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Friends, greetings in Jesus Name! Today, I will be sharing with you what I title, “Stay Where God Has Planted You”. Some few years ago, I was invited to minister in a church in Toronto, Canada. Then I realized that the needs of people there were not different from those back in Nigeria. Really, folks there were trusting God for all manner of breakthroughs ranging from – deliverance from joblessness, barrenness, financial hardship, immigration problems, delayed marriages – and so on. Many of the church members were Nigerians living abroad, and many left because they felt it will be much better over there, but to their surprise things aren’t as rosy as they thought. Having examined all these things, it dawned on me that in life, things can only be better when you hear God’s voice, and follow His leading and instructions for your life. In life, there’s something called “Misplacement of Destiny” which occurs when people uproot themselves from the location God has planted them to some other place they desire to plant themselves.

One of the biggest challenges facing many today is to be sure who to marry, where to live, where to work, the career to pursue in life, the church to attend, and so on. The answer to these questions of life boils down to one thing – hearing God’s voice and obeying His instructions (Proverbs 4:20-23). When you hear from God you can never be confused about leaving or staying in a particular location, who to marry, where to work, and so on. Listen, there is a field God has ordained for you. It’s the only place where you can blossom. Leaving that field to another place would mean denying yourself of God’s best for your life. If God has apportioned you to be in House A, but you prefer to stay in House B, when his blessings come looking for you, it will not knock at House B. Why? By heaven’s address allotted to you, you are meant to be in House A. Therefore, until there is a change of address to the right place, you will miss what heaven has for you (Ruth 1:1-7). This reminds me of the story of Abraham. Father Abraham relocated to Egypt as a result of famine in the land. The bible declares in Genesis 12:1, “Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land.”

If I may ask: Where was Abraham before this time? He was in the land of Canaan, the Land the Lord appeared to him, and has promised to give to him and his descendant. But like many of us at the slightest discomfort, he left the land due to famine, and went down to Egypt in search of greener pastures. Really, all manner of affliction, apprehension, and terror fell upon Abraham while in Egypt. Why? He took that decision without God’s approval. By the time God rescued him from that journey, the bible declared in Genesis 13:1 that, “Abraham went up from Egypt.” Remember, when he left without God’s leading to Egypt, he went down. Anytime a man goes against God’s leading, especially as it relates to relocation, he goes down. If you read further in this scripture, you will discover that when Abraham left Egypt, he came back to where he originally began the journey with God. Yes, to the very place where he erected an altar before God (Genesis 13:3-4). Listen, it does not matter how long you perambulate, if you must get ahead in life, you must return to where you last obeyed God.

Indeed, there’s famine in the land, insecurity is high, the economy is dwindling and unstable. Yes, the future looks bleak. The tendency for most people is to – “Japa” – run away. But listen, it’s not so much about running swiftly, but running to where God would have you be is what matters. Really, you can prosper anywhere as long as you are where God planted you to blossom. I have a good friend and mentor who is well read but resides in the village. Several years ago, he got tired of village life and relocated to Lagos. After two years of being in Lagos, he went back to the village. I remember asking him why he returned to the village. He said God’s blessing for him is not in Lagos. In that village, he founded one of the thriving Secondary Schools that is known in the entire State and region. Today he has chains of businesses, built houses, trained all his children in the university, and is fulfilled serving the local community. What is the bottom line here? Know the field that the Lord has blessed for you and remain there. Shifting location without God’s permission or plan for your life would mean short-circuiting your destiny. Remember, if you run away from where God has assigned for you, you embark on an Israelite journey. You run out of grace, when you run to where God has not allotted to you in life. I pray this will not be your portion in Jesus Mighty Name. Have a Blessed and Fantastic Week. With love, Elvis!