Okonofua David Ehis

08/04/2026

*Psalmspiration – Start Your Day With Psalm*

*Psalm 42: My Night Prayer*

Psalm 42:8 But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.

Dear believers, don't take your night devotion to God for granted. I have listened to many preachers trying to down play on night prayers. I think it is a subtle way of demeaning the power in prayers. God is not restricted to answering only night prayers. But we should never forget to take it as a duty. On our beds, we should let our pillows be soaked with genuine tears of worship. We should let the night re-echo our voices of prayers. Though it might not be convenient, with discipline and consistency, the believer can develop the habit of perpetual night prayers.

The ministry of the prophets were described as the ministry of watchmen. These are people who take their place on the tower in the middle of the night, and keep watch over the community while others sleep. Every believer is also a watchman. The believer must learn to be at his duty post of watchful prayers in the middle of the night. When the watchman sleeps, the community becomes endangered. This is why the believer must be conscious of his duty post. Most of the attacks from the enemies come in the death of the night. Most of the victories that are obtained in the day are won in the night.

Jesus also demonstrated the work of the watchman by engaging in midnight prayers. Different seasons in his ministerial life, he would wake up and go up to the mountain at night and pray. Some other times, he will intentionally withdraw from the disciples and engage in night prayers. He even scolded the sleeping disciples who could not stay up and watch with him for an hour in prayers,. Today's Psalm, the Psalmist declares: "and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life." This shows that the Psalmist also engaged in the work of the watchman.

What we learn from the Psalmist this day is how to switch on our inner energies in the midst of conflicts. The Psalmist was suffering from a spiritual burnout, and in the middle of the night, his heart was preoccupied with the feelings of regrets due to his backslidden state. However, he was able to find a switch in his energy. Instead of spending his energy on regrets, he decided to sing and pray to God who kept him alive. The believer has no room for regrets. Every believer must engage in worship and prayer in any season of the day. We must not be too tired, lazy, busy, sleepy and discouraged to pray. Don't let each night break into day without your engagement and involvement in prayer. The Prophets had a model, the Psalmist had a pattern, Jesus did same, even his disciples were not left out. So, let your night worship and prayer be a part of your life. Grace is available for you. Shalom.

*Prayer:* Precious Father, may I never be too discouraged and tired to function as a watchman. Grant me the strength and encouragement to be at my post every night. Let your worship saturate the environment of my bed. Let the midnight re-echo my voice in prayers to you. Let the testimonies of my midnight watch be an encouragement to the household of faith. Thank You Father, Amen.

David Ehis Okonofua💖
©️ Psalmspiration

06/04/2026

*Psalmspiration – Start Your Day With Psalm*

*Psalm 42: Unfailing Love*

Psalm 42:8 But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.

Even before the writer of the book of Lamentations opened our eyes to the fact that God's mercies are new every morning, the Psalmist has already declared that God pours his unfailing love on us each day. It is very important for every believer to understand what God is not. When we understand what God is not, it will ease our understanding in knowing whom God is. There are many misconceptions about the person of God. We use our sensual human knowledge to draw conclusions about the supreme and sovereign God. This has hindered our spiritual growth and relationship with God.

In the human sense, we try our human efforts in loving those we have judged desirable to love. We keep growing in such relationship as long as our terms are satisfied. The moment there is a feeling of offense at any point, we begin to intentionally withdraw from such relationship. The withdrawal will become progressive until the relationship dies. This human experience has created a pathway in our minds such that, when an offense is triggered today, it will kill the love that has been scheduled for tomorrow. Sadly but true, we also think that's how God operates.

Whenever the Bible talks about God's love, it describes it as unfailing. Take a moment and appreciate the meaning of unfailing - it suggests that this kind of love does not and cannot fail. The love has been scheduled for each moment. The offense of this moment cannot alter the love that has been budgeted for the next moment. So, God's unfailing love comes to pass in our lives each day. The sons of Korah worked against God because of their proud heart. Instead of focusing on their primary object of worship at the Temple, they started revolting against Temple worship. They became offended against God that they boycotted their singing responsibilities in the Temple.

Despite their revolution against God, one thing was constant, i.e. each new morning, God pours upon them the portion of His unfailing love. They were underserving and unqualified for such special gestures. But God remained merciful and loving to them because He cannot fail and He is not a man. Have you misjudged God in your walk with him? Have you limited God relationship with you just because of your offense of yesterday? Remember, this Psalm: "each day, the Lord pours His unfailing love upon me." God's love does not fail. It will never start failing in your life. There is a new unfailing love for today. Stop yearning for the one of yesterday. Lean on the one of today. May the unfailing love of God in your life never fail. Amen.

*Prayer:* Father of love, cover my life with your love that never fails. Change my perception about your personality. Teach me to always remember that your love is unfailing and it is new every day. Today, I receive the confidence to walk in the dimension of your unfailing love. Thank You Father for your love. Amen.

David Ehis Okonofua💖
©️ Psalmspiration

06/04/2026

*Psalmspiration – Start Your Day With Psalm*

*Psalm 42: Leaning on Hope*

Psalm 42:6-7 Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you—
even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar. I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.

The feelings of discouragement is real. Everyone must have encountered it in different areas of their lives. As a parent, there are times that the weight and burden of parenthood becomes so heavy. In the midst of such parental struggles, you are surrounded with voices of ingratitude either from your spouse or your children. At such moments, it becomes so heavy and discouraging for you to bear. There are many parents who stopped being an epitome of an ideal parent just because they couldn't overcome the forces of discouragements in their life.

As a worker, there are moments of exhaustion and deep discouragement. If you decide to conduct a survey on workers and their feelings of discouragement in their work zones, the findings will be significant. Many workers show up at their places of work with a heart of deep discouragement. Infact, waking up in the morning with a view of going to work is already a feeling of discouragement to some. Many workers also spend their energies in working in discouraging offices and environments. Many return home at the close of work with a discouraged mind. Many workers battle with the psychological trauma of discouragement which usually comes from being undervalued and unappreciated.

When you want to understand the mother of all discouragements, then study the life of a Pastor. Pastors generally are always fighting the battle against discouragement. The rigors of the pastoral ministry and the outcomes at times, doesn't correlate. Many Pastors fight discouragement to show up in church on a Sunday morning. Many Pastors fight deep discouragement to deliver their sermons in a worship service. Many fight discouragement especially when people take their sacrifices and labour for granted. Even in the scriptures, as great as Prophet Elijah was, he also battled with deep discouragement in his life.

In moments of deep discouragements, choose to remember God. If you focused on the triggers of discouragement, you will never be able to come out of it. But when you remember God, you will be able to lean on hope. Remembering God in times of discouragement brings the assurance that God who renewed the hope of the hopeless, will bring you out of the discouragement. Remember God from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar. Remember God from the mountain top. Life's view changes positively when it is seen from a mountain top. Renew your hope by leaning on the God of hope. The waves and tides of discouragement will become still in your heart. Shalom.

*Prayer:* Precious Father, I renew my hope in you. When the waves and tides of discouragement seek to drown me, you will pull me out and place me on a mountain top. Whenever I remember your goodness and faithfulness to me, let it swallow up the feelings of deep discouragement in my life. I lean on your everlasting hope and strength. Thank You Father, Amen.

David Ehis Okonofua💖
©️ Psalmspiration

04/04/2026

*Psalmspiration – Start Your Day With Psalm*

*Psalm 42: Return To Your Post*

Psalm 42:5 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again — my Savior and my God!

My prayer for you this day is that may you not fall from your position of service. I have a watchword that guides all my services and worship of Yahweh. Whatever I do, I do it with a sense of humility and a privilege. When you begin to nurse a feeling of celebrity towards God and His service, He will allow your pride to ruin you. And before your very own eyes, He will raise up a babe or novice to replace you. When such is done, you will discover that your relevance was not actually about you but the God who empowered you. This is why when many people fall, they find it hard to bounce back because they have been given an unexpected replacement.

When such happens, it broods sadness and discouragement in the heart of fallen saint. If God has truly committed an assignment into you care and you are seeing another person doing it, you will always feel sad about it. I heard about the story of a proud keyboardist in a local church. During the rehearsals, he had issues with the Music Director, that made the Pastor to scold him. On Sunday morning, he refused to play the piano. He was the only keyboardist and he decided to seat with the congregation. His presence in the congregation was conspicuously noticed and unusual.

As the first hymn was being sung, a young man walked out of the congregation and moved straight to where the piano was placed, tuned the key perfectly and played. It was the most perfect sound on the piano that the church has enjoyed. When the service ended, the Pastor discovered that, it was his very first time of worshipping with the church. He simply said that he has just moved into this town of recent because he got a new job. While he was contemplating on where to worship, he got a leading to come here. Since he has found a capacity of service in this church, he would gladly join the church. When the proud keyboardist heard about this, his heart became cold and sad.

The Psalmist says: I will praise God again. This word should re-echo into the hearts of today's readers. Maybe you were feeling discouraged because someone has replaced you since you fell from your position. Today, be courageous and go back to the place where God has placed you. Someone just need to go back to his church choir. Someone needs to go back to the teaching unit of the Church . Someone is being reminded to go back to Church and serve God. Don't feel discouraged and sad in isolation. Repentance is not when you feel sad. Repentance is when you act in correction to your mistakes. May the Lord guide you into His purpose for you. May you walk in line with the purpose of God for you. Amen.

*Prayer:* Precious Father, by your grace, help me to overcome the discouragement and sadness that follows those who failed to serve you faithfully. Today, I choose to renew my hope in you. I choose to return to my place of service. I will never allow pride and contemplations to take me away from my place of worship. Thank You Father, Amen.

David Ehis Okonofua💖
©️ Psalmspiration

03/04/2026

*Psalmspiration – Start Your Day With Psalm*

*Psalm 42: The Regret of Backslide*

Psalm 42:4 My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God,
singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration!

There is one truth about serving God. Anyone who has been truly committed into the worship of God will always experience some regrets when he/she dissociate himself from worship. Yesterday, I introduced the sons of Korah, who they are and their primary work in the Temple. It was the result of their contemplations in the midst of their challenges that led them to stay away from the worship of Yahweh. In Psalm 42, they are narrating their experiences in regards to the decision that they took to stay away from God. People will generally think that living outside God is the easiest way of life. You won't be bothered about godliness and spirituality. But when they enter fully into the word, they will realize that there is nothing that should be compared to living a godly life.

The sons of Korah said that their hearts break whenever they remember how far they have fallen. Their fall was eventful in the sense that, they were known as worship leaders who led others in the praise of Yahweh, but now, they are no longer up to the status of followers. Their regrets could also be linked to their feelings of pride. When you are now a dignified worship leader and have gained the popular acceptance of men, you must watch your pride. The sons of Korah were very good Temple musicians. It is possible that they were now feeling unmatched and irreplaceable in the act of Temple worship and left their duty post. Just to realize that God has more than enough worship leaders to replace them.

The backsliding and regrets of the sons of Korah is very real in the Christian community of today. Go and study the music department in your Church, you will see many sons of Korah. In many churches today, the instrumentalists and praise singers are no longer members of the church. They just come to sing and play. They are mainly people with lack of discipleship and discipline. And many of them are people who walked away from their places of worship just to make the people feel and see how important they are. What they see as their self worth or value is actually their fall. Before they will realize it, they have fallen out of the natural role that the Lord has given to them and are now busy trying to assign themselves with roles that are unnatural to them.

The sons of Korah saw the futility in backsliding: from leading a great multitude in worship to be totally outside the walls of worship. This is the fall of Lucifer. Dear disciples of the cross, be determined and resolute not to be a part of the sons of Korah experience. If you are a gifted teacher of the word, teach faithfully and dutifully without pride. If you are a singer or instrumentalist, sing and play faithfully without pride. In whatever ministry capacity the Lord has placed you, serve diligently and refused to be displaced. Those who backslide always end up in regrets like the sons of Korah. Be wise. Shalom.

*Prayer:* Precious Father, don't let me fall from my place of service in your Temple. Don't let pride take me away from my place of service. Don't let the feelings of entitlement cause me to backslide. As I serve you faithfully and leading others, may I serve you faithfully until the perfect day. The regrets of backslide will never be my experience in my walk with you. Thank You Father, Amen.

David Ehis Okonofua💖
©️ Psalmspiration

02/04/2026

*Psalmspiration – Start Your Day With Psalm*

*Psalm 42: Where Is Your God?

Psalm 42:3 Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?”

There are many situations in the life of a believer that will bring this challenging question into the heart of the believer: where is your God? It is a different experience when you are the one asking yourself such question. It is a challenging experience when a fellow believer asks you such question. It is altogether a different level of mockery when an unbeliever and your enemy ask you: where is your God? I have discovered that before your enemy will mock you with such question, there must be some elements of unresolved and hopeless crises in your life.

Psalm 42 is not attributed to the Psalm of David. It is the Psalm written by the sons of Korah the Kohathite. The descendants of Korah lived in the time of Moses the prophet. They were Levites specially assigned and committed to Temple worship via music. Temple Worship ministers were also looked upon as God's minstrels. Whenever they lead the congregation in the worship of Yahweh, people also see them as vessels used by God. The sons of Korah experienced a spiritual burnout and they longed for a renewal of their spiritual fellowship with God.

One of the hardest things to do, is to worship God when you are in pains. Another event that is harder than that, is to stand before the people and lead them to worship God even when your heart is heavy with pains. The sons of Korah were having a deep contemplation about God and yet, they led the people in worship songs. The greatest ridicule in the mouth of their enemies were connected to their worship. You sing about how Yahweh delivered the Israelites out of Egypt but Yahweh cannot deliver you out of your trouble. You sing about how Yahweh miraculously fed the Israelites in the wilderness but you are being overburdened by the basic needs of life. Where is your God?

Many believers are having this sons of Korah experience today. They come to worship services with many contemplations in their hearts. Infact, some of them are assigned to sing and lead praises. While they sing, every line in their lyrics challenges their reality. And the biggest question beckoning on them is: where is your God? When your situations and enemies ask you where is your God, tell them that: Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. I will be patient as the Lord punishes me, for I have sinned against him. But after that, he will take up my case and give me justice for all I have suffered from my enemies. The Lord will bring me into the light, and I will see his righteousness. Then my enemies will see that the Lord is on my side. They will be ashamed that they taunted me, saying, “So where is the Lord— that God of yours?” With my own eyes I will see their downfall; they will be trampled like mud in the streets (Micah 7:8-10).

*Prayer:* Precious Father, I know you are with me always. When the enemies ask me where is my God, I have already been assured that your word and purpose in my life has already been settled. Whenever I sing your praise, I am confident that my worship will resolve every contemplation in my heart. Thank You Father, Amen.

David Ehis Okonofua💖
©️ Psalmspiration

02/04/2026

*Psalmspiration – Start Your Day With Psalm*

*Psalm 42: I Thirst For You (2)*

Psalm 42:1-2 As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?

The thirst sensation is also synonymous to the expression of passion. When you are thirsty for something, it drives you passionately to get it. This is because the only satisfaction you can derive is by getting what you are thirsty for. I have observed that whenever you are feeling dehydrated and thirsty for water, no matter the substitute/alternative fluid that you are given, you will never be satisfied. Until you are able to get access to water, your thirst sensation will not be quenched. This is what happens to the soul of man. When a man is thirsty for God, there is nothing on earth that can satisfy outside an encounter with God.

People are thirsty and passionate after different things. There are people that are passionate about their jobs and careers. Every of their thirst sensation drives them towards their ambitions. They can't stay a moment without drinking from the fountain of the consciousness about their jobs. They talk about their business. They dream about their jobs. They are always at their work zone either physically or psychologically. Same with people who are thirsty and passionate about their love life. When people are emotionally thirsty, they become crazy about their drive. This is why many can drive a long distance and spend their fortunes just to quench their emotional thirst.

The Psalmist declares that: "my soul thirsts after the living God". The direction of his thirst has been defined. Have you seen a man who is thirsty and passionate about God? Such a man will become totally obsessed with God. This is how the Psalmist described such a man: the zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me (Psalm 69:9). People who are thirsty for the living God are always conscious about God. They are ready and willing to be cursed, persecuted or die because of the gospel. Because they are driven by their passion, they only have one focus, that is, to do the will of God no matter the cost or circumstance.

Your preferences and decisions have a long way of telling about your thirst sensation for God. You cannot be passionate about God and treat God like a second option. You cannot be thirsty for God while you are being more passionate about other things and events. It is very easy to sing: I Thirst for You O Lord. But the singer will prefer to watch a football game than to be in fellowship. If truly your soul pants for the living God, it will be seen in your daily decisions and routines. When Jesus was walking on earth, the disciples saw His thirst for God, and they remembered what was said about Him in Psalm 69:9. Can people see your burning passion for God? Are you still thirsty for God or you have redirected your thirst to other things? Remember, it is only God that can truly satisfy your thirst. Long after Him today and He will satisfy You. Shalom.

*Prayer:* Precious Father, I Thirst For You. As the deer pants for the water, my soul will constantly thirst for you. I will be passionate in seeking You first. The zeal for your work will consume my soul. My true satisfaction will be found in knowing and serving You alone. Thank You Father, Amen.

David Ehis Okonofua💖
©️ Psalmspiration

31/03/2026

*Psalmspiration – Start Your Day With Psalm*

*Psalm 42: I Thirst For You*

Psalm 42:1-2 As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?

Has it ever crossed your mind to inquire why does the deer pants for water? Every living thing needs water as an essential element for survival. Why will the Psalmist specifically mention the deer in his remark? The deer has a high metabolic rate which causes it to have severe internal heat and dehydration. So it requires constant access to water to satisfy the dehydration in its system. Also, the deer is a very soft animal that can easily be preyed on by the wild animals. The deer is always running or preparing to run. After any escape from a predator's chase, the most important thing needed for its survival is water. Hence, it pants after water.

Another interesting reason why the deer pants for water is because of its unique pheromones. Every animal has a characteristic odour. For example, if a bush rat sneaks into the house, there is an odour to alerts the people. The deer has an odour that can be sensed by its predators from a distance. When dehydrated, this odour becomes significantly higher thus alerting the predators of its presence. What the deer does for survival is to locate a water source and dip itself into it. The water refreshes the deer and neutralizes the concentration of the odour. Which makes the deer safe from being noticed by wild predators from a distance. The healthy and safety survival of a deer is connected to water. Hence, the deer always longs for water.

If we can apply the Psalmist analogy of a deer into our very lives, you will discover that the same way the deer needs water for survival, that is how every soul needs God for survival. Just the same way that water is very essential for life's sustenance, so also is the importance of God in the sustenance of our soul. A soul that is not watered by God will be dehydrated and completely burnt out. A soul that is not completely submerged in the living water, will constantly ooze out signals that will attract the attack of the enemies into his life. Just like the deer, every believer must locate God as his source of healthy and safety survival.

What is your soul longing after? When last did you drink from the water of life? When last did you run to the river of life to wash off and cool off from the filthiness that is attracting the works of the archenemy? When last did you go to the fountain of living water for the renewal of your wearied and dehydrated soul? God is the source of living water. Outside Him, there is no water or river that can cleanse the soul, renew the mind, reinvigorate the body and quench the thirst. Remember Psalm 42:1 says "as the deer pants for the waters, so my soul long for you O God." Don't satisfy the longings of your soul with alternative means. Let your soul drink and lean on God only. That is the genuine satisfaction that your soul can have. Shalom.

*Prayer:* Dearest Lord Jesus, the fountain of living water, the water of life. As the deer runs to the river, my soul will constantly run after you. Through your water of life, quench my thirst sensation and spiritual dehydration. Renew and refresh my soul. Cleanse me from all filthiness. Let the odour of sin be neutralized at the water of life. May I find total satisfaction in your fountain. Thank You Father, Amen.

David Ehis Okonofua💖
©️ Psalmspiration

Daily teaching and study of the word of God. Analyzing the scriptures and learning vital lessons from the bible, majorly the book of Psalm. Psalmplified, a great way to study the word of God.

30/03/2026

*Psalmspiration – Start Your Day With Psalm*

*Psalm 41: Praise The Lord*

Psalm 41:13 Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and amen!

If I should ask you to guess the average number of times that the word "Praise the Lord or Hallelujah" is used in a worship service, what would be your response? From the start of a worship service to the closing, the sound of Hallelujah, liters the atmosphere of worship. In the Christians belief, it is never too much to sing God's praise. Infact, the book of Revelation opens our mind to understand that the twenty four elders appear at the throne of God with hosts of Angels and are constantly bowing down and praising God. When we proclaim Praise the Lord, it is our response to God's personality and His mighty acts in our lives and in the life of others.

The Psalmist ended Psalm 41 with the proclamation "praise the Lord". It is always a good thing to praise the Lord at every moment of our lives. Then, he specifically added, "the God of Israel". This implies that our praise should be directed to the sovereign God alone. Some people have misdirected their praises to other gods and people. I have seen people rigorously engage in the praise of idols. I have seen humans within the political scope, engage in praise singing of their godfathers. I have seen men praising other men. I still recall a political crisis in Nigeria where a man was referring to her political mistress as his Jesus Christ all in the name of praise singing. People ignorantly engage in misdirected praise.

The Psalmist added "who lives from everlasting to everlasting". This implies that any Being that should demand or deserve your praise must have the ability to transcend the limitations of humans. Only God can live from everlasting to everlasting. Only God remains the same and have the ability to change things. Very funny how ingenuine and plastic human praise appears. The politician you praise today, becomes a relic of dishonour the moment he is out of office. No matter how good you are, your praise singing ends at your death. Only God's praise goes on forever and forever.

Are you still actively, consciously and joyfully praising God? Are you being carried away by the praise of men? Are you misdirecting your praise? Praising God does not begin with you and it will never end with you. You are only beckoned on to join the hosts of multitudes in singing God's praise. Whenever you resound your Hallelujah, let it be to the God of the Universe who lives from everlasting to everlasting. Don't let any chapter of your story ends without your proclamation of Hallelujah. Remain Blessed.

*Confession:* I will praise the Lord at all times and seasons. I will praise the Lord God of the Universe who reigns forever. I will praise Him with my strength and my voice. I will praise Him with my singing and dancing. I will never grow weary of shouting Hallelujah neither will I be silent when others are praising God. From everlasting to everlasting, God's name will be praised. Praise the Lord - Hallelujah.

David Ehis Okonofua💖
©️ Psalmspiration

Daily teaching and study of the word of God. Analyzing the scriptures and learning vital lessons from the bible, majorly the book of Psalm. Psalmplified, a great way to study the word of God.