Guidelines for living. August 27, 2026 Why You Should Cultivate Excellence in Your Life Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 The greatest accomplishments in life - believe it or not - are made not by the smartest people in the world but by those who didn't know enough to quit. They were the ones who kept trying, kept plodding, kept practicing, who kept investigating until they stumbled onto success. That fact was driven home to me when I was studying in the university. There were two men in my classes who were geniuses. Their IQs were way up there. At the end of a class, they slapped their books shut and generally didn't open them. They were smart. Frankly, I was among those who had to dig it out. People thought I was really gifted; no, I just knew how to work and to study. My parents spent hard earned money and sent me to school to study, not party. I knew why I was there and I made the most of the opportunity. Learning to apply myself was something I happened to grow up with, but everybody didn't have a dad who cut the handles off of brooms, making them short enough for me to use as a kid, or has you work alongside him. But you can learn to work. You can develop discipline yourself. You can set goals and eventually reach them. One of my heroes was Sir Edmund Hillary, who along with his Sherpa guide, Tensing, crested Mount Everest for the first time. Awesome achievement, and that before a lot of high-tech gear which climbers use today. When asked how he accomplished this when others had failed, he replied that when he was tempted to turn back, he took just one more step. William Carey, the father of modern missions, said that his greatest ability was to plod in the face of adversity. When Thomas Edison had tried 10,000 ways to produce an incandescent globe and hadn't succeeded, he was urged to quit. He responded that he had found 10,000 ways that wouldn't work. And he would eventually find one that did. He did! I've sometimes wondered how many determined, stubborn individuals we have today with that same tenacity. The foundation of our modern achievements was laid by thousands of unknown individuals who lived in obscurity and died unknown, who faithfully contributed to what has enabled us to send men to the moon, to circle the globe with communication, and to accomplish great and mighty things through technology and science. They laid the foundation; we have built upon their research, hard work, and trial and error. Their strength and energy, like a gradually falling barometer, were meted out in hard work, years of often-unrecognized service, and yes, blood, sweat and tears. But they did not quit. They did not look for something with less work and more money attached to it. I've been told that in an European Cathedral, high in the rafters where no one ever goes, are some intricate carvings of exquisite beauty, done by a master craftsman whose name has long since been lost to posterity. Why did he take time to do some of his finest work, using an abutment of wood that will never be seen by the public? He valued excellence. He took seriously the admonition of the Bible that instructs: "Whatever your hands find to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom" (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Cultivate excellence. Make it a passion. Refuse to let the world and our culture shove you into the mold of mediocrity. Thank God for teachers who inspire excellence, for mothers who have the patience to bring the best out of their children, for dads who have the patience to teach a little boy how to do something. Do it, friend. Someday, you will be very glad you did. Resource Reading: Ecclesiastes 9:1-10

It is a common plover (a type of bird 🕊️) about the size of a robin. It is easily recognized by its wailing noise and two black breast bands. They are usually found in the United States and Central America. They are called Killdeer because of the wailing noise they make that actually sounds like "kill-deer". The most interesting 🤔 thing about this bird 🕊️ however is that,it is a master of distraction. When it lays eggs🥚 or has chicks 🐣 and you go near the nest, it jumps away from the nest and pretends to have a broken wing 🪽. When you think 🤔 it is vulnerable and decide to go after it, it will move a little further on. It will continue to do that until you are far away from the nest. The Killdeer will then suddenly have a healthy wing 🪽 and will fly 🕊️ 💸 away. Interestingly, that is how the enemy behaves. Anytime you go close to what God 👑 🙏 has for you,he finds a way to distract you. Suddenly, everything looks like it is going against you. Friends and family turn against you and finances are not 🚫 forthcoming. The proverbial "all hell breaking loose". Successful people however know that this is rather an indication of being close to the breakthrough. It shows something good 👍 is about to happen for you. So when distraction comes, it is time ⏰ to dig in your heels,stand firm and push 🫸 on. When Tobiah and Sanballat tried to distract Nehemiah he said "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down "👇(Nehemiah 6:3). Don't allow anyone or anything to distract you from your purpose. Have a lovely day 💝 ❤️ 💜.

Note The Stick You Write With When we read the bible,what do we think about? Do we think about the writer being inspired by the Spirit of God? Do we look to the setting it was written in, the culture of the times, etc? Do we look at the style of writing as some scholars teach us to do? These and more are often taught as the way to read the bible. In more modern education we are taught to think critically and what is being said and written. In other words what can we infer or deduce from the text we are reading? Questions such as these, more often than not lead to an overly complicated mess of confusion that is sometimes hard to navigate. Complicating the simple way the people of the day actually thought. What is more is that the New Testament was written in Koine ( common Greek). This Greek as written in the NT is often studied by scholars, pastors and laymen alike, searching for a clearer picture of what the biblical writers were intending. And in this way, we may more accurately discern the truth that God, through His servants, is trying to convey to us, 2,000 years later. Mind you in a culture that is very far removed from the culture it was written in. In short a lot has happened in 2,000 years, and some ideas just don’t translate well. To make up for this, scholars have tried hard to come up with different and new translations, paraphrases etc, that are everything from absolute trash, to literal word for word hard to read versions of the bible. Many popular bible translations we read are something of a dynamic equivalent, that’s thought for thought. Others are word for word. And still others are a paraphrase giving the general sense of what is being spoken of. Yet, for all this we seem to lose a little or a lot depending, when we try to bring this all into a culture, language and thought process that is far removed from the original. So we dig, scholars and laymen alike, dig. We dig into the language it is written in. We find meanings to words, and their roots. Sometimes we look at the society and culture around them and it brings out even more. Yet for all that, it seems we still come up short and we wonder why. In my own life, the more I dug into some limited Greek studies, the more I saw it was not really going too far, so I stopped looking. I would only look up what I was curious about or led to. If I am honest at times, I would remember my pastor who told me of his friend who was a biblical Greek scholar, who said it really doesn’t do you that much good to know Greek. As I studied I could see that, but why. Aren’t we taught to look into the language? Isn’t that the example that is set by many, if not most pastors and writers of biblical material? Look into the Greek to find the meaning of the words used in the NT, so we can understand a bit better? But its really not helping that much so what am I missing? What I found was not intentional. I was not looking for it. At all. I found where Jesus wrote about being the bread of life In John 6:35: “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” In our minds we wonder what that means so we dig. And that is just what I did. I wanted to find out what that meant, exactly. My research led me to the cultural life of the Jewish people. And I found out that they, without a long explanation, knew that Jesus was saying, without bread, you die, you have no life. That may seem obvious and overly simplistic, yet for a people who lived in the desert, to not have bread and water, was a fact of certain death. Biblically the principle stems back to the time in the wilderness when God supplied bread for them in the form of mana. Again, this may seem obvious, but it’s not something most in western culture know very much about. We don’t know starvation as a possibility as well as they did then, we don’t know the waterless tracts of land they made their home in for thousands of years. They knew intimately the slow agonizing death by starvation and thirst, in a land where water is a commodity. Unlike us who just go to the faucet or by another water bottle at the nearest grocery store. These things were their reality, unlike ours. Finding this set me on a journey of sorts to looking into their culture more. As I did I began seeing things that we don’t often talk about. Then one day I realized that almost every NT writer with the exception of Luke was born Jewish. That meant that they came from a Jewish background, culture, traditions and language. Then I began to wonder how come we are looking at the NT from a western outlook, through the Greek language, when we should possibly be looking at it from a more Hebraic outlook? Why weren’t we looking at what they were saying through the culture, history etc of the person who was speaking it? They knew the language and ideas of the OT far better than we do. So, again I began digging. What I found was that as a general rule, the Jewish people of that day, had gained some complexity of thought because of outside influences, such as the Babylonian captivity, the Roman occupation etc, they still retained much of their original simplicity and straightforward thinking. In fact, without going too deep in this, most Jewish men at the time had at least some knowledge of the OT scriptures and how they were written and the thoughts behind them. This is due to the fact that they would teach the fathers trade to the children and were required to teach them the word of God as well. For them, things were relatively simple. Their culture and thought process, at least so far as these things are concerned, was simple compared to the Romans, or Greeks where we in the west get much of our way of thinking. To see the difference when we describe something, such as a pencil, we say its long, often yellow, with lead or graphite inside, it has an eraser on one end and the other is sharpened to a point so you can write with it. In ancient Hebrew, it’s literally a stick you write with, that is the description. To us, who habitually over complicate everything, even a bowl of Cheerios, this seems way too simplistic. Truthfully one may be right with that assessment. But that does not negate the fact that they understood things far different than we do. Now, I am doing more digging. Looking into the Hebrew language and looking at the NT from somewhat of a different angle. What happened is the truth we all see, written within the pages, started taking on a deeper meaning. Instead of looking at the Word through the lens of our culture or even the Greek, I began to see things that way I think the biblical writers were seeing them, and thus seeing the intent of God through them. Regardless of how it was written. When we look at the bible in this way it seems to take on new life. It doesn’t change the meaning, but deepens it, brings a fuller, more clear revelation, and application to our lives and ministries. I write my own writing, I do not use AI to write. All my writing is my own and can be scanned for AI content as well as plagiarism.

Guidelines for living. August 20th, 2026 What Does Agape Love Look Like? Love … doesn’t force itself on others, isn’t always “me first,” doesn’t fly off the handle, doesn’t keep score of the sins of others. 1 Corinthians 13:5 The Message When Sir Ernest Shackleton was exploring in the arctic, he faced a very difficult hour as their rations became depleted. Finally, the last biscuit had been given out to each of the men. There was not a crumb of anything left. That night Shackleton lay awake in his sleeping bag with their peril heavily on his mind. He knew that death by starvation was approaching unless something happened. As he lay there with thoughts he dared not express keeping him from sleep, out of the corner of his eye he noticed movement by one of his men. A cold chill came over him as he realized this man was stealthily reaching for the food bag of the man next to him. Shackleton still pretended to be asleep. His mind reeled; he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. This was one of his most trusted men. Still, he knew that starving men sometimes act like predators. He was not disturbed for long, however. The man did reach for the food container of his companion … and then quietly took his own biscuit, his last one, and placed it in the other man’s parcel before lying down to sleep. That is the companionship and the cost of real love. To this Paul adds the words, “Love does not seek its own.” Another version puts it: “Love does not act in its own interest.” Love acting in its own interest is not the agape love that is described by Paul. When the expression of love does not embrace the total needs of the other person, it falls short of this test which Paul articulated. Agape love produces an unspoken commitment—without conditions or strings attached—to meet the needs of the person who is the object of affection, and along with that commitment comes personal sacrifice which is not difficult to make. “Love,” writes Paul, “is not easily provoked.” George Bernard Shaw once said, “I was taught when I was young that if people would only love one another, all would be well with the world. This seemed simple and very nice, but I found when I tried to put it into practice not only that other people were seldom lovable, but that I was not very lovable myself.” That’s the predicament we often find ourselves in—not only are others unlovable but when we are honest with ourselves we must admit we are not very lovable either. A gardener once wrote to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and said, “I’ve tried everything I’ve ever heard or read, including all of your bulletins, on how to get rid of dandelions—and I’ve still got them.” By return mail he received the last word on the subject. “Dear Sir,” read the letter, “if you have tried everything and you still have dandelions, then there is only one thing left for you to do: learn to love them.” You know, we smile at that candid bit of advice, but life is much like a lawn full of dandelions. We want to be rid of them any way we can—kill them by spraying (that is, the dandelions), dig them, bomb them, pull them out—destroy them no matter what, just get rid of them! Nevertheless, at times, the dandelions of life hang in there, and God expects us to love them by the alchemy of faith and grace. When Paul wrote to the Romans, he told them God’s love comes through His Spirit who is given to us. That’s the only way to learn to really love. Resource Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

DAILY DEVOTION…Thursday August 20, 2026 Colossians 2:6-7…"Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude." Standing Firm in Christ Think about a massive, ancient oak tree. When a violent storm hits, the tree doesn’t topple over. Why? Because underneath the soil lies a hidden, sprawling network of roots that dig deep into the earth, anchoring it firmly to the ground. Paul uses this exact imagery to describe how we are meant to live out our Christian faith. He reminds us that the way we started our journey with Jesus—by simple, humble faith—is the exact same way we must continue it every single day. Spiritual growth isn’t about discovering hidden secrets or chasing after the latest cultural trends; it is about sinking our roots deeper into the person of Jesus Christ. When our roots are firmly planted in His Word, we find the stability we need to survive life's storms. We are "built up" and "established." This means our faith isn't fragile or easily shaken by doubt, unexpected trials, or deceptive philosophies (Ephesians 4:14). Instead, we become strong, steady, and secure in our identity. But Paul adds a beautiful indicator of a healthy, deeply-rooted faith: an overflow of gratitude. A complaining heart is often a sign of shallow roots. When we are constantly pulling nourishment from God's grace, love, and faithfulness, thankfulness naturally bubbles up and pours out of our lives. Gratitude becomes our default response, shifting our focus from what we think we lack to the immense riches we already possess in Christ. Stay grounded in Him today, and let His truth stabilize your soul. 4 Key Spiritual Truths Gleaned from Colossians 2:6-7… 1. The Daily Walk Mirrors the Beginning: The same simple faith and total dependence required for salvation is the exact standard required for daily Christian living (Galatians 3:3). 2. Roots Determine Stability: A believer's capacity to withstand the storms and deceptions of life is directly connected to how deeply they are anchored in Christ (Jeremiah 17:7-8). 3. Growth is Continuous and Structural: Being "built up" is an ongoing, lifelong process where the Holy Spirit aligns every area of our lives to the foundation of Jesus (1 Corinthians 3:11). 4. Gratitude is the Ultimate Health Check: An overflowing heart of thankfulness is the natural, undeniable fruit of a spiritually mature and established faith (1 Thessalonians 5:18). THE BIBLE: God’s Compass For Our Daily Living

The Unstoppable Hour.. Why Our Fight is Not with This World There is a palpable anxiety in the air. We see it in the news, on social media, and in the hushed conversations at our kitchen tables. People are scrambling. They are organizing, petitioning, and protesting. They are trying to stop the political shift, the moral decline, and the geopolitical chaos. They are fighting against the current of the world, attempting to "save" a system that was always destined to collapse. But as believers, we must stop and take a sobering look at the reality of our calling. We are not here to stop the inevitable. We are here to walk through it. The Apostle Paul made it crystal clear in Ephesians 6:12: "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness." When we see the governments of the world aligning, when we see corruption at every level, and when we see nations turning away from the truth, we are witnessing the fulfillment of prophecy, not the failure of humanity. The Bible predicted a time of great corruption (2 Timothy 3:1-5). It predicted that evil would be called good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20). The tragedy of our time is not that the world is becoming corrupt; the tragedy is that the Church is wasting its energy trying to fix a world that is already under judgment. Those who are the most "active" in trying to save the culture are often the ones inadvertently bringing these things to pass, because they are fighting in the flesh, trying to build a Kingdom on Earth that was never meant to exist here permanently. To understand our role, we must look back at the history of our faith. The Scriptures are full of people who tried to "help" God fulfill His promises, and the results were devastating. Consider Abraham and Sarah. God promised Abraham a son. But when the years dragged on, Sarah decided to "help" God by giving her servant Hagar to Abraham. The result? Ishmael was born. This decision did not bring the promise sooner; it brought discord, bitterness, and a conflict that has spanned millennia, a conflict we still see in the Middle East today. God did not need Abraham's "help" in the physical realm to bring about the spiritual miracle. He needed Abraham's faith and waiting. Consider Moses. When Moses saw the oppression of his people, he acted in his own strength. He killed an Egyptian taskmaster, thinking he was delivering his people. Instead, he became a fugitive and delayed God's plan by forty years. Moses had to unlearn his own strength in the desert before God could use him to free Israel. In these times, it will be no different. We are prone to run ahead of God, to create political kingdoms, to try to legislate morality into the hearts of the unregenerate. We call it "saving the nation," but God calls it "strange fire", our own effort offered on His altar, a sacrifice He never asked for. If we are not to fight the political tide, what are we to do? Good question. We are to be Witnesses. Jesus didn't tell us to take over the world; He told us to preach the Gospel to every creature. He said, "You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). We are ambassadors of a Kingdom not of this world. We are to be Lighthouses. In a time of corruption, we are called to be blameless and pure, shining as lights in a dark world (Philippians 2:15). Our focus is not on changing the behavior of the world, but on offering the soul of the world a way out. We are to Pray. Instead of protesting the darkness, we should be praying for the souls of those in power, while trusting that God is sovereign over the rise and fall of nations. The spiritual battle is won on our knees, not on the streets. Look at the world today. Technology is advancing at a rate that allows for the global control and surveillance spoken of in Revelation. Nations are aligning in ways eerily reminiscent of the prophecies of Ezekiel and Daniel. The push for a one-world order, the moral relativism, and the hostility toward absolute truth are all box-checking the signs of the times. When we try to stop this, we are fighting God's timeline. We are acting like children trying to stop the rain by screaming at the clouds. The rain is coming. The question is: have you built your house on the Rock? The times are serious. The world is racing toward a conclusion that has been written since the foundation of the earth. We must stop panicking over the headlines and start preparing our hearts. We are not called to be reformers of a dying world; we are called to be rescuers of dying souls. Don't waste your energy trying to stop the ship from sinking. Use your energy to get people into the lifeboats. The hull is breached. The prophecies must be fulfilled. But you, you have a job to do. Do not be deceived by the illusion that you can fight the spiritual battle with physical weapons. The only thing that will save a soul is the Gospel. The only way to stand in the coming storm is to be rooted in the Word. Stop trying to save the world. Start trying to save the lost. The hour is late. The time is now. Choose your side and dig in. Alonso Buford.

Ezekiel Chapter 14 — Simple Explanation Chapter 14 goes deeper than false prophets. Now God deals with the root problem inside the people: idolatry in their hearts. 1. Idols in the heart (verses 1–5) Some elders come to Ezekiel to ask God for guidance. Alright—here’s a clear, straight explanation of Ezekiel 12 without the picture. What’s going on in this chapter? God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to warn the people of Israel (especially those in Jerusalem). The main message: judgment is coming, and exile is certain. 1. Ezekiel acts out a message (verses 1–7) God tells Ezekiel to act like someone going into exile: * Pack his belongings * Leave in the daytime where people can see * Dig through a wall and carry his stuff out This wasn’t random—it was a sign. It showed that the people of Jerusalem would soon be forced to leave their land as captives. 2. The people are spiritually blind (verses 2–3) God says: * They have eyes but don’t see * They have ears but don’t hear Meaning: they are ignoring God on purpose. They’ve become stubborn and rebellious. 3. The king will try to escape—but fail (verses 8–13) This part is about the king of Jerusalem (Zedekiah): * He will try to escape secretly * But he will be captured * He will be taken to Babylon Even leaders won’t escape God’s judgment. 4. Fear and suffering are coming (verses 17–20) God tells Ezekiel to: * Eat food while trembling * Drink water with fear This represents how the people will live—in anxiety, scarcity, and fear when disaster comes. 5. No more delays (verses 21–28) People were saying: “These prophecies won’t happen anytime soon.” God responds: * No more delay * What He said will happen soon God is basically saying: “Stop thinking you have forever—this is real and it’s coming.” Key message of Ezekiel 12 * God warns before He judges * Ignoring God doesn’t stop consequences * Judgment may seem delayed—but it will come * Even in judgment, God still speaks to give people a chance to wake up Simple takeaway for you This chapter is a serious reminder: Don’t ignore truth when you hear it. Because the danger isn’t not knowing—it’s knowing and refusing to respond. But God says: * These men have set up idols in their hearts * Yet they still come pretending to seek Him This is serious hypocrisy. Meaning: * You can look religious on the outside * But inside, something else is controlling you (money, power, lust, pride, etc.) God’s response: “I will answer them according to their idols.” In other words: If you choose idols, expect consequences from that choice. 2. A call to repent (verses 6–11) God gives a clear command: * Turn away from your idols * Stop all detestable practices He warns: * Anyone (even foreigners) who turns to idols and then asks God for guidance will face judgment God wants sincerity, not divided loyalty. 3. Even great righteousness won’t save a nation (verses 12–20) God gives a strong example: Even if these three righteous men were there: * Noah * Daniel * Job They would only save themselves, not the whole land. Meaning: * A nation’s sin has consequences * You can’t rely on someone else’s righteousness 4. Judgment is unavoidable—but not without purpose (verses 21–23) God lists four severe judgments: * Sword (war) * Famine * Wild beasts * Plague Yet He says: * A remnant will survive * And their story will show that God’s judgment was just Even in judgment, God leaves a witness. Key message of Ezekiel 14 * The biggest idols are often internal, not physical * God sees beyond outward religion * Personal responsibility matters—you can’t depend on others spiritually * Judgment comes, but God still leaves room for understanding and repentance Simple takeaway What controls your heart matters more than what you say with your mouth. Because God isn’t just listening to prayers— He’s looking at what you truly serve. 🙏[everyone]

Ezekiel Chapter 14 — Simple Explanation Chapter 14 goes deeper than false prophets. Now God deals with the root problem inside the people: idolatry in their hearts. 1. Idols in the heart (verses 1–5) Some elders come to Ezekiel to ask God for guidance. Alright—here’s a clear, straight explanation of Ezekiel 12 without the picture. What’s going on in this chapter? God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to warn the people of Israel (especially those in Jerusalem). The main message: judgment is coming, and exile is certain. 1. Ezekiel acts out a message (verses 1–7) God tells Ezekiel to act like someone going into exile: * Pack his belongings * Leave in the daytime where people can see * Dig through a wall and carry his stuff out This wasn’t random—it was a sign. It showed that the people of Jerusalem would soon be forced to leave their land as captives. 2. The people are spiritually blind (verses 2–3) God says: * They have eyes but don’t see * They have ears but don’t hear Meaning: they are ignoring God on purpose. They’ve become stubborn and rebellious. 3. The king will try to escape—but fail (verses 8–13) This part is about the king of Jerusalem (Zedekiah): * He will try to escape secretly * But he will be captured * He will be taken to Babylon Even leaders won’t escape God’s judgment. 4. Fear and suffering are coming (verses 17–20) God tells Ezekiel to: * Eat food while trembling * Drink water with fear This represents how the people will live—in anxiety, scarcity, and fear when disaster comes. 5. No more delays (verses 21–28) People were saying: “These prophecies won’t happen anytime soon.” God responds: * No more delay * What He said will happen soon God is basically saying: “Stop thinking you have forever—this is real and it’s coming.” Key message of Ezekiel 12 * God warns before He judges * Ignoring God doesn’t stop consequences * Judgment may seem delayed—but it will come * Even in judgment, God still speaks to give people a chance to wake up Simple takeaway for you This chapter is a serious reminder: Don’t ignore truth when you hear it. Because the danger isn’t not knowing—it’s knowing and refusing to respond. But God says: * These men have set up idols in their hearts * Yet they still come pretending to seek Him This is serious hypocrisy. Meaning: * You can look religious on the outside * But inside, something else is controlling you (money, power, lust, pride, etc.) God’s response: “I will answer them according to their idols.” In other words: If you choose idols, expect consequences from that choice. 2. A call to repent (verses 6–11) God gives a clear command: * Turn away from your idols * Stop all detestable practices He warns: * Anyone (even foreigners) who turns to idols and then asks God for guidance will face judgment God wants sincerity, not divided loyalty. 3. Even great righteousness won’t save a nation (verses 12–20) God gives a strong example: Even if these three righteous men were there: * Noah * Daniel * Job They would only save themselves, not the whole land. Meaning: * A nation’s sin has consequences * You can’t rely on someone else’s righteousness 4. Judgment is unavoidable—but not without purpose (verses 21–23) God lists four severe judgments: * Sword (war) * Famine * Wild beasts * Plague Yet He says: * A remnant will survive * And their story will show that God’s judgment was just Even in judgment, God leaves a witness. Key message of Ezekiel 14 * The biggest idols are often internal, not physical * God sees beyond outward religion * Personal responsibility matters—you can’t depend on others spiritually * Judgment comes, but God still leaves room for understanding and repentance Simple takeaway What controls your heart matters more than what you say with your mouth. Because God isn’t just listening to prayers— He’s looking at what you truly serve. 🙏

*TODAY'S PROPHETIC DECLARATION - THURSDAY, 13TH AUGUST, 2026.* 🌟*YOU SHALL HAVE CONFIDENCE BECAUSE THERE IS HOPE*🌟 📖 Scripture: “And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.” — Job 11:18 (KJV). 🔥*Reflection – Hope Gives Us Confidence* Job 11:18 reminds us that hope in God produces confidence and security. When our trust is placed in the Lord, we do not have to live continually controlled by fear about tomorrow. There may be uncertainties concerning our future, family, ministry, work, business, studies, or personal plans, but the believer's confidence rests in the faithfulness of God. Our circumstances may change, but God remains constant. Hope does not mean that we deny difficulties. Rather, it means that we face them knowing that God is with us and that our future is ultimately in His hands. Today, lift your eyes above your present circumstances. There is hope. There is a future. There is a God who is able to sustain you and lead you safely through every season. 🔊*Prophetic Declaration:* Today, I declare that I shall have confidence because there is hope. My future is not controlled by fear, uncertainty, or the plans of people; it is safely held in the hands of Almighty God. I declare that every spirit of anxiety, discouragement, hopelessness, and fear concerning tomorrow is broken by the grace of God. I receive a renewed mind, a courageous heart, and unwavering confidence in the promises of the Lord. Today, I shall rest securely because God is my Refuge and my Defender. I refuse to allow the challenges around me to steal my peace. The Lord shall give me grace to sleep peacefully, work faithfully, and live confidently. I declare that my family shall have hope. My ministry shall have hope. My work and business shall have hope. My studies shall have hope. Every dream and legitimate aspiration that aligns with God's purpose shall receive fresh strength and divine direction. I proclaim that every season of uncertainty shall give way to clarity. Every closed door that God does not want for me shall remain closed, while every door appointed by His perfect will shall open at the right time. Today, I receive the courage to plan, build, work, pray, and pursue God's purpose with confidence. I shall not abandon my assignment because of temporary difficulties. I know that God is able to establish the work of my hands. I declare that the Lord shall protect me from evil and surround me with His favor. I shall dwell in safety under His mighty hand. My going out and coming in shall be preserved, and His peace shall guard my heart and mind. I proclaim that my tomorrow shall not be worse than today. By God's grace, I am moving forward into greater spiritual maturity, greater wisdom, greater fruitfulness, and greater opportunities to serve Him. I declare that hope shall rise again in every area of my life. Where I have experienced disappointment, God shall give me renewed expectation. Where I have experienced delay, He shall teach me to trust His timing. Where I have experienced weakness, He shall renew my strength. I have hope. I have confidence. I have a future. I have a faithful God. Therefore, I shall rest securely in Him. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen! 🙏🔥 ✅*Action Steps for today:* 1️⃣ Begin your day by thanking God because your future is in His hands. 2️⃣ Read Job 11:13–20 and meditate on the connection between faith, hope, confidence, and security. 3️⃣ Declare: “I shall have confidence because there is hope. My future is secure in God's hands.” 4️⃣ Identify one area where fear has been controlling you and consciously surrender it to God in prayer. 5️⃣ Encourage someone who is discouraged today by reminding them that there is still hope in God. 6️⃣ Make one positive, faith-filled step toward a God-honoring goal you have been postponing. 7️⃣ End the day with thanksgiving, trusting God with everything concerning your future. 🔥*Prayer:* Heavenly Father, Thank You because my future is in Your hands. Thank You for giving me hope even when circumstances appear uncertain. Remove every fear, anxiety, discouragement, and hopelessness from my heart. Give me confidence to face today and courage to look forward to tomorrow. Secure my family, ministry, work, business, studies, and every area of my life. Guide my decisions and order my steps according to Your perfect will. Where I have experienced disappointment, restore my hope. Where I have experienced delay, give me patience. Where I have experienced failure, give me courage to rise again. Help me to trust You completely and to remember that my life is not without purpose. Establish the work of my hands and lead me into the future You have prepared for me. Because there is hope, I will not fear. Because You are with me, I will not be shaken. Because You are faithful, I will move forward with confidence. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🕊️ 🌿*Blessing for today:* May the Lord fill your heart with renewed hope and confidence today. May every fear concerning your future disappear, and may divine peace take its place. May God secure your household, establish your plans according to His will, protect your going out and coming in, and give you courage to pursue your God-given purpose. May every season of uncertainty become an opportunity to experience God's faithfulness. May hope rise again in every area of your life, and may your future be brighter by His grace. There is hope for you. There is a future before you. God is not finished with you! 🌟 Have confidence. 🌿 Rest in God's promises. 🔥 Keep moving forward. 🙏 Your hope is in the Lord. Good morning beloved and do have a blessed, peaceful, and hope-filled 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 Readings are from the Book of 2 Kings 3–4 | 2 Corinthians 10📌 👇 Overviews Are Below (PLEASE READ YOUR BIBLE: Overviews Do Not Replace Daily Reading) 👇 2 Kings 3 Victory Through Dependence on God 2 Kings 3 records an alliance between the kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom as they set out to suppress the rebellion of Moab. Although their military strategy appears sound, they soon find themselves in serious trouble. After days of travel, they run out of water, leaving both the armies and their animals in danger. Their greatest problem is not the enemy before them but their inability to continue without God's provision. The crisis exposes the difference between the kings. Jehoram reacts with discouragement and assumes disaster is inevitable. Jehoshaphat, however, immediately asks whether there is a prophet of the Lord through whom they can seek God's direction. The chapter reminds us that believers should seek God's wisdom before relying on human solutions, not only after those solutions fail. Elisha is brought before the kings. Although he has no respect for Jehoram's idolatry, he ministers because of Jehoshaphat's faithfulness. God graciously chooses to intervene, not because the alliance deserves His help, but because He remains faithful to His own purposes. The Lord instructs them to dig ditches throughout the valley, promising that He will provide water without wind or rain. The command requires faith. The people must prepare for God's blessing before they can see it. As they obey, God miraculously fills the valley with water, providing life for His people while simultaneously confusing the Moabites and giving Israel victory. The chapter demonstrates that God's provision often arrives in unexpected ways. The Lord is not limited by natural circumstances. He supplies what His people need according to His wisdom and timing. At the same time, the tragic conclusion involving the king of Moab reminds us of the devastating consequences of pagan worship and rebellion against God. Theologically, 2 Kings 3 reveals God's sovereignty over both nature and nations. It teaches that victory depends upon seeking the Lord rather than trusting human wisdom alone. The chapter also emphasizes that obedience often precedes visible blessing. God's people are called to trust His Word before they fully understand His methods. This chapter points to Christ, who provides living water for all who come to Him. Just as God supplied water in a dry wilderness, Jesus satisfies the deepest spiritual thirst of humanity. Through Him, believers receive life, strength, and victory that cannot be found through human effort alone. For believers today, 2 Kings 3 reminds us to seek God's guidance before relying on our own plans. When resources are exhausted and circumstances appear impossible, the Lord remains fully able to provide. In Christ, we are called to obey God's Word faithfully, trusting that He will supply every need according to His perfect wisdom and abundant grace. 2 Kings 4 The Compassionate Power of God 2 Kings 4 presents a series of miracles through Elisha that reveal God's compassion for ordinary people facing extraordinary needs. Rather than focusing on kings and nations, the chapter highlights widows, families, children, and communities. It demonstrates that God's power is not reserved only for dramatic national events but is also active in the personal struggles of His people. The chapter begins with a widow burdened by debt and the threat of losing her sons. Through Elisha, God miraculously multiplies her small supply of oil until every available container is filled. The miracle teaches that God often begins with what His people already possess, multiplying humble resources to meet overwhelming needs. His provision is abundant, yet it also requires obedience and faith. The narrative then turns to the Shunammite woman, whose generous hospitality toward God's servant is met with an unexpected blessing. God grants her a son, yet years later the child suddenly dies. Instead of surrendering to despair, she seeks the Lord through Elisha with determined faith. God restores the child's life, demonstrating His authority over death and His faithfulness to those who trust Him. The remaining miracles continue revealing God's compassionate care. Poisonous food is made safe, and a small amount of bread is multiplied to feed many people. Each miracle points beyond Elisha himself to the Lord, who delights in meeting both physical and spiritual needs. Throughout the chapter, a consistent pattern emerges. God responds to faith, honors generosity, and provides for those who depend upon Him. His miracles are not displays of power for their own sake but expressions of His loving care for His covenant people. Theologically, 2 Kings 4 reveals God's compassionate character. He is concerned with the needs of widows, grieving parents, hungry communities, and faithful servants. The chapter also demonstrates that God's resources are never limited. He is able to provide, restore, heal, and sustain according to His perfect will. This chapter points beautifully to Christ. Jesus likewise multiplied food for the hungry, raised the dead, cared for widows, and ministered with compassion to those in need. Every miracle performed through Elisha foreshadows the greater ministry of Christ, who not only meets physical needs but offers eternal life through His death and resurrection. For believers today, 2 Kings 4 reminds us that no need is too small for God's attention. He cares deeply about the struggles of everyday life and invites us to trust Him with every concern. In Christ, we serve a Savior whose compassion never fails and whose resources are limitless. As we bring our needs to Him in faith and obedience, we discover again that our God is both able and willing to provide according to His perfect love. 2 Corinthians 10 — Spiritual Warfare and the Authority of the Christ 2 Corinthians chapter 10 marks a transition in the letter as Paul begins to defend the integrity of his ministry against those who questioned his authority. Rather than responding with pride or personal ambition, he continually points the believers back to the Christ, the Son of God. The chapter reveals that the redemptive plan advances not through human strength or worldly influence, but through spiritual power that comes from God. Christian living is therefore a spiritual battle, requiring believers to rely completely upon the authority of the Christ. The chapter begins with Paul's appeal in the gentleness and meekness of the Christ. His approach reflects the character of the Son of God, who combined humility with unwavering truth. Christian leadership is not exercised through intimidation or self-promotion but through faithful obedience to the Christ. The redemptive plan is carried forward by servants who imitate the humility and compassion of their Savior. Paul then addresses accusations that he operated according to worldly methods. He acknowledges that believers live in a physical world, but he makes it clear that the battle they fight is spiritual. The weapons God provides are entirely different from those valued by the world. Human wisdom, influence, and power cannot accomplish what only the Christ can do. The redemptive plan advances through the truth of God's Word, the power of the Holy Spirit, prayer, and faithful obedience. A central emphasis of the chapter is the battle for the mind. Strongholds are described as patterns of thinking, arguments, and beliefs that oppose the knowledge of God. The Christ calls believers to bring every thought into submission to His lordship. Christian living is not merely about controlling outward behavior but allowing the truth of the Son of God to reshape the way we think. Transformation begins in the mind as believers submit every area of life to His authority. Paul also reminds the Corinthians that spiritual authority is given for building people up rather than tearing them down. The purpose of ministry is always restoration, encouragement, and growth in the Christ. The redemptive plan produces servants who seek the spiritual health of God's people rather than their own recognition or influence. The chapter addresses the danger of comparing ourselves with others. Those opposing Paul measured success by outward appearance, personal reputation, and human achievement. Paul rejects this entirely. Christian living is not about competing with other believers but faithfully fulfilling the calling God has given. The Son of God measures faithfulness rather than popularity, obedience rather than public recognition. There is also a strong emphasis on staying within the sphere of ministry God has assigned. Rather than seeking personal advancement, Paul desires only to faithfully accomplish the work entrusted to him. This demonstrates humility and contentment in the redemptive plan. The Christ appoints different responsibilities to different believers, and each is called to serve faithfully where God has placed them. The chapter concludes with a warning against self-commendation. Human approval is temporary and unreliable, but God's approval is eternal. The only praise that ultimately matters is the commendation that comes from the Christ. Christian living therefore seeks to please the Son of God above all else, recognizing that He alone judges with perfect wisdom and righteousness. Throughout this chapter, the Christ is presented as the source of true authority, true strength, and true victory. His power tears down spiritual strongholds, transforms minds, equips His servants, and advances His redemptive plan throughout the world. Every victory belongs to Him alone. For believers today, this chapter reminds us that our greatest battles are spiritual rather than merely physical. Christian living requires us to depend daily upon the power of the Christ rather than our own abilities. We are called to guard our minds with His truth, reject worldly standards of success, and faithfully serve within the calling He has given us. As we submit every thought, every ambition, and every area of life to the Son of God, we become effective servants in His redemptive plan, living for His glory rather than our own. #DailyBibleReading #OpenYourBible #StudyTheWord #ScriptureForToday #FaithJourney #GodsWord #BibleTime #WalkWithGod