Best Way to Hear from God: Devotion for Monday March 30, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Monday March 30, 2020

Topic: Best Way to Hear from God                  

Text: Exodus 3:1 – 6

That God speaks to us is not in doubt. Often times He speaks in a low small voice. If He has a special message for us and He feels we are not showing interest, He will come in a way that we can’t resist Him just as we have in our text today.

Satan loves to see us idling away our time but not so with God. God loves to see us employed and doing something. Far above that, He loves to come to us when we are in a lonely place outside the bustle and hustle of life. It was in such serene atmosphere that God appeared to Moses in a burning bush to speak with him. Moses opted to turn aside to see such amazing sight (v4). His decision to turn aside that made God to call him.

Today, we live in a world of uncertainties and perplexity. We are confronted on daily basis with so many issues begging for an answer and of recent we have the Coronavirus. We often shout out, God why? God where are you? Unfortunately, we do not have time to turn aside to hear God speak or tell us why or where He is. We are too busy and on the fast lane. We only worship God when we are less busy. We no longer care about retreats.

In our world of today, people no longer make time for God to speak to them. Thus we have confusion upon confusion. Again there are things God wants us to do for Him especially in preaching and healing of the sick. He can only send us when turn aside to hear Him. Turning aside can be in your personal devotion, retreat, fasting, etc.

How devoted are you to these acts? Do you rush your devotion because of other commitment? Always make time to hear from God.

Food for Thought: God speaks to us in lonely places and not in hustles and bustles of life.

Memory verse: Exodus 3:3

Prayer: God, help me to always turn aside to hear from you in Jesus name

They Believed God’s Word: Devotion for Monday August 26, 2019

Devotion for Monday August 26, 2019

Topic: They Believed God’s Word

Text: Exodus 4:31

Today’s text is contradictory to what we have in Exodus 6:6 – 9 as the Israelites did not heed to Moses. Here, they believed but when what they had expected didn’t come – the immediate release from bondage of Pharaoh and his men, they didn’t believe any longer. They had thought that their deliverance would have been so easy but it was not so. This is one of the many problems of men who come to Jesus Christ because they need a miracle; good job, spouse, healing, deliverance; fruit of the womb, prosperous business and breakthrough in all endeavours. When they come and didn’t receive what they had desired from God, they will easily give up.

The people of Israel believed the word of God through Moses and Aaron that God has appeared for them in mercy and was about to deliver them from bondage. God is better to us than our fears. We overcome difficulties in some of our duties when God appears for us. The yoke which appears to frustrate us will be easy and the burden which seems so heavy will be made light (Matthew 11:29 – 30).

The word of God is a source of encouragement. There is nothing that gives joy more than the word of God we hear. As we hear it, it brings comfort, gives directions, removes fear and grants us boldness (Joshua 1:8; Palm 1:1 – 3).

How do you take God’s word you hear? Do you believe it? It is the word of God we hear that will bring miracles and open doors for us. Constant meditation on the word of God will strengthen our faith to believe in God. Please make time to read and meditate on the word of God for that will give you the needed result in life.

Food for Thought: They believed because they saw. Is it same with you?

Memory verse: Exodus 4:31

Prayer: Lord God, help me to always meditate on your word so I can believe in Jesus name. 

Be Swift To Hear But Slow To Speak

Devotion for Wednesday July 25, 2018

Sing A&M 194 (Abu 177) – Jesus Meek And Gentle

Topic: Be Swift To Hear But Slow To Speak

Text: James 1:19 – 20

According to Rick Warren “God gave you two ears and one mouth. He wants you to listen twice as much as you speak. But we get in a hurry. What you need to do is try to understand the perspective of other people. Don’t just look at the situation from your point of view”. St. Francis of Assisi also said that “people should seek to understand before seeking to be understood.” James enjoined believers to cultivate the habit of thinking before acting and not just responding to situations emotionally or impulsively. In life it has been observed that nothing done in anger has ever given a good result and so it is always not pleasant at the end when you respond to a situation without giving a serious thought to it. One thing God require from those who profess Christ is self-control and it is one of the fruit of the spirit. I once read a story about a man who at point of stoning his wife hit his only son which rendered the innocent boy permanently brain damaged and the family living in perpetually sorrow because of that. Anger doesn’t solve anything. It builds nothing, but it can destroy everything. All of us can be angry and sometimes have been. It can come when things don’t turn out the way we want. It might be a reaction to something which is said of us or to us. We may experience it when people don’t behave the way we want them to behave. Perhaps it comes when we have to wait for something longer than we expected. We might feel angry when others can’t see things from our perspective. There seem to be countless possible reasons for anger. Ephesians 4:26 charges us to be angry but do not sin. It means we should have self-control. By that we will not sin against God or offend man because of our anger.

Food for Thought: He who angers you conquers you so choose not to be conquered, choose not to be angered – Elizabeth Kenny.

Memory Verse: James 1:19

Prayer: O God, my heavenly father, help me to develop self-control in every situation no matter how devastating it may seem.

Understand When God Is Luring You

Devotion for Wednesday March 14, 2018

Topic: Understand When God Is Luring You

Text: Exodus 3:1 – 6    

That God speaks to us is not in doubt. He loves us and will want to speak to us always but many of us do not take note when He is luring us to a place He can speak with us. Lovers don’t talk in the public. They go to secluded place to talk. That is how God wants to relate with us. Unfortunately, we are always too busy to listen or understand when He is inviting us.

Often times He speaks in a low small voice. If He has a special message for us and He feels we are not showing any interest, He will come in a way that we can’t resist Him just as we have in our text today. God loves to see us employed and doing something. Far above that, He loves to come to us when we are in a lonely place outside the bustles and hustles of life. It was in such serene atmosphere that God appear to Moses in a burning bush to speak with him. Moses opted to turn aside to see such amazing sight (Exodus 3:4). His decision to turn aside made God to call him.

Today, we live in a world of uncertainties and perplexity. We are confronted on daily basis with so many issues begging for an answer. We often shout out, God why, where are you? In our world of today, people no longer make time for God to speak to them. Thus we have confusion upon confusion. Again there are things God wants us to do for Him especially in preaching and healing of the sick. He can only send us when we turn aside to hear from Him. You can turn aside in your personal devotion, retreat, fasting and prayer. How devoted are you to these acts? Always make time to hear from God.

Sing A&M 533; Abu 196

Food for Thought: God speaks to us in lonely places and not in hustles and bustles of life. 

Memory verse: Exodus 3:3

Prayer: My father in heaven, help me to understand when you want to speak to me so that I will not miss my fellowship with you.

Pay Attention To Him

Devotion for Sunday December 3, 2017

Topic: Pay Attention To Him

Text: Matthew 17:1 – 8

It is imperative to emphasis some things for our proper understanding. God emphasizes some things to clear our doubts or to re-affirm what we already know. At transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ, God the Father said, “This is my beloved Son in who I am well pleased …,” highlighting

1) The dignity of Jesus Christ (He is a beloved Son because of His likeness and conformity to Him.

2) The Excellency of his meditation (In whom He is well pleased. Christ is most pleasing to God the Father and through Him, He is well pleased with us).

3) The Authority of His doctrine (Hear Him, not Moses and Elijah but Christ, commissioned to be the Great Prophet and Teacher). God commanded the Apostles to hear Christ; attend to His instructions and follow Him, an indication that there is authority in His words.

Do you listen to the words of Jesus and do you take instructions from Him? Do you follow Him both in words and deeds? There are lots of benefits we can derive from paying attention to Jesus Christ. His words direct us on the right path; illumine our ways and set us free. His words are spiritual foods for us. It heals us; shows us the best way to serve God and how to make heaven at last. How much do you desire to hear from Him? We should regularly hear from God the Son for our good.

Food for Thought: How much do you desire to hear from God?

Memory verse: Matthew 17:5 - While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"

Prayer: Almighty God, grant me a listening ear to hear from you always.

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.