When a football club buys a player, that player’s loyalty switches to that club. His allegiance is to the new club such that even if his new club is playing against his old club, His loyalty is with the new club. He does all he can to make the new club win and roots for the new club irrespective of longevity of time spent at the old club. Until, he chooses to leave the club or is bought by another club who typically would need to pay a higher price, his sole purpose is to do all the owner of His new club wants and fulfil his purpose.

Now, players don’t just get on the field to play games and expect to win. They spend time in training with their coach (appointed by the club owner) such that when they get on the field of play, they understand the plan and know what to do. The good thing too is that the coach doesn’t just leave the players on the day of play (because he already coached them). He is there by the sidelines, observing and giving them hints on what the play should be for them to win. The players also have to be able to discern the voice of the coach amidst the noise and also understand then codes being sent out by the coach to know what play is required (that understanding is a function of relationship).

Same way we should approach our walk in the kingdom as children of God. We were on another team, coasting in our sinful nature then God came and bought us. He didn’t just buy us with silver or gold, but with His own blood; His own life. Therefore, we are no longer our own. We have been bought with a price. Our complete allegiance should now be the our Saviour and the owner of our lives. Our focus (as long as we are His) should be to seek to know His will, understand our role in the game plan and play our part. To do this however, means we have to be in tune with him. There has to be a constant and ongoing relationship. We can’t walk with Him one day and walk by ourselves or with another ‘coach’ another day. He’s all there is and has to be.

Have you been bought by the blood? Live like it.

Selah.

Remain connected,
Bolaji Ajayi.

Do your actions reflect your lineage? 

How would you act if you were the child of Dangote or Bill Gates? 

How would you act if you were the child of the Queen of England? 

How would you act if you were the child of the President of your nation? 

If you are a child of God, how do/should you act?  

Are your actions representative of a consciousness of who your father is?  

Does His DNA flow in you?  

Do you act, talk, feel and think like Him?  

When faced with a challenge, how do you deal with it?  

When blessed beyond measure, how do you handle it?  

Do you really understand who your father is and what He is capable of?  

If you do, let your thoughts and actions align with that knowledge.  

If you don’t, seek His face in prayer, study His word and He will reveal Himself to you. 

Act like you know who your Daddy is. 

Remain connected,

Bolaji Ajayi

Every human on this earth has at one point in time or the other had a need or desire that they prayed and hoped about in one way, shape or form. The interesting thing though is – are we able to recognize and lay hold (grab) the answer to our prayer when it comes?

In Acts 12, Herod killed James (one of the apostles) and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he went ahead to arrest Peter as well and was going to bring him before the Jews after passover. In the interim, Peter was under ‘lock and key’. He was chained and was kept between 2 guards and other guards placed outside the door – enough controls to ensure he didn’t escape. However, when Peter got arrested after James’s killing, the church arose and prayed continually for Peter.

Fast forward to the night before Herod was going to bring him before the people. The church is still praying for Peter and an angel comes to the prison, sets Peter free from the chains, walks him past the prison doors and iron gate which although was locked, opened of its own accord and Peter eventually gets to the house where the church was praying for him – this is where it gets more interesting.

Peter knocks on the gate to his ‘place of solace’ and when Rhoda came to the gate and heard Peter’s voice, she didn’t open the gate but went back to tell the others he was at the gate. Now recall that they had been prayer for Peter right. Yet, when Rhoda said Peter was at the door, they didn’t believe. In fact they said “she was mad”. Let’s pause… weren’t these the same people praying for Peter? When they prayed, what did they expect was going to happen? Or were they just fulfilling all righteousness? I don’t think they were since God is able to do more than we ask or thing so deep down in their heart, they really wanted Peter saved.  So why the disbelief that Peter was at the door? Could it be that the way they expected the prayer answered wasn’t the way it came? Could it be that it was too sudden for them? Could it be that the disbelief was out of overflowing joy? Whatever the reason, they left Peter (the answer to their prayer) outside and didn’t let him in. Peter had to keep on knocking for them to eventually consider it might really be him and then they eventually let him in. Now, imagine Peter left after a few knocks. Would they have seen and taken delivery of the answer to their prayers?

Now I ask myself and you this question. Are there prayers God has answered but we didn’t take delivery of because it didn’t come in the package we wanted, the way we wanted, the time we wanted etc., or just because it felt too good to be true and we thought it couldn’t be? Are there answers to your prayers knocking at the door right now (literally staring you in the face, right there around you) but you are refusing the open the door for whatever reason?
That answer won’t stand at the door and knock forever. You have to play your part and open the door for it to come in. You have to take the required action to lay hold of the answer that God has delivered to your door. Just as Jesus says in Rev 3:20 (Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and he with me), so it is with the answer to your prayer. You don’t enjoy the blessing until you take action and ‘open the door’.

I pray that we will have open eyes and ears to see and hear the answer to prayers that are knocking on the door and receive the grace and faith to immediately swing the door open and begin enjoying the blessings of the answered prayers. Amen.

Remain connected to the vine.

Bolaji Ajayi

Today, I saw a young girl of about 4 years crying because she thought she was been left out of an outing since the car she was supposed to ride in was leaving without her. At that moment, the car was been used to drop some luggage somewhere before everyone heads out. When I say cry, I mean really crying with tears flowing uncontrollably down her cheeks. I tried to explain to her that the car was coming back and she had nothing to worry and cry about but my words fell to deaf ears as she just kept up the tears and only switched gears the more I spoke.  At that point I started to think “can you imagine what is making this child cry uncontrollably? In the scheme of things in this life…” and then it hit me. This is exactly how we are with God when we grumble, whine, cry, pray, fast, compromise etc. because of what we consider a need or want and He’s looking and saying “Child, I got you. This is not the end. That car will not leave you behind even though it seems like it is; you will not lose your health even though it seems like you will; that dream will come to pass even though everything in your life right now seems contrary to it; etc.” 

So, as I say to myself, I say to you, whatever that thing is that is causing you pain, your heavenly father’s got it. Remember, He’s inscribed you on the palms of His hands and your walls are continually before Him. Trust His word and His heart, wipe your tears and be rest assured He’s got your back. 

Remain connected, 

Bolaji Ajayi 

In 1 Sam 1, we are introduced to Hannah the wife of Elkanah. Hannah prayed to God year after year for a son and promised to give the son back to God for all his days. God gives Hannah a son and at end of chapter 1, Hannah fulfils her vow to the Lord. The boy Samuel was brought to the temple after he was weaned in fulfilment of his mother’s promise to God. Year on year, his mother would visit and bring him a robe – Samuel had been ministering before the Lord for quite some time and wore a linen ephod – the apparel of priests. However, when the Lord spoke to Samuel for the first time, even though Samuel was lying in ‘God’s presence’ (where the ark of the Lord was), ‘we are told that ‘Samuel did not yet know the Lord. The word of God had not yet been made known to him’. Hence, Samuel did not know that it was God speaking to him.  

If we looked at Samuel’s physical appearance, it would have been easy to assume that he knew the Lord and walked with Him. Suffice to say then that our knowing God is more than how we appear on the outward. It’s not a function of the amount of time we spend in religious environments or performing religious activities. What God wants, is a personal relationship where He can commune with you and I directly. He wants to share His thoughts, ideas, His mind with you and I so we can be His representation to others. That’s why He stands at the door of our heart and knocks and for anyone who opens their heart, He makes His home there. Is your heart really God’s home where He has control to act as He chooses, or are you simply putting up an appearance? Don’t be quick to respond. Rather I challenge you to think of the liberty you have in your home to do what you will and ask yourself this. Does God have the same liberty with my heart or is he simply a visitor? I pray that your heart truly becomes God’s home and your life becomes a representation of His in Jesus name. 

Remain connected, 

Bolaji Ajayi 

Analyzing a matter and coming up with either the cause, a required action, or both is a necessity in life. It’s part of what we do daily consciously or unconsciously as we make decisions, resolve issues, figure out solutions etc. Having said that, we usually don’t apply this thought pattern to work or one-off situations only. We tend to apply it to people as well and draw conclusions. For example, you meet someone and conclude – this guy is just a nobody; or she must have done “xyz” to find herself in this situation; or … (you fill in the blank). 

This is exactly what Job’s friends did? Taken in isolation, most of the things they said were fair and practical statements. However, tying them to Job and drawing inferences and conclusions was where they missed it because they weren’t Job’s truth. In their conclusions, they generalized as we do today and assumed they knew what they didn’t.  

It’s easy for us to judge them now because we have read the first few chapters of Job but really, think about it. If you were either of them, what would you have said? Would your comments have been significantly different from theirs? Check your comments to people’s situations now and it will give you an indication of whether God would have also condemned you then and if he’s condemning you now. 

Let’s stop acting like the omnipotent and omniscience one. God alone knows all things hence without insight from the Holy Spirit, don’t be quick to pass comments or speak about why a person is where they are, acting the way they are acting or dealing with what they are dealing with. If you have not received a word from God concerning that person, then intercede for the person and help in any way you can but do not judge them based on their current situation. 

Remain connected  

Bolaji 

When Joshua and the children of Israel were about to go into Jericho, God gave multiple instructions about what to do such as: pick 12 stones from the middle of the Jordan after it was parted and they had crossed over as a memorial, circumcise the children of Israel since the older generation who had been circumcised were now dead etc. Sequel to these, when Joshua got near Jericho, a man appeared with a sword in hand. This time, there was no instruction but Joshua was sensitive enough to engage the man only to realize this was ‘the commander of the Lord’s army’. Given that they were about to go into battle, that was a significant encounter – and I might add one that could have made or marred the battle depending on Joshua’s response to that encounter. It was after this encounter that Joshua got the instruction on how to bring down the walls of Jericho by going round the city. 

How sensitive are you to know the opportunities that come your way that will activate the fulfillment of God’s promises in your life? Do you make light of the things of the spirit to the point where you no longer see even the things starring you right in the face?

Today, my prayer is that you will be alert, discerning and prepared for every opportunity that comes your way. As you continually spend time cultivating a closer relationship with your heavenly father, your eyes will be opened to identify opportunities that you should take and know what to say and do to leverage them for the fulfillment of your God given dreams.  

Remain connected, 

Bolaji Ajayi 

Imagine you were a member of Rahab’s family before the attack by the Israelites. What would your relationship with her be? Would you even want to be associated with her? I can bet some of us will deny her like Peter denied Jesus if the question of our relationship with her ever came up. Yet, it was this same Rahab, that saved her entire family from destruction.  

Do you have anyone in your family or immediate surrounding that ’cause you shame’ or from what you can see ‘don’t meet up to God’s or your standard of what is right’? How do you relate with such people? Do you even relate with them?  

We all have no idea about the work God is doing in the lives of each individual. Just as Rahab’s heart had been stirred when she and the people heard about the God of Israel, God could be touching the hearts of those you have written off. Your part is to show up, be there for them, tell them about God’s love and allow the Holy Spirit do His work. Who knows, that person you have written off, might be your ‘savior’ tomorrow. If they repaid you in your own coins, would they ‘save’ you?  

Remain connected, 

Bolaji 

Merriam Webster defines success as the attainment of wealth, favor or eminence; favorable or desired outcome; one that succeeds. Being successful is one of the things that everyone of us aims for. The desired success relates to various areas of life including career/business, family, finances etc. The great thing is that God is also committed to us being successful in life. For example, He empowers us with ideas and strategies, creates opportunities for us etc. For it is He who gives us the power to make wealth. Deut 8:18. 

My question today however is “What had success done to you?” In 1 Sam 8, the Israelites asked for a king. In chapter 9, God asked Samuel to anoint Saul king over Israel. When Samuel said this to Saul, Saul’s concern was “Me? How? I’m from the least of the tribe of Israel. In fact, my clan is the least even in Benjamin”. Interpretation, who am I? This is bigger than me. Now fast forward to chapters 13 –15 of the same book. After Saul had ruled for a number of years, his perception changed. Instead of waiting for the Priest Samuel, Samuel took the place of the priest (1 Sam 13: 8-9). He figured he had the process down already and could go ahead and operate in the office of both the king and the priest. And why? “…when I saw that the men were scattering… v:11”. It appeared he was losing his “success” and certainly couldn’t let that happen so he took matters into his hands forgetting how he got the success in the first place. By the time we get to chapter 15, when Samuel had given Saul God’s instructions, Saul and the army didn’t fully obey the word of God. When Samuel got to Saul after the battle, Saul said “… I have carried out the Lord’s instructions”. Samuel questioned the sound of the bleating sheep and Saul’s response was “… the soldiers spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to God”.   

Interesting how we can get successful to the point where we begin to change and redefine what obedience is. We begin to change the standard and justified our acts of disobedience (trusting in ourselves and the arm of flesh). How many times have you decided on what to do to “maintain” your success and then only gone to God to assent it or just share it with Him as an FYI? How many times has God given you an instruction and you tweaked it to soothe what was socially or politically acceptable to people?  

God’s plan was to have Saul’s descendants on the throne. However, because Saul stopped wholly following God, God changed His mind about him and none of his descendants reigned over Israel. Do not let your actions cause God to regret giving you power to prosper. Don’t let your success cause you to feel self-sufficient enough that you turn away from the one true source. You can’t tick the box with God after the facts. Your tithes and offerings in church will not cut it. To have true and lasting success, the type that is trans-generational, you need to wholly follow God and be completely obedient to Him. Truly successful people never forget how they became successful since they understand that what they are currently experiencing is only the beginning on the journey and the only one that can see them through to the end is God. May the eyes of your understanding be enlightened so you know that what you are currently celebrating is only an iota of what God has in store for you – for eyes has not seen and ear has not heard it yet. Don’t truncate God’s plans for your life and generation. 

Remain connected, 

Bolaji Ajayi