For most believers, one of the most challenging things to contemplate is the thought of ceding control to God, which is hilarious, because come to think of it, we are never in control, God is.

We say the Lord’s prayer all the time [Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven (Mat 6:10)] without meaning it. We often make our plans and then invite God into our established plans, plans that we have already written in stone. But have you ever thought that there is a need to make a change that would get you into a better place?

Have you ever thought of taking another approach and yielding to God and say, Lord, whichever way you want this to go, do it your way? If this is a job you want for me, I am happy to go for it, if not, I know you will open another door. Apostle Paul said it very clearly in 1 Cor 16:7-9: For I do not wish to see you now on the way, but I hope to stay a while with you if the Lord permits.

But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. Paul left all his plans up to the will of the Lord. He planned to go through the region of Macedonia, visiting Corinth. But things did not go as he had thought. Instead, Paul made a soon, painful visit to Corinth to personally confront them in some areas.

We need to leave room for the interference of God. Paul said I will remain in Ephesus, for a great and effective door has opened to me. Paul didn’t go to Corinth immediately because he saw that God had given opportunity “now” in Ephesus. He wisely relied not on his own desires, but on God’s open doors. Paul knew the secret of directed service.“For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”

Paul also knew that opposition often accompanies opportunities. The reality is that God’s blessings are always accompanied by challenges and entering into God’s blessings will depend on how well you tackle those challenges, not with your own weapons, but those weapons God has already provided. As the adversaries are showing up, a good place to start is by meditating on Eph 6: 11-17 this week:
Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Babatunde OlugbojiHave a great week.thekingdomdynamics.org; @DynamicsKingdom

Kingdom Dynamics Weekly (KDW) July 15, 2019, By Tunde Olugboji Vol 19:25

Babatunde Olugboji, a graduate of Mass Communication from the University of Lagos and former Copy editor of defunct African Concord Magazine is an author, researcher, editor, activist, trainer, job counsellor, and Bible scholar,.Olugboji has taught and preached the Word of God enthusiastically in Canada, US, UK, and Germany. He is an adjunct professor of International Human Rights at the City University of New York’s Hunter College, and deputy program director at Human Rights Watch, an international nonprofit. He is a member of the Pastoral team at Agape House of Worship in Roselle, NJ, SA