Month: January 2022

Many people are unaware of the benefits of taking responsibility over everything that goes wrong in their lives. You may not be responsible for all the things that have gone bad. But if you want to correct the wrongs, then you have to take responsibility. When you don’t take charge over the things that went wrong in your life, you will lack the ability to correct the wrongs. Instead of fixing the things that caused you pain in the past, you would go about wasting time, looking for who to blame. You can’t get ahead with that kind of mentality.

Think of what happened to Judas and Peter. Both of them failed their Master. They both felt pained and remorseful afterwards. But when Judas returned to the Chief Priests with the money he had been given, they said, “What is that to us? That’s your responsibility.” Instead of taking responsibility, Judas threw the money back to them. Then he went away and hanged himself. Peter acted differently when he denied Jesus three times. After realizing his mistake, he wept bitterly and then took responsibility as he went back to correct his mistakes and to become the leader of the Church.

Prayer/Confession: As l correct my mistakes, I’ll take responsibility. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Luke 22:54-62; Matthew 27:1-5

When the two angels who had been assigned to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah led Lot’s family out of the city, they gave them specific instructions. Although the angels were interested in rescuing Lot and his family, there was a limit to what they could do for them. For instance, the angels were able to take Lot’s wife out of Sodom. But they couldn’t stop her from going against their instruction. In other words, the angels couldn’t control her willpower. For the rescue mission to be successful, Lot’s family had their own role to play.

Many believers are ignorant of the power they have over their destinies. The angels had said to Lot’s family, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!”. Based on their instructions, Lot and his family had to choose, whether to run or be swept away by the fire. Even though, God plans to take you to another level, you would have to play your own part. Perhaps, what you need to do at this point of your life is to simply obey God. Do what God is asking you to do.

Prayer/Confession: Dear Lord, I am willing to do whatever You want me to do. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Genesis 19: 15-17; Matthew 9:9

Have you ever wondered why our eyes aren’t positioned at the back of our heads? Among other reasons, God placed our eyes on our faces so we can have the ability to move forward. If our eyes weren’t situated in front of our heads, we wouldn’t be able to advance. Therefore, we must realize that what we do with our eyes can either slow down or speed up our progress. If your eyes are fixed on what is behind you, would you know what is in front of you?

Moments before the city of Sodom was punished, the two angels who had been assigned with the task had hurriedly led Lot’s family out of the town and left them with a strange warning, “Don’t look back”. But Lot’s wife looked back and became a pillar of salt. Perhaps, her disobedience was due to an emotional attachment to a life she was leaving behind. Whatever her reasons might have been, she got stuck because she looked back. One of the consequences of dwelling on your past is immovability. She looked back into her past and lost the chance to get into a future that God had prepared for her. As you leave your past, don’t look back. 

Prayer/Confession: My eyes are fixed on the promises of God. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Genesis 19:15-26

Sometimes, the things we hold on to, are the very things that prevent us from moving forward. For instance, you can’t sleep on two beds at the same time. In order to use a new bed, you have to let go of the old one. Getting rid of the old bed may be necessary as you might not have enough space to keep the two beds in the same room. Equally, there may be things in your life that are currently occupying the space intended for the new things that God wants to bring into your life.

As Moses was leading the Israelites, he asked his brother-in-law, Hobab to accompany them so he could be their guide in the wilderness. Hobab answered, “No, I will not go; I am going back to my own land and my own people.” But Moses persuaded him, with promises of a better life. So, Hobab found himself in a tight spot: To forgo his past or embrace the promise? It is not clear whether Hobab agreed but it seems that he might have remained with Moses (Judges 1:16). To move forward, you might have to let go of some of the things you now cherish.

Prayer/Confession: I will move forward and let go of the past. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Numbers 10:29-33; Judges 1:16

After going through terrible experiences in the hands of Babylonians, God said to the people of Judah, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past”. But that wasn’t an easy thing to do. These were people who had been banished from their own country and had lost everything they owned. Yet, God wanted them to forget the past. Why would God ask them to do that? After telling the people to forget the past, God went on to say, “See, I am doing a new thing!”

When God is about to do a new thing in your life, He would expect you to lose your grip on the past. God knew that if the people of Judah didn’t forget their pain, they wouldn’t be able to see the promise. By not forgetting the bitter experiences, they would be unable to experience the joy that God was bringing into their lives. To experience the joy that God is bringing into your life, you have to forget the pain of yesteryears. In life, you can’t move forward and backward at the same time. Forget what happened in your past, make use of the present and wait on God’s promises.

Prayer/Confession: Father, thank you for replacing my pains with Your promises. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Isaiah 43: 18-19