FAITH CAPSULE: Come out of selfish motives; center your heart on only that glorify God.

Nehemiah 1

So many egoistic (self-centered) occupies every corner of the world without exception of believer or unbeliever. Who are you? Are you an acclaimed believer that is devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily one’s own interests, benefits or regardless for others? Are you one that is characterized by selfish motives? Indeed, life should not be only about self but considerate for people around self.
Nehemiah was a non-entity. He was not a pastor, he was not a bishop, and he was not a prophet nor was he the son of a prophet. He was an ordinary cupbearer to the king in the Persian palace. He got to where he was because he was a captive. One thing was clear about Nehemiah: he had the concern for Jerusalem’s welfare and its inhabitants at heart. Nehemiah, a cup-bearer with big heart desired a better life for his brethren. Nehemiah was not self-centered. Who are you? As a cup-bearer, he wanted a change for others but not be a liar or manipulation in the name of God. God saw Nehemiah’s heart and He acknowledged him. God in His awesomeness invested in the life of Nehemiah as a vessel to reconstruct the broken wall of Jerusalem.
Nehemiah 1:3-4 was the report that burdened Nehemiah, “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. He asked for nothing that had to do with himself, but rather petitioned for things that had to do with a better life for his people.
Nehemiah’s heart was in line with what God was looking for. Who are you in the eyes of God that is always traveling over the earth, searching for heart that lines up with His glory? Jeremiah 17:9 confirmed that, “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it?” God alone knows every heart and He will not overlook both good and evil heart.
If you will begin to come out of selfish motives, if you will begin to center your heart on all that will glorify God, He will not limit your exploit on the face of heart. Nehemiah did not remain on self but set for his people and God deposited in him what it takes to bring glory to the name of God. Nehemiah, a cup-bearer turned the issue of his nation around. Life is not to be about self alone, but rather it should be about all who comes our way.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace not to live life as selfish one.

FAITH CAPSULE: Wisdom for us is from God as our security.

Proverbs 4

Today, the world is a place of instability with wickedness at every corner. However, security to leave and not be a victim of instability is encased in wisdom. The word of God prescribed stability for this time we are living by stating, “Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times and the strength of salvation…” (Isaiah 33:6) What the word is saying to us is that security is in wisdom for man to have a knowing edge (Knowledge) over wickedness of this world.
What is wisdom?
It is important to note that Jesus is our wisdom as stated in 1 Corinthians 1:30, “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God…” Jesus, our wisdom from God is available to be received as security in the wicked world. With wisdom comes knowledge for any man that understands wisdom has agent for security.
Jesus, the wisdom from God is also the instruction of God for man in this wicked world. In this time, man that takes to the wisdom from God (instruction of God) is bound to be secured, to experience stability in wicked world of today. Proverbs 4:1 said it all, “Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, and give attention to know understanding.” This is saying that wisdom (instruction) demands attention which is also listening for the purpose of becoming secured in wisdom. A good God has delivered security to man but man fails to receive security because of inability to listen to wisdom. Without receiving God’s security in wisdom is the lack of understanding which supposedly give knowledge. Understanding is the key of having wisdom and knowledge. Jesus, in His word demonstrated His concern for lack of understanding when He questioned and answered stating, “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.” (John 8:43) Wisdom for us is from God as our security. Man should understand wisdom and knowledge to gain security which gives stability to man in the wicked world.
What is it about security in wisdom?
Man should not forsake the word of wisdom (which is the word, law of God).
Man should let heart retain words of wisdom and live.
Man should not forget, forsake, nor turn away from the word that preserves.
Proverbs 4:7 emphasized the importance of wisdom and understanding that are responsible for having a knowing edge in the wicked world stating, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. (Proverbs 4:7)
When security in wisdom is engaged, honor will answers for man, grace and glory shall be delivered to man.
Giving attention to wisdom the years of man’s life shall be many as wisdom leads man in right paths. In the wisdom’s paths, steps man shall not be hindered, when man run there shall be no stumbling.

Prayer for today: Ask God for His wisdom to take full charge of your life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Be a carrier of God’s word and His Word will not fail in carrying you.

Daniel 3

The word of God is God. The book of John 1:1-3 pointed out, “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.” The Word of God is true and is power. The Word has never stopped coming to us since the beginning. The Word that has been made available will only be available if heart is opened and receptive for the Word to reign and rule.
Are you opened for the word or opened to the world?
Psalm 107:20 stated, “He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” The same Word of God that was sent is the same that is near our mouths and we are to use it as a weapon for defense against all that the enemy brings in our direction. Elijah was walking and standing in the word as he took a stand to declare word with power of God in action as recorded, “And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, ’As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.’” (1Kings 17:1)
Daniel’s three friends disobeyed king by taking to the word of God. The three friends refused to fall down and worship the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar set up. Three friends stood in the word of God as they were set to be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. In the face of King Nebuchadnezzar, the three friends declared word that is faith entrenched, “…O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.  If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.  But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18)
Since the creation, there is no king that can overpower word of God. With word, Elijah was untouchable by shutting up heaven for rain as declared by the word of God. Three friends of Daniel were placed in the fiery furnace but God showed up as King Nebuchadnezzar saw and stated, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” (Daniel 3:25)
The word of God is not a fun fair it is for real. Meditate on it day and night; be a carrier of God’s word and His Word will not fail in carrying you.

Prayer for today: Ask for the Word of God to be established in you for the glory of God.

FAITH CAPSULE: In this new month, give Him uncommon praise-full attention.

Psalm 150

Nehemiah 9:5 stated, “…Blessed be Your glorious name, Which is exalted above all blessing and praise!” He is not a God to be compared with any of the fake gods. His name is what distinct Him and the difference has to be made clear. In praising Him, identify Him with His name. Psalm 8:9 confirmed, “O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!” In all the earth, from the top to the bottom, at all the extension of earth, His name is excellent and forever shall there be no other like our Lord God. Is the name of God touching your love for God? Man that loves Him looks up to Him. The psalmist declared, “Look upon me and be merciful to me, as Your custom is toward those who love Your name.” (Psalm 119:132) God is God, He alone is the mighty tower that is identified as the strong tower as stated in Proverbs 18:10, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”  Just like the psalmist, any man with understanding shall know the name of God to overcome surrounding enemy or the enemy of the distance. Psalm stated, “All nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me; but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.” (Psalm 118:10-11) Do you seek God by calling on His name or do you seek to exploit your surroundings by calling His name? Without doubt, a failure to seek His name is an avenue to shame. Psalm 83:16 said it better, “Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name, O Lord.” Take note, the work of His hand declares that His name is near. (Psalm 75:1)
It is a new day, a new week, a new month at this time of the year. Praising and thanking the name of unfailing God demands understanding. Indeed, it is an evidence of understanding to know to call or praise the name of God. The Psalmist commanded, “Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding.” (Psalm 47:6-7) Praising God has to be with understanding and when there is no understanding, there is no evidence of knowledge. Praise the name of God with songs and magnify Him with thanksgiving.God is a jealous God. God declared stating, “…For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God…”(Exodus 20:5)  Praising the name of jealous God is giving him attention. In this new month, give Him uncommon praise-full attention and He shall deliver you with uncommon extension of His hand.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to honor Him with consistent praise.  

FAITH CAPSULE: God’s eyes are watching while man’s character is not hidden from God.

1 Samuel 2

Character counts before God. Testimonies of God over the life of some men like Abraham, Job and David are the evidence that God’s eyes are watching over all as the bible stated, “Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God.” (2 Chronicles 14:2) “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth…” (2 Chronicles 16:9) “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous…” (1 Peter 3:12) Truly, the whole world, the population of man is not beyond God from seeing and spotting out every individual. God does not sleep nor slumber as He sees all.
What are you doing that is hidden from man but open to the eyes of God?
God testified about Abraham stating, “And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.” (James 2:23) Righteousness of Abraham was his action before God. The bible stated that, “For the Lord is the God of knowledge; and by Him actions are weighed.” (1 Samuel 2:3)
How are you doing before God’s eyes?
What we do on earth is what identifies all before God. God testified on behalf of Job in the book of Job 2:3, “Then the LORD said 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? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.’” God testifying His creation as a man of integrity must have been the result of having walked the walk and having lived the word of God. Besides Abraham and Job, David was referred to as a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). The same God yesterday, today and tomorrow will not ignore anyone who lives up to His expectation. God is not a partial God but a God who is particular in seeing His creation live in line with His word. How are you living as a picture in the eyes of God? Are you an acclaimed believer that is living life for God to see for His glory? God cannot be deceived but many are lying, deceiving, and manipulating others in the name of God. Many believers today have church but they have no Christ by virtue of the message their life demonstrates.
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous. In life, it is certain that God does not look over the righteous way of man as Psalm 34:19 buttressed, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.”  God’s eyes are watching while man’s character is not hidden from God.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to listen for His lead and instruction for His glory.