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.

Our God Is Alive! Devotion for Thursday February 20, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Thursday February 20, 2020

Topic: Our God Is Alive!                                   

Text: Psalm 115:2 – 3

The theme for Psalm 115 is God is alive. Our God thinks about us and also cares for us. For this reason, we should put Him first in our lives. Probably someone has once asked you where is your God? Have someone ever said to you, “Let me see the God that will save you in this matter’ just as Sennarcherib did (2 Chronicles 32:10 – 15)?

Have you also been mocked by people because of what you are passing through now saying that your God could not even save/deliver you? Have you been maligned for serving God because nothing seems to be working for you?

Do not be disheartened, our God is alive and He does what pleases Him at His own time. That there is no food; money, child, prospective husband/wife, job and other needs do not mean we cannot make heaven which is the ultimate in Christianity. It shouldn’t stop us from serving God. If your priority in serving God is because you need healing and other needs, you have missed the mark and will meet with frustration.

No matter how long the enemies have maligned you, one obvious truth is that your God will arise for you at the right time (Psalm 46:26; 68:1). Always tell those foes that your God is in heaven and will arise for you at His own time.

Food for Thought: Do you believe that our God is alive and on the throne?

Memory verse: Psalm 42:3

Prayer: God, may my enemies eat their words as you arise for me in Jesus name.

NO MORE SHAME

Devotion for Monday December 26, 2016

Topic: NO MORE SHAME            

Text: Isaiah 54:1 – 5           

This portion of Isaiah’s prophecy is on the increase of the church through the conversion of the Jews and Gentiles. To be childless is a woman’s great shame and disgrace. Families depend on children for survival, especially when the parents became elderly. Here, God said that Israel (Jerusalem) was unfruitful, like a childless woman, but God would permit her to have many children and change her mourning into singing. This is one thing that the birth of Jesus brought about. God allowed His people to go through this period of unfruitfulness, mockery and shame because of their sin. However, in His compassion and mercy, He is promising them a glorious future devoid of shame and mockery.

Have you been abandoned because of sin by friends and loved ones? Is your past life now haunting you that you have become an object of ridicule because you are unfruitful? Return to God (Hos. 14:1) now, for He is the only one that removes shame. Not only will He remove the shame but He will wipe away the scars on you. Your miracle will spring forth (Isa. 54:2; 2 Kings 4:1–7). That glorious future is now, the dispensation of God’s grace through Christ. He has redeemed us from all the curses that hitherto have brought us shame. This is the period for fruitfulness, which will remove shame. Step into it.

Food for Thought: When God arises for us, nobody remembers our shame.

Memory verse: Isaiah 54 verse 4

Prayer: Arise, O Lord, and wipe out all shame I have suffered in Jesus name. 

DON’T TAUNT PEOPLE: Devotion for Saturday May 21, 2016

DON’T TAUNT PEOPLE: Devotion for Saturday May 21, 2016

Text: 1 Samuel 1:1 – 8    Memory verse: v 6

“If the devotions of a family prevail not to put an end to its divisions, yet let not the divisions put a stop to the devotions” so says Matthew Henry. Despite the problems in the family of Elkanah, it didn’t deter him from bringing them to the presence of God in Shiloh every year (1:3). Peninnah had children but Hannah had none yet and this gave Peninnah the edge over her which she used in taunting her (1:6). Though Hannah had no child then, Elkanah still loved her dearly and demonstrated this openly (1:4, 5). Maybe the love Elkanah had for Hannah made Peninnah to despise and taunt Hannah because of her problem. This is always a problem in polygamy.       

Deut 7:13, 14 teach us that obedience to the terms of the covenant will be rewarded by fertility (in children, flocks, and agricultural produce). Conversely, barrenness to the Israelites was seen as an indication of God’s displeasure against them. Under such a system of belief, barren women easily become the object of heart-rending taunts by child-producing second wives, or even neighbours (Gen. 30:1-5; Lk. 1:25, 57, 58). Such domestic broils are a natural result of polygamy or bigamy. Do you taunt people because of their problems; no child, no spouse, no job, physical stature, etc? Remember you are not their God. God rose for Hannah at the end and her name is now a household name. Who hears of Peninnah today? Beware!

Food for Thought: Taunting someone is a mockery against his/her Maker.

Prayer: Our God in heaven, help me never to taunt someone because of the person’s predicament, trouble or sickness in Jesus name.    

GOD CANNOT BE MOCKED: Devotion for Wednesday October 21, 2015

GOD CANNOT BE MOCKED       Wednesday October 21, 2015

Text: Galatians 6:1 – 10                            Memory verse: v 7

In Luke 16:19 – 31, is the story of an unnamed rich man and Lazarus who had sores all over his body. Lazarus wanted only crumbs from the rich man’s table but the rich man mocked Lazarus as his dog also came and licked his sores till he died. Both received their rewards. The rich man by his action against Lazarus mocked God his creator (Proverbs 14:31; 17:5). Paul warns us in this epistle that we cannot mock God. Mock is to treat something or somebody with scorn or to mimic somebody. He compares charity and Christian bounty to seed sown, and assures us, that the crop we reap shall be answerable, both in quality and kind, and also in measure and degree, to the seed we sow.

We sow seeds through our words and deeds. In this seed-time, we should be mindful of where we sow our seeds. If you sow in the flesh – beauty, sexual satisfaction, worldly affairs, etc, which are ways of mocking God; we will reap same at the end (Galatians 6:8). Beloved, do not mock God by taking his words lightly. Many who tried it are regretting now. Remember Herod, Goliath, Belshazzar, etc. The worst undoing of your life would be to mock God by compromising his word. Beware

Food for Thought: Job 13:9.

Prayer: God, grant that I may sow in the spirit so I can reap eternal life.'

THEY MADE MOCKERY OF ME Sunday August 30, 2015

THEY MADE MOCKERY OF ME      Sunday August 30, 2015

Text: Psalm 22:7, 8                         Memory verse: v 7, 8

On Thursday, we saw how the Psalmist complained bitterly. Here we have more of his compliant about mockery. This Psalm alludes to Christ and all He suffered in the hands of Jewish leaders and Roman soldiers. The conduct of the Jews towards our Lord, when He hung upon the cross was here prophesied. But our scriptural reading is also true of the insults which David suffered from Shimei and others during the rebellion of Absalom. Whichever it may be, there is obvious fact that the righteous is always mocked by unbelievers.

A man asked for a lady’s hand in marriage but the lady chose to obey God. She had delayed conception and when the man saw her, he made mockery of her that nothing has happened after 10 years of marriage. But today, the lady is a proud mother of twins. This is God! Are people making mockery of your present situations and predicaments? Never mind them. Your God will arise for your sake in Jesus name. We look forward to your testimony.

Food for Thought: Mockery can challenge us into action (1 Samuel 1:1 – 11).  

Prayer: By your mercies O Lord, turn every mockery against me to blessing