WORD OF LIVING WATER DAILY INSPIRATION

WORDS OF LIVING WATERS DAILY INSPIRATION
Monday, 19th January, 2026.
Theme: Obedience is better than Sacrifice
( 1Sam 15: 16-23,Ps 50, Mk 2:18-22)

In the first reading, King Saul disobeyed God and rather chose to offer sacrifice to God. He was asked by God to go to war with Amalekites and destroy everything in the city, which included human beings. But Saul and his men chose to save some of the properties and bring to Israel, and again instead of killing the King Agag, they captured him and brought him. In fact, Saul deviated totally from the instructions of God. It was through his act of disobedience that we have this common adage ” Obedience is better than Sacrifice”. Because he told Samuel that the animals and the other things they brought were going to used for sacrifice to the Lord. But it is better to serve God from our hearts rather than with lip service. Again, we are called to stop being external Christians. Doing things to please God, but in reality our hearts are very far from God.

Saul took those properties for his own personal interest. He wanted to show that he is so powerful than any king, hence he captured the king and brought him to Israel, contrary to the command of God. His action made him to be rejected by God as king of Israel. When we live such lives, God will reject us. We lose the favour of God in our lives.

Jesus also quotes the same text to condemn the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the Scribes. ” I will have mercy not sacrifice* ” Matt 9:13; 12:7.

The Lord Jesus invites us to worship Him from our hearts and not with lip service. Hypocrites worship God with their lips but not their hearts. Most of us are only lip service Christians. We do things to please people, but our hearts are very far from God. It is one thing to be religious and another to be spiritual. You can be religious by following rules and regulations strictly, but you might not be doing it with your heart. We are called to be authentic Christians not hypocrites.

Most of us Christians of today are becoming more hypocrites than ever. We are external Christians who are superficial with our religiosity. In fact, we can be called fake Christians, because we are not authentic.We can’t win souls with this kind of living. But the question is: Where do you belong? Are you worshipping God with your lips or from your hearts? The decision is yours.

Beloved, Jesus is again teaching us today that Christianity is not all about following rules but serving him from our hearts. The Pharisees and Scribes were only following rules but their hearts were very far away from God. The Pharisees and the Scribes were so much particular about their ritual cleansing than serving God from within. So for them what matters is doing those external things such as washing of feet, washing of hands and that of their bowls by following the ritual cleansing.Instead of following the spirit of the law, they were rather interested in the letter of the law. Religiosity was their way of life, meanwhile they had no personal relationship with God. He compares them to whitewashed tomb, which has a beautiful outward appearance but dirty inside. A hypocrite is one who portrays what he or she is not. They presented themselves to the people to be holy religious leaders, but in reality they were very sinful. They were not what they claimed to be. They were living lives of deception.

Our case is not different from these people. Don’t be a Pharisee or a Scribe of our time. A life of deception is disaster. By the way, whom are you deceiving? Of course, you are deceiving yourself. Because if you present yourself to be a prayerful person but in reality you are not, then you are doing yourself no good. When you die without repenting you will have no place in God’s kingdom. It is your own soul that you are destroying.

Being a Christian is not about being punctual at church, paying your dues, going for communion always, giving offering and offertory always, and the list continue. Some of us are so strict with following rules by the church, but we don’t have any personal relationship with Jesus. Such a Christian is only being religious but not spiritual. To be spiritual goes beyond just following rules.

Don’t be the Saul of our time but a Christian who obeys deep from the heart. Don’t be only a lip- service Christian.

May God help us to be authentic Christians. Amen.
Have a blessed Week.
Shalom 🙏🏼🙏🏼
Rev. Fr. Akakpo Matthew

WORDS OF LIVING WATERS DAILY INSPIRATION
Tuesday, 20th January, 2026.
Theme: Jesus will Transform You To Become Somebody
( 1 Sam 16:1-13,Ps 89,Mk 2:23-28)

In the first reading, the prophet Samuel was asked to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as king of Israel. He was to succeed Saul as king. Samuel was looking at physical appearance but God told him that he God doesn’t look at appearance but rather the heart. Yes, Samuel might be right, because in those days their kings led them in wars. And already some of the senior sons of Jesse were soldiers. Hence they had what it takes to become kings in terms of appearance.

David was the last son who was taking care of his father’s sheep in the desert. In terms of appearance he didn’t qualify to be anointed as king. According to human standards, he didn’t deserve it at all. But God looks beyond human standards.
God has made the boy who was nobody to them to become somebody. The rejected stone has become the cornerstone, this is a doing of the Lord, a marvel in our eyes. The father himself didn’t know his son qualify to become king. Who was David to be chosen to become king of Israel? Of course, he was nobody, but God made him somebody. It is God who calls and qualifies not human beings.

Beloved, It doesn’t matter where you are coming from or your humble beginning. You may be a shepherd like David or a carpenter’s child like Jesus or from a poor background. Jesus was nobody to become the Messiah, because he came from a poor background. But he was the one God chose to be the saviour of the world. Once the favour of God locates you, your story will definitely change. People will be very surprised just like the case of David. Therefore, don’t belittle yourself or anyone because we don’t know what tomorrow holds for all of us. Just remain faithful to God.

It is only God who can change you from nobody to somebody. People can write you off, thinking that you don’t have any future. But when divine favor locates you, your story will change. Don’t allow inferiority complex to control your life. As if to say that you can’t become anybody in life because of where you are coming from. It doesn’t matter where you are coming from okay.

Some of us belittle ourselves too much. As if God doesn’t have the power to change your story. Jesus will let your star shine for nations to come and bow to you. God will raise you to be among kings and queens. Who was David to become King of Israel? But when the favor of God located him, the impossibilities became possible in his life. Look up to God, the author and finisher of our faith. It is only God who can turn things around in your life, but not human beings. Human beings will discourage you, look down upon you, insult you, disregard you.

May the holy spirit transform us to become great people in our lives. Amen
Have a Blessed Day.
Shalom.🙏🏼🙏🏼
Rev. Fr. Akakpo Matthew.

WORDS OF LIVING WATERS DAILY INSPIRATION
Memorial of St. Agnes
Wednesday, 21st January, 2026.
Theme: The battle is the Lord’s
( 1 Sam 17:32-33,37,40-51,Ps 144,Mk 3:1-6)

The battle between David and Goliath teaches us about the influence of the power of God in our lives. Whiles Goliath depended on his gods and his own strength, David depended on God for his success. This is a man who has been a soldier all his life, and besides he was a giant that everybody feared to fight against. Saul of all people couldn’t stand him, hence he feared for the life of David. Because this is a boy who is so much inexperience in military tactics, coming against a well trained soldier. The result was so much obvious. But David told Goliath ” I am coming against you in the name of God” And truly he defeated Goliath to the marvel of all. When the power of God is upon you, you can do all the impossibles.

Beloved, we are equally on various battles in our lives. Some of us are fighting sicknesses, joblessness, financial failures, lack of child bearing, disappointments, lack of successful marriages, to mention a few. These are all Goliaths in our lives. They have become difficult situations, which cause us sleepless nights always. These situations make us fearful always, because it is becoming extremely difficult to overcome them. The meer sight of these mountains cause us great trouble in life just like Goliath for the Israelites. But by our own strength we shall fail. We can’t overcome these mountains by ourselves. We don’t have what it takes to defeat them. Some of them are caused by powerful spiritual forces which needs spiritual battles to overcome them.

You need Jesus in these matters to be victorious. If he was able to raise Lazarus who was dead for four good days, then there is hope for you. If he was able healed the man who was paralysed for thirty-eight years, then yours is too small for him to do. Jesus has the power to turn things around for your good. He has the track record in doing mighty deeds. He came to set us free from our human sufferings. He is the Lord of creation, hence he has the power to control everything within it. Just trust him. Put all your hope in him, because he is able to do. Don’t resort to any other sources of powers, because they will only deceive you.

I don’t know the kind of Goliath troubling you in your life. I know you are experiencing moments of sorrow and sadness. Your pillow is soaked with tears. You have even given up on such difficult situations. Please stop crying, your God is about to turn things around for your good. Never give up, persevere in your prayers, because your salvation is near. It is possible for God. Remember what God can’t do doesn’t exist.For me this is my motto in life, and I want you to also make it your motto as well. Your God has the power to transform things in your life. Jesus is alive, Jesus is Lord. Look up to him always.

May the Holy Spirit strengthen us to always look up to God. Amen
Have a Blessed Day.
Shalom.🙏🏼🙏🏼
Rev. Fr. Akakpo Matthew.

WORDS OF LIVING WATERS DAILY INSPIRATION
Thursday, 22nd January, 2026.
Theme: Don’t be Jealous of People’s Success
( 1 Sam 18:6-9;19:1-7,Ps 56,Mk 3:7-12)

Beloved, King Saul became very jealous of David, to the point that he wanted to kill him. The reason being that, David was praised by the women more than him. What was wrong with what the women did? They only acknowledged the success that David brought to the entire Israel. This was a nation who suffered in the hands of the Philistines during the leadership of Goliath. He tormented the people for a long time, and they were waiting for the one to deliver them from the threat of Goliath. David became this saviour they have been waiting for. Hence, it was a moment of great joy for the Israelites. Saul himself was supposed to join the people to thank David for his heroic act. But he allowed jealousy to control him. He became so jealous of the boy, which made him not to see again the great deliverance brought by David. Jealousy makes good souls to become very diabolic.

We are not different from Saul, so stop chastising him. We hate to see people being successful than us. Always we want them to be under our control. Mostly if they are people who were working under us. Why should you be jealous of the person? He has worked hard to merit such success. If you don’t tame that spirit of jealousy in you, it will make you an evil soul. Jealousy thrives in evil souls, so be careful.

The person you are even jealous of had been so good to you. May be he has supported you greatly in your life. Remember that whatever evil you plan against such person will come back to you. When people are promoted in our work places, they immediately become enemies of some fellow workers. The church is not spared. Some pastors are so much hated by their colleagues because of their gifts and achievements in life. Some church members are so jealous of their colleagues because of their contributions in the church. Sometimes because of the favour the person is receiving from the priests and pastors, he becomes an object of hatred and jealousy among the people.

Jealousy is a strong evil force that can destroy you, so be careful. Some people have killed their colleagues because of jealousy. Others have destroyed their colleagues for life by using other sources of powers, because of jealousy.Be happy for people who make it in life and pray that you also get there. Their success should rather encourage you to aim high. It should rather motivate you to know that it is also possible for you. Be humble enough to find out from such people how they made it.

There is no sense to be jealous or because the person has acquired something in life that you don’t have. But all fingers are not the same and can never be the same. You are also better than someone just as someone is better than you. It is a fact in life and we must accept it.

May the spirit of God touch us today so that we will not allow ourselves to be controlled by the spirit of jealousy and envy. Amen .
Have a Blessed Day.
Shalom. 🙏🏼🙏🏼
Rev. Fr. Akakpo Matthew

WORDS OF LIVING WATERS DAILY INSPIRATION
Friday,23rd January, 2026.
THEME: FORGIVE FROM YOUR HEART
(1Sam.24: 3-21,Ps 56, Mk 3:13-19)

Forgiveness is a virtue which sometimes is difficult for us to practice.But we must mature in this virtue if we want to be authentic Christians.Today, David is teaching us to forgive unconditionally.As many times as people offend us, we should find a place in our hearts to forgive them.

David was been persuaded by Saul to kill. Why because he saw him as a threat to his throne after he killed Goliath. The best way was to eliminate the young man who had sacrificed his life to safe his people including Saul. Now the good thing he did has rather brought misfortune upon his life. God delivered the very person who was after his life into his hands. But he said to himself ” I will not touch the Lord’s anointed”. I know his men would be very furious with him. Because Saul was chasing them everywhere to kill. So it was the best opportunity for David to end it all, so that his men would also be free from hiding. But he chose to exhibit the power of forgiveness. This is something very very difficult to choose. To choose not to hurt the one who is looking everywhere for you to kill.

No wonder Saul was surprised David chose to spare his life. He couldn’t believe his eyes that David didn’t kill him. As a result he now knew that David was destined to succeed him. He acknowledged David as a righteous man. This is the difference Jesus is inviting us to create among others, because we are Christians.

Some of us are just like the unforgiving servant in the gospels( Matt 18:21-19:1). Others forgive us when we wrong them, but that cannot be said of us. We always sin against God but he forgives us. If God should always mark our sins, who will survive? Jesus told Peter to forgive seventy times seven, meaning we should forgive without number. Tit for tat is not in the dictionary of a Christian. You do me I do you should not be part of us.

The spirit of unforgiveness is giving a number of us serious health problems unconsciously. Such as heart related problems, BP, mental issues and others. Beloved, I know it is not easy humanly speaking, but it is possible. To err they say is human but to forgive is divine. Our own strength will fail, hence the need of God’s grace.

Forgiveness promotes peace among us. Jesus is therefore calling on us to be instrument of peace in our world. The world considers forgiveness as a sign of weakness, but in reality it’s the strong in character who forgives. Revenge is not a Christian attitude, hence we must avoid it. The difference between us and the others is that we are able to forgive when we are hurt. Vengeance belongs to God.

Always forgive and respond to such evil conducts with good deeds. Sometimes our kind heart and character challenges the people and transforms them. Learn to easily forgive. Don’t follow the comments of people and end up retaliating those who offend us.

I know someone has hurt you so much that it is becoming difficult to forgive that person. My brother, my sister find a place in your heart to let go that hurt. You can forgive that person, therefore I encourage you to let go. It may be someone who is very close to you and you least expected that person to do that. Don’t imprison anybody in your heart. Free the person from your heart and be free. The more you keep him or her in your heart, the more you hurt yourself. Let’s take inspiration from Joseph who was sold by his brothers into slavery, but he found a place in his heart to forgive them Gen 37- 45, 50: 15-21. Jesus also did it on the cross by forgiving those who accused him wrongful and crucified him. Trust me you can do it.

May God give us the strength to forgive always and truly from our hearts. Amen.
Have a Blessed Day.
Shalom. 🙏🏼🙏🏼
Rev. Fr. Akakpo Matthew.

WORDS OF LIVING WATERS DAILY INSPIRATION
Saturday,24th January, 2026.
Memorial of St Francis de Sales
Theme: Wish your enemies Well
(2Sam. 1: 1-4,11-12,19,23-27,Ps 80, Mk 3:20-21)

In the first reading of today, David mourned the death of Saul and Jonathan his friend. Naturally, he is supposed to be happy that Saul is dead. Because this is someone who wish him dead. Who is doing everything possible to kill him. But he was always wishing him good instead of evil. This is truly a righteous man, that we must all learn from.

In Matt 5:44, Jesus encourages us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Someone will say this is a difficult task to do. Yes, humanly speaking it is very difficult, but not with God. With the grace of God, it is something so simple to do. To pray for people who are always working for your downfall, something you are very much aware. You are to respond to their hatred with love. This makes us true Christians, and create the difference between us and them. It is only through such attitude that our lives can be bibles for people to read in our societies. Vengeance belongs to God, so never try to revenge. Revenge is not a Christian attitude. The more you do good to such people, all their evil plans against you would turn into fire upon them. They would fall into their own traps, because you don’t mean evil for them. But if you try to fight back you would fail as an individual, and they would prevail upon you, whether physically or spiritually.

Beloved, never expect everybody in this life to love or like you, never. Whether you like it or not, people would hate you in this life. Sometimes some of them can hate you for no reason. The point is that it’s normal to have such experience. Some of us don’t understand why people should hate us. But why shouldn’t people hate you? It is not even normal for everybody to like you. It means you are not a human being. Jesus, who is our master had the same experience from the Pharisees and the Scribes. They never saw anything good about whatever he did. But he responded with love. I want you to be psychologically prepared for such behavior from people. People would always hate you and everything about you, this is a reality that you must accept in this life.

May God give us the strength to forgive always and to show love to people who always wish our downfall. Amen.
Have a Blessed Weekend.
Shalom. 🙏🏼🙏🏼
Rev. Fr. Akakpo Matthew.