²³Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. ²⁴For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation? ²⁵The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.

Proverbs 27:23-25

Opportunities do not last forever, it is what you diligently invest in now that will reap results later. The scriptures warn us not to squander the opportunities given to us; but we are to be diligent in knowing the state of our flock and investing now, in order to reap the benefits later. Maximize your current opportunities, don’t waste it – take time to think and make the best of your current season. No matter how wealthy you are currently, do not allow any waste!

By gathering in and storing hay you ensure enough food for your flock during the winter times. The season of gathering food for the winter does not last forever. Opportunities available to you now should be seized – please take a little time to think more on this right now.

We can also apply this scripture to the season of life for youth. If you are still in your youth, use your time and your strength for great things today so that you will have provision and rest in your later years! May God help you as you start your life early and may your rest be assured in Jesus’ name. Amen. Have a great and fabulous day!

‘Take care of a fig tree and you will have figs to eat. Servants who take care of their master will be honoured.’ Proverbs 27:18 (GNT)

In today’s message we see that the things we settle down and invest the time to build are the things that will be there for us to continue to enjoy later. Planting a fig tree takes time; you have to water it, nurture it, and watch it grow. Thereafter however, you can harvest the fruit for years to come. Anything you invest your time to build will certainly produce for your benefit; your challenge is to find out what to invest your life in, then take care of it, investing your energy into it. Another possible challenge is that people usually look down on the ‘little’ opportunity currently in their hand, just because it does not yet look promising and in that way miss out in life.

That verse also says ‘servants who take care of their masters will be honoured’. I know the story of a young boy that was brought into another family to assist in housekeeping. He served faithfully. After a while, the ‘boss’ decided to enroll him in a school during the day while he continues housekeeping after school. That was how his destiny was transformed; he studied to a Masters level, and later became a seasoned administrator with a happy family in the same city.

I admonish you to make every minute of today a seed that will count for your future. May God make your day prosperous in Jesus’ name. Amen.

‘As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.’ Proverbs 27:17 (NKJV)

Talking about friendship, there are lots of benefits to being in a good friendship relationship. Today’s scripture in the Common English Bible version says: ‘…friends sharpen each other’s faces’. Proverbs 17:17 again says: ‘Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble’. This is refreshing to know.

Today, I still have my best friend from high school, who invited me to the church where I got born again. Despite geographical distance between us today, Richard and I still resonate at the same level as it has been for over 35 years. I remember approaching a brother in 1987; we had just finished serving on our campus fellowship executive for 3 consecutive years, and we were getting ready for the ‘real world’. I asked him, “Israel, would you please be my friend?” He laughed! His question was, what have we been all these years serving together in the executive? My point was, now that we were not obligated to be with each other we needed to become real friends by choice. Gladly, he agreed, till this day we are very good friends. God has used him to help me in various ways, and I am sure I too have, in some way, been a blessing to him. The same goes for my other friends.

I have come to find solace in the good friendship relationships that I keep – there were times I needed to bounce ideas off them and was spared of disastrous repercussion that would have resulted had I made decisions without that consultation. I remember one meeting with another of my friends, Segun, in his vehicle. I needed his counsel with regards to some critical decision I needed to make. It was a critical time in my life and many things were not very clear. Just one statement out of our discussion that day gave me the light I needed to make the right decision.

When my friend, Yinka, invited me to visit him in Brits, South Africa in 1999, and later to minister in his church in Canada seven years later; I did not know that these steps were critical to my journey through life today. He was just insistent on being a blessing, and God has used his friendship to bless me indeed. I am sure I am a blessing to him in some ways too. I need to tell you; God has a portion of light for your next flight in a friend; it will shine out clear to you as you discover and cultivate right and God-ordained friendships. You have to be a faithful friend to enjoy this.

I could write volume bout Charles, Wale, and about many of my other friends but I don’t have enough space in this devotional for that. This is what I would say to you today though, look out for good friends and be committed to them. In fact, I particularly like the message version of today’s scripture; ‘You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another’. The best of friendship relationship is when both parties have something to offer. Be strong in your spirit man, and be sure your friends are too. May you find good friends and may you be the good friend someone needs.

I have deliberately written today’s devotional in two pages – I just felt I should. I am sure it has benefited you somehow. Have a glorious destiny, in Jesus name. Amen.

‘Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend, nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; better is a neighbour nearby than a brother far away.’ Proverbs 27:10 (NKJV)

I like the Common English Bible translation of this verse. ‘Don’t desert your friend or a friend of your family…’ This is wisdom. The verse goes on to say, a neighbour that is close by is better than a family member far away! Many people do not cultivate their friendships, while some people actually do not seem to have any friend. Such a life is exposed and is in danger when calamity strikes. Ecclesiastes 4:10 says: ‘…but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.’ Life presents itself with various challenging issues. Matthew 6:34 says: ‘each day has enough troubles of its own.’ In fact, Job 5:7 says: ‘we bring trouble on ourselves, as surely as sparks fly up from a fire.’ (GNT).

So, whether you like it or not, sometime or another, trouble just comes to humanity. Life is made to be complete with friends. They are the ones that will be there for you in times of trouble – at least the good friends will. This is also the reason you too must show yourself friendly (Proverbs 18:24).

Here is today’s wisdom; no matter what; stay close to the godly friends you have and be a friend to them in return. If you do not have friends, deliberately go out to seek and cultivate one, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. You need good friends as you navigate the course of life. Stay blessed.

‘Like a bird that wanders from its nest is a man who wanders from his place.’ Proverbs 27:8 (NKJV)

It is wisdom for a person to be able to identify his or her own area of gifting and make every effort to stay and flourish there. Three key words can be identified in today’s scripture: wanders, nest, and his place.

There are some interesting definitions of the word ‘wander’ – to ramble without a definite purpose or objective; to go aimlessly, indirectly or casually; to extend in an irregular course or direction. These definitions all indicate activity, movement, or expression of some sort. But all without a clear focus of purpose. The word ‘place’ connotes a portion of space definite or indefinite that is specifically assigned to someone or a thing. There is a place assigned to everyone. There is an area of gifting built into every human by God. The problem of wandering occurs when we do not first take time to identify this place. Any activity or expression of yourself without reference to your place, will lead to wandering. Some people know where God has assigned them and for some reasons deliberately walk away from it, but majority of us just don’t locate our place before we start to do things!

You and I will be more effective in life and will leave a great legacy behind after we are gone, if we take the time to locate where we belong in God’s plan, and work hard towards fulfilling it. Decide and take necessary steps now.

¹I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. ²And the Lord answered me, and said, write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. Habakkuk 2:1-2

 What is the purpose for your life? Have you taken the time to find out? Jeremiah 29:11 KJV says ‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.’ God’s plan for you is definite and it is already designed to take you to a glorious end. You however need to find it out. Discovery comes after a diligent search. It is when you discover and pursue the purpose of your life that you will find peace, fulfilment, & energy. If you don’t know why you are on earth you are likely to beat around the bush, waste time, and engage in unwise activities.

Do not live your life blindly. I encourage you today to settle down and ask God, ‘Lord show me where I fit in the scheme of things in your program on earth’. I am sure He will show you (Psalms 32:8). Verse 2 says ‘And the Lord answered me…’ the Lord promises to answer you, all you need to do is ‘watch out’ for what He will say unto you. As you discover your purpose bit by bit, journal it, ask Him further questions on how to go about fulfilling each portion, and do your best to pursue it, no matter how small you currently know. As you do, you are on your way to a life of fulfilment and peace. God bless your day.

‘I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.’ Psalm 16:7

Today’s scripture is one of my confession scriptures. You should meditate on this verse and make it one of your confessions: ‘The Lord hath given me counsel’. Here is the truth, God gives counsel on every matter of concern to us, if only we will position ourselves to listen for it. Isiah 50:4 is another verse to confess, it says; ‘…he wakeneth me morning by morning, he wakeneth my ear to hear as the learned’. The Lord is interested in showing you the solution to every life problems and insight into new inventions. He is committed to giving you direction and understanding of the ‘how to’. Notice also that the verse says ‘my reins (my mind) instructs me in night seasons’. So, God gives you all the necessary ideas and you have to engage your mind in thinking through on the ideas untill you receive the understanding to apply the ideas to your particular situation. Think through in the night seasons! Take time alone to engage your mind in meditative thinking, as God questions, and light will shine on you! You will then say; ‘I can see now, I know what to do now’, in Jesus’ name.

People that achieve extra ordinary things are those who think extra ordinary thoughts, they think outside the box, they think about things that the average person does not. If we could engage our minds and think extra ordinary thoughts God can do exceedingly above even that. God has given you a capacity for great thoughts, engage your mind, think big, and do not allow defeat at your workplace. Have a great day.

‘When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.’ 1 Corinthians 13:11

Children have a way of speaking, a way of thinking, and understanding. The sequence of this list should be noted. ‘When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child…’ in children the expression of speaking comes before any expression of understanding. Worst still, thinking is the last thing a child would do!

Put away childish things, take time to think and gain understanding before speaking. If you have issues confronting your marriage, take the time to think before you react to your spouse. If you are confronted with challenges at your work place do not make hasty decisions, take the time to think first. If you are planning to invent something that will be of great value in your time and seasons to come, it will require of you to be a person of great thinking capacity. Understanding comes as you take time to think. It is only those with understanding that can make the declaration; “but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” So, take the time to think and gain the necessary understanding before proceeding towards a course of action. Thinkers are leaders! You will access the pearl in your field as you dig deep by thinking through.

As you face your day may God give you grace and understanding in this regard, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. ¹⁷ If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. ¹⁸ But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

Daniel 3:16-18 (NKJV)

If you are determined to serve the Lord your God today, without distraction, boldly and courageously going through life standing for the gospel, standing for righteousness and truth, and standing in holiness; you will find favour with God and you will find that He will rise up on your behalf. It pays to follow God courageously in everything you do, for at the end of the day it will work out well.

Usually, the situations presents themselves very scary! The three Hebrew boys; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were faced with a very scary option! Yet, they stood on their faith in God and on His righteousness, and they experienced the fourth man in the burning furnace. If you would but stand courageously for the Lord in these trying days, He will be there in your situation. Go forward courageously and God bless you in Jesus’ name. Amen.

‘For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.’ 2 Timothy 1:7 (AMP)

The spirit of God that we have received has given us the capacity to live through life courageously. We can draw grace from the spirit of God in us as children of God. Today’s scripture declares; ‘God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.’ When you have the spirit of God in you, you will find that you can be calm and self-controlled, in the midst of challenges and troubles. Even in the midst of pandemonium, you can maintain your calmness.

When man is agitated, afraid, timid, or cowardly this reflects a poor spiritual state. Then, you need to build up your spirit-man, by getting back into the presence of God. Spend time with God in prayer and scripture meditation. Jude 1:20 says: ‘…building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost’. Spend time praying in tongues about all your life issues, and sometimes just for fellowship with God. That way, the countenance of God gets robbed on you and the anointing of God settles in you afresh with power. You will be able to walk tall in the midst of challenges. You will be able to access divine insight that you need on the spot, with little or no agitation. Stand strong!