ojaysjoel blog

“This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24) Devotion: Each morning is a gift from God. The very fact that you wake up is a testimony of His mercy, for many lay down to sleep but do not rise again. Sleep itself is a mystery—when you are deeply asleep, you are unaware of what happens around you, almost as though you were temporarily absent from this world. Yet, by God’s grace, you awaken with full consciousness, restored to life.   In sleep, we dream. Dreams are another wonder of God’s creation. Sometimes they reveal hidden truths, sometimes they reflect the past, and at other times they foreshadow the future. “For God speaks once, yea twice, yet man perceives it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night…” (Job 33:14–15). These mysteries remind us that man is not merely flesh, but a being of spirit, soul, and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23). The flesh we can see and touch, the soul we perceive through emotions and thoughts, but the spirit is uns...

Scripture focus: John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. Devotion: Confidence, as Merriam-Webster defines it, is “faith or belief that one will act in a right, proper, or effective way.” In everyday life, we see this kind of confidence expressed in remarkable ways. For instance, when people go to the hospital, they entrust their lives to doctors and nurses. They willingly submit to anesthesia and surgery, fully believing that the process will be successful. That is confidence in human ability.   Yet, when it comes to faith in Christ Jesus, many struggle to believe. They find it difficult to trust Him to deliver them from a sinful lifestyle or to prepare a place for them in heaven. Jesus Himself said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions… I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:1–2). Sadly, many doubt this promise.   Some people think that their good works alone...

Scripture focus:    “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5–6). KJV  Devotion: Every relationship thrives on trust—whether in business, family, friendship, or love. Trust is the foundation upon which all human interactions rest. When you take your car to a mechanic, you place confidence in his skill and honesty. When you sit in the dentist’s chair, you trust in their ability to care for you. Even in online trading, trust is essential: you pay in advance believing the seller will deliver, or you hand money to the delivery agent trusting it will reach the rightful company.     We live daily by trust, often with people we have never met. Yet, many struggle to place their trust in Jesus Christ—the One who is perfectly faithful. Scripture reminds us: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways ...

Scripture focus:  “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not” (John 1:11) KJV  Devotion: Christianity began in biblical Israel, yet many of the people of Israel did not accept Jesus as the Messiah. The Scriptures testify that “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not” (John 1:11). The rejection of Jesus by the religious leaders of His time led to His crucifixion (Matthew 27:22–25). Even today, many in Israel do not embrace Him as Lord and Savior.     Yet, across Africa and the West, countless believers call upon the name of Jesus and experience the fulfillment of His promise: “If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it” (John 14:14). Personally, whenever I pray sincerely in His name, God answers, and His teachings bring comfort, guidance, and strength to live righteously. This is the essence of a glorious life in Christ. The Power of Belief in Christ:  If Israel had accepted Jesus as the Messiah, peace might have reigned among its...

Scripture focus:  And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. ( Mark 16:6 KJV) Devotion: Jesus Christ came into the world, lived among men, and gave His life on the cross. “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God” (1 Peter 3:18). But death could not hold Him, for “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said” (Matthew 28:6). His resurrection became the turning point of history, for without it the gospel would have remained confined to Nazareth. Instead, after His ascension, the disciples were scattered, and “they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs” (Mark 16:20).     Jesus Himself explained this mystery: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain” (John 1...

Scripture focus:    “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:25).    I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1) Devotion: On Good Friday, Christians all over the world remember the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He willingly endured suffering and death on the cross so that those who believe in Him might be saved from eternal damnation. His sacrifice was not partial, but total—an act of complete obedience to the will of God.     The Bible calls us to follow this example by becoming “living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1). This means living in total obedience to God’s Word, setting aside the desires of the flesh, and choosing to do only what pleases Him. Unfortunately, many Christians today are reluctant to embrace this call. Instead of surren...