March 2022 Week 2
Friday
*SERVE THE LORD WITHOUT FEAR*
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*Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord… (1 Corinthians 15:58).*
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In Daniel 6:7, the Bible shows us the caliber of people that rose up against innocent Daniel: All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, princes, counselors, and captains! They conspired to enact a decree to incriminate Daniel in his devotion to God. Daniel, being among the administrators, must have known about the monstrous conspiracy and might have been praying, “O, Lord, don’t let the king sign the decree; don’t let their plans come to fruition.”
But the Bible says “…king Darius signed the writing and the decree” (Daniel 6:9). Here’s something remarkable: When Daniel heard the decree had been published, the Bible says he went home, into a room upstairs where he could be seen, and just as he had always done, he knelt at the open windows and prayed to God three times a day (Daniel 6:10 GNB).
How inspiring! He wasn’t going to hide his devotion to the Lord or waver on his faithfulness and commitment to prayer! Consequently, he was arrested and thrown into the lions’ den. “How could God have abandoned Daniel despite his prayers and unflinching faithfulness?” someone might ask. No! The Lord never leaves or forsakes us, no matter the circumstance.
Daniel was miraculously delivered from the mouths of lions (Read Daniel 6:22). With Daniel’s experience, God was planning an eternal testimony. Think about it: Hundreds of years have come and gone, and we’re still being inspired by Daniel’s faithfulness to God and his mighty deliverance from the lions’ den. So, it doesn’t matter the challenges against your faith; be prepared to win.
Maybe in your city or country, there’re draconian laws against the Church; don’t be moved. Don’t allow fear to come to your mind. Be bold. Be resolute. Be tough for the Gospel. Nothing, no one—groups, governments or institutions—can stand against the Church and win. History proves it. Our Lord Jesus revealed how futile such endeavors are when He said concerning His Church: “And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever, it shall fall, it will grind him to powder” (Matthew 21:44).
The adversities you face are for an eternal testimony. Therefore, serve the Lord joyfully without fear and inhibitions. Anyone who stands in your way will be pulverized. That’s what Jesus said and His words never fail.
Thursday
*FOLLOW AND TRUST THE WORD*
*For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit (Romans 8:5).*
The Bible tells us about the House of David and the House of Saul. You get a clear picture of their differences when you look at what happened in the days of David as a young man after God chose him to be king while Saul was still alive.
Saul had turned his back on God. And the older he got, the less he listened to God. Towards the ending part of his life, he’d even go to the witch of Endor; he was more concerned about what the people thought than what God thought.
Saul wanted to kill David because he realized God’s hand was on David and his dream to maintain a lasting dynasty was failing. But he didn’t succeed. Finally, Saul died; but his house continued to persecute David because of their selfish ambitions. That’s why the Bible says there was a long war between the house of David and the house of Saul (2 Samuel 3:1).
The house of Saul had become the house of the flesh, the house of sin and selfish ambitions. You could liken that to God’s children today who, even though they were chosen by God, aren’t listening to God anymore. As a child of God, you must walk in the wisdom of God.
Be discerning! Let the Spirit of God guide you. Follow and trust God’s Word, for therein lies your glory and victories in life. Let the Word be the supreme authority by which you judge all things and you’ll journey on the clear path of success, victory, and progress. Hallelujah!
Monday
*BUILD ON LOVE’S FOUNDATION*
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*And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony (Colossians 3:14 NLT).*
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In 1 Corinthians 14:20 NKJV, we find a very important admonition to God’s people. It says, “Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.” Babies don’t know how to be bitter or keep malice. They’re too innocent for such; they don’t have enough sense to even recognize any wrong done to them. That’s how God wants you to live.
Don’t regard the wrong done to you by others to the extent that you become bitter. The Bible says you shouldn’t allow any root of bitterness to spring up in your heart and trouble you, and then tells you why: it’ll defile you (Hebrews 12:15).
It makes no difference how “justified” you may think you are to be angry, bitter, or offended; any action taken as a result of bitterness has defilement in it. It’s only a matter of time, the decadence in it will manifest. Don’t create new visions and new ideas or start new businesses, and projects because you were bitter or offended. Don’t build any endeavour on the foundation of bitterness; it’ll fail. Build on love’s foundation.
Remember what the Bible says, “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God” (James 1:20). Some people have been wounded to the point of tears, and with bitterness in their hearts, acted in a wrathful way. But you can’t move with anger and expect that the righteousness of God is being fulfilled.
Also, be wise to recognize when those around you are being motivated by some dissatisfaction, some anger and frustration. Correct them. Walk in love and the wisdom of God will guide you in all your affairs.
Tuesday
Blessing (祝福):
*JOYFUL IN PRAISE*
*And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed (Acts 16:25-26).*
In the sixteenth chapter of the book of Acts, Luke tells us an inspiring story of how Paul and Silas were incarcerated; persecuted for preaching the Gospel. They were put into the inner prison, in chains; their feet were fastened in stocks. But something happened as they began to sing joyfully: there was an earthquake to bring them out of prison.
Many times, all we do is make requests in prayer. But there’s power in praising the Lord joyfully. The Bible says “Rejoice evermore” (1 Thessalonians 5:16). There’ll always be circumstances and situations that’ll try to get your attention and knock your joy off. Sometimes, it may be some wave of bad news to make you sad and angry or some issues on your mind. Whatever the case, refuse to worry; be joyful in praise to the Lord.
The Bible says, “Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully” (1 Peter 5:7 AMPC). And then He says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV).
Someone might say, “I only get anxious when the issues get very serious.” No, Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled. Ye believe in God, believe also in me” (John 14:1). Yes! Nothing should ever trouble you. That’s why it’s important to meditate on the Word of God. Through meditation on the Word, you’re conditioned to have the right mindset; you can’t but be joyful!
The Prophet said, “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God…” (Isaiah 61:10). The psalmist said, “And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation” (Psalm 35:9). The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 21:16, “…have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?” Learn to praise the Lord joyfully always.
Wednesday
Blessing (祝福):
*AN EFFECTIVE PRAYER LIFE*
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*Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1 NKJV).*
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The Lord Jesus was very prayerful when He walked the earth. The Bible says, “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed” (Mark 1:35). In another instance, Luke recorded that “…he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12). He had an effective prayer life, which the Bible enjoins us to emulate.
He said in Luke 18:1, “…men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” The Apostle Paul reiterated the same thing; he said, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). In 1 Timothy 2:8, he said, “I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” This is God’s admonition to us. We’re to live a life of prayer. How important this is!
Having an effective prayer life isn’t just so we could fulfil some religious obligations, no! This is where a lot of people miss it. First, prayer is a privilege; it’s a right given to us to communicate with the Father in faith, through His Word, and by the Holy Ghost. That opportunity that’s given to us to pray is something the Father always wants us to seize.
Secondly, when Jesus said men ought always to pray and not to faint, He was looking at the connection that we have with the Father in our constant communication that builds faith. Faith comes by hearing the Word (Romans 10:17). Through that fellowship, we keep hearing the Word because the Father always speaks; He always talks to us; He always shares His Word with us.
That’s why Paul taught us to pray, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen” (2 Corinthians 13:14). The word “communion” also means fellowship. Learn to take time away from everything else to talk to the Lord in prayer; it’ll bring an extraordinary transformation into your life that you never thought possible.
Blessing (祝福):