Today, we will continue from the storyline we started with yesterday; the story of Prophet Samuel, learning from his birth.
Despite one of his wives being barren, Elkanah never gave up on God. On a yearly basis, he would go up to offer sacrifices to God and seek His face.
3 Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. 4 On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. –1 Sam 1:3-5 [ESV]
The lesson here is that despite what you are going through, never give up on God. The promises of God are yes and amen.
2 Cor 1:20[NKJV] For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
Though it may take a while, keep your faith high.
What had God promised you? It will come to pass.
Don’t begin to throw tantrums at your parents, siblings, classmates, and everyone around you because what you are believing God for has not yet happened.
Maintain a positive attitude and you will see the salvation of the Lord your God.
God bless you.
Prayer: Oh Lord, help me to stay faithful to you. Amen
In the process of achieving your dreams, some things will happen. Bad things for sure. Things that will push you to want to leave and give up on achieving your dreams. But God doesn’t want you to give up on your dreams. He doesn’t want you to quit.
At a point during the learning period, the lessons will be hard, and you will want to give up, but don’t. That is the time you should keep moving and follow through with the instructions. You can rest for a while, but never give up. Sometimes, at the point of giving up is where your best lessons are. Don’t quit.
Look at the story of Jacob and his uncle, Laban, in the bible. Laban had cheated Jacob. Instead of giving Jacob, Rachel as his wife, Laban gave him Leah. After serving for seven years, he was offered the wrong bride. What did Jacob do? He didn’t complain, neither did he give up. He didn’t quit. He served for another seven years just so that he could have the woman he loved, Rachel.
People will do and/or say things that could discourage you, but don’t look at them or what they are saying or doing. Look at Jesus, the one who completes you. He gives you the strength to do all things. He strengthens you not to quit.
“I am worn out, O Lord; have pity on me! Give me strength; I am completely exhausted.” Psalms 6:2 GNB.
“I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.” Phil. 4:13 GNB.
Prayer:
Lord, give me the strength to continue on my journey towards fulfilling my destiny. Give me the strength not to quit. Help me to focus on you and not on anything or anyone. In Jesus’ mighty name I pray, Amen.
Action point:
Find bible verses like the ones above and use them anytime you encounter a discouraging person, situation, or remark. That is your shield.
There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men (Proverbs 30:11-14 KJV)
I am still a small boy. I will be forty-nine in October. I have several older friends, some in their fifties and some in their sixties, so you agree with me that I am still a very young man, plus I really look young.
As a pastor for some time, there are things I have heard that made my ears tingle. There are experiences people have gone through that seemed unbelievable. Some of them came through it and lived to tell the story. Some were not so strong enough; they were swept off their feet.
I will like to reminiscence and bring you some of those scenarios. The intent is not to mock, but to teach and for you to be cautioned. The devil has no new strategies; it is the same old, dump traps that he sets. Here we go. Names are fictional.
Case 1
Sandy was being asked out by George. She refused. Sandy was a church girl; George was a street guy. She just wanted friendship. She visited him one day so that he wouldn’t feel bad again because he was refused, because George kept acting up. Sandy was served Juice.
She suspected, and then she thought, ‘he couldn’t have poisoned her drink. She took the drink since it was freshly opened, but what she didn’t know was that you don’t need to open a juice before you add some drugs. A syringe and needle were used. After taking the drink, she wanted to leave, but she was delayed. That was the last she knew.
Fast forward to seven hours later. She woke up drowsily. The room smelt of Indian hemp and alcohol. She saw George and three other guys, eyes red and faces changed. She knew she was in trouble. They were going to rape her. The music blared out loud from the deck. Shouting was useless.
Her mistakes
1. She visited them in their territory. That was calling for trouble.
2. She trusted them. That was a great mistake.
3. She made friends with wrong set of people
Lessons
1. You don’t trust an unbeliever. Even a young believer whose mind is not renewed yet is capable of doing anything.
2. People can be sweet-talking and yet have bile within. Be alert, being naïve can be tragic.
Case 2
She just got admission into the university in her teenage years. She was from a Christian home. Her parents were deacons. She had friends who were not Christians. She had a self-esteem issue. She believed her breasts were too small, and that was why she was not beautiful. Her friends said it was because he had no boyfriends to help press them.
They promised to get her a boyfriend. They did. She started sleeping around.
Fast forward, three months. She was a pregnant eighteen-year-old. Her friends said she was stupid, what happened to all the pills? She said she could not murder a soul.
They laughed at her. Her parents were devastated. They said they could not abort for her as well. Back in school, her tummy was protruding. She could not live with the shame. Her friends eventually persuaded her that it was not too late to abort.
She obliged, damning the consequences. It was removed by a person who said he was a doctor. It was a twin pregnancy. One was removed; the other was left there. Complications arose. A few days later, she died!
Her mistakes
1. Wrong set of friends. You don’t surround yourself with enemies.
2. She drew strength for her esteem from a wrong source.
Lessons
1. Jeru trip whether it leads to pregnancy or not, is not the way to go.
2. You don’t take mentoring lessons from friends, they don’t know more than you do.
Case 3
Two friends driving on the road hit an old man’s car. The old man was furious, came down, because these two guys were in a brand new car. These guys came out of their car arrogantly with no apology.
They asked the man how much his car was worth. These further infuriated the man, who said he was not interested in their money but they should fix his car. One of the guys went into his boot and brought out a big bag full of money! The little crowd around was shocked.
Unknown to them, nemesis was going to catch up on them. They soon attracted more crowd of people because the man refused to take the money and kept asking them where they got so much money from.
Policemen were soon attracted; they simply arrested them and went to their house for a search. Right there where they lived were two girls on their knees with stuff on their heads…it was a ritual case! The girls have been turned into money-spinning demonic zombies, their lives snuffed out!
Lessons
1. Not everybody that wants to sleep with you and offer you money; really loves you. Some just want to ‘use’ you!
2. Don’t follow strangers home and don’t take strangers into your house because of some quick money.
3. Learn how to live by faith and trust God for your provision rather than live by deception and a life of iniquity. The consequences are right there.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY The Holy Spirit will guide me into all truth.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, open my eyes of understanding.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits. (1 Cor 15:33 NKJV)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Carefully pick your friends with open eyes.
BIBLE READING FOR THE DAY Psalms 105
Rev Dunamis Okunowo
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