Category: Daily Devotionals

 By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo 

Ephesians 6:18 "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." - NIV

Paul adds the importance of Spirit led prayer in spiritual warfare. There are various kinds of prayers and requests suiting various situations of life we go through. Prayer in the Spirit helps to offer suitable prayer relevant for all occasions. Some will be with words known, others in words unknown as He leads. Why is Spirit led prayer important in spiritual conflict?

The Spirit knows the mind of God and the dynamics of the spirit world. He connects us with God, enables us pray according to His will, gives battle strategy to address exactly what we should address in the spirit. He uses the sword of the word to assault the forces of darkness.

We are so limited as humans in understanding the spirit world, and yet that’s where battles are fought and won, and decisions are determined. Those who understand the spirit world operation always win. What appears physically is a manifestation of what is happening in the spirit.

Whoever is in charge in the spirit determines what happens in the physical world. The forces we fight against, in their rankings and territorial control of world affairs, are spiritual(Eph 6:12). With the help of the Holy Spirit through perpetual different prayer directions, our victory is sealed over these powers. The Holy Spirit empowers and leads us to exercise authority over situations. That’s how we reign with Christ, and the reason for the call to pray without ceasing.

Luke 18:1 "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up…"

Romans 8:26-27 "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God."

Shalom children of God.

Be still and know that I am God!

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Exodus 14:13-14 "Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Pharaoh and his army were furiously following them. The Red Sea was before them. They were scared to death and cried out to Moses who led them out of Egypt. Moses tells them to be calm and not be afraid, because God would fight for them. The same God Who had rescued them, with all the wonders they saw, was still with them and would fight for them. And He did.

Holding one’s peace amidst serious challenges of life is no easy task. That’s the time emotions have risen and hearts are troubled. And yet it is in being calm that we see God act on our behalf. Jesus told Jairus whose daughter was dead, to be calm. He told Mary and Martha to have their peace about their brother who was dead and buried! And they saw Jesus perform the miracles.

As long as we are with Jesus in the boat, however furious the storms of life are, they will be stilled. We only need to keep our faith and peace steadfast in Him Who controls the storm. Satan’s aim is to destabilize us, we doubt and the shield of faith is displaced. Then all his arrows get into us. That’s why people act weird when emotionally unstable, because Satan takes advantage. Ask God for His peace when faced with storms of life. As you watch Him act.

Luke 8:49-50 "While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.” Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”

Psalm 46:10 "He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Shalom children of God

The truth stands the test of time (28/5/2023)

2 Corinthians 13:8 "For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth."

So much goes on in this world. It is either truth or lies. There are lies that have been perpetrated for several generations. And people have come to believe them as truth. But Paul makes a fundamental statement in the scripture above, that no one can do anything against the truth to destroy it. It will remain the truth what heaps of lies or cover ups are laid on it.

Truth stands the test of time. It is indestructible. Satan has successfully deceived multitudes who are totally convinced of his lies. They have turned the truth upside down and seem to win. Laws based on lies have been enacted. Politicians have won elections and formed governments based on lies. Businesses based on falsehoods may appear to thrive. Marriages, jobs and careers founded on deception exist. But temporarily.

Our world has sidelined, despised, covered or ignored the truth, but the truth will remain the truth. Truth only comes from God. Jesus is the Truth. Satan has no truth. He is a liar and only smartly thrives on deception to win many to his side. Unfortunately, many will discover too late that they lived their lives on a lie! Whatever ‘great’ achievements based on lies will vanish. The earlier we discover and rely on the solid truth of God’s word, the better our lives will be, now and forever.

John 8:44-45 "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!"

John 14:6 "Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Genesis 39:9-10 "No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her."

Joseph was under alot of pressure from portiphar’s wife to sleep with her. Despite the continuous nagging, he didn’t yield. What made him take such a decision? The values he upheld in relationship with his God. It was wicked and against God. This was not his wife. It wasn’t because of no chance to do so, but because of what he stood for, his values.

Daniel and his three friends refused to yield to the wickedness in Babylon. They purposed to honour God despite the huge risk to their lives. They stood on principles in honour of their God. Nothing could shake them out of it, including the den of lions, a fiery furnace, opportunity to dine and wine with the king, and the evil conspiracy. The apostles in the early church didn’t care what they would do to them. They stood for what they believed and were ready to die.

Many compromise their faith and stand with God because of weak values. Whether one knows it or not, every decision we make is determined by the values we hold. With strong values, no challenge is too strong to overcome, however tough. May you build your life on strong godly values that nothing can shake. Then every decision you make will be aligned to it and will glorify God.

Daniel 3:16-18 "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Shalom children of God

Involve others

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Matthew 26:37-38 "He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

It was Jesus’ toughest time. Knowing the pain that lay ahead of Him in afew hours put extreme stress that overwhelmed Him to the point of death! He asked his disciples, and more specifically the three, Peter, James and John, to watch in prayer with him. Much as he was going to pray to God, Jesus still needed the support of other people to stand with him in his toughest time, although they failed! We need others

The Bible teaches the importance of standing with one another in stressful situations that could crush us if we are alone. Life can throw at us so much at times that our abilities just can’t handle. We should know when to bring others along. Look for whom to confide in. It is the devil’s strategy to isolate and hit hard. This happened to prophet Elijah shortly after killing the prophets of Baal. Jezebel threatened to kill him and Elijah was gripped with fear and he ran away, for his life. At some point, he was all alone. Stress overwhelmed him and eventually led to the end of his ministry!

Don’t conceal stress. When accumulated stress bursts, it’s effects can be disastrous. What might be a mountain to you can become like a little mound when shared with others who care and mean well. They will encourage, pray, counsel and stay with you. No one is self sufficient even if they have everything. God uses people to strengthen and comfort others. As they help carry our burdens, it becomes much lighter and the tension and stress is relieved. We were created for each other, to be be each other’s keepers.

Galatians 6:2-3 "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves."

Shalom children of God.

Born into a living hope!

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

1 Peter 1:3-5 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade…" NIV

The death and resurrection of Jesus is the sole reason for authenticity of the Christian faith. No other political or religious human leader in history made and fulfilled their claims like Jesus did. This sets Him apart as truly God, the Saviour and Lord. It gives us a strong basis for the gospel we have believed and preach. It is not a hoax. Even Satan can’t deny it, but only thrives by deception. Peter says Jesus resurrection gives us a LIVING hope.

Every human being has hope in something or someone. But some hopes fail. Hope in the resurrected Jesus is sure hope. It means whatever else He promised He can do. We are heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ with a promise of an inheritance kept in heaven for us who believe. We can be sure of this hope. It will never fade, spoil or perish. It is a blessed assurance we can rely on, a hope that will not disappoint.

Paul said if there is no resurrection, then our hope of eternal life is shattered. Even the gospel we preach and our faith is useless. We would rather eat and drink because it all ends here in this broken evil world when we die. So the resurrection is the heart of our faith. Praise be to God indeed that we have been born into a living hope. Rejoice exceedingly that you have in you Jesus Who died and rose again, conquered death and gave us life eternal. We too shall rise up with Him. Hallelujah!

1 Corinthians 15:14-15, 19 "And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised… If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Ephesians 6:18 "… With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."

1 Peter 5:8 "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

One cannot talk about battle without talking about vigilance. The enemy you are fighting is always looking for the slightest opportunity to strike. It is the careless, who are not keenly watching out on the new tactics of the enemy who will be defeated. It is the reason good armies spend colossal sums of money on information and intelligence gathering. In that way, you are ahead of your enemy.

It is no different in spiritual warfare. Many, being naive and careless, have fallen victims of enemy traps and attacks. There are obvious and clear demonic attacks. But there also very subtle maneuvers that requires a keen eye. It is by being alert, sensitive and discerning that you can identify his tricks and baits and avoid them. That’s why one has to be sober minded. Watch out always! Not all that glitters is gold.

Vigilance takes watching carefully what you see and hear. Test the spirits behind everything you see or hear, whether from God or not. The basis of testing is God’s word. So be full of the word. Pray for a discerning mind. Satan is a master schemer. Build a close relationship with God so that you can easily discern His voice from the devil’s. Resist the devil and he will flee.

Mark 14:38 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation…”

2 Corinthians 11:14 "And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light…"

Shalom children of God.

Casting your cares upon the Lord

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

The cares of this life is the major reason for worry to many. As we seek to meet daily demands of life, solve problems and resist enemy forces, some encounters take away peace. But God doesn’t want us to carry these alone. He calls us to bring our cares to Him and He will lift them off us.

Jesus told us not to worry about what to eat or drink or put on. This doesn’t take away our responsibility to work and seek out these things. But we are to do so while trusting in Him. He has committed himself to hear our prayers and care for our needs. There is nothing we gain by unnecessarily worrying over things beyond our ability and control. Cast them to Him.

Whereas we need to think ahead and plan for our lives, we need to watch out that it doesn’t take away our peace for daily living and make us unfruitful. We may not have everything we need yet, but we should be grateful for what we have now as we look for more. A life of appreciation and contentment gives peace.

1 Timothy 6:6-8 "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that."

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Shalom children of God

Truth loves light (29/5/2023)*

John 3:19-21 "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God." - NIV

John gives the reasons why men hide from the light, because they are aware of their evil deeds. Evil thrives in darkness. Truth thrives in the light. God is light, and in Him is no lies at all. Whoever comes to God walks in the light and in the truth. Those who refuse to come to God fear to expose their evil deeds because they want to continue in them.

Instead of run away from the light of God, we should come to Him Who has the ability to set us free from the trap of sin. Adam and Eve ran away from God to hide after they sinned. Sin drives away from God. And Satan likes that. But God calls us to come just as we are to Him, repenting and confessing our failures. He is committed to forgive and restore those who come to Himself.

Hiding from is futile because everything is laid bare before God. He sees it all. To Him, secrecy and thick darkness is like broad day light. And it is to Him that we shall account for all we did in this life. Come to Him as you are, in humility and repentance. He is merciful and gracious to set you free from the bondage of sin through Jesus Christ His Son. Don’t be deceived by the temporary pleasures of sin.

Hebrews 4:13 "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

Shalom children of God.

Knowledge guides decisions (14/6/2023)

Joshua 24:16-18 "Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods! It was the Lord our God himself who brought us and our parents up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. And the Lord drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God.”

Joshua challenged the people to decide whether to serve God who brought them out of Egypt or other gods in the land they now occupied. The people answered that they would serve God. They narrated how God had saved them, displaying great signs, protected and provided for them, and eventually settled them in the land of promise. On the basis of that knowledge of Who God is, and what He had done, they decided to serve God.

What you about anything or anyone will guide your decisions about them, including God. There is so much information in the world about anything. Some of these are propaganda and lies, unfounded opinions and some are facts and truth. Make your decisions on the basis of the truth.

It is therefore important to invest in knowledge of the truth about anything you want to make a decision about. Read and study. Inquire from credible sources. Counter lies with truth. If you decide using lies and rumours, you fail and later regret. Satan is a liar and distorts the truth about God. He has misled many. Don’t fall victim of his lies, however nice they sound. God’s word is the truth that stands the test of time. Any decision based on it lasts.

Psalm 119:89-90 "Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations;  you established the earth, and it endures."

Shalom children of God