Seven Day Fasting And Prayer For Divine Visitation In The New Year.

In natural life, visit is a time of fellowship, festivity and sundry entertainment. The host lays out a banquet and the air is thick with merriment. When your host is royalty, the spread before you is better seen than imagined. Suppose for a moment that the royalty in question is the King of kings and Lord of lords who left his throne in heaven to visit you, bringing with him on the visit everything that can make life better for you as gift, better than any earthly king can hope to bring or imagine. This is Divine visitation.

He comes because He knows you are limited with resources and wants to make things better; because he loves you and though you cannot come to him yet, something from you has ascended unto him as sweet savor; because it is his nature to bless his people. The Lord wants to visit you  in 2011. I know because he said so and he never lies. As you wait on him over the next seven days, it is my prayer that that you will find him and that as the year progresses, you will receive a Divine visitation in Jesus’ name, Amen.

DAY ONE (Jan.2, 2011): Prayer For Yourself.                               
Do you know who you are in Christ Jesus? If you do not know who you are, you cannot know what your possession is. When you do and realize the worth of what has been stolen from you, a holy anger should possess you, accompanied with a demand for restoration of ALL the enemy has stolen. Ask that your eyes of understanding be opened this new year (Gal. 4:15; 1 Pet.1:9; Job20:15; Eph. 1::17-19).
DAY TWO (Jan.3, 2011): Prayer To Purge Yourself.                           
Purge yourself from every sin of omission and commission. Plead the blood of Jesus upon your spirit, soul and body. Ask that you will be a consecrated vessel fit for the Master, this New Year. Ask for the renewal of your mind. Ask that all old things truly pass away and all things become new. Ask that your body will not reject or repulse unction from above in Jesus name. Ask that you will be a reservoir receiving the fullness of his deposit this year in Jesus name (Exo. 32:25-34; 2 Tim.2:19, 21; Rom. 12:2, Phil. 2:5).

DAY THREE (Jan. 4, 2011): Prayer To Operate In The Spirit
The bible says that those in the flesh cannot please God, because they are in enmity against God            (Rom. 8:6-8) while the spiritual mind enjoys life and peace. This year, ask that you will operate in the spirit and not flesh so that you will be seated with Christ in heavenly places as you pray and fast in Jesus’ name. This way, you will be maximizing that which you receive from heaven.
(Eph. 1:19-22; 2:6; Isa. 40:31; 1Cor. 2:10-14)

 

DAY FOUR (Jan. 5, 2011): Prayer For Divine Visitation. 

God does not visit without a reason; neither does he waste his time with those who are not prepared for eternity with him. Preparation requires focus, it requires denial, it requires discipline. Pray that you will be all those this year and some more in Jesus’ name. Pray for divine guidance that this new year must be better than all your previous years rolled together by reason of His Visitation, so that you can testify with tangible results in Jesus’ name, Amen (Ps. 8:4-8; 1Cor. 9:24-27; Rom. 9:16)

DAY FIVE (Jan. 6, 2011): Prayer For Divine Visitation Upon Your Family 

Pro. 13:22a says that good man leaves an inheritance not only for his children but also his children’s children. Our God is the same yesterday, today and forever( Heb. 13:8) and he is no respecter of persons( Acts 13:34b ). If He could visit Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, he can more than visit you and your children and your children’s children. If anyone is believing God for the fruit of the womb, the Lord will remember and visit you as he visited Sarah ( Gen.21:1,2), and remembered  Rebekah (Gen. 25:21), Leah ( Gen.30:22-24) Hannah,(1Sam.1:19,20; 2:21) Elizabeth (Lk. 1:36)and you shall conceive and bear your own children for non shall be barren (Exo. 23: 25-26). This year, you and your children shall be for signs and wonders in Israel (Isa. 8:18) from the Lord of hosts who dwells on mount Zion.
 
DAY SIX (Jan. 7, 2011): Prayer To Visit The Land.         

The US and countries of our emergence need Divine Visitation. Reprobacy, love of self above love for God, corruption and apathy to the needs of the average man is thriving like never before in the land. There is need for God to visit and heal the nation and turn the people and the land around for his use and his pleasure for prosperity to reign (2Chron. 7:14; Rom. 1:28; Isa. 10:1-3; Ps. 127:1; Exo. 4:31; Zech. 10:1-3)

DAY SEVEN (Jan. 8,2011): Prayer of thanksgiving         

Thank God for unction to wait upon him these last seven days; thank him for Divine Visitation; thank him for every answered prayer; thank him because there shall be testimony of abundance and multiplication; exalt his holy name for his goodness and mercy; give him a sacrifice of praise and a shout of acclamation for our God is good and his mercies endure for ever, amen. (1 Thess. 5:18; Eph. 5:20, Psa.107:1, 22; 116:17)

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Those of you who have been avid readers of my weekly column may have remarked that I have not posted any articles for a few weeks. On the other hand, you probably haven’t even noticed, having been focused on other more interesting things.  My lapse was caused by internet difficulties followed by extreme lethargy, but as these are not good enough reasons for deviation, I apologize.

This week, I shall be discussing the downsides of a diet high in sugar intake, together with ways and means of watching our sugar intake. This article does not purport to address control of blood sugar by those who are diabetic- for information on that, please contact your health care professional.

Sugar contains empty calories-low in nutritional value- that will make us fat. Obesity increases the risk of diseases like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and coronary heart disease. There is also some recent research suggesting that excessive consumption of added sugar may directly increase the chance of type 2 diabetes, regardless of weight. Sugar also leads to dental cavities.

No more than ten percent of our diet should come from added sugars. Most processed food contains added sugar, and we should, therefore, read labels carefully before we make our purchases. Brown and white sugar, corn syrup, corn sweetener, dextrose, fructose, sucrose, honey, maple syrup, malt syrup, maltose, and molasses all count as added sugars, although the glyclemic index of honey and maple syrup is lower than sugar (they don’t raise your blood sugar as much) and they are more nutritious (honey is said to have medicinal qualities and contains manganese, iron and riboflavin; maple syrup is rich in zinc, manganese, manganese, calcium, iron, and potassium).

A big source of sugar in our diet is sodas, which we should avoid as much as possible. We should choose fresh fruit rather than fruit-flavored drinks or even fruit juice which has a high concentration of natural sugar. If you or your children drink fruit juice at all, make sure it is 100%. Don’t allow sweetened drinks to replace water and milk, especially for children, who need the calcium for their developing bones. Children are as susceptible as adults to the diseases mentioned above, especially because of their tendency to like sweet things like candy, sodas, punches and sugar-laden cereals specially formulated for and targeted at children.  We as parents have a duty to be firm with our children and discourage them from eating and drinking sugary food and drink, since God has given us the wisdom to distinguish good from bad.

We should also avoid simple or refined carbohydrates like white flour and white rice, which are high in sugar, and choose whole grains as much as possible. Millet, amaranth and quinoa are examples of whole grains, but unless the label reads “whole” in front of wheat, corn, barley, or rice, these grains have been refined. Please read my column posted on January 10, 2010, for more information on reading labels and the dangers of refined carbohydrates.

Sugar substitutes are not necessarily the answer either. There is evidence to show that they don’t help us lose weight and may, in fact, contribute to weight gain. This may be because artificial sweeteners can be many times as sweet as natural sugar and consuming them may upset our ability to judge natural sweetness.

Chemical sweeteners may also be unsafe. For example, saccharine was eventually declared dangerous, years after it was said to be safe. Even though current studies have not linked chemical sweeteners conclusively to health problems, it’s probably best to avoid them. More natural alternatives to sugar are Stevia which is a herbal sweetener, made from the leaves of a South American plant, and agave nectar or syrup, produced in Mexico from the agave plant. I personally don’t care for Stevia because it has a somewhat unpleasant aftertaste.

Talking about sugar, my daughters and I worked on an edible art project last weekend, for a contest at the girls’ school on Monday, March 1. You were allowed to make anything as long as it was edible!  My older daughter, who is in third grade, and I put in a parent/child entry (you could also do a child entry either on your own or with other girls).  The contest was for 2nd to 5th graders but my six-year old helped us a lot! The cupcakes that you see in the pictures represent different countries around the world, and the idea behind our project was to show a world of peace, hence the depiction of the peace sign.  I hope that you recognize the American, Nigerian and other flags!

I am glad to report that the project won first prize. We serve a wonderful God! This might seem like a triviality- we are talking about an elementary school art project after all- but to me this is a testimony of God’s care for us. The preliminary idea for the peace theme came to me in a dream or vision.  I saw the big peace sign and almost immediately after conceived of the peace in the world idea. My daughter and I then had to work to flesh out the idea and figure out how to implement it- it took us several days of brainstorming and research, but I was insistent that we not deviate from the vision and that this idea would win the top prize!  I was convinced that the idea came from God and He worked it out in the end so that the vision was preserved in the execution. The final piece of information to help us to complete the project in accordance with God’s vision came from a friend, Tanya.  I had telephoned her to ask for ideas on implementation because I know next to nothing about baking. Without my having told her about the original vision, she gave a suggestion that provided finishing touches to seal the vision! It shows how much God is interested in even the little details of our lives.  He has us inscribed in the palms of His hands (Isaiah 49:16).

The downside of the contest for me was that after the entries had been judged and the winners announced, we were allowed to eat up all the entries.  I most definitely did not follow my own advice about avoiding sugar. I gorged myself! What a lot of fun, though! I have since renewed my vow to watch the things that I consume, as befitting God’s temple.

The testimony that I narrated above reminds me of the time our youngest child was invited to a birthday party.  We got a present for the girl but our daughter wanted to add to the gift a small white teddy bear of hers with a red bow around its neck.  Initially I tried to discourage her, saying that we already had an adequate gift and asking if she would not miss the bear, which was a favorite.  She insisted she wanted to give the bear to her friend.  Anyway, when I came to pick her up at the party, she showed me a prize that she had been given for winning one of the party games.  It was a large white teddy bear, with a red bow around its neck, the exact replica, in a bigger size, of the bear that she had given away! Who says God doesn’t have a sense of humor!  Our child demonstrated the principle of giving, even though I had tried to dissuade her, and showed how God blesses us bountifully in return. We should take to heart Jesus’ warning in Matthew 18:2-6 (NIV) that “unless [we] change and become like little children, [we] will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

As we continue our Christian walk, may the Prince of Peace teach us how to be generous, live in unity with one another, and give us the courage to carry out our goals and do His perfect will.

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I Corinthians 3: 16-17 (ESV):

¹⁶ Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? ¹⁷If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

In this column, we have been discussing healthy nutrition and how we should care for our bodies, since the Holy Spirit dwells within us. Last week, we talked about how we should avoid eating processed foods.  This week, we will discuss our fat intake.  When we hear the word “fat”, we immediately think of “bad for us” In fact, not all fat is detrimental to our health, and there are “good fats” as well as “bad fats”. Even though good fat has various health benefits, those of us trying to lose weight should watch the quantities that we consume because any kind of fat is high in calories and can compromise our effort to lose weight. However, including some healthy fat in your diet will help your food taste better, which will encourage you to stick to your weight loss plan, help you absorb certain nutrients from vegetables, and can improve your overall health.

Good fats: Not All Fat Is Bad.

The following food sources of fat are healthy for our bodies:

• Olive Oil: This nutrient-filled oil lowers bad cholesterol and blood pressure, and is good for your heart. Canola and sunflower oil are also good for you.
• Avocados:  This fruit is rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, antioxidants that keep eyes healthy; it contains nutrients like folate, vitamins C and E, which prevent cancer, and monounsaturated fatty acids, which lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL or bad) cholesterol and can also help you lose belly fat, a risk factor for heart disease and some fertility problems. Avocado also contains high levels of potassium, protein, and vitamins B6, E, and K, and fiber.  Limit yourself to eating one-quarter to one-half an avocado a day because it is high in calories.
• Oily fish: Oily fish, like wild Alaskan salmon, tuna and mackerel, contains omega 3 fatty acids which are good for your heart, helps maintain a healthy pregnancy, reduces inflammation, improves your brain health, ameliorates your mood and protects against depression. It may also protect against cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.  Fish like salmon also contains lean protein and Vitamin D, which boosts immunity and memory. The American Heart Association recommends that we eat at least two servings of fatty fish a week. Canned wild Alaskan salmon is almost as good as fresh. However, you should avoid eating fish that is high in mercury, especially if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.  Tuna steaks, king mackerel and swordfish are among those with the highest amounts of mercury.  Wild salmon is one of the safest choices.  For more information on safe fish, go to ewg.org/safefishlist.
• Nuts: Almonds contain bone-building calcium and stress-relieving magnesium, which may also help relieve bloating and breast tenderness; walnuts contain omega-3 fatty acids, protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals, and may reduce cholesterol, help brain function, aid better sleep, alleviate stress, fight cancer and prevent heart disease; pistachios contain heart healthy potassium.
• Low fat /fat-free milk and yogurt: They both contain calcium and protein. Greek yogurt is especially rich in calcium and good for our bones and the fat-free version has twice as much protein as regular yogurt. Fat-free Greek yogurt is also high in probiotics, cultures that help ease irritable bowel syndrome, and may boost immunity.  You should have at least three servings of dairy a day, and Greek yogurt is a good choice.

Bad fats: Be Vigilant, Avoid These!

The following fats clog your arteries, increase your blood cholesterol (adding to the LDL cholesterol produced naturally by your body), lower your good cholesterol, and can lead to heart disease and stroke:

• Saturated fat, present in animal products like poultry, red meat, animal fats, butter, cream, cheeses, and other dairy products made from whole and 2% milk,. Foods from plants that contain saturated fat include coconut, coconut oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, and cocoa butter.
• Dietary cholesterol contained in foods from animals (see examples under saturated fat above.)
• Trans fatty acids which are found naturally in various animal products and may be worse than saturated fat.
• Other trans fatty acids which are caused by the hydrogenation process. Hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated fat, found in baked goods with long shelf life, margarine, shortening, and most processed food, are fats that are solid or semi-solid at room temperature, created when hydrogen is added to unsaturated fat like corn oil. These kinds of trans fats are even more harmful than those that occur naturally.

Here are some practical tips to help you avoid and/or replace bad fat with good fat:

• Use olive or canola oil to cook, and cut down on the quantity of oil used.
• Select butter over most margarines. Butter, even with its saturated fat content, is healthier than most margarines as they typically contain trans fatty acids, hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated fat. However, some soft margarines or spreads (Smart Balance is an example) pass the “bad fat” test and should be used in lieu of butter (read the label carefully before purchase).
• Avoid frying meat, poultry, fish, plantain, potatoes, and yam.  Try grilling or baking instead, using an olive or canola oil cooking spray.
• Remove skin and trim fat from poultry and red meat before cooking; skim fat from stock or use a fat separator to remove fat before using the stock to cook.
• Choose fish and lean poultry; cut down on red meat. Sirloin, tenderloin and grass-fed beef are, however, relatively low in fat.
• When buying ground meat, lean ground beef contains much less fat than regular ground turkey or chicken, which includes fat and skin. “Extra-lean” turkey is your safest bet, but if you can’t find it, buy at least 92% lean ground beef.
• Buy processed foods made with non-hydrogenated oil rather than partially hydrogenated, hydrogenated or saturated fat.
• Avoid French fries and other commercially fried foods, and baked goods like doughnuts, cookies, cakes, crackers, muffins and pies which are typically high in trans fat.

It is crucial that we follow the above health tips, and ensure that our spouses and children do so, too. I hope you will join me again next week to as we continue examining ways that we can improve the bodies that God has blessed us with.

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I Corinthians 3: 16-17 (ESV):

 ¹⁶ Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? ¹⁷If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

We continue this week discussing healthy nutrition and how we ought to take care of our bodies, being temples of the Holy Spirit.

We should avoid eating processed foods. What exactly is a processed food?  A broad definition, found in Wikipedia, defines it as the transformation of raw ingredients into food or food into other forms for consumption. For example, removal of an unwanted outer layer, like the peel of an apple or a potato, or the slicing of a potato, would amount to processing by that definition (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Processed_food.) A narrower, and more practical, definition for our purposes would be that “processed food” is that which contains ingredients that are not natural, which has been chemically altered through additives like flavors, flavor enhancers, binders, colors, fillers, preservatives, stabilizers, emulsifiers, etc., or which has been manufactured (http://health.amuchbetterway.com/how-do-you-define-processed-food/). The consumption of food containing these kinds of additives may have adverse health effects.  At the same time, processing, although it has its benefits, frequently decreases the nutritional value of food. Fresh food usually contains a higher proportion of valuable naturally occurring (and not synthetic) vitamins, enzymes, minerals and fiber.  Heat, for instance, destroys Vitamin C, and canned vegetables would, therefore, have a lower proportion of natural Vitamin C. 

Whole grains, for example, are better for us than refined grains like white flour and white rice. They contain fiber to regulate our systems and B-Vitamins to boost our brain and provide energy.

If you are trying to lose weight, whole grains are especially beneficial as they keep your blood sugar more stable than refined grains and enhance fat burning.  They are also digested more slowly than refined grains, and keep you full longer.

There are nice tasting whole grain alternatives to your food favorites, like pasta, bread, rice, and even waffles and pancakes.  Instead of eating white rice, try brown rice, which comes in long grain, short grain, jasmine and basmati.  Giving up white rice, for me, is akin to pulling out all my teeth. Those who know my eating habits and preferences well know that I can eat white rice three times a day. Variety for me amounts to eating jollof rice instead of white. However, I have no real excuse because whole grain versions of rice are actually quite tasty. Instead of giving up white rice, or white bread, all at once, you could try gradually supplementing your diet with the more healthy kind.  Speaking of jollof rice, brown rice holds its own very well in the dish and gives it a lovely texture.   If you are feeling particularly adventurous, experiment with other grains like bulgur wheat and quinoa.  

We should avoid other processed foods and drinks like junk, fast and sodium-high foods like donuts, cakes, pastries, cookies, potato chips, fries, pizza, sodas and canned food. Eat healthy snacks like fresh fruits, carrot and celery sticks (without the accompanying and customary dips), whole grain pretzels, whole grain popcorn, nuts (in small quantities because they are high in calories), dried fruits like raisins (within moderation because they are high in sugar) and Greek yogurt (which you should sweeten with fruit, avoiding added sugar).

I will provide one word of caution: watch the labeling on the processed products that you do buy.  You should buy products with ingredients that state whole wheat or whole grain (compare enriched wheat which is actually refined flour). If you are concerned about price, Asian Stores and wholesalers like Sam’s Club sell whole grain rice at fairly reasonable prices. In addition, avoid ingredients like hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated fat, trans fats, high-fructose corn syrup, monosodium glutamate, artificial colors and flavors, and preservatives.

Transforming the way we eat is a gradual process, but taking those little steps will be of long term benefit to our health.

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 I Corinthians 3: 16-17 (ESV):

¹⁶ Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? ¹⁷If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Happy New Year!  I pray that 2010 will overflow for you with God’s divine favor, love, peace, joy, prosperity and excellent health. Last week, I talked briefly about God’s mandate, in the Bible verses quoted above, to take care of our bodies, as temples of the Holy Spirit, and about my personal commitment to make healthy living a priority for 2010.

I am glad to report that I have already taken small steps to further my pledge. Between Tuesday and yesterday, I have done three walking/running sessions, each of the last two covering six miles, as part of training for half-marathon (13.1 mile) races (for more information, visit www.charmcityrun.com). I began exploring the idea of training for a half-marathon eighteen months ago, but it was not until last week, Tuesday, that I finally undertook the first outing. During my first session, I would have thrown in the towel but for God’s grace! I arrived a few minutes late at the Goucher College race track in Towson where I had planned to meet up with the rest of the training group and our coach. I encountered a woman who told me that our team mates had already headed out. We set off together, jogging at a low pace, to look for the other trainees.  However, I appeared to have chosen one of the coldest and most bracing nights so far of this winter for my first half-marathon training attempt!  After a few minutes, my companion said to me, “You may run ahead if you’d like.”  I replied truthfully, “I can’t.” At that point, I was breathless and frozen solid, I needed to go to the bathroom, and I was beginning to re-examine my decision to participate. After approximately ten minutes, she began to take the lead- what she had really meant earlier was, lady, I really don’t want to proceed at your snail-like pace, and since I have graciously offered that you don’t have to slow down on my account, likewise, you won’t mind if I take off and leave you behind.  In any case, after several more minutes, she was far ahead of me, and because it was immediately apparent that I would never catch up with her and I had no idea where she was going, I decided that I would reduce my speed, walk as far as the entrance to the campus, which was a good distance away, and then walk back to get my car. 

As I heaved, huffed and puffed on my way back to the car, I came across several groups of runners all racing in the opposite direction, some of whom said “hi” and waved at me in an annoyingly cheery and unflappable manner. Each time I saw a group approaching, I would start to run and put on a cheery and unflappable face; as soon as they went past, I stopped running.  However, when I got to the car, I discovered that I couldn’t bring myself to leave, as that seemed to amount to an unacceptable admission of defeat. I set out again along the route that I had just completed; to abbreviate this tedious tale, I eventually did locate my trainer and team mates and I made the decision that I would stay the course.     

 Making Good Food Choices

Nutrient - packed Fruits and Vegetables

 

I gave my word that, this week, I would start sharing some tips on how to make better food choices. We have documented examples in the Bible about individuals making food choices that were beneficial for them. In Daniel 1:8-15, we read that Daniel requested vegetables and water for himself and his companions instead of the rich food and drink consumed in King Nebuchadnezzar’s palace, which resulted in healthier appearance and better nourishment for them.

Certain foods we will find are key in fighting disease. We should make it a priority to consume nutrient packed fruits and vegetables. Anti-oxidants like flavonoids and vitamins A, C and E, keep brain cells in prime condition, neutralize free radicals that damage them, and improve memory. Blueberries and spinach are examples of powerful anti-oxidants. The B vitamin folate (found in kale and spinach)) also improves brain function and helps prevent birth defects. Lycopene, another anti-oxidant, may reduce the risk of some cancers.  Lycopene is found in tomatoes, especially when cooked or processed, and better absorbed when eaten with healthy fats (I will provide information about healthy fats in a future column.) Beta carotene, found in tomatoes, apricots, mangoes and carrots, may help fight heart disease and protect eyesight. Isothiocyanates, contained in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower, fight breast cancer.

Generally speaking, the darker the fruit or vegetable, the more nutrients it contains.  For example, a cup of spinach has about three times as much folate, and nearly eight times as much beta carotene as a cup of ice berg lettuce. However, iceberg has more potassium than arugula lettuce, and romaine has even more, so you should mix dark and light green leaves for maximum protection from disease.

Now that you are totally confused, you only need remember one rule of thumb, which is that colorful fruits and vegetables contain a range of anti-oxidants and nutrients. For maximum effect, on a daily basis, eat a variety of fruits like blueberries, plums, grapes, pineapple, guava, apples, kiwi, and oranges, and vegetables like spinach, broccoli, eggplant, squash, red cabbage, bell peppers, and carrots.

It is worth mentioning that anti-oxidants are also contained in dark chocolate.  Dark chocolate contains flavonoids, reducing inflammation which may lead to heart attacks. Enjoy one to two ounces a day (look for chocolate containing 70% cocoa). Green tea is rich in flavonoids which improve mental performance and may help with weight loss. Coffee also contains anti-oxidants, but be careful about your caffeine intake and choose decaffeinated as far as possible.

Next week, I will continue my discussion of nutritionally beneficial foods. I will leave you for now with the following exhortation from the Apostle Paul:

Hebrews 12:1 

¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…”

As you set off to achieve your targets for 2010, whether those goals pertain to improving your Christian journey, ameliorating your eating habits, exercising or losing weight, I pray that God will give you the endurance to persevere in spite of any obstacles, the determination to succeed, and the stamina to keep going even when you are weary.

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I Corinthians 3: 16-17 (ESV) tells us:

 ¹⁶ Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? ¹⁷If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Our Pastor George Akhigbe recently taught us the difference between the “reality” of certain symptoms of ill health that we perceive, and the truth, which is that as children of God, we can lay claim to perfect health by virtue of the fact that Jesus, our Lord and Savior, died for our sins, and that by His stripes, we are healed.  (I Peter 2:24.) If we exercise the power that we possess as children of God to decree healing in our bodies, we will be healed.   My brothers and sisters in the Lord, I put it to you that we can ensure that “reality” lines up with the truth by obeying God’s mandate, which is that we take care of our bodies, as temples of the Holy Spirit. We pray for healing and flock to healing and deliverance services, when the truth is that we have the power of healing in our hands, not just by decreeing in prayer that our bodies are healed, but, in certain situations, by taking the necessary actions to aid healing, and even to prevent ill health in the first place.

We need to grow spiritually and strengthen our inner minds. In addition, when we are weary and weak, God will rejuvenate us and we will soar like eagles (Is. 40:29-31). However, we have to play a role in taking care of ourselves physically. It is our sacred duty as Christians, in whom the Holy Spirit resides, to pay attention to our bodies, which is God’s temple. This is the mandate that God gives us; we do not have a choice in the matter if we wish to be obedient children of God. As we go about our work building the Kingdom of God, it is imperative that we take care of ourselves so that we will have the strength and health to be effective in doing God’s work. 

If we ask God for wisdom, knowledge and understanding, He will grant such to us (2 Chronicles 1:8-12). We have to use the wisdom He gives us accordingly to do the following things:

• Eat and drink in a manner beneficial to our God-given bodies and make healthy nutritional choices in food preparation and consumption
•  Get adequate rest
  • Exercise
  • Minimize stress; and
  • Lose weight, if necessary, and maintain a healthy weight.

At the end of October, I presented a seminar paper in Chicago on Taking Care of the Temple of God: Making Wise Nutritional Choices.  I am ashamed to say that in recent months, I have barely practiced what I preach.  I have found, like the Apostle Paul, that “I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” (Romans 7: 18, NIV).  I can relate to what Paul says in Romans 7:23 (Amplified Bible):

²³But I discern in my bodily members [in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh] a different law (rule of action) at war against the law of my mind (my reason) and making me a prisoner to the law of sin that dwells in my bodily organs [in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh].

I am almost certain that some of the poor health symptoms that I currently perceive in myself, like painful knee joints, would go away if I consistently followed God’s directions for healthy living. However, with 2010 fast approaching, I have determined to make a permanent commitment to healthy living. I hope that you will make a similar determination to make changes in your life where necessary.  Join me every week as I offer guidance on how we should take care of ourselves, and also share with you my struggles and triumphs in taking care of the precious temple of God. Next Sunday, I will discuss how to make wise nutritional choices.

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The Men of Faith Annual Conference took place Saturday, November 14, 2009 at Kahler Hall in Columbia. The event on many accounts was a success with over sixty attendants present.  Themed “At Times Like These”, the  conference started out with opening prayer and praise and worship, followed by light humor by HOG’s very own “MCJ” – Deacon Johnson Siyanbade, the Master-of-Ceremony.

The conference feature segments included a musical rendition by the MOF choir, and a Men’s Health session by Dr. Noah Agada (a medical doctor by profession, and researcher at Johns Hopkins University). During the health segment, people had the opportunity to ask involved and detailed questions about health issues inherent to men, Nigerians, and Nigerians in Diaspora.

A second period of praise and worship ensued for approximately 20 minutes, ushering in the keynote speaker, Pastor Nimi Wariboko,  a coordinator of The Redeemed Christian Church of God North America (RCCGNA), a seasoned man of God, and a man of notable accomplishments (see Praises for Nigerian over application of Nobel Prize winning work and Nigerian Pastor Makes History). Pastor Wariboko led the men and women present through a period of prayer, and spoke on, the “Four-Part Blessing”, a sermon that married personal finance with related principles from the bible that are tried and true.

Sunday, November 15, the final day of the MOF anniversary weekend was a Thanksgiving service. The men danced forward and rejoiced, giving God all the glory. Pastor Nimi Wariboko delivered the sermon, and instructed the church in the importance of the Lord’s Prayer – bringing alive the bible text found in Matthew 6:10.   The message was titled, “From heaven above, to heaven ahead”.

House of Glory Men of Faith, are definitely in action this new season. The evening of Friday, November 13, 2009 was set aside for prayer by the men. Each man prayed for the church, and called upon God for the strength to be the man that God has called him to be – a high priest in the home, a good husband and father.

House of Glory is definitely excited about the immense impact the Men of Faith, as a group, have on the church and we pray that this noted success will be overshadowed by far greater successes in the future. House of Glory congratulates the Men of Faith in the marking of their anniversary!

Additional pictures from the Men of Faith Anniversay celebration can be seen here on the House of Glory Facebook page. If you are not yet a fan on Facebook, consider becoming one!

Popularity: 31% [?]

The Men of Faith, empowered and emboldened, are coming out in full force this year with their annual conference (November 13-15), “At Times Like These”, a two-day event catering to the Christian man and Christian father. Without a doubt, this is a conference to be a part of. Why? Because the House of Glory Men of Faith are all about debunking the emerging trend suggesting that men in the church are generally less active than their female counterparts due to responsibilities and societal expectations. 

Join us to be a part of this radical move – at times like these.

What Can You Gain from this Conference?

• Re-energize your Christian walk with God
• Learn innovative ways to balance spiritual necessities with daily demands
• Receive encouragement to revive your family altar while performing your priestly duties
• Discuss issues (financial, spiritual, career development) peculiar to men and how to master and improve on them

 

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Men of Faith Conference. November 13-15.

Featuring Pastor Nimi Wariboko (Guest Speaker) and Pastor George Akhigbe (Host Pastor)

Friday 7:00pm - Prayer Meeting @ RCCG House of Glory

Saturday 11-4pm – Annual Conference @ Kahler Hall. 5440 Old Tucker Row, Columbia MD.

Sunday 10:30am – Thanksgiving Service @ RCCG House of Glory

Click here for directions to House of Glory

 

*Article co-authored with Bade Adedayo

 

 

Popularity: 48% [?]

Delivered by Pastor Stella Babalola at the DOZ conference, “Things to Remember and things to forget”, is a message that both men and women, young and old, can make practical in their daily walk with God.

In her introduction, Pastor Babalola emphasized the importance of having the oil in our lives in order to perform the works of God, just as Jesus did.  She said, “If Jesus needed to be anointed to fulfill the purpose of God, then we will certainly need it as well.”

Acts 10:37-38

“You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— ³⁸how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” 

Before we can move forward and appropriate God’s purpose for lives on earth, there are certain things that we must forget and others that we must remember.  These things, as discussed below, can either compromise or enhance the oil in our lives.

Isaish 43:18

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”

Psalm 103:2

“Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits”

7 Things to Forget

• The mistakes you have made personally – at your job, in your marriage,  or things you have said to people.  Forget these bad decisions you have made and make the best of your current situation, looking unto Jesus for a new dawn, a new day.
• The evil people have said and done to you –  remember that it is not about you; what is at stake is the work of God.  Holding back forgiveness prevents God’s oil from flowing in our lives.
• Past failures –  if you fail an exam twice, you may require a third try to pass.  Don’t stop at your point of failure,  don’t not dwell at your level of loss.
• Your sinful past:  we are all saved by grace.  So long as you remain in the sins of your past, you cannot transcend into the new.  It is a new day, a new dawn.  If God has forgiven you, then you need to forgive yourself.
• Your achievements/success:  whatever we are is what God allows us to be.
• Your kindness and generosity:

  Isaiah 64:6

  “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf,  and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”

• The grudges you hold compromise the oil in our lives

7 Things to Remember

• Remember the faithfulness of God:

  Malachi 3:6

  “I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.”

• Remember the source of the good things in your life.

  James 1:17

  “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

• Remember to pray
• Remember the mercies of God: when you ask something from God, instead of doubting, remember what God has done in the past.
• Remember the word of God:  there is a word for every situation in your life
• Remember the suffering of Christ:  Christ said, “..in this life you will have tribulations”
• Remember that life is too short: you don’t want your life to be shorter. Some things we carry eat us up from the inside, compromising our service to God and our relationships with our spouses.

Popularity: 38% [?]

Have you ever found yourself in situations where you tried handling things with your own knowledge and by your own might?

Well that is exactly the kind of situation I found myself in when I started medical school in Dominica.  I went there with my own ideas of what “I” would do to ensure my success spiritually and academically. But I thank God for his grace that helped me, through prayer, to realize that there can be no true “success” until I completely let go and let God!

Let me share a few testimonies of how, through prayer God moved so that His will would be done in my life.

Friends From God

Prior to traveling to Dominica, I had purposed in my heart that what I needed to do to ensure excellence in my school work was to live by myself, keep friend making and social entertainment to a bare minimum.  In retrospect I don’t believe this was a terrible plan, but the key is that it was not God’s plan!

A day after arriving in Dominica a young lady approached me while I was eating in a Chinese restaurant.  She introduced herself as a sister of another new student, OJ, and we carried on a short conversation thereafter.  Before long OJ became a good friend, my roommate, my prayer partner, my study partner and confidant.   OJ’s exceptional knack for organization and planning really helped us create an effective study schedule for ourselves throughout the semester. I thank God for that God-ordained meeting, in the Chinese restaurant, that allowed our paths to cross and our lives to be forever changed!

As my first semester commenced, God began to place other wonderful women of God, Nanna, Sandra, Nana (different from Nanna) and Esther into my life.  Each person had their unique testimonies of where God brought them from and an unwavering faith of where God is taking them.  Not only did we form a study group among ourselves, but we became one another’s source of encouragement when school became too overwhelming.  I remember countless occasions where as soon as one of us started to panic or breakdown a night or two before our upcoming exam, the rest of us would immediately stop studying and meet in someone’s apartment.  During that visit, we would worship, pray and cry if need be and encourage one another in the Lord for hours until everyone’s faith was restored.  Little did we know that this act of love to one another was only incubating us for the spiritual birthing that was to come in the form of a prayer group.

Prayers That Avail Much!

James 5:16, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

This verse is one that I have “known” for the most part of my life. However, it became clear to me, while in Dominica, that my “knowledge” of this verse lacked the understanding and wisdom needed to put it into practice in my life. 

A song says: “prayer is the key, prayer is the master key. Jesus started with prayer and ended with prayer…”

Indeed prayer is the key to opening doors in heaven and on earth, and once we (as a group of young ladies) realized that, through this verse, we began to meet several times a week to pray.  Through prayer, exams were passed even if it was only by a single point! God gave just enough to make it through and sometimes, He surpassed our wildest imaginations.  Through prayer, sicknesses were healed among us, co-signers were provided for those of us who needed one, loans were granted, families were reunited, relationships restored and strengthened, past hurts were forgiven and souls were won into God’s kingdom. 

This prayer meeting continued throughout my 5 semesters (20months) in Dominica and is still continuing even as all 6 of us have finished successfully. 

I thank God for the people He placed in my life and the  experiences I had, in Dominica and US, they have taught me to pray at all times: when in doubt, when fearfull, in times of sadness or weakness and even in times of confidence and strength.  It is my prayer that every student that reads this article will be encouraged to put God first, even in their academics.  Because our God is a God of excellence, if we seek Him first, I believe we that we can do great exploits!

 

 

Popularity: 28% [?]