GOD’S PROMISES ARE SURE
Nehemiah 1:8-11
He remembers His covenant forever, the word which He commanded for a thousand generations. Psalm 105:8
Nehemiah reminded God of His words to Moses. God had told Moses that sin among the Israelites would result in their dispersal among the nations. This means that He would cause other nations to drive them out of the Promised Land (their inheritance) and make them subservient (subjects) to other nations. God however assured Moses that if they repented and obeyed His commandments, though they were driven out, He would gather them and bring them back to the land of covenant. This was exactly the case with the Israelites; they had sinned and as such had been in exile, but here was Nehemiah standing in the gap to ask for mercy on their behalf. He understood the promise of God for the Jews and saw the perfect opportunity to remind God of it.
The scripture is filled with so many promises of God to us. The question is do you know the promises of God for you? Nehemiah knew what God had told Moses concerning his people so he could remind God of it. The knowledge of the promises of God for us comes from the place of studying the word. God keeps His promises and does not go back on them. 2 Corinthians 1: 20 says “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” Say back God’s word to Him and watch as He comes through for you in marvellous ways.
Prayer
Lord, may Your sure promises to me be evident in my life always. Amen.
One Year Bible Reading
DAY 304 Jeremiah 29-30; Titus 1
DOING WHAT IT TAKES FOR THE GOSPEL TO THRIVE
Acts 16:1-10
“I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” 1 Corinthians 9:22.
Paul strongly believed that salvation comes through God’s grace, not by following rules or traditions. Yet, before taking Timothy on his missionary journey, he decided to have him circumcised. This was not because it was required for salvation, but because he wanted to remove any barrier that might stop the Jews from accepting Timothy and hearing the gospel. This teaches us an important lesson: sometimes, we need to let go of personal preferences in non-essential matters so that we can reach others for Christ.
Paul did not change the message of the gospel but he used wisdom to make sure cultural differences did not limit the spread of God’s word. His goal was not to please people but to make it easier for them to receive the truth. In our lives, we may also face situations where we need to be flexible—not to compromise our faith, but to help others understand God’s love better. Are there things in your life that might be making it harder for others to see Jesus through you? True wisdom is knowing when to stand firm and when to adapt so that more people can come to Christ.
Prayer
Lord, grant me wisdom in relating with people so I may win them for the Kingdom. Amen.
One Year Bible Reading
DAY 298 Jeremiah 14-16; 1 Timothy 5
THE SPIRIT OF DISCERNMENT
Acts 16:16-26
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1
As Paul and Silas went about preaching, a slave girl with a spirit of divination followed them, declaring that they were servants of the Most High God who had come to show the way of salvation. At a glance, her words seemed true, yet Paul discerned that the spirit behind her was not of God. After many days of her following them, he rebuked the spirit, setting her free but this act angered her masters, leading to Paul and Silas’ punishment and imprisonment. Discernment is the ability to distinguish between what is truly from God and what is not. Not everything that sounds right is right, and not every spiritual display is from the Holy Spirit. Paul did not just listen to the girl’s words; he perceived the spirit behind them.
Without discernment, we may be misled by things that appear good but are actually distractions or deceptions, some of these wrong messages and practices can be from popular or respected preachers. Today, many voices claim to speak truth but we must rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us. Discernment helps us know when to act, when to speak, and when to remain still. Like Paul, we must train our spiritual senses to recognize what aligns with God’s word and will. Do you take time to seek God’s wisdom before accepting every message or spiritual experience? Can you identify false spirits? Be discerning!
Prayer
Lord, sharpen my spiritual discernment. Help me recognize what is from You and reject anything that is not. Amen.
One Year Bible Reading
DAY 299 Jeremiah 17-19; 1 Timothy 6
SAVED TO SAVE
Acts 16:25-40
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16
Imagine singing praises and praying after being publicly humiliated, flogged and imprisoned for setting a girl free from strange spirits! This was the reaction of Paul and Silas to their tribulations. God stepped into prison with a great earthquake in response to their praises and prayer; the prison doors opened and the fetters that kept them bound loosened. When the jailer saw this, he was about to take his own life, thinking they had escaped but Paul stopped him. That night, the same man who once guarded them was saved along with his entire family. Paul and Silas understood that the miracle of their freedom was not to escape but to utilize the opportunity to win souls. God was not disappointed.
This reflects the words of Jesus to Peter: “But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” (Luke 22:32). Just as Jesus expected Peter to strengthen others after his restoration, we too are called to lead others to Jesus Christ after experiencing His saving power. Our salvation and deliverance are not for us alone, they are opportunities to bring others to Jesus. Whenever God saves, restores, or delivers us, we should ask: How can this testimony lead men to Christ? Like Paul and Silas, our testimonies and faithfulness in trials can lead many to Christ.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for saving me. Help me to use my testimony to lead others to You. Amen.
One Year Bible Reading
DAY 300 Jeremiah 20-22; 2 Timothy 1
A HEART FOR OTHERS
Nehemiah 1:1-4
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
The book of Nehemiah records an important period in Jewish history, which included the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem as well as the rebuilding of the spiritual lives of the Jews who had returned from captivity. When the Israelites returned to Jerusalem after their long captivity in Babylon, they found their city in ruins. Nehemiah served in the palace at that time as King Artaxerxes’ cupbearer. When a few of his brethren came to see him at the palace, Nehemiah asked about the welfare of his people and the state of the city of Jerusalem.
Nehemiah was very comfortable as a staff in the palace and therefore, was immune from the suffering of his brethren. The comfort he enjoyed at the palace could have made him unbothered about his brethren and all they were going through, but Nehemiah had a large heart, a heart filled with genuine love and care for his people. Some people privileged to be in certain positions of influence and affluence soon forget their family, friends and community due to the comfort they enjoy. Every position you occupy should be used as a channel of blessing to others. If you can give employment to the jobless, feed the hungry or give education to the poor by virtue of your position, by all means, do so, as this is what God expects of you.
Prayer
Dear Lord, please give me a heart like Yours, full of love for those around me. Amen.
One Year Bible Reading
DAY 301 Jeremiah 23-24; 2 Timothy 2
CALL ON GOD IN TROUBLE
Nehemiah 1:1-5
So it was when I heard these words that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days, I was fasting and praying before the God of Heaven. Nehemiah 1:4
Nehemiah got a negative report about the state of affairs of his people and took it to God in prayer. This report could have discouraged him and led him to give up on God. But he wanted restoration and knew that it could only come from God. This is an apt reminder for us to always remember to call on God when we find ourselves in circumstances that may seem overwhelming for us.
Psalms 50:15 says “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” The consequence of calling on God is sure; He will deliver you! Hallelujah! In Job 5:19 we are assured of God’s power to deliver us from trouble, “He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.” Many times, we feel neglected and forsaken by God especially seeing the magnitude of the problems we face. Be encouraged that God sees you, He knows and perfectly understands what you face. Hebrews 4:15 reminds us that we do not have a high priest who is not moved by the feelings of our infirmities. This should encourage you knowing full well that Jesus feels your pains. But all we need to do is call on Him! We call on God through praises, worship, or like Nehemiah did through fasting and prayer.
Prayer
Dear Lord, I call upon You today to deliver me from all my troubles. Thank you for hearing me. Amen.
One Year Bible Reading
DAY 302 Jeremiah 25-26; 2 Timothy 3
A CRY FOR MERCY
Nehemiah 1:1-7
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. Psalm 51:2
The Israelites had persistently disobeyed God’s laws and commands despite His repeated warnings and calls to repentance. They were involved in idol worship, disregarded the Sabbath, exploited the poor and ignored the warnings and messages from the prophets of God who called them to repentance. As a result, God handed them over to their enemies. The Babylonians destroyed the walls of Jerusalem and the temple and exiled the Israelites to Babylon. They were taken captive and were in severe affliction. When Nehemiah prayed, he acknowledged the sins of Israel, knowing fully well that was the cause of their dispersion and suffering. He was careful to mention them one after the other.
Sin causes a separation from God and as a result, it puts us at the mercy of the devil our enemy. Today, we are reminded to call on God for mercy and forgiveness if we fall into sin. A critical aspect of confession of sins is mentioning what we have done in prayer just like Nehemiah did. We must acknowledge our sins before we can receive mercy from God just as Proverbs 28:13 says “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” Take a moment to reflect on your life; is there any sin you need to confess and forsake? Go before God in prayer and confess every one of them and receive the sure mercies of God.
Prayer
Lord, I confess and forsake every sin that gives the enemy a foothold in my life. Cause me to walk in Your righteousness and enjoy Your mercy. Amen
One Year Bible Reading
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