Category: Shepherd Daily Devotional

Not every solution is right.

Written By Benjamin Dankaka

While Paul and Silas were evangelizing, they got into trouble and were imprisoned. Confined in a prison cell, they began to worship God. Suddenly, a violent earthquake broke the prison doors. When the prison officer saw what happened, he tried to end his life, thinking the prisoners had escaped. But Paul stopped him. One interesting thing about this story is the way Paul and Silas stayed faithful to their cause in the midst of a crisis. The normal thing to do after the prison doors opened was to rush out, assuming it was God’s will. Instead, they ignored the break and stayed, taking advantage of the opportunity it gave them to gain new converts.

As you try to fulfill your leadership assignment, you would meet temporary setbacks. At the same time, there would be quick solutions. Recognize that not every solution is right. A quick solution might come as a counsel that appears to be sensible. And you may be given answers that are good, but not right. A quick solution might be a test or a temptation capable of getting you off track. But when you stay focused on the big picture, you will be able to avoid mistakes.

Prayer: Lord, help me keep my eyes on the big picture. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Acts 16:25-36; 1 Samuel 26:1-10

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

Knowing the right thing often requires us to make use of our spiritual antennae.

Written By Benjamin 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.

Prayer: Dear Lord, guide me as I make decisions.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Proverbs 4:11-13; 1 Samuel 26:8; Matthew 1:18-20; Genesis 11:1-9

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

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

Written By Benjamin Dankaka

Over the years, I have learned that setting goals do not guarantee 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 God’s guidance.

Prayer: Lord, direct my steps. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Proverbs 14:12; 16:3; 16:9; 16:25; 19:21

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

God is about to do a new thing in your life.

Written by Benjamin Dankaka

After the Babylonian exile, God said to the people of Judah, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past”. For the people, that was not an easy thing to do. These were people who had been banished from their kingdom. Many of them had lost everything they owned. These were bitter experiences that were unforgettable. Yet, God wanted them to forget the past because that was the only way they could move forward. So after telling the people to forget the past, God went on to say, “See, I am doing a new thing!”

When God is about to do a new thing in your life, He expects you to give up on the past. God knew that if the people of Judah didn’t forget their pain, they wouldn’t be able to see the promise. If they don’t forget the past, the pain would prevent them from experiencing the joy that God was bringing into their lives. To experience the joy that God is about to bring into your life, you have to forget the pain you’ve experienced. In life, you can’t move forward and backward at the same time. Forget the past and focus on the promise!

Prayer: Lord, give me the grace to forget the past so I can enjoy the new thing.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Isaiah 43: 18-19

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

The challenges before you aren’t unsolvable.

Written By Benjamin Dankaka

To become an effective leader, you must be a problem solver. All of the most notable leaders in the Bible were chosen by God to solve problems. God didn’t call anyone unless there was a problem to solve. When God created Adam and Eve, He needed someone like Him to rule the earth. When God called Noah, He needed him to build an ark. When He called Abraham, God wanted to establish a righteous nation. When God called Joseph, He needed a man who could solve an economic crisis. When God met Moses, it was to solve a problem of slavery.

Jesus also came into the world to solve a problem. Even after He saved the world, God continued to work with problem solvers. Do you know that Christ’s disciples were specifically instructed to solve a problem? (Matthew 28:19-20). If God is asking you to lead in any area that appears to be problematic, know that He wants you to be the problem solver. The challenges before you aren’t unsolvable and God knows you are capable. If you are surrounded by problems and no one is doing anything about it, possibly God wants you to be the problem solver.

Prayer: Dear Lord, show me how to tackle my problems. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY:  Luke 4:18-19; Matthew 28:19-20

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