God Protects Us

Bible Text: Psalm 91

Security details are often assigned to individuals who hold high positions in society. Their lives are of great value and their death or capture may cause irreparable damage. It is the same with we believers. We are God's chosen people, precious in His sight. The apple of his eyes.

This Psalm is full of God's promises of protection for His children . "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High". (v1)

In verse 3 God promises to save us from the trap set for us even as the fowl (bird) escapes from the trap set for it. We see in Psalm 35 the vivid explanation of traps set to destroy God's people and God's saving power in play to rescue us.  "For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul. 8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall." (Psalm 34:7-8)

The believer's life is never trouble-free. We often think as Christ saved us all will be rosy. All will not be rosy and trouble-free but the good news is that God is in control, working it all for our good. Verse 3-11 outlines the ways in which God will come through for us, A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.(VS 7) 

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.( VS 11-12)

God promises to rescue us from our troubles because we love Him. We who have made the Most High our refuge are assured of 24/7 Divine Security detail. How Awesome! God Himself is watching to rescue us. 

We are special people and should not let live's ups and downs cause us to forget how precious we are to our God. He knows us by name before we were in our mother's womb. "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you" (Jeremiah 1:5)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I commit my life in your hands. Thank you for the love you have towards me that you came and died for my sins, and you continue to keep me and protect me under your wings. 

And unto Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we could ever ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.  

Amen!

I AM

Bible Text: Exodus 3:14

400 years of slavery under the rule of Pharaoh, the Israelites cried out to God for deliverance.

Moses had been born during the time hebrew male children were being killed based on the order of Pharaoh. And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour. (Exodus 1:14)

Israel needed a deliverer. Someone had to demand for the release of the children of Israel. This was not going to be taken lightly by Pharaoh. The Israelites were his major work force in building his empire,  he could not afford to lose them.  Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. (Exodus 1:11)

After the burning bush encounter, Moses was to go and seek for the freedom of the Israelites from Pharaoh. He needed confidence to approach Pharaoh and the children of Israel. He knew his encounter with Pharaoh was not going to end well. It was normal for him to be afraid. Moses did not know who God was. He did not know who was sending him on this mission, to him it was a suicide mission. He did not know that the One who was sending him was more than able to deliver the children of Israel. 

And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you. (Exodus 3:14)

I AM. God cannot be described, no human mind can conceive who God is. God is God. This indescribable, unfathomable God was the One with Moses and is the One with you. He says you should tell your Pharaoh that I AM has sent you. 

Through Moses the children of Israel were delivered from the slavery in Egypt. God says I AM. I AM your Deliverer, I AM your Healer, I AM your Saviour, I AM your Protector, I AM your Provider. 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I commit my life in your hands. My I AM. Be the I AM That I AM in my situation and life. 

And unto Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we could ever ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.  

Amen!

Greater is He that is in You

Bible Text: 2 Kings 7


The Arameans had laid siege to Samaria. This led to a severe famine in the land to the extent that cannibalism was practised.

The Lord spoke to Elisha that things were going to change, the prices of food will drastically reduce, that was going to be a great relief from the famine.

Elisha replied, “Hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Lord says: About this time tomorrow, a seah[a] of the finest flour will sell for a shekel[b] and two seahs[c] of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria.” (2 Kings 7:1)

The Lord then used 4 lepers to drive away the army of the Arameans from their own camp leaving behind all their horses and donkeys. The Lord had caused the 4 lepers to sound like chariots, and horses and a great army. Look, the king of Israel has hired the Hittite and Egyptian kings to attack us!” 7 So they got up and fled in the dusk and abandoned their tents and their horses and donkeys. They left the camp as it was and ran for their lives. (2 Kings 1:6-7)

The children of Israel had enough food as the Lord had spoken to Elisha. They were free from the famine that was caused by the siege laid by the Arameans: So they went and called out to the city gatekeepers and told them, “We went into the Aramean camp and no one was there—not a sound of anyone—only tethered horses and donkeys, and the tents left just as they were.” 11 The gatekeepers shouted the news, and it was reported within the palace. (2 Kings 1:10-11)

This is what happens when God is with you. God was with the 4 lepers. He caused them to sound like a whole army. With God we can do all things. We can scale every wall and obstacle in our way and come out victorious because He is that is in us, God, is greater than he that is the world, the devil and his adversaries.

With this in mind our attitude towards life should be different. We are not ordinary because the extra ordinary lives in us. We are of God and not of this world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.(1 John 4:4)

With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.

(Psalm 18:29)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I commit my life in your hands. You have laid waste the devices of the enemy,the devil. You live in me and bring me victory day after day. Let your name be praised!

And unto Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we could ever ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.

Amen!

Except the Lord

Bible Text: Psalm 127:1

We have been advised on several occasions that hard work is the key to success. We see this in our day-to-day life, we wake up early and go to bed late, save, invest, all in the quest for a successful life. 

However this is not the way to achieve true success. Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. (Psalm 127:1)

When we do not commit our ways to God, we toil in vain. Although it may seem that our ways are successful through the things we acquire, it is not a success in the eyes of God.

We must fully rely on God for our strength. How can we do this? Relying on God means obeying his commands and being his true ambassador. Our way of life should be that of light and not darkness. We should always constantly pray for strength and be careful to let our ways be in line with the will of God for our lives. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)

To rely on God however does not imply laziness. Where we fold our hands and expect manna from Heaven. Note the words of the Psalm, the builders build, the watchers watch. Here it shows that they are working hard but the only thing lacking is that they are are not relying on strength from God.

So we have to update our success formula where hard work equals success now becomes hard work + God equals Success.

When we work hard and achieve all that we think we have achieved, we gain the whole world and lose our Soul. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36)

We have no power of our own

We depend on you Holy Spirit

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I commit my life in your hands. I pray for strength for my every day activities. Help me to live according to your will that my success in life will be pleasing in your eyes. 

And unto Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we could ever ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.  

Amen!

The Word of God

Bible Text: Matthew 4:4

We know of the importance of God's Word. However we resort to the Word as a last option when all others have failed us. This should not be case. The Word's role in our lives should be even more crucial than the material things we need.

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.(Matthew 4:4)

Here was Jesus, hungry, after fasting for forty days and forty nights. Even in that state, Jesus made it clear to the devil that his sustainance is not from any other but from the Word that comes from the mouth of God.

The Word of God is the very core of our existence. 

It is to us a guide. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:109). In order to live and fulfil God's purpose for our lives we have to rely solely on the Word of God for teaching, correcting and training in righteousness. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)


It is the obedience to the Word of God that will keep us away from Sin. (Psalm 119:11). I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Not only should we read this Word but obey that we may know what God wills for us.

This Word of God is Jesus.  The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). Without Jesus, the Word of God, we have no life. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. 

Through prayer we keep a constant connection with us. His feedback to us on various issues can be found in his Word. This Word is timeless, powerful and works in all our situations. This Word is our sword. As soldiers of God our sword should always be with us. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit,which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:17)

For the word of God is alive and active.

 Sharper than any double-edged sword,

 it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow;

 it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

(Hebrews 4:12)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I commit my life in your hands. Your Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. May I never be found with this sword you have given me. 

And unto Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we could ever ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.

Amen!

I Am Strong

Bible Text: Joel 3:10

As Soldiers in God's army, our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the forces of darkness. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)

In today's passage we see that everyone was called to battle. In verse 10 the farmers were asked to transform their farming tools into weapons of war: Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruninghooks into spears.

Likewise to fight in God's army against the powers of darkness, against sin, against sickness, against satan himself, we have to turn what we have into weapons of war. There should be no excuses. To fight in God's army we need to empower ourselves by proclaiming strength. I AM STRONG. When we do this we acknowledge that this strength is not from us or dependent on us but comes from God himself: He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. (Isaiah 40:29)

We must actively involve ourselves in working for God, winning souls for his Kingdom. (Matthew 28:16-20) We must be prayer warriors, praying without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) .

Let us in our weakness proclaim that WE ARE STRONG.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I commit my life in your hands. I pray that today we will cease on the excuses and declare that we are strong, ready for battle. 

And unto Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we could ever ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.

Amen!

Only by His Spirit

Bible Text: Judges 7

In the ideal case more is always better than less. In battle the more abled and equipped men and women you have the higher the chance of winning. More ammunitions, more money and the list goes on and on. 

Gideon was however instructed by God to downsize his army. This must have sounded absurd. God did not want the case were Israel would boast that their strength had won them victory in the battle.

The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’ (Judges 1:2)

Gideon obeyed this instruction and followed the various criteria given by God on how he would reduce the number of men he had. Anyone who was afraid to go into battle was asked to go home. This reduced the size from 32,000 men to 10,000. The size was again reduced from 10,000 to 300, these 300 were those who lapped the water like dogs. God gave Israel the victory over the Midianites using these 300 men.

God is not limited by us. God's power is not dependent on anything we have or do not have. It is not our abilities, or level of intelligence that allows God to do what he has to do. With or Without our strength, beauty, intelligence, family background, how fair or dark we are, fat or slim, tall or short, God is still God and can and will do what He says he will do.

‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.

If it were by might we will not be where we are today. If it were by might Sarah would not give birth at the age of 90 (Genesis 18:12). If it were by might how would a virgin, Mary,  who had been with no man give birth to Jesus (Luke 1:26-38). If it were by might how would Paul a persecutor of Christians preach the Gospel of the Christ he was persecuting (Acts 9). If it were by might how would a man born blind receive his sight. If it were by might how would the daughter of Jairus be brought back to life (Matthew 9:18-26).

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;

    his greatness no one can fathom.

(Psalm 145:3)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I commit my life in your hands. You are Great and you do great things, show yourself mighty in our lives. 

And unto Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we could ever ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.

Amen!

Things Above

Bible Text: Colossians 3:2

We were all dead when living in sin. Christ's sacrificial death on the cross set us free and has given us a new identity. We are now Children of God, heirs with God and co-heirs with Christ. This new identity comes with a new attitude and way of life.

We are to live like those who have been made alive in Christ. This does not mean a holier than thou attitude just for onlookers but a life totally set apart for God. Colossians 3 verses 1-17 gives us a detailed manual of living as those made alive in Christ. 

When we set our minds on things above, on God and his kingdom we will exhibit unique traits.

We are to rid ourselves of sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry, anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. These acts are of the old self, the flesh but now we are in Christ and we must do things of the Spirit. We are to live a life that is holy and pleasing in His sight. Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. (Romans 8:5)

Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, love, peace, and thankfulness should be our hallmark. We who have been made alive in Christ should set our minds on things above and do everything in the name of Jesus.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I commit my life in your hands. As I set my mind on you Lord help me to live a life as one who has been made alive in Christ. 

And unto Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we could ever ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.  

Amen!

His Love Endures Forever

Love. It is one of the most popular used word. When we hear of love the first thing that comes to mind is the Romantic Butterfly love. Another type of love also exist. The romantic love is just a subset of that greater love.

This love was demonstrated by Jesus' sacrifice on the cross of Calvary.  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)  His love was also demonstrated towards so many people in the biblical accounts.

His love was demonstrated towards the daughter of Jarius. He raised her up from the dead.(Matthew 9:18-26). His love was demonstrated towards Blind Bartimaeus. The Blind beggar called upon Jesus for his healing. After a touch from Jesus he regained his sight. (Mark 10:46-52) 

God’s love never ends. It is everlasting. That is not the only good news. Nothing can separate us from this love.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a]neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, (Romans 8:38)

This Psalm talks about what our attitude should be towards this love. We should cultivate a spirit of gratitude to God. Give thanks to Him because His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. (Psalm 136:1-2) 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I commit my life in your hands. I am forever grateful for the love you have shown for me. Help me to also demonstrate this love. 

And unto Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we could ever ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.  

Amen!

Sing Praise to the Lord!

Bible Text: Psalm 30:4

Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name.

We are tempted to grumble and complain when we do not receive what we earnestly pray for. When things take a wrong turn and nothing seems to be going right. The confessions of our mouth are mostly negative, because to us we see no reason why we should praise God.

Our praises to God should however not be dependent on circumstances. There is time for crying out to God, laying our request at his feet and there is time for Praising him despite whatever we face. As Hannah's countenance changed after praying at the temple she then wiped away her tears and was no longer downcast. She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. (1 Samuel 1:18)

Praise God through songs. Praising God from our hearts. When we do this we confuse the enemy who expects us to always expects to be down. Praise God. Declare his wonders to all the earth.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I commit my life in your hands. I will praise you Lord as long as I live.

And unto Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we could ever ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.

Amen!

God is everywhere!

Bible Text: (Psalm 139:7-12)

On a bus ride one day I noticed that someone had painstakingly posted stickers of Jesus' pictures on on the interior of the bus.

The stickers were literally everywhere. The beautiful artistic design brought to my mind the depiction of the omnipresence of God. God is everywhere!

The Psalmist illustrates this with his rather unfruitful plan to go away from God's presence.
Up in the Heavens, In the Depths, On the wings of the Dawn, At the Far side of the sea, God is right there to hold us fast.

Where can I go from your Spirit?

    Where can I flee from your presence?

8 

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

9 

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

    if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 

even there your hand will guide me,

    your right hand will hold me fast.

11 

If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me

    and the light become night around me,”

12 

even the darkness will not be dark to you;

    the night will shine like the day,

    for darkness is as light to you  

(Psalm 139:7-12)

This omnipresence assures us that God is in control of every affair that concerns us. He is right there holding our hands through everything. Never should we feel that we are sailing through this life on our own.
We are fearfully and wonderfully made. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well (Psalm 139:13-14)
This ever present God is the one who knit us together in our mothers womb.

We are the work of his hands. How then can we ever be away from his presence!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I commit my life in your hands. 

And unto Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we could ever ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.

Amen!