DEVOTIONALS

Scripture is the Word of God. We learn about the character of God from scripture. Beginning from Genesis to Revelation God is actively speaking to us. Right from the start, God spoke with Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David, Mary, the Prophets and many others. The Bible say “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16 Wait! Does what you think you’re hearing contradi

God’s still small voice speaks to our inner person. These are some of the ways he uses: being reminded of a particular verse or passage of scripture, an inner impression, pictures or visions, bringing a particular thought or memory to mind; a particular feeling or emotions, His peace, an audible voice; dreams or any other way He may choose. We can identify the quality of God’s voice. He affirms, encourages and is gentle. It is always in alignment with God’s Word and the fruit

“May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” Numbers 6:24-27 The term “to bless” gives the meaning of joy, or experiencing peaceful moments. A sense of humbling ourselves in recognition of God's blessedness and when receiving a gift or a favor from someone. It could be multiplication of favor - an abundance in every part of life: relationships, work of your hands and secur

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16 Gratitude is like a password we use to enter into the presence of God. When we choose to give thanks to the Lord, we build a habit pattern. If we consciously and consistently choose to express gratitude in ordinary situations, it becomes easier io thank God for the difficult, painful and even traumatic times, simply because he is always in it with us. When we ex

If you watch the leaves during the Fall season, they simply fall dancing in the wind before touching the earth! They simply follow the flow as they fall. We are invited to simply be present in the moment! We may not be able to control our worries but we can trust God in us to help us through them His way! A month ago, the leaves were, lovely, attractive, green and served the purpose for that season. In as much as they are still changing color at the moment and really looking

For everything there is a season, and a time for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 Depending on the situation, we can define change in different ways; it could be shifting habits, moving to a new place, or experiencing a change of heart. It is simply the act, process or result of becoming different. In business it could be restructuring, environmentally it could be change of seasons which affects everyone. We may necessarily not want to read the above verse bec

In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory. Isaiah 61:3 (b) The oak tree begins small and has humble beginnings. The acorn holds the seed of an oak tree, a small smooth nut. It eventually grows into an oak tree! One thing about the oak trees is that they all have one common feature, being massive, mighty, large and strong. Built strong with a tough, rough surface, the branches reach high. You can sit on the branches withou

“But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” Matthew 14:17 The disciples saw five thousand hungry people, a very challenging problem. Jesus saw five thousand people ready to be fed. He had the solution. This highlights that small, surrendered offerings can become abundant through God's power. Jesus provides for His people regardless of the situation. This symbolizes abundance, divine provision, trust and compassion is always in God. Have you ever been faced with

“So, my God gave me the idea to call together all the nobles and leaders of the city, along with the ordinary citizens, for registration. …..” Nehemiah 7:5 A strategist is responsible for creating and implementing plans, or strategies, to achieve specific goals. They develop and execute plans that involve setting objectives, determining actions, and allocating resources to achieve desired outcomes. The greatest strategist we have ever had is our Creator God. He is orderly, tr

But those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 No doubt the pressures of daily life seem overwhelming at times. The stresses of life can make anyone feel like giving up! Perhaps more than ever, we face adversity, and it only seems to be increasing from day to day! When operating in our own strength, we will always burn out. Putting our trust in

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14 During the recent World Cup, it was interesting to watch some of the teams play. Well, as we all know a soccer team wins a match by simply scoring more goals than their opponent during the regulation of 90 minutes of play (or during any subsequent extra time/ or penalty shootout). Achieving this requires a delicate balance of tactics, physical fitness, psychol

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, Philippians 3:13 Paul knew that he really needed to focus on “One thing” and names it. This is a challenge for you and I to ask ourselves today: “What’s the One thing I can do this summer such that by doing it everything else will be easier to manage?" You can journal it and then do follow-up on regular basis. Paul was reminding us

They will fight you, but they will fail. For I am with you, and I will take care of you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” Jeremiah 1:19 Well, Jeremiah was known by God before he was formed in his mother’s womb and set apart. When you read this how does it make you feel? As soon as he heard this, fear overcame him. He was already thinking of how he will be faced with rejection and might fail! His immediate response to God was “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young.” If that was y

So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 2 Corinthians 5:20 Have you ever been asked, “who are you”? What was your response? Well Jesus was asked the same question and this verse says it all: “Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?” John 4:12 When Moses was assigned a task that he felt was beyond his ability and he asked the questio

“You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athlete’s race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally.” 1 Corinthians 9:24 (MSG) When we choose to wear the jersey of our favorite player or team, we don’t have the same experience as that athlete! We are only showing solidarity, as a symbol of support! To hear and know God’s voice, we have to read his Word pur

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. *Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Hebrews 12: 2 The outcome-focused for competitions is striving to win, defeat opponents, and achieve superiority. The success or failure of the event is judged by the final outcome. Paul uses the metaphor of athletes to explain that they cannot be

I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. I Corinthian 9:27 Paul uses the metaphor of training of athletes focusing on our spiritual welfare. Some of the training for athletes in sports is combined with specific skills, strength, and active recovery. The athletes follow prioritized plans, cycling through different training blocks focusing on certain muscles based on

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 In sports and physical fitness, athletes are trained to focus on teamwork, peace, healthy competitions, and perseverance. Spiritual fitness cannot be sidelined for the sake of physical fitness. Paul reminds us in Hebrews 12:2: “We do this by keeping our

Breaking out of our normal routine can renew our energy by giving us a fresh perspective and expanding possibilities. Stepping outside comfort zone may also help us feel braver, which increases confidence and feelings of self-worth. God is always doing new things and He invites us to join Him on this journey of transformation. We let go of the past and trust in God’s perfect timing. He has amazing things in store for us. We glorify God by spending quality time with him. Hol

A great reminder to focus on is that our fears are met with God’s active presence, supernatural strength, and unwavering support. Here are the five promises directly spoken to us from God: I am with you; I am your God; I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you. This are profound promises of God’s presence, comfort, and unwavering support in times of fear or difficulty. God speaks these promises over us but the enemy’s strategy is to create unhealthy fear in u