Memorize : Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed; thou has guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. Exodus. 15:13
Devotional Reading: 2 Kings 5: 1-7
It was not your power or your might that brought you victoriously into this new year 2022, it was the mercy of God. The scripture says in Romans 9:16; “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. Our lives without the mercy of God would be miserable.
The case of Naaman the Syrian army captain was a typical example of being saved and healed by mercy.
Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper” 2 kings 5:1. This verse introduced Naaman in a beautiful way as a warrior. He was an army that held great portfolio and was described in beautiful pose. Let us look at God factor in Naaman’s great position. Naaman was the captain of the Syrian host while God is the captain of the host of Heaven Psalm 24:8-10. He was captain over men – flesh while God is Lord over spirits and flesh and the God of all creation.
The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the red seas” Exodus:15:3-4. Naaman was powerful and could conquer nations by the mercy and backing of God’s power even when he never realized it. Naaman ordinarily by himself is nothing, his great position was given to him by God, the same with everyone in great office or position, you are in that important office not because of your power, connection, might or strength, but because of the mercy of God, his decision and judgement is final according to Psalm 75:7; “But God is the judge; he Putteth down one, and setteth up another”
Victory came for Syria several times not because of Naman’s wisdom or excellent credentials, but because he was delivered by God’s mercy and he obtained help from God. On the other hand, God can wipe out the armies of all nations in one day. With one angel, He wiped out the 185,000 strong army of Senacherib in one night. This means with few angels, the battalions of the world could be wiped out in a moment.
There are times God have given us victory over seen or unseen battles in our lives, we sometimes give the credit to someone else, or to yourself, probably because you think you were the one that was carefulor skilful enough to win the battle, it is not by your strength or the strength of someone else, it is by the mercy of God.
My wife shared with me a very scary experience couple of days ago, she was driving from her office coming home which was a journey of less than 1 mile drive, as she approached a major roundabout, she needed to break the car and allow the roundabout become free and safe for her to continue her journey, as she tried to step on the break, she discovered that her seat track failed; her drivers seat slides to the back making feet far away from the break and accelerator, the car slipped straight into the roundabout without control, it was the mercy of God that made the road free of vehicles at the time, otherwise, the mercy of God saved and delivered from an accident that would have happened, it was the hand of God and His mercy that saved her on new year day. That was the power of God’s mercy. I pray for you today that Mercy will speak and prevail for you in your difficult situations and circumstances this year 2022 and beyond in Jesus name. Even in the midst of ongoing global pandemic, you and your household will be protected by mercy in Jesus name. Mercy will keep you away from every dangerous places, the blood of Jesus will immune you against this killer virus and the new variants circulating the world in the mighty name of Jesus.
Victory will be won for you by mercy if you put your confidence, hope and trust in God. May the Lord help you to appreciate God for all his mercies over you and your family and continue to cling to his mercy in Jesus name.
Prayer point: O LORD, let your mercy deliver and shield me from every plot of the enemy in this new year 2022 in Jesus name.
Key Dose: Remember that by strength shall no man prevail, but by the mercy of God.
Pastor James Ademuyiwa
Senior Pastor
In His Presence Christ Tabernacle
