FAITH CAPSULE: Meditation is not possible when there is no delight in the word of God.

2 Chronicles 17

Good success is a blessing of God. God’s blessing does not come by accident but His blessing comes with condition as stated in His command. The word of God to Joshua after the death of Moses states, “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.” (Joshua 1:8) To have good success requires meditating on the word of God day and night. Meditation is not possible when there is no delight in the word of God. It is written Psalm 1:1-2, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and His law he meditates day and night”. Evidently, having delight in the word of God will trigger constant meditation in the life of the delighted ones. What does your heart delight in? A heart that delights not in His word will not take to His way but will take to the opposite direction of His way. In the command of God, there is no middle ground but to obey and be blessed or disobey and remain un-blessed. The evidence and the result of taking delight in the law of God can be seen in the life of King Jehoshaphat when he ruled in Judah. It was evident that he walked in the ways of God. He sought God and he did not walk according to the acts of Israel (2 Chronicles 17:3-4). The results of his walk moved the hand of God as recorded in 2 Chronicles 17:5, “Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah gave presents to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance”. What other blessings can substitute for the blessings that come from God? Just as God will not overlook sin, so He will not overlook a heart that takes delight in His commands. With all that was taking shape in the life of Jehoshaphat, it is recorded that “his heart took delight in the ways of the LORD; moreover he removed the high places and wooden images from Judah” (2Chronicles 17:6). A heart that delights in His ways will meditate day and night and have good success.

Prayer for today: God is still in the business of answering prayers. Ask God to give you a heart that delights in His ways. A heart that delights in the law of God is set for blessings and there will be no stumbling in any walk of life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Being a believer is not a license of escape from the wickedness of the world.

Romans 12:1-12, James 4:4-6

The word of God warned in Proverbs 4:23 “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.” This warning also applies to the mind. How we keep our minds will determine the level of our conformity to the wickedness of the wicked world of today. It can hardly be discharged as inconsistent that the world today is getting darker. Being a believer is not a license of escape from the wickedness of the world. However, being a believer that behaves the word of God is the only way to God’s expected end for each and every of His creation. How easily do you get conformed the things of the world? The sound and clear warning by Paul the Apostle, in Romans 12:2 states, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”. Conformity is defined as an action or behavior in correspondence with current customs, rules, or styles. The warning is not to be conformed to this world, but unfortunately the warning is clearly falling onto deaf ears. Conformity to this world is thriving even among the believers of the Word. What is it about this world? The ruler of this world is the wicked one; the liar and the destroyer, the devil himself. He engineered the falling of man when he led Adam and Eve into the disobedient that kicked them out of where God had placed them: the Garden of Eden. The same skill that the enemy used in transforming Adam and Eve is still very much in operation today and that is more the reason why we have to yield our mind to constant renewal by the Word of God. The Word that you received yesterday is to meet the challenges of yesterday and it might not apply to the challenges of today. Believers of the Word are called not to be conformed to this world and the refusal not to conform to this world is rooted in the mind. The mind is to be constantly renewed or the world will remove the mind from where the Lord wants it to be. The mind is the battle ground where the enemy wants to take over. It is a serious warning that will carry any believer who takes to the warning through in the journey of life. Get your mind busy in constant and consistent renewal because “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world (1 John 2:16)” It is a sound and clear warning: do not be conformed to this world.

Prayer for today: Ask God to enable you with all that it takes not to be conformed to the wicked world.

FAITH CAPSULE: To be able to seek, there has to be a desire or a purposeful heart in place because desire is what drives home seeking.

Psalm 24

Why not wait on God rather than waste away? The world is getting darker and it only takes light to navigate darkness. The word of God reveals to us in John 1:1 “…light shines in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” In these days that the world is getting darker, why not take to the light instead of worry and get sick? The light that you need is the word of God. Psalm 119:130 says, “The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” Are you sick and tired of all that is going on around this world or in your own world today? Waiting on God is seeking God. If you are sick of it, it is time to begin to seek Him who has the power to take away and add all that will make the difference in your world. Jesus, in His word, said in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” As a believer, an acclaimed born-again Christian, it is not enough to just go to church if this is all that you consider as seeking God. What makes the difference is seeking Him indeed and in truth; not just going or serving in the church on Sundays. To be able to seek, there has to be a desire or a purposeful heart in place because desire is what drives home seeking. Desire is the engine while seeking is the motor. The Psalmist pointed out in Psalm 27:4, “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.” When desire comes into play, then seeking will resume motion. Determination will not do, but the grace of God will do. If your world has gotten to the point that a change is what will bring the difference, today should be the beginning of a new day. Today should be the day that you want to begin to look up for His enablement in your life. An enablement that will bring forth a burning desire that generates seeking God and ending up in His presence. In the presence of God, every other thing that comes from Him, that glorifies His name will be added onto you.

Prayer for today: Ask the Lord for His grace and He will pave the way to resume in your journey.

FAITH CAPSULE: In the opposite direction of evil agenda is the package for God’s deliverance.

Joshua 5:13-15, 6:1-21

When it was time for the children of Israel to pass through Jericho on their way to the Promised Land, resistance showed up. Joshua 6:1-2, “Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in.  And the LORD said to Joshua: “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor.” Does that sound like your situation? Are you facing any direct resistance as you proceed on to your Promised Land? To the children of Israel, The wall of Jericho represented hindrance; delay, denial and frustration. The wall of Jericho also represented an agent of failure to the children of Israel at the point of clearing the entire hurdle that led to their Promised Land. The responsibility of crossing Jericho was laid on Joshua who took over the leadership after Moses. Joshua has the responsibility to go over the Wall of Jericho that is described as impenetrable. While Joshua was standing beside Jericho, he refused to look at Jericho but rather looked in the opposite direction. Are you looking to what is standing in your way of breakthrough or are you looking away from it and towards help from above? Joshua 5:13 mentioned how Joshua received the package of breaking through the Jericho of hindrance, “And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” Joshua did not look at the hindrance, but he rather lifted his eyes and looked in the opposite direction. He did this with the understanding that in the opposite direction of evil agenda is the package for God’s deliverance. Joshua encountered with the Commander of the Lord’s army because he was able to look in the opposite direction of the representative of hindrance (Jericho). You can breakthrough if you will trust and know to look away from where you have been told there is no way. Where man says there is no way the Most High God is more than able to make a way. God remains the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) The wall of Jericho did not just fall but it fell down flat.

Prayer for today: In the name of Jesus, all the representative of the wall of Jericho in your journey will fall down flat.

FAITH CAPUSLE: The power to move from sickness to serving the Master is in the hand of the Master.

Luke 4:38-39, 5:12-15

The purpose of the Lord’s calling for us is to serve Him with all that He has given us. Are you serving God as required by God? Any situation that keeps a believer grounded from serving God will also deny believer from serving God in the area of calling. The Bible records about Simon’s wife’s mother’s victory over agent of denial. Luke 4:38-39, “Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.” The sickness that kept Simon’s wife’s mother grounded intended to deny her from getting the blessing of serving the Lord. As a believer, are you leaving up to the expectation of your service in the Lord? Simon’s wife’s mother received healing touch of Jesus and she was up on time to serve the Lord. The power to move from sickness to serving the Master is in the hand of the Master. As it was requested on behalf of Simon’s wife’s mother, will you request for His presence to bring you out of all that have been keeping you from serving Him? Just as He carries the power to heal, He also carries the power to cleanse. Have you been deny from serving Him because of enemy’s stain? A man that was full of leprosy fell on his face to ask for his cleansing and he received his cleansing. Leprosy was the agent of shame, embarrassment and mockery that kept the man grounded. Is there any way or anyhow you have been experiencing shame, mockery or any kind of situation that is causing you from not being able to present yourself where you have a need? Luke 5:12-13, “And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him.”” The man with leprosy did not only receive his cleansing but went and serve as commanded by Jesus, “…But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded.” (Luke 5:14) Sickness attempted to deny Simon’s mother’s wife from serving. Shame, mockery and embarrassment were also in place to deny the man with leprosy from serving. What is denying your service unto the Lord?

Prayer for today: Deliver me from situations that refute one from serving You. Let me live to serve you.