1. WALK AWAY
The decisions we make today create our tomorrow. We are the architects of our own fate condition because we are free moral agents; we can choose to walk away from wrong opportunities. You can either yield yourself to God or the devil. All of us who have fallen made a decision. All of us who have not fallen faced similar temptations but made a different decision.
Matthew 6:25-33 - “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
God knows our needs and will provide for them, although He may not provide all we want because human wants are unlimited. We do not know how to satisfy the needs of our life but He does. Therefore, when we approach God, we should humble ourselves in our requests, realising that He is God and I am not, He is a Father and I am but a child, He is the Shepherd and I a straying a sheep. What we want may not be what God wants for us at that particular time or what we need. We should therefore not interpret God’s silence as rejection; even when He seems silent, He is still saying something.
Therefore, when you are next faced with a decision or a temptation, ask yourself what the consequences of that decision or falling to that temptation will be.
Don’t be tempted to choose temporary pleasure over permanent gain.
PRAYER: In the moment of decision, ask God to give you the inner grace to choose as Christ would have chosen, in Jesus’ name.
2. THE WAY OF OBEDIENCE
Obeying God at first seems
hard until we come to see that all He asks is for our good and makes
life full and free. Why is it hard at first? It is hard at first because
it involves making a u-turn. I mean a turning point against our usual
way, against the popular will of our friends, relations and peer groups
who want you back in their fold. If you must resist them, you must be
ready to face persecution and attack from them. But relax – He will not
leave you without victory. The way of obedience is the way of blessings; the way of obedience is the way of a bright future.
For
you to reach that future, the question you need to ask yourself is – do
you have a vision? If you don’t have a vision, others would become your
role model - you would be looking to others for direction instead of
looking to the Holy Spirit who is our Guide.
Because of that, you would
strive to receive the approval of people and be ready to compromise your
faith and disobey God’s instructions to please the crowd. However, if
you have a vision, you would not look to others for direction; you would
wait on God. Your vision has to do with where you are going. If you
don’t have a vision, you can never be focused in a direction and
therefore, never fully obey God’s instructions. When you know where you
are going, whatever happens to you midway cannot change your focus or
push you into disobedience to God’s Word.
PRAYER: Ask God to give you an obedient heart, in Jesus’ name!
By Prophet TB Joshua
