When I stepped into his room, I was forced to ask whether he came to law school or if he had another agenda. What did I see? He came with different types of colourful footwear. I was wondering what it was for.
By that weekend, I did not need to ask any further questions. The man with the colourful shoes found a nightclub to visit, stayed all night, and had fun. Please note that it was his first time in the city also. I was surprised.
It is a shame that a Christian would be new in a place and it would be so hard to discern their values. Why are you disguising? Why are you hiding? From the first meal in the palace at Babylon, the values of Daniel were not in doubt.
“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore, he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”
Daniel 1:8 NKJV
It is surprising to find out that it takes a Christian many weeks to find a church in a new location. It is surprising that some do not even make any attempt at all. That was not how Paul and Silas lived.
“From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. On the Sabbath, we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.”
Acts 16:12-13 NIV
Why is it so hard for you to find a church or even a company of believers? We are preserved in companies. We find strength in companies. Daniel needed the company of other believers.
“Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,”
Daniel 1:11 NIV
They held on to their values together. It strengthened their faith.
“Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.”
Daniel 1:12 NIV
And in the day of trouble, they could also hold hands in prayer and get answers from the Lord.
“Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.”
Daniel 2:17-18 NIV
Please, what are you passionate about? If someone has colourful shoes for nightclubbing, where are your own shoes for the gospel? If someone can find a nightclub on his first weekend in a new city, why are you staying home instead of finding a church? What is your excuse, beloved disciple of Jesus?
TemilOluwa Ola, Eruwa
Thank you for receiving God’s Word. To explore books and resources by Pastor temilOluwa Ola, please visit 👇
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I just found this beautiful reminder in the Bible.
Exodus 14:14 says:
“The LORD Himself will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to stop stressing. Stay calm, pray and trust God.
If this verse is for you today, comment “Be still.”
According to the mother: This happened today at around 4:00am. My son woke up saying his chest was hurting and that he needed to see a doctor. Normally I try to avoid rushing to the hospital because I know how he can be, but this time I decided to take him anyway.
On the way there he actually fell asleep, and for a moment I even thought of turning back. But something told me to keep going, so I drove straight to casualty at Groote Schuur Hospital.
Nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to witness in the next two hours.
About two hours later, a woman came rushing into casualty screaming in a way that cuts straight through your heart. She was carrying her little daughter, who looked about 7 or 8 years old. The pain in that mother’s cry was something I will never forget.
Doctors rushed to help, and after a few minutes they came back and told the mother that her daughter was gone.
The mother let out the most heartbreaking scream. Everyone in that casualty fell silent.
But then something incredible happened.
Instead of collapsing, the mother suddenly started praying loudly.
“Lord remember me! Lord remember me! It’s me your servant. I have served you faithfully. You are not a man that you should lie!”
At that moment I found myself sitting there crying, and I didn’t even realise when I started praying with her. She began praying in tongues, and I joined in.
About an hour and a half later, the doctors came back again. The mother saw them and immediately asked, “Is she alive?”
And the doctor said something I will never forget:
“Yes… we’re preparing a bed for her in ICU.”
The entire room froze.
The mother screamed again, but this time it was different. She started thanking God, shouting “Jesus, you are faithful!”
What amazed me even more is that she didn’t run to go see her daughter immediately. She stayed there for another hour, still praying and thanking God.
All I can say is this: I recommend Jesus. I truly do.
Because today, with my own eyes, I witnessed something that felt like a miracle — the power of prayer.
There’s probably only a 1% chance that woman will ever read this, but if she does, I want her to know that she changed my life today.
I will never forget this day.
SOURCE: Missing
Psalm 143:8 GNT
[8] Remind me each morning of your constant love, for I put my trust in you. My prayers go up to you; show me the way I should go.
https://t.co/dgz2qhgmbh
Ecclesiastes 12:13 GNT
[13] After all this, there is only one thing to say: Have reverence for God, and obey his commands, because this is all that we were created for.
https://t.co/j3meYNTZk2
Philippians 4:13 AMPC
[13] I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].
https://t.co/TGj8li472D
II Corinthians 9:8 NKJV
[8] And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
https://t.co/9EEoiBIVyV
Hebrews 12:1 NKJV
[1] Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
https://t.co/NgY0x6I185
Proverbs 18:10 AMPC
[10] The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the [consistently] righteous man [upright and in right standing with God] runs into it and is safe, high [above evil] and strong.
https://t.co/OljIbU0VNh