DEVOTIONS

January 23, 2026. 

Day 21

Glorification, our Hope in a Fallen, Groaning World

 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.- Romans 8:18

One day, while cleaning my kitchen and mulling over my struggles in this life, I asked the Lord to tell me how I could be absolutely sure that all the misery of this life would someday end. He whispered one sentence: You have the Holy Spirit. That settled it for me.

The Holy Spirit bears witness of a future glorification because of the testimony of transformation in my own life, help, wisdom, comfort and many other blessings he has brought. Since the Holy Spirit, a heavenly being, is so present in my current reality, I can trust God that future heavenly realities will be realized as well. That brings me joy! 

Suffering is a part of the human experience. We can suffer in numerous ways: sickness, persecution, ridicule, loss of friendship, grief, hardship, injustice, and the list goes on. We sometimes want to think that things cannot get any worse, but, unfortunately, they can. Because of the fallen state of the world in which we exist, all creation around us is also experiencing the corruption experienced from the Fall (Genesis 3) when sin entered the world. Yes, our world is groaning.

1. Creation groans under the bondage of corruption it experiences- its fading beauty, death and decay, disasters and disarray, deformation, disease and destruction– all the natural world suffers, even as it awaits its glorious redemption from the curse of sin and its effects (Gen. 3:17-19). 
2. We groan as well as we grieve the struggle against sin in our lives, even while the Holy Spirit works in us and gives us hope for deliverance and a future harvest. We groan as we await our future glorification and redemption. 
3. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit also groans as he pleads and makes intercession for us, praying for the welfare of every believer. In this groaning world, we have help and we have hope! We have the help of the Holy Spirit who intercedes for us, and we have hope because we have the promise of redemption and future glorification. 

What is glorification? 

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 tells us about glorification.  

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Someday, upon the return of Christ, our bodies will be changed. We will be set free from the corruption of this fallen world. There will be no aging, no more sickness, no more death. Creation is also longing for that day when it will receive “the glorious liberty”, so it will also be renewed from the fall of corruption- no more suffering, no more hurricanes, thorns and thistles. All suffering will end! 

Let me end with this question: Does the hope of a future end to all suffering, a resurrection and glorification bring hope to your life today?

January 22, 2026.

Day 20

Bearing Fruits of Holiness, Not Shame

What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.- Romans 6:21-22

Do you have a story that you don’t want to tell? Yes, that story that makes you feel cringe at the thought that those were your actions. Yes, the one which would make people question your character, even if it happened years ago or months ago…or even this morning. It makes you ashamed. I understand it. I can even relate to it!

Today though, the truth is, we don’t have to walk in shame any longer because we have been cleansed, accepted, welcomed and made whole by Jesus. I thank God for that!

This is the point the Apostle Paul makes in his letter to the church in Rome. In the past, before accepting Jesus Christ, sin ruled in our members. We did unspeakable things! For a list of these deeds, see what the Apostle Paul writes in Galatians 5:19-21:

Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom.

Paul says these deeds (and all the other unspeakables) produce the fruit of shame in our lives. The good news is that, when we accept Jesus Christ in our lives, we are set free from the power and shame of sin because it no longer has dominion over us! Our lives in God produces a different kind of fruit- the fruit of holiness and the fruit of an everlasting life! It means we are no longer controlled by the power of sin which brings us shame, but if we set our hearts on God, we will bear different fruits– good fruits!  

Our lives, with God, is worth it! Free from sin and shame!

January 21, 2026. 

Day 19

An Instrument of Righteousness

Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.- Romans 6:13

In my first week at my new job, I almost flipped a table. I was heavily pregnant and waiting to be served in an area. I waited patiently. It felt like forever. When I finally got through, well, the lady was harsh and then rude to me.

You know those moments in a movie when everything pauses, and you see the lead actor wreaking havoc, going from zero to one hundred really fast, but then they bring you back to reality, only for you to realize that the actor was just imagining all that they would like to do in the moment, and had in fact not moved from the spot? That was me. I had a moment. 

I imagined that I had cursed out the lady, flipped over the table, tore through the place and stormed out. Maybe it was the pregnancy hormones or the fact that just before that experience, I had also been insulted at the snack counter a few minutes before. Who knows? But I demolished the place…in my mind. 

Snap back to reality. I looked at the table, looked at the students in the library and thought about Jesus (Yes, really, for a moment) and what my behaviour would mean to my testimony of knowing Him.  In reality, I just sighed, signed my name and left the area. 

On my way home, I berated myself. All the things I could have done! All the things I should have said! All the things I would have shown them! Coulda shoulda woulda…I told God all about it. My flesh was telling me I was stupid for not saying anything, but I felt that I handled it God’s way. My flesh however, was giving me a beating!

The Lord answered. He said these words to me, and I will never forget them:

“Don’t let the flesh berate you for battles won in the Spirit.”

You see, we are in a spiritual battle, and in this battle, we are heavily tempted to give in to the enemy’s calls to use our members (our bodies) to sinful acts. God is, however, calling us to yield out bodies to acts of righteousness. When we do what pleases God, we are playing the right tune! Never let your flesh cause you to feel foolish for doing what God tells you to do. Choose to be God’s instrument, not an instrument yielded to sin.

January 20, 2026.

Day 18

Creation Gives us No Excuse

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse -Romans 1:20

Wayne Grudem tells a story of a time when he was in a passenger car with some friends, including one young woman who claimed in their conversation that she had no inner awareness of God’s existence. The car hit a patch of ice and spun in a complete circle at high speed, and shortly before it came to a rest, this same young woman, to their amazement, was heard calling out “Lord Jesus, please help us!” Her agnosticism was disproved by the words of her own mouth. 

Some people claim that God does not exist, while some people are not sure that He does. Whatever the case may be, the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 1 that creation offers irrefutable evidence that God is real because creation gives us evidence of His existence.

When I think about the strange sunfish for example, I think about the wisdom of God. The reality that something so strange-looking could be so useful in controlling the jellyfish population is very interesting. 

Think about the whales whose milk is 35% to 50% fat, providing rich nutrients to the calves in a medium that is unlikely to dissolve in water because of the high fat content! There must be an intentional Creator!

I think about the wide variety of plant and animal species, and I see that God loves variety.

I see a peacock,  the majestic mountains, the blue sky with its white clouds, and I see that God loves beauty! It is no wonder David declared in Psalm 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”

I see the powerful crocodile with its massive jaws, and I also see the scorpion or even the powerful winds of a Hurricane, and I know that God is immensely powerful!

When I look at you, and you look at me, I see the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27) and I also see the skill, intelligence and beauty of God.

Yes, these and more invisible qualities can be clearly seen from all of creation. Let us therefore worship the Creator. We have no excuse because we are surrounded by evidence of His wondrous presence!

January 19, 2026.

Day 17

When Life Feels Hard

He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs- Acts 24:23

I’m not even going to make this pretty: life has felt very hard lately. With the flu season very active, I’ve had my share of ups and downs, and it has been very hard to manage the flu with a ton of responsibilities, a toddler,  tight work deadlines, a business and events to attend! This weekend I felt like my life was a grinder, and I threw a 5-minute pity party, until the Lord reminded me that I was extremely blessed, and then I felt “a way” (as we say in Jamaica LOL). Nevertheless, I have been whispering my heart to the Lord.

I was reading through Acts when I came across this scripture, and it reminded me to see the grace and goodness of God in every hard moment in life. The Apostle Paul had gone on to Jerusalem and Jerusalem was Jerusalem-ing! (Luke 13:34) Paul was now in custody because the Jews had brought an accusation against him. Paul was going through hardship! Of course, he was enduring it like a good soldier for the Lord (2 Tim. 2:3). Paul set a good example. 

But, I like the way this verse lands so softly in the midst of Paul’s trials, and in my very own. 

Acts 24:22 says Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.”

When I read this verse I said, Thank you, Lord. Felix was well acquainted with the Way. He did not have to be. It could have been well otherwise, but Felix knew about the Christian movement. It spurred his next decision concerning his treatment of Paul. 

It reminded me that despite my own moments of hardships and challenges right now, God is involved, even through the people I encounter. They may not be Christians, but they are acquainted with the Way, and it matters! In their own way, they will extend grace and patience because of that. 

23 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.

Because Felix was acquainted with the Way, it determined for Felix how Paul could have been treated. Paul was given more grace than the others in custody, even though he was under guard. He had a bit more freedom. Thank God for that! 

What is the shining light in the midst of your hardship right now? Maybe you’re fighting the flu like I am, but I am thanking God the vitamins are actually working! I am so glad that it has not run as long as it used to. I am glad that I could still get some work done in the week and that the nature of my work gives me some freedom to manage my deadlines and methods, so I have some room for flexibility.

Secondly, Paul’s friends were permitted to take care of his needs! Imagine that. In the midst of his hardship, Governor Felix allowed Paul to enjoy the presence and provision of his friends. As I battle my bout with the flu, I thank God for my family who has shown so much care and support. I thank God that I am also able to be cared for. Let’s not forget the dreadful Covid-19 period that robbed so many of us, myself included, of the change to give care to and receive care from our lovedones. 

Maybe it’s not the flu for you (I hope not!), but whatever it is, allow the your friends and family to be the hands and feet of Jesus as you go though this hard moment of life. Allow the acquaintances with the way to be kind to you in this moment and enjoy the freedoms that come in these tight spaces of hardness. 

The greatest freedom of all being freedom in Christ Jesus by grace through faith! 

January 18, 2026.

Day 16

Don’t let their Weeping Change your Godly Convictions!

Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”Acts 21:13

Why were they crying? Well, the Apostle Paul was insistent on going to back to Jerusalem. They had good reason to bawl for Paul, because Jerusalem was notorious for killing prophets! 

Jesus himself said in Luke 13:34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.” 

We know right away that Jerusalem was not going to be welcoming to Paul. Yet, this was not news to Paul himself, as he already knew that suffering lay ahead for him. Paul himself said in Acts 20:22-23,“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.

Paul had gotten so many warnings not to go to Jerusalem!

1. After leaving Ephesus, Paul was warned by believers in Tyre who prophesied through the Holy Spirit that he should not go to Jerusalem. 
2. After this prophecy, Paul and his team travelled to and stayed at the home of Phillip the Evangelist. A prophet named Agabus arrived from Judea. He acted out Paul’s fate in Acts 21:10:  “Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’”

1. Acts 21:12 continues “When we heard this, we and the local believers all begged Paul not to go to Jerusalem.” 
2. I notice the word “we” here because this implies that Luke (Paul’s doctor and ministry companion) and his missionary team, his closest inner-circle would have begged him not to go to Jerusalem. 

After Agabus’ prophecy, the festival of tears began. Even though the weeping was breaking Paul’s heart, he still went on to Jerusalem. Was Paul being stubborn? Yes! But why? It goes back to something Paul said earlier in Acts 20:22-23 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there

Did you catch that? Compelled by the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit’s conviction in Paul had more binding power than the tears and pleas of his many friends, even the prophesies they gave! 

For the Apostle Paul, God was sending him to Jerusalem, and he had to go, despite the tribulations that awaited him there. Even though Agabus prophesied the truth, it was not shocking to Paul because he already knew that he would suffer, by the Holy Spirit! 

That gives us a key. 

If we are going to live by Godly convictions and not be moved by opinions, friends, tears, dreams and even prophecies, we must be one step ahead! We must be in prayer! Constant communication with the Lord and revelation by the Holy Spirit will diffuse all uncertainty. 

The reason we are swayed so easily and cast unto a bed of uncertainty is because we lack personal revelation to support our convictions– feeble prayer lives mean feeble convictions. 

Stay in prayer, stand on Bible and let the Lord lead you so that the pleas of your friends, the opinions of people and tears shed do not take you by surprise.

Now, go! 

January 17, 2026.

Day 15

Agag Today is Haman Tomorrow. Watch out!

Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’ 1 Samuel 15:3

When God told Saul through the Prophet Samuel to destroy the Amalekites, he wasn’t making a suggestion. It was a command. This was in God’s plan from before Saul was born, and we see later that God, as always, had very good reasons! 

Listen to the Lord’s instruction to Saul in 1 Samuel 15:2-3. 

“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt.Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy[a] all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”

I asked 2 questions: 

1. What did the Amalekites do to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt? 
2. Lord, children and infants too? 

Exodus 17:8 and Deuteronomy 25:17-18 answered the first question. As Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt, they came to Rephidim where they were attacked by the Amalekites. As Moses spoke to the Hebrews in Deuteronomy 25:17-18, we hear more about the nature of the attack: 

“Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and attacked all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God. “

The Amalekites had struck down the weakest people on the journey– those who were lagging behind. I imagine these might have been the elderly, the sick, women with nursing infants, children and so on. This was a brutal attack! 

Moses further instructed the people in Deut. 25:19“When the Lord your God gives you rest from all the enemies around you in the land he is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you shall blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!”

So, the war on Amalekites had been declared long before Saul became King. Now that the Lord had given them rest from all their enemies in the lad that they were to possess, God needed a man to do the job, and he chose Saul to get it done. Simple.

When Saul spared King Agag of the Amalekites in his act of disobedience, he wasn’t just sparing the King, he was sparing a royal lineage, another generation of Amalekites. I ask myself, what did Saul plan to do with the King? What if Samuel hadn’t killed him? Was this the end of the Amalekites? 

Well, not quite. Centuries later, in Esther 3:1, we meet a descendant of King Agag in the person of Haman, the Agagite. “After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him to a position above all the princes who were with him.” An Amalekite had risen to a place of honour in the Persian empire. We would hope that that would be the end of the story, but it’s not quite so. 

Everybody is supposed to bow to Haman, as ordered by King Xerses, but Modecai, the Jew, refuses to bow. Do you think Haman just wants to throw him into prison? No. Let’s read what happens next: 

Esther 3: 6 “Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.”

Did you catch that? This descendant of Agag, having learned who Mordecai’s people were looked for a way to destroy the whole Jewish nation. He wanted to exterminate the entire Jewish population! 

What’s the lesson to us? Agag today is Haman tomorrow. Whatever the Lord instructs us to put to death in our lives, to extinguish, eradicate, decimate, totally wipe out is for a good reason. Get rid of the malice, the unforgiveness, the anger, the pride, the pornographic material etc.! Do not even spare a “baby sin”! That baby will become a full grown man who comes back with serious intentions to destroy our lives. 

James 1: 15 says “Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

Don’t allow your Baby Agag to become Haman in your life.

Pray now! 

January 16, 2026.

Day 14

Do you Hear the Sheep Bleating? Chop Chop!

And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?- 1 Samuel 15:14

I’m not sure the exact moment I committed to writing this devotional blog every day for this year, and I am not quite sure what the Lord plans to do with it, but I know I really want to do it. I also know that the Word changes lives, so I simply want to share the things I am learning from the Lord each day as I pray and study His Word. It’s been a few days– 5 to be exact– since I last wrote a post because life has felt rather hard these past few days. Between getting the flu and carrying out all the responsibilities that come along with being me, it has been exhausting! I have still been praying and having my devotions, but, as readers of this blog already know, I have not been writing consistently. Thus, the one thing that keep bleating like sheep in the background of my busy life has been this– the blog. Write the devotions on the blog! 

It takes me back to the sheep in Saul’s act of disobedience in 1 Samuel 15 when the Prophet Samuel had to tell him “Obedience is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). Saul had been told to destroy the Amalekites– everything from man down to creature, nothing was to have been spared. Yet, Saul spared the King of the Amalekites and the best of the sheep, goats and cattle. His act of obedience caused him to lose the Kingdom of Israel! 

When the Prophet Samuel came on the scene, one of the dead giveaways of Saul’s disobedience was the noisy sheep and oxen in the background. Creatures that should have been dead were bringing evidence to The Prophet that Saul had not been obedient to the Lord. Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? (1 Samuel 15:14) In that moment, I am sure Saul wished he could have hidden these noisy animals. He had good intentions, but good intentions and sacrifices are no excuse for disobedience as we learnt, and so Saul got a strong rebuke. 

What are your bleating sheep and lowing oxen?

What was the last thing that God told you to do that you have not done? Does it keep bothering your conscience? Are you convicted by the Holy Spirit to do something about it? What are those things that you need to put to death as an act of obedience? 

What was the last thing that God told you to do that you have not done?

For me these past few days it has been self-pity, procrastination and inconsistency so that I could get up and write these blog posts and obey the leading of the Lord more completely in this area of my life. I didn’t need someone to tell me to get up, wipe my snotty nose and write, because this is something I committed to doing before the Lord, so every temptation that keeps me away from obedience has sounded loudly in my ears like Saul’s noisy sheep- “BAAAA!!! BAAAA! Why didn’t you put me to death?”. These are all attitudes that I want to keep hidden or that make me ashamed,  but they are loud and obtrusive, and honestly, if I don’t put them to death, I can see that I stand to lose just like Saul– lose the Lord’s blessings in this area of my life, whatever His plans are for me. 

Our bleating sheep is the last act of disobedience that, through God’s grace and mercy and the conviction of the Holy Spirit, He is calling us to make right by putting to death the sin that is keeping us out of His will.

If the sheep is still bleating and the oxen are still lowing, there is still time to make it right. Don’t make them into sacrifices unto the Lord; kill them without mercy.

Pray!

January 15, 2026.

Day 13

Little People with Monumental Pride

 And Samuel told him, “Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The Lord has anointed you king of Israel. -1 Samuel 15:17

In Numbers 13, Moses sent out 12 scouts to spy out the land of Canaan. Caleb and Joshua came back with a very encouraging report, but the 10 other spies demotivated the Hebrew nation with their report: We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!” (Numbers 13:33)

Grasshopper thinking will make you shrink back from taking possession of the things God has prepared for you. When Saul was to be presented to the people as King, I remember that he hid among the baggage (1 Sam. 10:22), and for the rest of Saul’s reign he took his baggage of insecurity with him. It came to a head in 1 Samuel 15. 

Saul had failed to eradicate the Amalekites as God had instructed (see yesterday’s devotion). When Samuel visited in the morning, the Prophet heard sheep bleating– sheep that should have been dead, Amalekite property. 

The Prophet Samuel asks him a very important question: “Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel?” -1 Sam. 15:17

Even though Saul boasted the title of King, he did not operate like one who was very secure in his calling. He felt like a small man, and it showed in his actions.

1. He failed to obey God’s instructions. 
2.  He allowed the people to take plunder, when they were not supposed to. 
3. He built a monument to himself, undoubtedly to boast about taking Amalekite territory.  
4. He grabbed at Samuel’s robe, ripping it out of desperation. 
5. He acted out of fear of the people. (1 Sam. 15:24) “for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded”
6. He blamed the army for taking the best of the sheep, goats and cattle. “Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle” (1 Sam. 15:21)
7. He made the excuse of performing sacrifices for his disobedience.
8. He was more concerned about seeming like the chosen leader than actually being the chosen one. “But please, at least honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel” (1 Sam. 15:33)

Saul had issues. Saul had failed to see who was really in charge of his life– not him, but God. Despite what he thought of himself, he needed to remember that he had been chosen by God to be King; therefore, because God has elevated him to that position through no work or special talents of his own, it was God who was responsible for all his success. He did not have to fear anyone nor please anybody to be successful at what God had asked him to do. Saul forgot this and took his eyes off God and placed them unto himself. How do we know this? The monument. 

Saul had failed to see who was really in charge of his life– not him, but God.

A monument is defined as “a statue, building or other structure erected to commemorate a notable person or event.” We only build monuments to people when we fancy that they are great. Well, Saul thought he was now great– a great conqueror of the Amalekites! 

Saul may have conquered territory, but he had not conquered his insecurities and pride. 

Let us make sure that while we are winning the battles on the outside, we are also winning the war on the inside. Let us make sure that the monument of pride is torn down to fall on its face before the true God and that all we have left is monumental awe at the God who raised us up from the zombies (Ephesians 2:1) that we were to make us into His masterpieces (Eph. 2:10), ready to fulfil the works he planned for us long ago.

January 14, 2026.

Day 12

Obeying Correctly, Completely and with the Right Heart

And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.- 1 Samuel 15:22

Yesterday, as I read the post Seat 27E by Dr. Will Moreland, I was inspired by his courage to obey the voice of the Lord, the impact that his obedience had on the lady who sat beside him, and also by an expression he used that reminded me of scripture: he said “Obedience beats comfort…”. This reminded me 1 Samuel 15:22b which says, “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

I had to look it up this morning. What does it mean, really?

In 1 Samuel 15, we get the account of the moment when God took the Kingdom of Israel from Saul. He lost it due to his disobedience. He was instructed by God, through the prophet Samuel, to destroy the Amalekites– from man down to jackass- everything, but Saul spared the king, Agag, and he also took some of the animals. 

 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.– 1 Samuel 15:9

When the prophet Samuel came early the next morning to see what King Saul was up to, he was told Saul had gone to Carmel, where he had set up a monument to himself (more on this tomorrow). Saul clearly thought he had obeyed the Lord’s instruction because he greeted Saul with the following words: “Blessed be thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of the Lord.”– 1 Sam.15:13

How could Saul have gotten it so wrong? 

Firstly, Saul failed to obey the Lord’s instructions correctly. He was told to kill the men, but he spared the king; he was told to kill all the sheep, but he kept the best of the lot.

Secondly, Saul failed to obey the Lord completely. He was told to wipe them clean from the Earth, but he spared all the things he wanted to keep.

Saul failed to obey with the right heart. After doing his deed, he decided to build a monument in honor of himself and the work that he had done, totally forgetting about God’s hand in his work.

We must obey God correctly, completely and with the right heart!

His excuse for sparing the sheep? Sacrifice– “They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.”- 1 Sam. 15:15

In the end, Samuel told Saul that it was better to have obeyed than to offer sacrifice and  that the Lord had taken the Kingdom away from him. Samuel cut King Agag to pieces before the Lord, completing the work that Saul failed to complete. (1 Sam. 15:33).

Lord, please help me to obey you correctly by following your instructions the way you want it to be done. Please help me to obey you completely by seeing your work all the way through to the end, and please help me to obey you with a heart of submission and humility, not pride. 

Amen!

January 13, 2026.

Day 11

A God who Enters into our Suffering

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.-Matthew 5:4

Yesterday marked the 5th anniversary of my father’s passing. I miss him everyday. I remember the immense inner turmoil, the sadness, the anger, the grief, the deep sense of loss, and the terrifying sense of finality that washed over me in the days following his passing. Days blended into one, sleep left me like a woman abandoned by her lover. My appetite disintegrated into ash at the thought that my father, who used to spend a lot of time with me in the kitchen, would never eat again. The grief was palpable, and while I didn’t feel strong, I looked strong. I remember feeling in those times as though another strength was carrying me along. The words of every friend who called or visited stayed in my mind and, sadly, the absence and silence of others was even more stark in my memory than I desired.

As I drove home yesterday, I reasoned with the Lord about suffering. I recalled that in Acts 17, the Apostle Paul reasoned with a second group of philosophers in Athens called the Stoics. I wondered what their philosophy taught them about suffering. 

In my research, I discovered that Stoicism teaches that “everything hangs on one’s thinking, even pain”. Stoicism encourages its followers to redirect their thoughts away from pain to other thoughts as a way of alleviating suffering. In this way, they explain, suffering can be beneficial. If your right arm is broken, for example, you can begin learning how to write with your left hand. 

And, if your father dies? 

Stoicism would tell you that death is a rational part of life and thus need not to be feared. There is therefore no grieving the death of a loved one, as it is outside of your control anyway. You really should try to find the good in the painful situation- like learning to enjoy the life you have now and cherishing your family and friends who are alive. 

Furthermore, the god of Stoicism is pantheistic, which means their god is the universe- a rational entity as manifested through nature. What does this mean in my suffering? It means that the Stoic god could, perhaps, explain my pain, suffering or grief, but their god cannot enter into any of it- simply cannot relate. In this lies the crux of the matter. 

Why should I serve, know, love, care about a God who can only explain my suffering or teach me lessons in suffering, but he cannot ease it nor does he care to comfort me in it? 

The Stoic god is rational, but it is not loving nor, at the very least, helpful. 

In my discussion with the Lord yesterday, I pointed out to him that I knew he understood suffering: He was betrayed, denied, humiliated, mocked, persecuted, and heartbroken over the death of his friend, Lazarus, so I knew he knew pain, suffering and grief. He was, as Isaiah 53:3 says, “ He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”

The writer of Hebrews says, “For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities…”- Hebrews 4:15

“So what, Lord?” I asked the Lord. “What is the significance to me if you know about human suffering?” He answered.

The Lord reminded me of something. You see, before my father passed away, I was aware that I had a weakness: I did not know how to grieve with other people. I wasn’t being intentionally selfish; I just did not know what to say or how to BE around grief because nobody close to me had ever passed away– nobody I had ever deeply loved, who was close to my heart. I felt secretly ashamed about it because I could not relate, and I did not want to pretend. (I also secretly feared what it would take for me to be able to relate!) I only went to funerals if I was required to go because it was just all so sad. Ironically, it pained me that I was not more equipped to handle grief, as bright as I was, but did I even want to be able to relate? I was not so sure. Well, I was not acquainted with it. 

Aha! The Lord got me there.

The God of the Bible knows pain, suffering and grief, and because he does, he is equipped to walk with us through it. He does not tell us to push it aside, so we can find peace of mind in something else like Stoicism teaches; rather, he invites us to hold his hand in it so he can provide comfort. He invites us in Hebrews 4:16 to come to him for help in our time of need. 

Hebrews 4:16: Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Our God feels. Our God knows. Our God cares. Our God comforts.  

With this thought, I take us back to The Apostle Paul’s debate with the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. Imagine how revolutionary it must have been to hear about Jesus Christ– a God who suffered, bled and died for humanity? Imagine hearing that this God rose from the grave! What? A God who suffered? Yes! A God who suffered! Jesus suffered so he can comfort us in our suffering; Jesus resurrected, so he can give us life and life more abundantly. 

Aren’t you glad that our God understands suffering? I sure am!

Invite Jesus into your suffering today. He wants to comfort, heal and strengthen you.

January 12, 2026.

Day 10

A God who Interferes

Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.– Acts 17:31 (NLT)

On one of his missionary journeys in Macedonia, the Apostle Paul is in the Arepagus in Athens debating the Epicurean and Stoic Philosophers. He is presenting Jesus to them. They allow him to talk because they believe in intellectual discussions and they are polytheistic (they believe in multiple gods) so they want to hear what Paul has to say and who this “foreign god” is that he speaks of- Jesus.

One major facet of Epicureanism was the indifference of the gods. Their gods were too perfect to interfere with humanity. You can imagine how offensive Paul’s messge of Jesus Christ must have been to these philosphers. What? An interfering God? Yes! Our God interfered when He sent Jesus and he still interferes today through the Holy Spirit operating in the lives of His people. Our God interferes!

Let’s look at the other core values of Epicurean philosophy and contrast it with our Christian worldview as informed by the Holy Bible.

Epicureanism core values: 

1. Epicureanism: Pleasure as the Goal-The ultimate aim is pleasure, defined as the absence of physical pain and mental disturbance.

Bible: Whole duty of man is to fear God and keep his commandments- Ecc. 12:13

2. Moderation & Simplicity: True pleasure comes from satisfying natural, necessary desires (like food, shelter) and avoiding vain desires (fame, power) that lead to anxiety.

Bible: Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.- Psalm 37:4/In his presence, there is fullness of joy.- Psalm 16: 11

3. Friendship: A cornerstone of the good life, providing security and joy.

Bible: Bad company corrupts good character- 1 Corinthians 15:33

4. Withdrawal from Public Life: Living “hidden to avoid the stresses of politics and public ambition.

Bible: Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden….Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.- Matthew 5: 14-16

5. Naturalism: Explaining the world through atoms and void (materialism) to eliminate fear of supernatural forces, gods, and death. 

Bible: For since the creation of the world– his eternal power and divine nature–God’s invisible qualities are clearly seen, being understood from what has been made,   so people are without excuse. – Romans 1:20

6. Epicureans: The gods do not interfere in the affairs of men.

Bible: For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him will not perish but have everlasting life- John 3:16/ And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever”- John 4:16

Paul’s mention of Jesus would have been revolting to the Epicureans because Paul was essentially saying that God had interfered so much so that he came in person through his son Jesus Christ into the earth. Not only that, but this “god” (as they would have understood it) died on a cross and then rose from the dead!

To them, this was babbling and foolishness. To us, Paul’s argument makes perfect sense! This is what we stand on: Our God interferes in the lives of men today.

Aren’t you happy that our God is concerned about us? I know I am. He’s never too busy!

January 11, 2026.

Day 9

Do I have the right philosophy?

His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him– though he is not far from any one of us.- Acts 17:27 

David Hume, A Treatise of Human Nature

Let me ask you a question: What is your philosophy of life? 

J.P. Moreland and William Lane Craig, authors of the book Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview say the following: “The ideas one largely believes determine the kind of person one becomes. Everyone has a philosophy or life. That is not optional. What is optional and, thus, of extreme importance is the adequacy of one’s philosophy of life.”

The Apostle Paul was deeply troubled by the idols he saw everywhere in the bustling city of Athens and, on one of his teaching occasions, he ended up in a debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. 

In Paul’s time (around 50 AD) Athens was a significant cultural and intellectual center in Roman rule, famous for its philosophical schools (Plato’s academy, Aristotle’s Lyceum etc). It was brimming with temples, idols, and intellectual debates in the marketplace. There was a place in Athens called the stoa, a covered walkway where Zeno, the founder of Stoicism, used to hold his philosophical teaching sessions. Epicurus, the founder of Epicureanism, used to hold teaching sessions in the marketplace in Athens as well.  It was into this setting that Paul had walked– a place among the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. These men had absorbed “wisdom” from teachers who were mere men just like them.

What is a man who believes in Jesus to do now that he has found himself walking among men who consider themselves to be the sophisticated, great thinkers and learned men and women of their time? 

But, what is philosophy?

J.P. Moreland and William Lane Craig explain that the word philosophy comes from two Greek words “philein: “to love” and “sophia” which means “wisdom”. 

Thus a philosopher is a “lover of wisdom”. 

Philosophy may therefore be defined as the attempt to think rationally and critically about life’s most important questions in order to obtain knowledge and wisdom about them. 

One must therefore consider the source of the wisdom from which we draw our philosophical conclusions because, if the source is corrupt, the conclusion will be incorrect, and this incorrect worldview is the lens through which we will view the issues of this life and make all our decisions.

Psalm 111:10 encourages us to make sure that all our wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord and assures us that those who practice it have good understanding. As a believer in Christ, Paul’s philosophy of life was shaped by the holy scriptures and the reality of Jesus Christ, and this is the truth that he brought to the philosophers. How about you and me? Let us take the advice of James 1:5 today: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

Are there areas of your life for which you realize you don’t have a right understanding? Do you need wisdom to change your life? Let us turn to the Lord as our ultimate source of wisdom and His Word as our grounding philosophy today.

January 10, 2026.

Day 8

Stand up in Boldness!

Proverbs 28:1

The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

As a recent student of the book of The Acts of the Apostles, I have found myself most intrigued and encouraged by the courage of the Apostles. 

• I recall Stephen, who stood before the Sanhedrin after being dragged before them to answer to the false accusations: “Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, ‘We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.’” – Acts 6:11
• I recall the Apostle Peter, who faced intense persecution and was arrested by Herod. 
• The Apostle Paul was frequently imprisoned for speaking the truth and preaching about the Lord Jesus. He and Silas were stripped, beaten and thrown into prison, and their feet were fastened in stocks (Acts 16:22-24).

These are the questions I ask myself: Why didn’t they run away? Why didn’t they hide when people came after them to hurt them? Why didn’t they just disappear? Because they had the Truth on their side. In every instance that we see the Apostles face trouble, we see two things repeatedly happen:

1. They persevered in speaking the truth.
2. The Lord brought great deliverance. 

When we walk in righteousness, the Lord supports and protects us. Even though we may face trouble, lies, betrayal, injustice, the Lion of Judah shows up powerfully to bring deliverance. He showed up for Stephen (Acts 7:56), for Peter (Acts 12:6) and for Paul (Acts 16:26), and he will for us. It is his power in us and his presence with us that gives us courage and boldness to stand up in the face of persecution, injustice, slander and any other type of adversity that presents itself. 

Adam, in the Garden of Eden ran away when he heard the voice of the Lord. (Gen. 3:8-10)  Who was pursuing Adam? Nobody but the enemy within himself and his guilty conscience. When we are walking in righteousness, God gives us boldness– boldness to speak the truth, boldness to face adversity and boldness to walk in purpose! 

When we are walking in righteousness, God gives us boldness– boldness to speak the truth, boldness to face adversity and boldness to walk in purpose! 

The verse is not saying that wicked people cannot be bold and that righteous people never get timid; rather, it is making the point that there is something about wickedness that inspires fear in a person, that creates an invisible pursuer. If you have done nothing wrong and have the truth on your side, then the righteousness of God will give you the power and the strength to stand courageously. 

Stand up and face the enemy with boldness because the Lord (the Truth) is on your side. He is the lion in you, and he cannot lose!

January 3, 2026.

Day 1

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Psalm 139: 14

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are they works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (KJV)

Do you remember the little boy who killed the giant Goliath? Yes, that was David, and he grew up to be a mighty King. In Psalm 139, however, he reflects on his life, not as a great King but as one of God’s creations, as though he, the mighty King were just a tiny speck in God’s hands. This Psalm reassures us that God knows every little detail of our lives; He knows our thoughts, our actions and our whereabouts, and He never leaves us. King David joyfully expresses that he will praise God because he is assured and certain that he was marvelously created with a sense of awe, beauty, greatness and worth!

What if King David had spent his time thinking more about how other people saw him than how God sees him? What if he had begun to compare himself with other Kings, friends or family members? Surely King David would have never seen himself as anything precious and wonderful. He would have been miserable and probably would have been angry at God for making him with some kind of fault. Like some of us, King David would have questioned the size of his nose or the shape of his eyes. He would probably have even started to question if he was as good a king as some of the other kings around. All it takes is one small act of comparison for us to start to feel inadequate in other areas of our lives. Before you know it, you begin to feel insecure, worthless and miserable. We do it all the time— We say things like: “I wish I had her hair.”  or “I wish I could play football like him.” The truth is: If we continue to look at other people as the standard of perfection, we will never ever be satisfied with how we look. 

What if King David had spent his time thinking more about how other people saw him than how God sees him?

King David chose instead to focus on God and that made all the difference. In God’s eyes, you are fearfully and wonderfully made. It is time for you to change the way you think about yourself. Remember that God made the whole creation said it was good, but It was after he made man that God said “very good”. Begin to love and appreciate yourself just the way God made you and find peace in knowing that like King David, you are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Prayer: Lord, please help me to love and accept myself as you have made me, and help me to find peace in knowing that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Action Time: Before you go to bed tonight, think about 1 positive quality/attribute that God, in all His wisdom, made you with and whisper thank you to Him.

January 4, 2026.

Day 2
Cleaning up the Temple!

1 Corinthians 6:19

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (KJV)

In India there is a temple called the Karni Mata temple which has been dedicated to over 25,000 black rats. These rats are worshipped in the temple. It is known as the temple of rats! In Indonesia, there was even a temple dedicated to tigers. Naturally, it was called the temple of tigers. This may sound strange to us, because we cannot fathom that there would be much need for anyone to dedicate a whole building to creatures such as rats or even tigers, no matter how majestic they are! They are simply animals.

In the Bible, in the olden days, King Solomon built a temple. He dedicated it to the Lord, and after much sacrificing, God accepted it as His abiding place. The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:19 that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost which is of God, and we are not our own. In other words, we are bought with a price so we do not even belong to ourselves! We belong to God. Jesus Christ became the sacrifice on the cross so that our bodies could become the temple of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, I have good news! We are not just a pile of flesh and bones. Our human bodies are valuable in God’s eyes. It is a vessel through which He can operate in this world, and He wants to live inside our bodies. God does not just want to dwell in the church building! He wants to be in our physical temples which are our bodies. Since this is so, shouldn’t this change the way we treat our bodies, think about our bodies or even use our bodies, because now we know that the God of the universe is interested in— not just our spirit— but our bodies! Jesus is interested in you and me!

Whose temple are you? Afterall, every temple must take on the name of who or what it is dedicated to. It is so good to know that you and I are more than just hands and feet and are so much more than just flesh and bones! Our bodies were made to be temples of God. This was a part of the plan when Jesus Christ came and died on the cross for us. You and I do not need to live purposeless lives because now we know that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost and He is interested in living inside of us.

Whose temple are you? Afterall, every temple must take on the name of who or what it is dedicated to.

Prayer: Lord, Your Word tells me that my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for choosing me. Thank you for loving me. Help me to keep the temple clean so that Your Holy Spirit will always want to stay. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen

Action Time: Before you go to bed tonight, imagine that your heart is the area of the temple where God lives, identify all the things that you need Him to help you clean out. Make some time to tell Him about them and ask Him to help you remove them. He will, if you let Him.

January 5, 2026.

Day 3

Flightless but Not Worthless! Remember the Ostrich!

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. (KJV)– 2 Corinthians 12:9a.

Here are three (3) interesting facts about the ostrich:

1. Ostriches are the fast runners of any birds or other two-legged animal and can sprint at over 70 km/hr, covering up to 5m in a single stride.
2.  When threatened ostriches run although their powerful, long legs can be formidable weapons, capable of killing a human or a potential predator like a lion with a forward kick.
3. Ostriches’ running is aided by having just two toes on each foot (most birds have four), with the large nail on the larger, inner toe resembling a hoof.

Can you believe that? Yet with all of this, Job 39:13-18 tells us that the ostrich is not very bright. In fact, this bird with impressive feathers cannot even fly and does not do a very good job as a mother. But God, in His wisdom, has endowed her with one outstanding quality that aids her survival. The ostrich can outrun a horse… God says: “But when she runs Oh how she runs…leaving the horse and the rider in the dust!” (Message)

It is not the quality of the bird that God admires in the passage, not feathers nor flight; rather, it is the quality that He gave the ostrich that makes it impressive, and that is its ability to run. The weakness of the ostrich is not what God highlights; He praises the ostrich for its impressive running ability. Let this be a lesson to you that God has equipped you with certain abilities, and he is impressed when you use them. God is not impressed by people’s expectations of you; He is impressed by your use of what He has invested in you. To many, the ostrich may be a stupid, flightless bird, but to God, the ostrich is a beautiful, powerful, swift bird. Not all birds can fly. This one can run, and God made it so! What about you? Is there an area in your life that seems to be lacking, because of people’s judgments and expectations? Are you like the ostrich in a certain group but not really fitting in because of an outstanding difference? Today God wants you to know that He is well aware of your differences and even your talents. He expects you to use this outstanding quality to shine.

To many, the ostrich may be a stupid, flightless bird, but to God, the ostrich is a beautiful, powerful, swift bird. Not all birds can fly. This one can run, and God made it so!

Albert Einstein once said: “Everybody is a genius but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid.” We do not all fit into the same box. We have special abilities given to us by God that we should use to His glory. To some people, you may have many areas of weakness, but to God His strength will fill the gap, God never wants us to worry about the areas of our weakness; He wants us to trust Him. He simply expects you to use your outstanding quality to bring Him glory. Remember the ostrich. She may be flightless, but she is definitely not useless!

Prayer: Lord, you have made me and fashioned me. Help me to use the talents and gifts that you have given me to Your glory. I trust you with my weaknesses. Let me not struggle to fit in, but let me stand out in the ways and the things that please you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen

Action Time: During camp this week, do something special for God by using your talents of doing a special act of kindness for someone. You can even give God your time by volunteering to help out. 

January 6

Day 4

The Powerful Old Dusty Scrolls

And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes. (KJV)–

2 Chronicles 34: 19

Israel had been on the decline for years after King David’s reign. There were very few good kings after David— only a handful of them. The people had been repeatedly mislead and had fallen into idolatry. After the 55-year reign of King Manasseh, we finally meet King Josiah who “did right in the sight of the Lord.” He was a good king. He started ruling in the nation of Israel when he was only 8 years old! One day, King Josiah had a life changing experience one of the temple priests found the Book of the Law of the Lord which had been given to Moses in the temple, and one of the scribes brought it and read it to the king. After hearing the Law of the Lord that was read to him, the king tore his clothes in anguish! King Josiah was shocked that the people had been disobeying God’s Laws for so many years and had fallen into sin.

This was the king’s reaction to the Word of God. It shows us the effect that the words had on him. Not only was he dismayed, but he followed through with actions. The words from these old dusty scrolls were powerful enough to bring a king to his knees in repentance. He was transformed, and he renewed His mind so that he and his nation could do the acceptable and pleasing thing before God.

How about you and me? What is your reaction to hearing the word of God? Do you believe it? Do you respect it? Sometimes we fall asleep when others are teaching or preaching the Word,  Some of us do not even read the Bible. The truth is, if we have no regard for God, we really will not care what He has to say. If you respect God, you will respect and obey His Word. What King Josiah showed us was true repentance. Not only did he tear his clothes, but he also followed through with actions by obeying the instructions that were read to Him in God’s Word. Repentance is more that weeping and rolling at the altar, it is a change of mind and a turning away from sin. It requires that we stop doing the things that displease God and start doing the things that please Him. King Josiah did this and was able to turn the nation of Israel back to God.

The truth is, if we have no regard for God, we really will not care what He has to say.

Prayer: Lord, please forgive me for all the times when I have not paid attention to Your Word. I pray that you will help me to respond to the truth of Your word. Help me to apply it to my life. In Jesus name I pray. Amen

Action Time: Stay awake and listen to every word spoken in the next sermon you hear and the next time you read your Bible. Think about the words carefully. How do they apply to your life? Prayerfully journal your thoughts.

January 7

Day 5

Picking the Right Fruits

Galatians 5: 22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (KJV)

Right now, if you go to any guinep tree, mango tree or apple tree, you are almost certain to find some of these delicious fruits to enjoy! People everywhere use all kinds of methods to pick the juiciest of these fruits from their place high up in the treetops. If you go into any orchard to gather fruits, chances are you test the fruit before you pick it. You might even smell it, look at the skin and check to see if any insects have bitten it or if there are worms inside, then we take them home and enjoy them, because that is why we picked them! The Bible also talks about fruits. They are referred to as the fruits of the Spirit. These are the qualities that the Spirit of God produces in us when we let Him in.

God wants us to pick the right fruit. He wants us to enjoy the life that He has given us, and by His Spirit within us, we can bear spiritual fruit. As we grow, we begin to change. Our attitude to God and to those around us and even challenging circumstances will be much better.  We should aim to grow spiritual fruit. The writer of Galatians, the Apostle Paul, tells us about some other kinds of fruits which we are not to grow. These are the “wormy”, insect-bitten, rotten fruits that make us sick! He mentions fruits like hatred, fornication, drunkenness, envying, murders and so on. Nobody should pick these fruits. They should be thrown into the garbage.

What kinds of fruits have been growing in the orchard of your heart? Can you honestly say that you have been growing the fruit of the Spirit? Have you been picking the right fruits? If not, it is not too late. The Holy Spirit wants to do a new thing in your heart right now so that you can begin growing and picking the right fruit right away. The next time that someone in your house or at work shouts at you or someone cuts into your lane on the highway, instead of picking the bad fruit of anger for a response, the Holy Spirit will help you to respond with gentleness. The next time another colleague gains a promotion, instead of responding with strife, malice and bitterness, you can choose to respond with joy! You can be happy when someone else wins. God wants to help you to pick the right fruit so that you do not live a rotten life.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you that you have taught me about the fruit of the Spirit. I pray that you will help me to grow the fruits and pick them at the right times. Help me to do what is pleasing to you and, by Your Holy Spirit, I pray that you will get the bad fruits out of me. Thank you for changing my heart. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen

Action Time: 1. Recite today’s key verse!

2. Be on the lookout tomorrow to see if there is any situation in which you can pick (use/apply/respond by using) the fruit of the Spirit as your response to a troubling situation. Instead of getting angry or telling a lie to impress someone so they will think highly of you, how about choosing to please God by responding with patience and truth? Try it.  

January 8, 2026.

Day 6

The Heart is God’s Standard

1 Samuel 16: 7

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. (KJV)

If God were to judge us by looks, life would be unfair! The truth is, our human standards are nothing when compared to God’s. We are limited, but God is unlimited. We are finite, but God is infinite. Our knowledge has a limit but God sees and knows all things, and the Bible tells us that Man (humans) look at the outward appearance of a person and makes his judgment from that point-of-view, but God has a different standard. He looks at the heart. We focus on the external qualities, but God focuses on the internal qualities. Which do you think is better?

The heart is important. The Bible teaches that we live our lives based on the condition of our hearts. This is what helps us to make decisions. When the Bible speaks of “the heart”, it is not speaking about an organ. Rather, “the heart” refers to the thoughts and meditations of the mind. I like to imagine that God has X-ray vision like some superheroes I have seen. He can look at you and me and see what is going on inside us on a very deep level. We, however, just focus on how people look, dress, speak and smile. For God, that is not as important.

Since God has all this knowledge then, wouldn’t you say it is best to trust Him more than yourself when it comes on to choosing the people to hang out with? After all, can you really tell what is going on inside their heart? So many people make bad decisions about relationships, friendships, marriage and business because they got tangled up with somebody who looked really good on the outside, but their heart was not in the right condition. The prophet Samuel was about to make this same decision by looking at David’s handsome brothers, but God had seen their hearts, and they had not met the standard, so He chose David to be king instead. David turned out the be the best king of Israel, a mighty warrior and as God calls him, “a man after God’s own heart”. Choosing people just by outward appearances can destroy your life!

What about us? If God were to turn His x-ray vision on you right now and looked at the condition of your heart, what would He find? What condition is it in? Is it clean, pure, full of good, hopeful, joyful thoughts? Do you think He would recommend you as a friend to somebody else as your heart is right now? If not, do not worry. God is not ashamed of you! He loves you and wants to help you get your heart in the right condition. Pray and ask God to heal your heart and to clean it of all the things that have corrupted it and to make your heart pleasing before Him. He wants to be the centre of your heart.

Prayer: Lord, if I trust my own self, I might choose the wrong friends and get into the wrong company. I pray that you will help me in this area and Lord please change my own heart that it will be acceptable in your sight, in Jesus name I pray. Amen

Action Time: Make a drawing of a heart. At the centre of your heart, write down the most important thing/person in your life. Around that, write down all the other things and people you love. Finally, write Jesus on your paper. Where have you put Him? What will it take to get Him to the centre of your heart or to keep Him there.

January 9, 2026.

Day 7

There is a New Creature in Town!

2 Corinthians 5: 17

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. (KJV)

Some years ago, I went to watch Avengers: Infinity Wars. It was amazing! I loved to see the different superheroes in their costumes activating their super powers to defeat the wicked, big purple guy with the infinity stones. And then when Black Panther came on the scene and he had to defeat….um…okay, let’s get back on track. Yes, it was nice and very interesting, but it was also sad, because in this episode, nobody was powerful enough to beat this evil monster this time around, not even Thor the god of thunder could beat him with the new axe. It turned out that the heroes of today themselves needed someone to save them.

Well, it turns out that we do have someone who can save us, and He is much more powerful and real than any of the superheroes we have seen on television. They cannot even compare to His strength and power. His name is Jesus, and the great thing is, He wants us all to be as great as he is. He wants to give us the power to beat every kind of evil that threatens to take over our lives, our families and our world…and we do not need an axe to do it. All we need is his Holy Spirit which we receive by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. He can transform your entire life when you receive Him.

Yes, you will be changed, and as a result, you will want to live a much different life as you seek to please God and accomplish great and mighty things by His power at work in you. Do you know a family in need of change? Do you know anybody who needs help or encouragement? Is there a place you can think of where God’s presence is much needed? Well, guess what, God wants you to be the change, but you can only be the change when you allow Him to make you into a new creature. He will let you put aside that old garment and be transformed into the person He wants you to be— powerful, strong, effective and equipped to turn this world right side up for Jesus. You will be able to resist the devil and defeat all your adversaries by the power of Jesus Christ. God is waiting on you to say YES! What will be your superhero name? I think it should be “NEW CREATURE”! Doesn’t sound too bad, does it?

Prayer: Lord, I want to be who you want me to be and do what you want me to do. I pray that you will transform me by the power of your Holy Spirit so that I can be a new creature, changed and renewed by Jesus Christ. In Jesus name I pray. Amen

Action Time: Make a list of all the things you would change in your life, family, home, community and country right now if you knew you would not fail. Pray to God about each one of them and ask Him to empower you to make the changes. This is your PRAYER LIST.