By Funmi Komolafe
Glory be to God!   That we are alive today ,  we have every reason to thank God for His mercy.   Take a few minutes to reflect on events in the last nine months of this year   and you would see   that many people with whom you started this year are no more.     Not necessarily because you are more righteous, it is because God   in his mercy   has kept you alive. He has not kept you alive for nothing.

You are alive for a purpose.   It could also be that God wants you to fulfil the purpose for which He created you.   Whichever it is, brethren, it is clear that the miracle   you are still trusting God     for is still possible.

By His Grace, you will not miss your miracle.

For instance a certain man built   his dream house and had concluded arrangements to move into the house, but the forces of darkness around him stopped him.   He was poisoned and he died.   As his Christian wake keep was going on, his siblings were already fighting over his assets.   This will not be your portion in Jesus name.

For us not to miss our miracles however, we have certain responsibilities.   In other words, there are steps we must take as Christians. One of these is self denial.

Self–Denial: Self denial com in several forms, such as fasting, evangelizing, etc. but in this edition , I’ll focus on THE NIGHT.

We’ll discuss why the night is important and what could happen at night.

The night is the time we all need rest. After hours of work, we need rest.   God Himself rested, Genesis 2 vs 2. “ And on the seventh day God ended his work   which he had made; and he rested on the Seventh Day from all His work which He had made”.

It therefore means that rest is desirable and indeed necessary.   However, the forces of darkness   according to knowledgeable men of God are very active at this time.  This explains why people are tormented in their dreams, others eat in their dreams. One of the most dangerous evil spirits, the spirit husband or wife engages in intercourse   with   his or her victim, mostly at night. One can go on and on.

However, as Christians , we need not be afraid of the night .   Why? Luke 10 vs 19   gives us authority.   It states:” Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and all powers of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you”.

In other words, we can conquer and defeat the devil and his forces of darkness.

So what has night got to do with this?

First, I suggest that anyone facing a major challenge that his or her physical ability cannot tackle, must not be a Jonah. You cannot afford to spend the entire night sleeping. You must find time to pray in the night . No matter how short the prayer is.

Why? Physically, the entire environment is quitet. which makes it easier for you to concentrate on your prayer.   Secondly, your prayer at this time of the night becomes your weapon to fight your spiritual battles.   Thirdly, it is easier to hear from God at night.   We can hear from God during the day but you must have attained a higher level spiritually, for you to hear the Lord loud and clear during the day.   The night is easier for many people.

Do you doubt this?     Remember Samuel; the child who wiped away the tears of Mummy Hannah.   He was residing     with Eli .   Genesis 3 verses 3-9.   But let’s consider verses 3 &4   “ And the lamp of God   went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep : That the Lord called Samuel   and he answered , Here I am”.   For those who are familiar with this story,   God called Samuel thrice but he thought it was Pastor Eli that was calling.

Let’s read what happened after the third call: “Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if He call thee that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth”.

From that moment, Samuel began to get the attention of God. This season, by the Grace of God, you too will get the attention of God in the name of Jesus.

Are you faced with a troubled marriage? Is your situation such that you have a feeling that you are putting on a golden   wedding ring but the marriage itself is rusty.   First, examine yourself, honestly, and see what you have been doing that is not right.   Be prepared to change for the better.   Resolve to be patient and seek the forgiveness of your partner.   Be humble enough to do this. Stop nagging. Then rise on your feet and take back your marriage with prayer.   Every stranger threatening your marriage, the Lord will put a burden on them   and they will have no option but to leave your spouse alone.   I’m assured in my Spirit that this message is for someone.   This season as the Lord lives, as Pastor J.T. Kalejaye of RCCG often says, “You will move from enduring your marriage to enjoying it in the mighty name of Jesus Christ”. You shall testify soon.

God reveals at night.   In several cases, God has revealed secrets at night and used the night to transform lives.   Let’s consider Exodus 12 vs. 31 “   And he ( God) called for Moses and Aaron by night , and said, Rise up and get   you forth   from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel   and go serve the Lord as you have said “.

We all know that   the transformation of the lives of the children of Israel from slavery to freedom began at night.

Let’s also refer to Exodus 12 vs 12: “For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night and I will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt ,   both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment:   I am the Lord”.

Can you see the full manifestation of the power of God here.   When did it happen? At night.   Brethren, this does not mean that God is limited to the night.     Remember, David killed Goliath during the day and not at night   but our focus in this edition is the night and its importance.

What do you do with your night? 

Pastor Peter Olawale, leader of the praying team at the Redemption Camp of the Redeemed Christian Church of God   in a sermon   made   reference to Psalm 30 vs 5 “   the later part of it which states, “weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning”.

He declared “The Lord will give you His attention, He will show you his intentions and He will put your enemies in detention in the name of Jesus”.

When you give God attention by spending some time praying at   night, then you are sure he will show   you His intentions.   That is when a woman who has been waiting on the Lord for the fruit of the womb sees herself carrying her baby in the dream.     That is when the one who has been waiting for a marriage partner begins to see herself having a wedding or people congratulating her.

All of these happens in dreams.

For the one who has been praying for a job, that is when you begin to see yourself in an office.   If you have been asking God to break the yoke of tenancy, that is when you see yourself in   your own house.

Bear in mind that our God is unlimited.   He can do all things.

Let’s also consider Genesis 26 vs 24 &25   “ And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham   thy father; fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s   sake”.   Here God was speaking to Isaac; the Child of Promise.

Note that God appeared to him at night and also revealed his intentions for Isaac, who was being oppressed by all sorts of enemies.

I am confident that as you dedicate sometime to present your issues to the Lord in the night,   you will receive the attention of the Almighty God and He will fight your battle for you in the name of Jesus.

I’ll end this edition, sharing with you a prayer point   released by Pastor Samson Ajetunmobi   “ Every Altar resisting my fruitfulness, my promotion, my marriage (or whatever is yours, I command the altar to be destroyed in the name of Jesus”.

Brethren, use the authority that God has given you confidently and in the name of Jesus you will be victorious.

Editor’s Note-   I intend to conclude   the topic on the importance of the night in the next edition,   by God’s Grace , if the Lord Jesus tarries.

Have   a blessed week.