“When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you.” – Deuteronomy 8:10 REFERENCE: Deuteronomy 8:7-18 Watch global news or walk a few miles from your neighborhood, and you will notice the hundreds and thousands of people who lack most of life’s necessities. There is a scarcity of food and clean water; many are jobless, homeless, and living in abject poverty. I often feel pained that many may never be able to enter a fast-food joint and buy a beef burger. It’s sad. Reading this today is...
“So, she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days.” – 1 Kings 17:15 REFERENCE: 1 Kings 17:8-16 Have you ever been in a place where you think you need all the help you can get, but you sense God is asking you to help someone in need or for His kingdom work? You wonder why God would ask you when He knows your current challenges and desires. You fail to see that God never does anything to shortchange you; never! IT IS A SETUP. It...
“Then Abner said to him, “Turn aside to the right or to the left; take on one of the young men and strip him of his weapons.” But Asahel would not stop chasing him.” – II Samuel 2:21 REFERENCE: II SAMUEL 2:13-23 Many of us are hustlers on the fast lane, like Asahel, always pursuing something. Asahel was a chaser and a hustler; he had the speed of a deer and thought he could catch whatever he chased. You may be divinely gifted with speed, quickness of mind, and the ability to pursue and catch things; that does not mean...
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” – Hebrews 10:23 REFERENCE: HEBREWS 10:22-25 God does nothing without first sending His word as a forerunner, the herald that announces what He is about to do. God says what He will do, and He does what He says. When you have God’s word of promise on a matter, be assured that He will perform it. That is why the inspired author counsels, “Hold fast to the hope you have found in God’s promise; wrap your heart tightly around it, knowing that...
“But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take you Mary your wife…” Matthew 1:20 REFERENCE: Matthew 1:18-25 Joseph had a relationship crisis at hand; his patriarchal society would applaud him if he took the popular decision. His fiancé, Mary, with whom he had just gone through premarital counseling and whose parents he had ‘officially’ met, was pregnant and he knew nothing about it. The culture required that the wedding ceremony process stops, the dowry is returned, and...
“You pushed me violently, that I might fall, but the Lord helped me.” ~ Psalm 118:13 REFERENCE: Psalm 118:13-17 In the verses preceding the main text, David refers to his distress, the potential fear of man’s wickedness, his haters, and how nations of enemies surround him like bees. He equally mentions how he will vanquish them all in the name of the Lord. In his agony, he says, “You pushed me violently that I might fall, but the Lord helped me.” David found hope in God’s help. Can you identify with David? Are you surrounded by opposing forces,...
“So, the LORD relented concerning this. “It shall not be, said the LORD.” ~ Amos 7:1 REFERENCE: Amos 7:1-3 Our fallen nature makes us quick to read negative meanings to things that don’t instantly signify good. It is the same approach many have to their dreams, especially bad ones; they conclude that they are doomed, evil will befall them, and satan (or God) is out to kill them. ‘Ministries’ are built on these fears, which make people run to and fro, seeking interpreters of dreams. God intended to punish Israel; He showed Amos a vision of locusts He formed as...
“So, David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.” – 2 Samuel 9:1 REFERENCE: 2 Samuel 9:1-10 A beautiful bond of friendship existed between David and Jonathan. I Sam 18:1 says, “The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” He further made a covenant of friendship and kindness with David; he stripped himself of his robe,...
“But do not seek Bethel, nor enter Gilgal, nor pass over to Beersheba; for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nothing.” ~ Amos 5:5 REFERENCE: Amos 5:4-7 Bethel had a rich history; Abraham pitched his tent there (Gen 12:8) and later called on the name of the Lord there (Gen 13:3-4). Years later, it got its spiritual significance and name (Bethel was formerly called Luz) when Jacob had a vision of a ladder reaching from earth to heaven with angels ascending and descending it. Jacob said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the...
“And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” ~ Genesis 3:4 REFERENCE: Genesis 3:4-11 Satan’s most effective weapon is corrupting a person’s sense of identity. If he can make you see yourself less than as God sees you, he can keep you perpetually defeated. Your identity matters so much that God had to make you in His image; He wants you to see yourself as ‘Daddy’s son or daughter.’ God’s image is your divine robe. Hence, satan likes to ‘disrobe’ God’s children. Adam...