Morning Devotional For Monday 15th October

[Edoman]

Rhapsody Of Realities

RESPOND ONLY IN LOVE

Monday, October 15th


But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you (Matthew 5:44).

From the verse above, it’s clear that there’ll always be those who might dislike you, persecute you, and despise you; but you’re only permitted to respond to them in love. The actions or attitude of such people should never provoke you to act contrary to your true nature, which is love. God is love, and anyone who loves is of God, and knows God.

The summation of God’s character is love; we’re therefore to emulate Him by walking in love. Ephesians 5:2 (AMPC) admonishes us to “…walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.” 1 John 4:7-8 says, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”

In our journey of faith, there’ll always be those who’ll test us; everyone who relates with you is placed there by God for your benefit; whether they’re helping you or they’re against you doesn’t make any difference. It doesn’t stop God’s plan of promoting you. If they’re kind, loving, and helpful to you, appreciate them and praise God for them; if they’re otherwise, love them nonetheless.

If someone accuses you falsely, for example, or you’re lied against, don’t get upset and try to justify your innocence to the point of acting in a manner that’s not beffitng to righteouness. Rather, keep walking in love. Love is a force—the greatest power in the universe—and it’ll always win.

Our love-walk is the primary proof that we love the Lord, and it speaks of our oneness and like-mindedness with Him. Romans 5:5 says the love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit; that means you have the capacity to love as He does. Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). What a way to distinguish ourselves from the rest of the world!

PRAYER

Dear Father, you’ve given me the ability to love like you, and I’m so grateful! You’ve granted me an understanding of the extraordinary dimensions of your love; that love radiates through me profusely to others! Thank you for making me the dispenser of your goodness, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.


FURTHER STUDY:

Luke 6:27-35 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. 29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the [one] cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not [to take thy] coat also. 30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask [them] not again. 31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. 32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. 33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 34 And if ye lend [to them] of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 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.

Ephesians 4:1-3 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.


DAILY SCRIPTURE READING

1-Year Bible Reading Plan
1 Thessalonians 5:1-28 & Isaiah 61-63


2-Year Bible Reading Plan
Hebrews 7:1-10 & Ezekiel 10-11

[Edoman]

*SEEDS OF DESTINY DAILY DEVOTIONAL BY DR. PASTOR PAUL ENENCHE*

Monday, 15th October 2018

*SPIRITUALITY:* _THE GREATEST NEED OF LIFE_

```OVERVIEW```

*SCRIPTURE:* But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. *Matthew 6:33.*

*THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:* You have not succeeded in life until you have succeeded with God.

Spirituality implies the intensity of _Divinity around Humanity._ It is the quality or state of being spiritual.

One of the greatest needs of anyone in life, is true and quality spirituality. In fact, spirituality is the greatest need of life. It does not matter if the person is an employer, employee, father, mother, white man, black man, professor, illiterate, etc., his/her strongest need in life is true spirituality.

The truth is, what you need most in life is not more money, name or fame; what you need most in life is God. Irrespective of what you seek in life, _seek first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness_ *(Matthew 6:33).* You have not succeeded in life until you have succeeded with God. The spirituality of a man is like the root of a tree, and the welfare of a tree is determined by its root; if the root is in good shape, the tree must flourish. In the same manner, the spirituality of man is the root and source of sustenance of man’s life. Thus, any venture outside Divine direction has no future. Any progress devoid of spirituality has no destiny.

_Beloved, my counsel is, invest in your spirituality; investment in your spirituality is not a waste of investment. Attend to the welfare of your spiritual life above anything else. You shall make it, in Jesus’ Name._

*REMEMBER THIS:* You have not succeeded in life until you have succeeded with God at the place of prayer.

*ASSIGNMENTS:*
*1.* Decide to fight against a dry state of spiritual life.
*2.* Revive and maintain your spiritual fire and intensity via prayer and fasting, the study of the Word, worship, etc. 
*3.* Endeavour not to venture into anything or take any step without God.

*PRAYER:* Lord, deliver me from spiritual dryness or lethargy. Help me to be vibrant spiritually and know You more, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

*FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE:* THE VALUE OF SPIRITUALITY

*QUOTE:* Sensitivity is a product of spirituality; when you are spiritually charged you take charge. ```Culled from REASON FOR LIVING by Dr. Paul Enenche.```

*DAILY READING:* _Jeremiah 26:1 to 27:22, 2 Thessalonians 3:1 to 18, Psalm 85:1 to 13, Proverbs 25:16_

*AMAZING FACT:* There are some species of lizard that spurt blood from their eyes just to protect themselves from the predators.

*TODAY IN HISTORY:* _15/10/1948_ – 38th US President Gerald Ford (35) weds department store fashion consultant Elizabeth (Betty) Bloomer Warren (30) at Grace Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids, Ford

*DON’T FORGET TO ATTEND:* The Healing and Deliverance Service tomorrow by _9:00am._ Invite your friends and loved ones. God bless you

[Edoman]

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
MONDAY 15TH OCTOBER 2018
THEME: LEARN TO TRUST GOD

MEMORIES:
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose Romans 8:28

Read: Psalm 37:4-6 (KJV)
4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

Message:-
Trusting God is one of the best things a child of God can ever learn to do. The moment you learn to trust God, life will become beautiful because you will begin to experience a kind of peace you never knew existed.

Initially, it can be quite hard for use to trust God due to the fact that His ways are higher than our ways, and until we get to know Him well, His instructions and commands might seem strange. Nevertheless, as a child of God, it is important that you learn to trust God blindly. Even if you cannot see around the bend, you should trust Him enough to know that he will always lead you aright. No matter how unconventional God’s ways are, one thing is sure: He has your best interest at heart. Jerusalem 29:11 says.

‘ ’For I know thoughts that I think toward you, said the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.’’

Trusting God involves taking the backseat and letting God handle the major decisions and suitations in your life. It involve letting your will be so lost in His will until you start see things His perspective and feel things through His heart. It takes a lot to trust in another individual to be able to let go of your own will and let that person’s will prevail in your life. You can only trust someone that you love; so if you don’t love God genuinely, you cannot trust Him.

There was a day I was driving down from llorin to Lagos and my fuel tank was almost empty. Unknown to me, a fuel scarcity was on, and so all the filling stations I saw along the way had no fuel. I cried to God and he asked me to take my eyes off the fuel gauge and continue driving to Lagos.

Although my fuel tank was already on reserve at the time he told me to do this, I said to Him ‘’Yes Lord’’ and I kept on driving. To the glory of God, I kept on driving on till I got to my house in Lagos. After I parked the car, I looked at the fuel gauge and it read empty!

If I did not trust God completely, I would have parked my car in a safe place along the way and gone through the stress of finding an alternative means of getting home, instead of taking the risk of getting stranded along way.

The devil specializes in sowing seeds of doubt in our hearts so that our faith in God will diminish, because he knows that the moment you start doubting God, you will not be able to receive anything from Him James 1:6-7. For this reason, it is very important to remind yourself of the good things God has done for you and others in the past.

Encourage yourself with these testimonies in order to rekindle your faith. Learn to trust God, because it shows your love for Him.

Key point:
If you don’t learn to trust God, then don’t expect anything from Him.

Bible in one year:
Isaiah 65-66, Luke 6:46-7:17,

HYMN 11: O GOD, OUR HELP IN
AGES PAST

O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.

Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defence is sure

Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth receive her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.

A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the
night
Before the rising sun.

Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away
They fly forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.

O God. Our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while life Shall last,
And our external home.