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Shepherd Daily Devotional

Until You’re Tested

Shepherd Daily Devotional

Too often, we expect people to support us when we launch a business. But if the business is in its infant stage, people may snub us because what you intend to do isn’t what people want to hear but what you’ve achieved.

When Saul was made king, some of his countrymen didn’t like him. But Saul didn’t try to win their hearts.

Later, Nahash, the Ammonite attacked the Israelites. Saul saw it as an opportunity and led a successful war against the Ammonites. And then, the same Israelites who once despised him reaffirmed his kingship (1 Samuel 11: 1-15;).  Wait until you’re tested!

Written by Ben Dankaka

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Shepherd Daily Devotional

Enduring Pain

Shepherd Daily Devotional

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 Job held on, he couldn’t figure out why he was surrounded by tragedies. Unknown to Job, it was only a test.

Maybe you are also overwhelmed. As we’ve seen in the case of Job, even if you are determined to do God’s will, you will be tested.

Recall what Christ said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Crises are inevitable. But in Christ, we are overcomers (John 16:33).

Written by Ben Dankaka

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Shepherd Daily Devotional

The Dark Side

Shepherd Daily Devotional

We’ve been taught that leaders ought to exude light, because Christ Himself said we are the light of the world. While light is a symbol of good, darkness is perceived as a depiction of evil.

But in reality, darkness also plays an important role because we cannot experience light until we’ve been through the dark alley of life.

Before God created light in the Book of Genesis, He had to first of all, meet the darkness that hovered on the surface of the deep (Genesis 1:1-3). Isn’t it interesting that Jesus had to go through hell before He redeemed us?  Stay strong!

Written by Ben Dankaka

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Shepherd Daily Devotional

Stay Strong!

Shepherd Daily Devotional

Don’t blame yourself for every crisis. A crisis might come through no fault of yours. While crises can be painful, they have benefits. No one goes through a crisis without growing because God can move you from where you’ve been to the place, He wants you to be.

Perhaps, the crisis in your life is designed to bring you closer to God.

One time, David said, “It was good for me to be afflicted, so that I might learn your decrees” (Psalm 119:71). If David hadn’t experienced calamities, he wouldn’t have been close to God. Stay strong!

Written by Ben Dankaka

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Shepherd Daily Devotional

Follow Him

He transformed fishermen to fishers of men.

Written By Benjamin Dankaka

You might have noticed that Jesus used the words, “follow me” while He was selecting His disciples. On one occasion, He said to the crowd, “anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27).  But why does Jesus insists that we follow Him? You see, when we give our lives to Christ He automatically becomes our Lord. Now the word, “Lord” means Master. It also means Owner. As our Master and Owner, we are expected to follow Him. Therefore, to accept Jesus as our Lord, does not only involve a declaration of our faith in Him. True acceptance happens when we follow Jesus. And we do not become the followers of Christ until we stop following others, including ourselves.  Jesus wants us to “follow Him because that’s the only way He would be able to transform our lives.  I know this, because that was what He did when the disciples followed Him. Indeed, Jesus transformed the lives of those who followed Him. He transformed fishermen to fishers of men. He transformed a tax collector to an author, whose book has impacted many. He also transformed Paul, from a killer to a life saver.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, be my Lord. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Luke 14:27

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