Category: Inspiration

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The Hagar opportunity 

[The Glory Unveiled]

So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. [ Genesis 16:3 NIV ]

In life, not every door is worth walking through. Yet, when we are desperate for something, we can become blind to counterfeits that present themselves as the original. When opportunities appear in seasons of deep need, we often lose our sense of vigilance and patience. What looks like an answer can easily become a distraction from God’s actual plan. God had promised Abraham that He would give him a son. But after ten years, nothing seemed to be happening. In the waiting, Sarah concluded that perhaps they needed to assist God in fulfilling His promise. She therefore asked Abraham to lie with their servant, Hagar, so that they could have a child through her. Abraham did not stop to ask God whether this was His will. He simply followed Sarah’s suggestion, and what seemed like an opportunity to actualise God’s promise became an alternative to God’s original plan. This is the danger of a Hagar opportunity. Whenever God promises to bless you through a Sarah, the devil, the people around you, or even your own impatience can suggest a Hagar. It is an opportunity that appears to guarantee the same result, but does so by bypassing the will and process of God. Not every opportunity is God’s opportunity. Anything that suggests another way of achieving what God has promised, while requiring you to step outside His will, is not God’s ideal for you. The temptation is to mistake the availability of an opportunity for the approval of God. Therefore, when God has spoken, do not allow the pressure of waiting to make you settle for a substitute. Patiently wait for the unfolding of God’s original plan. What God has promised does not require you to compromise His will in order to make it happen.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for reminding me to trust your process and your plan. 

Wisdom_Quote: Patience and long-suffering guarantee God’s option. 

Salvation_Prayer: Lord Jesus, I accept your gift of salvation and I embrace your promise of redemption. 

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Hold your peace

[The Glory Unveiled]

The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” [ Exodus 14:14 NKJV ]

Battles are fought because there is no peace. And different battles require different kinds of fights and strategies. But when God fights on behalf of a person, the battle is won before it is even fought. When God takes over our battles, He does so in a way that calls us to exchange our fears for faith. We no longer have to carry the burden ourselves, because God has taken responsibility for the fight. But there is a caveat: whenever God fights on our behalf, He requires us to stand in faith and not in fear. Fear is a statement of unbelief. It is a voice that says God is unable to fight for us, that His power is insufficient, or that we must save ourselves. Faith, however, rests in the assurance that the God who has taken up our cause is both able and faithful. The first thing we must understand, however, is that God fights for those who know Him as God and revere Him as such. He takes over our battles because we have become His own, and what belongs to Him becomes His responsibility. When God takes over, our responsibility is not to fight in our own strength but to rest in His ability, His wisdom, and His faithfulness. And perhaps one of the clearest signs that God is fighting for us is that we can experience peace even while standing on the battlefield. The battle may still be raging around us, but something within us is settled because we know who is fighting for us. When God takes over the battle, our greatest evidence of His presence is not always the absence of conflict, but the presence of peace in the midst of it.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for fighting my battles for me because you are my Lord and I am your responsibility.  

Wisdom_Quote: When God fights your battle, you experience peace. 

Salvation_Prayer: Dear Jesus, I surrender to Your lordship. Forgive my sin and save me from sin and its wages. 

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Are you standing firm?

[The Glory Unveiled]

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! [ 1 Corinthians 10:12 NIV ]

Our self-image and perception are drivers of our decisions and life choices. Because we often look at life through the lens of our skewed perceptions, we sometimes fail to see things as they truly are. We can deceive ourselves into believing things about ourselves that are simply not true. Before Scripture warns us to be careful not to fall when we think we are standing, it gives us a list of people who came before us and the mistakes they made as a result of their complacency. When we think everything is alright with us, we stop looking out for what might be wrong. We no longer anticipate that anything could go wrong, neither are we watchful over ourselves. Those who came before us fell because they thought they were standing firm. But anything that is not standing in Jesus will eventually fall. The safety net, therefore, is to recognise that we can fall at any time and that we consistently need the help of Jesus. We can never become independent of Jesus in our walk with Him. At no point can we afford to rely solely on our own strength, wisdom, or perception. Even when we think we are standing firm, we can fall the moment we take our eyes off Jesus.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for anchoring me in your Son Jesus. 

Wisdom_Quote: Anything not standing on Jesus eventually falls. 

Salvation_Prayer: Dear Jesus, I surrender to you. Be my Saviour and Lord. 

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Crossroads of life 

[The Glory Unveiled]

This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ [ Jeremiah 6:16 NIV ]

Every now and then, we all come to crossroads—places where we become confused and are unable to make clear and meaningful decisions. In times like these, Scripture tells us to stand and look. Then, immediately, it tells us to ask for the good way, the ancient path. The reality of life is that there is nothing new under the sun. So, when we find ourselves in a place of confusion and dismay, Scripture instructs us to ask for the ancient paths. This means seeking principles and wisdom that have been time-tested and proven. And then He says, “Walk in it.” When we do, we will find rest. Unfortunately, we often tell ourselves that we will not walk in the ancient paths. We want to make our own path; we want to set our own trail. But all of this only exposes our desires and appetites. Sadly, these self-made paths give us no peace and eventually bring us back to the crossroads. In life, we will encounter many crossroads, but what matters is our ability to listen to the voice of God. Isaiah 30:21 says that the one whose ears are attentive to God will hear a voice behind them saying, “This is the way, walk in it.” The question, then, is: Will you listen to His voice or to the voices of those around you? When making decisions about family and marriage, work and career, or business, will you pause and listen for His voice? Will you seek the ancient paths, walk in the way He has established, and trust that His path will lead you to rest?

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for making provisions for me when I come to a crossroad in life. I maximize the presence of your Holy Spirit who guides me. 

Wisdom_Quote: Crossroads expose your appetite and desires. 

Salvation_Prayer: Lord Jesus, I yield my heart to you. Come into it and be my Saviour. 

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When Grace Speaks

[The Glory Unveiled]

So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” [ Luke 18:40-41 NKJV ]

The blind man in this verse of Scripture had the name “blind Bartimaeus” inscribed into his identity because of his crisis. It was not by his choice, but his condition took the front seat of his identity. Over time, people could only recognise him when he was described as “blind Bartimaeus.” His condition became so closely associated with him that it seemed to define who he was. But the interesting thing about Bartimaeus is that he did not embrace his predicament as his final destination. He lived in the realm of possibility even when his situation was screaming, “Impossible!” And because he lived in this realm, he was able to recognise possibility when it passed by. He recognised Jesus as his possibility when others saw Him merely as a teacher. It was this recognition that caused Bartimaeus to call Him, “Son of David.” The moment he recognised Jesus as his solution, the voice of grace spoke on his behalf, even when his environment wanted to drown it out. The commanding voice of grace silences the opposition, restrains the accusations of accusers, and mutes the voice of judgement. Grace speaks where human voices condemn, and grace creates access where circumstances have established limitations. But grace speaks in such situations when there is recognition. The question, therefore, is not merely, “Who is Jesus?” but, “Who is Jesus to you personally?” Not who He is generally, but who He is to you. That is what matters, and that is what makes all the difference. Because when you recognise Jesus for who He is to you, you position yourself to experience what only He can do. And when grace speaks, gates open, impossible becomes possible.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for your speaking grace in my life. 

Wisdom_Quote: Grace speaks when Jesus is recognized 

Salvation_Prayer: Dear Jesus, I yield my heart and soul to you. Be my Saviour and Lord. 

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Peace

[The Glory Unveiled] 

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. [ John 14:27 NIV ]

If there is one thing the rich seek, the poor desire, and both the young and the old crave, it is peace. Yet there is a kind of peace that falls short of what the human heart truly needs—the peace that the world gives. In the pursuit of the kind of peace that soothes the soul, many are willing to trade their time, relationships, possessions, and even other valuables, hoping that these things will quiet the troubles within them. Yet, despite all they acquire, the peace they seek remains elusive. What they fail to understand is that true peace is more than the absence of trouble; it is a Spirit, it is a life—the life of the Son. And because it comes from Jesus, it goes only where Jesus bids it to go. The peace of Christ does not merely silence the noise around us; it confronts and consumes the troubles within us. It silences the fears that dictate our decisions and keeps the heart from being ruled by the uncertainties of life. This is why the Lord Jesus told His disciples, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you.” He immediately distinguished His peace from the peace the world gives. His peace is different. It is not dependent on circumstances, possessions, achievements, or the absence of adversity. And because His peace has been given to us, He says, “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” This is the difference. There are those who believe that if they can only amass enough wealth, acquire enough possessions, achieve enough success, or secure enough of the things this world offers, their troubled hearts will finally find rest. But eventually, they discover that wealth can purchase comfort without purchasing peace. It can change the circumstances around a person without necessarily changing the condition within. The peace Jesus gives is not like the peace the world gives. The world says, “Get more, and you will have peace.” Jesus says, “Receive Me, and you will have peace.” His peace does not promise that there will be no trouble; it promises that trouble will not have the final authority over your heart. Because when Christ gives you His peace, you carry within you something greater than whatever is happening around you.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for the peace you give through your son. 

Wisdom_Quote: Peace is a person 

Salvation_Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for the gift of salvation. Come into my heart 

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God finishes before He starts 

[The Glory Unveiled]

Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,’ [ Isaiah 45:10 NIV ]

In the verse before our anchor text, God refers to Himself as God, declaring that there is no other and that there is none like Him. There is no God like Yahweh. He then gives us one of the many reasons why. He declares the end from the beginning, and from ancient times He declares things that are not yet done. He declares that His counsel shall stand, and that He will accomplish all His pleasure. God does all that He pleases, and He does not begin something without already knowing its end. He finishes before He starts. Therefore, when we see God begin something in the life of a person or in the world, it is because He has already seen its end. What appears to us as a beginning is not a beginning to God; it is the unfolding of something He has already purposed and seen through to its conclusion. We see something of this in the creation of man. In Genesis 1:26–27, God declares, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.” Then, in Genesis 2:7, we see Him form man from the dust of the ground. The declaration came before the formation. God had already established His purpose before He carried it out. This is why man’s disobedience was not a surprise to God. He had already seen it before it happened, and He had made provision for it. The fall did not catch God unprepared, because redemption was already within His eternal purpose. God does not begin with uncertainty. He begins with the end in view. And this should give you confidence concerning your own life. God has already seen the end of what He has started in you. What you are experiencing may be a process to you, but it is not an unknown to God. He knows where He is taking you. He knows what He is producing in you. He knows the purpose behind every season. You may not understand everything He is doing, but you can trust the One who does. His counsel will stand. His purpose will prevail. So, trust His plan. Trust His wisdom. Trust His timing. And above all, enjoy His love.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for perfecting and completing everything in my life. 

Wisdom_Quote: God has finished anything He’s starting in you. 

Salvation_Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I welcome you into my heart. Be my Saviour and Lord forever. 

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God’s plan

[The Glory Unveiled]

There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand. [ Proverbs 19:21 NKJV ]

Every day, we are confronted with countless alternatives in almost every area of life. The abundance of choices has made decision-making increasingly complex. With rapid technological advancement and continuous innovation, newer and seemingly better options emerge almost daily. Consequently, our hearts become filled with ambitions, ideas, and plans. We desire to pursue many things at once, convinced that every opportunity deserves our attention. Yet, amid this multitude of alternatives, there remains one voice that rises above them all—the counsel of God. The One who created all things is the One who understands all things. Everything exists by His power and according to His wisdom. If anyone truly knows what we need, it is the One who designed us. No one understands a product better than its manufacturer. In the same way, no one understands our lives, our purpose, and our future better than God. When we seek His counsel before making our decisions, He graciously redirects our hearts from pursuing merely what we want to embracing what we truly need. His wisdom is not governed by our limited perspective or present desires but by His perfect knowledge of the end from the beginning. This is why the counsel of God always prevails over every alternative. While our plans are confined by what we can see, God’s counsel is established upon what He alone sees. We often labour over carefully constructed plans only to watch them fail because our vision is incomplete. But God is never surprised, never uninformed, and never mistaken. He sees all things, knows all things, and governs all things according to His sovereign purpose. He also causes all things to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Therefore, the safest place for any believer is not in the abundance of available options but in the certainty of God’s counsel. Every other alternative may change, fail, or disappoint, but His counsel stands forever.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for your counsel about my life. Let your will be done as it is done in heaven. 

Wisdom_Quote: God’s counsel stands tall on the backdrop of human plans. 

Salvation_Prayer: Lord Jesus, I believe You died for me so that I might have life. Save me from sin and its power. Amen 

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Catalysts for increase 

[The Glory Unveiled]

Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground [ Genesis 2:5 NIV ]

God has woven order into His creation, and that order governs how His purposes unfold. Before He created man to inhabit the earth, although the earth had already been formed, He did not allow rain to fall upon it. Consequently, there were no shrubs of the field or cultivated plants growing on the earth. Scripture reveals the reason: there was no man to cultivate and care for the ground. This reveals a profound principle in God’s kingdom. God does not permit what has the potential for growth to flourish where there is no one prepared to steward it. Instead, He withholds the very resources that would produce that growth. Rain was restrained because it would have caused vegetation to spring up while there was still no man to cultivate and manage it. In other words, the catalyst for increase was withheld because there was no caretaker. The same principle still governs God’s dealings with His people today. Those who desire growth, increase, and multiplication must first develop the capacity to manage what God places in their hands. Before God releases greater blessings, He looks for faithful stewardship. This is why Jesus declared that whoever is faithful with little will be entrusted with much. God does not merely reward desire; He rewards proven responsibility. In many cases, the limitation is not God’s willingness to bless but our readiness to manage the blessing. Our commitment to faithful stewardship determines whether growth is sustained. As we prove trustworthy with what God has already entrusted to us, He releases greater opportunities, greater resources, and greater responsibility. In God’s kingdom, stewardship precedes increase, and faithfulness is the pathway to multiplication.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for showing me what I need to do to have more of what I desire. Help me to be faithful in my commitments. 

Wisdom_Quote: God causes growth where there is a caretaker. 

Salvation_Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I acknowledge your sacrifice for me and I accept You as my Saviour and Lord. Rule and reign in my life. 

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Foundations

[The Glory Unveiled] 

If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do? [ Hebrews 11:3 NIV ]

How we begin anything matters because it often determines how we will end it. Every beginning is a foundation, and every foundation shapes the strength, stability, and outcome of what is built upon it. It establishes the pattern that everything else will follow. This is why Scripture asks, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3). The point is not that righteousness lacks power, but that righteousness cannot compensate for a foundation that was wrongly laid. A destroyed foundation is not always one that has collapsed; it can also be one that was laid contrary to its intended purpose from the very beginning. When the foundation is misaligned with the desired end, the entire structure is compromised before it is ever completed. Whatever tone is set at the beginning will continue to echo throughout the rest of the journey. A faulty foundation inevitably produces a faulty structure, regardless of how impressive the workmanship appears above ground. The strength of any building is never determined by its height but by the integrity of the foundation beneath it. For this reason, we must be deliberate and prayerful about every foundation we lay—in our walk with God, our relationships, our ministries, our careers, and every assignment entrusted to us. Once a foundation has been laid, the years will eventually reveal its true nature. The structure will always expose the quality of the foundation. Therefore, take the time to lay every foundation well. What may seem slow at the beginning will become strength in the future. A well-laid foundation prevents future regret and provides the stability to stand when the weight of life’s demands and seasons is placed upon it.

Prayer_Bead: Our Father, thank you for giving us Your Spirit and wisdom to build with. 

Wisdom_Quote: Foundations set the frame for the structure 

Salvation_Prayer: Dear Jesus, I accept your gift of eternal life. Write my name in the book of life.

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