Victory Daily Devotional

INCREASED HARVEST Scripture Reading: Psalms 67:1-7 Devotional:-  “Then the earth shall yield her increase; God, our own God, shall bless us” (V. 6)      When people have a seed to sow, they are happy because they have the expectation of a coming harvest. But sometimes people are disappointed that the harvest does not match their expectation. This is because the enemy destroys the process of their harvest by planting weeds into their wheat. The harvest here could mean all good expectation.

BEAUTIFUL LOOK Scripture Reading: Proverbs 15:10-15 Devotional:-  “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken” (V. 13)      It is always said that beauty is in the eyes of those that sees it. This means, when you have a beautiful heart, you will have a beautiful eye. And when you have beautiful eyes you will see beauty in every one that you see. But many don't see beauty in others. This is because of how they are. 

STRONG IMMUNE SYSTEM Scripture Reading: Proverbs 17:19-24 Devotional:-  “A merry heart does good, like medicine,  But a broken spirit dries the bones” (V. 22)      One of the struggles people have on the earth in all ages is health. No one can have a good time in this word with a bad health. This is because the body came from the earth and as it grows, it will be decomposing back to the original state. That is why you must live by faith in the word of God. The word of God says “As your days are, so shall your strength be (Deuteronomy 33:25). By this you will keep living strong because your immune system grows strong enough to keep you healthy.

PRESERVED SEED Scripture Reading: Malachi 2:1-7 Devotional:-  “If you will not hear, And if you will not take it to heart, To give glory to My name," Says the Lord of hosts, "I will send a curse upon you, And I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have cursed them already, Because you do not take it to heart” (V. 2)      The seed of a man or a woman contain the power of the future. A single seed could contain a tree. The trouble in the life of most people is the problem of the corruption of their seed. The devil having known the power of seed to the future and destiny of a man, seeks to always destroy the seed. A man’s labour is his seed for wages. A student time of study is the seed for success in the examination hall. Just like the capital invested plus wise labour are seed for the profit of a business man. Children are also seed for the future of a family.

IT PLEASES GOD Scripture Reading: Psalms 69:30-36 Devotional:-  “This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bull, Which has horns and hooves” (V. 31)      Praises make a man’s life to please God. This is because praises involve humility and the fear of the Lord (Psalms 25:9-14). Praises open the door of the life of a man to God. Praises make God to be enthroned in the life of a man (Psalms 22:3). Praises make God to guide a man into his destiny (Acts 13:2). Having all of these experiences make a man to please the Lord in praises.

PRESENCE OF GOD Scripture Reading: Acts 16:20-31 Devotional:-  “Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed” (V. 26)         Wherever God is praised, His presence will always be there. This is because He inhabit the praises of His people (Psalms 22:3). God gives attention to His praises. In other words, praises is an invitation that God cannot ignore, especially when it comes from a right heart (Psalms 24:3-4). If any one wants to keep the presence of God with him or herself, the secret is praises.

ENTHRONE HIM  Scripture Reading: Psalms 22:1-11 Devotional:-  “But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel”  (V. 3)        One of the major reasons we should always praise God is to enthrone Him over our lives. It is where God is praised that He will reign and rule over. This is because if God is not ruling over a heart, devil through flesh will be ruling there. A heart ruled by God will always be guided and influenced by God. That is why it is only those who are ruled by the spirit of God that are sons of God (Romans 8:14)

HIGH MINDEDNESS Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 6:11-19 Devotional:-  “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy” (V. 17)      Another enemy of a praiseful life is being high minded. To be high minded is to be proud, ambitious and dreaming above your capacity. Instead of some people willing to grow gradually, they will want to grow to the top one day. So, people’s definition of breakthrough is growing up in a day. A high-minded man cannot praise God. He will always see God “not good enough” No matter what God might have done for him; God will not deserve his praises.

SORROWFUL COMPANY Scripture Reading: Isaiah 51:9-16 Devotional:-  “So the ransomed of the Lord shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness; Sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (V. 11)      It is important you learn to overcome what destroys a praiseful life and a major one is sorrow. The sorrow of the heart is caused by many factors, part of which is hopelessness (Ecclesiastes 9:4), and sorrowful company. Everyone you will ever see on earth is a product of the people they associate with. A praiseful life demands a praiseful company.

IDOLATRY Scripture Reading: Psalms 16:1-6 Devotional:-  “Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god; Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, Nor take up their names on my lips” (V. 4)      Another factor that removes praises from the life of people is idolatry. This is an act of following other god apart from the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Idolatry has trapped the destiny of many people. People follow other gods because they take to suggestions from the ungodly. Ungodly way may look profitable, but the end is always destructive (Proverbs 14:12).

OBEY THE LORD   Scripture Reading: 1 John 3:1-5 Devotional:-  “And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (V. 3)      The act of obedience to God is an act of love and the act of love is an act of worship. A child that is always obeying the parents enjoys the favour of the parents. So, also as we obey the Lord in all that we do we gain the favour of God (Psalms 5:12). So, singing songs of praises to God while we are disobeying Him is not worship.

COMPLETE TRUST Scripture Reading: Psalms 40:1-8 Devotional:-  “He has put a new song in my mouth — Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the Lord” (V. 3)      Our act of total trust in God is an act of honour and worship to Him. When children trust their parents, the parents are pleased. So, also is God. Today, many feel it’s a waste of time to trust God. Many mocks when you say you are trusting God. This is because they don’t know what it means to trust God. It is not an irresponsible statement, neither an idle statement.

LOVE HIM SUPREMELY Scripture Reading: Matthew 22:34-40 Devotional:-  “Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'”’ (V. 37)      For us to be able to worship God effectively demands that we love Him supremely. To love God supremely means, He is higher than all men and all things in your life. Praise goes beyond singing or playing instruments. It goes beyond dancing and clapping of hands. It springs right from our heart. So, the state of our heart is so vital, if our praises will be acceptable to God. That is why Jesus said, we must worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:24).

ALWAYS  Scripture Reading: Psalms 113:1-3 Devotional:-  “From the rising of the sun to its going down The Lord's name is to be praised” (V. 3)       The praises of God should be 'always' in our mouth. A mouth that is not always praising God is likely praising people, situation or problems. Remember that God created you for His praise (Isaiah 43:19-21). Remember that you are saved to praise God (1 Peter 2:9). This is because it is in praise that God can be part of your life. It is in praises that He will be enthroned in your heart and in all your situations (Psalms 22:3). It is in praises that God can take over the battles of your life (2 Chronicles 20:20-24).

JOYFUL HEART Scripture Reading: Psalms 63:1-11 Devotional:-  “My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips” (V. 5)      It is going to be difficult for a sorrowful heart to praise God (Proverbs 25:20). That is why we must always fellowship with the Holy Spirit so that we can always bear the fruit of joy. The reason why many people in Church and even in the choir do not always praise God is sorrow. It will be challenging to combine sorrow and praises (Psalms 137:1-6). So, we need a joyful heart to be able to praise the Lord.

DANCEFUL PRAISE Scripture Reading: Psalms 149:1-9 Devotional:-  “Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp” (V. 3)      Praises become deep when it is done with a dance. Just as people could sing from their lips and not with their heart, so also it is possible for people to dance a show dance and not a dance of praises. As emotional being, we always love to express what is sincerely coming from our heart. Whenever we are truly praiseful, it will show in our expression.

FAITH Scripture Reading: Romans 4:16-25 Devotional:-  “He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God” (V. 20)      The true praises of God can only come from a heart of faith. This is a heart that strongly believes God for a miracle. This is a heart that put his hope in God like Abraham did. This is a heart that is not fixed on what is available presently but what the promises of the word of God say. This is a heart that is willing to wait to see the manifestation of the word of God (Job 14:14).

GRATEFUL HEART   Scripture Reading: Psalms 100:1-5 Devotional:-  “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name” (V. 4)        Gratitude is one of the attitudes of mature people. Gratitude is an attitude that proves a man to be wise. As simple as gratitude is, so also as difficult as it could be for many people to demonstrate. The truth is that, the praise of God demands that we are thankful and to be thankful we will need a grateful heart.

HUMILITY Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 6:12-23 Devotional:-   “Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, "How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!" (V. 20)      Praises demand humility for it to be genuinely giving to God. Man has been so brainwashed to think there is no need for God, so much, that this pride does not make us to praise Him. The truth is that praising someone will demand that one humbles himself. But in the course of trying to maintain our self-esteem, we often find it difficult to praise God at the expense of our ego.

CELEBRATING HIS POWER Scripture Reading: Exodus 15:1-11 Devotional:-  "Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders”  (V. 11)        Praising God is celebrating His power and His wonderful works. The wonderful works of God is seen in our lives on daily basis. It is seen in the sun and the moon that shine daily (Psalms 19:1-3; 136:7-9). It is seen in the plant that grows for our food and respiration. It is seen in our going out and coming in, sleeping and waking up (Psalms 3:5). It is seen in His protection over us and all the members of our family (Psalms 12:1-8). God’s goodness is seen in the help we receive from Him daily (Psalms 68:19).

BRINGING HIM PLEASURE   Scripture Reading: John 4:19-26 Devotional:-  “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him” (V. 23)      Praises is bringing pleasure to God. This is what God expect from us always. Just like a wise son will bring joy to his father, so is God our maker is expecting of us. Whenever a son makes the father glad, the father will willingly bless the son, so it is with God and man. We bring pleasure to God whenever we are praising Him.

INVOLVING GOD Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 20:14-30 Devotional:-  “Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated”  (V. 22)      God had made man from the beginning to be a free moral agent. Which means we are created to make choices. God does not get involve directly when man is making a choice because He has created in us the system to be able to make choices. When we are faced with any trouble, we make choices of where to receive help and who to involve in the battles of life.

RECOGNIZING GOD Scripture Reading: Psalms 105:1-15 Devotional:- “Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth”  (V. 5)      The act of praises is the act of recognizing the deeds of God in your life. It is the act of recognizing Him as the doer of great things in your life. It is recognizing Him as the hidden strength behind your progress. It is recognizing Him as the one who is your help in trouble.

SURRENDER TO GOD Scripture Reading: Romans 12:1-8 Devotional: -  “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him” (V. 1) NLT        Praises is an act of surrendering to God. When people surrender in battle, they hand up. That is why we lift up our hands when we are praising God. It's a pity people do that today without knowing the meaning neither do they mean that (Psalms 63:4; 134:2). Lifting up of hands mean to surrender to an authority recognized as superior.

GIVING GLORY Scripture Reading: Psalms 29:1-11 Devotional:-  “Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (V. 2)      We are made to give glory to God in all our lives (1 Corinthians 10:31). The glory of God is in His honour and praises. Whenever we are praising God, we are bringing glory to Him. This is a major thing God desire from the sons of men. Among all that the Lord had made, only the falling demons and man that does not always give glory to God. This is because the devil always wants us to lose focus on the importance of God to our lives. So, man prefer the way of sin (Romans 3:23).

HE IS FAITHFUL Scripture Reading: Lamentation 3:20-27 Devotional:-  “They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness” (V. 23)      It's in the faithfulness of God that the generation of men have been preserved. Praises is going to be possible when you consider God to be faithful. In His faithfulness, He has always forgiven your sins (1 John 1:7-9). In the faithfulness of God, we have not been casted out in His sight. Even in our unfaithfulness, God has been faithful.

GOD IS GOOD Scripture Reading: Psalms 145:8-13 Devotional:-  “The Lord is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works” (V. 9)      Praises is when man can see God as being good to them. No heart will be willing to sincerely praise God except they see God being good. Man passes through different season in life. All of them are to work out a good end for us (Romans 8:28). In the midst of our challenging experience, no one enjoys it. Even Jesus asked God to make amendment in the midst of challenges (Luke 22:42; Hebrews 12:11). But God allows us to pass through it all that it might turn to a testimony for us (Luke 21:13)

PURPOSE OF PRAISES Scripture Reading: Isaiah 6:1-7 Devotional:-  “And he touched my mouth with it, and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged."” (V. 7)      God created us to praise Him for the purpose of Him been able to influence us. Every man is influenced by one thing or the other. It is either a man is influenced by the Spirit of God or the spirit of the devil (Job 32:8). At creation we see God pouring Himself into man (Genesis 2:7). God made us to be an influence over all His other creatures. But we can see from the life of Adam and Eve, how the devil came to influence them to sin against God. He seeks to do the same to all man and woman till now.

WHAT IS PRAISES Scripture Reading: Psalms 92: 1-15 Devotional:-  “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High” (V. 1)      Praises is an act of fellowshipping with God to give Him honour and glory. Praises is the act of humbling self to fellowship with God. It is recognizing God as the maker and the owner of all things. It is allowing God to take the glory in all things (1 Corinthians 10:31). Praises is an act of total submission to God for His glory (Isaiah 42:8).

SAVED FOR PRAISES Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:4-10 Devotional:-  “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (V. 9)      God saved us that we might live a praiseful life. This is because, that is how He can be part of what we are doing to fulfill our assignments on earth. If God is not part of what we are doing, then the enemy is bound to see the loopholes to have his way. That way, he has hindered many from fulfilling their destiny. You will fulfill your destiny in Jesus name.

MADE FOR PRAISES Scripture Reading: Isaiah 43:16-21 Devotional:-  “This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise” (V. 21)      It’s important you realize that you are made to praise the Lord. In other word, God created you for His praises. He made you to be your best as you praise Him all the days of your life. It is in praises that we are able to overcome the limitations of this world and by praises we are able to connect with the supernatural for our testimonies in this world.