Wisdom Creed TV

*LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL*
_By Pastor Mensa Otabil_

Friday 6th February 2026

*PRAYING WITH LIFTED HANDS*

*Scripture Reading:* 1 Timothy 2

> _I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; *1 Timothy 2:8*_

Praying with uplifted hands is an Old Testament practice that was continued under the New Testament. Paul’s instruction was directed to the men who led the congregation in prayer.

He wanted those who led the congregation to set an example of holiness. Since the holy example of the church leader was to be followed by the rest of the church, this command can be applied to the whole church.

God does not have a conduct for pastors that is different from that of the congregation. If the Lord wants those who lead in prayer to lift up holy hands, He also wants those who join in the prayer to lift up holy hands.

What does it mean, to lift up holy hands in prayer?

1. *Lord, my life is open before you.* When we lift up our hands in prayer, we are saying that we have nothing to hide in the presence of God. It describes a state of openness before the Lord and the readiness to receive whatever He has in store for us.

2. *Lord, wash me and make me clean.* When we lift up our hands in prayer, we are asking the Lord to wash us and make us acceptable in His presence. It is a request for cleansing from all unrighteousness so we can be free from fear and condemnation before Him.

3. *Lord, I surrender to you.* When we lift up our hands in prayer, we are showing that we are submitted to God and His will for our lives. In that posture, we are communicating to the Lord that all we are and have, belongs to Him and that we set aside our will and embrace His will.

When we talk to God and present our requests to Him, we must recognise His sovereignty in answering our prayers. We do not have all our prayers answered in the way we expect them to because God does what He sees fit according to the counsel of His will.

*Prayer:* _Heavenly Father, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before you. In Jesus’ name, *Amen.*_

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18 hours ago | [YT] | 35

Wisdom Creed TV

*LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL*
_By Pastor Mensa Otabil_

Thursday 5th February 2026

*THE WAY OF SALVATION*

*Scripture Reading:* 1 Timothy 2

> _For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, *1 Timothy 2:5–6*_

The theme of the verses we are studying is prayer. Our passage for today highlights some key tenets of the Christian faith that we must uphold as we engage in the practice of prayer.

- *One God.* Christianity is a monotheistic faith. We do not pray before different gods. We only pray before one God. Christians can sometimes feel pressured to pray to other deities. We can feel that pressure when we have prayed about something for a long time without relief. However, as Christians, we must have faith in only the One True God.

- *Jesus our mediator.* A mediator is an intermediary, the person in the middle, who effects a reconciliation between two rival parties. No other being qualifies to mediate between God and man. That means we cannot look up to our pastor or some other spiritual leader to mediate with God on our behalf.

The passage speaks of ‘the Man Christ Jesus’. That phrase shows us that part of the work of Jesus as our mediator was for Him to be like us. He identified with our weaknesses in order for Him to redeem us from our weaknesses.

That is how we should also pray when we intercede for others. We take on their burdens and bring their needs before God.

- *Jesus gave Himself for all.* This is why we must pray for all. The Lord Jesus did not only die for His disciples, but He paid the price for all of humanity’s sins. In the same way, we cannot choose to only pray for those we like or those who like us.

*Prayer:* _Heavenly Father, thank you for showing me the way of salvation. I receive Christ as my Lord and Saviour. In Jesus name, *Amen!*_

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1 day ago | [YT] | 51

Wisdom Creed TV

*LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL*
_By Pastor Mensa Otabil_

Wednesday 4th February 2026

*PRAY FOR SALVATION*

*Scripture Reading:* 1 Timothy 2

> _For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. *1 Timothy 2:3–4*_

Paul encouraged prayer for all groups of people in the preceding verses. He now affirms that it is good for us to pray for all people to come to the saving knowledge of Christ.

There are some observations from the passage that tell us why we must be occupied with praying for all people:

- God’s desire is for everyone to be saved – “who desires all men to be saved.” God wants the world to experience what He has already done for them. Our salvation was secured when Christ died in our place so that we should no longer live in sin and bondage, but in righteousness and freedom.

- Pray for the salvation of sinners – “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.” Jesus showed us the perfect example when He prayed for the forgiveness of those who were nailing Him to the cross. He could have prayed for the Father to destroy those who were hurting Him, but He chose to pray for their forgiveness. In addition, the Lord offered salvation to the thief on the cross who asked to be accepted in His Kingdom.

- Pray for people to come to the knowledge of the truth - Jesus is the Messiah. The One who came, lived among us, died, rose again and will return. There are many ideas in our world competing for attention. Sometimes in people’s quest for spiritual knowledge, they turn to false beliefs. As we seek to bring people to salvation, we must specifically pray that they come into contact with the truth of the gospel.

Although God can do all things by Himself, He chooses to work with and through His children to accomplish His purposes on earth. Our prayers for the salvation of people are an important part of his plan to save them.

*Prayer:* _Heavenly Father, thank you for your priceless gift of salvation. Use me to draw people to your grace. In Jesus’ name, *Amen!*_

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2 days ago | [YT] | 56

Wisdom Creed TV

*LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL*
_By Pastor Mensa Otabil_

Tuesday 3rd February 2026

*PRAY FOR LEADERS*

*Scripture Reading:* 1 Timothy 2

> _Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. *1 Timothy 2:1–2*_

A vital aspect of this prayer for the church’s mission is prayer for the state. Paul’s passionate appeal for supplications, prayer, intercession, and thanksgiving is expanded to include everyone in civil or governmental authority.

The scriptures encourage the church to respect state rulers and to submit to the state's institutionsmust fulfill our legitimate obligations to the state such as paying taxes and honouring the rule of law.

Why does Paul make this appeal?

- God works with civil authorities. There is a tendency for Christians not pray for their civil leaders, especially when these leaders are openly hostile. But Paul admonishes Christians on the important fact that whether these civil leaders are perverted or not, they must be the subject of our prayer.

- The intercession of believers can provide the needed spiritual impetus for a civil leader to rule peaceably. Paul’s words imply that Christians must pray that their leaders will have the knowledge needed to guide them in their duties.

- Prayer can help steer rulers to provide sound, solid leadership to accomplish godly goals. Christians must not only pray for the conversion of their leaders, but also for the quality of their governance. The prayers include thanksgiving for those decisions that facilitate the spread of Christianity and requests for wisdom in making important decisions.

*Prayer:* _Heavenly Father, thank you for the leaders of our world. Use them to work out your purposes on earth. In Jesus’ name, *Amen!*_

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3 days ago | [YT] | 83

Wisdom Creed TV

*LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL*
_By Pastor Mensa Otabil_

Monday 2nd February 2026

*PRAY FOR PEOPLE*

*Scripture Reading:* 1 Timothy 2

> _Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. *1 Timothy 2:1–2*_

In his opening verse, Paul is giving his protégé a set of instructions about the importance of praying for everyone. He prioritises the importance of supplications, prayer, intercessions and thanksgiving which are all concepts or expressions associated with prayer. We will focus on verse one for today and take up verse two tomorrow.

What are the differences between the kinds of prayer Paul mentions? Here are a few definitions to help you understand the passage:

* *Supplications – making requests for specific needs.* When we ask God to help us with a marital, parenting, or some other issue, we are making a supplication to God.

* *Prayer – communicating with God.* This constitutes talking to God and listening for Him to speak back to us in our hearts.

- *Intercession – appealing boldly before God on behalf of others.* The focus of intercession is others and not us. It is presenting their needs and our desires to God.

- *Thanksgiving – an expression of gratitude to God on behalf of others.* This is when we thank the Lord for what He has done.

All these kinds should feature appropriately when we go before the Lord in prayer.

There are some observations to make from today’s passage:

* *Prayer must be a priority in the believer’s life – “therefore, I exhort first of all...”*
It must be our first course of action in a crisis, a dilemma or even in the victories we win. Prayers need not necessarily be in a particular posture. The silent, whispered prayer from the heart is sufficient to get the Father’s attention.

- *Prayer is not just about our personal needs but also the needs of others – “be made for all men.”* God wants us to pray for others just as much as we desire to pray for ourselves. He graciously takes care of our needs as we focus more on praying for others.

- *Prayers must manifest concern for others.* To pray for “everyone” does not suggest that we must mention each human being by name but that our prayers should include all groups of human beings, without distinction of race, nationality, or social position—they must be the theme of our prayers.

*Prayer:* _Heavenly Father, I pray for all the people of the earth. Let your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. In Jesus’ name, *Amen!*_

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4 days ago | [YT] | 119

Wisdom Creed TV

LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
By Pastor Mensa Otabil

Sunday 1st February 2026

*LET GOD ARISE*

*Scripture Reading:* Psalm 9:19–20

> _Arise, O Lord, do not let man prevail; Let the nations be judged in Your sight. Put them in fear, O Lord, that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah *Psalm 9:19–20*_

The psalm concludes with a call for the Lord to “arise” against the foes. It is a clear call for deliverance. While David was singing these words to the Lord, he had not yet experienced deliverance. However, he was certain that God’s deliverance would come.

- *Do not let man prevail.* Wickedness grows worse, and justice is undermined when the wicked succeed in their evil plots. To keep our world in order, evil must not prevail.

- *Put fear in them, O Lord.* This is a call for the Lord to terrify the wicked with His presence. It is also a call for the Lord to act in such a way that the wicked will be in awe of Him. Hopefully, this will lead to the salvation of the wicked as they humble themselves before the Lord in worship.

- *Let them know they are just men.* Men cannot bow to the Lord if they think they are ‘gods’. The psalmists plead for the Lord to cause the wicked to know the limits of their power.

David teaches us to approach God with praise and call upon Him when faced with threats of harm from the wicked. When the wicked come face to face with the Lord, they will be humbled by the realisation of the limits of their power and repent.

*Prayer:* _Heavenly Father, arise in our world. Cause wickedness and evil to cease. Magnify your name in all the earth. in Jesus’ name, *Amen*_

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5 days ago | [YT] | 47

Wisdom Creed TV

*LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL*
_By Pastor Mensa Otabil_

Saturday 31st January 2026

*GOD EXECUTES JUDGMENT*

*Scripture Reading:* Psalm 9

> _The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made; In the net which they hid, their own foot is caught. The Lord is known by the judgment He executes; The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Meditation. Selah_ *Psalm 9:15–16*

God by His nature either extends mercy or executes righteous judgment. If God showed mercy to David, then his enemies would come under His judgment. In appealing to God for mercy, David also described the end of the formidable conspirators who had risen up against him.

It was nations that came after David. This was no single rival or little band of opposition seeking to destroy Him. The attack was international in scale and their intent was to take out Israel’s king. However, we see God’s judgment come to pass against David's enemies.

What are the characteristics of God’s judgment?

- *The Lord is known by the judgment He executes.* God is a righteous judge; His judgments are always right. In this passage, the psalmist focuses on God’s retributive justice; vengeance is the Lord’s. The same Lord who acts mercifully towards those whose hearts are right will punish those who act wickedly.

- *The wicked is snared in their devices.* This is why the Lord frequently tells His children not to fret about the works of the wicked. In the end, the righteous God will overrule the wicked. The Psalmist uses two images to describe the wicked devices and their outcomes.


- *They have sunk into the pit they made.*
- *They are caught in the net they hid.*

Eventually, the wicked fall prey to the traps they set for the righteous. God can deliver His people. He takes them out of harm’s way and sets them in a safe place.

We can rest and be at peace in the Lord, knowing that He is a God of justice. He will rule justly on your case. Trust Him to take care of whatever concerns you.

At the end of the statement on how God judges the wicked, the Psalm invites us to pause and meditate.

*Prayer:* _Heavenly Father, you are the righteous judge. Overturn every plan of wickedness against Your Children in Jesus’ name, Amen._

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1 week ago | [YT] | 37

Wisdom Creed TV

*LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL*
_By Pastor Mensa Otabil_

FRIDAY 30TH JANUARY 2026

*THE POWER OF GOD’S MERCY*

> _Have mercy on me, O Lord! Consider my trouble from those who hate me, You who lift me up from the gates of death, That I may tell of all Your praise In the gates of the daughter of Zion. I will rejoice in Your salvation. *Psalm 9:13–14*_

In view of God’s past deliverances, David now called on God to respond to his affliction and give him reason to praise. The psalmist asked the Lord to show him mercy.

God deals with people in two ways. He can deal with us according to His mercy or according to his judgment. When we fall on God’s mercy, He extends His kindness to us. When we come under God’s judgment, He extends His wrath to us. In his present crisis, David fell on God’s mercy. We can do the same when people pursue us wrongly.

Why do we need God’s mercy?

- *God’s mercy makes Him consider us.* David threw himself on God’s mercy and called on the Lord to take note of what his enemies were doing against him. That is a lesson for us. We can also trust that the Lord of mercy will take notice of what we are going through.

- *God’s mercy makes Him lift us up.* The psalmist was confident that the Lord of mercy would lift him up from ‘the gates of death’. He knew that if the Lord did not intervene, his enemies would kill him. However, David was convinced that God would deliver him. We can also trust the Lord to deliver us from the trap of the enemy.

- *God’s mercy gives us a testimony.* Though David was in a very precarious situation, he had the assurance that the Lord would give him a testimony. Rather than going down into the pit of his enemies, the psalmist promised to testify to God’s deliverance.

*Prayer:* _Heavenly Father, I receive your mercy in this time of need. Thank you for deliverance. In Jesus’ name, *Amen!*_

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1 week ago | [YT] | 56

Wisdom Creed TV

*LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL*
_By Pastor Mensa Otabil_

Thursday 29th January 2026

*A REFUGE FOR THE OPPRESSED*

*Scripture Reading:* Psalm 9

> _The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble.” And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. *Psalm 9:9-10*_

The word "fortress" occurs often in the Psalms as a metaphor for God’s protection. The word refuge means security and protection in a high, safe place of retreat; a shelter from danger.

Although God created the world and transcends it, He is still actively involved and aware of what happens on earth. He takes an interest in the lives of His people.

- *God is a refuge for the oppressed.* God is not oblivious to the plight of the oppressed in society. The oppressed are powerless people who are crushed, exploited, and discriminated against, whose only hope is the Lord. These are “people who are pushed down” or “people whose necks are held down by others.” God is a fortress for the afflicted.

The afflicted and the oppressed, those who are most frequently ignored or abused by human judgment, are championed by the righteous Judge.

- *God is a refuge in times of trouble.* Life on earth has different times and seasons. One of those times is what the psalmist calls ‘times of trouble’. There is comfort in knowing that these moments of trouble and difficulty are not permanent. As there are times of trouble, there are also times of God’s deliverance.

- *God does not forsake those who seek Him.* God has a track record in delivering the afflicted and because he has not let down those who have come to him for help, this breeds confidence in those who know him.

*Prayer:* _Heavenly Father, you are my ever-present help in times of trouble. I know you will never forsake me. In Jesus’ name, *Amen!*_

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1 week ago | [YT] | 40

Wisdom Creed TV

*LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL*
_By Pastor Mensa Otabil_

Tuesday 27th January 2026

*VICTORY OVER LIFE’S BATTLES*

*Scripture Reading:* Psalm 9

> When my enemies turn back, they shall fall and perish at Your presence. *Psalm 9:3*_

In verses one and two the psalmist chose to praise God. Now, David spoke about the situation he was in and how he expected the situation to turn out. He opened our eyes to the enemies who were running after him. David was under attack; he was being pursued. Yet, he found time to praise God and recount His goodness.

- *When my enemies turn back.* The psalmist praised the Lord and looked forward to the day when those who were pursuing him would turn back. David teaches us that the presence of your enemies does not indicate God’s absence.

Together with David, we can also affirm that though the enemy will pursue us, he will not catch up to us. Neither will the enemy overtake us. God will keep us a step ahead of the attacker.

- *They shall fall and perish at Your presence.* The psalmist recognises that his enemies’ retreat is not because of his own power or strategy, but rather it was caused by God. The presence of God is the most reliable insurance package from the attacks of the enemy, and the psalmist points out that the place where the enemy will fall and perish is before the presence of God.

The presence of the Lord turns the battle in our favour.

In the Old Testament, God is often pictured as a Warrior, taking to the battlefield on Israel’s behalf and beating back the enemy. This suggests that your enemies would have no other opportunity to replicate a similar attack against you because God will immobilise all their efforts.

God will fight on your behalf when enemies rise up

*Prayer:* _Heavenly Father, your presence turns my enemies away. At your appearance, darkness disappears. In Jesus name, *Amen!*_

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1 week ago | [YT] | 56