THE SEED
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
I heard someone say, “God slowed me down”. It described how things slowed down for her, contrary to her plans. We usually do a quick fix to our schedule for the day as soon as we get up, which is human nature. You rush your eating, dressing, starting off the day. However, the first stop to your day’s plan could be getting stuck in traffic,vehicle, train or flight delays, etc. When such happens, you are helpless to move on and will now plan a change of direction. In today’s reading, God reduced the 32,000 men in Gideon’s army to 300, less than the enemy size. God had a plan and strategy, different from Gideon’s, who had already prepared a larger army. God does not depend on numerical strength or the strength of your plan. Many of us prefer to keep a plan in place. Change brings anxiety and a fresh worry; you have already mitigated risk in your original plan. Rather than becoming angry and disappointed, learn to see such stops as God’s ways of bringing goodness into your life. Proverbs 16:1 reminds us, “We can make our plans, but the LORD gives the right answer”. He will show you opportunities for better blessings instead of failure and rejection in your original plan. Have an open mind to see what God is bringing into your life as a new opportunity for blessing, and be on the lookout for that blessing. Never underestimate the power of God for you; he extends His mercy and lovingkindness to make you comfortable and live a better life; He is an extraordinary God, His plan for your life is better; trust Him.
BIBLE READING: Judges 7: 1- 8
PRAYER: Lord, let me live my life according to your plan for me.
IBUKUN NI ISEJU TI O KEYIN
IRUGBIN NAA
“Nitori mo mọ awọn eto ti mo ni fun ọ,” ni Oluwa wi, “awọn eto lati ṣe fun ọ ni rere, kii ṣe lati pa ọ lara, eto lati fun ọ ni ireti ati ọjọ iwaju.” — Jeremáyà 29:11
Mo gbọ ẹnikan ti o sọ wípé, “Ọlọrun mu mi lọra”. O ṣe apejuwe bi awọn nkan ṣe n alẹ fun un bí ó tilè jépé ó ní ero rẹ lati lọ siwaju. A sábà máa ń sá káàkiri láti ṣètò ọjọ́ wa ní gbàrà tí a bá dìde. O yara lati dide, jẹ, mura ati nireti lati bẹrẹ ọjọ naa. Sugbon, iduro akọkọ si ero ọjọ rẹ le jé awọn jamba ijabọ, awọn idaduro ọkọ oju irin, ati bẹbẹ lọ Nigbati iru bẹ ba ṣẹlẹ, iwọ ko ni iranlọwọ lati tẹsiwaju ati pe yoo gbero iyipada itọsọna. Nínú ìwé kíkà lónìí, Ọlọ́run dín ẹgbẹ̀rún méjìlélọ́gbọ̀n [32,000] nínú ẹgbẹ́ ọmọ ogun Gídíónì kù sí ọ̀ọ́dúnrún [300], tí kò tó bí àwọn ọ̀tá ṣe tó. Ọlọ́run ní ètò àti ọgbọ́n tí ó yàtọ̀ sí ti Gídíónì, ẹni tí ó ti pèsè ẹgbẹ́ ọmọ ogun títóbi sílẹ̀ tẹ́lẹ̀. Ọlọrun ko gbarale agbara nọmba tabi agbara ero rẹ. Ọpọlọpọ wa fẹ lati tọju eto kan ni aye. Iyipada mu aibalẹ ati aibalẹ tuntun wa; o ti dinku eewu ninu ero atilẹba rẹ. Dípò kí ó bínú àti ìjákulẹ̀, kọ́ bí a ṣe lè rí irú àwọn ìdúró bẹ́ẹ̀ gẹ́gẹ́ bí àwọn ọ̀nà Ọlọ́run láti mú oore wá sínú ìgbésí ayé rẹ. Òwe 16:1 rán wa létí pé, “A lè ṣe ètò wa, ṣùgbọ́n Olúwa fúnni ní ìdáhùn tó tọ́.” Oun yoo fi awọn aye han ọ fun awọn ibukun to dara julọ dipo ikuna ati ijusile ninu ero atilẹba rẹ. Ni ọkan ti o ṣi silẹ lati rii ohun ti Ọlọrun n mu wa sinu igbesi aye rẹ gẹgẹbi aye tuntun fun ibukun, ki o si ṣọra fun ibukun yẹn. Máṣe fojú kéré agbára Ọlọ́run fún ọ; o na anu ati aanu Re lati mu ki o ni itura ati ki o gbe igbe aye to dara; Irú Ọlọrun iyanu wo ni! Eto Re fun aye re dara ju; gbekele Re.
BIBELI KIKA: Àwọn Onídàájọ́ 7:1-8
ADURA: Oluwa, je ki n gbe igbe aye mi gege bi eto re fun mi.