ojaysjoel blog

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. Ecclesiastes 12:13 NIV. Devotion: The book of Ecclesiastes records King Solomon's quest for life's meaning. He concluded, "Everything is meaningless!" (Ecclesiastes 1:2), "wearisome" (Ecclesiastes 1:8), and "nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9). This ancient wisdom still resonates with our modern longing for more.   We crave substance beyond superficial connections, ambitions, and material possessions. We ask, "What's the point of life?" and "What's the value in accumulating wealth, power, or status?" Like Solomon, we realize that even the greatest accomplishments can feel empty.   Ecclesiastes 12:13 provides the answer: "Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind." Chasing worldly pleasures apart from God leaves us unfulfilled. Instead: - R...

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6" Devotion : There are three main keys: way, truth, and life. Everyone is calling on God using different modes and methods. Some call on names of ancient people, deity, carved images, stones etc. Anything mysterious to some people is God and they start to worship such but such media are just gods, they are not the way to God.    There is only one way to God, only Jesus Christ is that way. He says in the gospel according to Saint John 14:6a "I am the way," because Jesus came from God, so only Him can know and be the way(John 3:13). All other ways are ways to man, to enrich them.    Many religious folks claim they have the truth to God but Jesus Christ is the truth,  others gods are work of men eg the calf image Aron made for Israelites when Moses was on the mountain. Jesus is the truth because He is the true son of God (John 3:16). No other prophet can...

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24 NIV Devotion: Scripture teaches that salvation is a free gift from Jesus through faith. However, this gift requires a lifelong commitment. Jesus says, "Follow me," but this path comes with a price – everything. As disciples, we follow Jesus' footsteps, surrendering our desires and plans to His guidance. This means embracing self-denial, centering our lives on God's mission: loving Him and loving others while making disciples. Taking up our cross isn't easy, but it leads to eternal satisfaction in Jesus. Temporary pleasures and worldly possessions can't compare. Reflect on your life: - Are you holding onto things you're hesitant to surrender to Jesus? - Do relationships serve your desires or God's? Commit to following Jesus, regardless of challenges. The cross may be painful, but eternal life with Jesus awaits. Rem...

"For God did not send His Son to condemn the world, but to save it through Him." (John 3:17, NIV) Devotion: A guilty conscience can weigh heavily on those who haven't surrendered to Christ. However, feeling remorse for sin indicates a receptive heart, ready to repent. Jesus' purpose isn't to condemn, but to correct and save.   Consider the story of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:11). Jesus showed compassion, saying, "Neither do I condemn thee; go, and sin no more." Yet, refusal to repent leads to condemnation (Luke 13:5).  If you've given your life to Christ, confessed your sins, and seek righteousness, you have no reason to fear. Jesus has atoned for your sins; now, live according to His guidance (Isaiah 1:18-20).  If you're still living for yourself, consider surrendering to Jesus today. No matter the weight of your sin, God forgives and welcomes you.  May God guide us toward righteousness, and may we share the gospel with others. Written...

John 3:17 NIV [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Devotion: A thief runs when nobody pursues him is a saying of the wise. To a person who has not given his life to Christ there is a guilty heart, such a person carries the burden of guilt. Though it is a good thing but when you have given your life to Christ. Feeling the burden of sin shows you have good conscience and that your sin was only a mistake from which you are ready to repent. Yet you know that Jesus has not come to condemn you but to correct you and safe you.    But a hardened criminal has no conscience and feels no burden, therefore he continues to sin. He kills and maims, steals without qualms and does evil things without thinking of the repercussion. Yet if perchance he hears about Christ and comes to him, his sin will be forgiven and he will not be condemned. The story of a woman caught in adultry is a good example. Jesus says in John 8:1...

"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright." Psalm 20:7-8 KJV Devotion: In the time of King David, chariots and horses were considered the best military arsenal a kingdom could have. They provided security and confidence to those who had them! However, David showed us a deeper truth: Our true security and victory are not brought about by our intellect, power, abilities, or resources but by trusting in the name of the Lord. No human might can defeat the power of darkness but only the power of God. It’s foolish to rely on man's capacity when God's invincible and unfailing power has been made available to His people; we only need to ask Him and rely on Him.   Beloved, in our daily lives, these "chariots" may mean putting all our trust in financial stability, career success, technological advancements, superior intellect, influence and conne...

Psalms 139:10 NIV [10] even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. Devotion: There used to be a photo frame in our house with the inscription "The Unseen Guest Bless us today." This Unseen guest is Jesus Christ and we believe that He is always present anywhere we are.   This same Jesus, the son of God is here with me now, I believe he's also with you reader where you're today and everyday. If you are doing good God sees you and He is with you, whatever the situation God is there and He is ever ready to help you or encourage you.  If on the other hand your are living your life for yourself God sees you and also ready to help you provided you call on him. The only caveat is that you'll will have to believe God exists through your faith in His son - Jesus Christ. For full enjoyment of Christ I urge you to give your life to him today.   Let's remember that David the writer of the psalm 139 did a lot of evil things, remember the story of ...

Romans 3:23-24 NIV [23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24] and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  Devotion: Yesterday, I wrote on imperfect person working for a perfect God. The Bible verse quoted above reminds us that truly none of us is perfect, absolutely no single person born of man and woman way is perfect. The only person who has walked on the surface of the earth and is perfect is Jesus Christ the Messiah.   Since the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, all of us have become sinners. Nobody teaches you how to tell a lie or pick what does not help one to you. The sad part is we also know when we do wrong but some find it difficult to correct the wrong and do the right thing. When we mess up and we do regularly, though we should not, most people feel no shame. Everybody does mess up, but the ability to recognise your fault and return to Jesus immediately makes the difference....

2 Samuel 11:4  And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house. Devotion: I think it was Martin Luther who popularized the phrase,  God uses crooked sticks to draw straight lines . It’s a cleaver phrase that communicates the notion that God works through imperfect people to accomplish His perfect will. If God were to use only perfect person then he will not have anyone to use because in this life there's no perfect person. The Bible says all have sinned and fall short of God's glory. (Romans 3:23) Only Jesus' is perfect (1John 3:5). Nevertheless God uses imperfect people to accomplish his work and they do it perfectly. Examples abound in the Bible. I will just list a few:   Abraham was a liar (Gen 12:10-20; 20:1-11).   Tamar acted as a prostitute yet she was the great granny of the Messiah Jesus (Gen 38: 13-18)   Moses was a murderer (Exodus 2: 11-1...

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8" Devotion : Destiny has to do with your future; it is the power that controls what happens, but you can change your future by what you think. Thoughts are so powerful that they have the ability to change what you do on a daily basis, which has a bearing on your future.   If you want your future to be great, think on the following: truth, honesty, justice, purity, love, and good report. When you think on these things, you will develop good virtues for your life.   These virtues are also praiseworthy, which will influence the decisions and choices you make. Your good decisions and wonderful choices will lead you to a better future and hence a fulfilling destiny. Dear beloved, make ...

"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:13" Devotion : Jesus Christ has cautioned His children to be as wise as the serpent and as harmless as the dove. You need the wisdom of God to live and run the Christian race. There are many days in a Christian's life: the days of peace, joy, prosperity, and healing as well as an evil day. This evil day is the day that the devil and his cohorts of darkness have been planning all this while to get you. F They are looking for the slightest opportunity to unleash their venom on you. This is why you need to prepare against this day with the whole armor of God. This includes the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, boot of the preparation of the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:14-17).    Any of the armor that is lacking is a door the enemy can use to get you, so don...

He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; And that which he hath given will he pay him again. Proverbs 19:17 KJV Devotion: Imagine a world where communities rally around the hurting, and homes become havens of hope. The writer of Proverbs encourages us, "If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—and he will repay you!" (Proverbs 19:17, NLT).  Poverty takes many forms—financial, material, spiritual, or emotional. Some are trapped in cycles of hardship, while others struggle with illness or disability. Jesus reminds us that poverty of spirit also deserves our attention (Matthew 5). As believers, we're called to do the following: - Give generously to those in need - Care for the vulnerable - Live with open hearts  Jesus emphasizes that serving others is serving Him (Matthew 25:40). Acts of kindness, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the needy, and visiting the sick, don't go unnoticed.  While we long for a world without poverty, hunger, or conflic...

Psalm 51:10 KJV [10] Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me. Devotion: King David made some great decisions, but he also made some terrible ones. He had an affair with a woman named Bathsheba, for example, and attempted to conceal the secret by arranging the murder of her husband.   For someone who was considered “a man after God’s own heart,” David really messed up. And yet, we know from Scripture that David confessed his sin against the Lord (2 Samuel‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬) and can read about how he prayed for mercy in Psalm 51: when he prayed “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” ‭  If you’ve ever messed up, you’re in good company. Paul, the autthor behind much of the New Testament, writes in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Paul wasn't always a man who followed God's own heart, either—in fact, early in his life, he killed people who followed Jesus.    God did not a...

"As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12" Devotion : Our God is a great God. He loves righteousness and hates sin. Because of the love He has for His children, He promotes them when they live in righteousness. However, He judges and punishes them for their sins. When King David committed adultery with Bathsheba and then murdered her husband, God judged him for the sin he had committed (2 Samuel 12-14).  God does forgive sin, but the consequences of the sin still need to be borne by the sinner. When He forgives, He does not remember it anymore, and this is what He wants His children to learn from Him.   Dear beloved, let us learn to easily forgive one another and also learn to forget, even though forgetting peoples' wrongs may take some time. If we make a conscious effort to forget and ask for grace to forget, we may eventually forget and be healed by God. Hallelujah!  Please share your thoughts with me at g...

"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. James 1:6" Devotion : The relationship that a child of God has with Him is a call to faith. We can never do anything fruitful with God without first walking with Him in faith. Faith simply means counting on the Word of God at all times without relying on our human senses or feelings. Everything we do must be based on faith; in other words, we must have the Holy Scriptures to support every action we take.  When we pray, we must use the Word of God. After prayer, our thoughts should continually be filled with His Word so that we can talk the Word. This is very important because when we ask God anything based on His Word, He hears us, but if we contradict what we have asked by doubting through complaining and negative speech, then we are short-circuiting the power of God that is already in motion to release the answer to us.  Dear beloved, let your mind be...

Nahum 1:7 KJV [7] The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.  Devotion: Like the tribe of Judah in the time of Nahum, our nations are going through difficult times both economically and security wise. Where there no war there's banditry and kidnapping; all of which have adverse effect on the people. Many are busy chasing Mammon, they want money by all means, they have turned away from Christ. Farmers have become endangered species because kidnappers stopped them from going to the farm. Where they are permitted to farm they must pay heavy tax to bandits/kidnappers. Some are even prevented from attending church, some are slaughtered like ram by enemies of Christ.  Thank God your are not in this situation right now, I pray that God delivers those going through these difficulty times. I want to remind you the words of Nahum that "The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him." No...

"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1:17" Devotion : The Holy Bible consists of the Old Testament and the New Testament. God started a dispensation in the Old Testament where He gave laws to the Israelites through Moses. These included laws about everything concerning the family, relationships, work, worship, sacrifices, marriage, etc. Even though the laws were good, the Israelites could not obey them all of them at all times; they found themselves disobeying the laws because they were not born again.  God, in His own wisdom, created another dispensation in the New Testament through our Lord Jesus Christ. Here grace and truth have been given by Jesus Christ. You become a beneficiary of grace and truth when you accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior; you then become born again, and the Spirit of God comes to live in you. This makes it easier for you to be an obedient child of God because the Spirit guides you into all truth. Therefor...

Psalm 27:14 KJV [14] Wait on the LORD: Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. Devotion: Waiting can be challenging, as we often prefer quick results and instant answers. However, waiting is an inevitable part of life, whether it's for seeds to grow, seasons to change, or prayers to be answered. Waiting requires patience and courage, as exemplified by King David, who waited for God's timing and wrote, "Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord." (Psalms 27:14, NLT)  Waiting patiently doesn't mean inaction; we can proactively wait on God by: - Staying in communication with Him. - Looking for His presence in everyday moments. - Reading His Word and understanding His plans. - Worshiping Him regardless of circumstances. - Serving others inside and outside our circles. - Thanking Him for His gifts. Even when we're waiting, God is working. Examples from the Bible include: - Noah ...

"The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments. Habakkuk 3:19" Devotion : The Father of all spirits is the creator of destinies for the living. When you are born again, your destiny is changed to conform to that of the Kingdom of God. The prophet Habakkuk came to know one thing: If he made the Lord his strength, the Lord would quicken his feet to fulfill his destiny at the right time.  Dear beloved, do you want to fulfill your destiny? If you do, then make the Lord your strength, and let the Word of God be your everything.    You can only have God as your strength when you give your life to Jesus His son, when you meditate in the word of God and trust God in prayers and supplications.  Meditate on it day and night, and speak the promises you find there into your life. This will produce divine energy in you to move with supernatural speed to fulf...

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31" Devotion : The prophet Isaiah noticed two kinds of people in his walk with God: those who depended on themselves and those who depended on God.  Those who depend on themselves wear out and faint along the way, but those who depend on God are given renewed strength. This renewed strength makes them soar like eagles, they run and don't wear out or get tired, and they walk and do not faint.  Dear beloved, you must choose between relying on your own strength and waiting on God. Depend on His Word for everything, even though sometimes you may have to fast to empower your spirit to be more receptive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  As for me and my household we have chosen Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, therefore we are neither weary nor faint but Rejuvenated and Heavy-footed. I urge ...

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27" Devotion : There is no perfect peace anywhere except in Jesus Christ of Nazareth. He is the giver of perfect peace. The peace of this world does not provide the divine peace that we need. It only leads to a troubled heart and fear because it is man's way of providing peace for themselves and not God's.   The presence of security personnel cannot provide you with enough security, although it is good to have them. An feared African president died in his office even in the presence of hundreds of security men, therefore one can boldly say only God can make us secure. The world does not only need the presence of human security. We also need the peace giver, whose name is Jesus Christ; His peace overcomes a troubled heart and fear of all kinds.  Ask Him to come into your life now if you don't have Him in your...

1 Corinthians 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? Devotion: In the Old Testament, God designated special spaces for His people to connect with Him. From the Garden of Eden to the tabernacle in the wilderness and the temple in Jerusalem, these sacred spaces represented God's presence among His people. Although God can't be contained in a physical space, these locations served as tangible reminders of His presence.   Interestingly, the design elements of the tabernacle and temple featured garden imagery, symbolizing a return to the perfect beginning. However, the separation between a holy God and sinful people required priests to act as mediators. This system was temporary, but Jesus' arrival changed everything. He fulfilled prophecies, bridged the gap, and became the ultimate high priest, offering Himself as the ultimate sacrifice.   With Jesus, the need for physical temples ended, and God's Spirit began dwelling w...

3 John 1:2  "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." This is love of God exemplified. God wants you and me to be in good health all the time, being in good health means we'll have energy to serve God and ourselves. It will ultimately lead to success. Matthew 4:23  "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people."    Our God is a great healer and he's always ready to heal us in the spiritual and physical. All we need to do is trust and obey Him. When He commands; Do not misuse your body, do not engage in sexual immorality, do not take recreational drugs and do not smoke we should obey. He does not want you and me to take alcohol which destroys the liver. So obedience (Exodus 15:26) is the key. Remember our body is the temple of God(1Corithians 6: 19-20) We must...

“I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14) Devotion: This is purpose produces passion. Nothing energises more than having a clear purpose. “On the other hand, passion dissipates when you lack a purpose.” Rick says, “Just getting out of bed can become a major chose. It is usually meaningless work not overwork that wears us down, saps our strength, and robs our joy.” We won’t become a winning athlete by listening to lectures, watching movies, reading books, and cheering at the games. An athlete is not distracted by cream buns or heckling bystanders.  They win by getting on to the track, practising hard and determining to win. Hebrews tells us “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter ...

"My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. Psalm 119:28" Devotion : The kind of person you run to in times of need will determine the kind of help you will receive. Some people put their trust in their position only to realize that their position has been given to someone else. Others put their faith in people only to hear that such people are no more, and then their hope is dashed.     The psalmist was wisge enough to put his faith in the Word of God. In times of heaviness in his soul, he ran to the Holy Scriptures for strength.  Dear beloved, let us learn from the psalmist, and occupy our soul with the Word of God. Let the Holy Scriptures take over our mind and our thinking processes. We should also run to God in prayers to seek His face and make our petitions known to him. This is the teaching of Paul to the Philippians (Philippians 4 :6).  When we combine word of God with prayers we find strength and enablement to make wise d...

 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23  Devotion: Throughout his life, the truth of God, faithfully taught by the prophet Jeremiah, was rejected and ridiculed by many. This was distressing enough, but when he witnessed the destruction and devastation of Jerusalem, he fell into deep depression, weeping and mourning over the ruins of the beautiful city of God.   However, in his distress, hope was revived as Jeremiah looked away from himself to the Lord. He remembered the loving mercies, deep compassion, and long-suffering of God for all His rebellious people. Thus, he declared this beautiful truth: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is His faithfulness.”   How often our own lives reflect this scene. We fulfill God’s call on our lives, but circumstances seem to contrad...

"Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Psalm 103:4" Devotion : The children of God are safe from the destruction of the devil and his cohort of darkness. The moment you became born again, you were planted firmly in God. Thus you are in Christ Jesus and planted in God so that you are secured from the destructive powers of the devil. Your life is now firmly held in the eternal life of God.   Now that you are His child, He showers you with lovingkindness and tender mercies. He has plans for your life and thinks about you all the time to make sure that the plans He has about you come to pass. What He needs from you is for you to have knowledge of His plans about your life so that you can cooperate with Him in obedience to fulfill them.    He also wants you to share His lovingkindness and tender mercies with someone else so that others can be blessed through you. Dear beloved, your life is safe with God! Hallelu...

HYMN 93 - TO GOD BE THE GLORY, GREAT THINGS HE HATH DONE TO GOD BE THE GLORY 11.11.11.11. and Ref.  Give unto the Lord the glory. - Ps. 29:2 1. To God be the glory, great things He hath done, So loved He the world that He gave us His Son, Who yielded His life an atonement for sin, And open'd the Life Gate that all may go in.   Chorus: Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the earth hear His voice! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice! O come to the Father, through; Jesus the Son; And give Him the glory! Great things, He hath done! 2. O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood; To every believer the promise of God; The vilest offender who truly believes, That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.  Chorus: Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the earth hear His voice! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice! O come to the Father, through; Jesus the Son; And give Him the glory! Great things, He hath done! 3. Great things He hath taught u...

HYMN 831 - THEY THAT TRUST IN THE LORD ARE SECURE GRACE SUFFICIENT FOR THEE  9.9.9.8. & Ref  My grace is sufficient for thee. - 2 Cor. 12:9 1. They that trust in the Lord are secure, Tho' the storm rages dark o'er the sea; For this anchor of promise is sure; My grace is sufficient for thee. My grace is sufficient for thee, My grace is sufficient for thee, Oh, matchless, boundless grace of God, My grace is sufficient for thee. 2. What a boon to the pilgrim opprest, What a balm such a promise must be; To the laden ones seeking for rest, My grace is sufficient for thee. My grace is sufficient for thee, My grace is sufficient for thee, Oh, matchless, boundless grace of God, My grace is sufficient for thee. 3. In the race for the prize, fainting soul, Though a weary you bow down the knee, Rise again, and press on to the goal; My grace is sufficient for thee. My grace is sufficient for thee, My grace is sufficient for thee, Oh, matchless, boundless grace of God, My grace is suff...

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6" Devotion : As a child of God, God expects you to live in wisdom to make all of your time profitable to you and to His Kingdom. The energy and time you spend worrying over things you don't have control over could be made useful instead. Simply turn all your worries and complaints into prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving.  Being anxious over the needs in your life will simply make your situation worse because it will steal the joy of the Lord from your life. Learn to thank God in every situation because He is aware of what you are going through.    Commit your worries to Him in prayer and humble pleading. After you have done that, live in an atmosphere of celebrating your answers before they even materialize. The continual joy of the Lord in your life will bring people around you who can supply the answers to your needs. Prai...