The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 21 August 2024 — Move On! Get Moving!
TOPIC: Move On! Get Moving!
READ: Genesis 35:16-29 (NKJV)
- Then they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel labored [in childbirth,] and she had hard labor.
- Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, “Do not fear; you will have this son also.”
- And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin.
- So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that [is,] Bethlehem).
- And Jacob set a pillar on her grave, which [is] the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day.
- Then Israel journeyed and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder.
- And it happened, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine; and Israel heard [about it.] Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:
- the sons of Leah [were] Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, and Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun;
- the sons of Rachel [were] Joseph and Benjamin;
- the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s maidservant, [were] Dan and Naphtali;
- and the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s maidservant, [were] Gad and Asher. These [were] the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Padan Aram.
- Then Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kirjath Arba (that [is,] Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had dwelt.
- Now the days of Isaac were one hundred and eighty years.
- So Isaac breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people, [being] old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
THE MESSAGE:
Christian maturity is to truly declare: “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair” (2 Corinthians 4:8). God had told Jacob to return unto the land of his fathers, promising to be with him (Genesis 31:3). On his journey back home, his beloved wife, Rachel, had a hard labour and died. Jacob did not blame it on the innocent baby as Rachel did while her soul was departing, neither did he question God who promised to be with him as he journeyed home. He knew that God can be with a man and yet permit that he walk through the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4).
After the burial of Rachel, Israel moved on. He never allowed grief to make him lose focus of his journey. He journeyed! God is saying, “Move on!” Get moving! It’s not time to apportion blames. Jacob eventually made it home. What are your grievances? What misfortune has befallen you that has sapped you of the courage to move on? The Lord Jesus endured the cross by focusing on the joy that was set before him. Keep your gaze on Him (Hebrews 12: 2). Forget the past and move on!
PRAYER: Lord, give me the courage to move on and not wander from Your pathway.
PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY’S DAILY FOUNTAIN DEVOTIONAL
DATE: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2024
TOPIC: MOVE ON! GET MOVING!
- Father in the name of Jesus, thank You for the grace to see this day in good health and sound mind.
- Father, thank You for the special gift of life, many wished to see this day, but they couldn’t.
- Thank You Jesus for being there for us, Your children.
- Thank You Lord for Your plans for me this month and this year. They are plans of good, not of evil, to give me a successful and good end.
- Father, please forgive me all my known and unknown sins, and give me power to overcome sin and its lustful desires, in Jesus’ name
- Father Lord, let me enjoy Your presence in all my journeys, in Jesus name.
- Please Lord, keep me and my household from walking through the valley of the shadow of death, in Jesus’ name
- Help me Holy Spirit, not to allow today’s challenges to make me lose focus of my journey, in Jesus’ name
- I receive sufficient grace to move on in life no matter the circumstances on my way, in Jesus’ name.
- Holy Spirit, keep me going in my journey to heaven till I make it home and reign with You, in Jesus’ name.
- LORD, help us to get it right in Nigeria, and let Your perfect will be enforced on us in Jesus’ name.
- Heavenly Father, let Your peace reign in this country,
- Whether the devil likes it or not, I will make heaven and receive my eternal rewards in Jesus’ Name.
- This is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.
- Personal and family prayer requests.
- Confession: God bless the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), God bless the Universal Church, and bless our country Nigeria -1 Chronicles 17:27.
- Thank You Lord for answered prayers, in Jesus’ Mighty Name we pray. Amen.
