FAITH CAPSULE: It is iniquity not to regard His work or consider the operation of His hands.

Psalm 106:13-33

The word declared in Psalm 103:2, “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” Blessing His name all the time and in all things is the evidence that one remembers Him. Forgetting what God has done or what He can do is enough to lead man into taking a route of sin. The children of Israel, after coming out of the bondage of Egypt, forgot what the Lord did for them and the word of God stated, “They soon forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel, but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tested God in the desert.” (Psalm 106:13-14) The Israelites, overlooked; failed to recall; unable to remember; unable to call to mind what the Lord did for their salvation from the bondage of over four hundred years. When there is a failure for man not to remember where man is coming from, man is set to become lost and not get to where man is going.
As a result of the truth that the Israelites could not remember the works of God, failure not to wait for the wonderful counsel of God took charge over their life. By virtue of their testimony, it is evident that a failure not to wait is a passage to become wasted in the journey of life. The Israelites were not only become wasted but lusted exceedingly.

Are you one that claims not to have forgotten the works of God? Are you disregarding the works of His hand? It is written, “The harp and the strings, the tambourine and the flute, and wine are in their feasts; but they do not regard the work of the LORD, nor consider the operation of His hands. Therefore my people have gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge; their honorable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.” (Isaiah 5:12-13) When there is no regard for failing to do the work of God as commanded by God, there will be no regret in doing what does not glorify His Name. Also, not to have attention for what God has done will deny one from responding to what God is doing or what He can do.
It is iniquity not to regard His work or consider the operation of His hands because He is a Jealous God. As regard to the works that God have done and the ones that He is doing, giving Him all the attention will keep us in Him and not hide us away from Him. Job made us to realize it that, there is no hiding place for iniquity. (Job 34:22)  It is impossible to hide from Him. Take a step forward in regarding His work and considering the operation of His hand.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace that constantly set mind to remember and to always regard to the works of God.

FAITH CAPSULE: Run with continuity and deny every form of distraction.

2 Timothy 4

It is written, “Blessed are those who keep justice, and he who does righteousness at all times! Remember me, O LORD, with the favor You have toward Your people. Oh, visit me with Your salvation.” (Psalm 106:3-4) It can be concluded that, to be remembered by God and to be visited by God is undoubtedly God’s blessing. As indicated in the above scriptural quotation, keeping justice and doing righteousness at all times (not at our convenient times) will trigger the blessing to be remembered and to be visited with God’s salvation. The requirement for righteousness at all times buttress the notion that: consistency; persistency; continuity are the rule of race. The apostle Paul in his illustration of what it takes to faithfully complete the Christian life journey (which is like running a race) stated, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day…” (2 Timothy 4:7-8) To run a race and be able to get a prize (blessing) is to continue in running according to the rule and not give up.

To run a race with continuity, consistency and persistency demands for one to deny every form of distraction such as sin. Often times when sin comes into play, getting back into race can be challenging. One should always keep in mind that God is a good God that He is ready to forgive. (Psalm 86:5) In His forgiveness there is the privilege to get back and continue in the race. It is always good to keep in mind that forgiveness from God is not a liberty to continue sinning and shining living in sin. Apostle Paul elaborated further on not to continue in sin despite the forgiveness in place when he stated, “…Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it…?”(Romans 6:1-2) Understand the need to stay focused in your race and also allow God to bless you when you are able to continue in keeping justice and doing righteousness at all times. Have you fallen short in your race? It is time to get back in the race by asking for forgiveness from a good God that is ready to forgive. Throughout the Bible, there are documentations of those that fell and not able to continue because of lack of understanding to ask for forgiveness. Also, there are documentations of those that fell for sin and by virtue of understanding, they regained continuity by asking for forgiveness and were able to complete the race. Run with understanding and be blessed.

Prayer for today: Ask God for grace and strengthen to run according to His rule.

FAITH CAPSULE: Tribulation is not excused from believers.

Psalm 105

Living life today is centered in challenges which man does not order for.
Challenges are everywhere, challenges come in different fashions and they are of different magnitude. Challenges often lead to all kinds of instability. Challenges are tribulations which do not exclude believers.
Jesus makes us to realize that tribulation is not excused from believers. Meaning tribulation will come but it will not count on us if we have Him. John 16:33 buttressed, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” He permits everything, He sees every challenge and He is in position to allow or disallow all that happens under heaven. However, in Him we are positioned to be excluded from evil. (Psalm 105:14-15)

Living a stable life in a challenging world is centered in the wisdom and knowledge acquired in the Word of God. It is written in the book of Isaiah 33:6, “Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times and the strength of salvation the fear of the Lord is His treasure” With wisdom and knowledge in place, no matter how challenges become challenging, stability will reign. In addition to gaining stability through wisdom and understanding, salvation will be strengthened.

Wisdom is the word of God. Also it can be described as instruction from God. 1 Corinthians 1:30, “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption”
Understanding is in giving attention through listening. Proverbs 4:1 buttress stating “…give attention to know understanding.” John 8:43 made it clear in the word of Jesus that, listening is the key to gaining understanding.
Knowledge (that is having a knowing edge) is the ability to apply the wisdom gained through listening.
The instruction of God which is needed to live a fulfilled life truly demands the ability to listen with conscious attention. Having been able to listen and gain understanding through attention, applying the instruction identifies one as knowledgeable or wise one.

Wisdom, understanding and knowledge cannot be separated as they all complement each other. There is none born with wisdom, but it is obtainable here on the face of earth.
James 1:5 testifies a way of finding wisdom when it stated, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” God is the One who gives all good things and it is a good thing for man to be filled with wisdom. “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7)
Spend time in the word and you will be strengthened in the world of challenges.

Prayer for today: Ask for His grace not to expire over the life He has given you.

FAITH CAPSULE: It is worthy to know and be encouraged that, Jesus will not forsake us.

Matthew 14:22-33

Psalm 31:24 admonished us, “Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”  Proverbs 3:25-26 also stated encouragement in direction of those who truly have hope in the Lord, “Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; for the LORD will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.” Is your hope in the Lord or it is a thing of the mouth and not of the heart? It is easy to confess our hope and trust in the Lord but when trouble or sudden terror comes like a wave, our faith becomes tested. The more we hear and hear about testimonies of deliverance for those who hope and trust in the Lord through the pages of scripture faith will rise.

Jesus made His disciples get into a journey where there faith was tested. He sent them on a journey at a late hour to a point of no return, “…Now when evening came, He was alone there, but the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. ” (Matthew 14:23-26) Jesus’ disciples were not only afraid of the condition they were into but they were also afraid of what they saw. The waves that were tossing their boat and the misrepresentation of Jesus as Ghost generated enough fear for them to cry out in fear. The disciples have seen different miracles, they have walked with the Lord enough to know and hope for salvation instead of fear. Jesus, the One that sent the disciples in the boat across to the other side before Him did not forsake them despite the loss of hope and trust in Him.

Has He called you and yet challenges persist? The word of God came for Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…”  (Jeremiah 1:5) The same word is speaking to every man today. He that formed us knows our steps and He is able to guide and direct in our entire journey. It is worthy to know and be encouraged that, Jesus will not forsake us. He did not forsake the disciples because at their cry unto Him, “… immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27) Our God is still in the business of showing up in every area of challenge but we are to trust and hope in His power of deliverance and preservation.

Prayer for today: Ask God to enable you with grace to hope and trust in His delivering power all the time.

FAITH CAPSULE: God holding your right hand is God doing the battle while you are just on the battlefield.

Isaiah 45

Who is like the One and true God of heaven and earth? He is the ancient of days, the King of Kings. Power belongs to God alone. He is the same yesterday and today. There was none in place to stop God or decide for God whom to be used by God for His attainment. God alone decided to appoint Cyrus the King of Persia for His own attainment. At the time of his appointment he did not know God. The word testified, “For Jacob My servant’s sake, and Israel My elect, I have even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me.” (Isaiah 45:4-5) It was God that anointed pagan King Cyrus and gave him a divine appointment for the deliverance of His people.

We are not to decide for God whom to be used for our deliverance. The choice belongs to God and to follow through in His plan is on our side. Are you in doubt as regard to the one God sent in your direction for your protection? The Bible recorded God’s word, “Thus says the Lord to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held—to subdue nations before him and loose the armor of kings, to open before him the double doors, so that the gates will not be shut.” (Isaiah 45:1) When God anointed Cyrus, his right hand no longer belongs to him it was held by God. With Cyrus hand in the hand of God, victory is certainly certain. With Cyrus’ hand in the hand of God, undeniable doors opened up for breakthrough. While Cyrus’ hand was being held by God, God promised, “I will go before you and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron.” (Isaiah 45:2) When God goes before His anointed one, every impenetrable ground will yield for penetration and the rough places that have been troubling will be made smooth. When He goes before His anointed, highly invested gates that are specially and specifically constructed to stop and deny breakthrough will be shattered; they will not stand but fall down flat.

Above all, every treasured and hidden activity of the wicked will be exposed. When the Lord goes before His anointed, the riches that the enemy cherishes will be exposed and the enemy will be naked. God going before the anointed is the anointed stepping in His footsteps.

Prayer for today: Ask God for your King Cyrus, the anointed one for your deliverance.