This Kind
Matthew 17: 21 KJV
“Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”
In Matthew 17 you’ll read about the transfiguration and also about a father who brought his son to Jesus’ disciples for healing. Well, to the disciples’ credit, they prayed, rebuked and cast out everything from the young boy but he was not healed. So, when Jesus approached them, you bet He was not happy with them and He scolded them for their lack of faith and being the great boss He was, He healed that young boy with just a command. Repeat after me, “the boss with power!’ One of the disciples, face fallen, gathered the courage to ask Jesus why he and his teammates suffered such defeat and the scripture above was Jesus’ answer as to why all their efforts failed - that you needed to have been in a state of prayer and fasting to be able to kick out those demons in that child.
I’ve seen believers make some bold proclamations and yet with no results. The man Jesus that we are emulating carried raw power. I think the most effort He exerted during a healing process was using his saliva to mix mud and attach onto blind eyes. Other than that, I do not recall any other instance in the bible where He even had to speak twice to cast out a demon or heal someone. He did it effortlessly because He was the embodiment of prayer and fasting. We really need to increase our prayer life, fast (deny ourselves constantly) and commit to studying the Word of God. These can be our solution to confronting those challenges in our lives that have refused to bend to anyone and anything. I heard a mentor once say that “whatever looks like a mountain or challenge in our lives is only existing because it has not met the power that can confront it.” In these times we are in, there is no “pray for me” any more. You need to build on your own capacity to pray until something happens and you get the results you desire.
I pray for you this week, that the spirit of prayer, fasting and the discipline to stay with God’s word will be poured on you. Above all, may anything that has risen itself over the name of Jesus’ Christ in your life be brought down. I declare it is so and so it is in Jesus’ name. AMEN!
XOXO,
Lady Abena.
Grieve With Purpose
I recently watched a video on TikTok where someone shared that we must grieve with purpose. In other words, turn the pain and anger of grieving into supporting a cause that your loved one was passionate about. This, I think, is very commendable and I am applying that to my own grieving process.
This past weekend I had a gathering of friends and loved ones to honor my father’s life and legacy. It was very evident throughout my dad’s course of life that he was very passionate about education and helping the less fortunate. For the last few weeks, I’d been deliberating silently on how to honor his legacy and God laid it on my heart in clear words, to set up an educational fund to support orphanages in buying school supplies for the children at the start of their school terms. I really needed a confirmation from God that what I have purported in my heart will glorify His name, thereby honoring my father’s legacy and God confirmed it with me in the way He always does. Here’s how He confirmed it - I received an invitation to chair an event for a men’s only organization in North America and as fate will have it, my father was part of this organization back home in Ghana so I knew it was no coincidence but by divine ordination. When I received the agenda for the event from the organizer the night before, I saw that they would be launching an educational fund as part of the festivities I had been asked to chair.
Ladies and gentlemen, when your heart is set on things that bless humanity thereby glorifying God, He approves. I heard the Holy Spirit whisper to me that “here’s your confirmation so proceed” so I did, and I shared with my guests during my event last weekend about my desire to set up an educational fund to support orphans, and they thought it was a notable cause and supported it generously. May the Lord prosper all of them all for their generosity towards this cause.
As further confirmation, I’ll receive a message from an orphanage in Kampala, Uganda that I support just three days ago, sharing with me that the kids have not been able to go to school since the new term started because they do not have enough funds to pay the tuition and buy school supplies and they asked for my help. Again, the Holy Spirit whispered in my ear, “here’s your second confirmation so proceed” and I did send them help. I pray for grace, strength and resources to keep this educational fund going to help children in orphanages.
I also pray for you this week that you will find purpose in every situation you are going through no matter how grim and use that purpose to glorify God. I declare it is so and so it is in Jesus’ name. AMEN!
XOXO,
Lady Abena.
Have You Commanded Your Morning?
Job 38:12-13 AMP
“Since your days began, have you ever commanded the morning, and caused the dawn to know its place, So that light may take hold of the corners of the earth and shake the wickedness out of it?”
My spiritual mentor once said that “it is a very risky thing to walk into a day that you have not commanded.” In other words, jumping out of bed and starting your day without prayers and declarations is like walking into the day with blindfolds on. What God asked Job was not just a question for him to see how powerless he was but it also jolts our minds to the fact that a day can be arranged to go in your favor.
How is that possible? Through prayers and declarations especially at dawn or midnight and if you’re the type that cannot wake up in the wee hours of the morning, then as soon as you feel your heart beating again after sleep, begin to decree, declare and command the day to align in your favor.
I pray for you this week, that the Lord will empower you to command your days and shake the wickedness out of it all. I declare it is so and so it is in Jesus' name. AMEN!
XOXO,
Lady Abena.