Category: Devotionals

When God gives us a territory to inherit, He expects us to bring forth His rule and Kingdom in that territory. This is man’s ordination since the beginning. Therefore, it is not just about receiving what was promised, but also about bringing the will of God into what was promised.

This was not the case of the Israelites.Prior to their entering the land, God had told them in Exod 23:29-32, Num 33:51-53 that they must drive out the inhabitants of the land and their idols. Instead, what did they do – they put them under tribute.

Even though God had given the people of Israel the Promised Land, it did not mean that every nation and people there were just going to disappear. Whatever is given has to be collected. God has given, but the Israelites must collect it. This is the same we have trusted God for so many things, and when they finally arrive, we end up relenting. But the reality is that “answered prayers” usually means “more responsibilities”. For to whom much is given, much is expected. We are not supposed to go back to sleep after we have received the things we strived so hard for. It is like a man who worked so hard to impress everyone in his office that he is deserving a promotion. When the promotion is finally given, the next step is not to relax, it is actually an introduction to “more work”. This is exactly the same thing with answered prayers, because when we receive that which we are asking for, we have become stewards of more than what we used to have, so it implies more responsibility.

Caleb had promised his daughter in vs 12 to whoever conquers Kirjath Sephar. Othniel his brother had held unto this word and taken Kirjath Sephar, and he was given the daughter of Caleb as wife. Caleb is a man of integrity and trustworthy, so Othniel knew he was going to do what he said. 

Joshua had died, and Israel had no leader at this point in the Promised Land. The people of Israel had been used to a way of life prior to this. They had received instructions from Moses and had to follow, and received instructions from Joshua and had to follow. Not once had any of them had to receive directly from God in order to do something for the Nation. But now, the situation has changed. 

This powerful passage, known as the Shema, is considered one of the most sacred declarations in the Jewish faith. Recited daily by devout Jews, it was also affirmed by Jesus as the greatest commandment in all the Law (Matthew 22:37). At its core, it calls us to an all-consuming love for God-a love that saturates every part of our being: heart, soul, and strength.

In John 5:30, Jesus reveals the secret to His perfect life and ministry: He never acted on His own will but always sought and obeyed the will of the Father. He did not rely on His own strength or understanding, but trusted the Father in every situation. Jesus’ life was a constant demonstration of submission to God’s will, and this is the path we are called to follow as well.

In John 8:28-29, Jesus speaks with clarity about His life’s mission: “I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.” Jesus was completely devoted to doing the will of the Father, and His constant desire was to please God in everything He did. Jesus’ ultimate focus was not on His own desires, but on seeking the will of the Father and fulfilling it perfectly.

God knows how to make room for the calling He has placed on your life, but the key is listening for His voice and understanding what He wants to do through you, not just for you. So often, we become focused on our needs, desires, and what we want God to do for us, but the true question is: What does God want to do through me?

You might possess natural beauty, talents, or abilities that make it easy for you to get attention or accomplish things in your own strength, but when you come under the anointing of God, those things cannot be used to fulfill His purpose for your life. Even though your natural beauty may still remain, God will not use it to carry out His divine work unless you make a deliberate choice to move from depending on your natural attributes to depending entirely on God.

In Philippians 3:3-4, the Apostle Paul talks about having reasons to place confidence in the flesh, but he chooses not to. He had all the qualifications, achievements, and abilities that could have given him a sense of pride, yet he decided to place no confidence in them. Instead, Paul recognized that true confidence comes from God alone.