FAITH CAPSULE: At every time a man takes onto his course instead of God’s course, man will end up cursed.

Jonah 1, 2
 
God cannot be denied from having His way in the life of His creation. Assuredly, nothing under heaven or above heaven can stop God. Without any doubt by going right with God all will go right with you. And, when you go wrong with God all will go wrong with you. There is no other way that is right but God’s way. Anyone that takes outside of His way will end up in the way of death. Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Why not take the way of God? Jonah was called by God, and he heard from God, but was hard on God. He was called to go to Nineveh but he fled to Tarshish. At every time a man takes onto his course instead of God’s course, man will end up cursed. Jonah did not put only himself in the line of destruction, but all the people that were on the ship were in the face of dangerous storm. Jonah was carrying the mark of disobedience. What is it that you are running away from? Can you specifically identify any clear and specific direction that has been placed upon your life? Jonah knew that he was the target of the violent storm; he could no longer run away from his disobedience. Have you taught of the cause of the storm in your journey? As a believer that has been running from the calling of God or from the way of God, know it that you are the cause of storm in the vessel of transportation. During the course of the journey to Tarshish, with storm of destruction looming Jonah was requested of what could be done to bring peace and quiet in the storm. Jonah responded, “…pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me.” (Jonah 1:12)Without any doubt, you will know if you are the cause of storm. God has not called you on a journey over the water and it does not matter how far you have gone on the water, He will bring you back to a dry land. A dry land is where He wants to establish your footing. Jonah was thrown into the sea where he spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish. The Bible recorded, “Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the fish’s belly. And he said: I cried out to the LORD because of my affliction, and He answered me.” (Jonah 2:1-2) God is still in the business of having mercy. Do not take to your own way. Jonah 2:10, “So the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.”   
 
Prayer for today: Ask Him to roll away ever affliction in your journey of life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Identify your place in God and deny your challenge from overpowering you.

1 Samuel 17:45-58
 
In every challenge of life, one’s focus on God will phase out fear and faith will reign. Maintain focus on God and be a winner.
At the valley of Elah, where Goliath took a stand defying the armies of God, David alone stood out against Goliath. Despite the huge armies of Israel, none, not one could identify themselves as an army of the living God. They all saw defeat; Saul the leader saw defeat; only young David could identify himself in God. David’s brother rebuked him not to fight Goliath. David was labeled by his brothers as someone that is proud with insolence of heart.
King Saul, in his attempt to discourage David said to David, “…You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” (1Samuel 17:33) David refused to be discouraged because of the testimonies of God.
Attempt to get David clothed with Saul’s armor failed whenit limited David’s mobility rather than to aid David’s mobility. The failure not to be able to get dressed in warrior’s armor was not enough to discourage David. In facing Goliath, all of David’s surroundings were discouragement. However, David’s identity in the testimonies of God was encouraging enough for David not to be discouraged or disregard going against Goliath in battle. In fighting the challenges (Goliath) of your life, do not look around for help; look up to God for your help. God alone is a living God and He will fight your battle.
Do you know Him or you only know about Him? It makes the difference knowing God as the only way. It is impossible to know God and doubt Him for His delivering power. Call on God and He will honor His word by not forsaking you.
If you only know about Him, be very careful or your case will cage you. In Acts 19:11-13, when some of the inherent Jewish exorcists attempted to identify with Jesus in a battle against evil spirit, they lost. They only know about Him. Act 19:15, 16 the evil spirit answered and said Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you? Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.” Can you be identified in Jesus? Are you sure you know Him? Just as David did against Goliath, identify your place in God and deny your challenge from overpowering you. Religion will fail but Jesus reality will prevail. Get real in Christ and He will see you through.

Prayer for today: Ask for the boldness and character in the word to have its place in you life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Fleeing will not solve your case until you identify yourself in God and face the case.

1 Samuel 17: 1-44
 
For forty days, morning and night armies of the living God (children of Israel) suffered assault from the Philistines as they gathered for battle. The bible referred to the leader of this assault as the champion, the Philistine of Gath, named Goliath. While they wait to engage each other in battle, the Philistine said to the children of Israel, 1Sam 17:10 And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.”(1 Samuel 17:10) Goliath’s verbal abuse and emotional shots at the Israelites did not settle well with Israelites as they were overwhelmed by being afraid. 1 Samuel 17:11 recorded, “When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistines; they were dismayed and greatly afraid.” To be afraid and be greatly dismayed of an unbeliever is to have forgotten God’s testimonies. Is there any reason for the fear of an unbeliever in your life? 
Can you examine the situation in your life that has kept you so low in fear and being afraid that you cannot remember who your God is? For forty days!! The armies of the living God were crawling before armies that do not have a living God. So sad! Does this sound like your case? As a believer, have you failed to remember who you are serving? When a believer fails to remember, such believer will not be able to identify him/herself in God. 1Samuel 17:24 recorded, all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid. Fleeing will not solve your case until you identify yourself in God and face the case. Yes, everything in the physical is pointing you out as looser of this case. All you need to do is identify yourself. David a young man; not a listed army; saw and heard the man that was defying the armies of the living God. He decided to stand up to Goliath. He could reach that decision because he remembered his testimony by stating, “Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” (1 Samuel 17:36) By being able to remember the greatness of his God, he was able to identify himself in God. His identity was his claim that, the same God will deliver him from the hand of Goliath. Psalmist stated, “Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!” Obviously, David was a keeper of His testimonies and he successfully sought God with the whole heart as he engaged and brought down the giant that was defying the name of His God.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to cling to His testimonies that keeps man from shame.

FAITH CAPSULE: Mercy of God is what encases His favor and grace.

Genesis 39
 
Without any doubt, love should take a place in the life of a believer as a guiding spirit for a Christian’s life. Being merciful should be a way of taking a stand against evil. However, with genuine love there should also be a resistance of evil by challenging the wrongs directed against other people. God alone is merciful and that is why God spoke to Moses,” I will have mercy, on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” (Romans 9:15) All the power, glory, honor, praise, and worship belong unto God alone. In the mercy of God there is favor and grace that constantly locate any man that He chooses to give it to. In the story of Joseph’s life, it was demonstrated how he moved from dream into dread before becoming a deliverer of his people. In the same story of Joseph, it was clearly stated more than once how the mercy of God injected favor. It was recorded in Genesis 39:21, “But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” Joseph was living in line of the kingdom rules. He knew to flee evil as a result; the mercy of God in which favor is encased located Joseph.
As the merciful favor of God was discharged unto Joseph so it was discharged unto Lot. Lot struggled and attempted not to leave Sodom and Gomorrah behind in following the angel’s prescription of salvation. Lot later testified in Genesis 19:19, “Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die.” Mercy of God is what encases His favor and grace. Noah, in the goodness and mercy of God, found grace when it was declared in Genesis 6:8, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” Ask God that whatever causes man not to abide in His infinite mercy will not locate you all the days of your life. God’s mercy can be perceived as a transporting vehicle for grace and favor of God that locates man. The Lord will have mercy.
God does not and will not punish us according to our iniquities (Psalm 103:10) Often times, we punish ourselves when we do not polish or furnish ourselves with the living word of God that came to give all to us abundantly. He alone is exceedingly and abundantly merciful. Position yourself into receiving His mercy.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to be consistently merciful all the days of your life.

FAITH CAPSULE: God is merciful to all His children and He demands from His children to be merciful.

Luke 6:27-35
 
It is possible for one to have lived all his/her years in sin, iniquities and wickedness and just at the last minute, before departing the face of earth; there is an answer to the call of salvation. It can be clearly recollected how one of the criminals with Jesus received salvation on the cross at his dying hour. God is merciful. It is possible but it is not encouraging to purposely wait and take time to live in sin and iniquity while thinking that one is in control of God’s timing. Besides the control that we have over clock, no one has ever been in control and no one will ever be in control of God’s timing. He alone is the controlling controller of all things. The Apostle Paul knew exactly about the beginning, the course and the end of the race before giving the advice, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1Corinthians 10:12) God is a God of mercy and He does not want anyone to perish. God does not and will not run out of mercy, except that man has always been running out of His mercy. God is merciful to all His children and He demands from His children to be merciful. Do you as a believer have mercy? It does not matter the level and the time of service and sacrifice that you are putting forth in the business of the kingdom; if you are not being merciful you are running a risk of sacrifice that is not acceptable. It is written in the book of Hosea 6:6; “For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings” Also it was repeated by Jesus in Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” What then can we say as regard to being merciful in order for us to be in position of receiving His mercy? In Luke 6:27–35, Jesus clearly spelled it out for believers all that it takes for man to be positioned in the place of receiving the mercy of God. It was referred to as the rules of the Kingdom: Loving our enemies and being good to those that hate us; blessing and praying for those that curse us and are spitefully using us; stepping out of a revengeful spirit; giving and not expecting to get back from those that are receiving from us even when they are supposed to; loving those that have taken a stand of enmity against us is also required of every believer.   Jesus concluded in Luke 6:36, “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” It is a command to be merciful. Be merciful.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to be lead in the truth of God.