FAITH CAPSULE: Allowing fear to reign instead of faith is the evidence of not focusing on God.

Matthew 14:22-33

Engaging fear will disengage faith in the life of a man. It is not possible for fear and faith to be in place at the same time. In any case where fear is allowed, faith will have no choice but to vacate itself. Whenever fear invades, confusion and making wrong destructive decisions prevails. Clearly, fear is not of God fear is an agent of the oldest liar; the chief thief, who is only interested in killing and destroying what the Lord has made. Jesus identifies the  difference between Him and the thief stating, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) Jesus has come, He brought all that gives life abundantly but ignorant has trapped so many by not taking to what Jesus brought. Are you an acclaimed believer who often subjects self to fear when faith should be in place? In the face of most challenge, allowing fear to reign instead of faith is the evidence of not focusing on God. However, not focusing on God is assuming the responsibility of confronting challenge. It is an indirect way of asking God to take off His hand of support; it is a state of lack of peace.
The Israelite’s attempt to cross the Red Sea was a terrifying situation. After having been free from the bondage of over four hundred years, Pharaoh and his men chased and close the Israelites up before the Red Sea. Fear took over the Israelites; there was no peace in their camp and they became restless. Evidently, the Israelites demonstrated lack of faith. Moses responded to the Israelites stating, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” (Exodus 14:13-14) Entertaining fear is terminating faith. Whenever fear occupies man’s heart, battle is shifted from getting help from God. Are you engaging fear in the face of insurmountable challenge? Give regard to God by engaging your heart in the testimonies of God’s goodness and mercy; know it that the enemy cannot be more powerful. Also, the same God who saw the Israelite through on a dry land in the middle of the Red Sea is always in place to deliver. In life, it does not matter the level of faith in the life of a believer, when fear is allowed to invade, faith will always fail to prevail.
As close as Peter was to Jesus, he allowed faith to sink when fear rose in him in the middle of storm. (Matthew 14:29-32)Have you given a place to fear inside of you? Is there any sign that you are sinking in the face of your challenges?

Prayer for today: Ask that every generating forces of fear be permanently denied in your life for the glory of God.

FAITH CAPSULE: He that remembers how God delivered him from a small confrontation will be delivered from an even bigger one.

1 Samuel 17

Considering the testimonies of God is enough to deny evil challenges over one’s life. The Psalmist testifies, “The wicked wait for me to destroy me, but I will consider Your testimonies.” (Psalm 119:95) The testimonies of God are the evidence of His work. The testimonies of God are the wondrous works of His hands. The Bible testifies, “…Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near.” (Psalm 75:1) What else could be better than having God nearer to one in the face of evil challenges? Considering thetestimonies of God is gaining access into the power of God which delivers. Considering the testimonies of God is an expression that you are counting on God for greater testimonies. Above all, when one reminds God concerning the work of His hand, He will react concerning the war that confronts one. Once, Goliath stood a ground of war against the Children of Israel and he rained all kinds of verbal insult and harassment against Israel but none of the children of Israel could consider the testimonies of God that is power enough to deliver. 1 Samuel 17:8-9, “Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” In response to Goliath, David took it upon himself to confront Goliath.
David’s first offensive weapon of attack was remembering and reminding all agents of opposition about what God had done in his life. What God has done is what will provoke what God will do. 1 Samuel 17:34, “But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it.” David was asked not to go after the giant Goliath while he was talking about how God had helped him in killing a lion and a bear. David’s response was perfect because he that remembers how God delivered him from a small confrontation will be delivered from an even bigger one. It is a weapon to hold on to the testimonies of God when a challenge shows up like a storm.

Prayer for today: Ask God for help in remembering to consider His testimonies.

FAITH CAPSULE: It is not possible to truly meditate the word and not be able to fully observe the word of God.  

Joshua 1, Philippians 4

Meditating on the word of God can be compared to circulation of blood in the body system. Any believer, who wants to live a victorious life; who wants to carry the presence of God day and night must constantly meditate on the word of God day and night. It is impossible for a believer to do according to the word of God without meditating as commanded by God. After the death of Moses, God’s commissioning of Joshua could not be completed without God highlighting to Joshua the importance of meditation. God repeatedly pointed out to Joshua the need to be able to observe His word. God told Joshua that meditating His word is what Joshua needed in order to be able to observe and do according to His word. Joshua 1:8, “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 not possible to truly meditate the word and not be able to fully observe the word of God.
Are you one that is memorizing the word instead of meditating the word of god? Memorizing will not help the ability to observe and it is not what God is asking from us. The ability to be able to observe and do what is written in the pages of Bible will bring the blessing of prosperity and good success. With the blessings of prosperity and good success comes the peace of God which knows no sorrow.
As a believer, do you wonder what exactly to meditate on in the pages of Bible? The book of Philippians 4:8 identifies what to meditate on for those who are willing to engage the blessings of good success, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” The word of God is good and it covers all the pages of the Bible. The works of God which surrounds us also testifies to God’s good word of creation.  It is worthy to constantly meditate on the word of God which we learn from the pages of the Bible. Meditate without ceasing and gain the peace of God just as it is written in Philippians 4:9, “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”
 

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to meditate more on His word and on every of His good testimonies.

FAITH CAPSULE: Avoid self-destruction; walk not outside of His word.

Genesis 6

Through the pages of scripture, every God command of God comes in detail. God expects us to obey according to His command. Disobeying God’s command is despising the word of God. Bible makes us to realize by stating, “He who despises the word will be destroyed, but he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.” (Proverbs 13:13) God is forever consistent watching over His word to bring forth manifestation. In Proverbs 18:10, the bible describes the name of God, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” It is important to take it to heart that, as strong as His name is, yet He has magnified His word above all His name. (Psalm 138:2) Does that speak volume to you as regard to abiding and not despising His word? As an acclaimed believer, avoid self-destruction; watch out and walk not outside of His word which have sounded or which is sounding in your direction and not end in self-destruction.
In the days of Noah, God gave His detailed word of command to build an ark. He also gave His word for the purpose of building ark stating, “And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die.  But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female.” (Genesis 6:6:17-19) For Noah to live in the face of destruction that was set to manifest, there was a need for Noah to follow fully and not despise the word of God. Noah did not despise God and destruction could not attend to him and his family.
As big as the world is in the eyes of man, there is no place to hide or run from the consequence of disobedient to the word of God. The same God who sent His word to save Noah from destruction has sent His word to deliver us from self-destruction. It is worthy to understand that if only one out of thousands complies and not despise the word of God, such shall not be destroyed. 
Clearly, the word of God represents God; not taking the word of God for God is not taking God for who He is. He is the Great “I AM”; One who is clothed with honor and majesty; the One who makes the clouds His chariot.(Psalm 104) Give yourself fully to the word of God and not be destroyed.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to fully follow His word of command all the days of your life.

FAITH CAPSULE: One, who sits on the past, will not be able to stand for the present. 

Daniel 1

In the journey of life, looking back to painful occurrence in the past is taking a step of not letting the past be in the past. Looking back is a way which hinders one from moving forward unto a gainful occurrence. When it was time for the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, by virtue of their sin, God separated Lot and his family for total deliverance. On the escape route, the word commanded Lot and his family stating, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.” (Genesis 19:17) The command was clear but it could not clear Lot’s wife from her self-destructive act against God’s command when she looked back against God’s command. She could not let go the past for the future to unfold itself. Is there any situation that’s holding you back on the past for your future not to be unfolded? Lot’s wife looked back and she became a pillar of salt. (Genesis 19:26)
One, who sits on the past, will not be able to stand for the present which leads to the future. Daniel, despite being a young man in captivity, refused to take a sit on the past. Daniel could have entered into complaining and questioning why God allowed him to be trapped in captivity. Daniel, however, chose to remain focus on God and did not allow captivity to captivate him. He took a stand and, “…purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”(Daniel 1:8) Daniel’s situation could have become more of convenient by virtue of the king’s delicacies which were assigned to him, but he rather made the decision to continue in his commitment to God. Daniel denied the past occurrence by maintaining his focus on his purpose of his heart for God. He sought God but did not get himself stocked by looking back to his past occurrence just like Lot’s wife did to herself.
Daniel demonstrated wisdom, Lot’s wife demonstrated foolishness. Those who know God shall walk fully in line with His direction. The truth is that Daniel knew his God and God knew him. It was evident in the life of Daniel that, “…the people who know their God shall be strong and carry out great exploits.” (Daniel 11:32)  Daniel demonstrated time and time again that his focus was only on God and God’s favor to Daniel lasted all through the days of Daniel’s life.

Prayer for today: Ask God that His grace shall see you through and no past occurrence shall cause you to be terminated.