August 17 Fight
for Life (2) ©C DIEGO 2015
Nehemiah 4:17 AMP Those
who built the wall and those who bore burdens loaded themselves so that
everyone worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other hand
Israel with only 7.1
million people, no natural resource and bordered by enemy-nations on every side has been
fighting wars none stop since its nationhood- 1948. That’s 67 years! Israel has managed to turn out some awesome
feats: with over 50% of the land area as desert & only 20% naturally arable
and only 3.7% of its population involved in agriculture, it produces 95% of its
food and agriculture accounts for 2.5% GDP. Next to America, it’s the largest
technology hub. Jews make up 45% of the top 40 of Forbes 400 (America’s richest);25% of all
American Nobel Prize winners; 20% of professors at leading universities…
Why have I reeled all these statistics? To tell you that life is for living! Don’t be so
engrossed in fighting for life that you forget to LIVE LIFE!! Statistically,
Israel in more unsafe than Nigeria, yet annually more and more people elect to
go to Israel! Don’t be deceived, the reason Nigeria is more backward than
Israel is not so much because of terrorism as because of an absence of a will
to thrive! Whatever front we may be
fighting our war of life, please lets determine the following ahead: 1. You will win or 2. Die trying!
It’s amazing how
if we’re not careful, we can elect to live a less than par life,
not quite what we dreamed, but at least we are alive? Really? Stop accepting
the unacceptable! We want more people in God's kingdom? A spouse? Child?Job?House? Etc. Please lets stop pretending we don’t want what we do! Check the spiritual and physical dimensions.
Conduct honest reviews and ACT! We must stop waiting for life to happen to us! Lets go happen to life!
Lord, thank you for
grace to fight hard&live well
August 18 Fight
for Life (3) ©C DIEGO 2014
Jeremiah 6:16...Stand
by the roads and look...ask for the eternal paths...then walk in it, and you
will find rest for your souls...
In fighting for
life: Be a student of history and LIFE.
My mum got married at 18, left her family and all that was familiar and went
all the way to Kano by road with a young Air force officer, 28 whom she had met working as a receptionist in
a Hotel and dated for about 6 months (he did not live in Lagos). She had never been to Kano, knew
no soul there. Yet, when he & his 6 relatives came to ask for her hand in
marriage, she parked up all her worldly goods in a taxi (he had no car) and
went.
Apart from showing off
my family history which I’m currently writing, I told you that story to show the
simplicity of life 43 years ago. Today, everything is complex- the guy must be
a graduate, at least 30, drive a car (s), have a nice house, the church must
inspect the house (dad lived in the mess at this time by the way-this is like a
hotel for military personnel). The woman must be a graduate, slim, tall, rich, etc.
They must date at least one year and have a wedding that gulps a fortune (how else
can they and their families prove their wealth and ‘levels’?)
These creates problems:
1. People marry older 2. older women are less PHYSICALLY attractive to men,
older men are more attractive to women (in general), men therefore, fish in a wider
pond 3. Infertility rises with age! This is a NATURAL problem! Other dimensions
like serial dating,sexual exposure and demons can make this complex but at the
surface, the reason more people are unmarried/ infertile is because of the
complexity introduced into the marriage equation. Even when people marry ‘young’ by today’s standards,
they are still significantly older than God’s original design.
Before you go demon
chasing and pulling heaven down, do you understand the natural dimensions of
your issues?
Lord, teach me to pray with understanding
August 19 Fight
for Life (4) ©C DIEGO 2015
2 Corinthians 10:4 AMP
For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood],
but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of
strongholds,
If
marriage and infertility are not your issues,
you can replace them with anything that's your own: poor business, lack
of money, job etc. I am amazed at the number of people who say they are looking
for jobs for example, who mindlessly forward their cvs through the black hole of
the internet, even though research shows that people are more likely to get
jobs through relationships, or people who manage to live for 3 decades and have
no mentors/friends who can pull them by the ears, tell them what they don't
want to hear or people who want to be rich and have no rich friends.
I know you've always
read today’s verse as a battle cry to get your fighting prayer on but
for today, I'd like for you to REALLY READ what the verse says: the weapons of
our warfare are not carnal BUT MIGHTY THROUGH GOD FOR THE PULLING DOWN OF STRONG
HOLDS(KJV). Tomorrow we'll go into details about what strong holds are (and it
might not be what you've always thought!)Let it just suffice to say that strong
holds are more about YOU, than any external force.
You are more critical
in this battle than a thousand demons put together, so today THINK! I know
you've been raised to almost associatethinking with sinning but give it a shot
today. Thinkthrough whatever issues face you, preferably with a pen and paper:
what are the REAL ISSUES? What are yourSTRONGHOLDS? Could you possibly be the
one restraining God? Then PRAY. I'm amused today by the fact that I once struck
off a potential suitor because he couldn't cook, it won't be so funny if it
wasn’t so pathetic, I had gotten that stronghold from the
movies. And seeing my dad cook maybe twice in my lifetime.What's your
stronghold?
Lord, thank you for
helping us pull down strongholds
Day 199 July 18Fight
for Life (5) ©C DIEGO 2014
2 Corinthians 10:5 AMP
[Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud
and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God…
I don’t know how this
verse became a demon chasing one, except of course the demon is you! But please
READ it for yourself slowly: REFUTE ARGUMENTS AND THEORIES AND
REASONINGS AND EVERY PROUD AND LOFTY THING THAT SETS ITSELF UP AGAINST THE
[TRUE] KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. Because this is so critical, let’s carefully
break down each word into simple English, not Bible speak.
An argument is A SET OF
REASONS GIVEN IN SUPPORT OF AN IDEA, ACTION OR THEORY. THEORY IS A SET OF
ASSUMPTIONS, ACCEPTED FACTS THAT ATTEMPTS TO PROVIDE A PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATION
FOR OBSERVATIONS. REASONING IS THE ACTION OF THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING IN A
LOGICAL, SENSIBLE WAY. PROUD IS HAVING A HIGH OR EXCESSIVELY HIGH OPINION OF
ONESELF OR ONES IMPORTANCE. LOFTY- TO ACT LIKE ONE’S ABOVE EVERYTHING
ELSE. KNOWLEDGE: FACTS, INFORMATION, AND SKILLS ACQUIRED THROUGH EXPERIENCE OR
EDUCATION, THEORETICAL OR PRACTICAL UNDERSTANDING OF A SUBJECT. Isn’t it nice how
all these words just come together?
Whether or not you are
conscious about it, you have ARGUMENTS, THEORIES AND REASONINGS about
everything you are going through and they may be proud, lofty and AGAINST THE
TRUE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. For example, you could be quite satisfied with your
achievements in life, by Nigerian standards you’ve achieved yet by
God’s standard, you are a major underachiever because, you
haven’t done the things he’s specifically asked
you to do because you are afraid if you do them you’d fail.Or maybe you’ve stopped
believing for marriage, children, job, owning your own home/ business, etc
because you reason: if it was going to happen, it would have happened since and
now statistically speaking you are out but what does the TRUE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD
SAY?
Lord I thank you for
your true knowledge
Day 200 July 19 Fight
for Life (6) ©C DIEGO 2014
2 Corinthians 10:5 AMP
[Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud
and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God AND WE
LEAD EVERY THOUGHT AND PURPOSE AWAY CAPTIVE INTO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST…
It’s not enough to
just refute arguments- that’s where most of us stop! Yes we KNOW God means well for us,
our families, business, etc. We know, yet we suffer the debilitating effects of
failure, non achievement and depression! We must LEAD EVERY (not some) THOUGHT
AND PURPOSE AWAY CAPTIVE INTO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST!
Most of us are quite
good at refuting arguments but LEADING EVERY THOUGHT into obedience? I must
confess I am a learner! I can faithfully confess that I’m becoming better and
better each day, but when I hit a brick wall- maybe a presentation didn’t go well, I
wonder, am I really any good at this? I can be consistently praying and
believing God that my husband and I are becoming better at meeting each other’s needs, then
something happens and I throw my hands up and think: why do I even bother?
Perhaps you are a man
who is currently dependent on his wife and YOU KNOW YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE
or you are a woman completely dependent on your husband but you KNOW HE WHO
WOULD NOT WORK, SHOULD NOT EAT and you try but hit brick walls, the tendency is
to give up! Maybe that’s how God wants it! But a better option is to LEAD YOUR
THOUGHTS; don’t just allow your thoughts carry you. If your life’s experiences
are not OBEDIENT TO JESUS YET, don’t stop there, blaming the economy, and everyone
else but you.
If even one person can
do it, so too can you! Stop excusing yourself and giving sound arguments for
being where you hate to be. Dig deeper into God, ask empowering questions and
remember, it’s not just about you- you’re giving your
children a blue print for their life’s expectations!
Lord teach me to LEAD
MY ALL THOUGHTS into OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST
Day 201 July 20 Fight
for Life (7) ©C DIEGO 2014
2 Corinthians 10:5 …AND WE LEAD
EVERY THOUGHT AND PURPOSE AWAY CAPTIVE INTO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST…
One last word on this
fight for life and leading thoughts: every soldier at a war front who aims to
be victorious and return home alive cannot afford to play with mental alertness
yet, I notice that if I am not careful I can forget that there is a war going
on, become casual about my dreams and visions, allow ‘some day’ become a
refrain for actions I KNOW I SHOULD BE DOING NOW, follow the crowd rather than
my heart...
LEAD is an active word,
meaning I might not feel like bringing every thought into the obedience of
Christ but I must, if I really desire to be thrilled at my life’s end. BUT WHAT
IS THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST? Simple answer: it is CHRIST’s OPINION ABOUT
EVERYTHING I’M DEALING WITH. I might be jobless and thinking: there are
no jobs, all the jobs are taken by nepotism. Or poor and thinking, the rich get
richer and poor get poorer; I’ll never get rich by honest means. Or single and thinking,
I’ll never get married, I’ve missed the bus.
Without a child and resigning myself to the fate of never having children-not
everybody has children, I’m even better than some…In an unhappy
marriage and thinking, it’ll never get better, I’ll just go with the
flow, if it breaks maybe I’d get a chance at another chance…Yet God’s word says:
the earth belongs to God, no good thing will he withhold from the righteous…
The interesting thing
about these thoughts is that they may never be voiced. People closest to us may
never imagine we’re thinking like this and because our thoughts create our
reality, we might find reinforcementst- marriage gets worse, no job, no spouse/
child, poverty, etc and we say: Aha! We said it! Never realizing we created our
undesirable circumstances because we FAILED TO LEAD OUR THOUGHTS INTO CHRISTS
OBEDIENCE!
Lord, teach me to lead
my thoughts consistently into your obedience
Day 202 July 21Pray for
Life ©C DIEGO 2014
Philippians 1:9-11 AMP
And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its
fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight [that your love may
display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive
discernment], So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve
and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the
best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be untainted
and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain
and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing
others to stumble]. May you abound in and be filled with the fruits of
righteousness (of right standing with God and right doing) which come through
Jesus Christ (the Anointed One), to the honor and praise of God [that His glory
may be both manifested and recognized].
The safest way I know
to successfully lead my thoughts into the obedience of Jesus Christ is to
maintain constantcontact with God in prayer. I may have responded unduly
sharply to a situation, disappointed God, myself or those dear to me in my
actions or inactions got tired of sticking with my dreams and purpose and
willing to throw in the towel and God would lead me to a thought, book or
person that would literally wake me up.
I'm sure you too have had similar experiences.
Just thinking about how
much prayer has saved me sentme thinking about the Pauline prayers and how
important it is to pray right. Frankly speaking, a lot of the prayers we make
are not scriptural, indeed if we are not careful, they have the markings of
paganism. In the next few days let's take a cue from Paul praying like him. You
don't have to cram the prayers or say them verbatim, but please
personalisethem, think through them and
ensure you pray in confidence.
Not fear, doubt or confusion.
Thank you Lord
forenabling me pray SCRIPTURALLY
Day 203 July 22Pray for
Life (1)©C DIEGO 2014
Ephesians 1:15-17 AMP
For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your
love toward all the saints (the people of God), I do not cease to give thanks
for you, making mention of you in my prayers. [For I always pray to] the God of
our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of
wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and
intimate] knowledge of Him,
Have you had an
appointment with a Nigerian Leader? He
asked you to come, you went, spending
money you didn't have. Waited for hours unending, days even and although
youtravelled miles and sacrificed important appointments, he was unable to see
you- 'responsibilities of state'.Depending on your relationship, his response
could range from a rude "come again"to a conciliatory, "please don't be angry, let's do next
week". No matter how miffed you are, you stomach it, claim you understand
even though you really don't understand how he could waste your time so! Fake smile in place, you promise to return.
This cycle may be repeated endlessly, yet wefaithfully return with great hopes.
God, who could
takelifefrom the richest, most powerful andmost connected, offers us protocol
free entrance into his presence 24/7 (some people's calendars are so fully
booked a 5 minute meeting with you requires one years' notice). Perhaps that's
why we come to him with attitude, like
he's our Butler and we his master. 'Speed it up, you should have answered by
now, you are too slow...' If GEJ or Obama promised us something we'd be more at
rest! But they and all the great men of the world combined are so beneath our
great Godthat even if we don't get our desires we should be so awed by having
his audience that we are satisfied.
Much like being invited
to the white house and merely shaking Obama 's hands/taking a picture would
leave most of us. Yet, he doesn't treat us thus! We enter his presence like
we're doing him a favour! We're too busy, too disapointed, too...How dare we
give God attitude and deify mere men?
Thankyou Lord for
granting me deep and intimate knowledge of you
Day 204July 23Pray for
Life (2)©C DIEGO 2014
Eph. 1.18-21...having
the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand
the hope to which He has called you and
how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set - apart ones)&
(so that you can know and understand) what is the immeasurable &unlimited
&surpassing greatness of His power in &for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty
strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead
&seated Him at his [own] right hand in the heavenly [places], Far above all
rule and authority &power &dominion &every name that is named
[above every title that can be conferred], not only In this world but also in
the age &in theworld which are to come.
Africans are especially
guilty of fearing Satan more than we fear Godand really if you've heard all the
'testimonies' of his 'greatness',
youcan't be blamed! If a 'Babalawo' and a pastorsay"I will deal with
you", the former istreated with more seriousness,
consultation&ferventprayers, whilst the laterreceives our amusement. I once
shared this thought and was told its because of Gods renowned goodness and
Satan's evil.ButI'mconvincedwe have more faith in Satan's 'badness' than in
God's goodness.
We are not sure if we
follow God earnestly, we'll end well but we are certain that if wemistakenly
mess with Satan, we are doomed! Why won't we walk around defeated and
worshipers of Satan exalted? Some of usspecialise in 'deliverance'
prayerstendingtowards Satan's glorification - as we spend time magnifying
Satan's work, learning his names & methods. Forgetting that God's majesty
&poweris in us, the same one that raised Jesus and exalted him aboveALL
powers now and in the ages to come.
I'm not criticising
anyone but if all you do is cast&bind fellowship with demons in
prayer, it's no wonder they exert more authority than God does in your life.
Lord, thank you for
light &understanding
Day 205July 24 Pray for
Life (3)©C DIEGO 2014
Ephesians 1:22-23 AMP
And He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal
and supreme Head of the church [a headship exercised throughout the church],
[Ps. 8:6.] Which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all [for in
that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who
fills everything everywhere with Himself].
The twin problems of
fear of man and fear of Satan promotesa dysfunctional church thatdespite
embodying the fullness of Jesus Christ, many times operates on levels far below
God's ideal. How do I know?Because of comments I hear all too often like:
"Let's go to church A or B, they pray HOT prayers, we need to do land
deliverance before things will work for us, my pastor says..."Then my
ultimate favourite, said to me by my
beloved mother of over 3 decades Christian standing when I remained single
despite much prayers - maybe you need deliveranceor you have a spiritual
husband?
Iaskedmy mum to show me
a Bible verse supportingGod and Satan joyfullysharing my spirit, she had none
but...These things happen, in Africa because the demons herewere of an
extraction beyond the scope of the Bible. Of course, she didn't say it in those
exact words, but that's my summary. I'm not criticising anyone or entering into
a debate about church practices but if we are the same church spoken of in
today'sverse that's headed by Jesus Christ and filled with all his fulness, we've
got work to do!
Let's startwith knowing
God's word &refusing to put ourselves under bondage irrespective of
people's experiences or practices that have no Biblical basis.
Lord, thanks for
filling your church with the fulness of you &for making mea part of your
Church&body!
Day 206July 25Pray for
Life (4)©C DIEGO 2014
Eph 3:10-12 AMP...that
through the church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its
infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic
rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the heavenly sphere. This
is in accordance with the terms of the eternal and timeless purpose which He
has realized and carried into effect in [the person of] Christ Jesus our Lord,
In Whom, because of our faith in Him, we dare to have the boldness (courage and
confidence) of free access (an unreserved approach to God with freedom and
without fear).
This is not really
aPauline prayerbut it continues the church theme which we must explore a
bitmore. According to theseverses, the churchis to display the many - sidedness
of God's wisdom to PRINCIPALITIES&POWERS.
Because through our faith in God, we have such awesome boldness of free
access to God without Fear!Thepowers most of us are afraid of, running from one
prophet to prayer house are actually supposed to be taking lessons from us,in
awe of our fearless access to God!
But in how manychurches
is this concept of our being wonders to be beheld in awe by principalities and
powers taught? Instead, we are taught
theirWONDERS! No wonder! we areafraid and Powerless! If you lead in church, please communicate
this truth, not just in small meetings but in main services: principalities and
powers are in awe of God’s many - sidedwisdom displayed through his church - you
&me! As a body we've got so much we'renot using because we're more
concerned with buildingmembership than disciples; acquiring things than pleasing God;
developing business contacts than people; popularity with men than power with
God! No offense to any church, or person, just a clarion callto walk in the
fullness of God's design. You are so powerful, nothing but you can restrainYou,
go succeed!
Lord, I thank you for
choosing to display yourwisdom through us!
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