📌 Today's Readings are from the Book of 1 Chronicles 7–8 | Ephesians 6 📌 👇 Overviews Are Below (PLEASE READ YOUR BIBLE: Overviews Do Not Replace Daily Reading) 👇 1 Chronicles 7 Every Tribe Has a Place in God’s Plan 1 Chronicles 7 continues the genealogies by recording several of the remaining tribes of Israel, including Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher. While the chapter is largely a collection of family records, it communicates an important theological truth: every tribe and every family had a place within God’s covenant purposes. The genealogies emphasize growth, strength, and military readiness. Many of the descendants are described as mighty men of valor, capable leaders, and faithful members of their tribes. These descriptions remind us that God equips His people with different gifts and responsibilities for the good of the entire covenant community. The chapter also includes moments of sorrow. The descendants of Ephraim experience significant loss when members of the family are killed while attempting to seize livestock. Their grief is remembered within the genealogy, demonstrating that Scripture does not ignore pain or suffering. Even within God’s covenant family, seasons of tragedy become part of the story. Yet the account does not end with grief. God continues His work through later generations. The line of Ephraim continues, eventually leading to Joshua, one of Israel’s greatest leaders. This quiet reminder demonstrates that God often brings future hope out of present sorrow. Human loss never has the final word when God is accomplishing His purposes. The tribes of Asher conclude the chapter with descriptions of strength, fruitfulness, and capable leadership. Together, these genealogies reveal a nation composed of many families, each contributing uniquely to the covenant people of God. None of the tribes stand alone. Together they form the nation through whom God will continue advancing His redemptive plan. Theologically, 1 Chronicles 7 reveals God's faithfulness to every tribe of Israel. He remembers individuals, preserves families, and continues His purposes across generations despite seasons of joy and sorrow. The chapter also teaches that every member of God’s people has significance within His larger plan. This chapter points to Christ, who unites God’s people into one family. The many tribes of Israel anticipated the greater unity found in Christ, where people from every nation, tribe, and language become one body under one eternal King. Jesus gives every believer a meaningful place within His kingdom and equips each one for faithful service. For believers today, 1 Chronicles 7 reminds us that God knows every family, every generation, and every life. Even when our role seems unnoticed, we remain important within His purposes. Seasons of sorrow do not remove us from His plan. In Christ, every believer has been called, gifted, and placed within His family to serve faithfully for His glory. 1 Chronicles 8 God Preserves the Line for His Purposes 1 Chronicles 8 focuses primarily on the genealogy of the tribe of Benjamin. This chapter is especially significant because it prepares readers for the introduction of Saul and later David in the chapters that follow. The detailed record demonstrates that God was carefully preserving families and generations according to His sovereign purposes. Benjamin occupied an important place in Israel’s history. Although the tribe experienced great hardship earlier in Israel’s history, God preserved it and caused it to continue. The genealogies remind readers that God’s grace often restores what appears to have been nearly lost. The chapter records numerous families, leaders, and settlements associated with Benjamin. These details reveal God's concern not only for individuals but also for communities. He establishes people in places where they can live, work, worship, and contribute to the life of the nation. Every family becomes part of the unfolding story of God's covenant. As the genealogy progresses, increasing attention is given to the family that will eventually produce Saul, Israel’s first king. The Chronicler is preparing readers for the transition from the period of the judges to the monarchy. Although Saul’s reign will ultimately reveal the limitations of human leadership, his genealogy reminds us that even flawed leaders occupy a place within God’s sovereign plan. The preservation of Benjamin also demonstrates God's faithfulness despite human failure. Earlier generations had experienced conflict, judgment, and weakness, yet God continued sustaining the tribe. His covenant purposes were larger than the failures of any single generation. The chapter quietly emphasizes continuity. History is not a disconnected series of events but a carefully directed unfolding of God's redemptive plan. Every generation leads toward the greater purposes God has already established. Theologically, 1 Chronicles 8 reveals God's sovereign preservation of His people. He remembers families, restores what has been weakened, and faithfully guides history according to His covenant. The chapter demonstrates that God's purposes continue even through imperfect people and difficult generations. This chapter points to Christ by preparing the way for Israel’s kingship. Saul would become the nation’s first king, but his reign would reveal humanity’s inability to provide the perfect ruler. That anticipation ultimately points to Jesus Christ, the greater King who perfectly fulfills God’s covenant promises and reigns forever in righteousness. For believers today, 1 Chronicles 8 reminds us that God faithfully preserves His people through every generation. Our lives are connected to His larger redemptive story, even when we cannot fully see how He is working. In Christ, we belong to the family of God, and He continues accomplishing His eternal purposes through ordinary believers who faithfully follow Him. Our confidence rests not in human leadership but in the everlasting King who rules with perfect wisdom, justice, and grace. Ephesians 6 — Standing Firm in the Strength of the Christ Ephesians chapter 6 concludes the letter by bringing together everything Paul has taught about the believer's identity and calling in the Christ, the Son of God. The chapter moves from practical instruction for the home and workplace to the reality of spiritual warfare. It reminds believers that the Christian life is lived in dependence upon the strength of the Christ, who equips His people to stand firm as they participate in His redemptive plan. The chapter begins by addressing relationships within the family. Children are called to honor and obey their parents, reflecting God's order and demonstrating respect for His authority. Parents, in turn, are instructed to raise their children with loving discipline and godly instruction rather than harshness or discouragement. Christian living transforms the home because the Son of God changes the hearts of both parents and children, producing relationships marked by love, respect, and grace. Paul then addresses the relationship between servants and masters, emphasizing that every believer ultimately serves the Christ. Regardless of earthly responsibilities or positions, all work is to be done with sincerity, integrity, and a desire to honor the Son of God. The redemptive plan changes the believer's perspective on daily responsibilities. Ordinary tasks become acts of worship when performed for the glory of the Christ. The central focus of the chapter is the reality of spiritual warfare. Paul reminds believers that their greatest battle is not against other people but against spiritual forces that oppose God's purposes. Christian living therefore requires spiritual strength rather than human determination. The Son of God has not left His people defenseless. He provides everything necessary for them to stand firm against the enemy's attacks. Believers are called to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Victory does not come through personal ability but through dependence upon the Christ. The redemptive plan assures believers that the battle belongs to the Lord, and He faithfully equips those who trust in Him. Paul then describes the armor of God, illustrating the spiritual resources the Lord provides. Truth secures the believer against deception, righteousness guards the heart, the gospel of peace establishes stability, faith extinguishes the attacks of the enemy, salvation protects the mind, the Word of God serves as the Spirit's sword, and continual prayer keeps believers dependent upon the Lord. Each piece of armor points ultimately to the Christ, for He is the embodiment of truth, righteousness, peace, salvation, and the living Word. Christian living is strengthened as believers daily clothe themselves with the character and provision of the Son of God. Prayer occupies a central place in this spiritual battle. Paul encourages believers to pray continually with perseverance for themselves and for one another. The redemptive plan advances as God's people remain dependent upon Him in prayer. Through prayer, believers receive strength, wisdom, courage, and endurance to faithfully proclaim the gospel of the Christ. Even while imprisoned, Paul asks for prayer that he would boldly proclaim the message of the Son of God. His concern is not for personal comfort but for faithfulness to the mission God has entrusted to him. This demonstrates the heart of Christian living. Every circumstance becomes an opportunity to glorify the Christ and advance His kingdom. The letter concludes with words of peace, love, faith, and grace. These blessings summarize everything Paul has taught throughout Ephesians. The believer's life begins with grace, grows through faith, is sustained by love, and rests in the peace that comes through the Christ. The redemptive plan finds its fulfillment in a people who live under His lordship and reflect His character to the world. Throughout Ephesians chapter 6, the Christ is revealed as the believer's strength, protector, commander, and victorious King. Every piece of spiritual armor points back to Him, and every victory is accomplished through His power rather than our own. The Son of God equips His people to stand firm until His work is complete. For believers today, this chapter reminds us that the Christian life is both a privilege and a battle. We are called to faithfully honor the Lord in our homes, our work, and our relationships while recognizing the reality of spiritual warfare. Christian living requires daily dependence upon the strength of the Christ, continual prayer, and confidence in His victory. As we put on the armor He provides and stand firm in His truth, we become faithful witnesses of His grace and active participants in His eternal redemptive plan. #DailyBibleReading #OpenYourBible #StudyTheWord #ScriptureForToday #FaithJourney #GodsWord #BibleTime #WalkWithGod

PROVERB OF THE DAY (Proverbs 2) 1. My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, 2. So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; 3. Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, 4. If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5. Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God. 6. For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; 7. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; 8. He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints. 9. Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path. 10. When wisdom enters your heart, And knowledge is pleasant to your soul, 11. Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you, 12. To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things, 13. From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; 14. Who rejoice in doing evil, And delight in the perversity of the wicked; 15. Whose ways are crooked, And who are devious in their paths; 16. To deliver you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words, 17. Who forsakes the companion of her youth, And forgets the covenant of her God. 18. For her house leads down to death, And her paths to the dead; 19. None who go to her return, Nor do they regain the paths of life— 20. So you may walk in the way of goodness, And keep to the paths of righteousness. 21. For the upright will dwell in the land, And the blameless will remain in it; 22. But the wicked will be cut off from the earth, And the unfaithful will be uprooted from it.

PROVERB OF THE DAY (Proverbs 1) 1. The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2. To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding, 3. To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity; 4. To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion— 5. A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, 6. To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8. My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother; 9. For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, And chains about your neck. 10. My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. 11. If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; 12. Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, And whole, like those who go down to the Pit; 13. We shall find all kinds of precious possessions, We shall fill our houses with spoil; 14. Cast in your lot among us, Let us all have one purse”— 15. My son, do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path; 16. For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood. 17. Surely, in vain the net is spread In the sight of any bird; 18. But they lie in wait for their own blood, They lurk secretly for their own lives. 19. So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners. 20. Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares. 21. She cries out in the chief concourses, At the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words: 22. “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge. 23. Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. 24. Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, 25. Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, 26. I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, 27. When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. 28. “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. 29. Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD, 30. They would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke. 31. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies. 32. For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33. But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.”

September 01, 2026 (day 244/365) TUESDAY GOD'S WORD FOR THE DAY “Trust God When Life Seems Unfair” Jeremiah 12:1 “You are always righteous, Lord, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?” This is the Word of God. Jeremiah 12 begins with a question that many faithful people have asked: Why do the wicked sometimes seem to prosper while those who seek God suffer? Jeremiah honestly brings his confusion before the Lord. God does not condemn us for bringing difficult questions to Him. We can come to Him honestly with our pain, doubts, and struggles. Yet, even when we do not understand His ways, we can still trust that God is righteous and that His judgments are perfect. Life may sometimes appear unfair, but God sees what we cannot see. He knows every heart, understands every circumstance, and remains righteous even when His ways are beyond our understanding. May God give us faith to trust His righteousness when we cannot understand our circumstances, patience to wait for His timing, and confidence that He is always good and just. Amen. Have a blessed day with the Lord. -- Pastor Emmanuel Serto

🌿 MINDFULNESS: THE WISDOM OF HOW WE TREAT ONE ANOTHER 🌿 Being mindful is more than simply being aware. It is remembering that we share this world with other people. It means practicing manners, decorum, etiquette, and civility—not because we are trying to appear perfect, but because we recognize the dignity of others. Sometimes wisdom sounds like speaking. Sometimes wisdom sounds like listening. And sometimes wisdom sounds like silence. 📖 “A time to keep silence, and a time to speak.” — Ecclesiastes 3:7 There are moments when our words can encourage, correct, defend, or bring healing. And there are moments when speaking out of anger, pride, impulse, or frustration can cause unnecessary harm. 📖 “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” — James 1:19 The Bible reminds us that our words matter. 📖 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” — Proverbs 18:21 And sometimes the wisest response is simply to be still. 📖 “Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10 Being still does not mean being indifferent. Being quiet does not mean being weak. Being civil does not mean permitting wrongdoing. Jesus Himself demonstrated that there is a time for gentleness and a time for righteous confrontation. Scripture calls us to pursue truth, justice, mercy, and righteousness—not merely comfort or appearances. So mindfulness asks us: Is this the right time to speak? Is this the right way to speak? Does this need to be said? Am I listening as carefully as I am speaking? Will my words bring understanding—or unnecessary injury? And perhaps most importantly: Am I treating people as members of a family whom God has commanded me to love? 📖 “Love one another: as I have loved you.” — John 13:34 📖 “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.” — Romans 12:10 Christian love is not pretending that everything is acceptable. It is not concealing injustice. It is not remaining silent when someone is being harmed. Rather, it means learning to speak truth with love, to correct without cruelty, to disagree without contempt, and to stand for what is right without abandoning compassion. 📖 “Speaking the truth in love…” — Ephesians 4:15 There is tremendous wisdom in knowing the difference between silence that protects peace and silence that permits injustice. So today, let us be mindful. Mindful of our words. Mindful of our tone. Mindful of our surroundings. Mindful of other people’s dignity. Mindful of when to speak. Mindful of when to listen. Mindful of when to be still. And yes… Mind your P’s and Q’s. 😉 Not as an invitation to conceal who we are or to perform politeness for appearances— but as a gentle reminder to show respect, practice good manners, exercise self-control, and treat others with the dignity we hope to receive. Because kindness is not weakness. Civility is not compromise. Silence is not always surrender. And speaking up is not always unkind. Wisdom is knowing which moment requires which one. 🌿✨ “Let all that you do be done in love.” — 1 Corinthians 16:14

PROVERB OF THE DAY (PROVERBS 31) 1. The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him: 2. What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows? 3. Do not give your strength to women, Nor your ways to that which destroys kings. 4. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink; 5. Lest they drink and forget the law, And pervert the justice of all the afflicted. 6. Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those who are bitter of heart. 7. Let him drink and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more. 8. Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. 9. Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy. 10. Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. 11. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain. 12. She does him good and not evil All the days of her life. 13. She seeks wool and flax, And willingly works with her hands. 14. She is like the merchant ships, She brings her food from afar. 15. She also rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household, And a portion for her maidservants. 16. She considers a field and buys it; From her profits she plants a vineyard. 17. She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms. 18. She perceives that her merchandise is good, And her lamp does not go out by night. 19. She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hand holds the spindle. 20. She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. 21. She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet. 22. She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple. 23. Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land. 24. She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies sashes for the merchants. 25. Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come. 26. She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness. 27. She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. 28. Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her: 29“Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all.” 30. Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. 31. Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates.

The Story Behind the Hymns. THE STORY BEHIND "MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY OF THE COMING OF THE LORD" Some hymns belong to a church while others become part of the history of a people. “Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory of the Coming of the Lord,” widely known as “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” belongs to the second category. Its story is tied to one of the darkest chapters in American history: the Civil War, a conflict that split the United States and claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Slavery stood at the centre of the crisis, and the question of whether a nation could call itself free while millions remained enslaved had become impossible to avoid. In 1861, Julia Ward Howe, a writer, poet and abolitionist, was in Washington, D.C., when she encountered Union troops singing “John Brown’s Body,” a marching song already popular among soldiers. The tune stayed with her. Someone suggested that she write new words for it. She did. According to Howe’s own account, the words came to her in the early hours of the morning. She woke with the opening line in her mind and began writing, afraid that the verses would escape her if she waited for daylight. “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord…” What followed was not a conventional hymn of comfort. Howe wrote with the language of the Old Testament prophets — judgment, wrath, righteousness and redemption. The battlefield became the setting for a larger moral argument. “He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.” The line was stark and so was the time in which it was written. The hymn was published in the Atlantic Monthly in February 1862. It quickly found an audience among Union supporters and soldiers, giving words to a cause that many believed demanded more than military victory. The fight, in the hymn’s telling, was bound to a moral reckoning. Then came the line that would outlive the war: “His truth is marching on.” Those five words helped turn a Civil War song into an enduring hymn. For soldiers heading into battle, the words could sound like a declaration of faith. For abolitionists, they carried the promise that slavery would not have the final word. For families waiting at home, the hymn gave voice to the uncertainty, grief and conviction that defined the period. Its reach did not end when the guns fell silent. “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” went on to become one of the most recognisable songs in American religious and public life. It has been heard in churches, at memorials, political gatherings, military ceremonies and historic moments across generations. Its power however, lies in more than its stirring melody. It was born at a time when America was asking whether freedom could survive its own contradictions. Julia Ward Howe answered with a poem that placed justice at the centre of the national struggle. More than a century and a half later, the words remain remarkably direct. They remind us that history is not always changed in grand halls or on battlefields. Sometimes it begins in the early hours of the morning, with a writer reaching for a pen before the words disappear. Julia Ward Howe picked up that pen and what she wrote became a song that generations would sing long after the war that inspired it had passed into history. “His truth is marching on.” That is the line that remains. Not simply as music but as a declaration.

Devotion: Isaiah 40:31 I In our desperation we need to remember that even the demons fear God, so when we walk in the shadow of the Almighty, they cannot touch us. We also should keep in mind that God, while always in attendance at our side, allows us free will. Sometimes it is our very own human choices that bring trouble knocking at our doors and by suffering through difficult times, God can teach us to rely on Him more AND He can use us as witnesses to help others battling their own demons. Friends, we can be powerful vessels for God, if we can see purpose in our pain and if we make the wiser choice of standing firm in faith despite whatever situation may arise. You may wonder how you can receive God’s power so that He can work through you: Micah 3:8: “But as for me, the LORD fills me with his spirit and power, and gives me a sense of justice and the courage to tell the people of Israel what their sins are.” Acts 2:17#: “I will pour out my Spirit on everyone. Your sons and daughters will proclaim my message; your young men will see visions, and your old men will have dreams.” You will indeed soar like an eagle if you receive in the Spirit of God. He will strengthen you in tough times, He will open doors for you to spread His word to the sinful world. Keep the faith, be steadfast and remember, all things in life work together for the glory of God. Now is the time to accept the Lord as your Saviour, for in Him alone lays your victory over your unfulfilled and empty life. Are you ready to choose Him above all earthly riches, all popularity and all status on earth? You see, the only thing that is important to God is your heart, so ask yourself this question: “Who am I striving to impress today? My neighbour, my family, or am I trying to please the Lord.” More reading: Isaiah 30:15; Colossians 1:11; Isaiah 10:13 and 16 #Jeremiah40 #Surrender #TrustGod #Faith

Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😀🎀💝🎁🌺🌹MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY. MONDAY AUGUST 31, 2026. "WHAT IS "SUCCESS " FOR YOU?" I have glorified You on the earth...’ John 17:4 NKJV AT THE end of His life, Jesus was able to pray, ‘I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.’ Jesus didn’t try to compete with John the Baptist or model Himself after some Old Testament prophet. He knew what ‘success’ was for Him. To know what it is for you, you must: 1) Discern what success really is. When others feel good about you, you’re popular; but when you feel good about yourself, you’re successful. Your life’s highest calling will always create the highest level of joy within you. 2) Before you set goals, pray. ‘In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths’ (Proverbs 3:6 NKJV). It’s not wrong to set goals, it’s just wrong to set them without first consulting God. 3) Stop expecting others to bring you success. Don’t wait for flowers to arrive. God gave you seed; start growing some of your own. ‘Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else’ (Galatians 6:4 NLT). And besides, when you’re less needy you’ll become more attractive to others. 4) Get over yourself—everyone else has. A minister said he was praying one day, ‘Father, why does the devil keep reminding me of my past?’ God replied, ‘Because he’s running low on material!’ Repent, and then move on. God says He will ‘…not remember your sins’ (Isaiah 43:25 NKJV). There’s only one good reason to bring up the past, and that’s to learn from it and grow wiser. Bible In A Year: Ezek 22-23, Matt 22:23-33, Ps 142, Pro 19:21-23. Courtesy: Grace So Amazing Foundation 💝🎀 *To partner with us, kindly refer to page 9 of the hard copy edition or simply send us a WhatsApp message/call on +2348128000068.*🎀💝🌹🌷. MD.ii. [30/08, 9:40 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA* MONDAY, 31ST AUGUST, 2026. *DANCING AT THE GATES OF HELL* *TEXT:* MICAH 2:7-13. 7 O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the LORD straitened? are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly? 8 Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye pull off the robe with the garment from them that pass by securely as men averse from war. 9 The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their children have ye taken away my glory for ever. 10 Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction. 11 If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people. 12 I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men. 13 The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them. *Timeless Truth:*_"Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came"_ (Amos 6:1). *INTRODUCTION* It is dangerous to live carelessly at the edge of spiritual destruction, presuming that God's patience means that His judgment will never come. The people of Israel had become comfortable with sin, oppression and false teachings, yet they still wanted to hear pleasant messages. They were, in effect, dancing at the gates of hell—enjoying temporary pleasures while moving dangerously close to divine judgment. The audience of Micah foreshadows this modern age or last days when the *"people will no longer be able to endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears"* (2 Timothy 4:3). If Israel was severely punished for preferring fables to the sound Word of truth, the people of this age will have a more *"sorer punishments"* in eternal hell fire. Micah's message calls us to examine our hearts, remember the consequences of persistent rebellion and hasten to leave every path that leads to destruction. *1. Heart-Probing Questions* a. There were some probing questions in the text. *"O house of Jacob, is the Spirit of the LORD straitened [limited]?"* The people complained that God's power or patience was too short or that His Spirit should only give good messages instead of warning them about judgment. In the last days too, the same attitude and preference will increasingly continue. *"They shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables"* (2 Timothy 4:4). The sound doctrine of the Word of God will be a heavy burden and unbearable to the religious lovers of pleasure. Many preachers will unfaithfully dilute their messages to suit their audience and make them happy though they will eventually, lead them to destruction and hell. They also asked, *"Are these his doings?"*. The people questioned if God was really behind the hard times or the warnings of punishment they were hearing. To them, God is too good to inflict such a heavy judgment. It was not God that was behind their hard times, but their evils. When you do evil, evil will follow and when you do good, good will follow. b. God answered their questions. *"Do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?"* God answers that His messages are always good and helpful for people who actually, live right and obey Him. Even when the Word of God is a warning judgment, it is equally to do good to those who are rebellious and disobedient for it will turn them from the path of destruction. All the messages of God are good and are intended to do good in the lives of the obedient. Hearing His Word is never a liability if there is love for the truth. We must stop blaming God, the Church, our circumstances or other people for the consequences of our disobedience. The probing question is directed at our hearts: Are we walking uprightly before God? A person who rejects God's correction, but expects His blessings is dangerously deceiving himself. *Question* When God's Word confronts your lifestyle, do you humbly submit to it or resist its correction? *2. History of Protracted Quarrel* a. The basis of God's quarrel with Israel had always been because of their sins and violence against moral laws. God always gives reasons to justify His judgments so that it is clear to all that people's disobedience is not a matter of ignorance, but a deliberate choice and exercise of their will. Some of their evils were listed. The rebellion of God's people was not a momentary mistake; it had become a prolonged quarrel against God's righteous ways. They rose against others as enemies, robbed the peaceful, oppressed women and drove children away from their inheritance. *"The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant places"*. Furthermore, the children were messed up, demoralized and denied basic moral training and discipline that would make them radiate the glory of God. *"From their children have ye taken away my glory for ever"*. Robbery and insecurity of lives and property became a booming trade in the land. *"Ye pull off the robe with the garment from them that pass by securely"*. Worse still, they preferred false prophets who specialize in prophesying ephemeral blessings including wine and strong drink. b. Israel had a long history of persistent rebellion despite warnings from the prophets. Sin often begins as a private compromise, but can grow into a lifestyle that damages others. Persistent rebellion against God results in injustice, selfishness and spiritual blindness. Those dancing at the gates of hell may laugh at warnings and celebrate false assurances, but judgment does not disappear because people refuse to hear about it. *Question* Is there any sinful habit you have allowed to continue for so long that it is now affecting other people? *3. Hasten to Permanently Quit* God commanded His people to arise and depart because their sinful condition had made their present position spiritually unsafe. Lot was told by the angel to hasten *"while he lingers"* though the fire of hell was almost dropping like rain. He was warned *"escape for thy life"* (Genesis 19:16,17). If he had delayed further, the fire of God would have caught him with all his family members. When God pronounces His judgments on wickedness, the wisest thing to do is to speedily take steps and quit whatever is displeasing to God. *“This is not your rest.”* Though the judgment of God was catching up with them, they still believed their mind and the messages of compromising prophets who promised them *"peace, peace, when there is no peace"*. They were relaxed, unresponsive and continued their lives of pleasure as if the prophet was just wasting his time. Any promised rest or enjoyment in the midst of sin is fake and deceptive. *"Arise ye, and depart, for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction"*. God always remembers mercy in His wrath. He asked them to seek for exile in other countries because the judgment on the land as a result of their evil was irreversible. God's solution against His judgments is always departure from sin and objects of divine rebukes and displeasure. *"Depart ye, depart ye"*. b. As characterictic of God, the message ended with hope and restoration for the repentant remnants. God promised to gather His remnant and lead them like a shepherd. After they had suffered in the land of the captivity, "the Breaker" (The Messiah) went before them, opening the way for deliverance and led them back to their land. This will also be repeated in the last days when Messiah will come back to deliver Israel from the hand of their enemies, especially the Antichrist. God does not call us to abandon sin without providing the grace and power to escape it. Christ is our Deliverer, able to break the chains of bondage and lead us into true freedom. Do not dance near the gates of hell. Arise, repent and permanently quit every sinful path. Run toward Christ, who alone leads His people safely through the way of life. *Question* What must you urgently and permanently leave behind in order to walk freely with Christ? *Prayer Points* 1.Lord, search my heart and reveal every area where I have resisted Your Word and correction🙏. 2.Father, deliver me from every prolonged habit of sin that is destroying my fellowship with You and hurting others🙏. 3.Lord, give me more love for the truth and give me hatred for all forms of deceptions🙏 4.Lord Jesus, my Deliverer and Breaker, go before me, break every chain of bondage and lead me into a life of holiness and victory👆. *HYMN:* Have you counted the cost? *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* ESTHER 6-10. [30/08, 9:40 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) MONDAY 31ST AUGUST, 2026``` *CAGED IN COMFORT* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️⚠️‼️🛑🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:MICAH 2:7-13```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction" (MICAH 2:10).*_ *In 2019, a massive earthquake struck Indonesia, displacing thousands of people. Entire communities were forced to abandon their homes, not because they wanted to, but because the ground beneath them had become unstable. For many, staying behind meant certain destruction. The tragedy was not just in the collapse of buildings but also in the reluctance of some to leave despite clear warnings.* *Micah's message to Israel carried a similar urgency. In Micah 2:10, the prophet declares, "Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction." The people of Israel had settled into spiritual complacency, believing that their land and prosperity were secure. Yet, their corruption had made their very dwelling place dangerous. God's warning was clear: comfort without righteousness leads to ruin.* *The Israelites had defiled the land with injustice and idolatry. They exploited the poor, perverted justice, and silenced the voices of truth. Yet, they refused to believe that judgment was coming. Their sense of security was false. Micah's call was not just about physical exile but also about a spiritual awakening.* *This is a message for our generation. Many cling to lifestyles, habits, or environments that have become spiritually toxic. Some remain in relationships, careers, or ideologies that corrupt their faith. The call to "arise and depart" is not always about physical relocation but about spiritual repositioning. God often calls His people to leave behind what is no longer safe for their souls. When we refuse, destruction follows. Israel's refusal to heed this warning led a life devoid of His presence and peace.* *Are there habits, relationships, associations, or mind-sets that you need to leave behind? Spiritual stagnation is as dangerous as physical complacency. When a place, practice, or pursuit no longer aligns with God's will, staying becomes destructive. The believer's true rest is not in earthly security but in God Himself. When He calls us to move, it is always for our preservation. Do not let comfort keep you in a place that has become unfit for your soul.* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*No amount of wealth can buy enduring rest for it only abides in Christ.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *ESTHER 6-10*📜📜 Caged In Comfort https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 190: "CALLED UNTO HOLINESS"; GHS 179: HIGHER GROUND; GHS 189: TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY; AND GHS 253: MY PORTION FOR EVER* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna31stAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [30/08, 9:40 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```MONDAY 31ST AUGUST, 2026``` *POWER OF FAITH CONFESSION - 1* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🗣️🙏🏽🙌🏽 📜📜```TEXT:LUKE 7:1-10```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed" (LUKE 7:7).*_ *Faith confession is when your spoken word agrees with the written word of God - the Bible. It is saying what God says about your situation. God has said wonderful, life-changing things about His children. When we agree with His word and speak the same thing, the resultant effect is that it brings positive changes in our circumstances - academics, health, career, spiritual life, and standard of living.* *Saying what God says about your life brings you to heights you can never dream you could reach. Therefore, speak victory and not defeat. Meditate on the unfailing promises of God. "A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth" (Proverbs 12:14a). Be positive with your words. Negative words attract negative things to you.* *Your words will either bring pain or pleasure. Your confession will produce life or death. Your words shape your life. Therefore, choose your words carefully before you utter them. God spoke, "and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast" (Psalm 33:9). In like manner, you possess what you confess because you are created after the image of God.* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*Speak victory and not defeat.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Be positive in your confession.*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Lord, help my decision to always speak positive words.*_ Power Of Faith Confession - 1 https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday31stAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [30/08, 9:40 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```MONDAY 31ST AUGUST, 2026``` *THE BLAME GAME* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️👥👉🏼👈🏼❌🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```GENESIS 3:9-15```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat" (Genesis 3:12).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 God put our first parents in the Garden of Eden to care for it and enjoy all the good things in it. But the devil came and deceived the woman to disobey God, and eventually Adam too disobeyed. When God came down calling for man and asking why they had disobeyed His instruction, the blame game started. Each of them started shifting blame. God who is patient and longsuffering asked the woman to explain what happened, she too pushed the blame to the serpent. If they had simply acknowledged their sinfulness and begged for forgiveness, the human race will not be in the mess we are in today. Their disobedience corrupted and made us dirty before God. We all inherited the nature of sin and wickedness. This is the reason many children often pass off their wrongdoings to others. Some children, even when caught red-handed, will still blame someone else for their disobedience. *God wants us to be humble enough to accept responsibility for our wrongdoings. Do not shift the blame, repent and ask God to have mercy on you.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*Lord, give me the courage to always own up to my disobedience and also repent.*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *1 Samuel 15:10-21* The Blame Game https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk31stAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]. 2. Morning Prayer for today. MP.i. Morning Prayer For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: ⏤ Philippians 3:20 The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees. ⏤ E.M. Bounds O God, most merciful—bless us this morning. Lay Your hand upon us with a Father’s blessing. May the grace of the Lord Jesus be upon us and in us all day long. Let Your word dwell in our hearts richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing us. May it be so deeply rooted in us that it keeps us from sin. May the power of Your Spirit rest upon us throughout this day, cleansing and purifying our thoughts, feelings, and all our inner life, and compelling us to walk in holiness in all we say and do. Please guide us today, O God, and keep us in all our experiences. Guard us from carelessness. Let us not drift away from the holy truths we have been taught, nor from Jesus Christ our Savior. Let us not become entangled in the affairs of this world in a way that causes us to lose any of the sanctity of our lives. Though we are in the world, let us not be of it. Help us to maintain a godly life amid all that is ungodly. May our citizenship always be visibly in Heaven, even though we dwell on this earth. May we be true pilgrims, looking for a city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Let us not love this world as if we were going to stay in it forever. Grant a personal blessing to each one in our family. Our needs are different. Tenderly care for those of us who are weak. Shelter any of us who will be exposed to temptation today, and let us not fall. If any unforeseen trouble or sorrow lies in our path, prepare us for it, that we may not be caught off guard and fall into sin. May we each carry out into the world a power of love and grace that will bless everyone we meet. We ask all this for Jesus’ sake. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/57/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

PROVERB OF THE DAY (PROVERBS 31) 1. The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him: 2. What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows? 3. Do not give your strength to women, Nor your ways to that which destroys kings. 4. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink; 5. Lest they drink and forget the law, And pervert the justice of all the afflicted. 6. Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those who are bitter of heart. 7. Let him drink and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more. 8. Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. 9. Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy. 10. Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. 11. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain. 12. She does him good and not evil All the days of her life. 13. She seeks wool and flax, And willingly works with her hands. 14. She is like the merchant ships, She brings her food from afar. 15. She also rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household, And a portion for her maidservants. 16. She considers a field and buys it; From her profits she plants a vineyard. 17. She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms. 18. She perceives that her merchandise is good, And her lamp does not go out by night. 19. She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hand holds the spindle. 20. She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. 21. She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet. 22. She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple. 23. Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land. 24. She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies sashes for the merchants. 25. Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come. 26. She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness. 27. She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. 28. Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her: 29“Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all.” 30. Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. 31. Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates.