Emmanuel Okoro (aka MrLift)

If You Don’t Understand My Story, You Won’t Understand My Glory People may be surprised by your emergence because they were never present for your preparation. Scripture “When those who had previously known Saul saw him prophesying with the prophets, they were totally surprised. ‘What’s going on here? What’s come over the son of Kish? How on earth did Saul get to be a prophet?’”. ( 1 Samuel 10:11 ) Explanation People often judge you by what they have seen of you. They read your past and assume it defines your future. But God can change a life in a moment. Saul was stepping into what God had prepared for him—and what God had been preparing him for. His public emergence was preceded by a private story that most people knew nothing about. They were not there when he met Samuel. They did not hear the word God gave him through the prophet. They did not see him sitting at the head of the table or eating the meal specially prepared for him. They did not witness the conversat...

Be Ready We do not always have it all figured out. We know we want to be great and do great things, but figuring out how to get there is not always easy. Being ready is not the same as being prepared. Scripture “When these confirming signs are accomplished, you'll know that you're ready: Whatever job you're given to do, do it. God is with you!” ( 1 Samuel 10:7 ) Explanation Everything we do in life is preparation to get us ready. And when we are ready, that state of readiness becomes another level of preparedness for the next assignment. Think about runners on the track. They have spent time preparing for the race. “On your mark” is a heightened state of preparedness. “Get set” takes it even further. But when the call comes, “Go!” , preparation must give way to action. That is the difference between being prepared and being ready. Our text says, “You’ll know that you’re ready.” How? By doing whatever job comes your way. Every assignment along the way ...

Transformation Is a Process A new birth can happen in a moment, but becoming like Christ takes a lifetime. Scripture “Before you know it, the Spirit of GOD will come on you and you'll be prophesying right along with them. And you'll be transformed. You'll be a new person!”( 1 Samuel 10 :6) Explanation When you receive Christ, something happens instantly—you become a new creation . That is regeneration: God gives you new life in your spirit. But transformation is different. It is a process. Paul says, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). As your mind is continually renewed by God's Word, your thoughts, attitudes, choices, and lifestyle begin to change. The new life God has put within you begins to show on the outside. Application Don't become frustrated because you are not yet where you want to be. Stay in the Word. Renew your mind. Obey what God shows you. Transformation happens as you consistently allow God's Word...

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...