AMBITION VS VISION.

Then said I , Lo , I come (in the volume of the books it is written of me) to do thy will, o God. Heb. 10:7

For everyone of us, there is an established path set out for us to follow, it's our destiny, our purpose.

One of the reasons God made us in His image is for us to able to conceive things through heart, knowing His mind concerning us and our role in the world. God expects us to grow and achieve success intentionally knowing what specifics we are to achieve. As we grow, we should begin to decipher this plan through vision
only the Holy spirit can communicate God's mind per time to us.

But most us have decided to settle for less by just being ambitious. It is alright to be ambitious, it takes a great mind to want to achieve better things and basically grow. The building of the towel of Babel was borne out of man's desire and ambition to reach God, physically. Man wanted to jump the place of the Holy spirit in reaching or in communing with God, man thought that a physical structure would solve the issue of distance between him and his maker. But of course that thought could not become a reality because it did not please God.

Many of us toll the same lines too, sometimes, we simply go out of God's precepts to do certain things or to achieve great things. But i'm sure we desire God's will and want to please God in and with everything we find ourselves doing.

Here is how to know if you are simply ambitious or you have a vision:

1. Vision first is from God: most of the time, a vision comes as an interruption from God, God simply interrupts your mind and creates a picture of His desire and because He trusts you, He communicates His desire and engrace you to function.

2. Vision is first to please God: its given to glorify God and populate His kingdom.

3. Vision is given to serve God's people: so God blesses our heart with service actually, He blesses us with things to do out of His love for His people, He gives things to do that adds value to His people and ultimately makes you the carrier, His servant.

4. Vision is usually clear: because it's God born, its usually comes with clear instructions, especially as you continue on it.

A visionary serves and seeks to serve God's people.

All that is highlighted above, points to ambition All the above is what ambition is not, ambition most of the time is selfish and self-seeking. However, some of us mistake our ambitions, for vision. In fact, we try to spiritualize our selfish desires. So if you are sure that growth you desire is not selfish, let me ask you, WHY? WHY DO YOU
DESIRE THAT GROWTH OR PROMOTION SO MUCH? WHY DO YOU WANT TO PUBLISH THAT BOOK? WHY DO WANT TO MARRY THAT LADY/YOUNG MAN?

Are you sure the answers to the above is not ego borne or to have a secret smile that returns the glory to you?
ACTION PLAN:
Ask yourself why you are doing what you are doing or the thing you are about to do. Sincerely answer or if you know you have trusted friends you can ask, please do.

PRAYER
Father please rid my heart of every selfish ambition and help me to conceive your will for my life with clarity in Jesus name.

THINK ON THIS:

For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but  the spirit of God. 1 Corinthians 2:11

Gift Chika
For Daily Dealings Youth Devotional

We have two destinies (Part 1)

A couple of years back, I was troubled with the question of success. I couldn't understand how certain folks who were not in the Faith could be so prosperous with many of them even fulfilling scripture where giving is concerned. There are world billionaires that "lend unto nations", several of them today could buy up several countries with the wealth they have been able to build, and most amazing is that these men are extremely generous.

Now, how does this concern you and I

Remember before we were "formed in the womb"God had a plan of us, this is irrespective of the family or faith which the family practices. Some people go on to succeed so much that they impact so many lives globally, yet there are those who embrace the gospel of Christ and only make a little impact or none at all, they struggle through life and I can't help but ask myself "Whatever happened to the riches of His glory in Christ," "Whatever happened to the promise that we will have dominion, be fruitful and all that."

God finally stopped me in my thoughts recently, he said "Everyone has two destinies. Everyone is given an earthly destiny and a divine destiny." He further said "those who achieve success without me have only tapped into their earthly destiny, they are yet to tap into their divine destiny."

Friends, you have two destinies. God's plan is that the two be woven into one.

In the coming days, we will be exploring how this relates to you and I and practical examples in the scriptures. This is still the month of vision and this topic will surely bless our lives tremendously.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to understand my destiny in Jesus Name.

Oluwatobi Adesanya
For Daily Dealings Youth Devotional

Do you know your real worth?

A friend came over to the house one evening, he had been teaching in a school where they were paying him so little. This was someone that I usually teased that he had "ten talents" and that was true in every way. He could do so many things almost flawlessly. But, his bank account and pocket were not commensurate with the measure of value he gave out. What's more about him is that he had a big and powerful vision of where he sees himself in a couple of years. At one time, on while he spoke, I was electrified listening to him discuss his dreams and vision. I knew God was taking him somewhere.

Despite all these, he was complaining... who wouldn't. I guess I'd do the same too. As he kept on talking with me, I was lost for words, I didn't know how to help him. In that moment, an inspired thought landed in my consciousness, "The real worth of a man is not the size of his salary, it is the size of his vision." I didn't hesitate, I knew it was for him. Immediately, I paused him in his complaint and said to the exact same words to him. He became quiet, I expanded on this thought more and that ended the conversation.

Friends, can I say to you tonight. Your real worth is not the amount they pay you in that school, organization or wherever you're working. Your real worth is not what people say about you, or what your results and grades in your school reflect. Your real worth is the size of YOU that God sees and is willing to reveal.

If we were to really calculate your worth, think on this. Jesus (God, the Son) gave his life for you completely, his innocent blood redeemed you, every second angel are on guard over you, every moment God is thinking about you, and you are even seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Let's not even begin to talk about the royal chair you're sitting on)

Your real worth today is the size of your vision. Now, can you take a moment and envision yourself, you should be able to say out loud "I'm ........" If there's one scripture you should take home tonight, it is this "I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the high." - Psalm 82:6

I'd like to end with this: whenever someone gives his life to Christ, his/her net-worth automatically increases.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to know my real worth in Jesus Name.


Oluwatobi Adesanya
For Daily Dealing Youth Devotional

What you eat determines what you see

In the beautiful garden of Eden were two amazing creatures united into one by marriage -Adam and Eve. Apparently, things had been going on smoothly until one day. Adam ate of the forbidden tree and history was altered forever.

Thankfully, nothing ever takes God by surprise.

After Adam and his wife ate of the fruit of the forbidden tree, scripture says "And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked, and they sewed fig-leaves together and made themselves aprons." Their eyes were opened not to see a future of bliss and dominion as was originally theirs by creation, they began to see a future of gloom and doom, so much so that they began to run away from the presence of God.

Friends, if you desire to find and fulfill God's vision for your life, you cannot afford to "eat anyhow" or "feed on the wrong sources." To "feed" here means what materials you read and consume that fills your mind and your spirit. See, for anything to be truly transformational in your life, it has to come by the Spirit into your own spirit. True change and direction originate in your spirit man.

This is not the time to embrace the philosophies of the world to simply "have a dream" or seek the "ideal." There are ways and there is a WAY.

Feed on Rhema (The revealed Word of God to you), then your eyes will be open to seeing your real ability in God, you will see that you are seated in heavenly places. You will see that your vision is possible and nothing can hinder it in any way.

What do you see?

Prayer:

Lord, remove from my system everything that contaminates or clouds your vision for my life, and as I begin to feed on the revelation of your Word, help me to see clearly in Jesus name.

Oluwatobi Adesanya
For Daily Dealings Youth Devotional 

Do you know you're a savior?

Recently I got praying with a brother, and while in God's presence, an understanding came to me as regards how the birth of Jesus was in a very unique way similar to when we also became born again.

When Jesus was born, there was a record in the book of Luke that says "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,"
-Luke 2:13

The heavenly host began to rejoice that finally the long awaited salvation for mankind had been born on earth.

How does this relate to you and I?

Many ways. The scripture records that whenever a sinner gets saved heaven rejoices. Here it reads; "I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance."

There was joy when Jesus was born, the first record of an heavenly host rejoicing. The next time, Jesus helps us see that the heavens also rejoice the same way when a sinner repent and is saved.

The angels rejoiced on the birth of the Saviour and they also rejoiced when we were born into the Kingdom. This means that you and I are also "saviours" in our own little way, and in the measure to which God has called us. That's why Paul could say "Christ in you the hope of Glory", that's why Jesus later said "As the Father hath sent me, so send I you", the Prophet Obadiah had already confirmed this when he wrote "And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S."

Friends, you are a savior; not to save the world from sin (Jesus has finished that already), you and I are to be agents in extending all that God made available to us via salvation.

As a visionary, you need to understand that God has ordained you to be a savior to those who He has called you to. It may be to save people from depression, life destroying habits, academic failure, laziness, lack of zeal for God etc. You are a savior. As long as you've received the Savior (Jesus) you are to be like Him.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to see myself as a saviour to those you have sent me to. Help me to extend all that you have made available through Jesus to others in Jesus Name.

Oluwatobi Adesanya
For Daily Dealings Youth Devotional

Your Vision as a Saving Mechanism

Everyone was created by God for a specific purpose (I'm sure you've read that several times and it probably holds no appeal to you anymore. It is actually the truth. What you are here for has been concluded long before God said "Let there be light." He had finished everything about you long before you were formed in your mother's womb.

Let's see God's example

You see, right from the fall of Adam in the garden of Eden, the vision of God for man's salvation was in Jesus Christ. The scripture says earlier in the book of Genesis "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." The seed mentioned here was referring to Jesus Christ. God already set plan in motion to redeem mankind through this Seed. Later when the angel appeared to Mary he said about Jesus, " And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins"

What does this mean?

The vision of God for mankind was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, not just in His person but also in His assignment. It reads "for he shall save his people from their sins." The vision of God was a saving one and it was specific, sin. Moses was sent to save the Children of Israel out of the bondage of Egypt. Joseph was sent ahead of time to save the world from extinction through hunger. Jonah was sent ahead of time to save the people of Nineveh from imminent destruction.

Friends, do you also know that God's vision for your life is a saving mechanism? God is still in the business of saving people. First their souls and next every other thing that may not be right in their lives.

Have you found yours?

Prayer:

Lord, help me to understand that my vision is meant to save people from their sins and other specific areas you want me to address. Reveal to me in clearer terms every area you want to use me in affecting the lives of others positively in Jesus Name.

Oluwatobi Adesanya
For Daily Dealings Youth Devotional

Theme For January 2017

OnVision

I love the concept. I love this provision God made for mankind, it is one of the biggest miracles aside the salvation of our souls; that God will be able to communicate with clarity the plans that He has for each and everyone of us.

It begs to be repeated that "The greatest gift God gave to man is not the gift of sight but the gift of vision"

At one time, I was speaking with a Muslim lady who was a colleague where I used to work, I began to speak about salvation and how it affected everyone. I went on to share certain testimonies in my life. I also spoke about how God's vision had guided my life over the years. She then mentioned that in her faith, no one had access to see the future (vision), they simply worked by fate and whatever came their way was "God's will."

Is that really how God wants it?

No. Scripture says, "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:" That's God's will for us. From the beginning of times, God has always wanted to carry man along with his agenda. That is accomplished through vision given by the Spirit.

In the remaining days of this month, we will be exploring #OnVision where God will be helping us again to learn the following things such as:

1. Vision as a saving mechanism.

2. The Visionary as a savior.

3. The Principles of Vision

4. Positioning ourselves for vision

5. Over 10 lessons on how the process of the birth of Jesus relates to vision.

6. + many more

Kindly share this with friends and family. They are sure going to be blessed.

Please pray along with us.

There's more to come.

Oluwatobi Adesanya
For Daily Dealing Youth Devotional