On The Path Of Winners By Bayo Ogunmupe Let Prayer Change your Life

On The Path Of Winners

By Bayo Ogunmupe

Let Prayer Change your Life

BECAUSE Jehovah’s blessings are not all packaged the same way, we get the idea God gives preferential treatment to certain people, but the Bible says: “He does not show favouritism,” Acts 10:34. However, in the New Testament the words grace and favour are used interchangeably because both come from the Greek word charis meaning gift. Think about it, when you ask somebody for a favour, you are counting on his kindness and generosity when there is no obvious reason for him to favour you.

  Throughout the scriptures, Jehovah’s favour is what made it possible for people who otherwise would not have amounted to much, to  do great things. For example, when God chose a teenager called Esther to deliver her people and she stepped out in faith to meet the King: “She obtained grace and favour in his sight,” Esther 2: 17. God made a way for her to do the job. Moreover, without divine grace, it is certain that Ruth a Moabitess, wouldn’t have been accepted by the Israelites. But because God had plans for her life, and her heart was pure before Him, she ended up marrying Boaz, “a man of great wealth,” Ruth 2: 1. And their ancestral line came King David, from whom descended Jesus the Christ. David said, “you bless the righteous, you surround them with your favour,” Psalm 5:12. When God approves of your riches, people start favouring you; too often for reason they cannot explain. Solomon said, “A good man (or woman) will obtain favour from Jehovah.” So ask for God’s favour, expect it, walk in it. The reason you don’t have what you want is, you don’t ask God,” James 4:2. Imagine walking into a restaurant on a whim and asking if your order is ready. “When did you give the order?” the server asks. “Oh, I didn’t,” you reply. “I just thought perhaps you would have something on my name.” sounds ridiculous? No more so than expecting God to answer requests you haven’t made. James adds: “Even when you do ask you don’t get it because you want only what will give you pleasure,” James 4:3. Your motives need to be in tune with what God knows is best for you. John says, “This is the confidence we have in Him, if we ask anything, according to His will, He hears,” 1 John 5:14.

  Expectant prayer demonstrates confidence in God’s goodness: “The Lord is good to those who wait expectantly for Him,” Lamentations 3:25. Instead of fretting and taking matters into your own hands when you say, Jehovah I’m going to trust you with this, regardless of the outcome.” Then God will honour your faith. Apostle Paul says “Pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks,” Ph. 4:6. Christ said, “It gives your Father great happiness to give you the benefits of His Kingdom,” Luke 12:31. God wants to be good to you, so tell Him the desires of your heart,” Ps 37:4. Thank Him, but the answer will come in His time.

  But God wants you to succeed.” He sought his God and worked wholeheartedly, so he prospered,” 2 Chro 31:21. However, you have to do certain things. One. Set an achievable goal. Then work towards it settling one priority at a time. You fail due to broken focus, so avoid distractions: “A double minded man is unstable,” Jas 1:8. Two, write your plans, giving yourself deadlines. Three, visualize attaining your goals. Talk and think in success pictures. Moses did. He made it to Canaan because, “He had his eye on the One no eye can see, and kept right on going,” Hebrew 11:26. Four, stay informed. Lifelong learning is the prescription for success. “A wise man will hear and increase his learning,” Pr 1:5. Five, create a climate of confidence around you, you wont win while you are talking defeat. Don’t rehearse your mistakes, that only reinforces your doubt. Remind yourself that your “sufficiency is of God,” 2 Co 3:2. With Jehovah as your partner, your success is guaranteed. Six. Help others become successful. “Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord,” Eph 6:8. That is the way to conquer self centeredness. Seven, put God first. You are his child. He wants you to succeed. Deepen your relationship with God.

  Our champion today is Adolfo Esqiuvel Perez, the Argentine sculptor, architect and champion of human rights and non-violent reform in Latin America. His work as secretary-general of Peace and Justice an ecumenical human rights foundation won him the Nobel Peace prize in 1980. Born in November 1931, in Buenos Aires, Argentina to a Spanish fisherman who emigrated to Argentina, Perez’s mother  died when he was three and despite his poverty, he attended the Belgrano School of Fine Arts and the National University of La Plata where he trained as an architect and sculptor. Ultimately he became professor of architecture and for 25 years taught at the university there.

  Perez began working with the Latin American Christian groups in the 1960s. he gave up his academic career in 1974, when he was chosen as coordinator for a network of Latin American groups promoting the liberation of the poor through non-violence.

  After the 1976 coup which brought  the dictatorship of General Jorge Videla to power, Perez formed a civil society organization namely, Service, Peace and Justice Foundation which served to defend human rights. His foundation promoted a campaign to denounce the atrocities of the Videla regime. For this, Perez was detained by the Brazilian Military Police in 1975. He was jailed in 1976 in Ecuador. The Argentine Federal Police tortured and held him without trial for 14 months between 1977 and 1980. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1980 for his efforts in the defence of human rights.

  He published, ‘Walking Together With the People,” in 1995. There, he relates his experiences and was appointed professor of Human Rights by the University of Buenos Aires in 1998. He has remained active working against the free trade areas of the Americas. He is a key driver to eradicate malnutrition and bridge the health divide with a special priority for the least developed countries.