Joel Kwesi Baidoo

“The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him--the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” (Isaiah 11:2) Today, we shall learn about the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of counsel. The Hebrew word for counsel means advice, guidance, or plan. It can also refer to a consultation or a deliberation. The word counsel is used in various contexts in Scripture such as the following: Seeking guidance from God (Psalm 73:24) Receiving counsel from wise advisors (Proverbs 24:6) Plotting or scheming against others (Psalm 83:3) When we engage the Holy Spirit, He gives us practical guidance in our everyday endeavours. As the inner witness, He prompts us of what to do, and directs us in our daily activities. Hence, the necessity to develop the habit of waiting upon the Lord daily before getting entangled with the business of the day. Before embarking on any major project or taking any significant decision or step in life, it...

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) Happy new year! We should be grateful to be here! It's a new year and a new beginning! A new opportunity to start creating and doing. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth which became the platform upon which all subsequent activities took place. How you start the year is very important because it will set the tone for how your year will go.  It's important for us to take a deep introspection, asking ourselves what we planned to accomplish the previous year but couldn't. After we have assessed the hindrances, we need to solidify our resolve to make it happen this year. It was Henry Ford who said, “You can't build a reputation on what you're going to do.” Dreaming and planning without doing is a wasteful exercise. This year, convert yourself from a dreamer to a doer. Begin to do all that you have dreamt of. Just as Aristotle said, “Well begun is half done.”  What has God laid upo...

“And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.” (Psalms 78:72) Yesterday, we emphasized the supreme quality of leadership which is integrity. Today, we shall look at the other leg of the equation which is leading with skill. Effective leadership goes beyond character, it also involves skill.  Skill refers to the ability to perform a specific task or function with expertise, efficiency, and effectiveness. It involves a combination of knowledge, experience, and practice, which enables individuals to accomplish tasks with precision and accuracy.  Some of the skills essential for effective leadership are communication skills, strategic thinking, emotional Intelligence, decision-making, collaboration, coaching and development, and problem-solving.  Developing our skills comes by deliberate effort. The word of God encourages us to add knowledge to our faith. “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to good...

“And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.” (Psalms 78:72) Psalm 78 is a historical and prophetic psalm, attributed to Asaph, a Levite and leader of worship in King David's time (1 Chronicles 16:5-7). It's a psalm that recounts Israel's history from the Exodus to the reign of King David. The psalmist attributed the successful leadership of King David to two factors: integrity and skill. But he was careful to bring integrity first, thereby projecting it as the supreme quality of leadership. On this day in 1952, Dwight Eisenhower was elected the 34th President of the United States of America. One of his most famous quotes doesn't fall far from the biblical principle above. Dwight said, “The supreme quality of leadership is integrity.” Integrity is a vital trait that encompasses honesty, strong moral principles, and consistency in actions and values, whether or not anyone is watching.  Successful leadership prioritizes integrity, a...

“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.” (Joel 3:10) The Prophet Joel made this prophetic declaration after the southern kingdom of Israel (Judah) had suffered a locust plague as well as several incursions from foreign nations around them. It was also a time that the people of Israel had deeply fallen into spiritual decay, idolatry and all sorts of vices against the law of God. The people of God had therefore been weakened spiritually, economically, and politically. The Prophet was calling upon them to repent lest a great calamity looms. To those who return to their God, there is hope for restoration.  Prophet Joel, thus, emphasizes God’s ability to turn weakness into strength. The weak and feeble are encouraged to declare their strength, not based on physical ability, but on God's power. Saying “I am strong” is an act of faith, trusting God’s promise to restore and empower. It does not matter what makes you feel weak tod...

“...The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16) Prayer works in mysterious ways. Even the prayers we think are not answered are answered in ways we do not recognize. Heather Nicholson, a 20-year-old college student, was in a devastating car accident in 2002. She suffered severe head injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, and was left in a coma. The Doctors' verdict was that Heather's chances of recovery were slim, and she might remain in a vegetative state. Heather's family, friends, and community rallied together to pray for her recovery, including her church. Against medical expectations, Heather awakened from her coma after 3 weeks. She underwent extensive rehabilitation and made a remarkable recovery. Heather gave this testimony: "I know that prayer played a huge role in my recovery... I felt the presence of God and the prayers of others lifting me up." Dr. R. Armour Forse, Heather's neurosurgeon, stated: "Heather...