Household gods.

Rachel the wife of Jacob was a favored woman, loved and desired and she was worth the whole world to her husband who was willing to go to the end of the world to secure her hand in marriage. Deception was not strong enough to discourage or make Jacob changed his mind about his heartthrob, Rachel. Jacob who later became Israel after his encounter with the God of Bethel did not brood or sit down to whine about being conned by Laban his uncle to marry Leah. His mind was made up, he was willing to give it whatever it takes to marry Rachel, the very impressive lady who had captured his heart.

Jacob must have introduced his God to both Leah and Rachel as well as their maids through whom Jacob had raised sons as well. As beautiful, loved and favored as Rachel was, she was the one who had a need to take along or better put, steal her father's household gods....Why you may wonder just as I do? That was what she was familiar with, known all her life, comfortable with. Rachel had to wait till her sister and rival Leah was done child bearing before God opened her womb. Even though she had associated the birth of Joseph to God's goodness to her, she still reverted to her household gods when she needed comfort for little things like journey mercies to an unknown land...

Rachel lacked true worship hence, her need to steal her father's God. Rachel called her first son Joseph, because she believed it was the Lord God who took away her reproach by giving her a son. She prophesied that the Lord was yet going to add to her another son. It is always very comforting, exciting and faith invoking when we get our prayer requests speedily. We make up songs, we prophesy and are quick to tell the whole world about this great God. However, after winning a victory, there will always be another one to be won and that is where rubber meets the road for a lot of us. Rachel who had experienced the blessing of the Lord, answer to her prayers, whose reproach had been taken away and expectantly awaiting the next big move of God had to take some sort of security, an assurance, guarantee or backup as she departed from her father's house. When you apply for a decent job, mega buck-paying, destiny transforming job, is there always a need to bring along your household gods of lies, embellishment or exaggeration? Will you unceremoniously dismiss your mother by telling her she can visit wherever she wants to visit to ask for a child on your behalf but you are going to church to pray,  indirectly giving her approval to solicit other gods on your behalf?

She needed something to keep her grounded and the big God will be too big to serve that purpose, it had to be her father's household gods that are used to charm or cast a spell on victims that will grant her journey mercies... Is God too big for certain issues in your life and you have to help yourself by seeking your household gods? Rachel successfully got away with it but not for long, her prophesy was about to be fulfilled because God had given her another son. Her deceit and idolatry ruined her chance of seeing her prophesy come to pass. Instead of rejoicing at her blessings, her expectation became truncated as she could only see sorrow in the place where God has given her joy and fulfilled expectation.

When we cling to the familiar and household gods of 'back up', "hidden agenda", human help and devices in whatever form, then we run the risk of polluting ourselves, our faith and therefore risking our expectation being cut short. If God has promised you something, you can be sure He will bring you to it or bring it to you. Household gods insult our big God. When you hold on in faith, God will order your steps and cause you to succeed in the seemingly big issues of life.

Get rid of every household god, look up for in God alone lies solution to every challenge.

When walking with God it is important to move away from the familiar, what you are used to and then hold on to the Invisible God that is Faith!

Blessings.

Too good to let go...

I was discussing with a friend about the impact of our actions on posterity. If you are a godly woman, happily married, you owe it to yourself, love for Christ and posterity to keep your home and make sure you do not stir up trouble in another woman's home. If a man tells you after X# of children you are still the best in the West, know it is sheer flattery. If you could not marry an individual when you were single, what business do you have befriending him as a married woman? If you give in to his pressure or any kind of pressure and have an affair, you are putting gravel in your mouth and guess what? The taste will bruise your palate.

Some relationships build us up, enhance the good things in us while some are out to destroy our wonderfully planned destiny.  Regardless of how much fun, adventure and flesh gratifying it appears, flee all appearance and similitude of evil. An affair can at the best provide temporary pleasure and possession but on the long run, you and your posterity will pay dearly for it. You may reap temporary benefits from having an affair but when you arrive at a point you never imagined you would ever attain, how do you then right this wrong against yourself? The seemingly big items that are making you run after someone else's husband will become common place and available in your life, just maybe you then become serious in your relationship with Christ, how then will you redeem your testimony?

"All things are lawful but not all things are expedient, all things are lawful but I will not be mastered by any". 1 Cor.6 12 KJV

If another woman's husband is flirting dangerously with you, make sure you spell it in clear terms that you are not interested in an affair, make sure you severe any link with what will get you and your family into a mess. Everything we do in life is a seed, you will harvest it not too far from now. Some girls/women do not have any intention of marrying a man, they just want to have an affair, an affair is a dark, secretive phenomenon that ruins home.

 If you are single today and dating other people's husband, a day might come when you meet the right man and you eventually settle down into a home, be careful lest your harvest come at that time, you can not be a lady forever...there will always be younger, prettier girls who will catch your husband's attention, they too will not marry him they will only take away your peace and marital bliss, giving you a dose of your own medication. Girls or women who have an affair are like those who go down to the stream to fetch water, they do not necessarily want to drink the water they just want to stir it up and make it undrinkable for others.

Proverbs 5:15 "Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well".

Flirting or having an affair with someone else's husband will only bring you shame and embarrassment, decency suggests that you be satisfied with your own spouse or wait for your own man.

Shalom!

Egyptians Are Men!

Busola sat on the balcony and watched the graduands come forward in twos for their hand shakes, from those who had completed their Ph.D, Masters and finally to Bachelors degree, it was such a beautiful sight to see. It was also very encouraging to see that these hardworking individuals have finally completed their programs. Such a day would have been a depressing moment for her before now, why you may wonder? She had experienced many challenges along the academic path and it was as if she operated in the realm of failure at the edge of success as regards academics. She had longed for the day she would finish her academic program and walk across the stage for a hand shake from the Chancellor and professors of her University.

She had the opportunity last year and it was as if a load had been taken off her chest, she can face other aspects of life without the constant nagging thought of being a failure... So also, in your case, that situation is temporal. The fear of whether God will do what He has promised to do "on time" makes us run around seeking help where it does not exist. You wonder and imagine the worst case scenario about your particular situation. "Will God do it? What if He does not do it?, Is God testing me?" God does not test us with evil. His earnest desire is that we have all things that we need to make our lives glorify His holy name. If you are in a challenging situation and you do not seem to know the way out, remember a bunch of people have experienced a similar or much more challenging situation before...

"The Children of Israel had heard from the Lord and they can see their chosen leader Moses, he had squared off with Pharaoh and his magicians and without any doubt God was with His people. As a matter of fact, God had visited Egypt in His sore displeasure capping it up with the death of every first born through out the land of Egypt. Without any doubt God was leading them and taking them to the promise land. Well, Israel was boxed in literally caught between the red sea and the choicest of Pharaoh's army.

I can only imagine the looks and expressions on the faces of the people when they saw the Egyptian army closing in on them with no other route to escape. God made a high way on the sea, a miracle that has never been replicated afterwards. Exodus 14:13 KJV

"And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever".

That settled it, every Egyptian you see today you shall see them no more in your situation. Perhaps they may say we will pursue, then Exodus 14:23

"And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen." Well, the result was that they perished totally. Every stubborn enemy that wants to persist in the face of your victory shall perish in Jesus name. Walk into this week assured of the word of the Lord that cannot fail knowing that Egyptians are men and will perish at the Word of the Lord.

Becoming: A function of Diligence

BECOMING, a function of Diligence

God has deposited in each one of us the seed of greatness, we can nurture it and let it grow, we may decide to complain about why others are achieving greatness or give excuses about not having ample opportunities to be great. Whatever we decide to do, we will live with the consequence.

Greatness is not achieved on the couch of excuses, complaints or endless whining. Life will never give you what you deserve but what you decide to accomplish. Every successful marriage, career or ministry is borne out of hard work, dedication and commitment. The many offenses that you are not willing to forgive or overlook will continue to serve as your point of vulnerability. The enemy knows how to keep pressing your button of vulnerability to get you to sin or truncate your destiny.

In order to become what God has destined you to become you have to work with Him in the process, do your bit and allow Him to do His bit...Proverbs 22:29 KJV
"Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men"

It is easy to wish away challenges, but everyone who will stand out must be willing to put in the effort required. Proverbs 12:24 KJV
"The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute"

God's expectation is that we will each achieve success in all areas of ourlives and we can when we choose to believe Him, His Word and the ability He has given us. Receive inner strength to achieve God's purpose for you and fulfill destiny.

Enslaved By Whims?

When I was a lot younger, I used to long for the time I will grow up and be able to do whatever I like...Whenever there was a birthday in those days, you get a piece of cake and if there is still any left after the party, it is shared and everyone in the house gets a piece. Cake used to be so yummy in those days, I recall I used to dream of a time when I will eat a whole birthday cake by myself...

 

Well, the opportunity presented itself recently during my birthday, I had a big slab of cake, begged people to take enough home with them. After the party there was still so much left that I wondered what to do with it... it was mine, my cake, a whole big cake, but I could not eat more than a piece. So what happened to the desires of those days? Well, if I tried eating as much as I desired in those days, I might end up being sick, never mind that those kind of foods do not just melt away after consumption but they find their way around my waistline!

 

A scripture came to my mind as I prepared for the week; 1 Corinthians 6:12 The Message
^"Just because something is technically legal doesn't mean that it's spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I'd be a slave to my whims".

 

There is no crime in eating as well as stuffing your face endlessly. Ensuring you get a taste of every menu item at a party is perfectly in order but is it appropriate? Buying, window shopping, pressurizing yourself or spouse over the latest "this and that" may make you feel you belong in the league of the big shots but does it add value to you? Going on vacation while maxing your credit card to do it may make others look at you as if you have arrived but what benefit is that to you? If it is new and available you must have it, fair enough but why do you attach your joy to possessing everything that you can find?

 

What club do you belong to by virture of the fact that God has blessed you and you can afford whatever you want? Maybe this class or club make you feel like a god/goddess and you attach little or no importance to the value of your househelp because you pay them to work for you?

 

It is permissible to look through your spouse's contact details on their phone but do you really need to upset yourself unnecessarily by suspecting every unfamiliar name on that list as a possible affair partner. Everyone who smiles at your handsome husband or pretty wife wants them you daily conclude...All things are lawful, you have a right, you can buy whatever, you can eat whatever, dress as you like even if your comely parts are exposed...

 

Why do you not constantly weigh the purpose of the endless conversations that leave you drained and feeling guilty? Break the hold of indulgence in every area of your life, ask for grace to discipline yourself instead.

 

As  you go into a new week, consider things that are purposeful, advantageous,beneficial and edifying. If it does not build you up perhaps you do not need to pursue it. Do not become enslaved by your whims.

 

May it be a glorious week in your life and mine in Jesus name.