The Challenge

I know a man* who challenges me. This man is definitely one who believes with all his heart that there is absolutely nothing his God cannot do. This man is also of the school of thought that as long as you can conceive a thing in your mind, that thing is possible. His is such a bold demeanor, almost proud, but it is a pride that rests on his knowledge of who he is as a child of God Almighty. He understands that he is royalty, and that whatever he wants he can get from his Father. Whenever I encounter him, his voice is always booming, especially when he is talking about his God. When he talks to his God, it’s a different story altogether. It’s almost as if his boldness escalates to a new level. He prays declaration prayers, not pleading prayers. From the way he goes about his Father’s business, one can tell that he is passionate about his God. In serving God he strives for excellence always. He is of the opinion that God deserves nothing less. I admire that in him; his ability to want to give his best in all that he does for God, regardless of what it may cost him. He is someone who knows that it is God who brought him to where he is today and it is only God that will take him where he needs to be tomorrow, so he serves God with all he’s got. That’s commendable.

We have something in common, him and me. We seem to be great dreamers. We both imagine things that are out of the sphere of normalcy, and we believe it is possible for these things to come to pass. When he prophesies, he says things that some people may find difficult to believe will happen. He utters words so daring, and he says them with such boldness that I am amazed. To some, his prophecies and prayer points push God to the limit of miracle-working, but I believe that he of all people understands God well. It takes someone with a good understanding of God to know that what may seem so great and monstrous before us is really not much to Him. It takes someone who knows God well to know that when God asked us to cast our entire burden on Him, He really meant it. It takes a good understanding of God to see the greatness of His power which is available for us His children at any time t. It also takes someone with a good knowledge of God not to be afraid to throw certain demands before Him, believing He is able to do. So, I say it again that this man really understands his God. A lot of people pray “safely”, only asking God for what they believe He can do, and keeping away daring prayer points because their minds just can’t grasp the reality of such things. It’s easy to pray to God for a job for which you know you meet all the qualifications. It’s tougher for some people to pray for jobs for which they know they are not qualified. Such prayers to them cannot be answered because God cannot do that! They analyze in their heads all the reasons why God cannot do it. They forget that He is El Shaddai, and that He can do and undo for the sake of His children. They fail to realize that He can make the chosen qualified, and not choose the qualified. God cannot be measured, or put in a box, or completely analyzed or rationalized. He does what He pleases. This goes to show that there are many Christians who are yet to really understand this God that they worship. The man I speak about in this article is not one of them.

So, when this man prophesied to me today, some voice in my head (I call that the devil speaking) tried to make me disbelieve all the grand declarations he made concerning me. Are these things truly possible? Will they really happen? This is too much! The voice went on and on…I shook it off. The voice failed woefully because the things the man said to me were things I had seen in my mind’s eye myself! So, they were not new to me. He also mentioned things that other people had prophesied to me at earlier times, all of which resonated within me because these are things I spend my alert (not sleeping) moments dreaming about. So I received his prophesy as I received all the others before it and the ones God revealed directly to me—with joy. I am a product of revelation. Where I am today is where I saw myself in my dreams long before they happened; when it seemed impossible for them to happen. So, I know that the rest of my life shall also be a product of the revelations I receive now. I will not put God in a box, or limit his abilities in my mind. I will magnify him, not the way a microscope does but the way a telescope does. A microscope makes things that are truly small appear larger than they are, while a telescope makes things that are truly large and grand and magnificent appear just as they really are.
This man challenges me. He challenges me to bring my best foot forward in my service to God regardless of cost to me, and he challenges me to keep dreaming big and not shoot myself in the foot by restricting God’s powers over my life.

If you are the type that prays “safely”, I pray that you let go of your fear and allow yourself to understand that God has infinitely enormous power. Get to know the God you serve a little better.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen (Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV, emphasis added).


*The man I refer to is Pastor Victor Akinyemi; Associate Pastor at Daystar Christian Center, Lagos, Nigeria.

Do You Know His Name?

And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. Psalm 9:10 (NKJV)

I had read this scripture before; many times before. But today's reading would be different. The other times I had come across it I probably just breezed through, not giving it much thought. But this time, God was ready to show me something beautiful and wonderful and profound from this much neglected verse of scripture.  

After I read Psalm 9:10, my eyes opened to two facts from this verse. One is that when David wrote this verse, he was attesting to the fact that until then, God was yet to forsake those who sought Him. In other words, David was banking on God's faithfulness. He understood that since God was yet to forsake those who sought Him, and it is in His nature not to forsake them, then he, David would not be forsaken. This is a powerful thing to rely on and David certainly knew it. God could not fail. 

The second thing God opened my eyes to see from Psalm 9:10 is the first part of the verse, "And those who know Your name will put their trust in You." Wait a minute, God has many names! So which name could David possibly be talking about? Well, all of them! This is essentially the beauty of this verse. God's many names reveal to us His many wonderful attributes. The meanings behind each of His names show His different personalities. God is such that He has a name that can be trusted to see us through any situation. This means that Psalm 9:10 can be seen as an instruction. Are you in an unpleasant situation? Is your life taking a downward spiral leaving you feeling discouraged and disillusioned? Whatever the problem may be, now is the best time to search the scriptures for a name of God that relates to your present situation and trust in that God. Seek that God. He cannot fail. Below I have written some names of God and their meaning.

Jehovah Jireh: The Lord, Our Provider. If you are in need of provision, here is a name you can trust! The Lord has declared that He will supply ALL your needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). 

Jehovah Nissi: Our Banner, a Banner of Love and Protection. We fight so many battles each day. Top of the list is the battle against principalities and powers (Ephesians 6:12). God is our sure victory. Jesus' victory over sin ad death is the guarantee that if we trust in Jehovah Nissi, He will see to it that we are also victorious. Our victory banner is one of love and protection.

Jehovah Shalom: Our Perfect Peace. Many times, circumstances make us lose our peace and become overcome with worry and anxiety. Too many uncertainties in life leave us scrambling to be in control. If we decide to trust God, and cast all our burden on Him, if we let go of our controlling habits enough to let Him step in, we will experience perfect peace. Our hearts will be guarded by the peace that transcends understanding (Philippians 4:6-8)

Jehovah Rapha: The Lord Who Heals. God is able to heal all sicknesses and diseases, and this is by no means limited to the physical body. Many people walk about looking healthy in body, but a lot of them are sick inside. Emotional imbalances, psychological disorders, addictions, low self esteem, pride, depression, and so on can be called diseases of the mind. The loss of a loved one can leave us hurting deeply. A broken relationship or a divorce can leave us shattered. These too can experience the total healing power of Jehovah Rapha.

Jehovah Shammah: The Omnipresent God. You never have to feel lonely again because Jehovah Shammah is with you wherever you go. He is omnipresent and is close to you at all times. The Bible says He never leaves nor forsakes you (Deuteronomy 31:6), and Jesus promised to be with you till the end of time (Matthew 28:20). For conversation, He is only a prayer away. He delights in being your ever present partner in life. 

Jehovah Sidkenu: The Lord, Our Righteousness. You have been declared the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus! You have the mind of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Corinthians 2:15-16). Satan tries to drag us away from God as he did Adam and Eve in the beginning by deceiving us and trying to get us to forget our true identity. If you are facing temptations, know who you are! You can face it and win. You don't have to give in to Satan's deception. If you have stumbled along the way and feel like you are no longer worthy to be called God's child, remember that He cleanses you of all unrighteousness when you ask for forgiveness (1 John 1:9). Pick yourself up and move on. Trust in the Lord, your righteousness.

Jehovah Raah: The Lord, Our Shepherd. A shepherd has several functions. He leads the flock to pasture. Therefore he acts as a guide, leading them to where they can find food and water and shade to rest. A good shepherd will protect his flock from danger or attack. He ensures that none goes missing. He never leads them astray. If you are at a fork in the road in your life, God is willing to lead you where you should go (Isaiah 30:21). You need not remain confused, trust God to direct you right. He is eager to do this. 

These are just a few of the names of God you can trust and seek and be sure you will never be forsaken. There are many more. Dig into the Bible and search out God's names as you would search for treasure. Hold on to His names and whenever a situation arises, like David, bank on the truth that there is a God waiting to meet your needs. You just have to know His name. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. Psalm 9:10. Do you know His name?

Please do not forget to share with us the names of God you know or have discovered and how your trust in Him has led to a turn around in your life. Your testimony is sure to strengthen someone's faith. 

Names of God