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.

Why Some People Don’t Help The Needy: Devotion for Sunday May 3, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Sunday May 3, 2020

Topic: Why Some People Don’t Help The Needy       

Text: Acts 9:10 – 18                                     

There are so many people who are suffering today just because their appointed helpers have refused to help. They will always have one reason or another why they won’t help people who come to them for help or they come across. One of the reason people don’t help is poor understanding of how their wealth came about (see yesterday’s devotion).

They will question; where were you when they were making their money? This is sheer arrogance. Another reason is in our memory verse – our past or history. Some will recount what happened in the days of your forefathers and because of that they will not help anyone from your family.

In our text, Ananias initially refused to help Saul because of his past. He told God what he knew and heard about Saul. However, God insisted that he was the one chosen for the task. It was that insistence from God that made Ananias to help Saul. May God, in His mercies insists that your helpers will come your way in Jesus name. The excuse of Ananias is contrary to the bible teaching concerning our relationship with our enemies – “Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you” (see Matt 5:44; Luke 6:27, 35; Romans 12:14, 20; 1 Peter 2:23; 3:9).

As Christians, we should not fail to help people by recounting what happened in the past or any reason at all. We should behave like our Father in heaven as we have in Matthew 5:45.

Action: As you go out today, ensure you do good to someone who actually needs help without counting the cost.

Memory verse: Act 9:13

Prayer: God, help me to love my enemies and to do good to them because it is the best way to sow your love in their hearts.

Forget Your Misery

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Wednesday February 15, 2017

Topic: Forget Your Misery

Text: Job 11:16

You can’t do anything about the past, but you can do something about your future. All you need to do is to forget your misery and look up to God for intervention. Job's misery was extreme, and it seemed as if he could never forget it. He never did forget the fact of it, but he did forget the pain of it. There is nothing better that can happen to our misery than forgetting it in the sense referred to here in our text.

When we are in pain of body or depression of spirit, we imagine that we never shall forget such misery as we are enduring. But when God turns towards us with mercy and we are restored to health or uplifted from depression of spirit, we no longer remember, except as a thing that has passed and gone, to be recollected with gratitude. These words of Zophar in our text were prophetic. It later came to pass when God restored all that Job lost. There is also consolation from the future just as Hebrews 12:11 truly say.

Our text can be fulfilled in our lives by the lapse of time. Time is a wonderful healer. Remember how Job forgot his misery when, in a short time, he had double as much of all that he possessed (Job 42:10). When the Lord turns your captivity, you will be like them that dream. They woke up; their dream is all gone, they have completely forgotten it. So it will be with your misery. It will be gone and gone forever as God will remember you this season.

Food for Thought: Dwelling on the past denies us the opportunity of making progress into the future.

Memory verse: Job 11 verse 16 - You will forget your misery; you will remember it as waters that have passed away.

Prayer: Intervene in my life, O Lord, that I may forget my pain and misery.

WHY SOME PEOPLE DON’T HELP: Devotion for TuesdayMay

WHY SOME PEOPLE DON’T HELP: Devotion for Tuesday May 3, 2016     

Text: Acts 9:10 – 18      Memory verse: v 13

There are so many people who are suffering today just because their appointed helpers have refused to help. They will always have one reason or another why they won’t help people who come to them for help or they come across. One of the reasons people don’t help is poor understanding of how their wealth came about (see yesterday’s devotion). They will question; where were you when I was making my money? This is sheer arrogance. Another reason is in 9:13 – our past or history. Some will recount what happened in the days of your forefathers and because of that they will not help anyone from your family.

Ananias initially refused to help Saul because of his past. He told God what he knew or heard about Saul. However, God insisted that he was the one chosen for the task. It was that insistence from God that made Ananias to help Saul. My prayer is that God in His mercies will insist that your helpers will come your way in Jesus name. The excuse of Ananias is contrary to the bible teaching concerning our relationship with our enemies – Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you (Matt 5:44; Lk. 6:27, 35; Rom. 12:14, 20; 1 Pet. 2:23; 3:9). As Christians, we should not fail to help people by recounting what happened in the past or any reason at all. We should behave like our Father in heaven as we have in Matt. 5:45.

Action: As you go out today, ensure you do good to someone who actually needs help without counting the cost.

Prayer: God, help me to love my enemies and to do good to them because it is the best way to sow your love in their hearts.