*SEED FOR LIFE* Foolishness brings joy to those with no sense; a sensible person stays on the right path. • Proverbs 15:21 We cannot be excusable in the sight of God if we engage in amusements which have a tendency to unfit us for the faithful performance of the ordinary duties of life, and thus lessen our relish for the contemplation of God and heavenly things. The religion of Christ is cheering and elevating in its influence. It is above everything like foolish jesting and joking, vain and frivolous chit-chat. • Messages to Young People, p.364 *• A Point To Ponder •* Lord, help me to choose the things that bring true joy—things that draw my heart closer to You rather than away from You. _(FrontierOfHopeMinistry)_

In the digital age, a new kind of fasting has become essential: digital fasting. This is not a fad, but a call to rediscover silence, to relearn mindfulness, and to detoxify our souls from digital distraction. It is an exercise in voluntary self-restraint that aims to redirect our attention from the screen toward God and toward what truly matters. Through this act, we seek to break free from the bondage of immediacy and restore the primacy of contemplation and silence.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel The title "Our Lady of Mount Carmel" is given to the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as the patroness of the Carmelite Order. The feast is also known as the "Scapular Feast" because of its association with the brown scapular, a symbol worn by members of the Carmelite Order. According to tradition, the Holy Virgin Mary appeared to St. Simon Stock, a Prior General of the Carmelites, on July 16, 1251, and gave him the brown scapular. This event became a significant part of Carmelite spirituality, as the scapular symbolizes Mary's special protection over those who wear it. The brown scapular is considered a form of Mary's own garment, and it offers both spiritual grace and protection. Carmelites believe that the Virgin Mary serves as a model of virtue and contemplative prayer. The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was first celebrated by the Carmelite Order between 1376 and 1386 to commemorate their victory over adversaries and the official approval of their name and constitution by Pope Honorius III in 1226. The Carmelite Order traces its origins back to the Old Testament prophets Elijah and Elisha, who are believed to have lived on Mount Carmel, located in present-day Israel. This connection to Mount Carmel reflects the deep Carmelite tradition of prayer and contemplation. One notable event associated with this title occurred on October 13, 1917, during the Miracle of the Sun at Fatima. The visionaries at Fatima reported seeing Our Lady of Mount Carmel during this miraculous event, further cementing her importance in the Church. The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was eventually extended to the entire Latin Church by Pope Benedict XIII on September 24, 1726. This celebration honors Mary's guidance and protection, especially for the Carmelite community and all those who wear the scapular in devotion to her.

The Story Behind the Hymns THE STORY BEHIND "MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE" 🎶 In the early nineteenth century, a young American theology student named Ray Palmer found himself reflecting deeply on his faith and his personal relationship with God. Palmer had experienced seasons of spiritual struggle and searching, and during this time of contemplation he felt a strong desire to express his renewed trust in Christ. Around 1830, while studying in New Haven, Connecticut, he wrote a poem in his notebook which was not written for publication or for church use but it was simply a heartfelt prayer put into words. In the lines he addressed Jesus as the “Lamb of Calvary,” expressing sincere longing for forgiveness, guidance, and a life fully devoted to God. For several years the poem remained largely unnoticed. Then Palmer met Lowell Mason, one of the most respected church musicians and hymn composers in America at the time and during their meeting, Palmer showed Mason the poem almost casually, not thinking much of it, but when Mason read the words, he was deeply moved by their sincerity and spiritual depth. He immediately recognized that the poem carried the kind of devotion that could speak to many believers. Mason decided to compose a melody for the text and later created the tune known as “Olivet.” When he later presented the finished music to Palmer, he told him that the hymn would likely become the work for which he would be most remembered. Mason’s instinct proved correct. The hymn was soon published in 1831 in a collection of church music titled Spiritual Songs for Social Worship, and it quickly found its way into churches across the United States and beyond. The hymn resonated deeply with worshippers because it reads like a personal prayer. Its words speak of looking to Christ in faith, asking for forgiveness, strength, and guidance through life’s difficulties. Over the years, “My Faith Looks Up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary” became one of the most cherished hymns of devotion, often sung in moments of reflection, worship, and spiritual renewal. What began as a private expression of one young man’s faith eventually became a hymn sung by millions around the world, reminding believers in every generation to lift their hearts in trust toward the Savior.

Maranatha. The Highest Kind of Meditation. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. 1 John 3:1. What love, what matchless love, that, sinners and aliens as we are, we may be brought back to God and adopted into His family! We may address Him by the endearing name, “Our Father.” ... All the paternal love which has come down from generation to generation through the channel of human hearts, all the springs of tenderness which have opened in the souls of men, are but as a tiny rill to the boundless ocean when compared with the infinite, exhaustless love of God. Tongue cannot utter it; pen cannot portray it. You may meditate upon it every day of your life; you may search the Scriptures diligently in order to understand it; you may summon every power and capability that God has given you, in the endeavor to comprehend the love and compassion of the heavenly Father; and yet there is an infinity beyond. You may study that love for ages; yet you can never fully comprehend the length and the breadth, the depth and the height, of the love of God in giving His Son to die for the world. Eternity itself can never fully reveal it. Yet as we study the Bible and meditate upon the life of Christ and the plan of redemption, these great themes will open to our understanding more and more.17Testimonies for the Church 5:739, 740. Christ came to reveal God to the world as a God of love, full of mercy, tenderness, and compassion.18Testimonies for the Church 5:738, 739. It would be well to spend a thoughtful hour each day reviewing the life of Christ from the manger to Calvary. We should take it point by point and let the imagination vividly grasp each scene, especially the closing ones of His earthly life. By thus contemplating His teachings and sufferings, and the infinite sacrifice made by Him for the redemption of the race, we may strengthen our faith, quicken our love, and become more deeply imbued with the spirit which sustained our Saviour. If we would be saved at last we must all learn the lesson of penitence and faith at the foot of the cross.... Everything noble and generous in man will respond to the contemplation of Christ upon the cross.19Testimonies for the Church 4:374.

𝐋'𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐎 𝐃𝐄 𝐃𝐔𝐁𝐎𝐈𝐒 #06JUILLET2026 Bonjour à tous, En tant que leaders, bâtisseurs et créateurs, notre outil le plus précieux n'est ni notre logiciel ni notre stratégie, mais l'architecture de notre propre système nerveux. L'actualité scientifique de ce lundi 6 juillet 2026 met en lumière des découvertes fascinantes qui prouvent à quel point la sagesse biblique millénaire était en réalité le tout premier manuel d'ingénierie humaine. 𝐋𝐞 « 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 » : 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐚 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐞 𝐞́𝐭𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐥'𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Le « grounding » (ou ancrage par le sol) démontre que notre physiologie est intimement liée à la matière originelle dont nous avons été formés. Comme le confirment les recherches publiées dans Frontiers, le contact physique direct avec la terre permet un transfert d'électrons qui neutralise les radicaux libres, régulant ainsi le tonus vagal et réduisant drastiquement l'inflammation systémique. Cette réalité biologique fait puissamment écho à 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞̀𝐬𝐞 𝟐:𝟕, qui rappelle que « l'Éternel Dieu forma l'homme de la poussière de la terre ». Ce lien charnel est d'ailleurs magnifiquement illustré par la guérison de l'aveugle-né (𝐉𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝟗:𝟔), où Jésus utilise la boue pour restaurer la vue, soulignant que notre corps trouve souvent sa guérison dans un retour aux sources de la Création. En pratique, cette physiologie de l'incarnation nous invite à déconnecter pour mieux nous reconnecter : prenez le temps de marcher dans la nature et de retrouver ce contact physique avec la terre afin de décharger vos tensions accumulées et d'éteindre l'inflammation. 𝐋𝐚 𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐢𝐞̀𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐞 : 𝐥'𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐞 𝐥'𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐭 L'optimisation de nos capacités exécutives commence dès les premiers instants de la journée. Selon les données de Neuroscience News, l'exposition à la lumière naturelle dans l'heure suivant le réveil synchronise l'horloge circadienne, optimisant la libération de cortisol sain le matin et garantissant une meilleure production de mélatonine le soir, ce qui dissipe le brouillard cognitif. Cette mécanique de l'éveil résonne parfaitement avec le rythme du Christ dans 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜 𝟏:𝟑𝟓 : « Vers le matin, pendant qu'il faisait encore très sombre, il se leva, et sortit pour aller dans un lieu désert, où il pria. » En cherchant la présence divine aux premières lueurs de l'aube, il alignait sa physiologie humaine avec sa mission spirituelle pour s'assurer une clarté totale. En pratique, sanctuarisez votre réveil : arrêtez de consulter vos écrans au saut du lit et exposez directement vos yeux à la lumière naturelle pour garantir votre lucidité décisionnelle du jour. 𝐋𝐚 𝐜𝐨-𝐫𝐞́𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 : 𝐧𝐨𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚̀ 𝐥'𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 Notre paix intérieure possède un pouvoir de résonance direct et physique sur ceux qui nous entourent. Les études relayées par The Transmitter sur la neurobiologie interpersonnelle montrent que lors d'un échange authentique en face-à-face, les variabilités des fréquences cardiaques des interlocuteurs se synchronisent physiquement, apaisant mutuellement leurs systèmes nerveux. Cette co-régulation biologique s'illustre merveilleusement lors de la rencontre entre Marie et 𝐄́𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐡 (𝐋𝐮𝐜 𝟏:𝟒𝟏) : « Dès qu'Élisabeth entendit la salutation de Marie, son enfant tressaillit dans son sein. » Leurs corps et esprits s'accordent instantanément, la présence habitée de l'une régulant la physiologie de l'autre. En pratique, souvenez-vous que votre stress est contagieux, mais que votre paix l'est tout autant : en tant que leader, cultiver un système nerveux apaisé permet de réguler littéralement celui de vos équipes face à l'adversité. 𝐋𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐢𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐱𝐚𝐥 : 𝐥𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚̀ 𝐥𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐬 Le véritable renouvellement de notre esprit nécessite souvent un abandon total de notre contrôle. Comme l'expliquent les recherches publiées par le Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), c'est pendant la phase de sommeil paradoxal (REM) que le cerveau retraite les souvenirs émotionnels intenses, mais en bloquant totalement la sécrétion de noradrénaline, l'hormone du stress. Cette thérapie nocturne, qui désarme littéralement nos peurs, fait écho à la grâce décrite dans le 𝐏𝐬𝐚𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝟏𝟐𝟕:𝟐 : « Il en donne autant à ses bien-aimés pendant leur sommeil. » C'est d'ailleurs en plongeant Adam dans un profond sommeil que Dieu façonne Ève, prouvant que les transformations les plus profondes s'opèrent quand nous acceptons de lâcher prise. En pratique, sanctuarisez votre repos : le manque de sommeil n'est jamais une preuve de dévouement, c'est un sabotage neuro-cognitif qui vous prive de votre capacité naturelle à digérer votre charge allostatique. 𝐋'𝐞́𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐥'𝐞𝐠𝐨 La contemplation de ce qui nous dépasse est le remède le plus immédiat contre nos obsessions anxieuses. Selon les travaux de l'UCSF Neurosciences, expérimenter le sentiment d'émerveillement face à l'immensité désactive instantanément l'activité du cortex préfrontal médian, réduisant drastiquement l'importance accordée à nos problèmes personnels et relativisant notre ego. C'est exactement l'expérience neurologique du roi David dans le 𝐏𝐬𝐚𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝟖:𝟑-𝟒 : « Quand je contemple les cieux, ouvrage de tes mains... Qu'est-ce que l'homme, pour que tu te souviennes de lui ? » Face à l'univers, ses ruminations de souverain disparaissent au profit d'une humilité joyeuse. En pratique, si vous tournez en rond sur une difficulté ou un blocage stratégique, sortez et contemplez l'immensité du ciel : cet émerveillement redimensionnera vos angoisses et débloquera votre capacité d'innovation. 𝐋𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐬 : 𝐥'𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐫𝐞́𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 La tristesse assumée n'est pas une faiblesse émotionnelle, c'est un mécanisme de détoxification du corps. La biochimie relayée par NCBI - National Center for Biotechnology Information révèle que les larmes émotionnelles contiennent des niveaux élevés d'hormones de stress (comme l'ACTH) ainsi qu'un analgésique naturel (la leucine enképhaline). Pleurer agit donc comme une véritable fonction d'excrétion biologique. Ce besoin physiologique est validé par l'humanité du Christ en 𝐉𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝟏𝟏:𝟑𝟓, le verset le plus court et le plus vulnérable face à la tombe de Lazare : « Jésus pleura. » Retenir ses larmes revient littéralement à s'intoxiquer de son propre stress. En pratique, ne sous-estimez jamais le poids physiologique de vos peines : autorisez-vous à utiliser cette soupape, car accepter ses émotions est la première preuve d'une haute intelligence adaptative. 𝐋𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐟 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐝𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐞𝐮𝐫 L'unité d'un groupe dépasse la simple adhésion intellectuelle pour s'inscrire au cœur de nos rythmes biologiques. Les recherches publiées dans Frontiers expliquent que chanter en groupe exige une respiration synchronisée qui aligne la variabilité de la fréquence cardiaque de tous les participants, créant un véritable « super-organisme » connecté. Cette puissance neuro-acoustique prend tout son sens en 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝟏𝟔:𝟐𝟓 : « Vers le milieu de la nuit, Paul et Silas priaient et chantaient les louanges de Dieu. » Au cœur de leur prison, l'utilisation de leur voix dans un chant commun repousse la panique et déclenche une force qui ébranle leurs chaînes. En pratique, comprenez que les rituels collectifs et la vision partagée d'une équipe (« parler d'une seule voix ») ne sont pas que des mots : ce sont des synchronisateurs biologiques indispensables pour forger votre résilience. 𝐋𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐥 : 𝐥'𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐝𝐞 𝐥𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 Le lien de confiance le plus profond se tisse dans la vulnérabilité de la rencontre des regards. Selon MDPI, un contact visuel soutenu et bienveillant court-circuite l'amygdale (le centre de la peur) et stimule les réseaux de neurones miroirs, inondant le cerveau d'ocytocine, l'hormone de l'attachement. Cette réalité neurologique illumine la majestueuse bénédiction sacerdotale de 𝐍𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝟔:𝟐𝟓 : « L'Éternel fasse luire sa face sur toi, et t'accorde sa grâce ! » Rechercher le regard divin, c'est désirer cette connexion ininterrompue qui bannit toute peur de l'abandon. En pratique, pour instaurer un climat de sécurité psychologique dans vos projets, privilégiez toujours les échanges en face-à-face et le contact visuel direct ; c'est le canal le plus rapide pour désamorcer les méfiances et bâtir des fondations humaines solides. 𝐋𝐞 𝐣𝐞𝐮̂𝐧𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐥𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞̀𝐬𝐞 La clarté de l'esprit s'aiguise souvent par la privation volontaire. Les données de Nature Neuroscience et Nature Portfolio confirment que le jeûne déclenche la production de BDNF, une protéine qui stimule la création de nouveaux neurones et augmente de façon spectaculaire la réceptivité mentale. C'est l'exacte préparation du Christ avant d'entamer sa mission en 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐮 𝟒:𝟐 : « Après avoir jeûné quarante jours et quarante nuits, il eut faim. » Ce jeûne n'est pas une simple mortification, c'est une optimisation radicale pour acquérir la lucidité nécessaire face aux illusions du désert. En pratique, lorsque vous devez trancher des décisions complexes, imposez-vous des temps de privation volontaire (qu'il s'agisse de nourriture, de dopamine numérique ou d'hyper-connexion) : ce vide délibéré créera l'espace dont votre cerveau a besoin pour retrouver sa clairvoyance. --- 👇 𝐀̀ 𝐕𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝐃𝐄 𝐉𝐎𝐔𝐄𝐑 : Laquelle de ces 9 découvertes résonne le plus fort avec votre saison actuelle ? Partagez votre réflexion en commentaire, je serai ravi d'échanger avec vous ! 💬 🔄 Pensez à partager ce post à un proche ou un leader qui a besoin de se rappeler aujourd'hui à quel point il a été merveilleusement créé et retrouvons-nous demain pour #LEDITODEDUBOIS. #QuiSuisJe #Identité #Vocation #action #Éternité #DuboisEllison #Neurothéologie #neurosciences #FoiEtScience #SagesseBiblique #développementpersonnel #LeadershipSpirituel #santémentale #bienêtre

A member of the church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited. The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead. Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting.The pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it. As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, 'Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the firey sermon. I will be back in church next Sunday.' We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken.

🏅 Saint of the Day — Saturday, June 27, 2026 Saint Cyril of Alexandria Defender of the Faith • Doctor of the Incarnation "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." — John 1:14 Some saints built hospitals. Some founded religious orders. Some crossed oceans as missionaries. Saint Cyril of Alexandria defended something just as essential: the truth about who Jesus Christ truly is. Because if we misunderstand Jesus, we misunderstand salvation itself. Born around AD 376 in Alexandria, Egypt, Cyril grew up in one of the greatest centers of learning in the ancient world. Gifted with a brilliant mind and a profound love for Sacred Scripture, he eventually became Archbishop of Alexandria, one of the most influential sees in the early Church. His episcopate was not easy. The Church of his day was marked by intense theological disputes and political tensions. Yet amid these controversies, one question stood above all others: Who is Jesus Christ? In the early fifth century, Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople, began teaching that Mary should not be called Theotokos ("Mother of God"). He argued that Mary gave birth only to the human Jesus, not to the eternal Son of God. At first glance, this seemed reasonable. But Cyril immediately recognized the danger. If Jesus is divided into two separate persons—one human and one divine—then God did not truly become man. And if God did not truly become man, humanity cannot truly be redeemed. Cyril understood that the very heart of Christianity was at stake. With courage, theological brilliance, and unwavering conviction, he defended the Church's faith that Jesus Christ is one Divine Person with two natures—fully God and fully man. The Child born of Mary is none other than the eternal Son of God made flesh. Therefore, Mary can rightly be called Mother of God, not because she created Christ's divinity, but because the One she bore is truly God incarnate. At the great Council of Ephesus in AD 431, Cyril's teaching was solemnly affirmed by the universal Church. The faithful rejoiced. The mystery of the Incarnation was preserved. The truth that God truly entered human history remained intact. Cyril was not a flawless man. Historical records reveal a personality that could sometimes be forceful and uncompromising. Yet his passionate defense of Christ flowed from love—love for truth, love for souls, and love for the Savior. He dedicated his life to preaching, writing, teaching, and protecting the flock entrusted to him. His writings on the Eucharist, the Trinity, Scripture, and the Person of Christ remain treasures of Catholic theology even today. For his immense contribution to Christian doctrine, the Church later proclaimed him a Doctor of the Church, honoring him with the title: Doctor of the Incarnation. ✨ A Life Transformed Saint Cyril allowed his love for Jesus to shape every aspect of his life. He understood that theology is not merely intellectual study—it is the loving contemplation of God. His scholarship became service. His learning became worship. ✨ Why He Became a Saint Saint Cyril is honored because he faithfully preserved the truth that Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully man. By defending this truth, he safeguarded the very foundation of our salvation. ✨ What He Teaches Us Saint Cyril reminds us that truth matters. What we believe about Jesus shapes everything. Christian faith is not built on ideas or philosophies, but on a Person: Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God made flesh for our salvation. The closer we come to Jesus, the closer we come to God Himself. 📖 Scripture "And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only Son, full of grace and truth." — John 1:14 🙏 Prayer Saint Cyril of Alexandria, faithful defender of the Incarnation, pray for us. Help us to know Jesus Christ more deeply, to love Him more completely, and to remain faithful to the truth handed down by the Church. Intercede for theologians, teachers, catechists, and all who proclaim the Gospel, that they may always teach the truth with charity and courage. Amen. 💭 Intercession Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Doctor of the Church, pray for all bishops, theologians, catechists, and those entrusted with teaching the Catholic faith. ✝️ Truth for Today Knowing Jesus truly is the foundation of every other truth. 💡 Truths to Remember • Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. • The Incarnation lies at the heart of our salvation. • Sound doctrine protects souls. • Truth and charity must always walk together. • Defending the faith is an act of love. 🕊️ Reflection Who is Jesus for you personally? Is He merely someone you know about, or someone you truly know and follow? #SaintOfTheDay #SaintCyrilOfAlexandria #DoctorOfTheChurch #Incarnation #Theotokos #CatholicFaith #June27 #RiseWithTheWord

I cry out to the Lᴏʀᴅ with my voice; with my voice to the Lᴏʀᴅ I make my supplication. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble. Psalm 142:1–2 ɴᴋᴊᴠ The title of our psalm tells us that it is a contemplation of David and a prayer when he was in the cave. What this does not tell us is which cave. David took refuge in two caves: Adullam and En Gedi (1 Sam. 22:1–2; 24:1–3). This probably took place in Adullam, but what we do know is that it took place during a crisis in David’s life. His heart was heavy before the Lord. He finds himself in a cold, damp, and dark cave. These cave experiences had a great impact on David’s life. What we learn from David’s experience in the cave is that oftentimes before the Lord can use us, He allows us to go through suffering in order to prepare us. I would like to suggest several things David’s experience in the cave teaches us. First, verbalize your heart to the Lord. We read twice in this short psalm that David cried out to the Lord (Ps. 142:1, 5). It was audible; David said, “With my voice to the Lᴏʀᴅ I make my supplication.” We can pray silently, but speaking to the Lord audibly helps us to articulate our thoughts. Second, David personalized the problem as he poured out his complaint before the Lord, referring to it as “my trouble.” David understood that God already knew every detail, and realized that his provision was in his God, not in the cave where he took refuge (v. 4). In pouring out His heart to the Lord, David found a joy within his own heart that allowed him to praise the Lord. He found freedom, fullness, and fellowship. He could declare, “Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Your name; the righteous shall surround me, for You shall deal bountifully with me” (v. 7). Pour out your heart to the Lord and be set free from the prison of your cave-like trouble! Tim Hadley, Sr. https://gbv-online.org/calendar/773/date/2026-06-24

*Rhapsody Of Realities Daily Devotional* Wednesday, June 17th 2026 Pastor Chris Oyakhilome DSc DSc DD *THE REAL SOURCE OF TEMPTATION* But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed (James 1:14). The Word of God reveals something profound about temptation and how it comes. Temptation doesn’t begin outside; it begins from within. We just read it: “… every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust....” It didn’t say by someone else’s actions or external pressure; it says you’re tempted when you’re lured by your own lust. That means the source is internal. Only what your heart already craves can tempt you. So, when people fall into temptation, it’s not the environment that caused it but the inclination of their heart. It’s not what they were exposed to but what they were already attracted to. The Bible gives us the progression: “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:15). First, there’s attraction, then contemplation, followed by conception, and finally, manifestation. It doesn’t start with the act; it begins with what was allowed from within. That’s why the focus should always be on your heart. The Bible says to guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23). It’s about what you permit to take root within you. Many try to avoid temptation by avoiding situations; while that may be helpful, the real issue is the condition of the heart. A man is not tempted simply because something exists; he is tempted because something in him responds. This is why blaming others for your slips, errors, or temptations is disingenuous. The Scripture is clear: you’re tempted when you’re drawn away by what already has a hold on your heart. That means the responsibility is personal. And this isn’t to bring condemnation but understanding, because once the source is understood, the solution becomes clear. You don’t deal with temptation through fear; you overcome it with the light of God’s Word and by walking in the Spirit. When you walk in the Spirit, you will not fulfil the desires of the flesh: “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). *PRAYER / CONFESSION* Dear Father, thank you for the light of your Word that gives me understanding. I’m not led by wrong desires; I walk in the Spirit and manifest the nature of righteousness. I live above every influence of the flesh, in Jesus’ Name. Amen. *FURTHER STUDY* James 1:13-15 NIV; Galatians 5:16-21 NIV; Matthew 5:27-28 *1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN* Acts 7:1-53; 2 Chronicles 29-30 *2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN* 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Isaiah 3