Tag: devotional

By Oke Chinye

Read: Galatians 5:16-26

Meditation verse:

“He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city (Proverbs 16:32).

An emotion is an instinctive or intuitive feeling, distinguished from reasoning and knowledge. It is a sentiment which is not necessarily based on fact. The dictionary puts out the opposite of emotions as ‘intellect’. Emotions are transient, fleeting, and contagious. They are therefore not a true representation of your reality. The fact that you feel afraid does not necessarily mean that there are very dreadful events in your life. Similarly, your current feelings of hopelessness do not in any way translate to a hopeless life or future.

In Psychology, the ABC model of behavior says that it is not so much the activating event (A) that affects our emotions and actions (C). It is our belief (B) about the event that causes us stress. Your thoughts about your life’s circumstances affect how you feel, and this affects how you react, which by extension determines the outcomes you get in life. Consider this; two ladies lose their jobs at the same time. The first one thinks excitedly to herself “well this gives me an opportunity to set up that business I have always wanted”. The second hunches her shoulders and thinks to herself “I am a total failure and loser; this is the end of the road for me”. Which one of them is more likely to succeed in her future endeavor?

It is dangerous to judge your circumstances based on how you feel about an event. Proverbs 19:11 says “The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression”. Ecclesiastes 7:10 says “Do not say, why were the former days better than these? For you do not inquire [think] wisely concerning this”. The bible says “A man’s steps are of the Lord; how then can a man understand his own way?” (Proverbs 20:24). “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). So, watch your emotions and stop short-changing yourself!

By Oke Chinye

Read: Isaiah 54:11-14

Meditation verse:

“O you afflicted one, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, and lay your foundations with sapphires” (Isaiah 54:11).

“In the event of loss of pressure, an oxygen mask will be released from the panel above your head. Pull mask down sharply; the acting of pulling releases the flow of oxygen. Place mask over your nose and mouth, pull straps tightly and breathe normally. Be sure to put your mask on before helping others”.

I bet you cannot recall how many times you have heard the above instructions during your air travels. An oxygen mask provides a method to transfer breathing oxygen gas from a storage tank to the lungs. When you inhale through the mask, you breathe in oxygen from the reservoir bag. Your exhaled air escapes through vents in the side of the mask and goes back into the atmosphere. Simply put, an oxygen mask is a device for assisting you when you cannot breathe on your own. Since it covers your mouth and nose, it is unlikely that you would be speaking to anyone. In fact, if you have ever been in an aircraft where you needed to put on your oxygen mask, you would notice how still and quiet everyone is.

There may come a time in your life, when you have tried all, you know how to do to navigate a particular issue, but nothing seems to be working and you have reached the end of the tunnel. You have nowhere else to go, nothing else to try and nobody else to ask for help. At such times, it is okay to pause and put on your oxygen mask. What does this mean? When you have done all that you can do and do not know what else to do, then be still and simply do nothing.

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”. Isaiah 30:15 says, “for thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength…”. Psalm 23:1-3 says “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake”. In these scriptures, God is extending an oxygen mask to you. So, be still, pull sharply on the mask, put it over your mouth and nose and breathe normally.

By Oke Chinye

Read: 2 Peter 1:5-11

Meditation verse:

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil 2:12).

We have been saved by grace through faith, and not of yourselves. Our salvation is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, faith works together with, and is perfected by works. James 2:26 says “as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead”.

You grow in your faith after salvation by the works that you do, and today’s reading highlights some of the works:

“But also, for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ”. 2 Peter 1:5-8

• Virtue implies behaving in a way that shows high moral standards.
• Knowledge is the practical understanding of something, in this case the word of God.
• Self-control is the ability to regulate your responses to avoid undesirable behaviours and increase desirable ones.
• Perseverance is doing something despite difficulty in achieving success.
• Godliness is the practice of conforming to laws of God’s kingdom.
• Brotherly kindness is the extension of the natural affection associated with a loved one to others not related to you.
• Love is more than feeling. It is sacrificial and giving whilst expecting nothing in return.

Working out your salvation by developing the above traits will enable you remain productive and fruitful in your walk with God. But if you lack these works, then your faith is dead. “For he who lacks these things is short-sighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things, you will never stumble”. (2 Peter 1:9-10).

By Oke Chinye

Read: Proverbs 4:5-9

Meditation verse:

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7)

By the time you get to your middle years, you will have gone through several experiences and learnt some valuable lessons. Psalm 90:12 says, “so, teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom”. In my journey so far, I have learnt some lessons and I am sharing a few, referring to the word of God. Life has taught me:

• To be self-assured and true to myself always. I find I am more at peace and achieve more when I walk in this consciousness of authenticity. You need to believe in who you are and act confidently. Philippians 4:13 says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.

• To be competitive in my pursuits but avoid comparing myself with others or judging myself by their standards. 2 Corinthians 10:12 says “comparing themselves with themselves, they are not wise”. Don’t compare yourself with anyone. Appearances are deceptive. The person you are comparing yourself with has plenty issues that you are unaware of.

• That being overly sensitive to what people say or think about me puts me in a vulnerable position. Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 says “do not pay attention to every word people say or you may hear your servant causing you. You yourself know how in your heart how many times you have cursed others”.

• That focusing on what I can’t change about my life is a losing strategy for my peace of mind. Psalm 139:14 says ‘I am fearfully and wonderfully made”. So, change what you can about yourself, but accept what you can’t change.

• That if I commit my plans to God and do my best in any endeavour, I am more likely to succeed in my endeavours. Proverbs 16:3 says “commit your thoughts to the Lord and your plans will succeed”.

• Life has taught me that I can start from where I am and make use of what I have, no matter how insignificant it may seem. And if I stay focused, I will achieve growth. Zechariah 4:10 says “who has despised the day of small beginnings”.

• Life has taught me not take myself too seriously all the time. You must learn to ease up and laugh at yourself sometimes. Proverbs 17:22 says “a cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones”. Keeping up a good attitude in times of adversity is therapeutic.

• Not to bottle up issues. I politely let others know if I find their actions offensive. We teach people how to treat us. Mathew 18:15 says “if your brother or sister offends you, politely point out their actions”.

• Not to sweat the small stuff. I am better off if I am willing to let go of little things and forgive easily. Colossians 3:13 says “bear with each other and forgive one another”.

• Lastly, that each day is a gift from God. I need to be grateful to Him and expect the best. Psalm 118:24 says “this is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it”.

Ease up and enjoy your life’s journey.

By Oke Chinye

Read: Ecclesiastes 7:8-10

Meditation verse:

“The end of a thing is better than its beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit” (Ecclesiastes 7:8).

Our understanding of things as humans is very limited, only God understands and knows everything. We are therefore prone to false attributions, faulty assumptions, wrong decisions, and incorrect conclusions. We may also misinterpret the things that happen to us in life because we are concluding based on our limited understanding or on just the evidence that we can see. Hebrews 11 says “now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. Does this not mean that there are things happening that we cannot see? There are things happening behind the scenes of our lives that we are unaware of, and as a result we interpret the circumstances of our lives based on what we can see and conclude that all is not well.

What can you see happening in your life right now and what have you concluded about that situation? Before you label it as bad, can you truthfully say that you have all the facts and evidence to conclude rightly? Aren’t there some things about that situation that you do not know or are not so certain about? Ecclesiastes 11:5 states “As you do not know what is the way of the wind, or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, so you do not know the works of God who makes everything”. God specializes in working behind the scenes of our lives and the secret things belong to Him. You have no way of knowing what He is doing about your situation. Why then would you conclude and give it a tag?

Here’s what God says in His word “The end of a thing is better than its beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools. Do not say, why were the former days better than these? For you do not inquire wisely concerning this”. (Ecclesiastes 7: 8-10). So be rest assured that irrespective of what is going on right now, everything will be alright in the end. If it is not alright now, then it is not the end. God says it, believe it and that settles it. A word, they say, is enough for the wise!

By Oke Chinye

Read: Ephesians 1:3-22

Meditation verse:

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1:13)

Other privileges you enjoy as an adopted son are:

The presence of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the guarantor and seal upon your life that proves that you are a child of God. He is in you to teach, comfort, intercede and help you in your walk with God. John 14:26 says “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you”. I have received help from the Holy Spirit on several occasions in different areas of my life. From showing me the specific area to focus on and study when I had to write an exam shortly after recuperating from a failed surgery, to exposing attacks of the enemy over my marriage before it was too late, to teaching me several life skills. The messages I write in this daily devotional are downloaded into my spirit by the Holy Spirit. The greatest resource we have as Christians is the presence of God’s Spirit in us, but you must be sensitive to His prompting if you are to benefit from His leading.

An everlasting hope: Christ in you is the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27) and it is an unending one. When all is said and done here on earth, you will reign with Christ in eternity. John 14:2-3 says “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also”.

If you have not yet asked Jesus Christ to come into your heart, you are not yet a son. Why not do so right away so that you can be adopted into the family of God and begin to enjoy these privileges. Here’s a prayer you can say right away: “Dear Jesus, I believe that You died to save me from all my sins. Today, I confess that I am a sinner and ask for forgiveness. I invite you into my heart and accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Please forgive all my sins, fill me with Your Spirit and help me to live my life for You”. Congratulations!

By Oke Chinye

Read: Ephesians 1:3-22

Meditation verse:

“Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will” (Ephesians 1:5).

At salvation, you were adopted as a son into the family of God through Jesus Christ, and this entitles you to certain privileges. Ephesians 1:18-19 says that “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what the hope of His calling is, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power”. As a son you have access to:

The name of Jesus Christ: Philippians 2:9-11 states: “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name, which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”. The name of Jesus is a refuge and strong tower in times of trouble. I had a scary experience one night. Whilst asleep, I suddenly became aware of a dark presence in the room. I tried to move and open my eyes, but couldn’t, it was like an invincible force was holding me down. I was very conscious of what was going on but could neither move nor open my eyes. Then I realised my spirit was calling the name “Jesus”, so I tried to open my mouth to call out the name, but my lips were sealed. I kept struggling to open my mouth and eventually succeeded in screaming “Jesus”. As soon as I called out that name, the invincible presence disappeared, and I was able to open my eyes and turn around.

The blood of Jesus: Revelations 12:11 states “And they overcame him [the accuser] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…” Hebrews 10:19 says “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus”. You have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus. In your redemption package, you can boldly access forgiveness for your sins, healing of all diseases, wholeness, sanctification, restoration, deliverance, and victory through the blood of Jesus. What an awesome privilege to be a son of The Most High God.

By Oke Chinye

Read: Job 39:27-30

Meditation verse:

“But those who wait on the Lord, shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

Eagles do not shy away from storms. Do you know how an eagle responds to a storm? It faces the direction of the storm, lifts its head high, flaps its wings and rides through the storm. As it rides through, the winds propel its wings, lifting it higher and higher until it is above the storm. Another interesting feature of the eagle is its piercing and sharp vision. Its eyes observe from afar. From high above the sky, its eyes spot a prey on the ground and in one swoop, it lowers itself and grabs the prey. The eagle makes its nest on high; it dwells and resides on the rock. The crag of the rock and the stronghold are its home. Its young feed on blood and where the slain are, there you would always find the eagle.

The symbolism of the metaphor “the eagle Christian” is evident in these characteristics of the eagle. As an eagle Christian, you will not shy away from the storms of life but will face them boldly, mounting on the wings of prayers and ascending higher. Your dwelling place will be on the solid rock, Jesus Christ who is the rock of ages and our stronghold. You will consistently be on higher grounds, shunning that which is worldly and mediocre.

Colossians 3:2 says “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth”. As an eagle Christian, your vision will be precise and your eyes focused on the prey, which is the expansion of God’s kingdom. Mathew 6:33 says “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”.

Finally, just as the young ones of the eagle feed on blood, as an eagle Christian, you will have led your young ones to Christ and brought them under the covenant of the blood of Jesus Christ. So, are you an eagle Christian?

By Oke Chinye

Read: Job 38:12-15

Meditation verse:

“This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

Every day is a gift from God. It is a privilege to wake up to another day. The psalmist says “I lay down and slept, I awoke, for the Lord sustained me (Psalm 3:5). It’s a 3-step process: first you lie down, next you sleep, and then you wake up. Not everyone enjoys the privilege of all three steps. We hear of instances where people go to bed at night, sleep but do not wake up to see the next day; they die in their sleep. Others lie down but are unable to enjoy a good night sleep. Still yet, there are those who do not even get to lie down. They are harassed by the terrors of the night.

If God sustained you through the night and enabled you to see a day, it is a privilege because it means your assignment on earth is not yet over. Each day comes with its own purpose and work, else it would not exist. Psalm 104:19-23 says:

He (God) appointed the moon for seasons; the sun knows it’s going down. You make darkness, and it is night, in which all the beasts of the forest creep about. The young lions roar after their prey and seek their food from God. When the sun rises, they gather together and lie down in their dens. Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening”.

Therefore, esteem each day as a gift from God, be grateful to Him and ask Him to direct your path. Then engage the day fully in a manner that will enable you profit maximally from it. “In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not withhold your hand; for you do not know which will prosper, either this or that, or whether both alike will be good” (Ecclesiastes 11:6). As you live out each day of your life, let God see by your deeds that you are grateful to be alive and a part of the day. Do good to others and put in your best, working diligently at whatever your hand finds to do. Remember that there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you will end up someday. (Ecclesiastes 9:10).