FAITH CAPSULE: Mercy belongs to God.

Genesis 19

The mercy of God is all that matters to live heaven on earth where wickedness resides. Above evil hands, above all advances of the enemy, the mercy of God is more than available to answer for man’s deliverance and preservation. When evil activities of Sodom and Gomorrah provoked the power of God, destruction answered for Sodom and Gomorrah. Before the onset of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the mercy of God singled out Lot and family for deliverance.
On the day of destruction mercy activated for Lot and family as it is written, “When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.” And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.” (Genesis 19:15-16) Lord being merciful over Lot could not give up on Lot’s lingering for deliverance.
Are you in position for God’s merciful in every way of life?
As if Lot was not happy for God’s destruction, he reluctantly rejected the offer of his escape to the mountains as directed. Lot asked for increased mercy to escape to another possible land. It is written, “Then Lot said to them, “Please, no, my lords! Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die. See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.” (Genesis 19:18-20) Lot realized the mercy of God upon his life as a result, he asked for increased mercy to plead God for other option. Zoar land was the other option for Lot to escape. Lot’s request was granted and was directed as stated, “Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.” (Genesis 19:22)
Just as power belongs unto God, mercy also belongs to God. Mercy, meaning loyal love, is the conventional love of the covenant-keeping God. Mercy of God answers in two fold. First, in Romans 9:15-16 God spoke to Moses about His mercy, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.” Second, mercy answers for those who fear God as testified in Luke 1:50, “And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.”
God gives mercy as He chooses; God gives mercy to those who fear Him.

Prayer for today:  Ask that God will not withhold His tender mercy from you.

FAITH CAPSULE: When man desires of God, God will deposit in man’s life.

Psalm 27

In life, whatever a man desires to be is what man seeks after. In truth, it is hardly possible for man to seek after what is not of man’s desire. In life, what do you desire? One that desires to live heaven on heart will seek after the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Jesus declares it, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) Do you desire for God to have all good things be added to you? Evidently desire must be in place in one’s life before one can actually seek God. When man desires of God, God will deposit in man’s life. A desire does not come by the word of mouth but it happens for man that devote to God to attain desire.
Desire, devote and God will deposit desire. King David knows what is best to desire when he stated, “One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple.” (Psalm 27:4)
What do you desire? There are so many choices that can make or break man by virtue of one desire. However, the things one desire will have a direct effect on the choices that one makes in life. Mark 8:34, “When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up the cross, and follow Me.” It is not a forceful calling, but a calling of choice. It should be desired before it becomes deposited in one’s life. God made us and gave us freedom of choice, because He is not a slave-master but a saving-master. He said, “Whoever desires.” Have you ever thought about the calling that you claim to have answered, or are you just going with the flow of the crowd? Can anyone possibly carry a cross in one hand, and carry self in the other hand? It is impossible. It is worthy to think about it and make a determination if one considers it is important to repent and rededicate one’s life to Christ. God is not deceived and one can only walk with the crowd for so long. The time is at hand for Him to identify one. It will cost Him nothing to expose one who desires not to go after Him.

Prayer for today: Ask God today to give you the grace to only desire for Him.

FAITH CAPSULE: Let no man seal up the close door that is already upon you with negative confessions.

1 Samuel 1:1-28

The Bible recorded how Elkanah, Hannah, Peninnah and all of Peninnah’s sons and daughters went to Shiloh every year to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts. Every year they went and nothing changed in the story of Hannah. She was barren going and coming. It is written concerning Hannah, “And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the LORD had closed her womb. And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the LORD had closed her womb. So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat.” (1 Samuel 1:4-7) There was no indication of complaining or fighting with anyone in or outside of her family. Hannah was the neediest and probably the quietest. Hannah kept on going with her family and most probably with no excuse. She was barren but she trusted God for intervention. Year after years, month after months, week after weeks Hannah refused to give up but remained persistent.
Hannah maintained her focus on serving God when God looked upon her and visited her.
You may be wondering what happened in your case. However, waiting on God demands persistence and it will prove to you that you have not been totally forgotten. Be persistent, call on God constantly without doubting. Persistence is demonstration of faith and God is not pleased when there is no faith. Hebrews 11:6 buttressed, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” The situation with Hannah was that God had closed her womb and the same God is the only One in position to open her womb. Hannah’s persistence provoked the hand of God to open her closed womb. Hannah’s persistence yielded, God blessed Hannah more than she expected. Know today that God is God. Let no man seal up the close door that is already upon you with negative confessions. Go the way of persistence, understanding that God can choose to open or close the door. He alone is God.
Proverbs 16:22 stated right, “Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it.”  It is proven through the word of God that understanding is the need for persistence in time of waiting to receive from God. Proverbs 4:5 said it all for us, “Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.”    

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace for understanding in waiting for God’s hand.

FAITH CAPSULE: The whole matter that counts is hearing the word of God to keep.

Matthew 14:22-33

Faith is anchored in hearing the word of God; faith is the source of fearing God. Failure to hear the word of God develops fear of evil. In life, the whole matter that counts is hearing the word of God and to keep the word of God.
It is written, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17) If there is no hearing by the word of God, fear of evil take place the position of faith. God wants us to hear His word to fear Him. Ecclesiastes 12:13 recorded it, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.” Man must hear the word of God to be able to fear God.
Evidence of the importance of hearing word of God to fear God was delivered through Moses, “…Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.” (Deuteronomy 4:10) Hearing the word of God is crucial to have faith, to fear God by not giving self to the fear of devil.
The word of God does not exempt us today. Today, we must hear the word of God to have faith, to have fear of God and not to give up to the fear of the evil.
Fear God is faith. Fearing outside of God is evil. Job 28:28 said it well, “And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.’”
Fearing God is taking a position to be blessed as mentioned in Psalm 128:4, “Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.”
Fearing God is encouraged in Isaiah 35:4 stating, “Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you.”
Hearing the word of God and able to keep the word of God will provoke faith and not to fear evil. However, hearing the word of God and not able to keep the word of God is the cause of looking away to challenges which will give place to fear of evil.
When Jesus called Peter and disciples to journey on the boat they all heard Jesus and faith led them into to the boat without fear. When storm started on the journey, Jesus walked on the water. Peter heard the calling of Jesus’ calling for him to walk on the water. With faith Peter joined Jesus with no fear. However, when Peter looked away from the Word of God by looking to the storm, fear of the storm made him to sink. Hear the word of God, keep the word of God for faith but not fear of challenges of evil.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to be hearing and keeping the world of God.

FAITH CAPSULE: Fear is a weapon of devil to reduce man for destruction.

Job 1, 2 John 20:26-31

It is important to note it that in life, fear will always cause failure for man while faith of man is the way to prevail against fear.
Many times, man locks selves indoor for fear. Whenever man is self-locked up stagnation will replace man’s movement or breakthrough in many areas of life. Disciples of Jesus allowed fear to lock them up after persecution of Jesus. It is written, “And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace to you!’” (John 20:26)  Fear, with no respect for man, went forward to shut door on disciples of Jesus after the persecution of Jesus. Obviously, fear and doubt became a roommate for the disciples until Jesus came and broke down the door of fear and doubt by His presence. On the same instance Jesus responded to Thomas’ doubt, “Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here, and look at my hands: and reach your hand here, and put it onto My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.’” (John 20:27)
Unquestionably, fear and doubt can be compared to a bag and its handle. Most times, fear cannot strike without doubt having its place in the life of its victim. The same can be said of a bag and its handle. A bag without its handle is not complete. Fear and doubt are agents of unbelief that patronizes man recurrently. Fear can be devastating when it strikes man in any area of life. Just as fear could not excuse disciples of Jesus, Job also experienced visitation of fear. Imagine Job a man described by God as none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil experienced a devastating destruction. He lost his children and wealth in a twinkle of an eye. Having lost it all, he testified, “For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me.” (Job 3:25) Was it the testimony of Job’s fear that opened him up to become a target of Satan’s attack?
Meditating testimonies of God will deny fear and doubt. Wondrous works declare that God’s name is near (Psalms 75:1) By virtue of His wondrous works, keep eyes on God and He will always draw you near. What else do we need to confirm that He has come that we may have life and that we may have it more abundantly? Do not live life as unbelieving, but believing. Let God occupy you in this wicked world and He will not fail to deliver His own.

Prayer for today: Ask God for deliverance from the spirit of fear; spirit of doubt so that faith will take charge in your life.