Daily Devotional.
Wholly sanctioned; Body, Soul, and Spitlrit.

The very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23

The sanctification set forth in the Sacred Scriptures has to do with the entire being—spirit, soul, and body. Here is the true idea of entire consecration. Paul prays that the church at Thessalonica may enjoy this great blessing. “The very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23....

True sanctification is an entire conformity to the will of God. Rebellious thoughts and feelings are overcome, and the voice of Jesus awakens a new life, which pervades the entire being. Those who are truly sanctified will not set up their own opinion as a standard of right and wrong. They are not bigoted or self-righteous; but they are jealous of self, ever fearing, lest a promise being left them, they should come short of complying with the conditions upon which the promises are based....

Bible sanctification does not consist in strong emotion. Here is where many are led into error. They make feelings their criterion. When they feel elated or happy, they claim that they are sanctified. Happy feelings or the absence of joy is no evidence that a person is or is not sanctified. There is no such thing as instantaneous sanctification. True sanctification is a daily work, continuing as long as life shall last. Those who are battling with daily temptations, over-coming their own sinful tendencies, and seeking for holiness of heart and life make no boastful claims of holiness. They are hungering and thirsting for righteousness. Sin appears to them exceedingly sinful.

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Genuine sanctification ... is nothing less than a daily dying to self and daily conformity to the will of God. [249]

TITLE: PURITY IS OUR REQUIREMENT — OUR SANCTIFICATION WILL OF GOD — BECOMING 144000 — Rev 14:1-5 — BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH, NOT BY EFFORTS

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INTRODUCTION:

Church — Purity is our requirement. Our sanctification is will of God.

1 Thess 4:3 — For this is will of God, your sanctification
1 Thess 4:7 — For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness
Heb 12:14 — Pursue holiness, without which no one will see Lord
1 Pet 1:15-16 — Be holy, for I am holy
Matt 5:8 — Blessed are pure in heart, for they shall see God

Example God gives is 144000 — Rev 14:1-5 — People God needs us to become.

MAIN TEXT: Rev 14:1, 3-5

Rev 14:1 — Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 having His Father's Name written on their foreheads
Rev 14:3 — Redeemed from earth
Rev 14:4 — These are ones who were not defiled... for they are virgins. These are ones who follow Lamb wherever He goes. Redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to Lamb
Rev 14:5 — And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before throne of God

This is standard of final salvation — Pure & blameless.

POINT 1: HOW DO YOU HAVE THIS? NOT BY YOUR EFFORTS BUT BY GOD'S REDEMPTIVE GRACE OF JESUS' BLOOD AND OUR FAITHFULNESS

Eph 2:8-9 — For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is gift of God, not of works
Titus 2:11-12 — Grace of God... teaches us to deny ungodliness
Eph 1:7 — In Him we have redemption through His blood according to riches of His grace
Rev 17:14 — Those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful
Rev 2:10 — Be faithful until death and I will give you crown of life
Rev 14:4 — These are ones who follow Lamb wherever He goes — Faithfulness

Not effort = Rom 9:16 — Not of him who wills, nor runs, but of God who shows mercy — But grace + your faithfulness to follow.

POINT 2: WE ARE IN FLESH THOUGH SAVED, LED BY SPIRIT — BATTLE BETWEEN FLESH & SPIRIT EVERYDAY

Rom 8:9 — You are not in flesh but in Spirit, if indeed Spirit of God dwells in you
Gal 5:16-17 — Walk in Spirit, and you shall not fulfill lust of flesh. For flesh lusts against Spirit, and Spirit against flesh; and these are contrary to one another
Rom 7:21-23 — Battle in members
Gal 5:24 — Those who are Christ's have crucified flesh with its passions

You are saved, spirit-led, but battle is manifested everyday in our lives.

POINT 3: YOU MUST KEEP A CLEAN RACE UPTO END — STARTED BY GRACE AND FAITH UNTIL FINAL SALVATION AS PURE & BLAMELESS LIKE 144000

Heb 12:1 — Let us run with endurance race set before us
2 Tim 4:7 — I have finished race, I have kept faith
1 Cor 9:24-27 — Run to obtain, bring body into subjection
Phil 1:6 — He who has begun good work will complete it
Eph 2:10 — Created for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them
Matt 24:13 — He who endures to end shall be saved
Rev 14:5 — Without fault before throne — Eph 1:4 — Holy and without blame — Jude 1:24 — Present you faultless

You started by grace and faith — Gal 3:3 — Having begun in Spirit — You must keep clean race upto end.

POINT 4: BRETHREN THIS ISN'T EASY BUT BY PRAYER AND WORD BECOME IT, BECOME PURE

1 Tim 4:5 — For it is sanctified by word of God and prayer
John 17:17 — Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth
Ps 119:9 — How shall young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word
Ps 119:11 — Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You
Eph 5:26 — Washing of water by word
John 15:3 — You are already clean because of word

Word + Prayer = Purity. That is formula for 144000 formation.

POINT 5: IN THIS LAST AGE WITH THAT BATTLE — TRUE REPENTANCE & BLOOD WASH IS CRUCIAL

True repentance = turning away from sin or evil you did & don't do it again.

Acts 3:19 — Repent therefore and be converted, that sins may be blotted out
2 Cor 7:10 — Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation
Prov 28:13 — He who confesses and forsakes will have mercy
Luke 3:8 — Bear fruits worthy of repentance
1 John 3:9 — Whoever born of God does not practice sin

Blood washes, purifies you:

Rev 1:5 — Washed us from sins in His own blood
1 John 1:7 — Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin
Heb 9:14 — Blood of Christ cleanse your conscience
Isa 1:18 — Though sins like scarlet, shall be as white as snow

POINT 6: THINGS THAT MUST BE AVOIDED FOR PURITY EARNING — SIN

Gal 5:19-21 — Works of flesh are evident: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries
1 Cor 6:9-10 — Neither fornicators, adulterers, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners will inherit kingdom
Eph 4:31 — Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking be put away
James 3:16 — Where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there
Col 3:8 — Put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language
Rev 21:8 — Unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have part in lake

You listed: envy, jealous, gossiping, quarreling, drunkenness, adultery, corruption, unbelief, compromise of truth — turning away from truth to follow deception, lies — etc — Must be avoided.

2 Cor 7:1 — Cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness
James 1:27 — Keep oneself unspotted from world

POINT 7: NOT GOING TO RUN THIS CLEAN RACE TO FINAL SALVATION BY THY EFFORTS BUT BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH

Zech 4:6 — Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit
Phil 2:13 — It is God who works in you both to will and to do
Titus 3:5 — Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us
2 Tim 1:9 — Saved us... not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace

Your part is faithfulness — His part is grace to keep you.

POINT 8: YOU NEED TO PRAY THE WORD THAT CLEANSES US — DAVID SAYS HIS WORD KEEPS ME BLAMELESS AND IN WALK OF RIGHT PATH

Ps 119:9, 11 — Cleanses way, keeps from sin
Ps 18:23 — I was also blameless before Him, and I kept myself from my iniquity
Ps 119:133 — Direct my steps by Your word
Ps 37:31 — Law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide
Josh 1:8 — Meditate in word day and night... then you will make your way prosperous

Pray the word — Jer 23:29 — Is not My word like fire? — It burns impurity.

POINT 9: ENSURE YOU BELIEVE IN THY PRAYING — PRAYER IN FAITH = WORKS, NOT FAITH ALONE — BELIEVE YOU HAVE RECEIVED — SPEAK THAT YOU BELIEVE

2 Cor 4:13 — We having same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak
Mark 11:23-24 — Whoever says... and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore... whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them
James 2:17, 22, 26 — Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead... Faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect
John 6:29 — This is work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent — John 6:28-29 — What shall we do, that we may work works of God?

Believing = works of faith. When you pray minus faith, and don't see it, this might fail your prayer.

James 1:6-7 — Let him ask in faith, with no doubting... let not that man suppose he will receive anything from Lord
Heb 11:6 — Without faith it is impossible to please Him
Matt 21:22 — Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive

So in this, your prayer is sealed with faith & works.

Isa 43:26 — Put Me in remembrance; state your case
Job 22:28 — You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you
Rom 10:10 — With heart one believes unto righteousness, and with mouth confession is made unto salvation

CONCLUSION & ALTAR CALL PRAYER:

Therefore — Believe = works of faith — John 6:29 — And you will receive, it will be done unto you — Mark 11:24

Today we choose to be pure & blameless like 144000 — Not by efforts but by grace through faithfulness — Turning, washed by Blood, avoiding sin, by word & prayer, believing we have received purity.

1 John 3:3 — Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure

Let us pray Rev 14:1-5 prayer we made — And believe we have received it —

Amen.

SERMON: WAKE UP AND CHOOSE HOLINESS — OR MISS ETERNAL LIFE

Text: Hebrews 12:14 — "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord."
Text 2: Matthew 7:21 — "Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father."

INTRODUCTION:

Church, we love to say "I am saved, I believe." True, we are saved by grace through faith Ephesians 2:8.

But Bible says believe without obedience, without living pure life, earns no eternal life.

James 2:17,26 — Faith without works is dead. Dead faith cannot save.

This is a warning to church that has got GREEN 7 vision on the wall — calling for spiritual revival, repentance, awakening, rebirth. Get prepared now or you will miss eternal life and be cast in eternal fire. For eternal life God gives it to righteous only.

PART 1: BELIEVING ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH — OBEDIENCE IS PROOF

Romans 6:16 — "Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?"

You say you believe, but you still obey jealousy, gossiping, quarreling, fornication, lies — you are still slave to sin leading to death.

Luke 6:46 — Jesus says "Why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and do not do things which I say?"

1 John 2:3-4 — "Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says I know Him and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and truth is not in him."

Titus 1:16 — They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him.

Many in church are saved but living flesh mindset — that is compromise of truth.

PART 2: WHAT IS COMPROMISE OF TRUTH? — THE FLESH MINDSET

You must wake up and choose holiness above all else — above prosperity gospel, above money, above fame.

Compromise = Choosing prosperity gospel over holiness. Choosing flesh mindset.

Galatians 5:19-21 — "Now works of flesh are evident: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries... those who practice such things will not inherit kingdom of God."

Look: Jealous, gossiping, quarreling = will NOT inherit kingdom. That is what you wrote.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 — Neither fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners will inherit kingdom.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 — In last days men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient — having form of godliness but denying its power.

Church, if you still live like this, your salvation is not finished.

PART 3: THOUGH YOU ARE SAVED, YOU MUST RUN A CLEAN RACE TO END

Philippians 2:12 — "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."

Hebrews 12:1 — "Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, laying aside every weight and sin which so easily ensnares us."

2 Timothy 4:7-8 — Paul says "I have fought good fight, I have finished race, I have kept faith. Finally there is laid up for me crown of righteousness, which Lord, righteous Judge, will give to me."

Not starting race — finishing clean race.

1 Corinthians 9:27 — Paul says "I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified."

Matthew 24:13 — "He who endures to end shall be saved."

Your final salvation is at end, not at beginning. 1 Peter 1:9 — receiving end of your faith — salvation of your souls.

PART 4: GREEN 7 VISION ON WALL — CALL FOR REVIVAL, REPENTANCE, AWAKENING, REBIRTH

You asked what is Green 7 on wall. This is what God showed me, Reagan, His servant witness.

Proverbs 29:18 — Where there is no vision, people perish.

GREEN = Mercy, life, green pastures Psalm 23:2, revival, Holy Spirit life. Psalm 52:8 — I am like green olive tree in house of God.

7 = Completion, perfection Genesis 2:2-3, fullness of God.

GREEN 7 ON WALL = Final fullness of God's mercy calling for:

Spiritual Revival: Habakkuk 3:2 — "O LORD, revive Your work in midst of years." Psalm 85:6 — Will You not revive us again?
Repentance: Acts 3:19 — "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come."
Awakening: Ephesians 5:14 — "Awake, you who sleep, arise from dead, and Christ will give you light." Romans 13:11 — Now it is high time to awake out of sleep.
Rebirth: John 3:3,5 — Unless one is born again, born of water and Spirit, cannot enter kingdom.

This vision was given so you don't miss eternal life. Wall means it is written before you — warning is posted.

PART 5: ETERNAL LIFE GOD GIVES TO RIGHTEOUS ONLY — OR ETERNAL FIRE

Revelation 21:8 — "But cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is second death."

Matthew 25:46 — These will go away into everlasting punishment, but righteous into eternal life.

Romans 2:6-8 — God "will render to each one according to his deeds: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey truth, but obey unrighteousness — indignation and wrath."

Psalm 11:7 — For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness.

God is righteous Judge 2 Timothy 4:8 — He cannot give eternal life to unrighteous. Must be righteous — washed by blood AND living pure Revelation 7:14, 14:4-5.

144,000 are seen as pure before God Rev14:4-5 — blameless. That is righteousness.

CONCLUSION: CHOOSE NOW

Joshua 24:15 — Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.

Deuteronomy 30:19 — I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life.

Saved, church — wake up! Stop prosperity gospel lie that says "once saved always saved while living in sin." Stop flesh mindset — jealous, gossiping, quarreling.

Green 7 is last mercy. Next is RED 7 — blood, judgment complete. And skeleton vision — dead bones without Spirit.

Pray:

In Name of JESUS THE LAMB OF GOD, I repent! I turn from compromise of truth! I choose holiness above all else Heb 12:14! I will run clean race to end Heb 12:1! I receive Green 7 revival, awakening, rebirth John 3:3! Make me righteous by blood and obedience Rom 6:16, pure, blameless Rev14:5, so I miss not eternal life! Amen!

STRIVE TO ENTER THE GRACE OF 144,000 Rev14:1-5 — THIS LAST AGE.

Christians, pray to God to have a way for you into this grace. Because this grace is protective to your faith — to remain unshakable against sin, Satan, and this evil world 1 John 5:18, Rev 14:4.

Why? Many say believe in Christ and be saved, have eternal life. True — Ephesians 2:8 — saved by grace through faith.

But those shown in final salvation are seen as PURE before God.

144,000 Rev14, Great Multitude Rev7:9 — What is difference in them?

Their secret is this: Faithfulness = Obedience to Word to be pure = 144,000 Rev14:4-5 — blameless, not defiled, no lie.

Repentance (turn away from sin you did) = Washed by blood = Great Multitude Rev7:14 — "Washed their robes and made them white in blood of Lamb."

Dead in Christ who will be resurrected in first resurrection Rev20:6 = Repented & got washed in blood = Died in purity.

Christ says: Unless you repent you will die in your sins John 8:24, Luke 13:3.

Believe without obedience, living pure life, earns no eternal life.

Romans 6:16 — To whom you obey, you are his servant — whether sin unto death, or obedience unto righteousness.

Hebrews 12:14 — Without holiness no man shall see Lord.

Revelation 14:4-5 — They follow Lamb wherever He goes, pure, blameless.

Saved, Church, WAKE UP and choose holiness above all else!

Above prosperity gospel, above flesh mindset — jealous, gossiping, quarreling, fornication, lying — that is compromise of truth Galatians 5:19-21, 1 Cor 6:9-10.

Though you are saved, you must run a clean race up to end of your final salvation 2 Timothy 4:7-8, Hebrews 12:1, Philippians 2:12 — work out your salvation with fear.

This is a warning to church that has got GREEN 7 vision — Green is mercy, life, last chance for revival Psalm 23:2, 7 is completion. God is giving last age full mercy to repent and be pure.

Choose holiness now — so you be counted among 144,000 sealed blameless firstfruits alive with Lamb on Mt Zion Rev14:1, not just saved but PURE.

In Name of JESUS THE LAMB OF GOD — Amen!

Brenda Walsh Ministries
Worshiping Idols.

God does not want His children worshiping idols. In fact, He feels so strongly about it that it is one of the Ten Commandments that He wrote with His own finger on a tablet of stone. It is recorded in Exodus 20:3-6: “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.” And in Leviticus 26:1, it says, “You shall not make idols for yourselves or erect an image or pillar, and you shall not set up a figured stone in your land to bow down to it, for I am the Lord your God.” You see, God wants you to love and obey Him, and worship ‘only’ Him. He doesn’t want you to worship anything or anyone else. Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” Some Christians worship idols without even realizing it, because anything that you love more than Jesus Christ . . . is an idol. It could be your fancy new car, a prestigious job, wealth, beauty, power, or countless other things, even people. If you love material things or your relationships more than you love God, then you are worshiping idols. Whatever is standing in the way of your friendship with Jesus, move it or get rid of it! Nothing is more important than your relationship with God! Show Him how much you love Him by praising and worshiping Him - and only Him! In John 4:23, we’re told, “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.” Don’t waste your time worshiping material things or people . . . worship the King of the Universe . . . and only the King! Text: Romans 1:25, Psalm 115:4-8, Psalm 31:6, Colossians 3:5

Exodus 20: 5
You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me.

LORD please REVEAL YOURSELF TO US AND TO OUR CHILDREN AND CAUSE THEM TO ENCOUNTER AND REMAIN IN YOUR PRESENCE DAILY. IN The Mighty Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth we pray Amen 🏿.

Exodus 20:5
You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me.

HEAVENLY FATHER, PLEASE HELP US TO REMAIN FAITHFUL TO YOU IN WORSHIP. PLEASE CONTINUE TO DRAW US CLOSER AND PLEASE CONTINUE TO REVEAL YOURSELF TO HS DAILY AND WE PRAY TO ENCOUNTER YOU DAILY AND TO KNOW YOU OURSELVES. IN JESUS CHRIST MIGHTY NAME WE PRAY 🏿 AMEN.

FRIDAY 28TH AUGUST 2026

IGNITE YOUTH DEVOTIONAL

Topic: Your Friends Are Shaping You

Bible Reference

Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good character.
1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV)

A Short Story

Rebecca had always been a responsible young woman. She took her studies seriously, attended church, respected her parents, and had clear plans for her future. However, things began to change after she became close to a group of friends who lived very differently from her. At first, she only enjoyed spending time with them because they were funny, confident, and made her feel accepted.

Gradually, their influence began to affect her choices. They often skipped classes, spent money carelessly, mocked people who took their faith seriously, and encouraged one another to get involved in relationships they knew were wrong. Rebecca did not immediately join them in everything they did. She often told herself that she was different and that she could control herself.

After some months, however, she noticed that she was beginning to speak like them, think like them, and make some of the same choices. She started missing classes, became less interested in church, and began hiding things from her family. The things that once made her uncomfortable no longer seemed so serious.

One evening, her older sister looked at her and said, You have changed.

Rebecca became defensive and said that she had not changed. Her sister reminded her of how focused and disciplined she used to be. She then asked Rebecca to think honestly about the people she spent most of her time with.

That question made Rebecca uncomfortable because she already knew the answer. Her friends had not forced her to change, but their influence had slowly changed what she considered normal.

Rebecca decided to take a step back from the group. It was not easy because she was afraid they would accuse her of thinking she was better than them. However, she knew that protecting her future was more important than keeping every friendship.

Over time, Rebecca rebuilt her relationship with God, became serious with her studies again, and surrounded herself with people who encouraged her to grow. She learned that friendship is not just about having people around you. The people closest to you can influence the person you eventually become.

Today's Message

The people you spend time with are influencing you, whether you realise it or not. Their words, habits, attitudes, priorities, and decisions can slowly affect your own life.

This is why friendship is not a small matter. The friends you choose can influence your education, career, relationships, finances, character, and spiritual life. A good friend can encourage you to become better, while the wrong friendship can slowly pull you away from the person you want to become.

Many young people make the mistake of choosing friends only because they are fun to be around. Fun is good, but friendship needs more than entertainment. You need people who will tell you the truth when you are making a wrong decision. You need friends who will encourage you when you are discouraged, challenge you when you are becoming careless, and remind you of your values when you are under pressure.

A friend who always encourages you to hide things from your parents, cheat in school, waste money, lie, drink excessively, sleep around, or neglect your responsibilities may be enjoyable to be around, but that friendship is not helping you become better.

First Corinthians 15:33 gives a clear warning: bad company corrupts good character. Notice that the Bible does not say bad company immediately destroys good character. Corruption can happen gradually. A person can enter a wrong environment with strong convictions and slowly become comfortable with things he once rejected.

That is why you must pay attention to what your friendships are doing to you.

Ask yourself some honest questions. Am I becoming a better person because of my closest friends? Do they respect my faith? Do they encourage me to work hard? Can I tell them the truth? Do they celebrate my progress without becoming jealous? Do they correct me when I am wrong? Do I feel pressured to compromise my values when I am with them?

You do not need to hate people who make bad choices. You can be kind to everyone without allowing everyone to become a close friend. There is a difference between being friendly with someone and giving that person strong influence over your life.

Jesus loved many people, but He also chose a smaller group to walk closely with Him. Your circle matters.

You should also remember that friendship works both ways. It is not enough to complain that your friends are influencing you. Ask yourself what kind of influence you are having on them. Are you encouraging your friends to become better, or are you also pulling them into wrong choices?

A good friendship should help both people grow.

As you grow older, your friendships may also change. Some people who were close to you in school may not remain close when you enter university, work, business, marriage, or ministry. This is normal. Do not hold on to a friendship simply because you have known someone for many years.

Some relationships belong to a season. Some belong to a lifetime. Wisdom is knowing the difference.

Choose friends who respect your future. Choose people who value honesty, discipline, hard work, faith, and good character. Choose people who can celebrate your success without trying to bring you down. Choose friends who will pray with you, advise you, and tell you the truth.

Your future is too important to place in the hands of people who do not care where their own lives are going.

What To Do Today

1. Think about the five people you spend the most time with and honestly consider the influence they have on your life.

2. Identify one friendship that is helping you grow and make an effort to strengthen it.

3. If a friendship is constantly pushing you toward wrong choices, begin creating healthy boundaries.

4. Ask yourself what kind of friend you are. Make a decision to become a better influence on the people around you.

Prayer

Lord, give me wisdom to choose my friends carefully. Bring good people into my life who will encourage me to grow in faith, character, wisdom, and purpose. Help me to recognise relationships that are taking me away from Your will. Give me courage to establish healthy boundaries where necessary and help me to become a good friend to others. May the people around me help me become the person You want me to be. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Daily Challenge

Today, send a message to one good friend and encourage that person to keep growing. Then ask yourself: Am I becoming better because of the people closest to me?

Remember: The people you walk with today can influence where you arrive tomorrow.

Anthony Ijere
Christian Author and Revivalist

SELF-PITY IS ALSO A STRONGHOLD

There is a world people can build inside themselves. A world called self-pity.

Self-pity says: "Nobody understands me." "Nobody sees what I have suffered." "Nobody appreciates me." "Look at everything that has happened to me."

Now, there are real difficulties in life. People go through painful experiences. People have been hurt, but there is a difference between acknowledging pain and building your identity around pain.

Self-pity keeps bringing you back to yourself.

Everything becomes about your disappointment. Everything becomes about what people did to you. Everything becomes about what you did not receive. And slowly, you become trapped in a world where you are always the victim.

Look at Elijah. After Jezebel threatened him, he ran away and sat under a tree. When God asked him what he was doing there, Elijah answered by focusing on himself.

He said he had been very jealous for The Lord,.... but he was the only one left (1 Kings 19:10)

But Elijah was not seeing the situation correctly. God still had people, and He was still working.

The problem was not that Elijah had experienced difficulty. The problem was that his pain had become his entire perspective.

Self-pity can make you forget God's bigger picture. It can make you abandon your assignment.

You must burn down that world — not because your pain is fake, but because your pain cannot become your master.

You are not only what happened to you. You are not only what people did to you. You are a child of God with a purpose.

Do not allow self-pity to become a place you live. God has more for you than constantly looking at yourself and your wounds. Remember this Scripture and let The Word spoken there be your comfort:

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith The LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Shalom!

Choose Gratitude (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

What are you thankful for today?

Sometimes that question is difficult.

Not because we have nothing to be grateful for, but because problems can become louder than our blessings.

We notice what we don't have.

The opportunity we missed.

The prayer that hasn't been answered.

The relationship that ended.

The financial pressure.

The disappointment.

The plans that didn't work out.

And slowly, we can forget everything God has already done.

The Bible says:

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Notice that Scripture doesn't say:

“Give thanks only when everything is going well.”

It says:

“In all circumstances.”

That doesn't mean we should pretend that pain isn't painful.

It doesn't mean we have to be happy about suffering.

It means that even in difficult circumstances, we can still find reasons to trust and thank God.

You can be disappointed and grateful.

You can be waiting and grateful.

You can be hurting and still recognize God's goodness.

Gratitude doesn't deny the storm.

It reminds you that God is with you in the storm.

Think about what you already have.

You woke up today.

You have another opportunity to live, learn, grow, and serve.

You have experienced moments of God's protection that you may not even know about.

You have people who care about you.

You have lessons from yesterday.

You have God's promises for today.

And if you belong to Christ, you have something greater than temporary circumstances:

You have salvation.

Jesus gave His life so that we could be reconciled to God.

That gift cannot be measured by money, possessions, success, or circumstances.

When everything else changes, the grace of God remains.

So don't allow your circumstances to determine whether God is good.

God is good even when life is difficult.

Sometimes we become so focused on the next blessing that we fail to appreciate the current one.

We're waiting for the next job.

The next relationship.

The next promotion.

The next opportunity.

The next breakthrough.

And we forget to thank God for what is already in our hands.

Don't let tomorrow steal today's gratitude.

Take a moment today and look around.

What has God already given you?

What prayers has He already answered?

What doors has He already opened?

What difficulties has He already brought you through?

What lessons has He taught you?

What people has He placed in your life?

Write them down.

You may be surprised by how much you have to thank Him for.

And gratitude changes the way we see other people too.

Instead of comparing ourselves with someone who has more, we begin appreciating what we have.

Instead of becoming jealous of another person's success, we can celebrate with them.

Instead of constantly asking, “Why don't I have what they have?”

we can say:

“Thank You, God, for what You have entrusted to me.”

Gratitude doesn't mean we stop pursuing growth.

You can be grateful for where you are while still working toward where God is leading you.

You can desire improvement without despising your current season.

You can have dreams without allowing those dreams to control your happiness.

And most importantly, gratitude should lead us back to God.

Don't just be thankful for the blessing.

Be thankful to the One who blesses.

Today, before you ask God for something new, spend some time thanking Him for what He has already done.

Thank Him for life.

Thank Him for grace.

Thank Him for forgiveness.

Thank Him for family and friends.

Thank Him for opportunities.

Thank Him for lessons.

Thank Him for protection.

Thank Him for Jesus.

Even if today is difficult, find one thing to thank God for.

Then find another.

And another.

Gratitude doesn't change everything around you, but it can change what you see within you.

Don't wait until everything is perfect before you thank God.

Thank Him today.

What are three things you can genuinely thank God for right now?

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