FAITH CAPSULE: Growth in the grace of God will come with steadfastness of one’s faith.

Daniel 1

It is written,“In righteousness you shall be established…” (Isaiah 54:14) Reading through the word of God can be compared to skimming through the surface of a ground that is treasure inhabited. While studying the word of God can be compared to engaging all that it takes to discover inhabited treasure in the word of God. It is also an understanding to engage in studying the word. However, to unearth the treasure that is inhabited also demands understanding. Understanding is the key, everything we do in the Lord with a lack of understanding will result to a lack of transformation. Psalm 47:7 stated, “For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with understanding.” If praise worship requires understanding, every other area such as studying the word of God surely requires understanding.
The Bible states, “…but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory now and forever…” (2Peter 3:18) Clearly, through studying the word of God there will be growth in the knowledge of God. However, growth in the grace of God will come with steadfastness of one’s faith. Just by studying alone will not help directly in the growth of grace. The book of 2 Peter 3:17-18 statesbetter, “You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…” Clearly, among ways that growth in grace increase is to be Steadfast in the Lord.
Describing steadfastness: Steadfastness is to be fixed in direction; firm in purpose, unwavering, firmly established or firmly fixed in faith. When you have a purpose in life then you will be fixed in taking a deliberate walk in the direction of your purpose. Daniel a young captive in the hand of king Nebuchadnezzar had a purpose to live for God. When he was offered the best food and wine which the king had, he declined and requested to eat vegetables and drink water instead, so that it would not defy his purpose. It was recorded of him, “But Daniel 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 steadfastness could not be compromised with the king’s offer. The chief of eunuchs granted Daniel’s request and he prevailed. Daniel was steadfast and the grace of God upon his life had no bounds or limitation. With steadfastness Daniel was established in righteousness to the glory of God. Purpose for God and be established for God.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to be steadfast walking in the word of God.

FAITH CAPSULE:  Shouting and trumpeting to the Lord will bring down wall of hindrance.

Joshua 6

The God is mighty. His super-nature demands attention. Giving Him His due attention calls for shouting and trumpeting His name. It is always worthy to give a loud shout which demonstrates caller’s trust in unfailing God. A secret or gentleman’s approach of God, Who matters to us in our considerations, may not always suffice in glorifying our glorious God whose super-nature is jealousy. The Psalmist stated, “But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy…” (Psalm 5:11); “Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!” (Psalm 47:1)
The dictionary defines ‘shout’ as making a loud cry, especially to convey emotion or a command. Besides the understanding of the fact that there’ is a music instrument called trumpet; ‘trumpet’ is also defined as to proclaim loudly or widely. Evidently, shout and trumpet are closely related. Also, in looking at the definition and biblical use of shout and trumpet, it can be concluded that the combination of shouting and trumpeting is a way of getting heaven’s attention. At every time of shouting and trumpeting to the Lord, bringing down the wall of hindrances and striking down enemies that threatens our peace are a done deal and undeniable victory.
There are numbers of instances in the scripture where shouting and trumpeting were engaged to make a way where there is no way and to be victorious over imaginable or unimaginable enemy of peace.
The Bible recorded how shouting and trumpeting denied the Wall of Jericho’s attempt to hinder the Israelites’ breakthrough. Coming out of bondage of over four hundred years and passing through the Red Sea are enough not to expect any more hindrances before getting to the Promised Land. However, it was a different story when they encountered the Wall of Jericho, threatening to deny them of their progress. It is written, “Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in” (Joshua 6:1). The shut-up Wall of Jericho was representative of hindrance to the children of Israel. God, in His goodness and mercy, revealed to Joshua what it would take to break through the shut-up Wall of Jericho. As commanded by God, under the leadership of Joshua, “…the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city” (Joshua 6:20). By shouting and trumpeting, the Wall fell flat and the Israelites progressed. Are you too quiet to be victorious against the forces hindering your life? Understanding and know it is in the word of God to shout out against your shut-up doors.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace not to be quiet where challenges demand shouting and trumpeting.

FAITH CAPSULE: Continue and God will see you through.

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 a great blessing from God. 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 with the favor of God and to be visited with God’s salvation. The requirement for righteousness at all times buttresses the notion that: consistency; persistency; continuity are the condition which will provoke the blessing of God remembering with favor and visiting with salvation. The apostle Paul in his illustration of what it takes to faithfully complete the Christian life (which is like running a race) states, “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 running according to the rules and not give up. To run a race with continuity, consistency and persistency demands that one deny every form of distraction such as sin. Often when sin comes into play, getting back into the race can be challenging.
It is important for man to always keep in mind that God is a good God and 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 living in sin. The Apostle Paul buttress, “…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 focus will allow God to bless you as you continue 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 good God who is ready to forgive. Throughout the Bible, many stories are documented as regard of those who fell and were not able to continue because of lack of understanding to ask for forgiveness. Also, there are accounts of those who fell into sin, but by virtue of understanding, they regained continuity by asking for forgiveness and were able to complete the race. Do not give up it is not time to give up. Continue and God will see you through.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to remain focus and continue to remain focus on God.

FAITH CAPSULE: Having joy is in His spoken word.

Daniel 3

If you have believed and received the word of God into your life, there is a need for you to consciously live life rejoicing in the face of any confronting challenge. Jesus, the living word of God repeatedly points it out that having joy is in His spoken word for any that makes the choice to receive His word in them. Jesus stated in John 15:11, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” He emphasized again in John 17:13, “But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.” All of His words in the world are the source of Joy. One with His joy is bound with unshakeable strength…that is a strength which is not of this world; a kind of strength that never fail. Ones who possess His word in them operate like the three friends of Daniel in the face of life threatening challenges.
Daniel’s friends (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego) refused to obey, bow or worship a golden image; they were sentenced to death by a fiery burning furnace. They responded to the verdict to die by a fiery burning furnace by not leading for the king’s mercy. They pride themselves in the Almighty God of deliverance. They stated, “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 3:17-18) Their response was, “joy of the Lord provoking statement.” It was a strength acquiring statement that delivers undeniable safety direct from the throne of grace. It was a powered statement that brought the Lord down to join them in the fiery furnace when the Lord could have send angels or speak to their deliverance. God’s way of delivering the three friends made King Nebuchadnezzar astonished and vacated his seat of throne when he called his men to attention stating, “Look! he answered, “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 three friends glorified God when they demonstrated understand and knowledge of God as the Lord God that exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. The joy of the Lord which delivers salvation answered for the three friends of Daniel. It is true and very glaring by virtue of the testimonies of Daniel’s tree friends that when God delights in us, strength to be delivered is undeniable. In action or behavior, constantly seek for the joy of the Lord that delivers in the face of grave challenges.

Prayer for today: Ask for the word of God to have a rightful place in you.

FAITH CAPSULE: Trusting God is taking time to wait for God.

1 Kings 19:1-18

Waiting on God is seeking God and it is the evidence of placing our trust in God. It is written, “Every word of God is pure; He is shield to those who trust in Him.” (Proverbs 30:5)  
After Elijah executed the prophets of Baal at Brook Kishon, Jezebel the wife of Ahab the king of Israel threatened to do the same to Elijah. Elijah received the news and did not take the time to seek God for answers but fled for his life. The Bible recorded, “But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” (1 Kings 19:4) Elijah wished death for himself because he took off running before seeking direction from God.
 As a believer, when challenges prevails it is important know and wait on God instead of making hasty decisions to remedy challenges. Waiting on Him will enable us to run where we need to run and walk where we need to walk. As Elijah progressed in his running from under a broom tree into the cave, God responded to him, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD…” (1 Kings 19:11) The command for Elijah to stand is waiting for God to show up. Are you experiencing a similar situation, where you have taken a jump before learning how to walk? While Elijah was standing on the mountain waiting for God, the bible records, “…and behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.” (1Kings 19:11) Trusting God is not timing God. Trusting God is taking time to wait for God. God cannot be rushed out of His salvation plan. God did not show up in the great and strong wind neither did He showed up in the earthquake or fire. God’s timing of His visitation plan cannot be controlled by man. His timing is not our timing. How or when you are expecting Him does not matter to Him but it does matter for you to take a stand in waiting. For Elijah, God showed up in a still and small voice. His visitation for you might not be the still and small voice. Do not calculate Him but respond to His communication. God’s communications for you is to trust and wait.

Prayer for today: As for the grace to constantly wait where need calls for waiting.