August 25 🌿 “WHO GOD IS TO ME” MY HIDING PLACE 📖 Psalm 32:7 (LLV) — “You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” Sometimes we need a place to hide. Not because we are running from life. Not because we refuse to face what lies before us. But because our hearts need somewhere safe to become quiet again. David knew such a place. “You are my hiding place.” Notice that David does not say, “You provide a hiding place for me.” He says, “You are.” God Himself was the place David could go. When guilt weighed heavily upon him. When enemies surrounded him. When fear filled his thoughts. When life became too loud, David knew where to retreat. To God. There is a difference between hiding from God and hiding in God. We hide from God when shame makes us afraid to come near. We hide in God when we finally understand that He is the safest place we can go. We do not have to arrive with everything figured out. We do not have to pretend we are stronger than we feel. We can simply come. And remain for a while. “You will protect me from trouble.” David does not say trouble will never come. He had already experienced far too much to believe that. But trouble would never have the final word. Then David says: “You surround me with songs of deliverance.” What a change. At first, David is surrounded by trouble. But when he rests in God, he discovers something else surrounding him. Deliverance. Grace. Faithfulness. The evidence of all the times God has already carried him through. Perhaps we sometimes need to become quiet enough to hear those songs again. To remember the prayers God answered. The doors He opened. The strength He provided. The valleys He carried us through. And the grace that met us when we thought we had wandered too far. There will always be noise outside our hiding place. But inside, there is a familiar voice reminding us: You are safe with Me. A new beginning sometimes begins by withdrawing for a little while: when life becomes too loud for my heart, God Himself is my hiding place. Reflection: When my heart becomes overwhelmed, where do I instinctively retreat—and have I learned simply to become quiet in the presence of God? Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for being my hiding place. When life becomes noisy, when worries crowd my thoughts, or when my own heart becomes weary, draw me close to You. Teach me the difference between hiding from You and finding shelter in You. Quiet my heart long enough to remember Your faithfulness and hear again the songs of deliverance with which You surround me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Have you met them yet? 🌿 The Chosen isn't just another Bible film. It's the story of ordinary people — a fisherman drowning in debt, a tax collector everyone despised, a woman the town had written off — who met the Savior and were never the same again. That's what makes it so moving. You don't watch distant saints in golden halos. You watch people like us: doubting, tired, afraid, making mistakes — and yet choosing to believe. And through their eyes, Jesus becomes wonderfully close: someone who laughs, listens, and calls each person by name. Seasons 1–5 are streaming now on https://watch.thechosen.tv/season-1 , and Season 6 premieres on 15 November 2026 — the story leading to the cross. There's never been a better moment to start. Amazon MGM Studios Forbes Have you seen The Chosen? Which character touched your heart the most — and why? Share it in the comments 👇 Czy już ich poznałeś? 🌿 The Chosen — Wybrani to nie jest kolejny film biblijny. To historia zwykłych ludzi — rybaka tonącego w długach, znienawidzonego poborcy podatków, kobiety, na której wszyscy postawili krzyżyk — którzy spotkali Zbawiciela i już nigdy nie byli tacy sami. I właśnie to porusza najbardziej. Nie oglądamy tu odległych świętych w złotych aureolach. Oglądamy ludzi takich jak my: zwątpiałych, zmęczonych, zalęknionych, popełniających błędy — a mimo to wybierających wiarę. A przez ich oczy Jezus staje się cudownie bliski: ktoś, kto się śmieje, słucha i woła każdego po imieniu. Sezony 1–5 są dostępne na https://watch.thechosen.tv/season-1 , a 15 listopada 2026 roku premierę ma sezon 6 — historia prowadząca prosto pod krzyż. Nie ma lepszego momentu, żeby zacząć. A Ty — oglądałeś Wybranych? Który bohater poruszył Cię najbardziej i dlaczego? Napisz w komentarzu 👇 #TheChosen #Wybrani #Jezus

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: TUESDAY 25TH AUGUST 2026 TOPIC: FEAR GOD, PART 1 MEMORIZE: "But the Lord your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies." 2 Kings 17:39 (KJV) BIBLE READING: PSALM 112:1-9 1 Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. 2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever. 4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. 5 A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion. 6 Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. 7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. 8 His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies. 9 He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour. MESSAGE: The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10); therefore, anyone who does not fear God is not wise. He is a Consuming Fire (Hebrews 12:29), and those who do not fear Him are truly foolish because even a mad dog fears fire. Psalm 111:10 also means that those who fear God become wise. Apart from wisdom, however, there are many other benefits to fearing God, and today's Bible reading outlines many of them. One of the benefits is that the seed of a person who fears God will be mighty upon the earth (Psalm 112:2). That same verse also tells us that the generation of the upright shall be blessed. Psalm 112:3 says that you will have access to wealth and riches when you fear God. Also, Psalm 112:7 says that you will not be afraid of evil tidings. People who fear God do not need to be afraid of anything because He will deliver them out of the hands of all their enemies and everything that can harm them. Those who do not fear God will find it easy to commit sins, and this can bring a curse upon them and their descendants. For example, Gehazi's lack of fear for the Lord caused him and his descendants to become carriers of the leprosy that was previously upon Naaman (2 Kings 5:20-27). Whenever a person acts in a way that shows that he or she does not fear God, such a person robs his or her children of the opportunity to be great and exposes them to curses rather than blessings. Joab was another person whose lack of fear for the Lord brought curses upon his lineage. In (2 Samuel 3:27-29), the Bible details how he tricked Abner and murdered him in cold blood. When David heard about it, he placed a curse on Joab's lineage that sicknesses, leprosy, poverty, weakness, and untimely death would befall Joab's family and his descendants. People who do not fear God purchase trouble for their children. Beloved, if you want your future and that of your children to be glorious, you need to have the fear of God in you. If you're going to have peace of mind in your old age, you must fear God. The reason I am sure that my tomorrow and those of my children will be alright is that I fear the Lord. I pray that your life and those of your descendants will be filled with blessings and not curses, in Jesus' name. KEY POINT: The fear of the Lord guarantees God's blessings for you and your lineage. AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR: EZEKIEL 5 - 8 HYMNAL 7 - I AM THINE O LORD 1 I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice, and it told Thy love to me; but I long to rise in the arms of faith, and be closer drawn to Thee. REFRAIN: Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to the cross where Thou hast died; draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to Thy precious, bleeding side. 2 Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord, by the pow'r of grace divine; let my soul look up with a steadfast hope, and my will be lost in Thine. [Refrain] 3 O, the pure delight of a single hour that before Thy throne I spend, when I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God, I commune as friend with friend! [Refrain] 4 There are depths of love that I cannot know till I cross the narrow sea; there are heights of joy that I may not reach till I rest in peace with Thee. [Refrain] PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL. Tuesday 25th August 2026 FEAR GOD, Part 1 ‎ ‎PRAYER POINTS 1.God of all wisdom and might, the One who made the heavens and earth with no pillars in between; You laid the foundations of the earth that it should not be removed 2.Father, the earth and the fullness thereof is in Your care, and by You we have the fullness of life through Christ Jesus. 3.Father, by Your wisdom You made the sun to rule the day, and the moon and stars to rule the night. The heavens declare Your glory, and the firmament shows Your handywork. 4.Father, please help me to fear You, and to walk in complete obedience to Your word, so I can become wiser, in Jesus' name. 5.Father, please help me to walk in Your fear, so I can be delivered out of the hands of all my enemies, in Jesus' name. 6.Father, please help me to walk in holiness and in Your righteousness so it will become practically impossible for me to commit sin, in Jesus' name. 7.Father, please help me to fear You so I won't miss the opportunity to be great and be exposed to blessings rather than curses, in Jesus' name. 8.Father, please help me not to purchase trouble for my children for lack of fear for You, in Jesus' name. 9.Father, please put Your fear in me so my children and I will have a glorious future, and peace of mind in my old age, and in Jesus' name. 10.Father, please let my life and those of my descendants be filled with blessings and not curses, in Jesus' name. 11.Father, thank You for the life of Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye. ‎ Help him to abide in Your fear for the rest of his life, till You come again in glory, in Jesus' name. Bless his children (biological and spiritual). Help him to continue to produce sons and daughters to Your glory, in Jesus name ‎ ‎12.Father, please bless Your son that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, with wisdom and favour. Answer all his prayers beyond measure, and all those who have been broadcasting them, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎13.Father, please let every challenge and temptations, hindrance and obstacles of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus name. ‎ ‎14.Your personal petitions. ‎(Philippians 4:6) ‎ ‎15.In Jesus name I pray. ‎(John 14:13-14; 15:16) ‎ ‎#Godblessournation ‎

*TODAY'S PROPHETIC DECLARATION - TUESDAY, 25TH AUGUST, 2026.* 🌟*ONLY BELIEVE!*🌟 📖 Scripture: “And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.” — Mark 5:37 (KJV) 🔥*Reflection – Stay Close to Jesus When Faith Is Tested* Mark 5:37 comes in the middle of the story of Jairus, whose daughter was critically ill. Jairus had come to Jesus believing that Jesus could help. But as they journeyed, the situation became even worse. Jesus strategically chose only Peter, James, and John among the twelve disciples to accompany Him as He continued toward Jairus' house. You may what to ask why the three among the twelve? This Show us that even among the elected or selected there are favourites and disciples who are more closer to Jesus than the others. Are you among the inner circle of Jesus? Immediately after this, Jesus would challenge the atmosphere of fear and unbelief with the powerful command: “Be not afraid, only believe.” — Mark 5:36 The lesson is powerful: when circumstances become more difficult, stay close to Jesus. There will be moments when circumstances appear to contradict what you have prayed for. There may be voices telling you that your situation is finished, your opportunity is gone, or your dream is impossible. But Jesus is still present. Today, choose carefully whose voice you listen to. Stay close to Christ. Let faith speak louder than fear, and let God's promises speak louder than discouraging reports. 🔊*Prophetic Declaration:* Today, I declare that I will remain close to Jesus Christ regardless of what happens around me. I shall not allow fear, bad reports, disappointment, or the opinions of people to separate me from my faith in God. I declare that when circumstances become difficult, my faith shall become stronger. When the situation appears impossible, I will remember that nothing is impossible with God. I reject every voice of hopelessness, fear, confusion, and discouragement that tells me to give up. I choose to listen to the voice of Jesus, who calls me to trust Him. Today, I declare faith over fear in every area of my life. I proclaim faith over my family, ministry, work, business, studies, relationships, finances, plans, and destiny. May God's power and wisdom guide me through every difficult circumstance. I declare that no negative report shall become the final report over my life. I will not make permanent conclusions based on temporary circumstances. Today, I receive grace to wait for God's intervention even when I cannot see how He will make a way. I shall not run ahead of God because of fear, and I shall not abandon my faith because of delay. I declare that every situation that appears beyond human possibility is placed in the hands of the God who has ultimate authority over life and every circumstance. I proclaim that the Lord shall give me discernment concerning the voices I allow into my heart. May He surround me with people who strengthen my faith, encourage my walk with Christ, and speak wisdom into my life. I declare that my faith shall not be based merely on what I see. I shall walk by faith and trust God's character even when I do not understand His process. Today, I refuse to surrender my hope. I refuse to call dead what God has not called dead. I refuse to give up on what God has instructed me to continue pursuing. I will not be afraid. I will believe. I will remain close to Jesus. I will trust God's timing. I will wait for His word to prevail. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen! 🙏🔥🕊️ ✅*Action Steps for today:* 1️⃣ Begin with faith: Thank God before you present your requests, remembering that He is greater than every challenge. 2️⃣ Read Mark 5:21–43: Pay particular attention to Jesus' words to Jairus in verse 36: “Be not afraid, only believe.” 3️⃣ Declare: “I will not be afraid. I will believe. Jesus has the final word over my situation.” 4️⃣ Guard your atmosphere: Be intentional about the voices, conversations, and content you allow to influence your faith. 5️⃣ Surrender one impossible situation: Give it completely to Jesus and refuse to carry it through anxiety. 6️⃣ Take one step of faith: Continue doing what God has placed in your hands, even if the final result is not yet visible. 7️⃣ End with worship: Thank God for His presence and trust Him with the outcome. 🔥*Prayer:* Heavenly Father, Thank You because You are greater than every situation I may face. Lord Jesus, help me to remain close to You when my faith is tested. When I hear discouraging reports, remind me of Your promises. When fear rises, remind me of Your power. Deliver me from the fear of bad news, delay, disappointment, and uncertainty. Give me grace to believe You even when circumstances appear impossible. I surrender my family, ministry, work, business, studies, relationships, plans, and future into Your hands. Lord, give me wisdom to know which voices to listen to and which ones to reject. Surround me with people who strengthen my faith and help me remain focused on You. Where I am tempted to give up, give me strength to continue. Where I am tempted to fear, give me courage to believe. Help me not to judge Your ability by my circumstances. Teach me to trust Your wisdom, Your power, and Your timing. I choose faith over fear. I choose hope over despair. I choose to remain close to Jesus. Let Your perfect will be accomplished in my life. In Jesus' mighty name. Amen. 🙏🕊️ 🌿*Blessing for today:* May the Lord strengthen your faith today and silence every voice of fear and discouragement. May you remain close to Jesus through every season. When circumstances become difficult, may His presence give you courage; when the road becomes uncertain, may His Word give you direction. May the Lord protect your family, establish your ministry, bless your work and business, guide your studies, and order every step of your destiny according to His perfect will. May no temporary situation make you abandon your confidence in God. 🔥 Fear not. 🙏 Only believe. 🕊️ Stay close to Jesus. 🌟 Trust His timing. 🙌 Expect His faithfulness. 🌟 “BE NOT AFRAID, ONLY BELIEVE.” — MARK 5:36 May your faith remain strong, your heart remain peaceful, and your eyes remain fixed on Jesus today. Good morning beloved and do have a blessed and victorious day🙏 Shalom!🔥🕊️ *Remember: Your confession is your possession.* *Postulant C. O. Oyadosu.* _Please share with others, thank you and God bless you 🙏_ For counseling, prayers and partnership or you want to share your testimonies with us; please call or Whatsapp: +2348063128703 Or Email: clementoyadosu[gmail].com

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I am reaching out to your ministry because I desperately need prayer. I have been going through a very deep spiritual struggle, and I feel lost, frightened, and spiritually exhausted. I love Jesus Christ and I sincerely want to follow Him, but I have become deeply afraid about my eternal salvation. Matthew 7:21–23 has been weighing extremely heavily upon me. When I read Jesus' warning about people saying, “Lord, Lord,” but being told that He never knew them, I become terrified that somehow I could be one of those people. I am deeply afraid of hell and of being separated from God forever. I examine my life and see so many weaknesses, failures, sins, inconsistencies, and areas where I struggle. I keep thinking that I am not doing enough, that I am not good enough, or that perhaps God does not truly accept me. Sometimes I struggle to believe that God is truly merciful and gracious toward me. His judgment and holiness can seem so overwhelming that I forget how enormous His love and grace are. I know intellectually that salvation is by grace through faith and not by my own works, but my heart struggles to rest in that truth. I feel as though I am constantly trying to make myself right with God, yet I know I cannot save myself. I need Jesus. I need His mercy. I need His grace. I need His forgiveness. I need the Holy Spirit to transform me. I need to know that I am truly loved and accepted by God through Christ. Please pray that God would take away this overwhelming condemnation and replace it with genuine biblical assurance. Please pray that I would understand Matthew 7:21–23 correctly and not allow fear to destroy my relationship with Jesus. Please pray that I would truly know Jesus—not merely know about Him. Please pray that the Holy Spirit would search my heart, reveal anything that needs to change, lead me into genuine repentance, and give me a deeper love for God. Please pray that I would stop trying to save myself through my own efforts and learn to completely trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Please pray that Romans 8:1 would become deeply rooted in my heart: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Please also pray that I would truly believe the words of Jesus: “Whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” — John 6:37 I don't want to run away from God because I am afraid of Him. I want to run toward Him. I want my relationship with Jesus to become real, deep, genuine, and unshakable. Please pray for a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit, renewed faith, spiritual discernment, freedom from condemnation, freedom from fear, genuine repentance, and a restored joy in my salvation. Please pray that God would help me surrender everything to Him and trust His character even when my emotions tell me otherwise. I am asking you to please stand with me in prayer. Please pray for my mind, heart, soul, faith, salvation, relationship with Jesus, and my entire life. I especially ask that you pray that I would come to understand the difference between Holy Spirit conviction that draws me toward Christ and condemnation that makes me believe I am hopeless and rejected. I don't want to be a fake Christian. I don't want to merely have religious words. I want to know Jesus Christ personally and sincerely. I want to love Him. I want to follow Him. I want to surrender my life to Him. And I want to spend eternity with Him. Please pray that God would meet me exactly where I am and lead me into a deep assurance that rests not in my ability to be perfect, but in the mercy, grace, righteousness, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to pray for me. May the Lord bless you and everyone in your ministry abundantly for standing in the gap for people who are struggling. In the precious name of Jesus Christ, Amen. With heartfelt gratitude and Christian love, Markus Klinger from London Ontario Canada

Daily devotion for August 25th How To Celebrate At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres. Nehemiah 12:27 It is proper to dedicate. And it is proper also to celebrate when God has brought us to a place of achievement. The Holy Spirit has been careful to include in this account the three aspects that make up true celebration. One of the primary elements of true celebration is the expression of joy. It is amazing to me how many Christians never appear to be joyful. They are always gloomy and grim. I am reminded of what a little girl said upon seeing a mule for the first time: I don't know what you are, but you must be a Christian because you look just like Grandpa! There are a lot of long-faced Christians around. There are times of sorrow and sadness, of course, but Christians ought frequently to exude a sense of joy because they have something to be joyful about. Joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness is liking the present moment because it pleases us. But joy is much deeper and more long-range. Joy appreciates the past, the present, and the future, not because the circumstances are pleasing, but because the heart is right with God. These people were happy because the wall was finished. But they were joyful because God had helped them to finish it. Aware of God's love and acceptance, they therefore were joyful. There is another clue hidden in this paragraph that tells us what celebration should be based on. Verse 30 tells us that purification is necessary to celebrate. You cannot do it with a hypocritical heart. It becomes a festival of empty words. Many people seem to be afraid of this word purity. They think it describes a self-righteous kind of person. But purification in the Christian life stems from the same philosophy that motivates us when we wash dishes. You do not set your table with dirty dishes, do you? God does not do His work with dirty vessels! We need a periodic cleansing of our lives and hearts. In the New Testament, it is a simple process. It is not by ritual but by confessing our faults and believing that God has forgiven them. Confess your sins. Then believe that God cleanses you, that He forgives you, that He has restored you to His favor. This is what fills the heart with joy. There is still a third element in this that is found in verse 31. Thankfulness is always part of true celebration. These people were thankful. Are we properly thankful? Do we give thanks every day to God for the blessings we are enjoying at the moment? We are so trained by the media to grumble and complain, to insist on something we do not have, to focus on that instead of on all we do have. One of the first signs of a growing, maturing spirit in young Christians is that they begin to give thanks to God for what He has poured into their life; for the opportunities that are before them; and for the present blessings and liberties that they do enjoy. So there are the elements that make up celebration: joyfulness, purity, and thanksgiving. Lord, forgive me for so often forgetting all that I have to celebrate. Teach me to celebrate all You have done for me with joy, purity, and thanksgiving.

TUESDAY 25TH AUGUST 2026 IGNITE YOUTH DEVOTIONAL Topic: Learn to Say No Bible Reference My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. Proverbs 1:10 (NKJV) A Short Story Joshua was a serious student who had always wanted to do well in school. He attended church regularly, respected his parents, and had decided that he would not allow anything to destroy his future. However, things began to change when he entered a new group of friends in school. They were confident, popular, and always seemed to be having fun. One Friday afternoon, the group invited Joshua to join them at a party. He knew that some of the things that happened at their parties were not things he should be involved in, so he politely declined. His friends laughed at him and told him that he was behaving like a small boy. Joshua felt embarrassed, especially because some girls were also there. He eventually changed his mind and decided to go with them. At the party, things quickly became different from what Joshua had expected. Some people were drinking, others were taking drugs, and several young people were involved in things he knew were wrong. Joshua wanted to leave, but his friends told him not to spoil the fun. They kept telling him that he needed to relax and stop acting like a church boy. Joshua stayed longer than he planned. Before he left, he had joined in some of the things he had promised himself he would never do. On his way home, he felt terrible. He realised that he had not done those things because he wanted to. He had done them because he was afraid of what his friends would say if he refused. That night, Joshua sat quietly in his room and thought about what had happened. He remembered how easy it was to say no when he was alone, but how difficult it became when people around him were laughing and putting pressure on him. He understood that his greatest problem was not that he did not know what was right. His problem was that he wanted to be accepted. Joshua made a decision that night. He would rather lose a few friends than lose his values, his peace, and his future. He learned that saying no is sometimes the strongest thing a young person can do. Today's Message There are times when your greatest test will not come from an obvious enemy. It will come from a friend saying, Come on, everybody is doing it. Many young people know what is right but struggle to do it because they are afraid of being laughed at, rejected, or called old fashioned. You may face pressure to drink, smoke, sleep with someone, cheat in an examination, join a bad group, waste your money, follow unhealthy trends, lie for a friend, or do something wrong simply because you do not want to feel left out. The pressure may even come through social media, where people make wrong behaviour look normal and attractive. The Bible gives a simple instruction in Proverbs 1:10: do not consent. In other words, do not agree to follow people into what you know is wrong. Scripture does not tell you to debate with temptation for hours. There are situations where the wisest response is simply to say no and walk away. Proverbs 1:10 directly addresses the kind of pressure young people face when others try to persuade them to do what is wrong. Saying no does not mean that you hate people. You can love your friends without following them into sin. You can respect people without copying everything they do. You can be friendly with people who have different choices from yours while still keeping your own convictions. Your faith should not disappear simply because you are around people who do not share it. You also need to understand that every yes has a consequence. When you say yes to cheating, you are saying no to honesty. When you say yes to sexual immorality, you are saying no to purity. When you say yes to drugs, you are saying no to self control. When you say yes to reckless spending, you are saying no to financial discipline. When you say yes to the wrong relationship, you may be saying no to the peace and purpose God wants for your life. The people around you can influence your choices. First Corinthians 15:33 warns that bad company can corrupt good character. This is why you must be careful about the people you allow to have strong influence over your life. Your friends should not constantly make it difficult for you to obey God. You do not need everybody to approve of you. Some people will laugh when you refuse to join them. Some may call you boring. Some may stop inviting you to certain places. Some may even say that you are trying to be too holy. Do not allow the fear of losing people to make you lose yourself. There is strength in being able to say, I cannot do this. There is strength in leaving a conversation that is becoming sinful. There is strength in ending a relationship that is pulling you away from God. There is strength in refusing to cheat when everyone else is cheating. There is strength in walking away from an opportunity that requires you to compromise your values. Your future is more important than temporary acceptance. Learn to say no before you find yourself in a situation where saying no becomes much harder. Decide your values before the pressure comes. Know what you believe. Know what the Bible teaches. Know what kind of person you want to become. When the wrong invitation comes, you will not need to spend too much time thinking about it because you have already made up your mind. Remember this: You do not have to say yes just because somebody asked you. Sometimes your greatest act of courage is simply saying no. What To Do Today 1. Think about one area where you often struggle to say no because of pressure from friends or other people. 2. Decide what your Christian values are in that area and make up your mind not to compromise them. 3. Look carefully at your closest friends. Ask yourself whether they are helping you become a better person or making it harder for you to obey God. 4. Practise saying no to wrong things without feeling guilty. You do not owe anyone an explanation for choosing what is right. Prayer Lord, give me the courage to say no when I am being pressured to do what is wrong. Help me not to live for the approval of people. Give me wisdom to choose my friends carefully and strength to stand by my convictions. Help me to value my future, my character, and my relationship with You more than temporary acceptance. When temptation comes, help me to recognise it and walk away. Let my decisions honour You in every area of my life. In Jesus' name, Amen. Daily Challenge Today, practise saying no to one thing that does not help your spiritual life, character, studies, career, relationships, or future. Remember: Every time you say no to what can destroy you, you are saying yes to the future God has prepared for you. ©️ Anthony Ijere Christian Author and Revivalist

You don't have to ignore your emotions when you pray. The goal isn't to pretend you're not afraid. The goal is to allow God's Word to speak into your fear rather than allowing fear to dictate the entire prayer.

August 24 🌿 “WHO GOD IS TO ME” THE ONE WHO WALKS WITH ME 📖 Isaiah 43:2 (LLV) — “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and the flame will not consume you.” There are promises we might wish God had made. “You will never face deep water.” “You will never walk through fire.” “You will never experience anything that frightens you.” But God does not say those things. He says, “When you pass through the waters…” “When you pass through the rivers…” “When you walk through the fire…” Not if. When. Faith does not exempt us from difficult places. But neither does difficulty mean God has abandoned us. “I will be with you.” Perhaps those are the words we need most when the water begins to rise. God does not always stand on the distant shore and call, “Keep going. You'll make it.” He enters the water with us. When the river is stronger than we are, He is there. When circumstances feel overwhelming, He is there. When we find ourselves walking through something we never imagined we would face, He is there. And notice another important word: “through.” The water is not our destination. The river is not our home. The fire is not the end of our story. We pass through them. Sometimes God delivers us by removing the difficulty. Sometimes He delivers us by carrying us through it. And sometimes, only after we reach the other side, do we look back and realize how faithfully He was with us every step of the way. We may enter the water afraid. We may enter the fire wondering how we will possibly endure. But we never enter alone. The God who promised, “I will be with you,” does not leave when the road becomes difficult. That is precisely when His presence becomes most precious. A new beginning sometimes lies on the other side of deep water: I do not need a life without difficult passages; I need the assurance that God will walk through them with me. Reflection: Am I interpreting a difficult season as evidence that God has left me, or am I looking for His presence with me in the middle of it? Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that You never promise from a distance. When I pass through deep waters, You are with me. When circumstances threaten to overwhelm me, You remain beside me. When I must walk through the fire, help me trust Your presence more than I fear the flames. Give me courage for today's passage and faith to remember that I am only passing through. In Jesus' name, Amen.

THE CALVARY MINISTRY – ONLINE ✝️ THE CROSS OF CALVARY 🙏🏽 📅 MONDAY, 24TH AUGUST, 2026 📜 TEXT: JOHN 18:1–40 📜 🔑📖 KEY VERSE: «“Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world.” — John 18:36 (KJV)» 👑✝️ JESUS — THE KING WHO STOOD FIRM John 18 takes us into the final hours before the Cross. Jesus enters the garden knowing exactly what awaits Him. He knows betrayal is coming. He knows arrest is coming. He knows suffering is coming. He knows Calvary is before Him. Yet Jesus does not run. He does not hide. He does not surrender His mission. He willingly stands firm because He came to accomplish the Father's will. ✝️❤️‍🔥 🔥 THREE TRUTHS FROM JOHN 18 1️⃣ JESUS WAS NOT A VICTIM—HE WILLINGLY GAVE HIMSELF. ✝️ When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, He asked them whom they sought. When they answered, Jesus said: «“I am he.” — John 18:5» They went backward and fell to the ground. This moment reminds us that Jesus was not powerless. He could have escaped. He could have called for heavenly help. But He chose to remain. Why? Because He was committed to the Cross. His arrest was part of God's redemptive plan. Calvary was not an accident. Jesus willingly laid down His life for us. ❤️‍🔥 2️⃣ JESUS' KINGDOM IS GREATER THAN THIS WORLD. 👑 Pilate questioned Jesus about His kingship. Jesus answered: «“My kingdom is not of this world.” — John 18:36» The kingdoms of this world are temporary. Positions change. Money disappears. Human power fades. Fame does not last forever. But the Kingdom of Christ is eternal. Therefore, do not build your entire life around things that cannot last. Build your life around Christ. Seek His Kingdom. Obey His Word. Live for eternal things. Jesus is King—not only over heaven, but Lord over our hearts. 👑✝️ 3️⃣ WE MUST STAND FOR TRUTH. 📖🔥 Jesus said: «“Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” — John 18:37» Pilate responded: «“What is truth?” — John 18:38» The world continues to ask that question. But for the believer, truth is not merely an idea. Truth is found in Christ and revealed through God's Word. In a world filled with compromise, confusion and changing opinions, followers of Jesus must remain anchored in truth. Do not compromise your faith because of pressure. Do not deny Christ to gain acceptance. Do not exchange holiness for popularity. Stand for Jesus, even when standing is costly. 🔥 🌿 TODAY'S REFLECTION Jesus knew the Cross was ahead, yet He remained faithful. What about you? Will you remain faithful when obedience becomes difficult? Will you stand for Christ when people disagree with you? Will you choose holiness when temptation is strong? Will you choose truth when compromise seems easier? Jesus stood firm for you. He endured rejection for you. He accepted suffering for you. He walked toward Calvary for you. Therefore, stand firm for Him. Your faith may be tested. Your obedience may cost you something. People may misunderstand you. But remember: You are serving an eternal King. 👑 Do not allow temporary pressure to make you abandon eternal truth. 🙏🏽 PRAYER Heavenly Father, Thank You for Jesus Christ, our King and Saviour. Thank You that He willingly stood firm and went toward the Cross for our salvation. Lord Jesus, give me the grace to remain faithful when my faith is tested. Help me not to compromise Your truth for acceptance, popularity, comfort or worldly gain. Give me courage to stand for righteousness. When I am afraid, strengthen me. When I am pressured, remind me of Your example. When temptation comes, help me remember the price You paid for me. Let my life demonstrate that Jesus Christ is truly Lord and King over my life. May I seek Your Kingdom above everything else and remain faithful until the end. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen. 🙏🏽✝️ 🌹 CALVARY BLESSING May the King of kings strengthen you today. May you remain firm when your faith is tested. May God's truth guide your decisions. May you never exchange eternal treasures for temporary pleasures. May courage rise within you to stand for Christ. And may your life continually declare: Jesus is my King. Jesus is my Lord. Jesus is my Truth. Jesus is my Saviour. 👑✝️ STAND FIRM. THE KING IS COMING! 🔥 THE CROSS STILL SPEAKS! 🔥 By: BR. Emmanuel Dankwah 🙏🏽