Beloved, we are marching on in the year by the grace of God.  A bit of reflection would make us appreciate the LORD better.   

Some of those with whom we shouted  “ Happy New Year” are now six feet below.

As Christians we do not rejoice over the death of others but we see death as reminder that we are alive by God’s grace. Glory be to God!

As we progress in the third month of the year, we must be prepared to change whatever story we have been associated with   the help of God.

Perhaps there is someone that is being identified with a challenge such as late marriage, delay in child bearing, indebtedness, stagnation or a particular illness.

Brethren, life may not give you what you desire to have unless you struggle for it.

This is why the Holy Bible tells us in Matthew 11 vs.12 ( KJV) “ And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force”.

Taking it my force requires wisdom and a walk with God.  It doesn’t not mean fighting or picking up quarrels with anyone especially those suspected to have a hand in whatever you are passing through.

Brethren, one is at a stage of story when a person’s life is about lamentations or frustration. A situation when one becomes helpless.  

That situation when human efforts have failed is the stage of story telling.

When people identify you with a challenge and they either gossip about you or genuinely discuss it with you, they are talking about your story.

But God can bring about a transformation from story to glory.

I’ll take a part of a message on this topic by Pastor Benjamin Ajayeoba of R.C.C.G region 59 in Lagos.

He said the “ glory of man is like the engine of a vehicle.  Glory he said “ is a spiritual engine to take a man to his divine destination”.

Brethren, do you have any idea of your divine destination?  

May God open your eye to see your divine destination.

However, some forces of darkness may work against one reaching that divine destination.  The activities of these evil ones   manifests as challenges.

Your glory is what God has destined you to be.  God can make this available to his own people but the evil ones can also see it.

The difference is that the Spirit of God is available to make you reach that goal while demonic forces struggle to truncate your destiny or set fear into you in order to work against your destiny.

At the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, three wise men from the East saw his glory.

Matthew 2vs.2  ( KJV) records : “ Saying, Where  is he  that is born King of the Jews? for we have  seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him”.

Let’s see how forces of darkness also reacted to the same glory that the wise men had seen.

Pretending to share in the joy of the glory, King Herod made a request from the wise men in verse 8 of the same chapter “ …. Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also”.

When the men failed to return   to report to Herod the location of the child Jesus, he decided to kill all babies born within that period.

Herod failed because God is always ahead of enemies.

Verse 13: “ And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him”.

You know the rest of the story.  Herod died. 

Verses 19 &20 complete the story. “ But when Herod was dead, behold an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.

Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life”

Beloved no matter how insurmountable you think that challenge is, fear not.   God is able to make you an overcomer.

The first condition is that you must totally depend on God and sustain your communication with the Lord in prayer.

You also need to develop a violent spirit in prayer.   This is what shows that you really desire to have your destiny fulfilled.

To move from story to glory you need to be more determined and focused in prayer.

Let your spirit agree with God’s word concerning your life.

Isaiah 43 vs. 2 &3: “ When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee: and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Sheba for thee”.

Beloved brethren, cast fear out of your mind and hold on to Jesus.

Let’s share th word of the apostles to Christians in Thessalonian  in  Thessalonians 3 vs. 5 : ‘ And the Lord direct your hearts unto the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ”.

Your love for God would make you communicate regularly in prayer, it would keep you away from sins but you must patiently wait for the Lord’s time.

Let’s lift our spirit with the testimony of a couple I came across at Laughter Foundation International ministry.

The man, a Muslim said he does not believe in church but one day, he saw on television, the founder of Laughter Foundation on television.  He said, he wanted to use his remote to change the station but suddenly, he couldn’t find the remote control.

He said then he felt wind blow unto him, he watched the programme and he decided to look for the church. That led him and his wife to commence going to the church from 2010 but his miracle didn’t appear until 2025.  He said, he would have given up but the church leader kept urging him to be patient.

Beloved, the Lord visited him and his wife and she conceived for the first time in 2025 and the miracle finally came to manifestation when his wife gave birth to a set of twins; two boys early 2026.

Brethren, you see what evangelism and patience brought to this family.

One reason why we must support and be active in evangelism is that God wants us to win souls.

My prayer for you is that this season, whatever is the challenge; God will empower you to triumph in the mighty name of Jesus.

Keep fear out of your mind, walk with the Lord, be patient and trust wholly in the Lord.

The days of celebration are not too far away.

Jesus in LORD!