The Lord God Is My Portion

Devotion for Friday February 2, 2018

Topic: The Lord God Is My Portion

Text: Psalm 119:57

Any true believer (Christian) takes the Lord for the portion of his/her inheritance and nothing less will satisfy him or her. In our text, we can see the true character of a godly man. 1. He makes the favour of God his happiness. Thus the Psalmist here was happy to assert that God is his portion and nothing else matters to him. Some people place their happiness and pleasure in the wealth and honours of this world. Their portion is in this life; they look no further; they desire nothing more; these are their good things (Luke 16:25). However, a godly man takes the Lord for the portion of his inheritance and his cup, and nothing less will satisfy him. Another character of a godly man here is that he makes the word of God his guiding principle. He had declared his choice: he preferred the word of God to the wealth of the world. It was his firm resolve to keep, that is, treasure up and observe the words of his God (compare John 14:15) because he loves God. Here he confesses his binding obligation of his vow to God.  Beloved, what is your portion and what is it that gives you joy and makes you happy. Is it God and His word or the wealth of this world?

Sing SS&S 811; Abu 227

Food for Thought: Psalm 16:5         

Memory verse: Lamentation 3:24

Prayer: Lord God, you are my portion. Make me to be contented with what you have offered me and will offer me in future in Jesus name. Amen

Wisdom For Godly Living

Devotion for Friday January 19, 2018

Topic: Wisdom For Godly Living

Topic: Psalm 39:1 – 4

The best virtue we can develop is the virtue of taming our mouths or observing the oath of silence. Words we speak are very sensitive and can be used against us. James emphasized on the use of mouth when he said, “But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison” – James 3:8. In our bible reading, David meditates on human frailty and prays for wisdom to live Godly life. He asserts that he must be cautious because of his enemies; he must be patient because of his afflictions; he must be watchful over his tongue, lest he offends God, or give his enemies any reason to speak evil of him. These resolutions David made is what every Christian who wants to live a Godly life should undertake. We run into problem most times when we fail to tame our tongue especially when we are in the public or surrounded by enemies. Just like James noted, the tongue is an unruly evil and full of deadly poison. The ability to tame our tongue will definitely help us to avoid troubles and problems of life. David had shown his desire to live a godly life in this prayer he said here. How do you desire to live your life especially in our world of today where love is confessed but scare? You should adopt the example David gave here so that you will live with wisdom; not falling into problems with people around you. 

Sing A&M 356; Abu 186

Action: Write and paste in a conspicuous position how best you will want to live a godly life this year.     

Memory verse: James 3:2

Prayer: O Lord, my God help me to tame my tongue and to apply wisdom in the life I live in Jesus name. Amen

Price of Godliness (Sickness)

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Wednesday April 5, 2017

Topic: Price of Godliness (Sickness)

Text: Job 2:7 – 10

Yesterday we saw how Job lost all his possessions because Satan was not happy that God had blessed him because he was a godly man; blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. Today we have the story of how Satan came back to afflict him with a sickness doctors can’t describe. What was his sin for this affliction? He refused to give up his godly life. He refused to curse God.

Some people would have concluded that he was not really a godly man if not why will these serial attacks come upon him. The comment of his friends who came to him proves this. Some people said such about me when within a period of 4 years; I underwent kidney transplant operation two times and a heart operation also. If not that we are reading the story of Job, we wouldn’t have known what transpired between God and Satan before the problem started.

If living a godly life can attract such persecution and trials, do we avoid godliness? No! What we stand to gain far more outweigh the immediate pains (2 Corinthians 4:16 – 18). Our body may wear away but our soul which will return to God is what matters. Job understood this too well when he said that he knows his Redeemer lives and that he shall see God even after his skin has been destroyed (Job 19:25 – 27). What an expression of faith! Job was a man of faith who confessed the resurrection of the dead. If we have such understanding as Job had, we will not fear sickness and death; rather sickness and fear of death will draw us closer to God.

Food for Thought: Job 19:25 – 27

Memory verse: 2 Corinthians 4:17

Prayer: Grant me the grace I need, O Lord, never to deny you in time of sickness in Jesus name.

Price of Godliness (Persecution)

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Wednesday March 29, 2017

Topic: Price of Godliness (Persecution)

 Text: 2 Timothy 3:10 – 12                    

Godliness has so many price tags which we shall be looking at from now till next week.  In this letter, Paul charges Timothy that if he wanted to live godly in Christ; he must make up his mind to encounter persecution. He asserts that total obedience to God and a life lived for Christ will be persecuted. What Paul meant here is that instead of Timothy thinking of persecution as a stumbling block, he should consider it the portion of the godly which is meant to prepare them for the heavenly glory. He urged Timothy to follow after his way of life, noting how he suffered persecution (2 Timothy 3:10, 11). Paul’s statement in 2 Timothy 3:12 was to intimate Timothy that persecution is a process all those who choose godliness will certainly pass through.

Beloved, if you desire to live godly life you should not be surprised when people misunderstand, criticize, and even try to hurt you because of what you believed and how you live your Christian life. They can go extra mile to stop you from serving God or silence you by sending you into the prison. Don’t give up even when they set you up. Continue to live as you know you should. God is the only one you need to please. This should be your aim; to please God always. Remember that there is a reward for you if you will remain steadfast and immovable in your faith and walk with God.

Food for Thought: It is better to incur the world's hatred by speaking against its wickedness than gain its goodwill by going down the stream with it – Henry (PowerBible CD).

Memory verse: 2 Timothy 3 verse 12   

Prayer: Lord, grant me the courage to stand for the truth even in the face of persecution in Jesus name.

THE POWER IN THE WORD OF GOD: Devotion for Friday November 25, 2016

THE POWER IN THE WORD OF GOD: Devotion for Friday November 25, 2016

Text: 2 Kings 22:11 – 13          Memory verse: 2 Kings 22 verse 11

King Josiah sent message through Shaphan the scribe to Hilkiah the high priest. Shaphan returned words to the king about the book of the Law Hilkiah found (2 Kings 22:8). Shaphan read it to the hearing of the king (2 Kings 22:10). On hearing the words of God written in the book of the Law, Josiah knew that he and his people were in danger of God’s wrath, condemnation and judgment. He tore his clothes on account of the judgments denounced in the law against the people; and to which they were exposed to on account of their idolatry (2 Kings 22:13).

He sent people to inquire of the Lord for him, and for his people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against them, because their fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according to all that, which is written concerning them.

The word of God King Josiah heard started burning in him because he opened his heart to receive it. He didn’t give halfhearted attention to it as some of us do. These words that moved King Josiah unto godly repentance may not move some other persons to even blink an eye. This shows that the effect of the world of God on us depends on how we pay attention to it and how we accept it. If we accept the word of God wholeheartedly, it will yield abundant result of righteousness and fruitfulness for us. 

The word of God is quick and powerful (Heb. 4:12). When we read it with open heart to hear from God, take instruction and gain wisdom, it will surely prick our heart if we have been living in sin. The word of God, whether of law or grace, whether of promise or threatening, imparts to it, His own divine power. It lays open every heart, and detects all hypocrisy and unbelief. This is what the word did in heart of Josiah. Are you living a life of unbelief, hypocrisy and sin? You should yield your heart to God, allowing him to reveal your sin and thereafter repent of them. Are you ready to do that?

Food for Thought: Jeremiah 23:29

Prayer: Lord, empower your word as I read it so that it will bring out in me godly sorrow which brings repentance in Jesus name.