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LIFTED BY THE WORD

“...Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.”
(1 Samuel 9: 27)

That is the Focal Scripture of Streams of Joy Devotional today.

Saul's elevation as King of Israel happened when Prophet Samuel showed him God's word. The showing of God’s word was the manifestation of the kingship God ordained for Saul. Saul’s contact with God’s word led to his Exceeding Expansion; Saul was shown God’s word, and then he was shown as king to his generation.

Friend, if God can show you His word, then He will show you to your generation. Your Exceeding Expansion is tied on God’s word. God’s word is the foundation for receiving more than you ask for. God’s word is the bedrock of whatever you will achieve this year. God’s word will attract your portion. God’s word is your comparative advantage. God’s word is the strategy for a year of Exceeding Expansion.

God’s word made arrangements for Saul’s elevation. As you hear, read, meditate on, and confess God’s word, it will raise you and set you on a high mountain, and open multiple doors for you; God’s word will make the impossible to become possible; God’s word will make your destiny impregnable and unconquerable; God’s word is the ladder you will climb to go higher.

Live in line with God’s word this year. Dare to obey God’s word to in all you do. Keep speaking the Word; keep living by the Word. Let the Word be on your lips always.

Saul didn't contest for the position of King of Israel, but God’s word brought it to him. God’s word will bring you things you may not be able to fight for. Others may go for it, but God’s word will bring it to you. Cling to God’s word and it will bring you Exceeding Expansion.

Prayer : Lord, I choose to cling to Your word; may it bring me Exceeding Expansion, in Jesus’ name!Amen
Enjoy A Super Sunday. Your Exceeding Expansion Just Began.

EXCEEDING EXPANSION

“And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.”
(1 Samuel 9: 27)

That is the Focal Scripture of Streams of Joy Devotional today.

Our Focal Scripture tells the tale of when Prophet Samuel announced Saul as the new king of Israel. Saul went out in search of his father’s lost asses, he went to achieve something for his father, but in a twist of fate, he ran into Prophet Samuel who announced God's word to Him. Samuel began as one who was seeking for lost asses, but he ended that day as king of Israel. Samuel experienced what could best be described as an Exceeding Expansion.

Friend, welcome to 2016. This is your year of Exceeding Expansion. You will move from wandering to possession; you will move from little to plenty; you will move from nothing to something; you will move from rejection to celebration; you will move from being denied to being given plenty; you will transit from obscurity to undeniable visibility; whatever God has put into your hands shall witness an exceeding expansion.

People were not there when Saul's kingship was announced, but they later saw that he had become king. His exceeding expansion was seen by all. God says, your Exceeding Expansion shall appear to all; it won't be hidden; it will be too obvious and too remarkable to be ignored.

You shall expand on all sides. You shall increase in your family, marriage, ministry, career, business, finances, relevance, etc. Your exceeding expansion will exceed all expectations.

Isaiah 54 vs. 3 sums it up: “For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.”

Prayer : Lord, in 2016, I shall have Exceeding Expansion on all sides, in Jesus’ name!Amen
Enjoy A Fantastic Year Ahead.

SEE FROM THE FUTURE

“...the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.”
(Matthew 2: 9)

That is the Focal Scripture of Streams of Joy Devotional today.

The wise men saw Jesus’ star before they saw Jesus. They saw stardom before they came in contact with the baby Jesus. The star told them that a king had been born. They connected to the Kingly personality of Jesus before connecting to His mortality. They connected to His majesty before meeting Him in His cradle.

Jesus’ Kingship was for future manifestation. His Kingship was a future matter. Others saw Jesus as a baby, from His present form, but the wise men saw Him through the eyes of the future before seeing the baby in Him. Others saw Jesus from the present to the future; the wise men saw Him from the future to the present.

Friend, see yourself through the eyes of the future. See yourself through the eyes of the greatness you will attain in 2016. See yourself through the binoculars of who you are yet to become, not who you are at the moment. See yourself through the eyes of your future achievements and accomplishments; see yourself through the eyes of your next level; see yourself through the eyes of tomorrow.

God Himself sees you through the eyes of mercy, and sees you, not as what you were or what you are, but who you will be. When you see yourself through the eyes of the future, there are things you would not get yourself involved in, for the sake of where you are going to. When men see you from the future to the present, they will treat you and speak to you based on where you are going to, not based on where you are.

It’s okay to remember where you used to be, and where you are at the moment; be grateful to God for where you are now and how far God has led you, but focus more on the future.

Prayer : Lord, I choose to see myself through the eyes of the future, in Jesus’ name!Amen
Enjoy A Blissful Thursday.

A CELEBRATED STAR

“When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.” (Matthew 2: 9)

That is the Focal Scripture of Streams of Joy Devotional today.

Jesus’ star didn’t appear in Jerusalem where Herod was. It appeared to the wise men who followed it until they came to where Jesus was. Herod was unhappy about the birth of a new King; he was not about to celebrate Jesus.

The wise men were interested in Jesus and came with gifts to celebrate Him. So the star did not appear where it would not be celebrated; it appeared where it would be celebrated.

Friend, God says, your star will appear where you will be celebrated. Your star will appear to people who would value you and treat you according to your worth. The star in you will be recognized by people who will respect and honour you and give you what you deserve. Men will recognize your abilities and give you massive rewards. Men will see your true worth and place you where you deserve. God will unveil your star to the right people.

God will open the eyes of the right people to see the star in you and treat you with honour and splendor. You may not know how to tell everyone that you are a star, but God will tell those who need to know so that they can recognize and place you where you belong.

Some haters will never recognize your star no matter how brightly you shine. Your haters may even outnumber your cheer leaders. If they are unwilling to see and celebrate the star in you, move on, there are people who are willing to recognize and celebrate you. Jesus’ star refused to appear to Herod, so don't appear before haters who don’t value you.

Know who you are. Know what you want. Know what you are worth. Don’t accept anything less. You are the best.

Prayer : Lord, open the eyes of people to see the star in me, in Jesus’ name!Amen
Enjoy A Wonderful Wednesday.

KEEP MOVING

“...lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.”
(Matthew 2: 9)

That is the Focal Scripture of Streams of Joy Devotional today.

The star of Jesus moved until it came and stood where Jesus was. The star was not static; it was a moving star. It was not a stagnant star; it was a star that made movements; it was a star that did not remain in the same position; it was a star that was in motion and kept moving.

Friend, God says, after you become a star, keep moving. Be a moving star; be a star that isn't stagnated; be a star that keeps improving; be a star that gets better and better; be a dynamic star; be a star that won't be at the same spot and same level from day to day and from year to year. Be a star that shines brighter and brighter each passing day.

If Jesus’ star kept moving, then you have no business being stagnant. Jesus’ example is one that has no business with stagnation. If you are stagnant in your work, you are not following Jesus’ example. If you remain on the same level, you are missing the mark.

If people cannot see anything new in you as you grow older, you are walking in stagnation. If where you were yesterday is same as where you are today, stagnation is at your doorstep.

Even when your physical location has not changed, something in you should be seen to change. Your skills should be seen to improve; your competence and dedication should be seen to increase; your relevance should be seen to grow. Even when you are confined in your environment, manifest a new thing.

The movement of Jesus’ star was not hidden. People saw the star moving. If indeed you are moving, your movement should be recognizable. Keep moving; even when you make progress, keep moving; no matter what you attain, keep moving.

Prayer : Lord, I must keep moving, in Jesus’ name!Amen
Enjoy A Blissful Tuesday.

NEGATIVE EMOTIONS

“When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.”
(Matthew 2: 3)

That is the Focal Scripture of Streams of Joy Devotional today.

In our Focal Scripture, Herod was troubled and all Jerusalem got troubled too. Herod was troubled that a new king had been born, and he got troubled to the extent that the entire city went into frenzy. Herod heard good news, but because he misunderstood the matter, he was troubled and the trouble multiplied in the city. What troubled Herod was multiplied.

Friend, God says, whatever troubles you has the capacity to multiply. If you allow worries to persist in your mind, it will multiply. If you allow a negative emotion to persist in you, it will multiply and become bigger than you ever imagined.

If you allow bitterness to persist, be careful, it will multiply; if you allow hate to persist in your mind, it will grow in leaps and bounds; if you allow anger to persist, it will increase and multiply. Any negativity you allow in your life has the capacity to multiply.

Herod opened the door of his mind to negative thoughts, and the entire city soon got infected with the same negative thoughts. Be careful how you allow negative thoughts to persist in you; the more you communicate it, the more you infect people around you. Whatever unsettles your mind has the capacity to multiply and unsettle the minds of people around you. Whatever negativity you practice has the capacity to become the practice of people connected to you.

Discard every negativity in you. Discard negative emotions and negative habits; don’t allow negativity to persist in your mind; don’t allow ill feelings to grow in you; put away anything in you that is not positive or worth retaining. Even if you have worries or struggles, don’t transmit them to people around you.

Prayer: Lord, I discard every negative emotion in Jesus’ name!Amen
Enjoy A Blessed Monday.

DIVINE REVELATION

“2. Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled...”
(Matthew 2: 2, 3)

That is the Focal Scripture of Streams of Joy Devotional today.

When the wise men saw the star that heralded Jesus’ birth, they went to Jerusalem and met Herod. Wisdom helped them to discern Jesus' birth; wisdom opened their eyes to a reality that was hidden to other people; wisdom helped them understand the time. Their wisdom discerned the present.

Herod later plotted to kill Jesus; but God revealed the evil plot to the wise men, and after visiting Jesus, they didn’t go back to Herod. When they first went to Herod, they had no idea that there was a future evil plot, but God revealed it to them. Wisdom discerned the present, but divine revelation unveiled the future.

Friend, wisdom may discern the present, but only divine revelation will unveil the future. Divine revelation will show you the things that are yet to come into being. Divine revelation will show you the opportunities that will become profitable and rewarding in the future, and will also show you the ones to run away from. Divine revelation will teach you what wisdom will not teach. Divine revelation will show you the future.

If you live your life entirely on the basis of wisdom, you might become a victim of the changing times and seasons. If you lack divine revelation, you might start off a journey that looks profitable and positive, but you might be caught in an unexpected change that will make a mess of your efforts, time and resources.

Wisdom is good enough but it is not enough; divine revelation is the way to go. Ask God to open your eyes to see the future; ask God to reveal and unveil the future.

Prayer : Lord, give me revelations about the future, in Jesus’ name!Amen
Enjoy A Super Sunday.

HELPED BY HEROD

“2. …we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3. …Herod the king had heard these things… 4. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.”
(Matthew 2: 2-4)

That is the Focal Scripture of Streams of Joy Devotional today.

When the wise men saw Jesus’ star, they came to Herod in search of the new born King. They came to someone who was actually an enemy in search of important information. They came to someone who was actually Jesus’ hater in search of information on how to locate Jesus.

Herod was a hater, but he summoned the chief priests and scribes and demanded information about Jesus' birth place. He was a hater, but he gathered useful information that was needed by the wise men. He was sad about Jesus’ birth, but he became a servant that provided information to the wise men.

Friend, God says, the Herod’s of this world will be servants in your destiny. Your haters are about to become your destiny informants. Those who prefer to work against you will soon become agents that will give you strategic information that will take you higher. The wicked men around you will turn to destiny helpers, bringing positive information that will open doors for you.

Herod may have had negative intentions when he sourced for information about Jesus’ birth place, but he worked as a servant all the same. Some haters may not be aware that their activities are about to open doors for you, but God says, they won't stop until the doors are open. Some haters will ignorantly open doors for you to enter your next level.

Don’t lose sleep whenever you discover that what you need is in the hands of a ‘Herod’. If Jehovah is involved, the ‘Herods’ and haters of this world will be servants, working for your next level.

Prayer : Lord, command the ‘Herods’ of this world to work for my good, in Jesus’ name!Amen
Enjoy A Restful Saturday.