Prepare for the Future

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Every position you are in today is an opportunity given to you by God to effect future changes in your life. Please see John Chapter 9 verse 4. Therefore invest well by utilizing the opportunity of your present position to invest well for your future because every opportunity given to you is to effect a change. Every street they say is lined with gold but that gold can only be seen when your eyes are opened to see the gold.

Joseph utilized the opportunity of his present position in prison to prepare for his future by being kind and compassionate to his fellow prisoners, obedient to the leadership of the prison. Additionally, he interpreted the dreams of the baker and butler of Pharaoh who were also imprisoned in the royal gulag. Coincidence you may say but I dare to say, divine arrangement for the future God promised Joseph. Any position you find yourself in may be an opportunity which though disguised as a challenge or even an affliction is for a purpose. Joseph’s case is instructive as it buttresses Scriptures in Romans Chapter 8 verse 28. Joseph became a slave in Egypt not because the family lacked the resources to care for him but because his brothers sold him into slavery because they envied him. They capped up their wickedness by deceiving their father that Joseph was probably killed by a wild animal after dipping Joseph’s cloth in the blood of an animal. Also just when Joseph should have shouted hallelujah, it turned out that it was not yet uhuru as Potiphar’s wife lied about Joseph and Joseph was thrown into prison albeit, events orchestrated by God to bring Joseph before Pharaoh. Instructive and significant is the fact that Joseph took advantage of the opportunity of every position he found himself in and became great. You can also do same.

From Prison to Palace

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Interesting, isn’t it; that a person without leverages can suddenly hit limelight, fame, wealth, power and honor? Beloved, the ways of God are past finding out for He is the only One Who can take anyone from obscurity to limelight  and from any prison whatsoever to the palace.

Though there are a number of stories about people who rose from the confinements of prison to palaces, the biblical Joseph best illustrates that story. Though Joseph was a slave in Egypt, Joseph treasured his assets, guarding them jealously and trading them for what could take him out of obscurity into limelight. Joseph’s assets include talent, knowledge resources, godly wisdom, expertise, fervent relationship with God, divine wisdom, fear of God, honesty, integrity, focus.

Daniel’s assets include integrity, honesty, fear of God.  Though the Biblical Daniel was not physically imprisoned, he alongside his three friends and all the wise men of Babylon were on death row and were being handpicked daily; from the privacy and luxury of their homes for execution. This was as good as being imprisoned; untimely death with every potential for blessing humanity locked up in early death. Daniel was very young then, full of life and great dreams for a long flourishing life of service to God and humanity as well as the attendant benefits of comfort and wealth. He therefore refused to die young and unfulfilled because he knew that the will of God for him was to live long. Please see Psalm 91. He therefore boldly and courageously requested for time to unravel the King’s dream. God granted Daniel favor and further emboldened, Daniel called for an emergency prayer meeting to request help from God so that their lives would be spared. God again showed up and the secret was made known to Daniel. Their lives alongside the lives of the wise men were spared. But significantly, Daniel and his friends moved from the imprisonment of death row to significant positions in the palace and in the administration of affairs in the kingdom of Babylon. Please read Daniel Chapter 2 for details of the story as well as greater insight from the Holy Spirit.

As if this was not enough, Daniel’s life was further threatened but again God intervened and Daniel rose from the prison of the den of lions to the pinnacle of leadership. Please see Daniel Chapter 6. His three friends were also on death row a second time; albeit in the prison of a fiery furnace of fire. But God Who can always be trusted to deliver His own intervened and their lives were not only spared, but the worship of Jehovah, the El-Shaddai God was enthroned in Babylon and they were promoted higher in the administrative affairs of Babylon. Tales of prison to palaces!

Partner with Sound Minds

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Sound minds create wealth. There is a correlation between a sound mind, sound words, sound doctrine, sound speech and wealth. Please see 2^nd Timothy Chapter 1 verses 7, 13, 4 verse 3, Titus Chapter 2 verse 8. Partnering with sound minds can take on different forms – organizational partnerships, individual partnerships, ministry partnerships, employee/employer partnerships, as well as engaging the services of vendors and artisans. It could also be delegation. No matter the coloration of partnerships, the persons must be skilled. Please see 1^st Chronicles Chapter 25 verses 1, 7 (skilled ministers of music). They served under their father who was knowledgeable and who transferred the skills. They were also instructed in the songs of the Lord – they were knowledgeable and not ignorant.

David was a skilfull instrumentalist and was subsequently recommended to King Saul’s service. Please see 1^st Kings Chapter 5 verse 6. The Sidonians were skilled in cutting timber and subsequently were invited by King Solomon to supply timber for the building of the temple and the King’s palace. Please see 1^st Kings Chapter 7 verses 13 to 14. Huram was skilled in working with all kinds of bronze work. Please see 2^nd Chronicles Chapter verses 6, 13 to 14.

Mental prowess should also be a major consideration in choosing partners. Partners who have intellectual prowess, people who think, who think issues through, who have analytical powers, who strategize, who proffer solutions – people like the Biblical Jethro, Joseph, Daniel, Abigail, the virtuous woman of Proverbs Chapter 31, the wise woman for her people skills are partners that would move your enterprise up the ladder of wealth and success any day.