Last week, I shared a post on some practical steps we can take to understand and overcome the fears that imprison us. This week, I would like to talk briefly about Peter and how he did something nobody else has ever done - besides Jesus. Before Peter could walk on water, he did several things which are outlined below: 

Peter sought for the word from Jesus: There is always need for seeking God's face for direction and guidance.

Peter received the word: When you go to God for anything, he gives you a word, which you can act on. Peter didn't leave the boat until Jesus said "Come".

Peter stepped out in faith: You have to act on the word that you have received.

The wind came to test the word: Every word you receive will be tested.

Peter staggered at the fierceness of the wind: Your outcome is determined by your response in times of testing. Fear crept in and he began to sink until Jesus reached out and rescued him.

Fear breeds doubt.

For some us, we may try and come short initially but there is always room for improvement. For every Peter who dares to leave the boat (even though he ended up sinking), there are many others who never leave the boat...who never dare...who never try.

It's just like watching a soccer game, with millions of spectators both in the stadium and watching on televisions around the world. I am confident that a large number of those watching may have once dreamed of playing soccer at a professional level, yet only a few make it. At any given time, there are only 22 players on the field - playing to an audience of millions. 

Now is the time to have our own "Walking on Water' moments, just like Peter did. We may not succeed right of the gate. We may be wobbly and stagger at the fierceness of the wind...but we may also end up doing something nobody else has ever done. 

May God release the shackles of fear that hold us bound!

Thank you for reading. God bless you.

Osi Ukomadu

At the beginning of this study, which was presented during a worker's training, a question came: What is fear? 

There are different types of fear: Fear based on reality (e.g. encountering a shooter on a rampage) or fear based on our perception of reality (e.g. I just know I'll fail if I take up that new business idea). For many of us, the fear that cripples us mentally and emotionally is the one based on our perception of reality. I believe that God is speaking to someone about overcoming fear and stepping out in faith. Here, I present 7 important yet simple facts about fear. It is difficult, if not impossible to fight something that we do not understand. I hope that as we gain more understanding about fear, we will become empowered to overcome it.

• Fear is a learned behavior: if we can learn it, then we can un-learn it!
• It is our protective response to our perceived volatile environment
• Fear is a wall we build to protect ourselves but the wall locks us in
• Nothing of greatness can be achieved without removing the limitation of fear
• Decisions made out of fear will always produce undesired outcomes. For instance, what happened to Job who said: "For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me." 
• The prescription for fear is insight and total trust in the word of God.
• The word, which we have experienced and tested is our antidote to fear
  • The word is continuously revelational; the greater knowledge we unlock, the bolder we become.
  • We read through the scriptures some bold statements made by men who have been tested.
  • Some of us are working with less than 1% of this capability.

Next week, I will complete this series with a brief post on Peter's 'Walking on Water' moment and what we can learn from it. Until then, think about this: What would you do today if you were completely free from fear? 

Thank you for reading and see you next week!

Osi Ukomadu

The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.”

Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”

 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”

Exodus Chapter 17: 1 – 3 {King James Version}

In this verse, we see the Israelites as they journey through the wilderness, traveling and camping as God led them. They made camp at Rephidim, but there was no water there. Instead of praying for what they needed, they immediately turned on God and His spokesperson - Moses.

Would God have brought the Israelites so far to let them die of thirst in the desert? Would He have gone to all the trouble them out of Egypt if He meant to desert them, leaving their bodies littered in the wilderness? Let’s take a look at some of the things God did to bring the Israelites to this point:

• Sent increasingly devastating plagues to the Egyptians each time Pharaoh refused to free the children of Israel
• Visiting the Egyptians with a final plague that was so devastating, Egyptians practically ran the Israelites out of town.
• Sent an east wind that blew all night, opening the Red Sea so the Israelites could walk in between the towering watery walls.
• Destroying the Egyptians that followed after them
• Providing the Israelites with supernatural food in a dry land – quails and manna

Would God do all that, only to have them die of thirst? Their freedom was assured; their lives were safe; they were on their way to the Promised Land, yet they were ready to turn around and go back to Egypt because they had no water to drink.

The Israelites journey to deliverance is also mirrored in our journey to salvation. Consider all the things Jesus went through for us:

• Arraigned before Pontius Pilate on trumped up charges.
• Beaten viciously and strung up on a cross where he hung as people walked by, making fun of Him, some even spitting on Him.
• Stripped of His clothes, which the soldiers split among themselves
• Crucified between two thieves like a common criminal
• Humiliated by the soldiers and given vinegar to drink when He asked for water

What was the goal of all this suffering? He did it for us. For our salvation.

If God freely gave us His only Son, and allowed Him to suffer so much for our sake, will He hold anything back from those that ask? God knows what we need and He will supply all our needs. In His own time. In His own way.

Let’s stop judging God’s faithfulness by the things that are ‘missing’ from our lives.  Think about all He has done to get you where you are right now. Realize that there is a plan for your life. Understand that He will bring it to pass.

Keep pressing. Keep seeking. Keep knocking. The door WILL open! He won’t let you die of thirst.

Onyih Odunze

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It's the last day of the year, and it may be weird to share a post about Christmas, but that's all I got...(just kidding).

I actually wrote this post on the eve of Christmas eve and didn't have the opportunity to share it because I was on a hiatus...enjoying Christmas in Pennsylvania surrounded by my wonderful family. 

I hope you all had a fantastic holiday season and may the joy of His coming always remain with us.

Stay inspired...and have a very Happy New Year,

Onyih

xxx

Stars hung in the sky, their sparkling brightness lighting up the thick darkness that shrouded the little room. The humble building stood in the middle of a patch of dirt, providing shelter to the animals that called it home. Inside, the oil-fueled lamps sent shadows skittering through the room – swaths of light mingling with darkness. Nestled in soft swaddling clothes, the baby snuggled at his mother’s bosom, content while his parents gazed at him in wonder. His coming had been foretold – not just by the prophets but by the heavenly visitors who had appeared to his mother and his father. But in that moment – the little family was caught up, not in the prophecy of things to come, but in the birth of their son; Jesus, Emmanuel.

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. {Isaiah 9:6}

Every year during Christmas, we celebrate the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. He was born on a night like any other, on a night unlike any other. His birth was foretold by the prophets and announced by angels. Yet, for all that, many slept – unaware that divinity had come down to earth, cloaked in human form. During this season, it is easy…so easy to get caught up in the gifts-buying, food-drenched Christmas parties or family gatherings. Sometimes we forget that humble birth – we forget that He didn’t come just to give us things – grace, mercy, salvation, or even physical things – He also demands something of us.

In the same breath, Isaiah announced His birth and His responsibility…our responsibility - “And the government will be upon His shoulder.” We are the Body of Christ. We are the shoulder of Christ.

As we celebrate His birth and the coming of a new year, may we go forward with renewed focus – committed to our part as we remember the day that changed the world.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

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The sweet smell of incense filled the space as Zacharias carried out his duties. Seeing the people gathered and praying lifted his spirits and he rejoiced in the God of Israel, so near to His people. Words of a familiar, long-denied prayer pounded a cadence in his brain, “that I may have a child, Lord…bless my wife…honor us…remove the shame from our faces...”

So lost in thought was he that at first he didn’t see the stranger who stood by the right side of the altar of incense. But, then he looked up. And his heart jerked in a strange beat, pounding and pulsing as though it sought to jump out of his body. The strange visitor glowed in an other-worldly sort of way, his visage lit by something unseen. Fear caused Zacharias to tremble, the tools of his priestly duties slipping out of nerveless hands.

Then the stranger spoke.

“Fear not, Zacharias. For thy prayer is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.”

***

“Ye yourselves bear me witness that I said; I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.

He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30 {King James Version}

John the Baptist was a child of promise, born to an old couple who had prayed for many years to have a child. Shortly before he was conceived, an angel of the Lord appeared to John’s father and told him about John – he would be filled with the Holy Ghost from the moment of his birth and would turn many Israelites back to God. His purpose was to prepare the way for the Messiah. So, even before he was born, it was clear that this child would be special.

As he began his ministry, though he seemed eccentric {he ate wild locusts and honey} John gained popularity and many people came to him to be baptized. It would have been easy to get swept up in the spiritual fervor that accompanied his presence – people were hungry for what he brought and flocked to him.

He could have decided to build a tent there, and start his own church.

He could have formed a traveling ministry and taken his baptismal skills elsewhere.

But, he did none of those things. Because he knew who he was. He knew what his purpose was.

When Jesus began His ministry, some of John’s disciples were concerned, and they went to John, essentially saying, “Look, Rabbi. There’s this guy…this Jesus guy. Remember him? You even baptized him! But, now he’s baptizing others…stealing your thunder! What are you going to do about it?”

John simply said to them, “I must decrease and He must increase.”

A commentary I read on this scripture talked about John’s contentment to play a lesser role to Christ. Yes, he had contentment, but it was a contentment that was born out of discernment. He knew his purpose was to prepare the way, and he didn’t try to stretch it out into something else.

How many ministers today would gladly give up a position of privilege and the adulation of men, in order to make way for someone else? How many of us would step away from something we’re good at – maybe, even great – and surrender the spotlight to someone else?

John the Baptist was content to be who he was. He didn’t look at his dwindling ministry and think, “We have to come up with some church growth strategies – find a way to keep people in the pews.” No. He looked at the fewer numbers, as people flocked to Jesus and said, “This is as it should be.”

The search for our purpose – our destiny – is a noble one. It forces us to draw close to God as we seek His face and ask why He sent us here. It helps us to look inward in self-reflection as we seek to understand why He gave us this talent, or that ability.

But, as we search, I pray that God will grant us the discernment to know, not just the what, but the when, and where. That He will give us the wisdom to know when to apply our gifts and when to take a step back.

Because it would be a tragedy if we attempt to stretch something out, long after God’s blessing has departed from it.

Selah.

Onyih Odunze

PS: My novella, 'Finding Grace' is now available on Amazon as a Kindle ebook and on Lulu.com as an ePub which can be read on any computer or device!

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Matthew 7:21 - 23

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’

 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

I looked at the TV screen and huffed in disgust. I was casually watching Game 6 of the NBA Finals and the team I was rooting for was already down 3-2, and trailing by about 8 points in what looked like the final game of the series. Disappointed, I gave up and went to the room to lick my wounds. Imagine my surprise when my husband walked in and informed me that the game was tied with only a few seconds left to play.

“What?!” I excitedly switched on the TV and watched the fantastic and almost unreal re-play of Ray Allen’s game-tying 3-pointer. The way he quickly scrambled to the 3-point line, jumped and let it fly…it seemed like one seamless movement and it was amazing to watch.

I sighed ecstatically. Yes, we’re back in this, I thought. The Miami Heat won the game and tied the series at 3-3. That fleeting, oft-swinging phenomenon, ‘momentum’ seemed to squarely be on their side, but it was still a toss-up. The Spurs were a great team and seemed able to beat Miami quite handily. Then again, the Heat were notoriously slow starters but could turn it up when needed, especially in their own building. Who would win? I couldn’t guess…it was anybody’s game and I would have to wait until Game 7 to find out.

Thankfully, God’s word is not subject to wild momentum swings, nor is it decided in the dying seconds of a competitive match-up. In Matthew 7: 21-23, Jesus spoke clearly about the difference between character and service: no contest – character trumps service every time. This is not to say that service is bad or wrong. God created us for good works and expects us to walk in them (Ephesians 2:9-11). However, we have a problem if we are not equally focused on building a godly character and bearing godly fruit.

In verse 21, Jesus said “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter but ONLY the one who does the will of my Father...” Isn’t it scary to think that the power to work miracles and cast out demons is not a stamp of God’s approval? Isn’t it sobering to know that we can be so anointed that demons quake at the mere sound of our footsteps…that we are so connected to heaven that we prophesy in His name, yet be denied entry by Jesus Himself?

Jesus said only those who do the Father’s will have entry to the Kingdom…what is His will? What one thing does He require above all?

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13: 1-3

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 

If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

God is Love and if we are to please Him, we must be like Him; we should look like our Father – and Love is the ticket. Love is the will of God {1 John 4: 7 – 8}. Not some mushy, emotional feeling that swings up and down based on our moods or circumstances, but a conscious decision to treat others with patience and kindness; to make excuses for them and extend a hand of forgiveness when we are wronged; to see them the way God sees them, realizing that the same Blood was shed for all of us.

It’s a struggle….God knows it is. But, every day must be another step in the consciousness of love – when we fail, we re-evaluate ourselves and see how we can do better. We may not attain perfection while on this side of time and space, but we can make a little progress every day and be better at the end than we were at the beginning.

Finally, when the time comes for us to face Him, may we not hear these words "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!"

Thank you for reading. Stay inspired…

Onyih Odunze

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“Yes, my lord.” The servant bowed low and walked quickly towards the sounds of fighting coming from the herders.

Exasperated, the uncle sighed. He had thought it was a good idea to take his young nephew along with him on his ‘destiny-journey.’ His nephew was a good, steady man with a wife and a growing family and needed a fresh start. A fresh start, indeed. The man shook his head. What started out as a fresh start had devolved into daily fights and arguments between the men that worked the fields, who watched the flocks day and night. Fights over land, pasture rights, water. The strife had not yet affected the man’s relationship with his nephew, but it was only a matter of time. As he waited for his servant to return, his mind flashed back to the instructions he had received…

Now, God said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you”. Genesis 12: 1 {New Revised Standard Version}

God told Abram (before he became Abraham) to leave his country AND his kindred and relocate to a place where God would show him. In other words, “Leave your home and your family behind.”

So, Abram went as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Genesis 12:4

 And Lot went with him? Those were not the instructions God gave Abram. He did what God asked him - left his home and most of his kindred behind, but then he added on to it; he took Lot.

Initially things seemed to work out; the two men both grew so rich that there wasn’t enough space to hold their flocks. However, their mutual prosperity had a fallout as the herdsmen quarreled amongst themselves all the time.

After a while, Abram made a decision that it would serve them both better if they went their separate ways. Lot chose to go east towards Sodom and Abram went west. A short while later, several Kings declared war on Sodom and captured Lot as a prisoner of war. Abram, Lot's uncle rode out with his men, routed the enemy and delivered his nephew. Eventually, however, Lot lost his wife, home and all his possessions when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.

Would Lot have lost everything if his uncle hadn't taken him along?​ Maybe. Maybe not...probably not. Life is full of twist and turns, and some decisions that look like no-brainers in the beginning end up costing us more than we ever expected.

Sometimes, we linger when God has said 'Move!' Sometimes, we pack up and leave when He's saying 'Wait. Just a little longer. I'm working out something.' Hearing from God is imperative if we are to navigate life successfully. Doing what He says is just as important - maybe more.

God gives us instructions for a reason, and it’s important for us to carry out His instructions to the letter. When we don’t, we create consequences either for ourselves or for those around us.

Onyih Odunze

1 Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers;

2 but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night.

3 They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.

Psalm 1:3 is an extremely popular scripture – it’s filled with wonderful promises of what we can be if only we can live by the tenets in verse 1. Verse 1 shows a steadily increasing involvement with unrighteous behavior; it starts with taking advice, and progresses to taking ‘the path that sinners tread’. Finally, there is enough ease and comfort to sit in the seat of those who scorn God and scoff at His laws. Sin is a slippery slope…it’s easy to slide down once the first compromise is made.

Still, we look at verse 3 and hope is kindled. If we can only live verse 1, then verse 3 will surely follow. And who wouldn’t want to experience the realities of being firmly planted by God, yielding fruit in and out of season? Here are some of the things David talks about in verse 3:

• Trees: Trees come from seeds and are useful for several purposes; they provide shade, help regulate atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide, and they also bear fruit. In other words, we will become useful to God.
• Planted: Planting is more than tossing seeds on the ground - when you plant something, you don’t just toss it on the ground, you dig into the soil, place the seed and cover it. Planting speaks about stability and protection.
• Rivers of water: Several scriptures describe God’s word as water. Water speaks of nourishment, hydration. God’s word will nourish our souls and prevent dryness.
• Bearing Fruit: Fruit is the result of work or activity. In Matthew 3:8, Jesus talked about ‘bearing fruit worthy of repentance’. Every good tree bears good fruit (Matthew 7: 17-20).
• Leaves will not wither: We will not lack productivity in or out if season. We all have seasons in our lives, which God has control over (Acts 1:7). During our fruit bearing season, we should produce good fruit. Out of season, we should remain nourished and ready for the next fruit-bearing season.

The admonition in verse 1 is clear, and the promises in verse 3 are wonderful, but what about verse 2? What about the little line sandwiched between the two? It’s not enough to reject ungodly counsel, we must fill that space with something else. The promises of the third verse are an end result of both verse 1 and 2, not one or the other.

But their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law they meditate day and night.

Our responsibility here is to do what David talks about in verse 2: delight ourselves in God's law and meditate on it day and night. Day and night...night and day until it is woven into our very being. When we do that, then the promises of verse 3 will surely be ours because God is bound by His word.

May He help us as we strive towards His ideals for us…as we turn away (from unrighteousness) and turn towards Him.

Onyih Odunze

People tried to put their own expectations on Jesus. In Mark 2:18, some people took him to task because His disciples were not fasting. John's disciples were fasting...the disciples of the Pharisees were fasting. You, Jesus, you claim to be a prophet. Well, why aren't Your disciples fasting?!​ Then again in verse 23-24, the Pharisees chided him because the disciples were plucking ears of corn and eating them.

Jesus was a man of purpose - He knew why God put Him on earth and wasn't sidetracked by meaningless things. He had a laser-focus on destiny and never stopped - even when He felt discouraged.

​Like Jesus, we too were created for a purpose - to serve God. Things that were created for us shouldn't become a distraction.

The burden of other people's expectations can be a crushing one. Instead, let us take up His yoke for it is easy...let us shoulder His burden because it is light - Selah

"For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good—not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne." Jesus {Matthew 11: 29-30 - The Amplified Bible}

Onyih Odunze

​

Mark 2: 17 “…Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 When Jesus heard this, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.” New Revised Standard Version

What is the difference between sin and sinners? Simple question, right? Merriam Webster online dictionary has several definitions for ‘sin’, including these two; “an offense against religious or moral law”, or “a transgression against God’s law.” On the other hand, a sinner is “one that sins.” So, it seems clear that sin has to do with an act, while a sinner is someone who engages in a sinful act.

By that definition, we are all clearly sinners. Who can honestly say that they have never sinned? Never told a lie, never done something in secret that we would be ashamed of in public, never treated people disrespectfully, or reacted in anger, etc.? Still, God has not left us at the mercy of online dictionaries, so He spelled it out clearly:

“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3: 23. King James Version

“Therefore, as sin came into the world through one man, and death as the result of sin, so death spread to all men, [no one being able to stop it or to escape its power] because all men sinned.” Amplified Bible

If we are all sinners in need of grace, why then are we so quick to judge? Last week, a teacher at a Christian school was fired because she got pregnant out of wedlock. The school leadership felt that she did not live up to the moral standards required to teach at that particular school, so her employment was terminated.

When Jesus came, they called him a glutton and a drunkard because he hung out with the ‘unsavory elements’ – the corrupt tax collectors, hard-drinking alcoholics, prostitutes, ‘sinners’. When questioned, He answered “Those who are well have no need of a physician…”

How we as a church have forgotten this! How we cater to the ‘righteous’ and shun those we consider sinners. We claim to love the sinners and hate the sin, but do our actions show this? How would Jesus have reacted if He was the head of that school and a teacher turned up pregnant?

Jesus died for sinners – in other words, all of us. Let’s not negate the validity of His death with our self-righteous judgment of others. Ours is to show His love to a fallen world – let’s leave the judgment to the only One who can see the hearts of men.

​You can see the speck in your friend’s eye, but you don’t notice the log in your own eye. How can you say, “My friend, let me take the speck out of your eye,” when you don’t see the log in your own eye? You’re nothing but show-offs! First, take the log out of your own eye. Then you can see how to take the speck out of your friend’s eye. Matthew 7:3 -5 {Contemporary English Version}

Onyih Odunze

​

If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened Psalm 66:18 (New International Version)

David wrote this psalm as a song of praise for everything God had done for him and for Israel. He extols God, talks about His great power and invites everyone to praise God with him (v8). In verses 10 – 12, David expounds on the reasons for his praise:

• God had tested them and tried them as silver is tried
• They had been brought into the net and had burdens laid on their backs
• God let people ride over their heads
• They went through fire and water…

"YET, you have brought us into a spacious place"! verse 12b

David was ecstatic! After all the tribulations they had gone through as a nation, God had finally brought them into a spacious place. God had answered their prayers and David promised God that he would make good on all the vows and burnt offerings he had pledged to give if God delivered him.

But, was that the key? Did the promise of burnt offerings and vows make God answer David’s prayers? David cried out to God and God heard him (v 17), and brought the nation of Israel into a spacious place (v12). And David rejoiced! “What an awesome God”, he exclaimed! “Come and see what God has done”, he urged. Come…come and see…but there was one key, found in verse 18 “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”

David is not talking about perfection; we don’t need to be perfect to be blessed by God. What he speaks about is ‘cherishing’ sin; holding it dear, cultivating it with care and affection. He is not talking about the occasional lapse in judgment that we all have. Not the things that we struggle with and ask God to help us forsake. No. He is talking about those sins that we cherish, the ones we don’t want to let go of…the ones that we justify to ourselves and lie to others about. Those sins.

Sometimes, God answers ‘No’ to some prayers; maybe because a ‘yes’ would be premature. Maybe because a ‘yes’ wouldn’t fit into His design for us.

But, sometimes He is turned off by our regard and affection for sin, deep in our hearts – in the place where only He can see.As I thought about David’s words, I found myself praying that God would free me from secret sins and help me to lose all affection for them.

May our entry into our ‘spacious place’ not be delayed because we cherish sin.

Onyih Odunze

Do you agree that secret 'cherished' sins are a major impediment to answered prayers?​ Please share your thoughts and leave feedback below.Thanks for reading!

As a young man living with his brothers and parents, Joseph had dreams that depicted him in a position of leadership. His father loved him dearly and often favored him over his brothers. But, out of jealousy, his brothers sold him into slavery and his formerly tranquil life was completely turned upside down.

He went from favored son, to slave, to servant in a rich man’s house, to prisoner. Have you had those times in your life when things seem to get a bit better, and then all of a sudden, BAM! Does life sometimes seem like a yo-yo; up and down, down then up…rinse and repeat? Joseph knew what that was like. He must have been terrified when he was thrown into a pit and sold into slavery by his own brothers; desperate and alone, he must have wondered what would become of him. When Potiphar bought him, Genesis 39: 2 tells us that “The Lord was with Joseph and he became a successful man…in the house of his Egyptian master.” So, Joseph became a successful servant. He was placed over all the other servants and was second only to his master. He probably thought to himself “You know, this isn’t so bad.” He could live with that. He had some security, safety and influence.

But, suddenly, it was all snatched away from him: his master’s wife falsely accused him of sexually assaulting her and he was thrown into prison – the same prison that housed the king’s prisoners. Can you imagine what Joseph must have been feeling? Still, God was with him and gave him favor in the sight of the prison warden and he was given oversight over all the other prisoners…and that’s when things got interesting.

Two of the kings’ prisoners were also thrown into the same jail; the king’s chief baker and his chief butler. In the course of time, they both had troubling dreams and Joseph interpreted their dreams – the baker would be executed and the butler would return to the palace to serve Pharaoh once again. Desperate for freedom, Joseph begged the butler to remember him when he got out of prison, but the butler forgot Joseph.

Sometimes, we have connections, people in our network who have the ability and capacity to help us in one way or the other, but yet nothing happens. Their lack of remembrance doesn’t mean that God has forgotten us.

It took two whole years…two years! The butler finally remembered Joseph, but only because Pharaoh needed someone to interpret his dream.

You may have spent a long time in a bad situation, but the time of lifting…of deliverance, healing, comfort will come. God will make everything beautiful in His time.

Joseph was hustled out of prison to interpret Pharaoh’s dream and suddenly, his whole life changed.

One minute he was in prison, and the next, he was the ruler of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. Can you imagine what that was like? One minute you’re being washed and shaved because you’re so dirty from spending years in prison (Genesis 41:14), and the next minute you’re wearing Pharaoh’s signet ring and having people bow to you (Genesis 41: 42-43)? It must have felt surreal.

Joseph had been a young boy when he was sold by his brothers and he was 30 years old when he met Pharaoh (Genesis 41:46). It had been a long season of troubles, which kept changing:

-          Sold into slavery by jealous brothers

-          Servant in Potiphar’s house; influential and favored, but still a servant.

-          A prisoner; successful overseer of men, but still a prisoner.

Through all this, Joseph could do nothing to change his circumstance; but, he did the one thing he could – he controlled his reactions and attitude all through this time, giving glory to God for His gifts (Gen 41: 16). And suddenly, suddenly, everything was different.

God is still in the business of ‘suddenly’ moments…change so sudden that it would feel like a dream. So, while we wait for His perfect time, for Him to do what only He can do, let’s do what we can do:

-          Keep our focus on Him

-          Maintain a good attitude

-          Thank Him for what we do have

We may not all be destined to become kings and rulers of nations, like Joseph was. But, there is a treasure inside each of us, placed there by the very hand of God. That little nugget may be hidden as of now, known only to you and God, but God is busy behind the scenes - polishing, refining, setting up people, places and circumstances for our benefit, just like He did for Joseph. And one day, God in His time will make all things beautiful…suddenly.

Onyih Odunze

This post has been edited.

David wrote this psalm when he was hiding from Saul, who was pursuing him out of fear that David would usurp his position as King of Israel.  He prayed for mercy and cried out to God for deliverance. He was in dire straits and he feared for his life. Saul was pursuing him relentlessly and David was reduced to hiding out in caves with his men. Can you imagine being pursued by the King of the land, with all the resources at his disposal? It must have been a terrible experience, and it was. Here are some of the things David talked about…

-          He was in the middle of a disaster (v1)

-          People were in hot pursuit of him (v3)

-          He likened the men after him to lions, and ravenous beasts with teeth like spears and tongues like swords (v4)

How discouraged David must have been! But, no.  After listing everything that was going wrong in his life, David said “I will sing and make music..”

What? Was he crazy?

Sing and make melody in the middle of a mess?

Sing and make melody while fighting for his life?

Instead of figuring out how to outfox Saul?

Sing and make melody instead of… (insert your own question here)

Yes, yes and yes.

David knew how to encourage himself in the Lord. He often got discouraged due to all the drama in his life, but he always found a way to lift his spirits.

He knew that sustained discouragement can lead to depression, and depression can cripple you.

So, he would often shake himself out of a funk by singing, making music and praising God. Regardless of what he was facing, David never allowed himself to get discouraged…even while fearing for his life.  

Let’s borrow a page from David and make music in the face of chaos.

Please enjoy this poem by my lovely sister-in-law, Amarachi Odunze, who God has blessed with a boatload of talent.

Stay inspired!

Onyih

OH DISCOURAGEMENT! By Amarachi Odunze

The quiet killer of the brave
the secret assassin of the mighty!
You have stolen the crown of champions
and dug the grave of stars
you have retired fire brand souls
and turned them into fiber-brand souls

You have turned many Gehazis into Gorillas
Due to impatience and 
search of shortcut to glory!
Ah, you have whispered to thousands 
That their glory hour is far off
Yet so near, that they gave up before their time

Oh People! Stand! 
Move on this narrow road to your Promised Land.
Oh People!
Refuse to quit!
Though heavy it may seem! 
Oh People! 
Lift up the dropping hands 
Remember you are dealing with
A formidable but defeated Enemy!

Check out this scripture:

Genesis 2:18 – 19: And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him. Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.

I highlighted that phrase because I was wondering why God had to 'bring them' instead of commanding them to go to Adam. I concluded that Adam's word as he named them had the power of animation - meaning that the bird could not fly until he named it. God could have activated their individual characteristics before asking Adam to do the christening, but He wanted Adam to exercise the authority he had been given. Note that God also wanted to see what he would call them. Meaning He (God) just stood by as a back-up just in case Adam failed at any point. I'm certain He would have come to Adam’s aid if that happened. Is that not what He still does for us today? As some Mbaise folk (from Eastern Nigeria)  would say, 'gala bido godi ebido ma fọ n'nyem aka...' Just start first before you ask for help.

Now, check out this other scripture:

Isaiah 14:12-15 How you are fallen from the heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!  How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart; ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation, on the farthest sides of the north;  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High’. Yet, you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.

I can't seem to find where the Bible says that the devil was given any form of power by God (pre and post eviction from heaven). My highlight says he weakened the nations. Genesis Chapter 3 already tagged him (Satan) a usurper and deceiver. I can put more Bible on top of that; 1 Pet. 5:8 calls him a 'roaring lion'. Hmmm... that's part of his undoing strategy.

His tactics worked for him in Genesis Chapter 3 when he successfully deceived Eve by twisting God's word. One would wonder why such punishment is meted on Adam considering it was Eve that fell for the serpent's tricks. Well, my thinking is that Adam, loaded as he was stood right there (Genesis 3:6) and watched the whole Eve-serpent drama unfold without uttering a word. He could have at least rebuked the serpent since he had dominion over all the beasts of the earth including the serpent. God must have been disappointed at Adam’s ignorance and so decided to dole out a measure of the punishment to him.

Adam failed to exercise his authority – the authority that had been rightfully given to him by God and as a result, he was evicted – nay, thrown out – of the garden. In the process, he lost his home, his fellowship with God and the consequences of his decision (or inaction) still hold sway today.

Let’s learn a lesson from Adam and treat the devil like we know his limits. If we watch situations go sour without exercising our authority as believers, there are bound to be consequences, which may be felt for generations to come.

Bob Oji

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***

It was harvest time. The muscles on the farmer’s back rippled as he worked hard at his harvest. A few hours later, he wiped the sweat off his brow and stood, surveying all the fruit of his labor. It had been a great harvest and he had already made plans. He would transport his goods to the fishing town several miles away. They always paid good money for his produce.

***

Hebrews 11:6 – And without faith, it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who see Him.

The story of Abel is told in Genesis 4:2 – 11. Abel was a shepherd, and his brother Cain was a farmer. We are told that in the course of time, they both brought offerings to God. Both Cain and Abel gave what they had – being a farmer, Cain brought some of his harvest, and being a shepherd, Abel brought some of his flock. But, that’s where the similarity ends: Cain gave something, but Abel gave his best. Genesis 4: 4 says “and Abel for his part brought the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions”, and God had regard for his offering.

Abel’s story is so short that all we know of him is the fact that he gave an offering to God and was killed by his brother. The record about him is so brief, yet he is mentioned in Hebrews 11 as one of the heroes of our faith. By faith Abel offered God an acceptable offering…an offering that pleased God, and through his offering he received approval as righteous.

Abel could have kept the firstlings of his flock and their fat portions for himself – it was something desirable and something of great value. He could have carefully chosen a different gift, and packaged it to be presentable, just like Cain did. But he chose differently, and his choice still speaks for him today (Hebrews 11:4).

The Bible says that it is impossible to please God without faith…even in our giving. When we think about faith, we usually think about great feats like moving mountains, or the reversal of natural events like the sun standing still for Joshua or Jesus feeding thousands with a little food. But, simple everyday acts like giving also require faith. Giving is not just about putting money in the offering basket at church, or pledging to support a ministry project. God may be asking you to give more of your time in service to him…or to help out a friend who can’t afford to pay their car note this month…or to give to a charity that helps feed poor children around the world. Regardless of what God is asking you to give – time, money, love, resources – it should be done in faith. In all that we do, we must do it unto God and in return He will bless us accordingly.

Abel was only here for a short time, but his one act of faith still speaks for him today. He gave sacrificially, based on what he had. He didn’t need to borrow, or indebt himself in order to please God. What he had was good enough…and what you have is good enough. What is God asking you to give? Can you trust Him enough to step out in faith and do it?

Proverbs 11: 24: Some give freely, yet grow all the richer; others withhold what is due, and only suffer want.

Onyih Odunze

*All Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version.

The woman in the dingy hotel room carefully counted the Naira notes to make sure they were complete. 900, 1000, 2000…such a paltry sum, surely not worth the high cost for her. She peered through the long braids covering her face at the other person in the room – a man struggling into his clothes. He had flung the money at her without a word, and now he dressed with his back to her, as though trying to preserve some modesty. What modesty, she thought bitterly to herself. Thoughts of her life wearied her and she didn’t bother to raise her head as the man walked out. Again, without a word. He probably didn’t want to expend any energy being courteous to her. The room depressed her. The mattress she sat on was thin and filthy and the room was otherwise empty except for threadbare curtains and a small nightstand beside the bed. The paint was peeling in long, thin chunks, almost as if someone was methodically scraping it off revealing the bald concrete. "This wall is just like me", she thought. My life is being scraped of any joy and beauty and there’s only ugliness underneath.

Hebrews 11: 31 - By faith Rahab the Prostitute escaped the destruction of the disobedient, because she welcomed the spies in peace. (New English Translation)

We first meet Rahab in the second chapter of Joshua. She was a prostitute and probably lived a life similar to the woman described above. Joshua had sent two men to survey the region and find out everything they could about Jericho and the two men ended up spending the night at Rahab’s house. I wonder what made them stop at Rahab’s house. Maybe she was more open to receiving strangers because of her profession? Did the men specifically ask for a prostitute so that they wouldn’t attract attention? The Bible doesn’t say. All we know is that the two men decided to spend the night at her house.

Rahab recognized the two men as Israelites and like other Jericho residents, she had heard about the exploits of the God of the Israelites. She had heard the stories and she believed them. She placed her faith in a God she did not know and had never experienced, simply based on what she had heard. She negotiated for the lives of her entire family based on faith; she believed that God would destroy Jericho and she didn’t want her family to perish. All she did was give two strangers a place to sleep, but that simple action had far-reaching repercussions for her and her family. A prostitute, she lived on the fringes of society, probably shunned by her family and other members of society, yet her exploits have given her a place in an eternal Hall of Heroes. She is prominently featured in the lineage of Christ (Matthew 1:5) and is one of only five women mentioned in that entire genealogy.

Hebrews 11: 1 tells us that faith is “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (NIV). Though she was a prostitute, her simple faith in an unknown God elevated her and changed her life forever.

Onyih Odunze

Abraham is taken aback. Eh? Which son? The son that God promised me, and finally gave me in my old age? My miracle child? Hmm, am I sure this is really God speaking to me? How can God ask me to sacrifice the very gift He gave me? Abraham made a decision…no, this can’t be God speaking.

“God forbid!” he exclaims. “I bind every foul spirit in this place now….flee…flee…FLEE!!!”

Gen 22:1 tells us that God tested Abraham by asking him to take Isaac to Moriah and sacrifice him on a mountain. God knew it was a test…but did Abraham know? I don’t believe he did. I don’t think he had advance notice so that he could ‘study’ and pass the test.

So, what was it that made him so ready to take off at God’s word and kill his son? Abraham was prepared by virtue of habit – a habit of obedience. He knew the voice of God because he had a relationship with him (he was God’s friend: 2 Chron 20:7) and he had formed the habit of obedience (Heb 11: 8), so he did not hesitate. How many of us would obey a command to sacrifice our only son – a miracle child, born of a promise?

The natural reaction would probably be to say “God forbid!” (just like in the imagined scenario above) and remind ourselves that Lucifer masquerades as an angel of light! It must be the devil. Relationship facilitates discernment.

There is no gap between verse 2, when God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, and verse 3 when Abraham woke up early in the morning to do what God had asked. The Bible does not say whether Abraham agonized over the decision or not: I believe that if he had, it would have been included because Jesus’ struggle with the cross was candidly documented. Abraham is special and one of the heroes of our faith not because he was superhuman. No, just a man like us whose relationship with and obedience to God gave him an everlasting legacy.

Onyih Odunze

For love is of God

And everyone who loves is born of God

And knoweth God

He that loveth not,

Knoweth not God for God is love

Beloved, let us love one another 1^st John 4: 7 and 8!

My sister taught me that song and I used to sing it when I was a little girl (I still sing it), before I really understood what it meant. As I grew older, I was taught that love is the foundation of Christianity. 1^st John 4: 8 says “…God is love”, and love was what compelled God to send His Son to earth to live as a man; love was what drove Christ to the cross and love was what kept Him on the cross, even when He could have easily stepped down. Love.

I am thankful that God loved me before I even knew Him – He didn’t wait for me to acknowledge and return His love before He offered it to me. We sing about the love of God, we accept it and we rejoice in it. We profess our love for Him and we try to show it by immersing ourselves in church activities – Sunday service, mid-week service, choir practice, prayer meeting and so on and so on. In the midst of this ‘busy-ness’, it is easy not to think about weightier issues.

God commands us to love one another – the kind of love outlined so beautifully in 1^st Corinthians 13 “Love is patient, love is kind…it does not boast, it does not envy, is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs…” That kind of love is what God is talking about; brotherly love. God esteems this love so highly that in John 13: 34-36, Jesus said “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (King James Version)

Love is the proof of our discipleship, our club card, our membership number – Love for others is what shows the world that there is something different about us.  But here’s the rub – love can be difficult sometimes. It’s pretty easy to love those that love us, or those that make it easy for us to love them. It’s not as easy to love someone that is difficult to love; that person that consistently misunderstands us, reacts strongly to our mistakes…the one that doesn’t find enough time or attention for us, or irritates us with all their little faults – that person can be hard to love. Should we just be selective and love those that can return our love? No.

“The reality test on whether or not we love God's children is this: Do we love God? Do we keep his commands? The proof that we love God comes when we keep his commandments and they are not at all troublesome.” 1^st John 5: 3 (The Message)

It is easy to profess our love for God, but does it pass the litmus test of obedience? 1 John 5:3 tells us that if we love God, we will obey His commands. Loving others is a command, it is His command to us as His children. Are we obeying?

Onyih Odunze

*All Scripture quotations are from Bible Gateway.

Hallowed be Thy Name…”

So begins what may be the most popular prayer for Christians today. Like many other people, I’ve known this prayer for so long that I don’t even remember learning it. It feels like I’ve always known it because I’ve prayed it so many times. So many times that it almost becomes a routine…and it’s easy to say the words without really stopping to think about them. Recently (in the past week or so), I’ve been thinking a lot about forgiveness, and Matthew 6:12 has been on my mind. “…And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (King James Version). The New Living version puts it this way “…And forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us”. Wow! Does this mean that the forgiveness of my sins is based on my forgiveness of others? To clear things up, Jesus re-emphasized this point right after teaching the disciples this simple, but powerful prayer.

“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15 (New Living Version)

“For if you forgive people their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses.” Matthew 6: 14-15 (Amplified Bible)

Forgive others as completely as you want to be forgiven…

Do not count the sins of others, and yours will not be counted…

Psalm 103:12 says that God puts our sins as far as the east is from the west; Micah 7:19 “…You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” God puts our sins so far away from us, casts them into the depths of the sea where they cannot be recovered again (unless we decide to go deep-sea diving). God’s kind of forgiveness is total and complete, and ours must follow suit.

It is difficult sometimes (maybe all the time!) to really and completely forgive others especially when they willfully hurt us again and again, but this is what God requires of us. Loving God means pleasing Him. It pleases God when our hearts are free of resentment and bitterness. It pleases Him when we do what He has asked us to do. Forgive. Forgive. Forgive. Free your heart and let God fight your battles.

God doesn’t play around with words. He says what He means and He means what He says: I must forgive as I want to be forgiven. Period. No excuses.

Onyih Odunze

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron..."

Many Bible scholars believe that the Apostle Paul was Timothy’s mentor. He instructed him in the faith, counseled him and was always very concerned about him – spiritually and otherwise. Here, Paul is sounding a warning, not just to Timothy, but to us, the body of Christ and anyone else who would read those words.

It is interesting to note that Paul said “Some will depart from the FAITH”, not from the CHURCH! Many today are just "professing" Christians, not "practicing" believers. They attend almost every church meeting, give more offering than everybody else, act proper and righteous, speak the right "Christianese", but are not in the FAITH. Worse, some of the pastors where these people worship are in the know of the atrocities these "church goers" commit, but choose to keep mum because of the attending benefits they get from these "inner circle" members and "partners" of their ministry.

Secular humanism, anarchy, greed, lewdness, pride and their associates have crept in and infested the body of Christ, gradually eating it up like cancer without a cure. True brotherly love is only preached, not practiced. Faith is professed, but with a "backup plan". Yet, God is watching... He alone searches the heart and knows those who "truly" belong to Him. So, let's guard our hearts with all DILIGENCE because we are in very interesting times!

Jesus said, "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved." (Matt. 24:11-13 NKJV) He also reiterates in His teachings that not all who call Him Lord shall enter the Kingdom of God. Believers beware! 

"Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: 'The Lord knows those who are His,' and, 'Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.'" (2Tim. 2:19)

God help us all.

Timi Owobo-Judah