WHAT SHOULD OUR PRAYER BE?

Prayer is more than asking God for things. Prayer is a time to open our hearts to God, ask for forgiveness, seek His wisdom, and surrender our lives to Him.

We can pray for: A heart filled with love
The strength to forgive
Strength during difficult times
Peace when we are worried
Wisdom to make the right choices
Courage to follow Jesus
A life that reflects Christ

The most important prayer is not only, “Lord, change my situation,” but also, “Lord, change me.”

May our words, thoughts, and actions become more like Jesus every day.

“Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” — James 2:17

If this prayer touched your heart, write “Amen” in the comments and share this message with someone who needs encouragement.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

#Prayer #Jesus #JesusChrist #Christianity #ChristianPrayer #Faith #God #Bible #ChristianMotivation #PrayerLife #JesusChangesLives #ChristianLife #Amen #GodsLove #FaithInGod

CHRISTIANITY IS MORE THAN A NAME

Being a Christian is not only about saying, “I believe in Jesus.” True faith should be seen in the way we live, the way we treat others, and the way we respond when life becomes difficult.

Jesus taught us to love, forgive, serve, pray, show compassion, and walk in truth.

Our faith should not remain only in our words. It should be visible through our actions.

Ask yourself today:

Do I love others?
Do I forgive?
Do I help those in need?
Do I follow God’s Word?
Can people see Christ through my life?

“Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” — James 2:17

Let your life reflect Christ. Let your actions speak louder than your words. And wherever you go, let people see the love of Jesus through you.

If this message touched your heart, please LIKE, SHARE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more Christian motivation and messages of faith.

#Jesus #JesusChrist #Christianity #ChristianMotivation #Faith #God #Bible #ChristianLife #FaithInAction #JesusChangesLives #LoveLikeJesus #Forgive #Prayer #ChristianYouTube #GodsLove

Fear is a clever adversary.

When we think of fear, the first things that come to mind are old, decrepit Victorian mansions or abandoned houses fueled by stories of stories of swinging chandeliers or doors that creak open on their own.

Or we might think of less dramatic fears: heights or flying or small spaces.

Unless you’re suffering from one of these or other phobias—or ghosts—it is rather easy to simply discard fear as something other people experience.

But fear is not so simple.

Most often, it sneaks into mind and festers and builds like a bacteria that, if untreated, to infection, sepsis, and even death.

You can try preventative measures to keep it at bay, but bacteria can still get in. And you never know until you’re infected until the symptoms appear.

This is the primary modus operandi of fear.
It sneaks in, debilitates, and even paralyzes.
Ultimately, it renders its victim completely helpless.

This came to light during an unrelated discussion with my wife.

We have been trying to put the finishing touches on my next manuscript, which frankly has been simmering on the backburner over the last several due to life distractions. Currently, it is coming down to fact-checking and formatting endnotes.
It is especially nerve-racking because, unlike my previous book, we chose to self-publish this one. We have to get it right. It is all on us.

It’s been difficult to release the manuscript. We’re haunted by the questions: is there more that can be done? Is the subject even all that relevant anymore? What am I missing?

We check and recheck every detail.

We don’t want to let go and send it into a very cruel world.

We both recognized this paralysis after hearing ourselves begin everything with the phrase: “I’m afraid…”

This realization suddenly made this year make sense.

I have felt a bit off most of the year. I have become more subdued, resigned, troubled. I thought I was hiding it okay until a former (and very discerning) student came up to me recently and asked, “Mr. H., are you sad?”

That simple, innocent question shook me into an awareness. I don’t necessarily think I am depressed, but something is not right.

Since then, between that question and this recent epiphany with my wife, I realized that fear has crept into my life and is now controlling my psyche.

The first part of 2026 has been difficult. Now, I won’t pretend that it was somehow more difficult than others. But it has been tough. The remainder of 2026 has been trying to recover from it.

Last March, within days of the door slamming shut on my wife’s 25-year career, I lost my mom. In a way, I lost her over the last several years as she sank into dementia, but last March her battle ended.

Add this to standard stresses associated with a second semester in a high school, which in and of itself is enough to deplete my tanks. Now I have to tap into mental and emotional resources that don’t exist.

Fast forward to the present and I can see how God was with us in the storm. He gave me mental and emotionally resources, I never knew existed. He took care of us despite a huge income drop and being uninsured for a couple of month. Further, I know that my mom is now thinking more clearly than I could ever dream.

God gets the glory.

However, the enemy used a different tactic to paralyze me. Out of these hardship, fear crept in. And now I realize I am infected with it.
Watching my mom sink into the darkness of dementia, I have become afraid that one day I might suffer from that myself. I am afraid of losing my mind.

Unfortunately, once fear has a foothold, it doesn’t stop there. Fear escalated from fearing dementia to fearing getting old in general.

I am only a few months away from leaving behind my fifties forever. I began to fear getting old.
I fear my body slowing down. Simple things become a little harder. My back, my knees, and feet start to hurt a little more. I have a little more trouble hearing someone in a noisy room. I am doing that weird thing with my glasses when transitioning between reading close up and at a distance. It takes longer to get over a cold. Last July, I turned an ankle in Colorado that still aches today. The thought of not driving because driving in the winter or at night just isn’t worth the risk. I don’t want to give up the things that require the energy I had when I was young. How many summer road trips do I have left? What happens when I can no longer match the energy of a classroom of high school students?

Fear takes that into a whole new direction. I really don’t want to stop teaching. I love the classroom. I love the cycle of the school calendar. But what happens when my body can’t keep up? Can my filters remain strong enough to keep me from saying something mean or stupid? Will I become tiresome, or in the way? Can I keep my teaching style and not turn into a grumpy old stooge? Worse yet, what happens when I become irrelevant?

I have found myself somewhat paralyzed by this fear.

And it has dragged me down.

It has made me “look sad.”

All of this came together with the recent discussion with my wife.

Fear has overtaken me. It has taken control of me.

But is it too late?

Thankfully, no.

The most used phrase in the entirety of scripture is: “do not be afraid.”

However, one important observation that seems to be overlooked is that that phrase is almost always spoken from the supernatural point of view: God to human, Jesus to human, heavenly messenger to human.

From a broader, heavenly perspective to a limited, natural one.

“Do not be afraid.”

I have thought about this constantly since that epiphany I had with my wife.

I should not—must not—live in fear. Not as a child of the King.

But how do you switch fear off? It is not as simple as a light switch.

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:5: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

The enemy’s game plan is to always whisper thoughts into our head that will trigger fear.

We have to be on guard always. When we get the sense of fear, we must be deliberate and take that thought captive and replace it with truth: “My God is bigger”; “He is my protector and comforter”; “This thought is not coming from him”.

Fear does not sit on the throne, God does. Fear, by definition, is limited, God is infinite. Fear is merely a tool, God is the creator of everything, including us who are made in gis image. Only God can break through the paralysis fear brings and can heal us.

Does that mean those things I fear will never happen? No. They likely will. But however the upcoming years pan out, he is with you, with me.

And whatever the future brings, God is God. And he is good.

DAY 225 of 365 Reasons in 365 Days Why You Should try Jesus

Because You Need a Treasure That Cannot Be Stolen

Bible Verse — Matthew 6:20–21 (KJV)
“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”


“If everything you treasure can be stolen, destroyed, or lost, then you need a treasure that cannot disappear.”

Quote:
“Invest in what death cannot take and eternity cannot destroy.”

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, teach me to treasure what heaven treasures and to place my heart completely in You in Jesus name. Amen. #jesus #everyone #highlight #Friends #christiancontent #christianreels #savebygrace #salvation #fry

Day 23 - Evening
Theme: BUILDING A SAFE HOME: Creating a Marriage Where Love, Respect and Peace Can Grow

God's Word
"Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves." — Romans 12:10

Evening Heart Check
Did I honour my spouse today with my words, tone and actions?

Evening Prayer
Lord, forgive us where our words have wounded one another. Teach us to honour each other consistently. Amen.

Marriage Nugget
"The person closest to your heart should never become the easiest person to disrespect."

Remember
In marriage, it is not about winning the argument; it is about winning each other's hearts.

Loving and Gracious in All Things

“There are those people who would say, ‘I’d rather deal with somebody who is rude, antagonistic and sarcastic, but when it really matters, is there for us in the big challenges of life.’

But when one reads the Holy Bible, Old and New Testament, the character of God is such that He expects us not only to be loving and gracious on the big things, but also on the little things. To be loving and gracious only when it really matters, or only when it is convenient, is not the character of Christ. We must be loving and gracious in all things—big and small.”

Christian Character Is Revealed in the Little Things

It is easy to admire someone who stands beside us during a great crisis. Faithfulness in difficult times matters. But Christianity calls us to something deeper.

God does not ask us to love only when the circumstances are serious. He calls us to love in the ordinary moments of everyday life.

Jesus said:

“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.” — Luke 16:10

The little things matter because the little things reveal the heart.

How do we speak when we are irritated?
How do we treat someone who inconveniences us?
How do we respond when someone disagrees with us?
How do we speak about people who aren’t present?

These things may seem insignificant to the world, but they are not insignificant to God.

Love Is Not Selective

Jesus gave His followers a standard far higher than simply being decent when it is convenient:

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you.” — John 13:34

Christ’s love was not reserved for emergencies. It was woven into everything He did.

Paul says:

“Let all your things be done with charity.” — 1 Corinthians 16:14

Notice the word all.

Not some things.

Not the important things.

All things.

Our speech, our attitudes, our reactions and our relationships are all opportunities to reflect Christ.

Paul also says:

“Let your speech be always with grace.” — Colossians 4:6

Always.

Not only when we are preaching.

Not only when we are dealing with someone we love.

Not only when someone is watching.

Always.

Even When People Are Difficult

Christian love is tested most when people are difficult.

Jesus said:

“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you.” — Matthew 5:44

This does not mean Christians must tolerate abuse or refuse to confront wrongdoing. But even when we must establish boundaries or correct someone, we are not permitted to abandon Christlike love.

Proverbs tells us:

“A soft answer turneth away wrath.” — Proverbs 15:1

And Paul commands:

“Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” — Ephesians 4:32

Kindness is not weakness. Grace is not weakness. Forgiveness is not weakness.

These are marks of someone being transformed by Christ.

The Fruit of the Spirit Should Be Seen Every Day

Paul describes the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit:

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” — Galatians 5:22–23

Notice how many of these qualities are revealed in ordinary interactions.

Longsuffering. Gentleness. Goodness. Meekness.

A person may demonstrate extraordinary courage during a crisis and still need the Holy Spirit to teach them patience in everyday life.

Someone may sacrifice greatly for another person and yet continually wound others with their words.

Christianity is not merely about doing great things occasionally. It is about becoming a person whose ordinary life reflects Jesus Christ.

Christ in the Big and the Small

Paul writes:

“Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” — Colossians 3:17

Whatever you do.

That includes the dramatic moments of life—and the mundane ones.

So yes, be the person who stands beside someone when tragedy strikes.

Be the person who answers the call when someone is hurting.

But also:

Be kind when nothing important is happening.

Be patient when you are irritated.

Speak graciously when you could speak harshly.

Forgive the small offenses.

Refuse to return sarcasm with sarcasm and hostility with hostility.

Because the Christian calling is not simply to be loving when “it really matters.”

It is to be loving because Christ lives in us.

Jesus said:

“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” — John 13:35

The world should see Christ not only in how we respond to life’s greatest tragedies, but in how we behave on an ordinary Tuesday afternoon.

Love in the big things.

Love in the little things.

Grace in the big things.

Grace in the little things.

Mercy in the big things.

Mercy in the little things.

Because there are no insignificant moments when we are called to represent Jesus Christ.

“Let all that you do be done in love.” — 1 Corinthians 16:14

That is the Christian life: not occasional goodness, but a life increasingly shaped by the character of Christ.

This is one of the great dangers facing Christianity today.

Some people have become die-hard followers of personalities rather than disciples of Christ.

If their leader is right, they defend him.

If their leader is wrong, they defend him.

If Scripture contradicts him, they defend him.

If someone questions his teaching, they attack the person questioning him.

The question should not simply be:

"Who is my pastor?"

The question should be:

"Is what I am being taught leading me toward Christ and eternal life?"
https://youtu.be/KEbgJb0bG3g?si=CQFSI4-QwOca_zIB

DAILY BREAD FELLOWSHIP

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Today’s Scripture

John 2:9 (ESV)

“When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom.”

Opening the Scriptures

The servants had done exactly what Jesus commanded.

They filled the jars with water. They drew from them. Then they carried what they had drawn to the master of the feast.

Now John tells us what had happened.

The water had become wine.

There is no elaborate description of the miracle. John does not tell us when or how the transformation occurred.

He simply states the fact.

Jesus had done what no servant could do.

The servants could carry the water.

They could fill the jars.

They could take what Jesus provided to the master of the feast.

But only Christ possessed the power to transform the water into wine.

There is another fascinating detail.

The master of the feast did not know where the wine had come from.

But the servants knew.

They had witnessed what happened because they had been obedient to Christ.

Living God’s Word Today

There is an important distinction here for every Christian.

God calls us to serve Him faithfully, but we must never confuse our service with His power.

We can preach the Gospel, but we cannot give someone a new heart.

We can teach Scripture, but we cannot force someone to believe it.

We can encourage a struggling person, but we cannot transform that person’s life.

We can plant.

We can water.

But God gives the growth.

That truth should produce humility in every Christian ministry.

Whenever lives are changed, sinners repent, churches grow stronger, families are restored, or people come to understand God’s Word, we must resist the temptation to take credit for what only God can accomplish.

We are servants.

Christ is Lord.

The servants at Cana had an extraordinary privilege. They knew where the wine had come from because they had been close enough to Christ to hear His command and obedient enough to carry it out.

There is a lesson there for us.

Faithful service often allows us to witness God’s work from a perspective others may never see.

Someone else may see only the result.

The servant remembers the empty jars.

The servant remembers carrying the water.

The servant knows that the power did not come from him.

Therefore, when God uses your service for His purposes, never say:

“Look what I accomplished.”

Instead say:

“Look what Christ has done.”

Question for Today

When God accomplishes something through your service, who receives the glory?

Respond: “All glory belongs to God.”

DO YOU KNOW WHO JESUS IS?
Knowing His Name Is Not the Same as Knowing Him!

Key Scripture — Acts 19:14–16 (KJV)
“And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”

Thought Of The Day...
There is a tremendous difference between knowing about Jesus and actually knowing Jesus.
Acts 19 gives us a powerful and sobering picture of this truth. The seven sons of Sceva had heard about the miracles taking place through the Apostle Paul. They had witnessed or heard reports of demons being cast out and lives being transformed through the name of Jesus.
They saw the results, but they did not understand the relationship behind the results.
They wanted the authority Paul demonstrated without possessing the relationship Paul had.
They attempted to use the name of Jesus almost like a spiritual formula. Earlier in the passage they said:
“We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.”
— Acts 19:13 (KJV)
Notice their language.
They did not say, “Jesus whom we know.”
They said, “Jesus whom Paul preacheth.”
Jesus was Paul's testimony, but He had not become their personal testimony.
And that raises a serious question for every believer:
Do you know Jesus for yourself?
It is possible to grow up in church and still only know about Jesus.
It is possible to know Scripture and still not truly surrender to Jesus.
It is possible to sing about Jesus, preach about Jesus, teach about Jesus, shout about Jesus, and even use the name of Jesus—yet lack a genuine relationship with Him.
Christianity was never intended to be secondhand.
You cannot survive spiritually forever on your mother's relationship with God, your father's prayers, your pastor's anointing, your bishop's revelation, your spouse's faith, or your grandmother's testimony.
Eventually, you must know Him for yourself.
Paul could say:
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings…”
— Philippians 3:10 (KJV)
Paul wasn't satisfied merely knowing facts about Christ. His desire was, “That I may know Him.”
“JESUS I KNOW, AND PAUL I KNOW; BUT WHO ARE YE?”
These may be some of the most sobering words in Acts.
The evil spirit responded:
“Jesus I know.”
There was no confusion in the kingdom of darkness concerning Jesus.
The demons knew exactly who He was.
During Jesus' earthly ministry, an unclean spirit cried:
“I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.”
— Mark 1:24 (KJV)
James gives us another sobering reminder:
“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”
— James 2:19 (KJV)
Simply acknowledging that Jesus exists is not the same as belonging to Him.
But then the spirit said something else:
“Paul I know.”
Why was Paul recognized?
Because Paul's life demonstrated that he belonged to Jesus.
Paul wasn't borrowing somebody else's faith. He had encountered Christ for himself. His authority did not come from merely repeating Jesus' name; it flowed from his relationship with and commission from Jesus.
Then came the devastating question:
“BUT WHO ARE YE?”
In other words, You are using the name, but where is your relationship with the One whose name you are using?
The sons of Sceva discovered that the name of Jesus is not a magical phrase.
There is power in the name of Jesus because of who Jesus is.
Jesus declared:
“All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”
— Matthew 28:18 (KJV)
His name represents His person, His authority, His victory, His lordship and His kingdom.
We must never reduce the name of Jesus to something we merely shout when we are in trouble. His name belongs to the Savior to whom we surrender our lives.
DO YOU KNOW THE JESUS YOU CALL ON?
Jesus is more than a name mentioned at the end of a prayer.
He is the Son of God.
“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
— Matthew 16:16 (KJV)
He is the Savior.
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
— Luke 19:10 (KJV)
He is the Way to the Father.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
— John 14:6 (KJV)
He is the Resurrection and the Life.
“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”
— John 11:25 (KJV)
He is Lord.
“And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
— Philippians 2:11 (KJV)
The question is not merely, “Have you heard about Him?”
The question is:
Have you trusted Him?
Have you surrendered to Him?
Are you following Him?
Are you walking with Him?
Does your life belong to Him?
YOU CANNOT BORROW SOMEBODY ELSE'S ANOINTING
The sons of Sceva tried to imitate what they saw Paul doing.
But spiritual authority cannot be copied like a technique.
You can imitate someone's preaching style.
You can imitate someone's prayer language.
You can imitate someone's worship.
You can repeat someone's favorite Scriptures.
But you cannot imitate their relationship with God.
Jesus said:
“Abide in me, and I in you… for without me ye can do nothing.”
— John 15:4–5 (KJV)
Our strength comes from abiding in Christ.
The greatest danger is not weakness that drives us toward Jesus. The greater danger is trying to operate spiritually while disconnected from Him.
The seven sons discovered this painfully.
The possessed man “overcame them, and prevailed against them.”
They entered believing they had authority they did not possess and left “naked and wounded.”
There is a warning here:
Never attempt to substitute religious activity for genuine relationship with Christ.
YOUR PRIVATE WALK MATTERS
Before Paul stood publicly in authority, he had privately surrendered his life to Jesus.
Our public Christianity must be supported by a private relationship with God.
Who are you when there is no microphone?
Who are you when there is no congregation?
Who are you when nobody sees you praying?
Who are you when temptation comes?
Who are you when life becomes difficult?
Do you still trust Jesus when there is nobody around to applaud your faith?
Jesus said:
“If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.”
— John 8:31 (KJV)
Real discipleship is demonstrated through continued fellowship, obedience, faith and dependence upon Christ.
KNOW HIM BEFORE THE BATTLE COMES
Don't wait until trouble arrives to try to discover who Jesus is.
Know Him now.
Know Him in prayer.
Know Him through His Word.
Know Him in worship.
Know Him through obedience.
Know Him when everything is going well so that when everything begins falling apart, you already know where your help comes from.
David could face Goliath because David already knew God before Goliath appeared.
Daniel could face the lions because Daniel knew God before he entered the den.
The three Hebrew boys could face the fiery furnace because they knew God before Nebuchadnezzar heated it.
Paul could endure persecution because he knew the Christ for whom he suffered.
And when your day of testing comes, you need more than something somebody told you about Jesus.
You need to be able to declare:
I KNOW HIM FOR MYSELF!
Job said:
“For I know that my redeemer liveth…”
— Job 19:25 (KJV)
There are some storms where somebody else's testimony will not be enough.
You need your own history with God.
You need memories of prayers He answered.
You need moments when His Word carried you.
You need times when you experienced His grace.
You need the confidence to declare:
I know who Jesus is because I have walked with Him for myself!
THE QUESTION STILL STANDS
Acts 19 leaves us with a question that should cause every believer to examine his or her heart:
DO YOU KNOW WHO JESUS IS?
Not just the Jesus your pastor preaches.
Not just the Jesus your parents taught you about.
Not just the Jesus you heard about in Sunday School.
But Jesus Christ for yourself.
And perhaps an even deeper question is:
DOES YOUR LIFE SHOW THAT YOU KNOW HIM?
Jesus said:
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
— John 10:27 (KJV)
Knowing Jesus should produce following Jesus.
Following Jesus should produce obedience.
Obedience should produce transformation.
And transformation should cause our lives to testify that we have been with Jesus.

PRAYER...
Father, in the name of Jesus,
Thank You for revealing Your Son to us. Lord, forgive us for every time we have been satisfied with simply knowing about Jesus instead of developing a deeper relationship with Him.
We don't want secondhand faith. We don't want borrowed convictions. We don't want to depend solely upon somebody else's prayers, testimony or relationship with You.
Lord Jesus, we want to know You for ourselves.
Draw us closer to You. Give us a hunger for Your Word, a desire for prayer, a heart of worship and a spirit willing to obey Your voice.
Search our hearts and remove everything that has created distance between us and You.
Teach us not merely to speak Your name but to honor Your name with the way we live.
When temptation comes, remind us who You are.
When storms arise, remind us who You are.
When fear attacks, remind us who You are.
When the enemy challenges our faith, help us stand firmly upon the authority of Your Word.
May our lives testify that we belong to Jesus Christ.
And Lord, let our greatest desire always be the cry of Paul:
“That I may know him.”
We want to know You more deeply, love You more completely, trust You more confidently, obey You more faithfully, and represent You more boldly.
In the mighty, matchless, powerful name of Jesus Christ, we pray.
Amen.

DECLARATION...
I DECLARE that I will not live on borrowed faith!
I know who Jesus is!
Jesus is my Savior.
Jesus is my Redeemer.
Jesus is my Lord.
Jesus is my Deliverer.
Jesus is my Rock.
Jesus is my Strength.
Jesus is my Hope.
Jesus is my King!
I will seek Him, follow Him, obey Him and grow deeper in my relationship with Him.
I refuse to merely know about Jesus.
I WILL KNOW HIM FOR MYSELF!
And when life asks me, “Do you know who Jesus is?”
My faith, my testimony, my obedience and my life will answer:
YES! I KNOW HIM FOR MYSELF!
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection…” — Philippians 3:10 (KJV)

Enjoy your Sunday Church Services and God Bless!