Learn how to know a good friend. Look at the following scenario and pick up lessons from it.
Ade didn’t say a word. He sat still and quiet while his friend cried. Tola, his best friend at school, just lost his dad and they were in his friend’s room right now.
Tola’s pillows were wet with his tears, the bed covers rough and halfway down on the floor.
His cries echoed throughout the room as he laid on the bed.
There was nothing Ade could do other than to sit and wait for his friend to talk when he felt like it.
Though deeply saddened to see his friend like this, there was nothing he could do, but to pray that God would comfort Tola for the loss and of course, stay by his side.
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. – Proverbs18:24
When a friend is in a state like Tola is, the only thing to do is pray for them like Ade is doing and ensuring that you are by them. Don’t try to talk unless they ask you to or do so themselves.
Never expect them to hurry out of their grief or tell them to. They need the time to grieve and mourn their loss as much as they have to.
All they need is your silence and presence. They need your support.
That is what is it means to hold the hand of a friend. You let them know that you are available for them. Your care doesn’t have to be in words but in action most times.
Only God will comfort them for their loss as the bible tells us.
May the Lord make you a good friend at all times. Amen.
Prayer: Lord, make me a good friend that will be there for my friends when they are in their lowest moments. Help me to hold their hands all through in Jesus name, amen.
Action plan: When next you see a friend going through a tough time, pray for and support them.
Your eyes are a gift from God to behold this beautiful and wonderful world – the earth, He created.
But the enemy has somehow found a way of introducing sin and evil into the world.
Through people on earth, many unholy things have almost become a norm in the world today.
Though your eyes are to see but not everything you see is good for your eyes. The bible tells us that
“Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. – Matt. 6:22 NLT.
What you see affects your body. Witnessing a traumatic event affects your mind and body.
Also when you watch morally unfit videos it affects your body.
Watch out for videos or movies that show sexual content even if they have PG16 labels on them. Remember God is Holy and watching such videos or films is an unholy act.
Don’t be fooled by the words of your friends or people that watching it won’t affect you. It will.
The only safe way out of it is not to watch it and run away from friends, people, or situations that will want to make you do so.
It is better to obey God than to have the coolest friendships that will lead you to a lifetime of sexual depravity.
One way to know if what you are watching is bad is when you have to hide from others before you watch. That means you are not meant to watch it.
Remember, your eyes are a lamp for your body. They help to keep you from stumbling. Use them well just like you would use a lamp to see in the dark.
God bless and keep you safe in this dark world. Amen.
Prayer point: Lord, help me to keep my eyes safe from looking at things that I shouldn’t be looking at.
Action point: What have you been watching lately? If they are not in line with God’s, pray and ask God to help you overcome them. And tell your parents about it too.
Declaration: My eyes will not behold iniquity. I watch what I see.
One of the most amazing things about God is that he always has us covered, He is our ever-present help. In whatever situation or time, you can be sure God is watching and looking out for you and me.
Today, I will be talking to you about one of the many attributes of God.
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. – Psalms 46:1-3 (NIV)
Wow! What a word. What an assurance.
Let’s pick up the words one after the other and analyze them.
God is our refuge!
The dictionary defines the word refuge as a place or state of safety from danger or trouble.
We all know how troubled the world is at this time. News of wars fill our television screen and social media waves. There is no guaranteed place of safety as the bible rightly says the heart of man is desperately wicked.
But here, God is assuring us that despite all the bad news we keep hearing daily, despite the failed system of government, despite the inadequacies of man, he is our refuge.
Are you in trouble? Do you think or feel what you have done is so enormous, that you cannot come out of it? Then run to God and he will deliver you.
God’s desire for us his children is to live life to the fullest, and all of these are represented in the bible as proof of his promises and commitment toward us.
Are you a child of God? If yes, then believe in his word and be rest assured that “God’s got you!”
To be continued.
Prayer: Dear Father, help me to always trust in your word. Amen.
Action point: Dedicate time to meditate on God’s word
Declaration: God is my refuge and strength, my ever-present help in trouble.
We will be examining the importance of family today. Your family members are your closest neighbours. They all love you and show this in many ways. Do you also show them the same love they show you?
The second most important commandment says: ‘Love others as much as you love yourself.’ No other commandment is more important than these.” – Mk 12:31 CEV
Family members are the most unappreciated folks. We tend to overlook their feelings and needs because we feel they won’t mind at all.
This is one reason why you shouldn’t take your family members for granted. Appreciate everything they do for you or give to you.
Showing appreciation tells them that you love and care for them. No matter how small their help might be, show some level of appreciation.
Have you ever wondered how adults become the professionals they are today? How did they choose their career path? How did your mom and dad become what they’re today? How did that person you admire so much become who he/she is today?
Well, it’s all about deciding what they wanted to do at a very early age, much like you are right now.
It’s never too early to seek God’s face.
Psalms 63:1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
What do you want to become? An astronaut, software designer, boat builder, race car driver or a writer? It is all about what you like to do. What do you like to do?
Starting early to decide what you would like to become in future is important. You start to learn how to become it and go through every process involved.
The process will involve trainings, class lessons, exams and tests. You learn and then get tested before being certified as a professional.
Discover what you love to do and take all the necessary education you need. That’s how mommy and daddy did.
Be like Samuel in the bible who learned under the prophet Eli. Under the prophet’s supervision, Samuel grew into a great prophet that God used to speak to kings in Israel.
1 Samuel 3:1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
May God show you what your passion is in Jesus name. Amen.
Prayer: Lord, help me to discover what I like to do and become in future. In Jesus’ name. Amen
Action plan: Start to note what you like doing. From there, you can discover your talents.
