ARE YOU REALLY FIGHTING PORNOGRAPHY—OR NEGOTIATING WITH IT? A Christian Call to Declare War on Sexual Sin Pastor Joseph Clark There comes a point in every Christian’s battle with pornography when we need to stop asking, “How can I manage this temptation?” And start asking: “How badly do I want to be free?” Because pornography is not harmless entertainment. It is not merely a private weakness. It is not something Christians should simply learn to “live with.” It is a temptation that can become an enslaving pattern of lust, fantasy, secrecy and sin. It can consume the imagination, corrupt the way we see other people, damage marriages and relationships, steal time, weaken prayer, and draw the heart away from the purity to which Christ has called His people. And if you are a Christian who is fighting pornography, you need to understand something: You are in a fight. The question is whether you are actually fighting. Or whether you are negotiating. ⸻ STOP NEGOTIATING WITH TEMPTATION One of the greatest mistakes we make with temptation is giving it a conversation. “I’ll just look for a minute.” “I won’t go any further.” “I’ve been good for two weeks.” “This isn’t really pornography.” “Nobody knows.” “God will forgive me.” That isn’t resistance. That’s negotiation. And Scripture doesn’t tell us to negotiate with sexual temptation. It tells us to flee. “Flee fornication.” — 1 Corinthians 6:18 Paul told Timothy: “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” — 2 Timothy 2:22 Notice the word: FLEE. Not debate. Not analyze. Not negotiate. Not see how close you can get without crossing the line. Run. Joseph understood this. When Potiphar’s wife attempted to seduce him, Joseph didn’t stay around to see how strong his resistance would be. When she grabbed him, Scripture says: “And he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.” — Genesis 39:12 Joseph ran. Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is close the laptop. Sometimes it’s putting the phone down. Sometimes it’s getting out of bed. Sometimes it’s leaving the room. Sometimes it’s calling your accountability partner. Sometimes it’s getting on your knees. FLEE. ⸻ JESUS DIDN’T NEGOTIATE WITH SATAN Look at Jesus in the wilderness. Satan came when Jesus was physically weakened after fasting forty days and forty nights. The devil tempted Him. And what did Jesus do? He didn’t engage Satan in a philosophical debate. He didn’t entertain the temptation. He didn’t say, “Let me think about that.” He said: “It is written.” When Satan tempted Him to turn stones into bread, Jesus answered: “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” — Matthew 4:4 When Satan twisted Scripture to tempt Him again, Jesus answered: “It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” — Matthew 4:7 And when Satan offered Him the kingdoms of the world: “Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” — Matthew 4:10 Three temptations. Three answers rooted in Scripture. “It is written.” That’s your model. When pornography comes knocking, you need something stronger than emotion. Something stronger than willpower. Something stronger than the promise that “this will make you feel good.” You need the Word of God. David said: “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” — Psalm 119:11 Don’t wait until you’re already looking at pornography to start thinking about holiness. Put the Word in your heart now. ⸻ DECLARE WAR Let’s be blunt. If pornography has become a recurring sin in your life, declare war on it. Don’t declare war on it tomorrow. Don’t declare war on it after one more failure. Declare war today. Jesus used deliberately shocking language when describing how seriously we must treat sin: “And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee…” — Matthew 5:29 And: “And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee…” — Matthew 5:30 Jesus is not commanding literal self-mutilation. He is teaching us that we must deal with sin radically and decisively. If your smartphone repeatedly becomes the doorway to pornography, change how you use your smartphone. If being alone late at night repeatedly leads you into sin, change your nighttime routine. If particular websites, social-media accounts, or applications trigger lust, eliminate them. If unrestricted internet access is destroying your purity, install safeguards. If secrecy is feeding the problem, bring it into the light. Stop protecting your access to the sin you claim you want to defeat. ⸻ ARE YOU REALLY STRUGGLING? This is where the question gets uncomfortable. A Christian can struggle with sin. Paul describes the conflict between flesh and Spirit: “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other…” — Galatians 5:17 There is a battle. There is resistance. There is conflict. But ask yourself: Are you actually resisting? Are you praying? Are you fasting? Are you reading Scripture? Do you have an accountability partner? Have you told another mature Christian about the problem? Have you installed accountability software? Have you removed private access to pornography? Have you changed your routines? Have you identified your triggers? Have you stopped following accounts that stimulate lust? Have you changed the environment in which you repeatedly fall? Are you seeking pastoral help? Are you willing to seek professional Christian counseling when appropriate? Are you willing to seek a biblically grounded deliverance ministry if you believe you are dealing with entrenched spiritual bondage? Or are you simply saying: “I really want to stop” while keeping every door open? That’s not war. That’s a weak attempt to negotiate a ceasefire with your own sin. Commit. ⸻ MAKE PORNOGRAPHY YOUR ENEMY Paul says: “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God…” — Romans 6:13 You have a choice about what you present yourself to. What are you yielding? Your eyes? Your imagination? Your phone? Your computer? Your time? Your sexuality? Your mind? Your body? Who gets them? Pornography wants them. Christ wants them. Choose. ⸻ DON’T BE IDLE Idleness can become an open door. If you are constantly alone, bored, scrolling, lying in bed, wandering through the internet, and allowing your mind to drift wherever it wants, don’t be surprised when temptation finds you. Get busy. Work. Exercise. Study. Read. Serve. Pray. Go outside. Spend time with people. Serve the church. Build something. Learn something. Pursue your calling. Paul instructed believers: “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands…” — 1 Thessalonians 4:11 Don’t give temptation an empty house to occupy. ⸻ BRING THE BATTLE INTO THE LIGHT Pornography thrives in secrecy. That is why accountability matters. James says: “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.” — James 5:16 Find someone trustworthy. A mature Christian man. A pastor. A mentor. An accountability partner. Someone who will actually ask you the hard questions. Not: “Everything okay?” But: “Have you looked at pornography?” “Have you intentionally searched for sexually explicit material?” “Are there apps on your phone that you are hiding?” “Have you been honest with me?” You don’t need someone who merely makes you feel better. You need someone who loves you enough to tell you the truth. ⸻ SAFEGUARD YOUR DEVICES Let’s stop pretending that technology is neutral when we know how we are using it. If your phone is the primary gateway to your sin, safeguard your phone. If your laptop is the gateway, safeguard your laptop. Use reputable filtering and accountability tools. Remove applications that repeatedly lead you into temptation. Don’t sleep with an unrestricted device beside your bed if nighttime is when you repeatedly fall. Don’t keep secret browsers. Don’t create hidden accounts. Don’t maintain a private digital world that nobody else knows exists. Jesus said: “And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee…” — Matthew 5:29 The principle is clear: Remove the access point. ⸻ FAST AND PRAY There are battles that should drive us to our knees. Jesus Himself fasted when He entered the wilderness. Matthew records: “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.” — Matthew 4:1 And: “And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.” — Matthew 4:2 Fasting isn’t a magic formula. It doesn’t purchase God’s favor. But it can become a powerful expression of humility and dependence upon God. Tell the Lord: “Jesus, I cannot conquer this in my own strength. I need You.” Pray when the temptation comes. Pray before it comes. Pray when you are strong. Pray when you are weak. And believe God. Paul says: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful…” — 1 Corinthians 10:13 And then comes one of the greatest promises in Scripture: “…but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” — 1 Corinthians 10:13 Look for the escape route. And when God provides it— TAKE IT. ⸻ PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD You are not merely fighting a website. You are fighting temptation. You are fighting lust. You are fighting deception. And Scripture describes the Christian life as spiritual warfare. Paul says: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” — Ephesians 6:10–12 Then he tells us to take: The belt of truth. The breastplate of righteousness. The Gospel of peace. The shield of faith. The helmet of salvation. The sword of the Spirit—which is the Word of God. And: Prayer. Pornography can become a powerful instrument of temptation and enslavement. Don’t underestimate it. Peter says: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith…” — 1 Peter 5:8–9 Be sober. Be vigilant. Resist. ⸻ SEEK DELIVERANCE IF YOU NEED IT Some Christians experience pornography as an entrenched pattern of bondage that requires more intensive spiritual intervention. If you believe that describes you, seek a mature, biblically grounded deliverance minister who understands Scripture, repentance, spiritual warfare, accountability, and the finished work of Christ. One resource used in some Christian settings is Neil Anderson’s Bondage Breaking material. But understand this carefully: Your deliverer is not a minister. Your deliverer is Jesus Christ. No technique saves you. No program saves you. No deliverance minister saves you. No accountability application saves you. Jesus saves. Jesus said: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” — John 8:36 ⸻ FILL YOURSELF WITH CHRIST Here’s the part many people miss. The Christian life isn’t merely about removing pornography. It’s about filling your life with Christ. Paul says: “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” — Ephesians 5:18 Fill your mind with Scripture. Fill your home with worship. Fill your day with prayer. Fill your time with service. Fill your life with godly relationships. Fill your heart with the things of God. Paul tells us: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report… think on these things.” — Philippians 4:8 The goal isn’t simply: “I must stop thinking about pornography.” The goal is: “I want to think more about Christ.” ⸻ TAKE IT ONE DAY AT A TIME You don’t have to promise God that you’ll never be tempted again. You don’t have to figure out how you’re going to remain pure for the next thirty years. Win today. When tomorrow comes, win tomorrow. Jesus said: “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.” — Matthew 6:34 Take today seriously. Today, don’t look. Today, don’t search. Today, don’t indulge. Today, pray. Today, read the Word. Today, walk in the Spirit. Today, keep your eyes on Jesus. One day at a time. ⸻ AND IF YOU FALL—GET BACK UP This is crucial. If you fall, Satan will whisper: “You failed again.” Then: “You’re a hypocrite.” Then: “You might as well keep going.” Don’t listen. Repent. Confess it. Get honest. Tell your accountability partner. Identify what led to the fall. Close the door you left open. And get back up. “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again…” — Proverbs 24:16 One failure does not mean you should surrender. A person who falls off a wagon doesn’t say: “Well, I fell off, so I might as well lie in the road forever.” Get back on. Repentance means turning back toward God. Don’t allow shame to become an excuse for continued sin. ⸻ DON’T USE GRACE AS AN EXCUSE Never say: “God forgives me, so it doesn’t matter.” Paul asks: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.” — Romans 6:1–2 Grace is not permission to remain enslaved. Grace teaches us: “…denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” — Titus 2:12 Christ did not die to make you comfortable in your chains. He came to set you free. ⸻ SO—ARE YOU REALLY FIGHTING? Here is the question I want you to answer honestly. Are you really fighting pornography? Or are you negotiating with it? Are you praying? Are you fasting? Are you in the Word? Are you accountable? Are your devices protected? Are you eliminating your triggers? Are you fleeing immediately? Are you seeking help? Are you willing to confess? Are you willing to change your habits? Are you willing to sacrifice convenience for purity? Are you treating pornography like the serious spiritual threat that it is? Because you cannot declare war on pornography while secretly maintaining a supply line to it. You must choose. You cannot serve Christ and willingly cultivate the sin that is destroying your fellowship with Him. Jesus said: “No man can serve two masters…” — Matthew 6:24 So declare war. Not against yourself. Not against your sexuality. Not against God’s good design for sexual intimacy. Declare war against lust. Declare war against pornography. Declare war against secrecy. Declare war against compromise. Declare war against the lies that tell you that you cannot change. And then— LOOK TO JESUS. “…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…” — Hebrews 12:1–2 Your hope isn’t your willpower. Your hope isn’t your perfect record. Your hope isn’t an accountability application. Your hope isn’t a deliverance minister. YOUR HOPE IS JESUS CHRIST. Submit to God. Resist the devil. Flee temptation. Take the escape route. Get back up when you fall. Stay in the Word. Put on the armour. And keep your eyes on Jesus. James gives us the battle cry: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” — James 4:7–8 SUBMIT. RESIST. DRAW NEAR. And keep fighting. ⸻ A PRAYER FOR FREEDOM FROM PORNOGRAPHY AND SIN Heavenly Father, I come before You in the name of Jesus Christ. I plead the blood of Jesus over all sin, sickness, temptation, evil, suffering, sexual sin, lust, and pornography. I reject Satan and all his evil works. I reject every lie, deception, temptation, bondage, and stronghold that would draw me away from Jesus Christ. I renounce pornography and sexual impurity. I repent of every time I have willingly entertained lust, fantasy, pornography, or sexual sin. Lord Jesus, forgive me. Cleanse me. Purify my heart. Renew my mind. Strengthen my spirit. Give me the power to flee temptation rather than negotiate with it. Give me discernment to recognize temptation before it takes hold. Give me the courage to close the door, put down the phone, turn away from the screen, and run from whatever would lead me into sin. I receive Jesus Christ with all my heart and soul as my Lord and Savior. I surrender my body, my mind, my eyes, my imagination, my sexuality, my desires, my relationships, my future, and my entire life to Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit, fill me. Teach me. Guide me. Strengthen me. Convict me when I begin to wander. Give me hatred for sin and a greater love for righteousness. Help me to walk in purity. Help me to walk in holiness. Help me to walk in obedience. Give me strength to fast. Give me strength to pray. Give me strength to stay in Your Word. Give me wisdom to establish safeguards and accountability. Give me humility to ask for help when I need it. When temptation comes, remind me that You have provided a way of escape. When I am weak, remind me that Your grace is sufficient. When I fall, give me the humility to repent and the courage to rise again. I declare that pornography will not be my master. Lust will not be my master. Sin will not be my master. Jesus Christ is my Lord and my Master. I submit myself to God. I resist the devil. I draw near to Jesus Christ. And I place my complete faith and trust in Him. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

SHARPENING YOUR WEAPONS FOR WAR Every battle is easier to face when you have prepared for it before it arrives. A soldier does not wait until the enemy is approaching before checking his weapons. He prepares in advance because, when the battle begins, there may be no time to fix what should have been ready. The same is true in our walk with God. Ecclesiastes 10:10 says, “If the axe is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.” Sometimes the problem is not that we lack strength; our spiritual tools simply need sharpening. We cannot expect yesterday's prayer life to carry us through today's battles. Our faith needs attention. Our understanding of Scripture needs to grow. Our prayer life needs to remain alive. Worship, fasting, obedience, righteousness, and time in God's presence are not religious routines we perform when things go wrong; they are part of how we prepare ourselves before the pressure comes. There will be moments when fear speaks loudly, when temptation feels convincing, or when disappointment makes you question everything. In those moments, what you have built privately will matter. A strong public faith is usually developed through quiet, consistent preparation. Think about David. Before he ever stood before Goliath, he had already spent time in the wilderness protecting his father's sheep. He had faced a lion and a bear and learned to trust God in places where nobody was applauding him (1 Samuel 17:34–37). When Goliath appeared, David was not discovering faith for the first time; he was drawing on a faith that had already been tested. Jesus also repeatedly withdrew to lonely places to pray (Luke 5:16; Mark 1:35). His public ministry flowed from a private life of communion with the Father. The secret place may look quiet and ordinary, but it is where spiritual strength is developed. That is why you should not wait for a crisis before you start praying seriously. Don't wait until you are discouraged before opening your Bible. Don't wait until temptation becomes overwhelming before strengthening your relationship with God. Sharpen your weapons while the battle is still quiet. Spend time with God when things are going well, so that when things become difficult, you know where to turn. 2 Corinthians 10:4 reminds us that “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.” God has given you what you need, but you must learn to use it. There will be battles you did not expect and moments that will test what you believe. You may not be able to choose when the battle comes, but you can choose how prepared you will be when it does. Keep your spiritual life sharp. Keep your heart sensitive to God. Keep your faith active and your relationship with Him genuine. Prepare in the secret place, so that you can stand with confidence in the public battle. The strength you build when nobody sees you may be the very strength that carries you when everybody is watching. REV. ISHMAEL ASARE BAKAE

Reflection: You are not born with godly character; it is a process that comes only through time, experience, humility, and testing. When you realize you are not all you would like to be, when you make a commitment to know God and read his Word, and when you face tough challenges and choose wisely, your character will increasingly become a better reflection of GOD'S . GOD'S RESPONSE~ Remember how the LORD your God led you through the wilderness for 40 years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would really obey His commands Deuteronomy 8:2 Obedience is far better than sacrifice. Listening to Him is much better than offering the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22 GOD'S PROMISE~ Endurance develop strength of character in us, and character strengthens are confident expectation of salvation. Romans 5:4

TRUST GOD—EVEN WHEN IT LOOKS BAD! Focus Scripture — Proverbs 3:5–6 (KJV) “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Thought Of The Day... There are seasons when trusting God is easy because everything seems to be working out. The doors are opening. The prayers are being answered. The family is doing well. The bills are getting paid. Your plans are coming together. But can you still trust God when everything looks bad? Can you trust Him when the report isn't what you wanted? Can you trust Him when the money is running low? Can you trust Him when the relationship is struggling? Can you trust Him when the door closes? Can you trust Him when you prayed—and nothing seems to have changed? Can you trust Him when you cannot understand what God is doing? That's where real trust is developed. WHEN WHAT YOU SEE DOESN'T MATCH WHAT GOD SAID Proverbs tells us: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Our understanding is limited because we can only see what is happening right now. But God sees the beginning, the middle, and the end. We see the problem. God sees the purpose. We see the closed door. God sees the better door. We see the delay. God sees the appointed time. We see what we're losing. God sees what He's preparing. That's why God tells us not to lean entirely upon our own understanding. Sometimes what God is doing will not make sense while you're going through it. Joseph's pit didn't look like promotion. Israel standing at the Red Sea didn't look like deliverance. Daniel's lions' den didn't look like protection. The three Hebrew boys standing before the fiery furnace didn't look like victory. Jesus hanging on Calvary didn't look like resurrection. But what looked bad wasn't the end of the story! And whatever you're facing today, don't judge the ending by what you're seeing in the middle. 1. TRUST GOD WHEN YOU CAN'T TRACE GOD Sometimes God will allow you to walk through a season where you cannot figure Him out. You prayed. You believed. You obeyed. Yet things appear to have gotten worse instead of better. Job declared: “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” — Job 13:15 (KJV) Job was essentially saying, I don't understand what God is allowing, but my confusion will not cancel my confidence in Him. That's mature faith. Faith doesn't require God to explain everything before we trust Him. Sometimes you have to say: “Lord, I don't understand it—but I trust You.” 2. DON'T LET WHAT YOU SEE MAKE YOU FORGET WHAT GOD SAID The enemy wants your circumstances to become louder than God's promises. But Scripture declares: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” — 2 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV) Sight says, “It's impossible.” Faith says, “With God all things are possible.” Sight says, “You're surrounded.” Faith says, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” Sight says, “There's no way out.” Faith says, “God will make a way.” Your circumstances may be real, but they don't have the final word—God does! 3. GOD IS WORKING EVEN WHEN YOU CAN'T SEE IT One of the hardest parts of trusting God is believing He's working when there is no visible evidence. But Romans 8:28 reminds us: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God…” Notice Scripture doesn't say everything is good. Some things hurt. Some things disappoint us. Some things break our hearts. Some things leave us with questions. But God has the power to take even the things that were not good and cause them to work together for good. Just because you can't see God moving doesn't mean God isn't moving. He can be arranging things you know nothing about. Opening doors you haven't reached yet. Touching hearts you haven't spoken to. Blocking things you thought you needed. Preparing answers to prayers you almost stopped praying. God can be working behind the scenes while you're wondering whether He's working at all. 4. DON'T PANIC IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORY You may be looking at your situation and thinking, “How is this going to work out?” You don't have to know how. You just have to know Who. Psalm 46:1 declares: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” God didn't promise that trouble would never come. He promised that when trouble comes, you won't face it alone. So don't panic because the chapter you're currently reading looks bad. God is still writing your story. Your setback may become the setup. Your disappointment may become divine direction. Your closed door may become God's protection. Your wilderness may become your training ground. Your waiting season may become your preparation season. Don't put a period where God has only placed a comma. REMEMBER THIS TODAY When things look bad, God is still good. When you can't see the way, God still knows the way. When you don't understand the plan, God still has a plan. When you feel surrounded, God is still with you. When you don't know what tomorrow holds, God is already there. So instead of saying, “God, look how big my problem is!” Start declaring, “Problem, look how BIG my God is!” Your situation may look bad today. BUT GOD IS NOT FINISHED! DECLARATION... I WILL TRUST GOD EVEN WHEN I DON'T UNDERSTAND! I will not allow what I see to destroy what I believe. I will not allow fear to speak louder than God's promises. I will not panic because things look bad. My God is faithful. My God is working. My God is with me. My God has not forgotten me. And even when I cannot see His hand, I will trust His heart. I'M GOING TO TRUST GOD UNTIL THE STORY CHANGES! PRAYER... Father, in the mighty name of Jesus, we thank You because You are trustworthy even when life is uncertain. Lord, some of us are facing situations that don't look good. Some are carrying family concerns, financial pressure, disappointment, unanswered questions, closed doors, and burdens nobody else knows about. But today we choose faith over fear and trust over worry. When we cannot understand Your plan, help us trust Your wisdom. When we cannot see Your hand, help us remember Your faithfulness. Remind us that You are working even when we cannot see it. Give us peace while we're waiting, strength while we're walking, and faith while we're believing. And when fear whispers, “It's over,” remind us that You have the final word! We declare that our circumstances will not determine our confidence in You. We trust You when it looks good. We trust You when it looks bad. We trust You when we understand. And we trust You when we don't. Because You have never stopped being God! In Jesus' mighty name, Amen! Enjoy your Sunday Church Services and God Bless!

Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😀🎀💝🎁🌺🌹MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY. SUNDAY AUGUST 30, 2O26. "THERE'S NOBODY LIKE HIM! (5)" ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?...’ Psalms 27:1 NKJV WE ALL need an encounter with the transfigured Christ; the One who is greater than Moses the law giver and Elijah the prophet, and all the other prophets who have ever lived. The One who wears the true crown of the universe, God’s beloved Son. We need to fall on our face and see Him as the Holy One, the Highest One, the Only One. As you do, all your fears, save the fear of Christ Himself, will melt like an ice cube on a summer day. You will agree with David: ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?’ In the book Prince Caspian, there is a great illustration of this. Lucy sees Aslan the lion for the first time in many years. He has changed since their last encounter. His size surprises her, and she tells him as much. ‘Aslan,’ says Lucy, ‘you’re bigger.’ He replies, ‘That is because you are older, little one.’ Lucy says, ‘Not because you are?’ He replies, ‘I am not. But every year you grow, you find me bigger.’ And so it is in our walk with Christ. The longer we serve Him, the greater He becomes. It’s not that He changes, but that we do. We see dimensions, aspects, characteristics we never saw before; increasing and astonishing increments of His purity, power, and uniqueness. Only when we have fallen at His feet in humility and total dependence will He say to us what He said to His disciples on the Mount where He was transfigured: ‘…“Arise, and do not be afraid”’ (Matthew 17:7 NKJV). Bible In A Year: Ezek 20-21, Matt 22:15-22, Ps 111, Pro 19:18-20. 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. [29/08, 10:05 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA* SUNDAY, 30TH AUGUST, 2026 *SEEKING THE BREAD OF LIFE: BEYOND TEMPORARY BLESSINGS* *TEXT:* JOHN 6:24–34 24. When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. 25. And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? 26. Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 27. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 28. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29. Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 30. They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? 31. Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 32. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. *Timeless Truth:* _But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you _*(Matthew 6:33)*. *INTRODUCTION* In 1997, the world watched as Mother Teresa continued her work among the poor and dying in Calcutta despite having very limited material resources. Her ministry was not built around accumulating possessions, but around serving people and pointing them toward Christ. Her life demonstrated that material needs, though important, cannot by themselves satisfy the deepest needs of the human heart. This truth is reflected in Jesus' encounter with the crowd in John 6. The people had witnessed the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand. They had received bread miraculously and when they could no longer find Jesus, they sought for Him. However, Jesus exposed the motive behind their search: *“You seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.”* (John 6:26) They were pursuing Jesus primarily because of what He could give them, rather than because of who He is. Jesus then redirected their attention from temporary bread to eternal nourishment: The passage challenges us to examine our motives: Are we seeking Christ because we love Him or primarily because of what we hope to receive from Him? The crowd came looking for Jesus, but Jesus knew why they were looking for Him. They had eaten the bread, enjoyed the miracle and wanted more. Their problem was not that they wanted bread. Their problem was that they wanted bread without fully recognizing the Bread of Life. This remains a danger for Christians today. We can seek God for: employment, healing, financial breakthrough, academic success, marriage, protection, promotion, material provision and all these things may legitimately be brought before God in prayer. However, if our relationship with Christ is reduced to what He can provide, we have misunderstood discipleship. Jesus is not merely the Provider of bread; He is the Bread of Life. The greatest blessing is not what God places in our hands, but who God places in our hearts. Physical bread sustains the body temporarily. Money can provide comfort temporarily. Success can bring recognition temporarily. Possessions can give pleasure temporarily, but none of these can satisfy the deepest hunger of the human soul. Only Christ can do that. Therefore, we must examine our priorities. Are we spending more time pursuing things than pursuing God? Are we more excited about God's gifts than about God's presence? Do we pray only when we need something or do we desire fellowship with Christ because we love Him? The answer of Jesus is clear: *Do not labour for the food which perisheth, but for the food which endureth to everlasting life.* Let us therefore, seek Christ above possessions, eternal life above temporary success and God's kingdom above worldly satisfaction. When Christ becomes our greatest treasure, we can enjoy God's blessings without allowing those blessings to become our god. The deepest hunger of the human heart can only be satisfied by Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life. *1. The Pursuit of Temporary Satisfaction* a. The crowd crossed the sea looking for Jesus, but their motivation was primarily physical. The people sought diligently for Jesus after discovering that He had left. Seeking Christ is good, but our motives matter. We should seek Jesus not merely for His blessings, but because He is worthy of our love and devotion. b. The crowd had witnessed a miracle and wanted more. They were attracted to what Jesus could do rather than surrendering themselves to who Jesus is. *(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)* (2 Corinthians 5:7) — Miracles can point us toward Christ, but miracles themselves must never become the foundation of our faith. Physical food satisfies temporarily; eventually, we become hungry again. *Questions* (i) What do I pursue most—God Himself or the blessings I hope to receive from Him? (ii) Have material possessions, comfort, success or recognition become more important to me than spiritual growth? *2. The Priority of Eternal Substance* a. Jesus redirected the crowd from physical food toward the nourishment that leads to eternal life. This does not mean Christians should neglect legitimate work or physical responsibilities. Rather, eternal things must have first priority. Our careers, businesses, education and possessions are important, but none should replace our pursuit of God. b. Jesus made it clear that eternal life ultimately comes from God. *For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:* (Ephesians 2:8). We cannot earn salvation through human achievement. When the crowd asked what they should do, Jesus answered: The central response God desires is genuine faith in Jesus Christ. *Questions* (i) Am I investing as much energy in my spiritual life as I invest in my career and material needs? (ii) Am I trusting Christ for salvation or am I depending on my good works and religious activities? *3. The Provision of Sufficient Bread* a. The crowd remembered the manna given to Israel in the wilderness and asked Jesus for a sign. They referred to Moses and the manna: They were focusing on an earlier miracle instead of recognizing the greater One standing before them. Past spiritual experiences are valuable testimonies, but we must continue walking with Christ today. b. Jesus corrected their understanding: *Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.*(John 6:32.) God's provision in the wilderness pointed beyond physical manna to Christ Himself. We can trust God to provide what we genuinely need while remembering that our greatest need is spiritual life in Christ. The crowd responded: *“Lord, give us this bread always.”* Although they still misunderstood, their request provided an opportunity for Jesus to reveal the truth that became explicit in the following verse: *And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst* (John 6:35).Jesus Himself is the ultimate provision for the deepest hunger of the human soul. *Questions* (i) Where do I turn when I experience emotional, spiritual or inner emptiness? (ii) Am I allowing Christ to satisfy my deepest spiritual hunger through His Word and fellowship? *Prayer Points* 1. Lord, help me to seek You above every temporary possession, achievement and earthly ambition.🙏 2. Father, create within me a deeper hunger and thirst for Your Word, Your presence and Your righteousness.🙏 3. Lord, teach me to trust Your provision and to remain content with what You graciously provide.🙏 4. Lord Jesus, draw those who are spiritually empty and searching, to Yourself and help them discover that You alone can give eternal life.🙏 *Hymns:* I’d Rather Have Jesus *THE BIBLE IN ONE* YEAR:ESTHER 1-5 [29/08, 10:05 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) SUNDAY 30TH AUGUST, 2026``` *SEEKING JESUS RIGHTLY* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️✝️✅🤔🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:JOHN 6:24-34```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed" (JOHN 6:27).*_ *Happiness is a lifetime pursuit, but sadly, it is rarely sought rightly. Youths seek it in alcohol, drugs or pornography and end up in self-destruction. Adults seek it in marriage, money, mansions but end up in unfathomable failure, frustration and great pain. As Solomon makes clear in Ecclesiastes, any earthly thing that you seek to satisfy the inner void is like chasing soap bubbles. You catch one only to have it burst in your hand.* *Our text opens with a narrative about seekers of Jesus. Seeking Jesus is a good thing, but it is not enough. What you seek Him for is more important. The sinner must seek Him for salvation, recognising he is spiritually bankrupt without His gift of salvation. Sadly, the crowd in our text sought Jesus for temporal gratification, not eternal salvation! Jesus saw their motive for seeking Him and punctured their search with a scathing, incisive, yet profoundly true remark: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled".* *The Bible is clear that our ultimate source of happiness and pleasure is God. David wrote, "In thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore". Jesus told the disciples: "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full". We will find fullness of joy and pleasures forever when we seek the Lord rightly.* *Beloved, never seek the Lord for superficial motives. They are a mirage; bubbles that never last. Beyond the bread (healing, deliverance, prosperity and miracles) that Christ gives, seek Him who is the Bread of Life, the Bread from heaven. Be discreet to shun dispensing your life energy on labouring for perishable material things that will never satisfy the imperishable soul. "Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not?" (Isaiah 55:2). He still saves as many as would come to Him for salvation and restores backsliders who truly repent. God does not despise genuine hunger and thirst for righteousness. "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*It is self-cheating to seek the Lord only for material or temporary blessings.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *ESTHER 1-5*📜📜 Seeking Jesus Rightly https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 253: MY PORTION FOR EVER; GHS 244: ALL THINGS IN JESUS; AND GHS 77: I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS;* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna30thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [29/08, 10:05 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```SUNDAY 30TH AUGUST, 2026``` *IN HIS SECRET PLACE - 2* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🗣️🙏🏽🙌🏽 📜📜```TEXT:PSALM 91:10-16```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways" (PSALM 91:10-11).*_ *In the early hours of February 6, 2023, thousands were confirmed dead in the aftermath of two huge earthquakes in Syria. Baby Aya (meaning miracle in Arabic) was still connected to her mother by her umbilical cord when she was rescued from the rubble during the earthquake disaster in Syria. Her mother, father and all four of her siblings died after the quake hit the town of Jindayris in Syria.* *Aya survived, although she was in such a bad state. She had bumps, bruises, and was cold and barely breathing when she arrived in the hospital. Fortunately, the hospital manager, Khalid Attiah, had a daughter just four months older than she. The wife offered to breastfeed Aya alongside her own daughter. What a divine protection!* *Who would have thought that such a child would still be alive under the debris? God kept her alive in His secret place. The Lord has promised to give His angels charge over you to keep you from calamity. His promises are sure. "The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul" (Psalm 121:7).* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*His promises are sure.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*He watches over His own.*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Lord, I hide under Your wings for refuge.*_ In His Secret Place - 2 https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday30thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [29/08, 10:05 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```SUNDAY 30TH AUGUST, 2026``` *BEARING ONE ANOTHER'S BURDEN* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🤝🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```GALATIANS 6:1-4```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Sometime ago, at a special Olympics event, nine contestants (all physically disabled), assembled at the starting line for a 100-yard race. At the sound of the whistle, they started out all happy and eager to run the race and win. As they were running, one of them stumbled on the track, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry, they slowed down and looked back. Then all of them turned around and went back to the fallen athlete. Lifting him up, they walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood to cheer them for several minutes. *This was a practical act of bearing one another's burden. More than winning for ourselves, what matters in this life is helping others to win, even if it means slowing down. A candle loses nothing by lightning another candle.* *The lesson for us here is that we must show love, concern and care for others. God is much interested in how we show love to our neighbours than the number of laurels we gather. The boy or girl next to you is in pain - show love to him or her. When we care for one another, the burden becomes lighter.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*Lord, help me to learn to always give a helping hand to someone in need.*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *Romans 15:1-3* Bearing One Another's Burden https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk30thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]. 2. Morning Prayer for today. MP.i. Morning Prayer A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. ⏤ Psalm 122:1 True prayer is not asking God for what we want, but what He wants. ⏤ Wesley L. Duewel Father, as we pause to rest this day with You, the great feverish world keeps throbbing on. May something of Your blessed Sunday peace flow out into this restless world and quiet it. Let this day be a true blessing to all Your people, and may the influence of this day reach far and wide, making its power felt throughout the world. We ask that Your grace be given so that all who worship You today may receive a blessing. Let Your blessing be upon all assemblies that gather for worship and upon all Sunday schools. May there be divine power in the preaching of Your word. May lost sinners be convicted and led to repentance. May Christians be strengthened and encouraged. May those who are sorrowful be comforted. May this day bring new strength and heavenly impulses to children and young people. May our home be blessed and enriched by this day of rest and worship. May Your life from Heaven come down and make our land holier, purer, and sweeter. O God, Your cause on earth sometimes seems to falter. Your church does not always appear to be earnest. The world is earnest; every energy of evil is active. Wicked people are busy in their wickedness, while the followers of Jesus seem to be asleep! Your kingdom does not seem to be advancing among the nations. We pray again, "May Your kingdom come." Pour out Your Spirit upon all who bear the name of Jesus. Ignite revival fires in all parts of the church. We pray for ourselves, that we may be quickened in our spiritual life. Let a blessing be upon Your whole church, and may Your cause receive a divine impulse that will be felt around the world. Revive Your work among Your people. Hear our prayers and give us Your blessing through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/56/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

2 Samuel 16 1 When David had gone a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine. 2 “Why do you have these?” asked the king. Ziba replied, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness.” 3 “Where is your master’s grandson?” asked the king. And Ziba answered, “Indeed, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he has said, ‘Today, the house of Israel will restore to me the kingdom of my grandfather.’” 4 So the king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!” “I humbly bow before you,” said Ziba. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king!” 5 As King David approached...

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE : SATURDAY 29th AUGUST 2026 THEME : Don’t OVERWORK YOURSELF Memorise: And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. — Genesis 2:2 (KJV) Read: 1 Kings 19:4-8 (KJV) 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. �5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. �6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. �7 And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. �8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. Message Elijah must have used up a lot of stored-up spiritual energy when he prayed, and fire fell from heaven in 1 Kings 18:36-38. After that, he drew upon the same reservoir of spiritual energy to summon rain from heaven. It had not rained for three and a half years, and the sky was absolutely clear, but he put a significant demand on his reservoir of spiritual energy by praying until it started raining (1 Kings 18:41-45). Furthermore, he used even more spiritual energy to run faster than the king's chariot (1 Kings 18:46) for a distance that some Bible scholars estimate to be about seven kilometres. After doing all these, he hadn't rested or taken time to recharge his spiritual energy when he received news that Queen Jezebel was after his life. His spiritual energy had been grossly depleted, so he ran for three days and nights to save his life. By the time he got to the juniper tree in today's Bible reading, he was so weak and spiritually drained that he prayed to God to end his life. As soon as he said this prayer, he fell asleep because he had not slept for more than three days. The angel of the Lord came to wake him up to eat, and after eating, he fell asleep again, even though he was aware that Queen Jezebel was still after his life. The angel of the Lord had to wake him up a second time to eat again because he needed strength for the great journey ahead of him. You must also take time out to rest and recharge your spiritual energy if you want to run the race ahead of you successfully. In Genesis 1:1-31, the Bible describes how God created one thing after another. It was a lot of work, but as the account progressed to Genesis 2:2, which is today's memory verse, you will see that God rested. Beloved, you cannot be wiser than God. If God Himself rested after creation, then you must also create time to rest from time to time. Do not finish one demanding task after another without taking time to rest. Many people have overworked themselves to the point of exhaustion, but this is not God's plan for anyone. He wants you to know when and how to take rests so you don't burn yourself out. Beloved, I pray that the Almighty God will shower you with His wisdom so you will know how to preserve your strength, in Jesus' name. Reflection: �Do you rest when you ought to? Bible in Ezekiel 18-20 Hymn 33: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah! Verse 1:�Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,�Pilgrim through this barren land;�I am weak, but Thou art mighty,�Hold me with Thy powerful hand;�Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,�Feed me till I want no more. Verse 2:�Open now the crystal fountain,�Whence the healing stream doth flow;�Let the fire and cloudy pillar�Lead me all my journey through;�Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,�Be Thou still my strength and shield. Verse 3: When I tread the verge of Jordan, Bid my anxious fears subside; Death of death, and hell's destruction, Land me safe on Canaan's side; Songs of praises, songs of praises, I will ever give to Thee. [29/08, 5:49 am] +234 806 008 5461: ‎PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL, SATURDAY, 29TH AUGUST, 2026- *DON'T OVERWORK YOURSELF I* ‎ PRAYER POINTS ‎ 1.Father, thank You for giving us the day, to work, and the night, for rest. Thank You for daily renewing my energy. 2.Father, thank You for the journey so far, and for the race ahead of me. Thank You for Your promise to abide with me to the very end. 3.Father, please help me to continually wait on You that my strength will be renewed; help me to run the race ahead of me and not be weary, to walk and never faint, in Jesus' name. 4.Father, please help me never to ignore the need to rest when I ought to, so i can fulfill Your assignment for me on earth, in Jesus' name. 5.Father, please strengthen me when I am weak and help me not to overwork myself so I can finish well and finish strong, in Jesus' name. 6.Father, please help me to be wise enough to create time to rest from time to time. Help me not to rely on my own strength or ability but to trust in Your grace to see me through all my works, in Jesus' name. 7.Father, please help me to know when and how to take rests so I don't burn myself out, in Jesus' name. 8.Father, please shower me with Your wisdom so I will know how to preserve my strength, in Jesus' name. 9.Father, please help all Your children to take adequate rest when they need to, so they can remain relevant in the kingdom assignment and to their families in Jesus' name. 10.Father, as many of Your ministers that are already exhausted and thinking of giving up, please encourage and renew their strength again, in Jesus'name. 11.Father, thank You for the life of Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye. ‎ Please grant him grace to remain spiritually refueled, recharged and reloaded for Your use, in Jesus' name. Bless his children (biological and spiritual). Help him to continue to produce sons and daughters to Your glory, in Jesus name ‎ ‎12.Father, please bless Your son that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, with wisdom and favour. Answer all his prayers beyond measure, and all those who have been broadcasting them, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎13.Father, please let every challenge and temptations, hindrance and obstacles of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus name. ‎ ‎14.Your personal petitions. ‎(Philippians 4:6) ‎ ‎15.In Jesus name I pray. ‎(John 14:13-14; 15:16) ‎ #GodBlessOurNation These prayers have no expiry dates! Please, pray them, irrespective of the time they get to you. Remain blessed, in Jesus name.[28/08, 7:59 pm] +234 806 008 5461: OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE : SATURDAY 29th AUGUST 2026 THEME : Don’t OVERWORK YOURSELF Memorise: And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. — Genesis 2:2 (KJV) Read: 1 Kings 19:4-8 (KJV) 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. �5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. �6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. �7 And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. �8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. Message Elijah must have used up a lot of stored-up spiritual energy when he prayed, and fire fell from heaven in 1 Kings 18:36-38. After that, he drew upon the same reservoir of spiritual energy to summon rain from heaven. It had not rained for three and a half years, and the sky was absolutely clear, but he put a significant demand on his reservoir of spiritual energy by praying until it started raining (1 Kings 18:41-45). Furthermore, he used even more spiritual energy to run faster than the king's chariot (1 Kings 18:46) for a distance that some Bible scholars estimate to be about seven kilometres. After doing all these, he hadn't rested or taken time to recharge his spiritual energy when he received news that Queen Jezebel was after his life. His spiritual energy had been grossly depleted, so he ran for three days and nights to save his life. By the time he got to the juniper tree in today's Bible reading, he was so weak and spiritually drained that he prayed to God to end his life. As soon as he said this prayer, he fell asleep because he had not slept for more than three days. The angel of the Lord came to wake him up to eat, and after eating, he fell asleep again, even though he was aware that Queen Jezebel was still after his life. The angel of the Lord had to wake him up a second time to eat again because he needed strength for the great journey ahead of him. You must also take time out to rest and recharge your spiritual energy if you want to run the race ahead of you successfully. In Genesis 1:1-31, the Bible describes how God created one thing after another. It was a lot of work, but as the account progressed to Genesis 2:2, which is today's memory verse, you will see that God rested. Beloved, you cannot be wiser than God. If God Himself rested after creation, then you must also create time to rest from time to time. Do not finish one demanding task after another without taking time to rest. Many people have overworked themselves to the point of exhaustion, but this is not God's plan for anyone. He wants you to know when and how to take rests so you don't burn yourself out. Beloved, I pray that the Almighty God will shower you with His wisdom so you will know how to preserve your strength, in Jesus' name. Reflection: �Do you rest when you ought to? Bible in Ezekiel 18-20 Hymn 33: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah! Verse 1:�Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,�Pilgrim through this barren land;�I am weak, but Thou art mighty,�Hold me with Thy powerful hand;�Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,�Feed me till I want no more. Verse 2:�Open now the crystal fountain,�Whence the healing stream doth flow;�Let the fire and cloudy pillar�Lead me all my journey through;�Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,�Be Thou still my strength and shield. Verse 3: When I tread the verge of Jordan, Bid my anxious fears subside; Death of death, and hell's destruction, Land me safe on Canaan's side; Songs of praises, songs of praises, I will ever give to Thee. PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL, SATURDAY, 29TH AUGUST, 2026- *DON'T OVERWORK YOURSELF I* ‎ PRAYER POINTS ‎ 1.Father, thank You for giving us the day, to work, and the night, for rest. Thank You for daily renewing my energy. 2.Father, thank You for the journey so far, and for the race ahead of me. Thank You for Your promise to abide with me to the very end. 3.Father, please help me to continually wait on You that my strength will be renewed; help me to run the race ahead of me and not be weary, to walk and never faint, in Jesus' name. 4.Father, please help me never to ignore the need to rest when I ought to, so i can fulfill Your assignment for me on earth, in Jesus' name. 5.Father, please strengthen me when I am weak and help me not to overwork myself so I can finish well and finish strong, in Jesus' name. 6.Father, please help me to be wise enough to create time to rest from time to time. Help me not to rely on my own strength or ability but to trust in Your grace to see me through all my works, in Jesus' name. 7.Father, please help me to know when and how to take rests so I don't burn myself out, in Jesus' name. 8.Father, please shower me with Your wisdom so I will know how to preserve my strength, in Jesus' name. 9.Father, please help all Your children to take adequate rest when they need to, so they can remain relevant in the kingdom assignment and to their families in Jesus' name. 10.Father, as many of Your ministers that are already exhausted and thinking of giving up, please encourage and renew their strength again, in Jesus'name. 11.Father, thank You for the life of Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye. ‎ Please grant him grace to remain spiritually refueled, recharged and reloaded for Your use, in Jesus' name. Bless his children (biological and spiritual). Help him to continue to produce sons and daughters to Your glory, in Jesus name ‎ ‎12.Father, please bless Your son that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, with wisdom and favour. Answer all his prayers beyond measure, and all those who have been broadcasting them, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎13.Father, please let every challenge and temptations, hindrance and obstacles of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus name. ‎ ‎14.Your personal petitions. ‎(Philippians 4:6) ‎ ‎15.In Jesus name I pray. ‎(John 14:13-14; 15:16) ‎ #GodBlessOurNation These prayers have no expiry dates! Please, pray them, irrespective of the time they get to you. Remain blessed, in Jesus name.

Need to know. WHY DID GOD ALLOW DAVID TO WAIT SO LONG AFTER ANOINTING HIM KING? David was already chosen. Samuel had already poured the oil over his head. God had already declared His purpose. Yet David didn't immediately sit on the throne. Instead, he went back to the sheep. Then came years of running. Years of hiding in caves. Years of being hunted by Saul. Imagine knowing you were anointed for something greater—but seeing absolutely no evidence of it. *Why would God anoint David and then make him wait?* Because the throne wasn't the only thing God was preparing. *God was preparing David for the throne.* The oil could announce the calling. But the wilderness would develop the character required to carry it. David learned courage while facing lions and bears. He learned dependence on God while hiding in caves. He learned restraint when he had opportunities to kill Saul but refused to take God's timing into his own hands. He learned leadership while gathering a group of desperate men around him. The waiting wasn't wasted. *It was preparation.* And perhaps that's what God is doing in your life right now. You prayed for the opportunity—but you're still waiting. You prayed for the marriage—but you're still single. You prayed for the breakthrough—but nothing seems to be changing. You prayed for the promotion—but someone else got it. Don't automatically assume the delay means God has rejected you. Sometimes God gives you the promise before He gives you the position because *the process must prepare you for the promise.* If David had received the throne immediately, he might never have become the man capable of carrying it. So don't despise your wilderness. Don't despise the small beginnings. Don't despise the hidden season. The shepherd's field was part of David's preparation. The cave was part of his preparation. The waiting was part of his preparation. *And your waiting season may be preparing you for something you are not yet ready to carry.* Keep growing. Keep praying. Keep serving. Keep trusting. The oil may already be on your head. The throne may simply be waiting for God's appointed time. *Your delay may not be denial. It may be divine preparation.* Caption: David was anointed long before he became king. Sometimes God gives you the promise first and uses the waiting season to prepare you for its fulfillment.

Sometimes the battle is internal. Your spouse can be used as a weapon against your calling and ministry. We must be honest about this —we cannot always direct our spiritual energy toward external enemies, even when unseen forces may be the instigating factor. Many people are excited to marry a pastor, but the reality is that being a pastor's spouse is incredibly challenging. You may not have been called to ministry alongside the pastor initially, but once you marry the pastor, you become part of the calling. It becomes your responsibility to support that ministry. In my counseling sessions, I encountered a painful scenario: a pastor whose spouse refuses to support the ministry. Before marriage, this spouse knew the pastor's calling, attended the pastor's services, completed newcomers' classes, and even earned a certification from the church's theological school. Yet after the wedding, the spouse chose not to stand with the pastor —refusing to support the ministry or even attend church with the pastor. The excuse was Doctrinal differences. My question has been this: If doctrinal differences existed, why go through with the marriage in the first place? Why use that as a reason to sabotage the pastor's calling later on? Scripture addresses bad husbands, but it does not overlook bad wives. As Proverbs 21:19 states: "It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman." A husband's godliness does not automatically make his wife godly; every individual is accountable to God for their own conduct. In this particular case, extensive counseling was invested to resolve the conflict. However, the spouse ultimately decided that divorce was preferable to submitting to the pastor's leadership in this matter. What advice would you offer to this pastor and the spouse? Leave your thought in the comments session.

In addition to the admonitions of Peter (1 Peter 5:8) and James (James 4:7) regarding spiritual vigilance in resisting temptation, Paul also had something to say about it. After noting how the Israelites had succumbed to temptation in the wilderness (1 Corinthians 10:1-11), he warned the Corinthians: “If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful . . . . When you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (vv. 12-13). The apostle lists two examples of how the “way out” can sometimes involve fleeing. He says we’re to “flee from idolatry” (v. 14) and “sexual immorality” (6:18). The Holy Spirit helps us to stand firm against the enemy.