DCLM Daily Manna – 22 January 2026 Devotional Message Written By Pastor W.F Kumuyi
Read DCLM Daily Manna – 22 January 2026, Thursday Devotional Message.
TOPIC: Just A Thought
KEY VERSE:
“Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.” – (Acts 8:22).
SCRIPTURE READING: Acts 8:14-24 (NKJV)
14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”
24 Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”
DCLM Daily Manna – 22 January 2026 MESSAGE:
In 2008, the world plunged into a financial crisis that wiped out businesses, homes, and life savings. What caused it? A thought – greed disguised as innovation. Banks and investors believed they could manipulate mortgage lending to make endless profits. That single idea led to reckless decisions, collapsing economies worldwide.
The delusional Simon the Sorcerer thought he could receive the Holy Spirit through a bribe. He had long captivated Samaria with his magic, earning the people’s admiration. But when Philip preached Christ, he believed, was baptised, and followed the evangelist, astonished by the genuine power of God. When Peter and John arrived and laid hands on the believers to receive the Holy Ghost, Simon’s true intentions surfaced. He offered money to Peter, saying, “Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost”. Peter’s response was sharp: “Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.” The issue was not just Simon’s words but the thought behind them. He hoped to merchandise the power of God for personal, pecuniary benefits. Peter continued, “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.”
Pray, if you were on the scene, how would you respond to similar situation as a pastor or church leader standing in Peter’s shoes? Would you proceed to offer a hypocritical prayer for Holy Ghost baptism on Simon and, afterwards, advise him to “appreciate the man of God” or “honour God with his substance?”
No sin begins with an action; it all starts with a thought. Judas thought about betrayal before he sold Jesus. Ananias and Sapphira conceived deception before they lied. David’s sin with Bathsheba began with a look that turned into insatiable desire, which eventually produced counter-productive domino effects. Jesus warned that out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, blasphemy, and so on.
Are you entertaining dangerous thoughts, subtle pride, secret jealousy, hidden bitterness, or concealed lust that could eventually turn monstrous? Kill the thought before it kills you. Repent and be at peace with God. His grace will abide and His precepts will guide you.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Watch your thoughts: your actions depend on them.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Acts 18-19
About Author – Pastor W.F. Kumuyi
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
