Category: Shepherd Daily Devotional

Written By Benjamin Dankaka

Do you act like God?

Does God change His mind? While there are Christians who believe that God changes His mind, there are those who disagree. Remarkably, each of these groups backup their claims with Scriptures. Those who believe that God doesn’t change His mind support their claims with the words of Balaam, “God is not a man that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind,” (Numbers 23:19). But those with contrary views often refer to Jonah’s story (Jonah 3:10). Interestingly, each of these contrasting positions is correct but then, they are often quoted out of context.

Anytime the Bible mentions God’s unchanged mind, it refers to His integrity or nature. God is by nature, unchangeable. Unlike man, God doesn’t mature or grow. Also, because of His integrity, God does not break a promise. It was based on this context that Balaam affirmed God’s unchangeable character. Unlike humans, God would NEVER break a promise. If God promises to give you anything, He wouldn’t change His mind. But when it comes to empathy and forgiveness, God changes His mind. In the Bible, there are several instances where God changed His mind after “sinners” repented.

Do you act like God?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to be like you. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Exodus 32:1-14; Psalm 110; Hebrews 7:21-22; Romans 12:2

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

Written By Benjamin Dankaka

As you walk with God, some of your closest allies might mislead you.

When Sarah asked Abraham to have a child with her maidservant, she actually thought it would solve their problem. Sarah’s suggestion was a sincere plan, intended to help her and Abraham fulfill their dream. Sarah had said, “Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her” (Genesis 16:2). Apparently, Abraham wasn’t the only one that was concerned with having a family. As his wife, Sarah was also in need of children. For that reason, she presented a plan. Sarah couldn’t have had the kind of faith Abraham had because she wasn’t the one who held the vision.

Possibly, if God had showed Sarah the same thing He showed Abraham she wouldn’t have doubted. Therefore, her suggestion to Abraham was faulty, not because she had evil intentions, but for the reason that she wasn’t the person who saw the vision. In your walk with God, you might encounter people who would play the same role as Sarah. They are often the closest to you. Because they have ties with you, whatever vision God lays on you will affect them. These people may not understand God’s plan for you. So forgive them if they give the wrong advice.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me tolerant heart. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Genesis 15:1-10; Genesis 16:1-6

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

Written By Benjamin Dankaka

When things don’t work out as we expect, we allow other people’s opinion to get in the way.

God did not only tell Abraham that he would be a father of many nations; He backed up His promise with a covenant. The covenant ensued when Abraham cried out to God and demanded to know how God’s promises will be fulfilled. In response, God had asked Abraham to present a heifer, a goat, a ram, a dove and a young pigeon for a sacrifice (Genesis 15:8-9). On that fateful day, God made a pact with Abraham. Obviously, the purpose of that covenant was to reaffirm God’s promise. Normally, Abraham should have gone to sleep thereafter. But he didn’t.

When Abraham agreed to have a child with Hagar, he meddled with the agreement. One could say that Abraham’s decision to have a child with Hagar was an attempt to help God fulfill His word. Since the promised child wasn’t forthcoming, they decided to have a child anyhow. Although their strategy bore Ishmael, it backfired. Interestingly, we are like Abraham. Oftentimes, we begin our journey with God, with high hopes and commitment. But when things don’t work out as we expect, we allow doubt and other people’s opinion to get in the way. Please don’t sleep with “Hagar”. Wait on God!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I will wait on you. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Genesis 15:1-10; Genesis 16:1-3

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

Written By Benjamin Dankaka

If you’ve ever waited on God, you would understand what Abraham went through.

After God reassured Abraham that he would have a son, “Abraham believed the Lord” (Genesis 15:6). But despite Abraham’s faith, the child didn’t come. Abraham might have pondered why his wife didn’t have a child in spite of God’s promise. If you’ve ever waited on God to fulfill his promises to you, you would understand what Abraham went through. Abraham had done what God had asked him to do by leaving his own country to a foreign land. Now that he was becoming old, God was still reassuring him that he would have possession over the land he was renting.

So when Abraham’s wife came up with the idea that Abraham should sleep with her maidservant so they can build a dynasty through her, Abraham fell for it. At that time, Abraham was not only concerned with having a son that would inherit his wealth; he also wanted to build a family. Although the idea came from Sarah, the decision was taken by Abraham. Therefore, we shouldn’t crucify Sarah. Abraham, whom God had spoken to, should have known better. What Abraham did, is what usually happens when we let others get in the way of our divine assignment. Stay focused!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to stay focused. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Genesis 15:1-10; Genesis 16:1-3

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

Written By Benjamin Dankaka

Are you trusting God and at the same time worried?

God had said to Abraham, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” Although Abraham heeded God’s call, He didn’t do exactly what God asked him to do because Lot, his nephew went with him. Recall that when God called Abraham, he didn’t have a child of his own. So, he didn’t have an heir even though he was wealthy. Maybe, Abraham took Lot along because he needed to feel safe that his wealth would at least go to his nephew if he eventually died without a child.  

Once, Abraham cried out to God, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” At the time, Abraham had just been separated from Lot. So He was troubled that he might end up giving his wealth to a servant, someone who wasn’t a relation. But God had to reassure Abraham that He would make his “offspring like the dust of the earth.” Obviously, Lot had been Abraham’s back up plan – a strategy intended to make him feel secure. Are you trusting God and at the same time worried that He might fail you?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, increase my faith. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Genesis 13:1-18; Genesis 15:3

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