Today’s Readings:
2 Samuel 24:2,8-17
Psalm 32:1-2,5-7
Mark 6:1-6
The easiest three hundred and fifty thousand naira I ever made was a deal that was sealed in 30 minutes. I was on a journey from Lagos to Ilorin when a priest I only knew by reputation called my phone, asking how much it costs to do a live stream of a parish event for a week. I gave him our price and he asked me to send our bank account details. In less than 20 minutes, he had made payment in full, even after asking for a discount which I graciously offered.
When I told him that he had overpaid, he simply said, “Use the extra for your transport”. Familiarity, they say, breeds contempt. Why is this? Those who know you well, cannot understand or perceive what makes you uniquely gifted. To them, you are just “The Carpenter’s son”, “the son of Mary”, the one who used to run around in diapers, whose brothers and sisters never left the ghetto. They want to bring you down to their level because they cannot deal with the thought that someone, they have always known has risen above them. Jesus rose above the community he grew up in and became renowned as a prophet. And he mourned his people’s lack of faith.
You are not like anyone else. You are more than what others say about you. You are not restricted to the place you were born or the family you are from. You are a child of God, uniquely gifted and particularly priceless. Your self-esteem is dependent on what God says about you—that you are fearfully and wonderfully made in His image and likeness. You are more than enough. Your voice needs to be heard and your gifts need to be shared. You will go far and exceed expectations. You will flourish and break new ground. You will live, be fruitful and prosperous because God says so. God rates you.
JUDE-MARY OWOH
To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud:
Father, I acknowledge my sin against You. I repent and ask for forgiveness, in the name of Jesus. I believe and surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, take control of my heart and lead me in Your path of righteousness. Thank You, Lord! If you said the above short prayer, Congratulations! Prayerfully look for a living church and report to the resident reverend, pastor or priest.
Prayer:
May God use you to bring about positive transformation where you are in Jesus’ name.
May God bless the work of your hands and grant you success in all your endeavours in Jesus’ name.
May the plans of the evil one and his agents to bring you down or wear you out with criticisms prove to no avail in Jesus’ name.
May you rise from glory to glory and from grace to great grace every day in Jesus’ name.
May you discover daily that you are more than what others say about you and that you will do great exploits to the glory of God in Jesus’ name?
All those who spoke ill of you shall turn around and praise you in Jesus’ name.
And God will crown your efforts and hard work with resounding success and eternal happiness through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Eternal Father, give me grace to see myself as you see me; graceful, beautiful, worthy of love and respect. Help me to command respect and treat others as I wish to be treated through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Comments