FAITH CAPSULE: Looking up in the right place for help will provoke an answer at the right time. 

Joshua 5:13-15, Psalm 121

Know and understand to look up to God for help in the face of challenges.
As an acclaimed believer, a delay in experiencing manifestation in any area of expectation is not enough reason to stop looking or lifting your eyes to the Lord for help. 
Not being able to lay hands on expectations during the year journey should not divert attention from lifting eyes to the perfect God to deliver.
The Psalmist testifies, “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. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” (Psalm 121:1-4) 
An acclaimed believer knowing Psalm 121 should know looking or lifting eyes to gain from above. 
Before Abraham knew what God had in place as an acceptable replacement for Isaac becoming the sacrificial lamb, he looked up with expectation. Genesis 22:13 records, “Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there was a ram caught in the thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.”  
Looking for help is essential. 
If you are not used to looking up to God for help in times of need, reaching your breakthrough will be a thing of challenging difficulty.
After Joshua and the Israelites crossed over the Jordan, another challenge from the Wall of Jericho persisted. 
The wall stood as a hindrance to getting to their Promised Land. 
Joshua did not just know about God, but he knew God for him to approach the wall as one who knows his God. 
Joshua did what one who knows God will do in the face of challenge. Joshua 5:13-14 records, “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 our adversaries? So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come…’”  
When Joshua looked in the right place, he found the right help at the right time. 
Are you looking in the right place for the right help? 
The testimony of the Lord is sure to make the wise simple (Psalm 19:7) 
It is wisdom for all to give self to the testimonies of God. 
Take to the testimonies of God and allow looking up to God for your help to become your lifestyle. 
Help from men will not go far enough, but always look up to God. 

Prayer for today: Ask God for the understanding to know and seek Him when the need calls for it.

FAITH CAPSULE: What is your identity as a Christian? 

Acts 19

Christianity is not about what one is against.
Christianity should be communicating what one stands for.
The Bible recorded the story of itinerant Jewish exorcists who wanted to conduct what they did not carry inside of them. 
The Jewish exorcists, who witnessed miracles from God conducted through Apostle Paul, attempted to do themselves like Paul. 
Acts 19:13 records, “Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 
Interestingly, the evil spirit could not identify them in the conduct of Paul. The evil spirit responded to the Jewish exorcists, “…Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?” Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.” (Acts 19:15-16) The conduct of itinerant Jewish exorcists does not line with the kind of conduct that carries the power of God. 
As an acclaimed believer, how are you conducting your life? 
Are you answering to what is not your conduct?
As believers in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, your conduct should serve as communication with your neighbors, as a weapon against confronting challenges.
Also, Christianity is not about what one is against but should communicate what you stand for. 
As a believer, you make too much noise in communicating what Christians are against and less noise in communicating what Christians stand for. Also, your conduct is not loud enough for an unbeliever to see Christ in you. 
If, for example, at your workplace, there is a call for the persecution of believers in Christ, would you be identified as one who confesses Jesus? Do you think your conduct as a follower of Christ will be enough for your fellow workers to identify you, or will there be no evidence for anyone to identify you as a Christian? 
Think, are you a hidden cross-carrier? 
Some kinds of religious one can easily identified by their dress, haircut, or jewelry. 
What is it that will identify you as a Christ follower? 
Paul the Apostle certainly could not live in your neighborhood without being recognized as a believer. 
Even if he chose to be silent, his conduct would identify him. 
How do you conduct yourself? 
2 Corinthians 1:12 says, “For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.” 
It is time to quit hiding by being silent when claiming to be a Christian. The conduct of a believer should not keep observers guessing whether you are a Christian or not. 

Prayer for today: Ask God to help you so that your conduct will always bring out the message of the Gospel. 

FAITH CAPSULE: God knows all those who trust Him. 

2 Kings 6:8-23

Trusting God is not an act of the mouth but belongs to the act of the heart. 
Trusting God is relying on God. 
Trusting God is relying on God. 
Without the fear of God, there is no seeking God. 
One can only seek God when there is trust in God. 
In times of challenges, one who fears God is with character trusting and loving God. 
God testifies about Job as one who fears Him when He spoke to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” (Job 1:8) 
Despite the overwhelming challenges in the life of Job, he could not be silent nor allowed his trust and love for God to become shaken when he stated, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him…” (Job 13:15) 
Job feared God and placed his trust in God.
To fear God indeed and in truth is what it takes to trust in the name of God. 
The Bible makes us realize that the name of God is trustworthy.
His name is a place of refuge and a strong tower for safety. 
Do you know His name or your name about His name? 
Psalm 9:10 states, “Those who know your name will put their trust in You; for You have not forsaken those who seek You.” 
Giving regard to the works of God and the operation of His hand is the way to know to fear God and be able to trust His name. 
Fear God, His works, the operation of His hands that make a way where there is no way. 
Once, the King of Syria was making war against Israel. 
His horses and chariots surrounded the city, and when the servant of Elisha saw the army of Syria, he reacted as one with no trust, but Elisha responded, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw.” (2 Kings 6:16-17) 
What you fear will find you. 
Whenever your fear finds you, you will lose trust in God. 
Know His name; gain trust in God, gain spiritual sight, and begin to see a way where there is no way. 
The servant of Elisha gained sight and trusted God for making a way where there was no way, getting victory in place of defeat. 
God does not sleep nor slumber.
God knows all those who trust Him. He is good to those who trust Him. 
Nahum 1:7 testifies, “The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him.” 
Do you truly trust in God, or only talk about your trust in God? 

Prayer for today: Ask to be enabled to be constantly steadfast in trusting Him.

FAITH CAPSULE: What matters does not matter, and will not deny the doing of God.

John 6:1-14

The combination of obeying the word of God and giving thanks to God delivers abundance and phases out lack in any area of life. 
It does not matter where you are or who you are, and it does not matter how lack is causing pain; it does not matter what the challenge is about having a place, but obedience and thanksgiving are engaged shall experience the promise of God.
There was a need for Jesus to feed the multitudes that followed Him. 
The number on the ground for Him to feed was five thousand. 
No provision from any store at the hour of meeting the needs of five thousand could have been abundantly enough.
At the feeding of five thousand, Jesus took the place of provider, one that delivers, that makes a way where there is no way.
Jesus was in place to do the miracle that cancels lack. 
At a place of lack, Jesus commanded His disciples not to let the people go away with empty stomachs. 
It was a deserted area, a place that could never produce enough supply for the demand that was at hand. 
John 6:5 records, “Jesus asked Philip, where shall we buy bread that these may eat?” 
The disciples informed Him that a lad had five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many? 
Are you wondering how lacks shall be met?
What you have on hand can never make up for what you need without Jesus. 
You have found yourself on a challenge posed as a represented deserted ground for you, not having what to meet your needs.
With Jesus, there is a way because nothing is impossible for the maker of all things. 
Jesus turned lack into abundance. 
John 6:10-11 records, “Then Jesus said, make the people sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.” 
The people were obedient, and there was a thanksgiving offering unto the Lord for the little (five barley loaves and two small fish) that became much. 
Are you with the character of giving thanks and being obedient to God to experience abundance in the place of lack?
John 6:12 states, “So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” 
Engage in genuine thanksgiving and obedience according to His direction. 
On the life journey, nothing can substitute for obedience and giving thanks to God. 
God that answers prayer sees all obedience to Him and sacrifice of thanksgiving. 

Prayer for today: Ask God to deliver you from any spirit that hinders man from obeying and giving thanks to God.   

FAITH CAPSULE: Know to be waiting on God.

1 Samuel 1

Praying is a way of life.
God answers prayer with yes, no, or wait.
One thing God cannot do: God cannot fail!
Are you praying or sleeping before God?
Luke 22:46 records, “…why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”  
Is your prayer at the back seat while temptation drives you into sin to become far from God? 
Jesus, in His Parable of Persistent Widow, pointed out praying before God and not losing heart.
Praying to God with persistence despite experiencing the manifestation is waiting on God. 
The barrenness challenge of Hannah did not stop her from going to Shiloh yearly to worship and sacrifice to God. 
Hannah was persistent until God opened her womb. 
Waiting on God can usually entail staying for either a short or long period. God answers individuals in different ways at His times. 
God will not answer prayer outside of His appointed time.
The Psalmist identified some different lengths of time for waiting: 
Psalm 25:5: “…On you, I will wait all day.” 
Psalm 62:1, “Truly my soul silently waits for God…” 
Psalm 37:7, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.” 
Hosea 12:6, “…wait on your God continually.” 
Philippians 3:20, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” 
The time to wait on God has to be patiently, continually, silently, and eagerly. 
Waiting on God can take longer than expected, but God will always manifest Himself when we patiently wait for Him.
IN TIME OF WAITING
In your waiting, acknowledge God, remind Him, and always make your request known to Him.
Acknowledge God: He is a jealous God, and the antidote to jealousy is attention. 
God enjoys our attention. Proverbs 3:6, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” 
Get to know God in your waiting to be encouraged.
Psalm 25:8 encourages, “Good and upright is the Lord; therefore He teaches sinners in the way.” (Psalm 25:8) 
Waiting without acknowledging the Lord is waiting in anguish.
Reminding God: Reminding God is not because God has forgotten you. The word of God encourages, “…and concerning the works of my hands, you command me.” (Isaiah 45:11) 
Anyone who remembers the works of His hands will know how to command Him as stated in His word. 
The Psalmist reminded Him in Psalm 25:6, “Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your loving kindnesses…” God is a good and great God. 
Request from God: He wants all to ask. 
Jesus encourages us in Luke 11:9, “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”  
Psalm 25:16 encourages all to ask, “Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, For I am desolate and afflicted.” 
He is the God of salvation and not a slave master, and He responds to requests to demonstrate His love for all. 

Prayer for today: Ask for the strength to be waiting on God.