FAITH CAPSULE: It is the secret behind the stories that keeps a believer to dwell in the shadow of the Almighty God.

Daniel 6

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1) There are so many stories in the Bible that are encouraging; but it is the secret behind the stories that keeps believers dwelling in the shadow of the Almighty God. Knowing the story and not paying attention to the secrets is not enough to can keep a believer to be dwelling in the shadow of the almighty. The story of Daniel in the lion’s den shows is a testimony that under the shadow of the almighty, nothing formed against us shall prosper. Attempt to terminate Daniel was the result of his distinguished performance above governors and satraps. When king Darius gave the thought of setting Daniel up over the whole realms, the governors and satraps decided to set Daniel up for failure. The only way he could be set up was against his God. In effort to set him up against his God, a law that calls for no one to serve any other god for thirty days was enacted. Despite the law, Daniel went into his room and opened his windows toward Jerusalem; he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God as was his customs since early days. (Daniel 6:10) Daniel was reported to the king and he became a candidate for Lions dinner. The king, having signed an irreversible law had no choice but to send Daniel into the den of lions. The law could not be reversed but the God, the Alpha and Omega; the One that Daniel serves will reverse whatever law was meant to terminate or trap you in life’s journey. Among the secret of Daniel’s story of deliverance were: Daniel had a custom approach to God that is, a prayer schedule that is constant and consistent. He does not have to wait for trouble before spending time in prayer. Are you one that waits for challenges to show up face before engaging in prayer sessions? Daniel was serving God continually just as was testified by the King, “…Your God who you serve continually will deliver you” (Daniel 6:16) Are you serving God at your convenience or with commitment to serve continually? Daniel testifies his third reasons for his deliverance when he responded to the king, “My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.” (Daniel 6:22) Daniel was innocent before God and he was obedient to the law of the land that does not compromise his faith. Daniel could not be touched by any law or force because he lined himself up pleasing God.

Prayer for today: O Lord, I ask that You instruct, teach and make me walk in Your way.  

FAITH CAPSULE: Doing good does not make anyone immune to challenges of the evil one.

Numbers 20:1-13, Psalm 37

Absolutely and without any doubt, nothing can be hidden from the eyes of God. He alone is the Almighty creator and He sees every act of good or bad. 2 Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”Every time there is act of evil God sees it and there is no escape for the consequence of evil acts, but there is forgiveness after repentance. Also, when there are acts of good, it does not escape the eyes of God but exalts the name of God. For good or bad there are consequences. The Bible recorded in Psalm 37:23-24, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand.” Have you been making sure that your steps are in line with God’s orders/commands? Clearly, in the quotation above, doing good does not make anyone immune to challenges of the evil one. Doing good will not stop you from falling. The word refers to the one that is doing good stating, “…though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down.”Have you been falling down in any area of life despite your doing good? Take note that you shall not be utterly cast down and it will soon pass and your stand shall be established to the glory of God. In the case of Job, “…the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”” (Job 1:8)   Job was one of God’s most faithful servant and all of his steps were lined up in accordance to the commands of God; but despite all he fell and lost everything that he had but he was not utterly cast down. Due to his faithfulness in the Lord, Job’s down word spiral ended when the Lord replenished him with everything that he had lost during the time that he was down. Have you taken a step outside of his order? Are you in the process of taking step out of His order? Consider aligning your steps in line with the word of God. If God gives you an order and you fail to take to it, He will take you out of His good land. He gave Moses order to speak to the rock but he struck the rock. (Moses was taken out and could not get to the promised good land) Get in line with the word of God; do good, He shall delight in the ways you are taking your steps.

Prayer for today: Help me Lord that I will not step out of Your word.

FAITH CAPSULE:Truth is threatening and it cannot be terminated.

Genesis 37

The truth is threatening. It is true that when the truth is told it can be threatening. It is true that Jacob loved Joseph more than his brothers, but the brothers could not accommodate the truth. It is written, “… when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.” (Genesis 37:4) The love of Jacob was the beginning of the hatred towards Joseph by his brothers. When Joseph had a dream about what was going to become of his brothers he was only telling it the way he saw it in his dream. Joseph’s dream was a vision not an intention to take position away from his brothers. Joseph’s dream was about him taking a position where brothers will be bowing to him. After his dream he told his brothers all about the dream and they responded “… “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.”(Genesis 37:8)The word of Joseph to his brothers was not only rejected, but it led to him to be ejected out of the family when his brothers sold him to a company of Ishmaelite. Truth is threatening and it cannot be terminated. Attempts to have the truth covered or terminate will only last for a period before the truth takes over. Joseph’s dream came to pass when he eventually reigned over his family as it was in his dream. A truth that is truth indeed will come to pass even if the whole world attempt to stand against it. Jesus, our Lord and savior told the truth, He introduced Himself but they could not accommodate His revelation because the truth is threatening. John 14:6, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Jesus lived the example and He was constantly facing opposition. His ways are not our ways, but He has come to lead us into His ways. The truth of the matter is that truth is threatening, Jesus was a threat and He could not be terminated from fulfilling the truth. How are you responding to the truth that comes your way daily? Also, how are you sharing the truth that you know? If you have not been sharing what you know about the truth it could be that you have not known the truth enough. “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”(John 8:31-32) Do not take the truth as a threat, but as your teacher.

Prayer for today: O Lord I ask that You let Your truth reign and rule my life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Paying attention by listening to the word will deposit the word inside of a man for use.

Proverbs 4

It is written,“He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:20-21) God, in His word has made every provision for our deliverance. The same word of God that was in the beginning is the same word that was sent to heal and to deliver us from every form of destructions. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:1-4) In the Word of God there is a solution for solving every challenge known to man kind. The word of God is wisdom and it is not forceful; it is always available for anyone that will take time to get deep into it for own use. The word that He sent is already here for anyone that cares to take on the word for their deliverance. Listening to the word will deposit the word inside of a man for use. Without listening and understanding of the word, knowledge will fail. Applying knowledge is crucial in having edge in the world of challenges. The Bible gives insight that “…through knowledge the righteous are delivered.” (Proverb 11:9) Who are the righteous? Our righteousness is when we believe in Jesus as the Lord and savior. “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe…” (Romans 3:21-22) Believing in Christ Jesus or how righteous we may claim to be is not enough for our deliverance if there is lack of knowledge and this is why the word says, the righteous (that is the believer) through knowledge are delivered. Know it and be clear with it that your deliverance from challenge is in knowing what it takes to face such challenge as it is documented in His word (wisdom) of God. Remember, Knowledge is the application of wisdom. Psalm 34:19, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” It could be true that you are an acclaimed believer of Christ (you are righteous) but also know that your deliverance is inhabited in the application of knowledge not only in knowing and memorizing the word of God.

Prayer for today: Ask God to open the ears of your heart and the eyes of your hear.

FAITH CAPSULE: What the Lord said He will do is a done deal.

Exodus 5, 6:1-9

When the sight for breakthrough suddenly looks like a break-down, do not let any aguish spirit have a place in you. Anguish is a great suffering from worry, grief or pain. Keep up hope. What the Lord said He will do is a done deal. God was set to bring the children of Israel out of bondage of over four hundred years. Moses was the vessel in the hand of God to carry out the mission. God met with him and gave him His word. In Moses’ hand was the rod that has been branded with the power of God. All that Moses needed to do was to deliver the message of deliverance. Moses approached Egypt and Pharaoh the first time since he ran away from Egypt because of his murderous act. Moses was not just returning to a new Egypt but he was returning with a great assurance from God when the Lord told him, “Now the LORD said to Moses in Midian, Go, return to Egypt; for all the men who sought your life are dead.”” (Exodus 4:19) The Old Pharaoh and all that could stand against Moses are no longer in place. Moses, having laid down the message of deliverance for the children of Israel, provoked high expectation for freedom for the children of Israel. However, Pharaoh did not accept Moses’ package because he did not know the God that sent Moses for the deliverance of the children of Israel. When breakthrough and deliverance supposed to be nearer it turned out to become far and bleak with no hope but more difficulty. Pharaoh rejected Moses’ first approach and increased the labor of the children of Israel. What seems to be coming to an end suddenly turned around and appears to be impossible. Does that sound like your case? As a result of what seemed to be a failed attempt to the children of Israel, the children of Israel does not want to entertain Moses any longer, “So Moses spoke thus to the children of Israel; but they did not heed Moses because of the anguish of spirit and cruel bondage.”(Exodus 6:9) As one that believes in God’s power let it be registered in you this day that the Lord is still on the throne and He will not leave you nor forsake you. Be encouraged by His word that never fails. Let your mind stay on Him just as it is written, “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”(Isaiah 26:3) Hold on to His promises and by the time you know it this season shall pass. It passed for the children of Israel and deliverance had its way. Your deliverance is nearer more than ever.

Prayer for today:  Ask for the grace that causes mind to stay on God.