FAITH CAPSULE: Devote to Word of God by giving self with attention for manifestation.

Psalm 121, 123

With no doubt the Word of God is God. John 1:1 buttressed, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  Man, with believe must know better by devoting to looking into the Word of God rather than looking up to the word of man in this wicked world. What man look into is what man lift-up eyes to. What do you devote your attention to? It is certain that what you devote your attention to is what or who you look up or lift-up eyes to. Take note of it that what you devote to will attend to you. Devotion to the Word of God demands giving self to the Word of God with attention. Every attention to the word of God will always prompt direct attention from above which is beyond and above all evil agenda.  The Psalmist directed his attention to looking up to God. It is written, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2) If you have been lifting your eyes to the One that is above without any expectation there, will be no manifestation. Lifting-up to Word of God without any expectation is the evidence of religion. God is faithful not to forsake His own.
Psalm 123:1-2 also buttressed looking into the Word of God, “Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, Until He has mercy on us.” Who are you looking or lifting-up your eyes to?
Looking or lifting-up to the Word of God is not for memorizing the word of God in the pages of the bible. Lifting-up eyes is not necessarily tilting head up to the sky. Memorizing the word of God is the purpose of meditating Word of God in one’s heart. It is important to know that memorization without mediation will not prompt expectation. Meditation is what will allow a believer to observe and live according to the Word of God. Joshua 1:8 enlighten the purpose of meditating, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Devote to Word of God by giving self with attention for manifestation because Word of God is from above. Evidently, looking up to God in His word will cost nothing but only demands commitment. Failure is not a possibility in the life of one that devotes to giving self to the word of God by looking or lifting eyes up to God in His word.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace of devotion to God.

FAITH CAPSULE: In the journey of life, take to God’s way not man’s way.

Proverbs 16

Taking to the way of man is abandoning the way of God. In the way of man there is lying, deception and manipulation. In the way of man there is discouragement to be denied in the journey of life. In the way of man there is performance with no perfection. In the way of man distraction is in place which builds to corruption that leads to termination in life. In the way of man, giving clock priority over timing of God is a pattern of life for man. Timing of God is God’s appointed time with no possibility for man’s interruption. Clock is always in man’s hand to be turned backward of forward by man with not result. There are so many ways that seems right but not all leads to life. Think of it, is it the way of man (person’s way) or the way of God you are giving self to? The way that seems right to man is outside of the way of God. Word of God warned concerning way that seems right, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 16:25) God cannot be mocked, and He sees from where we are coming from to where we are going. Which way are you taking to? Any way outside of the way of God is a way to self-destruction. God has His way and His ways are in His word. The way of God is written in the pages of the Bible. In the way of God there is guidance to keep and direct man in the journey of life. I Samuel 2:9 buttressed, “He will guard the feet of His saints, but the wicked shall be silent in darkness. For by strength no man shall prevail.”
God cannot be deceived neither can He be mocked as regard to the way man engages the journey of life. Also, it is impossible to take to the way of God and end up in destruction. It is evident that all who has taken to their own way, outside of God’s way is set for self-destruction.
Take to the way of God and God will take you beyond your expectation. He is a faithful God. A time of self- examination is not a time of self-deception. Today, give to self-examination and avoid self-destruction. The book of Proverbs 16:2 stated, “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the spirits.” Will you be sincere with yourself and let God redirect your steps into His way? God wants to be pleased with how we walk. Proverbs 16:7 admonished us, “When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” The Lord God has spoken, and it is left for man to listen. Take to the ways of God and you shall never fail. It does not matter how long you have been taking to your way with no result, but it is true and certain that the way of God cannot be wrong.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to walk in His way to guide and direct you in the journey of life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Many confess Christ, but ways of life do not complement confession.

John 8:21-59

Claiming to be a believer but living like unbelieving will mark one as noise maker. A nose making believer is not truthful to the word of God and not free indeed. There are so many claiming to be a believer only by mouth and not by their way of living life. Many confess Christ, but ways of life do not complement confession.
Does that sound like you? Are you truly living life by the word of God or living by the word of world?
Being church is not abiding in church. Regardless of answering as a church member does not make man a believer that is free indeed and in truth. It is written, “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32) Jesus was talking to believers but not unbelievers when He stated, if you abide in My word, you are my disciples indeed and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. Despite Jesus’ word, believers are far from His word.
As an acclaimed believer, do you ABIDE in Him? Meaning that are you giving self to the word of God? Those who abide in Him are the ones that dwell in Him by giving self to the word of God. Engaging church activities is not an evidence of abiding in Him. Today, give self to God’s word and be abiding in Him indeed in truth.
Psalm 91 recorded, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”  (Psalm 91: 1) The secret of the Lord is the word of God and delivers as power to ones who abides to dwell in the word of God.
Psalm 91:1-6, pointed out what it is to be free indeed and in truth when we abide in the word of God by stating:
“Surely, He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.”
Jesus is true to His word when He stated that those who abide in Him are His disciples and they shall know the truth and they shall be free. Clearly Psalm 91 identified what it means to be free indeed and in truth when abiding and dwelling in the word of God.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to be abiding and dwelling in the word of God.

FAITH CAPSULE: It is possible, and it is now to rise and shine against darkness of this earth.

Matthew 5

Jesus identified believers as salt and went further to identified believers as light. It is written, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16) Interestingly, how many believers are living life as light or how many recognizes self as light? Millions claims to be a believer of the word of God but not taking a position as light which terminate darkness of their world. Living life as light is not a mouth activity or a noise making but to be rising and shinning against darkness of earth for the glory of God.
As an acclaimed believer of God’s word, answer as light and shine for the glory of God by rising to His calling. Isaiah 60:1-2, “Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. 2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.” The call to rise does not have a condition nor shall there be any reason for compromise but to rise and respond to God’s calling. When God calls He is evidently more than able to back man in calling. Obedience is to rise and shine for God’s glory. Indeed, deep darkness will show its face in attempt to discourage or deny man from rising but the Lord is always at work for the heart that desires to rise unto God’s calling. He said that He will rise over us and His glory would not be denied. Rising in response to the word of God is all that made Abraham to be distinct before God. It was Abraham’s rising to shine for God that also recognized him as “Friend of God” (James 2:23) Abraham rose for God when God said to him, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1) Abraham did not hesitate, he did not exercise doubt, neither does he questioned God’s calling for him to rise.
Indeed, Abraham’s rising to shine for God, made it possible for him to possess promises of God for his life. As an acclaimed believer, can you think of what is keeping you grounded from rising to God’s calling? In all your walk and work on the face of the earth, is there any area you have remained grounded? The rising of Abraham continues to generate the blessings of God’s promise from generation to generation. It is possible, and it is now for your rising to arrive at God’s blessing.

Prayer for today: Ask God to intervene against forces of your rising for God’s glory.

FAITH CAPSULE: Jesus’ Zealous act in the temple was of a right principle.

Numbers 25

Man should understand and know the need to be in shape as God’s symbol by living on right principles (ethics, value) by not missing out in the center of God’s divine assignment on earth. Zeal will set man right before God and settle man for greatness for God’s glory when zeal is grounded on right principle. Jesus’ Zealous act in the temple was of a right principle. Jesus drove out those who engaged buying and selling in the temple by using whip of cords. (John 2:13-17) As a believer, are you learning from zealousness that is rooted on a right principle through the pages of the bible?
Documentation of Phinehas the son of Eleazar was a demonstration of a faithful act which testifies to man’s zealousness that was rooted on a right principle. (Number 25)
Once on the journey to the Promised Land, the children of Israel provoked the anger of God against them when they joined to Baal of Peor. While they were facing the wrath for joining Baal Peor, “…One of the children of Israel came and presented to his brethren a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.” (Numbers 25:6)
The point here is that, they had not gotten over the consequences of one sin when they began to engage another sin through a fellow in their midst. Phinehas’ zealous response is recorded in Numbers 25:7-8 stating, “…Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose from among the congregation and took a javelin in his hand; and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stopped among the children of Israel.” Phinehas action, provoked God and God spoke to Moses, “…Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned back My wrath from the children of Israel, because he was zealous with My zeal…” (Numbers 25:11)
Phinehas could not sit back and compromise with wrong doing in the presence of God. Phinehas’s zealousness which was rooted on a right principle made Phinehas to act on behalf of God against evil act of the children of Israel. God responded to Phinehas’ zeal by zipping him in a bundle of blessing which extends to his descendants. God spoke through Moses, “…Behold, I give to him My covenant of peace; and it shall be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God…’” (Numbers 25:12-13) God is the benevolent rewarder of those that seek Him diligently. If you desire zeal for God, ask for it in prayer and God will deposit desire for His zeal.

Prayer Point: Ask God for the grace that His zeal will eat you up.