wisdom

Psalm 16: 5 Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure [New international version]

I may start by asking the question, what is a lot? A lot could mean different things to different people. The meaning could differ, depending on how the word is used. It could be used as an adverb, in which case it tells us the quantity; lots of beans, or the frequency; she goes to the grocery store a lot.
It could also be used in other ways.

I want to focus on its use as a noun. The word ‘lot’ here refers to a piece of land. In the developing world, lot is referred to as land. So when you own a piece of land, and later on erect a building, you are known as a ‘landlord’. In developed countries, you are referred to as a ‘Homeowner’ having built a house on your lot.

Some people buy lots in developing countries, and can never be sure that it belongs to them alone. You have to pay frequent visits to the lot, just to make sure somebody else has not gone to erect his own building on your property. This leads to frequent fights for just one piece of land and sometimes could be fatal. Both buyer and seller do not have peace of mind.

It sounds strange to people in developed countries like Canada, United States, United kingdom just to name a few, but it is true. This has happened to people we know of. This insecurity is as a result of deliberate dishonesty on the part of the lot owner or village head who sells one single piece of land to two or more persons. Eventually, with this fight, the lot is left vacant or the fiercer buyer wins.
In contrast, in developed countries, having made your down payment, the builder tells you to collect the keys to your home within 9 to 12 months. I remember asking the builder, was that all we needed to do? Oh yes! He said, or you could call a few days to the possession date to set the process in motion. Were we comfortable with the response? No of course, we still had to go behind him to visit the lot, just to make sure that things were going on well. There was actually no need for that because things went perfectly fine.

If man could give his word concerning our home and it all worked fine, how much more should we rely on God’s word?

My Lot could mean all that pertains to me, or all that are connected to me. It could be my children, family, work, health, ministry or anything or anyone with relevance to me.
If the Lord is my portion or my ration or whom I can claim or lay hold unto, why should my lot not be secured? The Lord shall secure your lot and mine in Jesus name.

Verse 6 says, ‘The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places, surely I have a delightful inheritance’

People can no longer move the boundary lines against us, but it shall always be in our favour from this day forth and for ever more, in Jesus name. Amen.

Prayer
Help me Lord to understand that my Lot is secured in you and you alone in Jesus name.

Author: Esther Agbi

Victory over Afflictions

Bible Nugget 0312 [Psalm 34 v 19-20 KJV]

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

Take a time to reflect on this question; “who do you run to in the times of trouble”. Do you run to man or resign yourself to fate and say whatever happens should happen or do you simply give up and become overwhelmed by the problem. If you do that you will always live in defeat instead of victory, because another problem or a replica of the first problem will arise. It is like an infection that needs a strong dose of penicillin to cure it; if you keep treating the problem with kid’s gloves it will keep repeating itself. No matter the degree of difficulty of the problem you may have or be facing at this time, there is one solution; God himself. He is faithful. He promised deliverance from all types of trouble which has ever been registered on the face of the earth. There was a friend of mine who was told by his teacher that he will face all kinds of trouble and that there will be no help for him. The friend indeed faced all types of troubles but when he sits to reflect on the victories achieved over the troubles as they arose, he sees only one hand in his deliverance; God himself. The scripture is very instructive on trusting God for help:

1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV)

¹³There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

No one is immune from troubles. Even, the very spiritual faces troubles. However, no matter the level of affliction you are in, God promised a way of escape. That is the good news to your troubles. David as a Sheppard boy before he became king faced all types of trouble, plots and schemes from King Saul who tried to prevent him from reaching the throne. He may have counted some of the troubles when he wrote the verses of our beginning nugget.

The Lord Jesus himself was faced with many troubles and temptations, yet without sin. Heb 4:15

¹⁵For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

From birth, Herod plotted to kill the young child. God sent protection and deliverance, keeping the young child. By all bible account it must have been very special divine protection Jesus received until he was 30 years of age when he began his ministry, because the devil through King Herod and the Jews of that age would have exterminated him before his public ministry. When he first revealed himself to Israel as their Messiah in Luke 4:15-30, they were filled with wrath and took him to the edge of a cliff to throw him down. How special was his deliverance, or how do you think it was possible without divine help? Read the account for yourself in Luke 4:28-30.

²⁸And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,

²⁹And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.

³⁰But he passing through the midst of them went his way,

After this incident, the trials any temptations only multiplied, but he overcame them all. His word to the disciples was not that they will be immune from problems as Christians but they should be encouraged because he as our forerunner overcame all types of tribulations.

John 16:33

³³These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

So next time you are faced with a fresh trouble, do not resign yourself to fate or give up. Be as bold as a lion, and let the king of kings sort it out for you. No problem is insurmountable in the name of the Lord Jesus. Cast all your cares on him for he cares for you. Ask God to send divine help. He can navigate all troubled waters surrounding you and bring you safely to shore. If it means sending angels to help you, God will do it. Recall the story of the children of Israel before the red sea. The red sea was before them and Pharaoh and his army were behind them. Moses said to the children of Israel; fear not and you shall see the salvation of the Lord. God sent a strong wind that divided the red sea into two, so that the children of Israel walked through the dry land in the sea which the Egyptians trying to do, were drowned. The Lord will break the cycle of troubles you are facing and bring divine solution to all your problems in Jesus Name. The desire of God is to bring every problem you are facing to an end. Be encouraged by this scripture: Nahum 1: 7, 9 (NIV)

⁷ The LORD is good,
a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him,

⁹ Whatever they plot against the LORD
he will bring to an end;
trouble will not come a second time.

Prayer Nugget 0312

Thank God for victory you have enjoyed so far in every area of your life as follows:

1. Lord thank you for the victory over every affliction that I have encountered in my life. Thank for raising a standard against the raging forces of the enemy in my spiritual, marital, financial and secular life in Jesus Name.

2. Thank you for proclaiming your peace over the raging storms and granting me success and favour in the works of my hand.

3. Thank you for my wife and children for blessing them extremely and disgracing the works of the enemy over their life.

4. Thank you for your divine wisdom to deal with every affliction and making a way out when the enemy says there is no way.

5. Thank you for deploying your angelic forces to destroy the sources and stronghold of affliction in Jesus name. Amen.

Address every affliction against you and command them to bow in Jesus Name.

6. You affliction sent to trouble me, be troubled and return to the sender in Jesus Name.

7. My life will not be an attraction to the evil insects of affliction. Every evil insect of affliction trying to deposit affliction on me in whatever shape or form be roasted by the fire of the Holy Ghost in Jesus Name.