Proverbs 16:3 NIV
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
INSIGHT
–God holds sovereignty over everything and He guides us when we ask of Him. Many times have we gone ahead of the Lord and have not consulted Him, but when we fail that’s when we remember Him. The Lord reminds us that, if we turn over every plan to Him, He directs our steps and brings every purpose to fruition. We should then rely on the Lord in everything and all matters whether small or great, and we will never be disappointed. We are called to trust in the Lord in all things and look up to Him for there is nothing difficult for Him and He will brings our plans to completion according to His divine purposes.
PRAYER
Almighty God, we thank You for Your mercies are new every morning. Thank You for Your grace and love that You have bountifully given us. Thank You for the sacrifice You gave on the cross for our sins. May You forgive us for the many times we have not consulted You but done according to our own desires. We repent for the times we have taken matters in our own hands and failed to consult You and seek Your will and guidance. Dear Lord may You forgive us for all our sinfulness and help us to turn around from all sin. We surrender ourselves to You and to Your will oh Lord. May You guide and direct our steps. May You take over all our matters and be enthroned over all in our lives. Dear Lord we trust in You and we know and believe You are well able. May You teach us how to consult You Holy Spirit at all times and how to obey You Abba Father. Oh Lord we are grateful for all You have done for us and given us. Thank You for Your faithfulness. We exult and honor You Lord. We thank You for hearing us. We pray this in Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.
Further reading: Proverbs 16:9
1 Samuel 30:7-8 NIV
“Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelek, “Bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought it to him, and David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.”
INSIGHT
-King David had a culture of always inquiring of the Lord before making decisions. While David and his armies were away, the Amalekites attacked Ziklag where their wives and children lived. They burnt the city and took away their loved ones captive. When the men came back and found the city in ruin and their families missing, they cried until they had no more strength to cry, but David strengthened himself in the Lord. David asked the Lord whether he should pursue the Amalekites and the Lord assured him of success. Often times have we encountered challenges and have gone ahead of the Lord in trying to get solutions for our distressful situations. Our God is mighty to save us from every difficulty and trouble that we might encounter. God calls us to trust in Him for nothing is too hard for Him (Jeremiah 32:17).
PRAYER
Lord You are Faithful to us even when we become faithless You remain to be faithful. May You keep us from every harm and watch over our lives. No weapon fashioned against us will prosper and no tongue that rises against us shall prevail in Your name Jesus. May You watch over our coming in and going out both now and forevermore. Today oh Lord we strengthen ourselves in You and in Your counsel. You are our victory and great reward. May You take over all the battles we are faced with and fight for us for the battle belongs to You our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May You restore unto us all that the enemy has stolen from us and may we recover all. We trust in You and know that You will surely do it for us. We pray that You will teach us how to enquire of You in all situations and to rely on Your counsel. We thank You for Your mighty hand that is able to save and conquer. We pray this in Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.
Further reading: Isaiah 54:17, Psalms 121:7-8
Proverbs 19:21 NIV
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
INSIGHT
-God knows our plans before we know them. God is Supreme above all and His plans and ways are perfect. God has good plans for each one of us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). We are called to consult God and submit our plans to His plans and we will live a more fulfilled life. Sometime we go through frustrations in life because we fail to understand God’s plans for our lives, families, marriage, children, ministries, businesses, jobs, education and nation. Let us always remember to pray and submit to God’s plans for His purpose will always prevail.
PRAYER
Abba Father we love You, thank You for loving us first. Your plans and ways are perfect we surrender all to You. Thank You for the good plans You have for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future, we exult Your holy name. Many are the plans in our hearts but it is Your will that prevails, may You reveal Your plans unto us Abba Father. Make known Your purposes unto us and grant us the grace to walk in and accomplish each and every plans for the glory and honor of Your name Lord. Dear Father You knew us before we were formed in our mother’s wombs, may You guide us and lead us according to our books in heavens. May nothing that is contained therein never delay or be cut short in Your name loving Savior. May You bless us and make every crooked path straight dear Savior. May Your name be lifted high and exulted now and forever more. Amen
Further reading: Jeremiah 1:5, Malachi 3:16
1 Kings 18:41-44 NIV
“And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked. “There is nothing there,” he said. Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”
INSIGHT
-Elijah enquired of the Lord and was sent to present himself before Ahab. He obeyed and went yet this was a crucial season when the prophets of the Lord were being killed. He further consulted the Lord and asked Him to bring down fire to consume the cut bull on the alter during the contest with the prophets of baal at Mt. Carmel. He won the battle and proved that the Lord is the One and Only true God. He then sent for Gehazi his servant to go seven times and confirm that there shall be rain. He kept bowed down all through the seven times. Perhaps as he bowed it was to consult the Lord and remind the Lord of His word that there shall be rain. On the seventh time, there came a small cloud the size of a fist and that was just enough to prove to Elijah. Here we learn that when we decide to consult the Lord, there are things we should do. God calls us to be obedient to the Lord’s leading and guidance from the word go. Just as Elijah obeyed to present himself before Ahab yet it was a season when the prophets of the LORD were being killed by Ahab; We should have courage and confidence in the Lord to trust in Him and call upon His name knowing that He will answer (Hebrews 11:6). The courage portrayed by Elijah in the contest against the prophets of Baal at Mt. Carmel. God is faithful to answer. We should then apply faith for without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6) and there is nothing we can get from Him. Once we enquire of the Lord we should have faith that He has heard and shall answer us.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus we appreciate You and have faith in Your word. Your word is true and right, we trust in You. May You guide us in all our endeavors and increase our faith in You. Since Elijah was a man just like us, may You help us to achieve all that You have ordained for us by Your power Holy Spirit. May You fill us afresh precious Holy Spirit. Only You are Holy, only You are our God. May Your purposes for our lives come to pass in You name dear Jesus. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forever more. Amen
Further reading: James 2:14-26, James 5:17
Proverbs 8:14 NKJV
“Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength.”
INSIGHT
–Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and counsel belongs to Him. All power, strength, praise, glory, counsel, thanks and honor belong to our God now and forever (Revelation 7:12). When we consult God in our matters and follow His instructions, we remain in His peace. A prophet and man of God was instructed to go to king Jeroboam and inform him of the end of his reign and Josiah shall take over from him. He was instructed not to eat or drink anything but was later deceived by an older prophet that an angel spoke to him and instructed him to eat bread and drink water. Since he disobeyed God the prophet was devowed by a lion and his corpse was not buried in the tomb of his fathers (1 Kings 13:18-24). We are called to ask from the Lord and not any other mediums for only God can guide us in the right direction.
SUMMARY
Consult in Hebrew is written as kon-sult, sha’al or malakh which means to ask or inquire. We know that the counsel of the Lord stands forever (Psalms 33:11), therefore God is the head of all wise counsel. Firstly, we receive counsel by consulting God through His word which should dwell richly in us (Colossians 3:16). Secondly, we find counsel through His testimonies which we should delight in (Psalms 119:24). Thirdly, God reveals His counsel and instruction directly to us that we may be wise in our latter days and it is His counsel that stands (Proverbs 19:20-21). Fourthly, we receive counsel from other people for as iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend (Proverbs 27:17). We are then called to commit whatever we do to the Lord and He will establish our plans (Proverbs 16:3). David had the culture of consulting God before going for battle and the Lord granted him success in everything (1 Samuel 30:7-8). When we walk as per the instructions of God and not in the counsel of the ungodly nor stand in the path of sinners, we will always be blessed (Psalms 1:1).
PRAYER
Lord You are Holy, You are Worthy, You are Glorified, all creation bows down before You. You are worthy of all our praise and adoration. Lord You give strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. May You teach us to fear You, to consult You and to walk with You always for You are Just and True. Many are the plans in our hearts, may You align us according to Your own plans. Many are the plans of our leaders and nations, may You align us according to Your way of justice and truth. May You use us always for the glory and honor of Your name. May You grant the gift of salvation unto our families, all people and nations. May all muslims and Asians know You and fear You dear Jesus alone. Our Father who art in heaven; hallowed be Your name; Your Kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from evil; for thine is the Kingdom the power and the glory; forever and ever. May You bless us and keep us dear Lord Jesus. May You shine Your face towards us and be gracious unto us. May You show Your countenance unto us and give us peace. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forevermore. Amen
Further reading: Psalms 1:1-6, Proverbs 20:5