Conflict and Courage. Habakkuk Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:4. At the time Josiah began to rule, and for many years before, the truehearted in Judah were questioning whether God's promises to ancient Israel could ever be fulfilled.... These anxious questionings were voiced by the prophet Habakkuk. Viewing the situation of the faithful in his day, he expressed the burden of his heart in the inquiry: “O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear!” ... And then, his faith reaching out beyond the forbidding prospect of the immediate future, and laying fast hold on the precious promises that reveal God's love for His trusting children, the prophet added, “We shall not die.” With this declaration of faith he rested his case, and that of every believing Israelite, in the hands of a compassionate God.... The faith that strengthened Habakkuk and all the holy and the just in those days of deep trial was the same faith that sustains God's people today. In the darkest hours, under circumstances the most forbidding, the Christian believer may keep his soul stayed upon the source of all light and power. Day by day, through faith in God, his hope and courage may be renewed. “The just shall live by his faith.” ... We must cherish and cultivate the faith of which prophets and apostles have testified—the faith that lays hold on the promises of God and waits for deliverance in His appointed time and way. The sure word of prophecy will meet its final fulfillment in the glorious advent of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, as King of kings and Lord of lords.... With the prophet who endeavored to encourage Judah in a time of unparalleled apostasy, let us confidently declare, “The Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.” Let us ever hold in remembrance the cheering message, “The vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come.” 36Prophets and Kings, 384-388.

MONDAY MORNING PRAYER “THAT SETTLES IT!” Scripture: Isaiah 55:1–11 (KJV) Key Scripture: “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please...” — Isaiah 55:11 (KJV) Heavenly Father, in the mighty and matchless name of Jesus Christ, we come before You on this Monday morning giving You glory, honor, and praise! Thank You, Lord, for waking us up to see another day and allowing us to enter another week. Before we look at our schedules, our responsibilities, our problems, or our circumstances, we look to You. You are still God. You are still faithful. Your promises are still true, and Your Word still stands! Your Word declares: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” — Isaiah 55:8 Father, when we don't understand what You are doing, help us to trust what You have said. When Your way doesn't look like our way, remind us that Your wisdom is higher than ours. When we cannot trace Your hand, give us faith to trust Your heart. If You said it, THAT SETTLES IT! When fear says, “It won't work,” Your Word says: “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.” — Isaiah 54:17 THAT SETTLES IT! When worry says, “How are you going to make it?” Your Word says: “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:19 THAT SETTLES IT! When sickness, weakness, and pain try to discourage us, Your Word says: “For I am the LORD that healeth thee.” — Exodus 15:26 THAT SETTLES IT! When the enemy tries to remind us of our past, Your Word says: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” — Romans 8:1 THAT SETTLES IT! When circumstances tell us there is no way, Jesus declares: “With God all things are possible.” — Matthew 19:26 THAT SETTLES IT! Father, Isaiah 55:10–11 reminds us that just as the rain and snow come down from heaven and accomplish their purpose, Your Word will accomplish what You sent it to do. Your Word will not return void! So this Monday morning, we choose to stop arguing with what You have already spoken. We will not allow fear to have the final word. We will not allow people to have the final word. We will not allow circumstances to have the final word. We will not allow the doctor's report, the bank account, the workplace, the opposition, or yesterday's failures to have the final word. GOD, YOU HAVE THE FINAL WORD! Go before us this week, Lord. Order our steps. Guard our families. Cover our homes. Protect our children and grandchildren. Strengthen marriages. Restore relationships. Open doors that no man can shut. Provide for every need. Give wisdom for every decision. Bring peace into troubled minds and strength to weary hearts. Where there is confusion, speak peace. Where there is sickness, release healing. Where there is lack, release provision. Where there is discouragement, restore hope. Where there are closed doors, direct us to the doors You have ordained. And where the enemy has spoken lies, give us the courage to answer him with THE WORD OF GOD! For You declared: “For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace...” — Isaiah 55:12 (KJV) Therefore, we will enter this week with JOY! We will walk through this week with PEACE! We will face this week with FAITH! We don't have to know every detail because You already know the outcome. We don't have to understand everything because Your ways are higher than our ways. We don't have to fear tomorrow because Your Word has already gone before us. And according to Isaiah 55:11, what You have spoken shall accomplish Your purpose! So we put a period where the enemy keeps trying to put a question mark. GOD SAID IT. WE BELIEVE IT. HIS WORD WILL ACCOMPLISH IT. AND THAT SETTLES IT! In the mighty, powerful, undefeated name of Jesus Christ, we pray. AMEN, AMEN, AND AMEN! DECLARATION... I DECLARE that I will begin this week standing firmly on the Word of God! I will not be controlled by what I see, what I hear, or how I feel. God's Word is my final authority! His thoughts are higher than my thoughts. His ways are higher than my ways. His promises will not fail. His Word will not return void. What God has promised, He is able to perform! I declare that I will walk in faith instead of fear, peace instead of anxiety, confidence instead of doubt, and victory instead of defeat. GOD SAID IT! I BELIEVE IT! HIS WORD WILL ACCOMPLISH IT! THAT SETTLES IT! In Jesus' Name — AMEN!

Monday, 24th August, 2026 TITLE: "GROW INTO CHRIST: FROM SPIRITUAL INFANCY TO MATURITY" ANCHOR SCRIPTURE(S) Ephesians 4:13–15 (KJV) "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:" 2 Peter 3:18 (KJV) "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." QUOTE TO REFLECT ON "Spiritual maturity is not measured by how long you have been saved, but by how much you have become like Christ." DAY'S REFLECTION Every living thing is expected to grow. A healthy child does not remain a child forever; growth involves increasing in strength, understanding, responsibility, and maturity. The same principle applies to our spiritual lives. Paul says in Ephesians 4:13 that God's purpose is for believers to come "unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." The word "perfect" here carries the idea of being mature or complete. God's desire is not merely that we become churchgoers, but that we grow into mature followers of Christ. Spiritual maturity involves increasing in our faith, knowledge, character, obedience, and love. We should become more like Jesus in how we think, speak, respond to difficulties, forgive others, and treat people. Verse 14 warns us not to remain spiritual children, who are "tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine." A spiritually immature person can easily be influenced by every new teaching, popular opinion, emotional experience, or persuasive personality. Without a strong foundation in God's Word, it becomes difficult to distinguish truth from error. But verse 15 gives us the way forward: "speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things." Truth without love can become harsh, while love without truth can become compromise. Christian maturity requires both truth and love, with Christ as our standard. Peter reinforces this in 2 Peter 3:18: "Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." Grace is God's undeserved favour and enabling power. Growing in grace means becoming increasingly dependent on God's grace and allowing it to transform our lives. Growing in knowledge means continually knowing Christ more deeply through Scripture, prayer, obedience, and experience. Life experience teaches us that physical age does not automatically produce maturity. A person can grow older without becoming wiser. Similarly, years of church attendance do not automatically produce spiritual maturity. Growth requires intentional pursuit. Today, ask yourself: Am I growing? Am I more patient than I used to be? More forgiving? More disciplined? More grounded in God's Word? More loving? More like Christ? Do not be satisfied with yesterday's spiritual growth. Keep learning. Keep obeying. Keep growing. Keep becoming more like Jesus. MEDITATION SCRIPTURE(S) Colossians 1:10 (KJV) "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;" Hebrews 5:14 (KJV) "But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." LIFE LESSONS (IMPLICATIONS) 1. God expects every believer to grow spiritually. 2. Spiritual maturity requires knowledge of Christ and obedience to His Word. 3. Immaturity makes us vulnerable to false teaching and deception. 4. Truth must be communicated with love. 5. Spiritual growth requires intentional effort and consistent fellowship with God. 6. The ultimate standard of Christian maturity is Christ Himself. EVERYDAY ACTION Read God's Word, practise what you learn, and consciously choose to respond to people today in a way that reflects Christ. PRAYER Heavenly Father, help me grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Make me spiritually mature, grounded in Your truth, rich in love, and increasingly like Christ. In Jesus' name, Amen. DECLARATION I am growing spiritually. I am grounded in God's Word and established in truth and love. I will not remain spiritually immature or be carried away by false teachings. I am growing in grace and becoming more like Christ every day. Amen. Devotion by Rev. Frank Fabian Aidoo 📞 +233 544 295 158 Follow us on WhatsApp 👇👇👇 https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6EpEqHbFV78wOHgv2P

*TODAY'S PROPHETIC DECLARATION - MONDAY, 24TH AUGUST, 2026.* 🌟*FAITH THAT REACHES OUT TO JESUS*🌟 📖 Scripture: “For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.” — Mark 5:28–29 (KJV). 🔥*Reflection – One Touch Can Change Everything.* In Mark 5, we meet a woman who had suffered for twelve years. She had endured a painful and exhausting situation, but she refused to allow her circumstances to destroy her hope. When she heard about Jesus, she said within herself, “If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.” She moved toward Jesus in faith, reached out, touched His garment, and immediately experienced a change. Her story teaches us that faith takes action. She did not merely hear about Jesus; she moved toward Him. She did not allow the crowd, her past, or the length of her struggle to stop her. Today, you may have been waiting for an answer for a long time. You may have prayed repeatedly and wondered when your situation would change. Do not give up. Keep reaching out to Jesus. Your breakthrough may come in a way you did not expect, but your confidence must remain in Christ. 🔊*Prophetic Declaration:* Today, I declare that my faith is alive and active. I will not allow the length of my struggle to destroy my expectation. I will continue to reach out to Jesus Christ. I declare that every situation that has resisted human solutions is surrendered into the hands of the Almighty God. The Lord shall intervene according to His perfect will and timing. Today, I receive fresh faith to believe God again. Where disappointment has weakened my expectation, may the Lord renew my confidence. Where delay has made me tired, may He strengthen my heart. I declare divine intervention over my family, ministry, work, business, studies, relationships, and destiny. May the Lord touch every area that needs His transforming power. I proclaim that no crowd, obstacle, discouragement, or past experience shall prevent me from pursuing Jesus. I will keep praying. I will keep believing. I will keep trusting. I will keep moving forward. I declare that every legitimate expectation according to God's will shall receive divine attention. The Lord shall make a way where He has ordained a way, and He shall give me grace to trust Him where I must wait. Today, I reject hopelessness. I reject the belief that nothing can change. I reject the voice that tells me to give up. I declare that my faith shall overcome fear, my hope shall overcome discouragement, and my trust in God shall overcome uncertainty. I proclaim restoration over every area of my life that has experienced loss, weakness, stagnation, or disappointment. May God restore my joy, renew my strength, and establish me according to His purpose. I declare that my testimony shall encourage others. What God does in my life shall become evidence that faith in Christ is never misplaced. Today, I reach out to Jesus with confidence. I will not give up. I will not turn back. I will keep believing. I will keep trusting. I will keep reaching for Jesus. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen! 🙏🔥✝️ ✅*Action Steps for today:* 1️⃣ Begin with faith: Thank Jesus because He is still able to intervene in every situation. 2️⃣ Read Mark 5:25–34: Meditate on the faith and determination of the woman who reached out to Jesus. 3️⃣ Declare: “By faith, I reach out to Jesus. My hope is in Him, and I will not give up.” 4️⃣ Bring one long-standing concern to God: Pray about it again—not from desperation, but from renewed faith. 5️⃣ Take a faith-filled step: Do something constructive today toward a God-honoring goal you have been postponing. 6️⃣ Encourage someone: Remind someone who has been waiting for a breakthrough that they should continue trusting God. 7️⃣ End with thanksgiving: Thank God for what He has already done and trust Him for what is still to come. 🔥*Prayer:* Heavenly Father, I thank You for the example of the woman who reached out to Jesus in faith. Lord Jesus, today I reach out to You with every need, burden, desire, and expectation in my heart. Give me faith that refuses to give up. Where I have been discouraged, renew my hope. Where I have experienced disappointment, restore my confidence. Where I have waited for a long time, give me patience and strength. Touch every area of my life that needs Your intervention. Touch my family, ministry, work, business, studies, relationships, and future. Lord, I surrender my timeline to You. Help me to trust Your wisdom and Your perfect timing. Give me courage to keep moving toward You even when the journey is difficult. Let my faith become stronger through every challenge. May my life become a testimony of Your faithfulness, and may my testimony encourage others to trust You. Jesus, I reach out to You today. Let Your grace be sufficient for me and let Your perfect will be accomplished in my life. In Jesus' mighty name. Amen. 🙏 🌿*Blessing for today:* May the Lord strengthen your faith today. May He give you courage to keep reaching toward Him even when circumstances appear difficult. May divine intervention come into every area of your life that needs God's touch. May the Lord renew your hope, restore your joy, strengthen your family, establish your work, bless your ministry, and guide your steps. May every season of waiting produce deeper faith and greater dependence on God. May your faith produce a testimony that will encourage many others to seek Jesus. 🔥 Your faith shall not fail. 🙏 Your hope shall remain alive. 🕊️ Christ shall sustain you. ✨ Your testimony shall come according to God's perfect will. 🌟 “IF I MAY TOUCH BUT HIS CLOTHES, I SHALL BE WHOLE.” — MARK 5:28 Keep reaching out to Jesus. Keep believing. Keep trusting. Your story is still in God's hands. Good morning beloved and do have a blessed, faith-filled, peaceful, and testimony-producing day🙏🔥🕊️ Shalom! *Remember: Your confession is your possession* *©️ Postulant C. O. Oyadosu.* _Please share with others, thank you and God bless you 🙏_ For counseling, prayers and partnership or you want to share your testimonies with us; please call or Whatsapp: +2348063128703 Or Email: clementoyadosu[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

DO YOU KNOW WHO JESUS IS? Knowing His Name Is Not the Same as Knowing Him! Key Scripture — Acts 19:14–16 (KJV) “And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.” Thought Of The Day... There is a tremendous difference between knowing about Jesus and actually knowing Jesus. Acts 19 gives us a powerful and sobering picture of this truth. The seven sons of Sceva had heard about the miracles taking place through the Apostle Paul. They had witnessed or heard reports of demons being cast out and lives being transformed through the name of Jesus. They saw the results, but they did not understand the relationship behind the results. They wanted the authority Paul demonstrated without possessing the relationship Paul had. They attempted to use the name of Jesus almost like a spiritual formula. Earlier in the passage they said: “We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.” — Acts 19:13 (KJV) Notice their language. They did not say, “Jesus whom we know.” They said, “Jesus whom Paul preacheth.” Jesus was Paul's testimony, but He had not become their personal testimony. And that raises a serious question for every believer: Do you know Jesus for yourself? It is possible to grow up in church and still only know about Jesus. It is possible to know Scripture and still not truly surrender to Jesus. It is possible to sing about Jesus, preach about Jesus, teach about Jesus, shout about Jesus, and even use the name of Jesus—yet lack a genuine relationship with Him. Christianity was never intended to be secondhand. You cannot survive spiritually forever on your mother's relationship with God, your father's prayers, your pastor's anointing, your bishop's revelation, your spouse's faith, or your grandmother's testimony. Eventually, you must know Him for yourself. Paul could say: “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings…” — Philippians 3:10 (KJV) Paul wasn't satisfied merely knowing facts about Christ. His desire was, “That I may know Him.” “JESUS I KNOW, AND PAUL I KNOW; BUT WHO ARE YE?” These may be some of the most sobering words in Acts. The evil spirit responded: “Jesus I know.” There was no confusion in the kingdom of darkness concerning Jesus. The demons knew exactly who He was. During Jesus' earthly ministry, an unclean spirit cried: “I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.” — Mark 1:24 (KJV) James gives us another sobering reminder: “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” — James 2:19 (KJV) Simply acknowledging that Jesus exists is not the same as belonging to Him. But then the spirit said something else: “Paul I know.” Why was Paul recognized? Because Paul's life demonstrated that he belonged to Jesus. Paul wasn't borrowing somebody else's faith. He had encountered Christ for himself. His authority did not come from merely repeating Jesus' name; it flowed from his relationship with and commission from Jesus. Then came the devastating question: “BUT WHO ARE YE?” In other words, You are using the name, but where is your relationship with the One whose name you are using? The sons of Sceva discovered that the name of Jesus is not a magical phrase. There is power in the name of Jesus because of who Jesus is. Jesus declared: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” — Matthew 28:18 (KJV) His name represents His person, His authority, His victory, His lordship and His kingdom. We must never reduce the name of Jesus to something we merely shout when we are in trouble. His name belongs to the Savior to whom we surrender our lives. DO YOU KNOW THE JESUS YOU CALL ON? Jesus is more than a name mentioned at the end of a prayer. He is the Son of God. “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” — Matthew 16:16 (KJV) He is the Savior. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” — Luke 19:10 (KJV) He is the Way to the Father. “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” — John 14:6 (KJV) He is the Resurrection and the Life. “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” — John 11:25 (KJV) He is Lord. “And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” — Philippians 2:11 (KJV) The question is not merely, “Have you heard about Him?” The question is: Have you trusted Him? Have you surrendered to Him? Are you following Him? Are you walking with Him? Does your life belong to Him? YOU CANNOT BORROW SOMEBODY ELSE'S ANOINTING The sons of Sceva tried to imitate what they saw Paul doing. But spiritual authority cannot be copied like a technique. You can imitate someone's preaching style. You can imitate someone's prayer language. You can imitate someone's worship. You can repeat someone's favorite Scriptures. But you cannot imitate their relationship with God. Jesus said: “Abide in me, and I in you… for without me ye can do nothing.” — John 15:4–5 (KJV) Our strength comes from abiding in Christ. The greatest danger is not weakness that drives us toward Jesus. The greater danger is trying to operate spiritually while disconnected from Him. The seven sons discovered this painfully. The possessed man “overcame them, and prevailed against them.” They entered believing they had authority they did not possess and left “naked and wounded.” There is a warning here: Never attempt to substitute religious activity for genuine relationship with Christ. YOUR PRIVATE WALK MATTERS Before Paul stood publicly in authority, he had privately surrendered his life to Jesus. Our public Christianity must be supported by a private relationship with God. Who are you when there is no microphone? Who are you when there is no congregation? Who are you when nobody sees you praying? Who are you when temptation comes? Who are you when life becomes difficult? Do you still trust Jesus when there is nobody around to applaud your faith? Jesus said: “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.” — John 8:31 (KJV) Real discipleship is demonstrated through continued fellowship, obedience, faith and dependence upon Christ. KNOW HIM BEFORE THE BATTLE COMES Don't wait until trouble arrives to try to discover who Jesus is. Know Him now. Know Him in prayer. Know Him through His Word. Know Him in worship. Know Him through obedience. Know Him when everything is going well so that when everything begins falling apart, you already know where your help comes from. David could face Goliath because David already knew God before Goliath appeared. Daniel could face the lions because Daniel knew God before he entered the den. The three Hebrew boys could face the fiery furnace because they knew God before Nebuchadnezzar heated it. Paul could endure persecution because he knew the Christ for whom he suffered. And when your day of testing comes, you need more than something somebody told you about Jesus. You need to be able to declare: I KNOW HIM FOR MYSELF! Job said: “For I know that my redeemer liveth…” — Job 19:25 (KJV) There are some storms where somebody else's testimony will not be enough. You need your own history with God. You need memories of prayers He answered. You need moments when His Word carried you. You need times when you experienced His grace. You need the confidence to declare: I know who Jesus is because I have walked with Him for myself! THE QUESTION STILL STANDS Acts 19 leaves us with a question that should cause every believer to examine his or her heart: DO YOU KNOW WHO JESUS IS? Not just the Jesus your pastor preaches. Not just the Jesus your parents taught you about. Not just the Jesus you heard about in Sunday School. But Jesus Christ for yourself. And perhaps an even deeper question is: DOES YOUR LIFE SHOW THAT YOU KNOW HIM? Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” — John 10:27 (KJV) Knowing Jesus should produce following Jesus. Following Jesus should produce obedience. Obedience should produce transformation. And transformation should cause our lives to testify that we have been with Jesus. PRAYER... Father, in the name of Jesus, Thank You for revealing Your Son to us. Lord, forgive us for every time we have been satisfied with simply knowing about Jesus instead of developing a deeper relationship with Him. We don't want secondhand faith. We don't want borrowed convictions. We don't want to depend solely upon somebody else's prayers, testimony or relationship with You. Lord Jesus, we want to know You for ourselves. Draw us closer to You. Give us a hunger for Your Word, a desire for prayer, a heart of worship and a spirit willing to obey Your voice. Search our hearts and remove everything that has created distance between us and You. Teach us not merely to speak Your name but to honor Your name with the way we live. When temptation comes, remind us who You are. When storms arise, remind us who You are. When fear attacks, remind us who You are. When the enemy challenges our faith, help us stand firmly upon the authority of Your Word. May our lives testify that we belong to Jesus Christ. And Lord, let our greatest desire always be the cry of Paul: “That I may know him.” We want to know You more deeply, love You more completely, trust You more confidently, obey You more faithfully, and represent You more boldly. In the mighty, matchless, powerful name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. DECLARATION... I DECLARE that I will not live on borrowed faith! I know who Jesus is! Jesus is my Savior. Jesus is my Redeemer. Jesus is my Lord. Jesus is my Deliverer. Jesus is my Rock. Jesus is my Strength. Jesus is my Hope. Jesus is my King! I will seek Him, follow Him, obey Him and grow deeper in my relationship with Him. I refuse to merely know about Jesus. I WILL KNOW HIM FOR MYSELF! And when life asks me, “Do you know who Jesus is?” My faith, my testimony, my obedience and my life will answer: YES! I KNOW HIM FOR MYSELF! “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection…” — Philippians 3:10 (KJV) Enjoy your Sunday Church Services and God Bless!

*TODAY'S PROPHETIC DECLARATION - SUNDAY, 23RD AUGUST, 2026.* 🌟*COME UNTO ME, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST*🌟 12th Sunday after Trinity | 4th Sunday in August. 📖 Scripture: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 (KJV). 🔥*Reflection – Jesus Is Our Place of Rest* Life can become overwhelming. There are burdens we carry because of responsibilities, expectations, disappointments, unanswered prayers, family concerns, ministry demands, work, studies, and the uncertainties of tomorrow. Jesus does not tell the weary to struggle harder. He gives a gracious invitation: “Come unto me.” Christ does not promise that we will never face difficulties. Instead, He promises that when we bring our burdens to Him, He will give us rest. The rest Jesus gives is deeper than physical relaxation. It is the rest of a heart that knows it is no longer carrying everything alone. It is peace in the midst of pressure, confidence in the midst of uncertainty, and strength to continue when we feel weak. Today, whatever burden you are carrying, bring it to Jesus. Do not carry what Christ is asking you to surrender. Your burden may be heavy, but His grace is sufficient. 🔊*Prophetic Declaration:* Today, I declare that I come to Jesus Christ with every burden, concern, fear, and uncertainty in my life. I refuse to carry alone what I can surrender to my Savior. I declare that the rest of Christ is entering every troubled area of my life. His peace shall replace anxiety, His strength shall replace weakness, and His hope shall replace discouragement. I proclaim that every burden weighing heavily upon my heart shall be surrendered to the Lord. I release the burdens of fear, disappointment, uncertainty, financial pressure, family concerns, ministry responsibilities, work, business, studies, and the future into God's capable hands. Today, I receive divine strength to continue the journey. Where I have become weary, the Lord shall renew me. Where I have become discouraged, He shall restore my joy. Where I have become confused, He shall give me direction. I declare peace over my family and household. May every unnecessary tension, anxiety, misunderstanding, and heaviness give way to the peace of Christ. I declare grace over my ministry and service to God. I shall not serve from exhaustion or seek to carry God's work in my own strength. I receive fresh grace, wisdom, strength, and spiritual renewal. I proclaim divine rest over my work, business, and studies. The Lord shall give me wisdom to manage my responsibilities, strength to complete my assignments, and favor to accomplish what He has placed in my hands. I declare that I shall not be controlled by tomorrow's uncertainties. God holds my future, and I choose to trust Him one day at a time. Today, I reject the lie that I must solve everything by myself. I acknowledge my dependence on God and receive His grace for every challenge before me. I declare that the Lord shall restore my emotional, spiritual, and physical strength according to His will. He shall lead me beside still waters and restore my soul. I proclaim that my home shall be a place of peace, my heart shall be a dwelling place of God's presence, and my life shall reflect the calm confidence of someone who trusts in Christ. I come to Jesus. I surrender my burdens. I receive His rest. I receive His strength. I receive His peace. I will not be overwhelmed, because Christ is with me. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen! 🙏🔥🕊️ ✅*Action Steps for today:* 1️⃣ Begin with Jesus: Before you begin carrying today's responsibilities, spend time in prayer and surrender your burdens to Christ. 2️⃣ Read Matthew 11:28–30: Meditate on Jesus' invitation to the weary and His promise of rest. 3️⃣ Declare: “I come to Jesus, I surrender my burdens, and I receive His rest and peace.” 4️⃣ Make a burden list: Write down the things troubling your heart and consciously hand each one over to God in prayer. 5️⃣ Stop carrying what belongs to God: Do your part faithfully, but leave the outcome in God's hands. 6️⃣ Rest in God's presence: Set aside quiet time today for prayer, worship (attend church service), Scripture reading, and reflection. 7️⃣ Encourage someone who is weary: Share Matthew 11:28 with someone who needs to be reminded that Jesus cares about their burdens. 8️⃣ End the day with thanksgiving: Thank Jesus for carrying you through the day and for every evidence of His grace. 🔥*Sunday Prayer:* Lord Jesus, Thank You for Your gracious invitation: “Come unto me.” Today, I come to You with everything that is weighing upon my heart. I bring my fears, worries, responsibilities, disappointments, unanswered questions, and every burden I cannot carry by myself. Lord, give me Your rest. Quiet every storm within me. Replace anxiety with peace, confusion with clarity, fear with faith, and weakness with strength. I surrender my family, ministry, work, business, studies, relationships, finances, plans, and future into Your hands. Teach me to do what I can faithfully and trust You with what is beyond my control. Restore my soul. Renew my strength. Refresh my spirit. Give me wisdom for every responsibility and grace for every challenge. Help me not to run away from You when I am tired, but to run toward You. Let Your presence fill my home. Let Your peace rule in my heart. Let Your grace sustain me throughout this new week. Jesus, I come to You. Jesus, I trust You. Jesus, I surrender to You. Jesus, I receive Your rest. In Your mighty name I pray. Amen. 🙏🕊️✨ 🌿*Sunday Blessing:* May the Lord Jesus give you rest from every burden that has been weighing upon your heart. May His peace fill your home and household. May His strength sustain you in your ministry, work, business, studies, and every responsibility entrusted to you. May God give you wisdom to know what to carry and what to surrender. May He renew your strength when you are weary and restore your joy when you are discouraged. May every storm around you become an opportunity to experience the peace of Christ within you. As you enter the coming week, may you go forward not in your own strength, but in the strength of the Lord. 🕊️ Come to Jesus. 🙏 Surrender your burdens. 🌿 Receive His rest. 🔥 Walk in His strength. ❤️ Abide in His peace. 🌟 12TH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY 🌟 4TH SUNDAY IN AUGUST “COME UNTO ME, ALL YE THAT LABOUR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.” — MATTHEW 11:28 May the peace of Christ fill your heart, your home, and your entire week. Good morning beloved, happy Sunday, do have a blessed and refreshing Sunday! Shalom!🙏 *Remember: Your confession is your possession.* *©️ Postulant C. O. Oyadosu.* _Please share with others, thank you and God bless you 🙏_ For counseling, prayers and partnership or you want to share your testimonies with us; please call or Whatsapp: +2348063128703 Or Email: clementoyadosu[gmail].com

Sunday, 23rd August, 2026 TITLE: "SEEK GOD FIRST, AND TRUST HIM TO PROVIDE" ANCHOR SCRIPTURE(S) Matthew 6:33 (KJV) "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Psalm 84:11 (KJV) "For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." QUOTE TO REFLECT ON "Put God first, and trust Him to take care of what concerns you." DAY'S REFLECTION Life is filled with legitimate needs—food, clothing, shelter, finances, relationships, work, health, and the future. These concerns can easily become so important that they take first place in our hearts. Jesus therefore gives us a powerful principle in Matthew 6:33: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness." To seek first means to make something your highest priority. Jesus is teaching us that God must not be an addition to our lives; He must be at the centre of our lives. The kingdom of God refers to God's rule, authority, and purposes. To seek His righteousness means to desire a life that agrees with His character and Word. Jesus then gives a promise: "all these things shall be added unto you." This does not mean that God promises every material desire or that believers will never experience hardship. Rather, it assures us that when we put God first, we can trust Him with our genuine needs and refuse to live controlled by anxiety. Psalm 84:11 describes God as both a "sun and shield." The sun provides light, warmth, and direction, while a shield provides protection. God therefore provides what we need for our journey and protects us as we walk with Him. The verse continues: "The LORD will give grace and glory." Grace is God's enabling favour and strength for the journey. Glory speaks of the honour and blessing that come from His presence and purposes. The psalmist concludes that "no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." Life experience teaches us that people often become anxious because they want to control tomorrow today. But God calls us to trust Him one day at a time. Our responsibility is to seek Him, obey His Word, work diligently, and walk uprightly. God's responsibility is to sustain, guide, protect, and provide according to His wisdom. Therefore, examine your priorities today. Is God truly first, or have worries, money, career, relationships, possessions, or personal ambitions taken His place? When God occupies first place, everything else can be placed in its proper position. Seek Him first. Walk uprightly. Trust His provision. MEDITATION SCRIPTURE(S) Proverbs 3:5–6 (KJV) "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Philippians 4:19 (KJV) "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." LIFE LESSONS (IMPLICATIONS) 1. God must remain the highest priority in our lives. 2. Seeking God first helps us maintain the right perspective about material needs. 3. God is both our provider and our protector. 4. We should not allow anxiety about tomorrow to control today's obedience. 5. Walking uprightly positions us to enjoy God's grace and guidance. 6. Trusting God does not remove responsibility; it helps us fulfil our responsibilities with faith. EVERYDAY ACTION Put God first today: pray, obey His Word, do your work diligently, and trust Him with your needs. PRAYER Heavenly Father, help me seek Your kingdom and righteousness above everything else. Be my provider, protector, and guide, and teach me to trust You with every need. In Jesus' name, Amen. DECLARATION God is first in my life. I seek His kingdom and righteousness, and I trust Him to provide for my needs. The Lord is my sun and shield; He gives me grace, protection, and direction. I will walk uprightly and confidently in His provision. Amen. Devotion by Rev. Frank Fabian Aidoo 📞 +233 544 295 158 Follow us on WhatsApp 👇👇👇 https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6EpEqHbFV78wOHgv2P

23-08-2026 A Heart That Reverences God Revelation 15:4 (AMP) “Who will not fear and glorify Your name, O Lord, and bring worship to You, for You alone are holy? For all the nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts [Your judgments and decrees] have been revealed and displayed.” There is something powerful about recognizing who God truly is. Revelation 15:4 gives us a glimpse of heaven and reminds us that God alone is holy, worthy of reverence, and deserving of worship. One day, every nation will recognize His greatness. Every human achievement, title, possession, and earthly accomplishment will fade in comparison to the glory of our Creator. But we don't have to wait until that day to worship Him. We can choose today to live with a heart that says, “Lord, You alone are worthy.” Sometimes life becomes so busy that our attention shifts toward our problems instead of God's greatness. We can become consumed by what we need, what we fear, or what we cannot control. Yet worship redirects our hearts. It reminds us that God is still holy, still sovereign, and still worthy—even when we don't understand what He is doing. The verse also says that the nations will worship because God's righteous acts have been revealed. His character is trustworthy. His ways are righteous. His judgments are just. You may not understand everything God is doing in your life right now, but you can trust who He is. Today, don't only worship God for what He has done. Worship Him for who He is. He is holy. He is righteous. He is faithful. He is worthy. And He alone deserves your worship. Prayer Father, I worship You today because You alone are holy and worthy. Forgive me for the times I have allowed my circumstances to become bigger than my view of You. Help me to keep my eyes fixed on Your greatness and to trust Your righteous ways, even when I don't understand them. May my life become an offering of worship to You. Let my heart continually declare, “You alone are worthy.” In Jesus' name, Amen. Today’s Reflection What is one thing you can surrender to God today and replace with an attitude of worship and trust? Declaration: “Lord, You alone are holy and worthy of my worship. I will trust You, honor You, and praise You regardless of my circumstances.”

🌿✨ 𝔻𝔸𝕀𝕃𝕐 𝔹ℝ𝔼𝔸𝔻 ✨🌿 📖 2111 │ The Father Who Restores Verse: “He restores my soul.” — Psalm 23:3 Meditation: God does not only forgive your past; He restores what life has wounded. There are places in your heart that people cannot reach, but the Father can heal them. What feels broken, wasted, or beyond repair is not beyond His ability to restore. Restoration may not look like getting the old life back—it may mean receiving something deeper and stronger in Christ. The Father is not finished with you because you have been through broken seasons. What you thought was the end may become the place where God begins something new. Prayer: Heavenly Father, restore every broken place in my life and renew my heart. Help me trust Your restoring work. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Declaration: 🕊️ “My Father restores me. My broken places will become testimonies of His grace.” ✍️ Pastor. Joshua, Andaman 🌐 Connect with Our Ministry 🟢 https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbCXY3M0wajurjzuGc2x 🔴 https://www.youtube.com/[joshuaecho] 🔵 https://www.facebook.com/share/1BVs1LgEHj/