Nikao (verb)/nik-ah'-o/ (Greek) To conquer, triumph, overcome, to be victorious
To love deeply, to love sacrificially, to love with every implication of 1 Corinthians 13 is a heavy responsibility. “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom…
Being a Christian does not involve feeling God’s overwhelming presence every moment of our lives. It doesn’t involve dreaming dreams of future events every night. And it certainly doesn’t involve achieving perfection in this present life. Because our Christian journey is not about what we feel or what we see, we must spend time daily…
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” (Psalm 14:1 NIV) Recently, a pastor mentioned that the scripture above should actually read: A fool says in his heart, “No, God.” With this new translation, I was baffled. I’ve always thought fool was reserved for nonbelievers, atheists and agnostics. But, lo and behold, I’ve…
People Pleasing – Sigh. It can become quite overwhelming to complete a task list while simultaneously pleasing everyone and maintaining a level head (I’ve tried it). Being tugged in many different ways, without consulting God first will prove unsuccessful every time. “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or…
From uncomfortable situations to joyous occasions, everything we encounter is intentional. As we continue to live out God’s will for our lives, situation after situation will prepare us for continued elevation. However, if we hide our purpose, or become lazy in fulfilling our purpose, God has nothing to elevate. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by…
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:7-9 NIV) When life hits hard, I…
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (Psalm 46:1-3 NIV) For a few seconds, I…
In life, we will interact with, befriend and work alongside a multitude of people. Because humans are vessels used by God and the enemy to carry out their plans, some of these people will be heaven-sent, and some will not. It can be difficult to determine if a seemingly “good” person has God’s will in…
I’m one of those people who can’t drive in thunderstorms. When the clouds open, all my driving experience goes out the window. My hands become a sweaty mess, my speed decreases dramatically, and I wish there was a turbo level on the windshield wipers. My friend, on the other hand, excels in storm driving. He…
There is a misconception, to some, that being a Christ-follower equates with being overly nice. This line, between being kind and being used, becomes clear as we seek and listen to the Holy Spirit’s wisdom. “‘At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to…
The Nikao Collection 