Emmanuel Okoro (aka MrLift)

God Was With Him God’s presence does not mean the absence of trouble; it means you are never alone in the trouble. Scripture “Now Saul feared David. It was clear that GOD was with David and had left Saul.” — (1 Samuel 18:12)  Explanation I think we sometimes underestimate the presence of God in our lives. We ask, “If God is with me, why am I going through all these troubles? Why is this happening to me?” Isn’t that the same question Gideon asked the angel? “If the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about?” (Judges 6:13). God never promised us a trouble-free life. He promised to be with us through our troubles. He says that when we pass through the waters, He will be with us, and when we walk through the fire, we will not be burned (Isaiah 43:2). Think about Joseph. The Bible says the Lord was with him, yet he was sold into slavery, falsely accused, thrown into prison, and forgotten by the chief...

Stay Humble The way up is down! If you want God to lift you high, learn to stay humble. Pride makes you stand tall in your own eyes, but humility teaches you when to duck. Scripture “Suddenly Saul threw the spear, thinking, ‘I'll nail David to the wall.’ David ducked, and the spear missed. This happened twice.” (1 Samuel 18:11 MSG) Explanation David had killed Goliath, defeated Israel’s enemies, and earned the admiration of the people. He was also anointed to become Israel’s next king. He had every reason to feel important, yet he remained humble. When Saul threw his spear at him, David ducked. He refused to let his victories, position, or future destiny fill him with pride. It has been said that we have three days on earth: yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Each day presents an opportunity to choose humility. Yesterday’s achievements must not make us proud, today’s success must not get into our heads, and tomorrow’s expectations must not make us look down on others. The ...

A Jealous Eye Jealousy becomes dangerous when you stop noticing what you have because you cannot stop watching what someone else has. Scripture “So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.” — 1 Samuel 18:9 (NLT) Explanation It is one thing to feel jealous; it is another to keep a jealous eye on someone. The first may be a passing feeling, but the second is a decision to keep feeding that feeling until it begins to control your actions. That was Saul’s problem. After hearing the women celebrate David’s greater victories, Saul became obsessed with him. His jealousy soon turned into an attempt to kill David. “The next day an ugly mood was sent by God to afflict Saul, who became quite beside himself, raving. David played his harp, as he usually did at such times. Saul had a spear in his hand. Suddenly Saul threw the spear, thinking, ‘I’ll nail David to the wall.’ David ducked, and the spear missed. This happened twice.” (1 Samuel 18:10–11, MSG) Saul allowed jealousy ...

Watch Your Thoughts You may not be able to stop a thought from knocking, but you can decide whether to let it settle in and take control. Scripture “Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. ‘They have credited David with tens of thousands,’ he thought, ‘but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?’”(1 Samuel 18:8 NIV) Explanation Still waters run deep. What people see on the outside may be very different from what is happening on the inside. Saul appeared pleased with David’s achievements, but beneath the surface, jealousy and envy were taking root. He kept comparing David’s praise with his own, until his thoughts turned dark. Eventually, he tried to kill David with a spear and sent him into dangerous battles, hoping his rival would die. It all began with a thought Saul failed to control. An unchecked thought can become an unhealthy attitude, and an unhealthy attitude can produce destructive actions. No wonder Paul instructs us to take every though...

Behave Yourself Your behaviour may be the very thing standing between you and your next level. Scripture “And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.” (1 Samuel 18:5 KJV) Explanation David’s wise behaviour opened doors to responsibility, acceptance, and promotion. Behaviour is a skill that can be learned, and God’s Word teaches us how to develop it. The fruit of the Spirit provides a godly code of conduct. These qualities are not produced by human effort alone but become evident as we yield to the Holy Spirit. The fruits of the Spirit are like fruits contained in a seed. When you are born again, the Holy Spirit begins His work in you, and as you yield to Him, His character becomes evident in your daily life. Your attitudes may be hidden, but your behaviour is visible. It is not enough to have the right heart;...

Find Your Compelling Reason One compelling reason can silence a thousand excuses! Scripture “And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?” (1 Samuel 17:29 KJV) Explanation Most people don't fail because they lack a vision; they fail because they lack a compelling reason to pursue it. That's why people talk about finding your why . When your reason is strong enough, you'll find the courage to figure out the how and the what. David demonstrated this when he arrived at the battlefield. His eldest brother, Eliab, had a thousand reasons why he shouldn't be there. But David had just one compelling reason why he must be there. He asked, “Is there not a cause?” David had found something worth standing for, something bigger than himself. He would not allow his brother's accusation or anyone else's opinion to distract him from it. He knew there was a cause worth pursuing, and he was determined not to abandon it. When you discover your Go...