Quote for the Day 01Dec2010

This last month of the year, the Lord will do miracles that will make you forget your painful past disappointment, shame, ridicule and failure in Jesus' name. - Bayo Afolaranmi

Quote for the Day 30Nov2010

You cannot change the past, but you will ruin the present by worrying about the future. - Our Daily Bread

Quote for the Day 29Nov2010

If you are preoccupied with your past, ask God to open your eyes to the incredible future that awaits you and begin to press on to what is ahead. - Henry Blackaby

GOD MIGHT HAVE DONE IT!

Dearly Beloved,
GOD MIGHT HAVE DONE IT!
“Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24 NIV).
“Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognised Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!’ ‘You're out of your mind,’ they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, ‘It must be his angel.’ But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished” (Acts 12:13-16 NIV).
As my seven-year-old adopted son was leading us in a prayer during our family morning devotion recently, he made mention of a prayer point that amused me, but at the same time made me to ponder on our attitude to God when we are unknowingly asking for what He has already given us. My son said inter alia, “Lord, let Daddy return safely from his journey.” He was referring to a journey that I made some days before that day. Undoubtedly, the family had been praying for my safe journey when I was away on the journey. However, this boy had forgotten that I had returned safely from the journey a day before he said the prayer. The answer to his prayer was with him at that prayer session!
Some believers in the early church had similar experience in Acts 12. King Herod was persecuting the Christians. He killed James, the brother of John. When he saw that the Jews were pleased by action, he went ahead to arrest Peter and put him in prison with the intention of killing him after the Jewish feast. However, the Christians prayed fervently for Peter. God did answer their prayer and miraculously rescued Peter from the prison. Peter went straight to the place where he knew the brethren would be gathering praying for him. When he knocked the door, on recognizing his voice, the joy that the girl that came to open the door had did not let her open the door. She went back to inform the others but they said in total ignorance and unbelief that she was out of her mind. They did not realize that God had done what they were asking Him to do.
On many occasions, we also act like that innocent boy and the Jerusalem brethren: we continue to ask God for what He has done for us. Only if we can have faith and be vigilant, God has answered most of our prayers. I believe that the promise of Isaiah 65:24 is also for this generation.
As this year is running to an end, what have you been asking God that you think He has not done for you? Have you ever looked attentively around you to see whether God has answered your prayer? Who knows, He might have done it!
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 27Nov2010

Forgive those who have injured you - not because they deserve your forgiveness, but because you can never be happy until you release your anger and grant forgiveness. - Author Unknown

Quote for the Day 26Nov2010

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. - Melody Beattie

Quote for the Day 25Nov2010

It is easy to be thankful for the good things. A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks. Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive. Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings. - Debra Cummings

Quote for the Day 25Nov2010

It is easy to be thankful for the good things. A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks. Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive. Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings. - Debra Cummings

Quote for the Day 24Nov2010

If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area of his life. - Billy Graham

Quote for the Day 23Nov2010

Our prayers ascend to heaven’s throne regardless of the form we use; our heavenly Father always hears His own regardless of the words we choose. - D. De Haan

Quote for the Day 22Nov2010

When you are tempted to compare your success in life to that of another, ask God to remind you of all the ways He has blessed you undeservedly. - Henry Blackaby

A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD

Dearly Beloved,

A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1 NIV).

Let me base my weekly devotional message for this week on the history behind another popular hymn. The hymn is titled “A mighty fortress is our God!” Martin Luther (1483–1546) faced many years of trials and persecution after posting his ninety-five theses on the door of Wittenberg’s Castle Church in October 1517. During the years of the ensuing Protestant Reformation, Luther came to know the gracious power of God’s sheltering hand. He confidently stepped forward to defend the truth he found in God’s Word, despite excommunication from the Roman church, continual threats to his life and freedom, and times of intense spiritual battle. In the comforting words of Psalm 46, Luther found the inspiration for this hymn that would become the battle cry of the Protestant Reformation. Many who suffered for their faith during that time found solid comfort in Luther’s words of faith and praise. “A mighty fortress is our God!”
God is indeed a mighty fortress to all who trust in Him. No matter what one may be passing through, God is an ever-present help that will indeed help and makes one to pass through the circumstance successfully.
Do you see God as your mighty fortress? Do you run to Him in your distress? He promises in Psalm 50:16, “...call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honour me” (NIV. See also Psalm 90:15; Jeremiah 33:3; Matthew 7:7; James 5:13; 1 Peter 5:7). He is indeed the mighty fortress, the ever-present help in trouble.
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).


NB
This is to inform you all that another website has been created for the collections of all the prayer text messages (SMS) I have been sending to people for almost four years. The website will be updated every week as I send the mostly weekly SMS to people. However, if you want to be receiving the periodic prayer SMS, send your mobile phone number to me at spiritualdigest@yahoo.com or spiritualdigest@gmail.com.

Quote for the Day 20Nov2010

Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of cowering before them, we could make up our minds to walk boldly through them. - Orison Swett Marden

Quote for the Day 19Nov2010

Extraordinary people survive under the most terrible circumstances and they become more extraordinary because of it. - Robertson Davies

Quote for the Day 18Nov2010

Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent. - Marilyn vos Savant

Quote for the Day 18Nov2010

Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent. - Marilyn vos Savant

Quote for the Day 17Nov2010

While others are sitting, you should be standing; while they are standing, you should stand out; and when they stand out, you should be outstanding. - EA Adeboye

Quote for the Day 17Nov2010

While others are sitting, you should be standing; while they are standing, you should stand out; and when they stand out, you should be outstanding. - EA Adeboye

Quote for the Day 16Nov2010

Your yesterday is your Curriculum Vitae, but however beautiful it is you can add more to it and this is why your future is greater than your past. People use your CV to give you an offer but God look at your future to give you an appointment. Surely His ways are not our ways. - Bayo Oladeji

Quote for the Day 15Nov2010

It shall be well with you! God will satisfy you with many good things. His good promise will surely come to pass in your life. However, will you not forget God when you are satisfied with the desires of your heart? Will you still remember to serve Him with what He has blessed you with? - Bayo Afolaranmi

DO NOT FORGET GOD

Dear Beloved,

DO NOT FORGET GOD

"When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day" (Deuteronomy 8:10-11 NIV).

It was his valedictory speech to the people of Israel at his old age. Yet, Moses' speech contained warnings. One of such warnings is the one quoted above: do not forget your God when you are at ease. Moses knew that it is easier to remember God when we are in need than when things are going on well with us.

In the same way, the rich man in Jesus' parable in Luke 12:16-21 failed to yield to this warning. He had a bountiful harvest. His possession became his idol and he forgot God the Giver. That day, his life was taken from him, and his possession became other people's possession. Jesus Christ pointed out the meaning of prosperity without God: "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God" (Luke 12:21 NIV).

Beloved, it shall be well with you! God will satisfy you with many good things. His good promise will surely come to pass in your life. However, will you not forget God when you are satisfied with the desires of your heart? Will you still remember to serve Him with what He has blessed you with?

Do not be like that rich fool. Placing God, the Giver above the gifts is a mark of true achievement. Do not forget your God when it is well with you. Serve and obey Him the more. He rewards.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21 NIV).

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

NB
This message was first sent out on March 28, 2004.

Quote for the Day 13Nov2010

If you do not set your goals based upon your mission statement, you may be climbing the ladder of success only to realize, when you get to the top, you're on the wrong building. - Stephen Covey

Quote for the Day 12Nov2010

Just smiling goes a long way toward making you feel better about life. And when you feel better about life, your life is better. With an optimistic, positive attitude toward life, the possibilities for your second prime are tremendous. - Art Linkletter

Quote for the Day 11Nov2010

It is wise to flee when tempted -
A fool is one who would stay;
For those who toy with evil
Soon learn it does not pay.
- D. De Haan

Quote for the Day 10Nov2010

Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, and let go of what you cannot change. Life is too short to be anything... but happy. - Anonymous

Quote for the Day 09Nov2010

Do not let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use. - Earl Nightingale

Quote for the Day 08Nov2010

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

DO YOU CARE ABOUT THE COMING GENERATION?

Dearly Beloved,
DO YOU CARE ABOUT THE COMING GENERATION?
“‘The word of the LORD you have spoken is good,’ Hezekiah replied. For he thought, ‘There will be peace and security in my lifetime’” (Isaiah 39:8 NIV).
King Hezekiah did something wrong: he exposed his kingdom’s treasures and splendour to some envoys that came from a foreign land. God through His prophet denounced this act and predicted that the king of that foreign land would come one day to carry away all the treasures and the people of Hezekiah’s kingdom as well as making some of his descendants to be slaves in the palace of the king of that foreign land. Surprisingly, Hezekiah was satisfied with this prophecy because he thought that there would be peace and security in his lifetime. Here was the person that prayed fervently against the prophecy that he would die (see 2 Kings 20:1-3; Isaiah 38:1-3). He accepted this later prophecy because it does not affect him directly. That is, he did not care about what would happen to the coming generation! Unfortunately, he gave birth to one of the worst kings in Judah (Jeremiah 15:4).
Many people today are living anyhow without caring about the repercussions of their actions (and even inactions) on the coming generation. Some are even ready to have now the pleasure and benefits that are reserved for their children and grand children. Most of the African politicians and leaders are guilty of this. They keep on recycling themselves in the corridors of power. It has indeed become the bane of progress to many parts of Africa.
In what way are you like Hezekiah? Do you care about your coming generation? What is your attitude to the coming generation? What are you doing now that may affect your coming generation? Know that your actions and inactions now will have great effects on your coming generation. Care for the coming generation through your character and even thought.
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 06Nov2010

God often uses lowly things
His purpose to fulfil,
Because it takes a humble heart
To carry out His will.
- D. De Haan

Quote for the Day 05Nov2010

Our reverence for God’s Word is revealed not only by what we say but also by what we do. To blatantly disregard God’s Word is to reject life itself. To obey God’s Word is the surest way to experience all that God has in store for us. - Henry Blackaby

Quote for the Day 04Nov2010

The voice of the people is not usually the voice of God. You are responsible for your actions: do not allow anybody to pressurise you to take a wrong steps that are not honest, good, God-glorifying and kingdom building. - EA Adeboye

Quote for the Day 03Nov2010

You cannot change the past but you can ruin the present by worrying about it. If you fill your heart with regrets of yesterday and the worries of tomorrow you have no today to be thankful for. - Author Unknown

Quote for the Day 02Nov2010

Stop talking to God about how big your mountains are, and start talking to your mountains about how big your God is. - Joel Osteen

Quote for the Day 01Nov2010

God will arise in this month of November and let your situation change for the better. He will let miracle that surpasses explanation manifest in your life in Jesus’ name. Amen. - Bayo Afolaranmi