Thursday, 11^th December, 2025

Bible Reading: Philippians 2: 5-11

Memory Verse: But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 (ESV)

Praise Fawowe is a world class thinker, futurist and Africa’s premier creator and trainer of Family Systems Engineering. He said: I was in my 20s when I started rehabilitating commercial sex workers and taking them back to their families. I was so successful at it that I had an event called “Valentine with Prostitutes.” Channels TV came to cover it and it brought me to national consciousness. 

But there was a man watching who felt I was going public too early. He was the therapist I wanted to be like because he was basically the only man who did professional counselling way back on TV. He was a guest at Daystar and I made my way to listen to him. As I got into the hall, this man recognized me from TV and stood me up in front of the church and rebuked me. 

My jaw dropped and my pride was hurt. I was so angry and people were even more angry for me because I’d never met him before. Someone said I should go and insult him back after the event, but then I remembered what my mum had taught me: 

“Anytime you want to get angry at anyone, always ask two questions: ‘Do you need him or does he need you?'” I knew the answer.

During the break, I went to kneel beside him and thanked him for rebuking me. I asked for mentoring so that I could get better. He asked me to come to his house the following day. I went and told him exactly what I wanted to learn. He kept sending me on errands that had nothing to do with what I wanted to learn for close to six months. I never gave up. Little did I know he was leaving Nigeria and was looking for someone to replace him on various platforms.

That experience taught me the value of humility and the importance of being open to correction. It wasn’t easy, but it was a turning point in my life. He put my name forward and gave me a book I’d never find in any bookshop, which changed everything for me. He was the reason I won my first award and was on “New Dawn with Funmi Iyanda” and “Inside Out with Agatha” way back.

My young friends, you can’t afford to be dragging folks that God has sent ahead of you, regardless of how tough their rebuke or style of mentoring is. God takes you through a refinery to prepare you, but many of you can’t stand the discipline of pruning. 

I hope my experience helps you build resilience as you navigate the future. I love and celebrate you. Would I have done what that mentor did? Not at all, because my style is different; however, it was a correction well taken. 

Lesson: You must pass the test of humility no matter how painful before certain great doors will ever open. Failure to pass this test has caused many people to plateau or remain on the same spot for so long either in their career, or spiritual goals.  

Quote:  A heart of humility will always receive instructions even when it is said in the most annoying way.

Prophetic Decree:  Altar of pride in my heart, break, in Jesus name. 

Prayer Focus 

1. Thank you Father for your love and grace.

2. I receive a heart of humility today in Jesus name.

3. Arrows of pride fired into my heart, backfire, in Jesus name. 

4. Help me Holy Ghost to qualify for the Oil of greatness before men that will take me to my next level, in Jesus name. 

5. My Father, please give me a heart that is thirsty and hungry for more despising all odds, in Jesus name. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Acts 20-23

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  John 14-17