Today the word Favour came deep into my spirit. I opened my Bible and searched for verses related to favor of God.

I would like to just share a few verses that I came across.

Proverbs chap 3:4 (NIV); And so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.

Psalm 30: 5 (ESV); For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

This favor of God is a gift from God. We don’t earn for it. We don’t struggle for it. Nor do we pray hard for blessing. It is a gift from the Lord. This favor is a blessing. It is a gift for us who know Jesus Christ as our personal Savior.

Psalm 3: 8 From the Lord comes deliverance.
    May your blessing be on your people.

Today is still the Christmas season, and we are approaching the end of 2023. Why don’t we look back and thank God for all the divine favor the Lord has given us. Many times we don’t realize it. This is because we focus too much on our life challenges that we cannot see the favor of God. My prayer is, as my readers read my note today, that your spiritual eyes are opened to see the blessing of God upon your life.

The devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy. We often think he wants to take the health, finances, or relationships from humans. But the reality is that the devil wants to destroy the little faith the Lord has given us. He wants to take away the Word in Your Spirit. He wants to destroy the Lord’s destiny in your life. This is so real, and I believe many Christians go through various different challenges in life. Remember, the real culprit.

I just want to share an experience of a real-life experience I had. It was one night, as I was asleep in a hotel, I felt a substantial, heavy lifted hand trying to take out something from my heart. The hands felt so real, and I just couldn’t explain it. It was as if it was stealing something from the heart. The feeling was natural, and I woke up and rebuked the spirit. I declared Psalm 91, and later on, I slept. But the sense was real, and I asked the Lord why this happened and its significance.

A few weeks later, I realized I had started losing faith in the Lord. It was as if I lost hope in the Lord. It was a stone feeling. Then I realized it was something spiritual; it was a demonic spirit trying to take away the faith I had in the Lord. It was trying to steal the hope I had in the Lord.

Today the Lord reminded me that nobody can do it. Because I belong to the Lord. What a lie that I have given room to the devil. I have an inheritance from the Lord. This is the truth. The moment we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, this gift of favor follows us through. Refuse to give any room to the devil to steal it. Do not allow it.

If you are going through particular challenges in your life, find like-minded Christians to pray together. This is so important in our Christian growth. One of the fundamentals of our journey in Christ is we cannot walk alone.

Praying together and intercessing together are essential. Do not allow the Devil to make you think you do not have the favor of God. Shift from the challenges in life and focus on the Lord. His favor upon us.

The devil wants us to believe we do not have an inheritance from the Lord. He will try to steal as much from the deepest part of your being. The moment we acknowledge it, whether we like it or not, we would see things slowly crumbling down. Rebuke it in the name of Jesus. Pick ourselves up again.

The truth is, the moment we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, the favor of God follows us through. This flavor is special. It is a gift. Do not frustrate the blessing of God.

Be excited for this favor of God.

I speak blessing and favor upon each of my readers today. I pray this is a gift for each of us this Christmas season.

Remember this, despite whatever you are personally going through, rejoice as this battle will give God all glory, and remember this favor of God. This favor will bring you to places. We can’t stop it because this is how the favor of God works.

Acts chap 1: 8; But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

This is simply because we are called to be a blessing. Acknowledge this gift. Rejoice for this gift. Move forward as we end 2023 strong and move into 2024 with the favor of God.

Say this today: I have the favor of God, R.J.JOHN.

Prayer for today: ”Abba, I thank you, Lord, for your divine favor upon me all these years. I give you glory for 2023. Thank you, Lord, for this gift of freedom upon me that you are so real in my life. I surrender my life into your hands, that you use me for your Kingdom. I pray, Lord, that these testimonies give you back the glory. I also surrender my readers into your Hands. They walk in divine favor. Help us meditate on the favor of God as we end 2023 strong.

Application

1. Find like-minded Christians to pray together this week.
2. Spend time in fasting
3. Be away from social media and give the Lord your best as you end 2023.
4. Meditate on the favor of God. Listen to sermons on favor of God this week as the year ends. For a sermon, you can listen here.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg4ndmPW_SY
5. Rejoice. The Favor of God is upon you.

A new song was released by Nataniel Bassey, a famous Nigerian Gospel Artist, a few weeks ago. This song is filled with the spirit, and I believe, like how it blessed me, would change my readers too. I encourage my readers to listen to this song as you read my note today.

As I was listening to the song, my spirit was very moved by the presence of God, reminding me how powerful is the Lord God. This song reminds me of how we fight our battles. I listened to this song a few times, and I felt the Lord was reminding me to take my posture of worship right.

When things don’t go according to our plans, we often get discouraged and disappointed, forgetting that the Lord is God. Yahweh Sabaoth is a name for God that emphasizes His power and might. It is a power that cannot be comprehended by human understanding. It combines God’s personal name, Jehovah (Yahweh), with the Hebrew word Sabaoth, meaning “host” or “multitude.” The Old Testament records this name more than 270 times, and it often has a military connotation. It denotes God’s universal sovereignty over every spiritual and earthly army. So Jehovah Sabaoth means “The Lord of Hosts.”

Have you all been in a situation where you realize it is the same cycle of events around you? You try something. Then, it doesn’t work out. You fail. Then you try again, and once again, you fail. From months, it moves to years and probably through generations. Why does this happen? Are our lives meant to be such, or should we break the cycle? How do we break this cycle?

This is when the Lord reminded me of who He is. He is our Yahweh Sabaoth. One of the scriptures that records Yahweh Sabaoth is in 1st Samuel chap 1:3.

Ist Samuel 1 : 3 Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the Lord.

The Lord Almighty here refers to how magnificent our Lord is. So, if we follow through to read this passage of scripture, it records that Elkanah went yearly to worship the Lord Almighty. He had two wives. Hannah and Peninnah. Hannah had no children. She was told to be barren and unable to conceive. The people around her teased and irritated her, making her sad and disappointed. Scripture records that she wept.

However, one day, she cried out unto the Lord as she made a vow unto the Lord.

1st Samuel 1: 11 ” And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.

Hannah cried out to the Lord Almighty in her misery and disappointment. The Lord is in all power and understanding; only he can open Hannah’s womb. True enough, if we read the following verses, Hannah did conceive.

 Ist Samuel 1: 20 ” So Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son over time. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”

In this Bible Story of Hannah, we see that Hannah was barren, and there was no possible solution that could be made possible for her. I realize that Hannah took her posture of worship right. She knew medical science couldn’t help her at that time. She knew the people around her couldn’t help her. She knew nothing else could help her except the Lord God himself. Despite people teasing her and making fun of her barrenness, she didn’t choose to fret; instead, she cried out to the Lord. She took the correct posture of worship. She went to the Lord and nobody else.

Yahweh Sabaoth reminds me of how an army is getting ready to face its battles. When they get ready, they are only focussed to win the situation. They don’t back off knowing the enemies are stronger.They engage in the training with one focus of winning over the situation.They do their daily workouts. They plan their strategies to defeat the enemies. They take practical steps in defeating the enemies. They focus on their strengths and not their weakness. They wake up early in the morning to prepare for their battles.

So, as Christians going through a particular situation in life, what should we do? I encourage us to take the right posture, just as Hannah did.Just as how the armies get ready for their battles.Hannah was in a battle.But she took the right posture.She knew her Yahweh Sabaoth.

We must continue to build our fort strong. We must remember we must be able to fight our enemies through the grace of God. The biggest mistake most of us make is to assume we are fighting battles alone. We remove God from the picture. This is when we become disappointed and frustrated in life.We sometimes forget that the Lord is there to protect, heal, and provide for us.

The Holy Spirit reminded me that the Lord I worship is Yahweh Sabaoth. Why are we fearful or feel timid over situations in life?

As we read the Word of God and get to know God more profoundly, the Lord will give us the right strategies to break whatever cycle we are going through. The people around you may tease you. The people around you may irritate you. But remember this: The Lord is with you. With this right mindset, we can go very far in life.

We must come to the Lord,knowing He is the Lord Almighty.We must come to the Lord knowing he is our Yahweh Sabaoth. We must come to the Lord knowing Jesus Christ is the Lord of our lives. Do not come to the Lord assuming,he cannot solve our situations in life. We must approach the Lord knowing He is the Supernatural God.

Friends, the Lord is faithful.-R.J.JOHN

This whole week, the tune of this song, Jehovah You are the Most High God, kept ringing in my mind. I would like to encourage my readers to listen to the lyrics of this song as you read my note for today.

Psalm 57:2 (NLT) I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.

The Hebrew word most often translated as ”God Most High” is Elohim ( or EL) Elyown.

In the title LORD Most High, the Hebrew words are Elohim Yahweh. When we declare that our God is the Most High God, it means there is no god, no idol or created being that should be worshipped or exalted above Yahweh, the Lord, because He is superior in every way.

Sadly, why are Christians going through some form of suffering or struggles in life? What is the key to overcoming the sufferings of a Christian? What is the solution to a struggle? I am dedicating these note to my fellow Christian brothers and sisters today.

You may be in a financial situation and assume your solution is financial freedom.

You may receive a bad medical report, and you assume your solution is your health being restored.

You may be caught in a relationship issue, and you assume your solution is to end the relationship and return to a cave where you don’t have to engage with people.

People come from different walks of life, and everyone has a story to tell. Each has a level of struggle, but I want to share good news with all my readers: There is a solution to all of this.

The solution is to recognize our Jehovah, the Most High God.

When we talk about recognizing, it means acknowledging what our Jehovah can do.

We are in a season where God wants us to know Him as the God Most High. Oftentimes, we get discouraged and disappointed, and indirectly, we turn away from the Lord to find other solutions to solve our matters. Most of the time, we see God being silent, so we try all our human way possible to solve a situation.

Most of the time, the Lord wants us to realign how we acknowledge Him. Are we really recognizing Him as the Lord Most High, or without us realizing it, have we idolized our challenges as more significant than God?

Someone once told me the only lifeline we have with God is prayer. We recognize His existence as we approach the Lord Most High in worship. We must know who we are coming too. We are approaching our Jehovah. We come to a phase of total surrender and awe, knowing He will care for our needs.

The God Most High is inviting us to know Him like never before. The first step to knowing the God Most High is to know He exists. It is difficult to see Him working in our lives without faith that He exists.

Without faith, it is impossible to please God. With faith, we can move mountains and change situations in life.

So the first step is to recognize the existence of this God Most High.

The next step is to acknowledge His position in everything else. We cannot know Him while trying to place Him alongside other gods.

Exodus chap 20: 3 ( NIV) ” You shall have no other gods before me.”

Lastly is to continuously recognize the power of the Blood of Jesus Christ shed for each of us today. This is not a one-day process. It is a lifelong journey. Recognizing the power of this blood overshadows whatever strongholds or demonic spirits that have captured you and your family for years.

A born-again Christian who keeps looking back, searching for his family’s generation’s sin, or playing the blame game of the past can never move forward in life. A born-again Christian who keeps resentment towards his or her loved ones makes it difficult to move forward in life. A born-again Christian who is not open to receiving corrections in life is difficult to progress in life. Born-again Christians who have unforgiveness and bitterness in life find it difficult to move forward in life, and they have allowed their hearts to be filled with weeds. A born-again Christian who has focussed on the mountain of issues in their lives instead of their Jehovah of the Most High, will always have a victim mindset.

We must take full authority over the situation in life and move forward. We reach the impossible because the Lord is with us. Going back to our lifeline is essential. Going back to prayer.Going back to fellowship with the Lord. The blood of Jesus has the power to release the grip of the great curse.

If you are someone here who has been cursed or has kept confessing that you are cursed, or people have cursed you, and life situations have made you in such a situation, pause, stop, and recognize this Jehovah of the Most High. Why focus on the curses or these people when you have Jehovah of the Most High?

When we recognise the supreme power of Jehovah of the Most High and we acknowledge what can this supreme power do, things will have to change for us. This is because we have got the keys to open the locked doors.

What is the key, then? The key is to acknowledge the power of the blood of Jesus Christ. If you feel trapped, the only way to freedom is to receive the gift of salvation.

You may be a Christian from a young age, but maybe it is time to rededicate your life to God again. It is essential to open our hearts again to receive, be equipped, and empower others. You may be in a cave too long. You cannot live life alone. If you are doing this, the devil has trapped you in this manipulative lie.

God is bringing us to a season of reconnecting with fellow believers again and wants to establish His plans in our lives. Trust God once more and let Him bring you into a season of being His witness. Let God work!

Prayer for today: ”Abba, I thank you, Lord for grace. Your grace is sufficient for each of us. I thank you, Lord, You are the Most High God. I give you praise and glory that you are the Lord of the Most High God. As my readers and I go into a journey of rededication, our lives unto you Lord,Help us experience you like never before.I give you glory and praise. Amen

Application:

1. Spend time listening to the audio Bible.
2. Spend time in prayer with an expectant of meeting the Lord Most High

I was reflecting on a term today. Disappointment.

Have you come across any form of disappointment in your life?

It can be a disappointment because we didn’t achieve something based on our timeline.

It can be disappointing because of a health issue we are battling. We cried out to the Lord for healing, but the recovery didn’t occur.

It can be disappointing when we see our bank balance and are burdened with so much of commitments and debts in life.

It can be disappointing. When issues at work make us stressed or tense.

It can be disappointing when we lash out our anger at our loved ones at home.

Everyone has a story to tell. What does the Bible say about how we handle these disappointments in life?

These last few days have been a very challenging week for me. Tears were just flowing down, and I couldn’t stop them. It was just disappointments.

I didn’t know how to handle them. And so I decided to WRITE unto the Lord.

I dedicate this note to the Lord and each person going through some form of disappointment in life. Only you and God know. Nobody else knows.

The Holy Spirit brought me back to the story of Adam and Eve. When God, in all his power, gave an instruction to them to tend the Garden and not eat the fruit from the Tree of Life.

Despite the availability of everything in the garden, Adam and Eve chose to disobey God. Did they do it themselves? The Serpent misled them into making the wrong decisions in life. At the end of the day, it was them that made the choice.

But we must be aware of who is the real culprit.

Genesis chap 2: 1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman,” Did God really say,” You must not eat from any tree in the garden?”

When God found out Adam and Eve disobeyed Him, instead of taking away His presence from them, God followed through with them in their life story.

Genesis chap 1 : 21: ”The Lord God made garments of skins for Adam and his wife and clothed them.”

Scripture doesn’t record anywhere that God was disappointed, but I believe there was some form of disappointment that took place. But God still clothed them and did not leave them alone.

The story of Genesis is the beginning of humankind. Generations have come forth since the fall in the Garden of Eden. God blessed each generation despite struggles and challenges in life.

Humankind goes through a life cycle from womb to tomb.

What does this womb-to-tomb mean?

In the process of becoming who we are, and as we travel (journey) through life, from conception to death (womb to tomb), we change and mature physically, psychologically, and socially.

Each generation had a life cycle, which is ” womb to tomb.”

Because God is so merciful, he wants to SAVE the world.

He didn’t want the world to continue suffering, and he wanted humankind to experience the presence of God.

What did God do?

John 3 : 16 For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son. That whosoever believeth Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

This Scripture promises everlasting life.Eternal life.

In any form of disappointment in life, we must never forget the Lord sent his only son, Jesus, to save us.

The devil manipulated Eve, and he is still doing it today.

We must not believe in the lies of the devil, and whatever the challenges are, we are to look upon Jesus, the author and finisher of faith. Stop playing God. Let God be God.

As we take daily small steps in our journey call life, always remember to seek the Lord and remember He is in control of all situations.

With each disappointment, there is a testimony.

In every dry valley, the Lord sends rain.

In every deep valley, the Lord stretches out His hands to save us.

This is the nature of God. He is full of love and compassion.

The Word of God is the truth. As we read through the Scriptures, it is my desire for myself and each of my readers to experience the presence of God once again.

Sometimes, the best is closing our room doors. Going back to the secret place again. Opening the Bible, sing praises, and just sing and praise God once again.

Remember, God saved the world by sending his son Jesus.

Jesus died for each of our sins, and He has resurrected and returned to the right hand of the Father.

Today, we have the Holy Spirit in us. As we acknowledge the presence of the Holy Spirit in us, this journey called life becomes exciting. It became enjoyable.

Every challenge turns into a miracle. It is no longer about me, myself and I. It is for the glory of Jesus Christ. Our purpose is Jesus Christ.

With this belief system rooted deep inside us, trust me, we will go far in life.

The key is recognizing who we have now. We have the Holy Spirit.

God is God. He will never leave us, not forsake us. His presence will follow us through. Trust Him like never before in this decade of your life!

Say this today: I give my disappointments unto the Lord-R.J.JOHN

Prayer for today: ” Abba, I thank you, Lord, you are merciful. I praise you that you are the Lord who journeys through each and every season of our lives. Help us look unto you. Thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit.Amen

Application:

1. Go back to the very basics. Seek the Lord like never before. Watch Him work in your life as you take baby steps in knowing the Lord once again.

The word HOPE came deep into my spirit today. I just knew I had to write something related to HOPE in my note today. I pray and hope this note today will be blessed by my readers today.

Are you someone here who had HOPE in areas of your life, yet you did not see it come to pass?

Are you someone here who had HOPE in getting certain things done in life, but realities in life have pushed you hard in another direction?

Are you someone here who is losing HOPE in situations in life?

We often tend to be disappointed in life, and the devil steals our slight hope in Jesus Christ.

God is the source of our hope. From cover to cover, Scripture underscores that when everything else crumbles, God remains steadfast. The Bible firmly establishes God as the foundational source of hope for believers, both in His eternal promises and through the manifestation of Jesus Christ, our Savior.

Psalms 33:18

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy.

Today, I invite my readers to meditate on the scripture above. The scripture promises us the eye of the Lord is on those who have hope in His mercy. Often, we give up hope. We give up hope that situations in life will change. We give up thinking there is no solution. We give up feeling depressed and disappointed in life.

We wake up the next morning facing the same situations in life. You may feel depressed, demotivated, and just unable to move further.

But the Scripture promises to never lose hope and the eyes of the Lord are on those who still have hope. God cannot move situations in life when we lose hope.

Let us look at the story of Jesus healing the blind man.

John chap 9: 1-6

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. ² His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

³ “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. ⁴ As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. ⁵ While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

⁶ After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. ⁷ “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed and came home seeing.

This scripture clearly explains to us this boy was blind since birth. Imagine being blind since birth? What hope did the boy have? It is total darkness to him.

Sadly, despite having eyes to see, many of us are like this blind boy here. Situations in life may bring us into a position where we only see darkness. We can’t see God through our situation. The Devil has blinded us in many areas, and as a result, we lose hope.

The scripture also further explains that neither did anyone sinned. His man or his parents. Many of us tend to find faults in our generation. It is whether the generation sinned that the consequence is such. This scripture clearly explains that it was the disciples who asked Jesus. Who sinned? The disciples who moved and journeyed together with Jesus, listening to his teachings, are the ones who actually asked Jesus who sinned? It is the same people who listened to Jesus’s teachings are the ones who are assuming that the blindness was related to generation sin.

How ironic is this? The Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross to take away all our sins, but sadly, many Christians are still looking back and finding faults in their generation. They are busy finding the sins of their ancestors, forgetting the power of the blood of Jesus on the cross. When God takes us 5 steps ahead, we are still looking back. Never ending cycle.

With this mindset, it is tough to move forward in life.

We must know the moment we accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, He came to restore us. He came to reveal to us how big God is. He came to give us the Light. He came to bring us out from the generation of Adam. Jesus Christ came to find us.

The blind man was blind since birth; he had hope to see again. Jesus Christ came to heal him. It is as simple as that.

Science today cannot heal a blind man, but Jesus Christ can.

Spend time knowing the Lord. If the devil has been trying to steal your little hope, do not give up; look towards the Lord. As you spend time with the Lord, your little hope will be rejuvenated.

Find faith like believers like you to instill hope in you. Do not let the devil snatch away the little hope you have. For Jesus, whatever the struggle you have now, it is easy. It is temporary.

Matthew chap 19:26; Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Say this today: Have HOPE!-R.J.J.JOHN

Prayer for today: Abba Father, I thank you, Lord; you are the Lord who restores. I commit my readers and I into your hands. Abba, I thank you for removing the blindness from us and helping us to see your goodness in our lives. I pray that Hope will be rejuvenated in our lives, knowing you are the Lord of our lives.

Application:

1. Spend time with the Lord. Go through the miracles of the Bible one by one this week.

Today, the Holy Spirit reminded me that God is merciful. I would like to encourage all my readers today by reminding each of us that God is merciful. It doesn’t matter how much we have drifted away from Him; he would never leave or forsake us.

Deuteronomy 7:9 – “Know, then, that the Lord, your God, is God: the faithful God who keeps covenant mercy to the thousandth generation toward those who love him and keep his commandments.” 

Ephesians 2:4-5 – “But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved.”

Titus 3:5 – “He saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit.”

I grew up in a very religious Christian background. Every Sunday morning services, church family prayers, and youth fellowships, but deep down in me, I knew something was missing. There was this longing within me of wanting more of God.

I was 12 years old when the priest in my home church prayed for me, and as he touched me, I knew there was something beyond this physical realm. My home church faced the beach, and I remember walking out from the church and facing the beach then. I knew something supernatural happened then, but I couldn’t comprehend it. I didn’t tell anyone about my encounter back then. I did not realize it was my first encounter with the Holy Spirit.

Years passed by, and God brought me abroad to continue my studies, and that nation changed my whole belief system. I had a personal encounter with the Lord, and I just knew this Lord was real. A supernatural visitation and a gift from the Lord empowered me to take the call to write for Him. Since then, I have started writing for the Lord.

But, realities in life pushed me hard after returning to my home country. Personal challenges that took me away from the Gospel, led me to make wrong choices in my life. My heart became bitter and broken, my soul became weary and tired, and I couldn’t move forward.

I started focussing on the storms in my life, forgetting that the Lord was there, all the while calming the storms. I felt alone, and it wasn’t easy. It was a struggle as I tried to push away these storms.

Yesterday, a good friend of mine prayed for me and shared with me a vision ;

”The Lord is with you in this boat . The boat is sailing, and despite storms, The Lord is in the boat.”

The vision reminded me so much of my own life. I realized I focussed too much on the storms, forgetting the Lord would bring me to pass. As I focussed on the storms, it stole my joy within.

Today, I encourage my readers to be hopeful no matter the storms in your lives, and always remember the Lord is in your boat, helping you to sail through.

The storms can be anything you are facing today. Health issues, career issues, financial issues, marital issues, relationship issues, loneliness, wrong ideas and thought patterns, stagnation, fear of men, etc.It can be anything!

No matter the brokenness or struggle that any of you are facing, let us shift our focus to the Lord and not the storms in life.

Today, I encourage my readers to put your trust in the Lord. The Lord is preparing each of us for a new season. He has prepared us. He would not let us go nor forsake us. He is faithful. He is good, and He is merciful. It has nothing to do with how much we have prayed. It has nothing to do with how much we have sacrificed. There is a new season where we just stand and receive His miracles.

The Lord reminded me that He wants to bring me into another new season. This season, He has prepared me to experience His goodness like never before just because God is merciful.

Many of us try so hard to change situations in life. We try many ways to do things. Forgetting the Lord is with us the whole time. I believe I am in a season of just receiving God’s mercy.

I would like to encourage all my readers to shift their focus to the goodness of God and be in a posture of experiencing God’s mercy.

We must remember that by God’s mercy alone, He would do great and mighty things in our lives.

1st Corinthians chap 2: 9 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him—

Say this today: I thank you, Lord, you are merciful.-R.J.JOHN

Prayer for today: Abba Father, I thank you, Lord, that you are merciful. You are so merciful that you would never leave us nor forsake us. I commit my readers to your hands, and I pray, Lord, this season will be a season of experiencing our mercy like never before. I thank you, Lord; the storms in life will be shut off in Jesus’ name Amen.

Application

1. Take some time every day to study the Mercy of God. Meditate on various scriptures from the Bible that focus on the Mercy of God.

I was meditating upon the Word today early in the morning, and the Lord told me to write a note explicitly dedicated to women today.

When we turn the pages of the Bible, from the beginning, we learn when God created Adam, God knew Adam could not be alone, and hence, he made a helper for man. He formed a woman from the ribs of Man. This is the early evidence of the importance of women in our daily lives.

Let us look at the scripture for meditation today

John chap 4: 27-30

Just then, his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

This is a very famous scripture passage in the Bible where we all know the story of the Samaritan Women at the well. We grew up knowing this story. But I believe the Lord wants to bring us to another level of understanding.

As I was meditating upon this verse today, I believe the Lord Jesus Christ was revealing himself to the Samaritan women. The good news was that she was receptive to hearing the Word.

The women didn’t walk away. The woman was there for a specific job, trying to draw water from the well. This shows that she was doing her chores. But when she heard that Jesus was the Messiah, she listened, and then she didn’t stop there; she went back to the town to share with Him.

As I was meditating upon this passage, there was something important: the Lord spoke to the Samaritan women.

John chap 4: 23-24

‘‘ Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and truth.”

God can only relate to us by communing with us in Spirit. God wants us to speak to Him. As ladies, we often have plenty of chores to do in a day. The responsibilities of a daughter, mother, grandmother, and working professional are not easy. But the Lord is reminding us that He wants to use us to be his vessel.

Setting aside time to worship God in Spirit is essential. That is the only time we draw strength in the Lord. It is risky to do our daily chores without faithfully setting aside time with the Lord. We must remember this is the time we are drawing from Him.

Matthew 4:4 NIV

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Our human body can sustain itself with daily bread. With our daily diet. But our human Spirit can only be sustained by the Word of God.

If you are a woman struggling in an area of your life today, I would like to pray for you. Always remember, you are cherished by God. Spending time with The Word of God is the only way out.

Do not read the bible for the sake of religiously doing it, but look forward to the specific time with the Lord expecting to have an encounter with the Lord.

The Lord is faithful. He would not let you go.

Say this today : ”I will have an encounter with the Lord.”

Prayer for today: ”Abba Father,I thank you, Lord for grace.The Grace of God upon every women who is reading this note today. I pray Lord as you speak to them,they will have an encounter with you, Lord.I pray, Lord for their hearts and minds are open to hear from you.”Amen.

Application

1. Set aside time to seek God. Have an expectation to receive from the Lord during the quiet time.A minimum of 15 minutes daily.

A few days ago, someone close to me prayed for me, praying that things would change in my life in a twinkle of an eye. I paused. Thought to myself. How can things change in a twinkle of an eye? But I kept quiet, received the prayer, and went back home.

But the phrase twinkle of an eye was spoken close to my heart. It keeps repeating in my mind. I ask the Lord, can ”Change happen in a twinkle of an eye?”

This time there was no response.

I ask the Lord again. Can ”Change happen in a twinkle of an eye?”

The answer was ”You will see.”

I left the matter and just returned to my daily chores in life. I just knew I was well taken care of. God knows me better.

I was looking through the bible and tried searching for verses related to the twinkle of an eye, and this verse came close to my heart.

1st Corinthians chap 15: 51-52 “Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

Have you prayed for change in someone’s life before? Or have you personally prayed for yourself for a change in your life? It could be a bondage, carrier, ministry, or you just want something new in your life. Have you?

The verse above refers to in a moment, we shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye. Someone has said that the average person blinks 10,000 to 20,000 times daily. In one twinkle, change can happen.

I believe this change can be anything related to our lives. How can change happen?

I believe the Lord God is merciful to those who want a change in their lives. It could be any related matter, but the Lord God graciously grants it.

Lately, I have been praying unto the Lord,” Abba, I just want something new to take place in me and my family.”But I did not realize it could happen in a twinkle of an eye until my close person prayed for me.

I realize it comes back to me whether I am ready to accept the change that is going to take place. We often pray and ask God for change, but are we ready?

How can we be ready to receive the change that we need?

The first and foremost way is to remove negative thoughts from our minds. Thoughts that have brought us into a cacoon of our own. We have created the cacoon in our lives. Our biggest fear is the cacoon. To overcome it, it takes courage. We are afraid to make the first step out. We are comfortable in the cacoon. We are worried about taking the first step out of the cacoon.

Today the Lord reminds us to take one step out of the cacooon.

How do we do it?

It takes courage.

Courage to go forward.

In a twinkle of an eye, God will change things. Things might go faster than we expect. Trust God.

Joshua 1:9 ”Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Say this today : ”I am ready for change.”-R.J.JOHN

Prayer for today: ” Abba Father, I thank you, Lord, that positive change only comes from your Lord. As your Word says, the perfect gift comes from heaven. I thank you, Lord. You are the Lord who grants change in our lives. Thank you, Lord, for a new season for my readers and me. Amen”

Application

1. Be expectant in faith for a new season in your life.

I was whispering a silent prayer unto the Lord today. ”Abba, please help me through this situation. I need you like never before. I really feel it is tuff.”

Have you all experience times like this?

The Lord reminded me of how beautiful nature is. Caterpillars into butterflies.

The story usually begins with a very hungry caterpillar hatching from an egg. The caterpillar, more scientifically termed a larva, stuffs itself with leaves, growing plumper and longer through a series of molts in which it sheds its skin. One day, the caterpillar stops eating, hangs upside down from a twig or leaf, and spins itself into a silky cocoon or molts into a shiny chrysalis. The caterpillar radically transforms its body within its protective casing, eventually emerging as a butterfly or moth.

I felt the task given to me was a heavy task. I find it so difficult. But as I cried out unto the Lord, the Lord reminded me it was time for the caterpillar to radically transform.

Have you been in a season where you feel stagnation in your life? There is no progress. Of course, the Lord has been faithful, no doubt about that, but you feel empty inside. You wanted to achieve certain things in life, but you didn’t. You get disheartened. Discouraged. As I was crying out unto the Lord today, I sincerely felt I was in a season where Im pushing out like the pupa.

But the Lord reminded me that the pupa didn’t struggle to push out. It was simply how nature was created to give God all glory. Likewise, the Lord reminded me this battle is not mine. When I try so hard to struggle to fight it within me, I realize it is of no point. His grace is made perfect in my weakness. I pray, Lord, His grace is sufficient in my life.

” Abba, I write unto you, Lord. At this moment, I just wanna surrender all my insecurities and my sadness in life to the Lord. I want to rejoice in you, Lord. I pray for grace. I pray for mercy. I surrender my whole life unto you, Lord. I just pray for a new season. I am tired of this season. Sincerely tired of this season. Lead me through, Lord. Lead me and guide me, O God.” R.J

When I thought I was in a season of larva turning into pupa. The Lord reminded me. No, you are in a phase of turning into a butterfly.

What does the bible say about Butterflies?

Butterflies are creatures of transformation, changing from a crawling caterpillar stuck on a tree to the freedom of a gorgeous butterfly. The truth is that the Bible doesn’t reference or mention actual butterflies. But the Bible is full of scripture about what butterflies symbolize. In the Bible, butterflies symbolize new beginnings, transformation, and change.

Just as the caterpillar thinks its life is over, it emerges more beautiful and with a new life. Jacob, who went from a liar to the father of Israel, is one Biblical figure who best represents what butterflies symbolize in the Bible. Isaiah even refers to Jacob’s previous existence as a lowly insect.

Abram to Abraham, Sara to Sarah, Simon to Peter, and Saul to Paul are examples of Biblical figures who experienced tremendous butterfly transformations where God/Jesus gave them new names to reflect their inward changes.

2 Corinthians 5: 17 ” We are called to leave our old lives behind. As the butterfly leaves its broken cocoon behind, we are called to focus on our new life in Christ.”

The butterfly must feel total freedom breaking out from the cocoon. Once I became a Christian, I had to learn how to operate in my new life, leaving some bad habits behind since I wanted to lead a life pleasing to God.

Ephesians 4: 22-24 ( NIV) You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

And the good news is God helps us every step of the way to become who He created us to be.

Say this today: ”I am ready to become a butterfly. By grace.” -R.J.JOHN

Prayer for today: Abba, at this moment, I want to commit everyone who is going through a season in their life that you would be faithful in their life.I pray that the transformation process isn’t tough but will be easy by God’s grace. Thank you, Lord; you are faithful, and this season will bring testimonies. I submit my dreams and desires unto your hands, O Lord.I pray for my readers that they will experience a radical transformation by the grace of God. Let this journey glorify you, my Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Application

1. Be faithful to the little that is given. It can be a job or any task that is provided to you.
2. Trust God in the process of transformation.

I heard this silent whisper within my spirit these last few days.

”I am your Adonai R.J.”

I wanted to understand the meaning of Adonai, and hence I did a few studies on trying to understand the Word Adonai. Adonai is one of the prominent names of God used in the Old Testament. Adonai is a Hebrew word translated as ”Lord, Lord, or Master.”

Psalm 8: 1 Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens.

Isaiah 6: 1 I saw the LORD, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.

Psalm 136 : 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.

The name Adonai, and its variations, are found in more than 400 verses throughout God’s Word.

When we talk about Adonai, I believe the Lord is reminding us that He is the master of every single detail in our life. When we acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ over our lives, He is our Adonai. He is our master.

Psalm 2: 7-8; He said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your father. Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the Earth your possession.”

Isn’t this powerful? The word Adonai reminded me that He is the master. The owner.The Lord of our lives.

Sadly, in reality, we do not respond to such.

Circumstances in life may push us to become bitter, sorrowful, and disappointed. We may not see logical solutions to specific situations in life, and hence we become worried, disturbed, and discouraged. In these moments of discouragement, we tend to forget that the Lord is the master of our life.

A close person to me was recently diagnosed with a growing tumor within her body. The tumor is growing in her oral cavity, affecting her breathing system. She is already exhibiting breathing difficulties; if we leave it, the tumor will affect her breathing. But if she goes for surgery, the surgery is high-risk as the tumor is near her breathing tract. The doctors advised her to go for surgery as leaving the tumor is allowing the tumor to grow and will slowly block her breathing system. The doctors also expressed that this is a very specialized surgery, and the tumor is growing in a rare location. The doctors were indecisive, and they needed to consult a few specialists. After months of delaying decisions, the family decided to go for surgery.

Deep down in my heart, as a medical practitioner, I know the surgery is high-risk. I ask the Lord, what should this particular auntie do. The Word Adonai came close to my heart. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Lord of her life. Certain situations in life. Only God can change the story.

Today’s note is dedicated to this young girl battling with her mother to battle this tumor and everyone out there who is struggling with a challenge. I want to tell you, ”The Lord is your Adonai.”

The word Adonai reminded me how majestic and glorious our Father is. We know we wouldn’t need to walk this journey alone. We have our Master that is in control of every single detail of our life.

Allow the Lord Jesus Christ to be the Master of your life. Alllow Him to be your Adonai. When we try to solve situations on our own, situations may not solve the way we want them to be; instead of asking why and how, Lord, the process takes very long.

How do we allow the Lord to be the Master of our life?

John chap 1: 1 ”In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word is God.”

Just soak ourselves by just reading the Scriptures. The verse above clearly states the Word is God. We don’t read the Bible for the sake of reading them. We must understand each verse are the breath of God. The Word is so powerful. Instead of focusing on the trouble, shift our focus to the Word. Pick a book from the Bible and just read them. You can start with the Book of John. The Lord is trying to speak to us whenever we read the Bible. He is telling us what to do. If you don’t read, you can hear the Word of God. Hear the scriptures. Hear the Bible alone. Don’t live life solo. He is our Adonai.

The name Adonai is genuinely a gift from God to us, His people. It is a reassuring reminder that God is in control. The more we acknowledge Him as Adonai, the more we see His goodness.

In August, let us shift our focus to the Lord. Acknowledging the Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives. He is in control. As we look unto the Lord, we know deep in our Spirit, He is our Adonai.

Whatever the situation is, He will walk us through it. He will provide all our necessities. He will journey with us.

To the young girl battling with her mum in this journey, I want to remind you that the Lord is your Adonai. The tumor is removed. This journey will give God the glory. Just acknowledge the Lord as your Adonai. He is in control. He has done miracles. He will do it again. We let go and let God.

I invite all my readers today to pray for this auntie. There is power in the prayer of agreement.

Matthew chap 18: 19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

”Abba Father, I thank you, Lord, for divine healing upon this Auntie. I thank you, Lord, you are her Adonai. I thank you, Lord, for healing her entirely in the Mighty name of Jesus Christ. The tumor must leave in the name of Jesus. You are the Lord who healeth her. I thank you, Lord, for this gift of healing. ”Amen