FAITH CAPSULE: Taking uncountable steps this far is the grace and mercy of God.

Ephesians 2

Day after day, week after week, month after month, and year after year is a great grace of God.
Grace alone means that God loves, forgives, and saves all, not because of who you are or what you do but because of the work of Christ.
No one knows to control the grace and mercy of God for all.
The grace and mercy that is certain to deliver, to preserve anyone belong to God.
Grace is the gift of God that produces, enhances, and develops salvation. The grace of God changes the life of one. 
The well-known song says it is Amazing Grace.
Indeed, it is grace to live.
Grace is an enabling power of God. 
It enables the recipient to do and to be what one cannot do and cannot be by own means.
The saving grace has brought you this far.
Ephesians 2:8-9 buttresses, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” 
To see this time of the year is not evidence of knowing God but the privilege of God.
David testifies to the distance between life and death as a step. (1 Samuel 20:3)
You have taken uncountable steps not because you know the right step to take.
Taking uncountable steps this far is the grace and mercy of God.
Power belongs to God and is good and merciful.
Month after month, He has brought you this far.
In all your steps, you shall not fall.
This far, it is the grace of God.
The grace of God is much to experience.
Ephesians 2:8-9 states, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” 
The grace of God has brought you this far.
The grace of God is sufficient.
Grace is the power that God willingly gives to help to do what no one could ever do by themselves. When God said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you…” (2 Corinthians 12:19)
He gives Paul His power to be set free from the thorn that was buffeting him.
The combination of mercy and the grace of God keeps all seeing a new day, week, month, and year.
The mercy of God has been consistent to see you this far, not to become a victim of the wicked world.
The mercy of God means God is compassionate and kind.
The mercy of God is with forbearance that does not run out.
The mercy of God is His loyal love; it is the conventional love of the covenant-keeping God. 
The mercy of God is not by merit but by the goodness of God to be received.
Just as power belongs unto God, mercy also belongs to God. 
God cannot be intimidated or manipulated by any of His creations to receive His mercy.

Prayer for today: Pray that the grace of God that has brought you this far shall not expire over your life.

FAITH CAPSULE: The word of God is the source of faith.

Hebrews 11

FAITH IS TO REMAIN PERSISTENT IN PRAYER 
In times of challenge, to be persistent in prayer before God for the manifestation of expectation is evidence of faith. 
For all, with persistent prayer is not to lose heart before God.
Jesus gave the parable of a widow with persistent prayer, seeking justice from a Judge that does not fear God nor regard any man, but the judge answered. If a judge with no fear of God can answer persistent prayer, God shall not ignore the prayer of persistence.
Luke 18:3-8 records, “Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward, he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’” Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily…”
Be encouraged to pray with persistence before God.
FAITH IS CONFESSING POSITIVE, NOT NEGATIVE
Demonstrating the evidence of being faithful is confessing positively instead of making a negative confession negatively.
The word of God is the source of faith that cautions the importance of confessing positive instead confessing negative as Proverbs 18:21 records, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” An acclaimed believer with knowledge and understanding of the word of God should know and be speaking positively in the place of negative.
FAITH IS A TEARING FORCE
Faith is a force that will gain access where there is no way.
Once a paralytic man was not accessible to a healing ground when he resolved to a faith-tearing force.
Jesus was in Capernaum, touching the lives of different sick for healing.
At the arrival of the paralytical man, there was no access to reach Jesus for his healing.
As a result of no more way to reach Jesus in the room, the four men that carried the paralytic man resolute in faith means and not be discouraged to return home. The Bible records, “And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So, when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.” (Mark 2:4)
It was a roof-tearing faith for the paralytic man. Jesus gave the paralytic man attention stating, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” (Mark 2:4) 
Hindrance is not enough to deny a miracle that is rooted in faith.
Gain a roof-tearing faith, and deny hindrance in the journey of life.
Living life demands faith!

Prayer for today: Ask that God shall enable you with faith to become established for His glory.

FAITH CAPSULE:  The solution to challenges demands focusing on God

John 10:10

Are you looking up to God or looking up to one created by God?
To become worried and troubled in the face of challenge is evidence of not looking up to God, that is abundantly able to do and undo.
Any time the eyes are on confronting challenges, such is to misplace focus on God. 
Are you beholding your challenge?
Exodus 14:10-12 documents the issue of fear by the Israelites, “And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord. Then they said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.” 
Does that sound like you? 
The Israelites know that God shall deliver, but yet they gave into fear. 
The Israelites were worried and troubled instead of worshipping God to have the peace of God. 
To be worrying in the place of worshipping is always the root of negative confession.
The solution to challenges demands focusing on God and the word of His promise. 
Despite all the powerful teachings of Jesus against fear and worrying, the disciples locked themselves up in fear of the Jews. “Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19) 
While the disciples locked up for fear, Jesus showed up and declared peace. 
Jesus, the Word of God, is the Prince of peace. 
One looking up to Jesus as Lord and Savior shall experience the power of God.   
Faith in Jesus will cause peace to reign. 
After Jesus had spoken peace into the life of His disciples, their eyes of the mind opened to see the mark of crucifixion that He carries. 
John 20:20 records, “When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.”  
The disciples looked up to Jesus when they heard His word to become open to coming out of fear. 
Do you know that Jesus carries a mark on your behalf?
The devil is the author of fear. John 10:10 records the encouraging word of Jesus, for all not to worry, not to give to fear, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly. “
It is a choice not to give to worry rooted in fear.

Prayer for today: Ask not to live a life of having fear in the place of focusing on God.

FAITH CAPSULE: A pledge in the heart lives life for God.

Jeremiah 30

The word of God demands commitment from all.
Also, the word of God is not for decoration but for declaration navigating the life journey. 
The word of God is for deliverance, healing, and preservation.
Are you giving yourself to the word of God?
The evidence of one that gives self to the word shall live by the word of God.
Answering as a believer in God with no evidence of declaring the word of does not live life by the word of God but as a religious one.
Come out of RELIGION of the mouth, but give self to the word of God. 
A failure to give earnest heed to the word of God will lead to distance from God but closer to self-destruction.
Living by the word of God is rooted in giving more earnest heed to the things heard in the word. 
Living by the word of God works for those who work the works of God. 
What is your work with the word of God?
In the book of John 6:28, Jesus was asked, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus responded, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” One that gives earnest heed to Jesus and lives life by the word of God.
Jesus is the word of God. Give the more earnest heed to His word.
The word of God is POWER with no substitute that is in place for one that lives life for the glory of God.
The word of God is the way to salvation.
The power in the word of God is for deliverance and preservation.
What is holding you from giving earnest heed to the word of God?
The word of God is power.
By the word, Jesus brought Lazarus from the grave in four days. Bible records: “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11:42-43)
Importantly, give earnest heed to the word of God to dwell and abide in the presence of God.
Dwelling and abiding in the word of God is evidence of a pledge to be approaching God.
Those that pledge to approach God are such that make up minds for God. Jeremiah 30:21-22 buttresses, “…For who is this who pledged his heart to approach Me?’ says the Lord. You shall be My people, And I will be your God.’”
How is your way of life demonstrating the pledge of your heart to God?
Give more earnest heed to the word of God!

Prayer for today: Ask for your ears to hear and receive the word of God in your heart

FAITH CAPSULE: Fear God; be humble and operate the mind of Christ to live life for God.

Philippians 2

The way of life is to be of the mind of Christ, living for God.
Paul admonishes, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5)  
What is it about the mind of Christ?
Jesus humbled Himself.
Philippians 2:8 records Jesus, “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”   
The mind of Christ is the humble mind that is plain, simple, and set before God continually.
Prayerfully desire humility in the mind of Christ. 
James 4:10 speaks to all, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
The mind of Christ is to be great to the glory of God. 
Why not be humble to gain before God?
1 Peter 5:6 points out, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.”
The disciples wanted to know from Jesus about the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 
Matthew 18:1 records, “At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”  
Jesus answered that humility is the way to become the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:3-4 records, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom.” 
Are you with the character or way of life as the little children?
Jesus said assuredly, meaning: without any other means; with all certainty, heaven is distant until one is converted and becomes a little child.
One converted accepts Jesus as the Lord and Savior, and those who become Christ-like shall humble themselves as the little children to be great. 
Little children whose mindset operates as a little child are examples of one with the carrier of a humble spirit. 
Children do not have pride but are humble and have no trace of malice, deception, and unforgiveness as part of the life of children.
Jesus emphasized the importance of humility when His hour was near (John 13:1).
Jesus, having shown and taught how to be humble, waited until His final hour to give His disciples a lasting impression that revealed the importance of humility.
John 13:3-35 records, “Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from the supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel, and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” (John 13:3-5) 
There is no perfect way to show what it means to be humble than the demonstration of Jesus. 

Prayer for today: Ask God to turn your mind to be Christ-like.