How to Ask And Receive From God Always

Ask, and it shall be given you, and seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you – Matthew 7:7. This is the promise of God, but many fail to ask and receive as they should. And what could be the cause and the solution to this challenge? This post is geared towards answering this question.

It is a common thing for Christians to wonder whether God still answers prays, and if He does, why does it seem as if He answers only some people. Christians need to realise that you don’t learn how to pray by praying. You need to find out ‘the how’, if you are to receive from God always. The disciples of Jesus realised this and asked Him to teach them to pray (Luke 11:1). God longs to answer all our prayers, that’s why He said emphatically, “ask and it SHALL be given you”. Now,

How to ask and receive

 

1. Know what you want.

And Jesus answered and said unto him, what wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight – Mark 10:51 (KJV) [Emphasis is mine]. God truly knows our needs but He wants us to specifically tell Him what we want Him to do for us. The blind man didn’t ask for money, so Jesus didn’t give him money but gave him exactly what he wanted, which was his sight back. 

2. What does God say about your want

Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified – Isaiah 43:26 (KJV). God listens for His Words in pray. For you to ask and receive from God always, you need to pray God’s words. So search out what God says concerning that want or desire of yours before you pray.

3. Meditate and believe the scripture

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success - Joshua 1:8 (KJV). Meditation enables you to truly believe and act on Gods word. It makes the scriptures real to you and helps you not to doubt no matter the challenge you may be facing. Read more...

What to Do In The Midst Of a Storm

“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee” – Isaiah 43:2. Storms or challenges are real to life. Kenneth E Hagin said you can only escape them when you die. The question is not when will challenges stop in your life but what do you do in the midst of a storm? This post gives what to do in such situations.

Taking a case study of the patriarch Abraham (Romans 4:17-22), who didn’t have a child for many years; we can learn what to do when faced with any challenge:

1.       Believe in hope

For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion – Ecclesiastes 9:4. You must have hope that joy will surely come in the morning. A hopeless person sees no future or better tomorrow. Hope is simply a choice to take action – Anna Lappe. Make that choice NOW.

2.       Have faith

Have faith in you and in your maker (God) that you will overcome the storm (John 14:1). Faith enables you to see what to do next in the midst of a storm. You must believe that God will do what He said He would do (Isaiah 46:11). The scriptures tell you what God will do in any situation for you.

3.       Don’t focus on the storm

You are to focus on the solution and not the challenge. When Peter stopped looking at Jesus (his solution to walking on water) and looked at the storm, he started sinking (Matthew 14:28-30). Focusing on the challenge magnifies it the more but when you focus on the solution in the midst of a storm, the challenge eventually disappears. Read more...

7 Reasons Not To Quit In The Midst Of a Storm

“You’re never a loser until you quit trying” – Mike Ditka. Are you in the valley of decision right now – to quit or not to quit? Perhaps you think you can’t hold on a little longer in the midst of a storm. I have good news for you – what you are going through now SURELY is temporary. This post gives you reasons not to quit.

Why not to quit

1. You are not made a loser

When you look at yourself in the mirror, what do you see - a loser? I tell you, not at all. God made you the head and not the tail. Also, He said you are above only and not beneath, (Deuteronomy 28:13). Quitting is the attribute of losers. Shake of the loser’s thoughts and do not quit. 

2. Your challenge is common to man

You are not the first; neither will you be the last to experience such an issue. I Corinthians 10:13 tells us that it is common to man and that God knows that you are able to handle it. That is why He allowed it to come to you in the first place. To quit is not to maximize the ability you have within you. Many people are successful (and we look up to them) because they overcame obstacles and decided not to quit half way. 

3. Somebody is waiting for you to succeed

Can you boldly and confidently answer or advice anybody who finds himself or herself on the same path you trod and quit? 2 Corinthians 1:4 encourages us not to quit in the midst of a storm so we can comfort others with the same comfort we will receive from God. Furthermore, the technologies we celebrate today are results of tireless works of men and women whose anchor words were “Do not quit”. Some of them worked against the acceptable laws and theories of their time. Today, they are celebrated. That can be your story too. Read more...

What Never to Do In The Midst Of a Storm

I am tired of waiting for a breakthrough! It’s not working and I might as well stop thinking that it will work for me. I am dying in the midst of a storm! You must have heard these statements or similar and worse statements. This article is to inform you of what never to do at such times.

A story is told of a man who had a challenge to swim across the ocean. He kept swimming for a long time. Eventually, his strength and determination started failing. Also there was a thick fog in front of him and he couldn’t see any further. Finally, he gave up and started drowning. But a little boy saw him and pulled him to the shores of the ocean. The man survived but lost the challenge. He gave up when he was already at the finishing point. The fog did not allow him to see that he had reached the end of the challenge.

This is the story of many people in the midst of a storm. What never to do then is to NEVER QUIT AND NEVER QUIT BELIEVING. Some people give up just because they cannot see with their physical eyes the end of the road. Many people quit when their breakthrough is already at the corner.

You may ask me, “what if it never pulls through?” But I have a question for you too, “what if it pulls through?” I encourage you never to quit or quit believing. Interestingly, God knowing that we will have challenges that will look insurmountable, went ahead of us to lay examples of those who faced great challenges and overcame. These are recorded in the scriptures.  I will give two of these examples here. Read more...

The Power of Loving Yourself to Enjoy Your Life

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:  marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well- Psalm 139:14. Loving yourself stems from your understanding of how careful God was in making you. Nothing about your make-up is a mistake, everything is geared towards enabling you fulfil your destiny. When you love yourself, you will enjoy your life daily.

What do you think of yourself? You are what you think of yourself, (Proverbs 23:7). Your thoughts affect your words and actions. Many a time, people look down on themselves, magnify their weak points and ignore their strong points. Some think they are being humble or realistic by doing so, but in actually fact they are depriving themselves the opportunity to enjoy their lives on daily basis.

One thing that can make you not to love yourself is comparison. 2 Corinthians 10:12 says, “...but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” It is not wisdom to compare yourself with others because you have different purposes and destinies. The power of loving yourself is defeated when you do so. Yes, learn from others and sharpen your skills but be original. You are unique and original!

Some people develop low esteem because they don’t love the way they look. They feel they are too short or tall, too fat or thin, dark instead of fair, have big eyes (like me), not eloquent enough etc. Love yourself, including the way you look and you will bring out the best in you. You are not a mistake but a marvellous piece of God’s creation, fashioned for a glorious purpose. Discover it and enjoy your life daily. Read more...

7 Reasons for Forgiveness in Marriage

There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness- Josh Billings. Lack of forgiveness in marriage has led to many separations and divorces. A Lasting relationship demands that the couple learn the act of forgiveness. To forgive may not be the easiest thing to do but it certainly is the wisest thing to do.

Forgiveness is one of the pillars of a successful marriage. Understanding the power of forgiveness will empower you to face and conquer any challenge that comes your way in Marriage.

Reasons for forgiveness in marriage
1. Love
‘Tis the most tender part of love, each other to forgive – John Sheffield. If you really love your spouse you will forgive him or her. It is difficult for people to forgive when the love is not there or is waning down. Yes, some circumstances can be very trying but love will surely conquer. For instance, God shows and clearly proves His (own) love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us – (Romans 5:8, AMP)

2. Reciprocation
You are also liable to err too. You are to do to people (including your spouse) what you would want them to do to you. You may say that you will never do what he/she did but what if you do the one that he/ she will never do. That is why Christ said in Luke 6:37, “judge not, and you shall not be judged: condemn not, and you shall not be condemned; forgive, and you shall be forgiven” For every successful marriage, the act of forgiveness must be applied. Read more...

83.33% of time already set aside to care for you in 2011

Early this year, I read a post By Emmanuel Obu (http://www.worldswitchkingdomembassy.com) that analyzed how it took God 83.33% of His time in creation to provide man's needs and solve future problems. Though we have spent 4 months already into 2011, I believe we need to always remind ourselves of God's love for us and how He is MOST INTERESTED in taking care of us and solving every challenge in our lives. Enjoy this post and the remaining three quarters of the year.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Before God created man, He saw his needs and his future problems. And so, He created him last on the sixth day. Before the man came, God made available solutions to his needs and future problems by using the first to the fifth day of creation to provide them.
Before the famine that was going to hit the whole earth came, God planted Joseph in Egypt as a solution, to save the situation. (Genesis 41:56-57, Genesis 45:4-7)

Before the genocide plot against Israel by Haman, God planted Esther in the palace as a
solution to the salvation of Israel. (Esther 4:12-17, Esther 8:5-7)
Before the fall of man to damnation, God had already prepared Jesus Christ for redemption before creation. (1 Peter 1:18-20)
Can you see God’s wisdom?
 Read more...