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“…When you Pray…”   Many pastors have preached sermons condemning us for spending up to 3 hours a day in front of a television set while we pray less than 30 minutes a week. Although there is a need for such sermons, I have no intention of pointing out something for which you are probably already painfully aware. It is my desire to encourage you, to share with you what I have learned from my struggles in this area. What is this prayer to which men are called? Is it just a mere form? Prayer is serious, difficult work, the manliest, the mightiest work which man can do. Prayer lifts men out of the earthliness and links them with the heavenly. Men are never nearer Heaven, nearer God, never more God-like, never in deeper sympathy and truer partnership with Jesus Christ, than when praying. We, as Christians, often condemn ourselves because we do not pray as much as we think we should. Often, the simple task of praying only 15 minutes a day seems almost impossible! Of course, we can understand why it is easier to sit in front of the TV than devote time to prayer. TV is relaxing and prayer is work. I do believe energy is drained from us when we pray.   However, it is Jesus who urges us the importance of prayer when He says, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."  (Luke 11:9-10). What then, are the kinds of prayer that really move the heart and hand of God?   The common elements in our prayers tend to include these four areas: P: Praise (thanking God for his provision) R: Repent (turning away from sin and asking for help to do so) A: Ask (sharing with God what the individual hopes he will do) Y: Yield (ultimately submitting to the authority of God, even if it means not receiving what was asked for) Another commonly-used series of elements includes: A: Adoration C: Confession T: Thanksgiving S: Supplication   Seeking Prayer Prayer is about a conversation with our loving God—not about wearing him down to get what we want. I sometimes do see parents who don't want their children to try to get what they want by constantly begging for it or getting everyone they know… aunties, uncles.. to gang up on them (parents). Parents want to hear their children’s heart on the matter, and they love it when the children in return hear their heart as well. They want to have a conversation. Isn't that how it is with our heavenly Father?             There's so much to want—healed bodies, restored relationships, changed circumstances. But asking, seeking, and knocking aren't secret formulas for getting what we want from God; they're ways to get more of God. As I listen to God speak to me through his Word, he gives me more of himself in fuller, newer ways. Then, if healing doesn't come, if the relationship remains broken, or if the pressures increase, I have the opportunity to discover for myself he is enough. His presence is enough. His purpose is enough. If you truly want to move God's heart, put aside secret-formula prayers and instead begin to practice prayer that seeks the Giver more than the gifts.   Spiritual Prayer Sometimes I catch myself "chatting" with God, limiting my prayers to superficial things and surface issues, never getting to the heart of the matter. And I've noticed that when others offer prayer requests, they're rarely about spiritual needs. We ask God to heal physical ailments, provide safe travel, and to "be with us." of course God cares about these things. But prayer is spiritual work toward a spiritual end. God wants to rub off our rough edges and clean up our character. So why do we settle for talking to him only about the superficial stuff? When our prayers move from the superficial to the significant, we invite God to do no less than a deep, transforming, igniting work in our life and in the lives of those for whom we're praying.             I've often found myself slipping into superficial mode in my prayers—asking God to keep me safe or to bless my day at the office. But I really don't want to settle for those things. So my prayers have moved from the superficial to the significant. I'm asking God to shape my character—even if it requires some struggle. I'm seeking God that through the Holy Spirit, He will sustain in me a passion for holiness and a love for God's Word. These are things that really matter. This is what significant prayer is all about. Prayer ought to change us from being people who just know a lot about God into people who experience God in deep, though sometimes difficult, ways.   Secret Prayer We sometimes do make a great impression with the way we conduct prayers in public, but the truth is, there isn't much private prayer going on in our lives. I have heard on many occasions friends describing me as "a prayer warrior." This description has more often than not made me nervous because I know that that is not always the case.             If we are not careful, we still can make prayer all about impressing others with our pseudo-spirituality. That is "showy prayer"—prayer that's more for others' ears than for God's. Jesus warned against this: "When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth; they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the doors and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Matthew 6:5-6).             Showy prayer uses put-on voices, lofty words, and spiritual-sounding phrases; simple prayer is authentic and humble. I can perform public prayers or make claims of private prayer, and settle for the applause of people; or I can go to a secret place, shut the door, and commune with God. It's in that secret place with him you and I find our most blessed reward—not impressing others, but cultivating true intimacy with him.   Submissive Prayer Nothing's taught me more about prayer than Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. According to Hebrews 5:7-8, "during the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered."             This moves me, because I know what it's like to offer prayers with loud cries and tears, to come before God with a broken heart and a desperate need. On several occasions, I have had opportunities to pray for patients who have been told by physicians, that because of their health disorders, they would live for only few months. With tears spilling down my face not once have I thought, “I'll ask God to give so and so more time.” It seems such a modest prayer; but even as that prayer forms in my mind, I always sense God calling me to submit to his perfect timing. I have learnt what it is to pray to a God who has the power to make another way … but chooses not to. It helps to know Jesus understands what this feels like. Like Jesus, I've wrestled with God's plan for my life even as I've sought to submit to it. But Jesus shows me how to obey when God's answer to my sincere, reverent prayer is "no." I also see Jesus' example of obedience.             Submissive prayer is prayer that welcomes God to work in and through our suffering rather than begs him to take it away. It's thanking God for what he gives us rather than resenting him for what we lose. When we approach God, He still wants us to trust Him fully and understand that the solutions to our problems lie beyond our abilities. It is this recognition that releases the power of God. Prayer is an expression of the commitment and trust we have in God.             When we come before God in prayer and give Him full control of a situation, we are acknowledging His sovereignty in that area. As a result, God begins to work on the problem with His mighty power. God desires to be involved in every area of our life. He wants us to specifically commit each of our concerns to Him.   Your prayers are powerful There are many sincere and dedicated Christians, who spend many hours working, yet find it difficult to spend a significant amount of time in prayer. With all this time spent in offices, businesses and workplaces, their lack of prayer cannot be considered laziness. Satan understands the power of prayer, and I believe he is fighting fiercely to reduce its impact. An obvious military strategy is to concentrate attacks on the targets, which are the greatest threats. For example, in war, primary targets are radar installations, ammunition depots and weapons factories. Limited military resources are not used on non-strategic targets such as the dining hall.             It is my conviction that Satan knows the biggest spiritual battles are won or lost because of our prayers. Therefore, why would Satan not try to blind our eyes to the need and urgency of prayer? The next time you are discouraged because of a complex and overwhelming problem, remember the atom. Think about the tremendous power God applied to this small object. When God created the atom, He bound it together with a powerful force called the nuclear attraction force. This force is 3 x 10 E39 times more powerful than the force of gravity. (3 x 10E39 is written as 3 with 39 zeros after it.).This same power is available to us when we commit a problem to God through prayer. We may not have a true appreciation of how powerful and effective our prayers are until we enter God’s presence and He unfolds the completed story. At that time we will see how people were saved miracles wrought and lives changed as a direct result of our prayers.   “An Exhortation to Praise”   What do you do when you are burdened beyond measure? When things go haywire, as they sometimes will, what do you set your mind to do? The Bible admits that Leah was indeed not loved. She was a victim of circumstances and the traditions of Laban’s society’s customs. However when God saw that Leah was not loved, He opened her womb and great nations came forth.   Reuben: In affliction and misery she hoped that the Lord had seen her misery and that her husband would love her. However, this was far from right and so, it did not work. Many times because of what we go through we get activities and we also do things to try and catch the eye of God. But Reuben was unstable and turbulent as the waters. God, in dealing with us looks for that what is consistent and not unstable. Trying to place yourself strategically to be seen by God in some situations and not others is not pleasing to God. He looks for what remains in and out of season.   Simeon: This time round, she hoped that God had actually heard that she was hated, despised and had heard of her afflictions and misery. She actually thought that God had given her another son because she had been heard. It is funny how some of us just know how to speak to God only when things are not working out right.   Levi: What happens when God seems not to see your situation nor hear your cry? What happens when there is nothing that you will do to catch His attention. Leah thought that with the birth of the third son, definitely things would sort themselves out. She said, “My husband now at last will be attached to me.” What a disaster it is when we shift now our attention from God and try to look for Earthly attachments and connections.   Quite often we have become Leahs in our relationship with God. We place ourselves strategically and try to be seen by God and in tears sing: ‘pass me not oh gracious Saviour’. How can we forget the times we have raised our hands very high during prayer and walked down to the alter for prayers every now and again all in the name of making ‘Jacob’ love us. Why is that he doesn’t want to see or hear about you and he still is concentrating on Rachael?             Like Habbakkuk, we may think that God does not see us and try to go to labour again to bear Simeon to be heard of Him. The prophet saw injustice, violence and evil, yet God remained silent and invisible. Why did He not intervene? Why did God at first give him no answer he called out for help? Child of God, the road may seem an uphill task all through. You may be running on low funds while debts are running high. This is not the time to try and attach yourself to anybody. Don’t give up and seek for a compromise connection to end your problems. No! Paul says that all this has happened that you may rely on God alone (2 Cor. 1: 8 – 9).   Judah: Leah had tried all she could but there was one more arrow in the quaver. She conceived again, went into labour and she gave birth to a son. However this time she said “This time I will PRAISE the Lord.” Wow! In other words she was saying that it is over now. I may have tried to let God see and hear me because I am unloved. I have tried looking for your recognition God. I have even tried screaming to your ears. I have tried to attach my self to Jacob whose mind and heart are on Rachael… I have tried all and I have failed, this time I WILL PRAISE THE LORD. I know Jacob does not love me. Rachael was his choice I know, but God, I will still praise you! She named her son JUDAH and then she stopped bearing children. It was done; her struggles of trying to be busy looking for help were over. She praised and she got a breakthrough. Later on she got other children but she had won the game. She had given birth to JUDAH and out of him came out a great tribe, which received the highest blessing from Jacob.   Judah: A tribe with a difference   Judah excelled above his brothers. Observe this:   1.        Jacob speaks important words over Judah, giving him the highest blessing (Genesis 49: 8 – 11). ·          His brothers will honour him ·          Judah will have royal authority (scepter) ·          Judah gets the legal authority (lawgiver) ·          Judah brings forth the messiah   2.       Out of Judah (through David), comes the Christ.   3.       The tribe of Judah led Israelites through the wilderness (Numbers 2: 3,9).   4.       Judah led in conquest of Canaan (Judges 1: 1 – 19).   It was prophesied that Judah (praise to God) would be victorious and successful in war, be superior to the rest of the tribes not only in itself more illustrious and numerous but also having a dominion over them. In addition, he was prophesied unto that he was qualified for command and conquest. God appointed that he should go in first and promised him success God declared that he had delivered the land to his hand to be possessed and therefore was to deliver the enemy that keeps him out of possession into his hand to be destroyed.   It is praise that leads in conquest. Any other thing that is ambitious of being first must give way to praise. Our possessions are delivered to praise and not any other. Praise deals with that enemy who tries to shut us out of our inheritance.   5.      “Judah is the lions whelp” (Genesis 49: 9).   The lion is the king of beasts; when he seizes his prey, non can resist him. The tribe of Judah, (Praises), should not only obtain great victories, but should also peaceably and quietly enjoy what was obtained by the victory.   6.      Judah is to be a fruitful tribe (Genesis 49:11).   Judah abounds with milk for babes, and wine to make glad the hearts of strong men. In praise there is plenty of all that which is nourishing and refreshing to the soul, and which maintains and cheers the divine life in it.     This is your time to bring forth your Judah.  God is only waiting for your praise to make it a great tribe.  This Habbakkuk realized too!  In the last three verses of the book (3:17-19) all has changed!  He is no longer anxious over his circumstance.  He is praising the Lord.  He doesn’t deny his problems instead he finds God sufficient in the midst of his troubles and praises him.  He directs his Chief singer to help him sing that though the fig trees have no fruits and no grapes can be found on the vines the will praise the Lord. We ought to praise God when full or empty. He is the God of our eternal salvation and if he be so, we can rejoice in Him in our greatest distresses, since by them our salvation can’t be hindered, but may be furthered. Praising God is never out of season, no! It is in a special manner seasonable when we meet with losses and crosses in the world, that it may then appear that our hearts are not set upon these things, nor our joy bound up in them. Thus the prophet, who began his prayer with fear and trembling, concludes it with joy and triumph and praising the Lord.   Dear saint, no matter the difficulty, even if the bank account is running on minimum balance, though the business is only surviving without any returns praise ye the Lord.  When all the circumstances of our life present a negative picture, in failure and loss or when the natural reaction would be grief or complaint, this is the time to give the devil a headache – It the is the time to give birth to Judah. Those circumstances are only labour pains telling you “It is time! It is time to praise the Lord.” In this way, when we praise, we can see through God’s eye to the final glorious outcome. Determine to praise and worship God for His faithfulness no matter how devastating the situations. Praise will help you look with the eye of faith at Gods plan for your future.   Its amazing to realise that many God’s people drench their spirit in continual sadness and waste their days in complaints and groans. This makes them unfit for the sweet heavenly work of praise. Instead of joining with the people of God in praises they are questioning their worthiness and studying their miseries. They rob God of His praise and themselves of their consolation. But the greatest destroyer of praise is letting the heart be simply idle while it ought to be praising God and lifting our spirit.     Judah will lead you to your destiny  (Genesis 37:26 – 27).   Joseph was Rachael’s firstborn, whom he loved dearly because he was the son of his old age. The more he continued to love him and do him favours, the more his brothers hated him. They would do out to the fields to graze and he would bring home a report of them to the father. One day, the sons of Jacob went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem and Joseph was sent by Jacob to see if it was well with them and the flock and to bring back the report to him. However when his brothers saw him from a far off in Dothan, they conspired against him to kill him. However Reuben suggested that the first throw him into a pit. The Bible records that this was a water pit, but at that time it was empty. Please understand that every time God is about to do something, the devil fights to counter. God had been preparing Joseph for his destiny and he was moulding a character of faithfulness in him to suit him later when his dreams were to be fulfilled. However, the devil knew this and he decided to set in foot before to try and shut him out of his destiny. But whatever was meant for evil, God was just about to turn it for Joseph’s good. It doesn’t matter what pit you are in. your enemies could be baying for your blood and it could seem like there is no hope. You must not despair.   You see even in a pit there is always an open way to heaven. When was Joseph was down there in the pit, something was cooking in Judah's mind. “What profit is it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood?” Judah spoke out to his brothers and suggested that they sell the ‘dreamer’ to the caravan of Ishmaelites, and his brothers heeded. What Judah did not know is that he had co-worked with God into leading Joseph to his destiny. He co-operated with God in making arrangements for Joseph to go to the right placement for his assignment. Joseph later tells them “God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by great deliverance.” Judah was in the spirit and the same way today, you can praise through to your breakthrough. If you have been pushed to pit bottom, don’t give up your dreams and visions. Don’t give up hope. Just lift up a praise to God and this praise will usher you into your destiny. Praise turns your barriers to bridges that link you with where God is taking you. Praise makes you not to focus on your situations but to fix your eyes to Jesus.   Judah (Praise) will lead you to your miracle (Genesis 43:8).   Many yeas later, a famine came upon the land and it was God’s time to fulfil his dreams to Joseph. His brothers went down to Egypt to buy food and they didn’t know that the secret behind there being food was their brother whom they ushered into greatness in the name of selling him to be a slave. On their second journey, however, they were charged to carry along Benjamin with them. Joseph wanted to see Benjamin, his brother, but Jacob would not hear of it. He was hesitant to let him go now that he thought that Joseph was dead and Simeon had been imprisoned in Egypt.  Judah could not accept his father’s decision of not releasing Benjamin. They had eaten all the grain and they needed some more supplies. Judah pleaded with Jacob that he sends Benjamin with them so that they may go at once, or else their people would die of hunger. He vowed to take care of Benjamin and to guarantee his safety and security. To Judah, they ought to have gone and returned twice by that time instead of just arguing. He actually prevailed with his father and Benjamin was released.   The Lord is willing and ready to bless us with that we need and requires. He has made provisions that we require for life and Godliness. But some of us will simply not let go some ‘Benjamins’ and so we are at the verge of forfeiting our blessings. May be you released and let-go what you had one day and you ended up hurt, frustrated and disappointed. You are even afraid that letting-go, but this time to God, might leave you even more hurt and in anguish of soul. This is where praise comes in to lead you to your blessings. Praise has a miraculous way of making you release and give what God requires of you so as to lead you to your miracles. Others have found giving out their bodies as a living sacrifice that is holy and acceptable very difficult. Start praising the Lord and it is at that time that you tell him, ‘anything for you lord.’ You can sincerely sing that ‘take my life and let it be…’ Praise actually says to you “…you van hold me personally responsible for it…” (Verse 9). If you had no delayed and entrusted all to ‘Judah’ i.e. praise; you would have received twice! Praise becomes the surety. This act prompted, pushed for and given a surety by Judah led to a great turn of events in the history of God’s dealing with Israel.     Judah (praise) excels in making intercession (Genesis 44:16 – 33).               The sons of Jacob were tricked in Egypt by Joseph’s command and it is Judah again who intervened through an intercession for them. He passed above his brothers in tenderness for their father and family. His moving relay of the events so melts the heart of Joseph that he could no longer control himself. And thereafter followed a great re-union.   Testimony   Once when in  a mission at Limuru, Kenya, (about 30miles from Nairobi city) with Kenyatta University Christian Union we dealt with the case of a lady possessed by the spirit of drunkenness and frustration. Some of us got hold of her and took her to our prayer room and started casting the demons out of her. They revealed all kinds of names and weird things about themselves, but our business was to see her delivered and set free and not know more about them. After about an hour of intense spiritual warfare and prayer one student led of the Spirit of God told us to just Praise and Worship God for His victory over the situation. No sooner did we start doing it than everything changed. The demons left this lady; she sobered up and confessed that she would like to give her life to Jesus. The battle had been won! What a joy! She was led in a repentance prayer and testified the following day in the open – air meeting. THERE IS POWER IN PRAISE!     Conclusion   Many times we want people to come and say…’Oh I know what you are going through.’ And they start telling you all sorts of things. When you are going through storms, don’t look for sympathisers instead, become a praiser! Lift up your hands and praise the Lord because He is just about to raise you up. Remember, the devil seeks to fight your destiny. But God is working and taking advantage of that to push you to your destiny. Don’t look up to people in times of discouragements. Be a David who will turn to the Lord with a praise…a song…a psalm…give out your worship to God. In brevity, we have seen how Judah was used of God to shape the destiny of Joseph and create an avenue for the blessings of Israelites. God is waiting for your un-inhibited praise to rise to him that He may inhabit it. God wants to have a dwelling place right there where you are in that circumstance; and He dwells in the praises of His people. He wants to make his presence a living experience. IT IS TIME TO PRAISE THE LORD!!

THUS SAYS THE LORD YOUR GOD!     Below here is the WORD of God, from God to you. It is many promises from the Bible for you. When you read the Bible read it deliberately and consciously as if it was written to you because it was.   To My Precious child Because I knew even you before I created the earth that you would accept My love for you, and that you would seek to know Me thus… In the beginning I created the heavens and the earth. Then at the right time and in the right place I created you. I created your inner most being, I created every part of you, I knit you together in your mother's womb. You were carefully and wonderfully made; my works are wonderful, and you are my work. My eyes saw your unformed body. All the days planned for you were written in my book before one of them came to be. How precious are my thoughts for you, How great is the number of them! If you were to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.             Listen to me, I created you and have cared for you since before you were born. I will be your God throughout your lifetime, until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you. I will carry you in my arms, holding you close to my heart. For I know the plans that I have for you plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. There are some times of suffering in your life. But the temporary suffering of this life does not compare to the glory that shall be revealed in you. Know this that I am with you and I will help you. Your help comes from me; I am the God who created the heavens and the earth, and the one who created you. I will never leave you, I will never reject you. When your parents fail you I will pick you up, hold you close, and adopt you. Nothing can ever separate you from my love for you. When you are in trouble and distress my love is with you. When you are persecuted my love is with you. When you are hungry and cold and naked my love is with you, I am always with you. When you are in danger and threatened with death my love is with you, I will be with you forever.             Know that nothing can separate you from my love, no matter how high you go, no matter how deep you sink, nothing in life and not even death can separate you from Me, and My love for you. No demon or any other power in hell can separate you from my love. My love for you is revealed through Christ Jesus your Lord. In all things and every situation you will have victory, you will conquer, because the victory of Christ Jesus is your victory.             But now, I the LORD, who created you and formed you, says: Do not be afraid, for I have purchased you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, they will not over flow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. I command you to be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid; do not be dismayed, for I, the LORD your God will be with you everywhere you go.             Know that everything will work together for your good, because you love me. You have been called according to my purpose. For I knew you before you were born and I predestined you to be conformed to the likeness of my Son, Jesus Christ. This is your destiny, and this is your purpose, that you become one with my Son Jesus, and thus one with me. I created you in my image so that you and I can express love to each other. The most intimate relationship you can have is with me because you and I are becoming one. You and your brothers and sisters that believe in me are becoming one with Jesus, and thus one with me. You in me, and me in you, together, unified by my love for you. You were designed for this purpose, nothing else will ever satisfy your deepest needs, your deepest desires, only I can. Because you seek to know me I satisfy your heart with love, joy, and peace that only I can give you.             If you should forget me, and enter into sin, and not turn back to Me on your own then I will punish you. Because your sin will separate you from feeling My presence, and My influence, and I want you to return to your first love, the One who loves you. I the Lord discipline those I love, and I punish everyone who I accept as my child. Just as a good Father disciplines His children to turn them away from a dangerous path, so I shall discipline you for your good, that you may share in My holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. When you confess your sins, I am faithful and just and will forgive you of your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. In repentance and resting in Me is your salvation, in quietness and trusting Me is your strength. I will create in you a clean heart and renew a right spirit within you. I will not send you away from My presence, and I will not take My Holy Spirit from you. I will restore again the joy of your salvation, and make you willing to obey Me. Then you will teach My ways to sinners, and they will return to Me also. Humble yourself, therefore, under My mighty hand, that I may lift you up at the right time.             Do not forget all my benefits, I forgive all your sins and heal all your diseases, I rescue your life from the pit of destruction and crown you with love and compassion. I satisfy your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles. I The LORD work righteousness and justice for all the oppressed; I the LORD am compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. I will not always accuse, nor will I harbor my anger forever; I do not treat you as your sins deserve or repay you according to your iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is My love for you because you fear Me; as far as the east is from the west, so far have I removed your transgressions from you.             Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. Always pray to Me about your every concern, pray from your mouth and pray from your heart, I hear every thought that you think. Everything that you care about, I care about also because it concerns you. Cast all your cares and anxiety on Me because I love you. Trust in Me, the LORD YOUR GOD, with all your heart, do not depend on your own understanding; In everything acknowledge Me, And I will direct your paths. Do not worry about anything, but in everything big or small, by prayer, with thanksgiving, present your requests to Me, the Most High God. And I will give you My peace in your heart, peace that is beyond all human understanding, and it will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus. Always be joyful. Keep on praying always. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is My will for you because you belong to Me.             Study My Book of law and truth, the Holy Bible, do not let My words depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. My words are Spirit and they are Life. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you will, and it will be given you. For the word of God is living and powerful. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. The most important thing you will ever own is your Bible because it gives you knowledge of Me, The Most High God. It makes the poor rich, it gives hope to the hopeless, faith to the fearful, food to the hungry, water to the thirsty, love to the despised, comfort to the lonely, freedom to the prisoner, health to the sick, light in the darkness, and life to the dying.             I have set up circumstances and situations in your life to cause you to seek Me and find Me. I desire that you know Me. I am The Lord your God, full of compassion, and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But glory in this, That you understand and know Me, That I am the LORD, exercising compassion, lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight and take pleasure. All things are created for My pleasure and My pleasure is to show forth loving compassion. I have compassion on the poor and needy, and I am a Father to the fatherless, I help them, and I defend them. Far below Me are the heavens and the earth, I stoop to look down, and I lift the poor from the dirt and the needy from the garbage dump and I set them among princes. I want you to do these things also, have compassion on the poor and needy and help them, this is what it means to know Me. For I am Love, and when you live in love, you live in Me, and I live in you. Loving compassion is good, and this is what I require from you, to do what is right, to love compassion, and to walk humbly with your God.             As a father has compassion on his children, so I your LORD have compassion on you because you fear Me; for I know how you were formed, I remember that you are dust. Forever and ever My love is with you because you fear Me, and My righteousness with your children's children; with those who keep My covenant and remember to obey My laws. My law is to love. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments all of My laws are based. When you walk in love you are obeying all My laws. When you walk in Love you are walking in My Holy Spirit for I AM LOVE! Come and live in My shelter, in the protection of the Most High God, you will find rest in the presence of the Almighty. You will say, "This I declare of the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I am trusting him." I will rescue you from every trap and protect you from the fatal plague. I will shield you with My wings. I will shelter you with My feathers. My faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor fear the dangers of the day, nor dread the plague that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. But you will see it with your eyes; you will see how the wicked are punished.             Because you make the LORD your refuge, because you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your dwelling. For I order My angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone. You will trample down lions and poisonous snakes; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! My servant, and My friend, whom I have chosen, I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will hold you up with my righteous right hand. All who come against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you. Do not be afraid, for I myself will help you declares the LORD, your Redeemer. You will rejoice in the LORD and glory in the Holy One of Israel.             When you asked Me to forgive your sins and come into your heart I sent My Holy Spirit into you to comfort you, to give you power, and as proof to you that I have adopted you as My child. The Holy Spirit shall lead you into all truth because He shall testify of Jesus, and He will give you power to testify of Jesus. I will speak to you through My Holy Spirit that is in you, He will tell you what is right and wrong, what is love and hate. My Holy Spirit is a gentle whisper inside your heart telling you the path to walk in. If you walk in My Spirit you will walk in love, you will not sin. And you will see great and mighty things happen before you, they will not be accomplished by strength, nor by outside force, but by My Spirit says the LORD ALMIGHTY. Through My Holy Spirit I shall give you supernatural gifts that you may be blessed, and that you shall bless others through demonstrating My love for them. My Holy Spirit will be with you through out your whole life, and after I will receive you into My glory.             I your LORD say to you I will rescue you because you love me. I will protect you because you trust in my name. When you call on me, I will answer; I will be with you in trouble. I will rescue you and honor you. I will satisfy you with a long life and give you my salvation. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me. It is your destiny.   Thus Says THE LORD Your GOD ! TURNING YOUR DISAPPOINTMENT INTO A DESTINY APPOINTMENT. Text: 1 Samuel 16: 1 (NIV) The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as King over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”   The Lord is continuously stirring my spirit to prepare and get ready for a glorious moment in my walk with Him and to hook up and join up with a generation that he is raising to restore glory to his name and raise a standard in this generation. It is on this backdrop that I want to share this message with you to also prepare for the same. The message is: what has been our disappointment so far is what the Lord is going to turn around and be a destiny appointment!              To be disappointed is to be in a state where hope or plan has failed to be a reality. When something does not come out as expected, we become disappointed. When someone does not do something as good as we hoped, desired or expected we become disappointed. Disappointment in this context is a wilderness of discouragement. Elijah, after pulling down fire in 1 Kings 18, becomes a disappointed man in chapter 19 and prays to God to die after Jezebel plots to kill him. Disappointment is what makes people to retreat and recoil and hinders them from progressing. Just like Elijah, many wish to die or give God deadlines to show up or else….. The bad thing about being disappointed is that you only look at the present circumstances. Disappointed Elijah spoke only of the Lord’s prophets being killed. He made no mention of the victory at Mt. Carmel.  When Hannah became disappointed, her heart became bitter, she wept and was downhearted. Ordinarily, she expected to bear a child now that she was married but for many years she remained childless. Samuel 1:10 says “In bitterness of soul, Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord.” You see, when you are in a disappointment state, it seems like all of a sudden God doesn’t care anymore; people don’t want to see you or everyone is talking about you. A disappointed brother one day told me ‘when you see two or three gathered, be sure they are gathered in my name!’ Just as Samuel was mourning for someone that God had rejected, some people also do mourn because of things God has rejected in their lives.             But I be quick to say, don’t be very quick to judge and condemn like Eli the priest when you see some behavioral changes in some believers. It could be that something or somebody has disappointed them. When a gifted sister all of a sudden quits the choir and becomes a backbencher, before you point a finger seek to know if she is disappointed. When an anointed brother abruptly becomes low and starts missing important events, seek to find out if he is disappointed before you conclude that the anointing that used to be upon him is no more. You may be going through a disappointment right now, it is important you know that how you go through that disappointment will either make you or break you. Take a piece of wax, a piece of meat, some sand, some clay, and some shavings, put them on the fire and see how they react. Each of them is being acted upon by the same agent, yet...the wax melts, the meat fries, the sand dries up, the clay hardens, the shavings blaze. Just so, under identical influence of circumstances and environment one man is made better, and he becomes stronger, and another becomes weaker, while another withers away. This explains why one hears the Word of God and is made better. Still another hears the same thing and is made angry. Not so much what is done to us, but what we do, determines our destiny. Take heed how you hear and act.   Destiny A destiny is a divinely prepared end. It is what God has ordained for you and what He wills you to partake despite many attempts or efforts to change or prevent it. Our God is a God of destiny in that He divinely and impartially chooses an individual and assigns him a destiny or a purpose of His own appointment. This is what the devil is always against, and he will stop at nothing to make sure that we don’t get to our destiny. But child of God, we can go to our destiny. How then can we turn our disappointments and make them our destiny appointments?   Stop Mourning First and foremost, stop mourning. Samuel was disappointed that the Israelites had rejected God had asked for a king like the other nations. Here now, their king had disobeyed God and lost his kingship and the kingly anointing. The only thing disappointed Samuel could do now, was to mourn. However, before God told him what to do he had to stop him from mourning. Don’t dwell on your discouragement. Encourage yourself in the Lord. Post a guard on your heart and choose not to be disappointed no matter what the devil throws to you. Refuse to be frustrated.  Many times the Christian wishes for death in the face of difficulties and trials. He is like the poor man carrying a load of sticks who, when he became tired, sat down on a bank, and laying his sticks on the ground said, "I am sick and tired of this. I wish death would come to relieve me." Instantly, Death slipped up and said, "Here am I; what do you want of me?" "I want you to help me put this bundle of sticks on my back again," said the astonished pilgrim. We are all prone to think that our load of sticks is heavier-that our road more difficult and our enemies more daring than any other Christian's. Do not see the negative side all the time. Try to see the opportunity and the positive aspect in your difficulty. Don’t let discouragement make you see only the dark side. Refuse to drown. Keep your head above the water and refuse to go under.  The Bible says that there is hope for a tree if it is cut down, it will sprout again and its new shoots will not fail. Its roots may grow old in the ground and its stump die in the soil, yet at the scent of water, it will bud and put forth shoots like a plant – Job 24:7 – 9. There is hope for you. The devil may have cut the tree, but thank God that the devil forgot about the roots! The roots are still in the soil. That is to say, it is not too late for God to turn your disappointment. So dear saint, stop mourning and worrying and start praising.             2 Cor. 4:1 says that we don’t lose heart nor get discouraged. This is not the time to be spiritless and despondent with fear. Neither is it the time to become faint with weariness and exhaustion. We may be hard pressed from every side, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed but not in despair. We may be persecuted but we are not abandoned. We are struck down but thank God we are not destroyed (2 Cor. 4:8-9). It is not over until God says it is over. So far God has not given an ultimatum so just shake off the dust, roll the sleeves and let life know that you are in for a fight.   Fill your horn with oil Secondly, after you stop mourning, it is the time to fill your horn with oil. This means, it is the time to hook up with the supernatural. It symbolizes receiving the anointing and the impartation to enable you carry out your assignment. Some people have mourned about their situations till they have forgotten to go to God and receive a revelation to usher them out of their difficulties. God is says it is the time to get our horns from wherever we abandoned them and be ready to receive a heavenly inspiration to tackle our earthly situations. The oil represents the anointing. This anointing is the divine enabling by God for us to do our assignment. Many people are disappointed because they tried serving and doing their assignment without an anointing. Whatever it is that you do for God, in private or publicly, you need the anointing. So, fill your horn with oil. When God anoints you, you will stand boldly in the office of the priest and minister before God and man. You will be able to rise above depression, oppression, natural barriers and oppositions mounted by human forces and circumstances of life.             A disappointed Elijah was told to arise, eat and drink for the journey ahead of him was long. If you have been contemplating quitting, I submit to you that you cannot do it now. We have come a long way and still there is some land for us to possess. We have endured the darkness, driven through the fog and stood during calamities. If we didn’t faint when all hell broke lose against us and we even thought we will have a nervous breakdown, we cannot do it now. Arise eat and drink! And get ready to go to your destiny.  Instead of contracting ‘Elijahminitis’ characterized by sleeping and waiting to die just like Elijah, arise and get ready for the Lord is about to do a new thing.             During the Great Depression in America in 1930s, a good man lost his job, exhausted his savings and forfeited his home. His grief was multiplied by the sudden death of his precious wife. The only thing he had left was his faith-and it was weakening. One day he was combing the neighborhood looking for work. He stopped to watch some men who were doing the stonework on a church building. One of these men was skillfully chiseling a triangular piece of rock. Not seeing a spot where it would fit, he asked, "Where are you going to put that?" The man pointed toward the top of the building and said, "See that little opening up near the spire? That is where it goes. I am shaping it down here so it will fit in up there." Some of you are going through terrible troublesome times. You may be experiencing some heartbreaking sorrow. Perhaps you are enduring some painful physical illness or it may be something else-maybe even too excruciating to talk to anyone about. The blows of the hammer and chisel hurt. Nevertheless, hold on to your faith. These difficulties will not get you down. They are only temporary. Glory is coming. It is the harsh blows to the outward man that often bring the greatest strength to the inner man. Keep praying. Keep believing. The Master has to do some shaping of us down here so we will fit in up there.   Be on your way The other thing God told Samuel is to arise and be on his way to Bethlehem, to the home of a man called Jesse, for God had chosen one of his sons, David, to be King. Similar instructions were given to Elijah. With the strength he received, he was sustained for forty days and forty nights till he got to the mountain of the Lord, where God appeared to him and told him to go back and anoint three men to complete his assignment, which he though will never be done.             Child of God, it is good to stop mourning and to fill your horn with oil. But these don’t make any sense till you start doing something. You have been in that situation long enough. It is the time to say enough is enough and kiss it goodbye. The anointing you receive is not for warming benches and make you feel good. No! it is for serving the Lord. The revelations are not for making you feel spiritual; instead, they are intended for helping you leave a mark for God here on earth. Start moving towards where God has called you. Destiny has a placement. Some people will be forced to move even geographically to place themselves strategically for business or ministry. This way, you will realize your purpose and turn around your disappointment. The situation of the prodigal son changed, only when he said, “I will arise and go to my father!” when Elijah changed his position, The Lord passed by and a change came (2 Kings 19:11). Even today, the Lord is passing by. He is going to turn your mourning into dancing. He will give you laughter for the tears you have cried. He will exchange your ashes for beauty. He will turn your adversity to have an advantage for you. When you are positioned right and ready for God, he will turn your barriers into bridges to usher you to your destiny. Moreover, he will turn your shame into glory. What the devil meant for evil, God will turn it and it will work out for your good because He still has an agenda with you. It is the time to join in the song and sing that: I am trading my sorrows, I am trading my shame, I am laying them down for the joy of the Lord! Even though plan A has failed, God has a plan B. What Elijah did not know is that in God’s plan B, there were 7000 remnants in Israel. When Samuel sat mourning, he did not know in God’s plan B was a boy called David. I join Isaiah in proclaiming the Word of God to you “strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, ‘be strong, and do not fear; your God is coming, He will come with vengeance; with divine retribution He will come to save you.” Isaiah 35: 3 – 4