22/08/2026
The Key Devotional
Saturday| August 22 | 2026
USEFULNESS PRESERVES
Acts 23:11-12,23 KJV
[11] And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome. [12] And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. [23] And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;
The fear of death and the evil from men is one of the most challenging things that most people dread. People prefer poverty to death. But nobody dares to wish for death or to be exposed to the victimization of an enemy. However, the reason many people do everything to fight against the enemy and death is because they actually do not know the solution to death, devil, opposition or any other unpleasant thing. Once you know, you will look at death in the face and even invite him but will never dare you.
The Bible talked about some forty young men who had a plan to assassinate Paul because he was teaching against their belief. Meanwhile, God had told him not to hold back but speak as much as he is given utterance. As the people were planning, God made sure that the plan got leaked to the right channel that can work out the safety of Paul. The sisters son got wind of the plan and informed Paul. Paul reported the case to the centurion and steps were taken to guard and make sure that Paul was safe. This only could happen because God was not through with him and still wanted him to speak in Jerusalem. Beloved, the greatest way to get protection in life is to be useful to God. Once you are not through with your assignment and are giving God pleasure, He will work against every opposition that is standing against your life.
As long as Joseph was meant to preserve the seed of God's people, no challenge he went through could subdue him. He enjoyed favour in every situation that the devil set up against him until he got to the palace and became a leader. Do not dwell too much on the prayer against death but let your life be pleasing and useful to God and God will not allow anything to happen to you negatively. This is why the Bible says that when your ways please the Lord, your enemies will be at peace with you.
Proverbs 16:7 KJV
When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
If believers could understand these, the fear of death would have diminished and time taken to concentrate on praying for protection against the enemy would have reduced. As long as Daniel and friends were useful to God in Babylon, nobody could do anything against them. Your usefulness to God is your guarantee against the onslaught of the enemy. God will not afford to lose you for anything when you single out yourself for usefulness.
Daily Task
Mention five ways to be more useful to God.
Prayers
1. Lord. I receive wisdom to please You.
2. Father, help me to be a worthy vessel in Your hand.
