Devotionals

MEMORISE:
So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. Joshua 6:20

READ: Joshua 6:1-20
1Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.
2 And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.
3 And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.
4 And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.
5 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.
6 And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD.
7 And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the LORD.
8 And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns passed on before the LORD, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them.
9 And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
10 And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.
11 So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.
12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.
13 And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
14 And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.
15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.
16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.
17 And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
18 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
19 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.
20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

MESSAGE:
Today, we shall continue our discussion on how to deal with mountains which symbolizes the challenges we face in life. Briefly, we shall consider other ways. One, we can deal with mountains by blowing them away, as we see in our Bible text of today. The Bible says that Jericho, which was the bypass for the children of Israel to the promised land, was shut against them, thus hindering their march to their destiny. The wall of Jericho was so thick that houses were built on it, hence it was a great mountain before the children of Israel. The only option was to blow off the walls. This however, required divine intervention. After the children of Israel had done what the Lord commanded them to, the wall of the city was blown off and they had free entry into the city of Jericho.
“So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.” Joshua 6:20

In the above Scripture, we can see that obedience on the part of the people blew off the mountain in their path.

Another way of dealing with a mountain is by living on it. This means living above principalities and powers as in the case of Prophet Elisha in 2 Kings 4:18-37. Mountain dwellers are mountain movers. In addition, we can fly over the mountains. Isaiah 40:31 says we will mount up with wings as eagles when we wait upon the Lord. I have taught in many places that the correct way to wait upon God is through high praises, worship and adoration. When we do this, our strength shall be renewed, and the enemies shall never defeat us, neither shall we be weary in the journey of life.

You want to conquer the mountains hindering your progress in life? Wait upon the Lord in praises, worship and thanksgiving unto His holy name.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please teach me how to deal with the mountains of my life. Make me victorious, oh Lord.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: GENESIS 15-18.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 16: O GOD OUR HELP IN AGES PAST.
1. O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
2. Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.

3. Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.

4. Thy Word commands our flesh to dust,
“Return, ye sons of men”:
All nations rose from earth at first,
And turn to earth again.

5. A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.

6. The busy tribes of flesh and blood,
With all their lives and cares,
Are carried downwards by the flood,
And lost in foll’wing years.

7. Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the op’ning day.

8. Like flow’ry fields the nations stand
Pleased with the morning light;
The flow’rs beneath the mower’s hand
Lie with’ring ere ’tis night.

9. O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while troubles last,
And our eternal home.

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MEMORISE:
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Mark 11:23

READ: Exodus 17:8-13.
8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.

10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

12 But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

13 And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

MESSAGE:
We started discussing how to deal with mountains yesterday and mentioned that we can try to run away from them by turning our back against them or going round them aimlessly- killing the time we should have used to utterly destroy them. We pointed out the futility of these two approaches in dealing with our mountains. Today, we shall look at some other ways whereby we can deal with mountains- symbols of the challenges of life.

Another way of dealing with a mountain is by climbing it. Though it may be difficult, it is a most effective solution, as we see in today’s text. The wandering children of Israel were confronted with a very fierce battle against the well-organized army of the Amalekites. It was a great mountain indeed. What did Moses do? After he had chosen Joshua as the captain of the army and set men for battle, he went up to the mountain to pray for divine intervention. The Bible says in Philippians 4:6-7:
“ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

The above Scripture tells of the importance of prayer when we are confronted with mountainous challenges of life. This is one of the best ways of dealing with mountains, according to our memory verse today.

Beloved, whatever the nature of the mountain you are facing (which symbolizes a problem), discuss it with God as Moses did in our text of today, and you will see it disappearing before you.

Another way of dealing with a mountain is by boring a hole through it. This will create a tunnel through which you can get to the other side and into your promised land (Exodus 14:21-28). The Lord made an expressway through the Red Sea for the children of Israel to pass through and He can do the same in your life, over and over again. You will overcome every challenge of life in Jesus’ name

ACTION POINT:
Build an altar of prayer onto God today and you shall have victory over every mountain in your path, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: GENESIS 12-14.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 22: SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER.
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
The joys I feel, the bliss I share,
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
Where God my Savior shows His face,
And gladly take my station there,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I’ll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
May I thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight:
This robe of flesh I’ll drop and rise
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout, while passing through the air,
“Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!”

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MEMORISE:
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

READ: Exodus 14:13-18.
13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

15 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:

16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.

17 And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.

18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.

MESSAGE:
Mountains in today’s topic of discussion symbolizes problems and challenges of life. There are certain mountains one just must encounter in his or her lifetime. Isaiah 43:2 confirms that we shall pass through waters and fire; however, we shall not be victims of their scourge. The earlier one understands this fact, the better. In our Bible reading today, we read of the encounter of two symbolic mountains behind and before the children of Israel- the hosts of Pharoah and the Red Sea respectively. However, they were miraculously delivered from the two mountains. Today we shall consider some ways to deal with mountains hindering your progress in life.

One way to deal with mountains is to turn back when confronted with them. However, this method is not good enough as you most likely would face them again (Numbers 14:1-40. The second way is to go round your mountain and this may be a lifetime of fruitless exercise as in the case of the rebellious and faithful children of Israel who wandered and wasted away in the wilderness.
“ And the LORD’S anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed.” Numbers 32:13

A point to note in the Scripture above is that wandering around and around a mountain may be a sign that God is angry with the person in question. It is a sign that the fellow has lost his sense of direction. The only way to get direction to the fulfilment of your destiny is through Jesus Christ who has told us that He is the way, the truth and life (John 14:6), to avoid going around in circles, you must not turn your back on your mountain; rather, face it in the name of Jesus Christ, putting your trust in Him. According to our memory verse today, you will not be disgraced, but rather be strengthened to face and overcome every mountain in your path in the mighty name of Jesus.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please help me to face the challenges of life and see me through them, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: GENESIS 8-11.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 29: WILL YOUR ANCHOR HOLD IN THE STORMS OF LIFE.
1. Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?

o Refrain:
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.

2. It is safely moored, ’twill the storm withstand,
For ’tis well secured by the Savior’s hand;
And the cables, passed from His heart to mine,
Can defy that blast, through strength divine.

3. It will surely hold in the straits of fear,
When the breakers have told that the reef is near;
Though the tempest rave and the wild winds blow,
Not an angry wave shall our bark o’erflow.

4. It will firmly hold in the floods of death,
When the waters cold chill our latest breath;
On the rising tide it can never fail,
While our hopes abide within the Veil.

5. When our eyes behold through the gath’ring night
The city of gold, our harbor bright,
We shall anchor fast by the heav’nly shore,
With the storms all past forevermore.

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MEMORISE:
Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread. Exodus 12:20

READ: Exodus 12:18-28.
18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.

19 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.

20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.

21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.

22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.

23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.

24 And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.

25 And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service.

26 And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?

27 That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD’s passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.

28 And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.

MESSAGE:
The Bible says “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” (Galatians 5:9). In this context, leaven symbolizes sin (1Corinthians 5:7-8). The leaven of sin is not necessarily a big substance like some may imagine; more often, it appears little and negligible but has a deadly impact on a person’s life and where he or she would spend eternity.

What then is the leaven that all children of God must not eat even in this dispensation of grace? The simple answer is, “The leaven of sin” and this includes everything that can cause spiritual pollution. This is further explained in 1Thessalonians 5:22 where we were warned to abstain from all appearances of evil. For us to truly live as God’s people this year, we must not keep the company of sinners (Psalm 1:1). Some of us claim to be born again but delight in the activities of sinners and even encourage them to continue in sin- forgetting that the Bible says in Romans 1:32:
“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

The story of a sparrow that kept the company of devouring raven is a case in point. When he was eventually caught, he tried to convince the farmer who caught him with them that he was not a raven but the father said, “You are judged by the company you keep”. Many innocent sisters became victims of rape because they had been keeping the company of ladies of easy virtue. More often than not, they are lured by their so-called friends to attend parties where they fall into the hands of human ravens. This is the reason the Bible says that we should not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. The Bible further admonishes in 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 thus:
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

Beloved, as you journey through 2022, beware of the leaven of the 21st century world. Abstain from all appearance of evil.

ACTION POINT:
Watch the company you keep this year, even in Church!

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: GENESIS 4-7.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 28: WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD.

1. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

o Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

2. Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

3. Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

4. But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

5. Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

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MEMORISE:
This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. Exodus 12:2

READ: Joel 2:23-27.
23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.

25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.

27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

MESSAGE:
The Lord has helped us to pass over into a glorious new year. Let somebody shout hallelujah! The topic of our devotional today is very prophetic and I join my faith with yours to decree that this month shall be unto you the beginning of great and mighty miracles in your life in the mighty name of Jesus. As seen in our memory verse today, God is telling us that this is a beginning of months we shall not forget for good in a hurry. It is the beginning of freedom from all bondage, sorrow, poverty, sickness, failure and eternal perdition for those who have given their lives to Christ.

God describes the period of the first Passover which was followed by the deliverance of the children of Israel as the beginning of months. Beloved, you have not started to live until you are totally free from bondage. In spite of the fact that the children of Israel had lived for over 400years in bondage, the month of their deliverance was described by God as the actual month that counted! What did they do to obtain the freedom that announced the counting of their existence? They applied the blood of the lamb as they were instructed to do. This was a similitude of the blood of Jesus that was to be shed for our deliverance from all forms of bondage. The Bible says:
“For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Hebrews 9:13-14

I congratulate fellow child of God all over the world and pray that nothing would rob us of our freedom in Christ throughout this year and beyond, in Jesus’ name. As we read in the Bible reading today, may the blessings of the Lord fill our lives to overflow in Jesus’ name. If however, you are yet to give your life to Jesus, I encourage you to do so today so that you may be free from the bondage of the devil. The blood of Jesus is still very much accessible through faith; just confess you sins, repent of them and be cleansed by the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7-9). It shall be well with you. Happy New Year, in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER POINT:
Lord, I thank You for sustaining me throughout 2021 and for bringing me into another year. Please let this year indeed mark the beginning of outstanding miracles in my life, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: GENESIS 1-3.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

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MEMORISE:
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

READ: Deuteronomy 7:12-15.
12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers:

13 And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

14 Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle.

15 And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.

PRAYERS:
1. Father, thank You for 2021. Please Lord, in the coming year, help me do all that You tell me to because I know that if I obey You, You will bless me greatly.

2. Lord, please be glorified in my life like never before. In 2022, let all men know that indeed I serve a Living God.

3. Lord, in the coming year, please have mercy on all the nations of the world. Let there be peace and prosperity around the world. Take sorrow far from all our nations, in Jesus’ name.

4. Father, please bless the works of my hands in 2022. Let me prosper greatly, more than ever before, in the mighty name of Jesus.

5. Father, make a way for me in the coming year. I don’t want to struggle; please let all struggles end with this year, in Jesus’ name.

6. Lord, surround me with great helpers in the year 2022. Please bring helpers of destiny my way- people who have the capacity and willingness to help me, in Jesus’ name.

7. Father, please destroy every evil that the enemy has planned against me and my loved ones this coming year, in Jesus’ name. In 2022, I will enjoy victory on every side, in the mighty name of Jesus.

8. Father, in 2022, make me stand before kings. Elevate me far above my dreams for the year, in Jesus’ name.

9. Father, open the floodgates of Heaven and bless me greatly. Bless me so much that it will overflow to all my friends and loved ones, in Jesus’ name.

10. Father, in 2022, I will not cry over my loved ones, my children will not die, no one will be missing and no one will fall sick amongst my family members, in Jesus’ name.

11. Father, in the coming year, help me to serve You like never before. Give me the grace to please You and to live holy every single day of the year, in the mighty name of Jesus.

12. Your personal prayer request for the coming year 2022.

THANKSGIVING:
Father, thank You for the great privilege to see the last day of 2021. Thank You Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: MALACHI.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 1: ALL HAIL THE POWER OF JESUS NAME.
1. All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ Name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all!

2. Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race,
Ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him Who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all!

3. Let every kindred, every tribe,
On this terrestrial ball,
To Him all majesty ascribe,
And crown Him Lord of all!

4. Oh, that with yonder sacred throng
We at His feet may fall!
We’ll join the everlasting song,
And crown Him Lord of all!

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MEMORISE:
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1

READ: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

MESSAGE:
A ship is usually very big. Many ships are bigger in height and width than some great hotels. However, once its anchored, nothing will ever move the ship from its position. A heavy wind may blow the ship, making it move forward and backward occasionally, but it will never leave its position as long as it remains anchored. Weights in the life of a Christian are like that anchor. They hold you down but permit you to move forward and backward, as though you were making progress, but you would really only be stagnant. This is why so many people wonder why they have been Christians for a very long time without any evidence of their knowledge of Christ. As long as there are weights in your life, they will always hinder your progress with the Almighty God.

Weights, are not necessarily sin, but are things that, if indulged in can lead you to sin. They may not be counted as iniquity, but can stop you from making progress. Weights are the lawful things that, if indulged in without moderation, will hold you back from making progress. Apostle Paul said:
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 6:12

Sleeping well is good, but it becomes a weight when you sleep too much. Eating is good, but it turns into a weight when you become a glutton. While it is not a sin to watch television, being addicted to your T.V. set will not allow you to make progress spiritually, because the more you feed your flesh, the weaker your spirit becomes. Whenever I want to fast, I would approach a calendar and look at a date. I would then tell my body “You see that date? From that date, you will not eat again until so and so day”. After this, I would discipline myself to fast. You must discipline yourself to engage in those spiritual activities that would strengthen you. Spiritual growth does not come by magic. If you want to experience real spiritual progress, especially in the coming year, you must lay aside every weight that could prevent you from achieving that goal even from now.

KEY POINT:
Get rid of those weights before they get rid of you.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: HOSEA 8-14.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 29: WHAT CAN WASH AWAY MY STAIN?
1. What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

o Refrain:
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

2. For my pardon, this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

3. Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

4. This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

5. Now by this I’ll overcome—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Now by this I’ll reach my home—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

6. Glory! Glory! This I sing—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
All my praise for this I bring—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

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MEMORISE:
Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. Zechariah 4:7

READ: Psalm 2:1-5.
1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,

3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision.

5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

MESSAGE:
The Psalmist wrote “I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother’s children.” Why? He continued “For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.” (Psalm 69:8-9). This is equally the lamentation of those who would live a righteous life on this earth.

Wickedness is becoming the accepted norm of society while worldliness has become the order of present-day Christendom. It now appears as if the more ungodly you are- even as a pastor, the more acceptable you would be to the people and your congregation. This is the reason more people are adopting the slogan “The end justifies the means”.

The most painful thing that the ungodly who were previously outside the church are not just in it today, but are also taking leadership positions. They are even persecuting those trying to go the extra mile with the Master. In John 15:19, Jesus Christ told His disciples and by extension all His followers:
“If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”

David wondered in Psalm 2:1-3 why the heathens raged and even rulers were against the Lord and His people. The answer is found in John 1:5, which says that darkness cannot comprehend or overcome light. We are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14).

Beloved, in spite of persecutions, let us keep our eyes on the Lord. The persecutions shall surely end at the second coming of Jesus. The Lord is encouraging you to endure the present persecution you may be passing through now. You will soon experience an all-round promotion in Jesus’ name. praise the Lord!

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please give me the grace to stand strong in the faith now and always, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: HOSEA 1-7.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 8: HO, MY COMRADES! SEE THE SIGNAL.
1. Ho, my comrades, see the signal, waving in the sky!
Reinforcements now appearing, victory is nigh.

o Refrain:
“Hold the fort, for I am coming,” Jesus signals still;
Wave the answer back to Heaven, “By Thy grace we will.”

2. See the mighty host advancing, Satan leading on;
Mighty ones around us falling, courage almost gone!

3. See the glorious banner waving! Hear the trumpet blow!
In our Leader’s Name we triumph over every foe.

4. Fierce and long the battle rages, but our help is near;
Onward comes our great Commander, cheer, my comrades, cheer!

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MEMORISE:
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

READ: Ezekiel 36:24-26
24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

MESSAGE:
One thing about fire is that it can destroy completely. When it is done consuming something, that thing becomes ashes and it can never return to the state in which it was before. The Holy Spirit can consume your bad habits and even your wrong desires. He can consume it all to the extent that people who used to know you would be wondering if you are the same person.

Before the Holy Spirit came into me, I could hardly cry; even when my father died, I wanted to cry but just couldn’t. When the Holy Spirit came in however, He turned my stony heart to flesh. Now, if I just see someone crying, tears begin to flow from my eye. Today when people see pastor Adeboye, they think I was born a saint. Thank God for the Holy Spirit that can completely erase certain behavior from one’s life.

Before I met Christ, I had so many girlfriends that I lost count. I am sharing this with you so that you know that God can erase any bad habit or character from your life completely. Among all these girls, there was one that was closest to me. We did all sorts, but after some time, we separated; she went her way and I went mine. She got married and I also got married. Many years later, this lady had a child that was born lame and someone referred her to me for prayers. When she arrived at the mission house and discovered that I was the pastor to whom she had been referred, she said “You? You will pray and God will answer?” Well, I prayed and God did answer. It doesn’t matter how bad you are now, God can change you and make you holy, if you are willing.

The Holy Spirit does not force you to change; He will only consume those bad habits when you allow Him to. Do you find it difficult to control your flesh when it comes to sexual immorality? He can consume all those inordinate sexual desires if you are willing to allow Him. You should cooperate with Him when He says “Don’t visit that website. Don’t answer that person’s phone call. Stop following those people on Social Media” and so on. Do you have the inordinate desire to be rich and sometimes contemplate lying and doing other things to make it come to pass quickly? The Holy Spirit can take that desire away completely if you allow Him. The worst criminal can become the holiest saint if he lets the Holy Spirit work in and on him or her.

PRAYER POINT:
Lord, please let Your Holy Spirit come and burn off every bad habit in my life (mention the habits you are struggling with, if any), in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 John.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 27: WE ARE NEVER WEARY OF THE GRAND OLD SONG.

We Are Never, Never Weary
Of The Grand Old Song;
Glory To God, Hallelujah!
We Can Sing It Loud As Ever,
With Our Faith More Strong:
Glory To God, Hallelujah!

Oh, The Children Of The Lord
Have A Right To Shout And Sing,
For The Way Is Growing Bright
And Our Souls Are On The Wing;
We Are Going By And By
To The Palace Of A King!
Glory To God, Hallelujah!

We Are Going To A Palace
That Is Built Of Gold;
Where The King In All His Splendour
We Shall Soon Behold.

There We’ll Shout Redeeming Mercy
In A Glad New Song;
There We’ll Sing The Praise Of Jesus
With The Blood-Washed Throng.

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MEMORISE:
She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. John 8:11

READ: John 8:1-11
1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.

2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

MESSAGE:
Grace, from the Christian point of view is popularly described as unmerited favor. This is because literally, it is kindness of the highest order, and it comes from no other person but the Almighty God. Noah is a typical example of someone who enjoyed grace, having been spared during the flood, according to Genesis 6:7-8:
“And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”

Another instance of grace in action is the story of the woman caught in adultery. Just as she was about to lose her life for this act of sexual immorality, grace delivered her (John 8: 1-11). The woman was fortunate to have been dragged to the Savior -Jesus Christ. He said in John 11:25-26:
“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die….”

In the course of the trial of this woman in the ‘court’ of Jesus Christ, grace spoke for her and the Lord asked:
“…Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more…” John 8:10-11

Jesus says further in John 8:12: ”…I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

This is grace in action. The Lord Jesus Christ came to this earth to die for your sins. Remember, even the penitent thief crucified alongside Jesus Christ also experienced grace; Christ promised to see him in Paradise that same day of the crucifixion (Luke 23:39-43). This is the wonder of the cross- grace. Beloved, you can be a partaker of this grace also, no matter what your current situation is. Even if you are reading this devotional in the prison and have been condemned by the government of your land, do what that thief did: acknowledge your sins, repent of them, accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. As we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ today, rest assured that God’s grace is more than enough for you. Hallelujah!

PRAYER POINT :
Father, forgive me all my past misdeeds. Please Lord, give me another chance to live for You, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 42-46.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 2: AMAZING GRACE! HOW SWEET E SOUND.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.

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