1ST MAY, 2022.
76TH ARTICLE IN ALL.
1ST ARTICLE IN THE MONTH.

Happy new month 💐🥀🌹

The reality about life is that there are wet and dry seasons, summer, winter, spring and autumn. In human life, there could be a season of abundance and at other times, fasting. Food is one of the most important and common need . It has a direct link with our health. Famine, a season characterized by the absence of food, be it spiritual and physical is a state of dryness and dearth. It can lead to spiritual or physical death.

The challenge of survival during famine for Isaac with his wife, twin sons and his servant was daunting. Isaac was a heir of God's promises and covenant with Abraham. Faced with adversity, his initial response was relocation to Gerar. Our covenant keeping God, who always intervene in times of need, appeared to warn him against going down to Egypt because of the famine. He obeyed divine instruction and received the fulfillment of God's promised blessings to Abraham. Amidst trials and temptations, Isaac grew in prosperity. Believers should seek the mind of God in times of hardship so as not to take rash decisions with disastrous consequences. God is faithful and keeps the obedient even during famine.

God is always ready to guide His people. He uses his omniscience, omnipresent and omnipotence to guide, preserve, establish, strengthen and bless His children. Ignorance of this truth brought disastrous consequences on the family of Elimelech and Naomi. God assures those who fear and trust Him and lead uprights lifestyle by Faith in Christ of divine sustenance during famine.

Isaac wanted to go to Egypt to find greener pastures. God told him to stay and he obeyed. He lived in Gerar with his wife. Prompt and complete obedience pleases God. He demands practical obedience to His word in our daily living, relationship, secular engagements, marriage plans, family and spiritual service. Obedience is better than sacrifice and opens the door of divine blessings.

There was a day that a common temptation to lie surfaced. Instead of trusting the sheltering power of God, he decided to deceive Abimelech and his people out of fear by calling Rebecca his sister. Lying was a besetting sin in Abraham's family as it is in many lives today. The unchanging word of God reveals that

the fearful, and unbelieving and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimestone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8).

When Abimelech discovered that Isaac lied to deceive him, he was not happy and rebuked him. The fear of man or death enslaves, but faith in God sets free. Believers should trust in the lord for the protection of their lives, loved ones and properties. He has all the power and means to protect His children. Those who yield to pressure to lie or cover-up the truth should urgently return to the Lord, repent and forsake their sins and exercise faith in the cleansing power of Christ's blood for their salvation or restoration.

Children, successors and new generation can continue to enjoy the benefits of the good promises and covenant God made with their parents and predecessors as long as they continue in the path of obedience to His word. Heaven is our goal; eternal inheritances are stored up for us there. Only the transformed, truthful, trusting and triumphant believer will enter heaven and possess the Divine blessings.

Happy Sunday 🌹 💐