A shadow is cast when an object obstructs a ray of light and
the shadow can either be cast in front or behind the object.
And before something or someone can cast a shadow over a
person or an object, he/it has to stand over the person or object.
Following from the above God stands watch over me that’s how
come he casts his shadow over me. Thus I dwell under the shadow of the almighty
(whether from behind or in front; I’m surrounded by his shadow).
How do I get God to stand over me? Jeremiah 1:12
God watches over his word to fulfil it. He backs his word to
ensure that it comes to pass. You have to stand over something to keep watch
over it. An example that readily comes to mind is a mother that stands over her
baby’s crib; surely that mother would cast a shadow over the baby!
God’s word is light! I run into his word and I remain there
come rain or shine. And the God who backs his word to ensure that it comes to
pass casts his shadow over me.
When that happens then every ensuing scenario from verse 2
to the end of the 91st Psalm plays out in my life! Glory! Halleluyah!
There are so many scientific explanations about shadows so much so that the analogy above may not be scientifically sound. Or even theologically astute yes I know James 1:17(Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. However my understanding of this shadow is one that is cast by his turning back on his word).
But sometimes all that is required is a mental picture that we can carry to imprint the word into our subconscious.
So for Psalms 91, get the picture in the following steps
God’s word is light
God backs his word
I stand in(on) the word
I’m surrounded by the shadow of the almighty
Psalms 91: 2 -21 is fulfilled in my life
Based on the foregoing, I can live a fear-free life no matter
what is going on around me!!
We hear these words every time a 365-day cycle is completed.
So many people start looking forward to a new year once the end of November rolls
up. It seems that folks forget that a new year is basically a new day just like
any other. The only difference being that it heralds the start of another
365-day cycle.
I listened in on a message by Pastor Temi Odejide(London
Lighthouse of House on The Rock) and he had this to say “ 2019 is not a
personality but a culmination of choices and actions”.
In order to make this relevant for all times I say “a year is not a personality but the sum total of your choices and actions”
One of such choices today would be reading this article to the end. lol. On a serious note that’s one habit you have to pick up this year. READ!
So as we rejoice that we have left an old year and come into
a new one, let us settle one thing: – the New Year would not automatically make
all the ills in our life disappear. If you bring your old self with the old (bad)
habits and choices into the New Year, by November ending you’ll be wishing for
another new year.
I attended a 7pm -10pm cross over service in my church and
then came home and logged onto two more services before praying and going to
bed.
As I lay on my bed meditating on all that I heard in these
services and regurgitating all that God had been dealing with me on, several
things came to the fore of my mind. Some of these things were from the cross
over messages I’d heard that resonated with what has been on my mind. I’ll
share them with you and hope it helps someone.
Pastor Godman Akinlabi of The Elevation Church (TEC) in Lagos made reference to this quote in the course of his message. He posited that if you must have new beginnings, you have to keep an open mind. (Bible Reference – Acts Chapter 10).
Do not hold on to preconceived notions about how life should work. Always be open to new thoughts, new ideas and new experiences. What if God wants you to change your line of work? Maybe you worked in the Stock Exchange last year and God wants to move you to Agriculture? What if you are a 45 years old female and he wants you to date and subsequently marry a younger man? What if you are planning to leave the country where you currently live and God says stay? Would you be willing to obey?
Are you ready to pioneer new moves/trends? The Wright brothers were willing to be seen
as weird. Many people told them that if God wanted us to fly he would have
given us wings… hmmmm.. Think about that!
Pst Poju Oyemade of the Covenant Christian Center Lagos stated in the course of his message that kings and skills go hand in hand. Kings are always attracted to skill. You cannot be mediocre and stand before kings! (Bible Reference- Proverbs 22:29).
This got me and left me almost sleepless all night. Not because
I haven’t heard this scripture or even taught a class or two on it. But it hit an already sore spot in me. I’d
been regurgitating and pondering Isaiah 60 verses 1 to 3.
Isaiah 60 King James Version (KJV)
1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen
upon thee.
2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the
people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon
thee.
3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of
thy rising.
Isaiah 60 The Passion Translation (TPT)
1 “Rise up in splendor and be radiant,[a] for your light has dawned,
and Yahweh’s glory[b] now streams
from you!
2 Look carefully! Darkness blankets the earth,
and thick gloom[c] covers the
nations,
but Yahweh arises[d] upon you
and the brightness of his glory
appears over you![e]
3 Nations will be attracted to your radiant light[f]
and kings to the sunrise-glory of
your new day.[g]
Bishop T.D Jakes made reference to this scripture and said “Gentiles come
to your light but Kings are only attracted to the BRIGHTNESS of your rising”
What have you been dabbling in on the “light” level? It’s time to take it
to the “Brightness” level.
A candle is a light but it doesn’t have the same brightness as a lamp. A
lamp is a light but there are different types of lamps and intensities of
brightness.
Unless you hone your skill(s) until you get to the “brightness” level, you
would continue to attract at best “Gentiles” You want kings to seek you out?
Rise above the “light” level. (Note to Self).
Some folks are not even in the “light” level yet; well you can start the
journey by rising. It’s never too late to learn a skill. Not too late to go
back to school. You can intern with a master in your field. There’s so much
help to be had if only you would arise!
I am sharing this from experience (I am multi-talented even if I say so
myself lol). You can be a jack of all trades but can you please be master of
one?
Hone that one skill that would open up auxiliary platforms that would
showcase your other skills and talents. This is where it pays to have the help
of the Holy Spirit.
Engage God’s presence and let the Holy Spirit lead you and tell you what that
one skill is.
In the short course of my life, I’ve discovered that when you trust in God
with all your heart and do not lean on your understanding, he takes you by the
hand and leads you in the way you should go.
Now when he shows you the way, it is your responsibility to do the work;
hunker down and get it right!
Conclusion
There’s so much I can say on this subject but let’s leave the rest for
subsequent posts.
My prayer for you this New Year is that by November, you’ll be taking stock of the giant strides that you’ve taken. Note however that it may need to start with baby steps.
May you not be looking forward to 2021 as a means of escape from the frustrations of 2020.
God is ever ready to do exceeding abundantly above all you can think or
ask. Are you ready to receive? Do you have the capacity to receive? In Bishop
T.D. Jakes’ words “can you stand to be blessed?
We often quote Revelations 12:11 “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
What is the “word of your testimony”?
Is it those two minutes that you stand before a congregation
and tell them how God healed you?
Or that discussion you had with your house fellowship members or a group of friends telling them of how God delivered you from a fatal auto crash?
I dare say NO!
A light bulb went off in my head as I studied 1st John 5:9-13 (Please take a few minutes and read the entire chapter).
1 John 5:9-13 New International Version (NIV)
9 We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater
because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10
Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not
believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the
testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has
given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has
life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
1 John 5:9-13 New King James Version (NKJV)
9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
From the foregoing, we see that God have given us a testimony and that is the testimony we must reiterate.
This therefore means that the word of my testimony is this”
11 that God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son. 12 He who
has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life”.
So anything that shows up in my life that does not look like the eternal life that God has given me, I overcome it by the blood of the lamb and by the word of my testimony.
Sickness comes against me; I overcome it by the blood of the lamb and by the word of my testimony. “By his stripes I am healed”
Death comes knocking at the door; I overcome it by the blood of the lamb and by the word of my testimony “I shall live and not die to declare the works of the lord in the land of the living.
Poverty, lack, disaster, troubles, temptations… whatever! You name it. I locate the word of my testimony and overcome it!
Even when it looks like the situation or circumstance would
kill me; I do not love my life above the testimony that God has given. I do not fear the scorn and mockery of men. I
do not fear being politically incorrect. I do not fear missing some popularity
contest or even losing privileges.
I stand by the testimony that God has given; “God has given
us eternal life and that life is in his son; I have the son therefore I have
eternal life”.
Today I overcome by the blood of the lamb and by the word of my testimony. Hallelujah!
