Emmanuel Okoro (aka MrLift)

Delays Are Not Denials   “Because the sons of Joseph had become two tribes—Manasseh and Ephraim—they gave no allotment to the Levites, but gave them cities to live in, with pasture lands for their flocks and herds.” ( Joshua 14:4)  Delays are not denials. God knows how to course-correct our journeys so they align perfectly with His original plan for our lives. What looks like a setback to us is often a setup in God’s hands. We remember the story of Jacob—how he was deceived into marrying Leah instead of Rachel, the woman he truly loved. That single act appeared to delay his destiny by seven years. When he finally married Rachel, there was yet another delay: she could not bear children for a long time. Humanly speaking, everything seemed out of order. Had Jacob married Rachel as planned, Joseph would have been the firstborn and naturally entitled to the double portion. But God does not panic over delays. What He has ordained cannot be canceled by human schemes. Though the pr...

What You Have to Do—Do It Now “Do it now: Allot this land as an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.” ( Joshua 13:7)  Sometimes, the only thing standing between us and success is the willingness to act. Not lack of ability. Not lack of time. Just action. I learned this lesson recently. I had an assignment that felt impossible within the time available. Everything in me wanted to postpone it, but I sensed a gentle prompting in my spirit to at least give it a try. The Holy Spirit reminded me that almost nothing is impossible when we are willing to put in the required work. So I began. I pushed myself even when I felt tired, kept going when I felt drained—and to my amazement, the task was completed. God gave Joshua an instruction that seemed unreasonable at first. He told him to divide the land among the people while the enemies were still there, promising that He Himself would drive them out. Human logic would suggest clearing the land first before shari...

All You Have to Do Is All You Have to Do  “ All who live in the mountains, from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, all the Sidonians—I myself will drive them out before the people of Israel. All you have to do is allot this land to Israel as an inheritance, as I have instructed you.”   ( Joshua 13:6) In life, truly, all you have to do is all you have to do—no more and no less . God instructed Joshua to allot the land to Israel before the inhabitants were driven out. Remarkably, God made it clear that He Himself would drive out the nations, but Joshua still had a responsibility: to divide and assign the land. Divine action did not cancel human obedience; it required it. This principle had already been demonstrated in Caleb’s life. Joshua gave Caleb his inheritance—the mountain—while the enemies were still occupying it. Once Caleb knew what belonged to him, he rose in faith and went to take possession.    “Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake ...

When Good Enough Isn’t Enough " When Joshua had grown old, the LORD said to him, ‘You are very old, and there remains very much land yet to be possessed.’”  (Joshua 13:1) For the God of the universe—who has seen the lives of countless generations—to say to a man, “You have lived a long and good life,” is no small commendation. It means Joshua’s years were meaningful, fruitful, and well spent. His obedience, leadership, and victories mattered. Yet God did not stop there. He added, “There is still much land to be taken.” In other words, as good as Joshua’s life had been, God was not finished. Past victories did not cancel future assignments. Accomplishment did not mean completion. This is a powerful reminder for us. No matter how far you’ve come, no matter how much you’ve achieved, God may still have more ahead of you. What you see as enough may simply be a milestone, not the destination. Don’t settle too soon. Don’t pack up your tools or retire your faith. There is still wor...

Daily Victory  “The king of Tirzah, one—making a total of thirty-one kings.”  (Joshua 12:24) Joshua chapter twelve records the kings conquered by Joshua and the children of Israel. In all, thirty-one kings were defeated—thirty-one clear victories that testified to God’s faithfulness and power. As I reflected on this, another scripture came strongly to mind: the assurance that God daily loads us with benefits . I could not help but see a beautiful parallel—victory for every single day of the month.  “ Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.”  (Psalm 68:19 KJV) Every benefit God loads us with is an expression of victory. No day is meant to be empty, defeated, or wasted. In the same way, the Apostle Paul declares with confidence that God always causes us to triumph in Christ.  “ Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every plac...

A Season of Rest  “So Joshua took the entire land, just as the LORD had instructed Moses, and Joshua gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war.”  (Joshua 11:23) A season of rest is coming—hold on just a little longer. Notice that Israel did not enter into rest until the whole land was taken. There was no rest before the battle was finished; victory preceded rest. Joshua and the people had to confront every opposition before they could enjoy peace. For us as New Testament believers, the journey is different yet deeply connected. Our victory has already been secured through the finished work of Christ on the cross. Therefore, our responsibility is not to fight for victory, but to believe in it and rest in what Christ has accomplished. To enter this rest is simply to trust—fully and without reservation. Scripture reminds us that the promise of rest is still available, but it must be received with faith:  “ Now G...