On the Eagles’ Wings: Those Who Hope in the Lord Will Renew Their Strength. They Will Soar on Wings Like Eagles.

By EBELE P. ONWUACHU

On the Eagles Wings is a practical book that one can easily identify with, as it exposes the practical issues that affect the outcome of decisions that people make while they face different challenges in life.

This book outlines the principles that individuals must pay attention to in order to make a wise choice in critical moments when they are faced with a difficult decision. It also exposes common pitfalls that could make situations worse if they are not carefully avoided, like making hasty decisions. When an individual is faced with dilemma, if the person is not strong in the Lord, he or she can easily be blown about by every wind of doctrine, easily deterring one from reaching his goal.

On the Eagles Wings can be used as a point of reference by anyone going through difficult times or facing having to make a life-altering decision. This book is written based on biblical facts and references, as well as on true stories shared by Christians who have lived through hard times and have now shared the experiences that helped to ground them in the Lord.

People go through different challenges in life. The most important thing while going through these trials is not so much the challenge itself, but instead how each individual tackles the situationthis is what makes the difference and grants the person victory. As Christians, we know that our faith is rooted in the Lord.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Sep 8, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490844664

EBELE P. ONWUACHU

Ebele Onwuachu founded Volunteer Christian Women Speakers in 2004, a forum that allows women the opportunity to empower other women. She reaches the wider community through her ministry. She loves sharing the undiluted word of God, while planting the seed of salvation. For more information: website: www.ebeleonwuachu.org http://www.youtube.com/user/SeedForChrist

Book preview

Copyright © 2014 EBELE P.ONWUACHU.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

1 [phone]

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.

ISBN: 978-1-4908-4467-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-4468-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-4466-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014912731

WestBow Press rev. date: 08/06/2014

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Preface

Chapter 1     Introduction

Chapter 2     Submission To God

Chapter 3     Commitment

Chapter 4     Freedom

Chapter 5     Challenges

Chapter 6     Time Factor

Chapter 7     Expectations

Chapter 8     Faith

Chapter 9     Forbearance

Chapter 10     Prayers

Chapter 11     On The Eagles’ Wings

Chapter 12     Intercessory Prayer

Chapter 13     Thanksgiving

Reference

Dedication

I dedicate this book with great affection to the memory of my beloved mother Late Mrs. Bridget Adiniije Onuigbo. She was my Spiritual mentor, prayer partner, best friend, with eleven children, thirty five grandchildren and three great grandchildren; she was firmly rooted in the Lord. She lived a life that identified her belief in the Lord. She was a strong prayer warrior, strong woman of faith, very kind hearted mother with patience and love that was infectious.

I extend the dedication of this book to the sweet memory of my beloved Father Late Mr. Christopher Okonkwo Onuigbo Alias Nwayo Bu Ije. He was a great hard working father with great vision for his children. He laid a solid foundation for us and his greatest legacy to us was education.

I extend the dedication of this book to my sons Munachimsoaga and Chidubem Darlington, for their love, understanding and encouragement to me as I wrote this book

Finally I dedicate this book to the Mothers and women of faith who, like my mother sacrificed and prayed for their families. May the prayers and sacrifice made in faith move the heart of God to bless, restore and heal our generation.

Acknowledgements

I want to acknowledge the Most High God who died on the cross, rose after three days and paved way for me to have a new life. Thank you dear Lord without you I will not be who I am today

I appreciate the assistance and support of so many special people in helping to make this book possible. I want to express my grateful appreciation to Professor Dr. Emma and Dr. Mrs. Chi Onyedike for their support and professional help in preparing and proofing the manuscript. You have always made yourself available to serve the Lord and supported my ministry.

I also want to express my appreciation to Mrs. Bridget Owunna for her support, constant word of encouragement and patience as I run the details of my manuscript through her. Mrs. Claudette Clarke for making herself available to proof read the initial write up.

I want to acknowledge Mr. and Mrs. Emeka Okpo, Mrs. Mingo Tawa and all my family members for their words of encouragement.

Finally I want to acknowledge Mr. Chimezie Onwuachu (My Husband), who has put me through challenges that led to the glory of God. I love you.

Preface

T his book is written to identify with what people go through in life which cuts across male, female, culture, different ethnic backgrounds, age, educational background and religion. It affirms the fact that Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. There is light at the end of the tunnel for anyone who believes and waits upon the Lord. God is no man that he will lie. Jeremiah 29:11 states For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. He desires that we get to know him and maintain a meaningful relationship with him before issues of life arises. Once you believe in the plan Jesus has for you, you will call upon him in trouble and he will answer you. This is a reassurance that Jesus is always available to work/walk with you in the darkest time of life. When you do seek him with all your heart, you will find him. Jesus does not make vague promises like man does. Hence he also promised in Psalm 91:15 that he will be with you in trouble; rescue and honor you.

Introduction

I t is obvious that the world we live in is not a problem free one, and not so much as the world itself. Human beings in general always have one problem or the other. It could be individually, as a group, or a nation. If you turn on the news today, you will hear of war and rumors of war. You have kidnappers, students carrying guns, women being raped, missing kids, natural disasters, people dealing with poverty, high rate of divorce, families turning against each other, sexual immorality, churches breaking up, Pastors committing adultery, etc.

Most often than not, I have witnessed people trying to solve their issues by their human wisdom, and forgetting that the Bible has told us not to lean on our human wisdom. Those who have tried doing things their own way, most of the time, do not succeed instead they ended up making things worse.

On the other hand, leaning on Christ, the author and finisher of our Faith, to lead and guide us in time of problem has turned out better. Because he knows our future from our present, he is a master planner; he works out everything according to his plan to bring us to expected end. I have witnessed change, victory, rejoicing and people attest to the fact that there is always light at the end of the tunnel when you wait upon the Lord.

The Bible tells us that a way that seems right to man may end up in destruction, if you are the type that looks at situation based on your own selfish interest and do not consider doing the right thing. We must always remember that the best counsel we can get in time of trouble is one that comes from the Scripture, wise men and women who live by biblical principles and above all seeking the face of the Lord. In some cases, we spend our energy talking to every one about our problems and forget that the most important person to talk to is Jesus. By the time we are done with sampling opinions of A-Z we are tired, confused, burned out and ready to throw in the towel. We need to learn and start doing things right by getting our priority right and seeking the face of the Lord in the right time because he is always ready not only to solve your problem but to give you the emotional stamina needed to go through the trial, be a shoulder for you to cry on and give you peace in the darkest time when your heart aches and bleeds.

Waiting upon God means a deliberate attempt by an individual to seek the face of God to intervene in a case. The individual does nothing in his or her human wisdom regarding the given situation till God intervenes. An individual can seek the face of God through prayers, fasting, reading the Bible, meditation on the Scripture, quiet time, praise and worship will enable you to determine what you should do in a given situation. Also recognizing God as the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, enables you to seek wisdom from God. The recognition of God and his powers to do the impossible, gives the individual the confidence and assurance that God will surely step in and turn situation around to his or her benefit. God has promised a plan for those who believe in him, the plan to prosper them and give them a better future. Knowing that God is no man that he will lie but will always bring to pass the promise that he made to his people, gives us the hope that we need to wait solely on him believing that he will never leave nor forsake us.

Christians should never be tired or weary, nor give up on waiting upon the Lord. For in him alone, there is answer to the multitude of problems that one faces. Second Corinthians 4:8 states, We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; on this note any one waiting upon the Lord should not give up, though outwardly one might seem to be wasting time. We should remember that our time is not God’s time. If we believe and persevere to the end, we will surely be victorious.

The word of God is powerful and his words are not empty promises compare to the promise of man. A fellow man will promise to be by your side in good and bad time, unfortunately man has limitations. When the going is good, you have multitude of friends who will stand by you. When the going is bad, some friends will desert you. Your best friend or close relative, who has good intention to assist you in time of need, might fail you because the situation is beyond him or her. Not so with the highest God. There is no situation that is too big for him to handle. Psalm 34:19 states, Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivers him from them all. Psalm 91 tells us that he that dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Once you put your trust in the Most High God, He will save you from the fowler’s snare and from deadly pestilence. In Psalm 91:15, He promised that he will be with us in trouble and will rescue and honor us. God clearly moves in his own might and power to intervene in such a way that is in accordance with his will to solve our problems. The will of God for us is to give us a brighter and better future.

Because our ways are not his ways nor our time his time, we must learn to wait patiently upon the Lord in our different live situations in order that he will work out our situations to match his will for our life. We must remember that Jesus said that he has a plan for each of us. And because each individual is uniquely made, God’s promise to mankind is certain. He said that He knows the plan he has for you, the plan to give you hope and a future. He knows the plan he has for each person especially those who serve him. Gods’ plans for those who serve him, he said are plans for good and not for destruction. Evidence of his plan for man can be seen in the fact that He was crucified for our sake. He took our place on the cross .In order for him to set us free from bondage of sin and the wages of sin, he died on the cross for you and me so that we might have life in abundance.

Waiting upon the Lord is neither an easy decision nor an easy task. The waiting period is not a simple task because as you try to pray, maintain patience, read the word, hold on to your faith, work in the spiritual, the devil will manifest in several ways to distract your attention, pull you down or pull you away from your quiet time with God. However just like the eagle. drawing strength from God, God will keep you focused and strengthened.

There are situations that might look so humongous that we think there is no way out. However, these are the kinds of situations that we need to use the word of God to uproot. We must remember that there is nothing that is too big for God to do; that there is no mountain that he cannot move. God encourages us to be strong and courageous, not to be afraid or terrified because of what we are going through, for He will be with us and will never leave nor forsake us. We should not be discouraged when it seems like we are not making head way. The Lord will go before us to smoothen things out. The Lord works in the spiritual to smoothen out our issues. At the right time, he will manifest the result in the physical. Instead of throwing in the towel when we encounter blocks we must reaffirm faith and reinforce our commitment to hold on to him.

Experiencing the true joy and grasping the full meaning of Those that wait upon the Lord….. comes with spiritual attachment to the Most High God, serving him in truth honesty and being consistent in faith. The recognition and acceptance of the fact that God is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, enables you to stay calm and hold on to your faith in him.

A great example was when Jesus was in the wilderness for forty days. At the end was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days. The devil was right there asking him to turn the stone into bread Jesus answered him, Man does not live on bread alone. At the end the devil had no choice but to flee from Jesus. We should realize that temptation will come, hard times will come, and an individual might go through all kinds of trial. That does not mean that God has forgotten you. When Jesus went through humiliation, was mocked, beaten, flocked and a crown of thorns placed on his head, He waited upon his Father throughout that painful and bitter experience. He cried out to him for help. Jesus did not find it funny in as much as it was already predestined to happen. Before all these, Jesus waited upon God. He prayed, held on to his Father in heaven, withdrew to the garden, He knelt down and prayed, Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will; but yours be done.

What Jesus went through is a great reminder to us that he does understand when we go through difficult times in life. He shared in the pain of trial as human to identify with what we go through in our daily life. We must understand that when we are prepared to wait, like Jesus waited upon his Father’s will to be done, we must learn to be patient and sincerely wait for God’s will to be done in our situations. We saw how Jesus prayed, cried, got frustrated during the waiting period and also how things got worse or nasty before it got better. God did not say enough is enough; I have to spare my son from pain, humiliation and brutality from people. God waited and Jesus had to go through all that he went through for a purpose. At God’s appointed time he made everything beautiful. Why? Because God knew the plans that he had for Jesus, just like he stated in his words that he knows the plan he has for you and me, plan to give us a hope and a future.

It does not matter today, where you are in your relationship to God. You might not even have a relationship with him. As you are reading this book, what does matter right now, is that you are at a cross road of making a decision of what to do. You are thinking of how you have dappled from one thing to the other. At this point, the most important thing is to realize that Jesus went through what he went through in the hands of men, ended up being crucified for you and me. This basically is to strengthen you, to give you hope, and encouragement to make the right decision. Decide today to invite Jesus in to your life. Make him Lord of your life and let him take over the affairs of your life and bring you to expected end. He is Jesus, the one that created you from your mother’s womb; he knew you before you were formed. He has the power to bring his plan for you to fruition. His plan for you is for good and not for destruction.

Your life style might hinder you from receiving from the Lord. You need to repent from anything that is not of God. It does not matter to him what your past looked like or what you have done in the past, all that matters now is that you come back to your senses and he is ready to accept you, cleanse you and take care of you. Jesus is ready to shield