GOD DOES NOT SLUMBER NOR SLEEP!

 God Does Not Slumber nor Sleep! 

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” Psalms 121:1-4 (KJV)

Knowing that God neither slumbers nor sleeps gives us assurance of His assistance. It is very heartwarming and exciting to read the opening Scripture because it tells us who God is. He never slumbers nor sleeps. He is alert 24/7 and not for Himself. Beloved, He is alert 24/7 to protect His children; to listen to the prayers of His children and to put the enemies where they belong. He is everywhere and ever ready to respond to His children. Therefore, don’t be anxious or afraid anymore (Isaiah 41:10). Just call on Him and He is ever-present to give you the help that you need. Call on Him in faith by His Word and the solution you need will be provided for you (Mark 11:22–23). Hallelujah! Dear beloved, are you going through any difficulty? Have you called on God in faith by His Word? If you have, then be steadfast in your faith and wait patiently, and the solution or help you need will be provided. Remember that God uses people to meet our needs. Hence, be nice and kind to people and it will be easier for you to receive any help you need. The kindness of David to Jonathan enabled him to help David in times of trouble (1 Samuel 20:42). Thus, your kindness and tenderheartedness toward people will make room for people to bless you. Praise the Lord! God bless you!

Prayer Point: My dear heavenly Father, indeed You are the Most High God because You neither slumber nor sleep. This gives me the joy and assurance that any time I’m in need, You will be available to help. Please guide and lead me to be tenderhearted and kind to people so that they can easily avail themselves for You to use. And assist me in times of need in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Were you blessed by today's message? Kindly go to the comment section and share your comments, and testimonies. Let's also know your challenges so that we can pray for you. 

THE GRACE OF GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY JANUARY 22, 2021.

SUBJECT : THE GRACE OF GOD!

Memory verse: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2 vs 8.)

READ: Ephesians 1 vs 7 - 8:

1:7:In Him we have redemption through a His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 

1:8: which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence.

INTIMATION:

The dictionary definition of grace is; beauty, kindness, good-will, mercy, reprieve, and pardon. God's grace will then be His beauty; kindness; good-will; mercy; reprieve; and pardon for sinful humanity. These attributes of God are freely, and undeservedly given to sinful humanity. Grace therefore, is the free, and unmerited power of God available to sinful humanity to meet our needs without any costs to us. it is received by believing rather than through any human efforts. 

God showered His kindness on us—this is also called God’s “grace.” This is His voluntary and loving favor given to those He saves. We can’t earn salvation, nor do we deserve it. No religious, intellectual, or moral effort can gain it, because it comes only from God’s mercy and love. Without God’s grace, no person can be saved. To receive it, we must acknowledge that we cannot save ourselves, that only God can save us, and that our only way to receive this loving favor is through faith in Christ. 

The simple and uncomplicated nature of God's grace, and being a free gift, make many people to miss it. There is nothing more powerful than grace. In fact, everything in the Bible; salvation, the infilling of the Holy Spirit, fellowship with God and victory in our daily lives is based upon the grace of God. Without grace, we are nothing, we have nothing, and can do nothing. If it were not for the grace of God, we would all be miserable and hopeless. We are completely helpless without the grace of God. ”For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2 vs 10.)

The psalmist in Psalm 139 vs 13 - 16 clearly states; "For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mothers's womb. .. for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works,.....My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed . And in Your book they all were written, the day's fashioned for me. When as yet there were none of them." From these verses, we know that God chose us and laid out our life work for us before we were born, before the world was even created. That is why we must not trust our own abilities, and initiatives because apart from Him, we can do nothing. We should start each day by saying the simple prayer below: 

Prayer: Abba Father, here I am, Lord, ready for whatever You have for me to do. I empty myself, as much as I know how, to allow Your grace to flow in my life, to cause me to be able to do whatever it is that You desire for me. I cast myself totally upon You. I can be only what You allow me to be, I can have only what You will for me to have, I can do only what You empower me to do, and each victory is to Your glory, not mine, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

EXPECT A GOOD END!

 Expect a Good End! 

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV)

As a child of God, always have an expectation in your walk with the LORD. The expectation should be nothing short of a good end because God has promised in His Word that His thoughts toward you are those of peace and not evil. He is a good God and always thinks about the good welfare of His children (Psalms 100:5). The question you need to ask yourself is, “Do I have good thoughts about God and my fellow brethren?” If you are able to answer this question honestly and correctly, then you are on the same page with God; and you will have a good end (Amos 3:3). You should have a good thought about God and your fellow human beings because they are the image of God. If all of us as children of God would have good thoughts about God and our fellow brethren, there will be peace among us and this peace will extend to those in the world; they will see the relevance of committing their lives into the Lord’s hands. Hallelujah! Dear beloved, what is your expectation in the Lord? Do you know how it will end? As long as your expectation is founded in the Word of God, you are guaranteed that it will have a wonderful end to bring glory to the name of the Lord. Hallelujah! Always be expectant!

Prayer Point: Dear Father, thank You for enriching my spirit with Your Word. I have made up my mind to always think well of You and my fellow human beings because Your thoughts and plans for me are peaceful, to bring me to a wonderful end. I bless you in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Were you blessed by today's message? Kindly go to the comment section and share your comments, and testimonies. Let's also know your challenges so that we can pray for you. 

PRAY WITHOUT CEASING!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY JANUARY 21, 2021.

SUBJECT : PRAY WITHOUT CEASING!

Memory verse: "Pray without ceasing.” (First Thessalonians 5 vs 17.)

READ: Luke 18 vs 1:

18:1: Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray, and not to lose heart,
18:2: saying, “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.
18:3: Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for Me from my adversary.’
18:4: And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 
18:5: yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.”
18:6: Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said.
18:7: And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry day and night to Him, though He bear long with them?
18:8: I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he really find faith on the earth?”

INTIMATION:

Prayer brings us before God in communing with Him. Humbly being at all times in the presence of God is the secret to continual triumph of the believer, hence the reason to pray at all times. Though we cannot spend all our times on our knees, but it is possible to have a prayerful attitude at all times. Emphasis here is not on a continued action of prayer, but on a continued attitude of prayer. This attitude is built upon acknowledging our dependence on God, realizing His presence within us, and determining to obey Him fully. Then, we will find it natural to pray frequent, spontaneous, short prayers. In other words, the Christian should be in s state of mind that he can at all times take part in the action of praying to the Father. 

It is the desire of the Father that His children approach Him in prayer. Prayer is the natural response of those who recognize their need for the help of God in their lives. 

To persist in prayer does not mean endless repetition or painfully long prayer sessions. Jesus’s lesson in the passage we read today is that if an unrighteous and unconcerned judge would act upon the persistent requests of a pleading woman, then certainly the persistent pleas of the righteous to a concerned God would attract His response to the pleas of the righteous. Consistent prayer means keeping our requests continually before God as we live for Him day by day, believing He will answer. 

Faith is essential to prayer. Faith is the recognition of the faithfulness of God, and engenders our committing ourselves and our matters to Him. Sometimes you think that God will not hear you because you have fallen short of His high standards for holy living, but if you have faith, and have trusted Him for salvation, you should know that God has forgiven us and He will listen to us. When we live by faith, we are not to give up. God may delay answering, but His delays always have good reasons. Faith shouldn't die if the answers come slowly, for delay is not denial, and that may be God's way of working His Will. As we persist in prayer, we grow in character, faith, and hope.

God not only welcomes us in prayer, He is waiting for us to pray. We, the godly—those who are faithful and devoted to God—should know that God is waiting for us to approach Him in prayer and should be confident that God listens to our prayers and answers at His own time (which is usually the best timing for us). Some other times you grow tired of praying because it seems God is not answering you, but a Christian's persistence in prayer is an expression of faith that God answers prayer. Always be confident, and know that God is present, always listening, and always answers in the best ways known to Him. 

A praying attitude is not a substitute to regular times of prayer, but should be an outgrowth of those times. Too often we pray glibly and superficially. Serious prayer, by contrast, requires concentration. It puts us in touch with God’s will and can really change us. Without serious prayer, we reduce God to a quick-service pharmacist with painkillers for your every ailment. However, the Holy Spirit, being the sole interpreter of the needs of the human heart, makes His intercession therein. Inasmuch as prayer is impossible to man apart from His help (Romans 8 vs 26), believers are exhorted to pray at all seasons in the Spirit (Ephesians 6 vs 18; Jude 20). 

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace for persistent prayer, as a demonstration of my absolute faith, and dependence on You in all things, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

THE KINDNESS OF GOD IS EVERLASTING!

 The Kindness of God Is Everlasting! 

“For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.” Isaiah 54:10 (KJV)

Knowing about the kindness of God is the beginning of enjoying it and appreciating Him for it. Beloved, is it not exciting to read the opening Scripture to know that God’s kindness toward His children is everlasting? Of course, it is! To be kind is to have a heart of favor toward others; this heart always looks out for the interest of others to meet their needs. God always looks out for our interests and meets our needs on a daily basis (Psalms 68:19). He went on further to add to His kindness; His covenant of peace will never depart from us. This covenant was a shadow in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, it became a reality in the person of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; He made an everlasting covenant with His blood so that we can have access to every inheritance of God (Matthew 26:28). Hallelujah! Dear beloved, the time to suffer in ignorance is over. Take advantage of God’s kindness and covenant, and your situation will change for good. Praise the Lord! Glory to His wonderful name!

Prayer Point: Dear heavenly Father, thank You for your loving kindness over my life. I also praise You for Your everlasting covenant You have with me to continually shower me with peace, mercy, joy, and all the inheritance You have in store for me. I promise to let others know about these wonderful gifts so that they can also benefit from them in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Were you blessed by today's message? Kindly go to the comment section and share your comments, and testimonies. Let's also know your challenges so that we can pray for you. 

THE LORD IS MORE THAN ENOUGH!

 The LORD Is More than Enough! 

“The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” Psalms 121:5-8 (KJV)

The LORD Almighty is more than enough! Knowing that He is more than enough makes you secure. The opening Scripture reveals His magnanimity: He is our Keeper, Shade, and Preserver. He keeps us from harm even from the severity of the sun by day and the moon by night. We are protected 24 hours a day because He neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalms 121:4). Beloved, our mind, which is the seat of the soul, is preserved from evil, meaning that our mind is guided to only think and execute righteousness. The evil mindset is crucified to the cross of Calvary. Hallelujah. We are not afraid to travel by sea, air, or land; because we are assured that God will shield us from the perils of traveling. This gives us the confidence to go out there to do what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has commissioned us to do for Him; and we know we will come back in good piece and with testimonies about the goodness of the LORD. Praise the Lord! Dear beloved, are you still entertaining fear and anxiety in your life? Your God is more than enough. Remember that He has not given you the spirit of fear but of power, love, and sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Thus, believe in His Word and use what He has given you, and He will also do His part to ensure we live in victory, success, peace, and joy. Hallelujah! Glory to the Highest!

Prayer Point: My loving Father, You are indeed the LORD of hosts. Thank You for being more than enough for me. I will always praise and worship You for the mighty things You are doing for me even while I’m asleep. Please continually remind me to be grateful for everything You do for me, even the little things, and I will be glad to express my appreciation in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Were you blessed by today's message? Kindly go to the comment section and share your comments, and testimonies. Let's also know your challenges so that we can pray for you. 

PROPER CONDUCTS IN PRAYER!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 20, 2021.

SUBJECT : PROPER CONDUCTS IN PRAYER!

Memory verse: "Therefore I say to you whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” (Mark 11 vs 24.)

READ: First Samuel 1 vs 10 - 13:

1:10: And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
1:11: And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
1:12: And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.

1:13: Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

INTIMATION:

The proper conducts in prayer include the following:-

1. We must be candid in our prayers.

God is “All-knowing,” therefore, go to Him in prayers with total sincerity of heart, and frankness in all intents and purposes. Don't keep anything back. In the passage we read today, Hannah had no child for her husband who really loved her. She was greatly discouraged and bitter because the husband's other wife had children and ridiculed her. Her loving husband could not solve her problem. She then turned in prayer to the Provider of solutions to all problems. The antidote to discouragement is telling God honestly of your problem, how you feel, and then leave your problems with Him.

It is difficult to pray in faith when we feel so ineffective, but Hannah did. We should always be careful what we promise in prayer because God may take you up on it. Hannah so desperately wanted a child that she was willing to strike a bargain with God. God took her up on her promise, and to her credit, she did her part, even though it was painful. Hannah made a vow in return for having a mail child, to dedicate him to God for lifetime service. God gave her a son named Samuel. She lived up to her promise, and God even blessed her with five more children excluding Samuel. 

2. Pray simply and directly. 

God is pleased with our sincerity, and uprightness. We can never pray vainly if our prayers are honest and sincere. Christ condemns vain repetitions in prayer (Matthew 6 vs 7). Repeating the same words over and over is no way to ensure that God will hear your prayer. Remember, God knows your needs even before you ask for them (Matthew 6 vs 8). However, you can come severally with the same request to God. In Matthew 26 vs 39 - 44, Jesus persistently prayed to the Father three times saying the same thing, even when He knew the Will of the Father. If you will say the same prayer now, it will take you less than twenty seconds, because it is simple, sincere, and direct. 

3. Pray audibly and in alignment with His Word—His Will.

Align your prayer with God’s Word. Put Him in remembrance of His Word (Isaiah 43 vs 26), He is always ready to perform His Word (Jeremiah 1 vs 12). The Word of God is our blueprint for life, the architectural plan for our divine destiny. The utterance of God's Word helps to activate our faith. If you can hear yourself when you pray, you are loud enough. You really don't need to shout. God expects you to speak to Him, not shout. In Isaiah 65 vs 24 God says, "It shall come pass that before you call, I will answer; and while you still speaking, I will hear." Not while you are shouting.

4. Pray passionately.

Your prayer, and supplication should be passionate. It is the "effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man that avails much" (James 5 vs 16). The Christian's most powerful resource is communing with God through prayer. The results are often greater than we thought were possible.

5. Don't mock God.

Do not ask God to do for you what He has already mandated you to do for yourself. Continuing to pray about what God has already told you to do is rebellion against the known Will of God. For instance, in Psalm 50 vs 15, God says, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." If you are then in any trouble, the proper prayer is, "God I am in the day of trouble, I believe you will deliver Me as I call upon You," not "O God I am in trouble, will You deliver Me? I am Your child...." 

6. Pray believing.

God is never far from the person who seeks Him, and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. The Bible in Hebrews 11 vs 6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Have faith in God (Mark 11 vs 22). Have faith that His promises are true and that they apply to you.

7. Pray without ceasing.

The door to prayer is always open; you should take full advantage of walking through that sacred gate often. In First Thessalonians 5 vs 17, the Bible says, "Pray without ceasing." We cannot spend all our times on our knees praying, but it is possible to have a prayerful attitude at all times. This attitude is built upon acknowledging our dependence on God, realizing His presence within us, and determining to obey Him fully. Then we will find it natural to pray frequent, spontaneous, short prayers. A prayerful attitude is not a substitute for regular times of prayer but should be an outgrowth of those times.

8. Pray with thanksgiving.

It is the spirit of thanksgiving that makes your prayer supernatural. The apostle Paul, in Philippians 4 vs 6 says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." Naturally, the best way to ask for more is to always be thankful. When you thank Him for what He has done, He will do more.

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace for proper conduct in prayer, that my prayer will come to You as a sweet smelling savor, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!