Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. i. 😀🌺🌹🎁🎀💝 MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2026. "DEALING WITH ADVERSITY (2)" ‘…God led you through the wilderness…to prove your character…’ Deuteronomy 8:2 NLT GOD LED the children of Israel through the wilderness: ‘to prove [their] character, and… find out whether or not [they] would obey His commandments’. They could choose to perish there, or trust Him to bring them safely to the Promised Land. One author writes: ‘How many times have you changed courses in life, rather than pass the test and get through the tough stuff to the promises of God? He wants to know if you are worthy of the blessing that awaits you on the other side of the Jordan. Do you have the courage to face the challenges, or will you go back and settle for second best? If you’re facing a challenge that stands between you and your promise…look at Joshua 1:9 and Daniel 10:19 for courage. Ask God to give you the courage to face whatever hurdles stand in the way of your claiming what God has prepared for you’. The landscape along Florida’s Everglades is dotted with wiry, primitive-looking trees known as Caribbean Pines. They thrive in a rugged environment, can withstand prolonged periods of drought and fire, and hold their own against the fiercest hurricanes. In fact, if you plant them in a cultivated setting they usually shrivel and die. Joni Eareckson Tada says: ‘Like Caribbean Pines, our souls usually don’t thrive during good times. Our hearts grow complacent, our need of God becomes less urgent, our hope of heaven dims, and our prayer life dries up…in a beautiful setting with our needs met and every resource at our fingertips…our soul shrivels… We need an occasional blast of storm or fiery trial if our faith is to mature.’ Bible In A Year: Exo 20:4, Isa 44:6-20. Courtesy: Grace So Amazing Foundation💝🎀 *To partner with us, kindly refer to page 9 of the hard copy edition or simply send us a WhatsApp message/call on +2348128000068.*🌷🎀💝. ii. GROW IN JESUS "Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." - 2 Peter 3:17-18 Peter says that we should not fall away from our secure position in Jesus Christ. This happens when we do not grow. If you do not grow, you stand still and standing still is the same as being dead in the water. It will not take long before you completely backslide. Peter says: 'grow.' Born again Let us note here that dead things cannot grow. That is impossible. Only those who are made alive in their spirit by God - the Lord Jesus calls it being born again - have the opportunity to grow in Christ. Jesus Christ will first have to plant a seed of His life within you, after which it can grow. Going to church or standing on the pulpit does not guarantee that you are born again. It seems harsh, but it is the truth: if you are not born again, you are dead to God. And when you are dead, you cannot grow. That is why we should seriously examine ourselves: am I really born again? If not, then you cannot grow in the knowledge and in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, because you are still under the curse of the law. This means that the judgment of God is still for you. Repent and give your heart to Jesus Christ. He will cleanse you from all your sins, so God will have mercy on you and forgive you. The formula to grow Christians, the Lord God is calling you to grow. You cannot stand still. You must grow in HIM! Grow through faith! Grow through faith in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. Look for the promises of God in the Bible and believe these promises. The more you believe and trust God, the more you will grow! DO NOT STOP GROWING. Make sure you grow in humility, in self-denial, in dedication, etc. Grow a little every day and you will grow a lot every year. https://www.theblessingdevotional.com 2. Morning Prayer for today. i. Morning Prayer A Psalm of David. The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. ⏤ Psalm 23:1-3 He who has learned to pray has learned the greatest secret of a holy and happy life. ⏤ William Law O Light of the hearts that trust You, Life of the souls that love You, and Strength of all who seek Your face—grant us Your grace as we begin this day. We thank You for the mercies of the night. You have brought us back from the seeming death of sleep. We place our hands in Yours and ask You to guide us throughout the day. Be our Good Shepherd. Lead us in paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake. Be our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble. Teach us to do Your will. Incline our hearts to walk in Your ways. Help us to love Your commandments. Renew our hearts continually, so that we love doing what is right and hate whatever is wrong. We will need Your divine wisdom all day long. Help us to conduct our affairs in a way that pleases You. May all our business be Your business. May our work at home be done without worry. Help us to bear the trials and endure the challenges of life as our blessed Master did, without fretting or complaining, but with patience and joy. Grant us the patience, forbearance, meekness, and joy to make this day holy and beautiful, as we stay near You and live by Your help and grace. Allow no temptation to endanger our souls, but with every temptation make a way for us to escape, so we do not fall away into eternal death. Let us not yield to unholy influences, but may we be more than conquerors in all things through Him who loved us. We ask these mercies, humbly confessing our sins, through Jesus our Redeemer. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/51/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.