Welcome to the best half of the year 2023! I know for some of us, it’s been a roller coaster, while for some others it’s been a bit slow and some people are wondering if they will ever be able to meet their set goals. No matter what side of the divide you are, the second half will be characterised with greater speed in Jesus name!

One of the things that characterises the person of the Holy Spirit is speed and acceleration. When he came in Acts 2:2‑4, the sound was like a rushing mighty wind. The word rushing signifies the speed dimension of the Holy Spirit. In Genesis 2:10‑15, the bible speaks of a river that divided into four heads and one of the heads is called Hiddekel which means RAPID in English. The river is one of the symbols of the Holy Spirit.

From all the above, we can deduce that the main key to speed and acceleration in our lives is the person of the Holy Spirit. Our result ought to be supernatural as people of his presence!

Seeing the rate of change and the speed of technological advancement in our world today is a pointer to what is happening in the realm of the spirit. Dear reader, do you understand what you are reading? Acceleration is God’s programme and plan for us! I want to encourage you to make a practice of the following things in order to enjoy the speed dimension that is embedded in the Holy Spirit;

• Recognise his presence in your life.
  One of our privileges as New Testament believers is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in our life (John. 14:16‑17). Being consistently conscious of the presence of the Holy Spirit is how we practice his presence and that guarantees speed.
• Spend time in corporate and personal prayers. Prayers is one of the greatest activators of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The apostles experience in Acts 2 was promised on Acts 1:14 where they were praying at the upper room. Prayer activates and sustains the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Elijah in 1 Kings 18 gives an example of how he got the hand of God to rest on him.
• Ponder persistently on his precepts. Every time we meditate on the word of God, we interact with the spirit of the author who is the Holy Spirit. When we ponder or meditate on his word, we get transformed (2 Corinthians 3:18, Psalms 1:2‑3, Joshua 1:8). Illumination comes in the place of pondering on God’s word and that effectively creates speed.

As you travel the journey of the next six months, your rate of impact and multiplication will be at the speed of the Holy Spirit.

CHILDREN’S CORNER

The Act of Giving

Giving means providing something you own to someone else because you appreciate the person or because you love the person. Our best example in this context is our father in heaven, God. He gave us his only Son, Jesus Christ, because he loves us (John 3:16 NKJV).

The Bible also states that “… for God loves a cheerful giver.”
(2 Corinthians 9:7 NKJV). The Bible is full of examples and instructions related to giving. Childhood is the best time to start the principle of being charitable. Giving can reintroduce friends and family to the importance of generosity. Knowing someone who gives to charity can be a way of introducing yourself to giving to charity. By giving to charity, you may well be helping to remind friends and family of causes they themselves are passionate about and would like to support.

Why giving is important to God

• We Worship God by Our Giving
• Our giving allows God to act on our behalf
• Our Giving Creates Moments Of Unlimited Blessings

DEVELOPMENT CORNER

Check and Balances
It seems just like yesterday when we were ushered into the New Year. Now, here we are starting the second half of the year. Time flies so fast. I remember we discussed making actionable and realistic plans, having an accountability partner and conducting periodic checks.

Here are my questions

• Have you been diligent with your set goals?
• Have you ticked off anything in your 2023 to‑do list?
• When was the last time you checked if the steps (actionable
  plans) you have been taking are in line with your desired goals?

The essence of conducting checks periodically is to ensure you’re on the right path. To ascertain whether you’ve deviated from your set goals. To bring you back to the very beginning. When you conduct checks, you are reminded of the reason you made tha goal in the first place.

Checks are your call to focus!

A call to focus despite the negativities in the surrounding; the challenging situation of the country. Do you remember that saying “heaven helps those who help themselves”? It starts with you reducing the noise (negative external factors) around you and focusing on your goals. Conduct that check today and you’ll definitely reclaim your balance.

BIBLICAL POETRY

Believing in More

You stand here screaming at the top of your voice,
Made for More.
But are you truly ready?
Do you have what it takes to believe?
To have faith in a path never taken.
To have unwavering believe in a future,
you are still trying to visualise with detail.
Does your faith vibrate as loud as your voice?
Does your faith see through the unseen?
Does your faith remain unswayed
by words of discouragement from others?
Because people will tell you to think
with your mind and not your heart.
People will tell you be careful,
give it more time, delay on signing.
People will try advice you to walk
on the path taken by others, but
They won’t know, what you know.
They won’t see, what you see.
They won’t understand a message
God encrypted for only you to understand

They will not get it,
But will you be strong enough to move
ahead in what feels like the dark?
Would you have what it takes to
keep your focus on the dim light?
A light that only gets brighter as your faith grows deeper.
A light that needs you to believe before it can shine brighter

Believing in More is a constant battle
You must choose daily to shake off doubt
You must take time to pray for your choice to result in success
You must decide that your story will be different.
You must decide to believe.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,
The convictions of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

HEALTH CORNER

From Darkness to Light: Prioritising Mental Health in Daily Life

Mental health affects cognition, perception, and behavior and is not limited to emotional, psychological, and social
well‑being. It also influences how we respond to stress, how we interact with others, and how we make decisions. Early signs of mental health problems include sleep deprivation, low energy, improper diet, suicidal or other thoughts. In 2019, 1 in 8 people worldwide suffer from mental disorders, which is 970 million. An estimated 50 million Nigerians, or one in four, are said to be suffering from a mental disease.

There are more than 200 types of mental health disorders: anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, eating disorders, obsessive‑compulsive disorder (OCD), post‑traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Schizophrenia, etc.

Let’s take a moment to look closer at three mental health disorders:

• Depression is a common mental condition that leads to constant sadness, hopelessness, and disinterest in
  enjoyable activities. It affects relationships, work, and self‑esteem.
• PTSD is caused by trauma; it can cause intrusive memories, flashbacks, nightmares, and emotional distress. It impairs daily life and relationships.
• OCD is an anxiety disorder characterised by recurrent intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions). People with OCD ma  engage in rituals or routines to alleviate the distress caused by obsessive thoughts.

Centers for Mental Health in Nigeria includes Federal Neuro‑ Psychiatric Hospitals in Calabar, Maiduguri, Enugu, Kaduna and Kwara. In addition to the Federal Neuro‑Psychiatric Hospital, some Nigeria universities teaching hospitals also have psychiatric units. For instance, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, University College Hospital Ibadan, Teaching Hospital Complex Ile‑Ife, University of PortHarcourt Teaching Hospital, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. It is of great value for a person suffering from mental health to be reminded that they can find solace and peace through prayer and trust in God’s comforting presence

“Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear light.“ Matthew 11:28‑30 (TPT)

DID YOU KNOW?

• Dentistry is the oldest profession in the world.
• There are more twins now than ever before.
• France is the world’s most visited country.
• Indonesia is home to some of the shortest people in the world.
• Four babies are born every second.
• Japan is the world’s most earthquake‑prone country.
• Only two countries use purple in their national flag; Nicaragua and Dominica.
• Tokyo is the world’s largest city with 37 million inhabitants.

AWESOME BIBLE PUZZLE

Find the name of the Bible of throughout this puzzle.

CLOSURE

The impact of being anointed can never be overemphasised. The discussion on the importance of anointing on every child of God cannot be over flogged; because it is the anointing that makes the difference.

Every profession, career path, business, trade, service, and
product already had people thriving and leaders in the industry before you joined. However, it is the anointing that makes you different, special, unique, stand‑out amidst peers and seniors.

When Saul was anointed, he operated in a dimension he never did before. David was anointed and he began to do great exploits. Solomon was anointed and his kingship was second to none. Jesus was anointed and He went about doing good, healing the sick, and raising the dead.

There is an uncommon atmosphere that follows an anointed person and whatever the person touches excels. In this season, we absolutely need the anointing for us to do great exploit and work in the M.O.R.E. God has planned for us.