Category: Daily Devotionals

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Psalm 103:1-2 “Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—…”

This is a psalm of gratitude. An attitude of praise and thanksgiving makes us look at the good things God has done. Honestly, there is much God has done and continues to do in everyone’s life. This is to those who believe in Him or not. The reason many are not thankful is that they have their own expectations of what they want God to do. When it doesn’t happen as they wish, it appears as if God has failed them.

A thankful attitude should be deliberate. You choose to tell your soul to praise. As you do, you remember what He has done, the benefits of salvation out of His goodness. God expects praise and worship out of us. After healing ten lepers, Jesus was surprised that only one came back to give thanks. Like them, God does for all of us many good things, but few come back to Him to give thanks. Instead, most people are looking out for what is not going right and shout about it, but are silent on the good.

Thanksgiving glorifies God, makes us not forget what He does, encourages our faith, creates hope, establishes us in the faith and enables us find peace and rest for our souls only in God. It keeps fear, uncertainty, anger and all sorts of distractions away. It gives assurance to our souls, that it is well, despite any present challenges. Purposefully be thankful to God. Bless the Lord O my soul!

Luke 17:17-18 “Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Psalm 139:4,15-16 “Before a word is on my tongue   you, Lord, know it completely… My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book  before one of them came to be.” NIV

Psalm 139 is a wonderful meditation on the greatness of God and His omniscience, omnipotence and omnipresence. He fills the entire vast universe He created. There is no part of creation that He is not present. He knows us to the most minute detail, including our thoughts before we even think about them. He knows the words we are going to say before we say them! There is no where one can hide from Him.

He also knows every step when we were made and designed the way He designed us individually. We are all different because He Himself was involved in every detail of our making. Isn’t it a wonder that every human being that has ever existed since creation or will exist is never the same as another? Besides that, God already ordained specific days for each person to live even before we were conceived or born. The psalmist said such knowledge was too wonderful for him, and to us too.

God’s foreknowledge of us is an encouragement that our lives are not, and should not be a gamble. It’s only man’s rebellion that takes him away from a path already well planned by his Creator into all the messes we end up in. If only we seek after him, to know and walk in the ways He already set for us, our lives would be truly peaceful and enjoyable despite any upheavals. Whatever He does in and through us is in line with His good plans to bring us to an expected end for our joy and His glory. Submit to Him.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Psalm 36:2 “For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.” – KJV
Psalm 78:36-37 “But then they would flatter him with their mouths,  lying to him with their tongues; their hearts were not loyal to him, they were not faithful to his covenant.” – NIV
Proverbs 29:5 “Those who flatter their neighbors are spreading nets for their feet.” – NIV

To flatter is to give excessive, insincere praise to someone usually to impress them win some favour. Flattery is deception. It portrays a nice picture from the words they speak and facial expressions, but inwardly they are selfish and deadly. Those who believe these flatteries get very disappointed when reality comes out at the end and they discover they were deceived. It hurts deeply.

The above scriptures show that people can flatter themselves, God and others. Self flattery is praise of oneself out of pride of status or achievement. Flattering God is lying to Him with praise in your lips yet your heart is far away and not loyal to Him. Flattering others is insincere exaggerated praise of others even when in your heart you know the truth. We are urged to speak the truth in love, not cover up and flatter.

Either of all that is deception. God looks into the heart, beyond what people speak with their mouth and act out. He calls us to live in sincerity of heart, word and deed. Be yourself, speak the truth in love and respect. Seek favour from God. By flattering, you lie. Flattery is destructive and betrays friendships and relationship with God. It’s not sustainable.

Ephesians 4:15 “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Isaiah 30:18 “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” NIV

This statement comes amidst a sharp rebuke by God on His people seeking human help rather than divine help in their troubles. Israel planned to flee on horses and hide in Egypt from their enemies. He told them their confidence in Egypt was worthless. He was angry at them for only thinking of human solutions before consulting Him, being their God. Even in their stubbornness, God’s heart longed to show them grace, compassion and justice.

The fallen human nature tends towards independence from God and will first think about what they can do to remedy their challenges and find solutions. Most people will think about God as the last resort when all else has failed. When everything is fine, little attention is given to Him. When challenges come, they first think of their possessions, abilities and connections to bail them out. This is not bad per se, but becomes a problem when they alienate people from God.

God’s heart longs to be gracious to us. His compassion and justice is experienced by those who wait on Him, having placed their faith in Him. Blessed are those who trust in Him. Even though it doesn’t apparently appear that all is running well with them, the sure foundation of faith in God will truly sustain them through life and its challenges. In the end, they will be happy. God never fails those who look to Him.

Psalm 145:8 “The LORD [is] gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.”

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Galatians 6:7-8 “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” – NIV

Yesterday we discussed about deception that goes with flattery.There is a deception that makes people think they can live their lives the way they wish in the pleasures of the flesh, and somehow impress God with some good deeds. To God, one reaps what they sow. That is justice and righteousness on which His throne is founded. He cannot be mocked and arm twisted to go contrary to His principles. Those who flatter Him with their lips but with hearts far away can only expect what they rightfully deserve from the just Judge of the universe.

This self reflection should be guided by the questions; ‘why am I doing what I am doing’? Am I responding to please my selfish desires or to please God? The Holy Spirit is always guiding us into paths of righteousness that glorify God. But at times, many disobey His instructions and do what appeals to their senses or public opinion. They live in disobedience to God and yet expect His full blessings.

The fruit of our lives is a reflection of who we have chosen to yield to in our hearts, the flesh or to the Spirit. Each has its consequences; destruction for following after the flesh, and eternal life for obedience to the Spirit. The choice is yours. But God cannot be mocked. We reap from Him only what we have sown. How and what are you presently sowing?

Galatians 5:16 “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Judges 8:4-5 “Gideon and his three hundred men, exhausted yet keeping up the pursuit, came to the Jordan and crossed it. He said to the men of Sukkoth, “Give my troops some bread; they are worn out, and I am still pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.””

Gideon and his men were pursuing the Midianites. They had largely defeated them. But they needed to complete the victory by capturing the two Midianite kings who had escaped. It had been an intensive battle and they were physically exhausted. They needed food to replenish their strength. Despite the exhaustion, they kept pursuing to the end.

Such is a common occurrence in life. Some of the battles, plans and dreams we encounter and pursue in life leave us tired. The temptation to give up is so real. After spending all the abilities and energies we have, we will feel like giving it up. The body gives way, the mind stagnates and the will to go on fades. This is the point that separates those who reach their full potential and the partial achievers.

That God is behind what we do does not mean it will be a smooth ride all the way. Obstacles and resistances will be there. The enemy will attempt to use discouragement that comes with burn out and exhaustion to knock us us off the journey. Sometimes this happens when complete victory is just at the door. We are urged not to give up. God is committed to renew our strength and to keep us going till the end. Wait on Him. Keep going. Hold on to Him and His unfailing promises.

Isaiah 40:29-31 “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Shalom children of God.