17th August 2026 Today was actually a really good day. 😊 Some days the orders are really good, and today was one of those days. I worked for about one hour in the early afternoon and then around three hours at night, from 6 to 9. So, just four hours in total, and I made around ₹1,200. I honestly wish every day was like this! 😂 But that's not even the highlight of my day. The highlight was what happened tonight. I was waiting for an order near my home when I got one where the pickup was very close by, but the drop was a little towards the outskirts. The drop location was St. Anthony's Church. That church is actually special to me because it's one of the churches I had visited before. My brother and I completed our Sacrament of Confirmation there a few years ago. Since the place was a little far out, I thought there was a chance I might not get an order back home after dropping the passenger. But then I thought, "It's been almost 6–7 months since I've gone to church. If I don't get another order, I'll just stop there, pray for a few minutes and come home." So I picked up this girl and took her there. And when we reached, I realized the drop was literally right in front of the church! After I dropped her, she asked me if I could wait for 10–15 minutes because she wanted to take a ride back with me to the same place where I picked her up. I asked her what she was going to do there, and she said she was going to the church and would probably take about 10 minutes. It was already around 7:30 at night, so I told her that the church was probably closed. She said she didn't know it was closed and didn't know what to do. I told her that maybe the gate would still be open and that she could at least go in front of the church and pray, even if she couldn't go inside. And I told her, "If you're going to the church, I'll come with you." So both of us went inside the church campus. Just as I thought, the church was closed, but we stood outside the church and prayed together. After that, she booked another ride back, and I got the order and accepted it. While we were coming back, she started telling me her story. She had come to Bangalore from Chennai only about a week ago for a job. She doesn't really know anyone here except a couple of girls who are staying with her in her PG. She told me that she had been feeling really low that day. She just wanted to go somewhere and pray, so she searched on Google for a church. St. Anthony's Church came up, and she simply booked a Rapido to go there. She hadn't even checked properly where the church was or how far it was. And while coming there, she actually got scared because the area was quite far out. There were farms and very few people around, it was dark, and there weren't many streetlights. She was wondering where we were going and whether she had somehow ended up going to a completely different place. 😂 She kept telling me how happy and grateful she was that she got me as her rider. She started calling me "Akka" and was really comfortable talking to me. I was able to give her some advice, share some godly wisdom and also share a few of my testimonies with her. Most importantly, I got the opportunity to talk to her about Jesus. I told her that I genuinely believe it was God's plan that we met today. Because of her, I ended up going to a church after almost 6–7 months. I had been thinking about going to church for a long time, and today, without even planning it, I actually stepped into a church campus and prayed. While we were coming back, she was telling me more about herself, and I noticed that she had a speech difficulty. She was stuttering while talking. After a while, she actually told me herself, "I have stuttering, that's why I talk like this." So while I was encouraging her, I told her that God has great plans for her and that she should always walk in obedience to Him, listen to His guidance, and follow His will for her life. I told her that there will always be things and people that try to take us away from God's path, but we should keep listening to God and choose His way. Then I told her about Moses. I told her that Moses also had difficulty speaking. When God called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses himself felt that he wasn't capable and didn't know how he could do it. But God still chose him and used him to do something incredibly great. I told her, "God doesn't need us to be perfect for Him to use us. He can use people who feel broken, weak, unworthy or inadequate, and He can use them in mighty ways so that His glory can be seen through their lives." When I told her that, she was actually quite amazed. I don't think she knew much about the story of Moses, because she was really surprised to hear it. I felt that this was something she really needed to hear at that moment. I wanted her to understand that whatever she may see as a weakness in herself doesn't mean that God cannot use her. God has a purpose for her, and He can still do great things through her life. I also gave her my number and told her that if she ever needs any help or gets stuck with anything, she can call me and I'll help her if I can. When I dropped her back, I also told her that she doesn't have to travel so far just to go to church. I showed her a few churches closer to where she stays. I even invited her for future Bible reading and Bible studies, and she said she'd be interested. So let's see how that goes. 😊 Honestly, this was the highlight of my entire day. I truly believe this wasn't just a random Rapido ride. I believe God brought our paths together for a reason. ❤️ I went out today thinking I was just going to work and earn some money, but God gave me an opportunity to meet someone, encourage her, talk to her about Jesus, and even get myself back into a church after so many months. So yeah… this is what happened today. ❤️

DAY 219 of 365 Reasons in 365 Days Why You Should try Jesus Because You Need Someone Greater Than Yourself to Lead You 📖 Bible Verse — Jeremiah 10:23 (KJV) “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” “You were never designed to navigate eternity using only your own understanding.” Quote: “Self-direction may take you somewhere, but only God can take you where you were created to be.” 🙏 Prayer: Jesus, take control of my direction and teach me to depend completely upon You in Jesus name. Amen.#jesus #everyone #highlight #friends #savedbygrace #salvation #love #christiancontent #christianreels #fry

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When the Holy Spirit Says “No” Sometimes God's protection does not look like an open door. Sometimes it looks like a closed door. In Acts 16:6–7, Paul and his companions had plans to preach in certain regions. But Scripture says: «“They were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia.” — Acts 16:6» And again: «“The Spirit suffered them not.” — Acts 16:7» Paul had a plan. But the Holy Spirit had a different direction. Then Paul received the vision of a man from Macedonia saying, “Come over into Macedonia, and help us.” Paul understood that God was calling them there, and they changed their direction (Acts 16:9–10). The lesson is powerful: The Holy Spirit can protect you by stopping you. A closed door may not mean that God has forgotten you. A delay may not mean that God has rejected you. A change of direction may not be a failure. Sometimes God sees what we cannot see. We may think: “This is the right opportunity.” But God may say: “Not this way.” We may think: “I must go here.” But the Holy Spirit may redirect our steps. This is why Proverbs says: «“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” — Proverbs 3:5» And: «“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” — Proverbs 3:6» The Christian life is not simply about asking God to bless our plans. It is about becoming willing to surrender our plans to God's will. Don't be afraid of God's “No.” His “No” may be protection. His “Wait” may be preparation. His redirection may be leading you toward something you cannot yet see. Listen to the Holy Spirit. Trust God's direction. Do not lean entirely on your own understanding. Because sometimes the road God closes is the road He is protecting you from. And sometimes the path He opens is the path He has prepared for you. “Lord, direct my steps. Close every door that is not from You, and give me the wisdom and courage to follow where Your Spirit leads. Amen.”

BEHIND JESUS TEXT: Acts 18:28 SUPPORTING TEXTS: John 1:1–14; John 4:8, 24; Philippians 3:3 OBJECTIVES At the end of this teaching, participants should be able to: 1. Understand that God is Spirit and that He has revealed Himself to humanity through Jesus Christ. 2. Recognize the humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ, and understand why God manifested Himself in the flesh. 3. Explain why Jesus is the only way to salvation and why human religion, morality, or religious tradition cannot save man. 4. Defend the truth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and God manifested in the flesh, using Scripture. INTRODUCTION Acts 18:28 (KJV): “For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.” The subject of Jesus Christ goes beyond what can be seen physically. To understand Jesus, we must look behind Jesus—behind His humanity, His earthly appearance, His birth, His ministry, His death and resurrection—to discover who He truly is. The Bible teaches that God is Spirit: John 4:24 (KJV): “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” God is also love: 1 John 4:8: “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” Love cannot be seen with the physical eyes, and the Spirit cannot be seen with the physical eyes. Yet both are real. QUESTION Have you ever physically seen love? Have you ever physically seen a spirit? Although you cannot see love itself, you can see the manifestation of love through actions. Likewise, God, who is Spirit, made Himself known to humanity through Jesus Christ. John 1:14 (KJV): “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…” Jesus is therefore the visible manifestation of the invisible God. Colossians 1:15: “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.” 1. GOD MANIFESTED HIMSELF THROUGH MAN God revealed Himself through the human life of Jesus Christ so that humanity could know, believe, and receive Him. John 1:14: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…” Jesus did not merely come to teach people about God. He came as God manifested in the flesh. 1 Timothy 3:16: “God was manifest in the flesh…” Jesus showed mankind what God is like through His character, words, works, compassion, holiness, power and love. 2. THE BREATH OF MAN IS LIMITED Man's physical life is temporary. The breath of man is dependent upon God. Isaiah 2:22: “Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?” James 4:14: “For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” Man's life is limited, but God's life is eternal. 3. THE LIFE OF GOD IS ETERNAL God does not depend upon another source for His existence. He is the eternal God. John 1:4: “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” John 11:25: “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life…” 1 John 5:11: “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” The eternal life of God is revealed to humanity through Jesus Christ. 4. THE CHARACTER OF MAN IS CORRUPTED BY SIN Humanity, because of sin, cannot become its own saviour. Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked…” Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Man therefore needs salvation from outside himself. 5. THE CHARACTER OF GOD IS GOOD God is holy, righteous, loving and good. Psalm 100:5: “For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” Psalm 145:9: “The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.” Jesus demonstrated the goodness and character of God among humanity. Acts 10:38: “…who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” 6. MAN CANNOT SAVE HIMSELF — JESUS SAVES Religion cannot save man. Human wisdom cannot save man. Good works, by themselves, cannot save man. Ephesians 2:8–9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith… Not of works…” Salvation is found in Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” The God whom humanity could not physically see came near to humanity in Jesus Christ—and Jesus saves. THE REASON GOD MANIFESTED HIMSELF IN THE FLESH 1. SO THAT WE COULD SEE HIM God became visible through Jesus Christ. John 14:9: “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father…” Jesus is the revelation of the invisible God. Colossians 2:9: “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” 2. SO THAT WE COULD TOUCH HIM AND KNOW HIM John testified that Jesus was physically real. 1 John 1:1: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes… and our hands have handled…” The apostles did not proclaim an imaginary person. They witnessed, heard and physically encountered Jesus Christ. 3. SO THAT WE COULD FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM Jesus did not merely appear to humanity from a distance. He lived among people. 1 John 1:3: “…that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us…”»l Jesus also fellowshiped with His disciples. Matthew 26:30: “And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.” He ate with them, walked with them, taught them and fellowshipped with them. 4. TO REVEAL THE POWER OF GOD THROUGH THE FLESH Jesus demonstrated God's power through miracles, healing, deliverance and authority. John 2:11: “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory…” Acts 2:22: “Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs…” His works revealed what was behind the humanity—the divine nature and power of God. 5. TO EXPERIENCE HUMANITY AND IDENTIFY WITH US Jesus experienced hunger, thirst, weariness, sorrow, rejection and temptation, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15: “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities…” Hebrews 2:17: “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren…” He understands what humanity experiences. 6. TO SHED HIS BLOOD FOR OUR SALVATION The ultimate reason for His manifestation was redemption. Matthew 26:28: “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” 1 Peter 1:18–19: “…ye were not redeemed with corruptible things… But with the precious blood of Christ…” Jesus came to die for the sins of humanity and rise again. 1 Corinthians 15:3–4: “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day…” YOU CANNOT GET GOD CHEAPLY Gold does not usually lie openly on the surface. It must be sought, discovered and refined. In the same way, we must look beyond the outward appearance of Jesus to understand who He truly is. Jeremiah 29:13: “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Behind the soil, there may be gold. Behind the humanity of Jesus, there is the revelation of God. Jesus appeared as a man, but He was more than merely a man. John 10:30: “I and my Father are one.” John 20:28: “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.” The Messiah was hidden behind the humanity of Jesus until He was revealed to those who believed. ANY SPIRIT THAT DENIES JESUS CAME IN THE FLESH The Bible gives a serious warning concerning any teaching that denies the incarnation. 1 John 4:2–3: “Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God…” Jesus truly came in the flesh. He was not merely a spiritual appearance. He was genuinely human while being divine. WHY ACTS 18:28 IS IMPORTANT Acts 18:28: “For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.” Apollos and the early Christian preachers had to convince the Jews from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah. Many Jews expected the Messiah to establish an earthly political kingdom and deliver them from their enemies. They struggled to understand the manner in which the Messiah would first come. Jesus did not come first as an earthly political ruler. He came as the suffering Servant who would deal with the deeper problem of humanity sin. Isaiah 53:5: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities…” His kingdom is ultimately spiritual and eternal. John 18:36: “My kingdom is not of this world…” Luke 1:32–33: “…the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever…” Therefore, Jesus did not fit the people's expectation of what the Messiah should look like, but the Scriptures testified concerning Him. PRACTICAL EXAMPLE: WHY PEOPLE STILL REJECT JESUS Even today, many people reject Jesus because they do not understand what is behind the Gospel. Some see religious hypocrisy, fanaticism, scandals, poor leadership or people who claim Christianity but do not demonstrate Christ-like character. But the failure of people does not invalidate Jesus. We must distinguish between Jesus Christ and the imperfections of people who claim to represent Him. Hebrews 12:2: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…” Our faith must ultimately be placed in Christ, not in imperfect human beings. Some people look to God for survival, prosperity, longevity or protection but do not truly know Him. They may place their hope in religious traditions, human philosophies or personal beliefs while rejecting God's saving grace. But the Gospel points us back to Jesus. THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO GOD Jesus made this clear: John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Peter also declared: Acts 4:12: “Neither is there salvation in any other…” Jesus did not merely claim to know the way. He declared Himself to be the Way. His resurrection became one of the greatest proofs of His identity. Romans 1:4: “And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” The Christian faith is therefore not founded merely on human philosophy but on the person, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. CONCLUSION: WHO IS BEHIND JESUS? Behind the humanity of Jesus is the divine revelation of God. Jesus is the Word who became flesh. John 1:1–3: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him…” And then: John 1:14: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…” Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Colossians 1:15: “Who is the image of the invisible God…” The fullness of God dwells in Him. Colossians 2:9: “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” He existed before Abraham. John 8:58: “Before Abraham was, I am.” He is one with the Father. John 10:30: “I and my Father are one.” Thomas called Him God. John 20:28: “My Lord and my God.” And the Father Himself speaks concerning the Son: Hebrews 1:8: “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever…” Therefore, when we look at Jesus, we must look beyond the physical appearance of the man and understand the divine truth revealed through Him. Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh. Jesus Christ is the revelation of God. Jesus Christ is the Messiah. Jesus Christ is the Saviour. Jesus Christ is the Way to the Father. And in Him is eternal life. FINAL CHALLENGE Do not stop at what you see on the surface. Look behind Jesus. Look beyond His humanity and discover His divine identity through the Scriptures. John 20:31: “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” The goal is not merely to know about Jesus. The goal is to know Jesus, believe in Him, and receive the salvation and eternal life that are found in Him.

wait on God Waiting on the Lord is not wasted time; it is preparation time. When you feel stuck in a season of waiting, it can be easy to lose heart. However, biblical waiting is an active, hopeful pause that builds your spiritual endurance.. Why Waiting on the Lord Matters :It shifts your focus: It moves your eyes from your problems to God's power. It renews your strength: Like an eagle resting before flight, waiting restores your energy. It aligns your timing: God sees the whole map; He moves when the time is exactly right.. It protects you: Sometimes a "wait" is actually God shielding you from an unseen danger .A Prayer for the Waiting Season Dear God,Some days, this waiting feels heavy and long. My heart feels anxious, and I want to rush ahead. Please help me to rest in Your perfect timing today.Give me the strength to stay patient. Fill my mind with peace when doubt creeps in. I choose to believe that Your plans for me are good, even when I cannot see the next step. Strengthen my heart right now. Remind me that You are working behind the scenes.In Jesus' name, Amen.

MONDAY 17TH AUGUST 2026 IGNITE YOUTH DEVOTIONAL Topic: When God Says Wait Bible Reference “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NKJV) A Short Story Michael had been praying about a particular opportunity for almost a year. He had applied for several jobs, attended interviews, and sent out countless applications. Each time he thought something good was about to happen, another disappointment followed. One evening, he sat on his bed and looked at his phone. Another friend had just announced a new job. Someone else had shared pictures from a new apartment. Another person had posted about an engagement. Michael smiled as he congratulated them, but when he put his phone down, his heart became heavy. “God, when will something happen for me?” he asked. He had prayed. He had worked hard. He had done everything he knew to do. Yet nothing seemed to be changing. For a moment, he considered accepting an opportunity that he knew was not right for him simply because he was tired of waiting. But as he thought about it, he remembered how often he had asked God to lead him. He closed his eyes and prayed again. “Lord, if this is not Your time, help me not to force it.” The situation did not change that night. But Michael's heart changed. He realized that waiting did not mean God had forgotten him. Sometimes, God allows us to wait because He is preparing us for what we are not yet ready to receive. Today's Message Waiting can be one of the hardest parts of walking with God. You may pray faithfully and still wonder why nothing is happening. But God's silence does not mean His absence. His delay does not mean He has forgotten you. The Bible says that God makes everything beautiful in its time. This means there is a timing connected to what He is doing in your life. Do not allow someone else's progress to make you question God's plan for you. Their season is not your season. Sometimes, the greatest mistake you can make is to force what God has asked you to wait for. When you trust God's timing, you protect yourself from decisions that can create unnecessary pain. Waiting is not wasted time when God is involved. He can use the waiting season to prepare your character, strengthen your faith, develop your skills, and position you for what is ahead. What To Do Today 1. Stop comparing your progress with the progress of others. 2. Ask God to help you understand what He wants you to learn in your present season. 3. Continue working and preparing instead of becoming discouraged. 4. Refuse to make a wrong decision simply because you are tired of waiting. Prayer Lord, help me to trust Your timing. When I feel forgotten or delayed, remind me that You are still working. Give me patience to wait and wisdom to prepare for what You have planned for me. In Jesus' name, Amen. Daily Challenge Today, identify one thing you have been worried about because it has not happened yet. Give it to God in prayer and take one practical step toward preparing for your future. ©️ Anthony Ijere Christian Author and Revivalist https://chat.whatsapp.com/BDs9qaNMQumKTicv7uU7SJ?s=cl&p=a&mlu=0&ilr=0 https://t.me/anthonyijere

Galatians 3:10-14 NASB "For all who are of works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all the things written in the book of the Law, to do them.” [11] Now, that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “the righteous one will live by faith.” [12] However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “The person who performs them will live by them.” [13] Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”— [14] in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." Being under the law comes with a curse. Living under legalistic religious demands is a doomed endeavor. You have to do it perfectly. You can't. You don't. That's why we are told that, "no one is justified by the Law before God." Living by faith, trusting in Jesus and his finished work as all that is needed for righteousness, comes with the blessing of Abraham. Live by faith. Don't trust in your own obedience and ability to do the impossible. #grace #gospel #faith #jesuschrist #cross

PROVERB OF THE DAY (Proverbs 17) 1. Better is a dry morsel with quietness, Than a house full of feasting with strife. 2. A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, And will share an inheritance among the brothers. 3. The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts. 4. An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue. 5. He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished. 6. Children’s children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father. 7. Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool, Much less lying lips to a prince. 8. A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; Wherever he turns, he prospers. 9. He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends. 10. Rebuke is more effective for a wise man Than a hundred blows on a fool. 11. An evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him. 12. Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly. 13. Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house. 14. The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts. 15. He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD. 16. Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, Since he has no heart for it? 17. A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. 18. A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge, And becomes surety for his friend. 19. He who loves transgression loves strife, And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction. 20. He who has a deceitful heart finds no good, And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil. 21. He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy. 22. A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones. 23. A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back To pervert the ways of justice. 24. Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. 25. A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her who bore him. 26. Also, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to strike princes for their uprightness. 27. He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. 28. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.

Three Angels Broadcasting Network Devotional. The Lord is Near By Vera Malova August 17th, 2026 I was raised in northern Kazakhstan, but when we moved to the town of Bor in 1993, I remember the TV ads for Pastor John Carter’s evangelistic meetings across the Volga River in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. Things weren’t going smoothly at home. My husband often took to the bottle, and my eldest son Sasha had started drinking, too. So I was happy when Sasha began attending those meetings every day. They gave him a Bible, and when Sasha brought it home, I began to read it. By the time I reached the New Testament, I’d realized we weren’t living the way God wanted us to, so I read it again. In the meantime, Sasha was baptized and began inviting me to church. I wanted to support him, but I worked on Saturdays. However, my hands began to ache so badly that I had to go to the hospital and take a break from work. The following Saturday, my son stared at me intently, wondering if I would go to church with him, so I went. I have a habit of looking people in the eye, and I was amazed to see such kind and affectionate eyes. Everyone was glad to see me, and they all smiled, so I continued going to church and soon decided to be baptized. On the day before my baptism, my husband came home from work drunk, hit his head, and stopped breathing. My son gave him CPR, but his breathing stopped as soon as he let up. “Lord, I give my whole family into Your hands!” I cried—and instantly, my husband began breathing again. God literally raised him from the dead! Although two of my children were baptized, my husband would not surrender to the Lord, threatening and calling me ugly names. Once, in a fit of anger, he began choking me. Another time, my children attended a youth group while I stayed home, reading my Bible. My husband came in drunk and said, “Aren’t you going to church, too?” “Yes, I think I will,” I answered. “Then perhaps you’ll also decide to be baptized!” he snorted. When I replied that I’d already been baptized, he grabbed a large Kitchen knife and shouted, “Then your life is over!” His eyes burned with a terrible fire! He lunged at me but suddenly froze in place. He stood there a while, holding the knife and shouting over and over, “You will not live!” Shaking with fear, I closed my eyes tightly and prayed silently for deliverance. Suddenly, I saw a beautiful rainbow in my mind with fiery letters that read, He will not hurt you! Throwing the knife down, my husband fell on the sofa, sobbing. My guardian angel had stood between us and protected me! “For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:11. As a family, we began praying earnestly for him. My children tried talking to him about God, but he answered, “That’s just how it’s written in your American Bible.” Lena bought him a Russian Orthodox Bible with a cross on it, blessed by Patriarch Alexy II, and as she read texts from her Bible, he read the same text in his; and whether from the Old or New Testament, every text matched word for word! Despite being convinced, my husband continued to drink as our family implored for God’s help. Finally, Sasha asked, “Father, why are you resisting?” He replied, “Okay, I will ask God to help me stop drinking.” He began carrying the Ten Commandments in his pocket and telling his co-workers and friends that they should follow them. He also promised to go to church but never did. Instead, he drank until he lost the feeling in his legs from his knees on down. One morning I woke up joyful. My eyes were shining when I said to him, “You cannot imagine how good you’d feel if you’d quit drinking,” to which he replied, “Then I’ll quit today.” Sadly, that was the day he died from his illness. It’s impossible to live in this world without God because there are problems such as alcoholism that no one else can solve. My son, who led me to God, eventually stopped going to church and began drinking again. But although he got so bad that he started hearing voices, our whole church family prayed for him, and after many years, he came back to the Lord and sobered again. Don’t think that the Lord is somewhere far away. He is right here with you! We all live in debt to the Lord, and a price has been paid for our life. Jesus paid the price for each of our days, each piece of bread we eat, and each breath we take. He paid it with His precious blood! Jeremiah 29:11 and 13 say, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.… And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Seek the Lord, for He is near.