How to Persevere in Prayer How do you persevere in prayer? You have to make an effort, because it is not easy. It is easy to start; the difficult part is finishing, because of the opposition that arises along the way. The enemy will always oppose men and women of prayer. This opposition can happen in many ways: through pain in the body, through situations around us, and even through people close to us. People will be attacked, you will be saddened, troubled, distressed, humiliated, and persecuted. So, do not forget: many of these struggles are part of the journey of a life of prayer. And this should serve as encouragement to warriors. You must keep going! But how do you persevere? Do what Paul taught: “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.” Many people want to pray while living according to the flesh, and because of this, the journey seems impossible. But when we are in the Spirit, when we walk and live in the Spirit, we receive life and have life to give. We must make an effort and not be ignorant of Satan’s schemes. Yet, hallelujah, we must remain patient in tribulations. This is how we will continue. If you do not renounce your own life and your own will, and if you do not enter this war determined to fight the good fight, you will give up. The burden will become too great, because sin brings bondage and weakness. Therefore, it is necessary to renounce sin. The Word says: “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.” And so you will continue fighting, abstaining from everything that weakens your walk and making every effort to remain steadfast. Understand this: the struggles, adversities, and opposition you encounter are part of the journey of those who are true warriors. But you have the armor of God in your hands! So I challenge you: move forward against them! Glory to God! Go into battle as David went against Goliath. Do not allow yourself to be intimidated by the Goliaths of life, nor by the Sauls who may cross your path. You need to have the same attitude as Caleb when he returned from spying out the land together with Joshua and the other men. Caleb said, in other words: “They will be our bread. Let us only be strong, and the Lord will deliver them into our hands.” Hallelujah! This is the secret to perseverance. If I do not tell you the truth, you may become frustrated. The battles will come because of your prayer life. The counterattacks will come, and they may be very intense, because the devil does not want anyone to persevere in prayer. That is why you find many people who started but did not finish. Jesus taught that when someone goes into battle, they must first count the cost, to determine whether they have what it takes to see it through to the end. In the same way, when someone is going to build a house, they must calculate the cost to determine whether they will be able to finish it. Otherwise, they will begin building and will not be able to finish. And everyone who passes by will begin to mock them, saying: “This man began to build, but he was not able to finish.” The world is full of people who began building their houses but did not finish. Many ended up becoming a source of shame and disgrace. No! You must be a courageous man! You must be a giant in faith, able to face the giants of this world and overcome the Sauls who arise along the way. Do not be afraid. Do not give up. Do not abandon prayer. Keep fighting. Keep praying. Keep persevering. Because the one who perseveres to the end will see the hand of God.

Mephibosheth was only five when the news came that his father, Jonathan, and his grandfather, Saul, had died. In the confusion of that day, his nurse picked him up and fled. But she dropped him, and he became lame in both feet. Imagine growing up carrying a wound you did not cause. Imagine having to live with the consequences of a fall that was never your fault. Years passed, and Mephibosheth lived in Lo-debar, a place whose name itself speaks of barrenness. But one day, David called for him. And when Mephibosheth came before the king, he did not come with the confidence of a son of royalty. He came saying, “What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?” 2 Samuel 9:8 KJV Look at what pain had done to his language. He was the son of Jonathan. He belonged to a royal house. But his wound had taught him to see himself through the lens of his misfortune. Yet David restored to him what his wound had made him forget. He was still a son of the house. Sometimes life wounds you so deeply that you begin to introduce yourself by what happened to you rather than by who you are. But listen Your wound may explain your limp, but it must not define your identity. Mephibosheth could not change what happened to his feet, but he could change what he believed about his place at the king’s table. And perhaps this is the wisdom hidden in some wounds You may never change what happened, but you can decide what it will produce in you. Do not drink the bitterness of the wound. Drink the wisdom. Let the pain teach you compassion. Let disappointment teach you discernment. Let rejection teach you where your identity truly comes from. Let the scars remind you, not of what you survived, but of the grace that kept you. A wound can become a well of wisdom, but only if you refuse to drink from its bitterness. Travel light. Take the lesson. Leave the baggage. #apostlejohn #travellight

Now look at the other side: One Lion leading 10 sheep. It doesn't look impressive. The crowd is small. The conference may have only 10 people. The church may have 100. The preacher may not be famous. The ministry may not trend online. But what if that small congregation is being faithfully taught: Christ. Repentance. Righteousness. Sanctification. Holiness. Truth. Readiness for eternity. Never despise a small gathering where the truth is being preached. https://youtu.be/KEbgJb0bG3g?si=CQFSI4-QwOca_zIB

DAY 25 - Morning Theme: BUILDING A SAFE HOME: Creating a Marriage Where Love, Respect and Peace Can Grow 🌅 Reflection Honour Family Without Losing Your Marriage Good morning, Family is a blessing. Parents matter. In-laws matter. Extended family matters. But marriage also creates a new primary family unit. Sometimes the challenge is not that in-laws are bad people. The challenge is boundaries. A mother may mean well but become too involved. A father may offer advice that creates tension. A sibling may expect more than the couple can reasonably give. The answer is not disrespect. It is healthy boundaries expressed with honour. Jesus taught us to honour our parents, but marriage also carries the principle of leaving and cleaving. 📖 God's Word "That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife." — Genesis 2:24 ❤️ Today's Love Action Discuss with your spouse one family boundary that would protect your marriage while still showing honour to your families. 💬 Let's Talk How can couples honour extended family without allowing outside pressure to divide them? 🙏 Prayer Lord, give us wisdom to honour our families while protecting the unity of our marriage. Help us establish boundaries without bitterness or disrespect. Amen. 🌿 From My Counselor's Chair A boundary is not a wall against family. It is a clear line that helps relationships remain healthy. 💎 Marriage Nugget "Honour your family, but don't sacrifice your marriage on the altar of people-pleasing." Remember In marriage, it is not about winning the argument; it is about winning each other's hearts.

Choose Humility (Philippians 2:3–4) Pride doesn't always look obvious. Sometimes pride sounds like: “I don't need anyone.” Sometimes it looks like refusing to apologize. Sometimes it is always needing to be right. Sometimes it is comparing yourself with others. Sometimes it is wanting recognition for everything you do. And sometimes pride can even enter our relationship with God when we begin believing that we know better than Him. But Jesus calls us to a different way of living. The Bible says: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” Humility doesn't mean thinking you are worthless. It means understanding that you are not the centre of everything. You can recognize your gifts without looking down on others. You can succeed without becoming arrogant. You can be knowledgeable without believing you know everything. You can receive recognition without making recognition your identity. And you can lead while still being willing to serve. Jesus is the greatest example of humility. He had every reason to receive glory. Yet He chose to serve. He washed His disciples' feet. He welcomed people others overlooked. He touched the hurting. He listened. He taught. And ultimately, He humbled Himself and gave His life on the cross for us. Think about that. The Son of God chose the path of sacrifice. If Jesus was willing to serve, we should never consider ourselves too important to serve others. Sometimes humility means saying: “I was wrong.” Sometimes it means: “I need help.” Sometimes: “I don't know.” Sometimes: “I'm sorry.” Sometimes: “How can I help you?” Those words don't make you weak. They can demonstrate strength of character. Pride asks: “What can I get?” Humility asks: “What can I give?” Pride asks: “Why aren't people noticing me?” Humility asks: “How can I make someone else's life better?” Pride wants the platform. Humility is willing to serve even when nobody is watching. This is especially important in a world where social media can make everything about visibility. Followers. Likes. Views. Comments. Recognition. It is easy to begin measuring your value by how much attention you receive. But remember: God sees what people don't see. He sees the quiet act of kindness. He sees the prayer nobody heard. He sees the sacrifice nobody noticed. He sees the person you helped without posting about it. He sees your heart. So don't serve only when people are watching. Don't do good only when you can receive recognition. Serve because you love God. Serve because Christ first served you. And when you succeed, remember where your abilities came from. When God opens a door, be grateful. When He gives you an opportunity, remain humble. When you achieve something, celebrate without looking down on those who haven't reached the same place yet. Your success should give you an opportunity to lift others, not make you feel superior to them. And if someone else succeeds before you, don't allow jealousy to take over. Celebrate them. Learn from them. Encourage them. Your journey doesn't become less valuable because someone else's journey looks different. Humility also means being teachable. Never become so confident that you cannot receive correction. Never become so experienced that you stop learning. Never become so successful that you stop listening. A humble heart remains open to growth. Most importantly, remain humble before God. You don't have to pretend that you have everything figured out. Come to Him honestly. Ask for wisdom. Ask for correction. Ask Him to reveal areas of your heart that need to change. Because the goal isn't simply to look humble. The goal is to become more like Christ. True greatness in God's kingdom is not about how many people serve you. It is about how faithfully you serve others. Today, look for one opportunity to put someone else first. Encourage someone. Help someone. Listen to someone. Apologize if necessary. Give without expecting recognition. And when nobody notices, remember: God does. What is one area of your life where God may be calling you to choose humility over pride? #ChooseHumility #Philippians23 #Humility #ServeOthers #ChristLikeLiving #FaithInAction #ChristianYouth #FollowJesus #JesusSaves #ShareJesus #DailyFaith #Lordsbook #JMSM #KNKA

𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐀𝐥𝐬𝐨 ✍️ “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺; 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘎𝘰𝘥’𝘴 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘥𝘢𝘺.” We live in a generation flooded with information but starving for truth. Thousands of voices are accessible in seconds, yet trust is hard to find. Even believers may settle for hearing sermons without helping others grow. Whether new or seasoned in faith, the question isn't just if we are learning—but if we are helping others learn to follow Christ. Jesus ends the Great Commission in 🕮 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝟐𝟖:𝟐𝟎: "𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘴𝘰𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶..." It doesn't end when someone believes. Christ called disciples to teach others to obey all He commanded. The work of the Gospel is not merely making converts—it is making disciples. We don't just bring lost people to Christ; we help them grow in Christ. Picture a relay race where the runner crosses the finish line still clutching the baton, refusing to pass it on. The race stops with him—no matter how fast he ran. Faith works the same way. Truth received but never taught dies with the one who held it. Christ calls us to pass the baton, generation after generation, until He returns. Scripture commands us to pass truth on: “𝘎𝘰 𝘺𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴” (𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝟐𝟖:𝟏𝟗). Paul told Timothy, “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘥...𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘮𝘦𝘯, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴” (𝟐 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝟐:𝟐). We are urged to “𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘯 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥” (𝟐 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑:𝟏𝟖), as Scripture is “𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘦, 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘧, 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯” (𝟐 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝟑:𝟏𝟔). God’s Word transforms lives. Teaching isn't just for pastors. Parents teach children, mature believers encourage younger ones, Sunday school teachers disciple classes, and one believer opens Scripture with another. Don't be a spiritual reservoir that only receives but never releases. What God teaches us through His Word must become truth we share. We aren't called to collect sermons alone—we are called to multiply disciples. Before Christ commanded us to teach others, He first taught us the truth that leads to salvation. He declared, "𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦" (𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟏𝟒:𝟔). He died for our sins, was buried, and rose again according to the Scriptures (𝟏 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟏𝟓:𝟑–𝟒). The risen Christ is not merely the subject of our teaching—He is the Saviour at the center of it. We teach His Word because we have first been transformed by His grace. Who is spiritually starving while you feast on the Word? You have been hoarding the Bread of life (𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟔:𝟑𝟓) instead of breaking it for others. You don't need Christ merely to give you something to teach—you need Him because He is the Truth you are called to know, live, and proclaim. Learn His Word. Live His Word. Teach His Word. What God has faithfully taught us was never meant to end with us. 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫: Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us Your truth through Your Word. Forgive us for receiving biblical instruction without faithfully passing it on. Help us grow in wisdom and grace, and give us opportunities to teach others faithfully, patiently, and clearly. May every disciple we influence become more like Christ. In Jesus' Name. Amen. Remember, a dose of God’s Word a day will keep you going all day! 𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐆𝐨𝐝... _____________________________________________________ All scripture references were taken from the KJV Bible. Thank you for allowing this ministry to be a part of your day… If my posts speak to your heart, you may be blessed by the full devotional series created for deeper reflection and journaling: 👉 FREE FlipBook Previews: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/ae17998766.html 📚 Also available now on Amazon (Kindle & Paperback) ✨ Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited! https://www.amazon.com/author/dennislastimoso Also, just in case you need a reliable, dedicated online Bible Study Tool, I created one for you. 👉 Try it here for FREE, anytime at your hand: https://www.baptistry.app Your support helps us continue this ministry, edifying the believers around the world. May God bless you more abundantly…

Note The Stick You Write With When we read the bible,what do we think about? Do we think about the writer being inspired by the Spirit of God? Do we look to the setting it was written in, the culture of the times, etc? Do we look at the style of writing as some scholars teach us to do? These and more are often taught as the way to read the bible. In more modern education we are taught to think critically and what is being said and written. In other words what can we infer or deduce from the text we are reading? Questions such as these, more often than not lead to an overly complicated mess of confusion that is sometimes hard to navigate. Complicating the simple way the people of the day actually thought. What is more is that the New Testament was written in Koine ( common Greek). This Greek as written in the NT is often studied by scholars, pastors and laymen alike, searching for a clearer picture of what the biblical writers were intending. And in this way, we may more accurately discern the truth that God, through His servants, is trying to convey to us, 2,000 years later. Mind you in a culture that is very far removed from the culture it was written in. In short a lot has happened in 2,000 years, and some ideas just don’t translate well. To make up for this, scholars have tried hard to come up with different and new translations, paraphrases etc, that are everything from absolute trash, to literal word for word hard to read versions of the bible. Many popular bible translations we read are something of a dynamic equivalent, that’s thought for thought. Others are word for word. And still others are a paraphrase giving the general sense of what is being spoken of. Yet, for all this we seem to lose a little or a lot depending, when we try to bring this all into a culture, language and thought process that is far removed from the original. So we dig, scholars and laymen alike, dig. We dig into the language it is written in. We find meanings to words, and their roots. Sometimes we look at the society and culture around them and it brings out even more. Yet for all that, it seems we still come up short and we wonder why. In my own life, the more I dug into some limited Greek studies, the more I saw it was not really going too far, so I stopped looking. I would only look up what I was curious about or led to. If I am honest at times, I would remember my pastor who told me of his friend who was a biblical Greek scholar, who said it really doesn’t do you that much good to know Greek. As I studied I could see that, but why. Aren’t we taught to look into the language? Isn’t that the example that is set by many, if not most pastors and writers of biblical material? Look into the Greek to find the meaning of the words used in the NT, so we can understand a bit better? But its really not helping that much so what am I missing? What I found was not intentional. I was not looking for it. At all. I found where Jesus wrote about being the bread of life In John 6:35: “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” In our minds we wonder what that means so we dig. And that is just what I did. I wanted to find out what that meant, exactly. My research led me to the cultural life of the Jewish people. And I found out that they, without a long explanation, knew that Jesus was saying, without bread, you die, you have no life. That may seem obvious and overly simplistic, yet for a people who lived in the desert, to not have bread and water, was a fact of certain death. Biblically the principle stems back to the time in the wilderness when God supplied bread for them in the form of mana. Again, this may seem obvious, but it’s not something most in western culture know very much about. We don’t know starvation as a possibility as well as they did then, we don’t know the waterless tracts of land they made their home in for thousands of years. They knew intimately the slow agonizing death by starvation and thirst, in a land where water is a commodity. Unlike us who just go to the faucet or by another water bottle at the nearest grocery store. These things were their reality, unlike ours. Finding this set me on a journey of sorts to looking into their culture more. As I did I began seeing things that we don’t often talk about. Then one day I realized that almost every NT writer with the exception of Luke was born Jewish. That meant that they came from a Jewish background, culture, traditions and language. Then I began to wonder how come we are looking at the NT from a western outlook, through the Greek language, when we should possibly be looking at it from a more Hebraic outlook? Why weren’t we looking at what they were saying through the culture, history etc of the person who was speaking it? They knew the language and ideas of the OT far better than we do. So, again I began digging. What I found was that as a general rule, the Jewish people of that day, had gained some complexity of thought because of outside influences, such as the Babylonian captivity, the Roman occupation etc, they still retained much of their original simplicity and straightforward thinking. In fact, without going too deep in this, most Jewish men at the time had at least some knowledge of the OT scriptures and how they were written and the thoughts behind them. This is due to the fact that they would teach the fathers trade to the children and were required to teach them the word of God as well. For them, things were relatively simple. Their culture and thought process, at least so far as these things are concerned, was simple compared to the Romans, or Greeks where we in the west get much of our way of thinking. To see the difference when we describe something, such as a pencil, we say its long, often yellow, with lead or graphite inside, it has an eraser on one end and the other is sharpened to a point so you can write with it. In ancient Hebrew, it’s literally a stick you write with, that is the description. To us, who habitually over complicate everything, even a bowl of Cheerios, this seems way too simplistic. Truthfully one may be right with that assessment. But that does not negate the fact that they understood things far different than we do. Now, I am doing more digging. Looking into the Hebrew language and looking at the NT from somewhat of a different angle. What happened is the truth we all see, written within the pages, started taking on a deeper meaning. Instead of looking at the Word through the lens of our culture or even the Greek, I began to see things that way I think the biblical writers were seeing them, and thus seeing the intent of God through them. Regardless of how it was written. When we look at the bible in this way it seems to take on new life. It doesn’t change the meaning, but deepens it, brings a fuller, more clear revelation, and application to our lives and ministries. I write my own writing, I do not use AI to write. All my writing is my own and can be scanned for AI content as well as plagiarism.

The things the Lord have against us. Revelation 2 [KJV] [vs: 14] But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. These verse reveals to us that though the Lord is always glad of some good things we have done there may some areas in our life which he is not happy with, we should not be content in the areas we are doing well but should strive to be sound in all areas of our spiritual life. "What are the areas that Christ is not happy with the pergamos church? 1,torerance of false prophets and teachers. 2, permission of false doctrines .  3, accepting practices that became stumbbling blocks among them  4, eating things sacrificed to idols  5, prevailing acts of fornication. From all these we understand that when any church or individual begins to allow false prophets and teachers and their teachings the results will be backsliding and sins there is a strong connection between false doctrines and a lifestyle of sin. *Any doctrine that downplays sin, make sin less serious than it is, excuses sin, make people to fear  not God's judgement against sin, teaches that grace covers our sinful lifestyle is a false doctrine. False teachers being religious secret sinners can only lead the people that hears them to error,  sin and damnation.  Application: We should not hear , believes or follow those that teaches any doctrine that contradicts the biblical truths . 23 August 2026

Ellen G. White For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. Romans 14:7. – {UL 243.1} There is constant temptation for human beings to consider that any influence they have gained is the result of something valuable in themselves. The Lord does not work with these, for He will not give to any human being the glory that belongs to His own name. God would have everyone under His supervision, and recognize that to God belongs all the glory of their success.... – {UL 243.2} If the human worker will walk in all humility of mind, looking to God, trusting in Him, working out his own salvation with fear and trembling, the Lord will cooperate with him. It is God that works in us to do His will for His own name’s glory. He will give His wisdom, His divine power, to everyone who is doing His service. He makes the humble trustful servant His representative—the one who will not lift himself up, and think of himself more highly than he ought to think. The life of such an one will be dedicated to God as a living sacrifice, and that life He will accept and use and sustain.... – {UL 243.3} Our life is not our own. It is Christ’s life. All is His, and we are to spend our powers in doing the will of God. Watch and pray; spend and be spent in doing His will from the heart. Carry every entrusted capability as a sacred treasure, to be used in imparting to others the knowledge and grace received.... – {UL 243.4} Nehemiah, after gaining so great an influence over the [Persian] monarch in whose court he lived, and over his people in Jerusalem, instead of ascribing praise to his own excellent traits of character, his remarkable aptness and energy, stated the manner just as it was. He declared that his success was due to the good hand of God that was upon him. He cherished the truth that God was his safeguard in every position of influence. For every trait of character by which he obtained favor, he praised the working power of God.... And God gave him wisdom, because he did not exalt himself. The Lord taught him how to use the gifts entrusted to him to the very best advantage, and under the supervision of God, these talents gained other talents.... – {UL 243.5} Every jot of influence is to be appreciated as the gift of God. The eye of the mind is to be single to the glory of God. Then the sense of responsibility will increase. Our talents will be put out to the exchangers to increase and double. There are hundreds of men and women who, if they had a proper appreciation of the heavenly trust, would go diligently and earnestly to work to use what they have.—Letter 83, August 17, 1898, to a leading minister in Australia. – {UL 243.6}

TODAY'S KINGDOM INSIGHTS: SERMON TOPIC: HOW CAN YOU PRAY SO THAT GOD HEARS YOU? Main Text: Psalm 66:18–20; 1 John 5:14–15 Supporting Texts: Matthew 6:5–13; James 5:16; Proverbs 15:29; Mark 11:24–25 GOD IS STILL LISTENING. One of the deepest questions a believer can ask is: “When I pray, does God really hear me?” You may have prayed for months and seen no answer. You may have cried in secret, knelt beside your bed, prayed in church, prayed while travelling, prayed when nobody knew what you were going through—and still wondered, “God, are You hearing me?” Here is the good news: God hears prayer. But the Bible also teaches us that there is a way to approach God in prayer. Prayer is not merely talking loudly. Prayer is not using many religious words. Prayer is not trying to manipulate God. Prayer is fellowship with the Father. Jesus said: «“Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” — Matthew 6:8» So the question is not simply, “How much do I pray?” The deeper question is: “How do I position my heart when I pray?” 1. PRAY WITH A SINCERE AND HUMBLE HEART God is not impressed by religious performance. He looks at the heart. Psalm 51:17 says: «“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart…”» David understood something important: God values the condition of the heart more than the appearance of the prayer. You can pray beautiful words with a proud heart and miss the heart of prayer. But you can come before God with tears, weakness, and simple words and experience His presence. Jesus' illustration In Luke 18:9–14, Jesus told the story of two men who went to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee. He boasted about himself. The other was a tax collector. He simply cried: «“God be merciful to me a sinner.” — Luke 18:13» Jesus said the humble man went home justified. Spiritual lesson God is not looking for impressive prayers; He is looking for surrendered hearts. Come to God honestly. If you are hurting, tell Him. If you are confused, tell Him. If you have failed, confess it. If you are afraid, tell Him. Prayer begins when pretending ends. 2. PRAY WITH FAITH James 1:6 says: «“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.”» Faith does not mean that you dictate to God what He must do. Faith means that you trust who God is, even when you do not understand what He is doing. Mark 11:24 says: «“What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”» Faith says: “Father, I believe You are able.” And when the answer does not come immediately: “Father, I still trust You.” Faith does not disappear because the answer is delayed. Remember the three possible answers to prayer: YES — God grants the request. WAIT — God is working, but the timing is different. NO — God knows something you do not know. A “no” from God is not proof that God has abandoned you. Sometimes God's refusal is protection. Sometimes His delay is preparation. Sometimes His silence is developing your spiritual maturity. 3. PRAY ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL One of the most powerful scriptures on prayer is: «“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.” — 1 John 5:14» Notice the words: “According to His will.” Prayer is not about making God's will submit to ours. Prayer is about bringing our desires into alignment with God's will. Jesus demonstrated this in Gethsemane. He prayed: «“Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” — Luke 22:42» Jesus was facing the cross, yet He surrendered to the Father's will. That is mature prayer. A child may say: “God, give me what I want.” But spiritual maturity says: “God, give me what You know is best.” A powerful prayer to learn: “Lord, if this desire is from You, establish it. If it is not from You, remove it. And if I must wait, give me grace to wait.” 4. DEAL WITH UNFORGIVENESS AND SIN We must be careful here. The Bible does not teach that every unanswered prayer means a person has committed some hidden sin. Job suffered greatly without being guilty of the accusations brought against him. However, Scripture clearly teaches that deliberate, unrepentant sin can affect our relationship and fellowship with God. Psalm 66:18 says: «“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”» And Isaiah 59:2 says: «“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God…”» God is merciful, but we should not treat sin casually. What about unforgiveness? Jesus taught: «“And when ye stand praying, forgive…” — Mark 11:25» You cannot continuously ask God for mercy while deliberately refusing to show mercy to others. Forgiveness does not mean saying that what happened was acceptable. Forgiveness means releasing vengeance into God's hands. Ask yourself: “Is there somebody I need to forgive?” “Is there something God has been asking me to surrender?” “Am I asking God to bless something He has already told me to leave?” 5. PRAY WITH PERSISTENCE Some answers require persistent prayer. Jesus taught this through the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1–8. The purpose of the parable was clear: «“Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” — Luke 18:1» Do not stop praying simply because you have not yet seen the answer. Daniel gives us another powerful example. In Daniel 10, Daniel prayed and fasted. His answer was delayed, but heaven had heard him from the beginning. The angel told him: «“From the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand… thy words were heard.” — Daniel 10:12» Think about that! Daniel was praying on earth while heaven was already responding. The delay did not mean God had ignored him. BIBLICAL CASE STUDY: HANNAH — A WOMAN WHO POURED OUT HER SOUL Hannah's story in 1 Samuel 1 is one of the clearest pictures of persistent prayer. She was deeply troubled because she had no child. She went to the house of the Lord and prayed. She didn't simply perform a religious ritual. She poured out her soul before God. Eli initially misunderstood her. But Hannah kept praying. Eventually, God answered her prayer and gave her Samuel. Her story teaches us: 1. You can bring your deepest pain to God. 2. People may misunderstand your prayer, but God understands your heart. 3. Delay does not mean denial. 4. God can turn tears into testimony. Hannah went into the presence of God carrying sorrow. She came out carrying peace. The circumstances had not immediately changed—but something had changed inside her. That is one of the miracles of prayer. Sometimes prayer changes the situation. Sometimes prayer changes the person going through the situation. And sometimes God does both. WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT GOD "HEARS" PRAYER? When Scripture says God hears prayer, it means far more than God simply detecting our words. It means God attends to, receives, and responds according to His wisdom and will. God hears the prayer of His children. Proverbs 15:29 says: «“The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.”» And James 5:16 declares: «“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”» Your prayer may look small on earth, but it is not small when it reaches heaven. PRACTICAL ACTION STEPS 1. SET A CONSISTENT PRAYER TIME Do not pray only when there is an emergency. Build a prayer life. 2. BEGIN WITH WORSHIP Before presenting your shopping list to God, acknowledge who He is. “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name…” — Matthew 6:9 3. CONFESS YOUR SINS Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart. Psalm 139:23–24 4. PRAY SCRIPTURE Use God's Word as the foundation of your prayers. 5. ASK SPECIFICALLY Instead of only saying, “Lord, bless me,” tell God what you are trusting Him for. 6. LEARN TO LISTEN Prayer is not a one-way conversation. After speaking, become quiet before God. Read Scripture. Pay attention to the convictions and guidance of the Holy Spirit. 7. KEEP A PRAYER JOURNAL Write down your requests. Record dates. Record answers. One day you will look back and realize how many prayers God answered. DEEP SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS 1. God's silence is not necessarily God's absence. You may not hear anything, but God may still be working. 2. Prayer is not primarily about getting things; it is about knowing God. The greatest answer to prayer is not always a possession. Sometimes it is God Himself. 3. Prayer changes the atmosphere of the person praying. You may enter prayer anxious and leave with peace. 4. God's answer may be different from your expectation. Never limit God to one method of answering. 5. The strongest prayer is surrendered prayer. “Lord, have Your way” is one of the deepest expressions of faith. QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION 1. When I pray, am I seeking God's will or only demanding my own will? 2. Is there any known sin I need to confess? 3. Is there someone I need to forgive? 4. Have I stopped praying because my answer is delayed? 5. Do I genuinely trust God when His answer is different from what I expected? 6. Is my prayer life based on relationship with God or only on emergency needs? 7. What prayer have I abandoned that God may be asking me to continue bringing before Him? POWERFUL PRAYER POINTS 1. PRAYER FOR A DEEPER PRAYER LIFE Father, awaken in me a fresh hunger for prayer. Take away spiritual laziness and teach me to seek Your face consistently, in Jesus' name. 2. PRAYER FOR A PURE HEART Lord, search my heart. Reveal anything that is displeasing to You and give me grace to repent and walk in righteousness. 3. PRAYER FOR FAITH Father, increase my faith. When answers are delayed, help me trust You. When I cannot see the way, help me believe that You are still working. 4. PRAYER FOR GOD'S WILL Lord, deliver me from insisting on my own way. Align my desires with Your purpose and give me grace to say, “Your will be done.” 5. PRAYER FOR PERSISTENCE Father, give me strength not to faint in prayer. Help me continue believing until Your appointed time. 6. PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS Lord, give me grace to forgive those who have hurt me. Heal my heart and remove bitterness from my spirit. 7. PRAYER FOR DIVINE ANSWERS Father, concerning every legitimate request I have brought before You, let Your perfect will be established. Open the right doors, close the wrong doors, and lead me according to Your purpose. 8. PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL SENSITIVITY Holy Spirit, teach me to recognize Your voice. Help me distinguish Your leading from my emotions, fears, and human desires. DON'T JUST PRAY—BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD Beloved, prayer is not a religious emergency button. Prayer is relationship. Do not wait until everything is falling apart before you seek God. Pray when you are happy. Pray when you are confused. Pray when you have money. Pray when you have nothing. Pray when the door opens. Pray when the door closes. Pray when you understand. Pray when you don't understand. And above all, pray with a heart that trusts God. Remember: A delayed answer is not necessarily a denied prayer. God's silence is not necessarily God's absence. God's “no” is not a rejection of you. And God's “wait” is not a waste of your time. There is a God who hears. There is a God who sees. There is a God who knows. There is a God who answers. So keep praying. Keep believing. Keep trusting. Keep walking with God. FINAL DECLARATION I will not give up in prayer. I will not allow delay to destroy my faith. I will seek God's face, not merely His hands. I will surrender my will to His will. I will forgive. I will believe. I will persevere. And I will trust the God who hears me. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen! If you have not given your life to Jesus kindly do so by joining a Bible believing Church. You can get inspirational ebooks from my sela shops below https://selar.com/m/umoh-edem1 https://selar com/m/umoedem https://www.amazon.com/author/umohedembooks https://afrikdp.com/author/9128a016-dd79-4f17-9e60-bf11f65f1a34 CONTACT - WhatsApp +2349024173027, +2349055447540 Email pastor.umoedem@gmail.com