Emmanuel Okoro (aka MrLift)

Rise to the Occasion " Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, was next after Abimelech. He rose to the occasion to save Israel. He was a man of Issachar. He lived in Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim." (Judg.10.1) There are sayings that stir the soul: “May the road rise to meet you,” and sometimes, “May your road be rough.” Strange as the second sounds, both carry one truth — growth often comes when life demands more from us than comfort ever will. The Bible says that after the chaos and destruction caused by Abimelech, Tola rose to save Israel. He did not wait for perfect conditions. He did not hide among spectators. He stepped into responsibility when the moment called for courage. Pause and think about it: when was the last time you truly rose to the occasion? When was the last time you attempted something that stretched your faith, challenged your capacity, or forced you beyond the boundaries of convenience? Many people live only within the circle of what is famil...

Because He Is Your Relative “You have just betrayed him. You murdered his seventy sons on one stone and crowned Abimelech—the son of his maidservant—king over Shechem’s leaders, simply because he is your relative.” (Judges 9:18 MSG) Gideon had many sons—seventy in all—born to different wives. But there was also Abimelech, the son of a maidservant. After Gideon’s death, Abimelech exploited his maternal ties, persuading his mother’s relatives to back him. With their support, he slaughtered his brothers—seventy lives cut down in one brutal act—while only one escaped. And why did they stand with him? Not because he was the most capable, not because he was righteous—but because he was their relative . That phrase— “your relative” —carries more weight than we often admit. It has justified poor decisions, protected wrongdoing, and elevated loyalty above truth. It has cost nations progress, weakened institutions, and blurred the line between justice and bias. When relationship becomes the s...

Purpose Over Position " The trees then said to Vine, "You come and rule over us." But Vine said to them, "Am I no longer good for making wine, Wine that cheers gods and men, and to be demoted to waving over trees?" (Judg.9.12 - 13 MSG) This is one of the clearest pictures of purpose you’ll ever encounter. It doesn’t just explain purpose—it embodies it. Many people chase position, thinking it is the gateway to impact. Titles, offices, and recognition often look like the highest form of influence. But the truth is, position without purpose is empty. That’s why some leaders lose their relevance the moment they lose their title—because their influence was tied to a seat, not a calling. In this story, the trees were searching for a king—someone to rule, to command, to wield authority. When they approached the vine, it seemed like an opportunity too good to refuse. After all, who wouldn’t want to be king? But the vine refused. It understood something many over...

From Mountain High to Valley Low “Gideon made the gold into a sacred ephod and put it on display in his hometown, Ophrah. All Israel prostituted itself there. Gideon and his family, too, were seduced by it.” (Judges 8:27) Many victories have quietly turned into defeats—not because the battle was lost, but because the heart was unguarded after the win. Some people rise into success so suddenly that they never develop the discipline, humility, and awareness needed to sustain it. They skip the process of growing through failure and land abruptly in success, unprepared for its weight. There is wisdom in growth that is gradual. When God builds, He often starts small—allowing strength, character, and dependence on Him to develop over time. Growth is not just about reaching higher; it is about becoming deeper. Gideon had just secured a remarkable victory for Israel. Yet, in the aftermath, he gathered gold from the spoils and fashioned an ephod—something that became a spiritual trap. What ...

How Do You Handle Rejection? “Then Gideon went to the men of Succoth and said, "Here are the wild geese, Zebah and Zalmunna, you said I'd never catch. You wouldn't give so much as a scrap of bread to my worn-out men; you taunted us, saying that we were on a fool's errand."Then he took the seventy-seven leaders of Succoth and thrashed them with desert thorns and thistles. ” (Judges 8:15–16) Rejection has a way of exposing what truly lies within us. The way we respond when doors are shut in our faces often reveals more about our character than when everything is going well. In truth, how we handle failure and rejection will shape how we carry success when it finally comes. Gideon and his men were exhausted, yet pressing forward in obedience to a divine assignment. Along the way, they were denied help, ridiculed, and dismissed. When victory came, Gideon returned—not just to prove a point, but to confront those who had refused to stand with him. His response was fi...

Support Can Be a Luxury “He asked the men of Succoth, "Please, give me some loaves of bread for my troops I have with me. They're worn out, and I'm hot on the trail of Zebah and Zalmunna, the Midianite kings." But the leaders in Succoth said, "You're on a wild goose chase; why should we help you on a fool's errand?" Gideon said, "If you say so. But when GOD gives me Zebah and Zalmunna, I'll give you a thrashing, whip your bare flesh with desert thorns and thistles!" (Judg. 8:5–7) There’s a hard but necessary truth tucked into this story: support is not guaranteed. Sometimes, it is a luxury. It’s easy to move through life with a quiet sense of entitlement—believing that because our cause is just, or our need is real, people should come through for us. But Gideon’s experience tells a different story. Even when you are on a divine assignment, even when you are exhausted and genuinely in need, help may not come. Gideon and his three hun...