Emmanuel Okoro (aka MrLift)

Keep Close Watch Over Yourself "Just make sure you stay alert. Keep close watch over yourselves. Don’t forget anything of what you’ve seen. Don’t let your heart wander off. Stay vigilant as long as you live. Teach what you’ve seen and heard to your children and grandchildren." (Deut. 4:9) This verse is a timeless admonition, a treasure chest of principles for godly living. It begins with “Stay alert.” Why? Because your adversary, the devil, is always prowling around, looking for someone to devour. As 1 Peter 5:8 puts it: “Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping.” Next, the Word says, “Keep close watch over yourself.” Too often we are more focused on correcting others than on examining ourselves. But Jesus reminds us: “First remove the log from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Then comes the charge: “Don’t forget anything you have seen....

God Will Fight for You "Do not be afraid of them. The LORD your God Himself will fight for you." (Deut. 3:22) As I sat down to write, a song welled up in my heart: “God will work it out, God will work it out. One thing I know, one thing I’m sure of, is that God will work it out.” I don’t know the battles you may be facing right now, but I know this: God will fight for you, and you will hold your peace. He has already gone ahead of you, and because of that, all things will work together for your good. It may not look like it now, and yes, the process may come with challenges and pain, but in the end, God will bring His perfect outcome. Just as God assured Joshua that He would fight for him, He is saying the same to you today. But under the light of the New Testament, this truth shines even brighter: God has already fought for you through Christ. Now, you are not striving for victory—you are standing in victory. You are like an occupying army, enforcing the triumph Jesus ...

God Has Done It Before "At that time I commanded Joshua: ‘You have seen with your own eyes all that the LORD your God has done to these two kings. The LORD will do the same to all the kingdoms over there where you are going.’" (Deut. 3:21, MSG) There is an old saying: “By three methods we may learn wisdom—first, by reflection; second, by imitation; and third, by experience.” Joshua had more than reflection and imitation—he had firsthand experience. He had witnessed God’s mighty acts against kings who opposed Israel. That experience became the foundation of his confidence for the battles ahead. God reminded Joshua: “Just as I did before, I will do again.” The victories of the past were not isolated events; they were evidence of God’s unchanging nature and His faithfulness to His people. This is also true for you. Think about what God has already done in your life—or even in the lives of others around you. Those past testimonies are not just memories; they are assurances...

Do for Others "Until the LORD gives rest to your fellow Israelites as He has to you, and they too have taken possession of the land the LORD your God is giving them across the Jordan. After that, each of you may go back to the possession I have given you." — Deuteronomy 3:20 In this passage, we see the golden rule in practice. Jesus taught it this way: “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12, NLT). Sadly, many have twisted this principle to mean, “Do to others as they have done to you.” But that’s not what Jesus said. The rule is proactive, not reactive. It is about treating others the way you would want to be treated—not simply mirroring how they treat you. In our text, the Israelites were entering the promised land. Two and a half tribes had already received their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan River. But before they could settle fully, God commanded the...

Don’t Negotiate When You’re Called to Fight “From the wilderness of Kedemoth I sent messengers to Sihon king of Heshbon, with words of peace.” — Deuteronomy 2:26 Sometimes diplomacy is merely another face of the battle. Deception can be a weapon. But there are moments God calls you not to parley but to engage — to fight. Moses sent a friendly message to Sihon when God had already told him, “Go to war with him.” The enemy rarely shows up wearing an enemy uniform; often he comes asking for talks, offering treaties, or softening the ground with charm. Yet God’s command was clear: don’t bargain when you are meant to advance. The Israelites were crossing into the Promised Land. God had gone before them and promised the territory; still Moses sent envoys “with words of peace.” That impulse to negotiate is understandable — but it can also be the very thing that slows God’s purpose. When God says “go,” don’t stall in conversation; move in confident obedience. The New Testament helps us see...

Get Started "On your feet now. Get started. Cross the Brook Arnon. Look: Here's Sihon the Amorite king of Heshbon and his land. I'm handing it over to you—it's all yours. Go ahead, take it. Go to war with him." (Deuteronomy 2:24) One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is this: more is lost through indecision than through wrong decisions. A wrong decision at least teaches you what doesn’t work, but indecision traps you in the same place—stalled, stagnant, and stuck. Not choosing is still a choice, and it often leads to missed opportunities. Israel spent thirty-eight years circling the same mountain, comfortable in the familiar but far from their destiny. Then came God’s word: “On your feet now. Get started.” Those words carried urgency—an instruction that delayed obedience could easily slip into disobedience and apathy. Indecision is subtle. It disguises itself as carefulness, as second-guessing, as self-doubt. But in truth, it robs us of progress. God’s c...

God Said… "GOD was relentless against them until the last one was gone from the camp. When all the men of fighting age had died, the LORD said to me…" (Deut. 2:15–17, NLT) There is a principle of God’s dealings with His people that cannot be ignored: God will not reveal the next step to you until you have obeyed the previous instruction. This is one major reason why many people remain stuck in the same position for too long. They wonder why progress is slow, why prayers seem unanswered, why doors remain closed. They fast, they pray, they sow seeds, they even give a prophet’s offering—but still, nothing shifts. Why? Because obedience is God’s language of progress. Until you fully walk in the light of what has already been revealed, you cannot expect Him to entrust you with the next instruction. If you are not faithful with the known, you cannot be trusted with the unknown. The children of Israel learned this the hard way. For thirty-eight years, they were stuck at Kade...

God at Work in You "GOD was relentless against them until the last one was gone from the camp." (Deut. 2:15) When we pause to truly see God at work, it is nothing short of amazing. God will go to any length to bring His plans to fulfillment. In today’s passage, we see that truth unfold clearly. God had declared that the fighting men who doubted Him and complained in the wilderness would not see the promised land. They had said that God brought them and their children out of Egypt only to die in the desert. But God turned their words back on them. He promised that those very children they thought would perish would be the ones to inherit the land. As for the men twenty years and older, they would die in the wilderness. These were the people God was relentless against until every last one was gone. "They'll never get to see it; none of those who came up out of Egypt who are twenty years and older will ever get to see the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and...

In the Process of Time "It took us thirty-eight years to get from Kadesh Barnea to the Brook Zered. That's how long it took for the entire generation of soldiers from the camp to die off, as GOD had sworn they would." (Deut. 2:14) Time and change share one truth—they are constant. While many resist change, wisdom says: embrace it, for it is inevitable. Progress itself is impossible without time, because process requires time to unfold. No time, no progress. This is why we speak of the process of time. Time is the currency of progress. Very few worthwhile achievements happen instantly. If you desire true advancement, you must be willing to invest time. Our text tells us it took Israel thirty-eight years to move from Kadesh Barnea to the Brook Zered. During that time, God was fulfilling His word by removing from among the people all who were not destined to enter the promised land. Everyone twenty years and older was excluded, and it took thirty-eight long years for th...

God Said It, We Did It "Then the LORD said, 'Now get up and cross the Zered Valley.' So we crossed the Zered Valley." (Deut. 2:13) This verse captures a profound yet simple principle: hear God’s word and do it. That is the formula for walking in His plan— God speaks, we obey . Think about it—what if we actually lived out every truth we already know? Many chase after new revelations, moving from place to place, yet they neglect to practice the truths God has already revealed. Progress in destiny is not about how much you’ve heard, but how much you’ve obeyed. Paul urged Timothy not just to be a hearer, but a doer of the word. Abraham’s story also shows us that God rarely reveals everything at once. He leads step by step, on a need-to-know basis. The moment you act on what He has shown you, He unveils the next instruction. Our text says, “God said, ‘It’s time now to cross the Brook Zered.’” The people didn’t give excuses, argue, or complain about the timing. They ...

Drive Out and Displace "In earlier times the Horites had lived at Mount Seir, but they were driven out and displaced by the descendants of Esau. In a similar way the peoples in Canaan were driven from the land that the LORD had assigned to Israel." (Deut. 2:12 NLT) This scripture shows us a vital principle for receiving the inheritance God has assigned to His people: something must be driven out and displaced before possession can happen. The Horites, a race of giants, once lived in Mount Seir. But when God gave that land to Esau, they were driven out and displaced —and the sons of Esau took possession. Likewise, Israel had to drive out and displace the people of Canaan in order to take possession of the promised land. The same applies to us today. The order has not changed: drive out and displace . But how do we do this now? Not with physical weapons, but with the power of our words. By the words of our mouth, we drive out and displace, and by the same words we take po...

Through the Wilderness "So we detoured around our brothers, the people of Esau who live in Seir, avoiding the Arabah Road that comes up from Elath and Ezion Geber; instead, we used the road through the Wilderness of Moab." (Deut. 2:8) A wise man once said, “If life is hard, then we do it hard.” Another asked, “When people say, ‘Life is hard,’ compared to what?” Both thoughts point to the same truth: the way we define life depends on how we perceive it. At times, God deliberately instructs us to take the more difficult path—reasons known only to Him. Often, it’s only in hindsight that we realize the wisdom of His leading. As Scripture says, “Had the rulers of this world known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Cor. 2:8) Because of God’s instructions, Moses and the children of Israel bypassed the familiar Arabah Road and instead took the wilderness route through Moab. Likewise, when God leads us through a wilderness season, it is never without purpose....

God's Worldview vs. Man's Worldview "GOD, your God, has blessed you in everything you have done. He has guarded you in your travels through this immense wilderness. For forty years now, GOD, your God, has been right here with you. You haven't lacked one thing." (Deut. 2:7) If the way you see things does not line up with the way God sees them, you will not be able to fully walk in all He has prepared for you. God has a worldview, and His worldview is revealed in what we call the Bible. The Bible is more than just a book—it is the outline of God’s worldview. It reveals not only how God sees the world, but also how He thinks, what He values, and what He expects from us. A worldview is the sum of your beliefs, values, and way of thinking. God’s worldview is written in Scripture, and until we begin to see as He sees, value what He values, and believe as He believes, we will not be on the same page with Him. In our text, Moses declares that God blessed Israel in ev...

Do Not Take What God Has Not Given "Don’t try to start a fight. I am not giving you so much as a square inch of their land. I’ve already given all the hill country of Seir to Esau—he owns it all." (Deut. 2:5 MSG) As I read this verse, I had questions. For instance, When did God give the hill country of Seir to Esau? I remembered Esau crying with a bitter cry for just one blessing, and Isaac telling him that everything had already been given to Jacob. "Isaac answered Esau, ‘Behold, I have made him your lord, and all his brethren I have given to him for servants; and with corn and wine I have sustained him. What then can I do for you, my son?’ And Esau said to his father, ‘Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me—even me also, my father!’ And Esau lifted up his voice and wept." (Gen. 27:37–38 KJV) Yet in Deuteronomy, God declares that He gave Seir to Esau. This reminds me of the Apostle Paul’s question in 1 Corinthians 4:7: "What makes you better than a...

How Do You Treat the Underdog? "Command the people: ‘You are about to pass through the territory of your relatives, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They are afraid of you, but be very careful. Do not provoke them...’" (Deut. 2:4) What is the true prerequisite for parenting, greatness, or leadership? Is it strength, influence, or authority? The real measure of greatness is seen in how you treat the underdog. Everyone deserves respect. Sadly, some believe that power gives them a license to mistreat others. But the truest test of character is not how we treat the mighty—it is how we treat those who seem weaker than us. In our text, God told Moses that the people of Esau were already terrified of Israel. Yet, instead of taking advantage of their fear, God commanded Israel to restrain themselves . True strength is not in showing force, but in showing restraint. As the saying goes, “An empty barrel makes the loudest noise.” The fact that you can doesn’t mean you s...

Stop Coasting, Start Sailing "You have roamed around this mountain country long enough; turn northward." (Deut. 2:3 AMP) There comes a time when circling the same mountain has to end. Israel wandered around for too long until God gave them a clear instruction: “Turn northward.” In the same way, you cannot keep coasting through life—safe, predictable, and stagnant. To sail, you must set your compass toward the True North, which is the leading of the Holy Spirit. He is your guide, your navigator, the One who directs you into God’s plan. Many of us, like Israel, delay because of over-analysis, fear of the unknown, or concern about what people will say. We call it “waiting,” but often it is just fear in disguise. These excuses become convenient crutches that keep us from stepping into the bigger future God has prepared. But you have circled long enough. It is time to move forward. Time to release the weight of the past, silence the voice of fear, and embrace the possibiliti...

It’s Okay to Turn Back Sometimes "Then we turned around and went back into the wilderness, following the route to the Red Sea, as the LORD had instructed me. We worked our way in and around the hills of Seir for a long, long time." (Deut. 2:1) Most of us value determination—the ability to press on and not give up. But there is an even greater skill: the wisdom to pause, to adjust, and even to turn back when God directs. Progress is not always measured by moving forward at all costs. Sometimes, true progress begins with a God-led retreat. Turning back does not mean failure. It can be God’s way of preparing us—giving us time to rest, to recover, and to regain strength for the journey ahead. Just as a catapult or bow must first pull backward in order to launch forward with greater force, so too God may lead us back so He can propel us further. Israel had to retrace their steps at God’s command. To human logic, this may have seemed like wasted time, but in God’s wisdom, it w...

Build Up Your Courage "But your assistant, Joshua son of Nun, will enter it. Encourage him, because he will lead Israel to inherit it." (Deut. 1:38) They say the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. Courage works the same way—it is built one step, one act, one test at a time. Joshua’s journey is a clear example. From serving quietly as Moses’ assistant to finally leading Israel into the Promised Land, his courage was developed gradually. God told Moses to strengthen Joshua’s heart, because the assignment ahead of him required more than strength—it required courage. The same principle applies to you. God will never throw you into a battle unprepared. He doesn’t allow trials to crush you but to uncover the strength He has already placed within you. Each challenge is a tool to bring out the potential that lies dormant inside. Consider David: he defeated Goliath in a single day, yet it took years of surviving Saul’s jealousy and pursuit to prepare him for the ...

God is Leading the Way "The LORD your God is going before you and will fight for you, as you saw Him do in Egypt and in the wilderness. There He carried you, as a father carries his child, until you arrived at this place." (Deut. 1:30–31) Sometimes our past feels like a weight, or like a road filled with twists that cannot point us toward the future we long for. Yet, even with its turns and uncertainties, your past has brought you here. And here, in this very moment, God is present. Because He is involved, you can trust that He will take you from where you are to where you are meant to be. He is leading the way. The question is not whether God is leading, but whether we are following. Jesus’ simple invitation still echoes: “Follow Me, and I will make you…” (Matt. 4:19). The transformation, the “making,” comes as we walk closely behind Him. Moses reassured Israel again and again that the Lord was ahead of them, but they struggled to trust and follow. Paul reminds us that...

Dem Say, Dem Say "How can we go up? We're trapped in a dead end. Our brothers took all the wind out of our sails, telling us, 'The people are bigger and stronger than we are; their cities are huge, their defenses massive—we even saw Anakite giants there!'" (Deut. 1:28) There is power in what people say—and if we’re not careful, hearsay can shape our outlook more than truth itself. On one side, word of mouth can be the strongest form of promotion; on the other side, it can be a deadly weapon of discouragement. Proverbs reminds us that “life and death are in the power of the tongue.” Words carry weight, especially when spoken by people in positions of trust or authority. This was exactly the case in our passage. Twelve men went to spy the land, but ten returned with a negative report. Their words crushed the spirit of the people. Instead of asking “How can we?” with faith to seek a solution, Israel asked it with doubt that paralyzed them. Notice their complain...

God’s Idea vs. Good Idea "That seemed like a good idea to me, so I picked twelve men, one from each tribe." (Deut. 1:23) Not every good idea is a God idea. Many destinies have been derailed because people chose what looked reasonable instead of what God had commanded. A God idea may not always make sense, fit culture, or align with logic—but if it’s truly from Him, it will speak in the end and never fail. Take Moses and the twelve spies as an example. God had already given the instruction: “Go and possess the land.” But the people suggested what “seemed like a good idea”—to send spies first. Moses agreed, and though it sounded wise, it was not God’s directive. That single decision became one of the most costly mistakes in Israel’s history. The ten spies who returned with a negative report discouraged the people, sapped their faith, and ultimately caused an entire generation to miss the Promised Land. What seemed like a good idea turned into a disaster. "How can w...

Destiny Is Not a Popularity Contest "Then all of you came to me and said, ‘Let us send men ahead to spy out the land for us and bring back a report about the route we are to take and the towns we will come to.’" (Deut. 1:22) At first glance, the story of the twelve spies might seem like Moses’ idea. But as we read his firsthand account, we discover that the suggestion came from the people. And the result of that decision was disastrous. Out of the twelve spies, ten returned with a negative report. Their words spread fear and unbelief among the people until the entire nation began to murmur against God. They accused Him of bringing them out of Egypt to die in the wilderness. That moment of unbelief cost an entire generation their inheritance; everyone twenty years and older, except Caleb and Joshua, was barred from entering the Promised Land. This teaches us a vital truth: the matters of destiny are not decided by majority vote. God’s purpose for your life is not subject ...