Wishing you all a very prosperous new year.

Abasi adiọñ ubọk unwana mfo ke ufa udua ami, anyʌñ anam afo anie ntịm-nam ke afịd se afo adinam. - Ubong E.A. Zeal. Translated God bless the works of your hand in this new week, may He cause you to succeed in all you'll do.

The Word of God is a well of wisdom, and it is only the wise who drink from its source.

Length Of Days “My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:” — Proverbs 3:1 (KJV). Our universe is governed by immutable principles, such as the law of attraction, the law of cause and effect, the law of relativity, and the law of polarity, among others. Just as the physical world operates under specific rules, so too does the spiritual realm, established by God, its Creator. These divine laws – God's teachings and commandments – are fundamentally essential, as they are a primary determinant for longevity and well-being on earth. Verse two (2) further emphasizes this truth: “For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.” — Proverbs 3:2 (KJV). This verse clearly outlines the positive outcomes of not only remembering God's teachings but also diligently keeping His commands. To illustrate this, consider two students in the same class, studying the same course. Student A is diligent and committed to their studies, while student B is nonchalant and frivolous. By any just standard, we can anticipate their respective results: Student A will likely pass and progress in their studies, whereas Student B will probably fail, leading to repetition or discontinuation of the course. Similarly, the Lord here enjoins us not to forget His law, but to engrave His commandments upon our hearts. Doing so will not only lengthen our days on earth but will also bring us long life and peace as an integral part of this divine package. Therefore, if you desire length of days and genuine peace, your focus should shift from solely relying on doctors, hospitals, and medications. Instead, delight yourself in God's word and keep His commands in your heart, because they are “... health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.” — Proverbs 3:8 (KJV). May the Lord grant us the grace to keep His commandments in our hearts, in the name of Jesus. Amen. #DailyInstructions ©A. Ubong Effiong.

“Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;” — Psalms 88:2 (KJV)

Sound Wisdom He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity. Proverbs 2:7 (NASB). Wisdom is very important in life, it is a compass which aids in navigating life's difficult terrain. A reliable help to huddle over sinful habits and practices. It is very necessary just like a compass is to the sailor, cos without it, the sailor will be lost at sea. Which is why the preacher says: "... but wisdom is profitable to direct.” — Ecclesiastes 10:10 (KJV). Our anchor text says He (God) store up not just any wisdom, but sound wisdom to the upright. The King James version says “He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.” Because God knows that we need wisdom cos it is profitable to direct us, this is why He lay up wisdom for the righteous. Some people might ask, why don't I have this wisdom, the answer is because you don't seek it as if you are are searching for hidden treasure (Proverbs 2:4). Also, since it is God who store it up for the upright, the upright must ask God in faith, for He gives to all who ask for wisdom liberally (James 1:5). However, sound wisdom isn't meant for everyone, it's reserved for the righteous, and "He is a shield to those who walk in integrity." To wrap up, sound wisdom is stored up by God for the righteous, and God is a shield to those who walk in integrity. Are you righteous through the righteousness of Jesus? Do you walk in integrity? This is a question for personal assessment. May the Lord release sound wisdom to the Upright, in Jesus name. #DailyInstruction ©A. Ubong Effiong.

Led by the Spirit “The cows went straight in the direction of Beth-shemesh along one highway, lowing as they went; they turned neither to the right nor to the left, and the lords of the Philistines went after them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh.” — 1 Samuel 6:12 (NRSV). In this story where the five lords of the Philistines, yoked two cows that have not been yoked before, and tied them to the cart that bore the ark of God, which they took away to their own land, after defeating the children of Israel at Ebenezer, is an allegory of a life that is led by the Spirit of God. Although the two cows were not been led by any man, they went straight in the direction Bethshemesh, where the lords of the Philistines had envisioned, and intended for them to go without turning to the right or left direction. This scenario was very unusual for a cow, but because of the ark of God, which was a representation of the presence of the Lord, they were guided by the the Spirit of the Lord. Whenever a person is yoked together with the Christ, as He says: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;...” — Matthew 11:29 (KJV), they become led by the Spirit of God; they cannot go off course, or stray from the way because they've voluntarily yielded their lives to Christ, both to be led, and to learn from Him. Until you submit your neck to be yoked with Christ in discipleship, and to be led by Him, you are not His own. Only those who are led by the Spirit are God's own, (Romans 8:14). #DailyInstructions #Gospel ©Ubong E.A Zeal