June 27                                          Hos 1 - 4

DESTINY DETERMINANTS

MEMORISE: ‘And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers.’ (Deut 6:23)
READ: Jeremiah 1: 4- 5

King Joash paid homage to Elisha during his indisposition. Elisha asked him to take a bow and arrow. Then Elisha laid hands on king Joash and asked him to shoot. As he shot, Elisha made a prophetic statement, saying: ‘The arrow of the Lord’s deliverance and the arrow of deliverance from Syria’ (2 Kgs 13: 14-17). We can learn certain lessons from this encounter. The first is that a man’s future is determined by three people, namely God, God’s representative in authority over him, and he himself. Before you were created, God designed a plan for your life (Jer 1: 4-5). Your future is not in the hands of any witch, boss or lecturer. Your future is not with those who hate you. They may try to tamper, but it is not in their hands. Your future is in the hands of the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.

The psalmist David said that because God was his refuge and strength and ever with him, he had nothing to fear (Ps 46: 1-3). God is faithful. He will bring his plan concerning you to pass. Your future is not dictated by what is in the newspapers or in the national budget. It does not matter what the specialists have said about your case. If God says it is well with you, all opposing statements should be thrown into the trash bin. God’s representative also occupies a major place in fulfilling your destiny. Elisha was God’s representative in the life of king Joash. The one God has equoip you for the future, as Elijah did for Elisha (2 Kgs 2: 9-15). He can establish you, as Nathan did for Solomon ( 1 Kgs 1: 11-53). He can deposit treasures into your life, like Moses did for Joshua (Deut 34: 9).

God’s representative can also transform your life by anointing you (1 Sam 16: 11-13). He can counsel you (2 Kgs 5: 9-14), curse you (1 Sam 15: 24-29) or speak blessings into your future (2 Kgs 4: 8-17). Finally, however, you affect your own future by your decisions, choices and your manner of life. If you do what will attract blessings, blessings will come. If you do the opposite, curses will come. Be careful in dealing with all the parties involved in determining your future, so that it will be well with you.

ACTION POINT
How do you relate to the determinants of your future?
Make necessary amends now for a brighter future.