TO THE BIBLE: Genesis 28:16-17

“When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it. He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.””

LET’S TALK

You’ll Hear Him Clearly From Your Spirit – Jacob only realised he’d been in God’s presence after he had a dream in which he saw the angels of God ascending and descending heaven on a ladder. Then he said, “…Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it” (Genesis 28:16 NASB). This still happens today: The Lord can be in a place without those there knowing it. When we say, “The Lord is in this place,” in our meetings, some people who don’t know what we’re talking about start looking around for some smoke, fire or other “spectacular” sign of His presence.  No, He doesn’t always announce Himself that way!

Once, Elijah needed to hear from God, and the Bible says, “…behold…a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle…” (1 Kings 19:11-13 KJV).

Elijah apparently expected God to manifest Himself in the wind, earthquake, and fire, but He didn’t; instead, He showed up in a still small voice. That’s typical of how the Lord leads us today through His Word and the Holy Spirit; He guides us from within, in our spirits. Your spirit bears witness with the Word as He counsels and instructs you from within. Proverbs 20:27 says, “The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the innermost parts of his being”; that’s where the light of God is; that’s where He guides you from—not through the senses.

Go Deeper

Isaiah 30:21; Psalm 16:7

Speak

I’m sensitive to the leading and guidance of the Spirit always, because I’m yielded to the Word. I bless the Lord, for His wisdom and counsel in my spirit, and His light with which I live! Glory to His Name forever!

Daily Bible Reading

ONE YEAR

John 12:20-50, 2 Kings 18-19

TWO YEAR

Mark 13:1-11, Numbers 29

Act

Listen for His voice in your day-to-day activities, from your spirit today.

TO THE BIBLE: Matthew 11:28-30 CEV

“If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light.”

LET’S TALK

The Lord Jesus came to give you rest from your burdens and make your life easy and simple. He came to give you a life of peace, prosperity, and sweet serenity in the midst of a harsh and troubled world. He came to show you how to win each and every day. In John 16:33, He said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” He overcame the world, not just for Himself, but for you also. He did it and gave you the victory. He also gave you the authority in His Name, so you’ll be able to keep satan under your feet.

Don’t complicate your life by struggling and trying to make things work by your human efforts. Settle instead in the Word and rest in the Father’s love. Rely on the Holy Spirit to help you in your journey of success, for He is your ever-present Helper. You need not run frantically to people for help; there’s no point staying up late at night worrying about your challenges. Understand that God cares about you.

Remember, He told you to cast your cares upon Him, because He affectionately cares for you (1 Peter 5:7 AMP). As long as you hold on to the cares of this life, it would be difficult for you to enjoy God’s rest and live a fulfilled life. Therefore, choose today to enjoy the easy life in Christ, for that’s the life Jesus brought.

Go Deeper

Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Peter 5:7, 1 John 5:4-5

Pray

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for overcoming the world for me and bringing me into the life of rest, where I neither struggle nor fret. I’ve cast all my cares upon you; I’m riding on with you on the path of victory and success, above every complication and limitation in this world. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

ONE YEAR

John 9, 2 Kings 4-5

TWO YEAR

Mark 11:27-33, Numbers 23

Act

Say this: “I’ve overcome the world. I’m more than a conqueror. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.”

TO THE BIBLE: Philippians 4:13 CEV

“Christ gives me the strength to face anything.”

LET’S TALK

People often allow themselves to be held back by things they consider limitations in their lives. It reminds me of the story of Moses. Right after the Lord told him to go to Egypt and deliver the children of Israel, he said, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue” (Exodus 4:10). In other words, Moses said to God, “I’m handicapped when it comes to speaking. Please send someone else!”

The Lord had to remind Moses that He made the talking tongue (Exodus 4:11). Nonetheless, He recommended Aaron to be Moses’ spokesman. In the process of time, Moses became not only a great leader, but a great teacher too, speaking for and by himself. He got rid of his limitations!

Understand that as a Christian, the Limit-breaker, who is the Holy Spirit, dwells in you! He’s taken every limitation off your life! You can be as great, successful, prosperous and victorious as you choose to be! Perhaps you’ve always dreamed of becoming an engineer or a doctor, but your grades haven’t been up to par, and now you’re thinking you’ll never achieve that dream. It’s time to let go of that thought! Tell yourself, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! I’ll be the best of me in the Name of Jesus!” Keep speaking God’s Word of victory, and soon enough, you’ll see its manifestation in your life.

Go Deeper

Exodus 4:10-17; 2 Corinthians 3:5; 2 Corinthians 4:7, 18

Speak

Nothing stops me from achieving my goals and dreams because every limitation has been taken away in Christ. I’m successful and victorious in the Name of Jesus!

Daily Bible Reading

ONE YEAR

John 8:31-47, 1 Kings 22

TWO YEAR

Mark 11:1-11, Numbers 21

Act

Take some time to speak in other tongues today, before taking definite steps towards the actualisation of that dream of success in your heart.

TO THE BIBLE: Galatians 5:25

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

LET’S TALK

Now that you’re born again, you live in two worlds simultaneously: the natural world and the spiritual world. Some Christians have an understanding of the natural world and its principles of operation, but they’re yet to understand the spiritual world and its principles. Though you’re in this natural world, you’re not of this world; you were born into God’s realm when you were born again. You’ve got to be conscious of that realm and learn how to function in it. It’s a realm of glory, a realm beyond time and space. It’s the realm of the miraculous.

Referring to this spiritual realm, Jesus declared, “…I am from above…” (John 8:23). He minced no words about the fact that He lived in two worlds. In John 3:13, He said, “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.” At the time He made this statement, Jesus was talking to people while here on earth. So you would have expected Him to say, “…the Son of Man who was in heaven,” but He didn’t! Rather, He said, “…who is in heaven…,” because He lived in two worlds at the same time!

In the spiritual world, we live by the Word of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. We see with the eyes of the spirit. We live by heavenly principles; we dominate this physical world with the principles of our heavenly Kingdom. You’re in Christ now, and you ought to be conscious that there’s a life to be lived in this spirit realm. Let this become clear to you, and function accordingly! You’ll be amazed at the glory of God that’ll be manifested in your life as you walk in the Spirit.

Go Deeper

Romans 8:6; 1 John 4:17

Pray

Dear Father, I thank you for the unveiling of the mysteries of the Kingdom to my spirit. I live by the Word, and function by the power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

ONE YEAR

John 4:1-26, 1 Kings 1

TWO YEAR

Mark 8:34-9:1, Numbers 11

Act

Throughout the day, tell yourself that you’re from above and not from beneath.

TO THE BIBLE: John 16:13

“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”

LET’S TALK

Why are many dreams shattered, and great human potential squandered in the world today? Why does a prosperous home, with happy and vibrant family members, sometimes plunge into an abyss of poverty suddenly? How did the world ever become such a rendezvous of broken humanity? The answer isn’t farfetched. It’s all because of bad decisions. There’s social disorder, political turmoil and economic quandary in many countries simply because some people made unwise choices. And here’s the reason: They’re spiritually destitute!

When people are barren of the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives; when they aren’t led and guided by him, they can hardly make wise decisions. But if you’re born again and filled with the Holy Spirit, He helps you to locate the right information in any circumstance and inspires you to take the right decision.

As a young person, you’re in a significant phase of your life – a phase where you’d need to make a lot of critical decisions to determine the life you live tomorrow. So I encourage you to take advantage of the Holy Spirit’s presence in you. The Bible says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5). The Holy Spirit is your secret of success. If you’d let him lead you, he’d impart to you the wisdom to build a successful, prosperous and influential life.

Go Deeper

Isaiah 30:21; Psalm 109:105

Pray

Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for enlightening me today on the importance of following the footsteps of the Holy Spirit in my daily walk. As I yield myself to his instructions and guidance, your wisdom is released in me, and it causes me to make the right decision at every given time, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Act

Identify the important decisions you need to make at this period, and begin to pray about them.

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS YOUR ENABLER

TO THE BIBLE: Luke 24:49 CEV

“I will send you the one my Father has promised, but you must stay in the city until you are given power from heaven.”

LET’S TALK

What gives a traffic warden the boldness to stand at the middle of a busy road and direct moving vehicles? He halts some and urges others to move on, and they can’t but obey him. The reason he can do so is because he’s empowered by the authority of the state. He isn’t working according to his own power, but by the power vested in him by the government.

Similarly, you need God’s divine power to carry out His work on the earth. You can’t serve Him through your mere human ability. Even though you love God so much and have a strong desire to serve Him, you still need His divine enablement to do it right. And that’s what the Holy Spirit brings to you when you receive Him. He empowers you to fulfill God’s purpose for your life.

In 2 Timothy 1:6, Paul the apostle encouraged a young pastor named Timothy: “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” You’ve got divine ability in you; all you need do is stir it up. The Holy Spirit came to help you live an exceptional life. As you pray in tongues, the anointing of the Spirit is stirred up inside you. This is how to launch yourself into the great future He’s planned for you.

Go Deeper

2 Timothy 1:6-7; Acts 1:8

Pray

Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for empowering me with the supernatural ability to serve you rightly. I’m walking in the power of the Holy Spirit every day, impacting my world with your wisdom, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Act

Write down the idea you want to pursue in service to God. Next, ask God for His direction.

TO THE BIBLE: Romans 12:11 AMP

“Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord.”

LET’S TALK

As a Christian, God wants you to live a vibrant life every single day. He wants you to be effective and efficient in everything you do, always aglow with the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Today, I want to show you how to achieve just that.

When I was a teenager, I heard T. L. Osborne make a remarkable statement, which I’ve never forgotten. He said, “The first requirement for success is to look out for a human need and reach out to meet it.” This is the key to staying aglow! When you make it your aim, the fire of God won’t go out in your life, because the Holy Spirit will always inspire you and give you the ability to make it happen. He’d set you on course for a truly successful life and also guide you there.

Ask yourself today: “What more can I do to add value to someone else?” For when you’re constantly reaching out to meet people’s needs, you’d never cease to burn for the Lord. Your fire just never goes out. You’d experience an unending string of miracles, and your life would be a fountain of ever-increasing glory.

Go Deeper

2 Timothy 1:6; Galatians 4:18

Pray

Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for the inspiration of your precious Holy Spirit who lives in me. I’m aglow for you, O God, full of zeal for your works. My eyes are open to see people’s needs, and I’m empowered to always meet them, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Act

What more can you do to make a difference in someone’s life?