Servicing the servants of God

 DAILY SHOWER April 30, 2022 Devotion and Declarations

Prayer before the Word: 

 _O God, I thank You today for always waking me with smiles. Please, help me to also know You as I study Your word, in Jesus name, Amen_ 

TODAY’S TOPIC: Servicing the servants of God

Text: 1 Samuel 18:22-30 (NIV Bible)

"5:17. The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

5:18. For the Scripture says, "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages."

5:19. Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.

5:20. Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.

5:21. I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.

5:22. Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

5:23. Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

5:24. The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them.5:25. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden."

*SHOWER:*

The servants of God are not the kings or God but humans. Verse 17 says that the elders (leadership) of the Church who perform creditably well should be celebrated. In subsequent verses, those who do wrong should be reported appropriately by at least two witnesses, and when found to be wanting, they should be rebuked publicly. That is heavenly standard. Our God does not permit secrecy of sin, partiality or worshipping some and punishing some due to their social or religious status in life. Are we keeping to this rule in our churches, religious institutions and so on? I doubt! But we must stick to it because it is God's command. If He discriminates based on our behaviours, I doubt if we would have still be living to date. 

*PRAYER/DECLARATIONS*

O God, make me a willing tool in Your hands. Use me to impact positively to my generation in Jesus name, Amen!

*1. God is using me to change my society. Therefore, as the month of May is starting tomorrow, a new chapter of my life is opening.*

*2. I shall not lack in wisdom or resources to serve God on earth.* 

*3. I hereby decree and declare that anything that wants to stop me from crossing over to the month of May joyously must die before 11pm today in Jesus name, Amen.*

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Beware of the crocodile Smile

 DAILY SHOWER April 29, 2022 Devotion and Declarations

Prayer before the Word: 

 _O God, I thank You for today. You have done a marvelous thing to me as always. Please, do not relent in making me to know Your word, in Jesus name, Amen_ 

TODAY’S TOPIC: Beware of the crocodile Smile 

Text: 1 Samuel 18:22-30 (NIV Bible)

"18:22 Then Saul ordered his attendants: 'Speak to David privately and say, 'Look, the king is pleased with you, and his attendants all like you; now become his son-in-law.'"

18:23 They repeated these words to David. But David said, "Do you think it is a small matter to become the king's son-in-law? I'm only a poor man and little known."

18:24 When Saul's servants told him what David had said,

18:25 Saul replied, "Say to David, 'The king wants no other price for the bride than a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.'" Saul's plan was to have David fall by the hands of the Philistines.

18:26 When the attendants told David these things, he was pleased to become the king's son-in-law. So before the allotted time elapsed,

18:27 David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented the full number to the king so that he might become the king's son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal in marriage.

18:28 When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David,

18:29 Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.

18:30 The Philistine commanders continued to go out to battle, and as often as they did, David met with more success than the rest of Saul's officers, and his name became well known."

*SHOWER:*

The crocodile is a predatory aquatic reptile. You may mistake its cry for hunger to smiles due to how it could open it mouth sometimes. This could be likened to the love King Saul had to David. David tried all he could to please him but reverse was the case. He would call him, smiled before him, promised him marriage, then go back to plan death against him. What was the reason? Mere jealousy and envy that God's hand was upon him, and women and others were praising him. Brethren, this is still evident in today's world. So, be careful of company you keep. It is not all people that smiles before your success stories are truly happy. Many are hungry to see you cry or fall.  They are unhappy that they see you smile always on social media, face to face and so on. Therefore, you must allow God direct your path else you falled to their hands. 

*PRAYER/DECLARATIONS*

O God, make me a willing tool in Your hands. Use me so that I shall not fall to my enemies in Jesus name, Amen!

*1. God has restored my lost fortunes. I shall not lack in wisdom or wealth in tackling the challenges of the world.*

*2. God's favour shall always protect me; morning, day and night.* 

*3. I hereby decree and declare God's open doors and direction upon me so that the more the enemies attack me, the more I win, and the more they fail in Jesus name, Amen.*

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Wonders of God's presence

 DAILY SHOWER April 28, 2022 Devotion and Declarations

Prayer before the Word: 

 _O God, I worship You for keeping me to witness a new day. Help me to keep prospering in your word in Jesus name, Amen_ 

TODAY’S TOPIC: 

Text: John 21: 1-6 (NIV Bible)

"21:1 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way:

21:2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.

21:3 "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

21:4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

21:5 He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" "No," they answered.

21:6 He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish."

*SHOWER:*

True, whenever Jesus arrives in your life, every  situation changes. If you have been in a difficult relationship, abusive marriage, hardship, crumbling economy or whatever. Kindly seek the face of Christ. His appearance gives direction, turns bad situation to good one. You can see how his arrival turned around the situation of the disciples; from been without fish to catching fish...bigger fish for that matter. I pray the face of Christ will locate us this morning, Amen.  

*PRAYER/DECLARATIONS*

O God, I'm sorry for not carrying You along in my daily preparations. I'm back. Please, show me the way in Jesus name, Amen!

*1. I am back from the world. God will show me the way so that I won't miss target today.*

*2. God will favour me beyond my imagination, and surprise me with all I need to succeed. 

*3. I hereby decree and declare that nothing will make me fall apart or loose whatever God has destined for me in Jesus name, Amen.*

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The goal of Christianity 2

 DAILY SHOWER April 27, 2022 Devotion and Declarations

Prayer before the Word: 

 _O God, I thank You for a new life. Please, crown me with wisdom and understanding that I may serve You more as I study Your word today in Jesus name, Amen_ 

TODAY’S TOPIC: The goal of Christianity (2)

Text: 1 Timothy 3: 1- (NIV Bible)

"3:1 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.

3:2 Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

3:3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

3:4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect.

3:5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?)

3:6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.

3:7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.

3:8 Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.

3:9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.

3:10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

3:11 In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.

3:12 A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well.

3:13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus."

*SHOWER:*

 There is vacancy in the house of God. Vacancy exists all over the churches in the world because those currently occupying the positions seemed not to be qualified considering what is stated in today's scripture. There is need for us all to change our ways to be fit in the work we are doing in the house of God. You can claim to be serving God when you are self centered. A word is enough for the wise. 

*PRAYER/DECLARATIONS*

I thank You, O God of remembrance. I pray for understanding of the gospel so that I will hearken to Your command in Jesus name, Amen!

*1. My God is love. I will love and live in love as He does to me and my household.*

*2. God will favour me beyond my imagination, and surprise all who loves and stands by love. 

*3. I hereby decree and declare that today shall be my day of upliftment. My tears and sorrow are turning into joy in Jesus name, Amen.*

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The goal of Christianity

 DAILY SHOWER April 26, 2022 Devotion and Declarations

Prayer before the Word: 

 _O God, I thank You for a new life. Please, crown me with wisdom and understanding that I may serve You more as I study Your word today in Jesus name, Amen_ 

TODAY’S TOPIC: The goal of Christianity 

Text: 1 Timothy 1:3-11  (NIV Bible)

"1:3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer

1:4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work--which is by faith.

1:5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

1:6 Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk.

1:7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

1:8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly.

1:9 We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,

1:10 for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers--and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine

1:11 that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me."

*SHOWER:*

 We are in the season where people are commissioning selves as men and women of God. They do this to propagate their own doctrines which are false. They are not what God actually requires of us. God wants us to believe in love, propagate love and live life that depicts love. Our attention is on verse 5 which says that the goal of Christianity is love. Love supersedes everything. It was because of it that our Lord Jesus Christ came to the world and died for our sake. With love, sinners could be forgiven and transform to become better and useful in the society. 

*PRAYER/DECLARATIONS*

I thank You, O God of remembrance. I pray for understanding of the gospel so that I will hearken to Your command in Jesus name, Amen!

*1. My God is love. I will love and live in love as He does to me and my household.*

*2. God will favour me beyond my imagination, and surprise all who loves and stands by love. 

*3. I hereby decree and declare that today shall be my day of upliftment. My tears and sorrow are turning into joy in Jesus name, Amen.*

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The Tears of Joy

 DAILY SHOWER April 25, 2022 Devotion and Declarations

Prayer before the Word: 

 _O God, I celebrate Your goodness in my life. I pray for Your wisdom and understanding as I study Your word today in Jesus name, Amen_ 

TODAY’S TOPIC: The Tears of Joy

Text: Ruth 1:14-22 (NIV Bible)

"1:14 At this they wept again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-by, but Ruth clung to her.

1:15 "Look," said Naomi, "your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her."

1:16 But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.

1:17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me."

1:18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.

1:19 So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, "Can this be Naomi?"

1:20 "Don't call me Naomi," she told them. "Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.

1:21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me."

1:22 So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning."

*SHOWER:*

 The story of Ruth is a story worth reading or listening to again and again. She's from Moab but married to one of the Naomi's sons. If you read from the begining of Ruth 1, you will discover that the two sons of Naomi died and their wives became widows. But when the other widow left, Ruth stood her ground that she would remain with her mother-in-law, Naomi. Hence, they returned to Bethlehem. Where we should consider as a reference point or memory verse (s) in today's scripture are 16 and 17. Ruth decision in these two verses surprised Naomi. It was prayer and answers affirmation.  She had no option than to accept her. We need this type of faith and utterances to get whatever we need from God. Ruth chose to live and die with pain. Fortunately for her and Naomi, that decision to live and die in pains became profitable at last. The blessings that followed at the end was that she, Ruth got husband from her first husband's relatives and was blessed with a son, Obed. God used Obed to bless Israelites and mankind. It was through Obed we got Jesse, the father of David. David's children children were blessed with our Lord's Jesus Christ. 

*PRAYER/DECLARATIONS*

I thank You, O God of remembrance. Remember me for good in Jesus name, Amen!

*1. My God will remember me for good. All my worthless efforts will be blessed and turn to my favour.*

*2. God will favour me beyond my imagination, and to surprise of all. 

*3. I hereby decree and declare that today shall be my day of upliftment. My tears and sorrow are turning into joy in Jesus name, Amen.*

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The thoughts of man and God

 DAILY SHOWER April 24, 2022 Devotion and Declarations

Prayer before the Word: 

 _O God, my father, may Your word guide my footsteps, words and actions today so that I will remain focus on your Kingdom in Jesus name, Amen_ 

TODAY’S TOPIC: The thoughts of man and God

Text: 1 Samuel 16:4-13 (NIV Bible)

"16:4 Samuel did what the LORD said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, "Do you come in peace?" 

16:5 Samuel replied, "Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

16:6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD'S anointed stands here before the LORD."

16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

16:8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either."

16:9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, "Nor has the LORD chosen this one."

16:10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The LORD has not chosen these."

16:11 So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives."

16:12 So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one."

16:13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah."

*SHOWER:*

Humans are guided by emotions and feelings. But God sees the heart and acts accordingly to all. You can see how all the seven children of Jesse were brought-in to be anointed a King. But God rejected the first, second up to the sixth child. The last child, David was the chosen one at last. If God is a man, he would had chosen the first because he's tall or handsome. So, what is that are you believing God for? Be calm and focused. He will surely remember you one day. God does not and will not even consider your height, qualifications, sinfulness or whatever when He will decide to have mercy on you. 

*PRAYER/DECLARATIONS*

I thank You, O God of remembrance. I now before You and plead for Your upliftment in Jesus name, Amen!

*1. My God is not relenting though things may look rough. This is time for Him to uplift me.*

*2. God has anointed me and my household for excellence and greatness. 

*3. I hereby decree and declare that today shall be the end of my problems. All my answered prayers will begin to manifest today in Jesus name, Amen.*

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