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The face of God

[The Glory Unveiled]

No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. [ 1 John 4:12 NKJV ]

In the Old Testament, we encounter passages that seem to suggest that certain men saw God. Yet the fuller revelation of the New Testament declares, “No one has seen God at any time” (John 1:18; 1 John 4:12). This means that neither in the days of Moses nor in the days of Isaiah did anyone behold God in His unveiled essence. So, what does it truly mean to see God? John provides the answer. He teaches that when we love one another, God dwells in us, and His love is perfected in us (1 John 4:12). In other words, the evidence of God’s indwelling is the manifestation of His nature through our lives. We “see” God not by physical sight but by the visible expression of His character. Wherever His love, holiness, mercy, righteousness, and compassion are displayed, God is made known. With this understanding, the Old Testament accounts come into proper perspective. When Scripture records that Moses saw God, the emphasis is not merely on a supernatural encounter but on the transforming effect of that encounter. Moses’ life became a visible expression of God’s glory and character. The evidence that he had encountered God was the life he lived thereafter. The same remains true for us today. The clearest proof that we have seen God is not the ability to recount extraordinary spiritual experiences but the manifestation of His nature in our daily lives. As His love matures within us, His attributes become increasingly visible through us. Therefore, open your heart to the love of God. Allow Him to dwell richly within you until His character is formed in you. For when His love is perfected in your life, you become living evidence that you have truly seen God.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for the privilege to bear your attributes and express them. 

Wisdom_Quote: The eyes that have seen God is the life that reveals Him. 

Salvation_Prayer: Lord Jesus, I believe that you died for me. I accept your gift of salvation. 

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Creating with prayer

[The Glory Unveiled]

When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”[ Luke 22:40 NKJV ]

The Lord Jesus went to the Mount of Olives to pray, and His disciples went with Him. Before Judas arrived to betray Him, Jesus gave them a solemn instruction: “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” This command reveals a profound spiritual principle: prayer creates an atmosphere in which temptation loses its power. As long as the disciples remained watchful in prayer, they would be fortified against the temptations that lay ahead. Their failure to pray, however, left them spiritually vulnerable. Judas succumbed to the temptation of greed and betrayal. Peter, though devoted to Jesus, also failed to remain awake in prayer. When the moment of testing came, he yielded to the temptation of uncontrolled anger and drew his sword, cutting off the ear of the high priest’s servant. Their outward failures were preceded by an inward neglect of prayer. In striking contrast stands Jesus. He lingered in prayer until His soul was fully surrendered to the Father’s will. His greatest temptation was not betrayal or physical pain but the temptation to avoid the cup of suffering altogether. Yet because He prevailed in prayer, He prevailed over temptation. By the time He rose from prayer, His heart was settled, His will was aligned with the Father, and He walked steadfastly toward the cross. The lesson is unmistakable: temptation is not merely resisted in the moment it appears; it is overcome in the place of prayer before it arrives. When we seek God and ask for His empowering grace and strength, He supplies what we cannot produce in ourselves. That grace, released through prayer, forms a spiritual atmosphere in which temptation loses its appeal and obedience becomes possible. Those who pray are not simply reacting to temptation—they are being prepared to triumph over it.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for always answering my prayers whenever I pray. 

Wisdom_Quote: Prayer creates an atmosphere that repels falling into temptation. 

Salvation_Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for bearing the pain and suffering for my sins. I accept your Lordship today and forever. 

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Purposeful life 

[The Glory Unveiled]

But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. [ Acts 20:24 NKJV ]

The apostle Paul understood from the very beginning the cost of fulfilling his divine calling. That understanding became the foundation of his decisions and the driving force behind his ministry. In the verses preceding this passage, Paul revealed that wherever he went, the Holy Spirit consistently testified that chains and tribulations awaited him. Yet the remarkable truth is not that suffering was foretold, but that the certainty of suffering never deterred him from pursuing God’s assignment. He refused to allow imprisonment, affliction, or the threat of death to become an excuse for abandoning his mission. Paul could have reasoned that, since the Holy Spirit had already revealed the hardships ahead, perhaps it was time to slow down or avoid the danger. Instead, he chose the opposite response. He allowed those revelations to strengthen his resolve and propel him further into the very purpose for which Christ had called him. The warnings were not signals to retreat; they were confirmations that he was walking the path God had ordained. What enabled Paul to make such a courageous decision? He had already surrendered his life. Since he no longer regarded his life as his own, nothing that threatened it could persuade him to compromise his calling. He had settled the matter in his heart: his life belonged entirely to Christ. Therefore, he willingly embraced every risk because, in his estimation, he had already died to himself. This is the same posture every believer must cultivate if we are to walk in the fullness of our calling in Christ. The life we now live in the flesh is not our own; it belongs to Jesus. Consequently, it must be lived for His glory, not our preservation. When we truly surrender our lives to Him, fear loses its grip, self-preservation no longer governs our decisions, and obedience becomes our highest pursuit. Only then can we faithfully fulfill the purpose for which we have been called.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for the life you have given me in your Son Jesus Christ. 

Wisdom_Quote: The believer’s life is buried in Christ. 

Salvation_Prayer: Dear Jesus, I surrender my life to you. Take it and make it yours.  

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Seasons and Times 

[The Glory Unveiled]

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. [Genesis 8:22 KJV ]

A careful observation of God’s creation reveals that: everything has its appointed time and season. There are seasons for fruits and vegetables to bear their produce, seasons for planting and harvesting, seasons for marriage, and seasons for childbirth. God has woven this rhythm into creation to establish order, purpose, and fruitfulness. Because this order has been established by God’s Word, those who discern and align themselves with it are positioned to maximize every season. God has hidden the blessings of each season within the season itself. The blessings of harvest is hidden in the harvest. Scripture declares that “seedtime and harvest… shall not cease.” This principle governs life itself. Remarkably, this order operates irrespective of one’s faith. Both the believer and the unbeliever can benefit from it because it is embedded in God’s created order. Whoever sows in the season of sowing will reap in the season of harvest. Whoever neglects the season of sowing should not expect the blessings reserved for harvest. God’s principles remain constant. Therefore, let us be diligent in every season. When it is time to sow, let us sow faithfully. When it is time to labour, let us not seek rest. And when the season of harvest arrives, let us gather with wisdom and gratitude. Every season carries an assignment, and every assignment carries a reward. Jesus warned, “The night is coming when no one can work.” The opportunity before us today will not remain forever. There are seasons that, once they pass, cannot be recovered. Therefore, make the most of the time and season God has entrusted to you. What you do in this season will determine what you have in the next.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for the season and time in which I’ve found myself. Help me to maximize them. 

Wisdom_Quote: The blessings are hidden in the seasons and times. 

Salvation_Prayer: Dear Jesus, today, this moment, I accept your lordship. I believe I am alive this moment for a reason and I take advantage of it to accept your lordship in my life. 

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Yoked with Jesus

[The Glory Unveiled]

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [ Matthew 11:29 NKJV ]

The Father’s goal is that all His children will look like Jesus. To become like Him, Jesus calls us to take His yoke upon ourselves. Implicit in His invitation is this truth: if we are to resemble Him, we must first share His yoke and learn from Him. In other words, we can only truly learn from Him as we bear His yoke. It is through learning from Him that we become like Him, and that learning takes place in the context of sharing His yoke. Jesus then reveals the posture of His heart that brings rest to our souls: He is gentle and lowly in heart. This also reveals that it takes gentleness, humility, and surrender to submit to His yoke—a submission that results in learning from Him and finding rest for our souls. So, where do we begin? We begin by taking up His yoke with an attitude of humility and surrender to Jesus. We begin by believing in and embracing His suffering for us, adopting the mindset that what is true of Him has become true of us. From that place, we learn His ways by doing what He does and walking as He walked. The result of such a life is rest for the soul. The very rest many desperately search in the wrong places. 

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for the grace to bear the yoke of Jesus and learn from Him daily. 

Wisdom_Quote: The believer’s transformation happens by association with Jesus. 

Salvation_Prayer: Lord Jesus, I accept your yoke today. And I surrender to learn from you. 

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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True reward

[The Glory Unveiled]

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” [ Genesis 16:1 NIV ]

The phrase, “After these things…” (Genesis 15:1) is deeply significant. It points back to what had just happened in Abram’s life. After his victory in battle, the king of Sodom offered him the spoils of war—a reward that could have instantly met many of his needs. Yet Abram refused. Why? Because he was unwilling to receive a blessing that would rob God of His glory. Abram declared that he would not take so much as a thread or a sandal strap from the king of Sodom, lest the king should later say, “I have made Abram rich.” (Genesis 14:23). Abram was not only concerned about being blessed; he was concerned about how he was blessed. He understood that the source of a blessing is often more important than the blessing itself. Though another avenue to prosperity was available, he deliberately chose to wait for God’s provision rather than accept a shortcut that would compromise God’s honor. Every believer will eventually face similar moments. There will be opportunities that promise quick relief, rapid success, or immediate gain, but they come with a hidden price—the glory that belongs to God. Faith is often revealed not by what we receive, but by what we are willing to refuse. Only after Abram made that costly decision did God speak to him: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” (Genesis 15:1). Notice the order. God did not speak these words before the test, but after it. Having rejected the king’s reward, Abram was assured that God Himself would be his reward. What Abram surrendered in temporary wealth, he gained in divine security and eternal provision. The Lord was, in essence, saying, “Because you refused what would diminish My glory, you need not fear lack. I Myself will protect you, provide for you, and reward you.” Often, the clearest assurances of God’s voice come only after we have resisted the temptation to compromise. Every act of obedience sharpens our spiritual hearing. Every refusal to sell our convictions makes room for a deeper revelation of God’s faithfulness. Sometimes, the greatest reward for saying “no” to the world is hearing God say, “I am enough.”

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for being my reward and my shield. 

Wisdom_Quote: The reward comes after the battle against the flesh

Salvation_Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for your salvation that brought the world salvation. I believe and accept it. Be my lord and Saviour. Amen 

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Trust in the Lord 

[The Glory Unveiled]

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding [ Proverbs 3:5 NKJV ]

Trust is an expensive commodity. Whenever we choose to trust, we lean on an understanding that convinces us whether someone is worthy of our confidence or not. This is why Scripture instructs us not to lean on our own understanding. It does not say we should lean on no understanding at all; rather, it warns us against depending on our own. Implicitly, it invites us to lean on God’s understanding instead. God’s understanding enables us to depend on Him willingly and confidently, even when His instructions seem contrary to human logic. A story is told of a young man who fell from a cliff. Fortunately, he managed to grab hold of a rock protruding from the cliffside, leaving him suspended high above the ground. Desperately, he cried out for help, but no one answered. After some time, he yelled again, “Is there anybody who can help me?” A deep, commanding voice replied, “This is God. I can help you. Just let go and trust Me.” After a brief silence, the young man shouted back, “Is there anyone else who can help me?” Though fictional, this story captures the true nature of trust. Trust is not measured by what we profess with our lips but by the decisions we make when our understanding is challenged. As long as we cling to our own reasoning, interpretations, abilities, or experience, we have not fully trusted God. To trust God is to release our grip on our own understanding and rest in His. Only then can we obey His Word when it is costly, believe His promises when circumstances contradict them, and remain steadfast in seasons of hardship and trial. True trust begins where self-reliance ends.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for the opportunity to trust you because I lean on your interpretation and understanding rather than mine. 

Wisdom_Quote: Trust leans on God’s interpretation 

Salvation_Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for your grace that found me. I lean on your sacrifice for me and I come into the family of God by my faith in you. 

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Count the Cost

[The Glory Unveiled]

For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it [ Luke 14:28 NKJV ]

It is very easy to build castles in our minds. In a matter of moments, we can envision the finished product and convince ourselves that the work is already done. But vision is not the same as completion. Before architects and engineers erect a building, they first produce a blueprint. Drawing the plan may take only a few hours or days, yet constructing the actual structure often requires months or even years of disciplined labour. The blueprint is only the beginning; the real test is in the building. The Lord Jesus used this same principle when teaching about the cost of discipleship. He asked, “Which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?” His point was clear: following Him is not an impulsive decision but a deliberate commitment. Just as every building demands resources, endurance, and perseverance, so does the Christian walk. Many people are captivated by the promise of Christ but are unprepared for the process of following Him. They embrace the vision of the Kingdom without considering the sacrifices, discipline, and endurance that discipleship requires. That is why Jesus said to first sit down and count the cost. Honest assessment before commitment makes all the difference. Are we mentally prepared to obey Him when it is difficult? Are we emotionally prepared to remain faithful when following Him costs us comfort, reputation, or relationships? When the cost has been counted and the commitment has been settled in the heart, the outcome is no longer in doubt. The structure is as good as built—not because the work is finished, but because the resolve to finish has already been established.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for helping me to follow you, having counted the cost. Thank you for the sufficiency of your grace. 

Wisdom_Quote: Wisdom counts the cost before making any commitments. 

Salvation_Prayer: Dear Jesus, come into my heart and be my Lord and Saviour for the sacrifice you made for me. 

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Move forward 

[The Glory Unveiled]

And the LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. [ Exodus 14:15 NKJV ]

In our walk with God, we often become irresponsible without realizing it. We assume that because we are now children of God, we are no longer expected to labour or take responsibility. We expect God to place everything we need into our hands. But drawing near to God is not a call to passivity; it is a call to responsibility. It is a call to stewardship, obedience, and faithful service. There are seasons when life corners us. We find ourselves trapped by circumstances, overwhelmed by uncertainty, and tempted to cry, complain, and wait for God to do everything on our behalf. We long for Him to come down and rescue us, while He is waiting for us to keep moving in the direction of His last instruction. That was the situation of the Israelites. Behind them was the Egyptian army; before them was the Red Sea. Humanly speaking, there was nowhere to turn. Yet God’s command was simple: “Go forward.” Their predicament was not a signal to stop. It was not permission to surrender to fear. It was a call to continue walking in obedience despite impossible circumstances. God was not asking them to create a way through the sea. He was asking them to keep moving toward His promise while He made the way. The same is true for us today. Challenges are not an invitation to abandon our calling or neglect our responsibilities. They are opportunities to trust God’s faithfulness while pressing on in obedience. God expects us to keep moving—not in our own strength, but in the sufficiency of His grace. As we obey, He does what only He can do. Our responsibility is to go forward; His responsibility is to make a way.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for your everyday help and the grace available for my victory. 

Wisdom_Quote: God expects us to keep going forward 

Salvation_Prayer: Lord Jesus, I surrender to you. Be my Lord and Saviour from this day forward. 

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Dead to Sin

[The Glory Unveiled]

Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. [ Romans 6:11 NKJV ]

Reality is often misunderstood. Many people define reality solely by what they can see, touch, smell, hear, and interact with through their physical senses. But true reality extends far beyond the limits of the natural realm. Reality is not confined to what is visible; it encompasses both the physical and the spiritual. This is why, in the beginning, God called those things which were not as though they were. Though they were not yet physically manifest, they already existed in His reality. By speaking them forth, He brought them into visible existence. What was unseen became seen because God related to the invisible as the greater reality. In our anchor text, Scripture instructs us to reckon ourselves dead indeed unto sin. This is a profound spiritual truth. It does not mean that the physical realm will immediately agree with this reality. Temptations may still come. Old desires may still attempt to surface. Yet God commands us to live as though what He has declared is already true. To reckon means to count something as settled. It means to live in the consciousness of a reality that God has established, even when your senses have not yet caught up with it. It is choosing to align your thinking, speaking, and living with God’s verdict rather than with your experiences. Through the victory of Jesus Christ on the cross, the power of sin over the believer has been broken. That victory is complete and unquestionable. However, many believers fail to experience the practical reality of that victory. Not because Christ’s work was insufficient, but because they have not learned to reckon themselves as having died with Him. The reality of freedom from sin is not experienced merely by knowing that Jesus died. It is experienced by identifying with His death and embracing it as your own. As He died to sin, so must you consider yourself dead to its dominion. The key, then, is to understand the characteristics of a dead thing. A dead man does not respond to external stimuli. He is unmoved by attraction, unaffected by persuasion, and unresponsive to temptation. In the same way, God calls us to become increasingly insensitive to sin—to live as those who are no longer alive to its influence. When you begin to see yourself the way God sees you, you stop fighting for victory and start living from victory. You cease striving to become free and begin walking in the freedom Christ has already secured. Reckon yourself dead indeed unto sin, and alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. What God has declared as reality, embrace as reality, and in time, what is true in the spirit will become evident in your daily walk.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for the opportunity I have in Jesus to be dead to sin. 

Wisdom_Quote: You are dead to sin, live as such. 

Salvation_Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for dying in my place so that by believing in you, I might have life. I accept your lordship today. Thank you for saving me. 

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.