When you find yourself or get yourself in an unpalatable situation, have you ever heard yourself pray for God’s intervention to resolve the issue? I’m sure your answer is a ‘yes’. Really, don’t we all want God’s help when we are at our wits end?  

However, let’s step back for a moment using the example of the Israelites in 1 Sam 4. In 1 Sam 4, the Israelites went to battle against the Philistines (remember Goliath, yeah, he was a Philistine so this has been a long-standing battle) and were defeated. 4,000 fell in one day. The leaders got upset and decided it was time to bring God in to save them from their enemy so the ark of God was brought into the camp. But alas, this time 30,000 died and the ark of God was captured. 

 Couple of observations that I think we can also draw parallels from include:  

• They went out on their own to fight. That battle wasn’t at God direction. 
• When the fighting didn’t go as planned, then they started to question God. 
• They unilaterally decided what the next cause of action should be at each point in time. 

Can you relate in one way or another to anyone of these? Have we all at one point in time or another, not turned to God as our last resort when He should always be the first and only resort? Remember He decrees the end from the beginning so He’s seen the end and know the best route to get there. So why go around in circles trying all options, wasting time, resources, and getting burnt when we have a free avenue to know what route to take so we don’t act as one “boxing the air”?  

We need to align our subconscious to the fact that God is not a genie that does whatever we want and is at our beck and call. God designed us for a relationship with Him where our goal will be to bring Him pleasure. Consequently, the process should be first consulting with God on what to do and when challenges arise as a result of that, go back for the next steps. Don’t fall into the temptation of dishing out the solution to God.  

Change your mind set from ‘God walk with me’ to ‘God I will walk with you’. Let Him have His rightful place in your life and avoid the kind of results that the Israelites got in that passage – they lost the battle and the ark of God (their ‘strength’; the presence of God).  

Be reminded that God is not a man and we need to stop relating with Him as though He were a man. Even ‘gods’ know to bow and surrender before Him just as ‘dagon’ did when the ark of God was placed before it. What about you? Who’s calling the shots in your life? I pray God helps you to surrender to His Lordship, wisdom and nature. 

Remain connected, 

Bolaji Ajayi 

Whether or not you have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, one thing is common to almost all of us human. We find it easier to see the fault in others and point fingers at them than to look in the mirror and address our own inadequacies. The more righteous the accuser feels he/she is, the more the “finger pointing”. Besides the daily examples we see around us and, in our churches, a great example in the bible in David. In 2 Sam 12 when Nathan the prophet came to David with the story of the rich man, David immediately judged the rich man and passed a death verdict until Nathan revealed David was the man in question.  

David is the one man in the bible referred to by God as ‘a man after my heart’, and we have indications of the rationale for this in the Psalms. David had a close walk with God from his childhood and shepherding days. Subsequent to that, God asked Samuel to anoint him king over Israel and all though, God gave him uncountable victories in his days as king all because of his relationship with Hiim. Based on these, it’s safe to say David knew God’s heart – what He liked and didn’t like etc., hence his ability to judge the rich man by God’s standards.  

Question is, did he think the same standards did not apply to him because of his walk with God? Was that why he figured he could get away with adultery and murder?  

God will not change His standard for any man. In fact, the more of Him you know, the more He expects of you – example of Moses and the Israelites. One strike and Moses missed the promised land while it took multiple strikes for the Israelites that came out of Egypt to eventually miss it. In the case of David, that singular act (and cover up), resulted in generational consequences for the line of David starting with the child that was born.  

May the cry of your heart (evidenced by your actions) continually be to completely obey God in all things and repent immediately we fall short so we partake of all that Jesus died for, live life more abundantly here on earth, continue with Him in eternity and pass on generational blessings if Christ tarries.  

Lest I forget, remember to remove the speck in your own eye before commenting on the jot in someone else’s eye. 

Remain Connected, 

Bolaji Ajayi 

When the Centurion sent Jewish elders to Jesus to request the healing of his servant, it was because on some level he believed that Jesus could heal him. However, while Jesus was still a distance away, he declared his ‘unworthiness’ to have Jesus come into his home and that all Jesus needed to do was ‘speak the word’ and his servant would be healed. The bible records that without Jesus going to his home, his servant was his such that by the time those who were sent got home, the healing had occurred. 

What resulted in this variation in divine intervention? – A higher level of faith. You see, the centurion had a level of faith from the beginning which was why he made the request (prayed) in the first place. The answer (Jesus) has also responded and was already on the way to heal the servant which means the servant’s healing was a “done deal” – it was just a matter of time. However, something changed.  The centurion changed the dynamics by displaying a higher level of faith (the kind Jesus had never seen in Israel) when he made his second request (prayed again). The result? – An expedited response to his prayer. Invariably, that singular act of expressing that level of faith, sped up the timing of the result he was praying for. 

What does this suggest? Our faith is a significant component in arriving at the desired results we are seeking. We can pray to tick the box; pray because we have the head knowledge that God is able; or pray because we have a conviction in our hearts and have a relationship with God that has resulted in a deep faith in our hearts. The more we know God deeply, the better we trust him and are able to base our prayers on absolute faith in Him. As we do so, may be experience speed in every area of our lives. 

Remain Connected, 

Bolaji Ajayi 

Mary the mother of Jesus was betrothed to Joseph the carpenter before Mary found out she was ‘with child’. When Joseph found out, he didn’t want to make her a public example, so he decided to put her away secretly. This gives us an indication into the kind of man Joseph was (in addition to the fact that Matthew 1:19 tells us he was a just man). God however interrupted Joseph’s plans in a dream and explained what was happening to him. “Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife”. Matthew 1:24 NKJV. Sequel to this, in Matthew 2, we see Joseph arising a second time to the God’s instruction “Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him. When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt,” Matthew 2:13-14 NKJV. Then a third time in verse 20-21 “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.” Matthew 2:20-21 NKJV

One theme is common to Joseph in the first 2 chapters of Matthew where he is introduced. He was a man who knew God. He recognized God’s voice and had an understanding of God to the point that he always and instantly obeyed God’s instructions.

Joseph’s obedience certainly couldn’t have started in Matthew 1 because God would not have entrusted His son to someone He didn’t trust. These passages therefore suggest some things about the relationship between God and Joseph one of which could include that this was not the first time God interrupted Joseph plans.

The fact that Joseph wanted to put Mary away silently also gives us an insight into his heart. In addition to this, Joseph did all he could to keep Jesus alive amidst all those who sought to kill him, (by being obedient and applying wisdom) indicates that he was one to take care of whatever God committed into his hands.

Having said all these, the question becomes “Can God trust you and I enough to commit the things of the kingdom into our hands?” Can He partner with us to achieve His purpose on earth? Have we passed the smaller tests He’s given us at various times to demonstrate our complete and total surrender to His Lordship? If not, it’s not too late to begin the process. As your faithfulness begins with the little things, God will entrust bigger things into your hands and make you His partner indeed.

Stay connected,

Bolaji Ajayi.

When Jesus touched the blind man at Bethsaida in Mark 8 vs 22 – 25 and asked “what do you see?”, his response was “I see men like trees walking”. Then Jesus touched him a second time and he saw everyone clearly. The case of this blind man is synonymous with many of us Christians. When we come to Christ, and become a child of God, we typically accept Jesus saved us from sin and death by His death on the cross, and we are now co-heirs with Christ – the first touch. However, we do not necessarily accept Him as Lord – the second touch. Consequently, even though we are Christians, our perspective is still skewed. We don’t see correctly. We don’t see like Jesus sees. Hence, we need a second touch.  

So, what does that second touch entail? What does it mean to accept Jesus as “Lord”? Let’s double back to the ancient times when “Lords” existed in kingdoms. Whatever a “Lord” said was to be obeyed by the subject regardless of whether the subject understood the rationale or agreed with the action. No questions asked. Now these “Lords” were human and so their decisions could be marred because they didn’t have all the information to make decisions per time etc. For us however, our Lord is Jesus Christ who knows the end from the beginning hence when He says ‘do this’ or ‘do that’ or ‘don’t do this or that’, He has factored the end from the beginning and analyzed it in all ways to come up with that decision and action plan.   

Let’s draw a parallel using a parent and a child. The child is about 6 years old and the parent says “you’re going to start school so you can get an education” but the child’s response is “No. I’m not going to school. I don’t need an education.” Do you think the parent will be like “Ok, that’s fine.”? I doubt that very much. From the child’s perspective, given that all he or she does right now is pretty much play and have fun, he can barely see the purpose of an education. However, from the parents’ perspective having looked at the world and the hope that the child will succeed, the parent knows that an education in some shape or form will be needed in the global and evolving world. So, the parent acts now by placing the child in school regardless of whether it makes sense to the child or not.   

Now if we who are human and evil know how to give good things to our children, how much more our heavenly father (Matt. 7:11). Let’s learn to trust His Lordship, obey His leading and seek understanding from Him when necessary. I’ll still suggest though that you don’t allow your lack of understanding negate your obedience. Trusting Him means you trust His heart even when you don’t understand His ways. Your mind is far too small to fully comprehend the ways of God.  

Stay connected,  

Bolaji Ajayi 

Ruth was a Moabite yet, she became part of Jesus’s lineage and found favour before God and man. When I look at her story, there are a couple of things I observed and learnt from her experience. 

She “went out”: When Ruth and Naomi returned to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest, she didn’t sit back at home with arms folded and expect Naomi to fend for her. She took responsibility for her well-being and that of Naomi by going out into the fields to see what she could do. Note that If she didn’t go out, there would have being a zero possibility of ending up on Boaz’s field.  

She was diligent: When Boaz got to the field and asked who she was, the overseer’s response was that of a lady who had been focused and worked all day gleaning only taking one short rest.  

She had a good reputation: Boaz had heard of all she did for her mother in law even before coming into the field and seeing her. The overseer’s feedback then was more a confirmation of all he had heard about her person: her character. 

She was mannered: In all her interactions with the overseer and Boaz, Ruth communicated with humility. 

She was not self-centred: After she had eaten with the harvesters and Boaz, she took the extra home to Naomi in addition to all the barley she had for the day. 

The above points led to the following questions which I will like to share with you as well. 

• Do you go out and make things happen or wait for things to happen to you?  
• Are you diligent with whatever your hands find to do?  
• How will people describe you? What is your “hallway” reputation?  
• Are you focused on you and you alone? If you’re honest with yourself, are you selfish?  
• Do people like to hang around you or does your communication style push them away?  

Ruth’s diligence, character, mannerisms and reputation caused her to find favour in Boaz’s eyes and she was “grafted by God into His tree” by becoming the grandmother of David and part of the lineage of Jesus. If she could be grafted in the days of the law and fulfilled, what are your excuses now that Jesus has given us free access by His death and resurrection on the cross? The ball is in your court. Learn from Ruth, allow the Holy Spirit lead and transform you. Submit to Him and you will be a vessel in God’s kingdom to accomplish His purposes and cause His kingdom to be represented on earth as it is in heaven. 

Remain connected, 

Bolaji Ajayi  

The Lord gave Samuel an instruction for Saul which was ‘destroy the Amalekites – everything that moves; human or animal’. Samuel passed along the message to Saul and off Saul went with his army, to destroy the Amalekites. Somewhere in the mix however, not everything was destroyed. “But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs—everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.” Next comes Samuel after God had already told Him of Saul’s disobedience and when he asks Saul about the bleating of sheep and the lowing of cattle, Saul’s answer is ‘priceless’. Saul answered, “The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.” Notice the highlighted texts. When he referred to the things that were spared, it was the soldiers – he Saul, wasn’t a party to it. But when he mentioned what was totally destroyed, it was ‘we’ – now he’s involved…very convenient right?  

Questions: Who did Samuel relay the instruction to and who was given the vision? What vision has God given you that you have not totally obeyed? Does your reason sound in any way like Saul’s? Pause…are those situations coming to mind now?  

When God gives a command, an instruction, a vision etc., it’s not for us to hand over to others to do as they seem fit. God empowers for whatever He asked and that is why He expects results. You, not your siblings, friends, confidant, parents etc., will give account of all that God has committed to you or instructed you about. It’s not about what seems good to those around you. They didn’t send you. God did. Remember, God’s ways are not man’s ways so don’t let man steer you from complete obedience. The blame game doesn’t work with God.  

We know the result of this for Saul was God rejecting him as King and not just him, but his whole lineage. Don’t let acts of disobedience or obedience/deferring to man and not God cost you God’s plans and purposes for your life and generation. And, when you find yourself in this situation, own up to your mess. God already knows anyway and is able to turn that mess to a message if we hand it over to Him.

I pray that by the help of the Holy Spirit, you will be accountable before God and not loose the blessings of obedience in Jesus name.  

Stay connected, 

Bolaji Ajayi 

The time of famine represents a time of lack, scarcity, hunger, starvation; a time thing isn’t going well in the land or economy. At times like that, self-preservation kicks in and the focus typically becomes: WHAT CAN I DO or WHERE CAN I GO to end this scarcity (whatever that scarcity is).  Most times, many of us panic in these situations and follow the crowd – if everyone around seems to be taking a particular action and it appears to have worked then ‘voila’ that’s the action to take. 

In Ruth 1: 1-2, Elimelech found himself in this situation and decided to leave Bethlehem of Judah (his homeland) to Moab (a foreign land). There is no mention of why he did this beyond the fact that there was famine in Judah. However, this was a journey of no return nor reward for him as the bible records that him and his 2 sons and only children died in Moab within the space of 10 years – the whole lineage was wiped out. 

Let’s check two more people and what they did in the time of famine. In Gen 12, shortly after Abram left his people and followed God to an ‘unknown location – a land God would show him’, He met with famine along the way. Then he journeyed to Egypt and because he was walking in covenant with God, God watched out for him and his wife (because He watches over His word to perform it) even though Abram came up with a man-made ploy to address his concern when he was going to enter Egypt. After all said and done, Abram left Egypt a blessed man with all his riches. 

Fast forward a few decades later. Here comes Isaac, Abraham’s son of promise, also in a famine situation (Gen 26:1-6). Like his father, he was about to head to Egypt to resolve the famine issue after all his father went to Egypt when there was a famine in his time. However, God appeared to him and said ‘Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.’ And Isaac dwelled in the land God told him, sowed and reaped a hundred-fold and he prospered and prospered until he became prosperous and the people envied him – all this in a time of famine. 

What made the difference between the results these 3 people got? God. The relationship that existed between them and God, what God said to them and what they did with it. So, before you decide on a line of action when things are not looking good, genuinely seek God’s heart to know where His blessings for you lie. He, not a location is the source of your blessing.  

May you act in divine wisdom and be like the sons of Issachar who had an understanding of the times and seasons and knew what to do. 

Stay connected, 

Bolaji Ajayi 

Shortly after God asked Samuel to anoint David, the spirit of God departed from Saul and an evil spirit tormented him. One of Saul’s attendants suggested they find someone who can play the lyre to play so the king can feel better when he’s tormented. And another servant mentioned the name of David having seen him play before. What’s interesting in all this is the fact that, God orchestrated 2 servants to be present and give the advice and referral that works in God’s own favour and aligns to His purpose (getting David to experience the palace before he eventually became king). Why was it the advice of someone to play the lyre that Saul accepted? How come the other servant remembered David (this reminds me of the story of Joseph as well). I pray that as you utilize the gifts that God has placed in you, God will organize events to work in your favour and take you to the place He has planned for you.  

A side note however is that you must have been doing something with the gift. If David hadn’t played the lyre for people to hear, the servant won’t have had a reference point. Same applies to Joseph – the interpretation in the prison opened the door of remembrance for him in the palace. The gift of a man, makes room for him. Have you discovered the gifts that God has placed in you? What are you doing with them? That gift is waiting for activation to launch you to the phase of your life in fulfilment of God’s plans and purposes.  

Secondly, you should prepare yourself for the next phase even in your current phase. When the servant referred David, he didn’t just say he played the lyre; he said “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the lord is with him.” 1 Sam 16:18. To stand before kings, the gift is only a baseline, there are other requirements. Same thing with Joseph when he was called, it is recorded that he prepared himself physically before even appearing before the king and once he spoke, even the king acknowledged that he was wise and God was with him. Your character and walk with God are critical to achieving that great future that eye has not seen nor ear heard, which God has planned for you. May you not truncate God’s plan for you by lack of character or lack of the fear of God. 

Remain connected to the vine, 

Bolaji Ajayi 

After the death of Moses, the lord asked Joshua to lead the people to the promised land. Joshua then sent 2 spies into the land of Jericho. These men were hidden by Rahab the harlot and eventually had an agreement to reciprocate her favour by preserving anyone that was in Rahab’s house when the Israelites took over the land.  

One thing struck me about this story. Spying out the land had no impact on whether the Israelites were going to take over the land or not. That part was already settled by God because the battle was His. So why did God allow Joshua send out the 2 men? Could it be because God wanted to preserve Rahab given Jesus was going to come from that line?  

God will always do His part to bring His plans for our lives to fulfillment. However, we also have a part to play. If Rahab had not obeyed the instruction of the spies and put the red cloth on the window, her house too might have come down and her entire household perish. Same way the angel of death passed over the Israelites as they obeyed the voice of Moses and put the blood of the lamb on their door post. 

God is always faithful to play His part in bringing what He has planned for us to come to pass. Are we? Can God trust you and I to play our part in order to see the manifestation of the promise. Are we willing and able to act on His command regardless of the seeming consequence at that point in time? Rahab could have been killed if the king found out what she did. Yet, because she had heard about the God of Israel, she believed, aligned with God and showed it by her actions. We read about her in Heb 11 as part of the heroes of faith because of this act, and in Matt 1 as part of the lineage of Jesus.  

Trust and obey. Remember, He has finished the works because the foundations of the world so we can trust that what He says will come to pass if we do our part. 

Remain Connected,

Bolaji Ajayi