Category: Inspiration

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Standing firm

[The Glory Unveiled]

If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. (Mark 3:25 NIV )

There are substances that bind materials together—adhesives. However, these adhesives do not just bind things together; they operate based on certain principles that must be adhered to. Many times, for something to stand firm, it requires necessary support. And that support must be capable of bearing the load it is intended to carry. The substances that bind things together do so not merely because they are adhesives, but because the materials involved obey the rules of engagement that allow for binding. When Jesus made the statement about a house divided against itself not being able to stand, He was not only referring to families. This principle also applies to any institution or establishment. Where people disagree, they cannot stand together. A house divided against itself can symbolize families, relationships, or businesses. But whatever the “house” represents, division will ultimately lead to its downfall. Therefore, for any house to stand in any situation, there must be agreement. We cannot stand with God if we are not in agreement with His Word. Stability comes not only from the components that make up a structure but also from the elements that bind those components together. A brick wall does not stand merely because it is made of bricks; it stands because of the mortar that holds the bricks together. In your walk with God, are your ways divided against His ways? The sons of Sceva attempted to do what Paul was doing but failed because their ways were divided against the established ways and practices of God (Acts 19:14–16).

Prayer_Bead: Lord, thank you for teaching me this principle of life. Help me to gather where you gather.

Wisdom_Quote: Wherever the carcass is, there the vultures gather.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Defy impossibilities

[The Glory Unveiled]

He turned the rock into a pool of water; yes, a spring of water flowed from solid rock. ( Psalms 114:8 NLT )

God always goes above and beyond in everything. He sets the standard so high that no one can reach it except Himself. The Israelites had been experiencing the power and wonders of God from the moment they left the walls of Egypt through their time in the wilderness. Every step of the way, God proved Himself to be unlike the gods of other nations—greater than all of them combined. Yet, somehow, the Israelites found it difficult to believe in the same God who had performed all these wondrous deeds. During their journey, they reached a place called Meribah, where the people tested the Lord and questioned among themselves whether He was truly among them, despite all He had done for them (Exodus 17:7). They quarreled and asked such questions because they struggled to believe that God was present and actively working on their behalf. In response, God once again proved Himself by bringing water out of a rock. He made the impossible possible—water flowed from a solid rock. There is water in every rock, but it will only come forth at the word of God. The water flowed because Moses obeyed God’s command. When we obey God’s instructions, He makes the impossible possible. When Peter obeyed Jesus’ instruction to come, he walked on water. The impossible will happen in your life and around you when you trust and obey God’s word.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for the things you do in and around my life. Help me to trust you in every situation.

Wisdom_Quote: There is water in every rock.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Busy about nothing

[The Glory Unveiled]

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. ( 2 Thessalonians 3:6 NIV )

The easiest way the devil keeps you from getting close to your life’s assignment and calling is by keeping you idle and disruptive. And that’s just another word for being a busybody. He deceives you into thinking you’re doing something important. You spend all your time and energy on something that has no future, yet you fail to realize it. Primarily, what he does is kill your ability to see. Once you cannot see, you cannot move forward. He doesn’t have to worry about where you’re going because, ultimately, you won’t go anywhere. The devil has succeeded in keeping many people trapped in this cycle of life. They are always busy with something but have no results to show for all their hustle and movement. The apostle Paul commands us, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and who does not live according to the teachings received from God through His Word. Although these individuals may be “believers,” the apostle teaches that we should keep away from them in the name of our Lord Jesus. That is something very serious. The devil specializes in keeping people idle yet busy. Martha was preoccupied when Jesus visited their home, but her busyness was unnecessary. She was distracted and missed the opportunity to benefit from the word of life that Jesus had brought to her home (see Luke 10:40). For many of us, the devil uses the same strategy to distract us. The way out is to stay rooted in the Word of God. Practice the Word of God at all times and in every situation. And be intentional about what preoccupies your time.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for showing me the strategy of the enemy to keep me busy doing nothing. Help me to walk intentionally with you in doing what you called me to do.

Wisdom_Quote: The devil kills people’s ability to see and then he leaves them to kill themselves.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Humility; a timely shield

[The Glory Unveiled]

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. [ Proverbs 11:2 NIV ]

Faith moves mountains, patience triumphs, and humility and wisdom shield against disgrace. Principles always yield the same results, no matter the variables. If a principle works in London, it should work in Ghana. God’s word does not return to Him void unless it accomplishes the purpose for which it was sent. This is why God’s word never fails. He is not a man to fail. Our anchor text says, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” This means wisdom moves with humility. Where pride and arrogance enter a room, wisdom departs because pride walks with disgrace. God exalts us when we depend on Him. Often, we tend to rely on God only when we reach our wits’ end—when all we know how to do fails us. But the one who truly depends on God is not someone who turns to Him only in times of crisis but also in moments of peace and stability. Humility enables us to trust God through every situation, even when His ways don’t seem to make sense to us. When humility leads our approach to anything, wisdom accompanies our outcome. The Lord Jesus came in the spirit of humility; therefore, anything that comes from Him and through Him must also embody humility. He humbled Himself, even to the point of death on the cross, and by that example, He called us into our inheritance. Without humility, whatever we claim to have will only bring disgrace in the long run.

Prayer_Bead: Lord, thank you for showing me the template of heaven concerning my inheritance. Help me to walk in humility. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Humility is a shield against disgrace.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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What are you spreading?

[The Glory Unveiled]

Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere. ( Mark 1:45 NIV )

God instructed Adam to eat from every tree in the Garden of Eden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When Adam and his wife, Eve, disobeyed God, it did not only directly affect them but also the entire human race and God Himself. The human race suffered from their disobedience because the punishment for breaking that instruction came upon every human being after them. It also affected God because, having created us in His image and likeness, He was responsible for us. He had to address our problem to redeem His image. So, God did what He needn’t have done—being slain for our sake. In our anchor scripture, we read about a young man healed by Jesus of leprosy. Jesus explicitly told him not to tell anyone about it. However, as soon as he left Jesus’ presence, he went about spreading what he was asked not to spread, directly disregarding Jesus’ instruction. The consequence of his action was that Jesus could no longer openly enter any city where He was known. Disobedience always carries serious consequences. Because of one man’s disobedience, Jesus couldn’t go out publicly to heal other sick people. His actions hindered others from benefitting from the power of God. Just as by one man—Adam’s disobedience—sin entered the world (Romans 5:19), don’t allow your personal and private disobedience to become a burden on the necks of many innocent people. Achan’s private sin became a public punishment for the nation of Israel (see Joshua 7). Walk in total obedience, for both your sake and the sake of those around you.

Prayer_Bead: Heavenly Father, thank you for the grace to walk in obedience to your word. Forgive me for all my previous disobedience. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: Private sin has public consequences.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Love on Wheels

[The Glory Unveiled]

Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. (Psalms 136:3 NIV)

The love of God never remained where it was first set in motion; it continued to pursue us through valleys and mountains. Love is not static—it keeps moving toward its object. As we read our anchor scripture and the verses that follow, we see that God’s love was expressed in many ways and through many acts for the sake of His beloved nation, Israel. His love for them did not end, even when they strayed in disobedience. It was always chasing the object of His affection—His beloved nation. When mankind sinned, God came searching for us. When He saw that we needed covering, He didn’t drive us away in our nakedness; instead, He made garments from animal skins for us. His love was not constrained by anything—He continued to love us regardless of what seemed to stand in the way. God’s love endures forever. It is constant and unwavering, whether we feel it or not. He faithfully loves us, whether we are aware of it or not. Even before we were born again, God loved us, though we didn’t realize it. Yet, that didn’t stop Him from loving us or diminish His love in any way. He loved us so that we, in turn, might love others with the same love He has shown us. Love is a living thing—it grows. Nurture it and let it become a life-giving tool, offering reassurance to the brokenhearted and the weak, so that praise will rise from their lips to the Father as a result.

Prayer_Bead: Lord, thank you for your love so sweet. Help me to love those around me as you love me and show them kindness as you’ve been kind to me.

Wisdom_Quote: God’s love endures through our weaknesses and failures.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Faith Through The Roof

[The Glory Unveiled]

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven. ( Mark 2:5 NIV )

Four men came to Jesus, carrying their paralyzed friend on a mat, hoping Jesus would touch and heal him. However, they couldn’t reach Jesus because of the crowd. Undeterred, they tore the roof off the building and lowered their friend down, determined to bring him before Jesus. These four friends went the extra mile to ensure their paralyzed friend could meet Him. When obstacles arose, they didn’t give up but found another way to make it happen. They had a clear goal in mind: to reach Jesus. With that goal, they took the necessary steps to bring their friend to Him. Because they were resolved to meet Jesus, when people stood in their way, they literally rose above the crowd. Their attitude toward their friend’s healing demonstrates the lengths we need to go to obtain answers at all costs. When Jesus saw the effort and sacrifices they made to bring their friend to Him, He commended their faith. But one might ask: where was the faith? On the surface, it seemed like just four determined people bringing their friend to Jesus. However, this shows that without action, faith is meaningless because faith is expressed through action. As James says, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:20, 26). Activate your faith with resolute action. Can someone look at your actions and say you deserve what you are praying for? If not, then you haven’t yet earned what you are pursuing.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for showing me that faith without works is dead. I animate my faith by intentional actions.

Wisdom_Quote: Action is the voice of faith.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Find Jesus

[The Glory Unveiled]

For those who find me [wisdom] find life
and receive favour from the LORD. [ Proverbs 8:35 NIV ]

The Lord Jesus in this verse is personified as Wisdom. In verse 22, the scripture says, “The LORD brought me [Wisdom] forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old.” Similarly, in John 1:1, He is referred to as the Word—the same person described as the first of God’s works. We are presented with a vivid picture of Jesus as the giver of life and favour. However, a keen observation reveals that favour is preceded by wisdom. The Lord grants favour to those who have received wisdom. This is why the Bible describes Jesus’ growth as increasing in wisdom and favoyr with God and men (Luke 2:52). Notice that the scripture does not say Jesus increased in favor with God and men and then increased in wisdom. Instead, He first increased in wisdom, and then favor followed. This sequence is deliberate: wisdom comes first, followed by favour. However, wisdom does not come automatically; it must be sought, which implies a deliberate search or an intentional effort to find it. For this reason, even though wisdom is available to all, not everyone perceives it. Since many people cannot recognize wisdom, few truly experience life and favour, which are its offspring. In our pursuit of material and temporary things in this world, we must prioritize finding wisdom. And Jesus is the Spirit of wisdom. So, find Jesus, encounter His person, and walk in His word. The result of that encounter will be wisdom, life, and favour.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for your wisdom at work in me, producing life and favour.

Wisdom_Quote: Favour stems from wisdom.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Careful who

[The Glory Unveiled]

Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. ( Matthew 7:6 NIV)

The value of a thing is its worth in the eyes of its owner. The value of humanity is our worth before our Creator. God created us in His own image and likeness—that is what we are worth to Him. He values us as Himself. We can also discern our worth to God by how He treats and handles us. The way people handle their possessions speaks volumes about the value they place on them. God has demonstrated His unconditional love for us from the beginning. Even when we sinned, He didn’t give up on us; He still loved us. Our anchor scripture says we should not give dogs what is sacred or throw our pearls to pigs. It warns that if you do, they will trample them underfoot and turn to harm you. Figuratively speaking, a dog can symbolize an immoral person, while a pig represents an unholy person. This implies that we are not to give what is sacred or precious to those who cannot appreciate its value. They cannot relate to it as we do. They do not belong to the same realm, and therefore, they cannot truly connect with us. In other words, do not sacrifice your righteousness on the altar of sexual immorality and ungodliness. Be cautious about who you align yourself with and to whom you entrust your precious things—your visions and ideas. Only someone from your spiritual tribe can understand and value the pearls you share with them. Be mindful of who you cast your pearls to. Do they see value in what you value?

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for showing me my kind and tribe. Help me to associate with godly people. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: A pig cannot see any value in pearls.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The blessing

[The Glory Unveiled]

The LORD bless you and keep you; ( Numbers 6:24 NIV )

We could discuss the multifaceted nature of God—His vastness, omnipotence, and omnipresence. Yet, there is something we cannot overlook: the blessings of the Lord. Throughout Genesis, the words “bless” or “blessing” appear repeatedly. From the very first chapter, which marks the beginning of all things, God blessed the things He had created. In Genesis 1:28, He blessed humanity, commanding them to be fruitful and multiply. This blessing has underpinned every human endeavor since. The blessing of God is the glue meant to hold all of humanity together. This is why, after God destroyed the world during the days of Noah, He blessed humanity once again to restore order (see Genesis 9:1). To bless means to empower for abundant living in every sphere of life. Without God’s empowerment, we can accomplish nothing. During the time of the Old Testament, God’s help came through the law of Moses. In the New Testament, we see God’s help revealed as grace, enabling us to live out His purposes for our lives. God’s blessing creates the opportunity for the realization of His plans for us. As we strive to walk with Him, it is His blessing that makes the journey easier because our own strength will inevitably fail. May the blessings of God—which encompass His grace, love, and fellowship—be with us always, particularly throughout this year.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for your blessings and what they’re doing in my life.

Wisdom_Quote: The blessing of God adds no sorrow.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.