BY STRENGTH SHALL NO MAN PREVAIL.

"Wilderness explorers hire guides, life explorers seek God."- Anonymous

There is a twist to my previous post that I must share, else my account will not be complete. Be blessed and inspired as you read on…

After several visa denials, even with the right documents and several fruitless consultations with spiritualists, my strength failed me. I knew I had to change my approach and I was willing to change but I had no idea of what to do as I had exhausted all known methods. I was humbled by the humiliating defeats (I must confess that pride had set in before then as I had succeeded in many daring pursuits in times past; I was even dwindling into paganism at some point. I believed strongly that I could succeed in any endeavour by just following the natural laws that govern our Universe.).

After a visa denial in March 2008, I decided to try God totally (Although I was born into Christianity, I was far from being a practitioner.). So, I joined a Living Church in my area to put God to test. In one of the Church services, I heard the testimony of someone who put God to test and who obviously was embarrassed with miracles. Being an adventurous lad, I decided to run with the revelation. I combed the Bible for an anchor scripture and I discovered some verses quoted below where God gave (and still gives) man the express permission to put Him to test:

"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies." Malachi 3: 10 – 12, The Holy Bible – New Living Translation.

I must add that I was paying my tithe as a religious act before then even though I did not fully know my rights. Armed with the anchor scripture quoted above, I decided to enter into a covenant with God by increasing my tithe to 20% (instead of the 10% God requires of me) of my income and paying same till I die. He has asked that I put Him to test, however I was prepared to provoke Him with my giving. In return, I asked God for the visa to explore the world He created.

I started paying the tithe as I covenanted and I reapplied for the category of visa that I was earlier denied. Behold, my application was granted. God showed Himself strong despite the fact that I was still wallowing in sin then. I was humbled. God became so real to me for the first time in my life. I was also forced to admit my folly - if wilderness explorers deem it wise to hire guides, why was I trying to explore life without seeking the help of my Creator? The humbling experience has changed the course of my life. I have further consecrated my life to my covenant-keeping God and in return He has surpassed my expectations; I judge Him faithful. (If you want to know more about my Omnipotent-God, please send me an email via: succour@ibukunolu.com. I received salvation free, and freely will I share.)

Beloved, the philosophy that “one can succeed in any endeavour by just following the natural laws that govern our Universe” is flawed with numerous limitations. Most importantly, the philosophy is often overturned by the Creator of the Universe to confound the wise. In doubt? Haven't you heard of successful people committing suicide before? Haven't you read of the mighty falls of financial giants and nations before? Haven’t you heard of educated derelicts before? Is our world not flooded with unsuccessful geniuses? The list is endless. Life is reduced to a mere guess work when the help of the Creator is not sought. To succeed in any endeavour in life, to remain successful, to die a success and to be translated into glory after death requires Divine Help.

Most successful people in the world today are not succeeding by their strength alone as they make the world believe. Most of them belong to various occults; some even trade their soul for fame and wealth. Talent and luck alone cannot suffice. There are even wicked principalities and powers that contend for the destiny of mankind and it is only with the help of a Super-Power that you can successfully wrestle against them.

Why are you struggling on your own when help is readily available? Stop short-changing yourself. The Creator of the Universe, who created you and the world you are living in, has the ‘Master Plan’ and the ‘User Manual’ of the Universe. He is willing to help if only you will acknowledge Him and seek His help. He created you for a purpose. He has a plan for your life and a path which you must take to fulfil destiny.

Don’t make needless mistakes, get it right. Go for God.