Be Still

STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 

A Daily Devotional by Bishop David

Be Still

Wednesday, 16 October

 

Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Psalm 46:1-11 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. 4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. 6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. 7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. 8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth. 9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

 

MORE LESSON: Psalm 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

 

God is our refuge; strong, ever present and a great help to those who are weak. God who is higher than all else, rules over all, His voice melts the earth. Our fortress, our sun and shield; we are secure no matter what environment we find ourselves. We must read God’s promises of preservation again and again, allow them to sink into us, permeate our spirits to rule our hearts and minds, especially in times of insecurity and crises.

There are three dimensions of Be Still we are meditating on in this devotion today.

i) Be still and meditate on God Himself; meditate in silence on His unfailing love (Psalm 48:9); His mighty deeds (Psalm 77:12); His ways (Psalm 119:15); His greatness (Psalm 119:97). These meditations will strengthen and open you up to hear the voice of God.

ii) The second dimension is to be still and build faith that drives away fear; be still and cease from fearful agitations. In Mark 4:39 Jesus rebuked the wind: And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Psalm 107:29 says, He maketh the storm a calm so that the waves thereof are still. Remember that fear has torment but faith opposes fear and brings victory. Read through Hebrews 11 again and let the testimonials of faith encourage you. Also, confess the truths in God to quench the voice of fear.

iii) The third dimension of Be still is in waiting patiently on God and for God as Psalm 37:7 urges us, Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Surrender your circumstances to God's sovereignty, anticipate that God will lead you to a place of refreshing and rest. Isaiah 26:3-4 says, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.

 

Prayer/Action

* Praise God for His greatness and might and for who He is.

* Ask for grace to be still in listening to God in faith and confidence.

* Ask God to lead you to rest and refreshing in all realms of life.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: My Father and my Maker, as I give You thanks today for all You are doing in my destiny, I connect with Your power for more, in Jesus' mighty name.

God’s How II

 STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 

A Daily Devotional by Bishop David

God’s How II

Tuesday, 15 October

 

And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. Malachi 3:3

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

 

MORE LESSON: Malachi 3:2-3 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: 3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

 

God’s how is always a mystery to man because His ways are different from those of men. In Genesis 8:7, a raven was used to get a message for Noah inside the ark to confirm if the water has dried up, on the land. Also, in I Kings 17:6, God used a raven to supply food for Elijah during the time of drought and famine. The bird consistently brought him breakfast and dinner until the brook dried up and then God used the widow of Zerephath, of all people, to sustain Elijah. Couldn’t He have sent Elijah to one of the wealthiest people in town? Yet, He chose a widow who was about to eat her last meal. How do you send someone to feed from a person who does not even have a day’s meal?

In 2 Kings 2:11, Elijah went to heaven by whirlwind; it was different from the way Jesus went to heaven. People run away from whirlwinds but it was used as a means of transportation for Elijah. Elisha knew Elijah was going but he did not know how. I know God will answer you but I don’t know how, so stay on God. I listened to a lady’s testimony of being barren for 25 years and God gave her four children at once. All the children she was meant to have in a lifetime God gave her in one day. In the mystery of settlement, times are never known. The way you may expect God to do a thing may not be the way He will do it. God is visiting someone in a special way today, in Jesus’ name.

So, friend, take it easy and stop stressing yourself to find out which way God is going to come from; God works in mysterious ways. In a way you least expect, God will surprise you today, in Jesus’s name.

Today’s text says, When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Notice from this verse that it says when you pass through the water and walk through the fire. It didn’t say if you pass through or if you walk through. This teaches us that it is not strange to be challenged as a child of God, but it is certainly strange to be defeated. This is why Peter admonishes us in I Peter 4:12, Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.

When you are challenged however, you must keep your trust in God and know that He will bring you out unhurt. Just the way you cannot explain how a person in fire is not burnt, you may not know how; but He is faithful and He will bring you out unhurt, in Jesus’ name.

 

Prayer/Action

* Pray that you will not miss God's chosen way when He is speaking.

* Pray for God's divine visitation in this season.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Today, I put my hands on my head and declare, I choose the way of the Lord, so help me LORD, in Jesus' precious name.

God’s How I

STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 

A Daily Devotional by Bishop David

God’s How I

Monday, 14 October

 

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

Isaiah 55:8

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

 

MORE LESSON: Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

 

One of the most difficult things in life is to try to find out how God will do that which He has said He will do. This is because His ways and thought are quite different from ours. So trying to find out how God will do something from our human perspective often leaves us overwhelmed. This is why our part in the faith equation is to believe and act based on the instructions He gives us and then He takes it up from there. Asking how God will do what He has said He will do is a very challenging question because His ‘hows’ are often very strange to human imagination.

In Numbers 22:28, He made an ass to speak to Balaam which is not how you will expect God to speak to His prophet. Normally, we think that when God wants to speak to a man, He will use a fellow man or an angel, but He used an ass instead. That is one of God’s how. In Exodus 4:3, He asked Moses what was in his hand and he replied that it was a rod then God told him to drop it. Moses did and it became a snake; that is how God works.

So, what is in your hand may not actually be a stick but could be snake. Whatever is in your hand has infinite potentials when God wants to use it; Moses’ rod turned to a snake before Pharaoh, it parted the Red Sea and it brought water out of the rock for the Israelites to drink. The rod could become whatever God wants it to become depending on the assignment of the season. Therefore, quit looking down on that talent, gifting, ability or skill in your hand. Make it available for God’s use and you will be amazed at how He will use it to turn your life around, advance His Kingdom and make you a blessing to your generation.

How then do you define how God does His things? In Exodus 3:2, Moses saw a burning bush but it was not being consumed. God abandoned all the ‘hows’ Moses had known and spoke to him in a way that shocked him. May your consuming fire bring out the voice of God, in Jesus’s name. That situation that seems so hot, that it looks like all hope is lost, will not consume you; you will come out unhurt, in Jesus’ name. He assures us in Isaiah 43:2: When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

 

Prayer/Action

* Thank God for His master-plan for your life and destiny.

* Ask God for grace to live a life that glorifies Him.

* Ask God for sensitivity and a good understanding of when He is talking to you.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Ahead of me this day, this week, this month and this year, every crocked place shall be straightened and the valleys shall be levelled down, in the powerful name of Jesus.

Till Your Land

  STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 

A Daily Devotional by Bishop David

Till Your Land

Sunday, 13 October

 

He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread; but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding. Proverbs 12:11

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Proverbs 12:7-11 The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand. 8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised. 9 He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread. 10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. 11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.

 

MORE LESSON: II Thessalonians 3:9-13 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. 10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

 

The Bible is indeed a treasure of endless wisdom for living. Today, we will meditate on a profound word of wisdom from the timeless word of God. Man was created with desires, and two major desires are for companionship/fellowship and work. These desires have been there before the fall of man. The desire for work has birthed great innovations in various areas including economy, medicine, politics, industry, technology and more.

There must be a balance of the two desires as seen in today’s memory verse; the desire to be industrious and the social desires must both be correctly satisfied. Love for people and social life must not negatively impact the productivity of jobs, vocation and careers. The two must be balanced. There is sound wisdom in getting your crops planted before going to play games with friends.

Our social desires can be very strong and indeed are essential. We are designed to want to be with people, hear people, watch people, be entertained by them, learn from them and interact with them. God also designed us with wisdom to manage our social desires to achieve a balance between social activities and life responsibilities. Particularly, we must be careful of the kind of people we bring into our social circle. Listening to, watching or spending time with vain people will drain us of our productivity. Such people have nothing substantial or beneficial to offer us. The increasing screen time for internet connected activities is robbing us of productive and the time of tilling our land.

Our social gluttony is robbing us of widespread and meaningful productivity. We must intentionally balance up! Each moment spent following vain people on social media robs us of time to read the Bible, pray, have family interactions and attend to more beneficial issues of life. Tilling our land includes improving our profit making skills by increasing knowledge, improving service delivery, showing up at work on time and similar productive activities. The readiness to be trained will lead to increased profit. Responsibility, honesty, integrity and other good work ethics will yield greater results than idleness.

 

Prayer/Action

* Receive grace for balanced social life.

* Ask for grace to spend time in profitable ventures.

* Rebuke the tendency for frivolities in your life.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: As the LORD lives, my testimonies this tenth month shall not be fewer than 10, in the wonderful name of Jesus.