FAITH CAPSULE: It is not possible to communicate in thoughts and not get God’s attention.

Psalm 64

God alone is the Creator of all creations. At the time of creation, God did not contract any agent for any part of man for His help to assemble man as complete creation. Indeed, He is a perfect creator. He spoke to Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…” (Jeremiah 1:5) God’s word to Jeremiah speaks to all man; His word testifies that God knows all before man is formed by God. What is representing concern in the life of man which God cannot resolve for man under heaven? Absolutely nothing exists which is beyond God to respond with answer for man’s concern.
With all languages for communicating to God, there is none that surpasses God’s understanding. God hears and sees all that goes on back and forth among all of His creation. Psalmist stated, “He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see? He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct, He who teaches man knowledge? The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile.”(Psalm 94:9-10) The book of Isaiah 59:1 also confirmed, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear?” What is your concern which cannot connect with God for His intervention on your behalf?
It does not matter how long your concerns persists; it does not count how we call on God, the truth is that He hears us regardless of different language. Wherever we call on God from no barrier can intervene. It is not possible to communicate in thoughts (meditation) and not get God’s attention. God did not hide the secret of meditation when He approached Joshua after the death of Moses. Joshua 1:8-9, “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. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Meditation is sacrifice that demands consistency. Meditation demands day and night engagement. Evidently, the one that meditates will undoubtedly intimidate his world by evidence of God’s touch. Meditation is power to be preserved from enemy and from the rebellion of the workers of iniquity. God does not fail but will raise man out of concerns of this wicked world.   

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to trust and hope in His power for deliverance and preservation.

FAITH CAPSULE: In this wicked world, not embrace truth engage lie which devil is the resource.

1 Kings 22

Truth does not lie. Truth is always a threat to deceivers and one that lies. Jesus declared, “…I am the way, the truth, and the life…” (John 14:6) To walk in truth in this life is the evidence of being led by the truth. Bible buttressed the importance being led by truth, “Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day.” (Psalm 25:5) “Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me…” (Psalm 43:3) In this wicked world, truth is extensively hated. Among fellowship of liars, deception and manipulation truth is a threat. In this wicked world, those who do not embrace truth engage lie which devil is the resource. Jesus referred to liar, “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” (John 8:44)
Do you have hatred for God’s message in your direction? Any believer that hates never makes headway and the longer they hold unto hatred is the closer they are to their self-destruction. Just as a believer cannot get away with hatred, un-believer will also fall for hatred.
Ahab king of Israel approached war with Syria in order to take over Ramoth Gilead. Ahab requested Jehoshaphat the king of Judah to go with him to fight at Ramoth Gilead. (1 Kings 22:4) Jehoshaphat accepted requesting Ahab to inquire for the word of the Lord. Ahab agreed and gathered four hundred prophets to inquire. God was inquired and Ahab was given message that God will deliver Syria into his hand. Unfortunately, message of Ahab’s prophets was not truthful. Jehoshaphat requested for a clearer message from any available prophet in the land. Ahab responded to Jehoshaphat’s request, “…There is still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.’ And Jehoshaphat said, ‘Let not the king say such things!’” (1Kings 22:8) Ahab confessed his hatred for Micaiah a prophet of God. The reason for Ahab’s hatred was his dislike for truth.
Prophet Micaiah prophesied, “…I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.’” (1 Kings22:17)  Prophet of God’s truth message was true; Ahab’s four hundred prophet message was not truth. King Ahab’s hate towards Micaiah denied him from responding to the truthful warning signs. Ahab went to war and not returned.

Prayer for today: Ask God to deliver you from every representation of liar’s agent.

FAITH CAPSULE: Looking away from God is an assured route to failure.

1 Samuel 13

In times of challenges, looking away from God is beholding the challenges at hand. Looking away from God is the evidence of forgetting the testimonies of God. The children of Israel came out of the bondage of over four hundred years by the hand of God. As the Israelites progressed from bondage to God’s Promised Land challenges of Egypt pursued the Israelites to the Red Sea. With no way of escape for the Israelites, “…the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptian marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord.” (Exodus 14:10) Looking away from God is beholding enemy, allowing fear to take over.
Looking away from God is forgetting and not remembering the multitudes of God’s mercies but rebelling before God. During challenges in the place of beholding God is taking to the route outside of God’s promises. King Saul looked away from the hand of God upon his life as he staggered into permanent termination. In the face of challenging war against the Philistines, Saul wrongly engaged burnt offering and peace offering against the word of God. Saul could not wait for Samuel’s burnt offering. Saul’s excuse for violating the burnt offering was recorded in 1 Samuel 13:11, “…When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, then I said, ‘The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord.’ Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.” God’s mercy appointed Saul as King but Saul forgot the mercy of God to rebel against the word of God. Saul looked away from God while he looked at people which scattered from him.
What or who are you looking at? Looking away from God is an assured route to failure. Man will fail but God is forever faithful to wait and act for those who wait on Him. Take note and know indeed that whatever man behold or look which generates fear, man’s faith shall be locked down from rising up.
Bible recorded that the three friends fell down in the midst of the burning fire (Daniel 3:23) yet they could not be buried by the fire. The three friend’s eyes were set on God; they stood on a ground of faith that could not fail. The flame and the agent of generating flame were consumed by their flame. The three friends of Daniel walked out from the burning fiery fire without any stain or smell of the fire. God is still in the business of undeniable miracles if we do not look away from God. Today, set eyes on God and see the salvation of God which will answer for you today.

Prayer for today: Ask for God’s hand against ever Pharaoh of your life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Whatever you laid down at His feet shall be laid to rest.

Matthew 15:21-31

His feet should not be mistaken for a place for spectators or multitude with no expectation. The bible recorded, “Jairus, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, and when he saw Him, he fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly, saying, ‘My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live’” (Mark 5:22-23). Before healing was possible, Jairus came with expectation not for entertainment. He came and fell at Jesus’ feet. Jairus begged earnestly but not to exercise excessive power of his position. Jesus delivered answer to Jairus’ request while he was at Jesus’ feet.
Jesus identified a good place to be when Martha and Mary approached Him. “Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” The bible verses above mentioned that Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and Jesus identified the position of Mary as the good part.
Where in Jesus are you positioning yourself?
Take position at Jesus’ feet just as Mary did. Make the feet of Jesus as your choice. At His feet, take to the word of God. At His feet do not give regard to any distraction, pay no attention to spectators but seek for His healing word. Great multitudes came to His feet to receive healing by taking position at His feet. Matthew 15:30 recorded, “Then great multitudes came to Him having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet, and He healed them.”
Who have you been seeking for your healing and deliverance? Today, lying, deception and manipulation exists at every corner in the city or outside of the city. Take notice; do not be an ignorant, know and understand that there are no feet like taking a place at the feet of Jesus. Whatever you lay down at His feet shall be laid to rest; when you fall down at His feet your concern shall not rise up with you again.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to lay all your challenges at His feet.

FAITH CAPSULE: Why or what is the reason you are looking into God’s gift to your neighbor?

1 Samuel 8

God knows better, He knows what is good in His giving. Be satisfied with God’s gift in your life rather than looking into neighbor’s gift with envious mind. It is important to be at rest with God’s gift in your life instead of looking into your neighbor’s God gift. The Israelites looked outside of God’s gift that was in place for them. God gave the children of Israel judges to rule over them as a nation while the neighboring nations had kings. Seeing this, the children of Israel wanted a change; the children of Israelites wanted to have king and be like neighboring nations. The Israelites’ looking outside of God’s gift was rejecting what God wants for them. The Israelites approached Samuel the prophet and judge of Israel, “Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the LORD. (1 Samuel 8:4-6) The request of the children of Israel was based on the fact that they wanted to have king like their neighboring nations.
The Israelites’ request for king in the place of judges before God was not a pleasant one before God. The Israelites’ request was the evidence of their lack of sincerity and loyalty for God that was always answering with best response over their life.
Are you looking into your neighbor’s portion rather than looking up to God with thanksgiving for God’s gift in your life? Through Samuel, God responded to the Israelites, “And the LORD said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.  According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.” (1 Samuel 8:7-9) Why or what is the reason you are looking into God’s gift to your neighbor? Can it be that you are one that is never satisfied? Appreciate God for His entire gift in your life. We are better with God’s gift rather than looking into neighbor’s gift. Accept His gift with lasting appreciation. Reject rejecting God’s gift for in your life.

Payer for today: Ask God for the grace of lasting appreciation to His hand of gift in your life.