Don’t Be Held Back: Devotion for Saturday May 16, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Saturday May 16, 2020

Topic: Don’t Be Held Back                                            

Text: Luke 15:17 – 21

One problem common among many people today is fear of trying something new and failing. Because of this, most people are unable to reach the summit of their career or achieve their life’s dream. There are many too whose past has glued them to a place or certain level of achievement that they find it difficult to progress further.

In 2 Kings 7 is a story of 4 lepers who dared what healthy men were afraid to do. They entered the enemy’s territory in search of food. God honoured their faith and they were successful but unselfish about what God did for them. Their leprous condition would have deterred them. But no! They went ahead. What are those things you see as hindrance in your life? What are the things holding you back from venturing? God is telling you today that you can and should go ahead. Don’t limit yourself.

In our text is the well-known story of the Prodigal Son. He did not allow his sin against his father to hold him back from returning home to him. He knew that going back to the father is the best opportunity left for him. Though he considered his sins, he decided to move ahead. At last he got a surprise of his life. He was forgiven and a party was organised in his honour to welcome him back.

Beloved, have you been held back by fear, sin or intimidation of the devil? Have you given up repentance because you feel that your sins are too many? Why then did Jesus come to the world? Is it not to save sinners? Don’t be held back by your past. Forge ahead. I urge you to lose every chain that has hitherto held you back. Step out and surely you will step into your miracles of salvation, healing, deliverance and success.

Food for Thought: What are the things holding you back from moving ahead?

Memory verse: Luke 15:18

Prayer: Lord God, open my eyes to whatsoever is holding me back deliver me from them in Jesus name.

Be Your Brother’s Keeper: Devotion for Monday May 11, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Monday May 11, 2020 

Topic: Be Your Brother’s Keeper                   

Text: Genesis 4:3 – 12

Cain’s failures hinged on his reaction to God’s rebuke (Genesis 4:6 – 7). This deteriorated into brotherly hate instead of brotherly love. We don’t know why God rejected Cain’s sacrifice. But instead of listening to God, learning, and changing his ways, he reacted impulsively. Cain was wrong, yet he would not accept responsibility for or deal with it. He countered God’s correction with anger and denial.

After Cain’s sacrifice was rejected, God gave him the chance to right his wrong and try again. God even encouraged him to do so, but Cain proudly refused. The rest of Cain’s life is a startling example of what happens to those who refuse to admit their mistakes and repent of them. It also shows what happens when we blame others for our problems and allow anger to build in us massively. The end will certainly be our ruin except we deal with anger from the onset.

Every wise Christian should learn from Cain’s mistakes. We should not be too proud to analyze our actions and utterances especially when people point out faults in what we say or do.

Beloved in Christ, anytime someone suggests you are wrong, especially with God’s word, take an honest look at your life and make the necessary changes. It will save you crying, had I known. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.

Food for Thought: Pride and grace do not dwell together.

Memory verse: Genesis 4:9

Prayer: Lord, help me to always accept my mistakes and make changes whenever it is necessary in Jesus name.

Retreat For Progress

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Sunday March 19, 2017

Topic: Retreat For Progress

Text: Mark 1:35                   

Severally, Jesus went out alone to pray in the wilderness. It was a time of personal reflection for Him. He uses the period to assess what He did earlier and make a project on ways to improve. He was always in constant prayer with the Father during His earthly ministry. Mark recorded three of these times of prayer: (1) after the successful ministry in Capernaum with the healing of many sick and demon-possessed people; (2) after the miracle of feeding more than five thousand people (Mark 6:46); (3) in Gethsemane, just prior to His arrest, trial, and crucifixion (Mark 14:32-42).

What did Jesus pray about? His prayers may have focused on fulfilling His mission. Fame, being a celebrity or an icon is a temptation in itself, for it can threaten us to turn away from our mission. This may be what Jesus tried to forestall by taking time to retreat. This helped Him to focus on His task and gain strength for that. He had a mission to fulfil which was death on the cross to accomplish salvation.

If we want to make progress in our spiritual lives, we must as a matter of priority set out times for retreat. It may be as you go for a walk, your personal quiet time, or anywhere you choose. This will help you to assess the way you lived in the previous day (if you hold your retreat in the morning) and ways to live as you go forth into the world that day. As you do that you will observe your faults, your strength and your weakness. This will help you to avoid some previous mistakes and to make substantial progress in your endeavours and in your spiritual life.

Action: Make plans for a regular personal retreat and work conscientiously with your plan. Look for the book RETREAT FOR SPIRITUAL PROGRESS by Zachariah Fomum. It will help you a lot.

Memory verse: Mark 1 verse 35      

Prayer: Grant me the grace, O Lord, to always make our time to have personal fellowship with you in a bid to make spiritual progress.