Emmanuel Okoro (aka MrLift)

SERVICE YOUR SECRET PLACE Everyone needs a safe place—a place to retreat, recharge and regain strength. As believers, our greatest place of refuge is the secret place of fellowship with God. But don't just have a secret place; service it! Scripture "David made good his escape and went to Samuel at Ramah and told him everything Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel withdrew to the privacy of Naioth." (1 Samuel 19:18) "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." (Psalm 91:1) Explanation The secret place is not necessarily a physical location. It is a place of intimacy and fellowship with God. For Samuel, Naioth was such a place. When David was running from Saul, Samuel took him there for refuge. Even Saul's messengers, and eventually Saul himself, came under the influence of God's Spirit when they entered that environment. Your secret place is important to your spiritual survival. It is w...

Show Evidence Don't let what you cannot do stop you from doing what you can. Sometimes, opportunities are not lost because we lack the ability to seize them, but because we underestimate what we have to offer. We focus so much on what we don't have that we fail to put to work what we already have. Stop selling yourself short. Show evidence of what you can do! Scripture "When the servants reported David's response to Saul, he told them to tell David this: 'The king isn't expecting any money from you; only this: Go kill a hundred Philistines and bring evidence of your vengeance on the king's behalf. Avenge the king on his enemies.' (Saul expected David to be killed in action.)" ( 1 Samuel 18:23 ) Explanation Everything isn't about money. Sometimes, what is required is evidence of your ability, commitment and willingness to stretch yourself. This was practically what Saul's servant communicated to David. Earlier, David had ...

God of Second Chances A missed opportunity is not necessarily a missed destiny. One of the beautiful things about walking with God is that He is not limited by our missed opportunities, past mistakes or even our poor decisions. With God, a setback does not have to be the end of the story. There is always room for another chapter. Scripture "Meanwhile, Saul's daughter Michal was in love with David. When Saul was told of this, he rubbed his hands in anticipation. 'Ah, a second chance. I'll use Michal as bait to get David out where the Philistines will make short work of him.' So again he said to David, 'You're going to be my son-in-law.'" (1 Samuel 18:20, MSG) Explanation God is the God of second chances. He knows how to create new opportunities even when we think we have exhausted our options. Think about the prodigal son. He wasted his inheritance but was welcomed back by his father. Think about Peter. He denied Jesus three times, yet J...

Your Reality Isn't Always Your Truth Never allow what you see around you to determine what you believe about yourself. Your reality may tell you that you are not qualified, not good enough, or not deserving of the opportunity before you. But what God says about you is greater than what your present circumstances suggest. Your reality may not yet reflect your truth. Don't abandon God's Word because your circumstances disagree with it! Scripture “David, embarrassed, answered, ‘Do you really mean that? I'm from a family of nobodies! I can't be son-in-law to the king.’” (1 Samuel 18:18 MSB) Explanation David had been promised the king's daughter as one of the rewards for killing Goliath. Yet, when the opportunity came, David's response revealed a different picture of himself. His reality was telling him that he was not good enough to become the king's son-in-law. He saw himself as someone from a family of nobodies, unqualified for such an honour....

The God Factor Your skills may open doors, but it is the presence of God that makes the difference! Scripture “David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the LORD was with him.” (1 Samuel 18:14 NLT) Explanation Success is not a one-time event; it is the result of taking the right steps consistently. Everyone experiences failure, but when success becomes a recurring pattern, we recognise it as a life of success. David was such a man. He continued to succeed, not merely because of his abilities, wisdom or skills, but because the LORD was with him. This does not mean we should neglect developing our skills or doing what is required of us. Rather, it means that beyond our efforts, there is a divine factor that makes the difference. We must never become so impressed with our abilities that we forget our dependence on God. Paul captures this truth beautifully: “No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” (Romans 8:37 NLT) Ou...

What the Enemy Meant for Evil Sometimes, what looks like an attack on your life is actually preparation for your future. The enemy may intend to destroy you, but God can use the very thing meant to hurt you to prepare you for what lies ahead. Never judge God's plan by what you are going through today. Scripture “So, Saul got David out of his sight by making him an officer in the army. David was in combat frequently.” — 1 Samuel 18:13 (MSB) “Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” — 1 Corinthians 2:8 (KJV) Explanation Saul promoted David to a position that kept him constantly on the battlefield. His intention was to expose David to danger, hoping that one day he would be killed. But what Saul intended for evil, God used for David's preparation. Every battle David fought became an opportunity to develop his courage, skill, and experience. What was meant to destroy him was preparing him for ...