God has an awesome sense of humor. At your lowest moment, He will allow strength to rise from within you when you feel that all hope is gone. He will allow joy to take the place of sadness and sorrow. He will usher in peace and hope in dismal settings and situations. He is simply ensuring that His Word does not fail or come back to Him void. He is truly the "Romans 8:28 God," causing all things to work together for your good because you love Him and you are called according to His purpose.
During one of the most challenging seasons of my earthly existence, God spoke to me and said "Encourage the people." And of course, in my own sheepish way of replying in my mind (was not going to say it out loud - smile): "God, I need encouragement myself!" And, He so wonderfully replied, "O'Neal, you have it. It's on the inside of you. I put it there."
This is the origin of O.D.E. - O'Neal's Daily Exhortations! For a year and a half, as led and directed by the Spirit of God, God blessed me to write daily devotionals to encourage, enlighten, empower and edify others' lives. I was under a spiritual mandate to accomplish this. My physical and mental state of being had no say-so in my mission. Whatever was on my schedule or agenda took a back-seat to me fulfilling my mission. I even thank God for a patient family. Many days they were put on hold to allow me to fulfill my mission.
Through this daily process two things occurred. First, I began to hear testimonies of how people were being blessed and encouraged by the words of the daily devotionals. And, secondly, God did a restorative work in me and would not allow me to focus on my own crisis because He had me busy making sure everyone else was alright.
This book has been my medicine and therapy. It has healed hurt and disappointment. It has removed fear and apprehension far away from me. It has restored joy and gladness. It has revealed to me "True Faith." It has blessed my spiritual vision and positioned me for God's greater glory.
As you read this book - be blessed! You may use it as a daily encouragement. Or, you may decide to thumb through the Table of Contents to find a topic that interests you at the moment. Or, you may even just pick it up and read it like a novel, unable to put it down reading page after page. However, as you allow it to minister to you - remember this: The exhortation that you
