Redirect Your Focus: Devotion for Thursday August 27, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Thursday August 27, 2020

Topic: Redirect Your Focus                 

Text: Colossians 3:1 – 4                  

The essence of going to learn in a school is for us to improve and to make us have better understanding of ourselves and our society. If after you have studied in the school and there is no improvement in your understanding, it means your efforts in school were wasted. Likewise, when someone repents and accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, it is expected that such should have a better understanding of how best to serve God.

It is on this premise that Paul started this chapter by saying, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your eyes on the realities of heaven …” (New Living Translation). This means that before their repentance, their focus were on worldly things. Now it shouldn’t be so.

Because they had been raised, they had a clear responsibility to Christ, who had raised them. They must set their sights on the realities of heaven. The Greek word for “set” means to seek something out with a desire to possess it. The believers must take their focus off the world and turn it to Christ, who sits at God’s right hand in the place of honour and power. They should concentrate on the eternal rather than the temporal, letting their thoughts dwell in the realm of Christ. They were to focus on the Lord Jesus (Hebrews 12:2).

Thoughts can influence actions, so if the believers would place their thoughts above and not only here on earth, their actions would please God. Are your thoughts focused on Christ now as a Christian or you are still concerned about worldly affairs?

Food for Thought: Philippians 4:8

Memory verse: Colossians 3 v 2             

Prayer: Lord God, redirect my focus from the things worldly to the things eternal in Jesus name.

What Is Your Request? Devotion for Thursday March 26, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Thursday March 26, 2020

Topic: What Is Your Request?                             

Text: Esther 5: 1 – 8

Esther’s courageous act is a model for us to follow in approaching a difficult or dangerous task. Like Esther, we can: (1) calculate the cost: Esther realized her life was at stake when she said “If perish, I perish” Esther 4:16. (2) Set priorities: She believed that the safety of the Jewish race was more important than her life. (3) Prepare: She gathered support and fasted. (4) Determine a course of action and move ahead boldly: She didn’t think too long about it, allowing the interlude to lessen her commitment to what she had to do.

Do you have to face a hostile audience, confront a friend on a delicate subject, or talk to your family about changes to be made? Rather than dreading difficult situations or putting them off, take action with confidence by following Esther’s inspiring example.

It was Esther’s courageous move that led to the question which is our topic for the day. The king noticed that something led Esther to risk her life and thus he raised the question and she demanded a dinner with the king and Haman. If God can grant Esther such favour before men how much more when He is involved (compare Matthew 7:11)?

Beloved, what is your request? Is it money for rents and bills? Is it fruit of the womb? Is it a job? Just follow Esther’s model and God will move in your favour.

Food for Thought: God issued us a blank cheque in Matthew 7:7. How do you make good use of it?

Memory verse: Esther 5:3

Prayer: Make your request known to God bearing in mind Numbers 14:28 and Matthew 7:7

A Reward for Our Actions: Devotion for Sunday August 11, 2019

Devotion for Sunday August 11, 2019

Topic: A Reward for Our Actions

Text: 2 Corinthians 5:9 – 11

This world is a world of opposites; good or bad, man or woman, love or hatred, selfish or selfless, angry or happy and many more. God gave to man the will to makes choices at creation.

“Man’s power of choice enables him to think like an angel or a devil, a king or a slave. Whatever he chooses, mind will create,” so Frederick Bailes. The power to make choices given to man will be his greatest undoing if we misused it.

Paul charges us here to walk well in our Christian life so as to please God because we shall account of ourselves before the judgement seat of Christ, where He, whose religion we profess will judge us according to its precepts and the grace bestowed on us.

We need a conviction that we will stand at the judgement seat of Christ, and receive rewards according to the deeds done in the body, prudent and lead lives that will make us acceptable to Him and this is only possible with Christ-like life we are living here.

We note these facts from our scriptural reading.

1) The necessity of the judgement – We must, willing or unwilling

2) The universality of the judgement – We must all be judged

3) We will be judged by Christ – Whose image we ought to conform

4) It will be based on our person actions and inaction – The things done in the body

5) The reason for the judgement of God – Will you be punished or be rewarded according to our actions.

Beloved, how prepared are you for this soon coming judgement to reward or punish us?

Food for Thought: The rewards you will receive depend on the way you have lived now. Therefore make good use of your time, talent and treasure to the glory of God

Memory verse: 2 Corinthians 5: 10

Prayer: Help me O Lord, to be conscious of the coming judgement so I will live well so as to receive a good reward in Jesus name.  

  

Action Generates Abundance

Devotion for Thursday March 22, 2018

Topic: Action Generates Abundance

Text: Genesis 26:12 – 17                           

God instructed Isaac to stay in the land of the Philistines instead of going down to Egypt as his father Abraham did (Genesis 26:2 – 4). Isaac obeyed and dwelt in Gerar (Genesis 26:6). God told him to stay and he took action to ensure that he walks in line with all the promises God made to him. He sowed and the reward was outstanding (Genesis 26:12). The description of the reward Isaac received is challenging (Genesis 26:13) – “The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous.” It was the action taken by Isaac that God required to bless him. God indeed blessed him which made the Philistines to start envying him. You need to enter into an action God needs to bless you so that it will make your enemies to start envying you in Jesus name. Beloved, if you desire to live in abundance, you need to take a step and action that God requires to bless you. God gave Israelites manna in the wilderness but He did not throw it into their tents. They went out for the manna. You need to take action today. Don’t fold your hands and keep waiting for the promised blessing. Isaac didn’t start sleeping and praying for blessings rather he took action. Today some Christians are lazy. They prefer to stay at home believing and claiming all the promises of God without a corresponding action. The action you will take now will determine what you will become or the kind of abundance that will attend your way this year and beyond. 

Sing A&M 483

Food for Thought: “Great ideas means nothing without world-class willpower to get the big ideas done” – Robin Sharma.  

Memory verse: Genesis 22:12

Prayer: Lord, lead me into what I will do so that your promised blessing will begin to manifest in my life and family in Jesus name. 

A Reward For Our Actions

Devotion for Tuesday August 8, 2017

Topic: A Reward For Our Actions

Text: 2 Corinthians 5:9 – 11

This world is world of opposites; good or bad, man or woman, love or hatred, selfish or selfless, angry or happy, etc. God gave to man the will to makes choices at creation. “Man’s power of choice enables him to think like an angel or a devil, a king or a slave. Whatever he chooses, mind will create,” so Frederick Bailes. The power to make choices given to man will be his greatest undoing if we misused it.

Paul charges us here to walk well in our Christian life so as to please God because we shall account of ourselves before the judgement seat of Christ, where He, whose religion we profess will judge us according to its precepts and the grace bestowed on us. We need a conviction that we will stand at the judgement seat of Christ, and receive rewards according to the deeds done in the body, prudent and lead lives that will make us acceptable to Him and this is only possible with Christ-like life we are living here.

We note these facts from our scriptural reading.

1) The necessity of the judgement – We must, willing or unwilling

2) The universality of the judgement – We must all be judged

3) We will be judged by Christ – Whose image we ought to conform

4) It will be based on our person actions and inactions – The things done in the body

5) The reason for the judgement – To be punished or rewarded according to our actions.

Beloved, how prepared are you for this soon coming judgement to reward or punish us?

Food for Thought: The rewards you will receive depend on the way you have lived now. Therefore make good use of your time, talent and treasure to the glory of God

Memory verse: 2 Corinthians 5: 10

Prayer: Help me O Lord, to be conscious of the coming judgement so I will live well so as to receive a good reward in Jesus name.

Faith And Action: Two Sides Of The Coin

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Saturday May 20, 2017

Topic: Faith And Action: Two Sides Of The Coin                      

Text: James 1:22

Faith without work is dead so says James in Jas 2:26. For anyone to become a faithful Christian, he/she must developed faith as a virtue in personal life and works. Today, Abraham is called the father of the faithful because by his works he proved his faith. God didn’t tell him where to go, but by the instruction to leave his father land, he left (Gen 12:4). Many of us today will argue with God to tell us where He is sending us. Great heroes and heroines of the Scriptures attained that status because of the faith they demonstrated in their walk with God. Faith goes with action. Both are two sides of coin you can’t do without.  You cannot say you believe in God but has nothing to prove what you actually believed in. It must be substantiated with actions.

James tells us that we should always substantiate our faith by doing what we hear in the word of God. Albert Barnes says “If a man supposes that by a mere punctual attendance on preaching, or a respectful attention to it, he has done all that is required of him, he is labouring under a most gross self- deception.” Unfortunately these words of Barnes are true in the life of some Christians today. They are utterly regardless whether these words have any influence on their lives or not. This is mere hypocrisy. There must be a corresponding action to the faith we confess. We have so many church denominations but its effects are not seen in our daily lives. If we say we are Christians, we should be justified by our action not by our confession alone (Matt.7:21; Lk 11:28 & Rom. 2: 13).

Food for Thought: Is your faith justified by your confession and action

Memory verse: James 1 verse 22

Prayer: Lord God, make me a doer of your word and not hearer alone.

Faith And Action: Two Sides Of The Coin

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Saturday May 20, 2017

Topic: Faith And Action: Two Sides Of The Coin                      

Text: James 1:22

Faith without work is dead so says James in Jas 2:26. For anyone to become a faithful Christian, he/she must developed faith as a virtue in personal life and works. Today, Abraham is called the father of the faithful because by his works he proved his faith. God didn’t tell him where to go, but by the instruction to leave his father land, he left (Gen 12:4). Many of us today will argue with God to tell us where He is sending us. Great heroes and heroines of the Scriptures attained that status because of the faith they demonstrated in their walk with God. Faith goes with action. Both are two sides of coin you can’t do without.  You cannot say you believe in God but has nothing to prove what you actually believed in. It must be substantiated with actions.

James tells us that we should always substantiate our faith by doing what we hear in the word of God. Albert Barnes says “If a man supposes that by a mere punctual attendance on preaching, or a respectful attention to it, he has done all that is required of him, he is labouring under a most gross self- deception.” Unfortunately these words of Barnes are true in the life of some Christians today. They are utterly regardless whether these words have any influence on their lives or not. This is mere hypocrisy. There must be a corresponding action to the faith we confess. We have so many church denominations but its effects are not seen in our daily lives. If we say we are Christians, we should be justified by our action not by our confession alone (Matt.7:21; Lk 11:28 & Rom. 2: 13).

Food for Thought: Is your faith justified by your confession and action

Memory verse: James 1 verse 22

Prayer: Lord God, make me a doer of your word and not hearer alone.

Be An Observable Model (In Reactions)

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Saturday February 4, 2017

Topic: Be An Observable Model (In Reactions)              

Text: Romans 12:17 – 21

The way we react to words we hear or to people’s actions speaks volume of the depths of our Christianity. In online bible quotation, Epictetus said, “Deliberate much before you say or do anything, for it will not be in your power to recall what is said or done.” Most of us do not think before we talk. We only think after we had talked. This shouldn’t be the standard of true Christian.

Proverbs 15:1 says “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Again, Proverbs 15:8 says, “A wrathful man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger allays contention.” Our reactions will either avert contention or stirs up anger. If we actually hope to live as true Christians, we should learn how to govern our spirit. Paul confirms this when he said, “And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets” – 1 Corinthians 14:32. When we shout at one another, it shows that we don’t love one another.

We should show our maturity in Christ by the way we react to the words we hear especially those that are provocative. Jesus Christ gave us an example according to 1 Peter 2:21 – 23. We should be a model for others by the way we control the anger, slander, abuse, hatred, injustice, etc. against us. There is no gain in trying to flex muscles with people over words you could easily ignore, after all the words said against you are not written on your forehead. The author of the book Hebrew also said that Jesus gave us an example (Heb. 12:3). We should follow that example. Don’t think you can gain anything by vengeance, expression of anger and unnecessary and sudden outburst on people.

Food for Thought: He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so He opened not his mouth (Isaiah 53:7).

Memory verse: Proverbs 16:32 - Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

Prayer: Grant unto me, O Lord, the grace to control myself in times of and provocation in Jesus name.

Be An Observable Model (In Actions)

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Friday February 3, 2017

Topic: Be An Observable Model (In Actions)         

Text: 2 Thessalonians 3:6 – 10    

Here, Paul warned about laziness. He made it clear that they were models when he and his companions were in Thessalonica, saying that they worked hard, buying what they needed rather than becoming a burden to any of the believers. Their rule was, “Whoever does not work should not eat.” This should be the standard of every Christian. Is it pleasing that as a Christian, you should be a burden to people? It is absolutely wrong for us to fold our hand and continue to wait for supply from other people. This is the reason behind Paul’s warning in 3:6. See his example in 2 Cor. 11:9, Acts 18:3 and 1 Thessalonians. 2:9.

Most Christians confuse leisure and laziness but there are differences between them. Relaxation and recreation provide a necessary and much needed balance to our life; but when it is time to work, Christians should jump right in. We should make the most of our talent and time, doing all we can to provide for ourselves and our dependents. Rest when you should be resting and work when you should be working.

Be a model for others the way you work to provide for your family and other dependants. Don’t bring shame to God and His church by lazing about in pretence that you are going for prayers, going for evangelism while your family is dying of hunger. Don’t be a burden to others and the church. That is how you can be a model.

Action: Start doing something from today if you don’t have any job. It may not be what you wanted but from there God will take you to where you will be.   

Memory verse: Acts 20:34 - You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me (ESV).

Prayer: Bless the works of my hands O Lord and give job to those in need so we can’t become burden to people.

LIVE OUT THE WORD YOU HEAR: Devotion for Sunday September 25, 2016

LIVE OUT THE WORD YOU HEAR: Devotion for Sunday September 25, 2016

Text: James 1:19 – 25        Memory verse: James 1 verse 22

For every trials and problems of life we pass through, there are lessons for us to learn. This is what we should understand. Nothing happens for nothing. When we are under trials, instead of blaming God, we should open our ears and hearts to hear and learn what He teaches by them. This is very important because when we don’t learn from our trials, mistakes, etc, we will eventually fall into them in future. That is why it is important to learn from our past and use them for our future.

Any Christian who could govern his or her tongue could also govern his or her passions. In James’ opinion according to our scriptural reading for the day, mere reading or even studying, God’s word can’t profit us if we don’t obey what it says or teaches us. Our purpose for reading and listening to God’s word should not just be to know it, but also to do it - applying them into our daily living. It will amount to mere foolishness and our undoing when we pride ourselves in the knowledge of Scripture if that’s all there is to it.

The ability to quote bible verse off hand and recite them at will without the words manifesting in our lives; in the way we talk, react, act, etc, we are still far from what God expects of us. “Worthwhile knowledge is a prelude to action; God’s word can only grow in the soil of obedience” so says Life Application Commentary. It is important to hear God’s word, but it is much more important to obey it. We can measure the effectiveness of our Bible study time by the effect it has on our behavior and attitudes. Do we put into action what we have studied?

We hear and read the word of God regularly during corporate services, and personal quiet times. It is not how often you hear or read it that matters with God but how much we live out the word. Christians are unbelievers’ Bible. No wonder Christ said we are the salt of the earth and light of the world. We should therefore, give them good message daily and not what will make them question our Christian faith. Christianity should be lived out and not only professed.

Food for Thought: Romans 2:13

Prayer: Lord, help me to become a doer of your word and not hearer alone.

SECRET OF ABUNDANCE (ACTION) 1: Devotion for Thursday February 25, 2016

SECRET OF ABUNDANCE (ACTION) 1: Devotion for Thursday February 25, 2016      

Text: Genesis 26:12 – 17                            Memory verse: v 12

God instructed Isaac to stay in the land of the Philistines instead of going down to Egypt as his father Abraham did (26:2–4). Isaac obeyed and dwelt in Gerar (26:6). God told him to stay and he took action to ensure that he walks in line with all the promises God made to him. He sowed and the reward was outstanding (26:12). The description of the reward Isaac received is challenging (26:13) – “The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous.” It was the action taken by Isaac that God required to bless him. God indeed blessed him which made the Philistines to start envying him. May God in His mercies, do something in your life that will attract envy of people in Jesus name.

Beloved, if you desire to live in abundance, you need to take a step and action that God requires to bless you. God gave Israelis manna in the wilderness but He did not throw it into their tents. They went out for the manna. You need to take action today. Don’t fold your hands and keep waiting for the “wealth of the Gentiles” as some lazy Christians do or you stay at home believing and claiming all the promises of God without a corresponding action. The action you will take now will determine what you will become or the kind of abundance that will attend your way this year.

Food for Thought: “Great ideas means nothing without world-class willpower to get the big ideas done” – Robin Sharma.  

Prayer: Lord, lead me into what I will do so that your promised blessing will begin to manifest in my life and family in Jesus name.