She received divine strength to conceive Isaac, even though by this time, as a woman who had never conceived, she was doubly barren!
How did Sarah find faith? The Bible tells us that she “judged Him faithful who had promised.” She was conscious of the Lord’s faithfulness, not her own faithfulness!
My friend, rest in the faithfulness of Jesus. It’s not your faith but His faithfulness—His faithfulness in always loving you and making good on His promise to heal you.
When you find yourself wavering in faith, judge Him faithful and be at rest. He cannot fail you and will do as His Word has promised!
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. Psalm 48:14, NIV
GOING BEFORE YOU You may be discouraged today and think that your life situation will never change. Maybe you can’t see anything happening. But if the curtain was pulled back, you could see into the unseen realm. There, you would see God at work arranging things in your favor. It may not happen overnight, but at the right time, in your due season, God will not only move the wrong people out of the way, but He also will pay you back for every injustice. He will make up for lost time, open doors to the right opportunities, and bring the right people across your path. He’s even looking years down the road and arranging solutions to problems that you haven’t had yet. He will guide you to where you’re supposed to be.
You may have taken a couple of steps backward in recent times, but right now, God is going before you to prepare the next chapter of your life. If you stay in faith and keep the right attitude, you will enter a better chapter, a chapter with greater victories and greater fulfillment.
A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You that You have called me to walk by faith and not by sight. Thank You that Your power is working in the unseen realm to bring about Your promises in my life. I will live with a sense of expectancy that You are guiding me and leading me into new chapters of my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
SECTION TWO
Let me say something about faith. You cannot have faith without speaking it.
When you study Romans 10, you will notice that it says that “the righteousness which is of the law . . . does . . . But the righteousness of faith speaks.” The law is about doing, whereas faith is about speaking.
It is not enough to just know in your mind that you are righteous. It is not enough to just read this chapter or hear a sermon on righteousness and mentally agree that you are righteous. You need to open your mouth and say by faith, “I am the righteousness of God in Christ” (2 Cor. 5:21).
This is where many believers are missing out on the blessing of Abraham. They are not speaking their righteousness by faith.
Our first response to a trying situation is very important. Our first response when we discover a symptom in our body, when we receive a bad report, or when we are faced with a trial, should always be to say, “I am the righteousness of God in Christ.”
Come on now, this is where the rubber meets the road. This is when we need to speak it. You need to not only know that you are righteous, you need to believe and speak your righteousness in Christ. It is not faith until you speak it!
Paul said, “And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, ‘I believed and therefore I spoke,’ we also believe and therefore speak” (2 Cor. 4:13). The spirit of faith is clearly about believing and speaking.
So it does not matter how many sermons or books on righteousness you have heard and read. You need to believe it and speak it.
When you fail and fall short of the law’s perfect standard, that is the time you should exercise your faith to say, “I am the righteousness of God in Christ.” At that very moment when you are seething in anger at your spouse, or when you have just lost your cool on the road, it takes faith to say that you are righteous because you know that you have missed it.
And you know what? The moment you say it, even if you are still in the midst of your anger, you will feel like you have ushered something good into that situation. You take a step back and start to relax, and the anger dissipates as you begin to realize your true identity in Christ.
Men, if you see a scantily clad woman on television or on the cover of a magazine and you are tempted, what is your first response? Are you sin-conscious or righteousness-conscious?
Sin-consciousness will draw you to succumb to your temptation, whereas righteousness-consciousness gives you the power to overcome every temptation.
That is why the enemy wants to keep you sin-conscious. Confessing your sins all the time keeps you sin-conscious. It is as if Jesus did not become your sin on the cross.
Righteousness-consciousness keeps you conscious of Jesus. Every time you speak it, you magnify the work of Jesus on the cross.
So believe and speak the truth: “I am the righteousness of God in Christ.” Then, you cannot help but see the results of magnifying the Lord Jesus and His finished work!
Do you know what Mary saw as she looked into the tomb? She saw the substance of the ark of the covenant. Just as we saw that there were two cherubim or angels on the mercy seat, there were two angels sitting where Jesus had lain—one at the head and the other at the feet.
It was an empty tomb that our Savior was laid in after He had paid the full price for our sins with His own blood. Today, this tomb remains empty because all our sins are forgiven and our Lord is risen!
Our hope, confidence, and assurance of salvation are found in the nail-pierced hands of our resurrected Savior. The mercy seat is a picture of the throne of grace (Heb. 4:16). That is where we want to be—at the throne of grace, under the protective covering of His feathers and His wings.
I want to encourage you with this praise report from Veronica, who lives in New York City.
A few nights ago my husband, Casey, and I were stuck in a traffic jam for five hours. So we put on a sermon by Pastor Joseph Prince titled The Secret Place Where You Find Protection and Long Life. Later, we found out that a fatal accident had taken place just five seconds ahead of us before we got stuck. Five seconds. The Lord had protected us from the accident!
Today, Casey was again protected miraculously. It appeared that a driver had had a heart attack while driving and passed out. It led to a chain collision and all the cars in front of and behind Casey got hit. And the drivers were taken to the hospital.
Despite all this, Casey’s car was completely untouched. Everything happened so quickly that he had no time to react. It was the Lord who protected him once again because that very morning, Casey was reading a devotional by Pastor Prince that drew Bible references from Psalm 91 . . . “He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge.”
Truly, there is no safer place in the universe than under the protective shelter of our Savior’s wings. What blessed assurance we can have today, knowing that even if destruction rages around us, there is always refuge and comfort in the Lord, our unfailing peace, protection, and supply.
I completely agree with Veronica that there is no safer place in the universe than under His wings, and I rejoice that the Lord’s protection over her and Casey is for us as well!
Today’s Scripture “Whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.” Mark 11:23, NKJV
MOUNTAIN REMOVAL We all face mountains in life, things that seem big and permanent. It may be a mountain in your marriage, your finances, your health, or your dreams. It’s good to ask God to help you, but you may be praying about things you should be speaking to. If you don’t speak to your mountains, your mountains will talk to you. All through the day, those negative thoughts will come. They are your mountains talking to you. If you face a mountain of fear, you have to say, “Fear, I command you to leave. I will not allow you in my life.” If it’s a health problem, you have to declare to that sickness, “Sickness, you have no right in my body. I’m not asking you to leave. I’m commanding you to leave my body.” When you speak words of faith based upon the authority of the Son of God, something happens in the unseen realm. The mighty armies of the Most High God will stand behind you. The forces of darkness will be defeated. Those mountains will be removed.
Prayer For Today “Father, thank You for the power that You give my words to change my life. Help me to give my faith a voice by speaking words of life and blessing over myself and my future daily. I declare that You are greater than any mountain I face. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
SECTION TWO
I am sure that you have heard a lot of teaching on fearing the Lord. I do believe in a reverential honor of the Lord. But I am not for any kind of teaching that promotes this idea that God wants you to be afraid of Him.
God delights in having us close to Him. He welcomes us to dwell in His secret place, to be so close to Him that we come under His shadow. These are all pictures of intimacy.
In any relationship, fear and intimacy cannot coexist. If you fear God today, you won’t be able to believe Him for His protection. That is why it is so important for you to be strong and established in His grace.
The author of the book of Hebrews says, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). This is a picture of the ark of the covenant, God’s throne of grace.
Because our Lord’s blood has been shed on the mercy seat, today, we can come boldly into His presence without any sense of inferiority or shame, and receive His favor, His supply, His protection, and His help in our time of need.
Jesus defined the fear of the Lord as the worship of the Lord. In the wilderness temptation, Jesus responded to the devil by saying, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve'” (Matt. 4:8–10). Our Lord was quoting from Deuteronomy 6:13, which says, “You shall fear the LORD your God and serve Him.” Our Lord substituted the word “fear” with the word “worship.”
Jesus was showing us how to accurately understand the fear of the Lord. In the new covenant, it has nothing to do with being afraid of the Lord; it has everything to do with coming into His presence with boldness and worshiping Him.
Stop living in fear, my friend. Instead, follow our Lord wholly like Caleb did and worship His wonderful name.
The prayer of protection in Psalm 91 is a psalm of worship. When you worship Jesus, all your fears will fade away. When you worship Him, the angel of the Lord encamps around you like a shield of protection. When you worship your Savior, His Spirit of wisdom and counsel will lead and guide you with rivers of peace!
Today’s Scripture “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.” Matthew 13:24–25, NIV
WEEDS In Matthew 13, Jesus tells a story about a man who planted wheat. He sowed good seed, doing the right thing. But while he slept, an enemy came and planted weeds in his soil that sprang up among his wheat. As big a problem as that was, the good news is that the weeds could not keep the wheat from being harvested, and the weeds were destroyed.
The message is that you shouldn’t be surprised by unexpected challenges, unexpected trouble, and unexpected difficulties even as you do the right things, honor God, and work to be your best every day. When you’re close to victory, when you’re on the verge of an accomplishment or breakthrough, when you’re about to go into the harvest season, that’s when unexpected problems will pop up as the enemy tries to keep you from moving forward. Don’t worry about it. Remember, our God has unexpected favor, unexpected breakthroughs, and unexpected promotion. Just wait and let God take care of it for you. Those weedscannot keep you from your God-given destiny.
A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You that everything You have for me will be released and harvested in my life at the right time. Thank You that I can wait with great expectancy, knowing that You will take care of the enemy’s weeds. Help me to be patient and know that You are always working. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
SECTION TWO
This is the most important verse in Psalm 91! If you ever had any doubt that God desires for you to live a long, good life, let this verse be your answer.
You may be battling with a health condition right now, but by faith let’s hold fast to this verse together. In Jesus’ mighty name, I see you healed, healthy, and whole. I see you strong in Christ and ready to take on any giant that is ahead of you.
One of my favorite pictures of long life is found in the biblical character Caleb. When he was eighty-five years old, he said, “I am this day, eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war” (Josh. 14:10–11).
The faith picture here of long life is not just in terms of quantity—the number of days—but also quality—health and strength. Caleb remained as strong at eighty-five as he was when he was forty-five. Which means in the last forty years in the harsh wilderness, his strength, youth, and vigor didn’t diminish. There was no leaking, no receding, and no fading away of his strength!
If perhaps you think that Caleb was just talking big, look at what he said next: “Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said” (Josh. 14:12).
At eighty-five, Caleb was ready to fight with giants to gain possession of a mountain! And Caleb did as he said! Read the evidence for yourself: “Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel” (Josh. 14:14).
You were impressed when a teenage shepherd boy picked a fight with one giant named Goliath? We should be completely blown away by this eighty-five-year-old, who took on a whole mountain packed with giants!oó
Caleb was zealous for the Lord’s glory. As far as he was concerned, there was unfinished business because the Lord had promised them the mountain forty years ago.
My personal belief is that his biological clock stopped ticking and he basically stopped aging because he kept his eyes not on himself, but on the promises of the Lord. As you meditate on and find strength in God’s promises, the same can happen for you!
…..As Lagos, Interswitch Group Continue to Revolutionise Healthcare
Following the recent signing concession agreement to launch the Lagos State Health Information Platform (Lagos SHIP), Lagos State Government and Interswitch Group have organized a stakeholders’ engagement forum to onboard stakeholders in the health sector on the concept of the Lagos SHIP, marking another milestone in the journey towards providing unrestricted healthcare access for Lagos State residents.
Lagos SHIP is a digital healthcare platform designed to boost healthcare services by leveraging Interswitch’s robust technology infrastructure. The platform aims to create a comprehensive health information system that bridges the gap between patients and healthcare providers, offering a seamless and efficient way to access a wide range of healthcare services. Lagos residents will be able to book appointments, pay for consultations, access medical records, and purchase medications with ease using the platform.
In his keynote address, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, emphasised the transformative potential of data-driven healthcare solutions, stating that the Lagos SHIP initiative will create enhanced experiences for all healthcare stakeholders and enable residents to access quality healthcare services.
Prof. Abayomi further stressed the importance of collaboration in healthcare, noting,
“By embracing the Lagos SHIP, we can streamline healthcare operations, reduce administrative burdens, and make more informed decisions. These improvements translate into cost savings and better resource allocation, ultimately enhancing the quality of care and improving patient outcomes.
Prof. Akin Abayomi
We are living in a time of rapid transformation in healthcare, driven by advancements in technology and a shift towards more informed and involved patients. The Lagos SHIP initiative, a joint effort by the Lagos State Government and Interswitch Group, is designed to revolutionise healthcare services in the state by connecting patients to doctors, streamlining patient care through electronic medical records, and solving operational challenges,” the Commissioner added.
The Commissioner disclosed that stakeholders and partners in the Lagos SHIP include; Lagos State Government, eClat Interswitch, medical providers and practitioners in the private and public sector, health insurers and management organizations (HMOs), policy makers, economic planners for resource allocation, researchers, international community, digital service providers and innovators, residents of Lagos State and medical tourists or users from outside Lagos.
“The Lagos SHIP which sets sail with the earlier concession agreement signing and this stakeholders’ engagement is in line with Governor Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to access to quality, efficient and equitable healthcare delivery service in Lagos and Universal Healthcare Coverage.
“The Lagos SHIP allows us to imagine together into the future, the Speed of patient data migration and connectivity, data mining and trend analysis for policy and research, early warning systems and emergency management, training, virtual clinics, robotics and AI solutions, global hub of virtual connectivity, international collaborations, multiple opportunities for digital innovative solutions, cost efficiencies, regulation and clinical governance”, he said.
Earlier, Managing Director of Interswitch e’Clat, Dr. Wallace Ogufere, stated that Interswitch, through its healthcare subsidiary Interswitch e’Clat, is working with the Lagos State Government to improve health outcomes in the state. As a development partner and supporter of the government’s developmental agenda, Dr. Ogufere envisages a future where the Lagos State health sector will serve as a model not only for other states in Nigeria but across the continent and beyond.
“Through Lagos SHIP, we will support the Lagos State Government in unlocking the potential of electronic medical records, securely leveraging data from public and private hospitals and allied locations. This will facilitate improved experiences for stakeholders across the board, from healthcare administrators to medical professionals and patients,” he noted.
By leveraging advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, virtual care, wearables, data analytics, and the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), Lagos SHIP will redefine the way healthcare is delivered, accessed, and experienced,” Dr. Ogufere added.
The Lagos SHIP Engagement Forum was organized to raise awareness for SHIP and its benefits, educate stakeholders on its functionalities, secure stakeholders buy-in and support for SHIP adoption, and address concerns related to data security and privacy in the Lagos health care ecosystem.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Kemi Ogunyemi, highlighted the transformative potential of the SHIP stressing that it has the capacity to enhance healthcare delivery through improved data management, streamlined operations, and better patient engagement.
“The journey to this day began with our determination to establish a unified patient record system, a need made glaringly obvious during the Ebola and COVID-19 pandemics. With the Lagos SHIP, we are not just launching a digital platform, but we are also laying the foundation for a more resilient and responsive healthcare system,” Dr. Ogunyemi stated.
She added that the Lagos SHIP is set to address critical challenges in the health sector by managing, analyzing, and utilizing health information more effectively. According to Dr. Ogunyemi, the platform’s advanced technology will not only enhance data management and patient care but also foster greater collaboration between healthcare providers and government agencies.
“This platform is a testament to our commitment to innovation and excellence. By integrating state-of-the-art technology with existing systems, we are poised to improve health outcomes for all residents of Lagos State,” she added.
Adding to the discourse, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, elaborated on the platform’s patient-focused approach. “SHIP is going to allow us to be more patient-focused,” Dr. Ogboye remarked. “We are already patient-focused, but SHIP gives us that extra incentive, that extra step towards individualized care, leading to better outcomes for patients.”
Dr. Ogboye explained how SHIP will empower healthcare professionals to work at their best, reducing errors, improving diagnosis, and fostering global collaboration. He noted that SHIP will also help mitigate the “japa syndrome” by creating a more conducive environment for healthcare workers, enhancing job satisfaction, and encouraging professional development.
On the patient side, SHIP is designed to provide individuals with greater access to their health information, enabling them to make informed decisions and take control of their health. “SHIP will allow a positive, effective, and efficient interaction between the healthcare provider and the patient,” Dr. Ogboye stated, underscoring the platform’s potential to transform patient engagement.
Dr. Ogboye also highlighted the strategic role of SHIP in achieving the state’s long-term healthcare objectives, aligning with the Governor’s THEMES Plus agenda. He emphasized that SHIP will facilitate faster and more efficient contact during health crises, improve data analytics, and enhance decision-making processes within the healthcare sector.
Managing Director Digital Health Platform, Interswitch, Mr. Olufemi Olapegba provided key insights into the technological backbone of the SHIP initiative. Highlighting the platform’s design, Olapegba explained that SHIP is fundamentally a health information exchange platform that seamlessly connects the demand and supply sides of healthcare.
“SHIP will comply with various regulations and standards, particularly adopting the FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) standard, which is the globally recognized best practice for exchanging health information,” Olapegba stated. He emphasized that SHIP will expose a variety of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to enable the secure and efficient sharing of health data across different touchpoints within the healthcare ecosystem.
Olapegba outlined several key services that SHIP will offer, including the Patient Demography Service, which will uniquely identify and index every patient presenting at health facilities. “This service allows for seamless tracking of patients as they move across different healthcare providers, ensuring continuity of care,” he explained. The platform will also empower patients to own and manage their personal health information.
Another critical feature of SHIP is the Summary Care Records API, which facilitates the exchange of clinical data, ensuring that vital details required for continuous care are easily accessible to healthcare providers. Additionally, the platform will offer an e-Prescription service, enabling patients to receive prescription services beyond the confines of the health facilities they visit. “For example, a patient could visit a hospital in Ikoyi and pick up their medication in Epe if it’s not available at the original location,” Olapegba noted.
The launch of Lagos SHIP underscores Interswitch’s commitment to driving positive change and enhancing healthcare delivery across Lagos State and beyond. Both Interswitch and the Lagos State Government are confident that Lagos SHIP will serve as a catalyst for positive transformation within the healthcare sector, ultimately improving the well-being of millions of residents.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE BE HAPPY [IN YOUR FAITH] AND REJOICE AND BE GLAD-HEARTED CONTINUALLY (ALWAYS). 1 THESSALONIANS 5:16, AMPC
Glad-Hearted How long are we supposed to be glad-hearted, to be happy in our faith and rejoicing? As long as people treat us right? As long as the medical report is good? As long as the economy is strong? No, the apostle Paul says “always.” That means in the good times and in the tough times, when your life is going great and when life feels depressing and gloomy, when it’s sunny and when it’s raining.
Jesus says that “in this world you will have trouble.” We all face disappointments, unfair situations, tests, trials, and temptation. But know this: On the other side of every difficulty and adversity is promotion, opportunity, growth, and increase. Whether the sun is shining or dark clouds are overhead, your Heavenly Father is in control, and He has promised to take care of you, regardless of the circumstances. Get up in the morning and have a song of praise in your heart. Keep your joy and be glad-hearted continually. God is about to show up and show out in unusual ways that will amaze you.
A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You that I can be glad-hearted and rejoice in all circumstances today because You are always in control. Thank You that You are always doing exceedingly abundantly beyond all I could ever ask or imagine. I am going to keep a song of praise in my heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
SECTION TWO
Do you often feel as though God is displeased with you because you can’t seem to break out of a bad habit? Are you facing a situation that just seems impossible to overcome? Let me share Colton’s testimony with you to show you how believing in Jesus’ finished work and receiving His grace are key to receiving your breakthrough.
Since Colton was a little boy, he tried to please God by his performance and obedience. Whenever he sinned by doing or not doing something, he would feel totally condemned and depressed. He found that the more he tried to get rid of certain bad habits by self-discipline, the more he continued in them.
Right after graduation from high school, this young man from Texas received one of my books. Through reading the book, he understood that God is fully pleased with him—not based on his works, but on the perfect, finished work of Jesus at the cross.
Colton began confessing that he was still righteous in Christ through His perfect sacrifice whenever he missed the mark. The result? Listen to what he says: “I was finally able to overcome many wrong habits and attitudes. I also went from a 1.76 grade point average (GPA) in high school to a 4.00 GPA in my first semester in college. As I began to be more conscious of Jesus and not my performance, faith was just there and things that held me back fell away.”
When Colton decided to pursue further education in the field of medicine, it appeared to be an impossible situation as the tuition fee was simply unaffordable for his family. But as this brother continued to believe God and receive His grace through Christ Jesus, he began to see “obstacle after obstacle removed.” He shared happily with me, “Today, half of my tuition fee has been paid off, and Jesus is already working on clearing the rest for me!”
Beloved, God still sees you righteous even when you fail, because you are forever perfect and accepted in Christ. God judges you not based on your imperfect performance, but on the perfect performance and sacrifice of Christ.
The more you believe and receive this truth, the more you will, like Colton, overcome every bad habit and receive your breakthroughs.
Today’s Scripture Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Philippians 3:12, NIV
KEEP GROWING God has put more in you than you can even imagine. You have gifts and talents that nobody else has. You have a responsibility not only to God, not only to your family, but also to yourself to develop what He’s put in you. Whether you’re nine or ninety years old, you should constantly be learning, improving your skills, and getting better at what you do. With the Internet, books, schools, and seminars, there is more knowledge available today than any time in history. Don’t settle where you are and get stuck. Turn off the TV and invest in yourself.
Too often we sit back and think, “God, I’m waiting on You for that big break.” That’s the wrong attitude. The people who get the big breaks are people who are prepared, who develop their skills continuously. You have to be proactive to take these steps to grow. When God sees you doing your part and developing what He’s given you, He’ll do His part and open doors that no man can shut.
A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You for the treasure You put inside me—the talents and the potential—and all of the opportunities You provide for my growth. I don’t want to coast through life relying on what I’ve already learned, but I want to do everything I can to develop my gifts and potential. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
There are many believers who are defeated because they are struggling to qualify for God’s blessings through their own works. What you need to understand is that self-effort will rob you of reigning in life by God’s grace.
You cannot earn your salvation, healing, or financial breakthrough by your own efforts. If the greatest miracle—being saved and made alive with Jesus—comes by grace through faith, and not by your works, how much more the lesser miracles, such as healing, provision, and restored marriages?
It is not about your work or performance, but Jesus’ work and performance. Only His work is a finished work. And not only did He sit down at the Father’s right hand, but today’s Scripture states that He also made us sit with Jesus!
What does this mean? Well, my friend, “sitting down” in the Bible is a picture of the believer resting in the perfect and finished work of Jesus. Christ has finished all the work on the cross on your behalf and is now seated at the right hand of God.
As it has all been accomplished on your behalf, this means that you can stop depending on your self-efforts to earn and qualify for God’s blessings in your life. You can sit down with Jesus at the Father’s right hand!
Now, listen carefully to what I am saying. I am not advocating a life of passiveness and laziness regarding the study of God’s Word, prayer, or worship. When it comes to success in your job, I’m also certainly not saying that you shouldn’t be diligent or seeking to develop your abilities. God’s grace does not make you lazy and unproductive.
On the contrary, it makes you labor more abundantly for His glory. The apostle Paul, a preacher of God’s grace and the finished work of Jesus, said that he “labored more abundantly than they all” (1 Cor. 15:10).
What you need to realize is, in the new covenant, God’s way is to bless you first, and the knowledge of His blessing then empowers you to labor more abundantly. In other words, we do not labor to be blessed, but rather we have the power to labor because we are already blessed. Can you see the different premise for laboring in the new covenant?
My friend, Jesus has accomplished everything for us on the cross. Our part is to trust in His perfect work. Receive with open arms His abundance of grace and His gift of righteousness, and sit down and begin to reign in life through Him.
Today, let it be your prayer that you will stop trying to earn God’s grace and righteousness. Let the Holy Spirit teach you to start depending on Jesus’ finished work and to start receiving by His grace. This is God’s way to success, wholeness, and victorious living!
Today’s Scripture “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep.” Acts 13:36, NIV
LIVE YOUR PURPOSE Many people today are not being true to who they are because they’re afraid they may disappoint someone, fall out of their good graces, or not be accepted. But you can’t live the life God wants for you, the life He purposed for you, if you are trying to be who your parents, who your friends, or who your boss wants you to be. You have to be true to who God made you to be.
After all, God doesn’t want you to be an imitation of someone else. You should be the original you were created to be. There is an anointing on your life, an empowerment, not to be somebody else, but to be you. If you let people squeeze you into their mold and you bow down to their pressure to try to please your critics, it not only takes away your uniqueness, but it also lessens the favor on your life. It’s time for you to go out and fulfill your purpose for your generation, run your own race, and to be free to be who you really are.
A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You that I can seek Your kingdom first and be who You want me to be. Help me to run my own race with passion. I believe that Your anointing and empowerment and favor will rest upon my life so that I can fulfill Your purpose for me in my generation. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
SECTION TWO
Do you know what makes Christianity unique and gives it the power to free people from all fears, condemning thoughts, and addictions? Many of the world’s belief systems are governed by moral codes, rules, and laws. But Christianity is unique in that it is not about an impersonal list of dos and don’ts.
It is about having a relationship with Almighty God. And it is God working in us and for us through this relationship that brings transformation in our lives.
Beloved, God is all about having a relationship with you today. The apostle John tells us that “the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).
Notice also that the law was given. This implies a sense of distance. In contrast, grace came! Grace is personal and came as a person—the person of Jesus Christ.
The law is hard, cold, and impersonal. You cannot have a relationship with two tablets of stone. But grace is gentle and warm. Grace is not a teaching or doctrine. Grace is a person, and you can have a relationship with a person.
God is not interested in mere obedience and submission. He is a God of love and He longs to have an intimate relationship with you.
Jesus came and died a cruel death on the cross, paying the full debt of sin with His own life so that you and I can reign in life today. His sacrifice fulfilled every requirement of the law perfectly on our behalf (Matt. 5:17 NIV). All that we were unable to do, He did on our behalf.
When you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are made holy and righteous by His blood once and for all. You can enter into a relationship with Almighty God and come boldly into His presence without any guilt, condemnation, or expectation of punishment.
You see, when you have fulfilled your debt to the lender for the mortgage on your house, you stop sending in your monthly payments because the debt has already been fulfilled. If the lender sends you a letter demanding additional payment, all you have to do is produce the title deed to your home. In the same sense, the debt that you and I owed to the law has already been fulfilled by our Savior, Jesus Christ! Hallelujah!
When the devil comes to accuse you with the law and shows you how you have fallen short and failed, turn your eyes away from yourself and point to the payment that Jesus made on the cross. Christ is your title deed, which is why you are called a “Christian” today.
You are not your own. You have been purchased with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. His blood, shed for you, is what makes your relationship with God secure. It is what gives you the basis to reach out and receive your freedom from your loving Savior today!
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