COMPASS DEVOTIONAL

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GRACE FOR JUST ONE MORE PUSH When she gave the first push, the midwives began to encourage her. I kept telling her, "Babe, I am here. You can do this". When the team lead noticed that she was getting a bit tired after about three pushes. She did something profound— she took my wife's hands and told her, "Touch your baby's head. She is here already. Just one more push". That was the needed motivation, and the last push came with the baby's cry! We all rejoiced. Elijah went to pray that it should rain. He kept sending his servant to look for a sign, and the servant kept returning that nothing had changed. On the seventh occasion, he returned saying, "I see a cloud like the hands of a man". That was what Elijah needed. “Then he said to his servant, “Go and look out toward the sea.” The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, “I didn’t see anything.” Seven times Elijah told him to go and look. Finally, the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.” Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’”” 1 Kings 18:43-44 NLT Sometimes, what we need is proof that we are making progress. You look at yourself and you keep asking just one question, "Am I even making sense at all?" And right in the midst of your concerns, God gives you a sign as proof that you are birthing something. There is always that one sign that gives you the witness that “I am not doing badly”; “I am making some sense”; or “I do not have to give up now”. May you see your signs and may the voices that point it now not be far from you. In the journey of ministry, I have seen God show up in the most unlikely times. At times, it is a phone call from a father. At other times, it is an answer to prayers when you have almost given up. I can say "God never fails". The Apostle John spoke about the things we have heard, seen, and then handled. There is a realm of hearing and seeing, but there is a realm of handling also. A man may have seen or heard about a naked electrical wire, but when he handles it, he needs no explanation again. He has proof. May the Lord give you proof that you are on the right path. May you see a sign that lifts your spirit on the journey of vision. May the impetus you need to deliver what you have conceived come your way. I pray you have a visit like that of God to Abraham under the great trees of Mamre, where the birthing of Isaac is settled. May you have a word from Jesus about throwing in your nets after nights of toiling. May your boats be full of the evidence that you heard and obeyed God. May your water turn to wine. On the Island of Malta, when the snake came out of the sticks that Paul gathered and wound around his hands, they expected him to swell and die, but it never happened. May those waiting to see what God has birthed through you die a natural death and see the supernatural hand of God. That womb is not barren. It is only waiting for God's set time. Your Isaac will land when you least expect. Your Samuel will come when the kingdom needs a prophet. That womb is not barren. That business receives life now. That ministry comes into a new season. That marriage enjoys grace today. Touch the head of your baby and push for his birth. Touch the head of your baby and gather strength for the new season. Touch the head of your baby and know that without a doubt, God is doing something. Today, you will see a sign that indeed God does not leave you nor forsake you. Amen. It will end with shouts of joy. And all shall rejoice with you, saying, "This indeed is the hand of the Lord". ©️temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa - You can also read today’s devotional here 👇🏽👇🏽 https://temiloluwaola.com/grace-for-just-one-more-push - Discover powerful, practical teachings from Pastor Temiloluwa Ola that will transform your walk with God. 👇🏽👇🏽 https://t.me/ngccglobal -

GRACE FOR JUST ONE MORE PUSH When she gave the first push, the midwives began to encourage her. I kept telling her, "Babe, I am here. You can do this". When the team lead noticed that she was getting a bit tired after about three pushes. She did something profound— she took my wife's hands and told her, "Touch your baby's head. She is here already. Just one more push". That was the needed motivation, and the last push came with the baby's cry! We all rejoiced. Elijah went to pray that it should rain. He kept sending his servant to look for a sign, and the servant kept returning that nothing had changed. On the seventh occasion, he returned saying, "I see a cloud like the hands of a man". That was what Elijah needed.

1 Kings 18:43-44 NLT```

Sometimes, what we need is proof that we are making progress. You look at yourself and you keep asking just one question, "Am I even making sense at all?" And right in the midst of your concerns, God gives you a sign as proof that you are birthing something. 

There is always that one sign that gives you the witness that “I am not doing badly”; “I am making some sense”; or “I do not have to give up now”. May you see your signs and may the voices that point it now not be far from you. 

In the journey of ministry, I have seen God show up in the most unlikely times. At times, it is a phone call from a father. At other times, it is an answer to prayers when you have almost given up. I can say "God never fails".

The Apostle John spoke about the things we have heard, seen, and then handled. There is a realm of hearing and seeing, but there is a realm of handling also. A man may have seen or heard about a naked electrical wire, but when he handles it, he needs no explanation again. He has proof. 

May the Lord give you proof that you are on the right path. May you see a sign that lifts your spirit on the journey of vision. May the impetus you need to deliver what you have conceived come your way.

I pray you have a visit like that of God to Abraham under the great trees of Mamre, where the birthing of Isaac is settled. May you have a word from Jesus about throwing in your nets after nights of toiling. May your boats be full of the evidence that you heard and obeyed God. May your water turn to wine.

On the Island of Malta, when the snake came out of the sticks that Paul gathered and wound around his hands, they expected him to swell and die, but it never happened. May those waiting to see what God has birthed through you die a natural death and see the supernatural hand of God. 

That womb is not barren. It is only waiting for God's set time. Your Isaac will land when you least expect. Your Samuel will come when the kingdom needs a prophet. That womb is not barren. That business receives life now. That ministry comes into a new season. That marriage enjoys grace today. 

Touch the head of your baby and push for his birth. Touch the head of your baby and gather strength for the new season. Touch the head of your baby and know that without a doubt, God is doing something. Today, you will see a sign that indeed God does not leave you nor forsake you. Amen.

It will end with shouts of joy. And all shall rejoice with you, saying, "This indeed is the hand of the Lord". 

©️temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa

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Here is your reminder to get the September edition of the Compass Daily Devotional. If you’ve been desiring: • More consistency • Clear daily direction • Deeper intimacy with God This is your sign. Don’t overthink it. Don’t postpone it. Download it. Start today. Click the link now ⬇️ https://temiloluwaola.com/compass/

THE PAIN MUST NOT CHANGE YOU In the heat of labour pains, Irewamiri decided that we should still focus on our normal morning routine: bathing our daughter, cooking meals. She got into the kitchen and began to cook. When it got a bit tough, I would take over and go back and forth from her, receiving instructions on what she was cooking. We did all to ensure that the pain was not our focus. It would not stop us from doing our best as we would normally do. Pain wants to change you. Pain wants to be the centre of attraction. Pain wants you to focus on it alone. It pains pain a lot when you ignore it and refuse it permission to redefine you. Pain wants to stop you from achieving other things. Pain would want you to abandon other good things you are meant to do. You must ensure that the pain does not change who you are. If the pain of being mistreated by Potiphar, his wife, and colleagues who could not defend the truth became the focus of Joseph, he would have also mistreated the "ticket" out of the prison into the palace. The pain would have made him bitter. He would have killed the lineage he was raised to preserve. Think about Jesus on the cross. In the midst of the pains of betrayal, denial, and embarrassment for a sin he never committed, he still did not change. He was taking care of family responsibilities, hearing the plea of a criminal, and praying forgiveness for his adversaries. The pain did not change him. Think about David. He was being hunted down by King Saul, rejected by the Philistines, and now his wives and children (plus those of his men) have been carried away by the Amalekites, yet his men still saw a wounded Egyptian who needed help, and they stopped to care for him. The pains did not change them. If the pains of what you expect turn you into something people do not expect, even your helpers would keep a distance from you. The pain must not change you. A waiting Sarah must still be hospitable to a fault. A waiting Ruth must still be loving to a Naomi that seems like she had nothing left to offer. A waiting Zechariah must still carry out his priesthood duties. Zechariah did not "stab” the church. In doing what you can do, the seed is eventually birthed. Do not get snobby. Do not become short-tempered. Do not abandon other things. Give yourself no excuse to make the pain your focus. Rather, ensure that you are committed to all God has blessed you with. In the mix of it all, what you await is knocking on the door. The Israelites who focused on the snake bites died in the wilderness. Those who looked away from the pain and focused on the brazen serpent on the cross got healed.

Numbers 21:8-9 NKJV```

Look and live. Look to Jesus now and live. Look away from those who accuse you falsely. Look away from those who treat unjustly. Look at the cross. Do not let the pain redefine you. 

©️temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa

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When the labour pains for our second daughter intensified. We had to stroll in our compound…👇👇 https://temiloluwaola.com/labour-pain-is-proof-of-a-new-beginning

Around 2 a.m., Irewamiri came to wake me up with these words, "Baby, I have been labouring for the past 2 hours. I cannot do it by myself. I need you by my side". Well! Sleep vanished. I did not even know she was not by my side anymore. We began to labour together. 👇🏽 https://temiloluwaola.com/there-is-no-shame-in-asking-for-help

While I sat on the barber's chair for a haircut, I knew deep within me that I was to share the gospel with that young man. But I was afraid. I wanted to just stick to professional conduct. When he was done, I gave him the money for his service and then, like a big boy, told him to keep the change…👇 https://temiloluwaola.com/money-cannot-replace-the-gospel

Welcome to September, the 9th month. I want to encourage you to stir yourself up to lay hold on God and every promise He has for you. It takes pressing in. "And there is no one who calls on Your name, who stirs himself up to take hold of You…" — Isaiah 64:7a (NKJV) "No one calls on your name or presses in to lay hold of you…" — Isaiah 64:7a (TPT) Do you want to keep explaining, or do you want evidence? If you want evidence, wake up to the assignment of pressing in. As you pray and wait, you will see a shift. Every promise you carry will come to pass. From this month, enter the era of miracles. As you read the Compass this month, may light shine on your path. Share the devotional with someone who needs encouragement. Click here to download for FREE👇 https://temiloluwaola.com/compass Be blessed. Enjoy favour. Pastor temilOluwa Ola

Back in the day, I would often have my monthly retreat at my dad’s ministry office. It had the church hall, peaceful surroundings, and even rocks that made for a great place of prayer and reflection. Dad would give me his office key and say…👇 https://temiloluwaola.com/access-is-easy-to-abuse

TWO DIFFERENT HOUSES (1)   During my first stint staying away from home, I had free accommodation with some other young men in the University. It was the home of a late relative of ours in their hometown- a very large house. I was the first to arrive. While settling down and putting my things in place, I stumbled on a pack of condoms, empty bottles of alcoholic drinks and a stack of X-rated video discs.   I closed that drawer and left it all there. I felt it was none of my business. Months down the line, I was a mere “once-in-a-while” churchgoer. I was already pretending to be different but sneaking to watch the X-rated movies when no one was around. I was saved by the teeth because I would have been drawn into all the other vices too- drunkenness and fornication.   What are the lessons from this first house?   If I were the landlord of the space, I would have cleared out all the strange things from day one, but I could not because I did not have the power or authority to. Until you acknowledge the Lordship of Christ, sin will persist in your life. Even the devil will operate freely in your space. He is either Lord of all, or He is not Lord at all.   I could not take charge because the space was not totally mine. If you do not hand over everything to Christ also and you hold back on certain areas of your life, it will be a struggle between great decisions and ungodly passions.   Whatever you do not deal with decisively will eventually become a snare to your soul. When it is sin, deal with it brutally. Whatever you permit around you becomes a trap to your soul. If you permit it, you will be entangled by it. If you keep giving excuses for it, you will soon be encumbered by it. You do not leave a seed in the ground when you do not desire to see the harvest. If you leave the seed, the harvest will come.   Do you know a man without the spirit of God is mere dust? That is the life of a sinner. But do you know the end of this “mere dust”? He is food for the serpent (the devil).   Genesis 3:14 NKJV So, the LORD God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life.   Isaiah 65:25 KJV “….and dust shall be the serpent's meat”   Any man who has not acknowledged the Lordship of Christ is mere food for the devil. It is legal.   What are the things in your life that are hindering His Lordship? What sins are you tolerating? What are you giving excuses for?   temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa > - > Thank you for receiving God’s Word. To explore books and resources by Pastor temilOluwa Ola, please visit 👇 > https://linktr.ee/ptemiloluwaola

DENY THE OLD TENANT ACCESS   Many years ago, I was house-hunting. Eventually, I got an apartment. The agent told me that the old tenant would move out and I would have access. Some days later, we both went to the property for inspection. I paid the annual rent. When he was certain the old tenant had moved, he handed me the house keys.   After I was granted access, I went there for the first time to assess the extent of the repairs needed. The next morning, I needed to take someone there; when we got in, we saw signs that someone stayed there over the night. It was shocking. I called the agent to tell him. He gave us one counsel: “Pastor, change the locks”. This would guarantee exclusive access since the key I had was the same as that of the previous tenant. I did, and there were no further incidents.   When you gave your life to Christ, the management changed. You came under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. You welcomed Jesus Christ into your life as your Lord and Saviour. However, the world, the flesh and the devil still want access to your life. They want to sneak in and out once in a while. They leverage your old combination code to access your life- your tendencies for anger, pleasure, worrying, and any other. Before you know it, they are already having a foothold in your new life.   But you need to deny them access by “changing the locks”. How do you change the locks:   Let it be clear that there is new management in place:   Galatians 2:20 NKJV I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.   Put to death any strange desire by constantly yielding to the Holy Spirit:   Romans 8:13 NLT For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.   When the adversary uses your tendencies, let him meet a new lock. Let the systems tell it “No”.   Titus 2:11-12 NIV For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. [12] It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…   We know you have changed the “Lord” of your life, but have you changed the locks?   temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa > - > Thank you for receiving God’s Word. To explore books and resources by Pastor temilOluwa Ola, please visit 👇 > https://linktr.ee/ptemiloluwaola

I HAVE BEEN PAID FOR   He walked up to the stand where they sell roasted plantain (boli). He saw one that was big and really lovely. He asked the seller, “How much is this roasted plantain?” She replied that it was a thousand and five hundred naira but told him it would take a moment before it got done. He handed over two thousand naira.   He told the seller that he would be back to pick the roasted plantain. He wanted to get a cold bottle of drink just across the road.   While he was away, another man approached the roasted plantain seller and pointed to that same big and lovely plantain to ask for the price so he could have it.   What do you think the response of the plantain seller would be? She would say, “It has been paid for”. She would likely add a second line, “Please pick another one”.   This story is not about plantain! It is about your redemption story.   Jesus came and paid the price for your sins. It was a full payment. It was even an overpayment. The price was his blood.   “He is the payment for our sins, and not only for our sins, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2 GW   After paying for your sins, He went to the Father with the promise to come back for you:   “I am going there to prepare a place for you. After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back. Then I will take you to be with me so that you may be where I am.” John 14:2-3 ICB   While he is away, the accuser of the brethren, called the devil, would come around with dirty accusing fingers trying to put condemnation on you. He tries to attack you with depression. At times, it is cancer or any strange sickness. There are times, he wants to put poverty on you. What should you tell him?   Tell him exactly what the Plantain Seller said:   “I have been paid for; take another”. And yes, that is true. You were bought with a price.   “For you were bought at a price” I Corinthians 6:20 NKJV   “You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.” I Corinthians 7:23 NKJV   Refuse to become the slave of sin. Refuse to become the slave of sickness. Refuse to become the slave of small thinking.   Remember - “You have been paid for”.   temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa > - > Thank you for receiving God’s Word. To explore books and resources by Pastor temilOluwa Ola, please visit 👇 > https://linktr.ee/ptemiloluwaola

BIG GRAMMAR; BIG TROUBLE!!!   I was still in secondary school. I desired to spend my holiday with my granduncle in Abeokuta. I already knew he would visit or send his driver with a Christmas package. That was my opportunity to travel with him or return with the driver. I told my parents about it, but I noticed hesitation on my mum’s part.   A day before the trip, I noticed that Mum kept giving me extra house tasks that showed she probably would not want me to travel- laundry and ironing. I was doing my best to meet up so I could still travel.   Then things came to a head that evening. I confronted her directly by asking if she wanted me to travel or not. She gave me a diplomatic answer. Then I said under my breath, “That is all fallacy”.   All hell broke loose! She said, “Ah! You are testing grammar on me. You think I do not know what fallacy is. Am I the one you are calling a liar?” If you have an African mother, you know the rest of the story.   Your mouth can actually put you in trouble. It can invite physical beating - strikes!   “The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating.” Proverbs 18:6 NIV   “A fool's lips enter into contention, And his mouth calleth for strokes.” Proverbs 18:6 KJV   The Apostle James warns us to tame our tongue:   “We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.” James 3:2 NIV   The Proverbs warn us that life and death (and everything in between) is in the power of the tongue:   “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.” Proverbs 18:21 MSG   There are no jokes in the realm of the spirit; there are only words! You cannot release words sponsoring death and then return to say, “I am just joking”.   “Don’t let your mouth make a total sinner of you. When called to account, you won’t get by with “Sorry, I didn’t mean it.” Ecclesiastes 5:6 MSG   What are you saying with your mouth? Are they edifying? Are they defiling? Is it inviting trouble? By your words, you can be blessed, and also by your words, you can be condemned.   Watch what you are saying!   temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa > - > Thank you for receiving God’s Word. To explore books and resources by Pastor temilOluwa Ola, please visit 👇 > https://linktr.ee/ptemiloluwaola

SPEAK TO IT AND NOT ABOUT IT   I noticed a mouth sore on my upper lip. It was quite painful. I was even telling Irewamiri about it. I was asking what would normally cause that to happen. I wanted to know which nutrient I lacked. The sore was quite painful, but I just assumed it was going to heal.   One night, while I was praying and listening to the word of God, I heard it clearly: “Many people will be giving explanations about what they should be rebuking”. It struck me instantly. I laid my hands on my mouth and told the mouth sore to heal. About an hour later, the stinging pain was gone. By the next day, I was totally healed.   If you keep tolerating it, it will continue to fester! If you keep explaining it away, it will continue to blossom.   Do you know what the Psalmist said about strangers? He said:   “As soon as they hear of me, they obey me; The foreigners submit to me. The foreigners fade away, and come frightened from their hideouts.” Psalms 18:44-45 NKJV   If you keep quiet, that stranger will gain more ground. If you do not rebuke it, the sickness will remain. Let that pain hear your voice. Let that challenge hear the word.   Jesus also told us that we do not sit down talking about mountains, but we talk to mountains:   “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.” Mark 11:23 NKJV   Stop making a gist out of what should disgust you. Take your stand as a priest and rebuke anything you do not want to see. Stop tolerating any sickness. Stop explaining it away. Do not assume it is just seasonal.   If you see a snake in your house, do you wait to check or analyse whether it is a friendly snake first? No! You kill it immediately. That is how you should treat the devil and every strange ambassador that he has.   Go and speak to that mountain now. It is not a matter of gist. It is a stranger to kick it. Stop seeing resistance as circumstance.   temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa > - > Thank you for receiving God’s Word. To explore books and resources by Pastor temilOluwa Ola, please visit 👇 > https://linktr.ee/ptemiloluwaola