KNOW TO PLEAD FOR THE MERCY OF GOD

God cannot be intimidated or manipulated by any of His creation for the release of His mercy.
God testifies to His mercy in Romans 9:14-16, “…I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion. So, then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.”
God’s mercy is in place for all and nothing under heaven can displace or deny one which God is set to visit with His mercy.
In this wicked world, understand and know to live life to attain the mercy of God as the Bible records His word.
God alone will have mercy on whom He chooses but He will have mercy on, one that lives by His command.

AMONG WAYS OF PROVOKING GOD TO OBTAIN HIS MERCY ARE:

The mercy of God is attainable when the life of one aligns with the word of God
One that lives life according to the word of God will always receive the mercy of God. Joseph’s life was the evidence of one that lived according to the word of God, the will of God. Every time there was an incident that could tempt Joseph to violate the word of God, he did not give himself to the temptation to fail before God (Genesis 39:7-15). In one instance, he denied the offer to sleep with his master’s wife by claiming, “…How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9) The reaction of Joseph to his master’s wife provoked the mercy of God for Joseph. The Bible mentions, “But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor…” (Genesis 39:21). 
The mercy of God is attainable when one loves God
One with the love for God will always provoke the mercy of God. The Bible makes us realize that loving God is keeping His commandments (John 14:15). To love God is to fear God.  
The story of Joseph points out that Joseph kept the commandment of God by forbidding adultery when he fled away from sleeping with his master’s wife. Joseph loved God to obtain the mercy of God.
The mercy of God is attainable when one asks or plead for His mercy
God identified Job as a man with none like him on the earth; a blameless and upright man who fears God and shuns evil but yet, Job was in need to plead for the mercy of God saying, “For though I were righteous, I could not answer Him; I would beg mercy of my Judge” (Job 9:15). The testimony of God about the integrity of Job was not enough to excuse Job from pleading for the mercy of God. 
Just like Job, the Psalmist had to plead for the mercy of God saying, “Have mercy on me, O LORD! Consider my trouble from those who hate me, You who lift me up from the gates of death.” (Psalm 9:13). 
Know to plead for the mercy of God, to receive from God.
The mercy of God is attainable when forgiveness is asked
With repentance, one that asks before God for forgiveness will receive the mercy of God. It is written, “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You” (Psalm 86:5). God is good and merciful; there is no iota of evil that can deny God’s mercy on one that calls on God. Asking for forgiveness is a very sure way of obtaining mercy as it is obvious in all the pages of the Bible. The Bible encourages, “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsake them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). 
God is merciful to respond with mercy for one that trusts God and knows to ask for forgiveness.
The mercy of God is obtainable when one fears God 
Do you fear God?
Psalm 103:17 records for our learning, “But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him…” Luke 1:50, “And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.” 
To fear God is a possibility to attain His mercy.
One with the fear of God loves God, having mercy, living by His word. 
The word of God is proven to be true and does not return to Him void. Give self to the word of God, live life with the fear of God to be merciful.
With understanding, know to seek God’s mercy so that His mercy will reign and rule in your life.

FOLLOW GOD TO MAKE IT TO HEAVEN

Regardless of this world’s challenges, with your desire not to miss the Kingdom of God, pray continually to FOLLOW Jesus (the Word of God) FULLY.The journey of life is a route that leads to the kingdom of God.
In the journey of life, depending on how all walk with God will determine who makes it to the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of God.
What does it take not to miss the kingdom of God?
The word of God speaks to all about what it takes not to miss the kingdom of God, “…Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again, I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:23-24)
Demands of the word not to miss the Kingdom of God is very challenging as disciples were stunned to question Jesus, “…Who then can be saved?” (Matthew 19:25) 
Are you a rich one that will find it hard to make to the kingdom of God?
Who is a rich one?
A rich one does not suffer a lack of need.
When comfort answers in the place of lack, it becomes the evidence of one as the rich.
One whose needs are being met and become rich is with the tendency to forget God, to take a position outside of route not to enter the kingdom of God.
The question, who then can be saved, by disciples of Jesus was answered by Jesus’ stating, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)
Through the pages of the Bible, it is pointed out that the possibility with God will only come with prayer before God, not just by quoting the word of God for anyone to achieve one’s desire.
Are you praying with the expectation for the possibility of God over you or just quoting the possibility of God without praying? 
In the journey of life, the route that leads to the kingdom of God also demands from all (not only rich) to follow Jesus, when Jesus spoke to disciples about following Him in Matthew 19:28-30, “So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.”
Regardless of who you are, by Jesus’ word, it is only one that FOLLOWS HIM FULLY that will make it to the kingdom of Heaven/the Kingdom of God.
With desire and continual prayer that will make it possible not to miss the Kingdom of God FOLLOW the Word of God (Jesus) in the journey of life, a route that leads to the kingdom of God.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FOLLOW GOD?
Given self in submission to God’s word will follow God, will not miss the kingdom of God.
In the journey of life, there is no exception for rich or poor that does not follow God and make it to the kingdom of God.
In the journey of life, whatever a man is holding onto against God’s command will not follow God to make it to the kingdom of God. 
What are you holding on and not able to give yourself to God’s command?
In your life, whatever it is that holds you back from giving yourself to the word of God will keep you from following God to miss the kingdom of God. 
Are you with desires to make it to the kingdom of God, a life of eternity?
Live life by following God’s command. 
In your journey of life, what is it that is holding you back from following God?
Is it your property or family that is holding you from following God? 
Abraham is an example of a rich one that followed God’s command to sacrifice the life of his son in his journey of life. He followed God’s calling as he attempted to sacrifice his only son when God spoke to him. Genesis 22:12 records, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now, I know that you fear God since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” Abraham fears God to follow God’s command. God testifies the fear of Abraham for His name as Abraham lived life to follow God.
From this month, pray continually that you will live life for God by following His command, to make the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of God that is not a fiction.

FOCUS ON GOD’S OVERCOMING POWER

The Bible identifies two overcoming powers that are in place for one that believes in the word of God. Revelation 12:11records, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…”When a believer pleads the Blood of the Lamb or claims the word of testimony, experiencing the power of God will answer for the believer.
ABOUT THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB
John the Baptist informs all about Jesus as the Lamb of God in John 1:29, “…Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”Jesus is the Lamb of God that shed His blood on the Calvary for those who will receive and believe in Him. 
The word of John 10:10 confirms the coming of Jesus as the reason to believe in Him as the overcoming power as it states, “…I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.”  
As a believer of God’s word, calling on God for your expectation for manifestation, plead the blood of Jesus with trust and hope, expect God’s intervention on your behalf.
ABOUT THE WORD OF TESTIMONY
Word of testimony can be described as an open declaration of what God has done or what God is doing in one’s life. In the face of a challenging situation, a believer that declares what the Lord God has done or what God is doing will experience the move of God. In most cases, what you declare is set to decorate you with your testimony to the glory of God. As a believer, give testimony to the glory of God to become an overcomer. As a believer, when your testimony about the goodness of God becomes your meditation at the time of challenges or no challenges, experiencing the overcoming power of God will become your portion.
Through the pages of the Bible, there is evidence of what positive or negative testimonies delivered into the lives of the testifiers, let your testimonies of God be positive to answer for you to make you an overcomer.
Evidence of Positive Testimony: King David, by the word of his testimonies, had a great and mighty deliverance when he overcame Goliath. In his attempt to go and fight Goliath, King Saul was discouraging when he said to David, “…You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” (1 Samuel 17:33) David refused to be discouraged, but gave an account of what he was able to do as he responded to King Saul, “…Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it.” (1 Samuel 17:34-35) David was not intimated by the confronting challenge that was posed by Goliath. Instead, David dwelt on what The Lord his God had enabled him to do in the past and he gave testimony, “The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:37) David, by the word of his testimony, was able to overcome the giant challenge of Goliath.  
Evidence of Negative Testimony: The children of Israel experienced a great miracle when they were coming out of their bondage of over four hundred years and passing through the Red Sea on dry land but their testimonies denied them from God’s Promised Land. 
The Israelites’ response to the spy’s negative report after investigation of the Promised Land, they had no better testimony but to confess, “…If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt? So they said to one another, ‘Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.’” (Numbers 14: 2-4) 
God heard the children of Israel’s negative testimony when sent Moses to the Israelites, “Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the LORD, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you.’” (Numbers 14:28) In truth, entire numbers from twenty years old and up except Caleb and Joshua, failed and not get to the Promised Land, because of their negative testimony.
What are your testimonies? Which words are being produced in you and being released by your tongue as testimony? Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of tongue…” David saw challenges, he testified to the power of God and he overcame. The children of Israel saw challenges, they confessed negative and could not arrive Promised Land. In facing challenges, give positive testimonies, meditate, confess and be established for the glory of God.

2020 THE YEAR OF KEEPING GOD’S TESTIMONIES

The word of God is His command, His statutes, and His testimonies for all man.
Living God-given life, keeping the testimonies of God will provoke the blessings of God.
One with desires of the blessing of God should diligently keep the testimonies of God. The word of God speaks to all, “You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, His testimonies, and His statutes which He has commanded you.” (Deuteronomy 6:17)
Is it your desire to experience the blessings of God in these coming days, New Year? 
Keeping the testimonies of God is seeking God to receive the blessings of God.
What you keep in the word of God (testimony of God) will keep you and become of you as the blessings of God.
Psalm 119:2 encourages, “Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart!”
The promise of God does not return to God void.
Live life by the word of God that does not return void.
This season of yours, regardless of your challenges, you will gain God’s attention by keeping His testimonies, and will not become a victim of a wicked world.
One with understanding and knowledge to be confessing, speaking to the year as, “the year of keeping God’s testimony” shall not fail but will experience the blessing of God.
Calling your year “the year of keeping God’s testimony” will keep your focus, meditating testimonies of God, to do according to God’s word not to be a failure in the year journey.
Keeping the testimonies of God also extends to addressing negative challenges as a positive challenge to call for God’s intervention.
For example, David’s keeping of God’s testimony over his life encouraged him to fight Goliath and provoked the blessing of God for him to win and became the leader of his people.
David’s testimony of God that provoked the blessing of God’s victory for David records, “Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!” (1 Samuel 17:37) David kept the testimonies of God over his life, he confesses positively against negative, to fight the Goliath, ignoring discouragement not to fight.
The testimony of God’s deliverance for David at his battle against Goliath was the blessing of victory for David over Goliath.
God promises that the BLESSED ones are those who KEEP His testimonies.
In the journey of a new year, continually call the year as, the year of keeping God’s testimony, to remind you to do right before God with the expectation of God’s blessing.
Also, just like David, when you keep God’s testimonies to remember in the face of confronting challenges, expect God’s visitation for His blessing of victory over confronting challenges in your life, to the glory of God.
Call 2020 as your year of keeping God’s testimonies, His blessings will not fail. 
Keeping the testimonies of God will be meditating the word of God.
Meditating the word God continually is communicating with God not to miss His presence.
The word of God identifies keeping His testimonies in Joshua 1:8, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
Keeping God’s testimonies by meditating on His word is set to gain the blessing of God’s success.
In the journey of life, the year 2020, give self to testimonies of God by meditating on His word continually.
The Bible identifies some happenings the result of meditating the word of God:
Psalm 77:6, “… I meditate within my heart, and my spirit makes diligent search.”
Psalm 77:12, “I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of Your deeds.”
Psalm 145:5, “I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works.”
1 Timothy 4:15, “Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.”
The word of God is God.
The word of God is His command, is His statutes, is His testimonies and one that will live life by keeping the word of God, meditating the word of God will experience the blessings of God.
Keep the testimonies of God to experience the blessing of God.

THE MERCY OF GOD BROUGHT YOU THIS FAR!

Day after days, week after weeks, month after months, year after years, the mercy of God has been consistent to see you this far, not to become a victim of the wicked world.
Just as power belongs unto God, mercy also belongs to God. 
The mercy of God means God is compassionate or kind forbearance that never runs out. 
The mercy of God is His loyal love; it is the conventional love of the covenant-keeping God. 
Only God that is in the position to render mercy unto all, unfailingly.
The mercy of God is no man’s merit but the goodness of God. 
God cannot be intimidated or manipulated by any of His creation for the release of His mercy.
God declared and was testified of in Romans 9:14-16, “…I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion. So, then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.”
God’s mercy is in place for all and nothing under heaven can displace or deny one which God is set to visit with His mercy.
It was with mercy that God led the children of Israel out of the bondage of over four hundred years. The Bible records, “You in Your mercy have led forth the people whom You have redeemed…” (Exodus 15:13) 
In this wicked world, understand and know to live life to attain the mercy of God as the Bible records His word.
THREE POINTS AMONG WAYS OF PROVOKING GOD TO OBTAIN HIS MERCY ARE:

The mercy of God is attainable when the life of one aligns with the word of God
One that lives life according to the word of God will always receive the mercy of God. Joseph’s life was the evidence of one that lived according to the word of God, the will of God. Every time there was an incident that could tempt him to violate the word of God, he did not give himself to the temptation to fail before God (Genesis 39:7-15). In one instance, he denied the offer to sleep with his master’s wife by claiming, “…How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9) Joseph’s reaction to his master’s wife provoked God’s mercy for Joseph. The Bible mentions, “But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor…” (Genesis 39:21). 

The mercy of God is attainable when one loves God
One with the love for God will always provoke the mercy of God. The Bible makes us realize that loving God is keeping His commandments (John 14:15). To love God is to fear God.  
The story of Joseph points out that Joseph kept God’s commandment by forbidding adultery when he fled away from sleeping with his master’s wife. Joseph loved God to obtain the mercy of God.

The mercy of God is attainable when one asks or plead for His mercy
Job, a man God declared as none like him on the earth; a blameless and upright man who fears God and shuns evil found himself in a position to plead for God’s mercy when he said, “For though I were righteous, I could not answer Him; I would beg mercy of my Judge” (Job 9:15). Despite God’s testimony of Job did not excuse Job to receive the mercy of God without pleading for His mercy. 
Just like Job, pleading for the mercy of God, Psalmist did the same saying, “Have mercy on me, O LORD! Consider my trouble from those who hate me, You who lift me up from the gates of death.” (Psalm 9:13). 
Sometimes, there is a need to ask for God’s mercy to receive from God.

The book of Numbers 14:18 says, “The Lord is long-suffering and abundant in mercy…” God does not run out of mercy.
Are you living outside of God’s word while expecting His mercy?
Understand and know that God’s mercy is abundant. Live life for God in obedience to Him. 
There is nothing done under heaven that is beyond merciful God’s response.
Now, be consistent to live life by the word of God to attain the unfailing mercy of God.
God is merciful to respond with His mercy.