“They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed” (Psalms 34:5)
God is everything for anyone to prosper. He is the source of all blessings, hence our major need for our needs to be met. Just as David resolved to look unto Him (Psalms 121:1), we are also encouraged in Hebrews 12:2 to keep our eyes fixed on Him.
“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)
In the passage above, Apostle Paul highlights why we must keep our focus on the Lord—He is both the Author and the Finisher of our faith. When facing challenges, don’t look elsewhere. Fix your gaze on Jesus. Remember, it was when Peter took his eyes off Jesus that he began to sink (Matthew 14:30). As long as you remain focused on God, you will rise above and stay on top of your circumstances.
The opening scripture reminds us: “They looked unto Him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.” (Psalms 34:5). Who are you looking to for blessings? Which direction are you facing for your promotion? Keep in mind, the people in positions of power cannot save you from your financial troubles (2 Kings 6:27). Your spouse or doctor is not the answer to your barrenness (Genesis 30:2). Even the most skilled physicians may not have a solution to your condition (Mark 5:26). Jesus is the answer to your problems. From this moment therefore, make a resolution like David—to focus solely on God. He will not only bring light to your face, but He will also ensure that you are not put to shame.
“…..that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified” (Isaiah 61:3b).
Among all the kingdoms of living organisms, God has chosen plants to symbolize His people. Isaiah 5:7 describes the men of Judah as God’s “pleasant plant,” and in Isaiah 61:3, God refers to His people as “the trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD.”
While the animal kingdom may seem more advanced in evolutionary terms, God’s choice of the plant kingdom was not an attempt to reorder the classification of living things or to diminish humanity’s place in creation. Instead, He used the plant to teach us the profound connection between dedication, commitment, and fruitfulness.
Psalm 92:13 states: “Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.”
To be planted means to remain steadfast. Have you ever seen a plant move? No! While plants can actually exhibit certain movements as living, they are immobile. Wherever you find a tree today, that’s where it will remain tomorrow. This is what dedication to God looks like—steadfastness. It’s not about shifting from the living God to false gods, but about staying committed to the One who sustains us.
I am confident that God will bless us this year, but the key to that blessing lies in our commitment to remain (DWELL) in Him. David, in Psalm 23:6, said: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
To be dedicated to God means being firmly planted in His presence. This is what guarantees fruitfulness and a glorious future. Jesus said in John 15:5: “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” Only by being committed and connected to Him can we draw life from Him.
Beloved, as Ecclesiastes 9:4 reminds us: “To him that is joined to all the living, there is hope.” Make the decision this year to be planted in the house of the LORD, and you will flourish (Psalm 92:13). Do not detach from Jesus, the Vine. Stay connected, and you will remain fruitful and ever-green. Remain dedicated to God, and you will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, bringing forth fruit in its season. The Scripture further promises that your leaf shall not wither, and whatever you do shall prosper (Psalm 1:3).
Until you become part of a stable kingdom and commit yourself to that Kingdom connection, fruitfulness will be out of reach. Stay connected to the source (God), and you will remain blessed.
“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars” (.2 Chronicles 16:9).
The eyes of the Omnipresent God are upon all who set their eyes on Him, trusting in His mercy rather than their own merits (Psalms 33:18-20). Beloved, it is by God’s mercy that we are not consumed—not by any devices or strategies we create to protect ourselves. We are kept safe because God watches over us, not because of CCTV cameras mounted or night guards stationed around us (Lamentation 3:22-23)
It isn’t a bad thing to mount CCTV around you if you can afford it; but no matter the quality or resolution of the most advanced CCTV, it cannot compare to the watchful eyes of God. CCTV is a “closed-circuit television,” because it has a limited scope of broadcast, but as 2 Chronicles 16:9 declares: “The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward Him.” God’s eyes see everything, everywhere, at any time—providing surveillance and constant monitoring.
You can have as many security officers as you can; but no matter how armed or vigilant a watchman might be, without God, their efforts are in vain due to their human limitations and frailties. As the Scripture reminds us: “Except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain” (Psalm 127:1).
Beloved, God not only has an all-encompassing view of everything, He is present everywhere and sees everything ahead of time as the Omniscient God. With such abilities, He can protect you, your family, your loved ones, and everything under your care including your business centres and your material possessions—wherever they are. However, to experience this divine protection, you must reverence God, and your heart must be aligned with Him. This is why Isaiah 26:3 says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
Beyond protection, the eyes of the Lord are also watching to bless those whose hearts are right with Him. Understanding this should encourage us to stop eye-service and live righteously and faithfully, wherever we are. God sees our actions, and His eyes are ever upon us, recording everything we do.
May you be blessed as you live in the awareness of God’s constant presence.
“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover.” — *H. Jackson Brown Jr* .
The quote above encourages us to take risks and embrace opportunities rather than staying in our comfort zones. Even the Bible says, ” *Woe to them that are at ease in Zion…” (Amos 6:1).* The idea is that, looking back in the future, we may regret the things we didn’t try—our missed opportunities—more than the mistakes we made or the challenges we faced.
The things you didn’t attempt will weigh on you more than the things you tried. So, set aside your fears, break free from the familiar and embrace new adventures. Let go of the security of the “safe harbor,” take action, step out of your comfort zone, and explore the opportunities life offers.
God continually calls people every day for different purposes, always with the aim of blessing us. Out of His love and concern, He is calling you today. The question is: Will you heed His voice? (Deuteronomy 28:1)
TO SALVATION
Genesis 7:1 “And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.” Note: Jesus is the Ark for eternal salvation.
Benefits of Salvation:
Escape from destruction unto Eternal Life (John 3:16)
New life (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Relationship with God (Revelation 3:20)
God invites you to salvation—an opportunity to escape eternal destruction and experience a transformed life through a relationship with Him.
FOR SANCTIFICATION
2 Corinthians 6:17 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”
Benefits of Sanctification:
A change from story to glory (Exodus 32:26) “Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’S side? Let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.”
Background of Levi:
Genesis 49:5 – Simeon and Levi were once known for cruelty, but when they chose to be set apart, their story changed.
Numbers 3:6 – The tribe of Levi was called to serve God in the temple.
Numbers 8:14 – God called the Levites to be His, setting them apart for a special purpose. The tribe became the FIRSTBORN chosen by God.
Sanctification is God’s invitation to separate ourselves from the world’s influences and be consecrated to His service, transforming our story from disgrace to glory.
TO SERVICE
Mark 1:17 “And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.”
Benefits of Service:
Blessing in every area of life (Exodus 23:25) “And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.”
God calls us to serve Him, and in doing so, we experience His provision for healing, protection, and blessings.
TO SATISFACTION
John 6:35 “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”
John 7:37 “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”
Benefits of Satisfaction:
Power over shame and dryness (Jeremiah 31:14) “And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD.”
Abundant provision and fulfillment (Joel 2:26) “And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.”
Jesus offers true satisfaction—where every thirst and hunger of our soul is completely fulfilled.
TO SOLUTIONS
Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Benefits of this call:
Rest and Peace Jesus invites you to come to Him for rest and peace. No matter the burdens you carry, He offers solutions, freedom from anxiety, and restoration of your soul.
JESUS IS THE ANSWER FOR THE WORLD TODAY.
God’s invitation is clear: He is calling you to salvation, sanctification, service, satisfaction, and solutions. Will you accept His call?
There is no place that is truly unsafe if God’s presence is there. Safety is not the absence of danger but the presence of God. Wherever a child of God goes and finds God ahead, that place is secure (Psalm 23:4).
WHY MUST GOD GO AHEAD?
He is the way. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no one comes to the Father except through Me.”
He doesn’t just show the way; He knows the way. He is the safe way, navigating even through danger zones (2 Kings 6:9-10).
He clears the way and makes the crooked path straight with His fire. Psalm 97:3 says, “A fire goes before Him and burns up His enemies around Him.” HOW DO I PUT HIM AHEAD?
Humility Proverbs 3:6-7: “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil.”
Wait on God for instructions Isaiah 40:31
Commit your way to Him in prayer Psalm 37:5: “Commit your way to the LORD; trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.”
Hear Him through His Word Psalm 105:20
Allow His Holy Spirit to guide you Romans 8:14: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” BENEFITS OF PUTTING GOD AHEAD
Safety
Direction
Fulfillment/Fullness Study Cases
Naomi went without God and returned empty (Ruth 3).
Jacob went with God, encountered Him at Bethel, and returned with God’s fullness (Genesis 30:30): “For it was little that you had before I came, but it has increased into a multitude; and the LORD has blessed you since my coming. Now, when shall I provide for my own house also?”
CONCLUSION Give the Shepherd of your soul full control to lead you this year and beyond. David said, “I have set the LORD always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved” (Psalm 16:8). Always put Him ahead, and you will never be moved.
“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise” (Ephesians 5:15)
“Walking in 2025” is the best exercise!!! 🚶🏽 🚶🏽 🚶🏽 🚶🏽 🚶🏽 🚶🏽 🚶🏽 🚶🏽
Walk Away 🚶🏽 from arguments that leads you to nowhere but anger.
Walk Away 🚶🏽 from people who deliberately put you down.
Walk Away 🚶🏽 from people who can’t impact your life positively.
Walk Away 🚶🏽 from drugs, drinks and foods that can affect your health.
Walk Away 🚶🏽 from statements capable of bringing misunderstanding between you and other people.
Walk Away 🚶🏽 from things that can put you in trouble.
Walk Away 🚶🏽 from Negative thinking and think positively.
Walk Away 🚶🏽 from unnecessary arguments with your spouse and build a good home.
Walk Away 🚶🏽 from bad advisers that can make you misbehave.
Walk Away 🚶🏽 from relationship that is not helpful.
Walk Away 🚶🏽 from religion that is not leading you to God’s presence.
Walk Away 🚶🏽 from things that will make you become a perpetual liar.
Walk Away 🚶🏽 from any thought that reduces your worth.
Walk Away 🚶🏽 from failures and fears that stiffle your dreams.
Walk Away 🚶🏽 from people who do not care for you and who are opportunistic.
The more you Walk Away 🚶🏽 from things that poison your soul, the happier your life will be.
Walk Away 🚶🏽 from SIN and all appearances of evil.
Give Yourself A Walk🚶🏽 Towards love, peace, righteousness, kindness and goodness.
The happiness you can get anywhere is with you.
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful” (Psalms 1:1)
Give Yourself A Walk🚶🚶 to God’s house/presence and worship Him in Spirit and Truth . May God help us daily to walk in the right direction; walking towards Him and with Him. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
Let’s do more walking this new year 2025 It shall be well with our souls IN JESUS NAME.
Song : Jesus conquered the world and gave us victory Victory (2x) Hallelujah
1 Corinthians 15:55 ” O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”
On the evening of this Tuesday (3 days ago), I was busy compiling the list of my graduating students in the School of Disciples (SOD), unaware that one of them had already graduated to join the cloud of witnesses and be with the Lord.
I won’t pretend—it was a great shock when I received the news of her passing. I was compelled to drop everything I was doing. Questions began to race through my mind, but before I could utter any, the Spirit of God quickly reminded me that the Lord is unquestionable . I would have wanted to know why it had to be now, especially when she was preparing for SOD graduation. And why the prayers offered for her healing weren’t answered…., and God closed my mouth. Hmmm… I decided to lean on the powerful message that Daddy G.O (Pastor E A. Adeboye) taught us in the School of Disciples to always use the greatest weapon in time like this: IT IS WELL!. We submit to your will oh Lord. Yes IT’S WELL! Christ gave us VICTORY over the sting of death.
Yet throughout the day at the office, memories of my dear disciple, Josephine Mary Ogbidikhe, kept flooding my mind, even as I tried to suppress my thoughts. I found myself repeatedly looking at her picture, and before I knew it, I had posted it on the school’s platform status. As a Christian, I knew I wasn’t devastated, but it deeply felt like someone very dear had left us, never to be seen again on this side of eternity. Josephine Mary is now with the Lord, waiting for the day when victorious disciples will join her. She came here, she fought a good fight, she finished her course and kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7). Actually in the School of Disciples of Christ here, she finished her course and performed creditably well before passing on, like a river flowing away and graduating onto Glory. I pray we will all fulfill the number of our days in Jesus’ name before leaving this stage.
Glory be to God. At the close of work yesterday on my way home, God gave me this word to share with you: Jesus has conquered the world, including the last enemy—death with it’s sting. Physical death can no longer hold any true child of God in the grave. The sting of death is gone forever, and no Christian will partake in the second death making the sting of the first and the second death of no effect. JESUS, our Captain and the Bridegroom of the Church gave us the VICTORY and we will NEVER be separated from Him eternally.
I extend my condolences to the body of Christ and especially to the family members of our beloved sister. May the Lord carry all of us through and bring us to the finish line. Let us take comfort in knowing that Sister Mary is forever free from the sting of death and is now at rest and sleeping.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”
Sleep on, beloved Disciple Josephine . We love you, but the Lord loves you more. Continue to rest in the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ till we meet again.
Finally, to all the friends of our dear sister Mary, SOD students of 2024/25 and the church: The church is marching on, and the gates of hell will not prevail. As we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, including Sister Josephine, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race set before us (Hebrews 12:1).
We will all finish well and strong in Jesus’ name.
Pst. Joshua Afolabi Coordinator, the School of Disciples, RCCG,OGUN 3
“I, Daniel, understood by books…” (Daniel 9:2). This statement affirms that men of books are men of great understanding. This is why the Apostle Paul requested his books and parchments (jotters):
“The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.” (2 Timothy 4:13)
Dear friends, a good book has the power to change your life in profound ways. Books provide a gateway to new perspectives, offering insights that can challenge your existing beliefs, expand your understanding, and foster personal growth. Whether through fiction or non-fiction, books can open your mind to different cultures, philosophies, and experiences, helping you develop empathy and a deeper understanding of the world around you.
Books by great authors, in particular, can inspire you to think critically, reflect on your life choices, and pursue your passions, ultimately leading to positive, lasting change. They can provide strategies for overcoming obstacles, improving mental health, or achieving personal goals. In general, reading good books exposes you to great minds, helping you to grow intellectually and spiritually. As the Bible says, “Study to show thyself approved” (2 Timothy 2:15).
We are not reading to pass, but to last. This implies that reading must be done effectively. But how do we read effectively? Reading without thinking is like swallowing meat without chewing. This way, you can’t ever enjoy its “taste”. Therefore, reasoning and writing are essential components of effective reading. When you read and jot down thoughts simultaneously, you foster reasoning. You will not know how much you understand until you write it out. Like Paul, you need parchments (jotters) for life transformation through books.
Reading good books is a privileged interview with great minds you may never meet and a personal research journey into the works others have laboured to gather. This is something we must do regularly. Personally, whenever I read books and take notes, I am always inspired to come up with greater ideas and brilliant write-ups. Reading builds me to build others. Certainly, only those who build themselves by reading can build others. No wonder it is said, “Readers are leaders.”
Believe me honestly, the next inspired book you read will undoubtedly change your life! You can’t remain the same after embarking on an adventure through a good book.
In this series on WHAT TO CHANGE THIS YEAR to foster growth and development, I have discussed A change of Raiment, A change of Mind, and A change of Attitudes over the past three days. Today, I will conclude the series with a focus on A Change of Strategy.
In Genesis 1:1-31, the same God who created every living being and declared them good also created man, calling him very good (v. 31). This signifies that God made deliberate and strategic progress in His creation.
You cannot continue doing the same thing in the same way and expect different results. No! It’s essential to pause, consider your way (Haggai 1:7), evaluate your approach and identify areas that need improvement. Adjustments must be made to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
Strategy is a plan of action designed to achieve a long-term goal, improving productivity and outcomes. The value of fresh strategies lies in their ability to adapt to changing circumstances, allowing for better results. Regular strategic moves foster innovation and creativity. God, for instance, didn’t repeat His initial method when creating Eve for Adam; He changed His approach and created a more wondrous being.
Brethren, what worked last year can work even more beautifully this year if you are open to applying new strategies. By utilizing innovative strategies, divine inspiration, and modern technologies, you can achieve better results in a more efficient manner, yielding greater comfort and productivity.
Dear friends, in our fast-paced world, new strategies are key to gaining a competitive advantage, sparking innovation, and fostering growth. They help individuals and organizations face challenges and seize opportunities that may not have been possible with outdated methods. Embracing new strategies allows you to stay ahead, improve efficiency, and reach long-term success.
Keep glowing! HAPPY SUNDAY
Read on the previous topics: https://pastorafolabi.cw.center/
