ICGC-Rome

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 will release the power of God to fulfil our desires, fear will activate the forces of evil to turn your 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 seeing 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, make a choice to start a faith-filled life that is 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._

30/08/2026

LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
By Pastor Mensa Otabil

Sunday, 30th August 2026

A NEW HUNGER

SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 5

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled._ Matthew 5:6

In the natural world, people eat even when they aren't hungry. Many of us can prove that by turning sideways and looking at ourselves in the mirror. But in the spiritual realm, only those who are hungry can be filled. It is those who thirst after God who will be satisfied.

It is those who yearn for His presence who will see His glory. One of the worst things that can happen to us is spiritual complacency.

Being hungry for the things of God is one of the best things that can happen to us. Most people don't feel that way. They would rather have the feeling of being full. But Jesus promised us that fullness would follow hunger. No hunger, no fullness.

Therefore, we need to hunger for more and more of God. Longing for more of God is a healthy sign. Any time we notice we have lost our desire for the presence of God, it is a sign of danger. When we lose our appetite for God's word, we must know that trouble is at hand. No one hungers for God by his own power. That is not the nature of man. No man hungers for God unless the Spirit of God is drawing him.

Hungering for God doesn't cause God to move in our lives, but it is a sign that God is already at work in us. We should praise God for spiritual hunger and be encouraged. He doesn't make us hungry and then let us starve. He does so in order to fill us with His blessings and love.

We need a hunger that will never be satisfied until the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I hunger and thirst for you and your will. Fill my life with your fullness. In Jesus' name, Amen.

18/08/2026

*LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL*
_By Pastor Mensa Otabil_

Tuesday, 18th August 2026

*YOU HAVE IT ALL*

*SCRIPTURE READING:* 2 Peter 1:1-11

> _Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue._ *2 Peter 1:2-3*

God will not demand from us that which He has not already given us. He grants us the ability to do the things that He requires of us. So although our challenges may be very tough and intimidating, we are not left helpless and powerless. We have the equipment and the tools to tackle life's many challenges.

To face our challenges, we must know what God has given to us.

*• God has given Himself to us.* The Lord is on our side. His power is available to us to tap into. His grace is sufficient for us. His love for us is unfailing. He does not leave us alone nor abandon us when we get into trouble. In our moments of perplexity, He shows up in power to uphold us and carry us through.

*• God has given us His word.* Through the word of God, we have access to wisdom beyond our years and experience. God speaks to us when we read and study the Bible. He shows us the pitfalls we must avoid and the highway to follow. He shows us the signposts to success and the secrets to a happy life. Wisdom screams from the pages of the Bible and those who listen and apply its lessons to their lives enjoy the benefits of life.

*• God has given us talents.* Within each one of us are rich deposits of talents, gifts and abilities which are waiting to be discovered and deployed. God has fairly distributed to each one of us, the needed gifts to help us make our lives fruitful and useful. We do not work to acquire them. They have been bequeathed to us by a loving God.

*• God is making a way for us.* All around us are great opportunities that the Lord creates for us. From friends and people that assist us, to access to certain domains, He grants us these to pave a way for us. Opportunities sometimes present themselves in garments of challenges. Those who take the challenge and respond to it appropriately, reap the benefits of their diligence.

Why has God placed all these at our disposal? So that we can ably fulfill His will for our lives. You have what it takes and what you need to fulfill God's purposes for your life.

*PRAYER*

_Heavenly Father, you have given me all the things I need in life. Thank you for equipping me for success. In Jesus' name, Amen._

17/08/2026

*LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL*
_By Pastor Mensa Otabil_

Monday, 17th August 2026

*ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER*

*SCRIPTURE READING*: Romans 8:18-30

> _And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose._ *Romans 8:28*

To really experience the fullness of the power of God, you will have to lay hold on God's high calling for your life. The power of God is resident in you, but that power is released when we reach out beyond any life that is offered to us and embrace God's calling on our lives.

God's high calling for you is His perfect will for your life. It is being in the right place that the Lord has designated for you. That place is different for each one of us. The place that the Lord has designated for each one of us is based on what He has called us to do as well as what we have prepared ourselves to handle.

It is not only about what the Lord wants you to do. It is also about the kind of preparation you have allowed yourself to undergo so that you can be a prepared vessel for God.

God's high call is a great place to be. It is a place of all-sufficiency. It is the place of your strength. It is the place of your power. There is nothing more powerful than placing yourself where God wants you to be so that anytime He needs you for an assignment, He will find you ready to go.

God has not called us to be imitators of others. We humans are prone to imitation. From childhood, we learn how to walk, talk and get along by imitating those around us. Yes, there is value in learning by imitating others who have accomplished much. However, when it comes to God's calling on our lives, He created us to be originals, not imitations.

Readiness is a product of preparation and obedience. We prepare our hearts in anticipation of God's vision for our lives. Preparation becomes real when we obey God one step at a time and one day at a time.

God wants to take you higher; don't allow anything in you or outside of you to keep you from reaching out for God's high calling.

*Prayer*: _Heavenly Father, you have called me according to your purpose. I will be what you want me to be. In Jesus' name, *Amen*._

16/08/2026

*LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL*
_By Pastor Mensa Otabil_

Sunday, 16th August 2026

*FAITH IN JESUS*

*SCRIPTURE READING* : Acts 3:1-16

> _And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all._ *Acts 3:16*

The first healing miracle that was worked by the disciples of Jesus after His resurrection occurred in front of the Temple in Jerusalem. A paralyzed man who begged in front of the Temple was healed through Jesus' disciples, Peter and John.

As the people gathered, they wondered how such a miracle could be done by the disciples. Peter explained that the miracle had happened through faith in the name of Jesus. The following lessons emerge from Peter's submission:

*• Know the power in the name of Jesus.* The name of Jesus is powerful all by itself. When Jesus rose from the dead, the Father had given Him a name that was above every other name, at the mention of which every knee bowed. You do not need to shout or do anything to make the name of Jesus powerful. It is already powerful.

*• Have faith in the name of Jesus.* Though the name of the Lord is powerful by itself, Peter and John exercised faith in it. They did not exercise faith in themselves or their own power. It is like having a key that can open a door. You can choose to hit or punch the door because the key looks too small in your hands. Many people think that faith in Jesus' name is too simple. They are therefore tempted to add some other objects or tokens to make it more efficacious. Anytime you pray in the name of Jesus, you must have faith in the name.

*• Speak in the name of Jesus.* When Peter and John spoke to the paralyzed man, they spoke in the name of Jesus. Similarly, when we pray or command by faith, we must do so in the name of Jesus. For faith to be activated, we must declare it. The meditations of our heart are important, but we must also activate the words of our mouth.

In the coming week, we must recognize the power in the name of Jesus, have faith in it, and speak in the name of Jesus. As we do so, we will see His power at work in our lives.

*PRAYER*

_Heavenly Father, thank you that signs, wonders and miracles follow me. In Jesus' name, Amen._

11/08/2026

*LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL*
_By Pastor Mensa Otabil_

Tuesday, 11th August 2026

*THE WORD IS NEAR YOU*

*SCRIPTURE READING:* Deuteronomy 30:11-20

> _But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it._ *Deuteronomy 30:14*

The greatest battles of your life will not be fought in your workplace, military war front, or in your home. The greatest battles of your life will be fought in your mind.

Multitudes of people in our world are held captive by thoughts of fear, inferiority, embarrassment, unworthiness, anger, inadequacy, anxiety, and guilt. On the outside, everything seems fine but in the mind whole battalions of armies of thoughts battle it out to determine how we feel about God, ourselves, and other people.

Satan knows that once he succeeds in planting a controlling thought into our minds, he can manipulate the rest of our lives. When we yield to his thoughts, he moves us as a puppeteer moves his puppets on a string. In that position, even if our hearts belong to the Lord, Satan can still manipulate our behaviour and actions.

Many times, after great moments of spiritual experiences, the enemy starts bombarding our minds with doubtful thoughts. He will make you question your faith and everything you have received from the Lord.

Don't surrender your victory in Christ to the enemy. Hold on to God and His word. Stay in faith and watch the Lord bring His word to pass in your life.

The way to break from satanic control in your mind is to bring your mind under subjection to the word of God.

*• Read the Word.* Have a consistent Bible reading habit that allows you to put the word in your mind. Focus a lot on the New Testament — especially, Ephesians and Colossians.

*• Meditate on the Word.* Consciously keep your mind and thoughts on what you have read from the word. Start with about fifteen minutes a day and increase it to about one hour.

*• Speak the Word.* Learn the language of the Bible and speak with biblical insight.

*• Believe the Word.* Accept what God says about you and reject every thought to the contrary.

*• Act on the Word.* Put the word into practice. Practice faith, love, godliness, and holiness.

*PRAYER*

_Heavenly Father, through your word, I overcome every doubt. I walk in victory every day of my life. In Jesus' name, Amen._

10/08/2026

LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
_By Pastor Mensa Otabil_

Monday, 10th August 2026

*FROM FAITH TO FAITH*

*SCRIPTURE READING:* Romans 1:1-17

> _For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'The just shall live by faith.'_ *Romans 1:17*

The Christian life is a life of faith. We live the Christian life the same way that we enter the Christian life. How did we enter the Christian life?

We entered the Christian life by surrendering our life to Christ. We started by believing that Jesus is the Son of God. We believed that when He died on the cross, we died with Him; and when He rose from the dead, we were raised with Him. On that basis, we opened our heart to the Lord Jesus, and trusted Him to save us from our sins and give us His life. All of this process took place by faith.

Having begun the Christian life by faith, we continue to live our Christian life in the same way — by faith. Faith brings us in, and faith continues to keep us. We are saved by faith, and we live by faith.
The key to the Christian life is faith — believing that God is who He is and will do what He says He will do. Our faith rests in who God is. The Lord is unchangeable in nature so His word is unchangeable.

Whatever God is, His word is. He is good so His word is good. He is able, so His word is able. He can do all things, so His word can do all things. He is a healer, so His word is a healer. He has all power, so His word has all power. Our faith is activated when we take the written word of God as God speaking to us now.

Our faith is in the Lord and not in ourselves. It is very easy to place our faith in other things outside of God and His word. Sometimes we place our faith in our church or in a servant of God. Other times, we place our faith in powerful people or in ourselves. When we trust others instead of God, He is not under any obligation to do anything for us.

The same Lord who saves us from sin by faith, is also able to keep us from sin by faith. He saves and preserves. The same Lord who begins with us by faith, is also able to carry us through by faith and give us the grace to finish what He began in us by faith. Without faith, it is impossible to please God.

*PRAYER*

_Heavenly Father, I choose to live by faith. With my whole heart, I believe in you; I believe in your word. In Jesus' name, Amen._

05/07/2026

05/07/2026

*LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL*
_By Pastor Mensa Otabil_

Sunday 5th July 2026

*WHEN GOD LEADS THE WAY*

*Scripture Reading:* Exodus 13:17-22

> _And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night._ *Exodus 13:21*

The Lord went before them. That means God led and they followed. When we walk with the Lord, it is important that we allow Him to take the lead in all that we do.

The Lord manifested Himself as a pillar by day and night. It was not two different pillars. It was one pillar that manifested in different forms during the day and during the night.

*• By day:* A pillar of cloud to lead the way. The daytime is the time when you can see clearly. This is the time when you have light and are not in darkness. This refers to the instances when God's word is clear on a situation — the general will of God. When the Word of God is clear on a subject, OBEY.

When His word has already given you light on a situation, He will not give you more light; He will impress on you to move ahead in obedience. There are issues in our lives that God has clearly spoken to. Some sins are clearly spelt out in the Bible — adultery, stealing, lying, killing. Some actions are clearly spelt out in the Bible — prayer, Bible study, worship, giving financially to God.

You don't need more light to do these. On such issues we don't ask God for guidance. We simply obey His will. Clouds do not provide light. Note that the pillar of cloud was given to lead the way. It just tells you to move ahead in the light that God has already provided.

*• By night:* A pillar of fire to give them light. The nighttime is when you cannot see clearly. This is when you're in the dark and the will of God is not clearly known. This refers to the instances when there is no direct scriptural word regarding a situation. When the Word of God is not clear on a subject, seek clarity.
For example, when you want to choose a marriage partner or make an investment, you cannot find a passage in scripture that clearly points you to an individual or a particular company. Although the Bible gives us broad guidelines on such matters, it does not give names and dates.

In such cases, we must trust the Lord to give us light to illuminate our darkness. Through the leading of the Holy Spirit, the Lord can shed light on the dark areas as we decide. Allow the Spirit of God to be your pillar of fire. He will show you what to do when you don't know what to do.

*PRAYER*

_Heavenly Father, you are my guide. Light my path with your Spirit. Lead the way and I will follow. In Jesus' name, Amen._