Walk With Me #Deararn.

Look Within

Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. (Genesis 1:11)

They needed to feed the crowd, and the disciples were lost. The master instructed, look within. The woman needed to pay the debts her husband had left her. The instruction was simple. Look within! God filled the earth with plants and put within the next generation. They were looking for the Father, and his reply was, ‘I am here.’

But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim (Romans 10:8)

The prophet needed to be fed; the widow had only two sticks. ‘That's more than enough’, he said. The children of Israel needed a saviour from the giant Goliath. Who showed up? One of them known for being in the bush! Did they need to import him? Hardly, he was already within earshot. They needed a deliverer from the terror of the Egyptians, who would be used: one of them. Tell me, what are your issues? Where are you expecting help to come from? Who are you hoping to come through the door?

You want a financial breakthrough; the Master insists you give the small you have. How will that help? You ask; It will show that you truly believe in the Masters' ability. You are looking for a child; the Word names it the fruit of the womb. Where is your womb? Within. You need power, guess what, the Holy Ghost lives in you, and what does he embody? Power. You need promotion; it will come from you solving a problem. Where will the wisdom come from? What would we employ? The gifts that are embedded within!

Do you get the picture? Whatever you are in search of the Lord already packaged it within. Jesus told us we already have all we need for life and Godliness. Everything is within. You have to look. All the medicine that will ever be invented is within. They already exist. We just haven't discovered them. The oil is within.

I ask again, what are you in need of? However, you answer, know this, the answer is already here! Why have I not seen it? You have not looked hard enough. How do I look? The Master will tell you - pray, fast, wait and meditate. Ask, seek and knock is still as relevant today as the day it was penned.

Hidden in the Word of God is all and everything you will ever desire. Get searching; the treasures are waiting to be found. When you dig, he will unlock for you all that the Master has kept hidden inside you.

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BOOKS BY Anne Ajadi:

YOU WILL MARRY WELL

GODS LADY IN WAITING

WALK WITH ME IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY

HEART MATTERS, LIFE MATTERS

NAVIGATING THE NIGHT SEASONS

Give God Your Best!

The church was packed because it was the first service of the year. It was also thanksgiving Sunday, time to thank God for making it to the New Year. Show gratitude that the enemies did not triumph, for the many contracts, for safety on all journeys, for new homes, and most importantly, that you got enlisted in the army of God's Kingdom etc. Has anyone said thank you for life and new souls yet? It usually makes it into the list at some point.

The service was different; the Senior Pastor chose to receive the offering. He asked everyone present, to come forward and drop whatever their thanksgiving seed was. That day, the Pastor had special grace, he could see into the envelopes containing the seeds, and he could read the hearts of men. Some folks found it odd while some liked the idea. He would finally recognise the big guns, movers and shakers of the kingdom. Or so they thought.

He took his seat by the huge offering basket; it was a mega-church, and he had his aides stand around in case he needed to give an instruction. The congregants were expected to 'show God how grateful they were,' by their dance and their offering. They all came, some danced, some waltzed, some glided, and some did the 'electric slide,' some others, the 'bus stop'. The Pastor was intrigued; the day was turning out to be very interesting.

They all came forward, dropped their gifts and offerings with the Pastor nodding, he had on a smile no one could explain. Then came this small-framed woman, her envelope was folded in four, the two pennies contained therein must not fall out. They were all she had. Her Master deserved her best. If she gave him her all, he would know that she was grateful he stayed with her in her season of darkness. Her dance steps qualified for a medal. The Pastor rose as she approached, and the church was in awe! How come he did not stand up when Chief Anifowose got to the altar or when Prince Nwokedi came up?

Then came the bomb, he announced that the frail woman was the most giving. They wondered why, and he explained: she gave her all and that out of her lack. (Mark 12:41-44)

My friend, where do you stand? How do you give? Why do you give? Who do you give to? How showy are you in your giving? Do you give in fear? Is your giving an expression of your love? Will the master rise when you show up at the altar?

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38)

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:1-4)

Just in case we find us falling short of the Masters’ expectations of us in giving, we will do well to adjust ourselves. We don't want to arrive heaven and find that all our works would not survive the fire.

Their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. (1 Corinthians 3:13-14)

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BOOKS BY Anne Ajadi:

YOU WILL MARRY WELL

GODS LADY IN WAITING

WALK WITH ME IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY

HEART MATTERS, LIFE MATTERS

NAVIGATING THE NIGHT SEASONS

When Life Issues Keeps you Separate

It had been seven years with many trips to the doctors and long queues at the counselling sessions.

Keeping hope alive was proving to be an arduous task. The word that he had before he married her was that she was the 'wife and mother of his children'. According to the doctors, only a miracle would make that happen. They not only needed the blessing of a baby, but they also needed their pockets refilled, and their hearts mended. She became weary and he, tired and the relationship? Lord have mercy!

He was the best in his class. Everybody called him 'Prof'; he was that good. He knew something about everything. As the encyclopedia in the class, it was assumed that when done with school, jobs would line up for him. Employers would beg him to join them, but when he was ready, no one called, and when he did the calling, no one responded. It started as a joke, but after ten years, it became a yoke. No one could understand it, none of it made sense. He wished many times for death, but he was as fit as a fiddle. Tired, no, weary was more like it.

He was a gifted man of God, the commission was, 'follow me, and I will make you fishers of men'. To him, that meant a large church with a global impact. He saw worldwide crusades with a sea of heads at each gathering. He saw many trips across the world, bearing the word of life. The problem was, all of that was in the spirit. Twenty years in, there were still twenty-five people in the congregation. The message was fresh, but growth in the physical was only in hope.

Rick was the father she never met, the brother she never had, the lover she always imagined. The family she ever hoped for. He promised to be there' till death do part', to love and cherish, in sickness and in health. It was fine until she became sick, and now, he was gone and with him, all her hopes and dreams.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

(Proverbs 13:12)

Can you relate? Are you burdened by what you had to deal with in life? Are you tired? Do you need to rest a while? Will some respite do? Does it look like you cannot find your way out? As I think about this, a song comes to mind:

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Refrain

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your blessings, see what God hath done

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,

And you will keep singing as the days go by.

Refrain

When you look at others with their lands and gold,

Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;

Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy

Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high

Refrain

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,

Do not be disheartened, God is over all;

Count your many blessings, angels will attend,

Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Refrain

It was written and composed in 1897 by Edwin Excell and Johnson Oatman Jnr. As I read through the words of the song, I can only conclude that what is, has already been.

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BOOKS BY Anne Ajadi:

YOU WILL MARRY WELL

GODS LADY IN WAITING

WALK WITH ME IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY

HEART MATTERS, LIFE MATTERS

NAVIGATING THE NIGHT SEASONS

God Is Up To Something

Grace placed her in the palace. In the natural, she was a slave girl. There were many like her, but this one is different. She was not only beautiful, there was a certain air around her. You just fell in love with her, and you wanted to do her good. Hegai, the king’s eunuch could not help but favour her. She was a young girl who needed to be guided; her parents already died, so it fell on Cousin Mordecai to do the guidance.

For a brief moment, she forgot that she was one on a mission. Cousin M had to remind her. The palace did not guarantee safety; God always had alternatives. God could and would consistently deliver when we called on Him. No matter how much you tried to forget, your identity remained your identity. A black man cannot become white just by bleaching his skin.

Having been woken out of slumber, she took on the crusade, asked for help and back up from her kin. Esther, our dear deliverer, was in the palace and there was a sentence of death hanging over her and her kin. She could choose to ignore it; after all, she was in the palace, and no one knew she was a Jew. Really? Her uncle quizzed. Suppose the reason for her existence was for that critical time? Did she think beauty was enough?

She heard Mordecai and understood well what he was getting at. The Jews were covenant people. To be enlisted in the army of deliverers was a rare privilege. To be used of God in the life of His people was uncommon grace. To pass on such privilege was to sign your death sentence. Esther chose to face death, and through looking death in the eye, she found real life. Her people were free. Her enemies got what is coming to them.

Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why. So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people. Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.” When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions. (Esther 4:5-17)

Esther's story continued... What do we learn from her story?

* • God will depose kings and nobles just to give His people a chance.

* • God packages big things in small doses.

* • We are in our particular location on purpose.

* • There is an assignment for everyone.

* • Fortified walls do not guarantee safety.

* • Enemies of God's people will not give up unless they see God's hand.

*

LEST BUILD AGAIN, THE NEHEMIAH STYLE

He came to the big city in search of a better life. Life did him well as he found himself in the position of a local government chair in a few years. All was going well for him just that he could not but remember his roots. He often wondered how everyone at home was faring. His job at the local government kept him working day and night many times, even on Sundays. He decided to send his younger brother to check on the folks at home after all, his aged parents still lived there. His brother returned with bad news; things were not only bad, but they were horrible. Nothing was working in the village; living conditions were appalling. He felt terrible, almost guilty. Here he had a good life in the city and his blood relations having the most challenging times in the village.

Not knowing what to do, he thought long and hard; eventually, he concluded, something had to be done. Mr Hang was usually a jolly fellow who carried out his duties with much zeal and dedication, but in the last three days, had lacked the shine. The governor sent for him and demanded an explanation. Hang informed that he was sad because his relatives in the village were having a bad time; their infrastructure was all dilapidated, totally run down. If the governor permitted, he would like to do something about it. God’s favour ensured Hang got the permission he needed, even got letters of recommendation to the governor’s allies should he need materials to build.

Hang set out for the village to inspect the extent of the damage. It was huge, but his mission was to fix the brokenness and that he would do. Now there lived in the same village some fellows who made a fortune from the ruins. They were the local champions and anything to change that they had to resist. They set out to discourage, discredit and even defame. Hang was determined, knowing that even though he was dealing with strong opposing forces, he was sure his God was with him and he had permission to build. He prayed to His God, gathered the people, equipped them and encouraged them to build no matter what. Because there was so much opposition, they had to prepare for war and continue the job simultaneously. It was a tough time, but God was with Hang and his men.

Let us talk to city folks for a minute. Why are you not returning home? God blessed you so you could care for your roots. Do you fear opposition – Sanballat, Tobiah, village priest, witches, etc.? Do you know God enough to know that His power would protect you?

Here is my thought; there are many things we ought to be putting back together in life. They may have to do with our roots, our pasts and our family. Some of us feel the pull to set things right; others are too afraid to try, if you make up your mind to fix things, God will give you the favour you need. He will supply the wherewithal and silence opposing voices. He will teach you the art of war in the place of the building. He will strengthen your hands and confound your enemies As long as you do not stop, you will find at the end of the day, the building, erected, lives changed, new vistas birthed, new dreams conceived and beauty unearthed.

Forget opposition, pray, keep moving and you will surely find yourself in the place of beauty.

anneajadinspirations.com

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BOOKS BY Anne Ajadi:

YOU WILL MARRY WELL

GODS LADY IN WAITING

WALK WITH ME IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY

HEART MATTERS, LIFE MATTERS

NAVIGATING THE NIGHT SEASONS

LEST BUILD AGAIN, THE NEHEMIAH STYLE

He came to the big city in search of a better life. Life did him well as he found himself in the position of a local government chair in a few years. All was going well for him just that he could not but remember his roots. He often wondered how everyone at home was faring. His job at the local government kept him working day and night many times, even on Sundays. He decided to send his younger brother to check on the folks at home after all, his aged parents still lived there. His brother returned with bad news; things were not only bad, but they were horrible. Nothing was working in the village; living conditions were appalling. He felt terrible, almost guilty. Here he had a good life in the city and his blood relations having the most challenging times in the village.

Not knowing what to do, he thought long and hard; eventually, he concluded, something had to be done. Mr Hang was usually a jolly fellow who carried out his duties with much zeal and dedication, but in the last three days, had lacked the shine. The governor sent for him and demanded an explanation. Hang informed that he was sad because his relatives in the village were having a bad time; their infrastructure was all dilapidated, totally run down. If the governor permitted, he would like to do something about it. God’s favour ensured Hang got the permission he needed, even got letters of recommendation to the governor’s allies should he need materials to build.

Hang set out for the village to inspect the extent of the damage. It was huge, but his mission was to fix the brokenness and that he would do. Now there lived in the same village some fellows who made a fortune from the ruins. They were the local champions and anything to change that they had to resist. They set out to discourage, discredit and even defame. Hang was determined, knowing that even though he was dealing with strong opposing forces, he was sure his God was with him and he had permission to build. He prayed to His God, gathered the people, equipped them and encouraged them to build no matter what. Because there was so much opposition, they had to prepare for war and continue the job simultaneously. It was a tough time, but God was with Hang and his men.

Let us talk to city folks for a minute. Why are you not returning home? God blessed you so you could care for your roots. Do you fear opposition – Sanballat, Tobiah, village priest, witches, etc.? Do you know God enough to know that His power would protect you?

Here is my thought; there are many things we ought to be putting back together in life. They may have to do with our roots, our pasts and our family. Some of us feel the pull to set things right; others are too afraid to try, if you make up your mind to fix things, God will give you the favour you need. He will supply the wherewithal and silence opposing voices. He will teach you the art of war in the place of the building. He will strengthen your hands and confound your enemies As long as you do not stop, you will find at the end of the day, the building, erected, lives changed, new vistas birthed, new dreams conceived and beauty unearthed.

Forget opposition, pray, keep moving and you will surely find yourself in the place of beauty.

anneajadinspirations.com

Instagram/arnajadi

Twitter/arnajadi

Facebook/anneajadi

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BOOKS BY Anne Ajadi:

YOU WILL MARRY WELL

GODS LADY IN WAITING

WALK WITH ME IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY

HEART MATTERS, LIFE MATTERS

NAVIGATING THE NIGHT SEASONS

True Intercession

Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:4-11), Solomon (1 Kings 8:28-50), Elijah (1 Kings 18:36-39), Daniel (Daniel 9:3-10) all prayed. Their nation needed God, and they did not exempt themselves even though they were ok. They were comfortable in their own right, and they could choose to turn a blind eye to the plight of the people. They decided to identify. Even with the people's rebellion and sin, they confessed and begged for mercy. And they got their desires met.

True intercession is never about us. It is first about the Lord's will and purpose here on earth and then about the people. If your prayer is only about your little self in your little corner, then it cannot be said that you are in intercession. If you are not passionate enough to carry others like they are you, you do not know a thing about standing in the gap.

If you are still taking sides, you are in kindergarten. If you are always shifting blames, you need to consult Daniel or talk to Nehemiah. If you think you are the only one, God told Elijah he had other armies who could do the same thing. If the sins of your surroundings do not move you, you need to study the person of Christ. If all you say to God in prayer is 'bless me o Lord', we need to send you back to Sunday school. Life is only fulfilling when we live for others. Jesus came to give us His life; we need to do the same.

Beloved, consider this the next time you say a prayer; life is beyond you. It is about every other person. Did God not tell us it is in seeking the peace of Jerusalem that we will have our peace? Many things we pray about today, are stuff that Gentiles run after if you are genuinely born of God, let the order of God take over. The Word is powerful, and it can do all things. Leave the running to and fro Satan and his family and face God, the Father of lights, owner of the whole world, maker of all things, all-powerful and all-knowing. He is well able to do that which concerns us.

anneajadinspirations.com

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BOOKS BY Anne Ajadi:

YOU WILL MARRY WELL

GODS LADY IN WAITING

WALK WITH ME IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY

HEART MATTERS, LIFE MATTERS

NAVIGATING THE NIGHT SEASONS

The list is long. Chronicles tell us who brought whom forth. They even tell whom their strange associations birthed. Then they get to him. He was born in sorrow; his mama must have had it so rough when she mentioned the name, people did not object. After all, they objected when Elizabeth said her son's name would be John. ‘He shall be called Jabez,’ she said. Pray where was daddy, did he also have a rough pregnancy and birth?

He was not lacking; it was recorded that he was more honourable than his brothers yet the prophecies he heard daily was 'child of sorrow.' How does one who already had a city named after him go through life calling forth sorrow?

... But when you grow restless, you will throw his yoke from off your neck.”

(Genesis 27:40)

Had it not been said that heaven will permit whatever we allowed on earth? God said of the children of Israel:

So, tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very thing I heard you say

(Numbers 14:28)

A time came in Jabez's life when he had had enough. He took his case to God.

And the clans of scribes who lived at Jabez: the Tirathites, Shimeathites and Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came from Hammath, the father of the Rekabites. (1 Chronicles 2:55)

Jabez was more honourable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

(1 Chronicles 4:9-10)

Jabez knew who would change the course: Israel's God. He recognised that a blessing would resolve the matter. An increase in territory shut the enemy up. God’s power would keep from trouble; trouble brought about pain. This is very instructive, how come he knew not to blame his surroundings for his fate. Not once did we hear him tell God to deal with his enemies. What do we learn from this? You do not have to worry about your enemies if God is on your side. The man with THE BLESSING cannot be cursed:

I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it.

(Numbers 23:20)

This is not the first-time things like this would be put into their right perspective. Jacob placed his hand of blessing on Ephraim (fruitfulness) not Manasseh (deliverance)

Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” The second son he named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.” (Genesis 41:51-52)

When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim’s head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. Joseph said to him, “No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.” But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations.” He blessed them that day and said, “In your name will Israel pronounce this blessing: ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’” So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.

(Genesis 48:17-20)

The salient lesson here is through our fruitfulness we receive deliverance. That is the way of God. If we must make it through life, we cannot sit around and wait for salvation to come. If the woman in the book of Kings was not hospitable to the prophet, she would never have had a child.

Back to Jabez, like him, we need to learn what the real issue is. It was a fruitfulness matter. It is the blessing issue; it was a territory concern. There is a way you would wield God’s power; demons would leave your territory alone. If like Jabez, you go through life with the wrong label, go to God. Get a change. Get your request granted. Jabez did.

He knew her well. The whole family were now his family. The day He saw them, the willingness was astounding. They had a family business, and they left it all, to follow him. The matriarch must be a thinker, a planner. She must have looked into the future done her calculations and decided to act. Her two sons had abandoned the family business to follow this man. Sorting out their future was a must-do.

Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them (Matthew 4:21)

When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. (Mark 1:19-20)

So, to Jesus, she went, her two boys in tow. Smart woman, she knew how to approach higher authority. Give Him what He needs, and in the case of Jesus, he was in need of worship. She bowed down in front of Him. Bowing guaranteed access to sovereignty. When you bring your head down, you were sure of a lifting. Celebrating the master would surely soften His heart.

The only issue was, though Jesus was man, he was also God and God saw through the act. He saw through man's heart. He saw the motives and in the case of this 'madam', who by the way knew that her destiny was tied to those of her two boys, (her identity as recorded, is that she is the mother of James and John) her motives were off course.

She was doing a good thing with an evil heart. Trust the master. He put everything in their proper perspective. The boys, through their mama's calculation, incurred the indignation of fellow disciples. Thinking about it, they must have been in on the whole thing. Letting their mother do the presentation must have been calculated to give their matter more credence.

Beloved, how many times have you worshipped so that you could present your request to God. Like this mama, you understand you cannot just throw your request at Him. You ought to worship or in today's practice, sing a few solemn songs. Wait for a sombre time and slot in the very reason for which you came in the first place.

How so? Money, sometimes we give to impress God enough to grant the request. We may even pray and fast, all the 40, 70, 100-day fasts, to what intent? Serve in church, in groups. Exactly why are you doing the things that you do? What do we learn? God sees it all! He sees our hearts and weighs our motives. He knows our thoughts afar off, and God cannot be fooled. We cannot use our supposed positions with Him to get Him to change His programme.

Even though Jesus did not let them get away with their scheme, he did not throw them out either. He helped them out by showing them a kingdom way to do things. The way up with God is the way of service. Do not seek to lord it over your fellow man. Let God lift you. What should we do?

* • Watch our motives.

* • Tell ourselves the truth.

* • Stop the manipulations.

* • Love, serve, give, fast, pray, whatever for the sake of the kingdom of God. When the kingdom comes first for you, all you are scheming for will automatically follow you.

* • Stop looking for shortcuts in God they do not exist. Go through the process; get rid of the junk and clean up the heart.

anneajadinspirations.com

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BOOKS BY Anne Ajadi:

YOU WILL MARRY WELL

GODS LADY IN WAITING

WALK WITH ME IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY

HEART MATTERS, LIFE MATTERS

NAVIGATING THE NIGHT SEASONS

Today, let’s enjoy the fellowship with other believers in Christ. Let’s exchange ideas and see how other fellow labourers are doing in their assignments. When you are at home, ruminate on God’s goodness and mercy to you during the past week and plan the week ahead. Also, remember to give thanks:

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever.

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

To him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever.

Who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever

Who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever.

Who made the great lights His love endures forever.

The sun to govern the day, His love endures forever.

The moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever.

To him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt His love endures forever.

And brought Israel out from among them His love endures forever.

With a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His love endures forever.

To him who divided the Red Sea asunder His love endures forever.

And brought Israel through the midst of it, His love endures forever.

But swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea; His love endures forever.

To him who led his people through the wilderness; His love endures forever.

To him who struck down great kings, His love endures forever.

And killed mighty kings His love endures forever.

Sihon king of the Amorites His love endures forever.

And Og king of Bashan His love endures forever

And gave their land as an inheritance, His love endures forever.

An inheritance to his servant Israel. His love endures forever.

He remembered us in our low estate. His love endures forever.

And freed us from our enemies. His love endures forever.

He gives food to every creature. His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever. (Psalm 136)

Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced, you his servants, the descendants of Abraham, his chosen ones, the children of Jacob. He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth. He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations, the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac. He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant: “To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit.” When they were but few in number, few indeed, and strangers in it, they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another. He allowed no one to oppress them; for their sake he rebuked kings: “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.” He called down famine on the land and destroyed all their supplies of food; and he sent a man before them – Joseph, sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the Lord proved him true. The king sent and released him, the ruler of peoples set him free. He made him master of his household, ruler over all he possessed, to instruct his princes as he pleased and teach his elders wisdom. Then Israel entered Egypt; Jacob resided as a foreigner in the land of Ham. The Lord made his people very fruitful; he made them too numerous for their foes, whose hearts he turned to hate his people, to conspire against his servants. He sent Moses his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen. They performed his signs among them, his wonders in the land of Ham. He sent darkness and made the land dark for had they not rebelled against his words? He turned their waters into blood, causing their fish to die.