“You Carry What They Fear”

 

Dreaded by What You Dread

The very thing you’re afraid of is already afraid of you.

“Are you afraid to attack?”

God asked Gideon that question in Judges 7 not because Gideon was weak, but because fear had not yet caught up with truth.

Who wouldn’t be afraid?The enemy looked like a swarm of locusts.

Their camels were like grains of sand along the seashore.

The numbers were intimidating. The odds were unreasonable.

And Gideon? Only three hundred men.Anyone would tremble.

But God did something unexpected.

He didn’t increase Gideon’s army.

He didn’t change the enemy’s size.

He changed Gideon’s perspective.

WHEN GOD WANTS TO CURE YOUR FEAR, HE LETS YOU HEAR THE TRUTH

In Judges 7:9–15, God told Gideon to go down to the enemy camp and listen.

Sometimes, you need to know what the opposition thinks about you.

Sometimes, courage is restored when fear is exposed as a lie.

Gideon overheard a dream.

A simple dream. A barley loaf rolling into the enemy camp

and destroying everything. And the interpretation shocked him. “This can only be the sword of Gideon. God has given Midian into his hands.”

The enemy was afraid of the very man who was afraid of them.

YOU ARE DREADFUL TO WHAT YOU ARE DREADING

Let that sink in.

Gideon was trembling while the enemy was already defeated in their minds.

The problem was never the size of the enemy.

The problem was Gideon did not know the weight of the God who was with him.You see, fear grows when you forget what you carry.

LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THE ENEMY THINKS ABOUT YOU

They know you are not alone.

They know you carry God’s presence.

They know heaven backs you.

They know grace surrounds you.

They know you are favored.

They know you are dangerous to darkness.

The enemy knows something you sometimes forget:

God is with you.

God is in you.

God is for you.

And that makes you victorious before the battle even begins.

WHY YOU MUST THINK HIGHLY OF YOURSELF

This is not pride but revelation.

You must think highly of yourself because you carry a mighty God. 

You must see yourself rightly because heaven does.

The enemy is not intimidated by your personality.

They are intimidated by the God backing your obedience.

You underestimate yourself because you underestimate God in you.

GET UP. THE VICTORY IS ALREADY GIVEN

When Gideon heard the truth, he did not argue.

He did not delay. He worshipped.Then he attacked.

Judges 7:15 says:

“When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped God.”

Before the sword was lifted, fear was broken. 

You Are More Dangerous Than You Know

Your weakness isn’t the problem your ignorance of God’s power in you is.

So hear this clearly:

Get up.

Attack.

Move.

Obey.

The Lord has already given you the victory.

What you are afraid of is already afraid of you.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, here we are.

We admit it sometimes we’ve been afraid, unsure, and shrinking back.

But today, we choose to believe the truth about who You are in us.

Break every lie that says we are weak, small, or alone.

Awaken us to the power, authority, and purpose You have placed inside us in Jesus mighty name.  Amen 

You can listen to this song. It’s about the great power of God. 

Awamaridi

A Lamp for My Feet, a Captain for My Flight

 

If God told you to pack your bags, sell your house, sell your car, and move to a city you did not choose, what would your first response be?

Would it be faith or why?

Matt 2v 13 NLT:

After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

Joseph did not ask for clarity. He did not ask for timing. He obeyed because divine direction often comes without explanations, but never without purpose. Sometimes God’s instructions interrupt comfort. Sometimes they reroute safety. And often, they demand trust before understanding.

Hebrews 12:1 I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you.

I Samuel 30 v 8 And David enquired at the Lord saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? Shall I overtake them? And he answered Him, pursue for thou shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all. When you have Gods word, backing and propelling you are set. There will be eased to overtake and recover all.

Divine direction does not reconcile with science

The new year has begun to unfold before us. We have boarded Flight 2026, and Jesus our Savior is the Captain of this flight.

Whenever I book a flight, I place my life in the hands of a captain I may never see. I only hear his voice. Yet I trust that he understands the weather, the turbulence, and the destination better than I do.

Divine direction works the same way. I may not see the cockpit, but I trust the One who is flying the plane.

Divine direction does not always reconcile with science. It is risky to assume this is just another year. Though 2026 has twelve months like every other year, it carries its own assignment, its own terrain, and its own storms.

We must not travel carelessly.

What is Divine Direction? It is a divine roadmap for the journey ahead beyond 2026.

I remember the first week of January 2025, when some of us were grounded and unable to leave our homes. The forecast predicted snow on Sunday night. Because this was a familiar situation, we assumed schools would close briefly and normal activities at offices and centers would be interrupted for only a short time. But we remained home far longer than we had projected.

That experience reminds me that divine direction does not always reconcile with science or human projections. It is risky to assume this is just another year. No, this is why we must pray intentionally for divine direction.

Why do I need Divine Direction?

We have never travelled this way before. I need you Lord for guidance Joshue 3 v 3 Giving this instruction to the people when you see the priest carrying the Ark of the covenant of the Lord your God move out from your position and follow them. ( that is divine guidance ) verse 4 Since you have not  never traveled this way before the ark will guide you.  "The Ark" the presence of the Lord will guide you.

Prayers: Lord Let your presence guide and led me if I have push myself forward ahead of you forgive me.

Why do I need Divine Direction? I need divine direction navigating unknown paths and terrain. You need light. The words are a lamp on my feet and a light to my path. Ps 119 v 105. I need light (that is the word of God) to see what is near that is the light to my feet. And the word is a light to my path (to be able to see far) to get divine direction for beyond now.

Prayer: In the place of prayer Lord I pray for light, let your word give me direction to every area of my life, my children, my career, direction for every season in this year, guide me with your lamb to see now and the future.

Why do I need divine direction? Divine direction will guarantee the divine presence of God. It will The presence of the divine will calm any raging storm. John 6 v 18 Jesus disciple went on a journey without Jesus. Then night came. Verse 18, Strong wind blew and stirred up water. Nighttime, strong wind, raging waters of life cannot be in the same boat with Jesus.  In Verse 21 when they realize their mistake, they willing took Jesus into the boat. Immediately the boat reached the land. They got to their destination on time.

Prayer: Lord Jesus go with me. Holy spirit I ask for your presence in my journey, in my child’s journey, I will reach  my destination, my night time will not be long. Let your presence help me to navigate with ease.

Prayer: Hebrews 12:1 I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you.

Lord instructs me with the strategies for the new.  To instruct means to give knowledge, teach, train. To counsel, advice means counsel for the defense.

Watch over me (What a great God!!! instruct, counsel, watch me) Holy Spirit do these three things. I submit to you, I surrender to you, not my will, your will, lead me by your spirit Romans 8 v 14 watch over me. When I derail and put me back to your side, to your light.

How do we access divine direction? My daughter asked me how do you know God is speaking to you? I asked her “how do you know I am the one speaking, if you are in the living room and I am in the basement?”  She said, “I know your voice”. Yes, you know my voice because you are familiar with my voice, you live in the same house, you are familiar with me. When you interact with God constantly, reading the bible, fellowshipping, worshipping you will become familiar with His voice. Make sure Jesus is a member of your family. Let Him have access to everything.

Divine direction flows from intimacy, not urgency.

Jude 1:20 “But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit…”

When I pray in the Holy Ghost, I am building capacity my spirit becomes alert, my heart becomes sensitive, and my ears become trained to recognize His voice.

I do not want to hear God only in emergencies.

I want to know His voice because I live with Him.

A lamp for my feet. A captain for my flight.

A God who instructs, counsels, and watches over me will make me land safely in Jesus mighty name.

Ten Questions I Asked My Teenagers

 

As another year unfolds, I’ve realized something important: growth doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when we pause long enough to ask honest questions. Questions that challenge our hearts and illuminate our paths.

Last year, I entered a new season of life as a mum to two teenagers. Since then, I’ve been learning what this stage truly requires: patience, reflection, and the courage to ask and answer the questions that matter most.

It’s in these moments of reflection that we discover not just who our teens are becoming, but who we are becoming as parents, mentors, and people of faith.

So I sat down with my teenagers not to lecture, not to correct, but to listen. I asked them ten questions. Not questions about grades or achievements, but about their hearts, their habits, and the direction of their lives.

These questions weren’t meant to bring guilt. They were meant to bring awareness. Because when young people learn how to reflect early, they gain a skill that will guide them for the rest of their lives.

Here are the ten questions I asked and why I believe every teenager should wrestle with them. 

1. My Spiritual Life

How is my relationship with God right now?

Do I make time for His Word, prayer, and listening or only when I’m in trouble?

Faith isn’t meant to be a panic button. It’s meant to be a relationship. This question helps teens notice whether God is a daily presence or an emergency contact.

2. My Character

Am I becoming kinder, more respectful, and more trustworthy than I was last year?

How do people experience me?

Character is who we are when no one is grading us. This question shifts the focus from performance to integrity.

3. My Mind & Emotions

How is my mental health?

What thoughts do I allow to live in my mind fear, comparison, confidence, or faith?

Teen years are loud social media, pressure, expectations. This question teaches awareness of what’s shaping their inner world.

4. My Growth

What new thing did I learn this year that helped me grow spiritually, mentally, or personally?

Growth isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes it’s one lesson, one habit, one realization that quietly changes everything.

5. My Discipline

Where have I been careless with my time, habits, or choices?

What needs to change?

This isn’t about perfection it’s about responsibility. Discipline is not punishment; it’s preparation.

6. My Body & Health

Am I taking care of my body sleep, food, or ignoring it?

Teenagers often forget that their bodies carry their purpose. This question reminds them that health is stewardship.

7. My Influence

Am I a positive influence at home, school, church, or online?

Influence isn’t about popularity. It’s about impact. Every teenager is already influencing someone this question helps them do it intentionally.

8. My Friendships

Are the people close to me helping me grow or pulling me away from who God wants me to be?

Friendships shape direction. This question encourages teens to evaluate connection, not just comfort.

9. My Purpose

What do I believe God is shaping me for?

What talents or interests keep showing up in my life?

Purpose often whispers before it shouts. Paying attention to repeated interests can reveal God’s fingerprints.

10. My Vision

What can I see for my future?

Am I believing only what I see nowor what God could do through me?

Vision stretches faith. It reminds teens that their current season is not their final story.

These questions don’t demand immediate answers. Some answers will change. Others will take time. But learning how to ask the right questions early can save years of confusion later.

My prayer is that our teenagers don’t just grow older, but grow wiser, deeper, and more grounded in who God is shaping them to be.

Sometimes, the most powerful guidance we can give isn’t advice, it’s a question that invites reflection.

Number 7 got us talking for a long time. It gave me a new insight to a follow up activities with my teenagers. 

Let me know your favorite question in the list or drop me a comment below. 

Crossing Prepared

Preparing for the Crossing Over

Every journey requires preparation.

You don’t set out on a long trip without checking your fuel, packing your bags, or knowing where you’re headed. You look at the road ahead and ask yourself,

 “Do I have what I need to get there?”

The coming year is no different.We call it a new year because it is exactly that new.

New moments. New challenges. New opportunities. New responsibilities.

And like every unfamiliar journey, it comes with its own terrain, its own demands, and its own surprises.

“In Three Days, You Will Cross Over”

In Joshua 1:10–14, Joshua gave a charge to the people of Israel:

“Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready.’”

 Not later.Not after. Now.

They were about to cross over into a land the Lord had already given them.

But here is something important to notice:

To take possession of something does not mean it is empty.

It often means someone or something is already occupying that space. This is not the time to be unprepared. In the same way, as we cross into a new year, we are stepping into territory that will demand faith, discernment, endurance, wisdom, and spiritual strength.

 Check Your Camp

Joshua told the people to go through the camp.

Today, that means examining:

• Your heart

• Your family

• Your home

• Your relationships

• Your community

• Your spiritual posture

Before you cross over, check your camp.What needs adjusting? What needs leaving behind? What needs strengthening?

Get Your Spiritual Provisions Ready

Just as Israel gathered physical provisions, we must gather spiritual provisions.

1. The Word

Joshua 1:8 reminds us to meditate on the Word day and night.

You are on a journey into a new year. Practice the Word. Speak the Word.

Live the Word. Practice leads to progress.

Progress leads to direction. Direction leads to success.

Joshua 1:9 says:

“Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

You don’t step into a new year guessing you step in grounded.

2. Be Fully Armed

Joshua spoke to the strong and the warriors.

Some things cannot cross over with everyone at the same time.

Some people will need help. Some battles will require leadership.

Those who are strong and fully armed were instructed to lead others across, to help them take possession, and to stay until the work was complete.

This is a call to responsibility.

Whether God has placed you as:

• a father or a mother

• a single parent

• a leader of two or a leader of thousands

You must be spiritually armed.

Ephesians 6 v 11- 18 "put on the full armor of God, so that you can stand against the schemes of the enemy.” Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”

The new year is not for spectators it is for prepared people.

The Promise Still Stands

As you journey into the new year, this promise remains:

“The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

So, brother Reuben. Sister Grace, Kemi, Stephanie,  Favor, Toluwa , Josh...

Whichever tribe you belong to. Joshua 1 Verse 12 Before you cross over get ready.

Pack your provisions. Strengthen your spirit. Put on your armor.

Because the journey ahead is new but God is already there.

Closing Prayer:

*Lord, as we prepare to cross into a new season, bring us back to Your Word.

*Lord teach us to meditate, not rush. To listen, not drift.

* Lord clothe us fully in Your armor that we may stand, lead, and help others cross.

*Lord strengthen our spirits. Order our steps.

* Lord go before us and walk with us. As we enter the new year, we do so prepared, protected, and positioned in You in Jesus mighty name. 

Amen.

Joseph - The Silent Strength of Christmas

Not Mary. Not the Angels. Joseph.

Every Christmas, we tell the same familiar story.

We talk about Mary her obedience, her purity, her courage.

We talk about the angels their songs, their announcements, their glory.

We talk about the shepherds, the stars, the manger, and the wise men.

But there is one man standing quietly in the background of the miracle and we hardly talk about him.

His name is Joseph. The Christmas man we often forget. The silent strength of Christmas. When God chose Joseph, God must have worked on Joseph’s heart so he can be the backbone of nativity. 

Joseph is like the frame of a painting rarely admired, yet absolutely necessary.

Remove the frame, and the masterpiece loses its structure.

Joseph was the frame that held the Christmas story steady.

Joseph’s Humanity

Joseph was humane.

Humanity means being sensitive to the needs of others.

Kindness is woven into the Christmas story, and Joseph carried it silently.

When Joseph discovered Mary was pregnant, the Bible says I Matthew 1v 19, he planned to leave her quietly. Not loudly. Not angrily. Not publicly.That alone tells us something about his heart.

In a season where many choose exposure over compassion, Joseph chose mercy. Men like that are rare.

Joseph’s Obedience

Joseph obeyed God even when obedience was inconvenient.

He slept with a problem and woke up with a solution.

God spoke to him in dreams, and Joseph listened.

He did not argue. He did not delay.He did not negotiate.

He obeyed.

Joseph teaches us this: learning to hear God requires stillness, humility, and trust.

And obedience often asks us to accept assignments we did not apply for. Are we willing to obey Christ the way Joseph did quietly, completely, and without applause? 

Joseph’s Self-Control 

Joseph became the foster father of Jesus.

He accepted a role that offered no recognition and no explanation. He married a woman expecting a child that was not his own. He raised a son whose paternity could not be explained without faith. What manner of man does that?

A man of self-control. A man of discipline.

A man secure enough to serve a purpose greater than his pride. Joseph did not question the role he had to play he stepped into it.

The Josephs Among Us

This Christmas, I want us to pause and ask:

• Who is the Joseph in your life?

• Who stood quietly, supported faithfully, and carried responsibility without credit?

• Who protected the promise while others celebrated the miracle?

Joseph represents the men who show up when it’s hard.

The men who stay when it’s uncomfortable.

The men who lead without needing the spotlight.

Men like Joseph who can find? If you identify one around you, a mother, an uncle, a friend, a sister appreciate them. Send a thank you note, text or a gift. We are who we are today because of these Joseph’s God placed in our lives. 

More Than a Manger

There is more to Christmas than a manger, Mary, and shepherds. Christmas would not be complete without men like Joseph men of character, obedience, restraint, and compassion and yes, without the wise men too.

So this Christmas, as we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ,  let us also honor the quiet strength that helped carry Jesus into the world.

Because sometimes, the greatest miracles are supported by people who never ask to be seen but without whom the story would not stand.

"Christmas story is not complete or simply abridged if you are not living right.". Olusesan Adeniyi

Olukemi Adeniyi
Thursday December 25, 2014

This was written on Christmas day 2014, while my husband was preaching. I saved it in my drafts but didn't published it. I decided to complete and share today. Thank you for reflecting on the story of Christmas with me.

Merry Christmas!

“Gbo Ohun Awon Angeli Ti Nkorin” The Story Behind a Christmas Song the World Sings

 

Every Christmas, churches around the world sing “Gbo Ohun Awon Angeli Ti Nkorin.”

What many people do not know is that this song was written by my father, Pastor David Olawale Modupe.

My father is a Nigerian preacher of the gospel and a lifelong church musician who has written over a thousand gospel songs. In the 1970s, while serving as the organist at St. Barnabas Church, Muritala, Ilorin, and later as Choir Master General at the Evangelical Church of Yahweh on Mubo Street, Ilorin, he wrote and taught many songs that were sung regularly in church worship.

“Gbo Ohun Awon Angeli Ti Nkorin” was one of those songs. It was written for worship, taught to choirs, and sung freely within the church community. Over time, the song spread far beyond its original setting and became a widely sung Christmas hymn. As the years passed and the song traveled, its authorship became less widely known, and it eventually entered the public domain.

Today, the song is sung in many churches by people who may not know where it originated—but it continues to fulfill its purpose: drawing hearts to worship God.

In 2021, I released a recording of the song sung by my father to preserve its history and honor his contribution to gospel music while he is still alive. At 77 years old, he remains grateful that the song continues to bless lives around the world.

This post exists simply to tell the story and to acknowledge the man behind a Christmas song that has become part of shared worship.

He is presently the founder and lead pastor of Grace and Truth Church in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. You can follow him on : https://share.google/eMamCylVCdPC2Kyz7.nk 

You can listen to more of his compositions on all digital platforms. 

Spotify link:  https://open.spotify.com/album/5JE2XqwWW1fitbtCstEzVj?si=gDyIDMjoTue_x6qTguoBDA

But How?

 “But how?” Luke 1:34–35

Mary looked at the angel and asked a question many of us are asking today:
“How can this be?” Not if but how.

How do I survive this grief?
How do I pass this exam?
How do I move through this season without breaking?
How do I conceive when the doctors say no?
How do I keep going when the road looks impossible?

Mary wasn’t doubting God. She was being honest. And heaven did not rebuke her question.
Heaven answered it. You can also ask how? It’s ok to ask.

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you…” (Luke 1:35)

That was the answer.

Not a step-by-step plan. Not a timeline. Not a human strategy.

The Holy Spirit will do the job. When God Removes “Man” From the Equation

Notice something powerful here. The angel did not say Joseph would help her.
He did not say effort would solve it. He did not say time would fix it.

He said:
“The power of the Highest will overshadow you.” That means God Himself steps in
towers over the situation, covers it, removes human limitations, and does what no man can do. Sometimes God allows the how to be impossible so we stop looking to people and start resting in His power.

Overshadowed, Not Overwhelmed

To be overshadowed means to be covered by something greater than you. It means your grief doesn’t get the final word. Your diagnosis doesn’t get the final word.
Your fear doesn’t get the final word. The power of the Highest hovers, covers, protects, and produces even when you don’t know how. Mary didn’t understand the process.
She trusted the Presence.

This Christmas, Hear Heaven’s Answer If you’re asking, “But how?” this Christmas…
If you’re smiling on the outside and struggling on the inside…
If you feel stuck at an impossible intersection… Heaven is still answering the same way.

The Holy Spirit will come upon you.
The power of the Most High will overshadow you.

You don’t have to force it.
You don’t have to figure it out.
You don’t have to make it happen.

Just stay available.
Just stay open.
Just stay under the covering.

A Quiet Prayer

Lord, I don’t know how this will work out but I trust You.
Overshadow my fear, my grief, my waiting, my uncertainty.
Remove human limitations from my path.
Let Your power do what I cannot do.
In Jesus’ name, amen.

You may not know the “how.” But you know the Who. And that is enough.

 If this encouraged you, share it with someone quietly asking, “But how?” this season.

 Compliments of the season to you all!

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Have a safe and prosperous new year .