He makes all things beautiful

God is never too late or too early. He is never in a hurry either. He knows that to everything there is a time and a season, and when the time is right time for the manifestation of a thing, it is always beautiful.

We are the ones who are usually in a hurry. We want everything now. Blessings, now. Promotion, now. Manifestation of prophecies, now. A fruit eaten before its ripe time only causes tummy upsets. It is better to wait for the right season and cease upsetting ourselves and everyone around us.

This makes me recall the dream of a dear friend (who has since passed on to glory). In his dream, he saw himself in a news studio. Cameras were focusing; lights were beaming; it was time for the news to be read. Backstage, my friend was restless - he wanted to be the one broadcasting the news. He kept on saying, "I want to read the news, I want to read the news", and eventually he was allowed to take centre stage and read the news.

As he took his seat in front of the lights and cameras, he suddenly realised he did not have the day's news. "I don't have any news! I don't have any news!" he kept on saying to himself, and then he woke up...

It is better to wait patiently for our ordained season, than to step out prematurely and fail woefully. God makes all things beautiful in their season.

Your season is coming and has now come! No more hurrying; no more worrying! In Jesus' name!

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Get rid of those maggots!

There is a reason why Jesus said we should forgive those who offend us - every time they offend us. Even if we are offended as many as seventy seven times in a day, Jesus said we should still forgive (Matthew 18:21,22; Luke 17:1-4). This instruction is not to make us look weak and foolish; instead, as we shall see, it is for our inner sanctity and strength.

Ultimately, every offence from men is aimed at the heart. The same can be said of every unfavourable circumstance that affects us on the inside. No matter what happens or how it happens, we feel the pain of hurts and disappointment in our hearts. When we retain and process them for any length of time, they turn into bitterness, hatred, rage, depression and other unholy vices. This is why Jesus said we should let go of offences as soon as they occur. And when they seem to linger for a while, the counsel is, "do not let the sun go down on your wrath" (Ephesians 4:26).

Offences and discouragements retained in the heart longer than a day contaminate us on the inside. When we brood upon them, they drain us of strength and become much harder to deal with; they rob us of grace and cause is to defile many (Hebrews 12:15).

When Israel kept the heavenly manna for longer than a day, it turned into maggots and stank (Exodus 16:20). Can you just imagine what happens when we keep offences in the heart beyond the setting of the sun? The truth is, many a believer's heart is full of maggots that keep on multiplying sunset after sunset. Whenever they speak out of their bitter heart, the stench is practically unbearable. It is not a sign of weakness when you forgive others; it is a wise action of someone who understands the value of a clean heart.

"Keep and guard your heart", therefore, "with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life." (Proverbs 4:23 AMP). In other words, "Get rid of all the maggots in your heart and guard against them finding a breeding place in you. Only out of a maggot-free heart flows the spring of life that builds up others."

Cleanse our hearts O Lord!

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Have you finished digging your first well?

One of your goals in life should be to become a digger of wells, and not just a drinker of water. Many spend all their lives surviving as a mere water-drinker and never experience the paradigm shift of a well-digger. No one remembers the water-drinker for the volume of water that he consumed. However, generations of men will remember the well-digger for the volume of water that he produced.

I want to iterate the need to possess a vision of digging a few wells in your lifetime - structures and establishments that will continue to serve communities of men long after you have gone. The world cannot do without such visionaries, for without well-diggers, the people perish. The survival of many water-drinkers is linked to the significance of one well-drinker. Be the significant one and not the surviving many.

There is one well that is essential before you embark on the digging of more. You cannot overlook this well and busy yourself with others. Your first well will produce the strength and inspiration you need for every other well. This first well is the well of your heart. It must flow with life, wisdom, grace and understanding. It must be free from hurts, offences, filth and burdens. It must be the source of all else you do - the channel through which God's power ceaselessly flows.

So I ask: Have you finished digging your first well? Are you busy with many secondary things and are neglecting the condition of your heart? Until you break through on the inside you cannot experience a breakthrough on the outside. Breakdowns in your circumstances are sometimes traceable to breakdowns on the inside. With all your digging, make sure you finish digging your first well!

Your first well is you; dig it well! Let the real you be seen! Let the life in you be released!

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Watch and pray (4)

This dual activity, watching and praying, was one of the secrets of Christ's victorious life on earth. Everything He did in life and ministry was born out of watchfulness and prayerfulness. If we will follow in His steps, we cannot but do the same.

Jesus did not react to circumstances around Him; He responded by the leading of the Spirit.

Jesus did not entrust Himself to the appearances of man; He was always led by the Spirit.

Jesus did not embrace every opportunity that came His way; He was led by the Spirit.

Jesus was led by the Spirit always because He was watching and praying always.

The message here is simple: when all our actions, associations and decisions are the product of watching and praying, we are being led by the Spirit of God, and those who are led by the Spirit are the sons of God (Romans 8:14).

If we will follow in Christ's steps, we cannot but do what He did - watch and pray!

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Watch and pray! (3)

Which is more important, watching or praying? The answer is straightforward: neither. Both watching and praying are of equal importance, hence the conjunction "and". We are not to do one without the other.

Some do more watching than praying, while others do more praying than watching. Both sets of people, after a while, will end up lopsided in spirit and life. Believers who truly watch and pray experience a balance in their lives that ultimately bears the fruit of wisdom. For those who only watch presume the sole responsibility for action is theirs, those who only pray shelve the responsibility for action solely on God, but those who watch and pray become co-workers with God for the fulfillment of purpose and destiny.

O how sweet it is to walk with Jesus! To enjoy fellowship with Him and become a co-worker with Him! A commitment to watching and praying will ensure that we enter into the blessedness in Christ.

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Obedience is key!

The things God shows us about our life at different times, the pronouncements He makes about our future, they generate much excitement in our spirit. And better to be excited than downcast! However, excitement alone will not bring us to the place where we realise the prophecies spoken over us. After excitement in the spirit, we need to bring our soul and flesh to the place of obedience. Complete obedience is key to reaching that place called destiny.

When God gives us an instruction, no matter how little or illogical, we need to promptly obey and resist every temptation to find an excuse not to do what He is saying. Obedience moves us forward. Disobedience takes us backward. Inactivity, which is akin to disobedience, keeps us stagnant. The direction our lives is going - forward, backward or nowhere - is dependent on our attitude to God's instructions.

Go! Speak! Write! Stop! Forgive! Give!... Instructions. These are your connectors to purpose and destiny. Don't take them lightly.

"Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life." (Proverbs 4:13)

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A New Season!

A new season has dawned upon many in the Body of Christ, and with it is fresh grace for the race. Those who have remained faithful to God and His Word in the times of littleness will find their steps increasingly ordered to the place of purpose and fruitfulness. Doors will open for these ones and through watchfulness, they will enter into the right door - God's door; one that cannot be shut by man or circumstances - and encounter much favour on the other side.

It is time, then, to arise! Time to shine! Light has come from the Lord and glory is breaking forth from the heavens. Do not miss this season through unbelief; do not hinder yourself through disobedience. Whatever the Lord says, do. Wherever the Lord leads, go. We walk by faith and triumph in joy!...

For nearly two years, the Lord had spoken to me about the next phase of my life and ministerial journey. I am now stepping into what He told me, yes, the beginnings of it. So, I believe every word of this prophecy and know that the One who has spoken is faithful.

I will soon begin to share more about this "next phase" and the work the Lord is calling me and mine to. Meanwhile, be inspired by the word of the Lord and do not shrink back from sharing your story too. Who knows, you may just be the inspiration that someone needs to enter into the fullness of their season!

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Watch and pray! (2)

Many believers pray and pray and pray... but they are not obeying the commandment to watch. If we are not watchful, how will we see danger that needs to be avoided on our path? Again, if we are not watchful, how will we know when the Lord opens the doors of opportunity before us? What about when multiple doors open and we have to determine which one is the Lord and which one is the enemy? Watching is a must; we cannot survive in the spirit without being watchful.

Watching engages all our spiritual faculties; it requires an ability to judge rightly and respond accordingly. We dare not watch casually, otherwise we will become a casualty. Jesus never took watching lightly, which is why nothing ever took Him by surprise.

I am expectant in the spirit; not apprehensive, but watchful. I will not miss all that God has for me because I am watching, and He is watching over me. (I pray the same for you too!).

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