•A Prayer for Direction• By Anthony Valente 👉 Psalm 32:8 says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Our lives are perpetual experiences of trusting God and taking steps towards the plans that He has for us. Whether we are in a season of trusting the Lord which college to choose, or who to marry, or where to live, He is always working and moving us towards His greater plan for our lives. The beautiful part is that the Lord does not just make decisions for us, He invites us in to have choices. As challenging as it is to be seeking Christ’s will for our lives, we can consider it a glorious invitation to walk with Him daily and follow His leading. The unknowns draw us to listen to our Savior’s voice. The question marks in life put us on a quest to know God more. The confusion takes us to the One who is the unchanging God. Let's Pray. ✝️ Our Great God, Thank You that You have everything under control. Thank You that You are perfect and Your ways are perfect. Thank You that even in my past mistakes, You have worked them out for my good and Your glory. You can use the poor decisions as testimonies of Your grace and mercy. Thank You that You already know what is next, and I do not have to be afraid. Thank You that You walk with me and never leave my side. Thank You that You want me to seek you in this decision and in everything. Forgive me for the times when I have not looked to You in making decisions. Forgive me for going my own ways and thinking that I knew best. Remind me today of Your great compassion and help these past sins point me to the joys of following You in the future. Psalm 86:5 says, “You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.” I haven’t always done this right before, and know that I am likely to choose my own path today. Help my heart to align with Your will! Open my mind to Your best and Your ways. Lord, You say in Proverbs 3:5-6, “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.” Would You help me not just to hear that or read that, but to truly believe that? Help me to place my full trust in You. Holy Spirit, give me the strength to believe You and not what my human eyes can see and my human mind can comprehend. Give me the ability to do this in all my ways. Thank You for promising to make my path straight if I trust in You. God, You told Isaiah in Isaiah 30:21, “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.’” Would You please open my ears to Your voice? You are still speaking and guiding Your people in this world today. Would you help me to take time to listen and be still and know that You are my God? There are so many voices around me competing for Your place in my life. Help me not to focus on the voices around me; help me to hear Your voice alone as my authority. Then, as I seek wise counsel and ask trusted advisors in life, may I always sift through their words with You and with Your Word. Lord, thank You for giving me the gift of Your Bible. I am grateful for Your holy and perfect words. Help me to remember that You have many answers for me just waiting within the Bible. Give me the drive and the urgency to seek You out in Your Word. Help me to love the Scriptures and learn from the people within them. Thank You for this beautiful map of guidance in life. Help me to use it every day to grow in my love for You. I trust and love You Lord. In Jesus name I pray, AMEN 🙏 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) Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. (John 6:54) 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) Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. (Proverbs 8:10-11) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Hebrews 12:1) Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14) The LORD is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way. The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands. (Psalm 25:8-10) Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. (John 3:3-5) Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. (Psalm 119:105) The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. (Psalm 37:23-24) Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. (Jeremiah 33:3) My children, listen when your father corrects you. Pay attention and learn good judgment, for I am giving you good guidance. Don’t turn away from my instructions. For I, too, was once my father’s son, tenderly loved as my mother’s only child. My father taught me, “Take my words to heart. Follow my commands, and you will live. Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them. Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you. Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. If you prize wisdom, she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will honor you. She will place a lovely wreath on your head; she will present you with a beautiful crown.” My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life. I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths. When you walk, you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble. Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life. (Proverbs 4:1-13) The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. (Proverbs 16:9) “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (Luke 15:4-7) Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13-14) I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:28) (pic verse) Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” (Matthew 14:31) Artist 👨‍🎨 I Am With You Always - David Delfeld

2 Corinthians 12:9 “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV) Sermon: Strength in the Valley Most people spend their lives trying to appear strong. We hide our struggles, cover our weaknesses, and try to convince ourselves and others that we have everything under control. Yet Paul teaches a surprising truth in this verse: God often does His greatest work through our weakest moments. Paul had prayed repeatedly for God to remove a painful “thorn in the flesh.” Instead of taking away the burden, God gave him something greater—His grace. The Lord’s answer was not, “I will remove every difficulty,” but rather, “My grace is sufficient for you.” God’s grace is enough when our bodies are tired. It is enough when our hearts are broken. It is enough when our plans fall apart and when the road ahead seems uncertain. His grace does not always remove the valley, but it gives us strength to walk through it. The images of weary travelers, tired shepherds, and believers carrying burdens through difficult paths remind us that God’s people have always faced struggles. Yet as they continue walking with Him, the burdens become lighter because Christ carries what they cannot. Our weakness is not a barrier to God’s power—it is often the doorway through which His power shines most brightly. When we finally admit, “Lord, I cannot do this on my own,” we make room for Him to do what only He can do. Perhaps today you feel weary. Maybe you are carrying burdens that seem too heavy. Remember this promise: God’s grace has not run out. His strength has not diminished. His love has not failed. The same Savior who sustained Paul is sustaining you. The valley is not the end of your story. The light of Christ still shines above the clouds, and His grace is still sufficient for every step of the journey. Prayer Heavenly Father, Thank You for the promise that Your grace is sufficient for us. So often we feel weak, overwhelmed, and unable to carry the burdens before us. Yet You remind us that Your strength is made perfect in our weakness. Lord, help us stop relying solely on our own abilities and learn to trust in Your power. When we are tired, be our strength. When we are discouraged, be our hope. When we are afraid, be our peace. Teach us to see our struggles through the eyes of faith. Remind us that You are working even in the valleys and that Your presence never leaves us. Let the power of Christ rest upon us and fill us with courage for each new day. Strengthen those who are weary. Comfort those who are hurting. Lift those who have fallen. Refresh every soul that feels burdened and overwhelmed. May our lives reflect Your faithfulness, and may we walk forward with confidence knowing that Your grace is more than enough for every challenge we face. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen. 🙏✝️ By [Will] Helton

•A Breakthrough Prayer for Radical Faith• By Anthony Valente 👉 “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6) "Faith does the impossible because it lets God undertake for us, and nothing is impossible for God. How great — without qualification or limitation — the power of faith is! If doubt can be banished from the heart and unbelief is made a stranger there, what we ask from God will surely come to pass. Prayer throws faith on God and God on the world. Only God can move mountains, but faith and prayer move God." During this year are you believing by faith for something that is bigger than yourself and for something that only God can do? Are you stepping out of your comfort zone of what is normal, and are you asking God for things that are God-sized and not man-made? This is what God wants. The following prayer for radical faith will help you to believe God for breakthrough in your life and circumstances. God will reward those who diligently seek Him with faith. Let us believe Hebrews 11:6 "Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." 🙏 Lord, I pray for a radical and strong faith that does not waver in hard times. I know that without faith it is impossible to please You (Hebrews 11:6). The Bible says that the work of God is to believe (John 6:28-29). Help me to believe Your truth when I pray, even in the darkest of circumstances. Make the foundation of my life firm and strong. Help me not to have an evil heart of unbelief (Hebrews 3:12). I pray what the disciples prayed, "Lord, increase my faith" (Luke 17:5). Help me to hold up the shield of faith when the enemy throws flaming arrows at me (Ephesians 6:16). I choose to live a faith-filled life for Your glory. I choose to stand on Your truth every day. I want to believe You and trust in Your Word. I want to have radical faith like Moses when He brought Your chosen people through the Red Sea. Help me not to try to figure everything out but trust in Your ability to carry me through the hard places. Teach me to read, meditate, study, and pray Your Word. I know that my faith grows by hearing Your Word (Romans 10:17). Help me to take action as You show me what to do in my life (James 2:17). I worship and thank You, Lord, right in the midst of my present circumstances [name a difficulty you are right now facing]. I know that You will answer and help me. I choose to praise You today and I know that thanksgiving and praise prepares the way for Your victory (Psalm 50:23). Thank You for building character in my life through the obstacles I face. I choose to count it all joy because this test of faith develops perseverance and maturity in my life (James 1:2-4). Because I trust in You, I can cross the Red Sea of my circumstances. You will provide a way through. You are the God of the breakthrough. “I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.…" (Pray all of Psalm 145). In Jesus’ name, AMEN 🙏 "Have faith in God, for assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, Be removed and be cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them" (Mark 11:22-24) And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (Matthew 21:22) Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” (John 6:28-29) Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. (Romans 10:17) So too, faith, if it does not have works [to back it up], is by itself dead [inoperative and ineffective]. (James 2:17) In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:16-17) “Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation" (Psalm 50:23) “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:2-4) 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) For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7) You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! (James 2:19) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:5-8) Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. (Exodus 14:21-22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23) Who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea. (Job 9:8) (pic verse) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (1 Peter 1:3) Artist 👨‍🎨 I Am With You Always - David Delfeld

By [Josh] Adams Some of us spent years trying to satisfy a thirst nothing in this world could touch. More money. More approval. More attention. More distractions. Yet every well eventually ran dry. That is why the conversation at the well still hits so hard. JESUS was not offering the woman a better life strategy. He was offering himself. Living water. The kind no relationship can replace. No achievement can provide. No addiction can imitate. No religion can manufacture. I know what it feels like to keep drawing from broken wells. Many of us do. We chase things believing they will finally quiet the ache inside us. For a moment they seem to work. Then the thirst returns. But JESUS said whoever drinks from the water he gives will never thirst again. Not because life becomes easy. Because the source changes. Instead of constantly searching for peace, you begin drawing from the Prince of Peace. Instead of searching for identity, you begin finding it in the one who created you. Instead of searching for purpose, you begin walking with the one who wrote your story before you took your first breath. The world offers temporary relief. CHRIST offers eternal life. And there is a difference. Some of you are exhausted from carrying buckets to wells that have never satisfied you. Put them down. The answer was never another well. The answer has always been JESUS. #ChristianContent #Jesus #Faith #BibleVerse #Truth

•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) Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer. (Luke 5:16) (pic verse) Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:24-26) Artist 👨‍🎨 I Am With You Always - David Delfeld

Scripture “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” — 2 Corinthians 9:7 By Will Helton Sermon — The Joy of a Willing Heart In a world that often teaches people to hold tightly to what they have, God teaches something completely different. He looks beyond the amount given and examines the condition of the heart. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, Paul reminds believers that giving is not meant to come from guilt, pressure, fear, or obligation. God desires generosity that flows freely from love, gratitude, and trust. The cheerful giver understands something powerful: everything we have first came from God. Every breath, every meal, every blessing, every opportunity, and every moment of mercy has been placed into our hands by Him. When we truly realize this, generosity stops feeling like loss and begins feeling like worship. The poor widow sharing her final loaf, the children carrying baskets of food to the elderly, the farmers joyfully sharing their harvest, and the young woman secretly leaving bread at a stranger’s door all reveal the heart of God. None of these acts were done for applause. They were done from compassion and faith. Heaven notices the quiet acts that the world often overlooks. Sometimes people think generosity only belongs to the wealthy, but Scripture shows the opposite many times. A person may have little in earthly possessions and still be rich in love, kindness, encouragement, mercy, and faithfulness. God can multiply even the smallest offering when it is surrendered joyfully into His hands. Cheerful giving also reveals trust. Fear says, “If I give, I may not have enough.” Faith says, “God will provide.” The generous heart believes the Lord is faithful even in uncertainty. That kind of trust opens the door for peace and joy that money alone can never provide. There is also something deeply healing about generosity. When we give with love, selfishness loses its grip. Fear weakens. Compassion grows. We begin to reflect the character of Christ Himself, who gave everything so that humanity could receive grace and life. The greatest example of cheerful giving is Jesus. He willingly gave His life out of love for sinners. The cross was not an act of reluctant sacrifice—it was the overflowing mercy of God reaching toward humanity. Because Christ gave Himself freely, believers are now called to live with open hands and compassionate hearts. Today, God may not simply be asking for money. He may be asking for kindness, forgiveness, time, encouragement, patience, or compassion toward someone who feels forgotten. A cheerful giver becomes a living reflection of God’s love in a hurting world. May we become people who give not because we must, but because love moves our hearts. Prayer Heavenly Father, Thank You for every blessing You have poured into our lives. Thank You for Your mercy, provision, grace, and unfailing love. Forgive us for the times fear, selfishness, or worry have caused us to close our hearts to others. Lord, create within us the heart of a cheerful giver. Teach us to trust You fully and to give with joy instead of reluctance. Help us recognize the needs around us and respond with compassion, kindness, and generosity. Let our giving bring hope to the weary, comfort to the hurting, and glory to Your name. Father, remind us that even the smallest act of love matters in Your kingdom. Use our hands to serve, our words to encourage, and our lives to reflect the heart of Jesus Christ. May we never seek praise from people, but instead quietly honor You through sincere acts of love. Bless those who are struggling financially, emotionally, spiritually, or physically today. Provide for them according to Your riches and surround them with Your peace. Let those who feel forgotten discover that You see them, love them, and care for every need. Jesus, thank You for giving Your life so freely for us. Fill our hearts with gratitude that overflows into generosity toward others. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

•A Prayer for When You Hear God Say ‘Be Still’• By Anthony Valente 👉 “And the Lord answered me: ‘Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end — it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.’” (Habakkuk 2:2-3) It is culturally acceptable, even encouraged to go, go, go! We live in a hustle-centric culture, one to which I, like many of us, have fallen prey. I feel, at times, like I can’t allow myself to rest. It takes so much mental energy to just convince myself I am not a failure or lazy for taking time to relax. I find myself believing the lies of the world that if I am not producing, I am worthless. However, there are pathways in my career and other passion projects I am striving towards. As I pursue these outlets, doors keep opening and closing. In these moments, I find myself at a complete loss. I become frustrated because I do not know what God is doing. I felt like this calling, this path was from him. So, why am I still in the same place as I started? As I approach the Lord in prayer, my answer becomes clear. I can either ignore what he is trying to tell me and push back even harder, just to spiral and end up back in the same place, yet more weary and broken. Or I can fall to my knees, rest in the comfort of my Lord’s presence, and submit to his answer to “be still.” I do not see this as God saying, “No.” I trust in his promises and guidance. I know his timing will be far better than my own. 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) 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) I know this will continue to happen throughout my entire life. But I also know as I get closer to my Savior and continually lean on him through prayer and Scripture reading, I find that God’s answers are not all black and white, yes or no. Every time I’m with him, he instills in me the importance of trusting him and his will. Although he allows me to tell him about my plans and cry out in frustration when they do not work out on my desired timeline, he will gently lead me back to a place of peace and contentment if I am willing to follow. Let’s Pray. 🙏 Dear Lord, Sometimes I do not understand what You are doing in my life. I often feel stuck, frustrated, and hopeless. I cry out in the same way David did — “I’ve been patient, obedient, and worthy of the pursuits that I know will glorify you.” I pray You will calm my heart and surround me with Your overwhelming peace. I pray I will turn to You sooner when doors close and when You tell me to be still. I pray for Your guidance and wisdom in all that I do. Thank You for Your love, friendship, and parenthood in our lives. Thank You for seeing into those doors, into those opportunities the things we could never see, and protecting us from something only You know would bring us harm. I pray we will come into Your presence and know Your desires for us, which will ultimately transform the direction of our lives to glorify You and Your kingdom. Be with the broken hearts of those whose lives didn’t turn out the way they thought they would. I pray our ambitions will not cripple us, so we won’t believe the lies of the world that make us hustle and eventually burn out. I pray we find rest and peace in You. We love and trust You with all our hearts, our Father, and Prince of Peace. In Jesus’ name, AMEN 🙏 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! (Psalm 27:14) And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (Mark 4:39) But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14:26) For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. (Psalm 62:5-6) “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me. (Revelation 3:8) Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20) Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. (James 1:19) Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7) Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! (Psalm 37:7) Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. (Lamentations 3:22-26) The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” (Exodus 14:14) 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) All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) 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) Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” (Psalm 46:10) But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. (Matthew 6:6) (pic verse) O come, let us worship and bow down: Let us kneel before the LORD our maker. (Psalm 95:6)

•A Prayer for Freedom from Guilt• By Anthony Valente 👉 “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1) Scanning through social media, I landed on a post about a group of misbehaving teens. The comments that followed showed frustration with their actions. As I read, a knot grew in the pit of my stomach because it brought back memories of my own questionable choices. Choices I wish I could take back or at least get a do-over. But I couldn’t. So those feelings of guilt came creeping back without warning. When we give our lives over to Jesus and accept God’s gift of eternal life, God forgives us. No doubt about it. Yet the consequences of past sins may last beyond what our grieving hearts can handle. So, what do we do when guilt surfaces, long after we’ve become new creations in Christ? Is there a way to live in peace, knowing the wrongs of our past? “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 Knowing the truth of God’s wonderful forgiveness will not remove all memories of our past, but it will help us live in freedom. Guilt can draw us deeper into the pit of self-condemnation, or it can compel us to share the love of our Savior with others. It’s our choice. Guilt comes in many forms. We may feel guilt over a past we’re ashamed to claim, or a decision that affected someone else, like a family member or friend. Wherever the guilt originated, the choices we make today can determine whether we shine a light on unforgiveness, or on the redeeming power of Jesus. Let’s embrace freedom from guilt today with this prayer: ✝️ Dear Heavenly Father, When I committed my life to Your son Jesus and asked Him to come live in my heart, You forgave me for my past sins. I am grateful for that forgiveness, but sometimes those memories resurface. I feel guilty over any pain I caused and struggle to forgive myself. Lord, I know Your Word says you “removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” (Psalm 103:12) Help me to remember this truth when guilt keeps me bound to the problems from my past. Help me to understand I am a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). You removed the old and created something new in me. I give You praise for this awesome gift. As I go through today and all the days ahead of me, I will look to Your Word for help as I focus on sharing the redeeming love of Jesus. I refuse to stay chained to the person I once was, but instead will embrace freedom through Christ. The grace You gave me, I now choose to give to others. Thank You for unending mercy. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN 🙏 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21) He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. (Ephesians 1:7) “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) Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. (Proverbs 28:13) And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38) Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. (Acts 3:19) The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. (Isaiah 1:18) And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” (Hebrews 8:12) He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. (Psalm 103:12) Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (John 5:24) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. (John 15:4) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22) But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16) My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17) Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others myself should be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:25-27) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4.16) (pic verse) And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” (Revelation 5:5) Artist 👨‍🎨 I Am With You Always - David Delfeld

•A Prayer for When You’re Worn Out• By Anthony Valente 👉 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) “If I can just make it to the weekend, I’ll finally get to rest,” I tell myself. I look forward to sleeping in and watching Netflix, but that kind of weekend rest only offers a temporary respite from the challenges I’ll face all over again on Monday morning. While God offers us a deep soul rest that comes from a close walk with Jesus, we’re often dreaming about our next break or vacation. We don’t realize we can experience spiritual rest even on a busy day. Jesus offers us an invitation and a promise when all our endeavors have worn us out: “Come to me…I will give you rest.” All we have to do is draw near to Jesus and turn our hearts toward Him. When we ask Jesus to fill us with His life-giving Spirit and give us the strength and energy we need for our daily tasks, He gives generously. Better yet, He offers to walk with us. When we keep company with Jesus, we learn His gentle nature and humble heart. As we take His yoke upon us, He guides our efforts, showing us what to make our priority and what to leave undone. Personally, my worries tire me out even faster than my work. It’s my worries that wake me up at 3:00 in the morning, robbing me of a good night’s sleep. Sometimes I tire myself out carrying burdens my Savior never meant for me to shoulder alone. When we make the choice to entrust our concerns to Jesus, He carries them for us. We can walk freely and lightly, resting and trusting in His Sovereign, loving care. Friend, if you feel physically tired today, come to Jesus. Ask Him to walk with you. Make abiding in Jesus your first priority, and He will give you spiritual rest as He directs your work. If you feel wearied by worry, how about handing your burden over to Jesus to carry for you? Let’s pray. 🙏 Lord Jesus, I come to You today. You know what makes me tired better than I know myself. Would You fill me with Your Holy Spirit and give me the physical and spiritual rest I need? Lord, forgive me for trying to power through life in my own strength. Forgive me for not trusting You with my concerns and for carrying burdens you never meant for me to carry. Help me walk closely with You and teach me how to abide in You. Empower me for the work You are calling me to do. Teach me to be gentle and humble in spirit. Lord, give me the grace I need to trust You with my worries and cares. I lay them at Your feet. I don’t want to carry anything today except for Your yoke, which helps me walk more closely with You. Lord Jesus, You are my resting place. Help me find my rest in You. I trust and love You Lord Jesus. In Your Name I pray, AMEN 🙏 “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" (Isaiah 40:28-31) “From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I" (Psalm 61:2) “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me" (John 14:1) 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) “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song" (Psalm 28:7) “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58) “Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for others, knowing that you will receive from the Lord the due payment of the inheritance. You are serving the Lord Christ" (Colossians 3:23-24) “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act" (Psalm 37:5) “The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8) “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest" (Exodus 33:14) “Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!” (1 Chronicles 16:11) “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16) “The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.” (Psalm 29:11) “For I will refresh the weary soul and replenish all who are weak." (Jeremiah 31:25) Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. (2 Corinthians 11:24) So they took Jesus, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of the Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. (John 19:17) (pic verse) For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) Artist 👨‍🎨 I Am With You Always - David Delfeld

•Come Holy Spirit — 🕊️ A Powerful Prayer to Welcome the Holy Spirit into Your Day• By Anthony Valente The Holy Spirit of God is the Helper, the Counselor of Truth, and Intercessor of God. Jesus says in John 14:15-17, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” Jesus knew that when He ascended into heaven, the world would need the Spirit of God with them, and so He sent the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit indwells us when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. — A Prayer to Welcome the Holy Spirit into Our Day: 🕊 Holy Spirit, we welcome You. Holy Spirit, we know that You are the Counselor of Truth, our help in need, and the One who fills us with the Spirit of God. Holy Spirit, we pray this very day to come into greater communion with You. You so graciously work to intercede for us to the Father, but also to comfort us with Your peace that goes beyond all understanding. Holy Spirit, please come. Holy Spirit, today we ask for godly counsel and direction. As it says in Psalm 37:4 to delight yourselves in the Lord, so we boldly seek to do so today. Following the will and heart of the Father is our greatest desire, for we know His plans are best for us and, in the end, glorify the kingdom. Holy Spirit, please lead us by Your wisdom, discernment, and kindness throughout our lives. Holy Spirit we praise and thank You for the love lavished upon us. Holy Spirit, we seek and so earnestly crave to be in Your presence, to feel the inner work of You in our own hearts and minds. You so graciously give comfort, truth, and love. Holy Spirit, we welcome You this very day. In the Name of Christ Jesus, AMEN 🙏 — Come Holy Spirit 🕊️ Upon the ascension of Christ, Jesus left with us the Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts. The Holy Spirit works within our hearts to not only give us peace, but also direction. When we seek the Holy Spirit for truth, we are asking to know the route to the will of God in order to be obedient and full of wisdom. Even the groans we profess can be translated by the Holy Spirit to the Father as prayers on our behalf. Communication from God in different forms comes by the Holy Spirit so that we can better know His heart for us through revelation. The Holy Spirit works to be the Helper of God. 🕊 10 Verses about the Holy Spirit 🕊 1. The Holy Spirit is the Helper of God: 👉 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26) 2. The Holy Spirit is the Intercessor: 👉 “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26) 3. The Holy Spirit indwells us: 👉 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own” (1 Corinthians 6:19) 4. The Holy Spirit gives wisdom and understanding: 👉 “And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.” (Isaiah 11:2) 5. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth: 👉 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:15-17) 6. The Holy Spirit is given to us: 👉 “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13) 7. The Holy Spirit works in our hearts: 👉 “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. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” (Ezekiel 36:26) 8. The Holy Spirit speaks what is to come: 👉 “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (John 16:13) 9. The Spirit communicates God’s Word for us: 👉 “And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.” (Acts 2:17) 10. The Holy Spirit unveils us: 👉 “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18) Unity with the Holy Spirit brings us ever closer to the heart of Father God. Knowing we have the Spirit of God within us and knowing we can inquire of the Spirit for direction, truth, and wisdom ushers forth hope. Ask the Holy Spirit today to reveal Himself to you for a peace that goes beyond comprehension, a love that pours upon us like gentle rain, and a path for us to bless the kingdom. The Holy Spirit is our helper, friend, and connection to God Himself. ✝️ Precious God, Almighty Father, words cannot express the depth of my appreciation for Your gift of the Holy Spirit. Even when I don't know how to pray or what to say, I know the Spirit is there with me, sharing my heart with You in ways that are pleasing to You! Thank You for this grace and the gift that makes it possible. In Jesus' name, I pray. AMEN 🙏 (pic verse) Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17) Artist 👨‍🎨 I Am With You Always - David Delfeld

•A Prayer to Seek First the Kingdom of God• By Anthony Valente 👉 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) Rising food prices, the cost of gasoline and cutbacks in many businesses. World changes affect all of us. It’s enough to rattle our nerves and cause fear in our hearts. We want to spend wisely, make good decisions, and prioritize what matters most. But the truth is, many of us don’t even know if we have the means for next week’s groceries. When things we count on collapse around us, we focus our strength and attention on our immediate needs. We may take on extra work, cancel family vacations, or just ignore the problem and hope it goes away. We do what we can for a temporary fix, and soon we realize we’re spiritually depleted and out of sync. Jesus knew his followers would struggle with trusting God in uncertain times. In his famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus cautioned believers against worrying about such things. He knew the key to an abundant, peace-filled life and shared it with all who would listen. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) Isn’t it comforting to know that even today, we struggle with the same fears and worries as those who stood before Jesus when he preached his powerful message? Jesus’ words penetrated hearts that day, and they will do the same for us. All we need to do is seek Jesus first. Maybe worrying over daily provision isn’t what makes you feel unsure. Maybe it’s worrying about a family member or a difficult diagnosis. Maybe you’ve strived for so long to create a life that “represents Jesus” that you’ve missed seeing him. I’ve been there, too, and I’m glad to say there is hope. Finding the balance we need begins with a simple yet life-changing refocus. Seeking God’s Kingdom before anything else is the crucial step to finding the right balance in our lives, regardless of the turmoil around us. When we “fix our eyes” on Jesus, all other things pulling for our attention will settle into their proper place. Our off-balance lives will feel more centered. More at peace. Seeking first the kingdom of God will put our focus into perfect alignment. Let’s pray. 🙏 Dear Lord, Thank You for understanding our hurts. Thank You for caring about the condition of our hearts and listening when we pray. You are a loving, compassionate Savior. Jesus, lately, I’ve felt off-balance. Fear and worry over our present circumstances and our future affect my ability to find peace and joy. There are so many issues in this world. Yet You knew we would struggle with this, so You spoke words that offer hope. We have those words recorded in the Bible to remind us to seek your Kingdom first (Matthew 6:33). When we do, everything else will fall into place. Thank You for the Bible. Thank You for meeting our every need as we focus on You. Help us read Your Words in Scripture as though You are right here with us, speaking to us personally because You are. Help us focus on You first every day by starting each morning in prayer. You know what we will face today, and we trust You to provide. Thank You for giving us hope. May Your will be done in our lives today and every day. In Your holy name, we pray, AMEN 🙏 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD, and you will gain knowledge of God. For the LORD grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him. Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. (Proverbs 2:1-9) Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. (Psalm 37:3) He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14) “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. (Matthew 5:6) “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. (Matthew 13:44-46) “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:2) 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. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you! (Psalm 84:11-12) For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17) I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. (Psalm 37:25) And everyone who gave up homes, brothers or sisters, father, mother, children, or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. (Matthew 19:29) His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ (Matthew 25:23) Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:30) (pic verse) And when he brought his supreme Son into the world, God said, “Let all of God’s angels worship him.” (Hebrews 1:6) Artist 👨‍🎨 I Am With You Always - David Delfeld

•A Prayer to Fight Fear and Anxious Thoughts• By Anthony Valente 👉 “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?” (Psalm 56:3-4) One minute I trust God, but the next I start imagining my greatest fears. Automobile crashes, illness, or someone hurting my children. One day I might be full of faith, but the next day low-grade anxiety sets in as I start to wonder how I’m going to get everything done. Can you relate to feeling like your mind is highjacked by anxious thoughts? Perhaps you struggle with imagined worries about something that most likely will never happen. Or maybe you’re already living your greatest fear: loss of a job, illness of a child, or the end of a marriage. For those moments when anxious thoughts threaten our peace, we can remember David’s prayer: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” Whispering this prayer helps us turn our hearts towards God when our knees start knocking. It helps us stop the cycle of negative thoughts and remember we can trust God’s love and His commitment to care for us. Friend, if you’re struggling with fear and anxious thoughts today, you’re in good company. David felt afraid. However, he did not allow fear to stop him from calling God’s trustworthiness to mind. When fearful thoughts come to mind, stop the worry cycle by centering your thoughts on God’s faithfulness instead. Feed your mind with truth from Scripture. Look for a promise you can believe and pray. If you are living with the stress of generalized anxiety, take a moment to stop and identify your fears and concerns. Then name them one by one before your Heavenly Father, asking Him to help you to trust Him. Surrender your specific concerns to the God who loves you and cares for your needs. Don’t allow fear to stop you from coming to God in prayer. As you pray, He will bring greater peace to your heart. ✝️ Heavenly Father, I come to You in prayer today confessing my great need. Your Word tells me You care for even the smallest sparrow, yet I fear You have forgotten me. Your Word tells me You are faithful, yet I let my worries diminish my trust in You. I so easily forget all You have done for me in the past. Forgive me, Lord, and enable me to surrender my concerns into Your care today. Thank You for the precious encouragement I find in Your Word. Bring to my mind a promise I can cling to today. Strengthen my faith as I read Scripture and help me remember to turn to the unchanging truths of Your Word when my changing circumstances make me fearful or anxious. Lord, help me identify the specific worries that are robbing me of peace today. I entrust each concern into Your care, and I surrender all control of my life to You. I believe You love and care for me. When I am afraid, I will trust in You. I love You. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN 🙏 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) But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats ; do not be frightened.” (1 Peter 3:14) For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7) But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31) 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. (Isaiah 41:10) Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1) “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. (John 14:1) Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9) Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. (Luke 12:22) I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:4) The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. (Psalm 34:17) When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. (Psalm 34:19) 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. (Philippians 4:6-7) 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) Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. (Psalm 55:22) Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:6-8) Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4) Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Hebrews 14:5-6) When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. (Psalm 56:3) The LORD is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them. (Psalm 145:18-19) 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 41:13) (pic verse) And He Himself existed and is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. [His is the controlling, cohesive force of the universe.] (Colossians 1:17) Artist 👨‍🎨 I Am With You Always - David Delfeld

Acts 4:31 — Filled With Boldness By Will Helton “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” The believers in Acts 4 were not praying for comfort, popularity, or safety. They were praying for courage. They had already faced threats, opposition, and fear from powerful leaders, yet instead of retreating, they gathered together in prayer. The moment they cried out to God in unity, heaven responded. The room shook, the Holy Spirit filled them again, and ordinary people became fearless witnesses for the Kingdom of God. This passage reminds us that true boldness does not come from human strength, personality, or confidence. It comes from the presence of God. The disciples were not fearless because the world became easier. They were fearless because the Holy Spirit became greater in their hearts than the fear around them. Darkness still surrounded Jerusalem, opposition still existed, yet the light of God inside them overcame the shadows outside them. Many people today live trapped by fear—fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of speaking truth, fear of standing apart from the world. But Acts 4:31 shows us that prayer changes people. When believers seek God together, He fills empty hearts with courage, peace, wisdom, and supernatural strength. The same Holy Spirit that empowered the early church still empowers believers today. Notice also that the disciples did not keep God’s presence to themselves. The light flowed outward into the streets, marketplaces, homes, and temple courts. God never fills His people so they can hide. He fills them so they can shine. Every believer is called to carry hope into dark places, peace into fearful hearts, and truth into a confused world. Sometimes God may not shake the walls around us physically, but He still shakes fear loose from our hearts. He breaks chains of intimidation. He awakens sleeping faith. He reminds His people that the Gospel is still powerful and that His Spirit is still alive and moving. Today, God is still looking for hearts willing to pray boldly, trust deeply, and speak courageously. The world does not need more silent believers. It needs believers filled with the Holy Spirit—people whose lives radiate the love, truth, peace, and courage of Christ everywhere they go. Prayer Heavenly Father, Thank You for the powerful reminder found in Acts 4:31. Thank You that when Your people pray, heaven moves. Lord, fill us with the same Holy Spirit that empowered the early believers. Remove fear, doubt, and hesitation from our hearts. Replace them with bold faith, deep peace, and unwavering trust in You. Teach us to seek Your presence more than the approval of people. Give us courage to speak truth with love and wisdom. Help us shine Your light in dark places and carry hope to those who feel lost, weary, or afraid. Lord, shake everything within us that keeps us from fully trusting You. Break chains of anxiety, insecurity, and spiritual weakness. Let Your peace rest upon us, and let Your Spirit flow through our lives like radiant light into the world around us. May our words honor You, our actions reflect Your love, and our lives boldly proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Fill our homes, our hearts, and our communities with Your presence and power. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

•A Prayer for Memorial Day• — Remembering Those Who Have Fought for Our Freedom 👉 “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) Freedom is a gift, it’s a treasure. And though we all may agree on that truth, it’s often easy to take for granted the greatest gifts that God has given us in our lives. But those most precious gifts are never free. They came with a price. With sacrifice. They were worth fighting for. And are still worth fighting for today. Many brave men and women were willing to face hard battles in order for us to enjoy that gift of freedom today. For all those who have protected our nation, for the men and women in uniform, together, we say “Thank You.” We take time to remember today, and say a prayer of gratefulness for the many who have been willing to pay a great price for our freedom. May God help us to live so courageously, may we follow the brave examples of those who have gone before us…. Thank you for reminding us that there’s incredible love and sacrifice displayed when one is willing to stand strong and fight for freedom. This service of love and sacrifice on behalf of all people, points us directly to the greatest love of all, the very gift and sacrifice of Christ. Our Savior was willing to pay the ultimate price, so that we can live free. Forever. 🙏 Dear God, We thank You for the freedom You have given to us, and for the price that was paid by Christ so that we could live free. We remember today. The cost of it all. The great sacrifice for freedom. We thank You for the brave men and women who have fought, and continue to fight, so courageously for our nation. We ask for Your covering and blessing over them and their families. We pray that You would be gracious and encircle them with Your peace. We pray for Your great favor and goodness to be evident in their lives. Please be with all those who wear the uniform, who serve our communities and nation every single day. We ask that You provide Your protection, that You would be their guiding force who leads the way, and their rear guard who keeps them safe from behind. We ask that You would draw them to Yourself amidst the dangers they face in a dark world, for You are the Truth, You are the Way, You are the Light. Help them to walk wisely. To stay covered in Your armor. Give them godly discernment. Make them constantly aware of what lurks close by. Help them to be men and women of prayer, realizing that this is where their greatest help comes from. Help them to stay united and strong, bold and resolute, determined and unwavering. Bless their families. Bless those they love. Give them Your great favor, this day, and every day. Thank You that in our nation today, we are free to worship. We are free to pray. We are free to read Your Word. We are free to speak. We are free to share. For this, we are incredibly grateful. Yet, we understand how quickly these freedoms can be taken away. Give us an increased awareness of the spiritual battle we’re in. Help us to stand strong in You and for Your purposes. Thank You that as believers, we can be assured, You will never leave us, and are with us always, in this life, and the next. Thank You for Your truth that says, who the Son sets free is free indeed! We know that in You alone, true freedom is found. In Jesus’ Name we pray, AMEN 🙏 We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3) I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants. (Psalm 116:14-15) For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. (1 Thessalonians 4:14) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27) Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident. The one thing I ask of the LORD— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD’s perfections and meditating in his Temple. (Psalm 27:3-4) Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. (1 Corinthians 16:13) For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. (Hebrews 4:12) The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18) The LORD cares deeply when his loved ones die. (Psalm 116:15) Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. (Psalm 82:3-4) Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. (Romans 12:9-13) There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due. (Romans 13:7) (pic verse) Doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself; not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others. (Philippians 2:3-4)

Sermon — Guided Into Truth By Will Helton John 16:13 “When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth…” — John 16:13 There are moments in life when the road ahead feels uncertain. We stand in valleys of confusion, fear, heartbreak, temptation, or exhaustion, wondering which direction to take. Yet Jesus gave His followers a promise that still speaks powerfully today: we are not abandoned to walk alone. God has given us the Holy Spirit — the Spirit of truth — to guide, comfort, teach, and strengthen us. Like the disciple reading the glowing scroll in the quiet room, the Holy Spirit often speaks in stillness. In a noisy world filled with opinions, distractions, and fear, God calls us to slow down and listen. Truth is not found in chaos but in His presence. The Spirit opens our hearts to understand God’s Word and reminds us who we belong to. He brings peace where confusion once lived. Like the travelers walking through the wilderness valley, many people today feel surrounded by storms. Some carry grief. Some battle loneliness. Some are weary from disappointment or failure. Yet the Spirit of God continues to shine like a radiant pillar of light ahead of His people. Even when we cannot see the entire journey, He faithfully leads one step at a time. God does not always reveal the whole map — but He always provides enough light for the next step of faith. In the upper room, the disciples were afraid and uncertain about the future. But when the Holy Spirit came upon them, fear was replaced with courage. Darkness was replaced with fire and light. Weakness became boldness. The same Spirit still works today. God can take a fearful heart and fill it with peace. He can take a broken life and restore hope. He can give wisdom when decisions feel overwhelming and strength when the burden feels too heavy. And like the young woman overlooking Jerusalem at sunrise, we are called to hold God’s truth close to our hearts. The Holy Spirit reminds us that our future is not ruled by fear but by God’s faithfulness. He points us toward Christ again and again — toward grace, mercy, forgiveness, and eternal hope. The Spirit does not merely inform us; He transforms us. He teaches us how to love, forgive, endure, and trust God more deeply. He guides believers not only into truth, but into a life that reflects the heart of Jesus. So when the road grows dark, listen for His voice. When fear rises, follow His light. When confusion comes, return to God’s Word. The Holy Spirit is still leading God’s people into truth, wisdom, peace, and hope. Prayer Heavenly Father, Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to guide us into truth. Thank You that we are never alone, even in seasons of uncertainty and fear. When our hearts are troubled and the path ahead seems unclear, help us to trust Your voice above every other voice in this world. Lord, shine Your light into every dark place within us. Replace confusion with wisdom, fear with courage, and despair with hope. Teach us to listen closely to Your Spirit and to walk faithfully wherever You lead. Open our hearts to understand Your Word more deeply and help us live according to Your truth with humility, love, and obedience. For those who are weary, bring peace. For those who feel lost, bring direction. For those carrying heavy burdens, bring comfort and strength. For those longing for hope, remind them that Your light still shines in the darkness. Fill us with the same courage You gave the disciples in the upper room. Let our lives reflect the love, grace, and truth of Jesus Christ. Guide our steps each day until we walk fully in the joy of Your eternal presence. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Sermon – “Repent, Be Baptized, and Receive New Life” By Will Helton Inspired by Acts 2:38 When Peter stood before the crowds in Jerusalem after the coming of the Holy Spirit, he did not offer them empty religion or shallow comfort. He gave them a life-changing invitation from God: repentance, forgiveness, and new life through Jesus Christ. Many in the crowd carried guilt, shame, fear, and spiritual emptiness. Yet heaven did not reject them. God opened a door of mercy. The images of the kneeling crowds, the waters of baptism, the upper room filled with holy fire, the broken chains, and Jerusalem flooded with light all tell the same story: God still transforms hearts. Repentance is not merely feeling bad for sin. It is turning around. It is walking away from darkness and stepping into the light of Christ. The man standing with broken chains represents every person who has ever felt trapped by sin, regret, addiction, fear, bitterness, or hopelessness. Jesus does not simply cover chains—He breaks them. Baptism in the river symbolizes burial of the old life and the beginning of something completely new. As believers were lowered beneath the waters, they rose again as people washed by grace. Heaven rejoices when even one soul turns toward God. The golden light upon the water reminds us that forgiveness is not cold or distant—it is living, radiant, and full of hope. The upper room filled with fire reminds us that God never intended faith to be lifeless. The Holy Spirit came with power, warmth, boldness, and presence. Those flames resting above the believers were not flames of destruction, but flames of transformation. Fear became courage. Weakness became strength. Broken people became witnesses of God’s glory. And finally, Jerusalem overflowing with joy shows what happens when revival touches hearts. Relationships heal. Worship rises. Hope spreads. Darkness retreats. God’s forgiveness does not only change individuals—it changes families, cities, and generations. Acts 2:38 is still alive today: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” This promise is not only for the people of ancient Jerusalem. It is for every weary soul searching for peace today. No life is too broken. No past is too dark. No heart is too far from the mercy of God. The same Spirit that filled the upper room still reaches into human hearts with light, freedom, forgiveness, and new life through Jesus Christ. Prayer Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your mercy that reaches into the darkest places of our lives. Thank You for sending Jesus Christ so that our sins could be forgiven and our hearts made new. Lord, we repent before You today. Wash away pride, bitterness, fear, shame, and every sin that separates us from You. Break every chain that holds us in darkness. Lead us onto the path of life and truth. Fill us with the power of Your Holy Spirit just as You filled the believers in the upper room. Let Your fire burn away fear and awaken faith within us. Give us hearts that love deeply, forgive freely, and follow You boldly. Bring revival to our homes, our families, our churches, and our cities. Let Your light overcome darkness. Let weary people find peace, and let broken hearts be restored through the name of Jesus. Thank You for the promise of forgiveness, salvation, and new life. May we walk daily in the joy, freedom, and hope You have given us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

•A Prayer to Ease Confusion in Uncertain Times• By Anthony Valente 👉 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) We hold the key to endless information at our fingertips. One click or swipe and we’re instantly transported to the next current event, opinion, or tidbit of news. Real or fake? Can we trust the source? Yes, exposure to world happenings has its benefits. But sifting through each article, considering different perspectives, and staying up-to-date can get overwhelming. Lately, I’ve been enticed with information overload, leaving me dazed and confused. What should I believe? Who should I listen to? When confusion threatens and I start feeling overwhelmed with it all, God’s Word provides the antidote. The only thing that helps when confusion takes over is the certainty of my future hope. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 Chapter 11 of Hebrews gives us an inspiring look at the meaning of faith. It includes examples from biblical heroes who displayed faith, even though they didn’t get to see some of God’s promises during their time on earth. “And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us…” (Hebrews 11:39). Abel, Enoch, Noah, and more. Their lives showed strength through trials and offered the one truth we need to hold onto when confused by circumstances surrounding us. We have the one true God who gave his son to be our Savior. Jesus Christ, our living hope. Our assurance in the hope of Christ will ease any confusion we feel. As we go through our day, let’s make choices that reflect the faith we have rather than the confusion created by the world. Uncertain times may abound, but God’s promises remain certain. Let this prayer ease any confusion we may feel and bring us back to the assurance God freely gives. Let us pray. ✝️ Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for the truth of Your Word, which allows us to walk in confidence rather than defeat, and certainty rather than confusion. Sometimes in our effort to stay informed, we can get confused by all the voices of the world. Trying to sort out what’s real and what isn’t leaves us overwhelmed. Thank You for showing us a better way. We claim Your promise that we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper…” (Hebrews 13:6). Help us make life-giving choices today as we hold without wavering to the assurance of Your son Jesus. He is our one true hope. Help us also look to Scripture for answers in the midst of all the differing opinions we hear. When we struggle to discern truth, we pray that Your Word will be “a lamp to our feet, and a light to our path.” (Psalm 119:105) John 3:16 shows Your unending love for us with the simplicity we need in times of turmoil. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” When our minds fall into the trap of confusion, bring this verse back to our remembrance. Let the assurance of Your message ease our confusion. You are worthy of our praise, Lord. We trust and love You, Lord. In Jesus’ name, AMEN 🙏 For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7) So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. (2 Corinthians 4:18) We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.) (Romans 8:24-25) And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith. (Hebrews 11:6-7) Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22) Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105) So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17) These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. (1 Peter 1:7-8) I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. (Psalm 27:13) So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17) All these died in faith [guided and sustained by it], without receiving the [tangible fulfillment of God’s] promises, only having seen (anticipated) them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. (Hebrews 11:13) And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Mark 11:22-24) 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) For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints. (1 Corinthians 14:33) So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6) And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (Matthew 21:22) For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37) “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) For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1 Peter 2:25) Saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42) (pic verse) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, 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. 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 23:1-6) Artist 👨‍🎨 I Am With You Always - David Delfeld

Scripture: John 8:12 By Will Helton “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’” Sermon: The Light That Leads Us Out of Darkness In John 8:12, Jesus makes one of the most powerful declarations in all of Scripture: “I am the light of the world.” He did not simply say He would show light, teach about light, or point toward light. He declared that He Himself is the Light. The world Jesus spoke into was filled with darkness—spiritual confusion, fear, sin, hopelessness, suffering, and brokenness. Yet that same darkness still exists today. Many people walk through valleys of anxiety, loneliness, guilt, addiction, bitterness, grief, or uncertainty. Some appear strong outwardly while inwardly carrying deep shadows no one else sees. But Jesus still stands with His hand extended toward humanity. The first image reminds us of Jesus standing on the dusty road at dawn, calling people out of darkness into hope. That is what Christ does. He meets people exactly where they are. He does not wait for us to become perfect before approaching Him. He steps into our darkness with mercy, truth, and compassion. His light reveals not only our need—but also God’s love. The second image of the traveler following Jesus through the dark valley teaches us something important: following Christ is a journey of trust. The traveler’s small lamp could only light a little of the path, but Jesus illuminated the way ahead. Often God does not show us the entire future at once. Instead, He asks us to walk with Him daily by faith. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” When we follow Jesus, we are never truly alone in the valley. The temple scene filled with heavenly light reminds us that Jesus is not merely another teacher among many voices. He is the very Light of Life. The crowds around Him were hungry for truth, peace, and hope. People still hunger for those same things today. Many chase success, pleasure, or recognition hoping to fill the emptiness inside, yet only Christ can truly satisfy the soul. His light exposes lies, heals hearts, and brings spiritual life. The image of the village slowly filling with golden light is a beautiful picture of transformation. When Jesus enters a life, He changes everything. Fear begins to give way to peace. Shame gives way to grace. Despair gives way to hope. Homes can change. Families can heal. Hearts can soften. One life touched by Christ can become a light to an entire community. Finally, the image of the kneeling person reaching toward Jesus captures the heart of salvation. Behind them are broken chains and shadows; before them is light and freedom. This is the Gospel. Jesus came to break the chains of sin and lead us into new life. No darkness is too deep for His light. No past is too broken for His mercy. No soul is too far gone for His grace. The promise of John 8:12 is not only that Jesus shines light around us—but that He places His light within us. Those who follow Him receive “the light of life.” We become people who carry His love, truth, compassion, and hope into a dark world. Today, Jesus still calls people to follow Him. Not religion alone. Not empty tradition. But a living relationship with the Savior who walks beside us through every valley and leads us safely home. Wherever there is darkness, Christ is greater. Wherever there is fear, Christ brings peace. Wherever there are chains, Christ offers freedom. And wherever His light enters, life begins again. Prayer Lord Jesus, Thank You for being the Light of the world. Thank You for stepping into our darkness with mercy, grace, and truth. So many times we try to walk on our own, yet we stumble in fear, confusion, and sin. But You continue to call us toward Your light. Lord, shine into every dark place within us. Heal wounded hearts. Break every chain of guilt, addiction, bitterness, and despair. Replace fear with peace and hopelessness with joy. Help us trust You even when the road ahead feels uncertain. Teach us to follow You faithfully through every valley. Let Your Word guide our steps and Your presence strengthen us daily. Fill our hearts so fully with Your light that others can see Your love through the way we live. We pray for those who feel lost today. Remind them that Your hand is still extended toward them. Let them know they are not forgotten, abandoned, or beyond redemption. Draw them into Your marvelous light and give them the gift of new life. May our homes, families, and communities be transformed by Your presence. Use us to bring hope to the hurting, peace to the fearful, and truth to those searching for meaning. Jesus, thank You for loving us enough to lead us out of darkness and into life everlasting. We place our hearts, our future, and our trust completely in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Sermon: “The Harvest Is Ready” By Will Helton In Gospel of Matthew 9:37–38, Jesus looks out over the people—not just as a crowd, but as souls. He says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” Picture that first scene: Jesus standing on the hillside, gazing over endless golden fields. Those fields represent people—hurting, searching, waiting. Not empty. Not barren. Ready. The problem was never the harvest. The problem was—and still is—the lack of workers. In the second image, we see abundance everywhere, yet only a few laborers. This is the tension of our world today. There are people everywhere longing for truth, for hope, for love—but too few willing to step in, speak up, and serve. Then we see the disciples kneeling in prayer. Before Jesus sends workers, He tells them to pray. Why? Because the harvest doesn’t begin with effort—it begins with surrender. God doesn’t just need more hands; He wants hearts that are aligned with His. Next, the villagers walk toward the light, guided gently by faithful servants. This is our calling. We are not meant to force or pressure—but to guide with love, humility, and truth. To be living invitations. And finally, the Lord of the harvest sends workers out in every direction. This is powerful: God is actively sending. The question is not, “Is God calling?” The question is, “Will we go?” You don’t have to be perfect to be a worker. You just have to be willing. The harvest is still plentiful. The fields are still ready. And God is still sending. ⸻ Prayer Heavenly Father, Thank You for opening our eyes to see the harvest the way You see it. Thank You for Your compassion—for every soul that is searching, hurting, and in need of Your truth. Lord, we confess that sometimes we’ve stood in the field but hesitated to step forward. We’ve seen the need but felt unqualified, afraid, or unsure. But today, we say yes. Stir our hearts to care deeply about what matters to You. Teach us to pray for the harvest, not just with words, but with willing lives. Make us sensitive to the people around us—those quietly longing for hope. Give us courage to go where You send us. Give us gentleness to guide others with love. Give us boldness to speak truth without fear. Lord of the harvest, send us. Use our hands, our voices, our lives—for Your glory. Let us be faithful workers in Your field, trusting that You will do the work through us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sermon: “The Harvest Is Ready” By Will Helton In Gospel of Matthew 9:37–38, Jesus looks out over the people—not just as a crowd, but as souls. He says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” Picture that first scene: Jesus standing on the hillside, gazing over endless golden fields. Those fields represent people—hurting, searching, waiting. Not empty. Not barren. Ready. The problem was never the harvest. The problem was—and still is—the lack of workers. In the second image, we see abundance everywhere, yet only a few laborers. This is the tension of our world today. There are people everywhere longing for truth, for hope, for love—but too few willing to step in, speak up, and serve. Then we see the disciples kneeling in prayer. Before Jesus sends workers, He tells them to pray. Why? Because the harvest doesn’t begin with effort—it begins with surrender. God doesn’t just need more hands; He wants hearts that are aligned with His. Next, the villagers walk toward the light, guided gently by faithful servants. This is our calling. We are not meant to force or pressure—but to guide with love, humility, and truth. To be living invitations. And finally, the Lord of the harvest sends workers out in every direction. This is powerful: God is actively sending. The question is not, “Is God calling?” The question is, “Will we go?” You don’t have to be perfect to be a worker. You just have to be willing. The harvest is still plentiful. The fields are still ready. And God is still sending. ⸻ Prayer Heavenly Father, Thank You for opening our eyes to see the harvest the way You see it. Thank You for Your compassion—for every soul that is searching, hurting, and in need of Your truth. Lord, we confess that sometimes we’ve stood in the field but hesitated to step forward. We’ve seen the need but felt unqualified, afraid, or unsure. But today, we say yes. Stir our hearts to care deeply about what matters to You. Teach us to pray for the harvest, not just with words, but with willing lives. Make us sensitive to the people around us—those quietly longing for hope. Give us courage to go where You send us. Give us gentleness to guide others with love. Give us boldness to speak truth without fear. Lord of the harvest, send us. Use our hands, our voices, our lives—for Your glory. Let us be faithful workers in Your field, trusting that You will do the work through us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

•A Prayer for Personal Healing• By Anthony Valente 👉 “Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise." (Jeremiah 17:14) Are you facing a difficult disease, illness, or malady and want to cry out to God for healing but don't know what to pray? God tells us that through prayer, He can speak to us and use us to work miracles for His glory. When you use this prayer for healing you are coming to God completely surrendered and expectant to let His Holy Spirit work in and through you. I pray that you will find miraculous healing as you seek God's plan for your life — His plan to prosper you and to give you a hope and future! Let us pray. ✝️ God, You know me so well. You created me. You know the number of hairs on my head, and You even know the thoughts conceived in my heart before I ever vocalize them. You've told us to come to You and ask for every need of life. You are Jehovah-Rapha, the God who heals, and You have the final word on my destiny, the number of years I'll live and serve You on earth. I'm coming to You today as Your child, longing to hear from You and asking for Your divine healing. There's so much I don't understand about life. But I do know that with one touch, one word, you can make me whole. Please forgive me of my sins, cleanse me of my unrighteousness, and begin Your healing from the inside out. I don't always know what Your will is Lord, especially in times like now, when I desperately seek Your face. I offer You no promises, no bargains, no deals to exchange for my health. I simply bow my heart before You to tell You the desire of my heart: that I want to spend as many years as I can loving You here, loving others, and wanting to become more like You. However You choose to accomplish that is up to You—and okay with me. If You use doctors to provide healing, give them wisdom to know what to do. Regardless of how You accomplish it, the healing You give is always miraculous. And You deserve all the praise. I absolutely believe You have the power to heal. You demonstrated that on earth, and You still heal in miraculous ways today. Even when my faith is weak, You say it is enough, and my love for You is strong. And I know You already hold my heart and life in Your hands. It's up to You. If I can bring You more glory through healing, then that's what I ask for. That's what I desire. But if Your answer is no, or not now, I know that Your grace is sufficient for me. Ultimately, I want Your will to be my will. I look forward to spending an eternity with You. But Lord, if You have planned still more for me to do here on this earth, I not only need and want Your physical healing, Lord, but a thorough, deep-down cleansing and strengthening—a whole-hearted renewal of all that I am. Because all that I am is Yours. Use this trial to strengthen me from a "what-if" faith to a "no-matter-what" faith. And no matter what, I choose to honor You and give You glory. In Jesus’ Name I Pray, AMEN 🙏 "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:4) "This what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: 'I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you.'" (2 Kings 20:5) "And the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all." (Luke 6:19) "'But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,' declares the Lord." (Jeremiah 30:17) "Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back." (Isaiah 38:17) "He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:24) "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) "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." (Isaiah 41:10) "Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord." (James 5:14) "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." (Psalm 147:3) "Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you." (Exodus 23:25) "Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." (3 John 1:2) "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." (Isaiah 40:29) "He said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.'" (Mark 5:34) 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) "Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me." (Psalm 30:2) "The Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous." (Psalm 146:8) "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness." (Matthew 9:35) “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.” Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!” Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath. (John 5:7-9) The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. (Matthew 11:5) But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer. (Luke 5:16) (pic verse) So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. (2 Corinthians 4:18) Artist 👨‍🎨 I Am With You Always - David Delfeld

•A Prayer for Personal Healing• By Anthony Valente 👉 “Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise." (Jeremiah 17:14) Are you facing a difficult disease, illness, or malady and want to cry out to God for healing but don't know what to pray? God tells us that through prayer, He can speak to us and use us to work miracles for His glory. When you use this prayer for healing you are coming to God completely surrendered and expectant to let His Holy Spirit work in and through you. I pray that you will find miraculous healing as you seek God's plan for your life — His plan to prosper you and to give you a hope and future! Let us pray. ✝️ God, You know me so well. You created me. You know the number of hairs on my head, and You even know the thoughts conceived in my heart before I ever vocalize them. You've told us to come to You and ask for every need of life. You are Jehovah-Rapha, the God who heals, and You have the final word on my destiny, the number of years I'll live and serve You on earth. I'm coming to You today as Your child, longing to hear from You and asking for Your divine healing. There's so much I don't understand about life. But I do know that with one touch, one word, you can make me whole. Please forgive me of my sins, cleanse me of my unrighteousness, and begin Your healing from the inside out. I don't always know what Your will is Lord, especially in times like now, when I desperately seek Your face. I offer You no promises, no bargains, no deals to exchange for my health. I simply bow my heart before You to tell You the desire of my heart: that I want to spend as many years as I can loving You here, loving others, and wanting to become more like You. However You choose to accomplish that is up to You—and okay with me. If You use doctors to provide healing, give them wisdom to know what to do. Regardless of how You accomplish it, the healing You give is always miraculous. And You deserve all the praise. I absolutely believe You have the power to heal. You demonstrated that on earth, and You still heal in miraculous ways today. Even when my faith is weak, You say it is enough, and my love for You is strong. And I know You already hold my heart and life in Your hands. It's up to You. If I can bring You more glory through healing, then that's what I ask for. That's what I desire. But if Your answer is no, or not now, I know that Your grace is sufficient for me. Ultimately, I want Your will to be my will. I look forward to spending an eternity with You. But Lord, if You have planned still more for me to do here on this earth, I not only need and want Your physical healing, Lord, but a thorough, deep-down cleansing and strengthening—a whole-hearted renewal of all that I am. Because all that I am is Yours. Use this trial to strengthen me from a "what-if" faith to a "no-matter-what" faith. And no matter what, I choose to honor You and give You glory. In Jesus’ Name I Pray, AMEN 🙏 "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:4) "This what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: 'I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you.'" (2 Kings 20:5) "And the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all." (Luke 6:19) "'But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,' declares the Lord." (Jeremiah 30:17) "Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back." (Isaiah 38:17) "He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:24) "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) "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." (Isaiah 41:10) "Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord." (James 5:14) "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." (Psalm 147:3) "Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you." (Exodus 23:25) "Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." (3 John 1:2) "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." (Isaiah 40:29) "He said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.'" (Mark 5:34) 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) "Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me." (Psalm 30:2) "The Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous." (Psalm 146:8) "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness." (Matthew 9:35) “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.” Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!” Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath. (John 5:7-9) The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. (Matthew 11:5) But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer. (Luke 5:16) (pic verse) So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. (2 Corinthians 4:18) Artist 👨‍🎨 I Am With You Always - David Delfeld