YOUR DAILY DOSE OF GOD

Good morning Scripture reading: St. Mark 5:1-9 Worship song: Chain Breaker   Meditation: When Jesus arrived in the country of the Gerasene, he was confronted by a fierce and demon-possessed man who lived among the tombs. No one could subdue him, not even with chains, for he would always break free. His condition was not caused by physical restraint, but he was held captive by evil spiritual forces. The account describes his ultimate deliverance when Jesus casts out the spiritual demons possessing him. Evil forces seek to target the most vulnerable and hence prey on the weak. Some of the most powerful limitations we encounter are not physical restraints, but rather spiritual or emotional obstacles. Several inner struggles, including fear, negative thoughts, unfaithfulness, dwelling on past mistakes, ungodly deeds, worry, doubt, and spiritual weakness, can hinder us from fulfilling our purposes. However, if we surrender all to Jesus, he will loosen the shackles and set...

Good morning Scripture reading: James 4:1-8 Worship song: Empty Me   Meditation:      Our minds are a spiritual battleground where our sinful desires, work of the flesh, constantly conflict with God's will, the fruit of the spirit, a struggle exemplified by the biblical concept of "flesh warring against the spirit". To gain control over our thoughts and prevent fleshly desires from taking root and influencing our actions, we must actively choose to focus on God's word and the Holy Spirit, thereby starving the flesh and empowering the spirit. If we allow our minds to be occupied by fleshly thoughts, those desires are more likely to manifest in our actions.       Whatever desire that receives more attention from our thoughts will become stronger and more dominant in our lives. Be mindful of the things of the flesh that war against the spirit and eradicate them from your mind before they take root. You can control the thought...

Good morning Scripture reading: Ezekiel 14:1-8 Worship song: At Your Feet   Meditation:      The Lord rescued the Israelites from Egypt and took them away from their lifestyle of bondage in slavery and their customary worship of idols. The Israelites encountered the love of God and were granted freedom through his divine power. Nonetheless, they regularly transgressed against the Lord and returned to idolatry, and for that, many of them did not reach the promised land. Like the Israelites, many of us, after encountering freedom, have returned to our former lifestyle, allowing our self-will and desires to cause us to be entangled again in the yoke of sin and transgressions.       Those who believe in Christ experience a spiritual rebirth, a transformation from their old lifestyle governed by sin to a new spiritual identity in Christ. Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old, for Christ can do a new thing in you. Esca...

Good morning Scripture reading: Numbers 34:1-13 Worship Song: Way Maker   Meditation:      God made a covenant with Abraham in which he promised he would multiply his seed and make of him a great nation. God promised to bless him and his generation and give them the land of Canaan. The land was already occupied by various inhabitants, but God had to evict them so that Abraham and his descendants could possess the land. Our thoughts and hearts are vulnerable to the controlling influence of Satan's forces, who act as spiritual squatters.       To remove these spiritual intruders, we must invite Jesus Christ to take possession of our inner lives. Satan and his cohorts will remain inhabitants until we actively invite Jesus Christ into our lives to forcibly evict these unwanted spiritual tenants. Jesus Christ wants the Holy Spirit, the Comforter to reside within us, but we are too comfortable frolicking with the residents that he wants to dri...

Good morning Scripture reading: Isaiah 59:1-4 Worship song: Here's My Heart   Meditation:      Spiritual decline refers to a decrease or deterioration of one's connection to the Divine, marked by a decline in faith, moral integrity, spiritual wisdom, or religious devotion. This is often caused by disobedience to God's word, increased idolatry practices, indulgence in worldly pleasures, and a decrease in godly and ethical standards. Neglecting to pray and a lack of spiritual energy, demonstrated by a loss of desire to worship and connect with other believers, mark the beginning of all spiritual decline.       When we neglect God's divine direction and uphold our own standards, it demonstrates spiritual blindness and a hardness of heart. It is our unholy actions that create a barrier between us and God. As stated in Isaiah 52, our wrongful actions caused God to turn away, preventing Him from hearing our pleas as He withdraws Himself f...

Good morning Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 18: 20-32 Worship Song: There Is Hope in The Lord   Meditation:      The Bible recounts many fascinating stories of God's work in the lives of patriarchs, who became great men for his divine purpose. The scripture highlights that no person is beyond redemption through a divine encounter. It points to three biblical figures whose lives were radically altered by God: Moses after committing murder and fleeing into exile, encountered God at a burning bush and was transformed from a fugitive to a deliverer of Israel. Saul was a fierce persecutor of Christians, yet his life was drastically changed after a powerful encounter with Jesus, leading him to become a passionate preacher of the gospel. David was an adulterer and an accomplice to murder, but after a spiritual conversion, he became a man after God's own heart.       As long as you encounter God, you will never remain the same. He will remove from y...

Good morning Scripture reading: Romans 8:31-39 Worship song: If God Is for Me   Meditation:      With God on your side, no enemy can truly triumph over you, even when it seems they are succeeding during persecution or tribulation. It may look like they are succeeding when they mock us or threaten us, but God's purpose and support for us are far greater than any force against us. Though we are oppressed and chastised by our adversary, we shall overcome for we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us. We are reminded by Apostle Paul that nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.       Amidst human rejection, we can draw strength from the knowledge that God's love is beyond measure and without condition. Do not be dismayed or fear those who are against you for God will never leave you. He will strengthen you and uphold you with His righteous right hand. If God be for us, tell me who can t...