Daily Devotional: Transferring Power
- David A. Case
- Feb 20
- 3 min read
By David A. Case
Life Sayings:
Offense is an opportunity for dominion transfer—if I give it to God, He gains ground.
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” —Romans 12:21 (NKJV)
Every offense carries with it a hidden opportunity: the chance to give God more dominion in the life of another person. That may sound strange at first, but it is at the very heart of Kingdom partnership. The way we respond to the wounds we receive is more than emotional maturity—it is spiritual stewardship.
Peter’s story shows us this principle in action. When Peter denied Jesus, it was a stripe against the Son of God. It was betrayal in the moment of deepest need. But Jesus didn’t respond with anger or withdrawal. He bore the wound silently and handed the offense to the Father. In doing so, He gave the Father dominion over Peter’s heart. We see the result in John 21: a restored Peter, drawn back in by grace and re-commissioned by the risen Christ.
This is not just a beautiful story—it is a model for our lives. When I am wounded, I can either cling to the offense or hand it to God. If I cling, I keep the dominion. I become judge, jury, and warden. I live in the prison of unresolved pain. But if I give it to God, something greater happens. He takes the offense, satisfies justice in His perfect way, and uses it to gain influence over the one who wronged me.
This is the law of stripes. Stripes, when freely offered to God, become the currency of Kingdom advancement. They are not meaningless suffering. They are intercessory offerings, paid in pain but invested in redemption.
There is one caveat: this only works when done willingly. God will never take what I do not give. The choice to release an offense must come from a heart that understands its role in the bigger story. I’m not excusing wrong or pretending it didn’t happen. I’m making a legal transfer. I am saying to God, “You deal with this. You are the just One. You are the Ruler. I trust You.”
When we live this way, we not only protect our own hearts—we advance the Kingdom. Every stripe becomes a seed. Every injustice released becomes ground gained. We are no longer passive victims. We are active participants in God’s redemptive plan.
Reflection Question
Is there a wound in your life that you’ve been holding onto instead of offering it to God for His redemptive purpose?
Prayer
Lord, You know the places where I’ve been hurt—some deeply, some repeatedly. I confess that I have often held onto those offenses, trying to manage them with my own sense of justice. Today, I choose to trust You. I hand these wounds over to You. Use them for Your glory. Gain ground in the lives of those who have hurt me. Gain ground in mine. Help me to walk as an intercessor, not a victim. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Today’s Step of Obedience
Write down one name: someone whose offense you’ve struggled to release. Sit quietly and tell the Lord what happened. Then say out loud, “I hand this to You, Lord. I give You this stripe. Do with it what only You can do.” Tear up the paper as a symbol of releasing it into God’s hands.
This devotional was inspired by the book Dead Dogs on the Highway by David A. Case. If you found it helpful, please consider it for your own self-study and suggest it to your church small group or recovery community as a basis for small group study.
If this message has encouraged you to pursue deeper transformation, I invite you to continue the journey through Dead Dogs on the Highway. It provides a practical, biblical path for spiritual growth and is an excellent resource for church small groups and recovery communities. Consider getting your copy today and introducing it to your group as a guide toward meaningful heart change.
👉 Learn more about Small Group Resources from Heart Change U.
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