# INTRODUCTION: JOURNEY OF LOVE ## Introduction I welcome you all in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to the December edition of 'Operation Declare and Decree' service. This is the last 'Operation Declare and Decree' service in the year that is gradually coming to an end. We must thank God for His faithfulness in being with His Church. Great is the faithfulness of God who has kept, protected, blessed, and guided us thus far this year. I declare and decree that the good Lord who has been with us since the beginning of the year will be with us in this last month of the year and forever, in the name of Jesus. Amen. ## The Advent Season By the Christian church calendar, the Advent season starts tomorrow, the second day of December and should end on Christmas eve. Thereafter, we will celebrate Christmas and be ushered into a glorious New Year. The word advent is a Latin for 'coming or arrival.' Therefore, the Advent Season for us Christians is a period when we reflect on the greatest story of all time: the coming to the world of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is a story that is never boring to hear again and again because it is full of great themes: of Hope, of Peace, of Joy and of Love. And these, as it turns out, are the themes of the Advent Season. I declare and decree that your situation in this new month and beyond will never be hopeless in the name of Jesus. Amen. I declare and decree that the peace of God which passes all human understanding will be your portion, in the name of Jesus. Amen. I declare and decree that the joy of the Lord shall define your life, and you will rejoice in this new month and beyond, in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. I declare and decree that the realization that God loves you will inspire you in this new month and beyond in the name of Jesus. Amen. ## The Journey of Love When I was pondering, and asking our God, what the theme for His church for this month of December will be, the Lord revealed to me that He, the Almighty and loving Father, is inviting us to join Him in an epic journey that started more than two thousand years ago. It is a journey which millions of believers over the ages have undertaken. The Bible records that the Shepherds, the Magi, the Angels, Simeon, Mary, Joseph, the inn keepers in Bethlehem and many more were part of the journey in the beginning. The Journey we are invited to join, which is the theme for the church for the month of December, is a Journey of Love. The journey was initiated through grace and the love of God for His creations. It is an epic journey that is full of excitement that fires one's imagination and makes one wonder what manner of love our God has for us His creation. ## Distractions Along the Way Like in all endeavors in the journey of life, there will be all sorts of distractions designed by Satan to make us lose our focus. For instance, as each year is coming to an end, there are always the Devil's suggestions that you have not achieved the goals you have set for yourself. Hence, what is the point of the 'Journey of Love'? Why not abandon it altogether? There also may be financial pressures, unfulfilled aspirations, ruptured relationships and the like that may divert our attention from enjoying in full measure the benefits of being partakers in this wonderful spiritual rendezvous. I exhort you, brethren, not to focus on the challenges but to fix your eyes on Jesus our Lord and Saviour who has promised us victory. I declare and decree that all the plans of destiny diverters in this new month and season are frustrated and their schemes scattered, in the name of Jesus. Amen. ## Three Great Promises As we can expect, there are great promises implicit in the theme of 'Journey of Love' that God has given to us in this new month. Let us briefly touch on three of these great promises: ### First Promise: Salvation The Bible tells us that in the manifestation of God's love through the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ lies the precious promise of salvation: *"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him"* (1 John 4:9). I declare and decree that as you undertake this 'Journey of Love' in this Advent season, you will experience the joy of your salvation, in the name of Jesus. Amen. ### Second Promise: Life in Christ The promise of the love of God is that even though we were dead in sin or maybe wallowing in sin, the love of God will make us alive in Jesus Christ: *"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved"* (Ephesians 2:4-5). ### Third Promise: Adoption The third promise in this 'Journey of Love' is that we are adopted now into the family of God. We are no longer alienated from God, but we have become children of God: *"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"* (1 John 3:1). Surely there are innumerable benefits that come from belonging to the family of the loving Father. ## Conclusion As I bring this short exaltation to a close, I commit you to the hands of the loving Father who is able to keep you, preserve you and guide you in this Advent season and beyond, in the name of Jesus. Amen. May the good Lord bless and prosper the work of your hands. May His unchanging and steadfast love comfort you, in the name of Jesus. Amen. I declare and decree that through the love of God all will be well with you and yours in this new month and beyond. Amen.