5 PRACTICAL STEPS IN CHANGING LEVELS

 5 PRACTICAL STEPS IN CHANGING LEVELS

Welcome to the hows of turning a situation around or changing a Jabezial life. I am Olusola ADEJUMO, M'Wings. Come with me into the room of secrets and steps. A ladder has steps and if you take each step, you'll reach the summit. That's what my teachings of steps does every time as preached under the anointing. Here we go as you first take your time to read I Chronicles 4:9-10.

1. Come to a Realization

You can't resist what has not first been detected as not good or good enough. Don't condone nonsense. Refuse sickness, poverty, debt, failure, delay, disappointment etc. If you believe your current status is OK, you'll be calm and untroubled to seek to change it. Those that will do something about any aspect of their lives i.e career, economic, marital etc must first see the unkind state in which they are in. It is then they can give a fight. Jabez got here first of all. He saw that what others did and succeeded in, if he does it under the same preparation and conditions, he still fails! Why, despite entering like others entered? It's because a curse in form of a spirit force is superintending over his own affairs. The curse is coached in a bitter pronouncement on him at birth. If it concerns somebody else, it will work but if it is Jabez's, it must just go wrong. Discover that is not ordinary and you're on the way to getting others right. Don't argue or say things are perfectly okay. May you not be self deceived or team mate with the devil over your life and what needs change by emergency. So, check well. 

2. Be Seriously Pained for having been Static

Discovery of your state will then bring you pain, regret, unhappiness and the thought of being fulfilled or having an accomplished life just like many who are displaying their results all around for viewing. This is the stage where you're angry and seriously unhappy with that condition or limitation. You begin to wonder if you were the one that has stayed static for years without a known progress. Once you can see the things you have lost, where your mates or other professionals are that you could have been; then, you will be armed with much determination to fight for your deliverance. This is where inner resolution comes not to settle for anything less again but to seek help and be helped. This is where you're no longer ashamed to open up to a pastor or other helpers that you have problems which for fear, ego, embarrassment etc, you've kept personal. Here, you naked yourself for help to come your way. If it is a secret sin, confess it. Until then, you can't prosper or go forward. Until then, that spirit will still continue to enter through the back door to do his work through that habit you refuse to put in your past and allow to become a yesterday.

3. Picture Your Reality

Here, after being pained and after checking yourself and seeing yourself in a condition that's unwanted coupled with having regretted not having doing much or the right things to change your status all this while; then, the picture of where you should be or what you should have become now becomes a goal or vision set before you. Like a man who's running against time and time is running against, your pursuit and preparation now differs from others. This is where you do away with encumbrances as to be able to run with patience, endurance and focus to possess what you're lagging behind in. The joy in front becomes your motivation here. 

4. Make a Solid Unrepentant Decision

This is where the devil is in trouble. You make a decision to become or pursue that goal and you're resolute. Your resolution is so firm like a mountain which can't be moved or like a man who wants to take vengeance which his mind is set on. Here, you can set people over yourself to monitor and watch your growth. This is where you need a mentor or father or somebody who can continue to check on you to see you don't back down on your resolutions. Here, you need anyone who can hold you accountable.  Encouragement from such as you go also helps. 

5. Pursue & Act Differently from the Past

Here, you begin to follow after your goal. You may enroll for a course, gather fund to travel out of the country, get an extra job to double up in order to catch up. This is where all the four steps taken so far will find fulfillment. You dare not be careless here. This is where your deliverance is really. It may be spiritual, mental, physical, academic, marital or economic work that will be done. Ensure it's well done because that will now determine your result after the yoke has been destroyed by the anointing (Jer.10:27). There's difference between operating under a yoke and operating under an open heaven. If you do the same labour you've always done under the yoke under an open heaven, you'll see that you now have a bumper result where you've been toiling all night yet without still having caught a thing. Do you know why? Regardless of how much one labours under a curse, he'll still not amount. Curses by makeups, engineering, inbuilt and constitution are meant to shortchange, restrict, peg, reduce, demote, waste, make stunted, afflict, frustrate, strain etc their victims. Here, after ministration of impartation, things will become normal for you too.

Now, All Things Are New

Your step 5 well implemented will lead to this new beginning. Here, your breakthrough has finally come. You're happy you've arrived in your little way and you're celebrating it without being forgetful of where you're coming from or where you're still going. If by working some principles you get here, then you should continue the working of these same principles to get there - the ultimate future you're beholding. 

These are the steps Jabez took before he knew a change of status. He came to the realization of a wrong force working and superintending over his results in this life. He looked at where others were, where he was and should be. From that, he was pained and regretted having stood still all this while. He cried to God and He changed his status. Then, he maintained that status.

A changed status is not as important as a maintained status. If you're delivered, you must maintain deliverance. Jesus told one man, "go, sin no more lest something worse befalls you [John 5:14]."

That instruction would keep his victory victorious, continuous, unthreatened or reversed. After becoming successful, maintain being successful. That's where another warfare is and may you win that one too. 

Olusola ADEJUMO, M'Wings.

Morning Wings Ministry, Nigeria. 

morningwingministry@gmail.com

morningwingsministry.blogspot.com

+234 81 3704 6812

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - 21/08/2021

 SATURDAY - 21ST AUGUST, 2021

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO

STRONGHOLDS ARE ANSWERABLE TO DECREES 

Nahum 3:12, KJV

"All thy strong holds shall be like fig trees with the firstripe figs: if they be shaken, they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater."

A stronghold is a place built to withstand attack. It is a refuge or fortress. In time of war, people run there. A cave can serve the purpose of a stronghold. Contradictorily, God's declaration speaks concerning the defence of Nineveh and how weak her stronghold will be - permeating the enemy. A stronghold which is meant to be a defence will now be one that rather will give way very easily to intruders. It will just be easy to break through or into it. So, security will be compromised.

Like ripe fruits fall without much effort but by just a shaking of the tree, so did God declare ease of penetration into Nineveh. To be sincere with you, God's decrees can make difficult things easy. If you know what a stronghold is, you'll know it is always intentionally built to resist external aggressions. If it's a wall for instance that's built into a stronghold, the bricks will be thoroughly baked in the furnace and given the quality of seven times processing. Apart from that, it won't be like our normal nowadays fence in width. Like the wall of Jericho, it could be a wall that two vehicles could comfortably drive on - one going, one coming at the same time. That may be the width. Imagine a fence with the width of an express road. This made such hardly breakable. To break walls like this, Uzziah during his reign gave special attention to the building of engines and machines that shoot arrows from towers and at the same time haul stones. To break through such, one will need to haul persistently a specially made combo stone at a specific place until holes are made in there for soldiers to enter (II Chronicles 26:15 & Ezekiel 26:9). Defences are not easily broken even in sports because it's specially made to resist and withstand the opponent especially the front line attackers. You can fight it but it is meant to tire you until you drop.

Why this very payment to attention? Because it's a wall meant to serve as a protection, hiding place and a keeper at distance of offensive launches. They call such walls bulwark. Imagine such a stronghold well built by the best of minds to keep lives and properties in the city safe now being made into ABC for its attackers at God's declaration. What's the thing that could be likened to a stronghold - which is not giving you a way to pass and penetrate in this life? May God make the decree of ease that will make what Satan calls stronghold open to you of its own accord.

Many times, men's minds don't know how to grab with difficulties. However, what they view as threat is settled before their arrival at the location of its encounter. For example, an angel rolled away the stone at the tomb's mouth for those caring and seeking women (Mark 16:3-4) which they had concerned themselves with. At their arrival, God had made difficult things easy for them.

That's the covenant of ease. Before you press, it opens. It's like getting to the ATM machine and withdrawing once from the same machine that didn't dispense for hundreds. When the covenant of ease taints your head, the key in your hands will have no work to do; your effort and strength will be saved and things will be happening for you by God's finger and supernatural power.

Brethren, Jesus makes difficult things easy. Come to Him today and tastes how strongholds can become a tree shaken once with an immediate release of all its fruits.

Today, you won't be denied entry. Access is given you. Receive an entrance and a penetration. No more bounce back but rather an opening even in the toughest of the toughest. For you to have your way, I see God betraying strongholds to you and making holes and loopholes in them for you.

PRAYER: Jesus, You make difficult things easy - give me the covenant of ease and peace. Let strongholds open to me even at my first attempt.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Esther 4:1-7:10, 1 Corinthians 12:1-26, Psalm 36:1-12, Proverbs 21:21-22

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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - 20/08/2021

FRIDAY - 20TH AUGUST, 2021

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO

WHY ALL FLESH TROOP TO HIM

READ Psalm 65

Psalms 65:2, KJV

"O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come."

Why do some attract multitude - having them flock round them like swarm of bees? Is it because of their strong perfume? It is because of charm, skill, favour, anointing, gift or attraction they manifest. What you must know is this. Vultures are not just seen gathering like that. They could only be found gathering round a carcass. Unless something is dead, you won't see the community of vultures gather round the table. They always ask, "what will it profit us?" What draws them is the carcass itself. They come for nothing else but that. 

Matthew 24:28, AMP

"Wherever there is a fallen body (a corpse), there the vultures (or eagles) will flock together."

Did you see now that vultures just don't come around? It's rather because of something that benefits them. Who's that icon, superstar that has more fans or followers than God? If God was on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn etc, the likes and comments He'll rake in in an hour would be much than that of the whole earth put together! You'll read His comments and you'll be tired. As this one is saying, "thank you sir for the answered prayer"; this is saying, "amen." They're just uncountable patronising Him and that's how they'll keep trooping in like all bodies of water empty themselves into the ocean.

Today's Psalm says, "unto you will all flesh come.." Why will all flesh seek Him? Don't they have businesses to do? Why would their attention be turn to God? Why won't they seek Him when He is said to be He that answers prayers.

The multitude you see at the corridor or the court who have come to worship in spirit and in truth throng to Him because of His deed. God has already being proven. He is said to be One that answers prayers. On that testimony, we can as well climb to receive from Him. No one climbs to Him who first don't believe He exists.

Hebrews 11:6, KJV

" But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

Do you know why that place says, "but without faith it's impossible to please God: for he that comes to Him must believe that He is and that He's a rewarder of those that diligently seeks Him."

It is because God is invisible. For as many that will come to Him, they must believe that He is first of all. That He exists somewhere and and that when they come to Him or call on His name, He gives answers and replies. He is the need meeting God. No need is too challenging to be met. If you visit some affluent people, they'll ask you, "what do you want to eat?" They're not asking out of pride. They only want to satisfy you and to tell you the truth, they have everything at home. God has a warehouse for all type of needs. When you pray, like a Father Christmas deeps his hands in a pouch to bring out a parcel, so does He. It is readily available. Your request can't shock Him.

This is why God is the One we're all following. Who goes where he sees no profit? Who invests in a business with a guarantee of no returns? No one does that. So, why God commands such a large crowd known for its multitude whose number we'll even lose counting is because He has made Himself important by meeting people's needs. I don't know that artisan that people patronizes more than God. What value does he actually offer that would make people queue at his door? For what? Who's he? But when it comes to this attractor, He collects the attention of the whole world for Himself yet He opens no amazement park. He only gives answers to the cries of people. For this, people keep mounting to Him, seeking His face and seeking His help. If you're reading this devotional now, you're doing so as to be attended to by He that all flesh come to. Did you see that we've not left talking yet that verse is finding fulfilment.

May you be this important. May the value you offer multiply as to have men come to you. Wherever people get irritated and goes off far from you, may it be amended if it's spiritually caused. 

The Psalmist was overwhelmed. He said, "O thou..." He wonders at how God keeps printing output for men yet without his ink or printer developing a fault. Look, God is a satellite that's somewhere in heaven that sends signals to the earth. It is this signal that He sends, that we interpret and then receives as the answers to our prayers. 

God is an answering God. You've heard the testimony of the Psalmist. On the strength of that, mount up to Him and ask Him to meet a need or needs in your life. Go up in boldness.

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for being Shammah (the Lord is there) and Jireh (the Provider). I thank you for you hear.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Esther 4:1-7:10, 1 Corinthians 12:1-26, Psalm 36:1-12, Proverbs 21:21-22

Powered by Morning Wings Ministries. Share with others in English, French, Arabic, Swahili and Chinese. Enquire or counsel through +234 80 77 63 85 50 or +234 8137 04 68 12 II morningwingministry@gmail.com & Blog @ www.morningwingsministry.blogspot.com

THE MYSTERY OF ENVIRONMENTAL ATTACKS ON AFRICANS EXPOSED

"In USA or Europe, you see names like Bush, Stone yet they progress. Meanwhile, in Africa, someone with the name Favour is struggling to feed; Blessing is begging for data; Rejoice is suffering from depression; Wisdom has no sense, Victory fails exams and even Courage fear dogs!" WHY?

Now, why this?

The reason is simple and not far fetched. It is not even a thing that should be blamed on spirituality, Christianity or what have you?

I've heard people say, "despite the fact that Nigeria has churches almost everywhere on the street, yet it remains one of the corrupt countries in the world with penury living inside her gates."

Let me ask, "is it the responsibility of the church or any religion body to bring people out of poverty first of all or the government's?" Yet, that is what the church is helping the government to do. Yet, you still crucify Christianity and the Church.

Church is not government and as far as I know without any iota of doubt which can be proven by you too who's reading this, you can testify that the entire Church in NIGERIA has benefited NIGERIA than Islam or any other religion has done. Tell me the religion that liberally build orphanages, care for the aged, adopt outcast and rehabilitate prisoners, has many schools (Primary, Secondary or Tertiary) which has given gainful employment to many Nigerians than Christianity. The Missionaries brought peace and development when they came and that's what we're still offering. They built schools, stopped the killing of Twins (depicted by Mary Slessor in the East) and carried out many enlightening programmes for better living. I say again, "that's what we're still doing." Never compare us with those with the vision to conquer by brute yet that's what they're still doing. That's why even in Nigeria today, Northern Nigeria is the least progressive with less developments.  

When COVID struck Nigeria, there was rarely a day you listen to the news that you won't hear a CHURCH, MINISTRY OR DENOMINATION giving the Federal or State Government something. Muslims did but we outdid them! Far, far!

Many argue blindly but as a pastor that's current in the kingdom and in politics/government, I'll say the Church has benefited the society and Nigeria in particular than any. Out of the 100% of beggars in Nigeria as a country, 90% are Northerners and are Muslims even in the East and South Western States which are not their lands. Both neutralists/traditionalists in religion and Christians share the remaining 10%. But before you can see even a handicap that his church can't help but to send to the road, you'll walk far. The church never encourages begging or the poverty mindset. That's why when that beggar at the Beautiful Gate asked for money from Peter and John, instead of financing his poverty and leaving him so, they eradicated his problem so he could stand up, work by himself and earn. We don't encourage the mindset of "please, finance my poverty." We give generously to the poor but to build poverty round giving to the poor (instead of liberating them) like Islam builds poverty round ZAKAT, one of the five pillars of Islam, you won't see. (Acts 3:1-10).

To even measure who has been beneficial the most, let me do that with just a point. I'll like you tell me the religion that has been the source of grieve to us in this country. Which religion kills many in the name of Jihad and with the label terrorism? Who are the people displacing families in Northern Nigeria and who are the herdsmen who visited the Middle Belt, South Western States where many farmers/people were killed? Who are the bandits and the most popular kidnappers in the country? Are they Christians? Who maintains peace and who muddles the water? Talk now...

So, in every way when your friends next time talk of the impact of Christianity in the country, tell them without any iota of doubt how it has facilitated good governance and better life than any religion. In church, we teach entrepreneurial skills and money to liberate our people and make them independent. To even shock you, the school of entrepreneurship originated from the Bible and it was only recently Muslims started writing motivational, inspirational or Money books. And even, they can't quote the Quran fluently like we quote the Bible. Many of them read our authors (even if some of these authors are now declaring themselves as atheists). Yet, they were impacted into by Christianity and have knowledge of the Bible which equipped them with knowledge to write such books. Books by Napoleon Hills, Samuel George Clason, Bill Gates, James Allen, Warren Buffet, Ben Carson etc...

And for the many churches, we will still have more because some of us are church planters and it is a means to obey the great commission.

Now, NAME has nothing to do with success outrightly unless a Spirit force that's negative or positive works with such name to oppress or bless the bearer. So, since that's not the situation we're describing, that's clear.

Why do they now succeed in USA or Western Block where they bear plain names not outrightly associated with prosperity or blessings and why is it in Nigeria or Africa where they bear Favour, Blessing etc, that they are not even favoured or blessed?

Simple! It is the society or environment. Every seed has the capacity to germinate, bring forth in its capacity but where they are sown can determine whether they'll germinate, yield at all, yield maximally or yield to a degree.

Do you remember the parable of the sower? A sower went out to sow. Read here:

Matthew 13:3-8, KJV

"3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.  7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: 8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold."

Did you see that the sower sow the same seed (with same capacity inside them) everywhere but on different soil? The seed brought forth 100%, 60% and 30% even on the good soil. If on the good soil, the seed still grew in degrees, don't you think there will be obvious degrees of growth or no growth at all where they were sown that was not the GOOD GROUND. Even some seed started growing on the rocky ground but because it has no root, it died. The ones that fell by the road side didn't even manifest destiny at all. They were eaten and have abortive destinies etc. These were Nigerians and Africans that died due to bad economy or system and couldn't be heard from yet they could as well have had the destines of seeds that fell on the good ground that manifested in their degrees. The ones amidst thorns are those Nigerians or Africans that started making it but which bad policies, corruption, victimization in the public places or riot and violence collapse their ventures or set up. So, they were terminated also and joined the perishables, suffering and vulnerable masses. 

That's how environment affects growth. Should we lie to ourselves or say the truth? We need to develop. Why those ones are prospering is because of the environment that encourages prospering even though they are no longer godly or believe in the Bible like we do (though they brought us this same Bible and Faith). This is where to separate spirituality from practicality. If you're spiritual and you don't work, you'll have nothing to eat. In all labour, there's profit. That's why they are advancing because of the principle of what you sow is what you'll reap. In spirituality, we also advance more than they on that side but since our own government didn't become practical and benefitting, we remain in poverty and look like idle hands. Nigerian system doesn't encourage prosperity. The economy is in shambles. Things are upside down. #100 bread can't satiate your hunger again. A #500 whole bread can't feed complete two adults again!

If you want to prove this truth further. Take twenty white children from America or Europe and bring them to Nigeria or Africa as babies and take twenty Nigerians or Africans and take them to America or Europe as babies. Expose all the Whites to the deprivation, evil, poverty, lack etc that a typical Black child from a struggling family would face while exposing those same twenty Nigerians or Africans to the wealth, good education, good system that an average American or European is exposed to. Let there not be light for them to read, let their roof leak when they're trying to rest at night, expose them to hunger that kills critical thinking and creativity, let them search for water before they bathe, let them trek miles and get exhausted before they get to school, due to bad road and the inaccessibility of good health care, let their loved ones be delayed to assess medical facilities until they die. Let these and more be the experiences of these White children in Nigeria.

After twenty years, bring them to the same platform and test them. You'll see that almost in every ramification, those twenty Nigerians would do better than those twenty White boys that the Nigerian environment has handicapped from manifesting greatness (though they - the White boys also have the inner qualities like those Blacks or Nigerians trained and groomed in the US) to succeed. That's why Nigerians are travelling out and as you can testify, Africans still make up a greater extent of Europe's labour. Africans in Diaspora are not disgraces in their fields. Have you not been hearing of their success stories? Look, I'm not against your travelling out. As long as you have a thing to do there. Only that, don't lose your patriotic heart. Even if you'll stay there eventually, let Africa and her problems still be in your heart. Don't forget home, your parents and other citizens. From there, seek her peace both in prayers, lifting her name high by doing well excellently so that when you're celebrated, you'll have the cause to say you're a Nigerian or African. Also, partner with Nigerians or Africans in Diaspora to see practical ways to bless the country and continent. 

Did you now see that it is not the name?  This is why patriotic politicians must rise. This is why Christians must join politics and do it. Stop seeing Christians in politics as backsliders. They're the ones who will protect your interest and create a good economy for you if they get there especially if they'll willingly practice all these truths. If I become the Governor of a state or President for instance, you can expect changes like never before. 

Look, if the government won't create an enabling environment for the Nigerian and African child, our story will only remain the same. Religion isn't the problem but the government. Religion exists in the terrain the government owns and is responsible for to develop first of all.

So, what makes it so is the system that helps one to grow, manifest, make it etc but maims, handicaps, limit, hinder, asphyxiate or kill the other from expressing greatness. Both of them has the equal seed of greatness in them and if rightly allowed to blossom, you'll be shocked at the growth.

Olusola ADEJUMO, M'Wings.

Morning Wings Ministry, Nigeria.

+234 81 37 04 68 12.

morningwingministry@gmail.com

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - 19/08/2021

THURSDAY - 19TH AUGUST, 2021

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO

UNTIL THE STORM

Jonah 1:5, KJV

"15 Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.  1:6 So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.

There's difference between the storm rises and it becomes defiant. In today's passage, the storm rose at the ship bearing Jonah. Everybody was fine and no one took thought to call the supernatural into their natural, divinity or a deity into their humanness until what was working for them stopped working. The ship was having good sail until the Lord sent against it a wind.

Jonah 1:4, KJV

"But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken."

It was this that brought them to the place of calling for help. That place says, "the ship got where it threatened to break or was about to break." If it breaks, they know what danger they would be in. So, they cried to their gods. These were heathen mariners yet they prayed. There's no one on earth that has not prayed, is not praying or will not pray to someone even if He doesn't give that acknowledgement to God Almighty.

Look, man will always get to a place where his training, education, experience and everything that's human can't surmount what faces him again. On that note, he'll need an external help. Even at such time, such men don't mind where it comes from. That's even why some Christians backslide after trusting God for a breakthrough but which tarries. If it could be gotten elsewhere, they'll do. Man seeks relieve in trouble and this can in turn make him acknowledge God or any god. Mind you, another human can substitute God also.

Sense of dignity isn't maintained when one gets to this brink of life where death matters. You immediately fling away your estimation for yourself and cry unto the place where you believe your help can come from. Since you're a Christian, that's God. 

Jesus in His own days in the flesh prayed to God in a described manner that shows His helplessness. You too, when your day comes, you'll pray. Those days are not interesting. They come to humble us and show us we are humans who shouldn't be divorced from the supernatural or God. 

Look, there are many things you can do for yourself but once same get out of hand, transfer the issue in prayer. Mariners are familiar with storm but when this one began to get out of hand, they knew to pray. Who knows when last they prayed as an act of obedience and loyalty but that day, they were forced to cry unto their god. What's the lesson?Let not your desperate situation force prayers on you. Rather, enforce prayers on your situation. Pray before trouble comes. Preemptive prayers preserves you the future.

PRAYER: Lord, I overcome any current storm. Glory over it.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezra 10:1-44, 1 Corinthians 6:1-20, Psalm 31:9-18, Proverbs 21:3

Powered by Morning Wings Ministries. Share with others in English, French, Arabic, Swahili and Chinese. Enquire or counsel through +234 80 77 63 85 50 or +234 8137 04 68 12 II morningwingministry@gmail.com & Blog @ www.morningwingsministry.blogspot.com

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - 18/08/2021

WEDNESDAY - 18TH AUGUST, 2021

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO

IN THE DAYS OF YOUR OWN FLESH WHEN YOU'LL BE SHAKEN

Read Luke 22:39-44, Matthew 26:36-44

Hebrews 5:7, NIV

"During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission."

Where NIV version says, "during the days of Jesus' life on earth"; KJV says, "In the days of His flesh." I'll say I like both. 

What happen during the days of Jesus' flesh? The days of His flesh was when He was here; when He once walked and lived on this earth; when He ate like we eat now and was a man of like passion just like us and like Elijah was. What happen to Him?

We were told that He found Himself in a strait. You can call it the most difficult situation on earth. Nothing can be as difficult as death knocking on one's door or one knowing his life will soon be taken! Who will rejoice and begin to clap especially when it seems more is still expected of one or one can still give more? So, on this hard day when it appeared glaringly to Jesus that the time of His being offered for sin draws near, He responded with something. He offered up PRAYERS and PETITIONS with FERVENT CRIES and TEARS to somebody. The very One who could save Him from death. That was His Father, our Father. The One all prayers are directed to. The One unto whom all flesh comes because He answers prayers. 

Yesterday, you saw what "petition" was. It's entreaties or pleas. Imagine Jesus doing that. No one is on his own. Let all of us know it. Don't say, "I can't humble myself or nothing can bend me." Even Jesus, something bent Him. Whenever the day of shaking appears, man can't but be moved. It is such days that make it a necessity for us to seek the stability of God and pray in a manner that we will find for ourselves and not one we would be called into like: "open your mouth and cry wide", as dictated by the one leading the prayer. 

In the quoted verse above, you could see the trouble of Jesus. He got to His own full stop and though He had been praying willingly before, He can't but pray again because of a need that shows up in a seemingly way that looked as if He would be swallowed by it. An African proverb says, "when a child encounters fear; he sure must be moved." That is, he can't but act somehow or someway that has been already predetermined. Fear is fearful and it can shake one. Today quoted verse actually reveals Jesus praying in Gethsemane. What happen in Gethsemane? He prayed that the cup would pass over Him but while rather acknowledging why He was sent on earth. So, He said, "let thy (God's, My Father's will) be done.

The battle could have been lost here. Experiencing this and knowing what's to come of the suffering to endure, he quavers under the heaviness of such task. The Bible said as he prayed, his sweat became as thick as blood. Does that not describe to you droplets from a labourer falling to the ground? [Luke 22:39-44]. It shows what sort of hard work He was apprenticed to at that time. If Jesus had given up at Gethsemane, that would have been the end. The victory at the cross was first the victory obtained at Gethsemane for there wouldn't have been any victory at the cross if the battle of will and acceptance of assignment was defeated, forfeited and lost here. 

So, on that day, Jesus prayed and petitioned God with hot cries and tears. Imagine how he prayed. I've heard people say, "cry aloud to God" before. That's not sinful or bad. Meanwhile, you can cry aloud without being told or taught when you find yourself in circumstances that looks like a day of death to you too. Our needs will dictate what we pray and how we pray it. Your need can teach you prayer. Jesus' bent Him to pray and He did so in an extraordinarily sympathetic was. He so much needed help lest He collapsed under the weight of that assignment that even an angel was released to strengthen Him. 

No one that's on this earth is therefore offered an escape from prayer. If such is not praying now, it is because the day of his own emergency and fear hasn't arrived. When Jesus' arrived, He prayed earnestly until the by-product from his body was as thick as blood! What a labour, a groaning and a crushing! The reason why we can't but pray is that as long as we are on this earth, in this life, in this realm, we will sure be needy. Even if you don't make a practice of prayer, your need one day will drive you to pray. Even if you don't know Jehovah, you'll make prayers on your own day of need to a place where you believe your help can come from. No one is excluded. No middle ground either. You can't but pray. All of us including atheists have made prayers before even if it was to a mere man. If you tell another for instance, "please, ensure you come to pick me up." What have you done? You have prayed them to do you something you can't do for yourself at that time even if you know how to drive. You have asked, begged or pleaded for something. Even when your statement is void of the word, "please", you'll still be deemed to have made a request that's not in your capacity to fulfill but of another. 

Now, because all of us will find ourselves in a look alike situation of Jesus; where we will be fretted, surrounded on all sides, distressed, confounded with compounded problems, we can't but look somewhere for help. On Jesus' day, He did that like a child. He didn't keep His dignity or let His hand remain in his pocket while doing that. Some things will snatch "ego, show off and pride" from you. Such is the day likened to Jesus' day of death that can't but come upon you in this life. It may be the falling sick of a child, the involving in an accident of a spouse, the immediate need of money to pay an embarrassing debt. All these and other helps which you may on that day need will make you too take a posture or do acts that will make mockers to diminish and laugh at your show of calling unto God. When this day of sobriety, humiliation and challenge comes, may the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ hearken unto you too just like He hearkened unto Jesus and supported Him to drink His cup. 

May this Psalm find fulfilment on you at such time when you need an anchor that keeps the soul. 

Psalms 20:1, KJV 

"The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee."

PRAYER: Lord, stay close to me as I walk this earth in this my lifetime. When the day likened unto Jesus' day of death draws near, hearken to my cry and be my fortitude.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Nehemiah 12:27-13:31, 1 Corinthians 11:1-16, Psalm 35:1-16, Proverbs 21:17-18

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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - 17/08/2021

TUESDAY - 17TH AUGUST, 2021

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO

PRAYERLESSNESS IS PRIDE

Daniel 6:10-11, KJV

"10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. 11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God."

When you read, "prayerlessness is pride", you may enquire plainly or wonder with ego why it is pride. That's why one of the things that's difficult to judge by all that's written instantly for meditation is a quote. It is not all quotes that seems so glaringly explanatory at contact. A quote is like a tip of the iceberg. The iceberg itself is deep down and more massive than the tip. You can't even have the tip without the iceberg. My quotes are from my teachings for instance. And at times when I receive a quote before a teaching, I could then go to do a teaching from the quote. So, don't be quick to judge. Those who won't judge are those who have had that revelation of why prayerlessness is pride already or those who are meek to learn. 

Prayerlessness is pride! In today's passage, Daniel was caught praying to God. In the words of his accusers, he was praying and making supplication to God. 

When we pray, what do we do? We acknowledge another's presence or existence. We address an invisible God that by faith we believe exists and rules in the affairs of men. No one prays that don't believe God exists first of all. The Bible says, " he that comes to God must believe that He is and that He's a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. [Hebrews 11:6]"

In prayer, you acknowledge your helplessness the moment you begin to speak to God about something or someone. If you could help yourself, you wouldn't look unto another. That's what reliance is all about. That's what self sufficiency is. So, any that prays or prays often can be described as humble because it takes humility to acknowledge somebody else over oneself. 

Now, when we come to pray, what do we do? We make supplications. This is a type of prayer. You can come to God to declare or make decrees but in Daniel's case which I believe you've fallen into before, he was making petition otherwise known as supplication to God. Supplication is also entreaty. What does it mean to entreat? It means to beg. "Begging" here don't connote having the slavish mental attitude of not being bold or believing God is One's Father. Have we not been told "to come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need [Hebrews  4:16]?"

Now, a going up is to get what accomplished? "To receive help." 

Any that acknowledges he need something but which he can't give himself but looks unto another to give can't but pray. So, if you're this reliant on another, you're not proud. That's why those that are wealthy according to human standard tend to be proud thinking they are a self contain kind of people. Why many of them proclaim themselves atheists is because of all they have working for them in the natural. Affluence can make you detach from God or even any human relationship while equipping you with the mindset of my money answers all things. Was it not said of Jeshurun that when he grew fat, he kicked against the Lord? [Deut.32:5]. Was it not said of Uzziah that after the Lord helped him till he was strong [could then stood on his own] kicked against God? A revelation that one can declare his detachment at the revelation that he is now something.

Whether you decree or supplicate, you still acknowledge somebody over you and you trust Him to bring to pass what you're praying on. "Prayer" or "praying" is an encompassing word. It describes many types of prayers. That's why we were told to "pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints [Ephesians  6:18]."

We humans must know that we are not on our own. If you claim there are what you can do for yourself without God. It must be clear to you also that there be many things you'll need the supernatural to do for you. If you don't want to seek the devil for what's unnatural which you can't accomplish, you're left with no option but to submit to God, believe He is, take his yoke (demands on you) and pray to Him while you await Him show His obligation towards your prayers.

Daniel didn't say he was enough. He was the number one politician amidst all appointed by the king. Yet, he was found to often go back (detaching from the kingdom duties) to pray and supplicate to God. No wonder, though he was popularly known as Daniel, many prophecies of the end time was still received by him. That makes him a prophet.

Daniel's prayers to God shows his need of God. Your day/moments of prayerlessness reveals your not being a needy again. It's my prayer that perpetually, we will be needy so we can be tossed back to Him. Show me he who has no need to meet now or later in the future and I'll show you a man that can do away with God and man. It is need that makes us cry to the one Jesus offered prayers unto in the days of His flesh. When you're shaken but needs the stability that no man can provide, you'll need to look up somewhere for help. May that be to God!

PRAYER: Lord, may I see my helplessness as to often pray to You for help.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezra 10:1-44, 1 Corinthians 6:1-20, Psalm 31:9-18, Proverbs 21:3

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