The Power of Light

Then God said let there be light and there was light. And God saw the light that it was good, and God divided the light from the darkness.” (Genesis 1:3-4)

The first statement God uttered in the Bible was let there be light. The first thing He created was light. The Hebrew word translated in this context shows light as illumination, something that clarifies, brightens and brings happiness. The Bible says God saw that the light was good. Darkness is the opposite of light. Darkness depicts evil, something not good, chaos, confusion, ignorance, etc. Below are some of the qualities of light:

Light shines: The believer in Christ is commanded to arise and shine because he has light (Isaiah 60:1). The Bible says the gospel of Jesus Christ is the light of the glory of God. It is this light that believers in Christ receive when they give their hearts to Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). The gospel makes its recipients to shine in this dark world, because it is the light of God’s glory. Light reigns because it shines and overcomes darkness. However, the extent of the shining and reigning of the believer is determined by the amount of light (revelation knowledge) he or she possesses and walks in. True believers radiate the glory and brilliance of God in this dark world.

Light heals: It is reportedly known that a good number of babies are born jaundiced. Jaundice is a liver disorder that causes the white part of the eyes and skin to turn yellow. Though potentially dangerous, it has an easy cure. The baby is put under a special light. The skin absorbs this light and stimulates the liver to start functioning well. Human beings are morally and spiritually sick because of sin. The truth of the scriptures is the light that heals us of spiritual sickness.

Light dispels darkness: Satan is called the prince of darkness. His agents and demonic spirits are called the rulers of the darkness of this world (Ephesians 6:12). His kingdom is called the Kingdom of Darkness. He majorly rules his dark kingdom with fear, ignorance, hatred and deception. The Bible says light shines in darkness and the darkness cannot understand nor overpower nor extinguish it. Light wins over darkness without a fight.  Faith in God, the love of God and the truth of the scriptures are embodiments of the light of God. These qualities when possessed by the believer make him or her to overcome the darkness of this world.

Light rules: The Bible says God created two great lights on the fourth day of creation. The greater light He created was to rule over the day, and the lesser light to rule over the night (Genesis 1:16-19). To rule is to exercise authority or dominion over something. The believer in Christ rules over sin, sickness and death because of the understanding which the light of God’s word provides him or her. What one understands he gains mastery over. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life” (John 8:12). Our understanding of redemption, forgiveness, sanctification and justification gives us mastery over the deception of darkness.

Light quickens: It enlivens and produces life. For most living organisms, life ebbs or ceases to be when light is no more. Plants live by photosynthesis. They convert sunlight energy into food and produce oxygen for mankind. Life and light are mysteriously inseparably linked. Jesus said those who follow Him will have the light that produces and leads to life. Life means being present with God both in this world and in eternity. Darkness is the absence of God.

CONCLUSION: Light organizes and creates order (Genesis 1:2-5), light exposes (Ephesians 5:13) and shields (Romans 13:12). We are enjoined, as children of light, to walk in the light and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them (Ephesians 5:8-11). Receive grace to become an embodiment of light of God in Jesus’ name.

The Overcoming Christian

“He who overcomes I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name” (Revelation 3:12).

To overcome means to gain victory over a challenge or opposition. The Christian is no stranger to opposition while he or she lives here on earth. The overcoming Christian is the one who appropriates the grace of God and walks in the victory Christ has purchased for His elect (Galatians 5:1). The person whose faith does not fail and endures to the end is the overcomer (Hebrews 10:38-39). The overcoming Christian is the one who uses his faith to obtain divine promises and possess divine inheritances (Hebrews 11:33-36). He is one who regularly looks at temptation or sin in the eye and looks the other way without yielding (James 1:12).

Being overcomers is what God has ordained for His children. That is when we truly operate in the liberty given to us in the covenant of grace and do not live in bondage to debt, sin, people, worry and anxiety, etc.  God’s plan is for His children not to experience depressing defeat, but to experience exhilarating victory that comes through overcoming. There are three major obstacles the Christian has to overcome in order to live the overcoming life:

The World System: The Bible tells us that Satan is the ruler of this world (John 14:30). He is largely in control of the systems, the culture, the government, the modus operandi of this fallen world. This is, off course, for a time and season after which Jesus will replace the world with the New Earth with all the perfection, glory and righteousness of the Kingdom of Heaven (Revelation 21). Until then, the Christian will have to swim against the tide of sinful enticement, injustice and evil of this world. The challenge of the Christian is trying to impose God’s righteous will in a world that does not know God and is hostile towards Him. However, Jesus is the Chief Overcomer; we follow His example and receive the power to overcome from Him (John 1:12). The Bible says, “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory by faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God” (1 John 5:4-5, NLT). We overcome the world system by appropriating the victory Christ has won for us.

The Flesh: This is the fallen human nature that is opposed to God. Jesus on the cross of Calvary abolished the reign of the human nature when He was nailed to the cross. Mankind was in union with Christ when He hung on the tree (Romans 6:4-6). By virtue of that unity, anyone who believes in His substitutionary work becomes a partaker of His divine nature which is given to believers by the Holy Spirit. Though the flesh’s power is abolished, the Christian still has to rely on the grace of God to overcome the works of the flesh. We overcome the cravings of the flesh by walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). We also overcome the temptations of the flesh by deliberately doing the things that are contrary to the wishes of the flesh. We please God when we walk in the Spirit. We overcome and attain spiritual maturity when we choose to please God over and above the cravings of the flesh.

The Devil: The devil and his cohorts have every genuine Christian on their hit list. We wrestle against evil spiritual forces. The Bible makes us to realize that God has an armor set for Christians by which we are to stand against the enemy all the time. But as typical of God, He has given us free will, leaving us the responsibility to deliberately wear His armor. Salvation, righteousness, faith, truth, preaching the gospel, the Word of God, praying in the Spirit are all part of God’s armor which the Scripture enjoins us to wear all the time (Ephesians 6:12-18). We are not to overrate the enemy by paying undue attention to his cunningness and activities. Rather, we are supposed to submit to God, resist the enemy by exercising our God-given authority against him, and he will flee from us (James 4:7).

CONCLUSION: Those who overcome are made permanent pillars in the kingdom of God (Revelation 3:12), are given authority over more territories (Revelation 2:26), are clothed in white garments (Revelation 3:5), will sit with Jesus on His throne (Revelation 3:21), will be forever branded with Jesus (Revelation 3:12). Be counted among the overcomers today. Have a blessed month!

Arise and Shine

“Arise (from spiritual depression to a new life), shine (be radiant with the glory and brilliance of the Lord); for your light has come, and the glory and brilliance of the Lord has risen upon you” (Isaiah 60:1, AMP).

The scripture above-cited admonishes us to arise and shine. God has ordained His children on earth to be light and shine forth His glory and beauty. Before we can shine forth, we have to arise! Below are some of the things we have to do in order to shine forth in 2018:

Arise from besetting sins: Besetting sins are petty sins that we are susceptible to, enjoy and find difficult to jettison and give up. The Christian journey is like a marathon race, and no marathon runner goes into the race all dressed up. They all appear in light clothing of singlets and shorts in order not to be bogged down, weighed down and slowed down. Besetting sins are weights that slow down the Christian and has the potential to terminate the race for the Christian before getting to the finished line. The Bible admonishes us to set aside besetting sins and run the race before us with endurance (Hebrews 12:1).

Arise from mediocrity: One of the synonyms of mediocrity is average. Average may be defined as the best of the worst and the worst of the best. An average person doesn’t have extraordinary results, and this may be due to failure to exert himself or herself. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 9:10, “'Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.” We are to give 2018 our best shot ever, and with God’s blessings our results shall be extraordinary.

Arise from procrastination: Procrastination is truly the thief of time. It is true many people will miss heaven because they keep on postponing the time of salvation to a future time. Procrastination can have very disastrous consequences. This is why the songwriter Andrae Crouch sang, “count the years as months, count the months as weeks, count the weeks as days.” By so doing, we maximize time and opportunities. Successful people are acutely aware of the brevity of life and they maximize every moment. The Bible says we should overcome the evil in the day by redeeming the time and stop acting thoughtlessly (Ephesians 5:16-17).

Arise from shame: Mephibosheth, the grandson of King Saul, lost his father Jonathan and grandfather on the same day. He fell as a five-year-old and became lame in his feet the same day his forebears died. He later was abandoned in a desolate place called Lo Debar. Kind David showed magnanimity and kindness to Mephibosheth by bringing him to live with him in the palace at Jerusalem. He lifted him from a disgraceful condition to a graceful one. And this depicts the grace and mercy of God. The grace of God is a lifter from deplorable conditions (Psalm 40:2-3). It is the kindness and benevolence of God that removes reproaches from our lives. In 2018, exercise faith for more grace.

Arise unto godliness: What will make a remarkable difference in 2018 is our consistent and daily walk with God. Christians who do well walk consistently with God. They daily meditate on scriptures, pray, and make investments in the spirit by obeying God. Enoch the patriarch was said to walk in close fellowship with God and then one day he disappeared because God took him (Genesis 5:23-24, NLT). People who walk closely with God are a blessing to their world. A godly person is one who has a dynamic relationship with God that is unaffected by worldly pleasures and fleshly appetites (Galatians 5:24).

CONCLUSION: 2018 is a year loaded with divine opportunities. Arise and make it a glorious year by the grace of God. Have a blessed year!

Be Of Good Cheer

“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”(John 16:33, NKJV).

The above-cited scriptural quote from Jesus is very instructive. As Christians, we are supposed to abide consistently in Christ, so that we would have His peace which exceeds human understanding. In the world, there are many troubles; but our triumph over them is certain, if we abide in Christ.

Below are some principles we should live by in order to be of good CHEER:

Count your blessings: The human nature is much more inclined to lament over issue than to testify and recount God’s goodness. Many are quick to call up friends and family members and complain when a misfortune happens; but they rarely call up the same people to testify of God’s goodness. Many crave for pity and sympathy from others; hence, the propensity to lament. And many refuse to testify of His goodness because they feel God hasn’t done enough. They fail to realize that testimonies beget testimonies because they fuel faith in both the sharer and the hearer. Lamentation, on the other hand, begets more lamentations because it fuels unbelief. David said we should recount all His benefits, whether we deem them inconsequential or not (Psalm 103:1-5).

Hold onto your dreams: It is true that hope deferred discourages the heart (Proverbs 13:12). There is no better option to holding on to one’s aspirations, hopes and dreams even when they delay in coming through. The prophet Habakkuk wrote: “this vision is for a future time, it describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed” (Habakkuk 2:3, NLT). The patriarch Joseph was able to maintain a good attitude and was cheerful in his thirteen years long ordeal, because he held onto his dreams. If God said it, it will surely come to pass.

Engage faith in the Word of God: To engage something, in this sense, means to activate and deploy it for one’s benefit. To be cheerful in this world, we must give premium to the inspired and infallible word of God. We should stop allowing what our senses perceive determine what our hearts believe. Faith in God is of the heart. The basis for our faith is the Word of God. The Apostle Paul, under divine inspiration, wrote: “So we don’t look at the troubles that we can see now, rather we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever” (2 Corinthians 4:16, NLT). We can be cheerful amidst difficult times when we develop eyes of faith which envision and practically keep in view the Word of God.

Encounter fresh grace: There is grace for every new season of life. Yesterday’s grace may not be sufficient for today’s challenges. The Israelites were instructed to pick the manna only for one day, except the day before the Sabbath, when they were allowed to take enough for two days, since the Sabbath ordinance forbade them to work on that day. Those who disobeyed and picked for two days (except for the Sabbath) had their manna turned stale and spoilt the following day. God was emphasizing to them - and by extension, to us – that daily walk and communion with Him ought to be our lifestyle. There is grace for every day, every new assignment, every new year, every challenge, etc. To be cheerful, it is mandatory to lean entirely on God and His grace. By strength shall no one prevail (1 Samuel 2:9).

Respond to divine ability: The word responsible is from two words, viz. response and ability. Spiritual maturity occurs as we respond to the divine ability within us. In other words, we yield to the Holy Spirit and not the dictates of the flesh (Galatians 5:16-17). An irresponsible person is the one who responds wrongly to God, life opportunities, his talents and abilities, etc and then, in turn, blames others for his mediocre life. We can be cheerful in this evil world when we respond correctly to God, His Word, divine abilities, etc. The Holy Spirit enhances our ability to respond correctly to life.

CONCLUSION: As 2017 comes to an end, the word of Jesus, though spoken many centuries ago, is still relevant. Jesus is our Overcomer! Strong and unwavering faith in Him makes us overcome in this evil world (1 John 5:4-5). Be of good cheer!

The Blessings Of Giving

“……And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

Below are some benefits of giving:

Giving delights God: Because of generous givers who give to the less privileged, many praise and thanksgiving go to God (2 Corinthians 9:11-12). God is glorified in our giving. Generous givers reflect the nature and character of God, and this is partly why God loves cheerful givers (2 Corinthians 9:7). Giving also delights Him because giving blesses His mankind, solving human problems such as hunger, homelessness, nakedness, eradication of diseases, etc.  “And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.” (Hebrews 13:16, NLT). Giving to His work also advances His Kingdom.

Giving destroys the power of greed: The human nature is inherently selfish and greedy. Generous and regular giving is painful to the flesh and breaks the selfish streak of the human nature. It makes us die to the flesh, and makes us more God like. Giving in God’s economy is counted as righteous work and good works that delivers divine promises in this world and the world to come (2 Corinthians 9:9, 1 Timothy 6:17-19).

Giving trusts in God’s provision: Many people don’t give often and regularly because of fear that they will run out of resources and supply. But great givers trust in divine provision. They believe Luke 6:38 that says “Give and it shall be given to you”. It takes faith and courage in God to believe the divine principle that he who scatters shall yet increase and the generous man shall be prosperous and enriched (Proverbs 11:24-25).  This divine principle does not make sense to the natural and rational mind. Faith in God for divine provision pleases Him.

Giving brings satisfaction and health: The Bible in talking about the generous man says those who refresh others will in turn be refreshed (Proverbs 11:25). There is great fulfillment in being a blessing to others and helping to relieve their challenges. Covetousness and greed on the other hand can bring a curse (Proverbs 11:24b,26). John D. Rockefeller at 53 years old was the world’s richest man. At this age, he developed a strange and unyielding sickness, and he was given less than a year to live by doctors. This condition changed him and he began to give tons and tons of money to churches, schools, hospitals, etc. Miraculously he became healed of this terrible ailment and lived for another 40 plus years eventually dying at 97 years old. When we touch God’s mankind with our generosity, we also touch heaven.

Giving provokes divine intervention: Giving is a gracious act that qualifies the giver for divine intervention. The story was told of Dorcas in Acts 9: 36-43 who was a generous giver who was fond of making clothes and giving to widows. This woman suddenly died, and somehow because of her good deeds her church in Joppa refused to accept the verdict. They sent for Apostle Peter who was in a neighboring city to come and pray for her. And the apostle eventually raised her from death. Examples abound in the Bible of giving provoking divine intervention! Reference: Malachi 3:10-12

CONCLUSION: God does not judge us based on what we give but on what we could have given (Mark 12:41-44). Receive grace to be more generous and to have faith for divine provision. The blessings of giving is ours in Jesus name.  Have a blessed month in Jesus name.

Activating Supernatural Joy

For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:17, NKJV)

Supernatural joy is a deep-seated, positive, pleasurable emotion in the soul that is produced by the Holy Spirit. The atmosphere in heaven is joyful; having supernatural joy is having a foretaste of heaven on earth.  On the other hand, the atmosphere in hell is sorrowful, and being sorrowful makes people attractive to Satan and his cohorts. Below are further insights about supernatural joy:

Supernatural joy is produced by the Holy Spirit: Irrespective of one’s circumstances, one can have joy. The book of Philippians, which speaks so much about supernatural joy, was written while Apostle Paul, its author, was in jail in Rome. The same Apostle praised God with Silas in a Philippian jail after been severely beaten and mortally wounded and bound up in chains (Acts 16:20-30). This joy is produced by the Holy Spirit and whenever the Spirit is in demonstration there will be great joy (Acts 8:5-8). Non-Christians cannot have this joy since they don’t have the Holy Spirit resident in them. They have happiness which is temporary and dependent on good occurrences in their lives.

Supernatural joy is access to our divine inheritances: Salvation in Christ is a total package with inherent blessings such as healing, deliverance from satanic influences and oppression, divine favor, divine guidance, peace, answered prayers, etc. And a key to access these benefits is supernatural joy. The Bible says with joy we draw waters out of the wells of salvation. The New Living Translation says that with joy we drink deeply from the fountain of salvation (Isaiah 12:3).

Supernatural joy torments the forces of darkness: A joyful Christian is like an inflated balloon; as you hit it, it bounces. The ability of the balloon to bounce comes from the air in it. The strength of the Christians to frustrate and torment the devil is the supernatural joy resident in them (Nehemiah 8:10). The truth is that the enemy has no weapon to quench the joy the Holy Spirit produces in the believer. Every time we are joyful, the enemy is sorrowful; when we are sorrowful, he is happy and attracted to us. Supernatural joy torments and frustrates the host of hell and keeps them away from the believer. We should stop allowing the enemy and life’s circumstances to deflate our joy and strength.

Supernatural joy is commanded: The Apostle Paul, writing in a Roman jail and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, commanded the church in Philippi (and also the church at large) to rejoice and rejoice again (Philippians 4:4). It was a command, and not a suggestion. Failure to comply with an instruction in Scripture is sin. Furthermore, we are also commanded to rejoice in hope and anticipation of what God will do in the future for us (Romans 12:12). We rejoice because Christ’s work, on our behalf, makes us victorious, overcomers and possessor of all things.

Supernatural joy brings harvest: The prophet Habakkuk said that though his crops might fail and  the desired harvest or anticipated good outcomes might be elusive, he will still rejoice in the Lord (Habakkuk 3:17-18). This prophet knew something many Christians nowadays don’t know, that is joy always precedes the harvest, and not joy coming after the harvest. The divine order is that the harvest always comes after rejoicing (Psalm 34:4). The natural order is that rejoicing comes after harvest and good outcomes. Begin to engage the divine order of rejoicing in faith now, and watch as things take a turn for the better in your life and circumstances.

CONCLUSION: To possess supernatural joy, one must be born again and be filled with the Holy Spirit, who produces the fruit of such joy in the believer. The Psalmist said I rejoice in your word like one who discovers a great treasure (Psalm 119:162, NLT). Have a joy-filled month in Jesus’ name.

 

Looking Unto Jesus

“They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles” (Psalm 34:5-6).

Hebrews 12:2 tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. The JB Phillips version of the Bible calls Jesus as the source and goal of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). We are to build upon this Rock called Jesus because He is the only anchor that holds in the storm. All other anchors, no matter how strong and secure they may look, will not hold during intense storms of life. As we focus on the written word of God, the Living Word (i.e. Jesus) will manifest in our lives.

Are you hopeless and dejected as a result of someone/somethings you lost?  In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, which has caused the destruction of about one hundred thousand homes  and loss of life in an unprecedented flood in South Eastern Texas, many lives and hopes have been shattered.  But it doesn’t matter how thick the darkness or how long the night may be, the sun will shine again and the dawn will also break.  Jesus called Himself the Bright and Morning Star (Revelation 22:16). As we look to Him, the hopelessness of this season will soon give way to a new dawn and new beginning, and the Bright and Morning Star will shine on us again.

Are you discouraged, depressed and disillusioned?  Discouragement is common to all. Literally, all the great men and women mentioned in the Bible were discouraged or depressed at some point in time. But what marked them out and made them obtain divine promises was their ability to shake off discouragement by fixing their gaze on God. David said, “Why am I discouraged?  Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God; I will praise Him again, My Savior and My God” (Psalm 43:5, NLT). This advice from David is priceless and timeless!

Are you struggling with harmful habits and destructive sins? If you sincerely desire to be delivered, look to Jesus who came with a ministry of no condemnation and reconciliation (John 8:10-11; John 3:17). Do not give in to the lies of the accuser that you are unworthy to approach God. The blood of Jesus is the basis of your merit to approaching God. Jesus came to heal the spiritually, physically, emotionally and financially infirmed. It is those who are sick who are in need of a physician.  Keep going to Him regardless of you; He is the Great Physician, and as you cooperate with Him by taking the medication of His word, the bonds and chains of addiction will be destroyed.

Are you being rejected and despised? The world is a wicked place with so much injustices and unfairness. You may have been rejected and despised by those who are meant to love and cater for you. Leah, the wife of patriarch Jacob, was despised by her husband, but her sister Rachel was the favored wife. But God fights for those who have been despised and rejected by men. The Bible says, “When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb but Rachel was barren” (Genesis 29:31). Jacob favored Rachel above Leah, but God favored Leah above Rachel. I will rather be despised by men and gain the favor of God than vice versa. Keep looking to Jesus and He will fight your cause and bring you justice.

Are you broke, suffering financial hardship and cannot make ends meet?  David said the righteous cannot be forsaken. Many times the righteous are so absorbed and concerned about their needs that they forget the sufficiency of God. They fuss and worry like Gentiles who do not know God. The birds of the field, Jesus said, don’t care about where the next supply will come from; all they know is that the supply will somehow come. It’s time to up our faith in the sufficiency of God. It’s time to focus more on the all-sufficient God than on our needs.

CONCLUSION: As you look to Him this new month, you will radiate His glory and will not be ashamed in Jesus’ name.

Reaping Your Harvest

"And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come” – Mark 4:29 (NLT).

The dictionary meaning of harvest is the act or process of gathering agricultural crops. It is reaping what one has sown. Generally, the harvest is the blessing that one has believed for, sown or worked towards. Too many times in church circles, much more focus is centered on sowing or planting seeds with little or no attention given to the concept of reaping. Every farmer will readily agree that harvest times are very serious times indeed; it is a time of hard work and diligence for the farmer just like the sowing season. The Bible says he who gathers in summer is wise, but the one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace (Proverbs 10:5, NLT). Below are some truths on how to REAP:

Reaping isn’t automatic: This is so because there are seed destroyers that can destroy the seed sown or reduce the yield of the harvest (Malachi 3:10-11). In Judges 6:1-10, the Bible narrates how the Midianites oppressed the Israelites. After Israel had sown, the Midianites would come and destroy their produce, and as a result Israel became very impoverished. Seed destroyers such as doubts, satanic attacks, ungratefulness, habitual sins, lack of prayers and positive confession, slothfulness etc, can hinder reaping or reduce the yield of the harvest. Scripture reference: Matthew 13:18-23

Engage your tongue appropriately: Our opening Bible text tells us that when the grain is ripe, the farmer gets his sickle for harvest. A sickle is an agricultural equipment for harvesting. Our tongue is our sickle for harvesting the seeds we have sown.  The Bible says a man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth. The power of death and life resides in the tongue (Proverbs 18:20-21). The power of attorney God gave to Adam at creation that made him call things forth and name things was restored to every believer in Christ. The Bible also says we should continually refresh God with the fruit of our lips by extolling and exalting Him all the time (Hebrews 13:15). As we use our tongue appropriately, our harvests will be delivered.

Align with God:  The prophet Haggai was sent to the people of Judah to tell them to consider their ways. This people had sown much but brought in little. They were dissatisfied and had little results to show (Haggai 1: 3-11). The simple reason was that they ignored God’s interest and pursued their own dreams and interests. God is the Lord of the harvest and Decider of all things. Proper alignment and agreement with Him guarantees bumper harvest. It is wisdom to pursue divine interests over and above our personal interests.

Plant good seeds continuously: The day a farmer stops sowing seeds or stop planning to plant is the day he ceases to be a farmer. The life of a farmer revolves around sowing and reaping.  As long as the earth remains seedtime and harvest shall not cease (Genesis 8:22). The Bible teaches that we should sow in the morning and evening, so that our good seeds will compensate for the seeds that go bad (Ecclesiastes 11:6). Also continuous sowing is instructed because God actually increases and multiplies the seed sown, causing a bumper harvest to occur (2 Corinthians 9:10).

CONCLUSION: I join my faith with yours in this new month to call in all our harvests already ripen in the field in Jesus’ name. Have a blessed month!