OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL...

DATE : TUESDAY 29 MARCH 2016

THEME : LOSING FOCUS

Memorise

The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. Luke 12:23

Read : Mathew 16:25-26

25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Message

What many believers have failed to realise is that only God knows all our needs and only God can meet all our needs. Sometimes we think we know what is good for us, but time and time again, I have discovered that you cannot have something better than what is God has in store for you. We have been given dominion over material needs; therefore the rush for them is uncalled for.

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

It is the instruction of our Lord and master to think beyond worldly treasures. They are never worth our focus; they are mere additions to the blessings of God in our lives. If you serve God faithfully, He will reward you in return. It is better to stick with Jesus and be a partaker of His blessings than to go after the ephemeral things of this world. It will suprise you to know the strange kinds of satanic covenants people go into to have few years of access to some material possessions without minding the consequences. The easiest way to have all these things is not to run after them but after Jesus.

Anything we value more than Jesus is worldly treasure. Such treasures could be popularity, wealth, power, houses, educational certificates, cloths, food, jewelleries etc. This are things many people find difficult to part with. We want to keep money we will not spend. We want to get a position, not for the purpose of making life good for other people, but for our own selfish motives. It is important to realise that it is the Almighty God that can give you wealth without adding sorrow. God is the source of all good things. And if you want these things to last in your hands, you have to put Jesus over and above them all. Give yourself up in total surrender to the Almighty God and begin to store up treasures for yourself in heaven where thieves and robbers will not access to them. There are cases of people who have stored up treasures for themselves in this world and death came suddenly. There are people who are so wealthy but are suffering from one sickness or the other and so they cannot enjoy their wealth. That will not be your portion in Jesus name. Trust God and take your attention off those treasures. Nothing in this world is good enough to replace God in your life. Don't bother how your needs will be met. We are of great importance to the Almighty God. He has made us His ambassadors on earth. He dwells in us and He carries out his mission through us. He is more committed to meeting our needs than we can ever imagine. Let nothing distract or divert your attention from God. Focus on Him to meet all the needs of your life. If you serve God faithfully, what to eat, what to wear, the car to drive, the house to live, will not even be a prayer point because He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him.

Prayer Point :

Father, Please help me to treasure You above material possessions.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : Ruth 1-4 and Proverbs 2:1-19

AUTHOR : Pst E. A ADEBOYE



HYMN 2: O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED.

O Jesus, I have promised,
To serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou forever near me,
My Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle
If Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway
If Thou wilt be my Guide.

Oh, let me feel Thee near me;
The world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle,
The tempting sounds I hear;
My foes are ever near me,
Around me and within;
But, Jesus, draw Thou nearer,
And shield my soul from sin.

Oh, let me hear Thee speaking,
In accents clear and still,
Above the storms of passion,
The murmurs of self-will;
Oh, speak to reassure me,
To hasten, or control;
Oh, speak, and make me listen,
Thou Guardian of my soul.

O Jesus, Thou hast promised
To all who follow Thee
That where Thou art in glory
There shall Thy servant be;
And Jesus, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
Oh, give me grace to follow,
My Master and my Friend.

Oh, let me see Thy footmarks,
And in them plant mine own;
My hope to follow duly
Is in Thy strength alone.
Oh, guide me, call me, draw me,
Uphold me to the end;
And then to rest receive me,
My Savior and my Friend.