Author Archives: 4mthesoul

Daily Christian Devotion

Confused Mind Is Not From God

“For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”

— 1 Corinthians 14:33

Clarity of mind is one of the greatest blessings. The enemy uses our mind as a battleground; whether we win or lose depends on where we place our focus. When all the parts of our body are functioning, yet we lose our mind, we become like a walking dead body.

The enemy’s attack may appear outward—affecting our health, finances, jobs, or relationships—but in reality, the real attack is on the mind, which eventually impacts the soul. That is why it is so important to guard our mind at all times.

When our mind is affected, we cannot be involved in anything effectively. When we cannot engage, we cannot make sound decisions. This leaves us in a confused state, leading us to make wrong choices that further damage our peace and even our reputation.

The Bible clearly reveals that God is not the author of confusion, but of peace. In every situation, and in all circumstances, we can enjoy peace when God is in the midst of it.

The next time you find yourself in a state of confusion, pause and ask yourself: Who is handling this situation?

In one instance, God Himself sent confusion into the enemy’s camp, and the enemies were completely defeated.

“But the Lord your God will give them over to you and throw them into great confusion, until they are destroyed.”

Deuteronomy 7:23 ESV

Confusion is often the beginning of a downhill path that leads to destruction. But the good news is that we serve a God who gives us power, love, and a sound mind.

Many times, we struggle to make the right choices or live in uninterrupted peace because we take matters into our own hands. We try to handle the hard things ourselves and leave God only with what we think is easy.

The Bible reminds us to surrender all things and, through it all, to trust in the Lord and lean not on our own understanding.

Peace is your portion and God’s children’s bread.

Claim it for yourself, and live your life with clarity.

Prayer:

Father God, we thank You that You are not the author of confusion but the God of peace. Where confusion has tried to settle, release clarity. Where fear has crept in, restore peace. We receive the sound mind You have promised us and choose to walk in Your truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Standard
Daily Christian Devotion

God Will Show Mercy

“He has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’”Acts 13:34 NKJV

God’s mercy does not mean that He shows only pity. The English translation of mercy does not fully reveal what God intended. In Scripture, two Hebrew words are often paired together—Chesed and Rachamim—and these are pillars of God’s nature.

Chesed means covenant love—unbreakable, loyal, unwavering commitment; loving-kindness, mercy, steadfast love, loyalty, and goodness.

Rachamim, derived from rechem, is emotional and deeply compassionate, rooted in the word for womb—the visceral, protective love of a mother.

From being a shepherd boy, all the way through the Bible—even into the book of Revelation—David’s name or reference appears again and again. David’s name is found approximately 1,000 times in Scripture, second only to Jesus.

Many times in the Bible, even when kings lived in ways that angered Jehovah, God would still say, “Because of David, I will show mercy,” or “For the sake of David, I will bless you.”

God called him a man after His own heart.

This man, David, failed in many areas of his life.

He failed morally when he lusted after another man’s wife.

He failed in leadership when he sent Uriah to the front line to be killed.

He failed to correct or confront his son when one son raped his half-sister.

David’s family was full of drama, conspiracy, and confusion. His early life journey was tempestuous.

Yet, in all of this, God still called him a man after His own heart.

I am sure most of us can fit into at least one of those categories. David is a perfect example we can relate to. He was not perfect, yet God chose to shower mercy—not only on him, but on his seed.

Often, we focus on what David did, and somewhere in our minds we may think he was not worthy of God’s mercy. But let us talk about what David did not do.

David never bowed down to idols or worshiped any god other than Jehovah.

David did not exalt himself before God.

David did not rely on his own strength or wisdom—and whenever he did, he was corrected.

During years of chasing and hiding, David did not murmur.

David did not hide his sins when confronted, but pleaded for forgiveness.

David did not stop praising and worshiping God.

His bad did’s were many, but his faithful did nots revealed his heart.

Therefore, God revealed this to David:

“My covenant I will not break,Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.Once I have sworn by My holiness;I will not lie to David:His seed shall endure forever,And his throne as the sun before Me.”Psalms 89:34–36 NKJV

The sure mercies of David—the covenant promises to the seed of David—are fulfilled through Jesus Christ. Through the seed of David, the Root of Jesse, the throne is established.

Today, you and I are eligible to enjoy the sure mercies of David because of Jesus Christ. God so loved us that He gave His only begotten Son to save us and to share everlasting eternity with us.

Through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, through the finished work on the cross, we are called His heirs, His children. We have the privilege to call Him Abba, Father.

The covenant promises are renewed every morning, and they have no expiry date. The chesed of God—the loyalty of God, the steadfastness of God—and the rachamim of God, His tender, motherly love, are available today.

You too can enjoy the sure mercies of David. You can enjoy the favor, the protection, the forgiveness, the peace, the promises, and the provision that David enjoyed.

God is ready to shower the sure mercies of David upon you—not because you are faithful, but because He is faithful.

Prayer:

Abba Father, we thank You for Your sure mercies—mercies that do not fail, promises You will never break. Let Your mercy speak louder than our failures, and let Your faithfulness cover us today and always. We receive Your promises with grateful hearts. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Standard
Daily Christian Devotion

God will pass before you

“The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them.”

Micah 2:13 KJV

While reading this passage, I was reminded of a young missionary named Gladys Aylward.

She was a British national—uneducated and working as a housemaid—yet deeply determined to go to China as a missionary. She even failed to pass the training provided by the China Inland Mission. Still, her determination did not waver. She saved her money and boarded a train to China, traveling through dangerous war zones, crossing treacherous routes through Japan to finally reach China.

She preached with whatever ability she had. At one point, she calmed a violent prison riot, after which the Chinese people called her a virtuous woman. She once bought a five-year-old malnourished girl for nine pence. That little girl later brought another child, and eventually Gladys found herself caring for over one hundred orphaned children.

When war broke out with Japan, Gladys provided valuable information to the Chinese troops, and the Japanese placed a bounty on her head. Despite the danger, she was determined to lead the hundred orphan children to safety at a government orphanage in a place called Sian.

She shepherded them on foot—sometimes finding shelter, other times spending nights on mountain slopes. On the twelfth day, they reached the Yellow River. The children asked, “Why don’t we cross?” She replied that there was no way. The children answered, “God can do anything—ask Him to get us across.” They began to sing and pray together.

A Chinese officer heard their singing and arranged for a boat. They crossed safely and continued their journey until the children were handed over to safety. Gladys collapsed shortly afterward, suffering from pneumonia, fever, malnutrition, and exhaustion.

She gave everything so that the children could live, leaving behind a powerful legacy.

This is an inspiring journey of a young woman who went before the children—not in her own strength, but because Jesus went before her.

Though this message in Micah was originally given to the prophet Micah for people in exile, the Breaker is revealed as Jesus Christ—the One who breaks chains of sin and oppression and leads His people into freedom. This Word brings hope, reminding us that the Lord Himself will shepherd His people and go before them.

The story of Gladys and the promise of God together testify that Jesus breaks every obstacle. Through His death and resurrection, He made a way. He goes before us, making every crooked path straight, leading us toward victory.

Be encouraged in the journey you are in, for the Lord Himself goes before you.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for going before us as our Breaker and Shepherd. Strengthen our faith to trust You in every journey and help us walk boldly, knowing You have already made the way. Amen.

Standard
Daily Christian Devotion

God Will Renew Your Strength

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;they shall mount up with wings like eagles;they shall run and not be weary;they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 ESV

Who truly likes to wait—especially in this fast-food lifestyle where everything is done swiftly and readily available? It is saddening to see that children raised in this generation hardly know what it means to wait, or the blessing and strength that come through waiting.

With cell phones in everyone’s hands, we have developed the habit of getting everything done with just one click. Yet the everlasting Word of God teaches us to wait upon the Lord for renewed strength.

The Bible compares this waiting to the eagle in a powerful way. Eagles are the only birds that can fly as high as 20,000 feet—an altitude no other bird can reach. They have broad, long wings, and their feathers create great lift and stability. An eagle does not hide from the storm; instead, it waits for the strong winds produced by the storm to gain elevation. Not only can eagles soar high, but they can also fly for long hours without growing weary.

Likewise, the Bible encourages us to wait upon the Lord. When we do, He renews our strength. We will mount up higher than we imagined, and we will not grow weary.

Abraham waited many years before God revealed His promise of a great nation. Daniel fasted for twenty-one days to receive a powerful revelation. In the waiting, God was preparing them.

God prepares us in our waiting, and great breakthroughs are born there. God’s plan for us is always to build us up, exalt us, honor us, and prosper us. He delights in seeing us rise higher in everything He has entrusted to us. None of God’s plans are fulfilled without a heart that is willing to wait upon Him.

Waiting is not a delay—it is like an eagle flying into the storm, being lifted to heights it never dreamed of. So keep praising in your waiting, in your valleys, and on your mountains. You will not grow weary or weak in your journey.

Prayer

Lord, teach us to wait upon You with faith and trust. Renew our strength when we feel weary, and lift us higher even through the storms of life. May we never grow faint, but soar with confidence, knowing You are working all things for our good. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Standard
Daily Christian Devotion

Jesus wept

“When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in His spirit and greatly troubled. And He said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to Him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus wept.”

John 11:33–35 ESV

This passage contains the shortest verse in the Bible, yet one of the deepest revelations of God’s heart.

Like me, before I knew Jesus as my Lord and Savior, many of us—when trials came—would cry out to God in frustration, saying, Don’t You see? Don’t You hear? Are You heartless? Don’t You have pity? We throw tantrums and display attitudes toward God when pain overwhelms us.

But after I came to know the light of God and understand the love of Jesus, I realized something profound: He had already wept with me. He helped me endure the pain and upheld me even before I loved Him or truly knew Him.

This truth became a great revelation to me and later helped me thank God even in the midst of trials.

In this passage, we learn about two sisters who lost their beloved brother, Lazarus. Jesus was informed of Lazarus’s illness, yet He waited—even after Lazarus had died. When one of the sisters heard that Jesus was coming to the village, she ran to Him and wept. Seeing her grief, along with the sorrow of the family and villagers, Jesus Himself was moved—and He wept.

Jesus then raised Lazarus, who was dead and decaying. He unbound him and gave him life and a future. Jesus could have come while Lazarus was sick, but He intentionally delayed His journey to reveal the glory of God.

Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human. He wept with them, sharing their grief and pain. Yet He also stood at the entrance of the grave and called, “Lazarus, come out.” In that moment, He displayed His sovereignty and authority over all things.

This Word brings great encouragement: our God understands every emotion we carry. He is closer than we think, and His Spirit lives within us to give us peace. We may not see our prayers answered immediately, but we can be sure that the glory of God will be revealed in every situation.

Instead of demanding a Lazarus-type miracle, let us surrender our situations into the loving hands of Jesus. The glory God reveals will not be worth comparing to the pain we endure. Jesus is with you—in the loss of a loved one, the loss of a home, the loss of a job etc. Through it all, His grace will be sufficient, and great will be your peace in the midst of it all.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for being a God who sees, hears, and weeps with us. Teach us to surrender every situation into Your loving hands and rest in the peace Your Spirit gives. May Your grace be sufficient for us today and always. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Standard
Daily Christian Devotion

God Will Reward You

“The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!”Ruth 2:12 ESV

God has never put to shame anyone who loves Him and follows Him faithfully. Though they may face moments of humiliation or persecution, history has never recorded an ending that was unpleasant for those who remained loyal to the Lord.

Naomi, a woman from Bethlehem, moved to Moab because of a severe famine. Tragically, within a span of years, her husband died, followed by the death of her two sons. Left with her two daughters-in-law, Naomi urged them to return to their people, remarry, and rebuild their lives.

One daughter-in-law eventually agreed after Naomi pleaded with her several times. But Ruth, the other daughter-in-law, was determined to stay with Naomi. With unwavering resolve, Ruth said, “Where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16).

Seeing Ruth’s determination, Naomi said no more. She took Ruth with her and returned to Bethlehem, the place she once left behind.

Ruth went out to glean leftover grain in the fields of a noble man named Boaz, who happened to be a relative of her father-in-law. As she gathered what was left behind, Boaz noticed her and asked who she was. His servant told him about Ruth—her loyalty, her sacrifices, and how she had left everything to stay with Naomi.

Boaz showed favor to Ruth. He allowed her to glean in his field, drink from the water drawn for his servants, and eat with them. Overwhelmed, Ruth expressed her gratitude and thanked Boaz for his kindness.

Boaz replied, “The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!”

Ruth 2:12 ESV

This was only the beginning of Ruth’s blessing. Because of her endurance and her wholehearted acceptance of the God of Israel, the woman who came to glean leftovers in the field became the wife of Boaz. Years later, she was known as the great-grandmother of King David.

This is a powerful encouragement that the Lord rewards those who come under His wings for refuge. Choosing His way and believing in His Son, Jesus, can be one of the hardest decisions—especially for those who come from a different faith, culture, or background. Yet when you choose and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, God will reward you and fill your life with goodness.

You may come with empty hands, seeking only the smallest blessing, but the same faithful God will lift you and crown you with greater honor. The very place where you were once put to shame, God will exalt you. Your reward will be great as you choose to love, trust, and worship Jesus as your God.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for being a God who sees our faithfulness and rewards those who take refuge under Your wings. Give us hearts like Ruth—to follow You wholeheartedly, even when the path is uncertain. Help us trust Your plans and walk faithfully with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Standard
Daily Christian Devotion

God’s Favor Be Upon You

“But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”

Genesis 6:8 ESV

Have you noticed someone in your life who seems so talented and appears to fit perfectly into everything that could lead them to success, yet they are still struggling to progress? Whereas a few others seem to skyrocket, advancing to greater heights. The world calls this luck, but the Bible calls it the favor of God.

This favor takes a person from lowly places to high places, and from depths to heights. The favor of God not only elevates—it also saves lives.

Years after the increase of mankind, the sins of the people became so severe that it grieved the heart of a compassionate God and made Him angry enough to destroy the entire human race. God desired to cleanse the earth and eradicate evil from the land for good.

“And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.”

Genesis 6:6 ESV

Among that perverse generation, the Bible records a righteous man named Noah. He was blameless in the sight of God, and most importantly, he walked with God. God showed favor to Noah because he walked uprightly. As God prepared to wipe out evil from the face of the earth, He kept Noah and his family safe in the ark He instructed Noah to build.

No wrath of rain swallowed Noah and his family; they were kept safe. Not only that, God established a covenant with Noah and his generations, and as a sign of that covenant, He placed a rainbow in the sky. Even today, that rainbow is a reminder that God’s favor rests upon those who fear Him and love Him.

As we chase this life, let us be determined to walk with Jesus to receive His favor. Noah lived a busy life with a family to provide for and protect, along with the animals entrusted to him—yet there was no excuse for him to stop walking with God. May Noah’s life be an example for us to seek God amid all situations.

God’s favor will identify you in a crowd, elevate you from the least, and bless you to great heights. The favor of God will bring the opportunities you have been knocking for, open doors that have been shut for too long, bring the right people into your life, and remove obstacles that have been hindering you. Above all, the hand of God will shower favor as you walk righteously in His eyes.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help us to walk with You as Noah did, faithfully and wholeheartedly. Teach us to seek You in every season of life. May Your favor rest upon us as we live righteously before You, bringing glory to Your name. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Standard
Daily Christian Devotion

God Is Preparing Something Greater

“But, as it is written,‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,nor the heart of man imagined,what God has prepared for those who love him.’”

1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV

Every single year, Apple launches a product or upgrades an existing one. The shape, color, material, size, and the smallest details of its features are kept highly confidential until the great launch date. Everything is hidden from the public while they work behind the scenes, building and refining their plans for a perishing product.

The Bible reveals that what God does behind the scenes is far beyond human comprehension. Our God is a loving God, and His plans are to prosper us and not to harm us. God works in mysterious and marvelous ways that no human mind can fully understand. Many times, we try to match our limited planning ability with a sovereign God who created the heavens, the earth, and everything in it.

We are His very idea, and yet the irony is that we often provide suggestions as to what should be done next in our lives. From a telescopic view of the galaxy, we are just a speck of dust, and yet the Almighty God deeply cares for you.

It is undeniable that we must live the full course of this life with pain, purpose, expectations, disappointments, and unanswered questions. Many times we ask, If God loves us so much, why would He allow suffering? The answer we see in the book of Job is that God affirms His sovereignty rather than explaining suffering in simple terms. Loving God in all circumstances unlocks the blessings of God.

Your loss, your disappointment, your pain, and your shame are going to take a turn—a divine twist—that will become a testimony for many. No eye has seen, and no ear has heard the great things God is preparing behind the scenes for you.

Love God and trust Him in every circumstance. Continue to walk with Him, and His beautiful plan for your life will be unveiled. He will never fail you, nor will He put you down. His heart is after you and the well-being of your life.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help me to trust You when I cannot see or understand what You are doing. Teach me to love You in every circumstance and to rest in Your sovereign plans. Strengthen my faith as You work behind the scenes, and let my life bring glory to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Standard
Daily Christian Devotion

God Shows Pity To The Weak

“For he delivers the needy when he calls,the poor and him who has no helper.He has pity on the weak and the needy,and saves the lives of the needy.”

Psalm 72:12–13 ESV

The needy and the poor are often the most overlooked people. Society, and even the people within it, tend to overlook them easily. These kinds of people are sometimes treated as enemies, and we often distance ourselves from them. They are not acknowledged or accepted, and at times even their own family members disrespect and ignore them.

Being needy does not necessarily mean being materialistically poor. It can mean someone with a broken spirit—someone who is terminally ill, lonely, depressed, or abandoned. These are people who are desperately in need of love, care, affection, and attention. The Bible reveals that God has pity on them and saves their lives.

We learn about a woman named Mary Magdalene in the Bible who was possessed by evil spirits. In those days, such people were often chained, abandoned, and left in a desperate state. Women were already not highly respected, and on top of that, being a young woman possessed by evil spirits, she would have endured intense mental and physical suffering. She lived in deep desperation, longing for help.

Jesus stepped into her life, showed her pity, delivered her from seven evil spirits, and saved her life. The same woman who was once needy had her life completely transformed. Jesus turned her into a blessing to others. She walked with Him as a notable and influential disciple, traveling from village to village and witnessing the gospel. God used her desperation and led her into service.

The Word of God encourages us that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. If He could reach Mary Magdalene in her darkness, desperation, and desolate places, He can reach you in the areas where you are in need. He will have pity on you. He will give you strength where you are weak and save your life where you feel lost.

Trust Jesus. Believe in His promises, and call on Him in your desperation. He will meet you where you are, just as you are, to help you and give you hope.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for seeing the needy and having compassion on the brokenhearted. Help us to trust You fully and to extend that same compassion to others in need. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Standard
Daily Christian Devotion

He will never leave you nor forsake you

“He will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

We could have heard this said by someone whom we love or someone we trust. We would have truly believed that—the person who says they will not leave us in any situation. But in given situations, when it impacts them or stretches them a bit, we could see them walk away that easily, prioritizing themselves over everything else. This is not surprising, because even at times we could do the same to others. It is not humanly possible to stay in the promises we give to others; it needs a divine nature to do what is said.

We see in this passage that God speaks to Moses to get prepared to pass over to the Promised Land. Moses is an age-old leader, leading the people of God through almost all the challenges of life. These people would have seen Moses as an iconic figure—someone who was there and would continue to be there as they possessed the Promised Land. But God had a different plan. Moses reveals to the people that he is not going to be with them for the rest of the journey, but he also reveals that “the Lord Himself will go before you,” just as He did in the past.

Although Moses was the leader guiding the people, it was the presence of God that led the people in the past, and that history is going to continue with the Lord Himself walking before them. It was not the man, the strength of man, or the ability of man, but it was God Himself who was actively involved in every step of the way. So Moses encourages the people that it was not him who carried them this far, but the Lord—therefore, not to be afraid and to keep going in the journey ahead.

This is a great encouragement for anyone and everyone who is relying upon an individual, a family, or an organization to cross over into the next journey—to trust only in the Lord our God, for He will never leave you nor forsake you. He loves us so much that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, for us to be saved. As you believe in His Son Jesus and worship Him with all your heart, He will not disappoint you. He does not change His mind. He does not even take a second thought to leave you.

Jesus Christ is the only one of whom you can boldly say that He will not forsake you.

Prayer:

Lord, help us to trust You fully and not lean on human strength. Thank You for going before us and for never leaving us nor forsaking us. Teach us to walk in faith, confident in Your presence every step of the way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Standard