Choose Forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32)

Almost everyone knows what it feels like to be hurt.

Someone breaks your trust.

A friend betrays you.

Someone says something that stays in your heart for years.

A relationship ends painfully.

Someone treats you unfairly.

And sometimes the hardest part isn't the pain itself.

It's deciding what to do with that pain.

You may feel like holding on to anger will protect you.

You may think:

“They don't deserve my forgiveness.”

And perhaps what happened was genuinely wrong.

But Jesus calls us to something greater than revenge.

The Bible says:

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Forgiveness doesn't mean pretending that what happened was acceptable.

It doesn't mean saying that the person didn't hurt you.

It doesn't mean you must immediately trust someone who has broken your trust.

And forgiveness doesn't always mean reconciliation.

Sometimes healthy boundaries are necessary.

But forgiveness means refusing to allow someone else's wrongdoing to control your heart forever.

It means releasing your desire for revenge and placing justice in God's hands.

Jesus gave us the ultimate example.

He was betrayed.

Rejected.

Mocked.

Beaten.

Crucified.

Yet even while suffering on the cross, He prayed for those who were hurting Him.

That is the power of God's grace.

And if Christ has forgiven us, we are called to extend that grace to others.

Think about how much God has forgiven you.

Every mistake.

Every sinful thought.

Every wrong decision.

Every time you ignored His voice.

Every time you chose your own way.

We stand in need of grace too.

That doesn't make someone else's wrongdoing insignificant.

It reminds us that we are also people who need forgiveness.

Maybe today you're carrying anger toward someone.

You don't have to pretend everything is fine.

Bring the pain to God.

Tell Him exactly how you feel.

Ask Him to heal your heart.

Ask Him to help you forgive.

And if necessary, establish wise boundaries.

But don't let bitterness become your identity.

Bitterness can consume the person carrying it more than the person who caused the hurt.

Forgiveness sets your heart free.

Sometimes forgiveness happens in one decision.

Sometimes it is a process.

You may have to surrender the same pain to God repeatedly.

That's okay.

Keep giving it to Him.

Keep praying.

Keep healing.

Keep choosing grace.

And remember that forgiveness doesn't mean you have to forget the lesson.

You can forgive someone and still learn from what happened.

You can forgive and still protect yourself.

You can forgive and still choose wisdom.

You can forgive without returning to an unhealthy situation.

Forgiveness is not weakness. It is freedom.

If you have hurt someone, don't only ask God for forgiveness.

Where appropriate, have the courage to apologize.

Say:

“I was wrong.”

“I'm sorry.”

“Please forgive me.”

Humility can begin the healing of a relationship.

And if someone has hurt you, ask God for the strength to release the bitterness.

You may not be able to change what happened.

But with God's help, you can choose what happens next.

Don't let yesterday's pain steal today's peace. Give your hurt to God and choose forgiveness.

Is there someone you need to forgive—or someone you need to ask for forgiveness today?

#ChooseForgiveness #Ephesians432 #Forgiveness #Grace #Healing #ChristianYouth #FaithInAction #JesusForgives #JesusSaves #ShareJesus #DailyFaith #Lordsbook #JMSM #KNKA

SATURDAY 22ND AUGUST 2026
IGNITE YOUTH DEVOTIONAL

Topic: Do Not Ignore the Small Compromise

Bible Reference
“He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much.” Luke 16:10 (NKJV)

A Short Story
Blessing had always seen herself as a good Christian. She attended church, joined the youth meetings, prayed regularly, and tried to live according to God's Word.

One afternoon, she noticed that she had been given too much change at a shop. The difference was not much. She looked at the money in her hand and thought, “It is only a small amount.”She could easily have kept it. Nobody would know.

She walked a few steps away from the shop, but something inside her made her stop. She remembered that she had been praying for God to trust her with greater responsibilities.

She turned around and returned the money. The following week, something similar happened. This time, it was not money. A friend asked her to lie about where they had been so that their parents would not find out.

Again, it seemed like a small matter. Blessing remembered the change she had returned the previous week. She realized that integrity was not something she could practise only when the matter was serious. She refused to lie.

As she walked home that evening, she understood something she had never considered deeply before. The small decisions she made every day were preparing her for the bigger decisions that would come later.

Today's Message
Many people want God to trust them with great things, but they ignore the small things.

Jesus said that the person who is faithful in little will also be faithful in much. This means that your character is being developed through ordinary decisions.

A small lie may seem harmless. A little dishonesty may seem insignificant. A secret compromise may appear too small to matter.

But compromise has a way of growing.

The enemy does not always begin by asking you to do something obviously wrong. Sometimes, he starts with something that looks too small to deserve your attention.

Do not measure the seriousness of a decision only by how big it looks. Ask whether it agrees with God's Word.

Your private decisions are shaping your public character.

If you want God to trust you with greater responsibility, learn to honour Him in the little things first.

What To Do Today
1. Pay attention to the small decisions you normally overlook.

2. Refuse to justify dishonesty because the matter seems insignificant.

3. Keep your word, even when nobody will punish you for breaking it.

4. Remember that character is built through repeated choices.

Prayer
Lord, help me to be faithful in little things. Give me the strength to reject every compromise, no matter how small it appears. Build integrity into my character and prepare me for everything You have planned for me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Daily Challenge
Today, choose honesty in one small situation where it would be easier to compromise. Let your decision be an act of worship to God.

Anthony Ijere
Christian Author and Revivalist

WHATSAPP GROUP
https://chat.whatsapp.com/BDs9qaNMQumKTicv7uU7SJ?s=cl&p=a&mlu=0&ilr=0

TELEGRAM CHANNEL
https://t.me/anthonyijere

For far too long, historians have accepted the claim that the conversion of the Emperor Constantine (ca. 285–337) caused the triumph of Christianity. To the contrary, he destroyed its most attractive and dynamic aspects, turning a high-intensity, grassroots movement into an arrogant institution controlled by an elite who often managed to be both brutal and lax.… Constantine’s “favor” was his decision to divert to the Christians the massive state funding on which the pagan temples had always depended. Overnight, Christianity became “the most-favoured recipient of the near limitless resources of imperial favors.” A faith that had been meeting in humble structures was suddenly housed in magnificent public buildings—the new church of Saint Peter in Rome was modeled on the basilican form used for imperial throne halls.

August 22, 2026 (day 234/365)
SATURDAY

GOD'S WORD FOR THE DAY

“Listen to Wise Counsel”

1 Kings 12:7

“If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them, and answer them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.”

This is the Word of God. When Rehoboam became king, he was given an important choice. The elders advised him to listen to the people and serve them, but he rejected their counsel and followed the advice of his young companions. His prideful decision divided the kingdom.

Leadership is not about demanding that others serve us; it is about being willing to serve others. We may have authority, knowledge, or position, but we still need humble hearts that listen to wise and godly counsel.

A single proud decision can damage relationships and create consequences that last for years. Therefore, we should not allow pride to silence wise voices around us.

May God give us humble hearts to listen, wisdom to discern good counsel, and servant hearts that seek to bless rather than control others. Amen.

Have a blessed day with the Lord.

-- Pastor Emmanuel Serto

Guidelines for living.
August 21st, 2026

Here’s The Only Way to Begin to Love

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:10-11



The greatest rivers in the world usually begin on the cold, frozen slopes of high mountains as the sun begins to melt snow and ice, and from the trickle of crystal-clear water a steam begins to flow and eventually a cascade of water plummets down the mountain. In the valley far below, the stream becomes a river, then a great river which we call the Nile, the Amazon, the Ganges, the Rhine, or whatever. By the time these massive bodies of water reach the ocean, they may be kilometers wide, and they are muddy and polluted.

Now, apply that same concept to the biblical truth that God is love. John tells us this in the New Testament, and the farther we are from Him, seemingly the more polluted love becomes. By the time it has been filtered through human lust, what we call love is a far cry from the compelling love which caused God to send His Son long ago.

Love is not a platitude, it is an action, an unconditional commitment to care, a decision of your heart. True, love is what the world needs. The words of a song popular a generation ago said it all: “The world is dying, dying for a little bit of love,” says one verse.

If you’ve been following this series based on Paul’s great chapter on love, found in the New Testament in 1 Corinthians 13, you have focused on love’s characteristics, but any discussion of the subject would be incomplete without a few words of encouragement for you whose river of love has either evaporated in the desert of life, or else become so polluted you hardly know what the real thing is.

When God touches your heart, your life will change. God takes up residence in your life, and the mud of sin is washed away. When pollution is eliminated, you start loving. This is the miracle of conversion. This is the answer to the lovelessness and the selfishness which destroys relationships.

Joining a church, turning over a new leaf, going to confession, just “being religious,” is not the solution. A relationship with God through His son is the only way you will really begin to love.

I will give you three simple guidelines that will help.

Guideline #1: Acknowledge you need a relationship with God and confess that sin has stopped the flow of love in your life. It’s easy to point a finger and say, “Well, it was his fault; her fault.” The solution is saying, “God, I need you. Forgive me. Touch my life.”

Guideline #2: Ask God’s forgiveness for your failure—not the other person’s—and ask Him to be Lord and Savior. Jesus gave us a promise. He said, “I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and have fellowship with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). That promise has your name on it, friend.

Guideline #3: Begin loving in simple steps, one day at a time. When you fail and fall back into those old habits and a loveless way, quickly admit your wrong; ask God’s help to overcome it.

Friend, you can talk about love until you have calluses on your vocal cords, but until you get back to the fountain and the source of love, who is God Himself, you’ll never lay hold of the real thing: the God kind of love that changes the world. So, go back to the source. It’s the only way to fill your cup and have enough left over for someone else in your life. Love is not a pious platitude. It’s the answer.



Resource Reading: 1 John 4:1-21

A Nugget of Truth.
The most life-changing decisions don't always begin with a major event. Sometimes they start with a whisper, a seemingly harmless idea, or a voice presenting error as the best path. This is what happened to Eve in the Garden of Eden.

The serpent didn't resort to force or reveal its true intentions from the start. It approached with carefully chosen words, sowing doubt about what God had said. Little by little, deception made what was forbidden seem desirable. What began as a conversation ended up becoming a decision that changed the course of human history.

The story of Eve reminds us that deception rarely presents itself openly. It often takes on a convincing appearance, offering paths that seem good while concealing consequences that aren't immediately apparent. That's why the Bible emphasizes the importance of remaining attentive to God's truth, which stands firm above any voice that tries to distort it.

Eve's story remains an invitation to value the wisdom that comes from the Lord and to recognize that His Word continues to be a sure guide in a world where many ideas seek to take the place of truth.

"And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes... she took of its fruit and ate." — Genesis 3:6

Eve's story reminds us that discernment begins when God's truth stands above any appearance.

The Default Program: Why You Were Born Running the Wrong Software.

Every one of us was born into a life we didn't choose and a status we didn't ask for. Before we ever made a single decision of our own, we inherited a condition — one that quietly shapes how we think, how we struggle, and why we so often find ourselves doing the very things we swore we wouldn't do.
Scripture puts it simply: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). This isn't a verse about a few bad actors. It's a diagnosis of the human condition itself
adapted from my book,To live and then https://.https://a.co/d/0dJqZ3x8

DAY 21- Morning

Theme: LOVE THAT CHOOSES: Making Daily Decisions That Strengthens The Marriage

Reflection
Love Is a Daily Choice

Good morning,
We have spent this week talking about choosing love.
Choosing your spouse.
Choosing trust.
Choosing appreciation.
Choosing friendship.
Choosing romance.
Choosing forgiveness.
These are not merely feelings.
They are decisions.
There will be days when love feels effortless.
There will also be days when love requires discipline.
On those days, remember your covenant.
Remember God's grace.
Remember why you began.
And remember that Christ calls us to love—not only when it is convenient, but as a reflection of His own love for us.

God's Word
"And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." — Colossians 3:14

Today's Love Action
Tell your spouse:
"I choose you, and I choose to keep growing with you."
Then pray together for your marriage.

Let's Talk
Which choice has made the greatest difference in your marriage this week?

Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for teaching us that love is more than a feeling. Help us choose faithfulness, kindness, friendship, forgiveness and joy every day. May our marriage reflect Your covenant love. Amen.

From The Counselor's Chair
The couples who build lasting marriages are not necessarily those who never struggle. They are those who keep returning to the decision to love.

Marriage Nugget
"Feelings may begin the journey, but faithful choices help love endure."

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

Give God Control (Proverbs 3:5–6)

One of the hardest things to do is let go.

We want to control our future.

Our plans.

Our relationships.

Our careers.

Our finances.

Our reputation.

Even the things we pray about.

We often tell God what we want and then quietly expect Him to follow our plan.

But trusting God means something deeper.

It means being willing to say:

“Lord, I trust You—even when Your plan is different from mine.”

The Bible says:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Notice the instruction:

Trust.

Not partially.

Not only when everything makes sense.

With all your heart.

Sometimes we struggle to trust God because we want to know exactly what will happen next.

But faith doesn't require knowing the entire future.

Faith means trusting the One who already knows it.

Think about Peter when Jesus called him to step out of the boat.

The water was still there.

The storm was still around him.

But Peter had to decide whether he would trust Jesus enough to take the step.

Sometimes God is asking you to take a step before you have all the answers.

Maybe you need to start something.

Maybe you need to stop something.

Maybe you need to forgive.

Maybe you need to wait.

Maybe you need to surrender a dream.

Maybe you need to give God control of a relationship, career decision, or future you have been trying desperately to manage yourself.

Surrender doesn't mean giving up on life.

It means giving up the illusion that you have to control everything.

There are things you can control:

Your choices.

Your attitude.

Your obedience.

Your words.

Your effort.

Your response.

But there are also things you cannot control:

Other people's decisions.

Tomorrow.

The economy.

Every outcome.

Every opportunity.

Every circumstance.

Trying to control what belongs outside your control will eventually leave you exhausted.

So give those things to God.

Pray about them.

Do your part faithfully.

Then trust Him with the results.

And remember:

Surrender is not weakness.

It is an expression of faith.

Jesus demonstrated the ultimate example of surrender in the garden of Gethsemane.

Facing the cross, He prayed to the Father and submitted to God's will.

That obedience brought salvation to humanity.

The cross reminds us that God's plan can accomplish something far greater than what we can see in the moment.

Maybe you don't understand your current season.

Maybe you're asking:

“Why is this happening?”

Instead of only asking God to change the situation, try asking:

“Lord, what are You teaching me through this?”

Sometimes God changes the circumstances.

Sometimes He changes us.

And sometimes He does both.

Whatever you're facing today, don't carry it as though everything depends on you.

Give God your fears.

Give Him your plans.

Give Him your mistakes.

Give Him your future.

Give Him your unanswered questions.

And then trust Him one day at a time.

You may not know what tomorrow holds.

But you know who holds tomorrow.

Release what you cannot control and trust the God who can.

Today, take a quiet moment and pray:

“Lord, I surrender my plans, my fears, and my future to You. Help me trust Your wisdom more than my own understanding. Lead me where You want me to go, and give me the courage to follow. Amen.”

What is one thing you've been trying to control that you need to place completely in God's hands?

#GiveGodControl #Proverbs3 #TrustGod #SurrenderToGod #FaithOverFear #WalkByFaith #ChristianYouth #JesusSaves #ShareJesus #DailyFaith #Lordsbook #JMSM #KNKA

rebuke and fix through intercession:


Who controls the media? Updated list.

Meta owns:
Facebook
Instagram
WhatsApp
Messenger
Threads
Oculus
Meta AI
Meta is controlled by Mark Zuckerberg who is jewish

Alphabet owns:
Google
[v] YouTube
Android
[v] Gmail
[ ] Chrome
Pixel phones
Nest smart home devices
Fitbit
DeepMind
Gemini AI
Waymo self-driving cars
Verily
Calico
Wing drone delivery
Alphabet is controlled by Larry Page and (Sergey? ) Brin who are both jewish

Tic Tok
U.S. algorithm and infrastructure is controlled by Oracle
Oracle is controlled by Larry Ellison who is jewish

-Hookup Apps

Match Group owns:
Tinder
Hinge
OkCupid
Match. com
Plenty of Fish
Meetic
The League
BLK
Archer
OurTime
Was founded by Barry Diller who is jewish

Grindr
Was founded by Joel Simkhai who is jewish

Bumble
Was founded by Whitney Wolfe Herd who is jewish

-Porn

Onlyfans
Owned by Leonid Radvinsky who is jewish

Vixen Media Group owns:
Blacked
Blacked Raw
Vixen
Tushy
Deeper
Founded by Greg Lansky who is jewish

Aylo/MindGeek Owns/owned:
Pornhub
YouPorn
RedTube
Brazzers
Reality Kings
Digital Playground
Men. com
Sean Cody
Tube8
Solomon Friedman is the owner of Aylo and he’s jewish

Gamma Entertainment owns/operates:
Adult Time
Pure Taboo
Wicked
many other affiliate studios/platforms
Founded by Karl Bernard who is jewish

-Movies/TV/News

Warner Brothers Discovery owns:
Warner Bros. Pictures
HBO
CNN
DC Studios
Cartoon Network
Discovery Channel
TNT
TBS
Max (formerly HBO Max)
Adult Swim
HGTV
Food Network
Animal Planet
Warner Brothers is run by David Zaslav who is jewish

Disney owns:
ESPN
ABC
Marvel Studios
Lucasfilm
Pixar
20th Century Studios
Disney+
Hulu (major controlling stake)
National Geographic
Disney is run by Bob Iger who is jewish

Paramount Global owns:
CBS
CBS News
CBS Sports
Local CBS stations
Film Studios
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Animation
Cable Networks
MTV
Nickelodeon
Comedy Central
BET
VH1
CMT
TV Land
Smithsonian Channel
Logo TV
Pop TV

Streaming/Premium:
Paramount+
Showtime
Pluto TV

Major franchises/IP:
Top Gun
Mission: Impossible
Star Trek
South Park (licensing/streaming)
SpongeBob SquarePants
Transformers
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Paramount Global is controlled by Sheri Redstone, who is jewish

Comcast owns:
NBCUniversal
NBC
Universal Pictures
Peacock
MSNBC
CNBC
Telemundo
Sky (Europe)
DreamWorks Animation
Xfinity
Comcast is controlled by Roberts family who is Jewish

Amazon owns:
Amazon Prime
MGM Studios⁠
Twitch⁠
Audible⁠
IMDb⁠
Amazon Music⁠
Ring⁠
Blink⁠
Amazon Echo
Alexa
Kindle
Amazon is run by Andy Jassy who is jewish

-AI/Data Centers

OpenAI/ChatGPT
Run by Sam Altman who is jewish

Palentir provides advanced data integration, surveillance, AI, and analytics infrastructure used by military, intelligence, law enforcement, and major corporations. Its platforms help organizations combine massive amounts of fragmented data into real-time operational intelligence for warfare, policing, logistics, cybersecurity, manufacturing, and decision-making, making it one of the most strategically influential data and defense technology companies in the world.

Was founded by Alex Karp, Peter Thiel, Stephen Cohen and Joe Lonsdale, 3 of the 4 are jewish and the other gives speeches on the Antichrist. Operated by Alex Karp who is jewish.

Oracle owns:
Oracle Database
Java
MySQL
NetSuite
Cerner
Sun Microsystems technologies
It’s important because it owns core infrastructure software that powers governments, banks, hospitals, corporations, and large parts of the internet. Its control of technologies like Oracle Database, Java, MySQL, and Cerner gives it enormous influence over the backend systems modern society depends on.

Owned by Larry Ellison who is jewish.