Emmanuel Okoro (aka MrLift)

Narrow Escape Sometimes, your escape does not come from what you do but from what God does on your behalf. You must do your best, but never make the mistake of thinking your safety depends entirely on your efforts. When your strength runs out, God's intervention can make the difference. Scripture "So Saul quit the chase and returned to fight the Philistines. Ever since that time, the place where David was camped has been called the Rock of Escape." 1 Samuel 23:28 (NLT) Explanation David was running from Saul, who was determined to kill him. On this occasion, Saul had almost cornered David, and escape seemed impossible. David had done everything he could to stay ahead of Saul, but his best efforts were no longer enough. Suddenly, news arrived that the Philistines were attacking Israel. Saul had to abandon his pursuit of David and return to fight the Philistines. David escaped, and the place was named the Rock of Escape. Interestingly, David was not rescued by h...

A HAND OF FELLOWSHIP Sometimes, what you need most is not someone to fight your battles but someone to strengthen your heart and remind you of who you are and what God has called you to become. Scripture "Jonathan, Saul's son, visited David at Horesh and encouraged him in God. He said, 'Don't despair. My father, Saul, can't lay a hand on you. You will be Israel's king and I'll be right at your side to help. And my father knows it.'" (1 Samuel 23:16–17, MSG) Explanation A friend in need is a friend indeed. When someone shows up for you in difficult times, that friendship becomes precious. More so when that person points you towards God and reminds you of your potential. David was on the run, hiding from Saul, the king of Israel. It was a difficult season, and this was when true friends mattered most. Jonathan risked his relationship with his father to stand by David. He reassured him, strengthened his faith and reminded him of his destin...

Seeking God's Face Always Yesterday's instruction is not necessarily today's direction. What God told you to do yesterday may not be enough to guide you today. Keep seeking His face! Scripture "And will the head men of Keilah turn me and my men over to Saul?" And GOD said, "They'll turn you over." (1 Samuel 23:12)  Explanation It always pays to seek God constantly and consistently. Seeking God is not a one-time affair. Neither is it something we do once and for all. God does not always reveal the entire plan at once. He often gives direction in bits and pieces, leading us one step at a time towards our destination. David's experience teaches us this important lesson. While running from Saul, David received information that the Philistines were attacking Keilah. He asked God whether he should go and rescue the city, and God said yes. However, his men were afraid. David went back to God, and God reaffirmed His instruction. So David went...

Leave the Scheming to God Sometimes, in our eagerness to make God's promises happen, we get ahead of Him and start devising our own ways to make things work. But what we try to achieve through scheming may only delay what God intends to accomplish through trusting Him. Scripture "David answered Ahimelech the Priest, 'The king sent me on a mission and gave strict orders: This is top secret—not a word of this to a soul. I've arranged to meet up with my men in a certain place.'" (1 Samuel 21:2 MSG) Explanation David had escaped from Saul and was now trying to navigate his way to safety through a series of schemes. Rather than simply trusting God, he resorted to deception to manage his circumstances. We must learn to leave the scheming to God and trust Him to work things out. Moses tried to force his way into God's plan by killing an Egyptian and ended up spending forty years in the wilderness. Joseph's attempt to secure his release from prison...

Loyalty Under Pressure Loyalty is easy when there is nothing to lose. The real test of loyalty comes when standing by someone could cost you your position, privilege, or personal ambition. Will you remain loyal when your own crown is at stake? Scripture "For as long as the son of Jesse is walking around free on this earth, your future in this kingdom is at risk. Now go get him. Bring him here. From this moment, he's as good as dead!" Jonathan stood up to his father. "Why dead? What's he done?" (1 Samuel 20:30–31) Explanation Jonathan was the crown prince, the natural heir to Saul's throne. Yet he developed a deep friendship with David, the shepherd boy who had defeated Goliath and won the admiration of Israel. The Bible says Jonathan's soul was knitted to David's (1 Sam. 18:1). His loyalty went beyond friendship. He was willing to surrender his claim to the throne and support David's God-given destiny. "Don't be afraid,...

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...