The Spiritual Medicine of Laughter

Benefits of a Good Laugh
Text: “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the
bones.”
Proverbs 17:22
Laughter is so important! It’s the outward evidence of inward joy, and it is proven
to make you feel better. The joy of the Lord can ease any emotional and physical
pain and bring you a new level of satisfaction in life. God has given us the ability to
laugh for a reason. It may seem like a little thing, but laughter is vitally important in
the battle against stress, anxiety, fear and worry. It’s a tool from God that benefits
you in so many ways.
The Bible says a joyful heart is a good medicine because laughter lifts your spirits,
improves your mental, emotional and physical health, and de-stresses your mind.
And (here is the best part) . . . it costs nothing. You have a proven, God-given
weapon against stress that is free of charge, and you can use it any time, day or
night.
When you have a joyful heart and purposely make time to laugh, you’ll be amazed
at how different you will begin to view your job, your family, your relationships,
yourself and even your walk with God. You’ll become a person whose first
response to stressful situations is faith not fear, joy not sorrow.
Daily Capsule: God has given us the ability to laugh for a reason.
Prayer: The joy of the Lord is my strength
Further Study: Genesis 21:6, Matthew 9:24, Psalm 2:4, Psalm 126:2, Job 8:21,
Genesis 18:12-15, John 15:11, 1 Peter 4:13, Luke 1:14
A Time To Laugh
Text: “And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh
with me.”
Genesis 21:6 KJV
We serve a God that fills the mouth of his chosen with laughter. Some chosen of
the Lord testified of this in Psalms 126:2 saying:
"Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said
they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them." In Genesis
18:1-14, when the Lord visited Abraham and Sarah and ate in their tent, He
promised them that they would have a son in nine months' time; but Sarah
laughed because her husband was over 99 years old and she herself was 90 years
old.
She thought that this promise was a joke borne out of how much the three august
visitors enjoyed the meal that she and Abraham had prepared. God asked why she
laughed, but she denied that she laughed. Nine months later, she gave birth to
laughter, and she laughed for the rest of her life (Genesis 21:6). Today, God still
makes people laugh. When God makes you laugh, your laughter will be sustained.
But how can God make you laugh today? God makes you laugh when you receive
an unexpected divine visitation.
Daily Capsule: When God makes you laugh, your laughter will be sustained.
Prayer: Father, I have wept for too long; from now on, introduce laughter into my
life and make me laugh forever.
A Harvest of Laughter
Text: “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and
summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”
Genesis 8:22
Our God is a principled God. He created the world in a way that there is a season
for everything (Ecclesiastics 3:1-8), including a time for harvest. There are so many
examples in the Bible of people that harvest with laughter (Sarah, Abraham,
Hannah, Daniel). However in other for us to reap our harvest of laughter, we need
to sow.
It is good that we sow - our prayers, our money, our time, our efforts - into the
Lord’s ministry, even if we do have to water our seed with tears. After all, sowing
time is not the time for floods in the watercourses. Yet those who go forth weeping
return rejoicing, with a harvest of whatever it is they have invested in: whether we
reap a harvest of souls for the Lord; or a harvest of blessings proportional to our
efforts to be a channel of God’s blessing to others.
The key concept for harvest time is perseverance, it is impossible to sow and seed
and abandon it without proper care and follow up. If left without care it will perish.
God is faithful and just, He will forever remain true to His Word. Your harvest time
is just around the corner and you will begin to reap in laughter and joy.
Daily Capsule: In good time you will reap in laughter:
Prayer: I destroy every form of evil progress and unfulfilled dreams, in the name of
Jesus Christ.
The Laughter of Unbelief

Text: “Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to
be with Sarah after the manner of women. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself,
saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”
Genesis 18:11-12
God's promises to us is clear but circumstances do not seem to be leading to its

fulfillment. The failure in these situations is not God's, but ours. What is true of
believers today was true of Abraham. God had given him a great promise, but
events raised such deep questions in his heart that he began to fear. The Lord in
His graciousness to Abram continues to give him over and over assurances of His
promise. Why? Because God is persistent in His quest for your assurance. Sarah’s
laughter of Unbelief did not stop God from fulfilling his promises to them (Gen
18:14).
God knows that if our faith is not strong, our sanctification will not progress. And
He knows that if our assurance of the hope which is set before us is not as real as
the pews that we are sitting in, we will give in to the contentments and the
satisfactions of this world, rather than seek those things which God holds before
our eyes which are eternal, but which are not perhaps as tangible to us now as the
things that we might take delight in and partake of. And so the Lord wants us to
have the strongest assurance possible because it is necessary for us to grow in
the walk of faith.
Daily Capsule: God is persistent in His quest for our assurance.
Prayer: Miracles, that surpass explanations, manifest in my life now, in the name
of Jesus Christ.
The Laughter That Lightens The Load

Text: “Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that
weep now: for ye shall laugh.” Luke 6:21
Have you ever been so sad that you thought you’d never laugh again? If you are a
follower of Christ, you are blessed to be part of God’s kingdom. The God of the
universe can bring you comfort and inner peace even as you struggle with a heavy
heart.
Being “blessed” is about experiencing hope and joy regardless of circumstances.

King David once wrote about it this way: “You have turned for me my mourning
into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness” (Psalm
30:11).
When God led His people out of captivity and brought them back to their
homeland, they were so relieved and thankful that they laughed and shouted for
joy. After spending 70 years as captives, one of the first things they did was build
an altar and worship God.
It can be easy to dwell on things that aren’t going your way, but remember the
verse above—God does do great things. Keep an eye out this week for the great
things He is doing in your life, then take a moment to thank Him for it. Though you
weep now, your load will be lightened and you shall laugh.
Daily Capsule: God does do great things
Prayer: Lord cause my weeping to turn to laughter.
Your Season of Laughter Has Come

Text: “When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that
dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then
said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them.” Psalms
126:1-2
God’s mercy can provoke Him to override your doubts and trigger off your season
of laughter. It is one thing for you to pay God a visit, like when you attend a church
programme or a special programme; but it is another thing for God to visit you. It is
a beautiful experience when God visits a congregation or group of people, but it is
even lovelier when God picks out an individual in a large congregation for divine
visitation. The Lord will single you out for a divine visitation this season in Jesus'
Name.
In John 5:2-9, there was a multitude of sick folks at the pool called Bethesda, but
when Jesus visited there, He went straight for the man who had been sick for 38
years, healed him and left the place. In like manner, in Mark 10:46-52, Jesus
entered Jericho and passed through it looking for whom to visit. He saw none in
Jericho, but as He was leaving, in the midst of a crowd, he saw a blind beggar
outside the city gate, healed him and continued with His journey. As Jesus healed
these people, He introduced laughter into their lives.
There was no record that either of them was ever sick again. Whatever criteria He
uses to determine candidates for His visitation shall work in your favour today. Out
of the crowd of those who need children, the Lord will visit you with yours. Out of
the crowd of those who need promotion, the Lord will promote you. Out of the
crowd of those who need special anointing, the Lord will visit you specially today.
However, flee from sin, and do only what pleases Him. Be faithful in your tithes and
offerings, and worship Him.
Daily Capsule: God will single you out today
Prayer: Father have mercy on me, I destroy every form of limitation in my life, in the
name of Jesus Christ.
Laughter: The Spiritual Medicine

Text: “weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalms
30:5B
Laughter is healing, laughter is redemptive, laughter lightens the load and

stretches our imagination to see joy, even in the midst of the struggle. Weeping
and laughing are intricately connected. Both are important for our spiritual and
emotional health. But the kind of laughter we’re talking about here is not laughter
that denies pain, or laughter that tries to cover up pain and push it aside, but
laughter that walks beside us in the pain – which leads to joy that transcends our
pain.
The prophet Jeremiah in chapter 31 tells of the power of God to bring joy in the
midst of pain: “God said, I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore I have
continued my faithfulness to you….With weeping they shall come and with
consolation I will lead them back... I will turn their grief into joy, and give them
gladness for sorrow.” Joy gives us the power to imagine what the prophet is
speaking of. This is the hope of our faith; that even in the face of sorrow and grief,
this gift of joy springs up within us.
Daily Capsule: Laughter stretches out our imagination to see joy
Prayer: Sudden destruction, you will not be my lot, in the name of Jesus Christ. (I
shall laugh again)
The Regenerated Man

Text “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed
away; behold, all things have become new.”
II Corinthians 5:17
When a man believes in Jesus Christ as the Savior who has died for him, he is
regenerated. Regeneration is the initial step in the spiritual life. Regeneration is the
darkened and fallen spirit of man being enlivened by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The basis of the Holy Spirit's regeneration is the cross (John 3:14-15). Jesus died
for man on the cross; He paid the ransom for sin and gave life to man. All those
who believe in Him have eternal life (v. 16). This eternal life is the life of God
imparted into man's spirit by the Holy Spirit. Since this life is the life of God, it will
never die. Because of this, when a man is regenerated and has received life, he is
said to have obtained eternal life.
The unregenerated man's spirit is controlled by his soul. His "self" controls his
soul, and his flesh controls his body. The soul has become the life of the spirit, the
"self" has become the life of the soul, and the flesh has become the life of the
body. As a result of regeneration, the Holy Spirit controls his spirit; his spirit
controls his soul and, through his soul, the body. The Holy Spirit becomes the life
of the spirit, and the spirit becomes the life of the whole person. Concerning
unregenerated man, first, his spirit became far from God and dead. The meaning of
death is a separation from life. God is the ultimate name for life. Since God is life,
to be dead is to be separated from God. When man's spirit became separated
from God, it became as if it were dead and could no longer fellowship with Him.
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
The Spiritual Man

“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are
foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.”
I Corinthians 2:14-15
The average person cannot comprehend the things of the Spirit because they
seem foolishness to them. Those who refuse to plug in to the source of the
spiritual wisdom will never understand what the Lord has imparted into the hearts
of the believers regardless on how studiously they study or how diligently they
investigate. What will always set us as believers apart is that “we have the mind of
Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16).
The aggressive warfare against the powers of darkness is essentially a spirit

conflict, and the "natural man" knows nothing about it. It is to be understood only
by spiritual men and women, hence the importance of knowing what is the
meaning of the term "spiritual," and how to walk in the spirit.
A spiritual man is the man that has conquered the flesh and is walking after the
spirit. Romans 8:1 tell us There is therefore now no condemnation to them which
are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Be determined
that the one thing that you will do is to keep your spirit clear with God, so that you
know the will of God. God must work out His own plans in His own way; and your
one thing is to know Him, to live and walk in the spirit with Him, to obey His word,
to refuse to have clouds that will shadow your spirit-fellowship with God, who is
Spirit.
Daily Capsule: A spiritual man is one what has conquered the flesh and is walking
after the spirit.
Prayer: Lord give me the strength to die to the flesh.
Further Study: 1 Corinthians 2:14, Job 32:8, Proverbs 20:27, 1 Corinthians 2:11, 2
Corinthians 4:16, James 2:26, John 3:6, John 4:24, Romans 8:16, Ephesians 1:17.
The Shepherd And His Sheep

Text: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give
them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out
of My hand.”
John 10:27-28
The Bible is full of rich imagery to help its readers better understand deep spiritual
truths. One of the often repeated images is that of a shepherd with his sheep.
There is a uniqueness about sheep that gives us some clues as to how a Christian
should live. A sheep is a very vulnerable animal, a sheep is considered to be
obedient and loyal to a fault. They blindly follow without hesitation.
Jesus is the good shepherd to His believers just as the shepherds were of their
livestock. Being different than a hired keeper who might run away in the face of
danger, the flock belonged to the shepherd who would stay and defend them.
Ezekiel 34 foretold of the Messiah who would, like a true shepherd, come to
caringly keep God’s people.
Accepting that we are indeed like sheep is the hardest part for many people. Yet,
to be a follower of Christ, we must accept our spiritual likeness to sheep and our
need for a good shepherd. Jesus loves His sheep with an everlasting love. It is for
His sheep that He left heaven’s glory. It is for His sheep that He lived on this earth
in human form. And it is for His sheep that he died and rose again—to bring them
to God.
Daily Capsule: A sheep is a good follower
Prayer: Every spirit of disobedience in me die, in Jesus name
Further Study: Ezekiel 34:23-24, Psalm 23:1, John 10:1-30
Freedom From Fear: Experiencing The Secret Place

Text: “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his
tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.” Psalms 27:5
Where is this secret place? In Matthew 6 Jesus invites us to come into the secret
place Matthew 6:6-8. Your greatest privilege as Christians is to go into the secret
place with your Heavenly Father with prayers. It’s in the secret place that our faith
is deepened. It’s in the secret place that out trust is developed. The secret to
praying is praying in secret. Learn this: you are what you are in the secret place
with God. No more, no less.
When life starts caving in and you’re not sure what to do next, experience the
secret place. “He who morning dwells in the secret place I the Most High, shall not
be afraid.” So what is the purpose of getting alone with God in the secret place? Is
it to Impress Him? Matthew 6.7. No, the purpose of getting alone with God in the
secret place is not to impress Him. Prayer is God’s way of binding you to Him and
bonding Him to you. And when you experience the Secret Place .. it’s then you
shall not be afraid and experience the peace of God which surpasses all
understanding.
Daily Capsule: The secret to praying is praying in secret.
Prayer: Lord hide me under your tabernacle
Further Study:
The Power of Faith

Text: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not
seen.”
Hebrews 11:1
The Power of Faith will help you strengthen your confidence in God's promises.
And it will prepare you for those times when the Lord calls upon you to move
mountains! braham never wavered in faith. God promised Abraham descendants
as numerous as the sand on the seashore, or as the stars that are in the sky
(Genesis 22:17), and yet it took over 25 years after this promise for Abraham to
have his first child, and that was when he and his wife, Sarah’s, ability to have
children was as good as dead, because Abraham was around 100 years old, and
Sarah about 90.
God never meant for any of us to go it alone in this world. God never meant for us
to go through this life in our own power or with our own understanding. God has
tremendous power just waiting and available for us to plug into, and faith is what
plugs us into God’s power. Whatever faith you have inside of you will determine the
outcome of the faith level you’ll have for God at work around you. If you don’t have
faith for God to move, there’s a good chance you won’t be looking for anything to
take place.
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
Wisdom For The Asking

Text: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and
without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
James 1:5
According to the Holy Scriptures, the source of all true wisdom is the triune God,
who revealed himself in the Scriptures and in Jesus Christ, God’s eternal Son
(Proverbs 2:6). According to the Holy Scriptures, the source of all true wisdom is
the triune God, who revealed himself in the Scriptures and in Jesus Christ, God’s
eternal Son (James 3:15). God alone is wise, and he gives wisdom to those who
fear him and shun evil. Job asked, “Where can wisdom be found?” (Job 28:12).
Can it be found anywhere in God’s created universe? The answer is no.
The wisdom of God is manifested in the righteous conduct of God’s holy people. If
a child reveres his parents and obeys them, he is wise. But if he disobeys his
parents, he is a fool, and God himself is against him because, ultimately, he is
mocking God. Wisdom teaches us how we should make decisions in all things for
the glory of God and for our own eternal happiness. An atheist is a fool who denies
God. He has no divine wisdom. He is demon-possessed. He is governed by the
god of this world, who has blinded his eyes.
The wisdom of God enables us to choose the right path always.
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
Wavering In The Wind

Text: “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about
with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of
deceitful plotting,”
Ephesians 4:14
When Paul writes about children in Ephesians 4:14, he is not talking about those
members of the church under the physical age of ten. He is talking about spiritual
children, whatever age they might be. A new believer is a child in the faith, whether
they are five years old or ninety-five. While every Christian begins as a baby
Christian, it is God’s plan that they not remain there. The sad fact, however, is that
many Christians remain in the infant stage for far too long.
God wants the people in His church to have correct doctrine. And although God
makes us into a new creation when we first believe, we all know that this does not
mean that all of our wrong ways of living and wrong ways of thinking are
instantaneously and completely corrected. Though we pass from death until life
when we believe in Jesus, this transformation does not immediately affect all our
beliefs and behaviors. We still retain many bad habits and ideas.
The Holy Sprit reveals truth to us, but we need to be in tune to hear. Sometimes
we hear the still, small voice, but because of the outward circumstances or
pressure we choose not to listen. Not listening can lead to us being swept away by
other teachings, or giving into the enticement is the world. We become prey for the
enemy. When we waved, we become easy prey and the changing wind of doctrine
leads us away.
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
True Worship
Text: “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship
the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is
Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”” John
4:23-24
Worship is to honor with extravagant love and extreme submission. True worship,
in other words, is defined by the priority we place on who God is in our lives and
where God is on our list of priorities. True worship is a matter of the heart
expressed through a lifestyle of holiness. Thus, if your lifestyle does not express
the beauty of holiness through an extravagant or exaggerated love for God, and
you do not live in extreme or excessive submission to God, then I invite you to
make worship a non-negotiable priority in your life.
Unless we share a personal relationship with Jesus, we cannot truly worship God
in Spirit and in Truth. Our spirit won’t connect with Him unless God has redeemed
(saved) us. Our spirit then comes alive and we can respond to God in a spiritual
Level, rather than on a carnal (of the flesh) level. This is the truth (the reality). God
is spirit, so we need to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. As long as we are living
in the “carnal” nature, we can’t meet God more intimately as He longs for us to do
so.
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
The Believers Race

Text: “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us,
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,” Hebrews 12:1
Our Christian life is likened to a race. We need to run with “patient endurance”. It’s
not a sprint to the finish, but more like a marathon. Along the way we should
encourage each other, for so often we may fell like giving up, but we to keep
pressing on. We need to get rid of anything that will weigh us down. No athlete
wears heavy clothing and weights while running their race. Likewise, in the
spiritual, we also need to be dressed appropriately for the race, and throw off the
things that would hold us back and weigh us down, so that we may be able to
finish the race.
The Characteristics of the Race:
1. You have been chosen for the race.
2. The race is both a contest and a conflict
3. The race is unique to you
4. The race has no time out
5. The race is full of obstacles
6. You run to win the race
7. Winning the race will require great endurance.
The single most important principle for running the race toward becoming a
spiritual champion is: Spiritual transformation is not a matter of trying harder, but of
training wisely. The apostle Paul encouraged his young protégé Timothy to "train
yourself in godliness" (1 Tim. 4:7).
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
The Death of Unbelief
Text: “So an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and
said, “Look, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?”
And he said, “In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”” II
Kings 7:2
The battle between faith and doubt takes place in your mind, we must fight to put
unbelief to death. Two key weapons that Satan uses to attack faith with are fear
and unbelief or doubt. Both are unnecessary attitudes for us to have, and both will
kill or neutralize out faith quite effectively if we let them.
How Can We Kill Unbelief ?
1. Overcome unbelief by knowing God (Romans 10:17): Ignorance is the

devil’s playground. He knows if he can keep you from knowing all that belongs to
you, he has you. A lack of knowledge results in unbelief—and the devil is right
there to take advantage—telling you you’re sick, broke, depressed and a failure.
But Satan is overruled by the Word of God. If you know this, you can object to his
claims.
2. Overcome unbelief by rejecting fear (Philippians 4:6): The basis of all

unbelief is fear. If you don’t deal with it, it will begin to work on your mind and you
will begin to question the Word of God. Did you know that it is impossible to worry
and trust God at the same time? Worry is a form of unbelief; it causes us to doubt
God’s love and His ability to come through for us when we need Him.
3. Kill unbelief by believing in God’s Love 1 John 4:16): The love of God
is a powerful force that has provided you with abundant life. But most Christians
don’t have faith in His LOVE. If you were to ask them if God loves them, most
would say yes, but they don’t really believe it. They just mentally agree with John
3:16.
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
Testing: The Strengthening of Your Faith

Text: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own
understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
In a sense, everyday of life is a test of our relationship with God. But to each
person comes seasons of special joy or adversity. Both good times and bad times
present opportunities for testing our trust in the Lord. For Christians this is not like
a classroom exam. God is not watching us with a grade book waiting to pass or
fail us based on our performance (Rom. 6:23). Testing comes through the
circumstances in our lives, so that we know our hearts more insightfully and
appreciate God’s grace more deeply.
In such times of testing, we become aware of our thoughts, attitudes and

emotions. Through self-awareness, God shows us why de we must yet yield to
Him in trusting obedience. God exposes our hearts through testing, He leads us
away from the the ways of the World and into the way that is everlasting (Psalms
139:23-24). The same adversities come to both believers and unbelievers, the
difference is the believers walk through the test of life’s joy and sorrow with full
assurance that in Jesus we are becoming what He created us to be.
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
Image of God: His Reflection in Us

Text: “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him;
male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:27
What a magnificent concept, God’s creation of mankind in His image, patterned

after Him, mirroring a family remembrance of Him (2 Cor. 3:18). This does not
pertain to the physical nature but rather to the spiritual and moral nature.
How Are We Like God?
1. We are capable of communicating, and in so doing, we can bless or

curse (James 3:9)
2. We are creative, and creativity gives us joy and satisfaction (Prov.

31:13-22)
3. We experience emotions and feelings, we long for relationship and

fellowship (Psalms 16:11).
4. We discern between right and wrong (Is. 6:5)
5. We act and are responsible for our actions (John 3:18)
Even though the original intimate relationship with God and humanity was severed
by the Fall (Gen 3:5-7), God has pursued His children down through the ages,
sending His son that we might be reconciled to Him and become His sons and
daughters, His heirs. through Christ the image is brought back into focus so that
His glory shines from the reflection.
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
Prosperity: More Than Possessions

Text: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have
strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with
many sorrows.”
I Timothy 6:10
God desires His children to prosper in all things (Gen 39:3), and He promises
prosperity to the godly (Job 22:23-37). Biblical prosperity, however means more
than financial wealth or material possessions. True prosperity is total wellbeing and
is dependent upon a lifestyle of righteousness. The righteous who meditates on
God’s Word are those who prosper abundantly (Psalms 1:1-3).
Prosperity from God is reserved to those who do the will of God (Josh 1:8),
keeping His statutes, His commandments and His judgement. Strength and
courage as well as prosperity are offered to all who fulfill the statutes and
judgement of the Lord (1 Chr. 22:13). Those who live God’s way are positioned to
receive God’s help and blessing.
While the Lord rejoices in the prosperity of His people, He also warns about it
dangers. As God’s children enjoy the blessings of a prosperous life, they naturally
tend to forget about the source of their blessings. And they begin to rely on their
possessions for their identity, ability and security. From today as believers we
should depend entirely on the Lord to provide our needs and thank Him when He
does.
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
Why Do We Need To Pray?

Text: “men always ought to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1b)
Paul believed that prayer was interaction with God with our spirit to God's Spirit.
When we understand what prayer is meant for, we will be able to see why we
ought to pray like this.
1. Prayer grants privileged access to God: Why should this access be so

desirable to us? Well, it is because it brings us to our great Creator who is infinite,
eternal and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice,
goodness, and truth. What an awesome privilege it is to have unlimited access to
the Almighty God Himself.
2. Prayer brings powerful assistance from God We seek this powerful

assistance not to fulfill our own selfish desires but to do God’s will. This must
always be our goal in every prayer we make, lest we think that we can use God to
get anything that we want. Prayer is God’s appointed means for carrying out His
work on earth.
3. Prayer helps us to win our battles: Constantly we are warned of the

Devil's intention to neutralize and demoralize us. We are told that "our struggle is
not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against
the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly
realms." (Ephesians 6:10). We are in a battle and we need the help of God. The
enemy has marshaled his armies . . .when we neglect prayer, we go into battle
unarmed.
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
Pray Without Ceasing

Text: “pray without ceasing,” I Thessalonians 5:17
Unfortunately, many Christians treat prayers as an emergency it is hardly used only

when problems or needs arises. Praying without ceasing means praying frequently
and persistently, even in the midst of our daily activities. And when we understand
what prayer is meant for, we will be able to see why we ought to pray like this. We
are encouraged to pray at all times, no matter what we are doing. Wether it is
driving, or at work or even playing sports. It should be a natural conversation with
God throughout the day.
The directive to “pray without ceasing” means that we are ever present with God
throughout the entire day. We are continually interacting with Him in prayer as we
move from task to task. When we face a challenge, we ask for His assistance. As
we experience a blessing, we thank Him for His favor. It’s sort of like being on the
phone, and we never hang up. We acknowledge His presence throughout every
single day. To pray without ceasing is permission to come before the mercy-seat
when we will. The doors of the temple of divine love shall not be shut.
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
Life’s Distractions
Text: “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 has sat down at
the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2
Everyone of us has a definition of what we call a distraction. What does the Lord
call a distraction? How does He want us to handle them? We live in a busy world
that supplies us with endless distractions from our faith. When we become
distracted from our faith, we become separated from God. Think of your faith as a
drive. Who wants to be in a car with a distracted driver? All kinds of things can
happen. You miss your exits. You run off the road. You take a wrong turn. It's no
different in our faith. There are all kinds of spiritual distractions that take us on all
kinds of wrong paths and far away from God. Here are some common causes of
spiritual distraction:
1. Ourselves
2. Lust and Love
3. Money
4. Entertainment
5. School and Work
We are reminded here in this scriptures to look away from all that will distract us
and look into Jesus who is our leader and our source of faith. He is the reason we
believe. He never allowed the pleasures and pressures of life to distract Him from
the cross. May we be mindful of our spiritual lives and not become so preoccupied
with the world.
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
What God Begins, He Completes

Text: “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in
you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”
Philippians 1:6
God continues working in us, developing, perfecting and bringing to full

completion the good work He has started in us. He begins working in us the
moment we receive Him into our hearts. He begins working on our hearts (our
inner begins). He works on our attitudes, our beliefs, our fears, our pride, all of our
human nature. Then He plants His seeds in us of the godly nature. That is that
spirit-filled nature.
He tends to the nurturing and watering of the fruits of the Holy Spirit in us. So that
they will sprout and bring forth tangible fruits. He helps us grow in the gifts and
talents he has placed within. He helps us develop them to be used to further the
kingdom of God. God will never stop working in us. If you think that God is not
doing anything in your life right now, how very wrong you are. Remember who
began a good work in you will continue until the day of Christ Jesus. Don’t give up
- He doesn’t God continues to work in you what He has done, He continues to do.
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
Redeemed In Christ
Text: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins,
according to the riches of His grace” Ephesians 1:7
We are redeemed! Through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and the shedding of
His blood, we have forgiveness with complete pardon from our sins. Christ’s blood
paid the penalty completely. We received salvation and deliverance trough the
finished work of Christ. There is nothing we can add to the finished work of Christ.
His blood has accomplished it all - once and for all.
Because of this act of great love we can stand before the Father cleansed and
assured of our salvation and reconciliation to Him. This is who we are as sons and
daughters of God, and this is what Christ accomplished for us. Take a moment
today and thank God for all He has done for you that you can walk in complete
freedom, cleansed of all your sins. Thank Him that you can walk in the finished
work of Christ.
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
Walking In Dominion
Text: “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I
said to Moses.” Joshua 1:3
The feet represents dominion, it represents power and taking authority. Joshua
was a military leader and was Moses assistant. He was given the task of leading
the people of God out of the wilderness and into the Promised Land after Moses’
death. God gave him the power to dominate, God designed man to govern, rule
over, control and be in charge of the world; in other words, man was created to
dominate.
Dominion is man’s destiny; which is why when man is not in a position of

dominion, his emotions go haywire, frustration sets in and illnesses develop.
Dominion for man, however, is conditioned upon his alignment to God’s image; the
more like God man is, the more dominion he can exercise. God dominates
because it’s in His nature to, and because we are made in His image anI d
likeness, we have the natural tendency to dominate.
Dominion is about knowing who you are in Christ and understanding that in you,
through Him is the power to lay hold onto the promises of God and possess them
until the day of Christ. Just like Joshua God has given us the power for dominion
through His son Jesus... God wants to grant us new territory, new places in him.
But they will never be realized until we take dominion where we are now.!
Daily Capsule: Dominion is about knowing who you are in Christ.
Prayer: I subdue and I take over my life from any contrary force.
Further Study: Genesis 1:26, Genesis 27:40, Numbers 24:19, Psalms 8:6, Psalms
19:13, Isaiah 26:13, Jeremiah 34:1, Daniel 4:3, Zecharia 9:10, Romans 6:9.
The Greater One Mentality

Text: “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is
in you is greater than he who is in the world.” I John 4:4
He who is in the world" refers to the devil or Satan. There's no doubt that satan
the evil one, is strong and fierce, but God is much more powerful. Through Jesus
Christ, the Lord's mighty strength dwells in us and equips us to overcome the
enemy. In this verse, the verb "overcome" is in a perfect tense, meaning it speaks
of a past finished victory and a present state of being an overcomer. In other
words, our victory over Satan is finished, complete, and continual.
We are overcomers because Jesus Christ overcame satan on the Cross and
continues to overcome him in us (John 16:33). Don't get the wrong impression. We
will still face hard times and tribulations as long as we are living in this world. Jesus
said the world would hate us just as it hated him. But at the same time, he stated
that he would pray to protect us from the evil one (John 17:14-16).
John reminds the reader that the power of Christ, who lives in the believer, is
greater than the power of the world. The Holy Spirit living in the Christian is far
stronger than any attack by the Devil. This encouragement should empower
believers not to fear Satan, but rather trust the Lord and obey His commands. By
doing so, we can overcome the powers of darkness and walk with boldness in this
life.
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
Sonship Through The Spirit

Text: “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,”
Romans 8:16
Christians everywhere at some time all of us deal with the problem of assurance,
the assurance of salvation. Am I really a Christian? Every Christian deals with this
at some point and some Christians all the time. Not every child of God knows
whether he or she is indeed a child of God--certainly, not at the beginning of
spiritual life. This awareness is something that grows. Would you like to know if
you are adopted to be a child of God? How can you know this? The Bible says: by
the inward testimony of God's Spirit. We read about this in Romans 8:16,17.
Those who are led by the spirit are indeed God’s children. Believers are God’s
children and His heirs by adoption (Romans 8:15,17). The adopted individual is
regarded as a new person beginning a new life. Legally, the adopted one gained all
the rights of one born into the family as the legitimate heir to the father’s
properties. God’s children enjoy security and intimacy in Him.
God's Spirit shows you the marks of grace in your life, but He lets you see those
marks in His Word. He applies God's Word to your heart. He shows you from His
own Word what a child of God is like. Our own reasoning and evidences are not
enough. We need God's Spirit to convince, convict and comfort us. The devil will
always assault our own reasoning. He will even try to assault the evidence the Holy
Spirit gives. But through the inward testimony of the Holy Spirit the evil one is
silenced. Then one knows by the Holy Spirit and through God's own Word in our
heart that I am a child of God and that He is my Father.
Daily Capsule: The Fatherhood of God is not inconsequential or alterable.
Prayer: Holy Spirit my helper, bridge the gap between me and God.
Further Study: 2 Corinthians 6:18, Ephesians 1:5, Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:6, 1
John 3:1, Galatians 4:7, Romans 8:23, Galatians 3:26, Romans 8:14, 2 Timothy
1:7.
God Works For Good In All Things

Text: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God,
to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28
This verse does not affirm that all things are good, or that all things work for good
for all people. Rather the great promise is that God will overrule and work even
through the tragedies caused by sin’s presence in the world. He will accomplish
His purposes in the lives of those who love Him and respond to His
call.
Crucially, though, this promise is limited to "those who love God," and "those who
are called according to His purpose." In short, that means the promise is for
Christians: for saved believers, who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ (John
3:16–18; 14:6; Romans 3:26). No matter our feelings on a given day, loving God is
part of what it means to live in Christ. That's who we are. Each of us is also called
to fulfill God's purposes.
In other words, this verse cannot rightly be applied to non-Christians. Those who
reject God do not express their love for God by coming to Him through faith in
Jesus. For those who die without Christ, things will not have worked out for the
better; they will have rejected the opportunity to take advantage of this promise
(John 3:36). The comfort of the verse is that nothing in this life of waiting and
suffering is wasted. It is all meaningful for those in Christ, even if that doesn't
diminish our pain in the moment.
Daily Capsule: Nothing in this life of waiting and suffering is wasted.
Prayer: I prophecy good things into my life today.
Further Study: Deuteronomy 31:6, Ephesians 2:10, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Titus 1:16,
Titus 3:14, Psalms 34:8, James 1:17, Romans 12:2, Nahum 1:7, Psalms 31:19-20.
The Will Of God

Text: “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.”
Jeremiah 29:11
“What is God’s Will for My Life?” It has been said that a successful man is one who
finds out what God wants him to do with his life and then does it. That is a very
profound statement. True success is not measured by one’s social status or bank
account, or his influence or fame. True success, that which has eternal value, is
simply understanding and doing “the will of God”. There are two aspects to
consider concerning the will of God. First, there is His general will, which applies
universally to all mankind. And His specific will for us individually.
The GENERAL will of God for ALL mankind:
For all who are lost, to be saved (2 Peter 3:9), For all who are saved, to be Spirit-
filled; to be fully yielded to His control (Ephesians 5:17-20), For all who are saved,
to be sanctified; set apart for His glory, living holy lives. (1Thessalonians 4:3-4), For
all who are saved to serve the Lord with all their heart. The SPECIFIC will of God
for you. For every saved individual God has a specific purpose and plan; He has
things for you to do that others in the “Body of Christ” may not be called to do (1
Corinthians 12:5-12). Trust the Lord to always direct your path and allow His will do
be done in your life.
Daily Capsule: For every saved individual God has a specific purpose and plan.
Prayer: Father May your plan for my life become clear.
Further Study: 1 Timothy 2:3-4, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Hebrews 13:20-21, Luke

9:23, James 1:5, 1 Peter 2:15, Matthew 6:10, Ephesians 5:15-20, Micah 6:8,
Hebrews 10:36.
The Call To Courage

Text: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be
afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.””
Joshua 1:9
Courage is that virtue enabling us to act despite our fear and to do the right thing,
to be ready even to fall in the battle. The circumstance behind these words of
encouragement in Joshua 1:9 was an important moment of transition for the
people of Israel. For forty years, Moses had led the children of Israel in the desert
regions on their way to the land that God had promised them. And at this point,
they were about to enter in and possess God's gift to them.
They had already come to the border of the land once before; and they could have
then taken the land God was giving them. But when God called them to go in, they
refused to obey Him (Numbers 14:1-4). Their disobedience to God was very costly
because, as a result, the multitudes were made to wander in the desert until that
whole disobedient and rebellious generation had died off. But now, that generation
being gone, and Moses himself having died, the people now stand once again at
the border of the land. It was at this time that God spoke a word of commissioning
to Moses' faithful aid and assistant, Joshua.
Three times in Joshua is commanded by the Lord to be strong and courageous

(Joshua 1:6, 7, and 9). This call for Joshua to be strong and courageous is a call
for him to willingly and boldly conduct his life in obedience to God. The virtue of
courage is not given to Christians so that we can avoid being harmed. It is bravery
in the face of danger, steadfastness in the face of opposition, action in the face of
resistance and optimism in the face of despair.
Daily Capsule: Courage is bravery in the face of danger.
Prayer: Lord in you I put my trust, give me the courage to stand in the face of
adversity.
Further Study: 1 Chronicles 28:20, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Ephesians 6:10, Isaiah

54:4, Psalms 27:1, Psalms 56:3-4, Deuteronomy 31:6-8, 1 Corinthians 16:13,
Psalms 27:14, Proverbs 3:5-6.
Living According To The Word

Text: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall
meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is
written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have
good success.” Joshua 1:8
There is only one kind of person that God considers to be a success: The one who
is Living according to His Word. Living according to the Word of the Lord was the
secret formula of Joshua’s success as a leader of Israel. Success is not having
money, power, or avoiding criticism. Success is not having prestige, position or
prominence. Success is not having your name up in lights and enjoying the
applause and accolades of men. Success is discovering and doing the will of God
for your life.
Success starts with changing your perspectives and practices and embracing
God’s perspectives and practices. Someone said that it’s crazy doing the same
thing the same way and expecting different results. And if you want success God’s
way, then you’ve got to change from doing things your way to doing things God’s
way that is written in His Word. If you’re talking according to the Word of God, and
thinking according to the Word of God, then your actions will line up and be in
agreement with the teachings of the Word of God.
if we want to move forward into the future, if we want a battle plan for life, if we
want to figure out how to cross the Jordan River and go the next stage, if we want
to bump into success wherever we go and have strength and a sustained sense of
His presence, we have to become people who read and study and meditate on
and live according to the Bible. Most Christians know a lot more of the Bible than
they are applying (James 1:22-24).
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
The Mystery of the Secret Place

Text: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the
shadow of the Almighty.” Psalms 91:1
The secret place is where you spend time with God in fellowship, it is a place of
brokenness, it is any private place. It can be your closet, your bedroom or a room
secluded for the purpose of meeting with God. It is wherever you are alone with
God, a place you experience His manifest presence and where you encounter all
that He is. In the overflow of His presence, favor and supernatural power come as
a result. The depth of your hunger will lead to the greatest depth of His presence in
your life.
It is a place where God makes men for himself, it is a place where God builds the
vessel He uses, the place for where God makes men that burns for Him. Notable
men of POWER men that burn for God are not made in the public. Enduring
Vessels are made in the secret place, God specializes in the secret place. God
always meet with man in the secret place, he commune and make man of fire for
his work in their secret place. God dwells in the secret place, he encounters man in
the secret place.
The secret place is a place of Empowerment, a place of refreshment, a place of

building, a place of transformation. A man of the secret place is a man of power, a
man of Anointing, a man of Revelation. A man of lasting genuine encounter must
be a man of the secret place. God is everywhere, but He does not meet with men
everywhere. You may be a Holy Spirt filled believer but without the proper
understanding of the mystery behind the secret place you cannot experience the
raw power of God. Everyday has its spiritual requirement, your secret place is a
place for spiritual renewal.
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
The Assurances Of The Secret Place

Text: “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his
tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.” Psalms 27:5
When a believer abides in that precious place close to the Lord, he/she abides
possesses some blessed assurances that the rest of the world knows nothing
about. In these days, that is the kind of assurance we need as we fight the battles
of life with the world, the flesh and the devil. For, even when life is at it best and
running smoothly, we are still in the midst of perilous times, 2 Tim 3:1.
For those who abide in the secret place of the Most High will enjoy the following
assurances;
1. We have a place to exchange our trouble for His peace, 1 Pet. 5:7; Phil. 4:6-7.
2. We have a place to find joy, even during the most troublesome times, 1 Pet. 1:8.
3. Notice the great promise of John 15:11 for those who will abide close to Him.
The assurance of His powerful guardianship allows us to weather the storms of life
with confidence and victory. This was what allowed David to face Goliath. This was
the confidence that kept Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. This was the
assurance that gripped the heart of Daniel! This was the knowledge that allowed
Paul to continue, even when he suffered greatly, 2 Cor. 12:7-11. The same
assurance these men had as they faced life is the same assurance we have as we
face each day.
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
Rekindling Your Love For Christ

Text: “But I have this [charge] against you, that you have left your first love [you
have lost the depth of love that you first had for Me].”
Revelation 2:4
The Christian life is about loving Christ. Is about loving Him singularly. It is about
loving Him totally. It is about loving Him sacrificially. It is about loving Him
obediently. It is about loving Him worshipfully. It is about loving Him in terms of
service.
When a person receives Christ as his Savior, he experiences the delight of “first
love” for the Lord. God’s Spirit witnesses with his spirit that he is a child of God
(see Romans 8:16), and this newfound relationship brings great joy and freedom.
Unfortunately, many Christians fall away from their first love. When a believer does
not depend on God to meet his daily needs, his love for God grows cold.
The ultimate goal in overcoming temptation is to get to the point where our love for
the Lord motivates us to resist temptation, rather than our fear of punishment or
getting caught. Loving the Lord is the greatest commandment. Our interest in the
world and the flesh will diminish proportionately as our love for the Lord increases.
This includes concern for His Name, not wanting to dishonor Him with our sin, and
wanting to be spiritually strong so we are available for His work.
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
Love In Action
Text: “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.” John 15:9
We throw the word “love” around pretty freely. We use it casually to talk about
everyday things we like a lot. Divine love is of another order. God will never
disappoint us. God will never disappear. Our Lord Jesus Christ did not sacrifice
himself on the cross only to stop caring after his resurrection.
The love of Christ is a central element of Christian belief and theology. It refers to
the love of Jesus Christ for humanity, the love of Christians for Christ, and the love
of Christians for others. Love is action. No one showed the depths of true love
more than our Lord Jesus Christ. He set the example for believers to show love to
each other and to the world by what He did.
Ways that Jesus showed love through his early ministries;
1. Jesus healed the sick (Matthew 14:14)
2. Jesus raised the dead (John 11:35,38)
3. Jesus fed the hungry in love (Matthew 15:32)
4. Jesus preached the kingdom (Mark 6:34)
5. Jesus casts out demons (Matthew 8:16)
6. Jesus interceded for His disciples and the church (John 17:20-21)
7. Jesus gave His life for the World (John 3:16)
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
God’s Everlasting Love Through Christ

Text: “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities
nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any
other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in
Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39
The assurance that nothing can ever separate us believers from Gods love is
based on God’s past actions (Romans 8:31) and His present actions on our behalf
(Romans 8:33-34). Christ continually intercedes for us in a courtroom where
deliverance replaces condemnation. Christ, the One who could condemn
believers, is in reality pleading their cases (John 2:1-21).
The message of Romans 8 is assurance regardless of the peril, doubt or challenge

ahead, we can have assurance in the God who is in control. God loves beyond
you, beyond your time, beyond your world, beyond all your ways of thinking and
working. "I have loved thee with an everlasting, timeless, spaceless love (Jeremiah
31:3). Even while we were His foe, His love still fought for us. We never understand
God’s love for us until He appears to us in that demonstration of His grace. By
nature we are dead to the presence of God. We are in no condition to apprehend
His love until God reveals Himself.
Who Shall Separate Us from the Love Of Christ? The greatest lesson a Christian
can learn is that nothing nor anyone can ever separate him from the love of Christ.
The Christian walks through life secured by the strong cable of God’s gracious
unchanging love. The love of Christ is eternal and unchanging. It meets us right
where we are and takes us out of our darkness into light, from death to life. God
loves us with an intimate love in which nothing, nothing, nothing can ever separate
us.
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
For The Love of Christ

Text: “For the love of Christ controls and compels us, because we have concluded
this, that One died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that all those
who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and was raised
for their sake.”
2 Corinthians 5:14-15
A Christian serves God with heart and soul, moved by the love of Christ. In this
context, the word translated ‘compels’ means to powerfully urge along a line of
conduct. Force is not involved, but some impulse is so great that it evokes a
strong intellectual and emotional inclination to respond appropriately. In this case,
the impulse is the love of Christ, which is so immense that it demands a response
as complete and radical as His love for us.
Paul is explaining the compelling force in his own life. His aim is to please God and
to persuade others (verses 9-11). The motivating force is the love of Christ. When
the love of Christ is missing in the heart, the settled convictions that Paul lays out
here are usually missing in the mind. And when the settled convictions that we will
look at today are active in the mind, the knowledge of the love of Christ is usually
present in the heart. These two go together. Here’s the principle: Whatever grips
your mind controls your heart. “Be transformed by the renewing of your
mind” (Rom. 12:1).
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
No Greater Love
Text: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
John 15:13
Most people would define love as an emotion, affection, passion, or tenderness.

The Bible, however, describes love in terms of sacrificial actions. There is no
greater expression of love than sacrificial love. We rightly honor those who
sacrifice themselves for their friends and their country. Let us also love, serve, and
honor our God who sacrificed His own Son so that all who “believe in Him should
not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). To love is to choose suffering for the
sake of another.
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the
point of death, even death on a cross” (Phil 2:7-8). This love is sacrificial and
undeserved. Paul writes in Romans 5:7-8, “For one will scarcely die for a righteous
person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God
shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (1 Peter
1:18-19). The greatest act of sacrificial love was when Jesus willingly (John 10:18)
sacrificed His life to free us from our bondage to sin “so that we would no longer
be enslaved to sin” (Rom 6:6).
Daily Capsule:
Prayer: Father, take my life as a seed and plant it. I choose to give my life daily for
Your sake and for others.
Further Study:
The Depth of His Love Revealed

Text: “so that you, together with all God's people, may have the power to
understand how broad and long, how high and deep, is Christ's love.” Ephesians
3:18
We know the depth of someone's love for us by what it costs them. Jesus
sacrificed His life for us, this assures us of a deeper love than if he only sacrifices a
few bruises. So we see the depth of Christ's love by the greatness of what it cost
him.
We know the depth of someone's love for us by how little we deserve it. If we have
treated him well all our life, and have done all that he expects of us, then when he
loves us, it will not prove as much love as it would if he loved us when we had
offended him, and shunned him, and disdained him. The more undeserving we are,
the more amazing and deep is his love for us. So we will see the depth of Christ's
love in relation to how undeserving are the objects of his love (Romans 5:5-8).
We know the depth of someone's love for us by the greatness of the benefits we
receive in being loved. If we are helped to pass an exam, we will feel loved in one
way. If we are helped to get a job, we will feel loved another way. And if we are
rescued from eternal torment and given a place in the presence of God with
fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore, we will know a depth of love that
surpasses all others (1 John 3:1-3). So we will see the depth of Christ's love by the
greatness of the benefits we receive in being loved by him.
Fourth, we know the depth of someone's love for us by the freedom with which
they love us. If a person does good things for us because someone is making him,
when he doesn't really want to, then we don't think the love is very deep. Love is
deep in proportion to its liberty. Christ love for us is free and willing.
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
The Depth of Christ’s Love

Text: “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ
also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a
sweet-smelling aroma.” Ephesians 5:1-2
If love for one another is going to flourish and grow in our church, we must be
rooted more deeply in love. In other words becoming a loving person means living
with the roots of your life sunk deep in the love of Christ for you. Being loved by
Christ is the ground of becoming loving. And the root that you send into that
ground is the faith that you are loved.
Christ loved you, and gave himself." The giving of himself is the demonstration of
his love. And the cost of His love was HIMSELF (his life). It was not just money or
time or energy or inconvenience or even suffering; it was the full extent of sacrifice.
He gave himself. This love and self giving He did was for all of us. He loved us all
and so he laid His life down for us.
Consider now not only the life that Jesus sacrificed for us, but consider also what
the sacrifice involved. To get to the point where he could die, Jesus had to plan for
it. He left the glory of heaven and took on human nature so that he could hunger
and get weary and in the end suffer and die.
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
Dealing With Doubt

Text: “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of
the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will
receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his
ways.” James 1:6-8
Everybody has doubts. We all have a tendency to second guess ourselves and
say, "Did I do the right thing? Did I make the right decision? We all struggle with
these kinds of questions in our lives. There are many different kinds of doubt. We
doubt the future, we call it worry. We doubt other people we call it suspicion. We
doubt ourselves we call it inferiority. We doubt what we hear on television we call it
intelligence! We doubt everything we call skepticism. We doubt God we call it
uncertainty.
People refuse to admit that there are times when they doubt God because they
misunderstand doubt. If doubt is not properly understood and dealt with, it can
destroy your faith in God. Let me point out something that all of us need to
remember. Doubt is not the opposite of Faith. Unbelief is the opposite of Faith.
Doubt means to be uncertain or undecided. It’s time to lay aside the weights of
doubt. They need not impede your race. Your Savior died to free you from them
and he’s going to help you. Trust him. And keep running with your eyes fixed on
him (Hebrews 12:2).
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
From Sin to Service

Text: “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is
liberty.”
II Corinthians 3:17
Before Christ we were enslaved to sin. But Christ, by fulfilling the law through His
sinless life, vicarious death, and triumphant resurrection set the stage for the Holy
Spirit to come and free us from sin, giving us the the inner ability to conform to
God’s character and fulfill the law of the Holy Spirit. We’ve been liberated by the
Holy Spirit from sin to service. The Holy Spirit impacts in us a great love for the
Lord Jesus and He has given us given us the conviction to give our life in service
to the master.
Ephesians 2:8-10 WE ARE SAVED TO SERVE, that in the ages to come God might
receive all glory and praise for His goodness to us in giving His Son to die on our
behalf, on the cross. We are not saved by works, but we are saved FOR GOOD
WORKS. As a matter of fact, this text reveals that God, even before the foundation
of the world, had a wonderful plan for your life and mine, a plan that would redeem
us, and glorify Him. God made no mistakes. He left nothing undone. He has a
flawless MasterPlan.
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
The Glory In Tribulations

Text: “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation
produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
Romans 5:3-4
Hope is looking forward to something with confidence or expectations. Hope is

based on love, that is the one who loves us will do what He promised because of
His love, and the Bible says that the Holy Spirit gives hope when you are going
through difficulties. As God’s beloved children, you can count on Him to be
actively at work in those hard times to refine you. For both, those born of the Holy
Spirit and those being formed by the Holy Spirit, tribulations are extremely
important in the development of Christian faith. If this weren’t so, God would
eliminate them Himself from among His children.
The love of God poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit is the proof. Like the
gentle rain which nurtures the plant, the Holy Spirit pours into our hearts the “rain”
of spiritual refreshment and encouragement in the mist of our hard times. God
gives hope, and as you trust Him in the hard times, He sends a mighty torrent of
joy and peace to your heart, so much that you can overflow with hope (Romans
15:13). Not only does the Holy Spirit give hope in the most of difficulties of the
present, He also give us hope for the joys of the future (Galatians 5:5).
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
The Mind Is The Battlefield

Text: “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to
the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing
that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every
thought to the obedience of Christ;” 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
Upon repenting of our sin and trusting Christ’s substitutionary death, burial and
resurrection on our behalf a miraculous “spiritual rebirth” takes place; a reversal of
the “spiritual death” we inherited from Adam. In a split second the Holy Spirit
permanently reunites with the new believer’s spirit so that two become one “…he
that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” (1 Corinthians 6:17)
The flesh, at every level, exerts tremendous force on the will; continuously drawing
us to disobedience by counteracting the pull of the Holy Spirit. The flesh not only
employs temptation through the carnal appetites and fleshly lusts but also supplies
an endless list of excuses, constantly seeking to override or neutralize the Holy
Spirits influence. In essence, the battle for control of the being is a tug-of-war
between an inborn, well-established nature and an emerging new nature. Although
in this case, the battle is not physical; the mind is the arena of conflict. This is
where the battles are won or lost.
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
Man After The Fall

Text: “And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the
cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the
LORD God among the trees of the garden.”
Genesis 3:8
When Adam and Eve exercised their God-given free will to disobey, a crucial
change occurred. A split second after the creature chose to defy his Creator an
inward fatality occurred. Adam and Eve’s spiritual union with God was the first
casualty of their disobedience; the departure of the Holy Spirit from their spirit
rendered them spiritually dead, separated from God. This does not infer that
“man’s individual spirit” died at that time.
As we have seen, before the fall Adam was in a state of innocence…his spirit was
joined to God’s Spirit, therefore fellowship with God was intimate and
unobstructed. After Adam sinned all that changed…in a split second his spirit was
severed from the Holy Spirit (Gen. 3:7).
From that point on Adam and Eve were separated from God. They no longer
desired to walk with God and hid from Him (Gen. 3:8). This act of disobedience
ended what is referred to as the “Dispensation of Innocence” and began the
“Dispensation of Conscience”.
The LORD then demonstrated His mercy and love for Adam and Eve by shedding
the blood of innocent animals to cover their sin and nakedness. (Gen.3:21). After
the fall God established a substitutionary system; temporary atonement, enabling
His fallen creation to have conditional fellowship with Him. During this probationary
dispensation, the Spirit of God spoke directly to man’s conscience, once again
providing an opportunity for obedience…man could be right with God if he so
desired. Unfortunately, only a small minority chose to submit and “walk with God.
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study: Gen. 5:23, Gen. 6:9
Sow To The Spirit

Text: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he
will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he
who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”
Galatians 6:7-8
The law of sowing and reaping is a well established divine principle. What we plant
determines what we will harvest, whether good seed or bad. How can you sow to
the Spirit? First by relying on His power to reckon ourselves dead to the works to
flesh Galatians 5:19-21. We can sow to the spirit by relying on the power and
presence of the Holy Spirit to manifest the fruit of the Sprit. Which are “Love, Joy,
Peace, Long-suffering, Kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, our kinder
man” (Galatians 5: 22-23).
Sowing to the flesh=corruption, while sowing to the spirit=life everlasting. Some

people seem to pay no attention to their souls and live life with abandon, without a
thought for the consequences for their actions. But there are consequences. They
will reap what they sow.
They treat God with contempt. In the parable of the sower THE SEED IS THE
WORD OF GOD Luke 8:11. A seed will reproduce after its kind. So if it is God’s
Word we are speaking it will produce truth. God’s Word will produce the things of
God in our lives. To sow to the Spirit speaks of sowing RIGHTEOUS WORKS. We
are promised a sure reward.
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
The New Covenant

Text: “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new
covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—” Jeremiah 31:31
The new covenant is not a mere possibility; it is a new creation. It is something not
merely that God proposes, but something that he accomplishes. It is the creation
of a people for God who will not forsake him. They will be his people and he will be
their God forever. The certainty of it lies not in them, but in God's covenant
commitment: he says that he will forgive their sins and remember their iniquity no
more. And he says that he will write his laws this time not just on tablets of stone,
but on tablets of the heart.
Jeremiah is given a proclamation to make, that God will initiate a new covenant
with his people. His people had violated their existing covenant. The death and
resurrection of Christ initiated God's new covenant with mankind - one based on
faith, as a promise for all who would believe in Him. Just as Israel and Judah had
to experience the pain of exile and find repentance, we too are not exempt from
suffering. Jesus never promises we will never experience sorrow or pain, but he
does promise that if we follow him in the midst of that, we will remain in him, and
not even death can separate us from his love.
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
God Is The Essence Of Grace

Text: “And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law
was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John
1:16-17
Grace and Mercy are fraternal twins. They are initiated by the same person, spring
from the same source, and appear simultaneously; but they are not identical.
Mercy does not give us what we do deserve; grace gives us what we do not
deserve. Grace denotes goodwill, kindness, and benefit. It evokes images of a
superior granting favors to an underserving inferior. The Lord’s grace includes
underserved favor, unexpected acceptance, and unconditional love.
Jesus is the giver of grace (John 1:14, 17). A sampling of this “grace gifts” includes
Salvation(Eph 2:8), adoption (Eph 1:5), inheritance (Eph 1-11), heavenly citizen
(Phili 3:20), holiness (Eph 1:4), access to God (Eph 2:18), forgiveness (Eph 1:7),
preparation for service (1 Peter 2:5-9), the in dwelling of the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13),
the armour of God (Eph 6:10-18), and much more. No wonder His grace is called
manifold (1 Peter 4:10). Sin is no match for God’s grace. Whatever sin’s impact
may be, His grace is more potent (Rom 5:20). God is a giving God. He gives out
His love of His loves and loves to give-grace is one of His greatest pleasure (Eph
1:5,9).
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
A Time To Call Upon The Lord

Text: “I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved
from my enemies.” Psalms 18:3
The psalmist turned to God in this scripture to be the source of his deliverance in
difficult times. The psalmist declared his love for the Lord who he knows has
proven to be sufficient. He called out to the Lord to save him from his enemies
confident that God hears him. He expressed a heartfelt longing for God’s
deliverance. The psalmist turned to God and acknowledge His sovereignty despite
all the catastrophes he experiences. Even in the mist of delay he remained
confident.
In the mist of the trials and tribulations, the difficulties that are inevitable, believers
can be confident that they are loved and God will ultimately deliver them. That
every delay will be to edify and make them better and that deliverance is assured.
As a Christian, who do you turn to in times of distress? Who do you run to? Whose
name do you call upon? Stand steadfast and call upon the name of the Lord and
He will answer you.
Daily Capsule:
Prayer:
Further Study:
Attend To My Words
Text: “My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.”
Proverbs 4:20
For you to be great, you must listen and learn. Being attentive to instruction is one
of the great secrets of wisdom, just as Solomon wrote in his introduction (Proverbs
1:5). The word “attend” in verse 20 means to give one’s undivided attention. This
verse could be better understood if we read it like this: “Give your undivided
attention to the words of God.” When someone says, “I want your undivided
attention,” we know that means we’re not supposed to be thinking about anything
else, looking at anything else, or doing anything else, but we’re supposed to focus
directly on what that person is saying to us. God wants our undivided attention.
We shouldn’t tune out God’s Word. We need to open up our ears. In opening up
our ears to His Word, we are closing our ears to everything that’s contrary to what
God says. So many times, we listen to what God says, but we also listen to what
So-and-so says. What we hear is very important, because what we hear and pay
attention to is what we will respond to. We must know what the Word of God says
for ourselves in order to appropriate it in our lives. And no matter how much we
know about God’s Word, we must never forget the basics. You see, no matter how
much we grow spiritually, we will never outgrow the basics of God’s Word.
Daily Capsule: God wants our undivided attention.
Prayer: Lord call me to attention so I don’t miss you.
Further Study: Joshua 1:8, Proverbs 4:20-23, Psalms 119:105, 2 Timothy 2:15,
Hebrews 4:12, John 1:1, Psalms 22:3, John 8:47, Proverbs 2:1-5, Mark 4:24.
Dead To Sin, Alive To God

Text: “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as
Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should
walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4
As believers are we are commanded to consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to
God in Christ Jesus, and therefore let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body. At
conversion, a believer becomes fully alive spiritually when they trust in Christ as
Savior and Lord. But they are still bound, as it were, in some of the grave clothes
of their old sinful life. The difference, of course, is that all of a believer’s sinful old
clothes do not come off immediately. Not only that, but believers are continually
tempted to put the old clothes back on. It is that continuing battle with sin and
Satan that Paul recognizes in Romans 6:11–14.
If you are a Christian who continues to struggle with sin you just can't shake, don't
lose hope. Don't buy the world's message that sin is inevitable. Take heart from
Paul's extraordinary claim: "you have been raised with Christ" (Colossians 3:1). As
far as God is concerned, you are dead to sin, freed from its power. Like the
prodigal son who finally looked up from the mud and slop of the pigsty to realize
that he did not belong there, embrace your identity as a child of God made alive to
Christ. And strive knowing God has already won the victory.
Daily Capsule: Embrace your identity as a child of God made alive to Christ.
Prayer: Lord I renounce my old ways, and I begin to walk in newness of life.
Further Study: Ephesians 4:22-32, Colossians 3:8-10, Romans 6:5-11, Ephesians

2:1, Romans 6:2, Galatians 2:20, Galatians 5:24, Colossians 2:20, 2 Timothy 2:11,
Romans 7:4.
Imputed Sin
Text: “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one
Man’s sacrifice many will be made righteous.”
Romans 5:19
In addition to receiving a fallen nature, all people who came after Adam have been
credited with the guilt of Adam’s sin (Romans 5:18). Imputed sin is Adam’s guilt
attributed to or credited to us. All humans are counted as having sinned in Adam
and thus deserving the same punishment for sin as Adam. Imputed sin affects our
standing before God. The penalty for sin is death. We are subject to spiritual death
or separation from God in this present life, due to imputed sin.
The remedy for imputed sin is the atoning work of Jesus Christ, Jesus came to
reconcile us to the Father (2 Corinthians 5:18). As all people are in Adam, so all
believers are in Christ. Being in Christ means that His righteousness is now ours.
Through Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross, the sin of humanity was imputed to
Christ. Jesus took on Himself the penalty for our sin (Romans 4:25).
Believers are not yet perfected in righteousness. Nonetheless, they are clothed in
the imputed righteousness of Christ: “God made him who had no sin to be sin for
us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians
5:21). Jesus answered the demands of justice for our sin and satisfied the
requirements of the Law.
Daily Capsule: We are subject to spiritual death or separation from God in this
present life, due to imputed sin.
Prayer: Thank you Jesus for washing away all my sins.
Further Study: Romans 3:25–26, Colossians 2:14, Colossians 1:19-20, Romans

5:12-21, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 15:21, Romans 5:15, Isaiah 15:5, John 1:29,
1 Corinthians 1:30.
Instruments of Righteousness
Text: “And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin,
but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as
instruments of righteousness to God.” Romans 6:13
We belong to God. We have been purchased by the blood of His Son (Acts 20:28).
And while these earthly bodies are temporary and will one day be replaced with
new, redeemed bodies, we are obligated to use them for God’s service as long as
we live on this earth. God may graciously use you and me as an instrument, but it
is to be for His glory. God may use our words or work to witness for Him – but we
are simply His instruments. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is
anything, but only God Who gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3:8).
The key to being used for the glory of God which here is described as -being an
instrument of righteousness - is found in the phrase, “present yourselves to God”.
When we fulfill this Christian virtue of presenting ourselves, which means to
surrender our lives, we become an instrument in the hands of God through which
He can release His creative genius. You must understand this truth: You are being
played. The question is, “who is playing you?” You are either an instrument of
righteousness or one of unrighteousness, depending on who you yield your life to.
Daily Capsule: “Who is playing you?”
Prayer: Lord I present myself as a willing vessel, use me.
Further Reading: Romans 6:18, 1 John 3:10, 1 Corinthians 15:34, Titus 2:14,
Matthew 5:6, Proverbs 10:6-7, 2 Timothy 3:16, Romans 6:16, Titus 2:12, Romans
8:9.

The Spiritual Medicine of Laughter

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The Spiritual Medicine of Laughter

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Benefits of a Good Laugh

Prayer: The joy of the Lord is my strength

Genesis 21:6 KJV

Daily Capsule: In good time you will reap in laughter:

The Laughter of Unbelief

God's promises to us is clear but circumstances do not seem to be leading to its

Daily Capsule: God is persistent in His quest for our assurance.

The Laughter That Lightens The Load

Being “blessed” is about experiencing hope and joy regardless of circumstances.

Daily Capsule: God does do great things

Prayer: Lord cause my weeping to turn to laughter.

Your Season of Laughter Has Come

Daily Capsule: God will single you out today

Laughter: The Spiritual Medicine

Laughter is healing, laughter is redemptive, laughter lightens the load and

Daily Capsule: Laughter stretches out our imagination to see joy

The Regenerated Man

The Spiritual Man

The aggressive warfare against the powers of darkness is essentially a spirit

Prayer: Lord give me the strength to die to the flesh.

The Shepherd And His Sheep

Daily Capsule: A sheep is a good follower

Prayer: Every spirit of disobedience in me die, in Jesus name

Further Study: Ezekiel 34:23-24, Psalm 23:1, John 10:1-30

Freedom From Fear: Experiencing The Secret Place

Daily Capsule: The secret to praying is praying in secret.

Prayer: Lord hide me under your tabernacle

The Power of Faith

Wisdom For The Asking

The wisdom of God enables us to choose the right path always.

Wavering In The Wind

The Believers Race

The Characteristics of the Race:

1. You have been chosen for the race.

2. The race is both a contest and a conflict

3. The race is unique to you

4. The race has no time out

5. The race is full of obstacles

6. You run to win the race

7. Winning the race will require great endurance.

The Death of Unbelief

How Can We Kill Unbelief ?

1. Overcome unbelief by knowing God (Romans 10:17): Ignorance is the

2. Overcome unbelief by rejecting fear (Philippians 4:6): The basis of all

Testing: The Strengthening of Your Faith

In such times of testing, we become aware of our thoughts, attitudes and

Image of God: His Reflection in Us

What a magnificent concept, God’s creation of mankind in His image, patterned

How Are We Like God?

1. We are capable of communicating, and in so doing, we can bless or

2. We are creative, and creativity gives us joy and satisfaction (Prov.

3. We experience emotions and feelings, we long for relationship and

4. We discern between right and wrong (Is. 6:5)

5. We act and are responsible for our actions (John 3:18)

Prosperity: More Than Possessions

Why Do We Need To Pray?

1. Prayer grants privileged access to God: Why should this access be so

2. Prayer brings powerful assistance from God We seek this powerful

3. Prayer helps us to win our battles: Constantly we are warned of the

Pray Without Ceasing

Unfortunately, many Christians treat prayers as an emergency it is hardly used only

2. Lust and Love