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Praying according to God’s will

[The Glory Unveiled]

”Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.“ [ I John‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ ]

One common thing about all children is that they have the habit of constantly asking their parents for things. However, even though they ask constantly, they don’t always receive what they request. There’s something that influences parents to either grant or withhold their children’s requests. And this is not a question of whether they love their kids or not because every parent love their kids. The same is true of our heavenly Father; He doesn’t always grant our requests even though He loves us all. The good news is that He tells us the kind of requests He responds to—those aligned with His will. If our requests align with God’s will, we can be confident that He will grant them. This awareness gives us confidence in prayer, garnishing our faith and helping us depend on God’s faithfulness. Thus, regardless of external circumstances, we remain steadfast, convinced that God will honour His word. This truth should motivate us to discern God’s will in any matter. Praying without knowing God’s will would be futile. Therefore, our first task should be to understand God’s will before presenting our requests to Him. The will of God is synonymous with the word of God; it cannot contradict it. By studying the word of God, we can discern His will and pray accordingly, knowing that God will not only hear us but also answer us. Confidently make your requests known to God, knowing that you are asking according to the will of God.

Prayer_Bead: Father in heaven, thank you for this knowledge. Help me to pray according to your will and your word, in Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: The word of God does not contradict the will of God.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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What God would have for you

[The Glory Unveiled]

The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” [ Exodus 33:14 NIV ]

Many times, we seem to know what we want in life for our comfort and peace. However, when those things we think we need are scrutinized by the Creator of the Universe, they lose their appeal, and we discover that what we truly need may differ. The apostle Paul pleaded with God to remove a thorn in his flesh. In that moment, he believed that was what he needed, but God gave him His grace instead. This indicates that what Paul genuinely needed was the grace of God. Moses approached the presence of God and asked to see His ways and receive favour. In response, God revealed the importance of rest and His presence. This suggests that what would fulfill Moses’s perceived needs is the presence of God. Beyond our desires, what does God want for us? On a day-to-day basis, we must strive to discern God’s will for us, as opposed to our own desires. When we gain a clear understanding of God’s desires for us, rest from ceaseless and futile labour becomes our portion. The challenges of life can be overwhelming and lead to restlessness. Therefore, when we pursue our goals and dreams without God, our energies are depleted. We are meant to rely on God’s provision for life. What God desires for us is ultimately the best we could hope for on earth. May He guide us to desire the things He would rather have for us.

Prayer_Bead: Omnipresent Father, thank you for your guidance and care. Help me to accept what you would rather want me to have. And let your name be glorified.

Wisdom_Quote: God’s provision will quench your requests.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Without Excuse

[The Glory Unveiled ]

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they [men] are without excuse: [ Romans 1:20 KJV ]

You cannot make excuses for something that is readily available. Some people offer numerous excuses for their disbelief in God, despite the abundant evidence of His existence evident in creation. His eternal power is showcased on the canvas of creation, with His divinity unmistakably embossed upon it. What then could our excuses be for not acknowledging His power and divinity? If we ever need a witness to the divinity and power of God, we need not look far. We are surrounded by the declarations of God’s creation. Consequently, we are without excuses, and God’s wrath and punishment can come upon those who ignore them. Just as students are tested on what they know, likewise, we will be judged by the things God has made available to us. Psalms 19:1 says “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” The voice of creation echoes throughout the earth, its message reaching to the ends of the earth. For those who wish to perceive what God is like, the things He has made clearly reveal His nature. God’s image is displayed through His handiwork. Therefore, to perceive God clearly, we must carefully examine His handiwork. The invisible attributes of God are expressed through creation, their meanings conveyed by the things that are made. By carefully examining your world and the works of God, your excuses will disappear.

Prayer_Bead: Creator of the Universe, what can’t you do? Thank you for the manifestation of your invisible attributes through the things you have made. Glory be to your name.

Wisdom_Quote: Creation mirrors the attributes of God.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Follow the leading voice

[The Glory Unveiled]

And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. [ Isaiah 30:21 KJV ]

The Holy Spirit is the believer’s partner and helper, akin to how God provided Adam with a suitable helpmate. The Holy spirit is given to us as the perfect helper. His ministry is expressed in us in diverse manifestations. One of such expressions is when He speaks to us. The Holy Spirit directs us in the way we should go. He is the voice we hear behind (in our hearts) saying this is right, go ahead or don’t do it. He instructs us in our decisions, choices and actions. He will give us clarity and direction when we need guidance. Unfortunately, many a people rely too heavily on their minds and senses, often to the detriment of their futures. They try to explore other alternatives even when they know that those alternatives are leading to the wrong end. There are those who went after funny desires even when the Holy Spirit urged them to turn away. It’s crucial to recognize that for every good thing, there are equally deceptive counterfeits. The devil offers seemingly enticing shortcuts that ultimately lead to spiritual peril. When God reveals the path, it’s vital to heed His guidance and not wander off in search of alternatives. In the end, it would be the longest and treacherous journey you would have ever made. And so, stick to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and endeavor to wait for the timing of God in patience and absolute trust. Follow the voice of the Holy Spirit and express the life of Jesus in our world.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Holy Spirit, thank you for your leading and guidance. Make me attentive and obedient in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: There are no better alternatives to the Holy Spirit’s instructions.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Darkened counsel

[The Glory Unveiled]

Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? [ Job 38:2 KJV ]

Counsel has a fine and well-defined line, but this line can be erased or darkened by words lacking knowledge. The most effective tool advancing the erasure or darkening of counsel is social media. The facts presented to us on these platforms often contradict the word and will of God, leading many naive young people to be unclear about the right path. They begin to believe the false reports of such systems rather than the truth of God’s word and become messengers of these “words without knowledge” to others. All of this begins with the casual and unconcerned way we handle our everyday lives, including the things we watch and read. What we hear has the power to darken or brighten counsel. “For that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard” (2 Peter 2:8). Lot damaged his soul by absorbing information lacking in knowledge. Words, images, and sounds have the ability to lead us down a dark path. Over time, our speech and language reflect the patterns of what we have been exposed to. The world promotes lawless deeds, hoping that through ignorance we will torment our righteous souls and become disconnected from our heavenly Father. By the grace of God, we can identify this trap, through the knowledge of God when we identify what the enemy throws at us, aimed at darkening counsel. Don’t be misled by the lies of the enemy. Embrace God’s truth.

Prayer_Bead: Gracious Father, thank you for the knowledge of your word. Keep me from every contrary words without knowledge. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Words without Knowledge darkens counsel.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Stop observing, make a move

[The Glory Unveiled]

He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. [ Ecclesiastes 11:4 KJV ]

The wise sayings of the preacher explain why many destinies are held in a stationary position. It is normal to observe the wind before you put a seed in the soil or the clouds before you harvest your crops, but sometimes you cannot be sure what the weather will bring and you may have to take a chance rather than wait forever. Oftentimes, procrastination gives us the evil lecture that you don’t have the right materials to start, you don’t have the numbers to begin, you can do it at a future date when you are better prepared, or when circumstances align in your favor, etc. All these beautiful excuses come from the chief steward—procrastination—in the camp of delay and stagnation. Unknown to many people, these suggestions are the reason they are still where they have been. Many times, the favourable conditions may be absent but we must still make the move. The army of Israel kept looking at the stature of Goliath and as a result couldn’t make any move to fight him. They were stopped by what they saw. David, on the other hand, brought a historic breakthrough to Israel when he decided to make a move. He knew that the situation he faced was very uncertain but he didn’t consider defeat as probable as it was. If you’ve been watching the wind for months or years even, it’s time you sow your seeds. And if you’re afraid the clouds will pour rain, and so, you’re holding back on harvesting then please ignore the clouds and reap your harvest. Your testimony is overdue. Let the world see the glory of God through you.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for showing me the agenda of procrastination in my life. Help me to make the necessary moves. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Your outcome is changed by your move, not your observations.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Broken Kisses

[The Glory Unveiled]

Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had left him. [ Judges 16:20 NIV ]

Samson was a Nazarene—a person who felt called to consecrate themselves unto God—with the extraordinary ability and gift of supernatural strength. He understood the terms of his consecration well and kept them until his unbridled love for a woman severed his connection to the source of his abilities. Unbeknownst to Samson, not honoring the terms of his consecration had consequences. The terms of his consecration were the live wire of his relationship with God, silently implying his love life with the Heavenly Father—a symbol of the continuous affection of his divine lover. However, Samson found another lover and gradually shifted his focus from his heavenly lover to her. As a result, the vows of his consecration lost their significance to him; he relinquished those vows to preserve his hair for the love he harbored for his earthly lover, Delilah. Meanwhile, Delilah traded that love for eleven hundred pieces of silver (Judges 16:5). Before this transaction, Samson had rested his head on Delilah’s lap, with unending kisses adorning his lips. Yet, after betraying his heavenly lover and the source of his uncommon strength, the kisses ceased—as the Lord left him. Consequently, as he began to stray from his divine pattern, his earthly relationships lost coherence as well; each of his relationships began to deteriorate. Samson was coerced into severing his fellowship with God when he violated the terms of his consecration, by the woman to whom he was most vulnerable at a compromised moment. The choice always lies with us—who holds greater importance in our lives, God or our partners? We must prioritize maintaining our heavenly affection if we wish to safeguard our earthly connections.

Prayer_Bead: My Lover and King, thank you for the unending kisses. Help me to remain in the embrace of your love as I intentionally obey and love you.

Wisdom_Quote: Unending kisses begin with unending devotion to God.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Stop searching

[The Glory Unveiled]

Now the donkeys belonging to Saul’s father Kish were lost, and Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go and look for the donkeys.” [ 1 Samuel 9:3 NIV ]

Saul and a servant went out to search for his father’s missing donkeys. For days they combed the streets of towns and villages to no avail. All the while, the donkeys had already been found, unknown them. They continued looking for the donkeys that were not missing any longer. “As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned, if not to you and your whole family line?” (1 Samuel 9:20) Saul and his servant were searching frantically for something that was not missing. But they didn’t know because Saul was still who he was [in knowledge (about the donkeys)] when he began his journey. What you lost will not return to the same state you were in when it left. It will only return when you upgrade yourself. Many times, we lose things because of who we are in that moment; we lose things when the things we possess outgrow our experiences, skills or knowledge to handle them. That gap takes our possessions from us, whether they are material or immaterial. But when Saul encountered Samuel and he came to another awareness of who he was, he discovered that, what was missing was found. We search for missing things that are not actually missing because of a gap between us and the knowledge or skills necessary to keep that thing. And so, to find it, we need to update our knowledge and skills. Stop searching and start growing your awareness and knowledge and every lost thing will return.

Prayer_Bead: Father in heaven, thank you for showing me this truth. Help me to enlarge my knowledge and capacity to keep what you have given me. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Stop searching and start growing capacity.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Stars in the dark

[The Glory Unveiled]

Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. [ Genesis 39:20 NIV ]

This was not the first time Joseph had been betrayed. His initial encounter with betrayal came from his own brothers, who sold him into slavery. His world seemed shattered. He likely felt his world crumbling, his heart crushing, his hope dashed, his mind wandering. And then, just as it seemed he was delivered from his worst fears and comforted in the house of Potiphar, another darkness came—he was taken to prison. But just as we see stars when it’s dark and rainbows when it rains, Joseph’s story saw a beautiful “rainbow ending.” Many times, the dark seasons of our lives are opportunities in disguise. Joseph’s prison experience was a blessing in disguise because that place gave him access to the government of Egypt—a fate he couldn’t have achieved any other way due to his lack of connections, formal education, and money. Yet, the dark season of his life ushered in the greatest opportunity and blessing he could have ever dreamed of. He was placed in the prison where the king’s prisoners were kept. It was no coincidence because he would later become one of the king’s officials. Even in the dark season of your life, pay attention to the signs on the wall because, even then, your immediate environment may give you a hint about your tomorrow. The most remarkable attribute Joseph displayed is that he never complained. In the heart of his dark season, he depended on God. And when the devil brought what seemed like a ladder to bring him out, he declined. He chose prison over disobeying God’s holy law when he said, “How could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9). And teaching us that staying true till the end brings the glory that lies at the end..

Prayer_Bead: King of kings, thank you for your mighty works in my life, even in the dark seasons. May your name be glorified through it all. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: We get stars in the dark.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Take Action

[The Glory Unveiled]

I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. [ Luke 15:18 NIV ]

The son, famously known as the prodigal son, turned his life around by taking action. The gap between where we are and where we want to be is often bridged by action. He had a plan, but as long as that plan remained in his head and wasn’t executed, his situation never changed. Verse 20 begins with “So he got up and went to his father…” His action changed his fate; otherwise, he might have died in that foreign land. Many people, institutions, families, and businesses are suffering due to inaction. Inaction fosters negativity in our lives; laziness and choosing not to act sow thorns in our beautiful gardens. A lazy person’s attitudes and choices reveal their laziness. For instance, in Matthew 25:26, the servant’s attitude toward his master’s property exposed his laziness, even though he didn’t explicitly admit it. Our choices speak volumes about us, with laziness being the epitome of inactivity. Deciding to do nothing when action is required is the portrait of laziness, which ultimately leads to poverty and stagnation. Your inaction is planting seeds in your life, unfortunately, seeds that will grow into monumental embarrassment and label you as someone who chose to do nothing. Decide today that you will take action and effect change in every aspect of your life. Get up and take action.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for the grace to do all that I must do. Help me to take action now, in the direction of progress. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: Laziness is the portrait of one’s inactive choices.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God