Meditation: March 31

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” 2 Corinthians 2:14

The path to victory leads into the heat of the battle. There the soldier must defend his honor and stand against the onslaught of opposing forces. There would be no retreat from that position. It is either do or die. The fainthearted would rather avoid such definite lines of battle. It would be easier to be on both sides rather than to outwardly declare war against a foe that threatens one’s security and all others that would follow. Too much is at stake at defeat. The loss of life and limb, or even the shame to admit that there was not enough strength to carry on. Such are the challenges facing the follower of Christ. He has been positioned by God before us as our Captain. His priority is to lead us to victory after victory. Yet not by bloodshed, but rather by fumigating the environment with the sweet smell of His knowledge, thus eliminating the stench of ignorance that pervaded before the engagement of war began. The enemy is won over because the soldiers have retreated to the other side. Those who were once enemies of Christ now have become His friends because they have been influenced by the aroma of life and repulsed by the stench of death.

Meditation: February 24

“Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness,
The Lord will be a light to me.” Micah 7:8

There is a future after a fall. There is life and victory on the other side of apparent defeat. It is the enemy who has devised the plans and set the traps for my failure. He has studied my weaknesses and mocks at my strength when I take pride in them. Yes, it is too easy to believe that I have the strength to stand alone. But when I fall God who is my sufficiency, is there to pick me up. Do not rejoice over me when I fall. There is much I have yet to learn but now I will learn in humility, trusting God to show me what I was unable to see. My victory is merely delayed and not denied. I will arise from this place as the light of God’s love shines upon my path guiding me in the direction of His will.

Meditation: February 21

“Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.” Hebrew 10:35

Once confidence has been attained, there is nothing standing between God’s promise and the fulfillment of the promise. To trust in the Lord with all of our heart comes as a gift to the believer. This is a level of trust that does not demand further evidence, but stands on God’s integrity as our guarantee. The only entryway available to the adversary is when we cast aside what we over time have attained. We must guard what is most precious from the allurement of the enemy. His objective is to cause us to surrender what is able to bring us into the promised reward. It may be closer than we think, thus the attacks may escalate. Don’t treat what is most precious as being useless because the promised blessings are not in sight. Reaping His promised blessings lie ahead if we do not lose heart.

Meditation: January 30

”Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12

Youthful lusts do not automatically translate into wantonness. There are temptations that come in our youth to channel our energies in the direction of our unchecked passions. It takes forethought to consider the outcome of decisions that so many peers make. The admonition is to think ahead and consider what your life would be like in the future. Decisions now have far reaching consequences later. The wise and mature, as result of years of trial and error, have much to teach the young and immature. They have walked the path that the young are yet considering. Unfortunately, we only have one life to live. If it were possible, the warnings to the young would be their precautionary actions now. Since this is impossible, they can only speak wise words borne from experience and observation. Listen to wise and godly advice. It will spare you from many failures and heartache as result of snares set by the enemy.

Meditation: January 4

“If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.” Exodus 33:15

As we move forward into this New Year, we need the Presence of the Lord. We stretch our hand into the darkness of uncertain experiences, but by faith believe that there is another Hand on the other side to take hold of it to guide us throughout the year. We trust God who has gone before us and has full knowledge of the end as well as every beginning. But our plight is for His Presence to be with us. As Jesus became man to dwell among us, we need His Presence daily to assure us that we are not alone. If God be with us, who can be against us? He will guide us through every pitfall and entrapment of the enemy as long as He is doing the guiding and we are not merely following the dictates of our own heart. It is our prayer to be changed this year in order for our hearts to be after His own thus having the will to fully follow Jesus wherever He may lead. “If He does not go with us, we do not want to be brought from here.”

Meditation: November 14

“For man also does not know his time: Like fish taken in a cruel net, like birds caught in a snare, so the sons of men are snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them.”  Ecclesiastes 9:12

Action taken without any knowledge of our time is the entrapment of the enemy. We would lose sight of all the benefits provided as a means of remaining on the path of freedom. What were the habits and where were the pitfalls of the past that once held us in their grip before we were enlightened. They are still there even though we may have been once delivered from them. But when we get out of step with God and begin to take matters into our own hands, in no time they catch up to recapture us. We must be a step ahead of ploys that could so easily cause setbacks. God reveals the strategies and schemes intended to dismantle the work of God in us and through us. Therefore it is required of us to walk in the Spirit in sync with the Lord is timing that we do not succumb weakness of the flesh and the wiles of the devil.

Meditation: October 31

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:13

Careful preparation is required if one is to continue standing under the pressures of the world, the flesh, and the devil. The armed attack of the enemy which may work through all three, are aimed at the weakest part of our character. It is impossible for any to fully know all of his weaknesses. Surely in the areas of perceived strength temptations will come to test the strength of our commitment to God and the truths that we profess to uphold. This is why an accurate and spirit-guided articulation of the message from God is so important. Equally so, this is why the enemy of our souls would much rather see us doing any other thing that taking heed to the words that are given for the salvation of our souls. The whole armor of God, not just those portions that are comfortable and in fashion must be continually worn. The attacks do not come at a scheduled time, but when we least expect them to come. They may come successively if there is any sign of fatigue taking place. We must allow God to strengthen those parts that are weakened. But above all, take a stand for what God has ordained. If there is not solid position taken against wrong and for what is right, the best artillery and armor is of no use. It would merely service as the dressing of a fully decorated corpse.

Meditation: October 17

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” Psalm 20:7

Our strength against the enemy must not in our boasting. Many may flex their muscles and consider that they are strong enough to withstand the attacks of the opposition. The chariots of old were status symbols representing pedigree of the warrior. Some had two horse chariots arrayed with precious metals which were often intimidating to those of lesser position. They trusted in their nobility and the amounts of artillery they were able to afford. Their horses were the best money could buy, trained to obey their every command. But even the best had the possibility of failing them. The psalmist placed his trust in Lord his God and remembered His name. His name defines His character. He trusted in what God said about Himself. When we who are called by His name remember it, we are able to face every opposition. We take ownership of His name as His people and are protected with His strength. He is reliable in keeping us from falling and failing and gives us victory over our enemies.

Meditation: September 29

“For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light.”Psalm 36:9 (KJV)

Darkness conceals while light reveals. Things are further darkened by darkness while they are illuminated by the light. The Lord speaks His Word in order to guide us through life. His Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. We are guided through those dangerous places where the enemy of our souls is lurking with the intent of killing, stealing, and destroying us. We are not walking alone because when we walk in the light we walk with Him. We see together and move in sync with one another. What we see enables us to see more. What we experience together is preparation for what lies ahead. The light that is before us now will lead us to greater dimensions of light. His light is the light of life. A fountain of living water continues to flow in our direction keeping and preserving us. What awaits us is far greater than what we had to abandon. All that preceded was mere preparation for what the Lord has yet to show us. We can trust His guidance and rest in His peace. We must not allow anything to get us off track but know that He knows the way that we must go. And when we safely arrive, we will appreciate every winding curve along the way.

Meditation: September 9

“Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” Isaiah  53:1

God’s arm is His strength. The mighty strength of God has manifested in history to overthrow corrupt governments and to dethrone the reign of wickedness. When it appears as if all is lost and the exercise of faith is a futile act, God intervenes with His might to reconfirm the truth that He is God and besides Him there is no other. The question that wrest on the minds of many is,” where is God” and, “how could He allow such things to happen as many are experiencing crises today”? God is asking the question, “can faith be found among those who profess to believe in Me?” Not the fickle faith of those who merely believe for what they want to achieve, but for Him to exercise His might overthrowing the works of the enemy. The whole report of God must be believed if Jesus is to be in view. He provides evidence that the report is true.  Then it becomes our guide for living. When it is believed and acted upon, the strength of God is manifested among men. Unbelief restricts the power of God from flowing to the most needed places. Jesus could do no mighty works in Nazareth because of the people’s unbelief. They thought that they knew Him but were too familiar with His natural life to see Him and know Him after the Spirit. He invites us to participate with Him in what He is doing. We can then be set free from doing the same things repeatedly without producing results, but rather for Him to be glorified on the earth through willing and obedient instruments through which His power may flow through.