Discovering Your Potential And Living It

WHAT IS A POTENTIAL? Capacity to develop: the capacity or ability for future development or achievement. – Microsoft® Encarta® Dictionary Natural abilities or qualities that may possibly develop and make someone or something very successful or useful. – Longman Dictionary The inherent capacity for coming into being. – WordWeb Dictionary HOW CAN YOU DISCOVER IT? - By self-examination and reflection - By self-expression in various activities as occasion demands - At formal avenues, such as trainings, workshops, conferences etc - Through Divine revelation - Through informal avenues e.g. among families, friends etc - By chance and unpremeditated happenings HOW CAN YOU LIVE IT? - By setting life and project goals - By drawing a roadmap for set goals - By holding yourself accountable for living out your potential - By adopting a steward’s posture toward your potential, knowing full well that you will have to give account to God, the Depositor (remember the parable of the talents) - By making the most of time and opportunities, and wasting none - By giving of yourself whenever occasion demands NOTABLE QUOTES ON POTENTIALS Success is…knowing your purpose in life, growing to reach your maximum potential, and sowing seeds that benefit others. John Maxwell The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential... these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence. Eddie Robinson The potential for greatness lives within each of us. The key to achieving greatness is found when we discover and then develop our dream. John Maxwell The potential consequences of any task or activity are the key determinants of how important it really is to you and to your company. Brian Tracy A dream without a positive attitude produces a daydreamer. A positive attitude without a dream produces a pleasant person who can’t progress. A dream together with a positive attitude produces a person with unlimited possibilities and potential. John Maxwell Adventure isn't hanging on a rope off the side of a mountain. Adventure is an attitude that we must apply to the day to day obstacles of life - facing new challenges, seizing new opportunities, testing our resources against the unknown and in the process, discovering our own unique potential. John Amatt No one fulfils his purpose, develops his potential, or consistently help others without goals. Your goals determine your priorities – and your priorities determine whether you’ll reach your goals. John Maxwell Nothing is more effective when it comes to reaching potential than commitment to personal growth. John Maxwell Continuous effort -- not strength or intelligence -- is the key to unlocking our potential. Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965) British prime minister during WWII I’d rather reach 90 percent of my potential with plenty of mistakes than reach only 10 percent with a perfect score. John Maxwell To keep moving to a higher level and reach your potential, you… have to be willing to… trade security for significance. John Maxwell We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but for potential. Ellen Goodman

REASONS FOR FAILURE

10 REASONS WHY PEOPLE FAIL 1. Holding on to the past 2. Fear 3. Negative Attitudes 4. Poor People Skills 5. Lack of Focus 6. Sin and Compromise 7. Excuses (Focusing on Who instead of Why) 8. Non-Adaptability to Change 9. Lack of Plan 10. Giving Up Too Soon PRINCIPLES FOR OVERCOMING FAILURE 1. Do not let fear control you 2. Check your attitudes 3. Do not make excuses 4. Never let failure get inside you 5. Change yourself 6. Learn from your mistakes 7. Let go of the past 8. Never give up

Heavenly Principles of Trading

HEAVENLY PRINCIPLES OF TRADING REFERENCE SCRIPTURE Luke 19:12-13 Therefore He said: “a nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’” THE WORD ON BUSINESS AND CAREER Purpose Proverbs 24:3-4: Through wisdom (insight about self & the market) a house (business) is built; and by understanding (exposures & experience) it is established: By knowledge (information & learning) the rooms (the different arms of the business) are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. Compared this with how the first ever and oldest business institution was created: Proverbs 3:19-20 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; by His knowledge the depths were broken up, and clouds drop down the dew. Purpose answers the question “what business am I in and why am I in that business?” Purpose is like the centre forward of a football team. He sets the direction of the business. Possession of the ball begins with him. Business people must have a well-defined purpose for their business that includes not only the type of business and market but also the area of ministry that can be done through that business. Planning Proverbs 24:27: Prepare your outside work, make it fit for yourself in the field; and afterward build your house. Planning answers the question of ‘where do you want to go and how are you going to get there?’ Planning is like the mid-fielder on a soccer team. Planning involves being on the offensive and developing goals so that the business can win the game. It also involves being on the defensive and anticipating problems and solving them before they happen. Without this position on the team, the game will be lost because there is no game plan. As the saying goes, business people who fail to plan, plan to fail. Timing Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 8: 5-6 (NIV) Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise in heart will know the proper time and procedure. For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a man’s misery weighs heavily upon him” Managing Matthew 25:20-21 So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. Managing answers the question of how you are going to operate your business and who is going to have control? Managing is like the coach of a soccer team. The coach has to make sure all the details are taken care of for the team to get to the game and be ready to play it. He oversees the play and makes sure the players are healthy and doing what they are all supposed to be doing. The coach has to be familiar with all the positions on the team and recommend what should be done to improve performance. BUDGETING & FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Luke 16: 10-12 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least in unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own? Budgeting answers the question of where will you get the money to operate your business and how you are going to manage that money. Budgeting is the defender on a soccer team. The defender is careful not to be caught out of position lest the opposition gain the advantage. In budgeting, business people must be careful that they have enough financial resources to enable the business to function and to grow. Budgeting involves planning and monitoring financial resources and making the necessary changes so that the team is in position to win the game. RECRUITMENT & PERSONNEL ADMIN. Exodus 31:1-6 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee. Staffing answers the question of who will be employed in your business and how will you employ them? Staffing is the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper is behind all the other players on the team. So, it is the staff of a business who are behind its success. Being in the right position is very important for the goalkeeper, so it is important that the business have people in the right positions. The goalkeeper puts the ball back into play and can control the pace of the game, slowing it down or speeding it up. The staff of a business who are properly cared for and receive a good wage will keep the business moving and productive. Employer-Employee Relationship Leviticus 19:13 You shall not defraud your neighbour, nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning. Jeremiah 22:13 Woe unto him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by injustice; who uses his neighbour's service without wages, and gives him nothing for his work. Proverbs 22:16: He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty. Proverbs 22:22-23: Do not rob the poor, because he is poor: nor oppress the afflicted at the gate: For the LORD will plead their cause, and plunder the soul of those who plunder them. Employee-Employer Relationship Proverbs 27:18 Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit: so he who waits on his master will be honoured. Titus 2:9 Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. Employee-employee relationship Proverbs 30:10: Do not malign a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be found guilty. PRICING Proverbs 15:27: He that is greedy of gain troubles his own house; but he that hates bribes shall live. Proverbs 10:2: Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivers from death. Proverbs 16:8: Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without justice. Proverbs 28:8 One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion gathers it for him who will pity the poor. Marketing Proverbs 11:26 He that withholds corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that sells it. Proverbs 20:17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth will be filled with gravel. Marketing answers the question of who is going to buy your product or service and how, where and when are you going to sell it to them? Marketing is like the striker on a soccer team. Marketing scores the goals or makes the sale. Just as a striker must be skilled in handling the ball and in shooting it, so must small businesspeople need to develop skills in handling customers and selling their product or service. Marketing involves knowing the opposition and the playing field and developing strategies to take advantage of team strengths and opposition weaknesses. Just as the striker must finish the play to win the game, so in marketing the businessperson must close the deal and follow through with it for the business to succeed. CLIENT SERVICE AND CUSTOMER/GOVERNMENT RELATIONS Proverbs 21:6 Getting treasures by a lying tongue is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death. Proverbs 17:23 A wicked man accepts a behind the back to pervert the ways of justice. Proverbs 25:26 A righteous man who falters before the wicked is like a murky spring, and a polluted well. Proverbs 29:4 The king establishes the land by justice: but he who receives bribes overthrows it. WEALTH CREATION Proverbs 20:21 An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning will not be blessed at the end. Proverbs 13:11 Wealth gained by dishonesty shall be diminished: but he that gathers by labour shall increase. Proverbs 28:20 A faithful man will abound with blessings: but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. Proverbs 28:22 A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, and does not consider that poverty will come upon him. Your Personal/Corporate Image Proverbs 22:1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favour rather than silver and gold. Your Personal Hygiene on the Job Proverbs 23:4: Do not overwork to be rich: because of your own understanding, cease. WRONG REASONS TO GO INTO BUSINESS 1. Because you are sick and tired of being told what to do 2. Because you want more freedom 3. Because you feel unappreciated or undervalued in your present job 4. Because you want to make a lot of money 5. Because you want to improve your standard of living 6. Because your friends or loved ones are going into business 7. Because other people are doing that kind of business and making much money from there 8. Because it is the reigning business in town QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF BEFORE STARTING A BUSINESS 1. What do I have the resources, ability, interest, and contacts to do? 2. Do I have the necessary commitment needed to succeed in a business undertaking? 3. Am I prepared to work extremely hard, to devote long hours of labour to my business? 4. Do I have the mental stamina and concentration to meet the demands my project will impose on me? 5. Do I accept new ideas easily? 6. Do I treat people with courtesy? Do I have good human relations skills? 7. Am I able to make decisions right away? How do I deal with problem solving: Am I prepared to spend time analyzing a problem and find a solution? Or am I the type who just closes his eyes and hope for the best? 8. Am I ready to commit to the long term, knowing that a company’s success is never an overnight miracle? 9. What back-up resources do I have? Will my family members or friends invest in my company or tide me over during a rough patch? 10. Am I good at concentrating on details? 11. Am I ready to sit down and write a careful analysis of my business prospects? 12. Am I by nature an optimist? Knowing that mistakes and setbacks are bound to occur, am I able to learn from my mistakes without being derailed or discouraged? 6 Steps to Planning a Successful Business Step 1: Start with an examination of who you are What are the skills, abilities and resources you have to start a small business? Pray and ask God to lead you in the process. Step 2: Decide what type of business YOU WANT TO DO You want to start and what types of products or services you will provide. Decide how much income you will need from that business. Seek God in prayer as to how you can fulfill His purpose for you in business. Step 3: Do your research Gather the facts about the type of business you want to start. Discover who your customers will be and approach some of them with the idea of starting your business. Find out from them what it is they will expect from your business. Discover who your competitors will be and find out how well they are doing in the type of business you want to start. Also, find out what legal obligations you need to fulfill in the business. Be careful not to make assumptions. Confirm that your assumptions are valid. Ask God to lead you to the right people who have the right information that you need. Step 4: Decide how much money will be needed To start the business and what your operating expenses will be. Decide how much you will be able to contribute and how much money you will need to borrow. Research potential friends, family and financial institutions that can finance your business. Expect the unexpected. Ask yourself; "What could go wrong?" and then plan for it. Develop a contingency so that you are prepared Pray that God will provide for your needs. Step 5: Set realistic goals For the number of sales you will make the amount of income you will receive and the overall development of the business. Be sure to take into account the risks of inflation, bad debt, competition and other risks. Your Goals must be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time Limited. Break these objectives down into specific tasks in order of their priority. Pray that God will give you a sober mind and will guard your steps. Step 6: Develop a written business plan That covers the information you have discovered after the first five steps. Present your written business plan to your family or friends for their advice and comment. Have them pray with you and commit your plan to God so that He will lead you as you start your business. Do an evaluation of your written plans after a period of time and see whether or not you have accomplished your objectives. If not, why not? "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed." (Proverbs 15:22).

WHEN GOD SEEMS SO WICKED OR DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE

REFERENCE SCRIPTURE Job 5:6-7 For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble spring from the ground; Yet man is born to trouble, as [surely as] the sparks fly upward. SOME LIFE SITUATIONS THAT MAKE GOD LOOKS SO WICKED/UNCARING 1. Prolonged job search 2. Delayed manifestation of a future partner 3. Having a tough time in marriage 4. Having a tough time in business or at workplace 5. Poverty and Lack 6. Being misunderstood every time 7. “Feeling” Unappreciated 8. Unfulfilled Dreams etc. etc. SOME REASONS WHY THESE ARE SO 1. A test of character – Joseph’s example in Genesis 37, 39-41 God does not use an untested vessel - Joseph was not popular among his family members - He was hated by his own brothers - He was sold as a slave by his own brothers - He was thrown into prison for an offence he did not commit - He was forgotten in the prison by someone whose dream he helped to interpret - He was eventually elevated and honoured above all his adversaries 2. The purging of the soul/punishment for sin – The example of David in 1 Samuel 11-18 - David had an illicit affair with the wife of Uriah, one of his subjects, and had him killed at war in order to save his face when she became pregnant - The first child the woman born to him died, despite his earnest prayers and fasting (1 Samuel 12) - David’s son, Amnon, raped his step-sister, Tamar (1 Samuel 13) - Absalom, Tamar’s brother, killed Amnon in vengeance for the defilement of his sister (1 Samuel 13) - Absalom later declared himself as king of Israel and caused David to flee the city for the wilderness (1 Samuel 15:10-18) - Some trusted friends and counsellors of David deserted him to pitch their tents with Absalom (1 Samuel 15:31) - David was cursed and stoned by Shimei while wandering in the wilderness in fear of his son (1 Samuel 16:5-8) - Absalom slept with his father’s concubines on top of the house, in the full glare of the public! (1 Samuel 16:20-22) - David lost another dear son, Absalom, when the rebellion was eventually quenched (1 Samuel 18:32-33) - All of these, and other misfortunes, befallen David because of the sin of adultery and murder that he committed 3. A test of faith – The example of Job in Job 1-42 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works to the end, to him will I give power over the nations: Revelation 2:26 - Job was subjected to multiple afflictions just to determine the limit of his faithfulness to God! - His servants (staff) were killed by raiders who stole his 500 yoke of oxen and 500 donkeys. 1:15 - Fire consumed all his 7,000 sheep as well as some of his servants. 1:16 - Another band of raiders made away with his 3,000 camels and also killed some of his servants. 1:17 - His 7 sons & 3 daughters were all killed in a collapsed building. 1:18-19 ALL OF THESE HAPPENED TO JOB IN ONE DAY! - He was afflicted with painful boils from head to foot. 2:7-8 - To make matters worse, his wife tongue-lashed him for his faithfulness to God in the midst of their woes. 2:9-10 - Even his closest friends castigated him and presumptuously blamed his misfortunes on his sins - But Job kept the faith in the midst of it all and forgave all who had unjustly criticised him. - And God restored all he had lost to him double-fold. 42:10-17 SOME ATTRIBUTES OF GOD God is Omniscient - Job 24:1, Hebrews 4:13 God is Immutable – He does not change - James 1:17 God is Just - Deuteronomy 32:4 (KJV) God is Merciful - Lamentation 3:22-23 God is Faithful - 2 Timothy 2:11-13, Lament 3:23 God is Good, and does good - Psalm 119:68 God is Caring - 1 Peter 5:7 HOW TO GET OUT OF THE “GOD DOES NOT CARE” TRAP Do a Soul-searching, then Repent from and Forsake Sinful Habits – Proverbs 28:13 Be Prayerful – Philippians 4:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Have a Change of Perspective – know that it could have been worse Develop a Habit of Thanksgiving – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Have a Change of Attitude – Count it ALL Joy! – James 1:2-4 THE STORY OF THE FERN AND THE BAMBOO One day I decided to quit. I wanted to quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality…I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God. "God", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?" His answer surprised me. "Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?" "Yes", I replied. "When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. “In the second year, the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In year three, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. The same was the case in year four. Then in the fifth year, a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern, it was seemingly small and insignificant. But, just six months later, the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall! It had spent the five years growing roots beneath. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive.” “I will not give any of my creatures a challenge it can not handle. Do you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots? I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you.” “Don't compare yourself to others." He said. "The bamboo had a different purpose apart from the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful. “Your time will come." God said to me, "And you will rise high" "How high would I rise?" I asked. "How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked me in return. "As high as it can?" I questioned "Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can." I left the forest, realizing that God will never give up on me. Never regret a day in your life. Good days give you happiness; Bad days give you experiences; Both are essential to life. If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it.

THINGS THAT PROVOKE GOD TO ANGER

1 COMPLAINT Now when the people complained, it displeased the LORD; for the LORD heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of LORD burned among them and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp. Numbers 11:1 Often times when we are embattled with challenges, or do not get what we desire, or what we have been praying for, we tend to resort to complaining in a bid to arm-twist/blackmail God to look at our side and consider our petition. We whine and gripe endlessly bemoaning our lot. But instead of achieving our objective, what we usually do by so doing is to provoke God to anger. Complaint is one thing that is highly detestable to God. It is a sure way of displeasing Him, arousing His wrath, and unwittingly attracting His consuming fire. Fire? Yes, Fire. Even if the LORD does not send a fire, the fact that He is angry is enough to provoke fire to burn! A grateful attitude is what God expects us to have in all situations. Why? Because even when it doesn’t look like it, He is actually working all things out for our good! That may be very difficult to believe. But the truth is that God genuinely loves and cares about every one of His children, both the obedient and the wayward. His love is as constant as the rising of the Sun to its setting, even more so. You can imagine how you would feel if you were planning a surprise package for your loved one only for that person to start acting up by complaining and picking faults in your conducts. How would you feel? Hurt? Disappointed? Frustrated? That is the same way God usually feels whenever we complain about our status quo, which is but a process to Him toward getting to where He is taking us. In the case of the Israelites, God was taking them to the Promised Land. But their constant cries, as they passed through the wilderness on the way to ‘the land flowing with milk and honey,’ was their undoing. They did it to a point that God did not even bother to inform Moses, as He was wont to do, before He dealt with them by pouring down a consuming fire upon them. These days, fire may not come down from heaven to consume, but the feeling of being burned will nonetheless be there, with the same intensity as if one is really under a scathing fire. In order to avoid this kind of divine retribution, let us start to praise more and cry less; thank more and gripe less; sing more and groan less. In other words, let us imbibe the spirit of the passage of the bible that says, “IN EVERYTHING, give thanks. For this is the will of the LORD for you…” God bless you.

M E D I T A T I O N & I N S I G H T S

5. PROBLEMS, SOLUTIONS, AND PROBLEM-SOLVERS Problems and challenges abound in the world of the living. And we dare not deceive ourselves by hoping that they will all end some day. The day that one ceases to have issues to contend with is the day he bids the world goodbye. To lend credence to this fact, the Bible records in the book of Job 5:7 that man is born to trouble as indubitably as the sparks fly in no other direction but upward. So having established the fact that problems and challenges abound in the world in different forms and sizes, how can they be solved as they arise? Where does one run to for solution when confronted with challenges? There are a number of recourses available for men to explore in solving the various challenges of life, such as one’s learning, past experience in handling a similar situation, parents, friends and loved ones, a consultant/counsellor etc. While any or all of these measures can prove to be very helpful, however, the most effective solutions are those given by God, and the best answers to all our questions are found in the presence of God. I derived this insight from the Holy Bible, the book of Judges Chapter 21. The Israelites were faced with a major problem; preventing the extinction of one of the 12 tribes that formed the pillars of their nation, the tribe of Benjamin. They had themselves launched a reprisal war on the Benjamites (read Judges Chapters 19 & 20 for details) and killed hundreds of thousands of them in the war, as well as every living thing that were found in their land. Only 600 men of the Benjamites who fled from the battle front and went to hide in the rock remained, every other person had been killed; old and young, men and women. And since the Israelites had vowed before God not to give their daughters as wives to the Benjamites, then the tribe faced the risk of total extinction, as there were only 600 survivors left in the whole tribe, and they were all men! This made the Israelites went to the house of God to seek counsel on what should be done. And there they found the answer to their question. Without speaking through a prophet, God gave them a circumstantial direction on what to do to get wives for the men of Benjamin without having to break their vow. While the whole congregation of Israel were in the presence of God mourning, weeping, and offering sacrifices, the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead were not represented. Therefore, in making good their word, the Israelites sent warriors to the city and killed all the children, the men and every married woman in that land. They spared only the virgins whom they brought to the camp and then gave as wives to the men of Benjamin. Another insight I derived from this new development is that it is those who do not spend time in the presence of God that will be made to pay the price or be used as pawn to execute the solutions that those who spend time in the presence of God come up with. The people of Jabesh Gilead who were found wanting in God’s presence were the ones who forfeited their lives so that their virgins could be given to the Benjamites as wives. This underscores the need for every one of us to cultivate the habit of spending time in God’s presence, so that we do not become perpetual tools (for the accomplishment of the purpose) of those of who do. Shalom! 4. HOW TO KNOW WHEN THE SPIRIT OF GOD HAS DEPARTED FROM SOMEONE The Spirit of God is gentle and at the same very strong. Among other things, He is an inspirer, a motivator, an enabler and an energiser. When He dwells upon someone He enables such person to do great and mighty things that he wouldn’t have been able to do in his own steam or human strength (Check Judges 11:29, 14:6, 14:19, 15:14, 1Samuel 10:6, 1Samuel 10;10-11, 11:6-7, 1Kings 18:46 etc etc). However, when He leaves someone, He usually does so in a quiet and unobtrusive way that the person may not even know that the Spirit has departed. Especially if such person is given to routine (as we all are), he will continue to perform his customary tasks and other activities every day without any inkling that he is on his own, without the Presence of God! The Spirit usually departs from someone during a moment of carelessness, un-guardedness, compromise, disobedience etc. So how does one know when the Spirit of God has left him? One may not know when the Spirit takes His leave. On the surface, everything will still look and appear normal. And there may not even be an inner turmoil to indicate the departure. However, one of the indications that will help one to know is if he finds himself struggling, perspiring, exerting and experiencing so much stress to accomplish things he used to do before with relative ease. Then such person needs to do a personal check to know where he has lost it. A case study in this instance is Samson. He was a very strong person because of the hand of God upon him. He tore a lion apart with bare hands (Judges 14:6), killed a thousand men with the jawbone of a donkey (judges 15:15), and carried on his shoulders two gateposts with people on them and walked some distance to the top of a hill (Judges 16:1-4)! He was indeed a very strong man; one of the strongest men in recorded history. And that was simply because the Spirit of God was upon him. But when he lost it, he didn’t know it, he didn’t feel it, and no bell rang in his head to announce his loss of Essence. The Bible captures it thus: Judges 16:20 And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” So he awoke from his sleep, and said “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him. See what happened after that: Judges 16:21, 25 Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with gold fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison….So it happened, when their hearts were merry, they said, “Call for Samson, that he may perform for us.” So they called for Samson from the prison, and he performed for them… So how does one get back the Spirit of God? It is simple. All you need to do is personal consecration and rededication of yourself to God. He is more than willing to occupy His kingly place in your life and scheme of things. But you have to be willing to allow Him the space. It is very important that you note that the race of life is full of ups and downs. Therefore, having the indwelling of the Spirit of God or losing same is not a once-for-all phenomenon. No, no. As often as you become conscious of the loss, so should you do the needful consecration and rededication to get yourself back on stream. May the LORD help us. It’s my pleasure sharing this piece of meditation with you. Shalom! 3. DISCERNMENT AND SENSISITIVITY In our bid to enforce what we think is right we sometimes find ourselves fighting against God without knowing. How? Humanly speaking, it was not proper for Joseph to be the favored son of his father and for him to still be telling his brothers about his dreams. It was not proper for an ordinary carpenter to rise up one day and claim to be the Son of God and be preaching doctrines that were at variance with the law of the day. It was not proper for Stephen to say that he saw God and Jesus seated on the throne (who has ever seen God and live?) and not expect to be stoned to death. It was improper for some people to claim to be of The Way (Christianity) and be practising a religion contrary to Judaism, why shouldn’t someone as fervent as Paul persecute them to death? It was improper for Pharaoh, a pagan king, to rise up one day and claim the LORD asked him to go fight a battle; king Josiah was one of my favourite personalities in the bible, but he met his death at age 39 trying to stop Pharaoh on his God-assigned task. It takes discernment and sensitivity in the spirit to identify the God-factor in any situation and then act appropriately. Of all the foolish things a man can do, running on a collision course against God (knowingly/unknowingly) is the most dangerous. The result is predictable. Shalom 2. TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR LIFE COUNT You’ll know if you are adding value to people when your encounters with them make their eyes shine brightly, make them smile, or make them say “thank you।” On the other hand, you’ll know if you are depleting from people if every day your encounters with them make them frown, make them groan “Oh no, not again!” or make them say “I’m sorry.” Now that you know, make your life count every day in 2008! I love You. Babatunde 1. WHAT CONSTITUES BLESSEDNESS This may sound crazy, but it is a spiritual law: It's more blessed to give than to receive; to write than to read; to intercede than be prayed for; to love than be loved; to honour than be honoured; to seek than be sought; to visit than be visited; to serve than be served... And the list goes on। God bless You!

THE LITTLE FOXES THAT SPOIL THE VINE

Why Prayers Are Not Answered and Sacrifices Not Honoured Truly, the bible says, “Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8). However, we all know that this is not usually the case with most of us. Many are the times we have fervently asked, sought, and knocked for one thing or the other from God and man without being granted our heart’s desire. This write-up is an attempt to explain some of the reasons why some of our prayers and services to God are neither answered nor rewarded. Meanwhile, it is important that we note that the reasons proffered below are not totally exhaustive. There may well be some other reasons why we do not get answers to our prayers. But the ones below are those the LORD unveiled to me in the course of time after I asked Him the reason for this phenomenon some months ago. Let us now consider them: IGNORANCE The first reason why some of our prayers are not answered is because of our ignorance. The LORD says in Hosea 4:6a that ‘My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge’. While most of us know this scripture very well and even quote it often in discourse, we still nonetheless fall victim to its veracity. It is amazing to see the way we go all out to seek something and still truncate our own efforts or chances of getting such thing by our actions or inactions, done in ignorance. Let us look at two ways ignorance robs us of rewards and answered prayers. Self-sabotage: Oftentimes, we are diligent in our supplications to God about an issue and even do all we could to ensure that we get our heart’s desire. But little carelessness in a seemingly unrelated or unimportant matter may be the spoiler that will foil our chances of getting that for which we have for so long been seeking the face of God. A wrong thought, a wrong statement, a wrong action, or a wrong indulgence carelessly entertained when it does not seem to matter may just be the spoiler that will prevent our much sought-after blessing from being delivered to us. We all know that the earth we live in is spherical in shape. However, most of us do not realise that life itself is circular in nature. What this means is that even as the earth orbits or goes round the sun, so do our thoughts, words and actions revolve around the ultimate entity that is our lives. There is nothing like “it does not matter”, “it does not affect…”, “it does not relate to…” or “it is not important to…” in the cycle of life. Every single thought, word, and action contributes to our state of being at any point in time. Nurturing evil thoughts and intentions towards someone, saying the wrong thing to or about someone, or doing a wrong thing to someone may not seem to be connected to that thing we are seeking the face of God (or man) for, but the bitter truth is that they really do affect it and may be the reason why we do not get our desire at times. Not Knowing the Required Principles: the second way ignorance robs us of our breakthroughs is by our not knowing the right thing to do to get what we want. We have often heard the saying that God operates by principles. And truly the bible is replete with several passages that hinge the attainment of certain blessing on the fulfilment of one condition or another. These are clear indications of what it takes to get such blessings. For instance, someone who desires financial prosperity may not attain it by constant prayer and fasting. That is like using Phensic to cure stomachache. The bible is very clear on what it takes to be prosperous; it is by giving, giving, and giving. Another example is that of someone who desires power (the ability to control or influence happenings both in the spiritual and the physical realm), but who is not given to constant fasting and a prayerful lifestyle, he is only deluding himself. He may not have it; no matter how great he or she can sing or how committed he or she may be in the church. The list of ‘to-dos’ to get ‘what’ goes on and on. That is why it is good for us to be devoted to reading our bible regularly, for apart from the primary benefit of the knowledge of God it will avail us, it also contains all the information we need for life and godliness as well as all the relevant principles we need to apply to obtain the various good things we desire in life. But many of us Christians do not know this, and that is why we usually use the “wrong” approach to achieve the right end, and thereby end up not getting the desired result. The bible says in Hosea 4:14c “people who do not understand will be trampled.” Ignorance, pure and simple, is usually the major cause of most of our sufferings. NOT DOING ENOUGH (praying, giving, sacrificing etc) Another reason we do not receive what we seek from God is because we do not do enough of what it takes to receive our heart’s desire. The bible says, “If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth; and if a tree falls to the south or the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it shall lie” (Ecclesiastes 11:3). Oftentimes we are complacent and settle for the average or even below average performance in our pursuits in life. We do not pray enough, fast enough, give enough, serve enough, or do enough of what is required to get our miracle. We do not fill our clouds with enough water so that they might burst out and rain upon us in return, nor do we push our tree with enough force so that it can fall down and create an impact that will speak for us. ASKING FOR THE WRONG THINGS “You ask and do not receive because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James 4:3). Some of us seek after or ask for the wrong things in prayer. God is a good God. And it is because of this His goodness that He does not give us those things we frantically seek or pray for. He knows that if we should get them, they might harm us or ultimately deprive us of getting to heaven. And knowing that no earthly pleasure – which is at best for a lifetime – can compare with the everlasting glory He has prepared for us, He will not stop at anything to ensure that we partake of this glory, even if it means denying or disciplining us at times. It is therefore important for us to know that He is not under any obligation to satisfy all our whims; rather He is only obliged to supply our needs as a caring Father. NOT QUALIFIED/MATURE YET TO HAVE IT Some times, we behave like little children and ask God for something we are neither matured nor equipped to handle. Imagine a ten-year-old boy asking for a car? That is the picture some of us present sometimes in our prayer requests and aspirations. We ask for and aspire after what we are not mentally, spiritually, emotionally, psychologically, financially, or socially equipped to manage. And when the One Who knows best and has it all decides not to release them to us, we whine and complain all day long, doubting if He really cares as we are made to believe. There is a world of difference between anointing and character; the possession of one does not connote the ownership of the other. A popular saying says, “Anointing can launch one to a height where character is not able to sustain him.” Such is the case when we ignorantly seek certain things at a time that it may result in our humiliation or public disgrace to the point that we will not have the courage to ever venture up again. God is omniscient, and because of this attribute of His, He knows the appropriate time to give us everything we will ever need for life and godliness. But due to our limited knowledge, we often strive, scheme, and struggle for what we cannot hold on to at a particular point in time. It requires wisdom to know the when of everything we desire in life. Imagine if Daniel had prayed for the liberation of the captives at Babylon at their 20th or 40th year in captivity, he would have only been praying into the future because God had already decreed that the captivity would last for 70 years. And any activities to turn around the captivity before the appointed time would have only amounted to an effort in futility. Wisdom is knowing the appropriate time you are due for something and aspiring/praying for it then, not before or after, “Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise in heart will know the proper time and procedure. For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a man’s misery weighs heavily upon him” (Ecclesiastes 8: 5-6 NIV). MOTIVE Another reason we often do not get our hearts’ desire – regardless of our fervent prayers or sacrificial service – is because of our motive for seeking such things. We see in James 4:3 cited above that God does not honour prayers asked amiss or those that are meant to gratify our selfish whims. And though we may present our requests to Him as if we are striving for the benefit all, we should also reckon with the fact that He is all-knowing and sees into the inner recesses of our hearts. One of the most liberating scriptures I came across in the few years I have been studying the bible is 1 Samuel 16:7b. It says, “For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” Man considers the action, the appearance, the outlook, the seen, and the ‘what’ of people and things, but God looks at the motive and the ‘whys’. Some of us pray to God to bless us so that we can spite or ‘show’ someone who has offended or denied us in the past. God does not answer that kind of prayer. Whatever He blesses you with, He meant to be used for your benefit and the benefit of those around you, friends or foes. So if you want a speedy answer to your prayers or a quick reward for your service, check your motive very well to know WHY you desire that thing. If your motive is genuine enough, or you need that thing for your purpose or sustenance in life, God will be more than willing to grant it to you. But you need to really settle this issue of motive first because God cannot be deceived; He knows those things you are not saying with your mouth. I once read a write-up where the writer said an angel told him that they hear the thoughts of men more loudly in heaven than what we say with our mouths on earth! Can you beat that? NOT TAKING A STEP OF FAITH Even after all is said and done, and we have done all we possibly could to get our miracles, some of us still short-change ourselves by not taking the necessary step required to get our desire. We procrastinate by crying, whining, and bemoaning our lot in life, to whoever cares to listen, and lament about all we had done to get this or that without any result. The truth is that God is not impressed by tears and complaints. He is moved only by faith. The bible says ‘without faith, it is impossible to please God’. And because we have not yet grasped the import of the bible’s definition of faith as “the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen” (Heb 11:1 NLT), we wait (tarry?) for the time when it is going to look like it before we take any step at all, and therefore languish in abjection for as long as that may be. Listen my brethren, the best time to do anything is NOW. Don’t wait until it looks like it before you act, otherwise it may be too late by then. The bible says “He who observes the wind will not sow. And he who regards the clouds will not reap” (Ecclesiastes 11:4). The New Living Translation (NLT) puts it simpler thus, “If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done!” So take a step of faith, cast your net into the deep, and do that thing you have been putting off for so long TODAY! And you will be surprised to discover that YOU are the one who has been delaying God from blessing you all along, not that He doesn’t care or slow in hearing as you probably thought. Nothing moves until you move. A tortoise cannot make progress unless it puts out its head and legs out of its shell. So get out of your shell and break through into your blessing. THE LAW OF SEED AND HARVEST Another way some of us unwittingly delay or even truncate our miracle is by our blatant violation of the ageless law of seed and harvest. God Himself decrees in Genesis 8:22 that “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.” This law of seed and harvest is as immutable as God Himself; it does not change. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7). But it is amazing how often we deceive ourselves by despising the effect (result) while nurturing the cause that results in that same effect. Have you denied someone in the past when you shouldn’t have? You can be rest assured that you will also be denied too, if you are not being denied already. Have you wronged, robbed, cheated, condemned, judged, short-changed, or done something untoward to someone in the past (no matter who the person is), you will reap the harvest of your thoughts and (in)actions in due time, if you are not reaping it already. And we all know that the harvest is usually bigger than the seed. This is one major area I think we usually fall short and thus shoot ourselves in the leg. Granted, God is merciful, but He is also a just God. I have the privilege of having read the bible a number of times, and one of the discoveries I made about God is that He is not a fair God; He is only just. Now that may sound unreasonable to some of us, but it is the truth. We all suffer the natural consequences of our shortcomings from time to time albeit the fact that we have sought forgiveness and have indeed been forgiven their eternal consequences. We will get to reap the harvest of the seeds we have sown in the past or are sowing presently, either good or bad, at one time or another. That is why it always pays to do good and be good. Even when you are the one that is wronged, you are not expected to wrong your offender in return because by so doing you will only plant a seed of wickedness whose harvest you will reap in time. Little wonder the Bible is replete with several passages that command that we do not repay evil with evil. SINS The final reason we shall consider as one of the ‘whys’ for unanswered prayers is sin. Most of the times we shoot ourselves in the leg by our sinful indulgences in thoughts, in words, and in deeds. The bible says ‘God is angry with the wicked everyday’ (Psalm 7:11), how then can you hope to get anything from Him if you are always rubbing Him on the wrong side? Little disobediences here and there: an evil or lustful thought you allowed to roam in your heart, a wrong word you said to or about someone, an harmful deed you planned for or did to someone, or your blatant disregard for the injunctions of the bible. These are ‘the little, little foxes that spoil our vine’. But we often do not know. Another way that sin robs us of our miracles is through the little compromises we allow from time to time. You see, God tests us now and then to see the disposition of our hearts in relation to Him. He tests our faithfulness, our commitment, our loyalty, our maturity, our patience, and our preparation, among others, before committing certain things to us. How we fair during and after the moment of trial is what determines whether we are ripe for the blessing or not. God does not use or commit things to an untested vessel. If you run through the bible, you will see how true this statement is. Just as we have to write exams to pass from one class to a higher one, so does God examine us or allows the devil to tempt us from time to time with circumstances and real life situations. If you fail, the miracle is aborted or miscarried at that point, but if you overcome, it is delivered to you. However, because of His infinite mercy, we are usually presented with multiple opportunities to prove ourselves worthy so that if we fail at some time, we may overcome at other times and so obtain the goodies of that victory. In conclusion, I encourage us all to examine ourselves impartially to see that we are not falling short in any of these areas of spiritual leakages so that we can be able to say that we have indeed ‘done all to stand’ toward obtaining our miracle. Thanks for reading. God bless you. Shalom.