•A Prayer for Fall•
By Anthony Valente
👉 Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”... View More•A Prayer for Fall•
By Anthony Valente
👉 Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”
It is about to be a time of season change here. As I looked outside my kitchen window, the tree across the street gave me a preview of what is to come. The green leaves are starting to turn into vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows. The season of fall is a reminder to us in many ways of the underlying work of our Creator that comes forth. Just like these leaves become brand new and beautified, by the help of the Holy Spirit, our lives can go through the same type of process of spiritual transformation.
Today as we pray for the upcoming fall, may it be a reminder to us of the work of God in our lives and hearts. We are being made into His image and transformed into His likeness. As Ecclesiastes shares, there is a season for everything, and we can press into this season of Autumn and reflect on our great God.
Let's Pray.
✝️ Dear Creator of All,
Thank you for the beautiful changes that are coming. Thank you for the crisp fall air, the colorful unveiling of your glory, the harvest of many fruits and vegetables, and the finale of your year-long process. As we reflect on Your goodness today, thank You for the season that reminds us that You make all things new. Thank you for the time of year that brings coolness, abundance, and bright colors.
As I look at your creation through nature, would You remind me of Your glory? Reveal to me Your power and Your grace. No matter what I am going through in this time, help me to open my eyes to see the visual that You are working and are not done with me. I confess the areas of sin and darkness in my life. Help me Holy Spirit to be renewed by You day by day. I lay down my agenda. I lay down my plans for what life should look like and entrust myself to you. Just as you make the trees look more beautiful than before, Your plans and your ways are higher than my own.
You say in Psalm 104:19, “He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down.” You are the One who created the moon to reveal the season. Different times of year have different lengths of days for a reason. Different seasons have different temperatures and beauties about them. Fall is such a lively and exciting time of celebration and life. Help my soul to join in with the praise from nature, worshiping You, the Creator.
Jesus, You celebrated the feast of trumpets, the day of atonement, and the feast of tabernacles during this season of fall. These were times of repentance, forgiveness, joy, and celebration. As we stand on this side of the cross and resurrection, may we not forget the work that You have done on behalf of all who accept You as Savior Jesus. We pray that we would allow You to examine our hearts and refine any areas that need to be made more like You.
Help us to be reminded of this in this season of the saving grace of Christ. Help us to remember that we have been given such forgiveness and identity in You.
Lord, the leaves that are turning are dying and becoming more beautiful. Would this be a visual reminder to me to die to myself, pick up my cross, and follow You each day? To live is Christ, to die is gain. Help me to not live by my flesh but by the Spirit so that others can see You. I pray my life would be an aroma of You. May others see my actions and hear my words and know that You are the Living God and You love them.
Fall is also a time of slowing down. Father, would you enable me to remember to pace myself? Would you help me to find rest in You and strength to accomplish the tasks ahead with You? Help me to live out of a place of being secure in You.
AMEN 🙏
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
(Galatians 6:9)
He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
(Luke 10:2)
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart, yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
(Ecclesiastes 3:11)
Yes, the LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.
(Psalm 85:12)
Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
(James 3:18)
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
(2 Corinthians 9:6)
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
(Habakkuk 3:17-18)
Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops
(Proverbs 3:9)
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
(Matthew 6:26)
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
(Hebrews 12:11)
“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."
(Jeremiah 29:11)
Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.
(James 5:7)
(pic verse)
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
(Isaiah 40:8)
•A Prayer When You Need Practice Trusting God•
By Anthony Valente
👉 “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take t... View More•A Prayer When You Need Practice Trusting God•
By Anthony Valente
👉 “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit…”
(Ephesians 6:16-18a)
My faith swings back and forth like a pendulum. One minute I trust God to see me through my challenges, and the next I fear the worst. In the morning I’m full of faith while I read the promises of God in my Bible, but by 4:00 pm God’s faithfulness seems like a distant memory, and anxious thoughts fill my mind.
Most of us can relate to having faith one day and losing it the next. During Sunday morning worship, we sing and believe God moves mountains and works miracles. But on Wednesday as we run our kid to the emergency room or work late to meet a deadline, worry sets in again.
We can take encouragement from Paul’s instruction in Ephesians 6: “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith.” It reminds us faith is something we can put on, or practice, during every difficulty we could possibly experience.
The image of a soldier taking up his weapons speaks of practice. A soldier’s skill grows over time as he trains to prepare for battle. In the same way, our faith grows little by little, through constant exercise. Our knowledge of Scripture and our ability to apply it to our own situation grows through practice.
Like a soldier needs continual training to maintain peak performance, we need a regular workout of daily Bible reading and prayer. It prepares us to meet the challenges of each day and grow stronger over time. When we feel worried and anxious, we can exercise our faith muscles by reminding ourselves of God’s promises and turning worried thoughts into prayers.
Friend, you may be trembling with fear, eaten with worry, or ridden with anxiety, but you can practice trusting God today. You can practice by reading your Bible (the sword of the Spirit) and rehearsing God’s promises in your mind. Even if you don’t consider yourself a prayer warrior, you can practice by praying for one minute right now.
And if you find yourself trusting God one moment and panicking the next like me, don’t beat yourself up over it. Draw near to God and confess your doubt. Trust Him to cleanse you from sin; rest in His love for you. Then turn your focus away from yourself and your worries and towards God, the all-powerful One who can do far more than we ask or imagine. Let’s take up the shield of faith today.
Let’s Pray:
🙏 Dear Lord Jesus,
I come to You, the Author and Finisher of faith, and I confess I struggle often with fear, doubt, and worry. Lord, examine my heart and help me recognize my own anxious thoughts so I might surrender them to You. Forgive my unbelief and teach me to trust You. You are a merciful God, faithful to Your children, always abounding in wisdom and steadfast love.
Give me the grace and discipline I need to read the Scriptures each day and take up the shield of faith. Speak to me through Your Word and strengthen my mind against fear and anxiety. I pray Your peace would put my anxious thoughts to rest.
Teach me to pray as I lift up my concerns to You, one by one. Father, empower me to take up the shield of faith today even if I’m not sure I have it in me to believe. Lord, I choose to believe Your promises, and I will practice trusting You by rehearsing Your goodness and love in my mind.
In Jesus’ name,
AMEN 🙏
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
(Proverbs 3:5-6)
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans.
(Psalm 118:8)
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
(Hebrews 13:8)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
(Romans 15:13)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
(Romans 8:28)
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
(Isaiah 26:3)
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
(Psalm 37:4-6)
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
(Hebrews 11:6)
Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.
(Proverbs 16:20)
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
(Isaiah 41:10)
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
(Joshua 1:9)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:6-7)
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
(Matthew 6:25)
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
(Psalm 46:10)
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
(James 4:8)
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
(Hebrews 4:12)
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
(Exodus 14:21-22)
When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
(John 8:10-11)
(pic verse)
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,
(Ephesians 2:14)
Artist 👨🎨
I Am With You Always - David Delfeld
•A Prayer to Receive God's Favor in My Life•
By Anthony Valente
👉 “Surely, Lord, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield"... View More•A Prayer to Receive God's Favor in My Life•
By Anthony Valente
👉 “Surely, Lord, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield"
(Psalm 5:12)
Do you think God's mad at you? Or believe He's punishing you? What about withholding good things from you? So many people look around at what is happening to others, compare it to their lives, and then feel like God doesn't care about them. Have you ever felt that way? But the truth is, all the above is lies. The enemy lies to us about God and who He is, and we can't believe a word He whispers to us. He's a liar from the beginning. 1 John 3:8 describes how,
"The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work."
We want to remember that everything God tells us in His word is true, yet every word the devil speaks is a lie.
— 4 Lies the Devil Tells Us
1. God is withholding His favor from me. The truth is God isn't a withholder. "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless" (Psalm 84:11).
2. God loves other people more than me. Again, the devil lies to us because God's word reveals the truth of His being impartial (1 Peter 1:17), a Father who judges each person's work impartially. Likewise, we can be assured, "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere" (James 3:17).
3. God doesn't want to help me. Especially during trying times, the enemy wants us to think God has left us and we are alone. But Psalm 3:3, “But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high."
4. God has withdrawn His favor from me. Although the devil wants us to believe that we have lost God's favor because of something we did or didn't do, Proverbs 8:35 tells us, "For those who find Me find life and receive favor from the Lord." Likewise, Psalm 30:5 assures God's favor in our lives lasts a lifetime. And, as we grow in His ways, we continue to grow in His favor, too (Exodus 33:13).
— 3 Truth Concerning God's Favor
1. I have God's favor. Rather than believe the devil's lies, we want to remember because we belong to God, we have His favor. He doesn't withdraw or withhold it from us. As long as we live, for every day of our lives, we will have the favor of God.
2. His favor surrounds me. God's favor is like a shield around us, like a covering that goes where ever we go.
3. God's favor blesses my earthly endeavors. We can have confidence God is blessing our daily undertakings, establishing and blessing the work of our hands (Psalm 90:17).
Let's pray.
✝️ Dear Father,
Thank You for giving me Your favor to last my entire lifetime. I am forever grateful that I don't have to be afraid of losing it or fear you'll change Your mind about me. Teach me, Lord, to know and believe that because I belong to You, Your favor surrounds me like a shield daily. Lead me in believing the truth of Your word and not ever doubt it. Free me from the lies of the enemy who tries to keep me from walking in Your favor. Help me to discern his deception from Your truth. Daily remind me what Psalm 23:6) promises me, "Surely Your goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Thank You for a lifetime of favor establishing all the work of my hands here on earth.
In Jesus' name,
AMEN 🙏
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.
(Psalm 84:11)
For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
(Psalm 30:5)
Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.
(Jeremiah 33:3)
And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
(Luke 2:52)
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
(Psalm 23:5–6)
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.
(Proverbs 3:1-4)
And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
(Isaiah 58:11)
He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.
(Proverbs 18:22)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
(Ephesians 2:8-9)
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
(Matthew 6:31-32)
“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
(Numbers 6:24-26)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.
(Ephesians 1:3)
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
(Revelation 22:13)
“For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.
(Ezekiel 34:11-12)
For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”
(Isaiah 41:13)
(pic verse)
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
(Matthew 28:19)
Artist 👨🎨
I Am With You Always - David Delfeld
THE SEA OF GLASS BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD
WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN?
By Very Agent Of Change
... View MoreTHE SEA OF GLASS BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD
WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN?
By Very Agent Of Change

REVELATION 4:6
“And before the throne there was a sea of glass, like unto crystal.”
Beloved, there is a detail in Revelation that many people read but quickly pass over.
John was taken into the heavenly realm, and when he looked before the throne of God, he saw something astonishing:
A SEA OF GLASS.
Not ordinary water.
Not a normal sea.
John described it as something like crystal.
But why would God’s throne have a sea before it?
What was John actually seeing?
Let us go deeper.
1. THE SEA WAS BEFORE THE THRONE
Revelation 4:6 says:
“And before the throne there was a sea of glass, like unto crystal.”
Notice the location.
It was BEFORE the throne.
John was not describing something happening somewhere far away in heaven. He was describing what surrounded the immediate presence of God.
The throne represents God's sovereign rule.
The sea of glass was before that throne.
This gives us a picture of the majesty, purity, and overwhelming holiness surrounding God's presence.
2. JOHN DID NOT SAY IT WAS AN ORDINARY SEA
John did not simply say, “I saw a sea.”
He said it was:
“like unto crystal.”
This is important.
Revelation frequently uses earthly things to communicate heavenly realities that are difficult for human language to describe.
John was trying to describe something beyond ordinary human experience.
It was transparent.
It was brilliant.
It was magnificent.
Imagine standing before the throne of God and seeing something that looked like an enormous expanse of crystal stretching before Him.
The sight itself would communicate the greatness and glory of the One sitting on the throne.
3. THE SEA WAS COMPLETELY CALM
There is something else worth noticing.
The sea John saw was not described as a raging ocean.
It was a SEA OF GLASS.
Think about what happens when ordinary water is disturbed.
There are waves.
There is movement.
There is instability.
But before God's throne, John sees something resembling glass.
There is a picture of extraordinary stillness.
Human beings live in a world filled with storms, confusion, fear, wars, pressure and uncertainty.
But heaven reveals something different.
God is not struggling to maintain control.
God is seated on the throne.
Everything is beneath His authority.
4. GOD'S THRONE IS ABOVE THE CHAOS
Throughout Scripture, the sea can sometimes be associated with chaos, danger, or forces beyond human control.
But in Revelation 4, John sees the sea transformed into something like glass before God's throne.
Whatever interpretation one gives to the symbolism, the central picture is powerful:
THE THRONE OF GOD IS NOT THREATENED BY THE CHAOS OF CREATION.
God is above it.
God rules over it.
God is not frightened by what frightens mankind.
What looks uncontrollable to man is still under the authority of God.
5. THE SEA OF GLASS ALSO APPEARS AGAIN
Revelation 15:2 says:
“And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire.”
Now we see something even more mysterious.
In Revelation 4, John sees the sea of glass like crystal.
In Revelation 15, he sees the sea of glass mingled with fire, and standing upon it are those who had overcome the beast.
These believers had passed through persecution and remained faithful to God.
They are now standing before God.
There is a powerful lesson here:
THE STORM DID NOT HAVE THE FINAL WORD.
Their suffering did not end their story.
Their faithfulness brought them into the presence of God.
6. THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES WERE AROUND THE THRONE
Revelation 4:6 continues:
“And in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.”
Then these living creatures continually worship God.
They say:
“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty.”
This shows us that the sea of glass was not an isolated decoration.
It was part of a greater heavenly scene centered around God's throne and worship.
The throne is the center.
The worship is constant.
The glory belongs to God.
7. THE 24 ELDERS WERE ALSO THERE
Revelation 4:4 describes 24 elders sitting around the throne.
Later, they fall before God and worship Him.
So John sees:
THE THRONE.
THE SEA OF GLASS.
THE LIVING CREATURES.
THE 24 ELDERS.
THE WORSHIP OF HEAVEN.
Everything points toward one reality:
GOD IS WORTHY.
8. THE SEA OF GLASS TEACHES US SOMETHING ABOUT GOD'S HOLINESS
When you study Revelation 4, you begin to see that heaven is not presented as a place where God is ordinary.
Everything around the throne communicates majesty.
The living creatures declare His holiness.
The elders bow before Him.
The heavenly beings worship Him.
And before the throne is this magnificent sea like crystal.
It creates an atmosphere of purity, majesty and awe.
God is not merely powerful.
HE IS HOLY.
9. JOHN WAS SHOWN HEAVEN, BUT HE COULD ONLY DESCRIBE IT WITH EARTHLY WORDS
This is one of the most important things to understand when studying Revelation.
John repeatedly uses expressions such as:
“like”
“as it were”
“likened unto”
because he is describing visions that go beyond ordinary human experience.
Therefore, we should be careful about confidently declaring that every object in Revelation must correspond to a physical object exactly as we imagine it.
John was communicating what he saw using human language.
The revelation was real.
The imagery is powerful.
But some details are symbolic or represent realities that are greater than the earthly comparison being used.
10. THE GREATEST MESSAGE IS NOT THE SEA
Here is where many people miss the point.
They become fascinated with the sea of glass.
They ask:
“What exactly is it?”
“What is it made of?”
“How large is it?”
But Revelation 4 is not primarily trying to satisfy our curiosity about heavenly architecture.
The central message is the One sitting on the throne.
JOHN SAW THE THRONE.
AND HE SAW THE ONE WHO SAT UPON IT.
Everything else directs our attention toward Him.
11. EARTH HAS STORMS, BUT GOD HAS A THRONE
Beloved, remember this.
Your life may look like a storm right now.
Your family may be facing pressure.
Your finances may be difficult.
Your ministry may be going through a difficult season.
You may have questions you cannot answer.
But Revelation gives us a picture that is greater than our circumstances.
GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE.
Heaven is not in panic.
The throne has not moved.
God has not surrendered His authority.
12. THERE IS A DEEPER LESSON FOR THE CHILD OF GOD
Sometimes we look at our circumstances and conclude that everything is out of control.
But Revelation 4 reminds us to change our perspective.
John was on earth.
Then he was shown heaven.
And when he saw heaven, his understanding changed.
Sometimes what we need is not immediately a change in our circumstances.
Sometimes we need a revelation of WHO IS SITTING ON THE THRONE.
When you see the throne correctly, you begin to see your problems differently.
THE SEA MAY BE BEFORE THE THRONE.
BUT THE THRONE IS ABOVE THE SEA.
THE CHAOS DOES NOT SIT ON THE THRONE.
GOD DOES.
The sea of glass before God's throne is one of the most beautiful pictures in Revelation.
It points us toward the majesty surrounding God's presence and reminds us that heaven is centered on the sovereignty, holiness and worship of God.
John saw something that human language could barely explain.
But the greatest revelation was not the crystal-like sea.
It was THE THRONE.
And the One sitting upon it.
Child of God, when life becomes confusing, remember Revelation 4.
There is still a throne.
There is still a King.
And God is still worthy of worship.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE SEA OF GLASS REPRESENTS IN REVELATION 4:6?
•A Prayer against Complaining•
By Anthony Valente
👉 “Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!” ... View More•A Prayer against Complaining•
By Anthony Valente
👉 “Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!”
(James 5:9)
Here comes the nagging again. Have you ever been guilty of being a cloud of rain on a sunshine-filled day? In other words, have you been in a cycle of complaining? It is really easy to fall into the “glass half full” mentality. No, we are not supposed to be happy all of the time. However, as believers in Christ, we are called to be filled with the Holy Spirit, which means we live out His fruit in our lives. It just so happens that complaining is not on that list. Today, we will take time to pray against complaining in our own lives and press into gratitude by faith in Christ.
Let's pray.
🙏 Dear Lord,
We come before You today, thanking You for another day of life and another day of being Yours. You have sealed us by Your Holy Spirit; we are always Your children. However, we confess that we do not always live like Your children. We fall short every day in different ways. Please forgive us for our attitudes of the heart and words of our mouths that are full of complaints against you and against others. Instead of throwing out negativity, we pray that You would empower us to filter our frustrations through prayer and petition to You.
Thank You that You actually welcome our emotions. We recognize that You are a holy God. You are our only hope of having the right mentality and attitude throughout our days. Help us, Holy Spirit. We are crying out to You to enable us to live by Your Spirit and not by our flesh. We pray that You would help us to pick up our crosses and follow You. This means that even in our challenges, we desire that You would refine us into Your likeness.
Forgive us for times when we have chosen to use our thoughts and our words for tearing down rather than building up. You say in Philippians 2:14-16 “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that we may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then we will shine among them like stars in the sky as we hold firmly to the word of life. And then we will be able to boast on the day of Christ that we did not run or labor in vain.”
Lord, help us to work, live, and love without complaints. Help us to become pure and blameless. Help us to shine like stars in the sky. Would our gratitude, joy, and fullness of life be a bright light of intrigue where our neighbors around us would know that what we have is out of this world. Would they identify us as beautifully strange and abundantly loving. Would they not be able to say that we grumbled but that we were faithful.
Help us to live out James 5:9, that we would “not grumble against one another or we will be judged.” Forgive us for the struggles that we have to gossip or speak negatively of those around us. May our tongues be bridled for the sake of the gospel and those around us. When we are hurt or unhappy with the decisions of superiors, family members, or friends, may we have the utmost respect for them with our demeanor and our word choices.
Father, forgive us for how easy it is to speak against rather than speak for. Help us to be advocates for You, not slanderers. We cannot do this on our own. This is only by Your grace flooded in us by the power of Your Spirit. We are leaning upon You and declaring in Your name, Jesus, that we will denounce all areas of complaining. We pray that we would walk away from them. We ask that we would break up with the bad and marry the good. We pray that we would be firmly established with Your Word and that we will stand by it as our foundation to live lives worthy of the calling of Your children. Help us to represent You better. Thank You for new mercies every morning. Thank You for the spirit of thanksgiving that You provide.
In Jesus' name,
AMEN 🙏
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
(Romans 12:2)
Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
(1 Peter 4:9)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
(Romans 8:28)
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
(Ephesians 4:29)
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
(Psalm 100:4)
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
(Philippians 4:11-13)
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
(Proverbs 17:22)
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
(Hebrews 13:5)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(1 John 1:9)
Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
(Ephesians 5:20)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
(Romans 15:13)
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
(Philippians 4:4)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
(Philippians 4:6-8)
Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For the LORD your God is the one who will go with you; he will not leave you or abandon you.”
(Deuteronomy 31:6)
May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.
(Psalm 104:34)
(pic verse)
But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
(John 14:26)
Artist 👨🎨
I Am With You Always - David Delfeld
•A Prayer to Delight Yourself in the Lord•
By Anthony Valente
👉 "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” ... View More•A Prayer to Delight Yourself in the Lord•
By Anthony Valente
👉 "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
(Proverbs 37:4)
I have to be honest. There are many things that bring me delight. The sound of a baby’s laugh. The gritty feeling of sand under my feet at a bright blue beach. A warm hug from one of my children. The words, “I love you Dad," as they flow from the lips of my children.
The smell of fresh brownies, the sound of my favorite worship band, and seeing long-lost friends can create moments of intense joy. The truth is, I have mastered the art of finding happiness in everyday external pleasures. Yet, when I first read the words “Delight yourself in the Lord,” I was met with unexpected questions. What does it mean to find delight or extreme excitement as it concerns the Lord?
If I can be honest, for many years, how I viewed the Lord at any given moment was based on my external circumstances. When things were going well, I was thrilled to brag about Him and tell others about His goodness. Yet, when things were more difficult and my expectations weren’t met, I wondered where the Lord was in this situation. Did He not see my peril or care about my struggles? In these moments, when I lost loved ones, when sickness struck my home, when friends were no longer friends, year after year, I made the choice to no longer delight.
After years of choosing to have joy in the Lord, only when He was following my lead the Lord brought conviction. My ways were like a child who loved a parent only when it was convenient. As a single father this broke my heart as I realized the error of being a Christian who used God for his blessings but rejected Him when corrections or even trials arose. This is not delighting in the Lord.
Today, my prayer for you is that you find your joy in the Lord. No matter what the situation looks like around you, you make the choice to run to Him. I have found over, and over that when we choose to love the Lord not for what He can do or is doing in our lives but for the essence of who He is, we can’t help but delight in Him. For, He is the one who gave us breath in our bodies. He is the one who knows our thoughts and who has a plan for our lives. He is the one who died for us that we may have eternal life. The Lord is a constant, our comfort, and though He is majestic enough to put the stars in the sky, He calls us friends. This, my friend should bring us unspeakable joy. May we delight in you all the days of our lives, in Jesus' name!
Let’s pray.
🙏 Lord, I thank You for who You are. I praise Your wonderful works. For You are the Creator of all, yet so intimately near. Forgive me for the times that I’ve made You an afterthought. Teach me to come to You with the humility and joy of a child. God, show me the times when I become more excited about worldly pleasures than following Your will. Father, I delight in You. Help me to never forget just how good You are. In Jesus' Name.
AMEN 🙏
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
(John 15:7)
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
(Psalm 51:10)
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
(1 John 5:14-15)
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
(Psalm 46:10)
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.
(1 Peter 1:8)
The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
(Proverbs 29:25)
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
(John 15:16)
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
(Psalm 73:26)
I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
(Psalm 16:18)
And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.
(Isaiah 30:21)
He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.
(Psalm 145:19)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
(Romans 8:28)
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
(Psalm 119:105)
Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.
(Psalm 1:1-6)
Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge.
(Psalm 16:1)
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
(Psalm 32:7)
(pic verse)
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
(James 4:8)
Artist 👨🎨
I Am With You Always - David Delfeld
ARE MODERN-DAY PROPHETS BIBLICAL?
By John Domino Sanchez Asis
Before You Say “God Told Me,” Read This—Because Not Every Voice That Sounds Spiritual Came From God... View MoreARE MODERN-DAY PROPHETS BIBLICAL?
By John Domino Sanchez Asis
Before You Say “God Told Me,” Read This—Because Not Every Voice That Sounds Spiritual Came From God
There are few sentences more powerful in Christian circles than these:
“God told me.”
Four words.
And suddenly the conversation changes.
Because how do you argue with God?
Someone says, “God told me you should marry me.”
“God told me to start this ministry.”
“God told me you need to give.”
“God showed me what is going to happen.”
“The Lord told me what you need to do.”
And sometimes the person speaking may sincerely believe it.
Sometimes they may even be right about something.
But sincerity is not Scripture.
Accuracy alone is not proof of divine authority.
Charisma is not confirmation.
A large following is not confirmation.
A title is not confirmation.
And saying “Thus says the Lord” does not automatically mean the Lord said anything.
That is precisely why this question matters.
Are modern-day prophets biblical?
The answer requires more care than a quick “yes” or “no,” because faithful Christians who affirm the full authority of Scripture have reached different conclusions about whether the New Testament gift of prophecy continues today.
But there is something Christians on every side of that debate desperately need to remember:
God never commands His people to surrender discernment.
He commands us to use it.
Paul wrote:
“Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.”
—1 Thessalonians 5:20–21
The Greek is striking.
“Prophecies” is προφητείας (prophēteias).
And “test” comes from δοκιμάζω (dokimazō)—to examine, test, prove, or determine genuineness.
In other words, biblical faith is not gullibility dressed in Christian vocabulary.
The church is not commanded to believe every supernatural claim.
We are commanded to test.
And that becomes uncomfortable when the person claiming divine revelation is someone we admire.
Someone with a microphone.
Someone with millions of views.
Someone who seems unusually spiritual.
Someone whose conference fills stadiums.
Someone whose predictions occasionally appear astonishing.
Or perhaps someone sitting across from you at church saying quietly:
“God gave me a word for you.”
The moment somebody claims to speak for God, the stakes become enormous.
Because throughout Scripture, God takes His words seriously.
Very seriously.
Jeremiah lived among people who claimed divine revelation while speaking from their own imagination.
God said:
“I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’”
—Jeremiah 23:25
Then comes a chilling description:
“Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully.”
—Jeremiah 23:28
That distinction still matters.
There is an enormous difference between:
“I think God may be leading me…”
and:
“God said.”
One leaves room for human fallibility.
The other invokes divine authority.
And we should tremble before casually putting words into the mouth of the Almighty.
The Old Testament Hebrew word commonly translated “prophet” is נָבִיא (nāḇîʾ).
Biblical prophets were not simply motivational speakers with spiritual intuition.
They were commissioned messengers.
Again and again Scripture introduces prophetic revelation with words equivalent to:
“Thus says the LORD.”
כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה
Ko amar YHWH.
“Thus says the LORD.”
That is not branding.
That is authority.
And Scripture gives severe warnings about falsely claiming that authority.
Deuteronomy 18 warns Israel about the prophet who presumptuously speaks a word God has not commanded.
Jeremiah condemns prophets who speak “visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.”
Ezekiel speaks against those who “follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing.”
That should make every Christian slow down before saying:
“God told me.”
But now we come to the New Testament.
Because something extraordinary happens.
At Pentecost, Peter explains the outpouring of the Holy Spirit by quoting the prophet Joel:
“And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh…”
Then:
“your sons and your daughters shall prophesy…”
—Acts 2:17
Later, Acts describes prophets in the early church.
Agabus is specifically named.
Acts 13 mentions “prophets and teachers” at Antioch.
Acts 21 tells us that Philip the evangelist had four unmarried daughters “who prophesied.”
Paul discusses prophecy extensively in 1 Corinthians 12–14.
So Christians cannot honestly pretend prophecy disappears the moment we turn the page from Malachi to Matthew.
It is clearly present in the New Testament church.
But neither may we simply assume that every person today calling himself or herself “Prophet” possesses the same authority as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Peter, Paul, or the foundational witnesses through whom God gave Scripture.
That is where discernment becomes essential.
Paul writes that the church was:
“built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.”
—Ephesians 2:20
Notice the imagery.
Foundation.
A foundation is laid.
Jesus Christ remains the cornerstone.
The apostles occupied a unique, foundational role in redemptive history.
And whatever position Christians take concerning contemporary prophecy, nobody today gets to write another Gospel of Matthew.
Nobody gets to add another chapter to Romans.
Nobody gets to stand beside Scripture and announce:
“My revelation carries equal authority.”
The canon is not waiting for your favorite preacher's sequel.
Scripture remains the measuring line.
This is why Isaiah's ancient words remain so relevant:
“To the teaching and to the testimony!”
—Isaiah 8:20
And why Paul could tell Timothy that the sacred writings are able to make him “wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus,” before declaring:
“All Scripture is breathed out by God…”
—2 Timothy 3:16
The Greek word translated “breathed out by God” is θεόπνευστος (theopneustos).
God-breathed.
That is an extraordinary category.
Your impressions are not theopneustos.
My feelings are not theopneustos.
A preacher's dream is not automatically theopneustos.
A viral prophecy is not theopneustos.
Scripture is.
And this distinction could save someone from enormous spiritual damage.
Because perhaps you have been wounded by someone who weaponized the phrase:
“God told me.”
Maybe somebody manipulated you with prophecy.
Maybe someone predicted something that never happened, then quietly changed the explanation afterward.
Maybe someone used spiritual authority to control your relationship.
Your money.
Your decisions.
Your conscience.
Maybe you were afraid to question them because you thought questioning them meant questioning God.
Listen carefully.
Testing a claimed revelation is not rebellion against God.
God Himself tells you to test.
The apostle John writes:
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God…”
—1 John 4:1
Why?
“For many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
John did not say:
Believe everything supernatural.
He said:
Test it.
And his immediate test is profoundly Christ-centered.
What does this message say about Jesus Christ?
Because biblical prophecy never exists to make the prophet the star.
The Spirit glorifies Christ.
Jesus said concerning the Holy Spirit:
“He will glorify me.”
—John 16:14
That single truth exposes much of what passes for spirituality.
If someone's “prophetic ministry” constantly makes you obsessed with the prophet instead of Christ…
Be careful.
If you need their next livestream more desperately than you need Scripture…
Be careful.
If questioning their words is treated as questioning God…
Be careful.
If every revelation somehow ends with money flowing toward them…
Be careful.
If Jesus becomes background scenery while the personality on the stage becomes indispensable…
Something has gone terribly wrong.
The Holy Spirit does not come to build celebrity kingdoms.
He glorifies Jesus.
And here we must deal fairly with an important disagreement among Bible-believing Christians.
Some Christians are cessationists. Broadly speaking, they believe certain revelatory or sign gifts associated with the apostolic era no longer function in the church in the same way after the foundational apostolic period.
Other Christians are continuationists. They believe gifts such as prophecy continue, while insisting that contemporary prophetic impressions must be tested and cannot rival, correct, supplement, or override Scripture.
There are thoughtful, Christ-loving Christians on both sides.
So this article will not pretend a centuries-old theological discussion can be solved with a slogan.
But whichever position you hold, Scripture gives boundaries that cannot safely be ignored.
No modern revelation outranks Scripture.
No prophecy may contradict the Gospel.
No prophet becomes spiritually untouchable.
No supernatural manifestation proves by itself that God authorized the messenger.
No Christian should surrender conscience and biblical discernment to someone merely because that person claims divine revelation.
And Jesus Himself gave us an even more frightening warning.
“False christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders…”
—Matthew 24:24
Think about that.
Jesus did not say deception would always look ridiculous.
Sometimes deception looks supernatural.
That means “something incredible happened” is not enough.
Signs are not the ultimate test.
Jesus is.
Truth is.
Scripture is.
The Gospel is.
Character matters too.
Jesus said:
“You will recognize them by their fruits.”
—Matthew 7:16
Not merely by their predictions.
Not by their followers.
Not by their stage presence.
Fruit.
And what does the Spirit produce?
“Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
—Galatians 5:22–23
So perhaps the question should not merely be:
“Can this prophet tell me something about my future?”
Perhaps we should also ask:
Does this ministry make much of Christ?
Does it honor Scripture?
Does it produce repentance?
Does it display humility?
Is there accountability?
Can the leader be questioned?
Are failed claims acknowledged honestly?
Is money handled transparently?
Does the teaching lead people toward Jesus—or dependence upon the prophet?
Because there is something more important than knowing what will happen next Tuesday.
Knowing Christ.
We sometimes become so desperate for a word about tomorrow that we neglect the Word God has already given us today.
We want God to tell us who we will marry.
Meanwhile Scripture tells us how to love.
We want God to reveal our next career move.
Meanwhile Scripture tells us to work faithfully and honestly.
We want a prophecy about financial breakthrough.
Meanwhile Jesus warns us about greed.
We want someone to reveal our destiny.
Meanwhile Jesus says:
“Follow me.”
Maybe the most neglected revelation in some Christian lives is the Bible sitting unopened beside the bed.
And perhaps that hurts because we would rather receive a mysterious secret than obey a clear command.
“Forgive.”
We want another word.
“Repent.”
Another prophecy.
“Love your enemies.”
Something deeper, Lord.
“Take up your cross and follow me.”
And suddenly the problem is not that God has been silent.
The problem is that what He has already said costs us something.
That is where this conversation stops being about famous prophets on the internet.
Now it becomes about us.
Because there is another danger hiding underneath our obsession with prophetic voices.
Sometimes we want certainty more than we want God.
We are terrified of making the wrong decision.
Terrified of tomorrow.
Terrified of losing someone.
Terrified of suffering.
So when someone appears and says, “God showed me your future,” something inside us desperately wants to believe.
Not necessarily because we love truth.
Because we hate uncertainty.
And that fear can make us vulnerable.
But Christianity was never an invitation to control tomorrow.
It was an invitation to trust Jesus with tomorrow.
Faith does not mean knowing everything that is coming.
Faith means knowing the One who will still be there when it comes.
Maybe nobody has a prophetic word about your next five years.
Jesus is still Lord.
Maybe you do not know whether the door will open.
Jesus is still Lord.
Maybe your prayer has not been answered the way you hoped.
Jesus is still Lord.
Maybe the diagnosis frightened you.
Jesus is still Lord.
Maybe someone you trusted failed you.
Jesus is still Lord.
Maybe a preacher disappointed you.
Jesus is still Lord.
Maybe somebody once spoke “God's will” over your life and those words became chains around your soul.
Jesus is still Lord.
And Jesus did not die so that another human being could become the mediator you cannot live without.
“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
—1 Timothy 2:5
One mediator.
Jesus Christ.
This is where scandal becomes grace.
Because Scripture is filled with people whose lives looked finished.
Peter denied Jesus.
Three times.
Scandal.
Then the risen Christ restored him.
Grace.
Paul persecuted Christians.
Scandal.
Then Jesus confronted him, saved him, and transformed the persecutor into a preacher of the faith he once tried to destroy.
Grace.
The Samaritan woman's history was complicated and exposed.
Scandal.
Then she encountered Jesus and ran toward the very people she might once have avoided.
Grace.
The thief beside Jesus had no lifetime left to repair his reputation.
Scandal.
Then he turned toward the crucified King and heard words of paradise.
Grace.
That is the Gospel.
Not humanity climbing high enough to become impressive to God.
God coming down in Jesus Christ to rescue sinners who could never rescue themselves.
The greatest message Christianity has for you is not:
“A prophet knows your future.”
It is:
Jesus Christ died for sinners and rose again.
That is the announcement that shattered history.
That is the message demons hate.
That is the hope death cannot swallow.
That is the Word your shame cannot cancel.
Christ crucified.
Christ risen.
Christ reigning.
Christ returning.
And if you have spent years chasing spiritual experiences while quietly running from Jesus, come home.
If your Bible has gathered dust while prophetic videos filled your history, come home.
If you have made an idol out of a minister, come home.
If someone manipulated you in God's name and you became afraid of Christianity itself, look beyond the person who wounded you and look again at Christ.
If you have claimed “God told me” when, deep inside, you knew it was your own desire speaking…
Repent.
There is grace even here.
Because repentance is not God's invitation to humiliation without hope.
It is His call out of darkness.
The Greek New Testament uses μετάνοια (metanoia) for repentance—the language of a changed mind and turning that bears fruit in a changed direction.
Jesus does not expose sin merely to crush sinners.
He exposes darkness so we can stop hiding in it.
And maybe this article has exposed something.
Maybe you have followed voices more closely than you have followed Jesus.
Maybe you trusted personalities because reading Scripture for yourself felt harder.
Maybe someone told you what you desperately wanted to hear.
Maybe you have secretly been afraid that without a “prophetic word,” God will forget you.
He has not forgotten you.
You do not need spiritual theatrics to convince Jesus that you exist.
He knows your name.
He knows the sin you hide.
He knows the wound nobody sees.
He knows why you keep smiling when your soul feels exhausted.
He knows the questions you are afraid to say aloud.
And He still calls sinners to Himself.
Not to a personality.
Not to a platform.
Not to a prophetic celebrity.
To Himself.
Jesus said:
“Come to me…”
—Matthew 11:28
That invitation still stands.
Come to Christ.
Bring your questions.
Bring your disappointment.
Bring your skepticism.
Bring your wounds from church.
Bring your hidden sin.
Bring the parts of your story you wish could be deleted.
Bring the scandal.
Because Jesus specializes in rewriting stories that looked finished.
Not by pretending sin never mattered.
By paying for sin with His own blood.
At the cross, grace was not cheap.
It cost Christ everything.
And the resurrection announces that sin, Satan, shame, and death do not get the final sentence.
Jesus does.
So are modern-day prophets biblical?
Scripture unquestionably records prophecy as a genuine work of God and a gift present in the New Testament church. Faithful Christians disagree about whether and in what sense that gift continues today.
But Scripture leaves us no permission to be undiscerning.
Test every claim.
Hold tightly to Scripture.
Reject anything contradicting God's revealed Word and the apostolic Gospel.
Look at fruit.
Beware spiritual manipulation.
Never elevate a human messenger above Jesus.
And never let someone's claim of private revelation steal the authority belonging to God's written Word.
Perhaps the safest sentence some Christians could learn again is not:
“God told me.”
But:
“Scripture says.”
Then open the Bible.
Read it in context.
Handle it faithfully.
And point people toward Christ.
If this exposed something you have been afraid to admit, do not hide behind religious language.
Comment “no more hiding.”
If you have been spiritually exhausted and you need believers to stand with you, comment “pray for me.”
If Christ has been patiently pulling you back after disappointment, confusion, failure, or deception, comment “Christ is still healing me.”
And if you have ever been manipulated by someone claiming to speak for God, you do not have to tell strangers every detail of your wound. But you can simply say, “Jesus, lead me into truth.”
Someone reading the comments may realize they are not alone.
Save this article.
Not because every sentence here deserves unquestioned acceptance—it does not.
Save it because the Scriptures cited here deserve to be opened again, studied carefully, and tested in context.
Share this article on your Facebook profile if you believe someone in your circle needs permission to test spiritual claims without feeling guilty for doing so.
Tag the friend who loves Jesus but has been confused by competing prophetic voices.
Send it privately to the person who has quietly wondered, “Am I allowed to question this?”
Yes.
Open the Bible together.
Test everything.
Keep Christ at the center.
And if Gospel Warrior has helped you return to Scripture, follow the page and invite your family, friends, struggling believers, seekers, lukewarm Christians, and even unbelieving friends to follow too. We want this community to be a place of daily Scripture, conviction, encouragement, biblical truth, healing, discipleship, and spiritual nourishment—not personality worship.
And if you want to help this work continue, subscription is one practical way to stand behind it.
Not because subscribing earns favor with God.
It does not.
Not because giving money proves that you love Jesus.
It does not.
The Gospel cannot be purchased.
But if you desire to glorify God by helping biblical, Christ-centered teaching reach more people, you can support Gospel Warrior voluntarily by subscribing and by sharing articles like this on your Facebook profile so others can encounter the message of Jesus.
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If that is the kind of discipleship you want to help sustain—and the kind of Gospel-centered content you want to keep close—you can subscribe here:
https://www.facebook.com/iamGospelWarrior/subscribenow
But whether you ever subscribe or purchase anything, hear this clearly:
Jesus is not for sale.
Grace is not merchandise.
Salvation is not a membership benefit.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith.”
—Ephesians 2:8
Your greatest need is not access to another prophet.
Your greatest need is Christ.
So open your Bible.
Test the voices.
Refuse manipulation.
Repent when you are wrong.
Forgive where Christ calls you to forgive.
Hold fast to what is good.
And follow Jesus even when nobody can tell you exactly what tomorrow holds.
Because you do not need to know every detail of tomorrow when you belong to the One who already stands there.
And when every other voice eventually falls silent, there is still one voice your soul cannot afford to miss:
The voice of the Shepherd calling you home.
From Scandal to Grace, Because Jesus Rewrites Everything
CAN A PERSON BE FORGIVEN AFTER DENYING JESUS CHRIST?
By Very Agent Of Change
One of the most frightening questions a Christian can ask is this:... View MoreCAN A PERSON BE FORGIVEN AFTER DENYING JESUS CHRIST?
By Very Agent Of Change
One of the most frightening questions a Christian can ask is this:
“What happens if someone denies Jesus Christ?”
Does denying Christ mean there is no way back?
Can a person who once confessed Jesus later deny Him and still receive forgiveness?
The Bible gives us a powerful answer, and the story of Peter is one of the clearest places to see it.
1. PETER DENIED JESUS
Peter was not an unbeliever who had never known Jesus.
He had walked with Jesus.
He had seen miracles.
He had heard His teachings.
He had confessed that Jesus was the Christ.
Yet when Jesus was arrested, Peter became afraid.
Three times Peter denied knowing Jesus.
Matthew 26:74 says:
“Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man.”
Think about that.
Peter had personally walked with Jesus, yet under pressure, he denied Him.
2. JESUS HAD ALREADY WARNED PETER
Before Peter denied Him, Jesus had already told him what was coming.
Luke 22:31 to 32 says:
“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”
Jesus knew Peter would fall.
But Jesus also knew Peter would return.
This is powerful.
A moment of failure does not have to become the end of your story.
3. PETER WEPT BITTERLY
After Peter realized what he had done, he went out and wept bitterly.
Matthew 26:75 says:
“And he went out, and wept bitterly.”
Peter did not celebrate his denial.
He did not defend what he had done.
He was broken by it.
There is a difference between falling into sin and becoming comfortable with sin.
A repentant heart does not run away from God.
It runs back to God.
4. JESUS DID NOT ABANDON PETER
After the resurrection, Jesus did not tell the disciples to forget Peter.
In fact, the angel specifically mentioned Peter.
Mark 16:7 says:
“But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee.”
And why specifically mention Peter?
Because Peter needed to know that his failure had not erased him from the story.
The man who denied Jesus was still being called back to Jesus.
That should give hope to anyone who has genuinely repented of their failure.
5. JESUS RESTORED PETER
In John 21, Jesus asked Peter three times:
“Lovest thou me?”
Peter had denied Jesus three times.
Now Jesus gave Peter an opportunity to affirm his love three times.
Then Jesus told him:
“Feed my sheep.”
John 21:17
Jesus did not merely forgive Peter.
He restored him to purpose.
This is one of the most beautiful pictures of restoration in Scripture.
Your failure may have wounded you, but failure does not have to become your identity.
6. BUT WHAT ABOUT JESUS SAYING HE WILL DENY THOSE WHO DENY HIM?
Jesus said in Matthew 10:33:
“But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”
That is a serious warning.
Jesus does not want us to be ashamed of Him.
He calls His followers to stand for Him even when it is difficult.
But Peter's story shows us something important.
There is a difference between a person who fails under pressure, realizes their sin, repents, and returns to Christ, and someone who deliberately and permanently rejects Christ without repentance.
Peter fell.
Peter wept.
Peter returned.
Peter was restored.
7. DENIAL SHOULD NEVER BECOME A LIFESTYLE
We should never use Peter's story as an excuse to deny Christ.
Peter's restoration does not mean denial is acceptable.
It shows us the mercy of God toward the person who truly repents.
The message is not:
“Deny Jesus because He will forgive you anyway.”
The message is:
“If you have fallen, do not run away from Jesus. Come back to Him.”
8. WHAT IF YOU HAVE FAILED JESUS?
Maybe you once professed Christ but later became ashamed of Him.
Maybe you compromised your faith because of pressure.
Maybe you made decisions you deeply regret.
Maybe you walked away from God for a season.
Do not allow shame to tell you that there is no way back.
If you are genuinely repentant, turn back to Christ.
Confess your sin.
Ask for forgiveness.
Return to His Word.
Return to prayer.
Return to obedience.
Do not let your worst moment become your final chapter.
9. THE GOSPEL IS ABOUT RESTORATION
Peter's story reminds us that Jesus is not only the Saviour of people who have never failed.
He is also the Saviour who restores those who sincerely return to Him.
1 John 1:9 says:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
That is the hope of the Gospel.
Peter denied Jesus.
But Peter did not remain in his denial.
He repented.
He returned.
He was restored.
And the same Peter who once denied Jesus later boldly preached Christ.
Acts 4:20 says:
“For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
What a transformation.
The man who once said, “I know not the man,” became a man who could no longer remain silent about Jesus.
So if you have failed Christ, do not run from Him.
Run back to Him.
If you have denied Him, repent.
If you have fallen, rise again.
If you have wandered away, return.
Your failure does not have to be your final chapter.
Jesus is still calling people back to Himself.
Have you ever wondered whether someone who denied Jesus can truly be forgiven?
What do you learn from Peter's restoration?
Let us reason together from the Word of God.
AN ANGEL WENT UP IN THE FIRE—AND SAMSON’S PARENTS REALIZED WHO HAD BEEN STANDING BEFORE THEM
By John Domino Sanchez Asis
They thought they were preparing an offering. Then the fire rose. The Messeng... View MoreAN ANGEL WENT UP IN THE FIRE—AND SAMSON’S PARENTS REALIZED WHO HAD BEEN STANDING BEFORE THEM
By John Domino Sanchez Asis
They thought they were preparing an offering. Then the fire rose. The Messenger ascended in the flame. And suddenly Manoah realized that the stranger standing in front of them had brought them terrifyingly close to the presence of God.
There are moments in Scripture that almost demand that you slow down.
Not because the passage is difficult.
Because it is terrifyingly beautiful.
Judges 13 contains one of them.
A husband and wife are standing near an altar. A young goat has been offered. Fire is rising toward heaven. They are watching the sacrifice burn when something happens that no ordinary human explanation can contain.
The Messenger of the LORD goes up in the flame.
Manoah and his wife collapse with their faces toward the ground.
And when Manoah finally understands something of what he has witnessed, his response is not excitement.
It is terror.
“We shall surely die, because we have seen God.”
But what makes this scene even more powerful is what happened before the fire.
Because this story begins with something painfully human.
Barrenness.
Waiting.
Silence.
Israel had again done evil in the sight of the LORD, and God had delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years. Then the biblical camera, so to speak, moves away from the nation and enters one household.
A man named Manoah.
A woman whose personal name the text never gives us.
And an emptiness they could not repair.
Judges 13:2 describes her with the Hebrew words:
וְאִשְׁתּוֹ עֲקָרָה וְלֹא יָלָדָה
ve’ishto ‘aqarah velo yaladah
“His wife was barren and had not borne [children].”
That sentence is brutally simple.
No sentimental explanation.
No attempt to soften it.
She was barren.
She had not borne a child.
And perhaps that is where somebody reading this needs to stop for a moment.
Because you know what it feels like when one sentence seems to describe an entire season of your life.
Still waiting.
Still grieving.
Still praying.
Still fighting temptation.
Still carrying the marriage.
Still trying to forgive.
Still asking God why.
Still opening Scripture when part of you feels numb.
Still showing up at church while quietly wondering why heaven seems silent.
People see your face.
God sees the barren places.
People see what you post.
God sees what you cry about when nobody is watching.
People hear your testimony after the breakthrough.
God was there before the breakthrough had a name.
And into the barren place of Manoah’s wife came a Messenger.
Judges 13:3 says:
וַיֵּרָא מַלְאַךְ־יְהוָה אֶל־הָאִשָּׁה
vayyera mal’akh-YHWH el-ha’ishah
“And the angel of the LORD appeared to the woman.”
The Hebrew expression מַלְאַךְ־יְהוָה, mal’akh YHWH, means “messenger of the LORD” or “angel of the LORD.”
And his announcement is astonishing.
She will conceive.
She will bear a son.
The barren woman is about to become a mother.
But this is not merely a sentimental story about receiving what you desperately wanted.
The child will belong to a divine purpose.
The boy will be Samson.
Before Samson ever tears apart a lion…
before the riddles…
before the gates of Gaza…
before Delilah…
before his hair is cut…
before his eyes are gouged out…
before that final prayer beneath a Philistine temple…
there is this.
A mother.
A father.
An altar.
A flame.
And a holy calling announced before the child has even taken his first breath.
The Messenger tells the woman that the child is to be a Nazirite to God from the womb and that “he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”
Notice the word.
Begin.
Samson would not complete Israel’s deliverance.
He would begin it.
Even the strongest man in the story would not be the ultimate Savior.
That matters.
Because one of the great temptations of the human heart is to expect human beings to carry a weight that belongs only to God.
We look for a Samson.
Someone strong enough.
Charismatic enough.
Powerful enough.
Talented enough.
Connected enough.
Spiritual enough.
But Samson’s own life will eventually prove that extraordinary gifting does not make a human being a perfect savior.
Samson could defeat Philistines and still struggle to govern Samson.
He could carry gates and still carry destructive desires.
He could possess supernatural strength while making catastrophically weak choices.
That is one reason the Gospel becomes so beautiful when we read the whole biblical story.
We did not ultimately need another Samson.
We needed Jesus Christ.
Not merely someone who could defeat enemies outside us, but the Savior who could deal with the sin inside us.
Not merely someone who could break physical chains, but One who could break the dominion of sin.
Not merely someone who would begin a temporary deliverance, but the Son of God who could accomplish redemption through His death and resurrection.
But Manoah does not know Samson’s whole story yet.
At this moment, he is simply a man trying to understand what God has said.
So Manoah prays.
And God listens.
The Messenger returns, and eventually Manoah asks Him to stay while they prepare a young goat.
Then comes a detail that is easy to read too quickly.
The Messenger tells Manoah that if he prepares a burnt offering, he must offer it to the LORD.
The sacrifice belongs to God.
The worship belongs to God.
The glory belongs to God.
Then Manoah asks the Messenger His name.
The response is mysterious.
Judges 13:18 records:
לָמָּה זֶּה תִשְׁאַל לִשְׁמִי וְהוּא־פֶלִאי
lammah zeh tish’al lishmi, vehu peli
“Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?”
The final Hebrew word is פֶלִאי, peli.
Translations render the idea in ways such as “wonderful,” “beyond understanding,” or “secret,” reflecting something extraordinary or incomprehensible about the name.
The text is preparing us.
Something is about to happen.
Manoah takes the young goat and the grain offering and offers them upon the rock to the LORD.
Then Judges gives us this remarkable statement:
וּמַפְלִא לַעֲשׂוֹת
umafli la‘asot
“And He did wondrously.”
Manoah and his wife are watching.
The sacrifice is burning.
Smoke rises.
Flame reaches upward.
And then—
the impossible happens.
Judges 13:20 says:
וַיְהִי בַעֲלוֹת הַלַּהַב מֵעַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ הַשָּׁמַיְמָה וַיַּעַל מַלְאַךְ־יְהוָה בְּלַהַב הַמִּזְבֵּחַ
Vayehi va‘alot hallahav me‘al hammizbeach hashshamaymah, vaya‘al mal’akh-YHWH belahav hammizbeach.
“And it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar.”
Imagine being there.
Not reading it.
Watching it.
You smell the sacrifice.
You feel the heat.
The flames move upward.
And the mysterious Messenger who has been speaking to you steps into the very movement of the fire and ascends.
No ordinary farewell.
No walking into the distance.
No disappearing behind a hill.
Up.
In the flame.
Toward heaven.
Manoah and his wife see it.
And they fall facedown.
The Hebrew says:
וַיִּפְּלוּ עַל־פְּנֵיהֶם אָרְצָה
vayyippelu ‘al-peneihem artsah
“They fell on their faces to the ground.”
Suddenly there is no casual conversation.
No theological curiosity.
No comfortable distance.
They are on the ground.
And perhaps we have become so familiar with holy things that we have forgotten how astonishing holiness is.
We can say “God” casually.
Sing worship songs while thinking about something else.
Read verses while scrolling between notifications.
Say “Jesus” without considering the glory of the One whose name we speak.
But Manoah and his wife have just witnessed something that shattered casualness.
Fire rose.
The Messenger ascended.
They fell.
And then Manoah realizes the encounter was far more significant than he first understood.
Judges 13:21 tells us:
אָז יָדַע מָנוֹחַ כִּי־מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה הוּא
“Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the LORD.”
And Manoah turns to his wife and says:
מוֹת נָמוּת כִּי אֱלֹהִים רָאִינוּ
mot namut ki Elohim ra’inu
“We shall surely die, because we have seen God.”
Those words are crucial.
The narrative deliberately places the Messenger of the LORD and the encounter with God in remarkably close relationship. Christians throughout history have wrestled with the identity of “the angel of the LORD” in passages like this. Some Christian interpreters understand such appearances as manifestations of the pre-incarnate Christ; others understand the figure as a heavenly messenger who so fully represents God that God’s authority and presence are encountered through him.
Judges 13 itself does not explicitly say, “This was Jesus Christ before Bethlehem,” so we should not force the text to say more than it says.
But neither should we weaken what the passage actually gives us.
Manoah believes they have seen God.
And he believes they are going to die.
Then comes one of the most beautiful moments in the chapter.
His wife speaks.
And her response is extraordinary.
“If the LORD were pleased to kill us, He would not have received a burnt offering and a grain offering at our hands, nor would He have shown us all these things, nor would He at this time have told us such things as these.”
Manoah sees holiness and thinks:
We are going to die.
His wife looks at the same encounter and reasons from what God has already done.
God accepted the sacrifice.
God revealed Himself.
God gave us a promise.
God told us what is coming.
Why would He reveal His purpose only to destroy us before it happens?
There is something profoundly important here.
Fear interprets everything through impending destruction.
Faith remembers what God has already revealed.
Maybe that is where this story finds you.
You believe in Jesus, but you are terrified that your past gets the final word.
You remember what you did.
What you watched.
What you hid.
Who you hurt.
What you became.
The years you wasted.
The promises you broke.
The secret habit nobody knows about.
The compromise you keep rationalizing.
The prayer life that became cold.
The Bible gathering dust.
The version of Christianity you learned to perform in front of people while your private world slowly collapsed.
And when conviction finally burns through the excuses, something inside you sounds like Manoah:
I’m finished.
God cannot want me now.
Look at what I have done.
But the Gospel does something neither denial nor self-hatred can do.
It tells the truth about your sin without telling you that your sin is greater than Christ.
The Gospel does not say your rebellion was insignificant.
It says the cross was sufficient.
It does not tell you to rename darkness so you can feel better about it.
It calls you to repentance.
And then it points you toward Jesus.
At Calvary, another sacrifice was lifted before heaven.
But this time the sacrifice was not a goat upon a rock.
Jesus Christ gave Himself.
The sinless One stood in the place of sinners.
He bore sin.
He endured judgment.
He died.
He was buried.
And on the third day He rose.
Samson would later stretch out his arms in a Philistine temple and die while destroying Israel’s enemies around him.
But Jesus stretched out His arms on a Roman cross and willingly gave His life to accomplish something infinitely greater.
Samson’s death was the tragic conclusion of a deeply fractured life.
Christ’s death was the obedient, redemptive sacrifice of the sinless Son of God.
Samson needed grace.
Jesus gives grace.
Samson was a flawed deliverer.
Jesus is the Savior.
Samson’s story contains scandal.
Jesus rewrites the stories of sinners through grace.
That does not mean Jesus edits our past until sin becomes acceptable.
He does something better.
He forgives.
He cleanses.
He redeems.
He reconciles sinners to God.
He takes people who deserve judgment and, through faith in Him, brings them into grace.
That is why your worst chapter does not have authority to become the final chapter when your life is surrendered to Christ.
Peter denied Jesus.
Grace restored him.
Paul persecuted believers.
Grace transformed him.
The thief beside Christ had no lifetime left to repair his reputation, yet he turned toward Jesus in faith and heard a promise of paradise.
Again and again Scripture confronts us with the same devastating hope:
God is able to redeem people whose stories look irredeemable.
But grace is not permission to remain unchanged.
Grace calls us out of hiding.
Real repentance is not merely feeling terrible because consequences finally arrived.
It is turning toward God.
It is agreeing with God about sin.
It is abandoning the fantasy that you can save yourself.
It is coming empty-handed to Jesus.
Maybe nobody knows what you have been carrying.
God does.
Maybe people think you are spiritually strong.
God knows where you are exhausted.
Maybe you have become skilled at saying “I’m okay.”
God knows you are not.
Maybe you have spent years trying to outrun a memory.
Maybe the memory followed you here.
Then hear this carefully.
Jesus did not go to the cross because humanity needed motivational advice.
He went because sinners needed redemption.
And if the truth about your life is being exposed right now, do not waste that conviction by turning it into shame without repentance.
Run toward Christ.
Confess.
Repent.
Believe.
Come into the light.
There is mercy in Jesus for the sinner who comes to Him.
There is cleansing.
There is forgiveness.
There is a new direction.
There is grace strong enough to confront what you were and transform who you are becoming.
Maybe your prayer tonight is not eloquent.
Maybe all you can say is:
“Jesus, forgive me.”
Then say it honestly.
Not as a social-media slogan.
As surrender.
And if this exposed something you have been hiding, you can comment, “Jesus, forgive me.”
If you are exhausted but you refuse to walk away from Christ, comment, “I’m still fighting.”
If you need believers to stand with you in prayer, comment, “pray for me.”
If God has been restoring areas of your life that once seemed impossible to restore, comment, “Christ is still healing me.”
And if you are finally tired of pretending that everything is fine, comment, “no more hiding.”
Your comment does not save you.
Jesus does.
But sometimes bringing the struggle into the light is the first crack in a wall you have spent years building.
And somebody else reading the comments may discover that they are not the only person fighting to come home.
Do not keep this article only because it moved you.
Save it for the night when fear tries to rewrite what God has said.
Share it to your Facebook profile if you believe someone in your circle needs to remember that Jesus still receives repentant sinners.
Tag the person who has been carrying a battle quietly.
Send it to the friend who thinks they have gone too far.
Send it to the believer who has grown cold.
Send it to the person who does not yet believe but needs to understand what Christians actually mean when we speak about grace.
Not because sharing an article earns favor with God.
It does not.
Not because subscribing to a ministry purchases blessing.
It cannot.
Salvation cannot be bought.
Grace cannot be purchased.
Jesus has already paid the price sinners could never pay.
But if Gospel Warrior is helping you know Christ, understand Scripture, repent more deeply, and encourage others in the faith, you can voluntarily help this work continue by following, sharing these messages, inviting others to follow, and subscribing.
Supporting Gospel-centered work can be one practical expression of generosity and partnership, but it must never replace obedience to Christ, faithfulness to your local church, care for your family, generosity toward people in need, or the worship that belongs to God alone.
For those who choose to subscribe, the goal is deeper discipleship—more biblical nourishment, encouragement, accountability, spiritual sharpening, and resources designed to keep pointing you back to Jesus Christ.
Subscribers also receive a 50% discount as our thank-you on Gospel Warrior products such as books, T-shirts, mugs, journals, and more.
And beyond the subscription, remember that the Gospel Warrior Library contains thousands of FREE Christian ebooks, devotionals, and discipleship resources, with new additions being added almost daily for believers serious about growing deeper in Jesus Christ.
If this ministry is feeding your faith and you want to help it reach more people, subscribe here:
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Then share this article on your Facebook profile.
Not as a transaction with God.
As an invitation to people.
Because somewhere on your friends list may be a Manoah who is terrified that judgment is the only thing left for him.
Somewhere may be a woman living through a barren season, convinced God has forgotten her.
Somewhere may be a Samson—gifted, strong in public, dangerously compromised in private.
Somewhere may be a prodigal who still watches Christian posts but never comments because he thinks he no longer belongs near anything holy.
Somewhere may be someone who needs one sentence tonight:
Your sin is serious.
But Jesus Christ is a greater Savior.
That is the heartbeat of the Gospel Warrior message.
From scandal…
to grace.
From hiding…
to confession.
From condemnation…
to forgiveness in Christ.
From wandering…
to repentance.
From spiritual death…
to life.
Because Jesus does not merely improve sinners.
He saves them.
And Judges 13 leaves us with an image almost impossible to forget.
A sacrifice burning.
A flame climbing toward heaven.
A mysterious Messenger ascending within it.
A husband and wife collapsed upon the earth.
A frightened man convinced he is about to die.
And beside him, a woman remembering what God has already done.
“If the LORD were pleased to kill us…”
She reasons from grace already given.
And centuries later, frightened sinners can look somewhere even greater than Manoah’s altar.
We can look toward the cross.
When your shame says, “There is no hope for someone like you,” look at Christ.
When your past says, “This is who you will always be,” look at Christ.
When temptation whispers, “Go back,” look at Christ.
When pride says, “You do not need forgiveness,” look at Christ.
When despair says, “You are too far gone,” look at Christ.
When religion says, “Try harder until God finally accepts you,” look at Christ.
Look at the crucified Savior.
Look at the empty tomb.
Look at the One who receives sinners who come to Him in repentance and faith.
And then get up from the ground different from the person who fell there.
Because perhaps the most frightening thing about encountering the holiness of God is discovering how sinful we really are.
But perhaps the most breathtaking thing about the Gospel is discovering what God has done for sinners through Jesus Christ.
So be honest.
Did this hit somewhere you were trying to keep hidden?
Comment.
Save it.
Share it.
Tag someone.
Follow Gospel Warrior and invite your family, friends, struggling believers, seekers, lukewarm Christians, and even unbelieving friends to follow too—not to build an audience around a personality, but so more people can encounter daily Scripture, conviction, encouragement, biblical truth, healing, discipleship, and spiritual nourishment centered on Jesus Christ.
And when the old story whispers that your scandal is too ugly for redemption, remember the fire.
Remember the altar.
Remember the cross.
Remember the empty tomb.
Remember that grace does not pretend your story was never broken.
Grace places your broken story into the hands of the Savior.
And here is the line I hope follows you long after you close this article:
The fire revealed what Manoah feared—but the cross reveals what every repentant sinner desperately needs to know: God’s holiness exposes us, and Christ’s grace gives us somewhere to run.
From Scandal to Grace, Because Jesus Rewrites Everything
•Don't Let the Enemy Steal Your Joy•
By Anthony Valente
Don't let the enemy steal your joy today.... View More•Don't Let the Enemy Steal Your Joy•
By Anthony Valente
Don't let the enemy steal your joy today.
He'll try you know.
You may not even realize it until it's too late.
From the moment your feet hit the floor, he'll do all that he can to distract you, to overwhelm you, to frustrate you, and to stir up worry and strife. Often his ways are subtle, other times they're more clear. It’s what he does best. Stealing. Killing. Destroying.
Just say "no."
Don't let him win.
We have a choice of who we listen to and what we believe.
Recognize who is at the root of it all, and push past his lies, step over his traps.
God gives us the power through His Holy Spirit to live free from the entanglement of sin. He gives us the power to live strong. He gives wisdom and discernment to make the right choices. He gives joy deep inside. He offers the assurance, that no matter what we face, He is with us.
His truth says this, 8 loving reminders:
"The joy of the Lord is my strength."
(Nehemiah 8:10)
"Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world."
(1 John 4:4)
No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the LORD.
(Isaiah 54:17)
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
(John 10:10)
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
(Romans 15:13)
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”
(James 1:2)
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
(Psalm 118:24)
“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”
(Isaiah 55:12)
May His grace, peace, and joy cover your day.
He is with you.…
✝️ Dear God,
At the start of each day, help us to recognize You above all else. Enlighten the eyes of our heart that we might see You, and notice how You’re at work through our lives. Give us wisdom to make the best choices, fill us with a desire to seek after You more than anything else in this world. Let Your Spirit and power breathe in us, through us, again, fresh and new. Thank You that You are greater than anything we may face in our day. Thank You that Your presence goes with us, and that Your joy is never dependent on our circumstances, but it is our true and lasting strength, no matter what we're up against. We ask that Your peace lead us, that it would guard our hearts and minds in You. We ask for Your grace to cover our lives this day. We love You Lord.… we need You Lord.
In Jesus' Name,
AMEN 🙏
(pic verse)
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one — I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
(John 17:20-23)
REINCARNATION AND THE BIBLE: WHAT DOES GOD’S WORD REALLY TEACH ABOUT LIFE AFTER DEATH?
By Very Agent Of Change
Many people have heard the idea of reincarnation, but have you ever stopped to ask one ... View MoreREINCARNATION AND THE BIBLE: WHAT DOES GOD’S WORD REALLY TEACH ABOUT LIFE AFTER DEATH?
By Very Agent Of Change
Many people have heard the idea of reincarnation, but have you ever stopped to ask one simple question: DOES THE BIBLE ACTUALLY TEACH THAT A PERSON CAN LIVE MANY DIFFERENT LIVES?
Across the world many people believe in reincarnation. The idea is simple and attractive to the human mind. It teaches that when a person dies, the soul returns again in another body, living many different lives on earth until it becomes purified. Some believe they were once another person in a previous life. Others believe people return again and again as different human beings.
Because this idea sounds mysterious and spiritual, many people accept it without examining it carefully through the light of the Scriptures. But when we slow down and carefully study the Word of God, a very different picture begins to appear. The Bible quietly but clearly reveals that reincarnation is not the destiny of human beings.
The first truth the Bible reveals is that human life on earth is a single journey, not a cycle of many returns. Hebrews 9:27 says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Notice the order carefully. The scripture does not say people die many times and return again. It says once to die, and after that comes judgment. This alone already shows that human life is not an endless cycle of rebirth. Instead, it is a single life followed by divine accountability before God.
Jesus Himself also revealed something important about the condition of the dead. In John 5:28 and 29 He said that the hour is coming when all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth. This statement reveals something profound. The dead are in the graves awaiting resurrection, not returning to live new lives in different bodies on earth. If reincarnation were true, the dead would already be living again somewhere else. But Jesus says they are still in the graves waiting for the resurrection day.
The story of Lazarus also helps us understand this truth more deeply. In John chapter 11, when Lazarus died, Jesus did not say Lazarus had been reborn somewhere else. Instead He said Lazarus was asleep and then He went to raise him from the dead. When Lazarus came back to life, he returned to the same body he had before, not to a different body in another place. This shows the biblical pattern. Death is followed by rest in the grave until God raises the person again.
Another powerful truth appears in the teachings about the resurrection. The entire hope of Christianity is built on the resurrection of the dead. In 1 Corinthians 15 the apostle Paul explains that the dead will be raised when Christ returns. If reincarnation were real, resurrection would not be necessary. People would already be living new lives again and again. But the Bible constantly points to a future resurrection as the moment when God restores life.
Some people also misunderstand the statement Jesus made about John the Baptist when He said John came in the spirit and power of Elijah. This does not mean Elijah was reincarnated. The angel already explained in Luke 1:17 that John would come in the spirit and power of Elijah, meaning he would carry a similar prophetic mission and boldness. John himself clearly said he was not Elijah when people asked him directly.
The deeper truth the Scriptures reveal is that human life is precious because it is given once. Each person is given a single opportunity to know God, to walk in righteousness, and to prepare for eternity. That is why the Bible constantly calls people to repentance now. If people could return again and again in many future lives, there would be no urgency for salvation. But the Bible repeatedly urges people to seek God today while life remains.
This is why Jesus spoke so strongly about being ready. Life is not an endless cycle of second chances on earth. Instead, life is a sacred window of opportunity given by God. After this life comes the resurrection and the judgment.
The truth may sound uncomfortable to some people, but it actually reveals something beautiful. God created every human being as a unique individual, not as a spirit endlessly jumping from body to body. Your life is not a random continuation of another person's past life. Your life is your own gift from God, with a purpose and a calling.
Understanding this truth should awaken us spiritually. It reminds us that every day matters. Every decision matters. Every moment of life is part of the story God is writing for us.
TEACHING SUMMARY
The Bible teaches that human beings live once on earth and then face judgment before God. The dead are resting in the grave awaiting the resurrection when Christ returns. The Christian hope is not reincarnation but resurrection. Each life is unique and precious because it is the single opportunity God gives us to know Him and prepare for eternity.
Let this message go bey!ond so that more people can study the Word of God and understand what the Scriptures truly teach.
Feel free to also drop your thoughts and views in the comment section. Let us reason together through the Scriptures and grow in the knowledge of God's truth.
•A Prayer to Show Others Jesus•
By Anthony Valente
👉 “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for me, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You ... View More•A Prayer to Show Others Jesus•
By Anthony Valente
👉 “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for me, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
(Colossians 3:23-24)
The world is desperate for people to show them Jesus. There are a lot of people who speak of Jesus, but it’s harder to find those who truly live their lives in a way that puts Him on full display. We all know the old saying, “actions speak louder than words.” Though not quoted from Scripture, the concept is Biblical. The apostle John wrote:
“Dear children, let us know love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3:18)
He wrote to caution his readers against false teaching, to remind them to live within the love of Christ. Proverbs 4:23 tells us to “guard our hearts, for everything we do flows from it.” Some translations say, “it determines the course of your life.”
Let’s pray now to show others who Christ really is, by living our lives in a way that reflects his character and with actions that glorify him.
✝️ Heavenly Father,
We give praise, honor and glory to You in the highest. Abba, You are our faithful and compassionate Father. Yahweh, You are powerful and mighty to save and always near to us. Jesus, our Savior, You died so we could be forgiven and embrace the grace and peace of God.
Our hope is in You, and Your Holy Spirit lives in us. Spirit, as You counsel, comfort and heal us, move our hearts and lead us in the will of God for our lives.
Every day when we wake to breathe, let us find a long list of things to be grateful for. Faithfully, let us lift all of our worries of this life up to You, because You care for us. May we daily confess our sins, choosing to repent and instead turn to You through Jesus.
Bless our lives, Lord. Keep us physically and mentally safe, and healthy. Guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, today and always. May we be and have honest, loyal, kind and Christ-centered friends and relationships. Bless and heal our physical ailments, and our mental strifes. We pray miracles over our lives that will bear witness to our faith in Who they come from. The God of miracles. The God who saves.
Father, help us to extend Your compassion to those people You have placed in our lives to love. Help us to remember we aren’t here for ourselves, and not to give half-efforts in anything You have given us to do. Parenthood, friendship, our jobs, our ministries, discipling other people…. You don’t demand perfection, God, but You do expect our best effort. We pray we would be a witness to Your goodness and glory in all the places You have put us.
In Jesus’ Name,
AMEN 🙏
“I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me.”
(Galatians 2:20)
Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.
(Galatians 4:19)
“That Christ may make His home in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love.”
(Ephesians 3:17)
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
(Colossians 1:27)
When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people—praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about him.
(2 Thessalonians 1:10)
But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being.
(Galatians 1:15-16)
And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God.
(Romans 8:10)
Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude. Don’t forget to pray for us, that God will open doors for telling the mystery of Christ, even while I’m locked up in this jail. Pray that every time I open my mouth I’ll be able to make Christ plain as day to them. Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don’t miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.
(Colossians 4:2-6)
For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
(Luke 12:12)
For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
(Matthew 10:20)
So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me void (useless, without result), Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
(Isaiah 55:11)
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:18-20)
For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
(2 Corinthians 4:6-7)
Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.
(1 Peter 3:15)
And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.
(Mark 16:15-16)
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
(Matthew 4:18-20)
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
(Isaiah 30:21)
(pic verse)
He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.
(Colossians 1:17)
Artist 👨🎨
I Am With You Always - David Delfeld
•A Prayer to Help You Find Courage•
By Anthony Valente
👉 “For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” ... View More•A Prayer to Help You Find Courage•
By Anthony Valente
👉 “For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
(2 Chronicles 20:12b, ESV)
Afraid doesn’t begin to describe how I felt when it got dark and my daughter didn’t come home. I called her five times but kept getting a recording. Finally, I telephoned the friend she’d met earlier in the day. “She left an hour ago to catch the bus. Isn’t she home yet?” the girl said.
I felt desperate and didn’t know what to do. So I grabbed the car keys to go out and look for her, but how on earth could I find my daughter in a city of 72,000 people?
An hour later, she walked in the door, and relief flooded my soul. She’d gotten lost and her phone had died.
Have you ever been caught in a hard place where you just didn't know what to do and felt afraid of possible outcomes?
Maybe you're there now.
My situation only lasted a few hours, but yours may still be going on. A health problem, financial crunch, or troubled marriage can make you feel like you’re at the end of your rope.
For situations when fear and uncertainty are getting the best of us, I love the story of Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20. When a great multitude comes to attack Judah, King Jehoshaphat is scared to death, but he resolves to seek God. He proclaims a fast, and all of Israel comes together to seek God.
God then speaks to His people through a prophet, “Do not be afraid…the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15b). The following day as Jehoshaphat’s army begins to sing and praise the Lord, God sets an ambush against their enemies.
This story teaches us several life principles to help us navigate hard situations with courage:
1) If you're feeling scared, keep your eyes on God. Set your heart on seeking Him.
2) Remember the battle is the Lord's. He is fighting for you.
3) You will see victory as you praise God.
When you’re at the end of your rope, remember all you have to do is keep your eyes on Jesus. At the right time, He will show you how to move forward.
Keep your eyes on Him today, friend. Raise a hallelujah and take courage. Victory is on the way. We don't know how and when it will come, but in Christ, we are more than conquerors. Let's praise the God who goes before us.
Let’s Pray.
✝️ Heavenly Father, I praise You today for Your great power and love. Thank You for Your mercy. Through the death of Jesus, You have rescued me from sin, and I praise Your name.
Lord, You know the situation I am facing. I truly do not know what to do, but my eyes are on You. I trust You will show me the best way to handle my challenges. In Your perfect timing, show me what to do. Give me grace to keep my eyes on You.
Lord, I praise You for the victory You won at the cross. You defeated sin and death forever. You are Alpha and Omega, the eternal God who has rescued Your children. Help me remember You go before me and will never leave me. I am not alone; you fight my battles. I praise and thank You in advance for the way You will work. I cannot see it now, but give me grace to walk by faith, not by sight.
I do not know what to do, but my eyes are on You, and I will praise Your great name. I trust and love You Lord.
In Jesus’ Name,
AMEN 🙏
"When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?"
(Psalm 56:3-4)
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
(1 Corinthians 16:13)
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
(Deuteronomy 31:6)
Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
(Psalm 27:14)
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline."
(2 Timothy 1:7)
"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
(1 John 4:18)
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
(Proverbs 3:5-6)
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power."
(Ephesians 6:10)
He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.
(Psalm 112:7)
"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body."
(2 Corinthians 4:8-11)
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
(Philippians 4:13)
“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
(Matthew 10:28)
The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.
(Proverbs 28:1)
For we walk by faith, not by sight.
(2 Corinthians 5:7)
I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
(Psalm 16:8)
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. “All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
(Isaiah 41:10-13)
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."
(Psalm 23:4)
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
(Revelation 22:13)
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. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
(Jeremiah 29:11-13)
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
(Matthew 16:24)
(pic verse)
His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!
(Isaiah 9:7)
Artist 👨🎨
I Am With You Always - David Delfeld
WHY DO CHRISTIANS WORSHIP ON SUNDAY INSTEAD OF SATURDAY?
Text: Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Romans 14:5–6; Colossians 2:16–17
By Very Agent Of Change
... View MoreWHY DO CHRISTIANS WORSHIP ON SUNDAY INSTEAD OF SATURDAY?
Text: Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Romans 14:5–6; Colossians 2:16–17
By Very Agent Of Change
One question has divided Christians for generations:
“ If the Sabbath was Saturday, why do most Christians worship on Sunday?”
Some say Christians must keep Saturday. Others worship on Sunday because of the resurrection of Jesus.
So what does the New Testament actually teach?
1. THE SABBATH WAS THE SEVENTH DAY
The Sabbath was established in the creation account:
“And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it.”
Genesis 2:3
Under the Old Covenant, Israel was commanded to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
Exodus 20:8 says:
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”
So Saturday was indeed the biblical seventh day.
2. JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD ON THE FIRST DAY
Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week.
Matthew 28:1 says:
“In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week... came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.”
The resurrection became the central event of Christian faith.
This is why the first day of the week became significant to Christians.
3. THE EARLY CHURCH GATHERED ON THE FIRST DAY
Acts 20:7 records:
“And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread...”
Paul also instructed believers regarding their giving:
“Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store...”
1 Corinthians 16:2
These passages show Christians gathering and practicing important aspects of their faith on the first day.
4. BUT IS SUNDAY A NEW SABBATH?
This is where Christians need to be careful.
The New Testament does not simply say, “Sunday has replaced Saturday as the Sabbath.”
Instead, Paul teaches:
“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days.”
Colossians 2:16
Romans 14:5 also says:
“One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.”
Therefore, Christians have historically understood these passages differently.
Some continue to observe Saturday as the Sabbath.
Others worship primarily on Sunday because of Christ's resurrection and the practice of the early church.
5. THE GREATER QUESTION IS CHRIST
The Christian faith is not ultimately about winning an argument over a calendar day.
Paul says the Sabbath was “a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”
Colossians 2:17
The focus is Christ.
Whether someone worships on Saturday or Sunday, worship should come from genuine faith in God, not from religious competition.
CONCLUSION
The seventh day was the biblical Sabbath given to Israel.
Jesus rose on the first day of the week.
The early Christians are recorded gathering on the first day.
Yet the New Testament also warns believers against judging one another over days.
So instead of asking only:
“Which day are you worshipping on?”
We should also ask:
“Are you truly worshipping Christ?”
A calendar cannot replace a relationship with God.
A religious day cannot replace obedience.
And arguing about the day must never become more important than following the Lord of the day.
REMEMBER
The goal is not merely to gather on the right day. The goal is to belong to Christ and worship Him in spirit and in truth.
•A Prayer of Love from 1 Corinthians 13•
By Anthony Valente
👉 “Love never fails….”... View More•A Prayer of Love from 1 Corinthians 13•
By Anthony Valente
👉 “Love never fails….”
(1 Corinthians 13:8)
Known as the Love Chapter, 1 Corinthians 13 is one of the greatest reminders to us today of what real love looks like. And what it doesn’t look like. Widely read at weddings or written all over love notes, these words may become so familiar over time; they can almost lose some of their important message.
As we read this portion of Scripture today, let’s ask God for help in soaking in every truth as we pray His powerful words back to Him. Let’s ask for the freshness of His Spirit to bring His message of love alive within our hearts and flowing through our lives. We can’t do it on our own. We’d never be able to muster enough strength within us. It’s only possible through Him. And more than ever before, our world needs to see what true love looks like. We can do a lot of good things in this life, we can give gifts, and even make notable sacrifices for others. But if we do not have Christ’s love within us, compelling us, filling us, every moment of every day, “it profits me nothing.”
His words of truth and love:
“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails…. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
(From 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, 13)
Let us pray.
✝️ Dear God,
Thank You that You are a loving, gracious God. Thank You that You’ve offered us forgiveness and the gift of new life in You. Thank You that Your love is perfect, it never fails, and that nothing can separate us from Your love.
We pray that our lives would be filled and overflowing with the power of Your love so we can make a difference in this world and bring honor to You. We ask for Your help in reminding us that the most important things are not what we do outwardly, it’s not based on any talent or gift, but the most significant thing we can do in this life is simply to love You and to choose to love others.
Lord thank You that Your love is patient. Help us show patience with those around us.
Lord thank You that Your love is kind. Help us to extend kindness to others.
Lord thank You that true love is not jealous. Help us cast aside feelings of jealousy or hatred towards others.
Lord thank You that Your love does not brag and is not arrogant. Help us not to live with pride or arrogance, but to choose to walk with humility and grace.
Lord thank You that true love does not act unbecomingly. Lord help us to extend kindness instead of rudeness towards others. Help us to lay aside the critical tone and tearing down with our words, so that we can truly walk in peace.
Lord thank You that true love does not seek its own. Lord help us not to live selfishly, looking only to our own interests.
Lord thank You that true love is not provoked. Lord help us not to become easily angered. Help us not to be so quickly reactive, but instead slow to speak and slow to become angry.
Lord thank You that your love does not take into account a wrong suffered. Lord help us not to hold grudges, but to choose to forgive, even when it’s difficult.
Lord thank You that Your love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. Lord help us to love Your words of truth, may we walk in your freedom and wisdom. Let it be what drives our lives and choices every day.
Lord thank You that Your love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, thank You that Your love never fails.
Help us to love as You love. Fill us with Your Spirit so that we can choose what is best. We are weak Lord, but we know also, that even when we are weak, you are strong within us. Thank You that it’s not all up to us. Thank You that You equip us to face each day with the power of Your love, Your forgiveness, and Your grace.
We love You Lord with all of our heart, mind, body, spirit, soul and we need You today, and every day.
In Jesus’ Name,
AMEN 🙏
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
(John 3:16)
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
(1 John 4:8)
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
(1 Peter 4:8)
And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
(Colossians 3:14)
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
(John 13:34-35)
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
(John 15:13)
We love because he first loved us.
(1 John 4:19)
Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.
(Proverbs 10:12)
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
(Ephesians 5:25)
So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
(1 John 4:16)
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
(Luke 6:35)
Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.
(Romans 13:8)
For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.
(Colossians 1:19-22)
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
(Ezekiel 36:26)
(pic verse)
But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
(Matthew 19:14)
Artist 👨🎨
I Am With You Always - David Delfeld
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