Christian Devotional

Another Devotional

It had become a tradition to make the bible study character series on this blog into a downloadable version.

Zipporah series can now be downloaded and read offline.

ACCESS THE ZIPPORAH DEVOTIONAL

Thank you for being here.

PREAMBLE

Hello!

Welcome to the fifth part of this series. The story is gotten more intense and we are reaching the peak of events.

If you are new, I welcome you warmly and if you have been following, thank you.

Let’s ride in…

OVERTURNED

Haman got the invitation and was elated. He was always ready to be invited to anywhere important.

He picked one of his many elaborate attires.

The banquet hall was ready with enough wine, meat and food. The King and Queen were both on their royal seats with their respective chamberlains.

In the middle of eating and drinking, the King asked “What do you want to ask me? Even if it is half of my kingdom, you will get it”

“What I would to ask the King is this: if it would please the King to come to the banquet I would prepare tommorrow and invite Haman as well. I promise to answer the King’s question tommorrow”

“Okay then. Haman you heard the Queen. You are invited tommorrow”

Haman was hearty and drank more wine while Queen Esther watched him gloating in the pleasure of being in their presence.

When he reached the gate, all the servants there bowed to him except for Mordecai who maintained his sitting posture.

Looking at him with disgust, Haman became angry and clenched his teeth then walked away to his house.

When he reached home, he met his servants engaged in several chores. His wife was not outside. He looked around and called one of his servants. “Call my wife and my friends who ate here last night. If you have forgotten those who ate here then forget about having meals for a week. I do not feed useless servants”

The servant he called scurried away, he was not waiting for any rash comment again. Haman had the tendency of being rash with brutal decisions.

Haman looked scornfully at the remaining working “Peasants! Useless! I need some wine! And meat! Someone should set that at once! Some of you here will die as servants so do what I order you. Some of you can never even in your dreams reach the position I have obtained” he spat and walked into his chambers.

Minutes later, the court house was steaming with roasted meat, wine and chattering. The people he had sent for were all waiting for him.

Haman who had remained inside until they had arrived, walked into their midst majestically.

When they saw him, they made obeisance. This made him swell more and grin ear to ear.

“You can all sit down. You are privileged to be in my presence. You are in the presence of the most honoured man in the whole of Persia. The one loved and respected by the King. I was promoted by the king above other princes to become his right hand man. By my word, anything can happen because the king trusts me. My ten sons are the most prominent men in the whole region of Persia. What of my wealth? The servants I command? My wife? She is one of the most respected women in the region and one of the wisest if not the wisest. You are all privileged to be in my presence” he gulped some wine then dropped the cup roughly causing it to fall to the ground.

“I need another cup! Do you know that cup is coated with gold? However I have more. Get me another cup! Also, the queen Esther did not invite any other person to the private banquet she made for the king except me. Yes, me! Tommorrow is another day to enjoy the feast. None of you here can even dream of that” he continued merrily.

The people he called friends were used to his egostically behaviour and rather than allow it bother them, they encouraged him by cheering him on. The meat and wine were surplus and that was enough for them.

“Despite all these great things I have accomplished there is someone who I hate so much yet have to still see anytime I get to the palace gate. That man Mordecai, I hate to see him and he sits at the king’s gate and is always there whenever I come. I really want to get rid of him”

“Why don’t you build gallows? And tommorow you let the king know that you want Mordecai hanged on it. After that you can enjoy your banquet with the king” Zeresh his wife said.

Haman’s countenance changed, his eyes glistened with excitement “Wow! My wife is the wisest woman ever. I said it! Yes, I love that idea. What do the rest of you think?”

“We agree. It is a great idea” they replied in unison.

“Okay then, begin the preparation now. I do not have the time to waste”

More meat was added to the table and wine into the jugs as they continued merrily.

The sound of hammers banging on wood resonated in the background.

King Ahasuerus was restless. He could not sleep. He kept hearing the words “Records” resound in his ears throughout the night.

He finally stood up from his bed and ordered for the records to be brought out so he could read them.

Then he got to the part where Mordecai had reported Bigthana and Teresh, his former chamberlains who had planned to murder him.

“What has been done for Mordecai?”

“Nothing” the servant that ministered to him replied.

“Nothing? Who is in the court?”

Another servant went out to check and met Haman who had come early to tell the king about his plan to kill Mordecai.

“Haman is the court. He wishes to see the king”

“Okay let him in”

Haman strode in, he had come early to get the opportunity to tell the king about the gallows he had made for Mordecai. He wanted that sorted out before the banquet.

Without waiting for his obeisance, the king asked “What should be done for a man who the king wants to honour?”

Haman unable to contain his excitement smiled widely, he had only come to place a request. He did not expect the king to give him more honour. Moreover who else was the king planning to honour, if not him?

“For the man whom king the wants to honour, let the royal apparel which the king wears be brought out and the horse he rides on be given to the man and the royal crown be placed on his head. Then let a noble prince be made to escort that man on the street and loudly proclaim that he is the man the king delights in”

“Okay. That is great. Immediately do all that you have said for Mordecai the Jew that sits at the king’s gate. Do exactly as you have said” the king said standing up and withdrawing into his chambers. He needed to catch more sleep.

Dumbfounded, Haman stood shocked at what had just happened. All he had said was not for him? But for Mordecai? Mordecai? Who he had planned to kill? Mordecai the Jew?

He was still standing when the items were brought before him.

“The horse has been set and Mordecai is outside”

Mordecai was still meditating on what Esther had told him. He was praying that her plan would work out. They had until the end of the year to save themselves and yet he could not stop serving the king. He always found himself returning to the king’s gate.

“Mordecai you have been choosen by the king” a chamberlain interrupted his thoughts.

“Me? For what?” Mordecai replied, startled by the interruption.

“For saving him from the plot of Bigthana and Teresh. Prince Haman will serve you”

“Me?”

“Yes. You may follow me to the king’s stable. You will ride on the king’s horse, wear his apparel and have his crown on your head”

Mordecai was speechless but he could not reject the king’s favour. What shocked him the most was that Haman was going to serve him or was he imagining things?

He was not. Haman stood before him boiling with rage, the king’s royal robe in his hand.

Without saying a word, Haman wore the robe on him, and put the crown on his head. Another servant helped him to climb the horse while Haman held the strap of the horse’s bridle.

The gate was opened and they both went into the street.

Haman was so ashamed of himself. He was boiling with rage yet he could not disobey the king’s order. How could the king disgrace him this way?

“This is the man whom the king desires to honour. Mordecai is his name!” Haman shouted as they moved on the street.

After spending hours riding through the town, they returned to the palace.

Mordecai returned to the king’s gate while Haman covered in shame went home immediately.

His friends had slept off in the courtyard. They were eating when he came in.

“What happened my husband? You look so terrible. What did the king say about your proposal concerning Mordecai?” Zeresh, his wife asked.

“I went to the courts because of that but the king ordered me to parade Mordecai throughout the town”

What? How?” Zeresh asked, her hands covering her mouth, her eyes widened in disbelief.

“When I got there, the king asked me what should be done for the man he delights in. Who else wòuld I think of if not myself? So I said that the king’s royal apparael, his crown and horse be given to such a man and that a prince be made to proclaim in the streets about the man. After my suggestion, he commanded me to do it for Mordecai. I am so ashamed and full of more hatred for that man”

The mummurings among his servants increased, they were pleased that for once Haman felt belittled and suffered from what he constantly did to them. His friends on the other hand were not very sympathetic.

“This is bad. This is a bad sign. If Mordecai is a Jew, then all these that has happened is a bad sign that you will never overcome him” one of them said as he casually put roasted bread in his mouth.

“I agree. This is a bad sign. Very bad” Zeresh added.

They were still speaking when the queen’s servant passed the message that the banquet had started.

Haman hurried out, his acquaintances watching him with pity.

Queen Esther and the king were waitìng for him. The table was set with every good food and as usual, the best wine.

“You look haggard Haman. You should have changed your robes” the king said lightly, his attention shifting from Haman to Esther.

“I am sorry my king. I had to hurry from the duty you asked me to do”

“Oh.. anyway take your seat. The queen asked that we wait for you”

Esther in her full regalia maintained a poised posture in the couch which she could recline on as well. Haman paid her obeisance to which she only nodded her head before averting her eyes from him.

She had heard of what happened with Mordecai but little did he know what was coming next.

“So my queen, what do you want me to do for you? Make your request and even if it is half of my kingdom, I will give it to you”

“If it pleases the king, I want to beg for my life and that of my people”Esther had knelt to the ground, her head bowed.

“What threatens your life?”

“I and my people have been sold as slaves destined for death. I would have said something all this while even though the enemy cannot do anything about it again” she had risen up and rested back on the couch.

“Who is the person that dares to threaten your life? Who dares even think it in his heart? Tell me”

“The enemy I speak of is right here with us. He is this wicked man Haman” she said pointing her finger at the trembling Haman.

“What?!” the king shouted before standing up from his seat and went to the outer court pacing to and fro.

Left alone with the queen, Haman stood and begged “Please spare my life. I did not know you are a Jew. Spare my life”

Esther did not say anything then Haman proceeded to fall on the couch where she sat, his tears wetting where he put his face.

The king returned and saw Haman on the couch “Will he force himself on the queen in my presence in the house?!”

The personal guards who had stayed with them throughout immediately covered Haman’s face.

“Haman built gallows in his house for Mordecai who saved the king’s life” Harbonah one of the chamberlains who stood with them said.

Haman could be heard struggling beneath the cover over his face.

“If he built it then he can use it. Hang him on it” the king said and sat on his seat.

All the while Esther who was shocked by the news she had heard, held her hands to her chest. She had thought the death decree was the only concern she had, not knowing that Haman was going to go further to hurt Mordecai.

The king held her hands “Its okay. He is gone. He won’t harm you again”

Esther placed her hands over his and smiled. This was only the beginning, there was more concern ahead but for now, Haman was not around to cause more harm.

This narration was taken from Esther 5:6 to Chapter 7 and was fictionalized for the sake of this post. Kindly read the chapters in the Bible for the original format.

BE SUBTLE

Esther was careful and meticulous in executing her plan. She did not rush to tell the king her concern, instead allowed Haman to become very comfortable in her presence.

While the king was eager to hear what she had to say, Esther was not in a haste until she had built enough suspense.

Also, the time she took was symbolical. It was a way of expressing to the king that what she wanted to share with him was heavy on her mind.

NOT EVERY GATHERING IS FOR YOU

Haman only needed his ego to be fed.

He was the only one invited to a banquet organized by the queen with whom he had never had a previous interraction with- yet he was very relaxed to participate.

The god of his life was pride, therefore whatever would feed it was always welcomed

Haman was a wicked foolish man.

An unfortunate combination

He was not only invited once but twice yet he did not question the banquet.

You are not meant to be in every gathering including some that you are invited to.

Worse, to the ones you are not invited to

GOOD THINGS CANNOT HAPPEN TO ONLY YOU

In Haman’s mind, he was the only one who deserved certain things.

Every other person was to remain under him

With his high and lofty mind, he prescribed what he expected to be done for him and this showed how vain and rotten his thoughts towards himself was.

It also showed that he desired the king’s crown and position.

It was only a matter of time before he made plans to overthrown the king if a possibility arose.

Haman by his request also believed that he could do as he pleased when it concerned making decisions with the king. It showed the level of respect he had for the king. It showed the level he had placed himself :a position exempted from being under the king’s rule.

He had started to see himself as a king

If he could make an eratic decision to kill people he never knew and got permission from the king then he never expected that getting permission to kill one man was going to be a difficult process.

Unfortunately he entered the court at the wrong time

There are certian individuals who believe good things should only happen to and for them. When good things happen for other people, they are upset.

They are only elated by their success and never the success of people around them because they always want to be ahead of others.

Haman never thought anyone aside himself could recieve certain favours from the king even less someone like Mordecai. In Haman’s dictionary it was impossible.

But that was an illusion

GOD CAN USE ENEMIES

God used Haman to exalt Mordecai.

Mordecai did not have to bribe or lobby his way to get favours from the king. Haman, his enemy did it without a single cent from him.

Suddenly the king could not sleep soundly because Mordecai’s time to be blessed had come and Mordecai did not have to do anything except be at the gate.

The same time Haman came to discuss Mordecai’s death was the same time the king was planning on what he could do for Mordecai.

The same timing. Different plans.

God used the King’s carefree nature to exalt Mordecai.

The same king who had carelessly signed away the death warrant of thousand of people asked his right hand man to parade a gatekeeper on the streets.

One medicine for one is same medicine for all

THE MAN WHO KNEW HOW TO SIT

Mordecai was a man who knew his position and who knew how to remain there.

Despite the decree that had been passed against his life and that of his people, he returned to work.

He remained where he was supposed to be and got the blessings for that day.

However, after he had worn the king’s crown and rode and had rode on the king’s horse, he returned back to the gate.

Maybe if he was modern, he would have taken selfies

Mordecai always returned to the gate because it was his position.

SOMEBODY IS WATCHING YOU

The good and the bad

Among the people who had witnessed the creation of the gallows was a person who was going to report it.

Unknown to Haman, he had been watched all day. He seemed to have more enemies within the palace than he thought.

The gallows he had prepared for Mordecai was exposed and instead was killed in them.

Somebody is watching you

That is reality.

Somebody is watching your pattern.

You cannot do much about it

Somebody is watching your consistency.

The same way you are watching someone else

THE BEGINNING OF THE FULFILLMENT OF A PROPHECY

The most unlikely person had prophesied to Haman-his wife.

The way he chased and hated Mordecai was the beginning of his fall.

The same man who he had wanted dead became the cause of the beginning of his death.

Why are you so insistent on causing a person to fall?

It is sad that certain persons who have already attained relevant heights are threatened by people who are way below and will do anything to keep them below.

Haman despite his position wsas deeply threatened by Mordecai and that hatred was the cause of his death.

GOD WHO OVERTURNS

God can overturn.

God can intervene.

God can change decrees.

God can.

God prepares our table in the presence of our enemies and causes them to watch while we eat.

Mordecai did not need to defend or fight for himself. God did.

LESSONS

There is a time to be subtle

Ask questions

You do not need to be everywhere

Your hatred for someone can be the beginning of your downfall

Good things are not for only you

Somebody is watching you

God can

BACK UP

Haman was a prominent man and this also meant he could also make decrees. His wife and companions who were wiser than him were his counsellors and he took their word.

Despite Haman’s position, he was monitored as well. This showed the extent of the king’s involvement in the life of his subjects.

With a decree from the king, he lost his life in an instant.

This verse explains it well:

Ecclesiastes 8:4  Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou? (KJV)

At the end of the day, it was the king who still had the final say regardless of his weakness.

This section is for asking you questions and here they are:

Do you know your position?

Does the progress of other people hurt or annoy you? Or make you envious?

Do you consider yourself better than ‘some’ people?

Who gives you the best advice?

Have you experienced envy from someone and it cost you something important?

Have you been in a situation that God intervened and overturned it for your good?

Some of these questions are quite personal, however if you want to share, kindly do that in the comment section or send me a private message using the Contact button.

SUMMARY

CONCLUSION

This part came later than usual.

I am grateful for the opportunity to still share.

Your comments are welcomed.

Subscribe. Like. Share.

Stay safe and God bless.

#daughterofabba

Announcement: Devotional 2

Hello!

It’s been a bit quite a while I shared in this place.

Like I often mention, I am intentional about sharing and that brings me to say that 30 Days of Intentionally Seeking God has been compiled for easy download.

If you were unable to follow through with the series, you can now easily get it in one piece without having to scroll through the series using your data. You just have to download the compiled format and go through it at your leisure time.

I will redirect you to the review page to download.

REVIEW PAGE

Another announcement will be shared soon 😊😊.

Stay safe and God bless.

#daughterofabba

30 Days of Intentionally Seeking God: Day 30

Preamble

Finally…

Finally….

Music: Finally by Ada Ehi (I love this song so much)

Today is 30th of 30th.

I am pleased and I am grateful.

Today has finally come.

Thank God.

Let’s ride in…..

You don try

Meaning: you have tried

As per: Weldone

Seeking God is not for lazy people neither is it for the non-chalant. It is for those who are interested and willing to be available.

Therefore, if you have been seeking God intentionally, you are trying and God is seeing you and will uphold you throughout your life.

Read the whole chapter to enjoy the complete message it contains.

A pat on the back

A pat on the back can mean many things:

Weldone, you have done well.
Sorry, take heart.
You could have done better.
Don’t give up. Keep moving.

And if you are an African, a pat on the back from your parents will often mean:

I am watching you be careful.
What are you doing?
Don’t try that again.
Stop what you are doing!

However, in line with the theme of this post, it means: Weldone, you have tried. Don’t stop keep moving.

Yes, we need gentle pats on our backs as a form of encouragement. Those who do well deserve to be encouraged to do more.

Don’t stop doing good

Run

With the vision

As you seek God, He will give you burdens to fulfill. Do not ignore them. Do not push them aside. Write them down and ask God to give you the strategy to fulfill them.

Then run very fast.

Do not turn sideways. Do not get distracted. Run with the vision until the end of it.

If you do not run, you will waste time and elongate the process. If you still refuse to run, God will choose another.

Write the vision and run with it

Do it!

Stop sleeping!

Wake up!

Stop giving excuses. You have life, you have chances to do the work.

You have sought the LORD intentionally. He has given you the vision. You have written it down. What are you waiting for?

Get the work done. Now is the time for that work God has given you to do.

God picked you for a reason even if you have not discovered the why.

God, I am too tired. Let me sleep first. I will wake up and do it

Stop sleeping on it

God allowed it to be you because you are reaching a specific group of people.

Stop being stubborn. You do not have a coconut head. You have brain.

Do not waste the time you spent with God. Use the things God gave you during the time you spent with Him.

Yes, as we spend time with God, we receive many things with Him.

Prayer

LORD, I thank you for today. I thank you for everything. LORD, may the time I spend with you not be wasted. Help me to run with the vision you have given me. Let me not slack and may the Holy Spirit continue to fuel me to do the work you have given me. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Conclusion

Whatever has a beginning has an end

I am grateful to God for this opportunity. I am grateful I obeyed and did not ignore the prompting to do this series.

God has really helped me and I am grateful.

Tommorrow, something extra will be shared plus some announcements.

Stay safe and God bless.

#daughterofabba

30 Days of Intentionally Seeking God: Day 26

Preamble

4 days left

Today has been….

But the series continues.

God’s work continues.

Lets ride in…

Burn

This word signifies that fire is present.

Fire burns. That is what it does.

Fire is hot.

Fire is beautiful but fire hurts.

Fire chars

Burn is a result of the contact between fire and another lighter substance.

The consuming fire

This is the fire that completely finishes whatever it is in its path.

This does not only burn but it erases.

This means that this fire should not be joked with.

Elijah in his face off with the prophets of baal, said “The God that answers by fire will be God” 1Kings 18:24-38

God’s response was to express Himself as consuming fire.

This fire responds to sin.

The presence of God consumes sin. Because God and sin cannot remain in the same environment (our body), when God is given the permission to be in charge, He consumes up the strings of sin in your life.

But…..

God as a consuming fire is also a warning signal. This means that we should not toy with God.

God is not a joke. Forget what many people are doing

God as much as He is kind is holy and just.

Continuing from Day 25, God does not vibe with sin.

Therefore understanding that God consumes sin, helps us to appreciate His holiness.

Do not forget that fire burns

Stop deceiving yourself 3

This has become a sub series

I told you not to deceive yourself twice. Now it is thrice.

Do not ignore

I also share here that fire burns.

Do not ignore

God is a consuming fire.

Con-suming. Con-su-ming.

Hebrews 12:28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:(KJV)

As much as we should relate with God on a platform of a Father-child relationship. Lover-friend relationship.

We also need to relate with God on a Maker-created platform.

God is not like the humans you get so used to that you disrespect

In Nigerian pidgin-that you rena

You cannot get too used to God. You can only enjoy the diversity of who He is.

Do not deceive yourself into thinking that you now know God enough to disregard His word and do as you like.

God you already know. We have a unique relationship. Dont vex with me. We will talk later

God is not your mate….

Be careful of fire

You see, fire is important. Fire creates but it also destroys.

It depends on how it is used.

The fire of God creates. When we relate with God sincerely, His fire creates more expression of holiness in our lives.

The fire of God also helps us burn brightly and this process is towards fulfilling His will on earth.

God’s will needs His fire

As we burn, God uses us to cause others to experience God.

But if you are not in this category, then God’s fire will hurt you not create through you.

It will now become the fire that destroys

If you take God for a joke, your life will become a joke
O. R.A

Go and check history. King Nebuchadnezzar will gist you.

Be careful of fire.

Prayer

LORD, thank you for today. Thank you for my life. Father consume everything that hinders your will in my life. Help me to burn to create not to be destroyed. May I not be destroyed by your fire because of sin rather may it fuel me to do your will. In Jesus name I pray. Amen

Conclusion

Thank you for being here.

Today’s post theme was written earlier but I wrote it out later.

Today was one of the days I almost did not write the post for the day but I am grateful to God for grace and strength. I knew I could not ignore the words to be shared and as I wrote and listened to words shared by other children of God, I was ignited to continue, writing the post not out of compulsion and routine but out of inspiration.

Kindly share to others.

Stay safe and be blessed.

#daughterofabba

30 Days of Intentionally Seeking God: Day 8

Preamble

Welcome to the 8th of this series.

Lets ride in…

Rare

This word means hardly found.

Any rare thing is equated to something of value.

Rare signifies a special sense of worth.

There exist many rare things and depending on available possibilities, you can access them.

When it is rare, you cannot replace it easily (that is if you can)

Recently, I searched for certain beauty products which I had bought months earlier and I was not finding the anymore, not even in the shop I had bought them from.

I happen to always buy unique products which are rarely available and they end up being perfect for my needs. Whenever, I almost run out of them I prepare my heart to do a serious search and sometimes I am unable to get a replacement.

As I went from store to store and shopping mall to another, I wondered how interesting it was not to find a single item in a store filled with other products.

The attempts of the store owners to make me choose a different brand failed, I had come to trust the ones I was looking for and was not eager for a replacement.

While meditating on these scenarious, I thought of God.

Emmanuel

How beautiful it is to have the almighty God as near as possible to us.

How beautiful it is to have God always with us.

It is a great priviledge to have God’s presence around us.

It is a great priviledge to call on God anytime, any day without excessive protocols.

God who is more precious than rarest items is easier to find than them.

I was unable to get some of the products I sought but I was able to talk to God in those moments.

It is very precious to be aware of God’s presence.

As King David, the psalmist said:

Psalms 139:7-10  Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. (KJV)

God is with us. A consciousness we should never lose.

Prayer

LORD, thank you for today. Thank you for the priviledge to have you near. Thank you for the opportunity to experience personal fellowship with you. Help me to be aware of your presence all the time. Help me to experience deeper fellowship with you. May I never lose sight of your presence in Jesus name I pray. Amen.