Be Strong and Courageous: Devotion for Friday January 3, 2020

Devotion for Friday January 3, 2020

                   

Topic: Be Strong and Courageous            

Text: Joshua 1:1 – 7                                           

Leadership demands courage because you are faced with numerous responsibilities. These responsibilities need wisdom and not only knowledge to handle. That is why you see a degree holder failing in leadership while a graduate of Secondary school performs better. It depends on the level of wisdom in that person which comes from God (Proverbs 2:6). Knowledge is only an added advantage in leadership and not the basic necessity.

Joshua had assumed the leadership of Israel and now has the mandate to lead them into the Promised Land (1:1, 2). God gave him all the assurances he needed and some strategies to lead well and prosper. He said that to succeed Joshua must (1) be strong and courageous because the task ahead would not be easy, (2) obey God’s law, and (3) constantly read and study the Book of the Law – The Bible.

If we intend to be successful in our endeavours this year, we should also follow God’s words for Joshua. You should be strong in faith and be courageous in following God and facing trials and temptation. You may not succeed by the world’s standards, but you will be a success in God’s eyes—and His opinion lasts forever. Follow God courageously and He will take you to your Promised Land.

Food for Thought: The highest and noblest courage is shown by the most faithful discharge of duty.  

Memory verse: Deuteronomy 29:9

Prayer: Lord God, make me strong and grant me the courage to faithfully follow your strategies for success this year in Jesus name.

Unlock Your Hidden Treasure

Devotion for Sunday June 3, 2018

Topic: Unlock Your Hidden Treasure        

Text: Joshua 1:1 – 9                                  

Every human being has hidden treasures waiting to be unlocked. They can only become real and useful to us when we take some actions. There are many ways to unlock our hidden treasures. Some of the ways are through revelation, challenges of life, reading of books and practices. I became an author through the revelation I received from reading of books from my mentor, Robin Sharma. Some of his books opened my eyes to the enormous gifts in me. Then I realised that I can do something with my life. Many of us today are yet to manifest our gifts because we are not aware of them. I pray that God will reveal them to you. You will not die without realising your gifts and using them for your generation in Jesus name.

Moses had a task of leading the people into the Promised Land but was denied the opportunity because of anger and disobedience. God saw the kind of obstinate and rebellious heart they displayed under Moses and assured Joshua that he will succeed in leading them into the Promised Land on the condition that he meditates on the word of God regularly. Joshua 1: 8b says, “For then” ... which means that the means of being inspired and to increase true courage, is daily attention to the principles and precepts of the Bible, so as to understand and obey them. For Joshua to discover his ability in leadership, he must as a matter of priority, read and meditate on the word of God to unlock that treasure in him.

Some of us have the treasure of becoming inventors, great athletes, great evangelists, pastors, teachers, doctors, nurses, etc, but fear have hindered us from attaining such greatness. God has an assurance for you in Joshua 1:9. Shake off that fear, put on courage and certainly you will be at the top. See you there.

Sing the Hymn A&M 561; Abu 188

Food for Thought: Fear is the greatest obstacle to attaining our greatness in life. 

Memory verse: Joshua 1:8

Prayer: Lord God, remove every fear in me that is an obstacle to the manifestation of the gifts hidden in me in Jesus name. Amen

Leadership and Generosity

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Tuesday February 21, 2017     

Topic: Leadership and Generosity

Text: 1 Chronicles 16:1 – 3

David had a great regard and love for God, no wonder he was termed a man after God’s heart. He brought the Ark of God into Jerusalem and wanted to build a house for it but God restrained him from doing it. Some of our leaders today are not perturbed by dilapidated church building in their environment. Unfortunately, it is not so with the Muslims. They always want to build place of worship. Christians who are leaders should always use their position to build places of worship of God Almighty.

When David brought the Ark into the city, he praised God and made offering to the Lord. David was very pleased that the Ark was now in Jerusalem after the previous attempt failed. In his joy he offered burnt and peace offerings to the Lord. He blessed his people and gave them gifts as a mark of his generosity. David’s act of generosity is commendable and should be emulated by all in leadership positions.

As God was generous to David and he demonstrated same, those of us He has been generous to, should do the same to the less privileged and the poor people under us. When Herod was happy, he didn’t remember God. Rather he called for friends to a party and at the peak of his merriment; he made a promise which resulted to the death of John the Baptist.

Those of us in leadership positions should give special considerations to people we lead. They should make laws that will be favourable to their subjects and avoid owing their workers’ wages because the bible condemns it (See Leviticus 19:13; Deuteronomy 24:14-15). As at the time of writing today’s devotion, some states in Nigeria owed their workers up to 8 months’ salary arrears. Unfortunately, some of these Governors are Christians who never stopped their own salaries and allowances. Christian leaders should be generous to their subjects as David was.

Food for Thought: Deuteronomy 24:14 – 15

Memory verse: 1 Chronicles 16 verse 3 - And distributed to all Israel, both men and women, to each a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins.

Prayer: Almighty God, grant to all those in leadership positions especially in our country, a benevolent heart for their subjects in Jesus name. Amen. 

PROOF OF PATRIOTISM: Devotion for Wednesday February 24, 2016

PROOF OF PATRIOTISM: Devotion for Wednesday February 24, 2016

Text: Nehemiah 1:5 – 11    Memory verse: v 7

The prayer of Nehemiah was nationalistic in nature which is a clear evidence of his patriotism. He started his prayer by recalling the attributes and promises of God (1:5 compare Ex. 20:6). He was specific about the deplorable condition of Jerusalem which he attributed to sin of the Israelis (1:6, 7. Compare Deut. 28:15). He didn’t exonerate himself and his family. He recalled the promise of God concerning repentance and restoration in Neh. 1:8–10 (see Lev. 26:33, 39; Deut 4:25-27, 29; 28:64). He prayed for favour in the eyes of the king he serves as cup bearer. We should note that the best way to obtain favour from men is to plead with God in whose hand lie the hearts of men.

Nehemiah’s approach to national problem of Israel is a challenge for us Christians of this generation. Do we see ourselves as one of the major contributors to the problem of corruption, insecurity, political violence and all manner of social vices that are affecting us today by our inability to pray and to do what is expected of us? How often do we even care to know what is happening in our nation? Nehemiah asked and that prompted him into prayer. When we hear of national issues, does it prompt us to pray or do we begin to analyse it, blaming people at leadership position. Our first duty is to pray for our nation. Let this be uppermost in our hearts.

Food for Thought: How often do you pray for your nation and problems confronting her?

Prayer: Lord, lay a great burden in my heart for my nation and cause me to pray for her always.

BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS: Devotion for Sunday January 3, 2016

BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS        Sunday January 3, 2016

Text: Joshua 1:1 – 7                          Memory verse: v 7

Leadership demands courage because leaders are faced with numerous responsibilities. These responsibilities need wisdom and not knowledge alone. That is why you see a degree holder failing in leadership while a graduate of Secondary school performs better. It depends on the level of wisdom which comes from God (Prov. 2:6). Knowledge is only an added advantage in leadership and not the basic necessity.

Joshua had assumed the leadership of Israel and now has the mandate to lead them into the Promised Land (1:1, 2). God gave him all the assurances he needed and some strategies to lead well and prosper. Here are some of them. He said that to succeed Joshua must (1) be strong and courageous because the task ahead would not be easy, (2) obey God’s law, and (3) constantly read and study the Book of the Law – The Bible. If we intend to be successful in our endeavours this year, we should follow God’s strategies given to Joshua. You should be strong in faith and be courageous in following God. You may not succeed by the world’s standards, but you will be a success in God’s eyes and His opinion lasts forever. Follow God courageously and He will take you to your Promised Land in this 2016.

Food for Thought: The highest and noblest courage is shown by the most faithful discharge of duty.  

Prayer: Lord God, make me strong and grant me the courage to faithfully follow your strategies for success this year in Jesus name.

ENCOURAGE HIM: Devotion for Sunday November 15, 2015

ENCOURAGE HIM         Sunday November 15, 2015

Text: Deuteronomy 1:34 – 38       Memory verse: v 38

We should be mindful of words we utter especially when we are angry or quarreling with others. The Israelites spoke angrily against God and Moses which attracted severe punishment. This made God to decree that only Caleb and Joshua will enter into the Promised Land. Moses told them that God is also angry with him for not heeding to His instructions too. However, the journey must continue with Joshua leading. Thus he requested for encouragement for him from the people. 

The admonition to encourage Joshua to succeed is worth emulating by us. The time I was writing this devotion was when the issue of kidnapping of school girls was on. Many people seem to shift all the blame on the President as if he alone can solve that kind of problem. We should encourage our spiritual and political leaders to succeed. They need our constructive criticisms and prayers. Leadership is all about involvement and taking responsibilities. We don’t need title to lead according to Robin Sharma.

Food for Thought: In what ways can you encourage your political leaders and the preachers and teachers of the gospel?

Prayer: Lord, make me instrument of encouragement to my leaders