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Topic: Don’t Plan To Fail
[DCLM Daily Manna 26 November 2019 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
Text: Acts 13:1-7
Key Verse: “And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away” (Acts 13:3).
After a man had witnessed a Christian pray fervently for victory for the country’s military during a turning point campaign, he returned home elated. The war was not over, but he announced that the battle had been won by his camp. Asked the basis for his optimism when the war was still on, he simply said that given the faith, intensity and sincerity of the one-man prayer session he saw, he could not expect God to deny a positive answer.
The mood of the believers at Antioch was not different. As they worked for the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost delivered them a mandate that will transform the Church and produce a remarkable missionary in the person of Paul. The Holy Spirit told the Antioch Christians to set aside for Him Barnabas and Saul (as Paul was still called) for the work of the ministry. The obedient disciples did the needful. They fasted and prayed more and released them.
The unquantifiable success that attended the missionary expeditions of Paul are attributable to his planning stage of praying and handling the evangelism project to God. It is His work, so He knows best how to direct those He had chosen to do it. The Holy Ghost proved His presence quite early during the first missionary trip when a false prophet who withstood the disciples got instant judgement. Thereafter, it was a lifetime of miracles, signs and wonders in the apostle’s service to the Lord.
Not praying to commit one’s way to God, whether in the ministry or secular activity, is preparation for failure, loss and disappointment. The wise, even when called of God for a task, would not rush into action. They would wait on the Lord for specific guidance so that God would be with them every step of the way.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: If you allow Him in prayer, the Holy Ghost will allow you His power.
BIBLE READING: 1 Peter 1-5.
