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Man’s plans God’s purposes.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. ( Proverbs 19:21 NIV )

The purposes of God sustain the plans of man. Unless the purpose of God has a share in the plans of men, their plans will fail. It is the purpose of God that prevails in every situation. Because the purpose of God sits at the center of all human affairs, we cannot sideline it to have our way. Having plans is good, but having plans does not automatically mean they will be realized. It takes more than just having plans to see the manifestation of one’s desires. Beyond our plans, we need the purpose of God to approve them. This does not nullify the need for making plans. In fact, we should have many plans. However, in making those plans, we must ensure that the purpose of God remains at the center. The purpose of God for anything is the reason for its need and existence. Therefore, nothing can or should survive outside its purpose. As we make many plans, we must strive to discover God’s purpose for them or how they can advance His purposes. Like a sponsor, God invests in things—specifically, plans that advance His purposes. With this understanding, we can discern which of our plans will succeed and which will not simply by checking whether they align with kingdom advancement. In the end, God desires that His will be done on earth through our plans and activities. So, let God’s kingdom come.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for the plans I have and for allowing your purposes to be established through them.

Wisdom_Quote: Purpose directs plans and establishes desires.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Real transformation

[The Glory Unveiled]

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. ( Romans 12:2 NIV)

The mind operates on automation through patterns. Whatever the mind is accustomed to becomes its norm. It then functions at the beck and call of the automated input—the pattern. For the mind to deviate from this pattern, it must be fed with new data, different from the previous input. This is why Scripture says we should be transformed by renewing our minds—because real transformation comes from renewing our minds. To renew means to replace with something new. The mind is pivotal to lifelong transformation because it is the central administrative region of a human being. It directs and dictates where we go and what we do. It may seem that we do whatever we want, but that is not entirely the case, as the mind supervises and informs the choices we make. This also means that change will not happen unless our minds align with the new—the element of change. It is only when the mind embraces the new role that change becomes evident in our lives. We cannot identify or acknowledge the will of God unless our minds are renewed and conditioned to think and desire the ways of God. God’s will and God’s word are closely related. Our knowledge of God’s word renews our minds and helps us identify His will.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for the transforming power of your word.

Wisdom_Quote: Patterns are the codes that set the mind to automation mode.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Divine Seekers

[The Glory Unveiled]

In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? ( Luke 24:5 NIV )

The Bible says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7). However, where and how we ask, knock, or seek plays a major role in finding what we want. In the scripture above, the Angels asked the women who had gone to the tomb of Jesus, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” This implies that even though we are assured that we will find when we seek, looking in the wrong place can make the search futile. The angels’ question suggested that while the women’s search was genuine, the location of their search rendered it meaningless. When searching for something, it is paramount to know where it can be found; otherwise, the search will be in vain. Something is not found merely because you are searching desperately for it. No matter how fervently you search, if you are looking in the wrong place, you will not find it. In our spiritual journey, we will discover spiritual treasures and realities only when we seek them in the right place. The Bible says, “No one pours new wine into old wineskins.” Your search should align with the location of what you seek. You cannot look for the fruit of the Spirit on the tree of the flesh or in an environment devoid of the Spirit. Walk (search) in the Spirit, and you will find the treasures of the Spirit.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for the privilege to search diligently for spiritual treasures and at the right place too.

Wisdom_Quote: The seeker finds in the right search area.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Wasted Treasures

[The Glory Unveiled]

‘The time is coming when everything in your palace—all the treasures stored up by your ancestors until now—will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left,’ says the Lord. ( Isaiah 39:6 NLT )

King Hezekiah was visited by envoys from Babylon after the king of Babylon heard about his illness and recovery. Hezekiah showed the Babylonian envoys all his treasures, even though they did not ask to see them. Then the word of the Lord came to Hezekiah through Isaiah the prophet, declaring that just as he had shown his treasures to the envoys, they would come for everything he had revealed. True to those words, the Babylonians took everything in the days of King Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:13). In the New Testament, we read about another treasury—one where neither men can break in nor moths destroy (Matthew 6:19-20). This is the treasury of heaven. The Lord Jesus, in teaching about where to store up our treasures, added that where our treasures are, there our hearts will be also. King Hezekiah stored up treasures on earth, but his storehouse in heaven was empty. The Lord Jesus teaches us these things so that we will not waste our treasures. The location of a treasury and those who have access to it determine its vulnerability to being plundered. Until Hezekiah granted access to the Babylonian envoys, he would not have lost his treasures. Additionally, if those treasures had not been stored in a place easily accessible to others, they would not have been looted. Jesus urges us to store up our treasures in heaven, meaning we should invest in heavenly things. As Matthew 6:33 instructs, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all other things shall be added to you. When we invest in what matters to God and His kingdom, He invests in what matters to us. And nothing can rob us of the rewards.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for the treasures I have in heaven as I invest in things that matter to You.

Wisdom_Quote: Where you store up treasures determine its vulnerability.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Your Confidence

[The Glory Unveiled]

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.( Hebrews 10:35 KJV )

The Bible, among many things, is a book of instructions. The Bible instructs us to do many things because, as it were, our way of life deviates significantly from how God originally intended for us to live. We read about many people in the Old Testament whom God wanted to use, but they lacked the confidence to allow Him to work through them. In other instances, we see how God instructs those He calls to be strong and courageous. He tells them to be confident. Men like Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Elijah, King Jehoshaphat, and Jeremiah—just to mention a few—were all encouraged by God to trust in His promises and His ability to fulfill them. God wanted them to anchor their faith in Him and trust Him to work through them. This understanding—that God could work through them—is what gave them the confidence to fulfill their calling. Confidence gives us the energy to venture into and attempt things we would otherwise have been unable to. It serves as a shield around us, enabling us to take on challenges that seem humanly impossible. If there is anything you should discard as a person, confidence is not one of them. Confidence gives us both the attitude and the aptitude to accomplish what God instructs us to do. As a matter of fact, without the enabling power of confidence, we cannot do anything God asks of us. Usually, when God calls us to do something, it is humanly difficult—if not impossible. It takes confidence even to consider it. So, don’t cast away your confidence, because it will reward you with fruits beyond what you ever imagined you could bear.

Prayer_Bead: Heavenly Father, thank you for the grace to embrace confidence. I confront humanly impossible things through Christ Jesus, who empowers me.

Wisdom_Quote: Confidence is the licence for supernatural exploits.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The Customs of Jesus

[The Glory Unveiled]

Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them. (Mark 10:1 NIV )

Every successful man or woman has principles and habits that dictate the posture of their living. They do not live their lives according to societal expectations or personal whims. Instead, they live by principle, guided by the values and attitudes they choose to submit to. It is these principles and guidelines that determine the outcome of their lives. The Lord Jesus, while He walked the earth, lived His life in a closely regulated manner. Whatever He did was guided by principles, and these principles were directives from God. In fact, He referred to the Word of God as more important to Him than His necessary food. We see many instances where Jesus could have made arbitrary choices in various matters, yet He consistently chose to follow the principles of God’s Word. One of the profound customs that Jesus devoted His life to was teaching the Word of God, as seen in our anchor text. But He did not merely teach; He was educated in the Word of God. He studied it diligently. In many places, we read that when people came to ask Him questions, He responded with, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures?” This indicates that He was a student of the Word, even though He Himself was the Word. In Luke 4:16, the Bible states that as was His custom, Jesus stood up to read the Scriptures on the Sabbath day. Another guiding custom in Jesus’ life was that His decisions and choices were always aligned with His purpose. He never acted randomly. Every decision and choice was intentional and guided by divine purpose. As the apostle Paul instructs us to be imitators of Christ, our lives will take better shapes when we imitate the customs of Jesus.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for showing me these guidelines with which you lived your life by. Help me to walk in your footsteps. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: Successful lives are lived on the tangent of established principles.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The full armour

[The Glory Unveiled]

Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ( Ephesians 6:13 NIV )

The day of evil will always come while we live. Nobody plans for it, yet nobody can avoid it. The evil day is like a bonus package given to everyone who enters the world. Although one person’s evil day may differ significantly from another’s, everyone will experience an evil day at some point. Fortunately, for the believer, a provision has been made for that day. This protection against the evil day is the full armor of God. Scripture teaches us that when the evil day comes, we must do everything to stand. We cannot give in or compromise just because it is an evil day. We must resist with all our strength, do everything necessary to stand firm. However, the things we do are merely first aid for safety—the real protection comes from the armor of God. The full armor of God helps us stand our ground on the evil day. In the verses that follow our anchor verse, the Bible lists the components of this armor: the belt of truth around your waist, the breastplate of righteousness for your chest and front area, the readiness of the gospel for your feet, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:14-18). The evil day targets these aspects of our spiritual life, and protecting them helps us stand firm no matter what happens.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for your protection and provisions. As I put on the whole armour, I am shielded to stand firm.

Wisdom_Quote: The armour of God is the safest protection against the evil day

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The potency of God’s word

[The Glory Unveiled]

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 KJV )

The Word of God is active, powerful, and potent. However, its potential is often locked up and concealed. As a result, it is only potent to those who understand its hidden power. Because of this, the Word of God can sometimes appear to be ineffective. Unless it is uncovered or taken out of its shell, its abilities remain unrealized. The Word of God is not powerless, as some may think, yet when it remains shielded, it may seem inadequate. The Scriptures, without the revelation of the Word of God, do not make any impact. Jesus told the Pharisees that they diligently study the Scriptures, thinking that in them they have eternal life. He added that those very Scriptures testify about Him. This means one can have the Scriptures yet miss the One about whom they testify. Unless we encounter Him, the words about Him—the Scriptures—remain ineffective in our experience. Some people, due to their disconnect from the Word of God, Jesus Christ, attempt to employ human wisdom and philosophy instead. The Word of God is life; it is potent. God’s faithfulness makes Him consistent in His nature, but our experience may not always align with who He truly is. The Word of God means different things to different people, even though it has a unique and distinct identity. Because it is living, one must encounter it to truly know it, stay with it to be a witness, and represent it effectively. God’s Word is powerful.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for the privilege to know your word and the power of it. Thank you for the truth that changes me.

Wisdom_Quote: The potency of God’s word is hidden from those who do not know the Son.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The Consistency of God’s nature.

[The Glory Unveiled]

If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself. (2 Timothy 2:13 NIV )

God created us in His image and after His likeness. This means God is our reference point in everything that makes us who we are. It would be very unwise to refer to other people or seek societal approval when we want to understand the original template of humanity. Whenever we discover that something is happening that does not reflect the image and glory of God, it is time to look back at an attribute of God that sets things right. The Scripture says that if we are faithless, God remains faithful because He cannot disown Himself. This is why God is the surest reference. He is not affected by changes around Him. He is God and holds the same attributes yesterday, today, and forever. So, if we are lacking in any area—such as faith, character, self-control, patience, or tolerance—an understanding and appreciation of God and His attributes replenish what is missing. Usually, we do not lack the nature itself; we already have it because we were created in the image of God. What may be lacking is the knowledge of what we possess and the skills to access it. God’s nature does not change, no matter what changes occur in our lives. Therefore, we can always refer to Him to determine whether a character or attribute is godly. Are you afraid? Do you struggle with lying, stealing, or treating people improperly? God has all the qualities you need, and He has deposited them in you. Turn to Him to activate them so that they overpower the soulish life.

Prayer_Bead: Almighty God, thank you for your glorious life in me. I submit to your ways so that your life can find expression in me.

Wisdom_Quote: God is not affected by man’s frailties and inconsistencies.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The Voice of Thanksgiving

[The Glory Unveiled]

But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD. (Jonah 2:9 KJV )

The voice of thanksgiving is the voice that acknowledges the nature and person of God. In recognition of His nature and person, it attributes to God the glory and honor due to Him. The voice of thanksgiving is heard when the heart recognizes the goodness and kindness of God. God’s attributes, such as being Almighty and All-Knowing, vindicate whatever He does. This is why we must thank Him at all times and in all situations. Our anchor text is a prayer made by Jonah from the belly of a large fish. That place was extremely uncomfortable, and he even compared it to hell. But even from the heart of hell, he gave thanks to God. And that is where the sacrifice of thanksgiving comes in. A sacrifice is any offering made at one’s expense. So, thanking God when there seems to be no reason to do so makes it a sacrifice. The good thing about sacrifices is that God always responds to them. God will not ignore a sacrifice made within the confines of His will and pleasure. Immediately after this sacrifice of thanksgiving, in the next verse (verse 10), God commands the fish to vomit Jonah. This principle applies to other areas of our lives as well. When we offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving, God will command the situation to release us. Don’t wait to thank God only when the situation improves—thank Him even in the midst of the problem. And remember, the voice of thanksgiving, presented on the strings of sacrifice, always moves the heart of God.

Prayer_Bead: Merciful Father, thank you for your goodness and kindness towards me. I continually appreciate you for everything in every situation.

Wisdom_Quote: The voice of thanksgiving is most potent on the strings of sacrifice.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.