Ambition is not always wrong—but when ambition becomes more important than obedience, it can quickly become an idol. https://patrickryanlewis.com/2026/08/18/when-ambition-becomes-idolatry-the-rise-of-abimelech/ In Judges 9:1–6, Abimelech wanted power, and he was willing to manipulate relationships, compromise spiritually, surround himself with the wrong people, and ultimately destroy anyone standing between him and the position he desired. He got the crown. But getting what we want does not necessarily mean we have God’s approval. Abimelech’s story is a powerful warning about selfish ambition, pride, leadership, and the danger of trying to build a throne God never gave us. Godly leadership asks a very different question. Instead of asking, “How high can I rise?” we should be asking, “How faithfully can I serve?” Read the newest Bible study on Judges 9:1–6: “When Ambition Becomes Idolatry: The Rise of Abimelech.” Our responsibility is not to build our own throne. Our responsibility is to remain faithful to the King who already sits on His. #Judges9 #Abimelech #BibleStudy #BiblicalLeadership #ChristianLeadership #SelfishAmbition #Humility #ServantLeadership #ChristianLiving #WordOfGod

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: MONDAY, AUGUST 17TH 2026. TOPIC: THE GAINS OF GOD'S COVENANT II MEMORISE Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers: - (Deuteronomy 7:12) BIBLE READING: GENESIS 20:1-18 (KJV) 1 And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar. 2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife. 4 But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation? 5 Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this. 6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. 7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine. 8 Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid. 9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done. 10 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing? 11 And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake. 12 And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. 13 And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother. 14 And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife. 15 And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee. 16 And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved. 17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children. 18 For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife. MESSAGE Years ago, a highly influential man in an Islamic nation, where church planting was prohibited, invited one of our missionaries to establish a church within his compound. When the church started, his wife said to him, "With your position in government and your influence in this nation, you allowed a church be established in your compound?" He looked at his wife and said, "Don't you dare say a word against these people!" I believe that it was easy for the RCCG to plant a church in that nation, and indeed many nations in the world today, because of God's covenant with its founder, Pa Josiah Akindayomi. One of the gains of being in a covenant with God is that you will keep getting greater results than your peers as long as you keep fulfilling your part of the covenant. God will keep giving you results that are beyond your efforts. What other people struggle to get will come to you easily because of His covenant with you. In Exodus 19:5, God said, "If you will keep my covenant, I will make you a peculiar treasure." This means that people will take a look at you and wonder why God loves you so much. Several times, when I wake up at night and reflect on all the good things God is doing in RCCG, I usually say, "Lord, how can you love us this much?" Some people might claim that it is because we fast and pray, but believe me, some people fast more than we do. I recall vividly that when I became the General Overseer, I had some of my friends join me in a 36-hour non-stop prayer session. We thought this was a remarkable feat until we heard of a man who prayed non-stop for so much longer! I may not have spent as many hours in prayer at a stretch as that person, yet what God has done for RCCG is unprecedented and truly remarkable. Indeed, there are immense gains in being in a covenant with the Almighty God. Another gain of being in a covenant with God is protection. When a king took Abraham's wife, God intervened by appearing in the king's dream. He went the extra mile to protect her and instructed the king to ask Abraham to pray for him, as we see in today's Bible reading. Beloved, there are immeasurable blessings that flow from being in covenant with God. KEY POINT Being in a covenant with God gives you access to tremendous benefits and makes difficult things easy. AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR JEREMIAH 44 - 46 HYMN 19 - ROCK OF AGES, CLEFT FOR ME 1. Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee! Let the water and the blood, From Thy riven side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure; Cleanse me from its guilt and power. 2. Not the labours of my hands, can fulfill thy law's demands could zeal no respite know, could my tears forever flow, all for sin could not atone, thou must save and thou alone. 3. Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling naked, come to thee for dress, helpless, look to thee fir grace foul to the fountain fly wash me saviour or I die. 4. While I draw this fleeting breath, when my eyelids close in death, when I soar to worlds unknown, see thee on thy judgment throne, rock of ages cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee. PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DATE: MONDAY AUGUST 17TH 2026 *THE GAINS OF GOD'S COVENANT II ‎PRAYER POINTS 1.Father, thank You for Your covenant to build Your church and never to allow the gate of hell to prevail over it. 2.Father, thank You for the spread of the gospel across the nations of the earth. Thank You for raising men and women to bare the light of the gospel even to the inter lands. 3.Father, thank You for divinely positioning men and women to favour the advancement of Your gospel across the world. 4.Father, please help me never to go out Your covenant for my life. Help me to keep fulfilling my part of the covenant so I can keep enjoying greater results than my peers, in Jesus' name. 5.Father, please keep me in Your covenant, and grant me results that are beyond my efforts. Make easy for me what other people struggle to get, in Jesus' name. 6.Father, please help me to keep Your covenant, and make me a wonder to nations, in Jesus' name. 7.Father, please show me Your mercy and let it continue to speak for me such that I will constantly enjoy unprecedented and truly remarkable blessings of Your covenant, in Jesus' name. 8.Father, please keep me in Your covenant and let me and my household enjoy divine protection everywhere we go, in Jesus' name. 9.Father, please help me to hearken to Your judgements, to keep and to do them, so I can abide in Your covenant and enjoy Your mercies, in Jesus' name. 10.Father, please establish me and my household in Your covenant so we can have access to Your immeasurable blessings and benefits, in Jesus' name. 11.Father, thank You for the life of Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye. ‎ Help him to continue to enjoy the gains of Your covenant with him, 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) ‎#GodBlessOThese prayers have no expiry dates! Please, pray them, irrespective of the time they get to you.

When Leadership Is Driven by Ambition Scripture Judges 9:23 (NKJV) Then God sent a spirit of ill will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech God Does Not Bless Ungodly Authority Judges chapter 9 tells a tragic story of ambition power and betrayal. Abimelech seeks leadership not through God’s calling but through manipulation violence and self promotion. He kills his brothers secures power through fear and rules without regard for God or people. Verse 23 reveals a sobering truth. God allows division and conflict to expose unrighteous leadership. Abimelech’s rule was built on bloodshed and deceit and it could not stand. The same treachery he used to gain power eventually turned against him. This chapter shows that leadership without God leads to destruction. Authority gained without righteousness cannot produce peace or stability. God is not silent when injustice rules. In time He allows the consequences of sin to surface and brings judgment on prideful ambition. For believers today Judges 9 is a warning against seeking position influence or control apart from God. God values humility obedience and servant leadership. When ambition replaces submission to God chaos follows. True authority comes from God and is sustained only by faithfulness to Him. Reflection Questions 1. Do I seek influence through humility or through self promotion 2. Am I willing to wait for God’s timing rather than forcing outcomes 3. How do I respond when God exposes wrong motives or attitudes Prayer Lord God guard my heart from pride ambition and selfish desire. Teach me to seek Your will rather than my own advancement. Help me to walk humbly before You and trust that true authority and influence come from You alone. In Jesus name Amen.

Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😀🌺🌹🎁🎀💝 MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY WEDNESDAY JULY 22, 2026. "ENCOURAGEMENT--IT'S A POWERFUL THING" ‘If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging.’  Romans 12:8 NLT MANY A man and woman who quit would have kept going if they had just received a word of encouragement from someone. Encouragement is so vital that the Scriptures rank it up there with gifts like teaching and leadership (Romans 12:6-8). Here are two stories that illustrate the power of encouragement. Story one: Not long ago, the world watched as three grey whales, icebound off Point Barrow, Alaska, floated battered and bloody, gasping for breath at a hole in the ice. The whales’ only hope was to be somehow transported five miles past the ice pack to the open sea. Rescuers began cutting a string of breathing holes about twenty yards apart in the six-inch thick ice. For eight days they painstakingly coaxed the whales from one hole to the next, mile after mile. Along the way, one of the trio vanished and was presumed dead. But finally, with the help of Russian icebreakers, the other two whales, Putu and Siku, swam to freedom. Story two: Jackie Robinson was the first black player in the US to play major league baseball. While breaking baseball’s colour barrier, he faced jeering crowds in every stadium. Playing one day in his home stadium in Brooklyn, he made an error and his own fans began to boo him. As he stood, humiliated, at second base, ‘Pee Wee’ Reese came over and stood next to him. He put his arm around Robinson and they faced the crowd together. The fans grew quiet; the game continued. Robinson later said that arm around his shoulder saved his career! Encouragement—it’s a powerful thing. So who can you encourage today? Bible In A Year: Acts 27-28; Matt11;10-18; Ps42:1-5; Pro 16:16. Courtesy: Grace So Amazing Foundation 🌹🎀 *To partner with us, kindly refer to page 9 of the hard copy edition or simply send us a WhatsApp message/call on +2348128000068.*💝🌹🌷🎀. MD.ii. [21/07, 8:59 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) WEDNESDAY 22ND JULY, 2026``` *DAWNING DAY OF RESTORATION* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽🙌🏽 📜📜```TEXT:JOEL 3:14-21```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim" (JOEL 3:18).*_ *It was in Alfred Tennyson's poem, _The Lotos-Eaters,_ that the following picture of hope is captured:* _*"Courage!" he said, and pointed toward the land,*_ _*"This mounting wave will roll us shoreward soon.*_ _*In the afternoon they came unto a land,*_ _*In which it seemed always afternoon.*_ _*All round the coast the languid air did swoon,*_ _*Breathing like one that hath a weary dream."*_ *The sea-wearied mariners finally found the shore of solace, where they excitedly burst into a joyful chorus:* _*"Our island home is far beyond the wave;*_ _*We will no longer roam."*_ *A day of hope and restoration awaits the Israel of God after the Lord has dealt with their Gentile enemies. Prophet Joel saw in his vision hordes of God's enemies rushing headlong and mindlessly into the 'valley of God's decisive judgment.' A day of divine recompense is yet in the womb of time. Israel should be assured of God's unfailing day of their full restoration to the land promised to them by the Lord. Over many generations, their enemies had enslaved, deprived and vexed them with untempered bitterness. The Assyrians had ill-used them; the Egyptians had abused them; the Babylonians had traduced them; they had suffered untold hardship under the rule of the Medians and the Persians. The Greeks had not spared them too. The Romans had ruthlessly brutalised them and razed down Jerusalem finally in 70 AD.* *However, "weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." These pains and pangs of many centuries under alien nations will soon be over, and a new dawn of peace, prosperity, and divine presence will be in the offing for Israel.* *As it was for the enemies of Israel, so it shall be in the end for the enemies of the church of Christ. In contrast, the future is bright for those who have a cordial relationship with the Lord. People who trust Jesus Christ as their Saviour will never be called into God's judgment court, and they no longer need to fear the storm. Therefore, let the beloved of the Lord take heart and be patient in times of bitter trials, temptations and fierce persecutions. "Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." Like the chorus of the Lotos-Eaters, these mounting waves of trials and temptation shall roll us eventually to the shore of rest!* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*Every adversity confronting God's people bears an expiry date.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *EXODUS 20-22*📜📜 Dawning Day Of Restoration https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 5: NEVER GIVE UP; GHS 7: TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS; AND GHS 30: I'VE ANCHORED IN JESUS* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna22ndJuly2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [21/07, 8:59 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```WEDNESDAY 22ND JULY, 2026``` *DISAPPOINTMENT FOR CHARMERS* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧜🏽‍♂️🧞❌👎🏽🗣️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:NUMBERS 23:19-23```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!" (NUMBERS 23:23).*_ *Lydia, a young lady, was drawn into the world of charms and superstitions, searching for a shortcut to success. She was introduced to a so-called "charmer" who promised wealth and fame; but despite following prescribed ritual processes, her life only became more chaotic. Her relationships suffered, and she felt emptier than ever before.* *One day, after a powerful encounter with God, she realised that true success and peace could never come through charms or quick fixes. She turned away from the illusions of the world and chose to trust in God's plan for her life. "Charms and spells may deceive the heart, but only truth sets the soul free," said Ralph Waldo Emerson.* *In Numbers 23:19-23, we learn that no matter how powerful the charmers or magicians might seem, God's plans cannot be thwarted. Balaam, despite being hired to curse Israel, could only bless them because God's will is unshakable. The Bible says in Numbers 23:23, "Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel".* *This is a reminder to us youths that no charm or superstition can have power over our lives when we are under God's protection. True power comes from trusting in God's plans, not in the fleeting allure of charms.* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*Truth sets the soul free.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Choose God's power, not charms.*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Lord, protect me from the deception of charms.*_ Disappointment For Charmers https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday22ndJuly2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [21/07, 8:59 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```WEDNESDAY 22ND JULY, 2026``` *THE LORD BLESSES* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽🙌🏽 📜📜```GENESIS 26:11-14```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him" (Genesis 26:12).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Isaac was a friend of God. The protection of God was on him. Abimelech warned his people who had been disturbing Isaac to stop their wicked activities towards him. This was God's favour on him. Isaac learned to love the Lord from the time he was a young child. He was that boy who willingly gave himself to his father to be offered as a sacrificie to God. God was happy with him and provided a ram from heaven to his father for the burnt offering. The blessing of Abraham passed on to him not just because he was Abraham's son, but because he, personally, loved and obeyed the Lord. God always blesses those children who love and obey Him. Isaac was not slothful or lazy either. Though he inherited covenant blessings from his father, yet, he worked very hard. Our Bible passage confirms that God blessed Isaac more and more. It is not enough to know and quote the promises of God for Him to bless you. If you know all the promises of God in your heart and fold your arms and do not work, the blessings of God's provision may not come. Isaac had all-round blessings. *The same God who promises to make you the head and not the tail, is the same who has warned us not to be slothful in business; but rather, consider the ants who work hard at the right time. As you turn away from that lazy and procrastinating attitude, God will bless all you do.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*Lord, help me to love and obey You, and work hard so that You will bless me.*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *Psalm 1:1-3* The Lord Blesses https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk22ndJuly2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [21/07, 8:59 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA* WEDNESDAY, 22ND JULY, 2026. *EVENTS THAT MUST COME TO PASS* *TEXT:* JOEL 3:14-21. 14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. 15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. 16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. 17 So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more. 18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth out of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim. 19 Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. 20 But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. 21 For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion. *Timeless Truth:* _"Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision"_ (Joel 3:14). *INTRODUCTION* The information of the last days events that must come to pass are scattered in different Books of the Old and the New Testament. None of the prophets gave comprehensive information on any of the subjects except those given by Jesus Christ and John the Beloved on the Island of Patmos. However, combining the revelation of those prophets will give a more comprehensive information of the things that must shortly come to pass. The closing verses of Joel present a prophetic picture of the events that will culminate in God's final judgment and the establishment of His righteous kingdom. These are not uncertain predictions, but divine decrees that must come to pass according to God's eternal purpose. The passage reminds believers that history is moving toward God's appointed climax, where every individual and nation will give an account before Him. Therefore, the wise prepare themselves spiritually, remain faithful and confidently await the fulfilment of God's promises. *1. The Determinate Valley of Decision* a. God created man as a free moral agent and therefore, he is expected to make his decisions and be fully responsible for his decisions. God only gives the needed information and persuades people to choose right and in the light of eternity. He told Israel as He still tells all today, *". I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: ".* Decision always determine destiny. Right and divinely informed decisions will lead to eternal life while carefree and selfish decisions will lead to eternal damnation. In the text, the prophet was made to see far into *"the day of the LORD"* and into the valley of decision. *"Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision..."*. *The day of the LORD* describes the gathering of nations before God's judgment. Decisions are both ways. Man must make His decision before that day when God will make His decision as to what to do with the wicked. The "valley of decision" is where people seal their choices after their decisions and where God pronounces His irreversible verdict. *The day of the LORD* is certain and no sinner will escape His righteous judgment. b. God always gives opportunities for people to make their decision and He also will judge all base on their personal and individual decisions made. While God's grace is available today, the opportunity to repent will not remain forever. Every person must respond to Christ before the day of divine judgment arrives. It was not only Joel that had the vision of impending judgment of nations and individuals. Virtually, most the prophets saw it and it is irreversible. It will happen. *Question* Are you living each day with the consciousness that you will one day stand before God's judgment seat? *2. The Deadly Visions of Destruction* a. Joel portrays terrifying cosmic disturbances: *". The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. "*. This has to do with the event at the Great Tribulation period preceding the Second Coming of Christ. Jesus confirmed it in Matthew 24:21,27-30. These signs reveal the majesty and holiness of God as He judges evil. The wrath of God during the Great Tribulation will be so fearful that *"the heavens and the earth shall shake"*. b. The prophet concentrates on the fate of Israel as a nation during this period. *"The LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel"*. Israel will be protected from the wicked onslaught of the Antichrist. Though the wicked will do wickedly, God's people will find refuge in Him. God's people will always be given shelter, protection and refuge from His wrath and the wickedness of the wicked.The same Lord who shakes heaven and earth is the secure shelter of those who trust Him. His judgment is dreadful for sinners, but comforting for the righteous. God is always our refuge in trouble. *Question* Is the Lord your refuge or are you relying on temporary earthly securities? *3.The Divine Visitations According to Decisions* a. The decisions people make will determine God's response to them. Every decision you make at any instance either draws you closer to God or farther away from God. Be always mindful of your decisions. Egypt and Edom will become desolate during the Millennial reign of Christ *"because they have shed innocent blood in their land"*. It is the opposite of the holy Jerusalem because they will be cleansed of their sins. In the time of the Millennial reign of Christ, there will be abundant prosperity, the visible presence of God and unlimited blessings for the godly. *"The mountains shall drop down......and the hills shall flow with milk"*. God's visitations are consistent with His justice: He rewards faithfulness and judges rebellion. Eternal blessing belongs to those who belong to Him. b. The wicked may appear to prosper and enjoy this world, but their end is regret, sorrow and judgment of God. The righteous may appear to lack and righteousness may not be fashionable in the land, but the righteous will always have the last laugh if they can endure faithfully to the end. *Question* Are your daily decisions leading you toward God's eternal blessings or toward His judgment? *Prayer Points* 1.Lord, help me to live every day in readiness for the coming Day of the Lord and to remain faithful until the end 🙏. 2.Father, be my refuge and strength in every trial and preserve me from the judgments coming upon the world 🙏. 3.Lord, let my decisions always align with Your perfect will so that I will enjoy Your favour and everlasting blessings 🙏. 4.Father, establish Your righteousness in our lives, keep us steadfast in Christ, make and keep us ready for Your glorious kingdom 🙏. *HYMN:* Have you counted the cost *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* EXODUS 20-22. Morning Prayer for today. MP.i. Morning Prayer Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. ⏤ Revelation 3:20 If we would understand the potential power of our homes, we would fall on our knees and ask God to make our homes sanctuaries of peace and love. ⏤ E.M. Bounds Our Father, we thank You for our home. Many people in this great world are homeless and lonely. You have given us a home with many comforts. We are grateful for it and pray that Your blessing may be upon our home life. We thank You, Jesus, that You are willing to be a guest in our home. We remember how You blessed and brought joy to the home in Bethany when You were on earth. May You make our home Your dwelling place, just as You did with Martha and Mary. May Your peace rest upon our home. Help us to make our family life sweet and beautiful, pleasing to You, and comforting to You when You come to stay with us. Let us never grieve You with selfish behavior, quarreling, or strife. Help us to offer You true hospitality, not just within our doors, but also within our hearts. We want to welcome You into every part of our lives, shutting You out of no room—letting You dwell in us fully and completely so that all our life may feel Your influence and be blessed by Your Spirit and love. We want to become like You, and we know we can only do that if You live in our hearts and pour Your grace through every part of our being. As we go out now to face the experiences of this new day, we place our hands in Yours, asking You to lead us and guide us. You have promised that as our days are, so shall our strength be. You know what this day holds for us and what strength we will need; may You provide what we need as each moment comes. We ask for these mercies and favors in Your blessed name, our Savior and Redeemer. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/17/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😀🌺🌹🎁🎀💝 MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY WEDNESDAY JULY 22, 2026. "ENCOURAGEMENT--IT'S A POWERFUL THING" ‘If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging.’  Romans 12:8 NLT MANY A man and woman who quit would have kept going if they had just received a word of encouragement from someone. Encouragement is so vital that the Scriptures rank it up there with gifts like teaching and leadership (Romans 12:6-8). Here are two stories that illustrate the power of encouragement. Story one: Not long ago, the world watched as three grey whales, icebound off Point Barrow, Alaska, floated battered and bloody, gasping for breath at a hole in the ice. The whales’ only hope was to be somehow transported five miles past the ice pack to the open sea. Rescuers began cutting a string of breathing holes about twenty yards apart in the six-inch thick ice. For eight days they painstakingly coaxed the whales from one hole to the next, mile after mile. Along the way, one of the trio vanished and was presumed dead. But finally, with the help of Russian icebreakers, the other two whales, Putu and Siku, swam to freedom. Story two: Jackie Robinson was the first black player in the US to play major league baseball. While breaking baseball’s colour barrier, he faced jeering crowds in every stadium. Playing one day in his home stadium in Brooklyn, he made an error and his own fans began to boo him. As he stood, humiliated, at second base, ‘Pee Wee’ Reese came over and stood next to him. He put his arm around Robinson and they faced the crowd together. The fans grew quiet; the game continued. Robinson later said that arm around his shoulder saved his career! Encouragement—it’s a powerful thing. So who can you encourage today? Bible In A Year: Acts 27-28; Matt11;10-18; Ps42:1-5; Pro 16:16. Courtesy: Grace So Amazing Foundation 🌹🎀 *To partner with us, kindly refer to page 9 of the hard copy edition or simply send us a WhatsApp message/call on +2348128000068.*💝🌹🌷🎀. MD.ii. [21/07, 8:59 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) WEDNESDAY 22ND JULY, 2026``` *DAWNING DAY OF RESTORATION* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽🙌🏽 📜📜```TEXT:JOEL 3:14-21```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim" (JOEL 3:18).*_ *It was in Alfred Tennyson's poem, _The Lotos-Eaters,_ that the following picture of hope is captured:* _*"Courage!" he said, and pointed toward the land,*_ _*"This mounting wave will roll us shoreward soon.*_ _*In the afternoon they came unto a land,*_ _*In which it seemed always afternoon.*_ _*All round the coast the languid air did swoon,*_ _*Breathing like one that hath a weary dream."*_ *The sea-wearied mariners finally found the shore of solace, where they excitedly burst into a joyful chorus:* _*"Our island home is far beyond the wave;*_ _*We will no longer roam."*_ *A day of hope and restoration awaits the Israel of God after the Lord has dealt with their Gentile enemies. Prophet Joel saw in his vision hordes of God's enemies rushing headlong and mindlessly into the 'valley of God's decisive judgment.' A day of divine recompense is yet in the womb of time. Israel should be assured of God's unfailing day of their full restoration to the land promised to them by the Lord. Over many generations, their enemies had enslaved, deprived and vexed them with untempered bitterness. The Assyrians had ill-used them; the Egyptians had abused them; the Babylonians had traduced them; they had suffered untold hardship under the rule of the Medians and the Persians. The Greeks had not spared them too. The Romans had ruthlessly brutalised them and razed down Jerusalem finally in 70 AD.* *However, "weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." These pains and pangs of many centuries under alien nations will soon be over, and a new dawn of peace, prosperity, and divine presence will be in the offing for Israel.* *As it was for the enemies of Israel, so it shall be in the end for the enemies of the church of Christ. In contrast, the future is bright for those who have a cordial relationship with the Lord. People who trust Jesus Christ as their Saviour will never be called into God's judgment court, and they no longer need to fear the storm. Therefore, let the beloved of the Lord take heart and be patient in times of bitter trials, temptations and fierce persecutions. "Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." Like the chorus of the Lotos-Eaters, these mounting waves of trials and temptation shall roll us eventually to the shore of rest!* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*Every adversity confronting God's people bears an expiry date.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *EXODUS 20-22*📜📜 Dawning Day Of Restoration https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 5: NEVER GIVE UP; GHS 7: TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS; AND GHS 30: I'VE ANCHORED IN JESUS* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna22ndJuly2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [21/07, 8:59 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```WEDNESDAY 22ND JULY, 2026``` *DISAPPOINTMENT FOR CHARMERS* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧜🏽‍♂️🧞❌👎🏽🗣️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:NUMBERS 23:19-23```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!" (NUMBERS 23:23).*_ *Lydia, a young lady, was drawn into the world of charms and superstitions, searching for a shortcut to success. She was introduced to a so-called "charmer" who promised wealth and fame; but despite following prescribed ritual processes, her life only became more chaotic. Her relationships suffered, and she felt emptier than ever before.* *One day, after a powerful encounter with God, she realised that true success and peace could never come through charms or quick fixes. She turned away from the illusions of the world and chose to trust in God's plan for her life. "Charms and spells may deceive the heart, but only truth sets the soul free," said Ralph Waldo Emerson.* *In Numbers 23:19-23, we learn that no matter how powerful the charmers or magicians might seem, God's plans cannot be thwarted. Balaam, despite being hired to curse Israel, could only bless them because God's will is unshakable. The Bible says in Numbers 23:23, "Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel".* *This is a reminder to us youths that no charm or superstition can have power over our lives when we are under God's protection. True power comes from trusting in God's plans, not in the fleeting allure of charms.* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*Truth sets the soul free.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Choose God's power, not charms.*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Lord, protect me from the deception of charms.*_ Disappointment For Charmers https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday22ndJuly2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [21/07, 8:59 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```WEDNESDAY 22ND JULY, 2026``` *THE LORD BLESSES* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽🙌🏽 📜📜```GENESIS 26:11-14```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him" (Genesis 26:12).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Isaac was a friend of God. The protection of God was on him. Abimelech warned his people who had been disturbing Isaac to stop their wicked activities towards him. This was God's favour on him. Isaac learned to love the Lord from the time he was a young child. He was that boy who willingly gave himself to his father to be offered as a sacrificie to God. God was happy with him and provided a ram from heaven to his father for the burnt offering. The blessing of Abraham passed on to him not just because he was Abraham's son, but because he, personally, loved and obeyed the Lord. God always blesses those children who love and obey Him. Isaac was not slothful or lazy either. Though he inherited covenant blessings from his father, yet, he worked very hard. Our Bible passage confirms that God blessed Isaac more and more. It is not enough to know and quote the promises of God for Him to bless you. If you know all the promises of God in your heart and fold your arms and do not work, the blessings of God's provision may not come. Isaac had all-round blessings. *The same God who promises to make you the head and not the tail, is the same who has warned us not to be slothful in business; but rather, consider the ants who work hard at the right time. As you turn away from that lazy and procrastinating attitude, God will bless all you do.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*Lord, help me to love and obey You, and work hard so that You will bless me.*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *Psalm 1:1-3* The Lord Blesses https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk22ndJuly2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [21/07, 8:59 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA* WEDNESDAY, 22ND JULY, 2026. *EVENTS THAT MUST COME TO PASS* *TEXT:* JOEL 3:14-21. 14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. 15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. 16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. 17 So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more. 18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth out of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim. 19 Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. 20 But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. 21 For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion. *Timeless Truth:* _"Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision"_ (Joel 3:14). *INTRODUCTION* The information of the last days events that must come to pass are scattered in different Books of the Old and the New Testament. None of the prophets gave comprehensive information on any of the subjects except those given by Jesus Christ and John the Beloved on the Island of Patmos. However, combining the revelation of those prophets will give a more comprehensive information of the things that must shortly come to pass. The closing verses of Joel present a prophetic picture of the events that will culminate in God's final judgment and the establishment of His righteous kingdom. These are not uncertain predictions, but divine decrees that must come to pass according to God's eternal purpose. The passage reminds believers that history is moving toward God's appointed climax, where every individual and nation will give an account before Him. Therefore, the wise prepare themselves spiritually, remain faithful and confidently await the fulfilment of God's promises. *1. The Determinate Valley of Decision* a. God created man as a free moral agent and therefore, he is expected to make his decisions and be fully responsible for his decisions. God only gives the needed information and persuades people to choose right and in the light of eternity. He told Israel as He still tells all today, *". I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: ".* Decision always determine destiny. Right and divinely informed decisions will lead to eternal life while carefree and selfish decisions will lead to eternal damnation. In the text, the prophet was made to see far into *"the day of the LORD"* and into the valley of decision. *"Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision..."*. *The day of the LORD* describes the gathering of nations before God's judgment. Decisions are both ways. Man must make His decision before that day when God will make His decision as to what to do with the wicked. The "valley of decision" is where people seal their choices after their decisions and where God pronounces His irreversible verdict. *The day of the LORD* is certain and no sinner will escape His righteous judgment. b. God always gives opportunities for people to make their decision and He also will judge all base on their personal and individual decisions made. While God's grace is available today, the opportunity to repent will not remain forever. Every person must respond to Christ before the day of divine judgment arrives. It was not only Joel that had the vision of impending judgment of nations and individuals. Virtually, most the prophets saw it and it is irreversible. It will happen. *Question* Are you living each day with the consciousness that you will one day stand before God's judgment seat? *2. The Deadly Visions of Destruction* a. Joel portrays terrifying cosmic disturbances: *". The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. "*. This has to do with the event at the Great Tribulation period preceding the Second Coming of Christ. Jesus confirmed it in Matthew 24:21,27-30. These signs reveal the majesty and holiness of God as He judges evil. The wrath of God during the Great Tribulation will be so fearful that *"the heavens and the earth shall shake"*. b. The prophet concentrates on the fate of Israel as a nation during this period. *"The LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel"*. Israel will be protected from the wicked onslaught of the Antichrist. Though the wicked will do wickedly, God's people will find refuge in Him. God's people will always be given shelter, protection and refuge from His wrath and the wickedness of the wicked.The same Lord who shakes heaven and earth is the secure shelter of those who trust Him. His judgment is dreadful for sinners, but comforting for the righteous. God is always our refuge in trouble. *Question* Is the Lord your refuge or are you relying on temporary earthly securities? *3.The Divine Visitations According to Decisions* a. The decisions people make will determine God's response to them. Every decision you make at any instance either draws you closer to God or farther away from God. Be always mindful of your decisions. Egypt and Edom will become desolate during the Millennial reign of Christ *"because they have shed innocent blood in their land"*. It is the opposite of the holy Jerusalem because they will be cleansed of their sins. In the time of the Millennial reign of Christ, there will be abundant prosperity, the visible presence of God and unlimited blessings for the godly. *"The mountains shall drop down......and the hills shall flow with milk"*. God's visitations are consistent with His justice: He rewards faithfulness and judges rebellion. Eternal blessing belongs to those who belong to Him. b. The wicked may appear to prosper and enjoy this world, but their end is regret, sorrow and judgment of God. The righteous may appear to lack and righteousness may not be fashionable in the land, but the righteous will always have the last laugh if they can endure faithfully to the end. *Question* Are your daily decisions leading you toward God's eternal blessings or toward His judgment? *Prayer Points* 1.Lord, help me to live every day in readiness for the coming Day of the Lord and to remain faithful until the end 🙏. 2.Father, be my refuge and strength in every trial and preserve me from the judgments coming upon the world 🙏. 3.Lord, let my decisions always align with Your perfect will so that I will enjoy Your favour and everlasting blessings 🙏. 4.Father, establish Your righteousness in our lives, keep us steadfast in Christ, make and keep us ready for Your glorious kingdom 🙏. *HYMN:* Have you counted the cost *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* EXODUS 20-22. Morning Prayer for today. MP.i. Morning Prayer Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. ⏤ Revelation 3:20 If we would understand the potential power of our homes, we would fall on our knees and ask God to make our homes sanctuaries of peace and love. ⏤ E.M. Bounds Our Father, we thank You for our home. Many people in this great world are homeless and lonely. You have given us a home with many comforts. We are grateful for it and pray that Your blessing may be upon our home life. We thank You, Jesus, that You are willing to be a guest in our home. We remember how You blessed and brought joy to the home in Bethany when You were on earth. May You make our home Your dwelling place, just as You did with Martha and Mary. May Your peace rest upon our home. Help us to make our family life sweet and beautiful, pleasing to You, and comforting to You when You come to stay with us. Let us never grieve You with selfish behavior, quarreling, or strife. Help us to offer You true hospitality, not just within our doors, but also within our hearts. We want to welcome You into every part of our lives, shutting You out of no room—letting You dwell in us fully and completely so that all our life may feel Your influence and be blessed by Your Spirit and love. We want to become like You, and we know we can only do that if You live in our hearts and pour Your grace through every part of our being. As we go out now to face the experiences of this new day, we place our hands in Yours, asking You to lead us and guide us. You have promised that as our days are, so shall our strength be. You know what this day holds for us and what strength we will need; may You provide what we need as each moment comes. We ask for these mercies and favors in Your blessed name, our Savior and Redeemer. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/17/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

Do Not Fear Or Be Afraid Joshua 8:1-1 Samuel 4:22 NKJV Joshua 8:1-2 Now the LORD said to Joshua; "Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai, See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and hid land, "And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king. Only its spoil and its cattle you shall take as booty for yourselves, Lay an ambush for the city behind it." Joshua 10:8 And the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you." Joshua 10:24-25 So it was, when they brought out those kings to Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the captains of the men of war who went with him, "Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings." And they drew near and put their feet of their necks. Then Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage, for thus the LORD will do to all your enemies against whom you fight." Judges 4:17-22 However, Sisera had fled away of foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite; for there was peace between Jabin king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said to him, "Turn aside, my lord, turn aside to me; do not fear." And when he had turned aside with her into the tent, she covered him with a blanket. then he said to her, "Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty." So she opened a jug of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him. And he said to her, "Stand at the door of the tent, and if any man comes and inquires of you, and says, 'Is there any man here?' you shall say, 'NO.'" Then Jael, Heber's wife, took a tent peg and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went down into the ground; for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. And then, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said to him, "Come, I will show you the man whom you seek." And when he went into her tent, there lay Sisera, dead with the peg in is temple. Judges 6:21-24 Then the Angel of the LORD put out the end of the staff that was in His hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and fire rose out of the rock, and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread, And the Angel of the LORD departed out of his sight. Now Gideon perceived that He was the Angel of the LORD. So Gideon said, "Alas, O Lord GOD! For I have seen the Angel of the LORD face to face." Then the LORD said to him, "Peace be with you; do not fear, you shall not die." So Gideon built an altar there to the LORD, and called it THE-LORD-Is-Peace. To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. Judges 7:9-11 It happened on the same night that the LORD said to him, "Arise, go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand. "But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant. "and you shall hear what they say; and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp."Then he went down with Purah his servant to the outpost of the armed men who were in the camp. Judges 9:16-21 "Now therefore, if you have acted in truth and sincerity in making Abimelech king, and if your have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him as he deserves-- "for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian; "but you have risen up against my father's house this day, and killed his seventy sons on one stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother-- "if then you have acted in truth and sincerity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. "But if not, let fire come from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and Beth Millo; and let fire come from Beth Millo and devour Abimelech!" And Jonathan ran away and fled; and he went to Beer and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother. Ruth 3:10-11 Then he said, "Blessed are you of the LORD, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men whether poor or rich. "And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman. 1 Samuel 4:19-22 Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, due to be delivered; and when she heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and gave birth, for her labor pains came upon her. And about the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, Do not fear, for you have borne a son." But she did not answer, nor did she regard it. Then she named the child Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel!" because the ark of God had been captured and because her father-in-law and her husband. And she said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured."

Psalm 34 Taste and See That the Lord Is Good Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away. I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Daily devotion for June 19th Old Natures Never Die And Abimelech asked Abraham, What was your reason for doing this? Genesis 20:10 Has anyone had to say to you, As a Christian, what were you thinking of when you did this thing? Have you ever had to say it to yourself: What got into me anyway? I thought I was further along in the Christian life than this. Here I have done this thing that I thought had long ago passed out of my life. Whatever got into me? If you have ever had to ask yourself that, you need to learn the lesson Abraham had to learn here. You are still capable of the worst sin that you have ever committed—and more. Abraham has been a coward for thirty years, and he is still capable of being the same coward he was at the beginning, hiding behind his wife, subjecting her to dishonor and disgrace and shame in order to protect his own skin. This old nature with which we are born, which is perverted and twisted so that it never operates as God intended it to, is totally depraved. That does not mean that it cannot do what appears to be nice things in the eyes of others and even of ourselves. There is something about the old self, the flesh, which is able to simulate righteousness. In the flesh's pursuit after pseudorighteousness, even if it succeeds in an outward demonstration of a sweet and lovely nature, it has never achieved anything but self-righteousness. Self-righteousness always demands self-praise, a longing to be admired and to win the attention of others. If you fail in your pursuit of self-righteousness, the result is self-pity. Either way, it is the flesh, and it can never please God. This is why when God comes into the human heart through Christ, He never tries to do anything about cleaning up that old nature. He writes it off as worthless. No matter how it looks in the eyes of others, if it comes from the self-advancing, self-centered core, it is worthless, and it always will be. What you now are in the flesh you always will be, if you live a hundred years. If you lay hold of that concept, you will find it one of the most encouraging truths in your Christian life, because it will release you from that awful burden of self-effort that tries to make the old nature behave itself. You must renounce self as the Word of God tells you to and quit feeding it, protecting it, polishing it up, trying to make it look good. Give it up. Accept all that Jesus Christ is in you and wants to be through you, for His nature is perfect. Any dependence upon self always results in the kind of experience that Abraham had. After thirty years of walking with God and learning wonderful lessons in the spiritual life, the minute he steps out of a dependence upon God, he steps back into that same ugly nature he had in the beginning, and it is unchanged after thirty years. Old natures have to be kept under control by walking in the Spirit. Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature, Paul tells us (Galatians 5:16). Father, You have not called me to improve myself. Help me to recognize what I am, that in myself I can never be good enough, and to appropriate all that Christ can be to me and through me, for His life is satisfying to You.

Abraham hadn't always done things right. His righteousness, his right standing with God, wasn't based in his performance though; it was based in his faith (Romans 4:3-9). In Genesis 12:10-20, we read that Abraham had made a crooked deal with an unsuspecting ruler in Egypt. However, despite his wrong doing, he ended up blessed with more wealth. Abraham lying to a foreign king wouldn’t be the last time either. Look at Genesis 20:1-2 NASB, "Now Abraham journeyed from there toward the land of the Negev, and settled between Kadesh and Shur; then he lived for a time in Gerar. [2] And Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar sent men and took Sarah." We learn then that Abimelech acted based on what he knew, and that knowledge was based in a lie told by both Abraham and Sarah. Did God punish Abraham? No, he scolds Abimelech. Genesis 20:3 NASB, "But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is married.” Abimelech defended himself. Genesis 20:4-5 NASB, "Now Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, will You kill a nation, even though blameless? [5] Did he himself not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.” The king tried to convince the Lord that not only was he innocent in this matter, he had acted with integrity of intentions. Abimelech didn't have the best motives though. Despite all of what he already had, he desired to have Sarah too. Genesis 20:6-7 NASB, "Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also kept you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her. [7] Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, know that you will certainly die, you and all who are yours.” Look at that. Wow! God told Abimelech that Abraham’s prayers could save him. Abraham had done wrong, but he believed right! He had believed God. After doing wrong, Abrham’s prayers would still be answered. How God responded to Abrham was not based in his doing things right. God blessed Abrham because he believed right. The next morning Abimelech said that if there was anyone to be blamed for sin it would be Abraham. He knew it, his people knew it, Sarah knew it, and Abrham knew it too. The fault was obviously Abraham’s. God didn’t condemn Abrham though. Abrham’s sins were not being held against him. Despite any wrongs Abraham did, he was viewed as righteous to God and didn’t lose favor with God. Abraham enjoyed favor with God he didn't deserve. Abimelech pointed out Abraham’s sin. Notice how the world will still try to point out our sins. The devil would love us to be mindful of our sins, because then we can come under condemnation. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫. Always remember though what we are told in Romans 8:1, "Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus." Don’t live in condemnation. Be free in Jesus’ name! The devil wants us to be sin conscious rather than righteousness conscious. Don’t focus on your short comings … we all fall short … focus on your right standing. Let them all point out your sins but remember that you are covered under grace by the blood of the Lamb. Genesis 20:14-18 ends the story for us by recounting the wealth Abimelech gave Abraham as bribery to be set free from any curse brought on the king and his people. As a result of Abraham’s deceit, he didn’t get into any trouble. He actually received more blessings. Abraham became richer. Not only did the Lord bless Abraham more, he blessed Abimelech with children because of Abrham’s prayers. Abraham prayed, and God let them start having children again. Remember that even though Abraham made mistakes, he still enjoyed God’s favor and the Lord never rebuked him. Instead of rebuking Abraham or convicting Abraham of his sins, the Lord rebuked others caught up in the whole mess Abraham created. Why? Obviously, it wasn’t because of anything right Abraham was “doing.” It was because of believing right. We see this in Genesis 15:6 AMP, where it says, “And he [Abram] believed in (trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast to) the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness (right standing with God).” You see? Abraham had right-standing with God despite his mistakes, because his righteousness wasn’t performance based. It was faith based.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: SATURDAY 23RD MAY 2026 TOPIC: SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED, PART 2 MEMORIZE: "Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;" Psalm 13:3 (KJV) BIBLE READING: JUDGES 16:19-21 "19 And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. 20 And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him. 21 But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house." MESSAGE: There was once a young man who was the secretary of a cult group at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in South-West Nigeria. One day, he gave his life to Christ and decided to leave the cult. Immediately, the other cult members decided to kill him because he knew their secrets. One night, after arriving in his hostel from the library, he was very tired, so he said a quick prayer and got on his bed to sleep. As he lay on his bed, the Holy Spirit nudged him to get up and pray. He got on his knees, said another short prayer, and tried to sleep again. However, he got another nudge to pray, and he just thought to himself, “Well, let me pray just as God wants.” He did so, and as he got up from his knees, he saw a huge demon with charms all over its body walk into his room, even though the door was locked. The demon made its way towards him, and he immediately started rebuking it in Jesus’ name. Slowly, the demon retreated from the room. When he told me about the incident, I asked him, “Are you sure you weren’t dreaming?” He replied, “I’d have thought I was dreaming too; however, because of how I shouted when rebuking the demon, my roommate moved on his bed, and as he did so, his leg touched the demon as it retreated. My roommate’s leg, which touched the demon, swelled to three times its normal size, and he spent a year treating it.” Being spiritually discerning can be the difference between life and death. As we read in Balaam’s story yesterday, disobedience to God’s instructions can prevent a Christian from discerning spiritual things. Are there instructions the Lord has given you to follow? Don’t try to negotiate your way out of complete obedience to Him. Always obey God’s instructions, because it will make your heart more sensitive to hearing Him. Toying with sin will make a believer become spiritually dull. Samson didn’t know when his hair was cut because sin had made him spiritually dull. He was fast asleep and didn’t know that he was in trouble until Delilah woke him up. When he awoke, he wanted to fight the Philistines as he had always done, but he was unaware that God had left him. Beloved, flee disobedience and sin so that you will remain spiritually discerning. May you not become spiritually insensitive and sleep the sleep of death, in Jesus’ name. PRAYER POINT: Father, please help me to obey You at all times so I never become spiritually insensitive BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR: NEHEMIAH 8-10 AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE HYMNAL 30: WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD 1. When we walk with the Lord, In the light of His word, What a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey. CHORUS: Trust and obey! For there's no other way To be happy in Jesus, But to trust and obey. 2. Not a shadow can rise, Not a cloud in the skies, But His smile quickly drives it away; Not a doubt nor a fear, Not a sigh nor a tear, Can abide while we trust and obey. CHORUS: 3. Not a burden we bear, Not a sorrow we share But our toil He doth richly repay; . Not a grief nor a loss, Not a frown nor a cross, But is blest if we trust and obey. CHORUS: 4. But we never can prove the delights of His love, until all on the altar we lay, For the favour He shows And the joy He bestows Are for them who will trust and obey. CHORUS: 5. Then in fellowship sweet We will sit at His feet, Or we'll walk by His side in the way, What He says we will do, Where He sends we will go, Never fear, only trust and obey. CHORUS: PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL. Saturday 23rd May, 2026 SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED 2 ‎ ‎PRAYER POINTS ‎✓Father, thank You for the guidance of the Holy Spirit on a daily basis, and thank You for the gift of the discernment of spirits. ‎ ‎✓Father, thank You for the salvation of my soul and for Your power at work in my life. Thank You for the seal of the Holy Spirit upon my life and family. ‎ ‎✓Father, please help me to be sensitive to the promptness of the Holy Spirit. Quicken me by the help of the Holy Spirit so I never grieve Him but to do as You want me to, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, please help me to be spiritually discerned at all times so I won't fall a victim of demonic attacks. Help me to obey Your instructions completely without delay, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, please please help me not to toy with sin or try to negotiate my way out of complete obedience to You, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, please help me never to indulge in secret sin nor partake in any unrighteous works of darkness that may render me spiritual dull, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, please do not take Your presence away from me, help me to spiritually discern to know when to run for escape during temptations, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, please may I be cautious of Your presence at all times; help me to guard my heart against the pollution of sin and the corruption of this world, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, please may I not be spiritually insensitive and sleep the sleep of death, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, please help me to obey You at all times so I never become spiritually insensitive, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, thank You for the life of Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye. ‎ ‎Sharpen his discernment daily and help him to continually obey Your command instantly, in Jesus' name. Bless his children (biological and spiritual). Help him to continue to produce sons and daughters to Your glory, in Jesus name ‎ ‎✓Father, please bless Your son that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, beyond measure, and all those who have been broadcasting them, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, please let every challenge, hindrance and obstacles of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus name. ‎ ‎✓Your personal petitions. ‎(Philippians 4:6) ‎ ‎✓In Jesus name I pray. ‎(John 14:13-14; 15:16) ‎ ‎#Godblessournation OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: SUNDAY 24TH MAY 2026 TOPIC: SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED, PART 3 MEMORIZE: "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." Isaiah 30:21 (KJV) BIBLE READING: GENESIS 26:1-6 1 And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. 2 And the Lord appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: 3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; 4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; 5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. 6 And Isaac dwelt in Gerar: MESSAGE: Spiritual discernment is crucial for every Christian, especially when making critical life decisions such as choosing a marriage partner, where to live, and who to associate with. Some Christians have married evil people disguised as angels of light because they lacked spiritual discernment. They embraced Jezebels and Nabals - idolatrous and foolish people who can lead them astray and ruin their lives. Believers need God's direction to know the right people to marry. For example, when Abraham wanted to choose a wife for Isaac, he gave his servant specific instructions about the type of woman who would be suitable for his son and fit to partake in the covenant God had made with him (Genesis 24:1-8). He told his servant to go to his country and kindred to take a wife for Isaac. This is the first criterion for a Christian's choice in marriage; he or she must marry a fellow Christian because our country as believers is heaven. Some believers have disregarded this criterion to their detriment. Apart from a believer ensuring that whoever he or she wants to get married to is a Christian, it is also crucial to ask God to show him or her the right person among His numerous children. Some Christian ladies have been carried away by a suitor's charisma, so they didn't ask God if he was a suitable spouse for them or not. Likewise, some Christian men have allowed a lady's commitment in church to blind them to what God is saying about her character. When it comes to the issue of marriage, a believer cannot afford to be carried away by external things and miss the Holy Spirit's direction. If you are still single, I pray that you will allow the Lord, and not your emotions, physical preferences, or human calculations, to guide you in your choice of a marriage partner, in Jesus' name. Where to live is another crucial decision that requires spiritual discernment. In Genesis 13:10-13, Lot didn't inquire from God before choosing to pitch his tent towards Sodom. He found himself in the midst of sinners and wicked people, and eventually, he lost his home when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of the sins of their inhabitants. Only spiritually discerning people will know whether God wants them to relocate or not, and where to relocate to. Beloved, don't make critical life decisions based solely on your judgment and understanding. Seek God's counsel and remain spiritually discerning to know what He wants you to do. PRAYER POINT: Lord, please help me not to be insensitive to Your guidance. BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR: NEHEMIAH 11 - 13 AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE HYMNAL 28 - GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH 1. Guide me, 0 Thou Great Jehovah Pilgrim through this barren land; I am weak, but Thou art mighty, Hold me with Thy powerful hand: Bread of heaven! Bread of heaven! Feed me now and evermore (2ce). 2. Open Thou the crystal fountain, Whence the healing stream doth flow: Let the fiery, cloudy pillar Lead me all my journey through: Song deliverer! Song deliverer! Be Thou still my strength and shield (2ce). 3. If I tread the verge of Jordan, Bid my anxious fears subside: Bear me through the swelling torrent, Land me safe on Canaan's side: Songs of praises! Songs of praises! I will ever give to Thee (2ce). 4. Saviour, come! We long to see thee, long to dwell with thee above and to know in full communion, all the sweetness of Thy love. Come, Lord Jesus! Come, Lord Jesus! Take thy waiting people home (2ce).