The bible makes us understand the immense power of words. Words can build up your future or break down your life.
Prov. 13:2 “Be careful what you say and protect your life. A careless talker destroys his life.” (GNB)
This verse cautions us to watch what we say as our words are so powerful to create what we say.
Our words can make or break us. What we say is what we see and become. The words you speak have an impact on your life.
The more you keep complaining about a situation, the more it worsens. Rather, choose to say positive words about it.
You don’t deny that there is a problem, but you choose to look at it through positive lenses.
Use words that show you believe the situation will get better and won’t last forever. You have to keep believing that and let your actions show you believe.
You can choose to say things like “I am grateful that my parents are giving me an education.
I will meet and make nice, God-fearing friends here.
Things will work out well for me.” and so on.
So, when next you feel like complaining about a situation or someone, remember to choose your words wisely.
God bless and keep your words safe.
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for your grace that helps me speak wisely. I will continually speak positive, pleasant, and life-giving words as from today. In Jesus name. Amen.
Action plan: Start to speak positively about your life
Parents: My children speak edifying words because they know the power of words.
Declaration: My children are mindful of what they say. Their lips are guided into all truth.
The mercy of God is an important component of human life. Let’s look at the story of John and his mum as we seek to understand the mercy of God.
John’s heart boomed in his chest as he stood looking at his mother. He didn’t mean to break the five bottles of freshly pressed orange juice meant for the women’s meeting at church tomorrow. One of the bottles sat on the bread wrapper and as he pulled the bread out from the fridge, disaster struck.
“I am sorry, mummy,” he said.
He waited for his punishment. He couldn’t meet her eyes as she looked long and hard at him.
“It’s okay” she said. “Just clean it up.”
That was it. He couldn’t believe his ears. Instantly, he got the mop and bucket and began to clean.
Minutes later, mummy hears Loveth crying. John had hit her for removing one of the tires from his toy car. It was a mistake.
“But I didn’t do anything to you when you broke the bottles of juice?”
John acted like the wicked servant in Matt. 18: 21-35 as told by Jesus.
The wicked servant refused to be merciful to his fellow servant after receiving mercy from his master. He owed his master more, compared to what his fellow servant owed him.
Much like John’s mistake compared to his sister’s. He could have just told Loveth “It’s okay. Just fix it.” Much like mummy said to him.
Why do you think John and the servant in the story acted as they did? They did so because they weren’t grateful for the mercy they received. They forgot that their offense was worth punishing for but who they offended decided they were worth not punishing.
The story teaches us two things:
Firstly, we should be grateful for God’s mercy because we’ve all come short of mercy. And it’s only through Jesus’ death on the cross that we have the right to receive mercy from God.
Secondly, as we have received this mercy, we are meant to reciprocate it to others ‘You should have mercy on your fellow-servant, just as I had mercy on you.’ Matt. 18:33.
What do you think mommy would do to John? Well, the master in the story was angry when he found out what happened and had the wicked servant thrown into jail until he could pay back what he owed Matt. 18: 34.
Jesus said that is how God will deal with us if we don’t have mercy on others.
Who are you going to forgive today?
Prayer: Dear God, I thank you for showing me mercy. Amen
Action point: Continually ask God to help you to do this continually.
Parents: My children are merciful. As they receive mercy from God, they give mercy out to others in Jesus name. Thank you, Lord.
Declaration: My children show mercy. They are considerate and loving to their neighbours.
Welcome to day three of learning about Cleanliness and Godliness as it relates to us God’s children. God wants you clean and godly.
What is Cleanliness? It means the condition of being clean, or not dirty; the habit of always keeping clean.
What is Godliness? It is characterized by reverence and love for God and respect for the ethical teachings of scripture.
I quote this scripture to you yesterday;
Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. – 3 John 2 (NIV)
I told you that God wants you to be in good health and that all may be well with you, and that good health is one of the many things that Jesus Christ assures us, because it’s a promise in the work of redemption.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. -1 Peter 2:24 (NIV)
One thing you just need to realize is, as much as sound health is a believer’s right, if you do not take care of yourself, you won’t enjoy this freedom.
Take for instance, not wearing your nose mask or not wearing it properly, puts anyone including a believer in a place of being infected.
Personal hygiene is very important for us all. What is personal hygiene?
It is a condition or practices conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease, especially through cleanliness.
Let me show you some personal hygiene practices.
Take your bath everyday
Brush your teeth twice a day
Wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet
Cover your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing either with tissue, your sleeve or elbow.
Wash your hands often.
We have come to the end of this series; do well to keep your heart and body clean at all times.
Prayer: Lord, help me to be clean at heart and in my body; Amen
What do you think is the greatest gift of all? Your parents? Money? Education? Well, join us this morning as we seek to find out.
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)
Love is the greatest commandment of all; God commands that we love him, then our neighbor as ourselves. In this order, Love God, yourself, and then your neighbor.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:30-31 (NIV)
Why did I put you before your neighbor? That’s because the bible didn’t say love your neighbor above yourself. It says as you love yourself in that same way, love your neighbor.
So you see that it’s not the law of God to do to others what you cannot do to yourself.
If you decide to buy something for yourself, it means you can do the same for others, but if you can’t look in the mirror and say bad things to yourself, then you shouldn’t speak badly about others or abuse anyone.
Love for God is paramount because God is deserving of it. Look around you, look at the beautiful things he created for you and me, just for us to be comfortable on earth. Don’t you just love and appreciate him?
Even more, God loves us so much that he sent Jesus to die for the sins of the whole world, so that we all can be reconciled to him. See what the bible says in John 3:16 (NIV)
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (KJV)
Little one, you see that God has set a standard for love, if you love, you give. Give in whatever capacity that you can, not necessarily monetarily, because you don’t have a source of livelihood.
You can give in service to your parents and friends, by helping out when necessary and praying for them all the time. By doing this, you will fill their hearts with so much joy and happiness.
Prayer: Father, help me to give my best at all times. Amen
Action Point: Keep giving.
Declaration: I put my neighbor before me at all times
What other benefits of gratitude do we have? Let us see more examples from the passage we read yesterday
Gratitude draws us closer to God
As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him. They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” Taking a good look at them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” They went, and while still on their way, became clean. One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus’ feet, so grateful. He couldn’t thank him enough — and he was a Samaritan. – Luke 17:12-16[MSG]
Mr. Bamidele has been ill for years. He was so ill that he spent all his life’s savings on his health. He moved from one health center to another, but all to no avail. It seemed as though the more he sought medical help, the worse his case became.
Luck however smiled on him one day, when he met a benefactor. This ‘good samaritan’ not only ensured he got to the best hospital in the world, he also paid for his hospital bills and other medical expenses.
When Mr. Bamidele got back to his feet, he got close to his benefactor, literarily serving him in the process. Who wouldn’t want to get closer to such a person?
Just like Mr. Bamidele, the leper who was healed naturally got close to Jesus.
One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus’ feet, so grateful. He couldn’t thank him enough — and he was a Samaritan. – Luke 17:15-16
The leper couldn’t but imagine the magnitude of God’s kindness towards him. He had to go back to give him thanks.
Little children, let us learn to show gratitude everyday of our lives.
Prayer: Father, help me to show gratitude at all times. Amen
Action Point: Keep showing gratitude.
Declaration: I will not murmur. I will give thanks to God at all times.
