The Needful

STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 
A Daily Devotional by Bishop David Bakare

The Needful

Tuesday, 17 September

 

But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Luke 10:42

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Luke 10:38-41 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

 

MORE LESSON: Proverbs 3:5-8 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. 8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

 

As we wake up each day, so many things compete for our immediate attention. Time seems to fly when we have several important issues to attend to. To set the order of priority is often difficult because most times it seems as if heaven will crash if these pressing demands are not all attended to immediately. Humanly speaking, man was not created to be in two places at the same time. Therefore, opportunity cost must come in when deciding the order of priority in getting the day’s assignments done.

Usually, courtesy demands that when a guest arrives at your house, you go all the way to entertain him, make him feel welcome and comfortable. The main guest at Mary and Martha’s house was the Master Himself (Jesus) and His entourage. They were travellers who must have trekked several miles to arrive at the house. They must have been thirsty, hungry and in need of water to wash their dusty feet (as it was the custom of the Jews). Martha hurried to get water for the guests to wash their feet, get food ready and fresh water and milk to cool their thirst. Surprisingly, Mary her sister was seated at the feet of Jesus with the other guests to listen to Him. Martha just could not hide her anger, she therefore called on Jesus to correct Mary’s behaviour. Jesus however calmed her down in Luke 10:41: Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things. Jesus the Omniscient One knew the importance of what Martha was doing, but He classified what Mary did as more important.

Sitting with Jesus to hear God before engaging in the activities of the day should come first before any other thing. This is because, it is from God that we draw the much needed strength and wisdom to face all other challenges of the day. In verse 40, the word cumbered as in the King James Version is translated as distracted, overly occupied, worrying in other versions of the Bible. The activities calling for our attention, though legit and important may be distractions when it comes to waiting on God as a priority.

Calm down today and wait on God before jumping on any assignment and the work which would have taken you long hours to do will take a moment or just a few hours. Proverbs 3:5-8, admonishes us not to lean on our own understanding but that in all our ways acknowledge God. Many times we believe that we are too familiar with our daily chores to need a helper. That is why severally, we spend needless hours trying to solve a little challenge that comes up in the course of the day. There is He that made the day and knows every moment of the day and what problem that may crop up at a particular moment. Let Him handle it for you before the challenge ensues. Learn to daily wait on God.

 

Prayer/Action

* Pray that you will be focused on God's Kingdom.

* Ask God for sensitivity to be active in God's assignment.

* Pray against time wasters.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: As the path of the just is as a shining light that shines more and more, so shall be my path today, in the precious name of Jesus.

Peace that Transcends Human Understanding

STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 
A Daily Devotional by Bishop David Bakare

Peace that Transcends Human Understanding

Monday, 16 September

 

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

MORE LESSON: Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

 

Peace is a state of calm, freedom from strife or discord. It is harmony in personal relationship. Peace encompasses the mental, spiritual and physical well-being of men. A man at peace is physically healthy, mentally sound and spiritually alright. Irrespective of ones position in the society or amount of wealth possessed, peace determines whether the person will enjoy life or not. Peace is, therefore, the determinant factor for a successful living. Receive peace in every area of your life, in Jesus’ name.

Money or power cannot buy peace; genuine peace comes from the Lord. Psalm 29:11encourages us: The Lord will give strength unto His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace. A man whose heart is at peace will enjoy good health (Proverbs 14:30). One of the first things that happens when you surrender your life to the Lord is that you have peace. You feel as if a very heavy weight has been lifted off your heart, and experience undescribable calmness and serenity. This is one of the signs God gives you as He welcomes you into His Kingdom. Isaiah 9:7 says: …of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end….

The word of God shows how to enjoy peace as we see below.

1. Give your life to Jesus Christ and accept Him as your Lord and Saviour. Let Him take over every affair of your life.

2. Seek peace and pursue it (I Peter 3:10-11). Release everyone who offends you and always do things that will create peace around you. Avoid trouble makers and love to make issues out of trivial matters. Be a peace maker (Matthew 5:9).

3. Cultivate the habit of listening and harkening to the voice of the Spirit of the Lord. Isaiah 48:18 says: O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! Then had thy peace been as a river and thy righteousness as the waves. One of the acid tests to discern between the voice of God and that of the devil is peace. The voice of the Holy Spirit is often accompanied with unexplainable peace even if what is saying seems humanly hard to believe or difficult to do. Consistent obedience to the voice of God keeps one out of trouble.

4. Cultivate the habit of gratitude. It is good to desire better things but remember to be grateful for what you have now. Colossians 3:15 exhorts: Let the peace of God rule in your hearts...; and be ye thankful. An ungrateful heart cannot have peace: be thankful for who you are, what you have and what you are believing God for.

5. Stay prayerful. God guides the feet of His people into the way of peace. (Luke 1:79).

Continue to enjoy His peace that transcends human understanding, in Jesus’ name.

 

Prayer/Action

* Ask the Lord to fill your heart with His peace.

* Receive grace to be a peace seeker everywhere you are found.

* Ask that the Prince of Peace will reign in your home.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: I declare that there shall be neither bareness nor abortion of my glory, abundance and safety in this ninth month, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Pay Attention to His Correction II

STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 
A Daily Devotional by Bishop David Bakare

Pay Attention to His Correction II

Sunday, 15 September

 

My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. Proverbs 3:11-12

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Psalm 139:1-24 O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.

 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. 5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. 7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. 13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. 14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. 17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. 19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. 20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. 21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? 22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

 

MORE LESSON: Proverbs 3:11-12 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: 12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

 

As we discussed yesterday, when God corrects and disciplines us as His children it is a mark of His eternal love for us. We should honour Him for this and respond positively to His love and correction. If God were to leave us without the way of correction or discipline, we would end up in self - destruction. Man always bends towards selfishness, sin and evil and the end of such a way is eternal destruction. Proverbs 14:12 warns: There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. If God leaves you to go on in your own way, uncorrected and without discipline, you will surely end in the wrong destination and you will consequently partake of the judgment.

Yes, God's discipline is not pleasant; it may appear very harsh. However, it is motivated by His eternal love for you and it is for your ultimate good. Is there anything God has been dealing with you about: a sin or a sinful habit? Is it an attitude that He wants you to change, your faithfulness in paying your tithes, your diligence about the work of your hand? It could be your inconsistency at attendance of mid-week services. Could it be your dwindling service in the house of God or your unfaithfulness in evangelism, soul winning and mission? Maybe, it is your poor relationship with your spouse, attitude to your parents or failure to submit to your pastor.

Take a close look at these, and any other matter the Holy Spirit is speaking to you about. Find out what exactly God wants you to do. And whatever He says to you, do it. That is the correct response of a good child to the discipline of a loving Father. Hebrews 12:11 says: Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. It is well with you!

 

Prayer/Action

* Give thanks to God for His loving correction.

* Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to the areas He wants you to adjust.

* Ask God to make you a better person than you have always been.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: According to the arrangements of God, nine months is the fullness of every pregnancy. Therefore, this ninth month shall be for the delivery of my 'man child', in the wonderful name of Jesus.

Pay Attention to His Correction I

STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 
A Daily Devotional by Bishop David Bakare

Pay Attention to His Correction I

Saturday, 14 September

 

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? Hebrews 12:6-7

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Hebrews 12:1-11 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

 

MORE LESSON: Hebrews 12:6-7 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

 

When God corrects us, it is a mark of His profound love for us. His correction is to show us our sins, so we can repent, turn, and become partakers of His holiness. His correction often shows us the errors of our ways so that we may change and walk in the light. Sometimes, His correction shows us what we have failed to do so we may turn, do them and become blessed indeed. Whatever it may be, God's correction is always for your good. You should, therefore, respond as a true child of God, in faith and heart-felt true obedience.

To choose to react negatively and rebel against the correction of God is to choose the way of judgement and perdition. That was what Cain (Genesis 4:6-7), King Saul (1 Samuel 15:22), and Judas Iscariot (Matthew 26:23-24) did. In each case, God corrected them but they did not take heed to His correction and they ended in disaster.

When God corrected David, he responded with a humble heart and in true repentance. God forgave him and established his kingdom (Psalm 51:1-19). When God corrected Peter, he submitted himself totally to God and he became the leader of Christ's apostolic band as recorded in John 21:15: So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

That God is correcting you does not mean you have come to the end of the road. It only means God wants you to make a positive adjustment in your life. Responding in humility, repentance and obedience is in your best interest. If you humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, He will exalt you in due season (I Peter 5:6). He will make your latter days to be more glorious than the beginning. Respond to God's correction today, and it shall be well with you. Submit yourselves there fore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you, as James 4:7 admonishes us.

 

Prayer/Action

* Give thanks to God for His eternal love for you.

* Ask God for the spirit of humility to respond appropriately to His correction.

* Ask the Lord to perfect everything that concerns you.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Oh God, my glory and the lifter up of my head, make this month a season of lifting for me and my household, in the beautiful name of Jesus.