https://www.youtube.com/live/AE3QTV3y3nQ?si=0AO1Et_2OYEJVZeB

*Creating a Heart of Gratitude* One of the most powerful emotions is gratitude. If we can find ways to be thankful and grateful throughout our life, we will find the power and emotional strength to walk through some of life’s hardest seasons. It's not always easy to find ways to be thankful and grateful. But, one of the things Scripture teaches us throughout the Psalms is that there is always something to be grateful for. The Psalms teach us various songs and poems for every season of our life. But more than that, they also teach us how to cultivate a heart of gratitude and worship towards God. We belong to a God who loves us and cares deeply for us. God’s love and goodness will never end. *Psalm 100:5* praises God for these things: *"For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations."* Through Psalms like this, we can begin to build a habit of gratitude towards God and all that He has done. We can thank God for what He has done in our lives, what He is currently doing, and what He will do in the future as we follow after Him. Because God is always good, loving, and faithful, there is always something we can be grateful for—even in the midst of difficult seasons of life. Let's take a few moments daily to strengthen the habit of gratitude in our life. - First, we begin by thanking God for who He is: that He is good, faithful, and loving towards us. - Next, we thank God for all that He has done. Thanking Him for the good things in our life, and that He has walked with us through the hard times. - Lastly, thankful to God for all He will continue to do in the days and years to come. He is trustworthy! *Thank God For His GoodNess* Father God, nothing is impossible for You. You love us even when we are unloveable. You are good to us even when we don’t deserve it. You are kind and compassionate toward us even when we mess up. You show us what faithful love looks like. Thank You for never leaving or forsaking us! Today, remind us of all the ways You have shown up in our life. You are worthy of our worship. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.

*The Most Important Thing* When Jesus was asked by the religious leaders about the most important commandment, He quoted *Deuteronomy 6:5*. This verse contains one of the key commands in all of Scripture... *"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Deuteronomy 6:5* We were created to know and to worship God, as well as to make Him known. Life is full and schedules are busy, but the most important thing is that we love God with everything we've got. If we're successful but don't love God, we’ve missed the most important thing. If we're healthy but don't look to Him, we've still missed it. God instructed the Israelites in Deuteronomy to constantly keep this command in their hearts and minds. They made physical reminders to help them remember to love God in everything they did. They taught this command to their children as the foundation of all other commands in Scripture. Let's take some time to consider our life as well. Is loving God our primary motivation? Spending some time thinking about how good and merciful God has been in our life. Maybe we can as well create a physical reminder that we'll see every day—to help focus our thoughts and heart on loving God. Remember that God loves us more than we could ever imagine. The best motivation to love God is to constantly remember how much He loved us first. *Prayer Of Obedience* Father God, we want to love You more than anything else in this world. Help us. Shift our hearts towards You. Refocus our thoughts on You. Empower us to honor You with our actions and words. Teach us what it looks like to offer every part of us—heart, soul, and strength—to You. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen. *Have A Blessed Week!*

https://youtube.com/live/ek2V5lpBLGI How Daniel Chapter 3 depicts one world order mandatory religion is a chilling look at the prophetic parallels between ancient Babylon and our modern society. Nebuchadnezzar enforcing a mandatory state religion by commanding all officials and nations to worship a massive golden statue under threat of death. This golden image of Nebuchadnezzar serves as a blueprint for the future global enforcement of worship and state-controlled ideologies. Watch & Pray! #Daniel3 #EndTimesProphecy #BibleStudy #OneWorldOrder #BiblicalProphecy Kindly join Word, Spirit & Prayers at 10 AM West Africa Time. Blessings!

*We Mustn't Have Misplaced Priorities* The Lord Jesus encourage all His followers to trust in God wholeheartedly, and not follow the pattern of the heathens with misplaced priorities. They seek wrong things. He further said what should be most important priority for His followers: *Matthew 6:33 "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."* *Meaning of the Verse The Kingdom of God:* Putting God's rule, will, and purposes at the center of our daily life. *His Righteousness:* Living by God's standards of goodness and moral truth instead of our own. *All These Things:* Daily needs like food, water, and clothing that Jesus said people worry about too much. *How to Apply It* *Let go of worry:* Trusting that God knows what we need and will help us. *Making God our priority:* Put prayer, kindness, and obedience before money or stress. *Focusing on daily:* We must not permit fear of tomorrow ruin our peace right now *Prayer To Seek God First* Dear Father in heaven, we thank You for loving us and pursuing a relationship with us. You are everything to us, and we want to seek You first each day. Please be part of every decision, every thought, every word, and every action we have. Our life is Yours, we live and move through You. You are our source of life, and without You, we are nothing. Let Your presence lead us always: Your pillar of clouds in the day time and Your pillars of fire in the night time. Rather than worrying about how to get what we need, we will seek You and watch You meet our needs. You are our sufficiency, and in You is our hiding place. Thank You El-Shaddai, the double breasted One. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen. *Blessed Sunday!*

*Praising Adonai From Dawn to Dusk* Close your eyes for a moment. And while you do that, picture this wonderfully diverse planet we call home. (Yes, really.) Everything that you just imagined—God created all of it. And God created all of us to worship Him. From north to south and east to west. From bustling cities to slow-paced villages. From lifeless deserts to life-packed forests. From the highest mountains to the farthest oceans. *“From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the Name of the Lord is to be praised!” Psalm 113:3* The sun “rises” and “sets” on all of us. All people, all languages, all nations. All skin colors, eye colors, and hair colors. All shapes, sizes, and personalities. Rich and poor. Aching hearts and contagious smiles. An eclectic mix of people from various parts of the world have been praising God from generation to generation—and it continues to happen now. And we know it will never stop. In *Revelation 7*, John has a vision of a “great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb,” who is Christ. They are serving and worshiping, all day and night. God’s people—past, present, and future—are a worshiping people.  We can worship with our songs. We can worship with our money. We can worship with our lives. And one day, when we finally see things clearly, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. But today, we don’t have to wait to worship. When sunlight streams through our windows, we can worship. When the evening sky turns orange-ish pink, we can worship. When we’re in a season of waiting, we can worship. When we’re in a season of receiving, we can worship. When our heart is empty and breaking, we can worship. When our heart is full, we can worship. *From dawn to dusk, let the Name of the Lord be praised.* Today, let's begin to think about this verse and consider what compels us to worship God. Then, shift our hearts toward Him and don’t forget to worship Him that sit enthroned upon the circle of the earth.. The One that lives forever. *Praising God For His Goodness* Father God, You are good and Your Mercy endures forever. No matter what goes on around us—You are always good. You are worthy of our praises because You are God in eternity past, present and future. You provide for us, strengthen us, deliver us, heal us and redeemed our souls. Even when we don’t see You at work in our lives, that doesn’t change the fact that You are working. There is no one like You. So regardless of what we face today, we will praise You forever! In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.

*Empowered To Love* Jesus said a lot of things. Beautiful, enlightening, and important things. But there’s one command that sums up how we should live... *"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34* When we look at Jesus’ life, how did He live out this love? And how can we model His actions in our own lives? Love compelled Jesus to give up His privileges. As Creator and Lord, Jesus could've done whatever He wanted. But what He wanted was to temporarily relinquish His rights and even put on human skin—so that we could be made right with God. Love compelled Jesus to prioritize people: The woman at the well. The unclean leper. The woman with the issue of blood. The despised tax collector. The desperate centurion. The thief hanging next to Him on the Cross. ...and many others including you and I. Jesus didn’t see problems—He saw people. Love compelled Jesus to serve others. He washed His disciples feet. He went out of His way for the marginalized. He stopped for the sick, weary, and broken. And in the end, He gave His own life. For the long-time sinner and the seemingly put-together person, Jesus died so that we can truly live. Love compelled Jesus to value truth and grace. In a world where some elevate grace and others prioritize truth, Jesus valued both. He turned over tables when God’s house was turned into a den of thieves, and He showed great compassion to a woman caught in adultery. If we’re ever unsure about how to love others, let’s look to Jesus as the ultimate example. He selflessly gave up His rights, prioritized people, served others to the point of laying down His life, and valued both truth and grace. And as we love like He loved, we'll become more like Him. *A Prayer To Show Love* Mighty Everlasting Father, we thank You for being the perfect example of love. Some people are more challenging for us to love than others. And yet, You love everyone without condition. Help us to see others through Your eyes. Make us aware of a specific person/people we can shine Your light and love to today. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.

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

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

https://youtube.com/live/TxATKG40wZU "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us" (Ephesians 1:7-8) Lord Jesus, thank You for paying for my sinful life with Your perfect One. You went to the cross and died. Your blood paid for my freedom from sin. You knew of my sin and yet forgave them. Kindly join us in thanksgiving for what the Lord did for us all a 8PM West Africa Time. Blessings!

https://youtube.com/live/O9lbEYNYSjc A redeemer is someone entrusted with securing one’s release from oppression, harm, evil, enslavement, or some other binding obligation. A redeemer restores the lost rights and freedoms of another by avenging any wrongs and paying whatever price is required to set that person free. The role of “Redeemer” is uniquely assigned to Jesus Christ, who rescues believers “from the dominion of darkness” and delivers them into God’s kingdom of light (Colossians 1:13–14). Throughout the Bible, God’s work of redemption points to Jesus as the supreme Redeemer of humanity (Isaiah 63:16). Christ is the fulfillment of Scripture’s redemptive theme (Romans 3:25). #JesusChrist #Redeemer #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Salvation Kindly join us on Word, Spirit & Prayers at 10AM West Africa Time Blessings!

*Tears of Faith - Our Tears Are Never Wasted* Have you ever had your heart broken? Or your dreams shattered? Or had your plans crushed by reality? That happened to the Jewish people when they were forced to leave their homes and become exiles in a foreign land. Their grief was surely deep and their questions surely plenty, but even their tears couldn’t stop new growth. Recorded in *Psalm 126,* regarding the time *“when the Lord brought back His exiles to Jerusalem…”* *“Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭126:5* Like the Israelites, we might be in a season of unexpected sadness, but joy, fruit, and abundance are waiting on the other side.  Are we worried about someone in our family? Are we frustrated with someone at work? Are we devastated or numb regarding a situation in our life? Are we baffled by what we see on the news? Is our health failing? Is this season not quite what we’d hoped? Maybe we truly want to make a difference and we want the people around us to know God, but it’s hard—because we’re trudging forward through tears.  The great news is, seeds aren’t picky about moisture, and tears can be a catalyst for growth. Like any good book or movie, there’s conflict before there’s resolution. Like a woman in labor, there’s pain before there’s new life. Like a prisoner, there’s the angst of captivity before there’s the relief of freedom. Like any real farmer knows, there’s dirt and sweat before there’s any kind of harvest. We don’t always get to choose the environment in which we sow seeds. But regardless, we—people made in the image of God—are called to love Him and love people, to be fruitful and multiply, to go and make disciples, and to trust Him with our grief. Joy is often preceded by tears, which should give us great hope. So, let’s continue to do the good work God has put before us. Let’s continue to plant seeds in faith, even through tears. Let’s honor Him as we sow our seeds and trust Him with the harvest. *A Prayer For Joy In Hard Times* Father God, it's hard to keep planting seeds when we are discouraged. When we are heartbroken. But we know that You can use all things for Your glory and our good. Once again, we are trusting You. We are surrendering our plans to You—because Your ways are always best. Thank You in advance for the harvest that's to come. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.

*The Sweetness of Patience - Watch & Wait* Have you ever plucked fruit prematurely? Perhaps you were drawn in by its vibrant color or sweet scent moving through the air. But when you took the first bite🤣, you realized it lacked the ripeness you anticipated. Everything seemed right at first glance, but there was one missing ingredient… Time. Even the simple act of picking fruit can teach us about time and patience: *"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. You, too, be patient and stand firm because the Lord's coming is near." James 5:7-8* The author, James, penned these words under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to a community of new Jewish converts to Christianity, dispersed throughout various regions. These early Christians faced many trials, including persecution and opposition, because of their newfound faith. James’ call to wait patiently and enduring was more than mere words on a page; they were a lifeline of hope and encouragement in the midst of adversity. And just as those early believers confronted trials, we, too, will encounter challenges and suffering in our Christian journey. And, just like those early believers, we can choose patience—allowing the fruit of the Spirit to ripen within us, no matter the season of life. And when we do, our character will mature, our faith will deepen, and our relationship with God will become sweeter than we could imagine. Patience always bears the fruit of perseverance and strength, even today and even for us! *Prayer Of Surrendering* Everlasting Father, You are the perfect example of patience and Grace. Thank You for being patient with us! We know there are specific areas of our lives where we need to develop more patience—we surrender those areas to You, and asking for Your help. Fill us with hope and wisdom to trust You, especially during challenging times. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen. *Blessed Shabbat!*

*Be Strong and Courageous* When Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthian church, he was writing to believers experiencing intense division. Power and politics within the church community were causing Christians to stray from Jesus’ teachings and compete with each other. Because of this, the poor were suffering, people were confused about theology, and immorality was being tolerated. After calling out their mistakes and showing them how to live Spirit-filled lives, Paul summarized his desire for the Corinthians with these words…  *Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14* Be on guard… Paul uses this phrase to remind his friends to keep watch over their lives, their community, and their choices. He knew that if they didn’t stay aware and awake, they wouldn’t notice the lies, tricks, or deceptions the devil was using to infiltrate their community. Stand firm… Immorality was a major issue in the Corinthian church. But instead of addressing this problem, Corinthian Christians were tolerating it. So Paul reminded them that they are one body. If one person was allowed to disrespect God, then they were all part of the problem. They needed to learn how to stand firm in their faith so that their ultimate desire would be to please God, not people. *Be courageous. Be strong…* In order to resist spiritual attacks, the Corinthians needed to stand strong together. They needed to courageously use their gifts and talents to strengthen their church community and help it grow—even when it seemed counter-cultural and uncomfortable.   And do everything with love... In *1 Corinthians 13,* Paul writes that if he could be perfect, do everything right, never sin, and always keep God’s commands—but he didn’t have love, it would mean nothing. Strength, courage, and commitment—none of it matters if God’s love isn’t at the center of everything we think and do.   If God’s love doesn’t define us, standing firm can become self-righteousness, strength can turn into stubbornness, and courage can become arrogance.   So, what steps can we take to stand firm in what we believe with strength and courage? As we determine what choices we need to make, let's remember that God fights for us, and His Spirit is with us. He can empower us to boldly share His love. *Help Us Stay On Guard* Father God, we need You. You've given us everything we need to live a godly life, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Help us to not waiver in faith. Help us to be on guard against any attacks or lies from the devil. Give us the courage to be strong and stand firm in belief in You, and to live for You daily. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.

*Love That Forgives -We Are Called to Love* We’ll never fully agree with another person—because there’s not a single person just like us. That means there won’t be anyone with our exact viewpoint on life, politics, money, relationships, or religion. We are created unique, and so is the person next to us. But even though we're all different, we are still called to love each other. Jesus Himself has said, *“Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34).* When Jesus commanded us to love others, He didn’t say that we had to agree with people first. In fact, in the book of Matthew, He specifically tells people *to love even their enemies (Matthew 5:44)."* So if love is for everyone, what does love look like? Love considers others first. Love looks for the best in people. Love shows respect. Love seeks unity. Love isn’t selfish. Love displays patience. To love means to give of yourself. Love involves revealing your heart to people who could potentially wound it, and thinking about the needs of others before we think of our own. Loving others in this way isn’t easy—but it’s how Jesus loves us.  When we love people like Jesus, we reflect His love to the world, which helps build His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.  There will always be things we have to “agree to disagree on.” There will always be people we don’t understand or relate to. There will still be times when we get hurt, or unintentionally hurt others. But Jesus’ command to love people wasn’t reliant on our feelings or circumstances.  So if we want the world to be radically transformed by His love, then we need to learn how to put our differences aside, and love each other like Jesus loves us. *We Can Pray For People Who've Hurt Us* Father God, we are choosing to forgive them—the people who’ve caused us pain, the ones who have wronged and betrayed us. We forgive them because You have forgiven us. Transform their lives like You have transformed ours. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.

*Walking in the Light* Have you ever walked in darkness? Maybe your power went out during a storm, or you were stranded on the road with car trouble. Walking in darkness can be scary, and it can be dangerous. Having a light makes everything better, and the same is true in our spiritual journeys. How we find that light in the midst of darkness is actually pretty straightforward: *Psalm 119* says that *"God's Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path."* In other words, the Bible itself is a light—that points to THE Light. It's our guide. It helps us make decisions to follow Christ and to not walk in darkness. Just as Jesus is the light of the world, we are called to reflect His light into the world. When we intentionally choose to walk in His light, we embrace truth, righteousness, and love.  Walking in the light means surrendering our old ways, seeking God's guidance, and allowing His Spirit to shape our thoughts, actions, and attitudes. As we walk in the light, a beautiful transformation occurs: we find fellowship with one another. This light of Christ not only illuminates our individual paths but also creates a bond of unity among believers. It’s how we discover the joy of shared faith, encouragement, and accountability. It is through this bond that we are reminded that we are not alone on our journey. Today, reflect on your walk with Christ. Are you consciously choosing to walk in His light? Are you growing in community? And are you fully embracing the cleansing power of Jesus' blood, allowing His grace to purify your life? As you reflect, think about ways you can grow closer to God, experiencing the abundant life He has promised, and become a beacon of His light in a world that so desperately needs it. *A Prayer To Walk With Jesus* Father God, You gave us Your Son, the light of the world. Give us the courage and strength of character to follow Jesus unconditionally. Regardless of the trials or temptations we face, we want to walk with Him. We want to experience a personal relationship with Him. We want Jesus to be the one thing we pursue above all else. Help us to shine His Light to an increasingly dark world! Amen.

*Keep Doing Good - Never Give Up. There's An Harvest For Those Who Finish Strong* Do you remember the last time you were completely exhausted? Maybe you spent your entire day or week working on a hard project. Maybe you felt depleted after helping other people in your life. Or maybe hard situations and setbacks made you feel like giving up. All of us grow tired at some point. Paul, the writer of Galatians, knew that the people he was writing to would also become weary of the work they were doing. During Paul’s time, there was a lot of persecution and hurting people, and Paul was writing to encourage them in the work they were doing. *"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* Inside Paul’s encouragement to the Galatians is this truth: Even good people will tire of doing good things. That’s why Paul encourages everyone to continue to push forward in doing good. We should continue to help people. We should continue to share the hope of Jesus with people. We should continue to try and live as God would want us to. God knows that we’ll eventually grow weary. And when we grow tired and frustrated, we’ll probably begin to question why we’re doing any of this to begin with. (Maybe you’ve already asked yourself this.) But *Galatians 6:9* encourages us to persevere in doing good things. Similar to how a farmer must work diligently to plant his crops and wait months before the actual harvest, Paul says there will be a harvest for those who do not give up.  Just like the Christians in Galatia, we also need to persevere in living godly lives and helping those around us. If we do not give up, Scripture says there will be a reward for us. We may receive that reward during our time on earth, or in heaven—but regardless of when we receive it, we should persevere in doing good. That means that our work matters. There is value to how we live and love others. So let's spend some time today considering the good that we have done and can continue to do for others. Who can we help? Who can we share the hope of Jesus with? How can we continue to persevere in living a godly life? If we’ve grown weary or defeated, let's make a commitment today to never give up. Choose to persevere through whatever season of life we’re in, knowing that there will be a harvest for those who finish well. *Prayer For Endurance* Father God, help us to never get tired of doing good things in Your Name. As we grow closer to You, give us the endurance to serve and love others well—no matter how we are feeling. We want our lives to bring those around us closer to You. Thank You for never giving up on us! Amen.

https://youtube.com/live/4EsMpnIBf6A Praying for non-believers in Christ Jesus' Salvation is a responsibility of every follower of Christ to intercede for those who have yet to experience the transformative love and grace of the Gospel. Today in BJF Watchmen prayer meeting, we shall focus on non-believers in Christ Jesus. This involves asking God to open their hearts, remove spiritual blindness, and draw them to faith in Jesus Christ. Key biblical requests include praying that the Holy Spirit convicts them of sin, that God send laborers, faithful Christians across their path to model Christ and share the message of Salvation with them (Matthew 9:38); and that they find true repentance and eternal life in Christ Jesus. Kindly join prayer meeting if you can at 8PM West Africa Time. Blessings!

*Extravagant Forgiveness Is What Mercy Really Looks Like* What would you do if you ran into someone who offended, upset, or greatly wronged you?  The Pharisees in Jesus’ time taught that it was excessive to forgive someone more than three times. But Jesus’ teachings set a standard for extravagant forgiveness. He emphasized that we should forgive others generously and continuously. *Luke 6:36 "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful."* The outward expression of forgiveness can look different for everyone, but true forgiveness should offer mercy and compassion to those who hurt us.  No doubt, forgiveness isn’t easy. Showing compassion to someone who hurt us goes against our natural desire. At times, it can even feel overwhelming, unfair, and impossible. But showing someone undeserved forgiveness and compassion is what mercy is … and it’s what Jesus does for us.   God so loved the world that—despite our constant mistakes and continual rejection of His presence—He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die for us. Although we didn’t deserve His forgiveness, mercy, or love, He offered it to us anyways. And now, anyone who believes in Jesus can receive unlimited mercy and unmerited grace.   It’s because God freely offers us mercy that He asks us to show mercy also to others.  The world will tell us to hold onto our hurt and allow it to shape us. But Jesus wants to release us from the pain of our past by changing our heart’s posture toward others. This isn’t easy—it is often an act of continual, painful surrender. But Jesus doesn’t expect us to go through the process of forgiveness alone. He offers to help us if we are willing to trust Him and honor His teachings. Jesus isn’t asking us to do anything that He hasn’t already done for us. And when we offer mercy to someone who has wounded us, we illustrate how God’s forgiveness has impacted us.   So is there anyone we can offer mercy and forgiveness to today? Let's spend some time with God, asking Him to search our hearts, and give Him any hurt we’ve been carrying. *Prayer To Show Mercy* Father God, even though we mess up, hurt each other, and offend You—You still love us. You still have mercy on us. Thank You. Forgive us for all the times we’ve chosen anger and bitterness over forgiveness and compassion. Please reveal who we need to show mercy to today, and then help us to obey Your prompting. Show us how to love people like You love people. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.

https://youtube.com/live/x1rb_hAHncQ John 1:4-5 says, His spiritual life pours out to guide, illuminate, and save humanity from darkness. The Lord Jesus holds the power to create and sustain all living things, offering eternal and spiritual life rather than just physical breath. His divine Life acts as a spiritual lamp that wakes up our souls, exposes the Truth, and shows us the way to God. His bright Light shines into the dark places of sin and pain, and no amount of darkness can ever put it out. Jesus Christ, the fountain of eternal life, serves as the ultimate spiritual light that illuminates the human soul. This teaching explores the profound biblical connection between the divinity of Christ and his role as the guiding radiance for believers navigating life's challenges. Kindly join us at Word, Spirit & Prayers at 10AM West Africa Time. Blessings!

*Refeshment For Our Souls - A Mindset of Abundance* Do you know someone who constantly pours themselves out? They’re generous with their words, unselfish with their time, and openhanded with their money. And yet, somehow, they always seem to have more to give. The author of Proverbs, traditionally attributed to King Solomon, said this: *“The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭11‬:‭25* King Solomon knew a thing or two about generosity. In fact, Scripture tells us: *“King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth” (1 Kings 10:23).* But he was also generous, spending years of his life funding and building the temple in Jerusalem, as well as sharing what he had learned with others. Some of the unhappiest people on earth are stuck in a cycle of selfishness. But if you’ve ever been generous with your life—whether you’ve given financially, contributed your expertise, invested your time, opened up your home, or offered spiritual, emotional, and physical support—you know from experience: those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.  Of course, we shouldn’t give to get. And we also must apply God’s wisdom when it comes to setting boundaries and avoiding burnout. But Jesus is the King of an upside-down Kingdom where: The last will be first. The greatest will be a servant. Those who give up their life will save it. Jesus even told a story of a poor woman who gave more than anyone else—because she gave everything she had *(Mark 12:41-44).* We don’t have to be rich to be generous; we just need a heart that is willing to give and serve. So today, instead of a scarcity mindset, let’s have a mindset of abundance. Our God has unlimited strength, power, and resources. *A Prayer For A Heart Of Generosity* Father God, You have been so generous to us. Help us to have the same willingness to be generous. Let us generosly bless and refresh others as You have blessed us. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.

*The Three Figs: Prayer, Belief, and Forgiveness* Have you ever heard of an object lesson? If you’ve ever taught children — in school or in ministry — the chances are high that you have, or that you’ve at least done one without knowing. If you haven’t, an object lesson is a teaching method that uses physical items or some other visual aid as the centerpiece of a lesson. Think of using a seed to teach about faith that grows or a piece of armor to explain the armor of God. Or a fig tree to teach about prayer, belief, and forgiveness. That’s exactly what Jesus does in *Mark 11.* But the disciples don’t get it at first. It takes a question from Peter (always the talker) for Jesus to explain the meaning of the withered fig tree. Here are three takeaways from what he says. First: Nothing is too big for God. In *Mark 11:23,* Jesus says, *“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.”* How often do we settle for praying small prayers? Prayers that hide behind insecurity at best, or doubt at worst. Here, Jesus is raising the bar. He tells us to pray mountain (difficult situation to man) -moving prayers. We have a big God that can do big things. Second: We should pray with total belief in God. *“... believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”* Our belief in God’s power should be so strong, so absolute, that we should consider our prayer answered as we pray for it. Wow! How can Jesus say that? Because our confidence rests not in the strength of our belief, but in the God that we believe in. And our prayers should align with God’s will. A good key for interpreting this verse is *1 John 5:14: “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”* Asking for a mansion and a million dollars? Perhaps we need to reconsider what Jesus was actually teaching through the fig tree and the temple cleansing that follows. Asking for forgiveness or reconciliation? Even as we ask, Jesus says it’s already ours. And last: Forgiveness is pivotal to prayer. In *Mark 11:25* , Jesus ends His object lesson by commanding forgiveness. *“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”* Isn’t it interesting how two of Jesus’ most extensive teachings on prayer — here and in the Lord’s Prayer — blend forgiveness in as such an important piece? Here, He even ties it to the Father’s forgiveness of our sins. If prayer is a recipe, forgiveness is one of the most integral ingredients. And if we’re going to bear the kind of fruit that is pleasing in the Lord's eyes, forgiveness can’t be missing from our branch. *Prayer For Confidence* Father in heaven, thank You for inviting us into Your power. For the simplicity of prayer. And for Your mercy. Lord, when we pray, help our unbelief. When we pray, push us further. When we pray, help us to forgive the way You forgive — completely, totally, selflessly. In Jesus' Mighty Name, Amen. *Blessed Shabbat!*

*The Three Figs: Prayer, Belief, and Forgiveness* Have you ever heard of an object lesson? If you’ve ever taught children — in school or in ministry — the chances are high that you have, or that you’ve at least done one without knowing. If you haven’t, an object lesson is a teaching method that uses physical items or some other visual aid as the centerpiece of a lesson. Think of using a seed to teach about faith that grows or a piece of armor to explain the armor of God. Or a fig tree to teach about prayer, belief, and forgiveness. That’s exactly what Jesus does in *Mark 11.* But the disciples don’t get it at first. It takes a question from Peter (always the talker) for Jesus to explain the meaning of the withered fig tree. Here are three takeaways from what he says. First: Nothing is too big for God. In *Mark 11:23,* Jesus says, *“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.”* How often do we settle for praying small prayers? Prayers that hide behind insecurity at best, or doubt at worst. Here, Jesus is raising the bar. He tells us to pray mountain (difficult situation to man) -moving prayers. We have a big God that can do big things. Second: We should pray with total belief in God. *“... believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”* Our belief in God’s power should be so strong, so absolute, that we should consider our prayer answered as we pray for it. Wow! How can Jesus say that? Because our confidence rests not in the strength of our belief, but in the God that we believe in. And our prayers should align with God’s will. A good key for interpreting this verse is *1 John 5:14: “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”* Asking for a mansion and a million dollars? Perhaps we need to reconsider what Jesus was actually teaching through the fig tree and the temple cleansing that follows. Asking for forgiveness or reconciliation? Even as we ask, Jesus says it’s already ours. And last: Forgiveness is pivotal to prayer. In *Mark 11:25* , Jesus ends His object lesson by commanding forgiveness. *“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”* Isn’t it interesting how two of Jesus’ most extensive teachings on prayer — here and in the Lord’s Prayer — blend forgiveness in as such an important piece? Here, He even ties it to the Father’s forgiveness of our sins. If prayer is a recipe, forgiveness is one of the most integral ingredients. And if we’re going to bear the kind of fruit that is pleasing in the Lord's eyes, forgiveness can’t be missing from our branch. *Prayer For Confidence* Father in heaven, thank You for inviting us into Your power. For the simplicity of prayer. And for Your mercy. Lord, when we pray, help our unbelief. When we pray, push us further. When we pray, help us to forgive the way You forgive — completely, totally, selflessly. In Jesus' Mighty Name, Amen. *Blessed Shabbat!*

*Living in God’s Love* God is a compassionate friend. He listens. He empathizes. He cares so much for us, and is kind in His responses. In fact, God does more than just show love—He is love. It is impossible for Him to be anything else because love is His very essence. His love is pure. It isn’t selfish, disengaged, bitter, resentful, or passive. We can trust this kind of love. We can trust God. In *1 John 4:16,* we find a beautiful reminder of what life with God is like: *"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them."* How do you feel after you’ve spent time with a good friend? Maybe you feel more relaxed, you have a spring in your step, or you find that you have more courage to keep going. You might even find yourself loving others better because you feel so loved. The ripple effect of living in God’s love is just like this and more. You can’t help but love others when you know and experience how much God loved you. This is the life we are invited to. A life that knows and relies on the love God has for us, and then loves others because of it. When we know and experience the love God has for us, everything changes. *Connection With God* Father God, Your love is amazing. Thank You for modeling how to love people well—we want to do our best to follow Your example. Your love has changed us. Help us to lead others to Your transformative love. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.

*Living in God’s Love* God is a compassionate friend. He listens. He empathizes. He cares so much for us, and is kind in His responses. In fact, God does more than just show love—He is love. It is impossible for Him to be anything else because love is His very essence. His love is pure. It isn’t selfish, disengaged, bitter, resentful, or passive. We can trust this kind of love. We can trust God. In *1 John 4:16,* we find a beautiful reminder of what life with God is like: *"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them."* How do you feel after you’ve spent time with a good friend? Maybe you feel more relaxed, you have a spring in your step, or you find that you have more courage to keep going. You might even find yourself loving others better because you feel so loved. The ripple effect of living in God’s love is just like this and more. You can’t help but love others when you know and experience how much God loved you. This is the life we are invited to. A life that knows and relies on the love God has for us, and then loves others because of it. When we know and experience the love God has for us, everything changes. *Connection With God* Father God, Your love is amazing. Thank You for modeling how to love people well—we want to do our best to follow Your example. Your love has changed us. Help us to lead others to Your transformative love. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.