FAITH CAPSULE: Invariably, faith will fail when the enemy attacks the heart.

Luke 22:1-23

What points out man before God is the heart of man. Heart can be hidden from man but is not possible to be hidden from God. It is heart of man that concluded what man is about, before God. Genesis 6:5 recorded, “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” For man, it is what flows from the heart of man that makes a mark of man. What flows from the heart of a man will make or break man in the journey of life under heaven.
Heart is undoubtedly the most important target for the devil to launch its attack. Judas spent time with Jesus and went to places with Him. Despite his entire experience with Christ his heart volunteered for devil’s investment in his life. Luke 22:3-4 recorded, “Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them.” Satan went after the heart of Judas and he was able to establish his plan to betray Jesus. Invariably, faith will fail when the enemy attacks the heart. Peter was close to Jesus and could also have been a victim of the devil. Once Jesus said to him, “…Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. “But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” (Luke 22:31-32) The only proven target for the enemy to strike is the heart. Ananias and Sapphira, his wife, were not forced to voluntarily sell their possession to buttress the fellowship of others, but they came up lying about the proceedings, “But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep part of the price of the land for yourself? (Acts 5:3) Man’s hearts need to be constantly engage to the word of God continually which can deliver man’s heart from evil continually. A heart that is engaged to meditating the word of God is disengaged from negotiation with the devil. Determination not to allow Satan from entering in to man’s heart is not enough. With determination and Peter’s exposure to Jesus’ ministry, Peter could not avoid devil in his heart. It was determination that failed Peter when he was determined not to deny Christ as he eventually denied Christ three times. Thank God that Jesus had already prayed for Peter’s faith not to fail. In the journey of life, in all challenges, determination can fail but prayer is more than enough for man not to fail.
Do not engage self-deception, get to know by taking to the warning in the word of God as it is written in Ecclesiastes 9:3, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? Prayerful keep heart from being a victim of devil.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace not to become a victim of Satan’s agenda in your heart.

FAITH CAPSULE: His sentence against evil work might to be executed speedily but He coming at His time.

Psalm 73

Psalmist’s inability to look away from the on goings of wickedness activities under heaven called for recorded statement in Psalm 73. It is written, “For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked for there are no pangs in their death, but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like other men. Therefore, pride serves as their necklace; violence covers them like a garment.” (Psalm 73:3-6) Are you one that is not able to look away from wickedness around you? Are you being intimated by wicked ones way of life? Be restful and know that God is never asleep nor slumber He will cause the wicked to be separated at His appointed. Look away from the wicked and not be envious of the wickedness activities.
The same God yesterday, today and tomorrow will not overlook the wickedness of today. The bottom line of it all is what Jesus talked about in Matthew 13:30: “Let both grow together until the harvest and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.’” Where do you stand? Are you a representative of wheat or tare? At every time of rainfall and all that contributes to growth, both wheat and tares are in position to be benefited. Oftentimes, there is no clear distinction identifying tares from wheat. Also, it is possible for tares to be appearing fat and better than wheat but God’s intervention time to separate wrong from right in near. As one that is living by the word of God should be awake, ready and prepared for harvest time that is coming.
Wickedness is evil, evil is sin the evidence of not having fear for God. God can be a long-suffering God, His sentence against evil work might to be executed speedily but it is certain that God is in perfect control to see over all under heaven. Ecclesiastes 8:11-12 is a warning encouragement as it is written for our learning, “Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him.  But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God.”
It is possible for wickedness to appear as growing fine and better under heaven. In life, growth is possible in every area but not all growth can be measured as pleasing to God. Without speedy of God’s action against the wicked is not an evidence of God’s approval. Indeed, God see it all and at His appointed time (not man’s timing) He shall judge all

Prayer for today: Ask for God’s deliverance and not be a wicked one in all ways of life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Recognizing God, do not boast before God.

Psalm 104

It is the privilege of God not man’s right that is keeping man alive day after days; week after weeks; month after months and year after years. For man to be alive is the mercy of God not merit of man. Recognize God do not worry. Replace worrying by worshiping God is enough as evidence of trusting and hoping on God. Are you one that is being kept down instead of rising to be looking up to God? It is time to be rising with praise worship before God, recognizing God for the grace of life. What is it that has qualifies you before God to be alive more than known and unknown ones? Claiming or having plans for agendas before recognizing with appreciation God is the evidence of not recognizing God for what He can do.
Psalmist recognized God by praising God: “O Lord my God, You are very great: You are clothed with honor and majesty, Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain. He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters, Who makes the clouds His chariot, Who walks on the wings of the wind, Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.” (Psalm 104:1-4) Today, give self to recognize God by meditating on word of praise all day. He alone is more than worthy of all praise and adoration.
Bible recoded, “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD! (Psalm 150:6) God alone is worthy of praise and thanksgiving. He is the God of miracle. God deserves a boastful praise and not only a contemplative (thoughtful or reflective) praise. The word of God stated, “I am the LORD your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.” (Psalm 81:10) Open mouth wide praising God to provoke God for expectation. Praise God today, tomorrow and continually. Every day is a miracle, Man should know that miracle is a blessing of God. By God’s grace for a new day and every moment of God’s privilege, make it a top priority of your day to carry Him along in your meditation. God is God that blesses and add no sorrow. (Proverbs 10:22)
Recognizing God do not boast before God. James 4:13-14 warned against boasting as it is written, “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” Do not be a victim of boasting but recognize God to provoke His blessings.

Prayer for today: Ask God to occupy every moment He has given you on earth.

FAITH CAPSULE: It is possible that you are on God’s journey for your life.

Genesis 37

Whenever God is set to replace you from where you are into the center of His divine schedule for your life, He does not go by your own timing neither does He move by your age. In God, there is no age limit. When it was God’s time to call Abraham out into the center of his divine schedule, God called Abraham and, “…Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.” (Genesis 12:4) At seventy five years old, he has passed the retirement age before God called him into divine schedule. Who would have thought of a journey of such magnitude for an aged man like Abraham? Moses, after forty years in one of the greatest palaces on earth, had no choice but to be replaced. God did not call him like He called Abraham but he found himself in a situation that chased him out into his divine schedule. Moses accidentally killed an Egyptian in his attempt to defend one of his Hebrew brethren. Pharaoh heard about Moses’ deed, “When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well.” (Exodus 2:15) At age forty Moses’ situation forced him to run unknowingly in the direction of God’s plan for his life. Can you see that God is in everything?
Joseph had a very positive dream but for the manifestation of Joseph’s dream there was a process in place. Process can be unacceptably challenging and exceedingly difficult. At the young age of seventeen, Joseph unknowingly began his placement journey to bring his dream to manifestation. The journey to dream’s manifestation can be challenging and uncomfortable. The starting point of dream’s journey is often unknown to the dreamer. Joseph did not plan to enter the journey of his life when he went to check on his brother as directed by his father. “Then he said to him, “Please go and see if it is well with your brothers and well with the flocks, and bring back word to me.” So he sent him out of the Valley of Hebron, and he went to Shechem. Now a certain man found him, and there he was, wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying, “What are you seeking?” (Genesis 37:14-15) From wandering into entering the pit, Joseph began a journey to the center of his divine schedule. Regardless of your age or where you are, do not struggle with yourself; God is on top of it all. Is it possible that you are already on your journey to the center of your calling? Give self to God’s word for His unfailing direction.

Prayer for today: Ask for God’s grace  to take charge over all your steps as you journey.