Emmanuel Okoro (aka MrLift)

Be Discreet Not everything God tells you needs to be announced. Some things are meant to be kept between you and God until the right time. Scripture “He said the donkeys had been found,” Saul replied. “But Saul didn’t tell his uncle that Samuel had anointed him to be king.” ( 1 Samuel 10:16 NLT ) Explanation Discretion is a virtue that seems to be disappearing in this age of weapons of mass distraction—social media . Everything is posted, shared, forwarded, and announced. But Saul teaches us something important: you don't have to tell everyone everything. When Saul returned from searching for the donkeys, his uncle asked what Samuel had said to him. Saul told him about the donkeys, but he did not tell him that Samuel had anointed him king. He knew how to keep something important to himself. Joseph, on the other hand, announced his dreams to his brothers, and his openness eventually contributed to their resentment toward him. Sometimes, what you reveal too early ...

God is Making a Nobody into Somebody  Never allow people’s opinion of you to become your opinion of yourself. Scripture “And when all who knew Saul before saw that he spoke by inspiration among the [schooled] prophets, the people said to one another, ‘What has come over [him, who is nobody but] the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?’”( 1 Samuel 10:11 AMP) Explanation I often wonder why Kish sent Saul to look for the lost donkeys when servants were available. Could it reveal something about how Saul was viewed even within his own family? Whatever the reason, Saul was certainly not regarded by everyone as someone destined for greatness. In our text, people were surprised that the “son of Kish”—the person they considered a nobody—was now prophesying among the prophets. But that was their opinion, not God’s plan. People may define you by your past, your background, your failures, or your present circumstances. God sees beyond all of that. He knows who He c...

If You Don’t Understand My Story, You Won’t Understand My Glory People may be surprised by your emergence because they were never present for your preparation. Scripture “When those who had previously known Saul saw him prophesying with the prophets, they were totally surprised. ‘What’s going on here? What’s come over the son of Kish? How on earth did Saul get to be a prophet?’”. ( 1 Samuel 10:11 ) Explanation People often judge you by what they have seen of you. They read your past and assume it defines your future. But God can change a life in a moment. Saul was stepping into what God had prepared for him—and what God had been preparing him for. His public emergence was preceded by a private story that most people knew nothing about. They were not there when he met Samuel. They did not hear the word God gave him through the prophet. They did not see him sitting at the head of the table or eating the meal specially prepared for him. They did not witness the conversat...

Be Ready We do not always have it all figured out. We know we want to be great and do great things, but figuring out how to get there is not always easy. Being ready is not the same as being prepared. Scripture “When these confirming signs are accomplished, you'll know that you're ready: Whatever job you're given to do, do it. God is with you!” ( 1 Samuel 10:7 ) Explanation Everything we do in life is preparation to get us ready. And when we are ready, that state of readiness becomes another level of preparedness for the next assignment. Think about runners on the track. They have spent time preparing for the race. “On your mark” is a heightened state of preparedness. “Get set” takes it even further. But when the call comes, “Go!” , preparation must give way to action. That is the difference between being prepared and being ready. Our text says, “You’ll know that you’re ready.” How? By doing whatever job comes your way. Every assignment along the way ...

Transformation Is a Process A new birth can happen in a moment, but becoming like Christ takes a lifetime. Scripture “Before you know it, the Spirit of GOD will come on you and you'll be prophesying right along with them. And you'll be transformed. You'll be a new person!”( 1 Samuel 10 :6) Explanation When you receive Christ, something happens instantly—you become a new creation . That is regeneration: God gives you new life in your spirit. But transformation is different. It is a process. Paul says, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). As your mind is continually renewed by God's Word, your thoughts, attitudes, choices, and lifestyle begin to change. The new life God has put within you begins to show on the outside. Application Don't become frustrated because you are not yet where you want to be. Stay in the Word. Renew your mind. Obey what God shows you. Transformation happens as you consistently allow God's Word...

A Word from God Sometimes, you don’t need a miracle—you need a word from God . One word can give you direction, unlock your faith, and change the course of your life. SCRIPTURE “I have a word of God to give you.”( 1 Samuel 9:27 ) EXPLANATION Samuel had a word for Saul that would change his life forever. Peter also needed only one word from Jesus— “Come” —and he stepped out of the boat and walked on water. Joseph spent years in chains, but the Bible says, “Until the time that his word came.” When God’s word came, his captivity ended. The issue is not whether God has a word for you. The question is: Will you listen when He speaks? Abraham’s obedience saved Isaac’s life. He heard God’s voice and stopped just in time. APPLICATION God still speaks. He may speak through Scripture, an inner conviction, wise counsel, a friend, or even a situation. Don’t be so busy looking for a spectacular sign that you miss the simple word God is already giving you. Listen. Discern. Ob...