MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - 17/02/2024

SATURDAY - 17TH FEBRUARY, 2024

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO

THE PURPOSE OF ABUNDANCE

Read Gen. 41

Genesis 41:36, KJV

"And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine."

When God is at work, may you see Him. The truth is, there's none God won't come for. He's never unjust. He gives to all His blessings and appears to each of us at a certain time or season of life. God came for Egypt to prepare them for the hard times ahead of them. There'll be famine in the land but for them to cope, God first brought their solution hidden in the seven years of plenty. These seven years of plenty was an intentional orchestration of God so that Egypt might not be consumed or thrown into extinction. That is God's plan for them. However, they might have failed in implementing it by wasting away grains and not storing it. Human foolishness and carelessness could have caught up with them. 

According to the interpretation Joseph brought on Pharaoh's dreams, there come seven years of abundance and seven years of famine after them. The famine would be so severe that the seven years of abundance would never be seen to have occured. On this note, Joseph gave a reason why God is visiting Egypt with abundance. Don't forget that according to the right interpretation of the dreams, those seven years of abundance are predicted to be years in which the land would bring forth plentifully. Should it therefore be wasted? Will that be the very purpose for which God was giving it? No!

Thank God for discernment and discretion of someone like Joseph. The solution to not be stranded in the seven years of famine is to gather food like the sand of the sea shore to await and cater for those years of hard times to come. The purpose of that God given abundance to Egypt is therefore to elongate their living and make them beat the famine on the match. 

Look, God has a purpose for all He does. He just didn't bring seven years of abundance to Egypt that they might eat and rejoice. He intends it would be conserved and saved against the hardship that'll come their way. Same way, God expects that a Christian would not eat all his grains but save and then invest his resources for multiplication so he'll be rich/wealthy enough to survive all famines and thirst. Look, God will equate you with what is coming upon the earth. He prepares Christians and even gives us notifications. You might have been insensitive to your preparation! If you observe rightly, you'll see that it was seven years of abundance God gave to cater and absorb the anticipated seven years of famine. It wasn't lesser or higher in comparison. God is very just. Everything is done by equity, having been measured in a balance of fairness. One time, I once took a three units course that was taught for three hours on each contact with a scheduling of its exam for three hours also. The lecturer while commenting said, "that was done to create a balance. It's all fairness. It's a three units course that'll be taught for three hours and then done for three hours." Everything was measured rightly. Also, God measured the seven years of abundance to rightly meet and drown the seven years of famine if only Egypt would be wise to take advantage of the abundance. Thank God they did. Thank God for the wise manager God gave them. 

Brethren, the Bible says, "there hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (I Corinthians 10:13, KJV). Believe that. When God was to bring the seven years of famine, He first brought the seven years of plenty by which handle Egypt and her people could find their feet and way to escape. What matters is not to waste your "way of/to escape" when God brings it to you. There are many who are complaining now of God's unfaithfulness to them yet God had appeared to them severally. However, they didn't trap His blessings like Egypt. Could Egypt have blamed God Almighty for not doing good to her if she had not stored grains? Yet, that's what we do. We blame God over our own financial unreasonableness, careless spending and wastefulness during the years our lands brought forth abundantly yet expecting a kind of miracle from heaven after this failure. Look, the miracle already came. You mismanaged it. God has already appeared to you. How you maximize what He brings is simply your salvation. To those still arguing, saying God never prepared them for the hard times they're now experiencing, you probably need to read this. 

Job 33:14, KJV

"For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not."

You see, that verse says God has repeatedly revealed or manifested Himself to man, however, he didn't recognize God's visitation for what it is. In same way, when God visited you with your grains, you didn't know it was meant for saving for a future of hard times to come. That's why you became the prodigal son in those days/years. You blew it all to put blames on God now. That'll be wickedness. Repent having learnt the purpose of abundance and await God to visit you again. 

PRAYER: Lord, I receive reason and understanding to trap and conserve my blessings. I become a wise manager of resources.

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Leviticus 1:1-3:17, Mark 1:29-2:12, Psalm 35:17-28, Proverbs 9:13-18

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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - 16/02/2024

FRIDAY - 16TH FEBRUARY, 2024

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO

I USED-TO-BE PERSONS

Genesis 41:29-30, KJV

"29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: 30 And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land."

Guard against, "I used-to-be." God has spoken good of you when He says, "but the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day" (Proverbs 4:18, KJV). The Bible also says, "the glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts... (Haggai 2:9, KJV). It simply means what you were known for yesterday; you should be known for the same today while continuing to be known for the same tomorrow. However, in a better and improved condition. What your life should resemble is that of continuous growth, improvement and progress; not diminishment. If the glory of your future years would surpass those of your yester years, then you ought not to resign from the good and the fire with which you have started and taken off afore time. You should continue until your tomorrow is clearly noticed, noted and appraised to have been better off than your yesterday when you took off. However, I used-to-be people don't always have this testimony. You'll only hear, "I was once fervent in God; was once a writer; a great athlete or a business tycoon etc." Life has happened to them. They've been cut off and discontinued. That way, nobody sees their futures  or better days. I pray for you however, "you won't be an I used-to-be person. God will raise any from such a position. Receive the anointing and enablement to break your shackles, stand upright and make a reappearance." You will rather go all the way until you have the praises of witnesses to have surpassed your former days. You'll outdo yourself!

Today's reading avails us a story that portrays the instability in life. Life is seasonal and you'll be wise acknowledging and taking advantage of the same. If not, the change in seasons may hurt you so badly that you may not recover from it. Joseph in the interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams made a disclosure on the dreams being one. More importantly, he emphasises the fact that it means seven years of abundance which would be followed by another seven years of famine. While he speaks, he says, "and there shall arise after them seven years of famine, and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt."

Now, when someone who has doesn't have again, he becomes a used-to-have person. From Joseph's statement here, we also gathered that a nation that has plenty could suddenly because of a change in season enter into penury thereby becoming a used-to-have nation. Indeed, Egypt could have been a used-to-have nation. However, she persisted. So, how can a Christian flourish like a palm tree at all seasons and always? (Psalms 92:12).

It's simple if we'll model after the principle that Joseph recommended for Egypt and its leadership to practice. It's the principle of savings. He told them Egypt would be saved and spared if she could gather a specific percentage of grain for storing during those seven years of abundance against the anticipated seven years of famine (Gen.41:34). Seven years of abundance is symbolic of excesses and wealth. Everyone will have his or her season of abundance when God, life/nature would be favourably disposed towards him. However, what you do with that opportunity that's availed you is what determines whether you'll continue to flourish in the face of famine or you'd fold up when it comes on you like a flood. The economy won't always be the same. Shaking will always come. However, you and I ought flourish. Nothing ought to take us out and make us a glory of the past. Imagine how disrepute it would have been if Egypt had become a used-to-have grain nation. If they had not prepared and conserved grains, they wouldn't have had the testimony of continuing in the face of the famine. It won't be because God didn't visit them with a blessing or abundance but it'll be crested on the fact that it wasn't conserved and utmostly taken advantage of. God has a reason for the abundance in your hand. For Egypt , it was to weather the years to come. Abundance is meant to be preserved and not just spent in wastefulness. Hard days will come - for that is the other side of the coin. As a Christian therefore, create a good savings plan and then proceed to investing rightly in order to multiply your resources. In this way, we will become Joseph in wealth accumulation who gathered grains until he couldn't measure, count or take statistics again (Gen.41:49). It means he got to a place where he had acquired too much to number! We could be that wealthy!

This is your day. It's an opportunity of a lifetime. It was offered to Pharaoh and its leadership and it wasn't rejected. The same is coming to you. Don't trivialize wisdom. Refuse to be a used-to person. Device means of being in existence and in production always - whether in abundance  or famine. Refuse to fold up, get ruined, go into depression or extinction. Your leopard must not miss its spots. I pray for you, nothing will be strong enough to wipe you out and make you a used-to. Egypt didn't cease at famine. Rather, they laughed. You'll laugh in yours. 

PRAYER: Lord, I shall always bring forth my fruit. I shall not be discontinued. I shall be quick in and out of the season.

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Exodus 39:1-40:38, Mark 1:1-28, Psalm 35:1-16, Proverbs 9:11-12

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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - 15/02/2024

THURSDAY - 15TH FEBRUARY, 2024

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO

SOMEONE TO OPEN THE DOOR

Mark 14:10 - 11, KJV

"10 And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him."

A general once besieged a very lofty wall. While at the city gate with his soldiers, his captains asked how the city would be captured? Will they just stand there and watch or what? The general replied that he was waiting for his fourth column to do the work. This came as a surprise to his captains of many years and many battles. They asked if this fourth column is made up of a certain special force, military paratroopers that'll descend from the air or those specially trained in intelligence and combat tactics. The general said no to all their enquiries. He rather said the fourth column he's awaiting consisted of his spies, the discontented and internal rebels etc already in the city. He said he's waiting for them to fling the gates open while they'll rush in to slaughter all and capture the city. 

On another occasion, some city guards once pursued some rebels to the sea coast. While they could have been arrested, the leading guard commanded they relent to the shock of all other junior ranked officers. They wondered why he would command that they should give up after such characters that are detrimental to their living and their world. He told them of the hole in their boat. It wasn't long they boarded the boat that they began to sink. Therefore, they were exposed to the peril of a sinking ship right in the middle of the sea. However, all began just with a hole in the boat - a little opening and betrayal of a sort that the rebels didn't know about. This is the point through which water gushed in to wreck its havoc on them. 

In today's reading, it's very clear Jesus is the target of the Pharisees and elders. They sought to lay hands on him to kill him. However, they couldn't find a convenient time or way of getting this done. They feared an uproar of the people (Mark 14:1-2). Later on however, Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve approached these group of conspirators assuring them of delivering Jesus into their hands. The Bible states, "and they were very glad." They were glad that what they wanted to get done is being enhanced and helped by someone from the inside. Nothing guarantees success more than having someone on the inside. What an insider could deliver, it'll take many conspirators from outside to grope in darkness for awhile before they would see what he has seen and know what he has known. For this reason, conspirators always look for an insider. A hole in the boat! A betrayer in any group is one that could open the door from the inside. Through him, unpronounced harm would be wrecked and no life would be spared. This is why the leadership of any institution must ensure that there are no discontented individuals within her structure. Any discontented individual is a potential rebel and betrayer. They'll join forces with your enemy to operate against you. This is what the new Pharaoh in Egypt was hinting at when he said the Israelites should be enslaved lest they join their enemies in time of war to raid or fight them (Exo.1:8-10). You see, he didn't trust them enough. He saw them as discontented individuals that have the potential to wreck the nation. He never knew that they were those who have taken a leaf from Joseph to do well to the land of their sojourn. In truth, there are many countries today suffering from  disloyalty from the mixed multitudes who have penetrated them as illegal immigrants or supposed citizens. 

Also, when David fled from Saul, one of such people who gathered round him are those who are already unhappy with the ongoing government and tenure of Saul (I Sam.22:2). If need be, they wanted a change of leadership. All of them one way or the other have fallen victim of Saul's bad government and so saw sense in gathering to support another leader with whom they hope a fresh day might be started. The discontented easily depart and loses loyalty for you. Ensure your team is solidified by having contented people. Enquire on the welfare of your team. Is any angry? Is any hungry? Is any robbed or cheated? Is any dissatisfied and wants to be heard? Was any shut down or taken for granted? Encourage them to share their views. All these are issues that could inflame discontentment if not looked into. However, make them feel important - having the  shareholder's or owner's mindset. While I can't fault the leadership of Jesus and would say Judas rather was a son of the devil yet we learnt a major lesson that a betrayer comes right from inside you. A betrayer is not always someone who's far fetched. He's usually a friend - someone you dine with. In the case of Jesus, Judas was both a friend and someone he dines with. It's so shocking that a disciple would betray his master. From then until now, it has been proven that the enemy of a man are those of his own house. I therefore pray that God will keep you pact together. No hole shall be opened in your family, team or leadership. None will sell out your strength or weaknesses to rival institutions. More importantly, you'll survive all back stabs and betrayals. It'll be to a greater glory. It'll be for a higher purpose. Like Jesus experienced, it'll lead you to your highest calling. 

PRAYER: Father, may I not be a hole in the boat to anyone. I survive all betrayals.

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Exodus 39:1-40:38, Mark 1:1-28, Psalm 35:1-16, Proverbs 9:11-12

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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - 11/02/2024

SUNDAY - 11TH FEBRUARY, 2024

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO

THE DANGER OF BURNING IN LUST

Genesis 39:12, KJV

"And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out."

A true life story that morals the danger of lust was told by an elderly Christian minister that you'll know if mentioned. In one of his sermons I had listened to, he warned on thinking wrongly or lusting. He sited an instance of a minister who in his unguarded hour on the pulpit introduced an invited woman minister as "having mega breasts". How did that result? While the invited woman minister is truly bursty, the man of God (the host) was lost in deep thought and fixture on her outlook. He must have savoured that look and naked the woman probably in his mind. Unfortunately, he forgot himself while trying to call her to the pulpit during the introduction. I imagined what a day it would be in public that day when his heart's secret was disclosed in front of his whole congregation.

Just as disgusting as this event looks; just as unwanted and amoral that thought that was revealed looks, many thoughts in many hearts still look that same way if we'll have the secrets of their hearts disclosed. However, if that doesn't happen now, it'll happen one day when the secret of everybody's hearts would be made manifest.

Beware of lust! This story is going to find further fulfilment in a story handpicked from the Bible. Potiphar's wife started by "casting her eyes on Joseph". When she did, she began to lust after him. She began to savour Joseph in her mind. She'll often fondle and naked Joseph in her mind. She imagined how sex would look with this young, vibrant and handsome young man. That's how people begin when they get infatuated with a person. After this stage of imagining, she graduated to wanting to do the act. She began to talk to Joseph "day by day" to lie with her as the Bible puts it. By speaking to Joseph that often and seeking to persuade him to lie with her shows how intense and how inflame she has now become. She wants to have sex. However, she hasn't reached the height of desperateness at that time. Madam reached the height of it all when she couldn't gather or refrain her urges again. At that time, she doesn't want a no for an answer. She's not also ready to give Joseph a choice like before. She wants to enforce it now. She actually wanted to rape Joseph. It's at that point the Bible says, "she caught Joseph by his garment". When anybody gets here, they don't mind their status, reputation or image again. They can misbehave because of lust that has thus conceived in them. Do you know the madam of a house out of having been sex starved or having cultivated intense lust could grab her subordinate that she pays his salary? That's the height of it all. But before that would happen, other processes I already highlighted must have played out. Potiphar's wife exemplifies all these stages of lust. That man of God who made a mistake confessing what he shouldn't confess did after savouring the appearance of that invited minister and swallowing her whole. It was that he was lusting after when he forgot himself and said what he shouldn't have said. 

No one just falls into the sin of fornication or adultery like that. It has to bud. It takes a sort of preparedness. It is when lust has conceived that it brings forth sin (James 1:15). However, people do say it happened without their knowing how. That's a lie. The devil is not seeking much room to make you fall and have your image spoilt - staining your conscience. He's only asking for one. He has plans for you. He just wants to breed unnecessary familiarity between yourself and that colleague at work. He just wants you to sympathize with him/her and see her as a victim of an ungentlemanly man at home. He just wants you to make the mistake of petting her not to cry anymore. Then, you'll be gone in a jiffy. Beware. The Bible says, "but a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire" (James 3:5). Little avenue given to the devil is always maximized to its height. Through that sole opening, the disrepute that you can come into is unimaginable. 

God wants us to be pure at heart and clean outside. It is holiness within and without. As we know, it is not what a man eats that defiles him [because that goes out] but what he says that comes from his heart (Matt.15:11). Beware of what you're thinking because you're what you think. Beware of the kind of garden you're cultivating and watering by your thoughts which is why the Bible admonishes that we set our affection on things on high.

PRAYER: Lord, I set my heart on things on high. My mind is not for lust. I purify it with Jesus' blood. 

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Exodus 32:1-33:23, Matthew 26:69-27:14, Psalm 33:1-11, Proverbs 8:33-36

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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - 10/02/2024

SATURDAY - 10TH FEBRUARY, 2024

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO

SIN THRIVES IN SECRECY/IN SECRET!

Genesis 39:11, KJV

"And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within."

I think you probably want to have a rethink on reading today's devotional topic. "Sin thrives in secrecy" and if you despise that, you'll see yourself caught up in many sinful practices. By then, you'll have learnt by experience, being able to bear witness. 

The boss' wife of Joseph who made advances to him didn't do so in public and when it came to execution time, she also didn't go public while seeking to force Joseph to it. Though Joseph truncated the execution of her plan, it was successfully initiated when she caught him by his garment, making forceful demand that he lies with her.

I said earlier that Mrs. Potiphar didn't appear in public to say, "come, lie with me". She did at a convenient place and time. It was when Joseph went into the house to do his business; when no other person was in the house. Sin, especially the sin of fornication or adultery thrives very well in secrecy. Secrecy is the ground on which it flowers. That's why that old counsel keeps coming to us, "don't be caught with the opposite sex all alone behind a closed door". You might think that's a waste of information and that grace covers you or that you have a special anointing. No! No! You're still human. You're made of the components: flesh and blood. If so, it means you have tendency in you to awaken, crave human passions while being susceptible to human failures. Even the Bible says, "Elias was a man subject to likewise passions as we are..." (James 5:17). That was despite his having called down fire and brought down mighty revival (I Kings 18). Yet, the Bible notes that Elijah is a human like anyone of us and is fretted with our human weaknesses and vulnerabilities.

The devil has a foothold to drag you to sin when you give him such secrecy to thrive in. Either secrecy for the act to happen first time or secrecy by keeping the act to yourself when it happened. The devil usually capitalizes on the latter to make you a slave to such sin by continuing you in it.

No room for the devil in the open. A church usher won't steal when counting the money in the full glare of other ushers. Even if the temptation arises, he'll exercise control. The temptation mounts when he's really all alone. The very need for faithfulness when no one is around. That's real faithfulness!

When Mrs Potiphar couldn't see anyone around, what did she do?

Genesis 39:12, KJV

"And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me..."

Could she have caught Joseph with that same intention and spoken confession in the full glare of all other slaves? You're answering with a no right? Yes, it's a no! That's why I said earlier that sin thrives in secrecy. Thank God for the wisdom of escaping for one's life that Joseph practiced. That's the way out when you're suddenly caught in secrecy to commit fornication or adultery. Flee! Also, when you flee away from the theatre of secrecy, it is believed you would be resisting that temptation more strongly and endorsing your desire to pursue after righteousness. Wanting a change yet continuing where you're easily tempted to sin isn't the solution. Secrecy is darkness. Flee into light and the deed of darkness shall be staunched by light. You expose darkness and cut off its work from thriving when you also expose it. You might want to confide in somebody right away on that sin you have committed or on the thoughts/plans of your heart to commit one. Don't be tempted!

James 1:14 - 15, KJV

"14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."

May you not die!

PRAYER: Lord, I refuse to be led away by Satan leveraging on my lusts. It is holiness within and without.

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Exodus 30:11-31:18, Matthew 26:47-68, Psalm 32:1-11, Proverbs 8:27-32

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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - 9/02/2024

FRIDAY - 9TH FEBRUARY, 2024

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO

PERSISTENCE WEARS DOWN THE WALL OF RESISTANCE

Genesis 39:7, KJV

"And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me."

If you don't know, do today. Persistence can wear down the wall of resistance. Yesterday, I showed you the persistence of Satan in getting a saint to sin or bringing him down. Did you observe that Jesus was not tempted once. He once tempted thrice (Matt.4:1-11). The devil has learnt the power of persistence and that's because trying and keeping at it might eventually yield result. 

In today's teaching, God wants to take us further. I want to roam on what I started to hint you yesterday. Potiphar's wife casted her eyes on Joseph. "To cast your eyes" on something means to make it your next target/conquest. When you cast your eyes on something, there's a sort of determination and pursuit you give towards having or possessing that thing. So, when the Bible says, "she casted her eyes on Joseph", it means we ought to begin to intercede for Joseph from that point on Mrs. Potiphar saw potential enough in him to cast her eyes on. She casted her eyes on Joseph and would go any length to have him. It means Brother Joseph is in a big trouble and has to be watchful lest the Satan that has marked him for a prey has him eventually. That's because the devil has gotten on his case and has come to face him squarely to bring him down through Potiphar's wife - madam. 

Do you know that Satan casts his eyes on us all occasionally? He once did to Job and went after him to wreck him. Whenever Satan focuses on you and makes you his subject matter, he does that to frustrate you so that you might let him in out of fear, disappointment or frustration. When you click and he blocks your way, he's seeking to achieve a purpose. When all your attempts end in a dead end and in a lockjam, making you a lesser worker than others who are succeeding, that's Satan already trailing you. He wants you to begin to ask, "why are things not working for me?"

Meanwhile, let me show you how through the story of Potiphar's wife and Joseph, persistence that wears down the wall of resistance is illustrated. I had noted yesterday that Potiphar's wife didn't make advances to Joseph once. If not, we wouldn't have had a verse like this written. 

Genesis 39:10, KJV

"And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her."

That place says, "she spoke to Joseph day by day." That might also be "often." Irrespective of what it means: daily or often, what is observable is that Mrs. Potiphar persisted in her approach and request. She persisted having learnt something about human nature - that humans tend to have their breaking point. What she does as she makes often advances to Joseph is to lay embarkment against the walls of Joseph. That act is to lay siege on Joseph and see to bringing him down. However, we thank God that Joseph's mountain stands still as well. It doesn't melt or move. He also applied persistence in resisting her. 

You must know that persistence wears down the wall of resistance. Moses' hand begins to grow weary because he persists bearing it up (Exo.17:11-12). That unjust judge eventually vindicated that widowed woman because she refuses to get tired of tendering her request (Lk.18:1-6). Brethren, persistence wears down the wall of resistance. If you attack a thing enough, it might open up to you. The Bible is enclosed. What you see on paper and read are the letters. However, it can break loose just through persistence of study. By the time you persist to travel deeper, you could dig out the treasure in God's Word. Madam wouldn't have continued to pursue Joseph if she doesn't believe that a man who says, "I won't do today" could change his stand tomorrow. She knows rightly that if you persist, you can have whatsoever even if you've been denied many times before. The solution to not being besieged or tempted this way is to flee. That is, not to be available to be worked on at all. However, if you are, you might eventually cave in and let go. Persistence can wear anyone or anything off. 

I pray for you that where you need to persist to achieve a certain goal, you'll not be weary or grow tired. However, where you need to resist firm in your faith, your bow will abide in strength. 

PRAYER: I resist all temptations firm in the faith. I pursue with persistence my goals. 

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Exodus 28:1-43, Matthew 25:31-26:13, Psalm 31:9-18, Proverbs 8:12-13

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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - 8/02/2024

THURSDAY - 8TH FEBRUARY, 2024

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO

LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNE TIME

Read Luke 4:1-13

Luke 4:13, KJV

"And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season."

There's a Christian hymn that reads:

"Christian, seek not yet repose,

Hear thy gracious Savior say;

Thou art in the midst of foes:

Watch and pray.

Principalities and powers,

Mustering their unseen array,

Wait for thy unguarded hours:

Watch and pray."

That hymn reminds us of our enemy, Satan who seeks whom to devour. Without seeking to instill in us any fear of him, it also tells us not to seek rest, becoming too comfortable or sluggish as to be careless to give Him the upper hand. 

"Christian, seek not yet repose,

Hear thy gracious Savior say..."

In today's reading, the devil keeps coming to Jesus in order to compromise Him. In three times symbolic temptations, Jesus was tempted but refuted sin. After Jesus' victory however, the Bible notes of the devil to have departed from Jesus just for a season. A "season" passes for awhile there. It means that one victory of Jesus won't always keep the devil at bay. He'll still look for moments, opportune times when he could come back again. 

The devil might leave you to yourself for a season. He might allow you have a victory over him after much struggle. However, his thought are still of evil and not of good towards you. This one time surrendering of his is not an all time surrendering. He's still in pursuit of one thing - bringing you down. Many a times, once in a while personal victory over Satan and his temptations do cool Christians down and instills them with a sense of arrival or achievement that they have made it, and are now immuned to temptation or falling away. On this note, they just go to sleep. However, the title of Daniel Everett's book, the linguist and once a time missionary to the Amazon, "Don't Sleep, There Are Snakes..." ought come alive to them.

If you're in a reptile invested area, knowing how dangerous that is, I don't think you'd allow dizziness to descend on you once. The reason is simple. You want to watch out for your life by yourself. You're not waiting for someone to tell you, "watch out, that's a snake or a crocodile!" You want to have eyes that sees, senses that sense and mind that'll be prompt to take action. You want to keep awake to stay sharp and be able to beat the danger posed by those wild beasts. That's how sharp we ought be in spiritual warfare. Spiritual warfare is ongoing. Those of you who have once survived Satan because you once had food at home and could afford to live comfortably might be broken at a season of economic downturn if you'll give in to the pressure of the devil. The devil is like a football team that wants to equalize and so would begin to mount pressure on the opponent. What he's looking for is just a little mistake, an opening or inroad he can take to cause damage or wreck serious havoc. He's in need of an occasion; a foothold that you must not for once grant him. Because of that, the devil has mastered persistence. He goes to and fro to always come back. If he departs from you for a season, please don't mistaken it for an eternity. He's at the corner watching your steps and filing information on how to trip you down. Look at how persistent and constant madam persuaded Joseph on sleeping with her.

Genesis 39:7, 10, KJV

"7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her."

That's pressure. Satan will give you pressure. If your mind and your spirit can't withstand that pressure, you'll simply fall in that day of adversity. It's God's will that you triumph and beat the devil now and then and everyday he comes to you. The repeated triumph of Jesus over the devil in the wilderness provides a classical example of how Christians must always return in beating the devil when he blows or keeps it hot. 

However, we're called to an observation. Satan only departed away for a season. He'll soon be checking in. Madam once spoke to Joseph and she seemed to have quiten down but she soon reoccur on Joseph's page making same old request, "come, lie with me". We are not commanded to befriend the devil who lurks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom to devour. We are rather told to rebuke or resist him firm in the faith.

I Peter 5:8-9, KJV

"8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith..."

I pray for you that you won't have a price. The devil won't be able to buy you. He came dangling pleasure and reward of being promoted before Joseph; dangled the world and its glory before Jesus too. However, they didn't fall for it. They resisted the devil still. May God grant you grace to resist still. No matter the intensity and repetition of the temptation, may you not succumb. May you keep waxing valiant in battle against the devil instead. May you always find succour and Word with which to resist the devil. I am praying for you just like Jesus, our intercessor is. Go, go against the devil. Keep holding the fort. 

PRAYER: Lord, give me perseverance to resist the fierce and repeated temptations of the devil.

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Exodus 23:14-25:40, Matthew 24:29-51, Psalm 30:1-12, Proverbs 7:24-27

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