Memorise: If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. 2nd Timothy 2:21
Read: Acts 13:1-3
1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Bible in one year: 1st Kings 16-17, Ezekiel 20:14-26

1. As discussed yesterday, “Come ye apart” is a call to cease from daily work in order to come before God in a solemn assembly.
2. Such calls by God to a solemn assembly are not mere religious exercises, but a time of settling important issues with Him. Hence, they are sometimes called during times of serious emergencies, as seen in Joel 1:14, where God said: “Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, And cry unto the Lord,”
3. While the general purpose of calling a solemn assembly is to gather the people of God together for special time of worship in a state of purity, we also see God sometimes using terms as “deny yourselves” or “afflict your souls” when He calls for a holy convocation (Leviticus 23:27).
4. These terms refer to fasting or abstinence from food, drink, entertainment, sexual pleasure or other things that delight the flesh.
5. By making a deliberate effort to subjugate our body to the dictates of the spirit at such times, we are able to devote ourselves more fully to worshipping God during the special occasions.
6. It’s in light of such self-denial that the Bible in 2nd Timothy 2:21 says, “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”
7. Individually, each of us is only one out of the billions of vessels available for God’s use.
8. However, as vessels, we are each made of different kinds of resources, ranging from precious gems like gold and silver to cheaper materials like wood and clay.
9. Obviously, some vessels are deployed for honourable use, while some others are to dishonour. What is of utmost importance is the fact that the Master will only use the best.
10. The vessel that would be found suitable for the Master’s use must be purged of all errors and purified from all unrighteousness.
11. In the Bible, purging refers to the confession and renunciation of sin, while purification refers to the process of removing impurities that interfere with a disciplined spiritual life.
12. Are you interested in having a divine encounter with the Almighty God? Would you want to be a vessel of honour in the hands of the Master? Are you looking forward to being prepared to every good work? Then, come ye apart in a holy convocation purge and purify yourself so that you can become a vessel of honour in the hands of the Almighty.
13. As you make effort to separate yourself unto God this season, He will find you suitable as a vessel unto honour and fill you up with His anointing in the Name of Jesus.

A vessel unto honour must take out time to seek God’s face often. In the place of fellowship greater grace to function is often released. There is assurance for as many that will seek Him to find Him. May we seek, find and become a vessel unto honour in Jesus name. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye and equip him with greater wisdom in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, help me to purge and purify myself, so that I may be found suitable for Your use.
HYMN
Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.
Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.
Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.

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20

Memorise: On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. Leviticus 23:35
Read: Mark 6:30-32
30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.
31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
32 And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.
Bible in one year: 1st Kings 14-15, Ezekiel 20:1-13

1. “Come ye apart” is a call for a holy convocation or a coming together of the saints in a solemn assembly.
2. In the Bible, such a meeting was often called to enable the people of God separate themselves unto God. Such special days were devoted to spiritual activities such as praise, worship, celebration, Scripture reading, fasting, prayers and offering of sacrifices.
3. In today’s Bible reading, the Lord Jesus Christ called for a holy convocation or solemn assembly with His disciples. The disciples had just returned from their very first missionary tour. Although they had many victories and testimonies of healing and casting out of demons, they were also very tired, confused (from seeing strangers casting out demons in the Name of Jesus), and full of several questions they wanted to ask the Master. On getting back to Jesus, they immediately bombarded Him with their reports, but Jesus would not engage them in the presence of the multitude. Instead, He called them apart for a solemn assembly. He said to them, “Come ye apart and rest a while”. Within the atmosphere of peace and quiet, the disciples were able to tell Jesus all about their labour, victories, challenges and ask their questions unhindered. The Lord Jesus in turn was able to properly instruct them, answer all their questions, clear their doubts, and minister to them appropriately.
4. However, it should be noted that the call for a solemn assembly was intentionally made to exclude the multitude. It was strictly designed for the hardworking disciples, who were exhausted, to come away and rest for some time.
5. A solemn assembly is therefore a time to recharge our spiritual battery, a time of deep reflection and a time to meditate on the word of God.
6. It is meant to be a time of total rest from daily physical work in order to be in the presence of the Lord. It is a time of separation unto God for spiritual worship, fasting and prayers, with high expectations of divine visitation. It is a time of very serious business with God that leaves no room for pettiness, gossip, indiscipline or any form of carnality.
7. That is why the solemn assembly in the Redeemed Christian Church of God is strictly meant for mature ministers and workers of the Church.
8. “Come ye apart” is an open invitation by God to His favoured children as a means of setting them apart for divine blessings.
9. It could be a call to an individual, as was the case with Moses in Exodus 34:2-3, or a call to a group of people, as was the case with Jacob and his family in Genesis 35:1-7.
10. May you receive your own special invitation today in Jesus’ Name.

Growth in this Christian race cannot be attained if there is no such time separated to wait on the Lord for divine encounter and empowerment. The Bible says “But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:31‬ Many of us have failed to understand the deep interpretation of this bible verse. Waiting on the Lord for strength require a serious retreat, digging deep to the word of God for deeper revelation. May the Lord help us. God bless and strengthen Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, as I separate myself to You in consecration, please set me apart for Your special blessings in Jesus’ Name.
HYMN
Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.
Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.
Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.

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20

Memorise: Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. Proverbs 21:13
Read: Psalm 22:1-5
1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
2 O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
Bible in one year: 1st Kings 12-13, Ezekiel 18:30-19:14

1. There was a popular Mexican soap opera on the Nigerian television scene a few years ago titled “The Rich Also Cry”. The title of this drama gives credence to the fact that every human being, no matter how intelligent, wealthy, powerful or highly placed, would at one time or the other in life require assistance to deal with circumstances beyond human capability and control.
2. The situation that renders a person of great means incapacitated is usually the type that money, authority and influence cannot resolve.
3. At such times, a call for supernatural assistance or divine intervention through desperate prayers to the Almighty God is the only option left. I pray that as you call on the Name of the Lord in the day of trouble, He will answer you by fire in Jesus’ Name.
4. However, if you want your prayers to be answered, you have a responsibility to ensure that you are not in the habit of blocking your ears to the petitions of the poor and needy ones around you.
5. Our memory verse says that a person who heartlessly disregards the needs of the feeble, weak and helpless is wicked. The prayers of such a person will be disregarded in the day of trouble, no matter how desperate their cry for help may be.
6. It is common knowledge that many African nations and some developing countries around the world have suffered and are still suffering under corrupt, selfish and tyrannical leaders.
7. Officials are known to be crooked, and a bribe is required before any service is rendered. Salary and wages are not paid when due, and they are sometimes delayed for months on end by government and corporate employers.
8. We have also seen some Christian ministers and clerics showing more interest in monetary gain than in serving God and the people.
9. It is time for everyone involved in such evil acts to note that eternal damnation awaits them if they fail to repent.
10. One of the terrible realities of our time is the fact that even the Church is falling short of fulfilling her responsibilities to the poor and needy.
11. The Church must not leave the less-privileged persons in our communities at the mercy of politicians and government officials, irrespective of their promises and political agenda for the poor. This is because God has neither suspended nor revoked our mandate to care for the poor.
12. The Body of Christ must wake up to the responsibilities of a loving and caring Church, if we want our collective prayers to be answered by God.
13. I live my life in total dependence on the Almighty God as the Source of my life and all that I do; I am nothing without Him. I therefore cannot even bear to imagine what my life would be like if God ceased to hear me when I call Him.
14. I decree in the Name that is above all other names that heaven will never ignore your cry for help in Jesus’ Name.

God is always in the business of answering prayers but the moment we fail to observe His will for our life, we start missing the blessing Of God. May we never miss the blessings of God concerning our lives in Jesus’ name. One of the keys to quick answer to our prayers is to extend the blessings of God to the needy around us. When we are full of abundance and refuse to stretch forth helping hands to the poor in the society and our family we hinder the blessings of God. Let’s not be like that rich fool in Luke 12 “Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭12:16-20‬ ‭You want God to keep blessing you, engage in helping the needy and avoid being greedy. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye for blessing us with the word of God daily in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, please give me the grace to be a great source of assistance to impoverished people around the world in Jesus’ Name.
HYMN
HYMN 9
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.
O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary. Refrain
In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me. Refrain
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he’ll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I’ll share. Refrain

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20

Memorise: According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 2nd Peter 1:3
Read: 2nd Peter 1:1-4
1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Bible in one year: 1st King 9-10, Ezekiel 18:1-18

1. “God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.” Psalm 46:5
2. From the above passage of Scripture, one great benefit available to those who have God as their Refuge is that the help or assistance they need will never be late.
3. There are at least three different times an individual can receive assistance. It could be before, during or after one experiences a need.
4. If a need or an emergency arises today and you already have the wherewithal to meet that need, maybe from your earnings from paid employment or a business venture, you have already received help before that need arose. 
5. This is a great place to be in! Some families already have all they will ever need to take care of their children and pay their way up to post-graduate degree programmes, even before this need arises. Such people will never panic for school fees. This is an example of provision before need, and it describes a state of living in abundance. You will experience such in Jesus’ Name!
6. Moreover, do you know that God follows this same pattern in dealing with His children? For example, before God created Adam and Eve, all they would ever need had been provided for in the Garden of Eden which God Himself planted.
7. God knows exactly what you need even before you express or voice out your request (Matthew 6:32).
8. Do you know that God has already provided all you would ever need to live a victorious Christian life and fulfil your God-given destiny?
9. The Holy Spirit speaks about this to us in 2nd Peter 1:3, where He says: “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”
10. It is therefore possible for you to be a beneficiary of provision before need.
11. However, one major challenge for most people with regards to this benefit is that when there is provision to meet their future needs, they become careless, frivolous and wasteful.
12. When God provides ahead of time, it is possible to spend it on other things outside of God’s purpose. You therefore need divine guidance even in plenty.
13. Having abundance does not justify wastefulness in God’s Kingdom.
14. However, to partake of this great benefit, you need to increase your knowledge of the Provider, walk in obedience to Him, follow spiritual financial principles and wait on His directives always.

Provision before need is possible with God and total obedience to His word. It is important we take the admonition in today’s devotional to increase our knowledge of the Provider, walk in obedience to Him, follow spiritual financial principles and wait on His directives always. The era of lack will cease in our lives as we do all these things in Jesus name. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
What some people waste daily is more than enough to feed several needy, hungry people. To trigger blessings from the Lord, such excess should be spent on meeting the needs of others.
HYMN
There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.
Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.
There shall be showers of blessing,
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.
There shall be showers of blessing;
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing,
Come, and now honor Thy Word.
There shall be showers of blessing:
Oh, that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!

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20

Memorise: But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 1st Timothy 6:11
Read: 1st Timothy 6:6-11
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Bible in one year: 1st Kings 8, Ezekiel 17:11-24

1. On the 23rd of this month, we established that financial storms can breed hatred and discrimination against the poor, and even make them contemplate suicide.
2. Beyond these, financial storms can lead to a situation where people would resort to doing unimaginable things to survive a few more days, weeks or months, just like it happened in Samaria, where people began to eat their own children (2nd Kings 6:26-29). When you speak of such scenarios, some people think this can never happen; but not too long ago in Nigeria, a woman was caught after selling her child just to get some money for food. This is almost the same as eating one’s child. When she was arrested, she begged everyone to listen to her story first before judging her. She said she decided to sell her child because she could no longer afford to feed herself and her child. She reasoned that whoever bought the child would feed her, thereby increasing her chances of survival. She explained that if she kept the child, they would both die of hunger, and that from the proceeds of selling her child, at least for a while, her own chances of survival would increase also. She probably never thought that her child could be killed and used for rituals.
3. Moreover, financial storms drive some people to consult the devil and swallow charms in their desperate bid to prosper. Some of such people are compelled to go to the graveyard at a specific period every month to eat there in order to sustain their wealth.
4. The fear of poverty has really led many people into unthinkable and damnable things they would never have attempted with a sane mind.
5. It is most unfortunate that many believers have allowed themselves to be caught in this same evil net. 1st Timothy 6:9 says, “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.”
6. God has a plan for everyone who comes to Him. In that plan, there is provision to meet all of their needs. However, to partake of the benefits of that divine provision, every child of God would have to follow certain divine principles.
7. In Matthew 6:24-34, Jesus gives the blueprint for this, based on which you would have to focus on God and on His Kingdom. If you do this faithfully, then God will make you His focus.
8. It is unfortunate that several people prefer to focus on their needs at the expense of their relationship with God; hence, they keep drifting further away from God’s sure place of provision.
9. If you have drifted away from God in your search for bread, retrace your steps today! 

The totality of today’s devotional is wrapped up in Matthew 6:31-33. “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” The key to abundance is knowing God and doing His will. We bless God for Pastor E.A Adeboye. May His strength be renewed in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, by Your mercy, terminates every financial storm in my life and family today.
HYMN
There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.
Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.
There shall be showers of blessing,
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.
There shall be showers of blessing;
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing,
Come, and now honor Thy Word.
There shall be showers of blessing:
Oh, that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!

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20

Memorise: My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:12
Read: Psalm 121:1-4
1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
Bible in one year: 1st Kings 7, Ezekiel 16:59-17:10

1. The reason why many people pray without getting answers is because their prayers are actually directed to men instead of God.
2. Today, many people seeking for jobs, contracts, spouses or admission into academic institutions prefer to ask for help from those they believe can assist them instead of going to the true source of help: God.
3. The truth about receiving help from man is that men are most unreliable, limited in resources and ability and can be swayed by situations and circumstances. Where do you channel your requests to?
4. In 2nd Kings 6:26, a woman in dire need cried to the king for help, and the king responded to her cry with these words: “….If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? Out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress?” 2nd Kings 6:27. This king recognised that God is the true source of help we all need. No wonder David, in today’s Bible reading, said that he would look up to the source of his help: God. 
5. Who is your helper? To whom do you turn or run for help in time of need?
6. God is the true Helper because He is the All-Sufficient God. He is the creator and owner of the earth and everything in it (Psalm 24:1). He has all the ability, knowledge and power, and so He can do anything, answer any question and solve all problems.
7. Ecclesiastes 5:8 says He is higher than everyone and everything, and so He is above all. Psalm 91:1 calls Him the Most High.
8. He is also the most influential, because the mention of His Name compels everything and everyone else to bow to Him (Philippians 2:9-11).
9. He is so powerful that with just a simple statement, the toughest of requests is granted (Psalm 33:8-9).
10. His word is final on any issue; hence, you do not need to accept any negative verdict from any other source (Lamentations 3:37).
11. He stands as the Universal Judge who can upturn any judgement as He pleases in favour of those He loves.
12. It is a great privilege to have access to this God, table requests before Him and receive answers to our requests.
13. If you find it difficult to make your requests known to God, it is obvious that you do not know Him, or you are proud.
14. From now on, make it a habit to praise and worship Him and thereafter make your requests known to the true Helper (Philippians 4:6). He will help you today.

When help comes from above it is timely, accurate and perfect. It cannot be stopped or hindered because the most high God is the helper here. God is the only true Helper and we must learn to turn to Him only for whatever help we need. He will answer us as we do in Jesus name. Pastor E.A Adeboye is a great blessing to our generation. We pray as he turns many to righteousness greater grace is released to him in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Spend an hour thanking God for how He has helped you thus far, and then ask for His help on every difficult situation you are confronted with.
HYMN
1 Through the love of God our Saviour,
all will be well.
Free and changeless is his favour,
all, all is well.
Precious is the blood that healed us,
perfect is the grace that sealed us,
strong the hand stretched forth to shield us,
all must be well.
2 Though we pass through tribulation,
all will be well.
Ours is such a full salvation,
all, all is well.
Happy, still in God confiding,
fruitful, if in Christ abiding,
holy, through the Spirit’s guiding,
all must be well.
3 We expect a bright tomorrow,
all will be well.
Faith can sing through days of sorrow,
‘All, all is well.’
On our Father’s love relying,
Jesus every need supplying,
in our living, in our dying,
all must be well.

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20

Memorise: And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Daniel 6:20
Read: Daniel 6:18-23
18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
23 Then was the king exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
Bible in one year: 1st King 5-6, Ezekiel 16:44-58

1. If your desire to see exploits from the Almighty God, you must know Him personally and believe that He is alive.
2. Unfortunately, when some believers are going through very tough times, you will think that their God is dead. They lose their trust in God, just because they could not feel Him doing anything about their case while putting their trust in Him. Some of such people will no longer confess Him before men because they are afraid He might disappoint them.
3. Hebrews 11:6 says that if you want anything at all from God, you must believe that He is alive and well. You must believe that He continues to exist and that He is in control. No matter how bad your situation may appear, God is still alive and He is in charge. Nothing happens in your life without His knowledge.
4. After Daniel was set up by some fellow leaders in the Government of King Darius, He was thrown into the lion’s den. What the king said to him while he was in the lion’s den is very instructive: “And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?” Daniel 6:20
5. In other words, this king recognised that the God of Daniel was the living God.
6. Do people know your God as the living God?
7. Also, King Darius observed the quality of worship Daniel offered to his God. Daniel not only severed God in the times of plenty, blessings and answered prayers, but also in the times of persecution and unanswered prayers.
8. If you truly want to see exploits, you must be ready to serve God continuously.
9. Do you know that many people allow situations and circumstances to affect or determine when they serve God?
10. Some people decide to down tools in God’s house just because a particular pending request has not been granted. Some even “threaten” God that if He doesn’t answer their prayer, they will stop pastoring, winning souls or doing some specific assignment that God has given to them. Can you truly threaten God? Is your love for God dependent on your situation in life?
11. If you have downed tools in God’s service, repent and get back to doing the work that God gave to you!

Anyone genuinely serving the Lord should know that He rewards those that diligently seek Him. Even when it looks like all hope is gone He restores. Doubting God’s ability and power doesn’t reduce Him, the person doubting Him is the one depriving himself or herself of the blessings of believing Him. He can raise stone in place of anyone who thinks he or she can threaten God and stay away from serving Him. So it is wise we keep our faith alive, continue in faith and diligently render her service to our maker and may God help us as we do in Jesus name. God bless and strengthen Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Key Point
Although God can deliver His children from any unpleasant situation, He reserves the right to decide whether and when to deliver them or not, depending on what He wants to achieve from that particular situation.
HYMN
1 Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.
2 Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee,
swift and beautiful for thee.
3 Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee,
filled with messages from thee.
4 Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose,
every power as thou shalt choose.
5 Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne,
it shall be thy royal throne.
6 Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee,
ever, only, all for thee. 

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Memorise: And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. Luke 17:19
Read: Luke 17:12-19
12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
Bible in one year: 1st Kings 3-4, Ezekiel 16:23-43

1. After reflecting on the goodness of God, David wrote in Psalm 103:1: “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.”
2. The lame man in Acts 3:1-8 must have taken a cue from David in praising God. After his burden of 40 years was lifted, he praised God in a very dramatic way, just like David did in times past.
3. When David praised God, his entire body was fully involved. He went to such great extents as removing his royal robes and dancing before God like one of his subjects (2nd Samuel 6:14-16). He was used to leaping in praise and honour of the Most High. Have you ever leaped to give God praise?
4. After God has lifted your burden, in addition to praising Him, you can give Him generous thanks – not the kind of thanks that has to be squeezed forcefully out of you. Thank Him from a heart overflowing with gratitude.
5. Some people are just too stingy! Not only do they find it difficult to give God a good offering from what He has already provided for them, they also find it difficult to give Him thanks. What such people fail to realise is that stinginess has never helped the stingy. What you hoard will go stale, become useless or be lost. Give God thanks and do it with a heart full of gratitude.
6. Moreover, if you give God quality thanks, you will definitely receive something in return. In other words, when God does something for you and you thank Him generously, He becomes so impressed that He gives you something else in addition to what precipitated your thanksgiving. When all is said and done, you end up with double blessings.
7. Those who give shabby thanks or do not give thanks at all cannot get a second blessing, and if care is not taken, they may even lose their initial blessing to the devil.
8. If you look at the example of the 10 lepers who were healed by the Lord Jesus Christ in today’s Bible reading, you will discover that thanksgiving opens the door to a very special blessing: wholeness! This is a type of blessing that no gate of hell can prevent. When God makes you whole, everyone will know about it.
9. Wholeness is the height of restoration. It is a return to the original state you were in before a burden was placed on you.
10. As you thank God from today, you shall receive the blessing of wholeness in Jesus’ Name.

Thanksgiving brings wholeness! Atimes until a believer testifies of the miracle received the wholeness is not released. But immediately the receiver testifies the miracle becomes whole and permanent. Wholeness shall be our lot as we testify to the glory of God in Jesus name. May greater strength and ability be released unto Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, as I thank and worship You today, please make me whole.
HYMN
The great Physician now is near,
The sympathizing Jesus;
He speaks the drooping heart to cheer,
Oh, hear the voice of Jesus.
Refrain:
Sweetest note in seraph song,
Sweetest name on mortal tongue;
Sweetest carol ever sung,
Jesus, blessed Jesus.
Your many sins are all forgiv’n,
Oh, hear the voice of Jesus;
Go on your way in peace to heav’n,
And wear a crown with Jesus.
All glory to the dying Lamb!
I now believe in Jesus;
I love the blessed Savior’s name,
I love the name of Jesus.
His name dispels my guilt and fear,
No other name but Jesus;
Oh, how my soul delights to hear
The charming name of Jesus.

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Memorise: sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17
Read: John 17:15-17
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Bible in one year: 1st King 2, Ezekiel 16:6-22

1. Access to divine guidance is one yardstick you can use to determine whether you are a sheep in the fold of Jesus Christ, the Great Shepherd. This is very central to our walk with God, as it determines the status of our relationship with Christ.
2. Amassing years in the faith is not as important as increasing the frequency of receiving divine guidance. This means that if you receive Jesus Christ as Lord and saviour some 5, 10, 20 or more years ago, but still cannot easily be led by the Spirit of God on various matters, you are hardly growing spiritually. Romans 8:14 says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
3. A close walk with the Holy Spirit is the bedrock for receiving divine guidance.
4. In John 16:13, Jesus clearly stated one major reason why the Holy Spirit was sent to the world. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth, and so it falls within the purview of His duties to guide you along the path of truth.
5. If you have a knotty issue that cannot be unravelled, simply go to the Holy Spirit, and He will guide you aright. He operates in the realm of truth and necessarily facts.
6. Some people equate facts with truth but that is not often the case.
7. Just as lies are a distortion of the facts, facts can sometimes be contrary to truth.
8. Facts are observations that have been subjected to interpretations based on current knowledge, and because knowledge changes, facts can also change.
9. What then is truth? The Lord Jesus Christ answers this question in John 17:17: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” The word of God is truth. Also, the Godhead is an embodiment of truth. In fact, Jesus in John 14:6 declared: …I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
10. Truth is based on faith. If you will receive divine guidance, you must be prepared to walk in God’s path of truth.
11. The truth is ever constant. God wants His children to walk with the truth and not necessarily by facts.
12. When a child of God is ill for example, the fact is that there are physical signs and manifestations of the ailment on that individual, but the truth is that Jesus has already paid the price of the healing of every child of God. For this reason, the Bible says we walk by faith (truth) and not by sight (facts) (2nd Corinthians 5:7). This means, you must be a person of faith.
13. You must live by the truth and not contradict God’s word by your lifestyle.
14. Also, you cannot be telling lies and expect the truth of God to be revealed to you. Choose to live by truth today.

The word of God is truth and living in truth is a life every believer should live. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” John 17:17 He cherish His word more than His name and so if a believer dares to live in truth of God’s word it is profitable. If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; John 10:35 Thank God for Pastor E.A Adeboye who through the Holy Spirit bless us with the word of God which is the word of truth.

Key Point
A liar cannot receive a revelation of the Truth until he or she is ready to dump falsehood.
HYMN
1 O spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found,
Wherever human hearts and human woes abound.
Let every Christian tongue proclaim the joyful sound:
The Comforter has come!
Refrain:
The Comforter has come! The Comforter has come!
The Holy Ghost from heav’n, the Father’s promise giv’n,
O spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found:
The Comforter has come!
2 The long, long night is past; the morning breaks at last;
And hushed the dreadful wail and fury of the blast,
As o’er the golden hills the day advances fast!
The Comforter has come! [Refrain]
3 Lo, the great King of kings, with healing in His wings,
To every captive soul a full deliv’rance brings;
And thro’ the vacant cells the song of triumph rings;
The Comforter has come! [Refrain]
4 O boundless love divine! How shall this tongue of mine
To wond’ring mortals tell the matchless grace divine –
That I, a child of hell, should in His image shine?
The Comforter has come! [Refrain]

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Memorise: For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Read: Psalm 51:1-4
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Bible in one year: 1st Kings 1, Ezekiel 15:1-16:5

1. As believers, although we have been made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, we are still capable of making mistakes, because of the nature of the body our spirit man still inhabits.
2. Until we shed this body and put on the glorious body of the resurrected Christ, we will still be prone to mistakes and error (1st Corinthians 15:42-44, 1st Corinthians 15:52-54). Hence, we need to be more prayerful and careful in all our dealings (Matthew 26:41).
3. To reach your God-given goal, you must avoid mistakes. You must avoid falling too. If you however fall, you can humbly and sorrowfully admit your mistake. After David fell into the sin of adultery and murder, he said, “For I acknowledge my transgression: and my sin is ever before me.” Psalm 51:3
4. If you sin, admit that you have sinned. 2nd Corinthians 7:9-10 says godly sorrow leads you to repentance.
5. Those who are close to me can testify to the fact that whenever something goes wrong with whatever I’m working on, the first question I ask my-self is, “Where have I gone wrong?”
6. You cannot make progress if you keep passing the buck or shifting blame. It is easy to make excuses.
7. The lazy and the proud will look for every reason to justify their weaknesses or failure.  When you acknowledge and confess your weaknesses to God, you trigger a release of God’s power to enable you live above them. 2nd Corinthians 12:9 says, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
8. In the parable of the talents, the man with five talents never gave any excuse for why he should not succeed; hence, he was able to double his talents (Matthew 25:14-30). The man with two talents equally made no room for excuses, and so, he too doubled his talents. The man with one talent however came up with excuses for non-performance.
9. If you are always quick to explain away your failures, it is because you are too proud to admit your mistakes.
10. Who does not make mistakes? When you err, admit your wrong doing.
11. Studying mathematics taught me that I can be wrong.
12. Many people find it difficult to accept that they are wrong. If you try to prove to them that they are wrong, they will do everything possible to wriggle out of it.
13. Explaining away your wrong-doing does not make you any less guilty.
14. Have you made any mistake? Sorrowfully admit your error and ask for forgiveness.

S

ome believers think it is wise to give excuse for their mistake to cover up. Some other think waving or ignoring the mistake is smart. Admitting the mistake, repentance and making amends is far better as we have seen in today’s devotional. May God help us in Jesus name. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye and equip him with greater wisdom and knowledge in Jesus name.

Key Point
Admitting your mistake is not a sign of weakness like many think. Rather, it is a manifestation of strength of character.
HYMN
Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.
Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.
Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.

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