Text: Genesis 8:18-22
Memory verse:
“And the Lord said, “Judah shall go up. Indeed I have delivered the land into his hand.”
Judges 1:2 NKJV
Few years ago, the Lord told me to dedicate the first few days of the year, including the first day, just for His praise. It was really strange to many people then but it was a sacrifice! Every unusual move of God is provoked by unusual sacrifice (Psa 50:5). According to our memory verse, God told the children of Israel to allow the tribe of Judah to lead in the war to take over the land of promise. Judah means praise (Gen 29:35). Praise makes you a wonder to your world as nothing comes to you unawares. Praise is a potent weapon of warfare, as battles of life become cheap victories and storms that threaten you are quenched like the fire of thorns. To praise God is to invoke His presence into your situation. Starting the year with praise is to call God to go before you into the year and to fight the battles of the year. A sacrifice of praise is that which cost you so much to give. To give up food and pleasure when every body is eating and drinking in order to spend time to praise God is a sacrifice.
In our text today, the first thing that Noah did after he and his family came out safely from the flood that swept the whole world, was to offer a sacrifice to the Lord. God was moved by this and entered into a covenant with the human race through Noah (Gen 8:20-21).
Friends, like Noah, recognize that God’s mercy has brought you to the new year and then handover the year to Him through your sacrifice of praise. Nothing will stop you from entering the next level that God has destined for you in year 2023 in Jesus name.
Prayer points
1. Father, thank You for bringing me to the new year and for showing me so much mercy in Jesus name.
2. Father, I praise You for all the good plans You have for me and the next level You are moving me into in year 2023 in Jesus name.
Today’s declarations
1. I may not know tomorrow but I handover my tomorrow to the One who holds tomorrow.
2. God is going before me into 2023; no power can stop me from entering my next level.
Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng