TODAY'S BIBLE READING
Wednesday, August 26
OLD TESTAMENT
1 SAMUEL 2 — Hannah's Prayer & Samuel's Ministry
NEW TESTAMENT
JUDE 1 — Contending for the Faith
Congratulations on completing the book of 3 John! Today we begin the book of Jude.
MAJOR PROPHETS
ISAIAH 37 — Hezekiah Seeks the Lord
TODAY'S REFLECTION
1 Samuel 2
Hannah praises God for His faithfulness, while Samuel grows in the presence of the Lord. The chapter contrasts faithful service to God with the corruption of Eli's sons and reminds us that God sees the heart.
Jude 1
Jude urges believers to contend for the faith and remain watchful against false teaching and ungodly living. We are called to build ourselves up in faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, remain in God's love, and show mercy to others.
Isaiah 37
When Jerusalem is threatened by Assyria, King Hezekiah takes the matter before God in prayer. God responds and delivers His people, showing that no earthly power is greater than the Lord.
KEY VERSE
“But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit.”
— Jude 1:20
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, help us remain firmly rooted in Your truth. Give us discernment to recognize error, courage to stand for the faith, and humility to show mercy to those who are struggling. Like Hezekiah, teach us to bring every difficult situation before You and trust in Your power. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.
TODAY'S CHALLENGE
Stand firm in your faith today. Spend time in prayer, remain grounded in God's Word, and trust God with the situation that concerns you most.
WE STUDY. WE PRAY. WE OBEY. WE GROW. UNTIL WE ARE TOTALLY TRANSFORMED.

*The Greatest Commandment*

In *Matthew 22:37,* Jesus said: *"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."*

This verse is a powerful reminder of the greatest commandment, calling us to a wholehearted devotion to God. It challenges us to examine the depth and sincerity of our love for Him, urging us to go beyond following the rules of religious traditions and to cultivate an intimate, all-encompassing relationship with our Creator.

Loving God with all our heart means that our emotions and desires are aligned with His will. It means that we prioritize Him above all else, allowing His love to shape our affections and guide our decisions. When we love God with all our soul, we are committing our very being to Him. Our identity, purpose, and existence are rooted in His love, and we find our true fulfillment in living for His glory.

To love God with all our mind is to engage our intellect in the pursuit of knowing Him more deeply. It involves meditating on His Word, seeking His wisdom, and allowing His Truth to transform our thoughts and perspectives. This holistic love for God is not a one-time event but a daily, intentional choice to surrender every aspect of our lives to Him.

Reflecting on this commandment, we are reminded that our love for God should be evident in every area of our lives. It should influence how we interact with others, how we spend our time, and how we use our resources. As we grow in our love for God, we become more attuned to His presence and more responsive to His leading.

Today, let’s surrender our hearts, souls, and minds to God. Let us seek to deepen our relationships with Him, knowing that as we do, we will experience the fullness of His love and the abundant life He promises. Amen.
*A Prayer To Love God Fully*
Father God, You are worthy of all our love and devotion. You invite us to love You with everything we are- mind, will, and emotions. It’s so easy to become distracted or discouraged, but we want to be completely committed and surrendered to You. Help us to love You fully. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

August 26, 2026 (day 238/365)
WEDNESDAY

GOD'S WORD FOR THE DAY

“Celebrate God’s Faithfulness”

Nehemiah 12:43

“Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy.”

This is the Word of God. Nehemiah 12 describes the dedication of Jerusalem’s rebuilt wall. After years of hardship, opposition, and hard work, the people gathered to celebrate what God had accomplished among them. Their joy was not merely because the wall was finished, but because they recognized God’s hand in their restoration.

Sometimes we become so focused on our next challenge that we forget to stop and celebrate what God has already done. Every answered prayer, every difficulty He has carried us through, and every blessing He has provided is a reason to give Him thanks.

True Christian joy comes from recognizing God’s faithfulness. When we remember His goodness, gratitude replaces complaining and praise replaces discouragement.

May we never become too busy to stop and thank God for His faithfulness. May our lives be filled with grateful hearts that rejoice in all that He has done. Amen.

Have a blessed day with the Lord.

-- Pastor Emmanuel Serto

https://www.vanuatu.travel/en/ click to see Vanuatu

Weeding time - Peter and Leah @Jordan, Efate

3 John 1:2-3 AMP
[2] Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually]. [3] For I was greatly pleased when [some of the] brothers came [from time to time] and testified to your [faithfulness to the] truth [of the gospel message], that is, how you are walking in truth.

https://bible.com/bible/1588/3jn.1.2-3.AMP

Vanuatu Moto - Long God Yumi Stanap - Amen

Psalms 100:5 NIV
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

There are seasons when God asks us to do something that doesn't make sense on paper, but makes perfect sense in faith.

Months ago, I stepped away from my full-time work. Not because I had everything figured out, but because I wanted to be more present for my family, serve more faithfully in ministry, and be obedient to where I believe the Lord is leading me.

It's both exciting and humbling. Faith doesn't always mean having certainty. It means taking the next step while trusting God with the outcome.

Last month, I launched UNLEASH Global Consulting, with one simple prayer: that God would use my gifts to help leaders and organizations grow while allowing me to prioritize what matters most.

So let me ask my friends here:

Does your company, church, school, or organization need training or a speaker?

I facilitate programs on:

Leadership & Supervisory Development
Customer Excellence
Communication & Difficult Conversations
Team Building & Collaboration
Soft Skills & Professional Development
Learning Design & Train-the-Trainer

If someone comes to mind, I'd truly appreciate an introduction or a recommendation. Your support means more than you know.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." — Proverbs 3:5

I'm choosing faith over fear. Believing that where God guides, He provides.