What is Your Expectation?

                          

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Phil 4:8

Our expectations for the day usually begin in the morning. When you wake up, be conscious of the statements you're making and the thoughts you're choosing about the day ahead. Changing your outlook and expectation can change your experience.

This isn't to say that everything will always turn out how we expect it to. But remember,  God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. The question you should ask yourself today is - "do I love God?" If the answer is yes, have a good expectation!

"But how? I have all these problems, work, concerns, and so on" Yes, that may be true - you may have a valid reason to be grumpy and sad, but hey, think again...it could be worst! Look around you, and get past yourself a little; there is always a reason to be thankful!!!

Our expectations significantly shape how we live – the richness, the light, the lessons, and the joy. So, when creating a great life, be sure to add high-quality, positive expectations to your happiness toolbox. Expect awesomeness. Expect fantastic experiences. Expect an amazing, joyful life, and it will be in Jesus' Name!

The Benefits of Fasting, with Prayer

Scripture Texts: Isaiah 58:3-14,

Matthew 6: 16-18

 By Kemi O. 

Are you a person who prays? If your answer is yes, praise God, but if you are not or you feel in your heart that you do not pray/talk to the Lord as much as you should, my prayer is after this series, you will be encouraged to open that communication line with the Lord and see how it transforms your life. 

There is a saying, "Prayer is the Key, it is the Master's Key," meaning it opens up the door to your blessings, breakthrough, etc. Today we will dwell on the first part of this series, looking at how we can incorporate fasting with our prayer and the benefits of doing so.

Definition of Prayer

According to Merriam Webster's dictionary, prayer is a silent or spoken petition made to God or a god, and another dictionary refers to it as a spiritual communion with God or an object of worship, as in supplication, thanksgiving or adoration.

Well, for us believers, prayer is simply a two-way communication with God. We speak to Him, and He replies or talks back through many ways, e.g., His divine word (scriptures), a still small voice, prophecy, word of knowledge, dreams, revelation, etc.

Definition of Fasting

According to Merriam Webster's dictionary, fasting refers to abstinence from some or all foods (including liquids). It is the act of denying oneself the pleasures of food for a specified period. However, the principle of fasting can also apply to other daily activities in our lives, such as the Internet, watching television, sexual intercourse with spouse as in 1 Corinthians 7:5, (devoting time to prayer), social media, phone, and basically some type of daily routine that consumes a lot of your time. Sacrificing that time for God brings about a change in one's life.

From the time of old, i.e., going back to biblical times, the Old Testament, to be exact, fasting was a common practice. The children of Israel were always aware of the benefits of fasting and prayer to God because each time they fasted, they saw the awesome move of God in their circumstances as individuals and as a nation. A few examples come to mind beginning with Moses, in Exodus 34:27-28, it revealed that he waited on the Lord for 40 days and 40 nights while receiving the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. In Judges 20:26-28, when the children of Israel were in the battle with their kindred of Benjamin's tribe, who rose up against them. 

The children of Israel were consistently losing the battle until they fasted and sought the Lord for directions, and after a one day fast, God gave them the victory. Another example was also in II Chronicles 20:3 when King Jehoshaphat declared a fast throughout Judah when their enemies, the Moabites, and Ammonites rose against them. As they fasted and offered praises to the Lord, He gave them a great victory. Who can forget the beautiful and bold Queen Esther whose people, the Jewish nation was going to be completely wiped out as a result of hate and in Esther 4:16, she declared a three day and three nights absolute fast and left the rest to the Lord saying "If I perish, I perish" and what did the Lord do? He caused Esther to find favor in the King's sight, and God gave her and the Jewish people a great victory, while at the same time destroying their enemies', i.e., Haman and all the enemies of the Jewish people. There are more examples throughout the OT alone of how God delivered His people from harm when they repented of their sins, and earnestly cried out unto Him through Prayer and sometimes with fasting. It proved the Lord Jesus's words in Matthew 17:21 when He stated that "However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting" KJV. Even speaking about the Lord Jesus, He also fasted for 40 days in the wilderness before officially starting His ministry, Matthew 4:1-2, and this practice continued throughout the early church, which relied on fasting and prayer when seeking God's guidance. Acts 13:2, 14:23

Types of Fasting unto the Lord

There are only three types of fast mentioned in scripture.

I). Partial Fast - Daniel engaged in a partial fast, according to Daniel 10:2-3, to seek the Lord's wisdom. He fasted for 21 days and didn't eat any pleasant food, neither meat nor wine. These verses confirm it was a partial fast because he only abstained from pleasant, exotic foods such as what was served on the King's table. This type of fast is usually called the "Daniel Fast," and it can involve just consuming fruits or vegetables with water. I believe this is the most common type of fasting today.

II). Normal Fast - This type of fast is usually with liquids (i.e., water) only for a specified number of days. An example of this fast is what Jesus did in the wilderness where He fasted for 40 days and 40 nights with no food, but it appears that He had only water because scripture mentioned that He was hungry, and Satan came to tempt Him with food. Matthew 4:1-2.

III). Absolute (Dry) Fast- This is when no food and no liquids are consumed. This fast is rarely practiced and is only mentioned a few times in the Bible. Moses in Exodus 34:28, who fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, as mentioned earlier. Also, the Apostle Paul, during his Damascus Road experience, "was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Acts 9:9 and Queen Esther in Esther 4:16. I have never tried this type of fast, but my husband has a few times in the past, and it's incredible the results he encountered both spiritually and physically.

A). How Are We to Fast?

In Matthew 6:17-18, Jesus instructs us on how to fast, advising us to anoint our head and wash our faces so that our fasting is not obvious to others. In other words, we should not draw attention to our appearance or change the way we look when we are fasting. Jesus warns against hypocrisy, cautioning us not to seek praise from others, as that would be our only reward (Matthew 6:16).

B). When Are We to Fast?

i). We can fast anytime, i.e., there are no restrictions on how often you can fast. You don't have to wait for your church or fellowship to declare a fast for a specific purpose. Fasting for personal spiritual growth can be incredibly beneficial, and I recently committed to fasting at least twice a week for this purpose. Additionally, my family and I have found that fasting together has been a powerful and rewarding experience.

ii). As the Spirit of God leads you.

iii). When there is a burden in your heart that refuses to go away even after just praying. (i.e., anything disturbing your peace) Sometimes it could be an attack from the enemy or a burden put there by God.

iv). When you face all kinds of storms or challenges (i.e., financial distress, marital problems, relationship issues with family, friends, sickness, etc. In situations like that, it never hurts to step up your prayer.

v). When you take others' burdens upon yourself (intercessory prayer, which we will look at in Part 2 of our series). Psalm 35:13, Isaiah 58:6-7.

vi). When you are about to embark on an essential assignment for God or a complex project. Matthew 4:2

C). Who Should Fast?

Every child of God (except for children under the age of 12), should fast at one time or the other in their prayer lives. In Jewish customs, thirteen is referred to as the age of accountability for boys and twelve for girls. I am always amazed to see the elderly, both Men and Women, well into their 80s and 90s', faithfully serving the Lord and loving every minute of it. Regardless of their age, health. They don't let it get in the way of doing God's work. It makes me always think that if these can still have that passion or zeal in their later years, how much more we, the younger ones. Look at Billy Graham today, who is 93 years old, Dr. Charles Stanley, who just turned 80 last September and many more people of God like that in their late 60s' and up around the world, still going strong by God's strength, Isaiah 40:31. In Luke 2:36-37, Anna, a prophetess of God, who was about 84 years of age and had lost her husband only after seven years of marriage, said that "she never left the temple. Instead, she served God with fasting and prayers night and day in His house. You begin to wonder at that age, what was she still fasting for? I believe this spiritual act or practice was enriching her life somehow, who knows maybe "longevity," and became "second nature" to her to do so (a part of her daily spiritual routine). 

Before attempting to fast, it's important to exercise caution, especially if you have a medical condition. It's advisable to seek professional medical advice. If you've never fasted before, I recommend starting with a small fast, such as a one-day fast for at least 6 hours. As you pray faithfully, you can gradually extend the duration with the Lord's help. It's best not to attempt a three to seven-day full-day fast if you're new to fasting, as it can lead to common side effects like dizziness, headaches, and low blood sugar. Starting slowly is key to staying focused on the purpose of your fast and not getting caught up in physical discomfort. Nevertheless, always seek guidance from the Lord.

Before we look at the benefits of fasting with prayer, let me first state that it is essential that we are fasting for the right reasons or else it would have all been for nothing. Isaiah 58:3-4. Remember, God sees the heart of Man and knows when our motives or intentions are wrong. Genuine fasting is to break the power of flesh in our lives and with the right intentions; it is always useful when seeking the Lord for yourself or on behalf of others.

D). The Benefits of Fasting with Prayer

Now the benefits of combining fasting and prayer are many so that we will look at some of them.

i). Receive divine guidance Judges 20:26-28

ii). Receive victory over temptation Matthew 4:1-11 (Jesus, because He was in human flesh was prone to temptation just like us. With the help of the Holy Spirit, He resisted).

iii). When fasting is done with the right motives, a reward is given from God Matthew 6:16-18.

iv). Abundance, Prosperity would be your portion Isaiah 58:8, Job 11:17.

v). Restored Health, Divine Health, Isaiah 58:8, Jeremiah 30:17.

vi). When you call upon the Lord, He will answer Isaiah 58:9, Psalm 50:15.

vii). When you fast and pray for those in need, the poor, etc., the Lord promises to guide you continually, satisfy your heart's desire and bless you with good health. Isaiah 58:11.

viii). True fasting and prayer bring fruitfulness, radiance, and God's goodness in your life.

ix). Receive restoration, promotion, and God will use us to impact the lives of others.

x). Able to discern more clearly the will of God for our lives through our spiritual eyes and ears.

xi). As a church group, community, or nation, when we genuinely fast and pray, God can move on our behalf, causing a change to occur to align with God's plan. 2 Chronicles 7:14.

Let me conclude by emphasizing that it's never too late to incorporate fasting into your prayer life. Start slowly and then gradually advance to longer periods of fasting. You will begin to see it as second nature, and not only that, but you will also experience significant growth in your walk with the Lord. Throughout biblical history, both men and women, young and old alike, have testified to God's greatness. Even today, Christians worldwide are seeking the Lord through prayer and fasting, witnessing powerful testimonies of God's awesomeness. I encourage you to become a person of prayer, taking that extra step with prayer and fasting unto the Lord. As you do so, you shall receive the divine encounter you have been waiting for as you allow the Lord to take you higher in your prayer life.

You are Wonderfully Made

Psalm 139:14

By Kemi O.


Beloved, the word of God says in Psalm 139:14 "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."  KJV

Indeed we should praise the Lord this day because He took His time to
create us wonderfully after His own image and likeness. There are so
many women today who look in the mirror and do not like the reflection
they see. The Lord is reminding us in His word today, that no matter
our race, skin color, height, weight, educational background, social status etc.
He did a marvellous work in us, creating us uniquely different, No two
people are the same, not even twins.. we all are unique in God's eyes
and this He did for a purpose. My dear friends, let us appreciate the
Lord this day for who we are and take good care of His design, artwork
which is our body (temple), mind and spirit. So the next time, some
negative individual comes to insult your "person" ..you stare them
straight in the face and say these words " I am fearfully and
wonderfully made by my God who created me for His good pleasure
and so I shall not be moved by your words"

You are blessed and highly favored.

Shalom.

Be a Good Steward of Your Time

Scripture text: Ephesians 5:15-17

By Kemi O.

"How are we investing the time the Lord has given us?

First of all, let's define the word "Steward"  

A  Steward  is a person, for example a manager of the affairs of another person.  In the case of a believer, we are managers of the affairs of God on earth.   Everything we possess e.g. our talents, spiritual gifts, skills, wealth, health, time is from and the time will come when we shall all stand before God and give an account of all these things and more.   Matthew 12:36.  Everyone on earth have been given equal amount of time to utilize, i.e. we all have 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to use and the question is how are we spending those precious times He has given to us.  The Lord reveals in His word in our main text that we need to make the best of every opportunity, redeem the times because the days are evil. Needless to say, the end is very near and satan, his demons and his servants are working tirelessly day and night to accomplish their evil goals and what are we believers, His servants who are ambassadors of God on earth doing with our own time in these last days.  

Ladies, we know that our time on earth is just temporary because we have a permanent home awaiting us.  None of us know how much time we each have left on this earth, but our prayer is  that He will satisfy us with long life and we shall live to fulfill our divine purpose as His word reveals in  Psalm 118: 17 and Psalm 91:16.   Unfortunately, numerous people, even Christians are not valuing this time given to us; I believe it is so ignorant and immature to waste the time God has given to us especially now, more than ever but we see it happening every day.  You will see people wasting time pondering on how they are going to hurt someone, how they are going to retaliate against that former spouse, fiance, friend, who betrayed  me, or how they will make someone suffer by turning everyone against them, all sorts of evil thinking even in the Body of Christ. It is so sad. We fail to realize that once that year, month, day, season has passed, it is not recoverable.  Many of our worldly possessions can be replaced or restored, a woman who lost a child will not be able to get that particular child back, but the Lord is able to instead bless her with more children afterward, our health can be restored to a certain degree also, but not so with time, once it is gone, no man has the power to turn back the clock.

In  Ephesians 2:1-4,  here Paul is addressing us believers concerning the time, we were still living in darkness, for we were blinded by the works of the flesh and was oblivious to the devices of the enemy, therefore living our lives in a selfish manner until the Lord saved us by His grace and so for many children of God who have had a few regrets, these were the period of their wasted years, missed opportunities.  For some of us, like myself, my mistakes were made while as an immature believer who thought that she could enjoy both worlds ( Lukewarm Christian) but realized years later that there's no peace or joy living that way.  If it were possible,  I am sure, we will go back in time to re-do it all but as great as it sounds, we know it is impossible to do, for only God has the power to restore lost years according to His word in Joel 2:25.   I also believe that our God, who is always in the know because He is omniscient had purposed our lives to turn out in a certain way and not the way we had planned because of His divine plan for our lives.  Without that mistake, which may be part of our preparation or training process, we may not be able to fulfill God's purpose for our lives.  We always have to remember that He is always in control and nothing happens without His approval and also He is the God of a second chance and now that we are spiritually mature, He will continually grant us the wisdom and ability to manage our time effectively for His glory.  

It is the will of God that we make the best of the time given to us, for He does not want us to spend so much of  our time on earthly or worldly matters but rather  invest our valuable time and all He has given us into His Kingdom plan.  We must strive to live a life of balance where all our activities both spiritual and earthly/ secular are prioritized according to God's will.  Even though He has made us managers of our time, He is still the Owner of it and demands that we invest it wisely after all, He does desire for us to prosper here on earth and enjoy all He has given us according to III John 2, but we must learn to put Him first above all everything and everyone else.  God wants us to prioritize our time well so that all that He has planned for us shall be fulfilled.    There is nothing wrong with achieving the good things of life which include financial success, a good education, marriage, having babies etc. these are all blessing from the Lord but He desires for us to seek Him first which goes back to prioritizing.  We are not just here to accomplish these things, and just enjoy life but we are created for a purpose and we each have our own assignment to complete before we are called home to glory.  Even King Solomon, after spending most of his time acquiring wealth, knowledge, power etc., he came to the conclusion that all of it was temporal, it was vanity and that seeking, worshipping God and doing His will was the uttermost and most important thing of all, for the reward was eternal.  

Beloved, the time has come for us to examine our lives on a daily basis if possible, for it is important to start paying attention to what we are really doing with this time of ours.  We need to either begin adding more spiritually minded activities to our lives and subtracting more worldly activities from our daily routine. What do I mean?  Do you spend more time watching secular programs on TV or surfing the Internet than you do studying the Bible and reading Christian literature ? If the answer is yes, then it is time to make a change.  Do you spend more time on the phone with friends talking about irrelevant things or do you spend time encouraging and praying for others on the phone, online, in person etc. If your answer is yes, it is time to repent.   Do you spend time working 80 hours a week, therefore no longer  having time for Sunday church service or any type of Christian fellowship, if the answer is also yes, it is time to repent, for the Word of God admonishes us in  Hebrews 10:25, not to forsake the assembly or gathering of the brethren.  Are you spending time putting things off, i.e. procrastination, things you know that needs to be taking care of today but you keep saying .. I have more time, I will postpone to next week, next month. If the answer is yes, you need to repent; tomorrow is not promised for even the Bible warns us in James 4:13-15, that we should not boast about tomorrow, since we have no clue if that day will ever come for us.  Every day we read in the papers or hear on the news, how people are just dying in great numbers all around the world, both young and old. These people never knew death will come knocking so soon.  Each day we are being given the gift of time and we need to appreciate the Lord for it and strive to make the best of each day.   May the Lord help us in Jesus name.

 
Let us look at how we can be good stewards of our time in these evil days;

1). By seeking God’s will in prayer regarding how to manage our time wisely.  Ephesians 5: 16-17

2). By feeding regularly on the Word of God and also reading biblically inspired books, articles that will teach us on how to invest our time well.

3). by becoming heavenly minded. Our goal as believers is to prepare our spirit and soul for eternity and so it is imperative that we invest our time in activities that will earn us eternal results.  E.g. Attend worship services regularly; See Hebrews 11:25 , pray for others often (intercession), reach out to the lost through evangelism, sharing your own personal testimony of what the Lord has done for you, show love to others through giving, reaching out to others in their time of need. In a nutshell, we need to give more of our time and resources for the sake of the Kingdom willingly, however way the Lord leads us.

4) By being accountable to God for our time; we need to always be conscious of the fact we, believers, His servants are to be accountable to God on how we spend our time here on earth just as we are accountable to our boss in the office.  Our light has to shine for Him every day so that He can take the glory as it states in Matthew 5: 16. 

Beloved, let me conclude by encouraging us today to be sensitive to the time God has given us for we are living in evil times and God is really concerned more than ever about how we invest this precious time given to us. Let us not allow the enemy to rob us any longer of our time but we must live according to God’s plan for our lives.  The whole purpose of being a good steward of our time is so that we can enjoy not just the earthly benefits, the Lord has prepared for us but most especially the eternal or heavenly benefits awaiting us which results from serving God faithfully with all that He has given us.  We should strive to be like the servant in Matthew 25:20-21, whose master praised and rewarded Him for investing wisely.  Today, let us endeavor to make the best of every opportunity God brings our way so that the name of the Lord shall be glorified in our lives.

Shalom.