Today’s Devotion-21st July 2020
Topic: FEAR NOT
Fear is a strong, uncontrollable, unpleasant emotion caused by actual or perceived danger or threat. We sometimes go through this, because of life uncertainties. This is why we have to rely on God totally. The reason is that God knows the end from the beginning. He says, fear not, He is in control and fights for us.
Memory verse: Isaiah 43:1 KJV, But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

RELATED ACTIVE STORY
Full scripture: Daniel 10:18-20 KJV, Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me, [19] And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me. [20] Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come… Hallelujah!!!

LESSONS

1. The one who created and formed us, told Jacob, “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee.” When tempted to fear, relax and know our redeemer lives.
2. Let us be properly connected to God. This is because He is the source of divine strength. Hence, “greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong.”
3. Again, fear not because God fights for us. That is “now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia.” May Holy Ghost fire deal with unseen forces on our behalf in Jesus’ name.

Today’s Quote: Tomorrow is unknown, therefore we can trust the one who knows tomorrow. NB: A short prayer with the lessons. Main Prayer: We pray casting out every fear in our lives as a family and nation in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Singing: 🎹 What a mighty God, we serve, #2 angels bow before Him… God bless you-Amen & amen.
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LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL

Monday 20th July, 2020

LOOKING UNTO JESUS

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)

Jesus Christ is the center of our Christian faith. We live our lives through Him and by Him as our Lord as well as our example.
Our text for today says we must look unto Jesus. That is an important statement. Looking through the Bible, there are a number of notable characters like Abraham, Moses, Elijah, David, Esther, John the Baptist and Paul. No matter how much we admire any Biblical character in both the Old and New Testaments, Jesus Christ is our Supreme Model. He is described as the author and finisher of our faith.

AUTHOR: the originator. Without Him, there is no beginning for Christianity. Jesus is the foundation on which we build. He is the life source of all that we believe. If you want salvation, healing, prosperity or whatever it is, He is the author.

FINISHER: the perfecter. He is the one who completes or brings the pieces together. Without Him, there is no completion for Christianity. He is the one who makes our faith, salvation, healing and prosperity whole and complete.

Jesus as an author and finisher can be seen in the light of someone who starts writing a book and continues it till the end.
Hebrews 12 tells us about how Jesus lived His life.
He looked forward to the joy that was set before Him. That means He lived with a full sense that the end will be joyful.
That joy propelled Him to endure the cross. Because He always looked at the joyful end, He was able to go through the pain and shame of the cross.

He is at the Father’s right hand. In the end, He received the joy that was set before him.
When we look to Jesus, we face life with joyful confidence that God’s glory will manifest in the end. Let’s look beyond what we’re going through today and see where God is taking us. God is bringing us through pain and shame into His appointed joy. There is joy and victory ahead of us. Let that be your firm conviction today.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, today I look to Christ Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith; I boldly declare that every pain and shame of my life will end in victory and in the joy of the Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 12:1-11

1 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,

2 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.

3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;

6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”

7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?

8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.

9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?

10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.

11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

NKJV