**God does not hear the prayer of one who prays and stays in sin** Seeking God cannot be an empty gesture. It must come with purpose in the heart, with genuine intention — this is how the prophets sought the Lord's face: *"Then I proclaimed a fast there... that we might afflict ourselves before our God"* (Ezra 8:21). Fasting and prayer are a way of emptying the heart of everything that is sin, so that God has room to speak and act. And God knows the heart — He is not impressed by fasting of the mouth, mere outward appearance, while the heart remains distant (Isaiah 58:3-6). There's a striking episode where a Canaanite woman cries out for help, and Jesus responds in a way that shocks at first: *"It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs"* (Matthew 15:26). The bread — the blessings, the miracles, God's answers — belongs to those who are children. To those who have intimacy, who live inside the Father's house. It's not for those who ask from the outside, living in sin, with no commitment to change. The woman, however, insists with faith and humility, and Jesus recognizes her great faith. The lesson remains the same: the position of a child opens a door that the position of a stranger does not. And that's exactly why Scripture teaches: *"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you"* (Matthew 7:7). That promise is real, but it isn't unconditional — it's for those who live as children, sanctified, truly walking with God. Whoever sanctifies themselves, whoever surrenders their life without reservation, is filled with the Holy Spirit, and whatever they ask within God's will, they will receive, because it is written. But this must be said: *"we know that God heareth not sinners"* (John 9:31). It's no use fasting, weeping, crying out, asking for blessing, while deliberately living in sin with no intention of letting go. God cannot be manipulated by tears or by forced fasting. He waits for the heart — broken, sincere, willing to change. If you want to see God answer your prayers, the path begins before the request: it's sanctification. It's living as a child, not as someone who only wants the crumbs from the table while living far from home. *Remember that the Word of God is a statute.* [all]

Good morning to everyone. Grace and Peace be with you. Have you ever noticed that certain songs stick with you for like, forever? For example, the first few notes of the Jaws theme and you are right back in the movie theater. Bonnie Tyler’s ‘Holding Out for a Hero '”, Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It’; just to name a few. I realize that I just dated myself with these music choices, but that is okay. I don’t mind. For me, I have a couple of songs that I will stop in my tracks for … one is The Dance by Garth Brooks; we were married to it and here recently is a song by Josh Wilson, “How Loved You Are”. This song came up in my social media feed with the caption, “I cried when I made this.” The video was of several people in a variety of social statuses. All were standing in front of a mirror, singing the song or lip-syncing. This particular video of this song really puts a light and a heart around the song. I mean, the song itself is wonderful and if you listen to the lyrics- I mean, really listen- you will see yourself in the song … at some point in your life. I went for a walk yesterday with only that song playing, and it created a pace of focus for me, as my time on the walk was brisk. This morning, I woke up to that song in my head. It has been a minute since I woke up to music bouncing around my brain, but I am guessing God really wants me to (hear) the lyrics. As we walk different streets in our lives- storms, victories, daily normalcy- if things do not go ‘perfectly’ we start to pull and pick at the imperfections and look down at ourselves, feel poorly about ourselves, and think that we are not worthy or important enough for God. That our imperfections were more than Jesus could cover with his blood. That we are not … not enough. It is okay to find and see the errors of the day so that you can improve and grow; however, it is not okay to think that Jesus could not possibly care for you. That your errors or sins were too great for His blood to cover. That, my friends, is the enemy attacking you and trying to convince you to turn away and turn to him. Those thoughts are the minions of hell picking away at your armor and attempting to persuade you to change sides. Or, if you don’t change sides, he will use those target areas to steal your peace and joy. He knows if you walk around defeated, your presence in that form will help him steal another soul who you might have helped or been able to help … if you could see yourself from His eyes. We are all sinners. WE all fall short of the glory of God. We all have those days when we are just down and trying to figure it out. That is normal life. It is how we rebound from those bad days that is the true testament to how beautiful and powerful His love for us is. That is what draws more souls to Him. How we deal with difficulties and trying times. How we recover from loss. How we handle sudden changes and shocks. How we handle the enemy’s attempts to steal our peace … that is what shows the world that Jesus is truly our Lord and is in control. This song, How Loved You Are, is a powerful reminder of just that. It demonstrates His love for all his children and reminds us that he died for us; He was willing to leave the 99 for us, that his love for us is unconditional. I encourage you today to look for that video and listen with an open heart and mind. Let the love of Christ fill you today on this beautiful Lord’s Day morning. Be blessed. **For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. – Ephesians 2:10

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Good morning brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😀🌺🌹🎁🎀💝 MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY. MONDAY AUGUST 24, 2O26. "WELCOME THIS CHANGE" ‘…have your sandals on and your walking stick in your hand...’ Exodus 12:11 NCV. THE BOY Scout motto is ‘Be prepared,’ and it’s a good one. In Exodus, God told Israel, ‘…eat…fully dressed as if you were going on a trip…have your sandals on and your walking stick in your hand.’ In other words, ‘Be ready when I tell you to move!’ Maybe there’s an area in your life where God is telling you it’s time to move, but fear is making you hold back. Don’t! Change is just evidence of growth. What worked yesterday can be tomorrow’s recipe for failure. You can’t become who you are destined to be, if you insist on staying as you are. John Patterson said, ‘Only fools and dead men don’t change…Fools won’t, and dead men can’t.’ Change isn’t the enemy. Once you start seeing yourself as a lifelong learner looking for ways to grow and improve, change becomes your friend. Learn from the people you meet, pursue new ideas, strategies, and ways to push yourself out of your comfort zone. Jim Penner says: ‘Our bodies change no matter how hard we exercise…Our homes change as our needs ebb and flow. Our places of employment change as the winds of economic forces blow and new opportunities come…friendships change as family needs and employment pull us away…While many changes become enjoyable new seasons…sometimes they’re painful. But no matter what season of change you’re experiencing…you can find comfort in Malachi 3:6, ‘I am God…I haven’t changed…’ (TM). His mercies endure forever…and it’s an awesome feeling knowing He loves and directs you just like He directed all His people who came before you.’ Bible In A Year: Ezek 1-4, Matt 21:1-11, Ps 119:161-168, Pro 19:3-8. 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. [23/08, 7:59 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA* MONDAY, 24TH AUGUST, 2026. *EXPLOITS THROUGH CONQUERING FAITH* *TEXT:* JOSHUA 11:10-23. 10 And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms. 11 And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them: there was not any left to breathe: and he burnt Hazor with fire. 12 And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them, did Joshua take, and smote them with the edge of the sword, and he utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded. 13 But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn. 14 And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe. 15 As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses. 16 So Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same; 17 Even from the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them. 18 Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. 19 There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle. 20 For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses. 21 And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities. 22 There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained. 23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war. *Timeless Truth:*_"And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions"_ (Hebrews 11:32-33). *INTRODUCTION* William C. Martin (1878) penned down this song relevant to the topic of discussion. "In the warfare that is raging For the truth and for the right, When the conflict, fierce, is raging With the powers of the night, God needs people brave and true: May He then depend on you? Refrain: May the Lord depend on you? Loyalty is but His due; Say, O spirit, brave and true, That He may depend on you". God's covenants to Israel were majorly earthly and therefore, their warfares to possess their promises were physical. For the New Testament, the covenant is mostly spiritual and heavenly and therefore the warfares of the New Testament saints are spiritual. *"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal..."* (2 Corinthians 10:4). Lessons on Old Testament physical warfares are meant to teach the New Testament saints some important features of spiritual warfare which is a major part of successful and victorious Christian living. Joshua and Israel faced formidable kings, fortified cities and numerous enemies, yet God gave them victory. Their exploits demonstrated that conquering faith rested on obedience to God's authority and instructions with perseverance until the battle was completely won. When faith is anchored in God, no enemy can ultimately withstand His purpose for His people. *1. Determined Destruction Accomplished* a. God had concluded from the time of Abraham that the Amorites would be obliterated when their iniquities reached the peak when God could no more tolerate them (Genesis 15:15,16; Exodus 34:11-13). The time now came to start possessing the land as promised, but they must fight for it, for it would not come on a platter of gold. All the promises of God have been paid for by the finished work of Jesus on the cross of Calvary. However, the adversary is always there to contest against those blessings and believers must be ready to contend and possess it as God has given us assurance of victory as legitimate owners of the blessings. Our Lord Himself said, *"the kingdom of God suffereth violence and the violent taketh it by force"* (Matthew 11:12). The heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 were commended for their violence of faith, courage and determination as they fought spiritual warfares. The violence of believers is spiritual and had to do with violence and force of faith. Nobody will be able to possess his possessions here on earth and enter heaven eventually if he does not learn to be brave and violent in spiritual warfare against the flesh, fiends, faithlessness, fear and foolishness. b. Joshua did not leave unfinished what God had commanded him to accomplish. Hazor, the head of the northern kingdoms, was captured and destroyed and its king was put to death. The destruction was decisive because Joshua understood that partial obedience could jeopardize the victory God had promised. Conquering faith is determined faith—it does not retreat because the opposition is strong or the assignment is difficult. What God commands must be pursued with courage and perseverance. Joshua, with courageous faith, moved along the will and Word of God and destroyed those that God had condemned to destruction because they refused to repent. *Question* Are there areas of your life where God expects you to exercise determined faith and completely overcome persistent opposition? *2. Done According to the Divine Authority* a. The destruction of the Canaanites by Joshua in the text took about 7 years though it was recorded as if they all happened in rapidity. God had told them that they would conquer the land *"little by little"*. (Exodus 23:30, Deuteronomy 7:22). You don't expect those formidable enemies to be overcome without giving a strong fight and resistance. Spiritual wars, like the physical wars are at times protracted. In order to overcome the adversary, there is a need to maintain a persistent and untiring warfare disposition and attitude for Satan and his agents will not give up without a strong and persistent resistance. So, fight manfully onward and never give up but persist until you laugh last. God has destined and programmed you for total victory. The "little by little" approach also gave the Canaanites the opportunity to repent and seek for mercy like Rahab and her household and the Gibeonites did. Joshua acted according to the command of the LORD. Those who perished must have been adamant because it had been settled that Israel would destroy all of them just like Rahab confessed (Joshua 2:9-11). All those who perished perished because they chose to and not for lack of opportunity to repent. Rahab and her household, the Giebeonites and the Shechemites decided not to perish and they did not because they did the needful. Those people refused to repent, their hearts were hardened through rejection of mercy. This hardening of men’s hearts is when God gives man up to his sin after the person refused the mercy of God (Romans 1:24-28). b. How could Joshua have overcome? Israel was not trained in the art of warfare at the time. Second, Israel did not have horses and chariots to fight, whereas the Canaanites had in abundance. Yet, God told them that it was a battle of faith and therefore, they should not fear the better equipped and stronger adversaries. *"And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire"*. It was like the case of little David versus the giant Goliath. Spiritual battles, while doing the needful, do not look at the size and the arrogance of the adversaries. With faith in God, their horses and chariots will be defeated. *"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God"* (Psalm 20:7). Can you imagine a poorly trained and inexperienced army of Israel defeating better trained coalition of nations in their multitudes with their horses and chariots? Obeying God's Word and instruction is always a guarantee of victory regardless of the might and the arsenal of the adversaries. Joshua did not depend on personal wisdom or military strength; he carried out God's instructions. Verse 15 emphasizes that Joshua did everything the LORD commanded Moses, and Moses had commanded Joshua. True exploits are accomplished under divine authority. Faith becomes powerful when it is joined with obedience. The victory was not merely Joshua's achievement; it was God's purpose being fulfilled through a yielded servant. We too must learn to follow God's Word even when His instructions challenge our natural reasoning. *Question* Are your decisions and actions being governed by God's Word and divine authority? *3. The Defeat of the Dreaded Adversaries* The Anakims were the most dreaded adversaries of Israel while they were in the wilderness. In fact, the spies (10 of them) sent said they were like grasshoppers compared to the Anakims (Numbers 13:27-33). It was the fear of those people that made Israel to be punished in the wilderness with 40 years of wandering and deaths. God delayed this fight to be their last fight so that Israel would have, from experience, learnt the art of warfare. They did not know that God had His own strategy of training them to be fit for the warfare against those terrorizing adversaries. When God gives a promise, don't look at your weakness and be asking how possible. God has His own plan to make you fit enough to deal with the enemy before He Himself takes over. "The Lord knows the way through the wilderness, all I have to do is to follow" and victory is certain. b. The promise of Deuteronomy 9:1–3, which specifically predicts the defeat of the fearsome Anakites, is fulfilled(Joshua 11:21–23). Those who once appeared invincible were overcome by the power of God. Joshua's victory teaches us that yesterday's giants need not determine today's destiny. Through conquering faith, intimidating obstacles can become testimonies of God's faithfulness. Finally, the land had rest from war. When God's people trust Him, obey His commands and persevere in faith, victory and divine rest become possible. *Question* What “giant” or dreaded adversary are you allowing to intimidate you instead of confronting it through faith in God? *Prayer Points* 1.Lord, give me conquering faith to overcome every persistent opposition standing against Your purpose for my life. 2.Father, help me to walk in complete obedience to Your Word and submit every decision to Your divine authority 🙏. 3.O Lord, bring down every giant and defeat every dreaded adversary confronting my progress, destiny and calling 🙏. 4.Father, grant Your children lasting victory and divine rest after every battle and let their lives become testimonies of Your mighty exploits 🙏. *HYMN:* May The Lord Depend On You. *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* DANIEL 11-12. [23/08, 7:59 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) MONDAY 24TH AUGUST, 2026``` *BETWEEN JUDGMENT AND MERCY* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️⚖️🆚🆘🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:JOSHUA 11:10-23```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle" (JOSHUA 11:19).*_ *Mercy from God is that vital element that no one can earn, deserve or merit. It is an inalienable deed that underpins God's dealings with fallible humankind, saved or unsaved. When all else fails, God's mercies will never fail.* *The Canaanites and other nations in the Promised Land engaged in battle against Joshua and the Israelites without seeking a peace agreement, despite their unfavourable position. In this chapter, Joshua faced a coalition of Canaanite forces, defeating them before turning his attention to the northern region. The city of Hazor was captured and burned, with its spoils taken by the Israelites. Joshua then advanced towards the hills and southern territories, continuing the conflict until the entirety of the land was subdued and allocated to the tribes of Israel. The account raises challenging questions regarding the nature of a loving God permitting such violence, particularly the killing of women and children. This narrative has sparked criticism towards the Scripture, leading to inquiries about the justness of these holy wars and casting doubt on divine benevolence, consequently perplexing many readers.* *The text emphasises that the people in the land repeatedly heard about God's actions but chose to resist and did not seek mercy, with the Gibeonites being the only exception, although through deceit. Instead of pursuing peace, they relied on military might, having engaged in idol worship and iniquity for centuries, including horrific sacrifices. Ultimately, God's judgment deemed it necessary to cleanse the land of those viewed as rebels and enemies, as the people were prepared to oppose Him rather than embrace His ways.* *No one can fight against God and expect to win. It is an effort in futility when we roll out our battle gear instead of pleading and repenting. God delights in mercy. He's not interested in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn to Him in repentance and live. "As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live..."* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*Entreaty secures favour faster than conflict.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *DANIEL 11-12*📜📜 Between Judgment And Mercy https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 155: LET JESUS COME INTO YOUR HEART; GHS 158: COME BELIEVING; AND GHS 159: WHY DO YOU WAIT?* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna24thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [23/08, 7:59 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```MONDAY 24TH AUGUST, 2026``` *BE HOLY, GOD IS HOLY* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🤍🥼✨🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:1 PETER 1:13-21```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" (1 PETER 1:16).*_ *Dispute over paternity can be resolved through a DNA test and lay to rest such controversy. Likewise, holiness puts to silence every debate on who a child of God is. God is holy, and anyone who professes to be His child must possess this very nature of God - holiness. An unholy life has no resemblance to God and no usefulness to the world.* *"Be ye holy" is God's command. Heaven is a holy place. The God of heaven is a Holy Being. The angels are holy creatures. Everything in heaven is holiness. It is impossible to get to heaven if we die unholy. The Holy Bible clearly states that: "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14).* *Holiness is not optional; it is mandatory for all who desire to see God and live with Him in eternity. To be holy simply means to be purged from inward and outward sins. Consecration, strong thirst, and hunger for the experience in desperate prayer will allow God to accomplish it in your life.* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*Be purged.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*To get to heaven, holiness is non-negotiable.*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Lord, help me to remain holy till the end.*_ Be Holy, God Is Holy https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday24thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [23/08, 7:59 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```MONDAY 24TH AUGUST, 2026``` *GOD MADE US SPECIAL* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️😁🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽🙌🏽 📜📜```PSALM 139:14-18```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well" (Psalm 139:14).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Everything that God created is beautiful, and He made each of us uniquely special. Lily loved to look in the mirror and admire how she looked. One day, a friend at school teased her about her glasses and called her *"ugly".* Lily felt sad and wondered maybe she was not special after all. That night, her mom reminded her that God made her beautiful and unique. *God does not make mistakes,"* her mom said. *"You are wonderfully made, and He loves you just as you are!"* Lily smiled, realizing that she was special, just as God intended. She no longer felt the need to compare herself to others, understanding that God's love for her was unconditional. *God made you special too, and you do not need to measure your worth against anyone else. Embrace who you are, because you are wonderfully created, and God loves you just as you are!* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*God, thank You for making me special. Help me to live for You always.*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *Jeremiah 1:4-7* God Made Us Special https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk24thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]. 2. Morning Prayer for today. MP.i. Morning Prayer I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. ⏤ Romans 12:1 He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day. ⏤ John Bunyan Almighty God, the Father of us all, in whom we live and move and have our being—we worship You and give thanks to Your great and holy name. Our hearts are full of memories of Sunday. May we be like those who have walked among fragrant flowers, carrying the scent on our very garments. May we be more joyful, more trusting, more holy, more loving, and more prayerful because of the holy influences that saturated our lives yesterday. You are the God of the evening and the morning. Every day reveals where You have walked in love. We thank You for this day that now shines upon us. We need Your presence with us through all its hours, for we don’t know what they hold for us: what duties, what problems that must be solved, what decisions that must be made, what responsibilities that must be met, what surprises of joy or sorrow, what temptations, what conflicts, what dangers. We don’t know—but You do, and we’re not afraid to leave it all in Your hands. Bless us with peace, wisdom, and strength for whatever lies ahead. Take our hands and guide us. We consecrate ourselves to You this day, O God, for life and service. We are Yours, and we present ourselves as a living sacrifice to You. We want to live only for You. Help us to renounce all claims on ourselves and truly be Yours. If we are called to any hard duty, task, or service—give us the grace to accept Your will cheerfully and to do what pleases You. Work deeply in us by Your Spirit, continuing the renewal of our nature, and building us up in holiness and righteousness, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/50/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

Good morning to everyone. Grace and Peace be with you. How do you measure your prosperity? Is it by your bank account, or what you drive or live in? Is it by how many friends you have? Is it measured by how many ‘collectables’ you have acquired? What exactly does prosperity look like for you? Jeremiah 29:11 is everyone’s favorite verse to quote when it comes to times of ‘financial’ struggles. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." The definition of prosper, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is this: (1) to succeed in an enterprise or activity/ especially: to achieve economic success (2) to become strong and flourishing. I Googled the original Hebrew verbiage and found that prosperous is not a word in the Hebrew language exactly. The word was ‘maschshevot,’ which in modern terms equates to peace, well-being and a positive future. The enemy is very good at taking God’s word and turning it into something BIGGER for his glory. He dilutes the Word to soften it; he adjusts the meaning of the Word to satisfy popular opinion; he creates a world of his translation of the Word to satisfy the egos of all those who want the easy way. Such as: Unconditional Love … that does not mean that I love your sin; it means that I love you enough to speak the truth in love, not judgment. The enemy will tell you that I am judging you, when I am not; I am just stating facts so that you can make an informed decision. Eye for an eye … that is hatred, according to Jesus, who says when someone harms you, turn the other cheek Prosperity preaching … from this verse … claims that if you ‘give’ to the church, then God will give to you, or rather that if you give to “their” church, God will give to you. Prosperity and riches. The enemy will hamstring you into believing that God does not love you because you have not ‘given’ enough or that your gift is not good enough. These are all lies. Starting with, God wants you to be financially rich. It is not that God does not want you to be financially rich, but he knows how easily it can distract you from Him. If you are financially rich, then your heart turns to protecting your money instead of worshiping Him who gave you the riches. Prosperity in Jeremiah is speaking of hope, peace, and well-being; not Richie Rich. I am not a RICH person, but I am better off than many. I have food in my belly, a roof over my head, people around me who love and respect me, a quality vehicle, but most of all … I have love. I have peace. I have joy. I have God. I am one of the most prosperous people I know. Today I encourage you to find your peace in Him. Worship Him. Praise Him. Embrace Him. Love Him. When you do those things with your whole heart … the world does not seem so hard to deal with. Your eyes are open to so many opportunities for His light and love to shine. This will bring so much joy to your heart that it overflows in abundance to those around you. He knows what the world is like, and He wants you to have His peace and prosperity. Be blessed. **But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:33

(long post ahead📖) There is a profound lesson I learned when I read this passage of Scripture: “said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭23‬:‭14‬-‭15‬, ‭18‬ ‭KJV‬‬ This passage takes place during Jesus’ trial. He was falsely accused of many things, yet we know that He was completely innocent. He had no sin. Everything He taught was truth, and everything He did, reflected the will of the Father. Jesus could have defended Himself. After all, He possessed the very nature of God. He had every power and every right to prove His innocence. Yet He chose to remain silent and willingly submit Himself to the Father’s plan. Even Pilate declared before the crowd that he could find no fault in Jesus. Herod found no crime worthy of death either. Still, the people refused to listen. Instead, they shouted louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified. This reminds me of a sobering reality: 😔 Even if God Himself stands before people and speaks the truth, there will still be hearts that choose not to believe. Miracles, truth, and evidence alone cannot change a heart that refuses to surrender. Then came the moment of decision. The people were given a choice: ❓❓Jesus Christ or Barabbas. ❓❓ One was completely innocent. The other was a guilty criminal. Yet the crowd cried out for Barabbas to be released, while demanding that Jesus be condemned to die. 😢 As I reflected on this, something deeply touched my heart. I realized that Barabbas is a picture of us. We are the guilty ones. ✅ We are the sinners. ✅ Yet Jesus took our place. The punishment that should have fallen upon us was placed upon Him instead. The Son of God willingly exchanged His freedom for ours. He left the glory of heaven and humbled Himself to be born in a manger. Though He is the King of kings, He did not come to be served but to serve. He walked among the poor, healed the sick, showed mercy to sinners, comforted the brokenhearted, and lived a life of perfect holiness without sin. Finally, He gave His life on the cross. ✝️ The release of Barabbas beautifully illustrates the Gospel. Barabbas deserved the cross. Jesus did not. Yet Jesus took the cross that belonged to Barabbas. In the same way, we deserve the punishment for our sins…..eternal separation from God. But Jesus took our place. (Inangkin Niya ang ating mga kasalanan at pinasan Niya ang kaparusahang nararapat para sa atin upang tayo ay maligtas.) That is the greatest picture of God’s mercy. And above all, that is the greatest picture of love. It was never the nails that kept Jesus on the cross. 🙏🏻 It was His immeasurable, unconditional, and unfailing love for us. 💚💚💚 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) (HAVE A NICE DAY PIP’z) 😇

Guidelines for living. August 21st, 2026 Here’s The Only Way to Begin to Love This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:10-11 The greatest rivers in the world usually begin on the cold, frozen slopes of high mountains as the sun begins to melt snow and ice, and from the trickle of crystal-clear water a steam begins to flow and eventually a cascade of water plummets down the mountain. In the valley far below, the stream becomes a river, then a great river which we call the Nile, the Amazon, the Ganges, the Rhine, or whatever. By the time these massive bodies of water reach the ocean, they may be kilometers wide, and they are muddy and polluted. Now, apply that same concept to the biblical truth that God is love. John tells us this in the New Testament, and the farther we are from Him, seemingly the more polluted love becomes. By the time it has been filtered through human lust, what we call love is a far cry from the compelling love which caused God to send His Son long ago. Love is not a platitude, it is an action, an unconditional commitment to care, a decision of your heart. True, love is what the world needs. The words of a song popular a generation ago said it all: “The world is dying, dying for a little bit of love,” says one verse. If you’ve been following this series based on Paul’s great chapter on love, found in the New Testament in 1 Corinthians 13, you have focused on love’s characteristics, but any discussion of the subject would be incomplete without a few words of encouragement for you whose river of love has either evaporated in the desert of life, or else become so polluted you hardly know what the real thing is. When God touches your heart, your life will change. God takes up residence in your life, and the mud of sin is washed away. When pollution is eliminated, you start loving. This is the miracle of conversion. This is the answer to the lovelessness and the selfishness which destroys relationships. Joining a church, turning over a new leaf, going to confession, just “being religious,” is not the solution. A relationship with God through His son is the only way you will really begin to love. I will give you three simple guidelines that will help. Guideline #1: Acknowledge you need a relationship with God and confess that sin has stopped the flow of love in your life. It’s easy to point a finger and say, “Well, it was his fault; her fault.” The solution is saying, “God, I need you. Forgive me. Touch my life.” Guideline #2: Ask God’s forgiveness for your failure—not the other person’s—and ask Him to be Lord and Savior. Jesus gave us a promise. He said, “I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and have fellowship with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). That promise has your name on it, friend. Guideline #3: Begin loving in simple steps, one day at a time. When you fail and fall back into those old habits and a loveless way, quickly admit your wrong; ask God’s help to overcome it. Friend, you can talk about love until you have calluses on your vocal cords, but until you get back to the fountain and the source of love, who is God Himself, you’ll never lay hold of the real thing: the God kind of love that changes the world. So, go back to the source. It’s the only way to fill your cup and have enough left over for someone else in your life. Love is not a pious platitude. It’s the answer. Resource Reading: 1 John 4:1-21

*From Death to Life* Many of us unfortunately know what it feels like to lose a loved one. And we've longed to have just a few more hours with them here on earth. *John 11* tells the story of Lazarus—a man who died but, by the power of God through His Son, Jesus Christ, was brought back to life four days later. It was a miracle! What was dead became alive again! And yet, we only know that Lazarus’ physical body was resurrected. *Romans 6:5 "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection. "* In this passage from Romans, Paul writes about a different type of resurrection—the best kind of resurrection. Unlike Lazarus, Jesus' resurrection wasn't merely physical, but also one of the Spirit. It wasn't temporary, but permanent💃. But before Jesus’ resurrection, He willingly faced a painful, slow, emotional death. Jesus died that death for you. He suffered on the Cross for humanity. He bore the weight of all sin and affliction so that we might live with Him forever. The Bible tells us how this story ends, but on the day that Jesus died, the people who loved Him did not know its end. They mourned, they grieved, they wept. Jesus' death felt final, but it wasn't. We might have a friend or family member who’s far from God, who doesn’t know the good news that comes after mourning. Or we might be in that same period of uncertainty—feeling like we don’t know the rest of the story.  When we've been united with Jesus by accepting the truth that He died in our place, as well as His free gift of grace, we can know that we have passed from death to life—forever! Our eternity is secure with Him. We can have joy and hope, and we can share it with others, and should/must share the experience. *Prayer* Everlasting Father, You made it possible for us to go from death to life, and to spend eternity with You! We can't fully comprehend or express how amazing that is. We don't deserve this kind of unconditional love, but we are grateful for it and overwhelmed by it. Thank You that this story isn't over, and You will have the final victory over sin and death. Amen!

*Learning to Live Humbly* Have you ever met an angry Christian? You may have come across Christians who seem to grumble, complain, or even speak harshly about other people. Maybe we’ve even been that person at times in our own life. If we're not careful, we can easily become self-righteous within Christianity. After all, we know the truth and others may not. We might see how tempting it can be to look down on others, demean them, or consider them as worse off than ourselves. But this misses the point of the Gospel of Jesus. The Gospel tells us that all of us begin at the same starting point. And it’s only by Grace through faith that we come to Salvation and learn the truth about God’s love for us. That doesn’t make us any better than other Christians! In fact, as Paul says in *Ephesians 4:2,* we should actually be humble and gentle with others, rather than harsh and critical. He says we are to be patient with one another, helping each other in every way possible so we can all grow together. These ideas aren’t original to Paul. They actually came from how Jesus lived His life. As followers of Jesus, we too should strive to be gentle, humble, and patient with everyone in our lives. Regardless of whether they look or think a different way, every person deserves dignity, patience, and love. Let's take some time today to consider a few ways that we can grow in patience, humility, and love with others. It could be slowing down long enough for people to know we care, saying something encouraging to someone, or admitting that we’ve made a mistake. Let's make the decision today to live in humility and grace with others. *Prayer For Love* Father God, Your Word inspires us to be humble and gentle; to lead with patience and unconditional love. But we can't live that way without Your help. Teach us how to extend grace and forgiveness to those around us. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.

ABUNDANCE RICHES The abundant riches of God refers to God's unlimited wealth, not primarily in money, but in everything He possesses and freely gives to His children. It includes His grace, mercy, love, wisdom, power, peace, joy, provision, and eternal life. God's riches are infinite—they never run out. Here are some key Scriptures: Ephesians 2:7 – "That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19 – "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Romans 11:33 – "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!" Ephesians 3:16 – "That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man." What do God's abundant riches include? Abundant grace – Forgiveness and unmerited favor. Abundant mercy – Compassion even when we fail. Abundant love – An unconditional, everlasting love. Abundant wisdom – Guidance for every situation. Abundant peace and joy – Inner stability regardless of circumstances. Abundant provision – God meeting our needs, whether spiritual, emotional, or physical. Abundant spiritual inheritance – Every blessing we have in Christ, including eternal life. So, the abundant riches of God are the fullness of everything God is and has, generously made available to those who belong to Him through Christ. Material provision can be one expression of His care, but His riches are far greater than financial wealth—they encompass every blessing needed for life and godliness. A helpful way to summarize it is: The abundant riches of God are His limitless resources, character, and blessings, which He pours out on His children according to His perfect will and glory.