Topic: REFUSE TO ACCEPT ANY UGLY SITUATION – Bishop Mike Okonkwo Devotional 12 May 2020 [The Redeemed Evangelical Mission]

REFUSE TO ACCEPT ANY UGLY SITUATION

“Jabez prayed to the God of Israel: ‘Bless me, O bless me! Give me land, large tracts of land. And provide your personal protection – don’t let evil hurt me.’ God gave him what he asked.”

1 Chronicles 4:10 (MSG)

I want to challenge you, as you journey through life, never accept anything contrary to what God has ordained for you. Stand your ground in the victory that Jesus Christ has obtained for you, and you shall see the salvation of the Lord. Often, believers give up too easily. They accept their circumstances and situations as their lot rather than stand their ground for victory. Beloved, if you must be all that God has purposed for you to be, then you must be careful what you accept.

In the book of 1Chronicles 4:9-10, the Bible tells us an interesting story about a man called Jabez who was described as honourable. Despite his honour, his problem started when his mother bore him and gave him a name which literarily means ‘sorrow’. Jabez understood what it meant to encounter closed doors in life. He was victimized by those who should have shown him love and given him succour. Everywhere Jabez went, sorrow went with him. Can you imagine how he felt? He could have given up and accepted the situation as his lot. But not Jabez, he decided he wasn’t going to simply accept it.

He refused to just resign and accept the cards life had dealt him. Jabez decided to call upon the God who can turn any situation around. And God intervened in his life. Jabez’s story changed because he refused to just accept his predicament as final. He knew that God could make impossibilities possible.

Child of God, I don’t know what contrary situation you have accepted as your lot. I don’t know what has garaged you and kept your head bowed. But one thing I know is that we serve a God that can turn any situation around. All God is looking for is someone who will refuse to accept that contrary situation and He will step in.

Further Reading: 1Chronicles 4:9-10, Psalm 34:3-19

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- 2 Kings 15-16; Evening- John 3:1-18