GRACE TONIC 

WEEK 10: MARCH 10TH, 2025 

TITLE - FRESH START: THE NATURE

TEXT: PSALMS 44:2-3 (MSG) 

“How single-handedly You weeded out the godless from the fields and planted us, how You sent those people packing but gave us a FRESH START. We didn’t fight for this land; we didn’t work for it – it was a gift! You gave it, smiling as You gave it, delighting as you gave it. 

One major highlight of God's proclamation of a Fresh Start to us as a house is the allocation and access to mercy packages.

THE NATURE OF THIS FRESH START

Consider the words “single-handedly, smiling, and delighting” from our text. They reveal both what God has chosen to do and the nature of His workings. There was no mention of human effort in the fulfillment of this fresh start—it was purely a gift from God.

"The Israelites had already done what Moses had told them; they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold things and clothing. GOD saw to it that the Egyptians liked the people and so readily gave them what they asked for. Oh yes! They picked those Egyptians clean." — Exodus 12:35-36 (MSG)

It was time for the Israelites to leave Egypt, and to bring about this exodus, the Lord had performed several signs and wonders through Moses, sending plagues upon the Egyptians. The final and most devastating plague was the death of every firstborn son in Egypt, from the houses of commoners to the palace of Pharaoh himself.

Though Moses was the vessel through whom instructions and prophecies were released, God was the performer, ensuring the fulfillment of every word spoken by His servant. In the same way, God will see to the fulfillment of this Fresh Start prophecy, just as it has been declared by His prophet.

Scripture tells us that there was no single household in Egypt where there wasn’t mourning. Cries of anguish, loss, and despair filled their homes, yet in the camp of the Israelites, there was peace.

Amid this atmosphere of grief and devastation, God instructed the Israelites to ask the Egyptians for their gold, silver, and clothing. Not after the mourning had passed, but while the Egyptians were still in deep sorrow.

How does one approach a grieving mother and ask for her jewelry?

What confidence does one have to request wealth from a father who just lost his firstborn son overnight?

Under normal circumstances, such a request would be unthinkable.

Yet, this was precisely the experience of the Israelites when God gave them a Fresh Start.

The Egyptians were mourning their dead, yet at the same time, they were handing over their wealth to the Israelites—without resistance. How else do you explain this, if not GOD in action—smiling and delighting as He gave them their inheritance?

Even after letting them go, Pharaoh pursued the Israelites to the Red Sea. But this pursuit wasn’t simply about reclaiming them as slaves—it was because he couldn’t accept the reality that the very people for whom all of Egypt was mourning had also taken away the wealth of the land.

But do you know what?

God did not just give them the wealth of the Egyptians—He defended the blessing.

May this be our experience in this Fresh Start. (Amen!)

Not only will God bless us, smiling and delighting, but He will also protect what He has given us.

PACKAGES SPONSORED BY FAVOUR

Sirs and Mas, I boldly declare that in this Fresh Start, there will be divine provisions—gifts sponsored by favour.

These will not depend solely on the goodwill of men, but on God Himself ensuring the performance of His word.

Just as the death of Egypt’s firstborn sons could not stop the Israelites from receiving their divine portion, nothing will stop our own Fresh Start—because it is God who will see to it, smiling and delighting.

This is the nature of this Fresh Start—packaged as a mercy grant for you!

May His mercy locate you for a fresh start in Jesus' name (Amen).

Pastor 'Gbenga Ige 

TARM Nigeria

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Grace Tonic is an online, inspirational, weekly devotional of Transfiguration Ark Revival Ministry.

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This week’s devotional is authored by Pastor 'Gbenga Ige. He leads the Lokoja Outreach Center of the Transfiguration Ark Revival Ministry International (TARM).

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