HORM Devotional

James 4:7

‘Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.’

DAILY READING – 1 Corinthians 11:1-16; 2 Kings 4; Amos 9

In the News in 1984 was the story of an unemployed cleaning woman in Saint Louis, Mrs. Fielder, whose house was almost brought down by bees. Mrs. Fielder said she noticed bees around her house, soon after she bought it 12 years earlier.  Since there were only a few, she made no effort to deal with them. Over time, the bees continued to fly in and out the attic vent while the woman remained unconcerned, unaware of the growing city of bees. She didn’t think much about them until when she saw them going in and out of a small hole in the outside bricks of the house. Unknown to her, the whole attic had become a bee-hive.

Mrs. Fielder was asleep one Sunday night when she suddenly heard what sounded like breaking plaster. She switched on the light and saw that a corner of the ceiling was bent down. An hour later, a large part of the ceiling collapsed and about 50 pounds of honey hit the floor next to Mrs. Fielder’s bed. The ceiling of the second- floor bedroom finally caved in under the weight of hundreds of pounds of honey and thousands of angry bees.

While Mrs. Fielder escaped serious injury, she was unable to repair the damage of her accumulated neglect.

A bee is a little thing. Two or three bees are still little and should not be a bother. However as the number keeps growing it can become a concern.

Just like the bees built up gradually in Mrs. Fielder’s house, little things  have the potential of sneaking in and  building up until they cause major damage..

Song of Songs 2:15  says ‘Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes..’

In Solomon’s days vineyards were very important, and vine owners did everything they could to protect them. Lots of things could harm the growing grapes  such as bears, thieves, wind and other natural disasters . So, the farmers would come up with a plan to protect against the big threats. But, it was not the big things that were the real problem. While the grapes were growing, little foxes would sneak in at night, under the cover of darkness, and gnaw on the tendrils and eat the flowers before the grapes were set — destroying the entire harvest in a single night.

In the same way, the greatest danger Christians today face are not the so-called “big sins” but the little foxes that can quietly slip into one’s life. One small wrong thought, not dealt with, can eventually destroy what a man has spent a lifetime building.

Just like the bees in that woman’s house, a wrong thought going through our mind, may at first not be a concern. But if we don’t deal with that thought, it will keep building up. The more we dwell on it the more it grows. Until it becomes a major bloc in our mentality and can become a destructive reality.

Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 10:12, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.’

A frog put into boiling hot water,  will jump right out. However, if you put a frog in cool water and then slowly raise the temperature, it will stay right there until it boils to death.

The enemy knows that many Christians may not jump in and commit a major sin — but, if he started out with little white lies, then eventually it could get to the point where sin completely filled the life of the Christian and ruined his walk and witness.

1 Cor 5:6 says, ” Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

The accumulation of little foxes can spoil the vine. Those fleeting thoughts that may seem harmless now, can bring  down a great Christian testimony. Therefore  give no room to the devil.

Some have said a saint is a sinner who sins less, but that is not true. God’s will is not that we sin less — God’s will is that we do not sin at all. All unrighteousness is sin. Ezekiel 18:20 says The soul that sinneth, it shall die..

In John 8:11 Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery “Go and sin no more!”

If Jesus says it, then it is possible.

Jesus has given us the power to overcome sin.

In Luke 10:19 Jesus said ‘Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.’ we have been given power over every power of the enemy including the power over sin.

James 4:7 says ‘Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you’.

Christ has given us the power to resist sin in our lives. Therefore it is time to get rid of the little foxes. Let us get rid of any junk trying to build up in our minds. Let us feed rather on The Word of God so that our mind can be daily renewed to live righteous and holy. By The Word, let Christ dominate our minds. And if there be any sin or habit trying to dominate you, today begin to plead the blood of Jesus against them.  As you do, your victory over such sins will be established in Jesus Name.

PRAYER: Lord, Please grant me the grace to always pursue holiness and righteousness in all I do. May the little foxes of sin never gain a hold on my life.  I know that by The Blood, I have truly overcome every force of sin in Jesus name. .

quote

The battle you are faced with today is a good warfare because God has already foreordained  victorious end for you.

 [CULLED FROM THE BOOK SUPERNATURAL LOVE OF GOD]

1 Corinthians 13:1 KJV

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

DAILY READING –  1 Corinthians 8; 1 Kings 22; Amos 6

In February 2010 the National Geographic magazine featured a story about a 3,000-year-old defensive wall possibly built by King Solomon which was unearthed in Jerusalem. According to the Israeli archaeologist who led the excavation, the discovery appears to validate a Bible passage, in First Book of Kings which says Solomon, king of Israel, built a defensive wall in Jerusalem. The new discovery is the first archaeological evidence of this structure.

Indeed King Solomon built many structures during his reign, however the crowning achievement of his reign was the erection of the magnificent Temple in the capital city of ancient Israel – Jerusalem. King’s Solomon’s temple is undoubtedly the most expensive building in human history!  Its total cost is well over half a billion dollars!  This is an unimaginable cost for one house, but that’s what the value comes to when you include  a total of over 108,002.5 talents of gold, 1,017,000 talents of silver, and greater quantities of bronze. This cost may appear crazy to people in modern times; But if it appears extravagant, it is reflection of king David’s love for God in that he extravagantly prepared materials, over and above, intent on building a magnificent temple for God. [1 Chronicles 29:3].

David served God from a standpoint of love. No wonder God called him a man after His own heart. He loved God deeply and ended up a trans-generational celebrity, immortalized by God in history.

God takes the issue of love seriously. No matter what you do for God, if  it is not done because of your love for Him, it has no value to God.

1 Corinthians 13;1-4 says ‘If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.’

If you do not love God, whatever you do for His kingdom, does not count. God is looking for those who love Him. And for those who love God, the bible says in 1 Corinthians 2:9 ‘But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him;’

Now, love for God is not lip service. Songs of Solomon states that love is as strong as death. When we love God we must be willing to lay down our lives for Him. When we love God we must be willing to pay the price of following Him at all costs. Nothing should be able to separate us from the love of God.

Christ proved His love for us by giving up His heavenly status and coming to the earth as a man to die on the cross for our sins. And today we must prove our love for Him by forsaking sin, taking up our cross and following Him in righteousness.

We cannot say we love God and yet be unwilling to pay the price to follow His laws and His ways. Jesus said in John 14 ’he that keeps my commandment, he it is that loves Me.’ and ’if a man say he loves Me and keeps not my commandment he does not love Me’.

Our love for God is manifested in our obedience to His Word. To serve God, we must seek to know Him in His Word.

Through studying His word, we come to know His deeds, His nature and character. It is through study of the scriptures that The Holy Ghost begins to shed abroad the love of God in our hearts. And when you know the greatness of God, His awesomeness, His great and mighty acts, worship naturally emanates from your heart.

God is looking for worshippers in spirit and in truth.  True praise is not just singing popular gospel songs while your mind is on other things. No, true praise is concentration on God, and all His goodness and mercies and faithfulness.

Indeed God is good. And He is worthy of all our worship and adoration. Love can be defined as a God-first lifestyle: This simply means, God having the first place in all our considerations. The “God-first lifestyle” is loving God with all your heart, soul and mind (Matthew 22:36-40). And when you truly love God, then God will turn you into a wonder to your world. Indeed you will become a man and a woman to be wondered at.

PRAYER:  Lord please grant me the grace to love you by the revelation of The Spirit so that my service in your kingdom can be acceptable. .

 quote

It takes a heart for God to make a mark in the sands of time. – WORDBITE 201.

 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK SUPERNATURAL LOVE OF GOD]

Psalm 34:5

• ‘They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.’

• DAILY READING -1 Corinthians 6; 1 Kings 19; Amos 3:3-4:3
Eagles are the only creatures that can look directly into the sun. They have two sets of eyelids. One is used for hunting while the other is used while flying directly towards the sun. The ability to look into the sun is very important to the eagle. As a matter of fact, it is part of the criteria used by a mother eagle to test its young. When young eaglets are born, as a test of worthiness, the mother eagle holds them up facing the sun. The birds that cannot stare into the sun are cast out of the nest. Only eaglets with ability to look to the sun are deemed true eagles.

The eagle’s ability to look into the sun is used in battle as an advantage over its enemies. And being king of the air, the eagle has many enemies. Its number one enemy is a bird called the Condor. The Condor is the world’s heaviest flying bird of prey. They can weigh over 25 pounds, and have a wingspan of about 10 feet, while eagles have only about 7 foot wing span. 

However, Condors lack the grace, strength and beauty of the eagle. Unlike the eagle that feeds on fresh meat, condors feed on dead animals. The Condor hates the eagle. So where ever an eagle flies it must be on the look out for its enemy, the Condor. 

In battle, the Condor will try to claw the eagle, but the eagle doesn’t stay and fight, rather it mounts up and begins to fly. And it doesn’t fly back to its nest, nor go to the left or right, instead, it flies directly towards the sun. When an eagle  flies directly towards the sun, no other bird can reach it, because other birds lack its ability to look into the sun. So as the Condor tries to catch the eagle, it is soon blinded by the sun and has to turn away and fall off.

Psalm 34:5  says ‘They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.’ 

When we look to the sun of righteousness, who is the son of God  we will always have the victory in battle. The deeper we go towards the light, the more every agent of darkness departs from us. According to John 1:5, the light shines in darkness and darkness cannot comprehend it.

We are redeemed as spiritual eagles to soar where others struggle: we are redeemed to soar where others sweat; No arrow can target an eagle successfully because it flies beyond where it can be reached. Likewise, no force of the wicked can truncate our glorious destiny in Christ. 

However, though we are redeemed to live above limitations, we need an understanding of our redemptive rights in Christ, so that we do not become cheap preys to the enemy.

Our place of victory in every battle is flying high towards the light. Whenever we are confronted we need to rise and go for light in The Word of God.  This is because the dominion of light over darkness is instant and unquestionable. The established order is, whenever light appears darkness must disappear. Actually darkness is nothing but absence of light. And whenever you intensify your light, darkness will instantly leave. Therefore whatever may be confronting you today, go towards the light. Go deep into the Word of God. Study until you receive the light of revelation that will shatter every darkness. 

Psalm 119:130 says ‘The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.’

When you are illuminated by the word of God, you dominate your circumstances without stress. Indeed we have been redeemed to operate in the realm of unlimited possibilities. And we engage the light through violent declarations of God’s Word for the delivery of our redemptive blessings. 

Our place of victory is dwelling in the light. Indeed When your life is hid in Christ and Christ is hid in God, then you become totally inaccessible to every darkness. 
PRAYER: Lord, Please help me to always focus on your Word so that my life can be filled with Your light. I know indeed that as I dwell in your light no darkness can ever access me in Jesus Name. .   
QUOTE 
It is only when you can see God in the light of who He truly is that you can begin to walk in the overflow of His blessings. – WORDBITE 222. 
[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK ESTABLISHED IN THE WORD OF GOD] 

Psalms 68:1-3

“May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him. God arises for his people.’

• DAILY READING 1 Corinthians 7:25-40; 1 Kings 21; Amos 5

The prickly purple thistle is one of the national symbols of Scotland. It was adopted as an Emblem of Scotland during the reign of Alexander III in the 13^th century. Part of the reason why Scotland adopted the thistle as a national emblem is due to the story of how the thistle helped to save the country from invasion. According to the story, in the year 1263 when the Scots and Danes were at war, the Danes managed to land unobserved on the coast of Scotland. Under cover of darkness the Danish invaders removed their boots and crept on bare feet toward the unsuspecting Scottish army. Victory seemed certain for the invaders. But then suddenly a sharp cry of pain shattered the stillness. A Danish soldier had stepped on a thistle and it had pierced his feet. His shout alerted the Scotts and thus ruined the surprise. The alerted Scots sprang into action and drove the invaders from the country’s shores, winning the victory.

It is indeed interesting that a tiny thistle was what caused the invading Danish army to lose the battle. Though they had a water tight plan for a surprise attack, they were defeated due to an  unforeseen circumstance.

Sometimes when the enemy thinks he has a watertight plan to defeat you, God sends him an unforeseen circumstance.

In 2 kings 19, when king of Assyria surrounded Jerusalem, it seemed inevitable that he would destroy the land. However when King Hezekiah cried out to God for help, The Lord told him through prophet Isaiah, not to be afraid of the situation because king of Assyria would hear news that will cause him to abandon his attack plan. And true to God’s Word, shortly after this, king of Assyria received a report that Tirhakah, the king of Cush, was marching out to fight against him. And so he was forced to abandon his battle against Hezekiah to go and fight the king of Cush, and he never came back again, because he died in the process.

Indeed God knows how to send unforeseen circumstances to scatter the enemies’ plans against you. This is why you do not need to bother yourself about whatever noise the enemy may be making. God knows how to deal with them. The battle is not yours but The Lord’s. Just hold your peace and see the salvation of The Lord.

When the people of Judah were surrounded by three major armies, king  Jehoshaphat looked up to the heavens and said, “God, we don’t know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” And God told him not to be discouraged by the mighty armies, for the battle was not his, but The Lord’s.'”

God is saying the same thing to us today; to quit worrying about situations that may seem too much for us to handle. It’s not your battle; it’s the Lord’s battle. The enemy doesn’t have the final say, only Jehovah does! God is saying “Stand still, and I’m going to show you My goodness. Stay in faith, and I’m going to turn that battlefield into your blessing field!”

God knows how to fight our battles and give us the victory. He knows how to use ways and means we never even thought of, to give us the victory.

Eph. 3:20 says, God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. The Lord is mighty in battle.

Psalms 68:1-3 says “May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him.’

When God arises, all our enemies will be scattered. And one way to get Him to arise is to give Him praise. When you praise God He arises to fight for you. When you praise Him, He takes over your battles and gives you the victory.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to learn to hold my peace and hand over my battles to You. Indeed You can fight for me in ways and means that far exceeds my expectations. I therefore thank and praise You, for I know You have given me the victory today in Jesus name.   

quote

When God places His hand upon a man in life nothing can come against him, this is because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK DIVINE ORDER FOR A LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS]

1 John 4:8-9 

 ‘ God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him

’DAILY READING – • 2 Corinthians 9; 2 Kings 22:1-23:35; Nahum 3

Today being February 14th, many people across the globe celebrate it as a day of love. But the truth remains that, no matter how sincere human love may be, it will never be perfect. There is only one love that is forever perfect and genuine, and that is the love God has for us. 

In June 2010, several News outlets carried the story of a 43-year-old Spanish  woman named Huang,  who faked her own kidnapping, just to test if her husband still loved her. 

The woman who had suddenly disappeared on June 22nd, had her family worried sick as repeated phone calls to her smartphone were left unanswered. Later her husband had been sent a photo on his mobile phone showing his wife bound hands and feet. A separate text message also demanded 20,000 euros for her release as well as a warning not to go to the police. But her husband ignored the warning and made an emergency call to the police. The local police station took immediate action after the emergency call. A rescue team was set up with a total of 29 officers working on the case. Various police officers scanned different areas and did house-to-house investigations. 

Unable to find her,  the ransom money was then dropped off, with a tracking device placed with the money. The police later tracked the money to a car, which they followed to a shopping mall in the town of Gandia, on the Spanish Mediterranean coast. There they finally discovered the true identity of the “abductor” to be Huang herself. When confronted she confessed that she had staged the abduction ‘to find out what her husband would be willing to do for her’. Huang later stated that, although she was happy with her marriage of ten years to her husband and their family of two daughters, she just wanted to “test” how much her husband loved her, and if he would pay the £20,000 ransom for her rescue. 

Although this woman had a happy home she was still uncertain of her husband’s love. Though staging her own kidnapping was an extreme way of testing if she is loved, her uncertainty however mirrors the general state of the human heart. Many people are unsure they are truly loved. Living in a world full of uncertainty, human love, no matter how sincere, will always be imperfect, and leave room for doubt. Only God’s love remain ever perfect and steadfast.   

1 John 4:8-9 says ‘ God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him’

God is love. You cannot truly talk of love outside of God. Love is not a feeling, love is a person. And you cannot truly know love without knowing God. 

God’s love for us is beyond all human measurement. Ephesians 3:19 tells us that the love of Christ, ‘passeth knowledge”.  He loves us unconditionally. We cannot even understand why He loves us in the first place, but we know He does! So if you are wondering if anyone loves you, know for sure today, that you are loved by God. As a child of God, you are especially chosen by God to be part of His family.

It says in 1 Peter 2:9, “You have been chosen by God Himself.” 

That means to God you are special. You weren’t randomly chosen. God, on purpose, looked at you and said, “I choose you, to be My son, to be My daughter.”

So no matter your situation, always remember, you are handpicked by God — valuable, lovable, with something great to offer. And whatever you may have gone through in the past, God loves you unconditionally. People may reject you, but God accepts you. He’s already chosen you, and He’s the One that matters most. 

When you understand how much God loves you and that He has a great plan for your life, there is no outside circumstance that can change your inner confidence.  Don’t allow what somebody did or didn’t do cause you to lose confidence in God’s love for you. Don’t ever allow any situation cause you to go through life feeling not good enough. No, realize that you’re a child of the Most High God. Your value doesn’t come from people or accomplishments; it comes from your Creator. Put your shoulders back. Hold your head up high. Live with confidence. Know that God loves you. And His love is what matters most. And as the world celebrates love today, know that you are truly loved by the one who is the greatest. 

So most importantly let today be a day of thanksgiving to God for the amazing love He has for you, a love that made Him to pay the ultimate price at Calvary for your redemption. 
PRAYER: Lord, please help me to always know that I am greatly loved by You. Thank You today for loving me unconditionally. I am truly grateful for your love for me.   

QUOTE 

Praise always guarantees you power for a raise, learning to praise God in season and out of season is key to fulfilling destiny. – WORDBITE 222. 

 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK REJOICE] 

Jeremiah 29:11 KJV
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.  
• DAILY READING – 1 Corinthians 5; 1 Kings 18; Amos 2:1-3:2
God has an expected end in mind for us. That end is glory. It doesn’t matter how things may appear, as long as you love God, be assured He is working out all things for your glorious end. 

In 2016 the Japanese auto giant, Toyota Motor Corp., issued two global recall for its cars. One of these was a recall for 3.37 million hybrid cars worldwide to fix the faulty airbag system and emission control unit. These faults were as a result of deviation from the Toyota prototype. Though this exercise cost Toyota a lot of money, they didn’t relent as they were determined and focused on creating excellent products that conformed to the prototype. In manufacturing design, the prototype is the early model, of a product which is replicated severally. And manufacturers always strive to conform to the  prototype in their products.   

We are God’s products; His people and the sheep of His pasture. And God has specifically set Christ as our prototype. God is patterning us to be conformed to the image of Christ. Jesus is the pattern son. And God is committed to ensuring that we all become reflections of His perfect image. Romans 8:29 tells us  that God has predestined us to be conformed to the image of his Son.

Christlikeness is the eternal predestinated purpose of God for us.

 God therefore uses life experiences to teach and train us daily to become like Christ. Therefore when you go through trials and challenges, understand that ultimately God is at work to manifest His glory through you.  He is pruning and preparing you to conform to the prototype. 

This is why we count it all joy, when we meet trials of various kinds, for we know that the testing is producing in us something far greater. 

Corinthians 4;17 says    ‘For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory’

The trials, challenges and temptations are presenting to us opportunities to manifest a Christ-like character. We are being pruned to become more and more like Christ.  Hebrew 12:11 says that no chastising for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous, but afterward, it yields the fruit of righteousness, unto them which are thereby exercised.  We may not enjoy being disciplined. It may seem to cause more pain than joy. But later on, we will see the benefits of the exercise. 

The important thing is to use every opportunity God brings our way to be daily more like Jesus. No matter what challenges, we should never give up on the quest to be like Jesus. Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up each time. Like Paul we must keep pressing forward towards the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 

And one way to achieve a Christ-like character is by daily renewing our mind through constant study of The Word. The more we look into The Word the more we are being transformed by The Spirit, from glory to glory. It is only when your eye is single that your body can be full of light. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.  Therefore in the quest to be Christ like, we must root out distractions and focus on The Word. We can only successfully become Christ-like, when we daily look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. 

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to become addicted to Your Word, so that as I study daily, I will be transformed by The Spirit into the very image of Christ in Jesus Name  

QUOTE 

God is preparing you for the season He prepared your breakthrough. – WORDBITE 222.  

 [ADAPTED FROM THE BRING BACK THE GLORY]