The Sweetest Revenge

“Allow God to deal with the enemy.”

 KEY VERSE: 1Samuel 24:12

Written By Ben Dankaka

There’s a saying that "revenge is a dish best served cold". This statement implies that revenge is more fulfilling when it’s carried out at an unexpected time. I strongly disagree because this statement opposes what the Bible teaches. To take revenge against your enemy is wrong, and the Bible condemns it.  In his letter to the Romans, Paul warns us “not to take revenge”, but “leave room for God’s wrath” (Romans 12:19). That is, we are expected to leave vengeance for God because whoever troubles us is actually fighting God, not us. Allow God to deal with the enemy.

Recall what happened in the case between Peter and Herod. When Herod tried to kill Peter, God stepped in and rescued Peter by Himself because Herod was actually fighting God, not Peter. So, Peter acted rightly by not fighting back. He simply moved on. By that act, he left room for God’s wrath. Later, on a particular day, Herod was struck down with a blow by an angel. You might have been badly hurt by someone in the past. However, if God has already liberated you, move on and leave room for God’s wrath. God’s retribution is sweeter.

Prayer:  Holy Father, I hand it over to you. Be the Judge. Amen. 

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Acts 12:17-24

All scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

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Move on!

“Commit to focusing on what you can change, rather than dwelling what has already happened.”

 

KEY VERSE: Proverbs 4:25

Written By Ben Dankaka

When Peter told the brethren how the Lord had saved him from death, He said to them, “Tell James and the brothers about this,” and then he left for another place. The scriptures didn’t tell us where he headed to, but we know that Peter moved to another place. In other words, Peter didn’t hold on to his past. He moved on. Clearly, the main thing on Peter’s mind was how to further his work of spreading the gospel. So, he quickly moved out of the city, leaving his past behind.

One reason why many people fail to overcome the crises in their lives is because they often go through life feeling frustrated, even after they’ve been liberated. They fail to leave the past. Instead, they remain bitter after the adversity is long gone. To fully recover from a crisis, you would have to do what Peter did. Move on immediately! You can’t change the past, but you can work toward a better future. So, commit to focusing on what you can change, rather than what has already happened. Peter knew that the only thing he could control was his future. For that reason, he moved on.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, guide me as I move on from the past. Amen. 

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Acts 12:11-17

All scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

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Testify!

“You may never know who’s going to be inspired by your testimony.”

KEY VERSE: Psalm 105:1-3

 Written By Ben Dankaka

On the night that Peter was rescued by an angel, he went to the Mary’s house, where the people had gathered to pray for him. Notice that immediately after the angel left him, Peter thought of the people who had been concerned about his situation.  Most likely, he knew they had been praying for him. And since he had been miraculously rescued, He went to them because he wanted to share the good news with them. Peter didn’t think of rushing home to celebrate alone. Instead, the first thing on his mind was to share his testimony with those who stood by him.

After Peter described how God brought him out of prison, he then instructed them to share his testimony (Acts 12:25). Too often, we fail to share our testimony after we’ve been rescued from a crisis. When we are facing challenges, we run to people for help. But when God eventually answers our prayers, we forget to return to those who stood by us. What we fail to realize is that testimonies are important because they serve as proofs to God’s faithfulness. You may never know who’s going to be inspired by your testimony. Share that testimony!

Prayer/Confession:  I will testify of the goodness of the Lord. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Acts 12:11-17

 All scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

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Just Follow!

“No need worrying over something that is out of your control.”

KEY VERSE: Psalm 23:1-4

Written By Ben Dankaka

On the night that Peter that was rescued by the angel of the Lord, he was heavily guarded by armed men. Ordinarily, there was no way Peter could have escaped by his own effort. So, he simply slept. Peter probably realized there was no need worrying over something that was beyond his control. Possibly, as at that moment, Peter wasn’t thinking of freedom. It could be, he had resolved to make the best use of that moment by having a good sleep. So, when the angel suddenly struck Peter on the side, Peter was dazed. He thought it was a vision.

Peter followed the angel out of the prison, even though “he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening.” It was after he had regained his freedom that he realized that it was God who rescued him. As you hold on to God, you are going to get out of your troubles in the same way that Peter did. You may be feeling discouraged because you’ve exhausted all your strategies. Now that you are drained, God will come to your rescue. When that time comes, act like Peter; follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer/Confession:  Holy Spirit, I am willing to follow your lead. Amen. 

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Acts 12:1-11

 All scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

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Suddenly!

 

“Most times, God responds to our prayers in unexpected ways.”

 

KEY VERSE: 2 Corinthians 10:3-4

Written By Ben Dankaka

Prayer works. But it doesn’t always work like a clock. While you can easily predict the hands of a clock, you can’t predict how or when a prayer will be answered. You can glance at a clock and immediately know the exact minutes it will take the hands of the clock to reach the next hour. But you can’t say a prayer and then predict the exact way it will be answered. I’m sure you’ve had incidences where God answered your prayers almost immediately. But then, there must have been times when the answers to your prayers were delayed.

After Peter was jailed by Herod, the Church prayed for him. The Bible didn’t mention how long it took God to answer their prayer. But we are told that on the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, an angel suddenly appeared and rescued him. The deliverance took place at an unexpected time and in an unpredictable way. God’s response was so remarkable that even Peter and those who were praying for him were surprised. The miracle happened at the eleventh hour! My prayer for you is that God will suddenly respond to your prayer in an unexpected way.

Prayer/Confession:  Heavenly Father, I know you will answer my prayer at Your own set time. Amen. 

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Acts 12:1-7

All scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

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Ask for Help!

“Get down on your knees and ask God to do for you what you cannot do for yourself.”

KEY VERSE: Psalm 107:6

 Written By Ben Dankaka

Shortly after Herod had James, the brother of John killed; he proceeded and arrested Peter. Herod had decided to kill Peter because he figured it would make the Jews happy. This became a big problem to the Church because Peter was their leader. If he is also executed, then there would be a big vacuum. Since the Church knew they couldn’t physically confront King Herod because of his influence, they resorted to prayers. In other words, they decided to use the master key to overcoming crisis.

The scripture says, “The church was earnestly praying to God for him.” I don’t know the sort of crisis you are currently facing. You might be facing a problem that has already overwhelmed you. Or you might be at the brink of giving up. If you are at a point where you feel defeated and have lost the strength to fight back; then do what the disciples did by handing over the matter to God. Like the disciples, pray earnestly. Get down on your knees and ask God to do for you what you cannot do for yourself. And if you’ve lost the strength to pray, ask someone to pray for you. Ask for help!

Prayer/Confession:  Heavenly Father, do for me what I cannot do for myself. Amen. 

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Acts 12:1-5

All scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

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Stay there!

“Unless if God tells you to quit, stay there.”

 

KEY VERSE: Colossians 3:23-24

Written By Ben Dankaka

After winning the prayer contest against the prophets of Baal, Elijah inspired a revival. When the Israelites saw how God responded to Elijah’s sacrifice they immediately repented. Elijah had seized that moment and ordered the killing of the prophets of Baal. Moments later, just as Elijah had prophesied, Israel had a heavy rain, after over three years of drought. But before he could celebrate the victory, Elijah found himself, once again in the wilderness, when he received a death threat from Jezebel. While he was on exile, Elijah became depressed and even prayed that God would take his own life. But as he rested in a cave, God asked him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Possibly, God asked that question because Elijah wasn’t supposed to run away from his country, even though he was threatened by Jezebel. Maybe, you’ve found yourself in a similar situation. You’ve spent your energy on a cause. But instead of recognition, you’ve been rejected and misunderstood. You are now at a point where you are beginning to doubt and question your convictions. Unless if God tells you to quit, stay there. Oftentimes, God wants us to confront challenges and not to run from it.

Prayer/Confession:  I will not quit by the grace of God. Amen. 

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: 1 Kings 18:38-46; 19:1-9

All scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

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Elijah's Secret

 

“Knowing God’s will is more important than your personal needs.”

 

KEY VERSE:  1 John 5:14

Written By Ben Dankaka

One of the most powerful prayers in the Bible is the one said by Elijah as at the time of his prayer challenge with the prophets of Baal. The prophets had begun the challenge by praying to their god from morning to evening. They shouted and danced as they asked their god to bring fire on their sacrifice. But despite their loud appeals, nothing happened, even after slashing themselves with swords. When it got to Elijah’s turn, the atmosphere suddenly became calm. Possibly, his prayer didn’t take more than five minutes but the response was instant.

We can learn from the way Elijah said his prayer. His prayer was straight to the point. He didn’t try to embellish it with many words. Also, Elijah didn’t try to impress God by screaming and dancing. Instead, he confidently talked to God. Clearly, his confidence was inspired by the fact that his prayer was said according to God’s will. Recall that Elijah had asked God to answer his prayer so that it will be known that He is the God of Israel and that He was willing to turn the people’s hearts back to Him. That was God’s will. Today, pray according to God’s will.

Prayer/Confession:  Heavenly Father, reveal Your perfect will to your servant. Amen. 

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: 1 Kings 18:1-39

All scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

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Bad Timing

 

“God will give you what you need when the time is right.”

KEY VERSE: Jeremiah 29:11

 

Written By Ben Dankaka

Oftentimes, we fail to realize that God prioritizes our prayer requests according to His perfect plan. And that is often determined by time. That is, He responds to our requests at the time we need them. Recall that in the book of Genesis, we are told that the earth had no shrub, “for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground” (Genesis 2:5). In other words, because there was no man to till the earth, God didn’t send down rain at a certain time.

Timing is therefore important to God. For instance, you may pray for a car that may not be necessary at a particular time. However, the same car may be a priority at another time. When Solomon asked God for wisdom, God was pleased with his request because that was what he needed at that time. Perhaps, you are praying for the right thing at the wrong time. It could be that the only thing wrong with your prayer is bad timing. You may need all of the things in your prayer list. But God will give you what you need when the time is right.

Prayer/Confession:  Heavenly Father, Your timing is right. Amen.

 REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: 1King 3:9; Genesis 2:5

All scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

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The Wise King

 

“The only thing wrong with your prayer is that it isn’t in line with God’s will.”

KEY VERSE: Luke 22:42 

 Written By Ben Dankaka

God doesn’t always give us the things we lack. But He often gives us what we need. While you can survive without the things you lack, the things you need are usually essential. When God told Solomon to ask for whatever he wanted. Solomon said he was a little child who needed wisdom. And because he asked for what he needed; God answered his prayer. God was so pleased with Solomon’s request because he didn’t pray for long life, wealth or the death of his enemies (1 Kings 3:11). In other words, Solomon was more concerned with the gift that would help him fulfill God’s will.

If God isn’t answering your prayers, don’t think He isn’t there. Perhaps, you’ve left out what you need and have been praying for what God knows isn’t necessary at the moment. Maybe, the only thing wrong with your prayer is that it isn’t in line with God’s will. You may currently lack a job, a car or money to settle your debts. However, what you might need at the moment is to align yourself with God’s plan for you. Perhaps, God wants to get your attention so He can equip you for a great assignment. 

Prayer/Confession:  Heavenly Father, give me what you would like me to have. Amen. 

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: 1 Kings 3:4-10; 2 Chronicles 1:11

All scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

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The Master Key

 

“When you know what God wants you to do, you will likely pray according to His will.”

KEY VERSE: Acts 13:22

 Written By Ben Dankaka

Prayer is significant because it is one way through which we can build our relationship with God. I got to know more about God and discovered my purpose through prayers. While prayer has many benefits, it is also important to note that not every prayer is effective. You and I know that we’ve said certain prayers that God didn’t answer. There are many reasons why some of our prayers turn out to be ineffective. Let me deal with one of them. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus tells us to begin our prayers by aligning God’s will with ours.

When we don’t pray according to God’s will for our lives, our prayers become fruitless. Several years ago, I asked God to bless my business plan. Instead, He showed me visions of a different plan. Because I wasn’t comfortable with God’s plan, I ignored it and continued to ask Him to bless my own plan. But nothing changed until I submitted to His own will. When you know what God wants you to do, you will likely pray according to His will. The scriptures say, “If we ask anything according to His will, He listens to and hears us” (1 John 5:14).

 

Prayer/Confession:  Heavenly Father, let your will for my life prevail over mine. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 6:9-13

All scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

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Good versus Right

 

“Today, seek God’s guidance.”

 

KEY VERSE: Psalm 119:133

Written By Ben Dankaka

When you have two options that are both good, but you have to determine which of them is right, you will have a hard time. While a good thing can be easily detected with our senses, knowing the right thing often requires us to make use of our spiritual antennae. Remember when David got the chance to kill Saul; his associate suggested they should kill Saul. That seemed like a good thing because Saul had been trying to kill David. But David realized that the right thing to do was not to lay a hand on Saul.

But there are times when the right thing may not even cross your mind or it may seem like the wrong decision and in the process, you may erroneously think that the good thing you are about to do is the only right decision. When Joseph discovered that the woman he was about to marry was found to be with child, he had in mind, not to disgrace Mary but to quietly divorce her. That seemed like a good decision, but when he got a revelation from God, he changed his mind and took the right decision. Today, seek God’s guidance as you work on your plans for the year.

Prayer/Confession:  Holy Spirit, let my steps be according to Heaven’s will. Amen. 

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: 1 Samuel 26:8; Matthew 1:18-20; Genesis 11:1-9

All scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

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Goal Setting

“Many people fail in life, not because they didn’t set goals but for the reason that they set the wrong goals.”

 

KEY VERSE: Proverbs 14:12

Written By Ben Dankaka

Over the years, I have learned that setting goals do not guarantee good success. There are times you may set goals and then succeed in realizing them, but just as you are about to celebrate, you may suddenly discover the goals you achieved shouldn’t have been set in the first place. The scripture says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end, it leads to death.” This message is repeated twice in the book of Proverbs. The importance of this message cannot be overemphasized.

Many people fail in life, not because they didn’t set goals but for the reason that they set the wrong goals. They spend their entire lives pursuing the wrong thing. They never realize they are on the wrong path until they get to the end of their lives. To avoid such mistakes, always involve God as you set your goals. The Bible says, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purposes that prevails”. God has given us the right and the ability to make plans, but if we want those plans to be on the right path, we ought to seek His guidance.

Prayer/Confession:  Holy Spirit, guide me. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Proverbs 16:3-21

All scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

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Fight till the End

“Battles are won by those who never give up.”

 

KEY VERSE: 2 Corinthians 11:24-27

Written By Ben Dankaka

Apostle Paul said to Timothy, his protégé, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Paul used the letter “I” three times in that statement. That means, he wasn’t referring to a group fight. But the personal struggles he had to go through in life. Clearly, Paul wasn’t the kind of Christian who ran away from his problems. Though he experienced a lot of travails, He fought really hard and eventually won every battle that the enemy brought his way. Isn’t it interesting that even though he was highly talented and anointed, life still hit him hard with challenges?

I don’t know what you are currently going through. Maybe you are battling with an illness. Or perhaps, the crisis in your life has to do with marital issues or a financial crisis. Whatever it is, realize that your personal battles won’t go away until you fight to a standstill. Be strong-minded as you keep fighting with everything you’ve got. You are meant to fight your own battles. So, you must not give up on yourself, even if others give up on you. Remember, battles are won by those who never give up. 

Prayer/Confession/:  Lord Jesus, strengthen me so I can finish the race. Amen. 

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 11:16-33; 2 Timothy 4:7

All scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

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Overcome Fear

 

“To overcome any crisis, you must first of all, eliminate your fears.”

 

KEY VERSE: Psalm 34:4

Written By Ben Dankaka

The crises in our lives hurts. But sometimes, it is the not the crises that hurts us the most but the fear of it. I remember when my mum was ill and I had to take care of her, at a point, my health begun to fail as my blood pressure became so high. My doctor warned me that I was going to have a stroke if I didn’t relax. I discovered that what made me hypertensive overnight wasn’t caused by anything else other than the fear of losing my mother. So, I know exactly what fear can do to anyone in times of crisis.

In times of crises, the devil often uses “fear” as a weapon. To overcome any crisis, you must first of all, eliminate your fears. Unfortunately, fear isn’t something you can eliminate with a drug. To overcome fear, fill your mind with God’s word. In Isaiah 43, God said to His people, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you.” Then He said, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you” One remarkable thing about God is that He may not always prevent crisis from hitting us. But whenever we are hit by crisis, He rescues us.

Prayer/Confession:  The Lord is my Redeemer. Therefore, I shall not be afraid. Amen.

 REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Isaiah 43:1-2

All scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

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The Things of God - Part Two

 

“To gain anything worthwhile, be prepared to go through pain.”

KEY VERSE: James 1:12

Written By Ben Dankaka 

When Jesus began to teach about His suffering and death, His disciples were troubled. Peter in particular, was so disturbed to the extent that he missed the better part of that prophecy. Although Jesus had said He would rise after three days, Peter ignored that part and instead, focused on the suffering and death. Possibly, what Peter had expected to hear was that Jesus would be a king in Israel, establish His earthly kingdom and then appoint his disciples as Governors. In other words, Peter wanted Jesus to enjoy a smooth ride to the top.

Peter acted like most of us usually do. Most people like to think of life as easy and blissful, all the time. So, we expect ourselves and our loved ones to succeed without going through hard times. For that reason, we prefer to surround ourselves with people who would tell us nice things about our future. No doubt, God wants us to enjoy the nice things of life. He also wants us to succeed in whatever we lay our hands to do. But He never promised anyone a life without hurdles. To gain anything worthwhile in life, be prepared to go through some pain.

Prayer/Confession:  Father, strengthen me as I pass through the storms of life. Amen. 

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Mark 8:31-38 

 All scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

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The Things of God - Part One

 

“For every pain that life brings your way, God turns it into a gain.”

KEY VERSE: Hebrews 12:11

Written By Ben Dankaka

When Jesus told His disciples that He would suffer many things and “must be killed and after three days rise again”, they probably wondered why He said that. Here was a leader who had performed miracles. He had been preaching about this great kingdom which they all thought will take them to a new level. Now He was telling them He would suffer many things and be killed. Peter had immediately rejected the prophecy. But Jesus said to him, “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” In other words, Jesus made Peter realize that His imminent suffering and death was part of God’s plan.

Christ’s prophecy about Himself isn’t just about the suffering He had to experience. Most importantly, it also gives us a deep insight into how God operates. It is important for us to realize that God often takes advantage of the troubles that Satan throws our way. For every pain that life brings your way, God turns it into a gain. So, Peter shouldn’t have bothered about Christ’s death. Rather, he should have focused on His resurrection. Today, focus on how your life will be when the storm is over.

Prayer/Confession:  Father, I know you will turn my pain into gain. Amen. 

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Mark 8:31-38

   All scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

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