Month: December 2020

Written By Benjamin Dankaka

To build a legacy, transform your followers into leaders.

The apostle Paul was a leader’s leader because he was not only able to lead effectively in his own capacity as leader; he was also a leader who succeeded in transforming his followers into effective leaders like himself. You will agree that a portion of the book of Acts captures Paul’s leadership journey as he planted Churches and left them with his mentees. And while the “Acts of Apostles” captures Paul’s church planting expedition, the epistles contain his leadership tips to his mentees. Each of Paul’s letters contains scriptural expositions as well as ideas for effective leadership.

In his second letter to Timothy, Paul said, “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” What was Paul trying to say? You see, Timothy was a young Pastor. And Paul was aware that Timothy was expected to be an exemplary leader, and do a whole lot of other things that would ensure the growth of his Church. Paul knew that there was no way Timothy could succeed without the “grace” of God. So he advised Timothy to depend on the strength that can only be found in Christ. Today, I challenge you to depend on Jesus!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I need your grace. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: 2 Timothy 2:1-7

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

Written By Benjamin Dankaka

Isn’t it amazing that we cannot see the break of dawn until we’ve passed through the darkness of the night?

Generally, light is one of the most widely accepted symbols and the leading force in every area of life. In religion, it is the principal force, often associated with God. In the secular world, light is seen as illumination. We like to think of light as the ultimate symbol of progress. Therefore, light represents leadership because the symbolism of light is used to show direction. We’ve been taught to believe that you cannot advance if you don’t have light. While light is a symbol of growth and power, darkness is seen as a representation of death and destruction.

By reason of that, we often embrace light and try to avoid anything associated with darkness. But in reality, darkness plays an important role in the making of light. Indeed, light is a positive force but we cannot have light until we’ve experienced some form of darkness. Before God created light, darkness was over the surface of the deep. Light, was therefore created out of the dark. Isn’t it amazing that we cannot see the break of dawn until we’ve passed through the darkness of the night? If life is hitting you with dark experiences; stay strong. You light will show up!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me the courage to pass through the dark. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Psalm 23

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

Written By Benjamin Dankaka

The quality of your relationship with God is determined by your willingness to act like a child.

If you can understand the ideal relationship between parents and their children, you would understand how your relationship with God should be. One time, Jesus told his disciples that “anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Jesus was not only speaking about the need for us to believe in Him in the same way that children often believe in the “impossible”. Beyond that, Jesus wanted His disciples to adopt a childlike attitude as they relate with God. Just as children depend on their parents, we too are required to depend on God.

If children do not worry over what they would eat and wear because it is provided by their parents, why should we worry over those things when we are also children before God? If children would submit to their parent’s will, why shouldn’t we also submit to God’s will? The quality of your relationship with God is determined by your willingness to act like a child. Always think of God as your Father because God’s ultimate desire is NOT for you to act as His slave but for you to be able to call Him, “Abba! Father!”

Prayer: Dear Jesus, teach me how to act like a child. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Mark 10:13-16; 1 Peter 1:3-5

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

Written By Benjamin Dankaka

To overcome adversity, keep your mind focused on your work.

As Jesus went about doing His work, He was often confronted by obstacles. Once, some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.” Normally, that statement was enough to put fear into His heart. But Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox, I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.” In other words, Jesus made them realize He was determined to succeed against all odds.

Clearly, Jesus didn’t allow challenges to stop Him. Although, He was God in human form, He had to face a lot of challenges before achieving His goal. Interestingly, Jesus didn’t achieve His goal without confronting Satan. He had to confront and overcome the enemy before fulfilling His purpose. If Satan would have the audacity to attack Jesus, He would do the same thing to anyone. The devil doesn’t care whether you are saved or not. By all means, he would try to stop you from doing what God has called you to do. To overcome the devil, do what Jesus did. Keep your mind focused on your divine assignment.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, send workers to the harvest field. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Luke 13:31-32

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

Written By Benjamin Dankaka

It is largely our responsibility to help those who are troubled.

Oftentimes, our failure to help others isn’t caused by a lack of concern. Generally, we often feel pity for the needy. We are all born with the ability to show empathy to our fellow humans. Although we naturally feel pity for those who are troubled, most times, we do not realize that it is our responsibility to help them. On the day that Jesus looked at a crowd and noticed they were “harassed” and “helpless”, the scripture likened the crowd to a flock of “sheep without a shepherd.”

Jesus blamed the condition of the crowd to the absence of individuals who would not only be sympathetic but would take the initiative and help the people through effective leadership. So Jesus advised His disciples to “ask the Lord of the harvest, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Therefore, it is largely our responsibility to help those who are troubled. That is, the task of working in the harvest field isn’t God’s job. It’s our responsibility. As long as we do not ask God to use us as workers, we would always have helpless and harassed people around us. Today, ask God to make you a worker of the harvest.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, send workers to the harvest field. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 9:35-38

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

Written By Benjamin Dankaka

Nothing changes until you change your thoughts.

In the parable of the lost son, Jesus shared a story of a man who had two sons. The younger one demanded for his share of inheritance and left home. After he had spent everything on reckless living, an economic recession hit his country. To survive, he had to work in a farm where he was assigned to feed pigs. Apparently, the money he earned from his boss wasn’t enough because he found himself longing to fill his stomach with the food of the pigs. This went on until one fateful day when he suddenly realized that while he was starving to death, the servants in his father’s house had enough food to spare. So he got up and returned to his father.

But according to the Scriptures, the lost son didn’t arrive at that decision until “he came to his senses” (Luke 15:11-32). This story illustrates the power of the mind. Nothing changes unless you change your thoughts. If the prodigal son hadn’t come to his senses, he wouldn’t have made the decision to return home. If he hadn’t changed his mind, he would have remained in lack. But when he came to his senses, he bounced back.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me for my prodigal ways. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Isaiah 41:13; Isaiah 40:29; Proverbs 16:9; Proverbs 23:7

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

Written By Benjamin Dankaka

To fulfill your purpose, you need the help of the One who created you.

Purpose and passion are not the same. While your passion is what you love doing, purpose is what you were created to do. Your passion isn’t peculiar to you. For instance, if you love writing, you should be aware that there are other people who also love writing. But your purpose is specific. It is what you’ve been set aside to do. Your passion can either be related to your purpose or completely unrelated. Even though what you love doing can be used to fulfill your purpose, it could also be used to achieve other things that aren’t connected to your purpose.

To fulfill your purpose, you need the help of the One who created you. Purpose isn’t conceived by man. Normally, the manufacturer of a product is the one who knows why his product was created. Therefore, God who created you knows why you are on earth. God didn’t bless you with talents so you could do whatever you want to do with it. Your talent is supposed to help you fulfill your purpose. Paul tells the Philippians, “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13).

Prayer: Lord Jesus, teach me how to fulfill God’s purpose. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Philippians 2:13; Romans 2:28; 2 Timothy 1:9; Exodus 9:16; Proverbs 19:21

Written By Benjamin Dankaka

 Your life’s purpose is God’s ultimate plan for you.

The first thing we learn from the Bible is that God is a Creator. That’s the dominant theme in the first two chapters of Genesis. But as God created the heavens and the earth, you would notice that everything He created was for a purpose. Light, which is the first thing that God created, was for the purpose of having times and seasons. Man, the last creation of God was also created for a purpose – to rule the earth. God didn’t create anything for nothing. Knowing why you were created is the most important discovery you would ever make.

Your life’s purpose is God’s ultimate plan for you. While He was on earth, Jesus focused on fulfilling His purpose. Like every other person, Jesus had several choices on how to live His life. He could have decided to be a carpenter like His earthly father; he could have accepted Satan’s offer by having control of the earthly kingdoms. But Jesus chose to do what God sent Him to do. Imagine what the world would have missed if Jesus had not fulfilled his assignment. Jesus was not the only one with an assignment from God. You too have a divine assignment.

Prayer: Dear Lord, show me my divine assignment. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Luke 4:18-19; 42; John 3:38

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

Written By Benjamin Dankaka

Life isn’t going to let you win without a good fight.

Life can overwhelm us with challenges that may seem impossible to overcome. But while you can overcome certain challenges with will power, some of our problems cannot be solved by human effort. One day Jesus was confronted by a man possessed by a demon. As soon as the evil spirit recognized Jesus, it shrieked. To shut the demon, Jesus commanded it to come out of the man. Interestingly, even though the evil spirit flung the man, it came out without injuring him. In other words, the man was delivered without wounds.

The demons and some of the problems in your life aren’t going to give up because you want them to. They won’t go because you are smart and intelligent. Imagine what would have happened if the man with the evil spirit had tried to discharge the demon by his will power. For sure, the demon wouldn’t have surrendered without a good fight. But thank God, when Jesus came, the man was delivered without a scratch. If you are trying to win your own battles without God, you might end up with scars. But then if you want to win your battles without injuries ask Jesus to help you out.

Prayer: Dear Lord, fight my battles. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Luke 4:33-35       

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.