Daily Devotionals

On June 24, 2023, Sierra Leoneans cast their votes, but the aftermath revealed reports of violence and tension, particularly at the opposition headquarters. This unsettling election scenario sheds light on a pressing issue within the African political landscape—peaceful power transitions are often the exception rather than the norm. It is crucial to recognize that societal values and cultures shape every nation, and it is our responsibility to earnestly influence and reshape them. It is part of operating as the salt and light of your world. Electoral violence and tension reveals a decay in righteous values.

In Romans 12:1-2, we are urged to surrender ourselves to God, resisting conformity to the world and allowing our minds to be transformed. Before adopting the ways of the world, we must carefully weigh them against the teachings of Scripture. As watchmen over our families and communities, we must ensure that righteousness, mercy, and justice form the core values guiding our actions. Embracing the task of shaping your world’s value system is a vital step towards curbing election violence and corruption. You must commit to instill and reinforce righteous values within your spheres of influence.

The normalization of mediocrity, intellectual laziness, bribery, and corruption in Western Africa is disheartening. The vibrant Christian faith is not adequately reflected in society. Now, more than ever, we must grasp the profound significance of Christian faith and values. Christianity imparts principles of righteousness, mercy, and justice, essential for establishing a peaceful and prosperous society. Meaningful change will remain elusive unless we confront and challenge electoral violence, malpractice, and corruption head-on. Remember, you have been placed here by God to make a difference. Act accordingly. It might not look like much initially, but keep going.

Your mission is rooted in the will of God for your times and seasons. It is a spiritual calling seeking tangible expression in the physical realm. However, it’s vital to not become so immersed in your mission that you neglect to reconcile it with the realities of the world. Success in your mission begins by acknowledging the current state of things and charting a course accordingly. Ignoring the laws of biology, physics, technology, politics, marketing and economics can humble even the most spiritually inclined person. You must align your spiritual convictions with the realities of your world. The world is not an empty vacuum.

The life of the Apostle Paul is one case study that demonstrates the importance of reconciling mission with reality. While he felt a strong spiritual call to spread the gospel, he also recognised the importance of tailoring his message and approach to different cultures and contexts. In Acts 17, Paul addressed the Athenians using their own cultural references and philosophical ideas, demonstrating his understanding of the people he was reaching out to. You must learn about existing culture and best practices as part of your mission. Consider how they differ from the heavenly ideal in your spirit. That is when you can start making good plans.

Draw inspiration from William Wilberforce, a man driven by his deep Christian faith. He was on a mission to abolish slavery. With a heart set on eradicating this profound injustice, Wilberforce understood the power of aligning his spiritual conviction with the realities of the world. He understood the political landscape and the need for strategic alliances and gradual change. He worked within the existing political system, building coalitions and garnering support over many years until slavery was finally abolished in the British Empire. Ground your mission in a realistic understanding of the world.

In a world teeming with diverse perspectives, it becomes evident that consensus does not always equate to truth. The realization that 7,000 West Africans or even all 7 billion people on this planet can be wrong is both humbling and liberating. True creativity flourishes when we dare to express our unique thoughts and ideas, even if they challenge the prevailing notions. It requires a certain level of stubbornness, an unwavering belief in your own insights, and the courage to question the status quo. Embrace the courage to break free from the shackles of popular opinion. Cherish the creative sparks within and have the audacity to pursue your original ideas.

Throughout history, there have been remarkable individuals who stood against popular opinion and paved the way for groundbreaking discoveries. Take the story of physicist Murray Gell-Mann, who faced initial opposition and skepticism. Despite seven experiments seemingly disproving his theory, Gell-Mann persevered and eventually proved all the experiments wrong. His unwavering conviction in his ideas ultimately led to a scientific breakthrough. This example reminds us that greatness often lies in the audacity to trust our instincts and stay true to our convictions. The key idea is to identify the relevant principles with which you are working and to solicit real-world feedback on your ideas.

While seeking advice and counsel from others can be beneficial, true innovation seldom emerges from the consensus of thousands. You must be patient as you nurture and develop your original ideas. It will be difficult to obtain external validation early on; therefore, you must have faith that you are on the right track. Something that 7,000 people agree on will not produce cutting-edge work. No original idea can get 7,000 votes right away. Play it safe by seeking approval from the outside world that what you’re working on is legitimate, or change the game by sticking to the original ideas within your spirit.

There will always be “things you want to do” and “things that society says you have to do.” You must learn to strike a balance between the two. Getting married and raising children are things society says you must do. It is critical to educate young people about the importance of marriage and parenthood from an early age. We must help them understand that they will need the support and companionship of their loved ones in the future. It is very difficult to single handedly succeed in life. You will find yourself needing emotional support and companionship. Embrace the gift of family and recognize the value of investing in family.

It is good for a young man to understand the importance of having a home. As a result, directing his energy towards creating a loving home becomes critical. As you advance in your career, business, or ministry, you realize that you will be doomed if you do not balance life’s family demands. A young woman should recognize that settling in the home front provides a foundation to pursue her ambitions. Marriage and raising children should not be seen as some necessary evil; there is nothing evil about taking responsibility for shaping the future of your world. There is nothing more important than taking responsibility for nurturing another generation.

You have been given a torch, and it is now your turn to pass it on to the next generation. You have benefited from the kindness and sacrifices of others, and now it is your turn to sacrifice and show kindness to someone else. By prioritizing family, we cultivate a sense of purpose and ensure a nurturing environment for the generations to come. Balancing personal aspirations and the blessings of family can lead to a fulfilling and purposeful life. We must rethink marriage and family life. It is not “something do-able, when able”. Without family, your long-term impact and legacy are not secure.

Religion has a significant impact on our lives, influencing our thoughts and actions. That is why we must be aware of how our religious beliefs impact our destiny. While some argue that religion is invalid or unnecessary, the human experience does not support such an argument. People need hope in their lives, and it is well understood that certain boundaries and guidelines are required for healthy living. So religion cannot be a problem in and of itself. The issue is religious beliefs that suppress our fruitfulness, productivity, and creativity. It is important to have a religion that empowers and encourages us to unleash our creative potential.

The Western Civilization is the most creative, productive, and prosperous civilisation ever built by men. This civilisation owes a lot to Christianity’s core ideas and values of righteousness, mercy and justice. The principles embedded in Christianity have played a critical role in shaping the success of nations. No other creed or religion has created a better world than the western civilization. You should be wary of seemingly nice people who try to push insignificant and unproductive religious narratives. Anyone attempting to recruit you into their religion or denomination should respond to the following question: What has your religion or denomination created? What have you accomplished?

It is easy to highlight Christianity as a productive religion. All the major ideas driving the world today originated from predominantly Christian nations. That is either a coincidence or the religion had something to do with it. You must understand that fostering growth, innovation, and progress is dependent on people’s religious beliefs. That is why, as a watchman tasked with steering your world towards a better future, you cannot remain passive in the face of the religious beliefs that dominate your world. Take a stand for your faith through prayers and commensurate actions. Do not allow ungodly people or religious terrorists take over your world.

Break free from the notion that a breakthrough is merely an enigmatic, unforeseen occurrence that grants you all your desires. Such thinking constrains you within the confines of mediocrity, preventing your growth and advancement. It perpetuates a cycle of wishful thinking and idle prayers, hindering you from stepping into the realm of faith in action. Faith without works is dead; a person of faith is an active person. When you begin to take specific actions as a result of your faith, it is a sign that you are expecting a breakthrough. A business-minded person seeking growth does more than just pray; they take risks and explore new horizons.

Shift your perspective and embrace a new paradigm. Understand that a breakthrough is not just a random stroke of luck, but a product of intentional effort and unwavering belief. A breakthrough is not an unexplainable divine intervention. Spiritual intelligence is the highest form of intelligence. In other words, things of God operate at such a high level of intelligence that they may appear foolish to the naturally minded person. Please keep in mind that intelligence is still involved. Working with faith is working with divine intelligence. It takes a combination of faith and hard work, in which you actively pursue your goals while aligning your actions with your goals.

If you’ve been stuck in your job, business, or ministry for a long time. While hoping and praying for a breakthrough is a good idea, nothing will happen unless there is a commitment to grow and develop new capabilities and competencies. You will be stuck until you develop the capability, competence, and confidence to unlock more growth. Sustainable growth will not come suddenly, due process must be followed. Break free from the constraints of passive thinking and embark on a journey of faith-filled action. Breakthroughs await those who dare to go beyond wishes and prayers, into a realm where dreams come true and destiny unfolds.

The human spirit holds remarkable potential. As affirmed in Genesis 11:6, God declared, “nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.” This truth empowers us to achieve great things, but it comes with a crucial requirement: personal growth. While the possibilities for growth are boundless, they are not automatically realized. It is important to be deliberate in creating the necessary skills and competence to achieve our goals. Understand that you are already doing your very best right now. If you want better results, you must commit to develop better competence and capabilities.

In an interview with Lex Fridman, Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, was asked about Twitter’s struggle to reach a billion subscribers. Zuckerberg acknowledged the immense undertaking of building such companies, emphasizing the need to develop the necessary capabilities and competencies. He reflected on Facebook’s early challenges in reaching 100 million users, uncertain if they would ever achieve that milestone. However, through perseverance and a focus on internationalization, they overcame obstacles and expanded their user base across different countries. This accomplishment instilled confidence and became a core competency. A commitment to increasing their capabilities and competencies, enabled further success in their journey.

You have to develop new capabilities and competencies for the breakthrough you want. To become the person capable of achieving your aspirations, you must consciously align your desires with a commitment to personal development. If your business has plateaued at a point, understand that the next breakthrough will require you to develop some new capability and competence you do not currently have. Facebook developed the capability and competence required to build a platform that attracted a billion users, and then leveraged that skill to repeat that achievement in other things. Your career, business or ministry will not grow until you develop the competence and capabilities of the next level.

Ecclesiastes 10:11 (NLT) paints a vivid picture of futility, “If a snake bites before you charm it, what’s the use of being a snake charmer?” Similarly, what good is a well-crafted mission statement if our daily lives lack potency and fail to make a visible difference? If the enemy continues to wreak havoc in our communities, what good are we as individuals equipped by God to trample upon serpents and scorpions? You must stop being the salt and light of your world exclusively through your eloquent speeches. Your results should be able to speak for themselves.

The problem lies in our love for the prestige, status, and polish that come with certain offices without taking responsibility for them. We must not only hold titles but also be ready to put in the work. What good is being a job creator if no new jobs are created for months? Why were you anointed to teach family values if you lock the best content behind unaffordable paywalls? Why are the serpent’s musicians reaching more people than those anointed by the Lord? If the sons of the serpent outwork the sons of God, our world will descend into chaos.

Let us not desire positions we are ill-prepared to handle. 1 Timothy 3 outlines the expectations of spiritual offices. We must equip ourselves for the roles and responsibilities we aspire to. As we step into these positions, let us discharge our duties with the fear of the Lord as our guiding principle, ensuring that our actions align with our mission and purpose. Do not be the watchman that is not doing the work. Do not be a Bishop in title only. You must set aside time to consider and reflect on your work and the impact it is supposed to have. Stop the serpent from biting.

Nothing is more important than the mission, but zeal without knowledge falls short. Proverbs 19:2 (NET) warns of the dangers: “It is dangerous to have zeal without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily makes poor choices.” Before embarking on your mission, take time to acquire the necessary training. If you feel called to guide others in their journeys, develop the essential skills required for the task. Mentorship and discipleship demand spiritual, emotional, and intellectual maturity. Embrace the training process rather than assuming you can fulfill your role without it. Without proper education and training for your mission, you are more likely to fail.

Looking to history, we find inspiration from the Puritans who founded Harvard University with the explicit purpose of educating pastors. Their vision underscored the value of investing in spiritual education and leadership. Harvard’s establishment was authorized by the Massachusetts colonial legislature, driven by the concern of leaving “an illiterate ministry to the churches, when our present ministers shall lie in the dust.” Though not formally affiliated with any denomination, Harvard initially focused on training ministers. In your mission and calling, don’t be a gifted illiterate. A gifted illiterate remains an illiterate, and while we may see flashes of brilliance, the full potential will not be realized.

Your gifting is unquestionable, but training enables you to unlock its full potential. Study the lives of your role models, paying attention to their educational journeys and the training they embraced. You must be trained for your mission and be able to operate with knowledge. Depending on your mission, you may find yourself in a multi-decade apprenticeship like Moses in Midian or Jacob with his Uncle Laban. Training equips you to maximize your capacity to watch over your world. Embrace the process, invest in education, and develop the skills that will elevate your effectiveness in fulfilling your divine assignment. After training, there is always enough time to make an impact.

It’s not merely about the abundance of revelation; it’s about understanding its significance. A handful of understanding yields greater profit than bags of uncomprehended, misunderstood revelations. While revelations ignite excitement, without understanding, they remain fruitless. Imagine purchasing a revolutionary machine that increases productivity by 2,000% but lacking the necessary skills to operate it. So is the person who has the revelation but lacks understanding of what is going on in their spiritual mind. As a result, we see that wisdom, rather than revelation, is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom, and with all your getting, get understanding.

You must recognise that your understanding is the key to unlocking the treasures of revelation. It’s not about how much revelation you have. It is all about how much you comprehend. If you lack understanding, you will be unable to create the machines, technologies, businesses, or ministries in your spirit. To manifest the visions in your spirit, knowledge and skill are indispensable. Psalm 78:72 illustrates this truth: “With upright heart, he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand.” David’s excellence as a king stemmed not only from his anointing but also from his heart’s integrity and developed skills.

Like David, you must cultivate knowledge and skill to fulfill your purpose. You cannot lean completely on your spiritual revelations. As you seek revelation, embrace understanding as your faithful companion. Cultivate knowledge and skill, for they serve as pillars for building and guiding your God-given visions. Revelations excite us, as it should, but nothing happens unless we understand what is being revealed. Remember, it’s the harmonious union of revelation, understanding, and skill that propels you toward fulfillment of your prophecies. Trust in the wisdom of acquiring both understanding and skill, and you will flourish in your divine assignment.