ojaysjoel blog

Scripture Focus:   “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” — Philippians 4:11   Devotion:  Life is full of ups and downs, twists and turns. As the Yoruba wisely say, “life is not straight like the barrel of a gun.” Sometimes things flow smoothly, and progress comes quickly; at other times, challenges slow us down. In those moments, the temptation is strong to look at others and compare ourselves. Yet Scripture warns us against envy and covetousness: “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).     Many youths today desire quick wealth—luxury cars, designer clothes, and fine dining—without considering the source of others’ success. In pursuit of these desires, some cut corners, engaging in internet fraud, kidnapping, ritual practices, and other destructive p...

Scripture Foundation - Psalm 100:4 – “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”   - 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”   - James 1:17 – “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights…”    Devotion: Thanksgiving is not just a polite response to blessings—it is a spiritual discipline that acknowledges God as the source of all good things.    Acknowledgement means recognizing God’s presence and power in every aspect of life. When we acknowledge Him, we humble ourselves, admitting that our strength, wisdom, and provision come from Him.   The stories below are examples of people who acknowledged God and gave thanks. - Story of the Ten Lepers (Luke 17:11–19): Out of ten healed, only one returned to thank Jesus. His gratitude was not just acknowledgment of ...

Scripture focus: Psalm 34:17 – “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles.”   Reflection:  Suffering is part of the Christian journey, but the question is: should we endure it quietly, without sharing our burdens? The Bible gives us wisdom here.   - Galatians 6:2 – “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”     This verse reminds us that silence is not always strength. God designed the body of Christ so that believers can support one another.   - James 5:16 – “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”     Healing often comes through openness, prayer, and community—not isolation.   - Psalm 34:17 – “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.”     Even in prayer, God invites us to cry out, not to suffer silently. ...

....   your old men will dream dreams ..... Joel 2:28b KJV  Devotion: Dreams inspire us, but reality often tests us. Scripture reminds us that God Himself speaks through dreams, yet He also calls us to live faithfully in the present.    Joseph’s story shows this balance. He dreamed of greatness (Genesis 37:5–9), but reality placed him in a pit, slavery, and prison before the dream was fulfilled. His journey teaches us that dreams are seeds, but reality is the soil where they grow.    Daniel received visions of kingdoms and God’s eternal reign (Daniel 7:1–14). Yet, in reality, he lived faithfully in exile, praying daily and serving under foreign kings. His devotion in reality gave weight to his dreams.    Joel 2:28 promises: “Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.” Dreams are divine gifts, but they are not escapes from reality—they are invitations to walk in faith until God bring...

1 Peter 2:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. Devotion: Sickness can be understood as a disruption of health. It may be physical, where the body loses strength or ability—sometimes temporarily, sometimes permanently. It may also be spiritual, when the soul is weakened through sin and separation from God.     Physical sickness often arises naturally, yet it can sometimes be prevented by caring for ourselves and our environment. Spiritual sickness, however, is entirely preventable. God Himself promised:  “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.” (Exodus 15:26, NKJV)   When sickness comes, whether physical or spiritual, God has ...

[38] Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Acts 2:38 KJV Devotion: Have you ever felt like you needed to have a do-over? If so, you’re in good company. Peter knew this feeling well.    Peter was one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, invited by Jesus Himself to leave his life as a fisherman to join Him during His ministry on earth. On the night that Jesus was betrayed, Peter followed Him to the sham trial. The people in the area were openly and aggressively hostile to Jesus. Imagine what that must have felt like—to be surrounded by people who may choose to treat Peter the way they were treating Jesus at that very moment.     In Matthew 26 and Luke 22, we see that Peter chose to keep a low profile. He wanted to go unnoticed by the angry mob. That didn’t work for long though—three different people recognized him as a follower of Je...