The Oscar Ajoku Blog: Daily Vitamin Devotional

  DAILY VITAMIN -  Trust Him Even In The Darkest Night " Commit thy way unto Jehovah; Trust also in him, and he will bring it to pass." (Psalm 37:5 ESV) Our theme scripture tells us that even when things seem to be happening differently than we planned, we must continue to stay committed to God in line with all He has promised us and it will surely come to be. And this is a very vital instruction for a whole lot of us who tend to melt in anxiety when things get unexplainably difficult. You think to yourself, "What did I do wrong? I've done everything He told me to; why are things still worse for me?" And in that desperation, run off to do many things that are against the perfect will of God. But here God tells us to trust Him instead. You see, people might judge you for having questions, but it is perfectly normal. In fact, God expects you to have questions; but yearns that they only lead you to lean more on Him. If not, why would He tell us to plead our cause t...

  DAILY VITAMIN -  Remember Who The Real Enemy Is " Be alert and of sober mind.... Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 peter 5:8 NIV) A lot of us waste our energies trying to pay back those who have done evil to us, thus becoming more like them and less like whom God expects us to be. We get angry and seek to retaliate against a troublesome neighbour, an antagonistic colleague at work, or someone we believe is ultimately behind any challenge we might presently have encountered; forgetting that these people are only pawns in the hands of the real enemy behind the curtains. The scripture affirms this when it tells us that our fight isn't against men, but against spiritual entities (Ephesians 6:12-13). The evil spirit beings influence people and situations against us, and so if there is any way we must tackle the problem, it must be by incapacitating the devil and his demon's power first against us and behind the oppr...

  DAILY VITAMIN -  He Will Fill Your Life With Good Things " Yet he filled their houses with good things..." (Job 22:18) The scripture says in verse 17 that the unbelieving asked what God would do for His people; and it is said that He fills their houses with good things. Hallelujah! That's your story too. It doesn't matter how tough things may have seemed, He says He will abundantly bless you with good things to enjoy. Good things in your health, marriage, education, finance etc. He says it will be so good to be true you wouldn't even believe (Habakkuk 1:5); but it will turn your dryness into sufficiency (Isaiah 43:19). Then you will see it and be glad (Job 22:19). However, we are told that to make this a reality every day, we must stay acquainted to Him, delighting ourselves in His will, and our lives will be abundant with goodness (v. 21-25). And also when others seem to be crumbling, by His covenant with you, you won't (v.29). Therefore, rejoice; I say, re...

  DAILY VITAMIN -  Now We Know Them " Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit. .." (Matthew 12:33) There are - and will be - many false teachers among us bent on leading us away from God's true path for us. And here's the thing: they don't look a particular way. They look exact ly like us, and some times we might even take them for reverential persons. Jesus tells us that they will do great signs and wonders that will make it difficult to disbelieve them (Matt 24:24), but also He told us how to spot them. He said by their fruits . Every tree might appear the same, but their fruit differentiates them. For instance, these days we find a lot of religious fortune tellers posing as prophets of God eating into the hearts of many, but when you look at their lives, you won't find a glimpse of God nor His love in them.  Like Diotrephes, they take eminent positions in the body of ...

 DAILY VITAMIN -  Speak Into Your Life " For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him." (John 3:34) Our theme scripture says he or she whom God has sent speaks the words of God - that is, words of power as God to create, because He has given them the Spirit (the capacity to do so) without measure. We may think that He was speaking of Christ alone, but no He wasn't. He was speaking about us too. Remember, as Christ is, so are we also in this world (1 John 4:17). And we are told that we have also been called, sent, justified and glorified (Romans 8:29-30). Hence, He is saying that our words are just as powerful as God's now. When we speak in His Name, it carries its authority to do as said. So whatever we say receive a seal to occur as said. this is why we must say only good things. When we say a person is healed, they become healed. When we say their joy is restored, it becomes restored. in the same light, speak...

 DAILY VITAMIN - There's Light In You " In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." (John 1:4-5) What our theme scripture truly depicts is that the day you received Christ, the light of God entered into your life; the same light that the Bible termed unapproachable; and by it all the darkness around you has been overcome. Glory to God! Can you believe that? The light of God that chases away the darkness wherever He appears is now actively resident in you. Little wonder, the Spirit speaking through David says that as soon as the enemy sets his eyes on you, he flees (Psalm 18:44-45). Darkness can't compete with the light. Hence, in line with God's Word, wherever you appear, devils are suppose to depart. The Bible never told us we have to leave a place out of fear of the devil. Even Jesus never vacated a place because of the devil. He claimed ownership; and we can do the same through H...

  DAILY VITAMIN -  The Word Blossoms " Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors." (Proverbs 8:34) The scripture says that the man who patiently on the Lord for His Word shall blessed as a result, and shall find life and favour in all he does. He doesn't depend on his own understanding, but on God's judgement, and is led right to the path of honour at all times. And Solomon recommends we do the same. When we live daily by the Word, we would blossom for all the world to see. Psalm 1:3 says such a man that delights in God's Word shall be like a tree planted by the river. James 1:25 says he shall prosper in all he does. Thus, are you confused concerning what to do next? Listen to what the LORD is saying. Your ideas might seem great, but we are told that His ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9). They accomplish all He desires and leaves us breaking forth with joy (Isaiah 55:12). So, listen to Him. Study t...

DAILY VITAMIN - There Is Only One Lord For All " But we know that there is only one God, the Father, who created all things and made us to be his own; and one Lord Jesus Christ, ..." (1 Corinthians 8:6 TLB) While other religions may presume another alternative or another way to salvation, there is no other. For instance, Buddhism has no place for God, but believes that man himself is his own judge and salvation by how he lives; while the Hindus add to it by believing that if you live doing good deeds, you'd be reincarnated into good fortune. But while this appears to give its believers hope, it has no true substance. Our theme scripture says there is only one God, the Father, who has made us his own, and only one Lord Jesus Christ who has saved us. And He says "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man can come to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Jesus isn't a way, He is the only way. There are no alternatives.  Hence if you have Him in your li...

  DAILY VITAMIN -  Your Body Is God's Home " What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" (1 Corinthians 6:19) Your body is not just a part of you, it is a place God resides in. The scripture says that God dwells in us just as we dwell in Him by the Spirit. And as much as this is exciting, it depicts two things. First, with your body being God's house, it means you can't just do anything with it. Remember, the Holy Spirit abides in you, and so you must walk in holiness with your body. Forget what society says about how your body is yours and so you can do whatever you like with it, that isn't what God says. He says "-ye are not your own. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Cor 6:19-20).  Hope you saw that? God isn't only interested in how well you nurture your spirit, He cares also about ...

  DAILY VITAMIN - Success Is A Choice "For which of you, intending to  build  a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the  cost , whether he have sufficient to finish it? ." (Luke 14:28) Success isn't a right; it's a choice. Though it's God's plan for your life, it's a path you have to constantly be in pursuit of. What this means is that God can't force a man to succeed; the man must first desire success, and only then can God help him. The Bible says God shall give such a man the desires of his heart when he delights in Him (Proverbs 37:4). It also says God will only establish what we commit to Him (Proverbs 16:3). So, there must first be a desire from the man's end before there can be a fulfilment on God's end. In other words, to succeed you must first desire success. You must have first tuned your mind with the picture of success and drive yourself toward it. Jesus told us that to build a house, we must count the cost and evaluate whet...

  DAILY VITAMIN -  You Can Do Anything If You Believe "...   If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." (Mark 9:23) A great ad I love so much ends with the words  Impossible is Nothing . At first, it seems too good to be true, but once you realize the capacity you hold within yourself, you'd understand that it isn't. All human beings carry potential power - power resident in us that exceeds what others can depict from our appearance, but only those who believe enough to maximize it into usage break barriers. And what God says about you is that you can do whatever you believe you can. When a sick man came to Jesus in need of healing, He told the man that the power he needs to be whole again laid within his own heart. He said As you believe, so shall it be unto you  (Matt 9:29). So, in essence, you determine the outcome of your life by what you choose to accept into your heart. If you choose to believe there's nothing you can't do, yo...

 DAILY VITAMIN - I Believe In Miracles "For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment." (Luke 1:37 AMP) Indeed, God can do anything. He can use difficulties to propagate ease in your life, just as much as He can use what was meant to harm you to heal you. He is the miracle working God.  I'll give you an example: A couple of years back in the university I had a bout with malaria; and while I was scheduled for treatment on a certain night I failed to stay hydrated. So immediately I was injected the two doses of the antimalarial medicine I dropped flat hitting my head hard against the solid ground. The months and years that followed came with incessant aches on that spot from time to time. I could literally feel like my skull was cracked and bruised. Now only some months back, I was on steroids to help eliminate a skin allergy.  At midnight, as I was about to leave the restroom the next thing I realized was ...

 DAILY VITAMIN - There Is Nothing Too Hard For Him "I am the Lord, the God of all mankind; is there anything too hard for me?" (Jeremiah 32:27 TLB) A lot of people have nothing else but hope. Everything they once had banked on failed, and now live hanging on a thread of hope that the promise of God regarding the restoration of their joy shall come to be. However, though they believe, but with the way things look, it is beginning to seem far from happening; at least in their minds, and so they worry and worry hard. That may be you right now, wondering if your life will ever be better than this; it's been me before so I can understand what you are going through.  Nonetheless, I also know that God can do anything and everything - even help you. He said He is the God of all flesh, and then asks if anything can ever be too difficult for Him to perform. And in case you don't know the answer to that, listen to what Jesus said. He said "The things which are impossible wi...

 DAILY VITAMIN - Trust In The Lord Today "Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him to help you do it and he will." ( Psalm 37:5 TLB) One scripture you must never forget is Psalm 23. It says "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want" (v.1). In this scripture David reveals his level of trust in the Lord, and wrote about what it did for him and can do for us in other parts.  First, he was confident that he could never be in want - note, not because of some hidden trust fund, nor his exceptional political connections, but - because of the Lord who watches over him. The same God who gives us all things richly to enjoy. And then told us that as a result he lies all day in rich pasture. That's an amazing picture. Never in lack and want. Just as a sheep grazes and lay in satisfaction, David was showing us what God can do and does for us when we trust in Him.  Notice what he said in Psalm 34; "The LORD redeems the soul of his servants; and none of them that ...

 DAILY VITAMIN - Trade With Your Gifts "But to each one is given the manifestation of the [Holy] Spirit [the evidence, the spiritual illumination of the Spirit] for good and profit." (1 Corinthians 12:7 AMP) God is a businessman. In the parable of the talents He is referred to as a shrewd businessman; and so everything He invests in is for the purpose of getting profits eventually, including you. Our theme scripture tells us that everything He has given us by His Spirit is so that we may profit in ways and things to Him. And Jesus explained this best via one of His parables. He said a certain nobleman gave certain gifts to his servants upon travelling with the instruction to occupy till he returned. However, when he came back, the Bible says he called his servants that he might know how much every man had gained by trading (Luke 19:15). And it is still the same today. God has given us gifts to help our communities, and He will require of us what we have done with that. There ...

 DAILY VITAMIN - Follow God's Plan "For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]." (Ephesians 2:10 AMP) A lot of people are frustrated because they are living a life which is piloted by themselves. But that isn't how we were created to live. As semi-independent beings, we were designed to live after God's guidance; it is where our peace lies. And the scripture says this way we experience His exquisite pleasures ( Psalm 16:11).  Isaiah said He keeps in perfect peace those whose hearts are stayed on Him (26:3). Those who follow after His plans for their lives. Those who live within the boundaries of His will. So if you notice that life is nothing other than a struggle for you, take invento...

DAILY VITAMIN  - God Is Good, Trust Him  "...trust the Lord completely; don't ever trust yourself. In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success." (Proverbs 3:5-6 TLB)  Indeed, God is great.  Every time I read Noah's story, I wonder how he was able to build such a magnificent structure that could carry the weight of all the creatures in the world except the aquatics in pairs of sevens and twos. The creatures must have been innumerable, yet it housed them all perfectly.  But then we realize that it was God who gave Noah the schematics. God knew what He wanted, and He knew how to get it done. All Noah had to do was do "according to all that the LORD commanded him" (Genesis 7:5).  As long as he did that, all was fine. And it is the same with us. We have to trust God and everything will be fine. If we have lived long enough, we'd have realized that most times things don't go according to our plans, but th...

  DAILY VITAMIN  - I Am The Habitation Of God "In whom ye also are built together for an habitation of God through the Spirit" (Ephesians 2:22) The Bible says the Lord is a strong tower we can run into and be sure of safety. Isn't that just amazing? How in God we can completely overcome all adversities? Then it goes ahead to tell us that we are marked with Christ (Gal 6:17), and how we are victors in God. Now how much more amazing would it be if I told you that there's more; that we don't have to head about looking for a strong tower to hide from the storms of life, or to riffle through every nook and cranny of the body looking for the mark of Christ because He dwells in you?  Glory to God! You are God's strong tower now. We are told that God inhabits us through His Spirit in our theme verse. And that's exciting, because it means your body isn't yours anymore. Your body is now God's body on the earth - His temple. He lives in and through us. So sic...

  DAILY VITAMIN  - Don't Doubt God "For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord" (James 1:7). A lot of us are the cause of our own retrogressions; not someone else, not God, and not even the devil. But ourselves. This trend began with the first man in the garden; how he fell from divinity to his present vulnerability, all of which came to be simply because he couldn't keep himself from doubt. He doubted God's Word and it plungedvhim an eternity behind his original purpose. And today we still find a lot of us making the same mistake.  In Mark 6, the Bible tells us Jesus went to his hometown of Nazareth across the Palestinian border, and despite their seeing His works, they still chose to doubt; and as a result we are told that Jesus couldn't do much there as he did elsewhere because of their unbelief (v. 2-6). In spite of the proofs He showed them, they chose to repel faith. The same happened in the days of Elisha. Regardless of his ab...

  DAILY VITAMIN  - Do Good Works "Seek good, and not evil, that you may live... " (Amos 5:14) God remembers our works. The scripture says He never forgets about them (Hebrew 6:10); for in them lies our reward (Rev 22:12). As I have always said, while God justifies the unsaved by their faith unto righteousness, He judges us the saved by our works. That's what His revelational letters to the churches show us. And this is because works are of faith and of love toward Him.  As Christians there is a standard we are meant to live by. A certain kind of lifestyle suited unto godliness we are called to walk in, and God desires that we comply with it. And this lifestyle breeds good works that are pleasing unto God.  The scripture says the law cannot justify (Gal 3:1) nor can it perfect anything (Hebrews 7:19),but not good works. They give us life in fullness. Everything good comes from them. Take for instance, obedience.  It is a work of faith, and as with Abraham, it sti...