1 Peter 5:7 (ESV)

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

The authenticity of God’s Word is seen in its enduring historical accuracy and real-life relevance. Yet many Christians still feel overwhelmed by life, despite Scripture assuring us of God-given peace. This peace is distributed to every child of God upon receiving His life and Spirit. This doesn’t expose a flaw in God’s Word, but rather an issue in the modern-day Church.

Millions of Christians live in a state of fatigue and restlessness, not because they're weak, but because they're carrying burdens they were never meant to bear. Instead of casting their cares on Jesus in a prophesied year of strange oil, they hold on to them. You’re not called to be the bearer of bad news. All you have to do is walk in the perfect peace and victory Christ has already secured for you.

PROPHETIC DECLARATION

I am not the bearer of bad news! It’s not on me to carry the weight of the situations I may face. I serve a God who has laid out the path of victory for me, and I shall walk in it!

FURTHER STUDY

Philippians 4:6

365 BIBLE CHALLENGE – DAY 67

Numbers 23-25; Mark 6:32-56

Colossians 3:23 (NIV)

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.

There’s a common misconception that God’s purpose for your life conflicts with your ambitions and that to carry out His will, you must abandon your passions. However, this couldn’t be farther from the truth! Scripture teaches that God causes us to will and to act according to His good purpose. When aligned with His will, your ambitions aren’t selfish; they’re purposeful.

For instance, if your ambition is to excel in the luxury hospice sector and your God-given purpose is to evangelise, your business profits can finance missions, support ministry, and create opportunities to share the Gospel. God wants you to succeed. As long as your ambitions don’t obstruct the call of God on your life but complement it, they become powerful tools for His glory.

PROPHETIC DECLARATION

God has given me the drive to do good works! Whether it be in ministry or the business sector, my success is as sure as the sun rising in the morning!

FURTHER STUDY

Philippians 2:13

365 BIBLE CHALLENGE – DAY 66

Numbers 21-22; Mark 6:1-31

James 4:8 (KJV)

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

What sets Christianity apart from other organised religions is that it isn’t a religion in the traditional sense; it’s a relationship with divinity! God loved us so deeply that He chose to dwell among us, take our punishment through the cross, and redeem us by His glorious resurrection. He’s a personable God who loves you beyond human understanding and wants you to live a beautified life in Christ.

Scripture reveals that as you draw closer to God, He draws closer to you. By delving into His Word, you are investing valuable time into strengthening this divine relationship and, in turn, opening windows of countless blessings and opportunities.

Like any relationship, communication is key. Talk to Him about your interests, challenges, everything, because He truly cares for you.

PROPHETIC DECLARATION

I have a relationship with a God who cares for me! As I draw closer to Him each day, I’m transformed and empowered to enact His will. I walk in divine closeness and perfect peace in Jesus’ Name!

FURTHER STUDY

Psalm 145:18

365 BIBLE CHALLENGE – DAY 65

Luke 4:23-44; Psalms 26-28

Matthew 5:48 (NIV)

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

There’s a deception the enemy promotes that has infiltrated the hearts of millions: it’s the phrase “nobody’s perfect.” While it may sound humble and practical, it contradicts the truth revealed in scripture. If you allow it to take precedence in your life, the effects can be detrimental.

Yes, man is flawed, but when you accept Christ, you receive His nature and are called to live by His heavenly standard, not the patterns of the carnal man. God gave us the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit for the perfecting of the saints, that means you!

Jesus, our flawless example, shows that perfection is living in alignment with God's will, calibrating your life to His righteousness. Real Christianity is the manifestation of truth, decide to live in that truth this year of strange oil!

PROPHETIC DECLARATION

God has given me a perfected life! I live according to His heavenly standard. I reject the imperfect culture of this world today; I am living in alignment with His will!

FURTHER STUDY

1 John 4:17

365 BIBLE CHALLENGE – DAY 64

Numbers 19-20; Mark 5:22-43

Romans 12:11 (NIV)

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord.

Many Christians live their natural lives without obtaining all the benefits Christ gave us through His death and glorious resurrection, simply because they’ve settled into a false sense of spiritual progress. They stop pursuing deeper study of the Word, higher levels of prayer, and focused dedication to the Kingdom; they've become complacent.

Imagine driving a car on a quarter tank of gas. Sure, it’s not as desperate as being on empty, but it's still far from a full tank! As a child of God, never mistake “being better than before” for being where God intends you to be. Don’t settle for living below the standard God has set for you. True progress isn’t about being better than your worst but advancing toward Christ’s best for your life!

PROPHETIC DECLARATION

I am not settling for better; I’m after God’s best for me this year of strange oil! I can never be on an empty tank. I’m full of Godly energy!

FURTHER STUDY

Ephesians 3:19

365 BIBLE CHALLENGE – DAY 63

Numbers 16-18; Mark 5:1-21

Philippians 3:14 (KJV)

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

In ornithology (the study of birds), eagles are considered among the most focused, strategic, and precise creatures in the animal kingdom. With eyesight eight times sharper than humans, they can spot prey from miles away, even at heights of 23,000 feet. Beyond their physical ability, eagles possess a mindset unlike that of other flying creatures; they are relentless in their pursuit of their prey. Unfazed and unshaken.

As a child of God, execute every task with the eagle’s precision. Be relentless in your pursuit to carry out the will of God, with razor-sharp focus and strategy. Fix your eyes continually on fulfilling God's plan and advancing His Kingdom agenda, pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus!

PROPHETIC DECLARATION

Like an eagle, I am made to soar! I have every tool at my disposal to action the will of God for my life with great precision and strategy!

FURTHER STUDY

Colossians 3:2

365 BIBLE CHALLENGE – DAY 62

Numbers 14-15; Mark 4:21-41

Judges 6:15 (NIV)

“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”

In today’s scripture, God calls Gideon during a time when Israel was oppressed by the Midianites. The Lord said, “Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites…” What makes this reading so impactful is Gideon’s response. Instead of walking confidently in who God had called him to be, he responded in fear, judging his ability through the eyes of men.

Many Christians today do the same, limiting God's move in their lives by underestimating who they are in Christ. They feel unqualified, weak, or too small. But it doesn't matter whether others consider you the least in your place of education, workplace, or community; if God has called you, He’ll empower you. You will fulfil His mission in a mighty way in this year of Strange Oil!

PROPHETIC DECLARATION

Today, I choose to view myself through the lens of God’s eyes. I walk boldly into the new week knowing I am chosen by God!

FURTHER STUDY

Jeremiah 1:5-8

365 BIBLE CHALLENGE – DAY 61

Numbers 11-13; Mark 4:1-20

Matthew 7:24 (KJV)

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.

In the world of investing, many entrepreneurs understand the concept of “unrealised gains”, profits that exist on paper but are not actualised because the asset hasn’t been sold. Imagine buying shares for $1000, which later rise to $1500. That $500 increase is your unrealised gain that becomes real only when you sell the share.

For Christians, failing to activate scripture means risking a life of unrealised gains, never fully accessing the rewards God has stored up. The Word becomes mere paper gains, full of divine promises that remain dormant. Line upon line, precept upon precept, scripture outlines God's plan for your flourishing, and even the prophetic theme of strange oil - without action, it serves no purpose. Put the Word to work, don’t just hear it, do it!

PROPHETIC DECLARATION

Today I choose not only to listen to the Word but to put action to it! I activate every divine provision written concerning me. I will not live with unrealised gains; I claim all that God has declared over my life!

FURTHER STUDY

James 1:22

365 BIBLE CHALLENGE – DAY 60

Numbers 9-10; Mark 3:20-35