FAITH CAPSULE: Come out of selfish motives to set your heart on doing good before God.

Nehemiah 1

Many believers or unbelievers live as egoistic (self-centered) ones in every corner of the world. 
Who are you? 
Are you a believer or unbeliever devoted to or caring only for oneself, concerned primarily with self-interests to be regardless of others? 
Are you one with the character as selfish? 
Indeed, life should not be only about self but considerate of people around self.
Nehemiah was a non-entity. 
He was not a pastor, he was not a bishop, and was not a prophet, nor was he the son of a prophet. 
Nehemiah was an ordinary cupbearer to the king in the Persian palace. 
He got to where he was because he was a captive. 
One thing was clear about Nehemiah: he was concerned for the welfare of Jerusalem and its inhabitants at heart. 
Nehemiah was a cupbearer who desired a better life for his brethren. 
Nehemiah was not self-centered. Who are you? As a cupbearer, he wanted a change for others but not to be a liar or manipulation in the name of God. God saw the heart of Nehemiah, and He acknowledged him. God invested in the life of Nehemiah as a vessel to reconstruct the broken wall of Jerusalem.
Nehemiah 1:3-4was the report that burdened Nehemiah, “And they said to me, ‘The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.’ 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 poured out his heart in prayer on behalf of his people and his homeland. 
He asked for nothing for himself, but he petitioned for his people to have a better life for his people.
The heart of Nehemiah was in line with what God looks for. 
Who are you in the eyes of God, that is traveling over the earth, searching for a heart that lines up with His glory? 
Jeremiah 17:9 confirms: “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it?” 
God alone knows every heart, and He will not overlook both the good and evil of the heart.
All should not be of selfish motives.
All should center their hearts on all that will glorify God, and God will not limit such to excel for His glory. {
Nehemiah was not self-centered but set himself for his people, and God deposited in him what it takes to bring glory to the name of God. Nehemiah, as a cupbearer, turned the issue of his nation around. 
Life is not to be about self but to the glory of God in all life endeavors.

Prayer for today: Ask to be enabled not to live life as a selfish one.

 FAITH CAPSULE: The wisdom available for all is the security of God for stability.

Proverbs 4

Today, the world is a place of instability rooted in wickedness at every corner. 
To live in security and not be a victim of instability is in the wisdom of God.
The word of God prescribed stability for this time we are living by stating, “Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times and the strength of salvation…” (Isaiah 33:6) 
It is important to note that Jesus is the wisdom as stated in 1 Corinthians 1:30, “But of Him, you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God…” Jesus, the wisdom from God is available to be received as security in the wicked world. 
With wisdom comes knowing God, not just knowing about God.
Knowing God will have a knowing edge in navigating the wicked world as an overcome.
Knowledge is for one understanding of wisdom and has a security agent.
Jesus, the wisdom from God, is also the instruction of God for all in this wicked world. 
In this time, one that takes to the wisdom of God (instruction of God) is bound to experience stability in the wicked world. 
Proverbs 4:1 admonishes, “Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, and give attention to know understanding.” 
Wisdom (instruction) demands attention which is listening to gain security in wisdom.
The good God has delivered security to all, but many fail to engage the security because of the inability to listen to wisdom. 
Without the security of God available in wisdom is a lack of understanding that gives knowledge. 
Understanding is the key to having wisdom and knowledge. 
Jesus, in His word, demonstrated His concern for lack of understanding when He questioned and answered, “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.” (John 8:43) Wisdom for all is from God as our security. 
All should understand wisdom and knowledge to gain security which gives stability in the wicked world.
What is it about security in wisdom?
All should not forsake the word of wisdom (the word, the law of God).
All should let the heart retain words of wisdom and live.
Also should not forget, forsake, or turn away from the word that preserves.
Proverbs 4:7 states the importance of wisdom and understanding responsible for having a knowing edge in the wicked world, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. (Proverbs 4:7)
When security in wisdom is engaged, stability will become a portion of one and not be a victim of the wicked world.
Giving attention to the wisdom of the word of God will position one on the right path. 
On the right path activated by the wisdom of God shall not be hindered when one runs stumbling, shall not have a place.

Prayer for today: Ask God that the wisdom of God shall take charge of your life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Pray for the word of God.

Praying is to engage with expectation for manifestation before God.
This hour we are to communicate our petition addressed to God, not to man. 
Prayer before God is a devotion that demands understanding. 
Active engagement in prayer delivers undeniable miracles. 
God HEARS prayer.
Praying amiss is possible to experience amiss before God, evidence of lack of understanding.
James 4:3 testifies, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”
Praying to God is NOT TALKING FROM HEAD but talking from the depth of the heart with understanding.
Praying to God is communicating with God, not talking over God, but listening to hear from God.
When prayer becomes a lifestyle, it becomes rooted in understanding.
Continually give self to prayer as a lifestyle.
Ask for the strength for prayer as your lifestyle.
The word of God does not return to Him void. (Isah 55:11)
Take a moment to pray the word of God.
Give attention to the word in Acts 6:4 states, “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
PRAY ON THE WORD OF GOD BELOW
Genesis 6:5 states, “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
The creator and perfect God saw it and said about the wickedness of all.
God saw the evil brand of wickedness.
The wickedness under heaven is evil and continual.
The wickedness of evil has been nonstop. 
Continual evil is the root of the lack of stability under heaven.
The antidote to instability is having the wisdom and knowledge of God.
Isaiah 33:6 points out, “Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times And the strength of salvation; The fear of the Lord is His treasure.”
Jesus is the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:3)
Knowledge belongs to knowing God, not just knowing about God.
One with wisdom and knowledge is with force (power) for deliverance, the strength to become saved in this wicked world. 
God is a jealous God that treasures it when there is fear for Him.
The conclusion of all is to fear God.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 states, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.”
PRAYER
Ask God to fill you with wisdom and knowledge to gain His stability and not become a victim of the wicked world.
Ask for the strength of salvation shall be activated in your life continually.
Ask God that you live life with the fear of His holy name.
In Jeremiah 32:39, God said, “I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them.”

Prayer for today: Ask that God look upon you to give you and your loved ones one heart and one way to fear Him forever.  

FAITH CAPSULE: The eyes of God are watching while none and the character can hide from God.

1 Samuel 2

Character counts before God. 
Testimonies of God over the life of some men like Abraham, Job, and David are evidence that the eyes of God are watching over all.
The word states evidence of the eyes of God that sees:
“Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God.” (2 Chronicles 14:2) 
“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth…” (2 Chronicles 16:9) 
“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous…” (1 Peter 3:12) 
The whole world is not beyond God not to see or sport out every individual. 
God does not sleep nor slumber as He sees all. 
What are you doing that is hidden from all but open to the eyes of God? 
God testified about Abraham stating, “And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.” (James 2:23) Righteousness of Abraham was his action before God. 
The Bible states, “For the Lord is the God of knowledge; and by Him actions are weighed.” (1 Samuel 2:3)
How are you doing before the eyes of God?
God sees all.
God sees and testifies on behalf of Job, “Then the LORD said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still, he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him to destroy him without cause.” (Job 2:3) 
God testifying His creation as a man of integrity must have been the result of having walked the walk and having lived the word of God. 
Besides Abraham and Job, David was referred to as a man after the heart of God. (1 Samuel 13:14) 
The same God yesterday, today, and tomorrow will not ignore anyone that lives up to His expectation. 
God is not a partial God but a God that is particular in seeing His creation live in line with His word. 
How are you living as a picture in the eyes of God? 
Are you an acclaimed believer living life for God, to be seen for His glory? 
God is not deceivable, as many are lying, deceiving, and manipulating others in the name of God. 
Many believers today have a church, with no Christ in their message, by their way of life.
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous. 
In life, God does not ignore or look away from the righteous in times of challenges but attends to the challenges of the righteous.
Psalm 34:19 buttresses, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.”
The eyes of God are watching, but no character can hide from God.

Prayer for today: Ask that you will always listen for His lead and instruction for His glory.