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.

FAITH CAPSULE: Meditating the word of God is what keeps the heart with all diligence.

Joshua 1

Obey to observe, observe to see in the word. The word you observe and see determines what becomes of you. Proverbs 4:20-21 stated, “My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart.” The word is telling us not to let the word depart from our eyes. To see in the word is to keep the word in the heart. Having the understanding to engage word by constantly meditating the word will enable one to observe, see and do what the word is saying.

Moses admonished the children of Israel, “But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you.” (Deuteronomy 28:15)
The Lord also spoke to Joshua to meditate His word day and night when He stated, “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.” (Joshua 1:8) When meditation is carefully engaged as commanded by God it will give meaning and understanding for its application in every step of life. Why not take the time to observe the word of the living God before taking your daily steps on the journey of life? All that is needed to make headway in the daily journey is to be embedded in the Living word of God. Meditation is trusting God to instruct and teach us in our daily walk.

A word is not enough to describe what meditation is about. It can be described as having an open line of communication with God. Meditation is what keep the heart diligent as required in (Proverbs 4:23)
Meditation is praying all day long. If it is not a prayer, the psalmist would not have stated, “Hear my voice, O God, in my meditation; preserve my life from fear of the enemy.” (Psalm 64:1)
Meditating the word of God is the source of connecting with undeniable understanding of the things of God. It is written, “My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall give understanding.” (Psalm 49:3) Meditation is the source of maintaining joy in the Lord. Psalm 1:2 buttressed, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.” Meditate to observe and do according to the word of God.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to be constant and consistent meditating the word of God as commanded by God.

FAITH CAPSULE: Often, pride precedes captivity.

Matthew 6:22-34

Among the major avenues to every form of self-destruction is encased in pride. Pride is a personal ride to self-destruction. Lying, stubbornness, anger, unforgiving and worrying instead of worshiping God are among the branches of pride. Pride is what opens man and become vulnerable for the devil to strike.  Pride is what precedes captivity. It is pride that denies man from hearing and giving ear to the spoken word of God. Jeremiah 13:15 buttressed, “Hear and give ear: do not be proud, for the Lord has spoken.” Evidently, a failure to hear and do what God is saying is a passage to engage what seems right to man. Pride is an indirect way of claiming to know better than God. It is worth to remember that the word of God does not lie when it stated in Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Is pride setting you up for a self-destruction?

As a believer that claims to be having Jesus in your house (life), a believer that is constantly hosting Jesus, are you allowing worrying in the face of what only seems to be challenging to you? Imagine Martha who welcomed Jesus into her house and at the same time entertained worrying. Martha took her case to Jesus because pride was set in her. She said, “…Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” (Luke 10:40) Jesus, the Lord of all, knows all and He identified the problem of Martha with the response, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.”(Luke 10:41) In Martha’s service unto God, worrying was in place. Can you carefully examine yourself, identify and deny the silent agent of pride that shoots out worrying into Martha.

If Martha, with Jesus in the house, could be trapped, not even your title in the church would be enough for you to take a cover from the spirit of pride. It does not matter what your concern or worry is hear and give ear to the spoken word of Jesus. Do not worry and be troubled, it is the plan of the thief who has come to steal, kill and to destroy. Word of God from Paul, the apostle admonished you today, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

Prayer for today: Ask God to deliver you from the spirit of pride which causes man to become a worrying vessel.

FAITH CAPSULE: Knowing to quote the scripture is not an evidence of knowing God.

1 Samuel 3

To be a believer that is living life by the word of God is the evidence of knowing God. Many know about the word and they are short of living by the word of God. It is possible for one to live all life in the church and not know God but only know about God. There is a difference in knowing about God and knowing God. Once a knowing is set in the life of a believer, living godly will become such believer’s identity. It is written in the book of, 1Samuel 3:1, “Now the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.” The fact that the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord before Eli was not evident that Samuel knew God, but only knew about God. When the Lord came calling on Samuel, Samuel could not relate neither could he identify with the word which called Him out. The Lord repeatedly called Samuel but Samuel had no understanding of where the callings were coming from, “Then the LORD called yet again, Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.”  (Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor was the word of the LORD yet revealed to him.” (1 Samuel 3:6-7)

At the time of Samuel’s calling there was no understanding of who God was and Samuel could not answer like one that knows God. Knowledge is wealth and it is also the power to be different when there is understanding and knowledge. Eli, by virtue of his understanding and knowledge with the Lord, directed Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.” (1 Samuel 3:9) Samuel with understanding that was acquired knew exactly what to do and hear from God. It is written, “Now the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.” Then the LORD said to Samuel…” (1 Samuel 3:10-11) The boy Samuel understood and he knew how to hear from God and it made the difference of His knowing God. Knowing to quote the scripture is not an evidence of knowing God. Know the word of God and live by it to demonstrate that you are one that knows God. Do you know God or you are one that only knows so much about the word of God? Gain the understanding of knowing Him and you will be enabled living life for His glory.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to know you more of Him that you may live life for His glory.