The Oscar Ajoku Blog: Daily Vitamin Devotional

  DAILY VITAMIN  - Act Your Faith "...the just shall live by his faith" (Habakkuk 2:4) Faith is not a thought; it is action. That is why they are called acts of faith, not thoughts of faith; and its product works of faith, not the imaginations of faith. In other words, your faith is no good to you if it stays in your heart alone. No! It isn't. Because the equivalent of its capacity in materiality can only be seen when we act in it.  The scripture tells us of a leper who came to Jesus. First, it was forbidden of lepers to associate with the healthy - that's why till this day they have their own colonies, but this man came to where Jesus was meeting with people in a certain city in search of his healing; and the Bible tells that when Jesus heard and saw his actions, He touched him and immediately he was made wholesomely clean. Second, he didn't just sit somewhere hoping for healing rain to fall upon him, he approached its source and retrieved it.  The scripture als

  DAILY VITAMIN  - How To Overcome Sin "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Romans 6:16) The first thing we must know is that the believer has received the capacity to live above and free of sin. The chains of unrighteousness that kept us bound to sinfulness has been broken in Christ; however because (s)he still wears this corruptible flesh, there is still some level of vulnerability to fall: thus the need to continually stay sanctified in the Spirit.  When John wrote that he that is born of God cannot sin (1 John 3:9), he was speaking about our original nature in Christ. We are not designed to sin, but by choice we can. But anyway, in today's devotion we'd learn how we can live never to choose to.  All sins come from our submission to three things - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes,  and the pride of life; and we are categorical

 DAILY VITAMIN  - Never Be Afraid To Ask "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Matthew 7:7) Jesus told us that if ever we are in need, we should ask of the Lord, and we will receive. He said "everyone that asks receives" (v. 8). He also said that if we are lacking what we require to smile again, we should ask, and it will be done for us (John 16:24). And we can be sure of this because if we ask anything in His name, it will be done unto us (John 14:14). And it pleases Him to do so because we are His children. Thus, He tells us that if evil men can help their children, why wouldn't he help us? (Matthew 7:11). However, let's consider His words to Zechariah. He said "Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field" (Zechariah 10:1). First note that since the scripture constantly uses

  DAILY VITAMIN  - God Will Reward Your Good Works "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister." (Hebrews 6:10) The opening scripture tells us that God never forgets our works- and if they be good, He will surely and keenly reward us for them. This is because God owes no one; He pays in full at all times. And so we are encouraged to keep doing good, for in due time we shall receive our reward in glory... not just in heaven, but on earth as well. Remember Galatians 6:9. Jesus said in this world manifold and in the world to come everlasting life (Mark 10:30). One person who can testify of this would be Mordecai. He had saved the king from some treacherous aides, but it almost seemed as though his good deeds were thrown under the carpet. Yet he wasn't fazed by man's disappointment as long as God's Word remains true.  After some years, a new aide sou

  DAILY VITAMIN  - You're A Child Of God Now "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus" (Gal 3:26) The scripture says that only they who are the children of the promise are counted as seeds and children of God (Romans 9:8), and from the same scriptures we understand that the seed of promise God spoke about is Christ Jesus.  Hence, putting all the pieces together and as our theme scripture affirms, all who belong to Christ are children of God by faith. But do you know what that means?  1. It means you have a family in heaven now. You're not alone; thus He said "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Deut 31:8). You have One who loves you and would give anything for you. He has your provisions at heart, and promises to grant them to you. It may seem like you have nobody, but in this you've always got God, and He is more than enough. David knew this and said "Though my father and mother forsook me, then the Lord will take me up&q

 DAILY VITAMIN  - Blessings Unto You "And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel: so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong" (Zechariah 8:13) Never let the present circumstances convince you that you are not blessed, because you are. That's what the Word of God says; and as a result He is going to change our story. It tells us that we have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in heaven by Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3).And so it doesn't matter how today looks, the days after have been programmed to be better, because you are blessed.  In Abraham He promised us blessings, and in Christ He confirmed it when He made us so. He said the families of the earth shall be blessed through us, and then in Christ He fulfilled it before our eyes. Anyway, just in case you still think your problems outweigh the potency of God's promise, understand what He inferred in o

 DAILY VITAMIN - It Is Never In Vain "He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him" (John 3:36) The Bible speaks of a day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ (Romans 2:16). So, there is a day when everything we have done will be brought to the light- some to glory, others to wrath -by an even standard, Jesus. And the good news is that we who have stuck to Him will not be disappointed; our walk in righteousness will not be in vain.  The scripture says "To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life. But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jews first, and also to the Gentile" (Romans 2:7-10). This means God will reward us. Remember, He is not unrighteous to f

  DAILY VITAMIN - God Has Prepared For Your Future "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou came forth out of the womb I sanctified thee... " (Jeremiah 1:5) God has you covered. The Bible says He possessed your reins and covered you even while you were still in the womb (Psalm 139:13). It also says your substance is visible to Him (v. 15). That means God can see who you are, who you were, and who you can be and are going to be.  In short, God knows your tomorrow just as well as He knows your today. It may seem like an uncertainty to you, but it is not to Him. He's been there and back. Furthermore, there is nothing like an uncertainty with God; He is all-knowing, and He knows all about you. And that's why I can tell you for a fact that God already has everything in place for you to be everything He says you will.  He has the right people coming your way. He has the right opportunities set before you. He has created solutions to problems you haven

  DAILY VITAMIN - Loving People "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love" (Romans 12:10) The greatest commandment tells us to love God, and the second instructs us to love people. The two go together. There's no way you can claim to love God and not be given to loving people. John 15 says that if we abide in His love, we'd bear fruit. And what is this fruit? Those qualities that reveal the Father in us; of which the first is love. Remember Jesus said people will know you're from me if you love one another (John 13:35). In his letter to Philemon, Paul commends him about his love and faith towards the Lord and people; and then tells him that in this way all he affirms to believe would be best communicated to all around as they see the similarities he shares with our loving God (v. 5-6). You see, God loves people. The scripture says He so loved us that He would not let us perish and so gave us the gift of life (John 3:16). He cares for us; that's

  DAILY VITAMIN  - Don't Cry, Trust Instead "Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them." (Psalm 22:4) God has never failed, and His flawless record reassures me every day that He never will. That's why I can confidently tell you that regardless of what you are going through, it would be more profitable for you if you'd trust God rather than spend all day in tears. David said he waited patiently for the Lord, and He heard his cry (Psalm 40:1); but we can tell that it wasn't the crying that got His attention, it was the trusting- the waiting patiently upon Him in faith.  Some years back when I was at my lowest, God taught me this. I had just received some disappointing news even though I believed I had done more than was expected to evade it. At the moment, I was ready to give up on everything, downing myself in tears and self-pity, and right there on my bed God spoke to me. He said " When you have a problem that makes you cry a

  DAILY VITAMIN - You Matter "And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost" (Luke 15:6) Are you familiar with the parable of the lost sheep? The Shepherd headed for sheepcote with his flock, but when he had kept them in, he found one missing. And so he returned the same way looking for the sheep who had been stuck in a thicket or perhaps even wandered miles off track, found it, and hoisted it upon his shoulder, returning home with joy.  He had his 99, yet he wouldn't give up till he got his one back. And that's how God feels about you too because you matter to Him. Yes, I said it,  you matter. It doesn't matter how downwards you may have slid into that addiction or that depression, God is not leaving you on your own. He's not planning on abandoning you. He's coming for you till He's found you again.  You may have given up on yourself, but not God. He

  DAILY VITAMIN - Your Best Days Are Before You (2) "Behold, at the time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame" (Zephaniah 3:19) That situation you're in may think it's got you, but do not fret, it's got nothing. The Bible says the Lord is laughing at it because its end is coming (Psalm 37:13). It won't see your end, but you will see it. Yes, you will see it, and praise God without bounds on that day. Just trust God. Trust in His Word. Trust in His process. He won't fail you.  Just go ahead and keep honouring Him with your life, and He promises to reward you with greater days. He said you will dwell in abundance and be satisfied where you were once starved (Psalm 37:3-5). It's not over for you yet. Never forget that. Continually affirm it all day every day; remember He promises to fulfill the number of y

  DAILY VITAMIN  - Your Best Days Are Before You (1) "Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert." (Isaiah 43:19) A couple of years back, an aunt of mine was diagnosed with multiple tumors. The diagnosis was so complicated that they couldn't tell if it was cancer or what. But the doctor's remarks didn't inspire confidence. Almost like he was saying "There's no hope. Just see out your last few days" in the most subtle way.  We couldn't blame him because truly how can one treat what one doesn't understand. They didn't understand, but God understands all things. For the next five years, she sat on a plastic chair all day, and laid on the ground all night with her now excessively bloated abdomen, but God kept reassuring us in His Word that He would come through for her. So we kept praying and we kept believing.  All through those years no h

 DAILY VITAMIN  - Your Days Of Dominion Are Here "And saviours shall come up on Mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD's" (Obadiah 21) The scripture says in these days of our time Zion shall be exalted above the other mountains of the world (Micah 4:1). It says that it shall be because saviours shall walk in and out of her. And who are these saviours? Us - the ambassadors of Christ on the earth.  You may wonder how I can be cool with calling you a saviour especially when it seems like you are trapped as well like a lot of other persons in multiple hardships? Well, God said He has freed you from that prison, and has given you double compensation (Zechariah 9:11-12). That's why He is saying you have all it takes to shine forth to them still in the dark (Isaiah 60:1-3).  He said He will strengthen you and bless you until you can audaciously  walk up and down in dominion in His Name (Zechariah 10:6-12). And that in those days, even the w

 DAILY VITAMIN - It's Not Time To Give Up Yet "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee" (Deut 31:6) Years ago, an experiment was conducted using a predator and its prey. The researchers placed a Barracuda and a Spanish Mackerel in the same tank. Normally within seconds the Barracuda would devour the Spanish Mackerel, and so they put an invisible glass partition between both creatures.  But for every time the Barracuda sought to go for the kill, it collided with the barrier, bruising itself. It kept at it for hours until it wore out. Then the researchers quietly removed the partition, but found out the barracuda wouldn't go for its prey anymore. And so they remained that way, one on each side of the tank.  So, what do you think caused it? Why wouldn't the barracuda attack the mackerel anymore? Simple! It gave up. It met resistance one too many t