ICGC - Family Temple

08/09/2026

LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
Pastor Mensa Otabil

Wednesday, 9th September 2026

A SEASON OF OVERFLOW

SCRIPTURE READING: Ezekiel 34

I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing._ Ezekiel 34:26

Ancient Israel was an agrarian society which grew seasonal grains and relied heavily on rainfall. When there was no rain, the crops failed in the field. When the rains came, their field bloomed. For the rain to have maximum benefit on their crops it had to fall in the right quantities and at the right time.

The way the rains fell on those crops is similar to the way God's blessings fall on us.

• God's blessings fall as showers. Showers were not torrential thunderstorms that caused landslides but the soft falling of rain in measured portions that gave the ground the required moisture.

God compared His blessings to that pattern of rainfall, showers of blessings. He does not overwhelm us with so much of His blessings as to cause destruction in our lives but gradually pours into our lives measured portions of His goodness. He sends them steadily until we are soaked and filled with all that we need to make our lives fruitful.

• God's showers fall in the right season. The showers must come at the time of planting and continue through to the maturation of the crop. At harvest time, the showers must cease.

Nothing disturbs a harvest more than a downpour. God's showers of blessing come at the right time in the right seasons of our life experiences. Not too early and not late. He is always on time and in season.

The Lord will give you the right amount of grace and favour that you need each day and for each moment of your life. Trust Him to give you showers of blessing.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your faithfulness in sending me the showers I need at the right season. In Jesus' name, Amen.

08/09/2026

06/09/2026

LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
Pastor Mensa Otabil

Monday, 7th September 2026

GOD'S FLOCK

SCRIPTURE READING: Ezekiel 34

You are My flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, and I am your God, says the Lord God. Ezekiel 34:31_

The Lord is our shepherd. We are His flock. Although we are human beings, God uses the relationship between a shepherd and his flock to illustrate His relationship with us. There are important lessons to learn from the Shepherd-sheep analogy about how God relates to us.

- He leads us. He helps us find our way in life as we walk into unknown places and situations. He helps us make the right decisions when we are faced with confusing choices. He guides us by the light of His Word with wisdom and insight, and orders our steps in what we do. We must trust the Lord to lead us.

- He keeps us. He protects us from the wild beasts of prey who want to tear us apart and eat up our flesh. He moves our feet away from the traps set for us. He watches over us even when we are asleep. We have an assurance of God's ability to protect us. He is God Almighty.

- He feeds us. He makes provision for us even when there is scarcity all around us. God is not limited by the resources available to us. He has unlimited provisions available. He knows where the resources we need are hidden and can lead us to them. He knows the kind of pasture to lead His flock to.

Our expected response is to trust Him and obey His voice. That requires yielding our will and ways to Him. We are people with a sovereign will, which He will not violate. He will not force us to serve Him; He only takes the lead when we hold His hand and ask Him to.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are the shepherd of my soul. I trust You to guide and provide for me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

06/09/2026

LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
Pastor Mensa Otabil

Sunday, 6th September 2026

GOD WILL NOT FORSAKE YOU

SCRIPTURE READING: 1 Kings 8:54-61

May the Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. May He not leave us nor forsake us._1 Kings 8:57

This was Solomon's prayer when he dedicated the Temple in Jerusalem to God. He saw the Temple as a reminder of God's presence with His people at all times. In the New Testament, the Lord Jesus assured us of His presence through the Holy Spirit at all times. That is the living reality of our faith. God is with us.

Even with the strong assurance that the Lord is with us always, there are still times when we tend to worry ourselves about everything that could happen. How often have we missed God's blessing because we were fearful to take that step of faith?

Some of us wake up in the morning and set the wheels of worry rolling. Instead of setting our minds on the goodness of the Lord and what He can do for us, we cripple ourselves with fear and worry. We make our burdens heavy and unbearable with a lot of speculation and 'what ifs'.

We go like this: 'Will my car make it to work? Will I get sick? Will I get fired? Will I have an accident? Will I make it home again safely? Will my home be here when I come back? What about my kids and my spouse?' On and on we go as we poison our souls and squeeze God out of the equations of our lives.

Just as faith releases the power of God to fulfil our desires, fear activates the forces of evil to turn our worries into reality. If you dwell on all the negative 'what ifs', your worries will drive you into a state of panic. In that state of panic, you will begin to see your fears come true. You worry that you are going to get ill. The worry causes your stress level to rise, which in turn brings on all kinds of physical symptoms that will eventually make you ill.

Today, choose to start a faith-filled life focused on the firm assurance that the Lord is with you. Live out your day in faith.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I know you are with me. I reject the spirit of fear and embrace the spirit of faith. In Jesus' name, Amen.

05/09/2026

LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
Pastor Mensa Otabil

Saturday, 5th September 2026

GOD KEEPS HIS COVENANT

SCRIPTURE READING: Deuteronomy 7:1-11

Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments._ Deuteronomy 7:9

This is part of Moses' instructions to Israel as he neared the end of his life. He had observed how easily Israel forgot the faithfulness of the Lord when they got into trouble. Moses knew the challenges that would face the nation as they entered their Promised Land. He wanted them to always remember God's faithfulness.

The message Moses gave to Israel is relevant for us today.

Too often, Christians think that being children of God makes them immune to the attacks of the devil or that the storms of life would just by-pass them. Exactly the opposite is true. I have seen people who turn their backs on God and walk out of the church because God didn't stop the storm from coming against them.

Surely, the storms of life will come. They will often come when you least expect them. That makes them a better test of your faith. We would all like it if the troubles that we face were known before they happened so that we could plan better, but that's not faith. God wants to see how you will react in the times of trouble. Will you react in faith and trust, or doubt and fear? When the enemy comes in like a flood against you, where will you turn to?

The reality of our walk with the Lord is that He never abandons us even when we feel abandoned. The God on the mountain is still God in the valley. When things go wrong, He will make them right. The God of the good times is still God in the bad times. The God of the daytime is still God in the nighttime. Thank God, He's still God in all circumstances — and nothing is too hard for Him!

Thank God for His faithfulness! Thank God for His promise to never leave us! Thank God for His power to heal, to bless, to forgive and to wash us from all sin! Thank God for supplying our every need! Thank God for His love, His mercy and goodness.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are a covenant keeper. I thank you Lord that in all situations you remain faithful. In Jesus' name, Amen.

03/09/2026

LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
Pastor Mensa Otabil

Friday, 4th September 2026

GOD'S WORD IS SETTLED

SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 119:86-96

Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven._Psalm 119:89

God's word is settled. It is fixed. It is permanent. It will not change. It will not lose its power.

When God gives us a word, He settles it in heaven first and then He works it out on earth. That is why Jesus taught us to pray, 'thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven'. The settled word in heaven must be settled on earth.

Jesus overcame the temptations of the evil one through the Word of God. He knew who He was and what the Word had said about Him, so He overcame. We will also overcome if we settle our minds and words on God's Word.

What God has settled in your case, in heaven, will be settled here on earth too. For a moment, there will be warfare, there will be battles; but in the end, what is settled in heaven will be settled on earth.

'Forever O Lord your word is settled in heaven'. We are not just seeking for God to settle His word; He has already done that. What we are seeking is for what He has settled in heaven to be settled on earth.

Time does not diminish the power of God's word or His promises. Distance does not diminish the power of God's word or His promises. What He said a thousand years ago is as fresh as the first time He spoke it. What He said to you thirty years ago is as real today as the first time He spoke it.

Our minds must be settled on the settled Word of God.

It is settled that God is the Creator of heaven and earth.

It is settled that God loves you.

It is settled that God has a plan for you.

It is settled that God is working out His plan for you.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, your word is settled in heaven. I receive full manifestation of your promises in my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.