Give What You Want To Get

On The Path Of Winners

By Bayo Ogunmupe

Give What You Want To Get

PEOPLE are searching for love and acceptance and you have more power than you think to give it to them. Solomon said, ‘‘Everyone enjoys a fitting reply. It’s wonderful to say the right thing at the right time,” Proverbs 15:23. Have you any idea how many of the people you know who never hear a word of appreciation? We think they don’t need it. But when you appreciate others, it comes back to you.

  Seneca, a genius of ancient Rome said, ‘‘We should give as we would receive, cheerfully, without hesitation. There is no grace in a benefit that sticks to the fingers.” if you want to be appreciated, make others feel appreciated. If it is success you want, then help someone to succeed. If you value compliments, then begin to compliment others. ‘‘Whenever we have the opportunity we should to all,” Galatians 6:10. People are not mind-readers, when you think something good about others, tell them. Don’t wait until you feel like it or wait for a sign from heaven.

  Jehovah wants to use you in the circles you move with. When you learn to help others, the Almighty will enlarge your territory. The seeds of love you sow into someone’s life always create the harvest you reap in your own. Give to the world the best you have and the best will come back to you. God made you to be a blessing, not just to get blessings. So, become what God intended and you will receive what you were meant to be. Which is why you should always stick to your plan for greatness. Stick to the plan because nothing takes God by surprise. God is the master planner. Joseph of ancient Egypt discovered that when your family abandons you, your friends let you down and you finish up in trouble, Jehovah still keeps a plan for you. Looking back, Joseph could say, ‘‘you intended to harm me, but God intended it for good,” Genesis 50:20. When your life seems hard to handle, remind yourself that God said: ‘‘I know the plans I have for you.

  Some of us are unsure God is with us, so we keep trying to earn His favour. Give it up, know what Jehovah has decided to bless you. And when God decides, temporary actions of others don’t change His decision. There is nothing the enemy devises against you that God hasn’t already made a way of escape for you. God is faithful and would not suffer you to be tempted above your power. Observe that in times of testing Jehovah is faithful. God knows what you can handle. He will make a way so that you can emerge stronger. The fact that you have a problem is a sign that you have God as your godfather. It is only a matter of time before your Father reveals the solution. Jesus knew that Judas would betray him, yet he didn’t stop him. That was because it was all part of Jehovah’s plan for the sacrifice. When He didn’t answer, you must stand on His promise. The pain of this season will eventually give way to the joy God promised you. So stick to your plan to emancipate Nigeria from peals of poverty, that’s what disciples do.

  The word ‘‘disciple” means sticking to the plan. It means to be disciplined. You stick to the plan even when you are under attack. It teaches you how to function, how you must run your life. The enemy will come against the plan of God in your life, because the plan is a hedge of protection around you. As long as you stay within God’s plan, nothing the enemy does that can destroy you. Commit your life into Allah’s hands. Before you get into something: a project or programme, make sure it is God’s will for you. Two, don’t expect everybody in your circle to agree with you. It is like water-walking by Jesus with Peter. It is a lonely journey which sets you apart from those who are timid and security-minded. It brings criticism from those who think you are making them look stupid by contrast. Three, if you wait for good weather you will miss your moment of glory.

  When Jesus said, ‘‘come,” they were in the middle of a storm. Face the challenges. We all like the stars to line up, or some big donor to underwrite the whole project before we make a move. But how often does that happen? Peter wasn’t walking on the water, he was walking on his faith. So, stop waiting for ideal conditions; start doing it now. Four, do not expect a mistake free performance. Nobody walks without fluctuations. The scriptures describe their heroes in one sentence: ‘‘whose weakness was turned to strength,” Heb. 11:34. All the great men in the scriptures that you admire, go through striking spells when they cry out, Jehovah, save me. And be sure, He does save them. He will do the same for you if you call on Him.

  Five, we do not see such miracles in our lives today because we do not pray with faith. You can only invite God’s help through the prayer of faith. Six, we do not experience miracles these days because we think the day of miracles has passed. In fact, there has never been a day of miracles, there is only a God of miracles and He never changes. He is everlasting. Seven, we allow sin to sabotage our confidence. If we obey His commands and do what He pleases, He will give us anything we ask. Eight, we look at the situation instead of God, and our faith falters: that is why we don’t get miracles nowadays. Don’t allow the storm to overwhelm you. He is with you, your heartbeat. Just keep your eyes on Him, keep walking by faith and stick to your plan or goal.

  Our champion this week is Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, the winner of Nigeria’s 2015 presidential election and a former military head of state and the commander-in-chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces (1984/85). Born in December 1942 at Daura, Katsina state, educated at Government College, Katsina (1956-61), he enlisted in the Nigerian Army in 1962.

  Buhari attended Nigerian Military College, Kaduna; Mons Officer Cadet School, Aldershot, UK; Defence Staff College, Wellington, India and Army War College, USA, 1979/80. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in 1963, Platoon Commander, 2^nd Infantry Battalion, Abeokuta 1963; Commander, 2^nd Battalion, UN Peace Keeping Force, in the Congo in the 1960s; Transport Officer, Lagos Garrison 1964/65; Commander 2^nd Infantry Brigade, 1965, and Brigade Major, 2^nd Infantry Battalion 1965/67.

  Buhari then served as Brigade Major, 2^nd sector, First Infantry Division 1970/71; Colonel, General Staff, Third Infantry Division 1974, then served in the Army Corps of Supply 1974/75. Appointed Military Governor of North Eastern State, Maiduguri 1975/76; Commissioner for Petroleum and Energy 1976/78, Chairman, NNPC 1978/79, General Officer Commanding, 4^th Infantry Division, Nigeria Army 1979/80; General Officer Commanding, Second Mechanised Division, Ibadan 1981; General Officer Commanding, 3 Armoured Division Jos 1981/83; became Head of State and C-in-C 1984/85. He was ousted from power and retired on the rank of Major General in 1985. Later, Sani Abacha appointed him chairman, Petroleum Trust Fund 1994/99. He thereafter entered into politics: contesting for president in 2003, 2007 and 2011. However, a merger of four opposition parties namely the All Progressives Congress elected him their candidate in this year’s presidential election which he won with a landslide. He has been a beacon of integrity and transparency in the Nigerian scene since 1985. It is hoped he will concentrate his authority on restoring adequate electricity, establishing full employment and returning the Directorate of Foods, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DVRI) to sanitise the Nigerian economy.