FOURTY STEPS BOAZ A DH ENG O
Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty : While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher nor author shall be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damages, including but not limite d to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and P atents Act 1988, this publication may only be repr oduced, stored or transmitted, in any form or by any means, with the prior permission in writing of the author, or in the case of reprographic reproduction in accordance with the terms and licences issued by the CLA. Enquiries concerning reproduction outsi de these terms should be sent to the publishers at the undermentioned addresses: 627 Davis Drive, Suite 300 27560 Morrisville, North Carolina. United States Š2021 By Boaz Adhengo. All Rights Reserved The right of Boaz Adhengo to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and P atents Act 1988
P rinted in Great Britain by Adhesh-Kapur Colour P ress Ltd, Gosport, Hampshire To purchase your own copy of this or any of Jahwar Amber Creative Enterprise collection of Adhengo’ s list of eBooks please go to www.adhengo.mizizzi.com eBook ISBN: 978-1-716-26712-3 Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://www.adhengoboaz.com/fourty.info/reader
Design and typography: Adhengo Boaz & Associates
w w w .adhengoboaz.com
@adhengobeuze
Preface Suppose Shakespeare had died before he wrote his poems and plays - the potential of M acbeth would have been buried. Suppose M ichelangelo had died before he painted the Sistine Chapel or DaVinci the M ona Lisa - the beauty of their paintings would have been lost. Suppose M ozart had died with all that music in his bosom. Suppose M oses had died before he saw the burning bush…Paul before he met Jesus on the Damascus Road…Abraham before Isaac was born. How different the pages of Scripture and history would be. Suppose M artin Luther had died without writing the thesis…Charles Wesley without penning the hymns…John Wycliffe without translating the Bible into English. How different the history of the Church might have been. Can you imagine how many great works of art , music, and literature are buried in the graveyard near your house? Can you imagine how many solutions to the problems we face today are buried with someone you knew? People die without getting out their full potential. They fail to use all that was stored in them for the benefit of the world. I wonder what would have happened if your father had died before you were conceived or your mother before you were born. What would the world have lost if you had not been born? What will the world lack because you fail to live out your potential? Will you carry songs, books, inventions, cures, or discoveries to your grave? What would the world have lost if you had not been born? The fall of man resulted in man deviating from the original intention of God. And what was His original intention? For us to have daily encounters with Him. The Bible teaches that Adam and Eve spoke directly with their Creator. But from the moment they sinned, the communication was cut and they ran to hide in shame. The Scripture says in Genesis 3:10, that when they heard the voice of God, they were afraid because they were naked and hid. Because of nudity that sin causes, we lost our daily encounters with God. That is why the devil attacks us with oppression, sickness, poverty and many typ es of slavery. But we were not called to live this way. Today God is calling all His children around the world, to return to His original intention, and have daily encounters with Him. What does it mean to have an encounter with God? I describe it as a divine appointment, where God presents Himself, and introduces us to some of the attributes of His character. For example: His fatherhood, His provision and His faithfulness. What are you looking for? Do you want to have a more intimate relationship with God? Are you hungry for His presence? Do you want to walk in His will? Do you need to receive a miracle? Welcome to a fourty day devotional…let’s journal together.
Day One
“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.” (Proverbs 31:10) When most girls are young, they spend a lot of time daydreaming about the type of guy that they will marry one day. They envision the way he’ll look, dress, talk, and they even begin making early preparations for their wedding day. As we get older, we discover that the list of wishes we created for our future spouse (whether as men or women) were probably too superficial for a lasting marriage, and we begin to look for other qualities like her relationship with God and others and the type of character that she has. Though men may not necessarily think about marriage until much later in life, one of the key components they look for in a spouse is a woman of noble character. Your character says a lot about you and your morality. A man can view a woman’s worth as more valuable than rubies when the woman has a noble character; because someone of noble character is someone that can be trusted. He can trust her with his personal goals, dreams, and desires. He can trust her with his past, present, and future and he can trust her to commit to keeping the wedding vows she made with him. Women often spend time looking to find men that fit their list of qualifications, but it is just as important that they themselves exhibit the qualities that they expect to see in their husband.
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank you for building me up spiritually to the point of being a person of noble character. Help me to honour my spouse by my actions in Jesus’ name. Amen.
1
Day T wo
“Even so, every healthy tree bears good fruit [worthy of admiration], but the sickly (decaying, worthless) tree bears bad fruit”. (Mathew 7:17) The fruit in our lives (our behaviour) comes from somewhere. A person who is angry is that way for a reason. His reaction is the bad fruit of a bad tree with bad roots. It is important for us to take a close and honest look at our fruit as well as our roots. In my own life, there was a lot of bad fruit. I experienced regular bouts of depression, negativity and even moments of quick temper. I was harsh, rigid, legalistic, and judgmental. I held grudges and was fearful. I worked hard at trying to correct it. Yet it seemed that no matter what kind of bad behaviour I tried to get rid of, two or three others popped up somewhere else like weeds. I was not getting to the hidden root of the problem, and it would not die. If this scenario sounds familiar to you, it may be that you have unresolved issues in your life that need to be searched out and removed so that everyt hing can be made fresh and new. Don’t run away. If God can change me, He certainly can change you.
Prayer Oh God, thank you for your love that even empowers me to search upon my generation, to identify such curses that hold me back and by the power of H oly Spirit, be set free to be renewed in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
2
Day T hree
“…God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us”. (Romans 5:5) The Bible teaches us that the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. That simply means that when the Lord, in the person of the Holy Spirit, comes to dwell in our heart because of our faith in His Son Jesus Christ, He brings love with Him, because God is love (1 John 4:8). It’s important to ask what we are doing with the love of God that has been freely given to us. Are we rejecting it because we don’t think we are valuable enough to be loved? Do we believe God is like other people who have rejected and hurt us? Or are we receiving His love by faith, believing that He is greater than our failures and weaknesses? With God’s help, we can love ourselves - not in a selfish, self-centred way that produces a lifestyle of self-indulgence, but in a balanced, godly way, a way that simply affirms God’s creation as essentially good and right. God’s plan is this: for us to receive His love, love ourselves in a godly way, generously love Him in return, and then love all the people who come into our lives.
Prayer Heavenly Father, I come before you, aware that I am a sinner. I repent my sins, and today I start my life without any of the spiritual weight that tries to hold me down. I break every covenant that I made with the world and the flesh, and make a new covenant with Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to live in Holiness and freedom, to be a reflection of your love in all that am doing. Amen.
3
Day Four
“Honour your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you .” (Deuteronomy 5:16) When some of you read this verse, you probably automatically dismiss it as nothing more than a memory verse for children. After all, it is used a lot in Sunday school, and that’s usually where we are first introduced to it. But the fact of the matter is: as long as you are a child to someone, this verse applies to you. Obeying your parents when you were a child probably seemed like one of the hardest things to do, but sometimes, giving them honour and respect once you’ve become an adult can be even harder. Why? Because once you grow up, you get “too grown” to be told what to do anymore. Well, honouring your parents means that you need to patiently listen when they give you advice, even if it doesn’t gel with your own perspective. It means that you privately and publicly show them respect and speak well of them. It means that you live a lifestyle that shows them how all of the work they poured into you paid off. Some of you may have parents that are not believers, so giving them honour in this way is difficult. But this command is not based on the behaviour of your parents. It’s a command to you to mind your own behaviour. Be the kind of child that you want your children to be, starting today.
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank you for my parents. Help me to honour you as I honour them in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
4
Day Five
“Behold, You desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart”. (Psalm 51:6) God wants us to face the truth in our inmost being, then perhaps, confess it in an appropriate manner to the right person. And yet sometimes we’re the ones who need to hear the truth the most. When people come to me for help in this area, I often tell them, “ Go and look at yourself in the mirror and confess the problem to yourself.” Being honest with yourself sets you free! If, for instance, your problem is that your parents did not love you as a child and you are resentful and bitter. Face these facts as a reality once and for all; look at yourself in the mirror and say, “My parents did not love me, and perhaps they never will. But God loves me, and that is enough!” You don’t have to be one of those people who spend their life trying to get something they’ll never have. If you have let the fact that you were unloved ruin your life thus far, don’t let it claim the rest of your life. You can do what David did. Confess to yourself: “Although my father and my mother have forsaken me, yet the Lord will take me up [adopt me as His child]” (Psalm 27:10). Whatever the problem may be that is bothering you, face it, consider confessing it to a trusted confidant, as you admit it to yourself in your inmost being.
Prayer Lord Jesus, I repent for trying to do everything on my own strength. I apologize for not letting you act in my life. I surrender to Your Holy Spirit, and from this moment, I let You be God in my life. Today I make a commitment to love and serve You with all my heart. Thank you Jesus. Amen.
5
Day Six
“May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14) There are some people that do not know the importance of words, and that is the very reason they speak before thinking. If you know that your words have the power to kill and give life, then it would do you well to think carefully before uttering any word (Proverbs 18:21). David prayed, “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3). He knew the importance of words, so he prayed to God to help him watch his tongue. Some people are miserable and frustrated today because of words spoken to them by their parents, spouses, bosses, or teachers. As a Christian, you must be very careful with your words. You can destroy your children or your marriage with words. If you talk your children down, they will never rise above that which you have said to them. In the same way, you can talk life out of your friends and make everyone miserable. Learn to speak comforting and healing words today. The words that are acceptable to God are healing and life giving. If you want your words to be pleasing to God, then meditate on His Word and speak only His word.
Prayer Heavenly Father, I thank you because I have the ability to speak healing and creative words that give life, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
6
Day Seven
“Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) When the Bible talks about love, reference is actually being made to God because He is not just the source of Love, but He is Love Himself. “ Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:7-8). Paul reveals to us the characteristics of God; the very nature and life of God that is expressed through us. Love is the nature of God that we received at the new birth. It is a nature as well as a spiritual gift. Love is the greatest spiritual gift. Love is. It’s an action word, actively doing, seeking to fulfil the interest of others; it’s not centred on self, but is centred on others. Think of the love of a parent for a child. Regardless of how the child behaves, love covers and conquers it all. If you are planning to live in eternity with God, you must learn to live like Him on earth by giving vent to His nature and character in you. All the attributes of love listed in our opening scriptures are in your spirit, let them out today by living the life that God expects you to live. Let love flow out of you. Exude the love, character, and nature of God in your spirit today to bless your world.
Prayer Dear Lord, thank you for putting your nature of love into my spirit. I live today conscious of my love nature because as you are so am I in this world, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
7
Day Eight
“But Jesus looked at them and said, With men this is impossible, but all things are possible with God�. (Mathew 19:26) M any people I meet want to start at point A in their Christian life, blink their eyes twice, and be at point Z. M any of them are frustrated about not knowing what their gifts are or what God has called them to do with their life. Some of them are so afraid of failing and making mistakes that it keeps them from stepping out. We all have undeveloped potential, but we will never see it manifested until we believe that we can do whatever God says we can do in His Word. Unless we step out in faith, believing that with God nothing is impossible, He cannot do the work in us that He wants to do to develop our potential. It takes our cooperation and willingness through faith, determination, obedience, and hard work to develop what He has put in us. Nobody can be determined for us, but we can be determined for ourselves. If we are not determined, the devil will steal from us everything we have. I encourage you to give your potential some form by doing something with it. You will never find what you are capable of doing if you never try anything. Don’t be afraid to step out into what you believe God is leading you to do. When y ou step out, you will find you are capable of great things.
Prayer Heavenly Father, today I go to higher dimensions of faith through trust which produces an intimate relationship with You. Teach me to take steps in faith, to trust in You, and teach me how to wait for what You have promised me. I know that You will fulfil. I love you God; I want more of you!
8
Day Nine
“God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26) Second Samuel nine tells the story of M ephibosheth, the grandson of King Saul and the son of Jonathan. Crippled as a youth, M ephibosheth had a poor selfimage. Instead of seeing himself as the rightful heir to his father’s and grandfather’s legacy, he saw himself as someone who would be rejected. When David sent for M ephibosheth, he fell down before the king and displayed fear. David told him not to fear, that he intended to show M ephibosheth kindness because of David’s covenant with Jonathan. M ephibosheth’s initial response is an important example of the kind of poor self-image we all need to overcome. A poor self-image causes us to operate in fear instead of faith. We look at what is wrong with us instead of what is right with Jesus. He has taken our wrongs and given us His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). We can joyfully walk in the reality of that truth. I love the end of the story. David blessed M ephibosheth for Jonathan’s sake. He gave him servants and land and provided for all of his needs. God will bless us for Jesus’ sake! We can all relate M ephibosheth’s lameness to our own weaknesses. We may also fellowship and eat with our King Jesus - despite our faults and weaknesses.
Prayer Lord Jesus, I come before You because I want to be used as an extension of your hands, your feet and your whole body, to touch those who need you. Activate in me the gifts of healing and deliverance, because I want to serve with love. You saved me to express Yourself through me. Use my life, Lord.
9
Day T en
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship.” (Romans 12:1) In the days of traditional sacrifice, an animal or bird (most often a lamb), without spot or blemish, was the only acceptable sacrifice to bring the Lord. Fast forward to today; your life is the ultimate sacrifice to give to God. In the above scripture, Apostle Paul implores the Romans to live each day in a sacrificial way in order to please God. To sacrifice something is to lay down an object that is valuable to you as a way to esteem someone else or to offer thanks. When we accepted Christ as our saviour, we forfeited the claim the father of this world, Satan, had on our lives and became joint heirs with Christ. If that isn’t enough reason to offer the one thing that is most valuable to us - our lives - to Him, then I don’t know what is! The process of making a sacrifice looks like choosing the narrow path of righteousness even when you want to traverse the road everyone else is on. It looks like choosing the good part and spending time with God in the secret place even though you have a million things on your plate and what seems like no free time. It’s giving whatever is in your hands, be it time, money, affection, etc., to God. We are to live our lives as those who belong to God. Our lives are not our own. Jesus laid down His life for us, though we did not deserve it, so the least we can do it lay down ours for Him, too.
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank you for teaching me to live in such a way that is pleasing to you. Lord, help to live my life to be pleasing to you, that I may reflect your gift of love in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
10
Day Eleven
“For we are not wrestling with flesh and, but against… this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly sphere”. (Ephesians 6:12) Satan wages wars against us and one of his tactics is to make us feel bad about ourselves. He reminds us of all our failures and weaknesses, but we need to remember that God knows all about us and He loves us anyway. We fight many battles, but probably the greatest battle we fight is the one with ourselves. We may struggle with feeling that we should have accomplished more in life than we have; we may feel we’ve failed in many ways. We can’t change anything by being frustrated and struggling within. Only God can change us as we trust in Him. He will fight our battles and win. Our part is to believe, cooperate with Him, and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. It is difficult to get to the place where we can be honest with ourselves about our sins and failures, our inabilities and fallibilities, and yet still know that we are seen as being right with God because of what Jesus did for us when He died for us and rose from the dead. If you are at war within yourself, knowing you are the righteousness of God in Christ is a tremendous key to tapping into peace and spiritual power.
Prayer Heavenly Father, I come before You, aware that I am a sinner. I repent my sins, and today I start my life without any of the spiritual weight that tries to hold me down. I break every covenant that I made with the world and the flesh, and make a new covenant with Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to live in holiness and freedom, until the end of my days. Amen.
11
Day T welve
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” (1 Peter 5:6) There are many times in our lives when we would just like a little praise and admiration from others. Whether it’s because of the way we parent our children or the way we perform a task or even for the good things we do for others, it feels good to have people acknowledge that you have done something special. There is actually nothing wrong with that feeling at all. In fact, the Bible tells us that God loves to rejoice over us and lift us up for His name’s sake. The problem occurs when we seek to find our praise in the mouths of men instead of God. Jesus tells us in M atthew 6:1-21 that when we do things for the sake of the praise of others, their praise is our reward. We receive nothing from our Father in heaven. When you look at the scope of what you receive from men and what you receive from God; is the number of “likes” you receive for your good deed really worth it? God gives grace to those who are humble, and He resists the proud. Continue to fulfil your obligations, take care of your family, and do kind things for others, even if you are not recognized for it. Remember that God sees what is done in secret and will reward your for your kindness and faithfulness. Though it may be hard to perform a “thankless” task, remain humble as you wait for the day that God will give you grace and lift you up.
Prayer Heavenly Father, I choose to be humble and to seek your approval instead of others’. I thank you for giving me grace and promotion in all that I do in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
12
Day T hirteen
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you lose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven ”. (Mathew 16:19) Since we are not only physical creatures but spiritual beings as well, we are able to stand in the physical realm and affect the spiritual realm. This is a very definite privilege and advantage. We can go into the spiritual realm through prayer and bring about action that will cause change in a situation. “ God is a Spirit…” (John 4:24), and every answer we need to every situation is with Him. Jesus told Peter that He would give him the keys to the kingdom of heaven. All keys unlock doors, and I believe those keys (at least in part) can represent various types of prayer. Jesus went on to teach Peter about the power of binding and loosing, which operates on the same spiritual principle. The power of binding and loosing is exercised in prayer. When you and I pray about deliverance from some bondage in our lives or in the life of another, we are, in effect, binding that problem and losing the problem. The act of prayer binds evil and loses it for good.
Prayer Heavenly Father, I come to You recognizing that You are the only one who can change my life. I’m tired of living the same way! I’m tired of having an empty life! I need to be transformed into Your presence. Change me Jesus!
13
Day Fourteen
“Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” (John 3:3)
This is one of the concepts of the New Testament that has caused several disputes in the body of Christ because of false doctrines and false teachings. If you want to be a child of God, you must be born again. This is what happens when you confess Jesus as your Lord and personal saviour: “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved” (Romans 10:9-10). Our first birth came through our mother’s womb. Being born again comes through the Holy Spirit: acceptance of Christ as Lord and Saviour. The moment you confess the lordship of Jesus, according to Romans 10:9-10, the Holy Spirit of God baptizes you into the body of Christ, and you miraculously become a child of God from that moment. When you are born again, God becomes your heavenly Father, and you become a new member of His family, which is the body of Christ. Your brothers and sisters are like-minded believers. Together, you learn to trust in Jesus Christ and depend upon the Holy Spirit to live this new life. You are an heir of God with privileges such as being able to see the Kingdom of God. Welcome!
Prayer Heavenly Father, I thank you for giving me Lord Jesus, I ask for forgiveness for my futile way of life. From now I abandon the life of sin, passivity, carnality, selfishness and idolatry, and begin to be transformed into Your image and likeness. Transform my body, my mind, my words and my behaviour to reflect the divine being that You created with Your own hands. I thank You in the name of Jesus Christ!
14
Day Fifteen
“May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love ”. (Ephesians 3:17) Rejection starts as a seed that is planted in our lives through different things that happen to us. God loves and accepts us, but the devil steals that truth from us by making us think we’re rejected so that we feel rejected and unloved. When this happens, it affects every area of our lives. It becomes a tree with many branches that all bear bad fruit. Whatever you are rooted in will determine the fruit in your life - good or bad. If you are rooted in rejection, abuse, shame, guilt, or a poor self-image - if you are rooted in thinking, Something is wrong with me! - your “tree” will bear depression, negativism, a lack of confidence, anger, hostility, a controlling spirit, judgmentalism, hatred, and self-pity. If you are rooted in Christ Jesus and in His love, then you can relax and know you are loved and valuable. You can know that God sees you as right through your faith in Christ Jesus. All the areas of your life that are out of order can be reconciled through Jesus Christ and the work that He has done on the cross. It happened to me, and God can do it for you.
Prayer Lord Jesus, I ask for forgiveness for having offended You. I repent and I give every area of my life where You’re not the Lord. I surrender my ego, I submit my will, I give my life to You so that You may pour Your spirit on me. I put my life on the altar as an offering, knowing that the more I give of me, the more I have of You. Glory and honour to You Lord! Amen
15
Day Sixteen
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:2-3) If you let this Scripture be your guide, you can have peace in your marriage and in every other sphere of your life. The one condition this scripture outlines though, much to the chagrin of many, is that the responsibility of ensuring a peaceful coexistence with others lies on our shoulders as believers. As Christians, we should live by a totally different standard than the rest of the world. We must be humble, gentle, and patient with the understanding that as we embody these characteristics, we greatly influence the response of those around us. There may be times that we have to dismiss debates or refuse to give attention to an issue in order to maintain peace and unity, and that can be hard to do, but we are ambassadors of peace for the kingdom of God, so there is an expectation that we should show the world what being a child of God looks like. Oh, it is so easy to become intolerant with someone who is going through a situation that you’ve already conquered, but for unity to reign, we must be humble, gentle, and patient in love, so that peace may abound. It is always useful to remember where we have journeyed from, how long it took us, and what we learned along the way. This attitude will help us to become gentle with them in the same way the Lord has been gentle with us.
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank you for making me an agent of peace. I will allow your peace that fills my heart to fill my world in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
16
Day Seventeen
“In [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery”. (Galatians 5:1) Jesus came to this world and paid for our sins, taking our punishment upon Himself. He became our substitute, paid the debt we owed, at no cost to us. He did all this freely because of His great love, grace, and mercy. Jesus inherited all the Father has to give and tells us that we are joint heirs with Him by virtue of our faith. He has provided the way for our complete victory both here and hereafter. He has conquered, and we get the reward without paying the price. We are more than conquerors. How much simpler could it be? The Gospel is wonderfully uncomplicated. Complication is the work of Satan. He hates simplicity because he knows the power and the joy that our faith brings. Whenever your relationship with God becomes complex, return to the simplicity of believing like a little child. Jesus said, “only believe” and you will see the glory of God (John 11:40). Return to and celebrate the simplicity of your faith in Jesus alone.
Prayer Dear Heavenly Father, I praise Your great works, Your wonders and the beauty of Your holiness. I adore You because You are my God, my provider, my healer, my deliverer, my creator. You are my Abba! Dear daddy, day and night I look for You Because You are the God of my salvation. My God, manifest Your presence here and now!
17
Day Eighteen
“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5) Loving God goes beyond making a proclamation. Your love for Him has to be expressed by your actions. That is why Jesus said, “ If you love me, keep my commandments. He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him” (John 14:15, 21). Loving God with all your heart means to love Him with the depth of your being. Loving Him with your soul means your thoughts and emotions are involved, and loving Him with all your might refers to your abilities, your power, and your creative ideas. The kind of love that is described here is complete and absolute. It encompasses every aspect of who we are and goes much deeper than the superficial love we may extend to others. This kind of love will propel you to keep God’s commandments. This kind of love will ensure that you hold onto His hand even when times get tough. God created you, planned your life, has been with you, stood up for you, fought for you, died for you, opened doors for you, provided for you, healed you from sickness, and protected you. He’s done it ALL for you. When you reflect on all that He’s done, you should naturally want to respond by loving Him with your all your heart, soul, and strength.
Prayer Lord Jesus, on this day I put my gifts, talents and resources at Your disposal, but above all, I want to give You my time. I am available for You. Here I am, Lord! I will go where You need me, and be an extension of Your arms to embrace the helpless; an extension of Your hands to heal the sick; I’ll be Your compassionate heart to free the captive, and Your agape love to love unconditionally. Use me Lord, I am available for You!
18
Day Nineteen
“And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint”. (Galatians 6:9)
In Galatians 6:9, “losing heart” and “fainting” refer to giving up in the mind. The Holy Spirit tells us not to give up in our mind, because if we hold on, we will eventually reap good things. Think about Jesus. Immediately after being baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit, He was led into the wilderness to be tested and tried by the devil. He did not complain and become discouraged and depressed. He did not think or speak negatively. He did not become confused trying to figure out why this had to happen. He went through each test victoriously (Luke 4:1-13). Can you imagine Jesus traveling around the country, talking with His disciples about how hard everything was? Can you picture Him discussing how difficult the Cross was going to be… or how He dreaded the things ahead… or how frustrating it was to have no roof over His head, no bed to sleep in at night? Jesus drew strength from His heavenly Father and came out in victory. We have His Spirit dwelling in us and the strength available to make it through whatever we are facing.
Prayer Dear Jesus, until now I thought my life was empty and purposeless. Today I acknowledge that You are the real reason for my existence; without You nothing I do makes sense. Today, I pledge to serve and be a blessing to others. I have nothing more to ask for, because I know that once am committed to You , You will commit to me, and in Your hands my life is assured. Thank you my Lord!
19
Day T wenty
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24) Serving the M aster goes beyond words. Our Christian service is demonstrated by our actions and our manner of life. In our opening scripture, Jesus said that it is impossible to serve two masters. This means that if you are a Christian, then live like one, because you can’t be a Christian and live like an unbeliever. “Do you not know that when you continually offer yourselves to someone to do his will, you are the slaves of the one whom you obey, either [slaves] of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness (right standing with God)?” Romans 6:16 (Amplified) Some people are actually slaves to money. They would rather go after money instead of going to church or giving of their possessions to serve others, specifically the poor, and by so doing, money has become their master. The dividing factor is your heart p osture; where your loyalties lie and what your motives are and who your master really is. God often likes to test our faithfulness with small amounts before He trusts us with bigger amounts. If you’re faithful with little, He will grant you more. What He first needs to see is a heart that is devoted to Him regardless of the amount. What’s the condition of your heart today?
Prayer Heavenly Father, I humble myself before You today, repenting for my sins and asking forgiveness. I devote my living to You, that You have redeemed me and am yours. I break all ties with hatred, resentment and unforgiveness, and I ask You to deliver me. Bring my soul from captivity and take me to live in the freedom of Your Son, Jesus Christ. I thank You Father, for I know that You already did it. Amen.
20
Day T wenty-One
“The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong .’’ (Psalm 37:30) This is one of the reasons we’re taught to keep good company and have the right friends around us. There is a saying, “Show me your friends, and I will tell you who you are.” This is because your friends have a great influence on you. It is only a godly people that can give you a godly counsel. Listening to the wrong people has cost some people their marriage, their job and even their family. It is only good Christians that can stand and boldly tell you what is right from wrong. King David gives a characteristic of a godly person. Godly people, on a whole, speak positively and offer insight and intellect; they speak the truth and can guide you rightly with the word of God. Our speech and instructions are important as children of light and as salt of the earth. If we don’t give good counsel and teach what is right, who will? It is our responsibility to represent Christ in all that we do, as more people are influenced by our actions than we realize. If you are the only Bible that those in your sphere of influence will ever read, what will they read from your actions and lifestyle? We are the ones who bring life and hope into situations everywhere we go. It’s much more than we know and it’s much bigger than we are. We must open our mouths to give good counsel and teach right from wrong to a dying desperate world.
Prayer Holy Spirit, reveal the Father to me. Lead me to have an experience with the living God, to not live depending on the opinion of others. Show me the God that transforms generations. Holy Spirit, fill me with Your love, Your forgiveness, give me Your wisdom and revelation of eternal things. Rest in me, Spirit of God, transform me from the inside out. I pray in the name Jesus Christ, amen.
21
Day T wenty-T wo
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2) M acharia was the secretary of the M issions M obility Fund at Adhengo Boaz & Associates and had maintained that position for many months. One day it came to the attention of someone in the ministry that M acharia had been misappropriating their funds. Even though this was the truth, M acharia refused to admit that he had done anything wrong. The ministry partners at Adhengo Boaz & Associate had no choice but to strip him of his title. This is a classic case of pride followed by disgrace. Had M acharia humbled himself and simply admitted his wrongdoing, no disgrace would have befallen him. A wise man will receive instruction and correct his ways, but pride will not allow an arrogant man to listen to correction. Don’t be a M acharia. Sometimes it can be really hard for men to admit that they are wrong about something, especially if it means that their wives are right. Even if we know they’re right, we may still try to justify our opinion and try to explain away the fact that she is right. Exhibiting such behaviour does nothing but make our wives lose respect for us. However, when we humble ourselves and admit that we are wrong, we learn; we show that we are teachable; we grow. Listen to what people have to say about your character and attitude, and allow God to grow you through this experience.
Prayer Heavenly Father, today I die to my old way of thinking, and open my mind to the great things that You have for me. I renew my understanding to be transformed. Lord, I trust You! Heal me, deliver and change me. Father, transform my life today. I ask this in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen!
22
Day T wenty-T hree
“Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” (Proverbs 12:18) Some peoples’ lives and families have been torn apart because of harsh, negative, or idle words. Words can be considered the most dangerous weapons on earth, and guess what? Women are generally very skilled at knowing how to wield their words as a weapon. That can make them very powerful, but it also puts a great weight of responsibility on their shoulders. When we get overcome by emotion and allow that emotion to influence our speech, we can say a lot of things that we know we shouldn’t. M aybe you know very well the feeling of dread that comes after you’ve spit some harsh words at someone out of frustration. It’s not a feeling that anyone enjoys at all. Your words can pierce and destroy others, including yourself, or your words can encourage and give life, even to those who have nothing more to live for. Learn to speak life-giving words. The tongue of the wise can mend broken hearts and strengthen legs that have become weary on the journey, but there is no honour in being bitter and sharp tongued. Our words should bring healing at all times. We must endeavour to use our tongue to edify and bring healing inst ead of tearing down and destroying lives.
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me a wholesome tongue. I speak healing, health, life, prosperity, peace and stability to my family, my marriage and my business in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
23
Day T wenty-Four
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1) The secret place can be found in the presence of God, and dwelling there provides a refuge from difficulties. The shadow of being under His wings gives protection from the scorching sun. It’s a quiet, safe resting place. Where is the presence of God and how do we dwell there today? The presence of God is where God’s government is operational, that place where His word has been given in the first place, that place where Jesus is Lord and King. The Lord Jesus was asked if it was possible for us to continually enjoy His presence on earth. He gave the answer and also told us how to maintain our stay in His presence. “Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, ‘Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.’” John 14:22-23 You can dwell continually in the presence of the M ost High by living in accordance with His word. Understand that God is our father and we were born into His very presence when we were born again. All we need to do now is to continue in His love and in His word. God doesn’t make His abode in us again because we have already become His abode in the new birth. Our responsibility now is to stay there.
Prayer Heavenly Father, I thank you for making me your dwelling place, your abode. Lord, I live in your presence and I choose to remain in your presence forever in the name of Christ Jesus. Amen
24
Day T wenty-Five
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so”. (Acts 17:11) The Bible says that we are to have a ready mind. That means we can have minds that are open to the will of God for us, whatever His will may be. I once spoke with a young lady who experienced the sorrow of a delayed marriage. She wanted to be in a relationship and was thinking, hoping, and believing that her former boyfriend would feel the same way. I advised her to have a “ready mind” in case it didn’t work out that way. She asked, “Well, isn’t that being negative?” No, it isn’t. Negativism would say, “My life is over. No one will ever want me. I’ll be miserable forever.” Having a positive mind says, “I’m really sad this happened, but I’m going to trust God. I’m going to ask and believe for our relationship to be restored; but more than anything, I want God’s perfect will. If it doesn’t turn out the way I want, I’ll survive, because Jesus lives in me. It may be hard, but I trust the Lord. I believe that in the end, everything will work out for the best.”
Prayer Heavenly Father, I cried out in the midst of hardship, and You answered me, and delivered me from the traps of the enemy and all of my anxiety. More than once have I tasted your faithfulness, and You are the one and true God. I pour out my heart before You and make a commitment with You today; I surrender to You, God of heaven. I want to know You more! Father, manifest Your presence and show me Your glory. Thank You, Father! Amen.
25
Day T wenty-Six
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5) To fully understand and appreciate our opening scripture, you must first have a very good understanding of the four Gospels, because within their pages, we see the way Jesus lived His life while He was on this earth. We see the mind of Christ, including His disposition and His responses to many different types of people. The mind of Christ is the character of Christ. There was a famous slogan that went around Christian circles many years ago called “What Would Jesus Do? (WWJD)” Anytime someone was about to engage in an activity of questionable nature, they would ask themselves that question as a way to remind themselves of Christ and how He would respond. Life could be so easy to coast through if we didn’t have to deal with challenging relationships with people. Sometimes people do things that can infuriate you to the point of no return, and yet we never saw Jesus fly off the handle at anyone. A woman of God must humble herself as she imitates Christ’s character. She must train her mind in the Word of God in order to cultivate the mind of Christ. Emotions will run high and tensions may strain your relationships, but that’s no excuse. If Jesus came to earth and treated others with kindness and compassion, so can you.
Prayer Lord Jesus, I recognize that the work of the cross is complete, that everything was already provided for by Jesus Christ. I had not understood it before, but today I know that you carried our curses, sicknesses and scarcity, and gave us blessings, healing and the abundance of heaven. I place a demand on everything that was held back, and declare that the things that belong to my family and I, become visible. I have faith to trust, and receive what belongs to me. The eternal present is now! I believe it in the name of Jesus Christ! Amen
26
Day T wenty-Seven
“For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]”. (Ephesians 2:10) God has given you a wonderful gift: free will. God is offering you the opportunity to accept yourself as He created you to be, but you have a free will and can refuse to do so if you choose. To accept something means to view it as usual, proper, or right. People who reject themselves do so because they cannot see themselves as proper or right. They only see their flaws and weaknesses, not their beauty and strength. This is an unbalanced attitude often instilled by authority figures in the past who have focused on what was weak and wrong rather than what was strong and right. In Amos 3:3, we read, “Do two walk together except they make an appointment and have agreed?” You can walk with God - you can be close to Him - when you decide to agree with Him. He says He loves you and accepts you; therefore, if you agree with Him, you no longer have to dislike or reject yourself.
Prayer Lord Jesus, from today on I want to be an extension of Your body. I lend You my arms, my hands, my feet, my mouth and all of my being to reach the lost. Use me, Lord; I want to be a vessel of Your supernatural power so that it may flow towards those who need it. Wherever I go, I want Your power and authority to be with me, reconciling people, healing the sick and delivering the captive from the bondage of sin. Thank You, Lord! For it is done in your name Jesus Christ. Amen.
27
Day T wenty-Eight
“Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.” (Proverbs 13:10) Have you ever been in a meeting where a group of people had to make a decision and there were one or two people who would continually butt heads? No matter what the topic was, they could never agree on an answer. That is what is known as strife, and according to this scripture, the culprit behind strife is pride. Pride can blind us to the truth and ruin relationships with others, because all we can see is what we want to see. As believers, we are to have a spirit of unity and agreement with one another. Achieving that is impossible when pride is in the picture. This is where wisdom comes in. Wisdom is taking the advice of others, even if you think that you’re right. Wisdom is listening without interrupting so as not to offend others. Wisdom is showing value in the wisdom God has given others, and knowing that you don’t have all of the answers. Sometimes people may give you bad advice, but to railroad them or ignore them altogether is not extending the grace that God extends to us each and every day, when we propose ideas that totally go against His will. We must be mindful of how patient the Lord is with us as we deal with others.
Prayer Heavenly Father, I open my heart to your wisdom and counsel. I refuse to base my actions on sentiments, anger, presumption and fear. I choose to be guided by your wisdom in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
28
Day T wenty-Nine
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10) The entirety of the human race, including nonbelievers and believers alike, will stand before the judgment seat of Christ where our “ works” in the flesh will be judged. One question will be asked: Have we done good or bad “works” in the flesh? Our deeds, words, actions, and perceptions are considered works of the flesh. Good works result when we obey God’s law, and bad works result when we are disobedient to His law. It’s not about salvation and eternal life in this instance for the believer, but a reward for doing what is good. For us, good works take precedence. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” Galatians 6:7-10
Prayer Heavenly Father, I thank you for helping me to lay up treasures in heaven. I know that there is great reward for living according to your word and I choose to live my life by your revealed principles in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
29
Day T hirty
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self -control.” (Galatians 5:22-23a) The works of the flesh are the characteristics that you exhibited before you were born again. It was normal and natural for you to manifest the works of the flesh. In the same way, it is natural for you to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit after you are born again. The fruit of the spirit is the reality of Christ dwelling inside of you. Like an orange with segments, so is the fruit of the Spirit. Each segment of the piece of fruit is one aspect of the nature of the Holy Spirit working in and through you. Oftentimes we read this scripture as “ fruits of the spirit”, and we believe that we can hone in on one particular aspect and make ourselves love better or be more kind, but each and every characteristic of the spirit listed above should be a natural overflow of a life saturated in the Spirit of God. Even so, just having the nature of Christ in you does not mean you will automatically be able to live the fruit of the Spirit out. It takes some effort, but thankfully, we have help. “But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true - it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ” (1 John 2:27). The Holy Spirit of God will teach you and help you to live the life of the new creation.
Prayer Our Father in heaven, thank you for Your Holy Spirit and LIFE inside of me. I am a new creation, and I live as such in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
30
Day T hirty-One
“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:18-19) If you or anyone you know has ever been drunk on alcohol, you know the way alcohol can greatly influence a person’s behaviour. Some people become loud and belligerent, others become very talkative, and one person may become very happy, whereas another person may become very sad. Alcohol affects people in different ways, but generally speaking, these are some of the noticeable symptoms of drunkenness. This scripture compares the Holy Spirit to alcohol in the sense that when we are filled with the Spirit, there are certain types of “symptoms” or fruit - to put it more biblically - that should be evident in our lives. Just as you can see a person staggering down the street, smell the alcohol in their skin or hear them slurring their words and know that that p erson is drunk, so should the world be able to see your lifestyle and know that you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you. Some of the fruit of being filled with the Spirit looks like speaking and singing Scripture from your heart to the Lord. When the Holy Spirit of the living God fills our beings, we can’t help but to have songs of praise bubble up from our lips. Let your temple be filled with the right kind of Spirit today, and enjoy the fruits!
Prayer Our Father in heaven, I thank you for the privileges of having your Spirit dwell in me and I will abide in You in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
31
Day T hirty-T wo
“And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping Him”. (2 Chronicles 20:18) In 2 Chronicles 20:18, the king and the people of Judah bowed with their faces to the ground and worshipped when they heard the Lord’s instruction. The position of worshipping God was helping them prepare for battle. If you are in a battle right now, I strongly urge you to trade all worry for worship. Kneeling in reverence before God, or other types of worship (thanks-giving, confessions, supplication, adoration) is a battle position and a key to spiritual power. To “praise” God has been defined as to ascribe to Him the glory due to His name. It is to talk about and sing out about the goodness, grace, and greatness of God. To “worship” has been defined as to give reverence to and to serve. Broadly, it may be regarded as the direct acknowledgment of God, of His nature, attributes, ways, and claims, whether by expressing your heart in praise and thanksgiving or by deed done in such an acknowledgment. With God’s help, we can learn to fight His way, not the world’s way. Our battle position is one of worship, and this is a position that brings us closer to God. We fight every battle with a heart of praise and worship, believing that God will work in our life and circumstances.
Prayer Lord Jesus, today I grab a hold of the revelation that You give me. You defeated Satan on the cross, and it was a forceful, complete and irreversible victory. I take ownership of all the benefits of the cross, and declare that starting right now I walk in freedom, healing and prosperity as Your son or daughter. I thank you, my God, because when You died for me, I also died to my old life of sin and sickness; and when You rose again, I also rose in a new life in You. Amen.
32
Day T hirty-T hree
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39) We live in desperate times. Jesus talked about these days, and Paul also made reference to some of the terrible things that will happen to the children of God. But like the apostles and other disciples who died for the gospel, you must make up your mind that nothing can separate you from your love of Christ. “…in the last days it is going to be very difficult to be a Christian. For people will love only themselves and their money; they will be proud and boastful, sneering at God, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful to them, and thoroughly bad. They will be hard-headed and never give in to others; they will be constant liars and troublemakers and will think nothing of immorality. They will be rough and cruel, and sneer at those who try to be good. They will betray their friends; they will be hot-headed, puffed up with pride, and prefer good times to worshiping God. They will go to church, yes, but they won’t really believe anything they hear. Don’t be taken in by people like that.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5 All of these things are already happening, and it is becoming more and more difficult to find sincere and genuine Christians. Do not allow the temptation to become worldly or the persecution of being a Christian separate you from our Father. Remain persuaded; keep fanning the flame, because the M aster is here.
Prayer Heavenly Father, Yahweh, my love for you is so strong. I keep my gaze on you and refuse to be distracted by worldliness or persecution. Nothing can separate me from you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
33
Day T hirty-Four
“For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” (Galatians 5:14) This is a repeat of the Old Testament passage, Leviticus 19:18, imploring love of neighbour. The definition for love of self is the instinct by which one’s actions are directed to the promotion of one’s welfare or well-being, especially an excessive regard for one’s advantage. Love of neighbour means respecting their boundary, blessing them, being a good listener, not stealing from them, holding no grudge against them, not being deceptive in dealing with them, and treating them how you want to be treated. Just as we love and would work to achieve goals for ourselves, we are hereby asked to do the same thing for our neighbour. There is nothing wrong with loving yourself, because you should love yourself. You are God’s creation, and as such, must appreciate His work in creating you. What the Bible is teaching us here is to also give the same preference to our neighbours that we would give to ourselves. Sometimes you have to give up your own pleasure and comfort for others to be happy. Never fail to show kindness to those around you, because in so doing, some have entertained angels (Hebrews 13:2). The law is summed up in this single commandment of love for our neighbours. Allow the love of God to flow through you today to your world.
Prayer Heavenly Father, I thank you for this beautiful life you have given me. I thank you for my neighbours, and I choose to love them as I love myself. Thank you, Lord, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
34
Day T hirty-Five
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17) There is no one better to fill your life with than friends and family. Family members are the ones that God has put directly in our lives. God created a special bond in families, and that is not easily broken. Whether we like it or not, we’re stuck with them. On the other hand, we choose our friends. God may put people in our path to encourage and edify us, but it is our choice who we want to spend our time with. When we make wise choices in friendships, we’ve got a relationship that will often stand the test of time. This proverb notes the admirable qualities of both friends and brothers. The tricky thing about friends is that when you go through hard times, that person can leave you and find new friends. You’re replaceable. But a true friend will love you at all times, regardless of if you’re having a bad day and said something you shouldn’t, or if you’re going through something and want to be left alone. It’s a different situation in the case of family members though. You are irreplaceable to them because you are their blood. When you go through difficult times, in most cases they will rally beside you and support you as you go through it. The bonds of family have helped many Christians survive the obstacles life has thrown at them. Embrace and enjoy the benefits of friendship and family. You need them to get through life, and they need you to do the same.
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank you for my friends and family members. Lord, teach me to love them unconditionally just as you have loved me, I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
35
Day T hirty-Six
“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.� (Colossians 3:14) As believers, we are called to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit, but love is the binding agent, the glue that holds all of these Christian virtues together in perfect unity. Nothing else will. In a cake, flour, sugar, baking powder, and spices are held together by the eggs, which is the binding agent. So too, chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness, humility are held together by love. Think about it: if love, in the most basic sense, is a deep regard for the life of someone, it takes love to be kind to someone (even if they’re not being kind to you). It takes love to be patient with people, and it takes love to be gentle. Before you can exercise any other virtue, you must first exercise love. At the heart of every message Jesus spoke on earth was love. At the heart of every decision God made concerning the human race was love. At the heart of every decision we make, every interaction we have, every thought we think, and every word we speak should be love. Instead of trying to force yourself to become more patient or more kind or more gentle, why not focus on learning to love, and the power of love will perfect the rest.
Prayer Our Father in Heaven, I ask that you would teach me how to love as you do unto us, transform me and renew my heart in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
36
Day T hirty-Seven
“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17) Here, the Apostle James is giving a revelation of two types of wisdom and stating which is more profitable. The wisdom from above is that which is available to all Christians, and the wisdom of this world is based on the principles of this world. Let’s take a closer look at the apostle’s comparison of the two types of wisdom: “ Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behaviour his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, Demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy .” James 3:13-17.
The wisdom of this world will result in bitterness, strife and envy, because it is based on the flesh, which is rotten through and through. So how can one get the wisdom of God? God will give you wisdom and sound judgment, if you ask Him.
Prayer Heavenly Father, I thank you for your wisdom that supersedes all the knowledge of man. Father, I ask that you grant me the wisdom that is from above in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
37
Day T hirty-Eight
“So that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ.� (1 Peter 1:7)` If you are a believer, it is a given that multiple times throughout your walk with God you have undergone or will undergo some serious trials. That is the stark reality for every believer, since the Bible clearly tells us that every Christian’s faith must be tested and tried. Although it may initially sound like one of the more unpleasant aspects of being a Christian, the truth is that the testing of our faith is one of the greatest advantages we have in our relationship with Christ. Fire is the greatest determinant of how pure our faith is, because as it burns, it purifies. It searches for any impurity and purges it from deep within to bring forth pure gold. Everything we do, everything we say, and everything we are gets categorized into objects that either can or cannot endure the consuming fire of our Father. In order for God to reveal the true nature of our faith, we must go through the purifying fire of testing, and this is one test that we cannot afford to fail. Being able to continually give praise, honour, and give glory to the Lord will require a great deal of sacrifice on our part, but take heart in the reward that is promised to the faithful. The greatest reward is that one day, when Jesus is revealed to the entire world as the true King, everyone is going to want to be on His side, but the King is only going to call those to stand by His side that stood with Him through thick and thin during their days on their earth. Will you be among that number?
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank you for the tests and trials you send my way and for the way you challenge me to grow stronger in my faith and my reliance on you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
38
Day T hirty-Nine
“After these things, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram, I am your Shield, your abundant compensation, and your reward shall be exceedingly great”. (Genesis 15:1) In Genesis 12:1, God gave Abram a tall order. In so many words He said, “ Pack up and leave everyone you know and everything you are comfortable with and go to a place I will show you.” If Abram had bowed his knee to doubt and uncertainty, the rest of the story would never have come to pass. He would never have experienced God as his Shield, his great compensation, and he would never have received his exceedingly great reward. In the same way, if Joshua had not overcome his fear and been obedient to God’s command to lead His people into the Promised Land, neither he nor they would ever have enjoyed all that God had planned and prepared for them. There is power in God’s Word to equip us to stop bowing our knee in fearful uncertainty. We can do what God wants us to do, even if we have to do it afraid.
Prayer Heavenly Father, Elohim, strengthen me. This is what You have told me to do, and with Your help I am going to do it, because it is Your revealed will for me. I am determined that my life is not going to be ruled by fear but by Your Word. Amen.
39
Day Fourty
“Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:27) There are several things that we are bound to worry about in this life, but worrying over things that are beyond your control is actually an effort in futility. M argaret Feinberg penned this quote, “Worry is a subtle way of telling God that He’s fallen asleep at the wheel and that things aren’t under His authority, but ours.” How dare we challenge God’s control of the universe! Worry, anxiety, doubt, fear, and disbelief are the direct opposite of what a life in Christ is supposed to look like. Worry is like a rocking chair that keeps us moving but takes us nowhere; Christianity, on the other hand, is all about moving forward in faith. The recipe for overcoming worry: Learn to trust God and all that He does and allows. We can’t change or control anything, but if we believe that God is faithful, powerful, and sovereign, then there is no reason to worry. We can stand on faith that no matter what comes our way, God is in control. God cares for us genuinely, and He alone can handle those hard situations that may cause us to worry. Fear is faith in the ability of the enemy, it is the basic reason for worry, so stop trusting the enemy, and start trusting God.
Prayer Dear God, I thank you for teaching me to live a good life. I submit all my worries and anxieties to you today and choose to rest because you’ve got my back in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
40
Day of Celebration
“I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.” (Philippians 1:9) A common analogy that believers use, when referring to our relationship to the Holy Spirit, is that of a glass being filled with water. We often pray and ask God to fill us up, but what we don’t realize is that when we simply seek to be filled, we are only getting enough to satisfy our needs. In this scripture Apostle Paul prays instead that we would be filled to overflowing. Why? Because it’s from the increase that we are able t o give love to others; it is when we are abounding in love that we can serve others. Logically speaking, if we fill our cup and then pour it out, we leave ourselves at a deficit. This explains why we can sometimes serve others and still find ourselves becoming angry, cranky, or rude. Our cup needs a refill. Now, when your cup is overflowing and you give to other from the amount that runs over, you are able to stay full while you help other peop le to get full. That should be our goal! As the scripture says, the most important thing we can do to increase our love to that point is to increase our knowledge and understanding of God and His love. The more we understand about the way His love works, the greater our capacity will be to receive and give love.
Prayer Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be Your Name; I lift my cup to you to fill it up in overflowing. Thank you for more of You and more knowledge of Your love. I pray in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
41
Also by Boaz Adhengo
www.adhengo.mzizzi.com
T his book is made available for free download due to the generous donations of many who appreciate reading from Boaz Adhengo. You too can make a donation using the M-PESA method.
Mr. Boaz Adhengo is President to Creative Arts Society of Kenya, a leadership coach, business for arts consultant and a cultural policy strategist. Having published fourty (40) books, he manages the Adhengo Boaz & Associates consulting group and is co-founder of the Buruburu Basketball Ministry, Inc. He has been recently ordained as a Life Coach Minister by the Christian Leaders Ministries, Michigan, U.S.A. and serves as a missionary at Life Ministry Kenya.