Category Archives: Devotions

Know Yourself

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Exodus 17:1-7

 

When there is a clear understanding of what you are doing outside of God, then a work by the grace of God will be in place for readjustment. The book of Proverbs records in Proverbs 21:9, ÒIt is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, than in a house shared with a contentious woman.Ó Does this fit your description? To be contentious is a railroad for complaint to ride on. In the journey of life, the spirit of complaining will not give life, but rather absolute death. In the midst of unforeseen situation, who are you to complain to? What is it that can justify complaint over what you cannot control? The spirit of complaining is nothing but a negative approach unto the One and only One God that is in control of heaven and earth. Why roll over into complaining when you can ride on into praising and thanking Him for what He has done. When praising and thanking God for what He has done, His hand will be provoked to move in what you want from Him. The children of < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Israel who were delivered from Egypt were the greatest victim of complaint. Complaining did not take their life away in bondage, but it took it after they were out of bondage. What a victim! Complaint will not announce itself before it establishes itself inside the life of its victim. As recorded in Exodus 17:2-3, ÒTherefore the people contended with Moses, and said, ÒGive us water, that we may drink.Ó So Moses said to them, why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the LORD? 3 And the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses, and said, ÒWhy is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?Ó It is evident that they started with contention before taking it to the level of complaining. Ask God to deliver you from every spirit of complain. Stay on track and do not get derailed. Commend Him and do not complain. Keep on praising Him and He will keep on raising you.

Enter

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Matthew 14:22-33

 

After the feeding of five thousand, Jesus must have felt the need to put the disciples through a test of faith. To test them, He led them into a journey where He must have been aware of what was going to happen. The Bible records that, ÒImmediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes awayÓ (Matthew < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>14:22). He made them to go into the middle of a storm. After the boat was in the middle of the sea, in the middle of the night, at a point of no return, wind took over and fear and panic eroded faith. It was at the point of the troubling wave that Jesus began to take His walk on the water towards the disciples on the boat. Is your boat far from the land and in challenges where you cannot back out? If you can see that Jesus is already walking on top of your storm, you will be encouraged and strengthened. Jesus approached the disciples and gave them His Word not to be afraid. At that point, Peter asked from Jesus to join Him on the water. Jesus gave Peter the command to join on Him on the water. Peter entered into the command of God because it was given to him by Jesus, but Peter could not stand in what the Lord had given him because when he took his focus off of Jesus and looked into the storm, he saw fear and he was carried away by the fear. 2Timothy 1:7, ÒFor God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.Ó The Word did not say that He will give but the Word is saying He has given us a spirit of power, love and sound mind. What the Lord has given is in place for us to enter and to be in control over challenges. God is not a liar and His Word is true and amen. When a believer begins to take a conscious step into the promises of God, victory will always be in place. He has given us all that it takes to prevail if we will enter by faith. God is true and faithful to His Word.

All About Needs

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Exodus 16

 

What the Lord wants for you is to meet your needs. When a believer begins to seek after wants, the believer will be in want. The Psalmist confessed that, ÒThe Lord is my shepherd I shall not wantÓ (Psalm 23:1). All of the wanting zone is a dangerous zone for any believer that wants to avoid temptation. In the wilderness journey of the children of < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Israel, wanting what they left behind in Egypt instead of trusting God to meet their needs eventually led them into a death trap. The children of IsraelÕs remembrance of what they  were eating in Egypt (fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic – Numbers 11:5) was an evidence of  wants in them. In the case of the children of Israel, wanting what was not at hand landed them in a state of complaining. Complaining, which is an act of rebellion, is an every journey-terminator from getting to the Promised Land. GodÕs provision is always on time and always meeting needs. Paul, the apostle, confirmed it when he prayed in Philippians 4:19, ÒAnd my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.Ó The children of Israel, after their desire for a pot of meat and bread, were fed as God gave them His kind of bread and meat with the instruction to not to take more than needed  Despite GodÕs instruction that was enough for  meeting needs, some went above and beyond GodÕs instruction by taking more than needed. As a result of not following instruction, all the children that took more lost all that was taken (Exodus 16:18-21). God is a faithful God.  Are you experiencing a wilderness journey? Rest assured that God will not fail in supplying your needs. God is interested in meeting your needs if you will allow your want to rest for now until you get to the Promised Land. It is all about needs and the Lord God Almighty has everything we need.

Feet Washer

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John 13:1-20

 

Jesus was the Master of Masters that washed feet. As the feet washing Master, He passed it down to those who would follow Him; not just those that wanted to be a member of the multitudes. To learn and become a master feet washer, one has to be sitting at the feet of the Master at times without number. It is at the feet of Jesus where every believer will have to sit before learning to become a true follower of Jesus. Jesus confirmed in Luke < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>10:42, ÒBut one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.Ó Jesus was letting Martha know that it was not all about the work of service. At the feet of Jesus, a believer will get what cannot be taken away. Also, it is at the feet of Jesus that a believer can sit and learn all that it takes to become a master feet washer. Jesus preached by example and was demonstrating by example when He offered to wash His disciplesÕ feet. Peter attempted to deny Jesus from washing his feet. John 13:8-9, ÒPeter said to Him, ÒYou shall never wash my feet!Ó Jesus answered him, ÒIf I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.Ó 9 Simon Peter said to Him, ÒLord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!Ó As a believer who has answered the call of salvation, without being schooled at the school of washing feet, there will be no way to having a part with the Lord. Jesus has released all the lessons that it takes for a man to be a feet washing master. If a believer will learn to constantly go to the feet of Jesus that is embedded in the Bible, they will become a master washing feet. Have you been called to be a master that washes feet? Any struggle with self in getting down and washing the feet of those who the Lord has placed under your calling is a demonstration of emptiness. Jesus is the Word of God and the Word that He spoke to them in the Bible days is still speaking to all who have been called to follow today. To know how to wash feet is all it will take for pride not to prevail over humility. Spend time on the Word of God and you will discover that it is all about humility.

Simple Prayer

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2 Samuel 10:6-14

 

Prayer does not have to be in multitudes of words nor in colorful words. A prayer is not limited to time or to location. Prayer dose not have to be in repetition; it does not matter if prayer is loud or if it is quiet. Prayer does not have to be a way of communicating requests for respect. Simple prayer that is backed with power is the kind of prayer that moves mountain. A prayer backed with power is the prayer that is rooted in the word of faith. Faith has its source in the Word of God. Throughout the Bible, many mountains were moved by prayer of faith. Among the prayers of faith that resulted in great deliverance was a pray of Joab. Joab was a commander of the army of Israelites under King David. Joab was caught up in the line of battle having Ammon before him and Syrians behind him. In the case of Joab and the Israelites army, there was no where to turn but to God in prayer. Joab prayed in 2 Samuel 10:12, ÒBe of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the LORD do what is good in His sight.Ó  This prayer of Joab delivered the Israelites army from enemies before and enemies behind them. As simple as the prayer was, so it was devastating to the camp of enemies. As a result of JoabÕs prayer, it was recorded in 2 Samuel 10:14, ÒWhen the people of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fleeing, they also fled before Abishai, and entered the city. So Joab returned from the people of Ammon and went to < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Jerusalem. Ó As a believer, taking to heart the prayer of Joab will no doubt bring the same result for you in regard to those enemies that are pursing you; those that want to ground you from making a head way in life. The Lord is a good God and He has said in His Work that His thoughts for us are peaceful and good. They are not of evil (Jeremiah 29:11). Pray that the Lord will do that which is good in His sight in all your goings and comings today.