• One failing of the American church today - there are surely others as well, but I'm going to focus on this one - is the lack of connection. The book of Acts tells us that the church met daily. House to house. Breaking bread. Of course with fellowship, and that would mean mutual support.

    Now that does not mean we have to meet together every day. Nor does it mean that we must go from house to house. Our modern culture and society is different. And that's ok. We don't have to copy, to the detail, the methods of that time.

    But the spirit of the idea should remain the same. But when the normal for us is to show up three minuets before the beginning of the Sunday morning service, and be in our cars driving away three minutes after the final benediction, we're never going to have connection with our fellow believers. You can't offer a quick handshake and a "how are you doing?" and a "good to see you," as we pass on down the aisle toward our own seat, and call that "being friendly."

    You could do that every Sunday morning for years and never actually know the other person. Some of us remember when after Sunday morning church, we'd either invite someone to come have dinner at our house, or have someone invite us to theirs. It is over a meal that you get to know the person. What is that person, or that family going through right now? What might be the struggles they're dealing with?

    But we seem to live in a time when nobody wants to know anything about our neighbor. That person, or that family who sits in the pew in front of us, or behind us. And we don't want anyone else to know about us either. Certainly not know our business. But that's not the accurate definition of a "body of Believers."

    So what are we going to do to change that? Or would we rather keep it as it is. It's more tidy that way, we believe, and that's the way we seem to like it. But that is not the way of the church.
    One failing of the American church today - there are surely others as well, but I'm going to focus on this one - is the lack of connection. The book of Acts tells us that the church met daily. House to house. Breaking bread. Of course with fellowship, and that would mean mutual support. Now that does not mean we have to meet together every day. Nor does it mean that we must go from house to house. Our modern culture and society is different. And that's ok. We don't have to copy, to the detail, the methods of that time. But the spirit of the idea should remain the same. But when the normal for us is to show up three minuets before the beginning of the Sunday morning service, and be in our cars driving away three minutes after the final benediction, we're never going to have connection with our fellow believers. You can't offer a quick handshake and a "how are you doing?" and a "good to see you," as we pass on down the aisle toward our own seat, and call that "being friendly." You could do that every Sunday morning for years and never actually know the other person. Some of us remember when after Sunday morning church, we'd either invite someone to come have dinner at our house, or have someone invite us to theirs. It is over a meal that you get to know the person. What is that person, or that family going through right now? What might be the struggles they're dealing with? But we seem to live in a time when nobody wants to know anything about our neighbor. That person, or that family who sits in the pew in front of us, or behind us. And we don't want anyone else to know about us either. Certainly not know our business. But that's not the accurate definition of a "body of Believers." So what are we going to do to change that? Or would we rather keep it as it is. It's more tidy that way, we believe, and that's the way we seem to like it. But that is not the way of the church.
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  • Today's #photo: does this qualify for the title of "morning glory"? https://wp.me/p2ccTX-39H #NotAI #canada #nature #photography
    (Click/tap the link or picture to see the entire scene AND get a link to the COLOUR version.)
    Today's #photo: does this qualify for the title of "morning glory"? https://wp.me/p2ccTX-39H #NotAI #canada #nature #photography (Click/tap the link or picture to see the entire scene AND get a link to the COLOUR version.)
    WP.ME
    Natural landscapes: morning glory!
    SUNRISE LIGHT, BANFF NATIONAL PARK, ALBERTA Herbert Lake, near Lake Louise, offers amazing views of the the peaks to the west. The best time to photograph this is early morning, so I arrived when t…
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  • A life without Christ is full of crisis — but a life surrendered to Him is full of victory.

    In this powerful word for July, I share biblical keys to overcome sin, walk in victory, and let the Holy Spirit take full control of your life. If you've been struggling, this message will minister directly to your spirit.

    In this video:
    Why a life without Christ is a life in crisis
    Biblical keys to overcome sin and temptation
    How to let the Holy Spirit rule and influence your decisions
    The power of studying and meditating on God's Word daily

    If you've never given your life to Jesus, or you want to rededicate your life to Him, stay tuned — I'll be leading a simple prayer of faith in the next part of this series.

    Scriptures referenced: 2 Corinthians 5:21
    Psalm 107:20

    Part of my "Prophetic Prayers and Declarations for July" series. Watch Part 1 here:
    https://youtube.com/shorts/XlnhiXGT_SY?si=mBXL8zpnQemrzokl

    Subscribe for daily prophetic prayers, declarations, and life-transforming words.
    Share this with someone who needs to hear it today.

    #GiveYourLifeToChrist #OvercomeSin #VictoriousLiving #HolySpirit #PropheticPrayer #JulyDeclarations #ChristianMotivation #BornAgain #WordOfGod #FaithOverFear #ChristianTikTok #GodsWord #DailyDevotion

    https://youtube.com/shorts/4f8I7r6yPVw?si=Bjx9pBtVJjmy6clV
    A life without Christ is full of crisis — but a life surrendered to Him is full of victory. 🙏🔥 In this powerful word for July, I share biblical keys to overcome sin, walk in victory, and let the Holy Spirit take full control of your life. If you've been struggling, this message will minister directly to your spirit. In this video: ✅ Why a life without Christ is a life in crisis ✅ Biblical keys to overcome sin and temptation ✅ How to let the Holy Spirit rule and influence your decisions ✅ The power of studying and meditating on God's Word daily If you've never given your life to Jesus, or you want to rededicate your life to Him, stay tuned — I'll be leading a simple prayer of faith in the next part of this series. 📖 Scriptures referenced: 2 Corinthians 5:21 Psalm 107:20 👉 Part of my "Prophetic Prayers and Declarations for July" series. Watch Part 1 here: https://youtube.com/shorts/XlnhiXGT_SY?si=mBXL8zpnQemrzokl 🔔 Subscribe for daily prophetic prayers, declarations, and life-transforming words. 📌 Share this with someone who needs to hear it today. #GiveYourLifeToChrist #OvercomeSin #VictoriousLiving #HolySpirit #PropheticPrayer #JulyDeclarations #ChristianMotivation #BornAgain #WordOfGod #FaithOverFear #ChristianTikTok #GodsWord #DailyDevotion https://youtube.com/shorts/4f8I7r6yPVw?si=Bjx9pBtVJjmy6clV
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  • Dear Media Artist... Do you know the Real Strength behind your Ministry? "

    You hold the Camera...
    But Mom is Praying...

    Today...Say Thank You... to Your Parents,
    Pray Together!

    Does this Post speak to someone?
    Tag them!
    Share it!

    WhatsApp: +91 8667481972
    christianmediaartist.com

    Join us for Daily Updates:
    https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAUcNLFCCoekVvWrw18
    DM / WhatsApp : +91 8667481972


    #ChristianMediaArtist #MomsPrayer #DadsDedication #CMAcommunity #MediaMinistry #ChristianParents #TamilChristian #TamilMinistry #TamilGospel #ChristianCreator #GodlyContent #TamilChristianReel #Exodus2012 #HonorYourParents #ChristianFamily #GodsGlory #TamilBelievers #ChristianYouth #ArtForGod #RealStrength #DigitalMinistry #KingdomImpact #ParentsPray #BehindEveryArtist #FamilyMinistry
    Dear Media Artist... Do you know the Real Strength behind your Ministry? 🙏✝️" You hold the Camera... But Mom is Praying...💔🔥 Today...Say Thank You... to Your Parents, Pray Together! 🙏🔥🙌 Does this Post speak to someone? 🤔 Tag them! 🏷️ Share it! 🔄 📞 WhatsApp: +91 8667481972 🌐 christianmediaartist.com 📲 Join us for Daily Updates: 👉 https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAUcNLFCCoekVvWrw18 📩 DM / WhatsApp : +91 8667481972 📞💬 #ChristianMediaArtist #MomsPrayer #DadsDedication #CMAcommunity #MediaMinistry #ChristianParents #TamilChristian #TamilMinistry #TamilGospel #ChristianCreator #GodlyContent #TamilChristianReel #Exodus2012 #HonorYourParents #ChristianFamily #GodsGlory #TamilBelievers #ChristianYouth #ArtForGod #RealStrength #DigitalMinistry #KingdomImpact #ParentsPray #BehindEveryArtist #FamilyMinistry
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  • A FAITH FIGHT

    1 TIMOTHY 6:12 NRS 12 Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

    Too many people have the idea that if something is God's will for them to have that it will just automatically happen without any effort or involvement on their part.

    Not so!

    We have to cooperate with God. We must believe what He says. We must resist doubt and fear. To walk in the fullness of blessing God desires for us, we must fight the good fight of faith.

    Israel was our example.

    1 CORINTHIANS 10:11 NRS 11 These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come.

    They had to fight the giants in the land to possess what God said was already theirs. The promised land belonged to them already because God had given it to them. But it was still inhabited by others (including giants), who had to be driven out before they could enjoy what was theirs.

    Since the Bible talks about the "good fight of faith," you know that standing in faith may often involve a struggle.

    There is a reason the Bible tells us to hold fast our confession of faith (Hebrews 4:14, 10:23). God knew we would be tempted to doubt because of the circumstances we would see in our lives.

    God knew that faith would be a struggle.

    So we should not be surprised at the fiery trials that happen to us. The devil is trying to steal our faith by trying to get us to doubt God's faithfulness to His Word.

    1 PETER 4:12 NRS 12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

    We may have to fight with our own logic. It may tell us it is impossible for things to work out, that God's Word will not work for us, that we should not expect good things to happen to us.

    But victory in and through Jesus is the plan of God. It is possible. We must continue in faith. That is the fight we must engage in.

    SAY THIS: I will maintain my faith in God's Word no matter what life throws at me. I will do whatever it takes to maintain my faith in God.

    God bless you!
    A FAITH FIGHT 1 TIMOTHY 6:12 NRS 12 Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. Too many people have the idea that if something is God's will for them to have that it will just automatically happen without any effort or involvement on their part. Not so! We have to cooperate with God. We must believe what He says. We must resist doubt and fear. To walk in the fullness of blessing God desires for us, we must fight the good fight of faith. Israel was our example. 1 CORINTHIANS 10:11 NRS 11 These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. They had to fight the giants in the land to possess what God said was already theirs. The promised land belonged to them already because God had given it to them. But it was still inhabited by others (including giants), who had to be driven out before they could enjoy what was theirs. Since the Bible talks about the "good fight of faith," you know that standing in faith may often involve a struggle. There is a reason the Bible tells us to hold fast our confession of faith (Hebrews 4:14, 10:23). God knew we would be tempted to doubt because of the circumstances we would see in our lives. God knew that faith would be a struggle. So we should not be surprised at the fiery trials that happen to us. The devil is trying to steal our faith by trying to get us to doubt God's faithfulness to His Word. 1 PETER 4:12 NRS 12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. We may have to fight with our own logic. It may tell us it is impossible for things to work out, that God's Word will not work for us, that we should not expect good things to happen to us. But victory in and through Jesus is the plan of God. It is possible. We must continue in faith. That is the fight we must engage in. SAY THIS: I will maintain my faith in God's Word no matter what life throws at me. I will do whatever it takes to maintain my faith in God. God bless you!
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  • Blessings Brethren! Did you miss our Sunday Service yesterday (8/23/26)? Check out part of the Sermon Excerpt by Pastor Leon on "The Power of Wordless Evangelism: Let Your Life Speak"

    1 Thessalonians 1:7-8

    Also, please continue to read the remainder of the excerpt.
    Blessings Brethren! Did you miss our Sunday Service yesterday (8/23/26)? Check out part of the Sermon Excerpt by Pastor Leon on "The Power of Wordless Evangelism: Let Your Life Speak" 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8 Also, please continue to read the remainder of the excerpt.
    0 Comentários 1 Compartilhamentos 49 Visualizações
  • TODAY'S KINGDOM INSIGHTS:

    SERMON TOPIC:

    HOW CAN YOU PRAY SO THAT GOD HEARS YOU?

    Main Text: Psalm 66:18–20; 1 John 5:14–15
    Supporting Texts: Matthew 6:5–13; James 5:16; Proverbs 15:29; Mark 11:24–25

    GOD IS STILL LISTENING.

    One of the deepest questions a believer can ask is:
    “When I pray, does God really hear me?”
    You may have prayed for months and seen no answer. You may have cried in secret, knelt beside your bed, prayed in church, prayed while travelling, prayed when nobody knew what you were going through—and still wondered, “God, are You hearing me?”
    Here is the good news:
    God hears prayer.
    But the Bible also teaches us that there is a way to approach God in prayer.
    Prayer is not merely talking loudly.
    Prayer is not using many religious words.
    Prayer is not trying to manipulate God.
    Prayer is fellowship with the Father.
    Jesus said:
    «“Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” — Matthew 6:8»
    So the question is not simply, “How much do I pray?”
    The deeper question is:
    “How do I position my heart when I pray?”
    1. PRAY WITH A SINCERE AND HUMBLE HEART
    God is not impressed by religious performance. He looks at the heart.
    Psalm 51:17 says:
    «“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart…”»
    David understood something important: God values the condition of the heart more than the appearance of the prayer.
    You can pray beautiful words with a proud heart and miss the heart of prayer.
    But you can come before God with tears, weakness, and simple words and experience His presence.

    Jesus' illustration

    In Luke 18:9–14, Jesus told the story of two men who went to the temple to pray.
    One was a Pharisee. He boasted about himself.
    The other was a tax collector. He simply cried:
    «“God be merciful to me a sinner.” — Luke 18:13»
    Jesus said the humble man went home justified.

    Spiritual lesson

    God is not looking for impressive prayers; He is looking for surrendered hearts.
    Come to God honestly.
    If you are hurting, tell Him.
    If you are confused, tell Him.
    If you have failed, confess it.
    If you are afraid, tell Him.
    Prayer begins when pretending ends.
    2. PRAY WITH FAITH
    James 1:6 says:
    «“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.”»
    Faith does not mean that you dictate to God what He must do.
    Faith means that you trust who God is, even when you do not understand what He is doing.
    Mark 11:24 says:
    «“What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”»
    Faith says:
    “Father, I believe You are able.”
    And when the answer does not come immediately:
    “Father, I still trust You.”
    Faith does not disappear because the answer is delayed.
    Remember the three possible answers to prayer:

    YES — God grants the request.

    WAIT — God is working, but the timing is different.

    NO — God knows something you do not know.
    A “no” from God is not proof that God has abandoned you.
    Sometimes God's refusal is protection.
    Sometimes His delay is preparation.
    Sometimes His silence is developing your spiritual maturity.
    3. PRAY ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL
    One of the most powerful scriptures on prayer is:
    «“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.” — 1 John 5:14»
    Notice the words:
    “According to His will.”
    Prayer is not about making God's will submit to ours.
    Prayer is about bringing our desires into alignment with God's will.
    Jesus demonstrated this in Gethsemane.
    He prayed:
    «“Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” — Luke 22:42»
    Jesus was facing the cross, yet He surrendered to the Father's will.
    That is mature prayer.
    A child may say:
    “God, give me what I want.”
    But spiritual maturity says:
    “God, give me what You know is best.”
    A powerful prayer to learn:
    “Lord, if this desire is from You, establish it. If it is not from You, remove it. And if I must wait, give me grace to wait.”
    4. DEAL WITH UNFORGIVENESS AND SIN

    We must be careful here.

    The Bible does not teach that every unanswered prayer means a person has committed some hidden sin.
    Job suffered greatly without being guilty of the accusations brought against him.
    However, Scripture clearly teaches that deliberate, unrepentant sin can affect our relationship and fellowship with God.
    Psalm 66:18 says:
    «“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”»
    And Isaiah 59:2 says:
    «“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God…”»
    God is merciful, but we should not treat sin casually.
    What about unforgiveness?
    Jesus taught:
    «“And when ye stand praying, forgive…” — Mark 11:25»
    You cannot continuously ask God for mercy while deliberately refusing to show mercy to others.
    Forgiveness does not mean saying that what happened was acceptable.
    Forgiveness means releasing vengeance into God's hands.
    Ask yourself:
    “Is there somebody I need to forgive?”
    “Is there something God has been asking me to surrender?”
    “Am I asking God to bless something He has already told me to leave?”
    5. PRAY WITH PERSISTENCE
    Some answers require persistent prayer.
    Jesus taught this through the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1–8.
    The purpose of the parable was clear:
    «“Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” — Luke 18:1»
    Do not stop praying simply because you have not yet seen the answer.
    Daniel gives us another powerful example.
    In Daniel 10, Daniel prayed and fasted. His answer was delayed, but heaven had heard him from the beginning.
    The angel told him:
    «“From the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand… thy words were heard.” — Daniel 10:12»
    Think about that!
    Daniel was praying on earth while heaven was already responding.
    The delay did not mean God had ignored him.

    BIBLICAL CASE STUDY:

    HANNAH — A WOMAN WHO POURED OUT HER SOUL

    Hannah's story in 1 Samuel 1 is one of the clearest pictures of persistent prayer.
    She was deeply troubled because she had no child.
    She went to the house of the Lord and prayed.
    She didn't simply perform a religious ritual.
    She poured out her soul before God.
    Eli initially misunderstood her.
    But Hannah kept praying.
    Eventually, God answered her prayer and gave her Samuel.
    Her story teaches us:
    1. You can bring your deepest pain to God.
    2. People may misunderstand your prayer, but God understands your heart.
    3. Delay does not mean denial.
    4. God can turn tears into testimony.
    Hannah went into the presence of God carrying sorrow.
    She came out carrying peace.
    The circumstances had not immediately changed—but something had changed inside her.
    That is one of the miracles of prayer.
    Sometimes prayer changes the situation.
    Sometimes prayer changes the person going through the situation.
    And sometimes God does both.

    WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT GOD "HEARS" PRAYER?

    When Scripture says God hears prayer, it means far more than God simply detecting our words.
    It means God attends to, receives, and responds according to His wisdom and will.
    God hears the prayer of His children.
    Proverbs 15:29 says:
    «“The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.”»
    And James 5:16 declares:
    «“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”»
    Your prayer may look small on earth, but it is not small when it reaches heaven.

    PRACTICAL ACTION STEPS

    1. SET A CONSISTENT PRAYER TIME
    Do not pray only when there is an emergency.
    Build a prayer life.
    2. BEGIN WITH WORSHIP
    Before presenting your shopping list to God, acknowledge who He is.
    “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name…” — Matthew 6:9
    3. CONFESS YOUR SINS
    Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart.
    Psalm 139:23–24
    4. PRAY SCRIPTURE
    Use God's Word as the foundation of your prayers.
    5. ASK SPECIFICALLY
    Instead of only saying, “Lord, bless me,” tell God what you are trusting Him for.
    6. LEARN TO LISTEN
    Prayer is not a one-way conversation.
    After speaking, become quiet before God.
    Read Scripture.
    Pay attention to the convictions and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
    7. KEEP A PRAYER JOURNAL
    Write down your requests.
    Record dates.
    Record answers.
    One day you will look back and realize how many prayers God answered.

    DEEP SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS

    1. God's silence is not necessarily God's absence.
    You may not hear anything, but God may still be working.
    2. Prayer is not primarily about getting things; it is about knowing God.
    The greatest answer to prayer is not always a possession.
    Sometimes it is God Himself.
    3. Prayer changes the atmosphere of the person praying.
    You may enter prayer anxious and leave with peace.
    4. God's answer may be different from your expectation.
    Never limit God to one method of answering.
    5. The strongest prayer is surrendered prayer.
    “Lord, have Your way” is one of the deepest expressions of faith.

    QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

    1. When I pray, am I seeking God's will or only demanding my own will?
    2. Is there any known sin I need to confess?
    3. Is there someone I need to forgive?
    4. Have I stopped praying because my answer is delayed?
    5. Do I genuinely trust God when His answer is different from what I expected?
    6. Is my prayer life based on relationship with God or only on emergency needs?
    7. What prayer have I abandoned that God may be asking me to continue bringing before Him?

    POWERFUL PRAYER POINTS

    1. PRAYER FOR A DEEPER PRAYER LIFE
    Father, awaken in me a fresh hunger for prayer. Take away spiritual laziness and teach me to seek Your face consistently, in Jesus' name.
    2. PRAYER FOR A PURE HEART
    Lord, search my heart. Reveal anything that is displeasing to You and give me grace to repent and walk in righteousness.
    3. PRAYER FOR FAITH
    Father, increase my faith. When answers are delayed, help me trust You. When I cannot see the way, help me believe that You are still working.
    4. PRAYER FOR GOD'S WILL
    Lord, deliver me from insisting on my own way. Align my desires with Your purpose and give me grace to say, “Your will be done.”
    5. PRAYER FOR PERSISTENCE
    Father, give me strength not to faint in prayer. Help me continue believing until Your appointed time.
    6. PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS
    Lord, give me grace to forgive those who have hurt me. Heal my heart and remove bitterness from my spirit.
    7. PRAYER FOR DIVINE ANSWERS
    Father, concerning every legitimate request I have brought before You, let Your perfect will be established. Open the right doors, close the wrong doors, and lead me according to Your purpose.
    8. PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL SENSITIVITY
    Holy Spirit, teach me to recognize Your voice. Help me distinguish Your leading from my emotions, fears, and human desires.

    DON'T JUST PRAY—BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

    Beloved, prayer is not a religious emergency button.
    Prayer is relationship.
    Do not wait until everything is falling apart before you seek God.
    Pray when you are happy.
    Pray when you are confused.
    Pray when you have money.
    Pray when you have nothing.
    Pray when the door opens.
    Pray when the door closes.
    Pray when you understand.
    Pray when you don't understand.
    And above all, pray with a heart that trusts God.
    Remember:
    A delayed answer is not necessarily a denied prayer.
    God's silence is not necessarily God's absence.
    God's “no” is not a rejection of you.
    And God's “wait” is not a waste of your time.
    There is a God who hears.
    There is a God who sees.
    There is a God who knows.
    There is a God who answers.
    So keep praying. Keep believing. Keep trusting. Keep walking with God.

    FINAL DECLARATION

    I will not give up in prayer.
    I will not allow delay to destroy my faith.
    I will seek God's face, not merely His hands.
    I will surrender my will to His will.
    I will forgive.
    I will believe.
    I will persevere.
    And I will trust the God who hears me.
    In Jesus' mighty name, Amen!

    If you have not given your life to Jesus kindly do so by joining a Bible believing Church.
    You can get inspirational ebooks from my sela shops below

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    Email pastor.umoedem@gmail.com
    TODAY'S KINGDOM INSIGHTS: SERMON TOPIC: HOW CAN YOU PRAY SO THAT GOD HEARS YOU? Main Text: Psalm 66:18–20; 1 John 5:14–15 Supporting Texts: Matthew 6:5–13; James 5:16; Proverbs 15:29; Mark 11:24–25 GOD IS STILL LISTENING. One of the deepest questions a believer can ask is: “When I pray, does God really hear me?” You may have prayed for months and seen no answer. You may have cried in secret, knelt beside your bed, prayed in church, prayed while travelling, prayed when nobody knew what you were going through—and still wondered, “God, are You hearing me?” Here is the good news: God hears prayer. But the Bible also teaches us that there is a way to approach God in prayer. Prayer is not merely talking loudly. Prayer is not using many religious words. Prayer is not trying to manipulate God. Prayer is fellowship with the Father. Jesus said: «“Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” — Matthew 6:8» So the question is not simply, “How much do I pray?” The deeper question is: “How do I position my heart when I pray?” 1. PRAY WITH A SINCERE AND HUMBLE HEART God is not impressed by religious performance. He looks at the heart. Psalm 51:17 says: «“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart…”» David understood something important: God values the condition of the heart more than the appearance of the prayer. You can pray beautiful words with a proud heart and miss the heart of prayer. But you can come before God with tears, weakness, and simple words and experience His presence. Jesus' illustration In Luke 18:9–14, Jesus told the story of two men who went to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee. He boasted about himself. The other was a tax collector. He simply cried: «“God be merciful to me a sinner.” — Luke 18:13» Jesus said the humble man went home justified. Spiritual lesson God is not looking for impressive prayers; He is looking for surrendered hearts. Come to God honestly. If you are hurting, tell Him. If you are confused, tell Him. If you have failed, confess it. If you are afraid, tell Him. Prayer begins when pretending ends. 2. PRAY WITH FAITH James 1:6 says: «“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.”» Faith does not mean that you dictate to God what He must do. Faith means that you trust who God is, even when you do not understand what He is doing. Mark 11:24 says: «“What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”» Faith says: “Father, I believe You are able.” And when the answer does not come immediately: “Father, I still trust You.” Faith does not disappear because the answer is delayed. Remember the three possible answers to prayer: YES — God grants the request. WAIT — God is working, but the timing is different. NO — God knows something you do not know. A “no” from God is not proof that God has abandoned you. Sometimes God's refusal is protection. Sometimes His delay is preparation. Sometimes His silence is developing your spiritual maturity. 3. PRAY ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL One of the most powerful scriptures on prayer is: «“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.” — 1 John 5:14» Notice the words: “According to His will.” Prayer is not about making God's will submit to ours. Prayer is about bringing our desires into alignment with God's will. Jesus demonstrated this in Gethsemane. He prayed: «“Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” — Luke 22:42» Jesus was facing the cross, yet He surrendered to the Father's will. That is mature prayer. A child may say: “God, give me what I want.” But spiritual maturity says: “God, give me what You know is best.” A powerful prayer to learn: “Lord, if this desire is from You, establish it. If it is not from You, remove it. And if I must wait, give me grace to wait.” 4. DEAL WITH UNFORGIVENESS AND SIN We must be careful here. The Bible does not teach that every unanswered prayer means a person has committed some hidden sin. Job suffered greatly without being guilty of the accusations brought against him. However, Scripture clearly teaches that deliberate, unrepentant sin can affect our relationship and fellowship with God. Psalm 66:18 says: «“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”» And Isaiah 59:2 says: «“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God…”» God is merciful, but we should not treat sin casually. What about unforgiveness? Jesus taught: «“And when ye stand praying, forgive…” — Mark 11:25» You cannot continuously ask God for mercy while deliberately refusing to show mercy to others. Forgiveness does not mean saying that what happened was acceptable. Forgiveness means releasing vengeance into God's hands. Ask yourself: “Is there somebody I need to forgive?” “Is there something God has been asking me to surrender?” “Am I asking God to bless something He has already told me to leave?” 5. PRAY WITH PERSISTENCE Some answers require persistent prayer. Jesus taught this through the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1–8. The purpose of the parable was clear: «“Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” — Luke 18:1» Do not stop praying simply because you have not yet seen the answer. Daniel gives us another powerful example. In Daniel 10, Daniel prayed and fasted. His answer was delayed, but heaven had heard him from the beginning. The angel told him: «“From the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand… thy words were heard.” — Daniel 10:12» Think about that! Daniel was praying on earth while heaven was already responding. The delay did not mean God had ignored him. BIBLICAL CASE STUDY: HANNAH — A WOMAN WHO POURED OUT HER SOUL Hannah's story in 1 Samuel 1 is one of the clearest pictures of persistent prayer. She was deeply troubled because she had no child. She went to the house of the Lord and prayed. She didn't simply perform a religious ritual. She poured out her soul before God. Eli initially misunderstood her. But Hannah kept praying. Eventually, God answered her prayer and gave her Samuel. Her story teaches us: 1. You can bring your deepest pain to God. 2. People may misunderstand your prayer, but God understands your heart. 3. Delay does not mean denial. 4. God can turn tears into testimony. Hannah went into the presence of God carrying sorrow. She came out carrying peace. The circumstances had not immediately changed—but something had changed inside her. That is one of the miracles of prayer. Sometimes prayer changes the situation. Sometimes prayer changes the person going through the situation. And sometimes God does both. WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT GOD "HEARS" PRAYER? When Scripture says God hears prayer, it means far more than God simply detecting our words. It means God attends to, receives, and responds according to His wisdom and will. God hears the prayer of His children. Proverbs 15:29 says: «“The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.”» And James 5:16 declares: «“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”» Your prayer may look small on earth, but it is not small when it reaches heaven. PRACTICAL ACTION STEPS 1. SET A CONSISTENT PRAYER TIME Do not pray only when there is an emergency. Build a prayer life. 2. BEGIN WITH WORSHIP Before presenting your shopping list to God, acknowledge who He is. “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name…” — Matthew 6:9 3. CONFESS YOUR SINS Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart. Psalm 139:23–24 4. PRAY SCRIPTURE Use God's Word as the foundation of your prayers. 5. ASK SPECIFICALLY Instead of only saying, “Lord, bless me,” tell God what you are trusting Him for. 6. LEARN TO LISTEN Prayer is not a one-way conversation. After speaking, become quiet before God. Read Scripture. Pay attention to the convictions and guidance of the Holy Spirit. 7. KEEP A PRAYER JOURNAL Write down your requests. Record dates. Record answers. One day you will look back and realize how many prayers God answered. DEEP SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS 1. God's silence is not necessarily God's absence. You may not hear anything, but God may still be working. 2. Prayer is not primarily about getting things; it is about knowing God. The greatest answer to prayer is not always a possession. Sometimes it is God Himself. 3. Prayer changes the atmosphere of the person praying. You may enter prayer anxious and leave with peace. 4. God's answer may be different from your expectation. Never limit God to one method of answering. 5. The strongest prayer is surrendered prayer. “Lord, have Your way” is one of the deepest expressions of faith. QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION 1. When I pray, am I seeking God's will or only demanding my own will? 2. Is there any known sin I need to confess? 3. Is there someone I need to forgive? 4. Have I stopped praying because my answer is delayed? 5. Do I genuinely trust God when His answer is different from what I expected? 6. Is my prayer life based on relationship with God or only on emergency needs? 7. What prayer have I abandoned that God may be asking me to continue bringing before Him? POWERFUL PRAYER POINTS 1. PRAYER FOR A DEEPER PRAYER LIFE Father, awaken in me a fresh hunger for prayer. Take away spiritual laziness and teach me to seek Your face consistently, in Jesus' name. 2. PRAYER FOR A PURE HEART Lord, search my heart. Reveal anything that is displeasing to You and give me grace to repent and walk in righteousness. 3. PRAYER FOR FAITH Father, increase my faith. When answers are delayed, help me trust You. When I cannot see the way, help me believe that You are still working. 4. PRAYER FOR GOD'S WILL Lord, deliver me from insisting on my own way. Align my desires with Your purpose and give me grace to say, “Your will be done.” 5. PRAYER FOR PERSISTENCE Father, give me strength not to faint in prayer. Help me continue believing until Your appointed time. 6. PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS Lord, give me grace to forgive those who have hurt me. Heal my heart and remove bitterness from my spirit. 7. PRAYER FOR DIVINE ANSWERS Father, concerning every legitimate request I have brought before You, let Your perfect will be established. Open the right doors, close the wrong doors, and lead me according to Your purpose. 8. PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL SENSITIVITY Holy Spirit, teach me to recognize Your voice. Help me distinguish Your leading from my emotions, fears, and human desires. DON'T JUST PRAY—BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD Beloved, prayer is not a religious emergency button. Prayer is relationship. Do not wait until everything is falling apart before you seek God. Pray when you are happy. Pray when you are confused. Pray when you have money. Pray when you have nothing. Pray when the door opens. Pray when the door closes. Pray when you understand. Pray when you don't understand. And above all, pray with a heart that trusts God. Remember: A delayed answer is not necessarily a denied prayer. God's silence is not necessarily God's absence. God's “no” is not a rejection of you. And God's “wait” is not a waste of your time. There is a God who hears. There is a God who sees. There is a God who knows. There is a God who answers. So keep praying. Keep believing. Keep trusting. Keep walking with God. FINAL DECLARATION I will not give up in prayer. I will not allow delay to destroy my faith. I will seek God's face, not merely His hands. I will surrender my will to His will. I will forgive. I will believe. I will persevere. And I will trust the God who hears me. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen! If you have not given your life to Jesus kindly do so by joining a Bible believing Church. You can get inspirational ebooks from my sela shops below https://selar.com/m/umoh-edem1 https://selar com/m/umoedem https://www.amazon.com/author/umohedembooks https://afrikdp.com/author/9128a016-dd79-4f17-9e60-bf11f65f1a34 CONTACT - WhatsApp +2349024173027, +2349055447540 Email pastor.umoedem@gmail.com
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  • DO STEP-PARENTS MATTER?
    SYNOPSIS: (NOTE: before you pre-judge and fire off a comment, please READ THE FULL ARTICLE at the "Them Before Us" link.) The children come first! Nick Spencer, founder of Them Before Us (TBU), explains that children have a fundamental right to their biological mother and father, stating that every child is conceived by one man and one woman. The group distinguishes between adoption and remarriage, which they view as adults stepping in to provide stability for children after a pre-existing tragedy; compared to surrogacy or donor conception, which they define as adults intentionally, to satisfy their own desires, causing via IVF a child’s loss of biological connection. READ MORE: https://agape-restoration-society.org/ARC-News/a-n_2026-08-15.htm#article_4
    DO STEP-PARENTS MATTER? SYNOPSIS: (NOTE: before you pre-judge and fire off a comment, please READ THE FULL ARTICLE at the "Them Before Us" link.) The children come first! Nick Spencer, founder of Them Before Us (TBU), explains that children have a fundamental right to their biological mother and father, stating that every child is conceived by one man and one woman. The group distinguishes between adoption and remarriage, which they view as adults stepping in to provide stability for children after a pre-existing tragedy; compared to surrogacy or donor conception, which they define as adults intentionally, to satisfy their own desires, causing via IVF a child’s loss of biological connection. READ MORE: https://agape-restoration-society.org/ARC-News/a-n_2026-08-15.htm#article_4
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  • Good morning to everyone. Grace and Peace be with you.

    How do you measure your prosperity? Is it by your bank account, or what you drive or live in? Is it by how many friends you have? Is it measured by how many ‘collectables’ you have acquired? What exactly does prosperity look like for you?

    Jeremiah 29:11 is everyone’s favorite verse to quote when it comes to times of ‘financial’ struggles. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

    The definition of prosper, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is this: (1) to succeed in an enterprise or activity/ especially: to achieve economic success (2) to become strong and flourishing.

    I Googled the original Hebrew verbiage and found that prosperous is not a word in the Hebrew language exactly. The word was ‘maschshevot,’ which in modern terms equates to peace, well-being and a positive future.

    The enemy is very good at taking God’s word and turning it into something BIGGER for his glory. He dilutes the Word to soften it; he adjusts the meaning of the Word to satisfy popular opinion; he creates a world of his translation of the Word to satisfy the egos of all those who want the easy way. Such as:

    Unconditional Love … that does not mean that I love your sin; it means that I love you enough to speak the truth in love, not judgment. The enemy will tell you that I am judging you, when I am not; I am just stating facts so that you can make an informed decision.

    Eye for an eye … that is hatred, according to Jesus, who says when someone harms you, turn the other cheek

    Prosperity preaching … from this verse … claims that if you ‘give’ to the church, then God will give to you, or rather that if you give to “their” church, God will give to you.

    Prosperity and riches. The enemy will hamstring you into believing that God does not love you because you have not ‘given’ enough or that your gift is not good enough. These are all lies. Starting with, God wants you to be financially rich. It is not that God does not want you to be financially rich, but he knows how easily it can distract you from Him. If you are financially rich, then your heart turns to protecting your money instead of worshiping Him who gave you the riches. Prosperity in Jeremiah is speaking of hope, peace, and well-being; not Richie Rich.

    I am not a RICH person, but I am better off than many. I have food in my belly, a roof over my head, people around me who love and respect me, a quality vehicle, but most of all … I have love. I have peace. I have joy. I have God. I am one of the most prosperous people I know.

    Today I encourage you to find your peace in Him. Worship Him. Praise Him. Embrace Him. Love Him. When you do those things with your whole heart … the world does not seem so hard to deal with. Your eyes are open to so many opportunities for His light and love to shine. This will bring so much joy to your heart that it overflows in abundance to those around you. He knows what the world is like, and He wants you to have His peace and prosperity.

    Be blessed.

    **But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:33
    Good morning to everyone. Grace and Peace be with you. How do you measure your prosperity? Is it by your bank account, or what you drive or live in? Is it by how many friends you have? Is it measured by how many ‘collectables’ you have acquired? What exactly does prosperity look like for you? Jeremiah 29:11 is everyone’s favorite verse to quote when it comes to times of ‘financial’ struggles. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." The definition of prosper, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is this: (1) to succeed in an enterprise or activity/ especially: to achieve economic success (2) to become strong and flourishing. I Googled the original Hebrew verbiage and found that prosperous is not a word in the Hebrew language exactly. The word was ‘maschshevot,’ which in modern terms equates to peace, well-being and a positive future. The enemy is very good at taking God’s word and turning it into something BIGGER for his glory. He dilutes the Word to soften it; he adjusts the meaning of the Word to satisfy popular opinion; he creates a world of his translation of the Word to satisfy the egos of all those who want the easy way. Such as: Unconditional Love … that does not mean that I love your sin; it means that I love you enough to speak the truth in love, not judgment. The enemy will tell you that I am judging you, when I am not; I am just stating facts so that you can make an informed decision. Eye for an eye … that is hatred, according to Jesus, who says when someone harms you, turn the other cheek Prosperity preaching … from this verse … claims that if you ‘give’ to the church, then God will give to you, or rather that if you give to “their” church, God will give to you. Prosperity and riches. The enemy will hamstring you into believing that God does not love you because you have not ‘given’ enough or that your gift is not good enough. These are all lies. Starting with, God wants you to be financially rich. It is not that God does not want you to be financially rich, but he knows how easily it can distract you from Him. If you are financially rich, then your heart turns to protecting your money instead of worshiping Him who gave you the riches. Prosperity in Jeremiah is speaking of hope, peace, and well-being; not Richie Rich. I am not a RICH person, but I am better off than many. I have food in my belly, a roof over my head, people around me who love and respect me, a quality vehicle, but most of all … I have love. I have peace. I have joy. I have God. I am one of the most prosperous people I know. Today I encourage you to find your peace in Him. Worship Him. Praise Him. Embrace Him. Love Him. When you do those things with your whole heart … the world does not seem so hard to deal with. Your eyes are open to so many opportunities for His light and love to shine. This will bring so much joy to your heart that it overflows in abundance to those around you. He knows what the world is like, and He wants you to have His peace and prosperity. Be blessed. **But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:33
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  • Everyday the Messenger Of GOD (any Religious person) comes one must recite "I take a vow on GOD that I am the Messenger Of GOD" otherwise do not take or do not entertain one...

    #GOD #VowOnGOD #vow #ManOfGOD #WomanOfGOD #man #woman #MessengerOfGOD #Messenger #PersonOfGOD #person #DoNotTake #DoNotEntertain #DoNot #do #not #take #entertain
    Everyday the Messenger Of GOD (any Religious person) comes one must recite "I take a vow on GOD that I am the Messenger Of GOD" otherwise do not take or do not entertain one... #GOD #VowOnGOD #vow #ManOfGOD #WomanOfGOD #man #woman #MessengerOfGOD #Messenger #PersonOfGOD #person #DoNotTake #DoNotEntertain #DoNot #do #not #take #entertain
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