December 23, 2024

Level of Faith

February 2, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them.
Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof
above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Mark 2:3-5

The portion of Scripture we have this week describes the level of faith that we ought to have. The men believed that Jesus was the one to heal this paralyzed person…and they did not allow any stumbling block between themselves and the Healer.

Typical of a determined human being who wants to do some investmenting, whenever you know that there is a profit to be received out of a particular business, you strive to get together the capital either by borrowing from friends or through a bank loan, so as it will aid you to the achievement of your profit.

Faith is like a blank check where we need to feel everyday as we live.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17 KJV

If you don’t hear the Word of God you will not know what the Word has for you.  These people in Mark 2, had been hearing a lot of things that Jesus did, for Jesus went about doing good.  So, the news that Jesus healed people was all over their cities [Mark 1:29 – 34] and through many testimonies they had been hearing of Him healing many as well as His miraculous deeds.  Their level of faith grew each day by hearing these testimonies and probably many others, too, had followed Him to another place where the miracle took place in their presence.

When you have a high level of faith you can do the extraordinary—this is what we see in our Scripture this week.  Their level of faith did not allow stumblingblocks to the healing of their brother; hence, the opening on the roof.

If we want to succeed in life, we have to do extraordinary things through Christ Jesus.  And so coupled with our faith we shall be given whatsoever we desire (Mark 11:24).  Extraordinary things like:

  • Praying more
  • Meditating on the Word more
  • Giving alms more
  • Loving more
  • More charity, etc.

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Our Lord and our Father, hallowed be Thy Name.  We thank You for the measure of faith that was allotted to us when we were being created as Your Word tells us in Romans 12:3.  Thank You that You have also given us an opportunity to grow in this faith by hearing Your Word.  We pray, Lord, for the grace for our faith to grow more and more; so much that we would be able to scale mountains.  We are blessed as we move from one level of glory to the other, in Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN!

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One Day At a Time

January 29, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Do not worry about tomorrow for will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:34

This Scripture reminded me about a song I know (and I know most of you know it)…

♫ ♪ ♫  One day at a time, sweet Jesus
That’s all I am asking from You
Help me today to do everything that I might do
Yesterday is gone, sweet Jesus; and tomorrow may never be mine
So, for my sake, teach me today, one day at a time   ♫ ♪ ♫

This is very encouraging.  As God knows everything we need and so we need to know that He won’t deprive us.  And the Word says “And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life?” (verse 27).  So this shows we need not worry.  Fear makes us worry whilst faith makes us believe and trust God even the more for His provisions.

Look at verses 28-32…. God is just showing us that in His splendor and majesty He provides all things.  All we need to do is trust Him for the provisions.  Remember, without faith we cannot please Him (Hebrews 11:6).  Only having faith in the Lord will be a guarantee for our provision.

Look also at the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13):

Our Father Who art in Heaven
Hallowed be Thy name
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it it in heaven
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil

So it is an issue of daily provision.  And daily provision can come through our daily prayers and through our daily faith and belief.  Without that don’t expect anything.

I am encouraged always by the Word of God through our devotionals this month of January; everyone is writing and emphasizing that we need to have faith in the Lord.  I therefore also write this devotion reminding us, sisters in Christ, without faith we cannot please God.  All those challenges in our lives can come to an end as long as we have faith.  Mark 11:24 says “…whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”  It is a matter of desiring and applying faith to the Word.

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Oh Lord, our Father and our God, we worship you!  You are so great! Blessed be Your holy name in all the earth.  You are our Father and our King.  We praise You.  We thank You, Father, for Your faithfulness in our lives.  You have always stood with us when we pray guarding Your word in Jeremiah 33:3 that you shall show us great and might things.  Be blessed for Your Word is true and it shall accomplish what it came for.  Thank You for You gave us all the measure of faith that we need to grow as we hear Your Word daily.  We give You all the praise and honor in Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN!

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Faith That Brings Peace

January 20, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Then He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you.
Go in peace and freed from suffering.”
Mark 5:34

Jesus went about doing good in His ministry.  Each and every time He healed the sick, He would release them with some grace.

In our Scripture reference today we see the lady being healed and at the end Jesus said, “Your faith has healed you, go in peace and freed from suffering.”  In this Scripture we see that if it wasn’t for faith this lady would not have benefitted from the presence of Jesus on earth.  You know what, sisters—we can attain all things when we have faith.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for….
Hebrews 11:1 KJV

This lady knew that ‘if only I can touch Jesus’ hem of His garments…all will be well for me.’  She took a step of faith and broke protocols of that time by maneuvering through the crowd and found herself amidst the disciples (men) and touched Jesus.

On its own, it was not proper for a woman to be brushing shoulders with men; she didn’t mind what people would say about her.  All she was concerned with was that she would be healed.  I therefore urge each one of us to be a people of vision.  Let us also ask ourselves these questions below:

  • What is it that we want God to do for us
  • How are we drawing near to Him for Him to help us
  • How much time do we have for God
  • Do we believe He can do it
  • How great is He to heal us and free us from suffering

There are times we need to fast, pray, and believe God for a miracle.  As well as have faith that whatsoever we pray for we shall have it (Mark 11:24-25).  Sometimes we just need to make bold decisions. Such as going for ‘Esther-type’ of prayer when you have husband at home whom we can’t deny matrimonial rights.  Except for the time of fasting (1 Corinthians 7:5) you excuse yourself to that.

We see also this type of faith in Mark 10:52 where Jesus healed blind Bartimeaus, who later followed Jesus. Let us follow Jesus always—we know what He is capable of doing!  Let us not doubt anything.

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Dear Lord, thank You for Your Word at the right time.  Thank You for You made it possible for us to study these Scriptures which show us how great You are and that you operate well when we have faith.  We thank You for You stand by Your Word that without faith we can’t please You.  As You are pleased with our faith, Lord, do unto us what we need not…what we want.  We ask all this in Jesus’ name Amen.

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Faith Jumps

January 12, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Then He got into the boat and His disciples followed Him.
Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat.
But Jesus was sleeping.
The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?”
Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this?
Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
Matthew 8:23-27 NIV

I have always known that faith take you up high while fear hesitates and drags you down. There have been many times we have failed to exercise faith and we have ended up disappointing God. In Hebrews 11:6 the Bible says “...without faith we cannot please God.” What is this faith we are talking about?

Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen
Hebrews 11:1

Faith is a raw material for a product we are going to have.  As Hebrews 11:6 explicitly says without this raw material—faith—we cannot please God.  For us to have our hearts’ desires we need to have faith in the Giver and believe His word with no doubt at all.

The disciples forgot that Jesus was everything and started doubting…hence Jesus’ question (Matthew 8:25).  Jesus called Peter to walk on the sea toward Him. At first Peter did…and was not drowning but he started doubting and focused on the waters THEN he started drowning. The Bible records Jesus confronting Peter: “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”  (Read this record here.)

So little faith can be a raw material for us to have a product that is not attractive and leads to not having a product at all. We need to build our faith always. So, how do we build our faith? By hearing the Word of God.

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17

Meditate on the Word of God (Joshua 1:8), personalize the Word, receive it with gladness and obey what it says and, in so doing, we shall eat the good of the land.

Our God is good and He has made everything possible for us. It is our own wrong choices that lead us not to reach out to the great benefits that God has planned for us…if we only obey Him.

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Dear Heavenly father, I thank You for Your lovingkindness that endures forever. Thank You for who You are in our lives. Thank You for You are our Father who hears our prayers. We give You glory and honor. We pray, Lord, that You help us build our faith everyday as we study and meditate on Your word and as we listen to Your voice. Open our ears to hear what You are talking about and open our eyes to see Your greatness in the Word. May we live a life pleasing unto You always, in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

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Good Works

January 5, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

In the same way, let your light shine before men,
that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16

This portion of Scripture has also reminded me of Colossians 1:10 “And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work growing in the knowledge of God” and also 1 Timothy 6:18 “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous and willing to share.”

This shows us that we are required to always do good as Christians.  As we are doing that then we are doing the work of God of which we are called to do.

How do we do good works which praise the Lord?

  • Speech
  • Character
  • Attitude
  • Personality
  • Spiritual life
  • Giving

Everything we do should be pleasing unto God.  And therefore I request each one of us to search ourselves whether we have lived a life that is pleasing unto God in the previous year or not.  If not, it is not too late to come back to God and confess our sins.  (I am calling it sin since the Bible tells us, “To him therefore who knows how to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin” James 4:17).

God is faithful and just to forgive us and give us a fresh start. Let the year 2015 be a testimony year to others because of us.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Dear heavenly Father, I thank You for who You are—You are a great God, awesome is Your Name—marvelous, immortal, invisible, omnipresent God.  We honor You for Your good deeds and we pray, Father, that as Your children created in Your own image and likeness, that we will live a life that is pleasing unto You.  Let people give You glory and honor because of us.  Whatever we do, Lord, let it be pleasing unto You. We need Your grace, Lord!  On our own we can’t make it.  Guide us, dear Lord, always. May Your spirit that dwells in us be awakened by our spiritual life and help us to do good.  In Jesus’ name, I pray.  Amen!

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2014 – Seeking The Lord Where He Is Found

December 28, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness
and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:33

When we came to the 31st December 2013 and as we were going into 2014, the Word of God that was very vivid to me was Matthew 6:33.  I studied it and meditated on it…and, yes, I got revelation.  Since then the year 2014 has been a year where “all things were added to me” and I am so thankful to my God for everything in the year 2014.

God has been so faithful, loving, and kind to me and my family, friends, and relatives. Indeed in every family or clan God raises someone to stand as a pillar for all.  I can testify today that I am one of the pillars God created in our family; and, yes, it is good to stand in awe of God.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
To declare Your steadfast love in the morning,
and Your faithfulness by night,
Psalms 92:1-2

Throughout the year while reading the devotions that my GCH sisters have written as well as other men and women of God I interact with and also the Word of God spoken through my Pastors it has always encouraged me. And shown me that only by seeking the Kingdom of God that all things shall be added unto me.

And I choose to study the Word more and meditate on it and let the Word speak to me first before preaching to others.  I have seen the hand of God and I can testify that despite the hardships/adversary I faced this past year in one area or another, God remains Almighty God to me, and His lovingkindness and faithfulness never ceases.

There was a time I was at zero in faith when I failed my exams in June, and some other hard times in my social life.  Yet God still spoke to me through your devotions, my sisters, and through a few friends in my own country.  My faith was lifted up again! What a wonderful group of women and men of God I am connected to!  God handled everything in His perfect ways and He is able to do what He says He will do.  God is awesome.

He’s Able ~ Deitrick Haddon
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Lord, I thank You for Your lovingkindness and your faithfulness at all times. Be praised and glorified for taking me through the ups and downs of this life for Your names’ sake. I am what I am today because of Your love. Thanks for the precious gift of Jesus to my life. He saved me and my loved ones and my friends. I am called Your child, Lord, for I accepted Jesus as my Lord and my Savior. Be glorified and exalted in all the earth, Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

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God’s Banner Over Us is Love

December 22, 2014 by

SHadventlovegraphic

He has brought me to His banquet hall,
And His banner over me is love.
Song of Solomon 2:4

There is this song that we used to sing in Sunday school…

  ♫ ♪ ♫ Behold what a manner of love that the Father has given unto us
That we should be called the sons of God   ♫ ♪ ♫

Back then I could not understand what I was singing; but now that I am saved I do understand that God’s love for us is SO great.  He gave us His begotten Son so that we should not perish (John 3:16).  His will for us is to have eternal life.

God’s love is wide enough to embrace all persons (1 Timothy 2:4).  God gave His Son as an offering for sin on the c\Cross.  The atonement proceeds from the loving heart of God.  It was not something forced on Him (Romans 8:32).

Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1st Corinthians 13:4-8

We see this is the demonstration of God’s love to man, and since we are also created in the image of God let us also exercise it.  Jesus gave us the commandment to love one another as He had loved us.  And for us to show that we are His disciples we must love one another.

Christmas is also a season of love—a season to give and a season to care.  Therefore choose someone you can bless with food items, clothes, etc., as an act of love.  God freely gave us His Son.  We should also freely give what we are blessed with!

   *    ♥  ~  ✝  ~  ★    *

Father, I thank You for the love that You have for us.  Teach us, Lord, to love one another as Christ has loved us.  Help us also to practice love not only in this season but all the days of our lives, Lord.   This we ask in Jesus name.   Amen.

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The Joy of the Lord Is Our Strength

December 16, 2014 by

gchSHadventjoygraphic

Do not grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Nehemiah 8:10b

Joy comes from deep down in the heart. It comes not because you have some good happenings around you. No, it comes whether all is well (or not). The truth that remains in your heart is you have a loving and caring Father who will take care of all issues.

This declaration of God’s Word accompanied by sincere desire to follow its instruction will result in a true heartfelt joy. This joy of the Lord is based on reconciliation with God and the presence of the Spirit in our lives. This joy is for everyone and we can only attain this joy when we are in His Presence.

This joy is promised to us by our God:

For his anger lasts only a moment but his favour lasts a lifetime, weeping may remain for a night but rejoicing <joy> comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:5

Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.
Psalms 126:5 -6

I will clothe her priest with salvation and her saints shall ever sing for joy.
Psalm 132:16

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation…
Isaiah 12:3

…And the ransomed of the Lord will return, they will enter Zion with singing
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Isaiah 35:10

We thank God for the many promises that follow us by being in His Presence where fullness of joy is found. I choose therefore to remain in His Presence to benefit all the promises written. I pray you choose this also for in His Presence there is, indeed, fullness of joy.

*    ♥  ~  ✝  ~  ★    *

Lord God, King of glory, blessed be Your Holy Name! How excellent is Your Name in all the earth. Clothed with righteousness, honor and majesty…we bless You. Thank You for Your promises to us which are Yes and Amen. Thank You for allowing us to be co-heirs with Christ Jesus that this fullness of joy should be our inheritance. Thank You for loving us this much. We adore You, Abba Father. By Your grace, Lord, sustain us in Your Presence all the time…in Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

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Peace Which Passes All Understanding

December 9, 2014 by

SHpeaceluke1

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

This peace I am talking about involves a firm conviction that Jesus is near and that God’s love will be active in our lives for good (Romans 8:28, 32).  How do I prove this sentence?

God gave us His only begotten Son, and allowed Him to die on the Cross for us—what a loving God He is!  He saw that with the all the sin around us, we are not at peace.  Sin robs us of peace but righteousness bring joy and peace in our hearts always.

What does this peace of God do in our lives?

  • When we call on God from hearts that remain in Christ and His Word, then God’s peace will flood our troubled souls.  Are you troubled?  Then please allow the peace of God to be present in you through Christ our Lord.
  • It is as an inner reality mediated by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:15-16). And we all know that the Holy Spirit is our Counselor, Comforter, etc.  Therefore we can rest assured that through the Holy Spirit’s mediation we are going to be at peace even in times of the roughest storms and raging wars.
  • This peace is going to stand guard at the door of our hearts and mind, preventing the cares and worries of this life which undermine our hope in Christ.
  • If fear and anxiety does return, than through prayer, petition, and thanksgiving we will once again be placed us under the peace of God that guards our hearts.
  • It makes us feel safe and rejoice in the Lord.

The Lord gives us peace, good friends.  I therefore pray to God for you that He would turn His face toward you and give you peace.  We need peace in all areas of our lives (Numbers 6:26).  Others are thinking how will they pay their bills; and God has sent me today to tell you that He is making a covenant of peace with you (Numbers 25:12). And a heart at peace gives life to the body (Proverbs 14:30).

*   ♥  ~  ✝  ~  ★    *

Lord, I thank You for the peace that passes all understanding.  I thank You for the peace I have within me that is moving me from one level of glory to the other.  I really appreciate You, Abba Father, for this is not only unto me it is also to my friends who are reading this devotion.  May You give us the grace of increased faith in You which will bring peace into our hearts.  May our hope be in You as You are PEACE Yourself, Lord.  Blessed be Your name now and forever more.  In Jesus’ name, I pray.  Amen!!!

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Hope in the Lord

December 1, 2014 by

SHhopeadvent

 

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.
Hebrews 6:19-20

Hope is a product of having faith that something that you have been looking for, or been desiring to have, will come to pass.

• Hope moves you from anxiety to fact of life
• Hope comes from deep inside your heart
• Hope gives confidence

Our Hope (the One Who moves us from anxiety and gives us confidence) is the Lord Jesus Christ.  He became our Hope of glory over 2000 years ago.  When faced with challenges in this life He (our Hope) should be our number one main Friend to go to before interacting with anyone else.

To whom God was pleased to make known how great for the Gentiles
are the riches of the glory of this mystery,
which is Christ within and among you, the Hope of glory.
Colossians 1:27

To hope in the Lord is to trust Him fully with our lives.  It involves looking to Him as our Source of help and grace in time of need.

…But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31

Those who hope in the Lord have His promise of

  • strength to revive them in the midst of exhaustion and weakness and suffering and trial
  • the ability to rise above their difficulties like an eagle that soars into the sky
    the ability to run spiritually without tiring
  • being able to walk steadily forward without fainting at God’s delays

God promises that if His people will patiently trust Him, He will provide whatever is needed to sustain them constantly.

However, we hope for something we have not yet seen, and we patiently wait for it.
Romans 8:25
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for He Who promised is faithful.
Romans 10:23

Sisters in the Lord, remember…no one who puts his/her hope in the Lord will be put to shame.

No one whose hope is in You will ever be put to shame
but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse.
Psalm 25:3

*   ♥  ~  ✝  ~  ★    *  

Dear Lord, we thank You for You are a wonderful and loving Father, Who makes promises…and always fulfills Your promises.  We love You, Abba Father, for all the promises that You have fulfilled and those that you are yet to fulfill in our lives.  We have hope because You are perfecting everything for our good.  We trust You with our anxieties, challenges, and everything about us.  We trust in You for Your help.  Please help us to sort out our issues and perfect our walk with You in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

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