Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😀💝🌺🎁🌹🎀 MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY. FRIDAY MAY 22, 2026. "GET BACK UP, GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE" ‘…He rose up and went into the city.’ Acts 14:20 NKJV IF YOU'RE going through a hard time, read these words: ‘Then Jews…came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city’ (vv. 19-20 NKJV). Notice two phrases: ‘supposing him to be dead’ and ‘he rose up.’ Paul was stoned but not silenced; beaten but not defeated. ‘We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed’ (2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NKJV). Imagine satan standing over Paul like a referee standing over a boxer who’s on the canvass. On the count of nine, Paul gets up and says, ‘I may be down, but I’m not out!’ He was a defiant optimist, a self-encourager who knew how to lift himself and those around him. One day in the heat of battle, Lord Nelson’s enemies flashed him a signal to surrender. Picking up his telescope, he looked through it and announced, ‘I can’t see any sign of surrender!’ During World War II, Churchill warned the French that, if necessary, Britain would fight on alone. Their generals sent him a telegram saying, ‘In three weeks, England will have her neck wrung like a chicken.’ Undeterred, Churchill took to the airwaves and announced, ‘We shall never, never surrender!’ He lifted Britain up by its bootstraps! After the war, Churchill addressed the Canadian Parliament. Wearing his hallmark, bulldog expression, and waving the telegramme,he announced, ‘Huh! Some chicken, and some neck!’ The word for you today is—get back up, God is on your side. Bible In A year: 1 Kings 12:-13, Mark 9:1-13, Ps 128, Pro 12:10-11. Courtesy: Grace So Amazing Foundation 🌹🎀 *To partner with us, kindly refer to page 9 of the hard copy edition or simply send us a WhatsApp message/call on +2348128000068.*🎀💝🌹🌷. MD.ii. THE UNBRIDGEABLE GAP "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day." - Luke 16:19 In Luke 16:19-31 we read Jesus' story about the rich man and poor Lazarus. The name of that rich man is not mentioned. There was a beggar named Lazarus. Lazarus, covered with sores, was laid at that rich man's gate and hoped to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table. Lazarus died and was brought to Abraham by the angels. The rich man also died, and while he suffered great pain in the realm of the dead, he saw Abraham and Lazarus far away. And he called: 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'But Abraham said: 'Remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place.' You could conclude from this story that rich people go to hell and the poor to heaven. That is certainly not true! The rich man, however, did not care for his neighbor and only thought of himself. The Lord Jesus clearly indicates that after their death there was an unbridgeable gap between them. That means that we should make the decision here on earth NOW. The Bible says that everyone has sinned and that we cannot go to heaven with this burden. The only one who takes away sin is the Lord Jesus Christ. There comes a day when we will also take our last breath and go to one of these two places. Many people prefer not to believe in hell, but if you believe in heaven, you should also be aware that there is a hell. If man would really realize what hell is, he would immediately repent from his sin. 'He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent' (2 Peter 3:9). https://www.theblessingdevotional.com 2. Morning Prayer for today. MP.i. Morning Prayer Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. ⏤ John 8:12 Prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan. ⏤ John Bunyan O God, the source of all truth and grace, You’ve called us out of darkness into Your marvelous light—grant us Your blessing as this new day begins. We ask for Your grace to walk worthy of our high calling, with humility, faith, and hope. May we let our light shine before others so they may see our good works and glorify You. We ask for grace to perform our tasks diligently, to manage our affairs wisely, to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, and to acknowledge You in all our ways. Order our steps in Your word and don’t let sin have any power over us. Give us our daily bread. Provide what we need for this day. Grant us health of body and soundness of mind so that we’re prepared for the duties ahead. Prosper our efforts as long as they align with Your will. If any of our plans don’t fit into Your plan for our lives, we ask that You set them aside, for we don’t want to go against You or do anything that You won’t approve or bless. Restrain us from all excesses, from unwise words, from foolish vanity, and from uncontrolled emotions. Make us thoughtful, serious, and prayerful. O God, You allowed Your only Son to be tempted by the Evil One so that He could support those who are tempted. We ask You to deliver us from the snares and temptations that constantly surround us, and to strengthen us by Your Spirit so that in all things, we may be more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/47/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion. Good evening, brethren. 1. Evening devotion for today. ED.i. *DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST* (COCIN DEVOTIONAL) *DATE:* THURSDAY 21ST MAY, 2026. *SUB-THEME:* RESPONSE TO GRACE. *TOPIC:* CARRYING YOUR CROSS DAILY. *TEXT:* LUKE 9:23-25. 23 Then He told all of them, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, pick up his cross every day, and follow Me continuously, Mat 10:38 Mat 16:24 Mar 8:34 Luk 14:27 24 because whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. Mat 10:39 Mat 16:25 Mar 8:35 Luk 17:33 Joh 12:25 25 What profit will a person have if he gains the whole world, but destroys himself or is lost? [Mat 16:26] *TOPIC:* CARRYING YOUR CROSS DAILY. *THE MESSAGE:* In our reading, Jesus tells His disciples the cost of following Him. The cost requires that a disciple: (i) denies himself, renouncing personal control of his life, (ii) takes up his cross, making a commitment that may lead to rejection and possibly death, and (iii) follows Jesus, following the example of Jesus' teachings and lifestyle. To the Romans, the cross was a sign of suffering, torture, and death. However, for Christians, it is a complete identity with Jesus and a willingness to lay down their lives for His cause. It is also a symbol of death to the world, self, and sin. Many Christians seem to avoid the cross, but Christ's demand remains unchanged. He requires you to take up your cross daily and follow Him. Anything less is lip service and superficial Christianity. A true disciple must be ready to die! *REFLECTION:* It pays to follow Christ. *PRAYER:* Lord, help me to carry my cross daily and follow You. Amen. *MEMORY VERSE FOR THE MONTH:* TITUS 2:12. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age. *TODAY'S BIBLE READING PLAN:* JOB 15-17. ED.ii. Skip to content Dalily Devotional by Elizabeth Haworth Posted on May 21, 2026 by Editor A Corporate Body Christian Applications Store:: Christian devotional App Store; Explore Recommended Christian Books and Devotionals The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart” 1Samuel 13:14 Loving Obedience God is seeking a man; a corporate body; a race; a peculiar people – a new creation. God is seeking a man after His own heart.. a man made in His image and likeness. God wants a man to communicate His thoughts and character to a dying world in sin: and God made man in His own image to have dominion and to rule His earth Genesis 1:26. – but from the get-go, man failed the simple test of loving obedience to his Creator.. so Christ was sent to be that Man after God’s own heart – walking in loving obedience. God’s Pattern The Incarnate Lord, was sent from heaven – to become God’s pattern, for humanity. Christ was sent by the Father to show how a man after God’s own heart should live. His life was lived in spirit and truth – submitted to the Father, in loving obedience. He was the example- the life-pattern for all who would become God’s children, by faith – they were not to copy what He did, but to live they way He lived – in submission to God. New Man in Christ And God’s children became that new man in Christ; a corporate man; a race; a creation. God’s children became the Church, the new creation, which is His body the Church, the fullness of Him” Ephesians 1:23. For 2000 years the church of Christ has been quietly growing into a corporate body, and God is bringing that new creation in Christ into His planned fullness: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: Ephesians 4:13. Christ-like Qualities The thoughts God thinks are good thoughts – the very essence of his moral beauty. The desires of God’s heart reflect the substance of His righteousness and truth. The will of God translates into His noble qualities of love, grace, justice and peace, and such are the qualities that God seeks in the man after His own heart. Spirit and Truth It is into the body of Christ, the Church, that God seeks to embody His noble attributes, and so into that body of believers the Holy Spirit of God took up permanent residence.. so that like Christ, their living example, they should learn to walk in spirit and in truth : a new race; a corporate man : a new creation – reflecting His godly nature. Reflection of God And what is the result? It is not a man who becomes the personification of God….not deity, never… But a man that entirely reflects God’s moral nature – to God’s own satisfaction .. A corporate man after God’s own heart – walking in loving obedience… A body, communicating His perfect character to a dying world in sin. And the goal of that corporate body is, “Christ in you , the hope of glory.” Post navigation Previous PostPrevious Multiplied Blessings Proudly powered by WordPress. 2. Evening Prayer for today. EP.i. Evening Prayer Come unto me, all [ye] that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ⏤ Matthew 11:28 Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work. ⏤ Oswald Chambers O God, You have taught us in Your holy word to cast our burdens upon You, promising that You will sustain us. We come to You this evening with our burdens. You’ve given them to us as gifts, so we know there must be a blessing hidden within each one. Help us to accept our burdens and receive the gifts they carry. Let us not complain or grumble under them, lest we miss the blessings You’ve prepared for us. You haven’t promised to take our burdens away, for that would rob us of the blessings You’ve lovingly prepared. But You have promised to sustain us and give us the strength to bear them. So our prayer is that You would give us the grace to accept whatever burdens You’ve placed upon us, to carry whatever crosses You’ve given us, and to bear them after our Savior, trusting in quiet faith. At the close of this day, we bring You our sincere gratitude and praise for Your goodness. Your love never tires, Your patience never runs out, Your grace never fails. We grieve You with our many sins, our unbelief, and our complaining. Have mercy on us and forgive us for Jesus’ sake. Grant us an evening blessing from Your hand. Give us Your peace, strengthen us with Your might, and prepare us for any duty or struggle that lies ahead. Crush Satan under our feet. Jesus, You have overcome the world, and in Your victory, You are our defense and refuge. So we hide in You, as in the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. Bless us for Your name’s sake. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/46/evening #taptapstudio #youdevotion.