Emmanuel Okoro (aka MrLift)

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...

God Prepares a Table Sometimes what looks like a crisis is actually God preparing your table. SCRIPTURE "The chef brought it and placed it before Saul with a flourish, saying, "This meal was kept aside just for you. Eat! It was especially prepared for this time and occasion with these guests." Saul ate with Samuel--a memorable day! Afterward they went down from the shrine into the city. A bed was prepared for Saul on the breeze-cooled roof of Samuel's house." (1Sam.9.24-25) EXPLANATION Saul left home looking for lost donkeys. He had no idea that God was leading him into a divine appointment that would change his life. While Saul was searching for donkeys, God was preparing a table. The crisis was real, but it was not the end of the story. God was using an ordinary problem to position Saul for an extraordinary promotion. APPLICATION Your crisis may not be a detour; it may be part of God’s arrangement. When everything seems to be going wrong,...

At the Head of the Table Sometimes, the greatest gift you can give someone is not a position—it is the opportunity to see themselves differently. When you treat people like kings and queens, they may begin to carry themselves like royalty. It doesn’t always happen, especially when people have never seen themselves that way. But sometimes, someone simply needs another person to see what they cannot yet see in themselves. Scripture “Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the great hall and placed them at the head of the table, honoring them above the thirty special guests.” ( 1 Samuel 9:22 NLT ) Explanation God had already told Samuel something about Saul that Saul himself did not know. Saul saw himself as an ordinary Benjaminite from an insignificant family. Samuel, however, was seeing something bigger. So Samuel didn’t merely tell Saul who he could become—he treated him accordingly. He brought Saul into a gathering of important people and gave him the seat of...

The Future Is in Your Hands If you could write the script of your life, what would the future look like? Sometimes we become so consumed with what we have lost that we fail to see what God is about to place in our hands. Scripture “And by the way, your lost donkeys—the ones you’ve been hunting for the last three days—have been found, so don’t worry about them. At this moment, Israel’s future is in your hands.”( 1 Samuel 9:20 NLT) Explanation Israel was entering a new era—one they had never experienced before. The season of judges was coming to an end, and the nation was about to have a king. But while God was thinking nation-building , Saul was thinking about lost donkeys . God was thinking future ; Saul was thinking past . God was thinking forest ; Saul was focused on trees . Saul was worried about what was missing, while God was preparing him for what was coming. Isn’t that sometimes our story too? We can become so preoccupied with yesterday’s disappointments, t...

The Ways of God “He replied, ‘Not so fast. There’s a holy man in this town. He carries a lot of weight around here. What he says is always right on the mark. Maybe he can tell us where to go.’”( 1 Sam. 9:6 ) God knows how to orchestrate our steps, even when we have no idea what the end game will be. This does not undermine the place of planning. Sometimes, we think things worked out because we had all our plans well marshalled, but in reality, God’s unseen hand was all the while working behind the scenes, making everything work together for our good. After Saul and his servant had exhausted all their options in searching for the lost donkeys, Saul had given up hope. But his servant cut him off: “Not so fast.” He suggested that they go back home? No. He suggested that they go and see the prophet. This was never part of the original plan, but God was cooking something. Now, the interesting part is that God had earlier told Samuel the prophet that He was going to send him ...

GOD CONFIDED IN SAMUEL Hook There is a difference between knowing about God and being close enough for God to share His heart with you. One of the greatest privileges of our walk with God is that divinity chooses to fellowship with humanity. God does not merely want servants who obey Him; He desires people who know Him intimately. Scripture “The very day before, GOD had confided in Samuel.” ( 1 Samuel 9:15 ) Explanation Samuel had developed such a close relationship with God that God could entrust him with information concerning what He was about to do. God was preparing to give Israel a king, and before Saul arrived, God had already told Samuel what was about to happen. This is the privilege of intimacy: God shares His heart with those who walk closely with Him. The Bible says, “The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him” (Psalm 25:14). The secret things of God are not revealed merely through intellectual ability but through fellowship with Him. Samuel ...