Daily Devotional Save myself, by Saving other's Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 1 Timothy 4:16 I have read of a man who, journeying on a winter’s day through deep drifts of snow, became benumbed by the cold, which was almost imperceptibly freezing his vital powers. He was nearly chilled to death, and was about to give up the struggle for life, when he heard the moans of a fellow traveler who was also perishing with cold. His sympathy was aroused, and he determined to rescue him. He chafed the ice-cold limbs of the unfortunate man, and after considerable effort raised him to his feet. As the sufferer could not stand, he bore him in sympathizing arms through the very drifts he had thought he could never get through alone. When he had carried his fellow traveler to a place of safety, the truth flashed home to him that in saving his neighbor he had also saved himself. His earnest efforts to help another had quickened the blood that was freezing in his own veins and sent a healthy warmth to the extremities of his body. The lesson that in helping others we ourselves receive help must be urged upon young believers continually, by precept and example, that in their Christian experience they may gain the best results. Let the desponding ones, those disposed to think that the way to eternal life is trying and difficult, go to work to help others. Such efforts, united with prayer for divine light, will cause their own hearts to throb with the quickening influence of the grace of God, their own affections to glow with more divine fervor. Their whole Christian life will be more of a reality, more earnest, more prayerful.... The testimonies borne by them in the Sabbath services will be filled with power. With joy they will bear witness to the preciousness of the experience they have gained in working for others. [235]

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Guidelines for living. August 17th, 2026 Will You Choose a Simpler Life? You have always protected him and his home and his property from all harm. You have prospered everything he does—look how rich he is! No wonder he “worships” you! But just take away his wealth, and you’ll see him curse you to your face!” (Job 1:10-11, Living Bible How much do you really need? If everything you own was suddenly wiped out by a fire or a devastating storm, would you thank God that your life was spared, or curse because of your loss? I asked myself that question one day when a friend and I noticed that smoke was coming out of the window of a house. For a moment we sat there, not believing what we saw. Then we realized the house was on fire. I ran to a phone and called the fire department, but it was too late. An oil stove had exploded and showered the fuel throughout the house. By the time we got the fire department there and ran to the house, the entire home was one blazing inferno. There was no loss of life, but outside the flaming house stood a father and mother and a little girl about six years of age. The parents were almost beside themselves with grief. How do you console someone in an hour like that? The young father cried out, “My God—all is lost!” The little girl put her hand on her daddy’s as her mother held her tightly in her arms, and she said, “Daddy, you got mommy and me … .” If that should happen to you, would you feel like giving up? Or would you realize that with no loss of life or limb, that what really counts is not what you have but rather what you are? A Christian friend who did lose everything he owned in a fire, and could speak from personal experience, talks freely about the lessons God taught him through that. The biggest one was the tragedy of building your life around what you have. No one enjoys living in poverty. I’ve traveled too much in the world ever to buy that people who live in poverty are not bothered by what they don’t have, since they’ve never known some of the things that you have in your home. They hurt when their baby is sick, and there is no agency to provide medicine and there is no money. They hurt when the cold of winter presses through the cardboard of a squatter’s shack. In recent years the affluence of some, yes, many, has become a sharper and more noticeable contrast to the poverty of others. How much do you really need? This, of course, is a question that has no pat answer, but it has readily become apparent that no one is so affluent that he can afford to disregard the needs of others today. Evangelist Leighton Ford believes that the simple life which pleases God today is one that gets its priorities straight. “We are going to have to lead simpler lives in the future,” said Ford. No question about that. The question is, “Will it be because we are forced to, or because we choose to?” Every sincere individual must come to grips with the responsibility that we have to God in areas of our stewardship. And “what is stewardship?” you might ask. It’s an old English word that originally meant the supervision of another’s wealth or possessions. Literally, a steward was a “house warden.” He was the person to whom the master had entrusted his possessions; the steward was directly responsible to the owner. If you can begin to think of your possessions as a stewardship, given to you by God, who will someday demand an accounting, you will begin to think of material goods and possessions in a different light. With the changing world scene today, it’s become apparent that everyone will have to change some of the ways we have done things; the big question is, “Will it be because we are forced to, or because we choose to, as God’s direction for our lives?” Resource Reading: Job 1:1-22

✝️ TO THE CHRISTIAN WHO IS READY TO QUIT Please don't scroll past this. This may be for you. This is for the Christian who is tired of pretending. The one who still believes Jesus is Lord, yet secretly wonders, “Why is my heart so cold?” The one who has prayed thousands of prayers and feels like heaven has been silent. The one who reads the Bible but struggles to feel anything. The one who battles temptation, grief, anxiety, disappointment, or loneliness and thinks, “Maybe I'm just a terrible Christian.” If that's you… You are not alone. And more importantly: Jesus has not abandoned you. “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18 Notice that Scripture does not say God is only near to the joyful or the victorious. He is especially near to the brokenhearted. Even God's greatest servants wanted to quit Sometimes we imagine that real Christians never struggle. The Bible tells a very different story. David cried until his tears became his food. “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God.” — Psalm 42:11 Elijah called down fire from heaven, yet afterward he became so discouraged that he asked God to let him die (1 Kings 19). God didn't rebuke him first—He gave him rest, food, and His gentle presence. Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet. Paul admitted he was under such great pressure that he despaired of life itself. The strongest believers are not those who never struggle. They are the ones who keep returning to Christ. Maybe you're exhausted from trying to be “good enough” Many Christians live as though God's love depends on today's performance. We fail. We feel ashamed. We hide. We try harder. We fail again. But listen to the invitation of Jesus: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 Jesus did not say: Come when you've fixed yourself. He said: Come while you're weary. That changes everything. God is not asking you to carry yourself Some of you are carrying burdens you were never meant to carry. The grief of losing someone you love. Financial pressure. Health problems. Depression. Spiritual dryness. Regret over past sins. Fear about the future. Hear the Word of God: “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7 Not some of it. All of it. Every fear. Every question. Every sleepless night. Every tear you've cried when nobody else knew. When you feel like God is far away Feelings can be powerful. But they are not always truthful. God's promise is greater than our emotions. “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” — Hebrews 13:5 You may not feel His presence. You may not understand His timing. But His promise has not changed. He is faithful even when our feelings rise and fall. Your failures do not have the final word Perhaps you've fallen into the same sin again. Perhaps you've made promises to God that you've broken. Perhaps you're ashamed. Listen carefully. Satan says, “Hide from God.” Jesus says, “Come to Me.” “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9 The cross is not permission to continue in sin. The cross is proof that forgiveness is available for the repentant heart. There is mercy for those who return. Don't confuse a difficult season with a defeated life Winter is not the end of the tree. Night is not the end of the day. Friday was not the end of Jesus. Resurrection came. Your story is still being written by God. “Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” — Psalm 30:5 Morning does come. Sometimes slowly. But it comes. When your faith feels like a tiny ember Maybe you used to burn with passion. Now you barely have enough strength to whisper a prayer. Take hope from this beautiful promise: “A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out.” — Isaiah 42:3 Jesus specializes in restoring smoldering hearts. He does not crush weak believers. He restores them. If today is all you have… Then don't worry about surviving the next ten years. Walk with Jesus today. If you can't run… Walk. If you can't walk… Stand. If you can't stand… Kneel. If all you can pray is one sentence, let it be: “Jesus, hold on to me because I'm struggling to hold on to You.” That prayer is precious to God. God's grace is greater than your weakness Paul pleaded for his hardship to be removed. God answered him with these words: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9 Notice this: God did not say, “Your strength is enough.” He said, “My grace is enough.” Your weakness is not the end of God's work. It is often where His power becomes most visible. Hold tightly to these promises “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” — Lamentations 3:22–23 “Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles.” — Isaiah 40:31 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you… Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” — John 14:27 “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 1:6 God finishes what He starts. He has not given up on you. 🙏 A Prayer for Every Weary Christian Heavenly Father, I pray for every brother and sister in Christ who is reading this with tears in their eyes. Some are exhausted. Some are grieving. Some feel spiritually numb. Some are secretly ready to walk away from the faith. Lord Jesus, draw near to them exactly as You promised. Let the brokenhearted feel Your presence. Replace despair with hope, shame with forgiveness, fear with peace, and weariness with renewed strength. Holy Spirit, breathe fresh life into hearts that have grown cold. Restore the joy of salvation. Give us a hunger for Your Word, a love for prayer, and the courage to keep following Jesus one day at a time. Teach us to trust Your promises more than our feelings. Keep our eyes fixed upon Christ until the day we see Him face to face. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, Amen. ❤️ BEFORE YOU QUIT… REMEMBER THIS God still loves you. Christ still intercedes for you. The Holy Spirit has not stopped working in you. Your story is not over. “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9 ✝️ DON'T QUIT. KEEP LOOKING TO JESUS. He is still the Good Shepherd. He is still the Savior. He is still enough. I can totally relate to those who are hurting, angry, frustrated towards God Especially after losing someone precious to death, despite you prayed your heart out and yet if feels like your prayers fell on deaf ears up there! I really was ready to walk away from God myself last year. But after much soul searching. No matter what. I just can't live without Father Jehovah God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit! Plus I don't want the Devil the Satisfaction of quitting on God. I have permanently decided to stick with God & Jesus Christ no matter what happens in my life. Jesus is the anchor of my heart and soul, and my true peace! Very Sincerely, Markus Klinger Markus4Jesus@yahoo.ca London, Ontario, Canada ===================================================================== ✝️ TO THE CHRISTIAN WHO IS READY TO QUIT Please don't scroll past this. This may be for you. This is for the Christian who is tired of pretending. The one who still believes Jesus is Lord, yet secretly wonders, “Why is my heart so cold?” The one who has prayed thousands of prayers and feels like heaven has been silent. The one who reads the Bible but struggles to feel anything. The one who battles temptation, grief, anxiety, disappointment, or loneliness and thinks, “Maybe I'm just a terrible Christian.” If that's you… You are not alone. And more importantly: Jesus has not abandoned you. “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18 Notice that Scripture does not say God is only near to the joyful or the victorious. He is especially near to the brokenhearted. Even God's greatest servants wanted to quit Sometimes we imagine that real Christians never struggle. The Bible tells a very different story. David cried until his tears became his food. “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God.” — Psalm 42:11 Elijah called down fire from heaven, yet afterward he became so discouraged that he asked God to let him die (1 Kings 19). God didn't rebuke him first—He gave him rest, food, and His gentle presence. Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet. Paul admitted he was under such great pressure that he despaired of life itself. The strongest believers are not those who never struggle. They are the ones who keep returning to Christ. Maybe you're exhausted from trying to be “good enough” Many Christians live as though God's love depends on today's performance. We fail. We feel ashamed. We hide. We try harder. We fail again. But listen to the invitation of Jesus: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 Jesus did not say: Come when you've fixed yourself. He said: Come while you're weary. That changes everything. God is not asking you to carry yourself Some of you are carrying burdens you were never meant to carry. The grief of losing someone you love. Financial pressure. Health problems. Depression. Spiritual dryness. Regret over past sins. Fear about the future. Hear the Word of God: “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7 Not some of it. All of it. Every fear. Every question. Every sleepless night. Every tear you've cried when nobody else knew. When you feel like God is far away Feelings can be powerful. But they are not always truthful. God's promise is greater than our emotions. “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” — Hebrews 13:5 You may not feel His presence. You may not understand His timing. But His promise has not changed. He is faithful even when our feelings rise and fall. Your failures do not have the final word Perhaps you've fallen into the same sin again. Perhaps you've made promises to God that you've broken. Perhaps you're ashamed. Listen carefully. Satan says, “Hide from God.” Jesus says, “Come to Me.” “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9 The cross is not permission to continue in sin. The cross is proof that forgiveness is available for the repentant heart. There is mercy for those who return. Don't confuse a difficult season with a defeated life Winter is not the end of the tree. Night is not the end of the day. Friday was not the end of Jesus. Resurrection came. Your story is still being written by God. “Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” — Psalm 30:5 Morning does come. Sometimes slowly. But it comes. When your faith feels like a tiny ember Maybe you used to burn with passion. Now you barely have enough strength to whisper a prayer. Take hope from this beautiful promise: “A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out.” — Isaiah 42:3 Jesus specializes in restoring smoldering hearts. He does not crush weak believers. He restores them. If today is all you have… Then don't worry about surviving the next ten years. Walk with Jesus today. If you can't run… Walk. If you can't walk… Stand. If you can't stand… Kneel. If all you can pray is one sentence, let it be: “Jesus, hold on to me because I'm struggling to hold on to You.” That prayer is precious to God. God's grace is greater than your weakness Paul pleaded for his hardship to be removed. God answered him with these words: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9 Notice this: God did not say, “Your strength is enough.” He said, “My grace is enough.” Your weakness is not the end of God's work. It is often where His power becomes most visible. Hold tightly to these promises “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” — Lamentations 3:22–23 “Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles.” — Isaiah 40:31 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you… Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” — John 14:27 “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 1:6 God finishes what He starts. He has not given up on you. 🙏 A Prayer for Every Weary Christian Heavenly Father, I pray for every brother and sister in Christ who is reading this with tears in their eyes. Some are exhausted. Some are grieving. Some feel spiritually numb. Some are secretly ready to walk away from the faith. Lord Jesus, draw near to them exactly as You promised. Let the brokenhearted feel Your presence. Replace despair with hope, shame with forgiveness, fear with peace, and weariness with renewed strength. Holy Spirit, breathe fresh life into hearts that have grown cold. Restore the joy of salvation. Give us a hunger for Your Word, a love for prayer, and the courage to keep following Jesus one day at a time. Teach us to trust Your promises more than our feelings. Keep our eyes fixed upon Christ until the day we see Him face to face. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, Amen. ❤️ BEFORE YOU QUIT… REMEMBER THIS God still loves you. Christ still intercedes for you. The Holy Spirit has not stopped working in you. Your story is not over. “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9 ✝️ DON'T QUIT. KEEP LOOKING TO JESUS. He is still the Good Shepherd. He is still the Savior. He is still enough. ======================================================================= I can totally relate to those who are hurting, angry, frustrated towards God Especially after losing someone precious to death, despite you prayed your heart out and yet if feels like your prayers fell on deaf ears up there! I really was ready to walk away from God myself last year. But after much soul searching. No matter what. I just can't live without Father Jehovah God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit! Plus I don't want the Devil the Satisfaction of quitting on God. I have permanently decided to stick with God & Jesus Christ no matter what happens in my life. Jesus is the anchor of my heart and soul, and my true peace! Very Sincerely, Markus Klinger Markus4Jesus@yahoo.ca London, Ontario, Canada

✝️ TO THE CHRISTIAN WHO IS READY TO QUIT Please don't scroll past this. This may be for you. This is for the Christian who is tired of pretending. The one who still believes Jesus is Lord, yet secretly wonders, “Why is my heart so cold?” The one who has prayed thousands of prayers and feels like heaven has been silent. The one who reads the Bible but struggles to feel anything. The one who battles temptation, grief, anxiety, disappointment, or loneliness and thinks, “Maybe I'm just a terrible Christian.” If that's you… You are not alone. And more importantly: Jesus has not abandoned you. “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18 Notice that Scripture does not say God is only near to the joyful or the victorious. He is especially near to the brokenhearted. Even God's greatest servants wanted to quit Sometimes we imagine that real Christians never struggle. The Bible tells a very different story. David cried until his tears became his food. “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God.” — Psalm 42:11 Elijah called down fire from heaven, yet afterward he became so discouraged that he asked God to let him die (1 Kings 19). God didn't rebuke him first—He gave him rest, food, and His gentle presence. Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet. Paul admitted he was under such great pressure that he despaired of life itself. The strongest believers are not those who never struggle. They are the ones who keep returning to Christ. Maybe you're exhausted from trying to be “good enough” Many Christians live as though God's love depends on today's performance. We fail. We feel ashamed. We hide. We try harder. We fail again. But listen to the invitation of Jesus: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 Jesus did not say: Come when you've fixed yourself. He said: Come while you're weary. That changes everything. God is not asking you to carry yourself Some of you are carrying burdens you were never meant to carry. The grief of losing someone you love. Financial pressure. Health problems. Depression. Spiritual dryness. Regret over past sins. Fear about the future. Hear the Word of God: “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7 Not some of it. All of it. Every fear. Every question. Every sleepless night. Every tear you've cried when nobody else knew. When you feel like God is far away Feelings can be powerful. But they are not always truthful. God's promise is greater than our emotions. “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” — Hebrews 13:5 You may not feel His presence. You may not understand His timing. But His promise has not changed. He is faithful even when our feelings rise and fall. Your failures do not have the final word Perhaps you've fallen into the same sin again. Perhaps you've made promises to God that you've broken. Perhaps you're ashamed. Listen carefully. Satan says, “Hide from God.” Jesus says, “Come to Me.” “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9 The cross is not permission to continue in sin. The cross is proof that forgiveness is available for the repentant heart. There is mercy for those who return. Don't confuse a difficult season with a defeated life Winter is not the end of the tree. Night is not the end of the day. Friday was not the end of Jesus. Resurrection came. Your story is still being written by God. “Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” — Psalm 30:5 Morning does come. Sometimes slowly. But it comes. When your faith feels like a tiny ember Maybe you used to burn with passion. Now you barely have enough strength to whisper a prayer. Take hope from this beautiful promise: “A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out.” — Isaiah 42:3 Jesus specializes in restoring smoldering hearts. He does not crush weak believers. He restores them. If today is all you have… Then don't worry about surviving the next ten years. Walk with Jesus today. If you can't run… Walk. If you can't walk… Stand. If you can't stand… Kneel. If all you can pray is one sentence, let it be: “Jesus, hold on to me because I'm struggling to hold on to You.” That prayer is precious to God. God's grace is greater than your weakness Paul pleaded for his hardship to be removed. God answered him with these words: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9 Notice this: God did not say, “Your strength is enough.” He said, “My grace is enough.” Your weakness is not the end of God's work. It is often where His power becomes most visible. Hold tightly to these promises “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” — Lamentations 3:22–23 “Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles.” — Isaiah 40:31 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you… Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” — John 14:27 “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 1:6 God finishes what He starts. He has not given up on you. 🙏 A Prayer for Every Weary Christian Heavenly Father, I pray for every brother and sister in Christ who is reading this with tears in their eyes. Some are exhausted. Some are grieving. Some feel spiritually numb. Some are secretly ready to walk away from the faith. Lord Jesus, draw near to them exactly as You promised. Let the brokenhearted feel Your presence. Replace despair with hope, shame with forgiveness, fear with peace, and weariness with renewed strength. Holy Spirit, breathe fresh life into hearts that have grown cold. Restore the joy of salvation. Give us a hunger for Your Word, a love for prayer, and the courage to keep following Jesus one day at a time. Teach us to trust Your promises more than our feelings. Keep our eyes fixed upon Christ until the day we see Him face to face. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, Amen. ❤️ BEFORE YOU QUIT… REMEMBER THIS God still loves you. Christ still intercedes for you. The Holy Spirit has not stopped working in you. Your story is not over. “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9 ✝️ DON'T QUIT. KEEP LOOKING TO JESUS. He is still the Good Shepherd. He is still the Savior. He is still enough. I can totally relate to those who are hurting, angry, frustrated towards God Especially after losing someone precious to death, despite you prayed your heart out and yet if feels like your prayers fell on deaf ears up there! I really was ready to walk away from God myself last year. But after much soul searching. No matter what. I just can't live without Father Jehovah God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit! Plus I don't want the Devil the Satisfaction of quitting on God. I have permanently decided to stick with God & Jesus Christ no matter what happens in my life. Jesus is the anchor of my heart and soul, and my true peace! Very Sincerely, Markus Klinger Markus4Jesus@yahoo.ca London, Ontario, Canada ===================================================================== ✝️ TO THE CHRISTIAN WHO IS READY TO QUIT Please don't scroll past this. This may be for you. This is for the Christian who is tired of pretending. The one who still believes Jesus is Lord, yet secretly wonders, “Why is my heart so cold?” The one who has prayed thousands of prayers and feels like heaven has been silent. The one who reads the Bible but struggles to feel anything. The one who battles temptation, grief, anxiety, disappointment, or loneliness and thinks, “Maybe I'm just a terrible Christian.” If that's you… You are not alone. And more importantly: Jesus has not abandoned you. “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18 Notice that Scripture does not say God is only near to the joyful or the victorious. He is especially near to the brokenhearted. Even God's greatest servants wanted to quit Sometimes we imagine that real Christians never struggle. The Bible tells a very different story. David cried until his tears became his food. “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God.” — Psalm 42:11 Elijah called down fire from heaven, yet afterward he became so discouraged that he asked God to let him die (1 Kings 19). God didn't rebuke him first—He gave him rest, food, and His gentle presence. Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet. Paul admitted he was under such great pressure that he despaired of life itself. The strongest believers are not those who never struggle. They are the ones who keep returning to Christ. Maybe you're exhausted from trying to be “good enough” Many Christians live as though God's love depends on today's performance. We fail. We feel ashamed. We hide. We try harder. We fail again. But listen to the invitation of Jesus: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 Jesus did not say: Come when you've fixed yourself. He said: Come while you're weary. That changes everything. God is not asking you to carry yourself Some of you are carrying burdens you were never meant to carry. The grief of losing someone you love. Financial pressure. Health problems. Depression. Spiritual dryness. Regret over past sins. Fear about the future. Hear the Word of God: “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7 Not some of it. All of it. Every fear. Every question. Every sleepless night. Every tear you've cried when nobody else knew. When you feel like God is far away Feelings can be powerful. But they are not always truthful. God's promise is greater than our emotions. “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” — Hebrews 13:5 You may not feel His presence. You may not understand His timing. But His promise has not changed. He is faithful even when our feelings rise and fall. Your failures do not have the final word Perhaps you've fallen into the same sin again. Perhaps you've made promises to God that you've broken. Perhaps you're ashamed. Listen carefully. Satan says, “Hide from God.” Jesus says, “Come to Me.” “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9 The cross is not permission to continue in sin. The cross is proof that forgiveness is available for the repentant heart. There is mercy for those who return. Don't confuse a difficult season with a defeated life Winter is not the end of the tree. Night is not the end of the day. Friday was not the end of Jesus. Resurrection came. Your story is still being written by God. “Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” — Psalm 30:5 Morning does come. Sometimes slowly. But it comes. When your faith feels like a tiny ember Maybe you used to burn with passion. Now you barely have enough strength to whisper a prayer. Take hope from this beautiful promise: “A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out.” — Isaiah 42:3 Jesus specializes in restoring smoldering hearts. He does not crush weak believers. He restores them. If today is all you have… Then don't worry about surviving the next ten years. Walk with Jesus today. If you can't run… Walk. If you can't walk… Stand. If you can't stand… Kneel. If all you can pray is one sentence, let it be: “Jesus, hold on to me because I'm struggling to hold on to You.” That prayer is precious to God. God's grace is greater than your weakness Paul pleaded for his hardship to be removed. God answered him with these words: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9 Notice this: God did not say, “Your strength is enough.” He said, “My grace is enough.” Your weakness is not the end of God's work. It is often where His power becomes most visible. Hold tightly to these promises “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” — Lamentations 3:22–23 “Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles.” — Isaiah 40:31 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you… Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” — John 14:27 “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 1:6 God finishes what He starts. He has not given up on you. 🙏 A Prayer for Every Weary Christian Heavenly Father, I pray for every brother and sister in Christ who is reading this with tears in their eyes. Some are exhausted. Some are grieving. Some feel spiritually numb. Some are secretly ready to walk away from the faith. Lord Jesus, draw near to them exactly as You promised. Let the brokenhearted feel Your presence. Replace despair with hope, shame with forgiveness, fear with peace, and weariness with renewed strength. Holy Spirit, breathe fresh life into hearts that have grown cold. Restore the joy of salvation. Give us a hunger for Your Word, a love for prayer, and the courage to keep following Jesus one day at a time. Teach us to trust Your promises more than our feelings. Keep our eyes fixed upon Christ until the day we see Him face to face. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, Amen. ❤️ BEFORE YOU QUIT… REMEMBER THIS God still loves you. Christ still intercedes for you. The Holy Spirit has not stopped working in you. Your story is not over. “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9 ✝️ DON'T QUIT. KEEP LOOKING TO JESUS. He is still the Good Shepherd. He is still the Savior. He is still enough. ========================================================== I can totally relate to those who are hurting, angry, frustrated towards God Especially after losing someone precious to death, despite you prayed your heart out and yet if feels like your prayers fell on deaf ears up there! I really was ready to walk away from God myself last year. But after much soul searching. No matter what. I just can't live without Father Jehovah God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit! Plus I don't want the Devil the Satisfaction of quitting on God. I have permanently decided to stick with God & Jesus Christ no matter what happens in my life. Jesus is the anchor of my heart and soul, and my true peace! Very Sincerely, Markus Klinger Markus4Jesus@yahoo.ca London, Ontario, Canada

❤️HOW TO KNOW GOD'S WILL FOR IMPORTANT DECISIONS IN YOUR LIFE. Part 4 of 6. How God Makes Known His Will for Specific Decisions and Needs. Continued. This is, in the final analysis, merely an attempt to sanctify doubt and unbelief about healing, as well as an attempt to place the responsibility back on God for the healing. However, if those who attempt to do this knew the Word as they should they would know that God has already placed the responsibility for receiving anything from Him on them, saying, "all things whatsoever YOU shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive" (Mt. 21:22). God has promised that "the prayer of faith shall heal the sick." He did not qualify this by adding "sometimes"; nor did He say that "the prayer of faith shall heal only some types of diseases." If those who are confused would examine the Scriptures carefully on the subject of healing, they would discover that, although there are conditions one must meet, nevertheless, there are no exceptions to God's promises (Num. 23:19, 2 Cor. 1:20). Occasionally someone will relate an alleged exception, citing some instance which they have heard of where some individual had asked God for healing, or was anointed with oil and prayed for, but who, nevertheless, failed to receive healing, or actually died. Invariably, however, when it has been possible to ascertain all the facts in the case, we find that the so-called "exception" to divine healing was not an exception at all, but the failure on someone's part to meet the necessary "conditions." Without reservation God promises in James 5:15 that "the prayer of faith will heal the sick." He gives no exceptions to this promise; but He does, within the same context in which He gives us this promise, set forth several conditions for receiving it. For instance, He states that (1) it is the responsibility of the sick person to call for the elders of the church for prayer for healing (often you will find in the case of an individual who did not receive healing after anointing and prayer that the elders were called to come and pray by some sympathetic friend or member of the family, not by the sick individual himself, who in reality did not know what the Scriptures had to say about the matter, and as a consequence he did not have the faith to appropriate his healing. The reason God requires this condition to be met is simply because that it implies faith on the part of the sick individual for him to take the initiative and call for the elders to come and pray for his healing, (2) the sick are to be anointed with oil; (3) this is to be done in the name of the Lord (Jesus), (4) the sick should confess his faults so that he may be healed; and (5) the prayer of faith is to be offered (Jam. 5:15-16). The neglect of any one of these conditions, when healing is applied for on the basis of James 5, is sufficient reason to nullify the promise. Again in Exodus 15:26 God promises that sickness shall not come upon His people, saying, "I am the Lord that heals you." There are no exceptions to this promise, since the meaning of His Name, Yahweh Ropheka, signifies "I am the Lord that heals you," but there is a condition set forth in this same verse for receiving its application - obedience to His Word. There is prevalent today the popular but unscriptural notion that it is God's will to allow sickness, which He often places upon His children for His glory, or as a blessing in disguise, in order to teach them patience and humility, or to develop a deeper trust in Him. Thus, for most Christians there is only the unhappy prospect of an endless round of going to the doctors and the hospital, being subjected to surgery, and taking medicines and drugs while the medical insurance companies are growing rich in consequence of the mental and physical afflictions which result from their fears and unscriptural ideas concerning sickness. Therefore, Christians must be liberated from their erroneous ideas concerning sickness and healing if they are ever to be able to exercise sufficient faith for healing and health. There is but one way this can be done: through the Word of God, which is a revelation of His will concerning the believer's spiritual, physical, mental, and temporal welfare. It is in God's Word that they will discover that sickness is from Satan (Job 2:6-7; Lu. 13:10-16; 1Cor. 5:5; Acts 10:38), and that healing has been provided and promised by God (Isa. 53:4 with Mt. 8:16-17. Isaiah 53:4 reads Literally in the Hebrew: "Surely he hath carried away our diseases, and borne our pain." Ex. 15:26, Ps. 103:3; Mk. 16:17-18; l Cor.12:28; Jam. 5:14-16, I Pet. 2:24; 3 John 2). Did you know that every believer is invited to walk through life on a pathway literally paved with the promises of God? Did you know that you are promised health and your needs met, as well as spiritual blessings? Did you know that God has promised to give you wisdom, help, and guidance, as well as direct your steps day to day? A promise of God is to be looked upon as you do a check, it is to be endorsed by faith and taken to the bank and cashed. God invites you to open His Word and see just what is on deposit to your account as a joint-heir with Christ. When you do, you will find thousands of promises such as - "My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19). "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give you the desires of thine heart" Ps 37:4) . "All things, whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive" (Matt. 21:22). "Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers" (3 John 2). "There shall no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling" (Ps. 91:10). "These signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" (Mk. 16:17-18). "If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed ... nothing shall be impossible unto you" (Matt. 17:20). "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you" (Isa. 26:3). "The prayer of faith shall heal the sick" (Jam. 5:15). "He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation" (Ps. 91:15-16). "I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring" (Isa. 44:3; Acts 16:31). "Seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things (temporal blessings) shall be added unto you" (Matt. 6:33). "Behold, I give unto you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt You"( Lu. 10:19). "If you shall ask anything in my name, I will do it" (Jn. 14:14). "If two of you agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them by my Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 18:19). "What things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them" (Mk. 11:24). "No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly" (Ps. 84:11). "All things are yours; whether the world, or life, or death, all things present, all things to come, all are yours" (1 Cor. 3:21-22). "Bless the Lord, O my soul…who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; who redeemed your life from destruction; who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies; who satisfied your mouth with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's" (Ps. 103:1-5). "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us, and if we know that if he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him" (1 Jn. 5:14-15). "We may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me" (Heb. 13:6). For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Tim. 1:7). "Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find, knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for everyone that asks receives; and he that seeks, finds; and to him that knocks It shall be opened" (Matt. 7:7-8). These are just some of the countless promises God has made to us, each of which may be appropriated by an act of faith on our part. In Psalm 37 alone there are over forty promises made to the believers! Most Christians, however, because of erroneous teaching concerning their rights, privileges, position, and inheritance, are going through life like beggars and paupers while walking on a pathway paved with the promises of God. What is the reason for this? The answer is to be found in Jesus' words in John 15:7, "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you." Because His Word is not abiding in them in any meaningful way the vast majority of Christians today find it difficult to believe that God is also interested in their physical and temporal needs, just as He is in their spiritual welfare. In spite of the fact that He clearly states, "Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers" (3 Jn. 2). As a result of erroneous teaching, most seem obsessed with the unscriptural notion that a Christian cannot really be spiritual, healthy, and prosperous at the same time. They seem to think that God objects to them being out of debt or a success in life. But you can search the Scriptures from cover to cover and you will not find any place where God encourages His people to be failures in life, sick and diseased, bound to a bed of affliction, or so financially burdened and distressed that they have no time for serving him, or for growth in the spirit. On the contrary, He admonishes us five times in Matthew 8:19f. to "take no thought" for our temporal needs but to put the needs of the kingdom first and that He will supply all that we need. The scriptures declare that our inheritance belongs to us now, whereas the unbelieving contemporary church has insisted that we are not to benefit from these blessings in the present life, but only in the world to come. However, God says that all things are yours now - the world, life, death, things present, as well as things to come (1 Cor. 3:21-22). These blessings and promises do not have to be begged for. God does not have to be persuaded to fulfill His Word to us. Why? Simply because He has already said "yes" to all that He has promised us, even before we ask, "For all the promises of God in him (Christ) are yes, and in him Amen" (2 Cor. 1:20). Do you believe what God offers you in the Scriptures? Do you really accept God's promise that "all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive?" Do you believe God's declaration that you are a joint-heir with Christ? A joint-heir with whom? He did not say that you are a joint-heir with the angels, or with the cherubim or seraphim; He did not say that you are a joint-heir with the apostles or the prophets, but that you are a joint-heir with Christ– He who said that "the gold and silver and the cattle on a thousand hills are mine, and you are a joint-heir with Me". He who said, "All power is given me in heaven and in earth," and I in turn give it unto you, for "in my name you shall cast out devils and lay hands on the sick and they shall recover"; He who said, "My God will supply all your need according to his riches in glory;" yes, it is He who said, "Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it to you." If you really believe that you are a joint-heir with Christ, and that all things are yours now, then why do you content yourself any longer with a stone when He offers you bread Lu. 11:9-13)? Why be satisfied with only a drink of water (Jn. 4), when He also promises that a river of water will flow out of you (Jn.7:37-39)? Why lament any longer as the elder brother did because of his lack? Rise up and take your inheritance as his father invited him to do, saying to him, "All things are yours and you have merely to lift up your voice and ask for whatsoever you desire and you shall receive it" (Lu 15:11-31). It is tragic that the churches today are filled with sick and diseased Christians, many of whom are dying prematurely, simply because they have not been taught that God has provided healing for them in Christ's atonement (Isa. 53) and promised it to them in His Word, and that they could appropriate it for themselves if they too would but ask! God said long ago that "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (Hos. 4:6). When God's Word abides in your heart as it should, then you will come to see that it is God's will that you begin to possess your possessions now by faith as a testimony that His Word is true, and in order that you might be free of sickness, fear, worry, and anxiety, and also liberated from financial bondage in order to serve Him effectively. But until you search the Word and believe your inheritance, then life will consist for you, as for most Christians, of 365 days of just getting by somehow, days filled with cares, problems and worries, hoping that you can stay well for a few weeks at a time, praying that the old car will hold out through the winter, begging God to help you keep your head above water financially and pay of the mortgage eventually before you die, hoping and praying that God, some day and some how, will save your children, and so on. Such a mediocre form of existence is not God's will for His children, because He has revealed in the Scriptures the key to victorious living 385 days a year, for it is in the Word that we find that God has given an extensive revelation of His will and purpose for us. The Scriptures are filled with divine assurances and promises of our rights, privileges, position, and authority. God assures us that we are joint-heirs with Christ, seated in the heavens with Him, far above all principalities and powers, and that He has made adequate provision for our every temporal and spiritual need, as well as for the accomplishment of His will. He has promised us that all these provisions and blessings are available to the extent that we are willing to press through by faith and appropriate them. To be ignorant of this abundance of revelation concerning His will, either because of our neglect of study, or due to a lack of biblical teaching, is to be ignorant of the main source of knowledge concerning His will for us. Therefore, it is useless to pray for God to reveal His will for you, or give you special guidance regarding such matters as, for example, healing, deliverance, divine protection, salvation of loved ones, walking by faith, provision for temporal needs, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues, marriage and divorce, the crucified life, our rights and inheritance, or how to obtain His blessings and promises. He has already furnished a written revelation of His will for us concerning such matters, saying, "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." Thus, the Scriptures themselves are one of the main sources of knowledge concerning God's will and how we are to apply it to our needs; it is only to the extent we know His Word that we will know His will, for the Psalmist tells us, "Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Ps. 119:105). Through Prayer: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him (Jam. 1:5). We have clearly offered here, a gracious encouragement to ask for divine guidance, with the definite promise that the necessary impartation of wisdom will be given. This method of ascertaining the will of God is so obvious it is often overlooked by many Christians. Do you need wisdom in making some important decisions? Is there a problem confronting you that seems to defy solution? Do you desire to know God's will about some matter before taking action? Have you tried asking God? "Ask God?" is often the puzzled reply. "No, I have asked the pastor. Our family physician was consulted once or twice, as was our analyst. And the opinion of some close friends has been occasionally sought, but ask God? Frankly I was not aware that we were supposed to ask Him concerning daily personal decisions which we must make. Such as regarding a solution to things such as domestic problems, changing places of employment, selling a home or business, moving to another state to live, which church to attend, whom to marry, or planning a career. Are we really to pray about such things? Will God actually give us the solution to such problems and needs? Can we receive divine guidance merely by asking for it?" many bewildered Christians inquire. Yes. You may learn God's will about some particular matter by asking Him to show you, "for everyone that asks receives" (Mt 7:8), and "you have not because you ask not" (Jam. 4:2). If you lack an understanding concerning God's will about some matter, if you are confused or uncertain about some decision you must make, and you have met the the conditions just discussed concerning consecration and abiding in His Word, then it can only mean that you have not asked in faith for the solution, for He clearly states in James 1:5 that if we lack wisdom, we need but to ask and it shall be given. Assuming you have met the other conditions, then your knowledge of God's will in your life will come in direct proportion to your asking. God does not make such a promise carelessly. If we lack understanding, it is because we do not ask of Him. Too many Christians find it easier to ask for advice from the pastor, marriage counselor, psychiatrist, or some acquaintance, instead of devoting this time to meeting the necessary conditions, then asking of God and waiting upon Him to reveal His will in the matter. Yes, it is necessary to wait upon the Lord to answer in His own time and way, for although He promises in Psalm 91:15, "He shall call upon me, and I will answer him," God has also told us to "wait on the Lord: be at good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord" (Ps 27:14). Because they feel that a more direct approach to the matter will not only bring an easier but also a more prompt solution to the problem, most Christians seem to favor seeking local assistance from others, reserving their communications with heaven to those instances when all other avenues seem to be closed. As a result, they have come to look upon prayer much as they do a fire escape–to be used only in case of an emergency. Although God promises to reveal His will to those who will ask, it must be emphasized, however, that prayer is only as effective as our obedience to the conditions God has set forth. This illustrates the importance of being grounded in the Word of God, for only in this way can we remove any hindrance to the revelation of His will. He invites us to ask for wisdom and guidance, but He conditions this, for instance, by saying that if we regard iniquity in our hearts He will not hear our prayers (Ps. 66:18; Isa. 59:1-2). He tells us in 1 John 5:14-15 that we must conform our prayers to His Word, for we are promised that if we ask anything according to His will, then He hears us and grants to us the petition which we desire. Again, we are told that "He that turns away his ear from hearing the Word, even his prayer shall be an abomination" (Prov. 28:9). Edited. Shared. To be Continued. ❤️ God willing, more will be posted soon. All glory to Jesus alone.

Three Angels Broadcasting Network Devotional. Music to My Ears By Jenni Poling August 4th, 2026 “For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.” Song of Solomon 2:11–12 What is the sign of the coming of spring for you? The first green blades of grass? Robins in the yard? For me, the frog choruses are always what I look forward to. When I lived in Michigan, I was amazed to hear the tap-tap-tapping of the wood frogs as soon as the ice thawed; but in southern Illinois, the first songs we hear are the chorus frogs, followed closely by the spring peepers. The former reminds me of the sound you get when you run your finger over the tines of a comb, and the latter sounds like the cheeping of little birds. These are soon followed by the wailing of Fowler’s toads, the snoring sounds of the crayfish frogs, and the cackling of the southern leopard frogs. I often like to tell people that the crayfish frogs are snoring and the leopard frogs are laughing at them! More voices soon follow, for the sounds of other species will take up the call as the first ones cease. There will be voices all summer long and well into the fall. While it isn’t exactly music, frog sounds fill my heart with joy. God’s funny, rubbery little creatures sing with such boldness and abandon! Only the threat of imminent danger will silence them—and then, only temporarily. God is always faithful. As we move through the seasons of our lives, we may mourn the losses and ignore the gains. One constant remains, however: God is with us through everything. Our Creator never tires of sending us evidence of His love, from one season to the next. The same God is the Creator of all, and He never changes. Bible prophecies tell us that difficult and dangerous times are coming. God has revealed these things because He wants His people to be forewarned, not surprised. But instead of gaining confidence because of the trustworthiness of God’s Word, some are filled with fear or panic instead. Perhaps, like the frogs, they will lapse into frightened silence. So how is it with your heart? Is the future still something to look forward to? Do you fear it or face it with the expectation of good? Trial and danger may silence us temporarily, but we can have confidence and joy, knowing that whatever comes, it will end in good. The future is better than the past. In the words of Paul, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17–18.

Genesis 8:20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and there he sacrificed as burnt offerings the animals and birds that had been approved for that purpose. Genesis 8:21 And the Lord was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood. I will never again destroy all living things. Genesis 8:22 As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night.” LETS PRAY: LORD PLEASE HELP US TO PLEASE YOU. IN JESUS CHRIST MIGHTY NAME AMEN

❤️HOW TO KNOW GOD'S WILL FOR IMPORTANT DECISIONS IN YOUR LIFE. Part 3 of 6. God’s Basic Will for Every Christian. Continued. Who would you say such individuals are acknowledging when they make such negative statements as these concerning their sickness, defeat, frustrations, anxieties, and problems–God or Satan? This may explain to you why you are not experiencing more of God's leading in your life, or why it is that you do not know His will in this or that particular situation. Perhaps it is because you are acknowledging the wrong person as the controlling influence in your life and circumstances. Yes, this could very well be the major factor in much of your sickness, problems, frustration, and defeat, for God promises to direct the steps only of those who trust fully in Him, not themselves, and who acknowledge Him and His divine providence in all their ways. STUDY 2 How God Makes Known His Will for Specific Decisions and Needs. As incredible as it may seem at first glance, nevertheless, it is true that "the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord" (Ps 37:23). The term "ordered" means literally "establish, or ordain" in the original Hebrew, and is used by David in Psalm 8:3 where he exclaims, "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained, what is man, that you are mindful of him?" The cycles of the moon, the movements of the planets, sun, and stars in their courses, as well as the revolving of the countless galaxies, composed of billions of stars, throughout the universe, are all ordained by God with such precision that scientists can set their watches by the sun or stars, astronomers can predict accurately where a certain heavenly body will be 100 years from now, and space scientists can, for example, send a spaceship toward Mars which will arrive many months later exactly on target. It is this same term which is used in Psalm 37:23, where we are told, "the steps of a good man are ordained by the Lord." This means that the same wisdom which ordained the courses of the sun, moon, planets, and stars with such magnificent precision has also ordained the steps of the Christian. Thus, we see that God has a plan for every life. When we know His will for our lives, then we can fulfill His plan. God has a plan for everything in the universe which He created: the sun, the moon, and stars; the angels and hosts of heaven; the southern flight of the birds in the winter and their return in the spring; the rise and fall of the tides; the periodic rainfall with the resultant growth of the earth's vegetation; the variation and change of the seasons, and so on. His wisdom, planning, and providential control are evident everywhere, from the delicate intricacy of design seen in the falling snowflake to the balance of the earth on its axis in its course around the sun. Since God has a preordained plan for everything, would it not, therefore, be strange if He neglected to have a plan for men, whom He created in His own image? And yet, most people, including Christians, live as if God created man, and then more or less left him alone, having only a passing interest in his welfare and condition. The Scriptures clearly state that God has a plan for every believers' lives, as seen for example, in such passages as Psalm 37; 91; Proverbs 37:23; Psalm 37:23; Romans 8:28; Ephesians 1; 4:11-15; 5:17. . Nevertheless, Many Christians know nothing of the concept of a God-planned life. These are people who apparently do not know that Jesus promised that a sparrow "shall not fall on the ground without your Father," and that "the very hairs of your head are all numbered" ( Mt. 10:29-30). From their joyless expression and speaking of wretchedness, adversity, and confusion, one would gather that God had saved them only to forsake them, leaving them to struggle along in the world as best they can. There are Christians everywhere who seem to have lost their direction, who have made the wrong choices, who are uncertain as to God's will for their lives, who are in the wrong occupation and are unhappy and dissatisfied, who are insecure and afraid, who cannot make a decision without doubt or apprehension concerning whether or not they have done the right thing, and who are frustrated, discouraged, and defeated by circumstances. It is not God's will that any Christian should suffer such bewilderment and defeat. Why? Simply because "the steps of a good man are ordained by the Lord." Far too many Christians are living below the level of what God has planned for their lives. He has a perfect plan for you in order for you to fulfill His will; but there is also a permissive will which He allows those to follow who, for one reason or another, reject or neglect to follow His perfect will. So many Christians are living on this lower plane of God's permissive will, which can never bring the joy, peace, accomplishment and fulfillment they are looking for. Often they are accepting a life of frustration, oppression, and poverty because of their ignorance of, or their unwillingness to submit to, God's perfect will for their lives. Our lives are only happy and complete when we are moving in God's will, since we lack both the wisdom and foresight to plan our own lives effectively. The Scriptures declare, "O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walks to direct his steps" (Jer.10:23) Isaiah graphically portrays the consequences of man's attempt to plan and direct his own life, saying, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way" (Isa. 53:6). "Does God want me to go back to my wife and attempt to salvage our marriage for the children's sake, or remain separated and try to make the best of it?" a bewildered husband asks. "I feel the call of God in my life," confides another. "It seems to be in the mission field. However, I have a family to provide for, and as yet I do not have the support of any missionary society. How can I know what God would have me to do?" "Now that I have received the baptism in the Holy Spirit," a young woman asks, "should I remain in my present church, which is not sympathetic toward this experience today, and try to witness my experience there, or should I seek fellowship with Spirit filled Christians in another church?" "I must know by the end of the next month whether or not I should renew my lease on my place of business. My wife and I feel that the Lord may be leading us out of this into something else. How can I know for certain just what God would have us do?" asks a man that is pressed for a decision soon. "Can I believe God for deliverance from the financial oppression I am suffering?" "Will God heal me of multiple sclerosis, which medical science states to be incurable?" "Is it possible for me to ask in faith for the salvation of my family?" "How can I determine if God would have me to remain in my present employment or ask for something better?" "Should I remain unmarried and thereby be able to serve the Lord more effectively?" "Have I failed God somewhere and missed His will for me, since I seem to be going through so many severe trials in the past few months?" "Should we pray for deliverance from our trials?" "How may I determine if I should seek to serve the Lord in some form of religious work, or remain in my present teaching position?" "I am confused about God's will for my life. How may I be sure just what He would have me to do?" Questions ... questions ... questions - all from bewildered, confused, sometimes frustrated Christians, earnestly seeking to learn God's will for their lives, or anxious to know His will concerning an important decision they must make in some pressing matter. How can the man who feels God would have him go to the mission field ascertain God's will? Certainly it is an important and crucial decision with which he is faced. It is useless, and even unsafe, for a man to be trying to serve the Lord in India, if God wants him in Indiana. That student will certainly fail who attempts to leave a school where God has placed him, merely because he must undergo certain trials in order to remain. Nor will that person ever succeed who, motivated by an enthusiasm to serve the Lord, disposes of his business in order to go preach the gospel, when God desires to use him as a Christian businessman right where he is. He will be as frustrated and out of place as that individual who failed to respond to God's call to preach His Word and accepted something less than God's perfect will for his life. Likewise, when one is not sure whether or not he has made the right decision about some matter in harmony with God's will, it will be terribly difficult to determine, if he finds himself going through trying circumstances, whether these experiences are "trials of his faith," or chastisement for his disobedience. How can we be sure just what God's will is in the decisions which confronts us? How can we avoid mistakes and costly blunders? You may be sure of one thing - you do not have to plead with God to guide and direct you. Over and over in Scripture He expresses His willingness and desire to give you an understanding of His perfect will for your life. He promises to direct your footsteps day to day. God has pledged Himself to direct each step of your life if you will determine to meet the three-fold condition which He sets forth in Proverbs 3:5-6 of total trust in the Lord; a lack of trust in yourself; and a constant statement of these two facts. EIGHT SCRIPTURAL METHODS BY WHICH GOD MAKES KNOWN HIS WILL It is not unreasonable to believe that if God could create a man in His image that He could also speak to him and communicate His will to him, Inasmuch as God has clearly stated in His Word that it is His desire to reveal His will to the believer, and is displeased when we are not walking in harmony with it. We should also expect that He would provide the means for ascertaining it. This He has done. There are, we find, eight scriptural methods for ascertaining God's will – three are notice in which we must take the initiative, and five are passive in which we become recipients of divine revelation of His will for us, as seen, for example, in the angel's appearance to Joseph in a dream warning him to flee into Egypt with the child, Jesus. Passive revelation of God's will comes unsought at the Spirit's sovereign discretion, inasmuch as God has promised to direct the steps of those who fulfill the conditions (Prov. 3:5-6). At the Altar: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God (Rom. 12:1-2). I find that many Christians spend years seeking to learn God's will for their lives. They read books on the subject, hoping to find some clue, they pray for guidance, or they seek help through religious counseling, but they have overlooked God's basic requirement for learning His perfect will – the total commitment of one's life on the altar as a living sacrifice. To comprehend just what God requires for total consecration, it is suggested that the section entitled Go Back to Calvary in the first previous studies be reviewed again, for all that was set forth there is to be applied here as the manner in which Romans 12:1-2 is to be understood and obeyed. While it is true that the Christian can ascertain to some degree God's will through prayer, study at His Word, or by other means, nevertheless, total consecration is required to know His perfect will, as Romans 12:1-2 clearly indicates. We must learn that we cannot substitute praying for obeying; for without total commitment many precious hours can be wasted praying for a revelation of God's will, or for guidance for our lives in some matter, and heaven will often seem as brass. Why? God is waiting for us to present ourselves as living sacrifices, and climb upon the altar where He can speak with us. He only reveals His perfect will to us when we are upon the altar, for it is only here that we are in a position to hear Him when He speaks. When "self" has been crucified and the life surrendered without reservation, then you will find that the Spirit is frequently speaking inwardly to you, and that you can become quite sensitive to His voice, being able to discern it from your own will, or from the suggestions of the enemy. It is a great blessing to know when the Spirit is speaking, and to be able to respond to His leading and prompting, fulfilling God's will instead of wandering aimlessly about confused and, bewildered. You will find that you will be sensitive to His voice to the extent your life is consecrated on the altar and you are yielded to the Spirit. And to the extent you are sensitive to His voice you are able to respond when He speaks. God at times, for one reason or another, speaks directly to His children in an audible voice to reveal some matter to them, give them guidance, or make known His will. Generally, however, it is by means of that still, inner voice that He speaks to our spirit, prompting, leading, directing, and influencing, or at times checking us from taking some undesirable course of action. God will not reveal His perfect plan and will to a Christian who is not fully yielded unto Him without reservation, for such an individual would be ineffective and unable to fulfill God's purpose in his life. An effective instrument is one that has yielded itself completely to the hand of the one using it. Many Christians feel they have yielded themselves to the Spirit and have consecrated themselves to God, yet they have not always done so without reservation. One individual, for instance, feels that he is consecrated because he is praying for God to send him as a missionary to India, but who at the same time would have no desire for God to use him as a missionary to Indiana! He is consecrated, but not unconditionally; thus, God's perfect will cannot be revealed to him, since it would be impossible for it to be fulfilled in his life. Another, with a gift of prophecy prays earnestly to God to fulfill his desire and use him in a great way in a ministry of prophecy like that of Amos or Isaiah, but has little inclination to follow in the steps of a prophet like Lucius, for example. After all, who has ever heard of Lucius outside of the people in the local church at Antioch (Acts 13:1)? Another pleads with God for the gifts and power to slay giants as David, pulling down Satan's strongholds, but would decline to engage in this warfare alone in his closet, on his knees, wrestling with the forces of darkness by prayer and fastings. Christians too often come to God and think they are consecrating themselves to Him simply because they say, "Here I am Lord, use me in such and such a place, at such and such a time, in such and such a way." Then they wonder why God does not respond to this little genuflection before Him with a mighty out-pouring of His Spirit upon them, or why they seem to have so much difficulty in ascertaining His will for their lives. After all, they do wish to serve Him and to be used by Him. Why then are they so often bewildered and ineffective? It is simply because they have not placed themselves on the altar and yielded themselves unconditionally to Him. It is true that God wants to use you to speak His Word; but if you are not fully yielded to Him, then often you will find that you will be speaking the wrong word to the wrong people at the wrong time. An effective instrument is one fully yielded to the purpose of the one using it. Therefore, before God can unveil His perfect will for your life day to day, you must first obey that aspect of His will which He has already revealed – total consecration, "for this is the will of God, even your consecration" (1 Th. 4:3). It is only as we present ourselves as living sacrifices that we are shown progressively, day to day, more and more, "what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God" (Rom. 12:1-2). Just as we fellowship and speak with our children God promises to communicate with us and reveal His will, however, it may be that you have been living too far from Him to hear His voice when He speaks. Draw near to Him daily in prayer, love, and obedience, and you will find yourself becoming increasingly sensitive to His voice as He speaks to you. In the Word; All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Those who may be looking for a shortcut or some easy solution to learning the will of God probably will be disappointed to learn that God has already revealed His will for their lives in large measure in the Scriptures; and, as a consequence, this means they will have to pay the cost of sacrificing some of their time and interest in other things, and diligently search His Word, if they expect Him to speak to them through it. In these instances in which Christians with whom I have counseled are bewildered and confused, and are unable to ascertain God's will about some matter, I have found almost invariably that their predicament is the inevitable consequence of not knowing what the Word of God teaches concerning their problem or need. Again and again I have seen Christians pray for a revelation of God's will, or come to me for guidance about some matter, the solution to which is already revealed in God's Word. It is useless to ask God for guidance on matters where He has clearly unfolded His will, if through negligence, or for some other reason, an individual has not bothered to ascertain what He has had to say on the subject. If, for example, a Christian woman wishes to marry an unbeliever, hoping to convert him after marriage, she could pray for months for a revelation of God's will in the matter without receiving it, for God is never going to answer such a request as to whether or not this marriage should take place. Why? Simply because He has already revealed His will on this matter in His Word (2 Cor. 6:14). Neither is God going to give that individual the Holy Spirit who prays as some do whom I have heard, saying, "Lord, if the baptism in the Holy Spirit is for me, and if it is your will that I should have it, then somehow show me this fact and I will accept it." God has already revealed in His Word the promise of the Holy Spirit, and states clearly that the baptism will be given to those who, in faith, ask for it (Lk. 11:13). Again, many Christians are confused concerning God's will in the matter of sickness. Since they are not firmly grounded in what the Word of God teaches on the subject of healing, then they are unsettled in their minds, believing that it is not always God's will to heal the sick, and that there are some exceptions to His promise that "the prayer of faith shall heal the sick" (Jam. 5:15). Because they do not know God's Word as they should on this question, then they do not always know what God's will is in the event of sickness, especially in case of serious illness, and have, therefore, committed themselves to praying the faithless prayer in such instances, "O Lord, if it be thy will I ask that I might be healed somehow, nevertheless, not my will but thine be done." Such apparent resignation to God's will may sound pious, but it most certainly is not scriptural, inasmuch as God has already revealed His will about the matter of sickness in His Word in dozens of passages, such as Mark 16:18, saying, "They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Edited. Shared. To be Continued. ❤️ God willing, more will be posted soon. All glory to Jesus alone.

continuation chapter two 2.2 Now, don't misunderstand me. I'm not saying you don't need the knowledge. You absolutely need it. Without knowledge, you'd jump in and try to breathe underwater like a particularly optimistic fish. The knowledge gives you faith in the process. It tells you that the water can, in fact, hold you up, that these awkward, flailing motions have meaning and might eventually become graceful. It gives you a reason to keep spluttering. But you still need to practice. You still need to drill. You still need to drown a little before you can swim a lot. You'll drink so much pool water that you'll be able to taste the chlorine in your dreams. You'll cough, you'll gag, you'll question why you ever left the shore of theoretical comfort where the books were dry and the certificates were safe. The righteous life is not a certificate on your wall; it's a rhythm in your limbs, a muscle memory of the soul. And muscles don't grow by reading about protein; they grow by lifting something heavy and then feeling sore the next day and complaining to everyone about it. ‎ ‎So it is with righteousness. One can study the Scriptures until their eyes cross and they've developed a permanent squint. One can quote verses on grace with the speed and precision of an auctioneer on caffeine. One can recite the doctrines of justification and sanctification forward, backward, and in the original Hebrew while juggling concordances. One can intellectually affirm with perfect, shining orthodoxy that Christ is the living water, and say "Amen" so loudly that the person in the next pew spills their coffee. But that, my friend, is merely reading about water. It is studying the molecular structure, the boiling point, the freezing point, the historical significance of water in the ancient Near East. It is all accurate, all true, all very impressive in a Bible trivia competition. But your throat is still parched. You are dying of thirst while holding a library card to the well. To be free from sin, you must dive into the discipline. You must practice patience when every fiber of your being wants to scream and throw a chair through a window—preferably the window of the person who is currently testing your patience. And not patience with gritted teeth and a twitching eye—that's not patience, that's just anger in a corset, anger with a fake mustache and glasses, anger doing a very poor impression of a calm person. No, you must steadily come to be in love with patience, to find it a fascinating companion, to court it like a shy lover, choosing it freely and wantonly, not because you have to but because you genuinely prefer it. You don't practice patience to make the Old Man in the Sky nod approvingly and slide a gold star across the heavenly counter. That would be theatre, a performance, a pretence, a dinner party where everyone is polite and no one is real. It would be you watching yourself be patient, which is the fastest way to become impatient with your own patience, which leads to a meta-crisis of infinite regress: you're angry that you're angry about being angry about trying to be patient. The work is not a bribe. The work is the transformation of your own taste buds. ‎ ‎And this brings us to the great confusion, the grand misunderstanding that has produced more theatrical saints than a Hollywood casting call. Some say, with great authority, "You must practice self-control when temptation whispers." But let's examine that. Let's put it on the operating table and poke it with a scalpel. What is mere self-control? Isn't it often just controlling the evil that is inside you, making sure it doesn't leak out and stain your shirt? Isn't it just hiding the monster in the closet when guests come over, shoving it behind the winter coats and the old photo albums, while it continues to growl and scratch at the door and probably eat your shoes? A man who is seething with rage but has "controlled" himself, presenting a placid smile to the world while his internal organs are staging a violent coup, has not practiced righteousness at all. He has practiced concealment. He has become a beautifully decorated tomb, full of very active dead men's bones—which is, coincidentally, exactly what Jesus called the Pharisees in Matthew 23:27. He hasn't dealt with the rage; he's just soundproofed the room. The rage is still in there, doing squats, getting stronger, waiting for the guests to leave so it can come out and redecorate the living room with thrown lamps. This is not the practice of righteousness. This is spiritual stage management. It's a war tactic, hiding the dangerous artillery under a tarp and wheeling it out again when the truce is over. The bitterness is still there, polishing its weapons, writing passive-aggressive letters, keeping a detailed list of every offense ever committed against you since kindergarten. ‎ ‎What, then, is this work we must do? It is not the suppression of the symptom. It is the re-training of the heart. It is the long, sometimes tedious, often unglamorous work of learning to love what is good, not just performing it for an Audience of One who, by the way, can see backstage and knows you're wearing a wire. It is the work of taking the anti-malarial tablet when you don't feel like it, when the pill seems bitter, when your flesh wants to spit it out and go back to the fever dreams. It is the work of getting into the water of discipline when the shore of theoretical knowledge is so much more comfortable, so much drier, so much less likely to expose your flailing limbs. It is the work of raising the sail—pulling the rope one more time when your arms are tired, when the wind seems absent, when the harbor looks so inviting with its stationary boats and its non-sailing people who never have to worry about storms. It is the work of not generating the wind, but cooperating with it. ‎ ‎And if you will do this work—this unsexy, unglamorous, nobody-is-watching, nobody-is-clapping, nobody-is-writing-a-worship-song-about-your-effort work—you will find one day, to your utter and complete astonishment, that you are no longer acting patient. You simply are patient. The role you played has become the self you are. The costume has become your skin. The habit has become your heartbeat. And that, my friends, is not a lightning bolt. It is a sunrise. Slow, silent, and absolutely unstoppable. And when it comes, you won't even notice at first. You'll just be drinking your coffee one morning, and someone will cut you off in traffic, and you'll wish them well—genuinely—and then you'll catch yourself in the rearview mirror and laugh out loud, because the thing you were striving for has become the thing you are. The swimmer has become the swimming. The patient one has become the patience. And God, the Great Physician, the Master Swimming Instructor, the Captain of the Wind, will smile and say, "Finally, you got in the water. I've been waiting. Now let's go a little deeper." ‎