Your Refreshing Daily Devotional

Due to greed and warped mentality of some preachers, the mention of the word prosperity draws the ire of those who have little knowledge of God’s word. Regardless, the Bible is clear that God is excited when His people prosper. “Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favour my righteous cause; and let them say continually, ‘Let the Lord be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.” Psalm 35:27 NKJV. God is not averse to people prospering and living a decent life. There is nothing basically wrong with prosperity; it only becomes dangerous when the purpose is not known. That is when it becomes a trap to the soul.

Bogus words and dreams alone do not produce prosperity; it is when we can roll up our sleeves and engage in reasonable economic activities…Until you are doing some meaningful thing, God has nothing to bless.

Again, contrary to the misconception by any believers who leave their prosperity to merely prayer, we see from God’s word that it takes industry. In our text, Demetrius with his association of silver smelters  said, “by this craft we have our wealth”. Yes, God wants us to prosper, but it will come through acceptable channel. Bogus words and dreams alone do not produce prosperity; it is when we can roll up our sleeves and engage in reasonable economic activities. In the opening chapter of the book of Psalms, the writer praises the righteous. He compares him to the tree by the rivers of water and adds that whatsoever he does shall prosper. Until you are doing some meaningful thing, God has nothing to bless.

One morning after breakfast, Jesus turned to Peter and asked, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” It is not clear why Jesus singled out Peter. It could have been for the fact that he denied Him despite his avowed commitment before He went to the Cross. Perhaps, it was for the leadership role that Peter would assume after His ascension. Anyway, it is important to note that Peter replied affirmatively to every round of questioning; each of which was followed with the charge to feed the flock of Christ. From this, we notice that Peter received his purpose directly and openly from the mouth of Jesus.

…people distract themselves from their God-given purpose by becoming overtly concerned with what has been given to others…God would rather have you focus on what He has placed in your hands than being carried away with what others are doing. Distraction is a thief of purpose, and you must resist it.

In our previous meditation, we observed that people don’t find their purpose the same way. For instance, not everyone will have the privilege of hearing God’s direct voice to inform them of what they should do with their lives. Whether in a dramatic way or through serendipity, what is important is becoming clear of what God wants and pursuing it without distraction. Sometimes, people distract themselves from their God-given purpose by becoming overtly concerned with what has been given to others. Peter was about falling into this error when he asked what John’s purpose would be. God would rather have you focus on what He has placed in your hands than being carried away with what others are doing. Distraction is a thief of purpose, and you must resist it.

Different people discover their purpose in different ways. For some it came in a dramatic way as in having a vision or revelation. For some others it may just be through serendipity. This was the case with Major Dan Rooney. He served as Air National Guard pilot in the U.S army. In-between flights, he was also a PGA golf professional. He seemed to be enjoying the best of life when a chance event jolted him to a different mission. A grieving family who lost their son, Brock Bucklin, in combat had come to the airport to receive his remains which was carried by the same commercial flight Major Rooney had flown that day. Among the family members was Brock’s four year-old son. Compassion gripped his heart and he decided to do more for families of wounded or slain soldiers. He later told his wife of that encounter: “I have a different mission in life now; I am sure a higher power is guiding me.” That led to Folds of Honour, a nonprofit dedicated to providing scholarships and other educational assistance to the spouses and children of veterans who are disabled or were killed in action.

Different people discover their purpose in different ways…It makes sense to say that whatever or whoever touches your bowels of compassion might be purpose beckoning to you.

By the last count, Folds of Honour has awarded over 52,000 scholarships worth $244 million. In the context of our lead scripture for today, Rooney is spending his life seeking other people’s well-being. Life takes on an even deeper and richer meaning when attention shifts from self to helping others. The amazing work being done by this organization started with compassion. It makes sense to say that whatever or whoever touches your bowels of compassion might be purpose beckoning to you.

Mark gave an account of what happened as Jesus and the disciples were crossing the sea to the country of the Gadarenes. Jesus was at the stern of the ship, sleeping, when the disciples woke Him up because of the inclement weather confronting them. A number of lessons stand out from that account and not the least is the fact that storms have no respect for persons. Jesus had since been declared the Son of God by the Spirit of power and holiness. His identity had also been proven when He roundly defeated the devil in the wilderness temptation. Is it not curious, therefore, that storms will assail the boat in which He was being ferried?  It is typical of some believers when they experience rough weather to ask, “Why me?” If anyone was ever qualified to ask that question it was Jesus; but He never did.

…storms have no respect for persons…rough weather is most likely to occur when we are approaching a major mission…You don’t have to wait until you are engulfed with different storms. Take authority over them in the name of Jesus.

Secondly, rough weather is most likely to occur when we are approaching a major mission. Crossing the sea eventually led to a major deliverance of the mad man of Gadara. That man would later bring the entire Decapolis to the feet of Jesus. So, when things appear rough remind yourself that you might be at the verge of a major triumph. Finally, Jesus demonstrated what we should do when faced with challenging situation. He rose up to rebuke the storm! After that, He chided the disciples for their unbelief. That means He actually expected them to do what He eventually did to the storm. You don’t have to wait until you are engulfed with different storms. Take authority over them in the name of Jesus.

There is a world of difference between boundaries and barriers and we cannot afford to treat them the same way. I have come across people who love talking about breaking boundaries. They do that as a way of testifying to their conquering faith. The fact remains, however, that God creates boundaries and wants us to operate within them. While it is in order to break barriers, we must strive to keep the boundaries that God has set for us.

…things offered on a platter of gold must be rejected if they are beyond God’s boundaries for your life. Breaking barriers is victory; but breaking boundaries is transgression which may prove rather costly…The nest is our appointed boundaries, and staying there is for our safety.

It is not unlikely that in the pursuit of your life mission, the devil may mount roadblocks to slow you down or keep you from getting to the ultimate. Those are barriers that you need to break. On the other hand, things offered on a platter of gold must be rejected if they are beyond God’s boundaries for your life. Breaking barriers is victory; but breaking boundaries is transgression which may prove rather costly. Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, contrary to God’s commandment. In other words, they failed to keep divinely ordained boundaries. The consequence of that was the loss of their space in God’s garden. To a very large extent, a bird within its nest is safe from the fowler’s hand. The nest is our appointed boundaries, and staying there is for our safety.

We not only encounter joy in the presence of the Lord, strength also comes along. Elijah was completely depleted by the time he finished dealing with prophets of Baal on Mount Camel. To make the matter worse, he received a threat from Jezebel who promised to kill him within 24 hours. At that point he became suicidal. He later found his way to Horeb where things would take a dramatic turn. At Horeb, he heard the still small voice of God instructing him to go back to the city and anoint Hazael as king over Syria. Also, he was to anoint Jehu king over Israel while he would find a successor in Elisha the son of Shaphat. Having set everything in order, he cheated death and went to heaven by a whirlwind!

The regaining of strength and new thrust for ministry that Elijah enjoyed came from the still small voice of God…our future will always be traceable to the voice of God. Don’t let anything crowd out His voice from your life.

Several lessons can be gleaned from this story. Firstly, sometimes when we feel that it’s over, God may have many more exploits waiting for us in the wing. Elijah who had literally given up was seen with several miraculous acts afterwards. Secondly, the strength that he lost on one mountain was regained on another mountain. Mount Camel depleted him; but rejuvenation came to him on Mount Horeb, the mount of God. Finally, the still small voice of God will always make a difference. The regaining of strength and new thrust for ministry that Elijah enjoyed came from the still small voice of God. We may be surrounded by many a noise; but our future will always be traceable to the voice of God. Don’t let anything crowd out His voice from your life.