Emmanuel Okoro (aka MrLift)

Don’t Be Timid “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” ( Joshua 1:9 NIV) This command from God, first spoken to Joshua, is just as relevant to us today. God does not merely advise strength and courage; He commands them. But to walk in strength and courage, we must first lay aside timidity. Where timidity remains, strength and courage have little room to grow. Timidity weakens strength and silences courage. It is strength restrained by fear and courage that has surrendered before the battle begins. That is why God says plainly, “Do not be timid.” Courage is not something reserved for a few; it is a virtue anyone can take hold of once they decide to let go of fear. What makes this command possible is God’s promise of His presence. He assures us that He is with us every step of the way . His presence is greater than strength and deeper than courage. When you step out of tim...

Give It All You’ve Got “ Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out the revelation that Moses commanded you—every bit of it. Don’t get off track, either left or right, so you may reach your destination.”  (Joshua 1:7, MSG) As this year unfolds, if there is one guiding slogan to live by, let it be this: give it all you’ve got . That was God’s clear instruction to Joshua. Joshua faced a daunting reality—he was stepping into the shoes of Moses, a leader who had left an indelible footprint in the sands of time. He was not competing with Moses, yet the responsibility before him was enormous. Knowing this, God did not ask Joshua to imitate Moses; He asked him to give his whole heart and soul . What does that mean for us? It means that every assignment, opportunity, and responsibility we undertake this year deserves our full commitment. No half-hearted efforts. No divided attention. It means investing courage where fear tempts us to retreat, and summoning stren...

Finish Strong “Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not dim and his strength had not failed.” (Deuteronomy 34:7) Moses lived for 120 years, and his life can be clearly seen in three equal seasons of forty years each: the morning, the noon, and the evening of his life. The first forty years were the morning of his life. Moses lived in the palace, enjoying the comfort and privileges of Egypt. Yet, deep within him was a stirring called destiny. That inner hunger pushed him to act, and in trying to fulfil God’s purpose in his own strength, he killed an Egyptian. Though the desire was right, the timing and method were wrong. Destiny cannot be fulfilled without God’s presence and direction. The next forty years marked the noon of his life. Moses wandered in the wilderness, tending the sheep of his father-in-law. It was there, in obscurity and humility, that he encountered God in the fire of the burning bush. God properly commissioned him for the assi...