Welcome to the month of August! It’s been a blessed year I must say and sure hope you have chosen to remain in covenant mode with all the developments in our world today. No matter what part of the world you live in, you don’t have to be an economic expert to know that there are economic struggles in most places. However, as children of the covenant and disciples of Jesus, we must never forget who we are, what we have and what we can do in Him. In Obadiah 1:17, which is our anchor scripture for the month reads; “But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.”
We see that the verse began with the word ‘But’ meaning that it is a departure from the judgement pronounced on people and the experience in Zion, which is the church of the living God according to Hebrews 12:22‑24,
will always be different. This should inform our expectations in the season that we are in. From the text, there are three things that we will enjoy in Zion which are;
- Deliverance. One of the things that the enemy loves to do is to hold people captive and keep them groping in darkness. Scriptures confirms and affirms our deliverance and I want to admonish that you read the following verses in the bible. (Colossians 1:13, Ephesians 2:1‑6, )
- Holiness. In spite of the moral decadence that pervades our world today, we have a different experience in Zion. Sin does not have dominion over us. We are the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). Isaiah 62:2 also says that “Gentiles shall see our righteousness”. The struggle with sin will not be the order of the day in Zion because of the price that has been paid.
- Possess your Possessions. Laying hold of our inheritance is our experience this season. Even though it is yours, you still must take it. This is the month where you just must go for what rightfully belongs to you in redemption. Ephesians 1:3 shows Paul expressing his appreciation to God for all the spiritual blessing that we have in Christ Jesus.
We need to realise that the enemy sometimes sits on what belongs to us by keeping us in a perpetual state of spiritual ignorance. That is why your prayers should centre around Ephesians 1:16‑21. This will help you to see and subsequently seize what rightfully belongs to you. Exposure usually precedes experience. That’s why Moses asked that they should spy the land of promise ahead of time in Numbers 13. It is God’s method to expose you to what he wants to give you. Beloved, Pray to See!
Possession of what belongs to us requires action. We will have to move with faith that words will become a reality in our lives. Pray like everything depends on prayer but work as though that is the key to possessing your possession. James 2:20 says that “faith without corresponding action is dead”.
Get ready to go with the presence and the power of God. His presence is the guarantee for victory. When God was with the children of Israel in battle, they won and took from the enemy what belongs to them. In Deuteronomy 3:22, we see Moses saying “You must not fear them, for the LORD your God himself fights for you”. Understand that God is for you and no one has the capacity to stop you from Possessing your Possessions.
I call you blessed!
CHILDREN’S CORNER
Understanding Prayer
Prayer means talking to God. When we wake up in the morning and when we want to sleep at night, we must pray to God. We pray to God to thank Him for what He has done for us. We pray to God to ask for forgiveness and ask for our needs. God always listen to us whenever we pray. No one is too young to
pray. Jesus taught us how to pray in Matthew 6:9‑13 (KJV)
Our Father which art in heaven Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
When you want to pray, thank God for yourself, daddy, mummy and your siblings. Ask God to bless mummy and daddy. Tell God to help you in school. Pray for your friends too. It is always good to pray.
DEVELOPMENT CORNER
Times and Seasons
I want you to imagine how Isaac must have felt when God instructed him to stay back in a land that had famine. Have you imagined it yet? Can you believe that he stayed and got to work (Gen 12; 1‑17). As Christians, I want us to know that we are not defined by the extenuating events in our environment; we work and walk with a force that can’t be reckoned with. If he did it for Isaac who reaped a hundred times over what he sowed, then he will surely do it for you. Yes, we find ourselves in a testing period; the current time is such that there is a tremendous increase in the prices of goods and services that one wonders where to turn to.
Turn to God
We are not defined by current times ‑ No! We are God’s children. We are made for more! This is our season of divine acceleration. So we shouldn’t let our spirit be dampened by the negativities in our surroundings. We will do our best with the assurance that God will rise for us. We will put ourselves to work knowing fully well that we serve a God that will cause times and seasons to favour us
BIBLICAL POETRY
Waiting to Accelerate
I trust in you
I believe in you
I am guided by your silence
I am lifted by your voice
I am in a place of peace
I am oddly reassured that you will come to my aid
I swirl around in eager celebration
I am waiting to become all that you want me to be.
But what does it mean to wait?
Well, it is like waiting on your diva friends to arrive.
It is like waiting for that food delivery to arrive.
It is like waiting for your ride to work to arrive.
You wait, believing that they will show up
You wait, believing that they will not disappoint
You wait, even when your restless and tired
It is a desire not to give up on the desired outcome.
What does it mean to wait on God
Hold on, one moment
Exactly the same as above, but with more grace. As you master the ability to wait on God you are growing mentally and emotionally. The waiting process redefines you spiritually, creating a greater sense of conviction and a physical stability that is hard to knock down. The waiting process looks like solitude That time to privately assess your situation Brainstorming, which leads way to clarity. That ability to be patient eliminates confusion.
When I wait on God I make requests with an expectant heart. I then go about my daily affairs knowing that he has heard me. Sometimes I even forget about the requests only remembering after it has been answered
that I received all that I prayed for.
In that waiting process, I hand it over to him confidently, Allowing my faith to guide me. When I am waiting, I am believing.
HEALTH CORNER
Breastfeeding:
The mutually beneficial bond between mother and baby
The natural and beneficial process that provides the best possible nutrition for infants is called breastfeeding. Breast milk contains all the necessary nutrients that a baby needs to grow and develop, including proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. It also contains antibodies that help protect the baby from infections and diseases, reducing the risk of illnesses such as ear infections, respiratory infections, and diarrhea. Breastfeeding has also been linked to a lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), as well as a reduced risk of obesity, asthma, and allergies as they grow.
Breastfeeding exclusively for six months is recommended. Breastfeeding should begin within the first hour of a newborn’s life and continue as often and as much as the baby desires, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The percentage of newborns in Nigeria who are exclusively breastfed is 29%, meaning that a staggering 71% of infants are not receiving the developmental advantages of breast milk throughout their early years.
Breastfeeding is not only beneficial for the baby but also for the mother. It helps the uterus to contract and return to its pre‑pregnancy size, therefore reducing the risk of postpregnancy bleeding and may lower the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, maternal heart disease, and stroke. Breastfeeding also promotes bonding between the mother and the baby and can help reduce stress and anxiety for both.
The Bible recognises the significance of nurturing infants and the intimate bond between mother and child. It can even be seen as symbolic of God’s love, which we learn from Isaiah 49:15 (NIV) “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!”
DID YOU KNOW?
FUN FACTS
You share your birth date with the same day as 20 million
people.
Very intelligent people are usually more lonely.
Elephants are the only animal to have four forward‑facing
knees.
It is impossible to look at a word without reading it.
Silent and listen are spelt with the same letters.
Bees are the only insect that produce food people can eat.
We wouldn’t be able to taste food without saliva.
You can only move your bottom set of teeth not the top.
The Ethiopian calendar is 7 years behind the world.
Your left lung is actually smaller than your right lung.
AWESOME BIBLE PUZZLE
Search words: Accelerate, Times, Season, Domain, Dogged, Harvest, Wealth
CLOSURE
God is committed to those who diligently seek him. We should keep it in mind that no matter what we are going through God is capable of providing a way out.
What we learnt in this month of acceleration
- He is YAHWEH. He exists all by himself. He doesn’t depend on anyone before he could be God.
- He is the creator of all the earth; the source of all things.
- He does not faint. He doesn’t get tired.
- His understanding is unsearchable. He knows whatever we are going through inside and out.
- He gives power to the weak. He helps those that come to him.
- He gives strength to those that trust or wait upon Him.
As we journeyed through July, it was expedient to meditate on the above qualities of God and trust him wholeheartedly. As we enter into this new month continue trusting in God, because he is able.
