Giving all diligence

 “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.” 2 Peter 1:5-7KJV

The phrase “giving all diligence” was translated as “make every effort” in some translations of the Bible. This is a call to action on our part to increase Christian character. Indicators of Christian growth are the fruits and gifts of the Spirit. A lot of Christians focus on gifts because of the glamour, but the fruit of the Spirit is what will make you, as an individual, minister to yourself. The gifts are for ministering to others, while the fruit ministers to you personally. In any case, spiritual matters demand physical effort if we want to be fruitful as Christians.

“For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ “2 Peter 1:8KJV

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:22-25 KJV

Be intentional about building your character as a Christian. You will have to deal with the flesh by crucifying it with its affections and lusts. You will have to submit yourself to God to do what He wants with your life. No law can be against you when you walk in the spirit and display the fruit of the Spirit. You will live above both the law of men and the law of God. This is the position that God has for us.

May you be evidence of God’s wisdom and power, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer for today: Oh God, do what You want with my life, in Jesus’ name.

Salvation: Lord Jesus, I believe in the forgiveness of sin and in the redemption from the power of darkness through your blood. I confess you as my Savior and Lord.  I invite you into my life to save my soul. Holy Spirit, come into my heart and make me what you want me to be. Thank you Lord for saving me in Jesus name.

Treat people well

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12KJV

The greatest physical resources any man can have are people, so treat people well. Always put yourself in other people's shoes, says the Lord. Treat people exactly the way you want others to treat you. If this law is fulfilled by men, we will be able to avoid the pain caused by men to others. Human beings can cause pain, yet they can also cause gain. Don’t cause people pain. Don’t backbite or slander people.  Don't rob others. Whatever you do to others is a seed; it comes back as a harvest in due time. Be good to attract good people.

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7

“And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.” Mark 2:3-4

Have a cordial relationship with men. Treat people well. Invest in your relationships with people. Make yourself irresistible to people by contributing to their lives at your level. Apart from the disciples, Jesus was supported by people (Luke 8:2–3), and He visited people (Luke 10:38). Four men broke through the roof to get their sick friend to Jesus (Mark 3:3–4). If the right people are committed to your life, you can never be on the floor. Where there are no people, the vision perishes. If you have good people around you, you can win in any situation.

May you be helped by men in Jesus’ name (2 Chronicles 26:15).

Prayer for today: Oh God, plant the right people around my life, in Jesus’ name.

Salvation: Lord Jesus, I believe in the forgiveness of sin and in the redemption from the power of darkness through your blood. I confess you as my Savior and Lord.  I invite you into my life to save my soul. Holy Spirit, come into my heart and make me what you want me to be. Thank you Lord for saving me in Jesus name. 

Engage the Holy Spirit

 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” John 14:16-17KJV

When Jesus told His disciples that he was leaving, sorrow filled their hearts. He provided leadership, direction, power, and provision for them. They thought there would be a great vacuum if he left them. Jesus told them that it was better for Him to leave so that a better companion in the Person of the Holy Spirit might come to them. Today we see the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer in Jesus Christ. We have access to the wisdom and power of God through the Holy Spirit. He is indeed a comforter. His presence is the greatest help a man can have.

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” John 16:13

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” John 16:7

Beloved, the Holy Spirit is more than a tongue; He is a person. If you engage Him in your life, you can never be alone. He is God. He can provide answers that your intellectual capability cannot handle. He is gentle but powerful. If you give Him room in your life, you can never be defeated. He wants to have fellowship with you.

May you be helped by the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name.

Prayer for today: Holy Spirit, comfort and help me, in Jesus’ name.

Salvation: Lord Jesus, I believe in the forgiveness of sin and in the redemption from the power of darkness through your blood. I confess you as my Savior and Lord.  I invite you into my life to save my soul. Holy Spirit, come into my heart and make me what you want me to be. Thank you Lord for saving me in Jesus name.

Never doubt God!

 “They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.” Psalms 125:1 KJV

You will be fearless and unshakable if you trust God and seek His face regularly. God hates to be doubted. He is pleased when His children trust Him and have faith in him. If you don’t doubt God, an answer to your prayers is guaranteed. Your situation is subject to change. Your case has a solution. It is not too late for you to experience God and His power. It is not over for you. Your future is glorious. Your vision is possible. That is God’s message for all believers. Never doubt God. If you must doubt, doubt your doubt. Fight unbelief and walk in your victory. You are born of God; stop doubting and start believing.

 “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.” Matthew 7:24-25

“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:6-8

Stop listening to doubters if you want to deal with your doubt and unbelief. Match your case with scriptural evidence of the power of God, and start believing God for your miracle. Start testifying to yourself based on your faith in God until you see the reality of your testimony. God does great things, and your own are included.

 God will do great things for you in Jesus’ name.

Prayer for today: I decree that I am unshakable in all situations because I trust God and His promises, in Jesus’ name.

Salvation: Lord Jesus, I believe in the forgiveness of sin and in the redemption from the power of darkness through your blood. I confess you as my Savior and Lord.  I invite you into my life to save my soul. Holy Spirit, come into my heart and make me what you want me to be. Thank you Lord for saving me in Jesus name.

Be Tough on yourself!

 “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:10KJV

Set tough but reasonable goals for yourself and go for them. Do all that it takes to make your life count and to impact your generation. God has given you grace; do not waste it. Grace is for working; it is not for committing sin and living a frivolous and riotous life. One of our fathers in the faith said, don't take it easy, and I agreed with him. And he stated what the fathers did at a young age. They did not take it easy. Hardships don't only break; they make too, depending on your response.  Most of the successful men and women today came from difficult backgrounds.

“Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.” Acts 26:19-20

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” Colossians 3:23

Even Jesus did not take it easy; he was born in a manger, was in obscurity for 30 years, fasted 40 days and 40 nights, prayed 12 hours at a stretch often, and walked about doing good.  If you think anything will be handed to you on a platter of gold without paying the price, you must be joking.  You are a youth; we told you not to fornicate, you are saying it is the normal trend. You are a Pastor or church worker, but deliberately living is sin. You will eventually discover that satan is behind every unholy trend to trap human beings and perpetuate bondages in their lives.  Be ready to go extra miles in personal development and results delivery. As a believer, fast and pray regularly. You must be full of faith and the Holy Spirit if you want to excel as a Christian.

May your life be impactful in Jesus’ name.

Prayer for today: Oh God, let my life be full of faith and the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name.

Salvation: Lord Jesus, I believe in the forgiveness of sin and in the redemption from the power of darkness through your blood. I confess you as my Savior and Lord.  I invite you into my life to save my soul. Holy Spirit, come into my heart and make me what you want me to be. Thank you Lord for saving me in Jesus name.

Make sure you are anointed!

 “Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment” Ecclesiastes 9:8KJV

The anointing is your antidote to both spiritual and physical damage. The anointing is divine empowerment to handle matters of life. The anointing is God’s Spirit and power upon your life. The anointing is divine oil upon your head. Looking through all these definitions, you know you cannot afford not to be anointed. You must carry fresh oil on your head every day. However, if you desire fresh oil, let your garments be white as well; leave sin alone.

“Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.” Zechariah 3:3-4

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” Acts 10:38

Submit yourself for God to work on you. Let Him change your garment and put fresh oil upon you. Jesus did not do all that He did because He was the Son of God. He did the supernatural because He was the son of man anointed by God. If you make sure you are anointed, then you can do greater work than Jesus did (John 14:12).

May you be anointed in Jesus’ name.

Prayer for today: Oh God, anoint me with the Holy Ghost and Power, in Jesus’ name.

Salvation: Lord Jesus, I believe in the forgiveness of sin and in the redemption from the power of darkness through your blood. I confess you as my Savior and Lord.  I invite you into my life to save my soul. Holy Spirit, come into my heart and make me what you want me to be. Thank you Lord for saving me in Jesus name.

New and greater heights

 “The Lord our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount:” Deuteronomy 1:6KJV

Reach forth to new and greater heights in your life. You are more than this. Challenge your sense of comfort. Challenge the red sea and Jericho wall that want you to stay on the same spot. Challenge the storms roaring against your progress. More importantly, challenge yourself. The Israelites stayed for about forty years in Mount Horeb. It was as if they were tied down there and had become so comfortable that they were no longer willing to proceed to the promised land. Moses challenged them to leave Mount Horeb and go forward. Some people may not actually want to go forward because they are comfortable in their present situation. But God asked me to tell such people, you are not there yet; reach forth spiritually and physically.

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” Matthew 11:12

Do you remember this hymn? Lord, lift me up and let me stand. By faith on Canaan's tableland, A higher plane than I have found, Lord, plant my feet on higher ground. Ask God to lift you and put you in your promised land. Press in spiritually and physically into your higher ground.

 This is the time to take new territories in Jesus’ name.

Prayer for today: Oh God, take me into the higher ground, in Jesus’ name.

Salvation: Lord Jesus, I believe in the forgiveness of sin and in the redemption from the power of darkness through your blood. I confess you as my Savior and Lord.  I invite you into my life to save my soul. Holy Spirit, come into my heart and make me what you want me to be. Thank you Lord for saving me in Jesus name.