Faith: Key For Victory: Devotion for Thursday September 17, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Thursday September 17, 2020

Topic: Faith: Key For Victory                         

Text: 1 Samuel 17:40 – 47                        

David approached the Goliath with faith in Jesus and not sword which signifies the five stones he took. JESUS and FAITH are five letters each.

When David appeared, Goliath looked at him with disdain and these were his word: "Am I a dog that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.” Matthew Henry summed up our text thus: “The security and presumption of fools destroy them. Nothing can excel the humility, faith, and piety which appear in David's words. He expressed his assured expectation of success; he gloried in his mean appearance and arms, that the victory might be ascribed to the Lord alone.” How foolish Goliath acted because, he thought all his victories were of his gods but God brought him to Israel to humiliate him since he failed to acknowledge God as source of his victories.

The size and stature of Goliath could have deterred anyone but not David. He was optimistic that God will see him through even as God promised in Deuteronomy 20:1 – 4. His words were filled with humility, faith and confidence of success because he knows His God. “All the strength and force of man comes from his faith in things unseen. He who believes is strong; he who doubts is weak. Strong convictions precede great actions” as Adam Clarke posited. This was true of David.

We also need faith to be strong as we face life’s challenges daily. Keep focused and trust Him to see you through your day’s appointments and schedules; trust Him to fight your battles and trust him to provide for your needs.

Food for Thought: “Faith, mighty faith the promise sees and rests on that alone; laughs at impossibilities, and says it shall be done” – Wesley

Memory verse: 1 Samuel 17 v 45

Prayer: Lord, as I meditate daily on your word, build my faith so that I will laugh at impossibilities, and say it shall be done in Jesus name.

My God Will Save Me: Devotion for Friday February 21, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Friday February 21, 2020

Topic: My God Will Save Me                       

Text 1 Samuel 17:37

It is proper to recall what God did for us in the past so that we can build our faith on that to face future challenges. This is the imperative of testimonies in Christian gathering (see Revelation 12:11). The Philistines used their champion and giant Goliath to challenge Israel, requesting that they should present someone for a one on one contest with their giant (1 Samuel 17:23 – 24). He taunted Israel and defied the God of Israel.

Saul and all the Israeli army fled at that challenge. It was sin that brought fear into their lives (compare Proverbs 28:1). However, David, a young man of less than 18 years of age according to some commentators saw the challenge of Goliath as against God and not Israel. That propelled him to fight. He told Saul and later Goliath that His God will save him. He had that assurance and was fearless.

In our present world, we are faced with challenges from spiritual and physical Goliaths who want to consume us. They are in our families, offices, business arena, neighbourhood, market, schools, etc. When they come challenging and making mockery of your faith and your God, are you bold enough to stand against them or are you running like Saul and his men (1 Sam. 17:11)? If you are afraid, then search your life to know if you are standing in the Lord or not.

Just think about that great deliverance God gave you before. He can still do something greater for you. He is still alive (compare Hebrews 13:8). Trust Him to save you from those spiritual and physical Goliaths challenging you in that marriage, home, school, office, neighbourhood, etc. The Lord is with you.

Food for Thought: God is never tired of fighting our battles and delivering us from the plans of the enemies

Memory verse: Psalm 18:17

Prayer: Help me O Lord to trust in you when the enemies rise against me.

God Comforts Us: Devotion for Thursday January 30, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Thursday January 30, 2020

Topic: God Comforts Us                                          

Text: Isaiah 51:1 – 3

Those who are born again should consider that they were shaped in sin. This should cause them to have low thoughts of themselves, and high thoughts of divine grace we have received by virtue of our new birth.

Our text is a call to steadfast faith in the Lord. If we consider our present state, we will be discouraged. For this reason, God speaking through the prophet Isaiah called on us to consider where and how we started. He also challenged us to look at the life of Abraham our father of faith and his wife Sarah how He increased them. He thus assured His people of His comfort in their troubled state with promise of restoration (Isaiah 5:3).

Beloved, our God is a covenant keeping God. He that called us is faithful (Deut. 7:9; Nehemiah 9:32). He called us for a purpose which among them is to increase us and comfort us. In this world, we are faced with so many challenges of life like protracted sickness; sever wants, spiritual battles, etc. All these are what we face because we are still in the world. However, there is a place God has prepared for us that is void of all this challenges.

In the interim however, He has assures us of His comfort (Psalm 102:13; Isaiah 40:1; 51:12; 52:9 – 10). What is it that you lack now? He will make all to flourish again like the Garden of Eden in all areas of your life; your health, finances, marriage, studies, etc. Hold on to Him for He will surely comfort you.

Food for Thought: When God says something, He performs it.

Memory verse: Psalm 102:13

Prayer: Lord, send your comfort to me in my troubled situations

I Will Go With You

Devotion for Monday January 29, 2018

Topic: I Will Go With You    

Text: Genesis 46:4

Life we live goes with different challenges. The challenges of life come to our ways in order to make us fearful and unwilling to attempt things that will make us great in life. Some of the challenges bring so much fear that we may be forced to abandon our lives’ dreams. Despite these challenges of life, we should always have behind our minds that with the blessing of God upon our lives, we need not fear to undertake any service, make any sacrifice, or endure any trial that comes our way.

God saw how apprehensive Jacob was and decided to allay his fears with the words in Genesis 46:3 and 4. Again, those that go where God sends them shall certainly have God with them. Though Jacob never returned to Canaan, but God promised that his descendants would return. That Jacob would die in Egypt with Joseph at his side was God’s promise to Jacob that he would never know the bitterness of being lonely again.
What is that dream, proposal or journey God has placed in your heart to start or undergo? Are you apprehensive and skeptical about it? God is saying that He will go into it and you will be prosperous. Trust and believe God to go with you as He has promised.  He never fails.

Sing the song here in the food for thought

Food for Thought: He has promised, He will never fail, I will follow Him, I will follow Him, He has promised He will never fail; His faithfulness is forever more, His faithfulness, is forever more (Song).   

Memory verse: Genesis 46:4    

Prayer: God, go down with me into my business and work this year.

God Is Our Stronghold

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Monday May 8, 2017 

Topic: God Is Our Stronghold

Text: Nahum 1:1 – 8

Our Lord is good and He manifests His goodness in various ways. God remembers mercy in the midst of judgment. Adam Clarke says, “None that trust in Him need be alarmed at these dreadful threatening; they shall be discriminated in the day of wrath, for the Lord knows them that trust in Him.” This is the evidence of His goodness. In our text, Nahum assures his people of safety in Jehovah under the impending attack of Sennacherib by saying that God is a stronghold in the day of trouble. God as a stronghold means that God alone is the one that can save them from the hands of Sennacherib.

In a time like this, we have so many challenges confronting us like Sennacherib confronted the Israelites. Note that God is our stronghold against all challenges of life (Ps 18:2). The challenge facing you may be healing, freedom from prison, securing a good job, getting someone to spend your life with, food to eat, etc. Remember, He never fails those who make Him their stronghold. 

Beloved, let the words in Zech. 9:12 encourage you. As you cling to your stronghold and believe His word, He will guide you rightly and perfect all that concerns you. He will always keep safe all entrusted to Him because He knows His own (2 Tim. 2:19) except you are not His own.   

Food for Thought: When you trust God sincerely you can never be frightened

Memory verse: Nahum 1 verse 7

Prayer: Lord, be my stronghold against the enemies’ attack on me and my family in Jesus name.

Obey God Rather Than Men

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Saturday March 25, 2017

Topic: Obey God Rather Than Men

Text: Acts 4:19 – 22     

One of the commands the disciples received from Christ at His ascension was to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). The death and resurrection of Christ convinced them about the truth of the gospel which they should testify to people. As the council demanded that they should stop preaching in the name of Jesus, Peter and John did not waste time in rejecting any such ban on speaking in the name of Jesus, saying it is better to obey God rather than men.

What the response of the apostles means is that the members of the council are at odd with the will of God which is to obey Him rather than men. Thus they asked the council members to judge whether they should obey the council’s orders or God’s. Being with Jesus had actually transformed their lives because they lived with Him; witnessed His resurrection and experienced the filling of the Holy Spirit. These had tremendous effect on them so they asserted that they cannot stop speaking about the things they have seen and heard. The response from the disciple was act of courage which can only come from someone filled with the Holy Spirit.

There are times we face such challenges. We may be tempted to yield to such challenge but here is an example for us to follow. Do not give in to such challenges because He that is in you is greater than he that is in the world. We should choose to obey God no matter what the threat will be. God was with the Apostles and He will be with you if you stand for Him. Obeying Him will bring blessings and peace rather than obeying men.

Action: As you go out today, be determined to obey and please God in all things rather than men.

Memory verse: Acts 4 verse 19

Prayer: Lord God, help me to obey and please you instead of men in Jesus name. Amen.

God, Our Stronghold In The Days Of Trouble

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Friday February 10, 2017              

Topic: God, Our Stronghold In The Days Of Trouble 

Text: Nahum 1:2 – 8

Life is full of mysteries, challenges and uncertainties. Sometimes, these things bring fear, anxiety, worries and desperation. Though they bring these things mentioned above to us, they are the things that make life worth living because in most cases they bring out the best in us. However, when such mysteries, challenges and uncertainties come up, some people will start running to anchor somewhere. Where people run to or anchor depends on their knowledge and understanding. To those who know their God, they will anchor on Him in their time of troubles.

Here in our text, Nahum assures his people (The Israelites) of safety in God under the impending attack by Sennacherib saying that God is a stronghold in the day of trouble. This saying of Nahum is true and worthy of full acceptance. God being a stronghold here means that God alone is the one that can save them from the hands of Sennacherib.

Our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8); none who puts his or her trust in Him will be disappointed. As there are many challenges confronting us, we should understand that our God is our stronghold against all challenges of life (Ps. 18:2). Zech. 9:12 urge us to return to our stronghold. As you cling to our stronghold and believe His word, He will guide you rightly and perfect all that concerns you.

The challenge facing you may be the need for healing, freedom from prison, securing a good job, getting a good spouse, house rent, school fees, threats of kidnappers, etc. Remember, He never failed those who make Him their stronghold. He will always keep safe, all entrusted to Him because He knows His own (2 Tim 2: 19) except you are not His own. As you go out today, trust God who is our stronghold for your protection, safety and blessings in your endeavours.    

Food for Thought: Times of trouble should challenge us to run into our stronghold for therein we have protection.

Memory verse: Nahum 1 verse 8 - But with an overflowing flood he will make a complete end of the adversaries, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.

Prayer:

1)      Heavenly Father, help me to rely on you whenever I am faced with trouble in Jesus name.

2)      Lord God, as I anchor on you in the days of trouble, answer me in Jesus name. Amen.

LET NO MAN'S HEART FAIL: Devotion for Sunday August 14, 2016

LET NO MAN'S HEART FAIL: Devotion for Sunday August 14, 2016

Text: 1 Samuel 17:31 – 39       

Memory verse: 1 Samuel 17:32

A man who knows His God speaks with boldness and confidence. David knows the God He serves and all His promises of protection, favour, fighting for His people, etc. He knows that God is able to use him especially when it involves the “uncircumcised.” A shepherd boy, who came the same morning from keeping sheep to see his senior brothers in the Israeli’s army camp, had more courage to challenge the Philistine giant than all the mighty men of Israel. This was a very sad and unfortunate case.

God does great things for Israel, by the weak and foolish things of the world. Remember the devotion of Thursday July 28 2016 – NOT THE SPECIAL TYPE where we read that God does not use the perceived great, wise and intelligent people of this world. Rather He chooses the weak, unintelligent and poor people of this world as His instruments so as to shame the wisdom of men. God remains a mystery worth knowing.  

By all standard military wise and stature, David cannot be compared to Goliath but he was the only man in Israel at that time that has the spirit and mind of God in him. Confidence in God is a source of the highest and noblest courage, the most self-sacrificing devotion to duty, and the most exalted virtue. David had no single iota of fear about Goliath. He told Saul and his captains, “Let no man's heart fails because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine."

As a child of God, what kind of message do you give to people when they face challenges of life? Do you speak faith into them or you bring more fear? Because David had the spirit of God in him, he was calm, confident and relaxed amidst the threat of Goliath. Is your heart troubled because of problems of life? Are you trouble because you are in prison; sick, unable to pass that examination, etc? Never mind, Jesus is saying "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me,” John 14:1.

Food for Thought: Deuteronomy 20:1 – 4

Prayer: Lord God, send your spirit to comfort me in areas I am troubled. Grant me the courage to confront all my fears and troubles of life the way you encouraged David to confront Goliath in Jesus name. Amen.