The Day of Many Troubles: Devotion for Monday March 23, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Monday March 23, 2020

Topic: The Day of Many Troubles                     

Text: Job 1:13 – 19

In 1 Samuel chapter 3 is the story of how the Ark of God was captured by the Philistines when Eli was the Chief Priest. On that day he died with his two sons. What a trouble for that family! That was a day of many troubles for the family. Some people may opt for suicide on a day of many troubles.

On a day of many troubles, Satan unleashed his anger against Job in order to make him turn against God. He lost all his wealth, his children, investments and properties. All these was the result of God vouching for Job.

This was not even enough for Satan as he came back in chapter 2 to fight the more. When Job was being attacked, he never knew that it was his uprightness and integrity that attracted those troubles.

Most times we tend to believe that when we pass through troubles of life, it means that we have fallen out of favour with God. It is not always true! The troubles all came upon Job at once; while one messenger of evil tidings was speaking, another followed (v15, 16, 17 and 19). His dearest and most valuable possessions were his ten children and they were killed.

Obviously, some people concluded that such calamities can only come on sinners. We should understand that in this world we will have troubles but in all we should be of good cheer (John 16:33) bearing in mind that God will make a way of escape for us (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Probably those troubles you have been passing through is the result of God vouching for you. Do not lose your faith in times of many trouble because God who allowed them will definitely grant you the grace to overcome all the troubles.         

Food for Thought: “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble” – Job 14:1

Memory verse: v 19  

Prayer: Lord, grant me the enabling grace to endure the troubles of life knowing that better things await us in heaven.

Be Of Good Cheer

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Thursday January 26, 2017

Topic: Be Of Good Cheer

Text: Matthew 14:22 – 27     

Have you ever wondered why some of the initiatives, plans and promises of God are hindered by Satan’s attacks? It is because Satan and his agents do not want us to enjoy the promises of God. This is the reason some people can’t grow as Christians; they move one step and fall two steps backward.

In our text is the story of how Jesus asked the disciples to move ahead of Him. They obeyed and went on. Satan thought that the absence of Jesus on the boat will be a good opportunity to attack. Unfortunately, he greatly made a mistake. When the disciples felt the threat of the wave, Jesus immediately appeared for them saying, “Be of good cheer.”

There are great lessons for us here.

1) When God instructs us to move on, we should obey because He is always there with us (Matt 28:20).

2) When we are threatened and in despair, we should always remember His words in Jn. 16:33.

3). God doesn’t abandon us to threats of the enemies especially when we are doing His will or command.

4) Jesus knows our needs and He is able to meet us at the point of our need. When the disciples felt threatened, Jesus knew and came to their rescue. Yours will not be different.

As you go out today, be of good cheer because He is already working in your favour to protect you from attacks of the enemies and to provide for you.

Food for Thought: Hearing the voice of Christ saying “It is I,” is a sufficient support in all afflictions of life.

Memory verse: Matthew 14 verse 27 - But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

Prayer: My Lord and my God, speak your word to me in all the afflictions I am going through in Jesus name.

SATAN IS NEVER SATISFIED: Devotion for Thursday September 22, 2016

SATAN IS NEVER SATISFIED: Devotion for Thursday September 22, 2016

Text: Job 2:7 – 8                   Memory verse: Job 2 verse 7

The story in Job chapters 1 and 2 shows that Satan is never satisfied with tempting us especially when we remain resolute and unyielding to his trials and temptations. He afflicted Job and then tempted to make a bad use of his affliction but God restrained him. Satan can only tempt a child of God but can never bring him to a total ruin. The affliction on Job was so severe that Satan thought Job will curse God as he used his wife to say so. Unfortunately for him, he didn’t know that severity of affliction cannot change the views and understanding of a true Christian about God.

Satan’s aim in all these trials, temptations and affliction is to make Job never to worship God again. This is usually the primary aim of Satan in tempting us. He attacks us so we can discredit God. But a true Christian cannot do that just as Job didn’t succumb to Satan’s attack. In all that Job went through, he humbled himself under the mighty hand of God, and brought His mind to his condition. This is an example and challenge for us. We should not be so troubled by the problems and afflictions of life that we forget God.

Beloved, the words of Christ in John 15:19–21 and John 16:33 about temptations and trials are true. As long as we remain in this world, Satan will always attack us. We can’t be immune from his attacks and temptations. No wonder the words in Rev. 12:12. He has now increased the tempo of his attacks because time is short for him. According to Family Bible Notes, “His (Job) disease is generally regarded to have been a malignant and painful species of leprosy.” This was to make people steer clear of him but despite all these, Job was not moved. This is a big challenge for us. We should not be moved by the intensity of trials because there is always light at the end of the tunnel.

Food for Thought: The aim of Satan’s attack on us is for us to discredit God. Therefore, do not give in to his attacks.  

Prayer: As I have resolved to serve you, O Lord my God, make me resolute in that resolution no matter the temptations of the enemies in Jesus name.

AN EXCUSE TO ATTACK: Devotion for Wednesday September 21, 2016

AN EXCUSE TO ATTACK: Devotion for Wednesday September 21, 2016

Text: Job 2:1 – 6                Memory verse: Job 2 verse 4

Despite the calamities that befell Job in Job chapter one, he still persevered in yielding unreserved and faithful obedience to God. That is what sincere Christianity is all about. A true is never disheartened and discouraged by trials and temptations. Rather he uses the opportunity to draw closer to God and to draw from Him more grace and mercies.

True Christianity has been proved a thousand times to be genuine among so many Christians, yet Satan and his agents still insist that it is all hypocrisy and selfishness. This was how they also accused us in my village of playing hypocrisy and falsehood in our Evangelical Fellowship in Anglican Communion (EFAC). They claimed that we wanted to secede and to build a church for ourselves.

To show and prove that these are all but falsehood, God sometimes allows Satan to attack us with calamities, while He sustains us with His grace. The essence of this is to silence the objections of Satan and foolish men who take joy in ridiculing Christianity and our faith. Have you been challenged once? How did God confront them to silence them? Share your testimony if you are studying as a group.  

Here, Satan here renews his accusation of selfishness against Job. He submitted that health was of greater importance to man than wealth and thus when Job’s health is at stake, he will deny God. .  It is true he has lost his property and his children, but his person yet remains unharmed. For this reason, Satan came again insisting that should God touch his skin and health, he will renounce his allegiance to God, and blaspheme his name. Unfortunately he was also proven wrong.

Satan has one excuse/accusation or another why he attacks a child of God. These excuses are purely God’s blessings and talents in us. It may be your money/wealth, knowledge, beauty, position in office, your children, your health, etc. We should understand that when the blessings of God are upon us, it will always attract temptations and trials from Satan and his agents. We should not be deterred by the temptations of the devil to the extent that we curse God and deny Him. These trials and temptations are for some time. They will soon end. We should be resolute in our Christianity and faith when trials come our ways (James 1:12).

Food for Thought: Matthew 10:22

Prayer: God, as Satan and men envy your blessings upon my life and thus plan evil against me, may I not yield to their trials to turn against you.