OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - TUESDAY - 31/12/2013 - WORKING OUT AN ALTERNATIVE? BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

WORKING OUT AN ALTERNATIVE?

MEMORY VERSE

 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

Romans 4:20

READ

Genesis 16:1-4

Genesis 16:1 Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.

Genesis 16:2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

Genesis 16:3 And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.

Genesis 16:4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

MESSAGE

In this uncommon race that we have enlisted in, if you rest prematurely, or take your eyes off the daystar we are following, you will be distracted. Another thing that can divert your attention is opening your mouth prematurely to reveal your secret to 'sympathetic friends'. Never share a testimony until it is complete. Sometimes people have shared how years after a fruitless search for a job, they have eventually been called for an interview and that they are now awaiting their letter of appointment. When the enemy hears this, he or she may begin to manipulate situations, circumstances and those capable of influencing the decision. Such people may lose out in shame eventually.

Moreover, if you are truly determined to make it to Heaven, even though you have diverted at some point, you can be restored by the mercies of God. After Abraham had waited for many years for God's promise to be fulfilled, his wife came with a diversion: she asked them to help God by offering him her slave. From the time Abraham diverted to the bondwoman, God went into silence for about 13 years. But being a merciful God, after that period, God restored him again and from that moment, Abraham and God walked together in sweet harmony. The Lord who restored Abraham will restore you in any area you have diverted from His plan and purpose. Some people are becoming weary over the delay in the fulfilment of a particular promise. As a result some are dabbling into sin and trying out other alternatives. A head usher of several years standing could no long bear his wife's inability to have a child, so he packed up the marriage and went for divorce. Thereafter, he took another lady as wife and moved to another Gospel church. Years after, the second lady could also not have a baby. Would he divorce her too and go for a third? Beloved, when you go for an alternative, it shows you do not really trust in God. Believers who say they are heading for Heaven are now complicating their lives by getting themselves diverted out of impatience. Stay firm in God and He will sort you out

ACTION POINT

Thank God for seeing the end of this year. Pray that God will safely bring you into 2014 with grace and power.