IGNORE THE HOLDUP & HOLD-ON!

A quick errand takes two hours because of unexpected traffic, an important letter gets lost in the mail, a long awaited job promotion goes to a less-experienced co-worker. When unexpected delays frustrate our plans, we sometimes want to make things happen. We also may start to question God or completely give up on our goals.
     This delaying process, however, can be part of God's discipline. He wants our desires to be motivated by the prodding & empowering of the  holy spirit, not by our own efforts or our need for significance and achievement.
An angel reminded Zerubbabel to look to God's spirit, not his own resources, to build the temple.  God promised to remove the obstacles, to bless his work and complete it. Zerubbabel was then faced with the challenge to trust God's words to him and to accept his timing & ways to accomplish this task.
  How do you respond when your plans are delayed? Can we learn something from Zerubbabel's example? I pray, that as from this day, may we begin to trust more in  Jehovah, accepting his timing and ways so that we can accomplish any task and fulfill our purpose here on earth IJN. Amen.
-Olu Akpata (Zûr)
www.prayerlinez.blogspot.com

DIALOGUE WITH GOD

"I talk to Jesus everyday," I responded to this elderly pastor from my local church 8 years back (Pst. Dada. CAC.), trying to show this gentle, prayerful man of God that i have a relationship with the Lord.
"Young man, he said to me: millions of people talk to their gods every day. What I'll like to know is, does your God talk back to you? " startled, i had to think before i realized that God had indeed spoken to me many times.
The fact that our God speaks to us and encourages us to dialogue with him is what makes our relationship with him so different & special. God didn't intended that our prayer life be a one-way communication, with a list of requests from us or orders from him. One of the most important aspects of our prayer life is the need to discipline ourselves to listen.
         We see this in Moses who went to speak "with God," not to him! (Exodus 33:11) observes that God spoke to Moses "as a man speaks with his friend." In a dialogue of friendship we take time with each other, sharing openly & listening carefully. Dialogue with God can include any topic. He's concerned with whatever concerns us.
  When we pray, don't let's spend all the time talking. Let us take time to listen to the Lord as well.
-Olu Akpata (Zûr)
www.prayerlinez.blogspot.com

BREAKING CHAINS OF INJUSTICE.

God's throne is established on justice and righteousness (Psalm89:14). He hates injustice, and he's called us to intercede in prayer as the way to break the chains of injustice. Whether we're praying for impoverished families in the US, political prisoners in Asia, xenophobic, rape & abused women in south Africa or oppressed Christians in nations where the Bible is banned, we are agreeing with God'swill when we pray for justice.
  In 1982, children in a Christian school in southern California were learning how to pray for nations in turmoil. They began by praying for the release of Lech Walesa, the imprisoned of Poland's solidarity trade union.
Thousands of people worldwide were also praying for Walesa, who was eventually freed by Communist authorities and went on to become president of Poland in the nations first Democratic elections. Needless to say that, a similar case was that of Madiba (Nelson Mandela) in South Africa in 1994. Those southern California  children and all the children of Africa as well, saw that their prayers can make a direct difference in the  history of a nation.
        Praying against injustice takes persistence -it may take months or even years before we see a breakthrough. But Jehovah is faithful. He always brings justice to those who cry out to him
What area of injustice can you respond against in your prayer?
Olu Akpata(Zûr)
www.prayerlinez. blogspot.com

AMAZING UNBELIEF

Jesus had returned to teach in his hometown of Nazareth, but this was no "welcome home" party. He longed to bless the people & yo preach the good news. But they took offense at one of their own, a carpenter, appearing with disciples and a message from God. Jesus would gladly have reached out with miraculous power to those who needed his healing touch but he could not. Certainly there was no lack of power or love on jesus' part, but the unbelief of the people held back the power of God.
      One of the greatest hindrances to the  holy spirit functioning in power today is unbelief--those situations where individuals, families, churches, towns, nations and cultures reject God's purpose for themselves and doubt the word of God. In such an atmosphere, the fire of the holy spirit is put out. Conversely, in the atmosphere of faith, miracles can & still do happen!
  Think about some situation in your life where you lack faith. Ask Jehovah to forgive your unbelief and help you to take steps of faith.
Olu Akpata (Zûr)
www.prayerlinez.blogspot.com

GOING DEEP WITH GOD.

God invites us to come and drink deeply-to plunge in and stay deep in the flow of his life-sustaining spirit. This is the living water Jesus was referring to when he said: "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him"(John 7:37). Now that the holy spirit resides in the temple of our hearts, we can expect this living water to flow out from us in order to refresh others.
     As we seek to know God through our personal devotions, we must not be afraid to yield ourselves fully to the holy spirit. As we receive his fûllness, we will be spiritually nourished and bear spiritual fruit that is a source of healing for others.
    Don't just observe this river of waters, or tests its depth with your feet. Immerse yourself fully in it, allow the holy spirit to lead you deeper into God's life-giving water.
    I fervently pray today, that each and every one of us will be a source of that fruit bearing, sickness healing, yoke breaking living water IJN. Amen.
    -Olu Akpata(Zûr)
www.prayerlinez.blogspot.com

EXPOSING OUR DARK SECRETS!

Idolatry today is more subtle and self-deceptive than in Jeremiah's time. Our "god " can be a friend, our self-image, our home or even our work for God. Whenever we constantly obey a need instead of God's spirit, we create an idol.
   Because we depend so often on our idols for security and comfort, our hearts don't easily give them up. Emotions like fear, envy,  jealousy and the like are often indicators that an idol in our hearts  is being threatened.
              A senior colleague of mine offered  these questions at a workshop to help us identify personal idols. I find them very rewarding if, they're sincerely applied:
* Who am i trying to please?
* What needs am i trying to meet?
* What insecurities do i pamper?
* What rewards am i seeking?
* What fears am i fleeing?
* With whom do i compete?
* What guilt am i covering?
* When is there enough?
     The holy spirit is eager to expose and free us from idolatry and self-deception. We simply need to be willing. Let us invite the holy spirit to expose any idol in our hearts as we honestly answer the questions posed above.
  Don't be afraid!  He wants to set us free!

WHO? ME?

WHO, ME?
Many of us subconsciously believe,"God could never use us". We let this chorus play over & over in our minds as we consider ourselves either too young or too old, not educated enough or otherwise unsuitable for God's purposes. But the truth is this: God can do anything, and he can do anything through us!
  In Israel's early history, the anointing for ministry was given to specific individuals like Saul. But the lord said the time was coming when he would "pour out (his) spirit on all people" (Joel 2:28).
That time is now. It began on the day of Pentecost when God fulfilled this prophecy by pouring out his spirit on all who awaited him.
The crowd was amazed that God could use Galileans, men and women with little education or prestige. Peter commented: "This is what was spoken by prophet Joel " (Acts 2:16). The reality of the outpoured spirit still continues; we all can be filled with God's spirit.
Ask God for a great infilling of the holy spirit today! No ceremonies, no qualifications, no written examinations, just kneel down before him & ask in a simple conversation.
-Olu Akpata (Zûr)