FAITH CAPSULE: Be diligent to keep your heart as your house for God in your life.

Nehemiah 1, 2

Heart of man will identify man before God. Man, that plays the role of lying, deceiving and manipulating man is not hidden from God the only perfect creator of all. In the heart, man that is set for good is good before God and man that is set for doing bad is not hidden from God. What do you carry in your inside? God cannot be deceived. Be genuine to be good in your doing because God is never asleep but sees you continually.
Nehemiah’s heart was genuine with his concern for Jerusalem’s welfare and its inhabitants. God saw Nehemiah’s heart and He acknowledged him. God in His awesomeness invested in him as a vessel for reconstructing the broken wall of Jerusalem. The report of what was going on in Jerusalem caused a burden in Nehemiah’s heart and he began to intercede on behalf of the land and his people. The bible recorded in Nehemiah 1:3-4, “And they said to me, ‘The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.’ So it was, when I heard these words that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.” Nehemiah poured out his heart in prayer on behalf of his people and his homeland. Nehemiah had no hidden agenda to gain for himself but rather petitioned for things that had to do with a better life for his people. Nehemiah was selfless but mindful for his people which is the evidence that his heart was in line with what God was looking from man.
What is it about heart? Here are some scriptural verses of what the bible has to say about the heart:
Psalm 44:21, “…God knows the secret of the heart.”
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)
“The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the inner depths of his heart.” (Proverbs 20:27) Ecclesiastes 8:11 stated, “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.” The bible identifies the fool, in Psalm 14:1, “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God…”
The bible recorded, “As in water face reflects face, so a man’s heart reveals the man.” (Proverbs 27:19)
It was heart that revealed Nehemiah’s identity before God. Truly, taking to the warning in the word of God is to excel for His glory. Proverbs 4:23 warned us, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” Be diligent to keep your heart as your house for God in your life.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to set your heart continually before God.

FAITH CAPSULE: Propose with purpose is taking a position for great result.

Daniel 1

In every expectation of journey with great result, one that offers self with determination is set for great result. Daniel was a young captive from Jerusalem. Bible recorded, “In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.  And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.” (Daniel 1:1-2) Daniel was among all that were taken by Nebuchadnezzar out of Jerusalem. Daniel was qualified to be appointed for King’s direction as stated, “Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, 4 young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans. And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king.” (Daniel 1:3-5) Daniel proposed not to give self to Kings plan and purposed in his heart for God. Daniel 1:8 recorded, “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” With no doubt, when a man offers self to God’s word with determination, man is set to be an overcomer.
Daniel is an example of one with propose and able to purposefully keep his self for God’s glory. Daniel 1:9 buttressed, “Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.” The favor of God which located Daniel could not expire over Daniel through the journey of his life.
Daniel proposed (offered) himself to God without any hidden agenda. He proposed (determined, focused) in his heart not to defile his God. In answering to God, do you offer and determined in your heart for God by not defile self? Daniel demonstrated what it means to give self to God continually. Giving self continually to God by Daniel gave him victory with not failure. Daniel could not be a victim in the ruling hand of four different wicked kings that does not know Daniel’s God. Today, propose with purposeful heart for God as evidence of knowing God. Daniel 11:32 clearly summarized description of Daniel as stated, “Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong and carry out great exploits.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to have a purposeful heart for God.

FAITH CAPSULE: Give self to God’s word to gain and retain His presence.

Jonah 1

It is written, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:1-5) The word of God is God. Without the word of God nothing was created.
The word of God is His wisdom and His strength. The word of God is God’s presence that visits man. For example, the word of God visited Jonah and Jonah missed God’s presence when he walked outside of God’s word which is God’s presence. It is written, “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ² “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” ³ But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.” (Jonah 1:1-4) Visiting word of God was vacated by Jonah when he arose to flee from God’s direction. It is disobedience to walk against direction in the word of God. Jonah disobeyed God. Disobedience is vacating self from God’s presence.
Experience from testimony, Paul the apostle, by virtue of his encounter with the word admonished us in Acts 20:32, “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” One that does not give self to the word of God cannot retain and gain in God’s presence. One that is not spending time in the word is spending time in the world. Not spending time in the word of God is the evidence of inability to keep His command. Also, not spending time in the word of God is to be living life carelessly. Proverbs 19:16 buttressed, “He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is careless of his ways will die.” Samson could not keep the commands of God when he allowed Delilah to violate God’s command over his life. Evidently, consciously or unconsciously Samson was careless and not careful of God’s word (God’s presence) and he died. (Judges 16)
Samuel gave Saul direction to wait for seven days but Saul could not wait. On top of his disobedience, he could give self to God’s command not engage burnt offering which does not allow kings. (1 Samuel 13)
Giving self to the word of God is to gain and retain His presence.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace of God not to be out of the presence of God.

FAITH CAPSULE: David fought Goliath with no any other weapon but the name of the Lord God.

1 Samuel 17

God does not have power, but power belong to God alone and not to any god or man. God is in position to give or withdraw power from man when He choose to. Seeking power outside of God will lead to error that is bound with failure. The name of God is power, and the Bible buttressed by stating, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” (Proverbs 18:10) There is no any other name that delivers but only the name of God.
When it was time for Israelites to come out of bondage, it was invested of God’s power over the life of Moses. God’s power was in the name of God for deliverance of Israelites. It is written, “And God spoke to Moses and said to him: ‘I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name LORD I was not known to them.’” (Exodus 6:2-3) The name of God worked to deliver the Isrealites from the bondage of over four hundred years. Pharaoh, an agent of the devil, put up all opposition in his attempt to disapprove the effectiveness and the power that is in the name of God. However, Moses was moved by the word of God to make the name of the Lord God become approved to all generations. Evidently, there is no other name that is above the name of the Lord God? It has not been documented by anyone that the name of the Lord God is a failure.
The name of God is the same name forever that is working miracles. The name of God will not fail any man that wait for Him. Countless miracles testified to the awesome power in the name of God. The forces of the wicked are possibly going to throw at man but failure is certain for the forces of wicked. Goliath meant to kill David before David’s time was up on the face of earth. Goliath threatened David, “…come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!” (1 Samuel 17:44) David, a man after the earth of God responded to Goliath’as threat, “…you come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” (1 Samuel 17:45) David fought Goliath with no any other weapon but the name of the Lord God. Are you thinking of any other weapon to engage the Goliath in your life?  Take to the name of the Lord as deliverance and preservation.

Prayer for today: Ask that the name of God shall be your covering in all going and coming.

FAITH CAPSULE: Ignore your concern by responding to His command fully.

1Samuel 16

What is it that you are keeping yourself to instead of keeping self in the word of God? Word of God is His command, know to ignore all your concern by giving yourself to His command. Proverbs 19:16 buttressed, “He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is careless of his ways will die.” Very important, take note that keeping to your ways instead of His ways is an error. keeping to His word is an evident of having faith in Him. Taking to His way can be sacrifice, it can be painful but shall be gainful by making heaven. It is a good fight of faith not to miss eternal life.
Documentation of Jonah testified what it means by giving self to His command or not giving self to His word. Jonah 1:1-3 stated, “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,  “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.” Jonah was careless when he did not giveself to God’s command. When God calls and sends one out, He will back the called up. When God calls, He makes available what it takes to arrive at expected end of journey. Jonah’s answering to calling was to obey.
It was God Himself who called Moses out to go and lead the children of Israel out of the bondage of Egypt. Moses answered the calling of God with concern. Out of his concern for God, he reacted to the rebellious act of the children of Israel towards God. Moses took it upon himself to strike the rock instead of speaking to the rock for water. God responded to Moses, “Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” (Numbers 20:12)
The same God sent Samuel to go and anoint David as king while Saul was still living as the King. Samuel was concerned about God’s command when he asked, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” (1 Samuel 16:2) Out of concern, Samuel could have responded by going his own way. God responded to Samuel’s question, “…Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; you shall anoint for Me the one I name to you.”1 Samuel 16:2-3) Samuel’s concern could not corrupt his obedience to God’s command. God alone knows the end from the beginning, He knew us before we were born. Disallow your concern by allowing His command to be established.

Prayer for today: Ask God for grace to continually respond to His command.