June 4

William Nagenda, the African evangelist, was met at the station by his little three-year-old son. The boy said, “Daddy, I will carry your suitcase.”

William did not want to disappoint him, so he said, “You lay your hand on my hand,” and they carried the suitcase home together. When they reached home, the little boy told his mother, “I carried Daddy’s suitcase!”

When we have heavy things to bear, and we overcome by laying our weak hands on the strong hand of the Lord, it is foolish to say, “I have carried the load.” We must give the Lord all the honor He is due. 

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

John 15:4

Lord, when You give us a load to bear, You give us the strength to carry it. Forgive us if we childishly assume that we have done the work ourselves.

January 10

William Nagenda continued: “One day the devil will give William a blow downwards so strung that he will go all the way to the valley of the shadow of death. There Jesus will give William a blow upwards so strong that he will come into heaven. The devil will say, ‘Where is William? I don’t see him anymore!’”

Even though I walk through the valley

of the shadow of death

I fear no evil

for thou art with me. . . .

Palms 23:4

Lord Jesus, thank You that You have overcome the forces of evil. We know that You will never let us down.

January 9

William Nagenda, the African evangelist, said: “My life is like this ball bouncing on the floor. Sometimes the devil gives me a blow downwards, but at the deepest spot Jesus is there, and He gives me a blow upwards so that I come up higher than I was before.”

My soul clings to thee:

thy right hand upholds me.

Psalms 63:8

Lord, the devil is stronger than I am. But l know from the Bible that You are much stronger than the devil, and together with You I am much stronger than the devil. Thank You, Lord, for that encouragement.