Just Mere Intimidation: Devotion for Saturday September 5, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Saturday September 5, 2020

Topic: Just Mere Intimidation      

Text: 1 Samuel 17:1 – 11                                

I once read a story of a young Christian in the United States of American army who was always preaching the word of God to fellow soldiers. He never hid his faith. This did not go down with his captain in the military who always challenge him that there is no God.

One day, this captain wanting to make mockery of this young Christian gave him key to a car without engine and asked him to go and start the car. Initially, he protested that he can’t drive. Unknown to the young man that there was no engine, he prayed fixed the key into the ignition and started the car. From that day, the Captain came to acknowledge that indeed there is God. If the young soldier had taken to heart the intimidation of his Captain.

Philistines used their giant Goliath to intimidate Israelites. Not only did he intimidate the people, he also defied the God of Israel. This was insult on the God we serve. Unfortunately, Saul and his soldiers did not see it as intimidation and defilement of their God. It took David a boy to see it so. Thank God for David who rebuked him and killed him in disgraceful way.

There are many ways the enemies intimidate us; by instilling fear in us, making mockery of our faith as the Captain we mentioned earlier, demanding that we do some things that are beyond reasoning, by proclaiming sanctions and fines against us, etc. We have a clear example in Daniel 3:8 – 12 and 6:4, 5. These young Jews held on to their faith and God honoured them.

Are you being intimidated in your school, office, neighbourhood, home, etc., because of your faith? Never mind their intimidation. Hold on to God. He will not disappoint you. He did not disappoint Daniel and his compatriots and He will not disappoint you. 

Food for Thought: Intimidation is devil’s weapon to weaken our faith.

Memory verse: 1 Samuel 17 v 10

Prayer: My Father in heaven, make my faith stronger amidst all forms of intimidation of the enemies in Jesus name.

David’s Sincere Love for Saul: Devotion for Thursday July 16, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Thursday July 16, 2020

Topic: David’s Sincere Love for Saul       

Text: 2 Samuel 1:17 – 27                 

When the news of Saul’s death came to David, he was still in exile in the land of the Philistines occasioned by Saul’s treat to kill him. Here in our text, he mourned the death of who we can see as his avowed enemy. He was touched by the way the anointed of God died.

There are many characters of David that are worthy of emulation. Some of them are in our text for the day. David was sincere about this. An evidence of his sincerity was the fact that he did not immediately take over from Saul. He consulted to gain the people’s approval. Some people would have amplified the news of Saul’s death among the people that harboured him but not David.

In 2 Samuel 1:20, he said, “Tell it not in Gath, Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.” He urged the daughters to Israel weep over Saul (2 Samuel 1:24). This shows he had no grudges over Saul and his hatred for him.

What David did is a challenge for us today. How many Christians of present generation can demonstrate such love for one who has openly declared that he is your enemy? Some of us would have taken the opportunity to speak evil about Saul to gain favour from the Philistines and other Israelites. David is a type of Christ indeed. No wonder he is a man after God’s heart. Those of us who wish our enemies to die would have gone to Church for a thanksgiving that Saul their worst enemy is dead. If you have such mind, repent because of words of God in Matthew 5:44; Romans 12:20.

Food for Thought: “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you” Luke 6:27, 28.

Memory verse: 2 Samuel 1:20

Prayer: I need your grace O Lord, to love my enemies. Help me to sincerely do this, I pray in Jesus name.

Action Generates Abundance

Devotion for Thursday March 22, 2018

Topic: Action Generates Abundance

Text: Genesis 26:12 – 17                           

God instructed Isaac to stay in the land of the Philistines instead of going down to Egypt as his father Abraham did (Genesis 26:2 – 4). Isaac obeyed and dwelt in Gerar (Genesis 26:6). God told him to stay and he took action to ensure that he walks in line with all the promises God made to him. He sowed and the reward was outstanding (Genesis 26:12). The description of the reward Isaac received is challenging (Genesis 26:13) – “The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous.” It was the action taken by Isaac that God required to bless him. God indeed blessed him which made the Philistines to start envying him. You need to enter into an action God needs to bless you so that it will make your enemies to start envying you in Jesus name. Beloved, if you desire to live in abundance, you need to take a step and action that God requires to bless you. God gave Israelites manna in the wilderness but He did not throw it into their tents. They went out for the manna. You need to take action today. Don’t fold your hands and keep waiting for the promised blessing. Isaac didn’t start sleeping and praying for blessings rather he took action. Today some Christians are lazy. They prefer to stay at home believing and claiming all the promises of God without a corresponding action. The action you will take now will determine what you will become or the kind of abundance that will attend your way this year and beyond. 

Sing A&M 483

Food for Thought: “Great ideas means nothing without world-class willpower to get the big ideas done” – Robin Sharma.  

Memory verse: Genesis 22:12

Prayer: Lord, lead me into what I will do so that your promised blessing will begin to manifest in my life and family in Jesus name. 

WHEN YOU WAY PLEASES GOD: Devotion for Saturday September 10, 2016

WHEN YOU WAY PLEASES GOD: Devotion for Saturday September 10, 2016

Text: Genesis 26:26 – 33                  Memory verse: Genesis 26:28 

Today’s bible passage confirms Proverbs 16:7 which says, “When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” This was the case of Isaac in our bible reading of today. We have seen this happen in so many places. David who killed Philistine giant and champion Goliath was offered asylum by Achish one of the Philistines kings who would have seen the coming of David as an opportunity to avenge the death of their champion but it was not so as he openly and warmly welcomed David and his men. He didn’t stop at that, he also gave him the power to choice the place he will stay and David opted for Ziklag to go out of his daily sight.

The bible asserts that the kings' hearts are in the hands of God, which, when it pleases Him, turns their hearts to grant favour to His people. A good man will always be peaceful. That was the case of Isaac. He never insisted on avenging the unfair treatment he received from the Philistines. Rather, he chose to forgive them and to enter into a new relationship and friendship with them.

Our Christian faith teaches and expects us to be good and friendly neighbours with people in our neighbourhood. It always expects us to live peaceably with all men as we have in Hebrew 12:14. For what Isaac did in making forgiving and making peace, providence smiled upon him and God blessed his labours. This persuaded the people of Gerar to come to Isaac.

With Isaac’s enemies wanting to make a peace treaty, Isaac was quick to respond, turning the occasion into a celebration. We should be just as receptive to those who want to make peace with us. When God’s influence in our lives attracts people; even enemies, we must take the opportunity to reach out to them with God’s love. Insisting on wrongs done to us can never bring God’s blessing upon us. Those that God has blessed and favoured have enough reason to forgive those that hate them, since they cannot do them any real harm. Are you willing to forgive those who offended you?

Food for Thought: “Doing an injury puts you below your enemy; revenging one, makes you even with him; forgiving it sets you above him” -Nylic Review.

Prayer: Lord, grant me the heart to forgive those who offend and hurt me in Jesus name.

GOD UNDERSTANDS OUR PLIGHT: Devotion for Friday September 9, 2016

GOD UNDERSTANDS OUR PLIGHT: Devotion for Friday September 9, 2016

Text: Genesis 26: 24, 25               Memory verse: Genesis 26:24

Most times all we need to overcome the problems of life we pass through is just someone to encourage us; someone to hold our hands or someone we can lay our heads on. Sometimes we don’t even need the money or physical help. Once we have a heart to understand us, we will be okay.

If you are in good relationship with God and usually spend time with Him, you will definitely know that He understands our plight and our need for special encouragement. Occasionally, when we are confronted with series of problems in life, we develop emotion depression and then we will need a heart to lean on. This was the case of Isaac as he needed especial encouragement because of the insult, envy, jealousy and outrage he received from the Philistines.

With the persistent attack and threat, he had to return to the place where Abraham his father died. Such remembrance of the death of his father and the persecution he suffered in the hands of the Philistines afflicted his soul. God who made him and called him into the covenant He made with his father, Abraham, understood his plight and immediately appears to comfort and support him in his trials, by a renewal of all the promises made to him and his father. After God had spoken to him, he built an altar there. God’s words brought reassurance to Isaac that He was there with him. That might have been the reason why he started building the altar for God.

There are times when we are challenged and wronged, and we feel as if God is far from us or has forgotten us. One might ask why God didn’t intervene when Isaac was being wronged by the Philistines. Why did He now appear after he has suffered loses? The reason is that the land of Philistine was not the place God promised Isaac. Again, the famine that made him to run to the land of Philistine was over. God expected him to have returned. God knows when to appear for our good. Are you going through hard times, sickness, in prison, being oppressed, etc? God understands your situation and will appear for your deliverance soon. Don’t give up.

Food for Thought: Jeremiah 29:11

Prayer: Lord, you know all my ordeals, send your words of encouragement to pacify and reassure me of your love in Jesus name.

BLESSINGS ATTRACT ENVY: Devotion for Thursday September 8, 2016

BLESSINGS ATTRACT ENVY: Devotion for Thursday September 8, 2016

Text: Genesis 26:15 – 23          Memory verse: Genesis 26:16

God is ever faithful to the words He has spoken and He keeps them. He doesn’t make a promise without keeping to it. We have series of promises He made to His people which were fulfilled. Though some took a long time to come to pass, the long time in our eyes is not so with God.

He kept His promise to bless Isaac (Genesis 26:3) as Isaac was blessed (Genesis 26:13). The Bible stated that he started prospering until he became prosperous. The neighbouring Philistines grew jealous because everything Isaac did seemed to go right. The first step they took was to plug his wells and tried to get rid of him. By this they thought his blessings will cease. Being jealous is a very bad and it is a dividing force that can tear apart the closest friends. Life Application Notes says, “Jealousy forces you to separate yourself from what you were longing for in the first place. When you find yourself becoming jealous of others, try thanking God for their good fortune.”

The jealousy and envy of the Philistines against Isaac made him to relocate three times and on each occasion, he and his men dug new well. In the first two disputes that arose between Isaac and the Philistines, he moved on. He opted to avoid quarrel and troubles of the Philistines by moving to a more neutral ground. Here is a lesson and challenge for us Christians of this generation. Isaac moved on without challenging back for his rights which were denied him. He finally got to a place where there was room enough for him and the Philistines. Instead of Isaac resorting to start a huge conflict, he opted for give and take for the sake of peace between him and his landlords. We should be willing to forsake an important position or valuable possession to keep peace as those who bear the name of Christ.

Beloved, it shouldn’t be a surprise when your Landlord, your colleagues, your neighbours, etc, begins to envy you. Picking quarrels against them will be a mark of immaturity. With the blessing of God upon you, you are greater than them and will continue to excel above them. If someone is jealous of you, it means you have something he or she doesn’t have. Why then will you be offended? Know that the more they envy you, the more you will continue to prosper. It is my sincere desire that God will prosper you till you become prosperous in Jesus name. Amen        

Food for Thought: Exodus 1:9

Prayer: Lord God, grant me the wisdom to know when to withdraw and when to stand and fight when people are against me.

ISAAC SOWED: Devotion for Saturday September 3, 2016

ISAAC SOWED: Devotion for Saturday September 3, 2016

Text: Genesis 26:12 – 14           Memory verse: Genesis 26:12     

The instruction God gave Isaac in Genesis 26:2 & 3 was "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.” Isaac obeyed God’s instruction and stayed in Gerar (Genesis 26:6). He didn’t just stay, waiting for fulfillment of God’s promise. In the interim, he sowed in the land where he was a stranger and God blessed him 100 times more than what he sowed. He was not waiting for the death of the Philistines to inherit their blessings. The blessing of God upon him attracted envy of his landlords, the Philistines (Genesis 26:7). They forced Isaac go out of their country. Wisdom and discretion teaches us to give up our right, and to draw back from contentions. That was what David did when Saul went after him. He ran to the Philistines.  If we are wrongfully driven out from one place, the Lord will make room for us in another. So it was in the case of Isaac.

We should understand that Isaac didn’t wait for God’s blessings as promised to start manifesting. He went ahead to do something for himself. It was what he was doing that God blessed and he prospered therein. God has promised to bless us. But we still have a part to play in bringing the promises to fulfillment. When God provided manna, He kept them outside and not inside the tent. He could have sent them into their tents but it wasn’t so because He wanted to teach them that they have a part to play in their blessings. Again it was to test their obedience. Isaac obeyed God and stayed in Gerar when God blessed him and he prospered. How obedient are you to God’s instructions?

Food for Thought: What and where can you sow so as to reap abundantly?

Prayer: As I sow, O Lord, may I reap in abundance in Jesus name. Grant that I will not reap into a leaking pocket in Jesus name.

MAKE MORE EFFORT: Devotion for Friday October 9, 2015

MAKE MORE EFFORT                                Friday October 9, 2015                        

Text: Philippians 3:9 – 14                        Memory verse: v 12

In life, we have to take chances, sometimes they are worth it and sometimes they are not, but I tell you now, you will never know until you try. Harvey Keitel says, “The way I see things, the way I see life, I see it as struggle. And there is a great deal of reward I have gained coming to that understanding – that existence is struggle.” If actually we hope to get the reward kept for us (Philippians 3:12) we must see our Christian life and race from the perceptive Harvey had for life. Paul says here that he does not see himself as one who has attained his zenith or now perfect, rather, he still pursues what Christ has kept for him, striving to obtain it. This makes him to discipline his body so he might not run out of track (1 Corinthians 9:26, 27).

If we hope to attain our life’s goal, we must make extra effort. Don’t think you are already there. You must improve yourself. You must be willing to struggle the more to read the word of God, pray and please God with the life you are leading. The perception that there is only one winner in a race should make us more dedicated, purposeful, determined and committed. These will definitely help us to attain that which God has kept for us.

Food for Thought: Strive for excellence because if you achieve something without struggling, it will not give you a sense of satisfaction.

Prayer: Grant me the grace I need, O Lord so I will not run this race in vain.

YOU CAN DECEIVE MAN BUT NOT GOD: Devotion for Sunday September 6, 2015

YOU CAN DECEIVE MAN BUT NOT GOD    Sunday September 6, 2015

Text: 1 Samuel 18:17 – 19                      Memory verse: v 17b

When God’s hand and anointing is upon your life, every plan of the enemies against you will never succeed. Saul made David a captain so that it will be an opportunity for the Philistines to kill him (18:13, 17). Very unfortunate! What some people will not do directly, they often attempt to do indirectly, and thus try to cast the responsibility of their evil actions on others. This was the case of Saul here but he cannot deceive God. God is the owner and sustainer of our lives and this world.

Beloved, every evil plan against your life will not see the light of the day. God will frustrate them. Immediately after my birth, the enemies came after me. I was about 2 years old, a woman poured pepper and set fire on the faeces I passed at the back of the family house just to eliminate me. God of miracle sent rain immediately amidst sunshine and put off the fire. There are many other attempts even of recent where people confessed to being responsible for all the problems I have been through. Here I am today doing what God has called me into. The gang up against you will not succeed in Jesus name (Isaiah 54:17). They will reap the fruits of their labour.

Food for Thought: Why didn’t God approve Saul’s plan against David?

Prayer: Lord, frustrate all plans of the enemies against me in Jesus name.

HE INQUIRED OF THE LORD

HE INQUIRED OF THE LORD           Friday May 29, 2015

Text: 2 Samuel 5:17 – 25              Memory verse: v 23

A proverbial saying of Anioma people has it that, “He who makes inquiries will never miss his way.” This is a wise saying that anyone who wants to embark on any mission, project or endeavour should take to heart. See 1 Samuel 30:8 for an example. Here is another inquiry David made. 

The Philistines had deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim to fight against the Israelites (5:22). This prompted him to inquire from the Lord what he will do in that circumstance. David was a man who never takes chances of events around him. The Bible recorded over 15 times David inquired of the Lord personally. God responded to him (5:23b, 24) by telling him what to do. David did as God instructed him and he was victorious against them (5:25).

We take too many things about our lives to chance. We hardly make time to inquire of the Lord about little things. W. e only care over some ‘big things’. It ought not to be so. The bible enjoins us to commit our ways and work to the Lord (Psalm 37:5 and Proverbs 16:3). When we learn to hand over our cases to God or make inquiries from Him, it will save us a lot of ‘had I known’ that we cry about on daily basis. If you have not been doing so, start today.

Food for Thought: When you learn to inquire from God over everything that concerns you, your life will be free of anxieties/worries.

Prayer: Lord, make me conscious of the fact that you are the only one that knows about my tomorrow and can help me in every situation