When the unmerited favor of God is upon you wherever you are, like it was upon Joseph, (1) you cannot help but find favor, (2) everything that you do cannot help but prosper, and (3) you cannot help but experience increase and promotion beyond your wildest imagination!
Can you see that this was the consistent pattern in Joseph’s life? It didn’t matter if he was a slave or prisoner. The same applies to you. When the unmerited favor of God is upon you, you are like a rubber ball in a pool of water. Natural circumstances can try to push you down and keep you suppressed under water, but the unmerited favor of God will always cause you to POP right up to the top!
Don’t be discouraged by your current circumstances. I know things may sometimes appear bleak, dismal, and perhaps even devastating, but it ain’t over, my friend. I wrote this to tell you that it ain’t over! I don’t believe for one moment that among the millions of articles in publication right now, you are reading this particular one by chance or coincidence. This is a divine appointment and I believe that God is saying this to you: “Don’t give up. It ain’t over!”
There are many times where the lowest points in your life are actually launching pads to God’s greatest promotion in your life. It was so for Joseph! Let’s rewind the tape and observe the fingerprints of the Lord through the ups and downs of Joseph’s life.
If Joseph had not been betrayed by his brothers, he would not have been sold as a slave. If he had not been sold as a slave, he would not have been in Potiphar’s house. If he was not in Potiphar’s house, he would not have been thrown into an Egyptian prison meant specifically for the king’s prisoners.
If he was not in that specific prison, he would not have interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh’s officers. If he had not interpreted their dreams, he would not have been summoned to interpret Pharaoh’s dream two years later. If he had not interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, Pharaoh would not have promoted Joseph to become his prime minister over the entire Egyptian empire!
This is what Pharaoh said to Joseph: “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you. . . . See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt” (Gen. 41:39–41). When we look back, it is clear that the Lord had turned Joseph’s darkest hour into his finest hour!
God’s presence with Joseph and His unmerited favor caused Joseph to be promoted from the pit to the palace, from the dunghill to Capitol Hill, from the outhouse to the White House. Stop looking at your circumstances and stop allowing them to discourage you. The same Lord who was with Joseph is with you right now. You cannot fail! You can expect to see success beyond your present circumstances!
Today’s Scripture “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” Hebrews 3:15, NIV
DON’T IGNORE IT Sometimes the still small voice of God speaks to us about very practical matters. “You’re not eating healthy. This is not good for you.” You keep hearing it again and again, pushing it down. Don’t ignore it. Or maybe you hear the whisper, “You need to get to work on time.” Or, “You need to treat your spouse better. You need to watch your words.” These are gentle whispers, impressions in your spirit, not your mind. Your intellect may say it’s fine, but deep in your spirit you know you should do it. When we understand that the whispers are for our benefit, the whispers are God leading us down the best path, we won’t ignore them or push them down. We’ll be quick to obey. When you don’t feel at peace about a purchase, you put it back. When you feel a prompting to spend time with your child, you turn the TV off and obey. At work, you feel uneasy about being with someone. The alarm is going off. You trust your sensor and make the change.
A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You that in the most practical ways You are speaking to me about everything that I am involved with. Thank You that You’re directing me for my benefit and leading me down the best path. I declare that I am committed to obeying Your still small voice today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
SECTION TWO
Today I want to show you the difference between a blessed man and a cursed man. The Bible is amazingly clear on how you can be a cursed man and what a cursed life looks like. God’s Word also shows you a picture of a blessed man and how you can be that man.
Let’s start with how one can be a cursed man. Jeremiah 17:5 tells us that when a man “trusts in man” and not in the Lord, he becomes a cursed man.
A man who “makes flesh his strength” is also cursed. In this context, “flesh” can be paraphrased as “self-effort.” In other words, we can read verse five as “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes self-effort his strength.”
My friend, there are essentially two ways to live this life. The first is for us to depend and trust entirely in the Lord’s unmerited favor, while the other is to depend on our efforts, and strive and struggle for success.
We can never bring about good success that comes from God by depending on our self-efforts. No matter how we strive and struggle, we cannot work for our own righteousness or attain our own forgiveness. Any success that we may achieve is only partial success.
On the other hand, God’s kind of success is complete, whole, and permeates into every facet of our lives—spirit, soul, and body. God’s Word says, “The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it” (Prov. 10:22).
God never gives us success at the expense of our marriage, families, or health. Like I always say to the business people in my church, don’t use all your health to chase after wealth, only to spend all your wealth later to get your health back!
Health and wholeness in your physical body are part of God’s blessings. If you are constantly under tremendous stress and have regular panic attacks because of the nature of your work, then I would encourage you to take a step back and seek the Lord’s counsel. Stress robs you of health, whereas good success from the Lord causes your youth to be renewed.
When you depend on your efforts, you can struggle for many years and get only a certain measure of success. But when you depend on God’s unmerited favor, you can experience accelerated blessings and promotion that years of striving and struggling can never achieve.
Look at the story of Joseph from Genesis 39. He was nothing but a lowly prisoner. Yet, within an hour of meeting Pharaoh, he was promoted to the highest office in the entire Egyptian empire.
Beloved, even if you are down and out (like Joseph was) at this point in your life, the Lord can promote you supernaturally in an instant when you choose to put your eyes on Him!
Today’s Scripture “…to give you…houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant.” Deuteronomy 6:10–11, NKJV
Kingdom Builders When God brought the Israelites into the Promised Land, they moved into houses they didn’t build, reaped from vineyards they didn’t plant, and drank from wells they didn’t dig. They didn’t have to build, plant, and work their way up. It was transferred to them. God has some of these transfers in your future that are going to boggle your mind. Houses that you didn’t build means promotion where you weren’t next in line. Vineyards that you didn’t plant means opportunities that you didn’t see coming, blessings that chase you down. You didn’t earn it or work for it. It’s simply the goodness of God.
The key is whether your heart is to build the kingdom of God, to help others, to take your family to a new level. If I’m self-absorbed and it’s just for me, to build my ego, to show off what I have, that’s going to limit what God will do. God is looking for kingdom builders, for people who will use the resources and influence to be a blessing, to accomplish God-given dreams.
A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You that when I put You and Your kingdom first and am doing the right thing, You make the right things fall into place. Thank You for Your promise that transfers are coming that You want me to use to bless others. I believe it is all about Your goodness, not anything I’ve earned. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
Is it practical to be occupied with Jesus? Does it help you? Does it put food on the table? Does it prosper your finances? Does it make your physical body healthy?
Let’s take a look at what it did for Mary. You can find the story of Mary and her sister, Martha, in Luke 10:38–42.
Mary was seated at Jesus’ feet when the Lord came to visit them. Martha, the elder sister, was busy working in the kitchen, ensuring that there was enough food and drink for their guest.
Who was Martha busy serving? Jesus. And while Martha was frantically running in and out of the kitchen, Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet, beholding His beauty, beholding His glory, and hanging on to every word that proceeded from His lips.
While Mary was resting and drawing living water from Jesus, Martha was restless, frantic, and stressed from serving Jesus. One sister was focused on serving, while the other was focused on receiving.
Look what happened after a while. Martha’s stress from serving finally led to this outburst of frustration: “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me” (Luke 10:40). In one moment of anger, she blamed two persons: The Lord Jesus as well as her sister Mary.
Now, listen closely to Jesus’ response, and you may just find yourself in the Lord’s description of Martha: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
What is the “one thing” that is needful? Is it to busy yourself in serving the Lord? Is it to be troubled about many things? No, the one thing that is needful is for you to sit at Jesus’ feet, and keep your eyes, ears, and heart on Him.
One sister saw Jesus in the natural, needing her ministry. The other sister saw Him as God veiled in flesh with a fullness to draw upon. Which sister do you suppose complimented Jesus and made Him feel like the God that He is?
Mary.
Martha obviously forgot that this God-Man multiplied loaves and fishes to feed a multitude. He has not come to be fed but to feed!
Now, is it practical to just be occupied with Jesus? Absolutely. We find that later, in the Gospel of John, Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair to prepare Him for His burial (John 12:3–8).
On resurrection morning, some women came with ointment to anoint Jesus’ body, but it was too late then. They were doing the right thing, but at the wrong time. The Lord had already risen. But Mary did the right thing at the right time.
This shows us that when you do the one thing that is needful, you will end up doing the right thing at the right time, and God will cause all that you touch to be amazingly blessed!
In commotion, the pestle and mortar politics can be likened to fetching water with a tattered basket. It comes with an initial enthusiasm that would end in frustration, alienation, isolation and regret, leaving more enemies than friends. The painful aspect is the inability to sustain the false life cultivated when the phone stops ringing. When the table turns, and it’s a question of time, ants will eat bird. But then, to every law, there might be exceptions.
Had it occurred to those wanting to have an erection for whatever reason that uncontrolled erection can be dangerous and lethal, some won’t have dared. Think of priapism and guess the benefit in it, or is it not erection?
Livy-Elcon Emereoye
Before elections, the all motion no movement mentality would be activated by some based on conviction but more on primordial sentiments to market or de-market a chosen candidate.
The smart players would have cleaned their cupboards of every skeleton to prepare for public scrutiny or propaganda: those without legs would get one decorated with an artificial knee cap; those whose kiosks were licensed on fraternal grounds would claim to be chain business owners without annual returns and taxes; alliances would be made for and against some people — and to look wonderful coats of many colours even oversized ones would emerge from all corners and adorned by the crews on hot seats to come out good — and one can’t but laugh seeing a dwarf on a sixteen-yard kimono.
Surviving on the booties of office, “practitioners of association” would leave no stone unturned to endorse everyone at different times — and those who want to fall for the stratagems would be blindfolded with paltry donation after a series of consultation with the living and the dead. Funny enough, the same amount would be given to all that were marked out for deception… Anyway, you can’t take someone’s money and come out to criticize him. Little wonder, only a few would be bold enough to tell merchants that they deal in evil, that they are brandishing criminal documents.
While some practice the profession, striving to earn an honest living, some practice the association doing everything possible to live by lies and propaganda. To sustain the tempo, alliances must be made, and loyalty must be shared, even by coercion or intimidation — and the lily livered will chicken out.
On getting to the office, the actual character will manifest, revealing the one behind the masquerade. It would surprise those who bought wholesale the accountability package to see impunity and absolute administrative recklessness as the new order. The one mistaken for maturity might be a deranged neophyte that must take order and approval from the boss every time — and the queen who must be obeyed drives joy, leading him to perdition at high cost.
Beyond the rhetoric of the campaign (anyway competent people could be hired to package and market a pig), there might emerge a pseudo president or proxy president, a tribal or ungrateful chairperson that is out to line their pockets against group interest. With smart ploys, the public would be kept busy while the look go on behind close doors — and to achieve this, partners in crime would agree a sharing formula upon.
It might sound absorb, but to extract pounds of flesh, having a sleepless night for someone who never bordered about who and what you are, we stab ourselves in the chest, accusing people of what we are guilty of. Anger is a disease, likewise arrogance and unforgiveness.
It’s a pity that someone who is a classical example of administrative recklessness would have the temerity to accuse another person of unaccountability. Those who go cap in hands seeking for recognition and begging for money that ended up in their torn pockets would accuse others of embezzlement — embezzlement of whose fund? Anyway, BVN and NIN, for now, have simplified certain things.
It would have been better we lived in the Animal Farm than a piggery colony. It makes no sense to listen only to one’s voice.
Livy-Elcon Emereoye
As with every election, let’s clean our ears to hear everything, including the unimaginable and abominable.
But come to think of it: what’s in the offing that men can descend this low to get into office? How much is the annual budget, and what is the worth of the nest that serves as an elimination spot that someone would brag about spilling the bean?
Every man gives what he has in abundance — and no one can give what he lacks…
What?
I reacted to a stimulus — and realized I was in a dreamland!
SPECIAL MARSHALS RS2. 1,LAGOS PRESENT A CARVED PHOTO ART TO THE CORPS MARSHAL SHEHU MOHAMMED.
In a gesture of appreciation and recognition, the Special Marshals of RS2.1 Lagos today presented a carved photo art to Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed. The presentation took place during a formal ceremony held at the GM’s Office, Ojodu.
The meticulously crafted photo art, a testament to the exceptional craftsmanship and artistic talent of local artisan, features a detailed and lifelike representation of Corps Marshal Mohammed. This artwork symbolizes the respect and admiration the Special Marshals hold for his leadership and unwavering commitment to road safety in Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, the State Coordinator of Special Marshals RS2.1, Lagos, SM olusegun Akintan , highlighted the reasons behind this special gesture. “Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed has been a beacon of inspiration and dedication. His strategic initiatives have significantly enhanced road safety measures and reduced accidents across the country. This carved photo art is our way of expressing our profound gratitude for his relentless efforts and visionary leadership.”
In his acceptance speech, Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed expressed his heartfelt appreciation for the honour bestowed upon him. He acknowledged the invaluable contributions of the Special Marshals to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and emphasized the importance of their continued support in achieving the Corps’ objectives. “This artwork is not just a symbol of recognition but also a reminder of our shared mission to ensure safer roads for all Nigerians. I am deeply moved by this gesture and remain committed to advancing our road safety agenda,” he stated.
The presentation of the carved photo art marks a significant moment in the relationship between the Special Marshals RS2.1, Lagos, and the leadership of the FRSC. It underscores the collaborative spirit and mutual respect that drives the Corps’ mission to safeguard lives on Nigeria’s roads.
SPECIAL MARSHALS PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN SERVICE AT IYANA-ERA JUNCTION*
As part of the National Patrol Exercise and Eid Kabir Patrol Operation in Lagos State, Special Marshals from Iba Unit Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) sprang into action to alleviate heavy traffic congestion at Iyana-Era Junction, along the Lagos/Badagry Expressway, on June 15th, 2024.
Despite their initial efforts, the traffic persisted. Undeterred, the team conducted a thorough Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and identified two deep potholes as the primary cause of the problem. Taking initiative, they sourced broken concrete blocks and sand from a nearby Tipper garage and patched the potholes.
Their efforts paid off, and the traffic congestion disappeared, earning praise and gratitude from motorists. The operation, which lasted from 11:00 to 13:15 hours, was a resounding success, with the Special Marshals from Iba Unit Command receiving commendations from the motorists for a job well done.
This exemplary service demonstrates the dedication and proactive approach of the FRSC Lagos State Sector Command in ensuring the safety and convenience of road users.
Today’s Scripture I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 1 Corinthians 15:31, NKJV
OFF THE THRONE The apostle Paul wrote nearly half the books in the New Testament. His missionary journeys and pioneering work for the gospel were amazing. He’s one of the heroes of faith. You would think that he was such a mature believer that he wouldn’t have to deal with issues of the flesh and say that with his mind he served the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. Yet he said, “I die daily. Every day I take my flesh off the throne and put down carnal desires.”
As with Paul, we all have areas where we’re letting the flesh dictate. If we would start dying daily, start walking by the Spirit, being willing to be uncomfortable, keeping our mouth closed, waiting with a good attitude, then many of the things that frustrate us now can be opportunities to grow. Don’t respond the same way you’ve been responding to your spouse for the last twenty years, being impatient, frustrated, argumentative. When you die daily, God can trust you with more influence, more favor, more resources. Are you winning the war within?
A PRAYER FOR TODAY “Father, thank You for always calling me higher and to die daily to everything that keeps me from being my best. Help me to confront the areas where I struggle with the flesh wanting to rule. I believe that with Your help, I can overcome and be victorious. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
SECTION TWO It is the Father’s love for you that gives you the power to overcome every mistake, failure, and sin in your life. The Bible puts it this way: “Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace” (Rom. 6:14 NLT).
Isn’t that beautiful? Today you are living under the freedom of God’s amazing grace—His unmerited, undeserved, and unearned favor in your life. Grace gives you freedom. Freedom from lack, from fear, from addictions, from the torment of guilt, and from every curse and every sin! The more you experience the love and grace of your heavenly Father, the more you fall in love with Him and out of love with sin.
Did you know that the enemy has no hold over people who know their Father loves them? If Adam and Eve had believed in God’s love for them, the devil would not have been successful in tempting them. Unfortunately, they chose to believe the lie that the serpent had planted by portraying God as stingy and selfish, as if He was withholding something good from them.
That’s why I want you to be anchored in the Father’s love. You will be unshakable. You will have no desire to touch certain things, go to certain places, or be associated with certain people. You will keep away from negative influences because you trust your Father’s heart for you and believe that He only wants what’s best for you. You rest, knowing that He is watching out for you to protect you and insulate you from harm.
I’ve seen that children who are secure in their father’s love are able to say no to all kinds of temptations. This is because that vacuum in their lives is already filled. They don’t have to do things to win the approval of their friends when they can find absolute security, identity, and approval in their parents’ love for them and, most of all, in their heavenly Father’s love for them.
In the same way, when we trust in our Father’s love for us, we will have the power to say no to temptations. When you have an abiding revelation of just how valuable, precious, and righteous you are in Christ, it becomes increasingly easy to say no to sin.
The more righteousness-conscious you are and the more conscious of how valuable and precious you are in Christ, the more you will know that your righteous identity in Christ and sin don’t go together—and the more you will experience the power to say no to temptation.
GOVERNOR SANWO-OLU LAUNCHES ILERA EKO STANDARD JAARA HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN
….Commissions Five Virtual Health Booths
….Governor, Deputy Honoured as UHC, Ilera Eko Ambassadors
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has officially launched the ILERA EKO Standard Jaara Health Insurance Plan and commissioned five ILERA EKO Virtual Health Booths in a landmark event held at the Lagos Continental Hotel today.
At the event, which marked a significant milestone in the state’s healthcare landscape, aimed at enhancing healthcare accessibility and affordability for Lagos residents, the Governor, and his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat were also decorated as the Grand Ambassador of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Ambassadors of Ilera-Eko Social Health Insurance Scheme in Lagos State by the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, in his address, highlighted the administration’s dedication to improving health outcomes as part of the T.H.E.M.E.S PLUS Development Agenda. He emphasized that all public servants are enrolled in the ILERA EKO scheme, with the government subsidizing 75% of their premiums. From August 2024, all Lagos State pensioners will receive free one-year coverage under the ILERA EKO plan, ensuring their access to healthcare in retirement.
He disclosed that the new ILERA EKO Standard Jaara Health Insurance Plan offers additional benefits and reduces the financial burden of medical bills.
The Governor urged both the informal and formal sectors to enroll in the scheme, emphasizing that the subsidized premiums make healthcare accessible for everyone. “We are committed to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and ensuring that no resident is left behind,” he stated.
Governor Sanwo-Olu explained that the five ILERA EKO Virtual Health Booths is designed to bring healthcare closer to the people, particularly those in the informal sector, adding that the booths, located in various markets and bus stops, provide first-line health services and telemedicine, making it easier for market men and women to access healthcare without leaving their workplaces.
Governor Sanwo-Olu also emphasized the role of local government authorities and market leaders in supporting and maintaining these facilities. He thanked them for their cooperation and urged other local councils to facilitate the installation of more virtual booths in their areas.
The Governor concluded his address by reaffirming his administration’s commitment to introducing policies and reforms that make healthcare accessible and affordable, stating, “Health is wealth, and prevention is better than cure.”
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Kemi Ogunyemi Dr. Ogunyemi lauded the new health insurance plan, stating that it symbolizes the government’s commitment to bridging the gap in healthcare access and expanding the benefits available to enrollees. “This initiative reflects the state’s commitment to the health and well-being of its residents”, she said.
The Special Adviser also praised the commissioning of the ILERA EKO Virtual Booths, highlighting their role in bringing quality healthcare closer to residents, particularly those in the informal sector. She called on Lagos residents to register and enroll in the new health insurance plan to enjoy its numerous benefits. “Health is wealth,” she concluded, urging residents to make use of the virtual booths whenever they face medical challenges.
She congratulated the Board Chairman of LASHMA, Dr. Adebayo Adedewe, and the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, for their achievements. Dr. Ogunyemi highlighted the state’s swift response to recent health crises, including the cholera outbreak, and reiterated the importance of hygiene and preventive measures.
She further emphasized the government’s commitment to preventing untimely deaths and ensuring that residents have access to quality healthcare.
In his address, Dr. Chairman of the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Adebayo Adedewe expressed gratitude to Governor Sanwo-Olu for his support, which made the occasion a reality. Dr. Adedewe elaborated on LASHMA’s use of technology in its operations, ensuring seamless service delivery.
Dr. Adedewe highlighted the agency’s collaboration with the Lagos Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA) to increase enrollment uptake. He mentioned various programs and activities, such as the ILERA EKO Pay-Small-Small payment plan, designed to make health insurance more accessible to residents. “Our success story today is based on feedback from our customers, especially from the informal sector,” he noted.
He explained that the new ILERA EKO Standard Jaara Health Insurance Plan offers more benefits than the previous plan, including telemedicine services facilitated by the newly commissioned virtual booths. *These booths are strategically placed in high-traffic areas like markets and bus stops to provide accessible healthcare services”, he said.
Dr. Adedewe shared plans to expand the virtual booths to more locations, aiming to install at least 300 booths throughout the state. He urged all Lagos residents to enroll in the ILERA EKO Health Insurance Plan and utilize the virtual booths for their healthcare needs. “Good health is the beginning of new life,” he concluded, encouraging residents to prioritize their health and well-being.
The high point of the event was the decoration of Governor Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, as ILERA EKO Ambassadors by the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, recognizing their efforts in championing healthcare initiatives in the state.
The launch of the ILERA EKO Standard Jaara Health Insurance Plan and the commissioning of the virtual booths represent a bold step towards achieving universal health coverage in Lagos State. These initiatives ensure that quality healthcare is accessible to all residents, regardless of their socio-economic status, and position Lagos State as a leader in healthcare innovation.
Today’s Scripture But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8, NLT
IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK When Jesus came to the Earth, He went around doing good, healing people, showing mercy, but the religious leaders didn’t accept Him. Even though He had done no wrong, they falsely tried him, forced him to carry His own cross to be crucified. Hanging on the cross, He could have called angels to rescue Him, but He didn’t. He hung there for you and for me. The nails didn’t hold Him on the cross; love held Him on the cross. It was all a part of God’s plan to destroy the works of the enemy, the reason for which He came to Earth. Jesus went before us and crushed Satan’s head. He took away all His power. Now we can live a victorious life.
Whatever you’re facing—trouble at work, a child who’s off course, mistakes you’ve made, guilt, condemnation—may be intimidating and seem harmful, but it’s not what you think. You can’t let fear or worry dominate. You just have to take steps forward and discover that Jesus has already gone before you and defeated those enemies.
A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You that Jesus has destroyed the works of the devil, crushed his head, and broken his power. Thank You that no matter what the enemy sends against me, it’s not what it looks like. I believe that as I take steps forward, I will discover that they are already defeated. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
SECTION TWO
John 4 tells the story of a shunned Samaritan woman who encountered Jesus when she came to draw water at a well. When she asked Jesus why He (a Jew) would ask her (a despised Samaritan) for a drink of water, this was His amazing response: that she would ask Him for living water, the only thing that would satisfy her from within and slake her deep thirst for acceptance and love forever.
What an amazing Savior! Although this woman had a past of looking for love in all the wrong places that imprisoned her in shame and self-loathing, Jesus met her at her point of greatest need with the offer of Himself, the living water. He knew all that she had ever done and yet offered her the true intimacy that fully satisfies every aching need. He invited her to discover, taste, and experience His perfect and unconditional love.
[7/17, 12:23 AM] Odia Abuja: JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES Today’s Word
Today’s Scripture But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8, NLT
It’s Not What You Think When Jesus came to the Earth, He went around doing good, healing people, showing mercy, but the religious leaders didn’t accept Him. Even though He had done no wrong, they falsely tried him, forced him to carry His own cross to be crucified. Hanging on the cross, He could have called angels to rescue Him, but He didn’t. He hung there for you and for me. The nails didn’t hold Him on the cross; love held Him on the cross. It was all a part of God’s plan to destroy the works of the enemy, the reason for which He came to Earth. Jesus went before us and crushed Satan’s head. He took away all His power. Now we can live a victorious life.
Whatever you’re facing—trouble at work, a child who’s off course, mistakes you’ve made, guilt, condemnation—may be intimidating and seem harmful, but it’s not what you think. You can’t let fear or worry dominate. You just have to take steps forward and discover that Jesus has already gone before you and defeated those enemies.
A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You that Jesus has destroyed the works of the devil, crushed his head, and broken his power. Thank You that no matter what the enemy sends against me, it’s not what it looks like. I believe that as I take steps forward, I will discover that they are already defeated. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.” [7/17, 12:25 AM] Odia Abuja: John 4 tells the story of a shunned Samaritan woman who encountered Jesus when she came to draw water at a well. When she asked Jesus why He (a Jew) would ask her (a despised Samaritan) for a drink of water, this was His amazing response: that she would ask Him for living water, the only thing that would satisfy her from within and slake her deep thirst for acceptance and love forever.
What an amazing Savior! Although this woman had a past of looking for love in all the wrong places that imprisoned her in shame and self-loathing, Jesus met her at her point of greatest need with the offer of Himself, the living water. He knew all that she had ever done and yet offered her the true intimacy that fully satisfies every aching need. He invited her to discover, taste, and experience His perfect and unconditional love.
Jesus is saying the same thing to you today: If you only knew who it is who comes to you in your darkest and weakest moments. If you only knew this gift of God who will never leave you nor forsake you, who has gone before you and who comes to you in the midst of your storms. If you only knew the One who reaches out to you even when you have failed and who doesn’t hold your past mistakes or present failures against you.
Beloved, if you only knew this gift of God who offers the living water of His unconditional, endless love to you and you drink of that love, you will never thirst again. You won’t need to look for love or acceptance in all the wrong places, have your heart broken and fearful about the future, and have your life derailed. You can wake up with a fresh expectation of good every day.
Jesus was essentially inviting the woman to ask Him for the living water of His love. Will you do that today? Your life will never be the same again when you personally experience His love!
Beloved, if you only knew this gift of God who offers the living water of His unconditional, endless love to you and you drink of that love, you will never thirst again. You won’t need to look for love or acceptance in all the wrong places, have your heart broken and fearful about the future, and have your life derailed. You can wake up with a fresh expectation of good every day.
Jesus was essentially inviting the woman to ask Him for the living water of His love. Will you do that today? Your life will never be the same again when you personally experience His love!
Today’s Scripture So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. 1 Samuel 30:4, NIV
Expansion First Samuel 30 records the greatest defeat David had ever suffered. He and his six hundred men returned from a mission only to find their city burned, their wives and children kidnapped by Amalekite bandits, and all their possessions stolen. Then David’s men started blaming him and talked about stoning him. It wasn’t fair that the wrong thing happened when David was doing the right thing. But God doesn’t promise that life will always be fair. It’s what we do in these unfair times that determines whether we get stuck and let it sour the rest of our lives or whether we move forward and see God expand us.
What made David a champion is that he shook off the defeated mind-set and went forward to recover all that had been taken plus spoils from the bandits. He understood the principle that you have to get up when you’ve been knocked down and not use it as an excuse to stop. On the other side of the excuse is expansion, a new level of our destiny.
A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You that Your power to strengthen me in times of unfairness is greater than any force that comes against me. Thank You that I can put discouragement behind me and push forward in faith. I believe that expansion is coming—something greater, something better. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
There was a time under the law in the Old Testament where God would be with you only when you were in complete obedience. But when you failed, He would leave you.
Today, however, you and I are under a completely different covenant and God will never leave us. Why? Because of what Jesus did on the cross.
At the cross, He became our burnt offering. He bore our sins and carried our punishment. God’s judgment against our sins fell upon Jesus, who was forsaken at the cross by His Father so that today, we can have God’s constant, unceasing presence in our lives.
Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” so that you and I will know exactly what happened on the cross (Matt. 27:46). That is where the divine exchange took place. At the cross, Jesus took our sins and gave up the presence of God, while we took Jesus’ righteousness and received the presence of God that Jesus had. God’s presence is now ours for eternity. What a divine exchange!
Take a look with me at what the Bible says about our inheritance in Christ: “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'” (Heb. 13:5–6). What confidence we can have today!
Do you know what “never” here means? It means that when you are up, He is with you. When you are down, He is with you. When you are glad, He is with you. When you are sad, He is with you. When you are doing right, He is with you. Even when you have failed, He is still with you! That is what it means when Jesus said that He would never leave you nor forsake you!
Because Jesus, your prosperity, peace, provision, and wisdom, is always with you, you cannot help but prosper!
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