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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Victory Without Injuries

 

“While we can overcome certain challenges with our willpower, such victories don’t often come without bruises.”

KEY VERSE: 2 Chronicles 14:11-12

 

Written By Ben Dankaka

One day as Jesus entered the synagogue, he was suddenly confronted by a demon possessed man. As soon as the demon inside the man recognized Jesus, it cried out. To shut the demon, Jesus commanded it to come out of the man. As is always the case, the demon complied but in the process of leaving, it drew the man on the floor. Interestingly, even though the evil spirit flung the man, it came out without injuring him. That is, the violent fall didn’t cause any injury on the man’s body. It was a case of victory without injuries.

Life can overwhelm us with tough challenges. While we can overcome certain challenges with our willpower, such victories don’t often come without “bruises”. Instead of using your own intelligence to address certain problems, sometimes, it is wiser to seek Heaven’s help. Imagine what would have happened if the man with the evil spirit had tried to discharge the demon with his willpower. For sure, the demon wouldn’t have surrendered without a vicious fight. But thank God, when Jesus came, the man was delivered without a scratch. To win your battles without injuries, ask God to help you. 

Prayer/Confession:  Lord Jesus, my eyes are on you. Fix me. Amen.

 REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Luke 4:33-35  

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

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Trouble in His Presence

 

“God uses crises to build our faith in Him.”

 

KEY VERSE: Psalm 43:2

Written By Ben Dankaka

Before Jesus began his ministry, His disciples were mostly skilled workers, hoping to spend their lives pursing their own dreams. Then Jesus showed up and asked them to follow Him. Since they were fascinated by the great Rabbi, they trusted Him. But one day, Jesus said to them, “Let’s go to the other side of the lake”. Without knowing why, they got into a boat. Then a life-threatening storm came. The disciples were frightened and surprised at the same time. Here was a great storm, bad enough to take their lives. But Jesus lay quietly on the boat, sleeping!

Many of us have found ourselves in similar situations. Perhaps at one time, you were doing something you thought was important to you. Then came Jesus. But after following Him, you’ve now found yourself in what seems like a life-threatening storm. Like the disciples, you are now surprised that while you are being confronted by challenges, it seems as if He is sleeping. I’ve learned that God uses crises to build our faith. Recall that when Jesus rebuked the storm, He said to His disciples, “Where is your faith?” Don’t be frightened by the storms in your life. God is with you.

Prayer/Confession:  Father, my trust is in you. Amen. 

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Mark 4:38-39; Psalm 40

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

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The Daily Cross

 

“Don’t suffer for the wrong reasons.”

KEY VERSE: 1 Peter 4:15-16

Written By Ben Dankaka

Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Obviously, Jesus wasn’t referring to a physical cross. And He didn’t mean we would have to live or die in the same way He did. Specifically, Jesus wanted us to know that we would have to face our own troubles. Though we are bound to experience crises, Christ assures us that our suffering will not be in vain. However, it is important for us to realize that the “daily cross” isn’t just any kind of trouble.

Whether we like it or not, life hits everyone with troubles. You don’t have to be a Christian to face persecution. Even if you’re an atheist, you could be rejected for your beliefs. Whether you love Christ or not, life can hit you with travails. Crises don’t affect people, based on their religious affiliations. So, we shouldn’t assume that every problem in our lives is a sign that we are carrying the cross that Jesus talked about. If your suffering is due to a foolish act, then it isn’t a cross. It is my prayer that you will not suffer for the wrong reasons.

 

Prayer/Confession:  By the grace of God, I’ll not suffer for the wrong reasons. Amen. 

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Luke 9:23-27

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

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Trust God

 

“Like lions, we are built by God to conquer. But...”

KEY VERSE: 1 Samuel 30:6

KEY VERSE:  1 Samuel 30:6

Written By Ben Dankaka

As a kid, I was often intrigued by stories of how lions subdued other animals. But as I grew up, I discovered that what I learned about lions were somewhat exaggerated. Though lions are truly among the strongest animals, they didn’t always have their way. I recall how stunned I was when I saw a video clip of a lion being cornered by Hyenas. Indeed, lions are endowed with strength, but they don’t always win due to certain circumstances beyond their control. Like lions, we are built by God to conquer. But life can hit us with a crisis, capable of weakening us.

Just as a lion can be cornered by hyenas, you too can be taken unawares by a crisis. When we are at our weakest point, our ability to bounce back will largely be determined by our relationship with God. I am sure this is one of the points the psalmist was trying to make when he said, “The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing”. No matter what you are going through; you can get back on your feet if you would only trust God.

 

Prayer/Confession:  I sought the Lord and He answered me. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Psalm 34

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

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Waiting on God

  

KEY VERSE: Psalm 40:1

“Even if you think God has abandoned you, continue to wait on Him.”

 

Written By Ben Dankaka 

The hymn, “The steadfast love of the Lord” has the popular lyrics; “They are new every morning, new every morning: great is your faithfulness, O Lord”. These words were taken from chapter three of the book of Lamentation. The entire chapter captures the feelings of a man who is going through deep pain. Although the author may be referring to Jerusalem, he personifies his message, making it like the thoughts of a person who was in great affliction. The author is worried that God had driven him away and made him walk in darkness rather than light.

There was a time I had a similar experience. And while I was praying, it seemed like God had shut his door on me. Instead of moving ahead, I was stuck. If you ever find yourself in a situation like that, wait quietly. Even if you think God has abandoned you, continue to wait on Him. That was exactly what I did after I realized that the same person who was crying out his heart to God in the book of Lamentation also said “it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD” (Lamentation 3:26). So, don’t grumble. Just wait!

 

Prayer/Confession: Lord, I know you are on my side. Amen.

 

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Psalm 40:1; Exodus 14:14; Lamentation 3:1-32

 

Enduring Pain

KEY VERSE: Job 5:17-19   

“If you are determined to do God’s will or lead in an area, you will be tested.”

 

Written By Ben Dankaka

Job was a man of great faith. When he was prosperous, he stayed faithful to God. When he lost everything, he remained faithful. And as he held on, he got discouragements. First, his wife asked him to curse God. Then his friends tried to make him think he was suffering for his own sins. Job disagreed with all of them even though, he couldn’t figure out why he was surrounded by tragedies. But what Job didn’t know was that he was going through a test. His trials were intended to test his faith in God.

Like Job, maybe you are overwhelmed. Don’t hurry and conclude you are under a curse. Not all crises are caused by curses. As we have seen in the case of Job, even a righteous person can be overwhelmed by indescribable crises. If you are determined to do God’s will or lead in an area, you will be tested. Before He was arrested, Jesus told his disciples, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Jesus made that statement because He knows that crises are inevitable. But He wants us to know that in Him, we also are overcomers.   

 

Prayer/Confession: Lord, thank you for the grace you’ve given me to overcome my challenges. Amen.

 

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Job 8:20-21; John 16:33; John 17:15

The Dark Side

 

KEY VERSE: Matthew 5:14-16

“We cannot experience light until we’ve been through the dark lane.”

 

Written By Ben Dankaka

Light is a symbol of many things. Among other things, light serves as a symbol of knowledge. We’ve been taught that followers of Christ are the light of the world. That is, we ought to exude light by influencing our world with good works, which is made possible by knowing God’s will. But while light is seen as a symbol of good, for many people, darkness represents evil. So, we often embrace light and try as much as possible to avoid everything associated with darkness.

In reality however, darkness also plays an important role because it is after we’ve been through the dark lanes of life that light shows up. Usually, we don’t experience light while we are inside a tunnel until we are able to pass through. To put on light in any room, you must first of all, confront the dark atmosphere. Recall that before God created light in the beginning, He met the darkness that hovered on the surface of the deep. Jesus also had to confront the kingdom of darkness before bringing light into the world. I pray that the dark experiences you’ve been going through will give birth to light.

 

Prayer/Confession: Dear Lord, let my light so shine and drive away the darkness around me. Amen.

 

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Genesis 1:1-3; Psalm 23

 

Forgive Yourself

 

KEY VERSE: 1 Peter 5:7

“Your problem may not be about an attachment to the past.”

Written By Ben Dankaka

Judas Iscariot and Peter both played active roles in the ministry of Jesus. They both lived with Jesus for three years, heard His teachings and witnessed the miracles He performed. They were among the disciples that Jesus gave authority to preach, heal and cast out demons (Luke 9:1–2). Also, Peter was a member of Christ's inner circle while Judas served as treasurer. But despite their close relationship with Jesus, they failed Him. But then again, while Peter was able to make up for his mistakes, Judas killed himself. Why did Judas commit suicide? Didn’t he realize he would be forgiven?

Most likely, Judas was aware that God would forgive him because he had heard Jesus preach on forgiveness. But in spite of the teachings, Judas didn’t think he deserved to be forgiven. If Peter could move on, why not Judas? Possibly, Judas committed suicide because he couldn’t forgive himself. Undoubtedly, Peter was able to bounce back because he forgave himself. To forget the past, you must, first of all, be able to forgive yourself. What is holding you back may not be an attachment to the past. It could be that you haven’t forgiven yourself over what happened. Forgive yourself!

 

Prayer/Confession: Because I’ve been forgiven by God, I will not condemn myself. Amen.

 

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Romans 8:1; Luke 22:54-62; Mark 14:50-51

Take Responsibility!

 

KEY VERSE: Galatians 6:4-5 

“It may not be your fault; but you’ve got to take responsibility.”

 

Written By Ben Dankaka

Many people are unaware of the benefits of taking responsibility over everything that goes wrong in their lives. You may not be responsible for all the things that have gone bad. But if you want to correct the wrongs, then you have to take responsibility. When you don’t take charge over the things that went wrong in your life, you will lack the ability to correct the wrongs. Instead of fixing the things that caused you pain in the past, you would go about wasting time, looking for who to blame. You can’t get ahead with that kind of mentality.

Think of what happened to Judas and Peter. Both of them failed their Master. They both felt pained and remorseful afterwards. But when Judas returned to the Chief Priests with the money he had been given, they said, “What is that to us? That’s your responsibility.” Instead of taking responsibility, Judas threw the money back to them. Then he went away and hanged himself. Peter acted differently when he denied Jesus three times. After realizing his mistake, he wept bitterly and then took responsibility as he went back to correct his mistakes and to become the leader of the Church.

Prayer/Confession: As l correct my mistakes, I’ll take responsibility. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Luke 22:54-62; Matthew 27:1-5

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