Monday, 21st February 2022

Bible verse: Proverbs 17:14 contd
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

Message
Strife is caused by insecurity and pride and it is a deadly enemy as it opens the door for murder, theft, lying, rebellion, hatred, violence etc.
From strife comes confusion and every evil work
Where there is strife, or lack of peace, you know the human will is in charge, not the Holy Spirit.

If you see that strife has taken root in your heart, the first thing you want to do is repent.
Ask God to forgive you for any words or actions you've taken that are against His will.
Replace your words with the Word of God.
When an unlovely person tries to provoke you into strife, instead of retaliating, let the praise of God come out of your mouth.
When someone crosses you on the job, on your way, on social media or wherever, instead of verbal abuse, let your mouth be filled with praise to God.
Do whatever it takes to stay out of strife.
Let your words be full of encouragement, and let God's love shine from you everywhere you go.

Prayer
dear merciful Lord, grant me the humble heart that whenever an unlovely person tries to provoke me into strife, instead of retaliating, let the praise of God come out of my mouth in Jesus name.
Help me, Lord, to stay positive amid negativity and not to take any criticism personally in Jesus name.

Sunday, 20th February 2022
Bible verse: Proverbs 17:14 contd
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

Message
We may disagree with each other. There is nothing wrong with the act of disagreeing.
But when disagreement is acted on by the immature, contentions and divisions are very likely to be the result.
Beloveth, remember that every dispute has a start line. Unfortunately, they don't all have finish line.
Yes! the beginning of strife is like a leak in the water-pipe of your flat.
Once it begins to flow, drop by drop, and nothing is done, it can be almost impossible to stop and damages might be the result.
So too with arguments and disputes. Once they begin, however small, they are very difficult to end.

Beloveth, you should resist throwing a little guilt in someone's direction - or a little barb to get back a little for a slight we feel.
Exert self-control at the very beginning before the water starts to flow because once it starts, you have no more control.
Arguments and fighting can ruin a home, a business, friendships etc.


Prayer
Heavenly Father, give me wisdom to know when it's time to walk away from disagreement, or a friendship and when I just really need to press in and have the difficult discussions that are needed to set things right in Jesus name.
Help me, Lord, to strive for truth in all that I do in Jesus name.

Saturday, 19th February 2022
Bible verse: Proverbs 17:14
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

Message
Strife is defined as an angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues.
Yes! it is easy to sense or see the beginning of strife.
Therefore it is necessary to avoid the painful consequences of an unnecessary conflict by humbly backing down on the front end knowing fully that strife and contention can grow quickly and violently into major battles.

Beloveth, as soon as you sense anger rising or a conflict developing, get away and avoid the person and the matter.
Don't be obstinate; don't demand your own way; don't let that first little trickle of a fight begin.
Remember it is written: "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."

Prayer
Dear Lord, help me to be one who agrees to disagree when it's right to do so and cleanse me completely from past areas of strife, and protect me from situations that bring strife in Jesus Name.

Friday, 18th February 2022
Bible verse: Isaiah 54:10
For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.

Message
Kindness is an intentional and voluntary act of being friendly or generous or considerate toward someone else.
Kindness is not a mood or an attitude.
Kindness is selfless, it is unconditional.
Kindness happens not only when it's easy, but also when it's hard.
Mountains and hills are immovable objects. They are huge.
But God has promised us that though the mountains may be removed from here to there, the hills may shake back and forth, His love for you will not be removed from you.
God has promised you that He will not desert you nor leave you.

Prayer
Dear Lord, when I am lonely and disappointed in life, when great mountains stand before me, may Your love and the covenant of Your peace not be removed from me in Jesus name.

Thursday, 17th February 2022
Bible verse: Luke 6:35
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

Message
Jesus called upon us to love our enemies as well as our friends.
We are to love our adversaries and pray for those that are antagonistic towards us.
We are to love those that oppose us and are hostile towards us, and we are exhorted to do good to them.
Jesus even calls us to do good and to lend to others while expecting nothing in return.
God will bless you in your worldly substance here, and will not forget your beneficence hereafter.

Beloveth, even if we see our enemies undeserving of our love, we must know that we too are undeserving of God's love.
Therefore, we must really show love without expecting a return of it, not for the reason that we will be saved if we do it, but for the reason that God will be glorified through it.


Prayer
Heavenly Father, may the love and grace of Christ so fill my heart, that I manifest the divine love of God to others, in word and in deed.
Fill me, day by day, with the love of Christ so that I may love my enemies, pray for those that despitefully use me, and show goodness and grace to others in need.
Help me to reflect the godly characteristics of Christ in my everyday life, to His praise and glory in Jesus name.

Wednesday, 16th February 2022
Bible verse: 1 Samuel 18:5-9
7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him
9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

Message
Everything seemed to be going right for David - victories, love, friendship, royal association and the heir to the throne became his best friend.
When things are going great, going too smooth, and seem to be paved with butter and pastries, be careful.
You need to be ready for anything that can result due to envy or jealousy.

Beloveth, discern and reject competing desires and/or the desire to get attention like king Saul.
A desire of getting attention is linked to pride. Pride leads to envy and jealousy.
God doesn't want you to be jealous of other people because jealousy will prevent you from taking pleasure in other people's successes and it will also robs you of the joy of your own successes.
Jealousy is a thief, and can lead you to become a murder.

Yes! it will be hard to count your own blessings when you are busy counting someone else's.
God wants you to take joy in what He is doing in your life without comparing yourself to anyone else.


Prayer
Dear gracious Father, if there is any ounce of ungodly jealousy in my heart, Lord, wash it away with the blood of Your son Jesus Christ.
Remove anything in me that causes me to burn up with jealousy.

Tuesday, 15th February 2022
Bible verse: 1 Samuel 18:4 contd.
4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

Message
Would you be able to go out there and love somebody you just can't stand?
Would be able to share what you have and that which is precious to you with others and/or your antagonists?
God expects you to show love instead of envy, jealousy and hatred.
Hatred is the evidence of spiritual death.

Beloveth, we need to examine ourselves constantly because our default mode is to revert to selfishness, not to love.
Don't forget that to harbor hatred is to oppose God and put yourself in league with the devil!

Do you seek your own interests or is your life marked by a pattern of selfishness, envy, jealousy, strife, and hatred?
Then you have the evidence that you remain in spiritual death.
You must not ignore others needs, but rather, sacrifice your time, energy, and money to help them out.


Prayer
In the name of Jesus, I take authority against all spirits of envy and jealousy working in people surrounding me.
Give me the grace, oh Lord, to control jealous emotions when they arise in Jesus name.