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GOD IS MY INNER CIRCLE

Fake loyalty always fades. When life becomes messy and difficult and you face problems you never expected, you quickly see who truly cares about you and realize that God is the one who will never walk away. God has a way of showing you who is genuinely for you. He reveals people’s true colors out of His love, even if it is painful, because He refuses to let you carry fake loyalty into your future. He knows that the wrong voices can distract you from His purpose, and He loves you too much to let that happen. You can trust that He is protecting your heart and preparing you for the right relationships. Joseph in the Bible knew this pain well. Deeply loved by his father, his brothers secretly resented him because of the special coat he wore and the dreams God gave him. Joseph saw himself in leadership in those dreams, with his brothers bowing before him. It would have been difficult, but jealousy took root in their hearts instead of supporting him and trusting God, and grew into hatred. One day, as Joseph came to meet them in the fields, they plotted against him, throwing him into a pit, and later sold him as a slave to strangers. To hide their betrayal, they lied to their father, claiming a wild animal had killed Joseph. Genesis 37:5-36 Even though it hurt, God was positioning him for something greater. Years later, Joseph became second-in-command in Egypt and saved his brothers, who had betrayed him, from famine. God used what was meant to harm him for good. Genesis 50:20 God will never abandon you, even when people you trust turn away. When He removes someone from your life, it is to make space for His plan to unfold. Even if others betray you, respond with kindness because you honor God in your response. Kindness frees your heart from bitterness, protects your peace, and shows that you trust God to handle justice. “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 Don’t waste energy trying to convince the wrong people to stay. Trust that He sees the road ahead more clearly than you do and is only clearing the path for something better ♥️ Do you know Jesus? If you're ready for positive change, invite Him into your life today ♥️ Learn more about salvation through Jesus at: cretiveoutreach.com/know-jesus/ #peace #trust #kindness #relationship #loyalty #protection

Fake loyalty always fades. When life becomes messy and difficult and you face problems you never expected, you quickly see who truly cares about you and realize that God is the one who will never walk away. God has a way of showing you who is genuinely for you. He reveals people’s true colors out of His love, even if it is painful, because He refuses to let you carry fake loyalty into your future. He knows that the wrong voices can distract you from His purpose, and He loves you too much to let that happen. You can trust that He is protecting your heart and preparing you for the right relationships. Joseph in the Bible knew this pain well. Deeply loved by his father, his brothers secretly resented him because of the special coat he wore and the dreams God gave him. Joseph saw himself in leadership in those dreams, with his brothers bowing before him. It would have been difficult, but jealousy took root in their hearts instead of supporting him and trusting God, and grew into hatred. One day, as Joseph came to meet them in the fields, they plotted against him, throwing him into a pit, and later sold him as a slave to strangers. To hide their betrayal, they lied to their father, claiming a wild animal had killed Joseph. Genesis 37:5-36 Even though it hurt, God was positioning him for something greater. Years later, Joseph became second-in-command in Egypt and saved his brothers, who had betrayed him, from famine. God used what was meant to harm him for good. Genesis 50:20 God will never abandon you, even when people you trust turn away. When He removes someone from your life, it is to make space for His plan to unfold. Even if others betray you, respond with kindness because you honor God in your response. Kindness frees your heart from bitterness, protects your peace, and shows that you trust God to handle justice. “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 Don’t waste energy trying to convince the wrong people to stay. Trust that He sees the road ahead more clearly than you do and is only clearing the path for something better ♥️ Do you know Jesus? If you're ready for positive change, invite Him into your life today ♥️ Learn more about salvation through Jesus at: cretiveoutreach.com/know-jesus/ #peace #trust #kindness #relationship #loyalty #protection

Fake loyalty always fades. When life becomes messy and difficult and you face problems you never expected, you quickly see who truly cares about you and realize that God is the one who will never walk away. God has a way of showing you who is genuinely for you. He reveals people’s true colors out of His love, even if it is painful, because He refuses to let you carry fake loyalty into your future. He knows that the wrong voices can distract you from His purpose, and He loves you too much to let that happen. You can trust that He is protecting your heart and preparing you for the right relationships. Joseph in the Bible knew this pain well. Deeply loved by his father, his brothers secretly resented him because of the special coat he wore and the dreams God gave him. Joseph saw himself in leadership in those dreams, with his brothers bowing before him. It would have been difficult, but jealousy took root in their hearts instead of supporting him and trusting God, and grew into hatred. One day, as Joseph came to meet them in the fields, they plotted against him, throwing him into a pit, and later sold him as a slave to strangers. To hide their betrayal, they lied to their father, claiming a wild animal had killed Joseph. Genesis 37:5-36 Even though it hurt, God was positioning him for something greater. Years later, Joseph became second-in-command in Egypt and saved his brothers, who had betrayed him, from famine. God used what was meant to harm him for good. Genesis 50:20 God will never abandon you, even when people you trust turn away. When He removes someone from your life, it is to make space for His plan to unfold. Even if others betray you, respond with kindness because you honor God in your response. Kindness frees your heart from bitterness, protects your peace, and shows that you trust God to handle justice. “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 Don’t waste energy trying to convince the wrong people to stay. Trust that He sees the road ahead more clearly than you do and is only clearing the path for something better ♥️ Do you know Jesus? If you're ready for positive change, invite Him into your life today ♥️ Learn more about salvation through Jesus at: cretiveoutreach.com/know-jesus/ #peace #trust #kindness #relationship #loyalty #protection

Your identity isn’t found in your circumstances, your achievements or even your failures — it’s found in Christ alone. He has become your very life, so His victory is your victory and His righteousness is your righteousness. When He returns in glory, you will share in His triumph completely because you accepted this divine gift and placed your trust in Him. Today, rest in the truth that Christ’s life flows through you right now, and His eternal glory will be yours to share when He appears. #Rest #TrustInGod

Devotional: Primordial Loneliness, Eternal Fellowship In the silent pause beyond Eden’s gate, Adam and Eve experienced the first pang of loneliness—the bitter taste of being cut off from God’s close presence. They stepped out of gan, the “enclosed garden of delight,” into a world stripped of its original perfection. The Hebrew word for “alone,” yaḥîd, speaks of being uniquely apart. Once surrounded by tôb mĕ’ōḏ (“very good”) creation, each sunrise now felt like a faint echo, as if memory had dimmed the light. These first travelers moved “east of Eden” (Gen 4:16), walking across soil that gaped with cracks as dry as old pottery. Silt swirled around brittle roots and jagged stones. Their footsteps through that barren land mirror our own journeys through unknown sorrow, guided by only half-remembered beauty. But exile does not have the final word. Into our broken story steps the Last Adam, Jesus Christ. He entered the wilderness—both literal desert and our own spiritual emptiness (Matt 4:1–11)—and faced every temptation. As Immanuel—עִמָּנוּ אֵל (“God with us,” Matt 1:23)—He carried the flaming sword that barred Eden (Gen 3:24) and quenched its fire with His pierced hands. His final breath poured out mercy, opening the gates we could not enter. So when Eden’s light grows dim in your memory and your heart trembles with that first loneliness, look to Christ. In Him, our solitude becomes a sanctuary; every weary step becomes a pilgrimage toward restored fellowship. Through tears and weariness, we enter a garden renewed, where sorrow is sown for joy and lonely hearts find their lasting home.

Hold Nothing Back—The Promise Is Activated by Faith “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son… in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” (Genesis 22:16–18, NKJV) “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3g:16, NKJV) From the beginning, God had an unchanging plan—a promise of redemption and blessing for every nation. He was searching for someone who would believe Him, trust Him completely, and hold nothing back. Abraham was that man. When God called Abraham to offer up Isaac, the child of promise, Abraham obeyed without reserve. Isaac, born by God’s promise, carried the wood for his own sacrifice up the mountain—just as, centuries later, Jesus Christ, the ultimate Son of promise, would carry His cross up Calvary. God watched Abraham’s faith in action and responded: “By Myself I have sworn… because you have not withheld your son, your only son… in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed…” (Genesis 22:16–18, NKJV). This was more than a test; it was a prophetic moment. Abraham’s obedience opened the door for God’s eternal plan. The “seed” was Christ Himself (Galatians 3:16)—the Savior who would come, not by human effort, but by divine promise, to bless all nations. Abraham’s faith unlocked the way for Jesus to be revealed, for the gospel to reach every family on earth. The same principle remains true today: Once you believe, God’s promises for you are activated. God did not withhold anything from Abraham—and when Abraham believed and obeyed, God held nothing back from the world. He gave His only Son. Jesus, knowing the plan from the beginning, willingly carried His cross. He fulfilled the promise with total surrender. “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32, NKJV) This is not just history—it’s a living truth for you and your family, right now. If Abraham had doubted or withheld, the promise would have been delayed. But because he believed, the blessing came. The same is true for you: When you truly believe God’s promises, you open the way for His blessing, provision, and destiny to flow into your life and your family. Faith that holds nothing back releases a God who holds nothing back. “Jesus said to him, ‘If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.’” (Mark 9:23, NKJV) Today, God is searching for faith like Abraham’s. He is looking for those who will hold nothing back—who will believe His word, obey His voice, and trust His plan. When you do, His promises come alive. They are not just for Abraham, not just for the past, but for anyone who will believe—now. Your family can be blessed, your destiny can be fulfilled, your future can be changed—if you will believe. Don’t hold back. Respond in faith. Believe God’s promises for you, and watch as He does what only He can do. God held nothing back for you. Jesus was born by promise, lived in obedience, carried the cross, and rose again so that you might receive every promise of God. Today, as you believe, the blessing and destiny prepared for you and your house can be unlocked. This is your moment. Hold nothing back. Activate the promise by faith. The God who gave all for you is ready to fulfill His word in your life—now. #AriseForChrist

Hold Nothing Back—The Promise Is Activated by Faith “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son… in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” (Genesis 22:16–18, NKJV) “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3g:16, NKJV) From the beginning, God had an unchanging plan—a promise of redemption and blessing for every nation. He was searching for someone who would believe Him, trust Him completely, and hold nothing back. Abraham was that man. When God called Abraham to offer up Isaac, the child of promise, Abraham obeyed without reserve. Isaac, born by God’s promise, carried the wood for his own sacrifice up the mountain—just as, centuries later, Jesus Christ, the ultimate Son of promise, would carry His cross up Calvary. God watched Abraham’s faith in action and responded: “By Myself I have sworn… because you have not withheld your son, your only son… in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed…” (Genesis 22:16–18, NKJV). This was more than a test; it was a prophetic moment. Abraham’s obedience opened the door for God’s eternal plan. The “seed” was Christ Himself (Galatians 3:16)—the Savior who would come, not by human effort, but by divine promise, to bless all nations. Abraham’s faith unlocked the way for Jesus to be revealed, for the gospel to reach every family on earth. The same principle remains true today: Once you believe, God’s promises for you are activated. God did not withhold anything from Abraham—and when Abraham believed and obeyed, God held nothing back from the world. He gave His only Son. Jesus, knowing the plan from the beginning, willingly carried His cross. He fulfilled the promise with total surrender. “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32, NKJV) This is not just history—it’s a living truth for you and your family, right now. If Abraham had doubted or withheld, the promise would have been delayed. But because he believed, the blessing came. The same is true for you: When you truly believe God’s promises, you open the way for His blessing, provision, and destiny to flow into your life and your family. Faith that holds nothing back releases a God who holds nothing back. “Jesus said to him, ‘If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.’” (Mark 9:23, NKJV) Today, God is searching for faith like Abraham’s. He is looking for those who will hold nothing back—who will believe His word, obey His voice, and trust His plan. When you do, His promises come alive. They are not just for Abraham, not just for the past, but for anyone who will believe—now. Your family can be blessed, your destiny can be fulfilled, your future can be changed—if you will believe. Don’t hold back. Respond in faith. Believe God’s promises for you, and watch as He does what only He can do. God held nothing back for you. Jesus was born by promise, lived in obedience, carried the cross, and rose again so that you might receive every promise of God. Today, as you believe, the blessing and destiny prepared for you and your house can be unlocked. This is your moment. Hold nothing back. Activate the promise by faith. The God who gave all for you is ready to fulfill His word in your life—now. #AriseForChrist

The Narrow Way Which is easier to do? To squeeze your body through a narrow gap between two rocks or to walk through an open field? Of course, walking through an open field is much easier. However, if the only way you can reach your family is to squeeze between the rocks, would you still walk through the open field where there are no markers to indicate which way to go to reach your family? No, if the only way you could reach your loved ones was through the gap, that is the way you would go! No matter where you are traveling, whether you are walking home or going halfway around the world, if there is only one way to arrive at your destination, that is the way that you would take. If there is only one airport in the country, that is where you must land. If there is only one door through which you can reach the boss, that is the door through which you must go. If there is only one hospital with the equipment to save your life, that is the hospital to which you must go! We understand these things about our lives and the physical world in which we live. The same principle is true in the spiritual world. You may go anywhere you want to go and do anything you want to do. There are no restrictions, unless you have a specific destination in mind. If you want to go to heaven for all eternity and spend that eternity in the presence of your Holy Family, the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, the angels and the others who have lived for Christ, then you must follow the directions for how to reach that destination. The world will tell you to go whatever way you want to go because all roads lead to heaven and eternal bliss, but Jesus taught that there is only one way to the Father and heaven and eternal life, and that way is through Him. That is why He said to “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Matthew 7:13-14. It APPEARS to be easier to take the way of the world that says that you can do anything that you want to do and still get to heaven, but those who live that way find that they do things that hurt themselves physically, emotionally, and mentally as well as spiritually. They become depressed and lonely, angry and violent, self-centered and possessive, and many end up taking their own lives or the lives of others. They find that life is hard and hopeless, confusing, and complicated. Is that a happy way to live? Can one really expect to find happiness at the end of that broad road? No! Even though the way of Jesus may initially seem to be a harder way to go, the more one learns to live by the teachings of the Lord and the commands of God, the more we find that life becomes better and better in every way. We find peace and companionship with the Father and the church; we find joy and contentment and love; we experience the wonder of giving to others and needing less and less for ourselves, and we enjoy a fuller and more fulfilling life. Even when the outside influences of life are difficult, we have the joy and the hope of having the power of the Spirit in us, the support of the body around us, and the love of God drawing us closer to Him. Life becomes purposeful where it had been meaningless and clear where it had been confusing. We find ourselves singing when the world says we should be crying and dancing when the world thinks we should be mourning. When we make the commitment to follow the narrow way of living for Christ, we find that all the “restrictions” that are placed on us actually give us greater physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual freedom. It is a paradox to the world, but it is simple – God made us and knows how He designed us to function at our highest capacity, and that is when we are plugged into Him, living by His power, and functioning according to the manual He has given us – His word, the Bible. When life is hard and confusing and hopeless, search for the narrow way of obedience and humble submission to God. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.” James 4:10 #NarrowWay #narrowway #TheNarrowWay #thenarrowway #HumbleYourself #humbleyourself

The Narrow Way Which is easier to do? To squeeze your body through a narrow gap between two rocks or to walk through an open field? Of course, walking through an open field is much easier. However, if the only way you can reach your family is to squeeze between the rocks, would you still walk through the open field where there are no markers to indicate which way to go to reach your family? No, if the only way you could reach your loved ones was through the gap, that is the way you would go! No matter where you are traveling, whether you are walking home or going halfway around the world, if there is only one way to arrive at your destination, that is the way that you would take. If there is only one airport in the country, that is where you must land. If there is only one door through which you can reach the boss, that is the door through which you must go. If there is only one hospital with the equipment to save your life, that is the hospital to which you must go! We understand these things about our lives and the physical world in which we live. The same principle is true in the spiritual world. You may go anywhere you want to go and do anything you want to do. There are no restrictions, unless you have a specific destination in mind. If you want to go to heaven for all eternity and spend that eternity in the presence of your Holy Family, the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, the angels and the others who have lived for Christ, then you must follow the directions for how to reach that destination. The world will tell you to go whatever way you want to go because all roads lead to heaven and eternal bliss, but Jesus taught that there is only one way to the Father and heaven and eternal life, and that way is through Him. That is why He said to “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Matthew 7:13-14. It APPEARS to be easier to take the way of the world that says that you can do anything that you want to do and still get to heaven, but those who live that way find that they do things that hurt themselves physically, emotionally, and mentally as well as spiritually. They become depressed and lonely, angry and violent, self-centered and possessive, and many end up taking their own lives or the lives of others. They find that life is hard and hopeless, confusing, and complicated. Is that a happy way to live? Can one really expect to find happiness at the end of that broad road? No! Even though the way of Jesus may initially seem to be a harder way to go, the more one learns to live by the teachings of the Lord and the commands of God, the more we find that life becomes better and better in every way. We find peace and companionship with the Father and the church; we find joy and contentment and love; we experience the wonder of giving to others and needing less and less for ourselves, and we enjoy a fuller and more fulfilling life. Even when the outside influences of life are difficult, we have the joy and the hope of having the power of the Spirit in us, the support of the body around us, and the love of God drawing us closer to Him. Life becomes purposeful where it had been meaningless and clear where it had been confusing. We find ourselves singing when the world says we should be crying and dancing when the world thinks we should be mourning. When we make the commitment to follow the narrow way of living for Christ, we find that all the “restrictions” that are placed on us actually give us greater physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual freedom. It is a paradox to the world, but it is simple – God made us and knows how He designed us to function at our highest capacity, and that is when we are plugged into Him, living by His power, and functioning according to the manual He has given us – His word, the Bible. When life is hard and confusing and hopeless, search for the narrow way of obedience and humble submission to God. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.” James 4:10 #NarrowWay #narrowway #TheNarrowWay #thenarrowway #HumbleYourself #humbleyourself

How should we deal with evil? You judge, but you will also be judged. You kill, but you will also be killed. So, what reward can you expect if your actions come back to haunt you? I'll tell you what a wise person should do: Do good to both the good and the evil. We can see the works of God; He lets the sun shine on the good as well as the evil. If I had to judge, I would use God's Law in Christ to decide who is good and evil. The Law of Moses is the foundation of the teaching of Lord Jesus Christ, a governing law and way of life that God commanded to the Jews and Gentiles to obtain a peaceful life. I strongly dislike evil and its violent dealings. The Holy Bible says that evil often leads to more evil. I'm not evil, so I won't fight evil with violence. Instead, I will let evil people consume by the evil ones. As a the child of God, my goal is to make peace, just like Lord Jesus taught. He said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." If evil gets in the way of my pursuit of peace, I will pack up my clothes and stay away from it. That way, I can protect myself from harm and trouble of the evil ones. Matthew 10:23 When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. Anyone thirsty for righteousness, Lord Jesus invites you to come to Mount Zion, the Kingdom of God, which will soon be established to rule the earth with righteousness. The work of Mount Zion is to teach both the good and the evil to pursue love, not hate; to give, not to be greedy; and to live united and at peace with everyone, rather than fighting or quarreling over religious doctrines created by human ideologies that divide and cause conflict among God's children. After all, we all came from one blood and one race.

How To Overcome Fear During A Famine By Pastor Dapo Adeniyi One of the things a famine or scarcity causes is fear. This is particularly so when what is in short supply is desperately needed for survival. Food for example, or purchasing power, which is money. Famine can befall an individual, not only with regard to food or funds but in other areas of life as well. There can be a famine of love and affection. A famine of respect and honour, of strength and health, etc. Conversely, there can be a rain of finances, strength, affection, favour, honour and respect. A famine can also happen to a nation. Even though famines have been caused by indiscretion on the part of men or worsened by it, in the majority, the causes are known only to God. An environment that has known a cycle of rain and dry season, seeding and harvest for very many years can be hit by a cessation of rain, as was the case with the whole world in the time of Joseph. Cain is also described as a cunning hunter. And that kind of appellation is earned, not awarded cheaply. He was by no means a slack person, especially when it came to his work. His father often ate from his catch and had grown a taste for it. What most people who enter life’s harvest without having significantly experienced a famine often forget is that, a harvest is a grant from God, not attributable solely to human effort. And pride resulting from one’s accomplishment or acquisition is bare dishonesty. There comes a time when the best does not win. The Bible cautions that the race is not always given to the swift, neither is the battle always won by the mighty. Famine can drive an individual from anxiety to fear, and from fear to panic. Let’s observe that one of the first things Prophet Elijah said to the widow in Zarepath was “fear not”. This is because fear borne by scarcity can bind a hand that normally gives. We can remember how Jesus praised the poor widow in the temple who gave what amounted to all her life’s earnings in the offering. The chains of lack however are nothing compared to the manacles won by the greedy. As a Christian worker over many years, I can attest that the rich are the stingiest. The rich don’t give, with the exception of those who grew their substance under the tutelage of heaven. Fear becomes the norm when famine has a landfall. It makes men travel in the opposite of where God’s deliverance and provisions reside. The tendency is to horde and accumulate, not give or water altars as Elijah commanded the people during that memorable contest on Mount Carmel. That is why, when God shows up, the first thing He does is take the fear out. I was in Zimbabwe years back and I witnessed the extent the government went to preserve water to keep the nation alive because of a grievous drought that beset their region. Scarcity can wear down a generous spirit but by witnessing a rain of the power of Jehovah Jireh and through continuous exposure to God’s word, the chains of fear can be broken and destroyed. Elijah is sent to meet the widow of Zarepath. I can bet that she was not the only widow there. I see here that God knows all His works indeed. He knows every soil into which His word may be sown. Those going forward to sow His word must depend on Him for direction, otherwise they will waste a lot of seed and till barren ground. The work becomes unduly difficult. Elijah did not know the widow previously but was led thereto. The widow was a willing spirit. We also note here how the word is given by a vessel fully submitted before God and not one filled with greed. Elijah asks the woman to take the leap of faith but also gave consideration to her wellbeing. Be watchful for the absence of love in so-called ministry. Be sure that hirelings and deceivers will be callous. Elijah tells the woman to make a little cake for him even though her situation was dire. She should also make for herself and her son. A hireling will request to consume everything and set that as a condition for her and her son to see the provision of God.

How To Overcome Fear During A Famine By Pastor Dapo Adeniyi One of the things a famine or scarcity causes is fear. This is particularly so when what is in short supply is desperately needed for survival. Food for example, or purchasing power, which is money. Famine can befall an individual, not only with regard to food or funds but in other areas of life as well. There can be a famine of love and affection. A famine of respect and honour, of strength and health, etc. Conversely, there can be a rain of finances, strength, affection, favour, honour and respect. A famine can also happen to a nation. Even though famines have been caused by indiscretion on the part of men or worsened by it, in the majority, the causes are known only to God. An environment that has known a cycle of rain and dry season, seeding and harvest for very many years can be hit by a cessation of rain, as was the case with the whole world in the time of Joseph. Cain is also described as a cunning hunter. And that kind of appellation is earned, not awarded cheaply. He was by no means a slack person, especially when it came to his work. His father often ate from his catch and had grown a taste for it. What most people who enter life’s harvest without having significantly experienced a famine often forget is that, a harvest is a grant from God, not attributable solely to human effort. And pride resulting from one’s accomplishment or acquisition is bare dishonesty. There comes a time when the best does not win. The Bible cautions that the race is not always given to the swift, neither is the battle always won by the mighty. Famine can drive an individual from anxiety to fear, and from fear to panic. Let’s observe that one of the first things Prophet Elijah said to the widow in Zarepath was “fear not”. This is because fear borne by scarcity can bind a hand that normally gives. We can remember how Jesus praised the poor widow in the temple who gave what amounted to all her life’s earnings in the offering. The chains of lack however are nothing compared to the manacles won by the greedy. As a Christian worker over many years, I can attest that the rich are the stingiest. The rich don’t give, with the exception of those who grew their substance under the tutelage of heaven. Fear becomes the norm when famine has a landfall. It makes men travel in the opposite of where God’s deliverance and provisions reside. The tendency is to horde and accumulate, not give or water altars as Elijah commanded the people during that memorable contest on Mount Carmel. That is why, when God shows up, the first thing He does is take the fear out. I was in Zimbabwe years back and I witnessed the extent the government went to preserve water to keep the nation alive because of a grievous drought that beset their region. Scarcity can wear down a generous spirit but by witnessing a rain of the power of Jehovah Jireh and through continuous exposure to God’s word, the chains of fear can be broken and destroyed. Elijah is sent to meet the widow of Zarepath. I can bet that she was not the only widow there. I see here that God knows all His works indeed. He knows every soil into which His word may be sown. Those going forward to sow His word must depend on Him for direction, otherwise they will waste a lot of seed and till barren ground. The work becomes unduly difficult. Elijah did not know the widow previously but was led thereto. The widow was a willing spirit. We also note here how the word is given by a vessel fully submitted before God and not one filled with greed. Elijah asks the woman to take the leap of faith but also gave consideration to her wellbeing. Be watchful for the absence of love in so-called ministry. Be sure that hirelings and deceivers will be callous. Elijah tells the woman to make a little cake for him even though her situation was dire. She should also make for herself and her son. A hireling will request to consume everything and set that as a condition for her and her son to see the provision of God.