Thriving Words

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33). So how do we in our pursuit of happiness balance it between God and Gold? Note: Gold is used to generally mean possession. First and foremost, the most important thing in your life is not Gold, it is your relationship with God that comes first. Jesus warn those who think they can chase both God and Gold: 'you can't serve two master, God and mammon'. In our pursuit of happiness, we must realize that God is the true giver of wealth. The devil only Package sorrow and present it to us as wealth. Don't be deceived. Secondly, true happiness is not found in the abundance of our possession. Solomon despite been the richest guy still get depressed.  Money doesn't equate happiness. Happiness is of the mind. Gold won't bring you happiness but God will. Thirdly, be contended. Contentment doesn't mean you are satisfied at the level you are...

And Jesus said to them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses. - Luke 12:15 So many people do chase after After gold and miss out God. Not knowing that chasing God is better than chasing Gold. The life of a man is not about what he owns or buy. We live in a materialistic world. We have to be careful because there is the danger of falling if we don't take heed. Its good to have money, but money shouldn't define who or what you are. We ain't called into Jesus-like life to show off. No! The purpose of our life is to showcase the glory of God. Its not about us but about God. God want us to live a good life, no doubt. A good life is the life that draws people to Jesus. So ask Yourself, the prosperity you are enjoying, are you using it for God's glory or its just about you? Perhaps, you haven't reached the financial level you wanted and you are seriously chasing after money.  ...

...Resist the devil and he will flee from you. - James 4:7 Overcoming the devil means you have got to resist him. The devil can be resisted through the following ways: The Word of God:  when we are equipped with the word of God, we received power to talk at the devil. The Bible is not a book meant for the shelf, rather it's food for the soul. You've got to read the Bible as it will empower you resist the devil. Fasting & Prayer:   prayer build up our spiritual muscle, the more we pray, the more we are better off at resisting the devil. We can't fight the devil in the flesh rather, we fight him spiritually and that is through fasting & prayer. Be an avid reader of the Bible, be prayerful... resisting the devil won't be difficult as it looks it is. Eve might have not been able to resist the devil but you can. Jesus made that possible. He came to this world to give you victory over Satan. If you don't have Jesus, You can't resist the dev...

... 'Get Behind Me, Satan'...  - Matthew  4:10 We continue on the titles 'Resist The Devil' Yesterday we studied the story of Eve and the Serpent and we read how Eve was tricked by the devil who came in form of a serpent.  Always knows this; the devil has no good plan or whatsoever for you. So anytime he comes to you, he is coming for something bad, something evil which is the more reason you shouldn't give him a chance. Eve allowed the devil to interact with her and that action eventually cost them everything. We have been given  power to resist the devil. As a believer, we are not to flee from the devil because when you flee, he will still look for you. We are to resist him, when we resist him, he will flee. To resist is not to give him any chance through any firm he might come through. When the devil came to tempt Jesus, after replying him back with the Word, Jesus resisted him by telling him point blank ' Get Behind M e' and the Bible r...

...And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? - Genesis 3:1 Today's Bible verse is about the conversation with Eve (the first woman) and the serpent (the devil); God has instructed Adam to eat of every tree in the garden of Eden except a particular tree. Eve obliviously knew about this and the devil also knew. ( Genesis 3:1-7 ) But yet he still came to have a discussion with Eve and cunningly twisting his words to confuse her. Unfortunately, Eve gave in to the devil. The devil will always come to us at some point of our life, he will try to con us and devalue the Word of God in our lives. Truth is the more we listened to the devil, the more we are likely to give to him. James advised us to resist the devil and he will flee from us, ( James 4:7 ). Eve didn't resist the devil and she eventually gave in to him. We shouldn't hold any conversation with the devil and his cohorts because they have no good things to...

...Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. - 2 Kings 6:16 There is a very interesting passage in the Bible, 2 Kings 6:8-20. The King of Syria set out to captured Elijah. He sent out his armies to go surround Elijah's house. They got there quite all right but they couldn't captured Elijah. Elijah's servant was afraid of the armies and he cried out unto his master Elijah. Prophet Elijah knew He was a majority in the fight as he prayed to God to open his servant eyes and they saw that despite been surrounded by the armies of the Syria they were also surrounded by the heavenly armies who have come to deliver them. He told his servant not to be afraid for they have more armies on their side than the Syria. It was a difficult situation, his life was in danger but yet Elijah was calm enough to know he is safe. As long as you are on God's side, you shouldn't be afraid. Greater is He that is you than he that is in the world. You a...

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. - Joshua 1:9 After the death of Moses, God choose Joshua as the new leader for Israelites. Being a new terrain for Joshua, God repeatedly told him to be Strong and Courageous.   At times, we are thrust unexpectedly into a new role or a new terrain. In times like that, we  are not to falter nor timid, rather we are to be bold and of good courage. God has not given us the spirit of fear. As long as God is on our side, we are not to fear anything whatsoever. New ideas will come, some might start a new business, some will be put into a new role. Whatsoever it is, it shouldn't scare us. The challenges of leading the Israelite was really enormous for Joshua but God assured him everything will be fine. To someone reading this, whatsoever challenges you might be facing in your job, business, academics, fami...

Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour - 1 Peter 5:8 In life there are many battles to fight. The enemy won't stop fighting you because he has seen something bright in you. Unless he has you in his domain, the devil won't stop attacking. It's not a new thing that the devil would always attack. But despite all his attacks, believers are rest assured that no matter his attacks, we are safe. Year 2018 is a year of attacks, but for those in God, they are safe.  The reason why devil will successfully attack some people is because they are not in God. The devil can't touch you when you are in God. Many folks will be attacked but the success of the attacks greatly depend on how close you are to God. God is the great deliverer,   The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, (2 Samuel 22:2 ). He will always deliver His children from every attack of the ene...

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the  cost , whether he have sufficient to finish it? - Luke 14:28 Preparation demands that you calculate the cost of achieving your goal. What will it take you or cost you to achieve your goal? Jesus was using analogy if building a tower to speak to the people about planning. Many folks start out well but couldn't finish what they start simply because they didn't count the cost before embarking on their projects. Counting the cost means, planning it out; what and what you need to achieve your goals. No wise one embarks on a project without not planning it out. Whatsoever you want to do this year, plan it out. Part of your failure or success is dependent on your planning quality. Year 2018 is a bountiful year for you, you will progress in this year 2018, you will achieve more in this year 2018. Remember He/she that fails to plan has plan to fail. Always learn to count the c...

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the  cost , whether he have sufficient to finish it? - Luke 14:28 Preparation demands that you calculate the cost of achieving your goal. What will it take you or cost you to achieve your goal? Jesus was using analogy if building a tower to speak to the people about planning. Many folks start out well but couldn't finish what they start simply because they didn't count the cost before embarking on their projects. Counting the cost means, planning it out; what and what you need to achieve your goals. No wise one embarks on a project without not planning it out. Whatsoever you want to do this year, plan it out. Part of your failure or success is dependent on your planning quality. Year 2018 is a bountiful year for you, you will progress in this year 2018, you will achieve more in this year 2018. Remember He/she that fails to plan has plan to fail. Always learn to count the c...

And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3  And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.  - Luke 19:2-3 We continue on what it means to prepare for the year ahead. Yesterday we saw that having an extra oil means to be prepared and ready. A wise man/woman is the one that get prepared. The first step to preparation is having a goal. When you don't have something to achieve, you won't have any reason to plan, prepared and get ready. Having a goal is what will spur you into preparation. You must have a purpose, a reason unto what you want to prepared for. The virgins has a goal to see the groom. So their efforts was channeled into that. A goalless human is more or less a waste because nothing is pushing him. Last year, you might have wander aimlessly. Do not try that this year. Be intentional and purposeful in what you do. Why do you want to do this...

They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.- Matthew 25:3-4 The above verse is taken from the parable of the the ten virgins that went to meet the bridegroom ( Matthew 25:1-12).  Five has extra oil for their lamp while the other five didn't.   In the year 2018, it's imperative that you have an extra oil for your lamp. The wise virgins were those that prepared while by having an extra oil. For you to achieve your goals in the year 2018, planning and effective preparation is essential. So many have already started the year without any extra oil. For someone, your own extra o might be an additional income, for some, it might be to start a course. For some it might be to start saving. Extra oil is what you need in case your lamp goes out before you achieve your goal (which is to meet the bridegroom). You will be foolish to start the year without any preparation or whatsoever on what yo...

But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. - Psalm 1:2 The law then in David's time is equivalent to our own Bible in this modern time. In this year 2018, endeavor to read the Bible day and night. We know God better when we read His Word.  A blessed man is the one that mediate on God's word everyday. We should be delighted reading the Bible. Some benefits of mediating on the Scriptures include; Revelation:  we received fresh insight from God when we read and mediate on the scriptures. Before we can experience a revolution in our lives, there will be a revelation preceding it. Inspiration:  one special thing about the Bible is that it is uplifting, inspiring and encouraging. Believers are expected to be inspired when mediating on the scriptures. The Bible is a source of inspiration to us. Freedom:  The word of God brings liberty. An avid reader of the Bible receives freedom from the power of sin. T...

And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. - Luke 5:5 Year 2017 might not be what exactly you had want it to be. But you don't have to be discouraged. You might not be where you want to be, but definitely you are not where you used to be. Don't quit because you are not getting the desired results. Instead, change your strategy, involve Jesus. Peter toiled all night and caught nothing but when Jesus was involved, everything change. (Luke 5:1-7) You will experience dramatic turnout in your life this year as long as Jesus is involved in your life. No matter how good you might be, you can't know it all, but there is Someone who knows it all and that is the best Person to guide you. Jesus is the best guide you can have in this year 2018. If you don't want To to toiled all year and achieve nothing, get Jesus involved. The reason some people failed in 2017 is...

“Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am.” - Matthew 16:24 (MSG) When you have a driver who drives you around, you'd expect such a driver to know the routes and roads that you might not even know so well. Imagine you having a driver who is reckless and doesn't obey the road signs. I bet you'd give such a driver warning and possibly relieve such driver of his job.  Our lives is also like that. Whoever drives our lives will determine where we go, how fast we got there and how well the journey will. In life, there are many drivers but only one Driver knows the road that leads to where we should be. The Driver is Jesus. Most time, we struggle in life because we want Jesus to drive us and yet we won't allow Him to, we unknowingly take the bad roads of life but when you allow Jesus to freely drives you, you will surely get to your destination in life. In the us year 2018, if you want to go far in lif...

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the  Lord , plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. - Jeremiah 29:11  Happy New year 2018 and a happy new month to you. I congratulate you because you cross over into this new year and you will see beyond this year. 2017 was an eventful year, many thins happen, both good and bad. In 2018, many more things will happen.  The best way to have a good year is to let God be in Control. When God is in control, everything will be under control. Anything you commit into God's hand is always safe. God has the best plans for you. Only God can and will give you the best in and of life. Only God can give you a future and a hope. In this year 2018,  commit everything into God's care. Never take a decision outside God. This is a year of acceleration for those that are under God's care in year 2018.   I wish you a happy prosperous year 2018 but remember anything outside God is...