Jonah, get real!

An Emoji Devotions The 8th June, 2021

Topic: Jonah, get real!

by H. U. Wenger

Highlights: Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the Lord. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:24) 

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139, 7 – 16)  

I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’ The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit. “When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple.” Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. (Jonah 2:4 – 8)

We all know the story of Jonah. He receives the word of the Lord to go to Nineveh to announce them God’s judgment, but Jonah runs away. He hates the Assyrians, who were well known as brutal warriors and oppressors. He is fully aware of his calling and of his prophetic authority. He knows that his preaching would cause the Assyrian to repentance and that their turning around would provoke God’s grace and mercy. The beginning of Chapter 4 reveals his heart: But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 

Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” Jonah knows that he got created by God for a time like this, but he lacks the love. He is craving for retaliation and revenge. He wants to see disaster pouring down on Israel’s enemies. The hatred in him and his anger over God’s love deceive him into his futile running away from God. On that journey he experiences not only the love and forgiveness of God and men, but also God’s wonderful grace and mercy in his spectacular salvation through a fish. His insight that those, who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them, has not yet changed his heart. What he enjoys for himself, he wants to deny to people he does not like. He rather wants to die himself than to witness God’s love for them. Isn’t it time for Jonah to get real? Isn’t it time for Jonah to allow the love of Jesus to enter his heart and to love his enemies? What grudges do I harbor in my heart?  What hinders the love of God to flow through me?   

We all are created for a time like this. Let us not run away from our prophetic authority, but let our hearts be filled with the love of God, who craves salvation for every human being and for his whole creation. 

Prayer: Dear God, let me cling to your word and fill my heart with your love. Beware me from being judgmental to the point that I am getting blind for grace and mercy. Let me rejoice over the salvation of my enemies and give me a double portion of love for them. Amen. 

Strength to Stay Calm

 

An Emoji Devotions for Fri Jun 4, 2021

Topic: Strength to Stay Calm

Highlight: 

The Lord is constantly watching everyone, and he gives strength to those who faithfully obey him. But you have done a foolish thing, and your kingdom will never be at peace again.

 2 Chronicles 16:9

May we not do a foolish thing in the sight of  God in Jesus name. When you forget things you heard and saw God did for you recently and in face of challenges take another route without His approval - Who does that? The Lord says, “If you love me and truly know who I am, I will rescue you and keep you safe.  When you are in trouble, call out to me. I will answer and be there to protect and honor you.  You will live a long life and see my saving power.”

Psalms 91:14‭-‬16

you should look up to God and you know for sure that when you face any challenges all you need is stay calm because The Lord is constantly watching. He does not sleep not slumber. Those who have done foolish things you may not be at peace again unless they find their way back home like the prodigal son. If you want to be at peace you need to pray for Strength to stay calm until God arise to help. "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" ... Matthew 8:26... For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today. Matthew 11:23

It's good to be alert but God knows deep down inside if your intentions are right with him you won't panic - Hey everyone has the fear but Do not think it's what you see in the movies. It's different for those who have strong spirit of God. The wind may tear mountains and break rocks into pieces before the Lord, but the Lord is not in the wind and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord is not in the fire and after the fire a still small voice 1 Kings 19:11-13. It is only those who stay calm that will hear the "still small voice". Not the stormy heart only calmed heart. 

Calm heart is like Heaven and Heaven is a place where sorrow never wander, where joy blooms and happiness ponders. If the heaven is truly inside of you then you must be calm. God is powerful and strong enough to fight your battles for you. From now on, receive strength to stay calm. Amen

Prayer: Heavenly father, I confirm that you are God and I would love to have a calm and confident heart. I pray for strength to stay calm always in Jesus name. Amen. 

The Sister and Mother of Strength

 An Emoji Devotional for Thu, June 3 2021

Topic: The Sister and Mother of Strength

Highlight: 

Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.

Song of Songs 2:15 NIV

Strength has family members. On the stage today, I present you the strength and it's family. You will need them to catch the foxes that ruins your vineyard. Foxes doesn’t come and only eat the fruit of the vine–they do much more damage. They like to gnaw on the trunk, dig holes around it and expose the roots. They don’t simply eat the grapes, they like to destroy the entire vine! 

Things like unresolved conflicts, addictions, negative mindsets and laziness are examples of foxes that ruins blossoming vineyards. We will need Strength and it's co to win the foxes of life.

Foxes are extremely smart and stubborn. They will watch you and your habits and learn when it is the safest to make an attack on your poultry and vineyard. But Strength alone cannot chase Foxes away, you need Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding to chase Foxes. Proverbs 4:7 says "Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding." The  three sisters of Strength are Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding but the mother of them all is Vision. If you want to make a difference in the world today, you will need to have Vision also known as Divine Revelation or Divine Guidance. It will unravel the mystery behind chasing away foxes of life permanently. 

The vision I am talking about is divine guidance. Proverbs 29:18 says that "When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful."

Do you know that anyone who is lead by divine guidance will work wonders because they have automatic wisdom, knowledge, understanding and strength combined. Foxes don't like urine. You will have to chase them away by urinating in their den(s) and off they will go far away from your vineyards. Strength alone is not enough to discover a solution. We must connect to the source of strength itself which is Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:13 says We can do all things through Christ that Strengthens us. 

Our default mindset is one of defence and self-protection. But we do have to "Trust in the LORD with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding; Proverbs 3:5. When we obey and meditate on divine laws written in the Holy Bible, we will have good success through Divine Guidance. Joshua 1:8. 

Prayer: Help, O LORD, Give me divine guidance in Jesus name. Amen

Strength of spiritual decency

 

An Emoji Devotions for Wed, June 2, 2021

Topic: Strength in Spiritual Decency

Highlight: 

She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, “Come on, sleep with me!” Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house. Genesis 39:12

Do not copy the way others behave on internet. When you go to forums, videos, social media you will see them saying and doing things indecently all because of likes and comments. Though they speak foul languages with indecent lifestyles and got more followers for it - Do not think they do go Scott free. Our Lord Jesus Christ talked about attention seekers in Matthew 6:2 that temporary happiness is their reward and Afterwards they get depressed because they may not get enough attention as they expect from God. Luke 18:14.  

There is strength in decency most especially spiritual decency. Spiritual Decency is behaviour that conforms to accepted standards of morality or respectability before God and men even when people are not there looking at you. Although Joseph was a vibrant man, he chose to run away from sin of fornication even when no one was looking. That is decency. The strength decency gave him was trust and good records before God. It might not be fornication, it might be other indecent lifestyle, you should run away from it.  Do you know that God forbid gambling in Psalm 15? You should Google search your Bible more often to get answers to real life questions Matthew 7:7.

What will happen when God trust you because of your decent lifestyle? He will elevate you to take over big things and enter into everlasting happiness (Read Matthew 25:21). You cannot manage God's given talent with indecent lifestyles, it will always flop and you will not know why. The reason is because God is Holy. and decent. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16) which simply means you must be spiritually decent Hebrews 12:14. Decency is very important in life and it is better to start living out early so that you will be able to cope. (see 1 Samuel 26:25).

 Some people do not know that bad behavior are indecent lifestyles because no one has ever explained it to them before. Please check Galatians 5:19-21 to see more examples of indecent behaviors shortlisted. 

In Job 31:1 Job said “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman." The strength of this decency trait was also part of what lead to his restoration. Miraculously, spiritual decency can lead to restoration of deteriorating health conditions back to full healthy life. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8. Decency does not have two name, you cannot adjust it. It's Either you are spiritually decent or not. Even you yourself can be the judge when you look at your life and honestly ask if you are spiritually decent or not. Read different Bible stories to learn more. Cultivate the habit of reading your Bible from now on to build on this important topic. God loves spiritually decent people. Act 4:13.

Prayer: Heavenly father please give me grace and mercy to be spiritually decent in your eyes. In Jesus name. Amen 

Divine Strength

 

An Emoji Devotions for Tue, 1st of June 2021

Topic: Divine Strength

Highlight: 

So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 1 Kings 19:8

Keep walking. Do not stop your journey, you are yet to reach your destination. If you do not have enough strength do not blame yourself. Ask for strength. It is the will of God for you to be strong. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; it is not an ordinary strength that can complete these extraordinary task. According to Matthew 16:17, Flesh and blood prohibit divine ideas to depend on God for support. In the Lord's prayer our Lord Jesus instruct us to say: "Give us today our daily bread" in Matthew 6:11 because when you depend on God for everything especially food, then you would have truly received the consciousness of father and child relationship between you and God who will give you His Holy Spirit to help you. Do not forget  this topic is all about divine strength. Yes, divine strength comes from divine dependency which means you depend on God for everything. Isaiah 40:31 says "but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.." 

If you are a kind of person that trust and hope in God for help before and is now wondering how to tap into divine Strength, Do not go too far, you just begin to acknowledge the things you have received from God in the past through faith based thanksgiving. By so doing will exert the visibility of God's presence into your life. Remember some of those things you have forgotten and say "Dear Heavenly Father I acknowledge and I'm thanking you for what happened yesterday's afternoon".  That is a good example of making use of Divine Strength and another one is "Dear Heavenly I am seeking your assistance on this matter, let your will be done concerning them in the name of Jesus. Amen"

Finally, The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. Proverbs 18:10. Remember Philippian 2:10 that that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. Consider these things when thinking about divine strength. Even princes may fail and forget their promises"...for not by might shall a man prevail." But in the name of the Lord almighty, the God of the armies of Isreal, you will prevail. 1Sam 17:45 Amen

Prayer: Dear God, honestly you are my Father. I respect and acknowledge the name of Jesus you gave to me to ask anything in your will. I am also thankful for your Holy Spirit. Please strengthen me today In Jesus name Amen.

Voice of Hope

 An Emoji Devotions for Mon,  31st May,

2021

Topic: Voice of Hope

Highlight: 

Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." Numbers 13:30

"We can do it", "You can do it" and "I can do it", are certainly samples of the voices of hope. Then after you have done it you say "I have done it". What a wonderful impression to call someone who was wondering if you can do something and say "I have done it". The Bible says "I can do all things through Christ that Strengthens me" Philippian 4:13. This is voice of hope established in the strength of our Lord Jesus when you are able to do the impossible though faith by giving hope. 

Many years ago I have heard about Ezekiel 22:30 which reads thus in NLT "I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one." 

God was searching for someone to stand in the gap for a city so that he will not destroy it, but he found none. Hold on, Everyone in that city chose to speak for themselves. Though there were righteous people in it but none of them chose the ambition to look out for one another in the area of intercessory prayers to God. What a pity! God went looking for someone to stand in the gap to save that city but found none.  Had not Abraham plead with God for the righteous people city of Sodom, maybe Lot life would have been destroyed. (Genesis 18:16-33) You see, God saved Lot and his family from destruction because of Abraham's intercession for the righteous in that city. Genesis 19:22. This is a lesson for all cold blood Saints living in the I-don't-care-attitude.

In Psalm 103: 23 Moses begged God to turn from his anger and not destroy His chosen Nation Isreal when they turned away from His ways. Though It was thousands upon thousands years ago but up till Today we can see that the hope is still alive in the lives of all Israelites as a Nation because of that prayer. Remember that, Jesus Christ also prayed for Peter in Luke 22:32 "But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” Afterwards God used Peter mightily to bring gospel to the whole world.

The reason you should have the voice of hope in you is not because of today alone but for the sake of tomorrow and future. You may not know the degree of salvation you are bringing into many lives by pleading for them in prayer and by doing so, you would have saved yourself. Remember that Elijah prayed for Fire and Rain for the salvation of Isreal. You too should be concerned from now on because God is looking for people with "Voice of Hope" so he will not destroy that city. If he finds one in you then you would have joined the heroes of the next generation as you stand in the gap through your intercessory prayers for your city and the people around you. Be the Voice that God is looking for. Voice of Hope. Amen

Prayer: Father I pray according to your will to give me the voice of hope that counts in Jesus name. I plead for salvation for my city and all men in Jesus name. Amen.

Consistency of Hope

 

An Emoji devotions for Sun 30th May, 2021

Topic: Consistency of Hope

Highlight: 

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor 13:13

Hope is a Miracle. It is the basis of livelihood for all things.  We must learn the way of hope because in everything we do, we hope in one thing. Hope gives light and light gives life. When there is light, people move and when they move, there is chance to grow. People die when their hope is lost. I pray that your hope will not be hidden behind the shades of darkness in Jesus name. Our Lord Jesus Christ is hoping that his followers would one day bear fruit by showing kindness to others in his name. He said in John 15:9 NLT that "When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father." If you want to give God great joy, you must be hopeful in Jesus always. How? In John 15:10 Jesus Christ is hopeful in God by obeying His commandments to lay down his life for the salvation of man. He wants us to be hopeful in Him likewise by Obeying his commands. In everything that God created, Hope is one of the most consistent thing. Sun has never fail, river never ceases to flow, the wind never stops and each night turns into day . They always obey the commands of God.  It is a thing of panic when human deviates from hoping in their maker and turn their hope to something else.  "For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning." Psalms 30:5

If you are passing through uncertainty but are consistent in hope, it is guaranteed that better days will definitely come. It is hope that makes a child of God to plead for mercy Not their sin. God understands what you are going through right now but what is the gain if you keep silent about it. In Psalm 116:1 David said "I love the LORD because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy." When you are always praying and seeking God's approval, You are hopeful. The river gives water to the earth and the earth yield plants that bear fruits and The fruits serves as food to all. Hope is a process. Whoever is consistent in Hope will always have understanding to be patient that God is working on their matter. Habakkuk 2:3b "... If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed."

If you have the opportunity of reading this devotion, keep it and share it to let people know that God will do something about their situation, that they should not give up. Tell them that this is the time to hope more and more in our Lord Jesus Christ. Come Lord Jesus. Amen.

Prayer: Eternal Rock of Ages. I am hoping in your light. Please do not let darkness disturb my hope in you. I pray for mercy and help. I love you because you will hear me. In Jesus name. Amen.