FAITH CAPSULE: Inquiring from God is going after the heart of God.

1 Samuel 30

King David, a man of war had a relationship with God. God identified David as a man after His heart. He brought down Goliath, a giant who stood between the Israelites and peace. On numerous occasions, he unsettled the arch enemy (Philistines) of the Israelites. David was anointed to be king, years before he actually became the king. Despite his knowing, he did not upset the plan of God for his life by trying to get to the throne before the appointed time. How often have you caused a diversion for yourself in an attempt to make the plans of God happen before God’s appointed time? He had the life of the reigning king (Saul) in his hand so many times when he was being chased by Saul. Yet David did not take Saul’s life. David could have killed Saul and become the King before God’s time. He had good reason to kill Saul, but he chose to run and hide from cave to cave, wilderness to wilderness, and from one priest to another.

It is worthy of note that, among the characters of David which must have identified him as a man after God’s own heart was his constant inquiring from God. At a time when King Saul was after his life, David wanted to keep his father and mother safe. It is written, “Then David went from there to Mizpah of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother come here with you, till I know what God will do for me.” So he brought them before the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.” (1 Samuel 22:3)

The same David refused to take situation into His hand by taking it to the hands of God before going after the Amalekites that burned the city, took captive wives, sons and daughters of his men. It is written, “David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.” (1 Samuel 30:8) David disallowed his past glory from replacing his reliance on God for direction. As directed by God after his inquiring, “…David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled. So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all.” (1 Samuel 30:17-19) Inquiring from God is going after the heart of God. It is a demonstration of total faith and taking a position to attaining great exploit.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace of constant and complete reliance on God.

FAITH CAPSULE: Obedience to His word manifests His evidence in one’s life.

Psalm 107

It is written, “He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” (Psalm 107:20) The word of God is power to heal and to deliver. His word is already here for any who will engage His word for deliverance and preservation. Are you still waiting for the word of God to bring forth you deliverance and preservation? Hebrews 4:12 stated, “For the word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” The word of God, by virtue of its power demands our time. Are you giving time to study the word or you are skimming through the pages of His word?

All that is needed most in this world is His word. Word of God is for our learning Romans 15:4 admonished, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” Are you spending time to study the word or more time for the world? For those that are spending time to study the word of God, the word of God will no doubt work for them in this world of wickedness. However, the ones whose time for the world is overtaking their time for the word there is a need for a serious readjustment. Are you expecting the word to answer on your behalf when you have not been answering to the word of God?
The word of God cannot fail and will not fail. The book of Isaiah 55:11 made a declaration, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” The word of God demands full obedience. Obedience to the word of God manifests the evidence of God in one’s life.

Take it to mind and know it that man can make all the noise quoting the word of God but a failure not to allow the word of God become one’s garment will cause man to become naked and exposed to the wickedness of this world.
Romans 10:17 stated, “…faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Are you in a position to be hearing the word? Is the word sinking into you?  When the word is not sinking into man, it becomes impossible for faith to rise. Give self to the word; allow faith to rise and become one who pleases God. Remember, without faith it is impossible to please God.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace for the word of God to take its place in your life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Have you considered engaging the way everlasting?

Psalm 139

There is a way of everlasting and there is a way of eternal damnation. Both ways do not complement each other and no man can take to both ways at the same time. Both ways are engage-able by choices man makes while having the breath of life. Which one of the two ways are you plying? The way everlasting is to God just as the way to eternal damnation is to devil.

The bible testifies, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” (Psalm 90:2) “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.” (Psalm 145:13) “How great are His signs, and how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation.” (Daniel 4:3) “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
All of the above scriptural verses testify where God is and where he will be. Where God is will also be a place for all of His obedient children. Have you considered engaging the way everlasting? The wicked ones are set on the way of eternal damnation. Have you asked or try to find out by virtue of the way you are living life if you are wicked?
Wickedness operates from the heart. Jeremiah testifies, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) Is deception; lying; manipulation your identity? Are you keeping your heart to avoid missing everlasting by ending up in eternal damnation? The word of God points out a way of avoiding eternal damnation by stating, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

Eternal damnation must be a “no-go” place. The psalmist wanted to make sure that the way of eternal damnation is not his portion when he spoke, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24)
By you inquiring, know it today that you have not engage the way of the wicked; the way to eternal damnation. The ones whose word of God is near in their mouth but far from their heart are the wicked one. Clearly from across the pages of the bible it is clear that wicked are set on the way of eternal damnation. Make a right choice and trust God for help of enablement to engage the way to everlasting and not to eternal damnation.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to be kept away from the way of eternal damnation.

FAITH CAPSULE: A heart that does not meditate on the word of God will become a dull heart.

Joshua 1

It is written, “For the shepherds have become dull-hearted, and have not sought the LORD; Therefore they shall not prosper, And all their flocks shall be scattered.” (Jeremiah 10:21) When seeking God takes its place in the heart of man the heart of man shall never be a dull heart. However, when seeking God does not have a place in the heart of man the heart of man shall become dull.  The heart of man with meditation man will seek after God and not become a dull heart. Prosperity is the evidence of a heart that mediates and the book of Joshua 1:7-8 pointed it out, “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 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.” It is a thoughtful business to constantly engage meditation. Obviously, meditation is what will make a heart not become dull and when dullness does not have a place in the heart of man seeking God will have a place in the heart of man.

The heart which is constantly active in meditation will become active in experiencing God’s prosperity. God’s prosperity as mentioned by the Lord to Joshua is an all-round prosperity. All-round prosperity is the one that gives good success. The ability to observe and to do according to the word of God comes only from constant and consistent meditation on the word of God. Doing and observing the word of God is a demonstration of obeying God. Also, obeying the word of God is the evidence of seeking God.

As a believer, where do you stand in seeking God? Seeking God starts from the heart and when the heart is dull, nothing becomes bright in walking the world of darkness.

The Psalmist stated that, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1). The secret place of God is no longer a secret to those that know to seek Him in the pages of His word which never fails. Spending time and holding on to the word of God in meditation brings about prosperity that leads to good success. This is a secret to those that are yet to discover it in the pages of the Bible. God cannot be mocked and neither can He be manipulated and whatever is sowed is what you will reap. Sow by investing time in meditation and the heart will be active and not dull.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace of enablement to be constant and consistent meditating on the word of God.

FAITH PRESCRIPTION: Jesus is Lord and there is nothing He cannot do.

Mathew 11

What is it that is causing you to have doubt instead of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? With doubt fear will eventually come to place. Where there is fear or when fear is rising, faith will sink. The Bible identifies the source of faith stating, “…faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17) Engage hearing and hearing by the word of God, allow faith to rise so that fear will sink and doubt will have no place in you. Deny your present situation or your location from operating as an agent that causes you to doubt.

John the Baptist doubted Jesus. It is written, “And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” (Matthew 11:2-3) Is there any representative of prison in your life that is causing doubt of what Jesus can do? John the Baptist, while spending time in prison doubted Jesus. It was John that baptized Jesus. It is written, “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him” (Matthew 3:13) John the Baptist bears witness of Jesus, “…Behold The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.”’ (John 1:29-30) John also exalted Jesus when he stated that, “He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from Heaven is above all.” (John 3:31)

Despite all which John the Baptist knew about Jesus, when he was in the prison of his life, he doubted Jesus. John wanted to know what he already knew. Remember you have heard it all and you have seen it all; if you will hold on to all that you have known you will depart from doubt and not dwell in it. Jesus’ response to John’s doubt is the same response that is speaking to you, “…Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” (Mathew 11:4-6) Where there is doubt faith has a tendency to drown. Hebrew 11:6, “…But without faith it is impossible to please Him…” Take your stand and declare to your situation that Jesus is Lord and there is nothing He cannot do.

Prayer for today: Ask for help that your faith will not fail.