Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😃🌹🎀🎁💝🌺 MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY WEDNESDAY JUNE 17, 2026. "THE THREE THORNS (2)" ‘Thorns…shall it bring forth to thee.’ Genesis 3:18 KJV HEAVEN'S ANSWER to a thorn-cursed creation was a thorn-crowned Saviour. But notice something important. God didn’t remove the thorns; He decided to use them for His redemptive purposes. That’s why we each get: 3) a custom-designed thorn. Here’s how Paul describes his thorn: ‘…Lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of satan to buffet me…For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And He said unto me, ”My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong’ (2 Corithians 12:7-10 KJV). The word ‘buffet’ means ‘to renderlll blow, after blow, after blow’. Does that describe your life at the moment? If Paul’s experience is anything to go by, the Christian life is a series of blessings and buffetings. And the God Who promises the first, permits the second. Why? To make sure we live our lives dependent on Him. Look what God used to make sure Paul relied totally on Him: ‘Infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions, distresses.’ Where do you find strength to handle such a catalogue of complaints? From God—and God alone. You say, ‘I want to be more fruitful in the service of the Lord.’ That happens when the thorny situations in life drive us closer to God! Bible In A Year: Hosea 11-14; Mark 14:53-65; Ps139:13-24; Pro 13:25. 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. COURAGE INSTEAD OF FEAR "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." - 2 Timothy 1:7 Since God has not given us a spirit of fear, then that spirit is of the evil one and we are missing what God has for us. The Israelites did not get the land promised to them by God because of... fear. They looked at their circumstances. They were scared! Attacked by fear King Saul lost his kingship because of... fear. He says in 1 Samuel 15:24: ‘I was afraid of the men.’ Jonah was afraid of his reputation and went in the opposite direction from where God wanted him to go. With his action, he put himself and others in great danger. I also think of the rich young man (see Matthew 19:16-26). He was afraid of poverty. There are many people who are stingy because they fear poverty, however because of this, they miss the abundant life God wants to give them. Brave Fortunately, we have many examples of people in the Bible who were not afraid. I am thinking of queen Esther. She said: ‘I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.’ (Esther 4:16). I also think of the man of God: Daniel. Daniel was more obedient to God than to man and he was not afraid of the lions' mouths. And God gave him a great testimony. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, the three young men, feared God more than man and the burning furnace. They had a great experience and a great testimony, because they were not afraid and loved God above all. David was not afraid of Goliath while the whole army of Israel, including the king, trembled for the enemy. God gave David a great victory. Let us not be afraid, but courageous. All men and women of faith in the Bible were brave. If you are filled with an evil spirit of fear, you can be delivered from it. Jesus Christ has come to free us from fear. He brought deliverance at Calvary when He said: ‘It is finished!’ https://www.theblessingdevotional.com 2. Morning Prayer for today. MP.i. Morning Prayer Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof. ⏤ Matthew 6:34 Worry is a cycle of inefficient thoughts whirling around a center of fear. ⏤ Corrie Ten Boom Father, You have told us that we ought to learn to live by the day. You taught this lesson to Your people long ago by giving them manna, not in supplies to last for years—but day by day, enough only each day for the day. You taught us the same lesson by the lips of Your Son, our great Teacher, who commanded us to pray for our daily bread. May You teach us how to live day by day. It is hard for us to learn the lesson. We grow anxious when we cannot see how tomorrow is to be provided for. We worry about tomorrow’s bread and guidance and help. Teach us, Father, to trust You as little children. You have promised to take care of us. You are our Shepherd, and we shall not lack. You are our God and will supply all our needs, according to the riches of Your glory in Christ Jesus. You who spared not even Your only begotten Son, who delivered Him up for us all—will surely with Him give us all needful things. You who have made us with so many needs of body and soul, will surely meet all these needs if we will trust You and wait for You. You have promised that we shall not lack any good thing if only we are faithful to You. Forgive us our feverish ways, and give us the spirit of trust. Help us now to live this one little day without anxiety. Give us grace to do the one day’s work well, and to trust You with all its care. Give us physical strength for our duties. Give us wisdom to make the right decisions and choices. Give us our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation—but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/73/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.