Category: Shepherd Daily Devotional

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

KEY VERSE: 1 Peter 4:15-16

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

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

KEY VERSE: 1 Samuel 30:6

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

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KEY VERSE: Psalm 40:1

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

KEY VERSE: Job 5:17-19

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

KEY VERSE: Matthew 5:14-16

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