By Funmi Komolafe
Unchangeable God, Reliable God, Dependable God, ….. As I commence this column, the song that my Spirit      has given me is what I have started today’s edition with and this is a popular song in churches.

The issue however is,        do you really depend on God?      I am talking of your total dependence      on the Almighty God.        Have you asked yourself this question?    If you have, then ask, how have I been doing this?      Honestly, this isn’t about going to church regularly or not? A person who depends solely on God must not and cannot worship other gods.

Let’s take a look at what the Lord himself expects of us .    Exodus 20 verses 2-5    “I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.    Thou shall have no other gods before me.  Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing      that is in heaven above, or that is the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth”.

Thou shall not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them:    for I    the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting    the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me”.

True, many of us are familiar with these Bible passages but do we fully comply, especially when faced with challenges?

Is your own case that of stagnation in your office? I mean you have been working like an elephant but someone, perhaps, a male boss has vowed that unless you go out with him you will never be promoted.

What do you do? Some friends may have advised you that it is not a big deal, use what you have to get what you want.Therefore, you are thinking along that line.

Sister, that is the path of destruction. Don’t be convinced by the argument that people have done it before and nothing has happened to them.

Are you a man trying to take advantage of that young girl in your care in the office?

Man or woman, let’s not take ungodly steps to make money or misuse our positions   because we are going through an economic recession.

Why not look unto God? Why not use the time you waste in discussing with friends to present your case to God. God can remove or relocate that boss for you to move up.

After all, Psalms 75 verses 6 and 7 are very clear: “ For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south, But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another”.

If you yield to your friends, apart from the fact that you have sinned, you may be laying the foundation that could deny you a joyful home in future.

In the name of Jesus, that miracle that you so desire will not meet you in the grave.

We are assured of victory by His grace and mercy.    The word of God states in Exodus 20 vs 6 “ And shewing mercy unto thousand of them that love me and keep my commandments”.

Our physical demonstration of love is total dependence on Him.

I’ll share the story of a woman who was waiting on the Lord for children. The pressure became so much for the couple that they gave in to visiting herbalists.

The herbalist after consultation with his wooden gods, bowed and told them to go to those who shout Halleluyah!

Why? The couple later found out that their case wasn’t in any way physical but a serious spiritual challenge. After several deliverance services it was revealed that the key persons stopping them from having children were their own relations. Specifically, the mothers of both of them for different reasons. It was then they recalled that during one of their visits to the herbalists, they saw him, say he surrendered to those ‘powers’ but they didn’t know which powers.

Anyway, prayers were intensified and they too especially the wife began to see some actions taken by these women physically and spiritually as the Holy Spirit revealed to her.

To shorten the story, these household witches surrendered to the power of the Almighty God and today, the couple are parents.

While waiting, they stuck together. Not only that, they focused on the solution and not the challenge. Besides, they kept sustaining their mothers, giving them their dues. Why? You may ask. They were to explain later that they did this in compliance with the commandment of God in Exodus 20 vs.12 “ Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee”.

Another lesson we are to learn from the life of this couple is that they believe that vengeance belongs to God.

Are you still arguing, why should I be kind to those who want to kick me out of my marriage, why should I waste my money on someone who is planning to give my husband another woman because I haven’t got children yet, what business do I have relating with someone who is denying me promotion, what business do I have relating to someone who regularly mocks me be because of my challenge.

The answer is found in Romans 12 vs. 19 :” Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine: I will repay, saith the Lord”.

When we do this, we have totally submitted to God.

Taking in the word of the Lord by reading the Holy Bible is a sure way of submitting totally to God. By so doing, your life is filled with the word and the Lord will surely fight your battle for you.

When God takes over your battle, your can be sure of victory but when you choose to fight for yourself, defeat is inevitable.

Let’s consider the word of God to Joshua in Joshua 1 verse 5, “ There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee”

The key sentence for us is “ I will be with thee : I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee”. Once we take this as an assurance from our Creator and hold on to it, definitely that challenge will be over sooner than we expect.

Testimony- I’ll share the abridged version of a testimony from Winners Chapel , documented in Winners’ Testimony Digest compiled by Bishop Thomas Aremu .

The testifier, Adebayo Babatunde wrote” Before, I joined the Church, I was positive with Hepatitis B for almost 20 years but God of this commission healed me on March 12, 2012″.

The testifier continued “ On the last day of Shiloh 2014, which was an impartation service, God’s servant, Bishop David Oyedepo prophetically declared miracle marriage  for every single on the line  and said June 2015 is too far”. I keyed into that prophesy .Behold, I was married on April 18, 2015.

Mr. Babatunde said during the courtship, “the Holy Spirit instructed us to sow a seed of our first fruit; that is the proceeds from our wedding”.

The couple complied .The result, “ Behold, my wife was confirmed pregnant and test result later confirmed that she is with twins”.

He continued “ On 13th January, 2016, God blessed my family with a set of twins- Gloria and Glory”.

As if that isn’t enough, Mr. Adebayo Babatunde said, “ Also instead of three months maternity leave, God favoured my wife with five months maternity leave” .

Brethren, those who put their trust in the Lord will never be put to shame.

I leave you with this prayer point by Pastor J.T. Kalejaye” Every reproach in your life will receive Divine attention in the name of Jesus”.

Depend fully upon the Lord and your victory over that challenge is guaranteed in Jesus name.

You shall testify soon.